Jesse’s Place is all about comfort food – pure, delicious comfort food. If you’re setting off for a day of splashing in the warm Gulf waters, playing nine holes of golf, fishing for drum fish, enjoying an ecotour, or shopping, you’ll want a meal that will fuel your endeavors.
Family-owned and operated Jesse’s Place aims to provide that fuel by offering the kinds of meals normally associated with affectionate grandmothers. If your grandmother was a great cook, you’ll enjoy the same dedication to quality. And if your grandmother couldn’t boil water, you’ll be thrilled by chefs who are more than happy to prepare warm, filling food – the kind of fare that makes you feel at home.
There is nothing fancy about Jesse’s Place. In fact, one gets the feeling that the decor hasn’t been updated in decades. The magic of Jesse’s Place has never been the ambiance. It’s always been about the food. Delicious food served by friendly staff is the key to the eatery’s success.
In a world full of shiny new restaurants, decorated by interior designers, there’s something utterly charming about a diner that focuses solely on food and service. While the menu is not extensive, there are plenty of great menu options for both breakfast and lunch.
Here are some of our favorites:
Country Ham
For the big appetites in your party, there’s this mammoth plate consisting of a 10-ounce country ham steak, two eggs, grits, and hash browns or fresh fruit. It comes with the patron’s choice of a biscuit, toast, or English muffin.
Breakfast Classic
You’ll be amazed by the portion size of this plate. It begins with two eggs atop a generous serving of your choice of ham steak, bacon, or a sausage patty. Add your choice of grits, potatoes O’Brien, or fresh fruit, and a choice of biscuit, toast, or English muffin. It’s easy to imagine that it is the kind of food once served to farmers before a long day in the fields.
Country Fried Steak or Ham
Whether you know you’ll be active enough to work it off or have adopted the adage that “calories don’t count on vacation,” this menu option is remarkable. In addition to the country-fried steak (smothered in sausage gravy), the plate also includes two eggs, your choice of grits, hash browns, or fruit, and choice of biscuit, toast, or English Muffin. You may want to unbutton the top button of your slacks before tucking into this meal.
Breakfast Burrito
We wanted to mention the burrito because frankly, it stands in stark contrast to the rest of the menu. We’re sure you’ll enjoy the scrambled eggs, sautéed onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, and sausage wrapped in a flour tortilla. It’s served with a side of salsa, grits (of course), and hash browns or fresh fruit.
Double Burger
Once you’ve tried a number of the lunch options you may be ready for something that isn’t fried. That’s one of the things that makes the Double Burger so perfect. It simply consists of lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles served on a bun. Add any topping for a small fee like American cheese, pepper jack cheese, swiss cheese, bacon, egg, mushroom, pineapple, jalapenos, or onion. Comes with fries and coleslaw. Clean, fresh, and seriously delicious.
Weekday Special
When can you ever go wrong with a weekday special? Depending on the day, meat ranges from pork chops to beef tips to turkey breast to meatloaf. Pick three sides, including mashed potatoes, garden salad, coleslaw, green beans, and much more. In other words, this meal is whatever you want it to be, the perfect remedy for those who are unable to choose.
Jesse’s Plate is consistently good, the kind of place you’ll want to visit when you’re in the mood for a fresh, homemade meal.
Insider Tips:
-If your schedule is flexible, try to arrive early enough to beat the crowd. Jesse’s Place is small and seating is limited.
-Jesse’s Place is wheelchair accessible.
-Don’t allow a lack of parking to discourage you as there is plenty of off-street parking nearby.