J&T Cafe workers
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The Small Town Restaurant

J&T’s Cafe- Small Town Cafe

You feel right at home when you walk into J&T’s Cafe in small town Oregon, MO. Patterned table cloths cover the tables. The aroma of fried chicken and pie hit your nose almost immediately. The walls show off country decor and old photographs. Then, a friendly waitress brings your drink, even before you order, because she remembers what you had last time (Thanks, Micahla!). You can feel the tenseness leaving your neck and shoulders as you relax and enjoy the food and the people around you. As you eat your Sunday fried chicken dinner, you say hi to friends as they walk in the door. Soon, a conversation gets going with almost everyone in the room jumping in. It feels like everyone in this small town restaurant came in to eat together.

front view of small town restaurant
The front entry of J&T’s Cafe

What Is It About Small Town Restaurants?

One of my favorite things about small town life is the small, locally owned businesses. The food places are some of the best examples. Undoubtedly, I know many city dwellers who will travel a long way, down a curvy blacktop road, in the middle of nowhere to get to a small town cafe. The reason? The food and the atmosphere of these little places can not be beat.

grandpa talking to the diners at the next table
Grandpa telling stories to the table behind him.

Why we love J&T’s Cafe

“Our goal is to have you leaving with your heart and belly full.” If you go to the J&T’s Facebook page, you can find this quote in their intro. I have no doubt they are meeting that goal.

plate with sandwich, chips and cottage cheese
A special during the week

J&T’s opened up a little over a year ago. They took the place of another wonderful little restaurant that was there for years. The cafe serves home cooked meals that will for sure hit the spot and leave you with a full belly. But one of my favorite things about J&T’s is the experience.

The owners and staff could not be more friendly. They sincerely care about both the quality of the food and how much you enjoy being at their place. They remember your drink, your usual food order and your name. And they might even give you a card on your birthday. But beware, if you get a little out of hand, they aren’t too shy to get sassy! If you stay long enough, you will notice that the upbeat personalities of the J&T’s crew has an affect on the hungry diners at the tables. It is hard to be grumpy when eating a burger at J&T’s! Be sure to watch and listen to the video a little farther down the page to get an idea of what it is like to sit inside.

A Taste of Small Town Living- Small Town Diners, Cafes, and Restaurants

When you want to get an idea of what a small town is truly about, my advice for you is to stop in and have lunch. The small, locally owned diners, cafes and restaurants are the heart of small town living. And you will get a little sample of the people and the culture served up with your food. If you come to Oregon, MO to visit J&T’s, I have some even more important advice for you… Order dessert!

coconut cream pie
Dessert! It was as good as it looks!

Please enjoy this video slide show with actual audio of a rowdy Sunday after church crowd!

Video with sounds of J&T’s

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The Word

Isaiah 41:10. KJV Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

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