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Mid-afternoon, Tuesday, August 29, 2017, I pulled into Evanston, Wyoming, checked into a motel, popped a top on a beer, and started to r-e-l-a-x after a long day of enjoying of all the beauty the State of Wyoming has to offer. Dinner time arrived shortly... but where to eat? No worries, as Jody's Diner is located just across the street from my motel! The diner, dive and drive-in gods has truly blessed me on this early Tuesday evening. As with all of reviews that I publish, I have no affiliation with the restaurant reviewed, and there is no monetary gain on my part, as I am simply a person who likes to eat, and I love to write-up, and publish my dining experiences.
Photo: If you're staying in one of the many motels on the east side of Evanston, Wyoming, just off Interstate 80, you're in luck, as Jody's Diner is within easy walking distance. In my case, the restaurant was just across the street - Bear River Drive - so it made for an easy commute to enjoy a fantastic dinner. It's almost 7 in the evening, Tuesday, August 29, 2017, and I walked across the street from my motel to enjoy dinner at Jody's Diner.
Photo: As you walk in the front door... You're in a diner! There is nothing fancy about Jody's Diner, as it's all about a comfortable dining experience, great food, and reasonable prices.
Photo: I was greeted as I entered the restaurant by Rachael, who is an amazingly friendly person, and a wonderful hostess. As I walked in, Rachael smiled at me, greeted me, and asked if I was interested in breakfast, as breakfast is served anytime the restaurant is open. I said that actually I wasn't interested in breakfast, as I was in the mood for a chicken dinner. She seated me; actually I just sat down at a table near the entrance to the restaurant. She then brought me a decanter of ice water - very popular in western Wyoming and Montana - and told me she had guessed that I was interested in breakfast, as I looked like a trucker! Honey, that's a compliment! Rachael also took the time to tell me her favorites on the menu - chicken fried steak, turkey dinner, along with pork chops - and said if I had the time, I could sample everything on the menu, and I would be sure to find everything delicious. There is no doubt in my mind that everything on the menu is delicious, and I thank my gracious hostess, Rachael, for pointing that out to me. Jody's Diner attracts many truckers, travelers, and others who prowl Interstate 80, as the restaurant is just off the highway, and there are a many motels, and a couple of truck stops, within easy walking distance. The "old school" chalk blackboard posts the daily specials as you enter the restaurant.
Photo: Jody's Diner is all about tables, as it's just a big room full of tables. You're out of luck if you're looking for booths.
Photo: In case you're wondering where you are, you don't need to look any further than the back wall, which has a full mural, that welcomes you to Jody's Diner, and Evanston, Wyoming.
Photo: The menu reflects the true character of a Wyoming diner, and offers something for every taste. As my friendly server told me, breakfast is always available, as the restaurant caters to truckers, who always seem to have breakfast in mind. Daily specials are posted on the "old school" blackboard as you enter the restaurant. I was interested in fried chicken, so my eyes didn't wander past the "Chicken Fried Chicken," which I knew would be served with lots of gravy. That is definitely my kind of dinner.
Photo: Jody's Diner is definitely "old school," as it has a window to the kitchen where orders are placed, after the kitchen staff has prepared them. I noticed the kitchen staff will call the hostess by name, in this case, my hostess, Rachael, and she picks up the order and delivers it to the appropriate party. How she can remember what goes to who is beyond my simple way of thinking... Note the "Grand Teton" mound of yellow, hiding behind the ketchup squeeze bottle. As I was waiting for my order to arrive, I noticed the yellow mound, and since I had a few minutes of time on hand, my mind kept racing, as pondering... "What is it?" Curiosity finally got the better of me, and as Rachael was passing by, I flagged her down, and I asked her about it, namely, what is it? I told her it resembled a miniature, yellow "Grand Teton." That brought a huge laugh out of her, and she said it was margerinne. How prosaic...
Photo: I ordered "Chicken Fried Chicken" from the dinner menu, which includes a small salad, a roll and butter. While I was taking photos, my "appetiser" was placed on my table. The salad and roll arrived about 5 minutes after placing my order, and my dinner arrived about 10 minutes later. Jody's Diner features fast service!
Photo: My main entree arrives with a smile, thanks to my friendly server, Rachael. Gee, I wasn't even finished with my salad - I tend to be a slow eater - before my main dish arrived. No worries, as it arrived hot from the kitchen, and with a friendly smile from Rachael.
Photo: Rachael snapped my photo, as I get ready to enjoy a delicious dinner. Do I really look like a trucker? I consider that a compliment. Perhaps it was the cowboy boots that I was wearing...
Photo: Tonight, I was in the mood for chicken, so I ordered "Chicken Fried Chicken," which is a chicken breast, pounded flat, battered and fried, just like a chicken fried steak. Naturally the chicken, along with the mashed potatoes are covered in gravy... Yum! A small bowl of corn is served on the side. For starters, the corn was nothing special... perhaps it came from a can? But wait... the "Chicken Fried Chicken," which was the main attraction... I nearly "flatlined" as I tasted it, as it was so good. The knife was merely decoration, as you could cut the chicken with a fork. The batter was golden crispy, not at all greasy, which complimented the tender chicken breast. The mashed potatoes were the kind you enjoy at your grandmother's place for Thanksgiving dinner. Add gravy to everything, and you've archived Evanston serendipity when it comes to a great dining experience. Yes, Jody's Diner is truly a diner, as it's retro, loud, complete with fluorescent lighting, and is a true gem-of-a-restaurant in Evanston. But, isn't that what you expect for a diner? The dining is comfortable, the staff is super-friendly, the food is delicious, and the restaurant is just across the street from several motels, at the east end of Evanston, Wyoming. Their slogan reads, "You'll love our food..." What else could you ask for? Jody's Diner Copyright(c) 2017 eRench Productions. All rights reserved. We've been on the web since December 22, 2002.
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