Jack's Country Restaurant

      Nestled in the Daniel Boone Business/shopping area Jack's is a local favorite and a well kept secret. While most people you know end up eating breakfast from one of the fast food chains, Jack's has some of the best breakfast, brunch and lunch specials you can get around the area for a great price. In fact I can't think of a place that I have discovered recently, that I enjoy coming to so much. So as part of the standards I'll be scoring the restaurant on food, value and decorum as well as service though service doesn't earn a specific score. Not really much of a problem as I really like this restaurant; you may say that I am biased here, but after all isn't that why you looked me up today? Jack's is a true mom and pop operation which makes it all the more important for me to support this business. Its not two or three guys with money investing into a business. Its literally jack and his wife. The service here is more or less you grab your drinks yourself while they cook for you; and they are so polite. The food you ask, much of the breakfast food is as you would expect, delicious breakfast food. They follow the established and set menu that you would find in any establishment serving breakfast. Bacon is crispy and they use so much less grease in the cooking of your meal, which is refreshing. Lunch is a delicious affair and one you should make the effort to attend. As far as breakfast goes, the vegetable omelet is my current favorite. Crisp yet lightly sautéed onions and green peppers wrapped in an omelet with american cheese. Its really quite good. The decor is as you would expect here, nothing too fancy. I actually prefer this decor in this restaurant. Its a mom and pop shop in a small town like hillsborough. As you look out the window you feel like you a part of this evolving little town. It works for Jack's, after all you have to ask yourself, do you want an extravagant experience every time you go out to eat; or would you rather step out to a locally best kept secret and make no mistake; its a best kept secret with a consistent client base that loves to eat here, and for good reason. Jack's is not the place trying to separate you from your wallet or the place trying to sell you the americana that a chain store would push for, instead, Jack's is a good place to find some breakfast or lunch in Hillsborough, that will not be bathed in grease, will not break the bank and will likely become a favorite for you and your family. I'm going to level with everyone, there are not often restaurants of this class that I like this much, but I enjoy coming to Jack's so much that I've come almost 4 days in a row, trying various things with my fiancee.  I have really nothing bad to report here, its good hearty food in a hometown setting at great price, with great service from the proprietors,

Food: 8/10
Decor: 8/10 ( N/A)
Price: 10/10
Overall: 8.6

Pueblo Viejo

Pueblo Viejo 107 James J Freeland Mem Dr  

Located in the township of hillsborough near the Daniel Boone square, Pueblo Viejo offers a blend of Mexican and tex-mex favorites. As you make your way in to the restaurant, you notice that it is more akin to a large old style home verses a traditional Mexican restaurant. In my opinion this ads a bit of charm to the place. You really feel like you are visiting a relative as you walk in rather than stepping out to a spanish restaurant. The decor is fairly modern, yet festive, you feel comfortable. The staff is both attentive and polite. It is really pleasure to visit this establishment. For my meal I ordered burrito chorizo or Mexican sausage burrito with rice and refried beans. The chorizo is a was a bit greasy, but that is the nature of the sausage, It was also flavorful and was nicely spiced. Overall, the salsa was mild and agreeable to tender american tastes, combined with the chorizo it had a nice zesty flavor, with a texture that did not disappoint, which is what we find often in many foreign dishes, as american tastes prefer more rigid textures. I can't find any real reason to fault this restaurant, even when the check came, I can't say that it wasn't a good night to eat at pueblo viejo. Perhaps the only thing about his restaurant is that it doesn't excite you, or shine bright in any one place, but rather is an all around winner, for all appetites, palates and types of people.

Food: 7.5/10
Decor:7.5/10
Price: 8/10
Overall:7.6/10

Farm House Steakhouse 6004 Millhouse rd. NC86 Between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill

As you place the directions for this restaurant into your GPS and drive down the scenic NC86 heading towards the Chapel Hill/Hillsborough grey area, you'll end up at a crossing of railroad tracks and on to a dirt road. Now before you question if you are barking up the wrong tree you come to an old wooden building with dutch style doors tucked into a grove of oak trees. As you enter, one immediately realizes that they have set a very traditional atmosphere. The smell of fine beef, the dimly lit corridors and dining room, serves to set an atmosphere of old world pre-electric dining. Its a romantic place for a pair of lovers to attend. You realistically feel as if you have stepped backward in time, when things were more simple. The use of lighting in the place is amazing, almost magical. The heavy hardwood tables and numerous farm implements further this feeling. The staff are a mix of young and older females that are a pleasure to speak with. Prompt and efficient as well. I found the appetizers to be a nice touch, some breads cheeses and a patte of sorts, though the patte i did not care for. I myself ordered the t-bone with a baked potato, the standard all american meat and potatoes of the blue collar man. I asked for the steak medium rare and when it came, It had been cooked perfectly, I throughly enjoyed the steak. The cut was fairly free of fatty bits and had obviously been prepared with care. In fact the only thing I didn't enjoy about my experience at Farm House, and believe me if you are at all a creative mind it is an experience, was receiving the check. This place is fairly expensive to dine at. My companion and I easily spent more than a fifty-spot here. However this is a place in my opinion is a locale for that romantic dinner for two, or that rustic family dinner as well.( provided you've got the cash on hand.)TL;DR: Delicious Food, Atmosphere, theming and attention to detail are the best parts about this restaurant, if your budget is tight you may want to go dutch. 


Food:9/10
Decor: 10/10
Price: 5/10
Overall:8.0/10

American Hero

American Hero In Hillsborough, NC corner of 86 and 70.

Is a sandwich shop on the seedy side of Hillsborough, nestled between highway 70 & 86 in a rundown shopping center, they offer your typical array of sandwiches from Meatball to Gyro and but sadly no local specialities like pulled pork. As you walk into the building you first notice the drab decor, it has all the charm of a high school cafeteria, the walls have been painted the blandest white and you immediately see the faded menu a la fast food style on the wall directly facing you. It reminds one of a laundromat, or laundry facility converted to serve sandwiches. While the decor and old school tube televisions leave something to desired, the menu choices are fairly decent. The staff however is where this place shows some charm, they set the expectation that you will be grabbing your own refills. The staff is courteous enough. I began by ordering a gyro for both my companion and I. As surprising as it was the tzaziki sauce ( A cucumber and greek yogurt sauce) was actually pretty good. Greek food tends to have a bland taste, especially lamb, however the lamb was quite savory. The vegetables included were a bit left of fresh, but none the worse that you would consume in any house salad across hillsborough. We also ordered the death by chocolate cake, and a slice of coconut cream cake these desserts were absolutely delicious, by far the best credit to the restaurant. Having eaten here before most of the sandwiches i've eaten here were a bit bland. TL;DR: You are not likely to enjoy the scenery, and the food is hit or miss. The desserts here are wonderful. You may enjoy your meal more if you get it to go.

Food: 6/10
Decor: 1/10
Price: 7/10
Overall: 4.6