Judson’s Restaurant

Went to Judson’s for the first time today and was not disappointed. We we’re a bit taken aback when we walked in, being as we were the only people in the restaurant aside from the owner. This kindly, older gentleman who appeared to be the owner/​chef/​waiter greeted us and filled us in on his specials for the day, along with the quiche and soup of the day. I got the Cajun pork loin w/​red beans and rice and my girlfriend got the crispy pork loin sandwich with fries. It was fantastic! The Cajun loin came with this amazing sauce on it and the fries were some of the best I’ve have in a while. Not everything on the chalkboard menus will be available that day, but that’s part of the charm. Get out of your comfort zone and come check this place out. You won’t regret it.

GRUBBY. Locally owned by a sweet gentleman, but this establishment appears to have not been cleaned in over a decade. It was completely empty during the typical lunch rush hour, as if the locals know a secret unbeknownst to the poor wanderer who stumbles in. There are no hours posted outside and we thought it was closed initially.
The floors had not been swept or mopped. The place settings on the tables were pre-​set, looking as if they stayed there collecting dust until a customer happened to arrive. The silverware and cups were grimy with a film similar to dishwasher soap scum over them.
Oh, but the real horror was the BATHROOM. After we ordered our meals, I went to powder my nose and immediately did an about face. I’ve never seen a toilet so disgusting in my 34 years of existence. It was completely BLACK on the inside from neglect and mold.
The only reason why didn’t give this place a 1-​star rating is because the owner was so pleasant. We politely nibbled and spent a few minutes moving the food around on our forks; but we were terrified of the possible contamination. It obviously wasn’t the smartest decision to ingest anything at all, but we prayed and hoped for the best. Thankfully, we had happy tummies for the rest of the day.
How this business has passed any kind of health inspection is beyond me… It’s safe to say I will not be returning.

Judson’s Restaurant is mainly for people on the lunch run, so the food comes out pretty quick. I had the white bean soup with sausage, salad and curry chicken salad in a toasted croissant. The soup was tasty and not too salty. The salad was nothing special. The curry chicken salad was pretty good. It wasn’t too much curry flavouring and it actually tasted a little like honey mustard after a few bites. The croissant was flaky and crispy. It was good. I’d probably come back here.

Came here for lunch with my foodie friend. I ordered the BBQ Pork Grilled Cheese sandwich with fries and it was awesome. The pork tenderloin sandwich looked awesome too. This is just the type of hole in the wall place I like to eat. The owner was super friendly and brought our food out himself. Nice place to meet a few friends and hang out. You would never know Judson’s was there but now that I know, I will be back.

I haven’t been to Judsons in a while and every time I go I wonder why not. Had the bacon cheeseburger on a soft kaiser roll with delicious pasta salad and crispy homemade seasoned fries. The owner was friendly and attentive and delivered the food to my table himself. I love supporting locally owned and operated businesses and you should too.

First time at Judson’s and won’t go back. The food was flavorful and a variety of menu choices. I had the brisket slider, fries and crab chowder and my husband had the BLT. Food was served by owner and at appropriate temperature. My silverware was dirty as was the general appearance of the restaurant, including the floor. Can’t imagine what it looks like on the other side of the counter — maybe that’s why it’s so high.
If I had gone to the restroom prior to eating, I would have walked out without ordering. Toilets have not been cleaned in months, maybe years and toilet seats were stained with urine. Sink counters were dirty. (We were there at 11:30 in the morning). The men’s restroom was dirty and smelly. A dirty child’s booster chair sat on the dirty hall floor between the two restrooms. To think the owner who does the cooking uses the same restroom — disgusting. Obviously, the health department hasn’t eaten there.

Yes they are still open! Its been years since Ive been to Judsons because they no longer have any signage on their windows. I thought they had shut down until yesterday when I saw a stream of people going in. The food is still very good. We had a great bacon cheeseburger on a fresh Kaiser roll and the pasta wih grilled veggies and chicken in a wonderful garlic sauce. Its pleasant inside and the prices are reasonable.

Pretty much everything is great. Burgers, Sandwiches, Quiches, fries, and excellent muffins.
Wish they were open on weekend so I could go more.

Had the Reuben and it tasted like burnt toast. Not even the sauerkraut could shine through the bread. The fries were cold and sad. The things we had wanted to eat were not available as the guy stated we got there right before closing (we arrived an hour and thirty minutes before closing). The giant hole in the ceiling was interesting to stare at. I kept wondering how it happened, and why it wasn’t fixed. Were there creatures living up there that crawled down after you left to eat the leftovers? Idk. Idk.
Overall the atmosphere was not laid back even through we were there alone on a weekend. The owner (?) seemed very irritated and kept the most snide look on his face as we ordered. His upturned lip and forced smile was almost comical. Almost. It was as if we smelled like Bigfoot’s heehaw, though we surely did not.
Life Tip: If you want to make your smile believable, smile with your eyes and extend your smile outwards, not up. It makes a world of difference and, in my case, cost you a star.

I read about this place about a week ago and decided when I’m in the area. I was in the area today well kind a in the area. The place is within eye shot of St Vincent’s Hospital. The décor is old but clean and friendly. The owner and his wife were very friendly with my questions. I ended up going with the pulled pork grilled cheese and some hand cut fries. Then I noticed a crawfish sausage chowder. Ok that to. Well the chowder was good with a lot of yummy flavors but just needed to cook longer and after the owner came out to check on me we both agreed tomorrow is the day for chowder. The grilled cheese was really good and crispy just the way I like it. Not like most places that will grill it long enough to melt the cheese and here you go. Not this it was grilled till the bread had a good crisp to it. There was plenty of cheeses too. Some cheddar, gouda, and I think a provolone. The pulled pork was tasty to with what the owner called and Carolina Gold bbq sauce. I thought it was a sweet baby ray’s myself. It was red and had a sweetness to it. Oh well all in all it was a really good lunch and I will be back again.

This is what a locally owned eatery should be like. If you’re looking for a great place to enjoy lunch in Riverside, Judson’s is the place to go. The menu is always evolving, and with a list of certain items that remain permanent; any potential patron is sure to find comfort in consistently good food at a great value. The owner has been know to insert himself into your life; asking how things are «going», but not intrusively, and he never forgets a customer. He is fully openminded in any menu suggestions you may have, and as a classically trained chef with 30 years plus in the food and beverage industry, you are sure to have a delicious meal.
It is of no questioning I can consider the owner a good friend. It is very upsetting for me to have realized I had never posted a review for this fine establishment. Judson’s is deserving of the utmost regards to a five star review. Even if you find yourself absent in the Riverside area during lunch, he will cater any event. It is unfortunate he is not open for any other meal aside from lunch, and only Monday through Friday, but with our support as a community, we can convince him to lengthen his hours and days, and to even (if possible) allow him to creat an even more diverse menu, for us all to enjoy.

My customer suggested that we go here for a late lunch and to wrap up the week, and in this case, the customer was DEFINITELY right!
I ordered the BBQ Pork Grilled Cheese sandwich with fries, and wow! The pork was perfectly slow roasted and tender, the cheese just wrapped around those delicious chunks of pork, it was sheer perfection. The fries were perfect as well. Topped off with a IBC root beer, this was one of the best lunches that I’ve had in awhile and would go back in a heartbeat.
The service is down home friendly, but I bet this place gets really busy during lunchtime. There is adequate but not tons of seating, so maybe avoid the lunch crowds.

White bean and ham soup is great. Brother had Ham with 3 cheese quiche with a salad, salad was very fresh and quiche was fresh and hot. For a first time visit we have enjoyed our meal and will be back!

This restaurant is located in Riverside on Oak Street close to St. Vincent’s Medical Center. I came during lunch on a weekday and the place had a reasonable amount of «business-​lunchers» but it was not too crowded.
My in-​the-​know co-​worker informed me about Judson’s well-​kept secret: the pulled pork hot dog. This is not a regular item on the menu so it is best to call ahead to make sure that it is available. The owner told me that he cannot make the pulled pork frequently so the item irregularly appears as a weekly special once or twice a month.
The hot dog, oddly, enough, is not the star of the show — it’s the pulled pork. Take a plain hot dog and a bun, pile on some tender and flavorful pulled pork, fresh coleslaw, and barbecue sauce, and you get this masterpiece.
While I strongly urge you to have the pulled pork hot dog, should you decide on something else, this place serves a variety of soups, salads, and sandwiches (French dip, cheese steaks, tuna melts, etc.) with very reasonable prices.