Alright, we get it. You're not trying to impress us with the decor. That's your thing. But do you still need to charge a ridiculously high price on your steaks? Yes, the meat quality is very good. Yes, I enjoyed every piece of my rare filet mignon. But I would've also appreciated the fact that the place looks like the steaks should be around $12.
Service is good and nice. No complaints there. We were a table of four and enjoyed our experience. Â I really wanted to try this place given what i've heard about it. And it was good. But for the price, and being in Bloomington, IN, there's gotta be something more. Anything to justify what they charge.
I did like the meat. It's really good quality. But don't expect the price to get you anything else but that and a smiling waiter.
The good news is that you get large portions of meat for their higher price point and service with a smile. Â However, kind of weird decor and the cook is literally in the dining room next to the meat case grilling up the food. Â Also, not sure how food safe this joint is when we saw how they are maintaining the potatoes and lettuce before serving. Â Nevertheless the meat was really good and I would recommend splitting a dinner because the smallest steak for around $30 is a full pound!
Review Source:My husband and I were spending the weekend in the area and decided on this place after doing some research. It was exactly what everyone says it is. Really bad rolls, basic salad, rickety tables and the STEAK OF THE GODS. Our server was delightful, our table nice, and our salads basic. I liked the bleu cheese dressing, it didn't taste bottled to me. But that's me. We knew exactly what we wanted, ordered and shoveled the food in. I can't lie.
I got the petite filet and my husband the man filet or whatever the hell it's called. Both were a perfect medium rare, thick, juicy, seasoned nicely and not one temp under. It was incredible.
I know a potato is a potato but I have to say, I don't know if eurphoria was setting in or what, but my potato was pretty damned good. It was kind of silky and not mealy at all, like some can be. It was cooked just perfectly.
We got this chocolate mousse cake for dessert for the hell of it. It was a huge slice and kind of frozen so it was more like ice cream mousse cake, but even that was rich and delicious. Who cares at this point. They have one job, and that's steak.
The meatballs looked great too, so the next time we go (after a bypass most likely) I will try those too.
Well done!
We went for dinner and we all enjoyed our meals. I can only speak to my meal because I don't eat red meat, so I got the Tuna Filet. It was delicious and well seasoned and cooked just how I like. I do wish that there were more Vegetarian or Seafood options on the menu.
I got the blue cheese dressing on my salad and it was delicious, but there was just too much dressing, so I would ask to put it on the side.
The seats in the booth were also a bit hard and not super comfortable.
Steak was fantastic - my wife and I split "Steak for One," which was more than enough for two people between rolls, salad, and the steak itself. We ordered it medium and that's exactly how it came.
The beer list is so-so - they had Upland IPA and Upland Wheat, so they've got the local market down, but other than that there isn't much. The wine list is enormous, though those wanting to drink by the glass have far fewer choices than those who buy by the bottle.
There was only one annoyance during the meal, and that was the super-frequent visits by the waitress refilling water glasses. While I appreciate attentiveness, she walked back to our table at least every 30-45 seconds with the pitcher or to check and see if she could take something off the table. I'm sure she was working very hard, but it ended up being rather distracting to see her approaching time and time again - it's hard to have a running conversation if you're constantly switching your attention to the person walking up to the table. I got the impression that waitresses were expected to be doing something constantly, no matter what it is. In this case, it was a minor frustration for us as customers.
Finally, there ought to be a better solution to the restroom's location. When I walked in the front door, the first thing I smelled was restroom air freshener doing a poor job masking the scent of what goes on in there. Not a good first impression. I knew from prior visits the food would be outstanding, but I can see a first-time visitor being very put off from the get go.
All in all, this is a great place to go. Diners should not expect a 5-star atmosphere, as that is not what Janko's attempts to provide. World-class steak is what the place is there for, and it delivers.
OMG! Â We love this place. Â This is where our men's sporting teams take all of their recruits, which I think proves its worth. Â The place isn't anything fancy but it has an amazing wine list and their food is just to die for! Â The steak is so great! Â We lived right next to this place and the smells coming from their exhaust fan is just the best and worst thing ever. Â It makes you crave their food all the time :) You must get a reservation. Â It doesn't seem like it but this place books up very quickly!
Review Source:Alright. So this a bit of a nightmare review. I went here two weekends ago with my friends for an IU reunion type of deal. I love the steaks here and this night was no different as the ribeye was so good. Everything that happened before the steak holy sh*t. We got there around 7pm on a Friday and we were enjoying some drinks when from the corner of my eye I see something crawling on the wall. To my disturbing surprise, there was a cockroach crawling up the gd wall. After some panic, the wait staff apprehended the little guy. I don't believe this happens often as the wait staff was in panic mode. Most tables cleared out but since I was with a group manly men, we would stay for the steaks. Normally no chance I would stay. In fact, one friend requested a free plate meatballs which I did not eat but caught a few when the waitress spilled a few on my pants bringing them to the table. I felt bad for her really. In any case, I did not fear a seared steak and it was a 5 star steak which I would have put here but y'all really need get it together here. The place has always looked shabby and that was okay before this experience. I will likely not return unfortunately and its too bad really unless they renovate. Sorry Little Zs great steaks but greater problems. Fix aesthetics and ur insect issue.
Review Source:Perfectly cooked, delicious steaks. *HUGE* steaks. You can easily share one with your date/friend/whoever.
They don't get five stars because of the crowded restaurant (not a fan of super-crowded places), and also for the rickety tables/chairs. My manfriend and I are pretty tall and not delicate hothouse flowers, so sitting at what is basically a card table, eating a 30 ounce steak? That's not really comforting, if you ask me. They squeeze in the tables really close, which is another pet peeve of mine, but the steaks are really, really good. The best I've had outside of Texas, and that's saying a lot, honestly. Texans know their beef!
I won't be dining in again, but I'll definitely be getting takeout if I have a special occasion. Really high quality beef, simple sides, and friendly service, despite the crowded and loud atmosphere.
I love Little Z's. Â I love that the staff is friendly, nice, and super sweet. Â Yes, the decor is basic but it's IU and there's plenty of Hoosier signage on the walls, old posters, and the red checkered tablecloths fit in well.
To start, do yourself a favor and order up some mushrooms and spicy meatballs (a half order will do).
After that, I've been very impressed with the quality of the meat and the way it is cooked. Â Perhaps it's because the grill is in the front of the restaurant and you see them slinging your ribs and steaks. Â Medium rare is true to form. Â If you need more flavoring, ask for a serving of the special Little Z's homemade steak sauce (don't ask for A-1!).
The potato is a potato served with a generous glop of sour cream. Â I've devoured my blue cheese dressed salad and munched on the bread while drooling in anticipation of my grilled meat arriving to be consumed. Â
They have an OK beer selection (bottles only) but feature a good selection of wines by the glass. Â One of my favorite spots in Bloomington, IN.
Simply Amazing! Â It loses a star for decor/atmosphere, so no surprise their. Â All the outdated IU posters are unnecessary. Â Kinda funny that the banner you see walking is a "Welcome Indiana Football Recruits." Â IU is not known for a great football, but that's besides the point
Their steak was THE BEST restaurant steak I've ever had. Â And I've had the likes of expensive steakhouses. Â It cooked to absolute perfection. Â I get so annoyed when I order a steak medium rare and it comes out medium.
As out-of-towners, my aunt suggested my bf have dinner here and order "Steak for Two." Â And for about $75 (including tip and wine), it was a an amazing deal. Â We left stuffed with plenty of leftovers. Â First, we started off with a glass of Pinot Noir and White Zinfandel. Â They were perfect compliments throughout the entire meal.
Then, we were served grilled rolls, which is a unique twist to the oven-warmed ones. Â Also a plus are Land O'Lakes Whipped Butter portions...because bad butter/margarine don't go well on rolls. Â I was also impressed with the our next course of salads. Â They weren't just plain iceberg. Â There were actual field greens, shredded carrots, and red as well. Â I had mine with balsamic vinaigrette at the recommendation of the server. Â Not the best dressing, but I overlooked it due to the quality of the greens. Â
We were then served our PERFECTLY baked potatoes and ginormous steak. Â The steak was juicy and well-seasoned. Â I really like the idea of have one big steak on plate and you can cut and share as you need it. Â I'm already looking forward to my next venture here.
Great steaks (if a bit pricey), nice spicy meatball appetizer (surprisingly spicy, actually), and a fun, laid-back atmosphere. Some people might expect white tablecloths and real silver at these prices, but that misses the point. You're paying for the beef and the kitchen, not the meaningless stuff up front. Good times, and good beef.
Review Source:Salad - 2
Service - 5
Steak - 5
Wine List - 5+++
Ambiance - 3
The ambiance is mediocre. Â Red checked cloth table cloths and red napkins with mundane flatware and dishes don't give a great first impression. Â We asked to sit in the room with the windows and liked the relative quiet and watching the chef cook steaks.
The wine list is extensive and interesting. Â I'm not a sophisticated oenophile but suspect the average wine drinker would be happy. Â I had a Pinot Noir at $8.50 a glass and the glass was huge! Â The pour was probably 6 oz. but the glass was big and square-round and very elegant. Â Steve had one of the two local offerings - Upland Dragonfly IPA - only $4.00.
The entrees came with a nothing-special salad. Â It was mostly iceberg and tired vegetables with a few spring greens tossed in. Â The dressings were dull. The rolls were average but the packett butters were extra large so you didn't have to open so many.
Now the steaks:  WOW!  Steve had the  28 oz. Porterhouse at $39.90.  He ordered rare plus and it was perfect.  He ate every bit and licked the bone!  My 18 oz. New York Strip ($33.90) was perfect.  Enough fat to keep it juicy and cooked rare plus.  I finished less than half.  It will make an excellent sandwich.
Our servers were college ladies and very nice. Â They chatted when time permitted and were very professional. Â One little glitch was that the server spilled a whole beverage on my husband and while they quickly moved us to another table, I think they should have given him a free beer or something as he spent the balance of the evening in soaking wet pants. Stuff happens but it should have been handled a bit more graciously.
The bill came to $100 pre tip.
GO, GO, GO to Little Zagreb. Â Don't expect sophistication. Â Do expect great steaks.
It had been about 20 years since I last ate here, until this past weekend. The steak was as awesome as I had remembered. Â I had the ribeye which was thick and juicy. Â My wife had the chicken, which was equally as juicy and tender. Â It's not a fancy place, but the food is really good.
Unless you like to wait in line, I would definitely make reservations. Â Especially on game nights.
If you want atmosphere, forget it. 1970's paneled walls, red gingham tablecloths and shoehorned seating lowered my expectations. The long wait to get in was worth it and they even threw in some free spicy meatballs due to our long wait. Good rolls and baked potatoes. Great steaks. I'd have given it four stars but it's too expensive for being herded in like cattle. If the price were more reasonable, I'd be fine with sitting in the kitchen with 70 of my friends, but for these prices I want banquettes and tuxedos, not a waitress with jersey shorts shorter than her short apron.
Review Source:I wonder what it means when some of my favorite restaurants used to be "houses of Ill repute"? Â Apparently Little Zabreb's used to be such a place. (see history under their website) Â As others have pointed out, it is not fancy inside. Â It is crowded. Â It is noisy. Â The utensils are not made of fine china and silver.
People get so hung up on uniformity that when faced with a non-chain restaurant, that lack of uniformity sometimes turns into a criticism. Â The salads are hand made. Â The lettuce does not come out of a bag, but is torn apart by hand. Â That is going to cause non uniform pieces. Â Its okay. If the piece of lettuce is too big, cut it with your knife.
I had a great steak at Zagreb's.  I have also been at steak joints around the country that made various top ten lists.  I have had my share of Morton's and Ruth's Chris and  St . Elmo's.  This steak was as good as any of those and I will guarantee you I paid less at Zagreb's than I did at those other places.  Their prices are high for Bloomington, from what I can tell, but the steak was excellent.
Beware of the spicy meatballs, though. Â I ate one and was wishing I hadn't. Â The boys polished them off without any trouble though. Â They will take reservations, and I would recommend them as there were people standing in line and this was a night when the foot ball team was out of town.
I've had a smattering of experiences here, and the last two were vastly different - I'd give one a 2-star rating, and the other 4, so I'm going to compromise.
I'm just going to put it out there: The seasoning on the steak is the only reason I really like this place. My great experience also included a delicious mahi-mahi filet and my date and I really enjoyed both that and the filet. It was also a weekday night, so it wasn't busy at all, which definitely helped. They didn't have the half bottle of wine that we ordered, so they gave us the whole bottle for the same price. Awesome yet dangerous at the same time.
However, this most recent time was just awful. Everything was brought to us (a table of 5) in shifts, because they weren't using trays for the most part since it was so busy. Our waitress would seemingly fly by and there was practically zero chance of getting her to stop at our table. We ordered two bottles of wine with the intent to get a pretty good start on the first by the time our main dishes made it out, but no such luck. Luckily, as soon as I took a bite of my steak, I remembered how perfect their seasoning is and my mood temporarily lifted. Then my brother's girlfriend picked a live spider off his neck and the mood went back down into the dumps.
Basically, if you're coming here, come on a weeknight, don't expect to be wow-ed by the indoor atmosphere, be open to using dishware that you probably grew accustomed to in college, and order the filet (medium rare).
The steaka are great. Â It has Ruth Chris prices but looks like Crap on the inside. Â Even the silver ware and cups are Crap. Â Too bad not much thought was put into pleasing the eyes. Â If I had to go on looks I would never eat there again. Â The steak (filet) was good, the service is great. Â It's not pleasing to look at...and some new cups and silver ware would do wonders.
Review Source:"Most overrated restaurant in the MidWest" (and that's saying a lot with places like FARM Bloomington around)
Pros:
- ....?
Cons:
- The steaks are of mediocre quality at best. My husband loves steak and didn't even finish his, I didn't care to eat the rest of his either
- Pork chops: Overcooked, 1950s style, as simple as that.
- Grossly overpriced. I mean, outrageously, ludicrously so. For a place with all the charm of a Greyhound station, low quality meat, and bad service, they have some nerve charging significantly more than places like the already expensive but high quality Tallent. I would be unhappy if I'd paid HALF of what I'd paid. In fact, as soon as I saw the combination fo the interior and the prices on the menu, I almost walked out right away, but only stayed in the hope that it would be miraculously delicious. It wasn't.
- The interior looks like someone converted a shed into a ghetto tavern (and I'm still being generous when I say that)
- Inattentive servers who lack even the tiniest hint of charm.
- Stale breadrolls
- The ridiculous red/white checkered tablecloths... What is this? ... I don't even...
Conclusion: We left here incredibly unhappy, angry that we had to pay a HUGE amount for one of the worst dining experiences (bar Casablanca which has fortunately gone out of business) we've ever had. Perhaps in the glory days of Janko himself this place was good, but as it stands, even if all restaurants but Janko were closed, go buy some food from a gas station instead.
OK, Janko's, you won me back.
I still hate your prices, especially on 'special occasion' menu days (such as game days) but I love the food.
Be prepared - I always tell people that the initial impression is less than desirable. Â This is a dump. Â Dark, checkered tablecloths, uncomfortable chairs and old decor. Â You're not there for ambiance. Â You're there for meat.
The rolls are often stale, and sometimes they forget to chop the lettuce. Â Again, you're there for the meat.
I recommend the meatball appetizer - it's spicy, yummy, amazing. Â You can get them as a meal, too, but I suggest the appetizer so you can feast on steak. Â The mushrooms are also great, by the way.
The steak is amazing. Â Filet (the SUPER filet size of course) is to die for. Â The others are great, too, but the filet is the one. Â They also have ground beef, which looks fantastic, but I haven't ordered it. Â I swear I will sometime, but I never seem to get myself away from the filet. Â Others love the ribs, saying they are the best in town.
The wine list is reasonable if you're into that type of thing. Â
The prices are a bit steep, even for a good steakhouse. Â In Bloomington, you rarely see that type of pricing but anywhere else you'd just shrug it off. Â It's worth the extra money, though, especially if you're celebrating something. Â Be prepared to spend some coin, but then again it's great food and great service.
For a while, I had sworn Janko's off, having some bad experiences. Â But my last three visits have me back on the train to Zagreb.
First the positive: Good ribs!
Now for the harsh reality: This place sucks.
Why might you ask? Here is a nice little list for your reading pleasure...
1. They charge $1 extra for Blue Cheese Dressing... no mention of this anywhere or by the waitress.
2. The $15 Shrimp Cocktail comes with only 5 shrimp. That's $3 a shrimp... are you kidding me? Trying to mimic Saint Elmo's in Indy? Try again...
3. No wet naps or anything similar for cleaning up post rib session.
4. Servers don't introduce themselves and generally are worse than generic Applebee's.
5. The tables, chairs, etc are completely crappy. Wouldn't be an issue if they weren't charging premium prices, but when you eat out and pay higher prices you expect to get something for that money besides the food which you could just as easily make at home.
6. Â No Discover Cards! Despite stickers all over the door to the contrary, they wouldn't accept my Discover Card for payment.
Overall this place is a sloppily run waste of time, and you would be much better off cooking for yourself at home. If it weren't for the tasty ribs they would get zero stars.
Way too much hype over this place!
Okay, folks. You have to understand what you're getting with Janko's. As plenty of reviewers have noted, the atmosphere at this place sucks; so how have they stayed in business for decades? One word: THE STEAK.
The place takes pride in its no-nonsense attitude--its basically a deli that serves steak. That's right, I said a deli, not even nice enough to be a burger joint. Â Anyone expecting a nice steakhouse is going to be disappointed. I say this only because if you go into it expecting a fancy restaurant, you will be sorely disappointed and it will affect your experience, as it has for so many kids here. If you're looking for a special place to celebrate your anniversary, this is not it! This is a CASUAL steakhouse.
One final note on the price. It's really not that expensive. You will pay 25-35 bucks for a great steak. This is the same price you'll pay at any self respecting restaurant outside of Applebees. They even have cost-effective "sirloins for two (or three)"--try getting that at Malibu.
Once again, this is a no-nonsense place--no sides, no steak sauce. Just a well prepared steak. For this reason it only gets four stars--a four star steak with zero stars for anything else. If you can't afford a $30 steak, just don't go, but if you're a steak lover, this is one of the best.
Janko's is fine as long as someone else is paying and you don't mind waiting a while. Â
I am not sure where they get their beef, but it is not "prime" quality. Â You can buy the same stuff they serve at Kroger to grill at home. Â
I agree with another reviewer on the overly casual waitress attire and attitude. Â When an average table of four is dropping two to three bills servers in something nicer than wife beaters would be nice.
I like the crummy interior and exposed grill, but at its core Zagrebs is just an average restaurant with a built up tradition perpetrated by nostalgic alumni.
Soooo I'm torn. The food is suuuuper delicious but the people.. Excuse me. The boy (I say boy bc a man would never talk to a women the way he did) was exceptionally RUDE!!!! We were calling to give a courtesy call to let them know we were on the way and running slightly late due to all the IU traffic. He had the balls to begin running his mouth saying he was going to charge our credit card the full Amt if we didn't get there within 10 minutes and yapping away like a little dog. Horribly rude and no customer service skills whatsoever! However we rushed our asses over there and had wooooooderful exceptional service. Who the fk was the nutcase answering the phones?!!!! And what gave him the right to speak to a customer in the tone he did?!!!!
Thanks for taking off 2 whole fkn stars from your should be 5 star review. Customer service is alot and that's something you definitely need to work on with your employees for answering the phones.
You're doing it all wrong people!!
Janko's is about one thing and one thing only... the STEAK. Â
The service isn't great, the rolls are served cold, the salad looks like it came out of a bag and the dressing straight  out of Sam's Club, and worst of all, the flimsy forks practically collapse upon use. Â
But one thing is for sure, the sirloin for three is the real deal! Â Close to 3.5 lbs of perfectly cooked, charcoal grilled meat is more than enough to feed four. Â And for less than $20 a person I can guarantee you one of the best damn steaks in the country. Â
For an overpriced average quality steak order anything but the sirloin, but if you're looking for one of the tastiest, most affordable steaks of your life take my advice.
The food in this place is 3 stars at best. The fact that it's hugely overpriced downgrades the place to 2 stars.
I live two doors down from there and ordered takeout from there off of their online menu (which has no prices on it). I ordered their steak kabob done medium and subbed broccoli for baked potato. I was shocked when I got there and my tab was $32.50! There was only one skewer worth of kabob and the meat was way too rare. They charged me $2.50 for subbing broccoli and another $1 for ordering takeout. That was on top of the ludicrous price of $26.50 for the kabob. I've never even seen a restaurant charging a takeout fee before.
Anyways, given that I'm a relatively poor graduate student now, I don't see myself going back there in the future. The quality of the food is nowhere near the price that they charge.
I live in Chicago... the land of steak. But, I went to school as IU... the land of drinking.
That being said, Janko's Little Zagreb is STILL the BEST steak I have EVER had. (emphasis added for... well, emphasis)
Go here. Â Don't expect fancy. Â In fact, expect pinic table linens, a busy dining room, not-so-great service, and sometimes attitude.
BUT! You'll go through the journey towards one thing... a fab-u-lus, wonderful, amazing, beautiful steak.
Delish.
Wow, wouldn't have expected great steaks: 1) in this college town, and 2) in a dark restaurant with cheap decor. Â You're definitely not paying for the ambiance - I felt like I was sitting in someone's basement. Â And all the waitresses (college students) were dressed so casually in tanktops. Â And the kitchen is exposed. Â Usually when restaurants expose their kitchens, they have something to show off (tricks (stir fry) or culinary art (French)), but all Zagreb's had to show off was a big black grill. Â But when it came down to my steak, it was pretty fantastic. Â Juicy, cooked to perfection (medium was a true medium), and delicious flavor - made me wish I got the full filet. Â But $32 for a 7oz petite filet + baked potato should really get me more, no? Â I'm from Chicago, and for $32, I could sit at a nicer looking restaurant eating just as fantastic of a steak for that price. Â Felt almost stupid paying that much given #1 and #2 above.
And Croatian, really? Â What's Croatian in the menu?
Holy. Beef.
I was visiting my youngest sister at IU for the weekend when I stumbled into this place for dinner. Literally stumbled, and three cocktails deep. But who's counting? I was totally enjoying it, re-living my college days that weekend...
Upon entering this dive, I had low expectations. Boy was I wrong to judge. I'm absolutely sure of it now: The meaning behind the old saying, "never judge a book by it's cover" came from Little Zagreb.
I ordered the Petite Fillet. A-MAZE-ING. The perfect, tender, melt-in-your-mouth kind of amazing. I typically won't finish a 7oz steak, but leaving any amount of it behind would have put me to tears. Therefore, I HAD to finish it... and I did so without any problem at all, as it was the first to go on my plate.
My only concern about this place would be the serious lack of vegetables on the menu. Don't get me wrong, I love my steak and potatoes. But I felt so malnourished leaving this place without having had any green. Each plate is served with white rolls, a baked potato, and a salad consisting of only iceberg lettuce. Had I taken off my drunk goggles before reading the menu, maybe I would have read it more thoroughly before ordering. Â Perhaps I would have requested some broccoli (with the hopes of making me feel less guilty). Perhaps...
this seems like a must-go place for anyone coming in from out of town. that being, i would only begrudgingly recommend this place to my friends. and i've got several good reasons why:
1) it's a whole in the wall with really high prices. that's an unusual combination. some places pull it off, but not this place.
2) it's really really crowded.
3) the food is good, but not great.
4) it's croatian, but i didn't notice any out-of-the-way croation platters.
Janko's Little Zagreb is a hole in the wall that needs to be patched-up. Â It touts itself as a fine steakhouse. Â In reality, Little Zagreb's is a sawdust joint. Â The food isn't good, and I found the wait staff to be insolent. Â If you're in Bloomington and have $35 to spend on a meal, you'd be better off gorging yourself at Mother Bears. Â You'll probably get a better steak at Colorado Steakhouse.
Review Source:I agree with the notion that the ambiance is lacking at Janko's Little Zagreb. Â However, when it comes to eating a hearty steak, your full undivided attention is supposed to be on the hunk of meat in front of you, not on the decor of the restaurant.
Yes, Zagreb's is expensive. Â But so are any steakhouses that serve good meat. Â People also need to remember that this is Bloomington. Â It's not exactly bursting with fine steak options. Â And Zagreb's is hands down, the best place to get a steak in Bloomington.