JFires' Market Bistro

An amazing meal in Waterloo, il? Sure the heck was! The atmosphere is really cool. Service was above average. Appetizer (boudin balls) was really good especially with the dipping sauce. The pizza my son hot was better than I expected and was only $10! I got the mahi mahi with the avocado sauce and was surprised at how well everything went together.

Excellent meal for a very fair price

If you're a fan of old houses like me, you'll enjoy just waking into JFires and looking around.  Of course it's mostly updated, but the floors still have that ancient scratched up hardwood patina and it still has some historic charm about it.  

Our service could not possibly have been better.  The server was very enthusiastic and helpful, and when we had a problem with our daughter's dinner, the head chef/owner came runnig out and went WAY above and beyond to make things right.

We had some cajun pasta and an italian sausage flatbread.  Our daughter ended up with chicken strips and buttered noodles.  All the pasta is made from scratch and it was wonderful.  The chicken strips were also especially good.  My only complaints; the chicken in the pasta was cut into chunks that were too big and for some reason, they put lettuce on top of the pizza.  It was easily removed, thuogh.

I noticed they have a nice big patio out back and the waitress said there is live music on weekend nights.

Just HAD to visit after viewing the website and seeing that J.Fires was once my great-great-great grandfather's plantation (the David Ditch).  The hubby and I took the MoDoc ferry over from Ste. Genevieve, a leisurely stroll up the IL side to Waterloo (stopped at a winery along the way since our reservations weren't for a few hours).  Arrived at J.Fires, seated immediately, waitress seemed a bit aloof, but service was good nonetheless.  We sampled a few wines, I decided on the strawberry wine (made local), and was fantastic!  Husband chose the local chaumborcin, and loved this as well.  We received bread at the table, which seemed store bought (hopefully next time will be made in house), and ordrered a cheese platter as an appetizer.  Variety of cheeses, nuts and fruit, with local honey and crackers.  Another suggestion is to serve with homemade crackers or wafer crackers rather than Townhouse!  We each decided on a pizza for dinner (but there were MANY other scrumptious sounding options we wanted to try).  He ordered the cheeseburger pizza, I had the cheese; both were very tasty.  Pizza was served on a marble slate (not sure why?), piping hot and crust was excellent - my cheese pizza was a flavor explosion in my mouth, kept you guessing which I loved.  Husband equally enjoyed his cheeseburger pizza.  We left stuffed with plenty of leftovers! :)

We will return with more family members during the day to see our ancestor's plantation --- I am so ecstatic that J.Fires has vowed to keep the old home/barn/grapes as is, brings a tear to this girl's eye thinking it could've been bulldozed.  Sad that McDonald's and Arby's are nextdoor, but don't let this deter you from enjoying a great meal here.  Jennifer (owner) came up to our table after I told the waitress I'd love to hear the history of the home.  Jennifer was so sweet, and was excited to hear any history I had on my g.g.g. grandfather living there.  I told her I'd dig up some info and be back - so we'll return soon.  Would like to try their Sunday brunch...