Jackson Jambalaya

They have consistently screwed up my order lately and I’ve been ordering the same thing for over thirty years. The employees at that location are just terrible. The last screw up - where I didn’t even get pita bread for my open face sandwich - I told them I would not be back.

In my opinion , I like Keifers and the food is great, but it hasnt been the same since they moved out of that old house and bulldozed it. There use to be something about those damn space heaters sitting on that cold patio in the winter time lol

Would you like to sit on the deck?

Absolutely!!

Perfect evening to be doing something outdoors. Try back Sunday after church.

bland neighborhoods, bland food...

I won't be surprised if this location closes soon. The Madison location seems to be booming.

I tried going there a few months ago. How hard is it to get two gyros right? Took forever and still screwed it up. Pita and hummus tasted like reheated Walmart pita and hummus. These aren’t millennials either. My waitress looked like a boomer who had probably worked there since the 80s.

It is expensive as hell, and aplos is way better

It’s too expensive for most tbh. Lots of other options too. They need to reinvent their products to reduce price. They should have half an order of cottage fries for 60% of the price. (Downtown does this). They should make a combo of most popular items. Quit charging so much for tea? Get a golf cart and deliver in the neighborhood? Do something different is all.

See the previous post(s), there is your answer. No one wants to go to downtown Jackson

The place is packed at lunch. Seems my order isn’t right half to time if it’s to go

I eat there all the time..usually at lunch, Food is great, service has been efficient and friendly in my experience. Beer is ice cold. Sunday and Saturday lunch has been busy

That's odd. I've never had bad service at that location. And these days, I pretty much expect sub par service everywhere I go.

The thing that has always bugged me about Keifer’s. They won’t sell 1/2 of potato with gyro, only the full potato which I can’t eat. I’ve asked repeatedly and they say it’s mgmt policy, they can’t do, not an option, etc etc. I had one smart waitress give me 3-4 slices once for free and she was tipped accordingly well. Why do they have to be so difficult on something so easy?

My family and I love Keifer's but the past 2 times we have ordered, it has been the wrong items or left something out. The food last time was not good! We were all surprised at the poor quality and taste.
We starting going to another place since then. It is sad that one of the Jackson staples has bit the dust!

Portions have gotten smaller and more expensive. Not worth what they are charging IMO. And there is a safer location in Madison now to patronize.

Every time we go it is packed. Wife and I can split a pitcher of beer, 2 wraps, a side of fries all for $35. If that’s too expensive then maybe y’all shouldnt be eating out

Must really be a slow day if this is all you've got. Basically just teeing up another excuse to criticize Jackson. Give it a rest.
There are probably a couple of other restaurants in the metro area that also had less than full parking lots. It was Super Bulldog weekend so the MSU faithful went to Starkville. Combine that with graduations and weddings.. LOTS of people were out of town.

This is a sample size of 1. Every time I go (which is often) there are plenty of patrons. Service has been solid. It's still Keifer's. People who comment are just here to tear things down.

I still enjoy Keifer's. They are the best gyros in town, and no, Aplos doesn't come close. I do enjoy the other food at Aplos, but their gyros are always stale tasting.

Keifer's has become more of a lunch place and less of a weekend/date night place.

I'm not going "into" Jackson on a weekend to eat. I'll go by on a weekday when I have some work to do in the area. Plus, I drive a Ford truck. 50/50 if it and/or the belongings inside it will be there when I leave said eatery. Not worth it to me.

Sakura Bana wasn't packed last night and the to go orders weren't flying out the door like normal. It's that time of year, people have 50-11 things to be doing. It's usually slow everywhere this time of year.

If you want a good gyro, go to Aladdin's.

Cleaning the floors, tables, and bathrooms will help.

@11:30 AM I cant speak for anyone else. I am bot trying to tear anything down. I just relayed my disapponting experience.

I loved the old Keifers but I do think part of the reason I went there was because there were no other Greek options really so it won by default, and that was in 2001 when I still lived in NE Jxn.

There is just no reason for me to ever make the drive into the City of Jackson and risk potholes and crime. I prefer Kristos or Keifers in Madison for safety and convenience.

But the old Keifers location provided some great memories and it sure makes me sad that I don't feel safe in that area. Especially after dark. Such a shame what the negligent city leaders have done to Jackson.

Love the food and never had any problems with my order or with service. Been going to Keifers since it opened.

This weekend was gorgeous. Folks out and about. Also had several city (not Jackson) functions going on.

Location, location, location.

In my opinion the best gyro is at YiaYia's.

Millsaps and Belhaven are shrinking, and that generation seems to drink less.

That location has to compete with Elvie’s, Manship, Fertile Ground, Poppies, Wing Mouth, Pulito, and Rowan’s around the corner.

That Keifer’s has been a good experience for me the past year. Prior to that it was bad for a couple years give or take.

I don't eat processed carb heavy meals often, but, when I do, Keifer's was one of my go to options that you get a craving for, but I would show up for a favorite dish - the pitatilla - and they would be out of it. Like how hard is it to whip more? Mind you, this would be peak hours of the day, not within 10 minutes of closing or anything. So, I stopped going.

11:45 hit the nail on the head. For some reason it has become a lunch spot. Went there at night recently and it was dead. Wish the night-time crowd would return, it has great outdoor seating.

Keifer's on Congress will sell a half order of fries, cottage or curly, just fyi to the one commenting on the large order of fries...I just recently figured that out myself!

I, too, went out to eat yesterday at another establishment and wondered why on such a beautiful day there was so very few patrons. My guess is like some above, things have become so expensive. Just Friday night my tab for two at Table 100 was $250, crazy me for ordering the steak at "market price". Then lunch yesterday for two was $80, for shrimp that would even peel, at The Back Porch. I work downtown and you can go eat lunch for less than $17. I've about decided I'm done eating out, as bad as I hate not supporting our local restaurants, we'll be eating in for a long while now.

We ate there a few weeks ago after visiting someone at Baptist. I was shocked at how few people were there at 7:30 on a Thursday night. We were 5 of 15- 20 people at most. 3 out of 5 orders were wrong and food wasn't that great. I haven't tried the Madison location yet, but have heard it isn't any better. There are too many better options in the metro area now than going to Keifers. The crowd seems to love Aplos, which is fine since it makes it a little more managable to get a table at Kristo's.

YiaYia's Greek Kitchen in Ridgeland....best authentic Greek place around. Never been disappointed.

I will go ahead & say it all the old & new customers go to the Madison location on HC parkway it stays packed

@ 10:51… 1/2 of a potato? Really? Can’t eat a whole one? Here’s a thought, take the other half home and eat it the next day!

Aplos' gyros may not be as good, but their other food is. And right up 55 are the best gyros in the area - Krilaki's. I can be there just as quick as I can get to Keifer's.

25 dollars for a meal that look like snack at Keifer's. 6:30 for old folks in Jackson metro area is late.

Not everyone is rich like you.

Jackson is a deserted and dangerous wasteland every day after dark, and especially weekends. Same reason we haven't been to the French Quarter in New Orleans in years. Can't risk getting my brains randomly blown out by a Glock-switched, 30-round pistol toted by a teen gang member.

My gyro vote goes to Kristos in Madison, BTW.

Old fart here.
(and happy to have lived in that era).

Back in the early 80's, starting a Saturday night with a couple of gyros at the original Kiefer's and their "Mega Mugs" of beer was the perfect beginning before making the rounds to the original Cherokee, Dutch Bar, CS's,
Tha Lamar, Town Creek Saloon and wrapping up the night at the Dock around 2:30 AM.

Were there fights ?
Oh Hell yeah !

But the fights were usually between two guys (over a girl).
Black eyes and broken noses were common.

But good lord, we didn't shoot or stab each other.

Our biggest fear was a Madison County roadblock after we left the Dock.

Uhm... it's Cinco De Mayo? Maybe everyone went for Mexican? Could it be that it's just not that complicated?

Correct.....

6:30 pm is a bit early on a Friday night these days. Many folks haven't been home from work or after school practices long enough to " clean up" before " going out". It was also Derby Weekend and some of us were fixing dishes to take to "watch" parties. KF, 6:30 pm is when old folks " dine".

11:57 PM: Aladdin’s gyro isn’t even close to as good as Keifers’. Plus the service at Aladdin’s is horrible. Worst service ever the last two times I’ve been there, so I’m done with Aladdin’s.

The main reason folks don’t go to Jackson restaurants at night is fear of random crime. If Keifers or any other Jackson restaurant is short on nighttime business, all the have to do is hire a security guy for the parking area.

Like most downtown restaurants these days ....sans Martins, terrible service and even worse food.

Wondering why nobody is frequenting a Jackson eatery after dark. Tell me you're shittin' me without tellin' me you're shittin' me!

@10:45 👎🏿I dont think you are using that phrase correctly

This place doesn’t have a mortgage or a lease. The owner paid for it with a check. He does have to make payroll though which is tough. I’m not too worried about these folks however. Billionaire family makes this kinda easy.

Was there at lunch today and it was packed. Parking lot was full plus folks parking on the street. Great meal, great service!

I don’t eat there since Nutt bought Rick out. It’s subpar and I’m not supporting any bloodsucking buzzards.

Boy did you ring some memory bells with me! I smiled the whole time I was reading this. Thanks.