The Pier Benedict from J Cafe in Menlo Park, made with smoked salmon and spinach. (Photo by Kate Bradshaw)

By Kate Bradshaw

Jason’s Cafe, a breakfast and lunch restaurant, has been revived in Menlo Park after it closed in May 2019.

The restaurant had received multiple lawsuits alleging that various parts of the cafe did not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and shut down because the renovations were expected to be too costly.

One lawsuit alleged that the lines of the cafe's parking lot were faded and difficult to see and that the front door was too heavy; another lawsuit claimed that the bathroom door was too narrow and the restroom space too small for someone in a wheelchair to maneuver.

The restaurant's namesake comes from Jason Kwan, a Menlo Park restaurateur who also owns Chef Kwan's, J&J Hawaiian BBQ and Yum Cha Palace. The original restaurant had operated in Menlo Park for 11 years before it closed.

I went to eat lunch at the renovated cafe recently and found the space inviting and comfortable, with plenty of seating available.

I ordered a coffee and the Pier Benedict, made with smoked salmon and spinach. The Hollandaise sauce was creamy and rich and blended with the runny egg yolks that sat atop the English muffin spread on my plate. The generous portion of country potatoes rounded out the meal – slightly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and carefully seasoned.

The menu includes traditional diner fare, including 14 types of omelettes, nine scrambles and nine Benedict varieties, pancakes, French toast and waffles, including apple waffles and banana pecan waffles. There are also five types of skillets with eggs and toast.

For lunch, house specials include steak, salmon, huevos rancheros and a house paella, plus a number of salad and pasta items.

J Cafe, 1246 El Camino Real, Menlo Park; 650-847-1093.