This is a great neighborhood place to come, let your hair down, and relax. The ambiance is casual, but what makes Jake’s so great is how the staff makes you feel like you are at home. And the food, well it’s just great! Part Italian, part American, but whatever you order is guaranteed to be tasty, fresh, and just fantastic.
Owner, Jake Litras, comes from a culinary family background. His father owned Two Guys Pasta and Pizza, so Jake really has a handle on what makes an eating establishment successful. From my tasting, he delivered delicious food, at great prices, in a cozy neighborhood atmosphere; what more could you want?
Here’s What I tried:
Cocktails:
Prickly Pear Margarita, this cocktail is so smooth, with great pear nuances, I just loved it.
Traditional Martini, they did a great job with my signature cocktail.
Cucumber Cosmo, a very refreshing drink, with a nice neutrally balanced fruit-forward flavor.
Appetizers:
Sauteed Mushrooms, whole button mushrooms sautéed in white wine, butter, and garlic sauce, served with toast points. These mushrooms pop in your mouth, with their rich garlic and butter flavor; a winning start to my glorious meal.
Jake’s Famous Chicken Wings, served with carrots, celery, blue cheese, and a sweet chili glaze. I opted for the sweet chili, which is also a bit spicy, but these are the best wings I have had in a long time. Their secret recipe will blow your hair back; a must-try.
Corkscrew Calamari, lightly battered and seasoned calamari served with marinara, ranch, and lemon wedges. A fun way to slice calamari, like a corkscrew, and they land very easily in your mouth. These are piled high; I would order every time as a starter.
Soup and Salad:
Broccoli Potato Cream Soup, a luscious rich, flavorful thick soup.
Wedge Salad, iceberg wedge, Applewood smoked bacon bits, carrots, tomatoes, red onion, candied cashews, blue cheese crumbles, topped with blue cheese dressing, and balsamic reduction. So, hands down, the best Wedge Salad ever. It’s their super creative ingredients that knock this one out of the park. Also, they make all of their own salad dressings. Pretty much everything is house-made from scratch, and it’s all very fresh.
Off The Grill:
Flame-broiled steak with pan-seared shrimp, mashed potatoes, and vegetables. A very tender, yummy steak with the perfect grill marks, just loved it. And the surf and turf part were off-the-charts good!
10 Oz. Grilled Chicken, just a stunning presentation, with nice crosshatch grill marks; a wonderful, low-calorie, healthy menu option.
Handcrafted Sandwiches:
Philly Cheese Steak, ½ lb. grilled and seasoned steak with sauteed mushrooms, crispy onion strings, roasted bell peppers, topped with their house-made cheese sauce, and served on a toasted French roll. It’s a huge sandwich, with a big, bold, and meaty flavor. A perfect lunch item!
OG Pastrami, grilled and seasoned pastrami, melted mozzarella cheese, topped with spicy mustard, and served on a house French roll. I love the mustard; it just adds so much flavor to this sandwich.
Wraps:
Impossible Vegetarian Wrap, there is no way this is not beef, it’s so flavorful, and you really think it’s meat. Just the perfect menu item for the vegan.
Gourmet Burgers:
The John Wayne, ½ lb. Angus beef, Applewood smoked bacon, grilled onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheddar cheese, and topped with smoked BBQ sauce. This burger is something else, with the very smokey Applewood smoked bacon, wow, just amazing!
Pasta:
Sicilian Combo, lasagna, Italian sauce, and penne pasta, smothered in marinara sauce, baked until golden brown. You get a little bit of everything, and it’s so enjoyable!
Penne A La Vodka, smoked bacon, Roma tomatoes, and basil, tossed in their house-made vodka sauce, served over penne pasta with shrimp. A delicious pasta, and a huge portion that can be shared with a friend.
Pesto Chicken, grilled chicken breast, sauteed mushrooms, tomatoes, fresh basil, roasted garlic, and parmesan cheese, in a pesto cream sauce over penne pasta. A very comforting pasta with great pesto flavor.
Stone Oven Pizza 14″ BBQ Chicken Pizza, grilled chicken, red onion, gouda cheese, cilantro, and BBQ sauce. The crust is thick and tasty; I just love anything with BBQ sauce! Their pizzas are worth the destination.
Dessert:
Cheesecake, homemade with strawberries.
Bread Pudding, homemade.
Both desserts were out of this world! I would just love to come in for their desserts. Chef Danny Meron really goes to the extreme with the ingredients to make sure it’s true perfection.
Wine:
Bogle Chardonnay, a bright crisp Chardonnay; it went great with the sauteed shrimp.
Bogle Essential Red, a nice blend of varietals that paired so great with the burger, and of course the steak.
Jake’s mom, Janie Dakan, redecorated the interior 2 years ago, she really spruced everything up. The bar has some great sports heroes adorning the walls, as well as many classic rock posters. It goes along with the great music they play while dining. They also have live music on most Saturdays.
Bartender/Server, Tess Emmons, tells me that 80 percent of their customers are regulars; some come as much as every day. They have 15 flat-screen TVs, so lots of these regulars are coming in for a variety of sporting events. As well as their nightly specials, they have a burger night, a wing night, and a steak night; all highly discounted meals. Chef Danny Meron came from a very well-known place in Redlands, CA called Copehouse. When he was hired, he had only one condition, which was to change up the menu by adding brunch and soon-to-be seafood selection to their huge menu. I am so lucky to be invited back to taste both brunch and the new menu coming in mid-June. Chef Danny got his wish!
Jake’s Italian Bistro & Brew offers up some very delectable grub but with a cheers bar type of vibe. When you’re at Jake’s, you’re family, and everyone knows your name!
Jake’s Italian Bistro & Brew
12170 4th St.
Yucaipa, CA 92399
909-790-8750
(Corner 4th and Yucaipa)
Monday 11:30 am to 8:30 pm
Tuesday 11:30 am to 8:30 pm
Wednesday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
Thursday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
Friday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
Saturday 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
Sunday 11:30 am to 8:30 pm
Happy Hour 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm Monday – Friday!
1/2 off Selected Appetizers
$2 Off Pints
$3 Off Pitchers
$10 Buckets of Domestic Beer
$13 Buckets of Imports
