JoJo's Gelato & Grill

What started as Jim and Marni Danhauer’s food truck in 2015 has since turned into a local favorite for those in the Grand Island area looking to enjoy a little taste of Italy. They tout themselves as an Italian restaurant, although they serve various American dishes as well. Instead of handing out traditional menus, patrons walk right up to the counter to order their grub off of a large television menu that has eye-catching, mouth-watering pictures of all their dishes. On the American side of the menu, dishes include traditional cheeseburgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and Philly cheesesteaks, or fancier items like smoked prime rib, a brisket cheddar sandwich, or a cowboy burger. Chicken and salads are available for those not looking for a red-meat meal.

On the other side of the board are Italian-inspired dishes like spaghetti & meatballs and fettuccine alfredo, or a lineup of paninis that range from smoked chicken bacon avocado sandwiches, to rosemary chicken and a traditional Italian panini. And of course, we can’t ignore the sweetest part of JoJo’s Italian-American food lineup, their gelato. Unlike ice cream, gelato has about half the air of your traditional ice cream treat, which gives it a much smoother, dense, and frankly just more delicious taste.

My party of three sampled the tender & juicy Brisket Cheddar Sandwich (a real melt-in-your-mouth kind of meal for those who enjoy a lot of meat and cheese), a yummy, traditional cheeseburger, and a special featured item called a “Meatloaf Sammie.” The meatloaf was full of flavor and you could taste the special blend of spices and onions packed into every bite. Although the normal french fries are warm and crisp on their own, I would highly recommend taking a stab at the parmesan truffle fries that have a pretty unique flavor profile. I’d say that they perfectly offset any of the sandwiches! All-in-all, the food was fantastic, and I naturally polished off my meal with a generous portion of rich salted caramel gelato.

The next time you find yourself on I-80 with 30-45 minutes to spare for lunch, I would highly recommend taking the three mile detour off the main road into Aurora to enjoy this unique dinery. Kids are mesmerized by the robot that seemingly knows every twist and turn of the restaurant and glides with ease across the floor, and the food is top-of-the-line when it comes to small town eating. Thanks to the staff for their stellar cooking, fast counter-to-table delivery times (maybe that’s on the robot! :)), and just general kindness. Best of luck to the Danhauer family and their future endeavors! Keep up the incredible work!

Had pulled pork & it was delicious! Husband had chicken wrap & enjoyed it dipped in barbecue sauce. Don't miss their fries-AMAZING!

Yes, yes indeed, Italy is actually in Aurora, NE! Awesome gelato, fun robot that delivers your meal, easy for group dining, and tons of parking. The smoked prime rib was especially good too! Fantastic local husband and wife owners. Highly recommended!

Yum Yum Yum!!! I want to try everything!! All the food was amazing! Can’t wait to stop here again! We made the 3 mile trip from I80 to get here and it was worth the stop. The place is nicely set up and has a drive thru and lots of parking.

Outstanding. You are served by a robot here. We were all surprised when the robot came out of the kitchen and stopped at our table. The food was very good and Gelato was outstanding.

Food has been excellent.
Friendly service.
Robot waiter was pretty neat!

Absolutely fantastic taste food 🍲 is serving here. I was very positively surprised! And also they are very nice 😊 Strongly recommend!! Cheap and tasty 👍🏻

Lunch was very good Cowboy Burger wife had pulled pork sandwiches very good.

Amazing experience. Service was fast and polite. Wait time was minimal. Food was excellent for the price. The gelato was so rich and the flavor options were impressive. Definitely recommend this over any fast food chain option!! And not far from the interstate!!

If you are looking for great service, absolutely phenomenal food, and the best Gelato around, look no further than JoJo's. I have been there numerous times and regardless of what I have ordered whether it be sandwiches, salads, or Gelato it has all been wonderful. So if you're looking for hot eats or cool treats don't hesitate to stop and check them out. It has always been worth the 30 min drive from Grand Island. But please don't just take my word for it go and try it yourself whether it is dine in, carry out, or drive thru the service and food will be well worth it.

Ordering food was quick and easy and it came out just the same. The food itself was very good and the portions were perfect. Overall a good experience.

The BLT panini and Strawberry Cheesecake gelato are to die for! Their Snickers iced coffee drink with almond milk is my absolute favorite. I would get it every morning if I could.

A hidden gem in a small town! The gelato and meals were delicious!!

PLENTY of room and seating just about any time you drop in. Pretty good menu for our area and specials every day, so be sure to check their FB page daily. The all you can eat fish fry for Lent was really good, featuring some tasty French fries and yummy baked fish. The battered fish was what you'd expect from other fish places but bigger. I brought my own bottle of malt vinegar and no one raised an eye. The smoked meats are always good and they mix up the BBQ on hamburgers for a nice sandwich. Pasta has been good when I've had it, too. The Gelato is spectacular and flavors change every now and then but the mint chip and fruit flavors will leave you wanting more. All you can drink beverages and very reasonable prices. Check it out when in Aurora, you will be pleased and full!

Didn't really think this place would be awesome. It took me by surprise. The food was superb.

My favorite place to eat in all of Nebraska 🤯Love their food and Gelato a lot. 😁

About 3 miles north of interstate 80...but certainly worth the time. The Sunday buffet was absolutely delicious, chicken fried steak, turkey, biscuits and gravy were our favorite. Afterwards, you have to try the amazing gelato.

Food was great, they were out of the brisket sandwich but the guy running the counter was great at selling me on the cowboy burger. In fact the guy at the counter should get a raise, i have not been sold on a place, like i was there at that particular moment, great skills at what you do, we werent able to catch his name though.

I stayed in Aurora for a week for work. My coworker and I ate at this place 5 times! It has a very unique menu, that is cooked very well. Depending on the day or night they have various specials that aren't on the menu. Also, I tried the Italian Ices (lemon was my fave) and the Gelato, which was SO good! I highly recommend this place if you're in Aurora. Have fun!!!

Delicious food and friendly staff. Hands down, some of the best Italian food around.