This is a very solid breakfast joint. There is nothing trendy about it, which is kind of refreshing. The Pancakes are as big as the plate and to my wife and I tasted delightfully like funnel cake. The hash browns were both wonderful and plentiful. One item on the menu that I rarely find except in the northeast is Hamburger steak. Everything at our table was cooked to order and well prepared. They split the check in our two couple, 5 person group without complaint and the food came out very quickly. If you show up starving and really can't wait you can get an on demand cinnamon bun that is absolutely massive in its own right with enough frosting to trigger diabetes in the healthiest of individuals. read more

Found this little café kind of accident. It's a very plain front, but excellent food and very clean.

Amazing customer service and the food was soooo good....more than you can eat! And we got to meet Nellie during our visit...amazing lady!

I typically do not give anybody five stars but this Mama shop the Mills are humongous. We were not able to finish it all so if you got some hungry children, this is the place to go. The food is absolutely fantastic. Very flavorful. The service was beyond wonderful not only do you have one individual checking on you everyone checks on you very sweet servers. The mom and Pops also are working. It's like a family owned business. It's a wonderful place if you haven't been there, I would definitely suggest you check it out. We will definitely be back if we're in town. The atmosphere was very family oriented. Definitely check this place out. read more

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Pricy, but worth it when they get it right. Comfort food. I visit about once a month for biscuits and gravy (with side of meat and scrambled eggs). I've tried every restaurant's biscuits and gravy in town and why I prefer Big Mana's is because theirs is very traditional. If you are a baby boomer it's what your grandmother fed you. The only feedback I have is this: ALWAYS plate the gravy last after everything else is on the plate. Today my eggs were very hot and the B&G was cold. That's happened about 20% of the time I have eaten there. ALWAYS PLATE THE GRAVY LAST. Service is great and friendly. The dish in the picture will cost you $20 with coffee and tip. read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Great food, quick service. Good amount of food served. Nice people working there. I would go back. Great place for locals.

Unexciting food I'm afraid. We had uncooked bacon on one order, slab little eggshell on another. Unfortunately, no coffee refills. read more

bad gravy hash browns were not cooked omelet fillings not cooked decent biscuit our waitress took our order and we had to get coffee by waving down someone bad first experience cool atmosphere would not recommend read more

WOW!!! This is one amazing breakfast spot!!! Service friendly and welcoming! The place was a good size, tables spaced well so you didn't feel crowded on in. Welcoming! Now the food. I had the Pork Tenderloin!!! It was huge!!! And darn good. Sausage gravy was smacking and the biscuits were hard on the outside and soft and fluffy inside. Perfect!!! This was an amazing breakfast!! Need this place back home!!! Two thumbs up!!! read more

We don't go often, but when we do, the service is always fast, friendly and efficient. Food is always great too. read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - 1/2 Lb Bacon Cheeseburger with French Fries - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Big mamas is an excellent choice for breakfast. From the outside, it doesn't look like much, but it opens into this expansive modern restaurant. Everything looks new and clean and the atmosphere is great. The service was perfect and everyone working there was very polite. I ordered two pancakes, two eggs, hash browns, and bacon (which I think was turkey bacon) and everything came out perfect. The bacon was crispy just how I like it. The pancakes were fluffy but not too fluffy. While the breakfast potatoes appeared very plain, they were actually well prepared and flavorful. It was a ton of food and I filled up quickly, but it was super affordable! Would go again. read more

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This is the most unassuming place you can imagine, and the BEST surprise. If you're ever traveling on I-70 near Columbia, MO, and have a hankering for the best country fried pork tenderloin (ever!) this is the place! Not only will you leave with a happy belly, you'll still have some change in your pocket--1990's prices--and feel like you just ate at your favorite Auntie's house. The service is fast, friendly and fabulous. It's a breakfast time favorite for our family. read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Big Mama's Cafe sign along I-70 SE Road in Columbia, MO. - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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Mom and pops diner, I thought the service was good and I'm still unsure if it was the best tasting food but you can't beat plate size tenderloins covered in gravy and plate size pancakes. For $50 we left full and had a lot of leftovers. I believe that alone is worth going and the place is pretty clean too! read more

We went around lunch time and it wasn't very busy at the time maybe 2 waitresses. Got seated quick then took about 10 minutes to get a drink ordered, kept taking care of I assume the locals and passing us by. Food was basic packet white gravy biscuits tasted like grands frozen in a packet my wife and dad said hash browns had no flavor and were greasy and they were no crisp at all to them all thought there was a good amount so plus there. Over easy eggs were all done over well so maybe we had the lunch staff and they didn't do breakfast as much then I'm not sure but I wouldn't get breakfast food again only thing food was bacon. It was nice it was clean so this is solely based on food and service. read more

Decided to go here based on the reviews. My daughter and I went here around 1PM on a Saturday. Not very crowded. We were seated right away. Waitstaff was nice. They do seem to know the patrons and talk it up. I'm sure that increases repeat business. The food portions are gigantic. I think if you come here and want to have leftovers, you can get another meal out of this place. Being from out of town, I felt guilty wasting so much food. I couldn't eat half of it! Tenderloin is juicy and flavorful. Biscuit was amazing. Hot potatoes were good too. My daughter enjoyed her pancakes. Like someone else mentioned, they don't have toppings really. Oh well. I see why this place is well liked. read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - tenderloin with hot potatoes, eggs, biscuit - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Good experience! Service was mediocre but people were kind and welcoming. Food was pretty solid, just nothing standout in my opinion. I got the meat and Veggie Skillet and was happy with my decision. I know I sound crazy for this and it may just be a me problem but my biggest problem was with the amount of butter - I felt like there was just too much butter where at some points it overpowered the meat and other things.The calorie per dollar was pretty good! The ambiance was nice I thought, it was a pretty relaxing atmosphere. read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Meat and Veggie Skillet - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Big portions and outstanding food. You have to try. Service is wonderful Ambiance lovely! read more

Was heading from Independence back home, and stopped in here for a late breakfast. Better food than most diner type establishments right off an interstate. The service was good, even though the place was HOPPIN'. I think the locals appreciate this place too. It was pretty basic ambiance-wise, nothin' to write home about. But the food was good and they serve breakfast until they close. That's a winner in my opinion. Good size helping for the money! read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Meat and Veggie Skillet - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Great breakfast & lunch place portions are BIG at Big Mamas service is usually quick on refills but this place is always busy just know the staff is running hard to do their best Staff is very pleasant and will cut up with you Consider splitting unless you are hungry Nearly everyone takes a to go box when leaving IMHP best breakfast in COMO hands down Check it out read more

The Breakfast Burrito was drenched in butter. I do not reccomend, it was disgusting. The country omelet was also greasy and rubbery.

Had a short wait, not bad. Service was quick, order came out super fast, everything was yummy.....when in town...would totally go back there again!!! read more

The food service and ambiance were all above average. I can't find all the words to list all the great things about this restaurant. I had the meat loaf which was like home cooking. My wife had the pot roast sandwich that she loved. We live in St. Louis and in the future she. We're in this this is our go to place. Oh. The prices were very reasonable too. read more

Big Mama's was highly recommended. Amazing high quality homemade country style food that will satisfy the pickiest eater. Good size portions that you'll need a to-go box. The staff is very friendly and quick with the service. The place is nicely decorated mixing a modern look with a diner feel. read more

We stopped in for breakfast and definitely was not disappointed. Portions were large and food was great. I had pork tenderloin breakfast, wife and daughter had a traditional eggs and bacon breakfast and we all really liked it. Service was top notch. read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Pork tenderloin with sausage gravy, hash browns, scrambled eggs and toast - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Big Mama should be very proud! Seeing the parking lot full was the first sign we had struck gold. When you first walk in you are greeted and made to feel welcome. The interior is charming and clean-the bathrooms are clean-a HUGE plus in my book and that's just the first impression. The second is the outstanding service. Our server, Cathy, was delightful and a real pro. I was a server for years in my youth and I know how hard the job can be. I would return just for her and once we got our orders, we want to be adopted by Big Mama! Delicious food in generous portions at wonderful prices. My husband had the two eggs scrambled, bacon, hash browns and he had asked for sourdough toast without butter. His plate came out piled high-he couldn't finish all of his pig candy (so I helped him ) or his hash browns. The toast came out buttered and Cathy made sure he got the right toast and gave us one of the home baked cinnamon rolls as an apology. Wow! Mama raised her children right While in town, it's our go-to place. read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Fresh, home baked cinnamon roll almost as big as a babies head! - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

We found this great local cafe on a Sunday morning road trip. It's obvious from the parking lot and line out the door that it's a local favorite. Staff was quick and helpful. They can really serve you fast so don't worry about the wait time. All the food was great. We definitely recommend coming to check them out. read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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Great place!! Waited about 20 minutes, well worth it. Wait staff was awesome. The breakfast was large!! read more

Fast service! Friendly staff and good food. Pretty much checks all the boxes for a good family restaurant. I tried the catfish special with 3 sides and thought everything was good - no complaints at all. Hubby had the meat lovers skillet and thought it was really good, although way too much food! The place is full of regulars and seemed to be very well run! read more

Great spot and super friendly staff! Highly recommend for breakfast. Even though they're busy seating was quick and service was attentive

I had a to go order for friends. It took about 30 minutes later than what they quoted. I ordered the western omelette. Might have well ordered scrambled eggs with a touch of cheese and a few other stuff. Lots of hash browns, but I ordered home fries with onions. Seems like quantity over quality. IHOP is much better! However the young man at the cash register was very awesome! read more

What can you say, Great Atmosphere, Great Service and Wonderful Food with large portions. We only waited 10 minutes on Mother's Day morning. A must stop when in Columbia! read more

Big Mama's Cafe has high ratings for legit reasons! Food is reasonably priced and very tasty. Service was friendly and fast. Desserts are the best!! Will be returning when possible! read more

The food here is great and the portions are huge! The veggie and meat skillet was so good but could easily be split between two people. The pancakes were so good! The edges of them tasted a lot like a funnel cake, which I loved. I recommend swinging by here for a great breakfast anytime! read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Cinnamon Rolls - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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Always stop here for breakfast whenever I'm in town. Their omlettes are really big and loaded with meat and vegetables. They also give a really large side of hash and some toast to go with the omelette. Highly recommend this place. read more

Stopped for lunch on a Monday afternoon at about 1:45. Considering they were closing in 15 minutes everyone treated us extremely well. They didn't rush us at all. I ordered the pork tenderloin sandwich. I've had it before and it was delicious. This time it came out saturated in grease. Grease was sitting on top of the tenderloin. It wasn't very appealing. I don't know if it was because the cook was in a hurry, but it should never come out of the kitchen like that. read more

I heard so many good things about Big Mama's Cafe and finally got around to going. Could not have been more disappointed. We got seated and placed our order. We each got coffee (which comes with free refills) and water (which should also get refilled). The coffee was hot we couldn't drink it without putting a few ice cubes in it. When our food came, mine was wrong. I ordered a combo with biscuits and gravy. Instead I got a combo with french toast - which isn't an option for the combo meal I ordered. I told the waitress that a mistake had been made. Instead of providing any customer service and immediately offering to fix the order, she told me I was wrong and talked down to me like a child reading the order notes - only to read the order I requested. She immediately walked away with my food without saying anything and came back a few minutes later to throw the plate down with the correct order down at the table and walked away. Never asked us if we needed anything else. We tried to get any passing waitress' attention but failed, so I walked to the counter to an unattended hot sauce and got it myself. We also tried to get anyone's attention for refills but failed. All four empty drinks could clearly be seen at the end of the table for anyone walking by the see. Lastly, when it came time to pay for the bill the woman at the counter refused to show any itemized bill until after you pay, so you can't fight any discrepancies until after they charged your card. They have the itemized bill already printed - they choose not to give it to you until after the fact. The lack of customer service and sketchiness around paying will never have me coming back. read more

My surprise! I've noticed a small looking place just off I-70 and decided to drop in. Turned out to be a great idea. I found a place voted best of Columbia 2022. I understand why. Everything was very good and the side of bacon? The bacon itself was perfect and is in itself a reason great reason to eat here. Yum! Service was very good. This was a most excellent adventure. :-) read more

Big Mama’s Cafe - Cafe entrance. - Cafes Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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I had a ham and cheese omelet-hash browns and toast the hash browns were great! The toast was closer to crackers it was so dry. I'm not a fan of paper thin greasy ( spray Pam) eggs with the ham added like an after thought in the middle of the layers of the paper eggs. Come to think of it 3 stars might be too generous. Did I say the hash brown were great? They were!! My daughter had pancakes bacon and scrambled eggs. Her eggs were a carbon copy of my greasy paper eggs (not good) but her bacon and pancakes were very good! Three stars might be reasonable I'll go back but I'll stay away from the paper eggs!! read more

I stopped in on a Sunday morning, place was decently busy,were seated and attended to very quickly. I had the biscuits and gravy full order. It was decent but nothing to rave about. I even commented that I liked my homemade better but not bad. Will I go back? Probably not, for breakfast anyway. I wish them prosperity though! read more

The food was great diner quality and the service was amazing! Clean bathrooms, speedy, and just enough kid menu options to satisfy everyone. Breakfast was quick and painless! read more