Stopped in to grab a couple of coffees, a scone and a cinnamon roll. The Encounter Cafe is…read moreliterally across the street from our hotel, so this was a no-brainer if you're looking for an upgrade to the complimentary powdered eggs and overused waffle machine offered by the hotel that your staying at. The space itself is large and looks to be separated into two halves. I entered on the one side, ordered at the counter, just like you would at any coffee shop and waited. This place serves a full-service breakfast as well if you're looking for something more substantial (eggs, panini's, pancakes, etc..). I was just here picking up and bringing it back to our room. The coffees were fine, but there was only one gentleman working the counter, and he was a bit overwhelmed. He forewarned me that he had 4-5 drinks ahead of mine, so I ended up sitting there waiting for about 15 minutes for our two drinks. I wasn't pressed for time today, but if I was, this would've been an issue. I ordered a raspberry chocolate scone and a cinnamon roll. The scone was delicious. Not too sweet and was definitely made this morning. The cinnamon roll was delicious as well, but it was extremely sweet. To the point where it hurt your teeth. It would also have been better if it were warmed up. Lastly, they gave me this big cinnamon roll in a bag without any napkins or utensils?!? I had to stop at the free breakfast at our hotel to get a fork, knife and some napkins. So kind of a mixed-bag at the Encounter Cafe. I would give it another shot and try some other things, but it didn't blow me away.

I stopped here twice on a recent work trip as it was close by to the hotel I was staying in. It…read morereally lives up to the other reviews that describe it as a cozy atmosphere with fresh food. The first day I had baked oatmeal with yogurt and it was a huge portion size that was very similar to coffee cake. The next day, I ordered the avocado toast and was surprised to see it come out, layered with egg and bacon and fresh tomato. Their lattes were delicious without being overly sweet. So glad I found this place during my trip. It is worth the stop.

A great spot for studying, meeting up with people, or just enjoying a nice cup of coffee. Wonderful…read moreatmosphere with plenty of books to browse.

I LOVE Sidekick. This is my go to work and coffee shop. I always get a Winnie the Pooh latte and a…read morecookie. Their cookies are phenomenal and the coffee is not too bitter which tells me their baristas are properly trained on the espresso machine. Being a barista before, I'm a coffee snob and this place is above average. The book selection is also awesome and there's always someone who can recommend something for you. They also have quiche that is super delicious as well. Sometimes it gets loud when kids come in and parents bring a lot of them but it's nice when that's usually when I leave

This is a good coffee shop. It looks to be well supported by locals, which is always nice to see…read more Prices were better than other coffee shops around and they have complimentary biscoff cookies (score!). My latte was smooth, hot, creamy and just the right amount of foam, with a pretty heart design on top. The barista was friendly. The day I went, there were more than one group of locals meeting and chatting. So if you don't want the noise, bring headphones or sit at a table on the ground floor. There are many choices of where you can enjoy your beverage of choice.

Very good, quality coffee with excellent and friendly customer service! The view with the windows…read moreare nice and gives the place more ambience. I also love the fact they give free Biscotti cookies in a bowl to enjoy with your cafe. Very dope spot!

I love all the Java Houses and this was no exception! Great service and an Heirloom is connected…read moreto it.

I would have given this establishment a 5-star review, if it weren't for that gentleman…read moreDominique/Devonte on my receipt. He is my upstairs neighbor, whom we have been experiencing issues with for nearly a year now. I would never base my rating off of personal issues however- as that is petty and inaccurate. Unfortunately, he brought our issues into the workplace- and purposefully undercooked/tampered with our food. We will be requesting security footage & pursuing this case, as I was sick for the rest of the day after only eating a couple bites of my breakfast sandwich. I usually wouldn't pitch a fit, as I understand having a "bad day." However, I could have been seriously injured/poisoned; and do not feel safe knowing that workers like this exist in our food industry. It is terrifying. I knew from the first moment that something was "off" with the sandwich, as it tasted incredibly raw, and the ends were awfully "bubbly" and seemingly disturbed. I would recommend quite literally any other Java house besides this one until the issue is resolved, as you never know who he doesn't get along with.

I love supporting local coffee shops, and Press has amazing coffee. I stopped in this morning to…read moregrab a drink and tried their Chai Latte with espresso. Delicious and put me in a fall mood! I didn't get any food, but they do have pastries and Donutland donuts on the weekend. Great and quick service for a busy morning as well!

Cute coffee shop set a bit away from campus but still close by. Quiet enough to work but lively…read moreenough to have a vibe. Also love that they aren't afraid to share their worldviews. :) Their cold brew is one of the best I've had - add a splash of oat milk and raspberry syrup - yum!

I visited this coffee shop (Rebranded as "Midnight Coffee") for a latte and breakfast sandwich…read moreafter a Monday morning workout. Here were my thoughts: Food/Drink: Breakfast Sammy (Small portion but big taste. Not the best breakfast I've ever had yet well above the worst! The aioli knocked my rating up a a point or two for sure. Rating = 7.7/10). Iced vanilla latte (Rock solid latte. It was exactly what I needed to start my week. Nothing flashy but man did that cup get the job done today. Rating = 7.8/10). Service: Nothing to complain about. Drink and food came out quick and accurately. Ambiance: The shop was pretty quiet on this particular morning. I could definitely picture it as a great place to read a book, lock in to some work, or hang out with friends. Overall, this is a great place to get your caffeine fix in the Iowa River Landing area. Also note - this local chain of coffee shops was formerly named "Coffee Emporium" but recently rebranded to "Midnight Coffee" earlier this year.

Nice coffee shop with plenty of offerings! Went on a Thursday morning at 730 and it was a bit busy,…read morebut staff was so nice. I just got a cold brew with a splash of oatmilk. It was good and service was quick! Some seating to enjoy your coffee there or hang out with a friend. Some food choices but I didn't order any!

Great cafe joint with a trendy atmosphere. I had a chocolate croissant with cold brew. I'd like to…read moretry their lunch items next time as those looked delish. Check them out if you are in the mood for cafe style food or drinks. The pita bread looks good but did not try it. The service was good.

I got the original falafel salad bowl with sundried tomato spread. The overall taste of the bowl…read morewas bland and very underwhelming... needed more flavor and salt in the dressing. There was very little of the sundried tomato spread (which cost extra). I also found it odd that they charged more for the bowl over the wrap, and I thought it was overpriced for what I got. Not many tables inside for dining in. Also, the menu posted on the website did not have current prices, which are now higher.

Just good vibes. Good workers. Amazing place. I love Java house. They know what they're doingread more

I will start off saying that the whole reason I stopped here was that they have a roast called "St…read moreLouis Blues," but it is still worth a visit. I stopped by before 9am on a weekday, and they were already decently busy. Seemed like a comfortable place to drink coffee and hang out. I ended up just getting the pumpkin cream cold brew, which was basically a pumpkin pie in coffee form. Will need to stop back by next time I'm driving through

Our Alumni Board group had our team dinner here last Thursday. The Coffee Shop closed anyway at…read morearound 5 PM, so we had the whole place to ourselves starting around 6 PM. This was a nice private setting, with great laid back service, and some really good pre-ordered burgers (among other choices). A couple appetizers and dessert helped bookend a fine evening out among friends.

Coffee shop in the heart of downtown Iowa City and easily one of my favorite study spots! I love…read morehow big the space is. It can accommodate a lot of students without ever feeling cramped, and there are tons of outlets which is always a huge win when you're studying. It's the perfect place to get work done alone or catch up with friends over lunch. I haven't tried a ton from the food menu yet, but the Caesar wrap is so good. They also have one of the best iced matcha lattes in Iowa City. The staff is amazing too. Everyone is so nice, cheerful, and genuinely helpful, which makes the whole place feel really welcoming. The music is always great, the space is decorated so nicely, and I love the pencil wall. The bathrooms are clean and well kept, and they really have everything you could possibly need. They even offer a student discount, which makes it an even better spot for college students. Definitely one of my favorite places to go in Iowa City!

Great Cuban coffee and Cuban sandwiches. Makes me miss Miami even more! I like the flowers and…read moreother artifacts displayed because they remind me that I have to buy gifts for my siblings.

The food and customer service was phenomenal! It was getting busy and the person who was working…read morewas by themselves, yet didn't sacrifice any time or attention from me. I got the breakfast veggie burrito, and it was so delicious!