This was really good, the place is way bigger than I thought and they get busy but keep things moving. Great service, always kept the coffee and water full. The plate o got was huge! Biscuit, gravy, hash browns, eggs, sooo good. read more

Stopped by Frontier Cafe and tried a few things. The chicken ranch wrap was definitely the highlight--it was pretty good and I'd give it around a 6.6/10. The cheese curds were just okay, nothing that really stood out. I also ordered fries with cheese and gravy, basically going for the Chicago-style disco fries I'm used to back home. The gravy ended up being mushroom-based, which unfortunately wasn't for me since I'm not a mushroom person. That one was more of a personal preference issue than anything else. Overall, it wasn't a bad meal, but nothing really blew me away. The chicken wrap was solid, while the cheese curds and fries were just okay for me. Still worth trying if you're in the area, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way for it. 3/5. read more

the food was amazing, just a little expensive. service was good as well. the ambiance was so beautiful, the ceilings have a very cool design and the lights are beautiful. read more

I have visited this cafe on multiple occasions. The staff are always kind and friendly and the service is always good. They have a large menu to choose from and it follows traditional diner food. read more

Our trip to pick up a truck brought us to Grinnell Iowa. After the pickup we were on the hunt for good food. Yelp reviews pointed us to Frontier Cafe where we found the sweetest server and delicious food. Hubby had the Texas Omelette and I had the Spring Chicken dinner with extra avacado. Such a pleasant experience. Food was fresh, seasoned perfectly and plentiful. read more

good food and good service. we went Saturday morning. it's a good sized restaurant. it wasn't overly busy, but not empty. my husband had biscuits and gravy in a bowl. MIL had the two breakfast, two eggs, 2 bacon and 2 pancakes. the pancakes were huge and thick. I tried the pancakes, I thought they were a little tough and heavy. I had the Denver omelet with no green onions. it all came exactly as we ordered it. my omelet was very good. we all enjoyed our meals. the gal serving us was good. bathrooms were clean. real paper towels, not automatic so you could easily get a good amount of paper towels to efficiently dry your hands. read more

See all

On our trips south, we always stop for lunch or breakfast. The service is wonderful and the meals taste fresh and good. John and Linda Butler read more

Frontier Cafe - Cheese curds and taco salad... - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

See all

We were on a day trip down to the Amana Colonies and we were starting to get hungry. A quick search on Yelp pointed us in the direction of the Frontier Cafe in Grinnell IA. It was open for dine-in. To get the C19 stuff out of the way... All staff wore masks. They have erected framed plastic walls up between all the booths. The tables on the floor were adequately spaced. The restaurant is seat yourself. The menu is extensive. You pay at the front after finishing with your meal Heather ordered the Texas burger and I ordered the catfish strip dinner. The burgers come with a cup of soup (no substitutions), but you can order additional sides like fries, etc. a la carte. The catfish strip dinner came with two sides and ice cream or tapioca. With a water and fountain drink our total came to $22.70 before tip. Most of the servers were younger girls and didn't seem very attentive to the tables after the food had arrived, but they did an okay job. The reason for the four stars rests solely on the food. Heather said her burger, despite being on the smaller side, was one of the best burgers she's had in the state. Hand crafted and cooked perfectly. The cup of chili was... A close clone to Hormel chili. I like Hormel chili... Others may not. The fish was very good... But it's not catfish. Probably cod. Flakey white fish with no darker line and no fishy taste at all. But it was breaded with a seasoned batter and cooked perfectly. Minced onion rings, a lettuce side salad with blue cheese dressing, a scoop of hard pack chocolate ice cream, and a Coke. A great little cafe/diner to grab some comfort food at. A welcome surprise. A hidden gem. If we're ever in the area we wouldn't hesitate to stop by again. If the rest of the menu items are as good as we received today this could be the start of a beautiful thing. read more

See all

Went for breakfast on a Sunday morning. Got there at 10 AM and had no problem getting a table. Traditional breakfast options. Corn beef hash and eggs were good. Pancakes were also good but would prefer if they had real butter in stead of the spread. Service was efficient. By the time we were leaving they had a filled up and had folks wait for tables. Good, not great. read more

Very nice staff and super clean place. Basic dinner food was quick and delicious. I'll stop again when traveling thru Grinnell.

Stopped in for "Breakfast" around 2pm. Great omelet & hashbrowns. Friendly service. Huge menu, if you can't find something you want, you aren't hungry. read more

A wonderful breakfast: omelet, hash browns, pancakes, crisp bacon, fresh strong coffee! Great service! A beautiful building well maintained in this classic downtown in historic Grinnell Ia. read more

If you're reading yelp looking for a place to eat breakfast in Grinnell Iowa, here's your sign. EAT HERE! I try rating places in categories. Like BK and a a steakhouse are not the same. I went in to frontier with low expectations. I figured keep it low so I won't be let down. I'm glad to say this place is great. The breakfast was NOT greasy, like I expected. The portions were a good size and the food tasted great. If the cinnamon roll was homemade, you guys make a really good cinnamon roll. I love gooey cinnamon rolls with lots of frosting. This one wasn't it, but it was good. You could taste the cinnamon and frosting in every bite and it wasn't overwhelming (unlike the ones I prefer). The thing is, it was really good. The meals we had were so good too. The eggs were made right, the bacon was good and the pancake was nice. The hash browns with gravy and cheese were killer. Next time I am in the area, I'll be ordering them again. The coffee was good. My one minor complaint that's just me being really picky. I like real butter not the veg oil spread. Most places only offer the spread so it's not uncommon. Great job guys! The decor is eh, but I wasn't there to look around, I was there to eat. No offense to the decorator. The bathrooms are clean and the toilet paper was way better than your average single ply tear if you don't layer toilet paper most places use. read more

See all

It was pretty good. Fairly standard food. Nice server. Greasy spoon and greasy air! Seemed like the vents weren't working great; the air was thick. Definitely want to give them another try later on. Nice and busy -which we love to see at local places! They've got the host stand/checkout counter right inside the door and there's not a lot of room to squeeze by people when the door opens. Made things a bit awkward to get in, get seated and then pay later. Someone seated us by running ahead and dropping off menus at a booth we guessed was ours. Our server was very nice and patient with our niece while we teach her to read a menu herself and make decisions. All the food was pretty standard and nothing was bad. I wasn't a fan of the onion rings I ordered, but the fries I stole off the niece's plate were good. Once we were able to get some boxes, checking out was crazy. Two different large tables of friends paying individually really overtaxed that situation I described earlier. So we had to wait quite a bit to go attempt to go pay. read more

Often come here for breakfast on the weekends. If you don't want a wait for a table, make sure you come before 9am on the weekends. Nevertheless, the service is always great and quick. Homey feel with great food for the price. read more

The second time here. Good local brew and interesting sandwich choices and salads. I am in town by myself so wanted an eady place to go for supper. Friendly service and very casual and accommodating. read more

Comfort food just the way I like it. Tabasco added for affect. Be sure to put this breakfast stop on your short list. read more

Frontier Cafe - Comfort food just the way I like it. Tabasco was added for affect. Put this one on your go to list for good eats and great service. - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

Homegrown Americana, It is a mom and pop run in your typical small town. American Square on a college town. Loved the skillets. Gyros omelets sometimes I go for something out of my leg like chicken, fried steak or a sandwich but their food is bomb.com read more

Their Reuben sandwich is one of the best I've had in a long time. And it was huge, had lots of meat on it and was so juicy I didn't need the dressing that came on the side. I ordered the senior version and learned it wasn't any smaller, just cost less. : ) The staff were super nice and friendly. read more

Frontier Cafe - DH had the hot beef sandwich. - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

See all

We've been waiting all summer for the Frontier Cafe to open, and finally got a chance to stop in tonight. It's the only place in town that serves breakfast all day, and in retrospect, we should have stuck with breakfast, since eggs and pancakes are harder to mess up. We got onion rings, which had a somewhat fishy/old oil taste and barely any discernible onion inside. I got battered walleye (again, probably a mistake, since it was obvious that it would just be some frozen fish sticks), which were quite salty and "old fried" tasting, with sides of salad (a fair amount of it starting to rot) and coleslaw (alright, but very mayo-ey). The condiments on the table were also ultra-budget, and the little packet of "Taste Pleasers Gourmet Tartar Sauce" was basically just sweetened mayo. Their prices are quite low, but to be honest, I would rather have paid a little bit more for a less fast-foody experience. They have an enormous menu, really much larger than they could be making fresh or well; there might be some hidden gems here, but someone would really need to explore the whole thing to find out! If I had to go back here, I'd stick with breakfast foods, but I'm certainly not rushing back... Edit to add, in response to another reviewer: my reaction to this place was based on disappointment with low quality ingredients, not the style of food. It's quite possible that things have improved since they first opened, but in my experience, we have much better Iowa comfort food elsewhere in Grinnell. (Yes, I do live here) read more

Frontier Cafe - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

Recommendation: A solid choice for super cheap food and breakfast served all day. You can't go wrong with the skillets, and the pancakes aren't bad either! Tip: Avoid the post-church rush on Sundays from 11-1. It gets absolutely packed and service can slow down a little. Tip: Don't get the Kraft American cheese squares on your food! It's better without. Service: The service is pretty decent! Waitresses are helpful and attentive, although during the busier hours we see less of them due to the high demand between tables. However, our water glasses are huge and always full, which is great. Receipts can be split many ways, which is great when groups choose to eat here. You have to pay at the front though, so lines of people waiting to pay can build up during busy times. Atmosphere: There isn't too much of an atmosphere. There's a TV in the back and there is pop radio playing softly in the background. A lot of the "atmosphere" comes from the many conversations emanating from the dozens of tables and booths throughout the restaurant. Food: There are a couple gems on the menu (skillets!) but in general, the food is good. Nothing special, though. There are no premium ingredients that I've seen, which I suppose brings the price down. American cheese slices are used in a lot of the meals, so if you aren't a fan of low-grade cheese I'd suggest asking the server to omit it from the dish. The cups of soup that come with most meals are pretty good, if on the salty side! Final Thoughts: Frontier Cafe is a good stop in Grinnell if you want typical American food, or breakfast food. The staff is friendly and there are almost always lots of people eating there. When it isn't at capacity, the food comes out pretty fast! All in all this is a basic restaurant that doesn't offer anything too special, but does the basics just right. I'll definitely be coming back when I'm in the mood for breakfast! read more

Nice little restaurant a little ways off of I-80. Got here at 11:45. Was full. Chili or chicken noodle soup with lunch. Both very good, especially the chili. Had a buffalo chicken wrap. Very good. Chicken melt and BLT were also very good. Other food coming out the kitchen all looked great. Definitely a place to stop in and enjoy. I see why locals enjoy it. read more

Frontier Cafe - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

Everything was perfect. Server waited on me right away, food came out fast and was excellent , the place was really clean, server smiled and was attentive. Coffee is very hot. Highly recommend this place if you are in town. read more

Frontier Cafe - Farmers Omelette and sourdough toast - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

See all

A review for breakfast. Quite good! Pleasant atmosphere. Perfectly great service (a friendly hello, grab any seat you'd like, quick and attentive with water, order-taking, food arrival, and a post-food-arrival check-in). The food was surprisingly NOT greasy in any way - I got two eggs over easy (cooked perfectly, btw), wheat toast, hash browns, and 3 strips of bacon. All was delicious, and a ton of food for under $5. I would absolutely go back here for breakfast if I lived here! read more

Frontier Cafe - Delicious not-greasy quick and cheap diner breakfast! - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

The menu has everything. Like, EVERYTHING. You can order French toast, a chicken wrap, shrimp or chicken fettuccine alfredo. Everything we ordered was really good. It's definitely a place you should stop if you want decent food with a variety. My only reservation about this place is the bathroom. It's weird, not that clean, and one of the women's stalls is too small to use without straddling the toilet as you open the doors. read more

OMG there fries were so good it felt like you were in a magical wonderland. Amazing job on the burgers to

Not for me. Cute decorations, coffee was good. I have a gluten allergy, so I ordered a grilled chicken sandwich without the bun, just lettuce. I told the waitress I had food allergies. I was served a very thin piece of chicken that was floured and one wilted piece of romaine, that was partially rotten. My daughter ordered a hot turkey sandwich and the mashed potatoes were boxed not fresh. Oh well, maybe they do better with breakfast. read more

Was in Grinnell for lunch on a Monday, and there really weren't that many options. I was feeling like breakfast, so went for Frontier. This is... completely standard. Perhaps, given that, even a shade below standard, or at least below a 3. The coffee is terrible. For a greasy spoon this may be no surprise, but I do like it when I get surprised. I had a hashbrown thing, sausage and onion and pepper, cheese on it. It was fine. No better, not a whit, than I expected. It should be easier to make breakfast a little better, but they're not doing it. So be it. Good service, friendly waitress. read more

Disappointing. We love a good greasy spoon diner and were excited to try this place. It seems popular w/ locals so we had high hopes. I ordered the chicken sandwich. The chicken was very thin and bland; the lettuce was wilted and old. Husband ordered the tuna melt and said it was average / marginal. Maybe their breakfasts are better. Service was fine. Bathrooms were extremely dirty and the restaurant overall was not at all clean. Makes you wonder what the kitchen looks like if public areas aren't very clean. Not going back, sorry to say. read more

I was in town for a week and was looking for a breakfast joint. I found Frontier on the first day, and was there every day for the duration trip. Just a good, honest breakfast. Hard to find that, these days. Everything was proper (eggs properly cooked) and obviously popular with the locals. If we lived there, I know it would be our #1 spot. read more

Great food and family friendly. I'm not thrilled about having to pay an extra surcharge for using my debit card, but it balances out with the cost of the food. Most of the waitresses are amazing; might catch one on a bad day and they don't smile much. read more

If you're looking for a go-to breakfast spot this is your place. Great coffee, great omelets, and great service.

My 3 year old chose this place because she wanted pancakes. I ordered a chicken sandwich with BBQ sauce, cheese, and bacon. It came with soup; I chose broccoli cheese. The soup might have been made from scratch. It was a basic white sauce with flour lumps and broccoli. The sandwich came in a puddle of grease with wilted lettuce. I refused to eat it. The service was terrible. They did not come to ask us how we liked things until everyone else was almost finished. Also, we have small children and needed to do a diaper change while we were there. No changing table. Don't waste your time here. Go to some of the much better places down the street. read more

This place is really good. Love their soup. and burgers. Suggest that you ask for cheeseburger soup. Really friendly and open ambiance. If your in town, definitely stop by. read more

Frontier Cafe - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

Stopped off the beaten path to find this little gem! It was a good choice. Seems as if the locals like it pretty well too as it was busy even before noon! Prices were great. Three of us had soup and sandwiches bill was only $16. Service was fast and friendly! read more

Frontier Cafe - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

Amazing food , good service was very pleased with this place I didn't even have to tell her I needed a refill she just came up and brought amazing place!!! read more

Great food, great prices, fast service, and a stream of locals. Breakfast items were standard, the California Chicken breast sandwich was a highlight. Decor is a mix of antique and casual diner. read more

Frontier Cafe - Retro decor is casually charming - American Near Me - Grinnell, Iowa

This is my favorite place to eat in town! It has a great atmosphere and you get a LOT of food for the money! I always only get the sirloin steak and this is one of only a handful of places that knows how to cook a "rare" steak! With that comes a choice of potato, salad, and even ice cream at the end of your meal for about $12.oo! I go there often for family get togethers and no one is ever disappointed... I greatly recommend this place for a "classier" dining experience (It gets even more points cuz it's also fairly cost effective) read more

EXCELLENT BREAKFAST! I was in town for a few days and decided to wander around, found this place for breakfast. AWESOME PANCAKES, great sausage gravy and bisquits. Wish I lived closer, I would bring my people here! read more

I was brought my food and nobody ever came back to check on my table. I won't go back. We didn't even get our ticket, we just eventually gave up and walked to the register and someone went and found our ticket and checked us out at the register. read more