We stayed ai the cabins in Itasca State Park with limited amenities. On our last day we were looking for a breakfast spot. Using Yelp I saw that the Great Northern was reviewed with favor. Our experience was terrific. The cafe has a small town hometown friendliness. The wait staff were low key friendly and we felt like we were being served by our neighbors. So comfortable. The food was really good. Great value. My grandson ordered a hotdog and no one batted an eye . Great Northen is a piece of Northern Minnesota Pie read more

$-$$ CASH ONLY My sister and I went to this establishment for breakfast on the last day of my visit to Park Rapids, Minnesota. This is definitely a locals place for breakfast. You have to be careful if you are visiting Park Rapids, as this breakfast place is 'cash only'. The ambience was wonderful with all kinds of nostalgic memorabilia regarding the Great Northern Railway and its history. The breakfast itself was not something to write home about, and our server was so busy that she forgot my sister's orange juice, leaning towards a "understaffed" situation that was apparent. I plan to visit my sister in Park Rapids multiple times in the future, but do not plan to revisit this breakfast place. read more

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Omelet was not fully cooked so liquid carton eggs ran out. Salty Pancakes were very good Hash Browns were very good Surprise! Cash only. This is annoying since many of us are no longer carrying cash. Often small businesses charge 2-3% to use a card. This place had to use their ATM with a $3.45 fee. That's a 10% up charge on our $30 breakfast. I may also incur a charge from my bank. Not cool GNC. read more

Sat at the counter for breakfast after being told we could pick anywhere. The place wasn't as busy as we thought based on the full parking lot outside. Our server Jenny was great! She was extremely communicative. Tons of food options and all well-priced. Food came out very fast. I got the veggie omelet. The veggies could have been cooked through a little more, but it was still very tasty! Cute train decor everywhere. Bathrooms were a little dirty. read more

Great Northern Cafe - Vegi omelet - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

Food and service were good. Ambiance was the worst I ever experienced . Large table of old men farmers being very loud and obnoxious. One man yelling and cursing and pounding his fist on the table. Very scary. Completely ruined our breakfast. Then the waitresses rewarded the man with a gift certificate. Completely outrageous. Will never go back again. read more

A true staple in Park Rapids. The moment you walk in, you can tell they've got coffee and service down to a science. Regulars joke with the waitstaff, and you'll often hear a cheerful "Coming through!" as they navigate the busy floor. It's my favorite spot for a nostalgic, no-frills breakfast. The food is always comforting, the coffee strong, and the atmosphere warm. The parking lot is usually packed--but trust me, it's worth the wait. read more

Great Northern Cafe - French toast, bacon, HB, over easy eggs - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

Fast service and great food. We stopped in for lunch after checking out Itasca State Park. The service was fast. The Belgium waffle was good and the two eggs were done to perfection. I do wish the menu had a bit of description for the burgers. read more

Great Northern Cafe - Belgium waffle - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

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Perfect diner. No frills, just the classics served by people who have been doing this a minute or two. Had a delicious corned beef hash with 3 o/e eggs and great rye toast. Coffee always full and my daughter ate two orders of cheeseballs and hot chocolate. Everyone happy. No credit cards and bustling, but those are not complaints! read more

The Great Northern Cafe was top shelf! I would highly recommend it to anyone in Park Rapids or the adjacent communities/resorts! Theming and decor was fun, the food was delicious, the service was speedy, and the value was amazing! Must stop for us every year! read more

Great Northern Cafe - Empire Builder Omelette with GNC French Toast. - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

Food is ALWAYSS a 10/10 and the waitress was the nicest ever and fast. love coming here especially with my family.

Great place to go for breakfast. Usually very crowded but often people are willing to share their table.

If you're looking for a classic small town diner in rural Minnesota, you've found it. Good food, great service, and classic Americana.

I want to start off by saying, until this incident I had great experiences, but this experience was so terrible, I'll never return. I was watching the Bears vs Vikings game, the staff were also watching it, which is how I knew i could watch it on my phone. The staff had their phone with the game blaring, other customers were also loud. I had my phone on and it was low, but a different waitress came up to me and asked me to turn my phone down. There's a couple problems with that. 1. My phone wasn't as loud as the other people or the staff phone. 2. I was one of two black people in the entire restaurant. I was the only black person with the phone going. I then tried to file a complaint against the waitress but the boss mocked me requesting to file a complaint. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant if you have melanin. read more

Fast service delicious food breakfast is quick and delicious! Need cash! Friendly waitress

On our way to itasca, came across this cute cafe! 5 It was busy and the service was great! Food was very good! read more

Great Northern Cafe - Cute place! Breakfast was GREAT! - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

This place is a staple in the Park Rapids area, they've been serving breakfast here for as long as I can recall. It's not the BEST breakfast you'll ever have, but it's really good food and in a quantity to make sure you don't leave hungry. Ladies are running around taking care of your needs when you sit down...so tip them well. This is a cash or check establishment...NO Credit Cards...so know that before you go please {there's an ATM on site if needed, but get your cash ahead of time}. I usually get the Great Northern Slam with a pancake, but the omelettes are good as is just about everything else (wife usually gets the skillet and it's a lot of food). Really good prices on everything too. We eat here more than once when we're back in town, always a good start to a Northwoods Day. read more

This is a gem of a restaurant. It's a great option for breakfast when you're near Park Rapids. Friendly staff, great food, and charming atmosphere. read more

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A GREAT neighborhood hotspot for breakfast. Only one issue - they don't recognize "gandy dancers" on the menu! (Brakemen, Engineers and Conductors - yes. But Gandy Dancers? No!) read more

Classic café with the accompanying charming ambiance. You seat yourself and it seems like the place is too busy for the server to get to you quickly, but we have never had to wait very long even when the place is packed ( which is almost always). We've had breakfast and lunch and both are consistently good and satisfying. The servers are crazy busy, but always friendly and helpful. We will definitely go back god more. The buffalo chicken sandwich was really good. read more

I try to frequent local eateries whenever possible, sometimes it works out. The outside of this place tells you to avoid it. When you walk in the appearance of the place is aged but clean. I ordered a hamburger and an order of fries because that was my craving this day. In spite of the looks of the place and the spotty service the hamburger was very good as were the fries. I won't be back because I am in search of good local food and big fish in Minnesota this summer. I have lots of places to sample so unless it is a 5 star experience it will be one and done. read more

Great Northern Cafe - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

Tasy dinner cafe food! The seating situation is a bit precarious though. No fist fights!! We ended up joining a sweet retired couple for brunch randomly so we could sit faster. They recommended the French toast. It looked and smelled amazing! Oblong pieces of actual French bread. Everyone else at the table ordered it and raved! I was the odd one out and got the half order sausage and gravy over biscuits with 2 eggs to order (#14). The waitress suggested the sausage gravy. She was spot on ! I loved it and I've learned from my father, and his father about the best biscuits and gravy. I'd drive back up north just for this gem of a railroad themed cafe. Just be nice about getting a table if it's busy... read more

Definitely an average dive restaurant in my opine. Food was average, staff are friendly. The West Forty is the better option but it was not open on Wednesday morning. read more

Great food and quick service. Only had the breakfast options and sooo many to choose from! Portions are huge.. easily split for 2 people

This place almost made me want to stay an extra day. I had a book signing in Dorcet so I didn't want to be too full. I had the basic breakfast. Two perfect eggs OE, 3 large pieces of bacon. They were curled yet firm, crisp, and delicious. A huge scratch biscuit. Basil got a steak omelette and they melt the cheese on top, but it's still good. Great service and I tipped extra, cash only. I was wowed at the menu and we were told the lunch menu is even bigger. read more

Pure excellence! We are diner-breakfast-enthusiasts and this place is definitely at the top of our list! Pros: - First of all, it was still PACKED at like 11:15am so it seems like a local hotspot. - Everyone is so friendly! Not just the staff, but the diners as well! Everyone was smiling and very polite; it was a nice environment to eat in. - Despite how busy it was, the service was really quick! We got our coffee immediately, and the food wasn't far behind. - Portions are massive! I got a side of French toast and the thing has to be 18 inches long. It was insane. Brandon's omelet was also massive! - The French toast was incredible, I think they use a baguette cut lengthwise but it wasn't too crusty, it was really tender and so buttery and delicious! - The Country Omelet was fantastic. It's stuffed with cheese, hash browns (yes! Hash browns IN the omelet!), and sausage, then drenched in creamy sausage gravy. That is a hearty omelet! Cons: - It's cash only. But not to worry! They have an ATM in the doorway. - I do wish they had real syrup... they have the gooey-gluey fake stuff like Mrs Butterworths HOWEVER my French toast was so flavorful and buttery that frankly I didn't need any syrup anyway Regardless, 5 stars, we'll be back for sure on our next trip to Park Rapids! read more

Great Northern Cafe - Country omelet & pancake, and French toast with 2 eggs and bacon. Best French toast I've had! - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

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We had breakfast here this morning and will absolutely come back again. Food is awesome, help is friendly, and building is clean and easy to get too. Don't pass this place up. read more

Amazing!! Not only good old fashioned home cooking, they keep the wait staff old fashioned by having awesome manners and friendliness! Keep up the great job ladies! Hands down THE best french toast I've ever had. They use real french bread and almost a custard egg mix... but if you're looking for sweet french toast, you'll want syrup or fruit topping or even a little powered sugar. Any way you like it, the main point is you HAVE to try it! The waitresses are wonderful about tell you about portion sizes so you don't order TOO much... but really with their french toast I am not sure there is such a thing! They have wonderful sausage patties too, not the typical hormel pressed patties. Crispy bacon cooked to perfection... and home fries... they should be illegal they're that wonderful! Again, not the typical lchain restaurant type, these are honest home fries made from real potatoes fried in a pan or on a griddle. Good stuff! I wish they had more locations, but the 3 hour drive to eat here is worth it. Lol. You won't be disappointed eating here, between the food, the employees and the very friendly locals, you'll feel like you're back eating breakfast with your grandma at the local watering hole when you were a child. *They do NOT take plastic, so bring cash!* read more

Great Northern Cafe - World's BEST and REAL french toast! - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

I was camping in Itasca State Park and needed to go into Park Rapids for supplies. I was also looking for a place with Wi-fi. Great Northern lives up to it's name! Friendly servers, great food! Be prepared to BRING CASH OR CHECK though. Great Northern doesn't take credit or debit cards. They do have an ATM inside you'll usually have to pay a fee for. As I'm also a business owner I understand their desire to do this. it just removes a little convenience we're all normally used to. Since I'm also a native Minnesotan I also understand the significance of the Great Northern RR. I was born right about when they were on the decline and then sold to then BN. There's nothing really spectacular about the decor. But since I was there awhile I could tell it's a local hangout by the conversations people were having. Overall I'd say the food was a little better than a Perkins by comparison. At least for breakfast anyway. read more

Awesome breakfast w/ great service. Hot coffee, biscuits & gravy, French toast, & breakfast burrito: eggs, bacon, green peppers, cheese, sausage, & tator tots! Yum! read more

Brought some friends in who have never been to Minnesota before. We all loved our breakfast. There are uncountable places to eat breakfast in Chicago, but I wish there were at least one that had "Goo" on their menu! Seriously! I don't normally eat sweet breakfasts, but I make an exception for this place. I had biscuits and gravy and eggs too which were phenomenal, but still, had to get a side of French (bread) toast with the goo, which probably was sent from heaven! Forget fast food and come to Great Northern Cafe. Stop and get a pack of gum from Walmart and some cash back if you aren't carrying cash already, because this place is cash only. But completely worth it. read more

Great Northern Cafe - Breakfast! - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

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This had been one of my favorite Breakfast places since we moved to Park Rapids. Have been faithful during Covid and since they reopened to inside dining. Today I was BLINDSIDED by a BILL FOR EACH AND EVERY COFFEE REFILL AS A NEW COFFEE PURCHASE. There was no negotiating, no apology, no warning. You will pay because of "Covid". They could have gave me warning. We were twice a week customers on average. I will never go back after the way they acted today. read more

The food here is so good and portions are pretty big. It's a small restaurant and with it being winter now it's gonna be even smaller due to no outdoor seating. The prices are a little high AND they only take cash so be prepared for that if you decide to try them out. Waitresses are pleasant. Clean tables. read more

Best omelets I have ever had! Make sure to try them all!! I love the Great Northern Special! A huge plate of food and you will not leave hungry!! A quaint little spot. It will be full but worth it if you have to wait. Parking can be an Issue for this popular spot. Got with a group and all order something different so you can try them all!! read more

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Been coming here for years. Always a great breakfast and a good value. Friendly staff.

When my wife and I pulled up to this place the parking lot was so full, it made us wonder how the heck so many people could fit into such a small place. We soon found out the relatively small-looking exterior was deceiving as the inside was capable of hosting a small army- that said, we literally got the last two seats at the counter! We had our usual of eggs, toast, hash browns and bacon (her) & sausage (me), and it was excellent. The eggs were cooked to perfection and the hash browns possessed the perfect balance of crispness and flavor. The weakest link in the meal was the cheap bread used for toast, which was average. The strongpoint of the restaurant was the staff. Our server was courteous and checked in with us often even though she was extremely busy. Overall, I recommend the Great Northern restaurant for those passing through the lakes area. The 4 star rating was based on the toast and the fact that they don't accept credit cards (although they do have an atm). read more

Great Northern Cafe - American Near Me - Park Rapids, Minnesota

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I really enjoyed this mom and pop small town restaurant. The biscuits and gravy by far are the best I've eaten in a long time the biscuits were so deliciously soft, also the French toast was great. I was able to sit and chat with some old timer locals, just drinking their coffee and getting their morning gossip. They were slammed from when I got there till I left. I felt bad that there were only 3 servers for all the people in the restaurant. Service when I got it was thorough and pleasant , but due to under-staffing or cut backs they were just too busy to really give that quality service I'm sure this small town spot wants to give. read more

Empire builder omelette is best in class. Great service as well, highly highly recommend!

The Great Northern Burger was excellent. The fries were your typical Krinkle cut, and the cook is rocking out to Pantera's Walk....everything is awesome! read more

Great chicken fried steak (crunchy). Did well with coronavirus and space. Generous portions! Kids ate every single drop of their food. It was a good cafe! read more

Every time I'm in town... I'm eating breakfast here. It may not be the nicest, cleanest, etc.. but it's damn good food. I also really enjoy it for the people watching as it seems to be a favorite among some of the hardened local folks.. Great prices, great value, great food... Eat here.. It's a solid breakfast joint. read more