Really liked it. I believe it's mostly, if not all, vegan. I know they were experimenting with some…read moreitems with dairy a while ago but I did not notice any non-vegan items while I was there, so not sure if that's still a thing. Anyway, it is a little out of the way. It's walkable from downtown but not really in the downtown core. Pretty quiet when I was there, but the atmosphere felt approachable. Some of the chairs were like school desk chairs (adult-sized, of course) that I haven't seen since I was in primary school which was kind of funny. The guy at the counter was cheerful and friendly. They looked like they had run out of some of the hot savory items by Saturday mid-afternoon, but there was still a wide variety of sweets. I believe the current owners are Indian, and you see some of those flavours featured. I got: Samosa handpie: Good, not mind-blowing, but good. Nice flavours. If you like a flaky crust, this is not it, but I liked the rustic pastry crust. Pistachio cardamom donut: Loved it. Before I moved to Bloomington, there were a few bakeries that offered vegan-GF cake donuts that I loved, and this was the first thing I've gotten here that reminded me of that. Pleasant texture and strong cardamom flavour, not too sweet. I think these are baked donuts, so they're a little different from regular fried donuts, but in a good way IMO. Rose dream latte: Milk with rose syrup topped with coconut whip and nuts, no espresso. Tasted great, but more of a dessert drink than I was expecting. The coconut whip was quite thick. The concept could probably use some refinement, because the whip was too thick and rigid to drink without a straw, but the nut pieces were too big to go through a straw, and so I couldn't figure out the best way to drink it. From what I understand, there are some longtime fans of this place who feel like the quality has dropped since the most recent change in ownership, but as someone who had never been here before, I really had a good experience. I get why people would be upset when something changes, but if you are considering trying this place for the first time, I wouldn't be too put off by the negativity around the change in ownership. There's no other place specialized in vegan baking in Bloomington, so I think it's good to support what they are continuing to do here, and even though I am partial to vegan food I wouldn't say that if it wasn't also GOOD. They also had some refreshingly unique options for baked goods.

Rainbow Bakery sits off of 4th street west of the IU campus. It's all vegan, and we had a chance to…read morestop by and get two donuts and a cookie. The inside is cute and whimsical. The owners, a Sikh family, gave us their cardamom donut for free. The samosa hand pies were out. I would rate it 4/5. The decor was nice, and the owners were friendly. We were told that the staff is limited, and the owners themselves are thinking of selling this location and hoping to restart it in Greenwood, where they currently live and actually drive down to Bloomington every day. The matcha latte was fine. Everything was fine but not great. The vegan chocolate chip cookie was good, but could've used more chocolate chips.

Always a delight! The Elm is your place if you are looking…read morefor something delightfully unexpected in Bloomington. Seasonal menus, beautiful plates, and an amazing bar (and coffee bar). We have been coming for years and just tried brunch today and it was 10/10! Spring menu highlight: the cabbage is phenomenal! We ordered for the table to share as a last minute decision and it was the star of the show Brunch: Latke was so yummy and the sauce was horseradish cream goodness Chilaquiles and smash burger both got an A+ Staff is always on point.

The Elm is "one of one" in Bloomington, really no place like it…read more From service to decor to the food, The Elm stands out. Went for dinner on a non-football weekend night and had great service. Helpful guidance on menu choices and super attentive without being a bother. The room and bar are handsomely decked out, with comfortable, well-spaced tables and banquettes and booths. Makes for a fun setting. The food is seasonal and local -- lots of corn and squash this time of year. The chicken roulettes are excellent, as was the beet salad with Calabrian honey and whipped feta -- a nice sweet/hot combo. The steak frites was perfectly cooked to medium rare as requested, and accompanied by scalloped potato fries. Don't miss the desserts, either. The sweet corn creme brûlée with popped sorghum was totally new to me and delish. The chocolate medley was also excellent. Kudos for well-made cocktails too. Great experience and 100% different from everything else in town. A little NYC in IN.

There's a reason for the five stars. It's gluten-free, but you'd never know it. Upsides: Vegetarian…read morestuff available and it's not all carbohydrates-- but there are many served here. Wide variety of cafe-like foods. Service was fast and food was good. The cost for a reasonable meal is also reasonable. There is WiFi, if you must. Lots of tables. Not the Ritz but clean, comfy, and reasonably calm. There is parking on the street, but yeah, meters or a parking garage. It's a busy place. Normally, I don't give five stars on a review unless you're at the top of your game, and usually only after a second try. Brightside just pushed all the right buttons. Lots of drinks besides coffee drinks, too. It's unpretentious and serves great food in my two experiences here.

So good!!! I never knew this cafe was in the Fountain Square building. It's downstairs in the…read more"basement". The baked goods looked amazing. I had a pumpkin bar with cream cheese topping that was magic. The Italian soda was good too. The staff was charming, kind, and fun to talk to. The food is gluten-free too if that's yo' thang.

I just left this place and let me tell you that staff is working hard!!!!!…read moreWith graduation they were clearly busy but made sure everything was taken care of. They even helped us seat all our reservations together when we were unable to make them as one large one. No easy task! Your manager Amber was so amazing and accommodating and KJ did a fantastic job as our server. We couldn't have chosen better place to celebrate with our friends and family. If you're ever in Bloomington this is a must for your list!

Classic Burger with Gouda cheese was excellent! He fries were crispy and had just the right amount…read moreof salt! My favorite French fries so far! The beer roasted salmon with the sweet potato fingerlings and shiitake mushrooms was very good. The silver skin was not completely removed from the salmon. There was not a lot of spinach. Would have preferred more spinach & less sweet soy syrup. Service was spot on! Server was very attentive and helpful with beer and food selections.

Love their food! And the hive pie is super delicious. Fresh ingredients. Worth trying here if…read moreyou've never been. We usually get the hive Burger and the chicken sandwich with fries. But honestly anything from here has been delicious. Makes me want to get it for dinner tonight talking about it.

The menu features burgers, sandwiches, pot pies, bowls. The Chicken Salad was a little different…read morethan a usual chicken salad. There was a thin layer of slaw on the bun. It was an interesting addition to the sandwich because it made the sandwich a little more sour. I added a little hot honey to help counter some of the sourness. The Hive bun was very fresh. It had great texture- crunchy edges but spongy middle. The burgers looked good but appeared very small. I was a little surprised by the portion size considering the cost. It was very expensive for such a small burger that did not come with sides & drink. I liked the big plastic cups for water. It had a bunch of advertisements on the cup, but thought it was great sizewise for water. Usually we get a small plastic flimsy cup for water at other restaurants, so it was a nice surprise. The staff was friendly and served our order relatively quickly. Patrons came in waves. The outside is deceiving because the sign isn't flashy and looks relatively small. But, once you walk in, it appears a lot more spacious than from the outside. Plenty of seating for big/small groups.

Lennie's is such a great spot in Bloomington. Tons of seating--both inside and outside when the…read moreweather cooperates--so it never feels cramped. We had the flatbread and the house salad, and both were excellent. They've got a surprisingly nice wine selection and some solid Bloomington-brewed IPAs. The vibe is a modern diner with a big, varied menu: pasta, soup, salads, pizza, plus a really good lineup of appetizers. The staff is super friendly and really hustles.

We had the coziest little table tucked in a corner of the porch outside, flower boxes around us and…read moresturdy outdoor furniture. Enough room so everyone could move freely, including our excellent server. Her name on the receipt said ?Audrey. Long blonde ponytail and expert eyeliner. She was very helpful in making our dinner selection, telling me about a flatbread special while I pondered what pizza I wanted. I was able to choose four toppings, so my pizza was heavenly. Dinner companion had a Cobb salad which had some generous slices of perfectly ripe avocado. Serving was generous and he declared it excellent. We were in and out in about an hour and 15 minutes, which was perfect for our Bloomington stopover. We will be back for sure.

Stopped by for takeout and got: pork buns, salt & pepper fish, fried spicy chicken and dan dan…read morenoodle. Everything tasted great--my favorite is always the salt & pepper fish. Perfectly seasoned. Good authentic Chinese food! Staff was very friendly.

My daughter and I just had the most delicious meal at Longfei. We ordered bok choy w garlic &…read moreginger and Salt&Pepper fish fillets (and white rice). It was so delicious and savory and spicy and bright and fresh. I want a repeat, tomorrow! Highly recommend, and I am grateful, too, for the warm, hospitable and unfussy service.

Sooo yummy! My parents and I had a light dinner following a trip to Heartwork, and loved the red…read morelentil soup, the Greek salads, the butternut squash, and the tiramisu. Good grief was the tiramisu good! I will be back just for that. Our servers were also wonderful and so personable, especially the host who sat us. Quite grateful to live in a town with yummy Afghan food.

If you're in Bloomington and want a meal that feels both comforting and special, Samira is the…read morespot. The Afghan dishes are full of flavor, the portions are generous, and the service is warm without being pushy. The bolani and kebabs are always on point, and the fresh bread alone is worth the trip. Cozy atmosphere, consistently great food--an easy five stars.