We always try to eat here when we are in town to visit family. The menu is quite good but the specials are usually even better. We had the Baja Shrimp Taco special last Wed and restaurant week started so we had the entire Thai tasting menu on Friday. It was fabulous - please check it out. It is Midwest hot, not Thai hot. Staff is always great. We almost always end with carrot cake - I had ZoeBakes carrot cake in the Twin Cities and it was not anywhere close to as tasty as The Cafe's version. I would agree with some other posts that the lighting in some areas makes it very hard to read the menus or see your food. Updated lighting would be helpful. We try to come early and get a spot near the windows so that we can see better. read more

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We are from out of town and met friends from out of state in Ames for a wedding for early Sunday breakfast. The menu was "brunch"-- had some al a cart items but everything was about $17. They had a larger menu starting at 10 AM-- opened at 7:00. Good coffee, good food, (pepper bacon was'superb') great service, pleasant atmosphere. Good choice. read more

The Cafe - Pancakes with blueberry compote, sausage 2 eggs - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Disappointed... I came here for restaurant week to try their Thai Menu. It looked good online and thought I'd give them a try. The Cafe has been on my list for a while now. Disappointed to say the least, I came in the back door not realized there was a correct door and was rudely cut off by other patrons at the front desk. I had to wait several minutes to be waited on and the place had plenty of spots. Maybe because I was a party of 1... they didn't seem to care. After I shared what drink I wanted, I learned they were out... fine no problem. I asked about the Thai specials, the waitress was clueless. I had to ask for the restaurant week menu and ask about the specials. She said they looked good but couldn't describe them and hasn't tasted them. I got the salad on special, but get this... they were out of the main restaurant week special... such a let down. The ambiance was mixed, one corner was a cute date night the other corner was crying children. All dimly lit and outdated decor. The whole experience was off, I ended up leaving after my one drink and salad. I hope to give this place a second chance sometime but hope they aren't out of dishes and I can get a trained server. Maybe another night for sure! read more

The Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Visited on 11/07/25. The Cafe is an absolute gem! Every visit feels like a new culinary adventure thanks to their ever-changing menu. The chefs clearly love experimenting, offering a creative fusion of flavors that blend different cuisines beautifully. Whether it's a twist on a classic dish or something completely unexpected, everything is prepared with care and a true sense of innovation. Me and my significant other both ordered the Feta Cheese w/ Honey, Herbs, and Pistachios + Bread as our appetizer and for main dish we ordered Korean Steak & Egg that consist of soy/ginger marinated hanger steak with kimchi fried rice, and arugula with sweet chili aioli, and sunny side egg on top. The only thing I was a bit disappointed was that the kimchi didn't have the actual kick and true kimchi flavor but it was still good! Beyond the food, what really sets The Cafe apart is the warm and attentive customer service. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to make recommendations or accommodate special requests. You can tell they genuinely care about creating a great dining experience for every guest. If you're looking for a place that combines delicious, inventive food with top-notch hospitality, The Cafe is a must-visit. It's one of those rare spots where you'll leave satisfied, and already planning your next visit to see what's new on the menu! read more

The Cafe - Korean Steak & Egg - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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I love the bakery items! My favorite is the pina colada cheesecake withe the citrus glaze. Oh my!! The restaurant is delicious as well. There is so much about this place that I love...I'm a local here and I visit this place at least twice a week. read more

The Cafe - Pina colada cheesecake - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

I did a Google (sorry, not a Yelp) search for breakfast spots in Ames. The Cafe appeared to have the highest overall rating of local spots (I wasn't interested in a chain). I ordered a standard breakfast with eggs, bacon, toast, and potatoes. The bacon was peppered and delicious. I should have ordered more. The portion of potatoes was very generous and were cooked to perfection. The accents of caramelized onions and peppers made for a tasty side. The toast might have been the best toast I've had in my life. I'm not a big fan of eggs and should have just ordered everything a la carte. The eggs were fine for dipping my toast in. While I appreciate having a water bottle at hand, I feel it takes away from the server's ability to check-in without seeming intrusive. Harper did fine. read more

The Cafe - Fresh OJ, basted eggs, peppered bacon, brioche toast, and lots of potatoes. - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Yum!! That salmon entree was uber tasty and prepared flawlessly, but my one gripe is that there was barely any black rice served in my to go order. Think 3 tablespoons. The accompanying cucumber and wasabi aioli went well with the dish, and the portion was on the lighter side, so good thing I planned accordingly... ... by also getting a slice of flourless chocolate cake! It was dense and rich and came with raspberry sauce on the side. It lasted me 3 sittings and was a great sweet treat for myself after a long day at training at nearby Iowa State. Plenty of drool worthy options were in the bakery case. This would be a great place for a lunch/brunch meet up or date night. read more

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Between our lovely, awesome waitress Sophie and the delicious food, this is a must visit for breakfast. Sophie was super friendly and helpful and attentive. Great service. Great breakfast and cozy place. read more

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Somehow we got seated in an area where no server was covering. Several other parties were seated after us and they got service right away. This is not the first time this has happened. Ordered the cafe burger, asked to be cooked medium, was served rare. They consistently miss the mark on several levels. read more

The French toast is amazing, and you can easily share with the generous portion size. The bar area is quaint and cozy and we were able to be seated there instead of the long wait for a dining area table. read more

This gem is in a strange part of Ames. A newish development. Felt like we were on the Truman Show. Thankfully the food and service were all genuine. Cozy with tasty eats. Great for brunch. read more

Wonderful atmosphere, friendly staff, but overcooked salmon was like a thin chicken breast- yikes!

Great every time I've visited. Food was amazing, drink were great and staff was the best. Will be back!!!

One of the best restaurants in Ames. Very much enjoyed the food. They have an amazing burger. I also had their Thai noodles which was very well seasoned and had fresh and delicious vegetables. Their blackberry bread pudding was also top-notch. I enjoyed the ambience. It was clean and charming and rustic. The service was also friendly and efficient. read more

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Cute little spot a group of coworkers and I dined at while on a business trip in good ol' Ames. We made a reservation beforehand as our group size was about 14 people; they were very accommodating from start to finish. We were seated in their back room and divided into two neighboring tables to fit the large group. Our servers were consistently coming by to ensure we had everything needed. As a table, we shared a variety of appetizers, had a couple beers, and ordered individual entrée items. I had the kimchi fried rice and it was delicious! It called out to me immediately but was a bit hesitant because an American restaurant with Asian flavors seemed a bit questionable. But after the server suggested it's one of their more popular dishes, I went with it and so glad I did. I cleaned up the plate. The table enjoyed the food, experience, and service. Everyone left with a full belly and smile. Thanks to The Cafe for bringing an excellent experience to our work crew. read more

Love the cozy atmosphere, and the food never disappoints. Service was great too, everyone is very friendly and accommodating! My favorite place to eat, and when my son is visiting from Oregon, it's his favorite as wellñ read more

Hi there!! All I've gotta say is that this place is amazing!! It has a wide variety of food options and all of them, seriously, all of them (I've tried them all) are fantastic!! 10/10 place to eat!! read more

Very nice place in Ames. This was our last trip to Ames to move our daughter out after graduation. Never been to The Cafe before so wanted to try it. Wish we had sooner during our 4 years. Great breakfast and very good coffee. Nice interior and plenty of parking. Would certainly come back here if the opportunity presents itself. read more

The Cafe - French toast and bacon. Bread was very fresh. - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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I had a fantastic experience here last night. I was surprised on how many more options there were. Our group of 5 all had great service and awesome food. On the menu last night (that I think changes) was a Hanger steak with mash potatoes and broccolini that was cook perfectly and had really good flavor all the way around. I left satisfied and increased my want to bring more people here for a nice meal. The low-lit room and art decor helped keep this spot romantic feeling so I would suggest wearing what you would consider going out clothes. read more

I had previously been to The Cafe for dinner, but this time, it was for breakfast, and I liked their Sunday brunch better! Therefore, I elevated my rating by a star! There is plenty of parking, and that makes a difference on a busy day, which was the case at The Cafe. Our party of 7 did not have reservations. We were quickly seated, and our server (Morgan) was good, more and more comfortable as the meal went forward. We had four separate checks, which complicated things a bit. I loved the music they played throughout! I enjoyed my Biscuits and Gravy meal, which was terrific and unique. It was better than I anticipated. It's a Coca-Cola venue--my partner loved her Pancake Combo. I don't drink coffee, so I have no feel for that product. read more

Great food every time with plenty of different food options. A café with good variety of food and desert.

Food was spectacular! Service was okay, and this restaurant is definitely a hidden gem I love the atmosphere it's giving old Spanish vineyard home vibes. The biscuits and gravy was my favorite read more

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If I could give The Cafe 10 stars, I would! For starters, I have lived in the area 4 year but have never stopped in as I was under the impression it was mostly breakfast foods/pastries! WOW was I pleasantly surprised. A seasonal lunch/dinner menu & delicious cocktails! My fiancé and I had the key lime martini, gin & basil cocktail & espresso martini's, all fantastic! I appreciated a fully loaded autumn salad & added salmon which was a perfect addition. Everything was super fresh & presented nicely as well. My fiancé got the hanger steak, of which he ate the entire thing! The au jus with the steak/mashed looked yummy & smelled like it may even be made with a dash of red wine. We were quoted 15 minute wait at 6:30 but waited less than 10 minutes total. The dessert selection was also seasonal which I appreciated. I got the pumpkin cheesecake to try later at home. I was so full & even brought half of my salad home. The lighting & noise level is a nice break from the fluorescent lighting & loud noise you can't even talk at most other restaurants in the area. It was quaint & the restaurant is broken up so it feels more intimate. 10/10, 5/5! I plan to inquire about lunch for my office in the near future. Well done to the owners & staff. I wish Ames had about 3 more of these locations! read more

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We stopped in for a late lunch. Got seated right away and looked at the menu only for a short time. My husband and I saw the Fish Tacos and our minds were made up. We were satisfied beyond our expectations- yummy yummy!!! Delicious meal. Our only suggestion would be to have the light fixtures over the tables dusted. They were a turn off- so please take some time after closing and concentrate on some cleaning. On our way out we did take a piece of Chocolate Cake to go. Several hours that was yummy too! read more

The Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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First time coming here - and this is officially my most fave stop in ames. It's my friend's FAVORITE place for a reason! The service was incredible, she was super fast & helpful with questions. She suggested my meal and it was SPLENDID. We asked for hot chai and ended the evening with martinis - me espresso martini was incredible, and her key lime pie was sweet! Perfection. The place is low lit and quiet enough to hear each other, the food was delicious and so perfectly made. The entire experience was amazing. Will be returning and bringing friends!! read more

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Food was good. Simple and delicious. We were able to get a table right away so that was perfect.

Great vegan options and GF options! Delicious and served with a smile. Fish tacos were hot and the toppings melded perfectly with the fish. The pizza had a delicate crust and the wood fire set off the flavors of the vegetables read more

Food was great, service and ambiance were so-so. I removed one star, because we arrived at 10:25, but they were ending breakfast and getting ready for lunch, so we sat for 1/2 hour with drinks waiting to be able to order for lunch. Waitress was friendly, but only checked on us twice the whole time. Overall, great food, but again, we had lunch, but went there for breakfast. read more

We purchased a wide assortment of breakfast meals and pastries for a family event. Everything was really good!

We ate here for brunch, roughly 1 hour wait, but we did it online so we drove here only when it was almost our turn. I am a huge fan of restaurants who make use of technology for customer convenience, especially since there wasn't much around this place on a Sunday if we had to wait an hour. Food was a mixed bag, the Cobb salad was really good (delicious, beautifully presented), the soup/sandwich was meh (dry, both were not very tasty) and the chicken/biscuits were ok. Service was excellent. read more

The Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Was in town for business nearby and decided to stop in for a quick breakfast on a Thursday around 7:15am. Was seated right away and the waitress was friendly. The cappuccino was delicious and the avocado toast was really good. It's kind of hard to mess up avocado toast...lol. It had some grapes in a little bowl and sliced pineapple on the other side. I can't eat pineapple but it looked really good. The lighting was very low, kind of dark in there (hence the dark pictures) and they were having issues with their payment system but all in all it was a decent place. read more

The Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Always busy for a reason. Service is good and food is wonderful. So enjoyable for special occasions.

I was in Ames last week, helping my Dad prepare the family house for sale. Although I didn't grow up in this house, selling Mom & Dad's home will certainly be the end of an era. One key thing that has helped during all this house cleaning has been enjoying coffee cake, scones, and other tasty treats from The Cafe coffee/dessert counter. Some choices can be a little pricey, but the portions can be enough to last a couple mornings (with coffee). I may need to drive a little more in the future for those wonderful baked goods, but it will be worth it. read more

We love the Cafe food. Tonight we were there for a drink and it was so dark that we needed to use our phones to read the menu! we were at the bar and my husband had to sit back lest he was blocking the dim source of light that allowed me to see what we were eating! What's the problem with adding some lights above the bar, or some LED candles, and making the lights above the tables just a bit brighter? Food is great so you dont have anything to hide but when my teenage son is complaining about the darkness, this isn't ambience: you are putting off customers. read more

Such a great staple of a restaurant for Ames. Always quality food no matter what you get. Service is friendly and fairly quick. This time I tried the pork dip and was great. Meat was juicy and flavorful, bread was nice and not soggy, jus to dip was rich and depth in flavor. I always love the chips too, homemade and crispy and not greasy. Portions are always large and super filling! Definitely recommend and will be back again read more

The Cafe - Pork dip - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Not a huge menu but a variety of choices for all to find something to eat. Very tasty and full.of flavor. A hidden gem in a bustling area. Not a fancy restaurant but could be for a fancy night out or casual night out. The staff were kind and helpful and attentive. The staff was knowledgeable and answered all my questions a d made great suggestions. Worth the trip, and much to do in the area. Definitely will go back. read more

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Once upon a time... they all went to The Cafe in Ames Iowa and lived happily ever after. The End. If you have never experienced The Cafe on a week day for their breakfast than you are missing out. The menu is updated from time to time. Do I know why or how? No I do not. But I was lucky enough to encounter the Breakfast Quesadilla again. Yes, this was not my first time having these delightful quesadillas. The chipotle sauce on the side is what is considered a game changer. My other half got the Cafe Skillet and was impressed by it. We were very happy we were able to have the breakfast menu to start of this journey of ours. Also Once Upon a Time - this breakfast is truly what would be in a fairytale. So skip work on a week day and live like your in fairy tale. Why not? read more

The Cafe - Breakfast Quesadilla- Chipotle Sauce - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Eaten here many times for both breakfast and dinner. Food is excellent and service good. Really nice atmosphere.

Feb 2021 update: we had a late brunch here. Approx 20 min wait when we walked in. They took our name and we waited in the car for them to text us. After we got our text, we went back in and they took us to our table. All the staff had masks and they're still doing limited capacity. Staff was friendly and helpful as always. I ordered a latte mocha, they have milk alternatives such as oat milk, soy, and almond. And for my meal I ordered the monte cristo, the salad was delicious and the sandwich was so filling I actually couldn't finish it all. We also ordered dessert for take out. They bring out a dessert menu if you ask for one. It was nicely packaged, I definitely recommend a slice of their cheesecake. read more

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Excellent coffee and food! We devoured our plates - not a crumb left haha. Service friendly and quick. Highly recommend if you're in Somerset area! read more

The Cafe - Salmon club - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa