This is my first official yelp review. I'm not sure why I've waited this long to write reviews but here I am. I am a foodie from Central Iowa and my main goal is to write reviews, both good and bad, about the places to eat in and around this area. I'm planning to do Ames, the Des Moines Metro, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and any other place that I happen to visit from this point on. I want to start with a place that is very familiar to me and a place that I have been to more times than I can count. I will begin my "tour of Central Iowa eating establishments" with The Café in Ames. The Café is located in the Summerset are of Northwest Ames. It's not close to any of the major highways that come through town, though it remains busy all of the time because the locals know about it and really love it. INTRO The Café serves what I would call casual fine-dining food, if that's a fair term. Being from Iowa, I'm not sure that I have the answer to what fine dining really is because a majority of my food experience has been local and when I eat out on the road I go by word of mouth, typically and most people won't recommend expensive eats. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week here and also have an on-site bakery, bar and coffee bar in addition to the dining room. I was told they also have a catering business on the side which is pretty good as well. ATMOSPHERE The Café is a nice, casual place to grab something to eat in Ames. It can be a tad noisy at times, but once you sit down and get into a conversation with the people who are eating with you it is barely noticeable. The staff are friendly and helpful, attentive and the kind of staff that I would expect in Ames. This is a college town and good service is essential for a business to succeed here. From time to time the chef will come out and introduce himself and interact with the customers. The décor is modern with both comfortable booths and tables. I like the tables that are made out of cork material. Whether you're here for a casual breakfast, a leisurely lunch or even a romantic dinner for two, you'll find the food and service great no matter what time of the day. MENU The menu is small and changes often, but there are typically about 10-12 items available for breakfast, the same number for lunch and five during dinner. You may also order a sandwich from the deli while dining in if you so desire. There is an extensive dessert menu, full bar menu and a beer and wine menu. Fresh pastries are available for purchase in the dining room or to go. The food is fresh and local, mostly from either farms or vendors right here in Iowa. There are gluten-free and vegan options available. Traditional American fare (such as the Café Burger, or Café Combo for breakfast with eggs, pancakes and sausage or bacon, Pizzas, Mac & Cheese, etc.) is typically on the menu most of the year, while other seasonal dishes do show up as well here. Prices are good, especially considering what it gets you here. WHAT I ORDERED Normally if only visiting this restaurant for the first time, I'll tell you what I had and make an assumption about the food based on that. I've had lots of menu items from The Café so I'll tell you about my most recent trip. I was in last week for lunch one of the days and ordered the Artichoke Pizza. It was fantastic. The pizza is all stone-fired/wood oven variety. They are personal-sized, though it's probably a big enough portion to feed two. The pizza contained pickled artichoke hearts, fontina cheese, marinara sauce and a garlic butter on top. Delicious! I enjoyed every bite of it. WHAT'S GOOD What can I say here? Almost everything is good, though I have not tried anything off of their bar menu, nor have I ordered anything from the deli. The bread is great. The deserts are exceptional. The coffee is really good as well. Service, quality of the food, atmosphere are all good things. The prices aren't over the top unless you're ordering an expensive bottle of wine. WHAT'S BAD The only real knock I have on The Café is the set-up of the main dining area and the clustering of people around the main entrance when people are waiting for their tables. If it's really busy, there will be a line of people along the wall and they are directly across a short wall from people in the dining area, making it easy for them to hear your conversation and likewise. Plus, the hostess and servers are constantly having to ask people to move so they can get through. I'm not sure if there's a way to prevent this - just be ready if you go there and have to wait. The food will be worth the wait in spite of this. SUMMARY The Café in Summerset is one of the best places to get a nice, casual breakfast, lunch or dinner for a decent price. The food is high-quality and local, the menu is small but vibrant and the staff are friendly. It's a great place to run in for a cup of coffee and a pastry or to go for a nice dinner out. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in town! I have eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner here - and they have so many delicious options for all three! Depending on when you come, there can be a bit of a wait, but we usually enjoy one of their many delicious signature drinks at the bar while waiting. My favorite dish here is definitely the Cafe Mac & Cheese. It is creamy, stringy, crunchy and absolutely perfect. I love that their menu changes with the seasons, and they always have a wonderful variation of options prepared using fresh and local ingredients. Oh, and the desserts are to die for - every one is delicious! My personal favorite are their fruit galettes with ice cream. If you're in town, you have to try it out! read more

The Cafe - Perfect end to a meal - coffee and Bailey's cheesecake! - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Cute and intimate cafe, perfect for dates with its dim lighting. Food was perfect and service was delightful

Very good food very good employees especially the owner Kevin

Haven't eaten here for years but was brought back when I moved into ISU. Really nice atmosphere, the lighting looks like it would be horrible but sitting at the table it is perfectly done. Fast and good service as well. As for the food I was impressed, especially for how fast it got out to our table. I had the pizza margherita which was made with all fresh ingredients and had great flavors. Tried the turkey hoagie as well and as normal as that would sound, it blew me out of the water. Very interesting flavors, incredibly well-balanced and varied. read more

The Cafe - Pizza margherita - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

I'll be honest, I've been twice but I've only gotten one thing, the Kale, arugula, and grape salad (don't recall its actual name) but I was blown away, its an odd list of ingredients but I've never had a better salad, service and atmosphere are also fantastic, I really need to try something from the bakery when I go there next, would highly recommend. read more

Great cleaning. Server was timely and friendly! Food was very good for covid menu. The restaurant itself was welcoming. read more

The Cafe - Cream brûlée - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Growing up in Ames, I have had the pleasure of visiting this restaurant plenty of times. Each time, I am full, happy, and excited to come back. The food is always delicious and perfect. I like that they change the menu about every week. Some things they keep, some they bring back, but most of the specials and majority of the menu changes due to the season or what the chefs feel like creating. Most ingredients come locally sourced and have to be fresh. Their deserts are award winning and when you try one, you completely understand why. Today, I had the pleasure of trying their Apple Crisp French Toast with apples from a local orchard, photo attached. It was mouth watering good! I was in heaven. This is a place that just knows how to make interesting and delicious meals as well as creating a welcoming and friendly environment. I highly recommend this place. read more

The Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

This is probably my favorite restaurant in all of Ames. I enjoy many of their dishes and it's nice they rotate their menu once in a while as well. Their apple cider is really good and I wish they had that available all year round. I did however notice that they changed the size of their pizza and now it's a square shape and not a round shape...looks to be 25% smaller too which is a bummer! Their burger is one of the best I've had and I also really enjoy their pappardelle pasta, mac and cheese, etouffee, steak diane, chicken satay, and a bunch of other dishes that was on their previous menu like their corn risotto. Their brunch is also pretty good as well as many of their desserts. They can do to-go orders typically in 20 minutes or so even when they are very busy which is a definite plus for anyone on the go. I got really spoiled living in Cambridge, MA eating desserts and pastries from Flour Bakery and it's pretty hard for anywhere to live up to that place but the Cafe is the closest in quality in Ames. Portions are not huge but prices are reasonable for the quality. I heard Aunt Maudes, the Cafe, and Provisions Lot F are all owned by the same family/company but out of the three the Cafe I think makes the best food! read more

Seasonal, delicious, and classy. If this sounds like the place for you, chances are, it is. The daily omelette hasn't disappointed me yet, and their Italian sodas are delightful. The burger, both beef and veggie, is one of my ALL TIME FAVES. They come with fresh The Cafe chips, and they're crispy and delicious. And the dessert? Out of this world. You can't go wrong with any of them! Oh, and the sandwiches are tasty as well. My favorite is the turkey and cherry. The Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in Ames. Is it pricey? Sure. But it's ENTIRELY worth it. Love! read more

Food is always great and love that they support local producers. Just be prepared because they are busy!

My girlfriend went to Iowa State and always raved about how good the food was over here so naturally when we came to visit campus we went here! We ordered the burger, soup of the day and a side salad. The minute I took a bite into the burger, I realized what she was talking about. It may have been the BEST burger I've ever had! The bun was toasty and crunchy and the meat was cooked to perfection. Along with that the butternut squash soup of the day was perfect for the cold day we were having! To top it off the side salad was great to munch on in between bites of the burger and soup. The staff was incredibly nice as well and our food came out really quick. We were in and out in 30 minutes. If you're in the Ames area I'd recommend checking this place. read more

Pricey, but amazing food! The ambiance is nice and the service is usually good. I love their salads!

Excellent food. There was a wait on a Wednesday night but understand why. Creative dishes we all liked.

My husband is in town frequently for work and brought us to his favorite place to eat when he's here. Number one...don't skip dessert! I'll start with the starter. We had the bread. And you're probably thinking, it's just bread, right? No. This was some amazing, crack-laiden yeasty delight, made even more wonderful by the oil and balsamic that went with it. For dinner I had the fish tacos, which were just perfect, a light slaw, grilled fishy, and an ever-so-slightly spicy dressing. According to my husband, the menu changes often, but I would highly recommend these if they are available. Then there's the dessert. Strawberry marscapone cake. It was amazeballs. Never in my life have I enjoyed cake more than the frosting, but today was that day. Service was great, staff was friendly. If I'm in town again, I'll definitely be back. read more

We are spoiled because we live in Somerset and eat at The Cafe all the time. I especially enjoy brunch. We also frequent their bakery and the bread is terrific! read more

We've had dinner and breakfast here and both times the service was very ehhh. Slow and not very exciting. The food is better than good, which I expect it to be with the prices. The name "The Cafe" seems a bit too casual for the way this place is set up. It seems like you are going into a fancy dining experience, you don't get much of a cafe vibe. I tried the fish tacos and they were pretty good with fresh salsa and lime flavors. I think it came with rice and black beans that stayed mostly on the plate they were so bland. For breakfast I had the mushroom and scrambled egg plate that came with some VERY crunchy toast that tasted great but was just way too hard to finish both pieces. The potatoes were also quite crisp but had amazing flavor along with grilled veggies mixed in. For breakfast I was alone and I could tell the waitress taking care of me assumed I'd leave a small tip because she ignored me most of the time I was there and refilled my empty water minutes before I was done with my meal. I hope I gave her a new outlook on single diners with my more than generous tip, just because you have a small bill doesn't mean you can't tip well! If I can talk my boyfriend into going back here I'd like to try dinner once more before we leave Iowa, the cooks definitely have talent. Also if you can get a glass jug of chocolate milk to take home, it is divine! read more

The Cafe - Scrambled egg and mushrooms - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

My favorite coffee house. Good is decent too. Mostly local goods. Annoyingly out of the way but still worth that coffee stop! Love this place and worth going out of my way. read more

The Cafe has a classy environment, good food, and very friendly servers. The first time, I got the Quiche Lorraine and it was really good! The presentation of the fruit slices and salad was very impressive. It's a bit pricey for what I got since for 11.95 I figured I could get a whole quiche. Regardless, I plan to return the next time I am in town! Update: This is the third time I've been here. Always a great experience. I got the shrimp and grits. The presentation was out of this world! The shrimp were good and BBQ sauce was a great pairing with the grits. Highly recommend this! Always a great place to go with friends. read more

The Cafe - Shrimp and Grits - phenomenal and unique! - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Good place to have your breakfast in, always enjoying my coffe and portobello scramble there

We could only get order-ahead dessert here because there was a 1.5hr wait to eat there. The Vanilla Creme Brûlée and the Chocolate Pot de Creme were delicious though my son's creme brûlée had a hair in it. We were sad that we couldn't try more of their food but it was a really busy weekend. read more

I've never had anything bad from here. Great food and desserts. The breakfast is also excellent. It's a little pricey but worth it.

Solid restaurant I eat at often in Ames. Had the chicken masala which was tasty and the salmon cake appetizer which was just ok. Topped off with an Exile wheat beer. There aren't many great restaurant choices in Ames, so I'm happy these guys are still going strong. read more

The Café hands down is the best place to get coffee in Ames, possibly even the whole state of Iowa. While there are many new coffee shops opening in the area, none of them can compete with the pricing, service, environment, and impeccably crafted coffee they provide. When you walk in the warm lighting combined with the sweet smell of fresh-baked pastries creates a cozy unbeatable ambiance, the best out of any place I have been to. I order from the extremely kind baristas who will answer any questions you have with a smile on their face. I then wait in the warmth of the restaurant for no more than two minutes before they have my drink ready; definitely the fastest service you can find in Ames. I get just an iced vanilla latte and take a sip of the sweet smooth beverage. Somehow this iced coffee brings me joy that I have not found in the plethora of lattes I have consumed in my life. One taste of this makes other lattes seem like instant coffee by comparison. I want to chug the whole cup but I force myself to savor each superb sip. Sweetness doesn't overpower the taste of the coffee which creates a perfect balance of the two flavors. Many of the places I have gotten coffee from tend to overdo the sweetener to cover the bitterness of the coffee, however, you can tell that The Café takes their time choosing their beans because there is no bitterness to be found. They don't simply choose the cheapest beans they can find; they search high and low for the best coffee regardless of price. Yet they are still one of the only places that don't charge upwards of five dollars for a latte. Once I have finished the delightful drink it leaves me feeling adequately energized without the shakiness that sometimes accompanies caffeinated beverages. I already can't wait for my next trip to The Café. From the cozy environment to the reasonable price to the almost perfect flavor of the coffee there is no place I would rather get a cup of joe than The Café. Every coffee lover who visits should stop by for a coffee that will undoubtedly make every other place they try seem mediocre at best. I have been to coffee shops in almost every city I have ever been to, some that are very well known and loved, but none compare to The Café. read more

It's yummy, but definitely expensive. They offer a few things that I can eat w my dairy intolerance and their service is always top-notch!

Excellent food excellent service very nice atmosphere . If you're ever close make sure you stop in and check it out highly recommend it. Reasonably priced. Amy was an amazing server, thanks for the great service. read more

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For my first visit at this Ames eatery staple, I was not disappointed! Stopped in on a Tue over lunch hour and was seated immediately. The atmosphere is casual yet elegant and upscale. White linen napkins on cork board tables with individual bottles of water at each table. Ordered the Margherita pizza and that alone is enough to make me come back for another visit! Crust was wood fired to a thin and crispy perfection! The basil tasted like it was hand picked from the garden and a touch of coarse sea salt added just the right amount of saltiness. Since this was my first visit, I was told to save room for dessert. After viewing the options, I went with the Banana Caramel Cream Tartine (had them drizzle some caramel on top and add a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.) I can now die a happy man!! Was one of the best desserts I've ever had! The entire experience was fantastic and will definitely be back again! read more

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We stopped in for lunch, and it was just okay. It was dark inside and didn't feel that friendly. They have very few choices on the menu, and the food we had was okay. A medium well hamburger was very pink inside. For a $16.00 burger(I had bacon added) I would expect better. The waiter checked on us one time immediately after the food was brought out and before we even had a chance to try it. We also watched a waitress carrying a tray at an angle so that someone's soup or something trailed her to a table...and onto that customers table! Again, just okay. Thankfully, Ames has other restaurants...food ones! read more

Consistently very good food and service. The menu changes with the seasons and the food is high quality, good ingredients and elevated. The dessert menu is top notch. Best pastries and desserts in central Iowa!! read more

The cafe is a wonderful brunch place if you are in Ames! The service was fantastic and the eggs Benedict was great! The ambiance was kinda... fancy for a typical brunch spot (?) the mood lighting in certain areas threw me off but the overall decor is modern with a slight rustic vibe. Overall, amazing experience. read more

The Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

Dessert/Coffee shop on one side, full restaurant on the other side, and nice outdoor seating shared by both: this is a very nice and very popular place. Menu is very small and very focused: if you don't like breakfast or light offerings this is not the place for you: I ordered the Eggs with Short Rib. Simply amazing. But maybe the lunchtime Bloody Mary influenced my judgement. Waitstaff are friendly, but their system of checking you in and waiting is terrible. Expect to wait, and expect to be annoyed and uncomfortable the whole time you wait to be seated. read more

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A gem in the middle of Ames or anywhere else! Service was friendly and fast. Place was quaint, clean, and inviting. Iowa Old Fashioned was top notch and smooth. Cafe Burger and Iowa Pork Dip we're cooked to perfection. Meat was flavorful and tender, bread was artisanal and added a great dimension to the taste. Homemade potato chips were crisp and flaky. I will go back when in Ames! read more

Went for coffee with my GF on a Sunday morning and once we received our drinks and pastries we were told that we couldn't sit there to enjoy them. When I voiced my incredulity at this a manger walked us to the almost unlit BAR and told us we could sit there on a bar stool. The rest of the restaurant was open but not busy at all - there were perhaps three tables occupied there, but WE couldn't sit there. Neither of us had been anything but polite and pleasant yet we were treated like we were nothing but a pain in their rear. The coffee would've been great except it wasn't very hot and our pastries were not fresh. I was very surprised by this treatment as I have been there for dinner a few times and always had a good experience. This debacle cancels out those decent visits. I won't be going back. read more

Stopped in Sat.morning. Nice atmosphere and an great looking bakery case .Short wait.Ordered shrimp and grits with eggs. Hands down one of the best I have ever had!! Perfectly cooked and a huge portion. My daughter had peach french toast with real whipped cream.She loved it but it too was huge and only ate 1/2. Staff was very pleasant. We will be back next visit. read more

The Cafe - Shrimp and grits - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Great place to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner! This place was packed. At least a good 40 people in front off us. Took about 30 to 45 min to move through the line. Awesome thing about here is they have a bar to kill some time while you wait. We ordered off the brunch menu. Wife had the Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes and I had the Quiche with fresh fruit. Both were awesome. Got everything within 15 min. Had some drinks during brunch wife got the Screwdriver and I got the bloody Mary. Can't go wrong with that. Overall great place. I'd say this is must if your in Ames. The wait is a little nuts but like I said the bar is always open . Service is awesome. read more

The Cafe is a wonderful local restaurant. The menu changes often, as they only use locally grown foods. I've been many times and never thought my meal to be less than amazing. My boyfriend and I often joke that we could close our eyes, point at any spot on the menu, and we would never be unhappy. My favorite thing that I've ever ordered at The Cafe has, by far, been the breakfast sandwich. A lot of people enjoy The Cafe's brunch, but I never understood just how amazing breakfast food could be until I ate that sandwich. Beware! Never eat the breakfast sandwich if you would like to continue eating fast food breakfast, because it will never satisfy you again. read more

This restaurant is great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. The high-quality food is very tasty. Eating here is a delicious treat. I found myself impressed by the management, staff, and chefs. Everybody seems to enjoy working there and creating a good experience. After having dinner at The Cafe, I perfectly understand why this is one of the best restaurants in the area. The Cafe focuses on providing farm-to-table cuisine, using local products, and creating a nuanced foodie experience within a reasonable price. read more

The Cafe - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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Can be really great. Some truly unique and great tasting dishes. Then you realize their obsession with a questionable cut like 'hanger steaks' or Kimchi, and it really makes you wonder. Its like move on. read more

My wife and I ate at The Cafe while in Ames for a wrestling camp for our son. We had read a number of great reviews so it was a natural choice. At 7 on a Sunday evening, it was not terribly busy, so we were seated immediately. The wine list was not extensive but had some good choices on it, so we ordered a bottle of rosé as it was extremely hot outside, and rosé is always refreshing on a hot day. My wife started with the sweet corn bisque, which arrived at the table almost before she could finish ordering it. The flavor was good, but she wanted something with a little texture to it to balance the smoothness of the creamed corn - chives or lardons or something along those lines. She had barely finished the soup when the entrées arrived: Pork tenderloin with brussels sprouts and grits for me, cacio e pepe for her. Both were large portions. The pork was well-seasoned and cooked beautifully, nicely pink on the inside and still very juicy. The barbecue sauce with it was a bit sweet for my taste, but not bad. Sprouts and grits were tasty. My wife enjoyed the Iowa take on cacio e pepe, although she found it a touch heavy. We shared a lemon meringue tart for dessert. This was listed as a mini on the menu, but would have been a full-sized dessert anywhere else. The lemon was tangy without being overpowering, and the dusting of blueberries on the top were a nice touch. Our server was extremely friendly and checked in frequently without being overbearing. Overall, a fine meal, and definitely a place to consider if you are in Ames. https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g29355-d948001-r688106985-The_Cafe-Ames_Iowa.html# read more

If you're looking for unique brunch flavors The Cafe is a great stop! Their menu is fit for the season and the kids items are the perfect size for all kiddos. read more