It's got enough reviews so I won't go into details. We ordered: Cuban sandwich Grilled Turkey sandwich special Fish Tacos Hamburgers Kids steak meal (yes, just $3.50!) As Guy would say, the Cuban was Off the Hook! The Turkey was either Off the Hook or really close. Everything was excellent. Oh, don't miss the Pots de Creme! Don't mess it up Cafe! read more

First of all, am I really the third "Sarah C." to review this place??? We were driving through on our way to visit my 'rents and wanted a nice (aka not fast food) option for brunch/lunch. The Cafe delivered. Sadly, it's been 4 months since we were there, and with my mommy brain, I can't remember what we had, but I remember really, really enjoying what we had. There was a bit of a wait - the place is obviously really popular. Service was fantastic. Our 9 month old had plenty of options and nice servers/hostesses to flirt with. :) We are heading back through Ames again in the next few months, and I am really hoping we will have time to stop here again! read more

By far my favorite restaurant in Ames, maybe anywhere. My fiance and I find ourselves comparing other restaurants to the Cafe, and they always come up short. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING on the menu is great here. They also change the menu frequently, so there is always some new and great to try. They are big into organic foods, and it makes the food all the better. They are also huge advocates of local farmers, so everything is always very fresh. The weekend brunch is absolutely awesome if you are up for it and willing to wait for a table. The decor also sets the mood for an intimate evening. The lighting is low and it has the feel of a small cafe in a far away place. I'm pretty sure I made my fiance take me here at least once a week, if not more. Miss the Cafe soooo much! read more

Great place to go on a romantic date. My fiancé and I both had the NY Strip Steak served medium rare and loved it. The waitress was very friendly and didn't annoy us. She knew when to come back and ask us how things were. I totally would recommend this restaurant to anyone. The atmosphere is great! The only drawback was we had to wait 45 minutes, but we ordered a drink from the bar so time flew by. I recommend getting there as early as possible! read more

The Cafe - NY Strip Steak: oak-grilled, Gorgonzola butter, roasted fingerling potatoes, port-braised onions - Bakeries Near Me - Ames, Iowa

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On our way home to the Twin Cities and we stopped here for a late lunch. We arrived 15 minutes before the kitchen closed for the afternoon (they open again at 5:00 for dinner). Service was great, we were seated immediately and the food was promptly served. Cafe burger was perfectly done and flavorful; no ketchup or mustard needed. The grilled cheese was excellent and unique with grilled red pepper and kale pesto. The accompanying asparagus soup was mellow and smooth. Good flavor. A great experience! read more

Only downside is trying to figure out where you can sit. Why not take reservations for all spaces (inside, outside, bar area - not the bar, cafe side?), it's so confusing. Food is very good and dessert is special treat. read more

Amazing staff and people and the food is excellent. Our favorite restaurant in Ames! Go there for healthful and thoughtful eating! Come back because the staff is great! read more

Simply put: I have eaten here dozens of times, and never had a bad meal. The wait staff is super sweet, and make me feel like they want to please. The young man who met us a the podium is great! read more

I've been to this restaurant several times and had both good and bad experiences. Typically if you get an experienced server you should have a great dining experience. There are a few knowledgeable servers who have been there for a long time and they always make the experience a pleasant one. While the service is sometimes lacking, the food is usually excellent. I don't think I've ever ordered a dish that I didn't enjoy. Their desserts are also exceptional - even with the recent price increases, they're still worth trying even if you have to share it. The menu changes frequently depending on what local ingredients are available so if you really fall in love with a dish don't wait too long to visit again or it may not be on the menu! This place can get very busy on Friday and Saturday nights so get there early since they do not take reservations! They will also not seat you until your entire party is there so that sometimes leaves it very crowded with people standing around the hostess & bakery area. read more

The best restaurant in Ames. I live in Somerset and eat there at least probably once a week - either eat-in or to go. The menu changes pretty regularly, but there are some stand-by's - the burger is amazing, the pizzas are great, and the "after 5" dinner dishes are always good. The deserts are pretty awesome, too. The staff is very friendly. You can also get coffee, baked goods, and fresh bread to go. They are all excellent. The only bad thing about the Cafe is because it's so popular, you'll often have to wait 10 minutes or so for a table during the dinner rush - esp. during dinner hours on the weekends. Personally, I've never been kept waiting more than 15 minutes, one can wait in the bar, and, the bottom line, it's worth the wait! read more

I had never heard of The Cafe. I only went there because I was given a gift certificate by a family member for Christmas. The place was rockin busy, but we still got a table within 20 minutes. The menu was very limited, but as others have said this is partially because they buy local fresh ingredients. Because we had a gift certificate we decided to try as many things as we could. First, I was really impressed when they brought water to the table. You get a large chilled glass bottle of water that you can dole out as you desire. The waitress was spot on with her service, and was good about answering any questions I had. We got a shrimp rangoon dip appetizer. It was a hot dip with big chunks of shrimp, and fried wonton chips. It came out fast, was hot and delicious. One of the more unique tasting things I've ever had. I got pork osso bucco for dinner, and my wife got a cajun new york strip. We both agreed that our food arrived fast, and was possibly the best thing we've ever eaten. We also got dessert; My wife got a fallen chocolate souffle, and I got a piece of banana cream pie. I'm glad we each made our own choices. I thought the souffle was ok, but she loved it. I thought the pie was outstanding. The next day we couldn't wait to eat there again so we got breakfast. My chicken sausage hash was awesome, and my wife's orange french toast was the best she's ever had. We both also got cafe mochas while we were there. I will never go to Starbucks again. I can't say enough good things about this place. read more

The Café is probably the best restaurant in Ames. It's definitely my favorite place to eat! I'm glad to support The Café's focus on natural and locally-sourced foods and ingredients (where possible). Brunch/Breakfast is my favorite meal, closely followed by dessert - there are always so many decadent-looking items to choose from! The wait staff is very well trained, and the food is presented skillfully. Some people complain about the fact that The Café doesn't take reservations or won't seat a party until everyone is present. This policy is no different than Hickory Park (another restaurant in Ames) and stems from the "college town" mentality. Especially on busy game days, why would the restaurant hold an empty table when there are dozens of other customers ready to sit down and order *right now*? I think it's inconvenient sometimes, but I understand why they do it, and it's probably the most fair process for handling large crowds. read more

Exceptional food that changes up depending on the season. Love the old fashion there. Drinks, food, and service all on point.

Great place. We went there for lunch and waited for less than 5 minutes. The light is dimmed and the atmosphere is super nice. The Somerset salad was really good and delicious. As well as the burger. Everything tastes so good. As for the desert, the fruit tart was good while the galette is a little bit o sweet. I ended up with not finishing my galette with ice cream on top of it. read more

Your wedge salad is a rip off. A quarter head of lettuce with the core still attached and then drowned in a half bottle of tasteless salad dressing, minimal bleu cheese crumbles, four cherry tomatoes halved, maybe 7 half-inch tokens of bacon, 3 quarter-inch snippets of chive and no croutons as listed on the menu. Disgusting meal for $9.95!! I left a tip only because this meal was no fault of the waitress but maybe she should look for another job where the food is actually good. read more

We're one of those couples that usually sticks to what we know. Whether it be boring or overplayed. That's typically the case with Ames eateries. Wanting to break out of funk we sought out something. WIth hesitation we decided on The Cafe. The area The Cafe is in is in quite contrast to "Old Ames". The brick commercial district and avenue of row houses give off a suburban feel to this North Ames eatery. The weather was amazing for late March so we opted to wait on the tables outside the main door. I grabbed a couple of drinks and we sat outside and enjoyed the stellar evening awaiting our table. 45 minutes later we were seated. The ambiance gives off a very contemporary French feeling, but not overwhelming. We started off with Gaucho skewers. Being a typical meat and potato couple we were a little hesitant about how the chimichura would taste. But it was superb. An excellent yet gastro-petite starter. The fiance loved how they served her Diet Coke in a can. The Cafe has chosen to forgo the huge profit margins of fountain pop in favor of customer satisfaction. She ordered a simple Cafe Burger and I ordered the Cafe Mac & Cheese. My entree came out piping hot and featured and exquisite salad mixture. The meals were satisfyingly perfect. We followed up with the famous desserts The Cafe is known for. We know the Peanut Butter Chocolate cake and it was sublime. The service was top notch (25% worthy) and came at a great price. If you're tired of feeling like sheep being herded down long hallways to eat than give The Cafe a try. read more

Very disappointed when I arrived at 2:35pm on a Tuesday I found out that the kitchen is closed From 2-5 daily! You can only get drinks and sweets, bakery items and no waitress service between those hours either! This place. And highly recommended and so sad they had no food to purchase read more

EAT HERE. I have been four times so far and leave wishing I could've had one of everything on the menu. Their Mac n cheese is about the only "regular" thing on their regularly changing menu.... and it is there for a reason!! All fresh foods. All cooked to perfection. I had a mushroom bolognese the last time and also sampled the Mac n cheese, cranberry chicken sandwich and salted caramel chocolate dessert. Yummmmy!! And it should be noted.... the wait staff is amazing. Polite, direct and professional. read more

This place is a solid 4 stars... Went twice in the past two weeks. I had their house made chips as an appetizer which were quite tasty. For dinner the first time we were in I had the Thai short ribs and man that was delicious. The second time we went I had the pork osso bucco which was good, but the short ribs were better. The second time we went we split a bunch of desserts, the coconut cream pie was good, the strawberry short cake was good as well, but the red velvet cake was a disappointment. Good beer selection and good mixed drinks as well. Definitely one of the better restaurants in Ames! read more

Bring a flashlight because the lighting is super low. Feels like an interrogation room in one of them old 1960 cop movies. They don't take reservations so send one of the members of your party to get your name on the list. Their dinner menu - limited. Their tiramisu - meh. I've had much better. Their bar is great. Great mojitos! Service is very attentive! read more

This is my favorite place to eat in Ames. I've had their breakfast and dinner on numerous occasions, and their outstanding menu is the reason I go back. On a recent trip, I had the silk road salad and spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Both were delicious, but I would punch a baby in the face for another cup of their tiramisu. For breakfast, I had the pancakes with sausage and tried a bite of french toast. This reminded me of the pancakes and sausage my dad would make when I was a child. I still haven't been able to master those damned things. Give this place a try. Even if you have to wait a while, it's worth it. Oh, and save room for the tiramisu. read more

I eat here all the time and the food is always amazing. They cook with a lot of locally grown and organic ingredients. They change the menu up pretty regularly and are constantly adding/changing it to fit the season. Any time the Mac n Cheese shows up on the menu, I get it. It's my second favorite ever(first favorite is at Court Ave Brewery in Des Moines, but it's a side dish there). The cocktails are a bit pricey, but worth it for the most part. They use fresh squeezed juices and good spirits. Can't wait to make it up to Ames to eat here again! read more

We checked this out on way through Aims. It's a little off the I35 path but worth the time to get there. A very good menu that has some excellent out of the ordinary choices. The salmon club and the turkey sandwich were excellent. I recommend. read more

This is a great place to grab a tasty meal. They serve gourmet meals and a trendy/classy atmosphere. Miranda was a fantastic server! Today, I had brunch and it was delightful. Their eggs are farm fresh and that really comes through on the plate. My pancake combo was served with banana pancakes, salted Carmel butter, and real maple syrup. The locally roasted coffee was a bit strong, but a good pick-me-up. The pepper bacon was beautiful but unfortunately did not have any flavor. It just tasted like grease - not even salty or smoky. Overall, a good place with friendly service and delicious, fresh food. read more

The cafe has become a go to for when my folks are in town. They continually change up the menu and have quite the variety of offerings. Last time I visited I had a marinaded rock hen which was fantastic. Well seasoned and as tender of bird I've ever had. As for the atmosphere, it is rather dark. This does allow for somewhat of an exclusive experience in which you don't see much more than just those you are sitting with. Finally, another interesting aspect of The Cafe which I haven't used is there walk out option. I believe they have sandwiches, coffee and desert you can order to go. Overall, I have and will continue to enjoy experiences at The Cafe. read more

Fantastic for lunch! I had the Somerset Salad, which was excellent and was a ton of food for the money. Also had a really nice bowl of soup. I like any place that leaves a carafe of water on the table for me. Can't wait to try them again, hopefully for dinner! read more

I've been to The Cafe a handful of times now and have not been disappointed with the food or service. I've been for both brunch and dinner and you can't go wrong. Last time when we went for dinner I asked to substitute the cheese in a sandwich and the waitress promptly asked the kitchen and came back right away with alternate options. And as always, everything was delicious. The only downside to The Cafe is that it is one of the best restaurants in Ames so there is almost always a wait and they don't take reservations. If you go on the weekend for brunch get there early! read more

My favorite restaurant in ames! All of the employees are so nice and work really hard! The menu is constantly changing which is amazing! I try something new every time I go! read more

The Cafe is the best restaurant in Ames. They keep setting the bar higher and higher. There menu is ever rotating and seasonal specials are really good. I usually do brunch here and it is amazing. Their Somerset Salad is amazing and seasonal pancakes are very good. Menu is relatively small but everything on it is worth a try. The setting is that of a fine dining experience. They do have Patio sitting too but it can be very windy thanks to Ames weather, and their cocktails are worth a try. read more

Great food and serve. Excellent COVID practices with reservation only and fully masked staff and patrons.

Great breakfast when you want something that feels a little decadent Also the dessert case looks to die for

I see why this place gets rave reviews. I had the pork taco and was not disappointed. Some of the toppings were a little sweet for my taste, but it was fabulous nonetheless. What makes this place so fantastic is that it's delicious and unique food in IOWA of all places. I am a Chicago native and have been very pleasantly surprised by some of the eating establishments in Iowa. I nibbled on some of the sweet potato chips and they were crunchy and fresh. My husband got the burger and loved it. read more

Hands down the best restaurant in Ames, Iowa. The food is not only delicious but healthy, local, and organic. I have probably dined here at least 25 times for brunch, lunch to go, sit down dinner, just dessert, catering. Everything is scrumptious. My go to meal is the burger for dinner and pancakes for brunch. Seriously you will not regret eating here. Go early because there is always a wait and they don't take reservations. read more

Nice atmosphere here and would come here again. First time, I had the vegetarian omelet which was huge but good. Second time, I had fried egg and pancake which I could not finish. The child's breakfast meal looked to be the right proportion plus nice selection of fruit. With my dish, my fried egg was a bit salty but the pancake was good. Overall, I would say it is a step up from Denny's with variety. Sometimes, there is a wait on a nice day. Otherwise, speedy service and great coffee with refills. read more

LOVE THIS PLACE. Kind of pricey, but worth it. If you like a good brunch place, The Café is perfect. My favorite menu item is the Eggs Benedict. Depending on when you go, it can get fairly busy. read more

This is probably the best restaurant in Ames. Pastries are awesome, as are the desserts. It is tough to comment on specific dishes because the menu is always changing. Product is locally sourced and the chefs make wonderful dishes. For Ames, pricing is a little up there, but it is not astronomical. This place is like something you would find in West Des Moines in North Ames. Tip: Try the sourdough pancakes for breakfast. WONDERFUL. read more

I kick myself for not coming here sooner....Really. But now I know the Cafe is amazing, I can't wait to put this on my regular brunch/dinner rotation. The menu is awesome---for example, brunch has excellent options for everyone. Something savory, something sweet, eggs, salmon, you name it--they have it. Do try a cocktail. I had a gin & tonic with maple syrup(!!) it was outstanding and the perfect winter warmer-upper. A dessert is mandatory (at least it is for me) so try a delicious, beautiful pastry or plated dessert. The banana caramel tart is incredible. Complete with real vanilla bean flecks :) I LOVE that! Very reasonably priced, amazing food/service....you must go! read more

Eating at The Cafe has been a great experience every time I've been there. I have never been disappointed with a single meal (or desert). The atmosphere is great; I'm not sure that you can find another place in Ames with a similar feeling to it. They also have seasonal menus (although some items are year round) and that is kind of a nice way of changing things up. I only have two complaints. 1. It can get a little expensive. Granted, I am a college student, so I might be a little bias. 2. Waaaaaaay too many people know about this place, so unless you call ahead, you might have to wait quite a while to be seated (or will have to resort to eating elsewhere). read more

Excellent option for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert! The menus are seasonal and each season offers something delicious! The food is a bit on the fancier side which might make a little less kid friendly. read more

Let's start with the bad: service can be slow; sometimes the food is over-salted to me (but I am sensitive to salt); this place is frequently packed to the gills. But those things are moot because the servers are friendly and the wait can move relatively quickly or plan ahead and well-priced, though maybe expensive in Ames. And it's worth it! The menu has something for everyone and it's all pretty good. The carrot cake is to DIE for although some of the other cakes are eh (the cannoli cake, ie), and the cocktail menu is interesting which is high praise coming from this gin-loving city slicker. There was no ginger beer last time I was in, though, not sure if they carry it. Highly recommend, particularly for out of towners. read more