One of our favorite places to dine! The ever changing menu makes it easy to come here again and again--change is good! The service is always top-notch and they have killer cocktails! You simply must eat here. read more

Love this place, consistently good, reasonably priced, amazingly delicious. Usually busy but well worth the wait.

What a cool place! The service was good. Menu is unique with local ingredients. I had the baked potato pizza which was fantastic! The dessert menu was fantastic. Highly recommend the carrot cake! read more

Every visit is a new experience with the menu. The food is always fab, the atmosphere and customer service as well. It's a nice place to really enjoy your meal with friends or date. This isn't a sports bar or family restaurant, but not overly upscale either... a happy medium. read more

Five years ago The Cafe was one of the best restaurants I had ever been to. I'd say that while they maintain a fresh new menu every few months and the food is very good, the consistency isn't what it used to be. I used to know that no matter what was set in front of me, it would be divine. Now I know it will be great, but every once in a while I get a plate that is a little below expectations. However, it's still my go-to here in Ames when I want to have great food in a good location. I just wish they'd take reservations so you don't have to wait in their crowded entry during busy hours forever! read more

Awesome food, great ambiance. Perfect date night spot. Popularity can make it hard to get in at times. Portion sizes can be on the small side, but what they lack in quantity they make up for in presentation and quality. read more

I love the Café because it has: Ridiculously good breakfast Strong coffee Deli sandwiches Pastries and desserts Freshwater fish, pork, steak or vegetarian dishes that are delicious and not typical entree offerings like so many other establishments Friendly staff A relatively quick meal, even when there is a wait And, their soundtrack gets a 10 out of 10. read more

Love love love their food. They have a seasonal menu so things get changed up sometimes. Literally have never had a bad meal here. It's my go to place to take people when they visit. It's relatively cheap considering the quality of the food (this poor college girl can afford to go) and they have the best bakery goods/ desserts for afterwards. Highly recommend! read more

One of the best places I have been to hands down. The service was outstanding, the pork and apple sandwich was just the right combo and the mango iced tea had me begging for more. After stuffing myself to the brim I didn't think I had room for anything else.... until tehy brought out the homemade dessert list... banana creme pie. Do it, you won't regret it, you will fins yourself making frequent trips back even if you dont live in Ames! read more

Recently went back to this wonderful place after 7years, only because I don't live in the area. What a treat! You walk in and view the wonderful pastries, fresh that day. I couldn't wait for dessert so got A strawberry rhubarb Danish first Wonderful. My family elected to wait til after breakfast but enjoyed their flour less chocolate cake and pot de creme as much. We were all eating off each other's plates. Then breakfast came and it was as wonderful as the pastries. My daughter in law always has the Eggs Benedict and is never disappointed. My son had a Korean chicken dish which he loved. I had a lemon poppy seed pancake dish with blueberry syrup, bacon, and eggs. Yum. Another nice thing is that it is located lose to a university, but seems to be laid back and a total change from the fast food places that typically surround college towns. read more

Last Friday night my girlfriend and I decided to try the Cafe'. With an uninteresting name like this I was concerned that the food and service may match. But so not the case! We waited for about 20 min for a table and then were seated at a booth behind the bar. Absolutely awesome seating with a window to the outside patio. Our server was very good. She came over and got us drinks. The menu had a ton of fresh healthy stuff on it. Our server was extremely knowledgable about everything on the menu and when I asked her which of two items she enjoyed more she was quick to give me her vote. Great experience! We will definetly go back again. read more

Went ta Ames, Iowa for a wedding. Had no plans on the first night so we started at the Hickoring Grill and it was a zoo. More kids than adults. No reservation and no bar! We then left to "The Cafe." What a great place! More of a French moiif and very intimate. The food was eclectic. All food was unique and delicious. Our waitress , Grace, was excellent. We called her Amaving Grace. A must if you are in Ames, Iowa! read more

Great food in modern setting. Many variations of classics. Plus, great bakery and dessert items. Great atmosphere for family or dates.

Locally fresh ingredients, prepared carefully with pride and enthusiasm, is what makes the food here worth the price. The chef has crafted a menu of traditional American cuisine with a distinct European flair. Everything on the menu is delight to eat and the atmosphere perfect for a business lunch or a family dinner. The desert menu may be the best in Iowa. No kidding! Everything is prepared and baked in their kitchen. From delicious pies, and fabulous cakes, to a variety of croissants, tarts, and eclairs. Freshly baked bread so delicious that I mention it here, under desserts. There is always something new to explore and fascinate your culinary cravings. Lets us not forget the coffee bar, serving caffeinated and non-caffeinated drinks. Whether an espresso, cappuccino or iced tea, all are prepared with the freshest ingredients by a knowledgeable and courteous professional staff. And it is the staff that makes The Cafe the standout that it is. Distinctly professional in their manner and appearance, the staff displays concern and attention in proper measure for all guests, in all situations. They take pride in providing an exceptional experience, engendering loyalty in this customer and countless others. read more

I went there yesterday for brunch and had the pot roast and eggs. If pot roast is ever on the ever-rotating menu, get it! Every member of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful. One of my favorite Ames restaurants! read more

It's good but not as good as the reviews had me excited for. The latte was so so. The chorizo skillet was good but not fantastic. The other 2 in my party were not impressed either. One ordered an omelet which was "ok". The other ordered the French Toast which she said was very tough to cut into. She needed a steak knife. I think I prefer Provisions Lot F for brunch over this place. The menu was not impressive. read more

Great brunch! I had posole. Wonderful flavors. My husband had bananas foster French toast and it was yummy as well. Great service with a laid back gourmet vibe. They also have a quick coffee/pastry/sandwich option. Coffee was excellent as well! read more

Great food, using great ingredients and local produce. Great breads, and awesome pastries! Best cappuccino in town. I've been here lots of times and never had a bad service. Oh, great place to order birthday cakes. ENJOY! read more

I travel much across the U.S., South America, and Europe. We are fortunate to have such a great restaurant in Ames. The many strengtrhs of this business are the local ingredients whenever possible, great chef work and preparation, fantastic presentation, resoanable price, nice ambience. They uise a great business plan by not accepting reservations. I hope this policy does not change. I have been pleased every time I have enjoyed their service. I have enjoyed meals more than 25 times at the Cafe. The Cafe is one of best restaraunts I have been to as well as one of my top favorites.. read more

Absolutely one of the best Ames establishments to go and get your munch on. Yes, if you go during usual meal times, you should definitely expect a wait. But it's all clearly justified with the yummy food cooked from local ingredients. The menu changes with the seasons as foods go in and out of season, so each dining experience tends to be a new one, but never disappointing. Their breakfast is a must-try. Just like a home-cooked meal at Mom's- only better. The cozy atmosphere is so inviting and comfortable, and great for college students to take mom and dad to while they're visiting. Knocked a star off because, as others have stated, they don't take reservations. They have to know they're quite easily the best place to eat in Ames, don't they? With demand like that, they could be slightly more receptive by either improving the wait area (though I don't imagine how) or by accepting reservations. I regret not going to The Cafe more while I was living in Ames. read more

It might be a little expensive for some, but the unique menu style and the food is worth it. It's a great environment for a family or for a date. I remember going for brunch and getting a salmon/egg omelet and it was amazing. Every time my family visits, we go there at least once. It's great food, great service. read more

Definitely Ame's best. Great atmosphere and service and some of the best dishes in Ames. I'd love to see this place expand since the wait can be a bit long at times. read more

The Café is EXCELLENT. Has a fine dining feel but costs no more than a typical restaurant. The customer service was great! Very friendly and fast. You get a big glass bottle of water, as well as a nice simple menu with probably any of the choices being great. We will be back! read more

If you are looking for a great bite to eat in Ames, the Café is a must go. My friend and I went to celebrate a birthday, and our experience was fantastic. The food was delicious, the drinks were awesome, and the service was great! It's perfect for a friend get together, a romantic meal, or just a lunch break. When we ordered, our server was very polite and gave us adequate time between seating us and letting us look at the menu. Once we ordered, our food came to our table so quickly we didn't think it was ours. We were both pleasantly surprised on the speediness of the food preparation. I ordered the macaroni and cheese dish that came with a side salad and a baguette and my friend got a salad with tilapia. My macaroni was delectable. If you're a macaroni lover like me, this meal is an absolute must. The Café is known for this meal. It was baked with bread and onion crumbs on the top. The side salad had crumbled cheese with a light dressing, and the baguette was baked and crispy. My friend enjoyed her salad, but she wasn't expecting the fish to be cold. Our drinks were just the right amount of strong without being overbearing. To end our meal, we got the German chocolate cake. For someone who isn't a very big fan of coconut, I found myself digging to get the last bite. There are two main reasons I am giving The Café four stars rather than five. First, we waited for around 25 minutes to be seated. I blame this solely on the fact that we came around a busy dinner time. Secondly, the food was fairly expensive. My friend and mine's meal altogether was around $60. However, this is pretty fair for a nice restaurant with a couple pricey alcoholic drinks, but for a college student, it wasn't ideal. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Ames area or to someone who is just passing through. With the Café's friendly atmosphere and amazing food, you can't lose. Be ready for the food to have a nice price tag: it's expensive but oh, is it worth it! read more

This place hits my sweet tooth. I love the Quiche Lorraine. If you haven't tried give this gem a try.

The Cafe needs a bar. Visiting Ames from Seattle, The Cafe was highly recommended. We were told that the wait would be 45 minutes. What?!?! When we learned that there was nowhere to wait, except for right inside the front door, with 20 other people, we went for a walk. The neighborhood is not interesting. It looked like a movie set that had yet to be filled in with people or props. Kind of a ghost town. When we came back, 45 minutes later, we were somewhat rudely informed that they had called us already. Nevertheless, we were seated in another 10 minutes. The Cafe's food was pretty good. We had the meat and cheese appetizer, which was great, as well as the bahn mi and a pizza. The bahn mi came with a strange sauce that I did not like the smell of (was it fish sauce?). The sandwich was good without it. The pizza was good too. Service left something to be desired, but was okay. read more

I loved the atmosphere here. Cozy and warm. The menu was drag and had lots of different choices. I had the green salad with chicken and my husband had the Tortas. Guacamole was amazing. Would go again if in Ames. read more

The food is really fresh and tasteful. The coffee is usually good. The only down sides are the prices.

One of my favorite places. Great food and drinks. Never had a bad meal. Popular place for a reason.

Went to this place specifically because of the good reviews given on Yelp. Driving long distance from KC to Minneapolis and thought this would be a great stop midway for a great hearty meal. Sorry to say that even though Yelp said their hours of operation are from 7 am - 9 pm, they did NOT say that the restaurant closes down for business between 2 pm - 5 pm. We could ONLY get sandwiches and soups. Very disappointing! Both my husband and I had the Turkey/basil sandwich on ciabatta. Yummy bread, but turkey was not fresh roasted. They used the same stuff I can get at my local grocery store, so no big deal there. We also ordered two bowls of soup: an asparagus cream soup which was "gritty" like they hadn't washed the spears at all before making the soup. I couldn't eat it, so traded with my husband for his roast beef soup which was very good. All in all, travelers BEWARE! Don't go here if you plan on getting there after 2 pm or before 5 pm! read more

Went here for a special celebration dinner and the food was fantastic! We ordered an appetizer, two entrees, a cocktail, and a beer, and everything tasted great. The service was good and the menu was not huge but offered plenty of interesting options. Can't wait to go back and try the desserts! read more

This is the second time I have eaten at The Cafe, this past wknd. Food is phenomenal--interesting and fresh menu items. And the atmosphere is quaint and could even be called romantic. Great background music playing, too. Definitely my fave restaurant in Ames! read more

The food is great, but it seems like the music gets louder and louder each time we eat there.

Always wonderful food and service. Lovely atmosphere. A favorite of our whole community.

Great restaurant! Have been here two times and each time it has been wonderful. Went here on my birthday and had their steak and it was amazing. The next time I had their chicken and dumplings and it was fantastic. Definitely will come back here again! read more

went to the cafe this morning for sunday brunch.. i had the hanger steak salad..it was DELIGHTFUL! thanks to my efficient waitress diane she mentioned that had HOT CHILI PEPPERS IN IT...which that wasnt stated n entree description THANKS DIANE for being on the ball,saving me from it being too spicy. i had it WITHOUT the chile peppers WAS AMAZZZZZING! i mean really good, i was one happy girl chillin with my tea, listening to the eagles. dessert was the cherry gallette with pastasheo ice cream! well.... I THOUGHT I DIED N WENT TO HEAVEN! mmmmm.. it was warm n tart n the ice cream was dreammmy! THANK U CAFE FOR SUCH A OUT OF THE ORDINARY CULINARY EXPERIENCE! HATS OFF TO THE COOKS N BAKERY TEAM! read more

There Brunch on the weekends does not have much Gluten Free. I was not impressed for the price.

Went for breakfast on a Saturday morning when only a limited brunch menu was available. Disappointed after reviewing their full bkfast menu online that featured lots of interesting options. Food was very good, but service was mediocre. Appears to be staffed by college students who enjoy chatting with each other rather than check on their customers. We were never offered refills on coffee and had to flag down our waitress to get our check. They have a nice selection of baked goods for sale including a delicious sourdough raisin walnut bread. Worth a visit, but may be a better experience during the week when it is less crowded. read more

I have been her for brunch and lunch and the food is amazing. There is always a wait because it is amazing but it's always been half of what they predict. There service is great. The accommodated a large party of 9 on graduation weekend and we only had to wait about 15 minutes as opposed to the 45 they predicted. I was willing to wait 45 minutes the food is that good. The people are very nice. read more

Atmosphere is one of the big pluses!! Warm and inviting- low lighting or natural lighting are used. The tables are divided in various areas which helps make you and your group or date feel like you can converse - you don't feel you are right on top of anyone else. Menu is small but love that they use local ingredients and list the farms right on the front of the menu. There are meat and vegeterian choices. Portions on some items are a bit large and can be shared. It might be nice if they made a small portions list- or made items that you could order half. Flavorful and interesting combination of ingredients. The chicken salad (similar to a Chinese CHicken Salad is large), the Pork sandwich with peppers and cheese on a toasted bread is very good and I don't normally eat a lot of pork. Would recommend this if visiting Ames or looking for a restaurant to meet friends,family or take a date !! read more