One of the best restaurants in Bloomington and a great location on Kirkwood. Good for brunch, lunch, and dinner. My go to dish is the Louisiana Hot Pepper Chicken with mashed potatoes. They have a mean Wedge Salad too. Full bar with a generous amount of seating and a large dining room. Good for solo traveler, dates, and groups. Wonderful service! And don't forget the house made Crème Brûlée! read more

Uptown Cafe - Crème Brûlée - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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I had the opportunity to stop in to Uptown Cafe while on a brief stay in Bloomington this past weekend. My girl recommended it to me as I had most of the morning to myself as she was spending quality time with family. As I entered I was promptly and warmly greeted by the hostess and shown to a booth. The restaurant was not as busy as probably is usually ( I arrived around 11am or so ). The place is spacious and "warm", with ample seating at booths along one wall and numerous tables throughout. There is also what seems to be a nicely stocked and comfortable bar along the space on the opposite side. The server, Sue, was soon by my side offering a menu and suggestions. I started out with some coffee, as I'd not yet had my fix even though it was later in the day, while I perused the lunch menu. There were still a few breakfast selections, but after going over the quite healthy-looking lunch items I settled on the Ararat Chicken Pita consisting of ( stealing from the menu, here...) "chicken breast marinated in olive oil, rosemary, and garlic, char-grilled and sliced, then rolled into warm pita with lettuce, aioli, tomato, onion, and cucumber", along with a side of French fries. When it arrived it was nicely wrapped in foil to keep it wam. It was really quite tasty and I would definitely order it again. Large slices of chicken breast seasoned just right. The space at Uptown Cafe is nice and open, with plenty of room between table so you don't feel crowded. The bar area looks nice and I hope to belly up there one day on a future visit. All the staff was friendly, welcoming and seemed to enjoy themselves. Sue was just great, checking in just often enough to see if all was well, refilling my coffee and just ready with a friendly smile. Definitely do yourself a favor and stop in to Uptown Cafe if you find yourself in Bloomington and it's charming Square. I look forward to returning soon. read more

Uptown Cafe - Ararat Chicken Pita, with a side of fries. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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My partner and I are a sucker for good cajun cuisine and will actively seek it out. While Uptown provides a grander selection of food they take a lot of inspiration from "cajun" style cooking. The food is a great price and very filling. You will most likely have leftovers and the service has always been great! read more

Great place! I hosted a private party there recently and it was amazing! I'm a regular visitor and have been for years! Bravo Uptown!

My husband and I booked our Valentine's here! It was a great experience. Our waitress was prompt and personalable. Our food was delicious! Portion sizes made you full and flavors were on point. Ambiance reminds me of a jazz scene, relaxing to eat here and still welcoming to all types of people. read more

Uptown Cafe - New York Strip - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Many many many times this is our go to when visiting family in Bloomington, IN. I've had several menu items and have never been disappointed. Hoosiers hospitality PLUS is what they also serve here and thank-you, thank-you, thank-you. But it does seem to always be a local favorite so please consider a reservation. Parking can be difficult to find and you are charged. Parking in Carmel, IN is free everywhere.......I have never understood why Bloomington charges?? read more

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First trip here, which I'm ashamed to admit after a wonderful experience. Service was awesome and they made the reservation process easy. We had dinner and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Gumbo Ya Ya was very good, as were the Shrimp & Grits. Big ol' shrimp too! I got the Louisiana Hot Pepper Chicken and it probably wasn't quite as good as the other dishes I mentioned. They offer it with shrimp instead of chicken, if I had it to do over I'd have done shrimp instead of chicken. The Seafood Gumbo special wasn't as well received as all of the other dishes our table had. We enjoyed Uptown so much we came back Sunday morning to celebrate/recover from an Old Oaken Bucket victory. The biscuits and gravy were very good and the Potato & Andouille Omelet was delicious. Maybe a little heavy on the carmelized onions. The toast was great too! read more

After getting pounded by the rain at the football game, we needed to sit down for a good and relaxing meal. Two years ago, we stopped at Uptown Cafe and had a good meal. We returned today in hope to repeat our last experience. We sat at the bar to enjoy the rest of IU football game without the torrential downpour. The atmosphere here is very nice and more upscale. We ordered the calimari and shrimp fritta and the Creole BBQ shrimp in a cream sauce with rice. The calimari and shrimp was very good with a nice spicy cocktail sauce and perfectly battered. The Creole BBQ shrimp were very large and plump in a light cream sauce. The servings were generous and overall a good meal. I will return and try a different entree on our next visit. The service was good, nice atmosphere and tasty dishes with generous portions. read more

Uptown Cafe - Creole BBQ Shrimp in a cream sauce with rice. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Good Service, nice vibe on the inside. The food however was extremely mid, I had the Gumbo and it had a very odd flavor profile. Others in my group complained about the fries being too thick and undercooked as well. read more

From the outside looking through the windows the restaurant looks very inviting. My girlfriend and I came across this place while wandering around waiting for another reservation. The menu is priced from about $9 - $60. Our server Wendy was attentive and very kind. She ran us through the specials for the day and recommend starters. The food was pretty darn good. Pot roast and seafood gumbo were the two favorites. I took my husband the shrimp and grits to go. He only complained that they were a little under seasoned. Otherwise lovely experience definitely would like to return to try a few more items! read more

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Great vibe and food. Even better service. Perfect for a low key romantic spot. Definitely will go again.

We went to Uptown around 11:30am on a Sunday. We had a large group of 12 people so we knew we would have to wait to be seated. They told us it would be an hour wait. Every table and booth in restaurant was full. And there was a line to put your name on the waiting list. We were seated in about 45 minutes. Our waitress was awesome. Our food came out relatively fast for a large group. I definitely recommend the espresso martini! read more

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I've been here three times now, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Very solid spot. Good food, great service. Susan, my server today, could not have been more kind. Thank you for all the great meals and memories here. read more

Service is always great, steaks are incredible. Surprisingly the menu has many affordable options. Overall this is the best restaurant in Bloomington by far. read more

Yum! I ordered biscuits and gravy with eggs on top and it was excellent. I went here for the brunch, but the dinner menu looks good too. The look and design of the place is a classic cool. Seems like a good place to take a date. The service was A+. Zoey and the hostess were both delightful and charming. read more

Really enjoyed a recent meal here with a larger party of 8. Had the opportunity to sample a bit of everything from apps to desserts. Only miss for me was an eggplant special they had as an appetizer. Crawfish etouffee was delicious. Service was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. The place was packed on a recent Monday night so I recommend reservations. read more

The best restaurant in Bloomington. This is a real hometown experience, but with sophisticated cuisine and lovely service.

LOVE Uptown! Possibly my favorite, solid spot in Bloomington. Great food. Great service. Cocktails are delicious! Have eaten breakfast, lunch, and dinner & always feel like worth the stop. read more

Really enjoyed this place. Had dinner after visiting IU. I had surf and turf, steak and crab cake. Everyone loved their food, service was excellent. I thought the prices weee pretty good, have paid more for much worse read more

My husband and I love this place! We usually go for dinner! Our food has always been great as well as customer service! Highly recommend!

Here's what you need to know : breakfast review on a summer Thursday morning while school was out. Food was very enjoyable (Hoosier Benedict with biscuits of house made gravy), and arrived quickly. Service was 10 stars by Tiffany. She is OUTSTANDING. Cappuccino was perfect with a double shot (a really good coffee roaster is supplying them). Ambiance was perfect sitting outdoors in the not too harsh sun. Potatoes (Michael's home fries) were AMAZING. They are skin on red potato wedges, and just perfectly seasoned and skillet fried (I suspect). Eggs were cooked perfect. Sausage is from a local butcher and quality really comes through. Gravy was very well seasoned and not too salty. Just right. Breakfast was $18+tax read more

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I've been several times and they are consistently very good. They provide a wonderful dining experience and every server I've ever had has been great read more

Great service, amazing filet mignon! You know it is good beef when you do not get a food hangover from it. Just all around great! Top notch! read more

I have been dining at the Uptown Cafe for 40-some years, I think. From humble beginnings, it has grown to be the finest restaurant in Bloomington. I must say that the prices at the Uptown have risen commensurate with the quality of the restaurant over these many years! But everything that I have ever eaten at the Uptown Cafe has been exceptionally delicious and of the best quality. I am partial to breakfast, however, most especially the Eggs Benedict, which is only available on the Sunday brunch menu. (I fondly remember a time in the 1980's that you could order it with a remarkably delicious jalapeño hollandaise, but that is long gone. I wish they would bring it back!!!) Be advised that you will have something of a wait on Sundays, so be prepared, get your name on the list at the front counter ASAP, and settle in until your name comes up. In warmer months, you can linger outside; in colder months it gets pretty crowded inside the foyer. In addition, the Uptown has the very best homefries on the planet, which are red potato pieces exquisitely roasted with herbs, onion, etc; I like to add melted swiss cheese and pepperoncini. On other days of the week, I love the Popeye Omelette, which has fresh spinach, cheese, onions, mushrooms, and bacon pieces in its center. There are always creative specials posted that aren't on the menu, and the Uptown is the kind of place where you want to order 5 different meals because everything sounds so great that you want to try them all! But whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I believe the Uptown is the best restaurant in Bloomington. read more

Not cheap, but a lovely room with excellent service. The menu offers a lot of variety, so just about anyone should be able to find something they'll like. I would definitely recommend reservations, as this place fills up. But it's one of our favorites when we're in Bloomington. read more

Got sat in the back room where it was wonderfully air conditioned. Suzy was our waitress and she was so super nice. The recommendations she made were stellar. I wound up getting g the Gumbo Ya Ya Hoosier style (I.e. with mashed potatoes instead of rice). Super hearty meal. Full of flavor. Nothing spicy. Plenty of portion for even the heartiest of eaters. The mint julep was also spot on during this hot and humid August day! Very much recommend if you are in Bloomington! read more

3-25-24 I'm in town once a year, and UpTown has become a must stop. Warm atmosphere, and incredible service (Thanks Madison!). Had the surf n' turf special. Steak (most tender I've had in ages), 2 big shrimp, and a delicious crab cake. Asparagus for the side, which was awesome. Madison was kind enough to get me a little taste of the Jalapeño grits. YUM, but I couldn't actually eat a whole side. All the food was delicious. The menu had lots to offer. One of our party has dietary restrictions, and Madison was not only able to accommodate, but knew the menu inside and out and gave some great advice. Thank you to Madison and team for helping turn a great meal into a memorable evening. read more

Uptown Cafe is a good spot in town for drinks and dinner if you're looking for something a little more elevated. It's got a classy feel inside, with dim lighting and an overall relaxing dining experience. The service is lovely, our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu and friendly. Everything came out quickly, drinks and food! I had the pot roast and it was very good. Others at my table ordered a pasta dish and some of their steakhouse items. Everyone was happy with their dish and drinks! read more

I love love love the uptown cafe. The food, service and ambience are great. I'm a big fan of their Popeye omelette but everything I've tried there has been very tasty! read more

I recently dined at Uptown Café. I appreciated their broad menu as there truly was something for everyone. They also had a good selection of wines. We visited during IU's move-in weekend so all the restaurants were pretty busy and we had to wait 30-40 minutes for a table. We chose to dine outside and I enjoyed their patio's atmosphere. Inside, the restaurant is much larger than it looks from the outside! The food was good but it wasn't anything spectacular to me. I tried their chicken gumbo and felt that it lacked in Creole flavor. The consistency was a little chunky for me as well. I will probably skip Uptown Café and try another spot next time I'm in town. The service was friendly but very slow. It took a long time to refill water glasses, place our orders, etc. Luckily, I was with good company. read more

Recommended for a family birthday celebration, and wow the food was amazing! We had incredible service from the moment we entered the restaurant. Order the steak or try the cajun options. It was a great place to celebrate a special occasion. read more

Great ambiance, absolutely amazing food, service was a bit slow but my group and I went on a Friday evening so they were quite busy. The crème brulee is to die for! read more

Solid service and solid food. Plenty for everyone. Benedicts were really good. Maybe too much sauce in the Sardou. Grits were the fan favorite. read more

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I am a long-time returning customer of this place, and everything they serve is usually great. Since they changed their menu, I use to get the Gumbo Tasso, which I believe is now called Gumbo Ya Ya. It had a slightly stronger taste than before. However, I was disappointed with this dish because it lacked andouille sausage, which I expected to be included. Instead, there was plenty of shrimp and just a few pieces of chicken. When I asked the waitress if the gumbo was supposed to contain andouille sausage, she checked with the kitchen staff. They quickly brought me some sausage, and one of the kitchen staff members noticed that I had no broth and only rice, so he kindly brought me a bowl of broth as well. I was pleased with their response and the effort they made to rectify the situation. We also ordered the shrimp and calamari fritti, along with their eggplant appetizer special, and both were delicious. The service was excellent. While the lack of sausage in the gumbo was disappointing, I won't let that deter me from returning. Next time, I plan to try something different from the menu. read more

- Steakhouse Wedge add Steak 8/10 the steak was amazing. Cooked very very nicely. But the salad... I am a tad disappointed. I wanted some red onion or sweet corn or like something WOW. Definitely needs more effort and flavor. - 14 oz NY Strip 9/10 this steak was great. It came with this rosemary butter that was heaven sent. Once again cooked great. The french fries were so yummy but I think I would opt for Mac n cheese or mashed potatoes next time. * side note: everyone and their mom were getting this fried chicken it looked so yummy. Definitely messed up my order but whatever. Next time GET FRIED CHICKEN read more

Uptown Cafe - 14 oz Strip - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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First time visiting Bloomington and found Uptown after a long day of driving! We got there late, 30min before closing, but the staff assured us it was no problem and We grabbed seats at the bar. Bartenders were great, very helpful with menu items and libations. Be sure to ask about their barrel picks and off menu items! We started with martinis & old fashion - really hit the spot after being on the road all day. The bolognese was recommended with a suggestion to add the garlic bread appetizer. We did just that plus a salad. Everything arrived quickly even with a "full house". We devoured everything. The bolognese was excellent. Sorry, no pictures. We actually tried to return the next night for drinks - after a not so great experience at another spot, but the bar was closed for a party. So glad we got to experience Uptown. We definitely recommend & will return. read more

Uptown Cafe is arguably the best dinner spot in Bloomington! I have never had anything I didn't like off the menu. Perfect for date nights. read more

Uptown Cafe - NYE bone-in wagyu ribeye - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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The food was really good and the waiters were very attentive to what we needed. When we asked for modifications it was no problem and the food was enough to take home for leftovers! Very good quality food and nice atmosphere. read more

Uptown Cafe - Salmon with cauliflower - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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With a name like "café" you might think you don't need a reservation. You would be wrong. This place is in demand. Although they are not on OpenTable, you can call. My friend and I showed up early on a Friday evening and had to beg for a table for two. They actually accommodated which was great! They sat us in the rear of the restaurant by the kitchen (no complaints). The waiter was eccentric, and seemed to be overworked. He kept coming back to tell us different things, like that the bread had an upcharge now. Regardless, the food was good, as were the drinks. This was a good choice for us, since we were seeing a play nearby. read more

Incredible staff, service, cuisine and cocktails all the time, every time! My wife and I have been coming here for nearly all of our date nights since 2022 and really struggle to ever break away to explore something else in town. The bar is always bustling with friendly patrons and a great place where for nearly any occasion! For best cocktail of your life, find Nick. read more