Great food and wonderful coffee! Service was sketchy- there were so many employees you'd think there would be efficiency but our order got mixed up and one in our party didn't get their food or 10 min after the rest of us. Some of the fruit served was spoiled but a replacement was fresh and delicious. Why would anyone serve brown fruit? The standouts were the huevos rancheros and eggs with chorizo- so good! read more

I ate here 3 times (dinner twice and sunday brunch) on a recent week long trip to Bloomington. It was a great find (thanks yelp!) and I'll definitely go back the next time I'm in Bloomington. Very nice menu with an interesting mix of items.. I would describe the items I tried as comfort food with a little cajun flair. I ended up eating dinner here twice. If you like beer be sure to check out the Vanilla Porter (Breckenridge Brewery) on tap.. it wasn't on the menu as they just added it. Very tasty.. and I think tuesdays and thursdays are $2 pints! I also highly recommend them for brunch which was excellent. I had very well prepared huevos rancheros with a side of linguica sausage... yum! Oh and try the coffee cake if you have room.. they'll warm it for you and it's very moist and tasty. read more

I had my rehearsal dinner here before our wedding. The food was outstanding, service was out of this world, and sadly completely overshadowed the wedding reception food (that was for more expensive!). Highly recommended if you're looking for a place for groups or special occasions, they can handle a big group with style. read more

The ambience was great, coming in on a Saturday night we had to wait for awhile but there were nice couches. We got the calamari as an appetizer, hard to go wrong with that. Everything on the Uptown classics board also looked good, but I decided on the gumbo with mashed potatoes which I just loved. The potatoes were so creamy and the gumbo was packed full of flavor. Uptown would definitely be on my list of places to eat at if I visit Bloomington again. read more

Uptown Cafe - Calamari and shrimp - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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So many eclectic options in b-town. Went for a day trip and yelped... This came up on several searches on different travel apps. My husband tried and true Hoosier wanted Mother Bears but as a foodie I chose Uptown. I had read it was somewhat dated. Chairs and carpet dated. Cute historic building, neat jazz and creole art work. I saw several people including my husband searching for the restroom as there were many unmarked doors. Food.... Eh..... Average shrimp and grits. My husband has the Chinese chicken salad and I tried his chicken which was Moist in a sesame seed batter.... Next time I will go to Farm as that is what I really wanted to try.... read more

I love the atmosphere, and the waiting staff is usually courteous minus this one guy who wouldn't stop exclaiming that my name is so unusual. And he continually couldn't pronounce "Kyla", even as an American, so I felt sort of embarrassed. The food is always wonderful, taking note that I usually order dishes of the Italian variety. read more

Excellent lamb sandwich and my wife enjoyed the tuna Tobacco Sandwich. Best ever! Great selection of hot teas too. Nice service and fast! Thank you. Marc and Jacqueline read more

This place reminds me of back home in West Lafayette. I am new to Bloomington and I wished they had Another Broken Egg here. The food is so similar it reminds me of home. They do have differences though. I love the jazz vibe in the bar area and the look of the building. My favorite dish is eggs benedict with the potatoes on the side. Highly recommend. It is on the pricier side, but worth the money. I've been here about 5 times so far, but plan on coming back. read more

OMG! I had the Eggs Maryland for brunch. The crab cake that comes as part of this amazing breakfast was 100% real, delicious and tender, lump crab meat. Hardly any "filler" at all. And to get a crab cake this good in Indiana, wow! Their breakfast potatoes were outstanding too! read more

Uptown is a great atmosphere! They have a great aesthetic, and stellar service! The food and drinks are great! The bar is exceptional with craft cocktails. Cody was my bartender, he was friendly, attentive and answered all of my questions! read more

This is, to my mind, the best restaurant in town; at least, it was. I am hoping that today was just an off day. But, it was Mother's Day... The ambience, the service, and the food, are typically spot on, and reliable. This isn't the fanciest restaurant, but it's really nice in a traditional old-school way. It feels good there, and they've always been the most consistently excellent. Heavy silverware and crockery; simple, but exceptional attention to execution. They keep the menu to things they can execute well. The last two times I've eaten there, I am sad to report, the attention to detail seems to be gone. Some background: I worked at the Uptown when it was a breakfast diner and late night place next to the Bluebird, and I have watched it grow and transform into the Bloomington institution that it is today. It is the place I would recommend out of towners go. Today, however, a bit of a fail. And it was the last time I was there, as well. Same sorts of issues, both times, but worse today. Almost no hollandaise on the exceptionally great Eggs Maryland, and the potatoes, the famous uptown home fries, were mushy and over cooked, so someone over-cooked the potatoes in the first place and then of course no crust after the flat top. So low marks for texture and flavor. And many breakfasts come with the home fries, so 3 folks at our table didn't eat the potatoes, because they were not good. The toast with another breakfast was bread, not toast; there was no color or crunch on it. I honestly have not had proper toast out of this kitchen in a while. I do not know why. Bread is magically transformed into toast, with changes in flavor and texture. But not at today's Uptown Cafe. It's the canary in the coal mine, along with limp, mushy home fries. They saved the worst for last. Here's the death knell. The worst, was the crème brûlée. I have had literally hundreds of crème brûlée's at this very restaurant. I have, on occasion, had two! It's that good. Dead- rich, but great; like the Uptown itself was, simple but perfect, in every respect. I also make crème brûlée. I have my own butane torch for making crème brûlée. I am attaching a photo of my own home-made creme brûlée, just so you know that I know what I am talking about. Today? The crème brûlée was curdled. It was fluffy, not creamy. That's inexcusable, but it happens. You just send it back and tell the chef, and don't eat the crème brûlée. What I did not expect was for the server to tell me that I must've gotten a bad bite, because it looked fine. First of all, it did not look fine, it looked fluffy. Even my kids knew it was wrong on sight, because it looked wrong. Secondly, crème brûlée is about the silky creamy mouth feel. Now this is a dealbreaker, because not only is it bad food, it's bad service. And that is not what the Uptown Cafe has always been about. It's been about simple, excellent, and you pay a bit for the privilege. I hope this is just transformational growing pains, and this institution can sort itself out. Not taking feedback when it's offered in the right spirit is probably the worst thing this restaurant can do at this point and it's history. RIP Uptown Café. It's now unreliable. From 5 stars to 2 stars, for being just this mediocre, and worse, ignorant, on Mother's Day. read more

Uptown Cafe - My own creme brûlée, just so ya know... - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Uptown Cafe is probably my favorite restaurant in Bloomington. Yes, it is a little pricey, especially for dinner, but it is well worth every penny. I've only ever had breakfast here once, just because I happen to believe I make the best pancakes in the world, but the one time I did have it, I remember everyone at the table being completely satisfied. Dinner's are decent. I appreciate the constantly changing special menu that gives contrast and choice to a somewhat limited regular menu. The cajun meatloaf is my favorite so far. My favorite meal here is lunch. I constantly walk down from work for a treat, usually about once a week. At $8 or so a lunch, it's a bit more than some other places, but it certainly won't break the bank at once every week or two. The gumbo is great, but my favorite so far has been a smoked brisket sandwich. To this date, it is the only truly well-smoked brisket I've had in Bloomington. There was absolutely nothing else on the sandwich but bread and a touch of BBQ sauce (which I requested), but it didn't need anything else. Also, I had the cheesecake the other night. It was good, but dense and creamy. I prefer a little lighter and fluffy. They call it New York style, but let me tell you, it is not New York style. That being said, it's hard to go wrong with cheesecake! FYI though, Lennies has the best of that in town. read more

Consistently good. Favorite drink for the summer--New Orleans fizz. The best appetizer is their rock shrimp with calamari--always fresh and their tarter/aioli sauce is perfection for dipping. Their New Yorker is a mouthful, but my favorite is their seasonal ribs. On their everyday menu their pot roast is delicious, as well as their meatloaf. It's your American favorites--come hungry! read more

Uptown Cafe - Shrimp and calamari appetizer. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Fancy dating place, for sure! Nice Cajun cuisine and very friendly waiter! I had a meatloaf, which was amazing! You have to try that classic entree! read more

Uptown Cafe - Meatloaf - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

The bar tenders here are very welcoming and professional even for a complete dining experience. We witnessed teamwork utilized by the staff , and they made us feel like family. It was a super busy night and we decided to sit at the bar, we had an awesome experience. Excellent customer service and food is amazing! We will be coming back again soon. I'm a fan of the Louisiana Hot Pepper Chicken! A must try. Don't miss out on this restaurant and bar! read more

Uptown Cafe - Gorgonzola Filet and Louisiana Hot Pepper Chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Just popped in for a quick breakfast by myself. "Breakfast Burrito" immediately made itself known to me on their chalkboard as I walked in. The burrito was everything I was hoping for. Plenty of good stuff inside, as big as a Chipotle burrito, and a healthy portion of guacamole, pico and sour cream on the side. A+. My one complaint is the coffee was a bit pricey....2.95 for a cup (presumably with refills). That was 1/3 the price of the breakfast burrito! About $15 (including a good tip) and 20 minutes later, I was on my way. I would definitely come back here, next time with a friend or two. read more

Uptown Cafe - Breakfast burrito. Totally decent. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

They have the best garlic bread in this town! Their French toast is always highly recommended but I think the garlic bread is as good as the French toast. I always loved their lousiana pepper chicken. High calorie but the taste worths! Their red bean and rice is tasty and healthy. They also have a good selection of different kinds of salad. I strongly recommended the Musclun salad and Chinese chicken salad. Very tasty, fresh. Their creamy garlic and sesame salad dressings definitely is worth trying! Overall, good food and reasonable price. Compared to the Farm next door, the food is more home style. read more

Uptown Cafe - Salad with sesame fried chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Good place to go if you're looking for an upscale breakfast/brunch place. Nothing for people who like normal French toast, pancakes, etc. Got the French toast and it was not good, looked like spit up on the plate. Coffee was never refilled. I'm more of a Perkins, Bob Evans person and if you are too this isn't the place for you. Spent almost $60 on two meals. read more

Our server Adrienne was wonderful from moment one while we decided between all of the signature cocktails. We had the goat cheese bruschetta word was amazing. We had the Rhuby rose, last word, and el Diablo drinks... perfect. I ordered the shrimp and grits it was amazing and my wife ordered the Gorgonzola filet. I am not a steak person really but it was like butter and had the best flavor. If we weren't so full we would have had desert! Our server was so friendly and great guiding us to things we might enjoy! We're from out of town but if we lived close we would frequent often!! Our best date night meal hands down!! read more

Uptown Cafe - Goat cheese bruschetta, rhuby rose and the last word - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Best upscale restaurant in Btown. Great ambience , good service. Soothing music and fantastic food. Reservations may be necessary for Friday and Saturday dinner time. Worth paying the extra few bucks for the service and speciality drinks. read more

Superb cuisine. Lovely atmosphere. Cool ambience. Excellent service. Wonderful brunch. Incredible café.

Great steaks. Terrific service. The bar area is more congenial than the restaurant. In a good way. Will eat there every time we are in town.

Best dining in Bloomington (if not all of Indians). The staff is always friendly and you can't beat the classy atmosphere and menu. Just try to name a place that makes a better mixed drink... I'll wait! read more

Never ate here but I called to try to get reservations for Valentine's Day and the lady that answered was very snobby. For that reason, you will never get my business. First impressions are everything :) read more

I was passing through town on business and decided to look up a local establishment for breakfast. I typically eschew chain restaurants when at all possible in favor of the local places. Uptown Cafe popped of first and had a very favorable review thread so I decided to give it a try. I was quickly seated and taken care of by Kari. I ordered coffee with a side of water and then placed my order. I opted for the Classic Eggs Benedict with a side of Home Fries. Within ten minutes it was set in front of me. I expressed my astonishment to Kari on how quickly it was delivered. Her comment was that the Kitchen staff were wizards. No truer words were ever spoken! I apprehensively approached my dish with skepticism on how it would taste considering the speed with which it appeared. My fears were quickly pushed aside as I dove into the dish. The eggs were perfectly cooked with a yolk that oozed out as I dissected it with my knife and smothered the ham and English muffin with its golden goodness! The Home fries were perfectly cooked and quickly disappeared. All in all I have to say that my first experience here was great and I would highly recommend it! read more

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

One of the best restaurant in Bloomington. Flavorful and well prepared food that leans a little toward Louisiana. Great steaks, salads (spinach salad with pear, gorgonzola, and candied walnuts), deserts (persimmon pudding), brunch (Eggs Hussard), service, wine list, and everything else. They aren't quite Tallent or Scholar's Inn, but for my money, Michael's is definitely at the top of my short list. read more

I always enjoy Sunday breakfast at the Uptown. We used to take our girls there when they were younger. They would get so excited over a fruit bowl and potatoe spinach omelette. Thursday night prior to an IU Auditorium event we stopped in and got a table in the beautiful bar area. I tried for the first time the crab cake over wilted spinach with deliciously seasoned potatoes. It's not to heavy of a meal and has wonderful flavor. Not to bad for a landlocked State. read more

My wife and I stopped in Bloomington for our anniversary and from the review decided to go to the Uptown Cafe for dinner. The meal lived up to the reviews, my wife had the Shrimp and Grits and I had the Louisiana Hot Pepper Chicken. My wife said the Shrimp was seasoned well but the Andouille Sausage was just ok. My Hot Pepper Chicken was favor full and the sauce over the chicken was outstanding. I would highly recommend. read more

Uptown Cafe - Shrimp and Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Very disappointing experience Ambiance = 4 stars Food = 2 stars Service = 1 Star Started out strong when we arrived for our reservation. Nice place, lovely ambiance, host asked for our preference in seating. However it went downhill from there. Appetizer of calamari and rock shrimp was not very good. Calamari was over cooked and tough and serving was small for $14. Dinner was forgettable. Husband had hit pepper chicken and it was 'okay' Cavatappi with pesto and Gorgonzola was terrible. They had to sub spaghetti for cavatappi and was some kind of syrup on it or something. The server never checked on us, never asked if food was ok or if we needed anything. So to let anyone know food was not really good, I would have to walk around and find someone who actually cared. Will not return. read more

Elegance. Just had crab cakes and have dined here previously. Not only is food & drink off the charts but those who serve guests are extraordinary in their knowledge, talent & grace. This place is a wow! A+ read more

My boyfriend and I went here for my birthday dinner and it was great! Reasonable prices for the food and drinks and everything tasted great.

This is our go-to restaurant ! And we don't live in Bloomington. Food, service, cleanliness and bar are the best. We almost enjoy going for breakfast as much as dinner. It's worth our drive. read more

Ate here twice in a weekend because it was sooooo good. The interior is amazing with the art on the walls and brick work. It's quite cozy - perfect for a casual get together or informal business meeting. I can't wait to go back and try more offerings! The service was quick, efficient, and friendly. read more

Stopped here for a glass of wine and appetizers before Big Ten track championships (Go Penn State). Had the Tuna and the Rock Shrimp Fritti. Excellent taste and presentation, and just the right amount. Sat outside in a balmy May evening. Well done! read more

My favorite breakfast in Btown! Loved sitting on the closed off street, waitress was very helpful and friendly. My 12 year old devoured her creme brûlée French toast. The fruit side is beautiful and fresh! read more

Pretty darn good food. Service was great, ambiance was pleasant and the coffee was good. Perhaps a bit overpriced but I will likely return for more brunch. read more

Uptown Cafe was recommended as a gluten-free/celiac friendly option for dinner during my stay in Bloomington. I'm really glad we went here! While there was no gluten free menu, the staff was able to point out which items were / could be made gluten free. We ordered the artichoke dip with gluten free bread to start, which was a hit! I had the seafood gumbo as an entree, and it was so good! Highly recommend. We got the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, which was a lovely way to end the meal. A couple areas for improvement would be that we were sat at a very small table for 2 people, so it felt a bit squished. We had a reservation so it would have been more appreciated and more comfortable if we could have had a larger table or booth. Secondly, our server seemed to be rushing us at the beginning, and it turned out that her shift was ending (which is likely why she seemed to be rushing us). Another server took over for her, which was fine, because we got to enjoy a slower more casual pace for our date night dinner. Overall, yummy meal and good experience! read more

Basic comfort food place. Cool art on the walls. I tried the Hoosier Benedict - I had to eat something called Hoosier here. It was $9 for a sausage patty on a biscuit covered with white gravy and potatoes. The potatoes were made with mushrooms and very tasty. read more

Loved it the cornmeal pancakes with blueberries were awesome! Server was excellent for a table of 9 she did great will absolutely be back again...... well worth it. read more

Never disappoints great wine and beer list. Great Cajun food and steaks the service at Uptown is alway very good.