A Bloomington tradition. Uptown has always been one of my favorite spots and has never let down. The brunch is always amazing, and is a Sunday must. Great place for a dinner date or just to stop in for a drink and a soccer match. Great food and good people. read more

Breakfast A+ The best of the Uptown Caf is within its breakfast menu. Their over easy eggs are the most perfect I've ever had. Most places really screw up over easy eggs by burning the edges. Hats off to the breakfast chefs at the Uptown; you know your eggs. Lunch B+ Great lunch menu and service! Dinner B The dinner menu is really good too, but I've never left with that wow feeling I've gotten from other meals at different times of the day. Nevertheless, it's still probably the best joint in Bloomington. read more

It was a Sunday. I was nursing a hangover, and it was a two mile walk into Bloomington from my hotel. I was thinking "this place better be pretty damned good". I rolled into the Uptown Cafe around 11:00 am for a ridiculously large breakfast and some coffee with the paper, and there was a 30-minute wait. Not a good start. But I had heard good things so I decided to wait it out. When I was seated at a table in the corner (which was luck but much appreciated), I explained to my server my situation, and from that moment on we were a team. I ordered coffee, huevos rancheros, & creme brulee french toast. It was suggested that I also try a dufrain, which is guinness with a shot of espresso. A little hair of the dog, if you will. My server recommended it as a great hangover cure. It turned out to be a life saver. The huevos rancheros deserved an earnest tip of the hat, with corn tortillas, refried black beans, eggs perfectly done, pico de gallo, and a small dollop of sour cream on the side. It was tasty to say the least. The creme brulee french toast was definitely the trophy winner on this one, though. It reminded me a lot of a bread pudding, with a thin caramel-like glaze on top. It was so so so tasty, though a bit rich. This will definitely be a standby dish for me. I didn't have high hopes for the coffee, as it is a small step above a diner, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was rich and full, and I didn't have to dress it up to make it palatable, which is usually the case any time I get coffee outside of coffee shops. Thank you, Uptown Cafe, for giving a rip on the coffee. Spread the gospel, please... All in all, it was a marathon breakfast, with a great server, great food, & a cute and comfortable atmosphere. This was my first time at Uptown, but I can't imagine that their lunch and dinner could be anything less than great. It was a bit spendy, with the final tab ending up around $25, but considering the absurd amount of food that I consumed, and the fact that my server was a star, I consider it well, well worth it. I'll definitely make it a point to hit Uptown Cafe for breakfast anytime I'm in Bloomington. Three cheers for Uptown Cafe!! read more

First, some background. My husband and I moved to Bloomington from Chicago around 20 years ago. While we love it here and would never consider moving back, we have missed the amazing variety of great restaurants scattered all over Chicago. We eat out a LOT - probably two lunches and three dinners per week - and have only found a handful of places locally that come close to our favorites in Chicago. One of those rare finds is the Uptown Cafe. The people at Uptown are not "in your face." It's not trendy, pushy or trying to be something hip. It's a quiet, established, long-term Bloomington restaurant where you're treated like a welcome guest. The dining room is dark (a plus) and quiet (a BIG plus) and comfortable, unlike so many of the places with drafty seating areas, or tables crammed so close together that you're constantly bumping into the person behind you. As vegetarians, we would appreciate a dinner menu with more than three options, but I also understand the reality of running a locally-owned business in a competitive environment. We ate at Uptown last night. The host greeted us with a big smile and immediately directed us to a booth. Our server arrived quickly to find out what we wanted to drink. I ordered iced tea - instead of having to wait sporadically for her to return to refill my drink, I was able to serve myself more tea from the carafe she left on our table. My husband grumbled a little about paying $7.00 for a glass of wine until I reminded him that $7.00 is pretty standard unless you're ordering the house red. The food was nicely presented and delicious (I had the spaghettini alfredo with a side spinach salad, he had a house salad and the spaghettini aglieto). The server was attentive without hovering. My husband and I enjoyed a nice meal, some quiet conversation, and when we were ready to go, she brought the check immediately, again with a smile. I always try to tip reasonably (15% for okay service, 20% for above-average). She earned the 25% tip I left for her, just by being mature, professional, and conscientious. We will definitely be back! read more

I've yet to try anything that wasn't delicious, and the service is fantastic. Considering the quality of the food, I would expect the prices to be higher... But thank goodness they're not, I would hate to have to give up one of my favorites! This review only applies to the dining room; I've never been on the bar side of the business, so I don't know what it's like over there. read more

I visited Uptown for the first time last night, for a Valentine's Day meal. It was excellent. I had the bolognese rigatoni, and my date had the salmon filet. We also had bruschetta as an appetizer. Everything was excellent. The drink menu is super interesting, which I really appreciate. I had a hard time choosing two cocktails off the menu -- I wanted to try many more! I had a champagne cocktail (I believe it was called the French 75, or something like that) with the vodka option (instead of gin). I really liked it. I also had a whiskey/ginger cocktail, which was good but extremely strong. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. I'm sad I forgot his name to give him a shout out, but he was great! read more

I've been to Uptown once for brunch and once for dinner. Both experiences were wonderful and I enjoyed the meals. I had an omelette for brunch which was cooked perfectly, with bacon and coffee. When I went for dinner, we were seated towards the back of the restaurant, which felt a little strange considering that it was fairly empty and it was a weekend. The interior is very nice compared to most Bloomington locations. I started with the Cesar Salad and ordered the Gorgonzola Filet Mignon, which was cooked perfectly and was delicious. I will definitely be coming back here (as long as my parents are buying). read more

The first brunch i had in bloomie, i kinda like the place. So, i ordered michael's potato omelet and this omelet rocks, i like the filling potatoes and cheese and i think some ham or bacon), shud def try it. My sister ordered eggs benedict and its just fine, nothing special. My brother ordered cottage cheese pancakes with blueberry, he prefers the classic pancakes since this one kinda soggy, but actually i sorta like it, but 3 stacks are too much. Will do try other menus! read more

Uptown Cafe - Michael's potato omelet This omelet rocks, i really like the filling (potatoes and cheese and i think some ham or bacon) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I love this place! The food is great, service is great, and the bartenders know what they're doing. They are all helpful and experienced. It's not too loud at all and the bar is open after the restaurant part closes. Don't come here if you're looking for some college-experience thing though. The crowd is mainly older people and small groups, with some younger people thrown about. They also stick to more classic drinks, so if it's a regular at KoK they won't have it or make it for you. If you want some great conversation with friends (and the bartenders!) and awesome food, you'll like it here. It is fairly pricey, but as an occasional treat it's worth it. read more

The food may be good but I never got that far. My wife and I tried to eat there this morning. They was no wait. We sat for nearly ten minutes without a single person acknowledging us while we saw other tables that were seated after us get their water, take orders, etc. We left. There is too much competition in Bloomington to treat customers that way. I will not return. read more

Uptown, your mashed potatoes are wonderful-- could you be more stingy with them? (The last part was sarcastic.) I also don't think the scoop presentation is very appetizing for such WONDERFUL mashed potatoes. Uptown's cons? Aside from the varying portion sizes, the wait staff is either excellent or sucks. Depends on who you get and which way the wind blows. Sometimes getting take-out can be like pulling teeth. But when you eat it, you're satisfied. And despite these drawbacks, the Uptown is my favorite restaurant. You just can't get food like this anywhere else. read more

Uptown is where I take almost all Out of town visitors for a consistently great dining experience. Great breakfasts, Cajun flare and a wonderful bar. read more

Uptown is the absolute best restaurant! Professional service, the highest quality food and the best atmosphere. You will not be disappointed. Amazing wine list, hand-crafted cocktails and delicately chosen dishes. Delicious every time! read more

I will start by stating that I once would have given Uptown a 5 star rating. We've always loved dining there. Just recently, within the last three weeks, we've had to cancel our order twice for take out. Each order that was placed was just under $100. As a customer I shouldn't feel like I am an inconvenience for ordering something that is on the menu. Today was the last straw for my family. read more

My husband and I celebrated our 1st Wedding Anniversary at Uptown Cafe. The service was fantastic! Everyone who greeted us wished us a Happy Anniversary. Our server was so kind and accommodating. After supper, we moved inside to enjoy some drinks. Nick took great care of us and made us feel so welcome! The food was delicious, which is always a plus! We will definitely be back! read more

I love the salads and fish. Wine and cocktails were great. I remember Uptown when they had amazing breakfasts, Bananas for Pancakes made with Cottage cheese--delicious. Great atmosphere, especially now during the summer outside when the street is closed off. read more

Always a favorite when visiting Bloomington. Salmon pâté is the best in the tri-state area! Wait staff is exceptional. Seasonal persimmon pudding is great if you visit in the fall. read more

My wife and I came here for breakfast on a slow Tuesday morning. The service, quality of the food, and presentation of the food were below par given the prices charged. Think slightly nicer diner food, but served in a room with dark wood furniture, and at high-end prices. The waitstaff forgot about us and we needed to flag down a manager to take our order. The coffee was burnt, and huevos rancheros were brought on soggy tortillas. The cornmeal pancakes and sausage gravy were good, but not especially amazing. It's like the chef has given up. Feast and Farm both provide higher-quality, well-presented food, and a better overall experience, at a similar price. Go there instead, at least for breakfast. read more

Love the breakfast here. Always fresh, always delicious. Lunch is amazing too so I can't see how you could go wrong choosing this place! Service has always been spot on and exactly how a customer should be treated. Never been disappointed when going here read more

Absolute best brunch in town, hands down. No where in Bloomington makes Lox bagels as great as Uptown Cafe's. The Creme Brulee french toast is to die for as well. Servers and bartenders are always super friendly and helpful. I've never had any issues! read more

Potatoes!!! If I had to choose between never having chocolate or never having potatoes potatoes win and uptown cafe is a great example why. Their brunches are superb, decadent foodies delight. You can't pick a bad meal here. The consistency of quality meals makes this a go to for special occasions and bringing out of town guest. The jazz murals and the overall atmosphere coupled with the friendly staff makes this a top 5 restaurant in Bloomington. You will not regret having a meal here. read more

Okay, so I'm a total slacker because I didn't get a picture of our drinks or meals, but this place is stellar. I came here with my little brother for a drink to celebrate his 21st. The bartender was extremely knowledgeable (and patient) while we flipped through the spirit options. He made some excellent recommendations that led to a beautifully-crafted Old Fashioned, and an equally as beautifully-poured beer for me ;) We weren't going to stay for the food, but upon recommendation from said bartender, we ended up having two of the entrees on special - Yellow Thai Curry and Lake Perch. Both were magnificent. It was a wonderful experience from start to finish and I highly recommend this joint! read more

This is one of the nicer/fancier restaurants in town to have a business dinner or lunch at, or perhaps a date. Overall, there servers are friendly and the drinks at the bar are great, but if it is moderately busy you can expect to wait a while for your food. The food is fine but not what I would consider exceptional; I have yet to try their brunch menu so this is only referring to lunch and dinner. The chicken pita, burger, steak, and Ahi tuna sandwich (only offered at lunch time, I believe) is good but again nothing phenomenal for the slightly pricier items. read more

Always a pleasure to eat here the staff are professional and excellent as is the food the menu is always Interesting and the food is always well prepared. I have nothing negative about this restaurant it is always on point! read more

Incredible atmosphere, whether you're in the bar or the restaurant itself. The staff is very attentive, and knowledgeable about both the food and drink menus. The food can be a bit pricey, but I've never ordered something that hasn't been top-notch in flavor. Also, the bar is a big spot for watching soccer games, which is a definite plus. read more

The wait staff do their jobs very well. However, the quality of my experience was brought down by the most important aspect of dining out -- the food. I ordered a beef tip pita with macaroni and cheese. The pita was very soggy, and the flavor was dominated by tomato, with very little aioli to balance. The beef was well cooked, and moderately seasoned. The macaroni and cheese was disappointing. It had very little seasoning, and the texture seemed to be a result of microwaving. The price is reasonable for what you get, though there are other restaurants nearby that offer a better value. read more

I've yet to have a bad selection, and the staff there are great! Also, best latte in town. read more

Best brunch spot in Bloomington. Mimosas and a sweet and savory meal won me over. Their coffee is wonderful, too. I came here on Mother's day and was seated at a table next to Tom Crean and his family. That's a good sign, right? read more

The french toast is really good, not too sweet. Shrimp grit also really good. They have different menus on different days.

I've lived in California and major cities before- this place is one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Period. From customer service to the meals, literally perfect! read more

After decades of consistency, the Uptown Cafe is still the best restaurant in Bloomington. The Gorgonzola crusted filet was perfect as always. My wife had her usual, the Louisiana Hot Pepper Chicken, which is a dependable standard, and it was delicious as expected. We both had ceasar salads to start (lovely). Due to COVID-19, we elected to sit outside, which was pleasant on this early autumn evening. There are other excellent restaurants in Bloomington, but none more consistent than the Uptown Cafe. read more

Incredibly good food with service to match. I've been when they were absolutely slammed and I still had at least three people attentively looking to our needs. The dishes I've had were creative takes on traditional favorites like huevos rancheros. A bit on the spendy side for the region, but you will not have a better experience anywhere in Bloomington. read more

Only three stars because I was unfortunate and came in for dinner. Trust me, stick to the breakfast menu. Probably the best omelettes in town! So light and fluffy. The dinner menu is stuffy and outdated considering all the other places to dine at with a modern feel. I'll be back, just not for din. read more

I don't go to Uptown Cafe often, but I highly appreciate it for three things: great location, it has a pretty good cocktail bar, and it's a reliable brunch destination. The menu is a bit conservative, but the patrons are often a bit older and they probably appreciate it. The sidewalk seating is a bit of an afterthought. A bit too expensive for the college crowd, but that's a plus if that's who you're trying to avoid. read more

Stay away from the gumbo because it's basically rice in pasta sauce w/ mussels, an oyster (has a fishy stinky smell), crawfish and 2 shrimps for $14! So different from the gumbo I had in New Orleans! Uptown should change "gumbo" dish to other names, too misleading. read more

I would rate Uptown as a zero if possible! Hubby and I were grabbing a bite prior to seeing a show at the auditorium. We ordered gumbo and red beans and rice. Waited 55 minutes before telling the server that we must cancel our meal to make it to the show. Server tried to charge for the entire meal!! Ended up eating bread and wine only. How hard is it the ladle pre- cooked items on a flipin' bowl???? BOO on Uptown!!!! DO NOT EAT AT UPTOWN if you need to be out w/in a hour!!!! I like the food at Uptown but DISLIKE the service. I will not be dinning at Uptown any time soon. Words can not express how disappointed I am w/ the service at Uptown. read more

The food is terrific and the staff are very attentive to your needs. I always get bags of the granola to go because it is some of the best granola I have ever had. Highly recommend their pastas. read more

I came in here for breakfast several days ago and ordered the Chorizo Sausage omelet. I really really dislike mushrooms and asked them to please not put mushrooms on my food (which shouldn't be a problem for a freshly made omelet). I was informed there would be a 2 dollar extra charge for no mushrooms... Yes, you heard me right... 2 dollars for no mushrooms... After arguing with the waitress about this I talked to the manager... He tried to explain how it cost more than 20% more to make an omelet without Mushrooms but it honestly made no sense to me... He tried to tell me I was making a substitution and I explained I was making a subtraction since I was not adding anything in its place... It was absolutely ridiculous and after arguing the dumbest argument in my entire life the manager finally folded and didn't charge me 20% more for not having mushrooms... The waitress was ok, and the food was ok, yet greasy... Not worth the stupid argument every time I don't want to get ripped off because I don't want mushrooms on my food... Seriously, over 20% more for no mushrooms!?! read more

A little too jazzy for my taste, but the food was great. Beware they pre-butter your toast.

The food at Michael's is, in my opinion, the best in the city. If I had to pick my favorite dish on the menu, I'm not sure I could. Okay, I could, the cornmeal pancakes, get 'em while they're hot! Perfect place to sit outside, people-watch, and enjoy a great meal with friends. The only problem with The Uptown Cafe was that I lived in the apartments above it and they delivered room service. With food that great, my wallet suffered. read more