Second visit to Bloomington and I am ready to declare Uptown Cafe as the restaurant where we've enjoyed our favorite meal. Since I was not smart enough to make a reservation, we had an 80 minute wait for a table for three, but it was worth it. I'll just remember to make a reservation next tine. The service was outstanding - our waiter Michael was helpful, made recommendations and made our dining experience that much more enjoyable. The seafood gumbo was excellent- it's a large portion and had plenty of seafood. The peppercorn medallions were cooked a perfect medium rare (as requested) and the steak and sauce were so good. Also had mash with it which was rich and creamy. Next time I need to save room for the limoncello cake. read more

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Amazing dinner and such friendly and accommodating staff. Great environment and supported our large group

Raised to three stars. Almost made four. Ordered a crawdad etouffe. There were no marching bands, no trumpets, no "When the saints go marching in". Had lots of crawdads. Had the personality of a toothbrush. Not a bad toothbrush. A well-presented toothbrush. A few shots of handy habenero sauce perked it up. It was OK. My partner had some polenta with jalapenos, and some cheese. Wasn't bad. There was a decent artichoke-olive baked dip. Things were starting to push a four star. Then I did a custom coffee drink. The drink, two shots with whipping cream (due expressi conno panna) was decent. Nice coffee. We didn't do alcohol. Two menus for that; nice; ignored. This is Bloomington, and alcohol is a major product here. Beers and wines are offered. It was really crowded. Sadly, the acoustics aren't good despite a lot of effort on their part to dampen the "liveliness" of the room. Their meat offerings might be stellar; I can't try them. I'm a pescetarian. I'll try another fish entree, next year, when I have the budget or when the lottery comes through. I added up the score, and it was OK. Two entrees, an appetizer, two coffee drinks, $63 before tip. Surf-and-turf would've put it well over $100. read more

i always come for brunch since i really enjoy their breakfast! the food here is a bit pricey, but you are paying for better quality!! i tend to have a bit of a sweet tooth. i've never been let down by the crème brûlée french toast, it's soft and sweet and delicious! i also recommend the waffles. the interior is spacious so there's quite a bit of seating, i've never had to wait too long for a spot. read more

Uptown Cafe - crème brûlée french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Whatever you do, do not order the crawfish etouffee. To be fair, and that's why there is a second star, the artichoke dip was good, although you can make this yourself pretty easily. The hummus also was a good appetizer. For the main course I thought it would be great to try the crawfish etouffee. I had been to Uptown several years ago and a local person I was visiting indicated that their Cajun fare was good. This was not. These poor crawfish were sacrificed in a bowl of brown, gravy and rice. Not etouffee, brown gravy. It was as if you took your leftover gravy from a roast beef and put crawfish in it. There was barely a hint of the spices that one would expect to find in a decent etouffee. To close on the plus side, our server was very nice. read more

We sat outside and it was an overall good experience. We had a reservation but still had to wait a little while. The service was a little slow, but our waiter was very friendly and helpful. All of our courses were good, but I didn't love the crawfish etouffee. However, I can't complain too much because our waiter warned me that many people don't like it because of the smoky flavor. I didn't end up thinking it was smoky but rather bitter. The lemon berry cake was delicious! read more

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We had brunch there on Father's Day. We were seated outside at our request and sat on the new deck, which was lovely. The server was pleasant and we were served our beverages quickly, with entrees soon to follow. I had the avocado toast and fruit bowl. My husband had the lox and bagels. We very much enjoyed our meal and the service as well as the ambiance. We will definitely try to get back there again soon for Sunday brunch. read more

I've decided the secret to dining at the Uptown is to go with at least two other people. When we go as a party of two, we always get a bad table. (by the kitchen door, in a corner, etc) When we go as a party of three or more, we get a great table or a booth. Three of us had brunch at the Uptown today. There was some confusion at the start. Not once, not twice, but THREE times the hostess started to seat us only to realize that someone had walked in and taken the table they had ready for us. It was funny but could have been annoying if staff wasn't so apologetic about it. Still not sure what happened. We were seated and drinks came out right away. It took our server a while to return to take our orders, but the joint was jumping and he was waiting on a lot of tables. The food is the star at the Uptown. I had the Eggs Maryland (which is basically a crab cake Benedict), my wife had the Huevos Rancheros, and our friend had the eggs and chorizo. The food was delicious. Everything was perfect and served nice and hot. Prices seem fair at Uptown, especially compared to other B-town spots where the food is not quite as good. Plus you really get a nice plate of food, almost too much to eat at one sitting. (but we did!) Lucky to have this consistently good spot in our town. read more

Wow, what a Bloomington delight! I'm so happy that I happened upon this place! I was staying at a bed and breakfast nearby and the worker recommended this place. She did say it was on the pricier side, but I disagreed. The food here looked great and the atmosphere was wonderful. This was a perfect spot to wind down after a 3-hour road trip. I stopped by at about 9pm on a Tuesday night. The place was still bustling because of their bar next door. There were a few people eating alone, some on dates, and a few young people either studying solo or in groups. The server and host were very nice and quick to accommodate me and recommend various menu items. I had a nice drink and enjoyed the crawfish etouffee very much. The dinner was a perfectly hearty and warm meal on a chilly Indiana day. I highly recommend their creme brulee as well as the hot chocolate. Creme brulee is made in-house, while the Ghiradelli hot chocolate is nice and frothy. As a tip, I can see parking being a little tricky around here. Because I went in the evening, it wasn't too bad finding street parking. Downtown Blomington uses an app to deal with parking. You can park in the empty spot, install the free app, type in the number spot, and put your payment information into the app. You tap "start parking" and go on your way until you're done and tap "end parking." You get billed right away. Parking was 75 cents for me--very reasonable. I loved the Uptown Cafe and would definitely come back! While it appears to be the more upscale of Bloomington's restaurants, it's not overly formal or overpriced. read more

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We were there for a graduation dinner so the menu was limited. In fact I'd say it was limited to overpriced and not very hot food. What a disappointment! I will say that our waiter was excellent. The ambiance is about average although the place was full so it was noisy. Metered street parking. read more

Great dining experience! The food was really good, and the service was even better. We ate outside, and it was very nice. Out waiter was very courteous and helpful. He made great suggestions and gave us first rate service. My wife had the Rigatoni Bolognese (spicy), my daughter the Chicken Pita, and I had the Shrimp and Grits. We all loved our food. I tasted them all and thought they were delicious. Good beer. Good wine. Great service. We have a planned visit next month and already made reservations. read more

Came on a Sunday morning while on a girls trip. We arrived before they opened at 9am and were glad we did. A line had started to form soon after we arrived. They have a large amount of both indoor and outdoor seating and we were asked what our preference was. We opted for indoor and enjoyed the decor and soft lighting. Oh boy, the food...we ordered way more than we needed but everything sounded so good. We tried waffles, creme brûlée French toast, biscuits and gravy, and eggs Benedict. Everything was fantastic and our favorite breakfast of the weekend. While the creme brûlée French toast was sweet, it wasn't so much so that I couldn't have it for a meal. The biscuits and gravy were savory and very tasty. We also tried several of their hot drinks...the chai latte, and mocha latte were great. Compared to what had at other places over the weekend, these drinks were superior. We had sat for quite a while before our drink order was taken. However, service was great once our server knew she had our table. She was very attentive and accommodating. We will definitely be back if in the area again! read more

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The best restaurant anywhere !!! Impeccable service!!! All Menu items the best prepared and the best presentation !!! Extremely well kept, clean and wonderful ambiance !!!The restrooms are all extremely clean neat and comfortable!!! 5 star rating doesn't do it justice!!! read more

We visited Uptown Cafe after seeing the igloo option - since we haven't dined in a restaurant since February 2019! We were SO excited to get out and have a dining experience and they didn't disappoint. We had the hummus appetizer, a bottle of wine (and it ended up being half priced bottle night!), the special for dinner and cream brûlée for dessert. The special was steak, with crab cake and a couple jumbo shrimp, with a large side of vegetables. We both ordered it and it was amazing! Everything was perfectly prepared and delicious. The server was super friendly and helpful. We'll be making another visit when we can eat out safely again! read more

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Easily one of the best high end restaurants in town. The food is superb and the service first rate. I used to go to this place when it was a hole in the wall diner up the street a block or so on north Walnut. It was good then, but evolved into a truly wonderful restaurant. read more

Disappointing. I'll give 2 stars for the front door and phone service. Lydia was very friendly and seemed to care. However, I mentioned it being my sons birthday and I wasn't sure if they did anything for birthdays, but obviously not. Not even an acknowledgement from the server. We were seated and were very confused on who our waitress was. No one greeted us. Several servers walked by and we waited about 10 minutes before someone asked if we wanted to order in which I had to ask for a menu. There wasn't much of a selection. I'm vegan and opted for rubbery avocado toast and a cold chai tea. My son had watery oatmeal and fresh fruit that has an awful taste (probably stored in a fridge with opened spoiled foods). My other son had a meal he didn't complete, the steak was tough which was disheartening since it was his birthday. I don't believe our server Abigail wanted to be there and it showed. We won't be back. read more

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I had lunch with my sweetheart and his friend today at Uptown ! The food was absolutely delicious. The grits were super creamy and cheesy with a hint of spice. The andouille and the shrimp were cooked to perfection. I had never had a mimosa before, so that was fun and yummy ! They were extremely busy, so it took a little while for the server to get our order. Otherwise, the experience was perfect. read more

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

Uptown has been in Bloomington forever. It has an "old-school college town" vibe... the kind of place where you take people for interviews and fancy-ish dates. I've had some really good dishes and a few mediocre, but it's very pleasant and has soft furnishings so you don't feel like you have to shout to be heard. Always busy... always a solid option. It's wise to make a reservation. read more

Great food and service,we have a wonderful time. The atmosphere was amazing and everyone enjoyed the experience.

Service was Amazing! Maddy & host were very helpful throughout our dinner! Tuna was not the best, as well as the drinks but everything else we ordered was very decent. Recommendations: Pot Roast, Calimari, & New York Strip read more

I have been eating at the uptown for 30 years and love it every visit. The food and staff are top notch. I could go on and on about the Uptown but there are not enough adjectives in the world to explain how much I love it there. Great job guys!!! read more

Great environment for a nice date or business related. It was quite, cozy, classic. We went there in the morning with our guest from the university and there were a few tables sat with people looks like on business purposes. Their serve their food fast so if you're in a rush, great place. We ordered andouille omelet, food taste was normal, latter was good. read more

Amazing!!!! Food was so good, got the crispy chicken sandwich with the steak fries. Best chicken sandwich ever

I have not been to Uptown Cafe many times in the last few years, I'm not sure why but I think they just became my new fav! First off parking was not bad at all and it is move in week for IU so huge plus! Was thrilled eight off the bat. We got there, was able to get a table inside. They are doing a fantastic job with social distancing, everyone was wearing masks and have added a large amount of outdoor seating. I ordered the Cesar salad and the server asked if I wanted anything extra like chicken, shrimp or salmon-I didn't even know that was an option! I went with the salmon and holy moly! That was AMAZING!! So good I went back the next day! Overall very clean, nice staff, quick service, excellent food! HIGHLY recommend! (Going again tomorrow-3rd time in a week, ha!) read more

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So, so good! A wonderful spot to celebrate my friend's birthday. Huge shoutout to our waitress, Kathleen--she was amazing and went above and beyond to make the night extra special. Warm, inviting, and thoughtful, she even ran my forgotten leftovers out to me. Truly exceptional service--Kathleen is a gem! read more

Well I forgot to take a photo at the beginning of my meal! This was a great dinner for a group coming together with work and clients. The sirloin was perfectly done and the mash potatoes delicious. We had many appetizers and I have forgotten all the names. But the variety was great and all were perfect. I love this restaurant when I visit Bloomington and highly recommend! They have a back room that is wonderful with groups. read more

Uptown Cafe - New York strip and mashed potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Loved our experience here... great food - we ordered the shrimp & grit, red chicken curry, salmon wrap and the burrito. Everything was delicious. Our server was friendly and we loved the southern charm of the decor. read more

Cute little place. Even thought it was mostly full, it wasn't too loud to talk. Attentive waitstaff. Food was a solid 4 stars. Nothing amazing but quality top to bottom! read more

Uptown Cafe - Cinnamon roll coffee cake - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Uptown Cafe is a great brunch place! I went on Easter Sunday and it was a lovely time. The omelet was incredible and I really enjoyed the drink. The service was so quick, we could not believe it. Our food came out within minutes. They definitely are prepared for big crowds. Enjoyed a lot and is a nicer upscale brunch option in Bloomington. read more

Uptown Cafe - Michael's potato omelet and Poinsettia - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

The food was fantastic! I love that they have outdoor seating. The staff and servers were super friendly and efficient. My only suggestion would be to have additional staff to servers get checks delivered and closed out in a timely fashion. When you have a limited time for lunch, getting your check closed out in a timely fashion is super important. Thanks for the yummy food! read more

Come to this choice spot in the summer, not only to avoid a wait because college is in session but to be able to sit outside under large umbrellas. Service is excellent and the food delicious. Their take on Huevos Rancheros is incredible, and the Malted Belgian Waffles was also wonderful. If you like cinnamon rolls, save room to split their Cinnamon Roll Coffee Cake. read more

Went back to Uptown to try their brunch with a few of my friends and was able to try the following: * Chorizo & Eggs: this came with a mix of chorizo and eggs with melted cheese, guacamole, salsa, and homefries along with three tortillas. I would say overall the meal was very yummy but I do wish that the chorizo had more flavor. It was rather bland and alot of people in the table ended up using hot sauce to give it more spice. * Creme brulee french toast. I had a chance to try this as well and although I really liked it - it was definitely quite rich. I could not have this as an entire brunch meal, but to try it it was pretty good! Overall good experience, and I would come back to uptown to try other items. read more

Such a delightful visit to Uptown Cafe! Service was attentive and very personable. We ordered multiple cocktails. One of them was the Golden ticket. It was a bit pricey but well worth it. Started with the house bread and Cesar salad. The compound butter with the bread is SO good. Thick, creamy, and creole. I ordered the Louisiana hot pepper chicken with a side of mashed potatoes. Everything came out fresh and steaming. I can't wait to come back and try more delicious menu items! read more

Hole-in-the-wall, mom & pop diner with excellent customer care that keeps us coming back; It is local go-to spot if you're looking for a bite to eat for breakfast or brunch. read more

Went here the other night for the second or third time ever. However, I haven't been in over a year. The Bruschetta was great and the goat cheese tasted very fresh. The New York strip is highly recommended and was excellent with the mac and cheese. The fried red onions definitely were a great addition. Overall some great steaks, especially if you can't get a reservation at Lil Zagrebs. read more

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My birthday was yesterday and my sister and I decided to celebrate at Uptown Cafe and I can say this was the best decision we made. We had amazing service all around the board. Our server Susie, went above and beyond to make sure all our requests were taken care of and then some! She explained everything thoroughly and made sure we were happy the entire dinner! If I don't come back to Uptown for Susie and the amazing service, the food alone would be amazing! I had the Gumbo and my sister the Crab cake dinner! Both were amazing and absolutely delicious! Thank you for making my birthday so great! read more

I came in here a couple weeks ago with my boyfriend on Feb. 13 for an early Valentine's Day dinner. We had a reservation for 8 pm but ended up having to move it an hour later, 9 pm, due to a conflict. I tried to call the restaurant three times to let them know. Someone finally gave me a call back around 8:45. The hostess was very nice and accommodating of us and let us know that the last seating was at 9 (a bit early for a restaurant on the week of Valentine's Day, but fine). We show up and are seated in the very back of the dining room by the kitchen. Not a great table, but it's okay. Our server showed up and simply said "Hello." No welcome, no introduction, just hello. He asked us if we were ready to order. We were not because we had just sat down. He left and came back 2 minutes later and we still had not decided because it had been 2 minutes. He looked annoyed and told us the kitchen was closing in 4 minutes, so we needed to hurry. Wow! I knew the last seating was at 9, but it makes ZERO sense for the kitchen to close at last seating. In every other nice restaurant, the kitchen stays open as long as there are customers in the dining room. Immediately, I was thrown off and just ordered as quickly as I could. I ordered the spaghetti agliata and our server (named Michael per our receipt) asked me if I was "sure" because the dish has "a lot of different flavors." Listen- I know I am a blonde college kid, but I've worked in a restaurant for a long time and I know what I like to eat. I told him I could handle it and he left. The food was fine, nothing particularly special, especially in light of the awful service. We were offered dessert but declined because they obviously wanted us out of there. I felt upset because I had heard great things about the restaurant and I had gotten dressed up to attend. TLDR: If you are an IU student, don't bother going, because you'll be the youngest in the place and the servers will treat you like you're an idiot. Their last reservation time is 9 but they don't mean it. The kitchen will close and you will be rushed out of the place. read more

My favorite is the Crème brûlée French toast. It is absolutely amazing. I try and get it whenever I am in Bloomington. They only serve it till 2 pm so don't show up late. But if you do they have daily dishes / meals that are very good. Great restaurant and the service is always great too! read more

My daughter and I wanted to enjoy a taste of Bloomington , Indiana. Uptown Cafe did not disappoint. Arriving around 11 am on a Sunday and seating was available immediately. The restaurant was busy but service was great, food arrived quickly, and we never felt rushed. They have a full espresso bar. I ordered their Denver omelette and it tasted homemade. Great seasoning and ingredients were fresh!!! read more

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

Always get what you expect from this place. Great food, service and atmosphere. I wouldn't take my kids here but a