Winds Cafe is probably the best dining choice in the area. But, it could be better. Pros: They use local produce - happy to see organic beef on the burger. Other choices seem smart - the oil the fries were cooked in must have been "healthier" as that is the best I've ever felt after eating fries! The waiter seemed to take my allergy/sensitivity seriously, though he didn't know all the things that are GF. Cons: Choices in flavor profile: the burger's flavor composition was sour/vinegar, which did not lend itself to the actual flavor of the organic beef. Yes, us Americans like sweet things all too often, but it didn't jive. Would have been better with a gouda or a Moroccan spice profile. Not true to menu - the fries were not herbed. Just plain ol' fries. The price of the tea seemed quite high, think it was $6? If you're looking for a burger, go to The Wildflower Cafe in Mason. If you're in the area of Yellow Springs, and want a healthier option, go to Winds Cafe. read more

Winds Cafe - Parisian Burger - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

Wonderful time at the drag brunch today at The Winds Cafe catching up with friends. We had a table of 5 and all of our food was fresh & hot from the kitchen. Omelettes, breakfast sandwiches with fresh fruit & fries. Also refreshing cocktails from the bar & a friend love her iced tea made fresh with its own carafe. Our server took care of everything we needed even with the drag show in full swing. read more

Winds Cafe - Magic Mike cocktail with raspberries, vodka, grapefruit refreshing - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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One of my favorite places to visit. High-quality ingredients and a creative menu keep me coming back. Staff was friendly and when I accidentally ordered a drink not on menu they offered to try to recreate it. Couldn't ask for more. read more

Food, service and ambiance are all amazing. If you don't like The Winds, it's likely because nothing on the current menu is your usual thing. Get out of your comfort zone, try something new, and if not, default to the burger and herbed fries -- the best in the area. From the warm ambiance, the thoughtfully crafted wine list, the freshly baked bread and olives, the inventive small and large plates and the out-of-this-world desserts, you won't find a better place in the Dayton region. read more

We've had wonderful food here before and on a recent visit we stopped in to have a cocktail and dessert. The bar area is small but the quality and service are worth the wait. This tart was delicious. I wanted to order multiple, so so good! read more

Winds Cafe - Seasonal tart - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Very nice refreshing lunch that is truly farm to table. Every food item seemed to be created in house and not sourced from another vendor. read more

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We have gone here a couple of times! The atmosphere is nice and welcoming. We service is typically high quality! We like the rotating menus and get to try a variety of things all year long. The last time I went I got their steak with a vegetable pave! The vegetable pave was amazing! The steak temperature was not warm enough to melt the butter on top, so that was less than desirable. The onions on top of the steak were delicious! For dessert I tried the tart of the day- it was tasty! read more

Winds Cafe - Strip streak & vegetable pave - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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I love the Winds Cafe - I grew up in Ohio about an hour away from this area, and it is a highlight and the kind of restaurant you go out of your way to go back to if you're even remotely in the area. I still remember lamb chops I got there in the 7th grade, they were so good. The roasted garlic appetizer is excellent. Now I am wishing I had an excuse to go back to Ohio to go back! read more

Always delicious, upscale organic, clean eating. With an ever changing menu featuring seasonal ingredients. For a Saturday girls lunch, we ordered sparkling wine and a charcuterie board. Sam's Burger with Parmesan mushrooms and caramelized onion. Two fish and chips with hand cut chips and a green goddess dipping sauce. Lunches arrived first, so I canceled the Appitizer. Then the wine arrived. Not sure how that happened in the kitchen, although they are very busy. Our server was knowledgeable but not very attentive because she seemed to have too many tables. We were seated at a corner table in the bar, an area that seems remote and uninteresting. One thing i always enjoy the bespoke crafted pottery dishes. The sculpted salt shakers and the huge blue and white art pottery vessel behind the bar. Usually, on display there's original artwork on the walls. They are numbered, so most likely for sale. Make a reservation - it's worth it! read more

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We had a great dinner here with long-time friends last month during Thanksgiving when the place across the street [Ye Olde Towne Tavern] had a 1.5 hour wait for a party of 6. Winds Cafe has been in business 45 years - impressive! From their website: "The Winds started out as a collectively owned and operated cafe, actually called The Four Winds, in 1977. It was a sincere, funky little place that grew its own sprouts, made its own yogurt, and baked bread everyday in an old pizza oven acquired for a dollar. The kitchen was presided over by a gifted cook named Iko Wright, who put dishes on the menu that ranged from traditional French to Japanese specialties." I'm not sure, but I believe the wine store/bakery adjacent to Winds Cafe may be owned by them. We wandered through the wine store prior to dinner, which offers a nice selection of wine, and we were able to score their last in-house baked sourdough bread loaf for my favorite sister! Woot! Winds Cafe is located in eclectic Yellow Springs, Ohio, which is a fun place to roam around, shop, and dine. Our server was among the kindest humans on the planet and was on her game as the restaurant was doing a booming business when we visited. Thanks for the hospitality! Our companions had the fried brussels sprouts app which looked and smelled delicious! How often can you say that? It was a shareable side. The hubs and I enjoyed the bled cheese gougeres. Described as "Rosemary scented choux pastry puffs filled with whipped blue cheese and drizzled with garlic honey." Picture heaven in one bite! These were incredible! Again, kind server explained and described the pan-fried walleye which I would have assumed was a "light flakey fish," however, she indicated it was very popular and was actually more of a "dense" fish [not dumb, just, you know, of a thicker, heavier fish]. The hubs opted for this, and I opted for the scallops. The Seared Scallops are described as "with Mushroom Conserva Domestic, wild caught sea scallops are seared and served with Guided by Mushrooms conserva, mushroom syrup and risotto." The scallops were the best I have had in ages! Seared perfectly! Also, they were flavorful, substantial and completely without the "grit" you sometimes unfortunately experience with scallops. #win! I am a huge mushroom fan; however, the mushrooms conserva was a little too adventurous for me - still not a game changer or a detractor from the plate. These were more like an exotic type of mushroom/s with long stems, when buttons, or portabellas would have suited me just fine. Still, no biggie. The risotto was cooked beautifully! This is a dish I have never managed to master, it requires so much patience! Thanks Winds Cafe, you exceeded one of your commitments, to "provide excellent, informed service in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere." You made a meaningful memory for all 6 of us with sincere, excellent service, and exceptional wine and dinner offerings! We visit Fairborn at least once annually, and I can't wait to come back for a visit. Merry Christmas, Winds Cafe! Cheers! Here's to 450 more years!!! read more

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I love that the menu changes with the seasons. This is one of my favorite restaurants although to don't get to go very often, it is so nice when I can. read more

Parking is awful. Be prepared to walk several blocks. Service was nice, sweet waitress. Listen for them saying "corner." Food was good, not much protein, and smaller servings. Worth going if you are in Yellow Springs anyway, but not to drive a long distance. read more

One of the best in the region. How do I review a place I've loved since 1988 when it was across the street? Dont expect NYC Michelin star here, but its well worth driving an hour. We were happy that the Winds is doing a bar menu (3-4pm) & early dinner service (4pm start) in the afternoon. We shared some dishes at the bar and were glad that the love of quality food still very evident in this well loved cornerstone of the town. The tomatomania salad was beautiful- very visually stimulating. The tomatoes could have used more finishing salt as thy lack the acidity of other years. The goat cheese was creamy and delicous in the salad. The bread was tasty, but not very inspired. The halibut was a remarkably fine piece of fish, and the saffron rice and gazpacho tomato puree kept it light and fresh. Overall it was a very fine meal for a hot day in July. The service was attentive and friendly without being intrusive. The winelist is still a draw for us and the wineshop is well worth a stock up visit. The menu changes monthly as does the wine selection, so please go to ecplore and share some dishes, try new things and dont skip the house made desserts! read more

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I've been going to the Winds for many years more than I want to admit. In my opinion, it was a destination restaurant worth the drive. Sadly, times have changed. The menu is smaller and not as satisying as in the past. Having said that, I would recommend coming here if you want more "upscale" dining in the village. (If not, there are better food options in YS, especially for the cost). Traditional options of fish, beef, chicken and pasta dishes are on the menu. What may kick it up a notch are the local fruits and vegetables used. For two people, your bill can easily hit over $100 for app, entree, and dessert. The restaurant is on the smaller side. It does have separate bar area. Wooden table and chairs give it more of a casual feel. This visit, there didn't seem to be enough servers for the customers. Most folks eat earlier here. Be sure to make reservations. Right on the main drag but entrance is located on the side of building. Free street parking. Lots nearby. read more

Winds Cafe - Italian spidini with bagna cauda. Best thing on menu - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

Service good but they were out of several menu items due to a large party and also lacked menus for all of us. The halibut was way underseasoned as was the rice and sauce it was served with. We loved the heirloom tomato salad and gazpacho. The zucchini fritters were yummy. The Caesar salad was nothing special. The hostess was very friendly. read more

This café had been legendary since they opened in the 80's...farm to fork since before that phrase was even known, perfection is served in a cool environment with the menu itself changing 7-8 times a year. Can't say enough about the original flavors, presentation, curated wine list and knowledgeable servers. Good cafes aren't only in Europe! Small plates are our favorites to share in this awesome ambiance. So lucky to have them in Yellow Springs OH. Forgive the mediocre photos that don't do this place justice. read more

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I love the changing seasonal menu. You can tell that a great deal of thought goes into the creation and preparation of each dish. The food, the people and the atmosphere are stellar. read more

OMG, the food was amazing. Had the fillet and it was like butter. The potatoes were amazing. I can't even describe how good it was. Definitely need to come and check this place out.! read more

I visited Yellow Springs over the summer for a short vacation and went to Winds Cafe for dinner. They do recommend reservations, so I walked in at lunch one day and made a reservation for dinner the next night. You can likely grab a table, indoors or out, for lunch, but they serve a slightly smaller selection and I wanted to chose from the dinner menu. The staff were very friendly and knowledgable about their menu. I enjoyed the crusted egg in Leonard's Salad and really loved the parmesean corn fritters that were on their summer dinner menu. I'll order a corn fritter whenever I see it! I'm actually not a big drinker, but my cocktail was a highlight of the evening. I had a lavender daquri, with a lavender sugar on the rim, that was just the right amount of sweet, but very "light". It was lovely. I also really loved the staff. I was dining alone, and they went out of their way to be friendly and make sure I had a nice evening! I would like a return visit to Yellow Springs and to Winds! read more

The brunch waitress was surly She seemed uninterested in serving. The cocktail was watery. The coffee had grounds in it and it was cold, I drank it. I asked for sugar 2x. I asked for a new cup and the new cup was smaller. I didn't even ask for more milk but I did want more. The French toast was very good but I also wanted real maple syrup and I waited to ask for it, and receive it. We ate outside, I enjoyed it but it was too hot for others. I've never left a review before. read more

When traveling, I like to reserve a few restaurant locations and leave a few meals open to just try what we see. Winds Cafe was our try what we see surprise of our anniversary trip to Yellow Springs. Our hotel was less than a 5 minute walk. We walked in and they seated us immediately without having reservation. The ambiance was low key. The staff was amazing. The bartender waited on us...while also servicing the bar. He constantly apologized for the delay in service, which was not even remotely a big delay for us. We really appreciated the sincere thought though! The food was very good overall, although I would choose a different entry next time. We definitely recommend! read more

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Had a lovely meal here last night. I love how they change their menu seasonally and utilize foods that are best served in fall. My fiancée and I split the cheese board and the roasted garlic. We really enjoyed all of the cheeses but the blue cheese (personal preference, I'm sure the cheese was fine). The roasted garlic could be squeezed and spread like butter on grilled ciabatta bread, simple but delicious. For the entree she got the short rib and I got the breaded pork loin. Both were very good but I preferred the short rib. Overall, it was a great meal on a nice fall evening! read more

My boyfriend and I stopped by Winds for a special dinner. The restaurant is elegant and welcoming with local art adorning the walls. Winds served us a complimentary bread and olive spread that was delicious. We began with a house salad with balsamic vinaigrette and it was a solid, with fresh lettuce and sunflower seeds to add some texture contrast. Our main course was the Spanish pork with a side of bok choy. The Spanish pork was tender and flavorful, with a smoky note and served with delicious potatoes and sauce. The dish was excellent! The bok choy was just okay. We finished with the beignets, which came served with chocolate bourbon sauce and a scoop of local gelato and it was likewise delicious. Service was friendly but did take a while. Requests for extra forks took about 10 minutes and the dessert took about 25 minutes. Overall, Winds is a great place for a nice meal, but bring your patience. read more

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We had a late light lunch of gazpacho(my dish) and a curry chicken salad (wife's dish). Mine was great and my wife liked hers as well. I don't like curry so my comment on hers is relevant. Great wine selection from an interesting SB to a half bottle of a Sparkling rose. Patio was uncrowded and very pleasant. read more

Always a great experience! The food, the atmosphere, the waiters, the wine! Go there to relax and not rush out!

This review is LONG over due. I had the opportunity to travel to Yellow Springs during the Street Festival in October. I was traveling to celebrate a dear friend's belated birthday. So I thought, it's time to check out the fanciest place in town. I arrived first out of my group, and knowing how indecisive my table might be, took this time to chat with my server, David, who had nothing but solid recommendations. And he was so great to get some drinks started for me as I waited on my less than prompt friends to join me. I was impressed with every carefully crafted plate that David bussed to our table. He was fun, friendly, knowledgeable...and kept the drinks coming as we worked our way through the starters. At the end of our lunch, we were all so smitten with our server, we made him take pictures with us! Thank you, David, for providing our table with the type of service that is so rare to find these days. I love Yellow Springs, and you have left me with a NEW, FAVORITE place to dine when I make my way into town.u read more

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Fantastic service and wonderful food!!!! The kale salad, cheese service, pork and bread pudding were all exceptional. Thank you - be back soon. read more

Winds Cafe recommends reservations, if you don't have a reservation they do have bar seating available. We didn't have reservations and sat at the bar. The bartender was nice. She had a lot to do and kept up with the different demands of her job. I got the Iko Burger, it was a take on a Japanese style burger. It was not that good, and tasted like sushi but wasn't sushi. The Mont Blanc Sandwich was tasty. I should have ordered that dish instead. They have a wonderful mint hot tea to warm you up on a cool day. The menu is a bit weird but they do have some decent food. read more

Took a whim on a Saturday evening and was able to sit right away. They have inside and outside seating. We set on the inside as the outside seating was full. Seeing that it was a beautiful night that's understandable. The inside has some nice ambience. The tables and chairs are a little older which should be tended to and a fresh coat of paint to spruce up the place and that's literally my only small gripe about the place. The staff are stellar from the hostess greeting us right away to our very attentive waitress. For a drink starter, I asked to whip up something and it tasted wonderful and refreshing. That speaks volumes of a great bartender, outstanding. The menu changes based on what is in season and based on local produce and meat. I got the Halibut with pea purée and risotto and it was one of the best plates I've had in a while. Bravo !! My better half got the filet and it was cooked to perfection at a medium rare as requested. You can request fresh homemade bread and olives to come out to your table for a reasonable price. We really enjoyed this with our tasty and fresh salads. Last, but not least, we got dessert. What dinner is not complete without dessert?! I definitely feed my sweet tooth regularly. I got the pistachio gelato, which was phenomenally smooth and authentic and a warm, strawberry tart made with local strawberries. My better half got the owner scratch made peach bourbon cheesecake and it was very delicious. Definitely give this place a try as I'm so happy we did. Well worth the price. read more

This was the second time in a few years that we were treated to a meal here. It's one of my brother and sister-in-laws favorite places. They educated us about this restaurant while we were at our table. The chef owns the restaurant and they are known to change the menu a few times during the season. I'm sure that makes a lot of their following excited to know what the next featured meals would be. Most of us at the table ordered the Pumpkin Lasagna. It was delicious and so was the dessert. I had cheesecake, but I did see a chocolate dessert as well. The restaurant has a bar on the other side. Across the way you will find their store. They sell wine among other things. I was unable to visit as we had other plans. This place had always been full when we've visited. I recommend making a reservation.. read more

Winds Cafe - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Do not waste your time and money at the Winds Cafe!!! My husband and I were there last night with a few friends and we ordered the steak dinner special and it was the worst thing we ever ate in our entire life. It was like chewing on rawhide with a lot of fat, absolutely horrible. We were told that they were going to discount our bill but, it's still came out to $200 for two meals and we did not even drink alcohol. I walked out of there still hungry and broke. That was the first time we tried this restaurant and we will never go back. read more

Highly recommend this restaurant. The menu was thoughtful (interesting) and the food exceeded our expectations. I had the duck that was cooked perfectly. We found the tastes to be interesting, special and very well balanced. The owner/chef said hi at our table (it was a anniversary dinner) and we enjoyed hearing about the restaurant. Our waiting was attentive and engaging at the right level. We will come back. read more

Winds Cafe - Pasta, burrata and veggies. - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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Wow, I was expecting Winds Cafe to be good, but I did not expect Winds Cafe to make a garnish of parsley taste that delicious. I ordered the "Henry is a teenage burger" and I was blown away. While I expected a typical burger, I instead ate a perfectly medium rare burger that was as fresh as could be. The fries were served with grated Parmesan and crisp parsley. The parsley was so good that I could have probably ate a pound of it. My fiancé ordered the limoncello shrimp with risotto and a house salad. She loved her meal as well. She ordered a small plate portion, but wished she could get the shrimp in a larger portion because it was so enjoyable. The service was prompt and professional. Social distancing guidelines were followed. Winds is a great place for an upscale meal in Yellow Springs. The menu is more on the vegetarian friendly side, but there are plenty of meat options as well to satisfy any carnivore. read more

Winds Cafe - Henry is a teenage burger - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

Winds Cafe is experience dining disguised as fine dining, but it is *also* fine dining in the context of the food quality and presentation itself. Let me explain. As much as I want to blame COVID-19, I think seating and service is slower than what most people would expect relative to how the establishment bills itself, but I want to come to the defense of the Winds Cafe here and say that I think this is particularly intentional but for good reasons. There is a deliberate pace to this place. There is an "intentionality" to its tone, from the moment you enter, the moment you sit down, the moment you order, and the moment you eat. You're expected to take it all in. From the decor to the atmosphere, and finally the food. When so much of our dining experience - even in sit down settings - has an aura of expediency and efficiency to it, Winds bucks that trend by making you sort of...bear witness to the process of eating. Particularly if you are there with friends or loved ones. It is more an act of communion. The timing of how often you are waited on by service staff is just enough to encourage constructive discourse. To breathe in the ambience. Appreciate the experience. It is not for the impatient, but nothing about the process is "slow" - it is simply intentional. Everything is whimsically described on the menu, and it translates to the food itself, which is all organic, from the entrees to other items like beer. The food is absolutely divine, and they are plated beautifully. I loved the pumpkin squash lasagna, along with some organic English ale and desert with freshly made sorbet. Everything tastes amazing, handmade, and filling without being overbearing, speaking gastrointestinally. I highly recommend going to the Winds, but just be aware to invest the time for it, so you can savor more than just the flavor of the meal itself. You won't regret it. read more

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Went here for a dinner with work colleagues. It has been on my list to try for awhile. I started out with hot tea (because it was really cold and I just needed the heat to warm up!). They have a nice selection to choose from and it comes out in a French Press, so you can make it as strong as you want or as weak as you want, and they will fill it back up with water for you too. Then - I couldn't leave without trying a glass of wine. I was happy to see something from Portugal on the menu from the Alentejo region (Semaphore $7.75) - definitely started the night off good. For dinner I had one appetizer and one large plate. It was the perfect amount of food. The appetizer was the Persian inspired lamb kebab ($13). It was well cooked, moist and flavorful. For my main meal - I chose to go with the smoked and wild mushrooms ($22); some would say a little pricey...but - it was a whole lot of mushroom, and I love me some good 'shrooms. The large portobello mushroom was stuffed with a parmesan risotto. There were probably at least 3-4 other dishes I would love to try some day. Just means I need to go back! read more

Winds Cafe - Persian Inspired Lamb Kebab - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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This is a great spot to come for a date night or celebratory meal! It has an upscale feel without being too over the top, which is the best type of place. The waitress was friendly and they had local art on display. I got the pork chop, not only was it done perfectly but the flavor was amazing and perfectly complimented with the peaches and corn. It was the perfect summer dish! I was full after, but couldn't resist the urge to order desert and I'm glad I did! The Creme brûlée had the perfect crust on top and was delicious! read more

Winds Cafe - Pork Chop - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

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We literally waited an hour without food or bar drinks My husband ordered a bourbon on the rocks and the bartender could not make it The server was very kind but the service is absolutely the worst I've ever had We left without food or drinks after an hour read more

I ordered the "special": scallops with flapjacks and a zucchini/corn salad. None of the three ingredients paired together. Not even two of the indredients paired. For dessert ordered the chocolate mousse (a "Winds' standard ") that was gritty, grainy and like liquid. The chocolate mousse literally dripped off my spoon. Calling that drippy grit "mousse" was abhhornet. We have been loyal customers for more than 30 years, but it will be years before we go back. read more

A lot of good food at Winds, but you have to order right. It has more of an upscale feel compared to other restaurants in Yellow Springs. This still is pretty casual. One thing more upscale is some of the prices. You still can get something and not spend too much, but it depends on the food and time. I came when they had the bar menu. This is between lunch and dinner from 2 to 5 Saturdays. You can still get many menu items. It has a happy hour, but it's only for a few beers. The cocktail menu is moderately priced. I had a gimlet. This is about $9, made with Tanqueray and lime. I had the bowl of black bean chili. There's a rotating choice of soups. It's about $4 for a cup and $5 for a bowl. The bowl is a better value than the cup. It's good just as is or would be good as an appetizer. The full menu looks more pricey. I overall like the Winds and would like to come for more of their seasonal menus. Some items are overpriced but not all. The bar menu is a pretty good value. read more

Winds Cafe - Rangpur Gimlet And Black Bean Chili - American Near Me - Yellow Springs, Ohio

The call-ahead reservation system was off target. Our group called at 5:45 pm and they told us the earliest they could get us in was 7 pm. So when we arrived at 7 pm they told us it would be another 30 minutes, and ended up being 40 minutes. Annoying, sure, but it got worse from there. It took a while to be approached, a while to get our drinks from the bar. When we ordered, one of our friends ordered the bread service, under the assumption that there would be a selection of fresh breads, including focaccia. When the bowl of bread arrived, it was not as advertised and a disappointment and when the different meals arrived, the burgers were waaay undercooked and even when it came back from the kitchen a second time, it was not correctly cooked. It is important to note that the small plate dish "figs pigs and goats" was absolutely delicious!! It could very well have been an off night, and many items were comp'd, but overall a disappointing experience. read more