This place is very popular and quite busy. The servers work their tails off. Our server was great. The place is very much a diner. It's got a diner vibe and look. And that's fine. The food was hit and miss. I got a crab cake po boy with pork green chile chili on the side. the chili was amazing. I wish I would have ordered a bowl of that. The po boy was not good. The bread was soggy and the crab cakes did not taste like crab, or really anything. I took one bite then just ate the bland crab cakes. But ordering that was my fault. I'm at a diner, what was I thinking? My friend loved his Cuban sandwich, which was a better choice. But that pork green chile chili was phenomenal. read more

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I've been to All 3 locations. Food and service are the same at all. Kind of warm in this facility but it is an older building. Awesome Celia D. did wonderful. Solon restaurant is a very nice surprise too. read more

Great food, had breakfast, large portions. Good service, friendly waiter. Would definitely go back It's also a bar. read more

Loved the chocolate chip pancakes and boyfriend loves his chicken fried chicken breakfast. The waitress was super nice and attentive even when we got do the diner started filling up she was doing great doing it on her own. Service was very fast and clean. Devore is soooooo cute and reminds me of the diner in Gilmore girls. read more

Bluebird Diner - Chocolate chip pancakes and country fried chicken breakfast - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I'm not really a "brunch" person because eggs and mornings and carbs and I are not friends... but I very much enjoyed a breakfast here recently! I got the Huevos, with tasty green chile/pork sauce atop polenta with hash browns on the side. The portion was generous and the flavor was excellent. I was a little disappointed by the small quantity of pork in the "pulled pork chile" as I was hoping it would be a significant source of protein since I could not eat all of the eggs or potatoes, but unfortunately it was less than 1 oz. I had the opportunity to taste the corned beef hash (yum!) and the cinnamon roll waffle (omgggggg is this even legal???) They also have excellent actually gluten free dishes that people with celiac disease can eat! Service was attentive and they got our food for a large party out all at the same time. Ambiance is casual diner! read more

Who doesn't love a diner? This is a popular place and rightfully so. Prices are reasonable, service is efficient and food is good. They serve breakfast all day. It was tempting but we decided to split a burger and soup. The soup of the day was a sausage bean soup. I ordered a bowl and it was large. The soup was above average and home made. The Krakatoa burger has bacon, jalapeño, onions, garlic and pepper jack on a toasted bun. It comes with a side of fries and was big enough to share. It's really good and we'd order it again. The only disappointment was the Bloody Mary. It wasn't very good and when I asked for celery salt to jazz it up I was told they didn't have any. It's a diner, not a bar so to be expected. Next time we're in the area we'll be sure to stop in again. read more

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Excellent. A warm and inviting place with large portions of really good food. A relatively small place wi8t about 60 people, so a large group might find getting seats difficult.. Good coffee, the hashbrowns could have been crisper but that is a personal preference. All in all well worth the trip read more

Woke up i. Iowa City and had a fantastic breakfast. What a comfy restaurant that had a very mom and pop feel to a cafe. The breakfast sandwich with hash browns and eggs Benedict were filling and so yummy. Prices here were really excellent for the quality of the food. read more

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Table for 5 please! Going to the Bluebird is always fun and always involves good eating and friendly faces. It's 6pm and our grandson is hungry! Ordered, chatted, listened to the music and laughed... 2 crab cake po'boy with salad, 1 fried cauliflower, 1 breakfast special with a full plate pancake and something else I have totally forgotten. Oops. Everything was good... the new item seems to still need some improvement (yes the cauliflower)... it was described as sweet... it was not sweet but it was a bit spicy... it was swimming in sauce so being served on a bed of something like rice, salad or noodles and coming with a roll or bread would make this dish better (less sauce please). Always a good and fun experience and we will be back for more! read more

Such a cute, quaint little spot! Went there on a Friday before going to a wrestling meet for lunch. Hubby ordered the frite steak, medium rare, and that's what it came! Fries were the side with a little bit of au jeu. He loved it. Perhaps a small veggie would've made it really special. Or a slice of toast... I ordered the wrong thing. I love Cuban sandwiches but not this one! Bread & relish were tasty but pulled pork was stale--so last week! Accompanying fries were fresh. Wait staff was pleasant & efficient. Bathrooms are clean. I saw a big burrito at the table nearby & it looked yummy. Great place to eat but make a good choice. read more

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Love the food and the atmosphere! You may have to wait but it's worth it!!!!! We are at the counter the last 2 times we were there and it was so fun! read more

Met some friends from Chicago here for brunch as a halfway point, we choose the place at random. What an amazing choice we made! Adorable little homey diner with eclectic decor and amazing service. You can order lunch or breakfast before 11, which worked perfectly for our group. I split the club on toasted sourdough with my husband, and we were both stuffed, it was huge! My friends had some amazing looking pancakes, chicken tenders, and eggs. It was very busy, and we didn't wait long for anything. I would make it a point to stop by if we're in the area again without a doubt. read more

Bluebird Diner - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I stopped in at the Bluebird Diner recently for a late lunch. I had just arrived in town for an Alumni meeting and had just made the treasure hunting rounds within Artifacts across the street. As all that driving and shopping made me hungry, it was time to try this well regarded restaurant out. I came in after the md-day rush and was seated at a very nice window-side seat. Table service was friendly and impeccable, as I was also impressed with how hard everyone was working here doing various customer and upkeep tasks. My Lunch consisting of a Cuban Sandwich, with cole slaw, and lemonade was delicious and the right amount of food and value for the money. I took my time to enjoy my meal as I appreciated the Midwest homey atmosphere, the relatively quiet, and the fact that I had nothing pressing to go to at the moment. I left happy and looking forward to the next time. read more

Bluebird Diner - Cuban - Coleslaw - Lemonade - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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I've eaten at the Bluebird Cafe twice. The first time in Iowa City, I was told by my companion that their chili was top notch. When it arrived, the consistency can only be described as "snotty," and therefore inedible. The second time I ate at a Bluebird was in North Liberty, IA. I thought I would be safe ordering breakfast, as the Diner prided itself on their breakfast fare. When my sunny side up eggs arrived, the whites were very runny. When I complained to the waitress, I could practically see her eyes cloud over. When my new breakfast arrived, the egg yolks were a solid, not exactly what I was anticipating. Again, when I complained, I was given the impression that the wait staff were either so used to this or they just didn't care. In any event, I refused to eat or pay for such a cooking travesty, nor will I ever agree to eat at a Bluebird again. read more

This place was really good. We got the eggs Benedict and Saint Bleu. Our waitress said that the Saint Bleu is an under appreciated menu item and she was correct. It was so good and definitely worth trying if you are looking to hype up your breakfast experience. The only bad thing about this place was that the hash browns were horrible. They were to the point of being inedible. I think they may have been undercooked? But they were a mushy pile of bland grossness. I didn't even know hash browns could taste bad until going here. Staff is super friendly and nice. Cute restaurant vibe easy to walk to from the heart of downtown. read more

Bluebird Diner - saint bleu - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Such a cute place. If you have a big group it will be pretty tight to find a place to sit. I had the salmon omelette. Personally, I love it because I LOVE salmon. If you just sorta like salmon I wouldn't recommend because there is ALOT on it. read more

Bluebird Diner - Slammin' Salmon - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

We have been waiting to come here for 8 months. Every time we have passed by, they were busy. Today we went early and we sat right down. At first the restaurant wasn't loud - it wasn't busy either but within the hour, patrons were standing at the door. We were served right away and the waitress was amazing. Steak and Pancakes were good, biscuit were fresh and the gravy was different. We might come back here at some point but it won't be the next place we try. And the atmosphere was just right. read more

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We always enjoy lunch at the Bluebird Diner. Their coffee is always fresh and delicious. I enjoyed the crab cakes Benedict and my friend had an amazing veggie omelette. Our server was friendly and refills quickly made. Give them a try! read more

Bluebird Diner - Veggie omelette and amazing coffee. - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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*CELIAC / GLUTEN FREE REVIEW I came here for brunch and had the HUGE three stack of GF pancakes. They are cooked in a separate pan to avoid grill cross contamination, and the waiters are able to make an allergy note when placing the order. It was a ton of food for $8 and I did not get sick :) read more

Came across Bluebird from searching on Yelp, the reviews looked nice enough that it brought myself and friends in for a visit. It's a cute little diner in the heart of campus. We were sat right away with no wait. Our waitress was so nice and took excellent care of us. I ordered their signature, smothered burrito, and was so happy I did. Was an outstanding breakfast burrito. The sauce and salsa were very tasty. Highly recommend stopping in for breakfast. They also had a lunch and dinner menu but I can't speak more highly of the meal I was served during my visit. read more

Bluebird Diner - Smothered Burrito - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Good food, but freezing on a cold day. The door stays open the entire time allowing a breeze to come through. Cute environment if you bundle up, visit on a warm day or get your food to go like we had to. read more

The food at the Bluebird is always delicious. I had the deep fried tenderloin this time and I'm picky when it comes to this item! This was handmade, pounded and the breading was fabulous. I would have this again and recommend to anyone that likes them. Also took a cinnamon roll home to have for breakfast. It was so huge I was able to eat 3 mornings!! They sent cream cheese frosting separately so I kept it in frig and frosted as I ate it. It was dbl wrapped so it stayed fresh. I did microwave about 15 seconds each time which warmed it just enough! I was very good! They are very big!! 5 * out of 5.. always wonderful. Can't go wrong with this place. Prices are right too!!! read more

I love the Bluebird Cafe. Nearly on the campus of University of Iowa University, it is a little cafe with an interesting menu. Bluebird is staffed with friendly young people. The food is good and it reminds me of a Cafe in the 1970's. It never seems super clean to me, but everything else is great so we overlook the cleanliness. We stop every time we are in Iowa City at breakfast. read more

Soooo good. This has become my favorite stop driving across country! I now plan trips do I can stop in for breakfast !

Serious fly problem. Had 10 flies circling around us and landing on our food while eating. Saw our server twice. Food was pretty good. read more

So yesterday, once again my girlfriend was sleeping in. Very bad for him to wake her up. So I went out for a morning walk. The bluebird diner was less than a half walk away. Hooray, I remember being here before long long time ago in a galaxy far far away it was a good memory so I went in. There was a line for the tables I opted for the counter.Emme, was right there providing excellent service. Place my order, food delivered finished up. Oh yeah what did I order? French toast. Texas style. Why did I get French toast you ask because my girlfriend likes French toast. So she was on top of her game make sure I had coffee to go and set me on my way. I made a note to drag my better half over here for breakfast tomorrow. Guess what? Today is tomorrow. So we are back and Peggy has ordered the cinnamon toast I should've listened to yesterday's recommendation because she likes the cinnamon toast over the French toast. This sounded like a lot to me and when it came it was. But Peggy was happy she had her French toast. As to the service today, cam was our server. Those are you that know me know how observant I am about well run organizations. I like to watch everything going on. And the bluebird diner is a well run machine. Kudos to the management team I know this is consistent across all their restaurants. When we were living in Solon Iowa we visited the north liberty location several times. Outstanding service. Outstanding food. A fun fun fun place to go for a quick bite to eat A lot of times there's a line. But this is a blessing. If there was no line why is that? Some people get upset with the wait time go someplace else if it doesn't work for you. Bluebird diner is always worth the wait time. Enjoy your adventures. The old guy. read more

Bluebird Diner - The diner. - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Stopped in this AM for a breakfast date with my husband. This place was extremely busy for a Friday morning; so you know the food is good. The food is better that good, it's amazing! I had the Krakatoa omelette and my husband had the smothered burrito. Both were excellent and service was fantastic! read more

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The menu looked great and, obviously, locals agree because this diner was packed. I was hoping for a truffle and egg creation but, alas, they were truffled out. No matter because I was ready with plan B: salmon omelette and hash browns. That and a latte made for a filling breakfast. If I lived in Iowa City, I'd be a regular here. read more

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The food was good, service was OK but the Bloody Mary was awful! Just plain old tomato juice with no discernible alcohol. The interior is pretty stark but truly diner-esque. read more

Bluebird Diner - Front entrance - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

This was hands down the best meal i have ever had in Iowa City. My first tine visit and was not disappointed!!!!!!!! Order meals to share Shrimp and grits with collard greens!!!!! Shrimp cooked right and greens were uber tasteful. Grits could have used more moisture bit still great. Pork snd green chile fries were OVER THE TOP!!!!! Spicy, tender pork and the fries were still crispy. We made short order of the cubano !!!! Our side dish with cubano was artichoke soup! Don't miss the chance to each lunch or dinner cant wait to get back and try breakfast read more

Bluebird Diner - Shrimp, grits and collards!!!!!!! - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Walked into the Bluebird diner on a whim and the fragrant interior has the mouth watering within seconds. The seating is a gorgeous and well maintained blue and was comfortable despite its age. I was attended to by waitstaff almost immediately and offered cold water and my drink was prepared very quickly. I of course had to try the ratatouille with polenta even though I craved the creole menu. What can I say? I'm a Disney fanatic first. The meal was a block of a fried cornmeal like bar topped with fresh grilled vegetables. The chef is obviously experienced because the eggplant was perfect. The flesh wasn't mushy and the skin had a crispness to it that paired well with the tomatoes, zucchini, and red bell peppers.I personally would have preferred a crunchy polenta cake but I agree with my waiter, it was superior to a bed of brown rice. I was rather disappointed by the gnats and the dirty floor. I might have given a pass due to the weather being nice for once but the dining area wasn't busy at all and the restroom was spotless and immaculate so the dining area should have been doubly so. All in all this was an enjoyable experience and I shall return again. It definitely earned its past title of "Top 21Diners in America." I can't wait until I can sample more of their menu. read more

Bluebird Diner - Ratatouille with fried polenta - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

I'm so glad this restaurant is back to full-service! We were in Iowa City in Spring 2021 and everything was carry-out because of Covid but seating has returned YAY! We enjoyed the eggs Benedict, green giant omelet (special of the day) and a salmon omelet. Good news - they let you sub grits for hash browns if you like. My Benedict was pretty much perfect and the hash browns were somehow both crispy and fluffy?? The coffee was not watery Iowa coffee - it was really good!! Totally recommend and we will return our next visit to Iowa City read more

Bluebird Diner - Eggs Benedict and hash browns - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Great classic dinner with excellent service. We had to wait 30 minutes but for a Sunday at 10:30 that is understandable. Thankfully they had heaters turned on outside that made it more comfortable. Omelette and hash brown were exactly what I expected. read more

Bad hiring practices. For a year I've been applying to this diner. Every time I apply on Indeed I also go to the restaurant with resume in hand and fill out an application I'm told they're not hiring. I have 18 years in the Navy as a Mess Specialist (cook). I have plenty of experience. I'm in my 40s. For example yesterday I called and spoke to the back of the house manager and told me to come down. I went there and the hostess got the owner. The owner tells me that they're not hiring and she has my Indeed resume. The problem is this time I never applied on Indeed. What are these people's problems. Is it my age, is it my looks. I don't fit the Bluebird mold? Totally unfair. It's like, Thank you for your service but we don't want your service. Shame on her. Hurts coming back after serving your country and you get this. read more

A classic morning brunch place in Iowa city! All the best go tos- and the environment is always bustling and you truly feel like you're at an authentic diner. A super fun place to meet up with family or friends for breakfast or brunch. Cons- parking can be stressful especially if it's busy and the service / wait is suuuuper slow. So if you didn't get there first with one of the original tables, you might be waiting for a while and the estimated wait times aren't always accurate. A solid choice though if you're looking for a cute brunch place in town! read more

Great Food, great atmoshere! The fried pickles and fire root soup were great. Excellent salad portions with high quality ingredients. Highly recommended. read more

To start off, it's a popping place, get there earlier to get a spot. I was lucky to snag one with my friend at 9:30 on a weekday. The wait staff was so pleasant and helpful in giving suggestions for our orders. The food came out quickly and was a plateful! I was very hungry coming in and couldn't finish it all. I ordered the omelet (pick three) which came with hash browns and toast - and when I think of diner food, this is it (and that's a complement). Omelet was delicious, toast was toast, hash browns were abundant. Only thing I would have added was more salt on the hash browns, but that's the joy of having salt shakers on the table. Will definitely return if I'm in town. read more

Bluebird Diner - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Great service, vibes, and food! Our waitress was very nice to us and helped entertain our 2 year old with some crayons. We had breakfast food however the menu is huge. Would love to stop back here and try everything. read more

Really disappointed in our first, and only, visit on the way to Ames. Yelp reviewers were inaccurate on this one. Busy lunch, service was ok, flies EVERYWHERE inside, and patrons were constantly swatting them away while trying to eat. The Reuben sandwich was very dry and not worth it. The Cuban on a hoagie was ridiculous. I don't believe they have had a real Cuban sandwich before. Fries with zero flavor did not help the plates. This is a big skip for us on our travels. read more

This place is so good! It gets really busy though so just be prepared for that. I went with my family and there was something for everyone. Large portions and well priced for the amount of good received. The waitress was very nice too! read more

Bluebird Diner - American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa