Recently, some close friends, my wife and I drove over to Dubuque for a weekend getaway. We love…read morefarm-to-table restaurant concepts and in-city dining, so we thought Convivium would be an ideal spot to have breakfast on our first day in town. As great as this place could (if not should) be, it will never reach it's potential with the lousy customer service that we experienced. Why do I say this? Read on Yelper. We arrive for breakfast around 9:45 am on Saturday. There was a little bit of a line, which is to be expected at any well known breakfast/brunch establishment, right? The young lady working the register asked if we wanted to pick a table outside, handed us four menus and told us that someone would be out there to help us shortly. We sat at an empty, yet still dirty with plates from the last customers, table that was in the shade. Annnnnd we waited. As staff came out to attend to other customers sitting in the same patio area, the four of us sat there waiting for water, coffee, a smile... heck even an acknowledgement that we were there would have been nice. Seriously, if the Invisible Man was real and sitting at the table, he probably would have had a better chance of being noticed by the servers working that morning. We ended up busing our own table because no staff would bother to do it - I'm very serious. Nearly 20 minutes pass. As another couple comes into the patio, sits down and gets near immediate service with their drink orders, we had it! We entered the restaurant to find out what the problem is for such terrible service?!? The tall, head service member (did not catch her name) had an attitude for sure with her question "Did one of us seat you?" and we answered that "No, your host teammate told us to grab the table." She damn near rolled her eyes. Finally, lightening struck... someone showed up to give us water, wipe the table, and take our order. But don't get your hopes up that this was the end of bad service. Regrettably, it was not. We waited nearly 25 more minutes to get our order of eggs, potatoes, bacon, and sausage. Tough order for a breakfast place, don'tcha think? Out comes the food... without utensils to eat with. 4 mins of watching your food get cold motivated us to good inside and get our own utensils. As we did, the head member walks out with the items. Now - let's shift to the one positive part of the experience and that of course is the food. To show you that I am a reasonable reviewer, I will tell you that the meal was very tasty, cooked to order, and satisfying (especially when you're starving!). When I said at the beginning that this place can be great, the food is the reason why. After a Friday night of fun, a place like Convivium is just what you want for a Saturday breakfast before an afternoon of NCAA College Football - you know what I mean? But until management decides to hold the staff accountable for this terrible customer service, Convivium will be closed in less than 5 years (my prediction). Read some of the other reviews... we share the same general opinion. And this is coming from someone that values restaurant concepts like this one. Get it together before its too late, Convivium.

What a disappointment. Yelp usually leads me to amazing spots, but this was a fail…read more I loved the concept and the cool vibe of the place but the food and the service were lacking the same luster. My dad, sister, and I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon. My sister enjoyed her chicken pesto panini but Dad found his pulled pork to be dry and bland. I ordered broccoli cheese soup with sourdough toast. The soup was absolutely disgusting. It was so thick, overcooked, and tasted like it had been on a back burner for three days straight. Not to be gross, but it looked like congealed dog vomit. When I mentioned to our server, she was very condescending. I would like to try again and hopefully it was just a tough day.

Do yourself a favor and make a reservation for this place. The place in an a refurbished building…read morewith several other bars and restaurants nearby. Parking is free after 5pm. We sat at the bar for a cocktail and then were seated. The main seating area has a view into the kitchen so that is always entertaining. The dishes were all wonderful from the trout dip to the budino. It was all top notch.

Finding insanely good restaurants is my jam when I'm traveling with friends and this one is up…read morethere with some of the best! Our server, Abbe, did her thing and I ordered the Amish chicken based on her rave opinion of it. She wasn't wrong! It was out of this world! It was marinated with black truffle and brown sugar and the smashed potatoes had a black garlic vinaigrette. To. Die. For. Lest I forget, the peach and burrata with sourdough was also divine and the leek fondue- yeah, just take my money. Even though I couldn't finish my dinner and was definitely taking it home, I couldn't pass up the vegan sticky date cake. This was melt in your melt delicious. This was truly a meal to remember and I'm so glad we got to experience it!

We've eaten here several times, and it stays our top pick. It is the best breakfast in Dubuque…read more The room feels like a Midwest family diner. You walk in and feel welcome right away. The staff treats you like you belong there. A good share of the waitstaff is family, and it shows. This place runs on care and pride. It is a true family restaurant, run by a great family. Service stays quick, kind, and steady every visit. Prices stay fair for the portions and quality. The hollandaise sauce steals the show. It comes rich, smooth, and balanced. It lifts every plate it touches. Want a breakfast spot that feels like home and delivers every time? Birdies Bistro does.

Heading out of town after a weekend of shopping, drinks, and good times, we stopped by Birdie…read moreBistro for a hardy breakfast ahead of the ride. There was a 20 minute wait, which was expected at 9:30 am on a Sunday morning. Once seated, we were promptly given water and coffee, which we appreciated as we decided on our meals. As tempting as it is to try something different, I felt drawn to the same type of breakfast I had the day prior (see my review on Convivium); eggs over easy, sausage and bacon, with roasted potatoes. I also decided to order a side order of pancakes - after all, a growing boy needs his calories. As you can see by the photo, it came out perfect... and delivered 15 minutes after we ordered (is that a long time? It can always be faster, but I was ok with it). All of us enjoyed what we ordered and the coffee service was constant. I especially loved the sausage patties!!! Yummy! So I would definitely recommend Birdie Bistro when you're in Dubuque. Is it the best ever (5-star), no - I won't bore you with my reason why (to each their own). But Birdie should be proud.. Opened since 2023, you deliver in every important way: Great food, fair price, attentive service, clean, and welcoming. Great job!

We got a mocha and a cranberry scone. They were delicious. The atmosphere is relaxing, wonderful…read morewood work and the music was calming. The service was great!

Charlottes makes their Spark Walmart Driver carry a dozen gallons of milk up their stairs into…read moretheir kitchen, at least once a week and only leave a tiny little tip of just $2 or less. And guess what you think you're having good quality food and drink there, you're actually drinking the cheapest quality Walmart milk, and Walmart eggs and walmart fruit in all their meals. This place in nickels and dimes and serves you the lowest quality, you might as well get your coffee at McDonald's. It's probably better quality standards. I'm giving you one star as guess what I'm a Spark Driver and you guys need to tip more because you guys make tips yet you don't share any of the pie for making us bust our asses. shame on you.

We came as a group of 14 after a funeral- we were graciously put in the back room so family could…read morebe together. Our server was excellent and ran the room with excellence. I ordered the maple glazed salmon; my husband has the pork chop and our daughter has the scallop and shrimp pasta (very spicy but tasty) Everyone enjoyed their meals! Thank you for taking great care of us on this very tough day.

I had a mixed but overall pleasant experience at Caroline's. The atmosphere is charming--quiet,…read moreclassy, and located inside the historic Hotel Julien, which adds a nice touch of elegance. Breakfast was good. My husband enjoyed his corned beef hash (he is a connoisseur) and I enjoyed the huevos rancheros. Portions are very generous. Service was lacking, unresponsive and not attentive. All in all, Caroline's is a solid spot for a relaxed meal, especially breakfast or brunch. Just know it can be a bit inconsistent depending on the day or the dish. I'd return, but with slightly adjusted expectations.

Hotel Julien Dubuque is one of those classic grand hotels that immediately leaves an impression. I…read moreabsolutely loved the atmosphere from the moment I walked into the lobby. It has that traditional old-world charm, and it's amazing to see how well the historic architecture and interior details have been preserved over the years. The building has so much character, which makes the stay feel unique compared to modern hotels. The front desk staff were friendly and accommodating, and the hotel also offers a large parking area behind the building, which was very convenient. Our room overlooked the river, and the view was fantastic, especially in the evening. We only stayed for one night before continuing our trip, but we thoroughly enjoyed our time here. There are also several restaurants within walking distance, making it easy to find different dining options. Overall, it was a wonderful stay, and I would gladly return the next time I'm in Dubuque.

What on earth?? My friend and I stayed here not long ago…read moreand had a nice trip (see previous review). But today 9/11) she (who booked the hotel) got an email saying "In honor of September 11, here's a discount!" (See picture) What kind of tone deaf marketing is this? It's like saying "Remember Pearl Harbor, here's a discount!" Your marketing team should be fired.

Great waitstaff, fast food, fantastic kids meals, appreciate how much homemade there is. Amazing…read morevegetable soup- solid stop. Good vibe. Slight cons- no prices on drinks, slightly expensive for steak tacos for two.

I got the tuna bowl here and it was fantastic. My wife got a burger and loved it. Their menu is…read morepretty well labeled with gluten-free options and since I am celiac, that matters a lot. It had some cool atmosphere and cool people too. I would definitely come back here again

Small town restaurant doing it big…read more The portions here are insane and for beyond reasonable price. French toast sits near 3 inches tall. One small pancake stretch's a cross an entire dinner plate and still extra fluffy. Ham slice, nope you get the whole cut with bone in. However you want your eggs they are made perfectly. Service is fast and friendly. The wall decor is extra fun and punny. Classic good ole breakfast!

The breakfast was delicious. The French toast was probably 1 3/4 inches thick and wonderful. Very…read morelarge pancakes prepared perfectly. My omelette and hash browns were also very good. The only thing I can complain about is the temperature of the coffee. Never hot just warm. So don't expect it nice hot cup of coffee, just warm.