I'm going to review this in sections and try to be very objective because I tend toward fussy sometimes. Environment: Casual coffee shop Coffee: Very good, stong and fresh. I'd maybe order it to go but don't think I'd sit for a chat - see below. Food: Standard coffee shop fare. Served in to go containers (not sure where the photos of plated food came from but that was not my experience). Not sure if it rotates. Fries were well salted but a bit overcooked. Burger was well salted but not noteworthy. Egg sandwich was meh. For my money I'd hit the Map Room or LP Street Food for a meal. Now, for the bad part. It was dirtyyyyy. I ran a damp napkin over the table and it came up brown. Honestly I think we left it cleaner than when we arrived. Floors were dirty and I don't really want to think too much about the bathroom.... I can't recommend this place for food but the coffee was pretty good. read more

A bread not too dry but supple enough to pick this up one handed. Layered hash browns, crisp bacon, scrambled egg, topped with a 2nd egg ( circle shaped mold) with just a touch of yolk to our out. The paprika aoili was nice, i could see a couple seasonal variations going with it , herby or spicy to mix it up. Kudos read more

Lightworks Cafe - Rwanda pour over and a nice patio - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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We stopped in for breakfast based on other yelp reviews and were very happy with our choice. My wife and daughter had warm drinks which they both enjoyed and Beignets. The beignets were quite good; warm, doughy, and so much powdered sugar. I had a biscuit and eggs, and really enjoyed the biscuit. These are more grainy than flaky biscuits. It had a wonderful flavor and a nice crunch to the outer edge. With the butter and jam it was pretty perfect. The woman behind the register was very nice and helpful. The only thing I didn't love about light works is that it is located in an industrial area which isn't the most inviting place and is a little hard to find. read more

Lightworks Cafe - Menu - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Exceptional taste in coffee selection and technique, particularly in espresso. Stephanie and Nathan are always working when we visit, and we know we're going to get consistently excellent drinks. Food and baked goods are also consistently great and varied. They really demonstrate a commitment to excellent, honest comfort foods and coffees. This is local gem. We drive up from Iowa City regularly even though there are great options closer by. read more

Lightworks is one of the best 3 coffee places in the CR Area (other two being Roasters Newbo and Kismet)...great coffee with seasonal specialties; the food is very very good - some unique and special. The people there are special, kind and warm and welcoming ; we love the atmosphere-a combo of industrial and artsy read more

Great coffee and tea! Service was excellent. They were closing for the holidays so they didn't have food. I'll definitely come back for food next year! read more

Lightworks Cafe - a menu on a chalk board - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

As they say, "fresh, honest food" is what they live by. It's not a huge menu, the ingredients consist of what is local and fresh. Try their hamburgers, they taste like burgers used to taste. read more

Food and coffee were delicious way more than expected! I got the double egg breakfast sandwich with bacon and their seasonal malt maple latte! Yum yum yum read more

Lightworks Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I will admit...I am a food snob; unabashed AND unapologetic and I love this about myself. But I can recognize where my own proclivities could blind me to amazing food experiences. I am trying to do better ... Anyway with that off my chest, I have to give a strong recommendation to the light works cafe. I come to Cedar Rapids every so often for work and I am constantly super surprised by the quality of dining here. Today was no exception. I was able to walk here from my hotel, and despite the sketchy neighborhood, and the dowdy look of the place, I was knocked off my feet by the wonderful breakfast I had here. I got a breakfast taco and a cup of coffee. I was trying to keep it simple because I was hungry and if it sucked, I didn't want to spend too much money. First off, the food and coffee was PIPING HOT... (waaaaaaaa, that NEVER happens). I was laughing because I couldn't even hold it in my hand to eat it. The taco was fab-u-lous. Simple, well seasoned, absolutely delicious. It was accompanied by a simple pico de Gallo that was so flavorful, I was tempted to do a little dance. I am bummed that I am full and unable to experience more of their offerings as I am leaving today. Will definitely be back if I am in this neck of the woods!!! read more

This place does not have gluten free food. In spite of other reviews (most from a few years ago), their help listing, their website, and their "find me gluten free" listing there is simply no real gluten free food here. There no gluten free bread, or tortillas, and they seem off out and annoyed when you ask in spite of them having it online that they have those things. I ended up getting an over salted mediocre and over priced burger without a bun that they gave me with no ketchup or silverware. I walked 45 minutes for what I could've gotten next door at Wendy's. Throughly disappointing. 2 stars because the coffee is good, honestly their coffee is great. The food is absolutely not worth anything though, much less the ~$30 I paid for my and my boyfriend's meal. I don't recommend coming here and even for their great coffee I genuinely plan to never come here again. read more

Our ENTIRE family LOVES Lightworks Anytime my adult children are in town it is the #1 place they all want to visit. Fully open in fall of 2022, again, so now we love being able to be inside as the weather has cooled. This extended family makes the BEST coffees, amazing biscuits, scones, and homemade English muffins. The veggie hash and breakfast tacos are also fantastic (we usually meet there for breakfast). We love the staff. During the pandemic closure we ordered Thanksgiving takeout and it was incredible. We love their take and bake, too. (It's a small interior but we have had groups of 14 meet in the back room and there was still room for 3 other tables!) GO THERE! read more

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Very cute space. Nice music and lots of plants. Food was great with a unique twist on some classics. Loved it.

Great espresso drinks, pour-over coffee, & other beverages. Lightworks basically ruined average coffee for me & made me a coffee snob. Excellent food, too. read more

This place was such a little gem. The kind of place that unless you knew what you were looking for and exactly where to look, you would miss it. I really hope that it's hidden location does not hurt business. The bright and open atmosphere of this café help you feel immediately welcome upon entering. The service was friendly and the menu offered something for everyone. I had the potato hash and was not disappointed in the slightest. It was one of the best breakfast items I have ordered in a long time. The potatoes were crisp and seasoned perfectly, the scrambled eggs were wonderful, and the pork was a pleasant surprise. My girlfriend had the fish tacos and could not stop raving about how amazing they were. Since she is the expert on all things fish taco, I would take that as a great complement. Are you in downtown Cedar Rapids? Are you hungry? Do you like food and smiling? If so, you must check this place out. read more

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May be my favorite place in CR. So cute, they kept the garage doors from the old establishment. Their coffee is absolutely amazing. They always have interesting specials that sound strange, but no, they are perfection. They actually make their own chai. I did not realize that most places just have cartons of it from a store and they heat it up for you. Lame, this place is for real. Lunch is crazy overpriced and totally worth it. The buffalo chicken sandwich is so juicy and tasty, it's my favorite menu item. Bean tacos are good too. read more

Wanted to stop for a cup of coffee as I was driving through Cedar Rapids and Lightworks Cafe was one of the top places that came up! I was impressed with their precautions taken for COVID-19. They only were taking orders through a window and nobody was allowed into the cafe. I peeked through the window though and it looked cute! They had a good variety of coffee and tea drinks and they prepared them quickly. They also had a good selection of coffee, tea, and other treats for sale. All in all a cute local business I would go back to! read more

Lightworks Cafe - Items for sale on display - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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Lightworks is truly a hidden gem/hole in the wall. Like, unless you knew it was in/behind Benz Beverage Depot, you might miss it! Which is a shame, because, trust me, you do NOT want to miss this place! Ever since I heard Lightworks was going to be open on Saturdays a few months ago, I've had it in my bookmarks list, and it did not disappoint. They offer a great selection of coffee and tea in addition to some absolutely amazing breakfast and lunch options. Highlights: That green salsa everyone talks about? It's amazing. I ate the leftovers with my spoon. Both the shrimp taco and sugar steak taco were delicious and I plan to return to eat them again... and again... and again. The perfect combination of crispy and crunchy. We also tried the Bacon Sugar Beignets which were a delicious treat and truly large enough to be a meal on their own - they are served warm and they are heavenly pillows of deliciousness. Really looking forward to more Saturday meals here! If you haven't been, it's a must try. read more

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Excellent soups and sandwiches. Everything was fresh and ready quickly. A nice quiet atmosphere to enjoy an unhurried lunch hour.

This place has a great atmosphere and the food was good. I would definitely recommend this place for breakfast or lunch. I haven't tried any coffee yet. The beignets are yummy! read more

Nice and quiet if you get there early. Love the size, atmosphere and big table next to the front window. Best part? The staff. It's like a place NOT in Cedar Rapids (though CR is getting better). Good bacon, good properly basted eggs by someone who cares and I hear good other stuff too according to those with me. Keep it up and don;t drop the ball........get some dark roast coffee though! read more

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Good local eats in CR blocks from my office it is consistently good and the owner is there every time I go and cares about what comes out of the kitchen. They also have lots of great stuff to go. read more

The vibe at Lightworks is exactly what you'd hope to find in a major city: it's cool, trendy and cozy with a super friendly staff. The location: a little hard to find if you aren't familiar with the building. Lightworks shares a building with Benz - enter through the back (or through Benz!). There isn't much parking up front, but you can park in the lot to the side. Inside, the decor is very trendy and hip, even though it's small. There's a mix of potted succulents, wood, industrial features and art on the walls. It's awesome! The menu: small, but tasty. They have excellent coffee from a local roaster and my latte was delicious. Tacos take the stage, but you can also order a burger, kale Cesar salad, fresh beignets (order them!!!) to grilled cheese. I always get nervous when I see a restaurant put tacos on a menu. There's almost two routes restaurants can take; authentic or "inspired by." Lightworks is a bit of both. I ordered the shrimp, pork and sugar steak all on corn. They were very good: especially the shrimp and pork. The sugar steak was a little too sweet/salty, but that's the point - me thinks! The tacos can be made on flour and come with salsa verde. On a different trip I also tried the grilled cheese and side kale cesaer salad. Both were adequate. The grilled cheese had a great crust, but the cheese lacked any flavor. I would have liked to see the kale finely chopped versus ripped bits of it as kale is a tough leaf, but the homemade dressing was very good. The service: is excellent and the staff is so friendly. You order at the counter and they will bring you your food once you find a table. Self serve water and don't forget to clean up after yourself and bring your plate to the bin: don't worry though - mostly likely your plate will be empty! read more

Lightworks Cafe - Grilled cheese with a crunch crust, small latte and small kale. (Tacos in back) - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

The staff was super friendly and helped us understand everything on the menu without rushing us. The place is small but well designed for movement in and out. Very clean. The menu was very diverse as far as food goes. I had the French fries which were perfect. Hot crispy outside and soft middle. My wife had Benets which tasted a bit dense and too pretzel like (literally). Might have been the dough choice, I don't know. The iced vanilla latte I had was very good, you could taste the espresso perfectly. The cold brew we had was very light and a bit watery. Good if you want an iced tea with coffee after taste. They also offer Vietnamese coffee which is usually amazing and hard to find so I'm looking forward to trying it. read more

Lightworks Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

3.5 stars, but really a 4.5 star coffee bar and a 2 star lunch place. Clearly the thing to do here is order coffee and maybe a baked good, largely steering clear of the other food. The good things here were the peppermint mocha and the biscuit. The peppermint mocha had a nice depth of flavor. The biscuit was buttery and came with some nice homemade jam (although it wasn't reduced well, so it was more like a fruit sauce). The "fine" things here included the black garlic burger and the beignets. The burger had some nice, if muted, flavors. But it's also small and doesn't come with any sides. The price struck me as far too high for what it was. The beignets were perfectly fine as doughnuts go, but they were way too dark on the outside and thick and cakey inside to qualify as beignets proper. They also didn't have much flavor - we wound up putting the strawberry jam/sauce on them and that improved them dramatically. The "skips" include the breakfast pork hash and the chips and salsa. The hash was just huge chunks of insanely overcooked pork and potatoes with a couple eggs on top. It was so dry I could barely eat it - it cried out for vegetables, salsa, sauce, something not fried! The chips were flavorless, which was sad as the salsa was clearly homemade and had an interesting vegetal note. But it didn't go with the chips at all and was a bit too odd to eat by itself. Overall, this strikes me as a good coffee bar that tried too hard to stretch itself without thinking about its menu. I'd love to see it scale back, putting more thought (and perhaps some menu descriptions) on each dish. read more

You know what stinks? Moving across the country after you've had your first taste of heaven. We leave for Dallas in a few weeks. I popped into Lightworks per recommendation from my husband. He knows that I love saffron. If you've never tasted saffron, I recommend to start, head to Target, top shelf, instant rice...saffron. It's like a meadow of bliss unfolding in your mouth. Have it with fish, preferably salmon. You're welcome. Now that you're like, "OMG, I need saffron on everything in my life," and you go to the store to buy it, you cry because it costs like $100 per gram. Which sounds like you're buying drugs and I guess in a way you are because it is an addictive herb, after all. So you cry and return to buying instant saffron rice at target to get your fix. But then a new and gloriously thoughtful coffee and food establishment opens up and your husband casually texts you a photo of their menu, not fully understanding your saffron addiction. And you say something along the lines of "DO THEY REALLY USE SAFFRON IN COFFEE?" and he replies, "yes lol." And you send him a slew of texts asking him to ask them about their coffee, brewing procedures, etc., and you realize you need to cash in your daughter's college plan to drink this all the time. I finally came in. It makes me oh-so-sad that they're closed on the weekend, and after 3pm, but the stars aligned and here I am and I am slowly sipping this saffron latte like it's a $500 pour of scotch but it's even better than that. Before you stop reading (kudos if you haven't yet), if you HATE saffron, you will still find every drink of their amazing. They make their own soda for cripe's sake. And their food is delish. I'm literally eating the remaining salsa verde from my breakfast taco on its own now. It's THAT good. GF and nondairy options as well as homemade biscuits and gravy to satiate your comfort-buds. Just come in. Trust me. read more

Lightworks Cafe - Favoring and savoring the saffron latte. - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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A gem of a spot. I don't usually give 5 stars but there was nothing I would change. We are from out of town and found this place on yelp. My diabetes and I love charming farm to table and so and husband like good food but aren't too adventurous. This place for all the bills. Creative approaches but still maintaining classic appeal. We had the biscuits and gravy (one of the beat biscuits I've ever had), burger, kale Caesar, breakfast sandwich (on a biscuit), Brussel sprouts (yummm), chai tea (smooth and velvety) and beignets (both classic and chocolate (I've had many in NOLA and these are eight up there. The chocolate were divine). To top it off the advise was friendly and spot on (you order and they bring it to your table). read more

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Aww Lightworks is the absolute best coffee shop in Cedar Rapids. First time visiting can be slightly complicated as it's on the back side of another business but 100% worth it!! Breakfast food is awesome (Haven't had lunch there yet!). Coffee is wonderful. Americano is amazing. Lavender added to all coffee is so good. There are two rooms for seating, lots of natural light, great WiFi, and amazing customer service. Highly highly recommend! read more

Lightworks Cafe - Front room and counter - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

What a hidden gem and a great new place for some original food. Hours 6 am to 3 in back of Benz's. Coffee choices range from espresso , machiatto, etc to hot chocolate and a variety of teas. Menu choices for breakfast include granola, beignets (I'll come back to try that), biscuits and gravy to eggs, breakfast taco, multiple sandwich choices from buffalo chicken, hamburger, grilled cheese-flatbread house crust pizza. Margherita, pears arrugula and on. Order at counter. To go or eat in. Simple industrial type vibe. Pleasant and helpful service. I had pork hash that was excellent. Tender carnitas. (See picture) I also see chocolate chip cookies as big as a salad plate. There is additional seating which is good because one woman was using a 4 top as an office today. Please help support this place. No need to drive around looking for a parking place, either. read more

Lightworks Cafe - Pork hash. Carnitas, eggs, home fries. Delicious. - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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Wish I would have tried this cafe out sooner!! It is located with Benz Depot and serves up breakfast and lunch. Walking in it appears very small, however there is another dining area to the right of the counter. I love all the various plants and succulents found among the front counter - really brightens up one's mood! I ordered a chai tea latte - which is made of a chai tea concentrate in house. It was lightly sweet and had the perfect blend of spices. While watching the barista make my drink she did it with grace and perfection. Hands down the best chai tea latte I have had in the CR area!! Thank you Lightworks!! I will be back and will be trying those breakfast tacos as well! read more

Lightworks Cafe - Beautiful chai tea latte - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

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Great meal on an early Sunday afternoon! Driving through, looking for a bite to eat... The reviews were positive and it wasn't chain or fast food place. The food was tasty, we had: black garlic burger and kale salad with a grilled cheese. We didn't special order anything, and it was relatively quick to be served. The atmosphere was relaxed with excellent music (mostly instrumental Latin big band style while we were in there). The ladies at the coffee bar and counter were polite. The tables were clean and so was the bathroom. Wish we lived locally to try the whole menu. We had a hot mocha and a London Fog to go, they were well flavored and filled to the top! read more

Great Vietnamese coffee!!!! Best iced coffee in the Cedar Rapids area. If you like iced coffee, try theirs, you won't be disappointed. Great atmosphere and food. read more

Lightworks Cafe - Vietnamese coffee - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I've been hearing about this place both from yelpers and on Facebook and had to try it. I fell in love. It's a nice small venue with a staff that's super friendly. My latte was delicious and I had the biscuits and gravy. Delicious. A bit of a bite, not bad, and so tasty. Not just your regular gravy but actually seasoned. A hint of sage that add a special richness. And the biscuots....oh My! Homemade and not as heavy as most. Unfortunately they were out of beignets, but I'll be back to try them. Not a huge menu, but a nice selection. read more

Stopped here while traveling through Cedar Rapids. Ordered two tacos, the black garlic balsamic Brussel sprouts, and a Vietnamese iced coffee. The Brussel sprouts were my favorite part of the meal! And the tomatillo sauce that came with the tacos. One of the tacos I ordered was the cauliflower - it was served cold and I did not care for the marinade used, but that is just personal preference! The other taco was the breakfast one, it was tasty. The Vietnamese coffee was delicious. Service was kind, but not enthusiastic. I loved the decor. I also loved that the gender-neutral bathroom was large and inclusive - it has a very nice baby changing table, feminine supplies, urinal, and of course normal toilet. I would come back to Lightworks in a heartbeat, too bad it's several hours away! read more

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I have a new favorite cafe! It is cute, kitchy, and most importantly has great coffee and simple but absolutely amazing food. I love a good cappuccino and am very particular about the espresso to milk ratio but I would never classify myself a true "coffee connoisseur" simply because I don't like it black. That is, I couldn't until I had Lighthouse's coffee. There something about it's complex, citrus flavor that I appreciate best unsweetened. I've never had anything like it. So yes, the coffee is great... But the food... Oh the food! You guys.... You've gotta try the food! They have a very diverse menu... Kinda random actually. I've had the tacos... Street style... Delicious, I've also had the BLT, which is served on a delicious toasted ciabatta and served with field greens and pico di gallo instead of the typical tomatoe, a very nice twist. The Brussel sprouts are addictive, charred perfectly and sweetened with raisins (so much better that it sounds) and the piece de resistance is their Biscuit. Yes, I said Biscuit. It's not just a biscuit people. It is a flaky, buttery piece of pure heaven on a plate. These biscuits taste like my dear Aunt Mae Bell is in their kitchen, kneading the dough with love while humming gospel hymns! Somebody say HALLELUJAH read more

A very cute, hipster, kind of a coffee bar and I love that its not a chain. I will always choose to support local instead of going to Starbucks when I have the option. Friendly service and a good overall vibe here. I got a dirty chai here, delicious, I liked it slightly more than the one at Gumption (which is also delish). There were several vegan food options, which makes my heart happy and everything looked homemade that I saw (wish the beignets were vegan, they looked so good!). My friend ordered a cauliflower taco that looked very tasty with tomatillo sauce; her only complaint is that it was a bit expensive for only one taco, but it was delicious. The reason I'm giving this place 4 instead of a 5 stars is that they aren't open very late (they close around 3:00 pm usually) and its pretty small inside, so if you have large groups who want to gather, you'd be better off getting things to go or going elsewhere. Its intimate for a more casual, one on one kind of gathering with a close friend, though. A bit hard to find initially, but its right by Benz Beverage Depot if that helps you find it, connected to the same building. read more

We've been here for four days and this is far and above the best meal we've had. Balanced flavors, appropriately seasoned, excellent menu, actual vegetarian choices, and everything was prepared perfectly. Had the black bean and also the cauliflower tacos. Ended up going back for the beignets. Also had an iced mocha and a dirty chai latte. Even was spot on. You owe it to yourself while in Cedar Rapids to stop by and eat here read more

Lightworks Cafe - Menu board - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

My new favorite coffee place! It has friendly staff and great coffee in a beautifully designed space. . . . . Update! There are a LOT of places in CR you can go for coffee, but LightWorks has the best coffee, hands down. read more

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An actual hidden gem (it's hidden behind Benz and hard to find on your first try), this hipster cafe will not disappoint. Crawl out of bed, throw on whatever is closet to your bed, and make your way to what will become your favorite Saturday brunch spot. (Also known as hangover recovery spot). The homemade biscuits slathered in creamy sausage gravy will fill your tummy and warm your heart. Add some eggs and a cup of java and you are good to go. Vegan and vegetarian options are also offered. Lunch menu looked cool. We will return. We took home a couple of macadamia white chocolate chip cookies and enjoyed an afternoon snack. Parking is tricky so be sure to read all signs. To be safe, park on the street. read more

This place is such a nice addition to Cedar Rapids. The decor is incredible & so modern & clean. I got a lavender latte which was delicious along with a breakfast taco. My only complaint is the price. So damn expensive! For one small taco it was around 5$. That's just crazy. It wasn't anything out of this world either, but the atmosphere is definitely worth checking out. read more

Lightworks Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

It's a nice quiet place with good food (breakfast, tacos, sandwiches, sides, some baked goods), good coffee and free WiFi. read more

Lightworks Cafe - Cozy little place kinda hidden off the main drag of 8th Ave NE near Mercy. Good coffee, good food, quiet and free WiFi. Check out out - Cafes Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa