This might have been the best brunch ever! This place was an almost nonstop line for an hour, but still got people through line, seated, fed, and cleaned up after in no time! It had a nice modern feel and clean bathrooms. We had a group of four, and 3/4 said it was the best (Monte Cristo, Brunch Burger, and Club Sandwich) they ever had. We drove an hour (55 miles) to try it, and wont hesitate to come back! read more

Milk & Honey - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

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I'd like to give this restaurant a better review, the one negative was a big one. For the long Labor Day weekend, we plan to meander to Sioux Falls, SD. One of the first major stops is all the antique malls in Walnut, IA. The wife mentioned that she would like me to find a bakery that served food. I thought I was the hero finding Milk & Honey - a farm to table bakery. The restaurant is in an old Ford dealership building next to a jui jujitsu place. You have to order 1st up front and then wait for them to deliver your food. The good: An excellent place to people watch. Both the employees and clientele. Interesting enough quite a diverse clientele. I ordered the sausage breakfast sandwich with a side of home fries with cheese, peppers and onions recommended by the lady who took our order. A great recommendation. When our food arrived it was hot and good. The bad: My wife wanted to sit outside. I wished I took her suggestion. It was hotter inside than outside. We waited 45 minutes for OU order. You don't want to be around my wife when she is hot and hungry. read more

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I've been thinking about Milk & Honey ever since we visited. The cookies & cream french toast was uniquely perfect. The right amount of Oreos (aka A LOT). Super creamy topping with well made french toast. We loved our lattes too. My strawberry fields latte was fresh & balanced. This farm to table spot in Harlan is one of a kind! read more

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The staff was super friendly and welcoming. The price for the freshness and size of the portions was well worth it. Went on a sunday morning so it was very busy due to no other stores in the area being open. The only thing we had to wait for was the food being delivered to our table took a little longer than usual. You will need to talk louder when having conversations due to how many people fit in the space. I also got some of the canned cream soda. It was so good i went back and bought 2 more cans before i left. read more

Milk & Honey - Egg sandwich with no meat. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

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Was not impressed with the ambiance of this so called farm to table establishment. The silverware was dirty. The food had a dirty grease taste to it. Some of the menu items need to be revamped for the prices charged. Was not crazy about the long wait to be served. Will think twice about returning to this establishment. read more

Good breakfast and a latte. Service was ok. We had never been there, it would have been nice for the counter gal to greet us and give us a little info about where to order etc. We were at the wrong end of the counter, didn't see the sign but there were menus in a pile so it looked like a good place to start. The young guy that delivered our food was great and answered our questions. He was friendly. Large space and lots of comfortable seating options. read more

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Easy drive in from Omaha on our way to Des Moines for the weekend! We got there at perfect brunch time and I was happy they were still serving breakfast and my husband was excited they were already serving lunch. I got the eggs Benedict & husband got the burger! The food did take a decent amount of time to come out we felt with the few tables were inside but I do think they had quite a few take out orders. They have inside seating only, but the restaurant is large! My husband said his burger was a bit dry for his preference, he added ketchup and then was just fine. We will definitely be back on another trip by Harlan! read more

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It was a great location for a restaurant. The dining area is very large. Had a versatile menu with lots of options. I had the cheeseburger which was pretty dry. Put some more sauce on it but didn't help a bunch. The surprise of the meal was the sweet potato bites. They packed a punch and were very great. read more

Milk & Honey - Cheeseburger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

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Not a great experience. We ordered at the counter. I ordered a Chef salad with ranch on the side with extra chicken for an extra 4.00. The salad came with the chicken, but no boiled egg, nothing fresh besides the lettuce and in amongst the salad were roasted Brussels sprout and saturated with balsamic vinegar dressing. When the waitress brought the salad I told her I asked for ranch on the side. When she went to get it, I realized then that the balsamic dressing had already been poured on it. When I told her I wanted no balsamic vinegar on it and just the ranch on the side and that I didn't realize there were grilled brussels sprouts, which I would not have ordered had I know they were going to be on there, she, very snarky, told me they could remake it. I could tell she was not happy with me about my criticizing of the chef salad, which I thought was universal. When you get a Chef salad, you pretty much know what you're gonna get- this was not it! She never came back to my table to see how things were. She did not offer to make amends in any way. In fact, she ignored us. I won't be going back. I'm a local. It's the first Ive tried milk and honey since it's been in its new place. I will not be back and can definitely find another place to eat lunch that won't cost me 40 bucks for a disappointing meal. Also, the coffee was cold. Sad. read more

This was my first visit. I have heard so many good things from friends so I was excited when I was making plans to meet a high school classmate for lunch after not seeing her for 52 years. We both got the Reuben sandwich. She got fries and I got potato salad on the side. It was a delicious sandwich. Lots of cheese, sauce and corned beef. On well-griddled marble rye. But the star for me was the potato salad. It was nice and saucy. I love mustard in my sauce and there were tons of dill pickles in there. This is a beautiful historic building with brick walls and they have colorful barn quilt patches behind their counter. It's casual. You order at the counter and they deliver to the table. Staff were friendly and happy. Business was brisk on this Saturday lunch. read more

I didn't have a very good experience at Milk & Honey. Burger was very dry, usually enjoy a toasted bun but this one was burnt and dry. Needed water after every drink. Side salad was fine it's a side salad. Price was on par for normal "upscale" diners. Food just didn't live up to the hype from other reviews. I won't be back personally but people seem to enjoy it maybe I ordered wrong or it was an off day. read more

We drove from Council Bluffs to experience Milk & Honey after seeing the restaurant on Facebook. First, we placed our order at the counter instead of sitting down. We ordered the special of the day and a ham and cheese omelette. When I didn't get asked what kind of toast I wanted, I asked if the omelette was ala carte, I was told yes. I've eaten lots of omelettes but this was my first ala carte omelette. I chose hash browns which were almost the entire plate. I would have preferred 1/2 or even 1/4 if I had been offered. The omelette was $9.50 and the hash browns were $4.50. I can't think of a restaurant I can't get an omelette, toast, and hash browns for your price - probably less. Second, the omelette and hash browns were bland. I left 1/2 of each on the plate. Third, why are the prices so high. Our bill was $31 drinking water and taking care of ourselves. The patrons get their own water, silverware, napkins, catsup, salt and pepper. Fourth, when we went to leave, I didn't know if we were to clear off our table but I felt I had done enough preparing for our lunch. Lastly, we were very disappointed, not impressed, and don't know how they are staying in business. When we saw the prices, we should have moved on down the street to another restaurant. read more

Great and affordable small town breakfast joint! We have some friends who moved here recently so now we have an excuse to visit this place. The inside is spacious and open. The menu is a mix of traditional breakfast fare plus some more trendy items (I believe with a seasonal menu). It was a low key, friendly, and comfortable which is exactly what I love about small town brunch places. I got the Reuben and while I overall enjoyed it, it needed more corned beef to sauerkraut ratio. The corned beef was more gristle-y than I would have liked too. The sweet potato cubes were good! Some other people in our party got the burger with their crazy thick steak fries and that looked way more appealing than what I got. The coffee station was good and no frills. Would be back and probably try something else! read more

Milk & Honey - Reuben - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

Milk and Honey is an absolute gem! The homemade spicy ranch is out of this world, the service is top-tier, and the food is incredibly fresh. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

We stopped in for a seasonal latte and added an order of biscuits and gravy. Both were homemade, extremely generous portions and delicious. One of the best coffee drinks I've ever had-high quality beans, freshly ground and flavorful but not too sweet start to the morning. Greeted by several members of staff, all of whom were smiling and more than willing to talk about their local suppliers and favorite items on menu. Everyone we met (including patrons) were the epitome of Iowa nice and we found this a really pleasant place to stop in. Cozy, warm location, very popular with locals, and comfortable seating. This, like several places we visited in Harlan, is a hidden gem run by people who truly care about the food and service they offer. read more

This was my second visit. Loved the food, loved the decor, loved the historic building (where I had not been before). Then I went to the counter to ask a question and the man yelled at me. Yelled at me for having the temerity to ask a product question, outside of rush hour, politely, while waiting til he finished his conversation. For context, there were about 6 parties and the place seemed to be well-staffed. I''m not a wilting little flower but can find another place to eat where they don't yell at me. Stars for the food. read more

what a breakfast find. upon walking in you are promptly greeted at the counter where you order. the menu is explained and the daily specials were presented. we all opted for breakfast. 1) kids pancakes + side of breakfast sausage | the pancake is huge and cooked perfect. hot, fluffy, little crisp and the butter and real maple syrup was a delight. the sausage was great (and generous) and even better with the maple syrup. 2) Eggs Benedict. they do it a little different. it was (3ea) halves of an english muffin with real ham and slice of tomato on each one along with fresh salad greens and a drizzle of balsamic. On top they add a fried egg (they do not poach....it is scrambled or fried) and topped with hollandaise. everything just paired well with the balsamic and yolk and hollandaise. I would definitely get this dish again. Note their has browns is heavenly. crispy brown on the outside and soft on the inside and generous portion. My only draw back would be the coffee. it is not a great quality cup of coffee. Ok, but not great. I will definitely make this a go to spot whenever I am in Harlan. read more

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I've been following this place on FB for awhile now. Just never had the right time to stop in and try these amazing looking dishes until now! Why did I wait so long? I did a take out order(conveniently ordered online). Able to pick up on my lunch break. Looks like a cozy, friendly atmosphere to eat. I ordered the special- B.L.L.T! WOW! I probably would've licked the container it came in so good. Sourdough bread- toasted and indescribably delicious! Never had anything like it. Perfectly complimenting the sandwich was a spicy mayo and cheese (I wonder if the spicy mayo was made in house?) I ordered a side of house fries. Lightly crisp, seasoned, sliced tater! I'm pretty pumped to try more from here! And it will be real soon! read more

Milk & Honey - B.L.L.T. -Bacon, lobster, lettuce + tomato. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

Really yummy biscuits and gravy, great big cinnamon rolls, mimosa flights... yes please! Fantastic customer service. The decor is homey and inviting. I recommend this place highly. read more

We are full time travelers and while staying in our RV at one of the State Parks in Iowa we needed to do a little grocery shopping in the town of Harlan. Decided to have lunch and found this cute little restaurant in the historic downtown. The Milk and Honey restaurant is housed in a historic refurbished building. The decor is kind of a farm house that make you feel comfortable and welcomed. They are part of the Farm to Table stating they use as much local farm products in their meals as available. Specializing in Breakfast, brunch and lunch. We ordered at counter and took our seats in one of the two dining rooms. I chose a chicken sandwich and was given a choice of sides, I chose Brussel Sprouts. (I love them) The veggies where very fresh, the chicken breast was thick and well grilled. It could have used more seasoning. (I like strong flavors) The sautéd Brussel sprouts brought on the strong taste with a nice seasoning sauce. Husband picked a breakfast burrito, which was huge and packed with a mix of egg, bacon and hash browns. The portions from both our meals were so large we had another out of them. All in all good experience including small town friendly staff. read more

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My African American Girlfriend and I went there Saturday October 11th, We arent from rural Iowa. We are from the cities. She thought the place looked nice, We walked in and the entire room stared at her, as if they have never seen a Black woman. She didn't feel comfortable enough to even order, I ordered a Monte Cristo to go. The white supremacist who took my order then told us to sit on the purple couch in the middle of the room. Here we sat for over 45 minutes. We watched groups, couples and entire families walk in sit down order and get their food eat and leave ( all whom came in after us) This place treated these people like gold, However the black person in the room was invisible to them as they walked by us the entire time. I noticed a sack on the kitchen window and it had been there all of 25 30 minutes. I eventually went to the white tattooed Arian lady and asked her if that was our food . she grabbed it and handed it to us, so rudely, We felt so little there. Needless to say the sandwich sucked it was dowsed in butter and cold and it was the smallest and Monte Cristo I've ever seen, the sweet potato fries were also cold and soggy, Matt Walsh should go there because Racism does exist on this rural white Iowan town. By far the most racism we have ever felt. read more

For a vegan visiting a small town it's a great find to have multiple vegan options. I had the beet & bean burger and it was delicious. My wife enjoyed her cheeseburger while heard good reviews on the wrap, Ruben and quinoa bowl (although the brussel sprouts were a little burnt). I've had this before without the egg and was very good although a little oily in my opinion. Great place to go to and love their new location. Great ambiance! Service was very quick and staff were very friendly. One of my favorite restaurants in the area and thank you for the vegan options!!! 5!!!! read more

This is my second time ordering from this location. The potato's weren't seasoned well, although they had a lot of pepper! I had requested to have green pepper and onions added to the potatoes, but that didn't happen! The half smoke was a little overcooked as well. The biscuit and eggs were OK. read more

What more can one say.......... Superb quality breakfast and lunch menu, perfectly prepared, with wonderfully spiced and flavored ingredients, served in a beautifully restored historical building enclosed restaurant space, just across the street from the even more historical Shelby County Courthouse Square, with its gorgeous limestone and pillared courthouse building facade. This is far and away better than any typical Midwest country food venue! Sophisticated preparations deserving of any of the very best big-city venues, using very fresh ingredients sourced from local farms and gardens, most organic. Staff delightfully friendly and easy-going. Space, tables and serving gear absolutely clean and shiny. Take it from one who has been blessed with some 40 years of being able to partake of the very best in food in restaurants around the world. You will be back.......if only to be further benefited by prices hardly half what one would pay in any big city. But it is the superb food, partaken in a low key and delightful setting, that will entice you frequently back. read more

This place was very cute with a homey vibe. You order at the counter and sit down for your food. It did seem like the food took a long time. I had the goat cheese and jam burger and it was good. I love goat cheese but it didn't blow me away. The burger patty was small and overdone in my opinion. I had a side salad which was just really simple. My husband had a burger too and thought it was okay but not great. read more

Milk & Honey - Goat cheese and jam burger + side salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

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This place is SO good! It's also located in an old motel in Harlan Square so it's also super cute and the service is awesome! I was in town for my grandmother's 90th birthday so decided to stop in for breakfast and man was I NOT disappointed. I travel a lot (pre-COVID) and this is one of the best breakfasts I've had EVER! My boyfriend and I split the southwestern skillet, the yogurt parfait, and the egg sandwich with bacon. They were all so good! The hash browns on the skillet were crunchy and crispy on the outside, which is my favorite style. Wish I had found this place earlier in the weekend so I could have gone more than once! read more

Milk & Honey - Southwestern skillet, side of ham, yogurt parfait, and egg sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

We were visiting from out of town. We had dined at Milk & Honey at a different location a few years ago, and were happy to find its new location. What a great space. The food was really good the muffins were still warm from the oven. I can't tell you how happy we were to have a great breakfast in a great space instead of suffering with stale muffins and Cheerios at the hotel we were staying at. read more

Great place for breakfast! Was on a road trip and decided to stop by this mom and pop shop after asking some locals what the best place in town was. I ordered the southwest omelette and it was delicious. The hash-browns were cooked perfectly and had a great amount of crunch. The spicy mayo, black beans, and spices were tasty. I had a piece of sour dough bread and that was tasty just the right amount of butter. The coffee was also tasty and freshly brewed. Would def stop by again on my next road trip through Harlan. read more

Milk & Honey - Southwest Omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

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Excellent FRESH food. Fair pricing. Service is great. Definitely eating here again. Only issue is getting in and out of restaurant. Doorway is cramped. read more

Wow! What a jewel! The food is so fresh and well made. Absolutely delicious. The baked goods were great. We bought 4 dozen assorted cookies for a reunion. read more

A little off the beaten path from I80 but worth the 30 minute round trip(beautiful midwestern vistas)! The menu has typical breakfast and lunch cafe items as well as several elevated cafe menu favorites. Chef's french toast(w/ blueberries and cream cheese) and chorizo biscuits and gravy were on special the day we visited. The biscuits and the chorizo gravy were homemade and the bread used to make the french toast was even homemade! They also advertise using lots of local farms and other purveyors to provide the products they use at the restaurant. We loved the food and their approach to supporting local community member's businesses. We will make it a regular stop whenever we travel east-west. read more

I've been following this place for over a year via Facebook. And it was everything I had hoped for. The funky, eclectic atmosphere is the kind of place that you could sit for hours enjoying a good book or chilling with friends and of course enjoying great food. When you first enter ordering at the counter and right behind is the chef and assistant. Seeing them happily greet you as they vigorously work is a nice change, they also made sure to say good bye/thank you to every party that left. But my favorite was the chef coming around himself to check on everyone and sometimes serving the orders. This is the perfect breakfast/lunch spot. I will be back and maybe next time I will have room to enjoy a beautiful baked good! read more

Milk & Honey - Rueben & fries I was enjoying it so much I almost forgot to take a Picture! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

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What a great and unique spot on the town Square. Very diverse menu that has something for everyone. Eggs Bene was 5*. Will go back often. read more

Milk & Honey - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

Friendliness is the first thing that meets you when you walk in the door of this small town café. Aromas of deliciousness quickly follow. The food is cooked to order, largely homestyle, and with a creative flair. You order at the front counter overlooking the cook's griddle off of a blackboard menu although there are a few handbill menus available. Breakfast is served all day long and there were several choices of which I struggled to decide among five. Finally I decided upon the Southwest Skillet--a combination of hash browns, chorizo, peppers and onions, black bean corn salsa, and cheese. It came with an egg any style and toast. My skillet arrived on an oval plate (no problem) and was a layering of hash browns, chorizo, onions and peppers and the black bean corn salsa, with a covering of melted cheese and the egg on top. First and foremost, the hash brown base was absolutely, perfectly, cooked to my taste--just softened and holding their shape in the middle, yet crunchy on the bottom, and a network of increasingly crisp strands of potato as you got further from the center. The remaining ingredients were beautifully proportioned so as not to dominate the overall skillet. It would be so easy to overdo any one item, but that did not happen here. Perhaps the best aspect to the skillet was that the melted cheese appeared to come from sliced cheese as opposed to shredded cheese. This made for full flavored cheesiness much of the time while allowing you appreciate other flavor combinations at others. IMO, melted shredded cheese tends to lose its flavor and distinctiveness so much of the time. I honestly lost myself at times in the textures and flavors of this delicious skillet. Now I never really looked at the lunchtime menu, but I suspect that it should please as much as my breakfast item delighted me. In a nutshell I would call it creative, homestyle, and delicious. If you are traveling near Harlan and have the time to stop, get off the road and venture downtown and try Milk and Honey. read more

Milk & Honey - Southwest Skillet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

I love, love, love what Milk & Honey is trying to accomplish. Locally-sourced, high-quality foods prepared in creative ways. This place is worth the stop. The decor is cool as the cafe is located in a refurbished hotel, staff knowledgeable and friendly, the chef comes out and visits with patrons. Vegetarian options. Heck, we live in the land of milk and honey, why don't we see more places like this gem? A locally-owned place serving fresh, local produce, prepared in novel ways. PS Love the name too! read more

Milk & Honey - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa

Awesome little cafe off the town square. Lots a seating, unique food menu, excellent taste. The chef does quite well with his food prep. I had the Goat cheese and jam burger, very juicy, toasted bun, creamy cheese, very good. I loved how the potato salad wasn't too overwhelmed with onions or celery like some, the texture was perfect. Will def be back the next time i am in Harlan. read more

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We have walked by this place several times but today was our first visit. We were greeted warmly and there were menu options to suit both of us. My husband had biscuits and gravy, while I had the southwest skillet. The portions were huge for the price and both our meals were delicious. We will definitely come back! read more

Food was very good but service was lacking We stopped in on a Wednesday morning around 10:00 am and ordered food. We waited 25 minutes and then I finally asked a waitress if our order would be coming up soon She apologized and said they had really gotten slammed that morning. She apologized and was nice but there were ok you about 4 other party's in the whole restaurant I realize that they we also doing take out Bottom line food is good but you may have to wait a long time read more

Fresh food and locally sourced. Great service and friendly staff. Don't miss this awesome cafe.

Amazing food! wonder chef! super comfortable and cozy. We will definitely be coming back for more! I had the southwest skillet which was AMAZING and also the deluxe brunch burger and it was hands down the best burger ever!!!!!! Definitely a place to check out for some epic food. read more

Milk & Honey - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Harlan, Iowa