If it's any indication, after seeing photos of a wedding that took place in a Denny's, I realized that I would totally get married at the Spoon. I cannot say enough about this place. Start with the owners - Matt and Regan are the nicest, most wonderful people in the world. They gave me a beautiful send-off when I (finally) graduated from college, complete with free-flowing wine and champagne. The ambiance? Plants, books, and local art everywhere. Comfortable chairs. Dark corners to tuck yourself into when you (like me) forgot to write a paper until the last minute and need to spend four hours being fueled by coffee and home fries while frantically banging away at the keys and silently cursing that class you shouldn't have taken. The coffee is likely laced with something as I just can't stop drinking it. I live in coffee country (the Pacific Northwest) and I still con my friends into sending me a custom blend of Viennese Roast and Blonde Mexican from the Spoon. The home fries and vegetables are cheap, tasty, and HUGELY portioned. Everything is delicious, everyone is welcome, and I yearn to transplant it from Bloomington to Portland. Go in, hug Matt and Regan, and say it's from Petra. read more

Runcible Spoon often gets pegged as a "brunch place," which is a shame, because it's so much more than that. Not that a Spoon brunch is anything to sneeze at. Seated alongside Village Deli, halfway between Wee Willie's and Cozy Table on the feel-good diner side, and Farm and Feast on the bourgeois "le cafe" side, the Spoon's all-day breakfast menu is balanced and tasty -- the veggie bennie is a personal favorite on the days I'm willing to indulge in some hollandaise. They're willing to go off menu, too. It sounds wild, but consider ordering a pancake with the daily veggies and cheese cooked into it. It's surprisingly delicious. But the Spoon is open until midnight every night, boasting a solid beer and wine list, a great tea selection, and very good coffee, including a Turkish zinger and soothing homm. I've spent entire days here before -- of course feeding the tip jar and my belly the entire time -- starting with breakfast, following with a Black Russian for lunch, and ending with a Vegan plate or a garbage plate (a cheap mixture of whatever fell off of plates onto the counter) for dinner, with beverages wedged in-between. This was my everything place when I was in college. It's comforting to know that it's hardly changed a beat. Sure, the interior is sporting a new look -- for the better -- but for years, Tuesdays have featured Grey Larsen and company's Irish music, and there was nothing to kick-start the nostalgia fumes than to be back in Bloomington, years later, and hear those jams again. read more

GREAT atmosphere. The eggs florentine was some of the best I have ever had. My first cup of coffee was a bit weak, but I asked them to perk it up and the next cup was perfect. Laura, the singing waitress from Wisconsin, was charming beyond compare. I really really enjoyed my breakfast here and wish we had had time to lazy around a bit, but we had to get back to Indy that morning. If I am ever back in Bloomington, I am definitely heading back to the Runcible Spoon. read more

Runcible Spoon Cafe & Restaurant - Cool bathroom - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I'll keep my review simple, to echo the well-executed simplicity of the restaurant itself. This place has charm and a made-from-scratch appeal with its surroundings and food. Bookshelves adorn the walls and its dark wood interior make you feel like you're at grandpa's house.. :-) Mmmm.. I chose the peanut soup and a grilled spinach and cheese sandwich.. Great comfort food dishes.. I followed that up by some loose leaf green tea, brought out in a teapot which made a couple mugs worth. We were able to not only enjoy our food there, but also just relax and read there, because the atmosphere lends itself to kicking back a bit. Always nice, especially during a stressful week (all you IUers). Savor a bit of home! read more

The place is a total dive. Make sure that whoever is going with you is OK with a disgusting floor, dust/crap everywhere, and tiny tables. The place smells pretty funky too. Service isn't great. But damn... the bacon is awesome and their hollandaise sauce is homemade. read more

Ranking this place as a Bloomington breakfast place (4 stars if in the city). But it's more affordable, better tasting, better service, and more of a selection than Feast. We walked in and were greeted by multiple people. Service was excellent the entire meal. We ordered the eggs Benedict and a build your own omelet with home fries, a black coffee and latte. My favorite part was the service and home fries. My partner loved it except for the home fries - he thought they had been sitting out for a while. He said the Benedict looked only ok but tasted amazing. Interesting place and great breakfast option for the area. read more

I'll echo the landmark status of the Spoon. the breakfast here is quite good, even if you go simply for the bacon and NOTHING else. However, they lose a star because: poor. service. I know. I know, it's college kids. But, damn. Come on now! It's not like the Spoon is cheap! Be nice to me! Also, eat the eggs benedict. read more

It is an old house turned into a restaurant, so it is a lovely atmosphere for sure. The service was quick(Saturday 11 am). The weekender was my recommendation for the brunch and try their salmon for the dinner! read more

I go to the Runcible Spoon once every couple months or so with friends and family. It's my first choice breakfast place to show out-of-town guests because I've never had a bad experience here with service or food. Positives: -The food is delicious. While I've only been here for breakfast and thus cannot speak to the other menus, their pancakes, corned beef hash, and various hot drinks are all great! The corned beef hash (a guilty pleasure of mine) is possibly my favorite breakfast meal in Bloomington - period! I've noticed other places (i.e. Village Deli, BTown Diner) have decent hashes, but tend to add too much onion for my taste. -Service is fairly attentive. The place is ALWAYS packed, so I can't fault them for seeming a little flustered at times. You can oftentimes see the servers behind the line making multiple coffee drinks in between taking orders - it seems every employee pitches in everywhere. Negatives: -The wait/waiting area. Waits here can be decently long (15-30 minutes in my experience), which is understandable as they are busy. However, there is no real waiting area set aside for people to wait, meaning you often have dozens of people waiting crammed on the front porch basically back-to-back with other guests. It can get uncomfortable/awkwardly and definitely isn't ideal. I'm not sure what they could do to fix this, however, so it's something I'm hesitant to fault them for. While it would be ideal to have a designated waiting area (to perhaps even just sit and enjoy a coffee while you wait) I understand space issues may be at hand. -They're TOO NICE! I can appreciate trying to be polite and not step on toes, however I've seen some hosts call for a party 5-6 times before moving on, with what seems like 30 seconds to a minute between calls. Maybe it's just me being a grouch, but in my opinion, three strikes and you're out. read more

A quaint brunch place that looks like a little library inside. I would recommend the cafe mocha, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and home fries with veggies and feta. There will definitely be a wait if you come on the weekends for brunch! read more

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Runcible Spoon Cafe is a must go spot in Bloomington. Super cute atmosphere and great service every time. Love this place for brunch.

I come here because the Runcible is one of the best off-the-beaten-path drinking spots in the downtown area. Stroll in on a warm summer or fall evening and sit down on the rustic, borderline ramshackle outdoor stone patio with bolted down tables and nice hanging plant baskets. Order a cold 12 oz. bottle of Fin du Monde for under 4 bucks, or a pitcher of Bell's Two Hearted Ale for around ten bucks. Sip away. You won't find better microbrew prices anywhere in Bloomington, or a patio as tranquil and mellow. Enjoy the buzz from a strong beer while feeling the evening rays on your skin filtering through trees, plants, and outdoor lamps. The food is just OK, but who cares? If only they served french fries! read more

This is a great local stop for brunch. I can never decide between savory and sweet for brunch, so my boyfriend and I would always get one of each and split it. Great omelettes and pancakes! This place is totally Bloomington. Great place to take parents, visiting friends, etc. Make sure to check out the bathroom :) read more

Was here yesterday for brunch. The place was packed due to the big football weekend, but I think they should have prepared for the rush a bit better. The server was ok, but I could tell she was super busy and had too many tables to be as good as she probably would have been otherwise. We sat outside, which was nice, but by the time the food got to us it wasn't warm anymore. It tasted pretty good, but definitely would have prefered the warm version. Still a good place and I'd go back again, but I think they need to prepare better for the crowd. They said they were on a limited menu due to the big IU game, but it didn't help their speed at all - or maybe it did... scary. read more

Great brunch food here. The pancakes and omelets are delicious. I really enjoy the environment as well. Make sure you don't leave before making a trip to the bathroom... read more

Solid, charming little small-town breakfast spot. Food is fresh and homemade and makes you feel like you're in your grandma's house (if your grandma was, like, an undiscovered Food Network star). Everything I've had to eat or drink was delicious and satisfying. I rate each establishment based on how it identifies itself, what it is trying to be. For what Runcible wants to be, it is very successful. I wish the service was better. I sat with an empty cup of coffee for awhile and that's just inexcusable at breakfast. I had to ask, when I was almost finished eating, for more coffee. The waitress never checked on me after I got my food. This is a training issue. The homey, welcoming values that are put out by the kitchen should be matched in the dining room. read more

Currently sitting at the restaurant and cannot wait to make my way out of here. After being seated we had no one approach us to even offer us water. After 15 mins, someone finally gave us water. We ordered our coffee and were given it with sugar and cream. They gave us nothing to stir our coffee. We asked for utensils and had to wait several minutes before we were given 1 spoon to share amongst 2 people. RIDICULOUS. The food did come out fast, however it was cold. Our server was completely rude, snatching out menus out of our hand after ordering saying she was overwhelmed, which is fine but u should treat your customers differently and not take aggression out on them. I would NOT come back here. read more

Classic breakfast spot in Bloomington. Like the house it's in, like the free wi-fi, and usually like the crowd. Service is erratic, and usually slow. Food is good, but not spectacular. Solid breakfast choice. Can't speak for other meals there. read more

This may come as a surprise to people, but I wasn't all that impressed. My friends were raving about the Runcible Spoon, but I found it kind of trite. You know, like they're the restaurant that knows they're on a college campus and knows that every college campus has a cute little breakfast place with slow hippie service and decaying books on the wall that everyone loves because the atmosphere is just so gosh darn great. Yeah, all I got was the decaying books and slow hippie service. I ordered the corned beef hash, which I'll admit I'm a bit of a snob about (read: I'm poor) and despite everyone telling me how great their corned beef hash is, I wasn't blown away. You see, the thing is, I can make mashed potatoes. I CAN'T, however, make hash browns. No matter what I do, I. Can't. Do it. So, when I go to a breakfast place, I want my crispy fucking hashbrowns. Hence, I wanted corned beef hash, not corned beef mash dammit. I'll give the place a second chance, but honestly, if I want to spend $7.95 for Lox I might as well just go to Farm and get slow hippie service there without the musty book smell. read more

I love this place. Lived in Bloomington for 5 years and every time I go back, this is the first place I want to go to. I really, really love this place. Please, please move to Chicago. I have been here a million times and it really just never got old. The hollandaise sauce is home made and fresh every time and I most certainly have an unnatural attraction to their french toast. It's obviously a great place for breakfast. Its also a great place to spend a quiet weekday afternoon trying to catch up on some work in between classes. Its a great place for lunch (try the Reuben!) It's a great place for dinner (especially if you like breakfast for dinner. And lets be honest, who does not like breakfast for dinner?!) It's a great place to stop by for a cup of tea (I recommend the jasmine flower) or coffee. All I know is that I kept going back here and never wanted to stop. There have been days where I have had all three meals at the spoon. So maybe it's the atmosphere, maybe its the schoolboy crush I had on the waitress with facial tattoos, but most of all, its the nova lox croissant bennie with a side of french toast with extra syrup and a blind dave's mocha that just keeps bringing me back. read more

Great Breakfast and Brunch place although a bit pricey. Good service along with food. Breakfast: Eggs Benedict: 5/5 Veggie Bennie: 5/5 Corned Beef Hash with Eggs: 4/5 Smoked Salmon Hash was decent 4/5 read more

The place is typical kitchey - a mixture of garage sale and old books and unmatched tables and chairs. The staff is pretty friendly and the breakfast menu is pretty run of the mill. Steve had the Weekend special - 2 eggs, 2 bacon, toast and a pancake at $8.25. OJ was out of a can at $1.75 for a generous pour. I had the Eggs Benedict after asking for a taste of the Hollendaise. Worth it! at $8.25. The muffins were NOT cooked as I requested - well done. And the eggs were fried, not poached. But the Hollendaise was very good. I requested some lemon to squeeze over it and finished every bite. Coffee - EXCELLENT ($1.60). The food should have been served hotter and the pancake was whole wheat (yuch) but Steve was happy. Hotter food would have gotten them 4 stars but I'd go back. read more

The food here is always good. My problem is the staff! They are so rude every. single. time. I feel unwelcome by their behavior. I wish I could give it a better review because the food is good! read more

Had a migraine hangover and the veggie eggs Benedict with a side of bacon and jasmine ginger tea hit the spot. Cozy but not cramped perfect for a small breakfast gathering or a solo trip. read more

The first thing that comes to mind is the service. It was downright rude. Our server appeared as if Runcible Spoon grabbed a disgruntled hipster off the street and told her to wait tables for the afternoon. She was short with us, rude, uninformative of the menu, got offended when we asked her questions about the food and took a little longer than expected to get the food out to us (which I doubt was entirely her fault, it was a busy day for the kitchen). I will give Runcible Spoon the benefit of the doubt and say that that particular waitress was having an off day, because I went there with my friend, who had eaten there previously with an all-around delightful experience. The one thing that salvaged Runcible Spoon from 1 star was their FOOD. It was delicious and well presented. I got an omelet with tea, and there isn't anything I can complain about them. read more

Delicious and very fast service! The food was amazing and plentiful! I had the smoked salmon breakfast and there was so much I wish I could have taken some back with me! Highly recommend! read more

A wonderful little place in Bloomington!! Awesome food and selection. Priced pretty reasonably. Sandwiches are great and the peanut soup is delicious!! I've heard brunch is yummy- haven't tried it yet though. ...also, there is a cute outside patio for springtime dining :-) read more

Great place for breakfast. The atmosphere is very welcoming and the service is good. Hope to come back again sometime.

Our service and food was as expected. Very good! We loved relaxing on the porch while visiting and eating our breakfast! There was another waitress serving a table of 9. She was able to carry out 9 plates of food and served them without missing a beat! Wow! So strong and happy. I wished I would have gotten a pic! read more

My husband and I went to Runcible Spoon on an opsie daisy. We had walked into another restaurant and got a bad vibe right away. Left the joint and thought it would be a good idea to ask a local where to go. They pointed us to RS, thank goodness. The food was perfect, service was perfect and personable. She was always on the coffee and water. We even got to talk with the chef on presenting a dinner menu. For those of you who are locals, you can see that was some time ago - - since they are serving dinner. If you are looking for some posh place RS is not the place. If you are looking for laid back atmosphere, good food at good prices. You've found your place. Yes the bathroom has character and for those of you that have bathroom "issues" when have you really been in a 'clean' public restroom. read more

We went here for a late breakfast. It's a cute place...basically a house made into a restaurant. We sat outside on their back deck. They also have outdoor seeing in front, so there is a fair amount of it. The inside dining areas seemed a tad cramped and dark. The atmosphere there might be fine for dinner but it struck me as being a little too gloomy for breakfast or lunch time. If you go, make sure to use the bathroom upstairs, by the back door... there are live fish in a bath tub! The food was good, and they had a decent breakfast assortment. I had the fruit, granola and yogurt bowl. There was a lot of fruit, a lot of variety in the fruit and it was all very fresh! An excellent choice if you're looking for something a little healthier. My dining companions seemed to enjoy their egg dishes (two "bennies" and a Morning Special). The regular coffee was fine, nothing to write home about but it got the job done. Except for one slightly mixed-up order (sunny side eggs that were supposed to be scrambled) service was fine. The correct dish was brought out though the person who brought the food sounded like he might have thought we were lying or mistaken about ordering scrambled. Prices seemed OK, perhaps a tad high for the quantity of food for some of the dishes. Free parking is available on the street or in a lot in the back. read more

Eggs Benedict, croissant with apple butter, iced latte, sunshine. You couldn't plan a better Saturday brunch. My girlfriend and I lingered and talked and soaked up the sun... I highly recommend the patio. The inside is basically like a professor's house. Books stacked everywhere, big upholstered armchairs, that kind of thing. Seems like a great place to kick back with a paper by yourself, or play chess with a friend. read more

The Runcible Spoon is one of my favorite restaurants to eat at in Bloomington. As a student at IU, I am constantly eating here and the only reason I am giving the Runcible Spoon four stars instead of five stars is because the service is not very great here. The issue with the service here is the food can take way toooooo long to come out. It can take much longer than it should take, and even when the restaurant is not super crowded, it can take a really long time for the food to come out. Even though the service can be bad, the food and drinks are amazing. I really love the pancakes here and the mimosas are also amazing. All of the food is fresh and delicious tasting here. The vibe here is very cozy. It is so warm and comfortable feeling. I feel like I am at home when I am here. I always say yes to the Runcible Spoon, and you should too! read more

Ok, I'm the 'negative nancy' for this one. I've gone several times for breakfast...just not doing it for me. Hash Brown Potatos were awful-and by awful I mean bland. Oil and grease doesn't just 'up' and give something taste! Atmosphere? It's quirky and there's much to look at...but it's so, so, so compacted and jammed that for me, it's uncomfortable. Especially if you get placed at one of the tables just inside the front door. Ugh. Multiple people were waiting to be seated just inches away from me as I ate my breakfast. Quirky-turned-awkward here. I'd give it a try if you've not gone before, but I have traipsed my last steps into Runcible Spoon. read more

Super cool place near campus! I've never been disappointed in the service or food, only that it's so packed on weekends. But that just means it's that good, rightt?! Right. read more

Jon did a great job, he was efficient and attentive. The mimosas were strong and the food was delicious.

Grade A. Fantastic service all around, unbelievable eggs Benedict with salmon. A must for breakfast in Bloomington.

Tasty, cozy little cafe and coffee shop built out of an old house on a tree-lined Bloomington street. The Runcible Spoon is evidently the kind of place college kids get their visiting parents to take them when in town... but it's certainly nothing to write home about. As Bloomington's lone local coffee roaster, the Runcible Spoon does do coffee right but brunch offerings are just so-so. Items are absolutely run-of-the-mill omelets, benedicts, toast, cereals, and fruit, with a smattering of daily specials. Breakfast potatoes are starchy and under-seasoned and omelets should probably be bursting with fillings for the steep price of +$10; they ain't. Coffee drinks are truly outstanding and the 'Spoon's saving grace. Their blonde mocha is definitely worth consuming all that sugar-- heck yeah!-- and this establishment gets extra points for ambiance. Come during spring and summer months to enjoy their attractive patio filled with lush, blossoming flowers, lovely vines, the shade of leafy trees, and the company of cute birds hunting for leftovers. Service, too, is solid, with knowledgeable staffers eager to make recommendations and accomodate requests and most special dietary needs. Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options for this funky lil' midwestern college town. read more

I think I will be trying other places on future trips. We arrived on a Friday and were promptly seated at 11:30 AM My son had a campus visit and had to be at the admissions office at 12:30 pm. We promptly placed our order, then proceeded to wait for the next 45 mins while people who came in after us got served before us. Now, keep in mind, they advertise that breakfasts are available all day. So when we asked where are food was, we were told that since we had ordered both breakfasts and lunch, that had caused a problem with the cook and we would have to wait. Somehow this was OUR fault? So, long story short, the service was slow. Adam missed the appointment. The Reuben sandwich was soggy and not hot. The food was just dreadful. read more

If you come on the weekend, order the weekend special and there's no way you'll leave hungry! I got the special which included 2 eggs, a HUGE pancake, slice of toast and two sausage patties. I mean seriously. Come with a massive appetite! The highlight of the meal was the huge pancake. I added fresh pears to it and it was simply delightful. Had so much flavor - exactly what a pancake should taste like! Also, points for the atmosphere. I love that it's in an old house. Feels very cozy and homey. Perfect for a Sunday brunch! I'd definitely go back to try the lunch. My only critique would be service. I was there around 3 pm which isn't their peak time, but it sure felt like it. Our waitress was very short and hurried. Maybe that's just the way this place is, but a little smile and an ounce of personal attention can go a long way. In terms of food though, A+ read more