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    Saints Avenue Cafe

    3.3 (44 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Saints Avenue Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    SAINTS AVENUE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Saints Avenue Cafe

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    John B.

    First time here. Even at 2:00 p.m. the food was fresh and warm. Everything tasted great, love their broasted chicken. They have multiple food stations to choose from...I mean, whole tables of salads, desserts, american food, taco bar, etc. The employees, cooks, waitresses were awesome. The cafe is huge, but it is also a cozy environment.

    We never saw our server. I did here a girl w red hair tell tran several times table 5 was theirs. Never came to the table..disappointed

    Food was good but no fish options on buffet except crab salad. They did have tarter sauce, cocktail sauce and lemon so I really looked for the fish option.

    Very good chicken noodle soup.  Nice pieces of chicken with carrots and celery.  Yumm!
    Jim M.

    Saints Avenue Cafe was a very pleasant surprise. A much better experience than your typical chain buffet. Restaurant was clean and had a pleasant atmosphere. Staff was friendly and helpful. Food is very good. Vegetables on the salad bar were fresh. Some of the items looked like they were your standard pre-made items. There are two buffet tables of main dishes. A wide variety. We tried chicken noodle soup, meat loaf, beef and noodles, green beans with bacon were all homemade. Fried chicken was very good. Mashed potatoes were made from real potatoes! There were many items we didn't have room to try this trip. Tacos, spaghetti, mac and cheese, and plenty more that I can't remember. Children and adults should all be able to find something that they enjoy. No buffet is going to be "the best meal" ever. What the Saints Avenue Cafe provides is very good midwest comfort food with great taste. I recommend giving them a try. We will definitely return.

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    10 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Absolutely love the food and the service. Reasonable price and great environment. Delightful variety of food for all ages.

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Saints Avenue Cafe

    Review Highlights - Saints Avenue Cafe

    It still feels like a Golden Corral inside, but the kids were quick to spot that the chocolate fountain was missing.

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Roosters Bar & Grill

    Roosters Bar & Grill

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    Terrible food, do not recommend Ordered two burgers- they…read morewere ok. One had a plastic flavor French dip had a strong plastic flavor and was a chopped steak with little flavor Pick three app tasted like old grease Boneless wings were two flavors mixed together. Over cooked Overall, $100 in food and most went into the trash.

    When I'm in Ames visiting my 95 year-old Dad, he loves road trips and dining out with his kids and…read moregrandkids. Boone is only 18 miles away, which isn't much of a drive, but there are some interesting places to eat here. One challenge though, is finding a place where Dad hasn't previously visited. So on my Brother's recommendation, we tried Roosters last week. It's just off Boone's main street and looks more like a corner bar from the outside. It's actually more like a sports bar that happens to serve breakfast in the morning. However, I don't think that their bar and breakfast hours run together. Or at least I didn't notice any local fixtures at the bar. As an aside, I know a friend that did that, which turned out to be beer and donuts at 5 AM. CONS - Relatively slow table service. +/- Folger's Plus type of coffee PROS - Easy street parking, which is basically true anywhere in Boone. - Nice Community vibe with a local "Men's Club" meeting at the next table. - Good Midwest comfort food in large portions. - A relatively inexpensive meal. -

    Photos
    Dining Room and Bar
    Dining Room and Bar
    Bacon and Cheese Omelet with Tasty Hash Browns
    Bacon and Cheese Omelet with Tasty Hash Browns
    Exterior View with Dad in Picture

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    Whistle Stop Cafe

    Whistle Stop Cafe

    4.3
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    What a special spot. Breakfast was amazing . Service by Sherri was outstanding. She clearly loves…read morewhat she is doing. I was at home here. Now the food. I had the breakfast sandwich which did not disappoint.. melted cheese, eggs and bacon on sourdough bun. Yummmmm. Husband had egg breakfast with toast and sausage and all was hot and delicious.

    Sometimes the best breakfast spots aren't in the middle of downtown--they're tucked away waiting to…read morebe discovered. The Whistle Stop Café on the north side of Boone is one of those places. There's plenty of parking, and from the moment I walked in, I felt genuinely welcome. My waitress, who I suspect may have been the owner, greeted me with a smile, took my coffee order right away, and made sure I never needed to ask for a refill. Bonus points for serving it in a pretty cool coffee mug that added a little personality to the experience. The service was fast without feeling rushed, and the food was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I was hoping for. More than anything, though, it was the hospitality that stood out. It's the kind of place where you're treated like a regular, even if it's your first visit. If you're looking for a welcoming local café with great food, friendly people, and a memorable small-town dining experience, the Whistle Stop Café is well worth making a stop.

    Photos
    Exterior of the Whistle Stop Café #EasyToFind
    Exterior of the Whistle Stop Café #EasyToFind
    My sandwich- could not finish but I tried. lol
    My sandwich- could not finish but I tried. lol
    The whistle stop Café coffee mug. #Cool

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    The whistle stop Café coffee mug. #Cool
    Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew

    Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew

    4.3
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    I stole some of my colleagues food it was so delectable…read more Service with a smiley face and the day was perfect for the patio dining. Great experience all around!!

    About an hour and a half drive but well worth the trip!…read moreSaturday early afternoon and it was packed...about a half hour wait for seating was the only downside. Service was outstanding and the staff seemed to be handling multiple aspects of the jobs and helping each other out...no one just did one thing and I think that really sped up the service. Katie was our primary server and was outstanding! We ordered up a two and a three meat deal and had Campground Beans, Creamy Coleslaw, Cheesy Potatoes,, and Mac & Cheese as sides as well as a slice of Texas Toast and Cornbread as sides....oh, and Golden Corn Nuggets as an appetizer. The Corn Nuggets were good and sweet and served up with honey and a ranch sauce for dipping. The meat choices were 3) Ribs, Pork Loin, and Turkey Breast....and 2) Pork Loin and Turkey Breast. The smoke on everything was amazing and just the right amount for excellent flavors..the ribs were very meaty. Some places ribs leave you wanting but not at Watcha Smoking! The Pork Loin and the Turkey Breast were both very good as well...still tender and not dried out. I liked the Neck of the Woods sauce the best (mild tomato based) as well as the Carolina Gold sauce...it had nice kick to it. The sides were all good but the only issue was the Cheesy Potatoes were a bit dry.....I'm thinking that it must've been towards the end of the batch and had been sitting around for a bit. Cornbread was excellent, Texas Toast tops, Coleslaw was a good shredded, wet slaw, the Mac and Cheese very good, and the Campground Beans were the preferred side as they had some good chunks of smoked meats mixed in. Fantastic place, great for small groups and large groups as well...great food and great service...Definitely worth the trip!

    Photos
    Customer ID map!
    Customer ID map!
    Whatcha Smokin' BBQ & Brew
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    Provisions Lot F

    Provisions Lot F

    4.5
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    Awesome place that really surprised. Clearly a farm to table concept with a varied but overwhelming…read moremenu. Came in on a weeknight with coworkers and received good service and fantastic food. Nice drink menu (I enjoyed their take on the old fashioned) with cocktails and a nice craft beer selection. Everyone loved their food, from the barley soup to the ravioli, burger, Brussels salad, and the salmon I got. Hidden gem perhaps was their incredible dessert selection. The cherry tart was a pleasant surprise and the salted caramel chocolate cake will def fix a choc craving. Would gladly come back.

    Provisions Lot F in Ames…read more If you like fresh baked breads and bomb desserts, along with amazing food, head to Provisions if you're in the area. Pork Belly app: thick cut pork belly in lettuce cups, topped with sweet thai glaze, pickled carrots, onions, celery, mint, thai basil, cilantro, scallions and crushed peanuts. A tad sweet for me but overall this was a great app. Slice of Sourdough: delish. Chicken Japchae: since my mom has celiac disease, we were very excited to see this on their menu - dining out with her can be a challenge. Especially at a place specializing in breads! The only unfortunate part about this dish is (I think) they forgot they already salted the chicken and salted it again...and then again. I'm not one to say something is too salty, I love my sodium but this was mouth-puckering salty. Inedible, actually, but the noodle dish itself was SO GOOD that she set the chicken aside and ate the entree. NY Strip Steak: perfectly med-rare, served with a garlic-rosemary potato pavé (like a potato casserole of sorts), roasted broccolini and a house steak sauce that was similar to a demi glaze. Not a bite left - no leftovers with this one. I ate the whole dang thing. Myself. And I have zero regrets. Crème Brûlée: I also couldn't leave without ordering a crème brûlée because there are some really bad ones out there. This did not disappoint. I also took home a Dubai Chocolate tort, Raspberry Crumble and a Flourless Chocolate cake. ZERO regrets but if you love Dubai chocolate then you know there are some discusting renditions of this in the market. However, the Dubai chocolate tort at Provisions Lot F is . I can't even describe how delicious this was and is worth the drive to Ames just for this dessert. If you're north of DSM for a game or whatever, I highly recommend Provisions! I'm already scheming a way to get back there...soon!

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    Provisions Lot F
    Caesar Salad
    Caesar Salad
    Flourless chocolate torte

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    The Cafe

    The Cafe

    4.4
    (571 reviews)
    12.1 mi
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    We always try to eat here when we are in town to visit family. The menu is quite good but the…read morespecials are usually even better. We had the Baja Shrimp Taco special last Wed and restaurant week started so we had the entire Thai tasting menu on Friday. It was fabulous - please check it out. It is Midwest hot, not Thai hot. Staff is always great. We almost always end with carrot cake - I had ZoeBakes carrot cake in the Twin Cities and it was not anywhere close to as tasty as The Cafe's version. I would agree with some other posts that the lighting in some areas makes it very hard to read the menus or see your food. Updated lighting would be helpful. We try to come early and get a spot near the windows so that we can see better.

    Disappointed... I came here for restaurant week to try their Thai Menu. It looked good online and…read morethought I'd give them a try. The Cafe has been on my list for a while now. Disappointed to say the least, I came in the back door not realized there was a correct door and was rudely cut off by other patrons at the front desk. I had to wait several minutes to be waited on and the place had plenty of spots. Maybe because I was a party of 1... they didn't seem to care. After I shared what drink I wanted, I learned they were out... fine no problem. I asked about the Thai specials, the waitress was clueless. I had to ask for the restaurant week menu and ask about the specials. She said they looked good but couldn't describe them and hasn't tasted them. I got the salad on special, but get this... they were out of the main restaurant week special... such a let down. The ambiance was mixed, one corner was a cute date night the other corner was crying children. All dimly lit and outdated decor. The whole experience was off, I ended up leaving after my one drink and salad. I hope to give this place a second chance sometime but hope they aren't out of dishes and I can get a trained server. Maybe another night for sure!

    Photos
    Menu and lamp inside
    Menu and lamp inside
    Cobb salad
    Cobb salad
    Vegan Grain Bowl Salmon add

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    Vegan Grain Bowl Salmon add

    Saints Avenue Cafe - tradamerican - Updated August 2026

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