Seward Cafe is certainly a special kind of bird. On one hand, they serve great breakfasts that vegetarians will love, using a lot of vegetarian ingredients and creating new vegetarian creations. On the other hand, their attempts at appearing "different" (hey co-ops are still capitalists folks) sometimes can be off-putting to the customer. I guess when we go out to eat, neither Boyfriend nor I dont want to work this hard to get our food. I had a difficult time figuring out what the hell to order since the menu was so artistically drawn (read: disorderly) and granola-sounding (what the F is included in a "red earth breakfast" and how much is it going to cost me?). After I figured it out and did some quick math in my head though, things began to make sense and we got the ball rolling by making an order. My side of vegetarian biscuits and gravy were delicious and I saw a dish with said gravy covering a ton of steamed broccoli and began cursing myself for actually going with the Red Earth. I'll probably get that next time. As for Red Earth, it was regular breakfast food covered in "Homemade Ranchero Sauce" which actually means Pace Picante sauce. I was pretty happy with what came underneath it, but that sauce was awful. If it actually WAS homemade, which I doubt, who in their right mind WANTS to make something that tastes like Pace? I thought it was the thing you buy when you are too lazy to make anything better. Besides, dont they know the difference between ranchero sauce and salsa? As far as I know, ranchero sauce is similar to what comes on top of enchiladas and doesn't have gooshy chunks of vegetables in it. I guess knowing the menu here would come in really handy. All around me I saw piles of good-looking food but the people eating it had dreadlocks and were kind of smelly, which leads me to believe they are regulars and have learned not to eat the Red Earth. Based mostly on the food I saw on nearby tables, I will go back. I will go back because I am vegetarian and there are probably lots of foods here I would enjoy. If you haven't figured out this restaurant is for vegetarians only, I'll say it flat out. MEAT EATERS WILL NOT LIKE THE SEWARD CAFE. Boyfriend and Meat-Eater Extraordinaire (correctly) pointed out that his ordinary breakfast was way too pricey for what he got. He suggested that the food would only be worth it if you got some fantastic vegetarian dish and not plain old regular breakfast. Also, he burned his hand when he was bringing our breakfast from the window, which didn't exactly endear him to the service structure here. Apparently burning hands on hot plates is a job for waiters who get paid to put up with it, and Seward Cafe doesn't believe in service staff. They believe in yelling out your name and making you pick up your own food. When it comes to noticeable burn marks, I have to agree. If we sue, does that mean I'll never get to eat the broccoli and gravy? read more

Well i took 3 bites and that was enough. Had breakfast the hashbrowns tasted like they were 3 days old. I did eat the toast. The place is about 90 degrees inside and the guy in the kitchen is so loud you can hear his whole conversation. Wont ever be back yuck. read more

I took my very midwestern parents here once and my dad suggested that he "needed a few more tattoos and piercings to fit in here". That is to say, this place is so cool. They are one of the few places in the Twin Cities that serves a huge variety of vegan food, and I always feel comfortable among the wide variety of folks who come to feel a part of a community. It's the kind of place you go to talk about racial justice, catch great happy hour deals, and figure out how to vote the president out of office. read more

The more I go to Seward, the more I like it. It's more consistent at producing tasty meals than its main competitor, Hard Times Cafe; the food's quality doesn't seem to be determined by the whim of whoever is the line cook at any given moment. It's also slightly friendlier than HTC. However, it is not 100% vegetarian, unlike HTC. I'm always impressed by their greasy but tasty hash browns, as well as the vegan french toast. I finally got to try their lunch food and was impressed with their marinated tempeh gyro which was filling, fresh and well-prepared. Next time I'll try their tofu sandwiches. I wish they offered these dishes on the weekends; unfortunately, they close too early (3 p.m.) on weekdays for me to get a chance to try their lunch foods more often. Their brunch food has some high points (french toast and hash browns), but treads mediocrity on others (tofu mock muffin is dry and small, biscuits and gravy is bland). I'm not as impressed with their baked goods, though they do offer a good number of vegan and gluten-free cookies and muffins. HTC has mediocre baked goods as well. Also, Seward's bottomless cup of tea sounds great in concept, but is poorly executed, as the tea is low-grade and tends to over-brew on the hot plate. Prices are good, though not as cheap as they used to be (most dishes range $5-8), and portion sizes are good, but not as large as at Triple Rock Social Club, another competitor. The wait for the food is generally long (15-20 minutes). In summary, Seward offers a few good dishes and has great lunch items which are unfortunately not available on weekends. Their weekday hours are problematic and I wish they'd stay open longer. I also wish they were 100% vegetarian; what's the point of struggling to serve one or two local-meat dishes, when you can go all-veg for a mostly-veg crowd anyway? Finally, my biggest gripe: they're cash and check only. Since I never carry around my checkbook I always have to remember to have a wad of cash with me, which is annoying in this electronic day and age. read more

Plenty of seating. Credit cards accepted about 3.50 minimum. You order by writing on a slip that you hand to cashier when paying. They will call your name when the order is ready. Boardgames in the back if you come with a small party. Parking lot in the back, and an outdoor patio with benches. Wins: -Bottomless coffee for less than $2. -Juniper bar -Unicorn cupcake -Grilled Cheese - that herb bread is to die for -Nachos -Weekend night live music Cons: -Service is variable--My friend ordered her grilled cheese 30 minutes before me. We got our orders exactly the same time. They apparently lost her order, as our friend who ordered between us got hers way earlier than both our sandwiches. -Coming towards end of the day means your booth might be dirty given they did not clean any tables the entire time we were there. read more

I've been coming here since high school. It was the first place I ever went to that had a vegan section on the menu. At the time I was just finding out about veganism and didn't understand what the deal was, but shortly thereafter took it up and found myself returning to the Seward time and again with other vegans and nonvegans alike to sate our hunger for delicious hippie home-cooking. In my 20s I found myself addicted to the fluffy vegan pancakes, though everything else I tried was also good. Now I am older and have food intolerances and still I come here, because there are still a lot of options. There are still vegan fluffy pancakes, though they have gluten. There is a vegan, gluten-free pancake, though it has soy in it. If you want to avoid soy and wheat like I do, the super earth breakfasts are lovely and very customizable. There are always two kinds of bottomless refill tea available, one herbal and one caffeinated. There are also a bunch of loose-leaf teas in big jars on the wall, and for these I recommend sticking to the greens and oolongs as the black teas aren't fantastic. The almond oolong is particularly nice. There is also coffee, some very nice juice, sodas, and other non-coffee hot beverages which can be made with various kinds of milk. I still have not been here for dinner. I will update this review once I have. A note about the ordering: this is cafe style, hence the name, so you go in, read a menu, and write your order on a piece of paper. Be sure to put down any substitutions or allergies, whether you want dairy or soy butter, and any other specifications. When your food is ready, someone from the kitchen will call your name over the loudspeaker to come and get it, so if you have a short name or a name that's easily confused you can write something a little longer - "Future President Sarah Jones" or "Marceline the Vampire Queen" or "I am Spartacus" are good, but don't be mean to the kitchen staff and put "raxacoricofallapatorius" or other things that are hard to pronounce. Recommendations: there is a really good selection of fruit if you want a side of fruit or fruit in your pancakes. read more

I love this place! They have great food which is usually local and organic. They have eggs and toast for 3 dollars!!! I love eggs and toast! It's a very homey atmosphere, and perfect for a morning meeting with a friend. They also have really great teas, smoothies and specialty drinks. The employees are super nice, and cute as hell! I have a secret crush on the barista....wait do you call a male coffee maker a barista or maybe barister? I don't know, either way, don't tell him! They have signs all over the place saying no cell phones, which I love. They compost almost everything! which is amazing. Go there everyday, and tell the barista hi for me....oh wait don't! read more

This is vegetarian and vegan soul food at its best. I've been coming here for years, and it was high time for a review. You seat and serve yourself, so come in expecting to do a little bit of the leg work. Order at the counter, grab a paper, and a pot of coffee, weave your way through the maze of pew-like benches and chairs to find yourself a seat, and you're in business. If it's nice out, grab a spot on the patio. It feels like grandma's back yard, but there's some nice shade from all the big old trees, and it feels like you're still at home, but you didn't have to make your own breakfast. My favorite menu item has been the super red earth- I can't stop ordering it. It's thick-cut potato hashbrowns and scrambled eggs topped with gooey white cheddar cheese and what's called ranchero sauce, but is really kind of just chunky tomato sauce. It's a big pile of delicious. The biscuits and gravy are a must-try as well, but skip the bagel sandwich- the bagel was too hard to bite through, and I ended up using a knife and fork in the end. This seems like a weird thing to rave about, but the fruit cup is awesome! Instead of your standard melon/grape/pineapple combo, you'll get kiwi, red and green apple, bananas, and grapes. Well worth the extra dough. In the end, what gets me coming back to Seward Cafe is the people watching. All manner of hippie folk can be seen wandering in and out during breakfast, and people stay as long as they please. Come as you are and they will serve you here. Awesome. Another shout-out must go to the awesome chalk boarded bathrooms (unisex, how refreshing) and their lavender-scented Dr. Bronner's soap. I just feel really at home here, that's what you should take away from this. Try it out! You might feel the same way. read more

Darn good food but service lacks. Staff would do well to bathe on occasion. Might even help if they washed dishes from time to time. All this said the food makes it worth the while. read more

Went for the first time yesterday, for Sunday Brunch with Kristi. The premise is great, a bunch of people own/run it and they all make decisions for the place, so you feel good supporting them -- you have to write your order on paper and take it to the register to pay and place your order. You pick up your own food from the window. You bus your own dishes before leaving. It's all organic and stuff, which means $$$ We had: Whole order of Mexicali eggs Omelet Half order of cheesy/veggie/hashbrowns Orange Juice Coffee Drink Total was $28 That said, portions are huge. Kristi barely knocked out half of the Mexicali eggs. I shouldn't have ordered the hash browns. They were good but it was too much food. If they mention it in the menu I totally missed it, but their omelets are 4-eggs so the sucker was big. Don't let your eyes get the most of you here. Portions are big and in my mind, so are the prices. It was fresh tasting, but my omelet honestly tasted like biting directly into a mushroom and green bell pepper only. That much of the stuff, and that fresh tasting. I won't be back. Nothing horrible, just in my mind, no matter how cool the premise is, if I'm paying over $25 for breakfast I kinda don't want to have to bus my own dishes. read more

Food wasn't bad at all. Got breakfast, tasty omelet and hashbrowns. My gripes come for the environment. I totally understand the asthetic here, community operated, etc. Shoestring budget. I have no qualms with not having a waitress/waiter, that's cool, don't mind that at all. My issue is simple things, like the menu holders practically falling apart - why even use them? One bottle of ketchup for the whole restaurant? Really? That's like my life blood, and the same for a lot of other people. But most significantly, there was apparently no thought put into the locomotive aspect of people when this place was set up. When we left, we had to wait a few minutes for the line that was going out the front door to die down so we could just leave. The counter space has absolutely zero queuing area, so people queue up throughout the space and eventually, when necessity forces it, out the front door. It's absurd. Again though. Food was tasty. I enjoyed it. read more

I have been here a few times and always like it just fine but am never wowed. I find the staff unfriendly and the food pretty average. The atmosphere is cool, though, and I do think it has a good vibe. This most recent time, my mother, young son, and I went for breakfast. The woman at the counter was not warm or nice. But she got the job done. I ordered the Huevos Rancheros Deluxe, my mom had the Hashbrowns Supreme, and my son had hashbrowns and bacon. Everything was fine. The Huevos were kind of different. Lots of tomatoes and beans proportionate to everything else. Not my favorite but certainly wasn't horrible. Everything else was also fine. If I were managing the place, I would put a bit more pizazz in the food and coach the staff on making people feel welcome. Do that and I could st least give 4 stars. read more

I just wish it was open longer. Coffees guuuuuuud. Haven't had the food ever. Seen some cool music here. It's a radical spot.

I was really excited when I heard that Seward was going to offer a dinner menu. I generally enjoy their breakfast. I've gone there a couple of times for dinner and left pretty underwhelmed. The menu is pretty basic, though I do appreciate the veggie options. They just aren't very inventive or different from other places around town and the flavors are lacking. I get that most people there are volunteers or working there to be a part of a community space.That's cool. But, what comes with that is sometimes a compromise in service quality. Both times I've waited between 35-45 minutes for my food. The last time it wasn't even busy. And when we got the food, one of the entrees was just lukewarm. And my salad didn't have any salad dressing despite me writing down what I wanted on the ticket. So I probably won't be back for dinner. The food isn't quite worth the wait and there is nothing on the menu that beckons me back. read more

Sweet Lord this place is hilarious. Dingy, crusty punk vegan diner and proud of it. Very affordable, with food that can be either very healthy or very unhealthy- your call. I had a side salad and some pancakes that were pretty solid, and you can't go wrong with bottomless diner coffee. I liked this place, found it pretty charming. Also, take a look at the hilariously insane personal ads on the community board by the restrooms. I saw some of the greatest/saddest cries for love I've ever seen in my life. read more

Don't come here if you want quick service--or any service at all. You order at the counter and they call your name when your food is FINALLY ready so you can pick it up at the kitchen window yourself. No wait staff and no kitchen management. Plus, since you pay when you order, you tip before you get your food. I made the mistake of actually tipping. I would give it no stars if that was possible. read more

Seward Cafe - Weird art - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I'm not going to judge the place's cleanness. But believe me: the pancakes and omelettes are the best.

When my fiance chose a vegan lifestyle, I didn't wring my hands about brunch days gone by because I knew Seward Cafe would become our new standby. I cannot get enough of the mariachi with marinated tofu, grilled peppers, onions and mushrooms in a whole wheat tortilla with rancheros sauce and white cheddar (I'm not vegan.) The baked goods always are tasty (especially the fudge oat bar!) I'm not a hipster, but I understand some of the comments by people not used to Seward cafe whose first experience is during their rush hours. This is a place where you bus your own table, write your order down, pay cash and pick up your food at the window. I find Seward Cafe to be pretty down home and love the unlimited tea of the day. read more

I have to admit, I reflexively associate "cool, simple, relaxed co-op" with "muffins made of sand that are vegan but make you want to eat puppies." When it comes to the Seward Cafe, I was very wrong -- this place has all the pluses of "cool, simple, relaxed co-op" AND great food. I got the bagel sandwich, which was delicious and made with really fresh ingredients, and a bunch of their dark roast coffee, which is a good deal and very tasty. Everyone was friendly, the food was delicious and the whole place just seemed really welcoming. (Tip for people potentially going on a lunch break: As others have noted, it did take a little while to get our food, but everything else was so good I didn't want to take off a star.) read more

Just follow the pink hair...:) Loved this place! It has a set-up like Bad Waitress (except I think they were doing it first!) where you write down what you want and give it to the person taking orders. They only take cash or check-no cards...but the patio...love the patio. It is set up with picnic benches next to a little garden and they call your name out the window when your order is up. Had some yummy cinnamon wheat French Toast and scrambled eggs and a little pot of iced coffee. My friend Kari loved the iced Chai. There's something about this place that makes me feel good. Happy to be alive. Brunch does that. read more

I am in love with this place. It's a coop. It's a queer haven. The food is delicious. The people are warm, generous, whole.

I have been going here since a very young age and love it! One of my fav local hang out spots. Parking can be tricky but there is a fairly sized lot as well as street parking, the street is narrow and if you want to park close be prepared to parallel park! Lots of bike parking!! With the self ordering that they have its nice to take your time and figure out what you want. On weekends especially seating can be a little tricky. In the summer the outside area is a great place to sit and hang out. The food is good but a little pricey, well worth it! They also have take out but they do not have nachos available for take out which is awful. I love their nachos so this is a major downside for me. The bathrooms are great! Solid toilet and clean! 10/10 would use again. read more

I heard bottomless tea was available at the Seward Cafe and that was enough to bring me there one lazy morning. I drank several cups of tea and most likely overstayed my welcome, but nobody made a fuss about it. I did get dizzy and hungry from all of the tea, and the food was sufficient to balance me out. I ate hashed something, it was delicious. The prices here are low, which gives me a warm feeling. The walls are yellow and there are plants indoors, which is always a good thing to see. read more

Wish they served more of my kind of food because I love the outdoor patio and on site gardens here. However, since I'm not a vegetarian, and am more conventional in the way I like to eat them, have not ate the food here in years. I only come here for coffee on occasion, and it is very good. I use to come over here alot more when the Seward Coop was located next door. When that was here this was one of the coolest areas in Minneapolis. Even so, the charming, rustic looking Seward Cafe patio with it's antique brick and cobblestone is one of the neatest places to dine outdoors. Also practically in the cafe's back yard is the gorgeous multi block, car free Milwaukee Avenue, one of the nicest walks in the city. read more

I just started working at Augsburg, and this is my favorite lunch spot near work. The biscuits and gravy are the best ever, I've gotten the deluxe twice now and had no idea it was possible to eat B&G without feeling guilty - look Mom, I'm eating broccoli! The mexicali is great (their salsa is better than Hard Knock, which tastes like canned tomatoes), and I've also enjoyed the granola and rice milk as a quick breakfast as well. The staff is pretty friendly overall, it was kind of weird when one bearded guy was real friendly to the person in front of me and then wouldn't even make eye contact with me because I was dressed in business casual garb, but whatever, I'm not there to make friends ha. read more

I almost always have visited the Seward for breakfast on the weekends. The food is really excellent and really reasonably priced. Don't forget the cash - they don't take plastic! If you forget, the gas station across the street has a US Bank ATM. If you are scared of hippies or folks who are down with peace, love, and rock n roll - you might feel a bit of an outsider. Financial Investors looking to impress a money-hungry date would surely feel strange in a place like the Seward. I highly recommend the 'earth' platters - I usually go with the bean earth with black beans and cheese. Really tasty. Excellent place for those who are vegan or vegetarian. read more

Couldn't help but love this place. It is, shall we say, "organic," and I don't mean the food. I got the tempeh gyro which is served with a side of cucumber tahini and it was absolutely incredible. It seemed to take an unusually long time for the food to come out. I used that opportunity to soak in the warm, earthy atmosphere. Even bought one of their t-shirts which is emblazoned with a hot pink, grungy, rock 'n roll Seward Cafe logo, wings and all. Incidentally, both of the people I was with ordered the white bean hummus sandwich. Not nearly as exciting as that gyro. read more

Seward Cafe - Tempeh Gyro - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I went to Augsburg across the bridge and lived in the Seward neighborhood for many years after that. Seward Cafe is like my second home. It's the place I always wind up if I have nowhere else to go. I always feel at peace when I'm there. I love you, Seward. Thanks for all the banana pancakes. read more

There's nowhere like the Seward Cafe. It's a very relaxing place to get breakfast on the weekend or do homework in the evening. It gets busy during peak times but during off-hours it's very quiet. It's employee-owned and has a nonconventional punkish vibe. Their coffees and teas have always been well prepared during my visits. They've even got beer and cider. You can order a grilled cheese with all sorts of ingredients. They're getting four stars instead of five because on occasion it'll take forever to get your food. The length of your wait time is pretty random regardless of how crowded the place is. I've been in a state of "this is getting ridiculous" a couple times but the food is fantastic enough I can't knock them too much. read more

Out of bacon and sausage on a Sunday morning at 9:00am. Food that should be cold hinted at cool and food that should be hot hinted at warmish topped off with serving and bussing yourself and not cheap. Hash browns were bad and the biscuits and gravy need to be renamed as it is not at all what you're thinking it will be. Not a fan. read more

In need of a body and soul nourishing breakfast? This is the place! Delicious food made with love, easy on the wallet, and a comfortable community atmosphere that feels like home. Number one cafe in Minneapolis! Hands down. read more

Two words: the best. Seward cafe has the best patio in the twin cities, as well as a large garden and lovely outdoor space besides the patio. So much more charm than all these hip expensive brunch places popping up everywhere. I love the savory buckwheat pancake, breakfast tacos, and v biscuits and gravy. Not to mention high quality bottomless coffee! Workers are owners here, which is also super tight. Also, it can be hit or miss, but the free box is full of gems! Get a sweet new pair of pants, a rare literary journal, or mandolin for free. What a neat concept! I think one time I saw Mike Lewis eating here, too. :) read more

I agree with the previous reviewer. As a clean cut individual who merely sports the occasional mustache, I don't fall under the "crusty" category. My eggs took nearly an hour to be made, which is strange because I make the same meal in under 8 minutes. I noticed preferential treatment to people who looked a certain way. If this isn't the case, i'd like to be proven wrong. Albeit, the organic premise is nice, although making the eggs taste more like paste than anything else. read more

Today was the second time I've been to the Seward Community Cafe and I loved it. again. Like other places in Minneapolis, you write your order down and place it at the cash register. I opted for a LOT of food for brunch, (biscuits and gravy, vegan sausage and vegan french toast) 'cause that's my brunch style and my BF got the green earth plate (vegan style. duh.). i also got a soy cappuccino, cause that is my favorite coffee indulgence (i love FOAM) and BF got coffee. The food was delicious and filling and felt fantastic on this cold winter morning! I really enjoy the feeling of this space, it's cozy and warm and relaxed and everyone seems to belong and love the place, too. So, I'm essentially smiling the whole time I'm there. I love that there are lots of vegan choices and a lot of ways to personalize your meal (with sides and options and such). Everyone working was super friendly, open and helpful and because I think it's a collective where the people working may be volunteers, that's pretty great that they are so awesome! xoxo! read more

If I had written a review after my first experience here, it would have got 4 stars. After my second experience, it's down to two. Pros: There's a great menu with plenty of healthy/vegan options. The prices are reasonable. There's great outdoor seating; it's cozy and feels secluded. They play good music. Cons: The customer service. During my last visit, I was overcharged. When I brought this to the cashier's attention, she became really confused. She called over a man to help her figure it out. As they searched through receipts, and the woman kept making excuses as to how the overcharge occurred, a long line formed behind me. By the end of it, I was just as confused as they were. (Perhaps it's time to update to a better system.) They both seem inconvenienced by the ordeal and no one even apologized to me. read more

Healthy, cheap, and organic! You get big portions for a small price and it's all super healthy! I love the all you can drink tea for $3 and have never been dissatisfied. This is one of my favorite cafes of all time. The have a very inviting atmosphere and fantastic art. It is the best hippy restaurant. Minneapolis has to offer! read more

I was looking for a brunch spot that was local and unique and this place did not disappoint. One checks out the menu, writes their order, turns it in then pays. Several different options for vegans and vegetarians. I got the vegan scramble with veggies and vegan cheese, first of the all the portion was huge and the food was great as well. The only downside was the lost my ticket so it took time to get my order, other than that I had a good experience. read more

Pleasant service, great food, a few solid vegan options (including the black bean quinoa burger if you ask- they subbed tahini tofu sauce in place of the aoli)- and Black Lives Matter signs for sale, benefiting the local organization. Oh yes, and what brought us here via Yelp: outdoor seating on a not-too-busy road. read more

Perfect proportion of food, left feeling full but not stuffed. I had the hashbrown and egg scramble with onions and cheese. I opted for a biscuit instead of toast and I don't regret that decision one bit, it was delicious. My whole breakfast was only $5.25, can't complain about that! Great place to enjoy organic, vegan, and even gluten free menu options. There's a lot of indoor seating with nice light pouring in from all the windows. There are tables and chairs available in their outdoor patio/garden area as well. There's a parking lot out back and there's plenty of street parking available if the lot is full. if you're 2-wheel commuter there's a big bike rack on the side of the building. Be sure to come equipped with cash, Seward doesn't take credit cards... The hippy vibe perhaps can be noticed the most in the bathrooms. They're equipped with chalkboard walls, a distinct musky patchouli/lavender aroma, and floor to ceiling scribbled statements and quotes from those happily obliged to exercise their 1st amendment rights. There seemed to be quite a bit of tattooed and dreadlocked regulars hobnobbing with each other and the staff. Everyone, regulars and staff included, seemed pleasant and just happy to be there. I'm looking forward to returning and trying their home-brewed chai and pancakes. read more

Everything I want in one place. Healthy fresh food choices at a reasonable price. Good coffee. Lots of seating choices to satisfy my mood for quiet, busy, comfy, or spacious surroundings. Prompt friendly service. They have indoor seating for those days when you need it. Outdoor seating when you wanna be under the trees. Love the range of foods offered including vegan, vegetarian. read more