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    The Cafe

    4.4 (574 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    The Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    THE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Cafe

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    Pancakes with blueberry compote, sausage 2 eggs
    Whiteplum F.

    We are from out of town and met friends from out of state in Ames for a wedding for early Sunday breakfast. The menu was "brunch"-- had some al a cart items but everything was about $17. They had a larger menu starting at 10 AM-- opened at 7:00. Good coffee, good food, (pepper bacon was'superb') great service, pleasant atmosphere. Good choice.

    Korean Steak & Egg
    HyeSu P.

    Visited on 11/07/25. The Cafe is an absolute gem! Every visit feels like a new culinary adventure thanks to their ever-changing menu. The chefs clearly love experimenting, offering a creative fusion of flavors that blend different cuisines beautifully. Whether it's a twist on a classic dish or something completely unexpected, everything is prepared with care and a true sense of innovation. Me and my significant other both ordered the Feta Cheese w/ Honey, Herbs, and Pistachios + Bread as our appetizer and for main dish we ordered Korean Steak & Egg that consist of soy/ginger marinated hanger steak with kimchi fried rice, and arugula with sweet chili aioli, and sunny side egg on top. The only thing I was a bit disappointed was that the kimchi didn't have the actual kick and true kimchi flavor but it was still good! Beyond the food, what really sets The Cafe apart is the warm and attentive customer service. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to make recommendations or accommodate special requests. You can tell they genuinely care about creating a great dining experience for every guest. If you're looking for a place that combines delicious, inventive food with top-notch hospitality, The Cafe is a must-visit. It's one of those rare spots where you'll leave satisfied, and already planning your next visit to see what's new on the menu!

    Fresh OJ, basted eggs, peppered bacon, brioche toast, and lots of potatoes.
    Mark O.

    I did a Google (sorry, not a Yelp) search for breakfast spots in Ames. The Cafe appeared to have the highest overall rating of local spots (I wasn't interested in a chain). I ordered a standard breakfast with eggs, bacon, toast, and potatoes. The bacon was peppered and delicious. I should have ordered more. The portion of potatoes was very generous and were cooked to perfection. The accents of caramelized onions and peppers made for a tasty side. The toast might have been the best toast I've had in my life. I'm not a big fan of eggs and should have just ordered everything a la carte. The eggs were fine for dipping my toast in. While I appreciate having a water bottle at hand, I feel it takes away from the server's ability to check-in without seeming intrusive. Harper did fine.

    Bakery display case
    Tricia D.

    Yum!! That salmon entree was uber tasty and prepared flawlessly, but my one gripe is that there was barely any black rice served in my to go order. Think 3 tablespoons. The accompanying cucumber and wasabi aioli went well with the dish, and the portion was on the lighter side, so good thing I planned accordingly... ... by also getting a slice of flourless chocolate cake! It was dense and rich and came with raspberry sauce on the side. It lasted me 3 sittings and was a great sweet treat for myself after a long day at training at nearby Iowa State. Plenty of drool worthy options were in the bakery case. This would be a great place for a lunch/brunch meet up or date night.

    Pina colada cheesecake

    I love the bakery items! My favorite is the pina colada cheesecake withe the citrus glaze. Oh my!! The restaurant is delicious as well. There is so much about this place that I love...I'm a local here and I visit this place at least twice a week.

    The cafe combo with delicious whole wheat pancakes, eggs done medium as ordered and absolutely delicious sausage.
    Susan K.

    Between our lovely, awesome waitress Sophie and the delicious food, this is a must visit for breakfast. Sophie was super friendly and helpful and attentive. Great service. Great breakfast and cozy place.

    Chiang Mai Curry Noodles from the Thai special menu for Restaurant Week

    We always try to eat here when we are in town to visit family. The menu is quite good but the specials 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.

    Menu and lamp inside
    Thomas P.

    One of the best restaurants in Ames. Very much enjoyed the food. They have an amazing burger. I also had their Thai noodles which was very well seasoned and had fresh and delicious vegetables. Their blackberry bread pudding was also top-notch. I enjoyed the ambience. It was clean and charming and rustic. The service was also friendly and efficient.

    French toast and bacon.  Bread was very fresh.

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    15 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Nothing is better!! I am a HUGE fan of the creme brule but any of the deserts are nothing but the BEST! I am in LOVE with this place!

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    13 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

    The food was ok, but we were given the bum's rush by the hostess! Thought it was very rude considering we had just spent $$$ on lunch there.

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Great food and great service all around. Hands down the best brunch restaurant in ames.

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    11 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    10 years ago

    one of the better places in Ames where choice is limited.

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    Photo of Hannah G.
    117
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    10 years ago

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    Page 15 of 15

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