I had the misfortune of experiencing the worst breakfast in years at this establishment. I ordered a ham and Swiss omelette, specifically requesting that my eggs not be brown. To my dismay, they arrived completely overcooked and unappetizingly brown. To add insult to injury, my toast was burnt to a crisp, nearly charred to a shadow of what it should have been. When I pointed this out to the waitress, her nonchalant response was, "It's kind of burnt," as if there are acceptable levels of burn. In my opinion, when the toast is predominantly black, it clearly falls into the category of "burnt." The overall quality of the meal was abysmal, and it was evident that the staff couldn't have cared less about my experience. While I was not charged for the meal, I wouldn't have paid for it even if I had to. There's simply no way I could bring myself to eat here again. Curiously, my husband ordered a similar omelette, but his came out perfectly yellow and appetizing, along with toast that was actually edible. This made me wonder if my request not to burn my food inadvertently insulted the cook, leading to my meal being intentionally scorched. After sending the dish back, I received not a word of apology or even an offer to prepare something else. It was a complete lack of customer service. This review, without a doubt, has to be the most negative I've ever written. Normally, I refrain from posting bad reviews because I understand that everyone can have an off day. If a restaurant attempts to rectify their mistakes, I tend to be forgiving. But in this case, the food was nothing short of garbage on a plate, and the indifference from the staff was glaring. read more

My 12-year-old review needs updated. The Wheels Bar is no longer open, although you may see signage on the building. There has been a couple of changes in ownership but the menu has stayed the same and still offers great breakfast and lunch. The service continues to be friendly. The latest owner has made some improvements to the dining area and improved the atmosphere. Still the best diner on the north end of Lafayette. read more

I have been enjoying the downtowner since it WAS downtown in the early '60's. Today was not one of those days. The ambience was there, the waitress was really nice, but she was the ONLY one there, trying to serve about twenty people. So, when our Not-hot cakes came with eggs that were colder than the plate, she took them back and we got basically the same dish 5 degrees warmer. It was sad. Absolutely the worst meal we have had in a few years. The cook obviously was not a good one. I hope they can remedy this in the future. read more

Ambiance is what you should expect from a mom-n-pop diner that's been in business since the 50s. Clean and well loved. The food is the same way...inexpensive, home style and tasty! The biscuits and gravy are some of the best I've had...light, fluffy, and melt in your mouth. Gravy could be a little more peppery but you can add more if that's your thing. We went on a Sunday about 12:30 and it wasn't busy. The waitstaff was very friendly and the food came out quick. It's out of the way and hidden but certainly worth finding! Will be back in future visits to Lafayette! read more

See all

Was bigger than I expected when I walked in. Seat yourself. Choice of table, booth, or counter. Went on a Saturday morning and had no problem walking in and getting an open table. Servers were friendly. Food was overall pretty good. Was disappointed in the American Fries. They were cubed instead of sliced. As American Fries can be either sliced or cubed, I should have asked. That being said, they were just bad in general. The two other people with me at the table who liked cubed American Fries didn't like them either. The hashbrowns on the other hand were great. Food was a little slow getting to the table, but service was good and overall everything was good. They look like they have tasty weekly lunch specials like I would like to try sometime. read more

My favorite Lafayette breakfast spot! It's your standard greasy spoon diner with delicious biscuits and gravy, breakfast potatoes or hash browns, and HUGE pancakes! The prices are very good for the huge portions and the service is always fantastic. When given the choice of where to go to for breakfast, my son always chooses The Downtowner! The hot chocolate is also a big hit :) read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - a plate of breakfast food - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Easy going simple breakfast focused hit, buddy and I tried the basic morning routine here. Very friendly staff, a bit cramped or cozy depending on your space desires, lots on the menu, the familiar and usual. Nothing crazy or unique here, it's not Tick Tock Tavern by a short or long shot but I can see some liking the predictable. My benedict was right on, a tad small and lacking that rich gooey nature but it went down well. There's a lot of heated competition amongst the Tippecanoe community for brunch which is won every Sunday by Sixth St however Downtowner makes a great place for itself amidst Town & Gown, Tick Tock, and the high flier 8eleven Bistro for those wanting the usual and being able to say that and getting it. read more

See all

Not too impressed. It looks like it used to me a local church. Not very, big so don't go durning busy times. The people were kind and attentive. All the food was very bland. I didn't care for the coffee either which is important for my breakfast. My biscuits and gravy tasted too much like flour. The bacon was okay, but I could've made it tastier at home. The eggs I had were good though. Cooked well, but I did have to salt and pepper them. I was a little off put that the silverware was brought to me just like I get it for myself. Not already on the table, not wrapped up, just brought out bare hand touching it. She didn't touch the part that goes in your mouth, but it was odd. I'm not sure if I'll return here. I like my cleanliness and my seasonings read more

I cannot fully express how good their coffee is. And they bring you an entire insulated carafe, which keeps it piping hot. Nestled between Greenbush and Elmwood (sorta behind Burger King), it appears unassuming but once you walk in, you know you are in a good old-fashioned diner style restaurant. We had the biscuits and gravy and pancakes, and they were tremendous. No nonsense service and ambience. Again, the real star of the show is the coffee. read more

A really nice down home diner with plenty of food served quickly. Be sure to ask about their loaf of soup! read more

The best staple in Lafayette. Grew up going here, so you know you can trust me when I say they have great home fries! reminds me of my grandparents plenty of parking in this large lot shopping plaze! read more

The food is great here and you plenty of it at a very good price. Service is excellent we love Betty and Tia! This is our weekend go to place for breakfast. It is a down home place where everyone is friendly and you just might get to know lots of other regulars. I highly recommend giving The Downtowner a try. read more

I've been coming here about once a month since I moved back (dining plan airline miles helps). The food is good (4 stars), the service is inconsistent. Breakfast is served all day and you can't go wrong with the biscuits and gravy. Front parking is limited, but there is parking and an entrance at the rear. read more

This classic greasy spoon is a mainstay in town. Solid diner food with breakfast and lunch options. Service can be slow or chaotic at times but just flag somebody down. They're pleasant and don't mean to overlook you. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Southern scramble with toast and a side of country gravy. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

What a cute little diner! Everything you expect in a small downtown diner; hot coffee, friendly waitresses, cosy but busy atmosphere. The food was very good, taste homemade and that just adds to the appeal. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Breakfast bar - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Really delicious and inexpensive little diner! Plenty of seating, lovely staff, and great atmosphere. This is my new favorite brunch place near Purdue. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Lumberjack Jr with scrambled eggs, bacon, and chocolate chip pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Downtowner is a great name because this is a classic down-to-earth diner. This place can be pretty busy on the weekend, but they have sooo many tables that it shouldn't be a problem. Since diner food is pretty standard, the thing that makes them stand out is the service and the price, which The Downtowner does very well. The scramblers and the country fried steak were very good, and the French toast is a step up from the usual for sure. I would definitly consider coming back in the future. Highlights: price (6-10/person), speed (food within 10 min of odering) Lowlights: They cram a lot of people in 1 building read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Country fried steak. The sausage gravy actually had great flavor with a little extra black pepper! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Lunch at my new Northend neighbor today and WOW! A couple extra requests on menu items and a VERY helpful and kind staff made for a great experience! Being located now with in walking distance of this place could be an issue Spicy Omolet and jacked-up grits were not on menu but they gladly made both requests. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - A great new 'neighbor' - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

See all

Very good food. It's a cute little diner with little activity. The waiters are very kind and quick. The food was awesome diner food like tenderloins and burgers. Everything was very good including the eggs benedict that was ordered. I would for sure recommend this place for someone looking for some simple diner food that's very good. THIS PLACE DESERVES MORE LOVE! read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Jumbo tenderloin - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

It was fabulous. Clean, inexpensive, and the cook actually knew what egg over medium is. Most places just send you an egg over easy. The food was good and the coffee plentiful. I'll go back when I visit Lafayette again. read more

Diner food. The place is huge. Probably seating for 200 in several rooms. Seat yourself. Entry and parking in the front and the rear. Inexpensive prices and decent food. Our server was really friendly. 3% service charge for credit card use. read more

OK. It's a diner. Had their eggs Benedict and country fried steak. French toast and bacon. Good coffee. Waitress was a delite. Better than Dennys, IHOP, etc. I'd come again. read more

See all

Good hometown feel to this place.food was good and people were very nice. Stopped in when we had a break at a softball tournament. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

The food is ok. Not great but its cheap and I feel somewhat safe eating here. As in, I'm not worried about food poisoning. Recently, they began a surcharge for people paying with debit/credit cards. They have a sign at the door about saving when you use cash but not that they will charge you more with plastic. It's not a lot of money, it's the principle. Oh and they get super defensive when you ask about it. If the food was better I would overlook it, but it will be a while before I am back and I will be certain to have cash. read more

I used to frequent this establishment for breakfast, and I always sat at the counter. Yesterday morning I saw a cockroach running on the back counter near the coffee urn. I told the staff member, who killed it but did not sanitize the counter. I've reported the restaurant and requested an inspection. read more

New to the area, I dropped in to this restaurant on the recommendation of a local. I could not be more satisfied with the food and the service. Breakfast was served hot and fresh, and my coffee cup was never empty. This will quickly become one of my favorite places for breakfast. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Old fashion homestyle breakfast, it doesn't get much better - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Good food friendly staff and reasonable prices. Great hidden gene. Not fancy at all. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

When you've awoke and life is making you hungry you can always go, Downtowner In Lafayette you want some eggs and some ham It's really cheap, I know, Downtowner Just listen to the frying of the bacon on the flat top Linger on your coffee cause the pot is on your table How can you lose? The wraps are much better there You can forget all your troubles, and stuff your face square So go Downtown(er) Cakes will be great when you're, Downtowner No finer place for links, Downtowner Breakfast is waiting for you Just hang around cause folks are waiting like you For tables to sit down, Downtowner Yes you should know the tab will be really low When you're ready to go, Downtowner Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle hustle bustle You'll be eating with 'em too before the morning's over stuffed again The wait staff are so funky there You can abate all your hungers, forget about lunch So go Downtowner Where all the juice is cold, Downtowner Waiting for you to brunch., Downtowner You're gonna be so full now, Downtowner Downtowner Downtowner Downtowner Apologies: Tony Hatch; Petula Clark read more

Maybe I just happened to go on the wrong day, at the wrong time. Anyway. Besides for us, the Downtowner was serving lunch exclusively to the older crowd. It was pretty full for a Tuesday at noon out there. First off- the menus need a good hard cleaning. Gross. So sticky. I wanted to go wash my hands for a good long while after touching it. We ordered from the breakfast portion (crossandwhich and the eggs benedict). Everything tasted like butter. The croissant, the egg and bacon inside of it, the hash browns, the hollandaise sauce. Everything. Basically, it was like eating crispy butter with different textures. Oh well. I guess butter is a better taste than oil... Regardless, it's a good alternative to Sunrise Diner which I don't really frequent anymore after a time I got really soggy and cold hash browns (and the "got a quarter" guy was sitting next to me) so I may try it again. read more

Delicious semi-dive. They gave our son crayons and paper to draw on while we held his hunger off for the quick wait before our food arrived. Thank goodness for Yelp and its reviews to show us this place. The pancakes were so good. I want to know what they put in them. The only negative was the terrible coffee. Our server was a gem. And the food surprised me for it's general tastiness. If you're in the area and don't like chains then go here. read more

I love this local diner. It has been in business since the 50s and the place is always packed. It's also decorated with license plates from every state; it's pretty neat. The patrons are typically "older" and the vibe is definitely casual. They have an extensive menu and serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a good price. They also own the bar next door, Wheels. We typically go for breakfast--they have good sausage gravy. The lunch is good too..I would recommend their buffalo chicken wrap. read more

I came here for brunch with a couple of my friends. It seemed like this place has been around for awhile just by looking at the decor. We had gotten nachos to share, however, there was barely any cheese or any toppings on it. The olives tasted like they had gone bad. The staff was friendly, but the food was okay. Overall, the experience was mediocre. read more

First couple times here were decent however my most recent visit is going to have to be my last. Several tables were dirty leaving my party only two tables to chose from. When seated waiters commonly walk passed our table for about 10 minutes before greeting or helping us. Our food was very sad looking and bland not to mention it was cold within the first few bites. Overall the service was very slow and servers seem to be forgetful. As for the food it was bland, cold, and made me feel sick! read more

Great food and price! The restaurant was clean and relaxing. I ordered the lumberjack, and I could not finish it. Very big portion. Also, their fries were good. My bf ordered a Philly cheesesteak and said it was really good. The server lady was very friendly. Definitely much better than any other chain restaurants. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Philly cheesesteak with cole slaw - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

See all

Ate on the diner side the place has the feel of a regular diner along with diner food i had the Philly cheese steak with chips and pickle spear and a coke to drink good food and decent service read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Philly Cheese steak with chips and a pickle - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Not impressed would be my description. Service was HORRIBLE and RUDE! The facility is dirty. We came in 11:00AM with only couple tables and 10-12 staff members wondering around. Promoted to seat ourselves and then sat for 10mins before our drink order was take. Did not give us the option to order our food during this time even though we asked. Waitress hurried away to the counter and did bing our drinks back but just dropped them off not asking if we wanted to order or anything. Waiting another 15 minutes before she game back to take our order. Finally got our order taken and the waitress was down right RUDE. I ask if there was substitutes for the cole slaw in their platter and revived a "what's listed on the menu is what you get no more no less" no let me go check or sorry we don't do substitutes. So I stuck with the sandwich and my other half ordered the country fried steak breakfast. Our food was the saving grace of our experience. Came out quickly and warm by the cooking staff. My tenderloin was juicy and tasty along with the fries. The country fried steak was okay and was he expected for a place like this. Hash browns were undercooked but tasty. After our food was delivered though we waited 10 mins to get refills on our drinks and to get ketchup for the potatoes. Sad the service is so terrible because the place has the food to be good! read more

See all

Good coffee and a great price. Quality isn't anything special, but the service is wonderful. Better than chain restaurants, but you could probably make any of the food served here at home. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

Service is very quick. Food is very good. Served very hot. Prices are excellent! My bacon omelette had bacon all the way from edge to edge. Interesting the home fries were crispy, very unusual. Makes me think everyone else might be doing it wrong. I guess if you're looking for somewhat soft or soggy potatoes with lots of grease and some onion - - this isn't for you. Toast was nice and buttery. read more

The Downtowner Restaurant - Bacon and cheese omelette with home fries and white toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lafayette, Indiana

See all

Decent prices , decent food, I'm sure we will frequent here when we have the time. :)

I love the classic diner. It is really good place for brunch with family or friends on weekends. I ordered the eggs & steak which I strongly recommend. I love the environment in the diner, although it's kind of "old". read more

See all