Coffee and sandwiches for the win! I am always happy when I go here. Cubans are good but they make a great Ruben as well. Its a simple set up with polite service. It can get busy and is loud when full but generally its a good place for lunch and conversation. It's also a great take out option in the area. Sandwiches are great for enjoying in the park too! read more

I really liked The General for a solid brunch with friends. The interior was very clean, and the baristas were very kind. I didn't have anything to eat so I cannot speak for the food, but the coffee was delicious! I got the seasonal latte (forgetting the name now, but it was orange flavored), and it was super unique and yummy! I will say that I think this is the type of cafe where you meet friends and chat vs. do work-- it gets a little loud. It was a really cute and communal vibe, just bring headphones if you plan to get work done! read more

The General Deli & Cafe - The seasonal orange latte and a Chai Latte! - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

I was looking for a cafe that was open a little later to run to between appointments and found this one. When I walked in there was a large group waiting for drinks so when I ordered the girl at the counter let me know my latte would have a wait, but I wasn't in any hurry so I didn't mind. My food came out super fast and I was almost finished by the time she started working on my latte. She asked if I wanted a larger size since I had been waiting about 10 minutes, but I said it was fine. I was more concerned to inconvenience the staff since it was getting close to closing time. The food and drinks were tasty and the staff were very polite!! It's a small place, but I'd return for a drink and maybe a sandwich. read more

The General Deli & Cafe - Lavender Latte - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

See all

I know this place wasn't around when I lived in South Bend, way back in 2003. Its main space was either the place my roommate from 2001 to 2002 ate a hamburger after running a marathon, or it was a hardware store. The adjoining bar, which has a different name but which doubles as The General's spillover dining room during non-bar hours, was probably a bar? Or maybe it was part of the original general store. Who knows? As an eating space, this place is five stars all the way. It's cozy, it's quaint, and there are all kinds of historical and artistic details they've done a really good job of paying attention to. Even with the additional bar space, there's definitely a lack of seating, so this isn't the place to come with a large group. We came with a large group (seven), and we suffered because of it, although much of it was our fault, because our local hosts insisted on being seated before all seven of us had arrived. In San Francisco, that would never happen, but the Midwest and all, so we were taking up space for no good reason while people cycled in and out. I believe I had a vegetarian breakfast burrito, and it was good. This being a late-to-the-game hipster place, the prices are just high enough that the portion sizes seem small. They're not, really, but when you're paying a lot, you want to eat a lot, or at least I do--and I wasn't even paying! None of the breakfast entrees come with sides of potatoes or toast, which seems criminal. I should point out that it's advertised as a deli, so it's not actually a breakfast place. Aside from breakfast burritos, all the breakfast entrees are sandwiches of some kind or another. Again, I'd love that breakfasty option if I were coming here at lunchtime, but as a breakfast place, it's just kind of meh. The main dining area feels like a coffeehouse; there's the smell of coffee, the sounds of them making coffee. It's also warmer, and there's a buzz to people eating and coming and going. The bar area, where we sat, was much quieter. It's a better area for conversation, but it's also noticeably colder, so I guess it depends on your eating-ambiance preference. I would definitely return to try it out again, but not for breakfast, and definitely not with more than two or three companions. read more

The General Deli & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Cute spot with good service! The mocha was pretty good, and the pumpkin and blueberry bread were delicious. read more

The General Deli & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

A really great cafe! The food was excellent! I had the Mona which was delicious. The staff were so kind and prompt. A nice relaxing vibe for lunch. I'd highly recommend. read more

Great sandwiches, coffee in a very pleasant setting. They do their own pastrami which was terrific! Friendly counter person who was very helpful. read more

The General Deli & Cafe - Pastrami sandwich - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Mixed crowd of locals and students. Had the Reuben/pastrami sandwich. Was good. Casual spot would go back

Terrific Cuban. Great cup Joe. Fed two out-of-towners. If you're close to ND worth the trip

I love the general deli & cafe! It's the perfect spot for breakfast or lunch. The staff is always friendly and the restaurant is always clean. Great place for families too! read more

The General Deli & Cafe - The Dante - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Great vibes! The coffee and sandwiches were delicious and the staff was pleasant! It's also connected to Hammer and Quill (bar vibes) and the owner is a gem! read more

Absolutely fantastic (both breakfast and lunch). First went for breakfast with my brother and it was right at the switch for lunch but the guy let us order breakfast anyways. And even recommended getting the sandwich on a bagel because they are homemade. Was a great decision! (Any breakfast sandwich can be on a bagel if wanted). It was so good we brought our parents for lunch on the way out of town. Delicious. Our group had a bunch of different sandwiches: The Mona, House Pastrami, and The General were major hits. They even have GF bread that was quite good. Great people, great food. Would definitely recommend and would go again. read more

A snug little joint perfect for WFH-ers and studying. Coffee, sammies, and pastries make the majority of the menu. Food is good quality and staff are friendly. read more

See all

Its been hit or miss. My coffee has always been great. Last time I was here I had a cuban that was basically all wrong...Ive eaten a cuban made at a bodega in Key West...cumin pulled pork, sweet egg bread. Ham, pickles and mustard and it is smashed on a press. What I got was a South Bend approximation of a cuban that was not delicious. Bagel with Lox was good...very good actually. Service has been ok...neither overly cheerful nor genuinely friendly. This place exudes an apathetic hipster vibe I personally don't care for. If you are searching for a good cup of coffee downtown though, this place has it. read more

Great service and we got a spot outside. The pasta salad was great and our sandwiches were EXACTLY what we needed to start our busy Saturday. Will definitely be returning. read more

This weekend was my first time in South Bend and I visited The General Deli twice in 24 hours. The first time I got the veggie breakfast burrito and today I got the chicken salad sandwich on rye bread. Both times, the food was great, staff was friendly and the atmosphere was really cute. Will definitely visit again next time in town! read more

Love it! Great sandwiches! Folks are nice always asking me how it's going. Small and chill environment.

On a road trip from Detroit to Chicago, we stopped in South Bend to visit the Notre Dame campus. As it was lunchtime, we found The General Deli and gave it a try. It was wonderful. My sister and I each had the Rueben and my wife had the Mona sandwich. Both were excellent. Lots and of flavorful pastrami on the Rueben and the marble Rye was grilled perfectly. The Mona included avocado with the Turkey, and there was plenty. We topped off our meals with their homemade chocolate chip cookies. We would definitely go back there when we are in town. read more

Visited The General for the first time! I've been eyeing this coffee for months and wanted to knock it off my coffee adventure check-list. From the outside, The General looks like an old-time vintage dinner but upon entering I realized it is actually a very hipster place. I'd put this one under the hipster category verse trendy. Don't get me wrong, hipster is okay but if you are walking in with a suit on you might feel out of place. Side note: a guy did walk in with a suit on while I was there, they knew him by name and appeared to be a regular! So - try it regardless of your hipster level. Atmosphere: dimly light with natural lighting pouring through the front windows. Vintage chairs, tables with chairs, 2 larger tables available, front window sitting bar area, couch, darker colors, dive-like theme (artsy), chalkboard menu, etc. The coffee: I ordered a White Chocolate latte, it was pretty good. They used Zen Coffee - which is amazing and local as well. It was not super sweet at all, which I appreciated. About $5 for a regular latte compares to Starbucks prices. The food: to come! I'll be back to try our their sandwiches, I hear they are delicious and worth a lunch visit! read more

See all

Was in town from Chicago looking for a lunch spot/cafe. This place was excellent - my Reuben was actually one of the best I've ever had and super friendly service. This is a great spot - I'd come here all the time if I lived in South Bend. Will absolutely come back when I'm here next. read more

I love The General! Such a cool place. Indoor and outdoor seating (when the weather is nice). Again, weather-permitting, it's one of the few places in South Bend where you can sit outside to eat. For breakfast, I'm a big fan of their lox bagel *or* the avocado egg & toast (the radishes, arugula, and poppy seeds are a nice touch)! I must also add: the egg is ALWAYS cooked perfectly. For lunch, I absolutely LOVE the Kibbler. Phenomenal sandwich. The side of chips is tasty, but I sometimes like to upgrade to a hummus plate with celery and carrots. The hummus is great! The staff are also incredibly friendly! I love the cooks, too. Everyone has a great sense of humor. Artist-friendly atmosphere. And, it might sound odd, but if you want to see something really cool, check out the bathroom floor when you have a chance. The General is a South Bend staple! read more

Cute storefront. This review relates only to the iced coffee. It is watered down and tasteless. The almond milk in it was separated and grainy, maybe the jug needed a good shake first. I didn't even finish the coffee and decided to throw it out. They have a few tables outside to sit at, and it's across the street from Howard Park so it is a nice location. Wouldn't return for coffee. read more

wow wow wow. a place where i can get a killer matcha latte and a deli sandwich all in the same sitting? with incredible workers? quaint. quality. quite extraordinary. read more

It was mid. The sandwich is a bit overpriced. I got the breakfast sandwich with ham and I got exactly that. I thought it'd come on different bread but it was just regular white sandwich bread, nothing to write home about. The iced latte was okay too. I'll probably come back to give it a second shot at some point. read more

Small but good menu. I wish they would had a few more lunch choices. Most every thing is on a grilled bagel. I had the "kibbler" and Wife had chef salad. We shared and it all very good. The owner said they will be increasing more items on the menu as they get going. Look forward to returning. Posted the menu and pics. Have to try their coffee bar next time. Great atmosphere. For those that remember Lula's Cafe, the decor is similar. Homey and relaxing. read more

See all

Stopped at the general on our road trip and we couldn't have asked for a better experience!! The company was great, the staff was super friendly and knowledgeable of what we would like, and the decor was very trendy and cozy! The general had awesome decorations with personal details in every corner! The walls are filled with art work from local artists that changes often giving this place the perfect interchangeable atomsphere! I especially loved the artwork in the bathroom! The food was amazing! We sampled a few things from the menu and everything was delicious! They were also very accommodating for this gluten free girl! The coffee was superb with beans brought in from local coffee roasters. Our barista was also super friendly and made some excellent cappuccinos! This place place is definitely one for the book(mark)s! We will definitely be back soon! read more

The General Deli & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Quality service, food and drinks. And Thank You General Deli and Cafe, for keeping your prices reasonable. We appreciate you.

Pleasant atmosphere and friendly staff. Nice selection of sandwiches and barista to make good coffee Interesting selection of local artists work available. read more

I discovered The General earlier this summer and I'm not ashamed to say I've visited at least a dozen times since then. This is one of my favorite hidden gems in South Bend. The staff is super friendly, they are great at making suggestions for food and coffee options, and they've even brought over dessert samples when they were testing new menu options (the way to my heart). The General has a very chill atmosphere. From the smooth jazz playing in the background to the big comfy couch. During the summer, they offer outdoor seating. There's cool artwork displayed everywhere. They even have a couple velvet paintings that speak to my 80s baby heart. The food is delicious. I've had both breakfast and lunch and was impressed by both. My favorite breakfast option is the Dante, a spicy chipotle flavored egg sandwich. For lunch, it's the Mona. You seriously cannot go wrong with turkey, bacon and avocado. The Clearwater is a very close second. The coffee is from Zen Cafe, also a fave of mine. My suggestion, tell them what you normally like and let them come up with a drink for you. You might end up with an iced coconut latte like I did one day, SO GOOD! read more

The General Deli & Cafe - Awesome artwork - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

See all

I worked across the street from this deli, for a few months. I really enjoyed their food, but I just found out what makes the place great. It's their incredibly kind staff. read more

The sandwiches are overpriced but they are good. Whatever you do, don't get the coffee here.

An amazing place to feel at home. Come for hours and enjoy coffee and any of their food selections. It's all good. Pro tip: all sandwiches can be turned into salads upon request. read more

A warm environment with a great size sandwich. Yummy and Unique flavors and love that you can turn any sandwich into a salad!

A cool little spot at the edge of downtown South Bend. My first visit was on a recent work trip and I stopped there to grab lunch with some cohorts. I liked the feel of the environment, they seem to attract the millennial crowd which may have had something to with it. Per the suggestion of Brian, a worker there, I tried the Clearwater with Turkey. To be frank, it looked better than it tasted. The presentation was great and it looked inviting but wasn't thrilling to consume. Had I tried something different and loved it, I think my experience at the General would've warranted four stars. What I enjoyed most at The General was their wide and unique array of artwork that cover their walls -- beautiful, unique, eye-grabbing. read more

I'm giving three stars because I really like the location and I like this place. I used to stop in 1-2x/month for about a year before things became inconsistent. The first incident the cream cheese on my bagel was spoiled. After this I stopped regularly coming in. Cream in my coffee was spoiled on a separate occasion (recently). Each time I had ordered to go so I did not have a chance to rectify the situation. This makes me sad because the bagels, coffee, and breakfast sandwiches are soooo good. My advice to you is check your food before you leave also try the Cunningham because it is the most delicious combination of sweet and salty goodness. read more

Great sandwiches and nice cafe atmosphere. A little pricey but in-line with other establishments nearby.

Cute little place will decent food that even had a vegan chili for a out of town LA vegan like myself. Really chill spot. I'll defiantly stop by next time I'm in town. read more

The General Deli & Cafe - Cafes Near Me - South Bend, Indiana

Truly a unique addition to DTSB and the east bank! Very hip, laid-back vibe suitable for everything from a work lunch to evening drinks to a rainy-morning coffee & book. Would definitely recommend "The General" sandwich, a glorified, to-die-for grilled cheese. One disappoint was their lack of a wheelchair accessible restroom. Was told it would be ready "in a few days". Appreciate the progress, but you've already been open for some time! Would have liked to see this inclusivity sooner, particularly in an ever-diversifying city like South Bend. read more

Ugh. 15 minutes to get a sandwich, with no one in line ahead of us? No thanks. I've had good luck here in the past, but the two working there in 12-3 in the afternoon didn't do the owners any favors. They acted like they didn't want to be there, and that customers were an inconvenience. read more

Great place to get some work done in a laid-back and welcoming environment. The cappuccinos are great and the sandwiches are delicious (I recommend the Kibbler!). read more