Many many many times this is our go to when visiting family in Bloomington, IN. I've had several menu items and have never been disappointed. Hoosiers hospitality PLUS is what they also serve here and thank-you, thank-you, thank-you. But it does seem to always be a local favorite so please consider a reservation. Parking can be difficult to find and you are charged. Parking in Carmel, IN is free everywhere.......I have never understood why Bloomington charges?? read more

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Really enjoyed a recent meal here with a larger party of 8. Had the opportunity to sample a bit of everything from apps to desserts. Only miss for me was an eggplant special they had as an appetizer. Crawfish etouffee was delicious. Service was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. The place was packed on a recent Monday night so I recommend reservations. read more

My husband and I love this place! We usually go for dinner! Our food has always been great as well as customer service! Highly recommend!

I've been several times and they are consistently very good. They provide a wonderful dining experience and every server I've ever had has been great read more

After getting pounded by the rain at the football game, we needed to sit down for a good and relaxing meal. Two years ago, we stopped at Uptown Cafe and had a good meal. We returned today in hope to repeat our last experience. We sat at the bar to enjoy the rest of IU football game without the torrential downpour. The atmosphere here is very nice and more upscale. We ordered the calimari and shrimp fritta and the Creole BBQ shrimp in a cream sauce with rice. The calimari and shrimp was very good with a nice spicy cocktail sauce and perfectly battered. The Creole BBQ shrimp were very large and plump in a light cream sauce. The servings were generous and overall a good meal. I will return and try a different entree on our next visit. The service was good, nice atmosphere and tasty dishes with generous portions. read more

Uptown Cafe - Creole BBQ Shrimp in a cream sauce with rice. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

From the outside looking through the windows the restaurant looks very inviting. My girlfriend and I came across this place while wandering around waiting for another reservation. The menu is priced from about $9 - $60. Our server Wendy was attentive and very kind. She ran us through the specials for the day and recommend starters. The food was pretty darn good. Pot roast and seafood gumbo were the two favorites. I took my husband the shrimp and grits to go. He only complained that they were a little under seasoned. Otherwise lovely experience definitely would like to return to try a few more items! read more

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Great service, amazing filet mignon! You know it is good beef when you do not get a food hangover from it. Just all around great! Top notch! read more

I've been here three times now, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Very solid spot. Good food, great service. Susan, my server today, could not have been more kind. Thank you for all the great meals and memories here. read more

Yum! I ordered biscuits and gravy with eggs on top and it was excellent. I went here for the brunch, but the dinner menu looks good too. The look and design of the place is a classic cool. Seems like a good place to take a date. The service was A+. Zoey and the hostess were both delightful and charming. read more

We went to Uptown around 11:30am on a Sunday. We had a large group of 12 people so we knew we would have to wait to be seated. They told us it would be an hour wait. Every table and booth in restaurant was full. And there was a line to put your name on the waiting list. We were seated in about 45 minutes. Our waitress was awesome. Our food came out relatively fast for a large group. I definitely recommend the espresso martini! read more

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I have been dining at the Uptown Cafe for 40-some years, I think. From humble beginnings, it has grown to be the finest restaurant in Bloomington. I must say that the prices at the Uptown have risen commensurate with the quality of the restaurant over these many years! But everything that I have ever eaten at the Uptown Cafe has been exceptionally delicious and of the best quality. I am partial to breakfast, however, most especially the Eggs Benedict, which is only available on the Sunday brunch menu. (I fondly remember a time in the 1980's that you could order it with a remarkably delicious jalapeño hollandaise, but that is long gone. I wish they would bring it back!!!) Be advised that you will have something of a wait on Sundays, so be prepared, get your name on the list at the front counter ASAP, and settle in until your name comes up. In warmer months, you can linger outside; in colder months it gets pretty crowded inside the foyer. In addition, the Uptown has the very best homefries on the planet, which are red potato pieces exquisitely roasted with herbs, onion, etc; I like to add melted swiss cheese and pepperoncini. On other days of the week, I love the Popeye Omelette, which has fresh spinach, cheese, onions, mushrooms, and bacon pieces in its center. There are always creative specials posted that aren't on the menu, and the Uptown is the kind of place where you want to order 5 different meals because everything sounds so great that you want to try them all! But whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I believe the Uptown is the best restaurant in Bloomington. read more

Here's what you need to know : breakfast review on a summer Thursday morning while school was out. Food was very enjoyable (Hoosier Benedict with biscuits of house made gravy), and arrived quickly. Service was 10 stars by Tiffany. She is OUTSTANDING. Cappuccino was perfect with a double shot (a really good coffee roaster is supplying them). Ambiance was perfect sitting outdoors in the not too harsh sun. Potatoes (Michael's home fries) were AMAZING. They are skin on red potato wedges, and just perfectly seasoned and skillet fried (I suspect). Eggs were cooked perfect. Sausage is from a local butcher and quality really comes through. Gravy was very well seasoned and not too salty. Just right. Breakfast was $18+tax read more

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Got sat in the back room where it was wonderfully air conditioned. Suzy was our waitress and she was so super nice. The recommendations she made were stellar. I wound up getting g the Gumbo Ya Ya Hoosier style (I.e. with mashed potatoes instead of rice). Super hearty meal. Full of flavor. Nothing spicy. Plenty of portion for even the heartiest of eaters. The mint julep was also spot on during this hot and humid August day! Very much recommend if you are in Bloomington! read more

Uptown Cafe is a good spot in town for drinks and dinner if you're looking for something a little more elevated. It's got a classy feel inside, with dim lighting and an overall relaxing dining experience. The service is lovely, our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu and friendly. Everything came out quickly, drinks and food! I had the pot roast and it was very good. Others at my table ordered a pasta dish and some of their steakhouse items. Everyone was happy with their dish and drinks! read more

I love love love the uptown cafe. The food, service and ambience are great. I'm a big fan of their Popeye omelette but everything I've tried there has been very tasty! read more

Great ambiance, absolutely amazing food, service was a bit slow but my group and I went on a Friday evening so they were quite busy. The crème brulee is to die for! read more

I am a long-time returning customer of this place, and everything they serve is usually great. Since they changed their menu, I use to get the Gumbo Tasso, which I believe is now called Gumbo Ya Ya. It had a slightly stronger taste than before. However, I was disappointed with this dish because it lacked andouille sausage, which I expected to be included. Instead, there was plenty of shrimp and just a few pieces of chicken. When I asked the waitress if the gumbo was supposed to contain andouille sausage, she checked with the kitchen staff. They quickly brought me some sausage, and one of the kitchen staff members noticed that I had no broth and only rice, so he kindly brought me a bowl of broth as well. I was pleased with their response and the effort they made to rectify the situation. We also ordered the shrimp and calamari fritti, along with their eggplant appetizer special, and both were delicious. The service was excellent. While the lack of sausage in the gumbo was disappointing, I won't let that deter me from returning. Next time, I plan to try something different from the menu. read more

Not cheap, but a lovely room with excellent service. The menu offers a lot of variety, so just about anyone should be able to find something they'll like. I would definitely recommend reservations, as this place fills up. But it's one of our favorites when we're in Bloomington. read more

3-25-24 I'm in town once a year, and UpTown has become a must stop. Warm atmosphere, and incredible service (Thanks Madison!). Had the surf n' turf special. Steak (most tender I've had in ages), 2 big shrimp, and a delicious crab cake. Asparagus for the side, which was awesome. Madison was kind enough to get me a little taste of the Jalapeño grits. YUM, but I couldn't actually eat a whole side. All the food was delicious. The menu had lots to offer. One of our party has dietary restrictions, and Madison was not only able to accommodate, but knew the menu inside and out and gave some great advice. Thank you to Madison and team for helping turn a great meal into a memorable evening. read more

Recommended for a family birthday celebration, and wow the food was amazing! We had incredible service from the moment we entered the restaurant. Order the steak or try the cajun options. It was a great place to celebrate a special occasion. read more

The food was really good and the waiters were very attentive to what we needed. When we asked for modifications it was no problem and the food was enough to take home for leftovers! Very good quality food and nice atmosphere. read more

Uptown Cafe - Salmon with cauliflower - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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I recently dined at Uptown Café. I appreciated their broad menu as there truly was something for everyone. They also had a good selection of wines. We visited during IU's move-in weekend so all the restaurants were pretty busy and we had to wait 30-40 minutes for a table. We chose to dine outside and I enjoyed their patio's atmosphere. Inside, the restaurant is much larger than it looks from the outside! The food was good but it wasn't anything spectacular to me. I tried their chicken gumbo and felt that it lacked in Creole flavor. The consistency was a little chunky for me as well. I will probably skip Uptown Café and try another spot next time I'm in town. The service was friendly but very slow. It took a long time to refill water glasses, place our orders, etc. Luckily, I was with good company. read more

Solid service and solid food. Plenty for everyone. Benedicts were really good. Maybe too much sauce in the Sardou. Grits were the fan favorite. read more

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Incredible staff, service, cuisine and cocktails all the time, every time! My wife and I have been coming here for nearly all of our date nights since 2022 and really struggle to ever break away to explore something else in town. The bar is always bustling with friendly patrons and a great place where for nearly any occasion! For best cocktail of your life, find Nick. read more

First time visiting Bloomington and found Uptown after a long day of driving! We got there late, 30min before closing, but the staff assured us it was no problem and We grabbed seats at the bar. Bartenders were great, very helpful with menu items and libations. Be sure to ask about their barrel picks and off menu items! We started with martinis & old fashion - really hit the spot after being on the road all day. The bolognese was recommended with a suggestion to add the garlic bread appetizer. We did just that plus a salad. Everything arrived quickly even with a "full house". We devoured everything. The bolognese was excellent. Sorry, no pictures. We actually tried to return the next night for drinks - after a not so great experience at another spot, but the bar was closed for a party. So glad we got to experience Uptown. We definitely recommend & will return. read more

- Steakhouse Wedge add Steak 8/10 the steak was amazing. Cooked very very nicely. But the salad... I am a tad disappointed. I wanted some red onion or sweet corn or like something WOW. Definitely needs more effort and flavor. - 14 oz NY Strip 9/10 this steak was great. It came with this rosemary butter that was heaven sent. Once again cooked great. The french fries were so yummy but I think I would opt for Mac n cheese or mashed potatoes next time. * side note: everyone and their mom were getting this fried chicken it looked so yummy. Definitely messed up my order but whatever. Next time GET FRIED CHICKEN read more

Uptown Cafe - 14 oz Strip - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Uptown Cafe is arguably the best dinner spot in Bloomington! I have never had anything I didn't like off the menu. Perfect for date nights. read more

Uptown Cafe - NYE bone-in wagyu ribeye - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Amazing dinner and such friendly and accommodating staff. Great environment and supported our large group

The best restaurant anywhere !!! Impeccable service!!! All Menu items the best prepared and the best presentation !!! Extremely well kept, clean and wonderful ambiance !!!The restrooms are all extremely clean neat and comfortable!!! 5 star rating doesn't do it justice!!! read more

With a name like "café" you might think you don't need a reservation. You would be wrong. This place is in demand. Although they are not on OpenTable, you can call. My friend and I showed up early on a Friday evening and had to beg for a table for two. They actually accommodated which was great! They sat us in the rear of the restaurant by the kitchen (no complaints). The waiter was eccentric, and seemed to be overworked. He kept coming back to tell us different things, like that the bread had an upcharge now. Regardless, the food was good, as were the drinks. This was a good choice for us, since we were seeing a play nearby. read more

Great dining experience! The food was really good, and the service was even better. We ate outside, and it was very nice. Out waiter was very courteous and helpful. He made great suggestions and gave us first rate service. My wife had the Rigatoni Bolognese (spicy), my daughter the Chicken Pita, and I had the Shrimp and Grits. We all loved our food. I tasted them all and thought they were delicious. Good beer. Good wine. Great service. We have a planned visit next month and already made reservations. read more

Second visit to Bloomington and I am ready to declare Uptown Cafe as the restaurant where we've enjoyed our favorite meal. Since I was not smart enough to make a reservation, we had an 80 minute wait for a table for three, but it was worth it. I'll just remember to make a reservation next tine. The service was outstanding - our waiter Michael was helpful, made recommendations and made our dining experience that much more enjoyable. The seafood gumbo was excellent- it's a large portion and had plenty of seafood. The peppercorn medallions were cooked a perfect medium rare (as requested) and the steak and sauce were so good. Also had mash with it which was rich and creamy. Next time I need to save room for the limoncello cake. read more

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Great food and service,we have a wonderful time. The atmosphere was amazing and everyone enjoyed the experience.

Whatever you do, do not order the crawfish etouffee. To be fair, and that's why there is a second star, the artichoke dip was good, although you can make this yourself pretty easily. The hummus also was a good appetizer. For the main course I thought it would be great to try the crawfish etouffee. I had been to Uptown several years ago and a local person I was visiting indicated that their Cajun fare was good. This was not. These poor crawfish were sacrificed in a bowl of brown, gravy and rice. Not etouffee, brown gravy. It was as if you took your leftover gravy from a roast beef and put crawfish in it. There was barely a hint of the spices that one would expect to find in a decent etouffee. To close on the plus side, our server was very nice. read more

We had brunch there on Father's Day. We were seated outside at our request and sat on the new deck, which was lovely. The server was pleasant and we were served our beverages quickly, with entrees soon to follow. I had the avocado toast and fruit bowl. My husband had the lox and bagels. We very much enjoyed our meal and the service as well as the ambiance. We will definitely try to get back there again soon for Sunday brunch. read more

Raised to three stars. Almost made four. Ordered a crawdad etouffe. There were no marching bands, no trumpets, no "When the saints go marching in". Had lots of crawdads. Had the personality of a toothbrush. Not a bad toothbrush. A well-presented toothbrush. A few shots of handy habenero sauce perked it up. It was OK. My partner had some polenta with jalapenos, and some cheese. Wasn't bad. There was a decent artichoke-olive baked dip. Things were starting to push a four star. Then I did a custom coffee drink. The drink, two shots with whipping cream (due expressi conno panna) was decent. Nice coffee. We didn't do alcohol. Two menus for that; nice; ignored. This is Bloomington, and alcohol is a major product here. Beers and wines are offered. It was really crowded. Sadly, the acoustics aren't good despite a lot of effort on their part to dampen the "liveliness" of the room. Their meat offerings might be stellar; I can't try them. I'm a pescetarian. I'll try another fish entree, next year, when I have the budget or when the lottery comes through. I added up the score, and it was OK. Two entrees, an appetizer, two coffee drinks, $63 before tip. Surf-and-turf would've put it well over $100. read more

Amazing!!!! Food was so good, got the crispy chicken sandwich with the steak fries. Best chicken sandwich ever

i always come for brunch since i really enjoy their breakfast! the food here is a bit pricey, but you are paying for better quality!! i tend to have a bit of a sweet tooth. i've never been let down by the crème brûlée french toast, it's soft and sweet and delicious! i also recommend the waffles. the interior is spacious so there's quite a bit of seating, i've never had to wait too long for a spot. read more

Uptown Cafe - crème brûlée french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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We were there for a graduation dinner so the menu was limited. In fact I'd say it was limited to overpriced and not very hot food. What a disappointment! I will say that our waiter was excellent. The ambiance is about average although the place was full so it was noisy. Metered street parking. read more

So, so good! A wonderful spot to celebrate my friend's birthday. Huge shoutout to our waitress, Kathleen--she was amazing and went above and beyond to make the night extra special. Warm, inviting, and thoughtful, she even ran my forgotten leftovers out to me. Truly exceptional service--Kathleen is a gem! read more