The Cafe

Good place! Usually have vegetarian options that are tasty and not loaded with cheese. Desserts used to be better—got a chocolate creme brule recently that I think was just chocolate pudding. Breakfast/brunch items are always fantastic. At night it could stand to have a little better lighting. I have perfect vision, but had trouble seeing the menu because there were no lamps near my table.

Anyone who knocks this restaurant for their "bad service" is a complete moron. I was waiting with a party of eight to be seated and it took 10 minutes longer than their estimated time (we waited a total of 20 minutes at dinner time....totally acceptable). We didn‘t even complain and they brought us out a free appetizer and two loafs of bread for free. In addition, out waiter was extremely helpful and very funny. Anyone who disagrees has outrageous standards...its not a waiters job to take the pole out of your a$$.

Very good, reasonably priced food. Love the atmosphere. You can get inexpensive (but still yummy) not so complicated food or you can get more expensive, fancy food. I‘ve got two kids and I usually eat at McDs and Taco John‘s if I‘m going out so it‘s possibly my idea of fancy and your idea of fancy are different. My favorite is the grilled cheese, it‘s not your average kids grilled cheese. On sourdough bread with green chilis in it. Oh yum! And for breakfast the yogurt and granola is so amazingly delicious! My Mom and I come to enjoy latte‘s and breakfast a couple of times a month.

I gave four stars because this isn‘t my favorite place of all time, the place I choose for birthday dinner but it is a great place that I go to often and will return to often.

I don‘t know how The Cafe ended up with 3/5 stars on average. I have always had marvelous service provided by a knowledgeable and polite staff. I have eaten breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert here and never been disappointed. The menu changes seasonally, is creative without being alienating, and combines lots of interesting, high quality, local ingredients. What‘s not to love?

I love the Cafe! Considering that it is always really busy, they do an excellent job at keeping a personal, local restaurant feel. The food is great and the staff is wonderful. Definitely an Ames gem.

Service staff is not always friendly, and when you need a manager you usually can‘t find one. You will not be able to find more unique food with a menu that changes like the Cafe though.

One of the best if not the best restaurants in Ames. The food has been good every time I have gone although I have only been three or four times. Usually spend around $18-$22 per person after beverages and tip. On the minus side the lighting is a little dim, and every time I go there is one lonely fly that buzzes around me, leaves, and never comes back again during that visit.

Absolutely LOVE this restaurant. If it were to close, I might have to move. I love the local and seasonal foods offered. Everything on the menu is wonderful and has an artistic culinary approach. The atmosphere is cozy and the staff are very professional.

Thank God for The Cafe‘ ! A local place to go to get sensational food. The mac and cheese is to die for and it‘s difficult to choose from all the other items.... they are all SO yummy ! Also, they always have the best music playing and the ambiance is wonderful. The ONLY drawback I‘ve noticed is that the ceiling fans give too much of a breeze sometimes... depending where you sit. Need I mention the desserts ?? Again, too many good ones to choose from ! Love this place !

Every time I go to the Cafe I get disappointed. Over the last 5 years, their "new" dishes are all of the remakes of the old ones and the menu is extremely limited. Too bad there aren‘t many options in Ames

This place is truly amazing!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the fresh ideas and locally grown food they offer. The wait staff is polite and very well educated on the menu! Excellent place to dine in Ames.

Wonderful food, always something new and the service is outstanding. Deli department is fastest of any as well as nice presentation.

Great place to get fresh, in season, and locally grown produce, meat, and other locally grown food. Always a great atmosphere, friendly staff, and very good prices, especially for the food you get. Other restaurants in the area don‘t even compare when it comes to the food. I could pay the same at a big brand sit down restaurant here in town and the food isn‘t really anything special, but the Cafe‘ always has amazing food.
Only down side is it is busy a lot, so you do have to wait sometimes to get seated,(totally worth it!) but I have never had a problem with service here.

This place is truly the best food in Ames, but a little over priced

Never had anything but good service here. Always some interesting choices on the menu. Have and do take friends to this place - they always love it! Great atmosphere also...

I‘ve lived here for 8 years and go to The Cafe at least twice a month. I‘m surprised by all the negative comments on the service. I‘ve never had poor service. Yes, the place is constantly busy, so it can be awhile to get seated. Past that though, Ive rarely had a poor experience with the service. I‘ve always loved the food, and particularly love the atomosphere. Wonderful ambiance. I‘m never disappointed there.

Best resturant in town. Great food, great drinks, excellent service.

I like the Cafe but I‘m not addicted to it. Their mac and cheese is great but I am not a gourmet type of person so some of their sandwiches are a bit much for me.

This is the best restaurant in Ames. The food is fabulous, fresh, and original!

The desserts are really good& the main dishes I have tried were pretty good but way overpriced. The thing that knocks it down for me is the service. I have yet to be impressed or even satisfied with their service and to me that makes or breaks a dining experience. I would rather have decent food but excellent service than good food but bad service.

cleanest kitchen in Ames along with strong attention to detail and quality. The waitstaff can be a problem at times...

Food is OK. Over priced. Service is poor at best.

the hostess is NOT friendly but most of the waitresses are, i took my boyfriend here (he goes to Loyola, Chicago) and he loved it, it was his favorite meal hes had in a long time. We went for Sunday brunch, i also like how their menu changes and they use locally grown food.

I have tried and tried to like this place But everytime it‘s the same old story. the service is absolutely terrible!! Is it so bad that we thought our waitress had left the building. It took literally half an hour to get to martinis. we ordered our drinks before our food thinking we‘d get them before our food but it wasn‘t until we are ready eating that we got them. Really there‘s nothing good to say about this place except for the atmosphere. The food is way too centered on avocado and fish. even with a changing menu they still can‘t seem to get the food right. If it wasnt 4 the lack of fine dining in ames, this restaurant would not be doing well at all.

One of our sales reps. ordered our lunches from The Cafe. They forgot one persons chips and cookie. The driver went back to get them and came back with just the chips. He was very frustrated and didn‘t offer to take the price of the cookie off the bill.I had the grilled Chicken Salad. The lettuce or Romain lettuce was all stocks hardly any leafy part to it. It was what I would have thrown away! Nasty! I ate the chicken out of the salad and left the rest and I am a sallad lover! I do not recomend their box lunches. Now eating in is a totally different experiance. Food was excelent. a little pricy but on occasion your worth it.

Personally I don‘t like this place much but the women in my family LOVE it, so I write for them. The atmosphere I must say is nice and semi-casual. The service is great and curtious. My mother and her friends rave about the food and deserts everytime they go, so it must be good.

Their food is amazing! My favorite items are the mac and cheese and shrimp pizza...I wish they were always on the menu! The strawberry lemonade the best I‘ve ever had!

We tried going there another time on a Tuesday evening and the place was packed! There was people waiting to be seated, despite when we walked through the back saw at least three tables that were empty. We made the mistake of not checking in immediately upon arrival however none of the many waitresses that walked past us or people working the front informed us that was how it was operating. No sign to say wait to be seated and no one informing how long the wait would be. Stood there for 10 minutes and had a group get seated prior to us that got there after us! Decided to go somewhere with better service.

On first visit, the experience was pretty good. Upon reading the reviews prior to visiting, I was expecting either a great place with an eclectic menu or very poor spot lacking in service. It was good.

My brother who went to ISU recommended this place to us, saying it was the best place to eat in Ames. I suppose that‘s all up to taste. The appetizer and main dishes ordered were good. The drinks were great. At one point, I ordered an Italian soda and realized what I was really craving was an Italian cream soda (despite not being on the menu), and asked if it would be possible to change the order and the waitress instantly said it would not be a problem.

I plan on stopping here again, to see the ever-changing menu as well as to try breakfast!

I‘ve come here a number of times, and the food is good, but the service is average. Went last night, and it seemed as though the hostess could care less whether we were there. Another time we were there, I guarantee that people who showed up after us were being seated ahead of us. Our server was friendly, but just competent as far as providing service. Most people I know rave about the place, but they‘ve done nothing to impress me. Come here if you want good food that is different than most places in Ames, but not if you want to want to be treated like a valued customer.

We love going here. You have to go with an open mind as the menu changes quite often! But that for us means it is always an adventure. We have a small daughter and she can get a kids steak for around $4 that comes with a cookie, chips and fruit. (They will even substitute yogurt for the chips!) Often we will get something off the menu that sounds unusual or is unlike the food we normally eat and then snag a few bites of her steak. The desserts and coffee are tasty as well.

Food looks good, but is only average. Overpriced.

I have recently moved back to the midwest from Calif. and have been pleasantly surprised by how good this restaurant is and how often they change their menu. A bit long wait on busy nights, but, hey, this is a college town with great restaurants in high demand. Have ordered various different items and have NEVER been unhappy with them. The prices are very competitive...

Perfect dining atmosphere. Love that they use local ingredients. Always have a few vegetarian options that are delicious and filling.

Average at best. The atmosphere is probably one of the best in Ames, but the quality of food and service is very inconsistant. My chicken breast wasn‘t fully cooked and they were mad at me instead of making it right. Menu options are lacking. My husband‘s steak was tough. Overpriced.

Food is average, service poor, management has no clue as to customer service! They were out of signature food items, out of a couple wines and management‘s attitude was very casual with no attempt to make the customer feel better about being there. In short the attitude was we think we‘re good and we don‘t care.

My husband and I go to The Cafe weekly for "date night". There are so many wonderful choices so there is always variety. The staff are competent and friendly. There is often a wait - and there is a reason for that. It is the best restaurant in town!

you have got to try the grilled cheese and salad. The chilis were the best touch to the sandwich and that was the best salad I have ever had. So yummy!

Not only is the food amazing at The Cafe, the service, drinks, and bakery are fabulous, too! I love the fact they try and use local foods. If you‘ve never eaten at The Cafe, you need to soon!

Great food, great service, reasonable prices. What more do you want? Some may feel uncomfortable in this establishment, for its lack of "greasy spoon" ambiance, or the heartburn they might expect from a mid-western "cafe." They may consider it pretentious. Being a true Iowan, i will say that I love the Cafe. It‘s the perfect place to eat a relaxed lunch or quiet dinner with my wife. Mid-morning Saturday? They have excellent coffee and french bread that will rival any other in Iowa.

You gotta get dessert for a 5/5! Amazing mmmm

I found very interesting the reviews about them being pretentious, I come from Washington, DC and trust me, there is absolutely nothing pretentious about them (which is not a bad thing from time to time in my opinion but that‘s another subject). I‘ve always had more than helpful staff helping me, I love the food and the ambiance, it is the best local, down to earth place I‘ve ever eaten at. Their menu changes with the seasons and it is always original and very creative which I definitely appreciate. The only time I did not was when Paella was the special and it was an interpretation of Paella which was very disappointing to me. Other than that, I love it!

over rated - over priced, and all around bad service.

I want to like The Cafe, I really do. I like the idea of local and sustainable menu. I love the chef inspired options, I want to eat their delisious deserts, and they have great coffee. On paper this place is great. However I feel like this place is too far up its own bum to realize it‘s not a 4 star resturant, and all of the patrons need to dial back the pretentious attitude. That‘s just a problem in Iowa, especially North Ames, so I guess I‘m addressing a social change that will never happen. If you are oblivious to the "holier than thou" attitude or are in fact one of those who dole it out, you‘ll do fine here. Always a packed house though, so I don‘t think my review will change anything :)

Best value in Ames for good food. Clearly they do their best to be fresh and local.

Yes, I LOVE The Cafe TOO!!
I think that the people that don‘t love it are
just too stupid or spineless to actually talk
to their server. Maybe they think restaurants
should read their minds.
Any time I have asked for an adjustment
on a menu item it has graciously been
done if possible, and usually I am not charged for it!!

They ALWAYS have some kind of a benedict on the brunch menu-I know because I go every week. I also know that if there is a meat in a menu item, they can easily take it out and will substitute a veggie option. The last person must have not read the menu completely or know about the Cafe‘s willingness to adjust menu item‘s to a person‘s dietary needs. Perkin‘s also doesn‘t use anything homemade, local, or from scratch like the cafe! Love it!

My husband and I went there this morning....and after we looked at their brunch menu we got up and left. What happened to the eggs benedict or the herb baked eggs? Sorry, for pancakes and mushroom omelette I can go to Perkins. Over the past 3 years your menu from breakfast to dinner has been going downhill, not to mention complete luck of any decent vegetarian options. Next time I will be going to Cafe Shi for brunch,because for you I am a lost customer now.

Terrible service. The waitress forgot our appetizers and after brought our dinner never checked back in. Won‘t be back.

The prices are the same as Applebee‘s or [insert other chain restaurant here] I don‘t understand the comments stating that the Cafe is overpriced. $8 dollars for fish tacos?! Yes please.

This place is great!!! Try the halibut, it is outstanding. I‘m a German chef, so i should know. The service is perfect. Thanks, I will come back!!

I was excited to try this and looked at the menu online. I thought it was terrible...but maybe it‘s good for Iowa. The food and service cannot compare to any larger city restaurant. And I felt it was VERY overpriced. And I don‘t even mind paying a lot for average food if it has a nice atmosphere and great service...this just didn‘t. Will never return.

Ames is lucky to have a place like this!

I have never been let down by this place! I just recently moved from Ames and every time I am back in town I make sure to stop by! Excellent service, food and especially dessert :) So delicious!!

I agree with the overrated comment. The atmosphere is excellent, but the food leaves a lot to be desired. Small portions, big prices. I think they need to consider adding a few familiar items, along with the unique items they offer. Some people, like myself, are all for trying new things, but a few of my friends don‘t care for the strange combinations on the menu.

I used to love this place, however their last few menus have been pretty bad. I am not a fan of fish or pork, and if I want a hamburger I will stay home. What happened to the steak sandwich?

please get a new menu soon. the last two have been just awful.

The best panackes anywhere in Story County. Great wait staff, ambiance, and menu. Desserts and breads are amazing. We are fortunate to have a place like this in Story County--you typically would need to go to much more urban areas to get this sort of retaurant.

This restaurant is the best place to eat...any day out of the year. Their menu is always changing and keeps you guessing! The staff is alway very kind and considerate! The hostess can easily start up a conversation with me and they are very pretty, handsome (the one gentlemen host). The first time I came in I wondered why I had to wait for the rest of my party to be seated, I asked the hostess and she explained very throughly the reasoning behind it. She also explained why some smaller parties may be seated before a party of say, 4. There are only a few tables that seat two and they fill them up as quickly as possible. So for those who do not understand... listen: everything they do has a reason. :) I love this place so much!!

I adore this restaurant!!!! It has a great variety of food and has a great environment. The restaurant is fancy and laid back at the same time. The service is great and I love all the people that work there. Whoever wrote that last review didn‘t know what they were talking about at all!!! LOVE IT!!

If you like a limited menu with a pretentious waitstaff that is generally more pre-occupied with chatting to one another than providing you service, this is the restaurant for you. This is by and far the most overrated place to eat in Ames .... and outside of dessert, the food is average at best. If you want a place with a wider, better-prepared fusion menu, try Cafe Shi (which has much better fare and waitstaff).

amazing! try a bikini boat - it will change your life.

Loved it! They have a very interesting and unique menu and the food is delicious. The atmosphere is also very nice. Definitely one of the best places to eat in Ames!

great food, great atmosphere, for this type of restaurant to be in ames iowa is awesome.

Great place to eat out in Ames. The food is delicious, but make sure you know what you‘re getting. Sometimes they will bring you a plate that‘s about as big as your hand with three scallops on it and you pay almost twenty dollars for it. If you know what you‘re getting into and like good food it‘s the place to go in Ames. But honestly make sure you know what you‘re getting into first.

I have been to the Cafe about four times in the last two months. The service and the food have always been very prompt and good. The idea of changing out menu selections is really quite nice and when people complain about that they just need to think more creatively and try something new. My experience is that items seem to come back around.

Food is pricey even when you try to make a nice dish at home. The economy can be blamed, not the Cafe owner. I think if it is too expensive for me to buy there I will stay home. Eating out is not a way to eat cheaply.

Breakfast and Brunch are a very nice addition to their fare. Their selections are fun and a nice way to try something new! We come from Des Moines to eat here and have never been disappointed!

I love the changing menu - you can always expect something new and different. The ambiance is nice and comfortable, and is a great place for a nice date or a group dining experience.

Probably the best restaurant in Ames!! My wife and I always look forward to dining at the Cafe. The service is awesome, the food is great and the prices are reasonable. Be careful, no reservations and a busy night means a long wait sometimes, but it is well worth it.

totally worth your time and money!!! i moved away from ames and i can‘t say how much i miss the cafe!!! great food, great drinks (christmas special edition beer amazing!), great service, great atomosphere!

The Cafe is my favorite place in Ames. Great taste and an always changing menu keeps me coming back. Anything you order is full of flavor

Not only is The Cafe my favorite restaurant in Ames, it‘s one of my favorites anywhere. While most of the menu stays consistant, whenever I‘m in town there‘s always something new to try. Their mixed drinks are always way above par for anything else in the area. This place is more for someone who would describe themselves as having a refined taste and likes to try new/different foods.

If you‘re interested good food, The Cafe is where to get it! I don‘t know why anyone would ever eat at a chain restaurant again once they discover that there are gems like The Cafe out there.

If you want vegetarian food - don‘t bother! There is rarely more than a noodle bowl available and it gets boring after more than one or two meals.

Great menu and yummy food from local vendors. Excellent service. With an ever changing menu, we never get tired of going here.

Drop everything and head to The Cafe immediately!! They have THE best menu ever right now! Fish tacos, tomato basil soup, tomato bruschetta, pizza margherita, spicy turkey sandwich, and chicken quesadillas...not to mention all of the fab desserts! We‘ll be back a lot until this menu [sadly] disappears!

The Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants (not just in Ames). I have never ordered something I didn‘t like and the presentation is lovely. The food is very reasonably priced. The reason their menu is smaller is that they change it every 4-6 weeks, and they generally only keep a few dishes that were very popular. Plus, they have the best desserts in town.

I love this place! Contrary to some other reviews, I really enjoy that the menu is not pages and pages long (it‘s quality not quantity!), I also don‘t think it is overpriced at all, not for the delicious and local/organic meals they serve, and their prices are comparable to other nice restaurants (and by "nice" I don‘t mean chain restaurants). I am a vegetarian and I prefer avoiding eggs and dairy as well, so my only complaint would be that there are not a lot of options for vegetarians! I would love to see some tempeh, tofu, seitan dishes, or some bean dishes even - how about some indian curries!

By far my favourite restaurant in Ames. Glad to see a place that values creativity in food. Interesting ingredients, reasonable prices, friendly servers, and a great atmosphere. (Oh, and a dessert case that I dream about at night!)

My only suggestion is for them to add a few more vegetarian options. The ones they have already are fantastic, but in order for me to go more often, (which I would LOVE to do!) I‘d have to have a few more meatless choices to rotate through.

THANK YOU for providing a refreshing alternative for Ames residents!

The Cafe is a great place to sit and enjoy your company. I must say it would be a great first date restaurant. The atmosphere was perfect. The wait staff was very professional, although they need just a hint more friendliness to them. Their menu is fantastic. If you have never tried a brick over pizza, try it. Everything I have tried on their menu has great flavor and compliments each other. The only down side to this place, I think, is that their menu needs more selections. But with flavor and great entrees like these, I don‘t mind repeats.

just cause you use local ingredients (sysco)is not local,does not meaN YOU Have TO have a small menu.we use fresh ingredients and make everything from scratch,our menu is three to four pages.thanks,local restaurant owner

The food is good quality, but the choices for vegetarians are pathetic. I‘m not sure why people are so ecstatic about the creativity of the menu, either: it‘s not that hard to be creative when you offer a meat dish for virtually every entree. If you don‘t want to eat flesh, you‘re basically stuck with appetizers (overpriced, tiny) or maybe one (also tiny overpriced) entree on the menu. If I want grilled cheese, I‘ll make it at home. Come on! It would be more impressive to create some interesting and substantial vegetarian entrees - then the Cafe would really stand out in this town, too. That said, this is one of the nicest places to eat in Ames (atmosphere, etc). But, that‘s not saying much, either.

I don‘t know what you‘re talking about over priced. This place is inexpensive for the great food you are getting. Their menu isn‘t 40 pages long, but that‘s because they focus on fresh quality food, and not cranked out, frozen stuff that is mass marketed. I have never had anything but good service and exceptional meals here.

Hands down one of the best places to eat in Ames. Their menu is limited, since they used local seasonal produce, and prepare EVERYTHING in the kitchen. I would say the prices are maybe a bit higher but not out of line. When ever I want to treat myself, it‘s where we go.

If you like pastries, they have a killer chocolate croissant...that pairs well with coffee; a slice of heaven.

Nice change of environment, but very overrated. The food is overpriced for what it is, average at best. Also, a severe lack of selection.

I think the cafe is wonderful. The staff and service are always fantastic. The menu changes often and features everything from fresh seafood to thai pizza. The wine list is exceptional, featuring everything from Cava to Austrian Riesling! Yummy.

I have mixed feelings on this place since I have had both good and bad experiences here. Beware if you use your credit cards to pay and make sure you take your copy of the receipt with you so you can check the charge on your account! Was just there for breakfast this morning - used my credit card and wrote my tip in on the receipt (over 15% but not quite 20%) and my server must not have thought it was enough because my card was charged an additional $0.25 from what I wrote on the receipt. It‘s not breaking the bank, but it is pretty shady.

This is one of the best restaurants I have had the pleasure of visting. I have yet to be served anything but delicious cuisine and I have tried many selections on their menu. The lighting and music make the visits even more pleasurable. The service is great.

One sip of their cucumber martini and you‘ll be hooked! Great fun place!

Great food with a changing menu. Always surprising! One of the best date places in town, and also an excellent spot for drinks and dessert! They have the best Mojito in town and their desserts aren‘t like anything else I‘ve had. Also, reasonably priced for what you get. One of the best restaurants in Ames, overall.

Amazing food - fresh and full of flavor. Great ambiance and wonderful, delightful service. It‘s a must visit when you‘re in Ames.

Nice place, but food is not exactly healthy cooked. I wish they had more options for vegetarians. Breakfast & Lunch menu is especially greasy!!! But pastry is good!

This is my favorite restaurant in Ames. The food is great! I love that the menu changes with seasons and what‘s fresh. The desserts are to die for! It‘s great to try something new here- we‘ve never had a bad meal. The atmosphere is great and my husband always comments on how he loves the background music too!

The Cafe has reasonable food at a fair price. For Ames, it is probably one of the better choices. However, on a scale with a "normal" city (e.g., outside Iowa), it is just average. The food is reasonably creative (at least they are trying), but it lacks sophistication. The wine list is pedestrian.

Ignore the people bad mouthing the Cafe. This place is really good.
Chef is rumored to be a five star chef from Kansas City.

The food is amazing, and made from local ingredients. The menu changes with the seasons and ingredients available. They have the best burger in town. Be daring and try something you haven‘t had before, they are sure to surprise you.

Get a drink too, their bartender is one of the best in ames.

One of the best restaurants in the Ames/Des Moines area. I have never had a bad meal here. Service and servers have always been very good. Unlike some other restaurants, some much more expensive, desserts are all unique and not "out of the box." Great food, great atmosphere, great background music.

They have the best wheat pancakes! Very fair prices, great service, very trendy decor--you don‘t feel like you are in Ames, Iowa when there! Get there breads to go, as well.

In my opinion it is the best restaurant in town right now. I go there at least once a month!!!

We think The Cafe is one of the best. Their menu choices are unusual and don‘t always sound appealing, but we have never had anything that wasn‘t delicious and well prepared.

Very over rated ! Pho is taste-less, go to Lee‘s Vietnamese restaurant for a real thing.

One of the best places to eat in Ames! I was thrilled to finally find a place here that appeals to people with a more sophisticated palate who don‘t think fast food and 5 pound burritos are the height of good eating. It is a bit pricier, but the menu is incredible, the atmosphere is casual & upscale, and the service top notch.

Love "The Cafe!" It‘s such a wonderfully quiet, cozy, warm place to dine. I feel like I‘m in Europe! The waiters and waitresses have always been very professional and we especially enjoy the change of menus...so many choices! Know that a lot of "behind the scene" work goes into making each and every dish a great culinary experience.

delicious as can be. i love it so much it is ridiculous

come on!!!! way over rated, overpriced and OVER THE TOP!!!! Why do you have to try so hard? Totally not worth the time, money or effort. Dumb place. DONT BOTHER!!!!

Although I do get disappointed when I realize a favorite dish has been eliminated because of a menu change, it encourages me to try new things instead of sticking to a safe choice. One of the best places in Ames although very busy a lot of the time...

This place has a wide variety of choices as far as their menu goes. That being said they need to learn what is good on their menu before scratching it with a new menu. Some of my favorite entrees from this place have disappeared as well. The service can be slow and it can be fairly fast. I did however one night have terrible service and was not given the time of day by my waiter. When it came time to receive my change it took him over twenty minutes to bring it back. And by that time I was already out the door, and he was left with a generous tip that he didn‘t deserve.

The cafe is by FAR the best eating establishment in Ames. Even though there menu is a bit different, I have never ordered something I didn‘t like! All of you cafe haters are probably the same people who love places like Applebees! You obviously have no taste whatsoever because I go to the cafe atleast once every couple of weeks, and they always have top notch service and the best tasting food in town!! Keep it up!

I liked this place a lot at the begining: good food, good service and good athmophere. BUT...
Every time I like something on the menu, it is quickly changed and is not available on my next visit. This happened with all my favorite items at least three times.
The second problem is that the present menu is boring and very limited. Basically the choices are bbq pizza, clam pizza, sandwiches, tuna entree, stake entree, vegetable pasta. Right now no great appetizer options at all! So if you tried the tuna and the stake, I‘m afraid not a lot left!!!
Change the menu again people, and try something different than tuna stake and stake. What was wrong with the mussels, the baked brie or the sashimi?

very over rated restaurant!! they try way too hard to keep the menu interesting, almost to the point of desperation to be different. they also have a horrid hostesses/seating system. on a recent visit, we were waiting to be seated 30+ minutes and they managed to seat two couples ahead of us. it was very rude and their manager was very unprofessional. don‘t plan on returning anytime soon, and we live nearby.

Wonderful!!!! We love The Cafe. There is always something new to try, and almost always exceeds our expectations. The atmosphere is perfect, cozy yet lively. Cocktails are the best we can find in town. Love the fact that they get there food from local famers...More places should learn from the the Cafe‘s example.

I agree that vegetarian options can be slim, but I‘ve also found them very receptive to special requests if there‘s nothing that appeals on the menu. In those cases, I ask if the chef would be willing to make a vegetarian item that is more focused on veges than starches (often their pastas are more pasta then veges, but if you ask for extra, veges, they‘re glad to oblige).
They just changed the menu recently and the vegetarian pasta entree is delicious--garlic and red pepper oil.

One of our favorite places in Ames! Regularly changing menu keeps things interesting with delicious choices. Terrific atmosphere also!

the food is fabulous and priced well! the decor is great especially for somewhere to take the visiting parents or for a date nite! but the help....???rather slow and often non exsistent. which is sad because the rest of the place is so great

The place is cute, but the vegetarian entrees are not only severely limited but both times I ate there, they were bland.

One of the best restaurants in Ames. I cannot believe anyone would ever say the food tastes horrible. I‘ve been there at least once a month since it opened and have never had anything I didn‘t love. I believe refills aren‘t free because they do not have a soda fountain and the lemonade is homemade. Anyone that says this place isn‘t stellar is the same person that considers Applebees fine dining. They‘re crazy and have no taste.

i love the cafe! i moved away from ames and i miss it dearly! the service was fantastic! i always went in whether it was for breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee or a cocktail. they keep a nice variety on the menu and i look forward to each change they have. i highly recommend this restaurant!

My wife and I were both impressed by the fine service and the excellent food. Both the duck and the scallops were as good as anywhere we have eaten throughout the world. Deserts were excellent. Refills on soft drinks probably should be free.

Try their Javanese Salmon and a glass of wine! Wonderful and beautiful!

I agree with those who have given The Cafe a good rating. To have this nice of a restaurant in Ames is a gift. I often dine out and have been to restaurants all over the United States, it is a fact of life that service is sometimes good and sometimes not. For those who are giving bad comments on the service, it is clear that they have no worked in a restaurant themselves. Patience is needed in all areas of live, even when you‘re dining out. To make each and every person perfectly happy is an impossible thing to do. The Cafe is a place my fiance and I enjoy going to try something new. We can always count on fresh food, desserts, and wonderful drinks. If you‘re up for something unique try The Cafe.

I think this is a highly overrated Restaurant. I had three refills on my Lemonade which I found on my ticket later as 4 Lemonades. I think a good waiter would have said: I gladly bring you another one, but I have to charge as we dont do refills. To pay $10 for normal Lemonade is a bit steep. The deserts are very pricey also.

The Cafe is a fantastic place to eat. I moved away from Ames 2 years ago and it is a must-have staple everytime I visit home. Their breakfast, lunch and dinner items offer a tantalizing twist on every day favorites...a menu that is not only unique to the city of Ames but I would venture to say is unbeatable across the state of Iowa...you simply must experience it for yourself. Cheers!

Great food, great atmosphere, great price.

I live in Des Moines and my wife an I make special trips to Ames just to eat at the Cafe.

Their bar and desserts alone are worth the trip. Together with their gourmet menu, it is a great place to have a meal.

I would recommend that they expand their menu to include all of the dishes that people have eaten and absolutely loved over time. This should be obvious as they are the same dishes that people come back and ask for time and time again. Problem is that most people do not realize that you can still order some of those dishes, even if they are not on the official menu anymore. Next, drop dessert prices by 10% and they will likely sell more desserts, and make more profit through volume. Third, create a dessert tray to showcase the desserts. Fourth, conduct a customer service survey to see what your customers want. Never seen one there. Last, keep up the good work. What a great place to eat!

The Cafe is simply fantastic. Food is freshly made, the wait staff is extrelemy professional and the food is out of this world. I have lived in Ames one year and eat at the Cafe 3-4 times a week. They have the best hamburger in Ames, and literally every single item on the menu is tasteful and professionally prepared. I have lived in the Chicago area, California and travelled the world and this place is top notch, period. Never would have expected to find a place like this in Ames. Also try the Thai restaurant off Main St. - another pleasure and the food is on par with what you‘d expect to find in a big city.

This is a favorite restaurant! Nice casual ambiance. We‘ve eaten here alot since we moved to Ames and have never had a bad meal. Their menu is fresh and changes based on the season and what is available from local farms. They offer a range of pricing too. And their desserts are delicious!

Since I‘m supposed to give my opinion: This place sucks! There are many other great places to eat in Ames, don‘t waste your time here.

When a waiter visits the restroom facility and fails to wash his hands after......it somehow ruined our meal. Thankfully he was not ours, but the couple next us.
Sincerely,
Nauseated

The Cafe is my favorite restaurant in town. I love that their menu changes to reflect what is in season for that time of year. All of their cocktails are made with fresh ingredients, my favorite is the Cafe Margarita made with fresh lime juice. Breakfast is always fabulous as well. If there is a menu item that has something on it you don‘t want, just ask, they are always more than willing to make a change if it is possible.

Clearly one of the best restaurants in town. My personal favorite anyway. The menu is delicious and a far cry from average. The dishes are original, the desserts are fantastic, and even though the drinks are kind of expensive (but what restaurant‘s aren‘t) their martini list is fantastic! I recommend the strawberry pineapple martini, but ask your server if it‘s a good batch since it‘s home made. This is a great place to go for a date, or just a quick lunch. If you‘re in a hurry go to the cafe side and order a deli sandwhich (try the turkey pesto!) The prices are more than reasonable and the portions are perfect! Don‘t listen to anyone who doesn‘t enjoy this place. I‘m not sure where they‘d prefer to eat in town, but I can almost promise you it‘s not as good as The Cafe.

After hearing my boss rave about this place, I decided to try it about a month ago. Let‘s just say, I‘ve been there 3 times in the last month. WOW! The food is such a nice change from the boring lunch choices. It‘s fresh and unique. I‘ve ordered lunch takeout twice, and my food was ready as soon as I got there. I also ate supper there on a Saturday night. We only waited 15 minutes for a seat. Our server was friendly, prompt, and very informative about the food. They do change the menu to keep up with the fresh seasonal foods, which is only a downfall if you really liked something that was on a previous menu.

If you‘re looking for a unique choice on their newest menu, try the Somerset Salad. What a pleasant surprise that was to my taste buds!!!!

We had breakfast at The Cafe on Sunday morning, arriving at 8:30 and were promptly seated. The wait person was efficient and attentive. The food was a gastronomical delight!

If it wasn‘t for the way I was greated and handled at the begining I would of given a glowing review because the food was wonderful, our waitress was capable, and the timing was right on. We arrived about 20 minutes till 5 p.m., when they begin seating. I didn‘t know, however, that they don‘t begin seating until 5p.m., until AFTER I‘d been seated and was being served my appetizer. Instead when we walked into the resteraunt we were glared at and weren‘t helped. I finally stopped a server who‘d passed us for the third time without acknowladging us. She said that it‘d be just a minute and kept on going.

When the hostest finally greeted us, she was a bit shrill with us and told us to sit in the bistro side of the resturant and that she‘d be with us to seat us shortly. More people began to show up and we weren‘t seated for another good twenty mintues as the rest of the crowd was being seated before us.

I think all of this could of been avoided by simply posting the hours in which they serve dinner. The only time that is listed on the doors is "open at 7 a.m daily". I brought up that there ought to be a sign with the times they begin serving; the waitress said that the managment thought it would look too tacky.

I do want to say that the food was very good. Nearly perfect portions, not too big, but not too little, and the service prompt. Little things like this that irk someone just enough to make them feel like they arn‘t welcome do effect the rest of their meal. I‘ve worked in the resteraunt business and I understand that coordinating the preperation for a busy night and making sure the customers are taken care of is a huge job. I‘m just asking for a little bit less stuffyness and more of a helpfull attitude.

We‘ve eaten here a lot and have had a full range of experiences -- from wonderful and attentive servers, to servers who rushed us through the meal and didn‘t give us refills. I agree with all of the reviews on this site. The Cafe can be a great place to eat, but your experience will be more enjoyable if you get one of their more experienced servers. I also agree with the person who said the desserts are expensive. If memory serves me, it seems like they weren‘t always this price. At any rate, due to several experiences over the past few months, we definitely don‘t/won‘t go as frequently as we used to....especially since Cafe Shi and The Spice are still in town.

I have never had a bad experience at The Cafe. The food is always great and I‘ve always had great service. - I also think the lady down there needs to chill out, maybe grow up a little as well... I‘m sure they will be happy you won‘t be coming around anymore.

I think that it is great! I wish that grumpy people that woke up on the wrong side of the bed would not try ruin the reputation of a great establishment in Ames. This is Ames IA not LA.

Just to say, I think that lady before was really high strung and needs to chill out a little bit. First of all, if you‘re wanting to wait that long, 15 minutes more should not be a problem, and if you‘re that upset, be an adult and personally speak with the manager; you probably would‘ve gotten more out of it than the pleasure of typing a page and a half bitch-session.


I was there just last Saturday morning, and it was fabulous. There were only about 5 or so people there, and since I had never been there before, I didn‘t quite know what to expect. Usually, the places I‘ve been to that have breakfast just have the regular pancakes and eggs, sausage and bacon sort of thing; not this place.


The food was presented very well, which is unusual for a place this inexpensive. Also, the food wasn‘t just written well on the menu; the "blend of spices" weren‘t just a load of crap. It was a true sensation to the palate. I had a quesadilla with sausage, and it was awesome. And filling too! I didn‘t even finish the fourth quarter! The tortillas were stuffed with ingredients, with the perfect amounts of each ingredient.


The place is in a very adequately positioned location in Somerset, since it is has that neighborhood feel, yet a city style. I only came here to meet some coworkers, but immediately after I came back from work, I told my boyfriend how great it was. I don‘t even live nearby--(it‘s clear across town for me!), but I‘m certain I‘ll be there again.

The Cafe has definitely been going downhill lately, and quickly too. My husband and I have been there 3 times in the past month and a half, and after tonight‘s visit (which was the worst it‘s ever been) I don‘t think we‘ll be going back there for at least 3 months or more.
The menus have been very disappointing lately and like another viewer said, they usually only replace about half of the menu with new dishes. One of the reasons I love going there, other than the usually good dinner options, is the desserts. Come on, I know everyone likes them! But they seem to be getting ridiculously overpriced. Nearly $5 for a slice of Cheesecake and over $5 for a slice of Dark Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Torte! I could understand if they were the most delicious desserts I‘ve ever had, but I‘ve had better and cheaper dessert at a high end restaurant in San Francisco!

Anyway, the reason for the poor review other than how crappy things have been there lately is that tonight my husband and I show up around 7:20 and are given a 25 minute estimate for a table. So we stood there and waited and waited. Then one of the cook‘s parents came in and he was trying to bump them up on the list so they wouldn‘t have to wait. Unfortunately for us, the dad‘s name is the same as my husband‘s. So when we saw the bitchy hostess go and get them and walk by to seat them when we were supposed to be seated, we were immediately annoyed. Then she sat another set of people who had come in after us! By this time we had been waiting 40 minutes for our table and were about ready to walk out the door. My husband walked up to ask how much longer it would be and she played dumb and was like, "Yeah, I just realized I grabbed the wrong "name"" Right. She totally knew what she was doing.
Skip to us finally getting seated after I gave her an evil glare when she almost seated yet another couple before us. Then, not only did we get a crappy waitress, who rushed us through ordering and did not come back to the table to refill our water glasses (that‘s all we had to drink) ONCE through the entire meal! When she brought out my artichoke pizza, which is served with a lemon wedge so you can squeeze lemon juice on it if you‘d like. Upon trying to squeeze my lemon, I noticed that the lemon wedge that was on my pizza had not only already been squeezed since no juice came out of it, but there was barely any substance to it. It looked as if someone had already squeezed it and then eaten most of the lemon off of it as it was basically just the white skin that separates the sections. I was quite disgusted and our waitress was no where to be found so I couldn‘t even inform her of the kitchen‘s crappy service. So, I guess watch out for you may get someone‘s mostly eaten recycled lemon. Real classy, Cafe!

I hope the owner‘s read the reviews on this site and take into consideration some of the complaints that we all have. But I‘m sure they just look at them and laugh because they don‘t care since they will continue to make the big bucks with their shitty employees and overpriced food. I think I‘ve totally given up on this restaurant. We‘ll be heading to Des Moines the next time we want a nice dinner out.

i think it is good, maybe the new menus haven‘t been so great lately but still worth a trip.

Not sure what‘s been going on there lately. The menus are not nearly as good as they have been in previous months. When there IS a new menu, it has half of the stuff from the previous menu, whereas most of the items were replaced in the past. It‘s gone downhill since we moved here, and we‘ve been disappointed the past 4 or 5 times we‘ve been there.

yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. yummmmmmmmmmmmm.

Delicious food and a great atmosphere, perfect for any date. If you are unsure of what to get, order the Mac and Cheese! Oooy-Gooey and right from the oven!

I went here about a month ago, and was disappointed in the food. Maybe the current menu isn‘t as good as they usually are, but since this place has been open I‘ve never been that impressed. The atmosphere is polished, and clearly the place is run by experienced professionals (and owners with money), but this is the "best" by Ames standards only. Many, many places in Des Moines are easily better. And The Cafe certainly didn‘t invent the concept of local, fresh food with a seasonal menu. This trend has been happening for years in DSM, and longer in other big cities. The comments about how great this place is are exaggerated. The food is frequently over-salted, over-seasoned, over-dressed, and will contain every ingredient that could possibly be crammed into a dish. Sometimes more is just more.

Excellent food, excellent service, changing menu, and best restaurant in Ames. I go for special event, or to talk with friends because this place has atmosphere!

I love the cafe. We go there about once a month. The changing menu is always great. The new menu right now isn‘t one of the best in my opinion but the daily specials are amazing.

Absolutely the best place to eat in Ames. The desserts are fantastic! I love their side lettuce salad with feta and candied walnuts!

GREAT food, GREAT desserts, GREAT atmosphere! Always have a great time there!

This restaurant is so awesome! The atmosphere and the food are both very unique and good. The food is different, though, so if you are a picky eater you may not find more than one or two things that sound good. The desserts, though, would please even the pickiest palate!

Delicious gourmet food, ever changing menu, local produce, fresh bread, vegetarian options... what isn‘t to like?

Terrific food and atmosphere! If you haven‘t tried them for breakfast you are missing out.

This is my favorite place to eat in Ames. It has great service and great designs. Their food is amazing and I love that it changes all the time. Anyone that doesn‘t like their food has the taste buds of a child and should stick to eating at McDonalds.

the best in Ames! great food and great atmosphere

The food tastes horrible. The atmosphere is nice but that‘s about it.

Fresh ingredients and great food. Definitely try the sunday brunch menu for some unique dishes.

The Cafe: exciting, delicious, comfortable, and relaxed.

Great food, especially the desserts! If the wait is too long for you, try the bar area, which is still smoke free and has a few seats (you can order there too, if you really don‘t want to wait!) Sunday brunch is also really good, but probably the busiest

Great atmosphere, amazing food. The menu changes frequently, so i‘m always excited to go see what‘s new!

The Cafe is amazing. I personally found the waitors as doing an excellent job. The atmosphere is so different, but in a great way. The only downfall is the wait. However, most good food places have you waiting so oh well. The menu changes which is very neat for people who like to try different things. However, not everything changes all the time so you won‘t always have to have something different! It is my favorite resturaunt!! Def give it a try!

Great food... but maybe not worth the wait. Tardy waitors make it hard to get drinks and food in a reasonable time.

An ok establishment for taking your time to dine.

Such a neat place! Love it and can‘t say enough about it.
Try it......you will go back!

This place always has great food, where everything is fresh and made from scratch. The carribean pork is fabulous, and gacho pizza is delish! They easily have the best entrees, desserts, soups, and bread in town. The service is always good. It was my waitresses third night, so I was expecting her too be slow and clueless, but she was very sweet, attentive, and had all the answers to my questions, I always had everything I needed. I do wish they had more room for people waiting to be sat, it gets a bit tight and chaotic on busy nights.

THIS PLACE IS GREAT!!!! Went last week and had the best meal possible. Please Try the Mushroom appetizer, fresh made soups, Salad Green and about any entree‘ they have. Don‘t forget the Dessert, I can never eat any after dinner...but I always get something to go (the Ice Cream is also in-house made!!).
Please I can‘t recommend The Cafe‘ enough.

Its wonderful to have a restaurant with such a varied menu, most ingredients are bought in season (hence the constant changing). The desserts are not to be missed! The wait staff is fantastic.

This place never lets you down!! Always awesome! I tell everyone new to go here, made the mistake of trying that Old main place down town....terrible. The Cafe‘ Rocks!!

I love going here, we go about 1-2 times a month! Its perfect for a date and I love the changing menu! Everything on the menu is good so open up your tastebuds and try everything don‘t just stick to one thing oh and always get dessert!

Can‘t complain about this place at all. The food is almost always superb and the service has been well above par on most occasions. The only problem I have with it is the constantly changing menu. Once you find something you really like, its gone the next time you go. Other than that, I wouldn‘t change a thing. Definitely worth the money for a nice dinner.

For Iowa, this place isn‘t horrific. The food however, is hit and miss. Go when it‘s not busy otherwise the food suffers. And don‘t try anything that sounds "exotic". Stick with the traditionals: Burger, salad, etc.

Our favorite place to eat in Ames. For us, it‘s the right level of "fancy": cloth napkins, good service, great food, good drinks, a decent wine list, but not fussy. It‘s our standby & we are there several times a month.

The food was pretty good (though over priced - especially the desserts), however, I enjoyed the atmosphere until last year. I thought I would give it a try again this summer, but the waitress we had was extremely rude and asked if I was ready to order multiple times within two minutes. When I went to see the desserts, she said, "Is there a reason you‘re standing there?" I feel that she did this because I am a minority and that my Caucasian friends had no trouble getting what they wanted. In fact, when the manager was out, she said hi to them but completely ignored me. It was disappointing to find a place like this in Ames.

This is my favorite place to eat in Ames, I recommend it to everyone! I love the desserts and appetizers, I eat here about 2-3 times a month and have never had a bad time!

I recently brought my Aunt there for supper. I have always enjoyed the food there and love the idea of the rotating menu. The desserts are spectacular and my aunt who is picky enjoyed her meal and her dessert. I wouldn‘t say the service is stellar but it is always sufficient. Also I really like the local and regional food. Good work!

they try to make the food fancy, so if that‘s what you like, you should enjoy it. don‘t order soft drinks here - they serve it by the can, making it about the only place in town that doesn‘t offer free refills. it‘s always dark inside, and feels kind of cramped.

I LOVE The Cafe!! Awesome food and awesome desserts. I have never had a bad meal or service there. I highly recommend it!!!

The Cafe is one of my favorite places to eat in Ames. I enjoy the unique organic dishes and the trendy and upbeat atmosphere. I‘ve always had excellent service and the servers are very knowledgeable about the entrees that they serve. I think more customers need to appreciate the experience the Cafe is offering.

The food is good even better desserts! But, do not take children. We felt snubbed!!
We frequently eat out with our daughter but the three occasions we have been to The Cafe‘ (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner) they would not sit us in the dining room with the other customers. One time they even sat us in the bar.

The food is just ok but the desserts are insanely good and we frequent The Cafe very often to get just desserts.

Poor service each time I‘ve gone... at best, the service was ok. Too bad, other people seem to get better service! Maybe I‘ll go back, maybe not. Pretty ambivilant...

I am glad the employee‘s are reviewing the restuarant and like the management staff. As a customer, I found the service to be sub-par and the food even less impressive.

my parents go here weekly and love it. we just went with them recently and was very impressed.

In response to the review from Oct. 30th, I worked for The Cafe for 2 years and loved every minute of it. I couldn‘t of asked for a better management staff, and I was treated the best there, over any other place I‘ve ever worked. I hope everyone has the chance to come and see our comfortable, intimate atmosphere while enjoying our fresh, organic foods!

This is one of my most favorite restaurants, EVER! The food is great, the staff is always friendly and it‘s the only place I eat where I consistently order dessert......you cannot pass on their dessert. I love the rotating menu and their menu items are always unique and tasty. Reasonable prices and warm atmosphere.

I recently moved back to Ames from out-of-state and I am thrilled to have The Cafe in town. This place outshines every other Ames restaurant. The menu changes enough so that frequent guests are never bored. The dishes are creative and always delicious. You may have to wait for a table, but it is well worth it.

food is great, but i‘ve had terrible experiences with service every time.

my favorite restaurant in iowa!! the food is awesome, the desserts are awesome. and the staff is super-friendly

Great local place a cut above the rest. Features localy grown meat and produce. Warm and comfortable atmosphere.

Very uniqie eating experience in Ames, Very affordable and tasty. Adequate wine/beer list/ Outstabding breads and desserts. Menu constantly changes yet they will make special things if they have the ingredients!

The menu is great and the atmosphere is nice. However, they do not take reservations and they cannot seat a party bigger than 10 together.

i love this place. the desserts are the BEST.

Management sucks, and employess are treated like shit

The food is great, the service is acceptable and the wine list is good. What is awful is that they do not take reservations. Don‘t even bother on a Friday or Saturday evening unless you wish to eat late.

They have the best desserts in all of Ames... no lie. I‘ve never experienced anything as good as their delights.

its a great addition to Ames. food can get too experimetnal and get mediocre but generally hte food is awesome. pretty good wine list. the service is great but a constant host/hostess would be nice. rahter than having to stand htere and figure out if to seat ourselves.

Service was really bad; the hostess was rude also. Don‘t come with a large group-they only have one large table that will seat 6-8 people.

The food was good but the portions were way to small for the price of the meal. Desserts were also good.

This place rocks my socks off!

This is the best restaurant in Ames. A little pricy, but well worth it!

Great salads and awsome deserts. All of the meat dishes I‘ve ordered have been from the grill and they all had surprisingly sophisticated flavors. The grill chef knows what he or she is doing.

Reasonable, with a varying menu and a plethora of specials. Most of the meat dishes are cooked over their wood grill and have great flavor. Desserts are the best in town.