I had an amazing meal and it is easily a 5 out of 5 for me. I ordered the Korean Fried Chicken Chinois, the Café Burger, and a side of house-made potato chips, and every single item was outstanding. The Korean Fried Chicken Chinois had perfectly crispy chicken coated in a flavorful sauce with just the right amount of heat, paired with fresh, crunchy vegetables that made the dish feel balanced and vibrant. The Café Burger was juicy and cooked exactly how I like it, topped with sharp white cheddar and their signature 1000 island sauce that added a rich, tangy finish. The house-made potato chips were crisp, well-seasoned, and clearly made in-house, which made them hard to stop eating. I also tried a bite of the Somerset Salad, and the combination of smoked salmon, mixed greens, and crunchy seeds tasted incredibly fresh and thoughtfully composed. The space itself felt warm, clean, and inviting, and the staff were genuinely friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Everything from the presentation to the flavors felt intentional and high quality. It is the kind of place where you can taste the care in the cooking, and I would absolutely come back again without hesitation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wesley Markley
I had the gumbo. The rice was under cooked. The gumbo was very good. It was thick and hearty with a rich smoky flavor. Prices were a little high. The serving size was medium.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Kate Tomlinson
The food was small and my friends eggs were like apple sauce, and it was not worth the money for what little amount of food we got, would not go again
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Angie McKinley
This café is truly a gem in Ames. Every visit feels special thanks to its warm, beautiful atmosphere that makes you want to stay just a little longer. The menu is always evolving, which means there’s always something new and exciting to try. The entrées are as delicious as they are stunning—each plate looks like it came straight out of a magazine, and the flavors never disappoint. And the desserts? Absolutely top tier. Whether you’re a chocolate lover or someone who prefers something fruity and light, there’s always a sweet treat that hits the spot. If you're looking for a place that combines creativity, comfort, and consistently amazing food, this café should definitely be at the top of your list.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janet
Awesome fish tacos and jambalaya! Service was great! Atmosphere a little worn.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dave Crow
Great brunch today!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Braden Wells
Food is delicious but pricey. There charge money for just bread. My hazlenut latte was delicious and hit the spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
John Pringle
We have wanted to go to lunch at the Cafe for some time when we were going to be in Ames. I had not been at the Cafe for several years. I was disappointed to find that the menu was extremely small with not many choices. There used to be many more choices. The service was okay but the waitress never checked on us once our food was delivered except to deliver the bill. There are several other nice places to eat in Ames that are not nearly as expensive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Vicki Hiller
Great food and service 😁😁😁
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amlan Datta
To go for a coffee place. For food, they change menu which is very very disappointing. We leFt hungry as they didn't have the food we loved there.
Never disappointed with the food at The Cafe! I love the rotating menus and the creativity with the entrees. Need a delicious dinner and glass of wine? Head to The Cafe!
Destiny Ava Jurassic
Extremely rude staff. I will never go here again. I can handle overpriced with a bit of ambiance and good service, but you won’t get that here.
Taylor Vroman
Left my wallet there on a Friday. I called Saturday looking for it, and was told they did not have it. Spent my entire weekend looking for it, as it contained multiple credit cards, licenses, ID’s, etc. I called again Monday night, was again told they did not have it. Five minutes after I called, a friend called - they suddenly had it! Workers did not think to check the safe (for a wallet) until a male called. When I went I retrieve the wallet and voice my disappointment in their lack of communication, I was smirked and stared at by the employees…I certainly hope none of them ever lose a wallet! At this point, I had an appointment with the DMV booked for a new license and had froze all my credit cards. Extremely disappointed in their professionalism. Was compensated with a piece of cake - while still being smirked at and whispered about
Jeffery Bridges
Management is terrible. Witnessed higher ups screaming at employees in the middle of the day. Extremely unprofessional and a bad look for the business. Entire establishment could hear the encounter.
I had an amazing meal and it is easily a 5 out of 5 for me. I ordered the Korean Fried Chicken Chinois, the Café Burger, and a side of house-made potato chips, and every single item was outstanding. The Korean Fried Chicken Chinois had perfectly crispy chicken coated in a flavorful sauce with just the right amount of heat, paired with fresh, crunchy vegetables that made the dish feel balanced and vibrant. The Café Burger was juicy and cooked exactly how I like it, topped with sharp white cheddar and their signature 1000 island sauce that added a rich, tangy finish. The house-made potato chips were crisp, well-seasoned, and clearly made in-house, which made them hard to stop eating. I also tried a bite of the Somerset Salad, and the combination of smoked salmon, mixed greens, and crunchy seeds tasted incredibly fresh and thoughtfully composed. The space itself felt warm, clean, and inviting, and the staff were genuinely friendly and attentive without being overbearing. Everything from the presentation to the flavors felt intentional and high quality. It is the kind of place where you can taste the care in the cooking, and I would absolutely come back again without hesitation.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the gumbo. The rice was under cooked. The gumbo was very good. It was thick and hearty with a rich smoky flavor. Prices were a little high. The serving size was medium.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
The food was small and my friends eggs were like apple sauce, and it was not worth the money for what little amount of food we got, would not go again
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
This café is truly a gem in Ames. Every visit feels special thanks to its warm, beautiful atmosphere that makes you want to stay just a little longer. The menu is always evolving, which means there’s always something new and exciting to try.
The entrées are as delicious as they are stunning—each plate looks like it came straight out of a magazine, and the flavors never disappoint. And the desserts? Absolutely top tier. Whether you’re a chocolate lover or someone who prefers something fruity and light, there’s always a sweet treat that hits the spot.
If you're looking for a place that combines creativity, comfort, and consistently amazing food, this café should definitely be at the top of your list.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Awesome fish tacos and jambalaya! Service was great! Atmosphere a little worn.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great brunch today!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is delicious but pricey. There charge money for just bread. My hazlenut latte was delicious and hit the spot
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
We have wanted to go to lunch at the Cafe for some time when we were going to be in Ames. I had not been at the Cafe for several years. I was disappointed to find that the menu was extremely small with not many choices. There used to be many more choices. The service was okay but the waitress never checked on us once our food was delivered except to deliver the bill. There are several other nice places to eat in Ames that are not nearly as expensive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Great food and service 😁😁😁
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
To go for a coffee place.
For food, they change menu which is very very disappointing. We leFt hungry as they didn't have the food we loved there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Always wonderful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Never disappointed with the food at The Cafe! I love the rotating menus and the creativity with the entrees. Need a delicious dinner and glass of wine? Head to The Cafe!
Extremely rude staff. I will never go here again. I can handle overpriced with a bit of ambiance and good service, but you won’t get that here.
Left my wallet there on a Friday. I called Saturday looking for it, and was told they did not have it. Spent my entire weekend looking for it, as it contained multiple credit cards, licenses, ID’s, etc. I called again Monday night, was again told they did not have it. Five minutes after I called, a friend called - they suddenly had it! Workers did not think to check the safe (for a wallet) until a male called. When I went I retrieve the wallet and voice my disappointment in their lack of communication, I was smirked and stared at by the employees…I certainly hope none of them ever lose a wallet! At this point, I had an appointment with the DMV booked for a new license and had froze all my credit cards. Extremely disappointed in their professionalism. Was compensated with a piece of cake - while still being smirked at and whispered about
Management is terrible. Witnessed higher ups screaming at employees in the middle of the day. Extremely unprofessional and a bad look for the business. Entire establishment could hear the encounter.
Atmosphere: 1
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