The Encounter Cafe

376 S Clinton St, Iowa City
(319) 519-2044

Recent Reviews

Dawn H.

It was Saturday morning & the cafe was busy. Took about 25 minutes to place our order. Wonderful breakfast selection & coffees. Very clean and organized. Staff excellent and the food fabulous! Will definitely go back. My cafe mocha was perfect & the avocado toast anaz

Megan M.

This place was yummmmmy! I got their SEG breakfast sandwich on a croissant it was it lovely. I also added their chipotle sauce on it and I highly recommend this to any other chipotle sauce lovers out there. The service was soooo outstanding. Very friendly, chatty, and helpful. Outside of the sandwich, I also got hash browns and an iced latte. The hasbrowns were good, nothing crazy. The latte was...so so. It was on the bitter side and not as rich as I typically prefer with my lattes. There is plenty of seating inside, but this place does get super busy and is first come first serve.

Kate Olson

The staff are all so friendly, the food is delicious, and the drinks are amazing. I love their cinnamon rolls! Highly recommend coming here!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sarah Davelaar

Really tasty food! Great pastries and lunch options. It's a laid back place with plenty of seating.Lots of college students seem to spend time here too.

Food: 5

JC Sixtos

We had heard about this place via an Iowa Hawkeye womans basketball player. We came here and it didn't disappoint. They have very flavorful drinks here. Better than the competitors! The pear slushie is so good!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

David Sixtos-Villa

The Thai tea at The Encounter Cafe is a must-try for anyone visiting. Its vibrant color and perfect blend of sweetness and spices make every sip a delightful experience. It's clear the cafe prioritizes quality ingredients to achieve that authentic Thai flavor. Highly recommended for a refreshing and exotic beverage choice. My beautiful niece, and I really enjoy it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Nick Powers

Great food. Amazing cinnamon rolls. Highly recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Breakfast Sandwich, Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Zoe C.

One of my favorite brunch places. It's very large but can still get busy on weekends. All the food is tasty and they have great smoothies/coffee drinks too. There's a separate area with cafe/pastries too. I love the breakfast burrito

Becoming Oak Network

The most perfect experience. The best scone and chi latte I have ever tasted. Just wish it was closer to home.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Nancy Preussner

Great place, excellent coffee. Bacon & egg croissant was delicious. Nice atmosphere.

Nate Johnson

This cafe is amazing. Great food, coffee and atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Daniel Kraemer

Beautiful Coffee Shop!!! Coffee was great and the food fantastic! Serving size was twice as big as what I was expecting. Friendly staff!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Kimberly Snell

Fantastic atmosphere for studying to catching up with friends. Wonderfully nice staff and all of the food options are amazing. Chia with oat milk is like Christmas in a cup. DeliciousKid-friendliness: Easy spot for kids. Typically quieter during the afternoon hours due to students studying or others working but easy seating

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pretzel, Chicken Bacon Avocado Panini

Rachel Owens

Incredible service. Ordered my meal dairy free and when they made a mistake, they immediately apologized, remade it, and refunded the entree without me asking. Food was fresh and tasty. Busy place!Dietary restrictions: Amazing!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Cheese Omelet

Elaine D

Amazing food for the price. Breakfast was excellent.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: The Ultimate Encounter Skillet

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