Cafes in Ottumwa

“I just had the most excellent fresh out-of-the-oven biscuits and homestyle piping hot sausage gravy that tastes like Grandma's. Coal Palace Café and Books is definitely a comfort food place that you can enjoy. It is located at the previous site of Ottumwa's world renown attraction - The Coal Palace, built in 1890's and hosted hundreds of thousands of tourists. The Coal Palace Café and Books is a nod to Ottumwa's history and a definite favorite to modern diners. ...back to the biscuits and gravy - the biscuits literally came out of the oven as I ordered my half order to go, and the gravy is made with pork sausage fresh from a local meat counter. If Grandma wasn't already gone from this Earth, I would go back and check to see if she was running the kitchen there at the Coal Palace Café! Excellent, excellent!“

“I live in Pella, as long as Second Street Cafe is open, I’ll come to Ottumwa. The food was outstanding, hot, delicious and such an amazing price. The server Justin, I believe, was so kind, attentive without being overbearing. It was just such a great experience, as always, 12/10“