I've worked here for One year now and it has been amazing and I will recommend it to everyone best made in the house food delicious grilled cheese all the staff are
Pleasant little place! They have books for reading while you sip on coffee. Ladies behind the counter were super friendly. Ordered the omelet to go-it was made like you'd make it at home, with no additional fillers. Decently priced
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zoe Zaret
There isn't much in Ottumwa as far as history, culture, or intellectual stimulation. There was some curious goofiness in the past, when locals built a temporary palace out of coal. I still am unclear on why. It is long gone, but you can find illustrations and descriptions in this quiet cafe nearby. The manager went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and welcome, and it is great to see adults with intellectual challenges working in the community, with obvious pride in their responsibilities.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Traci Scott
A quaint little Cafe with plenty of options and good food and drinks.Prices are really good on some items and high on others - but for the most part if you want food and a drink it's going to be $9 - $12, for breakfast or lunch.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Avocado Toast
Allen Stewart
Great food and good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Turkey Deluxe Sandwich
Scott A
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!
Jessica Neely
This place is an amazing treat! It has such a variety of sandwiches and salads and sides. I love the atmosphere and the building! Service was amazing and the coffee was awesome! Highly recommend!! I had the roast beef bagel sandwich! Best sandwich I’ve had in awhile!
Ann Alexander
Turkey club sandwich was really good. It had roasted cherry tomatoes, cheese, and a special sauce. Crinkle cut fries or the fruit bowl or 4-5 other side dish offerings (lettuce salad, cottage cheese, macaroni salad to name a few). Yum! Really good service, and interesting decor. A part of Ottumwa's history. Cool atrium which still has the gigantic coal auger.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Breeding
Had Taco Salad today. No problems noticed. Will be going back to try other food items.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alley Jarvis
Great bagel sandwiches here in town! Super friendly staff, slow service but AMAZING food! I love how Optimae created a job for individuals with disabilities. I think it’s a great place over all. Super clean atmosphere!
Great service. Excellent food! Always hot and always fresh!!! Come here for breakfast at least once a week! Stop in and try it you won’t be disappointed
Josh Hemminger
Great food, cool people. 10/10!
Katrina Hemminger
The food is amazing! I love the atmosphere.
Theda Ford Williams
Would love to live near an establishment like this! I would definitely be a regular! The service was friendly but we did have to wait about 10 minutes for our order but only because it was freshly prepared. We were able to watch as they put it together. Or you can browse through the large collection of books and board games. Great place to go with a friend or by yourself.
ronda Dennis-smithart
Great food and friendly atmosphere! This was my first visit and I was greeted by name !
I've worked here for One year now and it has been amazing and I will recommend it to everyone best made in the house food delicious grilled cheese all the staff are
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Turkey Deluxe Sandwich, Assorted Tea Bags, Potato Salad, Taco Salad, White Chocolate, Turkey Melt, Breakfast Panini, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Chips, French Fries, Roast Beef Bagel, Breakfast Burrito, Breakfast Platter, Turkey Deluxe, Soup, Sandwich, Avocado Toast, Frappuccino, Reuben Panini, Roast Beef Bagel Sandwich
Pleasant little place! They have books for reading while you sip on coffee. Ladies behind the counter were super friendly. Ordered the omelet to go-it was made like you'd make it at home, with no additional fillers. Decently priced
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There isn't much in Ottumwa as far as history, culture, or intellectual stimulation. There was some curious goofiness in the past, when locals built a temporary palace out of coal. I still am unclear on why. It is long gone, but you can find illustrations and descriptions in this quiet cafe nearby. The manager went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and welcome, and it is great to see adults with intellectual challenges working in the community, with obvious pride in their responsibilities.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
A quaint little Cafe with plenty of options and good food and drinks.Prices are really good on some items and high on others - but for the most part if you want food and a drink it's going to be $9 - $12, for breakfast or lunch.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Avocado Toast
Great food and good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Turkey Deluxe Sandwich
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!
This place is an amazing treat! It has such a variety of sandwiches and salads and sides. I love the atmosphere and the building! Service was amazing and the coffee was awesome! Highly recommend!! I had the roast beef bagel sandwich! Best sandwich I’ve had in awhile!
Turkey club sandwich was really good. It had roasted cherry tomatoes, cheese, and a special sauce. Crinkle cut fries or the fruit bowl or 4-5 other side dish offerings (lettuce salad, cottage cheese, macaroni salad to name a few). Yum! Really good service, and interesting decor. A part of Ottumwa's history. Cool atrium which still has the gigantic coal auger.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had Taco Salad today. No problems noticed. Will be going back to try other food items.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great bagel sandwiches here in town! Super friendly staff, slow service but AMAZING food! I love how Optimae created a job for individuals with disabilities. I think it’s a great place over all. Super clean atmosphere!
Restaurantji Recommends
Great service. Excellent food! Always hot and always fresh!!! Come here for breakfast at least once a week! Stop in and try it you won’t be disappointed
Great food, cool people. 10/10!
The food is amazing! I love the atmosphere.
Would love to live near an establishment like this! I would definitely be a regular! The service was friendly but we did have to wait about 10 minutes for our order but only because it was freshly prepared. We were able to watch as they put it together. Or you can browse through the large collection of books and board games. Great place to go with a friend or by yourself.
Great food and friendly atmosphere! This was my first visit and I was greeted by name !