City Cafe
443 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN, 46204
City Cafe Menu
-
Main
-
Rewards
-
Libations
Healthy Meal suggestions for City Cafe
-
Main
-
Rewards
-
Libations
Visit below restaurant in Indianapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Indianapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
443 N Pennsylvania St
Indianapolis, IN, 46204 - Phone (317) 833-2233
- Website https://letseat.at/citycafe
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :7:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Nancy P.
My very favorite breakfast lunch place! If ever I was going to throw a catered party I would ask them to cater for me. The meals are always a high gourmet quality with intetesting taste.
(5)Bill J.
Breakfast meeting today, it was pretty full, but not so crowded that we couldn't get a booth right away. The server was solid, did a nice job. I had the french toast, it's really sweet but I enjoyed it. Also had a side of bacon, which is now provided by Smoking Goose. I was a little surprised that they served one of the pieces, it was noticeably burned on one end. I thought about sending it back, but just cut off the burnt part and ate the rest. I probably didn't really *need* those extra two bites of bacon anyway.
(4)Jerry W.
First time here. I ordered breakfast. At $8.75 it was the most expensive biscuits and gravy I ever ate, maybe owing to its being local and organic. At any rate, it wasn't worth it. Gravy had a strange gamy flavor and too much sausage for my taste. Biscuits were burned on the bottom but were otherwise ok. They were more cake-like and denser than typical. And the presentation was not attractive since there was gravy spilling down one edge of the plate. Also, even though the gravy could have been better, there still wasn't enough of it to cover the biscuits. The sunny side up eggs were burned to a crisp around the edges making the whites leathery and tough. As for service, the waitress was nice and sat me right away, though she surely could see I couldn't fit in that tiny, narrow booth. I had to ask for a table. She also was inattentive. She didn't ask to refill my coffee until I was finished eating. Then she didn't fill it right away. But she did offer to bring me a cup to go. Over all, I was not very impressed.
(2)Julia L.
Eat here if you'd like the chef to laugh at your special meal request while you're waiting around the corner, then completely ignore said request! For a $12 meal there are other places with food just as good and MUCH better customer service. I love their food, but this has happened TWICE now and there definitely won't be a third!
(1)Al L.
Food was ok and like you would make at home (roast beef hash and veggie hash), service was as previously written. Don't be in a hurry here because things move slower than in your own kitchen. Convenient to downtown and friendly.
(3)Tamara Q.
Great small town feel in the heart of Indianapolis. Great choices and all deliciously fresh.
(4)Chad S.
Food is okay, but the server seemed to have something more important to do. I came in near closing time and felt rushed to finish my food and get out of dodge.
(1)Harry G.
Amazing the sausage is as good as it gets and the roast beef hash is amazing. Good coffee and pleasant service. The only thing they could improve is to make their own jelly or marmalade.
(5)Jeff S.
We were checking out the memorials and the museums and downtown in general, and just stumbled onto this place. A little slow getting seated, and a little slow getting our order in. Otherwise, friendly service, and the food was excellent. My wife loved the Yesterday's Soup and salad, and I had the Big Cheese sandwich. Not an amazing place, but I would definitely eat there again. Location is very good as well.
(3)Jon A.
How much should I divulge of this awesomesauce? The reason I ask... this is the sorta spot that could have a line out the door for lunch and Saturday brunch if enough people found out about it. Trouble is... it's damn good to not express. Really... it's that good. With such a limited menu it better be. Came in for an on-the-nose Noon weekday lunch (holla! Scott Goodyear sighting) with my officemate/LP, and we were seated right away. I jetted toward the boy's room (through the galley & kitchen out the hall way... but first, on the fly, multitasking, asked what I wanted to drink! Hey o! Whoatip! I had many things that day to make my day... but, that, alone, made my day. However they cook their roast beef here... it's better than most. The roast beef hash for brunch -- awesome. The "tenderloin" sandwich of roastbeef, onions, and mushrooms?, is properly sized, and is a perfect sandwich to pair with coffee. Tablemate ordered the turkey wrap, that was deemed "herb-y." And, whoa it's more than herby! It's a lovebug of a lunch. It made my sebaceous glands open wide and hope to devour it, too. Turkey in that wrap was better than T-giving day after sandies. I'm coming back for that wrap. Shhhhhhh....
(5)Benjamin H.
I love City Cafe.. I usually forget about it though, but that makes remembering so much better. Lots of fresh/local options for breakfast/lunch, but the standouts on the menu for me are the Biscuits & Gravy as well as the Breakfast Burrito (replacing the sausage w/ avocado is a great option for vegetarians!) Oh, also.. Don't forget to order the Cajun Ketchup! They close at 1p on Saturdays which is kind of a bummer.. Well the hours in general sadden me due to my non-morning capable lifestyle.
(4)Nikki B.
I had heard of the french toast here. It has taken everything in me not to stalk this place out so I'm the first person every day to enjoy those 4 slices of frickin heaven every day since then. Holy cow, I've never had something so good. The specials sounded divine, but I was on a mission for french toast and fresh bacon. I don't think you could be disappointed in anything except maybe that you have to wait if you're late. LOVED IT.
(5)Michelle Q.
Local, organic, convenient location to walk for lunch if downtown. The specials change daily and always unique flavors and combinations. My favorite is the soup/salad combo. Homemade soups change daily and my go to absolute favorite summer salad is the lemon feta lentil. Crisp, fresh salad and the warm lentils and dressing on the side keeps the salad filling but not too heavy. For the quality it is not pricey. Support local quality produce. It is worth it. Wish the hours were a bit earlier so I could grab carry out for dinner :)
(4)LaShelle S.
The french toast with corn flakes are AMAZING! The black bean wrap is great and the chocholate chip cookie is AMAZING! And they have the homemade potato chips!!
(5)Brandy F.
As so many other reviewers have mentioned, I feel like City Cafe is a spot that I want to keep all to myself, and perhaps that is why I've waited so long to write a review. Then I remember one of the reasons I love Yelp, and that is to point me in the direction of local favorites no matter what city I'm in - even if it is my hometown. My husband and I have been enjoying breakfast here for several years. They often try to use fresh, local and even organic items, when available, and the quality really comes through in their food. One of my favorites is the breakfast burrito with avocado substituted for the sausage with a side of spicy ketchup. Before I continue, the spicy ketchup is homemade and basically a a somewhat thick hot sauce. A really, really excellent hot sauce. You can even purchase a bottle. Today I enjoyed one of the breakfast specials, and my mind was blown. I dare say it was one of the best breakfasts I've enjoyed in years. It consisted of homemade black bean ravioli (bear with me) topped with egg, butternut squash, onion, corn, cheese and finished off with some sort of whipped avocado sauce. Never would I have thought to pair such ingredients, but it was out of this world! I wish they would add it to the menu. Yes, the space is small, but I don't care. We often see some of the same people here on the weekend, and it just has a real feel of community that I appreciate. City Cafe - just put that ravioli on the menu. Oh, and offer the carrot cake pancakes as a special again so I won't have to choose!
(5)Al I.
This place was a surprise. You'd never know that they are so good with vegetarian options and fresh veggies. On both of my visits, I had whatever their vegetarian special of the day was, and loved them both. The more diner-y food looks fine, but for me, the reason to come back is what fancy thing with lentils or wild mushrooms will they have next?
(4)Vanessa A.
Too bad. I went to City Cafe for the first time because of the good reviews. When the waitress described the soup I hadn't recalled the mention of tomatoes. I don't eat tomatoes so I sent the soup back to which she hesitated and told me she'd "see". I have never had that response when I wasn't happy with a dish; usually they take it back and ask what else I'd like. The other server came over and asked if I'd like something else and I requested two eggs scrambled with a side salad, no tomatoes. He checked and came back with "we're not set up for that". I asked for the check and they charged me for a cup instead of bowl and a cup of coffeeToo bad, a slight bit of accommodation goes a long way with me. They lost my business.
(1)Tiffany B.
So many wonderful breakfast items. I was just thinking earlier about how most breakfast joints just offer the same ol' thing--nothing new or creative. Not so here! The breakfast burrito is big and packed with goodies, but it's taken to the next level with a side of "love relish," which is one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. If you like sweet and spicy, this is for you. You have to request it; and you should. The Migas is an awesome egg dish that has tortilla chip strips with it (a dreamy combo, surprisingly).The Eggs Benedict here is in the top 3 in Indy (this is my favorite breakfast dish and I try them everywhere that offers them) based on how they cook the eggs and their hollandaise. The ham is a thick cut though, and Canadian bacon balances out the other flavors better on this dish for my palate. Biggest downer: Hot tea selection leaves something to be desired...it all seems to be freshly made with recipes unique to here, which I like. Do wish the seats were more comfortable. Love the view onto the Indiana War Memorial. Quaint.
(4)Matt F.
Yeah, it's small. Oh well, this isn't suburbia. Anyway, I like it that way. That's kept it somewhat local. We've seen a lot of the same friendly faces for years. The service can be slow, but I'm usually there for breakfast on a Saturday. Trust me, I'm not in a hurry to finish breakfast and get to the Home Depot to go shopping for bathroom fixtures. The food usually ranges from "good" to "outstanding." Our last trip was of the latter variety. Local eggs cooked just right, tasty bacon from Goose the Market, and some of the best black bean ravioli I have ever had for breakfast. Come to think of it, it's the only black bean ravioli I have ever had for breakfast. Those are the kind of differences that keep me coming back.
(5)Dana M.
Came here for a Saturday brunch and loved it! Tried the biscuits and gravy, a cinnamon roll, and fruit plate. Everything was really good. Server explained the menu, and I was impressed with all of the homemade components. Small place so I would avoid large groups here. Not the fastest service, but knowing what is going on in the kitchen, it doesn't bother me as much. Great place for breakfast food in the heart of Indianapolis.
(4)JD S.
City Cafe is in the top 5 breakfast stops in the city and a great place for lunch. They source local ingredients when possible and it shows in the quality and taste of what you order. There is always a unique special for lunch that is hard to pass up. I stop by at least once a month and I'm always super satisfied with the food and the service. Overall great place!
(5)Raina R.
City Cafe is a hit or miss place to grab lunch. If you are in a hurry, I wouldn't recommend City Cafe. However, if you have some time, the food is EXCELLENT - fresh food created into great entree choices. The vegetarian selection is great, enjoyed a delectable black bean wrap with chips. My coworkers enjoyed the meat friendly options. However, the service was incredibly slow and it was a much longer meal than we anticipated.
(3)Phillip H.
This place can be great. I hit them up from time to time for lunch. Very health friendly and most their food is fresh and local grown produce is used!! The wait staff is great and I really feel like family there.The Decor is great, building somewhat snug though. If the food is up your ally then your good. I recommend you check out their menu before going in to make sure they are what your looking for. I tend to stop in when I feel like a sald or have a craving for some "unique flavors". When they do diner from time to time you have to go in!!! The Thai Catfish and Coconut rice was heaven and the brownie thier son makes.....my god its great!! Bottom line is I love this place and the people there!
(5)DeAnna P.
A nice place to pop in for a reasonably priced breakfast.
(4)Tamara D.
The best breakfast in the area. It is all fresh and as local as you can get.
(5)Andres C.
I would not rave about it but the food was Good. Tried the hash, not bad. Good fruit cup.
(3)Lindsay P.
Love this place for weekend brunch! Great local foods with Hubbard and Cravens local coffee. Get there early on Saturday for homemade cinnamon rolls (huge!) and a table. They are relatively small for their popularity. My only complaint is that they are closed on Sundays :-(
(4)Kate M.
Meal: 4* - -southwestern grilled cheese (it's a toss up between this and the grilled cheese I had at Juniors in NY) -Didn't care for the asparagus and squash veggie soup (not very flavorful) -strong coffee, but lukewarm -Said that everything is locally bought or grown Atmosphere: 3* - small, skinny diner-feel with wooden pews for booths -small pieces of art (guessing it is local) that is for sale Service: 5* -We had a party of 7 good-natured but loud girls. Our server was nice and helpful. He helped make the meal fun. Would I return? Probably not for lunch or dinner, but if they serve a breakfast, I would like to try it out. I'm glad I went, though!
(4)Brittany L.
I was really excited to try this place for the first time. I thought the decor was pretty cute and that everything on the menu sounded fantastic. So there we were: late-ish morning on a weekday, the only customers save for a guy drinking coffee. The employees/friends of were gossiping loudly at the back. This is where things went wrong. The sign said "wait to be seated" so we waited. And waited. And were finally seated...at a dirty table. After being in the restaurant nearly 10 minutes, we received our drinks and were ready to order. Except the waitress wasn't ready to do that yet and walked away as soon as the cups were plunked on the table. She needed to sit back down and chat for a few more minutes. We could see her back there! Anyhow. I live for good sausage gravy and was extra starving so I ordered an egg and some hash browns too. He got something-an omelet? With a side of bacon. His bacon arrived completely hard and judging by temperature had been cooked an hour ago and was left sitting on a counter until he ordered it. My scrambled egg was good, but it was only barely warm when it reached the table...I ate it first. The cubed potatoes were dry and without much flavor, but the portion was huge. I feel they would be perfect for absorbing a large amount of ketchup...and if that's how you roll you might love them. I would have tried the cajun ketchup but there wasn't any around and the waitress didn't bring it when we asked. The biscuits under the gravy were hard, dense, dry, and very salty. Yuck. The gravy itself turned my stomach. It was oily, almost brown in color, and tasted sour. I really believe it was spoiled. It took about half hour for the waitress to tear herself away from the conversation at the back again: she was dropping off the check. By this time his coffee cup had been empty (and scooted to the edge of the table) for about 15 minutes, and neither of us had water in our glasses. She looked down at my plate of biscuits & gravy and said "Do you want a box?" My response was "Actually, it didn't taste very good. I think it may have gone bad." Does she apologize? Take it off the check? Ask if I want something else? Nope! "So you're not going to eat it?" I try again: "Someone should try the gravy...it tastes really...gross." and that's it. In short, really wretched service, and nasty food too! I feel like a better server could have made a huge difference. There are 2 really good breakfast spots within 1/2 mile of our house and Patachou & Le Peep downtown so I don't see us returning to City Cafe...well...ever. I've had better service at the McD's on east Washington.
(2)Sam G.
Like Jon A. suggested, to hype this place could backfire horribly for all of us who like the tiny restaurant. It is only the size of a bread box, and I can imagine days in the future where it's popularity grows to the point of no one being able to get a seat without an 1+ hour wait outside. Anyway, this place was great! We went there on a Saturday for breakfast/brunch. Everything we ordered was awesome. I had the French Toast, which was crunchy, sweet, and flavorful. The syrup was great too. Oh, and the portions were great. The homemade sausage patties were unique and tasty, unlike any others I've had. An interesting spice combination elevated the sausage beyond the typical "Bob Evans" classification and standard-ness common to the breakfest sausage at most places. My wife and son had the pancakes which they said were good. My daughter had a sausage, red pepper, and onion omelette and almost eat the plate, it was so good! So treat yourself and go check this place out. But don't spread the word too much...
(5)Johnny T.
Yes, it's true: do not drink the water in Indy. It almost killed me. If I didn't know better, I would have said that a certain Indy CM poisoned the water reserve in an elaborate scheme to pay me back for almost killing him at a less-than-sanitary Chicago restaurant. But, I know that's not the case. Right? Right?? So, I had swilled 10 oz. of Indy's finest first thing in the morning and I felt extremely nauseous. Not knowing what else to do, Jon A brought me here. You starve a cold and feed an Indy water poisoning (I think that's what Martha says). But, the plot thickens. Jon wanted me to get eggs during the height of the salmonella scare. He *was* trying to kill me! Help! Police! Knowing the sinister desires that lay beneath, I trumped his gambit and ordered a freshly-squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice (anti-oxidants ftw) and biscuits & sausage gravy. The fresh fruit juice was delicious with a slight bite of carbonated acidity and helped fight the toxins Mr. A had introduced to my system. The biscuits and gravy helped to make me fatter. The biscuits were very nice: fluffy, slightly chewy with an ever-so-barely-there crunchy crust. The sausage gravy was plentiful... but I have had better. It wasn't bad, but I'm from Kentucky, lived in Tennessee & Louisiana blah blah blah. I know from stellar sausage gravy. This was good; not the best. Our service was prompt & courteous and the restaurant is a cozy kitchen/diner. It's not fancy but it's just the place to go for a good breakfast. I left CC only slightly bent over and holding my stomach -- which is far better shape than I walked in. CC started my road to recovery and, for that, I thank you. Indy water is no joke!
(4)Chris D.
Oh, City Cafe how I want to love you. Let's cover the many "+"s of this tasty downtown warm spot. Fantastic location that allows for many options pre- or post-dining. Solid menu prepared well at a reasonable price. I had the full flight pancakes so I got to try one of each recipe. Even though they were noticeably overdone, their inherent deliciousness was still apparent. They get points just for having such diverse pancake options. The cornflake encrusted french toast also looks like a winner. In the "-" category are two things that keep City Cafe from getting to 4 stars and a likely one-off that diminished this visit. First, I rarely reactive negatively to art in a restaurant but the art up at City Cafe was distractingly bad (in my view). Not sure what it was all about but it definitely took away from the efforts to make the place look modernly retro. Second was the anemic tea selection. If you're going to go to the trouble of dressing up diner food as City Cafe has, don't skimp on the tea selection. I'm not demanding Teas Me quality selections but at least step up to Republic of Tea level or something. Much less institutional (and likely just an off day for the staff) was the service. I try really hard not to judge a place by one bad experience with staff because you just never know what someone is going though on any given day. So, had this been the only drawback of the visit, I'd likely have gone ahead and rated City Cafe as 4 stars. I guess the best word to describe the service was distracted. We had to ask for things a couple of times and were never really sure who to ask for anything. It was a bit chaotic even though the restaurant wasn't that busy when we got there an hour before close. Overall, a good addition to your list of brunch places for when your regular spots get too familiar. However, it's not a place I'll put into regular rotation absent a really good experience on a future visit.
(3)Emily U.
I wanted to call this place a "hidden gem," but while my City Café experience was pleasant, it didn't blow me away, so the "gem" portion of this cliche didn't apply. Still, it IS kind of hidden. Their unassuming neon sign is just demure enough that I didn't notice it for like a year. Then, even after I noticed it and figured out it was a breakfast joint, I kept forgetting to stop in. So one of my favorite brunching companions was in town for the weekend and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally check out CC. I was underwhelmed by the décor, which is pretty spare and not very homey for a place called "café." I was delighted, however, that the menu was creative (with options like migas), and they had both a sweet and savory special. Sadly, they were out of the interesting-sounding polenta dish that was on special. We ended up going all sweet with the granola pancake special and the cereal-coated French toast. I loved the texture of the French toast, and the fact that it was served with real maple syrup. The pancakes were good, but, in the end, not terribly special. The servers were super nice and funny. My only complaint was that our main server asked if we wanted cream for our coffee and then forgot to bring it to us until my friend got up from the table to retrieve it. Our food arrived a minute later, so we had no time to just enjoy our coffee. If you want to bring down my brunch experience a notch, be sure to somehow delay or screw up the coffee. (What can I say? I'm a junkie.) I'd give City Café a 3.5, but a 4 would really be too generous. That said, I'll probably be back. If you want something a little less trendy than the Hoaglin's square-plate experience, this is a nice alternative for breakfast or brunch in the downtown area. Maybe it's more like a "hidden geode"...?
(3)Samantha H.
I got the fish tacos here. They were the best fish tacos I have ever eaten. The fish was really really blackened on the outside and still tender and juicy on the inside and plenty of it. Plenty of avocado slices too and some sort of sauce/dressing that brought it all together.
(4)J H.
Other reviewers called this a hidden gem that wasn't a gem but I beg to differ! I've been here for lunch several times and each time we've had great service and amazing food. The lentils with lemon and feta salad is to die for - light, refreshing and very tasty. It's also vegetarian friendly! The other time I went I had the smoked turkey wrap with a tasty pesto spread. Their ice tea is amazing and they have a flavored lemonade that changes regularly! My lunching companion had the cookies and just loved them - she keeps asking when we can head back for more cookies! I would recommend this place if you're looking for a locally sourced lunch with a simple menu!
(4)Daniel H.
Great food. Service was a little slow. Small and cozy area. Closed on Sundays. Biscuits and gravy were great.
(4)Holly H.
My husband and I went to City Cafe the other day in hopes of enjoying their breakfast. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived (11 a.m.) they were no longer serving breakfast, and we had to "settle" for lunch. I was kind bummed about this, as I'd had my heart set on french toast. I decided to order The Tenderloin Sandwich. It was phenomenal. It came with a side of chips and a pickle. The sandwich had a good amount of meat and other toppings and the flavors were spot on. The bread was nice and crispy, which contrasted nicely with the tender beef and creamy bleu cheese. The onions added just a bit of sweetness that really balanced the saltiness of the sandwich. My husband got the special that day, which was a pesto chicken sandwich, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He also ordered their french onion soup, which he liked, but decided he would probably skip next time. The interior of City Cafe is really nothing to write home about. There are only a couple tables at the front by the windows, but the rest of the narrow restaurant is lined with booths. It's a small place, and could definitely benefit from a coat of paint and a little art... Luckily, their food more than makes up for the decor. One thing to note if you are thinking about checking this place out for lunch with friends... They have a policy that says that 5 or more people sitting at the same table have to be on one check... They claim that it's because it takes a long time to run five credit cards, but I'm sure it has to do with the processing fees involved. Either way, if your party will have more than 5 people, take cash along. Also, they get quite busy at lunch time (probably because of the proximity of the federal building next door). We were lucky enough to beat the rush, but if you have a limited amount of time to eat, you might have a backup venue lined up, in case the wait is too long.
(4)Tara M.
"Downtown food, farm-fresh Ingredients. We support family farms and local growers. Life is better when you know your neighbors." When I read this on City Cafe's Facebook page, I got excited. In my dreams City Cafe was going to be bright and airy and artisanal and fresh like Goose the Market, only right around the corner from my home. Instead I found the interior a bit drab, and my soup and sandwich were simply ok. The location is good and the service was friendly, but a girl cannot live on location and service alone.
(3)Jared B.
Good Sandwich. Amazing sweet potato soup. Distant, surly service for being one of two tables in the entire place. "Are you going to eat?" is what I was asked to have my order taken. When I inquired about the obscure additional $1.00 charge on my bill, I was told they changed the bacon, but haven't updated the menu prices. Fine, it's just a buck, but that should probably be something you inform people when they order something with bacon in it. Overall, an indifferent experience.
(3)Cynthia P.
Liked the concept... however the service was awful & it is completely over priced.
(1)Ellie P.
My friend & I were so excited to try out this diner. We thankfully got there while there was an open table but that was probably the most exciting part. Two stars is for having a unique breakfast menu but actually making it taste unique was not there. We ordered the special which was eggs frittata that was suppose to have horseradish in them & topped with potatoes, onions, mushrooms, & feta cheese. The catch to our order was that we didn't ask for the price. The special was $16! Twice the price of almost everything on their menu. We had a group of disgruntled old ladies complain about the price when we got our dishes & the staff told them it was more expensive because everything was local/organic. I'm sorry but even local eggs, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, & cheese do not cost more than $10 to feed a family of four. If there was some specially locally raised meat, then MAYBE it's worth $16? Besides the outrageous price for our meals the staff was very inattentive. We had glasses of water that were never refilled during the hour that we were there & our bill was handed to us right after our food came out. Maybe, if she would have stated "no rush" when leaving our bill while we were taking our first bites of our dishes would have signaled to us that she was in no rush to get us out the door.
(2)Sara P.
Two awesome thumbs up! We came here on Saturday morning of the Final Four after walking in the rain in a city we don't know...all I could think was, this better be worth it. I'm glad I wasn't disappointed. We waited for a very few short minutes before being seated in this small but cozy restaurant. You can tell people here are regulars...and I can see why. Our waiter was awesome- friendly, helpful, attentive but certainly not annoying. We started with their specialty of the morning, the cinnamon roll. Holy deliciousness. After his recommendation, I got the migas with their special blue corn grits. The migas were really good, to say the least. My fiance had the eggs with their homemade sausage...and of course we had the biscuits. Good grief, I could have had just the cinnamon roll and biscuit and been just fine. I love that this place supports the local farmers...and I love that they're so friendly and nice. The next time I'm back in Indy, I will for sure be back!
(4)Jessica S.
Cute atmosphere with good coffee. While it is a small cozy place I wouldn't categorize it as a hole in the wall, it's much too nice inside for that. Definitely not a greasy spoon so if you don't mind a more upscale experience then this is the place for you. They take plastic too :-) The french toast is amazing! It's rolled in cornflakes and the syrup has a slight twist that makes the entire entree really enjoyable. Husband tried the biscuits & gravy and while the sausage was good the biscuits weren't fluffy like he likes them, so it was good but nothing out of this world. The taters are cubed seasoned potatoes and they don't have hashbrowns, but they do have grits. Taters were good, but we didn't try their homemade Cajun ketchup so that might have made it better. Overall I'm really glad we came here and would recommend it, if the prices were a tad lower and the B&G was better it would have received more starts.
(3)Micheal B.
Best omelet I ever had!!! Their multi grain toast is fabulous. Excellent eggs Benedict and perfect hollandaise sauce. Great service and friendly.
(5)MJ W.
Great Eggs Benidict! This is nice hole in the wall for breakfast. The cornflake-encrusted French toast is mouth watering. My wife told me to try it and I was a little suspicious. I must say I was impressed. The coffee is great as well.
(5)Virginia L.
Simple menu, simple food. High quality ingredients really set this place apart. Relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. Daily specials.
(4)Eric M.
From the exterior, this little obscurity with the unremarkable name looks like yet another lunch place that serves sandwiches folded in aluminum foil to cater to the 9-to-5 crowd. But lo and behold, it's open on weekends and has really developed a solid word-of-mouth following. The cornflake-encrusted French toast seems to be its signature breakfast dish, but they offer other specials such as buckwheat pancakes topped in an apple and blackberry compote, all complimented with some bottomless Hubbard and Cravens coffee. Service is bright and attentive, local artists adorn the walls, and hipsters bump shoulders with fashionable empty nesters. All quite harmonious. Next time I'll have to try the migas, so I get more protein than the always delicious carb-load that City Cafe's flapjacks and toast provide.
(4)Valerie B.
FANTASTIC food! Here for a nocnference and walked 25 minutes through downtown and totally worth the trip. Conrflake french toast is amazing. Fruit bowl (in August) had AT LEAST ten different fresh fruits. A little on the pricey side but ingrediants are all from local farms so it feels worth it. Highly recomend and will return when in town again!
(4)Naomi S.
Every time I am up early enough to eat breakfast here, (sadly, that's kind of rare) I am sooo happy I did! Always fantastic. Locally sourced foods, and a fantastic Eggs Benedict (one of my breakfast staple items). Be ready to wait for a table unless you get there as soon as they open.
(5)Oran S.
What a wonderful hole-in-the-wall place to have breakfast. The staff was busy yet attentive and the food was superb. This is the only place I've ever been that offered cream cheese as something to put in an omelete (my secret ingredient for years). The food was very fresh and tasty and the diced potatoes looked average but oh my were they well seasoned and delightful. I'll be back!
(4)Cynthia T.
Good golly the food here is good! And the staff is fun and efficient. Oh, and the owner, Brad, is a really nice guy to takes justifiable pride in his food. His biscuits made me fall in love with him - but who wouldn't love guy who makes biscuits as light and fluffy as a cloud? I would visit Indianapolis again just to eat here. Until then, I'm going to daydream about which of Brad's amazing creations I'll eat next time...
(5)Art A.
wow, great pulled pork sandwich! all fresh and seasonal.. for the most part. excited to come back for lunch tomorrow and try the tenderloin sammich!
(4)Fatima D.
Super friendly staff. Food just wasn't quite what I expected.. Cornflakes coated French toast was mediocre.
(2)Sunah K.
Close enough to walk to (on a nice day), I wanted to like it more. The food was good, but not awesome but I would probably come back again for either breakfast or to try their lunches. I had read some reviews about slow service and preferential treatment to regulars, and even though it did happen to us, we were in no hurry (I guess wiping down empty tables in a nearly empty cafe and writing the lunch specials on the chalkboard might be more important than seating waiting customers at 930 on a Tues morning...). The cornflake crusted french toast was just not as good as I was expecting--too sweet for my taste and kinda flattened. The Lauren breakfast sandwich was solid and satisfying with the avocados and jack cheese, but again, not spectacular. Maybe I shoulda gotten the additional cajun ketchup? Prices are reasonable. I guess I can see why it's a popular spot. And I have to say that the art on the walls was quite...interesting. I probably didn't have quite the reaction to it that one other reviewer had, but really, it did look like kindergarten craft-time work.
(3)Kerry S.
City Cafe is one of my favorite breakfast places ever. Heaven is eating one of their potatoes that has been dipped in a hollandaise/cajun ketchup mixture! The specials are also consistently fantastic and different every time. The Cafe has two distinct crowds of regulars: the Saturday breakfast crowd and the weekday lunch crowd. Both sets of regulars are highly devoted and likely to know the waitstaff well. This familiarity leads to a very comfortable vibe in the tiny, cozy space, but it can also lead to servers chatting at tables for periods of time. For me, the service has always been pleasant and helpful, but it's more of a family atmosphere than a crisp, fine dining, constant attention sort of thing. Both the breakfast and the lunch menus are delicious, but I am partial to the breakfast. All of the ingredients are fresh and local and yum. The eggs benedict with avocado is amazing. I personally am not a sweet breakfast person, but my friends who are say that the french toast is the best ever. Also, the coffee is consistently good. My only complaint about City Cafe is that they are not open on Sundays, but I know it is so that the owners can have a family day, so I can't complain too much!
(5)Pamela H.
This is my favorite downtown location for brunch. The food is always fresh and there are usually unique daily specials. Brunch is definitely the best meal at City Cafe, but their lunch menu is great too.
(4)Jason F.
I'm not sure if people understand how hard it can be to find an affordable, delicious breakfast spot in a downtown setting (open on a weekend in an environment that is geared towards the working week!) that also serves amazing coffee. If they did, this place would have a line out the door. My basic egg breakfast was delicious and almost overshadowed by the thick bacon strips cooked perfectly and the deliciously greasy potatoes.
(4)Kasey J.
Watch where you're walking or you'll pass this one right by. And believe me, you do NOT want to allow that to happen. City Cafe is located in a teeny, tiny building on Pennsylvania Avenue and has become a favorite spot for breakfast and lunch--especially for downtown dwellers and workers. When I worked downtown, this was our top choice for breakfast "meetings." Do yourself a treat and order the french toast. Nothing against my dad, but he now is on my list in the No. 2 spot for "Best french toast." (Sorry, dad). City Cafe's toast is so insanely yummy. Why? Because not only is it sweet and warm, but it's encrusted with Corn Flakes! So ... it's the PERFECT mix of crunchy on the outside and sweet and gooey on the inside. Mmm. The menu includes such creative items with fun little twists. Avocado here and there and everywhere. Also ... gotta love the fact that you can get apples on the side instead of chips. And I love the Big Cheese for lunch. Note: This place isn't large, so if you have a group of people, it might be hard to seat your entire party. It's great for couples!
(5)Robin P.
This is probably the most innovative and delicious spot for breakfast in downtown Indy - and if you haven't been yet you should really try it out. I've unfortunately written it off my list because the last 3 or so times I've been there the service was just horrible. You know it's bad when the food is sooo good but the service keeps you from going back. If you are willing to sacrifice bad service for good food - go for it! You won't find smoked trout hash or egg enchiladas on any other breakfast menu in this city. But waitstaff should never argue with you if you tell them they brought out the wrong dish ... (whatever happened to the customer always being right?) .... and you shouldn't have to fall into the aisle in order to get the waitstaff to notice you and refill your coffee. Every time I go I see other tables sending food back as well. If they would just listen...
(2)Shannan S.
locally owned cafe featuring daily specials, local ingredients, and a deliciously healthy menu for breakfast and lunch. favorite staples include the salad nicoise, eggs benedict, and the Thai iced coffee.
(5)Jane K.
We were visiting Indy from out of town with our 2 young kids (ages 3 and 5) and went to this place based on the Yelp reviews. Local vibe, fresh well made food, hip servers, good prices. the kids had the kids pancakes, which come in a cute mouse shape with blueberries for eyes and a pat of butter for the nose; my husband had the oatmeal, which was actually their homemade granola cooked. it was packed with walnuts and cranberries, quite healthy and tasty. I had the migas, which were delicious. it's a small place, hard wooden booths, not a big kitchen, so you might wait a while for your food, but we'll be back. not a good place to go with a large group as they really only have one table which can seat more than 4 people. pleasant stroll from our hotel.
(5)Diane B.
For a small place, the food selections are great. Cajun ketchup was so yummy we purchased a bottle to take home.. French toast and special syrup were great. Server was very friendly. We felt right at home!
(4)Nathan S.
Most things on the menu are around $8. Decided to get the day's special, and it turned out to be $14 when I got the check, which would have been nice to know during the sales pitch from the owner. Using local product is generally a good thing, but it's not worth a dime if it doesn't taste like anything. For a dish featuring meat stewed with chili's, it didn't have even a hint of seasoning, spice or flavor whatsoever. Not to mention soggy tortillas and potatoes, which didn't taste like anything either. You can imagine my surprise when I got the check. French toast is good though.
(2)Walt O.
'had Saturday brunch there this morning. It is definitely on the small side but we were seated immediately. The staff is extremely pleasant and friendly, the service is prompt and attentive, and the food is outstanding. The Eggs Benedict is absolutely fantastic!!!
(5)Ken K.
I stumbled upon this tastey little joint while taking a stroll through town afoot. Now, it's a ritual, visiting anytime I'm in town. They serve Hubbard & Cravens coffee, a local roaster you can hunt down, and buy some beans after you're done eating at City Cafe.
(5)miles c.
By far, the best breakfast I have eaten in Indianapolis.
(4)Bill C.
Went for a late breakfast, so the place was pretty empty. Very nice breakfast burrito (though not nearly as spicy as the waitress said it would be), and my kids loved their pancakes and French toast. Good coffee, friendly waitress, nice vibe. Great start to a long day of driving.
(4)Brittany S.
Must try the french toast - not your average. Crusted with flakes and topped with cinnamon powdered sugar and Hickory Shagbark syrup. Feeling fancy? Add a topping of fresh berries. Ooo la la.
(4)Brittany K.
I was meeting a couple here and was holding a table for 45 minutes before they arrived. The staff was really nice about it and encouraged my fella and I to get a cinnamon roll while waiting, which we did. They made great suggestions. Many local and vegetarian options. The restaurant is really low key. The decor isn't much to look at and the booths are basic wooden booths but I love the really casual brunch atmosphere that gets a bit lost at bigger, trendier places. I had the homemade biscuits and homemade gravy with local sausage. It was tasty, had plenty of appropriately sized pieces of sausage, and was a bit sweeter/spicier than the Bob Evans everyman versions. I had a bit of my fella's mexiomelet that came with tortilla strips. It was crazy good and I would certainly think about getting that for my self next time. The sour cream is a lime cilantro cream. Amazing. The bathrooms are a bit weird. You need a key and have to walk past the kitchen to the dim and modest bathrooms. But that isn't making or breaking this place for me.
(3)Barbara H.
My partner and I were going to Indy for a wedding so we decided to make a weekend out of it. Naturally, I searched for some restaurants to go so I would have some places to choose from that I had done some research on. We chose the city cafe to meet some local friends. I chose it because they only use local ingredients, everything is homemade and they even roast their own coffee. Our friends had never been there and decided they would give it a try. The four of us met on a Saturday morning around 11 and we had to wait for about five minutes for a table. That was the first plus because I was starving. Once seated, our waitress came right away for our drink order and to go over the specials. She was very freindly and knew the specials well. One of the people in our group has pepper allergies and she was able to make many suggestions of menu items with out peppers. Two of us ordered the roastbeef hash, one ordered the biscuits and gravy and the other ordered a specialty omelet. Oh, and we ordered two sides of bacon to share. Everyone at the table was very pleased with their orders. The roastbeef hash had tender slow roasted beef, onions, butternut squash, potatoes and a few other veggies I can't remember. It was so delicious! It came with two eggs and a side of toast, both cooked perfectly I might add. The biscuits and gravy looked very yummy when it arrived, a layer of biscuit, lots of gravy, more biscuit and more gravy. It was sprinkled with what looked to be paprika. I didn't taste it but was told it was excellent. Everyone loved what they ordered. The bacon, from a local butcher, was a-maz-ing! Thick, salty and cooked to perfection. The coffee was so god that I had three cups, my norm is one. Our visit to the city cafe was wonderful and I will go back when next in Indy. One thing to note, they are only open for breakfast and lunch and not open on Sundays. My guess is because it is downtown and not a lot of businesses are open on Sundays. The reason for only four stars is that they aren't open on Sundays and you can't get breakfast all day.
(4)Stephanie L.
I love City Cafe. This is by far my favorite breakfast spot in Indy. I recommend getting there before 9am on weekends to avoid waiting. Everything on the menu is innovative and fresh. You can't go wrong with their specials, always creative and delicious. I've never had any problems with the service, always been friendly and fast.
(5)TOMMY o.
the Oatmeal was voted Best in the City by Indianapolis Monthly & it is!!! they use an Amish grown oat, add brown sugar & nuts & berry TO DIE FOR!!!! i'm a "big gurl" & can't fit into their 1950 booths, so have to make sure a table (limited) is available, the bacon not all that, they also have Great Sausage Gravy Everything @ Lunch is really good
(4)Brian L.
I found this small hole-in-the-wall cafe about two years ago. It's a very small restaurant, but definitely worth a visit! Pros: 1) Friendly and courteous staff 2) Local ingredients 3) Fantastic cinnamon rolls made on the weekends. They run out fast, so get there early to make sure you get one Cons: 1) The wait can be long if an event is going on in the area 2) It's pricier than other breakfast places (Le Peep, Lincoln Square), but it's nice to go to a place that isn't a chain All in all, a great find!
(4)Stacy P.
City Cafe is a very unassuming breakfast option if you find yourself searching for a early morning bite to eat when your in the downtown area. This diner is a no frills cafe provides you to step back in time. The menu is pretty basic and straight forward. It has your staple breakfast fare and uses locally sourced goods. While there is no gluten free menu, there are a few items that are naturally gluten free. The prices are pretty fair; however, your omelet can get pricey depending upon how many ingredients you get. The amount of food in proportion to cost is pretty large. You could get two meals out of a build your own omelet. One word of caution to all of those with long legs when sitting in a booth, beware of the table leg. That sucker hurts when you knock into it.
(3)Angela T.
I mean, it was OK. I have lived in Indy all my life and I never even knew this place existed. It's tiny but the atmosphere is pleasant. I just had some issues with my party having to stand at the door for 20 minutes even though there were empty tables. They just kept coming over and telling us they would be right with us. It wasn't that busy and takes two seconds to point to a table and tell people to sit down. It was very confusing on why they made us wait for so long. I order eggs Benedict at every restaurant I can so I am kind of an expert. Theirs were very pleasant to look at but really hard to eat. I couldn't decide if the English muffin was just really hard to cut or if my silverware was so cheap it couldn't handle it. I looked around and saw I wasn't the only person that looked like a child attempting to cut their own food. In all honesty, I wouldn't go back. The food was good but it was too much trouble.
(3)Beth W.
Great local business to bike to for breakfast. We visited here a couple of times. It seems to be at least $10 a person for breakfast, even children. They have local items in the menu, meat from Goose the Market, and we sampled an in house creation of a cinnamon roll with bacon crumbles. It was really good!
(5)Arielle T.
If you're looking for a light healthy lunch this is a wonderful stop. I had the black bean wrap and really enjoyed the spicy kick. It's an easy place to miss along Pennsylvania but worth stopping by.
(4)Nina S.
Let's start with the good: orange juice and toast. Normal bread but toasted well. The biscuits and gravy literally taste like runny cream with a sawdust biscuit. Flecks of sausage are barely visible and there is no taste besides the thin heavy salty cream. Waitress described the intense sage sausage taste ... Not a speck of sage....you couldn't even taste the Paprika sprinkled on top.
(1)Jenny K.
Absolutely one of the best breakfast spots in Indy. Honestly better than Taste and Patachou. I had a breakfast item on the lunch menu and my friend had the bbq sandwich. Both were AMAZING. Please try the cajun ketchup! To top it off, Nancy and her husband (the owners) are so friendly. My friend and I had a later lunch and they stayed open for us! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Kim H.
Such nice service. Had eggs Benedict the hollandaise sauce was AMAZING. Also had the fresh made oatmeal it also was amazing!!!!! Great place nice owner.
(5)Cassie A.
Phenomenal! This hidden gem is on point every single time we dine. My husband and I affectionately refer to it as 'our' restaurant because we adore it so much. If you happen in for breakfast, we highly recommend the Migas but take my advice and add their housemade sausage and a side of Cajun ketchup! If you're lucky enough to hit this local spot during a City Burger special... Don't bother looking at the rest of the menu, just get it!! Any special they're whipping up is delicious and so simple yet inventive. It's amazing what these folks can do with the fresh local foods they source. I can't recommend City Cafe highly enough. We recently made it in for their once a week dinner (Thursday 5-9pm) and left so ridiculously full and happy. It was truly an entire menu of 'specials' based around what's in season currently (peaches). All three courses were perfect.
(5)Leyland B.
I recently had my first experience at City Cafe this past week and I can say I truly enjoyed it! I discovered yellow watermelon and it was delicious. I also enjoyed their veggie sandwich. It was one of the best that I've had, it had so much flavor and the portion is just enough! I will definitely be back to try other items off the menu!
(5)Jason A.
City café rocks, that's the skinny. Menu is loaded with awesome goodness. Everything was fresh and just the right sized portions, I got the hash with two eggs, wife had the "Herb" a breakfast sandwich filled with egg and homemade sausage. Ordered a half order of biscuits and gravy, not my thing as I'm more of a traditionalist but it wasn't bad. Coffee was excellent. Place is slightly tight, service was fine for a Wed morning, price a little on the high side but not a deal breaker. Highly recommend.
(4)Lindsay R.
So excited to run into Sonya A.! The veggie hash was amazing with a variety of vegetables galore. Please try the Cajun ketchup.. Her French toast was crispy and the sausage was super good! Service is fast and friendly. Loved the local ingredients and vendors!
(5)Brandon M.
Wasn't all that impressed my omelette was runny the wife's biscuits tasted of flower. I know it's personal preference but, the orange juice was heavy pulp like to the point of chewing. Just not all that great. I threw in the extra star because they were rather nice.
(2)Kimmy W.
This breakfast spot is absolutely awesome. 3 different meals and all were divine. Service was fantastic. Almost everything is fresh from Indiana. Do yourself a favor...way breakfast here.
(5)Nicole R.
Best eggs Benedict!!!! I always try and steer people here vs patachu. Food is delicious.
(5)Shannon W.
Visited City Cafe last weekend with a friend. It came very highly recommended. The food was absolutely incredible, but the service was sub-par at best. We had two different servers trying to take care of our party of two the entire meal, and they did not communicate with each other at all. So we were often asked the same questions twice, we waited longer to place our order because one server thought the other had already taken our order and vice versa. One of the girls refilling coffee missed my coffee cup and spilled coffee all over the table, herself, and my arm. And when it came time to pay, one server picked up our cards and somehow managed to miscommunicate with the other server taking care of us so that our cards were temporarily lost. I'm chalking this one up to a fluke of a bad experience because the food was really incredible and worth the wait. Unfortunately, the service this particular morning tainted my holistic view of the place. I will certainly give this place a try again. But for now, I think I can only say this place is "okay."
(3)Kaela V.
It took a long time to get seated despite empty tables. However, the food was great and overall a good value. The servers were friendly and the atmosphere was casual and relaxed. I can see how this is a local favorite.
(4)Bryan S.
The City Cafe will always be known to me as my first Breakfast Meeting. After 25 years in one industry I jumped into another career path and I got invited to my first off site meeting. Our table of 6 was well waited at 7:30am. Our waitress was very attentive and our food came out fast. I ordered a 3 egg omelet, with white american cheddar and mushrooms. I started to order the fruit when someone mentioned Grits. So grits it was (I love grits). The omelet was perfect, not too brown on the outside, nice and hot and cheesy on the inside. No salt, pepper or catsup needed on this beauty. Cut with the fork and eat. Grits were served with a pat of butter on top. Now I usually like a little maple syrup on my grits but these were fine with just the butter. Add a piece of wheat toast with grape jelly and it was a perfect breakfast. Around my table was another omelet, 2 orders of veggie hash and a bowl of fruit. The noise level was fine, our bellies full and everyone left satisfied. We also got lots accomplished on my first meeting :) Oh and the view out the front window was perfect of the War Memorial and Park. Great for people watching. I will be back!
(3)Rebecca M.
I have heard so many great things about City Cafe's food, and have heard rumors of how packed it gets for brunch; but we got really lucky and my friend and I were able to grab a seat immediately. Then the menu. So many great choices, and the parade of plates containing savory and sweet delights did not help the decision-making process. In fact, after we finally decided on our biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, and potatoes, we decided we HAD to order a warm fresh cinnamon roll - they only serve them on Saturdays! So, needless to say we were stuffed! I definitely recommend the sausage!
(4)Cheyenne E.
I'm actually surprised this place has such good reviews. I don't exactly think it deserves bad, but I just didn't think it was that great. When I first started dating my boyfriend and was still a native Terre Hautian, I'd come up here to stay with him on the weekends. We found this place and wanted to make it a regular breakfast spot. My first impression was that the inside was nice. It's small, quaint, and clean. Five stars for that. The waitstaff was all very nice also. My second were the prices. Damn near $9 for biscuits and gravy? My god. The biscuits and gravy are, different. The texture of the gravy was different than what I'm used to and was just weird tasting. Not exactly bad, but weird. My boyfriend had the french toast. Again, it was alright, but for the price you could buy two loaves of bread, two packs of eggs, a gallon of milk and do it yourself.
(2)Sara M.
This is the best brunch I've had in a long time! The eggs Benedict is amazing, as is the hollandaise sauce made in house. The cornflake French toast is a nice twist of texture on a classic dish. If you're into a little spice, I recommend getting some Cajun ketchup to go with the potatoes. All ingredients are local, which is a definite plus in my book!
(5)Brandy S.
Doesn't serve brunch until 2 like advertised. We were disappointed to find out that there was no breakfast or brunch at noon. Food mediocre. Old building, smelled.
(1)K B.
This place was so yummy. Great coffee too. Everything is fresh and mostly made in house from what I've heard.
(4)Marjorie K.
We stopped after a recommendation from an Indianapolis local. It was worth the drive over. I would officially like to nominate them as having the best bacon I have ever had. Not sure what they did different to it, but it was thick and crispy, absolutely perfect. I had the "Pops" breakfast sandwich and it was delicious. I will return over the next couple of months. As other reviews have stated seating is tight. I was comfortable, but some of the others in my party had some gripes.
(4)Simon M.
This has been on my bucket list for some time. Finally made it for Saturday breakfast, really brunch, due to not being there until after noon. I had the scrambled eggs with salsa and tortilla strips, a great combination. Also had home fries, which were perfect. My wife had eggs and toast. Hard to mess that up. The coffee was great, too. Kelsy (Kelsie?) was our server and she did a great job. It is a smallish space, with about 60 seats but that makes it even more charming. Our bill was only a little over $18, before tax. We will definitely return when we are in the mood for a great breakfast downtown.
(5)Cahmelan P.
This place has a hole-in-the-wall atmosphere with creative and quality dishes. The seating is pretty intimate, which would not be ideal for large parties. They use very fresh quality ingredients with most of their meats coming from smoking goose. The special is always worth trying and they continue to come up with creative new dishes. I always have the special and this time it continued to live up to the expectation. Thai chicken burger topped with pickled mustard greens (sound sketchy but unreal flavored). It came with a side a cole slaw, which normally I despise, but it was really good, mainly because it was not mayo based. City cafe is a great place to eat if you want to get away from the traditional diner food and experience quality creative dishes.
(4)Duncan W.
I went there by accident. I had walked by it on my way to an appointment and thought "that looks interesting, maybe I'll stop on my way back to my car". My appointment didn't go well but I stopped anyway. Never been there before and not that hungry, I ordered a cup of coffee (omg good!) and a half order of the biscuits and sausage gravy (I NEVER order that!). I don't know why I ordered that, I'm a bacon and eggs and hash browns kind of guy. I guess it was the "half order" that caught my eye and I was in a "what the hell" kind of mood. Well, the very first forkful that hit my tongue was amazing! I literally couldn't believe it. I immediately went into my "slow down, eat slowly, make it last" mode. Every single bite was amazing. I am not blowing smoke here folks, I'm speaking truth. The gravy was as good as the finest sauces I've ever tasted. World class! I immediately knew that the chef/cook had worked there a long time and confirmed that with the waitress. I will come back, very soon.
(5)John V.
Let's get this out of the way. Our breakfast was five stars. No doubt about it - fresh and tasty. We were welcomed and seated by one of the owners. They also served us. It's nice to see that they serve customers alongside their staff. Here's where is goes wrong, you can't get through your meal without being told multiple times that, a. everything is locally sourced and, b. how good their food is. First of all, I love that their food is locally sourced. I just don't need to hear it ad nauseum. Also, you don't need to keep telling us how great everything is. I can figure that out on my own by eating the food. In summary. They have great food, made with great ingredients, but they need to leave out the side of pretentiousness.
(3)Sonya A.
I love diners, but we have to quit kidding ourselves that nostalgia of diners always dominates our memory and we forget how crappy most diner food is. City Cafe is that unicorn of diner-like breakfast places. It has that feel of a diner but with an excellent menu and great quality ingredients. I highly recommend this place for brunch, definitely best place downtown. Food: 6/5 Service: 4/5 - Don't be discouraged if they ignore you when you first get there and you have to wait for the table. Consider it foreplay.. or initiation hazing or something. Location: 3/5 - Small place so this place does not work for large groups.
(5)Matthew P.
I would've given this place 4 stars and have eaten here weekly for quite a while but... Tried the "special" today. Supposedly "braised beef in a red chilli over white rice" It wasnt as good as Hormel Chilli on Uncle Bens.... I love this café and Im always impressed. When 35 minutes later I was approached to ask how it was going...(I obviously had barely touched my plate) I tried to convey my concerns and the lack of flavor in my dish. Now, compared to most, I'd consider my palate relatively refined and I had been asked my opinion afterall. The only consideration I got was,"Well, we tasted plenty of flavor, sorry you couldn't"...hmmm, you asked why I didn't eat. Dont get upset about a little constructive criticism... They did offer something else but after waiting so long for a follow up I declined. No offer of a small percentage off or (sincere) apology for which resulted in a shitty, lack of a $30 lunch.... With good customer service I would've returned next week. At this point I will not return nor recommend this establishment. It's unfortunate as I've had some pretty epic breakfasts there but customer service means more to me than all the rest...
(3)Zach V.
Great little Cafe that's walking distance from the center of town. Yelp comes through again. The interior is not very big and it has a diner feel. I read that the Egg's Benedict and Burrito were both good choices so we tried them both. I must agree they were great choices. One of the owners was working and came over to speak with us for a bit. She asked why were were in town so we advised we were in for the Fire Department Instructors Conference. She was very appreciative of all the business this conference brought in. With all the chain restaurants in the city this place is a must try for breakfast. I forgot to try the bacon but I hear its pretty darn good.
(4)Rebecca S.
Best Grits I town!
(4)Bonnie S.
This review is long overdue as I at the City Café approximately 5 months ago but I keep on reminiscing on how wonderful, warm and welcoming a place it was. I had the requisite Veggie Hash which was filling, savory and varied in taste and texture enough that maybe hash is sort of a put-down for the plate of tastiness that they put before me. The waitresses I had were sweet and quick to dole out some nice, strong coffee (but not bitter - not easy to accomplish) as well as to let me in to the kitchen gossip which was all about the Paw Paw Pudding that the cook had just made. Well, this Los Angeles Woman was not leaving without trying it and even though they had just made it for themselves from PawPaws they had foraged over the weekend, they shared! And it was wonderful! And indescribable. And incredibly addicting (damn it!). And the act of kindness and sharing with some jaded out-of-towner will never be forgotten and whenever I am in Indianapolis, I will ONLY eat my breakfast at the City Café.
(5)Chris R.
A great little place to grab a bite to eat. We were looking to eat a delicious breakfast in the city out of the way of chain restaurants. This was the perfect place. the only problem was that breakfast ended at 11:00, which was not clear on their information. Overall, really great food, flavorful, and efficient service.
(3)Nancy Q.
Checked in here many times. For me, City Cafe is a good choice of convenient breakfast. Maybe someone don't think this is a classy place, but here's atmosphere makes me really feel relax. For menu, I recommend the "Perfect Eggs Benedict", "Herb" and "Roast beef hash". Those are my favorite. French toast here definitely fabulous as many people mentioned it. They also have open breakfast (day's special), which may more expensive. Honestly I don't recommend it... I will say the sauce they used is taste different for me...Maybe someone else like it..Depends on your taste. Right?
(4)Dan R.
First time at the city cafe met my hopes and more. Cute, intimate and minimalist, decorated with modern, probably locally sourced art, 16 or so booths, City Cafe is a delight. Peppy, helpful service, good prices and modest portions highlighted my visit. Thanks to previous posters, I sampled the beef hash, which reminded me of my grandmas pot roast was flavorful and tender. Only one piece of toast is part of the modest portion, I needed another to mop up the homemzde and VERY spicy catsup. looked mostly like business folks and students, the place was not overwhelmed w customers at 10am on a Thursday morning. Definately will be back!
(4)Jennifer N.
I read reviews on this place and noticed it was a great spot for breakfast, so I decided to come check it out. I probably should have figured that maybe they only serve breakfast on the weekends? I came on a Monday and they were only serving lunch...so just a heads up to people who aren't aware. I give City Cafe a 4 for their service because everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. The food was average though. I ordered the roast beef hash with eggs and my friend got the bbq pork sandwich. Each dish was good, but not amazing. The bbq had a sweet tangy flare to it. I'll try to check this place out for breakfast during my next visit to Indianapolis!
(3)David S.
What a great spot! Julie had eggs benedict and I had an omelet with sausage and chiles. All the foods were prepared perfectly and was absolutely great. The coffee was hot and plentiful, and the service was spot on.
(5)Brandon M.
Wasn't all that impressed my omelette was runny the wife's biscuits tasted of flower. I know it's personal preference but, the orange juice was heavy pulp like to the point of chewing. Just not all that great. I threw in the extra star because they were rather nice.
(2)Kimmy W.
This breakfast spot is absolutely awesome. 3 different meals and all were divine. Service was fantastic. Almost everything is fresh from Indiana. Do yourself a favor...way breakfast here.
(5)Nicole R.
Best eggs Benedict!!!! I always try and steer people here vs patachu. Food is delicious.
(5)Shannon W.
Visited City Cafe last weekend with a friend. It came very highly recommended. The food was absolutely incredible, but the service was sub-par at best. We had two different servers trying to take care of our party of two the entire meal, and they did not communicate with each other at all. So we were often asked the same questions twice, we waited longer to place our order because one server thought the other had already taken our order and vice versa. One of the girls refilling coffee missed my coffee cup and spilled coffee all over the table, herself, and my arm. And when it came time to pay, one server picked up our cards and somehow managed to miscommunicate with the other server taking care of us so that our cards were temporarily lost. I'm chalking this one up to a fluke of a bad experience because the food was really incredible and worth the wait. Unfortunately, the service this particular morning tainted my holistic view of the place. I will certainly give this place a try again. But for now, I think I can only say this place is "okay."
(3)Kaela V.
It took a long time to get seated despite empty tables. However, the food was great and overall a good value. The servers were friendly and the atmosphere was casual and relaxed. I can see how this is a local favorite.
(4)Bryan S.
The City Cafe will always be known to me as my first Breakfast Meeting. After 25 years in one industry I jumped into another career path and I got invited to my first off site meeting. Our table of 6 was well waited at 7:30am. Our waitress was very attentive and our food came out fast. I ordered a 3 egg omelet, with white american cheddar and mushrooms. I started to order the fruit when someone mentioned Grits. So grits it was (I love grits). The omelet was perfect, not too brown on the outside, nice and hot and cheesy on the inside. No salt, pepper or catsup needed on this beauty. Cut with the fork and eat. Grits were served with a pat of butter on top. Now I usually like a little maple syrup on my grits but these were fine with just the butter. Add a piece of wheat toast with grape jelly and it was a perfect breakfast. Around my table was another omelet, 2 orders of veggie hash and a bowl of fruit. The noise level was fine, our bellies full and everyone left satisfied. We also got lots accomplished on my first meeting :) Oh and the view out the front window was perfect of the War Memorial and Park. Great for people watching. I will be back!
(3)Brian L.
I found this small hole-in-the-wall cafe about two years ago. It's a very small restaurant, but definitely worth a visit! Pros: 1) Friendly and courteous staff 2) Local ingredients 3) Fantastic cinnamon rolls made on the weekends. They run out fast, so get there early to make sure you get one Cons: 1) The wait can be long if an event is going on in the area 2) It's pricier than other breakfast places (Le Peep, Lincoln Square), but it's nice to go to a place that isn't a chain All in all, a great find!
(4)Cassie A.
Phenomenal! This hidden gem is on point every single time we dine. My husband and I affectionately refer to it as 'our' restaurant because we adore it so much. If you happen in for breakfast, we highly recommend the Migas but take my advice and add their housemade sausage and a side of Cajun ketchup! If you're lucky enough to hit this local spot during a City Burger special... Don't bother looking at the rest of the menu, just get it!! Any special they're whipping up is delicious and so simple yet inventive. It's amazing what these folks can do with the fresh local foods they source. I can't recommend City Cafe highly enough. We recently made it in for their once a week dinner (Thursday 5-9pm) and left so ridiculously full and happy. It was truly an entire menu of 'specials' based around what's in season currently (peaches). All three courses were perfect.
(5)Leyland B.
I recently had my first experience at City Cafe this past week and I can say I truly enjoyed it! I discovered yellow watermelon and it was delicious. I also enjoyed their veggie sandwich. It was one of the best that I've had, it had so much flavor and the portion is just enough! I will definitely be back to try other items off the menu!
(5)Jason A.
City café rocks, that's the skinny. Menu is loaded with awesome goodness. Everything was fresh and just the right sized portions, I got the hash with two eggs, wife had the "Herb" a breakfast sandwich filled with egg and homemade sausage. Ordered a half order of biscuits and gravy, not my thing as I'm more of a traditionalist but it wasn't bad. Coffee was excellent. Place is slightly tight, service was fine for a Wed morning, price a little on the high side but not a deal breaker. Highly recommend.
(4)Lindsay R.
So excited to run into Sonya A.! The veggie hash was amazing with a variety of vegetables galore. Please try the Cajun ketchup.. Her French toast was crispy and the sausage was super good! Service is fast and friendly. Loved the local ingredients and vendors!
(5)Beth W.
Great local business to bike to for breakfast. We visited here a couple of times. It seems to be at least $10 a person for breakfast, even children. They have local items in the menu, meat from Goose the Market, and we sampled an in house creation of a cinnamon roll with bacon crumbles. It was really good!
(5)Arielle T.
If you're looking for a light healthy lunch this is a wonderful stop. I had the black bean wrap and really enjoyed the spicy kick. It's an easy place to miss along Pennsylvania but worth stopping by.
(4)Nina S.
Let's start with the good: orange juice and toast. Normal bread but toasted well. The biscuits and gravy literally taste like runny cream with a sawdust biscuit. Flecks of sausage are barely visible and there is no taste besides the thin heavy salty cream. Waitress described the intense sage sausage taste ... Not a speck of sage....you couldn't even taste the Paprika sprinkled on top.
(1)Nikki B.
I had heard of the french toast here. It has taken everything in me not to stalk this place out so I'm the first person every day to enjoy those 4 slices of frickin heaven every day since then. Holy cow, I've never had something so good. The specials sounded divine, but I was on a mission for french toast and fresh bacon. I don't think you could be disappointed in anything except maybe that you have to wait if you're late. LOVED IT.
(5)Michelle Q.
Local, organic, convenient location to walk for lunch if downtown. The specials change daily and always unique flavors and combinations. My favorite is the soup/salad combo. Homemade soups change daily and my go to absolute favorite summer salad is the lemon feta lentil. Crisp, fresh salad and the warm lentils and dressing on the side keeps the salad filling but not too heavy. For the quality it is not pricey. Support local quality produce. It is worth it. Wish the hours were a bit earlier so I could grab carry out for dinner :)
(4)LaShelle S.
The french toast with corn flakes are AMAZING! The black bean wrap is great and the chocholate chip cookie is AMAZING! And they have the homemade potato chips!!
(5)Holly H.
My husband and I went to City Cafe the other day in hopes of enjoying their breakfast. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived (11 a.m.) they were no longer serving breakfast, and we had to "settle" for lunch. I was kind bummed about this, as I'd had my heart set on french toast. I decided to order The Tenderloin Sandwich. It was phenomenal. It came with a side of chips and a pickle. The sandwich had a good amount of meat and other toppings and the flavors were spot on. The bread was nice and crispy, which contrasted nicely with the tender beef and creamy bleu cheese. The onions added just a bit of sweetness that really balanced the saltiness of the sandwich. My husband got the special that day, which was a pesto chicken sandwich, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He also ordered their french onion soup, which he liked, but decided he would probably skip next time. The interior of City Cafe is really nothing to write home about. There are only a couple tables at the front by the windows, but the rest of the narrow restaurant is lined with booths. It's a small place, and could definitely benefit from a coat of paint and a little art... Luckily, their food more than makes up for the decor. One thing to note if you are thinking about checking this place out for lunch with friends... They have a policy that says that 5 or more people sitting at the same table have to be on one check... They claim that it's because it takes a long time to run five credit cards, but I'm sure it has to do with the processing fees involved. Either way, if your party will have more than 5 people, take cash along. Also, they get quite busy at lunch time (probably because of the proximity of the federal building next door). We were lucky enough to beat the rush, but if you have a limited amount of time to eat, you might have a backup venue lined up, in case the wait is too long.
(4)Tara M.
"Downtown food, farm-fresh Ingredients. We support family farms and local growers. Life is better when you know your neighbors." When I read this on City Cafe's Facebook page, I got excited. In my dreams City Cafe was going to be bright and airy and artisanal and fresh like Goose the Market, only right around the corner from my home. Instead I found the interior a bit drab, and my soup and sandwich were simply ok. The location is good and the service was friendly, but a girl cannot live on location and service alone.
(3)Jared B.
Good Sandwich. Amazing sweet potato soup. Distant, surly service for being one of two tables in the entire place. "Are you going to eat?" is what I was asked to have my order taken. When I inquired about the obscure additional $1.00 charge on my bill, I was told they changed the bacon, but haven't updated the menu prices. Fine, it's just a buck, but that should probably be something you inform people when they order something with bacon in it. Overall, an indifferent experience.
(3)Cynthia P.
Liked the concept... however the service was awful & it is completely over priced.
(1)Brandy S.
Doesn't serve brunch until 2 like advertised. We were disappointed to find out that there was no breakfast or brunch at noon. Food mediocre. Old building, smelled.
(1)Cheyenne E.
I'm actually surprised this place has such good reviews. I don't exactly think it deserves bad, but I just didn't think it was that great. When I first started dating my boyfriend and was still a native Terre Hautian, I'd come up here to stay with him on the weekends. We found this place and wanted to make it a regular breakfast spot. My first impression was that the inside was nice. It's small, quaint, and clean. Five stars for that. The waitstaff was all very nice also. My second were the prices. Damn near $9 for biscuits and gravy? My god. The biscuits and gravy are, different. The texture of the gravy was different than what I'm used to and was just weird tasting. Not exactly bad, but weird. My boyfriend had the french toast. Again, it was alright, but for the price you could buy two loaves of bread, two packs of eggs, a gallon of milk and do it yourself.
(2)Sara M.
This is the best brunch I've had in a long time! The eggs Benedict is amazing, as is the hollandaise sauce made in house. The cornflake French toast is a nice twist of texture on a classic dish. If you're into a little spice, I recommend getting some Cajun ketchup to go with the potatoes. All ingredients are local, which is a definite plus in my book!
(5)K B.
This place was so yummy. Great coffee too. Everything is fresh and mostly made in house from what I've heard.
(4)Marjorie K.
We stopped after a recommendation from an Indianapolis local. It was worth the drive over. I would officially like to nominate them as having the best bacon I have ever had. Not sure what they did different to it, but it was thick and crispy, absolutely perfect. I had the "Pops" breakfast sandwich and it was delicious. I will return over the next couple of months. As other reviews have stated seating is tight. I was comfortable, but some of the others in my party had some gripes.
(4)Simon M.
This has been on my bucket list for some time. Finally made it for Saturday breakfast, really brunch, due to not being there until after noon. I had the scrambled eggs with salsa and tortilla strips, a great combination. Also had home fries, which were perfect. My wife had eggs and toast. Hard to mess that up. The coffee was great, too. Kelsy (Kelsie?) was our server and she did a great job. It is a smallish space, with about 60 seats but that makes it even more charming. Our bill was only a little over $18, before tax. We will definitely return when we are in the mood for a great breakfast downtown.
(5)Cahmelan P.
This place has a hole-in-the-wall atmosphere with creative and quality dishes. The seating is pretty intimate, which would not be ideal for large parties. They use very fresh quality ingredients with most of their meats coming from smoking goose. The special is always worth trying and they continue to come up with creative new dishes. I always have the special and this time it continued to live up to the expectation. Thai chicken burger topped with pickled mustard greens (sound sketchy but unreal flavored). It came with a side a cole slaw, which normally I despise, but it was really good, mainly because it was not mayo based. City cafe is a great place to eat if you want to get away from the traditional diner food and experience quality creative dishes.
(4)Duncan W.
I went there by accident. I had walked by it on my way to an appointment and thought "that looks interesting, maybe I'll stop on my way back to my car". My appointment didn't go well but I stopped anyway. Never been there before and not that hungry, I ordered a cup of coffee (omg good!) and a half order of the biscuits and sausage gravy (I NEVER order that!). I don't know why I ordered that, I'm a bacon and eggs and hash browns kind of guy. I guess it was the "half order" that caught my eye and I was in a "what the hell" kind of mood. Well, the very first forkful that hit my tongue was amazing! I literally couldn't believe it. I immediately went into my "slow down, eat slowly, make it last" mode. Every single bite was amazing. I am not blowing smoke here folks, I'm speaking truth. The gravy was as good as the finest sauces I've ever tasted. World class! I immediately knew that the chef/cook had worked there a long time and confirmed that with the waitress. I will come back, very soon.
(5)Nancy Q.
Checked in here many times. For me, City Cafe is a good choice of convenient breakfast. Maybe someone don't think this is a classy place, but here's atmosphere makes me really feel relax. For menu, I recommend the "Perfect Eggs Benedict", "Herb" and "Roast beef hash". Those are my favorite. French toast here definitely fabulous as many people mentioned it. They also have open breakfast (day's special), which may more expensive. Honestly I don't recommend it... I will say the sauce they used is taste different for me...Maybe someone else like it..Depends on your taste. Right?
(4)Dan R.
First time at the city cafe met my hopes and more. Cute, intimate and minimalist, decorated with modern, probably locally sourced art, 16 or so booths, City Cafe is a delight. Peppy, helpful service, good prices and modest portions highlighted my visit. Thanks to previous posters, I sampled the beef hash, which reminded me of my grandmas pot roast was flavorful and tender. Only one piece of toast is part of the modest portion, I needed another to mop up the homemzde and VERY spicy catsup. looked mostly like business folks and students, the place was not overwhelmed w customers at 10am on a Thursday morning. Definately will be back!
(4)Jennifer N.
I read reviews on this place and noticed it was a great spot for breakfast, so I decided to come check it out. I probably should have figured that maybe they only serve breakfast on the weekends? I came on a Monday and they were only serving lunch...so just a heads up to people who aren't aware. I give City Cafe a 4 for their service because everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. The food was average though. I ordered the roast beef hash with eggs and my friend got the bbq pork sandwich. Each dish was good, but not amazing. The bbq had a sweet tangy flare to it. I'll try to check this place out for breakfast during my next visit to Indianapolis!
(3)David S.
What a great spot! Julie had eggs benedict and I had an omelet with sausage and chiles. All the foods were prepared perfectly and was absolutely great. The coffee was hot and plentiful, and the service was spot on.
(5)Nancy P.
My very favorite breakfast lunch place! If ever I was going to throw a catered party I would ask them to cater for me. The meals are always a high gourmet quality with intetesting taste.
(5)Bill J.
Breakfast meeting today, it was pretty full, but not so crowded that we couldn't get a booth right away. The server was solid, did a nice job. I had the french toast, it's really sweet but I enjoyed it. Also had a side of bacon, which is now provided by Smoking Goose. I was a little surprised that they served one of the pieces, it was noticeably burned on one end. I thought about sending it back, but just cut off the burnt part and ate the rest. I probably didn't really *need* those extra two bites of bacon anyway.
(4)Jeff S.
We were checking out the memorials and the museums and downtown in general, and just stumbled onto this place. A little slow getting seated, and a little slow getting our order in. Otherwise, friendly service, and the food was excellent. My wife loved the Yesterday's Soup and salad, and I had the Big Cheese sandwich. Not an amazing place, but I would definitely eat there again. Location is very good as well.
(3)Jon A.
How much should I divulge of this awesomesauce? The reason I ask... this is the sorta spot that could have a line out the door for lunch and Saturday brunch if enough people found out about it. Trouble is... it's damn good to not express. Really... it's that good. With such a limited menu it better be. Came in for an on-the-nose Noon weekday lunch (holla! Scott Goodyear sighting) with my officemate/LP, and we were seated right away. I jetted toward the boy's room (through the galley & kitchen out the hall way... but first, on the fly, multitasking, asked what I wanted to drink! Hey o! Whoatip! I had many things that day to make my day... but, that, alone, made my day. However they cook their roast beef here... it's better than most. The roast beef hash for brunch -- awesome. The "tenderloin" sandwich of roastbeef, onions, and mushrooms?, is properly sized, and is a perfect sandwich to pair with coffee. Tablemate ordered the turkey wrap, that was deemed "herb-y." And, whoa it's more than herby! It's a lovebug of a lunch. It made my sebaceous glands open wide and hope to devour it, too. Turkey in that wrap was better than T-giving day after sandies. I'm coming back for that wrap. Shhhhhhh....
(5)Benjamin H.
I love City Cafe.. I usually forget about it though, but that makes remembering so much better. Lots of fresh/local options for breakfast/lunch, but the standouts on the menu for me are the Biscuits & Gravy as well as the Breakfast Burrito (replacing the sausage w/ avocado is a great option for vegetarians!) Oh, also.. Don't forget to order the Cajun Ketchup! They close at 1p on Saturdays which is kind of a bummer.. Well the hours in general sadden me due to my non-morning capable lifestyle.
(4)Harry G.
Amazing the sausage is as good as it gets and the roast beef hash is amazing. Good coffee and pleasant service. The only thing they could improve is to make their own jelly or marmalade.
(5)John V.
Let's get this out of the way. Our breakfast was five stars. No doubt about it - fresh and tasty. We were welcomed and seated by one of the owners. They also served us. It's nice to see that they serve customers alongside their staff. Here's where is goes wrong, you can't get through your meal without being told multiple times that, a. everything is locally sourced and, b. how good their food is. First of all, I love that their food is locally sourced. I just don't need to hear it ad nauseum. Also, you don't need to keep telling us how great everything is. I can figure that out on my own by eating the food. In summary. They have great food, made with great ingredients, but they need to leave out the side of pretentiousness.
(3)Sonya A.
I love diners, but we have to quit kidding ourselves that nostalgia of diners always dominates our memory and we forget how crappy most diner food is. City Cafe is that unicorn of diner-like breakfast places. It has that feel of a diner but with an excellent menu and great quality ingredients. I highly recommend this place for brunch, definitely best place downtown. Food: 6/5 Service: 4/5 - Don't be discouraged if they ignore you when you first get there and you have to wait for the table. Consider it foreplay.. or initiation hazing or something. Location: 3/5 - Small place so this place does not work for large groups.
(5)Jenny K.
Absolutely one of the best breakfast spots in Indy. Honestly better than Taste and Patachou. I had a breakfast item on the lunch menu and my friend had the bbq sandwich. Both were AMAZING. Please try the cajun ketchup! To top it off, Nancy and her husband (the owners) are so friendly. My friend and I had a later lunch and they stayed open for us! I can't wait to go back.
(5)Kim H.
Such nice service. Had eggs Benedict the hollandaise sauce was AMAZING. Also had the fresh made oatmeal it also was amazing!!!!! Great place nice owner.
(5)Matthew P.
I would've given this place 4 stars and have eaten here weekly for quite a while but... Tried the "special" today. Supposedly "braised beef in a red chilli over white rice" It wasnt as good as Hormel Chilli on Uncle Bens.... I love this café and Im always impressed. When 35 minutes later I was approached to ask how it was going...(I obviously had barely touched my plate) I tried to convey my concerns and the lack of flavor in my dish. Now, compared to most, I'd consider my palate relatively refined and I had been asked my opinion afterall. The only consideration I got was,"Well, we tasted plenty of flavor, sorry you couldn't"...hmmm, you asked why I didn't eat. Dont get upset about a little constructive criticism... They did offer something else but after waiting so long for a follow up I declined. No offer of a small percentage off or (sincere) apology for which resulted in a shitty, lack of a $30 lunch.... With good customer service I would've returned next week. At this point I will not return nor recommend this establishment. It's unfortunate as I've had some pretty epic breakfasts there but customer service means more to me than all the rest...
(3)DeAnna P.
A nice place to pop in for a reasonably priced breakfast.
(4)Tamara D.
The best breakfast in the area. It is all fresh and as local as you can get.
(5)Brandy F.
As so many other reviewers have mentioned, I feel like City Cafe is a spot that I want to keep all to myself, and perhaps that is why I've waited so long to write a review. Then I remember one of the reasons I love Yelp, and that is to point me in the direction of local favorites no matter what city I'm in - even if it is my hometown. My husband and I have been enjoying breakfast here for several years. They often try to use fresh, local and even organic items, when available, and the quality really comes through in their food. One of my favorites is the breakfast burrito with avocado substituted for the sausage with a side of spicy ketchup. Before I continue, the spicy ketchup is homemade and basically a a somewhat thick hot sauce. A really, really excellent hot sauce. You can even purchase a bottle. Today I enjoyed one of the breakfast specials, and my mind was blown. I dare say it was one of the best breakfasts I've enjoyed in years. It consisted of homemade black bean ravioli (bear with me) topped with egg, butternut squash, onion, corn, cheese and finished off with some sort of whipped avocado sauce. Never would I have thought to pair such ingredients, but it was out of this world! I wish they would add it to the menu. Yes, the space is small, but I don't care. We often see some of the same people here on the weekend, and it just has a real feel of community that I appreciate. City Cafe - just put that ravioli on the menu. Oh, and offer the carrot cake pancakes as a special again so I won't have to choose!
(5)Al I.
This place was a surprise. You'd never know that they are so good with vegetarian options and fresh veggies. On both of my visits, I had whatever their vegetarian special of the day was, and loved them both. The more diner-y food looks fine, but for me, the reason to come back is what fancy thing with lentils or wild mushrooms will they have next?
(4)Matt F.
Yeah, it's small. Oh well, this isn't suburbia. Anyway, I like it that way. That's kept it somewhat local. We've seen a lot of the same friendly faces for years. The service can be slow, but I'm usually there for breakfast on a Saturday. Trust me, I'm not in a hurry to finish breakfast and get to the Home Depot to go shopping for bathroom fixtures. The food usually ranges from "good" to "outstanding." Our last trip was of the latter variety. Local eggs cooked just right, tasty bacon from Goose the Market, and some of the best black bean ravioli I have ever had for breakfast. Come to think of it, it's the only black bean ravioli I have ever had for breakfast. Those are the kind of differences that keep me coming back.
(5)Dana M.
Came here for a Saturday brunch and loved it! Tried the biscuits and gravy, a cinnamon roll, and fruit plate. Everything was really good. Server explained the menu, and I was impressed with all of the homemade components. Small place so I would avoid large groups here. Not the fastest service, but knowing what is going on in the kitchen, it doesn't bother me as much. Great place for breakfast food in the heart of Indianapolis.
(4)JD S.
City Cafe is in the top 5 breakfast stops in the city and a great place for lunch. They source local ingredients when possible and it shows in the quality and taste of what you order. There is always a unique special for lunch that is hard to pass up. I stop by at least once a month and I'm always super satisfied with the food and the service. Overall great place!
(5)Raina R.
City Cafe is a hit or miss place to grab lunch. If you are in a hurry, I wouldn't recommend City Cafe. However, if you have some time, the food is EXCELLENT - fresh food created into great entree choices. The vegetarian selection is great, enjoyed a delectable black bean wrap with chips. My coworkers enjoyed the meat friendly options. However, the service was incredibly slow and it was a much longer meal than we anticipated.
(3)Phillip H.
This place can be great. I hit them up from time to time for lunch. Very health friendly and most their food is fresh and local grown produce is used!! The wait staff is great and I really feel like family there.The Decor is great, building somewhat snug though. If the food is up your ally then your good. I recommend you check out their menu before going in to make sure they are what your looking for. I tend to stop in when I feel like a sald or have a craving for some "unique flavors". When they do diner from time to time you have to go in!!! The Thai Catfish and Coconut rice was heaven and the brownie thier son makes.....my god its great!! Bottom line is I love this place and the people there!
(5)Vanessa A.
Too bad. I went to City Cafe for the first time because of the good reviews. When the waitress described the soup I hadn't recalled the mention of tomatoes. I don't eat tomatoes so I sent the soup back to which she hesitated and told me she'd "see". I have never had that response when I wasn't happy with a dish; usually they take it back and ask what else I'd like. The other server came over and asked if I'd like something else and I requested two eggs scrambled with a side salad, no tomatoes. He checked and came back with "we're not set up for that". I asked for the check and they charged me for a cup instead of bowl and a cup of coffeeToo bad, a slight bit of accommodation goes a long way with me. They lost my business.
(1)Kate M.
Meal: 4* - -southwestern grilled cheese (it's a toss up between this and the grilled cheese I had at Juniors in NY) -Didn't care for the asparagus and squash veggie soup (not very flavorful) -strong coffee, but lukewarm -Said that everything is locally bought or grown Atmosphere: 3* - small, skinny diner-feel with wooden pews for booths -small pieces of art (guessing it is local) that is for sale Service: 5* -We had a party of 7 good-natured but loud girls. Our server was nice and helpful. He helped make the meal fun. Would I return? Probably not for lunch or dinner, but if they serve a breakfast, I would like to try it out. I'm glad I went, though!
(4)Tiffany B.
So many wonderful breakfast items. I was just thinking earlier about how most breakfast joints just offer the same ol' thing--nothing new or creative. Not so here! The breakfast burrito is big and packed with goodies, but it's taken to the next level with a side of "love relish," which is one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. If you like sweet and spicy, this is for you. You have to request it; and you should. The Migas is an awesome egg dish that has tortilla chip strips with it (a dreamy combo, surprisingly).The Eggs Benedict here is in the top 3 in Indy (this is my favorite breakfast dish and I try them everywhere that offers them) based on how they cook the eggs and their hollandaise. The ham is a thick cut though, and Canadian bacon balances out the other flavors better on this dish for my palate. Biggest downer: Hot tea selection leaves something to be desired...it all seems to be freshly made with recipes unique to here, which I like. Do wish the seats were more comfortable. Love the view onto the Indiana War Memorial. Quaint.
(4)Robin P.
This is probably the most innovative and delicious spot for breakfast in downtown Indy - and if you haven't been yet you should really try it out. I've unfortunately written it off my list because the last 3 or so times I've been there the service was just horrible. You know it's bad when the food is sooo good but the service keeps you from going back. If you are willing to sacrifice bad service for good food - go for it! You won't find smoked trout hash or egg enchiladas on any other breakfast menu in this city. But waitstaff should never argue with you if you tell them they brought out the wrong dish ... (whatever happened to the customer always being right?) .... and you shouldn't have to fall into the aisle in order to get the waitstaff to notice you and refill your coffee. Every time I go I see other tables sending food back as well. If they would just listen...
(2)Shannan S.
locally owned cafe featuring daily specials, local ingredients, and a deliciously healthy menu for breakfast and lunch. favorite staples include the salad nicoise, eggs benedict, and the Thai iced coffee.
(5)Jane K.
We were visiting Indy from out of town with our 2 young kids (ages 3 and 5) and went to this place based on the Yelp reviews. Local vibe, fresh well made food, hip servers, good prices. the kids had the kids pancakes, which come in a cute mouse shape with blueberries for eyes and a pat of butter for the nose; my husband had the oatmeal, which was actually their homemade granola cooked. it was packed with walnuts and cranberries, quite healthy and tasty. I had the migas, which were delicious. it's a small place, hard wooden booths, not a big kitchen, so you might wait a while for your food, but we'll be back. not a good place to go with a large group as they really only have one table which can seat more than 4 people. pleasant stroll from our hotel.
(5)Diane B.
For a small place, the food selections are great. Cajun ketchup was so yummy we purchased a bottle to take home.. French toast and special syrup were great. Server was very friendly. We felt right at home!
(4)Brittany L.
I was really excited to try this place for the first time. I thought the decor was pretty cute and that everything on the menu sounded fantastic. So there we were: late-ish morning on a weekday, the only customers save for a guy drinking coffee. The employees/friends of were gossiping loudly at the back. This is where things went wrong. The sign said "wait to be seated" so we waited. And waited. And were finally seated...at a dirty table. After being in the restaurant nearly 10 minutes, we received our drinks and were ready to order. Except the waitress wasn't ready to do that yet and walked away as soon as the cups were plunked on the table. She needed to sit back down and chat for a few more minutes. We could see her back there! Anyhow. I live for good sausage gravy and was extra starving so I ordered an egg and some hash browns too. He got something-an omelet? With a side of bacon. His bacon arrived completely hard and judging by temperature had been cooked an hour ago and was left sitting on a counter until he ordered it. My scrambled egg was good, but it was only barely warm when it reached the table...I ate it first. The cubed potatoes were dry and without much flavor, but the portion was huge. I feel they would be perfect for absorbing a large amount of ketchup...and if that's how you roll you might love them. I would have tried the cajun ketchup but there wasn't any around and the waitress didn't bring it when we asked. The biscuits under the gravy were hard, dense, dry, and very salty. Yuck. The gravy itself turned my stomach. It was oily, almost brown in color, and tasted sour. I really believe it was spoiled. It took about half hour for the waitress to tear herself away from the conversation at the back again: she was dropping off the check. By this time his coffee cup had been empty (and scooted to the edge of the table) for about 15 minutes, and neither of us had water in our glasses. She looked down at my plate of biscuits & gravy and said "Do you want a box?" My response was "Actually, it didn't taste very good. I think it may have gone bad." Does she apologize? Take it off the check? Ask if I want something else? Nope! "So you're not going to eat it?" I try again: "Someone should try the gravy...it tastes really...gross." and that's it. In short, really wretched service, and nasty food too! I feel like a better server could have made a huge difference. There are 2 really good breakfast spots within 1/2 mile of our house and Patachou & Le Peep downtown so I don't see us returning to City Cafe...well...ever. I've had better service at the McD's on east Washington.
(2)Sam G.
Like Jon A. suggested, to hype this place could backfire horribly for all of us who like the tiny restaurant. It is only the size of a bread box, and I can imagine days in the future where it's popularity grows to the point of no one being able to get a seat without an 1+ hour wait outside. Anyway, this place was great! We went there on a Saturday for breakfast/brunch. Everything we ordered was awesome. I had the French Toast, which was crunchy, sweet, and flavorful. The syrup was great too. Oh, and the portions were great. The homemade sausage patties were unique and tasty, unlike any others I've had. An interesting spice combination elevated the sausage beyond the typical "Bob Evans" classification and standard-ness common to the breakfest sausage at most places. My wife and son had the pancakes which they said were good. My daughter had a sausage, red pepper, and onion omelette and almost eat the plate, it was so good! So treat yourself and go check this place out. But don't spread the word too much...
(5)Chris D.
Oh, City Cafe how I want to love you. Let's cover the many "+"s of this tasty downtown warm spot. Fantastic location that allows for many options pre- or post-dining. Solid menu prepared well at a reasonable price. I had the full flight pancakes so I got to try one of each recipe. Even though they were noticeably overdone, their inherent deliciousness was still apparent. They get points just for having such diverse pancake options. The cornflake encrusted french toast also looks like a winner. In the "-" category are two things that keep City Cafe from getting to 4 stars and a likely one-off that diminished this visit. First, I rarely reactive negatively to art in a restaurant but the art up at City Cafe was distractingly bad (in my view). Not sure what it was all about but it definitely took away from the efforts to make the place look modernly retro. Second was the anemic tea selection. If you're going to go to the trouble of dressing up diner food as City Cafe has, don't skimp on the tea selection. I'm not demanding Teas Me quality selections but at least step up to Republic of Tea level or something. Much less institutional (and likely just an off day for the staff) was the service. I try really hard not to judge a place by one bad experience with staff because you just never know what someone is going though on any given day. So, had this been the only drawback of the visit, I'd likely have gone ahead and rated City Cafe as 4 stars. I guess the best word to describe the service was distracted. We had to ask for things a couple of times and were never really sure who to ask for anything. It was a bit chaotic even though the restaurant wasn't that busy when we got there an hour before close. Overall, a good addition to your list of brunch places for when your regular spots get too familiar. However, it's not a place I'll put into regular rotation absent a really good experience on a future visit.
(3)Lindsay P.
Love this place for weekend brunch! Great local foods with Hubbard and Cravens local coffee. Get there early on Saturday for homemade cinnamon rolls (huge!) and a table. They are relatively small for their popularity. My only complaint is that they are closed on Sundays :-(
(4)MJ W.
Great Eggs Benidict! This is nice hole in the wall for breakfast. The cornflake-encrusted French toast is mouth watering. My wife told me to try it and I was a little suspicious. I must say I was impressed. The coffee is great as well.
(5)Emily U.
I wanted to call this place a "hidden gem," but while my City Café experience was pleasant, it didn't blow me away, so the "gem" portion of this cliche didn't apply. Still, it IS kind of hidden. Their unassuming neon sign is just demure enough that I didn't notice it for like a year. Then, even after I noticed it and figured out it was a breakfast joint, I kept forgetting to stop in. So one of my favorite brunching companions was in town for the weekend and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally check out CC. I was underwhelmed by the décor, which is pretty spare and not very homey for a place called "café." I was delighted, however, that the menu was creative (with options like migas), and they had both a sweet and savory special. Sadly, they were out of the interesting-sounding polenta dish that was on special. We ended up going all sweet with the granola pancake special and the cereal-coated French toast. I loved the texture of the French toast, and the fact that it was served with real maple syrup. The pancakes were good, but, in the end, not terribly special. The servers were super nice and funny. My only complaint was that our main server asked if we wanted cream for our coffee and then forgot to bring it to us until my friend got up from the table to retrieve it. Our food arrived a minute later, so we had no time to just enjoy our coffee. If you want to bring down my brunch experience a notch, be sure to somehow delay or screw up the coffee. (What can I say? I'm a junkie.) I'd give City Café a 3.5, but a 4 would really be too generous. That said, I'll probably be back. If you want something a little less trendy than the Hoaglin's square-plate experience, this is a nice alternative for breakfast or brunch in the downtown area. Maybe it's more like a "hidden geode"...?
(3)Ellie P.
My friend & I were so excited to try out this diner. We thankfully got there while there was an open table but that was probably the most exciting part. Two stars is for having a unique breakfast menu but actually making it taste unique was not there. We ordered the special which was eggs frittata that was suppose to have horseradish in them & topped with potatoes, onions, mushrooms, & feta cheese. The catch to our order was that we didn't ask for the price. The special was $16! Twice the price of almost everything on their menu. We had a group of disgruntled old ladies complain about the price when we got our dishes & the staff told them it was more expensive because everything was local/organic. I'm sorry but even local eggs, potatoes, onions, mushrooms, & cheese do not cost more than $10 to feed a family of four. If there was some specially locally raised meat, then MAYBE it's worth $16? Besides the outrageous price for our meals the staff was very inattentive. We had glasses of water that were never refilled during the hour that we were there & our bill was handed to us right after our food came out. Maybe, if she would have stated "no rush" when leaving our bill while we were taking our first bites of our dishes would have signaled to us that she was in no rush to get us out the door.
(2)Sara P.
Two awesome thumbs up! We came here on Saturday morning of the Final Four after walking in the rain in a city we don't know...all I could think was, this better be worth it. I'm glad I wasn't disappointed. We waited for a very few short minutes before being seated in this small but cozy restaurant. You can tell people here are regulars...and I can see why. Our waiter was awesome- friendly, helpful, attentive but certainly not annoying. We started with their specialty of the morning, the cinnamon roll. Holy deliciousness. After his recommendation, I got the migas with their special blue corn grits. The migas were really good, to say the least. My fiance had the eggs with their homemade sausage...and of course we had the biscuits. Good grief, I could have had just the cinnamon roll and biscuit and been just fine. I love that this place supports the local farmers...and I love that they're so friendly and nice. The next time I'm back in Indy, I will for sure be back!
(4)Andres C.
I would not rave about it but the food was Good. Tried the hash, not bad. Good fruit cup.
(3)Johnny T.
Yes, it's true: do not drink the water in Indy. It almost killed me. If I didn't know better, I would have said that a certain Indy CM poisoned the water reserve in an elaborate scheme to pay me back for almost killing him at a less-than-sanitary Chicago restaurant. But, I know that's not the case. Right? Right?? So, I had swilled 10 oz. of Indy's finest first thing in the morning and I felt extremely nauseous. Not knowing what else to do, Jon A brought me here. You starve a cold and feed an Indy water poisoning (I think that's what Martha says). But, the plot thickens. Jon wanted me to get eggs during the height of the salmonella scare. He *was* trying to kill me! Help! Police! Knowing the sinister desires that lay beneath, I trumped his gambit and ordered a freshly-squeezed ruby red grapefruit juice (anti-oxidants ftw) and biscuits & sausage gravy. The fresh fruit juice was delicious with a slight bite of carbonated acidity and helped fight the toxins Mr. A had introduced to my system. The biscuits and gravy helped to make me fatter. The biscuits were very nice: fluffy, slightly chewy with an ever-so-barely-there crunchy crust. The sausage gravy was plentiful... but I have had better. It wasn't bad, but I'm from Kentucky, lived in Tennessee & Louisiana blah blah blah. I know from stellar sausage gravy. This was good; not the best. Our service was prompt & courteous and the restaurant is a cozy kitchen/diner. It's not fancy but it's just the place to go for a good breakfast. I left CC only slightly bent over and holding my stomach -- which is far better shape than I walked in. CC started my road to recovery and, for that, I thank you. Indy water is no joke!
(4)Valerie B.
FANTASTIC food! Here for a nocnference and walked 25 minutes through downtown and totally worth the trip. Conrflake french toast is amazing. Fruit bowl (in August) had AT LEAST ten different fresh fruits. A little on the pricey side but ingrediants are all from local farms so it feels worth it. Highly recomend and will return when in town again!
(4)Samantha H.
I got the fish tacos here. They were the best fish tacos I have ever eaten. The fish was really really blackened on the outside and still tender and juicy on the inside and plenty of it. Plenty of avocado slices too and some sort of sauce/dressing that brought it all together.
(4)J H.
Other reviewers called this a hidden gem that wasn't a gem but I beg to differ! I've been here for lunch several times and each time we've had great service and amazing food. The lentils with lemon and feta salad is to die for - light, refreshing and very tasty. It's also vegetarian friendly! The other time I went I had the smoked turkey wrap with a tasty pesto spread. Their ice tea is amazing and they have a flavored lemonade that changes regularly! My lunching companion had the cookies and just loved them - she keeps asking when we can head back for more cookies! I would recommend this place if you're looking for a locally sourced lunch with a simple menu!
(4)Daniel H.
Great food. Service was a little slow. Small and cozy area. Closed on Sundays. Biscuits and gravy were great.
(4)Jessica S.
Cute atmosphere with good coffee. While it is a small cozy place I wouldn't categorize it as a hole in the wall, it's much too nice inside for that. Definitely not a greasy spoon so if you don't mind a more upscale experience then this is the place for you. They take plastic too :-) The french toast is amazing! It's rolled in cornflakes and the syrup has a slight twist that makes the entire entree really enjoyable. Husband tried the biscuits & gravy and while the sausage was good the biscuits weren't fluffy like he likes them, so it was good but nothing out of this world. The taters are cubed seasoned potatoes and they don't have hashbrowns, but they do have grits. Taters were good, but we didn't try their homemade Cajun ketchup so that might have made it better. Overall I'm really glad we came here and would recommend it, if the prices were a tad lower and the B&G was better it would have received more starts.
(3)Micheal B.
Best omelet I ever had!!! Their multi grain toast is fabulous. Excellent eggs Benedict and perfect hollandaise sauce. Great service and friendly.
(5)Naomi S.
Every time I am up early enough to eat breakfast here, (sadly, that's kind of rare) I am sooo happy I did! Always fantastic. Locally sourced foods, and a fantastic Eggs Benedict (one of my breakfast staple items). Be ready to wait for a table unless you get there as soon as they open.
(5)Oran S.
What a wonderful hole-in-the-wall place to have breakfast. The staff was busy yet attentive and the food was superb. This is the only place I've ever been that offered cream cheese as something to put in an omelete (my secret ingredient for years). The food was very fresh and tasty and the diced potatoes looked average but oh my were they well seasoned and delightful. I'll be back!
(4)Sunah K.
Close enough to walk to (on a nice day), I wanted to like it more. The food was good, but not awesome but I would probably come back again for either breakfast or to try their lunches. I had read some reviews about slow service and preferential treatment to regulars, and even though it did happen to us, we were in no hurry (I guess wiping down empty tables in a nearly empty cafe and writing the lunch specials on the chalkboard might be more important than seating waiting customers at 930 on a Tues morning...). The cornflake crusted french toast was just not as good as I was expecting--too sweet for my taste and kinda flattened. The Lauren breakfast sandwich was solid and satisfying with the avocados and jack cheese, but again, not spectacular. Maybe I shoulda gotten the additional cajun ketchup? Prices are reasonable. I guess I can see why it's a popular spot. And I have to say that the art on the walls was quite...interesting. I probably didn't have quite the reaction to it that one other reviewer had, but really, it did look like kindergarten craft-time work.
(3)Virginia L.
Simple menu, simple food. High quality ingredients really set this place apart. Relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. Daily specials.
(4)Eric M.
From the exterior, this little obscurity with the unremarkable name looks like yet another lunch place that serves sandwiches folded in aluminum foil to cater to the 9-to-5 crowd. But lo and behold, it's open on weekends and has really developed a solid word-of-mouth following. The cornflake-encrusted French toast seems to be its signature breakfast dish, but they offer other specials such as buckwheat pancakes topped in an apple and blackberry compote, all complimented with some bottomless Hubbard and Cravens coffee. Service is bright and attentive, local artists adorn the walls, and hipsters bump shoulders with fashionable empty nesters. All quite harmonious. Next time I'll have to try the migas, so I get more protein than the always delicious carb-load that City Cafe's flapjacks and toast provide.
(4)Cynthia T.
Good golly the food here is good! And the staff is fun and efficient. Oh, and the owner, Brad, is a really nice guy to takes justifiable pride in his food. His biscuits made me fall in love with him - but who wouldn't love guy who makes biscuits as light and fluffy as a cloud? I would visit Indianapolis again just to eat here. Until then, I'm going to daydream about which of Brad's amazing creations I'll eat next time...
(5)Art A.
wow, great pulled pork sandwich! all fresh and seasonal.. for the most part. excited to come back for lunch tomorrow and try the tenderloin sammich!
(4)Fatima D.
Super friendly staff. Food just wasn't quite what I expected.. Cornflakes coated French toast was mediocre.
(2)Nathan S.
Most things on the menu are around $8. Decided to get the day's special, and it turned out to be $14 when I got the check, which would have been nice to know during the sales pitch from the owner. Using local product is generally a good thing, but it's not worth a dime if it doesn't taste like anything. For a dish featuring meat stewed with chili's, it didn't have even a hint of seasoning, spice or flavor whatsoever. Not to mention soggy tortillas and potatoes, which didn't taste like anything either. You can imagine my surprise when I got the check. French toast is good though.
(2)Walt O.
'had Saturday brunch there this morning. It is definitely on the small side but we were seated immediately. The staff is extremely pleasant and friendly, the service is prompt and attentive, and the food is outstanding. The Eggs Benedict is absolutely fantastic!!!
(5)Ken K.
I stumbled upon this tastey little joint while taking a stroll through town afoot. Now, it's a ritual, visiting anytime I'm in town. They serve Hubbard & Cravens coffee, a local roaster you can hunt down, and buy some beans after you're done eating at City Cafe.
(5)miles c.
By far, the best breakfast I have eaten in Indianapolis.
(4)Bill C.
Went for a late breakfast, so the place was pretty empty. Very nice breakfast burrito (though not nearly as spicy as the waitress said it would be), and my kids loved their pancakes and French toast. Good coffee, friendly waitress, nice vibe. Great start to a long day of driving.
(4)Kerry S.
City Cafe is one of my favorite breakfast places ever. Heaven is eating one of their potatoes that has been dipped in a hollandaise/cajun ketchup mixture! The specials are also consistently fantastic and different every time. The Cafe has two distinct crowds of regulars: the Saturday breakfast crowd and the weekday lunch crowd. Both sets of regulars are highly devoted and likely to know the waitstaff well. This familiarity leads to a very comfortable vibe in the tiny, cozy space, but it can also lead to servers chatting at tables for periods of time. For me, the service has always been pleasant and helpful, but it's more of a family atmosphere than a crisp, fine dining, constant attention sort of thing. Both the breakfast and the lunch menus are delicious, but I am partial to the breakfast. All of the ingredients are fresh and local and yum. The eggs benedict with avocado is amazing. I personally am not a sweet breakfast person, but my friends who are say that the french toast is the best ever. Also, the coffee is consistently good. My only complaint about City Cafe is that they are not open on Sundays, but I know it is so that the owners can have a family day, so I can't complain too much!
(5)Pamela H.
This is my favorite downtown location for brunch. The food is always fresh and there are usually unique daily specials. Brunch is definitely the best meal at City Cafe, but their lunch menu is great too.
(4)Jason F.
I'm not sure if people understand how hard it can be to find an affordable, delicious breakfast spot in a downtown setting (open on a weekend in an environment that is geared towards the working week!) that also serves amazing coffee. If they did, this place would have a line out the door. My basic egg breakfast was delicious and almost overshadowed by the thick bacon strips cooked perfectly and the deliciously greasy potatoes.
(4)Kasey J.
Watch where you're walking or you'll pass this one right by. And believe me, you do NOT want to allow that to happen. City Cafe is located in a teeny, tiny building on Pennsylvania Avenue and has become a favorite spot for breakfast and lunch--especially for downtown dwellers and workers. When I worked downtown, this was our top choice for breakfast "meetings." Do yourself a treat and order the french toast. Nothing against my dad, but he now is on my list in the No. 2 spot for "Best french toast." (Sorry, dad). City Cafe's toast is so insanely yummy. Why? Because not only is it sweet and warm, but it's encrusted with Corn Flakes! So ... it's the PERFECT mix of crunchy on the outside and sweet and gooey on the inside. Mmm. The menu includes such creative items with fun little twists. Avocado here and there and everywhere. Also ... gotta love the fact that you can get apples on the side instead of chips. And I love the Big Cheese for lunch. Note: This place isn't large, so if you have a group of people, it might be hard to seat your entire party. It's great for couples!
(5)Barbara H.
My partner and I were going to Indy for a wedding so we decided to make a weekend out of it. Naturally, I searched for some restaurants to go so I would have some places to choose from that I had done some research on. We chose the city cafe to meet some local friends. I chose it because they only use local ingredients, everything is homemade and they even roast their own coffee. Our friends had never been there and decided they would give it a try. The four of us met on a Saturday morning around 11 and we had to wait for about five minutes for a table. That was the first plus because I was starving. Once seated, our waitress came right away for our drink order and to go over the specials. She was very freindly and knew the specials well. One of the people in our group has pepper allergies and she was able to make many suggestions of menu items with out peppers. Two of us ordered the roastbeef hash, one ordered the biscuits and gravy and the other ordered a specialty omelet. Oh, and we ordered two sides of bacon to share. Everyone at the table was very pleased with their orders. The roastbeef hash had tender slow roasted beef, onions, butternut squash, potatoes and a few other veggies I can't remember. It was so delicious! It came with two eggs and a side of toast, both cooked perfectly I might add. The biscuits and gravy looked very yummy when it arrived, a layer of biscuit, lots of gravy, more biscuit and more gravy. It was sprinkled with what looked to be paprika. I didn't taste it but was told it was excellent. Everyone loved what they ordered. The bacon, from a local butcher, was a-maz-ing! Thick, salty and cooked to perfection. The coffee was so god that I had three cups, my norm is one. Our visit to the city cafe was wonderful and I will go back when next in Indy. One thing to note, they are only open for breakfast and lunch and not open on Sundays. My guess is because it is downtown and not a lot of businesses are open on Sundays. The reason for only four stars is that they aren't open on Sundays and you can't get breakfast all day.
(4)Stephanie L.
I love City Cafe. This is by far my favorite breakfast spot in Indy. I recommend getting there before 9am on weekends to avoid waiting. Everything on the menu is innovative and fresh. You can't go wrong with their specials, always creative and delicious. I've never had any problems with the service, always been friendly and fast.
(5)TOMMY o.
the Oatmeal was voted Best in the City by Indianapolis Monthly & it is!!! they use an Amish grown oat, add brown sugar & nuts & berry TO DIE FOR!!!! i'm a "big gurl" & can't fit into their 1950 booths, so have to make sure a table (limited) is available, the bacon not all that, they also have Great Sausage Gravy Everything @ Lunch is really good
(4)Stacy P.
City Cafe is a very unassuming breakfast option if you find yourself searching for a early morning bite to eat when your in the downtown area. This diner is a no frills cafe provides you to step back in time. The menu is pretty basic and straight forward. It has your staple breakfast fare and uses locally sourced goods. While there is no gluten free menu, there are a few items that are naturally gluten free. The prices are pretty fair; however, your omelet can get pricey depending upon how many ingredients you get. The amount of food in proportion to cost is pretty large. You could get two meals out of a build your own omelet. One word of caution to all of those with long legs when sitting in a booth, beware of the table leg. That sucker hurts when you knock into it.
(3)Angela T.
I mean, it was OK. I have lived in Indy all my life and I never even knew this place existed. It's tiny but the atmosphere is pleasant. I just had some issues with my party having to stand at the door for 20 minutes even though there were empty tables. They just kept coming over and telling us they would be right with us. It wasn't that busy and takes two seconds to point to a table and tell people to sit down. It was very confusing on why they made us wait for so long. I order eggs Benedict at every restaurant I can so I am kind of an expert. Theirs were very pleasant to look at but really hard to eat. I couldn't decide if the English muffin was just really hard to cut or if my silverware was so cheap it couldn't handle it. I looked around and saw I wasn't the only person that looked like a child attempting to cut their own food. In all honesty, I wouldn't go back. The food was good but it was too much trouble.
(3)Rebecca M.
I have heard so many great things about City Cafe's food, and have heard rumors of how packed it gets for brunch; but we got really lucky and my friend and I were able to grab a seat immediately. Then the menu. So many great choices, and the parade of plates containing savory and sweet delights did not help the decision-making process. In fact, after we finally decided on our biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, and potatoes, we decided we HAD to order a warm fresh cinnamon roll - they only serve them on Saturdays! So, needless to say we were stuffed! I definitely recommend the sausage!
(4)Jerry W.
First time here. I ordered breakfast. At $8.75 it was the most expensive biscuits and gravy I ever ate, maybe owing to its being local and organic. At any rate, it wasn't worth it. Gravy had a strange gamy flavor and too much sausage for my taste. Biscuits were burned on the bottom but were otherwise ok. They were more cake-like and denser than typical. And the presentation was not attractive since there was gravy spilling down one edge of the plate. Also, even though the gravy could have been better, there still wasn't enough of it to cover the biscuits. The sunny side up eggs were burned to a crisp around the edges making the whites leathery and tough. As for service, the waitress was nice and sat me right away, though she surely could see I couldn't fit in that tiny, narrow booth. I had to ask for a table. She also was inattentive. She didn't ask to refill my coffee until I was finished eating. Then she didn't fill it right away. But she did offer to bring me a cup to go. Over all, I was not very impressed.
(2)Julia L.
Eat here if you'd like the chef to laugh at your special meal request while you're waiting around the corner, then completely ignore said request! For a $12 meal there are other places with food just as good and MUCH better customer service. I love their food, but this has happened TWICE now and there definitely won't be a third!
(1)Al L.
Food was ok and like you would make at home (roast beef hash and veggie hash), service was as previously written. Don't be in a hurry here because things move slower than in your own kitchen. Convenient to downtown and friendly.
(3)Tamara Q.
Great small town feel in the heart of Indianapolis. Great choices and all deliciously fresh.
(4)Chad S.
Food is okay, but the server seemed to have something more important to do. I came in near closing time and felt rushed to finish my food and get out of dodge.
(1)Zach V.
Great little Cafe that's walking distance from the center of town. Yelp comes through again. The interior is not very big and it has a diner feel. I read that the Egg's Benedict and Burrito were both good choices so we tried them both. I must agree they were great choices. One of the owners was working and came over to speak with us for a bit. She asked why were were in town so we advised we were in for the Fire Department Instructors Conference. She was very appreciative of all the business this conference brought in. With all the chain restaurants in the city this place is a must try for breakfast. I forgot to try the bacon but I hear its pretty darn good.
(4)Rebecca S.
Best Grits I town!
(4)Bonnie S.
This review is long overdue as I at the City Café approximately 5 months ago but I keep on reminiscing on how wonderful, warm and welcoming a place it was. I had the requisite Veggie Hash which was filling, savory and varied in taste and texture enough that maybe hash is sort of a put-down for the plate of tastiness that they put before me. The waitresses I had were sweet and quick to dole out some nice, strong coffee (but not bitter - not easy to accomplish) as well as to let me in to the kitchen gossip which was all about the Paw Paw Pudding that the cook had just made. Well, this Los Angeles Woman was not leaving without trying it and even though they had just made it for themselves from PawPaws they had foraged over the weekend, they shared! And it was wonderful! And indescribable. And incredibly addicting (damn it!). And the act of kindness and sharing with some jaded out-of-towner will never be forgotten and whenever I am in Indianapolis, I will ONLY eat my breakfast at the City Café.
(5)Chris R.
A great little place to grab a bite to eat. We were looking to eat a delicious breakfast in the city out of the way of chain restaurants. This was the perfect place. the only problem was that breakfast ended at 11:00, which was not clear on their information. Overall, really great food, flavorful, and efficient service.
(3)Brittany S.
Must try the french toast - not your average. Crusted with flakes and topped with cinnamon powdered sugar and Hickory Shagbark syrup. Feeling fancy? Add a topping of fresh berries. Ooo la la.
(4)Brittany K.
I was meeting a couple here and was holding a table for 45 minutes before they arrived. The staff was really nice about it and encouraged my fella and I to get a cinnamon roll while waiting, which we did. They made great suggestions. Many local and vegetarian options. The restaurant is really low key. The decor isn't much to look at and the booths are basic wooden booths but I love the really casual brunch atmosphere that gets a bit lost at bigger, trendier places. I had the homemade biscuits and homemade gravy with local sausage. It was tasty, had plenty of appropriately sized pieces of sausage, and was a bit sweeter/spicier than the Bob Evans everyman versions. I had a bit of my fella's mexiomelet that came with tortilla strips. It was crazy good and I would certainly think about getting that for my self next time. The sour cream is a lime cilantro cream. Amazing. The bathrooms are a bit weird. You need a key and have to walk past the kitchen to the dim and modest bathrooms. But that isn't making or breaking this place for me.
(3)