Grove Cafe
124 Main St, Ames, IA, 50010
Grove Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ames for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
124 Main St
Ames, IA, 50010 - Phone (515) 232-9784
- Website https://www.grovecafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Breakfast
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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AL B.
Love Locally owned Cafes! And this one has its own special ORANGE PANCAKE-fills a whole plate but is not heavy!! Limited seating at the counter or in a booth- If you like good breakfast,crisy tasty bacon,french toast,pancakes and more and a homey feel-come here! I would imagine there is a wait sometimes but I walked right in and got a window booth, my bacon was really good, crisp and tasty!! And the pancake-enough to share!! Recommend and I will be back!
(5)Ana E.
We visited this mom and pop cafe my second week living in Ames. It's diner-style food--greasy spoon and decent coffee. I had a veggie omelette and my wife ordered the last order of biscuits and gravy--they were awesome! We will come here again after church.
(4)Tomas D.
I can't say the food was all that good or notable in any way. I felt good knowing my money was going to a local shop rather than lining the pockets of some CEO somewhere, but that is really the only selling point I can offer at this time. The hashbrowns were dry and underdone (could have used some butter, for sure), and the sausage was good (but standard).
(2)Lauralee M.
Came by yesterday for breakfast, but I had to find a different place since I didn't have cash. The Grove Cafe only takes cash or checks. I'm still in town today so I came better prepared - and I'm glad I did! This is definitely a local's spot. One gal shouted to the room as they were leaving, "Bye, guys!" and just about the whole place shouted back, "Bye, Fran!" And the food - I'm stuffed! I just had one raspberry-rhubarb pancake and a scrambled egg, and I feel like I should wheel myself out. The fruit topping was pipping hot, flavorful, and not overly sweet. The pancake was very thick, had good texture (didn't fall apart on the plate), and had a good taste - pumpkin or corn? Unusual but good. What I liked is that the cook himself put the plate in front of me and then walked off a bit to watch to see if I liked it. It's awesome when folks take so much pride in their work. And that place I ate at yesterday? Food was good but their decaf coffee sucked. Here? It was really good. I know: decaf, a why-bother drink. But a place that can take care of the small details is worth your time. I recommend this place, and be sure to yell, "Bye!" when you leave!
(5)Shawn B.
I really hope this isn't the best breakfast Ames has to offer. My daughter and I were in town and wanted a good, old-school breakfast. This looked perfect. The atmosphere was classic small town Main Street and I liked that. The food, however, was poor. I had an omelet which was flavorless fillings wrapped in a thin tough shell of egg. The hash browns were equally uninteresting. My daughter had the giant pancake. It was an odd orange color and, despite the gooey "cinnamon pear" topping, devoid of interest. I've always believed that you can get a good breakfast just about anywhere. Grove Cafe is an exception to that rule.
(2)Matt E.
I wouldn't say that Grove Cafe is a dump. It is well-worn, yet clean. This is a locally owned hallmark of Main Street Ames. The food is what you come to expect from a diner where you can sit at the counter across from the people who prepare it for you. I frequent Grove Cafe often, and would take the style or lack thereof and character of this place over a trendy franchise anyday. If you are in live in Ames or are visting for an extended period make a point to visit the Grove Cafe. It's got wholesome simple food, good customer service and a snapshot of what downtown Ames was like when your parents were children.
(3)Ariel H.
Awesome family owned eatery. Staff is nice and food tastes delicious.
(5)Lark L.
Some food magazine said this place was famous for their ginormous pancake so I had to check it out. And the pancake is orange!!! Old school diner atmosphere--pretty small place. Pancake was orange and I would assume it was made with pumpkin for the color but this was like orange-orange! And no pumpkin taste. The sheer size and color alone made it fun ----taste was pretty much a pancake BUT the homemade maple syrup was awesome---really light in color but rich in taste. Really nice no fuss service and you can sit at the counter which gives it a fun retro feel.
(4)AJ K.
Sick of breakfast chain restaurants? Look no further. Although I can't honestly say the place is decorated beautifully or the food is amazing, I will say that the giant pancakes are awesome and I support local businesses. Also worth mentioning is the simplicity and comfort that this place brings. Here's things that I like about this place: - my coffee comes in a real coffee mug, you know the kind that has some insurance companies name on the side and looks like it's from the 90s. - the staff dresses in casual attire... - family run restaurant - the price is very reasonable - the nostalgia of simpler times is priceless p.s. - order the giant pancake!!!!
(4)Drew B.
The Grove is a real life, family run, small town cafe with some excellent breakfast.
(4)Mike P.
Gotta love The Grove Cafe ... great service, great food ... hometown feel. Where the proprietor knows all of the quirks of the regular's food likes and dislikes. Specials include homemade biscuits and gravy! The Grove is also open for lunch.
(4)Steve C.
This place is a dump, but the foods OK. Everyone was very nice the three times I've been here. The staff and busboy were a bunch of kids, friends and relatives of the owner I think. The food is fine, the kitchen is right out were you can see everything. The place is not set up to be a nice place. I think the tables are older than me. But like I said, the foods not bad so they do good business. They open at 6:30-7:00 am and close around 2:00 pm depending on the day. Not a place to impress your date. :-)
(3)Anna M.
The Grove Cafe's famous pancakes really are one of a kind. One inch-thick, plate-sized cake will fill you up (especially with rhubarb syrup if they have it), but if you're really daring you can go for the short stack. The coffee is good and filled up frequently; the owner always has a smile while he's frying eggs and talking to regulars; and while the friendly slogan on the wall reads, "Just like home... You don't always get what you want," you're likely to love whatever you get here.
(5)Cathy N.
Okay. This was a great find. Driving from Clarion to Des Moines and we were hungry. Stumbled on this find. Nicest people. Good solid food and great pancakes. They also make their own syrup!! We had meatloaf that was amazing. Wish I came to Ames more often.
(5)Mika B.
The cook was hilarious! He seemed to enjoy teasing the guests which was a riot! The food was good, but all items you could make at home. There is very limited seating. This is definitely a very local, family owned place. They do not accept credit cards though so be sure to have some cash on you.
(3)Kayla B.
Short Version: Fantastic place to eat, and the prices are literally perfect. You'll pay less to eat breakfast here than most any other place you can think of - and you'll still feel really full. I would recommend coming on weekday mornings to try and avoid the rush of people on the weekends, though. Long Version: Despite living in Ames for a pretty long time, I haven't eaten at most of the Main Street establishments. Today I decided to change that. The biggest thing to know is they either close at noon or 2 PM depending on the day. Definitely a morning establishment. They ONLY take cash, so make sure you have cash handy in order to go. As they're along Main, you may need to pay for parking as well. They don't have a dedicated parking lot. The inside is cramped when you're walking around, but they've arranged the tables and seating that it doesn't feel cramped while sitting. You know how some restaurants you can sit at a table and feel "everyone" around you. That doesn't happen here. They don't have a ton of seating, but they haven't gone and stuffed it so full of tables that it's a pain to get around. There are booths, a couple tables, and a bar area with stools. The entire kitchen is visible to the public, so you can watch them make the food. They aren't particularly putting on a "show", but it's neat to watch someone work and see how your food is made. The interior definitely looks dated, but it doesn't look dirty. Just not modern. The prices are insanely reasonable here. I was really surprised. Their "Famous" pancake (which SERIOUSLY is enough for most people and may even be too much!) is $4. Other food ranges in the $4 to $8 range. Entirely reasonable. A check for two people came out to less than $15. Great pricing. Employees were friendly, but the service was a bit lacking. We came on a Sunday morning, though, and all of the tables were full, so they definitely seemed busy. Water wasn't refilled, though, and we had to inquire about other various things instead of them being offered (boxes, etc.) They were very prompt about the various parts of required service (taking order, bringing check, etc) though - just not a lot on the checking in or taking further care. I had a single "famous pancake", and my friend, who said he was really hungry, had their "short stack" - which is two of the pancakes. The pancakes are probably 10" across, and not only are they really the size of the entire plate, but they're also super, duper fluffy. Like, about 3/4 of an inch in height. I ate my entire pancake, but I'll admit that it was a challenge. About 3/4 through, I felt full on a single pancake. Unless you tend to eat a lot of food, I'd say that their single "Famous" pancake is probably enough for most people. I'd definitely come back here to eat. It's fun to support a smaller establishment, and the food was definitely good. Maybe I'll try coming back at a time that's a little less busy for a bit more personalized service next time.
(4)Miki S.
The food is very good, so I would definitely recommend going, especially because it's good to support small business. That being said, they close way earlier than a breakfast place should close on a Sunday, and the service was average. The pricing is middle of the road, and their pancake is huge and meal within itself, so make sure you don't get more than 1 side! They have homemade syrup and a small town diner feel.
(3)Andrea R.
Best buttermilk pancake with raspberry rhubarb topping hands down! Friendly atmosphere and good coffee too.
(5)Andrew W.
This is a wonderful old-school diner in the greasy spoon tradition. Great, friendly place with classic ambiance. Great prices, friendly, well-trained staff. Booths are cozy and sitting at the counter is fun too. My only complaint is that they close at noon on Saturday and Sunday. I bet they could draw a big post-church crowd on Sundays.
(4)DixiBelle R.
Yelp to the rescue again! Heading north of Des Moines on a 2000 mile trip and we have found another wonderful cafe. Grove Cafe is homespun & friendly and especially delicious. After reading the yelp reviews I order something I never do for breakfast, biscuits & gravy with an over easy egg on the side. From scratch biscuits lighter then air and the gravy was studded with lots of sausage and had excellent taste & texture. Egg was perfect. Hubby ordered the southwestern omelet w/hashbrowns and thought it was excellent. Coffee was good and Larry the owner and staff were super friendly. NEXT visit we are going to try one of their famous pancakes that was voted best in Iowa.
(5)Crystal N.
Best pancakes in Ames and probably the best pancakes I've ever had. Place is a bit small and there is usually a wait on the weekends for breakfast but once you're in and seated you won't regret your decision. Make sure to bring cash or a check however since they do not accept credit/debit cards of any kind.
(5)K. B.
This is the place to enjoy breakfast Ames style. I go several times a month and am never disappointed. I am not a pancake guy but you have to try one. Outstanding. Stop by and say hi to Larry. Seating is very limited and so are the hours.
(5)Sue T.
At last! A breakfast place that really does know how to make fluffy, flavorful pancakes. The day's special pancake was filled with fresh blueberries. Yum! The homemade(?) syrup was fairly tasteless, but the pancake didn't need any help. The hash browns were freshly made. Points for that, but they needed more seasoning. We were lucky to snag a table on the weekend since the line of people waiting for tables built up quickly. The wait staff were friendly enough but practically snatched plates out from under our noses in their zeal to get us out of there so they could turn the table.
(3)David R.
World's Best Pancakes! Look no further then the Grove Cafe! Larry's secret recipe is so secret that he doesn't even tell his employees! You won't regret going here. If there's a line out the door, be sure to get in it and not miss out.
(5)Andy A.
I am a frequent customer of The Grove Cafe and I've had most everything on the menu. But you won't find the good stuff on the menu. If you are a first timer, try the pancakes...better make that pancake (singular), because you will hate yourself later if you attempt the short-stack. Yes, they are orange...but don't ask why. It's a secret! Oh...that stuff on the table that looks like honey is actually homemade maple syrup. Warning: Make sure the bottle is aimed downward or you might overshoot your plate. On the weekends they usually have some specialty pancakes: Cinnamon apple, peach, pear, strawberry rhubarb, raspberry rhubarb, banana nut, chocolate cherry (Christmas time), caramel apple and the alway popular pumpkin. If you have some kiddos with you, Larry (the owner) can be pretty creative with some pancake characters. The only problem is that you kid might not want to eat it. If you come on a Thursday, try the biscuits and gravy. That's the thursday breakfast special. They are ridiculously good, filling, and inexpensive. Don't forget to try some hot sauce on them. If you are the experimental type, try one of Larry's Specialty Omelets. The chili dog omelet is my personal favorite! Some others are, corned beef and cabbage, little smokies, cheddar wurst, fajita, BBQ smoked pork, cheeseburger, spinach dip and Philly cheese steak! Larry is always coming up with some strange idea. Just ask what the special omelet is that day. And...the just happen to have one of the best cups of coffee in Ames! Breakfast is served all day, but if you are in the mood for lunch you won't be disappointed. Tuesday is meatloaf day, but if you want to get a piece, come early! On the rare occasion that there is meatloaf leftover from Tuesday, I highly recommend the meatloaf omelet on Wednesday. I'm not saying it will change your life, but you will never look at meatloaf the same way ever again. Okay, back to lunch. The 1/3lb fresh burger is pretty awesome! If it you go on a Friday, get the jalapeño burger! Yum-mazing! Other than that, you can't really go wrong with the special of the day. The daily lunch specials are sporadically posted on their Facebook page, check it out. Bottom line, if you don't like the greasy-spoon, small-town type of restaurant, don't go to the Grove. For everyone else, you are going to love it! Their motto: Just like at home, you don't always get what you want.
(5)Scott D.
Love this place!!!!!! Bomb.com and truck ya. I loved the simple atmosphere. It reminds me of my hometown. Small town atmosphere! Truck ya.
(5)Casey M.
This place is famous for their pancakes, where they literally put the "cake" in pancake (cake mix!). You may be skeptical that one pancake can be a meal, but believe me, it is. I've seen one pancake so large that it soaked up nearly half a bottle of syrup; they are HUGE. And delicious, of course...very, very delicious. Aside from the unique pancakes, it's tasty, filling breakfast fare in a homey-feeling café. Even if they didn't have pancakes, I'd give them 5 stars.
(5)Art B.
8:30 on a Monday morning and not an empty seat in sight. A promising indicator of something good to come. Tables at the Grove Cafe turn over quickly, however, and two booths opened up before we had time to consider our options. We then ran into a friend we hadn't seen in years, a common occurrence here I suspect. A nice mix of blue collar and professional diners, all seemingly regulars except us. We knew the waitress recognized us as newcomers, because she felt the need to instruct us how to properly use the syrup dispenser without spilling on ourselves! Prices are low. Decor is, well, minimalist, just what I love in a local cafe. The ham and cheese omelet we ordered was tasty, although we did have a little regret that we passed on the specialty cheeseburger omelet. The giant pancake we also ordered was unique, very yellow from egg yolk I'm guessing. One is a meal in itself. Delicious! Coffee is refilled promptly and is served in a variety of random coffee mugs. I received an ISU Cyclone mug and chuckled at the construction worker nearby sipping unaware from his Minnie Mouse Friends cup. If you'd like, you can watch your meal being prepared right behind the counter in classic short order cook fashion. The Grove Cafe has been a Main Street fixture for years. Hard to say why I haven't frequented it in my many recent visits to Ames, but I can assure you it won't be long before I'm considered a regular and the waitress will no longer feel the need to instruct me on how to dispense the syrup. Like the Grove Cafe's downtown directory sign says, "Just like home. You don't always get what you want."
(5)Patrick T.
The Grove Cafe is where the locals go! I have eaten here a few time and met here for meetings! It's your old classic mom and pop Midwest Cafe! Huge pancakes, huge waffles, lots of eggs, and bacon! They open early, the coffee is hot, and they got your back on some delicious breakfast food! Every time I have ever eaten here I have got the oatmeal! It's vegan and it's good, and you can get it with raisons (natures candy), and brown sugar! The place is not huge, so you may need to wait a bit for a table on a busy day! This is one of those classic places where you go in on a Saturday morning, and either you get a crowed full of people who have not gone to bed yet, or are just waking up! Which makes the atmosphere as electric as the griddle cooking that bacon! Not many places like this left! It's the gold standard and legendary! No Nonsense here!
(5)Donavan S.
Great solid breakfast spot. Good prices, and service. Had the french toast. Just like homestyle.
(4)Rod H.
Incredibly rude owner or manager. Called ahead, pulled off the highway based upon ratings only to have the owner not seat us as he stated 'I have been lied to before' we we told him the remaining part of our party will be joining us shortly..,,reason being we had to run and get cash since he doesn't accept credit cards. Piece of work.
(1)Will E.
Really solid breakfast. Their pancake is pretty darn tasty (I think they add cornmeal to the batter) and they often run pretty good breakfast specials that are good. The only downside is that the quality of their ingredients is average (not free-range, organic or anything like that), but that quality is reflected in the prices, so it's hard to complain seriously.
(4)Kenzie T.
This place is truly an Ames staple. You know when you're watching the Food Network or the Travel Channel and they do those features on really unique cafes and restaurants? Well, that's what this place is for Ames and here's what you need to know: Get up early. This place is a morning establishment. Opening it's doors at 6AM, they close at 2PM during the week and NOON on the weekends. Set your alarms fellow people who like to sleep into the afternoon. Next: You'll have to stand in line. Yeah, even outside in the cold. It's okay, it's worth it. Your uncle or your roommate or whoever will complain. Just keep telling them it's worth it. You don't need to check in or request a table. Stop disrupting the line flow! The staff is on top of this. You don't need to inform them of your presence. They know. They want to feed you. Remember what your mom would tell you when you kept running into the kitchen asking when your chicken pot pie was ready? Just be patient. The food is cheap and really good. Whether you want breakfast or meatloaf, you wont be disappointing. But, you should get the pancake. Yes, that's THE pancake. You get one. You'll only need one, trust me. Seriously, if you think that's not going to be enough get a side of bacon or sausage. The pancake is HUGE and will be enough. I have yet to finish one yet. Your plastic is no good here. This place is CASH ONLY. Make sure to leave a tip. After you stuff yourself full and keep repeating to your comrades how amazing your meal is, remember the poor folks just waiting for their shot of the joy you just experienced. You'll be tempted to recline in the booth with your coffee and let your stomach settle... well, don't. Share the wealth my friends. Now that you know what to expect, your experience at The Grove Cafe is waiting for you. I look forward to reading your Yelp reviews. Good night and good luck.
(5)Diane B.
We stopped here Saturday morning for breakfast. My first time here but my husband had been here 5 years earlier and remembered it as being very good. I made the mistake of ordering their special pancake of the day. I wrongly assumed that the raspberry/ rhubarb pancake would have tasty bits of fruit in the batter. Wrong. It came covered in at least 2 cups of sweet, pink goo. Nasty goo. I scraped the goo off but the actual pancake was so tough that I had to cut it with my knife. My husbands salsa omelet was uninspiring as well. We won't be back.
(2)Yiyun H.
Once you go inside, you will love the smell. The aroma of grilled cheese is so good. It is open for breakfast and lunch, which means a good place to enjoy teatime with friends.
(4)Adam V.
They dont accept credit cards which is annoying. Average prices. $10 for an omlete and coffee. Average food. Potion size was a little small. Atmosphere is good. Has a country feel with plenty of locals. Friendly staff. They offered me hot sauce, so thats a bonus.
(3)Eugenio A.
Excellent diner experience! Great service (the only confusion is that it is pretty small, so when you enter just make sure to keep on eye on when a table opens up, and people come in through the back and the front, so sometimes the order of people isn't clear). The pancakes are great and definitely what you want to get when you go there. Also had a country platter that was a special, really good hash browns and flavorful dish with peppers and onions. Have been there twice and will be back when I need my diner fix.
(5)Andrew S.
Great meal at a great price. May not be for everyone but great Midwestern cafe with nice set of regulars.
(5)