The Purple Onion Cafe
1301 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55467
The Purple Onion Cafe Menu
-
Breakfast
Healthy Meal suggestions for The Purple Onion Cafe
-
Breakfast
Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Minneapolis for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
1301 University Ave SE
Minneapolis, MN, 55467 - Phone (612) 252-0217
- Website https://www.thepurpleonioncafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:30 am - 12:00pm
- Mon : 6:30 am - 12:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Good for Working : Yes
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.
Anonymous N.
I liked it better when you could smoke in here.
(3)R M.
This is one of my favorite places to stop by. Be it for an early morning dinner or a late afternoon coffee or tea it is the perfect place. The prices are pretty good. Perfect for college students. My favorite item on the menu is the Tea! They have great choices. Definitely stop by!
(4)Ajay N.
You know, I really like the Purple Onion. It's a pretty cafe, with a lot of natural light, which is awesome. I've been using it as a study spot for a while now; the ambience is usually quite noisy/crowded, but I find that I prefer it to a super quiet library-type setting. The (breakfast) sandwiches are pretty darn tasty, and the coffee is decent. The wraps are pretty good too (and huge!). It's definitely not cheap though.
(4)Ruth D.
This review is mainly for the food. Others have noted that the atmosphere can be crowded and hard to study in, but it's not a library-- it's a cafe. I've never had a bad experience here. The food is fantastic. I don't know what's in the spread they put on their sandwiches, but I fantasize about the turkey club sandwich. Try it. It's phenomenal. Fresh ciabatta bread, a delicious roasted garlic aioli, bacon, fresh veggies... I would argue that this may be the best turkey club in the Twin Cities. Anyway, I come to the Purple Onion at least once a week just to buy that sandwich. The other food I've tried has always been good too -- and it's a very nice place to meet a friend on campus for a cheap, low-key lunch or coffee.
(5)Tove G.
This coffee shop always seems to be over-crowded. It can be difficult to find a place to sit during exam times, and it's not the most peaceful environment. The tables are awkward, and some large tables are reserved for large groups. Nothing really "wows" me about this place, but I still come here time to time for a quick coffee. They do offer a large array of food items, and I always enjoy their delicious breakfast! There are have been mornings when there have been literally zero tables open, and this is a pretty large facility! I saw a family come in trying to order meals, but they were quick to discover no seats were available for them and proceeded to leave. Parking is a little hard to come by around this area. I usually would park a little further away in the dinky town area at a meter (usually on Sundays when it's free), and just walk to the Purple Onion. There are meters right in front of the building, but rarely is there a spot open. If you're trying to find a good study place around campus, I recommend the Green Spoon. It's not in Dinky Town, but it's a quick bus ride on the 16 to University and 26th. Worth the trip to find a better atmosphere, just as good of food, less people, and a great study or relaxation location!
(2)Kimberly T.
I lived here in college. Great place to study if you can handle mass amounts of people around & don't get easily distracted. I enjoyed it more when I took summer school; a lot less crowded & could sit outside on the patio. Never came here for the coffee; came here for the FOOD. The food is delicious for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The french fries are to die for! Some personal favorites: Sandwiches: Italian BLT, BBQ Pork & Ranch Chicken. Salads: Spring, Maple Dijon. Breakfast: Anything & Everything.
(4)Ryan Q.
Need a 5ish dollar breakfast with way too many hash browns for one person to eat alone? Come here. They've got a small breakfast menu but most of it sounds pretty tasty. If you come during the summer months you'll be able to get your food pretty quick. As far as the school year goes, this place is effing packed! Prime study spot for U students and the wi-fi is free if you buy something. A cool spot to hang out because they also have a large front patio to enjoy the summer weather on.
(4)John S.
The latest price hike has made them the most expensive shop in the area. The staff is always mellow and friendly and the kitchen is efficient and fast. The breakfast sandwiches are great with homemade style bread. For coffee I only drink the house blend dark roast which is one best brews in town
(4)Sarah S.
This place is fine, but I never feel very comfortable here. The temperature is always too cold or too warm (I'm such an old lady), the noise level is unpredictable, the staff are often brusk, and every time I've ordered food here it's been just ok and about half the time the food takes an unreasonable amount of time and/or my order comes out wrong. That being said, this is a fine place for coffee and a meeting with classmates or some casual reading. (Disclaimer: My hometown has many, many lovely cozy cafes with excellent coffee and food near campus so I am probably forever spoiled...)
(3)Stephanie R.
Although crowded during finals season at the U of M, this is one of my favorite hangouts to get stuff done: whether I need a good coffee or a scrumptious meal! Absolutely fabulous maple dijon salad -- the toasted, candied walnuts add a delectable little treat (especially for a person like me who rarely likes to order a humdrum salad). Every food item I have ordered is delicious...so far! Also, I love the atmosphere. It's a great hang out or study spot, and I especially love the charming-yet-random hanging chandeliers and lamps! Very unique!
(4)Liz W.
Yes, this place is usually completely filled because everyone and their mom goes here to study most days of the week. Prime time for a non student congested visit would be weekend mornings, which is perfect because their breakfast menu is the best thing they offer (I would know since I am one of the students that takes up space in this joint every day and have tried just about every single thing on the menu). Though there are few things on the menu you will be disappointed by and everything is college-student-budget cheap, the one item on the menu I dream about three days a week and drool like Pavlov's dog at the mere mention of is the Egg's Benedict. The portions are gargantuan (this will be the most hash browns you've ever seen on a plate at one time) and the price is super college friendly ($5.95).
(4)Jenny T.
The Purple Onion got me through my senior year in college. So yes, it's new location is closer to the sororities and fraternities, making it a hit with them (including myself), so sometimes it can be distracting as you might know a lot of people and begin chatting it up instead of studying, but all in all its a great spot to sit for hours. The food is actually really good too, instead of the normal boring sandwiches. Definitely go for the tomato bisque soup! Also, the wireless must have been improved as I've never had issues with it at the new location.
(5)Madelyn S.
Good to know others like the tomato bisque as much as I do! Thick and creamy goodness. Their sandwiches are prepared with lots of butter and mayo. Greasy and fatty goodness. Their coffee isn't particularly memorable, but there is a lot of space and a lot of different seating options for chillin out or last minute exam-cramming. The best part about Purple Onion is the cleanliness. I really appreciate coffee shops where I don't feel like I need a shower after sitting on their couches. :)
(4)Ian P.
Not a review, but a question for folks who know The Purple Onion well. On bobdylan.com (historical set-lists) The Purple Onion is shown as the venue of the second ever Bob Dylan concert for which a set-list exists, on June 1st 1960 (the first was in a private home a month earlier). Does anyone know whether this was the current business, or an earlier incarnation with the same name? And what was the address at that time? Post your answer here! I'll check back... Thanks!
(4)Mon P.
Purple Onion sure has amazing location. It's totally perfect for U of M students, and it's huge! However, I kinda feel bad for the place though cos during the time I was there drinking my tad-bit-too-sweet Chai and nibbling on the pretty good carrot cake, I saw a lot of people coming in with heaps of books, laptops, stacks of papers and works and order like the cheapest drinks that they offer and make themselves at home there. I saw a lot of ppl walking in and mostly none walking out. I even saw a couple of ppl walk straight to their friends' tables without even order anything. Well, maybe the goal for the Purple Onion is to be the place for students to study.
(3)Breanne K.
Although I've never been a fan of Purple Onion, I end up here regularly for group meetings. The place is always crowded, no idea how this is conducive with studying. They serve food; over-priced although not half bad. The one BIG problem I have with this place is that they charge you 30 cents for any credit card transaction. I am fine with paying the fee for small transactions-- less than $5, but I hate when you order food and a couple other things and they still charge you 30 cents more. I don't carry cash around with me because it is dangerous for my wallet (those damn vending machines, etc.), so I hate that it will cost me 30 cents more for a chai tea. And make sure to get your receipt if you want to get on the internet. They change the password every day and you have to buy something to get on their network.
(1)Jackie C.
Great food with reasonable prices. This is a go to place for students from the U of M to grab a bite, coffee and a table to study, for me these is a cozy place to have lunch. Their food is always made to order and very tasty. My favorite is the Turkey BLT with Fries which usually comes in at right around 8 or 9 dollars. Even though this is primarily a coffee shop I prefer their food over the coffee. Whether you are looking to sit down to eat or to take-out they are quick and always accurate with your order. They are also great for catering too. Our office hosts a lot of very large events and they come through every time. They are budget friendly and very flexible.
(4)Mel B.
I realky wanted to live this place. My miel was expertly prepared, so thanks for that. But, my sandwich was a bit of a disappointment. I specifically asked for my bread to be grilled/toasted, but they forgot. It took so long, that I didn't have the time to send it back (and I hate sending back food). I never could get the WiFi to work and no one seemed especially willing to help me. I probably won't be back.
(3)Michelle B.
I love the purple onion. The turkey club is so good I crave it all the time. Great place to meet with groups, affordable, comfy, and great coffee! Nice family owned business.
(5)Vy B.
One of my favorite places to grab lunch on campus. Their menu is pretty basic but the quality is on point. Their pick two menu let's you choose any sandwich and salad for around $7. They slice ciabatta bread and grill it with butter...so good. Order the Italian blt and maple Dijon salad with feta cheese. Their ranch breakfast is awesome too--ask for the potatoes to be grilled extra crispy. Surprisingly, for a coffee shop, their drinks are just OK-nothing special. They do a really good job with the food aspect so you forget you are supposed to be there to grab a drink. They also have breakfast and lunch catering--I would just recommend lunch though because their breakfast consists of juice and pastries or donuts. You can negotiate lunch prices down to about 5 or 6 bucks for a sandwich, chips, dessert, and beverage for each person.
(4)Johanna V.
I stopped into Purple Onion to do a few hours of homework a couple weeks after Valentine's Day. I had a matcha green tea latte with soy and an italian BLT with a side salad. I was chomping away when I realized I needed their new wi-fi password. Turns out it was "iloveyou." That password pretty much sums up my feelings about this place. The staff is friendly. You can snag a table for hours without feeling pressed to leave. The drinks and the food are yummy. I would argue that the prices are bit high for a college joint but the quality is there.
(4)AJ T.
The Purple Onion is a decent college coffee shop. I've tried a few things there: white mocha (average), vanilla latte (too sweet for my tastes), and their basic roasted coffee (nice), as well as their eggs benedict (yum) and some kind of scramble with potatoes (way too cheesy and under seasoned. The addition of salt and pepper worked wonders... also stingy on the meat). The food is definitely cheap, and the coffee will run you the usual $4-$5, but the people who work here are interesting and add a little local color (i.e. the guy making the drinks who advocates for actionist vs activists). Also there are not enough outlets in this joint, IMO... bring your longer macbook cord if you plan to stay a while.
(3)Mohd Q.
I usually go to this place to study, since its sofas are comfortable and it's never full. Last time I went there I hated the place because of 3 things: 1- A mouse ran from under my sofa and hid under another sofa! That was disgusting. 2- The employees were rude! Especially when I wanted to order something from the kitchen and it was closed. Apparently, they were upset only because I disturbed their long conversation! And when I didn't tip the guy, he was rude, and he served me a hot chocolate less than half of the cup! 3- The wifi was bad, and it went off every few minutes.
(1)Grace H.
It's an ok place to study. Haven't been too impressed with the food. Coffee is decent. There's plenty of table space and outlets to plug in electronics/laptops. Parking is kind of a pain but maybe the wi-fi makes it worth it.
(2)Matt M.
Currently writing this on their crappy wi-fi during a snowstorm, ugh. Decided to try their oatmeal for breakfast for $2.95 and it was good, not great. The oatmeal itself is a little bland and very starchy (even for oatmeal), but the dried cherries and brown sugar on the top make it a lot more delectable. I wish I would have asked for extra brown sugar though to cut down on the starchiness. Either way, it's a very generous portion for $2.95 that was going to serve as my lunch (college budget, heeeey). Would order again for a healthy option here. Then... Four hours later, as I kept on writing this lousy paper (I do not care about Hong Kong Disneyland's operations strategy, especially as a senior) I got hungry again and decided to order some lunch. I went for the You Pick 2 (my cafe kryptonite...) with the tomato bisque soup and the turkey club sandwich. The tomato bisque was really good- tasted a lot like Kafe 421's, but not quite as good. Would still definitely order it again. The sandwich was good as well, served on some crispy ciabatta bread with a good honey mustard "aioli", or a fancy word used by every restaurant for mayonnaise. For around $7, I would definitely do this again. It was filling and served fast. So, I just had two meals here. Here's hoping that I crank out these next three pages and do not have to do dinner here, too. Wouldn't be the worst thing, though...
(4)Kayla K.
Love the purple onion. Their food is delicious, and it's a great atmosphere to study, work or catch up with a friend. The decor is awesome, and the customer service is great! The employees there are friendly and so welcoming. Highly recommend the quesadilla, soups and salads. Their breakfasts are also a really great deal!
(4)Sara W.
Erbody in dinkytown is always here studying. Always is an understatement, as every time I go in there are no tables to sit down on. Come on people, do you sleep here? Thus, one may assume because everyone is studying here this must be the best study spot in town. Not exactly the truth. It is extremely noisy, and the tables are awkwardly small/only for large groups. All the food and drinks in my opinion are just standard. Everything said, I will admit I still come here from time to time to "study" and order some carrot cake or a mango smoothie. If you attend the U of M and live in the area, you are bound to see someone you know. Win? Also, I can never connect to wireless (thank you lenovo), but it technically should be easy with a code that is provided with you from a purchase. Echoing mes amis Alexandra H. & Lila C. it truly depends upon what you're looking for. But if you're looking for a study spot, I may suggest you hit up the good ol' library on campus.
(2)Dave L.
The Ethiopian roast was good. I wish I would have been asked if I wanted it "For here or to go," since I ended up getting a to-go cup when I was staying for an hour or two (but I think you get more coffee in the cup-to-go anyway). My buddy had a mug and they heated up his coffee for him after we were sitting for a while, which was a nice touch. It's a good, spacious place to get some work done and chat...at least on a summer Monday morning.
(4)Alexandra H.
Being in the heart of Dinkytown you'd think the Purple Onion would be an ideal study spot. Au contraire. Maybe it's not trying to be one (I think Lila C. hit it on the nail when she said "it depends what you're looking for"), but being so close to the U of M it'd be nice if they'd make some adjustments for the students who are looking for a library exit strategy. It's dimly-lit, loud and the tables are....well, awkward. They do have a couple of dining room-like tables in the back that aren't elevated and make for a good study spot, but they get snatched up quickly so don't bank on getting one unless you're planning on sticking around awhile. The cushy chair circles seem like a good idea on paper, but it's a little awkward to be facing a stranger while trying to read.* The only thing I really LOVE the PO for is their grilled cheese. Deeelish! *Note: I did debate the cushy chair situation with my friend Ben and he seems to think they make you more productive since you want to avoid eye contact with adjacent strangers at all costs. You decide.
(2)Angela L.
The staff here are super friendly! The coffee is good and really reasonably priced (aka affordable for the PCS). I love the large windows.... if you are a student or in the area it is a great place to hang out or study. If you are easily distracted it may be hard to settle in ... this place is usually fairly crowded but it is one of the nicer cafes in the U of M area. Purple Onion is open late, I'll have to try to food here sometime.
(3)Vince C.
It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting in the Purple Onion checking out Yelp. Connecting through their free wireless and trying to not get my breakfast all over my laptop. Wow. For $5.50, I got a cup of coffee, 2 eggs, hash browns, a sausage patty, and two slices of toast. Seriously? Sometimes I don't care if things aren't perfectly organic - it's nice to hang out and eat a cheap meal. And everything is perfectly cooked! Soft runny yolks, greasy and crispy hash browns, sausage patty is done just perfectly. For $5.50! Okay, now comes the rant. And the reason I took off a star. And no, it has nothing to do with how busy it is. Probably because it's not busy at all right now. No, my rant has to do with my age. The last time I was in a Dinkytown establishment that sported the name Purple Onion, I was in a spectacularly gross place that allowed indoor smoking and, as far as I knew, served nothing but coffee. This post-modern imitator boasts high ceilings, clean tables and chairs, friendly staff, and cute decorations. I look around the rest of Dinkytown and all I see is more of the same. What the hell people. Seriously? This is what you want? You want to go to college surrounded by sushi, high-end deli's and Pottery Barn decorations? When my brother and I lived together in Dinkytown, we furnished our apartment with the crap that other people left on their boulevards or by dumpsters. Dinkytown had a soul. It had flavor. Now it has IKEA-style decor and clean window trim. Way to go Super Entitled College Kids! This way, no matter where you go, everything will look and feel the same! And boo to you, Purple Onion, for catering to their infantile demands.
(4)Casey C.
Great location to students and it's open late during the school year. Coffee and espresso are average.
(3)Kristen H.
This is specifically for their breakfast deal. Before 11 if you get a coffee (or any drink) they have $2.99 breakfast deals. The other things sound good but I have never been able to talk myself into anything but the chorizo burrito. It's huge! It's delicious! It's breakfast and lunch all rolled into one tasty package and paired with some caffeine is enough to power me through a lonely day in the lab. They make a decent cup of coffee too, though I'm no expert. I'm really just in it for the stimulants.
(5)Angela P.
The Purple Onion is a nice little coffee shop located under an apartment building in dinkytown. I spent a decent amount of time doing homework here, and it really depends on the crowd as to how much I enjoyed my visit. It can get busy and loud, and then I'm not such a fan. They have good tomato bisque and quesadillas. And coffee, of course. It's a nice dinkytown coffee shop, but I feel like it caters to the U...so, take that as you will, I guess. Also you got a free donut if you got a drink before a certain time in the morning last semester, but I haven't had a chance to verify if that is still going on. They are okay, but I liked them pretty well because they were "free".
(3)Keith M.
The Purple Onion Cafe is perhaps the most blatant all-but-in-name laptop cafe I've seen. Cords were crisscrossing the floor everywhere, meaning it helps to be aware of this following otherwise you'll learn the hard way that this place's angle is not that of a regular restaurant. In any corner of the cafe you'll see numerous laptops out: they even take over the outdoor patio: weather permitting. I was already caffeinated, so I just got a vegetable corn curry chowder. Quite nice, but could have used more corn. They have a large, sleek interior as you can see from the pics, but a lot of that space is filled up due to popularity, due in part I'm guessing to being open til midnight. Even if the coffee isn't all that, the atmosphere is what puts it over into 4 star territory for me assuming it's as average as it has been received here, but it's nice to know I can expect an outlet just about anywhere. If I can find a seat and luckily I found several (tip: might be best to come here on rainy days).
(4)Chelsy W.
I work on the U of M campus and eat lunch at the Purple Onion maybe three times a week. They simply have the best fresh, non-franchise cafe food in Dinkytown at the most reasonable prices. Some of my favorites are the spring salad, the chicken salad sandwich, the maple walnut salad, and the quesadilla. I can't speak to their coffee since I don't usually order it there but, the Onion is my go-to lunch spot!
(4)Molly W.
Love the maple Dijon salad!
(3)jenny A.
Good for a quick and reasonably priced sandwich salad or soup. I've had to stop eating their pulled pork sandwich because it was going to kill me. As tasty as it is, it's just too greasy in a way you don't really notice until its too late. Now that I've veered over the line into TMI territory, I'll finish this review saying that the space is nice, there a plenty of tables to spread out with your computer and their non-coffee drinks selection is good.
(3)Angela H.
I came to this cafe because it was the closest to the hotel I was staying at. I will say they make some superb sandwiches (grilled chicken) and salads (maple pecan). I am a huge coffee drinker and was not super impressed with their coffees. However, The Purple Onion would've received 5 stars if it had wireless. I think the cafe's internet goes in and out and that can be frustrating when you're trying to complete something on the laptop. But all in all, I really enjoyed spending time there. It has a nice atmosphere, quiet enough to study and mellow out on a hot day. I also would recommend the mint iced tea if you are dying under the humid sun.
(4)Steve T.
I prefer the Purple Onion's old location, but it's a good, fairly reliable (yet expensive) little coffee shop. It's great if you need Internet quick, but I never liked the atmosphere. It seems pretentious to me. Just a bunch of insecure people trying to look cool. The selection of snacks is limited and sub par, and the number of non-coffee options are very few. I know many people like the Purple Onion, but I never liked it.
(3)Jana H.
The food is just "fine"; the coffee is "a-ok". For some reason, the Purple Onion is always strangely warmer than it ever needs to be in the fall/winter months. I like to grab a quick coffee and head out! When I order anything beyond a light or dark roast, I am never impressed (however, it's not awful). The Purple Onion is great for groups, not so much for studying due to the weird high heat settings and the noise level! Street/ meter parking is typically hard to find - you may have to walk about three blocks or so, in order to find free parking.
(3)Fuk Y.
I have been here so many times for breakfast but not until I had a #%^$ty breakfast at Cafe Brazil in Dallas that I realized I owed this place a review. For $6, I got a coffee and egg benedict. Eggs were properly cooked sunny side up. Ham was a thick cut and juicy slice. And the hollandaise sauce was creamy and tasty. I would definitely stop here for breakfast if I come back to MN.
(5)Tanya C.
Coffee and lattes are good, food is good. But why I love this play is the fact that I can literally sit here all day - order a couple of things and know that I can kick back and study. I love it. The staff is also really great and always friendly.
(4)Rob G.
Well, it's not the best coffee shop that I've visited by a long shot, but it'll do. I ordered the cafe mocha which was served in a paper cup, even though I was not taking it to go. I wasn't asked which I prefer, which is a little irritating. Also they put whipped cream on top without asking. Please don't do that. The quality of the coffee was not bad but it definitely wasn't the best I've had before. It's similar to your standard Starbucks assembly line mocha and has no pizazz or flare, no distinct characteristics. The place looks nice inside and is very spacious. There is plenty of visual stimulation as it seems to be regularly full of UMN students who are studying or just hanging out and chatting. The staff didn't seem overly friendly as they didn't make any attempt at conversation or, to my recollection, to even smile when taking my order. Come on, it wasn't that busy and smiles are free and appreciated. Anyway, if you're in need of a caffeine fix and have absolutely nowhere else to go, give it a try I suppose but don't expect much.
(2)Jess L.
Stopped in this morning for coffee with a friend. I think this is my first time really hanging out at the University ave location, I used to be a regular back in the day when it was a few blocks away. All in all, my experience today was just ok. Service was nothing special, their coffee refill price is obnoxious (only $.25 off the full price), the $.35 credit card fee seems fishy, and the tables were in dire need of a wipe down. It is very likely I'll stick to Espresso Royale in the future.
(3)Lila C.
The Purple Onion is okay, I would say it really depends what you're looking for. I personally found it too crowded to study. At times it can be overflowing with so many students it's impossible to find a seat, plus the lighting is more for a sit and chat place, not a study zone. The drinks are okay, nothing special. And the food is just the same. They have the standard soup and sandwich combo. The soups are thick and hearty but leaves me parched afterwards, possibly too much sodium. And there is a limited amount of selection for the sandwiches. I would suggest going for a salad or grabbing a drink instead.
(2)