The Encounter Cafe

The Encounter Café is a true gem in Iowa City! The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and full of charm. The servers were incredibly kind and attentive, providing excellent service that made the whole experience feel personal and uplifting. The cinnamon rolls were out of this world—fluffy, fresh, and perfectly sweet—easily the best I’ve ever had. Their coffee was fresh and flavorful, and every dish we tried from the breakfast menu was outstanding, made with quality ingredients and served hot. If you’re looking for a heartfelt, delicious breakfast spot in Iowa City, The Encounter Café is a must-visit.

This cafe is a 'must stop' location when visiting Iowa City. The coffee is awesome, the breakfast is amazing and the staff are very friendly. The lines can get long but it is surly worth the wait.

Loved everything about our visit here! The food was delicious, all 4 of us in the group liked our food. My iced latte was good. They also use local eggs! Great local business to support. The atmosphere is very cute and welcoming. Oh AND they had gluten free bread options for toast and gluten free muffins! Will definitely be back!

Very clean and pleasant place to visit for good coffee, a quick bite to eat, and getting homework done.

Amazing little spot with local, fresh ingredients! It was super busy but they were able to get food and coffee out within around 30 minutes of ordering! I got a cheese omelette with spinach and tomatoes and a seasonal st pattys day cold brew :) Also the cinnamon rolls are AMAZING!!!!

Very pleasant atmosphere. I ordered an omelette 10 minutes before the grill closed and received the largest omelette I've ever seen. We had to share it and we were still full. Employees are very helpful and friendly. And the iced vanilla latte I got was the best one I've ever had, no exaggeration! This will be our new go-to place whenever we come to Iowa City.

Very friendly, spacious, clean and fresh. The food was presented in an exquisite manner & tasted delightful! I visited with my teenagers (boy & girl) who thought the place “looked fancy.” The orange juice is freshly squeezed and made my taste buds dance. This is a must visit establishment! Priced just right - in fact they should be charging more. We will be back again!

This place has expanded and now boasts a bakery. Stopped here for a quick bite. Ordered a breakfast sandwich. First time that I had a breakfast sandwich. The egg, sausage patty, and cheese on a croissant. The place was quite busy so I went to the bakery and ordered a cinnamon roll while I waited for my sandwich. Cinnamon roll was very good. My sandwich came and it reminded me of the type I have gotten at Casey's. Just a convenience store quality sandwich. Nothing special. For the price I was expecting better. Very thin piece of sausage. Probably the frozen kind. Hardly tasted it. Overall I like this place. The food generally is very good. This sandwich needs work. It gets very busy. Plan on not getting your food very quickly. Clean restrooms. Friendly and helpful staff.

I stopped here twice on a recent work trip as it was close by to the hotel I was staying in. It really lives up to the other reviews that describe it as a cozy atmosphere with fresh food. The first day I had baked oatmeal with yogurt and it was a huge portion size that was very similar to coffee cake. The next day, I ordered the avocado toast and was surprised to see it come out, layered with egg and bacon and fresh tomato. Their lattes were delicious without being overly sweet. So glad I found this place during my trip. It is worth the stop.

Great food and coffee My place for breakfast while working in Iowa city Will recommend

Tried coming on a Saturday but the line was very long and slow. I came back on Friday around noon and got a cinnamon roll to-go which was immediately ready and there was only 1 person in line ahead of me. It did not disappointment! I put my hand next to it for comparison. It was huge and filling! The frosting was also delicious, almost a maple flavor to it. It was room temperature so after about 10 seconds in the microwave, it was warm and gooey. One of the best I've had and well worth the price (around $5)!

We visited for a yummy brunch and we were not disappointed. The servings were generous, great coffee bar and loved the location. We got baked goods and breakfast items. Both were tasty!!

A Iowa City must try! Went on a saturday where it was super busy but worth the wait. The food is fresh and made with high quality ingredients. The staff is very friendly and cafe is huge with lots of seating.

Wonderful little spot with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, Even though it was packed, they had my food and coffee out in about 30 minutes. I ordered a cheese omelette with spinach and tomatoes and a seasonal St. Patty's Day cold brew both were delicious.

This was the best breakfast I ever had. I've eaten a lot of pancakes in many places, but theirs takes 1st place. The kitchen is spotless and the service is on point with very friendly staff. I'm looking forward to visiting this place again!

The Encounter Cafe is a staple in Iowa city! The staff put quality into all the food and drinks. Their coffees are AMAZING!! I love the creative seasonal flavors that change frequently. I wish there were more sugar free options. The cafe gets very busy on the weekends but it is well staffed and is efficient at handling large crowds. My favorite order is the garden turkey omelette, they even offer gluten free bread/toast. I enjoyed the baked oatmeal which is a popular item, but it is too sweet/rich for the large serving it comes as.

We had lunch here for a group of 4 . The place is nice. They have some nice choices. We wished they could do avocado toast for lunch but it's only on the breakfast menu. The place wasn't busy but it took over 20 minutes to get our food. 3 out of 4 of us had paninis. I think they have only one of those panini grills. 3 would take a while. We came back the next day for breakfast and there was a big line so we left. Business must be good!

I can now get why we had to what in the long line. The food was to good and healthy too! Don't forget about those cinnamon rolls we literally had to get two! For our big family their seating was definitely great , now let's talk about these employees they were very accommodating. I say when in Iowa this is a place you should go too

Loved the pumpkin spice chai latte! The breakfast sandwich was good too. It took a while for the sandwich to come up, but I had reading to do so it worked out. Nice people.

Great food in a college town. Didn't expect to find this place among the usual chain restaurants now found across America's large college campuses . The staff was friendly and service was prompt despite the large number of students. Wide selection of dishes, to include many delicious baked goods. Casual college atmosphere and ambiance. Well worth the trip.

We went here around 12:30 one day and the line moves a little slowly but honestly the food was terrific. Our party had a Greek omelet, the skillet breakfast and the Belgian waffle. I made the mistake of NOT getting strawberries and cream on the waffle---won't make that mistake again. The portions were large and we also ordered sides of bacon and sausages. The chai lattes were very hot and tasty. Next time I will get a cinnamon roll because those things looked amazing. The staff was super friendly and the place was clean. Lots of students working and while it was a little noisy it wasn't bad

It was super, very friendly and helpful staff. Ordering was easy, service was quick. Food was delicious. We went over to where they were making cinnamon rolls, so big, so soft, so good.

Really great service and food. Honestly can't be beat in a college town! It is always clean and reliably a great breakfast.

Great breakfast. Good service. Pecan roll was so loaded with Carmel and pecans. Parking limited.

Lovely staff, lovely service, good food, everything far as I could observe is really good.. However my only concern is a lack of Matcha flavor and lack of Soy-Milk, their other options were okay, but.. for personal reasons, those things, especially the soy option, can mean alot ^^; But given that's my only real problem, I'd definitely still recommend it! As well as bring others there too- it also has free wifi, water w lemon slices, as well as as other little things- it's just very lovely Right now I'm enjoying the privacy of this booth too! Very nice place to relax in ‍ (I took a picture too, of my chocolate croissant, I had a sandwich too that was really good, but I'd already eaten that! lol!)

Stopping in for some pastries and freshly made food. What a find! Located in Downtown Iowa, City, and nearby to several hotels, The Encounter café is clearly a favorite for visitors and Local's alike. Metered street parking and nearby parking garages offer a number of access options if you're not already on foot. The restaurant is large, immaculate, and has a cozy farmhouse decor that is very welcoming. This restaurant does not offer table service, but order at the counter and everything is brought out for you. Serve your own coffee, of many flavors, and fruit infused water readily available. Everything is freshly made to order with the exception of the pastries that are available until they sell out, so come early or lose out! Pricing is on par for what you would find out similar type restaurants. Kitchen staff is clearly managed by us team of Amish women that run a tight ship. We were amazed at how quickly we got our food given that there were so many people coming in and out on a regular basis. I definitely expect to be back at this restaurant the next time I'm in this area. Recommend you check out the Encounter Cafe if you're looking for a great start to your day. They are open Monday through Saturday and close at 1 PM. Check their website for changes .

Amazing great coffee, all natural and inexpensive breakfast. Great ambiance and service. Will be back!

There is nothing negative to say about this business. It has an inviting and tastefully decorated interior with lots of tables and seating. It may actually be the cleanest coffee cafe I've been in! The staff get a very high mark for doing their job. As I waited for my hazelnut latte, I watched food & coffee orders being prepared. All the ladies were smiling while working and no one was just standing around. By the way, my latte was perfect!

The place was clean and had a great ambiance! The service was exceptional the food (omelets) were a bit bland and could use a bit more seasoning but still tasted fresh and good.

BEST CINNAMON ROLL IN IOWA CITY!!!!! Highly recommend. Super cozy cute cafe located in the heart of downtown Iowa City :) Service is usually really good. They can be quite busy with brunch times on the weekend so get there early! One of the best breakfast places in Iowa city. Highly recommend.

Come in. Place your order. Pay. Pick a seat and put the number on it. I hate tipping before I am served but you pay first. Get your own water and coffee. That's fine but we weren't given coffee mugs. Had to go back up and cut the line to ask for mugs. Different cashier, was apologetic. People in line were nice about it. Shouldn't have had to. Food took about 30 minutes. They were busy when we got here. Omelet is huge, very good. Tastes fresh. Sandwich was good. Would have left 4.5 stars if I could. Good food. Annoyances were missing giving us mugs and tipping in advance.

I've had brunch here several times and I figured I might as well post my review. The staff are really kind people. It's always been super busy when I've come in, but the food has always been good! It's a very homey vibe. A great place to do homework or read a book. I'd recommend going when there isn't a crazy line though

During 2023 Homecoming Saturday morning, I met a University department head here for breakfast. This Cafe (and Bakery) is located just a half block from where I was staying (Element). Maybe I could have had a better free breakfast at the Hotel, but after finishing my breakfast sandwich at The Encounter Cafe, I doubt it. When I first walked in, I noticed a Christian-themed book display and began to wonder. And after taking a longer look at this upbeat, friendly, roomy, and well lit space, I realized that this place looks to be owned and operated by Mennonites. That was partially a reason to watch my language. :) There themes of fresh ingredients, made from scratch, and family/friends certainly rang true during my visit. There's actually 2 sections to this place: A breakfast counter with seating and a bakery (with more seating) just down the hall. My Professor and I enjoyed our food and had a pleasant and relaxing conversation over our delicious selections and excellent coffee. I'm sure to be back the next time I'm in Iowa City.

This place was yummmmmy! I got their SEG breakfast sandwich on a croissant it was it lovely. I also added their chipotle sauce on it and I highly recommend this to any other chipotle sauce lovers out there. The service was soooo outstanding. Very friendly, chatty, and helpful. Outside of the sandwich, I also got hash browns and an iced latte. The hasbrowns were good, nothing crazy. The latte was...so so. It was on the bitter side and not as rich as I typically prefer with my lattes. There is plenty of seating inside, but this place does get super busy and is first come first serve.

One of my favorite breakfast and coffee shops in Iowa City. Fast service in a very busy place. Worth the wait.

We had lunch here. It's very close to our staying at the Hyatt. My husband had the Chicken Caesar salad. It was large and tasty. I ordered the Turkey panini. I loved the avocado on it. It's a very pretty, comfortable setting for lunch. Note that currently it closes at 2:30 pm. We plan on stopping tomorrow morning to get bakery items.

I was very excited to try out The Encounter Cafe but was ultimately let down by the service and atmosphere. I ordered an iced chai with a sausage egg and cheese for dine-in with a friend - the drinks came out quickly but we had to wait upwards of 40 minutes for our breakfast sandwiches which we received only after reminding kitchen staff. I understand that mistakes happen but no type of compensation or apology was offered. Compared to other dining experiences I have had in the area, I did not feel very welcome or cozy in The Encounter Cafe. The drinks were great but I would have received faster and more personable service from a drive thru.

The omelets here are the absolute best I've ever had and humongous. They're made on a flat skillet with a load of fresh veggies and even cherry tomatoes. There are a lot of other dandy places to choose from where blue birds fly. And then, there's the Encounter Cafe which in my opinion surpasses them all. Never change, loved the ambiance and delicious meal. Yes, there's a long line of customers but that's the price of admission to an amazing meal.

Great service, good food, super duper friendly staff!! Was a little loud in the eating area, but it's easy enough to walk your breakfast over to the bakery/coffee shop for more mellow vibes. Its popular! So there may be a line when you get in. Don't worry though, if went by much faster than you may expect!

Nice little lunch spot in the downtown area of Iowa City. You order at the counter as you enter and they bring the food to your table. I ordered the Chicken Caesar which had a good amount of chicken, nice fresh romaine lettuce, good amount of cheese, and tasty crunchy croutons. Dressing was on the side and was very tasty.

Everything here is delicious!!! And the people who work here are always so kind, helpful, and always have a smile on their face! Great place to study or to meet up with friends and family for coffee and breakfast or lunch. Definitely going to miss this place when I graduate as it has become quite the comfort place. 10000/10 would recommend.

Should you find yourself in Iowa City, the Encounter Cafe definitely has our endorsement. It's a cute place making good food with fresh, local ingredients. We rolled in for breakfast, ordered at the counter then delivered to the table. Try the cinnamon roll!

Love the new eggs Benedict! Great addition to the menu! The line is always long, and for good reason! If you wait it out, you will thank yourself later!

One of my favorite brunch places. It's very large but can still get busy on weekends. All the food is tasty and they have great smoothies/coffee drinks too. There's a separate area with cafe/pastries too. I love the breakfast burrito

Five stars for the pecan roll, alone! I honestly think that is the best dessert I have had in the past year! Shout out to the young lady behind the counter who taught me how to keep it fresh by freezing it, and then taking it out and microwaving it for a bit because it tastes just like it was freshly made and it is about 12 hours later. I happen to be going back tomorrow and guess who's getting more pecan rolls?! The folks are friendly and seem invested in the work that they do and the food that they prepare. If you are from out of town, you have to put this on your restaurant bucket list. And get the pecan roll!

Amazingly good food and great service! My daughter said the pretzels were the best she's ever had (in her 7 years of life). I agree (in my longer than 7 years of life) that it was a pretty tasty pretzel. We also had the paninis - grilled cheese (amazing), philly steak (so good) and chipotle chicken (tasty). The blackberry latte was super tasty. Desserts: Cinnamon roll is a must! As our the super soft, large chocolate chip cookies. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. We were even sent home with some extra goodies as it was the end of day and they didn't want them to go to waste. Yes, please!

Very good food and friendly service! I love this place! Fresh baked muffins and pastries! I love how they have the water set up, lemons and limes cut up in the bottom of the water dispenser!

I seriously loved this place. The vibe is awesome, staff as well! I had a yummy croissant sandwich and a delicious coffee cake muffin...I would love to come back try more of rheir baked good goods...also the smoothie was really good too ..

What a cute place! Feels like home. The food is very reasonably priced and is delicious! We had the All-American breakfast and a half order of French Toast. We happened in at a very busy time and the sign on the door said something about not being able to order just on the bakery side because of staffing issues. With that said, it did take quite awhile to get our order but the entire staff seemed to be going as quickly as possible for them. Both servings were plentiful and very tasty! There's a variety of coffee strengths available and each that we tried were very good and smooth. Only choices for cream were half -n-half and oat milk, which was different than we've encountered elsewhere (not that it is bad!). The staff was very friendly and next trip, I need to try a cinnamon roll. They looked amazing but we were too pleasantly stuffed for anything else!

Ordered Chai Latte and cold brew with hazelnut. To go. Undrinkable. Chai was sooo sweet, and not sure what they put in the CB, but it wasn't hazelnut. Threw both away a half block away.

I eat breakfast here whenever I'm in town. Love the food from the delicious and unique avocado toast to the omelettes I've not been disappointed. I hear their coffee is good (I'm not a coffee drinker) and they have a good variety of teas. Their fresh baked goods are something I try to avoid and have not succeeded yet. Everything smells so good they are hard to resist. The food looks and tastes fresh. Everything is made from scratch. I've taken sandwiches for my drive and those have been wonderful! Service is quick. You order at the register and it's delivered to your table - no drama, easy!

Best iced latte in town & the staff are incredibly kind! Good food too, got the biscuits & gravy which was a GIANT portion. Super popular on the weekends, so food does take ~30 mins to come out, but well worth the wait.

Food was amazing the best smoothly and sparkling lemonade I have ever had but the coffee was lukewarm and very flavorless that is the only complaint the staff was very kind. 2 Michigan stars

Just love this place. A great variety of food and drink. You can get yourself a smoothie and salad or a breakfast burrito and cinnamon roll. The staff is inviting and helpful. They are also very patient when you are still deciding what to order because it all looks so good! Stop in and enjoy the lovely atmosphere with a warm coffee or tea and sit with a book or a good friend.

The most genuinely delicious pecan roll. Kind service. Ample seating. It's the whole package.

Encounter Cafe is a low key foodie super star in Iowa City. The food is excellent, the service top notch and it is run by very nice owners and staff. The morning scene is usually lively without being overcrowded or noises. The food is hot, fresh and served quickly. And most importantly, very delicious. Nothing but great things to say about an Encounter Cafe experience!

It was Saturday morning & the cafe was busy. Took about 25 minutes to place our order. Wonderful breakfast selection & coffees. Very clean and organized. Staff excellent and the food fabulous! Will definitely go back. My cafe mocha was perfect & the avocado toast anaz