The Main Cafe

The Main Cafe is a good classic diner-style restaurant in downtown Stillwater serving up breakfast and lunch dishes. My partner and I visited on a Sunday around 11 and had no trouble finding a seat. The atmosphere, service, and food were all solid. Our server was nice and brought us coffee refills promptly. Their menu is large with lots of classics so it's definitely a good stop if you're hoping to satisfy a picky eater. Atmosphere-wise, I like the murals they have painted on either end of the restaurant. Overall, while I wasn't totally blown away by any one thing, I thought everything was pretty good and I left full. This restaurant is definitely worth a stop, especially if you're looking for a breakfast to scratch that nostalgic itch for classic diner food.

Delicious! Just your perfect small town Main Street diner. Happy staff and quick service. Eggs benny wasn’t on the menu but I asked and they made it for me no problem. Portions were big and delicious!

Absolutely adored this location!! If I lived near I would be here everyday! Amazing coffee, and smoothies. I had a really hard time not ordering more than I needed. The people working and visiting this cafe were so nice! I loved the artwork and the atmosphere! 10/10

Great family oriented restaurant with honest and savory breakfast choices. They have a lot of omlette choices but I had the French toast and 2 eggs which was excellent. My wife had one of their many omlettes and said it was good. They are friendly and quick to refill your coffee.

Amazing place! A cute restaurant with good food! The pancakes were delicious and it had a very cozy atmosphere. A little busy, on a Sunday morning, however it was expected. 10/10 would recommend!

Went for breakfast on March 9th, the atmosphere was great, and the food was AMAZING and tasted so, so good. Overall, we were so happy and satisfied with the more than happy to give this place high reviews. The only negative side to this story was that the waitress who served us did not seem happy that we chose to eat there. She barely greeted us and even asked about the specials. She simply pointed to the whiteboard and told us they were listed on the board and then walked away. When taking out order, she seemed to have an attitude and acted like she did not want to be there. Not one did she come by to check if we needed a refill of coffee or how the meal was. In fact, she did not bother to come by until we flagged down another waitress to get our coffee refill. She did not thank us when we paid for our meal despite getting a $25 tip. Despite all this we would recommend this restaurant for a great atmosphere and wonderful food. We do plan to give this place a second chance on our next trip back.

This cute little gem is the perfect spot for a good cup of coffee and an absolute mouth watering breakfast. I enjoyed the eggs benedict with hash browns this morning. The gentleman at the table next to me was having the double berry pancakes that looked amazing. I will definitely try those on my next visit. Our waitress was so sweet and made our visit easy and welcome. She was very attentive and a joy to talk to. I highly recommend you stop in. You won’t regret it.

I had breakfast at the cafe and it is always so amazing. The food is fabulous, my personal favorite is the Gyro Omelet w/jalapeno's and hash browns. The staff is so warm and inviting and make everyone feel welcome. Serena was my server and she was so thoughtful and attentive. Thank you for making my day.

Super cute little small town Minnesota diner - they even have a couple retro bar-top stool seating options. Have never been here for anything other than a simple breakfast but it is always the perfect thing for a Sunday morning after a night out in Stillwater. Nothing fancy or over the top but homey vibes and kind, family friendly service.

Enjoyed breakfast here. Nice little cafe. The place wasn't overly busy there. Our server wasn't that friendly and the other server kept running into my boyfriend's chair when walking by.

This is a standard mom and pop cafe. You know it's good when it's packed with locals. I had the gringo breakfast and it was just the right amount of food. Four of us had breakfast and it was $20 for each of us with tip. Good local spot.

Excellent food, served quickly with friendly service. We would go back! Definitely the hometown cafe vibe- which we like. Prices were reasonable as well.

The food is fantastic. Well known for breakfast but lunch and dinner are just as good.

Great little cafe diner. Had the eggs Benedict with a side of hashbrowns and a cup of black coffee. All were great, just like the service. We parked up at the counter quick while touring downtown for a snack and were thankful we did. I love places like this.

This place is great. Simple breakfast food served perfectly. Specials always special and the soup of day is way to go. Fries-I try to avoid-but these are simply the best. Ruben sandwich second to none. Fast and friendly service. I am in Stillwater 3 times per year and always eat here. Never disappointed.

Great food and amazing service! It was a busy Saturday morning but got immediate help.. This is what MN is all about! Thank you!!

Vacationing in the Stillwater area and wanted to find a nice breakfast spot on a beautiful Saturday morning. Check all the "highly rated" places in town and found all of them to be closed at 10:00 a.m.!! Boy are we glad that they were closed... This gem had been open since 6:30 and was not crowded at all. Warm, welcoming atmosphere and extremely friendly service. And the food...Ah the food. I had one of the best ham and cheese omelettes of any that I have had across the country. My girlfriend had the garden omelette that she enjoyed very much. Coffee was excellent...perfectly brewed. What more could you ask for in a breakfast/brunch place. Forget those other trendy places that have the great reviews...they might not even be open!! I highly recommend The Main Cafe for those visiting the Stillwater area.

Had a great meal here! Not busy at all, warm & welcoming. Our server was fabulous as well. They can pump out some good looking food I tell ya. Eggs Benedict was yummy. They had awesome french toast too. You could smell how good this place is when you walk in. Can't wait to test out their lunch menu... I sneaked a peek at the table next to us and it looked so good!

Come here for the breakfast and you will not be disappointed. This place has the feel of an old time small town cafe.

Great food and service. I had a little entree envy when I smelled the French toast, I didn't have it but I was wishing I did.

Stillwater in one of my favorite towns in Minnesota, but I did never notice this Cafe, well we decide to come and guess what? Ooooh la-la...!!! Exactly what I was expecting, HOME MADE FOOD..!!. Their food is very good and portion very good, I'm happy we found this Cafe because I love breakfast. It was a great experience so I have to recommend this place and give them 5 stars Because the food, customer service, clean and they have home made food. Keep it up, keep cooking and keep making people happy.

My wife and I at there a few months ago and I forgot to write about it. They were very accommodating when my wife told them she is vegan. I had a traditional American breakfast. The place has a small town homey feel and it quiet and clean My breakfast was delicious also. We'll go back when we're in town.

Stumbled upon this place looking for a sit down lunch in June of CORONA. That masks were required a definite plus. Service was fast and friendly. The food was amazing. My kids had French toast which was so incredibly yummy I'd drive the 30 minutes to get back here just to have that again. I had a gyro and it was also delicious. Huge - could not finish it though I tried. Wife had an omelet and it was great as well. The only negative was the bathroom needed attention badly. This was a great experience and I'll actively seek this place out the next time I am in Stillwater.

We came here to grab a simple American diner breakfast- eggs and such. Don't expect too much from this place - nothing special or outstanding, they don't even have granola or yoghurt or fruit. They do decent egg breakfast and pancakes/French toasts and that's it. Our eggs were cooked exactly how we wanted and the toasts well toasted with lots of butter. The sausages tasted ok. The atmosphere was casual and seemed to be frequented by locals. We did feel mightily overdressed as we were given some eyeballing when we stepped in. It was clear that we were tourists and something told us that may not be a good thing. Apparently they don't understand why Stillwater is swamped by visitors and they are a little over it. Other than that, this is an ok place for simple breakfast.

My husband and I came here in search of a decent American breakfast food (eggs, toast, hashbrowns, pancakes, bacon) and were not disappointed. Hash browns were crispy; pancakes generously sized, fluffy but not under- or over-cooked; meaty bacon. Typical small town cafe coffee--just so-so. Dated decor--who cares? Nice, quick service and good prices.

If you are looking for some down home friendly service this is the place to go. Sammy and the staff are always welcoming and the food is delicious.

Straight forward good ol fashion American breakfast.. Nothing fancy, not over priced and service with a big smile.. Our go to when we are in town.. Already looking forward to our next visit..

Great local place that has the BEST French Toast-made with a local bakery bread. It's not fancy but substantial (that's why I only ordered the SIDE of French Toast for $4). Our server was wonderful-which is pretty hard to accomplish with a mask on. Everything was served on disposable plate ware, due to the Corona Virus. Everything was perfect for our breakfast meals except coffee doesn't taste the same in a styrofoam cup.

Examples of poor customer service: when at your dining establishment and a big fat centipede drops down onto the table, scaring your children, and there is ZERO apology or "how can we make it better" as to how it affected your dining experience. I'm not about always trying to get a free meal but something should've been done. Example #2: I actually had to ask for a copy of my receipt Example #3: I was never asked how everything was after that. Not even a goodbye as we left. The food was decent enough to not give it a 1-star but that's how much customer service really means, especially in a dining establishment.

Great service with Amy... So good we went there two days in a row! Food comes out quickly and everything is made to order.... be sure to get at least one pancake!

Amazing breakfast! I tried the gyro omelette and it was fantastic. My boyfriend got the eggs Benedict and said it was awesome as well. We had fast & friendly service in the heart of downtown Stillwater. Would definitely visit again when given the chance!!

The Main Street diner has a wide selection of pancakes and omelets and crispy hashbrowns on the menu -- although my favorite items (Biscuits & Gravy, Country Fried Steak, and Corned Beef Hash) all appeared on the specials board. I opted for the country-fried steak, which included hashbrowns, toast or pancake, and sausage gravy. The gravy was the right thickness (neither too runny or too starchy) and included the right ration of sausage. All it needed was a few table-side shakes of pepper. My pancake -- and the chocolate chip pancakes with strawberries ordered by my companion were also as good as promised. The Main Cafe, in Stillwater, offers a good breakfast, at a fair price, in a great location. After dining, you can walk along the shore of the Mississippi River to wander through Main Street shops.

This is exactly what I was looking for. Fast, Friendly, Flavorsome, and Fairly Priced! The place sits inconspicuously on a corner near Myrtle - so inconspicuous that while it's been there, plain as day, for how many years, I have NEVER noticed it during my MANY trips to Stillwater. The inside is nothing short of basic, decor wise; but that's not why you're here, is it? No. You're here because the omelets are big, fluffy, and contain FRESH ingredients. (Nothing worse than rubbery canned shrooms and pre-mixed eggs.) You're here because the pancakes may be some of the best on earth; thick but somehow still light and vanilla-y with a perfectly light outer-crisp. You're here because the coffee is flowing - it's not the greatest, but it ain't bad - and it's flowing. You're also here because the bread is baked fresh down the street. WHAT?! YUP. If you haven't figured it out by now: the food is good. the food is cheap. the food is fast and the service is friendly! This is the only place I'll be eating breakfast in Stillwater from here on out.

Stopped in with some coworkers as we were just walking downtown prior to a meeting. We sat at a table and Karen our server greeted us with a pleasant good morning, some menus and checking to see if we wanted coffee. She came back with the coffee and beverages for others at the table and collected our order. I got two eggs over medium and toast (Rye). Karen was very pleasant and engaging. We received our order quickly!! And cooked PERFECTLY (I might add). Place had about 7 other tables going at 9am. Overall pleasant experience both service and food- I would recommend for good Dineresque dining! Cheers!

Sat ourselves, waited almost 10 minutes and did not even receive a menu. (Was not very busy). Two "regulars" came in and were instantly given drinks and placed their orders. Walked out- not very friendly or welcoming.

I am in town, visiting for my first time. We had looked up reviews for this cafe, and it seemed like a great place for lunch today (Memorial Day). When we walked in there was one group seated. We were given a dirty look from a lady behind the bar, and not greeted. I said "Hi, do we seat ourselves?" She said "Yeah that's fine." She then walked over and handed us our menus at 1:28PM. "We close soon just so you know," she said. "Oh what time is it?" I replied as I checked my phone. "We were going to close at two but we were hoping to close early... but you know... you have time to maybe get something small if you want. We were just hoping to close early," she said. That's when I handed her back the menus and said "No, we are good. Have a nice day."

AMAZING breakfast! Fast and very friendly service...thank you Diane! Tried the Gyro Omelette it was fantastic! Hash browns were perfectly browned. Lunch menu looks great as well. Give this place a try, you won't be disappointed.

We were in the area and had to kill some time decided we should go out for breakfast. I looked up on Yelp nearest restaurants, seen this place and thought we'd give it a try. So extremely glad we did! Excellent, genuinely friendly service! The breakfast was amazing! Decent portions, excellent prices. And each bite the taste was amazing! Nothing too greasy which was great! The pancakes were very fluffy, and didn't fall apart, just melted right in your mouth. The ham and cheese omelette was really delicious everything was very fresh! I cannot say enough good things about this place we will definitely be back!

Straight up basic little hometown diner. Clean enough inside and they have a really big selection on the menu. They serve breakfast all day. They typically have a few daily specials also. I got the basic eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, toast, and coffee. It was prepared well and not greasy at all. Prices are reasonable.

My husband and I ate here today I had the Gyro special and he had a burger. Both were fresh and delicious and a very good price. We will definitely be back.

Horrendous. Not sure how you can screw up breakfast but even the hash browns were bad. Eggs Benedict: english muffin muffin wasn't toasted, they used cold lunch meat ham, eggs were fried-ish not poached. Such a disappointment for Main Street Stillwater. I feel bad writing this but we had to leave our food and go somewhere else.

Pancakes and syrup is phenomenal! Great fresh food, eggs, hash browns and a friendly staff! Thanks for the bottomless coffee!

I would compare this to a greasy spoon diner with great food. No pretensions and good old-fashioned service. We had the poached eggs and the blueberry pancake, both very good and hot the spot.

The service here was great, very friendly and attentive! All of our food was delicious and it came out very quickly! I had the lumberjack potatoes with an egg on top and I loved it!

Good breakfast place - multiple visits and I think the gyro omelette is great, and the service is fast and friendly.

This place gets a solid four! The have great breakfast foods. Service is incredibly fast and they kept our coffee cups full. I swear the cooks were listening to us order and had the food on the grill as we requested. This place rocks for breakfast. Parking for Sunday am is right outside the door. During the day it can get tricky, but this is downtown Stillwater. Classic diner feel.

My husband and I came here for breakfast. I had the triple berry french toast and he had the farmers omelet; they were both very good. The service was very friendly and extremely fast. Another plus, they now accept credit cards.

When I travel, and wake up in the morning thinking about breakfast, this is the kind of place I hope to find. Friendly service and great food. My wife had the cinnamon French toast and I had the gyro omelette. Our waitress even substituted a fluffy blueberry pancake instead of toast with my omelette! All our food was top notch. I left full, satisfied and wanting to return on our next visit! Thank you Main Cafe!

This is your dying breed of Main St Cafes. Nice menu selection of breakfast items. Service was prompt and my omelet arrived about five minutes after placing the order with a table waitress of all things. Keep in mind they do not accept credit cards. There is a small sign behind the counter which people may not see right away. They have an ATM on site-but many of us do not carry debit cards anymore. I would stop in again on the next trip to Stillwater.

Great breakfast, not amazing. Reasonably priced. Eggs Benedict and pancakes are very good. Overall very nice in a charming old school cafe setting.

I love eating breakfast out and do it often, but I'm sad to say the Main Cafe isn't on the top of my list. I've been going to the Main Cafe for 20 some years. One of the waitresses who has worked there forever knows me and is always happy to see me. Where they fall short is, it's just average quality at best. In a time when other restaurants are coming up with new twists on old standbys, the main has just old standbys. The cinnamon french toast is very good, the bread comes from a bakery in Hudson or it used to, its changed in recent years. They have the same gyro lunch special everyday, it is good but it needs real lettuce filling, iceberg salad mix is not doing it justice!

Recommend by locals so we knew it was going to be good. Its a comfy mom n pa type restaurant. You get hellos when you walk in, and first thing you see is cooler of desserts. Our waitress was Diana and she was super nice and recommend the sauage and cheese omelet. I added mushrooms and onions and side of gravy, it was delish. It came with lots of hash browns n choice of breads r pancake. All fresh veggies. My daughter got the gyro omelet and omg burst of flavor, again everything made in house even the meat. We went on mothers day and it was not overly bust but Diana tild us the season had not started yet for the quaint town, and it does get very busy. Our food came out very quickly, from my understanding there r 2 brothers doing the cooking and whos name is sammy. At the table in front of us was a local couple who was greeted warmly and i over heard them talking to owner n waitress that they just got back from out if town and this was there 1st stop. Seems like everyone was family. Thanks main street cafe for making my mothers day even better.

Friendly service and a great breakfast. I had the French toast, eggs and sausage and my girlfriend had the country fried steak and eggs. Everything was great, including the prices.

If you want a great breakfast, this is THE place to go. Went here more than once this past Memorial Day weekend. Pork chops and eggs - YES. Steak and eggs - YES. Coffee - fantastic! No corporate BS - just a great mom & pop breakfast place. But, what's the best part? The staff! Amy, Diane, and Sherri were all so incredibly pleasant and helpful. Amy and Diane went above and beyond to give us tips on what to do in town on our first visit. On our second visit Amy and Diane remembered us and asked us how our day was! We had Sherri as our waitress on this visit, and she too was extremely friendly and helpful. Talk about people that care...that really makes all the difference! We enjoyed their place so much, we even bought a coffee mug so we will always have the memory. Thanks ladies - we'll see you next time!

Service was great. Friendly waitress and our food was out in 10 minutes. We had breakfast there and I'd definitely go back again just to try all they have to offer.

Nice place for breakfast. Nothing fancy, just the basics done well. Good bread. Will definitely go back.

My friends and I recently ate at Main Cafe when we were in town. The food was your basic breakfast fair. I wasn't hungry (but my water was well-filled), but my friends enjoyed their food. HOWEVER, what really shines at Main Cafe is the staff. Our waitress, Diane, was so amazing. She was kind, helpful, and sweet. She seemed so happy to be chatting with us and filled us in on all the local tips. Our visit to Main Cafe was amazing thanks to her. We also got to meet the owner, who was very kind and was happy to see us. Drop by for a good breakfast!

Delicious food and absolutely wonderful service. The French Toast is divine...definitely make a stop here!