Cafe Alley — Restaurant in Ardmore

I have been to many restaurants across the United States, both high end and greasy spoons, and this place actually managed to shock me. The building itself is a converted warehouse so the interior is at first glance a chaotic amalgam of sliding barn doors, industrial duct and mid-century charm. After sitting down at a surprisingly comfortable booth and taking in the whole of the place, I found it a warm and welcoming atmosphere. On to the food.

The clam chowder was the perfect blend of potato, clam, bacon, onion and cream. I could have made a meal just out of it easily enough. The pork chop would have been at home at any upscale restaurant; it had the perfect blend of char from the grill, tartness from the mustard and subtle sweetness from the cherry. Both courses were also perfectly seasoned and aromatic. Finally, the quiche was something that I wanted to try because good quiche is so hard to find outside of a French bistro or bakery and I wanted to see what their take on it was. The filling was a sublime blend of creamy egg and spinach with a delicate crust. The quiche was topped with a nicely browned layer of cheese (Swiss maybe?) also seasoned wonderfully even though I usually use a little less salt in mine (not a knock; only personal preference).

Lastly, I had to try the carrot cake. Who could pass up a slice of carrot cake from a restaurant whose motto is 'Eat more carrot cake'? Brothers and sisters, I'm here to tell you there is only one problem with this carrot cake: once you eat it every other carrot cake will not even come close. The cake itself is moist almost to the point of being wet, spiced with a master pastry chef's blend of subtle and pungent spices and the cream cheese frosting on top is of a whipped consistency and then topped with caramel glaze and pecans. The absolute perfect blend of rich and sweet and varied delights for the taste buds. I had to literally push it away before I ate the whole half pound slice; yeah, it's big as well.

The next time you are in Ardmore or even traveling down I-35, stop in and partake of a truly chef quality meal in one of the most unlikely of places. Cafe...

Love this place! It's absolutely wonderful ❤️ So clean with open ceilings & has a country farmhouse chic vibe . Food is made from the freshest ingredients. Definitely made with a higher quality than most restaurants use these days. I've eaten here many times & I've never been disappointed. That is, if they haven't sold out of their famous carrot cake because that to me would be a huge disappointment.

The chicken fried steak is delightful. The spin is the jalapeno gravy. It's not too hot it has just enough zing to carry it over the top. I get the baby red mashed potatoes plus the alley side salad. Actually all of their salads are excellent & always fresh. The house made blue cheese dressing is a win for me.

Don't forget to order the small pan of cornbread. Tastes better than granny's, which is saying a lot. Yum 😋 I usually get the fried green beans as a starter because of the sauce, which gives it a little something extra. The homemade hot pimento cheese or smoked trout dips are fantastic as well. The waffle cut sweet potatoes are tasty.

They have other desserts, but for me, none shine as bright as their decadent carrot cake. Which I might add is big enough for 2. I call it a mountain of sin on a plate, and yes, it has lots of calories . So I recommend sharing or taking half of it home to have with your next mornings coffee.

All portions are bigger than usual, so the cost is definitely worth it. Many of their items are big enough to share. Which with my crew we do often. Lastly, the "Bloody Mary" is to die for. I'm usually a frozen margarita girl, but not...

I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. I am originally from Massachusetts and live in Greenville, SC currently and have had a plethora of amazing restaurants available to me. Every couple of years we travel to Ardmore, OK for work. The first time I tried Cafe Alley was around 8 years ago and it is the number 1 thing I look forward to every trip back. While their cook shack chciken is hard to get away from along with their jalapeño corn bread I have broken tradition and sampled other items from their menu. I have never had anything here that was not amazing. Their food is spectacular. Top quality, fresh ingredients, superb flavor and clearly made with love and attention to detail. Over the years we have been able to meet Samantha, one of the owners, and can clearly see why this place is so amazing. When the owner greets you at the door, serves you your food, or pops behind the bar to mix up a special cocktail that is something amazing. They clearly love what they do and it is evident in their cooking, their service, and how they interact with their customers. If you live in Ardmore I am sure you know about this place; if you are passing through here stop here, you will not be disappointed. They aren't open every day so check hours and understand you may have a wait, but it is so worth it. Amazing food, service that makes you feel like you are an old friend visiting their home, and cocktails that are top notch is what you will find here. I am already looking forward to our next trip so we...