The Encounter Cafe — Restaurant in Iowa City

The Encounter Cafe is literally my favorite place on earth; it’s like a home away from home! The food is OUTSTANDING and the drinks are amazing! I always love seeing what holiday specials they come up with; it’s always something flavorful and fun! Everything on the menu is delicious. My personal favorite is the pumpkin pie chai latte, which tastes like pumpkin pie in a mug, and the best part is is that they will continue to serve it out of season, which seems to be the case with a lot of seasonal items; if it isn’t on the menu, just ask, and the staff will try their best to get you what you want, or a close approximation.

The staff here are incredible. Every time I come in, I’m always warmed by their smiles and bright attitudes. I think it’s impossible to feel sad at Encounter. You can tell everyone there loves being there, and you love it too! They are always so personable and nice, and will go above and beyond for quality service, whether it is making sure your order is correct, or taking extra measures for food allergies.

Speaking of which!! The gluten-free menu!! The gluten free muffins are ASTOUNDING, and they have a gluten free substitute for the bread items on the menu (toast, sandwiches, etc). My sister, who cannot have gluten, was able to come in and get French toast, which she had not been able to have in FOREVER. She loved that she was able to get something for breakfast, and how conscientious everyone was in preparing the food.

Honestly, Encounter is the best place in Iowa City. I can spend hours on end there, and as a writer, I often find myself going there to be in a calm atmosphere that sparks my creativity in a way that no other place does. It is a wonderful place in my community, and I appreciate everyone at Encounter for making my day brighter every time I go in. It’s a lovely little pocket of warmth in the world, and I encourage anyone and...

Encounter Café is literally the love of my life. I am about to graduate from U of I, so I figured now is the time to write this review finally. There is nothing here I would not give five stars. The food: outstanding. Literally everything on the menu. The atmosphere: warm, welcoming, and joyous The prices: very reasonable The people: honestly the best part. The owners and employees are some of the best people I have ever known and that really really makes the experience. Encounter has held so many memories for me over the years from studying for hours, meeting with friends, bringing in family from out of town, or just having an amazing meal. The only 'downside' may be that they are very popular, so wait times can be around 30 minutes for food, but that has never been a problem when I bring work to do or good company to pass the time. If you don't stop in here at least once in your life, you are missing out. To finish: order the half stack of pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. This meal got me through 4 years of college and I would take their batter recipe with me when I...

I hadn't been to The Encounter in years (mostly because I'm just rarely in the area), but it is even better than I remembered it. Everyone was very friendly, everything tasted delicious, and the place is very spacious and inviting.

I had the seasonal Maple Brown Sugar latte and the Ultimate Encounter Skillet. The latte was perfect, and the skillet was a nice, big hearty breakfast. It felt like a home-cooked meal made by a family member whose top priority is making sure you've had enough to eat. I'm so full that I think I'm pretty much set for the day.

My one tiny critique is that I wish the hash browns were a little more browned (just a personal preference). Everything else was great, especially that nice smoky bacon. Typically for me, toast is kind of an afterthought when I order a big breakfast, but that ended up being one of my favorite parts. Based on that and the other reviews I've seen, I'm excited to go back and try the rest of their baked goods.

The Encounter Cafe will now be my go-to place when I want to feel cozy on a...