Café Piña — Restaurant in Jasper

It was a brisk December morning when my wife and I decided to test the buzz we’d heard around the 2022 best breakfast in Dubois county honor recipient, Cafe Pina. Located in the newly gentrified river center area in Jasper, the atmosphere offers a modern feel inside of what is historic downtown.

Making our way through the cool sunny morning we found ourselves third in a line of folks waiting to be seated but were delightfully surprised to be seated within a minute or two of entering. The hostess sat us and immediately brought us waters, which was a godsend as we may have been out a bit later than expected the night prior, and also recommended one of their seasonal coffees which we gladly took her up on. I had mine served hot while my wife ordered hers on ice. We were both quite satisfied with our selections.

As we glanced over the fusionistic menu, that offers American cuisine with a Tex mex flare, I took notice of the ambiance. The upbeat Christmas songs they played were both casual and delightful, played at a level that allows for stimulating conversation while offering pleasing tones between bites.

The menu is not huge, which is great. There seems to be very little fluff, only hit after hit. We found it hard to decide leading us to ordering 4 separate entrees to share! Our food was served quickly, warm, and all at the same time by our friendly waitress who attentively made sure our experience continued to be spectacular.

My 2 selections were the mornin burrito and the fruity pebbles French toast. The burrito was stuffed tightly with classic Tex mex favorites and served with a wonderful little salsa that mixed pleasantly with the fillings for bite after delicious bite. The French toast, while admittedly I am not a huge sweets for breakfast type of person, was filled with nostalgia. Each bite contained delicious fruity pebbles that reminded you of a childhood long forgotten. The fresh blueberries that topped the toast were a fine addition, cutting the sweet cream cheese icing and syrup with a tart freshness that the dish demanded.

My wife selected the chilequiles along with the avocado toast on marble rye. The sunny side up eggs served with both were cooked perfectly and as always gave that fun look that you expect on a breakfast plate. The chilequiles were what you’d expect of the breakfast nacho dish starring some pickled red onions that delighted along with a tangy salsa verde that kept your taste buds wanting more. The avocado toast was a surprisingly complex flavor that ended up being our favorite. The cream cheese they hide under the extremely fresh avocado mash boasted a decadence one would not expect from what you may believe to be a simple dish. We could’ve ordered several of these.

When it came time to pay the experience was no fuss. Leaving out the cumbersome pens and paper print outs, the nice staff simply brings a nifty little machine to your table where card payment is quickly and easily processed, and tip can easily be added if you do not have cash. Our coffees had been served in to go cups which was nice and allowed us to take them with us when we went to stroll around the quaint river area, although we kept the walk short due to the biting wind and chilly air.

Overall the experience left us satisfied and pleasantly surprised. The menu, service, and overall atmosphere was that of which you may expect in a larger city a la Nashville or Indianapolis, but is served to you with easy fee parking and without the busy hustle and bustle those places demand. Would highly recommend you experience this place for yourself and we will...

First of all, if you didn't know this little gem was here, you are most certainly missing out. We were in town for my wife's 2007 class reunion and stayed right next door at the Fairfield. It's back around the corner, so pay attention to the signs.

We did have to wait for about 20 minutes, but like all good things, it's worth the wait. We were entertained by the small batches of families also waiting.

We were placed at a table in the center of the Cafe. Your choice of water (half gallon on the table) orange juice, lattes in any flavor you can think of, and some cold bottles of Dads creme soda, root beer, cola, etc.

I ordered the Pina hot chicken and waffles. Fortunately, they were out of the waffles, so I got to partake in their super thick French toast, and I wouldn't change the combo. It was meant to be together. Topped off with a pile of pickles,sunny side up egg, a little cup of Chipotle aoli, and a cup of syrup.

My wife ordered a simple build your own breakfast. She had 2 eggs over medium,bacon, home fries, and two pieces of rye bread. She also ordered a side of fruit. The eggs were made perfectly.

You can definitely see the different adventures of the owner prior to opening this amazing little Cafe. There were so many different dishes and unique combinations. From a basic breakfast to a unique dish.

If you see this place on the nap, don't hesitate to stop in. You will not regret...

I’m not one to quickly pull the race card, but I have never felt unwelcome in any establishment as I did today. We were staying at the Fairfield next door and wanted to treat my husband and kids to a nice brunch before we got on the road. When we arrived I advised we didn’t have a reservation, but was told it would be a 30-45 minute wait. Cool. I was given a pager and waited outside, there were a lot of people waiting with us and one by one they were seated. After 30 minutes I peeped in and was asked my name again, by the same hostess, and was told it would be a few minutes she had to clear a few tables. Cool. I went back outside and saw other people arrive and be seated. I waited another 15 minutes and went in again. I see a cleared table and asked the hostess, “how much longer?” She replied, “I don’t know, “I need to seat all of the reservations first.” I handed her the pager and walked out. I heard a weak, “Sorry” as I left. If I knew that upfront, I would have turned around and found another spot. We had an awesome time in Jasper this weekend but left with a reality check. “We’re still black!” It’s 2022 and we should treat each other fairly, and provide better...