Yellow Bell Cafe — Restaurant in Keene

We were excited to try out a new breakfast place since the Keene, NH area desperately needs one and especially based on the reviews. The need to have a reservation was a surprising and interesting approach but didn't bother us too much. The atmosphere is nice and welcoming - plus it's new and clean. Our server was very nice, engaging and clearly relatively new to serving tables. It took 7-10 minutes to get our coffee and water; then equally as long after for our order to be taken. (We noticed the same at most other tables) Drinks were served by handling the top rim of the cups where guests drink from instead of from the bottom or the coffee cup handles; the same happened when refilling water/coffee. Additionally, the overall service in the dining room was a bit chaotic; they must still be working out their 'systems' and procedures. Tables were a bit close together which caused our chairs to get bumped the numerous times servers or other guests went by. Regardless, everyone was pleasant, hence the 3 stars for service. For food we ordered the bakery board to share which arrived with 5 items: all of which were a bit dry and/or stale; 3 were delicious in flavor, the other 2 were bland. We would not order it again. For entrées we had the smoked salmon toast, the whipped ricotta toast, the classic eggs benedict and the huevos rancheros. The two toast entrees were just ok, with the ricotta one being better with interesting flavor combos and the salmon one being much better at another local spot. The eggs benedict had extremely bland hollandaise sauce which ruined it. The huevos rancheros were delicious but we would not order again due to the high price compared to the amount of food - the value is not there with the taste alone. It should come with home fries at the very least. The same goes for the pricing on the other 3 entrees - the value just isn't there. So overall, due to the high prices, the less than average food and the untrained service, we gave it 2 out of 5 stars....if there was the option to give 2.5 we would. At this point, we will wait a considerable amount of time to go back if at all. Paying almost $100 for breakfast, plus tip, just isn't worth it for us, especially since the food taste/value was below average and the service was lacking better etiquette. It's important to keep in mind we are eating out junkies! We love food experiences and we have 30+ years restaurant experience as servers, cooks and hostess/manager. So, needless to say our expectations are high comparatively and people reading this review should take that into consideration. We also understand the challenge of owning a restaurant on main street with the excessively high rents, etc., and still needing to make a reasonable or better profit. It's just not something we are willing to pay for unless the overall experience "knocks our socks off!" For breakfast, we'd rather eat at a "hole in the wall" where the food is delicious and plentiful, rather than pay high prices for location and atmosphere. Dinner is a different story, depending on the occasion; but the food/service still needs to be better than...

I can not say enough good things about Yellow Bell Cafe! But I can try. They are a much needed breakfast/brunch spot in the community. They have the most amazing and creative pastries. When in doubt on what pastry you want to try, always order the Bakery board. GET the Grammies Texas Toast! You will thank me later. Everything on their menu will make you want to come back. Their donuts are so delicious you will think about them long after, and wish you took your server up on taking home some treats. Their coffee is amazing and this is coming from a coffee snob. Trust me you will not be disappointed. My favorite drink on the menu is My Brunch Bestie but the Bloody Mary and Mimosas are equal delicious. ( full disclosure I am not a bloody fan but my momma is and she loves the bloody Mary's here). The servers are friendly and make you feel like family. Even when every table and bar seat is taken, you never feel rushed or that the your server does not have time for you. This is more of a PSA... make a reservation! And make the reservation early. The Bakery boards and Grammies Texas Toast are so delicious and they keep us coming back every weekend. But honestly, I have not had an item on the menu that I...

This is my first time ever posting a review but feel like I need to in this case. The servers are all wonderful, but unfortunately the owner/manager (Adam) is horrible. In my short time there I witnessed him speaking incredibly disrespectfully to his employees, who didn’t deserve any of it.

I had the displeasure of working for Adam when I was in high school a number of years ago, and experienced the same thing back then. His playbook seems to be to hire young and inexperienced high schoolers/young adults, or people desperate for a job just so he can bully and intimidate them into doing whatever he wants them to do without them feeling comfortable standing up for themselves.

I was a busser, but he always treated me like a bound servant who needed to run to his beckon call. There was never any respect for my own personhood and if I spoke up I was met with strange intimidation tactics and was often made fun of and ridiculed by him.

Seems like he hasn’t grown up from that. So sadly I cannot recommend any establishment run by this man due to how disrespectful he treats...