Winds Cafe — Restaurant in Miami Township

Met my Cincinnati friend in yellow springs since it’s the midway point between Columbus and Cincinnati and we hadn’t seen each other in a while. After shopping we were both hungry and I was trying to decide whether to get Winds cafe which I never had or go to my usual spot down the street. Winds doesn’t serve dinner until 5pm (it’s open earlier but after lunch service is over they only do drinks and I think light bar snacks until 5). So we decided to walk to my other place because we were hungry at it was 4:30. We got there and he wasn’t feeling the menu, so after stopping by a bookstore we made it back to Winds a little after 5. The staff is super nice 💗 the interior is cozy but not cramped, they have definitely made use of the space they have well. The food was delish! I only wish for the price I was getting a little more. I don’t remember reading if it was all organic or local or anything, but for the 2 appetizers we ordered, one was the mushroom “escargot” and for $6 you only get a 1 piece of smaller than palm sized square of bread with the mushrooms on it. It was so good I would have ordered 5 more and made it my dinner if it wasn’t so expensive lol. We also ordered the fried catch of the day (red snapper) with chickpeas and we were told we would get 3 pieces but was only given two and no discount for the missing piece lol (we didn’t ask but my friend did check the bill lol). That small plate was ok, the fish was bland but the combo of the fish and chickpeas was ok but still not very flavorful. Had they seasoned the fish I think it would have been a standout dish). Luckily we were given a few pieces of bread, a few olives and butter while we waited for dinner because there was a bit of a wait between bread, apps (small plates), dinner and dessert. The couple behind us even made a comment they have been waiting a long time for their dessert and the manager had to go to the table and apologize. For dinner my friend got the scallops (and almost everyone in the restaurant got them too lol) and they were so good! The risotto they sat on was cooked and flavored well and the scallops were seared to perfection. I wish I ordered that actually lol. I got the mushroom ravioli and it was kinda like a deconstructed ravioli but still good. There was fresh pasta, spinach and mushrooms in a mushroom broth. I think I would have enjoyed it more in a creamy sauce to bring out flavors or umami but it was good. We were both still hungry because after walking around and shopping, eating proper portion sizes just isn’t going to cut it lol. So we ordered bread pudding dessert to split. It was very moist which I loved and served with fresh whipped cream and a bourbon glaze. It was delicious and instead of raisins they used nuts which was perfect and I wish all places did that. I also had some hot tea that was specially crafted from a local place and my friend had a bottle of root beer. Everything was good, just small in serving size and high in price. So I think Winds is more for like when you aren’t starving, but as a treat because it is worth the visit. Their menu is seasonal so I’ll definitely come back to see what’s next...

NOT A NUT FREE FACILITY

Unfortunately will not be back. Came to Yellow Springs for a comedy show with some friends. One of which has a severe nut allergy. We told the server that he has a severe nut allergy and the server told us they were a nut free facility. We ordered quite a few small plates that were spectacular. However, we realized there were walnuts in the orzo with the lamb small plate. We immediately asked our server to confirm if there were walnuts in it and he confirmed yes.

Thank God, our friends are both medical doctors and were completely prepared with necessary medications to prevent him from going into anaphylactics and a visit to the ER. He still had terrible symptoms that we ended our meal quickly and our friend was not able to enjoy the comedy show as planned..

Our server checked back twice, once to apologize and let us know the dish did have nuts and once to drop our check off. The server did not offer to discount or even remove the dish that had the walnuts from our check. Not only until we asked to have the dish removed he mentioned he would remove it.

I went to the bar and asked for a manager. The bartender was very polite and went back to the kitchen to ask for a manager. They returned and said they were busy and unable to step away, but offered to help me. So, I explained what happened and the bartender was very apologetic. Offered to discount or send us home with a bottle of wine. Unfortunately, we had already paid and we just wanted to make sure this never happens again to someone else.

I understand people make mistakes, but unfortunately I feel things were handled very poorly. 1.) staff not trained properly about allergies and if their facility is truly “nut free”. Giving a false sense of safety for someone who has a severe nut allergy. 2.) no manager checked on us or came out to apologize and also did not have decency to come out when asked for. My conversation with the manager would have been much different than how I shared my feedback with the bartender. 3.) shocked we were expected to pay the full bill until we told them we would not be paying for the lamb small plate.

My goal in my lengthy review is that this facility learns from their mistakes to properly train their staff on allergies and how IMPORTANT it is to understand their menu and if not confident they get the chef involved. So many steps were missed to prevent this situation. Also to want those who may have allergies to avoid this place or be sure to request a chef to verify their order does not have any of their allergies in the ingredients. Thank you for taking the time to read my review and I hope you take allergies more seriously...

If you’re looking for a dining experience that feels like an endurance test mixed with an improv comedy show, look no further than Wind’s Cafe. I do appreciate a rustic vibe, but sitting at wobbly tables and precariously unstable chairs that seem ready to betray you at any moment? That’s pushing it. I came for dinner, not a trust fall exercise.

We started with high hopes and empty stomachs, only to watch our server deliver a parade of disappointments, one dish at a time. First, it was the lamb shanks—“Sorry, we’re out.” Then the smoked trout cakes—“Nope, those are gone too.” Finally, the black bean chili met its tragic demise. By this point, it felt like the chef had packed up and gone on vacation without notifying the staff. How do you run out of half the menu by 7 PM when the restaurant opens at 4? Did someone raid the kitchen on their lunch break?

When we finally got food (after what felt like an eternity—I'm pretty sure I aged a few years), the portions were so tiny they wouldn’t satisfy a hummingbird. Yes, that’s right, a bird that literally eats nectar for sustenance would have left hungry. My red snapper arrived in two lonely pieces, floating aimlessly in some mysterious juice, with nothing to accompany it. What should I pair my fish with—imagination? The scallops weren’t much better, masquerading as a side dish at best, with a $38 price tag that had us questioning our life choices.

Oh, and the pièce de résistance? The Caesar salad. It finally graced our table after we’d finished our entrees, with the server proudly proclaiming it was "being garnished." Garnished with what, a midlife crisis? It was literally lettuce, breadcrumbs, and a couple of anchovies. When it finally arrived, the real comedy began. We ordered three Caesar salads, and apparently, each was on its own tragic hero’s journey. One had a single, limp anchovy clinging to the lettuce like it was holding on for dear life. The second had two anchovies—clearly the VIP treatment. And the third? Completely anchovy-free, as if it had given up hope altogether. Maybe it was a metaphor for life—you don’t always get what you want, or in this case, what you ordered.

By the end, we were so over it we didn’t even bother to consider dessert. We’d lost the will to persevere. Winds Cafe might be a great place to test your patience or practice fasting, but if you’re hoping for a fulfilling dining experience, save yourself the trouble (and the money) and head somewhere else. One star, and that’s only because zero stars...