Crimson House Cafe — Restaurant in Ossian

On this week's highlighted area coffee shop, I went to Ossian to visit Crimson House Cafe.

It's right on the main road through town. This is an actual converted house with a wonderful front and back porch, including plenty of seating with a few rooms that can be closed off for meetings or gatherings. There's a little selling space to browse as you stand in line to order.

Upon reaching the display case you see a pretty good mix of cake pops, Reese's bars, monkey bread, giant iced cookies, and many different muffin choices. I had a medium hot chocolate that was pretty fantastic. It had whipped cream and chocolate drizzle for $3.74, which is pretty standard anymore for a hot chocolate at a coffee shop. It's one of the best hot chocolates I've had in a while.

I got to meet the owner, Catrina. She worked at Crimson House at some point in the past and when the previous owners decided they wanted to move on, they asked her if she was interested. She took over the store 1-1-2023. The staff that was working the day I visited moved like a well-oiled machine.

These guys have breakfast and lunch 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. They do have a drive up window, which is in the photos below. It seems to be very busy and people love the convenience.

I really enjoyed my visit and would like to come back when it's not pouring rain so I can sit on the porch.

Have you tried Crimson House? What food item should I get the...

I have loved this place for many years and the customer service used to be exceptional, but this last time was awful. The food was still great. The place was still cute. However, we arrived there at 1:30pm. They close at 2pm so we weren't planning on staying long, but didn't realize we would be rushed out the door right at that time. We were all sitting and eating and were told it was 2pm and if we could to hurry up and leave and that they could even give us a to go box for our food. All four of us at the table were shocked. We had never experienced anything like this. This either should have been addressed when we were placing or our order or they should have done what many places do and close up ordering and everything and just wait for the last people to leave. We were nearly done because we knew we came in later and didn't want them to have to stay too long, but this was incredibly rude and a good way to lose business. I loved this place but I don't know if I will be back or not after this and that is sad. Please do better and either discuss this up front with customers placing an order closer to closing time and/or give them a small amount of time after closing to finish up before asking them to leave and locking the doors on right behind them as they leave. It just could have been handled so...

The Crimson house is absolutely a top notch coffee house. I grew up in Ossian and was very disheartened when the Brew-Ha left. Crimson House has not only filled the coffee house gap in Ossian but it has done so with flying colors! I try to time my trips home on days that it will be open because it is just that good. I generally buy about 5 things each trip because choosing just one is impossible. The food is homemade and fresh, the drink selections are both unique and traditional, and the staff is super friendly. This is the type of coffee shop that you would expect to find in a major city and every time I go there I manage to forget for a short time that I am in Ossian. Every bit of a 5 star...