The Washburne Café — Restaurant in Springfield

I had been to the Washburne Cafe twice before. Service was never fantastic, but food was pretty good. So I decided to go there recently since it wasn't far. I ordered a breakfast burrito to go. I sat directly in front of their register and waited.After 15 minutes I thought it was odd no one had spoken to me and there was only one person, out of a staff of five, in the kitchen. Another person had gotten their food and drinks, but they had a new person on crew so I kept waiting. Two people came and left (on staff) another customer had finished their meal, and no one spoke to me, even looked at me... Until I got pissed off enough at 30 minutes when two other groups came in to order and one of the employees finally asked me 'where you waiting for something?' I let her know I ordered a breakfast burrito TO GO over 1/2 hr ago. The staff clumsily stammered and went around in circles, asking each other how this could have happened, (Including the person who took my order) and STILL no one had even walked to the kitchen in back to start my order which was obviously not showing up anytime soon. So I told them that at this point, I was done waiting, and I wanted my money back so I could leave. They then tried to give me a gift card to their restaurant, which I explained to them I would not accept and that I wanted my money back. Finally they refunded my money, which they didn't seem to know how to do, for the purchase price (and here's the clincher) but not the tip I had given to the person who took my order. They are unprofessional and overpriced. Do...

Perhaps I just don’t “get” this place. After waiting for the cashier to flirt with the guy ahead of me for 5 minutes, I ordered a basic breakfast sandwich with avocado added and a small drip coffee. The coffee was self-serve which isn’t unusual for drip, however the “small” was comically so. They had a 4 or 6 ounce paper cup which was too small for the coffee cup sleeve. Like the cup with lid slips clean through it. The coffee was very hot which was good, but folding and crinkling that sleeve was a total pain in the rear. The sandwich came fast but was just so so. That was this trip in July 2023.

I want to mention I had a horrible experience here towards the end of the pandemic when we were still wearing masks. Apparently I committed a faux pas when I wore a mask with an American flag on it. The staff was incredibly rude to me and my wife and I couldn’t figure out why. As I turned to wait for my order I realized even the clientele was giving me dirty looks. I realized after I walked out the door it was probably my mask.

I decided today to give the place another chance. While the staff was not rude and the atmosphere was more pleasant, the comedic size coffee cup plus the wait which was extended by a flirtatious employee makes me wonder if I ought to give up trying this place. I see it is highly rated, maybe I’ll try again in a few months and will get the magic combo that makes this place special but this time it was a disappointment. But a much better experience than the...

The Washburne Cafe is the greatest (not so hidden) gem of Downtown Springfield. I struggle knowing where to begin when I talk about this place. The staff and owners alike are among the most generous, honest, and kind people you will find in any city, USA. They care about the product they serve, they care about their employees, the truly care about the community and their guest's experience, and it clearly shows. The coffee is second to none. They have certainly mastered art of the perfect cup of locally roasted coffee. The most impressive aspects of this cafe, however, reside in the food. I have had nearly every baked good on the menu and have never fallen anything short of amazed. They bake on sight daily, using quality ingredients and highly technical and creative methods. Their savory food leaves nothing to be desired itself. It is immensely impressive that a coffee shop/cafe such as this can produce such high quality, delicious, home cooked food. Whether it is house cured and smoked Pastrami, Fried Chicken Sandwiches on Friday, dressings made from scratch, rubbed and roasted pork belly, sourdough breads they have started, risen, and baked in house, rotating soups from scratch, their house fermented hot sauce, or any other of the multitude of incredibly impressive and delicately balanced foods they prepare daily you cannot go wrong ordering breakfast, brunch, or lunch from this utterly fantastic...