| Iowa City |
|
| |
Fair Grounds Coffeehouse 
 based on 12 member reviews
345 S Dubuque St, Iowa City Iowa
52240
319-338-2024
Type: Ovo, Lacto, Vegan-friendly, Fast food, Juice bar, Take-out
Info: Cozy coffee house with artwork displays. Extensive menu consists of breakfast foods, panini sandwiches, vegan nachos, vegan baked goods, smoothies, organic fair trade coffee, and more. Open Mon-Fri 6:30am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10pm. Accepts credit cards. Price: Inexpensive.
|
|
|
|
| "Good food and great atmosphere"
|
My Rating |
 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
Posted on: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 |
Review: I recently went to Iowa City for a football game and was pleasantly surprised to find Fair Grounds. They have several kinds of vegan cheese that they make in-house (including brie, which is AMAZING), as well as an extensive selection of vegan waffles, french toast, and panini. The espresso is good and the desserts are even better. I thought the service was a little slow but the food was well worth the wait. I did not have any problem with servers or the owner, and I ate there twice in one day! Also, the bathrooms were extremely clean.
Pros: Good food * In-house vegan cheese * Nice atmosphere
Cons: Slow-ish service * Small portions for some items * |
|
|
|
| "amazing!"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
8 |
|
|
Posted on: Saturday, July 05, 2008 |
Review: This place was unbelievable--and I've eaten all over the country. I had the McVegan Waffle (DELICIOUS) though not super large/filling. My boyfriend got the "grilled cheese" with some kalamata olives and it was delicious--don't look for a melted slice, though, it's the house "cheese" on display--and it's delicious.
We finished it off with green tea muffins, biscotti, and some coffee cake to-go, and I had the Waldorf Astoria (red velvet cake with decadent vanilla frosting) and my boyfriend had the german chocolate cake for dessert. Run, don't walk to this mid-western treat!
Pros: DELICIOUS * VEGAN * Reasonable prices
Cons: Not in KY where I live * * |
|
|
|
| "Great food!"
|
My Rating |
 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
Posted on: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 |
Review: I lived a few doors away from Fair Grounds the year that it opened, and I used to go here a few times a week. I really like the vegan cheese on grilled panini. The french toast is also really delicious and unique. I'd also found it okay as a place to study although I don't drink coffee. In my experience, the service is usually good, but suffers during peak breakfast hours, i.e. brunch-time on Sunday, when it can get insanely busy. The owner was always really friendly and helpful to me as a regular.
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
|
|
|
| "Great First Experience"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
Posted on: Monday, April 14, 2008 |
Review: I visit the Iowa City area every month for business and during my visit last month I ate at this coffee house for the first time. I was extremely pleased with the food, staff and service. As many of you know, finding a place this is vegan-friendly can be quite challenging, so needless to say I was elated to find Fair Grounds Coffeehouse. In response to the other comments, I did not have any issues with the staff or owner. Perhaps these concerns have been addressed. As vegans and vegetarians, we should stick together and support local restaurants that cater to our needs, as we are their key to survival/success. I am looking forward to visiting this coffee house again during my next visit and encourage you to give it a try – I think you will be pleased.
Pros: Vegan-Friendly * Great Food and Smoothies * Nice Atmosphere
Cons: * * |
|
|
|
| "Thumbs UP!"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Posted on: Thursday, March 20, 2008 |
Review: While visiting my daughter last month, my husband and I became regulars there. If service was an issue before, they fixed it, because we can't remember a time that wasn't exactly what we'd expect given the crowd. I found the staff to be attentive and very friendly. My goal now is to find a place like it in the Boston area. Still looking!
Pros: Creative food * Waffles! * Funky atmosphere
Cons: Music a little loud * * |
|
|
|
| "Too bad"
|
My Rating |
 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
Posted on: Monday, February 04, 2008 |
Review: Service is terrible, food is okay but not great. The so-called cheese is disgusting, I would not reccomend geting a sandwich there again. I mostly went there to get coffee and study. You'd think the place would be a nice place to study or hangout but it's not. It's usually quiet but that means you have to hearr the manager-owner lady yelling at the workers and complaining about her personal life, it makes it really weird to hang out there. I gave this place a few chances, I thought it would of gotten better but everytime I was there something negative happened. The other reviews about the service are true, it's slow and rude. I had to wait forever for the owner (? loud blond lady?) to even notice I was in line! And then she was totally rude to me.
Pros: good location * nice building *
Cons: service is bad * food not great * annoying |
|
|
|
| "so lucky to have fair grounds in IC"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Posted on: Tuesday, January 08, 2008 |
Review: What a great place for breakfast!!!! i love their french toasts. omelette waffle is amazing. who would have thought about putting scrambled tofu and cheese in a waffle? owner is very friendly, creative and a dedicated vegan. so lucky to have a local business like that in Iowa City. i personally never had a bad experience with the employees. everyone was very nice, and i also didn't wait that long for my order. oh, by the way, PBR smoothie is also one of my favorites.
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
|
|
|
| "Insanely good vegan waffle, horrible service"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
304 |
|
|
Posted on: Saturday, December 08, 2007 |
Review: Its hard to believe such a wonderful place would have such bad service. I guess any vegan owners that'd serve up nonvegan products would be into making $? Take your crew to a motivational camp or something and also get an air filter in there. I don't think you're place is ventilated well because you come out smelling like a griddle, perhaps everyone is oxygen deprived? I'd give your place a 10 if you could fix your crew and the stench it leaves on my hair and clothes! Go here for the vegan waffles and bring a newspaper or War and Peace to read while waiting.
Pros: waffles * vegan treats *
Cons: staff * slowness * no ventilation |
|
|
|
| "Great Food, Crappy STAFF!!"
|
My Rating |
 |
|
|
21 |
|
|
Posted on: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 |
Review: I hate to knock vegan friendly joints but the staff here was terrible. The were slow, rude and lied to us:( But the Mcvegan Waffle almost made up for it. It was amazing!! I've never had anything like it before, they mixed tofu scramble in the waffle!! The desserts were so creative and truly a treat! I would have ate dinner here too but it was 20 min. till close and they didn't want to serve us:(
Pros: Waffles * Flavor Drinks * Desserts
Cons: STAFF * Smell of the restaurant * |
|
• Well, as the owner, I'm sorry to hear this. When I'm around (12 hours of the day), my staff acts fine and food goes out reasonably. Unfortunately, most of these complaints happen at night, when I have taken my leave. I apologize, but would make this a better response is to leave the names of rude employees and the details of any incident with the owner (me). Otherwise, how am I to address these concerns? Thank you for enjoying the food, and thank you to everyone who can overlook a few problems in their quests for wholesome, cruelty-free eating.. response by Fair Grounds
|
|
| "Great food, good for the community"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
Posted on: Saturday, September 01, 2007 |
Review: We've been to Fair Grounds on several occasions, mostly on Saturdays. It's so nice to have another option where you can order near anything off the menu and not have to worry. We love, love, love their waffles (especially the chai and mcvegan) and french toast. So happy they offer soy whip as well as soy milk for the drinks and at no extra charge!! Not a big fan of the cheese we've tried, but will have to give it another go. Haven't been able to attend any of their events yet, but many look interesting. Like that they support local artists and are breasfteeding friendly. Parking nearby is oh so easy as they're connected to a city ramp. A great asset to Iowa City.
Pros: so many choices! * excellent food * plenty of parking
Cons: * * |
|
|
|
| "yay for vegans! boo for service!"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
Posted on: Thursday, July 26, 2007 |
Review: i want this vegan cafe to survive, but i have heard such awful things about the owners, that i doubt i will ever go back. i have heard these reports from people who worked there...being vegan means being nice to everyone and thing...like not doing things like paying people a working wage or calling people names and laughing at costumers behind their backs..... so boooo on the owners.
Pros: vegan food * *
Cons: trash talking employees * * |
|
• I normally would not get involved with the customer feedback process, but as the owner of Fair Grounds Coffeehouse I feel I have to respond to comments like this. I also think that HappyCow is such a useful resource for vegans (I have been one for seventeen years and have used it on many occasions) that it is important for people to hear both sides of the issue.
I opened this coffeeshop less than a year ago with the idea of providing Fair Trade coffee and animal-free food and baked goods, and have been going through the same struggles that most small businesses suffer through. Like most coffeeshops, I've had high turnover in employees. Some I have had to let go, and some have quit with varying degrees of notice. I have always paid employees at least a dollar over minimum wage, and have let them know from the start what thei.... response by Fair Grounds
|
|
| "HOORAY SOY WHIP CREAM & VEGAN CHEESE!!!"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
Posted on: Saturday, July 14, 2007 |
Review: This is the best coffee shop ever! The only place I have found that makes a mocha with soy whipped cream! Awesome baked goods, delicious desserts, wonderful vegan/vegetarian sandwiches.
EVERYTHING is vegetarian, with vegan options. Make sure that you ask for vegan cheese or butter when you order. Vegan cheeses made in house, and absolutely delicious. I would live at this place if I could :) Food is made to order, so it is like a regular restaurant wait for food...this is not fast food. It is wholesome, healthy, made to order food.
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
|
• don't kid yourself thinking this food is "wholesome." the food isn't even organic, i asked what kind of butter or shortening was used, and most of the stuff has trans fats from the margarine or other hydrogenated shortening, it's the most unhealthy kind of fat possible, worse than pure butter even. i stopped eating the food there and just started drinking coffee and having smoothies. just because it's "vegan" doesn't mean its healthy food. be careful.. response by sdelaney
|
|
| "Vegan Cheese Heroes!"
|
My Rating |
|
|
|
1 |
GUEST |
|
Posted on: Friday, March 23, 2007 |
Review: This place is FANTASTIC! The owner is a vegan and she makes her own vegan cheese right there in the store - and you can put it on all of the sandwiches or in the waffles, or buy it buy the pound and it's way better than store-bought cheese. The best part is all the coffee and espresso is fair-trade and organic, not just one blend.
Pros: food is made to order * friendly owner-nice staff * everything is homemade
Cons: can be busy at times * a little understaffed * |
1 of 1 visitors found the above review beneficial
 Respond | Was this review useful?  
|
|
For Business Owners, if you see an unfair review- read this
Why was my review removed?- details
Reviews are not endorsed by HappyCow.net - review terms
Has Fair Grounds Coffeehouse closed, shut down, moved, or changed? Please use the Update Form.
|
|
Link to this page
|
|
|
