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Cafe Strudel
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
13 reviews for Cafe Strudel
Café Strudel - 2/3 good 1/3 lame.
Great Yelp reviews brought us into Café Strudel, as their less than inviting façade would not have. Once inside, we were definitely excited and ready for a fantastic breakfast experience.
They have an open kitchen downstairs, and you can see them prepping the days soup, baked goods, and working on breakfast orders. The vibe was great and the person who greeted us was warm and friendly. They had a dessert case that looked incredible.
We decided to head upstairs and soak in the charm of the old Victorian, home to Café Strudel. Upstairs, the architecture was lovely, but the decorations were a bit funky. No worries, one of the best meals I've had in years had similar decorations.
When we started to peruse the menu, I freaked out; they had hash browns (my favorite breakfast treat, which has for the most part been replaced by home fries - boo). Not only did they have hash browns, they are known for their "hang over hash browns" - a generous portion of Hash Browns, Grilled Onions, Banana Peppers, Tomato, Cheddar Cheese, and two Eggs Cooked to Order. Damn, that sounded good.
Their breakfast special was Huevos Rancheros, another favorite of mine. We were so excited we ordered the Huevos Rancheros for the table, and everyone got something different (I got the Hangover Hash Browns).
The coffee was good, but when breakfast arrived, we realized that our observation about the paintings being 2/3 good and 1/3 lame also applied to the food. My hash browns were a great idea, but not well executed. They'd have worked fine (not great) as a side to a regular breakfast, but if you're going to tout the magnificence of your hash browns and make them a bona fide entrée, as they have done, they better be bangin browns. These hash browns tasted okay, but in no way great. Turns out banana peppers don't taste good hot, the cheese was cheap cheddar, the potatoes were the right texture but relatively flavorless:(
On to the Huevos Rancheros, they're always good, so I figured they'd save my breakfast experience. But, no, they kinda sucked. The beans were good, but it's hard to f 'up black beans. The tortilla was sun dried tomato or something, which was a fine twist, but it was not hot or even cooked. The tortilla was dry and raw, a gross texture to add to Huevos Rancheros. The sauce was good, and the rest of the creation was quite good, but the tortilla is a important part to not get right.
Okay, I was not planning to have dessert, but their dessert case looked so good I just had to try something. I got the cinnamon roll and two friends got the pumpkin spiced bread. The cinnamon roll was average. Not great, not bad, just soft, sweet, and average. The pumpkin spice bread was actually pretty good. Would have been amazing if toasted and topped with a touch of butter.
All in all, 2/3 good 1/3 lame.
Came here based on Yelp reviews, was not disappointed. Had the hangover hash browns plus the bottomless mug of coffee, definitely hit the spot. This is a charming little place that definitely beats the generic breakfast buffet I experience on a daily basis when I'm on the road.
Great atmosphere and great food. i just recently discovered this place so I've only been a handful of times, but I have nothing but good things to say about it.
Everyone raves about their breakfast... but I must say I enjoy their lunch more! They have some great sandwiches and my mom swears by their congaree chicken salad. I suggest trying the hangover hashbrowns as well. And by far the best dessert selection in Columbia. Service can be slow and they have made mistakes with special orders in past, but I can see past that to the good food. Ambiance is pretty cool and artsy, all mismatched tables and chairs with art for sale on walls. Definitely a solid sit down sandwich/salad lunch spot.
location is pretty interesting. its 2 stories. we sat outside. I had cinnamon toast which was very delicious. portions are perfect sized...not too big and not too small. although Large orange juice could use more OJ in it. haha. otherwise everything was very good and would def go back to it. the only downside of sitting outside is there are hella flies.
Good stuff. Sandwiches, salads and baked goods. Nice quiet atmosphere. While your still downtown your not in the thick of things so parking is easy, there are a few places within close walking distance too so you can hop around a bit.
Cafe Strudel is the best breakfast/brunch/lunch spot in Columbia. The Hangover Hashbrowns are critical. They fully understand the earth-shattering importance of the banana pepper. The menu in its totality is pretty fantastic, for serious. Dope sandwiches. Lots of good beers and PBR. Nice outdoor, shaded patio that can make time pass unnoticed. There is also always a large selection of rad looking desserts, though I've never had any.
Cafe Strudel feels like an old house, with several small rooms upstairs. Two tables enjoy sunny windows and views of Columbia (for better or worse). There is outside seating in front, and in back.
I always order the Veggie Supreme Sandwich on a croissant, except on Sundays, when the lunch menu is replaced by the brunch menu. Prices are very affordable. Short, but varied, beer list.
Staff always seems a little overwhelmed, but friendly.
Cafe Strudel has my favorite breakfast dish in the Columbia area -- the "hangover hashbrowns." Though the name is clever, it isn't entirely descriptive because this dish is more than merely hashbrowns. It's a medley of fresh hashbrowns (not the frozen Ore Ida variety), cheese, scrambled eggs, onions, and ... the kicker ... banana peppers. The dish was featured in Southern Living magazine.
The breakfast food at Cafe Strudel is excellent (from what I've observed with friends...I rarely venture beyond the hangover hashbrowns), but the other food -- sandwiches, etc. -- is somewhat hit-or-miss. The burger I got once was gristly and gross.
Agree with Ind's review that the servers always seems a bit overwhelmed and service can be spotty. (On more than one occasion I've had to go downstairs and refill my own Diet Coke.)
The hangover hashbrowns hold up well to-go if you want to avoid service issues and crowdedness.
Best carrot cake EVER. It is slap your mom good... Small coffee bar. Good selection of import bottles. Live music acoustic music on the back patio. Sandwiches are pretty good. The atmosphere is nice. A good quiet place to sit back and get to know someone.
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A small owner-operated restaurant and cafe with great food, desserts and coffee and character to spare - that's what I like. The food is meant to be a special treat, so I don't eat there every day, but I'll drop by whenever I'm close to relax and enjoy the warm hospitality and sweeping view of the river and Columbia skyline.
Quirky coffee and dessert place with cozy upstairs. A bit pricy on certain items, but a good day or night date spot.
I eat lunch here an average of twice a week. (State Street restaurant). I love the aesthetics as well as the food. The service has always been top notch. I highly recommend it.
