River's Edge Cafe

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  Living in downtown Aurora and loving the business that ARE open, it aggravates me that the hours for this coffee shop are AWFUL. 7a-3p - M-F. No evenings and no weekends.  
  
  I could get past the knowledge that they are part of a church outreach effort (I'd love to sit and read one of my Christopher Hitchen's books there!) but BE OPEN!

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  Posted on 01.28.13 D T.

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  Great place to enjoy a cup of coffe or a quick breakfast bite. Very friendly service.

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  Posted on 12.05.12 A M.

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  Visited this cafe for the first time today and fell in love. The atmosphere is relaxing and happy. There is a corner with a variety of toys for the kids and books for both kids and adults. I believe they have wifi, as i saw many people using computers or iPads. There are plenty of tables and some comfy couches for gathering. My mom and I each had a different tea, and they were both great! Our lunches were yummy too. They offer a great varied menu. I am vegan and was able to find a few different options for lunch. They also have soy milk that can replace any drink containing milk. My only suggestion is that they have a different kind of milk option too, like almond, rice or coconut, for those of us who try to stay away from overdoing soy. I will definitely be back!!

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  Posted on 11.01.12 Jemma R.

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  I want to love this place. It's cute.  There's a great outdoor eating area overlooking the river.  I find myself going back to this place after being disappointed more than any other place.  There are two problems: the service/food process is poor and the food is inconsistent.  Here is what happened today, and this experience is a fairly accurate representation of prior experiences.
  
  After ordering the food, we went outside to eat.  It takes a long time to prepare and deliver the food...maybe 10-15 minutes.  After waiting, I went inside to check on the order (in past experiences, I've seen where the order just sits on the counter.). I talk to an employee who assures that the order will be right up. Sure enough, in a couple of minutes, 3/4 of our table's orders are delivered.  My turkey burger is way over cooked and is dry.  It's also missing the cheddar cheese that I ordered.  But I don't want to take it back because the order already took too long and there is no time for that.  However, 1 person in our group of 4 is missing her food (a veggie wrap)--she tells the rest of us to eat.  I finish my burger and the veggie wrap is still not out there.  Im annoyed, so I go back into the cafe and find the veggie wrap, where?  On the counter sitting there undelivered.  Uuuugh.  I express my frustration to the employee, who brings the veggie wrap out with his apologies and an extra cookie as a nice gesture.  
  
  So, it's not a terrible place.  Sometimes the food is good.  Sometimes the food is brought out without issues.  But I've had too many experiences like the one today:  Bad food, bad service.  Still, when you have a day in late October near 80 deg with sun, it's hard to beat that outdoor deck.

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  Posted on 10.24.12 Nick B.

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  This place is quite a gem!  I work in DT Aurora during the summer and this had become a frequent stop in years past.  I've only had various sandwiches off their menu, but everything I've had was DELICIOUS.   Definitely worth it to make a stop if you're in Aurora.

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  Posted on 07.10.12 Kelly H.

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  I had passed by this place so many times in the past and it's amazing I decided this one time to go out of my way(darn construction!) to stop in.  This certainly was not a disappointment.  Used to frequent these urban style coffee houses so much in my "city" days that I've been yearning for something at least comparable.  River's Edge definitely fits the profile which is a breath of fresh air in Aurora.  Coffee is good and the sandwiches are well thought out and taste delicious.  Will without a doubt be back!  Btw, the coconut smoothie is fantastic!(and I hate coconut).

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  Posted on 07.06.12 Jr R.

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  So happy downtown has this wonderful little cafe. Love it. Close to where I work and hang my hat. I can bike there. And they support so much creativity! I especially love that they have the Aurora Public Library coming once a month for story time! Planning to have lunch with a friend today in fact. Can't wait. Love the ambiance. My fav lunch is the pulled BBQ chicken sandwich and decaf coffee. Really hard to pass up one of their muffins or cookies.

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  Posted on 02.17.12 Rebecca K.

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  The River's Edge Cafe is my home away from home. The folks who work there are friendly and accommodating and the food is always fresh and delicious. Their spicy chai tea latte is the best chai latte in the Fox Valley, and the chai shakes are a nice alternative when the temperatures begin to climb. The menu offers a good variety, including sandwiches, cookies, quiches and salads.

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  Posted on 02.17.12 Frank P.

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  Lovely little cafe with great decor, lots of light, and very happy customers and pleasant staff. I enjoyed the soy chai, and best of all, they accept credit cards! I am always able to find a spot nearby, just mind the meters -- they like to be fed.
  
  Will come back to try some of their yummy lunch specials like soups and sandwiches!

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  Posted on 01.25.12 Jessica D.

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  Excellent cafe!  I recently visited Aurora for a week attending a workshop on the same street as River's Edge Cafe.  After my first visit to the carfe, I was hooked on their home-made, wholesome food for the entire week!  Great coffees, fantastic desserts, healthy soups/chili/sandwiches/salads, and a very caring staff who went out of their way to make the attendees of our workshop feel "at home."  No MSG, and many of their ingredients are organic.
  
  The chicken salad with cranberries is awesome as are their HUGE chocolately home-made brownies, the home made chili and soups.  I wish the River's Edge Cafe would open up a second store where I live, in Stockton, CA!!!!

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  Posted on 12.21.11 clemmie k.

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  I really enjoy this place! I come here usually during the week for my lunch.  I just started going here a couple weeks ago but continually head back.  The second time I went in the cashier remembered my name from the previous week!  Everyone there wants to give you outstanding service.  They have really tasty sandwiches and soups.  No complaints!  Keep it up!

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  Posted on 12.20.11 Ashley A.

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  Upgrade..Greek chicken pasta salad is delicious, 712 cappuccino is my fave and will get you sooo jacked up on caffeine if you dare down a 20 oz. I love all my ppl there esp Katie and Brandon (he's the only original from the old owner days of Kathy and Jeff). And sorry but the river still does smell whenever it's warm out. I've noticed this since I've lived in a river town and worked 2 blocks away from the fox for the past 12 years. Also, the chocolate chip cookies are sinfully delicious and humongous !!

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  Posted on 09.21.11 Amanda S.

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  Downtown Aurora needed a place like this, and hopefully more will follow.
  
  I had some of the best tuna salad I have ever had. The salads are so big you could take some home for later. The mocha iced coffee is unbelieveable.
  
  It's super comfy and very clean. There is an outdoor seating area, but the spiders.....well you know. Cool selection of games and books.
  
  I'll be back, and often, and I'll bring friends. The ONLY thing for me is the hours....come on. 7am-3pm? Hopefully they hear our outcry!

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  Posted on 09.01.11 Amber S.

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  This cafe IS the heart of downtown Aurora. The place is immaculate, the food is outstanding, the people attentive, the prices are very reasonable and the vibe is warm and accommodating. Their panini is made from fresh vegetables and meats cooked in-house. You can get ham, turkey, or vegetable. Soups are creative, dense and flavorful. I normally don't care for pasta salad but I've ordered theirs 4 times so far. It's loaded with black olives, chicken, celery, peppers, onion and dressed with extra virgin olive oil. Today I had a summer salad of spinach, strawberries, red onions and avocado dressed in a vinaigrette not too sweet and not too vinegary. Their cappucino is yummy and aromatic. They have a selection of fresh-baked goodies which they pull right out of their oven and put on the counter for your selection.
  They hold special events such as a writers' series, a children's art event (last Friday) and a monthly ukelele group. If there's a special event you want to hold there, they'll extend their hours for you. When the weather's nice, the deck is relaxing and the river view is beautiful.
  Most anyone who's making cultural plans in Aurora meets there. Today I met a reporter from the Beacon, several library board members, a local developer, the artistic director for the Paramount, a local chef from our upscale "bistro", and several other people who are making things happen.
  Parking's not a problem as you can almost always find a spot on the street (in the rare case that you don't, the parking garage is half a block east.)
  There are several other places to eat downtown. Subway is 4 doors down and restaurant row has Comfort Zone, Chef Amaury's and Ballydoyle. I eat at all of them (CZ and Amaury's are favorites) but for lunch I always meet my friends at River's Edge. It's like our home away from home.
  Note: The river is clean and has a pleasant smell, and it's Russell Crowe's preferred cafe when he rides his bike through Aurora.

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  Posted on 06.30.11 jeanne n.

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  My family and I love River's Edge Cafe! The overall experience is always excellent. The staff is friendly, effecient, and always does thier best to accomodate us. The food is some of the best food in Aurora. Everything is always fresh and they try to use organic as much as possible. The coffee is also very good.  This is our favorite place to eat in Aurora! :)

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  Posted on 06.08.11 Kaylea S.

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  This place is soooo good.  Just coming across the reviews makes me want a sandwich from the rivers edge soooo bad.  The roast all their own meats and make wonderful sandwiches to order.
  
  Very cute inside and when the weather is nice the porch is great outside.  Just love this place.  I live about a half hour away so its not convent for me to visit but its soooo good I have to make the trip.
  
  The only downside is parking.  Its downtown aurora so you have to find a street spot.

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  Posted on 06.05.10 Jill N.

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  A wonderfully cute riverside cafe.  Came recommended by the local theater staff.
  
  Entered to a cozy feeling, family-owned, clean and welcoming space, greeted by a couple of employees and a man I can only assume was the owner.  
  
  Ordered a make-your-own turkey sandwich on wheat with avocado, and a bowl of chili.  Scrumptious.  The sandwich had about half  an avocado on it (generous compared to Panera et al.), and turkey that looked like it had actually come from a bird - not deli sliced.  Amazing.  (Reminded me of a much more masterful version of the turkey sandwich you make after Thanksgiving.)  The chili was incredibly chunky and piping hot.  A perfect way to warm-up on a cold day, and great for filling up after doing a show.  The owner even came over after a while to ask how everything was and where we were from, what we were doing in town.
  
  Warm and welcoming, kind and cozy, this is a beautiful home-town, locally owned cafe.
  
  (The best seats in the house are the leather couches, which are strategically placed right by the window with a view of the bridge over the river.)

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  Posted on 03.01.10 Corey L.

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  This review is subject to an update when I can make it there again. First of all, I love the location and look of this cafe. It's in the heart of downtown Aurora. You have to understand that despite what you may here about downtown Aurora (usually has something to do with 'unsafe' and 'river boat gambling'), the downtown area has A LOT of history and potential to be a really cool, artistic city. But aside from my rant about potential, I will review the cafe. Listen up: First of all, the hours are really limited. Only open until 2:30 on a Saturday? Really?? And Sunday, forget about it. Closed. DRAG!! Second, the menu needs some SERIOUS cafe food. The vegetarian options are really limited and the baked goods look kind of, well, sad. Nothing special. Nothing made with love. I wanted to chill here for a few hours last week with my husband while I wrote a paper for school. We came in at 2, not realizing they were closing soon. We asked if we could still order stuff. Yes.  I got a coffee (it was okay) and husband ordered chili. We sat and I start typing.  I got my coffee that I had to pump myself. From a coffee kiosk. Like a self-serve station at a gas station. It's out of coffee. The cashier takes the cup and serves me fresh coffee from behind the counter. Oookay. Ten, fifteen minutes pass and no chili for my husband. He gets up to ask about his chili. Two employees working and they forgot about his order. About 5 minutes spent nuking it, he gets his bowl and has like no time to eat. We sat around until quarter to 3, he eating chili, me, taking notes.
  
  With the new Waubonsee community college being built right around the corner, the cafe could definitely use a some TLC. I will visit again with a full-visit (food, drink and stay) update. Stay tuned.

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  Posted on 02.10.10 Jojo F.

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  The best coffeehouse in downtown Aurora! So...it's the only coffeehouse in downtown A-town, but it is still the best.
  Visit NEW owner Beth S. at the riverside cafe on Stolp Island looking out over the beautiful Fox River. Try homemade goodies and fair-trade coffee.
  Outdoor dining is available on the amazingly beautiful and serene deck -- you seriously feel like you are on vacation.
  Open Mon-Fri for lunch. Yummy veggie paninis. Great soup and sandwiches. Closes at 3 M-F. Open later for special events.
  Support our little piece of paradise in downtown Aurora!
  
  I usually order 1/2 tuna sandwich and soup -- delicious!
  
  I'm at the cafe as much as possible. And love to cross the street to visit 7 West Studio when it is open on Fridays. I love downtown Aurora!
  
  NOTE: RIVER'S EDGE CAFE IS OPEN ONCE AGAIN. HURRAY!

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  Posted on 09.22.09 Marissa A.

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