Runcible Spoon is the perfect hangover remedy....or a place to go to get an afternoon hangover with their mimosa pitchers.
It has a great outdoor dining area, and it's rare that you have to wait very long. I'm a huge pancake fan, and this is another one of the (many) places in Bloomington that took a lot of my money for the delicious little cakes. They also have an excellent fruit and granola bowl, if you are looking for a bit less guilt.
I'm not an egg guy, but I hear the eggs benedict is pretty great too.
The room is very cosy, and it feels good to be there. On the other hand it was quite hot the two times I went there.
The food is unfortunately mediocre without being bad. I had the egg breakfast with French toast the first time and an omelette the second time.
There are better breakfast places in town, such as uptown cafe, although this place may be more cosy.
I'd heard about this place before and when the other coffee shops were crowded I checked out their menu. I'd never had eggs Benedict before, so I wanted to try it. The prices were too high for the amount of food I got and my coffee had grounds in it.
The wait staff was rude and rushed my friend and I.
Walking in, you have no idea where to go or where to sit. There should at least be a sign. It's small and had there been more people it would have been very cramped.
Our waiter seemed to be bothered with us and told us to go a head and pay right after we got our food because he wanted to get his tip before he left his shift. Even though he rushed us to pay, we sat there for about half an hour after we finished our food and he was still standing in the next room talking to other people.
Yeah, they'll refill your coffee and have a huge variety of coffee, tea, and such for decent prices but I'm probably not going to eat here again. Not if I have to pay for it myself.
Back when I was a good student with no money, I enjoyed frequenting the RS. It wasn't very busy back then, and I remember the prices being pretty low. The food is solid, the coffee is awesome, and the atmosphere very cool. I had no problem with the service, the clientele, or anything else here for that matter. I really miss Bloomington and this oddly named place is one of the main reasons.
Review Source:I love diner food, and Runcible is one of the few places in bloomington that serves it. But, it is over priced for the quality and the coffee is not great. It is a fun place to eat -- they have a big patio in summer and weird little room inside. The servers are all pretty hipster. If only they tried a little harder on the food, this would be my go-to breakfast spot.
Review Source:In a word: Meh.
It could just be that Runcible had been talked up to me a bit too much by my peers. I asked for suggestions for a good breakfast place to take my mom while she was visiting, and 4 of the 6 recommendations were for this place, accompanied by rave reviews. I tried to keep my expectations low despite this, but honestly, this place was kind of a let down, and didn't live up to the hype.
There's no guidance when you first walk in. I felt like I'd walked into someone's house, and was definitely not invited to the party. A passing waiter told us, "I believe there's seating in the basement," but scurried away before I could ask where that might be. Eventually, I was guided downstairs by a fellow customer.
I found the layout of the restaurant extremely tight, crowded, and off-putting. And because of the small size, it was quite loud. (Think all the noise of Village Deli on a typical Sunday, multiply it by two, then divide the space in half.)
As for the food, it wasn't bad, but was certainly nothing to write home about. My mom wasn't very hungry, and had scrambled egg whites with fruit, and enjoyed it well enough. I had an omelette, the ingredients of which (feta, potatoes, bacon, onion) were very delicious, but the outer egg wrapping was fairly bland and a little dry. I also had a side of sausage, which was a solid 3 of 5: not amazing, not bad at all, just average.
I will say that, once you are able to find yourself a seat, the service is great. We weren't seated ten seconds before the waitress got to us, and the food came out in no time at all. It's definitely a fast-paced eatery, especially in the morning, as people are lined up outside to get in.
I feel like people might rave about this place purely because of the hipster environment, and because it's the "cool" place to eat. I didn't have a bad experience, per se, but honestly, if you're going to go through the hassle of eating out on a Sunday morning in Btown, you might as well go to Village Deli, or somewhere that's a bit easier and tastier.
I might give it another go during a break when students are out of town, but a) will not return for the breakfast menu, and b) wouldn't go out of my way to visit again. It's simply not that spectacular. I legitimately don't get what all the fuss is about.
TL:DR - Food was average, atmosphere was claustrophobic and loud. Did not live up to the hype.
The Spoon is the ultimate hipster spot to catch a friendly face and a great latte. Â I'm a breakfast/brunch kind of gal and so I tend to like to hit The Spoon on the weekends. Â I have to say that the food is good but it's still not my favorite place. Â Maybe because the indoor space is so haphazard and cramped? Â The fishtank/bathtub in the restroom is definitely worth a looksee. Â I know the owners and they are cool peeps and their mimosa's do NOT suck like some other places but even after all that there's just *something* about the way their food is prepped that doesn't vibe with me. Â Does Not mean that it's not a great place to go and get your grub on. Â They have good coffee and the location downtown makes it perfect for walking around to and from. Â Atmosphere rates very highly. Â So I'm going with four stars so my negative Nelly doesn't affect others opinions of the joint.
Review Source:Me and my boyfriend had the pork medallions. The food was so-so, nothing spectacular, but good nonetheless. The "smashed potatoes" needed some work. It's a cool concept but ours were hella burnt. The vegetables/black beans could use some sort of seasoning or cooked longer. The actual pork was good and huge portions.
Our first server/busser maybe? was very nice and personable our main server was strictly business. Nobody asked us if our food was okay and we had to ask for our bill (which I usually assume would be brought to the table)
The price was a lot better than what I had thought. I think it was $10
The atmosphere is most likely what keeps people coming back. It is very eclectic. Tons of bookshelves and old books. Live plants and a really cute outdoor seating area. Unfortunately there were crumbs and stuff all over the floor. With a good mop it would look a lot cleaner.
This place knocks my socks off every time!
Runcible Spoon has the best pancakes I've ever put in my mouth. Â Bar none. Â The home fries are delicious (beware - don't get a full order unless you're a competitive eating champion) and they have the best mimosa I've ever had (served by the pint or the pitcher). Â Every time I have been there for brunch the service has been top notch and the kitchen has done a fantastic job of getting my food to me with minimal waiting. Â The only thing stopping them receiving that elusive fifth star from me is the decor - it's a bit rough in some places inside the building, with bare drywall and wooden beams showing through. Â Otherwise, Runcible Spoon is a definite winner in my book!
I won't lie... the name itself reeks of pretense. I'm a sucker for cozy restaurants that play Democracy Now while they set up for the day, and was glad my client suggested it. The logistics of the place dictates that the larger your waistline, the harder it will be to find a table.
With that said, this place is not greasy... and uses good simple ingredients. If you are a fan of breakfast; then this is a good place to go.
I was a fan before I even set foot in the door. The smell of Saturday brunch that floated from the slightly cracked open door of this tiny house to the sidewalk was intriguing, to say the least.
Runcible Spoon is just one of many Bloomington restaurants situated in small, cozy houses that have my favorite hole-in-the-wall neighborhood feel. We only waited about 20 minutes for a table, which was impressive due to the crowd outside and the size of the place. Our table had two small wooden chairs and then one large cushioned living room-style chair. My brother opted for that one. Our table was right next to the kitchen so we had a great view. I love places with open kitchens.
Within moments of sitting down, I was told to head to the bathroom to check it out. Sure enough, as promised, there were real live fish floating in the bathtub. Judging by the random signage that fills the rest of the restaurant ("Hippies use back door," a Che Guevara portrait), the fish didn't surprise me but they did add to the random ambiance.
It took a while for the food to make its way from the bustling basement kitchen to our table, but sometimes my favorite part of eating out is the time before and after the food. I ordered the #10: scrambled eggs, home fries, vegetables and toast. The vegetables were sauteed beautifully and placed over exceptionally crispy home fries. The toast was darker brown-just the way I like it and the eggs needed pepper, but were cooked to perfection.
The coffee was also something to write home about. I'm no coffee connoisseur, but I ended up drinking two full cups. The fact that they brew it right there in the restaurant charmed me.
The next time I'm in Bloomington I will definitely be heading back to this adorable house for a weekend brunch.
Runcible Spoon, you have made many a Bloomington morning brighter with your glorious coffee and delicious breakfasts. I've only ever patronized Runcible for brunch purposes, but I've never regretted a single visit and definitely imbibed as much coffee as my small body can handle. Any of their variations on eggs benedict are amazing. Their hollandaise sauce is divine. The pancakes are huge and glorious as well. Delicious teas, as well!
That said, the weekends are horrifying. If you go, expect to wait. I almost always make the effort to go on weekdays and therefore aren't traumatized by the masses of Greek students and visiting families. Go during the week--totally worth it.
This place was my go to during my years in B-town. Their eggs bennie will always be my number one, and I will always think of it fondly. I go back whenever I can. Because my old man is still a little touchy from a time a few years ago on a busy weekend when they wouldn't allow him to have fried eggs and were only serving scrambled - which was kind of ridiculous, and the reason this place only gets 4 stars from me. Â He still gets his coffee from there exclusively though, so his opinion is kind of bogus.
However, when they make hollandaise like that, they aren't losing my business and they know it.
Plus I love mimosa pitchers more than most of my relatives.
The place is typical kitchey - a mixture of garage sale and old books and unmatched tables and chairs.  The staff is pretty friendly and the  breakfast menu is pretty run of the mill.
Steve had the Weekend special - 2 eggs, 2 bacon, toast and a pancake at $8.25. Â OJ was out of a can at $1.75 for a generous pour. Â I had the Eggs Benedict after asking for a taste of the Hollendaise. Â Worth it! at $8.25. Â The muffins were NOT cooked as I requested - well done. Â And the eggs were fried, not poached. Â But the Hollendaise was very good. Â I requested some lemon to squeeze over it and finished every bite. Â Coffee - EXCELLENT ($1.60).
The food should have been served hotter and the pancake was whole wheat (yuch) Â but Steve was happy.
Hotter food would have gotten them 4 stars but I'd go back.
The first thing that comes to mind is the service. Â It was downright rude. Â Our server appeared as if Runcible Spoon grabbed a disgruntled hipster off the street and told her to wait tables for the afternoon. Â She was short with us, rude, uninformative of the menu, got offended when we asked her questions about the food and took a little longer than expected to get the food out to us (which I doubt was entirely her fault, it was a busy day for the kitchen).
I will give Runcible Spoon the benefit of the doubt and say that that particular waitress was having an off day, because I went there with my friend, who had eaten there previously with an all-around delightful experience.
The one thing that salvaged Runcible Spoon from 1 star was their FOOD. Â It was delicious and well presented. Â I got an omelet with tea, and there isn't anything I can complain about them.
Two Words: Black Russian.
I feel like a little hobbit when I eat here. This place is cozy, warm, and impossibly cool.
Whenever  friends visit me I always stop here for a bite to eat; this place never ceases to impress people. The ambiance is great and the outdoor patio is perfect to lounge in on warm spring days. This place is very reasonably priced for the quality of food you get.
This may come as a surprise to people, but I wasn't all that impressed. Â
My friends were raving about the Runcible Spoon, but I found it kind of trite. Â
You know, like they're the restaurant that knows they're on a college campus and knows that every college campus has a cute little breakfast place with slow hippie service and decaying books on the wall that everyone loves because the atmosphere is just so gosh darn great. Â
Yeah, all I got was the decaying books and slow hippie service. Â
I ordered the corned beef hash, which I'll admit I'm a bit of a snob about (read: I'm poor) and despite everyone telling me how great their corned beef hash is, I wasn't blown away. Â
You see, the thing is, I can make mashed potatoes. Â I CAN'T, however, make hash browns. Â No matter what I do, I. Can't. Do it. Â So, when I go to a breakfast place, I want my crispy fucking hashbrowns. Â Hence, I wanted corned beef hash, not corned beef mash dammit. Â
I'll give the place a second chance, but honestly, if I want to spend $7.95 for Lox I might as well just go to Farm and get slow hippie service there without the musty book smell.
I think I will be trying other places on future trips. Â We arrived on a Friday and were promptly seated at 11:30 AM Â My son had a campus visit and had to be at the admissions office at 12:30 pm. Â We promptly placed our order, then proceeded to wait for the next 45 mins while people who came in after us got served before us. Â
Now, keep in mind, they advertise that breakfasts are available all day. Â So when we asked where are food was, we were told that since we had ordered both breakfasts and lunch, that had caused a problem with the cook and we would have to wait. Â Somehow this was OUR fault?
So, long story short, the service was slow. Adam missed the appointment. Â The Reuben sandwich was soggy and not hot. Â The food was just dreadful.
I've been here many times for various brunches and a few dinners. Unfortunately, I'm generally disappointed by the food. I love the indie feel, and the restroom decor is amazing. (Seriously, even if you don't have to use the restroom while you're there, check it out.)
The only thing that stands out to me is the peanut soup. They only offer it at dinner, which is frustrating because it's so amazing.
I LOVE Runcible. Â This is my go to brunch place in Bloomington. Â Their Eggs Benedict is to die for, and it's consistently good. Â Now, I did have their pancakes once, and they were not very good, just not my style I guess. Â But I go here all the time, probably more than any other place in btown. Â The atmosphere here is really chill, you want to hang out here. Â
Bottom Line: Â Go here for brunch, get the Eggs Benedict (and a Chai Tea Latte)
I come here because the Runcible is one of the best off-the-beaten-path drinking spots in the downtown area. Â Stroll in on a warm summer or fall evening and sit down on the rustic, borderline ramshackle outdoor stone patio with bolted down tables and nice hanging plant baskets. Â Order a cold 12 oz. bottle of Fin du Monde for under 4 bucks, or a pitcher of Bell's Two Hearted Ale for around ten bucks. Â Sip away. Â You won't find better microbrew prices anywhere in Bloomington, or a patio as tranquil and mellow.
Enjoy the buzz from a strong beer while feeling the evening rays on your skin filtering through trees, plants, and outdoor lamps.
The food is just OK, but who cares? Â If only they served french fries!
Tasty, cozy little cafe and coffee shop built out of an old house on a tree-lined Bloomington street. The Runcible Spoon is evidently the kind of place college kids get their visiting parents to take them when in town... but it's certainly nothing to write home about.
As Bloomington's lone local coffee roaster, the Runcible Spoon does do coffee right but brunch offerings are just so-so. Items are absolutely run-of-the-mill omelets, benedicts, toast, cereals, and fruit, with a smattering of daily specials. Breakfast potatoes are starchy and under-seasoned and omelets should probably be bursting with fillings for the steep price of +$10; they ain't.
Coffee drinks are truly outstanding and the 'Spoon's saving grace. Their blonde mocha is definitely worth consuming all that sugar-- heck yeah!-- and this establishment gets extra points for ambiance. Come during spring and summer months to enjoy their attractive patio filled with lush, blossoming flowers, lovely vines, the shade of leafy trees, and the company of cute birds hunting for leftovers.
Service, too, is solid, with knowledgeable staffers eager to make recommendations and accomodate requests and most special dietary needs. Plenty of vegetarian and vegan options for this funky lil' midwestern college town.
Best to go early, like right at opening before the crowds and snag an outdoor table and enjoy the quiet sunrise. Also, the attention from our waitress was nice, not neglected but not hovered over.
The coffee is good and it being fair trade makes it even better. Its also nice to find a local restaurant that makes vegetarian faire thats not just a second thought. I ordered the runcible egg round with mushrooms, which is extremely satisfying, and a plain pancake, which was a little pricy, but it tasted homemade and not from an instant mix.
This place is definitely worth waking up a little earlier to grab breakfast to start your day.
Bloomington. Saturday morning. Roll out of bed later than expected. Hunger begins. The hunger for coffee that is. As I don't live down here... I really don't know where to go for a locally roasted cuppa, or if there really is a local roaster.
Behold, Runcible Spoon roasts their own coffee in house! And, it's single origin! That folks was a surprise. Rarely do you find a breakfast / brunch nook like this doin' batch coffee. As soon as I found out I knew I had to lower my expectations of brewing methods because I couldn't imagine it being single cup brewing in the way they're slammed for food -- and it's Graduation weekend.
So, yes, food -- better even. Now, we noticed they had a limited menu for it being Graduation weekend, and I dig anytime a business demands that there are not any substitutes (not just because it's busy but rather because the kitchen has their way).
For a brief blip I was woo-ed by the idea of "lox benedict." Then, I didn't waiver from the lox plate that I intended on. Their Lox is served in the simple, traditional smoke fish plate way: a boat load of smoked salmon here (way more than I expected -- a whole butterflied fillet), tomatoes, onions, capers, lemon, side of cream cheese and a bagel. Goodness, I love assembling this thing.
Now, I gotta say... what brought us in the door was "turkish coffee!" in a review I read. Alas, b/c of Graduation weekend they didn't make it. I'll be back for this as it was a turkish coffee house that got me into the zany bean.
Tablemate had an omelette and the portion seemed to be just right, and there were no complaints.
Albeit an old house that's entirely adorable and wonderfully crammed, there are outlets to charge your phone / device if need be.
The first time I ever ate at The Runcible Spoon was special. I was grossly hung over and the biscuits and gravy worked like some sort of Marvel comic book healing factor. It was magical.
So a few days ago I drank myself into a stupor while contemplating life and women and who actually knows what with my roommate. The next morning I needed some healing. Â
I stumbled through the front door, alone, and found a small table with a sturdy looking chair and fell into it. Perfect. Now for some coffee and a blind stab at a menu that has never disappointed me. Café Mocha with whipped chocolate milk? Sounds perfect, and it was.
Piping hot with just a subtle hint of sugar and a sneaky chocolate heaviness that made for one awfully good cup of coffee. Lots of thick foam on top warning you that too large a sip could probably burn your entire mouth and ruin breakfast.
Then for sustenance I went big. Corned beef hash on top of smashed potatoes with two eggs sunny side up and toast. Never outside of a Rueben have I ordered corned beef. So I waited a bit and enjoyed my coffee and the four or five glasses of water I apparently drank at a somewhat alarming rate.
Runcible Spoon you did it again. It was all hot and the eggs were cooked perfectly. The salty corned beef meshed perfectly between unseasoned eggs and chunky mashed potato. The toast was there ready to be smothered in thick grape jelly and the whole time I could feel my body thanking me. After a powerful thirty minutes or so I was stuffed. I'd clumsily shoveled half the plate and more into my mouth and I was ready for a nap. I needed a nap.
Would I do this again? Hell yes. I'd do it without the hangover even. I love the breakfast and the coffee here. Everytime. Oh... and this was all less than ten dollars.
Alright, Goddamnit, I'm fucking sick of this shithole.
The waitstaff was trained by What About Bob and the whole place looks like a regular billy goat brothel.
I came here on Wednesday around 1pm and it was like a band of drunken pre-teens had taken command of the place. Â Unfortunately, that's par for the course at this mistake of a restaurant. Â The customers were quite literally borrowing hot sauce, silverware and chairs from each other's tables because the wait staff could not be found. Â The basement was "closed," but there was a crowd of unacknowledged customers awkwardly standing between the tables of the upstairs dining area as we ate, just waiting for a staff member to come out and greet them. Â The waters on every table were empty and there weren't enough chairs to go around. Â Customers were fighting about the rationing issue and the staff (when we caught glimpses of them) looked like lost, wet sheep. Â Who's running this place? Â
The problem? Â IT'S LIKE THIS EVERY TIME.
I've ridden this crappy catastrafuck of a culinary carousel for the last time.
Never again.
I'll keep my review simple, to echo the well-executed simplicity of the restaurant itself.
This place has charm and a made-from-scratch appeal with its surroundings and food. Bookshelves adorn the walls and its dark wood interior make you feel like you're at grandpa's house.. :-)
Mmmm.. I chose the peanut soup and a grilled spinach and cheese sandwich.. Great comfort food dishes.. I followed that up by some loose leaf green tea, brought out in a teapot which made a couple mugs worth. We were able to not only enjoy our food there, but also just relax and read there, because the atmosphere lends itself to kicking back a bit. Always nice, especially during a stressful week (all you IUers). Savor a bit of home!
the foods good but what i love about this place is the ambiance. Â Perfect for inbetween classes, grab a book off the shelf, pound the coffee (that they roast in house, or at least used to), and then head to the bathroom for a piss, but don't miss the fishies in the bath tub!!
Food is good too but I'm not writing home about anything.
I'll echo the landmark status of the Spoon. Â
the breakfast here is quite good, even if you go simply for the bacon and NOTHING else.
However, they lose a star because:
poor. service.
I know. I know, it's college kids. Â
But, damn. Come on now! Â It's not like the Spoon is cheap! Â Be nice to me!
Also, eat the eggs benedict.
If it's any indication, after seeing photos of a wedding that took place in a Denny's, I realized that I would totally get married at the Spoon.
I cannot say enough about this place. Start with the owners - Matt and Regan are the nicest, most wonderful people in the world. They gave me a beautiful send-off when I (finally) graduated from college, complete with free-flowing wine and champagne.
The ambiance? Plants, books, and local art everywhere. Comfortable chairs. Dark corners to tuck yourself into when you (like me) forgot to write a paper until the last minute and need to spend four hours being fueled by coffee and home fries while frantically banging away at the keys and silently cursing that class you shouldn't have taken.
The coffee is likely laced with something as I just can't stop drinking it. I live in coffee country (the Pacific Northwest) and I still con my friends into sending me a custom blend of Viennese Roast and Blonde Mexican from the Spoon.
The home fries and vegetables are cheap, tasty, and HUGELY portioned. Everything is delicious, everyone is welcome, and I yearn to transplant it from Bloomington to Portland.
Go in, hug Matt and Regan, and say it's from Petra.
The Runcible Spoon is your best bet for breakfast in Bloomington if...
1) You love coffee and recognize the value of free, constant refills of the Spoon's own smooth, dark roasted java without having to ask...
2) You prefer egg whites to egg beaters
3) You experience separation anxiety when breakfasting without your laptop: The Spoon has super fast (and free) WIFI with several outlets to charge your little buddy
4) You like your food simple, fresh, organic, and unprocessed.
1 problem:
I'm a bit of a germ-a-phobe, and the bathroom leaves something to be desired...co-ed lavs are rarely a good idea.
Great food most of the time. What I really love is the atmosphere. It's like sitting in your living room. It's a great place to go for a late lunch and read. The coffee is good, too.
Brunch buffet is hit or miss. Sometimes the food sits a little too long.
Make sure you go into the bathroom on the main floor. The bathtub is filled with fish! Don't forget to turn off the lights!
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