Cafe Belle Epoque - Saint Joseph

We discovered Cafe Belle Époque on a Friday evening, and it turned out to be one of the best finds we've had in St. Joe for a while. We started with the hummus appetizer, then enjoyed Sid's roast beef and the three cheese mac and cheese, both paired with arugula side salads. For dessert, we indulged in the chocolate pecan pie topped with boozy whipped cream. Everything was simply amazing! The service was prompt and incredibly welcoming. We will definitely return!

The food was absolutely incredible! The iced tea was delightful, and the shepherd's pie was outstanding. At first, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy it, but I was completely mistaken. If I ever find myself in Missouri again, I would definitely return!

Now, onto the less favorable aspects. Although the restaurant has a vegan menu, I found it odd when I asked for coffee and was told they don't offer any plant-based milk options. In 2022, it's quite common for even non-vegans to prefer plant milk in their coffee, making it surprising to find a place that only serves dairy. As for the food, we tried the vegan shepherd's pie and the vegan curry, alongside split pea soup and hummus with pita. Unfortunately, I had to send the shepherd's pie back because it was cold in the center. The split pea soup was enjoyable, and the curry was decent, but the rice served with it was dry, and the pita with the hummus was cold, which was a letdown. Overall, the food just didn't quite hit the mark for us. It might be because we come from an area with a wide variety of vegan options, but despite arriving hungry, we ended up finishing less than half of what we ordered. As someone who typically finishes their plate, I didn't even feel it was worth asking for a box to take leftovers back to our Airbnb. In summary: the staff and atmosphere were excellent, but the vegan food needs improvement, and it would be great if they could offer plant-based milk for coffee.

Service: Dine in Meal Type: Lunch Price per person: $20–30 Food Rating: 2 Service Rating: 4 Atmosphere Rating: 5

This cafe offers delicious, healthy dishes made with fresh ingredients. The sweet tea and pea soup are truly exceptional. If you know, you know—there’s a real salad on the menu! With farm-fresh options and plenty of vegetarian choices, this place is a gem. Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5.