Black Walnut Cafe-Rice Village

10/13/09

great gelatto!!

by checkerhead at Citysearch

been to this location twice, both times during off peak hours, which makes it okay, as I can see where seating might be a problem during peak times......i've only had their breakfast tacos and desserts which are both decent.....it's a great place to grab a snack and catch up with friends! their gelatto with the vanilla wafers is the best!! would go there just for that!

• Pros: cute place to meet up during off peak hours
• Cons: parking

06/30/09

Cute place for lunch/breakfast

by lattelady at Citysearch

I waited tables for 4 years while in college, so I can usually tell right away when service is going to be awesome or stink... so generally I like to avoid casual restaurants with a wait staff and go to places like BW Cafe where you don't have to deal with a waiter. It's much easier when you are dining with a group too!

The food here is great, and there is a variety of choices. The coffee and desserts are good too. Parking can be a pain, but it's in Rice Village, so you have to go there knowing that parking stinks. I would park at Rice University and walk 3 blocks! :)

• Pros: food, atmosphere, location, wifi, patio

03/09/09

Great place for conversation and food

by lon7 at Citysearch

Has a nice community atmosphere. good for coffee and a sandwich. Though not for fine dining, things are quite enjoyable, if you are looking for a good place for you and friends. Be open minded.

12/05/08

A Little Disappointing

by AmyD808 at Citysearch

We go to BW once in awhile for breakfast or lunch. We were disappointed during our recent visit. The service is not what it used to be. I think we distracted him from talking to his friend. Our food took over 20 minutes to come out even though it was not busy. My chicken sandwich was barely warm. My friends order was made with items she had requested to be left off. It seems the food is mediocre compared to the past. The protein portions are almost non-existent for what you are paying. I suggest going somewhere else for brunch or lunch and coming back to enjoy some gelato and the patio.

• Pros: Patio, Hours
• Cons: Service, Food Portion and Quality

11/21/08

Great quite place for a light dinner or even brunch!

by Rachel45 at Citysearch

There are no servers, you serve yourself... drinks / napkins etc... so I don't know how you could have bad service unless you are too lazy to pick up your food or refill your drink. I've tried several items on the menu and they have all been GREAT! The "manager" or whoever that guy in a tie is even came up to us to help us choose things from the menu or answer any pairing questions we might have had. I haven't tried their desserts yet but the gelato is on the top of my list...

Everyone I have taken here has loved it! HIGHLY recommended!

• Pros: patio seating, cozy couches, wifi, good food

08/20/08

Great food all the time

by divacirce at Citysearch

This place has really great food and is consistent with it! I have never had something from here I did not like. The service here is not great but the food definitely makes up for it. The menu is diverse and the prices are perfect for the quality of food you get. One of the best places to eat in the area!

• Pros: Great food, free wireless internet
• Cons: You have to get your own food

07/30/08

Great all-around restaurant

by JanetRichardson at Citysearch

I recently visited bw cafe and it was such a great experience. i was 'served' (there isn't table service) by a college aged kid with brown hair (ask for him!) and he knew the menu back and front, especially the alcoholic side of things :o) anyway, he suggested a great beer to pair with my food (st. arnolds with the chicken sandwich), and even convinced me and my boyfriend to get an appetizer (the crab mushrooms), which were also delicious! the food came out quickly given that the place was packed, and we will definately be coming back here soon! The atmosphere is great, and free parking! can't beat that in the village.

• Pros: Pretty decor, great service, wonderful food
• Cons: very busy, garage parking

06/07/08

decent food, decent price

by cmk1126 at Citysearch

I dig their Anderson't 'Bout Time. They're a little skimpy on the bird, but it has a nice flavor. Sometimes the veggies aren't what they should be. Nonetheless, I'd recommend this for a casual bite.

04/08/08

Horrible service and even worse food!!!

by twarre at Citysearch

This place has defintely gone DOWNHILL. If I wasn't so disgusted and eager to leave, I would have taken the time to ask for a full refund. My boyfriend and I visited on Sunday, 4/7 and ordered the southwest chicken eggrolls and a burger. First, we waited for over 15 minutes even though the place was dead (rightfully so!) with our buzzer which NEVER went off....Only to walk up to the counter to ask where our food was. Once we got the food, the eggrolls had a sauce that I could SWEAR tasted just like Hormel chili. The most food on that plate was the bed of lettuce they were served on. The burger was charred to black and inedible. Save your money and your time and avoid this place at all costs!!!

• Pros: None
• Cons: Bad food, bad service

01/28/08

Long lines with little seating

by jancooks at Citysearch

A few of my coworkers go here every once and a while so one day I tagged along. After working our way through the slow moving line we had to wait 20 minutes before a table was available. The race was on. It was like trying to get a parking spot at a ball game. Once we got the table we found that we had to move to let people by every couple of minutes and we were so close to the tables around us that we could almost taste their food. My coworkers said that it was always like that. We decided we would only go back if we were hungry at 3:30 in the afternoon.