Cafe Alley

Reviews

• C M.

  star star star star star 17 July 2026

  Downtown restaurant located near the train depot, plenty of parking. There was a wait but the hostess took our number so when our table was ready we were notified. The food is worth the wait, waitstaff was prompt and welcoming; our server Angela was outstanding.
  
  Wife had the blackened tilapia with sauté green beans and house salad. I had the chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and sauté green beans.  
  Salad was crisp and delicious. The tilapia was good, but a little dry, sauté green beans - outstanding. My chicken fried was delicious not overcooked, mashed potatoes was our favorite; homemade and creamy and the jalapeño gravy was delicious with kick of spice. The menu is a little pricy but we didn't mind, we will be back to try something new.

• Jenn M.

  star star star star star_border 14 July 2026

  If you're on your way to Dallas and don't mind paying slightly above average restaurant prices, you definitely need to check out Cafe Alley. It's located in Ardmore, just halfway between OKC and Ft. Worth, and makes for a perfect pit stop. Yelp's address may take you to a random area in Ardmore, so Google Cafe Alley's address on 126 A. St. NE and you should get there okay.
  
  I got the Cherry Mustard Glazed Pork Chop, despite not liking cherries, because I was wanting something seared without paying steak prices. I'm glad I didn't let my distaste for cherries stop me either because everything about that pork chop was delicious. It was cooked perfectly and the cherry mustard glaze added a nice sweet and spicy tang that had me snarfing the dish down in record time. My coworker ordered the Chicken Parmesan and he noted that the chicken was fried nicely, though he wasn't a fan of the sides that came with the chicken. The bread in particular looked especially dry, like it came from the butt slices of the loaf.
  
  We ended our meal with the carrot cake and the peanut butter deluxe and, man alive, that carrot cake alone was worth sitting through day-long work seminars in Dallas. Our server told us the cake was made in house and pointed at the guy in charge of it. I would have shook that man's hands if he weren't already talking to someone else and I didn't have crippling anxiety issues. Seriously, if you're not wanting to stop by for a sit-down meal, do yourself a favor and at least get a carrot cake to-go. It's big enough for two, but so good you may just want to keep it for yourself. The peanut butter deluxe was fine, if a bit too heavy in its peanut buttery-ness. We should have gathered as much from the name, so maybe it was our fault for picking it.
  
  Overall - easy recommendation assuming you have the time. If you do, you'll get good food, great service, and even better dessert choices. If you don't have the time, just get the carrot cake to go and ride your way down to Dallas on a sugar high.

• Matt M.

  star star star star star 7 July 2026

  What a pleasant outing in Carter County!
  
  We were in Ardmore yesterday on business, and our client (an Ardmore native) wanted to go out for lunch, right?  Well, we live in  Oklahoma City and had no earthly idea where to take her.
  
  She piped up and said, "Trust me. I know where we'll go. You'll love this place, honey."
  
  The facade of this place is nothing to write home about. Seriously. (It's in a fairly grimy part of town, and used to be an abattoir back in the day. In other words, don't expect a glamorous outside appearance.)
  
  The interior is warm and inviting, and it was PACKED TO THE RAFTERS.  (It was abundantly clear that this is the "hopping spot" in Ardmore, Oklahoma.)
  
  My husband and I both ordered the Santa Fe Chicken at our client's suggestion, and we're very glad we did.
  
  Our client had the Quiche of the Day and a cup of soup, and we all sampled from each other's plates.
  
  All of it was good, but I did find the sweet potato fries to be a bit bland, and I had to wonder if they might be out of a bag. The warm, spiced marshmallow dip that was served with my sweet potato fries was very good, but a bit sweet for my tastes. (Next time I drop in, I'll go for the Jalapeño Gravy, I think. That sounded really good.)
  
  For dessert? I ordered the Carrot Cake -- a rich, decadent, massive thing. (Don't order this if you're alone, else you'll have to take it home.) It's topped with a caramel sauce, and is unbelievably rich.
  
  Hubs had the Buttermilk Pie (a delicious Southern favorite!), and our client had this rich, dark chocolate pudding ladled over a pastry crust (just INSANELY GOOD).
  
  Our server, Angela, was sweet and chatty, but not overly so.
  
  Our food came out promptly, and our overall tab was exceptionally modest given how much freaking food we'd just snarfed down.
  
  The website's not working, and I can see how that could really hurt a restaurant. (I found it a tad frustrating, as I had tried to check out the menu and hours prior to leaving our client's home.)
  
  All in all, though? Just superb.
  
  Highest recommendation.

• Linda M.

  star star star star star 6 July 2026

  I write reviews when I feel strongly about a restaurant, positive or negative, because we travel all over the United States and we rely on information others give us!
  This little restaurant is a destination restaurant!! It is by far some of the finest food we have eaten in a long time!! Everything is homemade and the owner cuts his own meat and fish!!
  My husband had the ham quiche and I had the Southern Burger with homemade pimento cheese and a fried green tomato! Both dishes were outstanding! The hamburger has ground brisket in it and it eats moist and cooked perfectly!!
  Two things made our visit even more outstanding, that was our waitress LaCretia and the carrot cake!!
  She gave the best service and wonderful conversation!! We loved her!!
  The carrot cake was out of this world! I have never had better!!
  All in all, this was one of the best meals we've had and the building is darling!!
  
  You must try this gem of a place!! You will not be sorry!!

• Kimberly M.

  star star star star star_border 23 June 2026

  This is a great place to eat no matter if you're there for personal or business reasons. This was my first time, so as someone that's not from the area and unaware of the logistics of the building - I was ignorant on how to find the right the door.  There wasn't any clear signage for the correct entrance so I walked around the building until I found it.  Once inside, you'll have to walk through the building to get to the actual entrance of the inner restaurant.  
  
  I ordered some chips and queso that I ended up letting my client eat as they were shining from the grease. I asked the food server if she had any chips that weren't greasy.  I used to work at a restaurant and our chips got greasy when they were in for too long so we used to dump the shiny ones and only strive to deliver the good chips. The food server gave me a dumbfounded look when I asked for some chips that were less greasy.  She said, "Well, that's how we make them every time."  There was no offer to make them better or possibly go back to the kitchen for a better batch - just 'deal with it that's how we make them'.
  
  I let it go.  It wasn't a big deal.  My client enjoyed the chips and I wasn't going to judge the whole experience from one basket of chips or a server who didn't understand what I was asking for.  I will say our entrees were really good and we even ordered dessert.  Their menu is full of great options - all tasty and worth the visit.
  
  The only other thing I'll say is that I asked the server to see the owner or manager while I was there and she promised me they'd stop by - but they never did.
  
  There is room for better customer service here but the food is great.