Isaac's Cafe

We went for a long walk and came back for some ice cream! A little bit costly but well worth it!

Sandwiches, wraps, and cold sides for lunch. A decent selection given the small space, with vegan options available. Reasonably priced, quick and polite service, and a beautiful, clean dining room. No reason to pack a lunch for this trip.

I would have given them five stars 4 years ago. I am giving it 4 stars only because I think it is a place that would appeal to most people. If I were judging just for myself I would give it 3 stars.

When the trolls came in I began to notice some changes in offerings at the cafe. They had to. I get that. But I was less drawn to specials and began turning away from the cafe more often. Of course they closed for the pandemic and then reopened with a limited menu. Now they are offering more items, with a balance of offerings that please kids and adults, meat eaters and vegans. I find the prices reasonable - for a place that serves high-quality real food it is very reasonably priced. The prices compare to those charged by most food trucks; they are certainly higher than McDonalds. The outdoor seating is located in a beautiful setting. I wasn't clear yesterday on whether there is indoor seating at this point. Food - I miss the ham sandwiches for adults but one can order a ham sandwich and peel off the Kraft single. I have a feeling I will never again have their wonderful bean soup with high quality ham. I miss the salads with citrus vinaigrette. I do not like the hummus - it has a harsh flavor and lacks the creaminess of a good hummus. I will not order it again. There are some sandwiches that sound wonderful until I see mayonnaise or mayonnaise-based dressings. The mayonnaise is vegan, which is great for vegans. Unfortunately it still tastes like mayonnaise. What about olive oil for the chickpea sandwich or salsa for the black bean wrap? Overall it is a really nice place, most people would like it, they have offerings for different groups and that is a really positive thing. The addition of vegan items not only accommodates vegans; it also shows the Arboretum's overall commitment to sustainability. But I miss that bean and ham soup, a soup I normally avoid. Isaac's was the only place that made this soup delicious.

Perfect!!!! Food was excellent!! Staff wonderful!! Chicken salad and the turkey sandwichs fresh!!!!!!!!! Yummy!!! Made a pot of coffee just 4 grandma!!!! So pleasant!!!

Fantastic food! Bernheim members also get a discount. Locally sourced. Made-to-order sandwiches. Only open for a few hours a day for lunch, but definitely worth a try!

Prepared with fresh ingredients
Some sourced from the forests edible garden
Homemade breads
Delicious foods made to order
They have ice cream too
Bernheim has a culture of excellence

The food is delicious and unique, the staff are friendly and helpful. I asked for a recipe from a sandwich I'd eaten on a previous visit and they printed it up and brought it out to me. How fabulous!!
I am sure the arboretum is great, I've only ever gone to eat at Isaac's.

The food is very good and locally sourced. The customer services, however, is not good. On my first visit, We had to wait and make an effort to get someone's attention to be served. Staff seem to go out of their way to avoid customers and not make eye contact. Staff stayed in the back and did not take the time to look for customers. On my second visit, they had changed their hours for the winter. the large sign posted at the entrance of the forest said they closed at 4pm when they actually closed at 3pm. They made no effort to communicate this change and took no responsibility for the confusion and contradiction when I was finally able to speak to someone. ( I made them aware that the hours were incorrect when you Google the cafe and the staff said "I can't control Google". I submitted the change in hours while I was standing there.) The rating would be lower if the food wasn't so good. They really need to improve their customer service.

Love their service and food. They always have some weekend specials. They also provide lemonade and sweet/non sweet tea. The chips and ice cream are yummy!! The most important of all is the price is very friendly. Plus the dining area is very clean.

Fresh food.. a little pricey as a ham sandwich was $8.99.