Red Cedar Cafe

Nice little caffe tucked away in a strip mall with all the expected caffeinated drinks including 5 different types of coffee blends. The pastry selection for a bakery was limited to a couple cheesecakes, muffins, and cookies which was pretty disappointing; at least the cranberry almond muffin was tasty. I also liked the quiet no hassle atmosphere of this place on a Sunday morning.

The coffee is good, waiters and waitresses are nice. But it’s so difficult to order a full-​size cake there. I was there to order a birthday cake for my friend. I have some questions about the details of different cakes, but nobody can answer. They don’t have the pictures of the cake, either. I left my cell phone number and name, and expected the baker to call me. Unfortunately, nobody called me. It’s so disappointing!

This place has changed so much since a year ago. RCC was originated by a MSU foods manager named Angie. She developed an awesome concept — more local, high quality, healthy and good tasting café/​coffee shop. It was recently bought by Tori and she (initially had some difficulty maintaining the concept). She finally figured it out, this place is running well, great service, still wonderful food. They are putting out quick, great, yummy food. I would go back here all the time. Wonderful and friendly staff. Have to try their CHEESCAKES.

I love coming here for coffee on the go but when I have gotten a bite to eat here it was not very good. Food was scarce, there was lots of food just minimal choices. It seemed like I could get more at a drive through than here

This is my go-​to place for studying. From open to close it’s a nice, quiet environment — except for lunch time from around 11am-​1pm. But that’s normal for a café.
They’ve changed management and I think it’s for the better. I’ve only tried the frittatas, only available in the morning hours, and the cheesecakes they have to the side of the register. The cheesecakes are SO good. Maybe I’m bias because I love cheesecake. Maybe try for yourself ;)
Overall a great place, great environment, and the staff are SO friendly. Always giving recommendations, but not being too pushy. Will be coming back frequently for the upcoming school year!

I now work here six days a week with the simple goal of making this into the greatest café in Michigan. I believe that a good restaurant should offer a service to the community that it is within. I only hope that a customer will never leave dissatisfied. I will personally do anything I can to be sure that you get the best experience Red Cedar Café can offer. If you are ever dissatisfied with your food or drink, send it back and we’ll make you something to hopefully put a smile on your face.

Sad sad sad. We were looking for a decent breakfast on that side of East Lansing on a Sunday morning. Not here.
Nice staff. Not much more food offerings on the menu than you can get at a fast food joint!
Could not tell you the last time the floors were vacuumed. Woman’s restroom had faucet crusted with minerals. All other surfaces hadn’t been touched in quite a while.
It IS under new management and it is apparent that there is little care being given to the place. No customers in the place. Sad sad sad.

Is Angie Anderson still the owner of the Red Cedar Café? RCC has always been a busy place with good food and good service. We went there today. It was terrible. Just awful. The employee taking orders was not helpful. We asked what the soups they had today. We were told to read the board. Could not get them to just tell us. Ordered clam chowder. Nothing like any clam chowder we have ever seen. It was less than satisfactory — whatever it was. In addition to the soup we ordered a mini quiche. Very disappointing. It was barely warm, with stringy unmelted cheese. Couldn’t finish either. We came in over the lunch hour and were amazed to find the place empty. We now assume it is the sharp change in service and food quality going from very good to unacceptable that explains no customers over the lunch hour.

My boyfriend and I stopped in while in the area and we were greeted with a friendly welcome. The atmosphere didn’t seem cozy like I’d hope for in a café, but it was clean and had plenty of seating. I ordered an Oreo Cheesecake which was very tasty, however when my boyfriend ordered a cup of coffee it was ice cold! When mentioned to the worker, he immediately brewed a new pot, and my boyfriend did end up enjoying the coffee.
One thing I would suggest is to have music! We could clearly hear others conversations across the room and when no one in the café was talking there was an awkward silence hanging in the air.

Stopped in for a quick bite after an early morning haircut, and it’s quiet and pleasant. The coffee is delicious and fresh, and my frittata was warm and comforting. Simple and tasty. I’d like to come back and try their baked goods (which look fabulous) and their afternoon tea.

I really like the sandwiches here but for how expensive they are I don’t think they are worth it. The ingredients are very fresh, you can tell right away, but it’s still a bit too pricey for a college budget. The atmosphere is really nice though. It’s a cute little place with good seating and is ideal for daytime.

I really love Red Cedar Café for a boat load of reasons and dislike one thing that happens to be super noticeable that I’ll get to later.
The beverage and food options for both breakfast and lunch emphasize healthier choices — and they taste so delicious and fresh. For a morning buzz, I recommend their cinnamon latte. It’s the perfect balance between sweet and espresso. I usually opt for the Chipotle Chicken sandwich (banana for a side, just another reason I love RDC) for lunch. It’s filling but you won’t feel too full or fat afterward. It’s like the perfect non-​salad lunch and the chipotle aioli sauce is the diggity.
Other Unilocalers have mentioned somewhat negative impressions of the service/​staff but I’ve always been greeted, helped with a smile, and been conversed with. I feel like I get a more personalized experience here than other local coffee houses. There is usually only one or two people taking the orders and preparing the food and they seem to be doing a great job handling it all.
My only complaint that weighs on my mind usually on my way out of RDC is the cost. Café beverages are definitely reasonable but the food options, as quality and worth it as they may be, are a bit high for what I consider non-​sit down restaurant fare. With a drink, it’s about a $ 10 lunch. It’s difficult for me to justify spending that every workday when I can pack a lunch for at least half the price BUT when I need a little pep in my step, I’ll step on over to RDC.

From the previous reviews I was kind of excited to check this place out because it looked promising. It’s decent, nice vibe. Nothing too special. The food is decent, a tad bit over priced. Friendly staff. The majority of the customers are elderly. Although there are college students dispersed among the lunch time crowed. Not bad first time experience but most likely wouldn’t come back again.

This place is great! The service is always exceptional and the waitstaff/​counter is incredibly friendly. They also have free samples of their bakery items and once had a deal where if you showed them your student ID, you’d get a free cookie. The sandwiches are the perfect portions for lunch and I really like the pasta salad. Great coffee too and ample space to work for a few hours in the afternoon.

I love the Chai here. I’m pretty sure everyone knows it because I shout it from the highest hill… As a former Starbucks barista\manager I enjoyed their chai. Then I found this East Lansing family owned gem. I come here for the Chai and the fresh baked muffins. That is about it. I tried one of their salads, not worth mentioning. If you don’t eat here you aren’t missing much. The one thing I can say is consistent is the best Chai Latte I’ve ever had and terrible service. The service has NEVER been good. When I think coffee house I think great conversations and employees who are energetic (let’s face it they have a shift wide access to coffee) and eager to share what they know.
I’ve never been welcomed, thanked or even anything more than, «What did you want to order.» They are usually talking among themselves or prepping. I ALWAYS have to remind them that I purchased a muffin as well. I recommend Red Cedar Café if you want a good cup O’ Joe or chai latte and a muffin and want a quite place with free wifi. If you are looking for energy and friendly conversation… your better off going to the Starbucks drive thru up the road.
Cheerio!

Why do I love this place?
1. They always have a wide selection of brewed coffee — great flavors (highlander grog! toasted coconut?!) and locally sourced.
2. Free things sometimes! Definitely sign up to get their texts. I got a free, and absolutely perfect, peanutbutter blossom cookie today (you know, the kind with the hershey’s kiss in the middle) because I was on their text list. Okay!
3. Very very friendly service. Everyone I talk to there is very helpful and just nice to talk to.
Great local place — support it and you will be happy!

What a great, great find in East Lansing! I just love local café’s that put out amazing food. They are friendly as you will find, and the menu is always getting updated with some cool artisan items. I think the owner is generally there, which is also cool because you can tell everyone cares. They have a huge selection of baked good also. Give this place a chance & support a wonderful local place!

I’ve been here maybe 2-​dozen times over the last year. I myself have been a Barista in similar family owned café’s.
I started frequenting Red Cedar Café in September after ‘Coffee & Friends Café’ closed, because it was a convenient and locally owned option for me at that point in time. Although, I’d been there many times before that.
They have good little deserts like Cheesecake and Pumpkin Rolls but, my primary interest is in their coffee.
There coffee is really typical for the area. If you order a plain latte (like I usually do) what you get is very hit and miss. Only one Barista there, I forget his name, makes me consistently good latte’s. The girls who work there, including the manager, do not typically make the latte foam correctly, usually they pour my latte too hot, with inconsistent foam that they then usually need to spoon onto my drink. In my opinion, as someone who is/​has been a Barista this is just unacceptable for a Latte or a Mocha. It’s fine in a cappuccino which is prominently dry foam, but not what I want in my Latte.
Furthermore, The Baristas that do work here are not as friendly or helpful as you’ll find elsewhere. Today for example, I walked into the store where I encountered a barista while walking in, who then, having seen me, went in back with the other barista to help a man from MSU unload empty boxes instead of waiting on me and the three people in line behind me. I eventually left the front of the line and left the café, with no coffee in hand. I can not explain enough how much that bothered me. I’ll probably be giving Chapelure a try next time.

When I moved out here from the Seattle Area I was on the look out for good pastries, specifically scones. I had a lot of fails until I found this place. They make the best scones locally AND as a bonus (for me) they also make the best sugar cookies. The latte’s are good but I will add that it depends on who’s making it. Some get the foam right, others don’t.
The Red Cedar Café has become my favorite morning place.

Wonderful café. They’ve got killer brewed coffee (Highlander Grog… so yummy, I bought myself a bag of beans!), super tasty lemon bars, and oatmeal that I dream about.
seriously. dream. about.
The staff is terrific. The owners are very friendly and around regularly. Plus, they’ll keep a frequency card on file for you. I don’t know about you, but I have too many of those things to keep track of and their system means it’s always there when I need it and isn’t taking up space in my bag.
Go here. It’s good. :)