Colossal Café

One of the best café in Twin cities I’ve ever been!
I would score this café as;
–Atmosphere of the restaurant: 5
–Surroundings environment: 5
–Quality of the food: 5
–Cost performance: 5
My mom and I came here for late lunch together, both of us wanted to take pancakes so she took apple, walnut, and brie flappers, and I took the ordinal flappers to compare the taste of these two. We decided to take the short stuck (2 pancakes) since we usually cannot eat a lot, however our choice was not still right… The flappers were huge and thick so we couldn’t finish them, even the half of them! It was happy surprise when the waiter brought us the dishes. It was HUGE!!!
Also we were surprised at the texture and the taste of flappers. It was soft and fluffy. We liked it a lot! Of course the taste was very good. I liked the cinnamon flavor of the syrup with grazed apples and walnut. The combination of the taste with salty and sweet was really good. After tasting this special flappers, the ordinal flapper seemed boring a bit. But it was a great lunch.
The tip I should note for you is, bring back the flappers to home by box, the tastes and texture of the pancake goes bad quickly, and it’s very disappointing. So I would say you should order smaller size and finish it all!

Thank god I saw someone else comment on the ridiculousness of their seating policy. While I understand it’s not uncommon to ask people to wait until everyone has arrived, you typically see that in places that take reservations. We arrived at 8:15 and were asked if we were all here. We said 3 more would be coming in about 10 – 15 minutes. They told us we needed to wait and suggested we have a cup of coffee while we waited. They refused to even let us order until the rest got there. The rest of our party arrived 5 minutes later. They started to say we could squeeze ourselves into the smallest corner known to man. At the same time, one of the bigger tables opened up. I asked if we could take that one instead since there were 5 of us. The girl at the counter hesitated and proceeded to see if everyone in line behind us had a bigger party. She finally conceded and said okay. We sat down and were there from start to finish for one hour. The place was super busy and every single server walked by us and gave us the stink eye as though we were there for 3 hours. They actually sat people at the table with us which isn’t a huge deal, but it seemed they were put off by us from the beginning. The food was great, but the experience as a whole was negative. I am extremely low maintenance when it comes to restaurants and will tip 20% even with raw, bug ridden food and subpar service. That I’m even writing this speaks volumes.

Our favorite breakfast spot! Friendly and fast service serving up delicious food with healthy options (and some not-​so healthy options if you’re looking for some hearty comfort food). They make their bread fresh daily — the sourdough is AMAZING! Ask for the homemade rhubarb jam; it doesn’t disappoint! Great dog-​friendly seating out front as well!

I found the food a bit over-​priced, but the place is really cute and I loved the eggs I got!

Delicious breakfast sandwiches. I always get the bacon, cheddar, and egg on an amazingly buttery biscuit.

We went here two days in a row and were very impressed with the food. The flappers are great and the flappers with brie/​apple and walnuts are very good if perhaps coated with a bit too much cinnamon. The coffee is great as is the service, given it is quite busy there on the weekend. The omelet I had was top notch. The biscuits and gravy were quite good: they do a good job with the Italian sausage.

Such a cute spot! I really enjoy the bright light and the setup they have. We went on Sunday morning which is super busy but they do a great job getting people through quickly. The food comes out like lightening as well.
Had the cold press which was good. My friend got the brie and apple flapper which I tried a bite of and was delicious! The lovely combination of sweet, tart, and BRIE! I love brie (so I might be biased)!!
I got the fritata which was good but the eggs were a little over done. However, the homemade toast was delicious, I could have eaten that with their homemade jelly and would have been content. Tried a flapper and I personally like the flavor of these and the heft. But they don’t taste like a regular pancake if that’s what you’re looking for. The hash browns were also good — nice and crispy on the outside.
Overall an enjoyable experience and will be back.

Great place!!! Enjoyed breakfast on the patio with my husband. Amazing food. Spent way too much but was well worth it! Brie pancakes were delicious. Spinach and mushroom omelette was light and fluffy. Complimentary sparkling water.

I sought out this place after seeing the Diners, Drive-​ins, and Dives episodes with the Flappers with brie, apples and walnuts. First off, the restaurant has great ambiance (and great bathrooms)! They were extremely busy and they did a great job of directing line traffic and helping people find empty tables which was appreciated.
However, the food did not meet my expectations, especially for the price. The pancakes seemed dry and heavy and the apples seemed undercooked, the brie was very cold. It seemed like the dish was put together hastily. Disappointing! We also ordered the biscuits and gravy which came highly recommended by an employee. This dish had great flavor but came out cold :/​This place has a lot going for it and I wanted to like it, so maybe this was a fluke. I would perhaps go back again if I was in the area and try some other dishes, on a less busy day.

Reviewing the Colossal Café menu, I’d envisioned diner-​style American breakfast offerings. Once inside, without even sampling the food, I realized this was definitely many notches above that. It’s more of a friendly bistro, set in a cozy and intimate space. Not well-​suited for parties of more than 4 it seemed.
The line to place orders was about 10 parties deep. However, management has implemented an efficient system to keep business moving. Our wait time was minimal.
Not cheap eats, my typical cuisine of choice. However, the portions were BIG and the food was delicious. We ordered the Roasted Vegetable Omelet and Feta ($ 11) and Veggie Sandwich (Roasted red pepper, marinated eggplant, fresh mozzarella, garlic aioli and arugula on our homemade ciabatta bun). Everything was fresh and well-​seasoned. I was especially impressed with the Veggie Sandwich and the preparation of the eggplant, which were thin, well-​marinated cuts without that eggplanty bitterness. It was almost meat-​like.
To top off our experience, we took out so that we could chow down at the grassy area across the street on a gorgeous early summer day.

I always try to get the «signature» item when visiting a new place, so I ordered the Apple Walnut Brie flappers (short stack). They were pretty good though I could only eat one. I asked for the toppings on the side so I could take leftovers without them being soggy. Anyway, the toppings were full of whole, crunchy walnuts and so yummy. The flapper itself wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but still good.
If I were to go back I’d probably get a more traditional breakfast. The toast looked great and the biscuit sandwiches look killer.

This is easily one of the best places for breakfast in the Twin Cities. Lunch and dinner is pretty good too. All the food is made using high quality ingredients, creatively prepared. Portions are large. At breakfast, the cinnamon rolls are tasty and immense, omelets are flavorful, and flappers (pancakes, served with real maples syrup) are amazing. A single large pancake with fruit ($ 6.5) is quite the meal on its own. This year the restaurant won the City Pages’ «Best Neighborhood Café in St. Paul» and it deserved it. Usually it’s not too crowded but It can get a touch busy during weekend breakfast prime-​time, so larger groups may have trouble getting a seat.

This cute, quaint café was awesome. The seating was a bit hectic but it was a late Saturday, brunch time of day.
Like just about every restaurant and visit these days, I found it through Unilocal.I was in search of pancakes. And just any old pancakes won’t do for me. I can’t help it, I’m a foodie! The Apple Bree Walnut pancakes on the menu is what caught my eye and made me give this place a try.
While the pancake satisfied my desire for a gourmet flapjack, my daughters Bacon/​cream cheese/​green onion omelette was freaking awesome! And my other daughters chicken sandwich was… Lacking in gourmet goodness that was displayed in the pancake and omelette. But would be perfect for someone who likes just plain grilled chicken sandwich with not a lot of flavor. And it came with a side salad. Healthy.
Over all when I return to try this place again? Absolutely! They had some scrumptious looking cupcakes that I’m kicking myself for not getting one!

One word: Delicious! I love their pancakes here. I went with some friends and we sat outside since it was a warm day. It was an incredible experience. I love it.

Colossal Café was a great find after a hangover had me craving my ultimate breakfast comfort food: biscuits and gravy.
Colossal Café has a very unconventional way of seating people, where you stand in line, order, and then wait to be seated, with a random street sign in hand. It seems to work well for them, and it seemed to allow patrons to get seated faster and get out faster (aka, my butt in my chair faster – especially nice Sunday at 11:00AM!)
I noticed that they care about small details too, while waiting, they hand out samples of muffins, scones, et al and at each table they had fresh cut flowers.
The food was pleasant. Biscuits and gravy delivered on satisfying my post hangover brunch needs and was presented in a way that showed their care for details. While it was delicious, it did leave a bit to be desired. My drinking partner in crime ordered the flappers with walnuts and brie (look at the pictures and feel your heart skip a beat) and word to the wise: these are not for the faint of heart. Consider a flapper a pancake on steroids. A full stack is very overwhelming to even look at. On that note, the Cinnamon Roll… split it… maybe between three people even!
Solid brunch place.

What a gem of a find in St Anthony Park. We just moved from Seattle and have been spoiled with good eats from the Emerald City so we were on the prowl for good, local breakfast joint. Colossal was recommended by our Woodbury neighbor so we made the trek. Wow, delicious! Love that it’s in a small neighborhood, local diner, excellent scratch made dishes and coffee/​tea, good service & nice folks. They’re also very efficient at making the small space work. Worth the drive & wait. Fingers crossed, someday you’ll consider a Woodbury addition.

Very good breakfast! Biscuits and gravy were delicious! Friend enjoyed the omelette too.

Go for the biscuits! I enjoyed the sausage and biscuits with two eggs overeasy and it was delicious! The biscuits are so light and fluffy! Divine! The bison combo sausage and gravy was flavorful and creamy. The coffee was good and strong.
Super busy and not the biggest spot with nowhere to wait for your table. You wait in line and need everyone in your party to order at the counter in succession. Then wait. We scrunched 5 in together. Very tasty just keep your group to under 4.

I went here with three friends for a Sunday breakfast at about 10, figuring we would be early enough to miss the brunch crowd, but it was crowded enough where we still had to wait 5 minutes for our table after ordering. We ended up sharing a larger table with 2 other parties. No worries, but the venue itself is a little cramped.
The biscuits are fantastic. I usually skip out on biscuits because they can be too dry or over seasoned, but these were probably one of the best biscuits I’ve ever had. I also ordered a fruit parfait, which was topped with really fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.
A few points of interest:
— I tried to order an americano but they don’t have expresso, which I thought was odd.
— They do, however, have carbonated water on tap. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place that offers carbonated water.
— It can be an awkward mix between casual and sit-​down dining: you order at the counter, but certain things like extra silverware, to-​go boxes, etc, can only be accessed by asking an employee. Chances are if you’re passive and the staff is busy, you’ll wait a while trying to get something.
I definitely look forward to going again and exploring their lunch menu.

This is absolutely my favorite place in the world, for breakfast/​brunch! The Flappers aren’t for everyone – if you prefer light, fluffy pancakes, you may not care for these. They are voluminous! I’d recommend that you order no more than half of what you usually do, pancake-​wise.
I generally go one of two ways, when I get here (I’ve been many times, but, not as often as I’d like, because it’s an hour drive from where I live. That said, it’s worth every gallon of gas, and every minute of the trip!); I’ll go with the biscuits and gravy (the sausage is from a small producer, and has hints of tarragon, I am sure) with a side of hash browns, which are always PERFECTLY cooked, or the Colossal Breakfast with a side of a single Flapper. I generally order my eggs poached, and the kitchen staff does a fine job, with that! I’ve found that’s not always the case, at other restaurants.
The coffee is wonderfully strong! They provide lime wedges for water, if you choose that, instead. You might have to get used to the method of ordering/​waiting for a table. I find that their system works wonderfully, but, if you don’t, be willing to give it a shot. They are all about the food, here! And it shows!
The family that owns it is almost always represented, on staff. The Tenuccis are wonderful people, and if you have been here several times, they will recognize you, and acknowledge you!
Be sure to buy a loaf of their sourdough bread, when you order. Take it home, and be amazed at the texture and flavor of the sandwiches you take to work!

So I was in the Como Avenue restaurant this morning, and I ordered a breakfast sandwich with a flapper. When the server brought it she asked if she could get me anything else and I asked can I have some syrup? She said did you pay for the syrup? I said what? I told her usually they offer syrup and I say «sure». So I was surprised. It seems a little shabby to offer it on previous occasions and then ask me to pay for it now. A little bit of syrup in a little stainless steel serving cup doesn’t seem like it should be one dollar extra. May be the high price of coffee there could offset offering a little syrup gratis.

I took my country-​living dad and stepmom here on a Sunday morning for breakfast at 8:30am. They do not like crowds, but were impressed with how quickly the staff were able to get us a quiet corner table and our food despite the overall chaos. It’s probably better to come here later in the day or right when they open, but it seems that luck was on our side today.
All of us liked our food very much; he got the Colossal breakfast, I got the spinach mushroom omelette and she got a cinnamon roll. The coffee was really good and I liked that they had lime wedges available for the water. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful too! My parents told me that Colossal Café was a good choice, so I’ll be back again.

Yes, we all know this famously was featured on TV. And yes, we all rolled our eyes when someone asked us to try it. And yes, we all kicked ourselves for not getting there before television did.
I first was introduced to Colossal by a friend — we went to their South Minneapolis location to grab a breakfast sandwich, that she said quote «would change your LIFE.» Well it did. And it does, and it will forevermore.
The Minneapolis location is small and unassuming, and with only enough seats for the earlybirds, you can still find many people perched on the stoop outside noshing down their sammies. But this location in Saint Anthony Park looks nothing like it’s older brother — however the food is just as delicious and incredible.
What I love most about this Colossal Café, is the location. This neighborhood is one of the best weekend spots in St. Paul, if not the best. There has been, and always will be, a line out the door, but don’t let that deter you from the heavenly smells and tastes that await you. The line moves pretty quickly (if you know what you want!). You order at the front (and tip too) then they bring you to a table when one opens up, and the food is delivered according to your ‘street sign.‘
Everything is amazing, you can’t make a bad choice. My favorite is the egg, bacon, and cheddar breakfast sandwich on a buttermilk biscuit, that comes with a side of fruit for SIX DOLLARS. Its huge and you won’t even notice its gone because you stuffed your face so fast. The bacon is insane and crispy, the egg is fluffy and flavorful, the cheese is melty, and the biscuit is buttery and savory and just stupid good. I’d also go for the yeast pancakes — they are not fluffy like regular cakes, but dense and chewy, in the best way. A short stack will fill you up just fine. The biscuits and gravy are awesome, and the flips are just plain fun. The owner is often seen handing out mini muffins to people in line, or giving out giant cinnamon rolls to patrons who’ve waited long for a table. What sweet customer service.
Not wanting to wait for a table? Grab a seat at the bar, and a coffee cup while you wait (refills are your responsibility at the bev station). Show the wait staff some love before you leave, and take a walk in that beautiful neighborhood before you crash at home in a brunch-​coma.

Very excellent breakfast. I had the apple walnut Brie pancakes with a side of bacon and before all you mother f*ckers judge me it’s a cool brew coffee to drink not a stout at 9am. Lol it’s definitely an awesome breakfast spot.

Wow. Wow! This place has the biggest cinnamon rolls I’ve ever seen. It’s the size of a cake! I got the omlet, wife got a breakfast sammich. Both were phenomenal, colossal sized portions and very quickly brought out. Happy bellah. Full bellah. It got in mah bellah.

This is my go-​to spot for breakfast/​brunch. Portions are great. Prices fit the portions. Everything is made from scratch… amen! The pancakes (flappers) are a MUST try! They’re unlike any kind you’ve had before. Come with an empty stomach, word of warning.

Breakfast is way better!
Update to my previous review — I like the breakfasts much better than lunch. Our first attempt at breakfast was scrapped because it was not warm outside and the line was out the door.
Next attempt was successful. I think you have to go early if you want a seat and not wait. By early I mean, we got there around 7:15 on a Saturday and by the time we left an hour later, line out the door.
I got the egg, sausage and cheese sandwich on a biscuit. I now like biscuits. My whole world has changed with this knowledge. The sandwich was great — biscuit was hearty, crunchy on the outside and soft inside. The sausage was tasty — lots of fresh tasting ingredients with a strong taste of sage.
My husband had a special omelette which he enjoyed. If I can get up early again, we’ll check it out.

After seeing a couple of DDD videos on this place, I decided to give it a try. After turning onto Cleveland, I saw it was backed up and remembered that today is the start of the fair. I was concerned that this place being so close to the fair grounds, it might be a bit busy. I was already half way there, so I was not interested in turning back.
I got there and there was plenty of street parking, so I lucked out. I went in and there was plenty of available tables and spots at the counter. I ordered and paid for my breakfast at the register. Strange, but it works. Never been to a breakfast place and ordered and pay for a meal before it’s cooked.
I ordered a standard sausage, hash browns, toast and 2 OE eggs with coffee. I grabbed a paper and sat at the counter. The counter has bar stools and large seats. The counter is very large. I am gonna say 36 inches deep. No cushion on the stools, so not very comfortable. The coffee and water are self serve. Once you order and pay, they give you a cup for your coffee and if requested a glass for water.
My order was prepared very quickly and served. If it was busier, I wonder how they can remember who ordered what. The cashier did not ask my name. Maybe they do when it gets busier. I would guess if you are going to sit outside, you should probably mention that to the cashier when placing your order.
The eggs were cooked perfectly. The hash browns were to. The toast was buttered and grilled on one side only. Strange eating toast being toasted on one side and soft on the other. It was good toast and thick to. Probably ½ inch thick. Not quite as thick as Texas Toast, but close. Next time, I will ask that it be toasted on both sides. The sausage was disappointing. Decent size. Flavorful, but not a flavor I was expecting for breakfast sausage. Not sure what the flavor was that I did not like. I was going to ask, but forgot. Their online menu does not describe it either. It was also dry. Not sure if they were cooked too long, too lean of pork or cooked earlier and reheated. Whatever the problem, they need to correct that.
The plate was too small for this amount of food. It was an oblong plate. About 10 X 7 inches. The hash browns nearly covered the plate with the patties, eggs and toast on top. I don’t mind eggs being on top of hash browns, but not the toast and sausage too. Either get larger plates or serve the toast and meat on a separate plate.
I saw the cinnamon rolls in the bakery counter when I walked in. I was tempted to get one, but I knew it was way more than I could eat. Especially if I also got a full breakfast. I saw the cashier wrap one up for a to go order and she could barely fit the roll in a regular size sandwich bag. Looked delicious, but meant to be split between at least 2 people.

Best brunch spot in the Twin Cities! This is how you are successful as a restaraunts! Ticket times 12 – 15 minutes and then food comes out in 10 minutes!!! Loyal customers for 3+ years who always leave happy!

This has been my favorite restaurant for the summer. The staff are very helpful and they even gave me some extra granola (excellent homemade) in my yogurt. Also it’s a little removed from campus/​downtown/​uptown so it’s not horribly packed for brunch.
I haven’t had the pancakes yet which I hear is their specialty but my personal recommendation is the cubano sandwich, very flavorful.

This place is like Seinfields soup nazi Never Again. If your whole party isn’t here you’re not welcome

I regret not ordering breakfast and getting a sandwich for lunch instead.
I had just arrived at MSP and was looking for a place to have lunch that was on the way to our destination. This café popped up on a list of must-​visit places in the area, so we swung by with about 40 minutes left until closing. I asked the cashier what she recommended to eat and she listed the Cubano sandwich and the salad of the week. All four of our party got the Cubano sandwich with side salads and two of us got black coffee. It was a pretty tasty and filling sandwich but nothing unusual from a standard Cuban sandwich. I wished the meat wasn’t split side by side rather stacked on top of each other. The bread was the best part of the sandwich; great crust and perfect density. The coffee was also fine, not the best. Although we arrived just before closing time, the staff was very friendly and didn’t rush us in any way. Cute interior with a decent amount of seating.

I had a late lunch here following a sales meeting at Health Partners up the road. Great little neighborhood that I don’t really get to often being a Westsider. Atmosphere was casual, hip, and provided sidewalk/​outdoor seating on a gorgeous July afternoon. I was torn on what to order. It looks to be primarily a breakfast/​brunch place, but I was there at 2pm on a weekday. I went with the spicy turkey sandwich. Let me first say that it’s real turkey, not lunch meat shaved crap. It was on a bun that was very fresh and certainly not store bought. Good value for the size. My only regret was being alone on this day and not having someone else order a breakfast item that I could try. Next time.

When you see a line going out the door, you know you have found something worth trying, so I decided to not let the busyness keep me away. It’s my fault going on a Sunday morning but I digress…
Surprisingly I got to the order counter pretty quickly, but that could have been that people in front of me were waiting for the rest of there party. I got the ham, swiss, and hash brown omelette, and it took about ten minutes to come out, which honestly was faster then expected with how busy it was. It was really tasty, and was cooked pretty much perfectly, the ham was flavorful and there was lots off it!
I think I would suggest going at a non peak time if you don’t like crowds, otherwise, don’t miss this place!

Love this place! I’m not huge on breakfast but I’ll wake up early for this. The breakfast sandwiches are really big and really good. I always order it on a biscuit and try a different one every time but my favorite is the egg, swiss and ham. Along with that I order some hash browns. Since the hash brows are pretty large make sure you only order one to share otherwise you’ll be taking a lot of it home.
I try to go early on the weekends to avoid the crowds which come in heavy around noon on weekends. If you can come try this place during the week when its not so busy if not you’ll end up in line and waiting for a table to open up for at least 20 min. But if you got nowhere to go the wait is totally worth it.

I was meeting a friend who lives in St. Paul from breakfast. Not living in be area/​having limited familiarity with the area, I was at her mercy. She recommended this place and after looking at the reviews, I obliged.
We got there at around 9. You walk in, stand in line to order and then grab a table. Not a huge fan of this concept, but whatever works I guess. I got the egg and cheese sandwich on the buttermilk biscuit, and based on my friend’s recommendation, I also had to order the colossal cinnamon roll. I was not disappointed with my choices! The buttermilk biscuit was amazing. The cinnamon roll was probably, no, definitively the best I’ve ever had.
Did we ever come at the right time, arriving at 9. Once we sat down and got out food, there was a line OUT THE DOOR of people trying to order food. At that point it became survival of the fittest when trying to get a table. This made us feel kind of rushed because we felt bad that there were so many people waiting. Probably one of the only few downside to this place.

Definitely a place to try out, if you’ve never been! We came on a sub-​zero Sunday morning, around 8:30AM because John S. suggested we arrive early on a weekend and he was right — the place gets packed. It was not too packed when we arrived, so we were able to order up at the counter very quickly, and get a little table while we waited for our food. I had heard this location is small, but it felt spacious enough because the restaurant is long and stretches all the way back, past the exhibition kitchen. You order up front and pay (they do accept credit /​debit cards now, but I believe the Minneapolis location is still cash only) and they bring the food out to you. Counter lady was very helpful and asked if I had ever been here before so when I said no she was happy to explain the menu and how everything works. They place a table marker on your table, and they are all names of streets in St. Paul which I thought was cute! We had Commonwealth, but I also saw Buford and Valentine. Neat concept, adds a special, local touch.
I loved loved loved the coffee! I had the dark roast (Costa Rica, I believe) and my sister had the light roast (Mexico) It was always hot and fresh. We enjoyed our coffee and kept going up to get refills. It’s a different concept here, very self-​service oriented and that’s fine by me. The bathrooms were lovely and quaint. Kitchen was busy and it was fun to people-​watch. I also really loved seeing lots of families here, I had thought it would be too small and cramped to bring kids but I was wrong. Next time I’m bringing mine!
The food: Of course I had to try the Apple Walnut and Brie Flappers because I’m in love with Guy Fieri and if he enjoyed them on his show «Diners, Drive-​Ins and Dives», then I was sure to like them too. I was correct. I’m not usually one to buy into television hype, but this was an exception and besides, I love my cooking shows. I got the full stack — 3 pancakes ($ 10) with a mountain of apples, walnuts and brown sugar sauce/​syrup. Could barely finish them, had maybe half a pancake. Extremely rich, decadent and sweet. The brie is creamy and substantial, and together with the thick and fluffy pancakes each bite is an adventurous one.
Sister got a breakfast sandwich — Egg, Cheddar and Bacon on sourdough ($ 6) Looked amazing, and she confirmed it tasted great. It came with some fruit.
We both had a wonderful morning, and I had to get a box for my flappers. Not to worry, they were completely consumed by both husband and toddler when I got home. I managed to feed us all on $ 10, so it was a very good deal! I’d come again, maybe on a warmer day so I can sit outside, drink the delicious coffee and enjoy the quiet, delightful neighborhood of St. Anthony Park.

Like a true Unilocaler, I have to write a celebratory review for finding out that I have just been named Unilocaler of the month for December, 2014! I am still in disbelief and didn’t really dawn on me it is real until I started receiving compliments one after another. Wow! What a great feeling it is. It’s just such an honor to be recognized and it is a huge motivator to be an even better Unilocaler. Thanks, Unilocal!I’m obnoxiously happy I can’t help myself from having a stupid grin on my face all night!
I was contemplating between four or five stars and I have decided, since I am in a good mood, I would round up high. It was the best breakfast I had in TC. Barbette came close second but I remember that day I just had a really good time chowing down on some pancakes and eggs.
I woke up that morning feeling happy and great and wanting pancakes. Don’t you want pancakes when you’re happy? I do. My friend who had been super depressed just quit her job that depressed her. She’s actually feeling a lot better and I told her she should celebrate with me. See, this is good. I picked the right restaurant for a celebratory review. She obliged and even took her husband with.
I got there first because I heard they were super busy and the wait could be deadly. So I got there 30 minutes earlier just to realize I didn’t need to do that. They had this weird system that I thought at first was a colossal clusterfuck until I got it. I was so damn confused of what to do, where to wait, stand in line. Anyway, you have to wait in line to place your order by the counter. They won’t take your order if your party is not complete. I wasted 30 minutes of coming early. Plus, I didn’t realize it was in St. Paul either. I thought it was much farther. I didn’t know there were two locations and glad we both came to the same place as we didn’t discuss which! Oups. Lucky!
After you place your order, you stand around until they sit you, and wait around some more for the food. The amount of people that stood around waiting for table or to order was overwhelming in that tiny place who called themselves colossal. It’s like a big fat body guard with a name «Tiny» or a miniature Yorkie with a name «Killer.» I get the irony. The foods are what’s colossal.
They gave me a free coffee while I waited and I made new friends talking to strangers that waited. I even got a phone number from some dude and a 20% off Macy’s coupon from some lady’s Sunday’s paper. Only in Minnesota.
We ordered the apple brie walnut flappers, the colossal breakfast, and an omelette with sausage, green onion, cilantro, and pepper jack cheese. Everything we ordered were simply divine. The apple walnut and brie flappers were punch you in the face kinda breakfast. The flapper was adequately dense and fluffy; the brie was sinful; the apple walnut was sour comfort like a nagging mother; and the brown sugar honey syrup is like the best boyfriend you ever had. The omelette was luscious with great texture of beaten eggs mixed with the fatty pork and herby greens. The colossal breakfast was classic with crispy hash brown, over easy eggs, and thick cut bacon that tasted it had to be Nueske’s.
One more highlight was the homemade bread toast. I love it. It was just carbilicious, especially with butter and preserves.
My friend’s husband made this constant mh mh mh noise as he ate. It was really funny and it actually made you appreciate the food a lot more. So. Yeah 5 big stars for you, Colossal Café! I just didn’t like the ordering system but it works for them. Who am I to complain? It’s a way to stand out and be different for sure.
Like they say… A crowd is always started by one lone nut. Apparently, there was one lone nut who thought of this system and now he or she successfully started a crowd.

Cash only. Only 6ish tables. Cramped quarters. Pretty good food.
Arrived at around 10:30am on a Sunday morning and it was packed. This place accepts cash only which is rather inconvenient especially since there’s no ATM in the building. But perhaps I’m fairly imposing my Los Angeles expectations on a smaller midwest town. PLaces in LA that are cash only usually have an ATM inside their building in order to accommodate those of us who don’t carry cash.
We ordered the spinach and blue cheese scone which was delicious. I ordered the prosciutto and swiss breakfast sandwich ($ 6.95) which was a bit of a let down because the prosciutto seemed like it was ham rather than prosciutto.
Food was good, but the restaurant is too cramped for me.