Maria's Cafe Bistro

Very quaint little cafe in the heart of Ottawa.
Not a ton of seating, but plenty for the Sunday morning crowd around 10am.

Walked in and got a booth right away.
Ordered the banana nut french toast and the breakfast burrito. We loved them both and were so full we couldn't finish it. Which usually never happens :)

We definitely recommend this place for brunch.

Great service! You get big portions for your $$ here. Friendly atmosphere and this business is very generous with contributions to our local homeless shelter. Need more places like this in Ottawa

Sara does an amazing job!!! Great food & atmosphere, if you're looking for a small local place where you feel at home & everything is homemade to order I highly recommend!!

Wow!! Came in with low expectations but was absolutely blown away. The interior and exterior decor is humble and unassuming, but the food is clearly made with passion. Everything we had was delicious and portion sizes are more than generous. We tried to make a return visit the following day, but got there too late and were disappointed to find them closed. Will look to make a return visit as soon as possible!

Lovely place, lovely food! Popped in quickly during a road trip. Was talking while tipping and accidentally chose 15% on the tablet for the tip. I meant more sorry! Will definitely come back next time I’m in the area

My SO and I have been here time after time and have become monthly if not weekly regulars. The food is great - big portions and the staff is fantastic. Local family owned and operated. You cannot go wrong by choosing Maria's Bistro.

I recommend their omelettes or French toast for breakfast and any of their sandwiches for lunch. Make sure you get the soup of the day!

My family met here for lunch as we were all traveling for the holidays. Maria's Cafe Bistro is conveniently located south off I-80, 1 block north of the Illinois River, near Buffalo Rock State Park, camping, and canoe liveries. Parking is available on the street or in the post office parking lot across the street. All of the delicious food at Maria's Cafe Bistro is homemade, and the owners greet every customer. The owners treat every customer like their own family - it's as if we were being welcomed into their home. I highly recommend the pork tenderloin sandwich and the Denver omelet (breakfast is served until 1pm). The total bill for three people was $35. There is a ramp to enter the building for those with walkers or wheelchairs, but there is also a half-step into the main dining room. I have to say, this restaurant is a great example of many things that make me proud to live in the USA. We will definitely return on our next road trip across Illinois.

Walked in, was greeted and seated fast, food was excellent. Had the Nashville sandwich, and I'm from TN so was leery of all the fake sauces.. but this was spot on and perfect. Great job guys, I will definitely return when I come thru the area again!

We were looking for a place to eat on our way out of town. This place is such a cute little mom & pop breakfast/lunch spot. They have a wide selection of food on the menu and the staff are very friendly and attentive. Enjoyed our meal and would definitely come back again whenever we're in the area.

The food was top notch quality. We tried the homemade chicken noodle soup, fried walleye, homemade chicken strips and the fried tacos. Each dish was the best we have ever had. The ingredients were fresh and each bite was tasteful. The service was outstanding. Definitely a family owned business that takes great pride in their work and treats their customers like family.

We came from Chicago to visit Starved Rock, and I’m so glad we stopped at this gem. Staff was very attentive, and the food was amazing. We haven’t found a good breakfast place like this one in a while! Definitely would recommend!

We have been coming to Maria's since she opened. Sarah, the owner, is always cheerful and kind. We haven't had a bad meal yet. I especially love their tenderloins and fried fish.

Charming atmosphere,great food,friendly staff. I had a Mediterranean Omelet was amazing with fresh fruit. Can't wait to go back and try more from the menu as other customers pancakes,etc,looked very yummy.

Our favorite restaurant in town! The best chicken strips I’ve ever had! The soup is amazing every time. The service is top notch with the kindest people. Breakfast, lunch or dinner Maria’s has many amazing choices.

Delicious! Such big servings that we couldn't finish.

Great food! Definitely coming back to try the banana french toast!

Came back for a dinner. Got the Nashville chicken sandwich, it's VERY good!

We came to town for a weekend. We tried Maria’s on Saturday morning and liked it so much we came back on Sunday! Food is delicious and the staff is very kind and very attentive

Such good food! The biscuits and gravy were delicious as well as the Denver Omelette and the Maria’s Cafe Bistro French Toast. If we’re ever in town again, we’ll be stopping by!

Just tried Maria's for the first time. Very good experience, great food and friendly staff. Fair price for the amount of food you get! I definitely recommend to anyone 10 out of 10.

Staff was very friendly and very attentive. The food was very good and the portions were pretty big.