Bronte Bistro

This place will always have a special place in my heart as my wife and I went here a lot before we were married.
It’s a café in a bookstore– Two of my favorite things. The food is good and often pretty healthy. The vegetarian chili is delicious and they have a nice brunch. The coffee and deserts are always good if you just want to take a break from looking through the books.
It does get pretty busy but the service is often very good and the place is comfortable.
I do miss the outdoor seating but it’s been at least ten years since they had any so maybe I should give it up.
I don’t want to suggest that Bronte is one of the reasons I am in a happy marriage 20 years later but I don’t discount it either.

Disclaimer: I really want to give Bronte a 3.5 star review.
All bookstores should have a restaurant fully equipped with breakfast, lunch, dinner and full bar, even if it is a 3.5 star restaurant.
I came on a Saturday afternoon and the place almost full, not packed. They serve breakfast til 3, so I tried the Quiche, in which the ingredients vary daily. The day I went it was spinach and chicken. I thought chicken to be kind of an odd ingredient for quiche but I went for it anyway. As I suspected, chicken in a quiche is just not moist enough. It came with red potatoes which were dry and had clearly been sitting under a warmer all morning. I would say it was a 2.5 star dish. I also tried a bite of the breakfast BLT — a double decker with 2 fried eggs, bacon, avocado, tomato, lettuce and chipotle aioli, it was very good, spicy and had a good balance of all the ingredients, and the toast was toasted just right. Our food came out alarmingly fast which made me worry about how fresh all of the items on our plates were.
I also got a latte which was so delicious — 5 stars! I will be coming back for a coffee next time I am shopping in Rookwood. I would definitely give Bronte another try but I am not totally head over heels about Bronte right now.

Met a friend for lunch today here, had their Vegetarian Chili, and really enjoyed it! It had been a while since I had stopped in for a meal here and today’s cold winter weather was perfect for the chili. It arrived hot, tasted complex, and was satisfying. The waitress was kind enough to share the name of the chef whose recipe it was adapted from (Ree Drumond) and could not have been more helpful throughout. If I had to offer one criticism from my experience, it would be that the booths that we sat in felt a little bit tired and understuffed. Still a local favorite of mine and suitable for lunch entertaining of out of town guests.

Bronte is one of those spots in Hyde Park that is never crowded, consistently good, and always on point with their service. Whenever I am considering where I want to go for brunch, nine times out of ten Bronte is always a choice. I know it won’t be a long wait and I know I will have a great meal, so it amazes me that so many people have never even tried this place out!
It is conveniently in Rookwood Commons and has two entrances: one at their storefront and another from Joseph-​Beth Books. It’s got a cool concept of taking recipes from some of the featured cookbooks being sold next door and serving them on their menu. This month, they are featuring the fig, prosciutto, and brie panini from Bobby Flay’s cookbook, which you can then bring your receipt and get 25% off the book! I got this sandwich and it was amazing. The saltiness of the prosciutto was paired perfectly with the sweet fig jam and mild cheese. I ordered a cup of the tomato-​basil orzo vegetable soup, which was an updated take on a normally ordinary soup. My boyfriend ordered a side salad to start, and it was huge and filled with tons of fresh vegetables. They forgot to bring it out early with my soup, and didn’t even charge us for it since they brought it out late with the entrée.
Another great aspect about Bronte is that they serve a lot of natural food ingredients on their menu. I’ve noticed they like to serve updated versions of what you think would just be a standard entrée. They even have a bar, so if you’re in the mood for a good book and a glass of wine, this is the spot to head to!

For a café bookstore, Bronte Bistro definitely raises the bar. My grandparents took us here for lunch last Sunday, and I was very impressed. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was far enough removed from the store to feel like a stand alone restaurant, and the brunch offerings were solid.
My grandmother had the Crème Bruele French Toast, which was suuuuuuper sweet – I could only eat a bite or two, but I also do not have too much of a sweet tooth. I had the quiche of the day which was delicious.
Overall, BB is a good place to stop for a quick brunch if other places are slammed. And if you have to wait, at least you can browse the books!

Everything other than my latte was fantastic! The latte was more of a cappiccino, but it did taste alright. I love that the restaurant is connected to a huge bookstore. It’s great for a wait, which we were told would be 10 minutes but actually took 2.
I greatly enjoyed this place and plan on going back regularly –especially when I have company in town.

I just had the most disappointing service and treatment at Bronte Bistro. The chicken on top of both salads ordered by our group were NOT grilled as written on the menu. The chicken was dry and did not look like it was on the grill at all. When we asked the manager about this she said” That is how we make it, I can bring you chicken with lines (grill) if that will make you happy” What a snarky answer! What happened to keeping the customer happy? Furthermore the shelf next to our booth was coated with dust. I don’t think I’ll be returning here again, and it doesn’t appear that the management cares how customers feel either! The bill was adjusted to pay for the greens minus the chicken, however I know other places who would have grabbed the plates and bent over backwards to keep us happy.

Met a friend. WE both ordered the breakfast BLT w avocado and both disappointed. It came on bread or, if the bread was toasted it was not apparent at all. Coffee was good; service good.

Solid cup of coffee followed by a great omelette and an attentive server. I went back a second time and he already remembered my order from last week! That’s a win in my book!

I don’t come here often, but if you sign up as a Joseph Beth Give Back Member, you get a gift card for Bronte Bistro– which is a pretty good deal! I went for breakfast and I wasn’t super hungry so I ordered the oatmeal with toast and fruit. I absolutely hate when I get oatmeal somewhere and they’ve made it from a packet because I can do that at home! Luckily, it was obvious this was real oatmeal! I’m weird, I know. But it’s important to me! :)
My mom got their veggie omelette and loved it! She was a bit skeptical about cauliflower in an omelette, but it was great!
I also got a chai latte and it was delicious!
I always forget that this place is around, but I won’t anymore. Simple, delicious food and good service. That’s really all I need for Sunday breakfast/​brunch!

There are plenty of places to go eat. Today I went to Bronte’s Bistro. I have been there numerous times & have had wonderful meals. Today was not one of those times.
This morning I decided on the Traditional Egg Platter. The bacon was pre-​cooked therefore all dried out. It looked to be some cheap thin stuff I would get at an all you can eat breakfast bar. The roasted red potatoes also were pre cooked and dead. Toast look like two pieces of wonder bread.
This place — to me — should be a bit upscale. The prices sure reflect it. Cook everything to order on this particular dish. Get higher quality items… Better bacon & bread.
When I made mention of my dissatisfaction, the waitress concurred that things are made earlier in the morning. She almost tried putting me on the defensive by asking me what I wanted done about it. Knowing in my mind that the dish would never meet my expectation I envisioned when I ordered it, I told her that I preferred to walk away from this miserable situation. She said ‘I don’t want you to leave still hungry’ to which I replied ‘there are plenty of nice places nearby I can go to for a meal’.
Too bad for Bronte’s. I am sure I’ll go back with family soon enough. Just be careful of what you order. Some items meet their standard while others fall short.

Not a bad little brunch spot. This was my second time visiting.
Bronte is located next door to Joseph Beth’s Booksellers, and it is a great option in the Hyde Park area.
Since many of the brunch spots in the area can be rather full on Sundays, Bronte is always a good spot to check out if you want to get some food without a long wait.
This time around I ordered the bacon pecan pancakes – very tasty! I also ordered a bloody mary w/​gin instead of vodka – highly recommended for bloody mary lovers who also are not a big fan of vodka (such as myself).
Since I live nearby, and had another good experience dining at Bronte for Sunday brunch, there is no reason to not visit again!

I’ll admit I was a little skeptical when I first went to Bronte. After all, it’s inside a bookstore, but don’t let that stop you from checking out this adorable bistro. I’ve been several times and have always enjoyed my meal and service. The décor is what you’d expect from a bookstore restaurant: walls lined with book cover artwork, light music, and dimmed lighting. The food, on the other hand, is not what you’d expect. I’ve had quite the well-​rounded experience from the turkey burger to the nachos to the pear and bleu cheese salad, and have enjoyed every bite. It’s definitely a step above your average bistro, despite the selection of calendars and Vera Bradley you pass on the way inside.

First time back here after several years and we were so impressed! Came for brunch on a Saturday morning. Very brief wait which is painless because you can browse the bookstore.
My son got the Spinach Sauté with Salmon without the rice. Lots of squash, spinach and other veggies, seasoned nicely, topped with a perfectly cooked, grilled piece of salmon.
I had the Santa Fe omelet. It was stuffed full of cheese, beans and shredded chicken, with a mild spiciness to it. For a little extra kick, you can add the salsa that comes on the side. A bite of the omelet with the salsa, the creamy sour cream and the cool slices of avocado was perfect! It comes with a slice of toasted wheat bread as well.
Our server, Richard, was attentive but not hovering. Very nice service.
I had the coffee with cream, which was quite good.
Total bill, before tip, was around $ 31.
We’ll be back. Such a very enjoyable brunch!

Nice place with vegitarian options! The vegitarian chili and veggie burger with sweet potato fries are two of our favorites. Plus they serve breakfast all day. Checkout is next to the gift area of Joseph Beth’s so I was also able to snag a birthday gift for my husband,
Service: Good
Food: Very good
Price: High. Lunch prices range from $ 10-​$ 18
Atmosphere: Average and quieter than many

Here’s the reason why Bronte gets five stars in my book… I have never had a bad meal at Bronte. I’ve been here for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, just for coffee and every single time I’ve had consistently good food and a great experience.
I’ve never had to wait to be seated and the presentation is always nice. Not to mention it’s connected to a book store… uh, hello? Score! After your meal, stroll around Joseph Beth especially the Cincinnati area of the store.
Like I said everything is good but I particularly love the pork chop dinner and their eggs Benedict.
If you’re looking for a sit-​down experience with no wait, Bronte will become your favorite place.

Great spot especially for brunch. I have tried all their salads and they are all very good but the Salmon one is something special. Great quiche as well. And the french toast crème brûlée. Yep, all good. Here’s a tip: if you’re trying to get into First Watch which is just a couple doors down and they are crowded or there is a wait, give Bronte a try. I think it is better on the lunch side for sure and overall just a better environment and feel. More relaxed, comfortable, home-​like.

Loved how fast and easy it was to get a seat for brunch! We had walked in to First Watch and the wait was over 30 minutes so we headed here and got seated immediately. I’m glad we were motivated to come here instead because the breakfast BLT was great! Eggs and chipotle aioli make this sandwich a winner. It was served with roasted potatoes and fresh fruit that were also delicious. My coffee was always refilled without me asking and the service was great. We will definitely return!

I just don’t know what it is about Bronte that doesn’t «do it» for me. The check list seems to indicate that everything is in order.
The atmosphere is nice, the prices aren’t crazy and the food isn’t bad. I suppose that’s the problem though; it’s just «good.» With so many compelling options in the area, I just don’t come here as much as I probably would if maybe– they weren’t?
Don’t get me wrong, I honestly don’t have any real complaints about Bronte. In fact the coffee and the book store are excellent. As a restaurant, though, there’s just other places I would rather go.
For a five minute drive you can get similar fare that is a better value, that is more adventurous, that has better atmosphere, that is a finer dining experience. Bronte’s only real flaw is that it’s milquetoast compared to it’s surroundings: Red Feather, Sleepy Bee, The Echo, Annabel’s, Nectar, Sugar n’ Spice, Maribelle’s, Tellers, The Bluebird, First Watch, BonBonerie, Essencha, Panera and even Frisch’s. This area truly offers a pretty wide gamut of American Lunch, Brunch and Breakfast options, and most of the other entries edge out Bronte for one reason or another; convenience, pricing, atmosphere, location, etc.
I do recommend Bronte, especially if you’re looking for something to start your day, or keep you going mid-​day if you’re nearer to the Rookwood Center. I just can’t recommend it as enthusiastically as some of it’s competitors, yet.

This is my first review on Unilocal.We decided to have lunch at Bistro Bronte because it had 4 stars review rating. After our lunch was served, I thought 4 stars is under rated. Food is excellent. I am not a blue cheese fan, but the pear salad with blue cheese, fresh cuts of pear, raisin and pair puppy dressing (home made) changed my mind. I will order the pear salad again for this unique experience. Other main dishes were delicious and prepared to our taste. The service was very good too.
I like their unique and personal child menu. It is given with 4 coloring crayons for child entertainment. Isn’t that cool? I recommend Bistro for family lunch anytime.

The Bronte burger was good. The «Roasted beet» salad beets were not roasted. They were canned. Then the manager or «chef» argued about it.
We need a Chef Ramsey intervention!
First bad experience here. The waiter did his best.
What a shame…

I waver between a 3 and 4 with Bronte. I love the place– I love Joseph-Beth’s so it automatically rubs off goodwill on Bronte. I’ve been there for brunch a few times and it’s good, but seems pricey for the portion. I can’t say I’ve been wowed by the food, and those lattes get pricey if you need soy or something a little fun (syrups, etc). The service is good and of course I love the book theme, because I’m a huge book nerd. Overall, not the top of my brunch list but it’ll do in a pinch or on the way to some book splurge-​shopping!