The Nova Cafe

I feel like this eatery is over-​priced and over-​hyped.

This is a very good breakfast joint in downtown Bozeangeles. While I prefer the more «traditional» breakfast flavors of Main Street Over Easy (my favorite in Bozeman), Nova Café offers a good alternative or change of pace for breakfast.
It took a while to get seated. Actually it took a while to get anyone to even notice us to take our name down. When we were finally seated, Anna was our server and service from that point on was very good.
I ordered the biscuits and gravy, and my wife ordered a special eggs Benedict with spinach over corn bread. The biscuits are of the «drop biscuit» type, as opposed to the layered flaky biscuit type. Pretty good. The gravy I would characterize as non-​traditional, with bits of pink sausage and a slightly tart flavor. My wife liked it, but I prefer the more traditional sausage gravy style.
The eggs Benedict were also very good. The cornbread base was tasty, but I would have preferred a muffin instead. That being said, the quality of ingredients and flavor were all very good. Just not what I prefer.
If you like a more frou frou take on breakfast foods, this is your place.

Unfortunately, never got a chance to eat as it took 20 minutes just to get our names on the seating list, due to the double entrance. Staff wasn’t friendly enough to even ask if we needed to be wait listed. The kicker? Asking the host (who was polite) what the wait might be another worker responded: 6 hours… Happy NOT to wait despite their seemingly positive reputation…

First time here and we loved it. Read all the negative reviews and had a completely different experience. We both pretty much kicked our plates. The only negative of the experience was the mean-​mugging/​RBF chick with a black headband and maroon slip on shoes at the front entrance that was rude/​antisocial to me when I walked in to ask about gluten free (celiac wife) and then my wife later when she asked for the restrooms.
Highlight: Lindsay who saw me struggling to get help from the mean-​mugger when I walked in and jumped all over the menu and options and made it clear that my wife would enjoy her meal (again, celiac). Turns out a minute later when wifey walked in and we were seated… Lindsay was our server! Woot woot!
Gave my wife the whole shpeal, normal egg/​omelettes, substitutions, all of the house sweet pastries are gluten free, etc. Wife had more options than she wanted. I got the biscuits and gravy: lots of sausage! Ice tea and coffee were great. Got 4 refills of tea and offered more than needed coffee. Contrary to other reviews (maybe if the mean-​mugger waits tables some day).
The other servers were hustling and working.
We travel a lot and try a lot of new restaurants: this place will be a staple in our Bozeman rotation. We’ll also ask for Lindsay.

A bit pricey. The food tasted good. We had to refill our own coffee’s because our server never came back. There was also an open jar of jam sitting on our table with a spoon in it. Apparently that’s how they serve it. Kind of gross, and not sanitary.

Great atmosphere, clean, cute, great food, and good coffee!
I ate here twice and both times the servers were great!

This is Bozeman’s typical ³⁄₅ star place that has inundated the downtown. Allow me to elaborate:
All but a couple of our downtown restaurants fall into one of two categories. (A), a 3.5 star food, with a 2.5 star atmosphere, or; (B), a 2.5 star food, with a 4 star atmosphere. This joint fits the former description.
Food:
Most stuff isn’t «Sysco in a can» like 75% of today’s restaurants. For example, both the biscuits and the gravy are made in-​house. Quite a few items feature (not quite) local, but at least regional suppliers. Kudos! Having been about 8 times, I can say 6 of the 8 meals were better than average. 2 were cold. (See: «Service» below)
Drink:
This isn’t a place that will serve a Mimosa. I really doubt they ever will. I’m sure you’ll love a bottle of $ 8, strange cold-​pressed juice equally as much.
Atmosphere:
They like to cultivate that «trendy» vibe. (Read: out-​of-​state transplants). I don’t care for that «vibe» while eating breakfast. For example: You’re apt to see a lot of «Man Bun» hairstyles on men who frequent the establishment, and Caucasian women with dreadlocks. Because they went for «pseudo-​retro» seating — the comfort of the chairs and booths are rivaled only by your local Taco Bell. Also, expect a 45+ minute wait to be seated on the weekends.
Service:
As you might have already assumed, the attitude of the service employees is mirror image of the clientele discussed above. In a town with an economy based on tourism and millennial college students, you’re not going to get a refill after your first cup of coffee.
Come to think about it, I’ve been waiting a month now for my refill. Don’t worry, that hipster Waite (r/​ress) is preoccupied with finishing a thesis on how modern day snowboarding has strange parallels with the way we once ignored the feelings of the Canadian Thistle weed in 1994. S/​he will be right back with that coffee, by the way.

One of my favorites breakfast spots. A friend of mine who is a chef loves their food and compliments it all the time. Always great breakfast and even though it gets a little busy, it’s well worth the wait and delivers excellent results.

Have only been here for breakfast (a million and a half times) and it’s one of my top favorites! Usually quite busy weekend mornings but they do have a take-​out/​café side which is less hectic. Their tomato jam is absolutely amazing served on the Frittata and the sandwhich.
Check to see what local sausage and meats they have that day!
Great selection of benny’s also.

The biscuits and gravy here beats Portland’s Pine State Biscuits in my book. I’ll be dreaming of those buttery flaky biscuits with creamy gravy chock full of sausage for awhile.
If you want something lighter, I thoroughly enjoyed my egg white Greek omelette. Also, don’t overlook that jam jar on your table. That stuff is heaven with a schmear of butter on toast.
Service was top notch — our server was sweet as can be!

Loved it!
Cute spot, yummy coffee and despite their logo sporting bacon and eggs. They
Served me up a fantastic vegan meal.
Thank you! I will be back :)

The wait was a long one, the service wasn’t that great, however, the food… pretty great.
We weren’t surprised by the wait after reading all the great reviews. Plus, you can order coffees while you wait so that sweetened up the deal. And the coffee is Rockford, which is delicious.
The service, well, it’s always disappointing to get poor service. We waited several minutes to even order a drink after being seated and even longer to place our food order. To our waitresses’ defense, she was the only person serving all of the outdoor tables. So, maybe they should staff that section a bit more? Just a suggestion.
My hubby ordered a meat lovers omelet and was thrilled by the size & taste. They use Montana meats and you could taste the freshness. I ordered the kid’s French toast which was delish and the perfect portion. It came with one slice of French toast, one egg, and one meat. We both drank a plethora of their delectable coffee. It’s a great little stop if you happen to be in Bozeman!

The breakfast here is excellent!
I ordered the omelet with avocado, cheese, and green chile peppers. A great decision. The cinnamon toast with it was also bomb.
We placed an order to go on the way to Yellowstone, and were very pleased with the quick and friendly service we received. I would love to stop and try more of what their menu has to offer if we ever pass that way again.
The breakfast items were expertly done and well worth the detour on our road trip. It is also very easy to locate if you get off 90 passing thru.

Excellent food and service! The place is hipster with a wide variety of people from many backgrounds. I wouldn’t go on Saturday as they will be super packed. They recently opened up a coffee shop as well. They only serve breakfast and lunch.
Bottom line: Go!

We’ve been to the Nova Café twice now, and have loved it both times. The food is locally sourced, very fresh, and delicious. The atmosphere is fun and eclectic. It was busy both times we went, but it was worth the wait.
The staff here is, well… hit or miss. The first time we were there, or waitress was wonderful. Very attentive even though we sat outside. The second time, our waiter was ok. He was slightly flippant with us, and pretty much ignored my son. And when my 7 year old child had difficulty deciding what he wanted, our waiter got impatient. Grow up, man. He’s a kid. I must have given him the NY Sicilian look of death or something, because he kinda straightened up after that.
Great coffee, though! And yeah, we’ll be back someday.

Clearly The Nova Café is a BIG deal in Bozeman but what’s with the stank attitude from the baristas? We didn’t come here for breakfast because frankly while this place may claim to have the best breakfast in Bozeman, I live in the Brunch Capital of SF and I don’t have time to wait around on vacation. We stopped in at the to-​go side to get a coffee and ended having to wait as long as the breakfast wait for a Peet’s level coffee not even getting close to Blue Bottle or Stumptown.
After waiting more than 10 minutes, the French Spouse asked the barista about her drink and was told that there were 30 Café orders a head of her. Call me nuts but wouldn’t you have two lines going for the to-​go stuff and the café orders? I think she just forgot our drinks because 2 second later they magically appeared but an apology did not. We went down the street to the Western Café and had an awesome breakfast.
If you live in Bozeman good on you for having a Café that tries to act like it’s located in NYC or SF but remember you aren’t and keep that attitude in check.