Lacto
American
Italian
Beer/Wine
Gluten-free
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. American bistro offering vegan cheese for flatbreads as well as vegan muffins, cookies and layer cakes. Open Mon 8:00am-2:00pm, Tue-Sat 8:00am-8:00pm, Sun 8:00am-2:00pm. Closed Sun-Mon.
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Last update on 20 Nov 2023 by JulesBistro
Update business info -
Added by condekedar on 12 Oct 2020
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10 Reviews
First Review by TonyaMoen
DiningDuster
Points +597
Delicious options to be excited about - Edit
We loved the available vegan options.
Read moreOur choices were vegan chilaquiles and vegan shakshuka.
Vegan options are marked on the menu, and knowledgeable staff knows what to do with a vegan order.
They have vegan bakery items as well as great coffee drinks.
Outstanding customer service every time, too!
Updated from previous review on 2024-11-11
Pros: Numerous vegan options , Good portions, Clearly marked menu
JulesBistro
Updated from 2023-11-06
Read moreThanks so much for hanging out with us and sharing about your experience. We're grateful we could provide you with options you were excited about!
Guest
eatpotatoes
Points +16
Fantastic!! - Edit
The chilaquiles was fantastic!! I had it with tofu, and vegan cheese. Flavor was spot on. Menu has clearly marked vegan options. Breakfast was very busy but it is a Saturday. Highly recommend !
Read morePros: Vegan options- several, Friendly staff, Atmosphere
Cons: Loud but it was a busy Saturday am
JulesBistro
Thanks for the kind words! We're grateful.
Read moreGuest
ScottV
Points +100
Great food with a variety of vegan options - Edit
Good food, great flavor but a bit high priced for St. Cloud. Avocado portabella Reuben was great!
Read morePros: Easy to make vegan substitutions
Cons: Prices are high for area
JulesBistro
Thank you for the kind words about our food.
Read moreWe want you to know us, so we're providing a little more information. We...
- make everything from scratch;
- source as many ingredients as we can from other local small businesses/growers; (including the bread and meat used on your sandwich)
- contribute to community in a plethora of creative ways; and
- create a stable work environment with a livable wage for our employees.
These values do result in a slightly higher cost...but we believe (and our guests tell us!) they also contribute to an amazing dining experience and a healthy relationship between our business and the community. We genuinely care about what we do, and we're so GRATEFUL and HONORED you gave us a try. We hope to see you again!
Guest
WalterTiger
Points +64
SO GOOD - Edit
Lots of clearly marked vegan options. I had the Portobello Reuben and a side of soup (also vegan).
Read moreOffers vegan cheese and vegan sausage and tofu substitute in a variety of dishes.
Happy to find vegan options in a nice sit down setting! Edit: the bill charged $2.50 extra for vegan cheese and a dollar extra for the soup:-/
Updated from previous review on 2024-07-27
JulesBistro
Thanks for the kind words. It's our mission to be a space where groups of people with differing food needs and preferences can sit together and enjoy a nice meal that isn't just a salad.
Read moreWe do charge extra for the things that cost us more like vegan cheese and gluten-free pizza crust. (We wouldn't be in business long if we didn't.) But these upcharges are clearly labeled on the menu. Unless you requested an extra condiment or side (of additional vegan cheese or something else) your soup should not have been an additional $1, and I'm happy to make that right with you if you message me at donella@julesbistrostcloud.com.
Thank you for giving us a try and sharing about your experience.
Guest
JennKub
Points +1119
Delicious, pricey - Edit
Loved the portobello Reuben here! I wish you didn’t have to switch the cheese to make it all vegan but once you do, it’s a great vegan option. I’d highly recommend it. The vegan cake was also amazing. I’d like to see a few more options here, but the ones they have are great quality.
Read morePros: Flavor, Knowledgeable staff
Cons: Could use a little more clarity on menu, Pricey
JulesBistro
Thanks for stopping. We're grateful for the kind remarks about our food and your experience. We do our best to pack a ton of charm into our smaller, intimate space, but this historic building and our size do mean we have to make hard choices about what we're able to offer.
Read moreWe're not a vegan restaurant -- meaning, as the owner I'm not compelled to offer vegan options because of my personal beliefs around food, spirituality, philosophy, etc. Rather, I seek to create a space that enables people from all walks of life and all belief systems (including those with food allergies or strong food preferences) to gather and enjoy community together over fresh, high-quality food. Thank you for recognizing and appreciating the quality -- that means the world to us.
One final comment with regard to price...we're experiencing a bit of sticker shock ourselves these day. As inflation continues, we are choosing to remain true to who we are -- a community-minded, independently-owned restaurant that makes food from scratch with as many locally-sourced ingredients as we can. We haven't cut portion. We haven't subbed inferior ingredients. And we don't take shortcuts. We are fully staffed because we pay a livable wage and care for our team. As our food and labor costs rise, our prices must too...or we won't be around a year from now. We do everything we can to make sure your experience is worth the price.
We hope to see you again. We do offer a couple of vegan entrees on our dinner menu that might be fun to try.
JennKub
I don’t know why you would state that you’re not compelled to offer vegan options (I.e. options that don’t harm animals) on a vegan review site. These reviews are made by vegans for vegans looking for options for eating out. The whole site is designed for looking for vegan options.
Read moreJulesBistro
Hi Jenn. I was aiming for "refreshingly honest," but it seems I may have missed the mark. I apologize. We're not a vegan restaurant. The majority of our menu items are non-vegan, and that feels like an important fact that the people on this review site would want to know.
Read moreIf someone is looking for a place in the middle of Central Minnesota where they (as a vegan) can eat something besides a salad while they visit with non-vegan family/friends, we've got options (albeit limited) on every one of our menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner entrees).
Guest
MolleeSheehan
Points +127
Consistently top-notch - Edit
We’ve enjoyed the creative and delicious vegan options at Jule’s since moving to St. Cloud in mid-2022.
Read moreFavorites have been:
-Butternut squash curry (perfection!)
-Vegan Pad Thai (Almost there! Tofu needs more personality. If you’re craving vegan Thai, Arroy down the street specializes in Thai cuisine and has lots of vegan options and off-the-charts tofu.)
-Shakshuka (breakfast item that’s flavorful and satisfying)
-Oat latte is one of the best in town
Top reasons we frequent Jule’s:
1. Creative and flavorful vegan offerings
2. Menu rotates but consistently has vegan options
3. Menu indicates when vegan cheese, plant milks, and tofu can be substituted to make meals vegan-friendly
4. Always fresh, flavorful, and colorful
Drawbacks:
1. Tofu is underwhelming (as others have pointed out). It would be neat to see Jule’s apply it’s culinary prowess and creativity to their tofu prep!
2. Jule’s is a downtown favorite and gets busy! So make reservations if you’re planning to eat at popular times, like weekend dinners
3. Inconsistent vegan dessert choices. Their vegan desserts have been tasty when they’ve been available but don’t count on getting a treat after your meal
4. Wish they had booths! Seating feels… a bit crammed and hard chairs aren’t the most comfortable. Could benefit from a space designer to improve the flow and feel of the seating. (This is getting nit picky now!)
Bottoms line: We love Jule’s and appreciate their sincere efforts to create flavorful choices for vegans.
JulesBistro
Thanks for the very kind comments, Mollee. We see you in here regularly, and we so appreciate your encouragement and support. The fact that you (and others like you) invest in us inspires us to keep working to be the best we can be.
Read moreI'm offering brief responses to your list of drawbacks. Please know that they are offered from a desire to dialogue rather than defend.
1. We're hearing the feedback on the tofu! And we're working on some changes.
2. We're grateful to be busy. The fact that we take reservations is actually a perk you're not likely to find at many (or any) other restaurants downtown. Reservations can be made from our Google page or by calling 320.252.7125.
3. We do try to have one vegan cake and one vegan cookie in our bakery case consistently. On high-volume days like Saturdays, that is more challenging. I'll see what we can do to create more consistency.
4. We've explored booths as an option, but we would lose way too many seats (and too much revenue) for it to be a viable one...especially at a time when demand is high and we are fighting so hard to recover from the financial devastation of the pandemic.
Again, thank you for the thoughtful feedback. Operating this restaurant is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life...and also one of the most rewarding because of guests (like you & Brian).
Guest
CharlesMinor
Points +25
Decent options, lacking staff knowledge - Edit
Train all staff (front and back of house) on vegan options
Read morePros: Vegan options were alright, Staff made efforts to check on ingredients, Vegan options are included in both menus
Cons: Expensive, Our waitress did not know what vegan was
JulesBistro
Hi Charles.
Read moreWe are a made-from-scratch restaurant that has become well known for accommodating food preferences and allergies. That willingness/desire to accommodate is the reason we offer meat-free, gluten-free and dairy-free options. Some of those options happen to be vegan.
The reasons people to choose to be vegetarian, vegan or pescatarian vary widely (spiritual, health, etc.) as do the boundaries people place around what they are willing to eat (honey, for instance). Our menus are detailed and clearly labeled so that YOU can be fully informed, make educated decisions and order exactly what YOU want/need. Our staff are trained to ask questions, seek information and do everything they can to respond to a guest's individual needs.
At a time when most restaurants continue to struggle to find enough staff, I'm extremely grateful to have a full team of people who truly care and who demonstrate that care for guests by asking questions and checking on ingredients. I'm fine with the fact that they aren't all experts on veganism.
If you're reading this review and you're looking for a vegan restaurant, we're not that. If, however, you're looking for a place in the middle of Central Minnesota where you (as a vegan) can eat something besides a salad while you visit with non-vegan family/friends, we've got options on every one of our menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner entrees).
I would encourage you to visit mainstream review websites where the service we provide is regularly praised.
Guest
mjwill320
Points +105
Good options, bad tofu - Edit
I really loved seeing the vegan menu options. They have avocado portabella reubens (can be made vegan by omitting the cheese), vegan butternut squash curry, hummus (as an appetizer and as a wrap), and a sweet & spicy vegan pad thai dish. We tried the latter and although the sauce, noodles, and veggies were good ... the tofu had not been marinated and was utterly flavorless. I'll be back (but I might have to find out how to help the chef first lol).
Read moreCharlesMinor
Ha! I wondered if it was just me. I absolutely agree, the tofu could be a lot better.
Read moreJulesBistro
Thank you for offering genuine appreciation for the vegan options on our menu and suggestions for how we can do better. Admittedly, tofu is not a high volume item on our menu. From 2020-2022, out of necessity because of staffing shortages and turnover, we simplified/streamlined where we could and put our efforts into the parts of our menu where we experienced the most demand.
Read moreWe are fully staffed for the first time in 3 years and have the most talented kitchen team we've ever had. When I shared your feedback with them, they said, "He's not wrong. We can and should do better." So they're working on it, and we look forward to seeing you again.
Guest
AnnaMN
Points +168
Just okay - Edit
I’m grateful for a place that has a few vegan options, but we just weren’t that impressed by the vegan Rachel or the burnt flatbread pizza with vegan cheese. Just go to St. Joseph for the Local Blend that has more interesting options.
Read moreJulesBistro
Hi Anna. Although you wrote this review in 2022, I'm just seeing it now at the beginning of 2023. Admittedly, 2022 was a pretty rough year for our business -- actually the worst of our pandemic years because we lost our entire management team to other parts of the world and could barely find staff, much less qualified managers.
Read moreI offer this information not as an excuse but rather as an explanation.
We are fully staffed for the first time since 2020, and our team is the strongest, most committed one we've ever had. Our pizza crust and sauce recipes are new. And the vegan Rachel you mention above is the third best-selling panini on our menu. Our gluten-free/vegan chocolate cake is so popular we can barely it keep it stocked.
We agree that the Local Blend is amazing. But we hope you'll come back and give us another try, too.
Guest
TonyaMoen
Points +34
Finally vegan options! - Edit
This place is nice, there are many vegan options compared to all the other regular restaurants in my area. Vegan dairy free cheese, veggie wraps, housemade vegan thousand island. Food was excellent! I ate the whole sandwich and saved some chili for later. If you come to st cloud make sure to give it a try.
Read morePros: Vegan options
Guest
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