Located in the heart of Oneonta, New York in the Mohawk Valley region, Social Eats Café is a community café serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, specialty coffee, and craft beverages all day, every day. But we’re more than just a café. Social Eats was created with a mission to use business as a force for good, reinvesting in our community while creating a welcoming place for people to gather, connect, and share great food. Our menu celebrates the slow-food movement, featuring locally sourced ingredients, scratch-made dishes, fresh baked goods, fair-trade organic coffee, and seasonal flavors inspired by travel and culture. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick coffee, meeting friends for brunch, or enjoying a relaxed lunch in downtown Oneonta, Social Eats Café is a place where food, community, and purpose come together.
The Founder’s Story
Social Eats Café was founded by Michelle Iannelli-Rubin, a SUNY Oneonta graduate, entrepreneur, and lifelong lover of food and community.
Raised in a family of restaurateurs, the daughter of Italian immigrants and former owners of Iannelli’s Ristorante, Michelle grew up surrounded by the traditions of hospitality, family meals, and the belief that food brings people together.
After traveling the world and experiencing café culture from Paris to the southern coast of Italy, Spain, Seattle, and beyond, she dreamed of creating a place that felt both global and deeply rooted in the local community.
In 2017, that vision became Social Eats Café, a welcoming “third place” in Oneonta where people gather outside of home and work to connect. Today, Social Eats continues to grow as a cause-driven café dedicated to community impact, sustainability, and kindness.
Every meal served helps support a larger mission: strengthening our region and creating positive change.
Join Us at the Table
Social Eats Café is proud to be part of the Oneonta and Mohawk Valley community. Stop in for locally sourced food, specialty coffee, and a warm neighborhood atmosphere. Because here, every cup of coffee and every meal helps do good in our community.