We often stay at the Ruby Marie when visiting Madison, which gives you a free breakfast at the Come Back Inn. The service is always great, tons of open tables, and never a wait! A great selection to choose from. I love their Cajun Hash. A cozy restaurant and great setting to grab a bite to eat while in town! read more

Come Back In - Bloody Mary - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Had a good breakfast at the Come Back In - the CBI is an authentic Wisconsin bar & restaurant. Very casual and relaxed in the morning. Breakfast was good and the service was Madison-friendly. Not the fanciest place, but pretty dern good. Large parking lot which can be convenient in the downtown area. read more

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Very welcoming! The food was pretty good. We got the pulled pork nachos which had plenty of cheese. The portions are big Would come back. read more

Come Back In - Pulled pork Nachos - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Dang it! Went here for first time in Dec, as recommended by a friend- only to find out some lame developers are tearing down the historic building to put in townhouses. Jonathan was beyond amazing. Made the whole experience even better. Great bloodies and breakfast plus ambience is beyond compare. Hope I get back to Madison before it's gone. read more

Come Back In - One of the many fascinating collections throughout the place. - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The service was good, but the breakfast quality has gone downhill. Cornbeef hash is canned and so salty I could not eat it. Waitress just said sorry and did nothing about it. Crab cakes tasted like imitation crab also. I'd think twice about going back and use to be our favorite place! read more

I've been here numerous times for live music performances and karaoke. The staff, especially Rachel, who is one of the bartenders, are all fantastic. Friendly, approachable, and genuine. For those of you saying it's sad they're closing, stop and Come Back In! According to this, Essen Haus IS CLOSING but it's unsure as to when exactly, but COME BACK IN IS NOT CLOSING...According to this https://captimes.com/opinion/dave-zweifel/opinion-the-history-of-hoffman-house-lives-on-in-my-memory/article_55ad4190-34c4-11ef-bc40-5708d2b291c4.html read more

In town and went July 1,2025. Loved the atmosphere. Staff were so friendly. Food was very very good. They were holding a trivia night as well. Will come back next time in town. read more

I've never eaten here so I can only speak to the evening crowd. Visited last weekend and they happened to have a live cover band playing, which I love but also made it absolutely packed in the bar. The bar is huge and on both sides of the establishment so you'd think it would be quick and easy to get a drink. Not when they only have two bartenders working. I felt so bad for them that I actually felt bad ordering something, but they do have a lot of local beers on tap so at least I had options. Hopefully next time they have music they make sure to appropriately staff the bar. I did see a lot of people go through the connecting door to Essen Haus in order to actually get a drink as it was not as busy over there. read more

In town for NYE looking for a place to go and came across this dive. Live music was fun! Seating was pretty tight. Some staff were great and others weren't as much. This is exactly the kind of place where locals go. Great crowd made up of all types! Good beers on tap. They needed to update the menu board since all weren't available. read more

I'm leaving Madison and this was my favorite bar/restaurant for the past 3 years. Amazing food. Servers are always friendly. Can't go wrong!

Food is really good and the atmosphere is amazing. Watch out for the Mustard, it's a little spicy. Service was great.

Well, I thought it would be nice to have a beer outside. The music was so loud that my guest and I had to leave. A beautiful day ruined by loud music. There's no need to add any this obnoxiousness when the weather is nice. read more

Just had a fantastic fish fry at the come back in. COD was awesome both fried and broiled. If you're a fan of potato pancakes, they are delicious and if you splurge for the $3 all you can eat option, you can get another serving. Hard to believe that they are not more busy on a Friday night. read more

This might be an odd review for the CBI. I am reviewing them based on probably the dozen of weekend breakfast visits I have made over the last 6 months. Most people might not realize they do an amazing breakfast. It's old school flat top diner style. With cocktails. And amazing service. And no lines. I am almost reluctant to write this as I don't want to share this secret, but alas, here I am. Go for breakfast. You won't be disappointed! read more

I can't tell you the last time I walked out of a restaurant... We were seated at a dirty table and waited ten minutes for a server before leaving. Do not recommend if you have things to do... read more

Come Back Inn is the bar part of the German restaurant Essen Haus - they start the fun early with breakfast and then serve all day long. We were on the area and decided to stop for a quick lunch. CBI has a small patio but has added more tables in the parking lot so we were able to sit outside. (Tables and chairs definitely look like rummage sale specials but whatever) The mister went for a county fried chicken breakfast that came with eggs and American fries which he loved - I tried a bite, and the sausage gravy was really good. I had a ham and cheese omelette and honestly, it was excellent. Full of decent quality ham and just enough cheese - and nicely cooked, not rubbery. I added fruit and that too was fresh and tasty. Our server was upfront that she was new, but I think she did a pretty good job overall. Our bill was small ($26-27?) and if you are in a drinking mood no one will look at you funny if you order a liter of beer. Come back in? Yeah, I certainly would. read more

If I could give this restaurant 0 stars I would. The worst service I've ever experienced not only in Madison but any place I've traveled. It took about 30 minutes to get an order in and the place was not busy by any means. Not to mention there was a homeless man panhandling guests for money around the outdoor seating. My boyfriend had a bug in his food, not on top of his food (as it happens we were sitting outside) it was under his food as it had flew onto the plate in the kitchen and had food placed on top and then served to us. When mentioning this to the waiter we had 3 different people including the manager come out and INSIST on remaking the food for us after we had said no multiple times. Then they remade the food anyways and brought it out to us and boxed it up for us to take after refusing the food again multiple times. Afterwards it took over 30 minutes for us to get our check and then when walking into the restaurant to ask for the bill our waiter was on his phone sitting around. The excuse for the wait was that they were "busy" when only a few tables outside were occupied. The situation then escalated ending in a confrontation and someone that worked at the restaurant following my mom out yelling and causing a scene saying that she assaulted him. He proceeded to get in my boyfriend's face after yelling and saying that we need to "get the fuck out" and "have a nice day please". Extremely poor damage control on their end and the worst service ever experienced. Do not eat here or waste your time/money. If you like bugs in your food and then getting yelled at for waiting 30+ minutes for your bill after negligence be my guest! read more

Easily our favorite brunch spot in Madison! The portions are good size and there's a lot of variety. Don't let the older/dim vibe of Come Back In fool you; the food is worth it. $4 mimosas, screwdrivers and bloody marys is a nice added bonus! read more

Come Back In - Breakfast Enchiladas - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My husband and I were finally ready to venture out and play in-person trivia again, and decided we wanted to try a new location. The Come Back In was great. Everyone was very welcoming; none of that townie bar feel where everyone stares at you like you don't belong when you walk in the door. The atmosphere was a classic Wisconsin bar, nothing fancy but very comfortable. Our server, Logan, was friendly and attentive. I ordered the Rachel and my husband had the nachos. Both meals were well prepared and good portions (I ended up taking half of my sandwich home). I was also thoroughly impressed with the perfect pours on our beers. Social distancing and masks were still in place which added to my comfort level. read more

Come Back In - New Glarus Moon Man APA - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Third time here and everything has been great! Service-OUTSTANDING!!! Great food and really relaxing atmosphere, especially outside.

Came here for trivia on Tuesday. Was fun but the place was pretty empty. They serve free popcorn here which is cool, and have a decent selection of beers. Friend got the fish sandwich and he said that it was really good. Overall, definitely on the more "chill" side when it comes to bar/trivia read more

Come Back In - Coronado orange ave wit! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Come Back In We Need You to Do Better! When supporting local business goes wrong :( We came in for brunch with friends and family visiting Madison, based on past visits that have gone well. Welp not this time. Our waitress was young and pretty attentive overall but made one major mistake. When a customer with a large group says this particular food item wasn't good at all and my guests asked very politely to take the food away because it wasn't tasting good . Most restaurants' rule is to take the food away no questions (especially if the 98% of food was uneaten) and in most restaurants this is always removed from the bill. Waitress 101. Well...not here the young lady adds the food to the bill ,then challenges our request to have it removed. We would've tipped you better for providing a good experience and come back in-pun intended. Instead she says "I will take off half...ahh does that work? "My response no it doesn't. I was going to escalate to a manager but decided to pay the tab and move on. Bad news is I frequently brunch there and now I WILL NOT go back plus actively share the poor customer experience with others. Audacious move young lady over $8.25. (not the money it's the principle). Come back inn management you should train your staff better. It's all about Service there are PLENTY OF OTHER choices. Well cheers to our last time doing business Shake my head! Hopefully the young lady learns or others may not come back either. read more

Old breakfast faithful. Never much more than a typical chain breakfast fair, but far tastier (and they serve drinks so win)! I'm particularly fond of the steak and eggs benedict and their stuffed french toast, though I usually get apricot sauce of the side to scale back the sweetness a tad. In the past I've had issues with their eggs being over poached and not runny enough on the benedict, but they've always made it right. read more

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Solid breakfast/lunch/brunch spot!! I haven't been here in about 15 years and I was pleasantly surprised by the current menu and quality of our food!! In a place like Madison, traditional brunch spots are hard to find. Most places are competing to be the most hipster, use the most Kale, and offer the most Vegan menu available. Most places pride themselves on the cornucopia of their fair-trade coffee choices. Not here. You can order any coffee you like, but you're going to get a cup of regular lunch counter quality Joe in a plain ceramic mug. You'll find all the standards: omelets, pancakes, burgers, sandwiches, French Toast, etc.. you'll also find really great Country-fried Chicken and gravy. It was outstanding. My wife had a great omelette and all was right with the world. Because it is "that time of year" - September - you'll get a lot of freshmen starting their first waitressing job. Be patient, it's a tough job with a long learning curve. It'll make you appreciate how good your favorite server is at your regular diner.. Regardless, you won't go wrong with the menu here at CBI! read more

This place is a wonderful dive bar. Staff is so friendly, the people are great and the vibe is awesome.

We ended up here because we were staying at the inn and they offered complimentary breakfast. The dining area had a bar feel with well-worn wood floors and exposed brick walls. After viewing the menu, I wasn't sure at all what to get as nothing really jumped out at me. Mr. R asked the server if their corned beef hash was homemade, and she said it was (which it didn't seem to be once he ordered it). As she was walking away, she said as almost an afterthought that the stuffed french toast was her recommendation, so I went with a half order of that with a side of bacon. This was a very meaty nice quality bacon, and the stuffed french toast was quite delicious with cream cheese and pecans doused in an apricot sauce. A half order was plenty for me, similar to a four hockey puck sized portion, stacked two and two. We had good service, and the coffee, while not great to me, was good enough. read more

This place is amazing! The food is incredible. During my weekend stay, I was here Friday night, Saturday morning and night, and then again Sunday morning! Staff is wonderful and the music is pretty great too! I can't rave enough!! read more

Service was prompt. Decor feels like a local bar, but that's what it's trying to be. The view is fun, and outdoor seating an option. Prices are reasonable for the area. Food was great, with nice presentation on the strawberry salad I had. The beer selection is on par with most in Madison, but fun mugs they bring the drinks in. read more

Hi everyone! All three restaurants in the parking lot are owned by the same people, and share the same kitchen. This place, and The Essen House are absolutely filthy, this place needs to be inspected and temporarily shut down for health code violations. The best thing about this place is the history and beer variety. The bar has not been properly cleaned in an age. The bartenders do minimal cleaning, like we are talking "cleaning" drinking classes in brown discolored sanitizer water. Just sit at the bar and use your nose man, you can SMELL how filthy it is. The walls of the basement are covered in a black and brown sludge. Its literally seeping down the walls in all of their walk in freezers and coolers. This is the place where they keep keg, drinks and even food. Its thee most abysmal thing i have seen. Walls are about to fall down as you walk down stairs, you cant grab the hand rails because they are about to rip off the walls. There are RATS IN THE KITCHEN, i saw 3-4 of them while working my first closing shift. The freezers are left open because they dont properly latch. If there is any place i have worked, this is easily thee most shady establishment. If you go here, just get a canned or bottled beer and wipe off the rip, for you don't know whats on it. The worst part is the state of the bar and kitchen, like holy crap, you dont know what you are eating and drinking here because its just so absolutely filthy. read more

My favorite thing about CBI is the frequent local music. I've played there with bands and I have gone there to see bands. There is almost never a cover charge. Sometimes the music is great and sometimes it is terrible. I wrote a previous, less than flattering review after a bad experience with some of the staff. I've had several good experiences since and felt like writing a completely updated review. I've ordered a few things off the late night menu, and the best option seems to be the wings. They are standard bar wings, but the BBQ in particular are pretty good. The burgers are basically a kid's cheeseburger, pretty small and flavorless. The regular menu burgers look MUCH better but I've yet to try one. The prime rib? Good. The steak sandwich? GREAT. It had a ton of flavor without any sauce, and was still pink in the middle despite being a sandwich-sized cut of meat. Will definitely order again. read more

I should really try it again before reviewing, but right now I would give it a 3. I had the crab cakes Benedict for lunch and my first few bites (I was starving) I thought it was great. But then I realized it was actually pretty bland. My English muffin tasted stale. My daughter had a half order of chocolate chip pancakes. It was MASSIVE! 3 big pancakes! I was sure they had accidentally given her a full order but when we got our bill it was correct. I tried them and they were too dry/fluffy for my taste. Almost like they are premade and then nuked. Chocolate chips were just melted on top rather than in the batter. The Bloody Mary was decent for $3. Pretty sure it was made with clamato. I will "come back" to the Come Back In and try a more basic breakfast next time. read more

Come Back In - HALF order of pancakes! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The man stumbled upon The Comeback In for brunch and really liked it. When he talked about the different combinations of food and their delicious pancakes I was stoked to try it. When we finally decided to try it on a Saturday morning I was definitely not as enamored with the place as he was. I don't know if I was expecting the place to be different just because I was there for breakfast but this place is totally a bar that is trying its hand at breakfast as well. I mean I had been there for drinks a few times but I somehow expected a different vibe when we went for breakfast. My wish was not fulfilled. Instead I was led to a sticky, lopsided table with a waitress that look like she'd been working there for 45 years. None of that matters much right? Well it wouldn't if the food was superb. But it wasn't. The place is mediocre at best. They love oil and make you well aware of it. The first time I visited here I ordered the walleye with toast. I know that it is not typical breakfast fare but I love me some walleye. Anyway, got the walleye, tried the walleye, but didn't like the walleye. It was oily as all get out and one side was burned. The toast was slathered in butter, yuck. My over easy eggs were simply just gross. They were really watery and completely inedible. But what do you do when you have a meal like that? You go back to try it again. I went back to try the pancakes that the man said were the best pancakes he ever had. I ordered them with the walleye (again), along with the potatoes. I could go into a long description as to how oily everything was (again) and how the potatoes looked as though they had been stuck in the tread of my tire. But I wont. I don't like this place and I def will not be back. Not for breakfast anyway! read more

Come Back In - Beer in a boot - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

German beer hall type place. Dark and woody with lots of stuff on the walls and ceilings. Beer was good and served in a large heavy glass. People were enjoying the bar while the badger game was on, very noisy at times. If you want a German beer hall good time than this just might be the place. read more

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Come Back in, about time I stopped here,every time I visit an Establishment up around the square I find parking to be a hassle but not here they have a decent sized lot in back! Nice square bar in the center of the building, it's old wooden ,loud and people are having fun on this weekend morning. Nice bartender and 3 dollar bloodys with chaser. The bloody Mary was not spicy but it was very good. I will stop in again! read more

Come Back In - Morning bloody! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is a good place to watch football and hang out with friends. The food is pretty standard bar/pub food but not bad. They often have cheap food/drink specials. Monday they had 1$ tacos and 2$ margaritas. Free popcorn and peanuts help. read more

Come Back In - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I absolutely loved the atmosphere here. It was dark but not too dark, kitschy but not overly so, quiet but also filled with many conversations and laughter. Kids got the chocolate chip pancakes--a half order was three huge pancakes--enough to fill up two 11 year olds. There were so many chocolate chips that they were covered with chocolate from head to toe. Okay, not really, but there was chocolate in places you wouldn't expect. The adults both got the prime rib with eggs and potatoes. We both ordered it medium rare, and what we got was almost well done. Sad panda. It was a bit too chewy for my liking. The best part about ordering med rare prime rib is the juice that oozes out as it sits on your plate, soaking into the potatoes. That didn't happen. The potatoes were cooked perfectly--a good combination of crispy and soft. The eggs were eggs. Perfectly acceptable and tasty. The toast didn't really have any butter on it, so it was left by the wayside. The rosemary au jus was amazing! So tasty and just what i needed to soak that dry meat in. I'm very interested in coming here again, as the menu choices were good, and I'm dying to try something else. It turned out to be a great place for a leisurely brunch! read more

Admittedly, the few times I have been here is later at night and judgement perhaps slightly impaired so it was a little bit of a surprise when I walked in on a Tuesday night around 6. The rustic charm and coziness that my drunken eyes of yore thought they saw was quickly replaced with sad and loneliness. I know there are discussions about selling the property but the place appeared pretty dingy and almost completely empty. It looks the same as it did 25 years ago. Beer taps are solid and, although I was disappointed they didn't have Revolution on tap (although it was listed on the tap list), the Spaten Octoberfest did the trick. Our server was friendly and informed us of the $1 taco special. Being a man of value, I threw caution to the wind and ordered three and they weren't bad-ground beef, lettuce, cheese in a flour tortilla. In a pinch, I would order them again. Seriously, what can you really expect for $1 a taco? With that said, I can't see myself returning to grab a bite to eat. I know their brunch receives decent reviews but there are so many other dining establishments in the vicinity that deliver on the full experience that I would rather go to. read more

Everything I said in my 2011 review still stands, but as I've aged my visits have turned toward visiting for brunch and Packer games as opposed to ridiculously late Sunday nights for singing and free champagne. Brunch: so delicious! The last few times I've gotten a half order of the chocolate chip pancakes with peanut butter syrup because I have the breakfast palate of a five year old. The half order is more than I can eat (three pancakes that are usually 5-6 inches in diameter), the chocolate chips are plentiful, the syrup is somehow not too sweet, and the whole thing is topped off with whipped topping (it definitely falls closer to Cool Whip than whipped cream). On other visits I've tried the stuffed french toast, grilled cheese, pot roast, and cobbled together my own a la carte breakfast based on what random items sound most delicious when combined. I haven't had a bad item yet in the two or so years I've been frequenting them for breakfast and brunch. Special shout-out to the breakfast potatoes, which on an off day are merely tasty, but on a good day are some of the best around - crispy, not too oily, and a balance of salt and seasonings that still lets the potato itself shine. Packers: CBI is a great place to watch the game. Seating is ample, there are beer specials, you can have as many boats of peanuts and popcorn as your heart desires, and you get a free shot (sometimes Jello, sometimes Pucker) for every touchdown. The bartenders are fun and are fans too, making the celebration even more lively. The only things keeping Come Back from being a five-star establishment for me are the decrepit ladies' room, uncomfortable chairs, and occasionally spotty service. Some examples: the last time we went we stopped at the hostess stand and said hello. The hostess greeted us and then went back to working on whatever she was looking at on the podium. After standing there for a few more awkward seconds we figured we were supposed to set ourselves so we did, and it took awhile for a server to notice us and then bring us menus. People who came in after were seated by the hostess. Not sure what happened there. On another occasion about a month or so ago we were sitting near one of the TVs for the game. I asked the bartender to change over to the game and he said someone was coming around with the remote. I lost track of time and realized it was about 15 minutes after kickoff and we were still watching the wrong channel. They finally got it on for us, awesome. However, about half an hour later they turned the TV off even though we were still sitting there without asking or giving a reason. We moved to the bar, but we had picked that seat specifically because it was close to the TV and my short little legs go numb when they're dangling from the bar stools for three hours. Despite that massive paragraph, the service is good more often than not (the first-string bartenders are amazing), and the awesome, affordable brunch makes the trip worth it. read more

Come Back In - Chocolate chip pancakes. - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The Come Back has historically been one of my favorite places to go whenever I visit home. There is a fun atmosphere, usually very friendly service, lots of space, great beer, and all the popcorn and nuts you could want. I'm sad to say that my experience last weekend has led me to decide not to return. I was in town, celebrating the completion of a half marathon with friends over some beer. A couple of my friends had to leave, and couldn't find our waitress, so they settled up at the bar. After they left, our waitress was confused and said that they did not pay. I explained the situation to her, and she said that although she was new, it was not possible to settle up at the bar. I was asked to pay for my friend's tab. I got in touch with my friends to double check that they had indeed paid, and they literally sent me a picture of the receipt to my iphone. After much time, the manager was called into the equation. He looked at the photo of the receipt, which clearly had the date, time, and amount. He said he didn't know what that was. He never once apologized, but only said that they did not pay. He told me that because the tab was on the floor and not at the bar, it was not possible to settle up with bartenders. Sure, maybe my friends shouldn't have settled up at the bar--I guess, but at the very least, the manager should have apologized for something that was clearly some bartender's fault, not really mine or my friends'. And, we double paid! Sorry CBI, but the poor customer service on the manager's part is just enough to make me direct my business elsewhere. Bummer. read more

I really like the Brunch at the Come Back In. The menu has something for everyone, that is for sure. I ordered the Walleye and Eggs. The fish was cooked well (could have be a touch warmer). The eggs and potatoes were delicious. I had the pancakes and they were really, really good. Of course, when you are eating breakfast at the Come Back In, you get a bloody, screwdriver, or Mimosa. I grabbed the Screwdriver as it worked well with both the fish and the pancakes. My pal had the Prime Rib and Eggs. That is a lot of food for the price. I have to remember to come here more often. read more