Awesome lunch spot! I came here on a Thursday, and it was pretty busy. I ordered the chicken avocado melt, and it took about 30 minutes to get the food which was a little slower than I would hope for. The fries had a great texture but were under-seasoned, but that's okay because they provide salt shakers. The sandwich was also pretty good, but the chicken could have been seasoned more. Solid restaurant with good vibes! read more

The Library Cafe & Bar - Chicken avocado melt - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We stopped by this University of Wisconsin college bar an hour before a women's volleyball game. It wasn't overly packed. Not much to complain about considering it's a college bar. The food was exactly what you'd expect. Nothing special but nothing bad. I would recommend adding more mayo to the BLT and layering the nachos with more cheese rather than just adding it all to the top. I had the Long Island special, and it was strong. Very enjoyable. read more

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Date of visit: August 30, 2024 We stopped here with some friends/drunks after a Badger game. I don't spend much time in Madison so the name and decor seemed quite novel to me and am sure many a student told a professor or parent, "I'm going to the Library" and totally wasn't lying when ending up at a bar! I appreciated the couches, even though now as I write this, I wonder how clean they could be given how much they get used. A negative is that the tables set up near the couches were not of an appropriate height and made me feel like I was sitting at the kids table. Also odd was that they closed early (midnight) on a Friday night. The group we were with definitely would have stayed longer had they continued to serve us! read more

I took out lunch on a weekday. Cajun burger was my item. Food was ready in about 10 minutes. It was a good burger, though it wasn't as spicy or flavorful as I was expecting it to be. read more

The Library Cafe & Bar - Cajun burger - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

After a great victory by the Badger Women's Volleyball team during the NCAA playoffs we stopped in on our way to our car for a celebratory drink. It wasn't too busy for a Saturday night but it took a long time to get the bartender's attention to order the drinks. Not much you could do wrong with pouring beers. The space is OK for a campus bar - not as divey as some but nothing special. Good location close to the sports facilities and the engineering campus. read more

This is one of my favorite places on campus. Today I got the Chicken Caesar Wrap, which was absolutely delicious. I loved the addition of tomatoes, which I don't find often in Caesar dishes. It was so refreshing and just what I needed. I also got an Iced Chai, which was also good. The people who work here are always in a good mood, and very friendly. As for the ambiance, it's absolutely perfect. They play amazingly perfect instrumental music, there are books lining the walls, and to me, it's one of the most calming cafe experiences you could get in Madison. If you happen to stumble upon this little tucked away corner of campus, stop by and get The Best Turkey Sandwich Ever! (Literally what it's called, they were right) read more

The library is my bf and I's favorite spot on campus. This cozy little nook is tucked away right in the middle of the intersection across from the engineering campus. No parking lot means the only way to get here is on foot. As far as seating, there's the bar, high tables, and normal tables along with a nice big L couch right in the middle. The food is decently priced and is decent quality. I don't love their fries (they're the long crispy type), but their sandwiches are true to description and have always been enough to fill us up. The drink selection is pretty great, and they always have deals. Beyond the bar, they have a wide variety of lattes for those cold winter evenings. This bar has a reputation for being nerdy, and I love that about it. read more

Tuesday night trivia is pretty awesome but I'm also. Also really chill with me being picky as hell autism style.

I wish I didn't wait until senior year before trying this place. Great food and drinks, and not overpriced. Staff if always friendly too. Easy to stop by when you're on campus. read more

The Library Cafe & Bar - two plates of food and a drink - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I always have a great burger, and their fries are always hot and crispy. I can never decide between making them angry or Cajun, but either way is great. In the dozen times I've eaten here, I haven't received a bad meal of service. Also - the pricing on the food is great! read more

Fast service, good coffee and excellent sandwiches. Ate lunch with colleagues before the holidays

Great food, service and vibes. Odd location but it's part of its quirks. Lots of grad students

I visit The Library once in a while for after work drinks or a lunch here and there. The food is always pretty good for bar food in the area. The buffalo chicken wrap is a solid option and always ask for what sort of potato chip flavor they have--from BBQ to ranch, always ask! Their happy hour specials are always solid. I will say that it is quite a small place and you sort of have to hover and keep a keep eye out for seats or chairs that come available. Also, you have to order at the bar, which is right where you walk in, rather than table service. The ambiance is very chill, with a few books on the wall and a couch in the middle for a nice and chill atmosphere. You order and they bring the food to your table. If you are in the neighborhood, drop in, grab a drink and maybe the potato chip of the day and enjoy the 'library-type' atmosphere. read more

The Library is a small concrete bunker housed on a triangle piece of land between Johnson and University. Your typical bar food offerings as well as coffee. I went with the bacon cheeseburger. I'm a big fan of bar burgers but the burger didn't live up to my expectations. Just pretty meh. Since parking is a nightmare around it's location, besides stopping in before a Badger football game for a cold beer, I can't imagine seeing myself coming back anytime soon. read more

The Library is one of several iterations that this location has gone through since I've been at the university. It offers upscale bar food, which I've usually found to be pretty good. It's funky and cool on the inside, with a good beer selection, an odd assortment of tables and chairs, and boasting actual books. It does tend toward crowded and noisy at peak hours. All that being said, my experience today somewhat soured my opinion of The Library. First, I would suggest that you sit in the patio area ONLY IF: 1.) You are fond of bees. 2.) You enjoy eating lunch within spitting distance of the Indy 500. 3.) You think it's cool to watch little bugs boiling gently in your beer as you slowly roast in a 150 degree oven. (Umbrellas would be a good idea.) Second, anyone who has read my recent ecstatic ravings about the smoked turkey sandwich at Brasserie V can appreciate that the bar in the turkey sandwich arena has been set very high. So I can speak with confidence when I say that The Library's Best Turkey Sandwich Ever was...not. Not even in the ballpark. To whit: 1) the turkey was cut thickly, but lacked the wonderful smokiness of B. V's offering. 2) I generally like my grilled sandwiches to be hot on the inside, and this was not even warm enough to melt the cheese. 3) The overwhelming mayo was gagifying. 4) Most distressingly, I opened my sandwich to see the inner workings, and I was greeted by a couple of chunks of turkey that were clearly not cooked. Please pass the salmonella? Not best ever. Not even good. DISGUSTING. Gross sandwich aside, the Cajun fries were screw-it-I'm-going-to-be-fat-and-happy awesomely good. The Library is a nice little hangout, and I'm sure I will be back for the odd after-work beer--but sans turkey sandwich. read more

The Library Cafe & Bar - The Best Turkey Sandwich ever--NOT!!!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Visiting Wisconsin this past weekend, a couple of friends and I were looking for a bar to hit up without straying too far away from the South Union. There wasn't much, but we did find the Library, and their odd schedule of specials (4-7pm, 7-close, 9-close). We were there in between 7 and 9, so we got to have cheap Long Islands! Oof...oh well, can't complain too much about cheap booze. No one can really, which explains why it was so packed. We also ordered some food; I got a brat with cheddar on it. I think it was pretty good - at the very least it helped keep the Long Islands from destroying me. We came back much later the same night, and this time we also qualified for $2 domestics. The place was pretty much dead at this point, but we didn't feel any weird pressure from the lone remaining bartender. In fact, he came by to talk to us for a bit which was pretty cool of him. Overall, a place that can be cramped at times, but when you're serving drinks up at those classic campus prices, it's worth dealing with. read more

Great for a quick lunch break if you work on the west side of campus and you haven't packed a bag lunch or if you're just tired of the South Union food court. I found the decor homey albeit a bit quirky, but I can definitely see how cramped it can become when it is busy. Also, it seems that the acoustics of the establishment aren't that great, because even with only a few tables filled during lunch time, it was pretty noisy. I ordered the jerk chicken sandwich (glazed BBQ chicken with a slice of pineapple on a bun) with a side of greens. The greens were a bit limp, but for the most part, I really enjoyed the food. The chicken breast was juicy and not at all overcooked. I also liked the sweetness of the pineapple in contrast with the tanginess of the BBQ sauce. All in all, for such a filling meal, the price was pretty reasonable. I'd definitely be open to trying more of the items on their menu or stopping by for a drink in the PM! read more

I've been twice, but I'm still not a big fan of the library. The cheese curds and fried pickles are pretty good, but my main dishes have always left me feeling like I could get a better meal elsewhere for the price. Maybe it is because I ordered salads on both visits, and the salads just seemed "thrown together". read more

The Library Cafe & Bar - Caesar salad. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Pretty good food. Has beer. Shittiest staff ever though. Every single time. Major assholes. read more

The Library Cafe & Bar - Jerks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I'm actually writing this review after over a year later. But I didn't use yelp as much that time. This place has down down the Worst service I've experienced. I saw that when they were closing, glasses were snatched from someone's hands. Pretty rude bartender to say the least. I haven't got since that day again. read more

I really really enjoy each time I come to the Library. They make good food and good coffee! They're coffee has that strong coffee taste (and isn't watered down), and their specialty espressos have that quality too, where the sugar and the flavors don't mask the taste of coffee. I really like their Tuna Sandwich, because of the Wasabi Mayo. The Tuna is seared on the outside, and slightly raw on the inside, which makes the tuna really tender and not dry. Plus, they're really generous with the tuna, such that there's never too much bread compared to the fish. I just wish that the sandwich had a little more flavor. Besides having the wasabi mayo, the sandwich was a little bland. read more

Located just a block away from where I work, this on-campus little cafe and bar is a nice place for chilling out, and as expected, they do get busy, especially during lunch/dinner hours and their happy hours. Unless you are there for happy hours, I would suggest going during 'off hours' to avoid the crowd if you just want a place to hang out with friends or grab something for a meal. Before noon is usually fine, also the time between 2 pm and whenever their happy hour begins is also good. Note: They start serving loaded nachos after 2 pm, so that will be an awesome time to go!! Ok, back to those nachos, they are freshly baked to order. The serving is so big you can have it as a whole meal (and feel stuffed after), or share it with a friend (plenty to go around and fill you both up). Those nachos come with a generous helping of black olives, guacamole, cheese and a side of sour cream and salsa. Their chicken tenders are also one of my favs. Again freshly fried order. I love how they prepare all your food fresh. The strips of chicken are crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside -- the perfect combo! Burgers are also a great choice, they have so many types of burgers to choose from, you won't have any trouble finding one to your liking. Oh, the fries that come with the tenders and burgers, how can I forget them. Cajun is best!! *yums* Noise level a little high, but it's a bar so it's not something out of the blue. The cafe also has very unique deco, just like what they are call -- the library. Be prepared to see books on shelves all around, almost every sort of books that you can imagine will likely be there, science, horror, fiction, biography, culinary etc. But don't worry, you don't have to read them if you don't want to ~~ If you are looking for a nice cozy little place, stop by to give them a try. Snuggle up with some good food and a root beer, or go for a real beer. read more

Get the turkey sandwich. I don't care what else you do, but you have to try it. It's simple, well done, and insanely satisfying with quality ingredients. They also use fresh fruit juices in cocktails. I don't know why this random cement vibed is place is delicious, but it is!!! Give it a go!! read more

We've been having a regular weekly happy hour at the Library for the last couple of years--"we" being a group of graduate students, university staff, and professionals. We love the atmosphere, and it's great to have a place so close to campus that is not at ALL the typical State Street-esque undergrad establishment. The menu is not expansive, but pretty much everything on it is good--my partner's only complaint is that they only offer their salads at lunchtime. I highly recommend the turkey sandwich with bacon and cheddar, the chicken strips, and the portobella burger. The owner and staff are awesome, too. Yesterday, we had our engagement party there--they're normally closed on Sundays but they will do private parties. It was wonderful working with Stephani to get everything set up; she was quick to respond to questions and very concerned with making sure that it was a great party for us. She got the particular sparkling wine we wanted through her distributor, did fruit and veggie trays, and let us bring in some outside food from Sam's Club to round it out. She also made me the best Salty Dog I've ever been served before the guests started to arrive. The space was very comfortable for the ~40 people who were there (official capacity is right at 100, but that wouldn't give everyone a place to sit). It was a perfect engagement party venue for us, and we're looking forward to more happy hours there in the future! On weekends and after 5pm or so, Lot 20 across University is free parking, too. read more

Come here for a cheap long island and a basket of cajun fries during happy hour on Friday afternoon after a long week in lab! You'll feel right at home amongst other lab rats doing the same. This is the go-to bar for most grad students, post-docs, and faculty in the science departments due to its proximity to most of the buildings that we work in. It has a fun atmosphere, the service is pretty good, and the food is decent compared to other options in the vicinity. The Library offers decent bar food, a reasonable selection of beers on tap, pretty good coffee, and cheap happy hour specials. The people who work here really know the clientele, which makes for a fun and comfortable environment. The place gets pretty crowded during happy hour and lunch, but just hang around for a bit and you'll be able to snag a table pretty quickly. This is also a good place to get your sports fix...lots of TVs and they'll gladly accomodate requests for certain games if you ask. read more

I'm actually glad that they came into the lunch scene for UW engineering and science geeks. This place was something else before, but the interior renovation was well done to create a welcoming atmosphere. As the name suggests, a shelf of books against all the walls surround this place making it ever more easier for nerdies(including myself) to feel comfortable. On the menu are extensive list of grilled sandwiches and burgers. Vegetarians can also find something tasty-sounding like portabella mushroom burger. The order comes with sides (fries etc), and the portion is big enough that I can't finish everything that's served. The service can be bit slow, so if you are in hurry, you might want to skip this place and go to Subway next door. read more

The Library Bar is a great place to get together on a Thursday night. It's far enough from the bars of downtown to avoid frat dudes, and the Engineering Hall parking ramp is free after 8pm! They have wine and espresso drinks in addition to usual bar-type things, which is nice for my varied group of friends. And, on a side note, we all want to catalog the books that line the booths. (We are future librarians.) read more

Whenever I hit up a game (or attempt to scalp tickets)...I usually end up at The Library Bar for a drink or two. I've never eaten here so I can't comment on the food, but it looked pretty tasty! Years back a friend and I stopped in, freezing, and a nice bartender made us a spiked cider. I haven't been able to get it here since then, but I dream of the day I can enjoy another one of those magical hot beverages. The Good: -It's a stone's throw away from Camp Randall -Pretty friendly and efficient bartenders -Tons o' books line the walls -Cozy fireplace -Decent amount of seating The Meh: -It can be incredibly crowded and in such a tight space, no bueno -Two bathrooms total -The crowd is very mixed. Sometimes it's douchey, drunk coeds and other times it's full or really funny professors and interesting alumni (game day crowd). read more

Perfect summer (kind-of-hole-in-a-wall) getaway from the terrace. Looking for some appropriately priced pitchers, a cool atmosphere, and some good finger food! This is your place. I.E. if you need the perfect alibi for your parents, this is the place "Mom/Dad, I'm at the library." Pro-Tip: Order a large basket of cajun fries for your table! read more

love the vibes of this place and the drinks/food/coffee are all really good too. staff is super nice as well.

The Library is a great little hidden gem located in the heart of the engineering g campus at UW Madison. It's been there for years. It's been a number of different pubs over the last 30 years or something. I've had beer on their little outside patio a couple of times - but had lunch there for the first time today. Given their tony little grill they turn out a nice mix of burgers and sandwiches. I had the corned beef sandwich. Not a traditional version of this iconic deli classic - but a winner nonetheless. I had it with a nice little mixed green salad. You can also get fries or pub chips. There are several local beers on tap and an espresso machine. The indoor seating area has an old school library motif in the sense of a home library in a classic UK manner. I'll be back - you know my motto... eat at the local joints. The library is joint to be sure and pulls off a local vibe. read more

Small Establishment in the campus with good beer , good drinks , and best Cajun fries. Decent ambiance ,Good place to be if you want to chill out and hence a place for holding good conversation. Grad student gentry !! $3 LIT's and Cajun Fires are the best thing.. read more

Great food, great service, and fun conversation. It's nice to go to a bar near campus that isn't full of stupid frat guys. One of the best lunches near campus! read more

I have heard so many good things about the Library Cafe and I left unimpressed. I know it is meant to be small and cozy but I felt really uncomfortable. It was really cramped and it was tough to find a seat. The high top tables are hard to eat at, so I ended up in the corner. I was only with one other person and once people began to move chairs around, we were trapped. As it was my first time, I was confused that the menus were all on the front counter. So the line grew as people contemplated their order. I ordered the chicken pesto sandwich with tossed greens. The sandwich was good. It wasn't great. It was a chicken breast, with pesto, cheese on a sandwich, exactly what the menu described. The "tossed greens" were chopped romaine lettuce with balsamic vinaigrette. Delicious but nothing spectacular. I would come back for Happy Hour and sit outside. Until then, I will probably skip another lunch trip. read more

Quick no-frills college lunch food option. I went here to meet up with an old college friend when I was in town and gave this place a try. We had an quick and easy time getting to the front of the line and ordering, which even though it was long and almost went to the outside door wasn't a bad wait. Seating was easy enough to find even with the relatively small amount of space inside. Our food arrived quickly after we sat down. I had the cajun chicken sandwich with cajun seasoned fries. The sandwich itself was good with a standard set of lettuce, tomato, chicken and chipotle mayo for toppings. The fries were seasoned well and ordering an extra side of the chipotle mayo was a way to add some additional kick to them. Overall, I'd come back and get lunch here again when I'm in town. read more

The "Cheers" bar for most of the Biochemistry department. No crap on tap. Good burgers and sandwiches for lunch or later. Fun pub quiz some Tuesdays. Interesting crowd, much more so than most University and State bars. -1 star for the coffee -- it's a nice feature, but my order could have been made better in half the time at Aldo's or Prairie Fire (though it's certainly better than the Union delis). read more

Definitely the best thing to happen to the shopping complex jammed between University and Gorham. They have a great selection of sandwiches for lunch, good coffee, and a variety of beer to top it all off. The books, couches, and fireplace create a manor/library feel. My only problem is that the space is small, and the seating near the couches is cramped. When crowded, moving around the space is near impossible. So either plan on off hours eating or be patient. The meal will be worth it. read more

Edit (26Apr2009): Had to move it to 5 stars since they recently added outdoor seating and a walk up window to order your morning coffee or your beer and one more TV behind the bar. read more

The Library Cafe & Bar - a red vw beetle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I love the Library Bar. It's getting the 4 star treatment for the limited seating. There's been a couple of times I've had to go elsewhere due to limited lunchtime seating. When the weather is nice, their outdoor seating is a great addition. They have great salads and sandwiches. A daily special option too. Their drink menu and food menu is bigger than you would think for a small kitchen (their kitchen is pretty small and it's open to the diners- kind of cool to watch them make your food). They have delicious beer and cocktails too. A little variety of seating from couches to high bar tables for 4. Tvs for game watching. Perfect for Badger game days. read more

Pretty good local bar. It's easily the best place to eat near the university at that location. Burgers and sandwiches are good. Nice place for lunch or after work drink. read more