Some places are worth a detour. Others are worth a drive…read more Just Beyond The Willow firmly lands in the second category. Seriously - it will be well worth your travel time to check out this gold mine of a local java joint! This cozy little establishment sits in what used to be a gas station that locals say dates back to the 1930s. It's tucked into a quiet rural town, and from the outside you might not immediately guess there's a terrific little coffee stop waiting inside. We stopped specifically to try the coffee shop portion, Willow Bay Coffee. I was just hoping for some decent espresso and maybe a simple munchie to hold me over until an actual meal down the road aways. What I got instead was one of those "You have got to be kidding me" moments. The espresso drinks were excellent. I chose for just a basic Americano, which was definitely HOT and everything I had hoped for in a joe. However, the real surprise was the food. Sounding too good to pass up, I decided to order the Asiago Bagel with Ham & Swiss. It's was a $7 sandwich with a $15 taste. No exaggeration -- the ham was so flavorful I'd honestly compare it to Nueske's. They source locally and let me tell you - this is top tier tasting meat & cheese! This is nothing like what I was expecting from such a humble little shop - and it certainly surpasses anything I have had at even high-end coffee houses and most restraunts I have been to. SCORE!!! My wife decided to follow suit and ordered the sister menu item: their Turkey & Cheddar on gluten-free bread (she has Celiac disease). She reported the same "what the heck?!" taste reaction. DOUBLE-PLAY!!! As an aftermove, I ended up eventually leaving with a couple of muffins from the bakery plate for later: a Banana Walnut and Lemon Poppy Seed. I didn't actually eat any until later that night at home for supper. WA!!! No disapointment here, and they tasted just as good as they smelled earlier. GAME-SET-MATCH!!! While this isn't a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, Raquel ("Ray-Chel") clearly understands the medical issues with Celiac and will take all reasonable precautions she can if you ask. As always: Polite and understanding self-advocacy will always give you the best shots at polite, understanding and effective precautions from your business hosts. And speaking of Raquel -- she's the kind of host every small-town (and heck - ANY) café hopes to have: consumately professional, fabulously welcoming, and genuinely enjoyable to chat with. She is just down to earth Good People! Places like this are why I enjoy looking for local establishments when traveling, and am willing to wander off the main drags once in a while. You never know when you'll stumble onto a hidden gem. In this case, we hit the mine! Seriously - this place will be well worth your drive! If you stop in, tell her that, "show-and-tell husband" in the black cowboy hat sent you!

Make sure to stop in to Just Beyond the Willow for coffees. teas, pastries, soups and…read moresandwiches...everything is great! The best part about this establishment are the owners and their son that run it. They are friendly, and their desire is to please the customer. They have taken an old service station and transformed it into a clean, cute, & cozy place whether in the winter, or enjoy their deck in the spring, summer, or fall!

We discovered Nanos Sweet Cafe, and it's quickly become one of my favorite spots in town! They have…read morethe best tiramisu I've ever had, so creamy and flavorful! The cappuccino was fantastic as well, just the right balance of rich coffee and frothy milk. I also tried the Kenefeh, and it was delicious! The flavors were spot on, nothing we had was overly sweet which was nice. I really enjoyed the background music! The owner is incredibly sweet and welcoming, which made the experience even better. I can't wait to go back and try more of their amazing desserts! Highly recommend checking this place out!

My friend took me out for my birthday and hinted there would be a surprise at the end. Knowing I'm…read morea huge tiramisu fan, she brought me to a new dessert spot in town. When we walked in, we noticed several tables, with only one other party enjoying their coffee. The atmosphere was not cozy like other cafes, coffee houses. A gentleman came over to take our order, and we saw the menu written on the wall. I decided on a banana date smoothie and a slice of pistachio tiramisu, while my friend ordered a fresh lemonade and a Mediterranean dessert. I debated getting the Dubai chocolate crepe, but the gentleman mentioned it would take 10-15 minutes to prepare, which felt surprisingly long given there was no one ahead of us. Ww picked up our food a few minutes after paying at the counter. The disappointment started with the banana date smoothie. It was extremely watered down--more like icy water, and I could barely taste banana or date. For $9, I couldn't help but wonder how much fruit was actually used. The pistachio tiramisu wasn't much better. While the edges were soft enough to eat, they were dry, and the whole thing was very frozen. When I mentioned this, the gentleman explained they had taken it out of the freezer three hours earlier. Honestly, it would be helpful if they told customers the tiramisu might still be frozen, or suggested other options if you plan to eat there but no warning was given. The lemonade was okay, and the Mediterranean dessert was bland until my friend added some syrup, which made it a bit better. All in all, I'm grateful my friend treated me, but we both agreed there's no need to return. The quality simply wasn't there, and the prices felt steep for what was offered. They offer Dubai chocolate bars but the price was ridiculous. I have had them in CA, NY and TX in 2024 and it looks like folks in Madison are now catching on this trend.

I absolutely love what this place offers! You can truly feel the positive vibes when you walk in !…read moreI have an energy tea and a delicious protein shake! They even had an option to add boba to my drink. Happy to have one on the west side of Madison look forward to make this my daily routine !

Such a good find while out of town. Great menu for breakfast, excellent coffee options and most of…read moreall I was so happy they had black licorice ice cream!! I know it sounds gross but I feel in love with it on a trip to Iceland and it's so hard to find! Made my year It's super cute inside, great place to sip your coffee and play some games with friends or family.

We stopped in while on a road trip and got three sandwiches to go along with some boba tea. When we…read morewere back on the road I opened my sandwich and found a terribly burned, hard as a rock, smelly mess of a sandwich. I would never in a million years serve food like this to a customer. I had to wrap it up tightly in the plastic bag it came in to contain the smell. I would've gone back but, like I said we were already back on the highway and miles from town.

An amazing find! We biked in and had one of the best lattes we've had in quite some time. The…read morebreakfast burritos were delicious and the blueberry scone was top notch! They also make the scones in house! It's very clean, neat inside, super friendly staff and we'll definitely be back; we highly recommend

This review is for those of you wondering what's going on during this disgusting yucky Covid-19…read morecrisis. I am happy to report that this little diner does a smashing job of covering all the bases while providing cute delicious lunch is in a very safe manner. There is outside seating outback along the Sugar River. I had a croissant sandwich with turkey and avocado and it was just right. Not too heavy not too big. I went for an iced hazelnut Latte and it was delicious. This place is as cute as a button and does a good job under the circumstances. Very nice spot on the Belleville scene.

What a cute tea bar!…read more Such an enticing menu, I was conflicted because everything looked so good but ended up getting the teddy graham matcha with boba! It was pretty expensive but really well done. I wish I could come back and try more items but I was unfortunately only in town for an event. Service was very fluid and kind, and the place was decorated so cutely! Ambiance is stellar, great study spot. I would recommend this as a must try!!

Sencha Tea Bar blends modern energy with a touch of whimsy--and Madison's location captures both…read moreperfectly. We stopped in for a midday pick-me-up and were greeted with a menu that felt more like a mood board: vibrant, customizable, and full of refreshing promise. I ordered the Mango Watermelon Iced Tea, which arrived crisp, fruit-forward, and exceptionally balanced. It wasn't overly sweet, and the watermelon notes didn't overpower the mango--a rare achievement in fruit tea profiles. My favorite of the visit, though, was the Moo Long Purple specialty drink. A layered beauty with oolong tea, lavender undertones, and rich purple hues that swirled like a galaxy in a cup. It had a soft floral fragrance and a creamy finish that made each sip linger just a second longer than expected. Staff were quick, friendly, and familiar with their blends--offering insights on flavor pairings and boba textures. The shop itself was clean, cozy, and a sweet retreat from the bustle of State Street. Whether you're looking to sip slowly with friends or grab a colorful Instagram-worthy drink on the go, Sencha delivers more than just tea--it delivers an experience worth repeating

What a great coffee shop! The service is fast and friendly. It's conveniently located off park…read morestreet. There is usually ample parking. The jerk hash browns are a MUST try! They're pretty small so get at least two. They don't have much seating inside but the main space in the building had some extra space. Love this coffee shop and I'll be adding it to my rotation! Side note: their merch is so cute!

I often come here for their RevG Latte coffee and chocolates for my boys. But have also had their…read morepizza and chicken wings. The owners are really sweet and always smiling. I can def recommend this place.

Delicious steak tacos!! I opted for a flat white which was fine but the true standouts of the day…read morewere the deliciously juicy steak tacos. The tenderness of the steak was key and made the tacos some of the best tacos I've had in WI. The tacos also came with guacamole and cheese on top (no cheese on my order due to dairy restrictions) which I thought was a great value. The tacos were hearty and very filling and at $3.50, they were a pleasant bargain. I'll gladly stop in for food next time I'm in the Madison area!

Great food - Pupusas and sweet quesadillas that are similar to corn bread. They were busy today and…read morethe service was slow but we had a laid back morning plan so that was ok with us. Cozy ambiance but a bit loud if you wanted to focus or get work done. Small patio with three tables will be nice when summer is here.