The Victory

Discovered this spot while my little sister was in town visiting and now have already been back…read morewith plans to keep returning. I've ordered the same thing both times because I loved it so much- the Three Grain & Tempeh Bowl. It's so fresh and delicious, filling without making you feel over-full and gross. She had the Mushroom & Gouda Omelette and also very much enjoyed. The seating space is small so you can definitely run into a wait during busy times, but service moves fast! You'll order at the counter and be handed a number to take to your table, where the food will be delivered. During busy times I've seen them try to help coordinate seating arrangements but it is otherwise largely a seat yourself sort of place. Next on my list are the lemon ricotta pancakes which are reportedly famous and a turmeric cookie I spotted in the bakery section :)

I may have thought bad things about Madison prematurely. I mean, here for an event but who really…read moretravels to Madison? But here we were in downtown in a beautiful day with a gorgeous lake-side path and finding ourselves enjoying it. Stopped here for breakfast, shocked in our research how many vegetarian options were available for my wife. Here you could get tofu eggs and tempeh added to your dishes. I got their chilaquiles and gluten free lemon poppyseed pancakes (they had GF toast but their only savory option was this or a coconut thing). The entree was delicious, not too spicy unless you bite into too many jalapeños, and the shredded chicken was great. Could have used a second egg but I'm a big boy so maybe it's just me. I was also surprised by how much I liked the pancakes. It was a gamble as I don't like things too lemony and while you could definitely taste the lemon, it was still very good. And the pancakes, for being gluten free, were fluffy and soft and great. Had a regular coffee and while it was strong, it was just coffee. It gets very busy at peak meal times to plan accordingly. We'll probably be back before this trip is done.

Three grain bowl

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Orange poppyseed pancakes and side of potatoes

Cottage Cafe

4.2(165 reviews)

2.0 mi

•$

First time at this place. It didn't seem like much from the outside. There were a ton of cars…read moreoutside though so we figured it was probably good. Walking inside, it seemed like the tables were close together. The layout looked crowded. We were seated pretty quick and near the window so that was great. Waitress was fast and exceptional. Menu had a good selection. I ordered the Biscuit Stack and the wife ordered the Chicken Fried Steak and eggs or something. Our food came out pretty quick considering the place was full. Our food was very very good and that's the reason this place was full. The biscuit stack was put together in a very unique way but all the ingredients tasted great. It was a nice find for someone from out of town. I recommend this place and would visit again if i'm in the area again.

I wanted to like this place, I really did. Did some research on solid diners in the Madison area…read moreand this is one of the ones that popped up. It was off the highway, so I thought I would give it a go. Walked in and it was what you would expect from a Wisconsin diner -- old carpeting, waitresses who are lifers, and signage from the bygone era. I sat at the bar, with barstools that came about 4 feet off the ground, and asked the cordially waitress what was good. She rattled off about 3/4 of the breakfast menu so I needed a few minutes. A few minutes passed and I went with the Krab Cakes Benedict (why the K?) and the Cottage Platter. The crab cakes were decent (definitely better than the Cottage Platter), but very crisp on the outside, straddling the line of burnt, and somewhat cooked on the inside. Light on the seasoning. As they say on the cooking shows, it was screaming for some acidity...or in this case some Old Bay. Then the Cottage Platter, which I was very much looking forward to, fell flat for me. The hashbrowns had a funky taste to them, which I couldn't quite place. And again, overall, the dish was lacking in flavor. Would I go out of my way to hit this place up again? Most likely not. If I was in the area and wanted to try something else, I probably would.

Signage outside

Cinnamon Roll

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Lunch date!

Ogden's North Street Diner

4.6(202 reviews)

0.9 mi•Emerson East

Ogdens is a cute, cozy spot with awesome natural light. It's small so I would expect to wait for a…read moretable. The food tasted fresh and high quality which is awesome considering the prices aren't very high. The servers are fast, efficient, and super friendly! They made us feel very welcome and were very attentive. I will definitely be back!

I had an excellent breakfast at Ogden's! Our waitress was pleasant and helpful. The restaurant…read moreitself was really cute too. I appreciated that the two unisex bathrooms were a nice size and separated from the eating area by a half-wall. In the interest of transparency, I didn't love my entree (spinach and feta omelette--my hashbrowns were a bit too salty and I didn't love the taste of the spinach) but everything else we got was lovely. I enjoyed the pigs in a blanket and partner loved his meal as well. Their house-brewed cold brew was fantastic.

Bar seating - first come first served

French toast sandwich. Weird combo of sweet and salty. Yeech

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Bassett Street Brunch Club

4.0(864 reviews)

2.9 mi•Capitol

I really enjoyed my brunch! We got to BSBC around 10am on a Sunday. We waited about 30 minutes and…read morethen got our table for 4. Evan was our server and he was really nice. I ordered a spicy Bloody Mary and the hot to tot burrito. The food came out super quickly! I had only taken a couple sips of my bloody before it came out! I loved the Jalapeño crema and pico on top. My aunt ordered the breakfast stack and that looked delicious as well. I might order it next time I come!

We really liked the food and ambiance, but the service left something to be desired. There was no…read moreone at the front desk to greet and seat and we had to stand around for quite awhile before even being acknowledged. Service was slow and we had to ask multiple times for boxes and a bag to transport leftovers. The food really was very good though! We agreed we would eat here again, but only order takeout.

Hot To Tot Burrito

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Aperol Spritz

Short Stack Eatery

4.1(648 reviews)

2.7 mi•Capitol

Came at 8 am on a Sunday. Had to wait a few minutes to get inside but it was definitely worth the…read morewait. You have to order at the counter first and then your party gets sat at your designated table. I ordered the blind, which is a chef's choice. You're able to ask if the dish is savory or sweet and that's it. You can ask what the dish is but then the price will go from 10$ to 15$. They do ask if you have any allergies in case they do need to alter the dish. Not gonna disclose what the dish was, but it tasted great! It's really unfortunate that the business is closing in May, so I definitely recommend to go while they're still open!

Every time I'm in Madison, I make it a point to stop here. I'm usually just passing through so I…read moreget here right when it opens, which is one of the best times. It's quiet and it feels like the world slows down for a minute. It's comfortable and also very eclectic, a get your own coffee place. Condiments, water, etc. along the back wall. Order at the counter, they'll give you a number, and then bring your meal out. The menu has a great selection of offerings, but I always get my usual. The pancakes are unreal, so delicious. You will also find adult beverages here as well for those who need a morning/mid-afternoon pick me up. It gets packed so plan well ahead or be prepared to wait a while. Great service. Great place.

Cajun biscuits and gravy + sweet potato pancakes + mimosa + bloody mary = heaven

Mmm bloodys!

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Vintage Brewing

3.7(427 reviews)

7.2 mi

Fabulous Food with great Customer Service!!!…read more Had a nice bite to eat with my flight crew after arriving in Madison. When I stop in I have to get the Fried Cheese Curds along with Buffalo sauce so I can toss them and add even more flavor! The pretzels are handmade and huge! They also come with honey mustard and cheese. They have an extensive beer menu and a great casual vibe! Addi was amazing and I hope I get to be seated in her section next time I'm there.

I love Vintage!!! I usually stop at Vintage East but was meeting my daughter. This visit wasn't as…read moregood as normal, but still great overall. I always get a house salad and I opted for soup this round. The soup was so ick. It was French Onion and it was weirdly sweet. My daughter ordered a shrimp rice bowl that seemed very skimpy. There was a good amount of shrimp but they were very light on the rest. Also ordered an old fashioned sour and it was really good! The staff was amazing and helpful especially when my reward app wasn't working properly. Of course we will be back as this is one of our regular stops.

Thai Salad

Exterior

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Black & Bleu burger with a fried egg, Sidewinder Fries

Bradbury's

4.3(419 reviews)

Very small but usually quiet on a weekday. Weekends are crazy busy! Great natural lighting. Great…read morefor catching up with a friend or getting some work done. Workers are very nice and hardworking! The coffee is some of the BEST you can get in Madison. I have never been disappointed with an order. Same with the food! My favorite is their ham, Gruyère, mustard crepe but I recently tried their ramp pesto, egg, and balsamic reduction crepe and it was also DELICIOUS! Their sweet crepes are amazing, as well. I recommend the lemon curd one as it is not overly sweet.

First time here. We were visiting Madison and walking around the downtown area. It's a small space…read more(almost tiny) that sits at a narrow intersection, so it's literally a pie-shaped space. The upside is that there are lots of windows with natural light. The inside seating consists of long tables or counters along the windows. This is not a place where you are likely to hunker down for a quiet or private conversation. You can tell that storage space is at a premium, with boxes stashed in overhead areas or equipment in the bathrooms. The staff there were very pleasant and helpful. Ended up getting a Chai Latte (extra foam) in a mug. It didn't take long to make, and they delivered it out to the table. It was an excellent drink -- hot, flavorful, extra foam, and not too sweet. A joy to drink. The atmosphere is a bit manic. With the tight seating, you can feel a bit claustrophobic, or on the other hand, like you are at a concert and getting energy from the crowd. For me, it's a place to grab a drink and find a quiet space elsewhere. So not likely a place that I would return to.

Indoor

Bacon & Brussel Sprout Crepe

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Ancora Cafe + Bakery

4.3(213 reviews)

Really nice cafe and the perfect vibe to sit with your coffee and chat or work on something…read more The mint cold brew was really nice, a bit sweet but not terribly so. The strawberry shortcake donut was a bit mid to be honest but I enjoyed it. The staff was very kind and let me use the side door to accommodate bringing in the stroller. I always love a bit of plant life in a cafe an it really contributed to the cozy but lovely vibe. WiFi is limited to an hour on weekends to keep traffic moving but on a weekday before close it was a perfect place to stop. I would come back!

This was featured as the top coffee shop in Madison in a recent visitor guide, so I had to give it…read morea try on my latest visit. It definitely lived up to its #1 rating! The location, atmosphere, service, and drink quality were all excellent. With so many coffee options in the city, this certainly stands out. My boyfriend and I both tried specialty Vday drinks and pastries , so I don't have a rec, but am sure their standard menu is just as good based on our experience.

Interior -- so cute!

Churro French Toast

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Patio seating with view of the capitol

The Old Fashioned

4.1(2.5k reviews)

Well first off we were sent there to experience real Wisconsin food…read more We went Tuesday night and Sophia was our waitress She was amazing! Attentive and checked on us regularly We had cheese curds and brats and fresh fish All outstanding We can back again Wednesday night and had the mac and cheese and shnitzel! Amazing! The restaurant had a great vibe and all of the staff were friendly Our waitress the second night was not as attentive but the food and atmosphere allowed us to just wallow in the great food! Highly recommend For our first time in Wisconsin this was a great first time!!

Ambiance itself is great!…read more I ordered the spicy burger and it was so so. Nothing grand about it. Not spicy at all. I asked for a side of paprika aioli as that's all they had but the server did recommend I add Valentina to it. Made it much better! Nothing crazy about the fries. Similar to McDonald's tbh. I ordered 2 old fashions to try a few off their menu and the classic was the best. Finished off with a whiskey sundae. All in all, I'd come back with a group for drinks but the food I got didn't impress me much. I'd try something different off their menu.

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Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.

Graze

3.9(1.4k reviews)

We came for regular brunch menu on Easter Sunday. The ambience is open, airy, and inviting. Service…read morewas prompt and accurate. However, our server wasn't super familiar with the menu and didn't know what was in certain dishes. We ordered a variety of dishes. Overall, everyone liked their meals. The flavors were great. Love the Korean fusion. However... despite that we were the first ones in the door, they did not have the chicken that was on the menu. That seemed strange to all of us that they didn't plan ahead for a holiday weekend. A solid restaurant would usually have their menu items well stocked prior to a holiday weekend. Overall, still a good expertise if you're willing to be flexible.

I know most people like it here, but everytime I've been here over the years something has gone…read moreastray. This time we went to Sunday brunch with a group, including some kids. We had reservations, so we were seated right away which was a plus. Also, I will say I don't think any of the issues we had were because of our waitress. She was super friendly and quick enough to take our orders on a day when there restaurant seemed full enough, but manageable. We got our drink orders in and our food at the same time to speed up the process for getting little kids food, and the waitress even took note of that. We also ordered an appetizer to help during the wait. It took a while for the drinks to come out, but they were all rather tasty. I think my apple cider mocktail was the best and refreshing since it was getting hot in the restaurant with the sun beating in. Our food however took forever and the kids meals did not come out any earlier than everyone else. One person in our group also initially didn't get his meal, which the waitress apologized and said there was a mixup in the kitchen. That's fine, it happens, but then the staff running meals tried to bring him the wrong order 3 times. The rest of us were all finished eating by the time he finally got his food. Overall, the food was fine. I got the eggs benedict which was a little underdone on the eggs for me as the whites were too runny for me. The kids chicken nuggets were pretty tasty with a flaky breading. I heard decent reviews of the breakfast burger, but the thing that was the best to us was the breakfast sandwich. It was quite messy, but the messiness of the sauce was worth it. We also got an appetizer of the cinnamon roll. I feel like it's a little mislabeled though, as it was more like a morning bun with some frosting/glaze over the top. Tasted pretty good and helped keep kids entertained for a while. Overall, the food was fine, but the experience wasn't great. With the multiple mixups in orders and getting a little green house effect going with the sun shining in, there wsnt a great feeling when leaving. Again, I don't think it was our waitresses fault, so not sure what was going on in the kitchen.