I checked out a review of this place before hitting it up (vegan breakfast fare can be dicey to say the least) and was pleased to see they offer a Tofu skillet plus Vegan Biscuits and Gravy. Because the omnipresent "tofu scramble" is wearing a bit thin, I decided to try the biscuits and gravy because... why the hell not. I was with four hungry dudes who each ordered some variation of eggs and sausage yet they were all drooling when my plate was brought out. Zing! The biscuits were suuuper hearty (I couldn't eat again until, like, 7 pm) and smothered in a bland gravy. I loaded on the hot sauce which helped but I still felt they were lacking in flavor. The plate came with hash browns and some chopped tomatoes and broccoli. I give Willalby's points for effort, but my meal wasn't superb. As for the guys' meals-- they were hungover and left highly satisfied. I heard that the sausage far surpassed nearby Lazy Jane's and the eggs were done well. read more

Great diner on Willy Street! Went here after finding out Lazy Janes wasn't serving breakfast (after 11). Willalby's serves breakfast all day. Pancakes are solid, omelette are amazing. Try the Hart's Content! The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the coffee. Not so good either of the three times I've been there. But very good diner (and cheap!) that I'd recommend. read more

Definitely not a 'destination' restaurant; if you don't live within two or three blocks, don't bother. I had a pancake with blueberries and hash browns. The pancake was quite big and filled with berries, but it was underdone, with uncooked batter in the middle. Maybe half was edible and not especially enjoyable. The hashbrowns, on the other hand, were way overdone, with grease and salt overtones I am still tasting. The waitress never came back to ask about my meal, did not provide any water or pancake syrup, and really seemed not to care about doing her job. Willalby's seems to strive for a laid-back, hip vibe, but they come off as simply annoying. read more

1. Don't go to Willalby's for speedy service. 2. Instead, go for the great atmosphere and the cozy, neighborhood feel. You'll have to wait for your food and maybe even a table but that gives you and your friends more time to catch up. Also, the counter service is great as the wait staff are friendly. This is my go-to weekend brunch spot. There's no pretense just lots of friendly faces. read more

This is a small diner with real home-cooked food with vegetarian and vegan options and a kitschy decor. Don't expect for this to be immediate gratification experience. The good things in life take time. Get there early for the chocolate chip pancakes! read more

The kind of restaurant you half expect to run into Jello Biafra in. Sassy waiter and metal in the morning has turned this place into one of my new favorite spots. Also, the breakfast was delicious and the portions generous. I had the Hart's Content omelette and would certainly recommend to anyone. Beware though, you do need to bring cash to this establishment. An ATM is available in the back in case you forget, you'll just be stuck paying a $3 ATM fee. read more

Servicer was so nice and happy, loved the vibe. Had vegan options, portions were reasonable and filling-- hashbrowns were crispy and DELICIOUS. Love this diner, y'all better TIP! read more

I finally found my pancake heaven. The "as big as your face" claim is true, and on top of that, it's darn tasty. Another bonus is the relatively quiet scene. This is not Lazy Jane or Monty's, and certainly no waiting line (yet). You show up, slide yourself into one of the booths, and a super nice waitress will come serve you fast. Everyone is just having a chill morning with nice breakfast - that's the Sunday morning scene I'd vote for. And, they have vegan French toast! I was skeptical at first, but it is actually great :) read more

We've been to Willalby's twice now when visiting Madison. Great food, friendly service in a quaint and cozy environment. It has a happy vibe, playing classic 70's style music and lots of color and old nostalgic photos on the walls. There is not a lot of seating but we've not had to wait for a table yet. I would recommend Willalby's to anyone looking for a good meal after a night out with friends. read more

We love this cafe! We come to Madison for concerts and have had breakfast here the last couple visits. It has a Ma&Pop feel that makes you think about being at Grandmas, but also the laid back energy that makes it ok you're there after a late night of nonsense. The food is excellent and they serve their coffee in random coffee mugs that make for good conversation. The waiter we've been so lucky to have both times, is awesome!!! We boxed up our leftovers, and like most times unfortunately, we totally forgot them on the table. We were 1-2 blocks away when we heard someone yelling; turned around and it was the waiter, running to us with our leftovers. He was busy, it was cold out, and he made sure we got our to go box! Great food and Service, can't beat that! read more

Did you know this place existed?? I didn't either, until last weekend when the Mr and I stumbled upon it on a blustery Sunday morning. The cafe was nearly empty, but that's OK, it's small. We shared a 'Fair Oaks Skillet', sausage, american fries, onions, green peppers, topped with two eggs. It was actually really good, and the service was outstanding. Just a couple of young guys working the place, but they were great- Good visit...until...you need to find the restroom. It's downstairs, in the back, but that's all I can tell you since my eyes were closed for much of the trip. Eww, eww, eww. Will we be back? Not tomorrow, but someday. read more

Such a cute little cafe! I had the vegan French toast and it was amazing - I don't think it could be topped. I also had a side of hash browns, which were cooked perfectly - the right amount of crispy! I tried my boyfriends meal as well, which was the vegan biscuits and gravy. I wasn't a fan of this food in my non-vegan life, but Willalby's made me a fan... it was pretty good. Our server was super friendly and helpful as well. I would definitely come again! read more

Not much to say - it's a cute little cafe, good and simple food and great location! Will always come here for their breakfast whenever I'm in Madison - their pancakes are the biggest things I've ever seen! read more

Willalby's Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Unique, affordable breakfast diner with standard breakfast fare as well as vegetarian and vegan options. Just Coffee served. Quirky decor and friendly employees. The cafe is cash only- there is an ATM inside, but it charges a small fee, something around $2. If you want to skip the fee, try the Heartland Credit Union down the street, which has a fee-free ATM outside! read more

Typical dive breakfast place. Food was good. The toast was really tasty and I'm not a toast kind of guy. Bathroom is in the basement, looks like it hasn't been fixed in decades. Quite a charming place. read more

This place is under new management and has been cleaned up and is really awesome. Very eclectic atmosphere. Gay/queer friendly now too :) plus they are open from 11pm to 4 am thur fri sat nights! read more

Willalby's Cafe - Inside. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Thank you Nathan for breathing such vibrant life into this Willy Street institution! This morning, my Bill enjoyed the Mediterranean Omlette and I devoured my huevos rancheros. Both were very good, the service was entertaining, and the music was awesome. We got to hear some Wicked and Björk, among other, delightfully eclectic breakfast music. read more

Willalby's Cafe - After reading some guy named Billy's disapproving review of these beauties, I can't help myself. These huevos rancheros were delicious! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great little diner! We ate here on a whim after moving to Madison, and we were very surprised with the laid back atmosphere and the super nice staff! Great food (I tried the vegan french toast, I'm not vegan, and it was GREAT), great staff and great "old time diner" feel. My favorite neighborhood cafe, by far. Make sure you bring cash, though. They don't accept cards. read more

Hooray! Pancakes! While I was at Ace Hardware this morning, I thought to myself, "Man, I could go for a cup of coffee and some breakfasty-type item." I walked over to Lazy Jane's, but the line was out the door and I was impatient. I was by myself and wanted to be able to relax, read my book, and enjoy myself. I was walking back to my scooter when I saw Willalby's Cafe (it's next to Capitol City Tattoo). This place is great. The guy at the counter was friendly as can be. He warned me against getting two pancakes because, as he said, "If you eat both of them, you get them free." I'm glad he cautioned me because the pancake I got was the size of a gopher. It was light, blueberried, and not too sweet. The coffee was fantastic... nice and hot. Oh, and the price? Glad you asked. CHEAP AS HELL. I paid $4.75 (plus tip) for my ginormous pancake and delicious coffee. I love the old-timey diner feel of this place. Plus they were playing Nirvana. read more

Great neighborhood greasy spoon! Yes, you will have to wait for your food but the atmosphere is so welcoming and laid-back that hanging out on a lazy morning is no chore. Plus, everybody that works here is super nice. Huge pancakes (with blueberries!), awesome scramblers, Just Coffee, affordable prices, what's not to like? read more

I love Willalby's !!!! A wonderful much-needed greasy spoon in the Willy St. area. The service is great, it is a nice and warm atmosphere, and the food is always exactly what I need on a Saturday morning. I hope it never leaves! read more

I love being able to come to a regular diner with regular people but order vegan food like the special snowflake that I am. Yes, please. Vegan biscuits and gravy were amazing. It's just a cool diner. The food is simple, greasy, and delicious. read more

I find myself popping out of bed every Monday morning to grab an omelette and coffee from Tommy. Great music and perky service. Try the Harts Content-a buttery, garlic heaven. read more

Had a bad experience immediately upon entering. The place was dirty and smelled like old unwashed grease trap. Waitress was rude and harried looking, despite the fact that I was one of the few people in there. If you're at all concerned about the quality of your food ingredients don't come here. Got to see most of the ingredients in the freezer when I went down to the bathroom cave. GMO's and Cisco trash. Food was gutrot. Felt ill for the rest of the day after eating it. Omelet was undercooked and runny. Made a serious effort, but I had to give up and douse everything in Sriacha sauce . read more

Rude. No service. Woman wearing halter top serving. No sanitizer. I don't think this place is clean

I love having a place like this in the neighborhood. The new management has cleaned it up and added great things to the menu like vegan biscuits & gravy (which are delicious, this coming from a meat-eater). AND it's open until 4am on weekends, which makes it the perfect spot for a late night snack. read more

This is my go-to diner, what I call lovingly the "punk rock" diner, because it seems to always play punk music. Everything about this place is what you should expect from a lovely little greasy spoon next to a tattoo parlor. The booths, the wood paneling on the walls, the seats at the bar, and all the accompanying kitsch. The food is what you'd expect from a greasy spoon, so if you're expecting something upscale, go down the street to Sardine or whatever. But if you want a solid breakfast or brunch for under $10, this is exactly the place. The omelets are particularly good -- I'm a big fan of their bomblet and the spanakopita. The service is lovely; the place is never particularly busy and the wait staff doesn't give you a lot of indie-holier-than-thou lip. Bring a book, the morning paper, or a few friends. read more

Feel good food with feel even better prices! The food we had, for the prices we paid, was fantastic, especially considering they use real butter, fresh locally grown produce when possible and fair trade coffee too. They even offer some vegan meals. We got our food fast. Now open for breakfast and lunch only. I read a few reviews by some "never happy with anything" kind of people who seem to expect the heavens to open up and gift them $15 worth of food when they are only paying $7 a meal. We found the portions to be hearty, tasty and of great value. The instant you walk in the wait staff is extremely friendly and makes you feel right at home. This area of Madison is very safe and trendy. My wife and myself love Willalby's cafe. read more

Disappointed. Came in for a late breakfast as many tables were getting up. The dining area was at maybe a third capacity and our two omelets still took 40 minutes. Our server was pleasant enough, the place was clean and our food was pretty decent but I definitely became "hangry" during that 40 minutes. As far as the price, quality and wait: I would go to Lazy Jane's over Willalby's in the future. read more

The Rye Bread here is to die for! On top of a lot of other good options! The staff is very warm and welcoming as well! Best breakfast spot in Madison IMO. read more

Best bacon in town. Plus you always get 4 strips. Other restaurants you get 3. Nice people.

Went to this place for a Saturday brunch for the first time and was really pleased! First thing to know: Cash only. The waiter was friendly and advised us that the pancakes were huge and you didn't really need two. Well, he was right; the banana nut pancake was as large as a pizza and and the biggest pancake I've ever seen. I also had a skillet (classic wisco combination of sausage, potato, mushroom, green pepper, cheese and eggs). There were some vegan options: skillets made w/ herbed tofu and also french toast made vegan. Total was $11.25 for pancake&skillet. Will go back. read more

Super delicious, diner-style breakfast. The pancakes as big as boogie boards and come slathered in delicious butter and syrup. We ordered 2 and could finish about a third of them. We also got a scrambler, with eggs, potatoes, meats, etc. that was spot on. Even on a busy Saturday there was no wait for the counter and the staff was super friendly, funny, and awesome. It reminds me of New York diners in the best way. read more

Bryan Adams and vegan options. If you like the neighborhood and you want cheap breakfast, duh.

Under new ownership and two new changes make the HUGEST difference in the quality of the food: the grill is regularly cleaned and the ingredients are fresh. The menu is essentially the same as far as I can tell, with the same low prices, but I have trouble convincing friends how much better the food tastes! Mainly because for the last handful of years we could only brave the place when hangovers had numbed our tastebuds. Now the food is good, the coffee is great, the grill is clean and there's a friendly face in the kitchen. Love it! read more

My friends and I enjoyed the food. We thought it was tasty and the portions are exceptionally large. You won't go hungry after eating here. However, the service was less than optimal. Service was lagging. Coffee took forever to get after asking the waitress several times. Food took an hour to get to our table. I understand it was busy but this was a drag. read more

I love this place. It's tiny, but I've never had to wait and there are always others. The good is exactly what you want with a local diner and the pancakes are huge. The staff is amazing. There seem to be around four different servers who will take care of the entire place, and they do it with ease. The music is often a touch too loud and slightly heavy for me in te morning, but it's not too much of a distraction because they're mostly good tunes. I heard this place used to have hours that catered to bar-time crowds (which would be awesome) but they no longer do. As expected, it's cash only. I'll continue to spend time here and I don't want to tell people about it, because I'd rather keep it a secret. read more

Willaby's diner/cafe is a serious greasy spoon, but that's why I like it, the food is good, the prices are good, and the pancakes are huge, you really only need one if that. It's cash only so be prepared. I love them. read more

This place hit the spot for a Sunday morning breakfast after a long day of celebrating a Badger win. Cash only, tiny, neighborhood diner. I loved that the (strong and delicious) coffee came in random, mismatched mugs and that the 70's era wood paneled walls were covered in random flea market type artwork. Seriously! It just gives it a kind of cool vibe. I ordered the Willalby omelette, which was awesome (eggs, ham, green pepper, mushrooms, etc). And huge - enough to satisfy even the most hungover sports fan. My husband got the french toast, which also was completely amazing (from the one bite he let me steal). Everything was reasonably priced...between four people we got out of there for less than $50. Food is good, but the atmosphere is even better. read more

Being here makes me LOVE Sundays. The ambiance is superb. Old plaques on the faux wood walls, seats at the counter, multi-varied mugs, adorable hipster staff. Same dude still works here (ur a cutie!). Had the French Toast and still my favorite FT ever. had a side of v-sausage, enjoyed that too. BF again had biscuits and gravy, a large and in charge plate of food. loved it. We really like this place, really, really, really. read more