10/10 always my favorite breakfast spot! They have order ahead which is nice & great prices for what you get

Stopped here for the second time and it was as good as the first. Ordering at the counter was a breeze. The employee was able to adjust our order last second to include a citrus tea. My mint cold brew hit me with a punch of fresh mint you don't often find in artificial syrups. The chorizo hash was well balanced. The perfect amount of spice from the chorizo and brightness from the cream, cilantro and avocado. The bright welcoming vibe creates a fun dining experience. We came for brunch and were able to enjoy the outdoor patio comfortably as the patio was well protected from the morning sun. I look forward to stopping back my next time in Madison read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Mint cold brew - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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It was busy on Sunday morning but the flow was good. There were plenty of options for seating which is great too. I got a cold brew with oat cold foam which was amazing! You can tell the cold brew is smooth tasting and not bitter. Others in my group got the spiced apple chai (pictured) and a hot decaf coffee. Both enjoyed them. For eats I got this weekends special which were the fruit pebble pancakes and they were delicious! The butter on top honestly tasted like cereal milk (yum!). Not pictured were the basic beck sammie and a cinnamon roll. 10/10 would come here again, and you should too. read more

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Pretty good, lovely space. Food is a bit pricey however. Very yummy would come back with friends but it's not a go to spot

I ordered the chocolate chip cookie and a berry bliss smoothie. My friend ordered a strawberry coffee thing (can't remember the name, sorry about that) and a breakfast burrito. While the staff was super nice, the food and time getting the smoothie was eh. The cookie was okay and came out immediately, and I was expecting my smoothie soon, as it's just a smoothie and there weren't many people ordering at all, and most already had their food or drink. I had to wait almost 20 MINUTES for a smoothie while my friend had already gotten her breakfast burrito and strawberry coffee thing. Not on that, but the berry bliss smoothie was not good at all. It tasted mainly of blueberry and avocado (they don't tell you what's in it - but I was NOT expecting avocado), I literally saw a couple of small little chunks of avocado. You could see small bits of strawberry but you couldn't taste it at all. My friend, who loves a lot of food and isn't picky at all, hated it too. We could barely get a quarter of the way through. Nice service, but BAD smoothie. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Here's the smoothie, you can definitely tell it's blueberry. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We're just traveling through town headed home and wanted to try this place out. Not disappointed at all! The avocado toast has caramelized, brussels sprouts and seeds Slices of avocado, and Arugula. The honey, bacon biscuit. Is sweet and savory. It has sriracha honey and scallions a fried egg and of course thick cut bacon and cheese. It was all tasty. The restaurant is well kept and clean with muted pastels of blue and aquamarine color schemes. The service was prompt. read more

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Good banh mi, excellent breakfast potatoes. Clean and comfortable environment. Fast and polite service. Very good value for money. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Front room - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This was a nice fast casual place to grab a bite near MSN airport. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I placed my order at the counter and was given a table number card to take to where I wanted to sit. My large matcha latté and gluten free version of the Fiesta Hash came out soon after. Both tasted great, and I appreciated that they had different types of hot sauces available. All of the staff were very welcoming, friendly, and helpful. I ordered a Caprese Melt and Chocolate Zucchini muffin for my friend, and he really enjoyed (read: devoured) both. I was waiting for my friend to pick me up from Stevens Point and they never made me feel like I was overstaying my welcome, even though it was near their closing time (I waited outside). read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Matcha latté and Fiesta Hash with gluten free toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Perfect spot to get some study/work done and grab breakfast in between. This spot has a solid mix of people dining in for brunch and coffee folk working/visiting. Welcoming staff too. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Matcha donut and cold brew - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cute place for an enjoyable cup of coffee and bite to eat. I especially appreciate their covered outdoor seating area. It's great to be able to sit outside and enjoy your meal even in the rain. read more

Delicious coconut cold brew and breakfast sandwiches. Recently tried the avocado toast and it was fantastic even tho messy. Been to multiple of the locations and had great experiences read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Coconut cold brew Salmon bagel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I love the University Ancora location but for some reason it took me a long time to head over to the Sherman Ave location. I am so glad I did! This Ancora is right in the plaza with Bear and Bottle and the new Patricia's Market. There's easy parking in the lot. The inside is so cute! Plenty of seating and lots of room and airiness overall- Not cramped at all. There is also outside seating which was great for the nice summer day we checked it out for brunch. I had the special, a lamb and feta omelet that was absolutely perfect. The tzatziki sauce was tangy and tasty and the portion was just right. I added greens as a side along with the toast. My husband ordered avocado toast and was really pleasantly surprised with the hefty slice and the loaded toppings that made the dish into a full meal. We both got hot tea as well. Overall we enjoyed ourselves so much and found a brunch spot that we want to add to our rotation! read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Special of the day: Lamb and feta omelet - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Came for breakfast with my partner. If you dine in, you order at the counter and are given a number that you bring to your table. We ordered a hot apple cider, an iced chai latte, the breakfast burrito, and the hella stella with a side of breakfast potatoes. The food came out relatively quickly, but our server seemed overwhelmed - she brought our food to us and immediately walked away without saying a word, and she forgot our drinks. We waited a little bit, and then I had to go up to the counter to ask her where our drinks were since she had taken our number away. It turns out she was going to give them to the wrong table. She was very polite about it, but still. The apple cider was fine, but the chai latte was extremely watery. The food was flavorful, but the breakfast burrito in particular was very small. Overall, the food was good but a bit overpriced ($40+ for breakfast). Btw, we wanted to try some of their pastries, but the peanut-containing pastries were placed in the same open-air display case as the peanut-free pastries, so that was not going to work with my partner's nut allergy. read more

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I love the addition of Ancora on the north side! Although I have not dined in (been here a handful of times when it was Manna), curbside and online service has been spectacular. Quality of food and beverages is great! There are so many options to personalize everything and it's so simple to do online. My only con is the price point (a tad high). Spent ~$50 (w/tip) on two eggs Benny, a kids meal and a latte--but all was so yummy, it didn't even knock my stars!! This is also probably my bad bc I'm EXTRA and love adding extras to everything (bacon, avocado, coconut milk, etc). Definitely my spot when I can splurge a little! read more

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Excellent food and timely service. The Chorizo Hash (shown) was so tasty and the coffee was well brewed. Atmosphere was nice clean with modern and new furniture read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Chorizo Hash breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've been to Ancora several times but I'm writing specifically about the savory caramelized onion and Gouda danish. It was amazing. I also got the cold brew that was simple and refreshing. I will be back tomorrow because now I'm obsessed. The customer service was outstanding and restaurant was cute and clean. What a nice addition to the East side. read more

Came here the morning of my birthday. We were greeted by a sweet hostess who was helpful with us picking out entrees as it was my first time there. I mentioned it was my birthday but they don't do birthday items there. I got a quesadilla and my date got the chorizo plate. Both were fantastically prepared and very flavorful as were the apple ciders and our cider mimosa. The lighting is superb, this place is super welcoming and makes me want to grab my laptop and just find a spot to work. The seating is creative and trendy and I loved the versatility of options available. This is my first time coming here and I definitely recommend! Great flavors, great service, great space! read more

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We were in the area on a late Saturday morning and stopped in with some neighbors. Looking at the display case they apparently had been slammed that morning since the pickings were slim. We asked the counter gal if these were all the choices and she was almost rude in her response lecturing us on how we should come earlier if we want a better selection. OK I get it but she could have been more diplomatic - obviously it was a busy morning and she sure was crabby! We got a couple of their lavender lemon donut (the only donuts left) and it was surprisingly good. I would not have selected that if I had a choice of others. I also ordered one of their iced teas which was decent. They have a nice patio space out front that had some shade on a warm morning - considering it faces the parking lot it was good space. read more

Super underrated Ancora location. If you haven't been here check it out! We came with a party of 6 on a Saturday morning and it was pretty empty which was a shock to me. Let's talk about the aesthetics of this place first. Wow! Cute and peaceful. I wish my house had the same decor scheme. Lots of seating options that are comfortable and spacious. The food was delicious. So much variety. Breakfast and lunch served all day. They also had some super unique coffee based drinks that peaked my curiousity. One of my friends is gluten free and they had plenty of great options for him too. Overall the whole group enjoyed their meal and the experience. Hard to find an available spot with a large group for a Saturday morning. Oh- and they had free parking! read more

While food was tasty and used quality ingredients, it was served cold. Nobody wants cold eggs. Good playlist, though.

My husband and I were in town to see family. This place is just down the street from my in-laws who don't drink coffee so we checked this place out. We went there every day we were in Madison. The vibe in this place is very modern. It's a bright, open, relaxing atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and are great at making recommendations. I had the coconut cold brew one day and it was the perfect amount of flavor and not overly sweet. Another day I had a special called the Cherry Blossom Zombie. This is an iced espresso drink with white espresso, milk, and cherry almond syrup. It is so good. It tasted like dessert! This will be our new go-to for coffee when we are in town. We enjoyed this place when it was Manna Cafe and miss their morning buns, but we aren't disappointed in the place! read more

This is my favorite ancora location, though I probably go to the king street one most. Love the shopping center, really cute inside. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Avocado Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This is a new restaurant in the old Manna Cafe. It's had a modern refresh. Abundant seating With low and high tables and removable chairs for those in wheelchairs. Many good vegetarian options. Everything was very clean when we visited. Staff were friendly and nice. Coffee was delicious as was all the food. A very solid breakfast place! read more

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What a brunch! This coconut cream cold brew is my fave new drink - I need it on tap! Everyone enjoyed their coffees, our food took over 30 minutes though. It was a busy brunch Sunday though. The chorizo hash was worth the wait; spicy, with crispy potatoes and a perfectly fried egg. We also got the breakfast burrito which was really small for the price. Mouth watering baked goods up front, it was hard to resist getting that cream cheese swirl brownie. We will be back to try more of their coffee menu! read more

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It's a little expensive $15-20 for breakfast. But I love their Avocado toast + egg. Oh so good. Those little bits of Brussel sprouts are so good. It's a great sunny place to hang out in the winter v their patio in the summer time. Great service! read more

My first time here. Kind of pricey. $12 for fancy yogurt & fixings. $10 for an egg muffin bacon sandwich. The lemonade was very sour and my hot chai latte was the worst - tasted like cinnamon water milk. I took it home and added creamer and chai mix. I guess I'm not a bistro kind of person. read more

Sadly this place (successor to the much-lamented Manna Cafe that closed during Covid) serves mediocre food and coffee and is quite overpriced. The "cappuchinos" were barely warm and very weak--suspect they used skim or "almond milk"--we were not asked what kind of milk we wanted. No zip or taste in the coffee. As for the baked goods (none baked on premises}: my corn muffin was topped with a yellow substance resembling cheese but sweet, and the muffin was filled with an odd (tomato?) flavor---terrible. The croissant was out of a box and lacked the requisite buttery crispness. $20 for two bad coffees and blah pasties. Their small breakfast menu seemed to contain only dishes with bacon---fine for those who like iy, but being in Madison, with a huge percentage of vegetarians (not to speak of non-pork eating Muslims, Jews, and health-conscious people), surprising that there are not some good non-meat options. read more

Exceptional cafe and bakery! The avocado toast really takes the gold here. A savory, creamy, and perfectly salted spread of cashew cream, avocados, seared Brussels sprouts, and a pine nut nutty finish. WOW! Upon immediate glance, I judged this meal before tasting, with the thought of "what a little amount of avocado". I quickly amend this intrusive thought after my first bite. THIS AVOCADO TOAST IS BALANCED. The bread is fresh, rivaling some of the best of Europe. A quick note on the interior - stunning. This modern dreamscape has everything: quality focused food, knowledgeable staff, quick preparation, and an intelligent atmosphere. Only small critique I have here, completely minimal, but the plate presentation had a few spots of spilled sauce on it that could have been easily wiped off after topping. This minor blemish doesn't take away from anything here but a small area for improvement on an already incredible cafe experience. Can't wait to indulge here again! read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Avocado Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Very cozy. Whether your stopping by with friends or going to get some work done Ancora Cafe on sherman is a great place to go. Their coffee is amazing, the bakery options are delicious & they even offer elevated options such as the salmon salad. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I love Ancora's downtown location from when I lived closer to the square, their shorewood one from when we still went into offices, so one of the big pick me ups during this pandemic was when they opened their new location on Sherman only a 10 minute walk from my house! I love their zombie lattes with white espresso, golden milk lattes, and their salads and Eggs Benedict are always incredible. They're also very accommodating when it comes to making substitutions for dietary restrictions. This is the only place I've been in Madison that can get coconut/almond milk to froth like real milk. They're new location has been sending out some really great baked goods too - I love the caramel nut bar, my son loves the kitchen sink cookie and Nutella brownie. Lastly, they care about the community. They did a huge pancake breakfast for the local fire department as their soft open and it was a big hit! read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - BLT salad with some GF/DF modifications - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We stopped into ancora for a quick bite and it was perfect. The food was delicious and cooked perfectly. You order at the counter then sit down and the service was quick and friendly. Our drinks were both best tasty, the toffee syrup is delicious in an iced latte. The aesthetics inside are so adorable and make this a great spot for working or a quick lunch. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Eggs Benedict with Maple Sausage. Iced latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great egg sandwich ('The Bec'--get it with bacon and cheese). My friend adores the avocado toast. The herbal orange tea is good enough that I bought half a pound. What isn't great is that it's become a neighborhood coffee hose again, which means regulars will have a cup of coffee and work on the comptroller for an hour, and that they sell out of many of the most popular baked goods by 11. Also, occasionally I've gotten a piece or two of bad lettuce with my side salad, which seems surprising given the price and their normal attention to detail. Despite their prices--which I assume go towards quality and staff wages--this is our go-to breakfast spot. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - The bec - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The food was great, and the atmosphere was very clean and refreshing. I loved the blue accents everywhere in the decor! Most importantly, the coffee was also great! We will definitely be back. It was surprisingly not very busy for a Sunday morning, we went around 9:30am and we easily found a spot to sit and got our food pretty quickly. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Coconut cream cold brew - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Every single food/drink item I've had through is has been absolutely terrific...I have nothing but drools forAncora! Sorry no pics because every time I get something I devour it immediately! read more

Ordered Sunday brunch to go. I don't think it could have been anymore perfect than it was! The Hella Stella with vegan sausage was perfection. The pancakes, light, crisp, and yummy! The omelette with added sausage was so flavorful and tasty! The breakfast potatoes........omg! Crispy pieces of perfectly seasoned goodness! You guys amazed us with a pick up brunch that I was hoping would be ok. You knocked it out of the park! Thank you!!!! read more

Delicious food! I got the chorizo hash and loved it. Perfect size with leftovers! The coconut cream cold brew was a 3/5. Would go back! read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Their cinnamon rolls are large and tasty! I love how they are flaky and crispy at the same time. Service is always fast and friendly. Have been three times in the past two weeks already. read more

Always delivers quality meals and baked goods in a a welcoming environment. We've been to the Sherman Ave location several times and always left with a smile on our faces. Everything on the menu is great and the outdoor space is comfortable and spacious. Great way to spend a leisurely morning. read more

I'm glad there is a coffee shop in this area. They did a very good job with Covid precautions. I had the Avocado Toast w/Egg and a Siren Shrub drink. I was surprised that the drink cost $7 compared with the $10 toast...a little steep and the price wasn't displayed. The toast was good but not enough variation in flavors. I'll visit again and give them another chance. read more

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We had a great birthday brunch for my husband today at Ancora. The food and service were excellent and we felt safe the entire time we were there. The seating is also comfortable - there are cushioned benches available - which is a must for me due to my chronic pain. Also, the music was pleasant and not too loud. He ordered the chorizo hash, I got Eggs Benedict, and we split the French toast dippers. It was plenty of food and we were stuffed after eating! The potatoes were cooked perfectly; not too soft or too crunchy. I wasn't sure I'd love the butternut squash in the eggs Benedict, as I'm not the biggest fan, but it was lightly flavored and the entire dish was delicious. The same with his chorizo hash - the flavors blended together well and the jalapeños gave it just the right amount of kick. The French Toast dippers were my favorite - a little of the blackberry chocolate dipping sauce goes a long way, and the maple vanilla was actually my favorite. We ended up combining the two on every bite. The service was great - one cashier noticed a woman crowding us at the counter (Covid no-no, lady!) and immediately asked to help her at the other register. We appreciated that. We would have purchased some baked goods but they didn't have much of a selection left, as we arrived an hour before closing. We'll have to go a little earlier next time. The tables are cleaned and sanitized between customers, there's hand sanitizer at the entrance/exit, and the employees wore masks at all times. There was a sign before entering regarding the mask mandate and how to order ahead for pick-up. Their menu included flavors that were unfamiliar to us, like a rose cardamom zombie as a coffee option. You can tell we don't go out often because that's probably not that new. It was fun to try different things while being able to also have familiar options. It's great to have more dining establishments on the Northside and we're happy Ancora moved in, as we loved Manna Café when it was there. Ancora made a lot of changes, updating the look and vibe while still making it feel like it belongs in the neighborhood. We will definitely be back! read more

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