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    Ancora Cafe + Bakery

    4.3 (217 reviews)
    Open 6:30 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    ANCORA CAFE + BAKERY ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Honey Bacon Biscuit
    Alyssa M.

    This breakfast was absolutely delicious! I ordered the seasonal fruity pebbles matcha which tasted just like fruity pebbles. I also got the honey bacon biscuit sandwich, which was on a super buttery biscuit with great flavor and super crispy bacon. The service was pretty quick, and the ambiance is really cute. They have lots of seating inside and outside, and even have some music playing for the outside area. They also list out which of their coffee syrups are house made, which I really appreciate as someone who doesn't like the artificial kind! I would definitely recommend this place.

    Tiana D.

    An excellent spot for breakfast in Madison! The space is huge. Super easy to get a table, even on a weekend. You order at the counter and take a number. A very "help yourself" vibe. We needed to ask where the high chairs were and grab one. I got an egg scramble with a side of pancakes. Solid food, but not out of this world. The coffee is also good!

    Coffee and a chocolate croissant
    Navatnie E.

    We stopped at Ancora for breakfast and coffee while my stepdad was running the marathon, and it ended up being such a good choice. The line was out the door, so I ordered through the app instead. It did take a little while for our order to be ready, but they were incredibly busy, so it was understandable. We all tried the maple sage matcha and didn't love it, but the young woman delivering food was so kind and pleasant when we asked to switch it for something else. She happily brought us a different drink, which we really appreciated. The rest of our food and drinks were great, and even though it was packed, the atmosphere was still really warm and welcoming. I'd definitely come back!

    Burrito
    Holly S.

    We love Ancora! Stopped with the adult kids when my husband was running the Madison marathon. It was busy but they kept things moving. We sat at a table and placed an online order for a few breakfast options and 3 feature drinks. We all hated the warm matcha and asked the young woman delivering food if we could switch it for something else and she was so kind and pleasant and brought us a different, fresh beverage. The burrito was tasty as was the chocolate croissant but the breakfast sandwich was the real winner!!! The side of potatoes were cold but overall a fantastic visit!

    Lavender cold brew
    Liz B.

    We tried a few drinks for a much needed kick of caffeine! The lavender cold brew and coconut cold brew were both good, I would recommend getting the coconut cold brew half sweet. I definitely wouldn't get the seasonal blackberry matcha again, it was so sweet and only tasted like blackberry syrup, with very little matcha. The inside had a cute seating area for food. The drinks were made quickly, but the cashier was a little rushed when we were trying to decide what drinks to get.

    Savory danish, and pup cups
    Bobbi-Jo W.

    Stopped by the outdoor patio with our two dogs this morning. The coffee was fantastic (I had a brown butter toffee almond milk latte) and the bakery was delicious (savory danish, donut, and blueberry lemon scone.) They even put together pup cups for our doggos! We will definitely be back!

    coconut cream cold brew half sweet
    Natalie Y.

    came here and got a coconut cream cold brew half sweet! service was 0/10. the worker didnt have very warm service. it felt cold and unfriendly and i didnt really feel welcome at all. she didnt smile and i felt like my existence was bothering her even though i was polite and smiley. definitely should work on that as a business bc its a big part of a customers experience. it makes me want to not go back despite enjoying my drink. anyways, i would give my drink an 8.5/10! it was half sweet but felt more like 75% sweet. if i could do it again, id go 25% sweet. it had good coconut flavor that ended up working well with the coffee! my friends got a lavender coffee and blackberry matcha. had a sip of the matcha and it was a 0/10. way too sweet and artificial, no matcha, just blackberry syrup and sugar.. im sorry but i would not get that again. the lavender was better, 8/10! the place looked cute to sit down and eat but was also really crowded when we went so we just got our drinks and left. especially since we felt so unwelcome by the service earlier.

    Clara l.

    solid bakery and solid drinks, very welcoming and nice staff, ambiance is good nice for studying

    Indoor seating with the feel of outdoors!
    donna p.

    Perfect place for morning stop. Breakfast sandwich delicious and hand delivered when dining in. Lots of areas to dine, outdoor and indoor. Service with a smile! Cortado made to order and good.

    Tofu bahn mi & Hella Stella
    Ericka B.

    Went here for lunch on a Friday and the place was pretty busy, but there were still tables available. We ended up ordering the Hella Stella and the tofu bahn mi with greens and green goddess dressing. The food came out pretty quick given how busy they were. Both were pretty tasty options, but the Hella Stella was my favorite. It's even better if you add a little green goddess dressing to it to brighten it up a little. Overall, good food and quick service.

    Dirty napkin after wiping table
    Elaine W.

    very Slow service. Filthy tables and counter. They give them a quick swipe and don't deep clean them. Avoid this Ancora

    Avocado Toast Entree
    Amy L.

    Such a cute little café! We arrived here during lunch, and while it was busy, we were able to order and find a table without any issues. I ordered the Avocado Toast, and a Chai Latte. The toast had roasted Brussels sprouts that were sweeter than I was expecting, in a good way, and added a nice crunch to it! Chai was good, but nothing extraordinary.

    Coconut cold brew
    Sydney D.

    Decaf cold brew?!? That alone deserves 5 stars. I've never been able to have cold brew and the coconut cold brew was delicious. Service was friendly and there was is lots of seating

    Avocado Toast Entree, bacon, French toast sticks

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    1 month ago

    Super amazing staff and good coffee, but bring back the banana cold foam !! !

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    9 months ago

    Excellent biscuits. Lovely baked goods. Tasty burritos. Friendly and accommodating service. And cute atmosphere!

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    6 months ago

    great food, service, and lots of seating! love how it's vegetarian and gluten-free friendly. the ginger orange pancakes were delicious!

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    1 year ago

    Love this breakfast spot! Cozy vibe, tasty food, and the coffee always hits just right. Perfect place to start the day

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    Ask the Community - Ancora Cafe + Bakery

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    Marigold Kitchen

    Marigold Kitchen

    4.3
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    We stopped by for a late breakfast on a weekday when we were visiting Madison. Thankfully, we were…read moreable to walk right in. We tried about two months ago on a Sunday and there was quite a line so we tried somewhere else new to us. It was worth the trip back here! Marigold is a really cute place inside. We were between the breakfast and lunch rushes so we easily found a table after ordering. We noticed there was a steady flow of customers and the tables turned over at a decent pace so maybe we should have stood in line last time around. Hard to know sometimes. We ordered the breakfast burrito, avocado toast and buttermilk pancakes. Service was quick and friendly. The pancakes were fluffy and they looked good. The avocado toast and the breakfast burrito were delicious! We will definitely stop by Marigold when we're in town again!

    Tried Marigold Kitchen while downtown and had a great experience overall. I sat outside on a…read morebeautiful day, which made for such a nice breakfast café atmosphere. The service was absolutely great, and the restaurant has a lively, charming vibe. It does tend to get busy, so I'd recommend arriving at a reasonable time. I ordered the French toast, which was clearly their own elevated take on the classic. The flavors were good, but the texture was a little different than I expected and threw me off slightly. It felt more like a chic, creative version of French toast rather than the traditional style, which is the only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of five. Everything else was fantastic, though, and I'd definitely come back to explore more of the menu. Worth checking out if you're in the area.

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    Short Stack Eatery

    Short Stack Eatery

    4.1
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    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.

    What a great breakfast! In true Becky fashion I've been meaning to try this place forever, heard it…read morewas closing and will now go once a week until they are done! If you're reading this and it's not the end of May 2025, go check it out. But not if the weather is super suspect because you stand outside to wait your turn at the counter! I had the trio and those were some of the best pancakes I've ever had. I wish they kept the butter on the tables so it was softer and easier to spread! I appreciated a truly pretty and fresh tasting fruit cup with a variety of fruit, and the chorizo was fantastic with great flavor and heat. I didn't try the coffee but my friends appreciated the different flavor option. I want to redo my kitchen with their lighting and wonder if they'll auction it off?

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

    The Old Fashioned

    4.1
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    This was my second time visiting. I swore I wrote a review the first time but it didn't pop up…read more Anywho, this time my daughter and I were in Madison for the day and visiting the museum across the street and decided to come for dinner. It was Thursday evening and they had a ribs/pulled pork special. We waited about 10 minutes at the bar for a table. The bar and atmosphere is great. Pretty bar lights and an old wood bar. We were seated by the window with a great view of the capital. My daughter and I shared the rib dinner and had plenty of food for us. Our waitress was new and learning but was doing a good job. I'd definitely come back.

    I heard lots of good things about The Old Fashioned, but my experience was just meh. It was fish…read morefry Friday, and I probably should have gone with that, as it was the special and seemed to be what everyone was ordering. I don't eat a whole lot of deep fried foods and that just seemed like a lot. I sat at the bar, and the bartender got to me pretty quickly and asked me if I wanted a drink. I ordered a glass of wine and a water, but had to ask him for a food menu. I opted for the grilled chicken sandwich with the side salad instead of fries. And then I waited. So long that the woman next to me made comments. People who showed up after I had ordered were eating fish before my sandwich showed up. The chicken was perfectly cooked, but completely lost on the sandwich. There was so much swiss on it, I could only taste cheese and bacon on greasy lightly toasted bread. The salad was barely dressed and just lettuce. I couldn't tell you what flavor the dressing was, but I piled the lettuce on top of the sandwich to try and cut some of the richness. I like cheese as much as the next gal, but it was a chicken sandwich. Even the mustard was lost. The prices are good, the actual restaurant was cute and just across from the capital. The portion was large, it just was lackluster.

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    Inside bar
    Inside bar
    The Old Fashioned
    Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.

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    Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.
    Graze

    Graze

    3.9
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    Good restaurants are run by human beings. Human beings sometimes have bad days. That's part of…read morehumanity. The mark of a good restaurant is how they respond when something goes wrong. Regrettably, something went wrong at my dinner at Graze. After the meal, I received an email asking for direct feedback with the management, which I shared. And I received a very well written apology with a sincere effort to make things right. That effort brought what would have been a 2* experience up to a 4* review. The most important tidbit I have to share for someone contemplating a dinner at Graze is to go hard on the vegetable focused starters. Wow! These were the stars of the show. Hands down. Full stop. Those were five star dishes all the way. Asparagus in season with bread crumbs. Stunning! Young tender beets paired with strawberries? Inspired! While the burger was tempting, I had a burger for lunch and I couldn't bring myself to do a two burger day. I went for the Korean Fried Chicken app as my main, paired with those veggies. It was plenty of food, and I had high hopes for the chicken given the chef's background. But some of the meat was stringy and overcooked. The sauce was zesty with good heat. Still, it fell short of the standard. Warm cookies and milk are never bad. Classics are classics for a reason. But given some of the culinary creativity that exists in the kitchen, it's a bit uninspired. That said, one scoop of seasonal pear sorbet was fantastic! Great flavor and texture. While the server did not know what type of pear was used, I'd put my money on Boscs. The place is popular. Make reservations early. Madison turns out not to be such a late night town, so plan accordingly. While I may not have been tempted to return originally, after the care and attention I received from management, I would indeed come back. I'm sure there is a 5* experience to be had at Graze, but sometimes it takes a second visit to get there.

    We found our way to Graze for lunch when another local place had a long wait…read more It was... just okay. They were out of the first three entrees we tried to order. The food was decent, but nothing exciting. Overall, it was fine, but we'll look for somewhere else next time we're in town.

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    The reason for five stars!  Chefs Signature Korean pork belly, local Hook cheddar "grits", aka polenta. From NY Times feature
    The reason for five stars! Chefs Signature Korean pork belly, local Hook cheddar "grits", aka polenta. From NY Times feature
    Basque cake, spongy and tart.  Most popular dessert

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    Basque cake, spongy and tart. Most popular dessert

    Ancora Cafe + Bakery - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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