Ancora Cafe + Bakery

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!

Food was alright. We got the breakfast sandwich which was just ok, but the chilaquiles were…read moredelicious. One thing to note: it's not great for kids. The atmosphere is fine, but for picky eaters, it's a no go. Nothing against the restaurant, their food is just a little too niche and we're unable to make common substitutes or additions. Examples include: don't have chocolate chips for pancakes, syrup is served too hot, cups were breakable. I just wish the had a kids menu section with 2 items that where super simplified and came in kid friendly utensils etc

Sweet potato kale and pesto hash

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Three grain bowl

Cottage Cafe

4.2(170 reviews)

3.8 mi

Great food and service! Best hashbrowns I've had in a long time. Really big pancake that doesn't…read moredry out and absorb all of the syrup. Great butter and coffee as well. My daughter had the pancake and sausage link which were also very good. Portions are large, prices are good, and the servers are all very personable. I don't typically allow my daughter to have a lot of sugar but when we first arrived, our server Danette gave a little cup of fruit loops to my almost 2 year old to keep her occupied until the food came out. If you're looking for some good food and decent prices, this is the place. We love a good simple diner with great food and great service.

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.

Front door

Cinnamon Roll

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Lunch date!

Ogden's North Street Diner

4.6(205 reviews)

2.7 mi•Emerson East

Darling and delicious! We walked up on a Saturday morning and only had to wait 30 minutes for a…read moretable (popped across the street and got a coffee and Bloom pastry to share in the meantime - ideal). The space is so cute and quaint inside: it makes you feel like you're in a cozy neighborhood spot. And you are! I love that there's not many seats in here - makes it feel extra special. Our server was great and attentive. I ordered the omelette with hashbrowns, and my friend got the breakfast plate plus fruit - both were delicious. Hashbrowns were plentiful and hit the spot! We loved dining here, and I'd absolutely recommend to others in the area!

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!

Bar seating - first come first served

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

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House made whip cream, dense and applied with ice cream scooper. On Ghirardelli chocolate flake hot chocolate

Bassett Street Brunch Club

4.0(873 reviews)

0.6 mi•Capitol

I recently visited Bassett Street Brunch Club, and it was one of the best breakfast decisions I've…read moremade! Their breakfast burritos are SO good. I don't know who their chefs are, but they are doing an incredible job. The restaurant was very accommodating with substitutions, which I really appreciated. Even though the restaurant was busy, my food came out quickly. My waitress was amazing. She was so kind, helpful, and made sure my order was exactly how I wanted it. You absolutely have to try the horchata iced coffee. It was hands down one of the best coffee drinks I've ever had! The atmosphere has a cozy diner vibe that makes you want to stay and enjoy your meal. I highly recommend Bassett Street Brunch Club, and I will definitely be back!

Huge portions. I had the breakfast burrito which was good. Had toter tots in it which were crispy…read moreand yummy. Little pricey for the type of food. We also had their donut, but a little under impressed w that.

Hot To Tot Burrito

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Aperol Spritz

Short Stack Eatery

4.1(646 reviews)

0.4 mi•Capitol

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?

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

Mmm bloodys!

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Vintage Brewing

3.7(431 reviews)

5.0 mi

Amazing staff and food best place to eat in the area i would definitely recommend the sky burgerread more

Made a reservation for 11 people. I get there and they place us in the gaming room. And then…read moreproceeded to tell me that I had to order my food and drinks at the bar. What is the point of making a reservation? Also, bartender had an attitude.

Fried Cheese Curds

Thai Salad

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Exterior

Bradbury's

4.3(422 reviews)

0.2 mi•Capitol

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.

Simple no frills coffee shop. Small menu and space but high quality coffee. I got an iced maple…read morelatte and was thoroughly impressed with it - it had the perfect sweetness of maple syrup to latte ratio.

Indoor

Bacon & Brussel Sprout Crepe

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The Old Fashioned

4.1(2.6k reviews)

0.2 mi•Capitol

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.

The food here is average. Nothing terrible, nothing outstanding…read more Service was good.

Inside bar

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Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.

Graze

3.9(1.4k reviews)

0.1 mi•Capitol

This place is amazing. It's farm to table so they partner with neighboring farmers for their fresh…read moreingredients. The cheese curd is a must try - they come with a garlic aioli and gochu jang sauce, yummy! The kale caesar and bibimbap were both very good. Nice ambiance, high ceilings, very clean. Our server was good and attentive.

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.

Bibimbap, spicy tofu

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Bourbon Bloodline cocktail

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Margaret L.

12 years ago

My new favorite! Delicious drinks, friendly staff, comfy place to work.

Betty H.

13 years ago

Love the new look at Ancora on King Street! Best latte in town!

Maria R.

13 years ago

This was a sweet little spot for great organic coffee.

Max S.

12 years ago

Bottomless coffee for less than $3.00? YES PLEASE

Jenny L.

189

16 years ago

Really good latte, but pricey.

Ancora Cafe + Bakery - breakfast_brunch - Updated September 2026

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