My first time at Crema Cafe I ordered a breakfast sandwich brunch special. It had sprouts, a thin, crispy-fried gooey egg, smoked ham with parts of fat still hanging, plenty of greens, love, peace, and magic in it. It was the best breakfast sandwich I have ever eaten in my entire life. The next eight Sundays or so back at Crema were in pursuit of this elusive, god-like sandwich. Here are some tips. If it's a special, which we order most of the time, it will likely come in an interesting form. The other day, the tuna melt lunch special was deconstructed: a scoop of scandalously lemony tuna salad, tart with capers, with a crispy length of baguette, diagonally cut, a pile of arugula, and slices of tomatoes, arranged on a plate. For the unadventurous or unforgiving, I would be wary of ordering specials that don't sound like they should come from a cafe in Wisconsin (e.g. crab cakes, ramen, anything mexican sounding) unless you're willing to live in the mind of the thoughtful and creative chef behind these projects. The scramblers are usually safe bets, but can be bland or boring. The gouda cheese grits, ordered as a side, are sinful. Their pancakes are always good. If you're ordering from their regular menu don't poo-poo on the tortilla chip side. I did, and regretted my prejudice after I accidentally ordered some, because they're light and delicately seasoned, just like all their salads. Colectivo coffee, don't need to say more than that. Refills are 50c. Fresh squeezed orange juice and grapefruit juice are available. The servers are cheerful and kind, even though we take a few minutes to decide our order at the counter. Also, there is an incentive program, not that we need extra incentive, so don't forget to give them your name when you order. read more

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Good scratch made breakfast grub. Crema clearly has a neighborhood following. A friend of mine has been raving about Crema Cafe for months - so I finally met him for Sunday brunch. You order at the counter and grab a table. The food came out in short order. We ordered all sorts of stuff: Donut Muffin, Oatmeal Blueberry Pancakes, Breakfast Scramblers, Bacon, Potato Hash, and Smoked Gouda Grits. The scrambler was one of the specials. It came with dressed greens and toast. Although we got one of our orders with the potato hash. The scrambler was tasty with caramelized onions and mushrooms. The salad greens were properly dressed. The donut muffin thing was delicious - it's a good thing there was only one left or I could have eaten a dozen or two. The grits were creamy, smokey and very rich. The single serving would be fine for sharing. The Blueberry Pancakes were so tasty that I didn't even have a chance to photograph them. Trust me they were thick cakey suckers dusted with powdered sugar and sprinkled with whole blueberries. Crema Cafe is one of those places I've driven by hundreds of times - unless you were a neighborhood local or somebody had bragged about Crema Cafe, I don't think you would find your way. So now that you've discovered it on Yelp go check it out foodie. read more

Crema Cafe - Grits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Fabulous breakfast scramble. Reasonably priced. Fresh and delicious food. Cheerful atmosphere. Person taking our order could not have been friendlier. She chatted with each customer and seemed sincerely interested in how everyone's day was going. read more

Crema Cafe only deserves two stars not because of the food but due to a disregard for safe COVID practices. They permit patrons to linger at tables long after they're done eating, having book club meetings and doing work on their laptops. This limits the table availability and clogs up the main waiting area so that the 25% capacity mandate is compromised. We've dined at similar restaurants in Madison where they do not allow laptops on weekends so they can maximize their business and table turnover. Since the food is decent, prices are reasonable and servers are nice, an adjustment of policy could help this business redeem itself. read more

Crema Crema Crema Chameleon.... Chameleon This is an oldie but goodie. I am excited to see that they have doubled their size in the last couple of years, which means business is good. Coffee, breakfast and lunch are done right here. Plenty of healthy options for lunch, homemade soups, sammies and salads. Lunch time is packed so come early if you want a good spot. Only downside is they close at 3:30pm read more

Crema Cafe - Beet and apple cold soup with yogurt swirl. Crusty focaccia fir dipping. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My matcha latee with soy was good and service ok but I'm only giving them 3 stars because they charge a $1 extra for non- dairy alternatives in their coffee and tea drinks. Ridiculous. And only vegetation food items, would have to request omission of cheese. No vegan pastries either. I live nearby by Will opt for other shops. This is Madison- most coffee shops try to be vegan-friendly. read more

Alright, so I live relatively close BUT this is my FIRST time here! I had the Farmer's scramble. Now...how do I say this? It was good, not great. The food was fresh, hot and it didn't weigh me down. It was not greasy and you felt like you got a great value for what you paid. However, it was not spectacular. The flavors were average. Sausage, cheese, eggs. The best part of my meal? The vinaigrette on the greens. Well, the fact that they put greens on my plate. Thank you for realizing people like balanced meals. I was annoyed by the refill price for coffee. Why? Not sure, but it seems a little petty. So I ordered a crafted beverage (does this make sense? probably not.). I had the Sassy Cow Eggnog Latte. Now, I LOVE eggnog, specifically the Sassy Cow option. However, the flavors just didn't merge. Will I go back? Yeah, it was good, not overly pricey. read more

Crema Cafe - Please excuse the fact that my food always has bites taken out of it. Farmers scramble. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Get the HASH! So maybe it's because of my limited meat and dairy options, but I've never really had a decent hash. It's always corned beef, (fishy) salmon, or some damn sweet potato boring "veg" dish. So I was goofing off at the pottery place next door and realized, "it's Saturday", it's still technically "brunch time", I've heard "good things" so in we walked. Hash was on the menu and my inner self jumped with glee when I realized NONE of the ingredients were on my "no-no" list! Here it was, my HASH time had arrived! I went for the kill and ordered the daily hash: Buffalo Chicken Hash. Two eggs - poached of course, and whatever else (a salad?) that come with it. Well, I am in love with hash - I FINALLY GET IT! The chicken was spiced mild but you could taste it, it was still hot, with a "mash" feeling to it, but crisp edges (no idea how they perfected this). The eggs were served on the side, for me to eat separately, but of course, I had to split those beauties on the hash for that pretty (and yummy) yolk effect. Then there was this perfect little salad on the side with onion and a vinaigrette. Now, I was raised by a great German woman who believes in "mixing" all the food on the same plate "cuz it goes in the same place anyway." So I mixed just about everything and anything into one bite after the next, like a woman on a food challenge. It was a perfect marriage of hot/cold, crisp/mash, salt/sweet, spicy/savory. My other got the Gobbler - wow, very good sandwich! Pictures show it's piled high and another great flavor combination. I don't know about the other breakfast items, but if you need a place with a great HASH, check this out. (Thanks Crema for thinking outside the box for us food problem people.) read more

Crema Cafe - Gobbler - check that height! Turkey, cranberry, goat cheese, ruffage - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I have always had great customer service!!! The people who work here are super nice and seem to always be in a good mood while taking orders and making coffees. I really enjoyed the Carmel macchiato I got here. I also love the bluebird sandwich. I get it every time! They have decent portion sizes and the chips on the side are good as well! Recommend stopping here at least once if you live in the madison area. Cute little cafe to chat with friends. read more

I was in town visiting my Father and Grandmother. This place harbored me during my 2 weeks and offered me welcome respite from the harsh reminders of my guilt-riddled childhood. I would order a latte and stay for hours while I read comics, checked my email, and drew in my sketchbook. The espresso is definitely the best in the area, however I believe that the true charm of Crema comes from it's awesome sandwich menu. Their Tuscan is nothing short of epicly delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of eating it. There is tons of seating, and I never felt cramped other than during lunch hour. If you are staying in the Madison/Monona area, it is definitely a place to stop by and bring your friends. In my personal opinion, it doesn't stack up to the best coffee I've had, but I liked it more than enough to keep coming back again and again on my trip out to the Midwest. read more

Crema Cafe - A flower for every table, a leaf for every cup. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If you like burgers, get the smash burger!! It's perfect and so delicious! I've heard their sandwiches are really good too!

I go out of my way to eat at Crema. Their weekend brunch specials are always appealing and stray away from the regular pancake/eggs that other breakfast places serve. Also appreciate them serving and procuring local produce and meats. Highly recommended read more

Finally made it over to Monona for brunch on Saturday. Our group of 6 arrived at 12:30 and thankfully there was a table available for us. You go and order up front with their very friendly staff. The ambiance is nothing special at all, but the view of the lake is really nice if you can grab a seat near the window. Overall, the food was very good. - Fungus Scrambler: AMAZING, I typically don't order scramblers because that's the easiest thing to make at home, but I would break my rule for this. If you like mushrooms but aren't huge on them, you will still adore this dish. Also there's truffle oil in this so...yeah. Do it. - Killer Scramble: I'm a sucker for smoked salmon and eggs, and this dish is no exception. They're pretty generous with the salmon and it goes so well with the cheese, it's just a party in your mouth. - Sweet Berry French Toast: meh. The server said this was really good but I disagree. Really boring, the orange mascarpone doesn't taste like orange or mascarpone and there's barely any on it anyway. Didn't love the texture of the toast, either. - Gloomy Day (or something) Smoothie: delicious!!! I slurped this up in like 30 seconds. I definitely want to go back, but I'll probably have anxiety over choosing between something I loved from my previous visit or trying something new!! read more

Crema Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The Roman II is to die for! As a vegetarian, it's not very often I get excited about a sandwich. Enter Crema. The Roman II has roasted zucchini, tomatoes, provolone, red onion, a delicious balsamic vinaigrette and some arugula to top it all off. (This is from memory. Allow me a few errors!) Each sandwich comes with homemade tortilla chips. The chips are seasoned with some sort of goodness. Both the sandwich and chips make for a perfect lunch. Beside sandwiches, Crema has bakery items, a wide range of coffee drinks, and rotating soups. I hear they have brunch but haven't had a chance to check it out. The staff is really friendly and they always have a smile on their face. It's the perfect little eatery. Be warned, around lunch time this place gets quite busy. If you want to grab lunch on your short lunch break, go ahead and preorder. read more

Stopped here a few times for their breakfast/brunch on the weekends. You can tell its a popular place because there is always a line for ordering. We've gotten lucky by always being able to snag a table, I am sure others may not be as lucky. The menu is smaller but every item is perfected, and well thought out. Most if not all the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced. I've tried the breakfast sandwich, the sweet berry French toast, oatmeal, and their hash. All are delicious. The breakfast sandwich is served with a side of greens. I wasn't sure how I'd like the cream cheese on it, but it really made the sandwich. Overall this is my go-to breakfast item. The sweet berry French toast is made with bread from a baguette which is the perfect balance with something that would normally be overly sweet . It is perfect in every way. Not to mention the portion size is very generous. If you are in the area, you should really give Crema Café a try. You won't be disappointed! read more

Wow, simply wow. My lady and I love this place!! Just had the breakfast sandwich, the ingredients in it were a great combo. My lady had the fungus scramble which was amazing and the blueberry hill smoothie. I will be back for a quick smoothie if I'm in the area and need a quick drink. The mocha was awesome too so if you need a quick pick me up stop into this place. I just wish they had more seating :) read more

This is a wonderful breakfast/lunch place along Monona Drive, which is a wonderful option for those of us in East Madison who don't want to battle parking fees and traffic downtown. I love their Lake Edge Eggs and Hash and their Fungus Scramble. They always have a scramble of the day, which usually includes some sort of seasonal ingredient. If you find yourself on the East side of Lake Monona, stop here! read more

Crema Cafe - Delicious coffee! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great little cafe. They use my favorite-Colectivo coffee. I ordered the ham so Gouda sandwich. It was delicious and I was happily surprised that the ham was hot not cold. Comes with some pretty amazing chips too. read more

Crema Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We really enjoyed our meal. The chicken salad was very tasty. The dried blueberries added a subtle sweetness to the chicken salad. The smashed burger was also tasty. Perfect lunch. Perfect portions. Nice people. read more

I want to crema cafe tired after just getting into Madison after a really early morning flight. Eating there really cheered me up. I got their weekend scramble which that week was a crab scramble. It was very tasty and they had a wide assortment of hot sauces. I will say the portions aren't huge, so if you are really hungry you might want to add a side. read more

Crema Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Love their savory turnovers for a quick grab and go breakfast. The doughnut holes are also delicious. I haven't had a sit down breakfast here in several years but I'm guessing it's just as good as what's behind the counter. Service is always very friendly and accommodating too. read more

Great spot for breakfast and lunch. I love the easy counter service ordering.. I'm a big fan of the "Hot Chick" chicken sandwich. The bread and sauce is to die for. There are always a ton of flies in here, that's why I'm leaving 4 stars. read more

A solid choice if quality is a main consideration. I've enjoyed everything I've tried. My only gripes are sometimes I could have the bread just a tad less toasted- It makes the sandwiches a little harder to eat than they need to be- and sure, if you're REALLY hungry, you might need to supplement your meal with a pastry to really fill up, because the portions aren't large. But I can count on this place to use fresh, thoughtful and high quality ingredients and that's what matters most to me! read more

This was my first time here and it was great! Right when you walk in, you get that quaint breakfast cafe feel. The decor is perfect and welcoming. I got the sausage and peppers breakfast special. The sausage had great flavors and the peppers were roasted perfectly. Mix that together with the eggs, and it was a great breakfast. It also came with focchia bread to help soak up all the juices. It was surprising light and fluffy. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the side of mixed greens. It didn't seem to be dressed at all and was a little dry. Other than that, the meal was great! read more

Yes. Just yes to everything about this adorable little cafe. High quality, locally sourced, ethical ingredients. Fair trade coffee. DELICIOUS everything I have ever tried. Brioche french toast is my favorite. Get's a little packed inside during the weekends for brunch, expected! But I have never had to wait for a table. Always seems to work out just fine. Food takes a little longer to come out that I would have expected, but it is SO worth the wait, and honestly I would rather wait a little longer knowing it's all being prepared fresh instead of it just being warmed up. I am a huge fan. Been here several times and I am certain I will be here several more in the future. read more

Best place ever! So cute! Always packed but worth it! Love that they support local artists!

I always look forward to our trips to Crema on the weekends. The "special" scrambles are always on point and the coffee (Collectivo) is superb. Everything that comes out of their kitchen is fresh and delivered with a smile. You can tell, just by being there, that everyone on the staff loves what they do. In addition, this place is super kid friendly. A Mr./Mrs. Potato Head for kids available for almost a dozen kids? Madness. My only criticism is pointed at their cleanliness. It IS NOT awful. I just think that there could be a larger effort on sweeping up during the busy times. Not a fan of stepping on someones leftovers. However, I am a huge fan of the Bluebird. I wasn't sure why they were selling t-shirts touting them until I had one. A shirt is in my future for sure. read more

I used to like this place, and they definitely have some yummy food; however, lately the service has been poor and it seems dirty. On my last visit, the staff couldn't stop talking to each other long enough to greet me at the register and when they were out of coffee, at 730am, all they did was argue over how that inexplicably happened. Ugggh! I will stick to Moka and Monona Bakery. read more

A small but excellent menu. I went for breakfast and had the egg samy which was a fried egg on a toasted ciabbata bun with white cheddar, fresh greens and mayo. Simple but delicious. I'm not much if a coffee drinker but everyone else there seemed to be enjoying theirs. As for myself I had a mango oj (don't recall the name) smoothie that was also excellent and tasted exactly like a smoothie should. The establishment itself was very clean and "cheery" in a modern way, think yellows, pear greens and light blues. Unfortunately this place is not in the most centralized location and might get looked over, I guarantee if this place was downtown or on wily st it would be booming. Of course its kind of nice to find a cafe that's not so packed where you don't feel rushed. On a final note the service was also excellent and the owner also works there and seemed like a nice fellow. No reason not to give this place 5 stars. read more

Crema Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Today was my second time at Crema. Both times I have been there, the meals have been divine. The first time I ate there, I had breakfast, today I had a sandwich with artichoke, spinach, cheese and mayo. Both were excellent. Everyone in my party today also loved their meals. The apple pancakes, which were the special of the day, were melt-in-your mouth amazing and the cute rainbow of fruit served on the side was clearly very fresh. I love Crema's small, cozy atmosphere, the fun colorful plates, and of course, their delicious food. Sadly, however, I cannot give Crema a five-star review. I was extremely disappointed today at the customer service and how a mistake was handled. When our food was brought to our table, an order of children's pancakes was missing. We asked the server about it. In my opinion, his response should have immediately been, "I am so sorry, I will get those right out to you." Instead, he said he would have to look at the ticket. A couple of minutes later he returned to let us know that there had been only one order of pancakes on our menu. This was a error on their part. We ordered two - one apple, one regular. There were clearly two children standing with my husband when he ordered. Then, again, instead of immediately getting us our pancakes, the server suggested that my husband should go and place another order. So my husband waited in line (behind five other patrons - it was lunch on Mother's Day) to order the same pancakes that he had previous ordered. By the time he finally got back to the table, his meal was cold, and by the time my son's pancakes finally arrived, the rest of us had finished our meals. This was their mistake, yet we were the ones that ended up with late food, cold food, and having to stand in line multiple times. No one apologized. It was just a bummer - and the table next to us had an issue with their order, as well. Food wise - this place is perfect. I might suggest they spend a tad bit more time working with their servers on listening and how to handle errors. read more

Crema Cafe - Mother's Day lunch. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Terrible service!! We went here with our 1.5yo daughter because everyone said it was kid-friendly. NOT TRUE. We waited over 30min for food while people who arrived after us were being served. The staff were not apologetic and when we couldn't wait any longer and asked for our money back, they wanted us to wait because it was "almost ready." I left with our daughter and my husband waited ANOTHER 10 minutes for the food before they finally admitted it wasn't done and gave us our money back. Never eating here again!! read more

I keep wanting to like this place but they consistently cross flavor lines in my opinion. I have tried a half dozen items from their menu now and more often than not my taste buds are offended. I feel as though they are constantly striving to create new unique combinations and flavors which is not a bad thing, where they go wrong however is that they constantly allow one flavor or another to completely take over the dish to the point that you can no longer taste anything else. They definitely use fresh ingredients and there is a couple of dishes that are okay, but they continually offend my taste buds. read more

Wow! definitely a 5 star cafe, tucked into a little shopping center, near Monona. I didn't expect such an excellent shop in such an unassuming spot (and so convenient for me, near the house I could afford!) and I honestly cannot find one single thing about it I could improve. The coffee was excellent, both in taste, balance, and presentation, and even better was organic AND fair trade. Wow! And it just gets better: loads of other key menu items are local AND organic. Thank the gods! (or whomever.) I had a ham sammitch that was delicious, a little sweet, served with spicy chips which are normally not my favorite thing, but balanced the plate perfectly. I also love a menu featuring seasonal stuff, and fresh fruit. Soup was great, can't wait to go back for the smoothies. For the high level of awesome going on, the place is cutey but not at all pretentious, kid-friendly without being zoo-ish, and has a nice view of lake Monona. Anything else I could wish for (belly-dancers, 24 hour service, an archery range, complimentary rickshaw rides...) would be frankly silly to expect. This place deserves to prosper. read more

I hadn't ate here in a few years and had a craving to go. My boyfriend and I went on a Sunday around brunch time. It was busy as expected but the service was quick! The inside is very colorful and I noticed the building sign outside had been updated too. We decided to eat outside which gives a nice view of Lake Monona. The Lake Eggs and Hash was alright. I appreciated the sweet potatoes in the hash and homemade turkey sausage was my favorite part. My boyfriend really enjoyed the weekend special peanut butter waffles. This place always has unique specials to try. Overall, we agreed this place is a once in awhile visit. I think it is worth a try for anyone! read more

Their regular menu is great, but their specials are just that - special. I would say that 90% of the time I eat one I say something along the lines of "this is one of the best things I have ever eaten", and I truly mean it. The only thing holding them back from being 5 stars for me is that I don't enjoy the coffee selection they have out regularly (an important thing for me) and I wish they were open later. I keep wanting to eat brunch at different places around Madison, but I am continually drawn back to Crema. Also, it gets really busy, so plan ahead! read more

Been back to Crema a bunch of additional times, and now love it. Their Gouda grits are to die for and they have a drink called Coconut Crema that is amazing. Also, the staff is awesome! I've heard their Bluebird sandwich is excellent, but my allergy to blueberries prevents me from being able to consume it. The Gobbler sandwich is my favorite sandwich at Crema and has been consistently excellent. Such a lovely place for weekend brunch! read more

A few months ago I finally came in for lunch. Now I *crave* the Bluebird sandwich all the time. It's a chicken salad sandwich, but not just any chicken salad sandwich--it's a tasty chicken salad with dried blueberries and walnuts, white cheddar, and greens on a baguette. Seriously, in my top ten of best sandwiches EVER. However, even though the place has expanded, which is nice to not feel claustrophobic while eating, the service has slowed down quite a bit. Sure, the people at the counter are super nice, but it shouldn't take 15 minutes to get a coffee drink, smoothie, and sandwich made and brought to your table. Still, I recommend that you give Crema a try. The food is excellent and hopefully if it continues to get a lot of business the owners can afford to get some full-time wait staff or more folks in the kitchen to get the food out faster to eager customers. read more

Fun decor. Good coffee... but some of the food is a tad more concepetual than needed. This is definately true of their roast beef sandwich which simply has too many somewhat clashing components. Having said that, they have marscapone french toast! And a really great chicken salad sandwich... and a kids menu that shows they get kids including a toddler friendly grabber plate. read more

Fresh, local, and good! You really have to experience it firsthand. Inexpensive breakfast options for the little ones, and I've never had an item I didn't like. Try the cherry galette. Wait. Don't. They're mine, all mine... read more

Typically I wouldn't give a five star review after one experience but this place was beaming with goodness. I cannot wait to go back. This is the perfect place to catch up with a friend over well thought out food. I skimmed the menu and went with the Ham & Jam. (A ham sandwich with tomato jam, goat cheese & red onion.) It was heaven sent goodness. And here's a secret: I'm not fan of ham. So that says a lot. They serve Alterra coffee; refills are available and are 50 cents. (You order up front as well and the items are brought to you.) My friend had the Farmer's Scramble and we both decided I hit the jackpot. I cannot wait to head back and try the Fungus Scramble or any of the specials that seemed to get by me this morning. (I'll blame it on the daylight savings time.) If you're thinking of going here and are with a small group, search no further. If you have a larger group, be careful with your timing as it might be tough to get a big table. I arrived at 9:30 on a Sunday Morning and there were only 2 open tables, both seating 2 or 3. read more