Such a classic breakfast spot in Madison! It has been a couple years since I have been, but I wanted to give it the review it deserves. It is almost always busy, so I definitely recommend planning ahead since there is almost always a wait. read more

Short Stack Eatery - French toast, scrambled eggs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Disappointed out of towner! This place is gross. 1)Was handed a dirty plate. 2)self service - no napkins on tables 3) FOOD IS GROSS - everything is covered in canola oil pretty much 4) nickel and dime for everything ($2 for whip cream) 5) not toddler friendly - handed a 2 and 4 glass cups and paper straws read more

Food was amazing. Service was so good. Staff was super friendly and welcoming and prompt.

Food was excellent, generous portions and excellent quality. Friendly and efficient staff, great atmosphere! read more

Short Stack Eatery - Blueberry short stack pancakes and scrambled eggs. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Went here for dinner one night and it was great! First of all, I love love LOVE the night time hours, nothing is better than breakfast for dinner. There are good food options, I got pancakes and my partner got the "the blind". The blind ended up being a rice pudding with apples and candied pistachios. It was absolutely amazing and I am still thinking about it. Overall food was good, vibes were good, and staff was very friendly read more

Short Stack Eatery - Short Buttermilk Stack and Blind Special - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The ham on the eggs Benedict was dry and tough to chew. The biscuit they use instead of an English muffin was hard and dry. The breakfast potatoes were burnt. Waitstaff? Just there to clean. It's like they are told to keep their eyes down, don't make eye contact with anyone and never check to see if anyone needs anything. read more

Loved their pancakes soo much they are delicious as in they are like cake that's how sweet they are! I definitely recommend if you looking for good pancakes! Came here to get brunch and overall loved the service the big breakfast was good wasn't a big fan of the potatoes but bacon and eggs was decent! The pancakes are the real deal and feel like that's why everyone goes there for those pancakes!! read more

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Amazing food! Short wait but well worth it. Mainly self-service- order before you find your own seat and pour your own water and coffee. Would love to return and try other items. They do serve alcohol in form of Bloody Mary's (homemade mix) and various juice and sparkling wine options (I.e. mimosas) read more

Short Stack Eatery - Buttermilk Stack, side of bacon and coffee (cinnamon hazelnut) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My husband and I decided to try Short Stack this morning before a matinee at the Overture Center. This was the first time for both of us. It is a tad pricy but for the amount of food we received it was well worth it. We both choose the pick 3, with bacon, scrambled eggs and pancakes. The menu said 2 eggs but I would bet there were closer to 5. I asked for mine soft and they were perfect. The bacon was amazing too. Hubby got the buttermilk pancakes and said they were very good. I had the sweet potato oatmeal pancakes - AMAZING! The fresh squeezed juice was delicious. We will be returning. Hubby said it was absolutely the best breakfast he's ever eaten. I agree. And we are old!! read more

Subpar food and a whole lot of excuses and explanations that need to happen. It's not hard to cook breakfast and overcharge for it.

Great wholesome food, super great coffee. We arrived on Saturday morning around 8:45/9AM and there was already a line outside. I was surprised but joined the line and waited 10 minutes. It moved fast (about 10 people ahead of me). Menu wasn't overwhelming and offered good choices. It had just the right amount of choices and variety. They have the surprise meal (sweet or savory) option that I am sure some love. Me: not so much, but good for them for having a twist on things. If you want to know what it is before you order, they will tell you, but they have to charge you $5 and then yes, you still HAVE to order it/pay for it. So... to me, not worth it, but others can play this game if it works for them. Pumpkin pancakes were so good, you could tell it was the real good stuff and not some garbage.Others had other items (Trio, burrito...) and everyone liked their food. Short Stack Eatery was great and not the least expensive option, but I knew that going in so... They have posters all over the place (even on your table) with a QR code and title that says "How McDondals F'd us" (or something to that effect with the F word). I clicked, read a little bit, and it's basically about how McDonald's sold America on the 'get breakfast cheap and easy for $1" marketing drove up the rest of America's prices. I didn't want to read some material like this. I just wanted to eat and be happy. This wasn't really 'sunshine' material to be reading while I eat. It may or may not be true: not my jam to figure it out today. I have enough stress 50 hours a week during my job, it's Saturday. I want to enjoy my pumpkin pancakes and company and not read about someone else's frustrations in the world with the market prices of food and labor. It's just too much, imo. But it's Madison and plenty of people here probably enjoy this stuff. I was traveling and wanted a few days of weekend optimism. The tipping/counter thing was weird. I was caught off guard. You order when you come in at the counter. Someone brings food to you and cleans your table. So, I consider it pretty much like a normal restaurant, shot to fit exact you have to get your own drinks (quick easy refills, happy to do it myself). So when you order your food in the beginning, they ask for tips. I did tip, but then I walked away wondering if I tipped enough bc I thought I was just tipping the counter girl but then realized that someone is serving the food and cleaning up after us. It was confusing. Knowing what I know now, I would tip a little more, but the whole process threw me off for a minute. I would come back, tip more, not click on the McDonald's QR code sign, order something new and fun, dress warmer to stand outside in line since it's always Wisconsin cold, and enjoy another Saturday before heading to the market. read more

The BEST breakfast in Madison. Hands down! Don't be deterred by the line - it's 100% worth it and a Madison experience you have to try. The customer service is awesome and the kitchen flies food out so fast! read more

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Great place. Always super busy but moves pretty quick. Be ware of the dinner smell hahah. Also the blind defs recommend. Ordered this and got a savory fried rice breakfast dish. read more

Short Stack Eatery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Let me start by saying it was one of the best breakfasts I've had in a long time. I am also not a "Sconnie" (I'm here for my baby brother's surgery). I ordered the Pecan Streusel French toast (small plate) and 2 eggs over medium. Some of the best French toast I've ever had and the eggs were cooked to perfection. My older brother ordered the Cajun Biscuits and Gravy (small plate) with a bowl of fruit. Is it pricier than a fast food joint? Sure it is, but you definitely won't get this quality at a fast food restaurant either..... I did purchase two loaves of banana bread before leaving (1 regular, 1 Works). They are moist, but it's not banana bread without nuts for me so it was missing that one thing for me. I can understand why you may not use nuts (1. Cost/$$, 2. Nut allergies) so that's really just my personal preference. I probably would not buy the banana bread again. That said....here are my negatives (and the reason for 4 star vs 5) about the restaurant: 1. Genderless bathrooms. Ick. Not a fan unless it's a single use bathroom (in which case it very much makes sense), but then again Madison is the queen of "liberal-ness" so I suppose I shouldn't be particularly shocked by this. I refused to use the bathroom, but my older brother, who has patronized your establishment before, is pretty liberal, God love him...LOL...and used your bathroom previously, went in. He said you have added 'saloon doors' to the urinals that were not there previously so I suppose that's at least a decent compromise for those who choose to use the 'facilities.' 2. We got "f%$#ed" by McDonalds. Look, I get that people are upset at you raising your prices. I nearly have a heart attack every time I go grocery shopping so I know it's no better for a business. I didn't find your prices unreasonable (but I also live in a major metropolis so I'm sure that bears on my opinion), but you don't have the same customer base at McDonalds. You are a gourmet breakfast, they are definitely not. How do you even compare yourself to the same league? Concentrate on making your business the best it can be - you'll never be competition for a major corporation as McDs and you shouldn't try to be. Keep making that pecan streusel French toast and the other delicious items and worry less about what "Big Bad McDonalds" is doing. It just seems like a childish article and sign in your restaurant....but then again....maybe all of the local liberals appreciate it more than this conservative did. read more

Short Stack Eatery - Two eggs - over medium - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Awesome breakfast "fast" food. Order at the counter and then grab a seat. Highly recommend pumpkin oatmeal pancakes. So delicious you don't even need syrup! read more

First, we had to wait in line outside, but it was 1000% worth it! Once inside we ordered at the counter, went to our table they brought everything to us. Pancakes were the best pancakes I've ever had!! The bacon was perfect thick cut bacon. Homemade corn beef hash also amazing. We ordered a regular, pear, cranberry mimosa and pear was by far the best!! It's a small restaurant but so cute, all I'm saying is you won't regret a visit here. read more

Service here was super long, but fortunately, I was eventually delivered the most delicious stack of pancakes. These sweet potato oatmeal pancakes are amazing, and I also loved their buttermilk pancakes as well! Must-go if you're ever in Madison, WI! read more

Short Stack Eatery - Sweet Potato Oatmeal Stack - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Solid Breakfast spot in the Downtown Madison area! Highly recommended the biscuits & gravy or the pulled pork grits! It can get busy & is a bit pricey, but it's 100% worth it! read more

I ordered the trio which included a short stack, bacon, breakfast potatoes and to drink I had the strawberry basil lemonade. The food was good and I really enjoyed the lemonade the most. read more

THE BEST brunch place in Madison. My favorite are the sweet potato oatmeal pancakes, but I do the blind when I want to try something different. I've tried just about everything in the menu and nothing disappoints. Great fresh, local, whole food. Very special place read more

Short Stack Eatery - The Blind Special. Came with king cake (this was around Mardi Gras) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Always has and likely always will be my favorite Bloody Mary. The 20+ ingredients in Short Stack's Bloodies aren't dumb ass garnishes, they're a garden of delicious veggies blended together to perfection. With it being quarantine and all, you can only get a virgin Bloody, but that doesn't mean you can't spike it yourself! They also have an amazing menu spanning savory to sweet and that includes vegan options like the breakfast burritos my partner and I devoured. Plus they support local and minority causes. There's literally no reason not to love Short Stack Eatery. read more

Short Stack Eatery - Vegan Burritos and Short Stack's infamous Bloody Mary's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Long, very long line slightly expensive, food is good but not great. I really didn't like the whole social justice being used to sell me pancakes. You sell bacon & eggs I don't need a side of activism with it! I am sick of businesses trying to tell me how great they are when we know its still a business and its all for show. Like I said its a long line and the food was average at best. Don't care for fake activism at 10 A.M. stick to the kitchen and lower the cost. Maybe hire more people so their is a shorter line instead of tell me about all the causes you fund. There's an idea hire more people if you really care about helping society. read more

Reposting since original post was censored. I felt very uncomfortable on approaching this place. Very political vibe. Had BLM and Brianna posters as well as a no guns sign. I'm a person who likes a good breakfast without a side of hateful propaganda. This place forces their agenda in your face before you even get inside. A hard NO for me. Owner was in unapologetic and doubled down on her divisive atmosphere. read more

Went in to have the Pecan Streusel French Toast after reading all the reviews, and it truly does live up to it's reputation. It's just the perfect amount of sweet and goes really well with the maple bourbon mascapone! I can't praise this enough. I got the small order after reading reviews that it would be more than enough, but that is definitely not true. The portion size of the regular would have been just right, and it would also mean more of that mascapone! Went back in the next night for dinner and had the Sweet Potato Oatmeal Pancakes, and it was out of this world. It came with the same maple bourbon mascapone, and the combination of the two is just perfect! I left out the berries in both the dishes, but that's only because I've never liked berries. Both these dishes are phenomenal, with the most perfect combination on this planet! Definitely going back for more soon. read more

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Went on Saturday before the Badger football game. Love the concept. Was easy for me to stay no-carb by ordering the eggs scrambled with 3-ingredients. I chose 2-yr aged cheddar, caramelized onions and asparagus. Side of greens instead of potatoes (nice offering on the menu) and a side of bacon. Everything was great with exception of the greens. They weren't washed properly and super gritty with dirt!! At first I thought it was egg shell however just dirty greens :( eggs and bacon = perfection One of the best Bloody Marys I've ever had. Get the small, I barely put a dent in the large. The large is big enough to share with 2-3 people. I would try this place again in hopes the greens were a fluke. read more

Short Stack Eatery - Large Bloody - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE BREAKFAST PLACE IN MADISON. This may actually be my favorite place in Madison, period. Built on top of a cool concept of being open Wednesday through Sunday, this local diner serves incredible food with good vibes as well. I typically order the Trio with potatoes, ham, eggs and also order my personal favorite: the sweet potato oatmeal pancakes. If you're feeling adventurous, they offer a blind special for $7 where you can order it and they'll surprise you :) Every time I go back to Madison, this place is on top of my list. read more

Short Stack Eatery - Trios with potatoes, ham, eggs as well as sweet potato oatmeal pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE! Every time I dine at Short Stack I experience the best service and food! The food here is seriously unreal; I recommend their sweet potatoes pancakes and breakfast potatoes! My dad says their breakfast burrito is the best he has ever had. I also enjoy the ambiance and decorations throughout the diner. Lots of retro pieces and fun lights! I also love how the diner is open for dinner service as well. I will continue to come back to this charming little diner as it is a staple here in Madison. Well done, staff! read more

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We had the pleasure of eating here on Sunday. The place was super busy but they handled their crowd efficiently and professionally. The menu is simple but each item listed sounded enticing to me (possibly just because I'm a foodie). We ordered a whole spread (scan the QR code posted on their windows to view their menu while you wait) mimosas included ($8.50 each). Everything was exactly how I would've imagined it tasting. The food was superb and the service was on point. Everything was flavorful and served hot and fresh. For 2 people we spent around $65 (w/ 2 alcoholic drinks) and it was well worth it. We will be back there!! read more

Unfortunately, my husband and I found Short Stack to be incredibly mediocre and overpriced. We spent over $50 for two breakfasts (no drinks) and they were so forgettable. Not to mention, this business repeatedly creates GoFundMes for themselves because they are "struggling". Um, you're a for-profit restaurant? If you're struggling financially, focus on fixing your business model, not begging for handouts (especially when this particular business has already received over $570K from the government since 2020)...it is wild to me that a for-profit restaurant is begging for donations, when there are so many people and nonprofits out there who actually need your help. I'm adding a star because the girl working behind the counter was very kind, and we experienced good service. But overall, the vibe is off-putting. Marigold Kitchen and Basset St Brunch Club all have much better food, IMO. I wouldn't waste your time here. read more

Excellent brunch in Madison. Get here early though since this place has a line on weekends. At 9 AM there were 5 people in line, but at 12 PM it was 15 people just outside of the door. Best item on the menu is the Sweet Potato Oatmeal Stack. First the pancake is rich, and has that stick to your mouth feel from the oatmeal. The sweet potato does add a bit of natural sweetness to the pancakes. Then add the maple bourbon mascarpone, with a strong bourbon flavor, just compliments the pancakes and is a specialty pancake unlike any I've had before. The Eggs Benedict was also a tasty item. Fresh biscuits, eggs, then a lemon hollandaise (with barely any lemon that I was happy about), and asparagus on top. This came with a side item, and the salad is topped with a vinaigrette that is flavorful and light. The Pulled Pork and Cheesy Grits is a typical Midwest heavy and filling item, but it was just soso. The Pulled Pork is quite flavorful, and would be good on its own. The cheesy grits did not add anything to the dish in my opinion. The jalapenos help by adding a kick, but the grits are too bland to salvage. The toast is already buttered, but you can ask for a jam. They have two options, but both cost $1. This was surprising, and the jam was not memorable so I can't recommend it. The Pick Three breakfast combo allows you to mix and match what you want. It's pretty generic, and I'd instead recommend getting one of their unique menu items over it. read more

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my favorite breakfast place in all of Madison! I love the vibe from the license plate numbers to the open counter. I just wish the lines weren't so dang long during hot times, but that just speaks to the quality and popularity. read more

Short Stack Eatery - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Been a while since my last visit. Food are amazing as usual and happy to find out that ventilation is no longer an issue! read more

Y'all... when I tell you this place is worth the hype! I've pretty much explored the whole menu by now, and I don't think you can go wrong with anything. The biscuits and gravy had so much flavor and were the closest thing I can get to good Southern food like I'm used to back home! The service is amazing and this business does a lot for the LGBTQ+ community which I love! All around wonderful business and outstanding food. Get the breakfast potatoes.... Trust me. read more

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The Blind, every time! Short Stack is the best breakfast spot in town if you're looking for the classics + unique options. I can't remember the last time I've gotten something other than the Blind special - it changes every day, you can ask if it's sweet or savory if you want to pay half price, or you can ask what it is and pay full. In all my times of ordering it, there's only been once where I wasn't extremely happy with it! (And even then, it was still tasty, just didn't exactly hit the spot like it typically does). Prices aren't low, but they pay their staff living wages and stand up for a lot of important issues in our society, so we love supporting them! read more

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Love this place. Professional kitchen putting out really good stuff. Relaxed vibe and spacious dining room. The pancakes were great. What caught my eye was the pulled pork over cheese grits . They substituted chorizo at my request , added an egg on top and it was delicious. read more

Short Stack Eatery - Cheese grits and pork ( sub chorizo ) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Short Stack always seems to have a huge line outside whenever I pass by it. That's probably the worst part about going there though, as the food is amazing! Now they have your typical brunch options; your sweet pancakes, your savory scrambles with a side of potatoes. Yada Yada. What makes Short Stack truly unique though is "The Blind." The Blind, starting at a meager $7, is a dish that you trust the chefs completely on as you are given no information on through the menu(you can ask but then the price increases to $11). For those that are willing to eat anything, it's an incredible deal that normally results in food that is as high quality and creative as anything else on the menu. I've ordered it both times I've gone to Short Stack; the first time I got Salmon Croquettes and the second time I got Korean Nachos. Both these dishes were a delicious and fun surprise, and even though its only $7, it's certainly not a small plate. The restaurant makes a strong point of celebrating diversity and inclusion, which only makes it that much more incredible and deserving of support. In the end, Short Stack Eatery is a wonderful restaurant, with high quality food, and a meaningful message; what else can you ask for? read more

Coffee shop meets diner First time here. Downtown location so no parking. Quaint place in great location adjacent to State Street. Well known. LGBTQ+ friendly. Clean bathrooms, friendly staff. Good size food portions. Breakfast for two: $26 - Cajun biscuits and gravy with two eggs, 3x choc chip pancakes, 2 cups coffee. Coffee was $3.25/cup but bottomless; we each just needed one cup. Pancakes were perfect texture but very sweet; biscuits were hard but tasty. We would come back. read more

Great breakfast food! Highly encourage you to try the burrito. Coffee is good and strong. Go during the week, and early. No wait!

TLDR; Choose Bassett Street Brunch Club or State St. Cafés instead. The short haired cashier was harsh in telling me I had to order before I sit down. Having walked from campus to the restaurant, it was highly annoying that I couldn't sit and look at the menu. Like seriously?? Do you think I'm going to sit at a table and not order anything? I hope management relays this to staff: Keep in mind, some patrons might have hidden disabilities, making it hard to stand. Absolutely no need to be so rude. Food wise - The pancakes are good! However, they are the same price as Bassett Street Brunch Club, which I find to be better. The toast isn't very toasted, but it's okay. However, both the bacon and sausage are so dry and disgusting! Their water is so warm it's off putting. Despite all this, I'd like to shout out the male food runner today. He was incredibly kind! After reading other reviews, it doesn't seem like the owners are great people. This very obviously translates into the business throughout, from food to service. As a huge café/brunch person, I didn't realize a restaurant could be this disappointing. With Bassett St. being a short walk away, and all the lovely cafés and tea bars along State St., you're better off avoiding Short Stack Eatery. read more

Pancakes are good, that's about as much as you can say as far as positives. Sausage and bacon are freezer, pre-cooked tasting. The food runner that brought out food today was nicer than the host who greeted us. The policy regarding self serve and ordering before you eat is a bit misguided. Undoubtedly it is an attempt to cut down on cost, but considering the amount of people who find it off putting it should be reconsidered. Food is expensive, most drinks are self serve, and the water is often warm. I think Basset Street Brunch Club is a better spot for breakfast food overall, and would never recommend that someone comes here over the better options. It has the vibe of a failing business trying everything to stay afloat, from the service, bathrooms, and food. read more