The best coffee shop in Madison ☕
My colleague Ashley, a coffee expert, is used to this question: Where’s the best coffee in Madison? Just like “where should we have dinner” this demands more detail — do you want a treat? do you want to sit at a real table? “The best coffee is the coffee you like,” she says.
We just published a roundup of nearly 40 new and upcoming restaurants, bars, bakeries, cafes and food carts around the greater Madison area. The big trend, still, is coffee shops — there were eight in this roundup alone. I expect to see more as apartment buildings spring up around the city.
There were a passel of new breakfast places on this list, from Pink Flamingo Brunch Cafe and Ellipse on State Street to Roasty Toasty in DeForest and Stuffed Bagels, coming soon to Stoughton. There are two new places for momos (a food cart and a market), a nostalgic new Mongolian barbecue spot on the west side, and exciting moves from talented chefs in New Glarus and on University Avenue.
I am most excited for those last two, but the banh mi at Dreamy Teazy is also calling my name. And I’m craving one of those super-stuffed Norwegian baked potatoes from Pota Madre. Wendy’s could never.
A few of my favorite things as we head slowly into fall: The shrimp po’boy at Ina Mae Tavern in Chicago (find this iconic New Orleans sandwich locally at North of the Bayou and Gates & Brovi). A “whatever’s in the fridge” baked pasta with provolonello, a mozzarella-provolone hybrid, and lots of sweet peppers. This Kentucky Buck cocktail, made with rye, citrus and ginger beer. Popcorn with parmesan cheese and black truffle powder. Red D’Anjou pears…