It's Madison Week at OnMilwaukee.com. We sent our editorial staff to check out bars, restaurants, retail outlets and cultural venues in order to uncover some of the best of Wisconsin's second-largest city.
MADISON -- The state’s capital is known for its festive nightlife, so it’s crucial that Madison offers plenty of breakfast options for the morning after a casual evening of cocktailing or a full-on bender. Luckily, Madtown has a seemingly bottomless cup of morning eateries.
During OnMilwaukee.com’s visit to Madison, after a night of checking out a half-dozen bars and a music venue, the staff was ready to feed the hangover beast. OnMilwaukee.com visited Madison during the week, so options were limited, but the staff managed to dig up a couple of delicious weekeday morning eateries.
The boys checked out Marigold Kitchen, 118 S. Pickney St., and the gals chowed down at Monty's Blue Plate Diner, 2089 Atwood Ave. Here are the accounts of the two eating experiences, followed by a list of other popular places for a Madtown morning nosh. As always, feel free to add your favorite Madison breakfast joint own the Talkback feature.
Marigold Kitchen
118 S. Pinckney St.
(608) 661-5559
Visited by: Publisher Andy Tarnoff, managing editor Bobby Tanzilo
Everyone says that Marigold Kitchen, near Capitol Square, is a must-stop for a Madison breakfast. But to call the bright and airy storefront Madison's version of Beans and Barley is a little inaccurate.
Sure, the restaurant, which only serves breakfast and lunch (and brunch on Saturdays), prides itself in using organic, locally sourced ingredients, but Marigold Kitchen has a very different feel than Beans.
On a recent visit, we tried two dishes, one very healthy, and one just very delicious. The simple steel-cut oats with banana, butter and brown sugar for $4.50 made for a quick and peppy breakfast when paired with a cappuccino, and just what the doctor ordered after a day of greasy meals. The scrambler of the day for $5.95 combined roasted red peppers, fluffy eggs and cream cheese -- an unlikely but unexpectedly tasty ingredient. The scrambler comes with marigold potatoes and toast.
Simple, fast, fresh and cheap, it's not surprising Marigold Kitchen has become a Madison mainstay.
Monty’s Blue Plate Diner
2089 Atwood Ave.
(608) 244-8505
Visited by: Staff writers Molly Snyder Edler and Julie Lawrence, and Reporter Maureen Post
Monty’s Blue Plate Diner is another Madison favorite. The blue-and-white, ‘50s-style diner is cute and comfy, without taking the theme too far. Best of all, it serves breakfast all day so late risers or those who appreciate "brinner" (breakfast for dinner) can load up on their favorite brunch dishes at their own preferred time.
Monty’s features a variety of hash options -- there’s a section on the menu called "Monty’s Hash House" -- including salmon hash, classic corned beef hash and vegetarian hash. The hash dishes range in prices from $7.89 to $8.59.
We tried the homemade vegetarian variety that came with a buttermilk biscuit and found it perfectly seasoned, filling and delicious.
The pancakes were equally as gratifying, boasting the qualities necessary for great slapjacks: thickness, fluffiness and warmth. Other breakfast items that jumped out at us included the breakfast burrito, tofu scrambler and almond milk French toast. Most of the breakfast items cost between $6 and $7.50.
The waitress was quick with the java refills, which is important when drinking "diner coffee" from small, white ceramic cups. It would have been even better if she left the pot of coffee, at our table, IHOP style, but we still managed to walk away completely caffeinated.
Other Madison breakfast restaurants:
Bluephies
2701 Monroe St., (608) 231-3663
foodfightinc.com
Café Continental
108 King St., (608) 251-4880
www.znbar.com
Cleveland's Diner
410 E. Wilson St., (608) 251-4455
Come Back In
508 E. Wilson St., (608) 258-8619
Ella's Deli
2902 E. Washington Ave., (608) 241-5291
ellas-deli.com
Fair Oaks Diner
44 S. Fair Oaks Ave., (608) 249-7076
Hubbard Avenue Diner
7445 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, (608) 831-6800
foodfightinc.com
Sunroom Cafe
638 State St., (608) 255-1555
sunroomcafe.com
