Any college kid who sees the light of a weekend day before 2 p.m. is likely one of three things: sadly devoid of non-academic entertainment, scornful of sleep in general or just incredibly dedicated to the glories of breakfast. In Madison, the latter description may best apply. Our campus area has a plethora of excellent diners-as well as not-so-greasy spoons-that will more than fulfill your morning (or afternoon) hankerings for something more than cereal.
Mickie's Dairy Bar
1511 Monroe St.
Mickie's Dairy Bar is a place to take friends and family for a memorable breakfast. The food is served in large portions, and though ordering a chocolate malt anywhere else would be unheard of but at Mickie's a malt is practically required with breakfast.
The menu is posted on the back wall of the restaurant and offers a variety of pancakes, egg concoctions and various other breakfast fare. Their pancakes are huge, fluffy and fulfilling. You get two pancakes but can order one for a dollar less, which is more than enough. The whole grain pancakes, at $4.50 for two, are amazing. They are slightly crispy on the outside, light on the inside and work well with lots of syrup. The banana nut cinnamon pancakes, at $5 for two, are loaves of banana bread transformed into wonderful pancakes. The banana is not overpowering with a nice crunch from the nuts.
Mickie's also offers malts at $3.50, which can easily be shared between two people. The chocolate malt was the perfect combination of chocolate and malt powder. It complimented the meal of pancakes.
If you are looking for fast and pleasant service, Mickie's is for you. According to UW senior Wendee Gardner, \It makes me feel sentimental.""
-Jason Brehm
Sunroom Cafe
638 State St.
At nearly two in the afternoon on a Saturday, the line is still backed up down the stairs and out onto State Street at the Sunroom Cafe. The weekend-weary college students line up behind elderly couples and scope for an open table with a full ketchup bottle. Yes, the breakfast menu is popular at Sunroom, and with good reason. With 15 minutes left before the cut-off for serving, hungry customers step to the register to place orders for massive omelets or wheat and fruit pancakes.
Sunroom Cafe specializes in all-homemade, European, often-vegetarian fare, with rotating specials. For breakfast, there are some interesting and delicious choices. Try a Mexican (jack cheese, guacamole, salsa, and tomato) or Florentine (spinach, feta cheese, mushroom) omelette, both of which are served with a stack of toast and thick potato wedges for $4.75). Another twist on traditional breakfast is the Sunroom wheat pancakes ($3.95/$4.95) with a choice of fresh bananas, strawberries or blueberries.
The Sunroom also has an extensive lunch menu with unique sandwiches made with hummus, tabouli, avocado cream cheese and more. While you wait (which you may, since the restaurant is self-serve and the kitchen can get backed up), just drool a little over the homemade desserts in the case in front of you and remind yourself, weekend warrior, that the wait will be well worth it.
-Amanda Buhman
Pancake Cafe
6640 University Ave.
Don't be fooled by the red vinyl booths and all-day breakfast menu. This is no IHOP or Perkins. The 32 flavors of waffles, cr??pes and award-winning pancakes topped with fresh fruit or homemade maple syrup put the Pancake Cafe in a class above your standard breakfast chain. Some of the more atypical pancakes that should not be missed are the banana nut pancakes filled with ripe bananas and sprinkled with pecans, the western cr??pe stuffed with ham, eggs vegetables and cheese, and the Apple Pancake, a three-inch-high baked concoction of pancake, eggs, apples and cinnamon.
The menu also includes sandwiches, salads and ten kinds of omelettes. Complete your meal with a side of thick-sliced bacon and freshly squeezed orange juice. The atmosphere is homey with a blazing fireplace, fake topiaries and a friendly wait staff. The wait for food or a seat at Sunday brunch can sometimes run long, but the food is well worth the wait. Entrees range from $5 to $10 and some, like the Apple Pancake, are large enough to share. The Pancake Cafe is open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
-Rena Archwamety
Marigold Kitchen
118 S. Pinckney St.
Marigold Kitchen follows the mantra of doing one thing and doing it right. They don't bother with a dinner menu and instead specialize in breakfast, brunch and lunch.
They have classic breakfast meals, such as two eggs cooked any way you like with bacon or sausage, potatoes and your choice of toast. The eggs are cooked just right, but the potatoes left something to be desired. They would be better crispier and less oily. Their breakfast sandwich is made on delicious gourmet bread with a fried egg, bacon, tomato and an interesting cheese spread that may be too rich for some diner's tastes.
Their drink choices range from fresh-squeezed orange juice to rich and foamy coffee drinks. But by far the best thing about Marigold is their choices of fresh baked pastries on display at the counter. Everything looks mouth-watering and the raspberry almond bars taste heavenly. If you were looking for a quiet place for brunch on a weekend afternoon, Marigold Kitchen would not be the place to find it. At 10 a.m. on Saturday morning it was packed, and by 10:30 the line was out the door. However, the quick service and colorful cushy surroundings can make you forget the crowd.
-Maeghan Killeen
