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Alchemy Cafe
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
1980 Atwood AveMadison, WI 53774
(608) 204-7644
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Troy V. said: "If getting a beer opt for the "Sconnie Beer" - same price as Bud/Miller/PBR but better and local" read more »
54 reviews for Alchemy Cafe
Review Highlights
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"Get the stuffed grilled cheese." In 8 reviews -
"The beer selection is always top notch." In 13 reviews -
"Quite possibly the most underrated fish fry in Madison." In 8 reviews
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54 reviews in English
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Review from Luis L.
Madison, WI
5/1/2012
Alchemy is my "go to." I'm not a regular. I don't go here every week. But If I'm ever in a pinch and can't figure out where to get a delicious meal and a great beer, I just come here.
I think I've eaten or tasted almost everything on their menu so whenever I go now I try the specials - and I've never been disappointed. I'm a meat-eater. An outspoken meat-eater. So it must tell you something that even their vegetarian options are good and filling.
The wine list is decent (although I couldn't care less about the grapes) and their beer list can satisfy any craving.
Plus... the service is also top-notch. Sometimes they get swamped, but I've never felt ignored.
If you don't carry cash or checks, be sure to bring some. They don't take credit cards - and I hate people bitching about it since it's something that clearly helps their business and ISN'T an inconvenience. -
Review from M S.
Madison, WI
4/15/2012
Great fries(chips), lousy burger. REALLY hot.
It was like a sauna in there (the other night anyway.)
The applerum burger is very plain. It is hand-formed, so just like when you try that at home, it basically turns into a meatball when you cook it. The razor-thin piece of cheese was inadequate. But our server was adorable and excellent and the beer was just right. -
Review from Angelica A.
Madison, WI
4/9/2012 1 photo
3.8
Alchemy is one of those places that feels good, and so you return, even though some experiences here are better than others.
Alchemy's Bloody may rival Sardine as the best one in town (see photo). They make their own habanero tequila for the Bloody Maria, which is v. spicy and delicious, and they serve it with cheese, sausage, and the usual WI accoutrements, including a beer back.
The beer is great.
Service tends to be better at the bar. This is one of those places that never seems to catch up with its volume, so service can be slow and spotty when the restaurant is overloaded.
The food quality is up and down. The fish sandwiches are usually awesome, as are the sweet potato fries. You must try Alchemy's very own hot sauce and jalapeno jam. Many of the other dishes waver in quality. Their salads are made of uninspiring spring lettuce mix that comes out of a bag--yuck! I think you can often judge a restaurant by its dressings, and the salad dressings, though homemade, need help (as do the salads themselves).
Liz Chapa is a dessert goddess and you can get her desserts here.
Cash only. -
Review from Melanie K.
Milwaukee, WI
5/25/2012
While it can sometimes be a little bit of a wait on a weekend, the wait staff is quick and the food is worth it. The fries are amazing (try the sweet potato ones with jalepeno jelly and garlic aioli on the side!) and the drinks are great, too. Super-helpful management. They have live music, poetry readings, and all sorts of stuff going on throughout the week. Superior beer selection for a place I don't think of primarily as a bar, and I've always had great help from the waiters choosing a beer to go with my meal. Cash/check only, but they do have an ATM on the premises!
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Review from Fred E.
Madison, WI
4/25/2012
Solid bar food, and by solid I mean heavy and solid food.
Amazing rotating beer taps--drink something you like on monday, it will likely be gone forever when you go back on wednesday. -
Review from Marissa B.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2011
I was pretty darn pleased I actually had my checkbook in my purse today, for the first time since about 2003. Conicidence? I think it was more like destiny!
This was a very down-to-earthy, cozy place (that is cash/check only, be prepared). While I imagine it can be bustling on a Friday or Saturday night, we lucked out on a lazy Sunday afternoon and were able to park at a table, playing a game and sipping beers for a couple hours. I really liked the layout of the place, lots of warm woodwork and tables on varying levels making it feel like you're tucked off in your own world.
The menu was creative and everything we had was delicious. I had multiple vegetarian options to choose from and settled on the Matilda sandwich. The veggies were roasted / grilled perfectly and the dressing was flavorful. I had the seasonal salad which was also great (although next time I'd request the salad dressing on the side b/c while quite good, it was a little heavy for my taste)
The beer list was diverse and affordable, which probably explains why we stayed so long. Although our charming yet unobtrusive waitress helped as well. It felt like a neighborhood place with a more thoughtful menu than you'd expect (and I mean that as a complement!). This is definitely a place I would go out of my way to visit again! -
Review from Rebecca R.
Madison, WI
8/7/2011
We get to Alchemy a couple times each month, and it's become a go-to place for us. The food is solid, the service is OK, and the beer selection is terrific.
Here are our favorites:
- Friday night fish fry. It's way too much food, but the fish is some of the best in Mad'town. You'll have to wait for a table, but if you time it right, it's soooo worth it.
- Beer selection. Always changing, and always good.
- Bloody Marys. They make their own vegetable juice...so their BMs are a little "sweeter" than others because of the carrot juice, but amazing.
- Maize salad. That sucker will fill you up...with goodness
- Zaremba burger. I think my GF dreams about this burger at night. That's probably why there's sometimes drool on her pillow
- BLT. The aoli is out of sight, and they really toast that homemade bread.
- Sweet potato fries can be a little spotty, and they're not available on Friday nights, because the fryer is too busy making your fish.
If you're going for the first time, here's a free parking tip: on evenings and weekends the parking lot PAST Alchemy (to the South/East) is always free with plenty of spaces. -
Review from Sarah Z.
Atlanta, GA
8/10/2011
When my husband and I first arrived in Madison from Berkeley, CA, this was the first restaurant that we ate at in our new neighborhood. I remember us both sighing with relief as we read over the menu taking in the selection of craft brews and locally sourced eats. While our fears of not being able to satisfy our pretentious palates in Madison were generally unwarranted, to us, Alchemy remains a stand out in the exciting Madison restaurant scene.
Three factors pulled us to this restaurant when we were deciding where to eat out in the neighborhood (and when should have been making dinner at home): beer, food, and ambiance.
A big wave of excitement would fall over us as we sat down and the table and got our first look at the tap beer list, which is a carefully selected list of great (relatively local) brews that rotates very frequently. Lots of high gravity beers here served in goblets, which inspired one of my signature phrases when we are out and about, "I want a big beer in a tiny glass!"
The food is generally very good with the stand out being the very reasonably priced and delicious hangar steak served with broccoli and mashed potatoes. The Friday Fish Fry is one of the best in town. The French Fries are extra delicious making it difficult to choose the healthier side option of sesame green beans although these are also really tasty (best to order both sides and share with your dining companion). Love the desserts, a varying selection of cakes and pies, produced in house or by Honey Bee Bakery.
The dark wood in this place lends an air of romance making it a great date spot as long as the live music interests both parties. -
Review from Evan S.
Cook, IL
7/18/2011
I went here on the way through town on the recommendation of a friend. However, I left quite disappointed. The service was as poor as I've had in years. It took quite a long time to get menus and place our order, but it wasn't exceptionally bad. However, it then took somewhere on the order of an hour to receive our food. I had planned to stop in for a quick sandwich and get back on the road, and instead I found that our meal took over an hour and a half. I understand that maybe sometimes a kitchen gets backed up or somebody doesn't show up for the day, but the waitress never communicated with us that there were any problems. if she had done so, or given me a chance to order something quicker, that would have made my experience much more pleasant.
Perhaps that would have been acceptable if the food were exceptional, but it really wasn't. I ordered the Walleye Po'Boy, and while it was certainly tasty, it left a fair bit to be desired. The baguette was, quite simply, a pretty crappy baguette, and that really did a lot to bring down the sandwich. It was simply too thick, having nothing of the airy interior and crunchy exterior of a good baguette. I thought the walleye was great, but the jalapeno remoulade left me wondering where the jalapeno was. All in all, I could have probably left somewhat bordering on happy if it hadn't taken so long to get the sandwich.
I will say, however, that the beer selection was great and reasonably priced, and the service on my beer was perfectly fine. -
Review from Luther Z.
Madison, WI
12/26/2011
Eh... The food is eh... I had a chicken breast with a sauce that tasted like the curry dressing from Jolly Bob's. The appetizer was eh. The service was eh. The beer that's available is decent, but not as good as the one they were out of... They can do so much better with the food. It's faux imaginative.
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Review from Joshua P.
Madison, WI
7/31/2011
I can't speak for the food, but the friendly bartenders can really whip up a cocktail. The three times I have visited it has always been good. I will try the food soon, but until then they can keep pouring good drinks.
Oh, THEY DON'T TAKE CARDS! BRING CASH! (there is an ATM though) -
Review from Lori B.
Madison, WI
3/19/2012
We have eaten here at least 5 times and have always enjoyed ourselves. Going by reviews we decided to try the Friday Fish Fry. Very disappointing. The batter was more like the batter you find on a funnel cake at the fair. It was puffy and not at all adhered to the fish which was practically nonexistent. Had a salad it was okay, but not up to what I have had in the past. Not sure if it was just because it was a busy Friday night or if there is a staff change in the kitchen.
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Review from Julia J.
6/4/2011
My friends from Madison took me here promising good food and a great beer. Alchemy did not disappoint.
I had the stuffed grilled cheese that was wonderful and unique. I had the house salad on the side, which was just ok- the dressing was a little off- but the sandwich made up for it.
One friend had the ravioli special and the other had a great burger. We were all completely satisfied with our meal.
Beers were great too. I'll definitely make a trip back here on my next stop in Madison!
Cash only- but they have an ATM on site if needed. -
Review from Shea F.
Madison, WI
1/5/2012
I love this place and go quite often. I have tried many options from their last few menus, all dishes were super tasty. The only reason I didn't go with five stars was because of the service. I have had a few sub-par experiences from some of the servers/bartenders.
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Review from Amber J.
Madison, WI
4/27/2011
The best food in Madison for the price. HANDS DOWN. This fresh and flavorful menu cannot be beaten, and the beer selection is wonderful with an ever-changing variety that can only be rivaled by a few gastropubs in the area. It's easy to spend 3 times more on beer than your food, but so so so worth it. If you haven't eaten here, GO! I love all of their sides, but my favorite is the house salad. It is usually boring at most places, but here you almost forget about your dinner while eating it. AWESOME.
You must try:
Sweet Potato Fries: Thin sliced fries with jalapeno berry jam and spiced mayo sides (perfectly delicious)
Tarragon Ham Sandwich: Deliciously sweet, hot, and thick sliced homemade ham with a tarragon mayo with tomatoes on a baguette (sinful)
TinShack Smokehouse Burger: I was having a food-gasm while I was eating this, but I recall there being smoked carmelized onions with muenster cheese, some sort of spiced cream sauce, all on top of a perfectly rare bison burger patty. All of this in between a nice black sesame bun. Yummy!
I could keep going on all day about this menu, and their daily specials are local, fresh, and amazingly cheap. Go there now if you haven't already.
The only negative to this place is the difficulty in finding a table. If you don't come before 6 or 6:30 during the week, good luck fitting in a table of more than 3 or 4. I haven't even braved it during the weekend supper rush, so take your chances if you will, it's worth it. -
Review from Marnie R.
Madison, WI
4/17/2011
I can't wait to go here again. Unique beer selection, cozy environment and fantastic food!
I had the stuffed grilled cheese which was nothing short of heaven on a plate. Whoever came up with that combo needs an award of some sort. The wasabi green beans I picked as a side were good, but I'd opt for a salad next time.
My significant other had the fish fry which was probably my third favorite fish fry ever. (Behind The Fireside and Old Fashioned).
I am aware that these statements are bold, but this place is good. If you're nearby give it a try. -
Review from Angelina C.
San Francisco, CA
9/8/2010
Alchemy and Josh and Matthia and the rest of your effing wonderful staff, thanks for being awesome. Who knew this jumping little place would spring forth from the ruins of Wonder's? Y'all are going into your 3rd year of blissful success and I couldn't be prouder.
Keep on keeping on with your sweet potato fries with the jam (and they are the jam), your rotating beers on tap, your salsa, burgers and your live and free @ Alchemy shows. I love you, Alchemy. I really effing do.
Cheers!Listed in: I Love Cheese
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Review from Everly G.
Madison, WI
8/27/2010
The first time I went here the service was quick, and the food was pretty good. I got a burger and was thoroughly impressed with how big and tasty it was. Medium costs for a meal out---around $8-$15 per person.
The second time around, the food was delicious! I got the ham sandwich with sweet potato fries. The fries were the best I've ever had. The tangy dip and jam that the fries came with was heavenly. However, the service was super, super slow. My dad and I waited close to an hour for our meals and the place wasn't even crowded. The couple next to us, who came in after us, got served first. The waitress gave a little attitude when my dad asked for an itemized receipt (he was in town on business so he wanted to get reimbursed for his meal). The service, unfortunately, put a damper on our meal.
But take a gamble if you feel brave! The fries are worth it. I think. -
Review from Annie K.
Madison, WI
8/6/2011
I finally got to try The Alchemy last night and it was fantastic. We had to wait a bit, being Friday night and all- but it was worth it.
I had the Tin Shack burger and it was amazing. Smokey, cooked perfectly, with a side of the local green beans. There are no green beans like The Alchemy's wasabi local beans. I highly recommend them.
The waitress was great and we were set high in the corner with our large group. I like the layout of the place- with a variety of levels and nooks to eat it- you don't feel like you are eating with "everyone else."
Some great beers on tap too. All in all, a very good experience and I definitely recommend it for catching a burger. -
Review from Molly O.
6/14/2010
My parents had been raving about the wasabi green beans and the tilapia, and because I was in town and had not been before, we headed out to Alchemy on a Friday night.
Nice decor, friendly servers, and a neat bar area....Whiskeytown on the stereo...I like. I ordered the Mahi Mahi special with jalapeno red pepper chutney, and green beans and sweet potatoes...for $12 people! Yeah, I live in Chicago, but even for Madison, I would say that is a steal, especially for how delicious it was. Those green beans...yum. Okay, so I did have to send my fish back to the kitchen to cook it longer because the inside was raw (yikes!), but it was still nummy.
Mom had the tilapia with jicima slaw (also totally tasty) and Dad had the cod fish fry with fries. The batter was a teensy bit greasy, but it stood up really well, not soggy at all. The fish was excellent. We had 5 drinks total, and three dinners for $62 (and a comped glass of wine:) - awesome deal for really great food.Listed in: Madison, My Homeland
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Review from Doctress Julia B.
Madison, WI
10/1/2008
Not too impressed with this new place. The staff tend to be young hipsters- eh. Service leaves a bit to be desired, from my experience... A friend and I were all but ignored by a female bartender there recently. The music is often too loud to dine/converse comfortably. I don't really go to this place for beer- not when The Ideal is right next door.
UPDATE: After giving Alchemy numerous chances- and even though the food can be really good sometimes- I GIVE UP! The service SUCKS. Snotty, inattentive, and downright RUDE. I am done with it. One star from me at this point. -
Review from Heather T.
Champaign, IL
10/10/2008
The Alchemy seems misplaced in the Atwood area. Most restaurants and bars in the area are delightfully quirky in decor....the Alchemy had the kind of forced, faux-pub atmosphere that you might find in Middleton or a sports bar/brew pub on the south side. Don't get me wrong: It's not *bad*. It's just...odd.
Weird placement/decor/atmosphere aside, I'm okay with this bar. I would happily return to eat some of the seriously delicious-looking food. As it was, we were only there for drinks. The beer selection had some very different choices, which was refreshing. I was impressed that the wine list had a variety of good wines at $5.75/glass or $20/bottle. The waitress was *adorable* and so, so nice. It was a nice place to kick back for drinks after dinner. -
Review from Sarah M.
Madison, WI
8/27/2008
Great beer selection. About 8 taps, all of which are solid.
Nice low-key atmosphere.
Food is reasonably priced. Sandwiches and entrees between $6-12. Brutus salad is interesting, but overdressed. Mahi-mahi was flavorless but fishy. Fried tomato sandwich without much inspiration, but they weren't cheap on the bacon. -
Review from Mark F.
Madison, WI
7/1/2011
What happened? This place went from being one of our favorite places to eat and everything was great and in the past 2 weeks everything appears to have tanked. Same menu, not the same food. Very sad, hope they can fix whatever poor decision led them astray.
Update to the review above, I'm not yet changing my rating or my comments but will say that the kitchen manager from the Alchemy replied asking for clarification which is a good sign and I wish them the best and hope to be able to change my rating above. If I had written the review 3 months to a year ago would have been 5 stars. -
Review from Erin H.
Madison, WI
I like this place a lot. The wait can get obnoxious since it's fairly small, but the excellent beer selection at the bar makes it worthwhile. The food is great. I loooove the sweet potato fries.
The one thing I could do without is the live music. The space is way too small to be able to hold a conversation over some crappy jam band. -
Review from Laura H.
Madison, WI
7/5/2010
Just tried the Alchemy Cafe this weekend after reading about it. I was pleasantly surprised the minute we stepped in - all the wood and windows make it feel very cozy and cheery. Our waitress was very pleasant and friendly. I ordered the fish fry and was very happy. The batter is nicely seasoned and the cole slaw was what I always hope I'll get (crunchy, lightly dressed) and never seem to. My fiance had a burger and thought it was delish.
Seems like a place you can really rely on to have a good experience. -
Review from Billy D.
1/5/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I love to frequent the Alchemy. They have a solid beer selection and an interesting menu. Solid stop in the Atwood area.
Also - the interior has an aura of mystique to it at night. Also features rotating artwork which keeps it fresh. I'd give it the thumbs up. -
Review from Travis F.
Madison, WI
Updated - 2/14/2011
Quite possibly the most underrated fish fry in Madison. They prepare it with a lighter batter that has a bit of zing to it that's really unique. It's rare that you find a solid craft beer bar that also cranks out good food too. I'm a huge fan!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/15/2009
I used to go into this place purely for the beer but my wife and I popped in here a few weeks ago… Read more »
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Review from Becky D.
Madison, WI
7/25/2011
Get the stuffed grilled cheese. Don't even look at anything else. Just get it. One of the best things you'll taste in this city.
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Review from K H.
IL
12/15/2008
This place was tasty tasty!
I am not from Madison but try to frequent my family there (mostly, I fail at that but not as much as some!) and my sister took me and my partner out to the Alchemy our last night in town.
We all had delicious meals. From the locally made Kombucha to the sweet potato fries with spicy blackberryberry jam to the grilled cheese to absolutely everything! I liked how they told me where things come from, who made them, yadda yadda yadda. I'm a big dork about stuff like that.
The decor could be a little more unique, but the food and drink makes up for that. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable and not a buttface. The only downside to the entire Alchemy experience was the live music being set up as we finished up our meals. I am a stick in the mud and do not like live music with my food. But whatever, I enjoyed everything else. -
Review from Kelly R.
Middleton, WI
10/13/2008
For a bar, this place has some seriously good eats.
I agree with Heather, though, when she said that it's vibe is....different. It wasn't bad at all, just...odd. With such a great menu, I guess I expected a different decor than...well, it's hard to describe.
I ordered the BLT with beer battered tomatoes, which was very good. The garlic mayo was a little bit too garlicky for me...on a BLT, anyway. I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries, which came with tarragon mayo and a blackberry preserve sauce--which was so fabulous. The chips were really excellent, and I could have made a meal of just those.
Being the nosy person I am, I watched the waiter take several other dishes to customers. The onion rings looked awesome, and next time I'm DEFINITELY getting a stuffed grilled cheese!
Go for the food, even if you're a bit thrown off by the setting! -
Review from Steve L.
Madison, WI
4/12/2010 3 photos
Quick Review: Dropped in on the Alchemy for their Friday night Fish Fry, which was decent. Place was a bit packed; service suffered slightly. Limited yet always changing menu and an excellent selection of beers. Nice ambiance - definitely a 3.5 to 3.75 star establishment. You won't be disappointed.
Detailed Review:
Coworkers had been telling us about the Alchemy for quite some time, so we made our way over to the Atwood/Willy Street area in search of The Alchemy's fish fry. The place has a very cool look to it, both on the outside and the inside. When we arrived, there were people waiting outside, enjoying the beautiful spring evening.
We left our names and phone number with the hostess, then ventured over to the Ideal Bar for a drink while we waited for our table. Attempts to score a drink from the Alchemy's bar were futile - there were simply too many people crammed into the place; we couldn't even get up to the bar to order.
The Ideal is definitely a townie establishment - I think the jukebox screeched to a halt and all heads turned to inspect us as we walked in, but no matter - the bartender was friendly and they had New Glarus Moon Man on tap, so all was swell.
After about 45 minutes, the phone rang and we were summoned back to the Alchemy, where the hostess seated us at a small three-top table near the front of the restaurant.
The interior is definitely inviting. Lots of stone and heavy timbers. It is quite small, and I agree that if a band were playing, it would be nearly impossible to chat - it was extremely noisy inside without any entertainment. I would like to spend more time here, though - the place has a great vibe to it.
Our waitress stopped by and took our drink orders; they had about 10 super unique brews on tap, so I tried a "Hell Lager" while my dining partners opted for a traditional old fashioned. We also ordered a "starter" - of which there were limited options... fries or soup.
Drinks arrived after a short wait and we placed our food orders. On Fridays, the Alchemy offers its normal menu along with a fish fry. The only fish fry option is for beer battered cod, so we placed three orders - two with fries, one with green beans.
I'm pleased to report that the old fashioned was nicely muddled (although it included an orange - a "no-no" when ordering a whiskey old fashioned sour) and tasted delicious. It wasn't too strong, but instead was "just right." The Hell Lager was equally tasty.
Our food arrived after about a 20-30 minute wait; we refreshed our drinks and dove-in to the fish.
My plate included four medium sized pieces of cod that were cloaked in a heavy, yet crisp, beer batter. The fish itself was excellent - no signs of grease. It was moist and flaky, yet meaty enough to stand-up to the heavy batter. It was served nice and hot, and even as the fish cooled, the fish stayed excellent. It didn't become soggy or greasy - it remained excellent.
One of the fish fry fanatics that joined us is more of a purist when it comes to a fish fry; as such, he was "down" on the batter as he prefers a lighter, more simple batter. He felt the heavy and overly crispy nature of the Alchemy's batter overwhelmed the cod. I can go either way - sometimes I like a nice thick beer batter; other times I like a delicate batter.
The green beans were decent, if not a bit flavorless. The whole wheat dinner roll was among the best I've ever had. I'm told the fries (which were more like thick cut chips) were excellent as well.
Fish fry was $12.95 per person and is not AYCE. The quality of the meal was decent; portions were "just right," presentation was unique, and the vibe was solid. Drinks were excellent as well.
Alchemy Cafe = WIN
Service = 3 stars
Food = 3.75 stars
Value = 2.75 stars ($50+ for three)
MISC = 4 stars (excellent vibe, nice beer menu, regular menu looks great)
Summary: I'll definitely be back to visit the Alchemy. I can't wait to sample some of those other brews along with a bison burger (provided it's still on the menu when I return... their menu seems to change quite often) -
Review from Courtney B.
Broomfield, CO
3/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Found Alchemy Cafe yesterday on Yelp! and decided to give it a try, since my husband and I are in Madison for the week. I'm VERY glad we found it!
It looks like a small place from the outside, but it's actually fairly big inside. It's atmosphere is that of a pub, but it's not dark and overpowering. We were there for a late lunch so it wasn't very busy, but I can imagine this place would have an interesting mix of people in the evenings.
That being said there was one bartender/server working this shift. He was friendly and knowledgeable about the beers. I had the Hairy Eyeball which was a very good choice if you like Fat Tire. The Hairy Eyeball is very flavorful and finishes nice with just a faint hint of bitter. My husband had the something Rasputin, which is on a nitrous tap. Talk about big, bold, and smooth!! I had the Zaremba burger, with olive relish, gorgonzola, swiss cheese. I think "flavorgasm" would be an appropriate description :) The one thing that did irk me was the $3.50 upcharge to have the sweet potato fries instead of regular fries or salad. HOWEVER, when the giant plate of sweet potato wedges were brought out instead of a regular side, all was forgiven. Oh yea, blackberry jalapeno jam with the sweet potatoes was HEAVENLY!! Even with that upcharge, for both of our burgers and beers the tab was $25 for two people. That was a very pleasant surprise :) I hope to get back to Alchemy later this week sometime, if not I will be back the next time I get to Madison. -
Review from Zachary N.
Delafield, WI
6/25/2011
Visited alchemy a few times before for a beer but today was my first time eating there. The beer selection is always top notch. Maybe 7 or 8 taps, which isnt a lot, but they rotate often and are always great. I had the Applerum Burger w a side salad and my girlfriend had the stuffed grilled cheese and green beans. The grilled cheese was the better of the two. We also got some sweet potato fries which added to the good meal. Overall the food is above average, but the beer selection and cool atmosphere makes up for it. They also have great music almost every night.
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Review from Philip R.
Madison, WI
3/3/2011
Good service. Good menu. Good food. No credit cards sucks.
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Review from Kristin S.
Madison, WI
12/24/2011
A smaller, cozy place. Smaller menu but very gourmet like.
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Review from Lisa S.
Madison, WI
6/20/2011
LOVED the decor, atmosphere and food. It was a bit noisy, but that's a fair trade-off for an uncrowded, friendly local joint with superb cooking. I'll certainly be back.
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Review from Daniella M.
Madison, WI
12/21/2010
Great food. It "feels" nice in there. A place where you can go with your mom for lunch and go out for birthday drinks with friends that night. It gets kind of uncomfortably busy sometimes. But I enjoy the sweet potato fries and their specials are always realllly tasty too.
Listed in: Best Bars
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Review from Rebecah M.
La Crosse, WI
4/10/2009
I am surprised that a lot of people did not like the decor. It is a nice, dark, wood-based bar and I am always a fan of that.
I didn't have the soup, but one of the people that I was with knows the woman who makes them and he said they are very good.
I had the stuffed grilled cheese which I have to say didn't do much for me. The filling was delicious, but the bread was cut so thickly that I felt like I had eaten an entire loaf by the end of the meal. One of my friends had a burger, the other the hangar steak, and they both raved over them. The garlic mashed potatoes were very good.
This is a lovely place to just hang out and have a beer and sandwich. -
Review from Doug R.
Stoughton, WI
3/30/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Awesomeness! Food=great! Try them sweet-tater fries!
