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Amy's Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants, Lounges [Edit]
414 W Gilman StMadison, WI 53703
(608) 255-8172
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for Amy's Cafe
Review Highlights
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"Their waffle fries are definitely a favorite too." In 4 reviews -
"includes that amazing Greek salad." In 7 reviews
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"...are excellent, the brocolli cheese soup very good, and who..." In 3 reviews
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27 reviews in English
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Review from Michael P.
Madison, WI
1/13/2012
Great chicken sandwiches and burgers -- waffle fries are amazing. Reasonable price. The owners of Argus took over not too long ago and did a much-needed facelift of the place, but kept the place relatively the same with its Greek restaurant roots.
It's small, so gets a bit packed on Friday and Saturday evenings, but I don't really go to Amy's for a night out, rather a bite to eat for lunch or early dinner. -
Review from Alicia M.
Madison, WI
4/22/2012
I have never had anything bad from Amy's Cafe!!! We usually get delivery and just blindly order the soup of they day as no matter what it is it is delicious!!! Some of my favorites are the Greek salad with chicken, veggie wrap, cesear salad...basically everything!!!
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Review from Billy D.
2/15/2011
After reading other reviews, I guess I didn't realize how cheap their drinks are... but Amy's is still the most g-e-n-e-r-i-c place in Madison.
I try to avoid. -
Review from Kara B.
Chicago, IL
2/18/2010
WOW! A great spot to grab a reasonable and tasty meal in Madison.
pros:
cheap drinks
cheap, good food (of a greek bent but more general grill)
friendly staff
quick service
cons:
none...
Wow, I can't think of single thing wrong with this place, so long as you're looking for counter service. It is perfectly executed quick, nutritious food that isn't super healthy but doesn't go out of its way to be bad for you. -
Review from Sarah W.
7/10/2009
As possibly my favorite bar, discounting the fact that this place is pretty divey with its rope lights and not so posh tables and chairs, I have no choice but to give this place 5 stars.
Amy's is underrated.
There is no deal that rivals half priced rail drinks between 10pm-midnight every night! $2 a drink? That's crazy cheap. Also, I just hit up their Thursday night $3.50 margarita/daquiri special again last night and they don't get any less tasty over time.
Amy's gets crowded a bit on weekend nights like everywhere else, but on weeknights, there's never a problem finding a table with your friends.
I actually hope Amy's stays underrated so that I know in future years on trips back, then there will be a table ready for me. :-)Listed in: U Rah Rah Wi-scon-sin!
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Review from John R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/27/2009
I stopped eating here last summer. I have a rule. I cross any place off my list when I'm too distracted by all the flies to pick something from the menu.
I'd give one star, but, the saving grace is that all the flies are dead in the winter. And Madison has a lot of winter. -
Review from S M.
Madison, WI
8/28/2010
One of the best places to come in Madison when you're looking for your typical American food, or if you want a Mediterranean twist on that same food. They've got everything from burgers to salads to falafel, and I find myself staring at the menu for ages every time I visit. This is an especially good place to bring a quarreling group because you're sure to find something for everyone, including vegetarians. The burgers are pretty solid - I especially recommend their patty melts. Be sure to order the waffle fries to complement your food - they're fried to a perfect crisp that makes them fluffy and crunchy at the same time.
While Amy's makes for a great restaurant experience, it totally falls flat as a bar experience. The drink specials are lousy 90% of the time, and the interior setup is not at all conducive to a bar crowd. I avoid getting drinks here because they're always expensive and the bartenders are pretty surly. And it's tiny in there; I have enough trouble fitting in Amy's without a line out the door. -
Review from Kate S.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I love Amy's! Great, intimate atmosphere. Good food. Great specials.
Amy's is my first stop on my night out. Half price drinks between 10 and 12 can't be beat. I also like that it's small and (usually) not very crowded so you can just hang out with some friends. It's not a "seen-and-be-seen" which is nice. I've shown up a couple times in sweatpants. The location is great, too, because it's right in between State Street and University.
I also like the food. Spicey waffle fries are delicious as is the veggie wrap. I've also tried a couple of the wraps which are decent. It's not the best food, but it's pretty good when you're in a pinch.
The only thing that could make Amy's better is if they served the waffle fries all night long. -
Review from Joshua L.
Seattle, WA
8/20/2010
Dollar rail drinks on Mondays! The outdoor patio area is usually a popular spot to hang out on a nice summer night. Bartenders are hit or miss. Some of the newer guys are completely incompetent and rude to boot.
Never been here for the food. -
Review from Sarah G.
Los Angeles, CA
9/21/2008
*Note 1: This review is for the food and restaurant only -- haven't experienced the bar*
*Note 2: This review is based on a horrifyingly memorable experience from 2005*
Winter, blustery, below 0. I wanted a bowl of piping hot soup, my friend lived in the apartment above Amy's Cafe. We entered the establishment. Quiet, dirty, napkins on the floor, old food crusted on the tables. I ordered the broccoli cheese soup, they served me luke warm Velveeta with a handful of frozen broccoli and a rock hard "baguette." Yuck. Inedible. Two stars simply because my friend finished her sandwich and I liked her pickle. -
Review from Bob T.
Melrose Park, IL
6/4/2007 2 photos
I must admit that this wasn't my pick and I did want to go to another place. However, my friend insisted that we eat here, good job AL! Cheap drinks, extra strong Long Island for $3 and Blue Moons for $2.50. Great food, even a great selection for vegetarians like me : ) Good times that afternoon of the Mifflin Day shite.
mmmmm....loaded waffle fries!! -
Review from Rebecah M.
La Crosse, WI
4/10/2009
Like any place on/ near State St., parking sucks.
Other than that it is really nice. I had a simple ham sandwich and (although they forget the sprouts) it was so good and fresh, the wheat bread was nice and soft and the pasta salad with feta was fantastic. According to my friend, you should always try the special because it was the best, but I was very happy with my meal.
My buddy told me a quite sentimental story about getting in there underage, but as we are all old now, I can't vouch for that. -
Review from Kyle H.
3/25/2008
Always a good choice for lunch if you want a burger w/fries or go with a salad w/Feta. Mediterranean options abound! Amy's is a strange but wonderful hang for a beer after sundown. The characters that haunt this place make it feel more like a shady Moroccan drug den than a Big Ten watering hole!
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Review from Jim L.
San Francisco, CA
12/7/2005 1 photo
I can't believe there are no reviews yet for this great little cafe-by-day/hot-spot-by-night. Appetizing comfort food comes in all forms including sandwiches, burgers, soups and greek specialties. There are tables out on the sidewalk, but the best thing about Amy's is loitering at the bar during happy hour on a lazy Thursday afternoon enjoying a couple of two buck cocktails.
Listed in: My Madison Faves..., Its all greek to me.
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Review from Nue L.
Madison, WI
10/25/2008
Bar is a gem and draws a certain kind of crowd--eccentric. Not to offend anyone I'm just saying it's good conversation. Food is good too. One of my favorite places to dine 3 out of the 12 months when it's actually warm--I love to grab a Greek salad and grub out on their seating outside. Their waffle fries are definitely a favorite too. If you're new, come on a Tuesday to get their chicken rice kabob special--a full meal for 6.95! (includes that amazing Greek salad). I hear their gyros are with real lamb meat as well--supposedly a good thing. :)
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Review from Kelly E.
Madison, WI
1/13/2006
Love this place for food and/or drinks. The soup, salad, baguette combo is a definite winner, boasting a baguette that takes me back to Paris. I never pass up a chance to eat here. The kitchen staff doesn't always speak English, and I love an opportunity to practice my restaurant sspanish that I learned back in my waitressing days. Always a fun crowd in the bar with cute bartenders, I spent most of Halloween weekend here. 5 stars.
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Review from Caroline H.
San Francisco, CA
5/25/2006
Amy's was one of those places that seemed amazing when I was a Freshman at madison and then got less and less cool over the years. They must have hired a new manager or something between 2000 and 2004, because the staff went from people who knew how to make food to people who knew how to get stoned before work. My favorite item at Amy's was the Mediterranean Plate for $5.95 which got you more hummus than even I could eat (and I love me some hummus), tabbouleh, greek salad, and a lots of grilled pita with yogurt sauce. Many times during my junior and senior year of school I would order my Med Plate, pay my 6 bucks, go and sit down. Twenty minutes later, some frat boy would stumble out of the kitchen and slur the phrase, "We're out of hummus." I can only think that out of those twenty minutes, it took him 11 to remember what hummus was, and then 9 more to remember where it was in their 4 square foot kitchen.
The bar clientele also seemed to change over the years from people who wanted to have a relaxing drink, to people who wanted to dress up (and I mean dress up in no clothes) and do Jager Bombs.
If you avoid the bar crowd and order something simple enough for the guy behind the counter, Amy's is still a good deal when you're too lazy to cook. The soup salad and baguette is a good choice, the veggie chili in a bread bowl is filling and cheap, and if buddy behind the counter can find the hummus, try the Mediterranean plate. -
Review from Justin W.
Rhinelander, WI
5/7/2008
Others have already said it, but to describe Amy's in one word: Standby.
This is the place that you go to have lunch when you're not really sure what you are in the mood for, when you don't have much to spend, or just want something relatively quickly and fresh.
The bar is also a great place when you just want to have a chill night of hanging out and getting your buzz on. Or even just a great place to start out a night of grander debauchery.
This place was such a "go to" joint for me that I actually had to make a conscious effort at times for it to not be the first place I suggest for lunch or drinks.
And the bar itself is just so improbable. The place is designed as a super-casual lunch spot with your standard fast food-esque tables and some gaudy pastel decor. But then there's a nice carved wood backbar off to one side. So things can seem a bit surreal when you first start drinking there.
Prices on everything are a bargain. And I seem to recall them having a really good long island, if you're into that kind of thing. -
Review from Chrissy P.
Madison, WI
5/12/2010
I loved Amy's Cafe! They had so many choices and varieties of interesting foods. It was a quaint little cafe and the outdoor seating was a great option! The only reason this is 4 stars is because it took a little while to get our food even though there was barely anybody in the restaurant. Awesome though, definitely going back!
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Review from Jon E.
Winston-Salem, NC
4/3/2006
Amy's Cafe is an excellent spot for lunch. In college I lived across the street and had to stop there every other day. Soup, salad and baguette is my favorite. Their greek salads are excellent, the brocolli cheese soup very good, and who doesn't love baguettes. Try the soup in a bread bowl as well. Perfect spot for a light lunch. Biggest drawback however, is the unbalanced tables outside and the size inside. It's very compact, and if you're not careful when sitting outside you could lose your drink to the shaky tables that lean down the slight hill.
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Review from Jerrold S.
Brea, CA
2/6/2007
One of the old stand bys in Madtown. Whether you're looking for a nice meal that doesn't cost a lot or you want to go with some friends for drinks Amy fits both needs. The salad/soup/baguette combo is something I've eaten 100 times in my life. Sometimes twice in one day. The soups, which rotate daily, are all good. My favorite was the cheesey brocoli. You gotta get eat veggies in college somehow. The spicy fried and chicken sandwich also makes a fine meal. Wash it down with a pint of something off the tap. No attitude and not too sceney just a good old place for drinks and grub.
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Review from Carolyn B.
Chicago, IL
7/3/2007
I agree that Amy's is a fabulous standby restaurant, when you're hungry, poor, and want something that will accommodate the hungry and not significantly add to your credit card debt too much. That being said, I am a huge fan of the Mediterranean plate, veggie pita, broccoli cheese soup, the chili, and all of the salads. (Even in winter, they're quite crisp and not scary) Some of my dear friends (who have vendettas against the other Greek place on State St) swear by the gyros at Amy's. Additionally Amy's has fair and reasonable nightly/daily drink specials, and not so long ago they used to not card so hard.... but alas the times have changed.
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Review from Nina O.
McFarland, WI
3/24/2008
The drinks are great- the bartenders just friendly enough. The wait for the food, though- that's a killer.
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Review from Ben F.
Valley City, ND
4/23/2008
Amy's Cafe has a wider range of menu items than one might expect. You can get a burger, a deli sandwich, one of several greek items, and quite a bit more. Also, Amy's has a bar attached, so it's both a good place to eat and also to get a drink. The one reservation I have is that sometimes the wait for your food can be longer that one might expect. Not terribly long, though.
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Review from Jessica S.
Madison, WI
12/11/2009
I've eaten here a couple times now and have never been disappointed. The last time was this past summer, we ate outside, and it was really nice. While it's pretty small inside, the food is really good. I love their homemade chips. I've never had the desire to go for drinks, it's sort of an odd destination, but regardless, I think they do a really nice job as a restaurant for what they have.
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Review from Gnome K.
Madison, WI
6/23/2010
The barley soup was the saltiest soup I have ever tasted. Salads and hummus plate are severely overpriced. If I ever come back, I'll stick to the burgers.
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Review from Jason H.
Chicago, IL
4/4/2010
Food is what you expect. The ambience is ok inside, and sometimes it takes awhile to get a drink. It's got a good crowd though.
