We got the Basic Breakfast and there was nothing basic about it. Sure, it has your standard egg, meat, toast, potatoes--- but each component of the meal was exceptional! The potatoes were perfectly seasoned, the sourdough had perfect undertones of sour, the sausage was probably the best sausage patty Ive ever had at a breakfast joint.

Food is always decent but the people that work there aren’t very friendly. Kinda depends on the day and person you get - a blonde woman who works there works her a$s off, and is really nice. Some other lady who had brown hair is more worried about where her phone is than helping a line of people waiting to place an order… probably making it harder for her coworker. Definitely sucks to work with people like that or deal with them as customers.

What a beautiful and personable little place! Great energy, they have a weekly open mic night on Tuesdays, sign up at 6:30. I tried their Red Revitalizer: theres several different fresh fruit and veggie smoothies on the menu, each juiced right in front of you. Very tasty! I never got the bartenders name, great conversation and very helpful. If youre drawn to this place check it out!

One of my absolute favorite brunch spots. Fresh juice, crepes, and an excellent staff. Don’t hesitate to stop in, Black Lotus will always be worth your while.

Best Biscuits & Gravy in town! I used to live down in New Orleans & that was my go-to brunch food. Its so hard to find a good biscuits & gravy and this one is incredible! So happy to have found it.

Very tasty almond latte and nice vibe

This is our new Saturday spot! I cant wait until the inside and courtyard opens after COVID. The Cubano Crepe is savoury and my favorite so far. The avocado toast is great but a bit small for a weekend breakfast. You can never go wrong with the nutella crepe if you have a sweet tooth. Barista makes a great cappuccino!

Best brunch spot in the neighborhood. The food is always so good! The miso tofu scramble is really unique. Get it with potatoes! They are really crispy. The baked treats are also great. Loving Heirloom bakery they get things from. My boyfriend always gets the biscuits and gravy.

My new go-to for coffee the days Im in the office. Staff is always friendly, and coffee has been great every time. They can get pretty backed up, so drinks can take a while especially when there is only one person making them.

Good and strong cold brew (5/5), espresso was good (4/5) but wasnt rich or velvety, and the hot coffee was 5/5 as well.

Great food and place. Ordered hamburgers and juice. Taste is great but I would like it better if the juice was colder or if I was offered the option of adding some ice. Other than that, it was great.

Can’t wait until it’s safe to dine-in. I got a latte to-go and enjoyed it in the courtyard which was great, but their indoor space is so green, bright, and warm— looking forward to visiting again!

Get the Jian Bing crepe! So delicious. And their lattes in their little Mason jars are so cute and delicious

Cute little place, food is pretty good, but a bit expensive. If you looking for California style experience with price tag for Avocado toast you foynd it. Tables with lamps above them let you do some work)

The crepes here were amazing! Savory or sweet with strong coffee! The back outside cafe and bar area is like a hidden gem in Madison and super beautiful and well-kept! The only reason I didn’t give this place 5 stars was because it was pricey. 2 coffees (with refills) and 2 crepes was almost $25.Edit: The complete crepe is not great.

Amazing food and back patio! The pork belly sandwich was the best sandwich I’ve had in a long long time.

Nice place.. a small but cool place... i went for brunch and food was nice...

Coffee lover here... I rate this place more as a great cafe, food, tea and alike and no so much for the actual coffee. Havent had a great coffee experience; its a matter of personal taste on the kind of coffee they use. But will still do a latte or an espresso shot if I am desperate. Great bar seating area and plenty of tables. Good WiFi connectivity. Great spot on East Washington Ave. However, beware parking is bit difficult, consider parking on side streets. Back to food... they actually have great food for a cafe of this size, recommend it. The crepes are pretty tasty, so are some of the simple hearty breakfast options. Sp glad they have all this and not just couple token pastries. Makes them a legitimate brunch and lunch venue. You can also sit at the outside patio on the back. Staff is very helpful and nice. Give it a go!

Coffee: The black coffee Is dark and heavy. In my opinion, it’s often over-extracted. They’re espresso/milked-based beverages are usually pretty good, though!Food: The food is pretty good. I’d recommended sticking with the eggs ‘n hash kinda foods.Atmosphere: Zesty and unconventional. The electrifying floor and the refreshing plants make for an uplifting experience.Staff: Very kind and eager to take your order! I’ve never had a bad encounter with them!Conclusion: Great space with good food. If you like your black coffee to be heavy, then this is your spot. Otherwise, stick with the espresso/milk-based beverages.

I had the Jian Bing and a vegan bloody. The food was delicious and filling. The drink was strong and spicy. Definitely will be coming back!

Delicious and affordable brunch in the heart of Madison. Idk what more you want. Stop yelling at me.

Great food and coffee. Staff seems overworked, hope management adds more.

I love this place. The staff is lovely, friendly and professional & the food is delicious!

We enjoyed very tasty, creative breakfast dishes in the shade in the lovely outdoor space. Parking was a bit confusing.

This is a cute coffee shop. I had the Jiancheng and my friend the avocado toast. We both thought the flavor palates were not quite right and trying too hard. The need to add sweetness to a savory dish was over the top. The hibiscus tea Arnold Palmer was delicious and refreshing. Although the ingredients were fresh and the service good.

Fantastic service, food and atmosphere! The outside dining is perfect for being socially distanced and still feels intimate.

Awesome coffee and soup. The courtyard ambience is fantastic!

Amazing courtyard! The $2 mystery beer was great!

Like the brunch food and outdoor atmosphere.

Darling place with a lovely outdoor patio perfect for self seating and maintaining social distancing.Best tuna melt I’ve ever had, hands down. Secret ingredient must be the black olives. So savory!I asked for pickles as well and they gave me like 4 spears of what were clearly homemade refrigerator pickles! Love when a kitchen takes time to make their own stuff.I also ordered an Oatmilk London Fog tea latte because I can’t do coffee or regular milk. So nice to visit another local cafe that has options for people with non conventional diets. Felt the love here.Plus, the staff were so sweet and clearly kept everything very safe and clean.

The crepes are wonderful and unique here. The chef rustled up a breakfast sandwich off-menu for us and was absolutely spot on. I will go back for coffee anyday. Combined with the courtyard, this is easily one of my favorite places in Madison for coffee and light eats.

Great coffee! Great burgers! Nice staff with outdoor seating. I go here about once a week.

Amazing breakfast crepes!

Fast food style breakfast place. Place your order at the counter and they bring it to you. Nice selection of food items, and quality artisan coffee. You can sit on the couches and hang out in the cozy corner or they have booths and high top tables. Menu options were a little pricey for what they are but overall a great place if you’re looking for something laid back with a nice atmosphere.

A quiet, cozy cafe spot with excellent food and interesting pastry and drink options. I work next door and frequently take meetings here for an excuse to get out of the office.Black Locust has a well lit, clean space and they even have an old bank vault door. The place certainly has a lot of character!Would highly recommend for a chill work session, or a date, or even breakfast or lunch!

Their maple Latte is the best coffee in Madison. Its also the only place in Madison we have found that makes Matcha Tea correctly. Definitely recommend and will be returning

Yummy lunch! I had a rich ham and potato chowder that was very satisfying. Friendly staff. One suggestion: They need to up their game for gluten free swaps. Its easy to have gluten free bread in the freezer to make a sandwich. Will return. Quiet, relaxed atmosphere.

Salad dressing is great

Good atmosphere!

Great service and the dressing on the side salad was amazing

Good coffee and drinks. The taste of the crepes I had were good. Mixed drinks were well made and the coffee was good, not some of the best Madison coffee Ive had but still tasty. Nice little spot for quick drinks and meet-ups with small bar and seating area. Take home whole beans and food to go. Excellent place to pop into to break up your day with quick drink and small bite.

Excellent food and service. Perfectly romantic little outdoor courtyard.

Good coffee and I love the ambiance. Will be going back!

I had the market veggie crepe to go. Late March isnt the greatest time for market veggies, but root veggies, mushrooms, and onions did well. They asked if I needed utensils and a napkin. I did, but I appreciated being asked so it didnt just add to a stash in a drawer. The utensils and to-go box and bag were non-plastic as an even better bonus.

The breakfast options at this cafe are second to none; whether its a crepe or more traditional breakfast of eggs, potatoes, and meat. The cafe atmosphere is also delightful. Music plays at a volume which does not inhibit conversation nor studying, there is good lighting above each table with plenty of outlets. Additionally there are lots of open tables for studying and dining (at least during the week). To get here its a short ten minute walk from the Capitol. This cafe is a gem and worth the extra distance.

Super cool atmosphere. Delicious and unusual food, with vegan options. Great coffee. Just a fun place to sit and catch up with friends.

Neat spot! Friendly service, good seating, a few vegan bakery items are always available, and you can even grab a beer or some wine. Go here!

Came to Madison to visit a friend, and found this gem right next to our Airbnb. We went twice, and were completely satisfied both time! Delicious food, amazing drinks, and a wonderful aesthetic/atmosphere. Id definitely come again the next time Im in town!

Waisted time driving to a permanently closed business without reporting it.

A very hip place. Im in love with their menu and their drink selections has something for every mood. A perfectly acceptable place to have brunch and a beer at an average Madison price. I cant wait to check out one of their events! Beautiful place thats a little off the path to check out!

This is one of my favorite brunch-type spots. The food, service, and atmosphere are all nourishing. I miss living close enough to walk. I used to mosey over weekly. I really miss their crepes.

Great little gem close to the capitol and all things walkable. If youre looking for a good drink and quick bite with nice staff, this is your place. Funky atmosphere, too!

Coffee & sweet crepes very good. Have had the salmon crepe and the avocado-kale crepe and both were limp, lukewarm and disappointing. But just get the fantastic biscuits with the homemade jam instead (jam is also on a blackberry-lemon curd crepe, so good). Wish they served food after 3. $2 mystery beer is dope. Service always extremely nice, great atmosphere for hanging out with friends or getting stuff done; less crowded than JPH. Would be an easy 5 with better food, but i understand a new chef is coming soon so stay tuned!

I love this place. It provides for a nice working atmosphere. It does get busy on Sunday mornings for brunch, because it is delicious, but after 12, it slows down. Delicious food, good portions, great price. They also have Kombucha on tap which is a perk!

Vegan cookies, Bean broth and a nice parking stop for my shopping cart. 5/5 from me my dude

Nice downtown spot that looks like other industrial-chic coffee places, but feels much different. Awesome service. Killer Matcha lattes. Nice food.

Savory crepe was 👌 everything seemed so fresh, I didnt realize sausage could taste that fresh lol.

I have eaten there four times now. This time the biscuits were over cooked, but every other time they were perfect! The gravy is amazing!

I usually come here for comedy open mic on Tuesdays and the atmosphere is relaxing and friendly. I am writing this review on a Wednesday and nothing has changed about the place. The barista was friendly and helpful even on the first day alone. Definitely would recommend coming here.

Maybe the best dirty chai latte ive had in madison. the biscuits and gravy were amazing. fair warning: they dont start serving food until 8 AM.

Absolutely loved the place. The atmosphere was wonderful and quaint and the staff was really knowledgeable and friendly. Definitely recommend...

Good crepes and basic breakfast. The latte made my morning.

The best Cortado ever, perfect espresso with exactly the right amount of milk. Kind and helpful staff 😊

Nice food and drink. Lovely space. Friendly staff. A good place to study.

Amazing crepes. Delicious food, calm atmosphere. Friendly staff.

This is a great breakfast place! I love their coffee

Dont get the good reviews, but perhaps our experience was out of ordinary. This place was deserted at 10am on Saturday - not a good sign. Staff acted friendly but was hiding as much as possible. Food didnt take long, but arrived colder than lukewarm. At least it tasted OK, but not delicious. Coffee was decent. Inside and patio are nicely refurbished but lack a character (its kind of yuppie-ish, so same thing). You pay and tip beforehand, not an incentive to provide decent service, which left me feel cheated. I cant imagine going back.

Awesome food. Incredibly healthy options with bowls and savory and sweet crepes. A number of gluten free and vegan options that are actually good. Great service.

Wow. Literally just had a door slammed in my face and was told “We’re closed.” That’s it. It says open until 8 today on Google. This is my first experience here and the service in this moment was exceptionally poor.

Homey atmosphere. Breakfast was tasty and reasonably priced.

Great service, great food, phenomenal staff. If youre looking for a quick delicious bite, amazing coffee and quirky staff, you will love this place. One of Madisons hidden gems 💕

Really good coffee, crepes, and eggs. I love the courtyard. The avacado toast was gross, hence the missing star.

Nice environment, decent wifi, and pleasant service. Lots of options for beverages. I find its a great choice as a study environment.

Take my review with a grain of salt since I’ve only ever visited this place while the plague was making its rounds: the courtyard was relaxing, service was prompt and polite. The drinks though, are unfortunately just okay.

I go here a lot. The regulars here are the best....and the baristas are so friendly. Low key the best brunch and lunch food for the price....they share the kitchen with Julep, one of Madisons best new restaurants. Swing by for a quick coffee or tea, or stay and chat for a while.

Neat, clean and pretty hip with a lot of light wood themes, good lighting and friendly staff. Definitely enjoyed it. The decent selection of beer, coffee and liquor helps too.

Just want to say the Heritage Grits were amazing. The biscuits look good but were very dry and hard, otherwise everything else was great, along with the coffee which was strong and good.

Service was good. Tofu scramble was a waste of money. It tasted like they just took a plain brick of tofu, drizzled it with olive oil and called it a day. No taste and very watery. Id give them another chance for a different dish, though.

Great coffee and great breakfast options. The crepes are amazing.

Amazing coffee. Got one to go

Staff was not knowledgeable about their coffee. No decaf available. I didnt think the interior was cozy. That aside, the chai latte was pretty decent and they have a couple of couches available. There was one kind of cookie at the counter. Thats it. Not sure about other food. Free WiFi, though, if you needed a quiet place to work.

Really good cup of coffee and a cozy place to enjoy it.

Not bad. My latte was good but the cold brew I got for home was very bitter.

I’m from the South so Southern Gentleman appealed to me: two sunny side eggs on top of biscuits and gravy. First time I ordered it I was disappointed. Seemed like the flavors were good but the plate was cold, which cooled off what it carried. This time I requested that the chef warm the plated before plating it. Success! Eggs done perfectly, gravy studded with sausage bits, biscuits maybe a little heavy, but who cares when they’re lavishly covered with the kind of gravy my grandmother made every morning for breakfast.Booth benches and chairs are hard sitting but the solid oak tables are nice to look at. And the massive safe door and raw poured concrete wall have an industrial chic look softened by the house plants in the windows and hanging from the ceiling. And the tanagram patterned blue and yellow andfloor and large windows looking out on East Washington Ave. make it bright and cheery.

All my experiences have been quite good

Always great service and great food and coffee drinks. Love the outdoor patio!

Overall, I like this cafe: the coffee is good, atmosphere/decor is nice (lot of wood and plants) and staff are kind. 4 stars because although the food is tasty and fresh, it seems a little bit on the pricey side for the portion received and finding close street parking can be challenging depending on the time of the day (new nearby parking garage makes getting there by car much easier though)

One of our favorite breakfast places. Small menu, but everything is very good. Very friendly staff and great options on drinks.

Delicious bowls of food and a cool atmosphere. Its a good place to get some work done and hang out.

I love this little spot. Its great for meetings and coffee.

Sausage gravy and biscuits were great! I would definitely recommend this place!

Industrial take on the coffee lounge. Nice plants.

Great outdoor seating! Tried the crepes and coffee, was not dissatisfied. Will go back.

Came across town for brunch Saturday morning- weve been in the courtyard many times and love it back there. We were one of ~ four groups there. The five of us ordered together, but all our food came out in 10 minute intervals... when only 2/5 plates had arrived after 20 minutes, I went in and asked if the order was still coming / for a time estimate. One of the employees blew me off a bit and told me it was coming. Really made for an odd experience. Even when the food did make it, the grits were awful and my frittata was cold. I understand its a cafe, but I dont understand the timing! As someone who has spent a lot of time waiting tables, the service was unacceptable and the food was subpar. I would assume this is just one of the many restaurants that have and will rotate through this space.

The coffee is strong and everything on the menu is delicious. Try the vegetarian jian bing: fried eggs, green onions, crispy wonton skins, wrapped in a soft crepe. The staff are friendly and helpful, the artwork on the walls is beguiling; I still dont know the story behind the industrial-chic door that divides the two halves of the room. Several times Ive visited theyve been playing Glenn Miller, which is always a nice surprise.

Excellent for brunch, busy but not loud, delicious food, and the service is great!

Love the smoothie drinks here its always breakfastStaff great!

OK drinks, overpriced beer. Out of tune vocalist music was blasted all evening relentlessly like some kind of college open mic Wonderwall cover with blown out monitors. Could not cover up with headphones. Internet was extremely slow.

Coffee was great. Food was ok. Layout was cool. Staff was very friendly.

Black Locust Cafe is a trendy coffee shop / cafe on the revitalized East Washington corridor. The couple times Ive been there, the servers have been aloof. Theres no parking lot and finding street parking can be difficult.At a recent visit, I ordered the the biscuits and gravy. The biscuit was outstanding, with a perfect exterior crunch and a tender interior. I was less impressed with the under-seasoned gravy which lacked any punch. I also have to put a good word in for the Cu-Bing breakfast sandwich, perfect sandwich for a quick breakfast on the go.The venue has a post-industrial vibe and the vault door from the buildings past as fur repository is a show stopper. Also visually striking are the blue and gold geometric floor tiles and the shiny white subway tiles utilized around the coffee bar. But functionally, all those hard surfaces amplify the sounds of the baristas, the caffeinated patrons conversing and the louder than usual background music. I recommend bringing some earbuds to filter out the noise.