Barriques - Monroe St.

Owners are snobby and disgruntled.

I could hear baristas complaining about working conditions/low wages from my seat.

Food and coffee is overpriced.

Baristas often messed up orders.

Espresso is mediocre.

Wine is also expensive (better prices and selection at your local grocery store).

Store was sticky/filthy.

Stopped by this place and was very disappointed. Ordered a breakfast sandwich with bacon, it came out on a dinner roll with microwave bacon... The quiche was tiny and more like soft eggs. Our lattes were served in glasses?? Weren't hot to begin with then just continued to cool off because of the glass. Wouldn't recommend!!

We always stop at this location on our way back from Iowa. It's right across from Trader Joe's so we get coffee and do our grocery shopping before heading home. Always great coffee and good snacks too. We have stopped many times and always have a good experience.

Veg chili was quite good but ridiculously expensive. A "bowl" (looked more like a cup to me) was $5.75? It felt like 10 small spoonfuls and that was it, the bowl was empty. I'm not even a big eater, I'm a small person and I was way hungry after that. It felt like a small snack, or like when a fancy restaurant gives you a taste of something. For that price it should be a nice size bowl, enough for lunch. This came way short of that.

Barriques has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Where the barista's can make the best espresso/coffee in town. The food is great, and the bakery items, always an exceptional treat. The staff, is tremendously attentive, wearing smiles, and always remembering faces and your favorite drinks. Where one can gather with friends for great coversations, or stop for just a change of scenery from the standard office cube farm. :) Barriques also supports the local community, displaying and supporting the work of local artists. Which for me, adds even greater appreciation. A highly recommended stop for anyone who lives, visits, and/or passing through the great city of Madison. :)

Nice place, good drinks, but the fact that customers have to walk through the seating area to get to the counter to order means that it's not exactly quiet and conducive to getting work done. Nice selection of wine and other alcohols available, though.

Sad. I asked the barista to pour me a decaf dark roast coffee. "We don't really do that.," he said. I settled for a medium roast decaf. It was so acidic it irritated my throat. I only drank half a cup. The place was not busy. The barista spent most of his time talking to a fellow employee and nothing else. He could have made a dark roast for me easily. Will not go back.

Mexican Mocha?.. YES!
What a tasty treat for a chilly day.
And what better than one of their maple nut scones to go along.
Now if we could just sit inside and enjoy it.. (sigh..) = )

I stopped in just the other day before my tatt appointment at Spike-o-matic down the street. I have to say their frappe is one of the best i've ever had. I would give them five stars but it did take a very long time for the food my boyfriend ordered to get out to us. The customer service was fantastic.

Generally I like this place. Good coffee, good food, but this particular sandwich was about as bland and uninteresting as a sandwich can get. THE CUBAN sandwich seemed like a purchased version of what I would have thrown together in a couple minutes at home for my next days lunch. The ham was sub par and the amount of time it took to make seemed a little dramatic for the final result and presentation. If I would have used a cheap grocery deli ham and Kraft American Cheese I may have been able to craft a tastier result.

That being said I still LOVE Barriques wraps and coffee drinks, but whatever you do. DON'T GET THE CUBAN. This sandwich should be made as illegal as the much better cigars of the same name.