Black Locust Cafe

This place is a hidden gem. Vegan options too. Otherwise small humble and friendly staffed. I'll make it a point to visit more often.

Black Locust Cafe is a trendy coffee shop / cafe on the revitalized East Washington corridor. The couple times I've been there, the servers have been aloof. There's 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 building's 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.

I had a veggie crepe sandwich and an oolong. Both were great and reasonably priced. That courtyard they share with Barolo is sooo nice on a sunny day. Only complaint I have is how long it took to get our food. Hopefully it was just a fluke.

Staff was not knowledgeable about their coffee. No decaf available. I didn't 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. That's it. Not sure about other food. Free WiFi, though, if you needed a quiet place to work.

Very chill environment with a great atmosphere. Staff were friendly and my drink was pretty good!

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

Hidden gem. Love the atmosphere, perfect spot to enjoy some coffee independently or with a friend. We tried the cu-bing and jian-bing; neither of us would get them again (a little greasier and not quite what we were looking for), but the idea was great and I can't wait to try the crepes next time!

Good and strong cold brew (5/5), espresso was good (4/5) but wasn't rich or velvety, and the hot coffee was 5/5 as well.

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.

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