Butler Cafe

update: Butler Cafe is closed.

In a word: A very downtowny spot serving comfort food for downtown's denizens.

The specs: #0054
JM ate the meatloaf with a lemonade and Nichole ate the chicken alfredo.
JM gave Butler Cafe an A-; Nichole gave it a B+ (see our grading rubric).

Nestled in a Capitol-area neighborhood chock full of newish condos, Butler Cafe fits right in. With all the expected beverages and a varied sandwich menu, the cafe would be a fine place for your average weekday Madison lunch. As is so often the case, though, choices get more scarce after work. Dinner offerings are limited to two entrees each weeknight. Between us we sampled Monday's whole dinner menu.

The chicken alfredo featured a hearty portion of vegetables - almost enough to be called primavera - including tasty fresh mushrooms, mellow onions, and a subtle quantity of garlic. As for the meatloaf, it was very good but not as good as BrouxNellies, the gold standard. JM wasn't too fond of the overly crisp green beans.

The server was very attentive. Our visit to Butler Cafe was another instance of an eerily quiet venue, but this is probably due to our unfashionably early dinner time.

Comments

[Linda]

Closed now. Ill-fated spot, I guess.

[Ken]

Considering the replacement, Cafe Porta Alba, is closing and/or moving, despite getting excellent reviews, means it MUST be a bad spot!!!

Still would bet that they will be visiting the location again whenever another restaurant opens there.

[Kyle]

There's already another restaurant slotted into that space.

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=25617

[Ken]

When will they ever learn??? :-(

[nichole]

In retrospect I can't believe this was an A-/B+. Lazy or generous of us, I can't decide.