Surge

Update 5/17/12: Surge is closing.

In a word: Power-up.

The specs: #0706  
Address, hours & details via Isthmus; reviews at Yelp, 77 Square, A Sconnie Eats, Wisconsin State Journal; listing at Eat Drink Madison; chatter at TDPF; official web site, Facebook, Twitter,

Latest Surge news and reviews

JM ate the Deli Shocker with ham and a lemonade.
Nichole ate the Hummus Horsepower with a mojito-ade.
We split a chocolate croissant.
The bill was $15, or $7.50/person, plus tip.
JM gave Surge Cafe a B; Nichole gave Surge Cafe an A- (see our grading rubric).

Surge is not a splurge. It's about fueling up with premium at a standard price.

We got a light dinner al fresco one weeknight: two sandwiches, two drinks and a Madison Sourdough pastry for $15. Everything was pretty much perfectly fresh.

JM's "Deli Shocker" ham and cheese (#60) on white featured thick cuts of meat, provolone, and a mustard/mayo mix. It was pretty tasty but standard, and not worth a special trip out. The lemonade was weak-ish but he could infer a good flavor from it: "that which doesn't kill me should make its lemonade stronger."

Nichole's veggie "Hummus Horsepower" was served on a flatbread-style wrap rather than a pocket, but once she reined it in, it was hearty. (As of August 4, they've switched to pitas.) There was only a thin layer of hummus, not too garlicky, with very fresh and cool lettuce, tomato and onion. A zingy, if dry, feta bulked it up. The "mojito-ade" made with Stash mint tea and lime juice was pretty dang refreshing and worth replicating at home.

We regret we didn't try any coffee drinks, but us old folks need to cut our caffeine out after a certain hour (and we'd feel extra-silly ordering decaf from a place named Surge). The menu is equally pitched to the morning crowd with a great selection of jams, preserves, and maple syrup on the condiment bar to complement French toast and other hot breakfasts. They also deliver, making them a good Malt House option and a Williamson-side alternative to Mildred's.

Comments

[Timmy]

I had a fruit lemonade here that was very good. Sandwiches all looked pretty decent--this is a classic deli sandwich and a coffee kind of place, which is a complement. Recommended.

[Ellen Carlson]

I can't say enough about the fact that they will deliver a tasty latte to my door. A stuck-in-the-house-with-the-kids dream come true!