Cafe at Arbor Gate

Update 1/17/13: Cafe at Arbor Gate is the Beacon (for now).

In a word: Invisible.

The specs: #00801
2601 West Beltline Frontage Rd., 53713
Details at
Official web site, Facebook

Latest Cafe at Arbor Gate news and reviews

JM ate the onion bagel with cream cheese and a soda.
Nichole ate the cinnamon pecan scone with a triple shot whole milk latte.
The bill was $9.50, or $5ish/person, plus tip.
JM gave Cafe at Arbor Gate a C-; Nichole gave Cafe at Arbor Gate a B- (see our grading rubric).

Cafe at Arbor Gate is run by Bonfyre Grille, on the ground floor of the high-ish rise that hosts the Wisconsin Heart Institute. The cafe is a few doors down from breakfast bigwig Egg & I, so it's probably wise of them to keep things simple: they offer bakery items and the standard coffee/tea/smoothie suite from 6 to 6 weekdays.

The coffee's proudly Victor Allen but in practice the latte was milky and forgettable. We also forgot to ask about the bakery's provenance. The cinnamon pecan scone was nice - not huge, not too dry or crumbly, but topped with a thick combover of orange-flavored glaze that added most of the sweetness.  The onion bagel was pretty good as these things go, but was certanly not fresh from the oven anytime in the last 5 hours or so.

While Cafe at Arbor Gate might not be a destination coffee shop, Nichole found it fine; JM felt it might be a little on the pathetic side, escpeially when it seems neither sufficient nor necessary. But their loyalty cards are probably the best deal in this 12-punch town at buy 5 get one free.