Open Book Cafe

In a word: Open and shut.

The specs: #00998   
In the Helen C. White Library, Goon Park, Madison 53706
Details at Yelp, official web site

Latest Open Book Cafe news and reviews at pinboard

JM ate the sweet roll and a lemonade.
Nichole had an almond steamer.
The bill was $5, or $2.50/person, plus tip.
JM gave Open Book Café a C-; Nichole gave Open Book Café a B+ (see our grading rubric).

Open Book Café is the foodservice outlet in the College Library part of Helen C. White Hall. Often open 24 hours, it fuels undergrads and others in the vicinity with Badger Market grab and go snacks, and lots of coffee. We went late at night (for us - 9pm!) and it was hopping. Lucky for us, we blend in well enough - maybe double the typical age, but harmless enough to pass and place and order and sit looking out the spiderweb-bedecked windows at a dark lake.

Their take on the college eatery was a little bit same-old-same-old (Nantucket drinks represent the smallest improvement over convenience store beverages, and the sweet roll was more brick than bakery) and a little bit above average (Nichole ordered an almond steamer [it was past bedtime, remember], which wasn't on the menu, but they made it for her anyway, and it was good.

On a pass fail rubric - though Nichole does in fact often stop here for coffee when in the area - for outings together we'd probably give this place a pass.