Bunky’s Cafe

First and foremost, they take reservations which is a luxury in Madison! And, how many other places can you get both Italian and Mediterranean which appeals to groups with diverse tastes. Everything I’ve ever gotten was delicious, and the ambiance is nice and cozy too.

We tried Bunky’s Café on a weeknight earlier this week. It feels like you are entering someone’s home when you walk in and while dining I felt somewhat similar. You can’t actually see the kitchen, but you can hear and smell what’s going on. The décor is quirky with a variety of knickknacks to entertain your eyes.
Our server was courteous, efficient, and friendly. The drink menu isn’t particularly interesting but it has many local brews and wines.
Nothing on the menu particularly intrigued me either, but I was very happy with everything we ordered. We started with the Mediterranean Veggie Combo. The hummus was creamy and luscious, the tabbouleh light herbaceous and fresh. It came with both pita and bread. There were also olives and baba ghanouj. I had the sundried tomato & basil chicken sausage pasta and I was blown away. The portion didn’t seem big when I saw it, but I was stuffed half-​way through my plate. That said, I could not stop devouring it. The spaghetti was perfectly al dente. There were a ton of sun-​dried tomatoes and the flavors were so intense. I really enjoyed this and would order it again. My partner had the puttanesca which he said was also incredible and packed with ingredients. We were too full to try desserts, but they looked amazing.
What put me off a little on Bunky’s and why I’m lowering my rating was they repeatedly tell you they prefer you don’t use credit cards. I’m fine with not using a credit card. Put it on the web-​site. Put it on your door. Put it on your menu. I get it. However, they have a pamphlet on your table telling you this. When the waiter brought us our bill, he told us this. When we opened up our bill, there was a pamphlet telling us this. And we heard it repeatedly every time the waiter told it to the neighbors nearby. If you don’t want to accept credit cards, that’s fine. You don’t have to justify it to me over and over.

Neighborhood classic that’s cozy, delicious,& a great value. Dined at Bunky’s last night. We had the special appetizer (Maryland crab cakes with Tabasco aioli– so good! Three nice-​sized cakes for 9.99), the chicken mushroom fettucine with chipotle cream sauce, which was rich and perfectly spicy and a massive portion for 16 bucks, & the fish special — bacon wrapped cod stuffed with spinach and caramelized onions in a decadent blood orange beurre blanc. All the desserts in the case (which are made inhouse) looked amazing –Door County cherry cheesecake, cannoli, chocolate mousse pie and more– but we were too full. Next time. The server was SO great. Our table was spacious and the atmosphere was homey in a funky romantic way. Perfect date night spot!

Very cute restaurant, a lot spacious than I expected. We were greeted warmly when we walked in, and all throughout our meal, the host and the waitress made sure we were comfortable and happy. My boyfriend ordered the kafta brochette, and I had the ravioli of the day (chicken & spinach, and buffalo mozzarella). The lamb kafta was very flavorful, and the hummus is absolutely amazing. His order came with a small plate of pita, which was also very good. My ravioli was tasty, although the portion is a little too small for me. The marinara sauce that came with the ravioli was a bit watery, but flavorful so I was happy with it.
The very nice hostess asked us if we wanted dessert, and the dessert list sounded so good we just had to try it! We had the caramel cheesecake, and the chocolate cannoli (in a smaller size). I liked the cannoli a lot because it wasn’t too sweet.
Overall, highly recommend for the atmosphere, the friendly service and good food!

I was very skeptical about eating at this restaurant once I walked in but this quickly was replaced once I took a bite of my chicken and mushroom pasta. It was so yummy! It had a chipotle cream sauce so there was a slight kick to it but nothing horrible. If you’ve never been it’s a must try restaurant!!!

Couple weeks ego a friend suggested that we should try Bunky’s food, I very rarely have Mediterranean food when going out since I grew up eating it every day, the place it self is so well looked after, you can see all the care that was put in every little thing.
The server we had was very helpful and friendly, now the food! The food it self was perfection, the Mediterranean plater was so good that we almost licked it off, I had the ravioli if the day, it was vegetarian mushroom ravioli, it was so delicious!, my husband had the Lamb Shawarma, the lamb was grilled to perfection, last we shared Tiramisu… it was so damn good we were tempted to try another dessert!
All in all I highly recommend this place

Really good hummus, incredibly mediocre under seasoned pasta. I would recommend sticking to the Mediterranean food as the Italian leaves much to be desired. At least the homemade cheesecake made a good last impression.

Only ate here once. What a charming, vintage-​like eclectic décor! Staff is super friendly and helpful. Our Mediterranean dining choices here in Madison are few, so I’m very pleased to have Bunky’s as an option. I ordered the chicken kebab plate, which was wonderful, and the lentil soup. The lentil soup’s flavor was very good, although a little salty. Aside from that, great experience here, and I look forward to visiting again.

First of all, just let’s get this out of the way: Bunky’s hummus is the best. It is so smooth and flavorful and incredible. Get it. If you’ve never had hummus… well, this just might spoil you on all other hummus, but seriously, eat this hummus!
Ok, now that that’s done. Let me tell you about another amazing thing at Bunky’s. It’s a meal. It’s a party. It’s an experience that you must have at least once… Spaghetti on the Board. Bring a group of friends and make a reservation in advance. For $ 16 per person, you get a mountain of spaghetti dropped directly on to a table-​sized board. Add sauce and meatballs, build a few napkin levees to prevent the liquid from running on to your lap, and you’ve got yourself a good time. Price includes salad (with tangy Italian dressing), crusty bread for soaking up sauce, a glass of Chianti, and a mini cannoli. Spaghetti on the Board is a good time. It will leave you feeling carbo-​loaded and happy.
In terms of ambiance: Bunky’s is a cool place with an eclectic interior and a relaxed vibe.

The food here it was amazing! I highly recommend taking a friend or girlfriend to this place for intimate dinning. This was a wonderful atmosphere, amazing staff, and several options to choose from. I had a wide variety of gluten-​free options, and that included the dessert menu. I never thought a restaurant could combine both Mediterranean and Italian food but this restaurant found a way to do it!

Everytime I’ve driven by Bunky’s in Atwood, it looked packed out, so I’ve never stopped in… which is why I was shocked when on a random Saturday late morning (11:30ish), we walked in and there were only a couple tables taken. After a quick check for a decent kids menu (yep — actually pretty awesome as far as kids menus go), we took our seats and enjoyed a terrific meal. I enjoyed a perfectly cooked tuna steak, the kid enjoyed a large ‘kids menu’ plate of spaghetti & meatballs, and my girlfriend loved whatever she ordered (I can’t remember — oops!). I can’t wait to go back and try their lasagna or one of their lamb dishes.
Just a heads up that while they do take credit cards, they do encourage paying cash, so a quick stop at the ATM would be appreciated.

Mediterranean AND Italian?! oH MANNNNN! I had the lamb kebab, and it was TASTY! Although I was pretty envious of the pasta my friends’ got!
The atmosphere and was also great! Cute and welcoming! We also had the sweetest waitress!

Me: I have a question, are the falafels usually served cold/​lukewarm and crispy/​burnt (seriously wasn’t sure if that was a new thing or something?!)
Server: Sometimes, usually on the warmer side.
Me:hmm
Server: well I can have them make you some new falafels.
Me: no thanks, I’ll just eat my salad.
Server: oh ok
–after my boyfriend finished his ravioli (that was clearly heated up with a bland sauce) she asked, Do you want a free cannoli hun?
Me: no thanks
And we were charged our entire bill-​I could barely choke down one falafel. You would think being a Mediterranean restaurant they would have that down. I could out falafel them any day. Good thing I’m on a diet– I ate the ¼ cup of tabouli on my plate.

Lovely place with good food! Will come back soon to try something else.
Pros:
*warm atmosphere. Great for a family dinner.
*awesome Mediterranean veggie combo. Six of us very comfortably split the one intended for four. The tabouli in particular is amazing.
*large menu with lots of options!
*yummy lemonade
*inexpensive bottles of wine
Cons:
I got the lamb kebab and while the meat was very good, the $ 18.95 dish was mostly hummus and rice. I thought there should’ve been more meat for the price.

3.5. Really liked the atmosphere of Bunky’s. Home-​like with wood floors and kitschy décor, the place is warm and inviting. Sound absorbing panels on the ceiling really help keep the noise level under control despite being packed full of people on a Friday night.
At 6pm on Friday I thought we would have beaten the crowd! Nope. It was about a 45 minute wait — plenty of time for me to regret not having made a reservation (which they do take). We started with the falafel, which was good, and the hummous, which I didn’t love. Complimentary french bread is served and was a bit dry for my taste. There were plenty of vegetarian options; I certainly enjoyed the okra dish which was like a tomato based stew. Entrees ranged from $ 15+ for dinner.
If I were to go back at dinner, I’d make reservations. I’d be more likely to go back for lunch because the prices are a bit more budget-​friendly (although they seem to have wonky hours so make sure to call ahead to make sure they’re open). The dinner prices at $ 15+ were not outrageous but still just seemed to be a few bucks more than most of the comparable places in the neighborhood.

I’m on a four to five star review binge, but they’re all deserving, and Bunky’s is no exception.
Came here on a Saturday at around 3 for an early dinner and the place was dead. The hostess was sweet as pie and informed us that they were switching over to their dinner menu. It’s quite large, with a mix between Italian and Mediterranean fare, but was not overwhelming in the slightest.
To start, we ordered a hummus appetizer, and it was so incredibly good — served with warm pieces of soft, airy and delicious pieces of pita. Ugh, I’m eating some store brand hummus and crackers as I type this, and they’ve got nothin’ on Bunky’s.
I set my eyes on one of Bunky’s staples: Bunky’s Pasta. It’s loaded with chicken, mushrooms, broccoli, onions and farfalle noodles. It’s mixed with the most mouthwatering creamy marinara sauce. The sauce was sweet and the plate savory, and all worked well together to create a cohesive dish.
I know that Bunky’s has some funky hours, but please make time to stop in when they’re open. You will be glad you did.

Fantastic food, fantastic staff, and fantastic décor.
I was really surprised when we walked in and there was no one there but us the whole time, but… we were there around 3:30 for a late lunch/​early dinner, and they were setting up for two big parties.
We sat down and took in the very cozy décor, all antiques which I am in love with. Our waiter was great, as well as another employee who came by and apologized for the noise (which none of really noticed) as they were setting up tables for the parties that were coming in later on in the evening.
Two of us started off with a Samuel Smith Organic Cider, and Hummus with warm Pita bread, which was great. I ended up getting the Penne Gorgonzola… what sold me on my choice? In the description it said…‘Blue Cheese lovers unit’ Hands down possibly the best pasta I’ve gotten from a restaurant ever. Tasted very authentic, and very fresh.
We ended our meal by splitting the Pumpkin Cheesecake… to die for, really.
Everything I ate here, and experience at Bunky’s is all hands down great. Can’t wait to stop in again.

I can see why you might like this place if it was down the street from your house. The hostess was welcoming and warm and explained they keep half of the place for walk-​ins. that was lucky for us as we came in hungry on a cold night with no reservations.
The décor is homey (kitchy) and the service was attentive and friendly.
The food was fine. I had a chicken piccata special which was very tasty with plenty of capers and lemon beurre blanc on tender chicken fillets. this — served on a bed on angel hair pasta mixed with artichokes and sun-​dried tomatoes. Very nicely done. The special tomato bisque soup with goat cheese was good too.
But really — nothing rang any bells. The bread was boring. The salad that my husband had was extra boring.
There is a dessert case and many of them are made in house. I would like to return and try some of the cakes.
But as I do not live in that «hood, that desire may not be great enough to pull me back to a place that is pretty much just OK.

Decent Eastside spot serving both Mediterranean and Italian (I know. Italy IS Mediterranean but.). I appreciated it’s Madison roots from the old Greenbush neighborhood and the décor gives you that feeling. We went for dinner on a Friday night with no reservations. They keep half the floor for walk-​ins (nice).
I will almost always get a Lamb Kebab at places like this and I did with the added salad for $ 1.50 (small and arrives dressed). I was surprised when the lamb arrived and it wasn’t chunks of lamb on a skewer but slices of lamb with grill marks. It was tasty enough but a kebab? No! There was a paucity of green peppers and onions as well. (one each). I expected more for the price. The lamb was served with hummus (very good) and rice. The Spousal Unit took on the large serving of Chicken Picata on pasta (one of the specials) and a small soup. She liked both. We had no problem finishing a bottle of decent Chianti.
I can see why Madisonians like Bunky’s. It’s cozy, neighborhoody, not flashy, and serves something other than burgers and brats. They clearly care about their food but nothing too fancy or fussy. Definitely worth checking out for non-​corporate Mediterranean (including Italian) food. It was good. A-​OK.

TEN DOLLARS!
TEEEEEEEEEEEN DOLLARRRRRRRS!
Next time you have ten bucks in your wallet, aim for Bunky’s STAT and pick up any one of the several lunch options that adorns their two sided menu. This place not only has delicious offerings in a cozy settings, but it’s consistent, the sign of a well run kitchen/​front of house. I made the mistake of breezing past the dessert case today, all of which are handmade in house. Holy tiramisu batman!
Seriously, I don’t know why more people aren’t pulling up a chair at this joint.
Great stuff on Madison’s east side where we’re overrun with burgers and Asian.