Cafe Soleil

This is one of those places you feel good eating at afterward, even if you get the Ruben (which, I did). All of their ingredients are local, organic, fairly/​sustainably raised, etc. And you can actually taste the freshness. But it’s not soooo simple that its bland or boring. Their sauces are also well made and I think the composition of the different plates is really well thought out. The portions are ample, but not midwestern-​big (a plus, in my book).
The interior of the place is cute, and sunny (imagine that, living up to its name). And the service is sweet and quick.
Only minus one star for being a bit pricey for a bfast/lunch/café…but I suppose you get what you pay for!

After a couple more Café Soleil experiences, I’m thinking it’s necessary to change my rating to 3 stars — «A-​OK.» I’m just unfortunately not a fan anymore.
$ 3.50 for a croissant? Wouldn’t be a problem, except for the fact that the day I tried the almond marzipan croissant it was overcooked, dry, and tough.
Maybe I’m just too sensitive, but *golden* brown = delicious, whereas *oops I let them cook just a bit too long* brown = not. And although marzipan can usually redeem anything for me, it just couldn’t compete with the overwhelming almost-​burned flavor.

We just came in from a road trip starting around the Chicago area and had about ten minutes before they closed for the end of lunch hours… Even so, the hostess behind the counter still invited us in and said we could stay as long as we like… We were in a huge rush (trying to make a tour at the Red Gym) anyway… The environs were nice and comfortable without being stuck up. The mushroom soup we had was rich and delectable, and the Big John Burger was «marranito» and delicious (and the brown/​purple chips… Yes, the place was not cheap but you get what you pay for… I highly recommend it (especially if you have more than ten minutes to eat!

I really like Café Soleil for the fresh, local menu options. Everything I’ve ordered has been very tasty. I think the lunch options are great and the pastries are amazing. Great location right on the Capitol square and the interior of the café has a nice atomosphere. Maybe it is a little pricey but I try to remind myself that quality ingredients cost more. I do hate when it is more crowded and you run the risk of ordering and then standing eyeing tables, hoping someone will move on. All in all, a great place for breakfast or lunch — you can feel good about what you are eating.

2 words– magic coffee. Ohmygosh. Absolute heaven. And this coming from a girl who likes her coffee as black as midnight in the north pole during the winter solstice? Yes, indeed.
Oh and the food’s good too. haha. I love everything Chef Tory makes. Plus the home made chips are to die for.

YUM! Great food and friendly service made this a terrific recommendation from a local friend. I had half a Tuna Nicoise sandwich with lovely locally-​grown tomatoes, arugula, free range eggs, and fresh baked grainy bread. The olive tapenade really put it over the top. Even the waffle-​cut chips had loads of salty, garlicky flavor. Husband had soup of the day — red lentil curry — which was velvety soft with warm curry flavor — delicious! The menu is brief in items but long on description of the contents and their origins, which I greatly appreciated. And the coffee is fairly traded through local roaster Just Coffee. Excellent pick. I will definitely visit again before I leave town.

Our first reaction when we have been given our plates of food the few times we have been here are nearly always, «That’s all?» But really, in addition to the fact that the food is organic, and probably more importantly, locally grown, is the fact that the food is tasty and filling!
We’ve ordered the reuben multiple times and it is delicious. This past time we ordered the grilled cheese (in addition to a roast beef sandwich which was a little dry but delicious) and it is one of the best grilled cheese that we’ve ever had – cheddar, brick cheese spread, garlic, and crimini mushrooms – soooo good. Everything else we’ve ordered during other visits, notably the burger and a turkey (or was it chicken?) sandwich was wonderful, too.
Buuuut… what we really crave when we come in is their homemade potato chips! They’re freshly made waffle chips and they are simply delicious.
Haven’t had too many pastries, actually. Chocolate sand cookie is a bit dry but tasty and the peanut butter sandwich cookie is the delicious gourmet version of a Nutter Butter. We’ll have to try the croissants next time. Oh, and the lemonade is amazing. I don’t know what it is to give it such a… fuller… really… flavor. But they’ve gotta put something else other than sugar, lemon, and water in it.

This place is one of the few in madison that offers local/​fresh ingredients that look and taste amazing. Not only do the soups and sandwiches taste amazing… but the coffee/​beverages and very interesting and delightful pastries are great!!!
It’s a bit pricey, but for what you get and the easy on the conscience feeling you are left with — definitely worth it.

So far I’ve only had the pleasure of enjoying some of their baked goods, those being a chocolate croissant and both lemon black currant and chocolate scones (I love chocolate,) and they were all perfection. I hope to do an official breakfast very soon.

Best raspberry lemonade I’ve ever had in my life. Loved the grass-​fed roast beef sandwich with wisconsin cheese… mmmmmm; yum. I actually wouldn’t recommend it on a farmer’s market Saturday because it gets too packed for me! But lunch on a weekday is divine.

The almond marzipan croissant and magic coffee are probably the two best things I’ve ever stuffed into my gullet.
One star off because the guy working was a total asshole to us both days that we went. I’m pretty sure it’s 2009, but he would only ask my boyfriend questions even though I was the one answering. He was also the kind of barista who grabbed a cup for hot coffee if he even THOUGHT I was going to say coffee and he gave us our total before we were done ordering. Newsflash bud, you are working behind a counter pouring coffee, not curing my diabetes. The attitude just comes off as totally foolish and idiotic.

This place is simply the best café in town. No question. The coffee is impeccable and the baked goods are divine.
It’s a good thing I don’t work near the Capitol or I’d spend far too much money here… and I’d be fat and diabetic.

The most perfect croissant E-​V-​E-​R.

All Soleil’s food is wonderfully fresh and «99.999 999 999%» organic. Best pastries in town, no contest. The croissants and brioche are perfect. The coffee is always top-​notch and their house chai is spicy and authentic – forget the syrupy from-​concentrate stuff you might get at other cafes. Their sandwiches are pretty expensive for the amount you get, but the quality makes up for it. I am a big fan of the Farmer John’s Provolone. Breakfast sandwiches come with a very good carrot and fruit salad; lunch sandwiches come with tasty chips that I think they make themselves.

Get there relatively early for some of the best almond chocolate macaroons. Stuffed from the farmer’s market? Just try one for 75c!
If they’re out of macaroons, try their homemade brats. I actually couldn’t taste why their $ 5 price would be nearly double of Top Dog’s (in Berkeley) but could definitely see how being local and organic and all that could up the price. Regardless, it’s juicy, it’s good, and the toppings are pretty special. Especially their mustard. I even ventured as far to try to buy it but they don’t sell it. Seedy with that authentic mustard test that is hard to find at local markets in the US. Just be sure to try the mustard. It’s kickass.

I haven’t had lunch at Café Soleil yet… but the bakery happy hour is absolutely worth a visit (maybe even an extra ½ star for value!). The espresso drinks are well done (on 4 of 5 occasions) and the savory croissants are lovely, as is the blueberry cream cheese croissant. The homemade lemonade is delicious and refreshing, especially with free refills. I’ve lucked out on days with blueberry and raspberry lemonade… yum! Local cheeses and farmer’s market goods as an added bonus.
Spend a lazy afternoon here, reading the paper or working on a paper. Avoid the hectic farmer’s market crowd on Saturdays.

I stopped in here for lunch with one of my friends during the farmer’s market. The food was excellent, everything was extremely fresh and very high quality. I had a grilled chicken panino with chevre cheese and bacon, and a strawberry-​rhubarb lemonade. The bacon in the sandwich really stood out as being superb, I guess it came from a farm called Willow Creek in Baraboo. The food is fairly expensive compared to, say, Subway (…) but the emphasis on using great ingredients is really reflected in the food.

Handmade organic brats made the night before served with homemade horseradish mustard, nice cool lemonade served outside on the street during farmer’s market. Nice casual cool café, sandwhiches, salads, pastires, organic and homemade and reasonably priced. The brats were probably the best I ever had. I would have bought a jar of the mustard if they sold it. The mushroom soup was delicous. Here is a great place to relax after farmer’s market. It’s also a nice place to come for coffee, dessert and conversation.

I come here 3 – 4 times a week because it’s conveniently between my apartment and bus stop. Their coffee, espresso drink (good cappuccino), chai, and my favorite — black currant tea are good. The staff is pretty friendly. During summer, try their lemonade — it’s super tangy with a hint of lavender — it’s super refreshing and delicious!
I think their pastry is way overpriced for the quality, though …. If you want the best croissant in the town, I recommend «Sophia’s café» on Johnson (they are open only on the weekend)

There are few places in Madison to get a great espresso — this is one of them.
There is ONE place in town to get a great croissant with that espresso and Café Soleil is that one place. Hands down, they have the best pastries.
I eat lunch at Soleil at least once a week. Great soups — with some awesome chilled soups in the summer (so long summer). And the trout salad, yum! Wait, did I mention the Cuban sandwich? I can’t stop and am making myself hungry!