Come Back In

I will say that the one server I interacted with was very nice and that was really the only redeeming quality about Come Back In. I was staying at the hotel next door and when I called to place a take out order the first thing the host said, yelled really, was, «You have to PROMISE you’re going to come pick it up!» I assured him and I started to order, he cut me off and said, «You know what, I don’t know why I’m trying to take an order I don’t know anything about the menu let me get you a server.» Fine and well, she was far more pleasant anyway. I ordered the nachos and maybe half of the stuff that’s listed on the description actually came on the nachos and they were pretty bad. I realize now that there’s a lot that can go wrong with nachos from a bar, my mistake? Definitely will not be going back but will remember the nice server and the heart burn.

First, we knew what to expect — that the Come Back Inn is a bar, that it specializes in hangover food, etc., etc.
Even so, I have never been served a more disgusting, oily mess of eggs and other apparent foodstuffs. The phrase «swimming in grease» fits. Absolutely Inedible.
Sanitation seemed marginal.
Sorry, we won’t be coming back inn. We’ll likely even avoid walking by.

After being turned away at an unfriendly popular Madison brunch place we decided to give this spot a try for a late breakfast on a Sunday. When we walked in it was rather busy but somehow we were seated immediately and I swear they gave us the best table in the house. Looking around we noticed everybody was having a great time. The place is old, built in the 1860’s I learned from the unique newspaper menus. And it was familiar, comfortable like an old friend. My attitude immediately changed. The staff was friendly and helpful, they took pride in the food they were putting on the tables. The menu was diverse, I glanced at the plates people had around me and everyone seemed to be eating something different. We ordered several different plates for the table as we like to share with each other. Crab cakes eggs Benedict with asparagus, shrimp and andouille sausage omelette and prime rib and eggs, served with a hollandaise sauce as well. And to finish we all shared an order of stuffed French toast that was just stupid good. People around us were feasting on potato pancakes and sausages with applesauce and other German fare. We had a great time and we cannot wait to go back. Places like this don’t happen by accident. These folks have been doing it like this for a long time. It was obvious. Food like this can’t be faked. Cheers!

Come Back in, about time I stopped here, every time I visit an Establishment up around the square I find parking to be a hassle but not here they have a decent sized lot in back! Nice square bar in the center of the building, it’s old wooden, loud and people are having fun on this weekend morning. Nice bartender and 3 dollar bloodys with chaser. The bloody Mary was not spicy but it was very good. I will stop in again!

Great breakfast! Great deals on mimosas and bloodys. Bartender Todd customer service outstanding. Nice casual place — cant wait to «come back in» !

Great for large groups and breakfast. Easy menu, good prices. Wonderful beer selection, attentive wait staff. Management is weird, scurrying about and causing stress. B+

Everything I said in my 2011 review still stands, but as I’ve aged my visits have turned toward visiting for brunch and Packer games as opposed to ridiculously late Sunday nights for singing and free champagne.
Brunch: so delicious! The last few times I’ve gotten a half order of the chocolate chip pancakes with peanut butter syrup because I have the breakfast palate of a five year old. The half order is more than I can eat (three pancakes that are usually 5 – 6 inches in diameter), the chocolate chips are plentiful, the syrup is somehow not too sweet, and the whole thing is topped off with whipped topping (it definitely falls closer to Cool Whip than whipped cream).
On other visits I’ve tried the stuffed french toast, grilled cheese, pot roast, and cobbled together my own a la carte breakfast based on what random items sound most delicious when combined. I haven’t had a bad item yet in the two or so years I’ve been frequenting them for breakfast and brunch. Special shout-​out to the breakfast potatoes, which on an off day are merely tasty, but on a good day are some of the best around — crispy, not too oily, and a balance of salt and seasonings that still lets the potato itself shine.
Packers: CBI is a great place to watch the game. Seating is ample, there are beer specials, you can have as many boats of peanuts and popcorn as your heart desires, and you get a free shot (sometimes Jello, sometimes Pucker) for every touchdown. The bartenders are fun and are fans too, making the celebration even more lively.
The only things keeping Come Back from being a five-​star establishment for me are the decrepit ladies’ room, uncomfortable chairs, and occasionally spotty service. Some examples: the last time we went we stopped at the hostess stand and said hello. The hostess greeted us and then went back to working on whatever she was looking at on the podium. After standing there for a few more awkward seconds we figured we were supposed to set ourselves so we did, and it took awhile for a server to notice us and then bring us menus. People who came in after were seated by the hostess. Not sure what happened there. On another occasion about a month or so ago we were sitting near one of the TVs for the game. I asked the bartender to change over to the game and he said someone was coming around with the remote. I lost track of time and realized it was about 15 minutes after kickoff and we were still watching the wrong channel. They finally got it on for us, awesome. However, about half an hour later they turned the TV off even though we were still sitting there without asking or giving a reason. We moved to the bar, but we had picked that seat specifically because it was close to the TV and my short little legs go numb when they’re dangling from the bar stools for three hours.
Despite that massive paragraph, the service is good more often than not (the first-​string bartenders are amazing), and the awesome, affordable brunch makes the trip worth it.

I’m back on high again with CBI. Why?
+ Bartenders. They are awesome!!! Sit at the bar, and I guarantee you’ll enjoy stellar, friendly, super helpful service. Todd, Caleb — they are awesome dudes. Tell them you know me, and they’ll take care of you. ;-) hehe.
+ Tap selection. I really enjoy the offerings here. They have a great base of staple beers, but manage to introduce several unique and fun brews on a fairly regular basis.
+ Tons of specials. They have all-​day happy hour several days of the week. Sign-​up for their ambassador program, and you’ll always get $ 1 off every beer. Join their «drink club» and after 5 brews, your 6^th one is free. There are a ton of great deals to be had — just ask.
+ They have a new GM who seems to «insulate» and «supplement» Neal, which is a good thing. Neal is an odd guy with a very unusual personality… never makes you (or anyone) feel comfortable… but the new guy is great.
— Popcorn is still too hit-​or-​miss. 99% of the time it’s far too salty to enjoy
I really do like the CBI. Color me a fan.

Come back inn is a great place to play volleyball during the summer. The boot specials are large and a lot of fun with a group, live music at night makes it a fun atmosphere, and service is pretty decent. Different story on a Sunday afternoon. The beer was lukewarm and the service was slow. We hear the brunch is good, and are willing to go back to try it based on the popcorn being decent. Seems like a better place to visit at «busy» times when the service is ready for you. Very cool atmosphere inside, fun decorations, and very clean both during busy times and slower times. Decent bar overall in downtown Madison!

I was really looking forward to a greasy Come Back In breakfast, but I was distracted by a few bumps during our weekend visit.
We had a very nice waitress, but she got our drinks wrong and forgot about us once she gave us the check.
I got the «big» breakfast, which was advertised as 3 eggs. I got them scrambled and it was a pretty small serving. The potatoes and English muffin that came with it were both really delicious, though.
Everyone’s food was pretty good, so no complaints there!
It’s a great affordable staple if everywhere else is full, but I wasn’t gushing after my first visit.
Free popcorn!

This review should be said with a caveat. The sand volley ball court outside and summer volleyball program is awesome. The only reason I regularly come to this place is to play volleyball with friends and would likely not return if not for this.
I have been there several times. The food is mediocre but the late night menu is a good deal. This place might warrant three stars it not for the unprofessional and disorganized service (and many of my friends reporting having had their credit cards stolen after using it there). I have gone there multiple times and had more success walking to the bar to get a drink then get something served at the table by a waiter. Waiters forget orders, do not return in a timely manner, and have not known the menu or special when asked. I wonder if they are trained and think simple things would dramatically improve this restaurant.
Case in point:
A prior time I ordered a pitcher of beer. The waiter returned with the pitcher but no cups. After waiting 10 – 15 minutes I walked into the restaurant to find her talking to someone and had to go to the bar myself to get cups for the pitcher. I honestly haven’t had such poor service anywhere else I can think of
DO NOT PAY WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN CASH here!

Really enjoyed our breakfast here, and good prices. $ 3 Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. Fed a family of four for $ 38. Our waiter was great, too!

Come Back in has a bit for everyone.
Their breakfasts are one of the best I’ve ever had and I’m not normally a breakfast person. The Karaōke on Sunday night which I practically never miss is one of the most enjoyable recurring events at a bar. The «$ 4.50 — ½ Liter Tap Beers «special is great allowing you to try all kinds of different microbrews. So if you like breakfast, beer or karaōke — check it out! It is probably my most frequented bar personally!

Come Back In is quintessential Wisconsin. From the enormous variety of beer on tap to the generous pours and more than generous portions… this establishment speaks to times of when people had less so when they went out they got (& expected) a lot more!
I have always had a good time here… the prices are very reasonable — far more so than any other downtown locale… look for & keep up with the specials to get your best buy. Right now I know Sunday morning drinks run about $ 3 (a Really good bloody mix for a busy place — comes with lemon, pickle, and choice of beer back), or mimosas/​screwdrivers are also on the cheap.
Breakfast is good here. Really good. As far as my dollar goes I love the variety you can get here for the price… yeah they don’t have exotic berries — but a rather a solid breakfast. Brunch is always busy, they accommodate large groups without reservations, and expect a meal for two with 1 drink per person to take an hour all together. Looking to drink more? Sit at the bar if this is your hangover/​Sunday plan. Servers are awesome — it’s just that busy…
Late night menu I know is on the cheap and solid side — the way it should be.
Beer and drinks are always better than average. Grab a pint, a liter, or even a boot here & enjoy a stay! Seriously — just leave the watch at home…

*Review is on the late night bar only*
Went here on a crowded Friday night. No bar seats were open, as other reviewers recommended, so we grabbed a table. The service was good. They stayed on top of our empty glasses as best they could. The drinks were poured really heavy with foam. I don’t know if they were at the end of the tap lines or what. I sent one back and it came out the exact same way.
I am going to give there dinner /​food a try and see what comes of it. Until then, it is an OK spot to grab a drink with friends.

We ended up here because we were staying at the inn and they offered complimentary breakfast.
The dining area had a bar feel with well-​worn wood floors and exposed brick walls.
After viewing the menu, I wasn’t sure at all what to get as nothing really jumped out at me. Mr. R asked the server if their corned beef hash was homemade, and she said it was (which it didn’t seem to be once he ordered it). As she was walking away, she said as almost an afterthought that the stuffed french toast was her recommendation, so I went with a half order of that with a side of bacon.
This was a very meaty nice quality bacon, and the stuffed french toast was quite delicious with cream cheese and pecans doused in an apricot sauce. A half order was plenty for me, similar to a four hockey puck sized portion, stacked two and two.
We had good service, and the coffee, while not great to me, was good enough.

My first time for brunch at the Come Back In was with friends at 10:00am on a Sunday. This place seems like a great place to enjoy a greasy spoon style breakfast, sip on some $ 3 mimosa or bloody marys and watch football. There are lots of tvs and one can see a screen no matter where you’re sitting.
I ordered a mimosa and the Big Breakfast which comes with choice of meat, style of eggs, and bread or pancakes. This was perfect for me as I usually want something savory for breakfast, but I am often tempted by the thought of fluffy and mildly sweet pancakes. This was my idea breakfast as it combined a little sweet with a little savory. It also comes with potatoes but I wasn’t impressed with the potatoes.
I liked the mimosas. It was light on the alcohol, but that’s how I like it at 10am in the morning. Plus, for $ 3 it felt like a steal.

This place is pretty great. The prices aren’t the best, but they’re not bad. They drinks are almost always great. I got an incredibly weak fish bowl here once. I split it with one friend and felt nothing. I’m going to chalk it up to one of the works hating me for other reasons not related to this restaurant. It’s still pretty shitty to get bad service because of a stupid grudge.
The late night cheap burgers are fantastic. They’re not the biggest, but I can never manage to finish one so they’re really not bad. I absolutely love their breakfast. The free popcorn is great usually. Sometimes it’s a little on the salty side. The music is usually pretty good. One night the screens were playing different music videos than the one over the speakers. That lead to some great laughs. Turns out older music is really funny when matched up with rap videos.
The environment of the bar is always really great. Sometimes it’s really weird (like with an overwhelming crowd of middle aged people in Santa outfits or a group of cougars squealing and dancing to Blurred Lines), but it’s always a blast.
I’ve heard some truly terrible things about the owner. A friend used to rent one of his apartments. I’m not going to get into that though, but I will say that the guy always gives me the creeps. He usually stands in the corner and just watches people. Never saying anything or every doing anything.
Also, this is for sure a no vape zone. The owner gets angry at the mention of it.

Our group came here after the color run to feast.
They had $ 3 mimosas and bloody Mary’s. It was busy but we entertained ourselves with shuffleboard and took advantage of the drink specials.
The breakfast portions are huge. We loved their fluffy, blueberry pancakes, generous portions of scrambled eggs, you can’t go wrong with any choices of the meats, both sausage and bacon were true standouts. Their american fried potatoes with a hint of onion were amazing!
The service was very friendly and prompt for how hectic busy they were.

The man stumbled upon The Comeback In for brunch and really liked it. When he talked about the different combinations of food and their delicious pancakes I was stoked to try it. When we finally decided to try it on a Saturday morning I was definitely not as enamored with the place as he was.
I don’t know if I was expecting the place to be different just because I was there for breakfast but this place is totally a bar that is trying its hand at breakfast as well. I mean I had been there for drinks a few times but I somehow expected a different vibe when we went for breakfast. My wish was not fulfilled. Instead I was led to a sticky, lopsided table with a waitress that look like she’d been working there for 45 years. None of that matters much right? Well it wouldn’t if the food was superb. But it wasn’t.
The place is mediocre at best. They love oil and make you well aware of it. The first time I visited here I ordered the walleye with toast. I know that it is not typical breakfast fare but I love me some walleye. Anyway, got the walleye, tried the walleye, but didn’t like the walleye. It was oily as all get out and one side was burned. The toast was slathered in butter, yuck. My over easy eggs were simply just gross. They were really watery and completely inedible.
But what do you do when you have a meal like that? You go back to try it again. I went back to try the pancakes that the man said were the best pancakes he ever had. I ordered them with the walleye (again), along with the potatoes. I could go into a long description as to how oily everything was (again) and how the potatoes looked as though they had been stuck in the tread of my tire. But I wont.
I don’t like this place and I def will not be back. Not for breakfast anyway!