RJ Cafe and Bistro

Sadly after three tries I must say nope.
The cupcakes are very dry, stale even ;three tries!) and very overpriced.
The staff are amazingly patient and sweet.
Stick with the books here!

Wanted to go out to lunch when visiting a friend who just relocated to Madison. She can walk to town from
her condo. She suggested the bookstore. What? Well, this is the quaintest bookstore in America. And out back they have a café (indoor and outdoor seating) adorable! We sat under a tree! Norman Rockwell, this is your next painting. Tasty pesto mozzarella panini and massive lunch salads (hers with lovely nuts and cheese.) Great service. But this picturesque experience… Madison Conn is the epitome of unpretentious yet truly posh Americana. Lunch price here… very reasonable… about $ 10 per meal. Gorgeous baked goods which we looked at! Then go walk to the Green and check out Madison’s pretty sound beaches.

This place is quickly becoming my favorite lunch spot in Madison. They have wonderful things to choose from on their menu– paninis, sandwiches, salads, etc. Not to mention their extensive hot beverage list. Their caramel lattes are so yummy!
Sometimes there is a wait for a table, but it’s understandable because of the popularity and size of the café. The size is perfect and the atmosphere is comfortable and chic.

Not very good. The macaroni and cheese is terrible. Atmosphere is pleasant. Food very inconsistent. Stale desserts sometimes, they serve it anyway. Have a drink. Skip food. Keep it simple if you do order lunch. I wouldn’t. Twice burned!

Excellent café behind RJ Julia. Very friendly staff and a great atmosphere. Very limited menu but everything I have had has been very good. Also offer a huge dessert case and an extensive coffee and tea menu. If you are not from the area RJ Julia in general is worth the trip if you are a book lover and this café is a great addition.

I used to eat here all the time when I worked across the street. But honestly, it’s because there’s not much around in the area. The flavors are great but the salads are so skimpy — and expensive! My go to was the chicken salad salad with field greens. Chicken salad is amazing but there were probably 15 field greens on my plate. It’s technically a salad and 15 leaves does not a salad make. If I asked for more greens, I would get an eye roll and they would not add more on. There should be some substance to the salad when it’s priced at $ 11.

Delicious food, but waitstaff are, well, clueless. 3 young women working, 2 tables occupied and we had to ask her to bring our plates, which sat ready for several minutes while she puttered around. Never offered my husband a refill on coffee.
They need better training, and the food on the floor in the food prep are isn’t too appetizing either. Yes, they’ve gone downhill. So sad.

Throughly enjoy this restaurant, especially during nice weather when they have outdoor dining. Menu is limited to soups, salads & sandwiches but all are consistently good. The staff couldn’t be more attentive & friendly, as well as the owner.

The food itself if sub par. The prep work to get the meal to the customer usually involves a microwave. I have found that this makes the food rubbery and less appealing than the prices for the food would suggest you are paying for. High-​end food prices for so-​so food.

We stopped in here one weekend for some coffee and sampled some of their delicious pastries. Since then I have been back countless times for coffee and even lunch. So far I haven’t had a bad experience. Tip your servers generously – they really work hard.

I wish I would’ve Unilocaled this café before trying. Oh well, we were starving at the time.
A sign out front signaled that there was a Café & Bistro in the bookstore calling it «Madison’s Hidden Gem».
They wish. While the interior was cute and the menu appetizing, our experience was most unpleasant. At 7:00 they stop serving food and switch to coffee and dessert only. An elderly man tried to place his order right after us, but was denied even though it was only 7:01 (I checked). In a sickly sweet, false voice she tried telling him that they were no longer serving food. At this point we couldn’t believe what was happening and I think they noticed our stares of disapproval, so they took his order.
After waiting upwards of 25 minutes for three paninis, our food arrived. The sandwiches were surprisingly good. We especially enjoyed their artichoke spread. The problem was the service. Our waitress was apathetic and couldn’t be bothered to do her job. I’m not sure that she realizes she’s a waitress. Unfortunately, her attitude seemed to be shared by everyone working there.
Good food, long wait, terrible service.

Had an amazing lunch on their back patio this past Saturday. Food was amazing and the servers were super friendly and efficient. I had a curry chicken with mango chutney sandwich on gluten free bread. One of the best GF sandwiches I’ve ever had! My husband had a really good panini. I liked the option of chips or sliced apples. Will definitely be back!

So the food is decent and the setting adorable, the downside is the staff and service. There was a multitude of them behind the counter but it took 35 minuted to get a sandwich… yet nobody seemed to be making it, just hovering behind the register. And, then they forgot our beverages (making it might have interrupted their indolence). They were rude about their oversights and seemed to think it beneath then to apologize. Rude, heavily staffed and simultaneously poor of service.

Stopped in for a refreshing to-​go drink after looking around in the bookstore and ended up staying for an appetizer and a couple fresh lemonades. I loved my lemonade and we enjoyed the spinach artichoke dip with its crispy chips. The small dinning area is very pretty, clean, and comfortable. The service was also great. I would enjoy coming here with a book to read and relax.

This is my heaven on earth. Books and food.
I spent about an hour looking at books, admiring all the autographed pics on the walls of the famous authors that had book signings here. For lunch I had the Mac ‘n’Cheese and Lobster Bisque. It was so good and perfect for a cold, blizzardy day. I’d definitely go back if I’m in Madison again. The service was great and our server was attentive, I have no complaints. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the tables were so tiny and it felt cramped for a meal. If you’re having coffee/​tea, then I think it would be cozy.

Perfect place for lunch. Attached to best book store in the world and right in middle of town. In nice weather outdoor seating. Everything they serve is fresh and wonderful. Cup cakes are unbelievable! Staff is efficient and friendly. Yummy:)

It is your typical bookstore café. But the egg salad sandwich was big and delicious.
I am not sure what more one could say. You go to this place for the books! That it also has a nice place to have lunch or a snack, is a bonus.
I’d give it four stars but, they would need some kind of over the top element or menu item for that.

Great little spot! They have the best soups and salads– love the Asian salad dressing. Amazing cookies and desserts but they get a bit crowded in there sometimes.

A friend from the Hartford area was down for a visit this past weekend. We took a drive to Madison from Guilford to check out some of the shops. One of the stores we wandered into was RJ Julia Booksellers and we found our way to the back where this little café is located.
We were looking for a light snack and decided on getting cupcakes as they were the only options available in the pastry case that looked like it had been once full. There were a few flavors available and they all looked very good. We were told they are from La Rosticceria in Guilford. We opted for the carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting and it was dry.
It was pretty quiet inside, where we sat, but I noticed a bunch of tables and chairs outdoors where there were many others enjoying their café treats al fresco. I found the atmosphere to be pretty comfortable and tastefully decorated with colorful art on the walls. I also liked that they had a pitcher of ice water and to-​go cups up at the counter for patrons.

Tucked away in back of the RJ Julia booksellers is a quaint little coffee and tea store that serves muffins, scones and to our surprise — lunch! Service is very attentive and efficient. I am always pleased to see a tea menu but when I ask the tea to be steeped when the water is hot when first poured I do get disappointed when the tea bag comes separate and the water now less than hot… The food is fair — not bad not great but its homey and pleasant and makes the visit to the book store complete. The tuna salad was a little light but tasty — make sure you ask if they can toast and the Quessadilla tasty but the steak wasway over cooked. Salad looked good and will try those next time.