Alchemy Cafe

The food here was incredible! We got the stuffed grilled cheese with the veggie soup and the coconut curry. Both were full of flavor and perfect for a chilly evening. Our server Erica was friendly and helpful. We would have completely forgotten to get a slice of the coconut tres leches cake had she not asked. Our only regret was not getting two slices, but we shared well. The loud atmosphere with the experimental noise music was unexpected for such a seemingly chill environment, otherwise we’re so glad we had dinner here.

We were in Madison for the day only for work and wanted to try a local place - Alchemy not only fit the bill for local, helped us discover a new funky area away from the capitol building worth visiting, and we had a delicious lunch. Put this on your must visit list! We had read the reviews so had an idea of what to order, but we had the sweetest waitress and she was really helpful as well. Service was very quick, incredibly attentive. Food came very quickly. I took the interior photos at the end of our meal and after the lunch crowd had left, but it was packed when we first sat down. Boho vibe, lots of seating indoors and outside blocked off patio, and a bar area that looked like it could be fun at night. We ordered the sweet potato fries to start. Neither my husband nor I are big sweet potato fans, so we were completely blown away by how tasty these were and how much the flavor was enhanced by dipping them into the blackberry jam - we would go back for this combo alone! Do yourself a favor and make sure you try these! Both of the side sauces are delicious:) For our main meal, we had the Maíz salad, tomato bisque and The House Boat grilled chicken sandwich. Everything was incredibly fresh and packed with unique flavors. Just a head’s up, the Maíz salad has a red pepper kick, for those of us that are wimps when it comes to spicy food - it will make your nose run! The tomato bisque was as good as any I’ve had anywhere… delicious and well priced! My husband enjoyed the grilled chicken sandwich and ordered the deviled egg potato salad as his side, which was a good combo and as well packed with flavor! We are definitely looking forward to returning to try some other things that looked fantastic on the menu. We ended up taking home enough leftovers that we had a full meal for the next day. It is street parking and that can be a little bit tricky, but totally worth having to circle once or twice. This place has a casual, boho vibe with a creative menu. We definitely will be returning!

Food, service, everything was absolutely incredible. I ordered the hangry jack sandwich with sweet potato fries. It was all fresh and so delicious! Service was wonderful, a very kind lady helped with everything we could possibly want. Outdoor seating was comfortable and beautiful. Would definitely try again!

Great food, great attentive service, environment was pretty good. Would definitely go again!

My girlfriend and I came from Chicago and decided to try this place because it had good reviews but the experience was horrible. Don’t waste your time coming to this place! I ordered the burger with the Bison patty and they came 10min later to tell me that is it was sold out. I mentioned several times that I am lactose intolerant so I can’t have cheese on it and the chef made a burger with cheese which is bad for my health. Not the serve’s fault. They brought me a burger and it was burned, literally the worst burger I’ve ever had. I really don’t understand how this place can have any good reviews. Stay away!

We waited over 30 minutes for our food to arrive and were greeted by 4 measly asparagus. Food overall was fine but I probably won’t be back. There are plenty of great American restaurants in town and this would not be my choice again.

Yum! What an awesome menu. The strip steak was so flavorful and the sides were delish. My partner loved his corned beef sandwich. Cocktails were great too! Service was friendly and attentive too.

Food and service was superb. Best part was the Coconut Tres Leches cake, to which someone may be bribed and/or extorted in order to reveal the recipe. P.S. I may have accidentally eaten some of the tinfoil.

Alchemy's food is consistently delicious and it is one of my favorite neighborhood hangouts because it's relaxing and unpretentious. The service is always friendly and helpful, too! Some of my fave menu items include the Zaremba burger (all of the burgers are amazing), the Wednesday Mac n Cheese specials, which are super creative and enough food for two, and the Friday Fish Fry. Reasonable prices and great drink specials, a fab outdoor seating area in nice weather and a cozy vibe when it's cold, rainy or snowy all make Alchemy shine. Check it out!

I've been to Alchemy on a couple of occasions and have so enjoyed our experiences here. I've come on a date on one occasion and with a group of five another time and it's great for both. On my first trip, I opted for a beer and on my second visit, I opted for a cocktail. It's nice that they have options for both but I do think they're beer options are more intriguing than their mixology. I love that they have wonderful vegetarian options. Most recently, I ordered their coconut curry, which was beautifully flavorful, dreamy dish and I enjoyed every bite. One of my dining companions ordered the same and we both were over the moon with our choice. The service was great. We stopped by on a busy Saturday evening and were able to be seated at a table outside. It was a lovely evening but a rain storm came it rather quickly. They were able to bustle us inside and get us a table, which was so nice. The atmosphere inside has comfy classic saloon vibes (though the food and drink is definitely elevated beyond your standard pub). Get to it!

We stopped in around 8 on a Saturday night and were able to get seated right away. The patio was super cute, but a little dark. Absolutely loved the hand cut fries and hand brined chicken on their boat sandwich. Bloody Mary was pretty good, as well as the stuffed grilled cheese. There was a large variety of menu items and all were super unique. Such a great place adding charm to willy street!

One of my most favorite spots in Madison. Scratch cooking with a little flair! On this visit we were lucky enough to get one of the best seats next to the window. Our lovely server greeted us promptly & took our drink order. My Bloody Mary was flavorful & had plenty of garnish. To eat, I opted for the ultimate grilled cheese with a side of their pork chile verde. The sandwich was delectable, perfect amount of gooey cheese & crunchy veg. The soup/stew had a wonderful tanginess. We thoroughly enjoyed & can't wait to go back!

My first time after so many years living in Madison. So many people rave about this place and I can't believe I've waited this long. The wings. Must get the wings. The Gorgonzola on top was so good! We shared burgers: tinshack and zaremba. I've been looking for a burger with a green olive relish for so long and I finally found one (zaremba). Must get the sweet potato fries. Perfectly cooked and seasoned. Love the outdoor seating option during the summer. Service was fantastic and food was just as good! I'm so glad I went. Excited to go back for specials and fish fry!

I was excited to eat at Alchemy. It had been years since I have dined there. Usually it's so busy, it's really hard to get a table. But wintery weather and good timing were on our side and we had no trouble getting a table. The specials our server told us about made ordering easy. We just went with the suggestions which were a mushroom, blue cheese spread with toasted bread, entree of chicken thighs with mashed potatoes and glazed carrots and a side of brussels with a dijon sauce. After a few minutes, our server returned to inform us that they ran out of mashed potatoes. OK...so we chose fries instead. Food came out quickly. (Service all around was great!). The chicken, carrots and sauce were great. Fries were OK but mashed would have been better. But we were really disappointed in the mushroom spread. It was cold and was overwhelmed with the sweet sauce. No umami flavor at all which you would expect with a mushroom pate. I think serving the pate warm would have solved that issue. And then the half the bread was overly toasted giving the entire dish a charred flavor. It was just OK. I'll stop by again and give it a try. Maybe something from their main menu.

I've been dying to get to Alchemy for their Wednesday night mac special and it did not disappoint! The sloppy joe mac was super good, amazing mac and cheese sauce and great flavors. I wish this dish came out hotter temperature wise. We split the Applerum burger, which was good, but the bun was mediocre. The sweet potato fries were outstanding - crispy and fresh from the kitchen! Our service was ok. I love the outdoor dining areas. Parking down the block was super easy. I wouldn't rush back, but if they have a good special mac, I'd go again!

cute ambiance inside but overall pretty mid food. tried a bison burger for the first time and it seemed tougher than beef. wasn't obsessed with it. the short rib dish was better, more tender but i don't love spatzle. the baguette slices for the spinach and artichoke were overly toasted so i didn't love that. the dip itself was fine too

I took out lunch from here on a Friday. I had to go around the block once to find parking. Cod fish fry was excellent. The seasonal side of brussel sprouts was excellent as well. My other entree was deluxe apple rum burger, with alchemy fries. That was really good as well. Some reviewers mentioned they are cash only. But now they take credit card as well.

Last week, I visited Alchemy for dinner with a friend. Between the great food and the great service, it was a fantastic experience! Rachel was our server. She was so friendly and enthusiastic. It was obvious that she enjoyed her job. Her attitude made for a very welcoming experience. Although I am not a big burger eater when I go out for dinner, I decided to try the Apple Rum burger. It was fantastic! The combination of flavors and high-quality ingredients, including grass-fed beef, made for one of the best burgers I have ever had. The outdoor seating on a beautiful evening completed a perfect experience. I definitely recommend Alchemy for a great dining experience!

Super cute outdoor seating, dogs welcome. Large tree umbrella covering seating too on a hot day. Seating inside as well but it was too nice outside for us to be inside. We got the cornmeal breaded cod sandwich with a side salad. $17. Two pieces of fish on a baguette. The fish itself was a tiny bit dry. Still very good, loved the sauce on the bread, lettuce and tomatoes. For the side salad, nice mustard type home made dressing, minimal coverage, fresh peas and broccoli. Happy we stopped when in the area.

The kimchi Reuben is AMAZING! A little higher priced but you can tell the ingredients are fresh. Perfect balance of kimchi and corned beef. The wasabi green beans were a nice light side. Service was great no complaints.

I want to give a higher rating bc the staff is so nice, but the food quality is so inconsistent. The fish was cooked perfectly, except it did not have a drop of seasoning. I haven't had fish this bland since high school. Thankfully, the waitress brought me a side of seasoning so that I could salvage the meal, however, I was disappointed overall. I'll prob use Alchemy for drinks and dessert only as the bartenders are always friendly and skilled, and I've enjoyed their dessert the one time I've had it

Food was pretty good. Got the Apple rum burger; wish it had more of the jelly on it since it's the main selling point, but not bad by any stretch. Staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. Lovely interior, with custom (presumably antique) wood furnishing all around. Drinks have variety, but don't expect to order any sort of obscure and overly fancy cocktails. What they have is good though, and you'd do well to stick with it.

Alchemy has become my go to place for comfort food. They never disappoint. From service, to flavor, to menu, 5 stars all around. It's not 5 star dining and it's not meant to be. It's tasty and delicious and the crew at Alchemy is outstanding. So while not 5 star traditional (i.e. James Beard), they get 5 stars from me.

Loved Alchemy! My friend met me in Madison for the farmers market and wanted to try Alchemy because her coworker used to work here. They recommended the potato fries and wings. We got both and were so happy with our decision! The sweet potato fries were so good! And cut like a chip - which I loved. All sauces were great. Definitely will be bringing friends her in the future.

One of our local favorites! Alchemy never disappoints, and always has something for everyone. This makes it a great place to bring out of town guests for a lunch or dinner. We frequent on Wednesday nights for their Mac and Cheese specials - I have yet to find a Mac and cheese I don't love here. My husband and I love to share a Mac and Maize salad. It's the perfect blend. I also recommend their Friday fish fry. I'm not a tartar sauce fan, but whatever is in theirs is magic. So good! If you visit in warmer weather, they have a good amount of outdoor seating. They also allow you to put your name in and visit the Ideal Bar next door while you wait. We've appreciated this option many times in the past. Their patio is also dog friendly.

After not being able to get into a restaurant down the street, we decided to give Alchemy a try. It was really good! The waiter was literally one of the best waiters I've ever had, he was hysterical, down to earth and had great chat. He checked on us often and was so friendly, kudos to him! For a drink, I had a margarita- which was refreshing on a hot afternoon. The curry was pretty good, it was a big serving with lots of sweet potatoes. I really enjoyed it. The bread was great and the mushroom spread was delicious- definitely different, but a good different. I would love to come back and try some options here.

Best way to cure a case of the Mondays? Alchemy. While most places are closed on Mondays, the lights at Alchemy stay on and that makes it one of our go-tos. Dont skip on the sweet potato fries. Also, spicy wings topped with gorgonzola? Say less.‍

Unique menu choices that can't go wrong in a casual dining setting with great service. The food is delicious, staff is friendly and price is reasonable. I suggest dipping your sweet potato chips/fries in the yummy jelly (sorry that I don't know specific name or flavor). Every menu item is delicious. Enjoy.

Every time I come here it's a new experience. The waitstaff is so fun and knowledgeable of the menu. I've gotten pork chops, drinks, and sandwiches here. Their specials are always phenomenal. I recently ordered the Scallop Po Boy and it was so good. I wanted more scallops (don't we all) but I got 3 on each sandwich slice. It's a moody little restaurant and I love it.

Stopped in for a beer, it was $8 on the beer list. I gave the bartender a $10 bill and she gave me $1.56 in change. Apparently they add sales tax to the listed price, which seemed weird to me. But they've always had good food and everything, I'll keep coming back

Had to check another madison restaurant off the list before moving! I drive and walk by Alchemy all the time. It did not disappoint for a dinner with two good friends. I came to the restaurant only slightly hungry due to a big family lunch. It was a bummer as the coconut curry I ordered was really tasty. Hooray for leftovers! Washed down with a draft IPA. My one friend got the Apple Rum burger and seemed to devour it. It looked hearty and fresh. My other friend got the soup of the day (green bean casserole) and the drink special, a cinnamon vanilla hot toddy. Everyone enjoyed! My favorite was the atmosphere and service. The low light makes for a nice time that could be great for a date or some later dining and drinks. The restaurant has cool levels of seating that allow for unique experiences. Finally, fantastic waitress that was quick and friendly!

Felt a little let down at my last visit. My food came out cold and I had definitely gotten fries from the bottom of the barrel. I was trying to keep an open mind on the walnut burger I had ordered (normally I'm a big fan of these) until I bit into something very moldy. That ruined the rest of the meal for me. I also had ordered the lavender, mint lemonade and that was pretty tasty. Make sure you get it down fast though. If the ice dilutes it enough the flavor becomes unbalanced. I will say it was awesome that the two of us were sat right away on a Friday night around 7. This used to be a favorite place of mine so of course I'll go again and just not get the walnut burger in case that was the culprit.

Been to Alchemy a couple times as it's a popular spot. Wait times, waiting mostly outside as the bar is small, shouting to be heard by the rest of the table, passable food.

Great ambiance, attentive service, nice craft beer selection, delicious food! Hubs got the kimchi Reuben and it was particularly good! Would definitely return.

Was okay, bartenders are always amazing and friendly, consistency run out of their desserts, order or make more for the love of god!

I love it here. The patio makes for a great dining experience, sit outside with a nice breeze enjoying the weather. Inside is nice and dim lit. Not much parking around but there is parking. Everyone is happy and kind here which always makes for a great experience. The adobo wings are . We only took a picture of the buffalo cauliflower for some reason but they were probably the best I've had so far. Stop in grab a drink and some wings!

Highly recommend, first time here food was great, fish tacos, wings, and apple rum burger. Service was very nice. Polite and very nice atmosphere, we were able to just hangout talk and enjoy the evening and food

Had a nice dinner here in a Friday night-would have been 5 stars but they were out of bloody Mary mix and two of the specials. I will definitely come back, and hopefully they are better stocked!

They don't take reservations here and they only have outdoor seating. So the wait for a party of 11 was over an hour. We could tell the wait staff was getting a little fed up with us. We also got a picnic table right at the back... near the dumpsters... so there were a lot of flies. Still food was pretty good. Bison Burger - this was my favorite. Loved the creamy cheese with the lean bison meat. Fish Tacos - a little sparse on the fish. Mostly tortilla. House Boat - char on the chicken is nice. Very juicy. Zaremba Burger - pretty standard burger. Bacon had a kick to it. Kimchi Reuben - lots of salty meat that paired nicely with the tart kimchi. Bread was perfectly toasted. Green beans - too raw. Could only really taste wasabi. Chips - crispy pieces were nice but also many limp pieces Side salad - very flavorful. Great for a side! Buffalo wings - got these naked for the kids. Totally unseasoned.

Food is always amazing. I often bring business visitors for lunch and everyone loves it. The wings are awesome. As is everything I've ever tried.

Very affordable, casual dining that has a nice variety of menu options for the meat and vegetarian friends. While most of the menu items are sandwich platters, don't let that steer you away. I'm not much of a sandwich/burger person, but Alchemy could convert me. I could the kimchi Reuben which came out nice and toasty. The meat was juicy and the flavors blended really well together. I split my order with a friend that got a burger and it was soo delicious! We all chose the side of chips which they give you a very generous amount of. I'll be here again, especially to try the chicken wings which I've heard/seen many rave reviews about!

Have you ever tried a burger with green olives on it before? If not, head over to Alchemy and order the Zaremba burger ASAP. Located in the lovely Atwood neighborhood, Alchemy provides an intimate dining experience with a snug bar and candle lit tables. Seating is also available outside in the warmer months, with a street front patio and benches along the side of the building. I've been to Alchemy a handful of times and each visit has been met with great service and even better food. I'd recommend Alchemy for a weeknight date as it's typically pretty busy over the weekends.

Love this neighborhood restaurant- the food is on point. We went last night in search of some drinks, sweet potato fries and dinner. The huge let down? The bartender. It was the nicest day of the year so far and everyone was out walking and dining. We all understand shortages of staff in EVERY industry and are willing to be patient. But please be nice to your customers. We put our names to wait for a table and we're willing to wait 45 mins. The kindness of the wait staff & hostess trying to make things happen on a busy night was a commendable effort. Waiting for any acknowledgment from this unpleasant bartender was terrible enough. No one needs sarcasm, rude tones, and eye rolls for ordering a simple drink. After watching this sad show for about 15 mins unfold, trying to just get a drink, we walked out. Hope you find a better career, and have a better day, yikes!

My baby back ribs were burned beyond recognition. The service was good. However, I don't know how you could have served that food to someone without recognizing that there was something wrong with a plate of burned black bones.

Went here with a larger group on a Saturday night and there was only about a 25 minute wait. Not bad considering it was prime eating time. We just ended up walking around outside for a little while and by the time we got back, out table was all ready. We started out with the sweet potato fries, which is always a little misleading to me as they are more of a crisp or a chip. However they do pair quite nicely with the tarragon mayo and jalapeno/blackberry jam. We also ordered a couple applerum burgers. I substituted the tofu walnut burger on mine and was quite impressed. The sweet onion relish played quite nicely with the tofu and was also a good contrast the the saltiness of the cheese. I got the special side of the night which was asparagus spears. They had a great flavor and were huge. Another friend who ordered them as well commented that he would want a little more char on them though. The people who got the applerum burger with the actual meat also thought it was quite good. They got it as the deluxe and mentioned that the aioli and pickles added a lot to the dish. The bun on this burger was also nice and soft to absorb all the juices from the burger and toppings. Just what this sandwich needs.

Been meaning to try Alchemy on one of our Madison visits, and finally did today for lunch. Great atmosphere inside, friendly and very attentive service, and most importantly, delicious food. Small but creative menu and good beer list. My Apple Rum burger was terrific. Wife enjoyed the her salad (big portion).

The food was not good and my service was very rude and bossy. The burger smelled weird and tasted worse.

This is a really innovative bar/restaurant. The food is amazing. We had chicken wings, a bison burger, tomato soup, ribs, stuffed grilled cheese and a portobello sandwich. Truly delicious food. Fantastic carrot cake with lemon curd frosting. Also an excellent bar with maybe ten draft beers, cocktails etc. Excellent service, laid back, friendly atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Walked in and after a few minutes was literally yanked back by my jacket sleeve to the door telling me there was a cover I was trying to avoid. Uh, no. Not at all. Rude. Will not be Back.

One of my favorite spots in madison. The food is good and I especially appreciate the rotating seasonal menu items, as well as seasonal craft cocktails. Perfect vibes for a first, second, third, or one hundredth date. A place I'd take both my girlfriend and her dad, which isn't always the easiest spot to find. Waiters and bartenders have been nice and helpful every time we've gone. Definitely check it out, and try the spicy chicken sandwich.

Alchemy is one solid joint in Madison. I've been twice and haven't had anything bad. Between the great food and the stellar service how can you not give it a five star review? Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is perfect for being a neighborhood joint. This particular visit we had the wings, french fries as well as enjoyed a few beers plus had the mushroom bisque. Wow was that soup good! Alchemy seems to always have a soup bubbling up in the kitchen and this weeks soup was no disappointment. As a matter of fact the entire lunch was excellent. I really wanted to order a burger too but being that we had dinner plans i couldn't stuff my face fully! We will be back again, that is a given as our Madison framily only lives a couple of blocks away. As always I expect Alchemy to be serving up the goods correct as they should! Also the place only takes cash but don't fret they have an ATM that is only a whopping 1 dollar surcharge. Good job on that!

Today was my first time ever visiting this restaurant, and we came in around 4, right in the middle of happy hour. There is an excellent selection of beers and mixed drinks, so I had a sour beer--something that included passion in its name but I can't remember all that well. Our server was friendly and attentive and our food came out quickly. I had the perch tacos, which had a nice amount of acidity and it was a good portion size. The fish was well-cooked and fresh tasting, so no complaints here. I tried the house boat as well, which was surprisingly moist and tasty (considering that chicken breast tends err on the side of dry). From start to finish, this was an enjoyable dining experience that I would recommend!

Ordered pick up for two and it was ready in 20 minutes. Alchemy is only taking cash still but the Eat Street app gives the option to use a card and get it delivered too. At pick up they have the to go orders on the bar and someone to take your payment. The food was delicious! The Yellow Coconut Curry always tastes as good as it looks. Adding the blackened chicken adds to it too! My boyfriend ordered the tinshack smokehouse burger and was happy with his choice.

Charming spot with unique food for lunch. We sat outside and split the Apple Rum Burger and the baguette and tomato pesto hummus Bread and Spread. Both were delicious. Server was very friendly and helpful. All in all a delightful experience.

Pretty sure the greatest burger I have ever had. It is now a must stop for me, anytime I'm in Madison.

Stumbled upon here from Yelp reviews and I was not disappointed. Thanks, my fellow Yelpers! There were a lot of pictures and tips to get the BLFT and/or stuffed grilled cheese, but I'm a man who needs his meat! Instead, I went with the grilled chicken breast sammich, called the House Boat.The House boat had this extremely flaky fluffy bread, too flaky for me, but then again, I'm more of a unleavened bread type of person. The House Boat was served with jalapeno relish, tomato, greens and gorgonzola. I got the habenero basil aioli on the side, along with their house fries, which resembled more like potato chips -- not crunchy, or soggy. It's weird -- when it comes to chips, I like em generally crunchy, kettle-styled. Regardless, the sandwich was very tasty. They have a small outdoor dining area, three small tables, and are dog-friendly. Food came out fast, service was really good and informative, and overall, a pretty nice lunch dining experience. BATHROOM REVIEW: Located past the kitchen, the mens bathroom consisted of a few urinals and stalls. Decently lit, and clean, the bathroom did it's job. SIt or squat? Squat.

Amazingly friendly server today. Sitting outside was great, the vibe was fantastic. I got the kids grilled cheese, stole my kids tomato off their burger and had them add the pesto. Best grilled cheese I've ever had. Hand cut fries were a table favorite. I had a drink special pineapple mimosa which was delicious. Will definitely be back!