Yola’s Cafe

I love going to Yola’s for coffee, lunch or brunch — my favorite is Yola’s waffles –they are the best! Staff are always welcoming and kind. I am able to relax and enjoy a coffee while having work meetings or working on my computer at Yola’s.

Not a fan… came in the other day for a quite place to enjoy a drink and sandwich and couldn’t find a clean table. Crumbs all over, food smeared into the ground it was just an all around nasty place. I ordered a hot chocolate half of it was foam and the rest tasted nothing like hot chocolate, threw it away. I will not return.

Yola’s has been on my list to visit whenever I travel up to Madison but it’s taken me a while to get around to it: I regret the wait!
It’s a smaller indoor space but with ample outdoor seating. You pay for the quality of the food — you certainly can get cheaper waffles from a different joint, but you won’t find offerings like Yola’s menu. The lavender and lemon scone was a revelation. The waffles were spectacular.
If you’re looking for an interesting, thoughtful take on breakfast food, Yola’s is well worth the trip. If you’re more of an equal opportunity, lowest-​price-​point-​possible breakfast food, it might be a pass for you. I, however, have every intention of returning.

IDK, not that great but to be fair got sandwiches. The waffles probably look/​are better. The coffee was good. Prices are a bit meh. We ordered something sans bacon and realized we paid $ 2 more than we needed if we used the «build your own breakfast sandwich» option. Kinda disappointed, as new customers, we weren’t at least alerted to a better option, price-​wise. A bit busy for seating so make sure you get a nice spot. Outdoor seating looked good for a warm day. The «home made» salsa that came with it and chips was very meh to me. It tasted like jarred ortega or something and the chips were like those bite-​size tostitos.

The waffle w chocolate was amazing. The sandwich is pretty good too. I really like the atmosphere. I love to support local !!!

My new favorite breakfast sandwich! It’s worth getting out of bed for on a Saturday morning. Steaming hot fried egg, a melty cheddar-​herb cream cheese with a kick of garlic, and crisp greens on a super fresh, tender ciabatta.
What sets this sandwich apart from the rest is the high quality of ingredients, the freshness of the bread, and the distinctive and flavorful cream cheese.
I’ll be back to try more at yola’s.

Yola’s is a really nice quiet place to grab a cup of coffee and a quick breakfast in the morning.
Their banana chocolate chip bread is one of the best morning breads I have had at a coffee shop. I almost feel guilty eating it, it is so good.
Their breakfast sandwiches are also great. I often get their BLT with avocado as a light tasty lunch when I am in the area.
I love that they have Door County flavored coffee, as it is one of my favorite types of flavored coffee and reminds me of the feel and tastes of the peninsula every time!
I come in to work at Yola’s for a whole morning once every few weeks and the staff are very kind and personable.
One of my favorite coffee places on the west side, and really echos the experience of the coffee shops you see on State St.

I love Yola’s! Great family-​owned place for coffee, breakfast or lunch. Waffles to die for!!! Décor has a fabulous vibe — original art on the walls and bright colors throughout. If you’re looking for a friendly, comfortable, fun place to meet with friends either indoors or on the patio in summer, this is your place. Parents check it out — awesome play area for the kids too!

Cute little spot to grab a breakfast sandwich! Good customer service (but it can take a while at times.) The signature breakfast sandwich is large and delicious. It has herbed cream cheese, fried egg, greens, and bacon. I was excited to see that the fruit cup was very fresh and had raspberries and strawberries (which is much better from my perspective than pineapple and melon.) The location is a little hidden– you wouldn’t really expect a café to be near all of the other shopping. The coffee is very delicious as well, strong but still drinkable.
Wifi, comfy seating, and a play area for children make this a good breakfast spot on the West side.

I was saddened to see a few negative reviews here as I have had nothing but positive experiences at Yola’s. Owners Lance and Lisa Ratze really understand hospitality and it shows. Ample WiFi and lots of comfy seating make this a great place to get some work done and fill your belly at the same time.

Yola’s is one of those places that you may pass everyday and not realize how perfect it is until you find yourself there to meet up with a friend.
That is my situation. I have gone by this place hundreds of times but had never stopped in until it was suggested as a mutual meeting place. On arrival the space feels very cozy and the the staff was polite. I had the waffles and they were delicious.
Great place with gluten-​free items on the menu too!

Had hire expectations… i think the independent feel of is good. The coffee was not pressed it was just drip coffee. The food menu seemed good but the results were ehh. Pricey for mediocre food. The kid space was the best part. The pastry cabinets need a shinning the glass/​plastic was murky.
Not high on our list to return too.

The waffles were good, nothing too fancy. Coffee is generous pour, 50 cents for refills. They have a small kids area to play in while you wait or finish up. You bus your own table. Staff was very friendly. Overall, a nice little breakfast spot.

Had the signature breakfast sandwich. It was phenomenal. Herb cream cheese, fried egg, greens, bacon. Yum! Frappé was okay. Tastes nothing like coffee…

Step one: buy a waffle maker.
Step two: charge people for your mediocre waffles.
I think this is Yola’s business plan, though I am not certain.
My waffle was nothing special… it was even a little cold when it got to my table. I was disappointed.

The west side definitely needs more coffee shops, and Yola’s has some great potential to fit the bill. It has great atmosphere and varied seating, including various café tables, a few outdoor patio tables, and more comfortable spots near the fire. There is also a corner where kids can play, which isn’t something I need but which would definitely be nice for those who do.
The person we ordered from seemed somewhat new and unsure of herself, but she was very friendly and was able to get our order correctly and delivered in a timely manner.
We sampled a Belgian waffle with chocolate chips (which was tasty) and a chocolate frappé and hot chocolate (both of which were nothing special). I’d have to try more food items to get a more solid feel for the food and drinks.
My biggest concerns about Yola’s have to do with the hours. I spend most of my time at coffee shops on Sundays in preparation for Monday due-​dates, so the fact that it isn’t open at all on Sunday is a big loss. Similarly, it would be a great venue for Friday or Saturday-​night music or other acts, but the hours are pretty limited. Additionally, even though it is not evident in the décor or other areas, Yola’s plays very obvious Christian music, which isn’t my «cup of tea,» as they say.

I have a difficult time with Yola. I really, REALLY want to like them.
THEY OFFER GLUTEN-​FREE BELGIAN WAFFLES! They used to be SO GOOD!
But the last four times I’ve been in there, my waffles have been raw in the middle, or I’ve gotten very sick right after eating them (I don’t know if they use the same waffle maker for their non-​GF waffles, or what, but it’s not acceptable either way.)
Their staff is always *very* friendly (though generally either over-​staffed or under-​staffed,) and they were one of the first places in Madison to offer almond milk in their beverages, which was great for someone like me, who is both lactose and soy-​intolerant.
But like someone else said, the other issues they face are like death by a thousand papercuts. And after getting sick, I just haven’t gone back.
It makes me sad, because that part of the west side really needs a solid coffee shop. I wish Yola’s still fit the bill.

I visited Yola’s Café for the first time and experienced the equivalent of death by a thousand paper cuts. While I liked Yola’s family-​friendly coffeehouse concept, a series of service missteps and lackluster execution of the food order made for a less than stellar experience.
While waiting for my wife to arrive, my daughter and I hungrily spied the butterscotch and chocolate chip scone in the display case on the front counter. We recently basked in the glory that is the oatmeal butterscotch cookie from Batch Bakehouse and hoped Yola’s would provide us with a west-​side fix for our new butterscotch addiction. Alas, it was not to be. The scone was overly dry and lacked the richness of the scones from the aforementioned Batch.
When my wife arrived, there were a steady stream of customers pouring into the café. After a short wait, a rather stoic gentleman took our order. He did not greet us, hardly smiled and did not offer any recommendations as we made our picks from the menu. Frankly, it was a little awkward. I did score the free 16 oz. coffee offered with a Unilocal check-​in (thank you, Unilocal!). When we finished ordering, my wife and daughter each asked for a cup of water, which also drew a blank expression from our stoic friend.
We took our number and trudged off to a table, which the party at the neighboring table was using to discard their dirty dishes. All the unoccupied tables had dirty dishes and were in desperate need of a good wipe down.
After a short wait, stoic dude arrived with my daughter’s fruit cup. At the counter, stoic dude told us the fruit cup contained strawberries, blueberries and pineapple. What we received was a cup full of cantaloupe and honeydew (which my daughter is not a fan of). To their credit, when I pointed this out, stoic dude took it back and we later received a large cup brimming with ripe strawberries, pineapple and grapes.
After another short wait, my wife and I received our sandwiches. However, my daughter and I did not receive our drinks and nor did we receive our water. So I trudged back to the counter, only to see a long line of customers waiting to order. While waiting in line, I noticed a water cooler that stoic dude failed to mention when we ordered our food. So I filled a couple of cups with water and trudged back to the table. Still no beverage order. So I trudge back to the counter to check on the status of the drinks. Still a long line, so I wait… and wait… and wait. Finally, I get to the front of the line. I ask stoic dude about my coffee. He instructs me to grab a coffee cup from behind the coffee carafes. C’mon stoic dude, you could have mentioned that when we ordered. So I grab a cup with high hopes that my beverage odyssey was about to end. Curses, foiled again, the carafe is empty. After a short wait, the owner finally indicates they are brewing more coffee. So I trudge back to the table and take a bite of my now cool egg sandwich. Then the owner indicates the carafe has been filled. So you guessed it, I trudge up to the counter and fill my mug. I inquire about my daughter’s beverage. The owner indicates he is working on it. A minute later, stoic dude delivers the caramel apple drink. It is lukewarm and tasted like Juicy Juice apple juice with a faint hint of caramel.
For what it’s worth, the robust Yola’s dark roast is one fine cup of coffee.
I finally start eating the rest of my now cold egg sandwich. While I like the concept of serving the sandwich on a ciabatta roll, the crust was too soft and did not offer much flavor. The sandwich was small, slightly larger than an English muffin. The smoked bacon was paper-​thin and did not provide much flavor or texture. The egg was under-​seasoned and by the time I finally ate my sandwich, the greens were warm and mushy. In retrospect, I should have asked to have the sandwich replaced after my long beverage ordeal.
Other observations:
* The wi-​fi signal at Yola’s is excellent.
* The tables are densely packed, making the constant journeys to the front counter an inconvenience for you and your neighbors.
* On the table, there was a list of interesting beverage specials, including a salted caramel chai (yum). The problem: I didn’t see the list until after I made my order. They really need to post this list by the front counter in a more conspicuous manner.
So, would I go back — maybe, but definitely not at peak service hours. I do love a good malted waffle, the signature dish of Yola’s. However, if I see stoic dude behind the counter, I am making a beeline for the exit.

My group of coworkers met here for a breakfast meeting today (12÷23÷13).
+ Cozy atmosphere
+ Friendly staff
+ Interesting artwork/​other items for sale scattered about
+ Frittata was decent; greens were simple and good
+ I’m told the waffle was superb
— Limited menu for breakfast items
— Items came out very staggered, with delays between items
— Breakfast sandwiches were very small and pricey at $ 5
+ Bakery items looked interesting
— No salt/​pepper at table — have to use paper packets
+ Decent coffee
— $ 0.50 refills
+ Self-​serve coffee and water
+ They accept credit/​debit

The waffles are where it’s at!
But a cool summer treat they’re calling fruit whips are a close second.
Imagine a frozen banana pureed and spoonable, with decadent toppings or plain if you’d rather keep it simple. It’s this season’s perfect cold treat, dairy free and all natural!