Review: Barista Coffeehouse and Café

Barista, recently opened as part of a new venture by Chris Jacobs and Henry Agent, is part of the Seattle Drip franchise system and is the first stand-alone coffeehouse and café in the area.

Barista is in a beautiful old style home in Madison with several different rooms filled with booths, tables and high seating areas and also features a nice front porch for dining during warmer months. They are wi-fi friendly and they offer breakfast, lunch and dinner along with the coffee specials folks have come to know from Seattle Drip.

The food: Breakfast begins at 7 a.m. and runs until 10:30 a.m. daily with great Barista waffles served with syrup, or you can add blueberries, peanut butter, pecans or chocolate chips.  Yogurt Parfaits are a must try made with layers of low fat vanilla yogurt, granola, blueberries and strawberries.

They also serve a morning burrito of egg, bacon, tomatoes and cheeses all served with toast, and fruit or cheese grits. You can also feast on an American omelet, breakfast panini, bagels, bacon, grits, or mini bagels.  ($4-$8).

Lunch begins after 11 a.m. and shares the same menu of sandwiches, salads, soups, and snacks ($3.25-$7.25).

Their wraps and paninis are served with a pickle spear and a choice of pita chips, regular chips, or potato salad.  The Madison, or the cheddar BST which is their version of the old standard BLT with spinach, are both good and worth a try for a different change of pace. The historic roast beef, classic ham, Italian press or the veggie are the other offerings.

The Drink: Seattle Drip is a local franchise that has now expanded with this venture and all of their Signature drinks, espressos and iced and frozen drinks are available. Their delicious drip coffees and teas along with a flavor of the day can’t be beat. They sell bottled water and soft drinks as well.

The scene: Barista Coffeehouse and Café is situated in an old home that has been beautifully decorated with great divided rooms with booths, tables, and high seating.

You can relax on several sofas in one room or have a group gathering sit-down meal in one of the larger dining rooms. They have a great curb service drive thru around the back of the house which is quite neat and easily accessed.

The Bottom Line: Barista is a new concept from the local franchise of Seattle Drip that has been a hit with its drive-thru coffee shops throughout the tri-county area. The coffee still some of the best around, and its delicious and affordably priced café menu should make Barista thrive in the Madison area.

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