Java Cat Coffee House — Restaurant in Madison

Java Cat is a wonderful place! The coffee is great - always hot and fresh, with a big choice of milk and creamers, and the cold brew is excellent. They have a great selection of teas and other drinks, fresh bakery, a lunch and dinner menu that includes kids options and delicious gelato. There is plenty of easy parking so it is easy to pick up takeout or park to eat in. The service is super friendly and quick and the space is wonderful. There is lots of uncrowded seating and it’s a perfect place to read or get some work done on your own, or hold a work meeting or a gathering of friends. The space is bright and cheerful, full of art and light, and unlike many restaurants the acoustics are very human- friendly. Even during the busy times you can hear each other talk and also hear yourself think. There’s a great children’s area with cushions and games right in the front dining space and the children of regular customers seem very much at home there. There’s a ramp to the front entrance, the space and bathrooms are accessible, and the staff are happy to shift tables and chairs around. The outside is a real hidden treasure of a space with outdoor seating areas, a great breeze, your choice or sun or shade, a peaceful vibe and a visiting family of sandhill cranes. It is pet friendly with leashed dogs allowed in a portion of the space, and waste bags and water bowls provided. I look forward to visiting Java Cat...

Good but not for the poors. ($🏳️‍🌈) Delicious gelato in fun flavors. Boring food, bland pricy. Disappointed in the Cuban, very weak & missed the point of the dish entirely. Typical for this place. Not just expensive though - they will in no way accommodate your coming in on your lunch hour. Great for rich retireds and middle class homeschoolers or whatever if you have all day to hang out but the food takes however long it takes, which is a long time, they can’t / won’t give you an accurate estimate of time or hustle to get your stuff out in time. I said I had limited time (20 min) is this item a quick one? paid, tipped, waited, asked again, please hurry, nope had to leave without the food I paid for to avoid being fired, they TOTALLY didn’t care. MEAN.

I previously liked the gay vibe & community art, neat that they have music, but I’m queer but not middle class enough for them to care about, never coming back. They could have shown a smidgen of compassion but nope. I’m not wealthy, I don’t deserve...

Really bad experiences here - when Covid hit, and masks weren't required yet, I was spat upon by one of the older workers (the owner) at their drive through window. She apologized - but - covered me in her spit. This was before we were vaxxed. This kind of non-commitment to safety, quality and communication is indicative of the entire operation at Java Cat (a glance at how their drive through is setup to spill into the busy Monona Drive will reveal that). Today, I waited for nearly 40 minutes for a breakfast food item, ordered when they were not busy. After spending hundreds of dollars there over several years, the value see-saw has finally tipped into the "poor" category at Java Cat. Food quality, cost and wait times are all unacceptable. I wish I could give it a higher review, but after being a loyal customer for several years and having the terrible experience there I did today, I...