With the overabundance of coffee shops inhabiting every street corner of Madison, it is sometimes difficult to decide where to go for a cup of joe. Some places have great coffee at the expense of extremely cramped seating while others offer lousy coffee but a fantastic atmosphere.
Mother Fool's Coffeehouse, 1101 Williamson St., is an independently owned coffee shop where you don't have to compromise coffee for comfort. It boasts quality java and fantastic food along with a wonderfully chill setting.
The graffiti wall on the outside of the building is only one of many things that set this coffee shop apart from others in the area. Upon entering Mother Fool's, which is spelled out in mosaic tiles above the front door, the first thing I noticed was the floor, which was painted cobalt blue. The bright yellow, teal and red walls meshed nicely with the eccentricity of the floor.
The menu stated all food items, which consisted of soup, muffins, bagels and the like, were prepared vegan-style. They were also reasonably priced, ranging from $.66 for a bagel to $2.37 for a bowl of oatmeal.
I had never tried vegan baked goods so I decided on a vegan blueberry muffin which was large and very dense. They definitely didn't skimp out on the blueberries, either. It wasn't as sweet as regular muffins, but it was still delicious. I also ordered a fresh cranberry scone that was equally scrumptious.
The coffee menu looked pretty standard, so I decided to try a chai tea latte with a shot of vanilla for $2.09. This proved to be one of the best chai teas I have ever tasted. It was the perfect blend of sweetness with a very creamy texture and a frothy layer on top. It went perfectly with my semi-sweet muffin.
Not only were the food and drinks exceptional, but so was the service. Both baristas were extremely friendly and happily answered any questions that I had.
Once I sat down, I was excited to see large tables all around which were very conducive to studying.
There was an eclectic mix of furniture, comprised of green suede couches, a leopard print chair and a retro yellow and green swivel chair. The vintage candelabra chandeliers hanging near the front window were a great touch to an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.
Their melodic music selection was icing on the cake when it came to the coffeehouse's overall ambiance. Artists such as Cat Power, Eno and Throwing Muses can be heard on any given day. They also host live music on the weekends.
One of the most interesting things about Mother Fool's is their \Art in the caf??"" exhibits, which feature a different artist's work each month and are also available for purchase.
Aside from the vintage look, Mother Fool's is living in the 21st century and has wireless internet access for a small donation.
You don't need to love coffee to like Mother Fool's Coffeehouse. Whether you are into music, art or vegan treats, this place has something for everybody. You'd be foolish not to check it out.
Mother Fool's Coffeehouse is open Monday thru Friday 6:30 a.m. - 11 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. Find out more at www.motherfools.com.
Kat is a senior majoring in psychology and can be reached at krpeterson@wisc.edu.
