Come Back In
[where: 508 E Wilson St , Madison, Wi]
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 258-8619

One recent Sunday morning we stumbled our way out the door, searching for an eye-opening breakfast.  One of our semi-regular stops is the Come Back In, located in the same building complex as Essen Haus.  These two restaurants share an owner, a parking lot, a wall, and an outdoor seating area.  The allure of  this establishment is not really the food or the service.  Instead, we head to the Come Back In when we want to order a nice tap beer with our eggs without being stared at in astonishment.  This restaurant not only condones this, but it encourages it with special prices for beer at breakfast.  I love Wisconsin!

So imagine our surprise when, on our recent trip, the server didn’t really want to talk to us about the beers on tap.  When questioned about the latest beers available (they rotate seasonally and often at the Essen Haus and the Come Back In),  the server informed us that they had Spaten and Spotted Cow.  A gap of silence then filled the air as we waited for the rest of the selections.  We broke the silence first, asking, “….and?”

The server looked at us with obvious exasperation and told us, “We’re pretty busy right now, ya know?”

Surprised, I looked around the outdoor deck.  Yes, there were other tables.  But busy?  And so I pressed on.

MDOL: So, you only have Spaten and Spotted Cow?
Server: We have those, yes.
MDOL: But you have other beers as well?
Server: Yeah.
<Deafening Silence>
MDOL:  Could you tell us what other beers you have on tap now?
Server:  We have a beer menu somewhere…
<Deafening Silence>
MDOL: Could we get one?
Server: (Sighing in exasperation) I guess, if there’s one close by.  We’re pretty busy.  Ya know?

The menu was brought to us, eventually.  It was little help, as it was very generic and referenced seasonal beers, but it didn’t go into detail.  Rather than bothering our server, I headed into the bar to examine the taps.  The bartender was very helpful.

Bartender: Can I get you something?
MDOL:  I’m interested in your seasonals.  Do you have an Oktoberfest?
Bartender:  Yup.  How’s Capital for you?
MDOL:  Perfect, I’ll take two.
Bartender:  Can I have your server bring it out to you?
MDOL: Oh, no, she’s far too busy for that.
Bartender: (snorting)…. Yeah, I hear that from her all the time.

And so, set with the beer that I carried back out to the table, we settled in to our scrambler, our eggs with walleye, and our Capital Oktoberfest.  As we dined, we were entertained by another server, fighing with a young man who appeared to be her boyfriend, a different server arguing with a coworker about bussing the tables, and someone who seemed to be filling the role of hostess, standing around watching it all.  However, we were not entertained by our server, as she disappeared for the remainder of the meal.  We eventually reached the point where the melodrama swirling around us was amusing.

I would go into more detail about the food but… it was unremarkable.  Instead, I’ll end this by saying that it is pleasant to sit outside in the morning and have breakfast.  It’s also nice to sip a beer with your eggs.  But don’t go to the Come Back In with high expectations about the food or the service.  And take your sense of humor.  It will help you get through the experience.

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