rev:text
| - A few months ago, Mermaid Cafe briefly closed its doors to renovate. Upon it's re-opening, voila! It is a coffee and sandwich shop by day, full-service restaurant by night. I must say, I am quite pleased with the change.
Mermaid's daytime menu continues to offer some of the most tasty sandwiches, soups, muffins, and pastries in town (try the pumpkin pepita muffin--mmmm...). At night, they now offer a small seasonal menu based on the freshest findings from the local farmer's market. A different gourmet pizza every Thursday, specialty burgers all week long, and a regular menu that, this fall, includes a pork rib in sage and apple cider glaze (the sides of brussels sprouts and butternut squash with gruyere were particularly dreamy), and a delicate yet hearty spinach salad with goat cheese, bacon or walnuts, and soft boiled egg.
When I went there, the service was friendly and helpful, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. I especially liked the little basket of seasoned popcorn that arrives on each table to begin the meal. With continued lunch and new dinner offerings, I'm glad that I now have *twice* the reasons to visit one of the sweetest little places in Madison.
|