The story goes that the delicious, buttery, cinnamon-y, sugary goodness of the morning bun was invented at Ovens of Brittany in Madison. Of course there are plenty of people who’ll dispute the fact and the restaurants themselves are long gone from the Madison landscape, but even Food Network agrees with the lore that the morning bun started there back in the 1970s. Though Ovens is a part of Madison restaurant history, that melt-in-your-mouth goodness can still be found at a little place in Madison called Lazy Jane’s Cafe. Jane’s owner Jane Capito used to work at Ovens, and her quirky and funky little cafe on Willy Street is serving up the real deal, according to locals who’ve been sampling those buns for a few decades now.
Lazy Jane's is a breakfast and lunch spot that fits right in on iconic Willy Street. The little shop is cash-only and you'll stand in line first thing in the morning, but we promise the wait is worth it.
Named after a Shel Silverstein poem, the cafe is bright and cozy and though it's busy, that madness just sort of feels like being home with a big family during the holidays. They expanded to the building next door, which can help with lines, but there's really never a dull moment here.
And that's thanks to these guys. You'll smell the buttery cinnamon scent before you even reach the door, and that's like a siren call for Madison locals.
These morning buns are what happens when you combine the flaky, buttery, melty deliciousness with the tangy sweetness of cinnamon sugar. They get a mix of the sweet stuff before they bake and then are rolled in it again after they come out of the oven. They're a delicious, fragrant, oh-so-comforting way to start the day.
Who knew such a ubiquitous piece of pastry had such humble Wisconsin origins? If you have any kind of sweet tooth, you have to make the pilgrimage to Lazy Jane's to get the morning buns from as close to the source as you're going to get.
Of course, the morning bun isn't the only thing that draws noses and grumbling stomachs to Lazy Jane's. This place has also mastered the simple scone, something far too many places think they have, but fall short on.
Of course, the cafe serves more than just bakery - regulars swear they make the best pancakes in Madison and if their soft touch on pastry is anything to go by, it's not difficult to believe.
But you'll keep coming back for that cinnamony fix of the morning bun. It's the perfect combination of savory and sweet. It's filling and scrumptious and reason enough to wait in line a little bleary-eyed as you wait for the caffeine to kick in.
This unsuspecting little spot might not catch your eye in favor of flashier spots along Willy Street, but trust us, one whiff and then one bite will be all you'll need to be convinced that this should be a regular destination for you any time you're in Madison.
Lazy Jane’s cafe is cash-only, so make sure you’re prepared. They’re open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. They’re located at 1358 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703. For more information, check out their Facebook page here.
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