Restaurant Review: Bassett Street Brunch Club

Name: Bassett Street Brunch Club

Location: 444 W Johnson St, Madison, WI 53703

Ambience: Youthful, hip

Cost: $$

Best Dish: Bananas Foster French Toast

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Bassett Street Brunch Club's best asset is it's atmosphere. It's funky, and makes you want to be there. Their brunch is also exceptional -- although they have some items on the menu that are easily forgotten, what they do make well is worth the trip. It's best to stick to the brunch at Bassett, because that is what they're known for -- it is in their name, after all.

Their bananas foster french toast for $8.95 is easily their best dish. The challah bread holds up well against the egg batter, staying firm but still managing to soak up the flavor of the layered brown sugar rum sauce, infusing the dish with richness and warmth. It's browned well, and the creaminess of the bananas is well complemented by the crunchy pecans that top it.

Also phenomenal is the savory french toast (ordered without the bacon) for $9.95, with a hearty sourdough bread topped with well seasoned parmesan herb batter, softened onions, a perfectly cooked sunny-side up egg and hollandaise. The arugula on the side provides a nice bite and freshness. The mac attack for $9.95 was creamy, and the addition of parmesan on top and the butternut squash made it unique. However, it could have used more kale to cut through the cheesiness. Not all of their food works - I ordered their stir fry on another trip, and was sorely disappointed. It ended up being a bland combination of vegetable, with very little flavor. Nevertheless, their brunch food was delicious, and I loved the retro, fun vibe of the restaurant.

Bassett Street is known for its donuts, however, I found them to be on the denser side. Nevertheless, they excel at their brunch options, and are a great Saturday morning treat -- with hefty portions, making the cost well worth it and leaving you with leftovers for the next day.