A new 28-seat cafe called Friends Applaud is opening at 1602 Gilson St. in a former Madison brewery space, Madison Magazine reports.
The location, once the home of Funk Factory Geuzeria and more recently Black Rose Blending, was taken over by cafe owner Adam Benedetto, who renovated it himself. Benedetto is an alumnus of Madison’s now-closed Restaurant Magnus and New York City’s Joseph Leonard and Jeffrey’s Grocery.
The kitchen will serve Swiss raclette, pizza, sandwiches, soups, salads and more. Friends Applaud will also offer espresso and coffee, pastries supplied by Barriques, beer, cocktails, nonalcoholic cocktails, wine on tap from the Loire Valley and absinthe.
The cafe is open Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for coffee and pastries, and in the coming weeks, it will expand its hours and offerings to include lunch and dinner.
