Bunky's Cafe Italian • Mediterranean - Madison, WI

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

We just returned from Bunky's. What a unique and interesting place. It's pretty cool! It's a rather...eclectic...little place. One wall is covered with mirrors of various shapes, sizes and designs. Lots of old nostalgia things. In the guys bathroom, there's 1957 Scout Magazines hanging on the wall. A boy scout shirt, an old newspaper delivery sack [if you've ever had a paper route, you know what I'm talking about]. Old Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines are stacked up for "reading". Peg said the girls bathroom is decorated in retro-girl type stuff too [I just don't remember all what's in there right now].

We called and asked if we should make reservations, they said yes. It's a good thing because this place is hopping!

I asked about a GF menu, our waiter said anything on the menu can be made GF except for ravioli and tebuleh. Since I had in my mind to have a pizza, I didn't really look over the menu that much.

In the menu it states that the crust is from Silly Yak Bakery. I asked if they made in separate pans - he said yes, they are also placed above the NGF pizzas so nothing would fall into them [very Cool

].

Peg ordered a NGF 10" Bunky's Special, I order a GF 14" Bunky's Special [I wanted leftovers!]. A 14" was 17.95 then add 4.00 for the GF crust.

Peg really like her NGF 'za and I of course like my GF 'za. The crust itself tastes a bit like a Knk or an Amy's.

As our waiter was packing up our left overs, he said he'd wrap each order separately in foil, but he'd put them in the same bag. I said that's fine as long both are wrapped very well. When he brought the food back, mine was foiled - inside the bag and Peg's was foiled outside the bag. He said "I decided to be extra safe". Cool

I told our waiter we came to Bunky's because of their reputation for providing GF meals. I ask if he knew why Bunky's catered to the GF crowd. He said "I'll if I can have the owner come over and answer that, she'll give a better answer".

A few minutes later Theresa comes by "So...why do we do gluten-free? Well, my husband's brother [native Moroccan's] had been misdiagnosed with Crohn's disease for YEARS!]".

Ahhhh I figured there was a family member issue.

She said her staff is very well trained [we experienced that!] and we call ourselves The Gluten Police. "It's tough doing both as you know", she told us, "but we are very careful".

As we talked about the atmosphere there she did share with us that they will be moving in the coming months - just a few blocks away. They will close down March 28th [or there abouts] and open up sometime the 1st week of April. The best news....drum rolll please....A GF Kitchen They will have a GF kitchen in the new place!

Since we were full, we decided to get some GF desserts to bring to the room. I got a GF cheese cake and Peg got a flourless chocolate mous pie. We have not tried them yet. He asked "Since they are both gluten free can I put them in one container?" Oh yeah, they are well trained! I'll update this when we try the desserts.

Dessert Update

I just finished off the last of our desserts [sorry Steph, nothin' left to send ya but crumbs]. Peg ordered the Chocolate Mousse Pie and I ordered the Caramel Chocolate Cheese Cake.

Both of them were really great. Peg felt that gluten eaters would not know they were GF. The cheese cake was not overly sweet, which I like. The crust was really nice - kind of like a chocolate brownie, but not as "cakie" - if that makes any sense.

Sorry no pics of the desserts. Sad

I would have either one of these again! Teresa told us that their pastry chef also teaches at MATC. Hopefully they cover GF baking in their courses Wink

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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

Pattrish · Joined: 21 Feb 2009 Posts: 109 Location: Oklahoma

How neat, Al...sounds like a terrific place to eat!! (Color me clapping.)

In our area, about the only thing on the menu is chicken fried steak w/bisquits and gravy. (Color me bloating...LOL.)
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celiacmaine-iac · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 1354 Location: Maine

Wow that sounds great! I found myself grinning while I was reading it and also feeling a little teary-eyed at the same time. It's so nice to have a "normal" dining out experience, with pizza no less! I'm happy for you. Hope you and Peg have a safe drive home! Ummmm...you can mail me those desserts if you want. I'll be sure to inspect them thoroughly to be sure they're safe for you. Wink

Y'all have my address don'tcha?
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Steph

rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 708 Location: Chicago

What a great experience! I have been wanting to drive up to Madison for some time to try that place (and see Madison as well). Actually a friend from work was going to Madison for an interview so I told him if he was driving by to stop and get me a pizza! I was actually kidding (as if he was going to stop) but he tried. Unfortunately it was middle of the afternoon when they were closed Sad

One of these days...

Can't wait to hear about the desserts!
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Rachel

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

I have updated my original post to cover the desserts. YUM!

Rachel - should you decide to drive up, let us know...maybe we'd drive down. Smile

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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

rpf1007 · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 708 Location: Chicago

sa2asl · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 59 Location: Wisconsin

Al- so glad you had the chance to check them out! Amazing aren't they? Super friendly and safe, love it! I had the exact meal you had, last time we were there. We drive from Milwuakee just to do dinner and make a stop at the Silly Yak. Have you had their stuff?

The desserts at Bunky's are delish! My mouth was watering while reading. Thanks for the post!

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

Yes it was cool! It'll be even better to go back when they have a GF kitchen. Double cool!

GFPolarBear · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 362 Location: WI

Ah, that explains why they're moving! I HAVE to go there. I've bought their GF lasagne frozen from the Silly Yak (on Mineral Point in Madison) but haven't been to the restaurant itself.

I almost wonder if they were/are serving Silly Yak desserts as well; the Silly makes cheesecakes and pumpkin pies that are either as good or better than their gluten-containing equivalents I used to eat.

sa2asl · Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 59 Location: Wisconsin

The owner told me last year that they have a pastry chef there. I guess they could also use the Silly Yak stuff, but I found theirs (Bunky's) to be a bit better. (probably because I got to have it right there, in the restaurant, without heating anything. smile)

They really are great, I need to make a trip there again soon!

GFPolarBear · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 362 Location: WI

Tim · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 70

I ate at Bunky's the first Saturday they were in their new digs and it re-affirmed the need to 1) make reservations 2) be good at spotting parking places on side streets. Bigger kitchen, same number of seats.

This was my third visit but the first in a year or so. I usually find DeBole pasta just so-so but I had to ask the waitress to confirm my meal was GF it was so good. I also like the fact they are selling all 3 flavors of Green's Beer.

Every table within earshot had a GF diner.

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 567 Location: Kalamazoo, MI

I love this place!!! I pulled in there at 1:55 (they're only open 11-2 for lunch), and they were more than willing to allow me to eat there rather than get carry-out. I got the Meat Lasagna, which also comes with a piece of gf garlic bread. The food was absolutely amazing, and I was more than happy to be able to have lasagna again (for some reason I find it too complicated to make gf even though I always made it before).

The best part about the trip is I was told first-timers get a free dessert. I got their gf caramel cheesecake to go (their portions are huge, and I didn't even finish the lasagna). I did eat the cheesecake last night and it was amazing. (I allowed my friend Keri a small bite, and she said it was amazing too).

I'm hoping to time my trip home so that I can have lunch there again on my way home. I didn't get the opportunity to ask any questions because they were pretty busy, but it was just nice to see a menu where they can pretty much modify anything to be gf.

My friends made fun of me for it, but I did take a picture of the lasagna which I will post later.

aklap · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Posts: 10612 Location: WI, USA

Sounds like a great time. I did not get my famous Bunky's virgin dessert. I made it clear to our waiter this was our first time there...nothing...

What is their new address? We will be heading to Madtown at the end of May, I think we'll be stopping there to eat.
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Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

cardine45 · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 567 Location: Kalamazoo, MI