On Monday Linda Falkenstein brought us a first look at the new Daisy Cafe and Cupcakery which recently opened on Atwood Avenue. Upon reading it, I was astonished that they offer omelets for $8. What are these omelets made of? 20 eggs from a rare breed of chicken only found in a small county in Luxembourg and wrapped in gold foil?
Discussing this with a friend of mine, he said, "I'd like to see their business plan. Who thought it would be a good idea to invest in a place that sells $8 omelets in the middle of a recession?"
Best of luck to the proprietors of the Daisy, but, to quote a favorite TV character, "When I eat an omelet worth eight bucks, I'm not for paying for it. You got me?"
My buddy also said to keep an eye out the next couple of months for some restaurants to close that you wouldn't expect. I guess liquor licenses need to be renewed in July and it is rumored that some prominent eateries aren't going to do so.
Come on! Where can you get an omelet in Madison for under $8? Yeesh.
ReplyDeleteTry the Cottage Cafe, a place I go to periodically. Looking at menupix.com, they start at $4.79 for the 3 egg variety. Additional ingredients are $0.60 for meat and $0.35 for everything else. So, unless I order an omelet with a whole pig or a entire garden of vegetables inside, it will cost much less than $8. Plus I get potato and toast. Hell, I can get walleye and eggs there for $7.
ReplyDeleteOmelets are $7.25 at Marigold.
I don't have the menus in front of my but I sincerely doubt they are $8 or more at The Curve or The Fair Oaks Diner.
How much was Stef's omelet when you folks when to Mickey's Dairy Bar?
I live around the corner from both the Daisy Cafe and Monty's Blue Plate Diner. The prices at Daisy Cafe are almost exactly in line with Monty's (cheapest omelet at Monty's is $7.89, most expensive is $8.79 or so). Monty's is packed to the gills day and night, but their food pales in comparison to the new place. Plus the atmosphere is bright and relaxing (they made the formerly cluttered Bunky's dining room spacious) and the kids' menu is wonderful, a steal at $3.99.
ReplyDeleteI agree that $8 is a little high for eggs with veggies and/or meat and cheese, but I think that it's fairly standard, especially if the omelet is done right and is accompanied by fresh sides. I wouldn't count Daisy Cafe out yet-- from chatting with the neighbors, we're all hungry for an alternative to the long waits and hastily slapped together plates at Monty's.
Hi SQ,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
I guess it's a combination of me being a cheapskate and poor in comparison to my neighbors. I can make omelets for my whole family for what 1 costs (or less) at Daisy's or Monty's and the atmosphere is not a big draw for me.
As I wrote in my post, I wish Daisy's all the luck in the world. It's better than an empty storefront and, as you noted, has the potential to satisfy some hungry neighbors. (Hopefully the building that housed The Elves Palace will find a tenant soon.) But their target demographic is my neighbors who pull 6 figures, not me.
The same person who used to run Monty's run/co-own's daisey cafe and most of the people who work at daisey are the best employee's who used to work at monty's. I wish Kathy the best of luck at daisy's
ReplyDeleteAnon - I noticed a waiter in a photo of Daisy's that I have seen at Monty's so I'm not surprised to hear that.
ReplyDeleteI too wish Kathy all the luck in the world.
Late to the party - omelets at Mickies are about $6.50. At Original Pancake House they're 4 eggs, in the $7-9 range, and must weigh 3 lb.
ReplyDeleteCottage Cafe is a deal, likewise Copper Top and its cohorts, and I can totally see where you're coming from w/r/t making your own at home way cheaper.
With that in mind, if the base price for eating an omelet out is $6, the number we should be looking at is the extra $2 at Daisy, Monty's etc. If the extra $2 adds value you can't get at home, then it's worth it.
Hey, if someone wants to pay $8 for an omelet, that's fine by me. I wasn't saying that the practice should be outlawed. My point was that, here in the midst of a recession, perhaps that market is not particularly strong. As more and more people are laid off, furloughed, etc, opening an overpriced eatery doesn't come across as a great idea to me. But, if they can get people to pay $8 for an omelet, more power to 'em.
ReplyDelete