The Badger Herald

SPECIAL

Cargo Coffee

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by Jessica Kazmierczak

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

You do not have to travel too far off the beaten paths of the UW campus to find a locally-owned coffee shop that is unique, to say the least. A friendly staff, comfortable atmosphere, and inexpensive, tasty snacks make Cargo Coffee, located at 1309 S. Park St., the perfect place to study, chat with friends or just relax and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Though technically off-campus, Cargo Coffee is easily accessible from campus by bus on Route 13 or with a 25-minute walk down Park Street. The building itself stands apart from other stores as it is a remodeled Jiffy-Lube, but Cargo Coffee’s close proximity to Park Street makes for convenient access to its drive-thru.

Upon entering the restaurant on a weekday afternoon, I was surprised only a few customers were dining inside. Glancing at the menu, I was impressed by the relatively cheap prices (about $3-5 per sandwich) and decided on the soup and sandwich combo deal for $5.80. A selection of recommended specialty sandwiches and wraps were offered, but I chose the “build-your-own” turkey wrap option paired with an 8 oz. cup of homemade chicken noodle soup.

As I waited for my lunch, I took a look around the restaurant. Old maps, atlases and other antiques line the walls, providing a vintage feel. On the wall opposite the entrance sits a large coffee-roasting machine. Here, owner Lindsey Lee roasts all of the coffee for both Cargo Coffee and Ground Zero, the other coffee shop he owns at 744 Williamson St.

As I was dining, I had the opportunity to speak with Lee. He founded Cargo Coffee more than a decade ago with the goal of brewing great-tasting coffee with reasonable prices in mind.

“We try to keep our prices lower than normal and still keep the quality of our products up,” Lee explained.

My order was brought out to my table within five minutes. All of the sandwich ingredients tasted extremely fresh, and the homemade soup was hearty and delicious. The plate was garnished with a large helping of field greens and a juicy pickle, enhancing the appearance of the meal. The portioning was perfect, and I was pleasantly full after I cleaned my entire plate. Lee certainly had me sold on his mission statement at this point.

Following my meal, I was craving my usual mid-afternoon caffeine surge and was impressed by the specialty drink prices. My small 12 oz. mocha was only $2.95, cheaper than my typical mocha purchase.

I had to wait about five minutes for the drink, but once I received it, I was impressed with the dark, rich espresso — it provided a smooth mocha flavor that was great until the last drop. The mocha could have been slightly warmer, but aside from this, it was delicious.

I missed the locally-owned coffee shop feel when I came to Madison and was grateful to find it again at Cargo Coffee. The service was friendly, and the food was fresh, delicious and well worth the price.

4 1/2 stars out of 5

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