A Review of Beans and Barley Market and Café: 1901 E. North Avenue, Milwaukee, WI

Beans and Barley Market and Café, located at 1901 E. North Avenue in Milwaukee, WI, is nestled quietly near the lakefront, yet it is close enough to Brady Street that the local nightlife can be enjoyed after finishing a late dinner at the café.

The market portion of the establishment has a good selection of organic, vegan, and health-food options for shoppers, as well as a few impulse items, knick knacks for the kids, and natural hygiene products. The storefront is not huge, but Beans and Barley makes good use of every inch of the space, packing several shelves into the slim dimensions. Despite the well-packed shelving, the market does not feel overly crowded or cramped. As a niche market for natural food lovers, the market is typically not bustling, making it easy to maneuver through the aisles.

Near the market is a deli offering many on-the-go options for lunch or dinner, yet Beans and Barley's main made-to-order attraction is the adjacent café, which is anything but calm. On a busy day, there can be a long wait; go during the weekday and you'll beat the crowds.

Luckily, the café does have a large coffee bar for patrons to sit at while waiting for a table, making the experience a bit more intimate and less rushed.

Upon getting a table you'll quickly learn why the café is so popular. The menu features many enticing options, all moderately priced and made fresh.

My Experience

I perused the impressive menu items for a while before deciding on a tofu burger, a cup of vegetarian chili, and a cup of coffee to wash it all down-after all, I didn't want to walk away from a place with such an impressive coffee bar without trying a fresh-brewed blend. My dinner companion ordered a sweet potato bean burrito and a matcha green tea latte.

The coffee came quickly, and the matcha green tea latte followed soon after. The coffee was pretty average, and the latte superb, prompting a follow-up scouring of the Beans and Barley market shelving to find the ingredients for making the beverage at home.

Considering the place was packed, the food came relatively quickly-I'd estimate the wait was no more than 20 minutes, though I didn't have time to check my watch for the exact timing since I was too engrossed in conversation and admiring the pleasing, artistic atmosphere of the café.

The tofu burger was definitely a step-up from the typical black bean burger alternatives offered at many restaurants, and the unique flavor of sweet potatoes, black beans, Mexican rice, and guacamole made for a flavorful burrito. Though I personally didn't like the contrasting sweet and bold tastes of the burrito, my dinner-mate was thoroughly pleased, and I could understand why the dish might be considered very appealing for certain palates.

The veggie chili was some of the best I've tasted, partly because I am partial to a low kidney bean count and a relatively high spiciness factor. While it might not be ideal for every chili lover, it definitely suited my preferences.

I was surprised when my burger came with a side of cold couscous with slivered nuts and a small amount of diced veggies-an added treat in addition to my main order, delicious enough to prompt an at-home ad-hoc reproduction and follow-up article on cooking couscous.

Overall, the food was all excellent and I'm looking forward to my next visit to this Milwaukee establishment. The only negative point worth mentioning was the small table-size, making it difficult to sprawl dishes out for sharing among friends. However, this was a minor detractor, and is to be expected with a popular café looking to maximize seating space. This small dissuader aside, Beans and Barley receives high marks from this critic because of its great foods, extensive menu, many vegetarian options, and convenient coffee bar.