If you're ever driving the stretch of interstate between Chicago or Madison, WI, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, be sure to stop in Eau Claire, WI, for a bite to eat at the Grand Avenue Coffee Cafe. Loving known to the locals and university students as the "Grand Av Caf," this small cafe is tucked on a side street around the corner from the city courthouse and next to the Eau Claire River, at 119 W. Grand Ave.
With probably less than 12 tables inside, which are packed tightly together as it is, and two or three on the sidewalk in nice weather, the intimate atmosphere makes for the perfect place to enjoy a delicious sandwich lunch with friends over tea or coffee. The wait staff are attentive and friendly and the ambiance of the old building, with the large front windows, reminds you of a simpler time when this could have been a bakery or a hardware store, or both.
But, the one thing that you must try before leaving is the bread pudding. Coming here and not having a order is almost sacrilegious. The flavors are plentiful and vary on a daily basis, but they are all fantastic! It is advisable to not get one to share; a better idea is to have each guest get one and then play the passing game.
Just don't pass by Eau Claire without stopping in to treat your stomach!
Sergio del Limónar
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