The Nucleus Cafe
405 Water St, Eau Claire, WI, 54702
The Nucleus Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Eau Claire for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Eau Claire for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
405 Water St
Eau Claire, WI, 54702 - Phone (715) 834-7777
- Website https://www.racysnucleus.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Breakfast, Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Tboo Ted M.
I ordered the Blueberry buckwheat pancakes. Who eats these things? It was like a dry sponge. I used a ton of butter & syrup and still soooooo dry. Also, not to generous with the coffee. My cup was dry for 10 minuets before I could get a refill. It's a breakfast place and it's 9am. I need some coffee!
(3)Ian N.
The food was great. I tried the blueberry haze pancakes and they were absolutely excellent. I recommend getting one of their smoothies for a beverage and don't skip their hashbrowns either they are to die for.
(5)Rebecca J.
Excellent food, excellent service. My mouth and tummy are in pure delight... This place has amazing food. We had the Penn & Teller and Salmon Croque Madame - both fantastic! If you're ever up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin stop at The Nucleus for breakfast or lunch. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Jeff D.
Haven't been to the Nucleus in a while. The food is hit and miss. Greece lightening - most flavorless sandwich ever. A few pieces of dry chicken, almost no feta, mint tasted like it had been stored in the fridge for two weeks and a few wan tomatoes (people we are at the height of tomato season and the farmer's market is a mile a way - get a clue). The "cucumber" sauce on the side was also flavorless. And bagged corn tortilla chips on the side. What a waste of $8. I got a blended, iced mocha. Don't bother. Again, no flavor. No coffee, no chocolate, nothing. Seriously. The Goat Cafe across the street beats the flavor category by a mile. I'm going to think twice about going back. The head chef/owner needs to start reviewing the food - flavor, presentation, service. Another reviewer stated, "they need to put on their big boy pants" So true....
(2)Patrick B.
Don't waste your time. It took almost an hour to get our order. When we complained the table that sat down after us received their food 20 minutes before us, they told us the order had "only been in a half hour." Hmm...that parking meter must be broken then since we had to put another half hour on it. They then told us it's because we ordered drinks (a coffee and cranberry juice, really?) - Which I said we ordered at the same time as our food and the 'waitresses' reply was "it's a process." It sure it is. A process that they simply do not understand apparently.
(1)Eugene R.
This place is just incredible. I was going to take a pic of my food but i fell in love and started eating it. The service is good and friendly but the place is a bit small. If you want to get your food come in early! We waited an hour for the food but it was worth the wait! I would recommend coming here if you are ever in Eau Claire.
(5)Melissa G.
This is by far my favorite breakfast spot in Eau Claire. El Presidente, the Real Housewives of EC, and the Breakfast Burrito are my savory favorites. If you like sweet, you will not be disappointed! Get there early on the weekends, it's a popular spot.
(5)Annie V.
This is my favorite breakfast restaurant in Eau Claire. It's always super busy and crowded. It can be uncomfortable and awkward waiting for a table; sometimes literally there's no room to stand. But those few unpleasant minutes quickly dissipate, once you're seated and staring and salivating at the menu. Try the strawberry Nutella crepe.
(5)Elissa J.
Very good food, interesting atmosphere. Highly recommend the El Prezidenta For breakfast. Great servers.
(5)Erica J.
I took the other yelp recommendations and got the el presidente and it did not disappoint!! Delicious with the wheat toast and raspberry jam! Skip the coffee- it is nothing special... choose the mimosas instead! The staff is very helpful and friendly.
(4)Wanda M.
Super unexpected jem. Omelettes, breakfast burrito, pancake, chicken salad curry on ciabatta were the entrees on our table and nothing was left over. It is a huge place, several rooms and so much character.
(4)Theresa C.
Laughable. To put it mildly, this 'cafe' needs to put a pair of big kid pants on. Our experience (knowing full well we would need to wait for the supposed awesome food): We arrive at lunchtime, they tell us an hour wait for a table. OK, we knew we'd have to wait. After an hour, tables started opening up, so part of our party (of 5) sat in a couple of open chairs - we immediately got seated at a different table. Our waitress was good at this point, getting us beverages and taking our order quickly so we could "get it in as soon as possible" (waitress quote). Then it begins. We waited an hour for our table, then we waited another hour and still had no food. Our waitress stopped checking on us and they were starting to tell potential customers that the restaurant was closed. OK, where's our food? We're creeping very close to having sat at this place for two and a half hours and still haven't gotten a morsel of food. I must interject here - throughout the wait described above, another party was seated, ordered, received their food, consumed their food, hung out for a while, paid their bill and left happy campers (must be the friends referred to in some of the other reviews). We were still waiting. A couple of us went to check to see if they realized we were still waiting for our food and they said it was on the way. Nope. Not on the way. We checked in again and one of the waitresses said it was being plated up - is it? Is it really? The waitress then said that "she didn't know what we wanted". Well, simply, food inside of two and a half hours. At that point we paid for our beverages and left. We're from Eau Claire and get back to visit quite often, we love trying the local restaurants and bringing friends and family along. This was one of the most embarrassing experiences we've ever had. Needless to say, we won't be back and will definitely make sure to spread the word to all of our friends and family in the area. Abide the Yelp reviews and save yourself the headache. ...and oh yeah, do NOT look in the kitchen, you will not like what you see.
(1)Philip C.
This is the best place to get coffee in Chippewa Falls. I'm somewhat of an espresso snob and normally cringe at what I might get for an espresso "pull" at some small town cafes. The Americano I had was really quite good. Great actually. The decor is quite nice and the staff were super welcoming. I'm glad to have found this gem in what once was my home town.
(5)Masha G.
Great food. The service is a little slow. But the food makes up for it. We ordered the El presidente omelette which was AMAZING. As well as the real house wives omelette which was yummy.
(4)Kristine R.
Best breakfast in Eau Claire. The quintessential place to recuperate after a long night on Water St. (Am I right, UWEC students?) The portions are huge, fresh, and delicious. I have been here several times and never been let down. Service can get slow especially on weekend mornings but it's simply because it is a small mom and pop working to accommodate tons of customers. I personally love the Desperate Housewives of Eau Claire omelette, but all specials on the menu made the cut for a reason. You can never go wrong with the French Toast- and the juice is fresh squeezed. Make sure you swing behind the shop and stop at the Racy's coffee lounge too!
(4)Courtney C.
Usually on road trips, I'm the one trusted to find the good spots to stop. However, Nucleus was found thanks to my husband's Yelp skills. We were headed to Minneapolis and Eau Claire was the perfect place to stop for breakfast and coffee. The Nucleus reminds me of other breakfast restaurants I've found in my travels. It's small but has so much charm and memorable food. I started my meal with a white mocha while we perused the menu. There were actually 5 or 6 meals that we wanted, so we deferred to our server. She was honest and told us the one we were thinking about ordering wasn't the best. Of our possible choices, she told us the two that WERE the best and so we went with them. I ordered the Penn & Teller with marble rye and my husband ordered the El Presidente with an English muffin. My meal had a super juicy piece of steak, as well as some marvelous hashbrowns. These were probably the crispiest hash browns I've ever tried and were elevated to a whole new level with the peppers. There was also a sauce on the side that I wanted to put in my purse and take home. I can't think of any way that this could have been better. I only got a tiny bite of the El Presidente but it was really, really good too. Of the two though, I think mine was the winner. Did I mention the steak was cooked perfectly? My husband has already mentioned he'd drive back to Eau Claire just to go to Nucleus again. The only downside I can think is that it took us a few minutes to find parking the morning we came, but it was worth the effort.
(5)Christina N.
A great place to meet your friends for breakfast or lunch. The atmosphere and the food are great!
(5)Mark L.
Came here for breakfast to find a full house. Breakfast was delicious. Ample portions even for the big eater I am. Girlfriend had stuff French toast which was holy hell big. Nice thick cut bread with heaps of whip cream. Good mound of hashbrowns to compliment the full plate. I had a skillet that tasted so damn good. Big slices of bread with my own dish of jam. Keep it up and Perkins clients could find a new place. Plan in the works to return back.
(5)Andrea B.
This place is the worst. The service is the shittiest thing that's ever happened to you. You will not be able to stop and have breakfast here without it taking two hours. And you won't get a coffee refill while you're waiting. Want to avoid the wait? Order over the phone! Oh, wait. You can't. Suddenly you can only place "to go" orders from inside the restaurant. Don't ask me what kind of fucking sense that makes. The real kicker is that they have the best goddamn breakfast burrito you've ever had. However it would be faster and easier if you had to climb a mountain using only a unicycle to get one. Their food is amazing, but they've done absolutely everything they can to make your breakfast experience super inconvenient and frustrating. Seriously, save yourself and go somewhere else.
(1)Pat R.
Best breakfasts ever. Love, love the lemon ricotta pancakes on weekends. Get there early as they can sell out. A true sign of freshly made!! All omelettes are great also. We love to get there early enough to grab one of the few tables outside on sidewalk. My go to breakfast place!!!
(5)Brandon B.
This place has the absolute best hash browns in town, great portions, and strong coffee.
(4)Suzanne J.
Any restaurant can have an off day. Any kitchen can get in the weeds and drop orders. Everyone at my table had worked in the restaurant industry and understands that things can go wrong. However, eventually you run out of excuses (and sympathy) for why this place can't get food to a table in under two hours. Why are tables sitting empty when your staff is telling people the wait to be seated is over one hour? How hard is it to time and deliver a freaking breakfast burrito? If you know anything about the restaurant industry, prepare to have your heart broken by how poorly this place is run and how much money they leave on the table due to sheer incompetence. I can't tell you if the food actually lives up to the good reputation because after more than two hours of waiting and non-responsive waitstaff, we left without tasting a thing but a cup of coffee and one refill.
(1)Robin G.
Every time I come to Eau Claire I have to eat here. And I have to get the lemon crepe. I wish I could explore the menu but damn, that crepe is excellent. I just recently had a gold press coffee. Not sure what that is but it's delicious. I love the atmosphere of this place and the staff is always nice and accommodating.
(5)Alan C.
Wow. What a great place! The food, service, and atmosphere are all 5 stars for sure. Had a great experience eating breakfast here. I am embarassed to have lived in EC for 10 years before coming here. Also the beer selection and lunch menu looked very appetizing as well. Will be back!
(5)Jim S.
Great good, fantastic waitresses, charming coffee and breakfast cafe. I had the Omega Scrambler and it was so good we went back the next morning for it again while there for the weekend.
(5)Lori B.
Awesome coffee, menu, camaraderie and servers. This is the healthiest, gourmet food in all of Eau Claire. Great job Nucleus, so glad you're on Water Street, some of us will just never outgrow Water Street! Not many readers I'm sure ever had the opportunity to go to the Playboy Club in Lake Geneva back in the seventies but this is the comparable I use for the quality of their food, it's fabulous!
(5)D H.
Outstanding! Cool Banksy art, Ali McGraw look-alike waitress, great service and the food was excellent. Exactly the memorable eatery you want to visit when stuck in Eau Claire for the weekend. ( just kidding, love eau claire)
(5)Karen T.
Wow, well worth the Sunday late morning wait. Fantastic black iced tea and I ordered the Cajun Blue Crab Omelette. Amazing. My husband had the Southwest Omelette which he also enjoyed. Great service. I would come here again.
(5)Sarah C.
Loved it so much. I wish I lived closer to I could make that my new breakfast spot!
(5)Hugh C.
I love the Nucleus! Good coffee shop cooking and funky furniture. The Yeti skillet was invented by a friend of ours who works in the kitchen - excellent. And YES there is free wifi - some reviewers apparently didn't bother to ask - look for Racys1 and ask wait staff for password.
(5)Dave B.
Refreshingly amazing food quality for brunch fixin's. Used to greasy spoons/diners in Menomonie, so this was wonderful. High quality ingredients (fresh!) and great coffee. One of those places with so many good looking things on the menu that you want to come back again and again to try it all. Great tasting hash browns, awesome eggs, and good baked goods. Didn't have a single thing that didn't feel freshly prepared and of highest quality. The service was the only thing keeping it from 5 stars. Wasn't BAD, but for there not being many people there, I was surprised at how long it took for our server to tend to us (not a slow kitchen, just slow waitstaff). But it was a Saturday morning, so who's in a rush, anyway?
(4)Tameka L.
Great food and fantastic coffee!!
(5)Andrea S.
This place is THE best breakfast in the state..perhaps in the region..maybe even in the country. Now I'm not one to favor exaggerating but I'm being 100% truthful when I say this is my favorite breakfast I've ever been. Who knew EC could harbor such a hidden gem? Everything on their menu that I have tried has been delicious..and I've tried a lot. I made it my mission last summer to try every single one of their items on their breakfast and lunch menu because I had that much confidence I would love everything. I haven't quite tried it all yet but I can tell you my favorites so far. The cajun crab omelette is my go to. For lunch the curry chicken salad sandwich is also superb. Their hashbrowns "lionized" is also a must try! My only only con is that the place get so packed on the weekend you need to get their early or just before they close at 2pm to get in with out waiting for a half hour. The staff here is always amazing as well and do an excellent job despite always being extremely busy. This place is amazing and the best around, please don't ever change, except maybe extend your hours so I can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner here!!
(5)Brian F.
Excellent breakfast or lunch food. I'm particularly fond of the El Presidente. I only wish they were open more often!
(5)Stephanie S.
I never actually got to eat here because I sat down & waited for a menu for 10 minutes. There was less than 10 tables for two servers so no reason for the lack of service. I'll never come back.
(1)Angela K.
The food is excellent! And you get EXTREMELY large portions. The only things that kind of was a downer was the 20min wait for a table and then an additional 45minute wait for the food.
(4)Sam K.
Have been to Nucleus for breakfast multiple times and loved it each time. Note that Sunday mornings are very busy and you may have to wait longer than usual for your food to arrive. But overall the quality of their breakfast offerings and small cafe atmosphere is superb!!
(4)C O.
Oh my word, where do I start!? While we were quickly seated and given our water, we waited a whole hour for our food! The BLT was so cold it felt like it came out of the refrigerator - NOT an exaggeration! When we brought it to the manager's attention, she said it was supposed to be cold! What the what?!? We sent it back and what do you know - it still appeared on the bill! The waitress stated that it is their policy to charge for all food ordered whether you like it or not, even when it's so bad you send it back! We asked for the manager who would not come to discuss it so did not pay for it and told the waitress she could pay for it out of her tip. Pretty soon this terrible service is going to catch up with them - it already would have if Eau Claire weren't so hard up for interesting menus.
(1)Leslie S.
Nice brunch spot in Eau Claire. We were pleasantly surprised by both the decor in the restaurant (an eclectic mix of mid-century and modern rustic, I would say) and the clientele. I was actually shocked to see a family with their puppy sitting on a sofa in the middle of the restaurant, but hey, kudos to being dog friendly, huh? The restaurant catered to a mix of college students, families, and young couples, all of whom were well-dressed (by that I mean in trendy, fashionable clothes, not their Sunday best) for a Sunday morning! Overall, it was upscale, but comfortable at the same time. We liked the vibe. The food was alright. I had the herbaceous omelet with scallions, peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms, and was stunned to see that the veg was simply thrown inside the folded egg. I prefer all of the ingredients to be mixed together, and then cooked. I did have a very nice mug of hot chocolate, but I have to say that it was half whipped cream, and very little chocolate. My husband enjoyed his meal - The Nobel Prize - but it's hard to mess up three over-easy eggs. Still, his clear enjoyment made me think that the restaurant might be worth another go if we are ever in the Eau Claire area again.
(3)William H.
This place has the best breakfast in town and it's not even close. The service on the weekends isn't stellar, and they seem a bit disorganized with their seating system, but the food quality more than makes up for it. This isn't just overpriced fancy stuff either. The portions are quite large! We typically go to The Nucleus at least 3-4 times a month and are never disappointed. The kitchen takes a lot of pride in their work, and it shows. I would recommend either the El Presidente or the Breakfast Burrito for anyone looking for a good sized breakfast that will fill them up for the rest of the day. If you're looking for something on the sweeter side, I've never had better crepes than I've had here. And that includes in Montreal or Quebec. But really I've never been disappointed with anything on their menu.
(5)Asia K.
I love the food at the Nucleus. The seating availability and service leave much to be desired, but the food nearly makes up for it. I particularly love the egg quesadilla and strawberry nutella crepe! I can't think of any other restaurant in Eau Claire that is anything like the Nucleus - it's a gem.
(4)Aaron C.
This place was busy and as others have noted, the food took a while. 100% worth the wait. Nothing about my plate seemed hastily prepared. Both the omelette and hash browns were perfectly cooked, flavorful and the ingredients tasted very fresh. I think the wait staff did a great job in such a packed little spot of keeping coffees fresh and managing expectations about the wait. On a Sunday with no real schedule to keep, I'll happily give this kind of quality some time.
(5)David C.
Well, gave it a second try. Son and daughter in law took me out, as they love it. We went early - so we actually got service and I got to try the food. Underwhelmed. It was ok., nothing that I would make a special effort to go out for again, but I would not avoid it. Actually, I would avoid it. The Nucleus could give lessons on bad service.
(3)Geoff P.
The Nucleus is certainly the best breakfast spot in Eau Claire with two very important caveats. The food is unquestionably good--I'm a sucker for El Presidente, but the omelets and crepes are far above average for the area. The service is generally very friendly and the coffee is strong and plentiful. There are two reasons The Nucleus does not warrant a five star review in my mind. The first reason is their hours--who opens a breakfast and lunch spot only a couple of blocks from a university and then stays closed on Mondays and Tuesdays? I've lost count of the number of times I was planning a breakfast meeting and had to check what day of the week it was on to make sure I didn't accidentally send people to a closed Nucleus! The second issue, as has been noted by many other Yelpers, is the time it takes to get your food. If the restaurant isn't terribly busy the wait is minimal, but the kitchen is actually quite small, so when the place gets packed, the waits can stretch out up to an hour after ordering, I realize that this is somewhat outside of their control given their kitchen constraints, but if you are not prepared for the wait on a Sunday morning, it can be quite jarring.
(4)Katie V.
Nucleus Cafe is good -- but not great. It could be great but I think its lack of competition has led to complacence. The menu is good, lots of choices, and everything I've had has been tasty. But if you happen to come towards the end of their short service (they only serve till 2pm), be ready to wait for your food while the kitchen staff and servers entertain their friends. Seriously. Around 1:30, the friends/roommates/significant others of the staff start trickling in and the service goes to hell. You will wait 20 minutes for a bagel. Trust me, I have. It's like they go on autopilot after the breakfast rush. It's too bad -- the food is delicious, but if you are in any sort of hurry, don't bother after 1pm. Everyone's too cool for school to deal with you.
(3)Don H.
On the way out of Eau Claire we looked on our trusty smartphone for a good breakfast. And we must've had some good karma because we were so happy with Nucleus. It did take a little long for service, which we were surprised by on a Friday late morning. But with students returning to their nine-month homes, it dawned on us that it was likely the typical crowd for this day and time. After reviewing the simple but well thought-thorugh menu, I ordered the 5-oz Penn and Teller, medium rare. And it came out exactly as I imagined it. The hash browns were just right and unique in flavor without being a fat-assy delight. Steak was done just right, too. And even for a steak and egg breakfast it was just the right proportion. I washed it down with a chai (a little too sweet for my liking, but I did order an extra with a shot of espresso to go and that cut the sweet more) and headed out $31 lighter for the two of us. It was not a cheap breakfast, but it was a unique one.
(4)Sarah C.
Outstanding! I had the El Presidente and thoroughly enjoyed it. High quality food at a great price, as well as prompt and friendly service.
(5)Alma H.
Excellent service, coffee amazing, food exceptional. Best breakfast ever! It's our second time and will definetly stop again whenever in area. The decor and music are a super fun as well!
(5)Lindsay O.
If you like a an artisan breakfast coupled with the worst service imaginable (think waiting for over an hour after placing your order with no refills or acknowledgement by your server), then this is your place! Not worth it my opinion. I loved the food, but the service is repeatedly the worst I've had anywhere. Allow at least 2 hours if you go on a weekend morning.
(1)Emma B.
Exlnt fresh OJ & brunch. Latte was ok- Goat cheese and egg on toast kicked ass. French toast w orange was not too heavy. Downtown location was cute,
(4)Don P.
Usually go for breakfast. The El Presidente is good. The breakfast burrito is good. Fresh squeezed OJ. Their wheat toast is excellent...ask for their raspberry jam!
(5)Bob S.
We were taken here on a Sunday on our first visit to EC. The coffee was the best I'd had in days of Midwest travel. Decent sandwiches and brunch dishes. It was def a cut above roadhouse breakfasts and lunch. Service was fine.
(4)Laura S.
Small and clean, focus on good food. We stopped in this college town for breakfast. My only complaint is that the restaurant was a little cold, because the heat was pulled from the small space every time the door opened. All the French toast is orange flavored. It was good, but not my toddler's cup of tea.
(4)Andy B.
I gave it 2 stars because the food was FANTASTIC! Service was horrible. Waitress was very kind, but ridiculously long wait. 1 star service and 4 star food
(2)J W.
This is exactly the type of place I'd expect for a college town coffee house/cafe. Made me reminisce about my college days in philadelphia. Nice hipster vibe that you wouldn't expect to find in this part of the country. Really decent coffee. The strawberry nutella crepe was pretty good. Hours here are really limited for a college town cafe, but then again it's a small school. In the back there is a nice lounge area with nice sofas and lounge chairs, really cozy. Definitely worth a visit if you're in EC. Was going to give four stars, but after I saw that they allow you to chill with your dog here, this place deserves 5 stars easily. If only Stella wasn't stuck in Hawaii now.
(5)Crystal S.
There aren't many places in Eau Claire to get a non-chain Sunday brunch, especially after the sad passing of Obsession Chocolates in July. The Nucleus, however, satisfies my cravings for a good breakfast. I would recommend the crepes, both savory and sweet. I love the Chevre with its fresh cheeses and basil and the Strawberry Nutella. The chai and coffee milkshakes are delicious, my favorite being the Rob Thomas with vanilla, caramel, and honey. They also have fresh squeezed orange juice and a variety of sandwiches, waffles, and omelettes. The blue craw crab is something I need to try in the near future. Get here early, because the wait can be long and I've had varying success with the staff. But this is a great place for weekend brunch.
(4)Mark M.
Not sure why all the good reviews. Ordered the Nobel Prize breakfast, and it was no prize. The eggs, over cooked. Greasy, over cooked hash browns. Bacon, I think, or maybe shoe leather. Go to the American Table. Not the cache of the charming area the Nucleus resides in, but the food is sooooo much better. Food is not about snobbery or fashion. It's about food, and the Nucleus just does not cut it.
(1)LeAnna B.
We would have loved to try the food but ended up leaving right after we ordered because our waitress was SO rude. She was not willing to accommodate any requests to change the order for my vegetarian daughter. Very rude waitress!
(1)Mere W.
As others have noted the food was good (4 stars) but the service (2 stars) was lacking. Our visit started off okay with our coffee selection. The coffee was tasty and the server was even able to accommodate some of our special requests. We were a group of 6 and ended up waiting about 10 minutes for a table - so far so good. We had an eclectic mix of omelets, egg scrambles, and pancakes at our table. Most of the food was very good. I will say that I personally was pretty disappointed in the lemon ricotta pancakes. I couldn't taste the lemon or the ricotta at all. I've had cakes like these in the Twin Cities and they were divine so I was unimpressed. However, my husbands' crab omelet was delicious and he let me share a bit. The major downer was the time we waited for our food. We waited 45-60 minutes and it wasn't even piping hot coming out. My in-laws (form Eau Claire) let us know that they recently expanded the space. This is probably the cause for the back-up. If you have time to wait it is worth a stop. If not, I would find another location.
(3)Troy S.
Perhaps the best breakfast in Eau Claire. Unique menu items that you won't find anywhere else in town. Great omlets, crepes...everything really. Open just 4 days a week. Great coffee from Lacy D'Lenes. It's pretty packed on weekend mornings, so expect a bit of a wait. Worth every second of it!
(5)George S.
Place is awesome! Can't say anything bad about it. Love it and will keep coming. But seriously? Scrounge an extra 2 bucks and get some Gluten free bread. Even Menasha, WI has options for us Gluten-heads.
(4)M K.
I was here with some friends. We were looking for a brunch. The cafe was very busy and in about two minutes of loitering inside we were picked up by a waitress and she gave us a place to sit and wait for the table. The table was forth coming in about fifteen minutes. The order was taken and drinks delivered. All of us ordered coffee and it was the usual run of the mill versions. Nothing special in taste actually. We found this a let down since we were not expecting a chain breakfast place experience here while paying up the $$. The biggest let down was the wait on the food. By the time it was delivered it was almost lunch time;) However the food was good. Crepes' no doubt were the winners in this department. The place is actually pretty big with front seating space and then two other sitting areas that are large; as well as seating space outside. I think they added these portions after their success but have failed to enlarge their kitchen size. I guess the 'nucleus' outgrew the 'atom' but forgot to add more protons:)
(3)Lacey P.
Always fun to go here for brunch, but it can be tricky to 1) get a table and 2) get served in any decent amount of time. There's not a ton of seating, and the wait staff is pretty slow. It's worth the wait though, since the food is amazing. Also, order coffee from Racy's next door. Excellent lattes.
(3)Jennifer M.
If you are looking for amazing breakfast, look no further. I have been here for their sandwiches at lunch time as well, which are also great, but the breakfast takes the cake......actually, it takes the whole bakery. No matter what type of breakfast you are looking for, from the traditional pancakes, to the zany Cajun Crab Omelet, The Nucleus Cafe knows how to make it. And they make it very well! Great atmosphere, service, and most of all, food, make this place a hit. This is coming from someone who has been to many of the great breakfast spots in the country. Watch out big cities, because this local restaurant is going to give you a run for your money......or your pancakes.
(5)Jason K.
The yetti!!! Oh man fella bro bro. So good. Their cold-pressed coffee is a for sure thing too, especially after a night on water street.
(5)Robin L.
Good menu selection (with fair prices!) and good food. I had a sausage, egg, and cheese bagel. My two dining partners had omelets. There is outdoor seating and LOTS of indoor seating. This staff was very friendly--they even explained the wait to us right away (kitchen backed up, less than 30 mins.) The wait ended up being much less than anticipated, so that was a good thing.
(4)Jillian S.
Hubs and I enjoyed a delightful Friday lunch here on a mini-Wisconsin road trip we took recently. We found the place on Yelp first (of course). Another great Yelp find! Who knew Eau Claire had so much character? I didn't! When we got here, only 4 tables or so were occupied, but I can see how this place is probably packed on weekends. I wasn't a big fan of the table arrangements - they were kind of over-sized and just sort of placed everywhere and crowded the area. That said, the menu here is unique and the overall "vibe" is really laid back and cool. Hubs ordered a crab-salad something sandwich with tortilla chips. He really enjoyed it, but we all know seafood ain't my thang. I chose the chicken curry sandwich and opted for the cream asparagus soup for my side. The flavors were wonderful... although the curry definitely turned my fingernails yellow for about a day. Also, great coffee!
(4)J K.
Bias alert - I LOVE crepes. Still, the crepes we had for brunch were simply fantastic. Highly recommended!
(5)Don C.
Great food but long wait. We were some of the first people in the door but still took 40 minutes to get food. If their ticket times don't improve, it will effect business.
(3)Jill H.
Love this place! Great atmosphere, cool decor and most importantly the food was delicious. The El Presidente was excellent. Kids loved the crepes. Will stop again when in the area.
(5)Kate J.
I've been coming to the Nucleus since they opened it. Everything is always absolutely fantastic, and everyone I bring by loves it! My favorite is the strawberry nutella crepes, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.
(5)V. A.
Great food! My favorite is the Penn and Teller. Absolutely delicious. You can't go wrong ordering anything on the menu. Service is slow, but you can clearly see that the staff are running around and keeping busy, so be sure to tip them well for all their hard work!
(4)Jennifer S.
Sunday morning arrival around 10 am. Place was packed and loud. We grabbed window-front bar stools to gain an entertainment factor, looking out over the Water St. traffic. Interesting menu - many different things grabbed my attention. I decided on one of the daily specials: lemon ricotta pancakes - a half order (3 cakes). The $8.50 price was a bit steep, I thought, and especially so since our plates arrived about 45 minutes later, and mine had none of the promised blueberries (they'd already run out of them), and only 2 very small blobs of real whipped cream, and "fake" maple syrup. Because of the miniscule amount of whipped cream, I opted to order some "real" maple syrup (unimpressive - I guess I prefer a fuller, stronger maple flavor, like ones produced in WI, not Vancouver, BC). The cakes were moist and lightly lemony, with thick-sliced strawberries on top. The coffee was good and our server was pleasant. Coffee refills were sort of weird: the server took away our mugs and returned them (our same mugs) refilled. Unusual method. My dining partners enjoyed their omelettes. Next time, I'll probably go that way, or try one of their filled crepes. I'll have to remember to shy away from a dish that calls out for "real maple syrup".
(3)Jamie B.
Incredible food, generous portions. Classic breakfast favorites alongside more innovative original breakfasts. Everything here is good. The salmon crepe is particularly yum. Smoothies are great too. I love the art and the decor and it attracts a cool crowd. The only thing wrong with the Nucleus is the incredibly limited opening hours (and seating). Is there some reason this delicious place can't be open through the day?
(5)Marc S.
Stopped through this spot on the way from Chicago to Minneapolis, and it was a refreshing break. Delicious food, friendly and cute staff, good motown music.... complete with Mason Jennings lyric infused artwork.
(5)Danielle L.
I was initially very impressed with this cafe and the brunch menu looked amazing. I ordered the "Spring Pig" a buckwheat crepe filled with egg, asparagus, cheese, and bacon. As a vegetarian, I was excited for some fresh asparagus and ordered the special, sans pig. It was beautiful when it arrived and I immediately dove in to my meal. Three bites in, I tasted the unmistakable flavor of bacon. I asked the waitress about it and she was unapologetic. There was no offer of a new dish, no offer to comp my meal or even my coffee. I was very disappointed.
(2)Matt C.
Yes, the service is somewhat slow, and it's pricey, but the food is amazing. I highly recommend the Banana Nutella Crepe, if they're still serving it.
(3)Dave S.
Under normal circumstances, this place would have only received two stars. These were not normal circumstances ladies and gentlemen, This was an interesting experience to say the least. My wife and I were heading back from North Dakota. It is against our rules to go to a chain anymore so we used some nifty apps on our phones to locate a local restaurant. As fate will have it, this is the place that we found and decided to have breakfast. From the minute that I walked in, I realized just from the atmosphere that this was going to be a place that did not really care too much about table turns. It was lust a very chill, laid back environment. Our server was very friendly and helpful and made us feel right at home however after that first meeting it was difficult and next to impossible to find her. After she took our order, we waited... and waited... and waited!!! and waited!@#$# By this time my wife and I were starting to get to the point of frustration and then our food arrived and things changed dramatically. I can say that this was one of he best breakfasts (food wise) that I have ever had. I ordered the Yeti scramble and you could tell from the first bite that they used very high quality ingredients. The vegetables were fresh and everything was outstanding. The toast was so excellent that we asked about the bread. She said they get it from a bakery but It could have passed for something they could have baked themselves earlier that morning. That was a great save guys! I would not mind stopping by again next year on our trip back home!
(4)morgan c.
Great breakfast, pleasant atmosphere, and wonderful service!
(5)Michael C.
I like this place. It has good energy. It has good bacon. I got the Nobel Prize here. Coming from the U of C, that seems appropriate. The coffee was excellent, too.
(5)Kevin C.
Went here again on our visit this summer and had another great experience. I was with my family and two small nieces. The wait staff was very patient and courteous. Every time I visit Eau Claire I will try to get to Nucleus.
(5)Don F.
I have got to agree with the previous posters. We had breakfast here, and the food was very very good. Service was mediocre, but I knew that from reading the reviews. To of us had the crab omelette - very nice blend of flavors - had a little dill added to it - nice combination. A tad overcooked. The hash browns were perfect. Great coffee. Southwest omelette was great. The other in our party had the buckwheat pancakes, I am not a big fan of buckwheat - so I will hold judgement. I put it into the GPS to come back again when travelling through. The best breakfast I have had in WI.
(4)Beth F.
Why do Yelpers from bigger cities have to pick on smaller cities, hm? I wonder. I suppose now is the time to fess up and admit that I'm guilty of this. I'm sorry, Eau Claire, I didn't mean it, you're lovely. It seems like the schoolyard bully syndrome never really goes away and that as legally grown adults, a lot of us feel the need to taunt the little guys and incessantly remind them that, "my city's bigger/better/cooler/hipper/smarter than yours is, nah nah nuh boo boo!" Let's all blow raspberries at each other! And when we're done, let's discuss The Nucleus Cafe and why places like this refute every beef the bigger cities have against the smaller cities. I've only been here once and for the life of me, I can never remember why, until I walk past and see how ungodly crowded it is. Oh yes, it's that good. The cafe hours are 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. so plan accordingly and be prepared for an amazing breakfast that isn't Denny's, won't give you gut rot and makes your taste buds jump for joy. I had the stuffed French toast (loaded with fresh strawberries and decadent cream cheese) and it was to-die-for. My fiance ordered an omelette and gushed about it for the rest of the afternoon. And I've heard rumors that the crepes are tres magnifique (and pretend like I wrote that in italics and with all the appropriate accents just like any self-respecting egghead would, mm-kay?) According to the website, they moonlight as a coffee house as well. I don't know anything about that but now that I've been tipped off, that will have to be remedied the next time I'm in the fine city of Eau Claire.
(5)Tena S.
In a town full of chain restaurants, this was an amazing find. Having lived in large cities for the last 15 years, the hubby and I have become food snobs. The menu and quality of food is fantastic. We have tried about 2/3 of the menu and all of it was great. Our only complaint about the place is that it takes a VERY long time for the food to come out. It doesn't seem to make a difference if it's super packed or almost empty; it's typically 30-60 minutes for your food. Unfortunately; as parents of a toddler, this is an issue and we don't eat here as often as we'd like.
(4)P X.
You have got to LOVE the Android YELP application and the random restaurants you find along your travels. A perfect example is The Nucleus Cafe! We walked in this place and were pleasantly surprised by the seating options and ability to order food items from nearly every table/chair in the coffee shop/restaurant. Fun! I ordered the cajun crab omelet and really enjoyed it. The flavors were great...but there was a ton of dried dill on the top, so that was a bit of a downer. The coffee and fresh orange juices were delicious! Honestly, I would have given this place 4 stars, except, I watched a waitress walk over a customer who fell down when exiting the bathroom. She just kept walking...not even helping the woman up. I mean, come on! That isn't even part of doing a job...helping someone off of the floor is part of being human!
(2)Andrew D.
Fantastic breakfast and coffee healthy choices as well
(5)Berrius B.
Creative, interesting menu. Good food, good service, good coffee, great atmosphere. I would go back again and again. Two minor complaints: one too many tables packed into the front room (Water street). The other complaint is that they don't open until 8am, which is a bit late for a breakfast place.
(4)Rachel S.
Delicious but expensive for the portion sizes and ingredients!
(3)Mathew R.
Tasty, innovative breakfasts! Delicious! I always try and stop in on my way to Minneapolis. Other than the Acoustic cafe, this place has the best breakfast in Eau Claire.
(4)Sue D.
Great breakfast. Strong, hot coffee, refilled promptly. We had a delish hash with chorizo and cilantro. Eggs were perfectly done. Pleasant atmosphere. Great stop between Minneapolis and Chicago!
(4)Michael H.
Awesome food. Awesome decor.
(5)R R.
It would be five stars because the breakfast is always great. After adding breakfast seating in the back and it went downhill fast. The last three times we were there for breakfast we waited between 50-70 minutes to get our food. I think they outgrew there kitchen....
(3)Nate S.
Often called the best place for breakfast by many and has won surveys and awards for this reason. It can get VERY busy during breakfast time, but the wait staff is always excellent. The atmosphere could be better, but for what amounts to the back of a coffee lounge it's pretty nice and fits well.
(4)