.png)
As someone who lived in Milwaukee all of my adult life until this past summer, I had nearly forgotten the suburban charm of having to drive 10 minutes to get an iced chai. Admittedly I do still miss the walkability of the city more than anything else, but today I decided to take that drive and try somewhere new. I’ve heard of Mama D’s and have passed the Waukesha location about a million and three times, but I was out and about today (actually I was more than 'out and about', I was in Sullivan picking up my eggs for the week), so I decided to swing by and hang out to get some homework + blog work done.
I was greeted cheerfully and some very kind gals were working behind the counter. The menu was large and in charge, the ambience was beautiful and cozy (quite feminine, but still a really good atmosphere), and the cakes and goodies in the bakery displays looked amazing! I had planned on simply grabbing my drink and heading out, because inside was crowded – Every single seat was full. But I noticed there was more seating further behind the bar. I asked one of the girls working if I could sit back there, and she took a peak to confirm that there, too, was entirely full, but then she offered up the ✨Pink Room✨
Open to the public but more so by reservation (via baristas), the Pink Room was a pleasant surprise, and honestly what won me over about the location. Down the stairs and all the way down the hallway, you’ll find a cozy, sunlit room. It feels organic and very pleasant. There’s even an electric fireplace for added coziness (and admittedly warmth, as the Pink Room is in the basement of the building). After counting up the chairs, turns out there’s room for 15 in the room! It was such an awesome find and it is so wonderful to know that it is so easy to reserve and use. It’s like your own private coffee shop seating! I didn’t even reserve it, but neither did anyone else – So once the baristas knew I’d be down there, I was free to have the space to myself. I struggle a lot with focusing on one task at a time, but having a space with some ambience where I know I’m there for a specific purpose helps tremendously. The Pink Room offered me exactly that! It was such a surprise to find a space like this, and the uses for it as a meeting or gathering space are amazing: Girls get together, a book club meeting, a crafting or hobby group, whatever! Plus you have affordable food + drinks right at your fingertips – Just run upstairs and grab whatever you’re craving! Small, intimate events could be hosted so well here! The photo below doesn't do it justice -- But maybe I'm just a sucker for natural lighting.
Going back to the coffee shop itself, the menu for both coffee and food was great. I had heard they have good food at Mama D’s, I had heard the coffee was pretty good, but I was still pleasantly surprised! I wasn’t sure how long I would stay, so I just got a chicken salad sandwich. Honestly the bread being warm wasn’t doing any favors for the chicken salad (which could have used some tweaking – chicken was a little dry, flavor was good but a little bland), but it was still delish over all. The menu was amazing and I wish I could have tried everything – Spinach + feta salad (or wrap!), spinach + goat cheese salad, gluten free bakery options, steel-cut oats + quinoas, the menu goes on and on! The prices are totally reasonable, too, which is a perk.
The beverage menu goes above and beyond, too: Italian sodas, chaider, they even asked me if I wanted my iced chai spiced or sweet! They forgot (or didn’t hear) my added shots of espresso in my chai, but honestly the spiced chai on its own was fabulous – And definitely not too sweet, which is why I usually add the double! The amount of spice and flavor was perfect. They also offer a variety of milks, and they have a number of dairy-free drink options. They also properly advertise the terms breve and cortado on their menu which I didn’t expect at a shop like this one! The menu feels very high end considering the cozy, small town vibes of the shop itself. I wonder if the Waukesha menu is the same – That would be wildly classy for the location and brick and mortar of the shop, but I’m excited to see!
WIth extensive hours that go into the evening (rather than closing after brunch), a variety of options on both the food + drink menus, and a cozy environment, Mama D’s fits right in where it has found its home in Wales. I will definitely be swinging by the Waukesha location soon! ☼
Mama D’s was started by Diana Markus, who began the venture with the original Waukesha location over a decade ago. There were once three Mama locations, but Diana decided to step back down to two, ultimately deciding to close the Genesee Depot location to focus on the Waukesha + Wales locations. Now in her mid-60’s, the coffee shop owner doesn’t seem to be slowing down (too abruptly): She has also been known to visit schools and events with her vintage camper-turned-coffee-shack, and she enjoys taking her time on the two existing locations. Her focus is on creating a quaint and comfortable atmosphere with good coffee + baked goods to create a sense of togetherness when you visit. She accomplishes exactly that with Mama D’s coffee, and I truly can’t believe it took me so many years to give it a shot!
Comentários