Four Lakes Cafe - Madison

The salad bar here is incredible and offers excellent value at $4.99 per pound, featuring a wide range of choices. I'm especially fond of the variety of microgr... read more The salad bar here is incredible and offers excellent value at $4.99 per pound, featuring a wide range of choices. I'm especially fond of the variety of microgreens available. At the 500-calorie station, I can't help but indulge in the mango curry rice—it's a bit spicy but packed with flavor, although I'm not completely sure it's really 500 calories... The staff is remarkably friendly, even during peak hours when the checkout lines can get quite long.

The Four Lakes is rather disappointing. When it comes to hospital food, they really don't meet expectations. The salad bar and sandwich shop are acceptable, but... read more The Four Lakes is rather disappointing. When it comes to hospital food, they really don't meet expectations. The salad bar and sandwich shop are acceptable, but everything else leaves much to be desired. Unfortunately, the standout offering here is the soups—they're truly the only redeeming aspect. The Asian cuisine lacks flavor, and the home-style dishes seem designed for excessive indulgence. To make matters worse, the fried grill section has recently been removed, which is quite disappointing. The Mexican food is decent, so they deserve some acknowledgment for that. Overall, however, the selection is simply a disappointing array of uninspired meat dishes that might even lead one to consider a hunger strike.

During my time as a graduate student at the University of Washington, I've spent countless hours studying at the health sciences library located in the UW Hospi... read more During my time as a graduate student at the University of Washington, I've spent countless hours studying at the health sciences library located in the UW Hospital complex. When hunger hits, there aren't many options nearby, so I often find myself at the hospital cafeteria. They offer a variety of choices, including a half plate of Chinese food at Waubesa Wok or a healthy sandwich and salad. I've always been a fan of their bread pudding, which is sold by the pound, and you can't go wrong with the 10-cent Andres chocolate mints. Speaking of prices, it appears they haven't raised them with inflation, as my lunch consisting of Chinese food and bread pudding cost me less than $6!

This establishment feels more like a cafeteria than a cozy café. Be ready for long wait times for your food, and anticipate high prices, all while encountering... read more This establishment feels more like a cafeteria than a cozy café. Be ready for long wait times for your food, and anticipate high prices, all while encountering staff who seem indifferent. I ended up paying $4.25 for this small piece of meatloaf (the fork is there for size comparison).

For those who work here or visit regularly for meals, I can see how the options might become a bit repetitive over time. However, if you’re an employee or stude... read more For those who work here or visit regularly for meals, I can see how the options might become a bit repetitive over time. However, if you’re an employee or student at the hospital, I definitely encourage you to check it out. It's hard to find meals this good at such reasonable prices!