Cafe Seiche

Over priced, poor quality, not great service. Watch many people come then leave due to high prices, I should have done same.
White fish in an avocado, special was very disappointing, thought it was chicken of the sea mushed up and put in the avocado.
Bread was not great, they poor the oil and vinegar into a bowl then take it away?
Steak I sent back and decided to cut losses and watch wife eat her meal as I drank a bottle of wine… Sad had great expectations.

For an exquisite meal on the island, try Seiche! I have never had a disappointing meal at this restaurant. In fact, the food is superb. The waitstaff is great and the chef very accommodating — they always have vegetarian options. And not yucky, we-don’t-know-how-to-cook-for-vegetarians choices. Fresh vegetables cooked just right, and tofu prepared by someone who knows how to cook it!
If something on the menu sounds good, it will taste better than you expect. Knowing that the food is locally sourced makes the food that much more appetizing. Never mind if the kitchen is slow — totally worth the wait! The ambiance is somewhat cozy, definitely classy, plus now there’s a bar. There’s patio seating which of course is lovely in the summertime. Café Seiche is by far my favorite restaurant on the island.

We dine here every year, and had better dinners when it was «Lotta’s». Our last few visits were disappointing, but we had a better experience this year. The bread used to be Ashland Baking Company products, and got me addicted to the kalamata olive sourdough. Last few years has been a french baguette, but still served with plates of olive oil (balsamic vinegar added, if you like). Two had the Bayfield strawberry salad, and two had greens with smoked paprika dressing… both very good. I had the trout wellington for dinner… tasty trout in puff pastry with rice and mushrooms, served with two nicely grilled chunks of zucchini. We tried three desserts… all excellent. Strawberry bread pudding was not too heavy, with nice tart flavor. Pecan pie was good, and the dense chocolate cake was cool and silky. Our waiter cheerfully took care of group photos and our elderly mother’s special requests. They display and sell local artists’ works, including Loraine’s exquisite baskets. Make an evening of a ferry ride, and short walk to Café Seiche!

We were finally able to make it to Café Seiche our final night on the island. Thank goodness we did. We were warmly greeted, and quickly seated, narrowly avoiding the monsoon outside. From the first exchange with our engaging server Mitch, we were all in. We ordered nearly the entire menu. We all started with an exquisite strawberry salad. We followed with an incredible filet and Gorgonzola potatoes, as well as trout Wellington. We could not deny ourselves the chocolate truffle, rhubarb crisp, and coconut peanut butter chocolate desserts. The setting is inviting, the food was spectacular, and the service was a highlight of our week. If you find yourself on Madeline Island, even if you can’t find your hotel, do something right and let the staff of Café Seiche take you away for an hour or two…
BTW, Mitch, the girls are already planning a trip to Hollywood to take you up on your offer…
Michael Gramlick

Delicious. Outstanding service. Great desserts.
Its been a while, but I clearly remember the amazing steak I got, and the jaw-​droppingly delicious desserts. Blueberry crumble and a flourless chocolate torte — both fantastic. Our server was attentive and answered all our questions. It was great.
The menu changes weekly and reflects what is in season (to some extent). We’ll definitely go again when we are on Madeline next year.

I live on the Island. Sieche always blows my mind. I always leave feeling filled with healthy good energy food. Desserts are out of this world. I recommend everyone order a dessert and pass them to the left so everyones gets to try them all!

We went here for breakfast. Ella’s is more cozy but this place has the best quality food on the island… hands down. The chef is amazing! I’m not sure if it was just because when we were there it was considered off-​season but from the looks of it they make 2 main dishes each day along with some sides. Also, they make limited supply for the day too. So get there early! Prices are reasonable especially for the quality of food. Good strong coffee, friendly staff. It looked like only 1 chef in back so allow some time for the food to come out. If it’s nice outdoors they have plenty outdoor seating with a nice view of the beach. When we return to the island to visit again we’ll be going here!

I was pleased with our experience at Café Seiche. I believe their menu might be seasonal, so results may vary. The specials on the night I visited included beef tips with rice, prepared in a sort of fancy southwestern style. It was quite delicious. The waitress was very nice and very patient with our group, though I was disappointed with how long the food took. Our party of six took longer to receive our meals than a party of four that sat down after we did. Other than that, the restaurant has a very enjoyable atmosphere, and the chef is quite skilled – the rest of my party seemed to enjoy their meals immensely.

Best dining experience I’ve ever had! I’ve had vegetarian dishes, steak, chicken, shellfish, salmon, whitefish, among others and have always been extremely satisfied. MUST visit Café Seiche if you’re visiting Bayfield/​Madeline Island area!

Formerly Café Lotta, this charming island Café was taken over by a local and the food is prepared by a wonderful chef! The fish, meat and vegetables were fresh, local and delicious. Wine list was small but thoughtful. The waitress did not have much experience with the wine, but consulted with the kitchen and came up with a great pairing. The restaurant walls are hung with works from local artists and craftspeople with works for sale or just enjoyment. The locals are obviously embracing the place, and it is elegant enough for a night at a resort, but they were very hospitable to a couple (us) who came over the ferry with bicycles as well. I would vote this as a replacement for what the Bayfield Inn used to be-​worth a trip.