Entertainment, Friday Fish Fry, Late Night Dining, Outdoor Dining, Sunday Brunch,
The epitome of down-to-earth Bay View warmth and insouciance. Well-chosen wines and craft beers, and clever, well-balanced cocktails. The seasons dictate the menu to a certain degree, but you can count on the fabulous meats (chicken, lamb) cooked on the French rotisserie.
Think about dessert first. The pies (honeypie to banana cream), cupcakes and other sweets are all made in-house. Take a seat in a booth under photos of somebody’s relatives and have a pasty, mac and cheese or a Wisconsin grass-fed beef burger. Now back to that other topic – pies.
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Kindred’s opening menu starts in its small but share-able way, with lemongrass mussels, piri piri fried chicken leg, duck confit flatbread, parsnip gnocchi, fontina-stuffed lamb meatballs with spicy tomato sauce and edam cheese croquette. Read more…
A fine-dining, farm-to-table restaurant right on Capitol Square. One of downtown Madison’s most celebrated chefs at the moment is Tory Miller (2012 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Midwest) who took over L’Etoile when chef-founder Odessa Piper retired in 2005.
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The best seat in the house is at the kitchen counter, where you can watch your crab cakes, chopped salad and NY strip with Delmonico potatoes being prepared. The leather booths offer a little more privacy, and the bar, live entertainment and a nifty bar menu. Other standouts: fried surf clams and herb crumb-crusted halibut.
Menu of small and large plates, including scallops and a burger. Dim sum cart offers a selection of dumplings.
You’ll find morel mushrooms on occasion. And lots of rich preps of duck, lamb, beef and fish. If you don’t mind a little heat, the few seats at the kitchen counter (in view of the chefs) are the most entertaining spots in the house. Read more…
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Reservations Taken, Sunday Brunch,
Founded by James Beard Award-winning chef Sanford D??Amato; owned by JBA winner Justin Aprahamian. Unsurpassed for service and impeccable food. The global cuisine incorporates products from a long list of Wisconsin farms. The chefs prepare everything in-house, including butchering, preserving and canning. Elk, duck, fresh fish are all good choices. Offers surprise tasting and exploration menus. Desserts (a dozen offerings) is compulsory.
The emphasis on eating without utensils draws greater attention to the textures and flavors of the meat and vegetarian stews served directly on a thin, spongy pancake. Pop for the chicken doro wat ?? a spicy chicken stew (drumstick included) with hard-boiled egg. Group of four or more diners? Even better. Bond over beef tibs.
The tacos served here are in the style of L.A. taco trucks; the margaritas are made with free-squeezed lime juice. You build your margarita by choosing the tequila – there’s no shortage of options.
Other Locations: BelAir Cantina Downer, BelAir Cantina Tosa
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Has brought light back to the old Bosley on Brady space. Chef/owner Dane Baldwin (of Harbor House and Mr. B’s) brings his know-how to a hearty, flavorful little menu that includes fresh oysters, trout and beef short ribs. Read more…
Late Night Dining, Open For Lunch,
This is so much more than a restaurant named after space debris. Diner-y eats like meatloaf with beer gravy and the compact turkey dinner are instant pick-me-ups.
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Two levels of pulsating Middle Eastern music, and the perfumed fragrance of hookahs. Hookahs everywhere. If you’re here to eat (not inhale), order the appetizer combo, stuffed falafel and baked lamb.
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The eco-friendly dining room is often filled with city folk working on their laptops. The main food focus here: crepes, cromelettes (crepe-omelets) and panini. Great mushroom-barley burger.
Mentioned in: 4 Places to Eat Vegan In Milwaukee
Japanese and Thai cuisines. Sushi bar. Tempura, udon and teriyaki; noodle dishes like pad thai, curries and signature entrees.