Smoky Jon's

Smoky Jon's. You should visit the website before reading on. Go ahead, I'll wait.

Let's discuss . Number one, what is the first thing you see on the website? Two movies with still shots of an unreasonable amount of meat.  The meat is not arranged in a particularly attractive way. This is Smoky Jon's way of warning you, like a meat scarecrow. If a restaurant with an alter to meat on its front page doesn't appeal to you, then it's probably best you and Smoky Jon's go your separate ways right now.

Okay, you're still reading. Well done, brave meat soldier, you are in for a treat. I know your type. You know Smoky Jon's wants you to be worth of its meat, that Smoky Jon's won't pander to those who care about "how the meat is presented." Instead of focusing on the counting how many slaughtered animals are in these videos, you slow trip towards full meat frenzy. Your mouth has started watering. You can smell the meat and you know how the pork will be soft and juicy after sitting all day in the smoker. Read on, meat-adventurer. You are among friends.

During our carnivorous journey, we sampled a pork shoulder sandwich and a marinated tenderloin steak sandwich. Both came with Smoky Jon's sweet BBQ sauce on the side. This is a test. The BBQ sauce is not optional, though it is on the side. DO NOT EAT THE SANDWICH WITHOUT THE SAUCE. I cannot stress this enough. In fact, to eliminate any misunderstanding, here are the simple steps to optimize your enjoyment of that sandwich:

1. Take the top of the sandwich off
2. Smother all of the sandwich with the BBQ sauce that comes with the sandwich
3. Put the top back on
4. Pick up the sandwich to eat it.
5. DO NOT PUT THE SANDWICH DOWN UNTIL YOU ARE FINISHED. DO NOT STOP TO WIPE ANY OF THE DRIPPED SAUCE OFF ANYTHING.
6. After you are finished with the sandwich, take a shower.

All the sandwiches look good and come with sides. The sides are not as good. We had applesauce (bland and weird consistency), fried biscuits with powdered sugar (okay, not worth the angioplasty I'll have to get), spicy corn (actually, this was quite good), and french fries (they were good, but if you can't make good french fries, you should not cook food). But you didn't come here for the corn. You came for the meat. And you have left satisfied. Perhaps we shall meat again.*

*Don't you roll your eyes at me.

Bunky's Cafe

Let me start with this. The inside of Bunky's Cafe reminds me of what the inside of my head might look like, were it possible to see it. I don't really get the "vibe" they are going for...but I like it. It reminds of someone's living room and yet also a kind of italian bakery and yet ALSO a hippy gift shop. Yah, go ahead and imagine what that implies about me.

Anyway, the decor matches the food in a way. There's some italian, some mediterranean and also some more local, midwestern fare. All of which are good and none of which I am complaining about. We went with friends on a Monday night (apparently the first Monday they were ever open for dinner) and enjoyed pineapple....wrapped in bacon....drizzled with mango sauce as an appetizer. Yah, not sure what area of the world invented that but give them the good seats at the summit next time.

Dinner brought the four of us a variety of dishes- I had butternut squash ravioli with a marinara sauce, which was such a perfect fall meal. It had some toubouli in the middle which I found odd...but kind of a good concept. If the sauce weren't as thin I would say go for it. But even though it was thin, I still say go for it. My fellow diners got everything from lamb, to hummus and pita to okra.

Everyone enjoyed their meal and the friendly, welcoming service. The only odd thing was our waitress kept pushing these city tins. Oh well.

Overall, I would absolutely go back to Bunky's. It's fun, it's funky, the price is reasonable, and the food is high quality. Yatta!

Brocach

Ugh, I'm sorry to say that the first time we've gone out to eat someplace new lately it was a big fat disappointment. We were so hopeful when we saw the new Brocach open on Monroe Street. It seemed like the perfect fit for the block and brought something a little different. There have been a few failed restaurants lately but this had potential.

We decided our inaugural visit should be during brunch; which they had just started the day we went. I love brunch so sure, my expectations were high. But come on. First of all, service was slow and I SWEAR the wait staff was not older than 13. Really. It was a disturbing scene. But since they were so young they should really have moved faster. Anyway, the pre teens were friendly enough but didn't seem to have a firm handle on what was going on. Ok, fine. It's a new restaurant and brunch hasn't been done before, we'll cut them some slack. But they were out of stuff. On the menu. Which to our knowledge had not been used until that day. HOW could you be out? But I guess the yogurt parfait was not in the cards. I got a scrambler of sorts which was WAY too big and not all that tasty. Bob got bagel and lox which I think he enjoyed (even if he didn't know how to eat it- it was piled THIS high). He liked it. But didn't love it. And really, we deserve love here people.

So, in summary, it was an overpriced, under performing meal. We won't go back. And we'll tell all our friends to skip it. We're so mean.

Alchemy Cafe

Alchemy Cafe is the kind of place that Madison breeds. It's a bar with a good selection of highly alcoholic beers, served in glasses particular to your beer selection. The food is mostly organic. There is a clear commitment to locally sourcing both the food and drinks and informing the consumer about the source of their food. Some cities have dives. Madison has gastropubs, where foodies expect to know the farm which raised the cow for their burger and smell a sample of the grass the cow grazed. One of those statements is an exaggeration.

Alchemy is a cozy place inside. It does not take credit cards, but is kind enough to have an ATM inside (pet peeve alert: ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine... people who say "ATM machine" are best publicly humiliated). The lights are relatively low and they often have music, though not on our trip.

We went as part of REAP's local harvest: taste of the town. I got the burger special, which was seasoned with aioli and had some seasonal veggies. The burger was great... except for the meat part, which I ordered medium-rare but turned out very dry and shrunken, served in an over-sized bun.

We also tried the Matilda "burger," which is your standard butternut squash burger. What, you haven't had a butternut squash burger? Well, they're really good. A creative dish, pulled off well.

And I guess that kind of sums things up. A bar that makes a squash burger better than a beef burger. Someday, I'm going to miss Madison.

El Rincon Tico

Ok, it's pretty rare that we just flat out do not enjoy a restauranteering experience. But when we went to El Rincon Tico we left not only really disappointed but also...really hungry. Allow me to explain.

I have been excited about this place for months, really since I saw the sign announcing it's arrival. We are big fans of Cafe Costa Rica and Mango Man so Version 2.0 was bound to be good right? We went on a Friday night around 7pm, and got a table right away. And that was the highlight.

Service was slow. Like, really slow. And after our waitress would stop by once it would take days for her to stop again. She also didn't seem to know what she was doing. I mentioned this to a friend she reminded me that this would be what is called "bad service." YES, bad service. Definitely bad service.

We both ordered the special (some kind of garlic chicken with potato stew and plantains), which not only came out suuppeerrr slowly but came out without plantains. THIS, was not acceptable. Before we could ask about where they were our waitress left and never came back. We started to eat- the food was lukewarm and bland. Our waitress FINALLY came back to "check on us" and we asked about the plantains. "Oh, we ran out. But I thought you two would get the last ones." Well, no, we didn't. Thanks for the heads up.

Anyway, we tolerated the rest of the meal, waited 20 minutes to pay the check, then got out of there. Still hungry. So, I made us stop by Willy Street Co-op to buy..you guessed it...plantains. Which we proceeded to take home, cook, and eat.

Ugh, I am so sad. But I just can't stay too mad at Mango Man.

Chautara

Chautara is one of SEVERAL Nepalese restaurants in Madison. Think it's surprising that there are an abundance of Nepali cuisine in deep-fried apple pie Wisconsin? We think so too. Yet, this is the curious situation in which we now find ourselves, and there's nothing for it but to soldier on, sample the food, and blog about it.

Here are our findings: First, Chautara is located on State St. and has outdoor seating. We note this as a plus. Second, unlike certain other Nepalese restaurants on the 300 block of State St. that I could name *cough* Himal Chuli *cough*, this restaurant serves meat. And not just meat, but my favorite meat, Lamb. We note this as another plus. Third, the menu looked pretty good, a nice mix of meat dishes balanced with grains (mostly rice) or vegetables (including the nice use of chickpeas). But the specials sounded great, and I opted for the market Lamb with Daal (thinner than other's I've had, more soupy, but tasty) and some seasonal veggies like patty-pan squash. I'll give this another plus.

So I guess Chautara gets three pluses. Out of how many? Oh, I don't know. Let's say four. Three out of four is pretty good, in my book, which is the one you are reading. All in all, it was a good, straightforward meal of traditionally cooked meat and roasted veggies with a nice soup, located on State St. I know it's a Nepalese restaurant, but that epitomizes good Midwest food for me.

Marigold Kitchen

Marigold is a cute just-off-the-capital-square restaurant. Yes, I know there are many but I would say that Marigold definitely stands out. It's pricy (maybe over priced) but really, what isn't these days? If you want a cheap meal, this probably wouldn't be your first stop but if you want a quality, pretty speedy meal prepared with care by people who obviously love food check it out. In fact, why haven't you gone already?

It offers fresh seasonal fare (seriously, if I had a dollar for every time we said that phrase on this blog; sheesh get over yourself Madison. But don't really because I love you) and I really love the charming simple interior. They have great outdoor seating and the case of tarts and baked goods near the register is edible decoration, I swear.

Breakfast is your best bet here because surprisingly, there aren't a lot of (good) breakfast options in this area. Lots of veggies, goat cheese and eggs. Can't go wrong. I've enjoyed quiche (which changes regularly) and scramblers (which also changes regularly) and really, anything that changes due to the seasons is a win in my book.

The only caveat is that it can get pretty busy, so maybe go at off times. But definitely go!

The Merchant

I watched The Merchant move in, redesign the corner, and open to the public, since it's just about a block from work and I would often walk by on the way to the post office, farmer's market, and the dozens of other restaurants in the area. I couldn't decide if it was going to be a grocery, cocktail/wine bar, restaurant, etc. Turns out it's kind of all three.

We went there last night by accident almost. We had intended to go to Graze, a long standing favorite, but with a 45 minute wait, we were too hungry to put off our own grazing. So, we wondered over to The Merchant and snagged a table outside- PERFECT. It was a good omen of things to come.

The menu is ideal- local ingredients, seasonal options, etc. Their website describes their cooking as regional American fare that is simple and comforting. I think it's super accurate. Here's why- between the two of us we ordered: watermelon and cucumber salad with ricotta, a grilled cheese and lavender honey sandwich, two bowls of creamy roasted corn soup, and a bbq beef brisket sandwich. I thought the grilled cheese was just a little on the simple side (though, it was only $8) but the honey really elevated it. Everything else was good (the roasted corn soup in particular) and washed it all down with a lovely glass of beaujolais.

Ok, it's on the pricey side, but it IS right off the square, surrounded by plenty of pricey. Hipsters will probably like it, but we think probably will most people. Plus, did you hear about all this confusion over whether or not Scott Walker was "kicked out" of this place? Lots of rumors- but we find them amusing. Solidarity Merchant!

Taste of Madison

Ok, so we had to debate whether Taste of Madison counts as a "restaurant." We also debated if we could count food sampled from a new restaurant as eating at that restaurant. I think we decided no...but still wanted to blog about the Taste and since we did it last year, we are justified!

We just love the taste. Betsy's parents are often in town over labor day so it has become a little bit of a tradition for the four of us.

With over 80 restaurants serving small tastes of some of their specialities, you could easily spend hundreds of dollars and eat your weight in food. We paced ourselves and tried food from probably 7-8 different restaurants.....mostly desserts.

With a chocolate chip cookie dough egg roll (I remembered these from last year), a frozen piece of cheesecake dipped in chocolate, deep fried cheese curds, mango gelato, jerk pork, falafel wrap, a beignet (see, I told you we had a lot of desserts), and a chicken stuffed jalapeno, we were pretty happy. Though, I was desperate for an empanada from Caracas but sadly, they were sold out by the time we worked our way through the crowd.

Great food, great fun! Though, the music stages are annoying. Maybe we're old?

Brasserie V

Apparently brasserie is French for brewer. Who knew? The name tips us off immediately that Brasserie V will be a restaurant devoted to the beers it brews. Did you notice I sent you to the "Beer" page? I did. I was going to count the number of beers they offer, but one look at the list makes it obvious that this is a fool's errand. I've tried many but will never get to them all, and despair of suggesting anything with such a small sample of their overall offering. They have over 40 Belgian beers alone. That's a big Belgian bender, that is.

The foods good too. Too good. Actually it's just pretty good, but good enough to bring in too many people. The place is pretty crowded during lunch and dinner, even the nice long bar. There's not exactly a lot of room to wait either. You should call for reservations if you want to go when normal people eat.

Ok, seriously the food. It's good. Nice franco/european fare, like steak-frites with aioli, but with a Madison effort to source food locally and inform their customers about the farms and dairies that make their meal possible. In addition to the steak-frites, I've had the V Burger and the Pork Belly, and they've both turned out pretty nicely.

I would say that Brasserie V shoots a little higher than it seems they can cook. Their food prices are moderately upscale, and the food they serve is good but not great. I like their steak-frites, but I've had better, just down the street at Jacs. The pork belly was good, but not as good as Graze and not in the same universe as the food at L'Etoile. If you go there, go for the relaxed atmosphere, the excellent selection of beers, and the good sandwiches.

Steenbock's on Orchard

Hearing that a new restaurant opened up on campus didn't really excite me all that much. I mean, I think I was burned pretty bad by the horror that was the old Union South. However, Steenbock's is in the new Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery and it is....cool. The whole building is amazing- serene, modern, water everywhere. The instant I walked inside I wanted to hang out forever.

Anyway, that's all about the WID and not the restaurant. Steenbock's on Orchard is bringing a whole new level of class to that part of campus. We went during restaurant week (which is probably our favorite week of the year) and so with three courses (well, six with the two of us) we feel as though we got a good sense of the potential. The food was excellent- fresh, local. Which in this town is almost a given I suppose. Apparently they make their own jams and cure their own meats which is pretty groovy. It's light, lots of windows, super tall ceilings and you can easily hear all those water fountains and displays as you sit, relax, and eat a good meal. Between the two of us we tried salad, soup, sandwich, pasta, chocolate cake and strawberry shortcake. Yah, this place knows us well.

It is seriously nice to have a place like this in the south/west part of campus- especially partnered with the fabulousness that is the new union south. It's a new happenin hot spot!

Fresco

First, go check out the pictures in the Gallery page of Fresco's website. I'm serious, go check it out. I'll wait.

If you've gone to their website, continue. If not, return to the previous paragraph.

Ok, that's the biggest reason to go to Fresco. Rooftop restaurants in Madison are not exactly common. It's a beautiful city, but it's not very tall, and most of the eateries are solidly ground level or below (RIP Underground Kitchen... at least temporarily). Fresco is located on the top floor of the Overture Center for the Arts, which also houses the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. It's a short walk from the Capitol, which can be seen from some spots in the restaurant. The inside section is separated from outside by all glass walls, maintaining the view even in the comfort of indoors.

But let's not get carried away. Despite being a "rooftop" restaurant, I think it's on the 3rd floor, so it doesn't exactly tower over the land below. And the view from Graze is probably a better one, despite solidly terrestrial footing. So let's stop gushing and get to the food, shall we?

Almost. Fresco is also unique in Madison for it's modern-artsy decor. Funny shaped plates, uneven bowls, bright solid colors. It feels right, existing one floor above a modern art museum.

Ok ok the food. Pretty good. Not amazing, but solid. The menu is relatively small, which conveys confidence that what's on there will be good. Most of the dishes are meat or seafood, which seemed a little unusually heavy but probably fit with the fancy-pants city restaurant theme. Their menu is largely seasonal in fruit and vegetable selection, though the abundance of seafood indicates less than strict localvore sensibility. The menu changes regularly (another indicator of excellence), so I won't talk details. General feeling was their dishes were good but under vegetabled. Some of the parts of the dish I was most excited about were little more than garnishes for the meat. The food was done well and presented nicely.

Let's be honest here. The menu is pricey ($20/entree), but the reason to go here is for the ambiance. I've actually never been when it's dark (the two times we've made it were at the height of summer), but I bet it's a romantic spot to have a dinner. Personally, if I had money to burn I'd go to some of Madison's other fine dining establishments. But it is worth a visit, if just to see what Madison looks like from the 3rd story.

Maharani

I'll start with some advice. Do not go to Maharani if you're in a fight with your significant other. We tried it- BIG mistake. Amusing to look back on but totally unfair for the restaurant. We have been there before (peacefully) but for some reason some small argument seemed to escalate and linger over our garlic naan, mango lassis and curry. OOPS. (in case you're wondering, we totally made up the second we left- perfect timing I know).

We have frequented all of the Indian restaurants in Madison (that we know of) and while I have nothing really negative to say about any of them I will say that they all feel kind of the same. Buffet of assorted Indian specialities and classics (for instance-samosas, which are a real highlight for me), kind of awkward service, attentive filling of the water glasses, and a bit on the pricey (overpriced?) side. I guess I would give Maharani a bit of an edge because of its location- very close to the capital- and most of the other Indian restaurants are a bit out there (though, Flavor of India is one exception). Check out some of the reviews they have on their website- I could get behind most of those comments but I wasn't inspired enough to get all crazy.

Sometimes you just want Indian food- and so Maharani is a great option if you're in the mood. Nice convenient location, buffets at lunch (and brunch on the weekends), and a overly animated websites (seriously, go check it out).

Pita Pit

This may be the shortest post in Mad Sampler history but I'm wracking my brain to come up with something witty to say about Pita Pit. They make pita sandwiches and write funny descriptions of the contents. Bam! We ate there once, both our pitas were good (philly steak and turkey), and we'll likely eat there again. I kind of have a thing for "theme" restaurants. And given that I think that pitas are amazing, this is a great themed restaurant for me.

Prices are good and if you use badgerbites, they deliver.

Cheap eats, pitas of every size and shape though if you want to go someplace with food you could NOT easily make yourself at home, you probably don't want to go here.

Roman Candle

If I weren't so persnickety about my beets this post would have been a 100% positive post. As it is now, it's a 97% positive post. We have to thank our friends at Eating in Madison A to Z for recommending Roman Candle's Algo Malo pizza, after I bemoaned Ian's Pizza's lack of beet options. Those folks are the real pros at food blogging and criticism...for reals. I'll just get this off my chest now- I was kind of disappointed with the beet density on that pizza. All the ingredients were delicious, fresh (onions, walnuts, garlic, etc). But a few beets here and there does not a beet pizza make. However, as I said, not everyone is focused on quantity when it comes to beets (thus, I only took off 3% points).

Anyway, in our humble opinion (because even a sparsely beet-ed up pizza can't change our view of this place too much) , Roman Candle Pizzeria is one of Madison's best pizza places. They have tasty pizza, unique toppings and homemade spicy sauce. Lots of options for vegetarians (hello, fennel) and carnivores (mmm..sausage). We have ordered from them numerous times and been quite satisfied. We also enjoy eating "in" (well, their Willy Street location) and soaking in the sights of Willy Street. There are several locations in the Greater Madison area and in fact, I'm using them to "cater" a work thing I'm doing in a couple of weeks. Can you cater pizza? Anyway, I like them so much I want to share them with non Madisonians.

Underground Kitchen

Restaurant/bakery? People do that all the time. Restaurant/bar? Please. Restaurant/Meat Market? Well, that's a little more unusual. That's a little more Madison.

So we've established it's a distinctive place. It occupies the location of a favorite from the past, Cafe Momartre, and it's done well with the space. Inside, it feels like a minimalist restaurant/meat market, with the painted brick and exposed timber.

The menu is small but well conceived. There are meat and cheese boards for a table to sample, though we didn't get either of these. Also there were the pickle platter and pretzel dogs. We didn't get these either. What we did order were the tilapia and cavatelli pasta. Betsy said the cavatelli was amazing. In fact, she asked me to emphasize it, so I might write AMAZING. At any rate, my tilapia was pretty good. PRETTY GOOD.

All in all, I probably should have ordered something a little different. I could have made a dinner out of the pickle platter and the meat board. At any rate, the tilapia was not bad, but I found the whole thing just a little overpriced. It seems like this place should be more casual/upscale, with casual/upscale prices rather than upscale upscale prices. UPSCALE PRICES.

In the end, I'd recommend the Underground Kitchen. IF YOU'RE A MILLIONAIRE. I mean, it's good, but if you're going to spend that kind of money, I think you should go to one of the other fine dining establishments in the Madison area. If you're set on the pickles, there's still Graze.

Ian's Pizza

You know, I have commented, more than once, on the mediocre quality of Italian food in Madison. And I stand by that- there are a couple of gems but by and large they are just so so.

However, I do find that pizza in Madison is excellent. Probably because it's a college town and probably because most pizza in the midwest (or really, in the US) is not so much authentic. We've definitely Americanized pizza. No complaints. But when we get pizza from Ian's, a local favorite, it reminds me nothing of Italy and everything of Madison. By and large, my favorite kind is the mac and cheese. And I am not alone- it's their highest selling slice. But besides the mac and cheese there are always incredibly creative and inventive options. Such as the guacamole burrito pizza, the chicken pot pie pizza, the bbq steak and fries pizza, the drunken ravioli pizza and the farmer's market veggie pizza (wow does that one sound boring now). They have a featured pizza of the week, which keeps things interesting.

It's super affordable, you get huge slices and their salads are actually delicious. No iceberg and carrot shavings business here- try fresh mixed greens, cranberries, and nuts.

This might be my favorite Madison pizza place and I have never heard anyone in Madison say one word against them. It's "so Madison" as I would say. If only they would heed my advice to make beet pizza. Seriously, it could be the new mac and cheese guys.

Lakeview Bakery and Deli

Always nice to find another lunch place within walking distance of work. A colleague recommended we head to Lakeview Bakery and Deli for lunch after hearing rave reviews so we decided to check it out. We were not disappointed- food was excellent! And I hear it's not just excellent for lunch- apparently breakfast is great too. I'll definitely be testing that theory soon.

They have some nice "box lunch" options where you can get a sandwich, a salad, and a cookie for $7. I went that route- with an amazing spinach and strawberry salad as the side and a tasty turkey guacamole sandwich as the main event. Bread was clearly freshly baked which improved the experience. The salads seem like they change each day, and include pasta, greens and fruit. Hey, as long as the "salad" isn't iceberg lettuce with some shaved carrots, I am happy.

Prices are good, ambience was a little quirky (in a good way), staff was friendly and for a small coffee shop type place in the first floor of a hotel, the food is much better than expected. I have no qualms telling you to go and enjoy!

The Tipsy Cow

The first time I noticed the Tipsy Cow had gone into the space previously occupied by King and Mane is when I saw the entrance way painted to look like a cow. Already, I liked it better. However, I learned (after eating there) that the revamping and makeover was done by the same owners who were attempting to revive the business.

I had high hopes heading there for lunch with some co-workers mostly because the name is fantastic and I never got into King and Mane (they used to have great tomato bisque and then for some reason, changed the recipe- probably just to spite me). But the menu is just so-so- lots of fried stuff, everything a la carte, and there is essentially nothing for vegetarians. The fried cheese curds were fantastic- no complaints there (fine, I suppose vegetarians can get their fill of fried cheese). And again, it's not as though the food was bad- in fact, it was decent. I had a turkey sandwich with spicy mustard and bacon. But with all of the gastro pub type places on the square this place really can't measure up. I'm not sure I'll be back but the allure of the cow painted entrance/sidewalk might be strong enough to get another lunch out of me. Time will tell.

Madison Sourdough

First of all, let me say this: Madison has a significant brunch selection. Among our favorites is Graze (for the varied menu and great view of the capitol through a huge plate-glass front), La Baguette (for their amazing Quiche), Zuzu (because it is around the corner and has a breakfast egg sandwich special that's pretty cheap), Lazy Jane's (for the Willy Street hipster in us), and most recently, Sophias (for the pastries and sweets).

All that being said, Madison Sourdough stands out. First, it looks like it's in an old car repair garage. It has two huge front windows that fill the bay doors and let in lots of light. Second, it's fundamentally a bakery, and so their breads are the best. When we go back, we're going to make sure we require bread so we have an excuse to... um... buy their bread.

Thirdly, their breakfast sandwich. It's a breakfast egg sandwich. Like Zuzu. Except amazing. Part of it is the croissant, which would have been a great brunch even on its own. But the chessy-eggy goodness inside was just as important. If I had to visit the places we've already been for brunch, I would go to Madison Sourdough, Madison Sourdough, Graze, Madison Sourdough, La Baguette, Graze, Madison Sourdough, and Madison Sourdough. I'd do that 100 times, and then go to Zuzu, to remember what normal food tastes like, kind of reset the palate.

Monty's Blue Plate Diner

I love diners. And so, it would stand to reason that I would love Monty's. Plus, the last time we went we ate at the counter on stools. How diner-y is that?! So, that part was great though in general, I have to admit that Monty's is a little over rated. People in this town rave about it and while I can't quite work myself into a frenzy over this place I do think it's a solid (and unique) Madison food experience.

The menu is super diverse ranging from mac n cheese to salads to vegan sandwiches to breakfast burritos (yes, they serve breakfast all day) to plain old burgers (which really, are anything but plain or old). Usually I am annoyed when a restaurant tries to do too much with the menu. Just pick what you are good at and make that reallllyyyy good. However, I think Monty's pulls it off pretty well.

Bob always gets the Heathen Vegan which apparently is delicious. I try to mix it up a little and this last time ordered a hot chocolate (which came with a tower of whipped cream. seriously, a tower), the mediterranean plate (which Bob and I split) and something off the "local" menu- beet salad with apples, goat cheese, and walnuts. I was most excited about the concept of a local menu and I NEVER pass up the opportunity to order a beet salad. I am drawn to beet salads like a magnet. Sadly, I was a bit disappointed by it (a word of caution- I am super picky about my beet salads and because I've had a million of them, it takes a lot to measure up to the truly great ones). The beets were slightly undercooked and the dressing lacked a little flavor. I did enjoy the goat cheese crustini but I think I would have preferred the cheese IN the salad not on a piece of bread next to the salad. I totally sound snobby now so I will stop.

The mediterranean plate was great- hummus had "stuff" in it- like carrots- which we liked and the tabouli was a tasty complement. The only thing I regret is that it was too much food and we couldn't finish everything- portions are pretty sizeable here.

Overall I will say that the food was good (if not a little overpriced) and we will certainly go back. Plus, it's part of Food Fight Inc and you kinda can't go wrong with those guys.

Cranberry Creek Cafe

Working downtown has its advantages. There are a lot of options for lunch but when the weather is nice I really enjoy walking over to Cranberry Creek Cafe, grabbing some fruit salad and whatever-entree-of-the-day they have cooked up and heading outside to sit on the capital lawn or on the picnic tables in front of my office building. Cranberry Creek puts its menu online so you can choose which day will be best for eating out and that has really helped this obsessive organizer plan out the week.

There are always soups, vegetarian and meaty, salads (pasta, fruit, etc), and usually some kind of lasagna, baked meat of some sort, or my favorite, mac and cheese. It's made daily and you can tell. It's also very tasty and very fresh and best of all- very affordable. The staff are really friendly and always helpful. They never push anything on you (like those giant rice krispie treats need pushing) and overall it's a quick, efficient experience. I get the feeling that there are a lot of regulars who go in there for lunch- perhaps one day I can stroll in, ask for my "usual" and stroll out feeling special.

I gotta say- it's nice to have a high quality, grab and go lunch place nearby.

Sophia's Bakery and Cafe

Tiny space. Big, delicious, and tasty food. That's how I would summarize Sophia's. We have talked about going to Sophia's forever. People tell us it's good, we don't go. People tell us it's great, we still don't go. People say "you must go to Sophia's for breakfast or your life will not be complete" and you guessed it, we don't go. Who knows what got us to finally get over there. Technically it was Easter Sunday so perhaps that was it. It could be that I was wearing bright teal tights and felt like celebrating. Likely that was it.

Anyway, we walked into a restaurant that could not have been bigger than our living room. Oh, you haven't been to our apartment? Eat at Sophia's and you'll have a better understanding. Wait, you haven't gone to Sophia's yet? Vicious circle. The size was stressful to me at first; especially since all of the 5 tables were full. And there was a line. But it worked out (Bob always tells me it will, I always glare at people urging them to hurry up with their food and get out) and we got a table in the back corner after climbing over 3-4 people. I ordered strawberry waffles and with some whipped cream and fruity goodness it was one of the best breakfasts I've had in Madison. Bob got cottage cheese pancakes and I coveted them the entire time. What a genius combination! There were millions of things we could have gotten including a variety of egg dishes, crepes (sooo tempted), and the most beautiful baked goods!

The whole place had a french inspired feel and really, I'm being too harsh about the size and crowded feel. Don't get me wrong-it's suuupppeeer small but the food is more than worth it and if it's nice, get your food to go and eat outside, eat at the park. Eat in your car, the food is spectacular you won't really notice. On a final note- at Sophia's you order your food when you get in but you don't pay until you are on your way out. I guess it's no big deal but it was initially strange. And you have to repeat back what you ordered. Good thing I could not forget the amazingness of my dish if I tried.

Don't be like us! Don't delay in getting to Sophia's. You'll feel european. And completely satisfied.

New Orleans Take Out

If you're in the mood for a Po' Boy or decent gumbo, you should check this place out. But if you live in a city that has winter and Zombie rallies, New Orleans Take Out might be a more suitable choice. I don't know the story about how Madison managed to have a pretty authentic New Orleans style take out place, and the website is frustratingly unhelpful, despite being otherwise thorough. On a side note, you should check out the photo of Brett Favre at NOTO for his 10th wedding anniversary. Interesting they're leaving that up there here in Wisconsin.

Anyway, the food felt genuine, and our order was ready in about 20 min. They seemed pretty laid back, which fed into the NO feel, but they made sure they got our order right despite recording the wrong name. It was also priced appropriately.

Surprisingly, there is another New Orleans style restaurant in Madison, the Bayou. Betsy and I went there when it first opened... and it was pretty bad. Food was relatively tasteless and took forever to come out of the kitchen. To be fair, it had just opened, so maybe they've got their act more together. We haven't reviewed it because we haven't been back. But if you have the choice, do what Brett Favre did. Not that thing, the eating at NOTO thing.

Michael's Frozen Custard

I've only ever purchased one thing from this custard-ery: the chocolate chip cookie dough hot fudge sundae. It's a standard sundae with hot fudge and little cookie dough pellets sprinkled on. Now, I don't want to brag, but I'm one of the world's foremost experts on cookie dough and cookie dough-related dairy confections. Ben and Jerry's is a good one, and I've been known to eat a pint in a single sitting, followed by several seconds of self-loathing before my stomach tells my brain it wants more cookie dough. Their cookie dough is the correct size (~0.5"-1" in diameter), consistency (chewy), and a decent enough cookie dough to iced cream ratio (although my optimum would be 100% cookie dough). For comparison, Michael's begins with smaller cookie dough chunks that are a little more solid, and they are a topping rather than sprinkled through the custard bulk. If this were all there were too it, then it would fall far short of Ben and Jerry's.

But that's not all there is too it. There's also the hot fudge, which not only adds delicious delicious hot fudge, but also helps melt the custard a little bit, pulling the whole thing together. It becomes more than the sum of its parts, like a sunset over an ocean. With a shooting star. Their only mistake is insisting on Maraschino cherries, the Mark of the Devil staining god's creation. Not everyone's perfect.

I should probably say Betsy also enjoys a different dessert, the mint chocolate chip shake. They're much better than shamrock shakes, which I recently found out, are disgusting. I think she's had a couple other sundaes as well, all of which were enjoyed.

Michael's does also have some food. But why would anyone eat it?

Umami

I was excited when a friend suggested we try out this relatively new Madison restaurant most because I haven't really given Japanese restaurants in Madison a chance and this one did boast Japanese authenticity. Umami did not disappoint. Although, it's difficult to find because it looks like a house, is set back from the street, and the sign is tiny, the ambiance and food makes up for the confusion it caused me.

Essentially, the menu boasts dumplings and ramen and in fact, I believe they call themselves a dumpling and ramen bar. But we did start with edamame because I'm incapable of not ordering edamame when offered. Anyway, on to dinner. Admittedly, I am anti-ramen after too many salty (yet cheap) dinners in college and life on a much smaller budget (not to mention a less refined palette). So I went with the dumplings. My co-diner went ramen and I know now that ramen does not have to come in a 5 cent orange package. It was served in a beautiful wooden bowl and smelled amazing! Options included meat and non meat with optional toppings (such as pork belly which I'm sorry, sounds terrible but is probably great). My dumplings were devoured quickly- a little pork, some veggies, and pan seared with a sweet soy dipping sauce. Dumplings for dinner! A success! I wondered at first if I would want more variety on my plate but it didn't turn out that way. The flavor was rich and distinct and I enjoyed each dumpling better than the last.

The fact that this restaurant is a renovated house helped make the experience all that more enjoyable. The owners describe it as "hip, not pretentious" and I'm inclined to agree. It feels modern and sleek but also inviting and well, hip. I think they nailed that one.

I am definitely going back to Umami for more ramen and dumplings and anything else they'd like to serve me. I like the simplicity of the menu and the food even though it does provide my entire sodium intake for the day.

Cosi

We happened into Cosi quite randomly really. With no intention to actually eat there, we found ourselves starving after a full morning of protesting (it really takes a lot out of you). Wandering down state street, we passed restaurant after restaurant stuffed full of other protesters. Approaching Cosi, we saw some empty tables and took advantage! I had been there once years earlier and didn't remember much about it; except that it was a lot like Panera. And it WAS like Panera. But first, I should tell you that it also appeared to be a Scott Walker support hang out (eek). We looked around and saw far too many signs in solidarity with our squirrel-y governor. We preferred signs like these. Brave souls that we were we felt the midwestern civility would prevail. Plus, we were starving.

I'm realizing that this post is not really about Cosi. But honestly, there is not all that much to say. Food options were mostly soups, salads, and sandwiches. They had plenty for vegetarians and meat eaters alike and the food tasted fresh and tasty. We both ordered sandwiches (me a tuscan pesto chicken) and it was good, especially the bread, but then again, anything panini-ed is a win in my book. Prices were good, service was speedy (despite a super busy dining room) and overall, it was a nice place to stop for lunch. But, it definitely feels like a chain and there is nothing outstanding about their food. So, bottom line is, hungry protesters can't be all that choosy.

Taste of the Market Breakfast

Yes, I know that the Dane County Farmer's Market Breakfast is not a restaurant. But from January through April, it might as well be. Every Saturday morning from 8:30 until about 11, DCFM sponsors a community, "taste of the market" breakfast at the Senior Center. It's $7.50 for adults, half that for kids, and worth every penny. Each week a local chef along with student, farmer, and community volunteers prepare and serve the meal. Not only is the food good, but it's usually creative and of course for those of us who struggle deciding with a big menu, this one's easy- your only choice is to identify yourself as a vegetarian or carnivore. I can handle that.

I also like the feel of the breakfast. Lots of people- always busy, communal tables, and if you get a seat on the first floor you can literally reach out and grab some produce from the market stands. It can be cramped and crowded for sure and the system for dropping off your trays drives me nuts (seriously, would a little efficiency hurt anyone?) but it's all in good fun. Local musicians play for a bit in the morning which help it feel all the more lively.

This past weekend was a mediterranean theme:

-Pork and lamb meatball pita with red bean hummus and root vegetable slaw, including beauty heart radishes, carrots, and beets (veggie option was chevre fritters instead of meatballs).
-Wheat berry celery root spinach salad finished with a sumac vinaigrette.
-Apple hickory nut pastry.
-Organic fair trade coffee or tea and cranberry juice.

I opted to be a vegetarian on Saturday which I felt was a good choice- I have a hard time turning down goat cheese. Bob was the meat eater and I think we both came away very happy. I was pleasantly surprised with the tastiness of the sumac vinaigrette. Kudos to Chef Dan and Jason (of the Madison Club) for the good food and good times (though part of that good time is owed to the spectacular people watching available at these things).

The best part? Each week different food, different chefs, different experience.

Dobra Tea

I love tea. And as a tea drinker, it's tough to get respect in a city full of coffee houses. Enter Dobra Tea. I met a friend there tonight and I am already planning my next trip. It's some kind of tea heaven. Of course, it's also the kind of thing that would wind up on stuff white people like. But I don't care. It's still great. It's cozy, with little nooks and crannies to talk, to study, to ready, and of course, to drink tea. Other plus- it did not appear to be crawling with students. It was refreshing.

It's casual and relaxed with the right amount of hippy trippy. We sat on a raised platform on the floor with one of those little short tables and plenty of cushions. It's the only way to enjoy tea. The menu is huge, with teas from around the world. Their menu itself is kind of fun- rich, flowery descriptions and a clever system to detect the number of refills you get (you'll just have to go and decipher it for yourself). Plus, they give you a little bell you're supposed to ring when you're ready to order. There can be nothing bad about a place that asks you to ring a bell when you need service. LOVE.

We ordered herbal rooibus chai- something I did not know existed and the experience of the whole tea service was so fun. Cute little pot, cute little cups, great tasting tea. I wish I could have stayed hours longer and tried more and more and more tea. I think for me, tea houses are 99% ambiance.

We also got some food- couscous casablanca and hummus. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality. I see no reason to make couscous any other way from here on out. Perfectly cooked, filled with nuts and fruit, and a sweet taste (probably due to the honey).

I'm not sure I have anything negative to say about Dobra. They did forget to bring our hummus for awhile, but I'm so over it. I'll be there again soon! Save a cushion for me.

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

Capriotti's sandwich shop. Yes, it's a chain. In fact, this is the second one I've been to (the first was in Las Vegas). Looking at their map, they're spread out around the country for some reason. So let's make this a short one.

This is basically fast food, like a glorified subway. It's a little far for lunch or else I'd probably go there instead of the Library. The normal sandwiches and subs look pretty ordinary, again, same kind of thing you'd get at subway. But it has some specialties that are unique and delicious, including a general slaw-on-sandwich theme, which fits well into a sweet-topping-on-meat theme. It makes for a unique feel and specialty feel despite having locations in 11 states.I had the "Bobbie." Cranberry sauce, stuffing, and shaved turkey on a sub bun. It's a Thanksgiving sandwich, and if the Pilgrims had it, they wouldn't have needed any help with the food situation.

The Old Fashioned

We have frequented the Old Fashioned many times in our tenure here. But recently, if we want their brand of comfort food, we hop on straight 2 your door and have it come to us. Because that place drives me nuts. It's always packed. More than packed. And loud. And they don't take reservations so if you're hungry on a Friday night forget about it. God, do I sound old yet? But honestly, I love the food. I'm just glad I can eat the food in the comfort of my cozy living room.

The Old Fashioned is very Wisconsin and seems to celebrate all that is this state- there is no shortage of meat, beer, and cheese. Which I imagine most natives are probably gaga over. I usually choose the Mac and Cheese..for many reasons. It's got sharp cheddar, sarvecchio, and topped with toasted breadcrumbs. That should be enough reasons. Any number of their sandwiches are also top notch- pulled pork, smoked turkey, build your own burger. Yum. They have some good nightly specials and if they ever aren't stuffed to the gills with locals, it could be a fun after-work spot. It can get pricy but it's high end tavern food and a fantastic location right on the capital square.

I hear they now serve breakfast on the weekdays which I am excited to try- a new adventure for them...and for me!

Indie Coffee

Indie Coffee has always been a coffee house highlight in Madison. However, coupled with a glorious snow day AND waffle wednesday, it has gone above and beyond typical coffee house fame. Thanks to a grand conspiracy between Biddy Martin, Scott Walker and Mother Nature, the city was pretty shut down today. Meaning not only were we two twenty-somethings with a day suddenly free but we were also starving because our microwave broke and we have ungodly amounts of left overs.

Off to Indie we went, trudging through the snow and wishing we had 1) skiis or 2) snowshoes. We were greeted with a friendly face exclaiming "it's waffle wednesday!" Meaning you get $1 off your waffles if you get a hot beverage. I'm still trying to decide if this is actually a good deal or just a clever way to use alliteration.

However, we both got waffles (I the red and white (aka strawberries and whipped cream) and Bob the grasshopper (aka walnuts)) and a hot beverage and sat down. Personally I love sitting by the window so we can play tic-tac-toe on the fogged up windows.

The food did not disappoint. The waffles were fantastic! And so are their breakfast sandwiches. And so are their biscotti. The variety of choices in Indie has always been great- and for a coffee house to have such good food is a rare treat. It's also just a very cozy place. This tea lover loves Indie. And so should you!

The Blue Marlin

Madison is on an isthmus. We're surrounded by lakes, we've got them coming out of our ears. I've seen lots of fish that we're medically discouraged from eating. One time, I saw a turtle from a bridge in the park near our house.

My point is simply that it's not weird to have a sea food restaurant in the heart of the midwest... where there's no sea. The lack of any sizable body of water does not deter the intrepid Blue Marlin. Like the great fish itself, it stands majestic, alone (with Ocean Grill) at the top of the high-end seafood scene in Madison.

The restaurant itself is much smaller than I thought it would be. Perhaps we should call it The blue shrimp? Blue Sardine? Anyway, it was very quiet and cozy and a nice place for a date.

As far as the food goes, thankfully, absolutely nothing was local. It was genuine seafood that you have to work pretty hard to find around here. I started with the mussels and my wife got oysters, both good if not great. For our main courses we had shrimp, which my wife liked, and I had salt encrusted baked salmon. Again, it was nice to have some fish, a good change of pace, and yet, I felt like it didn't exactly push the fish envelope. Perhaps my expectations were a little too high going in, but I can't help thinking that Blue Marlin rests easy knowing if it does seafood pretty well, it'll be the best seafood restaurant in Madison.

I don't mean to say it was bad. It wasn't, and I enjoyed my dinner. But next time we go for a dinner date, we'll try the local food. Okay, maybe more like this local food.

43 North

Apparently, Cafe Continental is no longer at 108 King Street. We discovered that last night when we went to 43 North for dinner. Turns out, I am not at all disappointed- Restaurant Week ended with a bang! 43 North was delicious and perfectly satisfied our inner foodie. It is pretty upscale- how I describe anyplace with an amuse bouche. Especially a duck confit amuse bouche.

The menu was creative and unusual...and amazing. We started with a "butter service." Meaning fresh, warm rolls and three butter options- all Wisconsin made, all perfect. Our waiter loved to tell us all about the food, where it came from, how it was prepared, etc. Food is really the perfect conversation piece.

I ordered a baby greens salad with horseradish vinaigrette to start and I literally wiped the plate clean. Bob had some chicken thigh-lentil-rutabega puree thing. He claims it was tasty and I am inclined to believe him. The main course was even better- hazelnut cannelloni stuffed with spinach. YUM. I was so engrossed I wasn't sure what Bob ordered- some kind of fish.

However, the main event was really the dessert. Chocolate fondant with candied apricots and vanilla and paprika seasonings. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up. It was the highlight of the evening. Bob's aged cheddar with apple relish and toasted walnuts wasn't too shabby either. Of course, the real highlight may have been the purple silk booths we were sitting in.

Anyway, we may not be able to afford this place without Restaurant Week, but we'd definitely go back. Like maybe right now.

Cabana Room

Ok, I admit it. I've never actually sat down and eaten food in the Cabana Room. As the name implies, the theme of the food is South American. In fact, it's the cheaper, less expensive little sibling to Samba, and that alone is enough to ensure I tried it's food.

So with that disclosure, I can honestly say that the carry-out I've got has been quite good. I've stuck to one of their "Cubano" sandwiches, which are press-grilled and generally large meaty things with plenty on top. I also periodically toy with getting a salad or soup as a side and I always regret it when my wife gets the fries, which are exceptional.

Short post for this one. I might put more up if I ever go inside.

L'Etoile

We had been to L'Etoile as a celebration dinner for our anniversary, and we had only lived in Madison for a couple months. It was then in a different location, above another restaurant, in a dark little space. We were the only ones in the restaurant who weren't wearing suits, and it felt pretentious. I don't remember what I got, but I remember thinking it wasn't worth the considerable price.

Then we went again recently, for my birthday. The restaurant had just moved to its new location, a much more modern space with bank-height ceilings, and a spectacular nighttime view of the lit capitol. When we arrived, they presented us with personalized menus for my birthday. Though things still felt expensive and stuffy, they at least felt "modern" stuffy rather than "old boys club" stuffy. I count that as a huge improvement.

As for the food, this was one of the best meals I had in Madison. It's even shaken my faith in my belief that Harvest is the greatest restaurant. The dinner worked in an interesting way: four-courses. That's right, four-courses. With an Amuse Bouche to boot. By the way, can you think of a better innovation than the Amuse Bouche?

The menu was a nice combination of fresh produce and local meats and cheeses. I had a cantaloupe carpaccio with crispy pork belly as the first course, and it was sweet and salty and crunchy and soft. Beautiful. Then came grilled octopus, in a chili-lime vinaigrette, and finally a dry-aged ribeye. That ribeye was fantastic and as tender as you could hope for.

The whole four course business was $65, which was expensive, but not beyond expectations and certainly a great deal considering what four individually ordered courses would cost. I don't know what changed between our first trip years ago and our latest, but it's worked out for the best.

Nostrano

I'd never heard of this place, but Betsy suggested we eat here. Apparently, Nostrano is a newer establishement, which might explain my ignorance. There are alternate explanations for my ignorance, of course, but there's no need to explore those now.

Nostrano was a fantastic place to spend NYE. It's a tight cozy restaraunt, with dark lighting and a wet frost thick on the large windows, which opened onto the capitol square. The tables are well separated and the entire atmosphere is conducive to quiet romance.

They were experimenting with new menus that night, which means our meals might not have been representative. At any restaurant, I like to try and find something unique. Often, this criterion alone is enough that Betsy can figure out what I'll be getting, because one thing clearly stands out above the others. Yet at Nostrano, there were so many choices that qualified for me that it was hard to choose. I had to pass up the Bison Tartare appetizer to try the sunchoke soup with smoked salmon and caviar. My entree was chicken, which is an accomplishment in itself, because I never order chicken. But it was a crispy delicious concoction prepared with a fennel puree and pickled(!) apples. There's a nice little touch like that for each dish on the menu.

The last thing I want to talk about is the pear risotto. In addition to the pear flavors, it contained pheasant meat, and I'd be lying if I said this wasn't by far the best risotto I'd ever had. If I could make it myself, I'd probably never bother going out again. It's probably for the best that I'll have to go out to get it. Suffice it to say, if you go to the restaurant and don't get the risotto, in spite of all the other interesting sounding appetizers, you've done yourself a horrible disservice.

The portion sizes and prices seemed about right for an upscale restaurant on capitol square, and the beer list (we wisconsinites drink beer for NYE) was small but at least local. The service was leisurely, but just right for an evening whose main event was the dinner. Bottom line: Nice, romantic place for those interested in trying something new.