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.