Eating My Way Through Madison

Madison, Wisconsin has more restaurants per capita than anywhere in the country. State Street alone has over 60 restaurants and 20 outdoor cafes in its mere 7 blocks. There is an eclectic range of ethnic restaurants from Afghan, Greek, Iranian, Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean and Vietnamese.

I'm pretty sure the vast selection of restaurants arises from the University. It's wildly popular to foreign students and equally it sends many of its students to study abroad (which I was lucky enough to do twice). Madison is a culturally diverse city and food is one of the easiest ways to experience something new and cultural.

I have lived in Madison for over 8 years and I don't think I've even come close to trying all the different restaurants. But I have been to every one on State. And I can honestly say there isn't one that I wouldn't go to again. There's a reason why most of them have all stayed in business since I've lived here - not only are they good, they're all reasonably priced. While fast food joints are replacing good cheap places to eat in other towns, I've watched fast food places come and go. Both McDonald's and Burger King shut down... a Taco Bell is all that's left. (I think it's the 50-cent tacos until 3am.)

And here's a little interesting fact: L'Etoile (French restaurant in Madison) was named one of the Top 10 Restaurants by Gourmet Magazine. I think the others were mostly in New York, New Orleans and California. Not bad for a little town in the Midwest.

Here are some good dining websites for more information:

the Isthmus Weekly Newspaper
www.isthmus.com

Madison Dining Guide (yearly publication)
www.madisondining.com

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Come for the food and, like lots of college kids, stay for the incredible beer selection - not to mention the cheap prices. They house over 17 German tap beers and over 200 imports, along with a full bar and a variety of wine.

They're most notoriously known for the "Boot Game". You receive a 2-liter glass shaped boot filled with beer in which you must flick the boot, drink and then pass. If you fail at any of those things, you must drink again. Prosit!

constant specials:
Tuesday-Thursday: $10 boots with a UW-Madison student ID
Tuesday-Thursday: $2.75 1/2 liters
Wednesday: $2 import bottles
Friday and Saturday until 6pm: $2.75 1/2 liters

free polka music every night

never, ever a cover - even on New Year's (even includes a free bottle of champagne, hats and party favors)

www.essen-haus.com

The Come Back also serves a cheap and awesome breakfast. It's served during brunch hours Saturday and Sunday. They recently added service on Friday and Saturday nights from midnight until 5am, which I believe makes it the only walkable place in the downtown area that serves food that late. Breakfast includes stuffed French toast with cream cheese, various (ham/cheese, veggie, etc.) omelets with toast and eggs, pancakes and much more. (Just remember, Wisconsin stops selling liquor and beer at 2:30am.)

And here's just a small selection of their beers: Bass, Bell's, DAB, Gray's Honey ale, John Courage, Harbor City, Lake Louie Scotch Ale, Paulaner, Sierra Nevada, Spotted Cow, Spaten, Sprecher, Three Floyd's, Wild Onion Jack Stout and Woodchuck.

Specials
Monday - Thursday (til 10pm): $2.75 1/2 liters
Wednesday: $2 domestic bottles
daily: a $2.75 special beer

www.essen-haus.com/comebackin.htm

New to the hookah? It's a mild, light tobacco smoked from a water pipe popular in the Mediterranean. They offer many flavors including apple, grape, mango (yum!), orange, jasmine, mint, candy, cappuccino and molasses. They're $7.50 and usually last 45 minutes.

On to the menu. Among the favorites are beef shish kebab, grilled shrimp, baked orange roughby, Tunisian chicken, chicken/lamb/vegetarian or fish couscous, falafel and yogurt salad. And desserts including rice pudding, warbat (a pastry filled with pudding and walnuts), stuffed dates and chocolate flan with mint sauce.

I love going to the Casbah. The one little thing is the waitstaff is sometimes a bit slow. Otherwise no complaints.

Live music Wednesday - Sunday 7-9pm

Happy Hour is Cheap Hour: appetizers are 1/2 off and they're HUGE. 3-6pm
Monday - Friday drink specials too.

www.thecasbahrestaurant.com

Salads include Caesar salad, Insalata Maria Elena (pears, baby greens, walnuts and cheese with a raspberry dressing), and salmon salad (baby greens, goat cheese, caramelized walnuts and smoked salmon).

Pizzas include Pizza Margherita, Pizza Pollo e Pesto (pesto, mozzarella and grilled chicken) and Pizza Bufalina (buffalo mozzarella, Kalamata olives and oregano).

And the pastas include Manicotti, Tortelloni, homemade Lasagna, Tutto Pasta (pasta with olive oil, onions, mushrooms and chicken), Conchiglie Rustica (pasta with olive oil, red and green peppers, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes), Penne Quattro Formaggi (pasta with four cheeses) and Al Frutti Di Mare (pasta with garlic, calamari, clams, mussels, salmon, sea scallops and tiger shrimp.) My favorite is the Pasta al Salmon with a cream sauce and salmon.

They offer a variety of drinks, from pina coladas to margaritas, large wine selection and my favorite, the mango margarita.

Dinner: Sunday - Thursday: 11:00am - 1:00am
Friday - Saturday: 11:00am - 2:00am
Happy Hour: Monday - Friday: 4:00pm - 6:00pm

they accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover and Diners Club

also offer outdoor seating and have a separate bar section

Wednesday: Jazz Martini Night at 9:30pm ($3 cover)
Friday Hip Hop Night: with a DJ at 10:30pm - Bar Time

It's owned by Italian Americans that came from Sicily about 10 years ago. Many times the family stops in, along with many Italians giving the restaurant an ethnic and authentic atmosphere.

The pastas include Pollo Al Marsala, Fettuccine Alla Crema Di Scampi, Rigatoni Pino, Cannelloni Ripieni, Penne alla Vodka e Funghi, Spaghetti Aglio and a million more. One of my favorites is the Gnocchi, which is little pasta balls with a pesto sauce.

They also serve many pizzas and a variety of drinks, beers and desserts.

They have outdoor seating and are located near many popular other restaurants and bars including the Great Dane, Opus Lounge and the King Club.

Lunch:
Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Friday – Saturday: 11:00am – 3:00pm
Sunday: 11:30am – 3:00pm

Dinner:
Monday – Thursday: 3:00pm – midnight
Friday – Saturday: 3:00pm – 2:00am
Sunday: 3:00pm – 11:00pm

Appetizers: Holy Bruschetta, Heavenly Nachos, Fallen Angel Wings, Quesadilla del Dios, Artichoke Dip, Idaho Nachos, Coconut Shrimp, and the Hummus Plate. (Everything is pretty big - the nachos are more a dinner - they're HUGE.)

Entrees include pizzas, stuffed chicken, beer tenderloin, salmon, ribs, fettucini alfredo, chicken and spinach over pasta, and my favorite, the baked mostaciolli (light on the sauce).

The beers are awesome and you can see their brewery. They include pagan porter, believer's bitter (yum!), shakedown nutbrown, purgatory pale ale, and the sinner's stout. Beer is also available for take-out and comes in 1/4 and 1/2 barrels and 1/2 gallon glass jugs.

They generally have music every night (including an annoying fee from $3-5) and while I usually enjoy live music, I must say they rarely get anything noteworthy. That's my one complaint...

Usually a pretty nice crowd with a good mixture of people - from families to college students to people have a drink after work.

open: 11am - bartime daily

www.angelicbrewing.com

Don't judge the place by how it looks. They make up for the bare and homely aesthetics in their food.

Every time I've been there the clientele has been 100% Asian. The Korean students look happy to have found home cooking on campus. The waitstaff is incredibly helpful and very sweet.

The entrees are very cheap - everything is under $8.50 and the portions are BIG. The menu is classic Korean dishes including pork bulgogi (pork strips marinated in soy, sesame oil and garlic), steak bulgogi, bibimbap (rice with veggies, beef and fried egg), and traditional stew (with tofu, veggies, clams and eggs). All the meals are described in English and the waitstaff is always willing to recommend something to suit your tastes.

Coreana is a real find, and according to my Korean friend, close to his mother's cooking. I think that says it all.

Open:
Monday - Friday 11 am-8:30 pm
Sunday: 5-8 pm

There is the portobello mushroom pizza with big, buttery chunks of portobello. The taco pizza has pieces of taco shells, lettuce, tomatoes, meat and cheese. There's the feta, avocado and black bean pizza. The buffalo wing pizza has pieces of spicy chicken. The eggplant Parmesan has roasted red peppers. And the mac'n'cheese pizza. Sounds bad, but is my favorite and one of the most popular.

And it's cheap, cheap, cheap. $2.75 per piece.

The place is awesome except they only serve pizza (no sides or anything) and there's not many places to sit. And after bar-time the lines are huge. They do move pretty fast though taking anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes. Sometimes the drunk crowd is annoying but they can also provide extreme entertainment while waiting.

open from 11am - after bartime (anywhere from 3-5am)

It's super close to State Street near the Kohl Center and just off University. There's dark wood floors and booths and a large collection of memorabilia and knickknacks.

The food is as wonderful as it was. The burgers are big and full of flavor. Tons of variations from Swiss and mushroom, Caesar, three cheese, BBQ sauce and smoked bacon, English garlic and the honey mustard burger. Lots of appetizers - among the favorites are chili cheese fries (a meal unto itself) and cheese curds.

Various other meal choices such as brats, chicken sandwiches, salads and pork filets. Their desserts are big and usually need sharing.

Most only problem with Dotty's is that the service is slow. Really slow. And forgetful. But the food is worth the annoyance.

Has a full bar with a multitude of beers.

Open: 11am - 1am daily

The service is quick and you're instantly given a menu. There's usually just one waitress, but she's fast. You'd hardly know there are other diners.

Buraka keeps things simple. No appetizers or dessert. Just nine choices and a combo option that lets you pair different things together.

The dorowot is a stew with chunks of carrots and chicken with a spicy red sauce. You get a choice of rice or injera - a spongy bread. The beg wot has strips of curried lamb, there's also beef tips, vegetable curry and chicken peanut stew.

They also offer a simple variety of non-alcoholic drinks, liquor and beer. And are available for carry-out. (By the way, they are located in the basement and not wheelchair accessible.)

During the summer they have a food cart on Library Mall (about 2 blocks down State in front of the University Bookstore). They carry all the same dishes but with smaller portions and smaller prices.

Buraka proves you don't need a lot of money to eat well.

Open
Monday - Thursday: 11am - 11pm
Friday + Saturday: 11am - midnight

The food is Mexican at its best. The chef is originally from Mexico City and has 30 years of being chef under his puffy white hat.

The menu is as large as its portions. At least 10 appetizers, three soups, eight salads, and a variety of entrees. The camarones al mojo has shrimp with garlic, lime, tomatoes, jalapenos with rice, pico de gallo and mole. There are chicken tacos and filet mignon. There are varieties of tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos, fajitas and chimichangas with either chicken, veal, pork, shrimp, salmon, red snapper or beef. Also many vegetarian alternatives with spinach and cheese and more.

And of course all dinners come with chips and two types of salsa.

If you want dessert, don't finish your entree. They feature over 10 sweets, from cheesecake to fried ice cream.

The bar carries tons of beer and cocktails such as a blue margarita or tequila sunrise.

Frida's is a wonderful addition to Madison's downtown.

Open:
Monday - Friday: 11am-10pm
Saturday + Sunday: 10am-10pm

www.fridamexicangrill.com

The seating is awesome. Big giant booths seat up to about 10. And the jukebox has a wide variety on it. (I think it's second on State Street after the Irish Pub.)

My favorite is the Bacon Cheeseburger. Six bucks gets you a big juicy burger with cheese and crispy bacon, a bun that holds up and fries on the side. Another favorite is the Boss Burger which you can have the green peppers and cheese cooked in the middle. Various specials include hot turkey with mashed potatoes, corned beef and cabbage, prime rib, and the feta burger.

For the vegetarian there's a variety of options: veggie burger, veggie Reuben, veggie gyro, veggie melt, spinach pie, and salads.

They have the best pies in town that change occasionally from rhubarb to cherry. Desserts also include homemade baklava, sundaes and strawberry cheesecake.

While it is open for drinks, the atmosphere is so chill you nearly fall asleep. I think Nick's works best as a restaurant.

During the summer they offer outdoor seating. You can also find Nick frequently behind the counter flipping the burgers and when he's not there, his brother is - it's family owned and operated.

Nick's is by far the most underrated restaurant in Madison.

dining
Monday - Thurday.: 10am - 10pm
Friday + Saturday: 10am - 11pm
Sunday: 11am - 8pm

Bar Monday + Thursday: 10am - 1am
Friday + Saturday: 10am - 2am
Sunday: 11am - 8pm

The menu is your basic breakfast menu. From pancakes to Greek omelets, ham and cheese omelets, eggs and toast, breakfast sandwiches on English muffins and their famous American fries. Their sandwich muffins are crispy yet pillowy soft. Their coffee gives you an immediate jolt.

I know what you're thinking. It sounds like any ordinary diner. But you must try it. The place is legendary. The lines around the block prove it. That is the one negative thing. It's so popular you usually end up waiting 15-30 minutes. But completely worth it. Madisonians know their food.

It's also incredibly cheap. You can a bagel and coffee for under $2. Most of the sandwiches are about $3. I've never paid more than $6. And I'm always so pleased with my meal and the service that I leave a tip that's about the same as my whole meal.

The diner opened the 1920s under Orlando Cleveland. Born and raised in the area Telly + Nico Fatsis took over several years ago and gave it a bit of a Greek flair. Both of them are usually behind the counter on any given day.

Cleveland's is a legend in Madison. You can't go wrong.

Open:
Tuesday - Friday: 6am - 2pm
Saturday: 7am - 2pm
Sunday: 8am - 2pm

Appetizers include cheese curds, cheese stix, buffalo wings, chicken fingers and corn fries and hail around $5 each. They have various salads from $2.25 - $6.25.

The brats come in either the red beef brat or the classic white beer brat. Served with either with fries for $4 or without for $2.75. Various burgers come in chili cheese, cheese, mushroom + Swiss variations. Also home of the two-pound burger for $10 (with fries and drink) - if you finish in 30 minutes or less, you get your money back.

Other food options range from chicken sandwiches to quesadillas to nachos.

Over 24 tap and bottled beers.

FLIP NIGHT! Every Tuesday the bartender flips a coin - if you guess right, your drink is half off. Pretty fun, but it gets pretty crowded. And sometimes the line is ridiculous.

Open: everyday from 11am - bartime

www.statestreetbrats.com

While their menu is diverse, I adore their burgers. The Dane Burger (artichokes, scallions + sour cream) and Bascom Hill Burger (black bean burger with cheese, onions, chilies, salsa, lettuce + tomatoes) are pure hits.

Others foods range from salads, brats + mashers, fish + chips, chicken potpie, peanut stew (awesome esp. on a cold Wisconsin day), Reubens and sirloin. The artichoke dip is the best in town and the Nakoma Nachos are unreal. The nachos are an appetizer but really more a dinner for a two. Most entrees are under $10.

Their beer is made on location and as fresh as beer can get. It's known for its quirky seasonal selection such as Watermelon Weiss, Pumpkin (actually super popular) and Cherry Ale. The brew master are serious about their work and make the beer according to the strict rules of the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) that says beer can be made from only four ingredients: water, malt, hops and yeast (wheat is allowed for wheat or weiss beers). You can buy it by the barrel, jug or pint. Also includes a full bar and many other bottled beers.

Beers include: Cask Ale, Barrister's Brown Ale (roasted caramel flavor), the full-bodied Black Earth Porter, and the creamy Emerald Isle Stout.

There are 6 billiards tables and some dartboards. Also a really lovely outdoor patio that's open all night.

Open:
Sunday - Thursday 11am - 2am
Friday - Saturday 11am - 2.30am
(and they stop serving food at 1am every night)

Other dishes include lo mein, mushroom stroganoff, Japanese pan noodles, various salads, and noodle soups. You can add a variety of ingredients such as chicken, shrimp, sprouts, feta and olives for a little bit more. Some of the more complicated dishes turn out bland such as the pad thai noodles and the coconut curry. It's hard to compete when there are so many ethnic restaurants around - you taste the real thing and a place like Noodles just can't cut it. But the basic meals are good and tasty.

The service is pretty fast although during big events such as football games the line is well out the door (the food is good but I don't think I'd wait half an hour for it). I always like stopping here while on my lunch break. Most meals are under $6 and some include a smaller option for about $3 - 4.

Lots of seating and almost always a place to sit. Includes a second story with a view of the other side of State. Located near the upper end of State Street by the Capitol.

Open:
Sunday - Wednesday: 11am - 9pm
Thursday - Saturday: 11am - 10pm