Location: Madison
Madison Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Madison
Madison is a city in Lake County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 6,474 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Lake County and is home to Dakota State University.
1. Dairy Queen
Overall Ratings
5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Rezboy - Halliday ND
I have eaten at many Dairy Queens over the years with some great and others not so good but this one would rate as good as any I have seen. The place was newer looking inside and very clean. Staff was very pleasant and courteous. The owner himself is absolutely wonderful and after making a point to check on on satisfaction my daughter said :" It would be fun to work for such a nice man".
The food, smoothies and ice cream were delicious and very inexpensive. Place is basically like the DQ's of yesteryear. I would take this over any modern fast food place.
2. Mochavino
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By SenCrow - Wausau, Wisconsin
We drove to Madison on the spur of the moment, never expecting to discover such a thoroughly delightful community. The highlight of the trip was Mochavino, a hybrid coffee shop and diner. Nice menu, great interior.
The lone shortcoming of the experience was the wait staff. Not sure if it was because we were there late in the lunch rush (1:30 PM), or if they are generally reserved, but their attitude ran contrary to the other aspects of the experience.
The balance of the experience was very positive. We shall return!
3. Gary's Bakery
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By Jesse O
It's legit! Delicious donuts!! Been open for years! You will not be disappointed. I'm not a big pastry person but I do enjoy Garys from time to time.
4. Broadwater Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By TLK1154 - Madison, South Dakota
I am a year-round lake resident and the Broadwater Bar is our go-to place. The staff is friendly and well-trained. The owners, Kurt and Melanie, have owned the place for about 4 years or so and have made some wonderful improvements, both in the menu and the real-estate. The food and service are consistently great, and there is a "dessert of the week" feature that is wonderful. Melanie comes up with a different dessert each week and they are just great. A new item this year is the Broadwater Shrimp. Try it!
5. Second Street Diner
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By Alisha B
We were on vacation and stopped into Second Street for a quick dinner. It's a 50's diner style place, but that seems to be mostly just the decorations on the wall. Hubby got the ruben and a side salad, the kids split a chicken tender meal and a shrimp basket, and I got a hot sandwich burger with mashed potatoes and gravy. All the food was good. My hot sandwich was not a hamburger with potatoes on the side like I had expected, it was an open faced patty-on-a-slice-of-bread with gravy poured all over it. Nothing I've ever seen before but it tasted just fine. You can also get coke in a bottle there (!!) and they have some pretty good tasting fried pickles too.
6. The Pub House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By Melville P - Halifax, Canada
My wife and I took college grandson and his girlfriend to this restaurant on the advice of both of them that this was the best place in town. It probably is, but it is not a 5-star restaurant. It is, however, a good place to eat dinner or, probably, lunch.
That menu is varied and the staff are exceedingly pleasant. Maybe because they knew our guests - no, they were friendly with people at other tables, too.
Our guests chose to have water - they were not 21. My wife and I ordered a bottle of the local red wine, Crane Lake. Our server brought us the drinks and took our orders, which arrived shortly afterwards.
Our grandson's girlfriend ordered a Shrimp Argentinian with veggies as the side. This is a taco very adequately filled with house made chimmichurri sauce, red onion, tomatoes and fresh salad greens. Veggies were her chosen side. She had had this on occasion before and said it was good and that was why she was having it again. And that is a good reason.
Our grandson chose the chicken salad, which he declared was very good.
We are from Nova Scotia, where mussels are found and eaten everywhere, yet here in the middle of the prairies my unpredictable wife chose the mussels. Yes, with all of experience of mussels straight from the sea, she told us that these were, indeed, very good. Surprise? No, because everything else we ate was good, so the mussels would not have been on the menu had they not been of the same standard.
My choice was the Cajun Pasta, Cajiun cream sauce, andouille sausage, chicken, baby spinach, red and green bell peppers, tomatoes and onions, accompanied with two pieces of charred bread, like toasted garlic bread.
Although my wife and I do not usually indulge in desserts, after seeing what the two youngsters shared, a chocolate cake "supreme" (my word), we shared one, too.
All in all, a good evening meal, so if you are ever in Madison, SD, go here for your main meal, where you will find a good varied menu from which to choose.
Cost without wine: Cajun pasta - $16; Argintinian - $10; Mussels - $12; Chicken Salad - $10 + $1; 2 chocolate cakes - $14.
7. Nicky's Restaurant Lounge
Overall Ratings
5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By Jesse0114 - Tea, South Dakota
I live in tea but work in Madison, I every now and then swing in for a burger and I'm never disappointed! Good size burger and I order a side of cheeseballs, there the good cheeseballs too. The waitress is very friendly and I've met the owners and there very welcoming. Oh yeah...Comfy chairs!! Place is legit!
8. Country Cafe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By JohnAugust_7 - Madison, South Dakota
If you're a boomer, you might remember having lunch with dad or mom in a little hometown restaurant before the big chains took over. Dad flirted with the teenage waitress or mom traded gossip with the middle-aged matron pouring coffee. If you're younger, you might have seen a rerun of "Happy Days." Okay, you're ready for the Country Cafe.
Stop in here for breakfast (they won't frown at your request for eggs over easy or more syrup for the stack of pancakes). I think they close at 2:00. No, don't look for a web page. There's always a special for lunch, and you can expect to get good quick and friendly service, a little gossip if you'd like it, and a solid meal that will recall Mom's home cooking or give you young people a taste of what you missed. And that bit of dessert that you get with the special? Hey, it's plenty. You just had a great hot beef sandwich.
9. Pizza Ranch
Overall Ratings
4 based on 14 reviews
Reviewed By David A - Kansas City, Missouri
We were in town for a family wedding and decided to meet there for Sunday lunch before we all left town. We showed up with 20+ people and, of course, they weren't aware we were coming, since it was a last-minute decision. Nonetheless, the staff was very gracious and accomodated our group very well. We were very pleased with the food and the service.
10. Subway
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Dennis Z - Madison SD
I don't believe you get what you pay for. Sandwiches look much better on TV. I'd recommend One Stop in Madison for a decent size sub.
