Location: Madison
Top Restaurants in Madison
Top Things to do in Madison
- 1. Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- 2. Wisconsin State Capitol
- 3. Memorial Union Terrace
- 4. Chazen Museum of Art
- 5. University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
- 6. Camp Randall Stadium University of Wisconsin
- 7. University of Wisconsin - Madison
- 8. Capitol Square
- 9. Wisconsin Veterans Museum
- 10. Henry Vilas Zoo
Most Popular American food in Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Discover Restaurants offering the best American food in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. The sprawling University of Wisconsin sets the tone for this college town of cafes, bookstores, brewpubs, numerous restaurants (more per capita than anywhere else in the U.S.) and a good share of cultural and historical attractions. Stunning glacial waterways make the City of Lakes one of the more picturesque state capitals in the country. More than 250 parks offer residents and tourists plenty of recreational areas to choose from. If you visit the campus, be sure to try the famous Babcock Ice Cream at Memorial Union or Babcock Hall, before or after a visit to the Elvehjem Museum of Art's collection of Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities. And to really get into the college spirit, head over to State Street's eclectic range of ethnic restaurants. Be sure to try the mouth-watering bratwurst sandwich on a homemade bun at State Street Brats, a student favorite. At the end of State Street, the white granite, Roman Renaissance-style Capitol dominates the skyline and offers an observation platform for views of the city and lakes.
Things to do in Madison
10. RP Adler's Pub & Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 358 reviews
Established in May 2006, RP Adler's Pub & Grill has become a favorite by Madisonian's and travelers alike. Great casual dining with great blue collar service is what sets our restaurant apart. Hospitality like it oughta be!
Reviewed By orchiddoc
Enjoyed the service and food. Ribs and prime rib well prepared. Good choice for a casual lunch or dinner. Grandson loves the Mac and cheese with brisket.
9. Dotty Dumpling's Dowry
Overall Ratings
4 based on 765 reviews
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry is a Madison institution favored by the locals for over 40 years. Located in the heart of downtown, Dotty's offers award winning hamburgers, Friday fish fry, homemade soups and chili, fresh salads and so much more! Cozy up in a boot
Reviewed By amytK2791MP
I love everything about Dotty Dompling's. The atmosphere is great and everything is really clean. You can just tell it's a well-run operation.The servers are excellent.The food is delicious. The cheese curds are so yummy (especially with the sweet mustard sauce) and the burgers are so good. Perfectly executed. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. It's become a must-stop restaurant for us whenever we visit Madison.
8. Tornado Steak House
Overall Ratings
4 based on 674 reviews
Reviewed By mlja77
We came here to celebrate a birthday. Since it touts itself as a Wisconsin supper club, we tried the old fashioned for a cocktail. They make them right. The spinach salad with hot bacon dressing was excellent. The entrees, two different steaks and pork tenderloin, were all cooked properly and served hot. However, the French onion soup, although tasty, had way too many large chunks of bread in it. We were hoping for dessert, but there were no gluten-free options. This restaurant is small so tables are quite close together and parts of it were quite noisy. Also, coming in or leaving is through the bar and when it's busy, that's tricky, especially for anyone who has any mobility problems.
7. Marigold Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 400 reviews
Reviewed By weyes
Stopped in on a gloriously sunny Sunday morning around 9:30am. This place was hopping, but donât let the lines discourage you, they are pretty quick. Tables are a little tight, but everyone in the joint ... workers and patrons were all friendly and upbeat. You order at the counter and then find a spot and they bring you your food. My friend said his coffees was amazing! Three mugs and took another to go. Avocado toast was more unique than Iâve had. Rather than a spread like, it was whole pieces of avocado, plus pumpkin seeds, some lemon and orange zest and some sort of sauce, but it all worked. My friend had eggs (scrambled and cooked to perfection), potatoes and toast. He was pleased with his meal. Potatoes had good flavor. Overall, a great experience on a busy Sunday morning.
6. The Old Fashioned
Overall Ratings
4 based on 2212 reviews
Reviewed By beckster1223
We had great fun! Place packed! Long wait for a table (like 1 1/2 hours!) Food good and very reasonably priced. Old fashioned drinks outstanding as we waited at the bar for our table. Great place for all ages but must like to stand around ( or if u are lucky) sit at the bar waiting for food. Once seated food service is pretty quick. Interesting old Madison photos on the walls. Beer bottle chandeliers looked neat. I would definitely good again but would get there as soon as possible to 5 pm on Friday if you want a quick table.
5. Mickies Dairy Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 284 reviews
Reviewed By haydenwillner
We stopped in Madison on our way home from Milwaukee. Iâve been planning on stopping at Mickies since I found out my bodybuilding show was on the way. This place is a MUST visit! We got the scrambler and strawberry pancakes, I highly recommend trying both. The portions are massive and the service and environment are great!
4. L'Etoile Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 353 reviews
Reviewed By William D
Best swordfish we've ever had. Succulent, unlike the usual dried cardboard. Portion just a tad small.Served in an uplifting architectural room looking directly at the capitol building.Also had the soft shell crab. A tad salty but served on an interesting sauce base.All the food was presented in artistic, elegant arrangements. Just one problem: the restaurant's so dark, it's hard to fully appreciate the craftsmanship without the light from a cell phone.Impeccable service from Emily and especially the sommelier Michael. Knowledgeable and eager to go out of their way to provide helpful information.Wide ranging and eclectic wine list.Might be nice to have parking attendants, but there is a public structure nearby around the corner.
3. Red
Overall Ratings
4 based on 246 reviews
Creative entrees combined with the highest quality ingredients in a warm, modern environment are the hallmarks of RED, downtown Madisonâs premier sushi restaurant. Traditional menu items are executed with painstaking precision, keeping the focus on the be
Reviewed By Jerry C
Had dinner at Red in Madison, WI on Mon 07/15/19 at 4:30pm. This is a 2015-2019 Certificate of Excellence restaurant and one of the top ranked eateries in town. We weren't sure what to expect and was surprised to find the menu was almost exclusively sushi. OK, we like sushi, and were very pleased with the food's artistic preparation and taste. Service was excellent but portions were small and prices high. Our cost before tip was $50.64 and we still left a bit hungry.Restaurant is only a few blocks from the state capital on the ground floor of a large commercial building. Although we sat inside their outdoor seating caught our eye as we drove by. Finding an open street parking space we ventured in and were seated in a combo booth/table. Restaurant had just opened at 4:30 so was almost empty when we arrived. Kind of an artistic design with wall hugging curved booth/table seating, lots of glass and typical lighting. Floors tables and utensils were all clean. Noise level was average and you can easily carry on a conversation. Our server Lawrence arrived quickly to take our drink order and answer questions about the many different sushi rolls. Lawrence was a well trained professional and provided attentive service throughout the meal. Time from order to drinks, food and bill were all good.I had the Dragon's Treasure $21.00 and excellent. Beautifully constructed and delicious but a disappointingly smallish portion for the price. Also got a craft beer for $6.00. Wife chose the Mermaid Roll $18.00 and an unusual ice tea for $3.00. We both enjoyed the sushi, ate everything on the plate, left happy, but neither of us left full.
What to do and see in Madison, United States: The Best Places and Tips
2. Graft
Overall Ratings
4 based on 142 reviews
Reviewed By BARBARA W
We enjoy Graft. The food is interesting with options of different size dishes. The wine selection is excellent, and the wait staff friendly and helpful. I really rate it, 4.5. Sometimes there are only a few items that "speak" to me. But I always leave happy.
Madison Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Madison
1. Otto's Restaurant & Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 125 reviews
In the 1870s, a German immigrant named Otto Toepfer built the old farmhouse, which is now home to Ottoâs Restaurant & Bar, for his family. The architecture is in keeping with style of homes built during that time. It has a 2-foot-thick foundation and was
Reviewed By Aspen P
I visited Otto's with co-workers. The meal was outstanding. Our server (Adam) was excellent and provided helpful recommendations upon request. I will definitely eat at Otto's again the next time I am in Verona! The Ricotta Stuffed Chicken Breast was delicious and my co-workers said that the sea bass and scallops were amazing.
Best Mediterranean food near Madison, Wisconsin, United States
