October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, special features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food. Bon appetit!
Living in Madison for six years, I spent too much of my time in restaurants, bars and cafés. Luckily, Madison has an incredible food culture and like Milwaukee, entrepreneurial pioneers looking to change culinary perception and create extraordinary out of the ordinary.
In honor of OnMilwaukee.com’s Dining month, I couldn’t resist compiling a small list of some of my Madison dining favorites because after all, no matter where your mini-vacations take you, you always need somewhere to eat.
So, if you find yourself visiting our neighbors to the west, stop in one of these fine establishments and check out the menu.
Chautara
334 State St., (608) 251-3626
I am without a doubt, addicted to this establishment. Located directly on State St., Chautara is a two story Nepalese and Indian restaurant slaving away to make everything from scratch.
Recommendations: mung bean pattie, pakauda, samosa, dosa, dal, chia
Eno Vino
601 Junction Rd., (608) 664-9565
eno-vino.com
In all honesty, as any Atwood or Willy Street neighborhood resident will attest, when you think of Madison’s west side, you relegate it to big box stores and fast food chains. I judgmentally agreed until I found Eno Vino. Unexpectedly located in a west side strip mall, Eno Vino serves tapas-style fine dining in an atmosphere that is more trendy New York bistro and less Midwestern supper club.
Recommendations: Seared Sesame Tuna, Portabella Mushroom Ravioli, Marinated and Grilled Hangar Steak, Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass and Jumbo Dive Scallops
Greenbush
914 Regent St., (608) 257-2874
Located in the basement of a brick building on the corner of Park Street and Regent Street, this isn’t the kind of restaurant you’d ever happen upon; because you wouldn’t find it. By far some of the greatest Italian in the city, Greenbush -- named for the neighborhood that once Madison's Little Italy -- serves pizza, pasta and Italian wines.
Recommendations: the antipasti plate appetizer including an entire bulb of roasted garlic and incredible pesto linguine
Mediterranean Café
625 State St., (608) 251-8510
Located right on State Street, Med Café is a small counter-style café. Serving everything from spanakopita to chicken souvlaki to lentil soup, Med Café is absolutely authentic and changes several specials every day.
Recommendations: chicken chutney, spinach cheese pie, cashew baklava
Monty’s Blue Plate Diner
2089 Atwood Ave, (608) 244-8505
foodfightinc.com
Monty’s forged a transformation from 1950s diner to a kitchy vegetarian lunch spot. Dedicating a large portion of their menu to fake meat substitutes, Monty’s satisfies all customers with incredible beef or walnut burgers. Breakfast and dessert are essential at this eastside café.
Recommendations: tofu scrambler, the Sheldon, the feta dill burger
Natt Spil
211 King St., unlisted phone
A creation of Madison restaurateur Christopher Berge, Natt Spil combines international influence from places as divergent as Norway, China and the Caribbean. Modeled after Eastern European cafes, heavy, dark wood walls divide this bowling alley sized restaurant into intimate booths with subtle lighting. Using salvaged materials, the ceiling is covered with colorful Chinese ceiling panels while large industrial mechanisms give the walls depth and shape. The menu is as varied as the décor; fusing techniques and ingredients from around the world.
Recommendations: brick oven pizza, Three Cup Chicken, Cherry Wood Chicken Sammie
Restaurant Magnus
120 E. Wilson St., (608) 258-8787
restaurantmagnus.com
The Magnus was one of the first higher end restaurants I tried in Madison and is absolutely still one of my favorites. Located just off the square, the service and knowledge of the wait staff is flawless and the chef caters to seasonal availability. Equally worth the visit is the small bar located just off the dining room with live music and chocolate martinis.
Recommendations: Argentinean Diablo Steak, Seared Sea Scallops, Ahi Sashimi Two Ways
The Plaza
319 N. Henry St., (608) 255-6592
theplazatavern.com
A dive bar located just off State Street, The Plaza is the kind of place you’d assume you shouldn’t eat at. But trust me, you should. The bar’s legendary plaza burger is a basic burger topped with "plaza sauce" which by my best estimate is a dill, Ranch mixture. It’s hands down delicious.
Recommendations: Plaza burger, cheese tator-tots (tator-tots injected with cheese and deep fried)
Weary Traveler
1201 Williamson St., (608) 442-6207
A Madison east side staple, the Weary Traveler combines the feel of a foreign hostel with an European pub. Offering customers a slew of beers, internationally inspired bar cuisine and shelves of board games, the Weary Traveler turns customers into regulars.
Recommendations: Tom Kah soup, West of Andes sandwich, Bad Breath Burger
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Maureen Post grew up in Wauwatosa. A lover of international and urban culture, Maureen received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
After living on the east side of Madison for several years, Maureen returned to Milwaukee in 2006.
After a brief stint of travel, Maureen joined OnMilwaukee.com as the city’s oldest intern and has been hooked ever since. Combining her three key infatuations, Milwaukee’s great music, incredible food and inspiring art (and yes, in that order), Maureen’s job just about fits her perfectly.
Residing in Bay View, Maureen vehemently believes the city can become fresh and new with a simple move across town.
