We have eaten here several times. It quickly became one of our 2 go-to restaurants when we wanted…read morereally good food wrapped up in an excellent dining experience. We went there 3 days ago and were very disappointed. The food's still good, but the service was terrible. The waitress was very nice and apologized for the slow service and said that they had more business than expected on a Thursday night. Ok, that happens. Our entrees were brought out. I was given my wife's and she received mine - no big deal but a harbinger of things to come. We ordered a small plate as an appetizer to have with our cocktails. We were half-way through our entrees when I had to ask about it. The staff didn't seem to be particularly concerned that we had our entrees half eaten and had to ask about our small plate. It finally came, by which point we didn't really want it. We left and went to Sardine for a glass of wine where the service and food are unfailingly top notch. I'm not saying I won't go back, but it is no longer on my 'go-to' list because it has now become unpredictable. It's too expensive for that.

What a great place. A stellar chef driven menu (using the spices that are sold by the Delicouser),…read moregreat wine and cocktail menu and great service. While the dining room doesn't lend itself to a romantic evening (bar overlooking the kitchen, a few high tops and communal long tables), the rest of the experience is top notch. I stopped In for lunch and ordered the ginger fried chicken. A savory flavor bomb, the chicken was perfectly fried and moist and the brioche bun outstanding. I loved the chili crisp mayo along with the house made pickles. I was stuffed but the housemade malt gelato and brioche ice cream sammy called my name. Yes, it was rich. True, it was decadent. Valid, tons of calories. But....so so good. A must try in the land of landscape of very non-original restaurantsrestaurants that seem to be popping up in Madison.

FEED Kitchens is a blessing to our community -- this commercial kitchen space is being used to…read moreteach job and life skills, thanks River Bakery!!! It's a foodie/small business visionary's dream-come-true --I wouldn't have been able to start Phase II of my business without FEED (they save us time AND $$$!). They even rent to the public -- group canning, cooking class, or just getting a bunch of folks together to bake and decorate tons of cookies for the holidays, parties, wedding .... and SO affordable too! we L-O-V-E the FEED Kitchens!!!

From the owner: We are a food business incubator. We rent commercial kitchen space to Commercial and Casual users…read moreto operate their businesses out of, do larger scale cooking for family and friends or work on fundraisers and good works.

Good simple but healthy comfort food. Nice selection of ready made stuff and cute merch. I love the…read morelocal meal kit concept. I had a market salad with beets carrots and goat cheese. It was solid. Cappuccino was good too. Nice place to sit.

I stopped by to take out lunch. The store was neat and trendy. There were a lot of local products…read more Freezer had frozen food as well. Harvest chicken sandwich was my favorite item. Grain bowl was my other item. I added steak to it. Grain bowl had fresh healthy ingredients, but flavors were off and could have been cooked more. Swedish almond cake was good. It felt like a less rich variety of German Marzipan cake. Strawberry wisco-pop was a good drink.

If you have ever tasted cultured butter, sourcream, yogurt, ricotta, and the like, you know that…read moreit's miles above store bought products. This store has everything you need to make that happen. The amount of knowledge inside these walls is hard to find as well, and they do ship nationally. Worth a visit if you like or would like to try making homemade dairy products.

You enter and it smells like vomit and excrement combined; that's how you know you're in a cheese…read morestore! I gagged, begged to leave but alas I was forced to stay and eat cheese. Wow it is GOOD! Wren helped us and has a real passion for the cheese. She introduced us to sheep cheese that was oh so good that we got some! Find some crackers with jam and it'll be a party in your mouth!

This. Place. Is. Awesome! It was recommended on a work website, as a must visit when in Madison…read more And I can see why! It is a small shop that does big business. They have such a wonderful selection of all things cheese related. Not just delectable dairy, but all kinds of accoutrements, snacks, seasonings, even books about cheese. They have samples, sandwiches, and even glasses of wine available. It is a shopping experience. I was there on a random weekday, and the shop was busy. Though they were fully staffed and able to quickly attend to everyone there. Unfortunately, this was my first stop while I was out exploring the town, and I didn't want to go back to my hotel yet and didn't purchase anything. By the time I came back around, they had just closed. I will know better next time.

A true Madison gem! This lovely shop has the perfect blend of thoughtful gifts, useful kitchen…read moretools, and little ways to "treat yourself"! I probably visit this shop every couple of months and rarely leave empty handed! The thoughtfully curated and well organized candle department is usually my first stop. Lots of variety, a recent favorite is the "supper club" collection. Lots of classic Wisconsin themes! There are gifts for all ages, from infant toys and books to puzzles and cooking kits. The kitchenware is an impressive range, everything you need to expand your skills, store your goodies, or spice up your presentation. Basically, you have to stop in-it's totally worth it! Also, the wonderful staff have gone above and beyond to create a safe and protective shopping experience during this crisis. Please respect them, give space and keep those masks over your nose!

I used to LOVE this store. Adorable and eclectic gifts, great location, pretty darn charming. In…read morethe past, my experiences with the employees were also pretty darn charming, or at least satisfactorily neutral. The last time I was in the store, however, I was made to feel chastised and unwelcome, and while I recognize that this is a very personal response to an impersonal slap down, it left me feeling so stung that I doubt I'll return. What happened was this: I needed a new pair of reading glasses, and I'd gotten the most adorable Peepers from this store in the past. It was 5:50pm, and I saw on their door sign that they closed at 6pm. Great! I thought. I'll pop in and grab a pair. Immediately upon entering, one employee said, "You know we close in ten minutes." "Got it! I'll be quick!" I replied. I went to the rack of glasses, considered a few pairs, and checked the fit in the little mirror on the rack. In that little mirror, I could see the employee behind me, who was frowning and rolling her eyes in exasperation, mouthing to her fellow employees on the other side of the room that , "No, not yet, she's still here." Yikes, I thought, checking my watch. It was 5:55pm, so I chose a pair and went to the register. One last thing--I wanted to get an e-cloth, a product a different employee had recommended to me the last time I was there. I mentioned this to the employee as she grouchily said, "Will that be all?" She huffed, "Well, the e-cloths are in a different part of the store." She strode off, and I said, "Any one will do!" She said, "No, just come pick the one you want." She proceeded to lead me to a section of wash cloths and sink cleaning scrubby brushes? When I explained that no, I was looking for a microfiber cloth to clean the lenses of the glasses with, and that they used to be stocked at the register, she huffed again and said, "Well, they're not anymore, are they? Also, we're just about to close...?" I bought the glasses, walked out the door, and checked my watch. 5:59pm. But golly, those nine minutes I spent in their store, encroaching on what I assume was their rush to be done and escape their pesky customers, left a bad taste in my mouth that nine days later still hasn't left. Which is a bummer. As I said, I really liked that store. Problem is, the cutest merchandise in the world can't make up for poor customer service.

Dress up or down, this place is an outstanding oasis of chocolate fantasty. Not a bon bon or…read moretruffle there disappoints. Follow online to preorder seasonal creations like the giant egg, mushroom fairy cake and advent calendar. Sweetest spot in the whole wide world!

Imagine indulging in award-winning chocolates from a Black-owned, woman-owned shop in Madison,…read moreWisconsin. I don't have to imagine--I've experienced the best chocolates ever! I'm obsessed with chocolate! @cocovaa has been on my must-try list forever, and I finally made it there just in time before their summer break. When I arrived, most of the treats were sold out, but I got to sample everything that was left. And wow, the chocolates were pure magic, and the exceptional service from the owner and her son made it even sweeter. Here are the flavors I tried: Coffee Creme Brulee - Caramelized sugar on top of coffee & vanilla bean white chocolate ganache, encased in white chocolate. Persian Saffron - Persian saffron-infused white chocolate ganache, encased in dark chocolate. Hazelnut Praline - Milk chocolate & hazelnut praline blended with crispy croquant, encased in dark chocolate. Lemongrass Pear Frangipane - Lemongrass & pear purees encased in dark chocolate with an almond chocolate bottom. Blueberry, Lemon & Lavender - Lemon caramel on top of blueberry and lavender-infused ganache, encased in dark chocolate. Turkish Coffee - Coffee and cardamom-infused single-origin Venezuelan dark chocolate ganache, encased in dark chocolate. Key Lime Pie - Key lime caramel on top with a cookie crunch bottom. Every bite was a delight. Can't wait to go back for more!

we loooove a good tasting menu + wine pairing! delectable offers fine dining on fridays and…read moresaturday nights & cooking classes during the week! not quite as intimate of a dining experience as nook but is along the same line. we got a reservation at the bar a week before so doesn't seem overly difficult to obtain. the menu switches up about 4x a year depending on the season. the chef and sommelier here did an excellent job introducing each dish/drink, and the wine pairings were chosen well!!! I love that you can see them prepare each of the dishes on the screens by the kitchen. excellent service as well, staff did a great job at taking away dirty plates/glasses and replacing accordingly. I also thought each round was spaced out well so that I was never waiting for too long or had too little time to eat. There was a blindfold round where we had to rely on just taste & touch to figure out what we were eating which was both silly and fun (we found out what we were eating at the end and got some more as a gift to go). my personal fav of the meal was the sun meadow chilean sea bass!!! the sun meadow oil is a perfect dupe of butter and melted straight into that sea bass, paired with crunchy capers on a bed of creamy whipped goodness. All of the sauces were done extraordinarily well, especially that under the braised leeks!!! the tuna tartare was my bf's fav - crunchy toppings with fresh tuna on avocado in a spicy, asian inspired sauce. we were less impressed by the raviolo and steak entrees but still good (the chili oil on the raviolo kinda threw me off). the intermission was nice as a brief break to shop around and purchase things at a discount. overall, pricy meal but definitely a whole experience (3 hours long that is!). would highly recommend trying this out if you also enjoy fine dining experiences. I personally wanna come back to try their wednesday night burgers soon!!

I visited DelecTable in Madison for a multicourse chef's tasting experience. The restaurant leans…read moreheavily into the idea of dining as an experience, leaning into the European way of dining - that is, you have the table for the night." Think dining as the entertainment and the social experience, not shoveling it in and table turnover for tips. With creative presentations, themed courses, and a strong emphasis on sensory elements, the team puts a lot of thought and passion into crafting something unique. The multicourse meal offered a wide range of flavors and techniques--some dishes were genuinely impressive, others more about the concept than the taste. The pacing was smooth, and the staff was warm, knowledgeable, and clearly invested in making the night feel special. It's the kind of place where you sit back and let the experience unfold. That said, for me, it landed in the category of "worth doing once." The evening was fun and distinctive, but more of a special-occasion outing than a spot I'd return to regularly. If you enjoy immersive dining or want something out of the ordinary, it's definitely worth trying at least once.

I've lived in Madison since 2014, and somehow there are still so many places I've never explored…read more That's what inspired me to step outside my routine and become a tourist in my own city by joining a Madison Eats Food Tour bike tour--and I'm so glad I did! Our adventure began at Garver Feed Mill, where we picked up bikes and set off to discover Madison one bite at a time. What surprised me most was how much I learned about the city's history. Even after living here for more than a decade, I heard stories and facts about Madison that were completely new to me. The food stops were fantastic and showcased the diversity of Madison's local food scene: * Kosha Retreat - The kitchari and chai tea were incredibly comforting. The kitchari felt like a warm hug from grandma on a chilly day. * Roll Play - The spicy tteokkochi paired perfectly with the sweet peach lemonade. A delicious balance of heat and sweetness. * Buraka on Willy Street - The sampler plate was excellent, but the yuca fries stole the show. Easily some of the best I've ever had. * Starkweather Brewing - We enjoyed cauliflower wings, fried chickpeas, and a Helen Mule. The fresh-made sauces were absolutely delicious and elevated every bite. * Calliope Ice Cream - The aguapanela sorbet sounded unusual at first, but it was incredible. Think brown sugar lemonade in frozen form--refreshing, unique, and completely dairy-free. One of my favorite parts of the experience was being intentional about supporting local businesses. It's easy to get comfortable visiting the same places over and over, but this tour reminded me just how many amazing small businesses make Madison such a special city. Whether you're a longtime resident, new to town, or visiting for the weekend, I highly recommend this tour. It's a fun way to explore the city, learn local history, meet new people, and discover hidden gems you may have otherwise overlooked. This experience reminded me that sometimes the best adventures are waiting right in your own backyard. Othelia was the host and she did amazing!!!

Othelia was an incredible guide and hostess. We loved our bike tour and it was filled with lots of…read moreamazing local foods. Would not hesitate to book again on our next visit! Thank you so much Othelia!!

Good sandwiches, chili and service. Good value for the quality as well. Quick and easy place for…read morelunch.

My husband and I went here recently because we wanted to try something new and it had decent…read morereviews. Well, we were not impressed. It was a cold day outside and it seems that they need to do some improvements in this place. We were freezing the entire time we were there. Actually had to eat with our jackets on! They had a space heater by our table but it put out zero heat! The place was also pretty dirty. Now for the food review...super basic and bland. Potatoes were kinda hard, omelet bland and pancakes seemed like they came out of a box. The staff was pleasant and the guy who delivered our food was very polite but unfortunately, that's not enough to encourage us to come back. We really expected more out of a place with "bakery" in its name. Super disappointing.