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    Fairchild

    4.7 (166 reviews)
    PriceySeafood, Bars, Italian
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Fairchild Photos

    Business Info

    FAIRCHILD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Fairchild

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    Stuffed morel mushroom

    Food was incredible. Like, one of the best restaurants I've been to lately. We had the crudo, stuffed morels, cappelletti, and cucumbers side. Everything was stunning. On top of it, the service was great. No rush, clean plates, and much consideration. Would go again and again.

    Rhoda S.

    The food was good. The flavor was interesting. I had never had swordfish but it was tasty with the toppings. Bathroom floor was a little sus. It was such a small place that the noise level was high. However, I enjoyed my time.

    Salmon
    Olivia M.

    Love the ambiance of Fairchild. Lighting is perfect and this restaurant's interior nails something so many restaurants simply don't in the Madison area. It's an enjoyable, cozy atmosphere to settle into for an evening of great food. Came here for my birthday dinner last November and it was amazing. Still thinking about it! Server was incredibly knowledgeable of the menu, cooking methods, and ingredients used. Highly recommend any of the shareable items. Oysters were delicious. Salmon was perfectly cooked, as were the accompanying seasonal vegetables. I think we ordered one each of the desserts -- which were also all very good. Budino and apple pie were very good.

    Sam S.

    Small cozy atmosphere. The staff was very attentive and kind! All of the food we tried was great and portions were good with the exception of the tartare. It was one bite each, but very very tasty! We went for our anniversary and would definitely come back

    Fettuccine with clams
    MaryDan H.

    Loved the menu options around Christmas: Lobster Bisque and Fettuccine with Clams. Both were done extremely well--creamy and rich with fresh morsels of seafood. So very satisfying. Yum!

    Salmon
    Johanna E.

    Went here for a birthday and had a great experience. The service was attentive and the atmosphere was perfect for a celebration. The Snowdrift and Manhattan were both excellent. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The broccolini paired well with the salmon and the steak with potatoes and onion was full of flavor. We also tried a special appetizer that was unique and made for some great bites. Overall, a wonderful spot for a special night out.

    Apple cake for 2
    Laura M.

    I've been wanting to come here for a while, and I'm glad my sister and I finally made the trip. This restaurant certainly earns its reputation, and you'll definitely need a reservation. There is a great wine list to choose from, and although I went with wine, their cocktail list also looked fantastic. I ordered the New York strip, which was cooked perfectly and was delicious. Although it did come with a side, I also ordered the green barn broccoli, which was superb. My sister got the 7 seeds chicken, which she thought was excellent. We opted for dessert to share - the apple cake, which is served on a skillet with ice cream atop. It was amazing! I wish I hadn't been so full from the rest of the meal, because this was simply delightful and a plentiful portion. Overall, the price is on the higher side, but for the quality of food and service, it makes sense. This restaurant would make for a perfect date spot. Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. I definitely hope to come back.

    Beef tartare
    Ellena K.

    Fairchild always exceeds my expectations! As soon as you step inside, the cozy lighting and modern decor set the perfect vibe for a nice night out. The menu is a showcase of creativity, beautifully presented and delicious. The Shishido peppers and beef tartare are my favorite. The drinks were great too! We loved the old fashioned. Equally noteworthy was the quality of the service. Our server was attentive without being intrusive, and made our birthday celebration wonderful. I already can't wait to go back! Highly recommend taking an out-of-town visitor to give them a taste of Madison's dining and locally sourced ingredients

    Current menu
    Christine L.

    In Madison for a conference and was reading the Madison magazine and they suggested I check out the Fairchild. It had a couple lines to describe the place but the words James Beard award sold me quick. So at 5pm next day I headed over without a reservation. It's a cozy place and all tables were reserved for a Thursday and but I planned to sit at the bar anyways. No problem I had the counter to myself. I was just amazed that I could even do that for such an establishment here. As for selecting my dinner it was hard to choose because I could have eaten anything everything sounded very delicious so I ended up getting 2 appetizers and the broccoli so I can have space for dessert. The beef tartar was great and had a nice balance of crunch from the potatoes on the bottom. I got the pork trotter because I never heard of that before and was intrigued. A satisfying dish with crispy pork around the perimeter with diced watery sweet watermelon on top. Ended the night with the brown butter financier. Lemon poppyseed ice cream? Wow and all made in-house. Loved every part: the blueberry sauce, the cake, ice cream... and together it's fantastic. Even though I was by myself I had the lovely company of bartender-wife of chef Marlee around to talk. I wish I had something like this in my neighborhood: a nice low-key establishment that makes high quality food that's familiar (yet different) and approachable. I am still floored that I was able to walk in and eat there without a reservation. Are Madisonians so used to this level of cuisine it's not a big deal? Lol I'm starting to believe this unpretentious town is a foodie paradise.

    Beverage menu July 2024
    Andrea Z.

    Visited on a Saturday around 6pm solo, was able to snag a seat at the bar without a reservation. The restaurant was fairly busy, most guests had a reservation and a slight wait before their table was ready, if coming as a group would recommend booking a spot but there were seats at the bar available for the majority of the evening. Drinks: sumac lemonade - really light and refreshing a great cocktail to start the meal, tart and tangy with a slight sweetness, throughly enjoyed Food: PEI mussels - delicious, creamy rich lightly spiced saffron broth with savory meaty chunks of chorizo, mussels were well clean and cooked, potatoes added a little bit of heartiness, came with a slice of grilled bread to soak up the broth wish there was more bread for this Shishito peppers with yuzu kosho mayo - a nice veggie option, pepper were lightly sauteed with a slight char, served on a bed of the mayo which added a subtle citrus spice, would have preferred to dip personally but still enjoyed this overall Serving was great, really attentive staff dispute how busy the restaurant and bar was. Friendly, warm and welcoming, water was refilled regularly and staff checked in throughout the meal. Overall a great spot for a more upscale dinner in Madison, menu is new American with some global influences, if the mussels are on the menu menu order them!

    Grilled pink moon oysters
    Sandy N.

    My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary in Madison, and we ended the day at Fairchild. We both agreed it was the best meal of 2024 so far. The freshness of Fairchild's offerings and the seasonal flavors were truly delightful. To start, Fairchild welcomed us with two glasses of bubbles to celebrate. They recommended a dish from each category, but we decided to freestyle our choices. Here's what we ordered, in order of our favorites: Hudson Valley Foie Gras: I am still thinking about this dish--a taste of heaven. The foie gras ice cream was chef's kiss! Seven Seeds Pork Trotter: Please give me the recipe for the nuoc cham! Excellent balance of flavors and so savory. Hamachi: Refreshing and perfectly balanced. Peterman Craftsman Steak Tartare: A fun bite, though I think I prefer the traditional serving. Strawberry Rhubarb Panna Cotta: The perfect light yet flavorful ending. Grilled Pink Moon Oysters: One word--plump. Triangoli: I was yearning for more of that bone marrow flavor, but overall, a safe dish. We left this very memorable dinner feeling comfortable and happy. I can't wait to bring my girlfriends here for our next UW Madison reunion!

    deviled eggs & lobster bisque
    Michelle L.

    perfect dinner date night spot :) i made a reservation for 2 several weeks in advance and it is so worth it. super cute & cozy ambiance with soft warm yellow lighting, it's a small restaurant so it feels very intimate. our server did an excellent job offering recommendations, going into detail with each dish. I love that they change up the menu constantly and according to the seasons! they also source their ingredients fresh from the farmers market each week deviled eggs: creamy and light, this is a staple on the menu lobster bisque: such a unique twist on the dish! it's less creamy compared to a new england lobster bisque and had more earthy, curry flavor, with lots of spices tagliatelle: super clean light pasta, had a very lemony sauce. gave off spring tbh! great portion size too, I didn't feel overly stuffed. the sourdough was grilled and was from a place down the street seven seeds chicken: super unique dish full of juice and flavor. they sorta mash up different parts of the chicken together so you get light and dark pieces, the skin was wonderfully crisp. the apple was soft and carmelized and was a great addition japanese purin: essentially like a flan with cherries and a light touch of maple syrup drizzled over on top. super light and airy dessert, perfect ending to dinner

    Pork Trotter (one of the best dishes I've EVER had anywhere!)

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    3 years ago

    Delicious food! Great service. Luckily sat in corner near bar-acoustics are awful. Pricey, but enjoyed it!

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    3 years ago

    Everything about this place is top notch. The whole experience is great. Food and atmosphere are fun and worth the time dmv money

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    3 years ago

    Love this place. Classy atmosphere and awesome food. Menu changes often making it a delightful surprise every time. Great cocktails too.

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    3 years ago

    High quality dining experience, delicious food, great location and atmosphere, wonderful attentive service. Highly recommend

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    3 years ago

    Delicious and creative plates. Thoughtful service. Did not feel rushed at all. Recommend!

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    3 years ago

    This years James Beard, Best Chef Midwest winner! So we'll deserved. Go there while you can still get a reservation.

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    6 years ago

    This place is amazing!!! Don't let the Coronavirus stop you. Support local businesses in this difficult time. Amazing food and drinks!!

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    Page 4 of 5

    Ask the Community - Fairchild

    Do they ever have vegan options?

    Definitely vegetarian, not sure about vegan

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    Sgd Dubu

    Sgd Dubu

    4.1
    (11 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    I was so surprised to see that an SGD opened up in Madison. I came with two friends at around…read more1:45pm on a Saturday and it was packed. We joined the waitlist and were 11th in line so we weren't sure if we'd get a spot before the kitchen closed at 2:30pm. Thankfully the waitlist moved quickly and a table was ready at 2pm. We ordered a seafood pancake and each got a sundubu jjigae with the rice. The pancake was delicious- crispy and flavorful. Our tofu soups with beef came out shortly after. I got the regular spice level but could have definitely gotten it spicier. Overall, my rating would be closer to a 4.5 because instead of the hot stone bowl rice we were just given a bowl of rice which was unfortunate and they also didn't have cups for us until midway through our meal when we asked. They were very busy and they just opened so understandable. Otherwise, I'm excited to have an authentic a delicious Korean restaurant in Madison!

    Gave this place a try after the hype that I have heard and was not disappointed. Their Soondubu…read moreJjigae is definitely a must-try. I enjoyed the soft tofu and flavors from it, and honestly each dish had its own unique character to it. My only wishes would be that the Seafood Pancake to have a more crispy texture and for the Bibimbap (Beef) to have a little more meat to it. The staff members were very kind and made sure our table was well taken care of. The restaurant was very clean, but the only other complaint I would have is that there was no A/C on, and the door was left open to allow for airflow, causing a lot of smoke from outside to come into the restaurant (tobacco smell). Otherwise, I was satisfied with everything else. Each dish was full of impactful flavor, and I can understand why SGD has its hype!

    Photos
    Beautiful space.
    Beautiful space.
    Beef bulgogi bento box
    Beef bulgogi bento box
    Sgd Dubu

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    Hot Pot 608

    Hot Pot 608

    4.2
    (61 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$
    Free parking
    Kid friendly

    Our group of five tried Hot Pot 608 on University Avenue last night. I always love a good hot pot…read moreand Hot Pot 608 did not let me down. We were greeted immediately and led to our table. Our waiter came by and learned that we had not been to this hot pot, so he walked us through the process. Like other hot pots I have been to, they have a sauce station with various ingredients and directions for making a number of sauces and you pick your broth(s) in advance, and they bring it to your table. You can have two separate broths in each pot using a divider. But this was different in that this is an All You Can Eat (AYCE) Hot Pot. Other Hot Pots also have options for AYCE noodles and maybe potato or sweet potato, but this was AYCE for everything including appetizers, vegetables, seafood, and meats. It was $35 per person which seemed high at first but once you realize how much food you can get it is well worth it. We started by ordering some appetizers. Honestly, I probably could have made a meal just w/those. We tried pot-stickers, pork egg rolls, fried chicken teriyaki, and shrimp dumplings. I wasn't' a huge fan of the egg rolls, they coating was pretty dense, but everything else was great. When I go back, I'd like to try the pork buns. We ordered our first set of meats as well as rice which they bring to you and then headed up to the refrigerators where they keep the vegetables, additional meats, seafood and noodles. I won't list all of the options, check out their menu, but suffice it to say it was truly impressive. I was really pleased w/the quality of the food including the seafood like squid, shrimp and fish balls. I also loved the variety of vegetables including lotus root, black fungus, enoki and king oyster mushrooms, Bok-choy, napa, and broccoli. It's a fun dining experience to cook your food in the broth. My favorite was the spicy marrow. We ordered more appetizers and more rice. There are some options for dessert but other than the custard bun I didn't try any. Honestly there were so many options to choose from, but I was so full by the time I left that I didn't try even a quarter of the different items. I would definitely go back to Hot Pot 608. A fun, tasty, and filling dining experience.

    Me and my boyfriend went there in on Sunday to try it out since we were close by the west side…read more First time eating at this place, service was fine but the food was weird for us. We only choose the meat first and then pick the stuff that we want for the hot pot on the right side of the restaurant, honestly everything seemed like the food was sitting there for a whole day, seemed not fresh like enoki mushrooms were yellow shrunk like it sat there for the whole day, mussels seem dry but as we cooked it, it tasted fine. Honestly reminded me of journeys...which is ok but for hot pot it was just weird, usually places we would place orders for everything. Honestly the spicy marrow broth was really spicy but to me really oily which made me throw up the food after we left, I had to puke behind the car but I never usually throw up food after hot pot but for some reason it just was not sitting good in my stomach. Will give this place a 2 star due to the food being out in the open and not looking appealing or appetizing. Not a lot of options to choose from for putting stuff into your hot pot but still decent enough for those who don't eat much at hot pots. Honestly me and my boyfriend thought it was uncomfortable to eat there but other than all it was good.

    Photos
    New Menu
    New Menu
    New Menu
    New Menu
    Hot Pot 608

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    Lombardinos Italian Restaurant and Bar

    Lombardinos Italian Restaurant and Bar

    4.0
    (317 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    If you judge Lombardino's from the outside, you might not expect much. It looks like a place that's…read morebeen around forever, kind of unassuming, maybe even easy to overlook. But once you walk in, it's a completely different story. The service was excellent. Our server was friendly, helpful, and had actually been to Rome, which made the conversation more interesting and added a nice touch of authenticity. And the food? Way beyond what we expected. Everything was well done and felt like a real step up from what the exterior might lead you to believe. You can feel the history in this up close, the statue at the entrance of the Trevi Fountain almost pulls you in before you even realize what you're looking at. The detail is incredible, even with the wear and mineral buildup from years of flowing water, it actually adds to the character. Standing there, tossing a coin over your left shoulder, it's one of those moments that feels a little touristy... until you do it. Then it just feels right. Like you're taking part in something that's been going on for generations. Simple tradition, but a pretty cool one. This place is a bit of a hidden gem. If you haven't been, it's absolutely worth checking out.

    They were super busy, so service was a little bit slower. Our server was super friendly and got all…read moreof our orders correct. The mushroom pasta dish (tagliatelle) was definitely the stand out of our meal. While the budino was delicious, I didn't get the butterscotch flavors as it was noted in the menu. It almost tasted more like pumpkin and cinnamon. Warm fresh bread and the traditional cesear salad were delicious. I really liked my white sangria but my husband didn't care for his barrel aged Negroni. Love the tiles behind the bar and the history of this classic place.

    Photos
    Bar area. Note: I edited out anyone who I could see their faces so some areas of the photo look a little strange.
    Bar area. Note: I edited out anyone who I could see their faces so some areas of the photo look a little strange.
    Eggplant Napoletana
    Eggplant Napoletana
    Special gin drink

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    Special gin drink

    Fairchild - seafood - Updated June 2026

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