I've been putting off this review for a while in hopes to give this spot a second chance, but I haven't had the chance to return yet. Perhaps our expectations were set a bit high, but Fairchild was definitely overhyped and I was disappointed by this restaurant. After hearing so many great things we were really looking forward to giving this restaurant a try. I ordered the seven seeds chicken which was very small and a bit bland. We also tried the pappardelle which looked delicious. Upon trying it we were underwhelmed due to the lack of flavor. The inside was quaint and very charming. However, our waitress was a bit overbearing and just seemed off. We're convinced we came on an off day based off of the many raving reviews and will be returning to give Fairchild a second go. read more

I ordered maitake tempura, striped bass, and Japanese purin (custard) for dessert. Everything was amazing! The maitake mushrooms (also known as hen of the woods) were incredibly aromatic. A quick check on iNaturalist told me they could grow in the woods next to the restaurant. Talk about hyper-local food. The harissa paste under the striped bass was delicate and flavorful. Verdeca white wine was also very good. And the strawberries on top of the purin smelled like real strawberries, not the kind you buy at the grocery store. My waiter told me that the chef found a farmer who still had a patch and delivered strawberries in November! Overall, a memorable dining experience at a James Beard Award winning restaurant. read more

Fairchild - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Another amazing meal here. Like, you assume that it's never going to match your first meal because you lose the novelty of it all. But Fairchild delivered again. Had: Fried Maitake Hamachi App Roasted Carrots NY Strip Pork and Chicken Ragú Two desserts There wasn't a weak dish in the bunch. The roasted carrot was SPECTACULAR. The walnut and cabbage added the most delicious crunch, and as you can see from the pic, the presentation was unreal. The pic doesn't do it justice. Please. If you go to Madison and love good food, GO. read more

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Great service. Tight dining room space. Boundary pushing flavors and techniques excellent perfectly. Amazing wine cellar. read more

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Excellent service and perfect ambience!! Fairchild is one of the best restaurants in Madison. Visited the restaurant for the first time and I can't wait to go back there again. One of my new local faves. The food is outstanding. We had the deviled eggs, vitruvian mixed greens, halibut, seven seed chicken, and farfalle. I was blown away by the presentation of the dishes. Each dish was better than the next . Loved everything we ordered, it is impossible to pick a favorite. Chef Itaru Nagano and Chef Andrew Kroger sure know how to make wining dishes that are pleasing to the eye and palate. The staff is really friendly and made great recommendations. Overall a wonderful dining experience, would highly recommend this place. read more

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We had a great experience here. Excellent service, good food and nice drinks. We had an assortment of dishes- octopus, risotto, soup special, beef tartare, potatoes and pasta. Everything was very good. Very difficult reservation to get. We had 6 people and I would definitely recommend ordering for 1-2 people per item as they have very small dishes. The entrees are larger and I would recommending ordering 1 each and splitting with one other person as it is a place where tasting comes to life. read more

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do yourself a favor. go eat here. excellent. great service, too. We had two of their pasta dishes - which were excellent. Great wine list and server offered us opportunity to taste prior to ordering a glass. read more

Wow! So excited to be here! Looking forward to the Risotto this evening! Easy to find. Street parking right out front. Friendly staff who immediately made me feel welcome. read more

Fairchild - Menu - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Fairchild offered one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. Keyword on experience. The food here, prepared by chefs who have worked under James Beard Award-winning chefs, is delivered in such a way that will leave you speechless. The unique flavors give you something that you simply can't get at most other restaurants in Wisconsin. While the portions are not as large as what you theoretically can get at some other restaurants or steakhouses here in the states, I think that they were perfect for my party of 3 when we ordered a couple appetizers and 3 entrees to share. We left feeling very satisfied. Beyond the food, the cocktails were also very unique and some of the best I've had. The service was amazing. Our server was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. It should be noted that the restaurant is small and the tables are small and relatively close proximity, but that was not a problem to me. Overall, such a great experience that I look forward to returning to. Fairchild is such a gift to have in the area. read more

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My fiancé and I were floored by the meal we had at Fairchild. We've been wanting to come here since moving to Madison almost two years ago. Finally decided to visit for a special occasion and WOW. It's worth the price tag and the flavors are something you will remember. We started with hibiscus limeades which were refreshing and delicious. A really great N/A option if you still want a fun drink with dinner. For appetizers we had the beef tartare and the sunchoke & chestnut soup. While the portions of the beef tartare are pretty tiny (2 little pieces) they were bursting with flavor and really impressed. This was the first thing that arrived and we knew the rest of the meal would be excellent. The sunchoke soup was unlike anything either of us have ever had. It was very creamy but also felt light with a really smooth texture for the broth. The pomegranates were an excellent touch. This is the kind of restaurant where each item that arrives affirms that the chefs really know what they're doing! For entrees I had the burrata ravioli with lobster and carrot sauce. The combination was fabulous. I was really impressed by the portion, especially how much lobster was in the dish. My fiancé had the salmon which was also fantastic. I only had a bite but it had a light and citrus-y flavor. He really enjoyed it! All in all, this place is pricey so won't become a regular, but certainly a meal to remember and I'll be so glad when I have an opportunity to go back! read more

Fairchild - Salmon - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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My wife and I had one of the most enjoyable meals that either of us had ever had. The food was phenomenal! We shared the salmon entree and also got the tagliatelle. Both were perfectly prepared and delicious. The bacon and kimchi Brussel sprouts were shockingly good - not because we didn't expect it to be good, but we didn't expect it to be THAT good as a side! We joked that we could have order 4 servings of it as a meal. We both had craft beers and a dessert to finish off the evening, and I heartily recommend the toffee pudding and coffee ice cream. Pair this culinary experience with very kind and capable staff in a relaxed, welcoming setting, and it doesn't get any better! This will not be our last visit if we have any choice in the matter! read more

Full disclosure- I am Andy Kroegers LA cousin, but anyway this restaurant is amazing!! Better than Pastaio in Beverly Hills! I had the risotto, the snap peas and the carrots, all with deliciously delicate flavors. The presentation was beautiful and the service attentive. The restaurant itself is charming & intimate. Really amazing food! read more

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10/10 would absolutely recommend checking out Fairchild. The low lighting and the snug size of the restaurant makes the ambiance quite intimate. The service was wonderful as the servers were welcoming and helpful on selecting the best wine for our preferred tastes. Our waiter was so kind and attentive to our needs during this culinary experience. In addition, my compliments must go to the chef for creating a meal that kept us full for almost 24 hours! Next time I'm in Madison I will absolutely be coming back! read more

Fairchild - Peach Toast - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Sometimes you go to a restaurant where everything -- the food, the service, the place -- is simply very good. You aren't shocked or bombarded with pizzaz or a multitude of obnoxious flavors. Everything is fairly simple but done very well. I think this describes Fairchild. It's not a life changing experience but the food is really nearly perfect for what it is, and everything is very breezy, casual and understated. I had the maitake tempura -- light and delicious. Then the charcoal grilled miso trout was sweet and succulent and wonderfully charred. The Jerusalem artichokes side was pretty good but not really cohesive -- they were sort of just thrown together with some cream sauce. Finally the flourless chocolate torte was lighter and slightly less sweet than expected, and it came with a great ice cream and cherries. All very welcome. Ultimately this place is pretty expensive but it does deliver, everything is nearly perfect and the service was extremely attentive and kind. Would love to go back! read more

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Wonderful service and creative food, celebrated our son's wedding there and could not have chosen a more special place.

I should have looked more into Fairchild before we went. I was way overdressed for a Friday evening dinner. This is a casual eatery or maybe that's just Madison. The service was prompt and courteous but I could not hear what the food runners said as they laid plates. They spoke quickly and quietly then skedaddled, barely any eye contact. The food was great. We enjoyed the peas, oysters, trotter and especially the foie gras...so much we had it a second time for dessert. My only complaints: A cocktail on the menu was not available. This happens but we were an early res on a Friday evening. It was a watermelon based drink... there's no shortage of watermelon now. Perhaps they ran out of a liqueur but I doubt. At least come up with a backup drink. The Money Runner really lacked bourbon flavor it seemed the choice was to try and push the peach notes forward but this wasn't all that successful. As for food, the ribeye was very well cooked but there were several bites that had connective tissue that was a huge distraction from what was otherwise a well executed dish. At $50+ and a small serving size we should expect easy eating meat. For Madison it's tough to get a better meal but can't quite give the 5 stars. I'm not sure that's what they're shooting for. After tip we were in at about $400. I've had better meals for less and worse meals for more. So there you go. read more

My photos won't upload unfortunately, but Fairchild was outstanding. Our food was next level, with so many unique flavors. Service was good, not outstanding, but acceptable. I love the vibes of this cozy spot on Monroe. Parking can be a bit of a pain, especially in the winter, but worth it for this award-winning meal. read more

Rarely post but man that was extremely good. From snacks, to starters to main and dessert. Just overall extremely well done. Also, I didn't catch her name but may have been the best waitress I think I have ever had. Can't go wrong here. read more

I had very high expectations for this restaurant upon making the reservation weeks in advance. We arrived and the staff were very friendly and kind enough to seat us in the window of the restaurant. The restaurant had a great atmosphere and the cocktails were the best I've had in Madison so far (we had two round of drinks because they were so delicious.) To start we ordered the oysters, deviled eggs, and maitake mushrooms for the table. All three items were fantastic and I have to say I've never had a warm, raw oyster before but it was full of flavor. The reason I was disappointed in this meal was because of the small portion sizes and cold entrees. I've had monkfish at many fine dining restaurants and am willing to pay more money for this fish, but I was saddened to see my plate had three small pieces and not even a whole peice of shrimp. The flavors were lovely and the plating was beautiful but when you're paying a high price for food I would expect it to come out on a warmed plate and not cold. Unfortunately all of our entrees were cold except for the pasta dish. I would maybe considering trying this restaurant again but next time just for drinks and snacks. read more

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Run. Don't walk. Out of this world food, fresh local ingredients, outstanding service. My first trip here which seems wild since it's in the neighborhood. Had a girls night and couldn't wait to try. Menu changes often which is great as it will feature what's in season. The restaurant seats 50 which makes it cozy - lots of greenery. Seasonal outdoor patio seating too. Our server Rachel was amazing and very knowledgeable about the menu and offered recommendations. Ordered the Boa Sorte cocktail which had huckleberry and gin - tart and refreshing. Menu had a variety of N/A drinks and plenty of wine. As a vegetarian, very pleased with the veg forward options. All of the pastas had meat, but Rachel checked with the kitchen and they were able to modify a pasta to make it vegetarian. Started with the deviled eggs which were so creamy and dreamy with the perfect amount of paprika. Next I had the asparagus vichyssoise (cold soup) which tasted like spring and summer in a bowl. The server poured the soup over asparagus and croutons table side. Beautiful presentation. Rachel recommended a wine for me to pair with dinner. Had the beet salad as my main. Plenty of chèvre, cottage cheese, fennel and the unexpected surprise- tarragon oil! The plate was stunning. My friends enjoyed the miatake tempura, seven seeds pork trotter, rainbow trout, and capellini with shrimp. There were no leftovers. Finished with dessert: popcorn ice cream layered with pickled rhubarb, salty popcorn and coconut cream. Sounds like an odd combo but a perfect bite of all components was amazing unlike anything I've tasted. Menu changes often based on what is in season which means every experience here will be different. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Was it good? Yes it was. But when you enter the $200+ realm for dinner, the bar is set much higher and unfortunately they fell short in almost all areas. We ordered a couple cocktails, an old fashioned and the via ferrata. Both were really skimpy, only taking a few sips to finish. With that, we decided to move on to wine, but by the time our waiter noticed we needed a drink, and the time it took for the wine to arrive, our glasses were empty for a good 20 minutes. Service all night was slow and casual, falling well short of what you'd expect from a restaurant of this caliber. The oysters had good flavor, but were some of the smallest I've ever had, and they were served warm which we found odd. The salmon was served cool which was another surprise. The ravioli was just okay. We really liked the pork trotter, probably the best dish of the night. The mushroom tempura was also good. We probably would've ordered dessert and an after dinner drink, but after an unimpressive experience, and then another 10 minute wait for our waiter to come check on us, we decided to cut our losses and call it a night. read more

I have been waiting to check out this place ever since I heard it won James Beard award. Finally, I was able to dine in here. I would say I was expecting more. For appetizers, I got pink moon oysters, octopus carpaccio + sweetbread. The oysters were heated up but the freshness was still there. The cooking process didn't ruin the integrity of oysters. I quietly liked them. The octopus carpaccio + sweetbread was surprisingly amazing. My boyfriend typically doesn't like sweetbread because of the texture issue. However, Fairchild did a great job of not making it slimy. They were fried perfectly. I also go tomato and cauliflower bisque. Interesting soup. It was quite delicate but the focaccia pieces in the bisque were not evenly salted. A few of them had too much salt. For entrees, the boyfriend got the steak and I got the Ora king salmon. The king salmon was cooked rare. It was very tender. However, because it was cooked rare, it did smell a bit fishy. The steak dish also had some pieces of short ribs there. We did think the steak and short ribs were nice but puzzled why the short ribs pieces needed in the dish. We also questioned about the addition of pomegranate there too. It didn't add anything to do dish and quite difficult to consume. We also shared rainbow carrots as a side dish. The puree stuff underneath all the carrots were weird. Still didn't know what it was for. It was a miss for us. Overall, I would say they are good. Nonetheless, I felt like a few of their dishes, they added a lot of components but some of them did not work well with each other. Also, the portion size was very small for each dish. read more

Fairchild - Ora King Salmon M1 cuit - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This chef won a James beaded award and after trying this restaurant I can see why. The food seems to be inspired by different cultures with a modern touch. I imagine that one of the inspirations comes from Japanese gastronomy since the menu contains items like habachi, ponzu marinate, and pork belly. I happened to try those dishes in particular and they were amazing. I personally recommend the habachi, the soft shell crab, the capelleti, and for dessert the Greek yoghurt panna cotta. Service was excellent. The server provider very good recommendations and timely service. The ice cream next door is awesome as well! Definitely worth trying if you have a chance. read more

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Found a sitter and went to the Fairchild recently. It is worth the hype!!!! The cocktails were so well balanced and delicious. I had one with several ingredients I never heard of and oh boy was it a good decision. Yum! I ordered the salmon and it was phenomenal. The watermelon appetizer with mint and saffron yogurt was superb. My partner got the pork loin and loved it. Go now! Trust me. It's pricey but worth it. read more

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The quick and dirty review: This is the epitome of fine dining. The chefs have clearly mastered cooking their cuisines (Japanese and Americana with a southern flare). The dishes are thoughtful in flavor profile and presentation. This is the kind of restaurant you take a long drive to go to. Quick disclaimer: I am not rating the waiting staff of this establishment and it did not impact my score at all. I also don't care about "vibe" either. So while, I will give my subjective opinion of both, the rating itself is only focused on the food - its presentation, preparation, and flavor. With that, the wait staff is great. they were clearly short handed but that was cool because I got to meet Chef Andrew. To me this felt like a typical midwestern restaurant in the best way. Like a neighborhood pub with a touch of elegance. The food here is so good, I went to this restaurant three times over five days. Everything that I have eaten at this place is worth it. I cannot sing the praises of these chefs enough. Given the amount of things I have tried, I will focus on my favorite three. The scallop on the menu is so cleverly crafted. Each bite is deliciously different. On the first bite you get the scallop and fava bean purée, the second bite adds the microgreens and pickled shallots, and the third bite adds the crunchiness of the actual fava bean under the scallop. I'm a very proud New Jerseyan and I've lived on the east coast for most of my life. I went to college in the Midwest and I spent those five years without seafood because the Midwest doesn't do seafood well. And now, I've found the exception. This also includes the oysters, which strike a perfect balance of acid and heat. Also, the clams are very great (not pictured). The ramp sausage complements that briney clams taste. The next dish that you must try is the polenta. What makes this dish unique is the added blue cheese which melts as it sits, so each bite is different because the amount of blue cheese you're getting shifts. The final dish that I want to call attention to is the flourless chocolate cake. this is what flourless cake should be. it had a perfect rise making it both dense and fluffy. the strawberries are in a sauce that adds just the right amount of sweetness. This slice of cake will completely shift how you view flourless cake. The drinks I've ordered were wonderful. I tried the Night Whistler, the flavors balanced each other so well. The Old Fashioned was perfect. A classic drink made with top notch ingredients. I cannot wait to get back to Madison to eat here again. read more

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Visited Fairchild with my girlfriend one evening for a birthday dinner. The venue was very aesthetic and nice. The hosts and guests were all very nice and the atmosphere was chatty but not overly loud. We got a couple of cocktails which were priced reasonably at $12 a piece. They were delicious tasting and were refreshing. We ended up getting small plates to share which were around $7 each. For entrees we got the bass and rigatoni which were very tasty and full of flavor. The waitress was super nice and even gave us complimentary champagne. Overall, had a great experience, will return. read more

Fairchild - Cocktails - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Enjoyed the food. Beautiful presentations. We sat at the bar and Matt was so helpful providing additional details of the food. He's such a wonderful host! You don't see clams on a menu often. I love clams, but my wife says it's too fishy. When she tried them, she couldn't stop eating them. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Madison. Perhaps the best one? Some stand out dishes: Lobster bisque - delicious with real bites of claws. Stood out from other lobster bisques I've had because it had Japanese curry flavoring. Foie gras - the BEST I've ever had. Not mousse or pate, but whole. Lightly seared. And incredibly soft and buttery. No irony taste. With the coconut and mango sorbet, the dish was a fantastic combo of sweet, savory, cold, hot. Rabbit risotto - the risotto was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The rabbit was fried and my partner really liked it. Short rib - the flavor was awesome. Took some as leftover home and tasted even better the next day. One thing though is that it wasn't as tender as I was expecting. We ordered 2 snack dishes as well, but next time we'll forgo the snacks and order more appetizers. Service was wonderful. Our waitress was very engaging and knew everything about the menu items. Chefs Itaru Nagano and Andy Kroeger have done an amazing job here. read more

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This is an absolute gem in the Monroe area of Madison. Small and quaint, excellent service, food that is as good as any top restaurant in big cities. Many awards earned by this team yet they've stayed authentic and humble. Reservations are tough because the food is so great. But keep trying as it is well worth the effort. read more

I went there with my wife for dinner. Even making a reservation was so hard for this place. So we expected a lot. Overall, the food was good, and the service was great. However, considering the price it is just fair and blend. It is just normal to serve good food at that expensive price. Also, the food is not really special except it has a little hint of Japanese cuisine. Typically, many restaurants serving Japanese or Korean food in America try to charge ridiculous prices for their food. What I really appreciate is those restaurants serving good food at good price. read more

One of the best restaurants I've tried in Madison! Can't beat the calm, relaxed ambiance mixed with upscale cocktails and food. I had the pappardelle and it was delicious! Well cooked with great flavor. The server was knowledgeable and helped me pick a cocktail that I absolutely loved. Everything I ate was fresh and well prepared. Perfect spot for date night or celebration. Would highly recommend and can't wait to go back! read more

Fairchild - Pappardelle - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

One of the best meals you will ever have, period. Amazing hand made pastas, unique menu all around. Great bar, and the staff is beyond friendly. read more

My new favorite brunch place in Madison!! The first time there, I got the lamb hash because our waiter said it was the best thing on the menu and I will forever be indebted to them bc it was FANTASTIC. I literally didn't think I even liked lamb, but the meat was tender and flavorful, and it went amazingly with the onion, greens, and potatoes in the has. The poached eggs on top were gorge-- perfect. The bf got the benedict another time, which was a nice size and came with potatoes that seemed like they were crisped w cheese - a pro move. The hollandaise was really velvety and nice. Mimosas here are really high quality too - refreshing and bubbly and not just oj like at some places Please note: they have a decent amount of outdoor space, but DEFINITELY make a reservation. The outdoor space is "sort of" first come first serve, but the last two times I have been they were 100% booked. read more

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This place was insane. Everything was so good. Definitely recommend giving it a try. It's pricey but so so yummy! read more

Fairchild - Seafood Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Our recent dinning experience at Fairchild was unparalled. From the classically cozy winter decor to the friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff (...here's looking at you Morgan!) and exquisitely crafted cusine we could not recommend Fairchild more! Thank you for creating such a memorable evening for our anniversary. read more

Fantastic experience all around here the other night! We arrived a few minutes early for our reservation and they kindly seated us at a table in the bar area to wait. We were able to order a cocktail and deviled eggs to get started. The bar is absolutely fascinating to watch - there are bottles and potions all along the counter and he is clearly quite a mixologist! I had the sonder and personally wouldn't order again as there was a bit of a finish on the drink that didn't appeal to me. The deviled eggs were creamy and the perfect bite to tide us over for a few minutes. We were seated shortly and had a very pleasant server who clearly knew the menu and was happy to help steer us through. We settled on rabbit risotto and the short ribs with whipped potatoes. The rabbit risotto was absolutely out of this world. A fried loin atop creamy perfectly prepared risotto - we scraped up every grain. Our server brought over a splash of white wine for me to try with the risotto and it was a perfect bright complement. We were a bit taken aback by the short rib. From first bite there was a bit of a char taste and it was off-putting. It persisted, varied in intensity, throughout the entire cut and the ribs weren't as tender/falling apart as I had expected. As we were leaving we heard another sever describe it as smoked - ahh, that's why. The sauces on that dish though....another plate that was nearly wiped clean. We had a window seat which was very nice, but my chair had been placed right over the floor vent so I had to shift our table a bit and sit on my jacket to try and cut the cool air flow to my back and legs! Small space trying to maximize tables; I get it. These chefs enjoy their craft and they understand what it is to prepare good food. Wouldn't hesitate to come back here again. read more

Outstanding! Service was excellent and food was unique, delicious and based on local ingredients--so much so that we saw many of the same at the farmer's market today. We enjoyed our meal and evening! Well worth it--just reserve well in advance. read more

1. Drinks were delicious! They were perfectly balanced and easy to go down. 2. The beef tartare bites were amazing! The base was a potato and it was so crispy. This bite packed a punch! 3. The sunchoke and chestnut soup was soo good. I love the slight sweetness from the sunchoke. It was so flavorful. 4. The scallops were perfectly cooked. There was a nice sear on it and I loved the flavors. 5. The chicken sausage in the orecchiette pasta was slightly spicy and it paired well with the ricotta. The duck stuffed pasta was definitely the star though! The meat was tender and the pasta was perfectly al dente. Our server gave fantastic recommendations. She recommended a good amount of dishes, and we left feeling perfectly satisfied. The place is dimly lit with candles on the tables making it super nice for a date night. It wasn't too loud either! They change their menu frequently so I'm already looking forward to coming back! read more

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I'm a foodie, and I cook a lot. Usually when I'm at a restaurant I'm thinking about how I would've cooked each dish differently and how I could've made it better. But here, I couldn't stop thinking "how did they do this?" Each and every dish I tried was phenomenal: the flavors were subtle and inspired, the textures were perfect. Between the three of us, we sampled nearly the entire menu. The chefs seem to have kept the menu small in order to ensure that every dish would be exceptional and well-executed. The most memorable dishes--it's so hard to choose!-- were the gazpacho, the farfalle, and the red snapper. (Ok. I also have to mention the amazing corn and blistered shishito pepper!) I highly recommend this place. Right now, Fairchild is the best restaurant in Madison. read more

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Fantastic food, service, and always changing menu. Now that they have won an award, the reservations fill up much sooner- for good reason!!