Came here for my birthday to experience the tasting menu and was quite disappointed. We arrived at 7pm and did not leave until around 10:30. That is 30-40 minutes per course. I don't know if the restaurant believes this creates a nice dining experience expected in haute cuisine, but it doesn't. It was exhausting and frustrating. The first item we were served was a cheese-filled pretzel ball that was not on the tasting menu. It was really bad... stale and cold, and I have the feeling it was leftover from Graze next door. The food on the tasting menu was certainly an improvement from the pretzel ball, but nothing special. If you are looking for an exceptional tasting menu for a special occasion, go to Nook! The chefs were trained at Everest, one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago for a tasting menu, and the thought they put into each dish, as well as the service, is exceptional. read more

Our seven-course tasting menu (mine plant-based, and husband's not) was a glorious celebration of the differences between us, AND what we still share. The "Indigenous Wisconsin" theme was a harkening back to our love affair with this region (especially the parts of it you can eat). No anemic elimination versions here, or "throw-away" desserts - like a cake coming out of the freezer if a vegan shows up. This chocolate cake was true, sensuous perfection. Incredibly friendly and accommodating to vegans... And the BEST. OLD FASHIONED. EVER. Thank you Chef Miller and whoever had a hand in creating, or executing this mind-blowing meal. We are still high on our date with Wisconsin, and we will talk about it for the rest of our lives. read more

See all

We actually didn't eat here, but feel it's important to leave a review based on our experience with them. We were planning on making a reservation, but were told that no kids under 6 would be allowed in the restaurant. I've never heard of such a thing to begin with! We have an almost 2 year old who is super well-behaved and we've dined all over the place with her, with no problems. Sure, kids are unpredictable, but we never had an issue bringing her along anywhere. But that's not the point: Before we reached someone, we left a voicemail and they left one in return- whoever left the voicemail was rude and obnoxious, telling us that "Maybe we could make an exception for you and put you in a hidden corner somewhere". And they thought it was important to mention that there would be issues if the baby starts to cry. Needless to say, we had no desire to eat here anymore after that. Maybe rethink your nonsense policy, and make it inviting for everyone! That's all. read more

Fun tasting menu experience! By no means perfect, but worth the $100+ price given the quality of the ingredients and great flavor combinations. I wrote more about the food in the captions of the pictures, but the definitive highlights for me were the foie gras, the beef, and the dessert; so amazing in both textures and flavors. Let downs included the scallops, the duck, and the bread. Crab was decent, as was the butter (can't believe it was made the same afternoon!). The setting was pretty fantastic, with glass walls right next to the capitol so you can see the building lit up at night. Elegant and dim (but not too dim), with great service. Each person who presented the courses walked us through what components were present in the same even cadence. Some minor quibbles: on the scallop dish it was obvious that the fingerprints had not been wiped off the dish, which was somewhat off-putting. Also, the timing of the courses varied dramatically, with some long pauses and others that had a dish right after another. Not sure what happened there. Overall, a great experience (though my BF thought there wasn't enough food) and would come again in the future. read more

See all

Well, this is by far the best restaurant in Madison. It's small plate, and VERY expensive. And each person has to decide if that's "worth it." To compare, I've been to Alinea in Chicago, right around the time it was rated #26 in the world. Much less molecular gastronomy here in Madison, but there really is a thought process into each little plated piece, seeds and all, that lacks in other local restaurants. Well, I've seen the thought, but the execution is consistent and on-point. In a 7 meal course, only one was "good;" the rest were "great", "wow", "I didn't think I'd like that but it was awesome." And most, if not all, of the ingredients are locally sourced. For some people, it's worth the cost. The birthday grrl got the 7 course tasting, and I ordered ala carte (too much hassle to fix my dietary issues). The food delivery was timed pretty good even though I had 4 fewer items. Our server was Nancy. She was very helpful, and made sure we got what we needed. But we had multiple people come check-in with us, to discuss the meals, the wine, refill water, deliver food, and replace utensils. We were offered a champagne toast just after we were seated, but that might have been due to the birthday nature. Then we were presented with an amuse bouche: whipped cottage cheese (without lumps) with chopped asparagus and pickled mustard seeds. I didn't have the cheese, but it was still fun (I love asparagus). Each course after was just perfectly cooked (shrimp, lamb, scallop, morels, pork belly, soft shell crab, squab, asparagus) and seasoned. I mean each one. The only one we didn't like was the cheese plate had a rhubarb sauce that overpowered the cheese and foie gras, which is really hard to imagine if you think about those two items. And just like any performance piece, an encore was given in the way of a tiny plate of three small desserts - a lychee jelly, a butter biscuit cookie, and a tiny chocolate macaron. PS. this place is seriously about two people (and 148 miles) away from getting a Michelin star. Just add a water person and a bathroom person. The rest of the waitstaff are pretty consistent on their circling, but that anticipation of my next need is... so... close. Thanks for the dietary adjustments, the sommelier was perfect, and the personalization on the menu was a GREAT touch! We'll be back for that next special night! read more

See all

Great food, great service, Sampson is a beast! All staff go above and beyond the call of duty.

A gem. World class dining in our wonderful, cosmopolitan college town. Chef Tory is as good as you have heard. If you haven't heard, you haven't been paying attention. I could write a lengthy review but I'll save you the time by saying you owe it to yourself to go. And if you like wine, get the pairing. Michael, the sommelier is excellent. Now enjoy. read more

We have been at least four times over the years. Always excellent and truly the best of Madison. Service, friendliness and flavor always perfect. One cannot go wrong with anything off the menu and relying fully on the staff for food or drink will never let you down. read more

Excellent service and delicious food. The tasting menu is well-portioned. The restaurant is quiet and upscale.

I am not 100% sure what to say. This is a Madison landmark and the amuse-bouche was amazing (how can you not like home made pop rocks). Nothing was bad and presentation was beautiful. The only downside? I guess I was looking for innovation. Still a nice special occasion restaurant. Lovely birthday dinner. Helpful waitstaff . read more

See all

You can be assured of having an excellently prepared meal at this restaurant in a very pleasant setting with spectacular views of the capitol if you face the large front windows. It is airy with high ceilings with well spaced tables---notable in this season of Covid. The downside is the pricing of dishes and wines----very high. For a special occasion or for people who are wealthy and/or have a generous expense account this is a very fine choice. read more

***L'Etoile is a very good contemporary fine dining restaurant, but it is also a great showcase of Midwestern farms, Wisconsin cheese and grass fed beef*** More than any restaurant I have tried in the Midwest, L'Etoile is truly committed to local, seasonal cuisine. The back of the menu lists the many local farms that L'Etoile uses to produce its contemporary fine dining cuisine and the freshness and quality really come across. A lot of their produce burst with flavor and freshness that is easy to find in California but difficult to find elsewhere. In addition to the fresh ingredients, L'Etoile utilizes a lot of premium ingredients like chanterelles, high quality prosciutto, buttery and velvety foie gras, and grass fed, dry aged beef. The kitchen also shows great versatility whether it is a fresh and vibrant salad like their tomato, cantaloupe, arugula, and prosciutto salad, an intense and refined fine dining dish like their foie gras with sweet corn, chanterelles and blueberry gastrique or a hearty Midwestern dish like their New York Strip with mashed potatoes, mushrooms and bearnaise. I enjoyed all the savory courses I had. Their cantaloupe in their starter salad had a great sweetness and the aftertaste of that fruit was mellowed out. In addition, the dish was one of the menu items utilizing Asian ingredients (the head chef Tory Miller has an Asian heritage). The cantaloupe was marinated like kimchi to provided a nice spiciness. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/l-etoile-madison?select=Daphtl19riahtuVjCOvD4g#1Dm_XzeFUsGbh-7ea6UYpw The seared foie gras was very good--buttery and creamy on the inside and a slightly crispy exterior. All of the garnishes stood out--earthy chanterelles, very sweet summer corn and a sweet and tart blueberry gastrique. I think the dish could have benefitted from brioche, a crumble or a streusel because of the creaminess of the dish. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/l-etoile-madison?select=Daphtl19riahtuVjCOvD4g#kZci-HIMA6X0QDqBEI8hxw They do beef very well here. They source from a farm that dry ages their beef. L'Etoile then performs additional dry aging. With dry aging, you can make the meat more flavorful but which can sacrifice juiciness. That was not the case here. Despite being a New York Strip and being dry aged, the meat was very tender and juicy. The meat also had a really strong beef flavor, which you do not always get (even with good beef). The outside crust was also good--slightly crisp and very flavorful. The side of mashed potatoes was also very good--rich and very thick (like good French pomme purée). The other sides (like overcooked shiitake mushrooms) were very ordinary--the kind of food you would get at a run of the mill steakhouse. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/l-etoile-madison?select=Daphtl19riahtuVjCOvD4g#X9QeW2cMEXDG8iUldS1h1Q For cheeses, they feature 30 varieties of cheese from Wisconsin. I did not love the cow's milk cheese I had, but it was more because it was not my kind of cheese. I like softer and creamier cheeses. The cheese did have a complex flavor--nutty like gouda but also with salty Parmesan notes. The garnishes were great--really flavorful and crisp walnut toast, spicy hazelnuts and a really good fruit paste of cherries and berries. For dessert, I had their warm polenta cake with blueberry compote. The cake was good as was the blueberry topping. The garnishes did not work though. I liked the caramel corn but the regular corn (not treated in any way to produce a different texture) just did not work as a dessert. The sour cream and blueberry sorbet was icy and tart. And given that the polenta cake was not incredibly sweet or rich, I think a good ice cream would have been the better way to go. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/l-etoile-madison?select=Daphtl19riahtuVjCOvD4g#VYKnzdgfn2KDV7hMZcgsgQ Service was excellent. My server Jessica was very personable, polite and polished. She was also very knowledgeable about the menu, which made me very confident on what I was ordering. Despite the many courses, the food came out at a very even pace. Prices are high at L'Etoile, but the quality is very good and portions on several items are very generous. L'Etoile occupies a very nice space. The room is elegant but also contemporary and the huge windows allow a lot of great natural light to fill the room as well as allow patrons to view Madison's picturesque and lively capital square. I have not dined at many restaurants in Wisconsin, but I would imagine that L'Etoile has to be one of the very best. It is one of the best Midwestern restaurants I have been to outside of Chicago. With its focus on local farms, Wisconsin cheese, high quality beef, and contemporary cooking techniques/styles, L'Etoile is a great restaurant to experience cuisine that reflects both the chef's formal training at great restaurants as well as the high quality food that the midwest has to offer. Parking via pay lots/structures is available. read more

See all

I was told this place is Madison's Chez Panisse (Berkeley, CA) and after several encounters at L'Etoile, I would go further to say, this place is SO MUCH BETTER. Love it. Service: 4.5 Friendly friendly service, calm and composed professional waiters, making you feel at home and enjoy the wonderful dinner. One thing to note, you NEED to take 2 to 3 hours for a meal here. With such good food, how can you NOT enjoy it slowly? Also, their last opening for reservation is 8:30pm, so that customers have at least 2 hours to enjoy their meal. If you call ahead to let them know the occasion, they'll personalise the menu for you! Food: 5 There's always a new surprise when I visit. Love all the local food flavors, yet with such new combinations each week. The 3 course Prix Fixe is from Mondays to Thursdays, and goes at a reasonable price of $39. I can't tell you how much I love their bread, their butter, their complimentary soup and little sweets at the end. It is AWESOME. Ambience: 5 I would say personally I preferred the old cosy location by Old Fashioned.. But, the new place has such AMAZING views! The Capitol glimmers through the glass building!! And this is such a romantic place to go to, I've heard so many of my friends talk about their marriage proposals at L'Etoile :) I can't tell you favorites... since they have new flavors every week. But, rest assured, you will not be disappointed. For such a reasonably priced restaurant, the dishes they serve are god-like. Michelin star reviewers! Where have you been and you've REALLY REALLY been missing out. read more

Overhyped, overrated, and overpriced. I think these three words are pretty accurate when describing L'Etoile. Sure, the food here is great. There's no denying that. But how does it stack up to other fine dining restaurants? The three stars on Yelp equivocates to "A-OK", and that's exactly how I feel about it. I've had the four course meal option at L'Etoile. The first and second course menu items are indeed fancy and I commend the chef for that. But the main entrees are not as original and hence, significantly overpriced. In addition, the portions are smaller than expected. Anything under a four course meal would leave a normal man still hungry and unsatisfied afterwards. I do think that L'Etoile is as good as fine dining gets in Madison, but it definitely isn't worth the $$$$ price tag you'll have to pay. read more

This used to be our go to restaurant when visiting Madison, often on our anniversary trip. We haven't been back for a few years so were looking forward to the reprise. We remembered the innovative ingredients and delightful explanations of the items' provenance. This time we were a bit disappointed - the tastes did not match our memory nor the high prices. We had a soft shell crab dish that was essentially a soup; a $45 pasta dish that failed to impress; a maitake mushroom dish which I can't remember anything about; and a NY strip steak which was not profound in any regard. Since we were already there we had two desserts, the ice cream sandwich and cherry upside-down cake, both OK. Martini and Boulevardier were also OK. We cannot fault the service but the experience was kind of stuffy in a stale dowager way. Not sure what happened to L'Etoile but I guess a lot of places were stressed during and after the pandemic. read more

Overall incredible experience with a few inconsistencies. Came for my birthday and other than the waiter wishing me a happy birthday nothing else was done to honor my birthday. Other tables were offered a hot towel prior to service and we were not. Also for first course in tasting menu certain tables were given a special garnish with dry ice which we did not receive. Bathrooms could be cleaner and one soap dispenser had no soap in it. Overall though food was incredible and a very good value for a prix fixe. Multiple amuse bouches and takeaway cookies added as well make it more than a 5 course meal. read more

I'm honestly nervous to review this place because I don't think anything I say could encapsulate its super foodie goodness. This high-end joint makes eating an intellectual, sensational and exploratory activity. The chefs and waiters have outdone themselves over and over! Make sure to only come here if you're willing to spend your/your parents' entire life savings on what is basically food art. I can't write any further without maybe starting to cry of happiness remembering this meal. Take a lookie at the pics I posted! read more

See all

This upscale restaurant serves unique dishes that I would consider to be fusion cuisine. The interior is very nice with large glass windows and high ceilings (the space feels quite large). The ambience was great and good for any type of more formal event - business, celebration or romantic dinners are good here. The food itself was very good and note that the menu changes so you can eat different stuff week over week. The kimchi starter was refreshing (it was kimchi in this light foam). The tasting menu looked good if you have the time or the appetite for it - the menu features quite a bit of food. I decided to try a few dishes such as an octopus appetizer and the the rainbow trout. The appetizer was smoked and that smokiness was very prominent. The rainbow trout dish had a larger portion than I expected. The filet was large and the dish came with grits and thick pieces of chopped up bacon as a side dish. If you have a reason to celebrate or want to take dinner up a notch, I would recommend coming to this restaurant. read more

L'Etoile - Strawberry rhubarb dessert - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I honestly feel like any review I write about L'Etoile is not going to be adequate, so I'm going to keep it short. Last night was my husband and my second time here. The first visit was perfection, as was last night. Both times, we ordered the chef's tasting menu with the reserve wine pairing. The food and the wine blew us away. The service here is unmatched from the hostess, to the wait staff, and the sommelier. The only other meal that I have had that comes anywhere close to L'Etoile was Petrus in London (and that place has a Michelin Star). If you can afford to go all out for dinner here, do it. It will cost you, but the experience is one you will never forget. read more

See all

Amazing food, service and drinks. For an award winning chef, the prices are not outrageous. For Wisconsin people will think it's expensive but it's so worth it!! The menu changes constantly but my dad loved the lamb. My friend and I got halibut and rock fish, both outrageously delicious. read more

See all

Always out-of-this-world food, creative new dishes, and delicious desserts. Yes, it is very expensive, but the ambiance is amazing and the wait staff is great. read more

Last year, I visited Madison to see my then-boyfriend who is a graduate student at the university. We decided to splurge on a little frenchy-french and arrived at L'Etoile on a blustery evening. We were graciously welcomed to a perfect table next to the window, with a great view of the Capitol building. There was pinot noir, gravlax, fresh pea shoots, cheese...and there we were, discussing our future together. Am I going to leave Seattle and move to Madison? Are we going to get married? How does summer 2010 sound? The servers around us were wonderful and attentive, and they also allowed us privacy. The food? Tres bon! Even after living in Paris, I'm impressed. A year later, we're engaged, planning our wedding for August 2010, and I'm moving to Madison! Merci beaucoup, L'Etoile, pour une soirée exceptionnel! I can't wait to return for a "Bienvenue à Madison" dinner! read more

L'Etoile - Une soirée exceptionnel! - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The best fancy experience in all of Madison. Think 25th anniversary, proposing, your true love's birthday, etc......If you make a special reservation they will make you custom menus with a greeting with your name at the top! So, there I was, broken-hearted on my birthday and ready to make a splash as a single gal. I said to myself "Dammit girl, you are taking yourself to L'Etoile for YOUR birthday. Done and done." My best gf and I went here to start my birthday festivities. Having lived in Madison for 5 years prior to the event, I had always gazed wistfully up at the windows of L'Etoile (the place is above Cafe Soleil). And now I was here! If I remember correctly, you get little sample tastes of some cheese, etc and then order a 1st course (mine was some delish ravioli thing) and then the main course (tuna! amazing!). Take note that they use fresh local ingredients so I assume the menu is always evolving. Short story: You will be treated to a five star experience that will ooze into a couple of hours. Granted, be ready to spend some money, but you will love it. FYI: We actually had a credit card snafu that took the place about 3 weeks to fully correct. While not appreciated, I will not dock stars. This review is from a March 2009 experience. read more

See all

Enjoyed a lovely dinner here over this past weekend. This is one of the best restaurants in Wisconsin, located right across from the capitol building. The restaurant has really high ceilings and a large glass wall that shows off a view of the capitol. We opted for the tasting menu. This consisted of 7 courses along with a couple additional bites along the way. Just about every course was good but there were not too many that I would but in the very good to excellent category. Wife's favorite dish was the soft shell crab. I subbed the soft shell crab for halibut. This dish was very good, with the curry broth really making it. For me the best dish was the cheese course. This might have been the best cheese course I have ever had. Otherwise a lot of the dishes were missing some pop that would have put them over the top. That being said the price was very reasonable. If we are in Madison we will find our way back. read more

See all

Outstanding in every aspect Great for special occasions. Looking forward to returning when I'm in the area again!

Have you ever been to Graze, looked at the fancy restaurant across the hall, and thought to yourself, "Someday..."? Well, someday finally came for me. My fianceé made us Valentine's reservations, and we balled out. I hate dressing up, but I put on a button down so that I wasn't the only person wearing gym clothes at such a fancy place and walked over to the place. That still wasn't enough though; most of the men were wearing suits or blazers. It was super quiet; there were only about 6 or 7 tables, so there was not enough conversation to drown out the soft piano music. The near silence, dim lighting, and candlelit tables with white tablecloth made it feel very intimate. The host checked us in, took our coats, and held the seat for my fianceé. We were immediately served bite-sized goat cheese and herb pastries, and they were delicious. Our server introduced himself and talked about the food and wine selection then gave us time to think of our order. If I had to pick something to complain about, I feel that he took a little too long to come back and take our order, but it was fine. Although the a la carte menu has some delicious-sounding offerings, we ordered the 7 course tasting experience because we came here to ball. Their 7 course tasting dinner changes a lot, so describing the food probably won't do you much good. The food started to come out at a nice pace once we ordered. They started us off with a bite-sized amuse bouche that was some kind of apple terrine and some bread and butter. After that, we had 2 appetizers, 3 main courses, 2 dessert courses, and a few tiny sweet treats after it was all said and done. All of them were creative and delicious, and the server was great at describing them and answering our questions about them. Some of my favorites were the smoke and egg, squab, and white chocolate mouse. The smoke and egg was a glass with a quail egg, some caviar, and hickory smoke trapped in the glass with a thin layer of crispy brioche and steak tartar. It was like eating a fancy lox bagel. The squab (which is just a fancy and less unappetizing word for pigeon) was delightfully gamy and tender. It was my first time trying pigeon, and now I'm kind of obsessed. The white chocolate mouse was thick with a thin layer of crispy, buttery wafer crust served with grapefruit mousse and pomelo curd. The tart and bitter grapefruit and pomelo flavors were nicely mellowed out by the sweet, smooth, and slightly salty white chocolate mousse. This was an awesome and unforgettable dinner, but it was also $125 a person, so I won't be doing that again any time soon. If you're a Madison foodie with money to burn, put L'Etoile on your bucket list. read more

Oh no! It's too expensive? How about you put on your big boy pants and realize that this isn't just a meal but an experience! They bring out the food ( which is a 5 out of 5!) in perfect timing. Last time I checked their are 5 senses. The restaurant is beautiful. The tastes and smells are fantastic. The textures will vary with each course. The sounds will depend on the company you bring. Take along someone with great conversational skills and you will have the perfect meal. If that is too much for you, stay at home so you don't ruin it for the rest if us. This place is the best. We drove 4 hours and it was totally worth it! read more

L'Etoile - The view - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was given a nice gift card for this restaurant and just the process of making a reservation was so frustrating. I am not paying $25 per person online to hold a reservation when I have a gift card and they are open so infrequently no one is there to answer the phone. The price is outrageous for the tasting menu in my opinion. I have had multiple tasting menu experiences at higher end restaurants in Chicago for a fraction of the price. Usually the tasting menu isn't exactly the same options as the normal menu. I feel like this restaurant takes advantage of the fact that there is not many tasting menus in Madison read more

We have been doing the Take Out Menu on the weekends and they are the Best!! (Unfortunately ending after this weekend) last night's Valentines Dinner was awesome, it included some in kitchen prep, this made the entree fresh and of the highest quality. There was only one miss, there was no vegetable included. The entree was more than enough food and agin one of the best meals we have had. Thank you for providing these weekend treats. read more

My wife and I visited L'Etoile for a fancy and romantic dinner, and it was just that. As I made the reservation, they asked about food allergies and any other special accommodations. I was surprised and excited that they were able to customize a menu with a message for me. I ordered the Tasting, which runs at about $125, but is well worth it. I had about 7 courses, and they were not only fun to look at and learn what all the ingredients were, but they were also a joy to eat. The meat was grilled to perfection. The flavors and textures blended nicely together. The only feedback I would provide is that the seafood or fish dishes were slightly over-powered by the sea-foody taste; I didn't get a chance to taste the other flavors. My favorite dish was the smoked eggs, which included roe and quail egg along with other ingredients set atop some sort of cracker on top of a glass with smoke inside. I was instructed to push down the cracker and all the things on it into the smoke-filled glass. The result was unique and exquisite. The dress code is business casual to dressy. They have a sommelier if you want to pair your dish(es) with wine. The music was mostly jazz music, which fit the mood perfectly, and the lights were just the right level of dim. The service was the level that you would expect from this type of fancy dining. While I might not make it back to L'Etoile for some time, I would highly recommend it to anyone willing to splurge on a memorable dining experience. All in, my wife and I spent about $270 including tips and parking. read more

What a gorgeous dinner! Minus the long wait at the bar for our pre-dinner drinks, this was a perfect evening from start to finish. My husband and I came here for a romantic dinner while visiting Madison over the weekend. We had the 4-course tasting menu. Our server was amazing at describing the menu offerings in detail and the pace of the service was very good. Everything was beautifully presented, but there were a few distinct winners of the night. The gnocchi with blue cheese and an apple cider reduction was tender and delicious. The bison tenderloin served atop loaded mashed potatoes was nearly the best cut of meat I've ever tasted. Desserts were also superb. I had the chocolate pate with chocolate orange biscotti and cocoa sorbet. So rich, I actually left some on the plate! My husband had the seasonal pumpkin mousse cake with an unbelievable pumpkin cream sauce. The view of the Capitol and surrounding area outside the tall glass walls was very pretty and the dining room was elegantly decorated with simple white tablecloths. There is also an elevated loft area if you choose to have a private group celebration. This is a pricy night out, but well worth it for a special occasion. Be sure to get the tasting menu for a phenomenal dining experience. read more

See all

A Taste of the State L'Etoile features farm fresh ingredients from Wisconsin and the taste of the state does not disappoint. From a cheesy amuse (a cheesy flavor that is) to the final cheese plate, every dish featured something good from Wisconsin - and we're talking about much more than just dairy. Organic heirloom veggies & proteins from local farmers are creatively & tastefully combined in every course. The sommelier offered outstanding wine pairings with every dish. The amuse, charcuterie, first course, mid course & cheese sampler all upstaged our entrees - not that the entrees were poor - just a bit one note and slightly large for a five course meal. Our appetites and tastebuds would have been fully sated without them. But we would definitely go again. read more

Incredible meal with a great experience. We opted in for he full tasting menu and wine pairing (strongly recommended), and enjoyed every single dish. While portions are small, each bite is filled with intense flavor the likes of which I've never had before. After 7 courses it feels like a filling meal, and the wine pairing is filled with amazing wine that fits perfectly with the given dish. I also love that the focus is about the food and the wine. It's a fancy place but I never once thought about whether I was making a mistake or doing something wrong. Much more passion than pretension. read more

As intimate and romantic as it gets. The restaurant interior is really beautiful and the food is no different. The service is very professional and everyone was attentive. You're paying for the high quality ingredients and service. I think the food taste could have been slightly better for the price, but you can definitely tell the ingredients are top notch. read more

See all

Known as the fanciest place in Madison and definitely for a reason. I came here for a special event and they definitely made it feel special. We got a customized menu as well as impeccable service. Everyone was extremely polite and attentive to our every need. I have nothing to complain about in that department. However, the most important thing for me is the food! And this is where I felt like L'etoile fell short. In my opinion, if you are paying this much money for food, it better be one of the greatest things I have ever eaten, and it definitely did not live up to my expectations. I was extremely excited to come here but I left feeling slightly disappointed with the food. We had the tasting menu and I could tell that all of the ingredients and dishes were very freshly made with good ingredients. However, I found that various dishes just didn't pair well together. I found myself expecting salty and coming up with sweet. Things just seemed slightly off and I wasn't really a fan. All in all, this was a memorable experience. Not for the food, but for the ambience and being at the "fanciest" restaurant in Madison. read more

PROS: True definition of fine dining CONS: Expensive, but worth it! L'Etoile is as stellar as its name. Every plate is art --- carefully curated, perfectly balanced, and wildly eclectic. The flavors and textures in each bite bring you to cloud nine. The service was excellent and the food, of course, amazing! Everything was created with incredible finesse and would be impossible to replicate at home. You know that feeling when you eat out and surmise that you could make the same dish at home, but better? Absolutely none of that here... It would be preposterous! The ingredients melded so harmoniously that no single flavor felt overpowering yet every flavor played its part admirably. At L'Etoile, I found nirvana. read more

Another fabulous meal at L'Etoile, at this point I have lost track of what number meal it is. If this restaraunt was in NYC they would deserve two michelin stars. The fact that their menu changes every few weeks is outstanding to me, so much creativity going on. You can bet on the food always being creative, delicious, and beautiful. The people who work here are all delightful, friendly, and knowledgable. It's never stuffy, just professional. Tonights meal began with red snapper and pork belly, the preparation was very thai influenced and the dish was very herbal. It all worked together great and was served with a great dry riesling. Up next was one of the best cooked foie gras preparations ive had so far, with a thin layer of white chocolate, full of flavor door county cherries, and a surprising, yet delicious, addition of banana. Other highlights included the outstanding beef, really I gave this an 11/10. The beef itself was loaded with all the right beef flavor. it was served with lobster, caviar, and carrots. Every bit as good as any A5 wagyu you would get for 150 dollars. The cheese plates are always thoughtfully prepared and great examples of local Wisconsin cheeses. Dessert was another highlight on this trip, a black forest cake with cherries- paired with a great complimentary port and a complimentary cognac. By now this restaraunt almost feels like a second home to us and every trip is a great experience. You can bet your night will be spectacular at this restaraunt, and compared to other fine dining restaurants it is actually quite a bargain. I can't sing high enough praise. We've been here at least a dozen times in the past year- that should say it all! read more

We finally had a chance to come to L'Etoile last night to celebrate our 6th anniversary. It was a very good experience. The service was excellent...it took a little extra time at the bar to get a cocktail but the bar was crowded. Once we were seated, we had a lovely table in the front to enjoy the floor to ceiling windows and beautiful view of the Capitol. We chose the a la carte menu over the tasting menu- purely subjective. We also chose the wine pairings. They were able to let my husband choose his appetizer off the tasting menu which was excellent. Overall, it was a very good experience...the food was very good- a little short of excellent...hence the 4 stars. The wine pairings and sommelier were perfect. We will likely be back for another special occasion. read more

I would say that the service in itself is definitely 5 stars and is a great place to bring someone for a very special occasion (they will make you feel special!) The food, while inventive and new, unfortunately did not impress me as much as I wanted it to (around a 3.5), which drops my overall rating down, especially considering the dent it makes in your wallet. We ordered the tasting menu to get the full experience. Although it boasts of seven courses, do not be daunted, as with fine dining, portions are very small and manageable. The courses were Elderberry Hill Farm Beets (with foie gras), suckling pig, black bass, squab, bison, roelli red rock (beignets with cheese), and apple ice cream. The staff was very accommodating and allowed a switch out between the squab to octopus as well as apple ice cream and profiteroles. - The foie gras came in 3 different dollops; the seared foie gras was delicious, and the other two are alright. The beet ice cream, while inventive, personally didn't work well for me; I didn't appreciate the contrast between warm and cold. - Unfortunately, I was not a fan of suckling pig either. I was hoping it would be seared or grilled, and found it a little too lightly treated for my taste. - My hands down favorite dish of the evening was the black bass. Between the crispy skin and deliciously treated fish, I was impressed by the different textures and consistencies of this dish. - I also greatly enjoyed the squab dish; the octopus substitute was a bit overcooked and the flavor and delicacy seemed a little lost, so I would stick with the original tasting menu. - Bison was also very well done and tasty and was my second favorite dish overall. The bison was tender and cooked perfectly without the overly strong gamey taste - The beignets, while tasty were not mind blowing - Dessert was alright. The ice cream was tasty but not anything mind blowing. Overall, I felt the staff was kind and excellent. The ambiance was nice (though there is construction outside so the view of the Capitol was slightly obstructed; this is through no fault of the restaurant) and is a place to go for a very special occasion. Unfortunately, I felt that the the dishes served were almost trying too hard to be inventive and creative, and almost wish for a simpler flavor profile of classic and well done dishes. I wanted to love this place due to the high price we paid and the high ratings, but I was a honestly a bit disappointed with the food. That being said, I don't want to discourage anyone from trying this place; however, the flavor profiles were just not for me this day. read more

Great location next to Capitol building , friendly staff . Open space with high ceiling and large windows. Very easy to obtain table reservations . Nice wine selection and cocktails . I had the tasting menu which was well displayed and very tasty . Very appropriate price for the quality and variety of meals read more

L'Etoile - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin