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!!

What an amazing Wedding Venue! Attended my nieces wedding last night and was really impressed…read more The building and grounds were immaculate and the staff was excellent. We were met in the parking lot by employees who led us to the venue entrance. The weeding took place outside behind the building with a pond and woods in the backdrop. It was a beautiful day and made the occasion even more attractive. I'm sure the pictures will be amazing! Cocktail hour and appetizers were hosted outside the main building partially under an overhang. Games like Cornhole and Large Jenga were available. Music was also piped into the area. Dinner was served in the building which has seating on a main floor and in an upper balcony. There is also a good sized bar in the back. After diner the party was moved back outside so the main dining area could be turned into a dance area. Because the weather was so great I'm pretty sure it never moved back in! Music and dancing outside on a warm summer night was perfect! (And no mosquitoes) Late night pizzas were prepared on a wood fire grill and served to cap off the evening. Voted the best wedding venue many times over. I can see why!

Harvest Moon Pond was the PERFECT place to host our same sex wedding. As a gay couple looking all…read moreover Wisconsin to find the right wedding venue we realized we couldn't take for granted a welcoming and inviting atmosphere, and we got exactly that with Stephanie, Bryan, and Mackenzie. From the second we stepped on the beautiful grounds of HMP we felt seen, wanted, and accepted for who we are. The planning process can be arduous, but the HMP team was there every step of the way to answer questions, provide advice, and respond in real time to changes up to and including the day of the wedding. As a former bartender I had some pointed questions and requests for Brian, he exceeded my expectations both in the guidance he provided in choosing quantities and variety if beverages, but also in the quality of the product they churned out the night of our wedding. Stephanie was so kind and welcoming and knowledgeable. She had recommendations for anything we asked her opinion on and the result thanks to her was a gorgeous day at a gorgeous venue that we could sit back, relax, and enjoy. Mackenzie's attention to detail and accessibility leading up to and on the day of the wedding was phenomenal. We could go on and on about how much we loved working with the HMP team. You hope you only get married once, but these guys made the experience so fun and our day turned out so gorgeous that we'd do it all again if it meant working with this team. If you are a same sex couple, or any couple, looking for a beautiful, welcoming, convenient barn wedding venue, Harvest Moon Pond is the venue for you!

Enjoyed New Years eve here for their Alp and Yodel Dinner. This was sucha lovely and unique…read moreexperience. I'm not sure how the normal dinner service is, but if it is similar to this event in anyway I would highly recomend. This restaurant is in an old dairy factory, its a very unique environment. The Yodeling 10/10, just lovely and wholesome. This was a multi-course meal starting with a fondue. The dinner was Swiss cheese themed, and they had imported cheeses specifically for the dinner events. My favorites from the dinner were the French Onion soup, which had a cheese foam on top. Truly something I have never seen/eaten, and it was so delicious and rich. The Herb Spaetzle was also a favorite for my husband and me. Very rich flavors with a little bit of sweetness. Overall I loved this experience and am excited to try out a normal dinner as well as events they may have in the future.

Very busy for a Sunday brunch, so it was quite loud inside (too hot to sit outside). Our waitress…read moredidn't miss a beat from start to finish; the whole experience flowed really well. My husband had the caramel apple French toast and he said it was okay. I went with a cup of carrot ginger soup and granola & yogurt. Again, both items were fine, but not memorable.

Such a beautiful space! I've never been to Stoughton or the Opera House, but I discovered Charlie…read moreParr would be playing there again. That made me drive out to see this amazing artist once again! The Opera House is stunning. I've seen Charlie in some diverse venues, but this one is by far the classiest. A lively place to see a show. I will certainly return in the near future. Lots of restaurants, bars, and such around the Opera House to investigate as well! Also, you should list to Charlie Parr.Minnesota's own and frequently in Wisconsin. I loved the opportunity to experience a show in such a classic and unique space.

Went to 2 shows so far in the 2024 - 2025 season & had mixed reviews of the SOH so far. First show…read morewas Sam Grisham. Sound was good (as it was a folky show), but the text on SOH's site billed the concert as performing songs his dad did with Jerry Garcia. There were only 1 or 2 songs. Disappointing. Next went to Los Lobos. While it seems the band played well, the sound was pretty bad. The mix was bad, such as a couple of the guitars were largely inaudible as the whole sound was muddy. The vocals were often times too low in the mix. I don't know if the equipment for a louder RNR show was not up to the task, or the person on the soundboard just did a plain bad job.

Had a late dinner at Cento and it did not disappoint! I ordered the Tuscan kale Cesar salad and the…read morescallops entree. Both were impeccable! My server, Prasad, was really the highlight! He was so sweet and informative. Went through the menu and described everything in such detail. My friend and I were visiting Madison for work and he offered us so many options to fill our free time. He takes so much pride in everything and it shows. The ambiance of the restaurant is a little on the nicer side, but they do allow casual attire. 10/10 recommend and can't wait to come back for the wine flight with the in house Somm.

First time at Cento for a friend's birthday today and spoiler, will be back! We all went ahead with…read morethe Boozy Brunch for $35 a person, which comes with 2 cocktails, unlimited coffee, a pastry of your choice, and any entree on the menu. Drip coffee was delicious to start. I had the lobster fettuccine and there was PLENTY of lobster in it. Pasta tasted fresh and it hit the spot! Some of our party got the French toast which looked amazing and I'll probably try next time-- peaches and pecans with it! A few of them ordered bacon on the side too and it came with plenty of it, 3-4 long strips. Cannoli was the pastry I chose and it was the perfect sweet treat. Filling had cinnamon and was dipped in pistachios, which I will be back for! Ella was our server-- simply amazing! Super attentive, knows the menu like the back of her hand, and went above and beyond for us many times. Michael was one of the hosts who went out of his way to practically give us a photo shoot to capture my friend's special day. Beautiful restaurant with an elevated feel. Open environment while still making the table feel private. They were piping pastries while we were there which was fun to see. Went on a summer Saturday around 11, and if you're from Madison, you know that means the farmer's market (aka, make a plan A/B/C for parking, plan plenty of time to get there and be patient with the crowd outdoors).

Date of visit: January 24, 2026…read more One of my Christmas gifts was seeing John Mulaney here at The Orpheum and it was a delightful venue, full of history and stately charm. Like many venues of this age, it was not built for security checks and metal detectors, which meant we were waiting outside to get in for a while and that normally would not bother me but given the frigid temperatures, I do wish they could have done something to streamline the wait. Once we were in, staff inside were friendly if not necessarily helpful with not one but two ushers steering us in the wrong direction to our seats, seats on the floor that were not cconsistently labeled. Thankfully there weren't any issues with our seats and we were able to enjoy the show--too bad our feet never warmed up the entire visit!

Been to the Orpheum for several shows. I have always found it to be a positive experience…read more Getting through security was easy, and quick. The lobby can get a little busy and crowded (nothing new there). If you are planning to buy alcohol, you get your wrist strap ahead of time. There's a place to get merchandise, and that can get a bit congested. Plenty of folks to help you get to your seats. For this show we were front row balcony (which I feel is the best spot in the entire place). The seats are a little dated, narrow, and might benefit from being restuffed. The acoustics were good, but not great but certainly better than most large venues (i.e. Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee). I would definitely come again.

Visited for a library conference. Rooms had great acoustics, fully furnished, and lots of space. Be…read moresure to check out the awe-inspiring artwork by DarRen Morris in the hallways on the first floor.

Horrible service that left me extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed, in a rather professional…read moreconference setting. At a conference, in the buffet line, I had gotten salad and the server was getting ready to swap a new bowl in. I held onto the tongs to try and make that task easier for him, but he told me to "give me that," so I did. I moved on in the line, and heard him ask "You think that's funny, huh?". I asked for clarification and he repeated this, to which I responded that I was just trying to help. He then said "I don't need your help, don't need your help." I left it at "Sorry," but once I was a few meters down the line, I looked back and he yelled at me, asking "Why you looking at me? Don't look at me!". He repeated this a few times, I told him that I hoped the rest of his day would be better, and he said "My days are always perfect. You're the problem, you're the one having a bad day."

We recently attended a wedding here and were blown away by how gorgeous and well-thought-out this…read morevenue is! The setting feels completely secluded and intimate. The indoor barn space is super cute, and the outdoor ceremony area is stunning. They even set up a beautiful rustic wall that held prosecco for the cocktail hour, which was such a fun touch (and the wine was fantastic!). One of the biggest standouts was the staff. They were incredibly friendly and accommodating across the board. Even though the catering was brought in separately, the venue staff went above and beyond to figure out a plan for me to go up to the buffet early to avoid any cross-contamination. The layout of the property is seamless: there's a great space for the wedding party to stay and get ready, indoor bathrooms that were spotless, plenty of room for a digital photo booth, a great dance floor, and fun outdoor games. Plus, they are animal-friendly, so having pets as part of the wedding was incredibly special. The bride decorated with a lemon theme, which fit the rustic-chic vibe perfectly, and the in-house DJ kept the music fun all night. Highly recommend this hidden gem!

Exceptionally nice wedding venue and banquet hall in a bucolic country setting - just outside…read moreMadison! Beautifully decorated dining space inside the spacious "barn". Attractive grounds provide for spacious and shaded outdoor seating. Friendly staff.