"Restaurant Reviews and Ratings written by You"

With better decor than it's competitive neighobor Husnus, Kabul is perfect when that need for atmosphere can't be overcome. (This is no small thing in Madison, where quality of food far surpasses that of design.) The kabob's are excellent and so are the seafood specials. Diners come with soup or salad, but I would recommend getting both.

The Great Dane does have the distinction of being LARGE and consistently good. With an expansive menu (including an always available fish fry) the Dane is a good bet for those indecisive diners. It also reaps automatic stars for the outdoor courtyard which has European aspirations. A better beer garden would be truly hard to find.

With the cookie-cutter Chinese restaurant look (although a little fancier) the Imperial Gardens could just be a mediocre restaurant across the street from a mall. It's NOT. The dishes are absolutely fanstastic, tasting the way you always expect/hope they will be (but rarely ever are). I hear they've added sushi if that's your fancy (personally, I'm faithful to Wasabi). Besides the Hong Kong Cafe, this is THE place for Chinese.

The Magnus, although better, still needs to bring it all together. For the price it has pretensions, but doesn't yet deliver. Service is weak-- as in you have to accost staff to be served at the bar. The dining room is better but not shining. The food is excellent, but somehow they manage to over-do their presentation. There is a difference between fusion and confusion that I'm not sure the chefs have mastered. Always just one ingredient too many on the plate.

A Japanese steakhouse. The servers are entertaining but not HILARIOUS and the food is predictably a little greasy. Fun for big groups, but they also have private tea-rooms. The sushi was quite well-done and it's worth a visit.

Bev's is the consumate greasy-spoon. Prices are low and food is fast and fantastic. Just what the hang-over craves every Saturday and Sunday morning. Catch a little local flavor if you can get up early enough.

Settled right off the beltline in a renovated farm-house, Quivey's is great for either a fancy house meal or for a fish fry in the beautiful stable. Packed on Friday's, the fish-fry is also available on Wednesdays. Be SURE to ask for the parmesan potatoes. If you want something a little fancier, try the duck in the house. Probably some of the absolute best bird that will every grace your fork. Exceptional.

While it is not quite as impressive for dinner, the Wild Iris is one of the BEST places for breakfast. The vegetarian fritata is divine and the potatoes burnt to a perfect crisp (I ask for them that way). A great little establishment where you can hear Peggy Lee and get a really good cup of coffee.

The Edgewater brunch is an expansive and elegant array of divine foods. The view, the service, the food could not be better and the pianist lends that added dimension. There's always a seafood special and if its sea bass your in for a treat. Be sure to peruse the bar and see all the characters that have graced this hotel over the many years.

Amy's has great food and good selection. At lunch it is quick and much better than the many other restaurants with similar foods in the same price range. At night it's a very popular hang-out, especially when there's outdoor seating.

While you don't necessarily go to Nick's for the food, it is consistently good. The atmosphere--which can't have changed since the late 50s, early 60s-- is fun and you can smoke. The perfect lunch spot.

Not enough good things can be said about the Opera House--which must be my favorite Madison restaraunt. While dinner can get pricy, lunch is an absolute steal. The service, the atmosphere, and the food presentation all make this an establishment to be envied by others. And the deserts! This is a restaurant that transcends the Madison scale to be a strong contendor, location not-withstanding. There is also a late-night, after theatre menu which is a smashing night-cap.

Why do people go here? I met friends, that's my excuse. The burger, which somehow are 'famous' (the way a friend's BO is famous) SUCKED-- I mean, throw-the-thin-wet-thing-down-and walkout-bad. At least you can feel like your up-north or at a truckstop, although I'm not sure why you'd want to feel this way in downtown Madison.

Stillwater food is decent but over-priced. There's really no reason to eat here with Nick's and Amy's mere steps away. Don't bother with the really over-priced drinks and they're also skimpy on fries (a cardinal sin in my book).

Conveniently located right behind the civic center, the White Horse gets a lot of its business by accident. Their happy hour is good, what with that 10 cent shrimp and all, but the service is NOTORIOUSLY BAD. There are maitre de's of other hotels who have called and informed the White Horse that they can no longer recommend them as a place to go. After all, just because it may be across the street from the theatre, it really doesn't help to make people late.

Where else can you eat in the grand lobby of an historic theatre? Aside from the atmosphere, the Orpheum has great food. Another recent enterprise of Henry's (Blue Marlin, Tornado Room) this lives up to all expectations. The seared salmon fillet with garlic mashed-potatoes is second-to-none and the other sandwiches are both delicious and huge.

While the service was MISERABLE, the food was excellent. Recently panned for be a culinary horror, Club 5's fish fry was truly good. A light, flaky fish batter and garlic mashed potatoes previewed by a dinner salad couldn't have been much better. Hopefully, they'll continue to remodel and shape up the kitchen.

While the service was MISERABLE, the food was excellent. Recently panned for being a culinary horror, Club 5's fish fry was truly good. A light, flaky fish batter and garlic mashed potatoes previewed by a dinner salad couldn't have been much better. Hopefully, they'll continue to remodel and shape up the kitchen.

When it is PACKED PACKED by sorority girls and their visiting parents, Mickies is great. Huge portions and tasty food make this classic a Madison favorite. Prepare yourself for a fight on weekends though.

Cafe Beaudelaire, as you might imagine given the name, is an oasis of Bohemian flare in the heart of Iowa. Consistently good food and comfortable atmosphere make this the perfect stop on your way through town. The Brazilian flavors are inviting and the tap beer selection noteworthy.