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Showing newest posts with label Downtown Madison brunches. Show older posts
Showing newest posts with label Downtown Madison brunches. Show older posts
1/06/2009
Sardine
617 Williamson St, Madison, Wis., 441-1600
Food: 4 out of 5 stars
Service: 4 out of 5 stars
Value: 5 out of 5 stars
Drinks: 4 out of 5 stars
My friend Anna decided to celebrate her 30th birthday with brunch and drinks last Sunday afternoon. We arrived early and sat at a group of cocktail tables near the bar. The space is gorgeous, bright and cheerful by day.
I opted for my usual Sunday morning bloody mary and was pleasantly surprised when the waitress delivered a tall glass with pretty curled lemon zests, fine-chopped garnish, an olive and a cornichon. The flavor was fresh yet subtle and worked well with my light (Stella Artois) beer chaser. If you haven't figured it out by now, this place is a bit fancy. As I sipped my bloody which ended with me sipping a small bit of jalapeno through my straw, I couldn't help but think it was a bit overwrought, but I loved it anyway. At $6 a piece I felt it was a good value for the effort and most likely not-cheap vodka.
The slightly upscale atmosphere is perfectly balanced by the nearly mandatory frites and aioli (that's fries and flavored mayonnaise for us midwesterners) that accompany many breakfast dishes. This pretty much made the experience for me. Who doesn't love frites? And who wouldn't be happy if they didn't have to special order them, but could just expect them with any savory breakfast dish. They had a good flavor, but could have been a little more crisp, but overall they're a must-try food here.
I opted for the braised pork sandwich with fried egg, grilled red onions, aïoli, tomato and frisée salad on grilled ciabatta ($9). Since we were in a large group orders varied, the omelettes looked balanced and well prepared and my friend raved about the waffle.
The sandwich was good, a little messy, so maybe opt out of it if you're here to meet your partner's parents or are on a first date. I enjoyed the bread and the combination, but wished the perfectly cooked pork would have had a little more seasoning. I managed to eat around my salad and finish the sandwich and fries. I'm generally not a member of the clean plate club, so this was good until the last bite.
Overall I enjoyed the great room, mellow yet competent service and food. My two bloody marys and meal were $25 with tip, so this is not a place to go when you're on a budget. This would be a great place for a romantic brunch or small family gathering. I imagine the place will be swamped once summer hits, so get there early if you want to get a table after the lake thaws.
Food: 4 out of 5 stars
Service: 4 out of 5 stars
Value: 5 out of 5 stars
Drinks: 4 out of 5 stars
My friend Anna decided to celebrate her 30th birthday with brunch and drinks last Sunday afternoon. We arrived early and sat at a group of cocktail tables near the bar. The space is gorgeous, bright and cheerful by day.
I opted for my usual Sunday morning bloody mary and was pleasantly surprised when the waitress delivered a tall glass with pretty curled lemon zests, fine-chopped garnish, an olive and a cornichon. The flavor was fresh yet subtle and worked well with my light (Stella Artois) beer chaser. If you haven't figured it out by now, this place is a bit fancy. As I sipped my bloody which ended with me sipping a small bit of jalapeno through my straw, I couldn't help but think it was a bit overwrought, but I loved it anyway. At $6 a piece I felt it was a good value for the effort and most likely not-cheap vodka.
The slightly upscale atmosphere is perfectly balanced by the nearly mandatory frites and aioli (that's fries and flavored mayonnaise for us midwesterners) that accompany many breakfast dishes. This pretty much made the experience for me. Who doesn't love frites? And who wouldn't be happy if they didn't have to special order them, but could just expect them with any savory breakfast dish. They had a good flavor, but could have been a little more crisp, but overall they're a must-try food here.
I opted for the braised pork sandwich with fried egg, grilled red onions, aïoli, tomato and frisée salad on grilled ciabatta ($9). Since we were in a large group orders varied, the omelettes looked balanced and well prepared and my friend raved about the waffle.
The sandwich was good, a little messy, so maybe opt out of it if you're here to meet your partner's parents or are on a first date. I enjoyed the bread and the combination, but wished the perfectly cooked pork would have had a little more seasoning. I managed to eat around my salad and finish the sandwich and fries. I'm generally not a member of the clean plate club, so this was good until the last bite.
Overall I enjoyed the great room, mellow yet competent service and food. My two bloody marys and meal were $25 with tip, so this is not a place to go when you're on a budget. This would be a great place for a romantic brunch or small family gathering. I imagine the place will be swamped once summer hits, so get there early if you want to get a table after the lake thaws.
5/07/2008
Frida Mexican Grill
117 State St., Madison, Wis., 256-4000
Food: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Service: 2 out of 5 stars
Value: 1 out of 5 stars
Drinks: 1 out of 5 stars
Last weekend my pal Becks and I planned a brunch outing to the Sunroom Cafe on State Street to complement some shopping. Unfortunately, they were packed. Not wanting to wait an hour hanging out with the post Mifflin Street Block Party crowd, we strolled up State Street, checking out a packed Orpheum brunch and finally, for some inexplicable reason, settling on a decidedly unpopular Frida Mexican Grill.
The high point of the brunch came and went with the warm, crispy, free chips and salsa. From there it devolved into a brunch of regret. Regret about spending $8 for a bad drink. Regret that we didn't wait at the Sunroom. Regret that we weren't at the El Dorado. Even a small tinge of regret that we weren't being served cheap and tasty breakfast tacos by the absent-minded bartender at the Atwood Taco Palace.
To start I ordered an $8 Margatini. On its face, you'd think a Margatini would be boozetastic with a nice punch of tequila. Instead I was served what can best be described as a chilled martini glass of sour mix with a lime garnish and no discernible liquor. The story was the same for my companion's bizarrely orange $6 Mimosa.
I ordered the huevos rancheros for 7 bucks and change. It came served with rice and black beans. While I liked the beans and huevos, I couldn't get past the crunchy, flavorless rice. Becks' 7 bucks and change breakfast burrito was large, but unimpressive.
Overall we paid too much for bad brunch drinks, marginal service and one of the worst atmospheres on State Street (if you're serving food outside, consider sweeping up the cigarette butts near the tables). I don't say this often, but there are a few places I will never dine at again, and Frida has made the list.
Food: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Service: 2 out of 5 stars
Value: 1 out of 5 stars
Drinks: 1 out of 5 stars
Last weekend my pal Becks and I planned a brunch outing to the Sunroom Cafe on State Street to complement some shopping. Unfortunately, they were packed. Not wanting to wait an hour hanging out with the post Mifflin Street Block Party crowd, we strolled up State Street, checking out a packed Orpheum brunch and finally, for some inexplicable reason, settling on a decidedly unpopular Frida Mexican Grill.
The high point of the brunch came and went with the warm, crispy, free chips and salsa. From there it devolved into a brunch of regret. Regret about spending $8 for a bad drink. Regret that we didn't wait at the Sunroom. Regret that we weren't at the El Dorado. Even a small tinge of regret that we weren't being served cheap and tasty breakfast tacos by the absent-minded bartender at the Atwood Taco Palace.
To start I ordered an $8 Margatini. On its face, you'd think a Margatini would be boozetastic with a nice punch of tequila. Instead I was served what can best be described as a chilled martini glass of sour mix with a lime garnish and no discernible liquor. The story was the same for my companion's bizarrely orange $6 Mimosa.
I ordered the huevos rancheros for 7 bucks and change. It came served with rice and black beans. While I liked the beans and huevos, I couldn't get past the crunchy, flavorless rice. Becks' 7 bucks and change breakfast burrito was large, but unimpressive.
Overall we paid too much for bad brunch drinks, marginal service and one of the worst atmospheres on State Street (if you're serving food outside, consider sweeping up the cigarette butts near the tables). I don't say this often, but there are a few places I will never dine at again, and Frida has made the list.
3/29/2008
Sophia's Bakery & Cafe
831 E. Johnson St., Madison, Wis., 259-1506Food: 3.75 out of 5 stars
Service: 4 out of 5 stars
Value: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Drinks: 5 out of 5 stars
Some ladies and I went to Sophia's for a late brunch this morning before checking out the CSA Open House. Sophia's is a homey cafe/bakery on Johnson Street known for tasty baked goods, a limited seating area and a packed late morning breakfast.
I used to live in the neighborhood and would occasionally pick up a baked good and quickly exit the crowded premises. My friend Jane suggested we give the full breakfast experience a go and we ended up sharing a table first with two college girls and then a silent college couple. Since seats are limited, if you venture in you may end up sharing a table with any number of diners.
I chose the bacon, cheese and egg crossiant and coffee. My companions had waffles with strawberries and whipped cream and banana pancakes. My pal Becks wisely chose a pear-fig tart which served as an appetizer.
My sandwich was huge, rich and a bit greasy - which is to be expected when ordering things like bacon, cheese and crossiants. The flavor was great, with the herb-brined bacon stealing the show. I almost finished the entire sandwich with the help of a knife, fork and some napkins. The ample fruit garnish was a nice touch, with ripe strawberries and a delicious honeydew melon (from Woodman's of all places).The waffles looked and tasted great, but the banana pancakes were a little blah in my opinion. The pre-brunch pear-fig tart was delicious, with firm pears and a crisp, not-to-sweet crust. For beverages, Sophia's offers a quaint coffee/tea bar with fresh coffee and an array of tea choices.
Overall the food is good, but the atmosphere is a bit hectic and not my idea of relaxation. I recommend a stop in for some great baked goods or a quick breakfast, this is definately not a place to linger in.
3/27/2008
El Dorado Grill
744 Williamson St., Madison, Wis., 280-9378
Food: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Value: 5 out of 5 stars
Drinks: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The El Dorado is Madison's venerable upscale Tex-Mex restaurant known for a righteous pork chop and the best margaritas in the city. It also has reasonably priced brunch, takes reservations and has great (but pricey) bloody marys. I opted to take my mother, grandma and husband here for Easter brunch this past weekend. It was busy, but not too busy, service was spot on and the bill for 4 was an impressive $44 with coffee all around and one bloody mary.
My grandma opted for a salmon and egg special, which she ate quite a bit of considering she has a small appetite. It looked and smelled great. I chose the bacon, pico de gallo and white cheddar omelette. It was well cooked, with lots of smokey bacon and gooey cheese. Toast lovers beware: omelettes only come with the American fried potatoes. As an admitted carb freak, I'm always a bit sad when I don't have toast to complement eggs.
My husband and mom both ordered the blue corn cakes with maple syrup and chile butter. At $6.49 an order these are a steal. They each had two gigantic cakes (the size of the plate gigantic) that neither of them could finish due to mere size.
The coffee was good and my three-olive garnished bloody mary was tasty as well.
One thing that I was hoping for was a meaty hash dish. Many years back I was a waitress at the only other upscale Tex-Mex place in town, Tortillas. It was in a strip mall on University Avenue and I think was dealt a hard blow by the crappy location. Nonetheless, I still dream about their prime rib hash. Tex, if you're reading this, hook a sister up and make that a special someday, PLEASE! I bet you'd knock that out of the park.
Food: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Value: 5 out of 5 stars
Drinks: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The El Dorado is Madison's venerable upscale Tex-Mex restaurant known for a righteous pork chop and the best margaritas in the city. It also has reasonably priced brunch, takes reservations and has great (but pricey) bloody marys. I opted to take my mother, grandma and husband here for Easter brunch this past weekend. It was busy, but not too busy, service was spot on and the bill for 4 was an impressive $44 with coffee all around and one bloody mary.
My grandma opted for a salmon and egg special, which she ate quite a bit of considering she has a small appetite. It looked and smelled great. I chose the bacon, pico de gallo and white cheddar omelette. It was well cooked, with lots of smokey bacon and gooey cheese. Toast lovers beware: omelettes only come with the American fried potatoes. As an admitted carb freak, I'm always a bit sad when I don't have toast to complement eggs.
My husband and mom both ordered the blue corn cakes with maple syrup and chile butter. At $6.49 an order these are a steal. They each had two gigantic cakes (the size of the plate gigantic) that neither of them could finish due to mere size.
The coffee was good and my three-olive garnished bloody mary was tasty as well.
One thing that I was hoping for was a meaty hash dish. Many years back I was a waitress at the only other upscale Tex-Mex place in town, Tortillas. It was in a strip mall on University Avenue and I think was dealt a hard blow by the crappy location. Nonetheless, I still dream about their prime rib hash. Tex, if you're reading this, hook a sister up and make that a special someday, PLEASE! I bet you'd knock that out of the park.
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