Downtown Madison's State Street is known for many things. It is one of the most famous pedestrian malls in the nation, extending from the UW-Madison campus all the way to Capitol Square. A variety of shops line both sides of the street, along with theaters and museums. But the best part of State Street is its dining diversity.
Whether you are in the mood for a great cup of coffee, a gigantic sandwich or ethnic cuisine, State Street has it all. To help you narrow down the vast choices of dining experiences, Daily Cardinal Food gives you a sample of offerings for any appetite.
So hungry you could eat two meals? Try Madison's best New York-style deli. Bialy Brown's claim to fame is its \sandwiches so big, they're lunch and dinner!"" There's no false advertising here, as the deli guys at Bialy Brown's pack the sandwiches so thick you can hardly get your mouth around them. Just try eating both halves of the sandwich'it's a sure challenge. For a true taste of a New York deli, order a side of knishes or matzo ball soup'if you have room, that is.
For a quick and tasty meal, stop in to Qdoba. The Mexican grill's setup is much like Subway's: Place your order and then move on down the line to choose your toppings. With nachos, you decide whether you want vegetarian, chicken or beef; black or pinto beans; mild, medium or hot salsa; and cheese or sour cream.
The same goes for the burritos. Qdoba's menu includes classic chicken and beef burritos and tacos, as well as some more adventurous offerings, such as the delicious poblano pesto burrito, stuffed with chicken, pesto and almonds, as well as the aforementioned toppings, which are cut up and cooked fresh right in front of you. As a popular late-night munchies stop, Qdoba is one of the most popular places to eat on State Street.
Whether you are just looking to wake up before your 8 a.m. power lecture or for a great coffeehouse to hang out in, Espresso Royale is the place. Quieter and larger than its corporate competitor, Starbucks, and with outdoor seating, the two Espresso Royale locations are among the best coffeehouses near campus.
The wide variety of coffee drinks will appeal to every caffeine junkie, while their less-addicted friends can sample the fresh fruit drinks as well as the selection of cookies, scones and sandwiches. And with two locations'one near the Capitol and the other near Library Mall'you'll never have to walk far for a fix.
As the oldest restaurant on State Street and one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Madison, Gino's has been a popular student eatery for decades. As the saying goes, ""practice makes perfect,"" and over the restaurant's many years, owner Gino has perfected the hearty Italian meal.
Featuring popular Italian dishes such as lasagna, as well as sandwiches, salads and, of course pizza, Gino's offers not only great food but lots of it, in a dim and relaxing setting. Judging by the number of people and the noise coming from the restaurant most nights, Gino's will be here for many more generations of college students.
For a quick and easy breakfast, Einstein Bros. Bagels takes the cake. Offering at least 12 kinds of bagels and a variety of spreads, plus your choice of coffee, Einstein Bros.'s allows you to customize your first meal of the day and never get bored of bagels and cream cheese. If in the slight chance you do, check out the breakfast menu and try a bagel breakfast sandwich.
Later in the day you can return for lunch, as Einstein Bros. converts its bagels from breakfast food to creative and delicious bagel sandwiches. Those not so excited about bagels should try the toasted cheese sandwich, or one of the many other sandwiches made with your choice of bread. You may want to order it all to go, though; the small size of the dining area combined with its great popularity leave few open seats, especially around lunchtime.
If you are looking for relief from the same old burgers and fries for lunch, try Kabul for delicious Afghan cuisine. Kabul's menu is full of not only Afghan creations but also great Mediterranean food, including kebabs and stuffed pitas. Every meal comes with a complimentary basket of bread, just the beginning of one fine meal.
Many menu items give you the choice of chicken or beef, and the vegetarian selection is one of the best of any restaurant. Be sure to sink your teeth into Kabul's huge kebabs, which include the restaurant's deliciously cool yogurt sauce. You'll be glad you tried something new.
