By now, you have taken the 50- mile campus tour, aced your placement tests and sat through Academy Award-worthy Student Orientation, Advising and Registration skits. While these are all exciting endeavors, you're missing out on Madison's greatest feature-the food. Whether you want for fine dining or a quick snack, The Daily Cardinal is here to give you the skinny on Madison's best eateries.
Qdoba (pronounced \kyu-doh-bah"") offers Madison's best spread of contemporary Mexican food. Specializing in the ""gourmet burrito,"" Qdoba lets customers watch as their personalized burrito is made in front of them, letting them choose the meat, beans, salsa and toppings to satisfy any palate. In addition to their burrito basics, Qdoba features five types of salsa ranging from mild to fiery hot, as well as amazing guacamole and other toppings.
In addition to their out-of-this-world burritos, Qdoba also offers the best nachos in Madison. Boasting the most flavor of any chips in town, each chip is infused with a light blend of lime and salt. When covered with your choice of ingredients and Qdoba's famous three-cheese sauce, you will discover why Qdoba is a staple at UW-Madison.
Qdoba also presents tacos, tortilla soup, taco salads and margaritas. And, Qdoba's modern atmosphere is as fresh as its ingredients; clean lines, bright colors and televisions cover its walls. Best of all, Qdoba is open until 3 a.m., to gratify those Madison bar-time munchies.
Upon entering Johnny Delmonico's, you will realize why it's one of Madison's greatest restaurants. Delmonico's is a swanky, upscale steakhouse with prohibition-era d??cor despite the classy, chic bar. Delmonico's features a pricier menu of delectable steaks and scrumptious seafood, all well worth their price tag.
Delmonico's offers a variety of steak choices, ranging from a six ounce tenderloin to the largest of Porterhouses. Delmonico's meat is of immaculate quality, and all steaks are available with Delmonico's own steak sauces. For a lighter choice, any of Delmonico's seafood options are satisfying. Delmonico's offers everything from lobster tail to tuna steaks to salmon, but the halibut is amazing, with flavorful cherries and nuts adding to the perfection of the tender fish. One could also make a meal out of Johnny's appetizers alone-Delmonico's has become famous for its clams, and the calamari is simply divine.
If you are looking for luxury, look no further than Johnny Delmonico's; the first-class staff and fantastic fare makes Delmonico's one of Madison's best.
Jin's is Madison's most popular food cart, and has been catering to bar-goers for the past 11 years. Open only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights from midnight to as late as 6 a.m., students flock to this chicken-and-fish joint as their crazy weekend nights come to a close.
Although you may be greeted with a long line, Jin's fare is worth the wait. For $4, you can get receive a catfish sandwich, or its more popular counterpart, the chicken sandwich. Centered between a bun are tender pieces of deep-fried chicken, mayonnaise and Jin's special sauce. This spicy sauce adds a special kick that separates Jin's from the rest.
Delicious food, a colorful atmosphere and loyal following make the long line not only bearable but enjoyable. After a late night, head to Jin's to experience not only great food, but a Madison legacy.
For a true ""Madison-esque"" eatery, turn off State Street and head to Amy's Caf??.?? Although Amy's doubles as a bar in the evening, it's true claim to fame is the array of sandwich offerings. Amy's specials board always dares patrons to try something new, but for Amy's best, head straight for the menu items.
UW-Madison students love Amy's burgers-a traditional, no-frills option that will satisfy any appetite. Or, try the Frances sandwich, which consists of fresh wheat bread loaded with ham and turkey piled under either swiss or cheddar cheese, topped with lettuce, red onion and honey mustard.
Another Amy's favorite is the cheese and broccoli soup. This soup pairs just the right amount of broccoli and cheese and is served in a bread bowl, and never has that ""imitation cheese"" taste.
Besides the appetizing menu, Amy's also offers a cozy atmosphere, offering either indoor or outdoor seating. For the true Madison experience, pair an Amy's entr??e with outdoor people watching.
Chin's is one of Madison's newest eateries, and easily one of its best. Chin's serves up healthy, tasty and fresh Pan-Asian cuisine originating from Thailand, Vietnam, China and Japan, skillfully mixed with ingredients not commonly associated with Asian food such as pesto sauce, chipotle peppers and parmesan cheese, all for a reasonable price. Chin's employs the ever popular ""fast casual"" concept, where diners order and pay at the front counter, and their meals are cooked fresh-to-order and then brought to their table by a server.
The variety of Chin's menu is impeccable. Diners can choose from dishes like teriyaki udon noodles, spicy adobo noodles or sweet and thai basil chicken salad, all under $6. Or, create your own stir-fry by choosing from vegetables, tofu, chicken, beef or shrimp, then selecting a flavor, such as Sichuan, sweet and sour or Shanghai Sesame. Also try the $6 dim sum platter-a sampler of four appetizers-including crispy cream cheese puffs, Thai spring rolls, teriyaki wings and the star of the sampler, Chin's potstickers.
Chin's sophisticated spin on Asian cuisine combined with the classy and inviting atmosphere makes for a truly different and delicious dining adventure.
For a hearty lunch, try the nationally-acclaimed Marigold Kitchen. Marigold Kitchen has a warm, bright interior with a coffee-shop feel. Ordering is done at the counter, but what comes over that counter reminds you quickly that you are definitely not in a coffee shop.
The Marigold Kitchen offers many sandwiches and typical lunch fare with an atypical taste. Opt for the Cuban-style grilled pork sandwich, and you'll receive perfectly seasoned pork on toasted ciabatta bread topped with tomato, romaine lettuce, ricotta-like farmer's cheese and a zesty onion and citrus fruit compote. This delicious, burly sandwich could easily be shared.
If you have a sweet tooth, try Marigold's chocolate-covered coconut macaroons. Featured in Bon Appetit magazine, these treats are sure to cure a chocolate craving.
At first glance, you'll wonder why people think Mickie's is the best breakfast place in town. But it is Mickie's hole-in-the-wall appearance and small-town feel that separates Mickie's from Madison's modern, less personal restaurants.
The perfect Mickie's breakfast consists of a cup of coffee and their famous pancakes. Choose from buttermilk, blueberry, cornmeal, whole grain or buckwheat pancackes, all of which come in a hearty, hefty heap. After one bite of these soft, thick, melt-in-your-mouth cakes and you'll know why people from all over America ask about Mickie's when they visit Madison.
Mickie's also creates killer personalized omelets with any and every ingredient you could ask for. If you wish to visit Mickie's later in the day, order a classic burger, fries and a homemade malt. Best of all, you'll never pay more than $6 for an entire meal from Mickie's-making breakfast at Mickie's Dairy Bar a must for a visit to Madison.
If you only go to one place in the entire city of Madison, make it the Terrace at the Memorial Union. The Terrace's huge outdoor patio is where students and alumni alike gather to socialize, people watch and do what Badgers do best-drink. The Terrace offers a wide selection of soda, lemonade and of course, beer. Bottles, 16 or 22 ounce glasses and 48 ounce pitchers are available, filled to the brim with both traditional beers and Rathskeller ale, brewed in nearby Janesville.
The Terrace features the Memorial Union Bratstand, which offers summers finest fare. Brats, hotdogs, spicy dogs, burgers and barbeque chicken sandwiches are available, but best is the corn on the cob, straight off the grill.
Even though the beer is cold and the brats are juicy, the Terrace's greatest attribute is its atmosphere. During the day, the seats are packed with patrons bronzing in the summer sun while they watch the action on the water. At night, everyone is on their feet as live bands play on the outdoor stage.
For strictly domestic drinking, the Great Dane isn't recommended. But for folks who want to try the best brews in Madison, the Great Dane is the best place eat, drink and be merry.
During dining hours, the Great Dane's menu has something for everyone. The Great Dane is famous for its fish and chips, and also makes one heck of a burger. Try a hearty meal such as the barbeque ribs or grilled lamb skewer, or a lighter dish such as one of the Great Dane's wraps or salads. Best is the Webster Street chicken salad, which combines chicken, Granny Smith apples, cranberries, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese over assorted greens and a honey-citrus dressing.
The Great Dane's best feature, of course, is the beer. There are always at least 12 of the Great Dane's original brews on tap, all of which are different and amazing in their own right. Their finest pint is the crop circle wheat, a true German wheat beer. Served with a slice of lemon, this flavorful brew has a zesty kick to it.
The Great Dane is not upscale, but not a casual dive either. This brewery not only features great food and spectacular brew, but also has a wide selection of specialty cigars to puff on. Grab a cigar and a pint and play pool in the Great Dane's billiard room or listen to live music from great local bands. The Great Dane has something for everyone and is truly one of Madison's finest.
There's nothing like a slice of pizza to calm a growling stomach. But take one look at the menu, and you'll know why Ian's is not your typical pizza joint. Although traditional pizza toppings such as cheese, pepperoni and pineapple are available, it is Ian's other concoctions that steal the show. Although new creations appear daily on the specials board, try an Ian's favorite such as the mac n' cheese pizza. This nontraditional pizza consists of Ian's pizza crust topped with macaroni and multiple cheeses for a totally textured and tasty spin on two old favorites. Some of Ian's other choice pizzas include steak n' fries, black bean feta avocado, taco, buffalo chicken and barbeque chicken bacon.
At Ian's, customers pay by the slice, usually at a price of $2.50-not a bad price for a piping hot piece of pie.
Ian's is yet another establishment that accommodates the bar-time crowd-it's open until 3 a.m. With these late hours, though, comes the only downside to Ian's-the sometimes lengthy line. But while the line may get lengthy, Ian's innovative, delectable pizza is well worth the wait.
