Madison, specifically the State Street area, is often heralded as the place to go to get away from the traditional American dining experience and enjoy a new and exciting taste every night.
But that reputation makes it difficult for the run-of-the-mill burger and beer joints serving traditional U.S. food to survive on and near State Street. The Burger Joint, formerly 309 N. Henry St., was the latest casualty, closing early this year after less than a year of operation.
Still, placed in between Mexican, Asian and other specialized restaurants are a few dining establishments that offer traditional American food.
American restaurants on State Street are definitely far and few between, but we serve a very important purpose,\ said Kim Sendelbach, a waitress at State Bar and Grill, 118 State St. ""We are there for the people that are looking for a dining experience that they know and love, with a type of food that they know and love.""
State Bar and Grill is not the only restaurant filling the mainstream gap on State Street. Hawk's, 425 State St., State Street Brats, 603 State St., Dotty Dumpling's Dowry, 317 N. Frances St., and McDonald's, 441 N. Lake St., all look to fill the needs of the burger-seeking Madisonian.
Nationally known franchise Fuddrucker's also threw its name into the mix Monday with the opening of its newest location at 651 State St. Fuddrucker's differs from other burger restaurants because it is open well past Madison's bar time, a market briefly cornered by Real Chili, 449 State St..
While Chipotle, 658 State St., Buraka, 543 State St. and Porta Bella, 425 N. Frances, serve culturally specific cuisine, the several American food establishments serve up classic menus of burgers, chicken sandwiches and appetizers to their customers.
""I think that [it's] just very traditional, as far as we are concerned, we have been in business for 30 years and for us it's very just mainstream food and we pride ourselves on comfort food,"" said Rachael Stanley, manager at Dotty Dumpling's Dowry.
Dotty's has consistently been named best burger in the Madison area by various local publications and even has been mentioned by national publications such as USA Today.
Consistency is the most important thing for the restaurant's success, Stanley said. And their diverse customer base also helps.
""We have students and adults and everything in between,"" said Stanley. ""You will look at our bar some nights and we'll have a 21- year-old and a 71-year-old at the other end.""
For UW-Madison students, most seem to like to have their pick of restaurant types.
""Being able to choose between a traditional, American burger-serving place like State Street Brats and a place like Kabul Restaurant or Frida's is a part of what this campus is all about,"" UW-Madison sophomore Kevin Ruth said. ""It is about choices. I want to eat something different every day.""
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