43 Best American Restaurants in Madison

“Delicious menu options. Perfect portion size for tasting all courses.“

“We hosted our son and daughter-in-law's rehearsal dinner at Madison's.
Sienna assisted us in planning the menu, Lauren was our personal bartender and Christina, the Manager, coordinated everything the night of the event.
The food, service and atmosphere was absolutely wonderful.
We couldn't be happier that our son and his wife chose Madison's as the venue for this special event in all of our lives.
We also opted for the ice cream for the guests at the end of our night and it was a hit with everyone.
Thank you Madison's, Sienna, Lauren and Christina, for all you did to make our night so special.“

“Kettle Black Kitchen is truly a hidden gem! We came in with a large group, and from the moment we walked through the door, the staff made us feel like family. The service was absolutely outstanding — warm, attentive, and genuine. As for the food, it somehow managed to be even better! Everyone in our group ordered something different, and every dish looked and tasted incredible. You can tell a lot of care goes into everything they do. I can’t recommend this spot highly enough — we can’t wait to come back!“

“A neighborhood stop -- super casual -- not for you if you want high-falootin' white glove service but definitely for you if you want great food at a fair price. We recommend the rib dinner or the fried chicken dinner -- served with Mac and cheese and cornbread. Ribs were meaty, fried chicken served hot and tasty. Diners on the way out also raved about the rib tips. Lots of cooking skills going on back in the kitchen. Friendly service. We'll be back“

“Classic must try pizzeria. Absolutely delicious, they come up with great pie ideas and they are ALL hits. Their service is impeccable and their excellent cocktails give the experience the cherry on top . To add to that the prices are super reasonable. Great atmosphere, can't recommend this enough. It's become a go to return spot over the years, wether I go for a nice dinner with my partner, or getting "fancy" pizza and drinks with friends, this is the place to go.“

“Hearty farm to table food at a reasonable price. Great tavern atmosphere that got loud and lively after 7pm. While the menu is tilted towards pork and charcuterie there are plenty of vegetarian options. Menu was very seasonal, so we
Loved that.

Portions were huge, in my opinion, for the price. (Compared to hometown Portland, ME)
We split the bouillabaisse and a salad and it still seemed like the portions were large. Big wine list. Did not try cocktails but they looked creative and colorful. This spot will certainly be on the list when we return to Madison.“

“Everything was super delicious. Only "complaint" is that the rolls were too big and hard to eat. Whole section of clearly marked vegan rolls to choose from. Lots of vegan appetizers too that weren't marked vegan but waitress was helpful in letting us know. Note that miso soup is not vegan.“

“My ex boyfriend took me here for my birthday once and I fell in love with it. The king salmon and the chocolate babka are amazing! 10/10“

“Good drinks menu but the food was so-so. Flavors unremarkable. No information on the menu for those who are lactose or gluten intolerant which is easy to flag on menus these days. And the random delivery of small plates, which was to be expected, could have been a little bit more even for our table of four. And worth letting us know, when we order, which dishes might take quite a bit longer to prepare and deliver. Nice ambiance and good lighting. 3/5.“

“Great room, location was unmatched right on the water, and fun events!“

“We had breakfast on a Sunday morning and it was a busy place. Waitstaff was friendly and attentive. Food came out in a very timely manner and was delicious. It was great amount of food for the price. Atmosphere was welcoming. Glad we found it!“

“I wish I had taken this photos of the food before I dug in. Delicious chilequiles, and even better ranchos huervos. The food is extremely fresh and flavorful. It's a unique take on something I've seen in every form, but they get it right with little surprises in every bite. Do yourself a favor and get the orange juice. The fresh sweetness really helps stabilize the slight spice and heaviness of the food.“

“Really awesome IPA selection!“

“Great place to go and eat. The food is amazing and the the staff are awesome!“

“Delicious food, good drinks, and a great service. One of my favorite places for Sunday brunch. Highly recommend!“

“Love the charming European Grand Cafe vibes. An abundance of outdoor seating is available. Our server was very attentive and had great recommendations for drinks and food. One of the smoothest bloodys I have had. Food was absolutely delicious! What a great spot for brunch and enjoying a view of Madison.“

“Took my daughter to this 60’s inspired cocktail style restaurant, to celebrate her birthday. We both agree that the overall vibe was sensational. The staff was amazing with our waitress being kind and courteous, as well as prompt with service. The menu is rather eclectic with various options, so there is something for everyone. The design of the place is thoughtful with the music matching the vibe. I am excited to see what the future holds for Lola's!“

“We had an amazing experience at DelecTable on Friday. All 11 courses were interesting and perfectly executed. A great meal and a lot of fun.“

“They have very good food but the staff makes peanuts and is hungry for tips. I usually try to tip 20-25%. However one time when I got the bill it was way more than I had expected and I didn't have the funds to leave a tip. I felt really bad. To top it off I was told if I couldn’t tip better. don't come back. I instead of 2 drinks costing $13.00.(like the other businesses on the block)The bill was $21. I would have been leaving at least $5, but now I couldn’t. I feel the staff is a bunch of snooty college students, living off their rich parents dime.“

“My favorite go to when I’m in town! Drinks and eats are the best!“

“It was truly the best dining experience I’ve ever had. Beyond the amazing flavors of all the dishes, I liked:
- casual atmosphere
- hospitality and great service, there are only 12 seats, so you feel like you’re at a private event
- because of the way the menu is built, you don’t wait for the food, once you finish one dish, they bring you the next one
- very family-like/friendly atmosphere of seating together at a big table and enjoying great food
- stories from the chef about each dish
- every dish has a unique plate and style
- 13-course menu for 125 per person is such a great deal

Thank you for preparing such a great dinner!“

“Ive been going to the Bonfyre for years and I really love the place. For the past year it has been infested with gnats or fruit flies or whatever they are. . You cant take a sip or a bite without waving them away. Its annoying as hell and gross. Its not a one time thing, I go there often and its not getting better. This afternoon I stopped in for a couple of beers and some calamari appetizer. I love their calamari! I used to, today I got a massive plate of breaded bread. And swatted flies away the entire time. I'm not giving up on Bonfyre but if they cant fix the bug problem soon I'm done. I stopped by Badger Tavern before going to Bonfyre, the parking lot was packed as was the entire street so went to Bonfyre. Bonfyre was pretty empty. The atmosphere at Bonfyre should and could be a 5 star...get rid of your bug problem!“

“Needed someplace to eat while waiting for my wedding to happen in Madison. Settle down was close by I walked there. I was not disappointed, the special which was I think all the chicken butter burger was phasing and the soup was as well. Reasonable price Add to my places to eat when in town list“

“Great friendly staff in an awesome atmosphere to enjoy any games. great food as well.“

“Been there a few times and their staff have always been super nice. Place is relatively new and very clean. Honestly my go to place for some comfort food in Madison!“

“We stopped at this Madison WI Culvers on our way to Rockford today and our 16mo made friends walking around the restaurant after we ate. The manager was so nice to her, gave her 2 stuffies and meal cards for our next stop through! Thanks, Ana! We'll see you again in a few weeks. :)“

“I want to recognize the outstanding service of Chrisi! Second day at her work and she has given us the best service ever from all the time we've been here to eat! Her attitude was amazing, always smiling, recommending deserts despite being busy! Food was delicious but BRAVO for her!!!!!!!!!!!!!! La Brioche is lucky to have her as part of the staff!!!!! Thank you again for making our brunch so bright!!“

“Dining atmosphere: woodwork, stone, rustic warmth experience. Good food, good price. Bathroom atmosphere: Stinky, disgusting, dilapidated, dust filled vent experience.“

“The food is simple (sandwich, salads, burger and a few other options) but tasty. The staff is friendly and makes sure yi ur experience is good, and the decor is nice. Bonus point for the nice selection of whisky and spirits, great for a restaurant. Also, during happy hour a few items are very fairly priced. Went twice, loved it both times, and will come back again. Thank you for the hard work!“

“Heard from friend's that the Friday Fish Fry was worth checking out, and they were right. I had a platter with two pieces of cod, one piece of walleye and one piece of perch. The entree included a small helping of fries, a small serving of coleslaw and tartar sauce, plus a choice of potato, so I chose the homemade potato chips. My companion had the two piece cod dinner. Our dinner also included complimentary warm bread and butter. I particularly liked the chips and the flavor of the perch. We each had a drink so the meal came out to about $40 before tip. Neither of us left feeling hungry. Highly recommended.“

“We always enjoy going to Dave and Busters. Our favorite games are there. The manager is very nice. It's a bit pricey but worth for a good date night!! The food is good!!! The drinks are good too!!“

“Great menu options. The service was very fast and friendly. The food was very good.“

“Our table ordered a mix of breakfast and lunch plates. All were delicious! The staff were very friendly. Seated quickly, got to order right away, and the food came fast. We all enjoyed watching them fuel up a plane and take off! Kids loved their paper planes too. ✈️ Plan to be back!“

“NOT recommending Madison Mineral Point Road location. Husband ordered a mushroom Swiss burger. Got home, and it was a melt sandwich, overcooked and greasy. Not an option to return to get the burger he ordered. He waited forever the first time. Not calling either. It isn't worth the time and effort. Even if he had ordered this melt sandwich, I would still say it was greasy and overcooked. Sorry to all the good locations. Have never had a complaint about Culver's previously.“

“Best Madison dive bar, hands down!“

“Excellent soup and salad bar“

“This is a grill located in the holiday inn at American center. The staff is friendly and drinks were good. They have a thin crust pizza and pitcher deal. Service was good and this is a convenient place to unwind if you don’t want to leave the hotel.“

“On the search for the perfect Friday Fish Fry, this is the one so far, yet many more to sample. They allow you to have more than one kind of fish; Perch, Cod & Musky. Wisconsin loves thier Musky, so I tried that with the Perch. I was not disappointed. I will bring my friends here. Just arrive early on the weekends as the locals grab the parking spots. You may just have to make your own space, as a lot of the customers did to dine here. You can eat here, or take it to gom

Parking: The entrance to Hanks is street side, yet, you can cut through the bar to the Hanks.

Kid-friendliness: I seen some very well behaved kids not fussing. So it was great.“

“Best breakfast buffet for a hotel. Not free though. Nice workers. Nice decor. Inside the Doubletree Hotel so very convenient.“

“Great drinks and a very nice view of Madison, Wisconsin... Awesome!!! The upstairs patio is open for business.“

“Been too long. Pesto chicken flatbread (and the service) was awesome. Great lunch spot!“

“Had a tater tot appetizer with guacamole and the side bar burger. Brad had the loner burger that was not a lone. It was a lot to eat so will be having some of this for lunch tomorrow. Yummy!!“

“This is my favorite, low stress, nearby breakfast spot. The food is decent, standard breakfast fare (I like the pancakes, and the poached eggs on the benedict are always perfectly cooked. They had a wonderful quiche for a special, but not a standard item, wish they'd bring it back!). I also appreciate the delicious fresh brewed Colectivo iced tea.

I keep coming back for the staff and the atmosphere. The space is nice and generally quiet. The bartenders are always super friendly and attentive. It's a very comfortable place to spend some time on weekend mornings.“