Hidden gems: 10 restaurants worth finding in the Madison area
These 10 restaurants are off the beaten path and may not immediately come to mind when you're in the mood to dine out. Some are hidden in plain sight, but others you have to know about to find.
AC Hotel
The AC Hotel, 1 N. Webster St., gives a touch of luxury in Downtown Madison, including a European-style breakfast spread. Staffers will slice aged prosciutto for you, and there are plates of attractively-cut egg tarts.
Sweet breakfast tarts (pictured above) are offered in the breakfast area at AC Hotel.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
Alimentari
Alimentari, 306 S. Brearly St., is a European deli on the Near East Side from the owners of another nearby restaurant, A Pig in a Fur Coat.
The Italian beef sandwich (with hot giardiniera and tortellini pasta), pictured above, is overstuffed with thinly sliced, flavorful beef, roasted for 12 hours and soaked in its own juice.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
The Audrey
The Audrey in the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace is located at 9 E. Wilson St. The brunch omelets are good, but dinner is the kitchen's real strong suit.
The omelet with chorizo, goat cheese and mushrooms, served with potatoes and fruit, is pictured above.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
Cadre
Cadre, 2540 University Ave., a French restaurant with a Wisconsin twist, is the most exciting restaurant to open in Madison in recent memory. Chef Evan Dannells is at the top of his game.
The beef bourguignon, pictured here, featured tender beef osso buco that had fantastic favor of its own, and was enhanced by a red wine demi-glace. Elegant vegetables including rainbow carrots and Brussels spouts also benefited from the reduction sauce.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
Estacion Inka
Estacion Inka serves up delicious, authentic Peruvian food in its building at 604 University Ave.
The serrano sandwich (pictured above) has well-seasoned pulled pork, leaf lettuce, tomato, red onion, cilantro, Creole sauce, lime, and an over-easy egg on top.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
Los Atlantes
Those hunting for the perfect mole are in luck. It’s served at Los Atlantes, a modest restaurant on the Southwest Side at 5706 Raymond Road.
The thick, smoky and chocolatey sauce on the enchiladas mole with carne asada (pictured above) is the owner's mother's recipe and takes three hours to cook. Besides chocolate and cinnamon, it has plantains, raisins, four types of peppers, four types of nuts, sesame seeds, onions and garlic.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
Monona Bakery and Eatery
Monona Bakery and Eatery, a counter-service restaurant 4544 Monona Drive, features many breakfast choices, along with some sandwiches and soups, and well-stocked bakery cases.
Conchas, Mexican sweet bread (pictured above) is offered, along with many other pastries.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
Porter
Porter, a stylish coffee and sandwich shop, is hidden behind the bike store Motorless Motion Bicycles at 640 W. Washington Ave.
Porter's hearty breakfast sandwich (pictured above) has smoked ham, sharp cheddar, red onion, stone-ground mustard and an over-medium egg in a tender, warm brioche roll.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
SoHo Gourmet Cuisines
SoHo Gourmet Cuisines, the sitdown version of the popular food cart SoHo, is located in a strip mall at 2990 Cahill Main.
The spicy beans (pictured above) are made with garlic and Thai chilis -- they're a popular street food in Hong Kong.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
Surya Cafe
Surya Cafe is a vegan and gluten-free restaurant located in the renovated Garver Feed Mill, 3241 Garver Green, suite 250.
The harvest salad (pictured above) is a perfect fall meal with kale, roasted butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, savory granola, spiced pepitas and dried cranberries in a maple-mustard vinaigrette.
Read Samara Kalk Derby's review.
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