My wife and I visited Town Council for the first time on a Thursday evening, and the place was…read moreabsolutely buzzing. Thankfully, we had a reservation for two seats at the high-top bar directly in front of the open kitchen and service line, which gave us a front-row view of the chefs and dishes heading out to the dining room. More on those seats later.
The restaurant itself is modern, stylish, and upscale without feeling pretentious. Our server was friendly and attentive throughout the evening. For drinks, I ordered a Lion's Tail beer while my wife enjoyed a prosecco.
We started with two appetizers: the Country Pâté for me and the Wisconsin Cheese Plate for my wife. Both were served with pickled vegetables, including cucumbers and red onions, and both were excellent. The portions were surprisingly generous and, in hindsight, we probably could have shared just one appetizer and been perfectly happy.
One of the highlights of the evening was watching the kitchen in action. Despite a packed dining room and the added chaos of Thursday burger night, the chefs took time to chat with us and were incredibly kind and hospitable. The chef-owner, who was working directly in front of us, recommended the Roasted Trout, while my wife chose the Roasted Beets.
The trout was beautifully cooked. The skin was left on and crisped to perfection, pairing wonderfully with the spaetzle. My only criticism is that it was noticeably oversalted. It wasn't enough to ruin the dish, but it did have me reaching for my water glass more often than I'd have liked. A few bites from my wife's beet dish provided a nice balance, as it was light, fresh, and flavorful.
By the end of the meal, we were far too full for dessert, so we settled our tab and prepared to leave.
Now, back to those high-top bar seats.
The chairs are very tall. I'm six feet tall and still had to hoist myself up into mine. My wife, who is five feet tall, practically had to climb aboard. The view is fantastic, but after an hour and a half, a couple of drinks, and a great meal, it's easy to forget just how far off the ground you are.
As I got up to leave, I nearly lost my footing and almost tumbled out of my chair. Unfortunately, my wife wasn't as lucky. She fell backward, hitting her head on the concrete floor and bruising her leg and forearm as she tried to break her fall. Thankfully, she was okay and didn't need medical attention, but she ended up with a sizable bump on her head and some impressive bruises.
So, a word of caution: if you're seated at the high-top bar, be aware of the height. The food, service, and atmosphere were excellent, but those chairs are not for the faint of heart. Consider bringing a parachute.
Would definitely return, though perhaps next time we'll request a table closer to ground level.
