I really enjoyed my quick stop in. The slushie was delicious and the chat with the bartenders made…read moreme feel at home. This place is cute, clean, and has a great spirit selection.

Pay with cash or massively incompetent and "not able to read words good" bartenders will hand your…read morecard off to someone else and then play it off like it's not a big deal because again, they can't read words and just give anyone with the same type of credit card your credit card and then pretend it's not a big deal or a massive inconvenience to cancel and reissue a credit card. This place used to train and produce talent. Now it's not functionally literate. Totally pathetic. Won't ever return. Will tell them at tales and Portland what's happening in Madison. Total losers.

loved the ambiance very clean aesthetic. food was very fresh and everything is very solid. service…read moreis amazing

A solid 3 stars…read more Arrived around 1130am on a gorgeous Saturday. The parking lot was full, which is a great sign. I was able to easily find a spot at the bar, another great sign. The bartenders were personable and competent (I watched them deftly make multiple drinks at once). The space is large and well lit, and the outdoor seating looked nice. I'm sure it's a vibe when the temps are a little warmer. I ordered 2 drinks. Haley's Comet - tasty, albeit a little sweet for me. Call Her Daddy - def my favorite, better balanced imo. I ordered the brunch fried rice and it was a letdown. It was advertised as having bacon and there was none to be found. The food was not hot, leaning towards cold. Like it had been sitting out. Oddly the poached egg was perfect. The rice itself was clumped, as if they didn't use dried out rice (what I'm used to for fried rice) As a rule, I tend not to send food back, so I ate the shrimp and let it be what it was. I was sorely disappointed though. I saw people ordering the brunch burger and honestly that looked way better than what I ordered. I'd be willing to give it another go, as the service and drinks were lovely

I've heard people rave about The Mason, and it took me far too long to finally come in here, and it…read morewas honestly entirely by accident. I was supposed to be meeting a group elsewhere nearby when our original place closed without warning. So we headed to The Mason and it was a delightful experience. It was very busy with one bartender, so it took awhile to get your drinks, but they were still well made and the bartender was very friendly. It's a small place so it can get loud when busy, but our group had a great time and we enjoyed the place. It is a dark, neighborhood type vibe. And the sealing the deal of the 5th star for this place is that they were dog friendly. My pup had a great time getting pets from customers. Great find!

I can't believe I haven't been to the Mason Lounge yet the vibe was amazing I feel like you could…read morecome in whatever fit and feel chill! The live music area was one of the coolest things I've seen and we got yummy Moscow mules. The bartender (Tracy I think) was so kind and so amazing!

It was our first time here, so we asked for seats at the bar, which looks directly into the…read morekitchen. We had so much fun, and we could see that all of the staff were also having a good time. Nothing but positivity, and it transfers into each and every delicious dish! We absolutely loved the complimentary cheese puffs (Gougeres). It was the perfect start to a fantastic meal. I enjoyed a starter of beet, walnut and cheese tart, and my dining partner thought his French Onion soup was stellar. I chose Monkfish stew for my main dish. It was incredible....silky, savory broth with melt-in-your-mouth monkfish plus tender shrimp and asparagus. The bread served with the stew was so delicious to soak it all up. My dining partner thoroughly enjoyed his Bistro steak with king trumpet mushrooms. The mushrooms were so elevated and so delicious. We shared a side of charred carrots and thought very highly of them, too. We closed out our epic meal by sharing one slice of Gateau Basque cake. It was served with a side of a tart cherry compote, and together this dessert was perhaps THE BEST dessert outside of France. Incredible! Sitting at the bar, our server was bartender Nina W. She was entertaining and didn't mind all of our ongoing questions. She added a another level of true enjoyment to our experience. Just as we were finishing up our dining experience the orchestrating chef stopped over to introduce herself. Once Annemarie said her name, I knew she was one of the founders of Lallander and next-door Bloom Bake Shop, having been a customer ever since their first bakery in Middleton. I told Annemarie how impressed we both were with the food, and how all the staff seemed so happy. She said something like a restaurant is only successful with good people. It seems she is keeping her people, and her customers, very happy.

This French inspired place was on our list to try so with a reservation made two weeks in advance…read morewe arrived on a cold snowy Friday evening. We were ten minutes early and they had just opened - strangely they would not seat us though our seats at the kitchen bar were open. So we huddled on the bench five feet away from our seats. It was not a great start but that was soon forgotten given the rest of the evening was fun. When I went on-line to make a reservation the only seats available were at the kitchen bar - that turned out to be fortunate because it was highly entertaining. When we return we will book these seats again as a couple (if you are with a group it is not a good place to hold a conversation). The bartender/ our server Jackson was super friendly and did a great job answering all our questions as we quizzed him on the action in the kitchen which was right in front of us (it's a small tight space). We ordered a beer and a wine followed by a small cup of French onion soup which was very tasty and a serving of their pate which was also very good. It was good that we had these front row seats because for some reason the kitchen appeared to be running a bit slow so the wait for our mains was pretty long. We did notice that when the owner arrived she started to direct the kitchen staff and the pace picked up! I got the pork tenderloin which was very flavorful and done with a bit of pink so it was not dry. It was a large serving. My wife got the sea bass in a puff pastry which was beautifully presented. The sauce was essential otherwise the dish would have been a bit plain. She really liked it. We were too full for desserts but they looked tempting though they did give us some savory cookies from their Bloom Bakery which is next store. This is not an inexpensive place to dine but it was well worth it. We will be back!

This was one of the best dining experiences I have had in Madison!…read more Fantastic atmosphere Exceptional service Amazing food Highly accommodating for dietary needs They went above and beyond to make this a special occasion to celebrate my wife's birthday. Well worth every penny!!! The trumpet mushroom appetizer= chef kiss! I had no idea you could make mushrooms taste so absolutely delicious. I have been dreaming about them now for weeks. James Beard award winning chefs. Yeah, I can see why! Oh, I can't forget to mention the deviled eggs are simple but some of the best I have had. They are just done to perfection. Well done

Great experience - there were for of dining so we had two different past a dishes, swordfish, and…read morepork tenderloin... as well as several sides. This was by far one of the best fine-dining experiences I've had in Madison. The attention to detail from service to taster to presentation was outstanding. I'm generally hesitant to order swordfish in the Midwest, if even at all as if it's not properly prepared or fresh it can be off-putting. This was perfectly cooked, moist and tender. The bold flavors accompanying the fish were not at all overpowering, rather very much enhancing and complimentary. My understanding is they have a rotating menu and I look forward to my next visit.

I love that this place is walking distance to my friend's house! The outdoor patio fills up quickly…read moreon nice days, but if you can get a table it's a great place to bring kids and dogs with the outdoor games and turf. We often bring our own games too. The best time to visit is when there is a food truck, otherwise there aren't food options. I would think you could bring your own, but I've never verified. The inside is pretty cute too and has nice vibes if you just want to hang out with a drink or two. They've been understaffed on days when it is surprisingly nice and the place is nearly full outside when they open and they only have one bartender, but hopefully with the season change that gets figured out.

This place is ADORABLE! I am absolutely obsessed with the Rusty Bee Lounge. It's right down the…read moreroad from my house, so we walk there. It's family friendly, with lots of green space outside for the kids to play, and they have yard games. The drinks are delicious, and I love trying the different specials they have. They don't serve food, but frequently have different food trucks that come, which is honestly better because then I can try places I haven't before! I can't say enough good things about the Rusty Bee. Our family loves it here!

How fun and funny is this place? Always some drink prep happening to entertain you. Fun names, fun…read moreglasses, but they back it up with amazing flavors. We didn't try the sushi rolls from jackknife but would someday. Prices about what you would expect for craft cocktails. It's medium loud. We were there on a gorgeous day with the windows wide open. There are a few different types of seating available from cozy couch to bar seats and high tops.

If you asked me right now what my favorite cocktail bar is, I would say Public Parking in Madison…read more I'm officially obsessed. It has such a cool vibe. Grandma Hates My Neck Tattoo--seriously good, with a funky blend of whiskey and strawberry rhubarb. Good Googly Moogly, which was totally refreshing with pineapple and coconut cream. We Met On Ashley Madison--smoky mezcal mixed with tropical flavors was the perfect way to wrap up the night. If you're looking for a spot to unwind and enjoy some creative cocktails, this place is it. Can't wait to come back and try more!

Laurel Tavern sits on Monroe Street and backs up to Wingra Park/Lake, which makes for a great…read morestroll before or after stopping by! This spot is a true local tavern from decor, furnishings, exterior, service, locals lining the bar, old school arcade games and classic tavern food. I swung by recently after grabbing a coffee across the way, then wandering around Wingra Park for a bit. Figured I worked up a thirst, so we bellied up to the bar and had a few Spotted Cows! While we did not eat, we browsed the menu and gawked at a few plates that came by. Food looked decent and as we were leaving they were tossing up the Friday Fish Fry sign, which I hate we missed. But what we didn't do in food, we did in beer. We each had a couple of rounds, all draft. We watched what sports were on, chatted with folks and just enjoyed the chill time and cold beer. Service was friendly and helpful. Bartenders were not the quickest to check in on you, but they were nice enough and acknowledged any wait. Overall, solid tavern in Madison. Nothing special, but nothing awful. Classic tavern, and I can dig it.

This is classic WI tavern and neighborhood bar. Two parking…read moreareas on either side of the building. Long bar, then a separate area with booths, two-tops and tall tables. Its one advantage is a lovely fireplace. Lights are dim. Has that old-wood vibe. Staff are attentive. Bartender was very personable and helpful. To that end, one of the staff recognized a member of my group from frequent carry-out orders. Food is fine, although nothing remarkable. Fried green beans were fun. All the apps are fried. Maybe it is the lower price, as more area restaurants try to morph into 'upscale' bar food. Not sorry I met my friends here, but it won't be a destination restaurant for me.