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    Fairchild

    4.8 (160 reviews)
    PriceySeafood, Bars, Italian
    Closed Closed

    Fairchild Photos

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    FAIRCHILD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale
    Dressy

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    Recommended Reviews - Fairchild

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    Reviews With Photos

    Salmon
    Johanna E.

    Went here for a birthday and had a great experience. The service was attentive and the atmosphere was perfect for a celebration. The Snowdrift and Manhattan were both excellent. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The broccolini paired well with the salmon and the steak with potatoes and onion was full of flavor. We also tried a special appetizer that was unique and made for some great bites. Overall, a wonderful spot for a special night out.

    Salmon
    Olivia M.

    Love the ambiance of Fairchild. Lighting is perfect and this restaurant's interior nails something so many restaurants simply don't in the Madison area. It's an enjoyable, cozy atmosphere to settle into for an evening of great food. Came here for my birthday dinner last November and it was amazing. Still thinking about it! Server was incredibly knowledgeable of the menu, cooking methods, and ingredients used. Highly recommend any of the shareable items. Oysters were delicious. Salmon was perfectly cooked, as were the accompanying seasonal vegetables. I think we ordered one each of the desserts -- which were also all very good. Budino and apple pie were very good.

    Fettuccine with clams
    MaryDan H.

    Loved the menu options around Christmas: Lobster Bisque and Fettuccine with Clams. Both were done extremely well--creamy and rich with fresh morsels of seafood. So very satisfying. Yum!

    Apple cake for 2
    Laura M.

    I've been wanting to come here for a while, and I'm glad my sister and I finally made the trip. This restaurant certainly earns its reputation, and you'll definitely need a reservation. There is a great wine list to choose from, and although I went with wine, their cocktail list also looked fantastic. I ordered the New York strip, which was cooked perfectly and was delicious. Although it did come with a side, I also ordered the green barn broccoli, which was superb. My sister got the 7 seeds chicken, which she thought was excellent. We opted for dessert to share - the apple cake, which is served on a skillet with ice cream atop. It was amazing! I wish I hadn't been so full from the rest of the meal, because this was simply delightful and a plentiful portion. Overall, the price is on the higher side, but for the quality of food and service, it makes sense. This restaurant would make for a perfect date spot. Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. I definitely hope to come back.

    Beef tartare
    Ellena K.

    Fairchild always exceeds my expectations! As soon as you step inside, the cozy lighting and modern decor set the perfect vibe for a nice night out. The menu is a showcase of creativity, beautifully presented and delicious. The Shishido peppers and beef tartare are my favorite. The drinks were great too! We loved the old fashioned. Equally noteworthy was the quality of the service. Our server was attentive without being intrusive, and made our birthday celebration wonderful. I already can't wait to go back! Highly recommend taking an out-of-town visitor to give them a taste of Madison's dining and locally sourced ingredients

    Current menu
    Christine L.

    In Madison for a conference and was reading the Madison magazine and they suggested I check out the Fairchild. It had a couple lines to describe the place but the words James Beard award sold me quick. So at 5pm next day I headed over without a reservation. It's a cozy place and all tables were reserved for a Thursday and but I planned to sit at the bar anyways. No problem I had the counter to myself. I was just amazed that I could even do that for such an establishment here. As for selecting my dinner it was hard to choose because I could have eaten anything everything sounded very delicious so I ended up getting 2 appetizers and the broccoli so I can have space for dessert. The beef tartar was great and had a nice balance of crunch from the potatoes on the bottom. I got the pork trotter because I never heard of that before and was intrigued. A satisfying dish with crispy pork around the perimeter with diced watery sweet watermelon on top. Ended the night with the brown butter financier. Lemon poppyseed ice cream? Wow and all made in-house. Loved every part: the blueberry sauce, the cake, ice cream... and together it's fantastic. Even though I was by myself I had the lovely company of bartender-wife of chef Marlee around to talk. I wish I had something like this in my neighborhood: a nice low-key establishment that makes high quality food that's familiar (yet different) and approachable. I am still floored that I was able to walk in and eat there without a reservation. Are Madisonians so used to this level of cuisine it's not a big deal? Lol I'm starting to believe this unpretentious town is a foodie paradise.

    Beverage menu July 2024
    Andrea Z.

    Visited on a Saturday around 6pm solo, was able to snag a seat at the bar without a reservation. The restaurant was fairly busy, most guests had a reservation and a slight wait before their table was ready, if coming as a group would recommend booking a spot but there were seats at the bar available for the majority of the evening. Drinks: sumac lemonade - really light and refreshing a great cocktail to start the meal, tart and tangy with a slight sweetness, throughly enjoyed Food: PEI mussels - delicious, creamy rich lightly spiced saffron broth with savory meaty chunks of chorizo, mussels were well clean and cooked, potatoes added a little bit of heartiness, came with a slice of grilled bread to soak up the broth wish there was more bread for this Shishito peppers with yuzu kosho mayo - a nice veggie option, pepper were lightly sauteed with a slight char, served on a bed of the mayo which added a subtle citrus spice, would have preferred to dip personally but still enjoyed this overall Serving was great, really attentive staff dispute how busy the restaurant and bar was. Friendly, warm and welcoming, water was refilled regularly and staff checked in throughout the meal. Overall a great spot for a more upscale dinner in Madison, menu is new American with some global influences, if the mussels are on the menu menu order them!

    Grilled pink moon oysters
    Sandy N.

    My husband and I recently celebrated our anniversary in Madison, and we ended the day at Fairchild. We both agreed it was the best meal of 2024 so far. The freshness of Fairchild's offerings and the seasonal flavors were truly delightful. To start, Fairchild welcomed us with two glasses of bubbles to celebrate. They recommended a dish from each category, but we decided to freestyle our choices. Here's what we ordered, in order of our favorites: Hudson Valley Foie Gras: I am still thinking about this dish--a taste of heaven. The foie gras ice cream was chef's kiss! Seven Seeds Pork Trotter: Please give me the recipe for the nuoc cham! Excellent balance of flavors and so savory. Hamachi: Refreshing and perfectly balanced. Peterman Craftsman Steak Tartare: A fun bite, though I think I prefer the traditional serving. Strawberry Rhubarb Panna Cotta: The perfect light yet flavorful ending. Grilled Pink Moon Oysters: One word--plump. Triangoli: I was yearning for more of that bone marrow flavor, but overall, a safe dish. We left this very memorable dinner feeling comfortable and happy. I can't wait to bring my girlfriends here for our next UW Madison reunion!

    deviled eggs & lobster bisque
    Michelle L.

    perfect dinner date night spot :) i made a reservation for 2 several weeks in advance and it is so worth it. super cute & cozy ambiance with soft warm yellow lighting, it's a small restaurant so it feels very intimate. our server did an excellent job offering recommendations, going into detail with each dish. I love that they change up the menu constantly and according to the seasons! they also source their ingredients fresh from the farmers market each week deviled eggs: creamy and light, this is a staple on the menu lobster bisque: such a unique twist on the dish! it's less creamy compared to a new england lobster bisque and had more earthy, curry flavor, with lots of spices tagliatelle: super clean light pasta, had a very lemony sauce. gave off spring tbh! great portion size too, I didn't feel overly stuffed. the sourdough was grilled and was from a place down the street seven seeds chicken: super unique dish full of juice and flavor. they sorta mash up different parts of the chicken together so you get light and dark pieces, the skin was wonderfully crisp. the apple was soft and carmelized and was a great addition japanese purin: essentially like a flan with cherries and a light touch of maple syrup drizzled over on top. super light and airy dessert, perfect ending to dinner

    Pork Trotter (one of the best dishes I've EVER had anywhere!)
    Rick R.

    I finally made it to Fairchild. After the chefs won Best Chef Midwest region for James Beard awards in June 2023, it was tough to get a table. I ordered the Hamachi and Beef Tartare from the Snacks section, and the Bone Marrow and Pork Trotter from the Appetizers secrion. Every dish was beautifully plated. The Hamachi was a refreshing dish with nice flavors and texture. The Beef Tartare was served on top of potato pave, which was soft and thick making the dish a bit one dimensional. I also didn't get much flavor from the tartare, which should have been the star. Maybe too much shaved cheddar? Anyway the Beef Tartare makes this a 4.5 star review, even though that isn't an option. The Bone Marrow was fantastic! Topped with braised beef shortrib, goat cheese, chanterelles and a bit of blueberry. The star of the dinner was the Pork Trotter! Crispy pork belly, sunny side up egg, thai vinaigrette, and cilantro make up the ingredients, but the flavors and textures make it seem like there is much more to the dish, not to mention the stunning plating! This wasn't just the best dish I had here, it was one of the best dishes I've ever had anywhere! I ordered the Via Ferrate cocktail made with Whistlepig 6 yr rye, and it was refreshing and delicious. The other highlight was my server, Sophie. She was a total rockstar! I hope to get back here soon!

    Maitake Tempura
    Tiffany S.

    An absolute must visit when you're in Madison! Made a rezzie for 1 on a Sunday evening sat at the bar. Definitely a place good for solo dining! I learned from the lovely bartender that the Chefs & Owners Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger opened this spot in 2020 - just before lockdown!! Wild. I'm so glad to see their success including the chefs here winning James Beard 2023 Best Chef: Midwest. The menu was phenomenal and I couldn't pick so I ordered way too much but everything was so worth it: *Maitake Tempura (lemon aioli): Just perfect -- no soggy bits because the tempura was PERFECTION. *Corn Panna Cotta (summer truffle, sungold tomato): Ugh just incredible and luscious and the perfect textures with the popcorn, tomato, corn and touch of truffle. *Pork Trotter (watermelon, dreamfarm goat cheese, jalapeno): the whole process for this incredible and a labor of love! It's a shank that get braised & get it gets rolled & glazed and then something....and voilà! *Butter Mochi: I really wanted the cobbler but it said it was for two and I was already stuffed. I didn't get any cocktails but the cocktail menu looks fantastic. I'll definitely be back to Madison for some great eats!

    Inside Cappelletti
    Sho R.

    This is a small expensive restaurant. I took out dinner from here on a Saturday evening. This place is not supposed to be a take out place. People generally dress up and come in to have a relaxed meal. So I was the exception. I went for a Cappelletti. It was a flavorful pasta. But the quantity was super small. May be it was enough as a snack.

    monkfish
    Melissa L.

    Stellar food experience ! Such a cozy interior, dimly lit but enough that I could walk around (did have a tad difficulty reading the menu though)-- perfect for a date night I'd say. Service was great, my server was very direct and to the point, which I liked, and checked in frequently to make sure we were enjoying our food. I went to the bathroom briefly once between appetizers and entrées, and my napkin was replaced by the time I got back :0 Now, on to the food which was simply phenomenal: Maitake tempura (9.5/10): I barely have anything to critique here-- mushrooms were so crispy, yet the batter was light, so well seasoned I didn't even need the aioli sauce (actually thought the sauce took away from the mushrooms a bit, but I just ignored the sauce and ate as is lol) Goat Cheese Tart (9/10): delicious, delicious, delicious, my only complaint is I wish there was more!! The slice we got was a bit skinny, but the tart crust was insanely crispy and layered, the acidic tomato (both in the tart and raw on the side) was the perfect balance to the rich, creamy goat cheese. Monkfish (9/10): again, so scrumptious-- my monkfish was perfectly cooked, soft but still had a bite to it. It was in a curry sauce with butternut squash, frisee, and apple (I think?) on the side. I would absolutely not think of putting those things all together, but it worked so well, I loved the freshness of the veggie sides with the creaminess of the curry sauce. Pork Loin en Croute (8/10): this was probably the worst thing for me, but worst amongst amazing dishes is still pretty good-- the mustard on top took the cake for me, but the pastry dough was a bit undercooked and chewy for my liking, they were served with the smoothest mashed potatoes I ever had - delicious, but a bit boring compared to other dishes (although this is just my opinion, my partner loved it!) Raspberry Cake for 2 (8/10): flavors of the cake with the lemon poppy seed ice cream on top paired so nicely-- bright acidic, and sweet flavors; my main complaint is that the cake was quite dense and a bit dry, but still tasted scrumptious when eaten with the ice cream (but the ice cream was necessary for it to be good) Overall, would 1000% go here again, probably my favorite place I've been to in Madison thus far. A bit pricey for my income level, so might go here sparingly, but believe me, if I was raking in the dough I'd go here every week.

    The best N.A. bubbles! They have an amazing selection of N.A. drinks!

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    Ask the Community - Fairchild

    Do they ever have vegan options?

    Definitely vegetarian, not sure about vegan

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    Squirrel's Nest - Fish Fry

    Squirrel's Nest

    (47 reviews)

    $

    Ok. So I've lived here for 10 years and every single Saturday I take my sons out for breakfast. And…read morewe have tried almost all of them in Dane County. And this was recommended early on. And it's close to our house. And I drove past it for years. To Koffee Kup. To Pancake Cafe. To Luke's. All great. I didn't go here because in the boys' words it "looked sus". And it does. It looks like a divey bar on the outside. And unsurprisingly it is on the inside too. But What it IS is amazing food wise. Everyone talks about the French toast. Having never had RumChata in a cocktail I can't comment but that toast is OFF THE CHARTS. But so is the biscuits and gravy. A ton of meat. Service is strained but lovely. And when you see what that cook is working with you're even more impressed. A 6'X4' cooking station and you make this? Wow. My only complaint is the bacon. Not great. Not actually good. Worth a drive to Wittenberg to buy cases of odd cut Nueskes and this place is almost James Beard Award worthy. Appearances are deceiving. Do it!

    Went for their breakfast on word of mouth. Not a really big place but we got a place at the bar…read more Bloody Mary & chaser , great flavor . Had the eggs Benedict with crabcakes and steak and it was some of the best hollandaise sauce that I've ever had. The bartenders were top notch and there was never a wait for anything. The decor is squirrels of course , the foot rest a little stumps and the people were friendly. A great place for breakfast.

    Fairchild - seafood - Updated May 2026

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