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    Fairchild

    4.7 (166 reviews)
    PriceySeafood, Bars, Italian
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Fairchild Photos

    Business Info

    FAIRCHILD ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale
    Dressy

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    Recommended Reviews - Fairchild

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    Cocktails - Dragon's Knees & Heat Wave
    Mitchell V.

    - Waitress was attentive, other staff was great at supporting - Appetizer portions were sized for two people, entree portion sizes were good - Smaller interior than expected, but made it feel more intimate - Great for date nights

    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.

    Rhoda S.

    The food was good. The flavor was interesting. I had never had swordfish but it was tasty with the toppings. Bathroom floor was a little sus. It was such a small place that the noise level was high. However, I enjoyed my time.

    Stuffed morel mushroom

    Food was incredible. Like, one of the best restaurants I've been to lately. We had the crudo, stuffed morels, cappelletti, and cucumbers side. Everything was stunning. On top of it, the service was great. No rush, clean plates, and much consideration. Would go again and again.

    Sam S.

    Small cozy atmosphere. The staff was very attentive and kind! All of the food we tried was great and portions were good with the exception of the tartare. It was one bite each, but very very tasty! We went for our anniversary and would definitely come back

    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.

    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.

    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!

    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!

    deviled eggs & lobster bisque

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    Ask the Community - Fairchild

    Do they ever have vegan options?

    Definitely vegetarian, not sure about vegan

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    Hot Pot 608

    Hot Pot 608

    4.2
    (60 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$$
    Free parking
    Kid friendly

    From someone who eats a lot of hotpot from the bay, I would say I was not expecting this place to…read morebe credible, but it was SO DELICIOUS! There was only one server so props to him for serving, expoing, bussing etc. the meats and soup came out super fast. I enjoyed the meats quality (kept it to seafood, lamb, and beef.) and they have everything available to grab at the counter area. Sauce is do it yourself, and it looks questionable with the colors, but it was still reminding me of home and it was flavorful. They had some buffet style desserts like jello. I got the crawfish, shrimp, konjac jelly, fish tofu, vermicelli, clams, black mushrooms and etc on the side.

    Our group of five tried Hot Pot 608 on University Avenue last night. I always love a good hot pot…read moreand Hot Pot 608 did not let me down. We were greeted immediately and led to our table. Our waiter came by and learned that we had not been to this hot pot, so he walked us through the process. Like other hot pots I have been to, they have a sauce station with various ingredients and directions for making a number of sauces and you pick your broth(s) in advance, and they bring it to your table. You can have two separate broths in each pot using a divider. But this was different in that this is an All You Can Eat (AYCE) Hot Pot. Other Hot Pots also have options for AYCE noodles and maybe potato or sweet potato, but this was AYCE for everything including appetizers, vegetables, seafood, and meats. It was $35 per person which seemed high at first but once you realize how much food you can get it is well worth it. We started by ordering some appetizers. Honestly, I probably could have made a meal just w/those. We tried pot-stickers, pork egg rolls, fried chicken teriyaki, and shrimp dumplings. I wasn't' a huge fan of the egg rolls, they coating was pretty dense, but everything else was great. When I go back, I'd like to try the pork buns. We ordered our first set of meats as well as rice which they bring to you and then headed up to the refrigerators where they keep the vegetables, additional meats, seafood and noodles. I won't list all of the options, check out their menu, but suffice it to say it was truly impressive. I was really pleased w/the quality of the food including the seafood like squid, shrimp and fish balls. I also loved the variety of vegetables including lotus root, black fungus, enoki and king oyster mushrooms, Bok-choy, napa, and broccoli. It's a fun dining experience to cook your food in the broth. My favorite was the spicy marrow. We ordered more appetizers and more rice. There are some options for dessert but other than the custard bun I didn't try any. Honestly there were so many options to choose from, but I was so full by the time I left that I didn't try even a quarter of the different items. I would definitely go back to Hot Pot 608. A fun, tasty, and filling dining experience.

    Photos
    Hot Pot 608
    Hot Pot 608
    Hot Pot 608

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    Cadre Restaurant

    Cadre Restaurant

    4.4
    (108 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    We loved the ambiance, but unfortunately the rest of the experience fell short…read more We chose to sit at the bar and told the bartender it was our first time dining there. We were hoping for a little guidance or enthusiasm about the menu, but she never really talked about the food. When we asked what she recommended, her response was simply, "Snapper." Every question we asked was met with very short, one word answers. She wasn't busy. She just seemed completely uninterested. Having worked in restaurants for most of my life, I know hospitality is about creating an experience. Bartenders are representing the restaurant and helping guests feel excited about the menu. If this were my restaurant, I would be disappointed by that level of service. The food itself was just okay. The presentation was beautiful and definitely deserving of five stars, but the flavor did not live up to how impressive it looked. After reading other Yelp reviews, we also realized a 20% gratuity had already been added for our party of two. We did not notice it at the time and tipped on top of it. While that was our oversight, it made the experience even more disappointing given the lackluster service. This was our first meal on our first visit to Madison, and we were really looking forward to it. Sadly, the overall experience did not meet our expectations. I will say that our first encounter was with the hostess, and she was very friendly. She welcomed us warmly, thanked us for coming, and even made a point to tell us goodbye on our way out. She was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing experience. Great dining is about more than just the food. It is about the entire experience, and this one missed the mark.

    I am from out of town and was recommended this restaurant by two different sets of people. It did…read morenot disappoint! I made a reservation on a Thursday evening but it ended up not being too busy. My server was amazing and she explained that they have a mandatory service fee of 20% added on to the total, to ensure their staff gets a fair wage. They split it between front-of-house and back-of-house, and anything extra you choose to tip goes straight to your server. I ordered the beef bourguignon, and it was divine. Hearty without being too heavy. Highly recommend!

    Photos
    View from the bar
    View from the bar
    Daube - Beef
    Daube - Beef
    Front desk is far into the restaurant

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    Front desk is far into the restaurant
    Lombardinos Italian Restaurant and Bar

    Lombardinos Italian Restaurant and Bar

    4.0
    (317 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    They were super busy, so service was a little bit slower. Our server was super friendly and got all…read moreof our orders correct. The mushroom pasta dish (tagliatelle) was definitely the stand out of our meal. While the budino was delicious, I didn't get the butterscotch flavors as it was noted in the menu. It almost tasted more like pumpkin and cinnamon. Warm fresh bread and the traditional cesear salad were delicious. I really liked my white sangria but my husband didn't care for his barrel aged Negroni. Love the tiles behind the bar and the history of this classic place.

    The service here is wonderful. Everyone is kind and talkative, so my reduced star is really because…read morethe food was kind of hit or miss for me. My boyfriend's family and I came for a Sunday dinner and despite being a larger group, we were able to snag a table immediately. Don't let that fool you though - this place is popular and we seem to have gotten one of the last tables available. When it came to food and drinks, I got a white wine sangria, which I really liked, but it only came with an orange wedge on the side of the rim. I was disappointed because I was expecting fruit in the sangria. It wasn't a big deal, and was an okay drink. When it came to food, Lombardinos had a couple specials, one of which was a wood grilled broccoli and cauliflower appetizer, and their blueberry salad. We also got the calamari and olives. Overall, I really enjoyed all of the appetizers. We then all got our own entrées - unfortunately they were out of the veal entrée for some of our family members. I ended up getting the scallops which I thought were overcooked, and I didn't like the couscous that came with. It was too acidic and the roasted tomatoes that came with the couscous didn't help with the acidity levels. However, my boyfriend did share some of his crab and clam linguine. I really liked that dish, but they were out of clams as well, so it really was only a crab pasta. I hope they are able to offer their full menu in the future, because I think I would come back, but only if they had some of those dishes available.

    Photos
    Bar area. Note: I edited out anyone who I could see their faces so some areas of the photo look a little strange.
    Bar area. Note: I edited out anyone who I could see their faces so some areas of the photo look a little strange.
    Eggplant Napoletana
    Eggplant Napoletana
    Special gin drink

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    Special gin drink

    Fairchild - seafood - Updated August 2026

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