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    Fairchild

    4.7 (163 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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    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.

    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

    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

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    3 years ago

    High quality dining experience, delicious food, great location and atmosphere, wonderful attentive service. Highly recommend

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    3 years ago

    Delicious and creative plates. Thoughtful service. Did not feel rushed at all. Recommend!

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    3 years ago

    This years James Beard, Best Chef Midwest winner! So we'll deserved. Go there while you can still get a reservation.

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    6 years ago

    This place is amazing!!! Don't let the Coronavirus stop you. Support local businesses in this difficult time. Amazing food and drinks!!

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    6 years ago

    Amazing food and service! I had the crab and pea salad and a pasta dish. Both were delicious. Our server was very kind and helpful!

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

    We had a great meal there. Fried olives were amazing and we loved the pasta special. I would absolutely recommend Fairchild!

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    Ask the Community - Fairchild

    Do they ever have vegan options?

    Definitely vegetarian, not sure about vegan

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    Fairchild - seafood - Updated May 2026

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