We weee visiting Madison over the holidays and wanted to have a nice meal. Kettle Black Kitchen was recommended to us, and it did not disappoint. The staff made us feel like family and were very attentive without feeling overbearing. Every thing we tried was delicious. We particularly enjoyed the duck and smoked brisket empanada. However even the carrots and bruss sprouts were delicious. The restaurant is small without feeling crowded. I will definitely recommend this to everyone. read more

Was a little disappointed at first this isn't the kettle black kitchen I thought it was going to be...HOWEVER the food was still incredible! The cocktail menu had excellent choices as well. They were accommodating to our dairy free request. Every dish was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. Portion sizes were perfect. The Mac with the short ribs had a bit of spice I wasn't expecting but tasted great. The elote was also spicy! Overall I'd recommend this restaurant however I'd warn it's not the French restaurant it was a year ago and a lot of the pics shown on Yelp are not offered anymore. read more

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The food is exceptional. Well-prepared and beautifully presented. Our server was helpful and attentive. A lovely experience.

Updating review as the restaurant changed ownership (but kept the name). We stopped in on a Saturday night post game-it was jumping! Special hats off to our server who allowed us to grab a table in the back. A cute and homey interior with random artwork-it was loud with the full house. An eclectic menu which leans southwestern offers a decent variety of dishes although vegetarians might not have too many options. I wasn't that hungry so opted for the biscuits and the poblano risotto. The chef doesn't hold back on the flavor-bold, spicy, intense. The biscuits were dipped in a smoked chili butter and honey-best eaten with a fork. The risotto was well prepared although a little soupy. Again, big bold flavors. Opted for the house made carrot cake-it didn't disappoint. One of the best I've had. Definitely a place I will come back to as it's a 7 minute walk from home. read more

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Stopped in for a special event.. can't wait to go back. Food was delicious, and the team was fabulous. Professional, welcoming, and friendly. read more

Highly recommend. The food and cocktails were amazing. I am eager to come back to try the rest of the menu. The empanadas were delicious. They could be a meal or shared appetizer. The poblano cream is very mild. I would have liked a little more heat, a little more of the pickled onions, and a little more brisket. I'd order this as an appetizer to share, so you can try more than one menu item (because everything is so good), but it's also filling enough as a meal. My husband got the duck pot pie and was only willing to share one bite. He was very happy with his choice. The duck was delicious. A friend enjoyed the Potato & Cheddar Soup with Fried Chicken. The crispiness of the fried chicken was a perfect contrast to the soup which is a delicious sauce to dip each bite of crispy chicken. The only feedback is to serve this with a spoon, so people can enjoy every bite of the soup. They have a great cocktail menu. Service was great. Our server was kind and attentive. We were seated near the door, so they turned on a small space heater to ensure we didn't get cold when the door opened. read more

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Another place on our list of restaurants to try so with their participation in the winter restaurant week we booked a reservation on a Friday night. One caution in winter this small place does not have a vestibule to trap the cold air so the front of the restaurant can be cold when people come and go. Fortunately we had a table near the back. Our server was delightful and on top of things. We started off with different glasses of wine. All were good. They were only offering the restaurant week menu but that is why we were here. Coincidentally KB was reviewed in the local paper earlier in the week and the two items they really liked were on the menu. Two of us tried the cheddar biscuits and they were excellent with a touch of heat. The pasta starter was good but it was no cheddar biscuits. All three of us got the salmon and were pleased with the choice - very good. For dessert two carrot cakes - just OK and a mousse which was tasty. One downside was that at $50/ person this menu was no bargain. Actually the biscuits are normally $9 for three and we only got two and the salmon $32 (according to the newspaper article) so in some respect even with the dessert we might have paid more than if we came here when it wasn't restaurant week. Many of the participating places during restaurant week while perhaps serving smaller portions price their menus such that it is a deal to come out in winter! read more

Biscuits, Faroe Island Salmon, espresso martinis. The best food I've had in a long time. Staff was awesome. This place is a must. read more

One of the best meals I've had since moving to Madison a few years ago. Innovative takes on classic dishes and preparations that are unique but still true to their origins. The duck breast al pastor, for example, could compete with the trendiest restaurants in Oaxaca. (My only nit to pick with that dish was that I would have preferred a higher ratio of chipotle salsa to cotija crema.) My husband raved about the seafood he ordered, which he said combined excellent Italian flavors with a preparation that reminded him of Taiwanese soup dumplings. Both entrees paired well with the street corn side dish, which was hands-down the best esquites I've yet found in the Midwest. read more

Read good things about this place in r/madison and decided to check it out. So glad we did! We did five (vegetarian!) appetizers and every one was a hit! Top of the menu was smaller plates, bottom is fuller entrees. Faves were the fingerling potatoes and arugula salad but really couldn't go wrong with any! We had two delish mocktails. Place is brightly lit with great art and just right (for us anyway) music. Waitstaff was super knowledgeable and helpful. 10/10 all around - thanks to Reddit for the push. We will be back! read more

My husband and I came for date night and had an overall great experience. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I appreciated that she gave her honest opinion (don't worry, it was still positive) when I was debating between two menu items. They also had just tapped their new draft cocktail, a French 75, which was delicious. For dinner I had the salmon and my husband had the pork shank. We also tried the oysters for an appetizer. I have always said I hate oysters until I tried these. Delicious! Both my husband and I agreed we would come back for exactly what we ordered again. There is a lot of hype with some other restaurants on Monroe Street, and from our perspective Kettle Black is underrated. Forget the trendy influencer restaurants in that neck of the woods and check out Kettle Black. You'll be glad you did! read more

Kettle Black Kitchen - Salmon Dish - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I stopped by for a quick lunch on a weekday. The place was not too busy. I got a seat right away. I went for a croque madame. It was a good cheesy dish with a poached egg. On that day I got metered parking right in front of the restaurant as well. read more

Kettle Black Kitchen - Croque Madame - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cute dinner spot! My husband and I came here before a performance at the Overture. We made a reservation and were sat right as we walked in. It was a Sunday so we had free parking right on Monroe street in front of the restaurant. I can recommend checking out Kettle Black. Yum. read more

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Stopped by on a whim and had an absolutely delicious meal! I know Kettle Black Kitchen specializes in chicken, and even has some weekday specials that are amazing according to my eavesdropping on other guests, but I had their salmon dish and it was fabulous! Served on a generous bed of braised veggies in the most delicious citrus sauce the salmon was cooked to perfection with a deliciously crisp skin. I ate every single bit! The kind wait staff gave a great balance between space and attentiveness. With dietary restriction the kitchen staff was also very flexible and made the meal wonderful still. Finally, really diverse and nice French music was playing giving the whole place a nice bistro type ambiance. It's not a budget place, but for a nice date I'd definitely recommend. Next time I'll check out the drinks. I believe they also have a Happy Hour! read more

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Very tasty, a bit overpriced, and small portions though. Liked most dishes. Nice ambience and service. Great spot for a night out.

The atmosphere was fun, the food was excellent, and the service was exceptional. We LOVED the biscuits, empanada, and carrot cake. Everything was plated and presented beautifully. The new owner and chef were incredibly friendly. And the vintage plates were a bonus...we loved the cat plates! The entire experience was enjoyable from start to finish, and we can't wait to return. read more

10 oz Prime Flat Iron Steak was perfection. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Cute and clean dinning room. Amazingly thoughtful Chef made desserts. The Carrot Cake, phenomenal. Great job guys! Eat Local! 10/10 would recommend! read more

Kettle Black Kitchen - 10 oz Prime Flat Iron Steak - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Came in with a large group after the Iowa game. They had a limited menu for the night but we still had great drinks and service. Staff could not have been more pleasant, efficient, and welcoming. Very impressed and will stop in again when back in Madison! read more

So glad we found this place! Pork shank was great, love the carrot purée. Chicken was really good too! Very nice seating area and service was great. read more

Kettle Black Kitchen - Pork shank, airline chicken, draft cocktail - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The second night of our 20th anniversary weekend in Madison had our dinner reservations at the Kettle Black. When we arrived for our 6:00 res, the place was rather dark and empty with the front door wide open. Odd things run through your head when presented with a scene like this. Before long, our server cam running out of the back to get us seated and situated, with menus, water and a drink list. We promptly got in our drink order--a couple of Dark 'N Stormys, which were excellent. Our server brought the drinks and took our dinner orders at the same time. Kim had the Tuna over greens special and I had the Coho salmon. Both were fantastic and went wonderfully with the drinks. We couldn't have been happier. Great food, wonderful atmosphere and great staff made our special night really wonderful. We would definitely go back and we'd absolutely recommend Kettle Back to anyone. read more

KBK is definitely a little sleeper of a gem on Monroe Street. We had 6:30 reservations on a Friday night and were seated a tad early, which was nice. The food was delicious - we had cheddar biscuits, street corn, and split a smashie and the empanadas. The whole thing was delicious and well portioned. Drinks were tasty and our server Nicole hit it out of the park. We'll be back! read more

Looks like we're the only people who were completely disappointed with the new Kettle Black. The ambiance was lovely, our server was pleasant and helpful. Things went downhill when our food was served. I ordered the tortellini and my husband ordered a menu special of pasta with duck. The presentation was uninspired. I had 10 tortellini served in a small bowl, nothing to make it look appetizing. The tortellini was dry and undercooked. I left 3 in the bowl and left hungry. The pasta with duck was served on a small plate and the portion was the size of a fist. It was good but had a few small strips of duck. Our bill with tip was a bit over $100 (includes only 1 cocktail). We went home and ate. Wish I had more positive things to say. read more

Stopped in for brunch on a Sunday. There was only one other couple in the place at 1PM, so we were seated immediately. The atmosphere is quaint, filled with lots of plants and natural light. They had nice French/jazz music playing in the background which was lovely. I tried the Fried Tomato Benedict and it was splendid. I really enjoy that it comes with potatoes, salad, and fruit too. Sauce had a great flavor as did the tomato. My friend tried an omelet which also looked great along with French toast. I tried a bite of the French toast and it was divine! One of the most delicious ones I've tried lately. Yum! The service was prompt and friendly and I really enjoyed my time here. I'll definitely be back and would recommend this for brunch. read more

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The food was without question was the best of its kind. I had the breakfast burrito, husband had chicken fried steak. Best we've ever eaten (yes chicken fried steak). Sara is the backbone of the biz and her son in law is the heart (chief). young son John is a waiter, we learned all of this sitting at the bar. Would eat here again for sure. read more

Smaller dining area makes for an intimate experience. Amazing dishes and flavor combinations. Strong cocktail offerings, too!

Great food and vibe. Staff are very attentive and friendly. Had the smash burger and it was excellent. Will definitely come here again for dinner. read more

Best Breakfast Brunch! Crepes and Creole Eggs Benedict was the best I've ever had! Will definitely be back! read more

Kettle Black Kitchen - Mushroom Asparagus Crepe - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Came here for a late brunch on the weekend. Wasn't extremely busy and we got served immediately! Server was nice and very attentive. Most of us got the fried tomato Benedict which has creole sauce and creole biscuits. The biscuits were certainly a choice. It's half a biscuit on each side that is spiced with creole based seasoning. It's toasted to the point you cannot easily cut it open and have to eat it separately. The Benedict came with a hard boil but that's okay as they do also cook to preference on runniness. The tomato is a regular red tomato which was a surprising choice for the theme and didn't really hold up to the fry. The redeeming feature is the hollandaise sauce, potatoes and fruit salad! I didn't try the chicken crepe but one of us had gotten it and said it was delightful. Would potentially return to try their dinner or crepes. read more

Kettle Black Kitchen - Green tomato Benedict - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Terrific experience here-one of the best restaurants in Madison. Food here has been outstanding every time I have eaten here. Friendly, knowledgeable servers. read more

Delicious newer restaurant on Monroe Street that you must check out. I first heard of this business in a local magazine when they were focused on providing ready to eat/prepare meals. I was intrigued by the items and excited when I saw that they were opening a restaurant. The menu is small but do t let that fool you! Each item is prepared with care and the best flavors. My friend and I went for. A belated birthday dinner. We ordered the beat and goat cheese salad to share and a bottle of wine to start. It had been forever since I'd had beets and this salad got the spot. We tethered between a couple of the entrees and landed on the pork and cod dishes. I imagined that the portions might be on the smaller side and was so pleasantly surprised when the dishes arrived. It was a healthy portion. You shouldn't leave feeling hungry! My pork came right off the bone and was so tender. The sauce was absolutely complementary to the dish. The dishes are worth the price and the atmosphere is so lovely. A great spot for a night out with your partner, friend or even to treat yourself. Reservations are recommended, but they do allow a walk-in or two depending on the night. We didn't have space for their desserts but they looked good too. I might just have to go back for a cocktail and dessert sometime. . read more

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Kettle Black Kitchen is amazing!! The chef really knows how to pair spices together to make heaven in your mouth! I highly recommend this restaurant! The bisquits, potato soup and smash burger are so good! We had a large group and were able to try many of the dishes and NONE of them disappoint! read more

This is a sleeper of a restaurant. Family owned and operated always gets a nod from me, and I'm glad we found it. The entrees are uniformly delicious. I got the escarole and white beans soup the first time I went there, and despite being a vegan dish, I ate it up greedily. I mentioned to Brian I'd love to know more about the stock in the soup, and he gladly walked me through how to make it. Now that was cool. Wife loves the cod and the salmon. Put it on your list. It can be a little noisy sometimes, so we go later in the evening. read more

Had an awesome steak, great little restaurant, filled with what appeared to be happy diners. Small but well run. Had reservations, sat immediately, server was quick, efficient, and the meal and dessert was amazing. Was not noisy. Will surely return. read more

I ordered the cod and it smelled so bad I couldn't eat it, neither could my colleague. Won't be back!

Wow. Our first visit here was amazing. Friendly and authentic service, great ambiance, and incredible food. My flank steak was delicious but my sister's maple braised bone in pork shank with carrot purée and maple pan sauce was absolutely incredible. So tender and savory. We will definitely return! read more

Kettle Black Kitchen - Maple Braised Bone In Pork Shank with carrot purée, roasted red potatoes, and maple pan sauce. - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Food? Amazing. Service? Astounding. Ambiance? Intimate. Kettle Black Kitchen is truly a hidden gem that demands your attention. You will absolutely need a reservation in order to get in the door but rest assured that if there is a wait that the staff will ensure you are well taken care of the moment you arrive. Knowledgeable, friendly, and happy to help, each member of the staff is engaging and well equipped to answer any questions you may have. The food gives a true farm to table vibe that has been taken to another level - other worldly. Savory is their game and they do it well. I will be back (assuming I can get a reservation). read more

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This was one of the few places taking last minute reservations for New Year's Eve. We had the fritter starter. They only have 1 vegetarian entree, so I had two sides: garlic mushrooms and Brussel sprouts. My spouse had the salmon. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake and the orange pie. Everything was delicious and the service was really good. We'll definitely be back. read more

I really wanted to love this place. My husband and I went on a friday night. Our table was right up against the wall and felt claustrophobic. I ordered the empanada and it was ok, but strangely played. My husband ordered the salmon with risotto. The risotto was really spicy, too spicy to eat too much of it. The food was mediocre, as was the ambience. The caliber of food was not in line with the pricing. We won't be back. read more

Our entire experience at Kettle Black Kitchen was superb. The cocktails (margaritas and manhattans) were spot on. All of the dishes were delicious and flavorful and included the street corn, cacio e pepe, potato and cheddar soup with friend chicken (wow, wow, wow), Faroe Island salmon, half chicken and flat iron steak. It was delightful having Sara (GM/Owner) help us out by answering questions and guiding our choices, and we are already looking forward to a return visit very soon. read more

Can't speak to the "dining in" experience since we did take-out (which doesn't seem to be a big part of their business). The staff was very friendly and the food terrific! This despite being carried in the cold for 15 minutes going back to the hotel. It is hard for food to come off well after that sort of treatment. The Pasture Raised Chicken Breast main was moist and succulent with lots of flavor. The accompanying grilled broccoli and mashed potatoes were also excellent. The Grilled Lamb Rib Chops appetizer was similarly top notch with a lovely dipping sauce. The Griddled Brussels Sprouts side was the weakest of what we had (a bit strong on the bitter tastes) and still tender and tasty. We will definitely have this place in mind the next time we come to Madison. read more