Madison is home to slew of fantastic restaurants, but very few of them offer a fine dining experience. L'Etoile risty little place steeped in tradition and quality. It has an endless list of accolades and recognition. I also think it might also be the most expensive restaurant in town. I came here on my birthday last year and it will probably be on my favorite birthdays. The presentation, the flavor, the service; it's all utterly fabulous. Their wine pairings are what really blew me away. I thought my entire life I just wasn't a wine person, but L'Etoile's sommelier helped me realize I wasn't drinking the RIGHT wine. If you've got the money, you owe it yourself to see what the fuss is about. read more

If you're looking for a place to splurge a little, this is the place! The dishes are just as beautiful as it is delicious. The wine selection was impressive as well. read more

This is destination-worthy eating. The entire experience was seamless - we were lucky to get a table in front of the large capitol-facing windows; everything is spaced out enough to make it feel as if you're dining in your own private room. The wine pairing is approachable and the sommelier engaging; the food is quite delicious and the ethos of local seasonality feels authentic. Roasted squad, skin crisped to an audible crackle is paired with delicately peppery radish flowers, fatty crudo with spicy, raw radish moons - different dishes working to show off the depth and range of a single, in-season ingredient. Everything is done with care and the staff is more than friendly. A real, and necessary, gem. read more

Maybe a Madison 4? Doing stars by step for this one. It's a $$$$ place, so generally felt like it should be held to a higher standard than it seems to hold itself to. Went on Friday night. Was busy. View of capital very nice. Decor feels dated, kind of 10-15 years ago, which is surprising since building looks newer. Bathrooms in particular were underwhelming for a $$$$ restaurant. In no way felt like an experience, just a room. Even the sister restaurant graze seems like a more interesting space. 2 stars there. Mixed drinks and wine were solid. Waiter was nice enough to allow my wife to try the both wines she was debating between. Enjoyed the mixed drink recommended. 4.5 stars. The apple taste that they had at the start was wonderful. A nice amount of acid from vinegar. Set a high bar 5 stars. They also brought bread which was good, but nothing interesting/surprising, so doesn't impact review either way. First course we got the agnolotti and the lamb belly. Agnolotti was good but not quite a wow moment, even with the caramel crisp. Lamb belly had a few nice components and was cooked very well but was in desperate need of salt. 4 stars. Second we got the squash and the pork chop. The squash was was solid but didn't feel quite substantial enough for a second. Did not enjoy the porks texture, loved the quince sauce. The best part of the meal was the two bites of pork shoulder that came on the dish. Honestly it had been a pork shoulder dish with a bit of the chop, probably give the restaurant 4 stars. 3.5 stars. Dessert was rough. We got two. Neither was particularly sweet, which I tend to prefer. The semifredo had too much crap on the plate relative to ice cream + semifreddo ratio, which themselves had fine flavor. I tend to think of semifreddo as between fridge and freezer temp, but this was somewhere between fridge and room temp. The Orange oatmeal crisp just didn't work. Interesting textures, but flavor was unpleasant, we barely ate. 1 stars. Overall felt like we walked away paying $200 for a $100 meal. I know it's Madison, but even here there are better options in the price range or for slightly less (Graft right across the square comes to mind). read more

Great food, but pricey. Nice ambiance if you're looking for a special outing. Location is cool, right in the heart of downtown Madison.

Had the 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing. Totaled $205 per person. Why do I mention price? Because I don't really think it was worth it. Sure, the food is good and the pairing worked well. But the ingredients and flavors were hit-or-miss. The scallop stole the show. The lamb was great. Octopus was a shame. But overall the food looked pretty but lacked the intense, complex, creative flavors I expect from a meal like this. The service was acceptable but still felt very Madison (service in Madison is below par on average...sorry). In other words, it was a little too intrusive and 'peppy' for my taste. A bit more professionalism and better grooming would help. I still have trouble with the smooth jazz that they play in a space that still doesn't feel good. Just feels a little cold and sterile overall. Anyway, yeah, L'Etoile is good but the faux-pomp and sky-high prices just don't get me there. read more

L'Etoile (LE) succeeds on every level, and does so brilliantly. You will be hard pressed to find equal, let alone better, food, service, and ambiance. Located on S. Pinckney St. right across from the beautiful state capital building, the architect took full advantage of this by using glass for almost the entire front of the building. Diners are given the visual treat of gazing at the sites while enjoying the artwork from the kitchen. I'll spare you the blow by blow on what we ate; everything was superb. Sourced from local farms, the food was fresh and thoughtfully prepared. While LE suggests French cuisine, I thought it was more new-American. Our sever Michael was perhaps the best waiter I've ever encountered. Knowledgeable, pleasant, and obviously a lover of good food and drink, his descriptions of the dishes, preparations, and wines were as good as the food itself. Be sure to ask for him. So, if you want the hat trick of great food, ambiance, and service look no further than LE. read more

I ate at L'Etoile several weeks back for my best friend's 30th birthday and had a really, really mixed experience. It was so mixed that the only way I can really review it is to list the pros and cons out side by side: + Wait staff was really friendly, and prompt. + The menu was customized for her birthday + The knife cuts and cooking of every protein and vegetable was pretty much perfect every time. + The beef dish with anchovy beurre blanc was probably one of the best things I'll ever eat in my life. + The foie gras square with port reduction is definitely the best foie gras I will probably ever have. + The caramelle pork pasta was stunning. Flavorful, tender, and simply magical. I could eat a bowl of it everyday and die happy. + The after-dinner treat of the dark chocolate strawberry rhubarb truffle and yuzu pâte de fruit was stunning. Should've been on the main menu it was so heavenly. - They kept on bringing us bread and asking if we wanted more, almost as if to fill us up on it - this seems a little bit degrading for a restaurant of this supposed caliber. - Several pairings just do not work. Do not serve scallops with sweet potato and delicata squash - it is gross. Do not serve foie gras pate inside a gougere with cranberry relish - it is dreadful and sour, and most definitely not in a good way. - The poached lobster in the lobster dish was rubbery and severely overcooked. Squeaky and hard to get down. - The pastry chef doesn't know what they're doing. The pumpkin mousse didn't taste of pumpkin, and the cranberry apple gastrique had far too much vinegar in it. Sadly, there was far too much of it on the plate, making the whole dish become a vinegar and sugar bomb all at the same time. The balance was nonexistent. In general, I guess it seems like they're really good with meats, but really terrible with fish and more importantly, balancing flavors with fish. I probably would be back, but I would be extremely cautious about what I ordered. They pick a lot of interesting and fun flavor combinations, but in our night out, a good half of them really fell flat. read more

Dang, guys. SIX stars. The watermelon kimchee with crispy pork belly, frisee and spiced cashews was the all-time most delicious thing I'd ever put in my mouth. Until I tasted the wild mushroom hash topped with a perfect duck egg and sweet onion confit. Until I tasted the perfectly prepared truffled sea bass with leek fondue (whoa) and celeriac. A sweet brown sugar pavlova topped with broiled peaches, homemade ice cream and fresh berries was an elegant and lovely way to finish the very best meal I've ever eaten. Hot tip: Do your palate a favor and let them pair the wines for you. Michael, the wine director, is friendly, knowledgeable and a genius at what he does. He answered my questions with seeming delight for both the wines and the conversation. The service was incredibly attentive, but in a professional (read: not phony) and non-intrusive way. This is the place to go. It is not cheap, but neither are you. Treat yourself. read more

I was a little bit disappointed with L'Etoile. I mean, I did get a decent meal and by all means recommend it if you can afford it. But for the amount of money I dropped on this meal - more than I've ever spent on any meal in my entire life - I expected nothing short of perfection. What I got was just...good. To start, the service was weak and unprofessional. Our waitress did not approach our table until fifteen minutes after we were seated, and she didn't appear to be very talented at her job. That is, she could be a little too talkative at times and yet she made herself very difficult to find when she was needed. She by no means was the worst waitress I've had, but this clearly isn't your stereotypical "snooty Frenchman waiting on you hand and foot" experience. I would figure a place like this can afford to hire the cream of the crop in service staff. And the food was really good! But it wasn't great. My main course (scallops) was alright, but not worth the triple cost I paid for them when compared against many seafood restaurants. Same goes for the pumpkin and squash dishes. I really, truly enjoyed the (not French) onion soup and that has to be the most memorable experience for me at this restaurant. It takes a lot of talent to bring a soup up to that kind of silky consistency and it was so absolutely packed with flavor that I had to work at in very small sips. I also appreciated the chef constantly sending out amuse-boches to keep us happy between courses. If there's a carpaccio plate on the menu when you choose to come here, don't pass it up. I don't think you could find anywhere else in town that could prepare the dish with such skill and originality. I ordered a paper-thin bison carpaccio with onion crisps and a salad on top that combined to make a flavor that was just out of this world. Dessert? I don't even remember it. The one cocktail we bought was too overpowering to taste like much other than whiskey. Overall, due to the restrictive cost this place is only for very special occasions. But for the price I'm paying I expect way more than a series of hit-or-misses and I'd be much better off spending this kind of money in a place like Chicago. L'Etoile's got very few competitors in the gourmet restaurant game in Madison and it really does show. read more

I had their Family Meal over the weekend and it was phenomenal! Excellent food and great value. It was enough food for my entire family of five! I am happy to continue supporting local restaurants. I look forward to this weeks meal. We are all in this together. read more

This restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, the service is excellent and the ambiance is quite romantic. We came here on Friday to celebrate our 2 year anniversary-we had a table looking out on the capital building as the snow was falling...it was beautiful. The other guests in the restaurant were an ecclectic mix-an odd combination of Wisconsin insurance executives types with their much younger wives, Portlandia extras and university professors trying to impressive their out of town guests and there was even one guy who looked like he walked off a farm (maybe he was bringing stuff to the kitchen)-I guess that's a nice/interesting mix?!? For such a fancy place- there is no dress code, which is absolutely AWESOME! The website even says to wear what you're comfortable in. The restaurant printed out special menus that congratulated us on our annivesary and we were met with little glasses of champagne when we sat down-how cool was that!!! Our server, Frank, was great-very informative, made you feel like you weren't in the wrong place for not knowing what "pasta ripiegato" is exactly....and he wasn't overbearing. I was in awe of his knowledge on literally everything on the menu. I really enjoyed having him as our waiter! We ordered a first and second course to share and then ordered our own entrees. The first course, octopus was not outstanding in any way-it was squeeky (I know, I know, it's supposed to be that way) and tasted of olive oil and lemon with some potatoes thrown in. I also felt like the menu should say that the dish was cold-which it did not! The pasta ripiegato (I'm glad I asked what it was) was delicious and it was like nothing I have had before. It was creamy from the cheese and squash and tart from cherries-my favorite thing on the menu! For our main course, I ordered the John Dorry fish and my husband ordered a grass fed steak....my husband was SO happy with his order and mine left me wanting for more....it was just plain too small and you could tell the potatoes had been sitting on the plate and were reheated when the fish was ready. I'm sorry but for those prices that is unacceptable! I was very underwhelmed by my dish. At the end of our meal, my husband got a cheese platter, which was absolutely outstanding!!! I ordered a flourless chocolate cake that had very little taste and one bite of strawberry ice cream. Again, it left me wanting more. The actual (for real this time) end of our meal was some little complimentary bits and bobs from the kitchen-some excellent caramel popcorn and little candies-that was a nice touch! Everything about this reastaurant was a great experience for my husband but I was not pleased with my dishes-they were either flavorless or too small...or you could tell they had been prepared hours in advance. However, this reastaurant does have something special going on and the attention to detail and non pretentious manner was appreciated. I'm still deciding on whether or not I would come again, but I did enjoy myself while there!! read more

Earlier this month, I celebrated my birthday in L'Etoile. As a foodie and local food supporter, I have heard so many good words about this place. I have been wanting to try it out during my 5 years in Madison. We finally made the move this year. I came out the restaurant being somewhat disappointed. Don't get me wrong. Everything was fancy. The staff was very professional. The ambiance was really classy. Food was delicate. I come in with full preparation of the steep price (otherwise I would not wait for 5 years). However, I can hardly justify the experience with the $90 per person bill. It is pretty clear to me that L'Etoile is overpriced. In terms of food, 4 of us got Charcuterie, Pork Belly, and another beets dish for appetizers. They are all good, but without any true highlight. The portion is smallish. After I ate the pork belly, I somewhat really missed the pork belly I had in the A Pig in the Fur Coat... I had Branzino for entree. The fish itself was pretty delicious, but standard. The vegetables on the side has a slight hint of brunt smell that I found pretty odd. My brother and his girlfriend had lamb rack and scallop. Very average dish that you can get in an upscale restaurant. The biggest trouble of the night came with the steak for my wife. Since she is pregnant, she could not take raw meat. Therefore she asked the steak to be medium-well, but the steak came on the table being medium-rare. She had to ask the kitchen to re-do her plate. I guess such thing always happens but I was not expecting in L'Etoile. For dessert, we shared a Creme Boulee. It was, again, very average and with too much cream on the top. I could not find a memorable dish from the dinner. The food was delicious, but it failed to surprise me. When I pay close to a hundred dollar per person for a dinner, I really hope to see something more exciting. Nor do I understand the numerous 5-star reviews for this restaurant. Maybe this is something not meant to be enjoyed by poor students. Overall, classy, delicate, but somehow empty and overpriced. Thus a 3 stars. read more

Okay so full disclosure, I'm really torn on this review. I loved L'Etoile years ago when it was in an upstairs space just a block away from it's current location. You walked up a flight of narrow, rickety stairs to an intimate dining room of perhaps 20 tables and a small bar with a handful of stools. The menu was unapologetically classic French cuisine with no foams, fuss or fusion. Today, L'Etoile is on the forefront of Madison's contemporary food scene with accolades and new blood in the kitchen. The space is voluminous with floor to ceiling windows, a crowd of well appointed people and a handful of folks whose laughter cuts through dinner conversation thanks to the acoustics. The menu is progressive and creative, well-deserving of recognition and indicative of great technique, the staff is knowledgeable and the wine menu is one of the best in Madison (if not the best). These are habitually the characteristics of what I crave in fine dining but every once in a while a memory makes an indelible mark and you just want that same meal, same service and same experience to last forever. read more

Items Selected: Sanguine Spritz - Deer County Montmorency Cherry Juice and L'Etoile Orgeat Syrup Summer Vacation Fizz - Fresh housemade limeade and strawberry topped with charged thyme fizz Local Beet with Fennel Pollen and Goat Cheese Cream Red Pepper Gazpacho with buttered croutons and basil oil House made rolls with local unsalted butter Cape Cod Grilled Scallops - Corn, Hen of the Woods, Charred Scallion Vinaigrette La Belle Farms Foie Gras Ganache - Apricots, Mustard Seeds, Peach Strawberry Jus, Brioche Neah Bay Sablefish - Porcini Cream, Dried Veal, Bok Choy Blue Valley Gardens Duck Breast - Beets, Red Mustard Greens, Cocoa Nibs, Lavender Jus Pinn Oak Ridge Lamb Loin - Borlotti Beans, Roasted Peppers, Lamb Tongue, Swiss Chard, Rosemary Jus Three Month Pleasant Ridge Reserve - Hash Brown, Grey Shallot, Blackberry Barnard Donut Peach Sorbet - Cinnamon Sugar Beignets Caramel Corn, Blackberry Gelee, Blackberry Truffle Considered by many to be the best restaurant in Madison, and by some to be the most elegant dining experience in the state, I'd be lying if I stated L'Etoile wasn't a large part of the reason why I decided to drive to Wisconsin and after a rather pleasant experience at Graze that afternoon it was just minutes past 7:00pm that I again entered the doors of 1 S. Pinckney Street, a table set for one at the restaurant's center mine for the night. Toqued by Chef Tory Miller and similarly focused on locally sourced proteins and produce as the space next door it was once more that I found myself seated amidst floor-to-ceiling windows but with the capitol now illuminated and tables clad in white linen the mood was decidedly different, the majority of other diners clearly celebrating special events as any number of candle-lit desserts emerged from the kitchen throughout the night. Offered in two formats, prix fixe or tasting, it was without hesitation that I opted to enjoy L'Etoile's signature experience and although service was a bit off-kilter as my captain often interrupted me to repeat descriptions of plates already well presented it was without a single flaw in execution that each plate arrived, the flavorless house-bread and ice-cubes of butter a lone exception to the rule. Starting off with the first of two elegant mocktails as a canapé and an amuse whetted the palate it was after a bit of delay that my first course arrived but with the thinly sliced scallops finding even more sweetness in late season corn atop an anchor of mushrooms and bright tomatoes one could hardly complain, a textbook terrine of foie gras melting into a sweet, rich soup quick to follow on its heels. With another short stoppage between plates it was onward to flaky sablefish with crispy skin atop earthy mushroom puree that the meal progressed and rounding out savories with a rosy strip of duck amidst pleasant aromatics followed by a thick cut of lamb atop early winter beans cooked to a cream-like consistency not one of the five plates would prove anything short of stellar, a thin wedge of cheese no less impressive when plated against crispy potatoes and aromatic onions tempered by house-made jam. Admittedly coveting several of the desserts listed in the prix fixe and almost requesting a supplemental course (or three) it was mostly with a mind on the late hour and another full day to come that I showed some restraint and with two brioche beignets arriving alongside no less than four presentations of peach I perfectly satisfied, the trio of mignardises a final send-off with the fruit-filled truffle stealing the show from fresh popped corn lacquered in caramel that was also quite good. read more

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Unimpressed would be the best way to describe how we felt. The food was creative, well thought out, and excellent, but not nearly for the price. I'm willing to shell out quite a few dollars for a phenomenal meal, but it has to be just that, and I can only describe the food at L'Etoile as "very good." Unfortunately, I can't describe the service that way at all. Our waiter was downright rude during service ("I assume you haven't been to an establishment as fine as this before," "I'm not sure if you understand the concept of a fixed price menu, but we do not substitute except for in the rarest of cases," to my mother who we warned them upon reservation is a vegetarian) and minimally helpful with wine selection. Good food is what I live for. I've been to my fair share of really good restaurants, to places that've been truly inventive and refined, and they were all, without a doubt, a significantly better experience at a significantly better price. James Beard Award, Michelin star, whatever - you still have to bring it at service, and L'Etoile just plain didn't. I would not recommend. read more

We went during restaurant week for a work dinner, it was FANTASTIC. Yes it was small plate, but I left feeling comfortable and super satisfied. The wine and food was spectacular, I can't wait to go back. Also, the dessert was TO DIE FOR. read more

UPDATE 2/28/10: Yelp has "released" my review after ten weeks in limbo, so that now it appears mixed-in with other reviews for l'Étoile. Interestingly, l'Étoile is no longer just a bevy of 4 and 5 stars; there are a handful of 2 and 3 stars... Yelp has been getting a lot of negative press about "pay-for-play" -- in other words, businesses are "encouraged" to pay for advertising in exchange for scrubbed (positive) reviews. It's the businesses that have been pushing back (in the Bay Area, anyway). Kudos to l'Étoile for not giving in and allowing for a range of reviews -- if indeed that is what happened (see my intro below from Dec). I still think Yelp should indicate the "age" of a Yelper (Yelping since 2004!) similar to what American Express does (member since XXXX). My argument was that it would show readers that a reviewer didn't just sign-up to inflict bile or award unexamined praise on a business. Just my two cents. - - - This review will likely be deleted within 48 hours. I posted the below on 12/14/09 and it was summarily removed two days later... (I wonder what will happen to this posting?). I thought I was providing fair and honest feedback. Yelp's motto is: Yelp is the fun and easy way to find, review and talk about what's great -- and not so great -- in your area. I guess they ultimately get to decide (I think I'm being "scrubbed"). Honest, huh? My original posting: 3 star rating 12/14/2009 BEST OF MADISON? A late seating time (after 8pm) is not a guaranteed table, so when my wife and I arrived on time for our reservation, the table was not ready. That's understandable. It's a busy night. All seats at the bar are occupied. We are asked to sit in two clunky desk chairs next to an overflowing coat rack by the entrance stairway... ooookay. The chairs are positioned in such a way that force my wife and I to tuck our feet in and lean out of the way to let people by. We are asked if we would like a drink while waiting (I pass). Upon handing my wife her drink the maitre d' makes the casual observation "here's a napkin, not that you can put your drink anywhere." Wow, that's classy. We're feeling "really comfortable" by this point, with blasts of cold air coming up the stairwell as people are leaving the restaurant pushing past us -- oh wait, there are chairs at the bar! The maitre d' shoves two menus at us "if you'd care to look the menu while you wait..." . Is the kitchen closing? What about the open seats at the bar? I don't mind waiting -- that's not the issue -- it's the manner. I ask the hostess if we offended the maitre d' and why were being made to feel rushed and not shown to the bar instead of being left in the hallway. At this point the maitre d' slithers over and says that they are just finishing getting our table ready. How am I supposed to know that? Even if the table is one minute away from being ready, patrons should not be left in such an uncomfortable, exposed location when an alternative is available. He is "sorry I feel that way -- would I care to wait for another table to be cleared?" The condescension was a bit out of proportion, it seemed. And so, our first impression of l'Étoile.... WHY THREE ETOILES? I would have been happy to rate them two stars (my so-so rating), if I was rating the front of the house alone, since their hospitality appears to suffer from the hubris of having received too many accolades. The additional star is for a combined effort from: 1. The kitchen -- which created good and presentable plates (amuse-bouches, risotto with shaved black truffles, a mixed-greens with tomato salad as appetizers; the breast of duck with baby brussel sprouts and cranberry coulis, plus tri-tip steak with Bordelaise as entrées; cheese plate to finish, accompanied by a bottle of Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot). A demerit: the steak was a disappointment in presentation. The escarole, as stated on the menu, was substituted with spinach (this substitution was not mentioned at time of ordering, even though we expressly asked if any substitutions to the menu had been made) and there was a paucity of onion coulis; the meat presentation was rustic "à plat" and not sliced in the "stepped" manner. All-in-all, a bit more "bistro" than "resto". 2. Our server Michael -- who was congenial and professional (without being obsequious), and who clearly would have heard about what transpired between myself and the maitre d', produced two complimentary glasses of Talley Pinot Noir that helped ease the tension of the evening for us. Since I understand he is, or was, the sommelier I will credit him for the excellent selection. WOULD WE GO BACK? Not really. They are starting to believe their own hype -- a sure sign of decline. And when the veal daube that I had at Sardine leaves more of an impression on me, I have to wonder out loud if the twinkle on l"Étoile has faded. read more

Halfway through our dinner, we looked at each other and said, "Really? This? In Madison, Wisconsin?!" Oh yes. We began by sharing the carpaccio; served with a shaved radish and pea shoot salad, smoked potato chips, and marrow vinaigrette, it was divine. We then received a sample from the kitchen: cold strawberry soup, seasoned simply with pepper, tarragon, and Moscato, garnished with a creamy blue cheese and a few lavender flowers. Beautiful, and a delicious palate cleanser. For an entree, I chose the whole roasted branzino. It was exactly how I like my fish: perfectly done, simply prepared, and seasoned with a light hand, so you can actually taste the fish. The accompanying dill new potatoes were fresh, lightly buttery and delicious. My boyfriend chose the hot paprika crusted halibut, which was really just superb. The fish - pan-seared, crusted, then finished to perfection in the oven - was presented on a small pile of shredded smoked ribs, all of this nestled on a chickpea puree and drizzled with a demi glaze. The flavors harmonized perfectly, and the presentation was beautiful. I'm not exactly sure how either one of us had room for dessert, but I'm glad that we did. I ordered a goat-cheese creme brulee, accompanied by chocolate biscotti, a candied olive madeleine, and raspberries - so good. My boyfriend chose the cheese platter, which paired three phenomenal local cheeses with sliced apples, quince jelly, and addictive smoked-candied Brazil nuts. When we told our server that the nuts were, basically, crazy-good, she brought us a box of them to take home. Our check arrived with a little dish of sweets from the kitchen: decadent chocolate mint truffles, strawberry jellies, and a handful of caramel corn. All in all, it was a wonderful dining experience. The food was of a caliber that we sometimes don't even see in New York City, and therefore weren't expecting to find in comparatively-little Madison. The service was impeccable: attentive but not overbearing, informative when we needed it to be. The attention to detail was excellent from start to finish. The wine list was nothing short of fantastic. The room itself is beautiful, modern yet still romantic. Yes, this restaurant is a splurge, but it's worth every penny. I will make one recommendation: if you can, dine early. Our reservation for 8:45 on a Friday night ultimately got us seated around 9:15, and the bar was so incredibly busy (the bartender was awesome, but he had no assistance) that we didn't get a drink until mere moments before we were seated. Fortunately, the rest of the dining experience was so good that it made up for that slight glitch. read more

It is difficult to praise L'etoile too highly. Not only are the ingredients fresh (America's best and largest farmer's market is held every Saturday literally across the street), given the abundance available, they are also excellently sourced. Since we shop at the farmer's market whenever we are in town, we have come to know the raw ingredients L'etoile uses to such good effect. For instance, the beef exclusively comes from Fountain Prairie....and if you know anything about WI beef, you know this bodes extremely well for the flavorfulness of your carppaccio or dry aged ribeye (the latter is justly famous). Likewise, the butter is house churned (!!) Sassy Cow Creamery milk. You will fantasize about this butter for weeks. I could go on and on about the beans and the beets and blueberries...and, well, you get the point. That is why we drive from Chicago to eat here: the opportunity to really connect with the farmers and artisans of WI. While the food is excellent and would deserve praise anywhere else, the focus on helping you discover your local farmer and fresh food is what really sets this place apart. And if the atmosphere is too stuffy for you, strike up a conversation about the food with the waitstaff. The conversation is guaranteed to humanize the experience and you may just leave knowing something about heirloom tomato cultivation in central WI. read more

2 stars for the food weighted with price. I'd give it 3 stars for the food alone - average. HOWEVER, the food is so ridiculously overpriced that I have to give it 2 stars. I got the Fountain Prairie Farm Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio and the Red Snapper olive oil fried potatoes, Snug Haven spinach, niçoise olive-oven dried tomato relish, saffron aioli. Both dishes were really bland. I feel like the red snapper dish I could've cooked myself and I'm not even a chef. The entire meal cost me like 62 bucks and to be honest my 5 dollar lunch at the epic cafeteria had a much better fish entree (walleye with almond crust) and was way better. What I *DID* like was that our waitress was very nice, though our hostess was very rude to us assuming that we couldn't afford the restaurant. read more

For our first anniversary my husband surprised me with reservations to one of the few restaurants in Madison that I had not yet been to, despite talking about doing so for *years*. I was absolutely blown away. L'Etoile exceeded our expectations in a multitude of ways. I had read many reviews on this restaurant, and the most common complaint as far as I can tell is that the service was uptight. I would certainly have to disagree. Our server went out of his way to make sure we were having a magical evening, and communicated the dishes to us beautifully, as if you weren't already excited to try what was just put in front of you, his descriptions of the dish were mouthwatering. We did the seven course menu, and it was absolute divinity. Each course was creative, thoughtful, and balanced; and the portions were perfect. Whoever complains about their "petite" portion sizes either has no experience with upscale fine dining, or chose to go ala-carte and didn't order more than one dish. I left feeling very full and extremely satisfied. I have been raving about this place to everyone I know ever since. At the end of our meal, we were given a tasting menu to take home with us that had been printed "Happy First Anniversary". The manager stopped by our table to make sure everything was perfect (it was). Having been blown away at Tory Miller's other restaurants, I naturally expected great things, and L'Etoile absolutely delivered. Between the flawless staff, the stunning Capitol view, and an unforgettable dinner, I cannot wait to go back. read more

Very, very expensive. Make sure you are going with other people, as it is an experience. But it is good food and a good atmosphere. --Sam read more

My husband got me a gift certificate for Christmas because I wanted to try a French Restaurant, though I found out it is now fine dining with French influence (so you know). I was completely impressed by the food, the venue and the service--someone put my coat on for me. We felt very-well take care of. There was a teensy issue with the service, but when I called to discuss it with a manager (I wanted to be thorough) an OWNER called me back and the way he handled it was as classy as the meal. The real exquisiteness of this place is the way it has a passion for LOCAL and artisan drinks and food. I had never before tasted $25 dollar champagne, but let me tell you, it is worth every red cent. I went all out and got the steak, and the blue cheese butter business on the top was what I want to be buried in. L'Etoile is superb, plan on spending $, look at the drink menu to make sure you understand what you are getting, and make sure the waiter is telling you everything about your meal, because they certainly have put a lot into creating a special place in Madison. We will be back! read more

I'm not drinking the L'Etoile Kool-Aid. I have yet to have a good meal here; even the foie gras is poorly cooked. For a restaurant that is billed as "Madison's Best," this can't compare with an average bistro in Quebec. And comparing it to a real french restaurant in the US is silly. Anyone who thinks this is as good as Bouley or Daniel in NYC, L'Espalier in Boston, TRU in Chicago, or Sanford in Milwaukee must come from another planet or has donated their taste buds to science. This is a mediocre restaurant in a town filled with far too many rotten restaurants. In a larger city, L'Etoile would go unnoticed and then go out of business. Lower your expectations and go to the Old Fashioned next door. Simple food but no unpleasant surprises. read more

An amazing dining experience! Our server Frank bestowed upon us not only the finest combinations of locally grown foods transformed into savory dishes, but an education in the community's farming techniques and fresh local ingredients. I had the ribeye Oscar (with king crab and bernaise - yum!!) paired with a sweet creamy corn chowder over grilled scallops. my husband had tempura battered squash blossoms with an array of fresh vegetables and just the right amount of spice, along with a crisp, tender pheasant served with creamy potatoes and sweet corn. All seasonal, all local and incredibly fresh! Then desert. We had apricot dumpling with fresh quark, sweet corn ice cream and apricot chutney; and chocolate cake with red currant sorbet - delightful! Each course was paired with a nice glass of wine, champagne or port - selected and presented by the in-house sommelier- and topped off with a shot of brandy. It'll set you back a few bills but for any foodie who enjoys a 3-4 hour meal, l'etoile in Madison is a phenomenal experience! read more

We live in the Chicago suburbs, but this place is worth the drive. My husband and I are really into the local food scene which makes a trip up to the Madison Farmer's Market to buy a couple weeks worth of groceries capped by dinner at L'Etoile a perfect way to spend a Saturday. The food here is really some of the best I've had anywhere in the world. Despite the location in a smaller scene like Madison, the restaurant is by no means inexpensive. But, aside from a place we ate in Cape Town (La Colombe) when the exchange rate was good, this really is the best value for money we've had in an expensive restaurant so far. We made reservations (day of) and they even had a charmingly folksy "personalized menu" for us to take home. The menu listed where all main ingredients for the meals were from and the back of the menu listed the different local farms L'Etoile sources from. This restaurant would be in my top 5 list of places to recommend to others. read more

Dinner at L'Etoile is expensive but doesn't feel over priced. My wife and I have eaten here a few times and every time has been a fantastic whole evening experience. The atmosphere is really nice. The service is first class and the locally sourced produce is excellently prepared. The wine selection is extensive with many top notch offerings. They seat from front to back starting at 5:00 pm so be sure to book an early table if you want a great view of the capitol dome. read more

Liked it! Was offered a job as a bartender there long ago, seemed like it could have been a really fun job. The view is quite nice , with a good view of the capital. Also very nice cheese selection. It used to be all organic, back in the early days of Hippie Madison (which are still alive and well, back down on Willie Street, but not so much on the Square any longer). A good place to bump into Mayor Dave or some visiting dignitary. A bit stiff, but it tries not to be too bad about it. Servers wear comfortable normal clothes. A curious and innovative wine list is another real plus. Fancier than Sardine, but I wouldn't say distinctly better necessarily. Go if you're into politics or big business (especially if you employ an environmental engineer in any part of your business) to see well-heeled members of your own species. read more

By far, the best and most amazing dinner I have had in Madison. I took my fiancee here for our 5 year anniversary/"she said 'yes'" dinner and we were blown away. From the custom Manhattans we drank, to the wine pairings we had with the exquisite selections from a superb menu....this is such an amazing restaurant. Don't treat this place like a so-so night or subpar special occasion. This is for restaurant and it's offerings is for "THAT" occasion that requires an exclamation point at the end of "Will you marry me?!" or "I got a new job with a 50% raise above the current salary!" type of gravitas. If you go here and have anything less than the most amazing meal, service, experience, I don't know what to tell you except you, except maybe move to Monaco read more

What a great experience!!!! Had the multi-course tasting menu. I have been to a few Michelin starred restaurants that go down the localvore route and most are pretty disappointing because they are not very authentic. L'Etoile truly gets it. They don't have a menu that is constant (and switched over every couple of months), it changes based on what is available to be foraged locally daily. I have been foraging in the area since I was a boy and can tell you that the products that were on the menu and positioned as foraged were 100% appropriate for the geo / season. Authenticity is table stakes for me for a great experience, what they did with the ingredients is what put the experience over the top. The creativity in the dishes was impressive, as was the execution. (Additionally, they were not so dogmatic about local ingredients that they didn't bring in some non-local ingredients to put together outstanding dishes when appropriate.) Only two minor nits: 1) The food was thoughtfully local, but the drinks were not. This is not an issue exclusively with this joint, but it always seems strange to me that places like this will source drinks from around the world to compliment locally sourced food ingredients. I can maybe understand that wine needs to move beyond WI for quality reasons, but there are plenty of world class WI beers that could be served. The beer list was limited and unimaginative. 2) Torn as to whether to call this out. The beef course was my favorite dish of the night, but unfortunately, my wife's dish had a faint taste of dish rag infused in it, which definitely ruined that particularly dish for her. read more

I had the opportunity to go to L'Etoile about a month ago as a thank you dinner from a generous colleague. So spur of the moment the hubby and I looked to see if we could get a table on a Friday night. Somewhat surprisingly to me, we didn't have any trouble at all, and the restaurant wasn't even super busy while we were there. We chose to be seated up in the mezzanine area rather than by the window so we could have a little quieter space, plus I enjoyed looking out over the restaurant from our vantage point. We chose to do the a la carte menu and each picked a small plate, entree, and dessert for ourselves. We also decided to do wine by the glass rather than a bottle. I wasn't sure I wanted to drink my half of the bottle and while the options were varied and many, they were also mostly on the pricier side. While I certainly don't mind paying a pretty penny for a REALLY good wine, I also don't feel like most bottles need to be over $100 and I just wasn't feeling it that night. Once we sat down and started perusing the menu (even though I already knew what I was going to order because who goes to a restaurant without looking at the menu beforehand??) we were brought an amuse bouche and they brought us different ones due to the hubby's apple allergy. It was a very tasty bite and added a nice bit of class that we felt throughout the whole evening. We received another one at the end of the meal after we had finished dessert and were enjoying the last of our drinks. I order the duck confit for my first dish, the black cod for my main dish, and the dark chocolate tart for my dessert. All of these were very well prepared and enjoyed immensely. The service we received throughout the evening was wonderful. Our waiter was attentive but gave us plenty of space as we were really trying to just slow down and enjoy each other's company after I had a really taxing week at work. The only slight hiccup was that it took a reeeeally long time for my cocktail to come that I ordered to go with my dessert. When our waiter realized that I wasn't eating my dessert very quickly as I clearly wanted to enjoy it with my drink he went to see what was taking so long and brought it up soon after. He apologized for the delay and comped the drink from our bill since I wasn't going to be able to enjoy it as I had intended. It was a really good cocktail though. Overall I supremely enjoyed my meal at L'Etoile and would definitely come back for a special occasion or if someone else is footing the bill! I think it is worth the money you pay, unfortunately I just can't enjoy that as often as I would like. I would certainly rank this as one of the best restaurants in Madison. read more

The food is as elegantly presented as the bright naturally-lit space, and despite what you might expect from a room with floor-to-ceiling windows, the daytime ambiance transitions nicely into an equally intimate and romantic evening. There is so much attention to detail here that makes dining at L'Etoile a very special experience, including the special filtered water they serve which has a barely noticeable and very pleasant effervescence to it. My dining companions had great luck with their dishes, but unfortunately my quail was a bit dry and definitely over salted for my tastes. The desserts were beautifully presented, but did not match the sophistication or delicacy of other parts of the meal. For example, the gelato we ordered was swimming in a sticky sweet fudge sauce and the three of us were unable to finish it. I would not recommend coming here for dessert. Definitely take advantage of the suggested wine pairings if you plan on having any wine with your food - they know what they're doing here. Overall, I had a great experience and I am glad I tried this place. read more

My wife and I had our wedding reception at L'Etoile. We had 150 guests. The food was incredible, fresh, delicious, beautiful, Impressive. We have lived in NYC for about 9 years and have had some great meals. L'Etoile is now at the top of our list. We are so fortunate to have had that experience on our wedding night. Salad Corn Chowder Steak/Halibut/Lasanga Wedding cake....made by their own pastry chef, best cake we ever had. French pressed coffee Delicious wine and drinks Accommodated every request we had. Everything blew us away, as well as our guests. The staff was so great, quick, polite, knowledgeable, helpful, hardworking and calm. The bartenders were unbelievable, at one point 6 of them. The venue is so beautiful. The planning process was so easy. I can't give L'Etoile and its staff enough praise. It was a night that we and our guests will never forget. We thank them for providing such an incredible experience. read more

It may seem unfair to complain about a good meal, but my most recent experience at L'Etoile was just that: "good." My wife and I went to L'Etoile and each tried the tasting menu. This is not a special menu prepared by the chef for that day, but rather an opportunity to pick one item from each category on the menu. Well, I could have done that anyway...but I digress. Arguably my favorite course was the amuse. A thick creme of blended cottage cheese with pumpkin oil and toasted pepitas was a wonderful way to start the evening, particularly with the Neriot Champagne it was paired with. The beef carpaccio and beef tongue confit we started with were good. The tongue was rich and flavored the radish salad it came with in a lovely manner. The wine pairing with the tongue was a dry Alsatian blend--truly inspried. Our next course--crawfish tails and snails with a tiny croissant for me and octopus salad and other delights for my wife were just so-so. Our entrees were impeccably well prepared--NY Strip for my wife, Pheasant for me, but there was nothing to make it stand out. Our cheese plate was, however, magnificent. We could not even finish it, loads of cheese and all delicious, but our wines came much to soon and were largely empty by the time our cheese arrived. I will say this: the service at L'Etoile was beyond reproach. In a town where the hipper the restaurant is the less attentive or more rude the staff seems to be, that was a welcome comfort. Our menus were personalized, the wine steward was happy to chat with us, and all of our needs were met. Ultimately, where I was left cold was maybe of my own doing. I set the bar for L'Etoile too high. My meal was "only" good, but my experience was great. read more

Phenomenal food, absolutely top-notch. What I love about L'Etoile is that, like several other high-end Madison restaurants, you get the quality of a high-end Chicago restaurant at about 20% less cost. I'll forget the exact details of what we had, but my wife and I had an early dinner here last weekend, and it consisted of the lamb carpaccio (delicious), jambalaya (wow), tilefish, and fluke. The seafood was excellent, our server was quite pleasant and accommodating, and the view of the capitol is excellent. Truly one of Madison's best places to eat. read more

Very disappointing meal there last weekend. Had a group of six and service was painfully slow...over 3 hours for 4 courses. Service very poor for a James Beard winner...in fact, of the 30+ Beard restaurants I've been to, this was the worst. Examples including pouring our red before our white without asking. Not mentioning the two bottle max on two occasions...both with initial reservation and a later confirmation. What floored me is that I confirmed a change in our party and confirmed the corkage policy and the hostess never mentioned the max...I guess it the customer's responsibility to ask such things in their mind. In addition, we had printed out the wine list and never saw a corkage policy online...if it is there, we couldn't find it. Sturgeon was overcooked shoe leather. Balance of meal was probably a 3 on a scale of 5. My entire party agreed that they wouldn't return as we had much better service at other Madison restaurants. Sister restaurant Graze...completely different experience...great service and great food...much quicker and for less money. read more

Amaaaaazing food experience! The moment I walked in, I knew I'd love the place. The ambience is great and you have a great view of the Capitol. The restaurant itself is fairly small, so make sure you make reservations on the busier weekend nights! You have an option of getting the $125 seven course menu with a $65 wine pairing or you can choose from their a la carte menu with appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I opted for just a simple entree, the guinea hen. I've never had...hen before, but it was fantastic! Super succulent and juicy and the sauce was flawless. I also tried the Monkfish which was super unique, but it wasn't as enjoyable as the guinea hen. My favorite part of the experience was the random food they bring you! Beyond the delicious bread, they bring you amuse bouche, and a couple of other small treats along the way. After the meal, a small complementary dessert plate was given (bite sized desserts) with macaroons, truffles, and some jelly stuff that was pretty darn tasty. Yes, this place is quite pricey, but it's a terrific unique experience with outstanding service. I'd completely recommend it if you're feeling like spending more for some great food! read more

It was a whimsical and wonderful experience-totally different dining experience in a great way! We did the tasting menu (sticker shocked? YES!), but we enjoyed our food together. It was great to be eating the same thing simultaneously and talk about all the elements affecting multiple senses. I am glad we went and had a great experience, but would not return as the price tag was too steep. read more

If you're in the mood for dropping a couple hundred and having a swanky dinner this is your place! You get what you pay for and with this place it rings true. Service is top in Madison, they know food, wine and high dining. I have nothing to complain about, everything was great. read more