I knew I liked Sardine from a visit or two a long long time ago, but I couldn't really say why. Luckily I have a friend who has gotten me back here twice recently! Getting there is easy enough, but with that crazy John Nolan/Blair/Willy/bike paths galore intersection, pulling into the parking lot can take some advance planning. It's very nice inside with lots of light and an outdoor patio with great views of the lake. We didn't have any difficulty getting seated, but I could see how you might really want a reservation at times. Service is good, but not always great. I started out with the Bloody Mary on both visits. It's really very good. But, it comes with lots of very small piece of chopped veggies on top (as well as some traditional garnishes). Delish, except when those tiny bit get stuck in the straw. Solution: either remove the bits beforehand, or ask for one or two of the skinny straws. Actually, the second Bloody Mary came with the skinny straws, and it was a real game changer. I've had the mushroom/arugula omelette and the shrimp cakes. I sure enjoyed the omelette, however, those shrimp cakes were outstanding. Possibly that will be all I ever order. It came with a yummy and refreshing salad and a perfectly cooked egg. We also shared some desserts on one of these visits. The lemon bar and the fruit sorbets were sooooo good! I can't wait to go back - it about time I tried their oysters! read more

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We had dinner with a group of 8 and had the best time! Such a fun ambiance in a very charming setting. We did oysters, salads, a broccoli app special, mostly fish entrees, and several desserts. Everything was delicious. read more

Best brunch in Madison, by far. A little in the pricy side, but they make up for it in quality of food, cocktails, and atmosphere. They only reason this place doesn't get a 5/5 is that the times I've been there for dinner I have been a bit underwhelmed. That being said, you should go for brunch. I highly recommend the waffles, the salmon sandwich, and the pastries. Also they make a top notch salty dog. read more

Great spot for a Sunday brunch. Amazing view of the lake, great atmosphere, friendly service and, best of all, terrific food. I had the salmon sandwich and it was absolutely wonderful. Can't wait to come back! read more

If your looking to splurge or go out for a romantic dinner Sardine is a great choice! The food is exceptional and the atmosphere is really nice. The downside is the space is cramped and it's difficult to maneuver around. I had the mussels and they were amazingly delicious, the frites were cold however. The wine sauce was so good, it made me almost forget about this. The sauce takes it from three to a four star- yes it was that good! Only brassiere V has mussels that compare. read more

Happy hour at the oyster bar. I like the eastern oysters but they're all good. They also have hamburgers and other things available that are top notch. read more

Everything from the meals, drinks, salads, service, etc. is superb. I highly recommend this place especially if you like seafood.

You want a little taste of France without being on a plane for 10 hours... well Sardine offers you that pleasure. Love the food and the atmosphere is freaking amazing read more

I I used to travel to Paris all the time and have rarely had a moment that made me feel like I was there. Sardine was spectacular! We had the charcuterie and a wonderful salad and a cassoulet that about made me weep. We traveled from the Chicago area and will make sure that we hit this place every time we come up north! read more

I had dinner with serval people here on Wednesday evening. The food was wonderful, the service was solid, but a little slow at times. We had the cheese plate, a daily special small plate of roasted asparagus, the chicken, founder, and mushrooms. Everyone raves about their meals. We were seated on the patio and the view was lovely. read more

Amazing food. Fantastic, attentive service. Great for large groups. Will definitely eat here on our next visit.

Came for happy hour. Stayed for dinner. Service is beyond terrific. Any restaurant that puts the bus station in the middle of the space clearly wants to take care of you. We have been here when we are in Madison 8 or 10 times in the last 20 years. Exceptional every time. read more

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Yet again, another time I wish I could give a 3.5 star rating. Sardine is a wonderful restaurant serving French/American cuisine just off one of the lakes of Madison. We come here frequently and my rating tries to serve as an average of what we have encountered. Sometimes we come here and have just an Ok experience and other times our socks are blown off. I'll start off by saying the decor and location of the restaurant are both pluses. Wait staff seem to be hit or miss; we have had multiple occurrences where our bread is never delivered to the table, leading us to prompt the the wait staff to bring it with the entree. Timing seems to be an issue as well, where waiters or waitresses space visits to the table in too large of time intervals. Food options do rotate and we consistently find the steak frites and fish options to be spot on. We consistently enjoy the goat cheese appetizer. Other options like the pork or lamb seem to be cooked past a desirable doneness and poorly spiced. I do focus on more of the negatives in this review, however, I still enjoy going to Sardine and thinks it's a good place to go on a date, double date, or a quick drink and appetizer. read more

I think I've found my new holy grail. Everything from how easy it was to make a reservation, to the outstanding service, to the wonderful cuisine, and let me not forget to mention the beautiful interior design, Sardine has everything you could want and need from a restaurant. We had dinner reservations on a Saturday evening for a party of 6. We were promptly seated and we all were mesmerized at how fresh and cool the interior felt. The white walls, brick exposure, and wooden ceilings brought so much character to the restaurant, and the view of the lake didn't hurt. I felt as if I was somewhere in Connecticut. Our server was very nice and attentive. He was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, especially with where their three types of oysters came from. The bread basket was the only thing I could have done without. The bread was dry and tasteless. The waiter kept my glass of Chardonnay full all night, which I appreciated. The wine went great with the oysters we all started the night off with. From there, I ordered the Seared Salmon on the menu. The salmon dish was excellent. The medium well cooked salmon, spinach, leeks, and beurre blanc sauce all went very well together. I had one bite that was really salty, but luckily, it was only on one piece of the fish, which was great because I didn't want to worry with having to send the meal back. My husband ordered the French Onion Soup and the White Fish special. I'm not a fan of Onion Soup, but I did have a few spoon fulls of his, so I must have liked it a little. He sure loved it. The White Fish special was fantastic. The delicious broth was subtle and complimented the fish, along with the veggies and squid ink pasta. The Cauliflower Gratin sure made me feel as if I were eating Mac and cheese. The side dish was rich and creamy, but I wasn't guilty from eating it. I mean, it's Cauliflower, so it's healthy...right? Overall, we all had a great time and will definitely return! read more

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The premise was set. Valentines Day and a French restaurant to celebrate it! Joie de vivre as they say :). Well not really.. Decor - Restrained elegance that exudes its own touch of romance as it sits right near the lake (Although the other side is a rather dingy street at night!) Service - My critique here is ONLY for Valentines Day (Shouldn't matter but still). Romantic restaurants typically tend to have a more relaxed approach to timing their courses. This place took it a bit too far. The time lapse between Apps - Mains - Check kept stretching after every phase, to the point that we kept staring across the room to signal someone else to get our check since our server couldn't be bothered I suppose! Food - For hors d'oeuvres we had the Charcuterie plate. While the cured meats were a little too salty and hard to chew (perhaps too cured I guess), the liver mousse was good and paired very well with the mustard on the side and the thin flat bread. For Mains, we had the Cassoulet and Moules Frites. The lamb shoulder on the Cassoulet was delectable! The sausage was decent. The leg and thigh duck confit was nothing to shout about. The meat was cooked fine but lacked a strong flavor dimension. The worse part was the beans as they looked and tasted like baked beans straight out of a can. The walnut oil was non existent and bread crumbs although sparse, did save the sauce a bit. The moules frites was better in comparison as the mussels were perfectly cooked with no sand/grit on them. The sauce was delicate yet tasty and the supporting fries were well seasoned. Price : This is where I believe the experience lost a star here. For $27, the Cassoulet should've blown me away but it didn't. For $22, the mussels were better but not worth that much money. I guess the price was proportional to the portions which were good I must say! But quantity and quality don't always go hand in hand. I wouldn't mind trying out this place again but for nearly $100 for a couple, there are better places to try out. Hope others have a better experience here. read more

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Great service and food. Loved the atmosphere. I had a special and croque madame- delicious!

This is one of the top restaurants in Madison and deserves its excellent reputation. I had the trout and it was done perfectly--lightly seasoned, flaky without being overcooked. The décor was true to its old-style eatery vibe--yet had elegant, white-tablecloth touches. The only hassle is the parking--we were very lucky to get a spot. Be sure to reserve in advance since this is extremely popular. read more

Aah Sardine, I want to like you so much, but your food is too salty and buttery, even for French food. Appetizers: Moules frites: pretty good! Too many fries though. Charcuterie plate: not super great, and looked kind of unorthodox (lettuce?). Mousse was hard to spread, not enough pickled vegetables, and selection of meats seemed limited. Main courses: (super large portions) Poussin (aka young chicken): tender and tasty! Potatoes were caramelized. Watercress was a bit acidic and bitter, but together the dish was well balanced. Duck confit salad: very disappointing. Too salty and acidic overall. Duck was tough and chewy. Poached egg had no flavor and was watery on the inside. Would absolutely NOT recommend. Ambiance is very hip and chill for both couples and groups, with tables against the front for lake views during the day. Service was a bit slow, but our waitress was absolutely lovely. Sadly, everything was great except for the food. read more

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Party of 12 on a Tuesday night at 6:30. Very good- NAMI MOON FARM CHICKEN LIVER TOASTS baby greens, Door County cherry compote 10 Very good- MOULES FRITES white wine, Pernod, cream, fennel, tomato, garlic, bay leaf, thyme 14 Very good- LAMB MEATBALLS tomato-adobo sauce, goat milk yogurt 11 Solid, slightly overlooked but a good flavor - PAN ROASTED HADDOCK caramelized endive, roasted fennel, potato purée, à la minute sauce of toasted pistachios, orange, and white wine, watercress 26 Whiskey and cheese pairing - all good read more

Sardine - Crazy start to dinner - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is honestly the first negative review I have ever left, but I had brunch here and when I went to the restroom at their brunch (before the bill was given) they threw my food away! I had eaten maybe 25% of my meal and nothing was offered to me at the restaurant read more

Enjoyed the ambiance and the service. The food was great, and the location is perfect right near the waters of Lake Monona. This side of town is my favorite, and I love that it sits right on Willy Street. read more

Sardine - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My wife selected Sardine for brunch as a pre-anniversary meal. I was disinclined to go because my experiences with French restaurants, both in Los Angeles and NYC have always been too much dough for not enough go; said simply tiny portions with high tariff (think nouvelle cuisine as it was presented to Steve Martin in LA Story). This was not the case at all here. I had the rib eye steak and poached eggs. Not only was the food prepared exactly as requested and delicious, but the portion was perfect; it could be argued that this menu item is the sleeper; a real value proposition. We will be returning for dinner. It is great when expectations are shattered for the better. read more

Sardine - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Sardine is one of those places you could easily go to for dinner and then return for brunch the next day. The vibe is lively, and compliments the food. West coast oysters never disappoint, the baked eggs are definitely worth trying, and the flank steak is spectacular. For dessert, you cannot go wrong with the rhubarb pie and pot de creme. read more

This was honestly one of our favorite meals in Madison. We started with drinks at the bar and the care the bartender took in making them was something to behold! They were absolutely perfect. It was a special occasion, so we started with oysters and a charcuterie plate. Both were amazing. My husband had the duck breast (he said it was the best he ever had) and I had a perfectly done steak y frites. The waitress helped us choose a bottle of wine which we very much enjoyed. I highly recommend. Also, there's something about the ambiance that makes me feel like I'm somewhere else. Maybe it's the modern look, the visible oysters on ice in the window. I kind of felt like I was in Seattle. We will definitely be back! read more

Sardine - Perfectly cooked steak y frites with a delicious aoli on the side. - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Food was good. Service meh. This is all I have to say but Yelp is making me write more before it will post at the review. read more

Well what a nice surprise! Brunch here was amazing. Couldn't get a reservation but Took a chance at a walk in. We were seated at a high top right away. Service was spot on, oysters amazing, great cocktail menu and rest of food even better. Will definitely be back read more

Full disclosure: I cannot write an objective review of Sardine. My wife and I loved Sardine when it opened. Loved the food, loved the "philosophy," loved the service. Loved everything. We loved it so much we had our wedding reception there four years past. Sardine is still tops on my list. No where else quite feels like home so much as this wonderful Bistro on Lake Monona. I'm not sure what is better--the service, the food or the atmosphere. Whether you are at Sardine for brunch, dinner or a special event, you cannot go wrong. Quintessentially Madison, the French bistro food is neither overpriced nor overly chi-chi. Tonight I attended my six or seventh Sardine Family dinner. Always multiple courses paired with wonderful wine and/or beer, these are terrific opportunities to see just what the kitchen is capable of. $40 tonight provided more snacks (cheese, chicken liver pate, kale flatbread, salumi, etc.) that necessary, a lovely duck confit and bread salad, "steamship of pork," an absurd cakey cut of grits (amazingly rich), and a delicious meringue dessert with maple ice cream all paired with Wisconsin craft beers. I love you Sardine and I will miss you immeasurably. read more

Sardine - Lamb chops and goat cheese croquette - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Sardine is a staple. If you want a nice place to take a special person or your parents, this place will never disappoint. I've been coming here since I moved to Madison in 2011 and, while the menu has changed, they still be keep'n it classy. Protip: You can always ask for more bread. My record is 4 times in one meal, and yes, all the bread was eaten there, none was taken home. Carbs! This is a special request for the chef, please bring back the hanger steak! It was may favorite! read more

Excellent food, excellent service, excellent view. It's a little on the pricey side but well worth it. Highly recommend going here for a date or with the family or even with a group. My wife and I met my aunt here to have brunch. We ordered salads, the Norwegian salmon, and the crab shrimp cakes. All of our dishes were awesome. Our server was knowledgeable about the food including the fact that almost all of the ingredients are locally sourced and if they are not locally sourced they are from sustainable sources. The noise level was a little loud, but that was due to the fact that it was totally packed. However, we made reservations and got right in. They were also good about making substitutions. My recommendation is the crab shrimp cakes. Their delectable. read more

Sardine - The outside patio. - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Oh Sardine, how have you eluded me all this time? For those of you that run along Lake Monona, you may have ran past this hidden gem thousands (a little bit of a hyperbole) of times. Its location is absolutely amazing, but the venue itself is very conspicuous. I almost wish they were flashier, with a giant neon sign that said SARDINE, so I could have noticed it earlier. Anyways, a bunch of friends and I collared up and came here for restaurant week, The moment we went in, it felt like we were walking into a cabin lodge that while comforting, also had a modern and classy vibe to it. I love the red and white brick walls, which accented well under their lighting. Their tables were also impeccably set, with napkins and utensils neatly placed at every seat. Our friendly waiter came immediately, introduced himself, and asked if we needed anything. The service was amazing all night, and our waiter really knew the menu. We were a curious bunch, so he basically outlined every item on the menu for us in a detailed manner. Most of us ended up going with his favorite dishes, and got the Smoked Whitefish Croquette, Duck Confit and Profiteroles. The croquette was extremely creamy, with tender pieces of whitefish enveloped in melted cheese, all packed inside the perfectly fried breading. There were also some spinach leaves, cucumber and onions to balance out the tastes. The sweet, yet very light sauce kept the plate refreshing. The entree, the duck confit, packed forkful of flavors with every bite. The duck, having been coated in a layer of fat, was cooked to a perfect temperature, with the meat that will slide off the bones. The skin was slightly charred, providing a rough texture to match the softness of the meat. The duck was sooo juicy, so I didn't even need to really use the blueberry sauce. The duck thigh was also laid over a plate of green beans and cabbage, giving it even more depth. Finally, our courses ended with the profiteroles: vanilla bean ice cream sandwiched between two powdered sugar pastry puffs laid over stands of chocolate sauce. I really didn't want it to end, but it ended in the best way ever. Honestly, who doesn't love ice cream and pastry puffs? That's like saying you don't like puppies, and everyone likes puppies. Anyways, make yourself happy and go to Sardines. Like now. read more

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Sardine takes classic French cuisine and melds it beautifully with Americana food. The fusion is executed well and presented with fineness. One of my best college friends was visiting UW for grad school with his family. They really wanted some good steak and seafood options so off we flew to Sardine. The restaurant was fairly booked up by the time we called so we made reservations for 8:30 pm. Upon arrival we were promptly seated by the window and were given an awesome view of the back parking lot and beyond it, lake Monona. I really wish that parking lot wasn't there because the view is otherwise incredible. For an appetizer we got the goat cheese crostini. The app was fairly standard but nothing special to blow me away. I would have liked to see significantly more toast served with the dish, as there was more than enough goat cheese present. Others at the table ordered some craft cocktails, which were apparently quite good so props on the drinks. I ended up with a Lake Louie Tommy's Porter on tap, which I rather enjoyed. The tap list was small but well constructed with sufficient diversity. Props on the cocktails, beer list, and wine list here. For an entree, I ended up with the Arctic Char. The dish was very well presented and didn't fall into any overdone culinary tropes (looking at you sauce smeared under the meat with a spoon). Great presentation, perfect balance with the leeks, potatoes, beans, and seasoning. I would order this dish again for sure. My main gripe with Sardine is the service, as others have noted. The restaurant appears to be understaffed so the servers are heavily burdened, thus failing to be attentive to tables. While we were there we had to ask for water twice, eventually a carafe of water was just dumped on our table, and our empty dining-ware was never cleared throughout the course of the meal. The food at Sardine well executed, but the poor service is crippling. If you have time on your hands to enjoy a solid meal, Sardine would be a good choice. If you are impatient or have somewhere to be it may be best to look elsewhere. read more

Sardine - Goat cheese crostini - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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How does this place not do better than #24 on rating in Madison ?? Wow Caesar and orange and water cress salad Scallop appetizer with rhubarb jam !! (Amazing) Sea trout entree (cooked to perfection..) with haricot verts and potato - Everything was great The chocolate ganache with hazelnut crunch and caramel looked amazing but we just didn't have the room !! Wish we could have !! You won't be disappointed read more

I heard a lot of good things about Sardine, but I don't believe it lived up to my expectations. My favorite part of my dining experience here was the appetizer we ordered. The sardines were pretty good. For the entree, a friend of mine recommended the roasted half chicken, but it ended up being just okay. This might be harsh, but I would've enjoyed a rotisserie chicken just as much. My fiancee ordered the steamed mussels, which came with frites and dipping sauce. However, I ended up enjoying the frites a lot more than the mussels. I liked the atmosphere here and the service was good, but the food was decent as best. read more

Had a great time at Sardine recently, dined at the bar and found the food and service simply excellent.

I've been here about 15 times. Only twice have I had issues. Both times it was handled so poorly as though they were infallible. Note my picture of the bill. Asked the bartender is the Herring served pretty traditional? She said yes to which it was not. Regardless, Two pieces were served, one was good not great but acceptable. The other was spoiled. Almost made me throw up. There were flies even flying around it. I made a complaint she removed it and took off 50% and stated I said that I ate half of it! She acted as though she was doing me some sort of favor. Pathetically handled. I visit Madison yearly. And look forward to 3 to 4 meals at sardines in my trip. I only had one. Food is usually excellent, but if there is some sort of variance they just don't handle it well. read more

Sardine - Ordered herring the first piece was good. 2nd East was extremely spoiled. Even attracting flies. Bartender took 50% off. Unconscionable. - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

It's been years since the last time I went to Sardine...and I can't believe I had allowed so much time to pass. I was reminded today of their awesomeness at brunch. My boyfriend and I got two items and shared because that's what winners do. The best item we had was the grilled ribeye (tender and perfectly seared), which comes with poached eggs, sauted broccoli rabe, spinach, and cherry tomatoes. It's all covered in a light hollandaise with truffle oil. I ordered some pieces of baguette to soak up all of that goodness. The second, also delicious, though not quite as impressive item was the grilled pork sausage. The sausages were pretty good, though the crispy polenta-ish cake that came with it stole the show. Coffee was fab: smooth, rich, perfect. I had a bloody Mary which was zingy and pretty tasty, with a sweet pickle garnish. Wish I would have been given a choice of beer back (whatever light beer that comes with is just not quite my thing). The weather was perfect today, and so we waited for a table on the terrace. We had coffee at the bar, and it was only about 20 minutes before we were seated. Not bad for a late morning on a Sunday. read more

Sardine - The brunch trifecta: coffee, bloody, beer back - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I don't get out early enough in the day for brunch, so I went here for dinner. The location is really nice. It's right on the lake and the decor inside of the building is lovely. We went earlier in the evening and missed the entrance the first time while trying to navigate the traffic, but the silver lining was their private parking lot. The food was amazing. We tried the pâté while everyone was making up their mind about entrees. I'm usually not a pâté fan, but it was soft and bursting with flavor and meshed well with the bread and mustard. Worth the calories. I ordered the salmon and it was cooked to perfection. The fish itself was 'melt in your mouth' deliciousness. At first I was worried this place was going to be one of those that tries to be fancier than it really is and only serves you super small tasting portions, but the food was more than enough. I'm a lentil fan by nature, but the way they cook theirs and the sauce they smoother them in makes them the best I've ever had. And the frites! I didn't care that I had already eaten my entree, when my dining partner couldn't finish them I couldn't say no. They are thin without being crunchy; and not oily. The only downside was that I seemed to come here on an off day for the service. Other reviewers rave about the service so take my comment about it with a grain of salt, but the waitress totally disappeared after giving us our menus and luckily I was in good company or after the 15 minute wait to get her attention we would have ran out of things to say to each other. read more

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I came to town for a brief getaway, and as I was traveling alone, I thought I would treat myself to a somewhat decadent early dinner... And since I am a fan of French cuisine AND because of the accessibility of Sardine to the location of my hotel, I was eager to dine here! Firstly, the entrances are a bit confusing; I ended up on what I suppose is the backside of the building, but when I entered on the lakeside entrance, it was just a teeny bit confusing as it would seem that Sardine is connected to other businesses as well--the door to the restaurant isn't marked and it wasn't open. Also, unless there is a third entrance to the restaurant, the hostess stand is located more centrally to the restaurant which is mildly off putting. To sum it up, I felt as if I'd entered into the wrong door and therefore started my experience off on the wrong foot. But what I found actually offensive was the desire of the hostess to seat me at the bar and when I declined and asked for a table, she asked if I would be comfortable in the back half (EMPTY) part of the restaurant when there were empty tables in the front (the ones with the nice lakeside view). Again, I'd like to point out that I was there on a Wednesday and while nearing the dinner rush, it was not busy and I was not depriving any waiting patrons by desiring to sit in the actual occupied section of the restaurants with the nice view. I also feel like it's worth mentioning that I was dressed smartly and did not come in under-dressed or sloppily attired; reviews mentioned that this is a casual dining atmosphere, but I feel like it's a bit fancier than that). So other than being a single diner, I'm not quite sure why I was made to feel as if I didn't belong in the front half of the restaurant, a feeling that was further reinforced by the mostly cool service of my waiter, who was not welcoming and did not enhance my experience either; I realize, from past experiences as a server myself, that one might not have high hopes for a single diner occupying a four-top in your section, but it was not as if I sat for hours, subsiding on complimentary bread and water and not ordering any big ticket items. Also, some of the items I ordered were items that one would usually offer more information about--I would have loved to have known exactly what type of oysters were being served, and a few more details about the 'local meats' of the charcuterie plate as well. Other than the dreadful interactions with the host and my server, everyone else I encountered--the many folks who delivered and then cleared finished plates--were perfectly pleasant and warm. I also appreciated the very adorable flower arrangements on the table, and the view is quite lovely. The local charcuterie plate was incredible (I supped on that and a green salad), and although we're quite far from any oceans in Wisconsin, the oysters were fresh, the presentation was whimsical. I did also enjoy the complimentary bread, though the butter could've been softer (it was rock hard which makes it difficult to spread). The wine I ordered, the 2014 Albariño Envidia Cochina was delightful and went well with everything I enjoyed. The house salad is delightful as well, but I'd recommend forgoing the chickpeas if you're not a fan of crunchy bits in your salad (I am not). I wish I had had more time for one of their dinner entrees, but I was on a bit of a time crunch and the service was just meandering enough that I would've been late for my evening engagement had I stayed for a full course dinner. It is hard to say if I would return to Sardine, should I find myself in the area again. The food is really lovely, the atmosphere is very nice, but the service I received really put me off! I did not feel particularly welcome, and that's a big no-no-red-flag in my book! read more

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well....had wanted to come here for a long time and finally made it in. Called ahead for a reservation for two, at 6 o'clock. The hostess suggested we do so just to be sure...turns out we would've been okay but, I can see why...this place is popular! Service and seating were prompt. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. We sat at the large bay doors overlooking Lake Monona. We opted for a light dinner - shared a plate (very LARGE plate) of mussels and the lobster rolls....these were devoured quite greedily.... We also ordered the beef tip to share as a main course. The kitchen staff very thoughtfully delivered it as two separate portions - very nicely presented each on their own plate....as opposed to giving us two plates and making us divide it ourselves....classy! The beef was so tender and well prepared...just...wow! Normally, I'd make them wait for a 5-star review...prove they can deliver... This was just such a pleasant experience with delicious food and good service...I'll be a softy :P Hint: the large bay doors by the lake can be chilly Hint hint: the "happy hour" specials for Oysters are ONLY at the bar... Hint hint hint: Arrive before six if you want any hope of parking in their lot...otherwise plan on street parking and walking.... Hint hint hint hint: The restoration of the old building is VERY nicely done. A lot of neat exposed architecture to look at. The one downside is the massive HVAC system...it is actually a bit loud if you sit under one of the large vents. dare I? a new record? a quintuple hint extravaganza? heck yeah! hint^5: this place is worth a trip when you have a little time to spare...lots of cool things to check out just wandering around the restaurant and the restored building, old photos, old mechanical equipment, groovy brick work, and cool light fixtures....lots of things to see and explore! read more

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Coming here with a bunch of friends to have brunch on a fine Sunday afternoon. Of course, we made a reservation ahead, otherwise, no room would be spared. Sardine on weekends is always packed. That Sunday was ended with a happy stomach full with their salad, steamed mussels, frites with mayo, and chocolate cake. The mussels came in a huge portion so I had to box some. It was good and I loved the frites with mayo (reminding me of the Belgian munchies) and the chocolate cake. The service was excellent. Our waitress was responsive and smiley. We got two bottles of water early on, so we didn't have to worry about the refills. It was one fine brunch day with my girls. Thank you, Sardine! read more

Sardine - Mussels and frites and mayo - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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