Visiting Madison, WI for a medical conference and stumbled across this restaurant with my gal pal who was also a conference attendee. We dined on a Sunday afternoon, the place was brimming with customers, and no wonder, the food here is simply delicious! I ordered a Monte Cristo sandwich which came w a small side salad and a side of perfectly cooked french fries. The Monte Cristo was huge, thick pieces of bread dipped in a light egg batter with ham and at least two different cheeses. I ate only one half (had the other half which the waitress graciously wrapped in several layers of airplane-trip-friendly saran wrap per my request), had all the fries and the entire salad and was very satisfied. The salad had a nice light vinegarette dressing. The french fries were cripsy on the outside and somewhat nutty, as if cooked in peanut oil. Fries were probably my second favorite part of this meal, I am a sucker for fries and these were definitely above your run-of-the mill taters. My friend had a salmon filet salad with an expertly poached egg and she said her meal was divine as well. If I ever get back to this area (which was absolutely lovely, esp with Lake Monona), I would make it a point to get back here. read more

This is one of my top 5 restaurants in Madison. Great food, atmosphere and service is amazing. I never get desserts but every time I come here I always find room to order some! read more

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Our Supper Club group decided to try Sardine for our February dining experience. I'd heard it was amazing so I had high expectations. The place was bustling. Lots of patrons; staff were darting about. The ambiance was definitely upscale. Our waitress came by to take our drink order. There was a decent wine list and a cocktail menu but I was in the mood for a Bloody Mary. Our waitress brought our beverages and left us to peruse the dinner menus. I did not feel rushed here. They seemed to expect us to take our time. The Bloody was not spicy enough for my taste, but in general everyone else seemed to enjoy their beverages. Our waitress returned and told us about the dinner specials. I ordered the cassoulet and the french onion soup. Soup, salads, and oysters were delivered to the table. My french onion soup was definitely spot on. The table seemed pleased with the salads and oysters. After a respite, the waitress returned to clear the appetizer plates. My partner remarked that he had not gotten his appetizer - the piccolo frito. I don't know if I have ever seen a server actually run, but our waitress immediately spun around and ran off to the kitchen. She quickly returned, apologized, said it would be out immediately, and that it would be removed from the bill. So, yes, it was a blunder, but I was definitely impressed with how she handled it. When she delivered the piccolo frito she again apologized and warned us we wouldn't have much time to enjoy it as our entrees would be here momentarily as well. The piccolo frito was very good and I do recommend it. Our entrees were served. The cassoulet was delicious, very rich, I wasn't able to finish it. Everyone seemed to really enjoy their entrees. I didn't really pay attention to the bill until after I had paid for it. That's when I noticed blunder #2. They charged us for the piccolo frito which our waitress had said we would not be charged for. I'm sure if I would have pointed it out she would have corrected it, but I didn't notice it until after she had returned my credit card. I was also surprised to see that my soup side, the french onion soup, was $11. They seemed like a lot for soup, even outstanding soup. I definitely give them kudos on the food and ambiance. Also on the service despite the blunders. The prices were high. This will fall into a special occasion restaurant for me, not something I can afford to eat weekly. read more

Great staff amazing food and the Atmosphere is unbelievable. This is a go too place for my wife and I. Do yourself a favor and have a wonderful night with someone special at Sardines read more

Don't go if it's a special occasion like Father's Day. I just had the experience of having our entrees both poorly done, and in my case twice. We ordered our steaks medium rare they came, both of them, well done. We asked for them to redo the steaks, which they did. My husband's replacement steak was adequate, but not great, and my steak tasted like somebody had poured an entire can of salt on it. It was disgusting and totally inedible. I decided at that point not to try for third time because by that point my husband and my son were halfway finished with their meals, and I felt like it would be incredibly annoying for them to have to wait on me. Thanks for ruining my outng with my husband for Father's Day. And thank you for deciding that comping a $9 glass of wine is an adequate response for ruining this special occasion. read more

Oysters galore! I was truly impressed with their selection. Oysters from Seattle, oysters from Oregon, oysters with a citrusy aftertaste, and some with a creamy finish. The price is just right for sampling, so if go ahead and be adventurous! Honestly, I was not expecting to enjoy the seafood so much (since, you know, we're so far from the Ocean here in Wisconsin), but I will definitely be back to try more of what they have to offer. I'll be back with updates after round II at Sardine :) read more

Sardine - Oysters & Malbec - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was here once before a few year ago; this time we invited three friends to join my wife and I for dinner. We met up early on Saturday night at the bar and had a blast catching up; our hostess took us to our table when it was ready ( very European!). The main dining room was not very crowded (not very noisy) so we took our time and had a great dining experience. Three of the five had the Skate Wing special, I had the Halibut and our friend had the Ribeye steak. The service was efficient and non-intrusive. The food was well prepared and we all had an overall good experience. Highly recommended and would definitely return. read more

Sardine - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I love the food here but their attitude has become obnoxious. I called a few minutes ago to see if they had brunch reservations available Sunday. I was told they were full and then she started to explain first come first serve at the bar but stopped mid sentence and asked me to hold as she had another call, I was on hold for 30 seconds then she hung up on me. Looking for a new favorite brunch spot now. read more

.Review would've been one star for our most recent visit But I've been there before and know how good the food and service actually could be. I'm upping my stars because of that.Something was off. They were busy. Our reservation was for one of the busier times but it was a Monday night. It seemed OK when we arrived. Service was as expected. We were chatting and didn't order immediately. They were pushing the drinks and we finally said we were ready to order. We placed our order. I took a recommendation from our waiter for the pasta. Everyone had a first course. Mine was the mushroom bisque which was fantastic. after that something happened. It was almost an hour before we got our next course. We finally asked. They charge for bread and I wasn't aware of that. But after we sat for an hour I said that perhaps they could put some bread on the table so we had something while we waited. Graciously, they did. The food finally arrived. He has been sitting in the kitchen. My food was warm but not warm enough that it stayed warm through the meal. The pasta was supposed to have some complex flavors. The only thing I could taste was the chili oil. It's a common problem when people and restaurants make vegetarian or vegan meals. He thinks they need to add spice. The portion was not very large. I tasted my companion steak which was delicious. But it also was not hot. It was a slice of butter on the steak that barely melted. Maybe by design? But it was odd. The fries were amazing. Dessert was good. The biggest problem was the timing. We were in the restaurant over 2 1/2 hours. That was totally unexpected and that we had to wait an hour between courses. Food was slow and not very warm. I had to eat fast in order to have any food left that was warm. Service was pleasant. I'm not sure what the problem was the service or the kitchen. This experience was a two star. Previous visits we're five star. I know we've had a pandemic and it impacts everyone in different ways. But for the price this was unacceptable. I'll probably still go back. We've had so many wonderful experiences there and celebrated so many happy occasion s at Sardine. Bill for two was about $100 without alcohol included. read more

Excellent atmosphere. Great food. You can show up without a reservation and eat in the huge, cool bar area and order off the full menu.

Sardine is a Madison classic and frequently comes up as my top restaurant recommendation in the area. The food is impeccable and the space is quite charming. If you want the full experience, you should make it for happy hour (4-6pm) for half-price oysters, $5 wine, and $4 beer. They also have a small food menu with happy hour specials, but most of those items are also available for dinner. Dinner is quite good. I've had the vegetarian pasta special and also tried some of their fish entrees. They focus on French cuisine, so everything always has a fancy spin to it, along with great wine options. It would be great if they had more than just 1 vegetarian options on the dinner menu. Personally, my favorite meal at Sardine is brunch. The frites that come with entrees? The frites! They are to die for. I also love that you get both greens AND frites, as its normally the hardest decision I make on Sundays at other locations. Standout entrees at brunch are the smoked salmon sandwich and the mushroom omelette. It's also a rather nice experience to sit on the patio with a lake view in the summer, if you can score one of those tables. I'm rather smitten with Sardine and can't wait to go back, likely in the very near future. read more

Awesome. Magnifique. I've been to this restaurant maybe 50 times, and I never get tired of it. Time and time again they deliver great quality delicious food, and amazing elegant service. Try the Sardine burger, or the canned sardines! read more

Made a reservation for a Saturday night for my husband's birthday. We hadn't been there in years. When I made the reservation, I asked if we could sit on the patio, the man taking my reservation said yes, that would be no problem. We arrived at Sardines and the hostess said no, we could not sit on the patio because it is first come first serve and they do not take reservations for the patio! She said the tables were full and there were two tables waiting ahead of us. We ordered and waited 90 minutes for the food and were never served bread, we actually had to ask for it twice. I ordered the nightly special and when it finally arrived it was cold!! and very dry!! The waiter never came back to ask how our meals were. We wrote a comment on the bill and on our way out, the waiter very rudely cornered my husband and stated, "Why didn't you say something to me, instead of writing it on the bill." There are so many good restaurants in Madison and this IS NOT one of them. I will not be going back to Sardine. read more

I've eaten here one time and have never been slightly tempted to go back. I had a vegetarian pasta dish and it was absolutely mediocre. We also ordered oysters for the table and they were just not good. I'm not sure if it's because I don't like oysters, or just because these particular oysters were not good. Basically, it's incredibly expensive and no better than any food I've had anywhere else. There are bars in Madison that I feel have better food than this place. However, if you want a pretentious place to overspend I highly recommend it. read more

Simple and classic French-American food. Sardine is partiularly good for brunch (creamed eggs are fabulous) and their ganache tart is TO DIE FOR. read more

On a recent visit, our table wasn't ready when we arrived so we went to the bar for a few minutes. I had a glass of water which I then took along when our table opened up. Now, the glass of water given at the bar and the glass of water given at tables are different. (One's taller than the other.) Our server asked to take away my bar glass. I declined. When he returned with bread, he tried to take the glass. On his next visit to drop off appetizers, he swiped my glass and replaced it with a table glass. Clearly, I had underestimated how important water glass symmetry is at Sardine. Also, it must be noted how over-the-top enthusiastic and borderline patronizing this server was. Every order was answered with a giggle and a cartoonish response about what a good choice we'd made. Fortunately, my partner did make a good choice and loved the steak. Unfortunately, my fish was sort of dry. Nice atmosphere, though. read more

My girlfriend and I went for a date night last week here. I would say the atmosphere is nice for a date night which is why we came here. It was a last minute idea and they were very accommodating in getting us a table. The service was great and we enjoyed our waiter. I got the steak with compound butter, which was good but not worth the price point in which I paid for it. Overall, I would say the meal was pleasant and the vibe was nice, but whoever sets the prices of the items is gravely mistaken about what they are offering. I would give it 4 stars if the prices were dropped roughly 20%. Fun Fact: It is called Sardines because everyone is packed like Sardines into this restaurant. read more

Sardine is just not my favorite brunch spot in Madison. Though I like the atmosphere and decor, as well as the service, the food always leaves me feeling underwhelmed. I found the Croque Monsieur to be unnecessarily large and overwhelming when I ordered it, but went another time and had a beet and farro dish that was far too small and hardly filling. That being said, the portions are inconsistent and the flavors are just average. It's a nice place to bring a group in terms of aesthetics, but my experience with the food has been pretty unforgettable for the price. read more

Celebrated wife's birthday at Sardine. The interior of the restaurant is very welcoming. You are surrounded by other people enjoying the ambiance as well as the food. Our server, Matthew, made our evening most enjoyable. He was well versed on the wine list. He even described the grape varietals and producers of the house wines. Our entrees were excellent. My wife especially enjoyed the desserts and after dinner drinks. We will definitely return. The total experience was wonderful. read more

Girl oh Girl!!! (or Boy oh Boy...depending on your mood for the day) I again have nothing but positive comments about Sardine - they have simply one of the best restaurants in town and the best staff. I had Oysters again - YUM YUM YUM!!! The bloody mary - maybe it was because I had been at Spin class earlier but those two bloodies I had went down way to easy and they were way too yummy! The omelet was fabulous---- Look I could get into the weeds with a long drawn out review of what a great place this is but I simply do not need to.... I challenge you to find a way to leave here unhappy :) read more

I had one of the best steak critters ever. It was med rare to perfection litely smoked flavor. Service was excellent, server was fun to chat with. We had a bottle of Brunello Sangiovese $100, reasonably priced. They serve Madison breads which is a go to in Madison. Highly recommend this place that sits on the lake. read more

Wonderful wine & drinks selection. Tasty appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Attentive servers made a good dinner experience. I will definitely return! read more

I just had the chance to re-visit Sardine for dinner last night and I highly recommend! I've been a handful of times for both brunch and dinner over the past few years and it has never disappointed. The brunch, I think, leaves a bit to be desired in comparison to dinner. The food is certainly not bad, but perhaps not as outstanding as dinner is. Both times I've been for dinner I've enjoyed their salmon, which is just scrumptious! Atmosphere, service, and food are all top-notch--would most definitely recommend! read more

We had a wonderful group dinner here on a Friday night. The staff were attentive and very friendly without being overbearing. The French onion soup was cheesy and delicious. I ordered one of the day's specials, a lamb papparedelle. They really have such a great way of describing the details of their specials that it's hard to resist! There was plenty of meat in the dish and the noodles were thick and cooked well. I also had an amaretto cake for dessert, which was not bad but a little drier than I expected it to be. Most of the people at our table seemed very satisfied with their meals. This is definitely a nice spot to go to for a little bit of an upscale dining experience in town. Would be back to try their brunch. read more

One of the best places to eat at in Madison. Great vibe inside, beautiful. It has a nice view of the lake. The seating outside on the deck is great as well. Get reservations. Oysters are always on point. Highlights are the Sardine Burger (get it with gruyere & cheddar), moules & frites, Steak Frites, Seared Salmon. I always make a point of stopping into Sardine when I'm back in town for business. read more

I really wanted to love this place but didn't and wouldn't recommend it. The decor is really very nice and lovely. The cocktails were delicious. The service was not great. When we walked in we took a moment to discuss if we wanted to have a drink at the bar which was pretty full (we were early for a reservation). A server asked us if "we knew what we were doing" -um yes this is not my first time in a restaurant. The server at our table was a little on the obnoxious side but okay. I was most annoyed with the check being delivered as our dinner plates were cleared - we were never asked if our entrees were okay, not offered a dessert or coffee menu. Not the best service. I was really excited about dinner but it was only so-so. My pork tenderloin was very, very dry. I would not go here again based on how poorly this was cooked - the crust looked great but the center of the meat was so over-cooked. My husband had the cassoulet and it was okay but underwhelming. The beans tasted as if from a can and overall the dish was just alright. Probably not going to go back here. read more

By far the best place to eat in Madison. Super cool atmosphere and vibe. Food and drinks are amazing. Friendly wait staff as well.

Went for dinner with a group of 10. The service was great all around. Shoutout to the bartender who was kind enough to whip up some sangria on the spot - you should add it to the menu because it was amazing! Everyone was thrilled with their meal. I ordered the lamb dish and it was to die for. read more

Sardine - Salmon- wonderful! - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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You feel like you're sitting in a Paris Café. Great bartenders, great bar food and drinks.

This was everything I've ever wanted in a brunch spot. In a continuation of my Madison travels, I stopped in during brunch and loved it. Lovely decor and service during a full rush. I was in a group of 15 and we all received our drinks and meals within 30ish minutes of being there. I had the mussels and frites--so delicious!! I definitely would come back next time I'm in town. read more

Sardine - Mussels and frites. Also Strange Brew: didn't really taste the lavender, but it was great. - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cannot wait for Sardine to reopen. It's my favorite place in Madison. Get a table outside at brunch on weekends for a lake view. Try the Provencal as an apertif. Pair some champagne with any of their oysters. Or try the bar menu in the afternoon. read more

Effortlessly melding French class with a healthy dose of rustic charm, this trendy French-American bistro manages to delight the palates and unfailing expectations of culinary enthusiasts plate by plate. Whether in search of decadent brunch offerings or more savory dinner entrees, Sardine is sure to impress any quality food seeking individual with its menu of locally sourced and Parisian-influenced dishes. Inconspicuously situated along Madison's Lake Monona in the city's Machinery Row district, Sardine undoubtedly heightens the bar and earns its place among the best of Madison's food scene. The inner portion of the restaurant is inherently unassuming in character and in most part relies on natural wood elements that carry throughout the space, while of course taking advantage of the views offered by Sardine's lakeside locale. A defining feature of the restaurant's ambience is the large wooden beams that traverse the length of the ceiling and contribute a sense of continuity in spite of the assorted half-walls and brick facades that serve to apportion the dining area into various subdivisions. The amalgam of earthiness and a refined touch of class invariably deems the interior space a rustic warehouse of sorts, making Sardine the perfect backdrop for an innately distinct dining experience. A sheer glance at the ingenious menu will enthuse the senses and riddle the mind to such an extent that skimming each listed entrée will most likely result in an unprecedented level of indecision and self-doubt. To illustrate, a main source of Sardine's rising popularity lies with the glorious execution of its weekend brunch. Now, the institution of "brunch" in itself presents quite the conundrum in that it forces diners to face the weighty decision of sweet or savory, and, more explicitly, breakfast or lunch. Then add to this the fact that Sardine's brunch menu consists of nothing but exceptionally delicious offerings and the former indecision subsequently escalates. And yet, this initial "struggle", so to speak, with regards to the menu, is singular in nature, for straight upon that first bite of whatsoever dish is chosen, the earlier hesitation and reservations in settling on a meal are conclusively unfounded and without warrant. Rather, each selection is sure to defy preconceived notions as to the flavors of the various meals due to the level of mastery with which each item is prepared. Omelettes are artfully crafted with flavor variations ranging from the more simplistic to the increasingly indulgent. Fines herbes and gruyere cheese...spinach, roasted cherry tomatoes, goat cheese and bacon...arugula, brie cheese, crimini mushrooms and scallions...all of which effectively define decadence. Also flaunted on Sardine's brunch menu include such dishes as a warm duck confit salad, as well as steamed mussels, Norwegian salmon, and the ever-popular croque monsieur sandwich of bayonne ham and gruyere cheese. These savory selections are brilliantly supplemented with a few sugary concoctions that manage to find their way onto the same menu in a welcome fashion. One such dish is the buckwheat Belgian waffle that is served with a whipped cinnamon orange butter, sliced banana, and pure maple syrup, absolutely shining as a collective with its refreshing citrus notes and satisfying sweetness. As a whole, Sardine executes on all levels. Enticing its patrons with a delicious array of French-inspired classics that satisfy both palate-wise and visually, compelling all who frequent Sardine to feel graced with the pleasure of having dined at one of Madison's top bistros. read more

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The mussels and frites are a deal! It was more food than I expected and very reasonably priced. The mussels in white wine had an excellent broth, and you also get 4 slices of baguette for dipping into the broth. In addition, the plate of frites with aioli was much more than I expected. You could definitely share this between 2 people. My BF ordered the beet cured salmon for brunch...it is honestly too small to be a meal unless you were not very hungry in the first place. The salmon preparation was a little reminiscent of herring. I may order the mussels and frites when I come again. Your best bet is to sit next to the window overlooking the lake if you can. read more

I went here with my friends from out of town and we had a nice time but I was very unimpressed with the food. We had a bit of the wait for the patio but it was totally fine because the bar was really nice. The atmosphere at this place is a 10/10 inside and out. They have a beautiful location minus the parking lot sitting between the patio and the lake. The drinks were good. They have a small but quality beer selection and a good wine list. However, the food is NOT very good and I was pretty unhappy with it for the price and portion size. This place gets a 1 for food and a 5 for ambiance. Hence my 3 star rating. read more

Brunch. 1pm. Sunday. I figured we were safe, there wouldn't be a wait so late in the day - "normal" people go to brunch at 10:30am, right?! HA. Foiled again. I was amazed to see how packed Sardine was at 1pm, with a 45 minute wait for a table for two. Wowzers. Expectations were high when we finally were led to a seat. I liked the ambiance from the start, warm and inviting yet elegant and classy. A panoramic view of the lake doesn't hurt, nor does the country-style wood floors, exposed beams and linen table cloths. We started with cocktails (it was after noon, after all) and I would go back simply for the bloody mary ($7). Just the right level of spice, thick and loaded with all the fixin's, properly served with a side of beer. Vegetarian brunch options are either a Belgian waffle or an Omelette, all reasonably priced at $8-10. The Omelette was fantastic, filled with arugula, mushrooms, scallions and cheese and served with tossed greens. BOTTOM LINE: I would definitely be in favor of putting this on the heavy brunch rotation. While I don't eat oysters, they offer an inviting happy hour deal ($3 drafts, 1/2 priced oysters, if I recall correctly) from 4-6pm and I love the space so I look forward to checking that out! read more

Sardine had all the makings of an excellent dining experience, but it fell a bit flat in my opinion. As a visitor to Wisonsin, I was very excited to see a Cheese Plate appetizer and ordered it immediately. When it arrived, I was SUPER disappointed that not ONE of the cheeses on the cheese plate was made in WISCONSIN! How do you have a cheese plate in the CHEESE STATE and not represent your own products? As for appetizers, the scallops were tasty but TINY. And an odd number of scallops (3), makes it difficult to share. The smelt was interesting and pretty good, not something I had had before. I had a salad as well and the dressing was really too oily. Overall, I was not impressed with Sardine. Especially due to the lack of Wisconsin cheese on the cheese plate! read more

Love the ambiance and location of this place. I passed it so many times when I'm headed to willie street or back to john Nolan. But I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was great, she had a reservation and as it normally goes, I was the first one to show up. Since I don't fancy sitting at a table alone I went to the parking lot area that had a beautiful view of the lake. I was here during one of those random sunny days in winter and actually, to entertain myself went on the frozen lake! Once my friends showed up we were promptly seated, drinks were happily ordered and then food. So here goes: * Bloody Mary: AWESOME, comes with a beer back and is jam backed with pepper and loaded with condiments. One lasted for a good three quarters of the meal. It was the perfect mix and cure for a hangover * Brioche French toast: for the price and serving size this was great! Sardine has a kind of ambiance of high class seafood but still casual, so I wasn't sure how big the portions were going to be. But with three very large slices of brioche bread that were cooked to moist on the inside crispy on the outside perfection and the sweet aprocote compote, with fruit and you CAN'T forget the lemon zest maple syrup. I was very satisfied with my meal. My other friends got a wide array of different entrees. Most of them were small for brunch and just okay. I will definitely be back here to try other things on the menu, but so far Sardine has my vote! Happy eating! read more

French elegance meets Madison casual cool...Sardine is in my top three favorite restaurants in Madison. Lively bar, great view, fun easy-going hosts/hostesses and waiters/waitresses, and rocking food. Best mussels I think I've ever had (and this is not something I run around joking about). I love the soups, the salads, and my favorite - the truffled pasta. One suggestion for improvement - the wine list could do with more variety in the $35-50 range. My only true criticism (and I realize this will go in the "pro" column for most readers) is that they have a lot of pork going on in there. It's hard to escape it in the menu and in the smell. But don't let that deter you. If you are looking for perfectly executed foody food with a uniquely Madison approach, you found your destination. read more

My favorite restaurant in Madison! Great views of Lake Monona and I love the menu. I can always count on a delicious meal for brunch and for dinner. Love the atmosphere and the service is great. I've taken my kids to brunch on several occasions and they love the food. Kids can draw on tables with crayons while waiting for food and generally they're very attentive to kids. Make sure you make reservations on weekends and evenings. Brunch is the best in town, which makes it a very popular place. read more

Fancy schmancy! My boyfriend's roommate was raving about the Sardine burger and we decided to check it out. The restaurant is divided into a bar area and the sit down fancy dinner area; the burgers are served only in the bar area. We ordered a house burger and a Sardine burger and they were both really good (although I liked the house burger better.) The Sardine burger has fig, gorgonzola, and spinach (?) on it while the house burger is more traditional with lettuce, tomato, your choice of cheese (I recommend sharp cheddar), and mayo. Both came with a side salad and a whopping serving of fries. I saw that they had a special on oysters for happy hour (M-F, 4-7pm) and $3 Stella Artois. I will definitely be back to check that out! read more