My wife and I really enjoyed this place. It was our 1 year anniversary, and we both had been drinking at State Street Brats earlier in the day, but i can still comfortably say that this was one of the more memorable meals i have had in Madison hat didn't involve cheese curds. We started with the oysters. We got a mix of east and west coast oysters. The oysters were fresh, always a plus, and what i liked about them is that they didn't provide cocktail sauce which too many people use to drown out the taste. They provided a onion vinegar mix, with lemon on the side, that forced you to taste the oyster, that is if you didn't swallow it whole. We split a very simple salad, and both ordered glasses of wine. They have a reasonable wine selection, with good choice. The beer selection looked excellent, but i ended up going with one of their specialty cocktails. I see something with Death's Door Gin in it and I want to drink it. Our main course were the veal medallions and the whitefish. The whitefish had bacon lardons which gave the fish a very aromatic smell. i think it may have made the dish for me. I would order it again in a heartbeat. The veal medallions came with polenta and was outstanding. We pigged out or dessert and ordered two dishes. She got the plum cobbler and i got this chocolate log with caramel and ganache. I won, hands down. The chocolate thing'am'ajob was one of the best, and richest, desserts i have ever had. My wife had a taste and then nearly tackled me for the remainder. I had to give her more since it was our anniversary, but i was not happy about it (hey, I'm just being honest). Service was excellent. The decor was industrial, open and very cool. We had a reservation (i would suggest having one), but they also had a bar at which you could eat. I didn't give it a 5th star only because it was my first time eating there and i need to try more things there before i give it the fifth star. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Just had an amazing experience here. Normally, I don't write a review but Jim, the waiter, delivered such a great experience I had to. Everything from recommending drinks to recommending desserts and wine pairing, Jim was on point. He never made me feel like I couldn't ask a question or ask for a recommendation. He turned a good experience into an amazing one. 11/10, I would recommend this place if Jim is a part of the experience. read more

We had a special night planned to celebrate a birthday and anniversary between 6 of us. We were served our main dish 90 minutes after being seated with only an apology from the waitress that they were backed up. No offer of bread, which is not free at this restaurant. After being clearly distressed, the waitress offered desserts and drinks to be comped. We couldn't wait for that since it was now over 2 hours sitting at the table. What was more upsetting was the lack of concern or empathy from the manager. The meals, while small, were good. One was not. We won't be back any time soon. read more

Beautiful space. Delicious cocktails and oysters. Great service. But the food was too fussy and expensive. I would skip the meal and just come for drinks and appetizers. read more

Very good food!!! Very professional and fancy food! The steak was a little to salty but otherwise everything's else I ordered was delicious. Our server was so nice and very accommodating. read more

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Really great bistro style brunch spot close to the water. Awesome bloody mary's. All of our dishes were on point and sizable. Really strong establishment worth checking out. read more

While the food was always good here, this restaurant is SO loud, due to all the hard surfaces, that it is impossible to hold a conversation at the table. Also, they do not take reservations, so for Sunday brunch, expect a wait of an hour or more. Give this place a pass if you want to retain your sanity! read more

Had a family get together here and it was a superb meal! Our food had complex flavor and texture profiles. Ample parking in the back of the restaurant which was lakeside. I'm sure in summer the spot is spectacular. The majority of my family thought the portions were a bit small regardless of price and the salmon was a bit too fishy. I would otherwise be back. Great wine read more

This is a complicated review. Service was distressingly slow (over a 30 minute wait for the salad course) but food was great. It was just a strange experience and I'm torn. read more

My party of three enjoyed dinner at Sardine on a surprisingly busy Tuesday night. Cocktail menu was inventive and prices are similar to other Madison cocktail bars. We tried the charcuterie plate and while it was good, there could have been a bit more to it or at least more crostini for the duck liver mousse. Our server recommended the duck confit salad. That, with another small plate, could have definitely been a meal in itself. It was delicious, but the bacon vinaigrette definitely added some greasiness to the salad. Salmon, steak frites and pork tenderloin were our entrees and they were all very flavorful. Our server was polite, attentive and helpful. I agree with other reviewers that the service seemed a bit slow; we waited awhile for our entrees. All in all, it's a welcoming space with a cozy atmosphere and lovely food. read more

Brunch: Ok, brunch menu is limited for me (lactose). But I ordered their CRAB, BACON AND ROCK SHRIMP CAKES - holy yum. I'm not really a fan of "fish" stuff for the AM times, but this was fried and crunchy, good crab, shrimp, and bacon chunks. Tasted smoky, really good, held together well. Expensive, but good. Beurre Blanc on the side, and good without it. Taste 5/5, Price 2/5, Total 4/5 read more

Great food and seafood! I got the pan roasted haddock and it was amazing! We tried the oysters as well and for my first time having oysters I thought they were pretty good. Overall, Sardine is a very beautiful restaurant next to the lake. The food and service were both phenomenal. read more

Sardine - Pan roasted haddock - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The service was extremely slow, almost an hour between appetizers and entree, and a half hour wait for desserts that had been prepared hours before.The waitress was courteous but helpless. Sardine is not vegetarian friendly as it claims, having only a salad and a pasta dish for non-carnivores. The green salad was fresh and tasty, the fettuccine dish was tiny and expensive, made with mustard greens whose taste I and another diner found unpleasant. The fries were good, and dining companions liked the mussels and octopus. But we all hated having to spend nearly three hours in a very noisy barn-like space, where it was difficult to carry on a conversation. The manager, after trying to normalize the situation "our patrons expect a leisurely three-hour dining experience" did apologize and comped our desserts and drinks. Suggestions: offer a few more veggie options, cut down the noise level and wait time, and stop trying to fake a New York City experience, if that means overcrowding, overpricing, and waiting for hours. Good food, comfortable surroundings, and an unpretentious Midwestern friendly vibe would be much more attractive. read more

Terrible experience. The service was incredibly slow. It took 90 minutes for our food to arrive, and then they blamed us. They said that because we ordered oysters that our food would come in courses. The portions were so small after waiting for so long that we'll have to go to culvers for food. The price for what we ended up receiving was shameful. I wouldn't recommend this for anyone. read more

Finally made it to Sardine, a good friend from NYC has been raving about it since she went last August. I'm sorry i didn't go sooner! I had the swordfish and my dinner partner had salmon - both outstanding. After my first martini, which was good I tried their Scandinavian Summer cocktail with Acquivit and that was wonderful! We had a tomato soup with chili oil and seeds? Good but not the best part of our dinner. I'll be working in Madison thru early October and will go back before leaving town. 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

We sat in their outdoor seating area due to the nice weather. Their brunch menu was difficult to choose but we went with their crab/shrimp cake along with a charcuterie with local meats to die for; even their foie gras was in house! All the veggies/folage was fresh, their champagne selection was a steal. The cherry on top was our knowledgeable and attentive waitress. Must go when in Madison! 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

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

Mediocre dinner experience. We had a reservation for 8 and did not end up being seated until after 8.30. This was okay as atmosphere in the restaurant is great and the bar was nice too. Service was pretty slow, but restaurant was very busy. Food was definitely well overpriced for what it was, as the flavours weren't spectacular nor were the portions (this coming from a European). To sum up, I'd say this restaurant labels itself as gastronomical haute cuisine, when in reality it is more of a nice venue with *just good* food. Would probably not return for dinner due to prices. 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

Really fantastic atmosphere! Their house winds are remarkably delicious and the suggestions by the wait staff were fantastic paying for my food. Everything was absolutely delicious and the wait staff was just lovely and very accommodating. I would recommend this restaurant anytime read more