Seriously one of the best meals I've had - wonderful service, beautiful decor and a lovely view of the sunset. I highly recommend the flounder, and I will definitely come back the next I time I am in Madison. read more

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Great place with a grad view. The staff is also very friendly. The burger was very unconventional and delicious! One downside would be that they have limited menu options at sometimes read more

Wonderful happy hour. Really good food. Beautiful atmosphere. Can usually find parking. Love to bring friends from out of town here, or meet after work and get oysters. read more

After 39 yrs of life, this is the one place I would come to for breakfast or brunch every day if I could! It has the view, the food, the service and Madison is the best Midwestern city and I'm not even from there but will definitely be going back. read more

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We came back for brunch and it was even better than expected. Reasonably priced with a few, well-curated options. The service and atmosphere -- impeccable. Our out-of-town guests, who had toured several other food establishments in Madison with university faculty, said this was the best place they tried in Madison. Win! read more

Simply unreal. Just amazing! Just finished one of the best meals I've had this year. From the first moment I entered the restaurant I knew I was in the right place. A very thoughtful wine list with some of the less traveled parts of France (Loire, Beaujolais) represented. Fair prices. I had the salmon, which was perfectly done and deliciously seasoned with buerre Blanc, tomatoes, spinach and tomatoes. Unreal. Greatest salmon I've ever had. I also had the chicken liver toasts which were simply outstanding. Service was personable and didn't miss a beat. They have a gem in Michelle, who was more than happy to talk about wine, and also make some recommendations for other great spots in Madison. One of the best meals I've had this year. Food and service could not have been more on point. I will be back before I leave Madison this week. Fantastic! read more

Walk in (by yourself, even) grab a seat at one of the high tables around the bar area, or at the bar itself, on any weeknight and enjoy it. Or bring some friends on a weekend night, either way Sardine satisfies. Start with the confit salad. Its lovely and maybe french onion soup? Then move on to the moules frites. Have the appetizer portion - its plenty of food and will let you save room for desert....the molten choc cake is typically good., not what you'd expect in a higher end resto or your corner bistro in Paris for example, but tolerable (hehe). Work your way around the wines by the glass on the chalk board above the bar, or dive into a bottle from the well rounded wine list. No complaints about this place other than not availing myself of its charms frequently enough. read more

I've visited Sardine twice for Sunday brunch. I love the atmosphere and haven't had a miss on the food yet. The first time I was with a large group and we had reservations, were seated promptly, and my baked creamed eggs were heavenly. I think about 4 of us in our group of 12 ordered the same thing, and one person had to send their dish back- it was way undercooked. The waitress remedied this as quickly as possible with a new dish. The second time, I had a group of 4 and no reservations. We waited about half an hour (arriving around 11:30), which seemed reasonable, especially since the day was so lovely! Lots of runners and bikers out, spring is arriving in Madison! I had the arugula, brie, crimini, scallion omelette. It was very very good, especially the bites that contained all the ingredients, and the frites are delightful. One of my dining companions got the baked creamed eggs, and those were again the best dish on the table. Now I know not to stray next time! I would like to visit Sardine for dinner and sample the rest of the menu, but for brunch, Sardine is a solid winner. read more

Great brunch. Went here in August before a wedding. The host seated us and then forgot about us. About 10 minutes later he came by and apologized, and offered us free drinks, which was a nice gesture. Then after we ordered our food he said the entire meal would be free! The food was exactly what I wanted / expected. I had some sort of smoked salmon sandwich, which was great. The mussels were flavorful. The drinks were tasty. The prices are fine. I would go back anytime. read more

Hmm.... I would say be careful. I gave this place 3 stars because I do like the atmosphere (patio view of the lake is awesome) and I feel like if you ordered the right items it could be a great experience. You could also feel ripped off though, and that's what happened to me. At these prices, you shouldn't have to be that cautious. The Sardine Manhattan signature drink was very good. Not a huge bourbon fan myself but this was strong, smooth and smelled like gold. ***Warm Duck Confit Salad*** Saved the meal and a star. Incredibly flavorful. Fresh greens with tender duck, bacon, tomatoes, and a poached egg spilling over it all....oh wow. DISAPPOINTMENTS Scallop appetizer I ordered based on reviews and I forgot about the guy that said you get two scallops. At $17, that's annoying. The creme fraiche and rhubarb worked well and they were pretty darn good but I did not understand the super bitter broccoli rabe with it. Meh. To add insult to injury they serve this on a HUGE plate, emphasizing the fact that you're either going to be broke or hungry upon leaving. Charcuterie plate I'm no cured meat expert but nothing about this was that good, except the pate. read more

Happy hour with $3 house wine or Stella and half price East Coast oysters. This place is my jam. The space is beautiful, food is delicious and fresh, and there's something on the menu for everyone. One star off because over the past year the quality of service has really gone downhill. Also...they make a strong salty dog at brunch. read more

This place is really nice with a French bistro decor. The view on the patio of the lake was really nice. We had an excellent waiter. The food was really good, with a good selection of side vegetables. The Grenache dessert was unbelievably rich and delicious. read more

It was nice to sit outside and look at the lake. The food was good. The violet cocktail was very good. All was as expected. My only complaint is this: It is simply unacceptable for a restaurant that calls itself nice or upscale, or french, to have the same soap in their bathroom as in the bathrooms in rest stops on the highway. I guess it means that the place is wholly acceptable when my biggest complaint is about the soap in the restroom. read more

I've been to Sardine several times and they've never done wrong. Both breakfast and dinner are always excellent and when coupled with their beautiful interiors, superb waitstaff and gorgeous outlook on to Lake Monona it is perhaps the best restaurant in Madison. The only possible complaint I could make is that the appetizers might be a little over priced but are otherwise all excellent. And I don't believe you'll find better seafood in Madison. read more

Sardine - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is fabulous! Excellent cuisine amplified by excellent ambience and service. The oysters and Sardines apps were superlative! We also raved about the halibut main course. I would give this restaurant 10 stars if I could. read more

I've only been to Sardine one time. Brought a larger party for brunch to celebrate a graduation and the food was delicious. Delicious enough to make me with that I didn't have to feel so guilty about spending that much money. I would not say that this restaurant is overpriced for what you get in the least. Very artful and tasteful dishes with an impeccably designed space and wonderful service. Definitely near the top of the list when looking for a fancier option in Madison. read more

After 5 years living and frequenty dining out in San Francisco, I lived in Madison for 6 months while working on the Obama campaign. Another ex-San Franciscan I worked with and I would generally measure the Madison restaurants we frequented by the "Could this place stay in business in San Francisco?" yardstick. (Sorry to be a Bay Area food snob, bring on the hateration.) Sardine is one of the only restaurants that unquestionably passes that test. In fact it is better that this restaurant is in Madison, because if it went to San Francisco with food and service this good, you'd have to wait an hour for a table. The service is absolutely fantastic. I've had many different waiters here and they are all friendly, knowledgeable and go above and beyond for you. Want your martini with kalamata olives? No problem. Friend needs cornstarch for the cooking contest you're on your way to? Let me bring some out in a baggie from the kitchen. And the food is top notch. Especially the desserts. And the oysters. And the skatewing. Yum! read more

Sardine is my new favorite restaurant in Madison. We didn't have a reservation but we were seated quickly. The place looks really great inside- nice oyster bar, good bar setup, and a main dining area with white brick and stone walls and an exposed beam ceiling. I ordered the halibut and it was EXCELLENT. Everything on my plate was cooked to perfection and the flavor combinations were delicious. It was one of the best meals I've ever eaten. The cornmeal crust cheesecake is not to be missed. This place is awesome! read more

Wow! SNOBBY host. Very uninviting and made me want to leave the restaurant immediately.

The Steak Frites broke my heart. It was disgusting. A poor excuse for ribeye--and for $26!!!!! I will happily fork over at least that for a good steak, but this was neither good nor steak. I swallowed two bites nearly whole because they were so rubbery and tough (not to mention overcooked) and passed on the rest to my husband. I stole half of his burger, which he ordered from the bar menu, and it was actually quite good. My husband was equally grossed out by my steak and equally impressed by his burger. To be fair, our french fries were also very good. Moral of the story, at least as far as I'm concerned, is that the bar menu is a go and the "fine" dining menu is a gigantic no. The only thing I truly loved about this place was the chocolate almond ganache. That, and only that, was worth talking about. read more

I just went back to sardine last week and had dinner...hadn't been in a few years. Cocktails are still good but I have to say- it's gotten fairly stale from a menu standpoint. They need a dinner overhaul. The mussels and salmon were both fairly mediocre. Brunch is still pretty strong but I prob won't be back to dinner anytime soon. read more

Elegant dining room with a view of Lake Monona and heavenly food makes Sardine one of my favorite brunch spots in Madison. They take reservations and often times you can even walk in and get seated without having to wait. Just yesterday I walked in and immediately got a table right by the window. Sardine is supposed to be a French bistro, and it really looks the part. Decor is simple and classic. Doesn't hurt that there are fewer lake view restaurants in Madison than I can count on my hand(s - depending on what you count), so that automatically makes Sardine very special. Given all of this, I'd probably love this place even if it had average food. But the food is SO SO DELICIOUS! Without a doubt, my favorite thing to order is the baked creamed eggs. The cheese and prosciutto make it so incredibly perfect that I could probably eat six of them in one sitting. It comes with well dressed greens and a few slices of wonderful baguette. The specials are always great, and so are the sandwiches on the menu. The Bloody Mary is one of my favorites in Madison and it goes great with the oysters they serve. I am getting so hungry writing this! If you've never had brunch at Sardine, it needs to go on the top of your list! read more

I was really impressed with the taps and cocktail options. I started out with a Leffe beer. One of my favorites and VERY difficult to find on tap. I was there for a three-course dinner event. I started out with the cauliflower puree soup garnished with creme fresh and a little caviar. Wow. Seriously. Did I ever think any of those would make a good soup? Nope. But was it amazing? Yup. We were given an orange sherbet palette cleanser. Simple, delicious and a nice note to the dinner. Up next, I had the vegetarian option of mushroom risotto. I am not sure how to do this amazingness any justice. Perfectly cooked, rich in flavor and a very generous portion. Now comes my disappointment. Dessert. You are offering three. One, I can not even remember. The other little creme puffs with hazelnut ice cream and cheesecake. Well I get there for an 8pm dinner. And what happens? No cheesecake. I get it, you run out of stuff. However, there are only three options. You run out that early? I ended with the hazelnut ice cream and I hated it. It was SO cold. I get it, ice cream. But it was almost icy. Will I go back? Yes. The service was outstanding. The ambiance was great. read more

I have been here a couple of times, both in which I chose to sit outside on the veranda over looking Lake Monona. Atmosphere: 10/10. I give this a 5 star because it's delicious food and attentive service at an affordable price. Bon appetit! read more

Sardine - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Do you know how hard it is to find a good restaurant when you're in town for business for 1 (maybe 2) nights? I dined at Sardine this evening and had a great meal and great service. First, the space is large and looks very cool -- loft-like with a white tile/mirrored bar area. I dined alone at the bar and was very comfortable. The bartender said that it was a slow night (the bar was never full) and it was very nice. He was attentive and tailored his spiel to fit my needs ( I wanted a glass of wine and dinner, not oysters, desert and a lenghty discussion). I read reviews and ordered the skate wing along with a glass of rioja and a house salad. The food was amazing. The skate wing was tender and flavorful -- the lemon/caper sauce was perfect. The broccoli rabe was cooked al dente and just my style. The little (fingerling) potatoes that accompanied it were a perfect accompaniment. The salad (again, my favorite food) was very well done. I didn't think it was possible to f up a salad until J. Christopher's (see 1st review) but this salad was delicious...crunchy chick peas and even the thinly slice leeks were good with everything else (i hate raw onions). The dressing really complimented the greens (which I can eat all by themsleves) and the wine was perfecto (the rioja by the glass). It wasn't that expensive considering the quality and the quantity and if this place we're in Atlanta (where we have amazing restaurants), it would be packed every night. i'd dine at sardine every night if only it were only in the ATL. read more

When my friend reserved a table at Sardine for her birthday, I was pretty excited. I'd heard good things about it, and while it's a little above my usual going-out budget as a grad student, I was happy for an excuse to splurge. However, I wasn't impressed at all. It has a nice atmosphere, some interesting wines on the list, but the food and service, while not offensive, were just fine. As the two star rating explanation above states appropriately, "Meh." First off, we had a table for 10, and they set us up in a strange L-shape that made for awkward conversation. Not a huge deal, but when I nicely asked the waitress if there was anything we could do, given that there was a lot of empty space around us, she just looked at me, perplexed. On to the food. My husband and I split the blueberries and belgian endive salad with spiced pecans, purplette onions, Roquefort cheese in champagne vinaigrette to start. Sounds tasty, right? I think it epitomizes my experience - multiple fancy-sounding foods, locally sourced, paired well - it all sounds good in theory, but ended up being rather boring. It was good enough to eat, but wasn't something that I would pay $9 again to eat. Similarly, my entree, orechiette with broccoli rabe, oven roasted cherry tomatoes, roasted garlic, niçoise olives and parmesan was bland, extraordinarily oily, and disappointing. read more

Some of the best food, but some of the slowest service. I loved everything I tried: cheese plate, charcuterie plate, steak frites, and pear tart. The cheese plate was very small for the price and compared to similar restaurants in Madison, but the cheeses were delicious and served with what were literally the best grapes I have had in my life. I think the grapes, butter (yes, I tried it straight, don't judge me!), and tart were the highlights of my meal. I was told I got the last slice of the pear tart, for which I thanked my lucky stars, because it was divine--topped with toasted almonds and with almond extract throughout, tender and flavorful pear and a flaky, buttery crust. It's a dessert I'll remember for a long time! Unfortunately, we were seated in a cold corner of the restaurant at a rickety table. The waitress who brought out our cheese & charcuterie plates didn't explain to us what any of the items were, and didn't give us cheese or spread knives. Our steaks were brought out without steak knives either and the server left immediately, and because we were seated in the corner with our view obstructed by people waiting for the bar, I couldn't find a waiter to flag down, so I just dug in with my butter knife. Thankfully after several minutes our water noticed and brought us knives. Our waiter was friendly and courteous, I just would have preferred more explanation of dishes ($15 appetizers and $30 entrees kinda require this) and quicker service. I will give Sardine another try because the food was so dang good, so hopefully my experience was just an off night for their service. read more

Fantastic food and service. Had creamed eggs with spinach, prosciutto and gruyere cheese with a salad. Great atmosphere and on Lake Monona. Will return. read more

Really lovely atmosphere. Wide open with large windows at the front. The restaurant is well-laid out and a pleasure to be in. There is a large, comfortable bar, with bar tables set behind it. It's a great space for a group; there is a lot of room to move around in. I've frequented Sardine for brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour. The happy hour is sort of a let down, Stella and house wines are slightly less expensive, so it's still on the pricey side. For real meals, their food and drinks are fine, but nothing special. Like most places in Madison, the staff is friendly and warm. read more

the best dining experience i have had in a long time! (there was covid) the food was great, the woman who seated me was very nice and visited for awhile and the waiter incredible. he helped me with wine pairings, dinner suggestions and even dessert. i was thrilled and will definitely be back. read more

Yum yum yum. Sardine was great. The service was impeccable, exactly what it should be at a fine dining establishment, with the exception husband ordered the wine and she brought it to me to taste first, but whatever, that doesn't matter. We started with the scallops, which were two PERFECTLY cooked scallops with pork belly and a celeriac potato puree. They were amazing. We were going to skip the appetizer and each have a salad, but were told the salads we wanted were pretty big. So did the scallops and the warm duck confit salad. The dressing on the salad was a bit too acidic, the duck not super warm, and the poached egg on top cooked well, but not warm. The salad wasn't that large, think we could have each had a salad, but glad it gave us the opportunity to try the scallops. Husband had the hanger steak which was phenomenal. I had the ribeye and frites. The frites were incredibly good. Perfectly cooked, perfect seasoning. Steaks that we ordered were cooked perfectly, and I was suprised my ribeye steak wasn't too fatty. The one bad thing was they had the door to the patio open all night, and there were bugs in the restaurant, with my husband getting multiple flies in his wine, and in our water. read more

Sardine is our go-to brunch spot. It's always busy but if you call the night before or morning of for a noon-ish spot you're good. Tie for best Bloody Mary in the city with Graze. Food is great bistro Belgian-style fare (muscles, frites, etc.), great oysters as well. Decor is a similar French/Belgian seaside bistro feel, with lots of light. Staff is always great. read more

I finally had a chance to check this place out, although it was just for a professional networking happy hour. Regardless, the atmosphere is really nice and the service was pleasant. I guess the only complaint I have is their beer tap handles. They use fashionable knobs that all look the same and lack any sort of labeling. Sure, it looks pleasing to the eye, but I want a beer and I don't know what you have on tap without bothering you to verbally list everything. Unfortunately, this meant I drank what everyone else was drinking because I didn't want to be that guy in a buys bar taking up too much of the bar tenders time. Now I just need to come by for a meal and truly experience what Sardine is all about. read more

This is hands-down our favorite place to eat in Madison. Going to Sunday brunch is a tradition (although we don't live there anymore - when we move back we will resurrect this!) They have some of the best quality food we have ever eaten - really cool ambiance too. If you sit at the bar you can get their "bar menu" - which is amazing and not as pricey as what you'd pay in the dining area for dinner. Our favorite item is the mussels. They are the best. Even living in Seattle now we have yet to find better mussels, which is quite a compliment. Their drinks are great, sometimes it's hard to get in or service is slow because it's such a popular spot. The wait is totally worth it! read more

A really decent meal, Sardine managed to give me my fish fix, even in the middle of a stark Wisconsin winter. The evening started out with a fantastic Veltliner at the bar, though I was tempted by the great beer menu (Anchor Steam Ale? In Wisconsin?) Then, onto the $35 prix fixe: Lobster and fennel ravioli in a rich, creme fraiche-y sauce really knocked my socks off. To follow that up, sea bass en papillote (steamed in parchment paper) with greens, potatos, and herb butter. The preparation was excellent but the fish could have been a little more flavorful. Definitely not bad for Madison, but not great for the price I paid. Dessert was a series of sorbets, all bursting with flavor, but a little over-frozen (little ice flakes and such, as if freezer-burned). I liked it and would definitely come back for lunch, but might hold off on coming back for dinner. read more

Great food, great cocktails, great beer selection, great service. I really like this place. I actually went here for my classy bachelorette party a couple years back. :) When they open up the outdoor seating onto the lake it is like paradise. Last evening we dined at Sardine and shared piccolo fritto which was a wonderful combo of asparagus, eggplant, cauliflower, and zucchini. We also sampled the lobster croquettes which were phenomenal. After that, we were quite full so we shared the house salad and shared a penne with smoked salmon dish. The salmon was really great and the textures and flavors in the pasta dish worked very well together. For dessert we shared an amazing hazelnut chocolate ganache with crunchy crust and caramel. I'll be back. read more

This has to be the best restaurant in Madison! A very relaxed open atmosphere in the Machinery Row loft. I love the look of the space - exposed beams and ductwork, gorgeous tile and pewter bar. I also really like the flip out windows at the kitchen - you can look in and see what is going on. Checkout this article for why it made the Best Eats 2006 at the Isthmus newspaper. http://www.isthmus.com/eats/article.php?article=5178 The food is out of this world - french bistro. Don't miss the warm duck confit salad, skate wing, and steak w/ frites. All are delicious. I have not had a bad dish there yet. The prices are very reasonable for someone used to Chicago restaurant pricing. Newly opened, the place is very popular. In fact, at one visit we had a 5pm reservation (due to an event that evening) and at 4:45, there were about 10 people waiting to get in! If you like Sardine, you should also check out their breakfast & lunch place, Marigold Kitchen, which is right off the square. read more

The family, girlfriend, and I went there for bruch. They did a great job of converting the old factory beautiful dining space, and the view of Lake Monona is spectacular. I had the spinach and cherry tomato omelet, which was great. So did my sister, and the waitress made a big fuss about getting her a whole new meal when a small bug was found in the greens. Not that it bothered us, we're used to that with organic vegetables, but it showed they have committeed service. They also appear to have a good bakery selection. Brunch is very reasonably priced, which is why we went early in the day. I still can't open up my wallet for dinner there. read more

Excellent food. The steak frites was very good, as is the brunch that we have gone to several times. The belgian waffles are SO good! I'm trying to figure out what is in them, because there is a certain taste that I can't figure out. They are addictive! Omelets are awesome, too. Not the overcooked, rubbery kind that restaurants tend to serve. And they come with a salad and frites! Perfect. Service on the other hand, is not so great. On our last visit, I asked the waitress for more coffee twice and she kept forgetting or disappearing. Finally, *after* she brought back our change, she magically appeared with the coffee. Sigh. read more

Some astounding cocktails, and truly great dinner. I'm shocked to learn they do brunch as well, and I'll strive to attend. One of the best meals my family has ever had included their entree duck confit, their yellowtail tuna, and the strawberry salad. Perfectly prepared meats and seasoned foods, and experimental in preparation while still being recognizable as fine dining. read more

Sardine - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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