Absolutely amazing each time I go. The staff is wonderful. I was able to walk in while they were busy as could be and enjoy dining at the communal table this last time. Very nice if you're walking in the area or out with some girlfriends and decide to have a delectable dining experience during regular business hours. In case you're wondering, I didn't share food with people I didn't know, the table is what's shared it's actually an interesting experience to share a table with strangers and know it could fill up and you could be elbow to elbow with someone. There is a great view however, it would be amazing if the dining area was right off the lake, perhaps even two levels read more

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Delectable! The ambiance etc is wonderful. Best restaurant in Madison. Frites are good. Omelette was amazing. Service also perfect. read more

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Have you ever had food so good you find yourself thinking about it a week later? This was the case for me with brunch at Sardine. I took a chance and tried the Savory Steel-Cut Oats, and they were so amazingly wonderful that I fantasize about moving to Madison so that I could have brunch at Sardine more often than once in a blue moon. My dining companion enjoyed their Brioche French Toast, which I sampled. High marks for the local fruit compote, which sets their French toast apart from excellent French toast at other establishments. Our server was terrific, and the restaurant is simply beautiful. We had a table next to the lakeside windows, and couldn't have enjoyed the meal more. It looks like there is outdoor lakeside seating too, although we were there in February and they sensibly don't serve outside during the Wisconsin winter. The pastries looked fabulous, as did their oysters, but our entrees were so filling that we couldn't even think about trying one of either. That said, the restaurant comped my dining companion a butterscotch pot de creme in celebration of her birthday. It was divine! Intense butterscotch flavor, with chantilly cream to balance it out. Thanks, Sardine! You're worth driving from out of state to enjoy! read more

Sardine - Brioche French Toast with local fruit compote, crème fraiche, and maple syrup. - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Ambiance and location is a five. But lots of buts. Had the special bisque. Tastes well. But almost like warm. Soup should be hot unless it's gazpacho! Service was average. Poor busboy pick up time for a bistro and we went early so yes it was busy and lots of staff but it lacked something. Tried the wood fired shrimp that was ok nothing write home about. Ok the mulles fritters. Off off. Soaking in a cream wants a beee sauce. Been to many French bistros in my life and this was off. Maybe it was a single bad weather/ occasion. French fries dry and cold. What was the best was the salmon sandwich. Price point and delicious. Oh the cocktail ////spouse had it ,,,,,,pretty good and made the ambience of the place a bit elevated a little classy ,,,,,,simple but it was wonderful and taste worth remembering Also they have a beautiful wood burning oven. Not fully used for menu. Next time I'll try the pork. Would be nice if the French bread was toasted. It was chewyyyyyy and an up-charge. We are not in California we are in the Midwest. Bread is bountiful here. read more

Sardine - Milk sauce. Not great. - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The vibes were really nice. But the entrance was so confusing to find. The welcome table was in the middle of the restaurant. So when you enter you enter from the back of the building and then you have to go through the restaurant to the middle table and then you will be seated. But other than the beginning the vibes were there and it is a very cute brunch spot with a view on the lake. Smoked Salmon Sandwich 9/10 it was good overall but I wish they would put more salmon on the sandwich. It was more bread than anything House Burger 9/10 it was a big juicy burger. It was really good just kinda of messy. Charcuterie Plate 8/10 It was good but it only came with a small amount of bread. So by the time we had finished the bread there was a significant amount of the other items left Spinach, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.. Omelette 9/10 Overall a good omelette. Very standard no complaints nothing bad nothing amazing read more

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Can't believe I waited so long to try out this wonderful place. Location is a bit tricky with construction and there only being one way in but that's the only minor downfall. Our server was friendly and attentive. We sat in the bar area for happy hour. The oysters were the best I've ever had. So fresh and crisp and the shallot oil really adds to the flavor. Next we ordered our main dish of mussels and fries. Can't express enough how delicious and filling that meal is! The smaller size is plenty for two let alone one. Overall, can't wait to come back for happy hour again and enjoy the French bistro atmosphere. read more

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My favorite spot in Madison. Perfection from the staff to the food to the wine list to the ambiance. read more

Sardine - Skatewing - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Sardine was phenomenal. Truly a gem. I'm not typically a pork person, but as we were seated we walked by one in the window and it looked phenomenal- turns out it was! We also shared a charcuterie plate which was lovely. The board as a whole was great but the standout was the mustard. I know that sounds a bit silly to say but really the mustard is SO. GOOD. Service was friendly but quite slow, which is why I am going with 4 stars. I completely understand staffing issues in the current restaurant industry but it was over 20 minutes before we were able to put in even a drink order, and to have a truly 5 star experience that wait time would need to decrease. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu! read more

Sardine - Charcuterie - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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please put chicken on the menu. Many of us can't eat shellfish or don't like duck. For oyster and mussels lovers this is a good place to go. The service is great. The food is overpriced. read more

Solid dining establishment situated by the water near downtown Madison. I came with a group of 9 and they had the table ready for us a few minutes prior to our reservation time. For the most most part, we had a good dining experience. Personally, I think the food is good, but not great. We ordered a bunch of appetizers to share. The ones I would recommend are the wood-grilled octopus, crispy cauliflower, and the poached pear salad. For entrée, I opted for the cassoulet, which was just fine. It didn't really stand out in any way. read more

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Stopped through here on a roadtrip for brunch. The restaurant was definitely packed. The restaurant was very cute and French inspired. I had the goat cheese, tomato, and bacon omelette that came with frites and a salad, and it was so yummy! Glad to have stopped through. read more

Came here for Sunday brunch with friends and absolutely loved it! We had made a reservation beforehand and were seated right on arrival, staff was very kind and attentive too. I ordered the arugula omelette, which was delicious and a decently sized portion (also came with frites). One of my friends had the french toast and the other had the moules frites, both of which they enjoyed. We were then brought a dessert menu and had to have the salted caramel chocolate mousse, and it was fantastic. Overall, highly recommend, seems perfect for a date night or smthg but won't break the bank. read more

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Excellent. We had a wonderful birthday dinner here and look forward to returning. The food was delicious and atmosphere cozy. Good wine and cocktail selection. Service very good too. read more

I've been to Sardine a few times now for brunch and it is always consistently good. The atmosphere and service are lovely. This time I shared the plateau du frontage (really nice & diverse assortment of cheeses) & ordered the oysters, half a Belgian waffle and the Mushroom-Brie Omelette. The stars of the show, for me, were the Belgian Waffle, the oysters and the cheese plate. The waffles might be my favorite thing about this restaurant; slightly crunchy on the outside and fluffy inside. When they said Door County cherries on top, I said "Yes please!" The creme fraiche and syrup are delicious too. The oysters were fresh and briny (I got one of each offered for the day). My omelette was good but could have used a little more cheese. Still delicious, though. Another successful brunch at Sardine, with fabulous and attentive service! read more

Sardine - Oysters! - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Ate sea bass and became sick within 10 minutes- nausea, redness and dizziness. Notified manager and health department. Manager comped meal. Husband ate same meal and had stomach issues. read more

Wasn't sure what to expect when our friends brought us to this place, but we were blown away! The location is really fun, right on the lake, with some great views. The interior is very nicely decorated, perfect for a date night or nice meal with the family. Their kitchen is open concept, so you can see right in, which is really fun. Service was pretty decent. Everyone was really friendly, although it took us a while to get our menus after we were seated, and we didn't see our server too much during the meal. Which isn't always a bad thing, and it was busy, so I don't really blame them. The food was super good. Everything I tried (muscles, olives, oeufs, and burger) was crazy tasty. We went during happy hour, so it was all decently priced as well, which we really appreciated. Looking forward to going back in the future! read more

Sardine - Burger (split with my wife, so you're seeing a half portion right now). It was really good and the fries were perfect - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Excellent meal. I'm gluten sensitive and the server offered to adjusted/combine two different menu items and the end result was delicious. Not a quiet dining experience but few places are these days. read more

Happy #ThankYouThursday! Yelp celebrates local businesses everyday, but today, we want to spread a little extra love. #ThankYouThursday is a time to share about businesses we're grateful for and I'm very grateful for Sardine. I dined here for the first time a few weeks back and immediately fell in love with it. Walking into the restaurant, I was in awe of the atmosphere. It feels like you're in Europe, looking over the water. We loved the vibe of the bar so opted to sit there. The service was great and the staff was super friendly! We went during happy hour so we got a deal on wine and some appetizers. The wine selection was great and I was super happy with what I got. The appetizers were great as well! The bread and butter was perfectly fresh, fluffy, and flavorful. We also ordered oysters, which I was pretty skeptical about. I'm not an oyster person at all but really liked these! The olives and oeufs mayonnaise stole the show for me. I would order these every time I come, so delicious! Sardine is said to be one of the best restaurants in Madison and I totally agree. Check it out if you haven't already! read more

The tuna and melon was one of the best bites I've had in Madison. Incredible balance and harmony of flavors and textures. West coast oysters were stunning. Aperitif and brown butter old fashioned were super excellent. Tomato and plum salad had no seasoning, though was tasty with salt and pepper. Cod was flaky and cooked to perfection. The veg underneath left a lot to be desired and were slightly cold. Beautiful restaurant inside. read more

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My first time at Sardine, and it did not disappoint. A great hidden gem with a great view of the lake. The interior has a rustic feel with the brick, but bright and airy given the location. For Brunch we ordered the Duck Confit salad, half waffle, and Baked Creamed Eggs. The dressing on the salad was great, and egg was poached to perfection. The baked creamed eggs are not something I would've typically ordered, but had to try! They tasted great, and with the bread it all tied together very nicely. The waffle was okay, due to the berries it was a bit soggy. Next time I'd definitely order it without the macerated fruit as the waffle itself had great flavor. Definitely will be back! read more

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I've been coming here for brunch for many years and it is always a delight! I've had most of the menu, but I was inspired to write a review finally after trying the French onion soup - WOW. I normally do one of the omelette or the croque madame. Highly recommend waiting to choose your entree until after you've heard the special - it's usually pretty interesting. This is a nice place to eat alone at the bar, but better if you have a friend that wants to share plates :) Good service, awesome that they do reservations. Beautiful restaurant space, especially if you can get an indoor table with lake views or an outdoor table. While I have been here for dinner before (moules frites or bust), brunch is really the winning meal in my heart. Don't forget to get a Bloody Mary! They are one of the best in Madison. read more

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Brunch with friends on Saturday was lovely! If we had wanted a quieter space we would have reserved a table in the back, and we may do that next time. Lively, fun atmosphere, good and friendly service, delicious cocktails/brunch drinks, and yummy food. If I order the salty beet salad again, I'll be sure to order something crunch to balance out all of the yummy crema fraiche. So good.... read more

Went last night, the night before Valentines Day. We had Oysters Wine and the Olive Bites. We got there just before 5 PM. Still a couple places at the bar and plenty of tables open. Oysters were great as were the Olives, which are served warm- small bowl of olive assortment. They have a very good happy hour between 4 and 6. I'll be honest- I go more for the ambience/environment than anything else. Sardine is usually packed any night of the week; best to get there before 6. Our server was fabulous; wish I would have gotten her name! read more

I visited Sardine for the first time for dinner on Wednesday. It was quite busy. The staff was welcoming and the environment was very classy but not in the least bit pretentious. My friend and I began with the chicken liver toast and the moules frites. The tart fruity sauce that came with the liver toast was a creative and delicious. The mussels were very good and had a welcome anise flavor. The fries were crispy and well-seasoned. Next we had the duck confit and frise. Very tasty. Before our meal I ordered a bottle of Pouilly Fuissé.. it was a splendid wine. I would have liked to have a bottle chiller. For my entrée I ordered the choucroute de poisson. This comes with one sea scallop, a small piece of salmon, and 3 shrimp. The first bite I took was of the scallop.. it was delicious as was the sauce. Unfortunately, it was downhill from there. The salmon lacked flavor, color, and was a bit overcooked. The shrimp were horrible. They were flavorless, small, tough, and very obviously overcooked on sight. The cabbage that came with it was tasty but took up too much space on the dish. The sauce was incredible, but I could have used more of it. My friend ordered the seared salmon.. it came out luke warm. I politely informed our waiter and he apologized and came out with a new plate within 5 minutes. Otherwise, the flavors on her plate worked very well together. I ended dinner with a bourbon cream liquor on the rocks and an espresso, while my friend ordered an espresso martini. The espresso martini was extremely tasty as was the cream liquor. Overall, I would certainly return to try the brunch menu and other items on the dinner menu. The service and staff were great. I was disappointed in my main course but I do wish they'd add a scallop dish to the menu! read more

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Hidden Brunch Gem near UW Campus When visiting the UW Campus on a busy weekend, finding a brunch spot is near impossible. We were thrilled to discover this French bistro with views of Lake Monana from its outdoor deck. The brunch cocktail menus features favorites like Bloodv Marys but with a twist for the the adventurous. The Brunch menus has a selection of French inspired choices including egg sandwiches, salads, and modules frites. Everything we ordered was excellent and the prices were quite reasonable. If you are from the Twin Cities, it will remind you of salut. read more

Sardine - Beet bloody Mary - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We had a great experience here recently for a dinner meal! To start, we ordered the goat cheese app with some bread. Surprisingly good and heavy. Then for the main dishes we had whitefish from Lake Superior and steak and frites, with some extra frites. Both were delicious, the aioli that came with the side of frites was just ok, definitely not the best but the frites were crispy. The whitefish dish was also flavorful! The environment/ambience is excellent as well! Tall ceilings, white brick, great service. If you sit near a window or outside you can also see the lake. read more

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Favorite brunch place! I love nothing more than getting a reservation along the windows on a Sunday morning in the summer. The French bistro ambiance mixed with the refurbished building is just a great vibe. Do not skip the cocktails either- they are so good!! For brunch you must start with the Beet Bloody Mary, it is both beautiful and delicious! They usually have an amazing omelet on special with frites and greens, but I usually have a hard time passing up the moules frites. The broth the mussels are served in.. I could drink it! It is the perfect balance of creaminess, fennel, and herbs. I think about it often. I always like to try a few oysters when I'm there as well, I prefer the briny east coast ones but getting a variety is always fun. Overall Sardine will not disappoint. I have always had tasty food, drinks, and great service. read more

Sardine - Oysters! - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I came here for a nice dinner to celebrate my birthday a couple of months ago. My fiance made the reservation and were seated pretty promptly. It was semi-busy for a Sunday evening and I evidently shared a birthday with many other patrons tonight since I heard a lot of birthday singing throughout the night. I ordered the mulled wine, the cauliflower appetizer (it was essentially just a deep fried cauliflower), mussel frites for my entree, and a mousse (topped with whipped cream and brittle) for dessert. Honestly, the waitress that we had wasn't particularly friendly. The food wasn't too impressive to me either. The mulled wine was great--it was pretty warm and tasty, and what I needed for the cold winter night. The cauliflower that we ordered we had thought it would be some kind of salad but instead it was fried with olives added (seemingly random) to the dish that didn't really tie-in the flavor, the mussels were okay, in a white wine and butter broth, and the dessert was fine too. The waitress was nice enough to comp the dessert (the reservation was made letting them know we were there for a birthday celebration). I feel like my experience overall was really only okay. I'm not sure I would come back. I felt that the food was over-priced for the mediocre service and food. read more

Sardine was my favorite spot I visited in Wisconsin. As someone from France, I have a very high standard for French food, and Sardine met all of my expectations. It was definitely busy on a Sunday brunch, and we had to wait 20 minutes to get a high top table, so I would definitely recommend putting in a reservation if you're planning on going. Even when busy, the atmosphere was very charming, and I felt happy to be there. The service was also lovely, with our server keen to recommend dishes. We started with oysters, which were large, flavorful, and delicious. We then went on to my favorite meal possibly ever: moules frites. These were probably the best moules frites Ive ever had in the United States. The mussels were seasoned with a light white wine and cream sauce with a mix of herbs and spices. It was exactly like my favorites mussels in Normandy. The sauce was also perfect to dip my fries in when I was done with my mussels, I was incredibly impressed. My brother will be moving to the city in a few months, so I'm excited to come back here when I visit him! And I'll be sure to make a reservation ahead of time this time. read more

Sardine sure sweeps you off your feet! The airy, east coast, ocean view-vibe is so captivating & romantic. The service also makes you feel like royalty. Shout out to the whole experience all around. We started with an amazing warm montchevre goat cheese spread- I will be going back for! I also had the duck confit salad which was and incredibly rich, (yet surprisingly light) super flavorful and filling. Just perfect! I can't wait to be back for the brunch everyone speaks of! read more

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The food is always fresh and yummy! The staff is very attentive as well and the place is very pretty. It can get a little loud though.

Sardine has a really nice atmosphere and it's right on Lake Monona. I've been here for brunch a couple times, and have had great experiences! It's a great spot to bike to, with a BCycle docking station right next to it! read more

Sardine - Yogurt and (Half) Belgian Waffle - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

absolutely phenomenal brunch spot for my bday!!!! it was a gorgeous day and we were lucky enough to sit by the window facing the water while still chilling in the ac. it was so hard figuring out what to order! i need to come back to try the warm duck confit salad. my bf ordered the smoked salmon tartine special which had a fishy aftertaste but was unlike anything i had before. the presentation is just stunning! i really liked my omelette as well - you could really taste the butter in the omelette and the goat cheese really pulled everything together. the fries were crispy and i had high hopes for them but i could tell they weren't super fresh. my friend got the shrimp cakes which were also phenomenal - crispy but also filled with so much flavor. i also need to get this when i come back next. they gave me free dessert (a blueberry meringue) which was light and the perfect end to brunch. the pastries were good too and all came from madison sourdough. i was disappointed in my drink and def should've gotten the aperol spritz instead. overall, gorgeous ambiance, great service, and delicious food!!!! read more

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Sardine is THE spot for brunch. Consistently delicious food and service. The shrimp cakes were delicious and came with a side of eggs and salad. The specials make a perfect table appetizer. Highly recommend trying the shrub soda is you are looking for a non-alcoholic beverage. My only regret was not getting one of their in house pastries. Next time! read more

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Incredible food incredible service love this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yummmmmmmmmmmmm read more

SO GOOD!!!! This place is easily my favorite upscale place to eat in Madison now! The ambience of the restaurant is very pretty and the staff are all very friendly. My friend and I had a really good time enjoying the food and the view of the lake. Moles Frites: 10/10 the sauce was so creamy and tasty! The mussels were well cooked and went well with the sauce. The fries were so crispy and freshly fried! Lavender Creme Brulee: 10/10 the lavender flavor was very prominent and sweet in creme brulee and it paired very well with the blueberry sorbet! Absinthe Frappe: 9/10 I've never had absinthe before but I think it paired very well with the mint and was a refreshing drink. read more

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This is the place in Madison. Excellent food and superb cocktails. Service is first class. Don't miss happy hour! Kelsey and Corina Rock!!!!!! read more

ONLY FIVE STARS? This place merits way more than that, so here ya go: ***************************. . . Okay, that's how many stars this place merits. I took myself to brunch here, and I have to say, the duck salad was mind-blowingly delicious. Paired with a glass of some nice French bubbly, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. The setting on Lake Monona is perfection. It was so damn freaking awesome I came back a couple weeks later and ordered the same thing. My current fantasy is to have someone treat me to a nice dinner at Sardine. . . but for some reason, I can't seem to scare up a date willing to do so. Is it something I said? I may come back with pictures and more details, but I'm not so good at figuring how to get photos from my phone moved to where I can access them. I digress. That's my problem, not yours. Bottom line: Go there for brunch. You're welcome. read more

Sardine - This photo has nothing to do with the review, but now you know what I look like. - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Sardine is definitely one of my favorite spots in Madison. I love the happy hour, brunch, but also had a great dinner there, as well. The atmosphere feels fancy yet approachable at the same time. The staff is usually very nice and friendly. It's in a good area, as well, close to lots of other places to walk to and things to do. A true gem! A little on the pricer side, but such a fantastic place. read more

Sardine - oeuf mayonnaise - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Cool interior, very nicely finished and furnished. They service was great and food was tasty. read more

Sardine - Menu - French Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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