I have been to Sardine twice and really enjoyed myself both times. First time was during Restaurant week and I had an arugula salad, Norwegian Salmon, a glass of Riesling, and a tasty desert. The salad was THE BEST salad I have ever had and so was the Salmon. The portions were perfect and left me feeling very satisfied. I was so excited after the meal was over because I had such a good experience. Not to mention the ambience was great and we had a decent table. The second time I was taken there for valentine's day and I ordered the arugula salad again and for the entrée I ordered the half chicken with frites. The salad was phenoms, again. The chicken was okay. Nothing outrageous. I wish I would have gotten the salmon again. This time, the seating wasn't the greatest. We were kind of tucked in the back corner where the ambience is completely different and less enticing. Service was nice, both visits. If you are going to make a reservation.. I would see if the window tables are available (over-look the lake, really beautiful) or the main dining room. That back corner is not preferable, by any means. I think the price is fair for the food you get. Really great. I look forward to going back again. read more

Great breakfast at Sardine this morning. The Crab and bacon cakes are by far my favorite. The food is always delicious. The service was fast, friendly and precise. The restaurant was as always clean and beautiful. By far the best breakfast place in Madison! read more

My second time there and I am never disappointed . This time I order a choucroutes and love it . Being an Alsatian I was expecting something different from what I got from a presentation. It turn out to be a great dish with the perfect portion . The dishes are simple but well structured . Very honest food read more

Always receive wonderful service here. Food is always up to standards and prices are just right for me! Gets a bit loud inside at night though, so I wouldn't recommend going there for any business related meeting unless sitting outdoors. read more

So disappointed with the service we had today and our favorite dish on the menu being overcooked. Moules Frites has always been a favorite and it was so disappointing! Our server was rude and barely came by. She was upset when we didn't order dessert. I have always looked forward to going to this restaurant for special occasions. We came for our daughter's birthday - what a disaster. Had better service at Ella's Deli afterwards! read more

Sardine is just splendid. My husband's mother and boyfriend came from across the pond and we decided to celebrate here tonight. We shared a bottle of wine, had great conversation and slowly filled our bellies with some wonderful French food. I ordered the salmon with lentils, sautéed spinach, portobello mushrooms, tomatoes, and beurre blanc. It was exactly what I was looking for. My husband ordered the evening special of duck confit with cabbage and glazed carrots. The glazed carrots with this dish will go down as one of the best things I've ever eaten... I felt bad but I stole most of them from him. Dessert was gorgeous...I had a hazelnut ganache with caramel and it was sinfully delicious. My mother in law ordered a plum cake with the best roasted almond ice cream. Our server was fun and made our meal even better....I cannot wait to go back for brunch...and happy hour...and dinner. read more

I wish I could give Sardine 10 stars- 5 for its awesome and delicious and interesting menu, and another 5 for the really fantastic customer service. We arrived half-an-hour late to our reservation, and were still greeted warmly and seated immediately. Our server was thorough and polite, even though a couple members of our party undoubtedly made her night more difficult. On top of that, my meal- the penne with smoked salmon- was one of the best, if not the best pasta dish I've ever had. The place is just gorgeous and overlooks the lake, too. In short- I'm in love! read more

Best restaurant I've been to in Madison thus far. Arrived here after a lake loop bike ride, just at the start of happy hour. Dozen east coast oysters, so very solid. Vinegar and horseradish added so much to the already fresh tasting oysters. Liver toast, chunkier then expected; however taste was light and earthy. Fleur de sal added a lush that was appreciated. Can of sardines, so so very clean with a perfect texture. Best sardines I've ever had. Service was prompt and genuine. I will always come back! read more

I hate writing a bad review and don't often have to thanks to Yelp and Trip Advisor reviews but unfortunately this restaurant is not worthy of its ratings. We went on a Sunday night and was seated immediately and our server came over dropped off the menu then disappeared for ten minutes, I would like to add that the restaurants wasn't that busy. When she returned we ordered the food and drinks. The food came out way too quickly at least within five minutes, even before the drinks were served, this made me a little suspicious of how fresh the food was, but after tasting my Monkfish Chile my suspicions were confirmed as the food was just warm not hot so I think it has been reheated. My husband has Steak and Frites and said it was decent. The wine I ordered was an old bottle and off so I asked if the bar could open another, the server brought another glass over but I am 99% sure it was the same bottle. The bread was stale and the bill came to $78, for one glass of red which I didn't drink, two main courses and a beer and a very quick and underwhelming dinner. Perhaps we were just unlucky, but we won't return and I would caution other potential patrons. read more

Brunch is one of the worst I have ever had in my life. I paid $8 for a salad that I ate in 3 bites. I am serious, and I am not a fatty. I also ordered a mimosa, which was overly pulpy and had a bad strawberry in it, and a super bland bloody mary after telling the waiter I like a spicy bloody. Our service was horrible too. It was impossible to ever get our disappearing waiter to serve us. Disappointing considering I ate dinner here like 5 years ago and it was decent. This place is an overpriced joke. read more

My partner and I took our friend to Sardine's last night and the service was horrible and there were kids allowed to run around and climb over the low walls. The food was good but between the inattentive service and the parents who allowed their kids to misbehave our experience was bad. And apparently it was one of the owners sitting next to us! You would think they would know better! read more

We booked for brunch,(12-27-15) a family of 5 adults. Red the good reviews on Yelp before we went there, so we're excited and we all skip our breakfast to save room for eating lunch in this place. Location and atmosphere is 5 * for a fine dining , the service is 3*, the food itself and Quality is 1 *. Is NOT.! A Fine dining at all.! I order the house burger, it was way to salty! Fries not freshly made, tasted like a day old even the bun with the burger, side salad was blah.! Not season with a dressing. Nothing special with all the other order in our group. There was a mix up with the gift certificate .The waitress quickly grabbed and walked away with the gift cert. Without telling or showing us how much was the bill, WEIRD.! then he came back 10-15 mins. Later and said that there was only a $28.00 on the GC.? Completely shocked! When I handed him a GC for $100.00. Costumer beware, when using your gift certificate, the Manager fix the problem, gave her 5 star for that but not worth coming back. Better off to go to Culvers for Burger and fries! read more

Sunday brunch was fantastic. I had the Croque Madame. She had the Crab (plus other delicious things) Cake. The Croque Madame was one of the best ever, including those I've had in France. The ham was thick and grilled so that there were delicious charred parts. The béchamel was top notch. I have no idea why they include frites.. completely unnecessary, but they were great too. The crab cakes were crispy on the outside and smooth savory deliciousness all the way through. We're at four stars only because the service was super slow and the ambiance suffered from overcrowding. I think we spent about an hour and a half with no appetizers and no dessert. It took us forever to get drinks, though they were strong enough. One other note for Sardine - the tables are really packed in there. We were next to a family with kids and had to protect our drinks and food multiple times from people moving around. Give us a little space, eh? Overall, will definitely be back. And despite wanting to try other things on the menu, will most likely repeat my last order. read more

AMAZING!!!! I had the salmon and oh I loved it and we had desserts and wine. The server was phenomenal!

Sardine has a very pleasant atmosphere - the lighting and decor are perfect. It was not too noisy and not to quiet - perfect ambiance. The menu was also very good - a nice selection of traditional and more adventurous options. I had the split roasted half chicken, and it was well-seasoned but slightly dry and over-done. The server was very nice, but also extremely slow. We waited nearly twenty minutes after our plates were clear before seeing her again. Reading other reviews, it seems that service can be very good - so perhaps it just wasn't our night. There were six people on my check, and a 20% gratuity was pre-applied. read more

Counting down the days until I can sit outside and enjoy a meal and a good glass of wine. Hurry up summer!!

Went to Sardine for Valentine's Day. Service was great. The atmosphere is elegant yet subdued but a little on the snooty side. The Sardine appetizer is a pass. It had a fishy smell and taste. The cassoulet was delicious though. Stick toffey pudding was fantastic too. The food may not be as adventurous as L'Etoile or Harvest, but it is priced appropriately. read more

I desperately wish I could give this beautiful lakeside spot my highest rating but unfortunately our dinner there last night left much to be desired. Although we were seated almost immediately after arriving (a big plus in my ravenous state), there were no specials to choose from & we weren't given any recommendations for cocktails even though I, for one, was definitely interested. I ended up ordering a white wine I'd never heard of because, surprisingly, there was no chardonnay on the drinks menu. I thought a white would pair well with oysters on the half shell which it did but I was never even offered a second glass, even after wolving down the oysters (which were delicious). Anyway our main courses of salmon and lamb met with mixed reviews. My fiance said the salmon was fantastic (I did have a small taste & it was admittedly good), however the lamb was nearly impossible to cut; it was so bone-ridden & veiny. I actually had to have it recooked beyond the degree I would normally want it cooked just so that I could attempt to cut it. I'm not sure what the problem was but for starters it was nearly all bone and precious little meat. I dare say unacceptably small proportions for a $28 dish. To boot, I got my dish back just as my partner was finishing his meal so it felt like we barely even dined together (you know how it goes with oysters, they are gone in 2 minutes flat). For desert we ordered my favorite, creme brulee. We also ordered expressos (decaf since it was already very late). Years ago I studied & worked in France for a total of five years so believe me when I say I do know my creme brulee! Although this one was unarguably delicious, I would think for a restaurant of this caliber they would know that the carmelized top should be much, much thinner than it was. Suffice it to say that you shouldn't need more than a whisper of a tap of your spoon to crack it, not a sledgehammer. But it was delicious nonetheless. Just not 100% authentic which I would have expected at a restaurant of this caliber. All in all, I left on the hungry side, altogether far too sober side (neither of us were offered seconds, even my big burly boyfriend) and the bill was still $120 (with tip). Ouch. Definitely pricey for the amount of food. I do love & appreciate that we have a fine French restaurant in Madison, however Sardine needs to step up their game. At least my Westie is happy with the two little lamb chop bones he got to enjoy today! read more

It's one of the nicer places for brunch in Madison, but I feel like they don't care very much about the customers. The food is decent (pork plate with rissoto is great), but when I've gone there and have been wanting a little healthier or vegetarian-ish food, they fall short. Plus, I bring in a large group (12-18 people) about once a month and they are so inflexible that they won't replace the fries with anything other than grits (loaded with cheese/cream). I said a scoop of yogurt, a few berries, applesauce -- *anything* would be fine other than a giant pile of empty carbs, but they just won't, as a matter of principle, not cost. This kind of thing really puts me off, when they won't do it just for the sake of rules. Especially when we spend so much money there and they add on a 20% tip. Heck, a half of a nectarine would've shut me up, but they are completely inflexible, just for the sake of being inflexible. I think that Sardine and I have just gone in different directions philosophically in this respect. If you have no special dietary concerns, the food and ambiance is pretty good. Coffee is good as well. Service can be painfully slow, but don't go if you are in a rush and that's fine. read more

Had my wedding rehearsal dinner here. They worked with us to get everything within our price range and it was great. The roasted chicken was the best I have ever had. Those that didn't order it had food envy. The person we worked with was great and extremely helpful. read more

Sardine is a good place to go when you want a decent meal at a fair price in a good setting. Recently we arrived with a party of six on a Saturday night and were seated in the bar area; alas, the service was more bar area than dining room (e.g., the bottle of wine to go with our dinner arrived toward the end of the meal). Though the cuisine is not exactly inspired or inspiring, it is a good place to go if you don't feel like splurging at L'Etoile and you can't get into Forequarter! read more

We've been to Sadine a couple times, and never been impressed. The main room is too loud, the service has been regularly poor, and the price is high for the rather average quality of the food and minimal menu. But tonight was the topper that will prevent our ever returning. Went for dinner with the hopes of impressing a prospective employee. The view was beautiful. But 60 min to get the appetizer, and the waitress made a terrible wine recommendation. Another 30 min and we finally got some quite average food. As usual, it was hard to talk over the noise. After finally escaping, there was complete consensus that we wished we'd gone elsewhere. We'll definitely do that with the next interviewee. read more

My daughters took me today for Mothers Day. Every part was wonderful from the service to the Bloody Mary and our meals were all delicious. A must do! read more

Great food, service, ambiance,and drinks. Highly recommend! Endive salad , salmon entree, and butterscotch dessert were all superb! Our server Anthony was very good! read more

If you want to escape the burgers and beer for a night, choose Sardine! Lovely food expertly prepared. Complex dishes prepared consistently well. Also, a good wine list and creative cocktail menu. A trendy-free zone, also. So many Madison restaurants are self-consciously trying too hard to be fashionable. At Sardine, the ambience, service and menu are not about being hip, but about being excellent. Beautiful converted factory space with gorgeous natural wood. read more

Loved our brunch today. We sat on the patio and each had the spinach omelette dishes. They were cooked to perfection and the flavor melded just right. My husband tried the Bloody Mary. It was good but he could have done without the chopped onions in the garnish. The service was excellent as well. Our server was friendly, quick, efficient, and was never intrusive. We are looking forward to going back. read more

Five stars for consistency. Second visit for dinner. Very nice decor/ambiance. Dinner service was outstanding. The food was spot on. Oysters were great. Piccolo Fritto wasn't a favorite but the aioli was good. The chicken liver toasts were very good. The rest of the meal was Duck Confit followed by the Genoise cake - fantastic. Highly recommend it. read more

So, I have probably eaten at Sardine over 20 times. I love it. Everything here is amazing. While I am sad they took the skate wing off the menu, I have now discovered a whole new world of roasted chicken, duck, lamb, and most importantly, sticky toffee pudding. LOVE. And the oysters are amazing. AMAZING. Great service to boot. The hostess with the short brown hair (the one without glasses) is sort of snooty though. read more

Thank you Sardine for being our restaurant of choice for the last 4 years of my son's matriculation at the U of Wisconsin-Madison. The food and service are amazing and we've had an opportunity to share many important conversations over Moule Frite, a bottle or 2 of wine and some wonderful French Bread dipped in the flavorful liquid. Alas, he is moving on, but we will find a reason to come from the Twin Cities for an excellent experience. Unless of course you can find a way to relocate... :) read more

Great place. The drinks are excellent. It's what I would call Alsatian fare, so if that's your scene, Sardine is the place for you.

My new favorite restaurant in Madison. Delicious drink menu and duck confit that was on point. Will be back again for sure

I have been to Sardine 3 times in the past two years, and I have had mixed experiences. The first time I went I had the Roasted Half Chicken, and it was delicious - tender, juicy, and excellently flavored with herbs, predominately rosemary. My daughter had it a few months ago when we went again, and it was just as good. One time I had the grilled duck breast, and it was also delicious, and the accompanying veggies were perfectly cooked (not overdone) and were a creative mix. I also tried a great house salad then, and the vinaigrette was well done and not too heavily applied. But the last time I went was on a Friday, and the place was hopping busy (good for them - I always like to see a Madison restaurant getting business). Two of us had the steak frites, and honestly, the ribeyes were ok, but my guy actually makes far better steaks at home (he has a gift). But I wouldn't have held that against them so much, except the frites part of the meal was a big disappointment. Three of us had frites with our meal, and even though the place was busy so the kitchen should have been cranking out fries constantly, all of us had lukewarm soggy fries. These are matchstick fries, people, which should be crispy on the outside and just a hint of tender on the inside. Clearly, the kitchen hadn't bothered to cook our frites just for us, and you know, for an entree that cost $23, we should have received freshly cooked fries. Having said that, I am probably going to try Sadine, and the frites, again. Maybe some terrible tragedy was taking shape in the kitchen that night. I always give a place at least two tries before I pan it for good. read more

It apparently took us nearly three years to return to Sardine for that coveted happy hour! It's not like we haven't been back to Madison since then but Madison is full of great spots. That said, our drinks and meal from the bar yesterday afternoon were exemplary. First of all, the views! Sitting at the bar with the ability to glance out at the water was to imagine being in coastal France. Even though this isn't really a French restaurant, it is French-inspired and that inspiration extends very strongly into the aesthetics, including the music. Just trust me, though- the bar is where it's at. Beautiful zinc top, white subway tile, a very cordial bar staff and then there is the menu. I had the Provencal drink, which consists of vodka, lavender, lemon and sparkling wine. You would really be hard pressed to find a more summery, dreamy drink, which, of course, was perfectly executed. The food menu for the bar is comprehensive but somehow appropriate and the quality and quantity make every selection a great value. We went on a Sunday, so the specials did not apply. However, the prices were still more than reasonable. The Sardine version of a hot dog is $7 and everyone in my party agreed it was not your average dog. My sandwich was salmon, so a bit more pricey but well worth it. And every sandwich comes with their amazing frites and a generous helping of mixed greens. The salmon sandwich is served on toasted sourdough with an olive tapenade. It was really my dream sandwich. At the risk of gushing, I will just finish this by saying that Sardine, at least at the bar, is the perfect combination of European sophistication and Midwestern casualness. It all just works. read more

Everything we are was simply delicious and well executed. Three days later we can't stop talking about the food. A plus, our server, Guierrmo (?? I think?) was awesome! read more

Wonderful ambience and setting on lake with seating on a narrow, outdoor terrace. Charming, exposed beams, stone- walled bar-back with subway tiles reminiscent of a true french brasserie interior. Beautiful open kitchen, wood-oven and pure bistro menu. Incredible Bloody Mary with olive, minced jalapeño-radish garni, cornichon and pickled slice of fennel/ how festive and eye candy-ish, with beer chaser! What a deal! Mouth-watering brunch menu , only negative is that the service can be very slow. Parched for my cocktail! Go- you will love it. read more

This is a wonderful lakeside seafood restaurant with artisanal additions to the menu. How nice to have a long happy hour with even the fresh oysters being part of the deal. Full views of lake from the majority of tables. Attentive & knowledgeable waitstaff. Everyone should get to have this joyful experience. read more

My wife and I ate here on New Years Eve and it was fantastic. Going to give it another try on Valentines Day. I would recommend to anyone who wants a high end meal. read more

I stopped here with a few colleagues on a random Tuesday. Pretty cool vibe with a nice view of the lake. If you're into manhattans I had two and they were pretty good. I was somewhat hesitant to order some oysters given that it's Wisconsin, but I decided to give it a try. I tried their two western oyster varieties. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed them. For my entree I had the duck confit / breast. Very tasty with good flavor. I was overall happy and would check this place out again. read more

Long overdue review from last November. Sammy was the best waiter... Good suggestions, friendly, just the right amount of everything. Get the scallops and the house salad with beets. I believe we had a vodka cocktail with beets, which was unusual and delicious. read more

I was a guest fri evening 06/09. Upon being seated, waited 20 min just to order a drink. 5 min later was told of the dinner specials. 5 min later was informed of 2 items off the menu as unavail at 7:40 pm. Really? And the server waited until order placing to advise of both items? My meal, the steak frites was ordered medium. Arrived seared but raw. replaced in approx 4 min. Was billed for one additional glass of wine not ordered or consumed. Had to again request the adjustment of the bill for correctness. Overall , not much went well. No reason to come back read more