5 Best Restaurants in Madison, Wisconsin to Try

Madison is a capital, a college town, a lake city, and a progressive heartland hub—all reflected in its food scene, which celebrates farm-to-table, inventive vegetarian, craft beer, and classic “Wisconsin supper club” warmth.

1. Graze

Imagine the best of Wisconsin farms right on your plate: cheese curds, warm pretzel rolls, grass-fed burgers, beautifully plated sandwiches, and housemade pickles—served in an airy, sunwashed space overlooking the Capitol dome.

At happy hour and brunch, academics, politicos, and artists fill the room, making Graze a melting pot for the city’s motley charmers.

2. The Old Fashioned

A tribute to the classic supper club, The Old Fashioned is the city’s ode to everything cheese: fried curds, triple-decker grilled cheese, and sausage platters crowned with kraut.

Wisconsin beer is served in every style, and you’ll find the titular Old Fashioned cocktail in righteous abundance.

The view of the square is unbeatable, and Friday fish fry is an institution unto itself.

3. L’Etoile

Fine dining, Wisconsin-style. Chef-driven farm-to-table tasting menus highlight what’s in season from area farms—pork tenderloin with apple compote, wild-foraged mushrooms, nutty squash soups, and cheese plates that could star in their own magazine spread.

You’ll see professors in jacket and tie, young couples dressed up for a night out, and servers who know their local radicchio growers by name.

4. Paul’s Pel’meni

For late nights and comfort seekers, Paul’s is a Madison rite of passage: piping hot Russian dumplings (meat or potato), slathered in curry powder, vinegar, and spicy Sriracha.

The setting is ramshackle and full of character: old chess boards, music posters, and a crowd that’s never in a hurry to leave.

5. Ian’s Pizza

Madison’s original “wild topping” pizza slinger—mac and cheese pizza, smoked brisket, vegan pies, and late-night slices that draw crowds of students, musicians, and families alike.

Ian’s is pure college town joy, complete with chalkboard menus and the freshest, gooiest pies in town.