Anyone in Madison WI

[metallimonster]

So my dad and I are take a trip to Madison this weekend to watch the Buckeyes destroy the Badgers.

Any must see places or places we can't miss for food?

We should be there early Saturday morning so we'll have pretty much all day to sightsee before the game at 6.

[SacDuc]

I grew up in Milwaukee and lived in Madison for 5 years after college. Madison is a friggin' awesome place to eat! When my wife and I go back to WI to visit my family we always take a day just to eat our way through Madison for a day.

If I could go there today:

Pre-breakfast snack = fresh cheese curds from the Saturday morning farmers market
Breakfast = zucchini pancakes at Monty's Blue Plate Special
Mid-morning snack = extra garlic hummus from the Willie Street Co-op
Lunch = samosas and soup from Himal Chuli
Afternoon Snack = assorted chocolates and caramels from JJ's (not sure if that joint is even there anymore)
Pre-Dinner drinks = every beer at the Great Dane Brew Pub (they have decent pub food there as well)
Dinner = That chicken-peanut-cocnut milk dish I can't pronounce at Lao Laan Xang (spicy!)
Desert = Peanut Butter and Chocolate Ice cream from the Chocolate Shoppe
Post-Dinner drinks = well, how make the beast with two backsed up do you want to get? If you're looking to erase some childhood memories you could get long island ice teas at the Red Shed. Otherwise there are some nicer joints around the Capitol if you want to sip wine and martini's.
Midnight snack = vomit, gatorade and the sweet sweet tears of Buckeye fans.

If you want a bit more upscale fair you could hit Johnny Delmonico's for a damn fine steak (plus I built a lot of the interior of that joint, cool if you like 30's meets 90's art deco styling)

If there is a specific type of cuisine you like you can find it in MadTown. Just let me know.

sac

[SacDuc]

There is some decent food and a whole bunch of fun silly knock you on your ass drinks at Jolly Bob's.

And there was a tiny hole in the wall Cuban joint just off of the capitol square. Not sure if it is still there but the food is amazing and cheap.

Essenhaus has pretty crappy food but its a blast to get a bunch of strangers to drink a few boots of beer with.

One other thing you MUST try when in WI:

Go to a liquor store and get a bottle of New Glarus Belgian Red. It is a cherry beer that is completely unlike anything you've ever drunk. It is to be drunk in small quantities and sipped and savored. The flavor is intense. Have a glass of Spotted Cow by New Glarus when you are out as well.

sac

[triangleforge]

When you're in Madison, you should hang out until the winter gets really rocking, wait for the temps to hit the solid negative double-digits, then go out to any local bike trail -- it'll have more bicycle traffic on it than the one in your home town has on a beautiful spring day. 

If you can't stay until winter, I second SacDuc on Himal Chuli - splendid food, and how many other places outside of Kathmandu are you going to get Nepalese cuisine?

[metallimonster]

Hmmm, some interesting choices.

It will be me and my dad so no binge drinking.  I'm going to try one of those red beers though.

We're down for most types of food so I might try that Chuli place but we'll have limited time for dinner (will have to be at the stadium by 5 or so). 

Any sights we should see that are around campus?

[SacDuc]

Any sights we should see that are around campus?

Um, college girls.   


sac

[mojo]

Have a glass of Spotted Cow by New Glarus when you are out as well.

yumm...Spotted Cow  

You could spend most of the day wandering on State Street checking out all the stores.

[Schmitty]

While your intention to visit Madison is for less than admirable reasons, I will out of the goodness of my heart make three excellent suggestions, based on my experience and my parents' experience.





and

[desmopr]

I live in Mad-town; tough to beat the suggestions above but I'll chime in.

Cooper's Tavern: extensive craft brew menu and very good food. (Capitol Square)
The Old Fashioned: sandwiches and local food (Capitol Square)
Brasserie V: Belgian beers and brasserie type fare. (Monroe St., very close to Camp Randall)
Brocca Irish Pub: best fish fry I've ever had. (Capitol Square)
The Original Pancake House: breakfast (University Ave. near Middleton)
Lazy Janes: breakfast (Williamson St)
Mediterranean Cafe: lunch, best shwarma in town; closes at 4 and not open Sundays (State St)

Local beer:
Ale Asylum: fantastic!
New Glarus: Spotted Cow is their best seller although not my favorite.
Capital Brewery: popular, not a fan
The Great Dane pubs: fantastic beer and decent food



BTW...I hope that the Buckeyes lose and welcome to one of the best cities in the Nation.  I love it here!!!


**edit** Weary Traveler:  very cool place with good eats.  (Williamson St.)
             and try that Chocolate Shoppe ice cream
             If you like GOOD coffee, try EVP.

PM me if you need any help around here...

[SacDuc]

Brocca Irish Pub: best fish fry I've ever had. (Capitol Square)

Ever had the Blue Gill fry at the Orpheum? Just wonderful.

Capital Brewery: popular, not a fan

Yeah it kinda sucks but if you ever come across their Blonde Doppel Bock give it a go. Very very good.

[triangleforge]

Does the back patio area at the University's Memorial Union still sell cheap beer, live music & a good view over the lake?

[desmopr]

Does the back patio area at the University's Memorial Union still sell cheap beer, live music & a good view over the lake?

Gotta' love those Friday afternoons at the Union...  Not cheap, but very good craft beer.  Awesome live music!

  Haven't been to the Orpheum, but blue gill is quite tasty when nicely done.
I've heard that their Doppel Bock is good, but I stopped trying their beer since they all seem to have a particular aftertaste that I dislike.  I'll buy a bottle and give CB one more chance...