What is your favorite restaurant to eat at in Madison? (Dane: house, university)

[Megan1967]

There is also a Pasqual's in Hilldale Mall (corner of University and Midvale) and one in Verona.

[Mafrida]

Just like everyone before, I don't have just one favorite. But here are some of the ones I like:

Brocach Irish Pub in Capial Square: Great Sheppard's Pie and Lamb Stew. The food can be a little heavy, so probably best suited for a rainy day.

Pascual's: I like the one in Verona the best, as they have a great deck over looking a small pond. Pascual's is mostly southwestern. Their chips and salsa and garden tacos are wonderful. Also, there is a Gallup coffee place inside. I really like the Miel Latte and the Grasshopper Latte. They also have a Mole Latte that I haven't quite gotten up the nerve to try.

The Great Dane is good for a burger and a beer.

Byrd's Pub off of McKee is really good. It's a typical sports bar, but the food is good. They have a really great blackened blue chees and bacon burger. The general food culture up here is light on the spices in comparision to other parts of the country, but the food at Byrd's is seasoned really well.

Maharaja is an Indian Restaurant off of Odana, between Gamon and Whittney way. Their lunch time buffets are really good. Most of the food on the buffet is season for mild tastes. Order the Samosas if you get the chance; they're the best samosas I've ever had.

[Megan1967]

Just a note on Maharaja. My friend Malisa's husband, whose family moved here from India when he was 6, *really* likes the place. I thought the food seemed pretty average, but there was a huge selection of dishes to choose from. There was no type of Panneer (sp?) which is my favorite type of Indian dish so I was disappointed.

[Mafrida]

Yeah... they don't have vegtable korma, which is my favorite. Someone told me that Maharaja was from the Northern persuasion, and the dishes I liked were more of a southern style and more vegitarian-oriented. Not having traveled to India to understand the different styles, I don't know if this is true or not. I didn't really like the "chef's binyarni"...too much meat, not enough vegtables, fruit, and nuts. However, when I went back a second time to sample the buffee, I was pleased. The Raita is ok. It's a little more creamy than what I am used to, but it doesn't have carrots or random herbs and vegtables like other places.

I'm trying to remember whether or not I saw vegtable pakoras on the menu...

[Ricksta]

Smokey's for the best steaks. Not even close to the Black Angus chain, but good enough for the country folk in Wisconsin.

[houseinmadison]

Wow, awesome biergarten pictures!

Ok:

Dotty Dumplings - AWESOME fresh, honest burgers - downtown, sometimes parking is a pain in the butt

Pasquale's at Hilldale - great, fresh, honest Mexican food that will leave you full. You walk out and can catch a foreign movie at Sundance theatres or visit the mall

Marigold Kitchen - breakfast is gourmet deliciousness worthy of a sophisticated cosmopolitan city - stroll around the Capitol afterward or visit the weekend farmer's market

Chautara - tasty, carefully seasoned Nepalese on State street, nice kabobs, yummy mango lachi

Lulu's - delicious Arabic food but atmosphere is drab

[Harpoon]

Has anyone tried the Hubbard Avenue Diner or Louisianne's in Middleton? If so, how were they?

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by Harpoon

Has anyone tried the Hubbard Avenue Diner

Hubbard Avenue Diner used to be one of my favorite places to eat when I lived in Madison. Great comfort food! Since I haven't been there in 6 years, you should probably get a fresher review than mine.

[Megan1967]

Love Hubbard Ave! I love the whole Food Fight chain (they are the ones that own Hubbard Ave) Food Fight, Inc. | Restaurant Group | Madison, Wisconsin

Like Bowie said good comfort food, but with a twist. Not your average meat loaf and potatoes - they even have veggie versions of trad meat dishes. Really good waffle fries.

[arangoa79]

SAMBA off State Street.