The Wisconsin State Capitol dome at the center; Tory Miller's L'Etoile and Graze on South Pinckney, The Old Fashioned on North Pinckney, Heritage Tavern on East Mifflin, Coopers Tavern off the Square.
Heritage Tavern on East Mifflin, chef Dan Fox's farm-to-table dining room one block off Capitol Square, has anchored Madison's new-American tier since 2013.
Signature: Farm-driven seasonal plates, Heritage burger
Order: The Heritage burger, plus whichever Wisconsin-farm preparation the kitchen is leading the menu with that week.
Tip: Reservations on Resy open three weeks out; the Tuesday-through-Saturday dinner runs faster than the weekend brunch.
Cento on West Mifflin, the Food Fight group's downtown Italian under chef Michael Pruett, runs handmade pasta and wood-fired pizza in an open kitchen.
Signature: Handmade pasta, Wood-fired pizza
Order: Whatever pasta the kitchen is rolling that day plus a wood-fired pie from the brick oven.
Tip: The chef's table seats up to 12 with a custom tasting; Tuesday-Thursday dinners stay quieter.
Tornado Steak House on South Hamilton, a block off Capitol Square, runs Madison's traditional supper club tier with steaks and the weekly Friday fish fry.
Signature: Bone-in ribeye, Friday fish fry
Order: A bone-in ribeye and a brandy Old Fashioned at the bar before sitting.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable a week ahead for Friday fish fry; the bar pours faster than the dining room turns.
The Old Fashioned on North Pinckney, the Wisconsin canon codified into a tavern menu since 2005, runs cheese curds, fish fry and brandy Old Fashioneds.
Signature: Fried Wisconsin cheese curds, Friday fish fry
Order: Fried Wisconsin cheese curds with a brandy Old Fashioned, plus the Friday fish fry if it's a Friday.
Tip: Walk-in is reliable any night except Friday; book through OpenTable for Friday fish fry to skip the long wait.
The Coopers Tavern on West Mifflin, Food Fight's eleventh restaurant since 2010, sits at the top of State Street with 28 taps a block off Capitol Square.
Signature: Wisconsin beer flight, Charcuterie board
Order: A Wisconsin beer flight off the rotating taps plus a Belgian-leaning charcuterie board.
Tip: The 28 taps focus on Local and Belgian brews; Saturday and Sunday brunch runs 10:00 to 14:30.
Settle Down Tavern on South Pinckney, in the First Settlement District a block off Capitol Square, runs a tight tavern menu and a strong cocktail program.
Signature: Settle Down burger, Old Fashioned
Order: The Settle Down burger and one of the rotating Old Fashioned variations on the cocktail menu.
Tip: Closed Sundays; weeknight 16:00 happy hour is reliably the easiest seat.
Marigold Kitchen on South Pinckney off Capitol Square has run Madison's daytime breakfast-lunch-brunch flagship since 2001 with house-made pastry.
Signature: Breakfast hash, Pastries
Order: A breakfast hash with the house pastry of the day and an espresso drink.
Tip: Weekday mornings turn over faster than weekend brunch; Sunday lines stretch past 09:30.
Lucille on King Street, in a historic bank on Capitol Square, runs wood-fired pizza, a Wisco-Detroit cheddar pan pizza and Pan-Latin small plates.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Detroit-style pan pizza
Order: A wood-fired pie or the Wisco-Detroit cheddar-crusted pan pizza, plus a Pan-Latin small plate.
Tip: Late-night menu runs 22:00 to 01:00 Friday and Saturday; 14:00-17:00 happy hour daily.
Salvatore's Tomato Pies on North Livingston, the Madison branch of the Sun Prairie Trenton-style pizzeria, runs tomato pies with sauce on top of the cheese.
Signature: Trenton-style tomato pie, Scratch pasta
Order: A Trenton-style tomato pie and a Wisconsin tap beer at happy hour.
Tip: Free covered parking on Livingston between East Washington and East Mifflin; 16:00-18:00 happy hour Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday.
Tipsy Cow on King Street, just off Capitol Square, runs an American burger menu with Wisconsin cheese curds, craft beer and a long whisky and cocktail list.
Signature: Wisconsin butter burger, Cheese curds
Order: A Wisconsin butter burger with cheese curds on the side.
Tip: Closed Sundays; weeknight 11:00-22:00 hours run quieter than weekends.
Salvatore's Tomato Pies on North Livingston, the Madison branch of the Sun Prairie Trenton-style pizzeria, runs tomato pies with sauce on top of the cheese.
Signature: Trenton-style tomato pie, Scratch pasta
Order: A Trenton-style tomato pie and a Wisconsin tap beer at happy hour.
Tip: Closed Monday; 16:00-18:00 happy hour Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday with $5 off 10-inch pies.
Bassett Street Brunch Club on West Johnson, the Food Fight group's downtown brunch flagship between campus and the Capitol, runs all-day brunch and cocktails.
Signature: Brunch plates, Cocktails
Order: Whatever the brunch plate of the day is, plus a bottomless coffee or a brunch cocktail.
Tip: Reservations on Tock; validated parking at the Hampton Inn ground floor location.
Tipsy Cow on King Street, just off Capitol Square, runs an American burger menu with Wisconsin cheese curds, craft beer and a long whisky and cocktail list.
Signature: Wisconsin butter burger, Fried cheese curds
Order: A Wisconsin butter burger with fried cheese curds on the side.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the bar runs faster than the dining room midweek.
Settle Down Tavern on South Pinckney, in the First Settlement District a block off Capitol Square, runs a tight tavern menu and a strong cocktail program.
Signature: Settle Down burger, Old Fashioned
Order: The Settle Down burger plus one of the rotating Old Fashioned variations.
Tip: Closed Sundays; weeknight 16:00 happy hour is reliably the easiest seat.