University Avenue running west through Hilldale to Middleton. Lombardino's Italian at 2500 University, Bagels Forever, Wonderstate Coffee in Hilldale and Pasture and Plenty's farm-to-table deli.
Lombardino's on University Avenue, the west-side Italian dining room reborn under Michael Banas in 2000, serves classics in a mural-painted room.
Signature: Hand-cut pasta, Wood-fired veal
Order: A wood-fired veal preparation, plus an order of the house-made pasta to start.
Tip: First-come, first-served seating Thursday through Sunday; arrive by 17:30 to avoid the wait on football Saturdays.
Pasture and Plenty on University Avenue, the farm-to-table meal-kit and deli on Madison's west side, runs plant-based and pasture-raised dishes since 2017.
Signature: Meal-kit dinners, Deli plates
Order: Whichever Wisconsin-farm prepared meal is featured on the daily deli menu.
Tip: Closed Sundays; weekday late afternoons and Saturday morning are the easiest window for the deli counter.
Schwoegler's Park Towne Lanes on Grand Canyon Drive, the Madison bowling-and-supper-club institution since 1919, runs a fish fry and a sports bar restaurant.
Signature: Friday fish fry, Burgers
Order: The Friday fish fry plate with the brandy Old Fashioned at Keglers Sports Bar.
Tip: Restaurant runs 11:00 to close all seven days; the 36 synthetic lanes plus volleyball draw the family crowd.
Cafe Hollander at Hilldale on the west side, the Lowlands grand-cafe inspired by the Benelux region, runs an extensive Belgian beer list, frites and moules.
Signature: Belgian frites, Moules
Order: Belgian frites with house mayo and a steam pot of moules.
Tip: Open 08:00 to midnight daily; the outdoor patio fills first on summer evenings.
Imperial Garden on Allen Boulevard in Middleton, the long-running Chinese restaurant since 1984, serves the area's voted-best Cantonese and Mongolian menu.
Signature: Cantonese seafood, Mongolian beef
Order: A Cantonese seafood preparation or Mongolian beef with a hot tea.
Tip: Lunch Monday-Friday 11:00-14:00; private rooms available for larger groups, free Wi-Fi and parking.
Bagels Forever on University Avenue, the long-running Madison west-side bagel bakery, hand-rolls New York-style bagels with lox and cream cheese daily.
Signature: New York-style bagels, Lox and cream cheese
Order: A New York-style sesame bagel with lox and cream cheese.
Tip: Open early for the morning rush; the wholesale supply runs across Madison restaurants and cafes.