Dotty Dumpling's Dowry ★ 4.3
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry on North Frances, downtown Madison's burger institution, runs cheese-curd-topped burgers and hand-cut onion rings under $15 at lunch.
Try: Melting Pot burger with onion rings
Parthenon Gyros is a greek budget eat in State Street, Madison.
Parthenon Gyros on State Street, the long-running Greek counter on the pedestrian strip, serves gyro plates and souvlaki for a student-budget lunch.
Address: 316 State St, Madison, WI 53703
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry on North Frances, downtown Madison's burger institution, runs cheese-curd-topped burgers and hand-cut onion rings under $15 at lunch.
Try: Melting Pot burger with onion rings
Ian's Pizza on State Street, the State Street outpost of Madison's slice institution founded on Frances Street in 2001, runs mac-and-cheese pizza and rotating creations from a late-night counter.
Try: Mac and cheese pizza by the slice
Mickies Dairy Bar on Monroe Street, the campus-side diner since 1946 across from Camp Randall, runs Wisconsin diner breakfasts and the legendary Scrambler.
Try: Scrambler with hash browns and pancake
Banzo on Sherman Avenue, the falafel cart turned brick-and-mortar Israeli kitchen, runs fresh falafel sandwiches, hummus bowls and shakshuka brunch.
Try: Falafel sandwich and shakshuka brunch
Buraka on Williamson Street, the Madison Ethiopian kitchen since opening on State Street in 2000, runs vegetarian and meat tibs samplers with injera.
Try: Vegetarian Ethiopian sampler with injera
Glass Nickel Pizza on Atwood, the east-side specialty pizza chain founded in 1998, runs creative pies and weekday slices at student-budget prices in Madison.
Try: Specialty pizza by the slice or pie