Bagels Forever is a bagels and jewish deli restaurant in Westside, Madison.
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 dishes: New York-style bagels, Lox and cream cheese
Must 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.
Address: 2947 University Ave, Madison, WI 53705
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.
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.
Lazy Jane's Cafe on Williamson Street, the Marquette breakfast and bakery since 1998, runs scratch scones and brunch on the Willy Street corridor citywide.
Signature: Scones, Brunch plates
Order: A signature scone with a coffee, or the weekend brunch breakfast burrito.
Tip: Brunch only on weekends; weekday cafe runs 07:00 to 14:00 Monday through Friday.
Monty's Blue Plate Diner on Atwood, the Schenk-Atwood Food Fight diner, runs all-day breakfast, blue-plate specials and house-baked pies in a retro room.
Signature: Meatloaf, Hot turkey plate
Order: A blue-plate meatloaf or hot turkey plate with one of the house-baked pies for dessert.
Tip: All-day breakfast and bakery menu run side by side; weekend mornings are the busiest.
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.
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry on North Frances, downtown Madison's burger institution founded by Jeff Stanley, runs a long burger menu with cheese-curd toppings.
Signature: Melting Pot burger, Onion rings
Order: A Melting Pot burger with hand-cut onion rings on the side.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the front bar gets loud on football and basketball game days.
