Lombardino's is an italian restaurant in Westside, Madison.
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 dishes: Hand-cut pasta, Wood-fired veal
Must 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.
Address: 2500 University Ave, Madison, WI 53705
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.
Sardine on Williamson Street, the French bistro inside the historic Machinery Row building on Lake Monona, runs steak frites and moules-frites lakeside.
Signature: Steak frites, Moules-frites
Order: Steak frites or moules-frites with a glass of the house white.
Tip: Weekend brunch runs 09:00 to 14:00; reserve via OpenTable for the lakefront window seats.
