Tipsy Cow is a burgers restaurant in Capitol Square, Madison.
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 dishes: Wisconsin butter burger, Cheese curds
Must order: A Wisconsin butter burger with cheese curds on the side.
Tip: Closed Sundays; weeknight 11:00-22:00 hours run quieter than weekends.
Address: 102 King St, Madison, WI 53703
The Plaza Tavern on North Henry, a block off State Street between the Capitol and UW Madison, is home to the secret-sauce Plazaburger since 1964.
Signature: Plazaburger
Order: The Plazaburger with the secret sauce, plus a side of fried cheese curds.
Tip: Closed Sundays; small-town tavern feel makes the dinner shift the right window.
Buraka on Williamson Street, Madison's Ethiopian flagship since 2000 on State Street, serves wat stews and injera at its Willy Street home since 2016.
Signature: Doro wat, Vegetarian combination platter
Order: A doro wat platter or the vegetarian combination served with injera.
Tip: Lunch combos turn the room faster than dinner; the spice level can be requested mild to hot.
Banzo on Sherman Avenue near east side, the Israeli falafel spot from Netalee Sheinman and Aaron Collins, serves chickpea falafel and hummus plates.
Signature: Falafel, Hummus
Order: A falafel sandwich with hummus on the side.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the food cart history shows in the quick lunch turnover at the counter.
Mint Mark on East Washington Avenue, a produce-forward small-plates dining room with an open kitchen, runs Wisconsin farm ingredients with strong cocktails.
Signature: Wisconsin produce-driven small plates, Cocktails
Order: Whichever Wisconsin-farm small plate the kitchen is featuring that week.
Tip: Dinner runs daily from 16:30; Saturday and Sunday brunch from 09:30 to 14:00 is reservable in advance on the operator's site.
Tex Tubb's Taco Palace on Atwood Avenue, Kevin Tubb's Austin-style taqueria since 2006, serves tacos and burritos plus house-made limeade and horchata.
Signature: Austin-style tacos, House-made horchata
Order: An Austin-style taco plate with house-made horchata.
Tip: Happy hour brings Mexican beer specials; weekend dinner is the busiest, weeknight lunch the calmest.
Mickies Dairy Bar on Monroe Street, in business at the same address since 1946, runs a classic Madison breakfast diner across from Camp Randall Stadium.
Signature: Scrambler, Pancakes
Order: The Scrambler scrambled egg plate or a stack of buttermilk pancakes.
Tip: Cash only with an ATM inside; closed Monday and Tuesday and the lines stretch on football Saturdays.
