Off the Eaten Path

Experience Madison’s dining and nightlife secret spots.

By Danielle Letenyei

Our city has a great food and drink scene, but with new places opening each year, it can be easy to overlook some of the city’s hidden gems — those bars and eateries you may have forgotten about or never discovered. Here are a few of Madison’s spots that deserve a little extra recognition.

LAKESIDE ST. COFFEE HOUSE

Nestled in Madison’s Bay Creek neighborhood on the shore of Lake Monona Bay is this cozy spot. It can be easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there, because it’s surrounded by homes. It’s a great space to sip a cup of joe, look out at the lake and get some work done. It also has outdoor, dog-friendly seating for a neighborly vibe. On Friday nights, catch live music by local musicians.

ARGUS BARGRILLE

There are a few new bars east of the Capitol Square in downtown Madison, but one long-time staple that’s often overlooked is the Argus BarGrille. The bar, at the corner of East Main and South Webster streets, is located in what is perhaps the oldest commercial building in downtown Madison. Built around 1845, the building was once home to The Wisconsin Argus, one of Madison’s first newspapers.

During the summer, the Argus is a great place to sit outside and enjoy a cold beer or cocktail. The bar’s menu offers tasty salads, sandwiches, burgers and wraps, and several vegetarian options.

But the Argus has a secret that many people don’t know about — its basement bar. The Argus Underground is a cool speakeasy-like area that can be rented out for private parties and events. Or, if you’re out late, it’s also open to the public at 10 p.m. (or at 11 p.m., if there’s a private event in the space).

LOUISIANNE’S

You don’t have to go all the way to New Orleans to get great Cajun food. Louisianne’s in Middleton has all the Cajun food you’d find in the French Quarter, including jambalaya, catfish and crawfish étouffée. Its lower-level location lends it a bit of caché — and it also feels a little hidden. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the restaurant’s bar features live jazz and New Orleans piano music, reminiscent of what you’d hear strolling down Bourbon Street.

CORDIAL

From the outside, the old Rustic Tavern on Park Street looks much the same as it has for more than 80 years — red brick exterior and a classic Blatz beer sign still proudly in place. However, the inside of the bar is an entirely different story. The former dive bar, which was a hangout for third-shift workers at the surrounding hospitals, has been transformed into a classy speakeasy called Cordial.

Cordial’s motto is, “Outside’s a dive. Inside’s a vibe.” Its menu features cocktails such as an espresso martini and the Alamagoozlum, as well as mocktails, wine and craft beers. (And those who miss the old Rustic can still get a Blatz beer!) The bar recently added some charcuterie and shareable plates to its menu.

THE LAUREL TAVERN

Madisonians who are always on the lookout for the best Friday fish fry in town should check out one place that’s often overlooked — The Laurel Tavern on Monroe Street. The Laurel has been serving its fish fry since around the 1930s. It’s one of a few establishments where you can get two large pieces of walleye on Fridays for under $19. And the staff keeps things moving, so you don’t usually have to wait too long to get a table.

HOT LUNCH

Stepping into Hot Lunch on East Johnson Street is like stepping back in time to the 1990s. It’s adorned with ’90s L – R: Hot Lunch toys and collectibles, movie posters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles decor. A classic ’90s movie is always playing on the large-screen television behind the bar.

It’s also the only place in Madison you can order a glass of Tang, the orange-flavored drink mix from back in the day. Hot Lunch’s menu includes various sandwiches, soups, chili and salads.

IT’S GOOD FOR YOU PIZZA

The North Side of Madison has seen several new bars and restaurants open over the past couple of years, and one that’s flown under the radar is It’s Good for You Pizza. Located in a small building on Sherman Avenue, the business sells wood-fired pizzas, primarily for takeout, as the building can only accommodate about 20 diners. Friends and owners Alessandro Monachello, a former cook at Osteria Papavero, and Chris Guglielmo, a radiologist at UW Health, started making and selling pizzas together in 2016. Initially, it operated as a mobile business, then the duo sold their pizzas at the Northside Farmers’ Market. Their brick-and-mortar location opened in 2022.

Written By
More from BRAVA
Experience Cold-Cut Culture in Chicago’s North Shore
From cold-cuts to plays and pigskins, there's plenty happening when you visit...
Read More
0 replies on “Off the Eaten Path”