By Kevin Revolinski | Photo by Hillary Schave (pictured: Tip Top Tavern)
Breakfast is too early and you can’t wait for lunch. These eateries have you covered for a fabulous late-morning meal.
TIP TOP TAVERN
This popular neighborhood bar is a great choice for brunch, with a scramble of the day, carnitas verdes, pastrami hash, and Eggs Benny with bourbon-glazed ham or a vegetarian version with spinach and tomato. Plus, there are burgers — one with an egg on it — and a veggie patty option. Besides bottomless coffee, adult beverages include Bellinis, mimosas and a solid Bloody Mary with a PBR chaser, as nature intended. thetiptoptavern.com
ERA CAFÉ
This Waunakee eatery has an old-school café counter with a modern flourish. It serves Instagram-ready dishes from a menu that includes banana bread French toast, waffles, pancakes, chicken-fried steak and a Barbacoa Benedict. It offers next- level coffee, espresso drinks and vegan milk alternatives, as well as a full bar for a mimosa or Bloody Mary. eracafewaunakee.com
KETTLE BLACK KITCHEN
It’s all in the details at Kettle Black Kitchen, where an ordinary dish is taken up a couple of notches, such as a breakfast burrito made with smoked brisket; biscuits with smoked chile gravy and chorizo; buckwheat pancakes with smoked peach butter; or a veggie frittata with feta and mint salsa verde. Other than Nueske’s fabulous bacon, they use Fox Heritage Farms’ meats. kettleblackkitchen.com
MINT MARK
Open with a pastry board, complete with a cinnamon roll with brown butter cream cheese glaze, Earl Grey honey cake and butterscotch cardamom bread. (Note: the pastry board’s offerings constantly change.)
Or try The Mensch Platter: housemade lox and pastrami with potato latkes, eggs and smoked trout roe. The menu also includes a seasonal frittata, and standards such as pancakes, and biscuits and gravy. Order a mimosa or the Mugroni, a mezcal twist on the classic Italian Negroni. mintmarkmadison.com
PAOLI SCHOOLHOUSE AMERICAN BISTRO
This 1864 schoolhouse converted to an elegant bistro offers Tres Leches French toast with peach and pineapple compote on the sweet side, or the Croque Madame — ham and Gruyère on brioche with béchamel and egg for savory lovers. In addition to shrimp and grits, huevos rancheros and prime rib hash, there is a daily quiche, omelets and hand-helds — a burger, prime rib panini or a portabella on sourdough. schoolhousebistro.com
SARDINE
In a nibbling mood? Share plates of fine cheeses, charcuterie or salmon at this French-inspired, waterfront restaurant. Or try a salad such as the warm duck confit and frisée or the salt-roasted beets. Omelets feature delectable combos, and the baked creamed eggs with prosciutto and spinach really hit. The menu spans more, from Belgian waffles to pan-roasted rainbow trout. Cocktails and oysters on a Sunday? You got it here! sardinemadison.com
