Karen Greenberg
Everyone has favorite restaurants. But for those who love to dine out often, there’s often also a favorite spot within those restaurants. Some of those preferences are practical — like finding the ideal people-watching perch, avoiding drafty tables near entrances in winter, or finding a sun-soaked outdoor table in the warmth of summer.
But some of it is just vibe. The intangible. Here are some of my favorite spots. Local restaurateurs chime in as well.
Heritage Tavern
I like to sit up at the bar near the kitchen and watch chef Dan Fox and his crew work their magic over to the right. The beautiful wood-lined interior is calming, and a bowl of bouillabaisse is restorative.
Sardine
With the right weather, eggs Benedict and mimosas at Sardine is divine. “My best seat is a bar stool at the far right on a Sunday morning,” says Matthew Moyer, executive chef of the Great Dane Pub and Brewing Company. “I get great service from the bar staff and can watch the operation of a busy restaurant while enjoying drinks, friends and a solid breakfast.” Stopping in for the 4-6 p.m. half-price oyster happy hour isn’t a bad idea either.
Tornado Steak House
The Tornado is a classy place to take a date, and on that mission a table in the dining room is surely a good thing. But my favorite place to sit is at the table farthest from the door in the bar area. It’s cozy, snug and tucked-in. And those hash browns are to die for.
Grampa’s Pizzeria
“On Willy Street, my neighborhood, I love having dinner in the back at Grampa’s,” says Gail Ambrosius, noted Madison chocolatier. “It is porch-like and overlooks the garden with those pretty strung lights. And if it’s winter, I love sitting back there and watching the snow fall.”
High Noon Saloon
Up on the balcony, on the right side (as you face the stage), the table all the way at the end and closest to the stage is ideal for enjoying music at a slight remove. A slice of Glass Nickel pizza (available on-site), a cold beer, and you’re all set.
Natt Spil
The “Hobbit room” all the way at the back of Natt Spil is a favorite spot for Patrick DePula of Salvatore’s Tomato Pies. I agree; it has superior feng shui.
Paisan’s Restaurant
A window booth overlooking Lake Monona and a Garibaldi sandwich pairs two of Madison’s enduring pleasures. Sharing a pizza at that table is a lock for a feel-good date.
Harvest
Right up at the front there’s a window seat perfect for tasting Harvest’s farm-to-table fresh ingredients. As if the charcuterie plate for two weren’t enough to look at, it’s ideal for watching people stroll around the Square.
Sujeo
Though relatively new, Sujeo’s mix of casual ambience and top-notch pan-Asian comfort food and noodle bar-within-a-restaurant quickly made it a local favorite. “I love the noodle bar at Sujeo,” says Patrick DePula of Salvatore’s Tomato Pies. (Sujeo chef Tory Miller returns the tip of the hat, citing “any seat I can get at Salvatore’s Pizzeria on Johnson Street” as one of his favorite places to eat in Madison.)
Le Tigre Lounge
When out with a big group of friends, I always take them to the big booth near the back of Le Tigre. The bartenders know how to make ace martinis, and the jukebox is vintage cool.
Genna’s Cocktail Lounge
The table near the bar, against the windows with a view of the Capitol is convenient to Genna’s old-school happy hour snack area. Hello, cheddar cheese cubes and Triscuits.
Graze
“When I eat at Graze I love having one of the four-tops by the front window. Looking out at the Capitol building is a great view, day or night,” says Gail Ambrosius. Cathy Dethmers, owner of High Noon Saloon, is a fan of the cozy booths near the kitchen.
Umami Ramen & Dumpling Bar
The modern lines of a bar built into a former 1880s farmhouse have a special vibe. A sake-based drink up at the the bar with an order of pork buns with pickles on mantou bread? Sign me up.
Opus Lounge
There’s a low, sprawling couch across from the bar at Opus. Perfect for a tête-à-tête with appetizers and champagne.
Tony Frank’s Tavern
Tony’s is another house-cum-restaurant with an entirely different, more old-school sensibility. Patrick DePula of Salvatore’s always sits “in the little semi-private alcove, by the unused second door.”
UW Memorial Union Terrace
There are so many good spots on the Terrace. My favorite are the tables situated on the lower level, close to the lake. But everyone has their own sweet spot in what may be the best place in all of Madison for a beer and a cheeseburger table and a look out over Lake Mendota.
Lake Vista Cafe
Any table overlooking Lake Monona is a winner in warmer months. (Not so much when it’s -9 Fahrenheit — though of course, the cafe is only open May-September.)
Harmony Bar and Grill
The gentle curve at the end of the bar near the pool tables and facing the side door affords good sightlines of the Harmony and is a prime spot for eating their famed walnut burger.
Tip Top Tavern
One of Madison’s newer hot spots has a perch that’s just right for an afternoon nosh. If you’re looking at the bar, it’s all the way to the right. By virtue of the room’s architecture, that corner feels safe and sound.
Forequarter
This east-side anchor doesn’t take reservations, so be sure to arrive early. I like the table in the middle and against the wall, equidistant from the door and the back section. In that small room, it feels like you’re in the center of a swirl of activity.
Casa del Sol
In warmer months, this Fitchburg eatery is a great place to enjoy Mexican food at an outdoor table on the patio overlooking a large pond.
Otto’s Restaurant and Bar
There’s an outside second-story balcony area where beams of sunlight sift through whispering trees. That’s where you order the Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon and break out a diamond ring.
The Great Dane Pub-downtown
For those bad-weather days, there’s nothing like ordering calamari and a brewed-on-site stout and hunkering down in the hideaway room in the basement of the original Great Dane. They can’t find you here.
Ha Long Bay
“At Ha Long Bay the corner table in the front window is my favorite,” says Gail Ambrosius of the Williamson Street Vietnamese and Laotian restaurant. Tory Miller has a different favorite. “I love the booths at Ha Long Bay.”