There are so many interesting things about Food Fight’s Bassett Street Brunch Club. First, the name: Brunch Club? Also the fact that it’s located inside the new Hampton Inn & Suites, since we have so few restaurants in hotels in Madison.
I liked the concept and feel a lot. To get there by car, you enter the hotel parking ramp–there’s otherwise no nearby parking. Then, you’ll walk through a contemporary lobby where you may see non-hotel guests, especially students, hanging out. Finally, you’ll find large windows inside the restaurant that let you watch traffic on busy Johnson Street. I mention all these things because they’re so unique.
The food could use some work. Many items were on the cusp of being great save for a few faults. Take the Tempura Fish Tostadas ($11.95) of the entree selections, for example. The fish itself was dry but topped by the flavorful and spicy chipotle salsa. Meanwhile, I felt like I was eating mostly bread in the Sausage Bahn Mi ($9.95) of the sandwich selections. The sausage was decent but there was so little of it–just look at the photo to see what I’m talking about. I chose the tater tots as my side, and I liked that they were crispy and topped with a sprinkle of cheese.
The Fried Chicken and Donuts ($5.95) among the appetizers also was a mixed bag. The fresh and perfectly sweet dough balls clashed with the way-overcooked chicken. Speaking of doughnuts, you’ll find a varied selection each day. I had a strawberry glazed ($1.50, half-off after 8:30 p.m.) that could have been more strawberry in flavor.
I did enjoy the Shrimp & Grits ($11.95) off the “Brunchy Items” menu, which was rich, creamy and topped with an egg, a nice addition. The Savory French Toast ($8.95) was well-battered (with Parmesan and herbs) and moist, and I would definitely get it again.
The restaurant also has a sizable drink menu. The Brunch Club Bloody ($6) is quaffable–I liked the pickles it came with–but it was average otherwise. I would recommend the Mimosa ($5), the B.C. Old Fashioned ($7) for its hazelnut-infused bourbon and the B.C. Julep ($7).
Bassett Street Brunch Club is open every day. It has happy hour in the morning, when you can get $3 mimosas.
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See more photos on our Flickr set.
Kim’s Noodle in Monona was reborn as 
I’m a big fan of pho, and I did enjoy the one served with brisket and flank ($8.75 regular size, $11.75 large), despite several things. First, the brisket was missing. Second, the accompaniments were essentially just a pile of onions and scallions–no basil, bean sprouts, lime or jalapeno. Still, the broth (strong in chicken flavor) and the flank (tender) saved the dish.
The menu continues on, and thus does this review. The pork brochettes sandwich ($5.25) is a tasty variation of a banh mi, with chopped pork instead of sliced pork and no jalapenos. I would definitely order this again.
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The third meat on the menu was beef, and I was pleased it was pulled, not ground. I must admit that it was a bit bland, especially compared to the chicken and carne asada. I had the beef in a what turned out to be an average-tasting flauta ($3.89), topped with a generous helping of cheese and sour cream.
