Fuddruckers is back in the Madison area for the first time since its State Street location closed in 2007. It took over the space once occupied by Cheeseburger in Paradise last October.
Speaking of which, do you ever remember Cheeseburger in Paradise’s parking lot being anything but full? It’s strange to see that lot typically empty, but after dining at this particular Fuddruckers, I can see why.
Needs improvement: This Fuddruckers is not up to the standards that the national chain sets.
- This location has zero atmosphere–it’s very sterile inside.
- Condiments such as ketchup weren’t stocked.
- No trays are given when you pick up your food order, which means multiple trips carrying hot pans.
- The lids for the cups don’t even fit the cups!
The menu: I’ve been to several Fuddruckers, and at least the food here was consistent in quality compared to other locations. If you’re not familiar, the menu is made up almost entirely of burgers (I miss the range of appetizers that Fuddruckers used to serve).
- The Bourbon burger ($7.99) was a satisfying combination of bacon, onions and BBQ sauce on a fresh-baked bun.
- The chili on the chili cheese fries ($3.99) was surprisingly delicious–meaty and not too watery. More cheese was needed, though.
- My favorite topping at the condiment bar was the jalapeno nacho cheese. Good thickness and a slight touch of heat. It goes well with everything on the menu, even the salads.
Fuddruckers is open every day for lunch, dinner and carryout. Beer is served, too.
The 
Entrees run from $16-$30. I would not hesitate to order again the short rib stroganoff ($20). The fresh tagliatelle pasta is perfectly al dente, and the short rib is full of flavor. I also enjoyed the roasted shiitake mushrooms scattered throughout the dish.
Right in the heart of campus, just a block off State Street, sits a restaurant with a gorgeous view of the city, an outdoor rooftop sitting area and appealing cocktail menu. It’s 
I tried two of the four items from the Small Plates section. The roasted butternut squash puree ($7) is livened by the sweetness of the pieces of maple bacon walnut brittle and bits of apple swimming about. But it seems for every hit, there’s a miss, and in this round it’s the crispy chicken ($12), which was bland chicken in a thin and non-crispy breading. It was simply dying for either crispier breading or some honey mustard sauce to make it palatable.
