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Posts Tagged ‘American’

Treads

Sunday, June 5th, 2016

MT Treads opened last October in Verona only to close a month later. The restaurant that took the space that held Michael’s Frozen Custard for 20 years reopened in February as Treads.

It’s got a 50s feel with the decor, but I would classify this as a bar over a restaurant. That’s because of the limited amount of tables inside (lots outside in the patio, though) and the townie-bar games such as pull tabs and dice. Each bar seat faces at least two TVs.

A diner-like menu: Treads features melts, burgers, wraps and breakfast items. It also has a fish fry on Fridays and ribeye (not prime rib) on Saturdays.

The SuperBird melt ($8.99) is grilled or crispy chicken topped with bacon and cheddar cheese on a ciabatta bun, for some reason. The crispy chicken had thick breading that is well-seasoned–one or two bites reminded me of KFC original recipe–meaning you don’t have to use the side of ranch (although it adds a nice touch).
The Cadillac burger ($8.99) is topped with ham, bacon, onion, cheese and a fried egg. Despite the egg being cooked over-hard instead of over-easy as requested, I enjoyed the ensemble of breakfast items on the fresh beef patty.
The clam chowder ($2.95 cup, $3.99 bowl), which is served on Fridays, was surprisingly dense and a little on the salty side, but it was still enjoyable, especially for its unique flavor. I actually wanted the chili ($3.99 cup, $4.99 bowl), which on the menu says it is supposed to be served “everyday [sic],” except it’s not offered on Fridays.

Bar appetizers, too: Since Treads is a bar and not a diner, you’ll find the expected wings, nachos and mozzarella sticks.

The cheese curds ($7.99 or $1.50 as a side) are the kind that are super greasy with very little cheese yet are still so tasty.
The onion rings ($3.99 half, $4.99 full or $1.50 as a side) were fairly standard.

Treads is open for lunch and dinner every day and breakfast Friday-Sunday.

Tags: American, Verona
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Fuddruckers

Sunday, May 1st, 2016

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.

Tags: American, Middleton
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Avenue Club and the Bubble Up Bar

Sunday, April 10th, 2016

The Avenue Club and the Bubble Up Bar is Food Fight’s second reboot of the Avenue Bar. I heard many loyalists weren’t happy with the changes, but in my opinion, version 3.0 is an upgrade in decor, atmosphere and food.

Gone are all the adornments (I was at the auction for said adornments). Now you have a darker, more modern-looking space that I wouldn’t consider a supper club.

If you’re just hanging out in the bar area, you’ll find a nice cocktail selection. The Original Avenue Bar Brandy Old Fashioned ($7) is finally made-from-scratch (the old Avenue Bar used a mix). I also was pleasantly surprised by the Manhattan on Tap ($8). It’s a kegged cocktail, and they are now all the rage in Madison.

The overhauled food menu has a sizable shareable list, including tempura calamari ($11) and confit chicken wings ($11). You will need 3-4 people to finish the massive serving of thick-cut potato chips you get with the smoked onion dip ($6), which was mild and a bit lumpy.

Lunch includes the expected soups, salads and sandwiches. I appreciated that the French onion soup (served as a side to my lunch order) had a generous portion of cheese and the onions were actually cooked long enough. Meanwhile, the Pastrami and Challah ($11) was a nice find. Tender meat is paired with crunchy and sweet pickles, and the toasted challah bread holds them all together nicely.

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.

Of course, the popular fish fry remains. The fried walleye ($20) may have been my favorite dish. This gigantic fillet is moist and flaky and battered with Spotted Cow beer. You also can get the walleye pan-seared; baked and fried cod also are options.

The Avenue Club is open every day for lunch and dinner with a late-night menu. Brunch is served on weekends.

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See more photos in our Avenue Club Flickr album.