Great Taste of the Midwest

The Weekend Ahead Aug. 7-9, 2026

Here's a curated list of the major Madison, WI events happening this weekend ...
GM Banh Mi

GM Banh Mi

On a busy stretch of W. Johnson Street sits GM Banh Mi, which opened last fall. It can be tough to find parking nearby, but the bread is worth the effort ...
The Great Gatsby

The Weekend Ahead July 31-Aug. 2, 2026

Here's a curated list of the major Madison, WI events happening this weekend ...
ActivatedYou

ActivatedYou

I am a proponent of anything that can improve health and wellness, and thus I was happy to accept an offer to try products from ActivatedYou ...

Bonefish Grill Summer Menu

July 17th, 2016

Now’s a good time as any to visit Bonefish Grill, which added recently a summer menu. I had the pleasure of being invited to sample the entrees, which include North Atlantic haddock and lobster-stuffed shrimp.

May I start you off with a drink? You’ll find two fruit-based martinis on the menu.

  • You’ll be greeted with a burst of berry flavor after one sip of the Fresh Strawberry Rosé Martini ($9.10), which is muddled with raspberries, blueberries and of course, strawberries. The Belleruche rosé comes in, too, in a complementary way.
  • The Fresh Watermelon martini ($9.40) is comprised of cucumber-infused vodka and muddled watermelon.

Good variety in seafood selection. I appreciated that the seasonal menu is focused but has some breadth to it.

  • The Wild Sockeye Salmon With Spinach, Bacon, Blue ($23.90) is big, flaky and mild. The toppings are generous but still let the salmon shine through.
  • Both parts of the Fresh Walleye & Shrimp $25.90) are indeed super fresh, and the grill flavor reminds you of summer. You don’t even need the citrus aioli; the walleye and shrimp stand out on their own.
  • The Fresh DayBoat Scallops ($22.90) are incredibly soft and tender (sushi grade as described), which is expected from scallops that come off the boat in less than one day. Like the other dishes, the scallops are so fresh that they don’t require the lemon butter drizzle and bacon, though both are nice touches.
  • End your meal with the Fresh Strawberry Shortcake ($7.30). It’s a dry biscuit that sits on a massive bed of strawberries and is drizzled with creme anglaise.

***

See more photos in our Bonefish Grill Flickr album.

Julep

July 10th, 2016

Many, many cars drive on East Wash every day, but how many of the drivers have noticed the nondescript Julep in the 800 block? Probably very few, and that’s too bad for them, because you’ll find Julep is an excellent spot for southern food and cocktails.

Julep shares interior and exterior space with A-OK (coffee shop) and Barolo (bar). All three opened last fall.

Drinks first. Of course, with a name like Julep, you have to expect mint juleps served here. You’ll also find other craft cocktails and a lengthy spirits list on the drink menu.

  • The house julep ($7) features Four Roses and is mild on the mint flavor.
  • The Yellow Chartreuse stands out the most in the Butterfly Weed ($9).
  • Pop’s Garden ($9) is sweet enough to mask the bourbon.
  • On the other hand, the bourbon sweet tea ($6) is not that sweet and actually has some strength.

Onto the food. The one-page menu has appetizers (“snacks”), little plates and “dinners.” You’ll also find nightly specials (e.g. fried perch was available on a recent Friday).

  • The Cast Iron Cornbread ($6) is light, not too dense, has a crispy crust and goes exceptionally well with the fluffy butter.
  • The chicken in the fried chicken thighs ($18) is de-boned and seemed like white meat. Still, it’s very moist and coated in tasty, crispy skin with a slight hint of heat. The accompanying ham hock was scattered through the sweet and enjoyable collard greens.
  • The shrimp fritters ($6) sort of remind you of a hush puppy, except these were soggy and lacked flavor.

Julep is open every day for dinner.

Julep Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

The Robin Room

July 5th, 2016

I’ve been drinking Chad Vogel’s creative cocktails for years (example) and was looking forward to a visit to his bar on the near east side called The Robin Room, which opened in February.

Having visited many fine establishments in Chicago and New York City, I felt like I was visiting a neighborhood bar in one of those cities. That’s because of the 20- and 30-something crowd, the refined yet completely unpretentious atmosphere and of course, the wonderfully crafted cocktails.

Pick your poison: The cocktail menu is separated by spirit. You’ll have classics (e.g. Manhattans) along with the Robin Room’s special creations from which to choose.

  • The Champs Elysee ($12) is comprised of cognac, green chartreuse and lemon. It comes in a small glass, but it’s still a strong drink due to the 110-proof chartreuse.  Speaking of chartreuse, you usually find it paired with gin because of its botanical-ness, but it seemed to work well with the cognac.
  • The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club ($10) has La Favorite Rhum Agricole (which uses fresh sugar cane juice instead of molasses), lime, falernum (a sweet syrup) and dry curacao. The falernum added a nice sweetness to this refreshing beverage, which may remind you slightly of a pina colada.
  • The Vesper ($9), with its St. George vodka and gin and Lillet Blanc, is as elegant and smooth as a martini can be.

Emporium of Fine Potables: That’s the tagline here. In addition to the lengthy cocktail list, you’ll also find a big selection of tap beers and every type of cocktail glass among the shelves that display the impressive collection of spirits.

The Robin Room is open every day at 4 p.m. You’ll find street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.

The Robin Room Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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