Posts Tagged ‘American’

Funk’s Pub

Saturday, January 18th, 2014

Funk’s Pub took over for Namio’s in Fitchburg at the end of summer. Despite essentially being the same restaurant as its predecessor, save for the music stage near the entrance, Funk’s seems to be an upgrade, though I know that doesn’t make much sense.

The new owners kept the same staff, including the chef, in the transition. The menu–which I wrote about positively in my Namio’s review–saw a few additions that were made just this past week. Meanwhile, the crowd sure has picked up. It was always dead at Namio’s, but it’s nice to see more patrons now, and I suspect it has to do with the live music.

And before, when I didn’t recommend Namio’s to watch a game, I think Funk’s is just dandy if you can belly up to the bar where many flat screens await you.

I previously enjoyed the steak burger, so I ordered it this time in the Mexicali Jack ($9.99; you also can get it with chicken), which comes with pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, avocado, lettuce, tomato and raw onions. First, I enjoyed the grilled ciabatta bun–I could have eaten just that. The steak was as delicious as I remembered, and the whole ensemble is definitely worth ordering.

You’ll usually find a daily special, and on one occasion I devoured a Bashful Camel ($9.99), filled with a wonderfully creamy coleslaw that had bits of jalapeno in it over juicy pulled pork, with BBQ sauce that had a small kick to it. This sandwich should permanently be on the menu because it’s that good.

Salads, sandwiches and wraps make up the balance of the menu. The sandwiches and burgers come with a side of hand-cut pub chips, sweet potato fries or fresh-cut fries;  go for the chips, which have a great fried taste to them.

Since it’s a bar, you’ll find standard bar appetizers, and the cheese curds ($6.99) are a safe bet. For dipping sauces, the chipotle ranch sauce is the best; avoid the bleu cheese and the garlic aioli.

Funk’s is open every day for lunch and dinner, and it serves breakfast on the weekends.

Funk's Pub on Urbanspoon

Bassett Street Brunch Club

Sunday, December 29th, 2013

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.

Bassett Street Brunch Club on Urbanspoon

Jordandal Cookhouse

Sunday, June 23rd, 2013

I was familiar with the meats of Jordandal Farms through its stand at the Dane County Farmers’ Market, so I was intrigued by the restaurant the farm’s owners opened late last year in Verona. Called The Cookhouse, it’s take-out only, although there is one table outside, and all meats come directly from the farm while other products are locally sourced (e.g. ice cream from Sassy Cow Creamery).

There are about a dozen items on the menu, plus daily specials, which range from pizza to tacos to Banh Mi. I was a fan of the Patty Melt ($9) for its bacon mayo and raw milk cheddar. A juicy quarter-pound beef patty centered two buttery pieces of rye bread. You certainly don’t need to add ketchup to this flavorful sandwich.

The Braised Lamb Pita ($10) grew on me. At first, I was thrown off  by the shredded pieces of lamb since I’m used to the sliced variety in a typical gyro, but the creamy cucumber sauce and hummus made me realize I was eating an upgraded gyro. Another standard item, the Cubano ($9.50), was just fine save for the slow roasted pork, which was a bit dry. At least the ham and Swiss were stellar.

If you don’t like kimchi, you could learn to like it via the Korean Beef ($8.50). It’s miso chili-braised beef chuck topped with Ssamjang mayo and a much milder (re: less pungent) version of kimchi. It was a creative sandwich, but I probably wouldn’t order it again.

On other hand, the White Cheddar Mac ($8.50) is something that I would recommend. It had just the right amount of creaminess, and you can add bacon or polish sausage for a small fee.

All the sandwiches I ordered came with a side. I had the quinoa salad (good), the salami and cheese (tasty), the sweet potato salad with bacon (I may never get regular potato salad again) and the coleslaw (too dry).

As for desserts, I enjoyed the M&M cookie and loved the decadent caramel cheesecake.

Jordandal Cookhouse is open Tuesday-Saturday. You can find its daily specials on its Facebook page.

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See more photos on our Flickr page.

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