Fratelli's

Fratelli’s Trattoria

Fratelli's Trattoria is a cozy Italian restaurant and bar in Monona that feels like it's been around for decades, even though it opened a few years ago (in the former Angelo's space) ...
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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 ...
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DLUX

December 1st, 2012

I was a little surprised when Food Fight, Inc. decided to close Ocean Grill to create a new restaurant, but the successor, DLUX, has been a pleasant addition to the already burger-heavy Capitol Square.

Its unique premise is the upscale atmosphere. You can have a fancy burger before seeing a show, and come back afterward for a martini. More on that in a sec.

All burgers are $8. On one visit, I ordered the Farmhouse burger, topped with Monterrey jack, fried green tomato, bacon and baby greens. I really enjoyed the crispy tomato along with the juicy burger. The tomato jam that accompanies the burger was clever, but I prefer salty over sweet and thus didn’t use much of it.

I loved the Carnegie burger on a subsequent visit. The corned beef and sauerkraut were fortunately not overpowering, though I would have liked a little bit more of the Russian dressing. On future visits, I have my eyes on the Sunrise (topped with a fried egg and shoestring potatoes) and the Backyard BBQ (topped with coleslaw and BBQ sauce).

The French onion dip with house-made chips ($4) had huge chunks of onion in it, and after a few bites the onion became overwhelming. I probably should have ordered one of the other sides, like the blue cheese and bacon fries ($2/$5) or the sweet potato fries with sriracha mayo ($2/$5).

I tried several of the 12 specialty cocktails on the menu, and my favorite was the whiskey smash ($7), consisting of Buffalo Trace bourbon, lemon, Turbinado syrup, mint and seltzer.

On a Friday night one week and a Saturday night on a different week, I noticed the crowd consisted of mostly young professionals as well as college students. But all of them were dressed up, to follow the vibe of the venue. Neither night was packed, but for a restaurant, it was a decent showing.

DLUX is open for lunch, dinner and late-night every day and brunch on the weekend.

Dlux on Urbanspoon

Gates & Brovi

November 25th, 2012

The first time I entered Gates & Brovi, I felt this was the perfect restaurant for the neighborhood. The exposed brick keeps the charm of Monroe Street, and the overall design with its ample, natural lighting gives it a hip, urban feel.

The menu, limited to just a page, is full of creative items. The slow roasted beef ($8.95) with its horsey sauce and caramelized onions on an Italian hoagie, was a nice departure from typical, boring roast beef sandwiches. I had to remove most of the giardiniera, however, as I thought it took a little too much away from the focus of the beef.

Meanwhile, the Chile-chick pea tuna salad sandwich ($7.75) was full of flavor with the hard boiled egg, capers and pepperoncini on top, thus eliminating the need for mayonnaise that offers drowns these types of sandwiches. The torpedo roll also was perfectly toasted to add a subtle crunch.

Perhaps the least original item, though my favorite, was The G&B ($6, add $1.50 for bacon, $2.50 for a double). If you’re looking for a juicy burger, you found it right here. In fact, the bottom bun was clinging for dear life as it was falling apart in all the juices (that’s a good thing in my book). On the flip side, the cole slaw that came on the side was rather bland.

I also recommend trying the clam chowder ($2.75 cup, $4 bowl), served every day, as well as the calamari ($9), though the breading fell off most of the pieces. The rest of the menu contains items like whole Maine lobster, salads and even Blue Point oysters ($1 each during happy hour).

Gates & Brovi is open for lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays. Parking can be a challenge, as you have to park on the street (there seems to be only a handful of spaces nearby) before 7 p.m., at which point you can park in the Mallatt Pharmacy parking lot.

See more photos of Gates & Brovi at our Flickr set.

Gates & Brovi on Urbanspoon

Campbell’s Sun-Ripened Yellow Tomato Soup

November 18th, 2012

I love tomato soup, so I was excited when Campbell’s invited me to try its new Sun-Ripened Yellow Tomato Soup. It’s interesting that Campbell’s didn’t modify its original tomato soup, created back in 1897, until last year, when the Harvest Orange Tomato Soup came out.

This version is a bit milder than the original–which may lure people who don’t normally like tomato soup–and accented with seasonings such as thyme. Indeed, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor–it’s a nice ensemble of ingredients.

For those who don’t like to eat soup on its own, try it with a grilled cheese sandwich. Campbell’s recommends using sharp cheddar, pesto and onions. I replaced the onions with sliced jalapenos, and the sandwich was a perfect complement to the soup (yes, I dipped it!).

With the inevitable Thanksgiving leftovers coming up, I’m thinking you could have a nice meal consisting of a turkey sandwich and some tomato soup.

The point is, the Sun-Ripened Yellow Tomato Soup is versatile and definitely worth a try.

    Madison Symphony Orchestra Urban Air

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