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) ...
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 ...

Burger contest winners (2011)

June 23rd, 2011

I enjoyed running the Best Restaurant/Bar for Burgers contest in May again. Last year’s winner, the Village Green, did not even make it out of the first round. I suspect this year’s winner, The Old Fashioned, will have a tough challenge next year with the new AJ Bombers that will open soon.

I also want to extend congrats to Kristin Wolf, the randomly drawn voter who won a $50 gift certificate to The Old Fashioned and a $10 iTunes gift card.

Here’s the recap:

(MADISON, Wis.)–The Old Fashioned has the best burgers in the city, according to the results of a month-long poll conducted by EatDrinkMadison.com in conjunction with National Hamburger Month in May.

The downtown restaurant won with 57 percent of the vote, topping the two other finalists, Blue Moon Bar and Grill (28 percent) and Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry (15 percent). Last year’s winner, the Village Green, did not make it out of the first round of voting, in which all Madison-area establishments were eligible.

The Old Fashioned will receive a certificate to mark its honor. It carried Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. in the voting process.

The Blue Moon, which also took second place in 2010, earned the majority in Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, Georgia and New York. Dotty Dumpling’s, which won the first round of voting and ended up third last year, captured the hearts of Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Asparagus and drive-thru booze

June 18th, 2011

(Don’t let the title fool you. These are two separate topics, but both would make pretty short blog entries by themselves, so I decided to combine them.)

I read that Harvest did a six-course asparagus dinner about a week ago. My immediate, and albeit gross, thought was: you do not want to go to the bathroom after anyone else because of the pungent pee that results in eating asparagus.

According to WebMD, “researchers believe that, during digestion, the vegetable’s sulfurous amino acids break down into smelly chemical components in all people.” That’s why our pee smells after eating asparagus.

Now imagine eating six plates of the stuff, coupled with wine. Exactly. Now on to the other topic …

The New York Times reported that Tavern on the Green is the first New York City food truck to be granted a liquor license. I know this could never happen in Madison, but it would be handy to be able to grab a drink while at a food cart stand in Library Mall or on the Capitol Square (“yeah, I’ll take a curry chicken and a rum and cola–make that a double”).

This made me think of the fabled drive-thrus around the state I’ve heard of that sell alcohol. Of course, they don’t advertise this, so don’t go bother searching online for them. But here’s a video of a place in Louisiana:

An ideal Father’s Day

June 12th, 2011

The number of restaurants that advertise Mother’s Day specials compared to Father’s Day specials has to be 25 to 1. What, are dads supposed to spend the day watching sports on TV and then grilling out in the backyard? That’s not really different from any other Sunday.

So dads, how are you going to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 19? Here’s an itinerary that I would like:

MORNING

Eat breakfast at a diner, such as Hubbard Avenue Diner or Mickie’s Dairy Bar. Although I prefer to play golf in the afternoon (so that I can have a drink or six), I’d play a round after breakfast at The Oaks or Foxboro.

AFTERNOON

Have lunch somewhere quick and casual, maybe Coopers Tavern or Great Dane Fitchburg. Spend the rest of the afternoon cruising on a boat on Lake Mendota, with a stop for (more) beverages at The Pier at the Edgewater Hotel. If you don’t have access to a boat, Betty Lou Cruises has special cruises on Father’s Day.

EVENING

We have to get some meat at dinner! How about Samba or The Del-Bar? I’d then cap the night with some scotch and cigars at Maduro.

For other dining suggestions, try the “Father’s Day” check box on the EAT page. Happy Father’s Day!

    Madison Symphony Orchestra Urban Air

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