![\"20200903_114225\"](\"https:\/\/www.eatdrinkmadison.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/20200903_114225-300x201.jpg\")
On occasion before a Badgers basketball or hockey game at the Kohl Center, I would stop in at the Badgerland Bar & Grill inside the nearby Doubletree Hotel. The food was good enough for a pre-game meal, but not memorable enough for a non-game day visit.<\/p>\n
Bistro 525<\/a>, which replaced Badgerland earlier this year, aims to change that. It has upgraded the food and drink menus as well as the interior, which has a much more contemporary look (meaning, no more sports bar-look).<\/p>\n As in most hotel restaurants, the relatively small menu here has a lot of the staples, which I did try. For example, you can find both 14″ pizzas ($15-$18) and flatbread. I went with the latter, one topped with BBQ chicken ($14) along with cheddar jack cheese and red onion. On the spectrum of thickness for flatbread, this was about the thinnest, with almost a cracker-like crust. It was plenty cheesy and had the right amount of diced chicken and sauce, making for a satisfying dish.<\/p>\n The first thing you’ll notice about the Bistro Burger ($18) is that it is thick, and fortunately, it’s nice and juicy on the inside. I thought the wagyu beef, along with the caramelized shallots, was delicious. However, the thick slab of Hook’s five-year cheddar, which is one of my favorite cheeses, overpowered the burger. The cheese should have been thinner–or dare I say it, removed altogether–since the burger by itself was that good.<\/p>\n Bistro 525 also has an assortment of breakfast sandwiches, which I didn’t try, and a few entrees, including the requisite fish fry. I ordered the braised short ribs ($24). Unfortunately, the two chunks of beef were under-braised, meaning it was tough. I did enjoy the savory stout au jus, and I needed it badly for the accompanying mashed cauliflower that was super bland.<\/p>\n Bistro 525 is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n See more photos in our Bistro 525 Flickr album<\/a><\/p>\n![\"20200903_115611\"](\"https:\/\/www.eatdrinkmadison.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/20200903_115611-300x213.jpg\")
For lighter fare, I recommend the sliders ($10). They are packed with roasted pork shoulder, which was a tad dry (not by much) but helped with the delicious horseradish mousse. The Hawaiian bun, which is lightly grilled for some crispiness, provides\u00a0some sweetness.<\/p>\n