In this age where you can get a burger for a dollar and a milkshake for a few cents, good food almost becomes a question. With some revolutionary chefs re-introducing food the way it should be, we are able to taste proteins and fruits the way it should be. Thomas Keller, Alice Waters, Dan Barber, and Michael Pollan are some chefs who have made it very clear that you have to enjoy every part of cooking, starting from the garden. Respect your ingredients, learn them well, utilize it all and on the plate, let them shine! In summary, farm-to-table is a simple concept more and more are starting to embrace. Madison is a beautiful city that is surrounded by pristine lakes and acres of farms in the surrounding area. It is only fair that chefs make the most of it! You’ll read about chefs who have moved to Madison to open a new restaurant and some who are not just paying homage to the produce, but also the lakes! Here are some of the best farm-to-table restaurants in Madison, Wisconsin.
1. L'Etoile
L'Etoile first opened its doors in 1976 when former owner Odessa Piper, a pioneer of the sustainable food movement, built a strong relationship with farmers in the area. Their menu is seasonal and everything is made from scratch. The tasting menu comes with Au Bon Canard Foie Gras, English Pea with bacon and Oscietra caviar, Pinn-Oak Ridge Lamb, and ends with a Strawberry Shortcake. The plates look like art here and the vibe is soothing!
L'Etoile
Address: 1 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703
Website: L'Etoile
Opening hours: Tue, Fri - Sat: 5pm - 9:30pm; Wed - Thu: 5:30pm-9pm (closed on Mon & Sun)
2. Harvest Restaurant
Like the name suggests, Harvest Restaurant takes great pride in sourcing local organic ingredients. They begin with procuring local and organic ingredients raised by this region’s farmers and conceptualize a meal that pays homage to those ingredients. They don’t stick to a cuisine and that is what builds an experience. The dishes have simple, straightforward flavors and the lack of heavy sauces makes it truly enjoyable.
Harvest Restaurant
Address: 21 N Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703
Website: Harvest Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 5:30pm - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 5pm - 9pm (closed on Sun)
3. Graze
Graze is inspired by the New York gastropub scene, serving up elevated bar food with great flavors. They call it Graze because grass-fed animals and rotational grazing are important to them and that should tell you so much about the food they serve. Their menu is eclectic, but the seasonal pickles, pork buns, and beet and walnut burger had us drooling! Another must-try is their mac n’ cheese with 10-year-old cheddar, herbed breadcrumbs, and pulled pork.
Graze
Address: 1 S Pinckney St #107, Madison, WI 53703
Website: Graze
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 11am - 11pm; Sat - Sun: 9:30am - 11 pm
4. Lombardino's Restaurant
A friendly neighborhood restaurant, Lombardino’s is a cozy place that’ll stay in your memory for a long time. Their menu is influenced by the season and they utilize many local farms as well as the best imported products Italy has to offer. Their wine list is carefully picked to match your food and comes all the way from Italy. Pizzas, pasta, bruschettas, and even dolci all made the Italian way, true to bella Italia!
Lombardino's Restaurant
Address: 2500 University Ave, Madison, WI 53705
Website: Lombardino’s Restaurant
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 5pm - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 5pm- 10pm
5. Fuegos Restaurant
Meaning ‘fire’ in Spanish, Fuegos Restaurant is a tapas bar and they promise to take you on a trip to feisty Spain. Like Spanish merchants, Fuegos utilizes locally sourced ingredients. They serve both carnivores and vegans and might I say, they’re both equally delicious! The beef is grass-fed and grilled in wood-fire and the vegetables are treated with love. Now that’s a home run!
Fuegos Restaurant
Address: 904 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703
Website: Fuegos Restaurant
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 4pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 10am - 11pm; Sun: 10am - 10pm (closed on Mon)
6. Banzo
Hummus and fresh veggies is just the perfect combination for a farm-to-table menu. Banzo is known for its food truck-inspired Mediterranean sandwiches and platters, that comes with schnitzels, falafels, kebabs, and shawarmas all made with the best that Madison and the surrounding areas can grow. These meals are delicious and don’t burn a hole in your pocket, too. Couldn’t get better!
Banzo
Address: 2105 Sherman Ave, Madison, WI 53704
Website: Banzo
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 9pm (closed on Mon)
7. Crema Cafe
The neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot where they’re ready to learn your name and order, Crema Cafe’s dishes and sandwiches are inventive and feature thoughtfully sourced ingredients. They also have a full espresso drink menu, real fruit smoothies, and spectacular in-house bakery. Weekends bring a lavish brunch with treats like scrambled eggs with mushrooms and smoked salmon and pancakes and French toast with fresh berries!
Crema Cafe
Address: 4124 Monona Dr, Madison, WI 53716
Website: Crema Cafe
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 6:30am - 3:30pm; Sat - Sun: 7am - 2 pm
8. Heritage Tavern
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Chef Daniel Fox, a James Beard nominee, opened doors to Heritage Tavern after cooking in several countries and at some of the biggest names in the Midwest. Fox created a cozy place where you can enjoy twists on familiar dishes that only use local and sustainable ingredients. Their three-course meal is worth every buck with dishes like Heritage Beef & Mangalista meatballs, heirloom tomato gnocchi, and Wisconsin old-fashioned sorbet.
Heritage Tavern
Address: 131 E Mifflin St, Madison, WI 53703
Website: Heritage Tavern
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 4pm-2am; Sat: 9:30am - 2pm, 5pm - 2am; Sun: 9:30am - 2pm
9. Sardine
Sardine is a hip lakeside bistro and bar that is located in the historic tobacco/icehouse Machinery Row. With a lot of rich history, it is only fair that Sardine creates a new dining ecosphere where everything is fresh, tastes 10 times more delicious than commercial food, and creates a beautiful ambiance with the glimmering lake in the background. They serve dinner, brunch with fantastic eggs, creative drinks, and well-curated wines. Chefs John Gadau and Phillip Hurley moved both of their families to Madison, Wisconsin to start a joint venture in 2000 and soon spotted the historic spot with lake views to open Sardine in 2006. They have clearly loved every minute of it since.
Sardine
Address: 617 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703
Website: Sardine
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 4pm - 11pm; Sat: 9am - 11pm; Sun: 9am - 9pm
10. Sujeo
After all the Americana, let’s get some Asian. Locally sourced Pan-Asian cuisine is exciting and an epicurean adventure! They have a noodle bar, Asian food, and serve tiki-inspired cocktails! Could it get any better? Korean fried chicken, fish katsu, inspired ramen bowls and bibaps, this is modern but yet so traditional! They also give you an ice cream token–never forget this considering they scoop out innovations like Cap’n Crunch x CBD fruit punch sorbet!
Sujeo
Address: 10 N Livingston St, Madison, WI 53703
Website: Sujeo
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 9am - 11pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 1am (closed on Mon)
Bon appetit
All that food, all the ethos, and many of the principles we spoke about should inspire us to eat better, support local farmers, and respect everything grown on our soil. It’s amazing what these chefs are willing to do to support this concept and thanks to their creativity and power to conceptualize, everything that comes out of those doors is art! What else is left to say? Try these amazing farm-to-table places in Madison. Bon appetit!
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