This year was such a powerful year for restaurants that I easily could’ve doubled my list of the best-reviewed restaurants of 2023 and chosen 30. So, after some tough decisions, here are the 15 restaurants I enjoyed most this year.
Prost! is in the former Our Savior Lutheran Church, built in 1897.
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Prost!, 401 E. Washington Ave. I expected Prost!, the broad German-style beer hall with an exclamation point in its name, to have great beer. But it also serves delicious food, often in huge quantities.
Amara, 670 N. Midvale Blvd., at Hilldale, offers one of the best dining experiences in Madison. Service, atmosphere, food and drinks are all top shelf. After almost a year, I’m still thinking about the Mia Amara cocktail with Ramazzotti.
Vaquero Mexican Grill, 3904 E. Washington Ave., is a great option for quick, fresh and reasonably priced Mexican food, particularly the machetes. It’s owned by the same family that has the wonderful Garibaldi Mexican Restaurant on Butler Street.
Lallande, 1859 Monroe St. This French-inspired bistro from the owner of Bloom Bake Shop next door has quickly become of one of Madison’s finest restaurants. If you have something special to celebrate, I recommend doing it here.
Thai Basil’s interior design is comfortable and attractive.
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Thai Basil, 3519 University Ave., went from a modest Raymond Road takeout joint to a stylish sit-down spot near Hilldale Shopping Center. The tom kha soup with its creamy coconut-milk and lemongrass broth was sensational.
Fratelli’s Trattoria, 5801 Monona Drive, Monona, has a thin-crust pizza that’s among the best in the area. Fratelli’s long menu has lots of other good selections, and tempting specials.
Sultan, 1054 Williamson St., is one of the most fascinating restaurants to open in Madison in recent years with a no-tipping policy that its owner says is working well. The vibe and the menu are fresh with chef/owner Sultan Ahmed’s unique takes on Pakistani food.
One & Only opened in July in the former Brasserie V space on Monroe Street.
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One & Only, 1923 Monroe St. Like Brasserie V before it, this fresh restaurant from Tim Thompson and Stephani Dalbesio offers plenty of delicious, healthful choices. It’s the ninth restaurant from the business partners and former spouses.
Jalisco Cocina Mexicana, 108 King St. This restaurant from the owners of the Cultura Cali food cart opened this spring with great food, a fun, attractive environment, plenty of outdoor seating, amazing fish tacos, and fantastic, quick service.
Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese, 114 N. Main St., Oregon. Described as “Oregon’s living room,” the cafe is fabulous in every way. The bakery case is stocked with lush items made in-house daily by co-owner Jeanne Carpenter and her team of bakers.
Caspian Grill, 610 Junction Road. The husband-and-wife team behind the largely takeout-and-delivery Caspian Grill on Gammon Road go all out with their fresh restaurant, where the enormous, elegant dining room makes you feel like you’ve entered a fairy tale.
Eat Xpress, 203 W. Gorham St., an Asian restaurant where Paul’s Pel’meni was, stands out for its home-cooked dishes made in advance and kept sultry on a steam table. Don’t miss the braised cabbage and veggie pho.
Diane’s Delicious Diner at Madison Area Technical College, 1701 Wright St. Chances are you’ve never heard of this place, even though it’s one of the best spots in Madison for an elegant lunch. Reservations need to be made online during the semester and aren’t always basic to get.
Yako Sushi House opened in early January on Cottage Grove Road.
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Yako Sushi House, 515 Cottage Grove Road, has great rolls, sashimi and appetizers, making it a perfect replacement for the fantastic Red Lion Singapore Grill & Japanese Cuisine. The Yako roll with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado and cucumber is a standout.
Paul’s Neighborhood Bar, 2401 Parmenter St., Middleton, draws lots of regulars for breakfast, lunch and its popular Friday fish fry. The fried ocean perch, the fried cod and the baked cod are all excellent.
