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Sardine

Stylish (and Delicious) Bistro on Lake Mendota

Consider Sardine Marigold Kitchen’s stylish older sister who spent a year at the Sorbonne, then dropped out to go to Le Cordon Bleu instead. She cooks up elegant, robust fare that could delight the pickiest Parisian in a lovingly converted warehouse on a lake.
Sardine, Madison
Her midwestern roots are apparent though. Take a look at this beautiful Bloody Mary (with a beer chaser).
Bloody Mary & Beer Chaser at Sardine
Let’s take an even closer look.
Bloody Mary at Sardine
Yup. That’s right – there’s a little bit of relish on that Bloody. As a matter of fact, this could be the best Bloody Mary in Madison. We’ll get back to you on that thought. We just have to do a few more rounds of tasting testing.

Their brunch is fabulous. The menu changes constantly, but the french toast and belgian waffles are always standouts. The french toast this particular week had a bananas foster topping. It was delicious.
French toast for brunch at Sardine
Their hamburger is amazing as well, and if you are going for dinner, don’t miss the piccolo frito for an appetizer. This hearty hors de oeuvre consists of seasonal vegetables that are sliced thin, breaded and fried. I still wax rhapsodic about a particularly delicious one that featured lemons. Mmmmmmm.
Brunch at Sardine
The grilled salmon never disappoints, and the orechiette is also a solid choice. Sardine’s warm, romantic atmosphere is ideal for special dinners and decadent brunches. It’s one of our favorite restaurants for celebrating anniversaries and birthdays. Cheers!
Brunch at Sardine

Know before you go

One of the rare Madison restaurants that accepts reservations. Do yourself a favor and book ahead during the summer, so you can request a table on their lovely lakeside porch. Open Tuesday-Thursday 5pm to 10pm, Friday & Saturday 5pm to 11pm, Sunday 9am to 9pm. Brunch, Saturday & Sunday 9am to 2:30pm.

Bottom line

Perfect for a special date night or a delicious family brunch.

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