Your Madison Weekend: Foodie’s Heaven On an Isthmus Between Two Lakes

By Bill Malcom

Put Madison, Wisconsin on your radar for a fun winter weekend getaway. Situated between

two lakes, it is the one of only two cities on an isthmus. And it has become a foodie’s heaven

with lots of new restaurants around the Capitol Square downtown.

GETTING THERE

The Amtrak train runs six round trips daily, makes three stops and goes ninety mph. And has

new cars to boot.

WHAT TO DO

I took a tour of the beautiful and historic Wisconsin State Capitol. The walls are adorned with

the European marble, there is even a museum in the dome. Free guided 45 minutes tours are

offered daily. The Badger State is so named as the early settlers thought the miners in southwest

Wisconsin lived underground like badgers.

Walk around the shops and restaurants of Capitol Square and State Street, the one-mile

pedestrian mall that runs to the University of Wisconsin campus. Enjoy the frozen winter lakes.

Head out to Olbrich Gardens.

WHAT TO EAT

Pick up some Wisconsin cheese at Fromagination on the Capitol Square. Grab some mini cheese “orphans” for just a dollar to three. I liked the Black Betty Gouda and the Goat Pepper Jack cheese. They also have great sandwiches. Try the signature sandwich which features

smoked turkey breast, creamy French brie, and cranberry relish on sunflower honey wheat bread. You will find them at 12 South Carroll Street. They are LGBTQ-owned. Order online (cheese for shipping) at fromagination.com.

Have lunch at Casetta at 222 West Washington. The specialty sandwiches made with homemade bread are to die for. As is the soup, Pasta E Fagioli (pasta, beans and sausage). Get there early to avoid the cultlike lunchtime following.

Enjoy the many dining choices at the UW Memorial Union with magnificent views overlooking Lake Mendota. I had a breakfast sandwich at Peet’s. The Italian Street food stand looked good. Have a beer in the Rathskeller (the only university union to serve beer.) And for dessert, you can enjoy a scoop or two of ice cream made on campus at Babcock Hall. You are in America’s Dairyland after all.

Merchant Madison Restaurant is an industrial-chic gastropub serving farm to table New American fare and craft cocktails. Located at 121 S. Pickney just off the Capitol Square, Merchant has a great chopped salad with bacon. Tuesday is date night where for $60 you get a shared starter, two entrees and a shared desert plus a bottle of wine all for just $60.

D’Vino (next door to Woof’s (same owner)) is great and is LGTBQ + owned.

The Old Fashioned on the Square has great food and signature drinks. Wisconsinites love their oldfashioned cocktails. It’s all my niece drinks. (Sorry, wine snobs.)

Try some pizza at Lucille. Located at 101 King Street, it bills itself a vintage industrial-chic tavern with three floors serving both wood-fired and steel pan pizzas. There was a two-hour wait the night we were there. Its cheap date nights include a disco dance party, a cocktail class, and drag bingo. Its date night is Wednesday and is just $50 for two.

The King Street/Capitol Square area is filled with lots of restaurants and has given Madison a

new foodie destination reputation.

NIGHTLIFE

Woofs on King Street is the leather mainstay. You will find them at 114 S. King. Also on the

Square is the iconic Shamrock, a friendly local crowd.

Out on the Beltline (Madison speak for their one freeway) is Club V which features drag

shows and more.

WHERE TO STAY

You cannot beat the Doubletree downtown (525 W. Johnson). Great rates. Handy location.

Friendly staff. They answer the phone when you call for an airport pick-up. And its shuttle will

take you within a two-mile radius. The Edgewater overlooking Lake Mendota is a gem. Complete with winter ice skating rink. I also like Hampton downtown. Very handy. The Concourse Hotel just off State Street is also nice with splendid views of the Capitol. I also have stayed at the new Embassy Suites just off the Square.

OTHER TIPS

Our Lives is the bimonthly gay magazine. Isthmus is the monthly alternative. Madison is very

LGBTQ-friendly; a Midwest gem.

I never tire of a visit to my hometown which is booming thanks to the rapid growth of Epic,

the medical software company. No longer just a hippie haven, an overgrown college town, or

the state capitol, the new Madison is a jewel which constantly is winning awards. Madison has

grown up. Put it on your radar for a long weekend any time of year.

Special thanks to Sarah Warner of Destination for her edits to my column.

Bill Malcolm is a native of Madison, graduating from Vel Phillips High School (formerly

Memorial). He went to the UW for one year. His opinions are his own. He received no

renumeration from anyone for his trip.

Photo by Jonah Brown on Unsplash