Tag: dinner

Lee’s Chinese Takeaway

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I was craving Chinese takeout when I was traveling this past January for work in England. I looked up the best Chinese “takeaway” in Melksham. I read reviews for several places but settled on Lee’s Takeaway. It had great reviews and was literally a couple minutes’ drive from my hotel so I could stop on my way back after work.

I arrived to the restaurant and was a bit confused where to enter because Lee’s Fish and Chips is next door, but luckily chose the right entrance. It wasn’t busy and was seated against the back wall. I was hungry so I ordered the Salt & Chili Spare Ribs appetizer. I wasn’t expecting fried spare ribs sprinkled with chili peppers and scallions but surprisingly, they were pretty good that I ate it all.

For dinner, I decided to get the House Special Chop Shuey. It had shrimp, chicken, beef, and roasted pork with vegetables. I was really craving veggies that night so settle on this since there was more than just broccoli. It was served over noodles instead of rice. I love me some rice so I was disappointed. The sauce wasn’t as thick as I would expect for chop sheuy and was a bit oily, but I think that may have been due to the way the noodles were prepared. The sauce on the meat and vegetables was the right consistency. The dish didn’t blow me away but it did please my hunger.

I was full but decided to get dessert. I could not decide so I asked my waitress and she recommended one since it was the most popular. I don’t recall the name of the dessert but I found the dessert a bit unusual. It was beautifully plated but once I put my spoon to it the frozen layers of ice cream was hard to cut through. It was also topped with what chocolate like dip and dots. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy the dessert as much as other guests had. My experience overall was that it was a decent Chinese restaurant with ample seating and a nice décor. However, I’ll be looking for another Chinese restaurant to try when I am back in Melksham.

Everly

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I am so blessed to have awesome friends that I spent Valentine’s Day with and got to try out a new restaurant. After Bluephies closed down, two restaurants opened in its place. I had heard good things about Everly, so I was looking forward to this night.

Surprisingly this evening wasn’t overly busy with our 8 pm reservation. I was seated promptly as Andrew had already been shown our table. Nhi and Angie showed up shortly after. Everly was still offering the three-course menu from Restaurant Week, which Nhi and Angie obliged. Andrew and I decided to order off the dinner menu.

As a group, we decided to start with a bottle of Tempernillo. I had mentioned that it was considered a cheap wine according to my best friend’s French father-in-law who loved this particular type of wine. Angie was won over with the fact that it is considered cheap. I love red wine and this one definitely went well with dinner.

I ordered the Curry Samosas for my appetizer. The other appetizer ordered was fried gnocchi cheese. The Curry Samosas were delicious with the mint chutney-like dipping sauce that accompanied it. The fried gnocchi tasted like cheese curds. You could not go wrong with this appetizer. I was very impressed with the appetizers and looked forward to my entrée.

I decided on the Spicy Rigatoni for my main course. The spicy got me of course. It was topped with raw tuna and once mixed, perfectly cooked the tuna. Overall, it was good choice. However, the noodles were not evenly cooked. I had some rigatoni that were hard and trust me, not al dente. I also had to ask for Parmesan. Common its pasta, I shouldn’t have to wait for 5 minutes for my server to return so I could ask for it and she looked taken back when I did. The tomato-based sauce could have used more red pepper flakes because when I see spicy, I expect spicy. I guess this is what I get for ordering pasta from a non-Italian restaurant.

I really wanted a chocolate dessert that night but there wasn’t anything but a Chocolate Gelato, so I settled for that. I enjoyed the gelato and serving size was generous. Nhi had ordered a whipped crumble dessert, I don’t remember what it was called exactly, but it was delicious. The whipped heavy cream was light and airy which balanced out the berry sweetness of the dessert. I really regretted my decision once I had a bit of her dessert.

At the end of the evening, Andrew was kind enough to use a gift card he had received on us ladies. What a sweetheart! I was in great company and the food overall was good with some misses but I can let those go. The ambiance was great and would definitely be a place I would go to again.

https://everlymadison.com

Tavernakaya

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My last visit to Tavernakaya definitely changed my mind about this restaurant. The first experience I had eating there was shortly after it had opened. All I remember was that the noodles in the ramen and wings were good. I ate there a few times since and was never really impressed with the food. I figured I would give it another go since Nhi had never been.

It was a cold evening and I was happy to be seated away from the door. Many new restaurants that have popped up in Madison are tapas style. Tavernakaya is similar, in which you can order small or large plates to share with the table. This is what we decided to do that night.

We started off with ordering the Kurosawa Nigori Sake bottle, ‘O.G.’ Pork Buns, and Kakuni skewers. When the bottle of sake arrived, we quickly realized that we both have had it before. The ‘O.G.” Pork Buns and Kakuni skewers came out and were a perfect serving for two. The steamed bun was filled pork belly, pickled sliced cucumber, and green onions. The pickled cucumber wasn’t overwhelming and helped offset the taste of the pork belly since it can be rich in flavor to some. The Kakuni (pork belly) skewers were plated over hot mustard. I love pork belly so these two dishes hit the spot.

We decided to get more food because, hey, we like food. We ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen and Sake (salmon) nigiri. In order to avoid the upcharge for splitting the ramen, our waitress brought out another bowl for us. The broth for the ramen tasted good but wasn’t as spicy as I would like. The pork, egg, and noodles were excellent. Nhi was shocked when I told her that the noodles were made from Umami. A place I haven’t been to but have heard that the noodles in the ramen aren’t the best. The salmon nigiri looked a little suspect, but taste all right.

By now, our waitress probably thought we were full, but no, we placed an order for Tako (octopus) nigiri and Fried Chicken Buns. The Tako nigiri was excellent. I was pleasantly surprised because octopus can sometimes be overdone and chewy. The Fried Chicken Buns blew me away. The pickled veggies with spicy mayo really hit the spot. The fried chicken wasn’t overly heavy and had a good crunch to it. Mmmm, I want one now.

At the end of the night, they started clearing off the area where we sat and increased the background music volume. When they started setting up the DJ station, we knew it was our cue to get out of there. I had a great time catching up with Nhi and left happy and full. It was a successful girls night and definitely a restaurant worth suggesting to others to check out.

https://www.tavernakaya.com

Sushi Obsession

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I don’t know why I am surprised by the fact that more and more people say they like sushi. Maybe it is because a decade ago I did not know many people who liked it. I mean I couldn’t even find anyone to go eat sushi with me. Now, I swear most guys that I have gone on dates with or met online love it. Sometimes I think it’s the in thing to like sushi or that people think that they have a wider palate if they do. But then I’m disappointed by the sushi selections they make because if you love sushi that’s not what a sushi lover would order. Come on, California roll?!

Okay, now that I’m done ranting, the point I want to make about the sushi scene in Madison is that there are some good options. Now, it is Madison and the sushi restaurants here just can’t compete with restaurants that are near the ocean. Knowing that I love sushi and eat it at least every other week if not every week, I am often asked where the best place to eat sushi is. I always give the same answer; it depends on what kind of sushi you like. So what does this mean?

Well, American sushi is very different from sushi you would find in Japan. Americans like their sushi rolls with rice on the exterior whereas, traditional sushi, aka maki rolls, has the seaweed on the exterior and rice inside. From my understanding, it has to do with the aesthetics of Americans. We also love our cream cheese and avocado. Two things you would not typically see in traditional sushi. I still don’t get the cream cheese thing. Other types of sushi are nigiri and sashimi. Nigiri is typically a slice of raw fish over a bed of vinegared rice, whereas sashimi is sliced fish served with a bowl of vinegared rice.

Now that we have a baseline, this is what I tell others about the local restaurants in Madison. If you are looking of traditional American sushi that aren’t foofoo (i.e. California, Philadelphia, Dragon, Rainbow, etc. rolls), I would say Edo Japanese on Monona Avenue, Osaka or Wasabi on State Street, and Takumi on the east side. My fave is Edo Japanese. They know me there.

If you’re looking for a twist on traditional American sushi, the two places I recommend are Muramoto and Red Sushi. I am not a big fan of some of these Asian fusion aka foofoo sushi with mango, etc. It’s hit or miss sometimes and if you know me I don’t like taking chances when it comes to food haha. I really like the sashimi at Red Sushi so if that’s what you’re into then go there. I have found the fish to be better quality, which is definitely noticeable when the meat is served by itself and not inside a roll. Muramoto has awesome appetizers, traditional Japanese maki rolls, and nigiri. Plus the chefs are fun to talk to at the bar. I could go on about other places but these are the ones at the top of my list.

https://www.edogardenmonona.com

http://www.osakahousemadison.com

http://wasabi-madison.com/home

http://red-madison.com

http://muramoto.biz/wordpress/

Monty’s Blue Plate Diner

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I’ve always loved this place. I think it’s because of their boozy shakes haha. Anyway, I ended up taking my mentee here for dinner. We had originally planned to go ice skating at Tenney Park but it was dark and freezing outside. I think dinner was a better idea. I asked her if there was any place that she would like to go. She couldn’t remember the name of the restaurant but after asking a few questions, I knew exactly which restaurant she was talking about: Monty’s.

I love the old school feel of the diner and how the first thing you see when you walk in is the desserts. It was busy for a Thursday night so we had to wait until they could clear off a table. All I could talk about was what dessert I was going to get. I was eyeing the Reese’s Cheesecake while waiting. When we were seated, we both examined the drink menu thoroughly before placing our order. She got an Oreo Shake and I got the Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Shake.

We spent most of the time catching up since we hadn’t seen each other since November. Luckily, we both were able to decide on what to order even though we had been chatting the whole time. I ordered the Ultimate Mac & Cheese and she ordered the Corned Beef Hash. For some reason, I really wanted a hefty meal even though I had Chinese buffet for lunch that day. Mac and cheese sounded like it was going to hit the spot, especially since it was made out of sharp cheddar cheese and was topped with Parmesan and Asiago – yum!

We received our shakes and the stainless steel cup with the excess in it. It is literally another serving. The first sip was to die for so I took a big gulp. My shake had vanilla and strawberry ice cream from Sassy Cow and was topped with chocolate syrup. The wafer that is put on top of the whip cream was delicious – honestly, one of the reasons why I love their shakes. It was a great combination of chocolate and strawberry. I finished it all including what was in the cup and had no room for dessert.

Our meals actually made it to our table before our shakes did. I was disappointed with my first bite since I was expecting an explosion of flavors because of the cheeses that is used to make the mac and cheese. Overall, it was solid. The garlic bread served on the side was a bit burnt and was not as garlicy as I would like. It was also not cut evenly so one half was bulkier than the other which did not help the butter soak into the larger half. As for the Corned Beef Hash, it tasted good. I have never had it before but it seemed like you could do no wrong in ordering it. Moreover, my mentee finished it so it must have been good.

This diner is inviting and has awesome shakes. It is a great place to come for breakfast anytime of the day or for brunch. It is definitely a place worth checking out. And did I say they have awesome shakes? So if you like milkshakes or malts check it out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, even if your meal isn’t phenomenal, the shake will win you over.

https://montysblueplatediner.com

 

Osteria Papavero

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I finally had the opportunity to eat at Osteria Papavero a couple weekends ago after talking about going there for months. It is a quaint, almost rustic feel Italian restaurant. When we arrived, it didn’t take long to get a table even though the restaurant is quite small. Our waitress was amazing and went through the menu with us and listed from memory all of the specials and the type of pasta available for the evening. I was impressed. We also spoke about the owners and how they are from Reggio Emilia, which is where I was last month. What a small world.

We started with some cocktails. We ordered the Little Italy and Pago Pago. Our waitress was spot on when she explained that dark notes of the Little Italy cocktail, which was perfect for the chilly night. We ordered the Mare for our antipasti. That night the Mare consisted of three appetizers: crab cake on top of tartar, peppercorn and coriander crusted tuna on bed of tomatoes, and white fish sausage on a puree. From my understanding, what is offered on the Mare may differ daily. My favorite of the trio was the tuna. It was seared flawlessly around the edges. I found the crab cake to be my least favorite because it was too salty for my taste, surprisingly, because I love salty food. In my opinion, the salt overpowered the crab flavor.

For my main entrée, I ordered the Risotto, which was made in a lobster broth with shrimp. My first bite of the Risotto was not great. The lobster broth was pungent and I almost didn’t like my dish. After thoroughly stirring the Risotto, the lobster flavor mellowed out and I was able to enjoy my dinner. Beware if you do not like the taste of seafood or fishiness. I also found the rice to be a bit harder than I would have liked. This was by far not my favorite Risotto but not the worst I’ve had.

My friend, Roy, ordered the pasta in place of the Tortelli that was not available that evening. It was crab and ricotta filled tortelli topped with seafood in a wine sauce. We both wanted to order that dish but I conceded. I had the waitress describe the entrée to us twice because that’s all I could think about so I couldn’t focus on what the other specials were. It was delicious. If you like a good mixture of seafood and filled pasta, I definitely recommend and especially with the Gnocco Fritto. It is puffed bread that has a layer of salt on top of it. I enjoyed it so much that I had to know the name of it.

At the end of the night, I ordered an espresso. I mean you can’t go to an authentic Italian restaurant and not get one. We ordered the Bundino di Caramello for dessert. The butterscotch pudding topped with the whippiest cream and cocoa powder was divine, which made it difficult to want to share. We ended the night with grappa like you would in Italy. We ordered the Pinot Noir grappa and it sure did help clear my nostrils and my digestive system. I enjoyed my experience at Osteria Papavero and will be returning.

https://osteriapapavero.com

Blue Agave

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My friend, Rose, invited me to lunch last week at Blue Agave. We had lost connection after high school and didn’t reconnect until last year. She is one of the most sincere, caring, and ambitious person I know and started a non-profit to raise money for the disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico and Mexico. Blue Agave is the venue where she wants to host her next fundraiser. I was excited by the invite because I finally found out what replaced the Bayou, and was ecstatic about trying out the new restaurant.

The restaurant has a different vibe than when it was the Bayou with the freshly painted walls, new tables and chairs, and sparkly chandeliers. Rose informed me that the upstairs was a lounge area and where the prospective fundraiser would be held. The lunch menu offers a variety of options from starters such as soups to entrees such as enchiladas and fajitas. You are also able to order off the dinner menu during lunch. We were served chips and salsa, which I was not the biggest fan of. The onions were not chopped, but sliced and looked dehydrated. It’s not the best salsa, but definitely not the worst.

It took us awhile to decide what to order because we were talking and laughing a lot. Our server was extremely patient with us. When we were ready to order, I asked for the Sopa Azteca but they were out. I was disappointed but being that it had recently opened, I understood. I went on to order the Table Side Guacamole instead and the Cali Burrito. I was happy to learn that the entrees came with rice and beans. It drives me nuts when you have to buy the sides separate when I believe the entrees should always come with rice and beans. Rose ordered the fajitas and her brother, the enchiladas.

The guacamole made its way to our table and when I took a bite, I instantly thought it needed more salt. Rose felt it needed more salt too so I grabbed a saltshaker from the nearby table. After adding salt and mixing, it made it taste better. Our food arrived and it smelled delicious. My Cali Burrito was well seasoned with the proper amount of vegetable to steak filling. I enjoyed the pico de gallo and cheese sauce that it was topped with and could swear that it was also topped with a chipotle red sauce that added the perfect zing to it. The rice and beans tasted great with the burrito that I wanted more. Rose’s brother, inhaled his enchiladas, which could only mean that they were delicious. Rose enjoyed her fajitas and almost cleaned her plate. The serving size was very generous.

The chef stopped by to see how we were doing and asked about our meals. When we mentioned the under salted guacamole, he was gracious and took it off our bill. He also made note to make it to my liking when I stopped in next. Before leaving, I jokingly told our server that I might stop by later that evening. After hot pot dinner and desserts with friends later in the day, I found out that a friend I had planned to meet up with afterwards was at Blue Agave. I arrived a few minutes after she had left and bumped into our server and the chef. I decided to stay and check out the lounge area. I loved the look of the white chairs and couches in the upstairs lounge and how warm it was inside comparatively to the single digit weather outside. I definitely will be going back for dinner and to enjoy the Latin music while lounging on a white couch.

http://blueagavemadison.com

NYE: Tornado Steakhouse

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Every year New Year’s Eve creeps around the corner and before you know, it is here. The last couple of years I decided to stay in and enjoy it in the comfort of my own house and bed. Prior, I had traveled to different cities to bring in the New Year with close friends. When deciding what to do for New Year’s Eve, I said, “Let’s go out to eat at a really nice restaurant.” I could not think of a better way to ring in 2018 than eating a big old piece of juicy steak at Tornado Steakhouse.

This wasn’t my first time, but it was for my siblings, Jeremiah and Francesca, and our friend, Roy. I had hyped it up so it needed to deliver. My sister asked if she needed to dress up and I told her no because it was a supper club. Hidden downtown Madison is this adorable supper club with some of the best steaks I have ever had. This night did not disappoint. We showed up without reservations but were able to spend an hour and half learning more about each other over drinks in the dimly lit bar area.

We were seated downstairs when our table became available. I was hoping that there would be a pianist that night but the hostess told me that the person was booked for another event. Our waiter was very attentive and apologized several times for cutting me off while I was talking. I talk a lot so it no matter what he would have to cut me off if he wanted to get a word in.

Our table was served bread and vegetable garnishing when we sat down. We started with the Coquille Saint Jacques since I knew Roy loves scallops. It was delightful. The scallops were tender and the mashed potatoes were creamy goodness so I scraped as much as it off the plate to eat. It was a great way to start the meal and just enough scallops for each of us.

I ordered the 8 oz. Filet medium with asparagus because I knew I couldn’t eat any more than that. You get a choice between salad or soup. Normally, I would go with the Caesar Salad because it’s honestly the best I’ve ever had, but opted to try the soup, King Crab Bisque. The soup tasted a slightly bitter to me and I felt that it was lacking something that could have made it better. I later realized that it might be the pairing between crab and bisque that is usually made with lobster.

What the rest of the party ordered were the 20 oz. Bone in Tenderloin, 16 oz. New York Strip, and the special, Prime Rib. We all shared our meals and of all of them, I found the Bone in Tenderloin to be the most flavorful, but that did not surprise me since some people argue that bone in steaks are additionally flavored by the bone. In all, I enjoyed all the samples of the other steaks.

We, more like I, ordered the Pineapple Upside Down Cake for dessert. Luckily, our waiter brought four spoons to share. I haven’t had Pineapple Upside Down Cake in a long time and the fact that it was served a la mode made it my number one choice. The cake was good but wished there was more brown sugar to make the upside down part sweeter. I knew I should have ordered another scoop of ice cream (yes, I am that person) as cake was left behind on the plate once the ice cream was gone.

We all went home stomach happy and ready for the countdown to 2018. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to midnight. The food and drinks put me into a food coma on my couch. I fell asleep to Harry Potter with my taste buds fully satisfied, and was ready to meet 2018.

Canteen

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A few months ago, I found out Nostronos closed down when our CEO wanted to have dinner there with the management team from my workplace. I was disappointed to hear it closed and was curious what opened in its place. I was pleasantly surprised that a taqueria had replaced it when I stopped there late one night after a dinner date. Although we did not eat there, the creative cocktails were worth the stop. The Spicy Margarita immediately caught my eye because of my love for spicy food, and boy did I have to sip on it since I didn’t want it to upset my stomach especially while on a date. The drink menu excited my date as he chose a margarita made with mezcal because of its smoky flavor.

A couple weeks later, I met friends for dinner but the restaurant we had planned on eating at was not able to accommodate our party. We decided to try out Canteen. We were served duritos, which I am not a huge fan of, but my friends could not stop eating them. They are puffed wheat made in the shape of a spoke wheel flavored with chili and lime. My friends ordered the nachos and raved about how good it was with its freshly made tortilla chips. My friend ordered Creamy Horchata and I really like how refreshing it tasted. I ended up ordered two tacos: Pork Belly and Carne Asada. I wanted to love the tacos but found the meat dry, which took away from the flavor of the tacos.

Last week, I decided to give Canteen another try, and went with my brother and a friend for lunch. This is when I notice how extensive the list of the tequilas and mezcal was. We decided to order the Añejo Flight and were able to pick the three Añejos. Of the three I enjoyed the Herradura because of its lightness and smooth taste, which is sometimes hard to find in tequila.

We went on to order two appetizers. I had to order the Nachos because I only had a bite previously but was disappointed by it. It didn’t live up to the hype my friends had claimed the last time I was there. I found the chorizo to be oily and lacking in flavor, and the cheese too mild. The second appetizer we ordered was the Ceviche. I enjoyed this dish but wished it had more citrus. It was topped over guacamole, which was under seasoned and could have benefited from some salt and garlic.

We all ordered tacos for our main entrees. I chose two different tacos this time. I ordered the Barbacoa Beef Brisket and Grilled Farmers Cheese. The beef was juicy but the ratio of the beef to toppings made the taco taste bland. If there was less meat I think the taco would have been tasted better. I really enjoyed the Grilled Farmers Cheese. This is a good option for a vegetarian. I thought the flavors went well together and really liked the combination of the beans, salsa, and avocado. If you are looking for gooey cheese when biting into this taco, you will be disappointed as the cheese is dense.

We decided to go all out and ordered dessert. The Choco Taco excited us but it did not live up to our expectations. The wafer shell was soft and the quality of the ice cream did not make up for it. Additionally, the sunflower seeds did not go well on the Choco Taco. We also ordered the Strawberries and Cream Paleta. I enjoyed the paleta but I expected more based on what we paid for the dessert.

Overall, I believe Canteen is worth trying out but it does have a couple misses. What makes up for the misses is the different kind of tequilas it carries and the tacos are decently priced. I don’t believe you will be wowed by everything on the menu but I would definitely say it is not horrible. Located in one of the corner buildings of the capitol square, it is a great place to stop by if you’re looking for something quick and light.

http://canteentaco.com

Today, where would I recommend to take someone on a date?

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What happens when you have your first dinner date with someone new and you have no clue what to suggest? This will be the first time you see him/her eat and it can be scary. I’ll make it easier and give you a few suggestions on places that I feel will not break the bank and where you will enjoy the food and service.

One of my favorite places is Tutto Pasta on State Street. There are so many good options on the menu that your date can choose from. This place is small and the decor is outdated, but it has its charms.  Friday and Saturday evenings and prior to events on weeknights nearby are busy so there will be a wait and service may be subpar. If you don’t mind the wait, you will not be disappointed by the food. You can leave your phone number with the host and be contacted when your table is ready so you do not need to wait in the restaurant which is a perfect opportunity grab a drink at a local bar.

Okay so now you’re at your table, what do you order? Good thing is that you get toasted bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil to dip it in. I would recommend to start with calamari, bruschetta, or mozzarella in carrozza. The calamari is deep fried in a light batter and paired with a tomato dipping sauce topped with red pepper flakes. I love how light the batter is and with a squeeze of lemon the taste is perfection. This is definitely not a dish for people who do not like seafood. Beware of the baby squid as some people may not be able to stomach it. If this is too adventurous for you or your date, the bruschetta is always a safe choice. The mozzarella in carrozza isn’t your typical mozzarella sticks. It is deep fried mozzarella smothered in tomato sauce and it’s super yummy.

When it comes to the entree, I recommend ordering pasta since it is an Italian restaurant. If you’re looking for authentic Italian pasta, this may not be the place. It definitely is an American Italian restaurant as the sauces are creamier than what you would find in Italy. Regardless, I love the Tutto Pasta entree with the spicy (crushed pepper flakes are added for the spice) option. It is made with bow tie pasta mixed in a tomato cream sauce with garlic, mushrooms, onions, and chicken. Topped with fresh shredded parmesan it is to die for. I do not recommend the spicy option if you don’t like spicy food and the original version is great and how I ate it for a long time.

Another entree I enjoy is the Ravioli di Aragosta with tomato cream sauce. You can actually choose your own sauce so if you prefer a different sauce with the lobster and cheese filled ravioli, you can pick from a list on the menu. The tomato cream is what I think pairs well with it. What is great about the pasta here is that it isn’t overcooked like what you would get at an Olive Garden. So if you like your pasta super soft you are going to be disappointed because the pasta is al dente, the way pasta is meant to be.

If you are a picky eater or worried your date may be, the safe choices would be the Fettuccine Alfredo or Spaghetti and Meatballs. If you’re looking for a white sauce that isn’t Fettuccine Alfredo, I recommend Penne Quattro Formaggio. The different cheeses give it a strong flavor that may not be appealing to some. If you love cheese then I highly recommend. If you’re looking for a pesto sauce, you can’t go wrong with the Penne Pollo Pesto.

Another great restaurant is Monsoon Siam located on Atwood if you are in the mood for Thai food. It is one of my favorite restaurants when I am craving Drunken Noodles, which is the best in town. It is also rated the best Thai restaurant in Madison from a friend of mine who is from Thailand. Good thing I agree with him. The restaurant is very small and seating is limited so there may be a wait if your date is on Friday or Saturday evening. This is a great place for someone who is a vegetarian or vegan.

There are a few appetizers that you must try at Monsoon Siam. The first is the Sun-Dried Beef. This appetizer reminds me of my childhood when my parents would make beef jerky. The flavors are intense and refreshing but may be too much for some people’s taste palate. Another great choice is the Chicken Satay if you aren’t a fan of beef. The Papaya Salad is paired with grilled shrimp and a great option for a vegetarian. I do find the Papaya Salad to be on the sour side instead of sweet so it may not be what you are expecting if you are thinking Vietnamese or Thai papaya salad.

The Drunken Noodles with pork is my go to dish when I visit. It is made with wide rice noodles stir fried in a brown sauce with assorted vegetables. The basil and sauce are the key to the favors in this dish. Additionally, I get a side of fresh crushed Thai chili peppers to add more spice to the noodles. Another dish I like is Ka Pow. It is paired well with chicken. It is served with rice and offers great Thai flavors. I would not recommend the Panang Curry as I found the meat to be a bit dry and the curry flavor underwhelming.

My last recommendation, Buraka, will be for those who want to try something different and not common in the Madison area. It is one of my favorite restaurants since I was in college. I thought it had closed down but it reopened on Willy Street where Jolly Bob’s used to be. Buraka is an Ethiopian and East African restaurant an offers vegetarian and vegan options. Like Monsoon Siam, there is limited seating. However, during warmer weather, there is patio seating available and is quite lovely for a romantic dinner.

To start off I recommend Samoosa, which can be ordered with minced beef, chicken, or lentils. It is a savory deep fried filled pastry. I recommend the minced beef and lentil. Although I have not had the Yucca Fries at Buraka, I would recommend them as I love Yucca. It is a great alternative to potatoes and in my opinion tastes better.

The Combination Dinner is a great option if you have a hard time deciding between two of their entrees. My favorite dishes are Sigawot or Dorowot depending on if I am in the mood for beef or chicken, and Chicken Peanut Stew. Sigawot and Dorowot are a red curry stew made with potatoes. The Chicken Peanut Stew is great for those who love peanut butter enriched with a blend of spices. All entrees are served with rice or injera and a lentil salad. If you like lentils, the salad will be a treat. A scoop of sour cream is also served for those who may want to tame their dish. For those who are unfamiliar with injera I recommend ordering a side of it to try instead of with the entree as the flavor has a sour taste almost vinegar like to some.

I hope that you found my recommendations helpful if you are trying to pick a restaurant for your next date. I’ll be updating my recommendations as they change. Stay tuned to my reviews on restaurants in the Madison area. Below are the links to the restaurants that I recommended.

http://www.foodspot.com/Clients/WI/Madison/TuttoPastaTrattoria/default.aspx?accid=17593

https://www.monsoonsiam-wi.com

http://www.buraka-madison.com