I was just browsing this thread and I noticed that I never made a note of "Jacobson Bros. meats and deli". Finding a real deal sammy shop along State St is a task that will have you looking up and down state st until you realize that Potbelly's and Jimmy John's and some spots that want to be like Jimmy John's are all that exist.

Not to worry because nestled in on Mifflin (just east of Pinckney) lay's Jacobson Brothers deli. J Brother's is my vision of what a local deli should be, an abundance of sliced meats and cheeses (Boars Head), fresh toppings for your sammy, fresh cuts of meat, daily homemade soup's, hot made meals to take home and sides like mac and cheese and potato salad. The prices at this spot are right and if your looking for just a regular sandwich made your way with fresh quality ingredients than this is your spot. I was a frequent visitor during my college days and I remember that the brothers have been in the business for 70 years. These guys know what they are doing and will cater to your every need be it lunch, cuts of quality beef or sandwich meats/cheese's by the lb for your fridge at home. Anyone staying in the State st/downtown area should check out this gem for lunch or BBQ grilling material.

http://www.jacobsonbrosdeli.com/

Three Sandwich's to try in Madison

--The fried oyster po' boy @ New Orleans Takeout

--The steak sandwich served on toasted garlic bread (served at the bar) @ Tornado Room

--Blazing buffalo chicken (Boars Head), sliced extra thin, piled high on fresh white bread with Wisconsin cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion and banana peppers @ Jacobson Bro's Deli

Da Beef wrote:Not to worry because nestled in on Mifflin (just east of Pinckney) lay's Jacobson Brothers deli.

Hate to say this, but I think that location disappeared about a year ago and was replaced by Gotham Bagels.

rainy01 wrote:

Da Beef wrote:Not to worry because nestled in on Mifflin (just east of Pinckney) lay's Jacobson Brothers deli.

Hate to say this, but I think that location disappeared about a year ago and was replaced by Gotham Bagels.

Right!

And not bad at all either. When we were in Madtown a few weeks ago, we needed a quick bite before hiting the road (and given that weather, we nearly did hit the road). We wanted Cafe Soleil, but it had just closed. We espied this place and gave it a shake. And, and, like most places in Wisconsin, it was just basically better. They boil and bake the bagels in house and serve them with Zingerman's cream cheese. That's pretty darn better in my book.*

*Yes, I know there are a few places around town that do the boil/bake fresh bit, but this place was also comfortable and the side options just better. Just going on memory, not taste-off, I'd say these were as good if not better than any bagel now being offered in Chicago--although the best bagels I've had this year, by far, were the ones my mother baked.

Gotham Bagels
www.gothambagels.com

112 E Mifflin St
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 467-7642

rainy01 wrote:

Da Beef wrote:Not to worry because nestled in on Mifflin (just east of Pinckney) lay's Jacobson Brothers deli.

Hate to say this, but I think that location disappeared about a year ago and was replaced by Gotham Bagels.

There's still at least two other locations off of the top of my head - one on Commercial and Fordem and one on the West side off of University - I'm pretty sure that they share the space with a produce market of some kind?

In the same vein as Jacobson Brother's but with a definite leaning towards all things artisinal, organic, locally raised and sustainable is Artamo's Specialty Meats and Deli which is out on Whitney Way, where it crosses Odana. It's kind of a hike from the near east side for me, but they've become the nearest thing to my beloved Paulina Market that I've found in town yet. (Regrettably I find myself turning to Whole Foods more often than not for meats, even still.)

Next door to Artamo's is a full-service fishmarket that I somehow failed to notice up until I wandered in on Christmas Eve when I picked up my prime rib at Artamo's. I haven't actually bought anything from them yet, but they had a that snaked out of the door and onto the sidewalk when I popped in - so, they're at least rather seasonally popular.

Artamo's Specialty Meats And Deli
714 S. Whitney Way
Madison,WI 53711
608.442.5929

Jonah wrote:That's a bummer about Cocoliquot. Had a delightful meal there once, and another time stopped in for chocolates for dessert. Recommended it to a friend who went there several times with his student daughter.

Jonah

A friend of mine that used to cook at Cocoliquot and now runs the show at The Tornado Club joined me for a final burger at Coco last week, before they closed. Since I was dining with former staff we got to enjoy a bit of gossip from the current staff as we ate.

As far as David Bacco's chocolates and desserts, he's opening his own space on the West Side, so you'll still be able to enjoy his work. I'll post the name and address once I track it down.

I was about to ask if Jin's chicken and fish was still around until I realized I could find out myself if I googled it, little did I expect they had theyre own website. I totally forgot to mention this late-nite food cart that serves up amazing fresh fried chicken and fish sandwich's that are piled high, best drenched in hot sauce. Jin's belong's on the Madison sandwich list above. I always had the catfish. Odd hours, they are only open Thursday, Friday and Saturday and open at midnight and close at 4am. Youll never see a food cart like this in Chicago, its a Madison classic.

Something tells me he makes a killing off that VIP line, with all the drunk college kids who spend more on a couple Jager bombs than $10 and the line can be 25 deep on a nice weekend so what a deal at $10/per when your stumbling back from the bar and need food now.

http://jinschickenandfish.com/

We were in Madison on Saturday for Canoecopia. After the event, we immediately headed to State Street for a mini Madtown food tour. Our first stop was at Pel Meni. The sign above the store front window is the only indication that a business exists on the premises. I've always considered down town Madison as being in a time warp and upon entry to Pel Meni, my feelings were reconfirmed. The place is spartan, simplistic, and no nonsense. A few old tables, a workable turn table spinning old LP's, no menu or signage, two old chest freezers, and a sweet young lady behind the counter cooking dumplings in four large pots on electric hot plates. Scary for parents visiting their kids at UWM, this was my kind of place! We ordered the combo(1/2 meat-1/2 potato and 1/2 order of the spiced) with a can of Mt. Dew. Sour cream was provided. The meat dumplings were absolutely fantastic! Similar to my Lithuanian grandmother's. What a great comfort food. My tail was wagging.The seeded rye bread was very good. The potato dumplings didn't meet my expectations and were tasteless. $5 for 15 dumplings, sour cream, and a piece of rye bread qualify this establsihment as a diamond in the rough. Other locations include Bellingham, WA and some where in Alaska.

Our second destination was a few doors away. Five Guys Burgers had just opened two days earlier and we had to give it a try. Upon entry, the place was mobbed. Every table was filled with students consuming massive quantities of double cheeseburgers piled high with condiments, along with cups and bags of fries. Cholesterol heaven on earth! We ordered a single cheeseburger with ketchup and fries and waited for ten minutes until our number was called. This place reminded me of the original Dotty Dumplings Dowry on steroids. The burger was very tasty and a step above Culver's. The fries were the best corporate fast food product I've had in years. Made in peanut oil, browned on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Our third stop was at Mad Dogs Eatery on Henry and State for a Vienna Beef hot dog. Mad Dogs is a small, clean, hot dog stand with just enough room to sit and eat, while watching the world go by. The bun was perfectly steamed and the dog wore all the correct authentic Chicago condiments. It was the perfect ending of our mini tour, until my wife requested a final stop at Jamba Juice for drink for the ride home, or so I thought.

The final stop was at the Pine Cone on I94 for a giant M&M cookie and a cream puff the size of a 16" softball.

HI,

Thanks for commenting on Pel Meni. There had been passing references here in the past, but no real report.

Were the pelmeni, aka Siberian meat dumplings, hand made? If frozen, did you see the packaging they came from? If they are the commercially prepared pelmeni, then please note you can purchase 50 pieces for less than $5 (sometime a lot less) at shops catering to Russian and middle European countries.

Regards,

Cathy,

The server to us that the dumplings came from Bellingham, WA. The products we ate were bagged and frozen, prior to cooking.

chicagostyledog wrote:Cathy,

The server to us that the dumplings came from Bellingham, WA. The products we ate were bagged and frozen, prior to cooking.

Most of the frozen pelmeni I've seen are from New York.

Thanks again for the information, I hope to go someday.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:

chicagostyledog wrote:Cathy,

The server to us that the dumplings came from Bellingham, WA. The products we ate were bagged and frozen, prior to cooking.

Most of the frozen pelmeni I've seen are from New York.

Thanks again for the information, I hope to go someday.

Regards,

Thats too bad, my buddy opened this place in '04 (I think) and there were many of times we would hang out in the back and I would watch as people made the dumplings by hand, im sure that it came to the point where they couldnt meet demand and im pretty sure that my friend has since sold the business but itll always be on of my favorites. Half and half, spicy, mmmmm so good.

I'm heading to the waterpark capital, Wisconsin Dells in a few weeks. I came across this web site www.smokyjons.com in Madison, has anyone been here? I might have to make a pit stop.

Kim wrote:I'm heading to the waterpark capital, Wisconsin Dells in a few weeks. I came across this web site www.smokyjons.com in Madison, has anyone been here? I might have to make a pit stop.

I sure have, and I was so unimpressed it took me a year to go back and I was letdown again so I never returned. Your better off at one of Madison's gem's for lunch and this isnt one of them.

As far as the Dells go, I cant recommend anything but cheeseburgers from Monks as a must do and breakfast from Mr. Pancake is also pretty good. I like Wally's house of embers, but its not anything to die for. There is also an old train cart stationed somewhere near the main strip thats offers a good Chicago-Style dog...I know, who in the Dell's from Chicago wants a hot dog?...I always visited when living in Madison so it was a must stop for me.

chicagostyledog wrote:Our second destination was a few doors away. Five Guys Burgers had just opened two days earlier and we had to give it a try. Upon entry, the place was mobbed. Every table was filled with students consuming massive quantities of double cheeseburgers piled high with condiments, along with cups and bags of fries. Cholesterol heaven on earth! We ordered a single cheeseburger with ketchup and fries and waited for ten minutes until our number was called. This place reminded me of the original Dotty Dumplings Dowry on steroids. The burger was very tasty and a step above Culver's. The fries were the best corporate fast food product I've had in years. Made in peanut oil, browned on the outside and creamy on the inside.

The final stop was at the Pine Cone on I94 for a giant M&M cookie and a cream puff the size of a 16" softball.

Hey! Five Guys? Is that the famous Five Guys from Washington DC, that
friends there consistently rave about? They now have an outpost in
Madison?? If so, that would make 3 must-stops in Madison now on a
single day - Mickie's, New Orleans Carryout,and now Five Guys!
(And thanks for the PelMei report, BTW - might do a takeout from there
too the next trip down).

BTW, where exactly is Pine Cone,and is it worth a stop too? If its on
I-94 its probably convenient.. you dont usually need dessert after
3 or 4 meals in a single day (one of them the Mickie's breakfast,
which is about 3 meals by itself).. but this place still sounds interesting.

c8w

Pine Cone is just off 90/94 at the Hwy 51 exit. You will want to exit towards DeForest.

Husband and I had a lovely time spending the past weekend eating and drinking our way around Madison. We lived there for two years about 17 years ago and like to visit every few years to see what's new (and revisit what isn't.) We always start with a walk around the Capitol, down State Street and back. Upon return to the square, we kicked off Friday evening with a beverage at the "new" Genna's just off the square. Granted, this is a bar that moved from it's original location 15 years ago, but it's always going to be the "new" location to me. It's really nice to see so much life/activity around the Capitol square. When we lived there many of the storefronts were boarded-up and only a few businesses thrived in that area. We had made dinner reservations at Harvest, a place we had enjoyed a meal at a few years ago. Their focus is similar to L'Etoile's - seasonal - locally grown. We both started with fantastic salads. I had their housemade cavatelli with pesto, fingerling potatoes, and green beans, and the Husband enjoyed what he said was one of the best beef tenderloins he's had in a long time. With a $58 bottle of Saintsbury Pinot Noir, a coffee and a little pot of Oolong tea, we spent $137 here (before tip.) Service was very good.
We got up early on Saturday to hit the Farmer's market before it got too packed. This is the #1 thing I miss about living in Madison. Getting a Steep & Brew coffee, strolling around the square, shopping, and people-watching is just one of the purest simple pleasures in life for me. This market seems to only get better as it ages. We brought a small cooler so I had to choose items carefully. Fortunately, our hotel room provided an empty fridge with freezer. I picked-up the following - a bag of fresh spinach, a bunch of radishes, a pound of peas, a pint of raspberries, Brunkow's Baked Cheese with Jalapenos ("warm in microwave for 15-20 sec, grill outdoors, or heat in a skillet until crisp",) and a loaf of Oakhouse Farm 3 Grain Bread.
For lunch, we went to Amy's Cafe out of sheer nostalgia. It was a favorite of ours, largely for being cheap and fresh. I had a fine hummus wrap, served with their still-very-good housemade potato chips. Washed down with a Capitol Amber, it was a nice lunch. We wandered over to the student union lakeside area with the intention of relaxing in the sun for a bit while lunch was digesting. We wound up spending about 3 hours as it was a beautiful day, the people-watching was excellent, and the beer was flowing.. They also had the famous Babcock Hall ice cream available outdoors, along with, of course, brats. I left with a bit of a sunburn. (Using the smilie not so much because I'm embarassed, but more to demonstrate the current color of my left arm.)
We had some debate about dinner. I was leaning toward Laotian, but Husband really wanted Italian. I let him win, because I had picked Harvest. We went to Lombardino's. This place has been around forever, but something has definately changed of late. It used to be your typical red sauce place. While the atmosphere is still a bit kitchy, the food has undergone an update. New owner, new generation running the place, new Chef? Not sure, but the calamari appetizer was outstanding. Very tender, light breading, homemade cocktail sauce with sharp horseradish... We shared a very fresh farmer's market field greens salad with housemade fennel vinagrette. I had their Linguine Picchi Pacchi, which was billed as a Sicilian dish of sauteed shrimp, PEI mussels, tomatoes, onions, parsley, mint and a hint of chile. I couldn't detect the hint of chile. While everything was very fresh and cooked properly, the end result was a bit bland and a little sweet for my taste. Husband had the Orecchiette with Fraboni's hot Italian sausage, rapini, roasted garlic cream & a splash of brandy. As expected, very rich but well enjoyed. We finished with a well-executed cappuccino. Service here exceeded our expections.
We capped-off our trip with a detour over to Sobelman's in Milwaukee for lunch before returning to Chicago. Damn...that is one good Bloody Mary. Husband loved the Sobelman burger. Not the world's most friendly place for non-red-meat-eater's. However, I was pleased with the fried fish sandwich. The fish was not at all greasy and it was served on the same wonderful bun as the burgers. The staff, in particular, our bartender/server, was great. They are gearing-up for the influx of bikers coming in this week for the Harley reunion!

Genna's
105 W Main St
http://www.gennaslounge.com/

Harvest
21 N Pinckney St
http://www.harvest-restaurant.com/menu.php

Amy's Cafe
414 W Gilman

Memorial Union Brat Stand
http://www.union.wisc.edu/food/bratstand.html

Lombardino's
2500 University Avenue
http://www.lombardinos.com/entrees.html

Sobelman's
1900 W St Paul Ave
Milwaukee, WI
http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/about.html

That sounds like a great trip to Madison.

I was at the market at 6:30am on Saturday, I had a lot to do that day. I wish it could have been a More leisurely stroll.

Brandon,

It was quite a nice weekend. Wish we could do it more often!

BTW, I don't remember what stall it came from, but even though I'm not vegan, I had a wonderful Vegan Banana-Walnut scone while strolling about at the market. They used really fresh ground walnuts and the flavor was amazing. It was also quite moist. If you see it - give it a try. (Went great with the coffee too.) Lynn

There are one or two places to get good scones. My favorite place sells pretty scones and some cookies, pretty basic. The name of the bakery I believe is the first names of the two people who run it. I like their jalapeño cheddar scone and the dark chocolate raspberry scone.

However the best scones in town (imo) can be had at Lazy Jane's Café on Willy Street.

My family and I find it can be incredibly difficult to deal with the Saturday AM options in downtown Madison. My wife, by far, favors the seasonal biscuits or crepes at Ingrid's, which is near the State Street corner of the market. I'm more fickle. Is it an over-flaky but still delicious croissant at Cafe Soleil. One of those spicy cheese bread slices? A donut as pictured by Brandon in another thread. More often, I fill on samples, especially the Hook's really old cheeses and some versions of jerky.

Vital Information wrote:My family and I find it can be incredibly difficult to deal with the Saturday AM options in downtown Madison. My wife, by far, favors the seasonal biscuits or crepes at Ingrid's, which is near the State Street corner of the market. I'm more fickle. Is it an over-flaky but still delicious croissant at Cafe Soleil. One of those spicy cheese bread slices? A donut as pictured by Brandon in another thread. More often, I fill on samples, especially the Hook's really old cheeses and some versions of jerky.

My most memorable meal of last summer came on a Saturday morning from buying 2 perfect brioche buns at Cafe Soleil and some gorgeous raspberries at the market, then walking up to the top of Monona Terrace for a picnic. We dug a hole in the buns, mushed in a whole lot of raspberries, and popped open a bottle of prosecco. It didn't hurt that it was a gorgeous, sunny 72 degrees and we had the entire terrace with its lake and city views to ourselves.

Don't forget about Marigold Kitchen and their duck confit hash with eggs, as one of the many wonderful Saturday morning options in Madison. It might be my favorite breakfast meal ever.

Vital - There are a lot of good donuts at the market these days. However the best ones (they were enormous) were from Farmer's Pride Bakery, and they aren't there this year. Man I miss them.

I was talking to Mr. Stella (I can't confirm that Stella is his real last name) of Stella's Bakery at the Monona farmer's market one Sunday, where he is far less busy. I was asking about the spicy cheese bread and he said they sell around 1,400 loaves at the market on the square. That's a lot of spicy cheese bread.

This past weekend was the annual Taste of Madison, and this was the first time I made it out in a long time. Since it is on Labor Day weekend I always end up being somewhere else or having other plans, but not this year.

It was hotter than I would have liked, 88º or so and the sun was really beating down. This kept me from eating as much as I would have liked, but I probably still ate more than a normal person might. It's a fun thing to go to, and it is a fundraiser for the United Cerebal Palsy of Greater Dane County Foundation, so you get to help a good cause too.

Here are a few things I ate while I was up there:

Piled High Pastrami on an Everything Bagel with a grainy yellow mustard (possibly the best thing I ate there):


Jamacian Beef Pattie from Jamerica. My first beef pattie, but not my last. It was delicious. Nicely seasoned with a bit of heat, not tongue blistering or anything but enough to get you rnose running a little.



Butterfinger Wan-Tons from Bluphie's. Gimmicky but not bad:


Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Eggroll from Bluphie's. Also gimmicky but not bad:


Shrimp stuffed with Cheese, Jalapeno and wrapped in bacon, from Abuelo's. These were a tasty little treat:


Some pulled pork BBQ from a place up in Rio. Not bad, but not great, the meat was not smoked, or if it was, it had no flavor from it.



There are a few more pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandon_w/ ... 115059427/


I really need to get back to Gotham City for another one of those pastrami bagels.

The taste of Madison looks like it has changed for the better. I always loved it because it was the start of the party season, ok and school too, but they always had a few gems and alot of Red Lobster like places. That patty looks different than most but still damn good, looks different than the ones I remember from Jamerica, the dough looks a littlle darker and it seems more crispy than usual. I was always surprised at the selection of Jamaican products in Madison.

Ill be headed up to Madison for halloween and plan on trying many of my old favorites as well as the much praised new place, Sardine. An old roommate of mine who now lives in Madison and recruits football players for Brett, swears by a new Southwest truck at the mall library called Santa Fe Trailer. He recruited for the Lobo's for a year and says its very comparable to some stuff out there.

Taste of Madison does still have some chains but is not dominated by them.

It's possible the patty from Jamerica looks darker because they had them in little warming ovens, or it could be a different dough, I really don't know.

Sardine is a great place to eat, the duck confit salad is fantastic. I will have to keep an eye out for the Santa Fe Trailer.

If you are interested in grabbing a bite to eat somewhere when you are up here send me a PM.

My co-blog writer did a post on her Unofficial Taste of Madison:
http://chewonthatblog.com/2007/07/16/un ... f-madison/

Heading to Madison for a night next weekend. I went to school there but graduated 10 years ago and have only been back once since. Saturday will definitely be spent at the market and wandering state street and hanging at the terrace (if the weather holds). But I am looking for a special Saturday night meal. When I was last in Madison letoille was the place to go. Is it still? Should I look elsewhere for that kind of meal? Thanks so much for your help.

L'Etoile is still considered to be one of, if not the top restaurant in Madison, however I have never eaten there, but I want too.

Sardine ( http://www.sardinemadison.com/) is a great restaurant. A bit more casual, and a tiny bit cheaper than L'Etoile. It's owned by the same people who own Marigold Kitchen. The food I have had there has been great. The Warm Duck Confit salad is possibly my favorite salad ever.

I like Magnus too. http://www.restaurantmagnus.com/

I am not sure if I ever mentioned this, but my family and I had a truly outstanding meal at L'Etoile this summer. Two years ago, my wife and I had a very middling experience there. The meal this year totally wiped that experience off our palatial memory.

wow. thanks for the responses. right now i am holding a reservation at Harvest. Should I reconsider and try for a table at L'etoille? You both seem like huge fans, but before I heard from you both I read up on Harvest on their website. Do you have any Harvest experience?