Sardine — Restaurant in Madison

First of all, I honestly dislike reviews from people who have only had one bad experience out of multiple visits. Every restaurant, and every person, for that matter, can have an off day/night, and to be judged by that ONE unsettling experience out of many wonderfully enjoyable moments, is in my opinion, extremely harsh.

Now, here is my review of a place I have enjoyed multiple times throughout the years:

My husband and I have typically gone to Sardine for Sunday brunch. I have never had a bad experience. The food is excellent, and the service is quite good. I see some people say it's slow, but in all honesty, I enjoy a meal where I am not rushed out the door. To sit with good food and good company is a delight. A meal is just as much about the food as it is about the people we enjoy having around us. So, to sit around a table for longer than it takes to get through a drive-through window, is just fine with me.

So, we went to Sardine after a particularly difficult weekend for us, wanting to enjoy a repast in remembrance of someone. We sat at a high-top table and faced the kitchen area near the oysters. Many people have said that they think this place is loud and it's hard to hear, and that could have been the case why our server didn't hear we wanted 2 Bloody Marys, and my husband wanted 3 of each of the East Coast oysters instead of one of each. No big deal, we got both settled quickly.

I very rarely sway from the Creamed Baked Eggs because, well, they're outstanding! My husband had the special, which was a mushroom/blueberry compote toast dish. I don't remember the name of the dish, and really, when it showed up, I thought it was odd to combine mushrooms and blueberries. I tried a bite of it, and I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor. Halfway through the main meal, though, he felt something poke at his throat after he swallowed. He had already pulled a small stem out of his mouth, but he felt like part of it had gone down his throat. Apparently, Sardine makes their blueberry compote in house, so it could be that in the cleaning process of the blueberries a stem had gotten through. It can happen, I know, but he felt like it was lodged and it could be problematic later, so he wanted to let our server know what happened. She was very understanding about it. She informed the manager, Susan, who came over right away, and asked how she could help. We didn't know if this would get worse, but she did what she could by suggesting that he try eating some buttered bread and hopefully that would unlodge the stem. She also brought him a big glass of milk, which I thought might soothe his throat a little, and her business card just in case something else needed to be done if it wouldn't unlodge. Thankfully, the bread did the trick.

They were very accommodating, so nice, and showed that they were concerned for him. They even comped his main dish, which I thought was very nice considering that a stem like that can so easily slip through in a big bunch of blueberries. Even every olive jar will tell you that some olives may still contain a pit, so bite carefully.

All in all, we still had a great meal, and I will always tell people that the food at Sardine is delectable and the atmosphere sublime.

One last note. Being at Sardine reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from M.F.K. Fisher:

"And above all, friends should possess the rare gift of sitting. They should be able, no, eager, to sit for hours - three, four, six - over a meal of soup and wine and cheese, as well as one of twenty fabulous courses. Then, with good friends of such attributes, and good food on the board, and good wine in the pitcher, we may well ask, When shall we live,...

On a recent visit to Sardines in Madison, I was immediately struck by the inviting atmosphere and an impressive selection of beverages. We kicked off the evening with a glass of Blackberry Cinder and a Pretty Good Amber Ale while waiting for our friend. The extensive alcohol menu was a delightful surprise, catering to a variety of tastes.

We were graciously attended by Drew, a true gentleman who provided excellent recommendations throughout our meal. We started with a bottle of Riesling and a half dozen oysters, accompanied by warm bread and butter. The oysters were fresh and briny, setting the stage for what was to come. I liked the Washington one, it was crunchy and sweet.

One of the highlights of the meal was the wood-grilled sardines. They were beautifully prepared, with a slightly crispy skin that was perfectly seasoned. Each bite transported me to the sea, although I did wish for a few more Brussels sprouts on the side to complement the dish. The house greens were equally impressive, showcasing remarkable freshness and flavor.

For the main course, we shared two dishes: steak frites and pan-seared skatewings. The steak was cooked medium, tender, and bursting with beefy richness, though the fries were a touch overcooked for my liking. The skatewings, on the other hand, were a revelation—boneless, with none of that off-putting ammonia taste some places struggle with. They were perfectly seasoned, and the accompanying sauce elevated the dish further. The broccoli rabe was a bit chewy, hinting that it might have been slightly past its prime.

Despite our fullness, we couldn’t resist dessert. Drew guided us through the options, and we settled on the opera torte and hazelnut gianduja crunch. The opera torte was a standout, its layers of flavors complemented by a delightful sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup. Both desserts paired wonderfully with a shot of espresso.

Overall, the vibe, service, and food at Sardines were exceptional. I left with a satisfied palate and a desire to return. If you find yourself in Madison, this charming spot is not to be...

First, let me say that I'm sad to give less than a perfect review. We have been to Sardine many times and have made it our regular spot for our anniversary dinner for several years. But ...tonight (our anniversary) was not good. I ordered the salmon and braised lentils, a dish I have enjoyed before, but this time I was unable to eat in full because it was undercooked. In fact, rather than hot my whole plate came out rather lukewarm - but it was busy and this wasn't a deal breaker. Until I tried to eat it. The lentils were not simply "al dente" but not done, especially for braised. I took more than one bite to see if I was just getting a few random bad ones. No. Then my salmon was....odd. It was flaky so appeared to be done but when I got to the bottom of the portion, it was "wet" and super mushy to the point that I had to discreetly deposit the bite in my napkin. At that point, I was just picking the top layer of fish and left the lentils wholly alone.

I was not the only one. A man at the four-top next to us was also questioning how "done" his lentils were. I did not hear his comments on his salmon - but the same lentil issue which his wife/companion was telling him was just because they were braised. No. That was not it.

I was looking forward to coffee and dessert to save the day - which it mostly did but my coffee was also not hot. And did not come with a spoon though I had asked for cream which also did not arrive until much later. By then, the coffee was not really what I'd wanted (not being hot or even lukewarm by then). And again, no spoon with the cream. I finally stirred it with my finger (hey, sometimes you just have to) so I could drink it before it was totally beyond hope. We had the mousse and the apple tarting - both delicious!

But overall a disappointment of an experience and not feeling so good once we got home. It may be time for a new anniversary destination...