Reviews of Sardine (Restaurant)

Cami Young

Great atmosphere on the lake. I've been here multiple times and it continues to be one of my favorite restaurants in Madison. Excellent oysters, great seafood dishes, nice wine and cocktail selection.

Jennifer Lee

My omelette was delicious! I did not care for having a table squished behind the coffee stand where the waitstaff goes. It made for a strange setting. I feel like maybe they could move the table elsewhere or move the coffee stand in another place. It was extremely crowded at 9:30 AM in the morning.

Bart Bergquist

Never a miss, their pastries are the best of anywhere. Perfect done omelette and potatoes. When in Madison the is a must visit, maybe could even be the reason to visit Madison.

Don Spear

Excellent service & food, charming but a bit noisy atmosphere.

john forrestal

Dinner hit the spot, the skate was cooked perfectly, and the service was great. Always a favorite when in Madison.

Janelle Perez Martinez

Always a fan of their food. Even with a reservation there was a wait time. Server took a while to take our orders, bring our drinks, and bring our food. Food is always 5 stars but I need to give 4 starts for the service this time around .

Tendai Gadzikwa

Amazing selection of oysters. Delicious!

SC L

Historically, Sardine is one of the top restaurants in Madison. But they changed owners a few years ago, and now the consistency in the quality of the dishes can vary. I am unsure of what changed in the kitchen. I requested a patio table overlooking the lake in my reservation. Although they said patio seating is limited, so they could not guarantee a patio table, they were able to seat me outside. It was lovely. I ordered the steak au poivre medium rare. It initially came out medium well. The server apologized profusely and insisted on bringing me a new one. The second one was medium. The excellent sauce helped the flavor, despite the meat being over cooked to my taste. The Frites were excellent, as expected. The sauteed spinach was cooked perfectly. Overall, a pleasant and tasty dinner. I think you will enjoy your experience at Sardine as well. Especially if you like your steak on the more cooked end of the scale.

Gregg Plummer

Consistently good food, excellent service and the best atmosphere.

GreyGh0stO7

Nice variety. Professional Service. Well trained staff.

Adam Buckingham

Sardine is one of our favorite restaurants downtown. The service is top notch. The food is outstanding. The bartenders are skilled and knowledgeable. On our most recent visit, we had a seared salmon dish and a whitefish with artichokes and ramp sauce. Both were fantastic. All the details were perfect, the dishes were excellently seasoned and flavorful. Excellent wine selection and cocktails make for a great evening. I highly recommend Sardine.

Dan Teteak

Food was relatively uninspired. We were not blown away in any respect, and we’re not a picky couple. Drinks were ok. A bit on the sweet side w limited creativity. Ate at the bar. Paid just the same as everyone else, but we were never once asked if we wanted bread (all the tables were served it). Seems like there are a lot of regulars that are bonkers for this place- really don’t understand why. There are SO many other options in Madison that are much more worth your time and money. Please, go there instead.

heather essig

Enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere. Service was friendly and non invasive. Would like to return in the summer to enjoy the lake side view!

Beca Carter

truly stunning experience.

Jacob East

Only made it for brunch, but easily glad I did.

John D Dunne

One of Madison's top restaurants, Sardine is always reliably good, and sometimes truly outstanding. Fresh oysters are a specialty here, and Cocktails are generally excellent. While the regularly rotating cocktail menu is strong, do not hesitate to ask the bartender for your favorite. On a recent visit, a request for the slightly obscure Final Ward was easily entertained. Food ranges from the fairly simple to the complex, and seafood is prominent. But the menu is also balanced by a number of equally good (and again, sometimes outstanding) meat dishes. Lamb dishes, which seem to fall short at many restaurants, tend more toward the outstanding end of the spectrum. The general culinary inflection is French (confit de canard is a typical offering) but also creative. Vegetarians will have at least one main (probably with dairy) available to them, but it is not difficult to create a dinner with other, small tasting items from the menu. The overall ambience is somewhat upscale, but not pretentious. And if you catch one of the tables with a direct view of the lake, the views add to the experience. Overall, Sardine never disappoints, and it is a great choice for a special occasion in Madison.

Evelyn Galindo

Food was excellent. We went to celebrate a friend's promotion and it was perfect for talking and celebrating with friends. Service was also courteous and welcoming. There are lots of food and wine options. There is plenty of parking available which is unusual for downtown Madison. It is my new local favorite. Great view and amazing atmosphere!

Hakan Kiliccote

Really good service, good food, good cocktails. Bring some good company, sit at the bar, and enjoy life. This is one place that I would recommend to everyone visiting Madison. Give it a try, you won't regret it.

TheHansKranz

Sardine is a top 5 spot for Madison restaurants. I have been multiple times for various occasions. Brunch with friends, afternoon happy hour for drinks, and date night with my partner. I have been delightfully surprised every single visit. Rotating specials keep me wanting to come back along with staff that will accommodate any need and know exactly what they are doing. If you haven't been here, stop in.

Christian Bohnhoff

Good food, nice atmosphere

Amanda Rae Kempski

One of the nicest restaurants in town! The food is pretty pricey, but it's worth it! I personally love going to Sardine for brunch. They also do a wonderful job of accommodating larger parties. You can make reservations online but calling the restaurant directly is probably your best bet!

Jessica Heimark

Delicious start to finish. Service was slow and inattentive though.

Hali Schatz

I was here on a Sunday for brunch around 10:45ish and the bar was fairly packed but the white table cloth tables were largely empty. When myself and my friend approached the host to ask for a table we were told verbatim with all the snobbery you can imagine "what we can do for you right now is seat you at the bar or see if we have an open table outside...." I made the point that they had alot of empty tables and was told "we're full up on reservations" so my friend and I go to the bar noticing that perhaps we are under dressed but really this is Madison and jeans and t-shirts are acceptable everywhere. At the bar the bar staff was great. We each had a cocktail and an omelette and we split a breakfast pastry. The food was good but not worth being on of the priciest brunches in town. The cocktails were enjoyable but nothing I couldn't make at home. And the pastry seemed like something refrigerated and shipped in. Overall definitely nothing to be stuck up about. So meanwhile we are sitting at the bar eating and drinking we notice that only a couple of the supposedly reserved tables has actually been filled and the rest sit empty for the duration of our meal. Indicating that they would have been more than able to accommodate us at a table. And likely should have in the interest of having more mouths in seats. I also got the impression from overheard snippets around me at the bar that we were not the only victims of the hosts snobbery at that bar. I will not be back. The beautiful atmosphere and good food are not enough for me to pay to be treated like a second class patron.

India Viola

A sure bet for great food, drinks, and service

Bezi Hendrickson

Enjoy delicious food while overlooking the beautiful lake view.

Kirti Meghnani

Very nice and busy place. Was with a group. The wine was excellent. Very few veg options but nice. Had pasta and it was decent.

Deb Mojumder

Nice European ambience. There are balcony seats with a view of the lake. The food was delicious, although pricey. The service was excellent.

Jeff G

The food selection was not the greatest. Quality was good. Great customer service at cocktail lounge, but dropped when we received our table. 41 minutes to get dessert. We had to get up twice top see where our food was.

Sandra Burke

Convenient, central location. right on the lake in a historic building. Plus great food and knowledgeable friendly staff.

Carol Rondou

Excellent food. Excellent service. Excellent experience.

Mike Shwe

First visit: Fantastic! From the excellent wines by the glass to the service to the food to the ambiance. I had the skate wing on the recommendation of the server and loved it. Update: sad second visit in August 2019. Server brought out the wrong oysters and a cold steak frites. The butter on the steak wasn't even bothering to melt. Fries were sad little stubs. Swordfish was tiny and dry. At least the pork shoulder was tasty. The service so slow that we're afraid to order dessert.

Andrew Ticho

Food is excellent. Service has always been fantastic. It is one of favorite restaurants in Madison.

Jiacheng Yang

Had a group dinner there. All entree options are good.

Casey Hunter

Solid place to get some French-American fusion. I got the swordfish, and it was cooked well and paired with a delicious olive/caper tapenade, with firm braised turnips and some crispy noodle things. Really nicely balanced from a textural standpoint, which you sometimes miss at these kinds of restaurants. Unfortunately it sits right in that sweet spot of "good, but too expensive to justify going back again". Definitely worth a visit though.

Barbara Gulten

Ever reliable, semi-contemporary, lovely atmosphere, and good service.. are the factors that keep pulling me and most people I know back to Sardine! Very well done and executed from brunches to dinners to private events. Food is reliably good/very good.. and matches the pricing. Great big bar area that still feels cozy and fun; knowledgeable staff. During summer they have outdoor seating; even with the parking lot in front it’s nice to see the lake. The interior has a more formal white table cloth dining area, as well as a more private spot to side where you can host a decent 20-25 people team dinner. They do well with organizing such events and customize the menu. I do recommend it. We live pulling up to the bar for a boozy brunch or a happy hour cocktail - has not disappointed! ... on replay!

SJ Patton

Great time with my family. Good food and drink

Micheál Ó

Our experience eating here has been almost fabulous. The dishes have been consistently delicious, the selection more than decent, and wine and beer offerings more than adequate to make for good pairings with what we ate. I would suggest to those with complaints about timing and service, look at google's graph about busiest times, and plan your meal NOT to be right when the place is packed. Definitely a place to have a special meal, and recommend to out-of-town friends who visit.

rutta ouk

I have to for sure rate this place a 5 star. They’re Menu was perfect quality size and I honestly feel like there is something for everyone here. They’re Bloody Mary and Breakfast martini was fantastic! Ordered the roast pork sandwich that had so much flavor to it. I however did have the the steak and frites. I do question the steak a bit. I wasn’t quite a fan of the steak more so because I do feel as if it was very salty in my opinion. I ordered it medium rare which was still cooked very well. Our server was also great! Honestly overall this is a good restaurant and I will for sure be back to try some other items! Oh and the oysters were also great!

mary brinkman

Beautiful place with wonderful food

Fadi Wehbe

nice atmosphere, good food

Ela Sieradzki

Great plesant staff, amazing ambiance, atmosphere is peaceful. Happy hour gives you $5 wine and great oysters about $2 piece. We enjoyed few drink and dinner. Food is relatively good priced for such a fancy restaurant, drinks are expensive like everywhere. For sure will be coming back here.

Ryan Dresen

One of the best places for brunch in town, the fresh pastries and rotating menu are hard to beat!

Brett Falck

Amazing food, reasonable wait time and the staff were very professional during what looked like a rush.

Jean-Michel Ané

I'm French and I am a bit picky about French food... They served me a really good cassoulet. This is the first time I could get a real cassoulet in the US. Great job. I highly recommend it if you want to have an authentic taste of this comfort French dish.

Maryanne Shelten

Food was good service was great. The view of the lake makes it nice anytime of day but early brunch will be warm outside on the metal tables lol. Their liver pate was great creamy texture light flavor.

Ben Williams

Incredible spot for brunch, dinner, or cocktails. The menu offers great variety that is guaranteed to please with spectacular pastries, a good oyster selection, and delicious cocktails. One of few restaurants offering views of lake Monona. After living in Madison for 10+ years, I can safely say this is my favorite brunch spot.

Micah Davis

Great fish and sea food. Amazing views of the lake.

Matthew Hegge

Great as always. Oysters, duck confit salad, charcuterie board, and service were all spot on as usual.

Zach Lange

My wife and I celebrated our birthday- anniversary (she married me on my birthday). We parked early and took a walk along the lake shore. We asked to sit at the bar for a cocktail rather than be seated early and the bar tenders made some great cocktails and helped find a good wine pairing for dinner. Mathew was an excellent server with good recommendations. I was honestly demanding and he made it happen, even to the point of making cappuccino art for my cappuccino with dessert. Best Birthday- Anniversary yet. Thanks to everyone at Sardine.

a Trevino

Great happy hour menu and wine

Angela *

Truly a very nice place. Makes me miss France

Jay R

I went here on a suggestion from a friend of mine. The wood grilled pork chop was delicious. I also had two desserts because why the hell not? Peach Berry Sorbet, delicious and the Peach and Pistachio Tart, also delicious. I feel like the view from the parking lot got this place at least up to 4 stars.

Keith Woeltje

Friendly staff. Somewhat eclectic menu. Food was very good. Small but varied beer list.

Lonnie Sorrells

Excellent food. Great service

Melinda Lee

We had a work dinner here. Everything was great. Our server, Susan, was wonderful.

Jacque M.

Sardine is wonderful and unique! When I miss France I come here and order Toulouse sausage. The food is always delicious and the service is on point. Located right off the water, the view is stunning. Can't wait to go back.

Charles Murphy

You love the attentive service and perfectly prepared dinner dishes of salmon and swordfish.

Peggy Timmerman

Always delicious food, craft cocktails and a good wine list. Excellent service as well.

Algis Marcinkevicius

This place is exceptionally nice. Their menu is sophisticated and unique, and really makes you feel like you're in France. The ambiance is very cute in the evenings, and the view of the lake is fantastic. I highly recommend the seating near the windows and patio in the evening. Service is exceptional, and really makes the meal special. Highly recommend this place for dates and more intimate evenings.

Sara Appleton

Pricey but tasted delicious in a beautiful setting.

tehk.media

Nice atmosphere and location. Friendly staff and environment wasn't too noisy. Food was just so-so and didn't really stand out to us.

Marc Flood

Service was exceptional and the food was amazing. Great taste, fresh ingredients and perfect portions!!

Mark Calvert

Delicious food and drinks in a stylish, modern urban setting. It's a bit pricey, but worth it for special occasions.

Monica Cardenas

Great lakeside restaurant enjoyed the warm montchevre appetizer (pictured). Tasty butternut squash soup. Steak frites dish very well done. Steaks were cooked to order. Fantastic strawberry rhubarb sorbet. Attentive waitstaff and Parisian charm.

Edith Petersen

Nice atmosphere. Interesting menu. Good food.

Lawrence Tom

The mussels were delicious with the fries and extra bread to soak up the sauce. The duck confit was also nice but wished the bartender had delayed the entree until I finished with my appetizer.

Ben Chase

Delicious food. The atmosphere feels fancy without being pretentious - I felt comfortable in a t-shirt and jeans. Brunch is very enjoyable.

Amber Holmes

The food was good. I was there for brunch before returning home. The atmosphere was nice. I would recommend a reservation, like I had as it was quite busy. I couldn't give 5 stars only because it took awhile for my server to take my order and then return with my food. The food was hot when it arrived and very tasty. I would recommend a visit if you are in Madison.

Gage DeNure

Great place for a date night. Done it multiple times with the girlfriend. Went with the cheese plate as an app and the duck confit. Best bird I've ever ate. I bet their duck confit salad is great.

Becky Mitchell

Fabulous dinner! Vegan for me! Delicious! Special,!

Jeff Oliver

Friendly staff, nice decor, simple yet sufficient & unique menu, reasonable prices ... what's not to love.

Lydia Leung

Fantastic brunch. Food was tasty. We had an awesome table by the window. The louder/livelier bistro setting made it more relaxed and i saw a few families with kids as well. I’ve loved this place since 10+ years ago and it is still amazing.

Ivanka Bazalakova

The food is good,especially goad cheese.

Douglas Shackelford

Nice bar, pretty well stocked (Scotch & US Whiskeys), except for Irish Whiskey (What?). Sandwiches at the bar were very nicely done with a well done side of salad greens that was unexpected. We gave the place overall high marks.

JULIE HOUG

Wonderful staff! This is a hidden secret, worth discovering!

matthew kabbash

Outstanding customer service. Outdoor seating. Moul frits...yummy. French onion soup outstanding

Nathaniel Johnson

Excellent service and a great view are about the only positive points to our visit to this Madison favorite. The food was uninspired and poorly prepared though properly plated. My wife started with chicken liver on toast which she said was both runny and lumpy. The cheese plate was interesting but should have had at least four cheeses and a better variety. Her main was the swordfish which was dry and had a strong fishy smell. The caper relish was lackluster. My main, the only vegetarian option was the malfatti and possibly the only well prepared dish of our evening. It was cooked correctly with each of the vegetables cooked exactly right. The dumplings themselves had a nice consistency and flavor. Desert was sub par. Both the hazelnut bar and the apricot pistachio tart were boring and the accompanying ice cream was brought in. It seems there are a number of restaurants falling into this trap. If you run a high end bistro, you better deliver high end meals. For an authentic French bistro nearby, check out La Kitchenette.

Zach Heise

Always packed during dinner hours (it can get loud in the densely packed space), Sardine is famous in the area. Its proximity to the bike path and a bike rental shop means a lot of out of towners seem to frequent it as well. I'd say they're 60% seafood focused with tasty four legged and fowl too. Cocktails are varied and interesting, from the bitter and pungent to the light and refreshing. Serving staff was pleasant and knowledgeable.

veronica fer-kahr

Disappointing experience, I have been here before and it was good but this time the white fish had a very fishy flavor, I told the waitress and she offered something else but I didn't want to wait so I just asked for a tomato soup which was sour. My daughter ordered the mussels and the broth was kinda bland. The fries were greasy and overcooked. Not worth the money. Just a popular place going down in quality.

Jeff Snyder

Always fantastic oysters and service. Fantastic food

Grace Timmerman

They have mastered making simple ingredients and dishes stand out in amazing ways. Their cocktails are always on point, they have a terrific wine list. Consistent but certainly not boring. One of my favorite spots in town, hands down.

Kathryn Hylkema

This place is amazing. Great food, service, decor and ambiance. If you go, order one of their specialty cocktails...they are so worth it. Best cocktails I've ever had. I also love their bar menu!

Andrew Clark

I walked in and was very under dressed in a t shirt and blue jeans. Staff was super nice and respectful and everything was perfect!!! I know a restaurant cares when I look scruffy and the service is still exceptional. Great cocktail bar. I will be visiting again soon. Prices are above average but it is a justified expensive as the service and atmosphere are exceptional.

Devin Fisher

Cool interior with a good view of the lake. Food was decent.

Russell Steen

We made a reservation for 5pm and showed up early. First hostess was snotty with us then went to get someone else. The second hostess told us that they do not begin seating until 5pm. No problem we expected that so we waited... and waited. We watched as they seated four parties without reservations, both before and after 5pm. There were still plenty of tables open when we gave up and left. We were dressed business casual and at the same level as other patrons, and didn't expect to be seated early. We did expect to be treated with respect and seated at the time of our reservation. Maybe the food is amazing and maybe the atmosphere is great, if you know the magic formula to get a table. Too elitist for my liking.

River Ashes

Best salmon in town and their chocolate brownie is the best I’ve ever had. I love their soups too. Great setting and excellent service.

Lizzy Gietman

Beautiful atmosphere, fabulous service, ideal location, but the food (not even seafood) was SO salty!

Bryan Crouch

The baked creamed eggs will literally knock your socks off. Great service too. Fun atmosphere. A true gem by the lake.