Description : WEST. Biaggi's serves patrons well with large portions, an extensive menu, and a comfortable, convivial ambience. Local folks prize favorites like osso buco, chicken saltimbocca, pork chops al forno, seared salmon, veal marsala, and an herb-tinged NY strip. Pastas and individual pizzas also make for appetizing fare, and the wine list features Italian and domestic vintages. Service is attentive, and children are easily accommodated, as are groups. A great, anytime restaurant. Reservations recommended.

Hours : Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-9pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card,American Express

Description : DOWNTOWN. Housed in a circa-1858 building, this charming cafe conveys European sensibility in both cuisine and décor. A zinc bar adds a touch of Parisian interest to the interior, and the ambience is invariably welcoming. The menu walks the line between Continental and Italian fare, featuring such concoctions as ostrich tenderloin in a Madeira reduction with Portobello mushrooms, and four different polenta preparations including a grilled version topped with fresh tomato sauce and mushrooms. Other menu highlights are equally diverse - a delicate penne with prosciutto and peas, the signature crab cakes, and tender buffalo rib eye. Amazing brunch offerings will satisfy everyone ­ try one of the eggs Benedict variations, such as crab cakes Benedict or artichoke hearts Benedict.

Hours : Brunch Sun 9am-3pm; Lunch Mon-Sat 11am-4pm; Dinner Mon-Thu 4pm-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 4pm-10:30pm, Sun 3pm-9pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : WEST. A city institution, Lombardino's has been one of Madison's most recognizable restaurants since 1952. Given to kitschy charm, the interior is a throwback to Italian eateries of past decades, a look patrons love for its unchanging character. The cuisine has also stood the test of time, as evidenced by roasted veal tenderloin, skillet-seared sea scallops, spaghetti puttanesca alla mare, and grilled black Angus filet of beef. Pastas and creative Napoletana pizzas are appealing as well. Reservations suggested.

Hours : Tue-Thu and Sun 5pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card,Discover,American Express

Description : EAST. Texture ­ in rough brick walls, hardwood flooring, and floral tapesty prints ­ imparts visual interest to this pleasant restaurant, whose specialty is pasta. At first glance, there's a fiesty Puttanesca, a rich Carbonara, and a light Primavera ­ and then options simply expand. To wit, you'll find a savory cioppino, grilled beef tenderloin, portobello mushroom ravioli, and salmon marinated in sangria and grilled. Homemade breads provide a rustic note as well, and crisp, cold gelatos are made fresh each day. Full bar.

Hours : Mon-Fri 5pm-9pm, Sat-Sun 5pm-10pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : EAST. Much-loved by children, this whimsical eatery mesmerizes young and old alike with its displays of vintage toys, suspended collectibles, and animated figures. There's even a merry-go-round out front that has all the kids clamoring for a ride from spring to early fall. The menu leans heavily towards sandwiches, soups, and other kid-friendly fare, and the signature ice cream is fantastic ­ cold, creamy, and homemade. Ideal when you're in that soda shop frame of mind.

Hours : Sun-Thu 10am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-11pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : WEST. Founded by Dave Anderson back in 1994, this immensely popular chain serves up some of the best ribs, burgers, and chops you can imagine. As legend has it, Famous Dave scoured the country and sampled the finest barbecue dishes each region had to offer, all the while fine-tuning his own delicious recipes. How successful were his endeavors? Just sample a platter of award-winning ribs served with homemade cornbread, corn on the cob, and sides like Drunkin' Apples and potato salad ­ your overwhelmed taste buds will let you know immediately.

Hours: Daily 11am-10pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card,Discover,American Express,Diner's Club

Description : DOWNTOWN. Set in what was originally a 19th century hotel, this incredibly popular brewpub attracts everyone from business folks to college kids. A pub-like ambience characterized by aged wood and stone sets the scene for this neighborhood gathering place, which is well-frequented by professionals during the lunch crush. Plenty of burgers and salads appear on the menu, along with fish-and-chips, brats-and-mashers, chicken pot pie, and a fragrant peanut stew. You'll also find steaks, pastas, and hearty appetizers. Just don't forget the house-brewed ales and lagers, made all the better by their freshness.

Hours : Sun-Thu 11am-2am, Fri-Sat 11am-2:30am
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card,American Express

Description : STATE STREET. A brick interior and artwork portraying prominent jazz musicians establishes a hip, laid-back ambience at this family-owned bar and grill. The place also boasts an enormous bar built by the owner and his father. At lunch, folks order at the counter and retrieve their food when called. The menu features fresh-made burgers, reubens, and sandwiches with grilled portabellos, tuna steak, pork, sirloin, and chicken. Crisp salads and homemade soups and desserts also delight patrons. Draft and bottled beers (including microbrews) are available, along with bottled and by-the-glass wines, and liquors.

Hours : Sun-Thu 11am-2am, Fri-Sat 11am-2:30am
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : WEST. Sleek, retro styling defines this appealing diner, which makes the most of its chrome and glass-block details. Serving food all day, the eatery offers classic diner fare, updated for modern tastes. Cheeseburgers and pulled pork sandwiches satisfy purists, as do meatloaf plates and chicken pot pie. Trendy folks revel in the Madras vegetables bowl or a dish piled high with Thai chicken and noodles. You'll also find fish-and-chips, roasted vegetable quesadillas, a bayou catfish sandwich, and plenty of fresh salads. Plus, baked goods, sundaes, shakes, and an array of pies and cheesecakes elicit grins of pleasure from local sweet tooths.

Hours : Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 7:30am-10pm, Sun 7:30am-9pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : WEST. Part of the Luther's Blues music-and-dining complex, this upscale restaurant calls to patrons with accomplished Creole cuisine. From the open kitchen come creative takes on the Bayou State's best dishes. Start, for example, with fried alligator sirloin or pan-seared foie gras, and move to lamb Pontchartrain, steak Evangeline, crawfish Diablo, creole bouillabaisse, trio of duck, or the fresh catch of the day. To finish up, try the requisite bananas Foster or maybe bread pudding with Newcastle Ale sauce. And don't forget to catch some great blues upstairs!

Hours : Tue-Thu 5:30pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5:30pm-10pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : EAST. Clean-lined Western style mixes with a warehouse setting in this warm, rustic restaurant. Glowing with light and patinated woods, Eldorado transports patrons to the Southwest of days gone by. Even the menu is infused with Mexican and Spanish influences. It features grilled lamb loin with lime cream sauce, blackened catfish, chicken-fried steak with pasilla chile gravy, and lobster, crab, and shrimp enchiladas. Fresh fish, fajitas, and chalupas also make appearances, and an extensive tequila menu keeps with the theme as well. Sunday brunch and outdoor dining too.

Hours : Mon-Thu 5pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm, Sun 9am - 2pm and 5pm-9pm; Bar Daily 5pm-close
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card

Description : STATE STREET. Should you tire of customary cuisine offerings, Kabul can wake up your taste buds with a menu of Afghan and Mediterranean fare. Affordable, flavorful offerings include kebabs of beef, chicken, and fish, along with entrees crafted from lamb, vegetables, and seafood. Fragrant herbs, yogurt, couscous, and legumes figure into many of the dishes, as do exotics like preserved lemons. When the weather's mild, outdoor seating is also a desirable alternative.

Hours : Sun-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card,American Express

Description : WEST. A pastoral setting and a renovated, 19th-century farmhouse provide the backdrop for dining at Otto's. Known for certified Angus steaks and Mediterranean fare, the restaurant appeals to professionals and is especially nice during the summer, when the deck is open and jazz musicians play. Pastas, roasted quail, and grilled lamb chops sing of rustic origins, and specialties include grilled salmon in grape leaves and roasted sea bass with citrus beurre blanc. Pleasant bar scene as well.

Hours : Dinner Mon-Thu 5pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-9:30pm; Bar Mon-Fri 3:30pm-close, Sat 4:30pm-close
Payment Methods : Cash,Visa,Master Card,Discover,American Express