Best of Madison 2021 Winners
When 2020 handed out lemons, they gave us their best.
Following 2020, many local businesses have mastered the art of turning lemons into lemonade by pushing forward despite the challenges of COVID-19. This year, the 40th annual Best of Madison celebrates the people, places and businesses selected by our readers, with the addition of a few special editors’ picks. 2021 marks 40 years since Madison Magazine began highlighting what our readers deem the “best of” the city. This year we honor 458 businesses in our readers’ poll and 13 awards from our editors.
Dining & Drink
Sometimes all you need to take a dish to the next level is some fresh lemon juice for a dash of acidity. Lombardino’s adds a lemon garnish to some dishes, including this pan-seared halibut with roasted cherry tomatoes. Lombardino’s is this year’s gold winner in the Italian category. Photo by Nikki Hansen
Artisan Food Product
★Hook’s Cheese Co. Inc.
★Nutkrack
★Vicki Cookies
Bakery – Bread
★Madison Sourdough
★Stella’s Bakery
★Clasen’s European Bakery
Bakery – Sweets
★Greenbush Bakery
★Bloom Bake Shop
★Lane’s Bakery & Coffee
Barbecue
★Beef Butter BBQ
★North and South Seafood & Smokehouse
★Smoky Jon’s #1 BBQ
Breakfast
★Hubbard Avenue Diner
★Short Stack Eatery
★Lazy Jane’s Cafe
Brewery
★New Glarus Brewing Co.
★Wisconsin Brewing Co.
★Ale Asylum
Brunch
★Café Hollander
★Sardine
★Bassett Street Brunch Club
Burger
★Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry
★Culver’s
★Blue Moon Bar & Grill
Butcher
★The Conscious Carnivore
★Knoche’s Old Fashioned Butcher Shop
★Ken’s Meats & Deli
Cheese Producer
★Carr Valley Cheese
★Hook’s Cheese Co. Inc.
★Farmer Johns’ Cheese
Chicken Wings
★Chicken Licks
★Monk’s Bar & Grill
★Sconnie Bar
Chinese
★Imperial Garden
★Dumpling Haus
★Chang Jiang
Chocolate
★Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
★CocoVaa Chocolatier
★Madison Chocolate Co.
Cleanliness
★Eno Vino Downtown
★Driftless Glen Distillery
★Parthenon Gyros
Coffee Roasters
★Colectivo Coffee
★Just Coffee Cooperative
★Rusty Dog Coffee
Coffee Shop
★Barriques
★Grace Coffee Co.
★Firefly Coffeehouse & Artisan Cheese
Curbside Pickup
★Buck & Honey’s
★Beef Butter BBQ
★Parthenon Gyros
Delivery
★Glass Nickel Pizza Co.
★Pizza Pit
★Parthenon Gyros
Destination Restaurant (Outside of Dane County)
★Ishnala Supper Club
★The Del-Bar
★Cimaroli’s Supper Club
Distillery
★Wollersheim Distillery
★Old Sugar Distillery
★Driftless Glen Distillery
Fish Fry
★Quivey’s Grove
★Toby’s Supper Club
★Dorf Haus Supper Club
Food Cart
★Banzo
★Curd Girl
★Caracas Empanadas
Fried Cheese Curds
★The Old Fashioned
★Craftsman Table & Tap
★Curd Girl
Greasy Spoon
★Mickies Dairy Bar
★Monty’s Blue Plate Diner
★Brothers Three Bar & Grill
Grocery Store
★Metcalfe’s Market
★Woodman’s Food Market
★Willy Street Co-op
Home Meal Kit Service
★Pasture and Plenty
★Isthmus Eats
★Fit Fresh Cuisine
Ice Cream/Custard/Gelato
★Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Co.
★Babcock Hall Dairy Store
★Culver’s
Indian/Nepalese
★Swagat Indian Restaurant
★Swad Indian Restaurant
★Himal Chuli
Italian
★Lombardino’s
★Paisan’s
★Bar Corallini
Japanese/Sushi
★RED
★Muramoto
★Tavernakaya
Korean
★Sol’s on the Square
★K-Peppers
★New Seoul Korean Restaurant
Lake View
★Memorial Union Terrace
★Paisan’s
★The Edgewater
Latin American
★La Taguara
★Monona Bakery and Eatery
★Estacion Inka
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
★Banzo
★Parthenon Gyros
★Mediterranean Cafe
Mexican/Southwestern
★Pasqual’s Cantina
★Laredo’s Mexican Restaurant
★Gloria’s Mexican Restaurant
New Orleans/Cajun
★Liliana’s Restaurant
★Louisianne’s Etc.
★North of the Bayou
New Restaurant
★Buck & Honey’s – Waunakee
★Settle Down Tavern
★Ahan
Old-Fashioned
★The Old Fashioned
★Cimaroli’s Supper Club
★Dorf Haus Supper Club
Outdoor Dining
★Buck & Honey’s – Monona
★Riley Tavern
★Parthenon Gyros
Pizza
★Salvatore’s Tomato Pies
★Sugar River Pizza Co.
★Glass Nickel Pizza Co.
Restaurant
★Buck & Honey’s
★Eno Vino Downtown
★Short Stack Eatery
Sandwich Spot
★Fraboni’s Italian Specialties & Delicatessen Inc.
★Milio’s Sandwiches
★Casetta Kitchen and Counter
Seafood
★Tempest Oyster Bar
★Sardine
★North and South Seafood & Smokehouse
Southeast Asian
★Hạ Long Bay
★Sa-Bai Thong
★Lao Laan-Xang Restaurant
Specialty Food Store
★Penzeys Spices
★Brennan’s Market
★Fraboni’s Italian Specialties & Delicatessen Inc.
Steakhouse
★Tornado Room Steak House
★Delaney’s Steak Seafood Wine
★The Del-Bar
Supper Club
★Tornado Room Steak House
★Toby’s Supper Club
★The Del-Bar
Takeout
★Sa-Bai Thong
★Liliana’s Restaurant
★Nitty Gritty
Tapas (Small Plates)
★Eno Vino Downtown
★A Pig in a Fur Coat
★Eno Vino Wine Bar & Bistro
Upscale Dining
★L’Etoile
★Eno Vino Downtown
★Rare Steakhouse
Vegetarian/Vegan Focused
★The Green Owl Cafe
★Monty’s Blue Plate Diner
★Everly
Winery
★Wollersheim Winery
★Bailey’s Run Vineyard & Winery
★Drumlin Ridge Winery
Nightlife
Driftless Glen Distillery added its lemon vodka to Reneé Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic and sour mix in crafting its lemon drop cocktail. The silver winner in the cocktail kit category has a variety of DIY drink options, but its citrus martini version is a sweet and sour treat. Driftless Glen also received silver for cleanliness and bronze for distillery. Photo by Sunny Franz
Bar With A View
★Eno Vino Downtown
★The Edgewater
★Camp Trippalindee
Bloody Mary
★Café Hollander
★Riley Tavern
★Nitty Gritty
Café Hollander is the gold winner for best bloody mary. Courtesy of Café Hollander
Cocktail
★The Regret, Merchant
★Honey-Cap, Old Sugar Distillery
★Margarita, Pedro’s Mexican Restaurante
Cocktail Kit
★Merchant
★Driftless Glen Distillery
★Mint Mark
Dive Bar
★Le Tigre Lounge
★Riley Tavern
★Wilson’s Bar and Grill
Le Tigre Lounge continues its reign as king of the dive bar category, winning gold for the fourth year in a row. Le Tigre is home to more than 300 tiger figurines, paintings, stuffed animals and pictures. COVID-19 forced the bar to stay closed because of its cozy size, but bartenders are back slinging cocktails and beers as of early June when Dane County regulations lifted. Illustration by Tommy Washbush
Local Craft Beer
★Spotted Cow, New Glarus Brewing Co.
★Fantasy Factory, Karben4 Brewing
★Warped Speed, Lake Louie Brewing
Neighborhood Bar
★Tip Top Tavern
★Riley Tavern
★Mid Town Pub
Pandemic Pivot
★Liliana’s Restaurant
★Short Stack Eatery
★Monk’s Bar & Grill
Patio
★Paisan’s
★Riley Tavern
★Everly
Private Parties
★Buck & Honey’s
★Dorf Haus Supper Club
★Eno Vino Downtown
Socially Distanced Bar/Layout
★Eno Vino Downtown
★Riley Tavern
★Nitty Gritty
Sports Bar
★Jordan’s Big 10 Pub
★Wilson’s Bar and Grill
★5th Quarter Sports Bar & Grill
Wine Bar
★Eno Vino Downtown (tie)
★Toot and Kate’s Wine Bar (tie)
★nineteen09
★Drumlin Ridge Winery
Find Editors’ Picks: Best Jazz Club
Arts & Entertainment
This year’s gold-winning art gallery, the Chazen Museum of Art is home to a collection of 23,000 works, including artist El Anatsui’s “Danu,” a sculpture made of repurposed metal bottle caps, metal wrappings and copper wire (pictured). This photo snapped inside Chazen’s Gallery 17 was taken by gold-winning photographer, Samuel Li. Photo by Samuel Li for Chazen Museum of Art
Art Gallery
★Chazen Museum of Art
★Overture Center for the Arts
★Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Classical Music Group
★Madison Symphony Orchestra
★Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
★Willy Street Chamber Players
Columnist
★Doug Moe, Madison Magazine
★John Nichols, The Capital Times
★Michael Perry, The Wisconsin State Journal
Comedian/Comedy Group
★The Monkey Business Institute
★Dina Nina Martinez
★Allie Lindsay
Local Artist
★Art Paul Schlosser
★Xizhou Xie
★Madeleine Parker Pottery
Local Band
★The Jimmy’s
★Cherry Pie
★5th Gear
Local Cover Band
★Cherry Pie
★VO5
★Universal Sound Dance Band
Local Influencer
★Rippeology, Facebook: @rippeology
★Epicurean Chronicles, Instagram: @epicureanchronicles
★Chloe Homan, Instagram: @frizzandfrillzz
Local News Website
★channel3000.com
★nbc15.com
★wkow.com
Local Singer/Songwriter
★Bree Morgan
★Shelley Faith
★Jackie Ernst
Jackie Ernst (bronze for local singer/songwriter) at Heid Music (silver for musical instrument store). Photo by Patrick Stutz
Museum
★Madison Children’s Museum
★Chazen Museum of Art
★Wisconsin Historical Museum
Photographer
★Samuel Li
★Maureen Cassidy Photography
★Jen Lucas Photography
Radio Team
★Jonathan & Kitty, 105.5 Triple M
★Johnny & Dee, 94.1 WJJO
★Mel & Floyd, WORT 89.9
TV News Team
★Amber Noggle, George Smith, John Zeigler and Lance Veeser, WKOW
★John Stofflet, Leigh Mills, Brian Doogs and Mike Jacques, NBC15
★Erin Sullivan, Tim Elliott, Isabel Lawrence and Charlie Shortino, NBC15
TV Personality
★Charlie Shortino, NBC15
★Amber Noggle, WKOW
★John Zeigler, WKOW
Virtual Performance
★A Virtual Madison Symphony Christmas
★Elizabeth Mary
★Oakwood Chamber Players
Find Editors’ Picks: Best Time Capsule Efforts and Best Day-Brighteners
Home & Lifestyle
Orange Tree Imports, which won gold for gift shop/specialty store, has everything you might need to brighten up a lemon-themed dream kitchen. In addition to lemon squeezers, you’ll find herbal tea, pasta, hand soap, towels and other yellow goodies. Photo by Nikki Hansen
Alterations
★Binh’s Tailoring Alteration Services
★Right Size Alterations Services
★Monetti Tailoring
Antique Store
★Odana Antiques & Fine Arts Center
★The Cozy Home
★Antiques Mall of Madison
Assisted Living
★Attic Angel Community
★Oakwood Village
★Oak Park Place
Auto Body Repair
★Zimbrick Inc.
★Sparkle Auto Body
★Ball Body Shop Inc. – Division of Smart Motors Toyota
Barber Shop
★Monona Barber Shop
★The GIRL Barber
★Blue Chip Barber Club
Bed & Breakfast
★The Livingston Inn
★Speckled Hen Inn
★Iron Amethyst Inn & The 2One Speakeasy
Bookstore
★A Room of One’s Own
★Half Price Books
★Barnes & Noble
Boutique Hotel
★Mansion Hill Inn
★Graduate Madison
★Hotel Ruby Marie
Chiropractor
★LSM Chiropractic
★The Joint Chiropractic
★Infinite Athlete Chiropractic & Rehab LLC
Cleaning Service
★Primavera Cleaning Service
★Mother Earth Cleaners
★4 Senses House Cleaning
Clothing (Men)
★Blain’s Farm & Fleet
★Jazzman
★Journeyman Co.
Clothing (Women)
★The Purple Goose
★Hive of Madison
★McFee on Main
Commercial Developers
★The Alexander Co.
★The Gialamas Co., Inc.
★Livesey Co.
Dealer Auto Service Shop
★Zimbrick Inc.
★Smart Motors Toyota
★Don Miller Auto Group
Domestic Auto Dealer
★Zimbrick Inc.
★Don Miller Auto Group
★Wilde East Towne Honda
Dry Cleaner
★Klinke Cleaners
★Lake Mills Cleaners & Dryers
★Middleton Cleaners
Electrician
★Dave Jones Inc.
★Hill Electric Inc.
★Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning
Flooring
★Nonn’s
★Sergenian’s Floor Coverings
★Coyle Carpet One Floor & Home
Florist
★Felly’s Flowers
★Klein’s Floral and Greenhouses
★Brenda’s Blumenladen
Furniture
★Steinhafels
★Don’s Home Furniture
★Rubin’s Contemporary Furniture
Gift Shop/Specialty Store
★Orange Tree Imports
★Booth 121
★National Mustard Museum
Hair Salon
★ANiU Salon & Spa
★Anaala Salon and Spa
★RIAH•HAIR Salon
Health Specialty Store
★Community Pharmacy
★The Healthy Place
★Willy Street Co-op
Heating & Cooling
★Dave Jones Inc.
★Harker Heating & Cooling Inc.
★Cardinal Heating & Air Conditioning
Booth 121, a first-time Best of Madison winner, placed in two categories: gold for home accessories and silver for gift shop/specialty store. The Monona shop is filled with fun decor, clothing and housewares largely created by Wisconsin artists and makers. Courtesy of Booth 121
Home Accessories
★Booth 121
★Brenda’s Blumenladen
★Dwellings
Home Builders
★Veridian Homes
★Hart DeNoble Builders
★Acker Builders Inc.
Home Health Care Agency
★Agrace
★SSM Health at Home
★UW Health Care Direct Home Health Agency
Hotel
★The Edgewater
★The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club
★AC Hotel by Marriott Madison Downtown
Import Auto Dealer
★Zimbrick Inc.
★Smart Motors Toyota
★Don Miller Auto Group
Interior Design
★Dwellings
★Zander’s Interiors
★Washa Remodeling & Design
Jeweler
★Goodman’s Jewelers
★Chalmers Jewelers
★TQ Diamonds
Kitchen & Bath Design
★Nonn’s
★Frey Construction & Home Improvement LLC
★Dream House Dream Kitchens
Laser Hair Removal
★ANEU Med Spa
★Robertson Cosmetic Center
★Milan Laser Hair Removal
Lawn, Garden & Landscape
★The Bruce Co.
★Weed Man
★Olson Toon Landscaping Inc.
Local Etsy Shop
★TacoCat Creations
★Rescued Woodworks LLC
★Boutique608
Luxury Auto (Import and Domestic)
★Zimbrick Inc.
★Lexus of Madison
★Bergstrom Automotive (tie)
★Fields Jaguar Land Rover Volvo Madison (tie)
Moving Company
★Two Men and a Truck Madison
★Badger Brothers Moving LLC
★Gorilla Movers of Wisconsin Inc.
Whether you prefer listening to vinyl records or CDs, you’ll likely find what you’re looking for at a local music store. All three of this year’s winners in the local music store category opened in the 1980s, the same decade that Best of Madison was born. Strictly Discs, this year’s gold winner, opened in 1988 (customers Valerie Grayson and Tommy Yonash pictured at Strictly Discs above). B-Side Records has been a Madison staple since 1982. Sugar Shack Records opened in 1981 on State Street and moved to Atwood Avenue 22 years later. Photo by Paulius Musteikis
Music Store
★Strictly Discs
★B-Side Records
★Sugar Shack Records
Musical Instrument Store
★Ward-Brodt Music
★Heid Music
★Spruce Tree Music & Repair
Nail Salon
★Diamond Nails & Spa
★ANiU Salon & Spa
★Laquerus
Non-Dealer Auto Shop
★Smith’s Service Center
★Aeschbach Automotive
★Mike’s Automotive Repair
Outdoor Living
★REI
★The Bruce Co.
★Patio Pleasures Pools & Spas
Pet Day Care & Boarding
★Camp K9 Pet Resort & Day Camp
★The Dog Den
★Paradise Paws Camp & Resort LLC
Treat your pet to some fun snacks, food, accessories and toys from this year’s best pet supplies stores, Mounds Pet Food Warehouse (above), MadCat Pet Supplies and bad dog frida. Photo by Tim Burton
Pet Supplies Store
★Mounds Pet Food Warehouse
★MadCat Pet Supplies
★bad dog frida
Physical Therapy
★Capitol Physical Therapy
★UnityPoint Health – Meriter
★Stoughton Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Clinic
Plumber
★Dave Jones Inc.
★Monona Plumbing & Fire Protection
★RHD Plumbing Inc.
Real Estate Company
★Sprinkman Real Estate
★MHB Real Estate
★Stark Company Realtors
Retirement Community
★Attic Angel Community
★Oak Park Place
★Capitol Lakes
Roofer
★Frey Construction & Home Improvement LLC
★Ganser Co.
★Badgerland Exteriors
Redecorate with the help of our winning secondhand stores: St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store, Agrace Thrift Store and Dane County Humane Society Thrift Store. Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll score a lemon-patterned cup. Illustration by Tommy Washbush
Secondhand Store
★St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Store
★Agrace Thrift Store
★Dane County Humane Society Thrift Store
Shoes
★The Shoe Box
★Morgan’s Shoes
★DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse
Spa
★Sundara Inn & Spa
★Kneaded Relief Day Spa & Wellness
★Rejuvenation Spa
Specialty Spa
★ANEU Med Spa
★Pure Waxing Studio
★LE SPA
Tattoo Shop
★Blue Lotus Tattoo & The Piercing Lounge
★Art & Soul Tattoo and Gallery
★Starkweather Tattoo Collective
Used Car Dealer
★Zimbrick Inc.
★Smart Motors Used Cars
★Goben Cars
Veterinarian
★Sauk Point Veterinary Clinic
★True Veterinary Care
★Cat Care Clinic
Wealth Management
★Madison Partners
★Northwestern Mutual Financial Group
★Dorn Wealth Management
Wisconsin Bank
★State Bank of Cross Plains
★Associated Bank
★One Community Bank
Wisconsin Credit Union
★UW Credit Union
★Summit Credit Union
★Heartland Credit Union
Recreation & Fitness
Embrace the sunshine on two wheels in one of the most bike-friendly cities in the country. This year, readers voted Machinery Row Bicycles (general manager Ben Classon pictured above), Budget Bicycle Center and Trek Bicycle Madison the top three bike shops in town. Photo by Patrick Stutz
Alternative Fitness Center
★Basecamp Fitness Madison
★Orange Shoe Personal Fitness
★Transformation Center
Bike Shop
★Machinery Row Bicycles
★Budget Bicycle Center
★Trek Bicycle Madison
Campground
★Devil’s Lake State Park
★Governor Dodge State Park
★Blue Mound State Park
Fitness Center
★Princeton Club
★Anytime Fitness
★Harbor Athletic Club
Golf Course
★University Ridge Golf Course
★Pleasant View Golf Course
★Door Creek Golf Course
Martial Arts Studio
★MadCity Martial Arts
★Moh’s Martial Arts
★Infinity Martial Arts
When it comes to the best campground and park, readers chose Devil’s Lake State Park for the top spot in both categories. Devil’s Lake in Baraboo has three campgrounds with 423 campsites and nine group campsites for additional campers. With two large beaches and more than 29 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, there are land and water activities that will keep you busy for hours. That, and the beautiful views, may be why it claims gold this year.
Park
★Devil’s Lake State Park
★Olbrich Park
★Indian Lake County Park
Personal Trainer
★Katie Frank, REFORMadison
★Erin Tallard, Transformation Center
★Amy Sanborn, MadPower Training Center
Running/Biking Trail
★Pheasant Branch Conservancy
★Ice Age National Scenic Trail
★Monona Lake Loop
Speed into a new pair of shoes from the silver best sports and recreation shop, Fleet Feet. This retail store has two nearby locations, one in Middleton and one in Sun Prairie, with large selections of women’s and men’s shoes. Photo courtesy of Fleet Feet
Sports & Recreation Shop
★REI
★Fleet Feet
★Madison Boats (Brittingham, Marshall, Wingra)
Virtual Workout
★Dfly on Demand
★Virtual PiYo with Britt
★Peloton
Yoga
★Dragonfly Hot Yoga
★Inner Fire Yoga
★Haumea: Yoga, Fitness, Massage, Chiropractic
Find Editors’ Picks: Best Use of Our Official City Bird
Best of Madison turns 40! A special edition flip cover is coming in November to celebrate Best of Madison’s 40th year. We will induct the names with the most wins over the readers’ poll’s four-decade history into the Best of Madison Hall of Fame.
COPYRIGHT 2022 BY MADISON MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
