Four Madison-area restaurants selected for Wine Spectator’s 2022 Restaurant Awards

Eno Vino Wine Bar & Bistro, Green Acres Restaurant, L’Etoile Restaurant and RARE Steakhouse are among 3,169 dining destinations across the globe and 32 in Wisconsin to receive one of the Wine Spectator’s three awards.

Since 1981, the Restaurant Awards have honored restaurants with exceptional wine programs and service, as well as served as a guide for readers. The awards were given in three categories: Award of Excellence (which had 1,782 winners), Best of Award of Excellence (1,290 winners) and Grand Award (97 winners).

These four in our area were chosen as some of this year’s winners. 

Eno Vino Wine Bar & Bistro
Eno Vino’s West Side location offers more than 200 wines by the bottle and another 40 by the glass. That helped Eno Vino to be selected this year for an Award of Excellence. Serving globally inspired small plates and tapas, Eno Vino provides a romantic atmosphere to unwind and share a meal. While you may be limited to the late-night menu past ten, the full wine list is available at all hours. 

Green Acres Restaurant
Located at the borders of Dane, Sauk and Columbia counties, the Green Acres property has had various functions from a stagecoach resting area to a general store. Today, the restaurant is built upon land developed by Agoston Haraszthy, a Hungarian immigrant known as one of the first men to plant vineyards in Wisconsin and often referred to as the Father of California Wine. Green Acres, which won an award of excellence, has more than 125 wines by the bottle and more than 40 wines by the glass to choose from.

L’Etoile Restaurant
L’Etoile laid its foundation in the sustainable food movement since its inception. This farm-to-table spot serves elevated French-inspired, American fare and is dedicated to supporting local farmers and artisan producers. Their extensive wine list, which gained them the Best of Award of Excellence level, follows the same principle — a carefully curated selection by wine director Michael Kwas of hundreds of wines, typically produced by small growers who delicately handle the grape from harvesting to bottling. There is something for everybody, including a handful of organic and biodynamic wines. L’Etoile recently was selected as a semifinalist for Outstanding Wine Program by the James Beard Foundation.

RARE Steakhouse 
The Mifflin Street Steakhouse, RARE, was chosen as a winner of an Award of Excellence. A certified sommelier can help guide you choose from a selection of more than 750 wines to pair with your choice of USDA Prime steak. RARE also offers a chef’s tasting: a five-course meal paired with hand-selected wines to highlight each dish.