43 North - Madison

A group of six of us visited 43 North recently. It was around 7 pm on a week night. We had reservations but we didn't need them as there were very few patrons. We weren't quite ready to order when our waiter came by to take our drink order, and he seemed mildly put out by that. He seemed put off the rest of the evening. The drink menu consisted of a variety of wines, beers, and some unique cocktails. The dinner menu was not large, but contained multiple intriguing items that we don't see on many menus. There were also a couple of specials in addition to the regular menu items. For an appetizer I had the carpaccio. This was a full-size plate of thinly sliced beef with crunchy fried sun-choke chips on top. It was absolutely delicious and felt like a decent portion for the price. Others in our group had the lobster bisque which they said was the best bisque ever, a parsnip soup which also had rave reviews and a salmon tartar which I will also vouch for. Delicious food and beautifully presented. Entrees can be ordered in either full-size or half portions which is a nice touch. I had the game hen which was served with potato gnocchi and mushrooms. It was perfectly cooked, beautiful to look at, and tasted amazing. The rest of our group had the wagyu steak, halibut, and duck breast. Again everyone in our group was thrilled with their entrees. The taste, the textures, and the presentations were all spot on. When the check came, each of us received a small slice of coffee cake individually sealed to take with us. This was again, a very classy touch. In that same vein, I have to comment on the men's room. It's highly unusual, but several of us noticed how good the men's room smelled. I don't know if it was proximity to the kitchen or if they pipe something in there, but it smelled like dessert. The only reason I'm not giving this a 5 star review is our waiter. He didn't do anything wrong specifically, it was just his surly attitude. It felt like we were putting him out whenever he came to our table. We'll definitely go back. The food was some of the best we've had in Madison!

A group of six of us visited 43 North recently. It was around 7 pm on a week night. We had reservations but we didn't need them as there were very few patrons. We weren't quite ready to order when our waiter came by to take our drink order, and he seemed mildly put out by that. He seemed put off the rest of the evening. The drink menu consisted of a variety of wines, beers, and some unique cocktails. The dinner menu was not large, but contained multiple intriguing items that we don't see on many menus. There were also a couple of specials in addition to the regular menu items. For an appetizer I had the carpaccio. This was a full-size plate of thinly sliced beef with crunchy fried sun-choke chips on top. It was absolutely delicious and felt like a decent portion for the price. Others in our group had the lobster bisque which they said was the best bisque ever, a parsnip soup which also had rave reviews and a salmon tartar which I will also vouch for. Delicious... read more

Hands down one of the best places on the squareFrom a menu of crafty cocktails to a delectable assortment of dishes - You can't go wrong with Graft.

The food was solidDefinitely worth a try if you're looking for a small/shared plates type of dining.

A group of six of us visited 43 North recently. It was around 7 pm on a week night. We had reservations but we didn't need them as there were very few patrons. We weren't quite ready to order when our waiter came by to take our drink order, and he seemed mildly put out by that. He seemed put off the rest of the evening. The drink menu consisted of a variety of wines, beers, and some unique cocktails. The dinner menu was not large, but contained multiple intriguing items that we don't see on many menus. There were also a couple of specials in addition to the regular menu items. For an appetizer I had the carpaccio. This was a full-size plate of thinly sliced beef with crunchy fried sun-choke chips on top. It was absolutely delicious and felt like a decent portion for the price. Others in our group had the lobster bisque which they said was the best bisque ever, a parsnip soup which also had rave reviews and a salmon tartar which I will also vouch for. Delicious food and beautifully presented. Entrees can be ordered in either full-size or half portions which is a nice touch. I had the game hen which was served with potato gnocchi and mushrooms. It was perfectly cooked, beautiful to look at, and tasted amazing. The rest of our group had the wagyu steak, halibut, and duck breast. Again everyone in our group was thrilled with their entrees. The taste, the textures, and the presentations were all spot on. When the check came, each of us received a small slice of coffee cake individually sealed to take with us. This was again, a very classy touch. In that same vein, I have to comment on the men's room. It's highly unusual, but several of us noticed how good the men's room smelled. I don't know if it was proximity to the kitchen or if they pipe something in there, but it smelled like dessert. The only reason I'm not giving this a 5 star review is our waiter. He didn't do anything wrong specifically, it was just his surly attitude. It felt like we were putting him out whenever he came to our table. We'll definitely go back. The food was some of the best we've had in Madison!