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Start a Top 5 for FrenchEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Cap Times, Madison Magazine, and Isthmus. Updated August 2026.
Cadre Restaurant · Regent
Chef Evan Dannells' French-inspired, farm-to-table restaurant, with a menu ranging from classic omelets and croque madame to mussels, crepes, bouillabaisse and gnocchi, per its Isthmus location listing. Madison Magazine and a madison.com review have both covered the restaurant as a defining showcase for the chef's own place.
Lallande · Monroe Street
French countryside cooking on Monroe Street, from the owners of Bloom Bake Shop, according to Isthmus's coverage headlined "Lallande on Monroe Street highlights the cuisine of the French countryside." Madison Magazine also reported on the opening, which landed on Monroe Street on August 2.
Sardine · Atwood
A lakeside French bistro on Machinery Row serving duck confit, steak frites and oysters, with a brunch menu that took bronze in the 2025 Best of Madison readers' poll. The dining room sits along Williamson Street near the water, blending upscale French bistro cooking with a relaxed neighborhood setting.
Ellipse Coffee & Crepes · Downtown
Sweet and savory French crepes on State Street, alongside coffee, tea and smoothies, per Isthmus's year-end dining roundup naming it a 2025 opening. Cap Times has also covered the downtown coffee shop as part of its dining coverage, noting the crepe menu spans both breakfast and dessert-style options.