Tornado Steak House

A downtown steakhouse serving steaks and seafood.

Picks from Isthmus, Madison Magazine, Eater, and James Beard Foundation

Tornado Steak House on South Hamilton Street serves a rich, classic French onion soup under a thick layer of melted Swiss cheese, a melty, cheesy bowl that needs no modifications. Order it on its own as an appetizer or as the side to a main course, or take it at the bar with a wedge salad and a martini.

Picks from The Cap Times and Madison Magazine

Henry Doane opened Tornado Room Steak House six years after the Blue Marlin, and Madison Magazine calls it one of the city’s stalwart restaurants. Doane tells the magazine he considers himself more a maker of environments than a chef, and that a distinctive room matters more than following food fads. The Cap Times counts it among the Madison rooms that qualify as supper clubs. Steaks go on with a spice rub that sears a crust rather than letting the meat burn.

Picks from The Cap Times, Madison Magazine, and Wisconsin State Journal