One Social Food Hall opened in November, and general manager Icksoo Choe said business has been picking up each day.
“This past Friday (Nov. 7), we had a musician here,” Choe said. “This place was packed. Every single seat was filled.”
One Social Food Hall, located at 123 E. Wilson St., features vendors Señora Machetes, Palio, Casey’s Tavern and Real Seafood Co. plus a 160-seat bar, events and a view of Lake Monona.
Palio serves brick oven pizza and pasta, while Casey’s Tavern features burgers and sandwiches.
Choe said so far, the Maine lobster roll at Real Seafood Co. has been a hit with customers, becoming one of One Social’s biggest sellers.
The sole local vendor in the food hall, Señora Machetes, is owned by Glenda Garcia, the daughter of Señor Machetes’ owners. That restaurant at 121 E. Main St. is known for its giant machete, a long, open-faced quesadilla. Señora also offers 12- and 16-inch machetes along with Mexican staples like enchiladas and street tacos.
There is still room for three more food vendors in the hall.
Across a courtyard with Lake Monona views and outdoor seating, One Prime steakhouse and Blue Jack cocktail bar, both at 119 E. Wilson St., opened Nov. 13.
The food hall anchors the One09 apartments.
Cheese, spice, everything nice
Stella’s Bakery opened its new location at 1219 Regent St. on Oct. 14.
Stella’s, known for its hot & spicy cheese bread, will use its original south Madison facility as a production and distribution center. The Regent Street location is a cafe with freshly baked pastries, sandwiches, coffee drinks, beer, wine and its cheese bread, a popular staple at the Dane County Farmers’ Market.
New Glarus fine dining
New Glarus may be known for its brewery of the same name, but Canter Inn may just become a destination for fine dining in the Swiss-inspired town.
The restaurant opened Oct. 16 in a restored Victorian house, combining fine dining with fine aesthetics.
The menu features vegetable-forward dishes, Skate wing schnitzel, American wagyu bistro steak and a smash burger made with kalberwurst veal sausage to lean into the town’s Swiss heritage.
Top-tier IHOP
Golden Nest Pancakes & Cafe will open its fourth location on Madison’s west side in the former Panera Bread location at 3416 University Ave.
Golden Nest, owned by brothers Sklkim Saliu and Benny Saliu, operates restaurants in Sun Prairie, Wauwatosa and Oshkosh, which all carry slightly different versions of the same menu that is packed with pancakes, French toast, breakfast bowls, omelets, frittatas, eggs Benedict, crêpes, sandwiches and salads.
The Salius plan to open in January.
RED dreams of Ramen
The team behind upscale Madison sushi restaurant RED recently launched a weekly ramen pop-up on Wednesday nights called Blackjack Ramen.
Blackjack Ramen offers a small menu including two ramen options and other Japanese dishes across the hall from the dining room at 316 W. Washington Ave.
Its latest offerings include tonkatsu with smoked pork belly and vegan shoyu featuring a smattering of umami flavors from mushroom shoyu, maitake, red garlic and more. Gyoza, edamame, sake, a lychee slushie and more round out the focused, small menu.
Blackjack Ramen begins slinging noodles at 4:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., or until the menu sells out.
A call to Italy
Restaurant Osteria Novella, led by chef Giovanni Novella, opened Nov. 20 on Madison’s west side.
Novella comes from the Italian restaurant Bar Corallini, which is owned by Food Fight Restaurant Group, with Novella serving as a partner and creative collaborator. His restaurant, a solo venture, is in the Quarry Shoppes & Apartments building at 2903 University Ave.
Novella said in a social media post he will bring his Amalfi Coast heritage to the restaurant, with fresh house-made pasta, sourdough pizza, mozzarella made daily and his Novella Limoncello.
Jinx Coffee purrs into view
Jinx Coffee has closed its mobile coffee service for the season but opened a brick-and-mortar cafe in Sun Prairie on Nov. 22.
Drinks and pastries — like the Jinx Latte with white chocolate, hazelnut and smoked salt — are available with a full menu.
The cafe is located in downtown Sun Prairie at 107 W. Main St. The logo takes inspiration from the business’s real-life Maine Coon cat.
Blooming into a grander garden
Bloom Bake Shop owner Annemarie Maitri purchased a building at 1923 Monroe St. with plans to open a new restaurant. The building was most recently the One & Only.
The space will be partially used for bakery production; the new concept will open by spring.
Skee-ball and cheese curds
New eatery Union Corners Tavernopened on Nov. 4, promising “seasonal fare, crafted cocktails and neighborhood spirit,” along with “emotional support cheese curds.”
Located at 2438 Winnebago St., the tavern also features Skee-Ball lanes.
Savory Tibetan dumplings
A new food cart, Aha Momo, opened in August outside of the University of Wisconsin’s Educational Sciences building at 1025 W. Johnson St.
Chef and owner Yeshe Gyatso offers Tibetan momos — steamed, handmade dumplings — from the cart, including meat-filled and vegetarian options.
Aha Momo is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Hot ‘n Spicy moving into larger space
Hot ‘n Spicy will move from its current location in the back of Viet Hoa Market on Monona Drive to a new spot in the same strip mall.
The business, which serves Southeast Asian food and has previously offered mainly takeout options, will become a regular counter-service restaurant and occupy the former Mishqui Peruvian Bistro space at 4604 Monona Drive by the start of 2026.
A FEW FAREWELLS
Upscale pub 107 State has shut down.
Chef and owner Nathan Mergen announced the closure on Facebook.
And Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co. closed its Hilldale location at 357 Price Place. The restaurant cited a changing restaurant landscape and falling revenues.
Its last day was Nov. 8.
The restaurant also operates downtown at 123 E. Doty St., at 876 Jupiter Drive and at 2980 Cahill Main.
