There’s just something special about getting a great meal at the same place where you pick up your dry cleaning. On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin and Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians talk about their favorite strip mall restaurants throughout Madison.
A couple of weeks ago, we asked readers to submit their favorite strip mall spots in town. And boy, did you ever deliver! We couldn’t fit everyone’s suggestions into the podcast so here are some of our favorite responses. Thanks so much to everyone who wrote in!
Oliva has amazing Mediterranean eggplant dishes and Italian (cuisine). Love their appetizer combo plate and their Turkish tea! – Joanne K.
King of Falafel on South Park Street! More of a gas station restaurant than a strip mall restaurant but it’s an amazing hole in the wall with excellent food. The owner and chef Adel Benmeftah has a great story and dedication to quality and authenticity in his food. He cares a lot about connecting with his local customers and many come on foot from the Park St neighborhood. – Kelsey E.
Nano Sweet Cafe -- best tiramisu in the city (Mineral Point Rd) – Liza D.
Amber Indian Cuisine is our favorite strip mall restaurant for dinner. Bear & Bottle would be our favorite for brunch if that counts, but that may be getting in the weeds of what we consider a strip mall location... love it though! – Rachel S.
Hot ‘n Spicy is amazing. Los Perez Supermarket has top tier tacos. – Dan F.
My husband Mark and I have three favorite restaurants that both happen to be in strip malls.
The first is North & South in the Clock Tower strip mall on the corner of Mineral Point Road and Grand Canyon Drive. We love the vibe of it being a "neighborhood" bar and grill with lots of good smoked barbeque items.
The second is Oliva in the Alisha Ashman Library strip mall. It has a quiet genteel vibe with great Italian and Mediterranean food.
The third is Luigi's in the Sequoya Library conclave. It's small, with a limited menu, but great pizza and lasagna and definitely has a neighborhood feel to it, as if, if you didn't know the neighborhood, you wouldn't know it was there. – Peggy W.
Meze in Sun Prairie - some of the best Mediterranean flavors in the area in a tiny, unassuming space in a Main Street strip mall! – Kelly K.
My favorite strip mall restaurant is Nonno's Ristorante Italiano, located in the Heritage Square shopping center at Whitney and Odana. I'm especially fond of their capellini alla checca, but I've never had a bad meal there. Second place would be Big Sur Cantina, in the Cambridge Court Center on Mineral Point next to Sunset Memory Gardens. The food is good but not spectacular, but it has a friendly vibe and the portions are very generous.
Honorable mention to Sa-Bai Thong. I love the food, and the service is always A-plus, but I've only ever been to the Odana Rd. location, and I think it's a little ambiguous as to whether that property is a strip mall. – John H.
I LOOOVE Sa-Bai Thong. I get it as takeout all the time on my way home from work. Their food is so good and they're always extremely kind and welcoming when I pop in! – Alice S.
El Sabor de Puebla's newest location is in a strip mall on Northport, and it's great! – Abby B.
La Baguette is an absolute treasure! – Karen M.
Gotta check out Bierock if you haven't. Their menu is focused on traditional and unique bierocks, which is something like a German pasty, and offer dietary alternatives from vegan to gluten free. They also have fun themed nights. Trivia with hilarious prizes, vinyl nights, live music, and an annual Halloween party where the bar transforms into a pop-culture-themed venue. – Dick B.
