Where We’ve Been Eating: October 2024
So many restaurants, so little time! In the October 2024 edition of Where We’ve Been Eating, our food tour guides examined the farthest reaches of the Madison area (Mt. Horeb and Sun Prairie to be exact) to enjoy some new local restaurants. Check our blog regularly for more food updates, or book a food tour with one of our tour guides to dive deeper into Madison’s diverse and ever-growing food scene.
Royal Rajni Indian Cuisine
429 Commerce Dr.
Royal Rajni, also known singularly as “Rajni” is a Southern Indian restaurant just off the Beltline and Mineral Point Road that opened in January 2024. While Rajni serves a variety of Indian and Indo-Chinese dishes, their speciality lies in cuisine from Southern India.
We started with an order of Chili Pakora, which are deep-fried green chilis with a noticeable kick. Our server asked us twice if we’d rather order the mild onion pakoras — but we weren’t afraid of the spice levels. After eating two or three delicious peppers, the spiciness lingered long after — in a good way.
Next, we ordered the Butter Chicken and the Mirapakaya Pitanni Curry. The latter, which featured chilis and green peas cooked in a coconut and cashew gravy, was deeply flavorful and satisfying.
The restaurant space, which cleverly repurposed an old fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru, is a visual treat with bright colors, a ten-foot long custom mural, and plenty of art. It was a welcoming environment where plenty of locals were enjoying themselves. It’s a bit tricky to find (unless you know where the westside Menard’s is) but it’s well worth the journey off the beaten path. It’s almost a cliche to order Indian food to-go at this point — this spot is well-worth dining in-house.
Les Délices de Awa
2045 Atwood Ave.
A taste of the Ivory Coast comes to Madison’s east side! Awa Sibi came to Madison from the Ivory Coast in 2015 to pursue her education, and today finally has her own brick and mortar restaurant on Atwood Avenue. Her path was not easy. She, like many immigrants, left her son at home while she came to pursue her degree. Eventually she was able to bring him over, but her struggles were just beginning. Her son has cerebral palsy and the medical bills stacked up, and she found herself in an abusive relationship.
While in a shelter she enrolled in a seven-week program for personal and professional development. She eventually started her own catering company, and finally after several years of planning has a restaurant where we can now sit and enjoy the delicious cuisine in a welcoming and artfully decorated space.
Our favorites are the fried fish or roasted chicken, with delicious sides such as yucca, plantain or attieke, a fluffy grain that comes from cassava. She does have vegan and gluten free options (much of the dishes are naturally gluten-free). No alcohol is served, but the case of fresh juices and soft drinks is welcome. Be on the lookout for weekend specials such as jollof rice with fish!
Driftless Social
128 E. Main St., Mount Horeb
Driftless Social may be a relatively new restaurant in Mount Horeb and the Madison area, but the family who owns and operates it have been in the restaurant business for several generations, running iconic joints like State Bar & Grill, Sundown Saloon, Blue Velvet Lounge, Blue Moon and Smoky’s Club (RIP).
Fortunately, the ties to Smoky’s are apparent in Driftless Social, including Smoky’s original wooden bar top and classic Smoky’s martini recipes with new names. Our favorite at Smoky’s was the Dirty Girl (now called the Stewart Lake), an absolutely filthy (in a good way!) martini with hand-stuffed blue cheese olives.
The food is excellent, too. We sampled the homemade coconut shrimp, the ribeye, the filet, and grilled shrimp — all echoes of supper club dining served in updated, delicious ways. Make the journey west to Driftless Social and you might just journey back in time, too.
Primal Cue
836 Grove Street, Sun Prairie, WI
Primal Cue is a veteran-owned BBQ place known for their smoked meats and delicious sides. In 2011, when the owner was stationed in Savannah, GA, he fell in love with the BBQ culture and tastes. Beginning with a small home smoker and growing each year, he began offering catering options with his special recipe sauces and rubs on their southern style BBQ ribs, brisket, Texas hot links, and chicken.
If you are looking for a cheap, delicious option, check out the $6 brisket burger! A soft, delicious bun is the perfect vessel for juicy ground brisket. The best choice is to go with one of their multiple meat options — choose a few meats and a few sides and you’re guaranteed a great meal. Try your meal with one of their homemade sauces and you will be in BBQ heaven — especially if you’re sitting on their inviting patio.
Looking for more great Madison Eats? Book a Food Tour
With year-round tours, it’s always a good time to explore some new Madison restaurants. Whether you’re looking to try some new food stops or immerse yourself in Madison’s rich history, there’s a tour for everyone, no matter the season. Book a tour today!
Published on Oct 03 2024
Categories: Local Restaurants, News