Fairchild
Fine dining restaurant · Dudgeon-Monroe ·
Creative meat plates, seafood & pasta, cocktails & wine
Creative meat plates, seafood & pasta, cocktails & wine
"In every good food city, you’ll probably find a business story similar to Fairchild’s — talented chefs opening restaurants in late 2019 or early 2020, getting the rug pulled out from under them, and having to scramble to redefine their identities. What you don’t often find are wildly talented chefs who turn that struggle into a James Beard award within three years. The chef-owner team of Andrew Kroeger and Itaru Nagano have combined white tablecloth service and plating with neighborhood bistro comfort and humor, all laid over skillful technique and creativity. And man, the pastas." - Kyle Nabilcy
"Fairchild, with its massive back bar and homey decor, reminds us of a Cheers-type of establishment where everybody knows your name. The key difference is this is one of the best places to eat dinner in the city, and the menu has more interesting stuff than a standard pub burger. They do dishes like cured hamachi, a bunch of excellent pastas, sweetbreads with sunchoke, and corn panna cotta that are plated like a Rothko painting. You’ll need a reservation, but they are usually pretty manageable if you plan far enough in advance and don’t have your heart set on 7pm on a weekend. Also, check out their large wine list that has a few fun picks from Portugal and Austria. " - sarah probst
"Fairchild, with its massive back bar and homey decor, reminds us of a Cheers-type of establishment where everybody knows your name. The key difference is this is one of the best places to eat dinner in the city, and the menu has more interesting stuff than a standard pub burger. They do dishes like cured hamachi, a bunch of excellent pastas, sweetbreads with sunchoke, and corn panna cotta that are plated like a Rothko painting. You’ll need a reservation, but they are usually pretty manageable if you plan far enough in advance and don’t have your heart set on 7pm on a weekend. Also, check out their large wine list that has a few fun picks from Portugal and Austria." - Sarah Probst
Chefs Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger earned James Beard Best Chef: Midwest honors for this refined neighborhood spot. Handmade pastas, seasonal fish, and produce-forward plates show precision without stiffness. A fixture on recent best-of lists for Madison.
