Mint Mark
New American restaurant · Marquette ·
Seasonal small plates, creative cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere
Seasonal small plates, creative cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere
"Sean Pharr opened Mint Mark in 2017, immediately establishing it in the hierarchy of hip small-plates spots in town. Now situated in the Standard building on East Washington Avenue, Pharr’s eclectic New American energy brushes up now and then against classic French technique; watch what he does with terrines. Enjoy small bites like olive confit or preserved beets, Chicago-style soft-shell crab, a variety of pastas, and larger entrees. To drink, find a selection of wines by the glass, beers, cocktails, and nonalcoholic beverages. Reservations can be made via Resy. Be sure to also check out Mint Mark’s sister marketplace, Superette." - Kyle Nabilcy
"Mint Mark is a low-pressure spot that’s great for first dates. You can order as you go without having to commit to a full meal, in case the person across from you is a total weirdo. The small-plates menu changes week to week, but make sure to tack on a housemade pasta when it’s available, the cauliflower with bagna cauda and golden raisins, and the garlic-honey biscuit, which comes out warm and topped with a golf ball of whipped butter. Reservations and walk-ins are hard to come by during peak hours, but not so much at the kitchen counter or jade-green bar. That's why we sometimes like to just stop by for a few bites and a great cocktail like the Sky Rocket with mezcal, passionfruit, and dijon." - sarah probst
"Sean Pharr opened Mint Mark in the former Mermaid Cafe space on Madison’s east side — widely regarded as the cool side of town and yes I live on the east side, what of it — in 2017, immediately establishing it in the hierarchy of hip small plate spots in town. Pharr’s eclectic New American energy brushes up now and then against classic French technique; watch what he does with terrines. Mint Mark will close in early May 2024 to reopen later this summer in the Standard building on East Washington Avenue, with Madison’s nascent public market and a Starbucks as neighbors — from one mermaid cafe to another, as it were." - Kyle Nabilcy
"A critically heralded spot led by chef Sean Pharr that focuses on creative, seasonally driven small plates; signature items that have endured include divine buttermilk biscuits and a roasted cauliflower dressed with bagna càuda and wine-plumped raisins, while the rest of the menu ebbs and flows with the produce-driven seasonality." - Aislyn Greene
"Mint Mark is a low-pressure spot that’s great for first dates. You can order as you go without having to commit to a full meal, in case the person across from you is a total weirdo. The small-plates menu changes week to week, but make sure to tack on a housemade pasta when it’s available, the cauliflower with bagna cauda and golden raisins, and the garlic-honey biscuit, which comes out warm and topped with a golf ball of whipped butter. Reservations and walk-ins are hard to come by during peak hours, but not so much at the kitchen counter or jade-green bar. That's why we sometimes like to just stop by for a few bites and a great cocktail like the Sky Rocket with mezcal, passionfruit, and dijon." - Sarah Probst
