“ L'etoile really impressed me, my first 5 star rating in a while. I was taken here as a surprise dinner by my partner to top off our trip here in Madison, and the dishes are all solidly delicious, unique (flavor combinations aren't what I expected), and are plated really intentionally, intelligently, and artfully. L'etoile is a sophisticated white tablecloth establishment, and perfect for a date night with its high ceilings, warm lighting, jazz music, and view of the Capitol. The acoustics are such that conversations from the table beside you are a quiet chatter, and you can hear your dining partner perfectly. We ordered our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd courses a la carte and opted not to do the tasting menu. I ordered the Alaskan king crab for my 1st, the Sea scallops & pork belly for my 2nd, the meyer lemon panna cotta for my 3rd. My partner ordered the charred spanish octopus for his 1st, the duck for his main, and the sticky toffee date pudding as his dessert. I can't recommend any one dish because honestly, all were equally impressive and what you order depends on what flavor you're in the mood for. The servers were attentive and the pacing for each course was even, with little snacks offered in between -- bread with bone marrow butter, a sunchoke foam & proscuitto amuse bouche, chevre cheese cream puffs. We were very full to end the meal, and they even sent us home with an oatmeal creme pie. Some notes below to guide an a la carte course selection, based on our meal -- 1st course: Autum squash w/ alaskan king crab: brighter, sweet, acidic Charred spanish octopus: deep & smoky 2nd course: Sea scallops & pork belly: A dish of contrast- sea scallops are light & almost like eating sashimi paired with an equally light sauce, contrasted against fatty pork belly with a strong plum sauce. Fun to mix & eat strong and light flavors and textures together. Duck: Medium rare duck with a deep flavor - somewhat smoky & earthy, also fun to explore as it comes with a white sauce, berry sauce, and a terrine also made from the duck 3rd course: Meyer lemon panna cotta: Bright and impactful -- the lemon panna cotta and guava sorbet are tart and pack different sweet punches. Lots of elements on the plate (spiced cookie, champagne sabayon, wafer, berry glaze) to play with Sticky chocolate toffee pudding: Decadent, deep, and warm. Not your average sticky toffee pudding, as there are some additional elements in the dessert that take it to the next level. Thank you again L'etoile. This was one of the best fine dining experiences I've ever had. Can't wait to return. ”

“ my bf and i came here for our 1 yr celebration and wow this place is phenomenal. service is impeccable, we were told happy anniversary multiple times and even had it printed on our menus! i admit that i was a bit underwhelmed by the interior but that was just me. our entire dining experience took a little over 3 hours - food and wine came out at a nice even pace. but i was fr struggling with the wine pairings and was consistently 1 drink behind every time they came over to pour me a new one. but the wine pairings were perfect with the dishes. i was kinda hating on the yellowfish tartare before i tried but that and the squash dish ended up being so good. i mean, every dish was perfectly curated (they do change up the menu each night) and clearly a lot of thought was put into sourcing ingredients together. the beef ribeye is cooked in wonderstate coffee and fish sauce caramel - unlike anything i've ever had before. the beef and lamb were both so tender. for the grouper, they poured the oyster chowder right in front of you!! and the dessert???? the tart cherry granita was sprinkled over the cheesecake, which came with bourbon butterscotch and was soooo delicious. the bread came with a squash based butter which was intriguing and very tasty. i was so stuffed and bloated by the end - it was a full 10 course meal with chocolates and a cream pie to take home at the end. very very expensive meal but absolutely delicious. not sure if it's totallyyyyy worth that much money but i would come back again another time without the wine pairing ”

“ We enjoyed the chef's tasting menu along with wine pairings. Every course was delicious and unique. The flavors and textures were exceptionally curated. We didn't feel rushed at all. Yes it's pricey but we felt the entire experience was worth it. Highly recommend for a really special night out. ”

“ I stopped by on a weekend evening for dinner. I took a reservation before hand. The place wasn't filled though. I went for an a la carte dinner instead of their 6 course dinner. I had to pick (atleast) 3 items for the dinner. The highlight of the dinner was, they kept providing small complimentary dishes in between to keep you engaged. Dinner started with a complimentary tiny bread. I think that had cheese or duck liver pate, dont remember exactly which. Then came another compelementary course - a yogurt dish with pine nut. Then came my appetizer spanish octopus. Octopus as such was soft and had milder flavor. Then came a complimentary course with some tomato sause. Then came a complimentary bread with tomato infused butter. After that came my entree, which was sturgeon. It was again a mild flavored dish. Sturgeon fish was soft. I wish it had a bit more flavor. The shellfish on it had sand, which gave a very unpleasant feel while chewing. Escargot was not that good. Next came the dessert - doughnut. That was the only item with sufficient quantity. It had 3 donuts with a scoop of coffee ice cream and some chocolate. That was good and heavy. Finally came another complimentary course with a caramal filled chocolate and a cheese marshmallow (i think). After paying the bill came a complimentary cookie to take home. The restaurant had high cieling. Ambiance was good. Tables were spaced well. Plus seats all have direct view of the Capitol. Food items came quickly. ”

“ Attended for a limited edition menu event, will be back for the usual tasting menu! One of the best dining experiences in Madison!! Everything was perfect - food, atmosphere, drinks, desserts. New and unique dishes that are flawlessly executed. ”

“ L'Etoile, thank you. Myself along with some friends recently dined in for the Estrellon dinner. The atmosphere was dark, gently lit by candles, with soft jazz and the smell of Spanish tapas in the background. It mingled with laughter and quiet conversation. We got some drinks and headed into the first course of olives, followed by cheese, quince, tomato olive oil bread, croquets, and a potato cake. The main after all these wonderful bites was the best of all, perfectly cooked seafood on a bed of what was the most delicious paella I've ever had. Rich and creamy, toasted and umami. What a dish. And for very last, something I've heard all about: the Basque cake. Rich brown butter cake with smooth sour cream ice cream and tart cherry compote. I will honestly cherish this meal as some of the best I've had and look forward to what is in store next. ”

“ An amazing culinary institution. The menu is constantly changing to match the seasons so a single recommendation is short lived but they were 4 for 4 being excellent so hard to go wrong. Did the wine pairing and love both the selections and the descriptions. Great meal on all dimensions. ”