Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Madison

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Madison? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyses nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you book, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Sultan

4.9

4.9 (15)

$31 to $50

Pakistani

Madison

About the restaurant

Small plates Pakistani restaurant serving modern takes on South Asian cuisine showcasing Wisconsin and Midwest ingredients. No tipping restaurant that pays all staff a living wage and profit share.

Top review

Todd

Dined on 7 Dec 2024

Everything was delicious. The host and servers were very kind and friendly. They also took time to explain each dish. We would definitely recommend and we’ll be returning for sure.

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Experience

Decolonize Tasting Menu

Eno Vino West Side

4.7

4.7 (1378)

$31 to $50

Tapas / Small Plates

Madison

About the restaurant

Eno Vino offers 200+ wines by the bottle & another 45 by the glass. From the beginning, Eno Vino was established as a place to share great wine, sensational, hand-crafted cocktails and fresh, inviting food. Whether you would like to entertain friends, enjoy an evening out with a loved one or unwind during happy hour ~ we invite you to enjoy an evening at Eno Vino! Kitchen serves a late night menu from 9pm-10pm Sunday through Thursday, and from 10pm-11pm Friday and Saturday. The bar is open until 11pm Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday.

Top review

Kristan

Dined on 14 Dec 2024

We love the food and drinks at Eno Vino! The atmosphere is usually nice because they have a fireplace, but it was not operating when we were there so that was a bit unfortunate because it was a very cold blustery evening.

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Experience

Five Course Prix-Fixe New Year's Eve Dinner

Rare Steakhouse

4.7

4.7 (1962)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Madison

About the restaurant

Dining and libations on Capitol Square with an incredible view of the Capitol, Rare combines craft cocktails, in-house dry aged steaks and attentive service in an unabashedly old-school steak house setting. Madison's downtown steakhouse features specialty cuts dry aged in-house, like the Rib Cap and the Delmonico as well as offering more traditional cuts like our filet and our rib eye. Rare is also one of the only purveyors of A5 Wagyu in Madison.

Complimenting our steaks and entrees is a specialty cocktail list and an extensive wine list with everything from wines for a big celebration to a weekday dinner.

If you're just looking for a drink after work, Rare offers discounted cocktails, wines and snacks at happy hour.

Top review

Matt

Dined 2 days ago

It was our first time here and everything and everyone was wonderful. The staff was gracious and the food was outstanding!!

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The Melting Pot - Madison

4.7

4.7 (649)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Middleton

About the restaurant

At The Melting Pot, fun is cooked up fondue style, creating an out of the ordinary dining experience.
You'll discover all the ingredients for a perfect evening, including attentive service, private tables, & an atmosphere of casual elegance. In addition to the cheese & chocolate fondues which have made The Melting Pot famous, they offer a fine selection of beef, chicken, seafood, vegetarian & gluten free entrees, as well as an exceptional wine list & a full bar. You may enjoy a romantic evening for two, a special occasion with forty of your closest friends, a dining experience to impress your boss, or a night out with the family. Whatever the occasion, an evening at The Melting Pot is always a celebration. Reservations are highly recommended. We do our best to ensure every guest receives the highest level of service. As such, we are unable to hold your reservation longer than 10 minutes past your selected time. If you are running behind schedule, please just give us a ring!

Top review

Charlea

Dined 4 days ago

10/10 would go again! Loved the service as well as the food!

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Experience

Christmas Eve

Experience

Holly Jolly Fondue - Available 12/21 thru 12/23

Experience

New Year's Eve Masquerade Party

D’Vino

4.7

4.7 (656)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Madison

About the restaurant

Wine/Cicchetti (pronounced: che-kett-ee) Bar
Fine Italian Dining
Irresistible little snacks of every imaginable configuration from the varied regions of Italy. Eat them at the bar with an ombra (shadow) of wine with an aperitif. Fine Dining Menu Also available Wed-Sat-Classic Italian favorites and daily chefs specials including Chicken Parmigiano, Sicilian Steak and Shrimp Scampi. Sunday Supper 5-8PM

Top review

JeffVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Best swordfish I think I’ve ever had. Personally greeted at the table by the owner who shared his cooking method. Some standard Italian dishes and others with inventive flair. Great wine list by the glass. We will be back.

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Middleton

4.6

4.6 (1156)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Madison

About the restaurant

One day call-in advanced reservation is required for Wine Dinners, all guests must order from Wine Dinner Menu, no substitutions.

For reservations on holidays, 20% GRATUITY WILL BE ADDED TO ALL CHECKS

For parties of 6 or more, please call the restaurant and ask to speak with a manager.

For parties of 5 or more, gratuity of 18% will be included.

***Separate Checks will not be accepted for parties of 9 or more***

Ruths Chris Steak House serves the finest aged, corn-fed USDA Prime beef. Broiled in a trademark 1,800° oven & served on a plate heated to 500 degrees, your steak is presented sizzling hot at your table.
Additionally, the menu includes select fresh seafood & other meat entrees. A variety of fresh-cooked vegetables, including seven kinds of potatoes, salads, homemade desserts & an extensive selection of over 100 domestic & imported wines complete your dining experience.
Ruths Chris never fails to please

Top review

Charles

Dined 3 days ago

Great service! I was genuinely impressed by the level of attention and care provided by the staff during my visit. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed and valued as a customer. The servers were attentive without being intrusive, ensuring that my needs were met promptly and efficiently. It was clear that they were knowledgeable about the menu, offering excellent recommendations that truly enhanced my dining experience.

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Otto's Restaurant and Bar - Madison

4.6

4.6 (1662)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Madison

About the restaurant

A locally owned Madison favorite, Otto's is set in a beautifully restored 1870s stone farm house with two dining levels. The menu features creative, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, fresh seafood, Certified Angus Beef steaks and more. A friendly lower-level bar serves classic cocktails and fine wines, and half-price appetizers from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday – Friday. Outdoor dining and live jazz are featured on the deck Spring through Fall, weather permitting. Otto's is also open the first Monday of each month (excluding holidays) in the Spring and Summer when live music is being performed. Main level dining area is wheelchair accessible. Online reservations are available for the dining rooms only, bar and deck table reservations should be made via telephone. Reservations are recommended for dining in the bar, outdoors, and inside for parties of 6 or more. In the event your party is unable to attend, please contact us by phone to cancel your reservation.

Top review

TomVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Food was excellent and very nice wine selection at good price points

Samba Brazilian Grill

4.6

4.6 (1011)

$50 and over

Brazilian Steakhouse

Madison

About the restaurant

For those of you who are not current or former gauchos who roam the prairies of Brazil, you might need an explanation of our style of service. At the end on a long day of work tending to cattle and stock, Brazilian cowboys (Gauchos) and their families would prepare great feasts. They would skewer various meats, roast them over a fire pit and bring them to the table for carving. There would be a bounty of seasonal vegetables, stews and salads using fresh ingredients from the fruits of their labor.

Top review

Richard

Dined 1 day ago

Overall a good experience. This wasn't our first time there but it was new for our guests. The only warning I have is to check your bill very closely before signing. They automatically included a tip with the sales tax but then asked me at the bottom again to add a tip. Very deceptive and I will certainly scrutinize the bill much more closely if we decide to go back again.

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant - Middleton, WI

4.5

4.5 (505)

$30 and under

American

Middleton

About the restaurant

Experience the perfect fusion of award-winning wines, Napa-style tasting rooms, and modern casual dining at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants. Enjoy contemporary American cuisine influenced by international flavors from our scratch kitchen. Each dish is expertly paired with our selection of wines for the best food and wine match. Whether you explore the tasting room for a pre- or post-dinner adventure or join the world's largest wine club, we believe in the power of food and wine to create lasting connections. Dining reservations are highly recommended, but walk-in guests are always welcome on a first-come, first-serve basis. Gluten-free and vegetarian dishes are available.

Top review

David

Dined 2 days ago

our server was amazing. I wish i remembered her name but the service and food and overall experience was excellent we will return.

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Experience

Brunch & Bubbles | Saturdays & Sundays 10am – 2pm

Experience

Seasonal Chef Recommendations

Experience

Wine Tasting

Draper Brother's Chophouse

4.4

4.4 (193)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Madison

About the restaurant

Step back in time to 1867 when the Draper Brothers founded their renowned meat house in the heart of Madison. Their passion for quality and taste quickly made them the region's go-to destination for the finest cuts of meat.

Nestled within the walls of the iconic building that was once home to the renowned House of Wisconsin Cheese and Blue Marlin, our stunning interior design celebrates the building's rich history while introducing a new level of elegance and sophistication to Madison's culinary scene.

Sink into our plush, comfortable seating, bask in the warm glow of soft lighting, and enjoy impeccable service that attends to your every need. If you're looking for an intimate evening for two, a celebratory night out with friends, or a sophisticated venue for a special occasion, our restaurant provides the perfect ambiance to create unforgettable memories.

Top review

MaryEllen

Dined 1 day ago

Every course that we ordered was absolutely superb! CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK!!!

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Popular dish

16-Oz NEW YORK STRIP

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