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| - I forgot who said a restaurant is only as good as its people.
Perhaps nobody said that and I can claim it?
Regardless, in Madison, Michael Pruett is the most unsung apron wearing, slicing, dicing, sauteing, dude in a kitchen, which makes it easy for me to say the following: Steenbock's is the most overlooked restaurant in the 608.
Bold statement time: If you haven't eaten at Steenbock's you're missing out on what might be one of the strongest dining experiences you'll have in Madison. The interior is far warmer than another well known fine dining establishment in town, which sets the scene for an incredible culinary adventure. The service is spot on! SPOT FRIGGIN' ON. So much so that if a server misses a beat, a GM or AGM is quick to swap out a fork, refill a glass, or bring by a new napkin that's fallen on the floor. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not for all the pomp and circumstance. Just put good food in front of me and I'll be ok. BUT if you're going to build a reputation for solid service, deliver. And these guys do. (Something else I can't say about other fine dining experiences I've had in town).
When it comes to the food. It's remarkable. Full of flavor, artfully plated and portioned in a way that you can easily savor every bite without feeling like you're over doing it. True that some entrees are pricey as compared to most places in town, but split some small plates with friends, or just simply make Steenbocks a once a quarter place as I've done and splurge after a few months of hard work. You owe it to yourself!
My biggest grip about the place... nobody is ever there when I am.
Why?
If I'm being completely honest, it's in the worst location maybe second to Naples15 which is in a basement. Here's the deal, you can't really see it from the road, the parking situation is abysmal, and I fear that because it feels like a "destination" (even though if you read their website and map your trip it's actually easy) people just pass. DON'T PASS ON THESE GUYS! My fear is the time will come when it doesn't make sense to keep Steenbock's open and Michael will be flipping burgers and sending out cheese curds dressed up in panko or something stupid on the Capitol.
Go.
Eat.
Tell others what you think.
Go back with them.
Eat again.
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