I'm not drinking the L'Etoile Kool-Aid. I have yet to have a good meal here; even the foie gras is poorly cooked. For a restaurant that is billed as "Madison's Best," this can't compare with an average bistro in Quebec. And comparing it to a real french restaurant in the US is silly. Anyone who thinks this is as good as Bouley or Daniel in NYC, L'Espalier in Boston, TRU in Chicago, or Sanford in Milwaukee must come from another planet or has donated their taste buds to science.
This is a mediocre restaurant in a town filled with far too many rotten restaurants. In a larger city, L'Etoile would go unnoticed and then go out of business.
Lower your expectations and go to the Old Fashioned next door. Simple food but no unpleasant surprises.