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| - I bet you're sleeping on this place because of its low review volume and location next to all the college bars, but you're missing out on some seriously tasty food. I don't have too much to say about Crandalls except that it's a solid place for dinner that serves food that you won't find anywhere else in downtown Madison.
I tried two of their dishes: seafood paella and steak tallerin verde.
The seafood paella is somewhat better than ok. It's flavorful and packed with seafood. This dish simultaneously reminds me of Chinese fried rice and Spanish paella. I like how the rice is not soggy , but the grains themselves just aren't as fat as I'd like them to be. Maybe that's only a Spanish paella thing though; I have no idea. Whether or not this is intentional, the seafood paella serves as a reminder that Peruvian food was born from Inca roots with heavy European and Asian influence from immigrants.
The tallerin verde is awesome. I know it just sounds like a pesto fettucini dish, but the flavor will really surprise you. It's not the bright and herbal pesto that you may be used to; it has a darker, earthier, and more mysterious flavor. This creamy, unique sauce combined with extremely tender, charred beef slices and thick, satisfying fettuccini noodles makes for a terrific comfort food dish. I truly think that this dish is a hidden gem in a town known for its burgers, beer, and cheese curds. Oh yeah; it also comes with some kind of potato.
I should also mention that while the menu prices can be high here and there, the large portions sort of make up for it. Eating a big plate of tasty Peruvian food in their outdoor State street seating on a nice day makes for a solid dinner experience. Definitely worth a visit!
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