Q: negative

A: As good as the food is here, I severely don't want to come back after my boyfriend and I were starving. We wanted to eat some food to fill our stomachs and the douche bag at the bar said I wasn't allowed to eat anywhere in the restaurant unles I had my ID. I have never been to a restaurant in the whole world that doesn't have a designated area to just eat! At least at like kona grill they will let you in the restaurant if you don't have your ID. So we went all the way home and came back and I was so tempted to sit at the bar and shove my ID in the bartenders face but my boyfriend was so pissed off it wouldn't have been a good idea. So we sat at the tables facing away from the bar to contain out anger from being so hungry. Idk if I will ever come back after this visit.

Q: positive

A: Usually one of my favorite stops during first fridays or second Saturdays. Music: Depending on what day you go this joint can play a variety of EDM genres. Not my usual cup of tea but my most recent experience was a tech house night. To my surprise I loved it. It felt like a very down town lounge urban underground LA night. If your standing outside Vanguard as you walk pass it you can definitely hear they're amazing sound system bumping. Its the loudest on the busy bar hoping street. Cover is always free so if you looking for some good beats and down town love go to Van guard. Price of drinks: A bit pricey for a small location, but I guess it was the weekend. The prices were a bit high and the drinks weren't that strong. Just a note: I suggest going to El Cortez's bar and grabbing a few cheap drinks before heading to Van guard. The amount you'd spend on one drink at Van guard would equal about 2 drinks at El Cortez. Also find a FREE parking garage El Cortez is no longer a free parking garage even though they have a HUGE sign that says FREE parking LOL False advertisement!!!

Q: negative

A: We came with another couple and were seated in the bar at a table near a TV, for a higher end restaurant sitting people in the bar area takes away from the ambiance and intimate setting that fine dinning experience can offer. No one wants to be "the one" in a group to say the seating was not appropriate but as a fine dinning establishment you should know better, its at the entrance and the focus is on the hostess table and as you got to watch the comings and goings (and hear-asking where the restrooms are every three minutes). We had a good time, because this what we do, and the food was great as usual, I never discussed with friends or husband that I thought our seating was inappropriate but reflecting back I know it poor taste on the restaurants side, you pay a lot of money for experience and you cheapened it, it was $600 for four people.

Q: negative

A:
I had lunch at Smoky Jon's on my first day in Madison. I had seen stellar reviews, claiming it was the best BBQ in Madison. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I ordered the brisket sandwich meal with fries and a side salad. The fries were the best thing on the plate (maybe it's because I don't have fries very often), but these fries were just okay. The salad was just bagged romaine lettuce with dressing in a packet. I know that brisket can be a little fatty, but my brisket was almost as much fat as meat. The brisket had soaked through the bottom side of my bun, so I ate it - or half of it - with a fork. I assume Smoky Jon's had an off-day when I was there because they really get great user reviews.