SPECIAL
Fresco
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by Julia Bass
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Hidden away atop the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art, cutting-edge American cuisine is being served at the chic restaurant Fresco. After climbing up an open glass, almost futurist spiral staircase that stops at each exhibit floor, you will arrive at Fresco, famished and ready to eat your heart out. The dimly lit Martini lounge at the front is reminiscent of a trendy New York City nightclub — aside from the overly chatty hostesses. However, the crowd at Fresco is about a generation older than the Paris Hilton-type club hoppers; if you ever wondered where your cool professors hang out, this is the place. Think Crave on Gorham Street, but for your older sister. Even for a minimalist, the rather barren sculpture garden leaves something to be desired, but the friendly waitresses and deliciously sweetened bread that is still warm upon arrival at the table immediately fills that void. For appetizers, I chowed down on Fresco's famous lamb lollipop chops ($9) — (make sure you try the mouth-watering sauce that accompanies them), along with the seared sashimi grade scallops ($12) that were exceptionally prepared and flavored. The beer-poached jumbo shrimp cocktail was slightly disappointing, however. ("Where's the beer!" I almost cried in my best Wisconsin accent.) Next I tried the deliciously rich sheep's milk ricotta cheese gnocchi, which literally melts in your mouth ($17) along with the amazing mignonette of beef filet ($29) — definitely worth your money. Prices for entrées range from $15 to $28 — pretty steep for a college student. So give your parents a tour of Madison's haven of high culture, and then have them reward you with dinner just upstairs.
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