We wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to the One and Only for hosting an incredible elopement dinner for our family! Robin was fantastic in helping us plan details and menu selections ahead of time, ensuring a seamless experience for our guests. We enjoyed the Deviled Eggs, Roasted Red Pepper Dish, and were delighted by the complimentary Roasted Green Bean Salad from the Chef. All three dishes were absolutely delicious!
For our main courses, we had the Stacked Burger, Scallops, Steak, and Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders. Each dish was beautifully plated and generously portioned. Our server and other staff were attentive and made sure we had everything we needed.
We had little ones in our party, and they were very accommodating by providing highchairs, a children’s menu, and kid-friendly cups. Additionally, we had a guest in a wheelchair, and the space was accessible for them, which was great.
Thank you so much for hosting us! We highly recommend the One and Only to anyone looking to host an event.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brit Di
The window seat was such a treat! Friendly service, posh (but down to earth) atmosphere, excellent menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Caroline Bohler
We had such a disappointing anniversary meal here on Friday. We were seated in the empty half of the space, while the other half was bustling. Our server was MIA - never checking in to see if we needed more water, drinks or how our food was. When I finally flagged her down to mention that my Dan Dan noodles were basically a bowl of mush (way overcooked noodles, I assume) she just shrugged and did nothing to rectify the situation. The rest of the food was just okay. Our bottle of wine was excellent, but certainly not enough to redeem this meal.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Josh Young
One and Only used to be an amazing place with an amazing menu. Their duck was to die for. But then they made a menu change and I’ve been there twice since the menu change and I always leave feeling sick because of how greasy their new menu is. Great appetizers, but their entrees prevent me from going again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Sarah Airozo
I want to start off by saying the food and kitchen staff were outstanding. Honestly, some of the best food we’ve had in Madison. One of the kitchen staff brought out our oysters and when I asked where they were from, he lit up and told us all about how they procure their oysters. He came back 2 more times to deliver all of the food we ordered. All of our food arrived to our table promptly and hot. Which leads me to the service…
It was a Friday night and the restaurant was empty. There were 14 patrons at 6 tables. There were 4 servers and a host. You would think that service would be excellent, given that ratio. Unfortunately, our server spent more time standing at the back counter than she did interacting with us. It took her 10 minutes from when we were seated to bring us water and take our drink order. This was the only time we were offered drinks during our almost 2 hour seating. She took our appetizer and entree order and then we did not see her again until my wife got up and asked a different server for our check. The food was all run out by the kitchen staff (which could be by design, but felt unlikely, given the other servers were running their own food). We waited 20 minutes after finishing our dinner to get boxes for our food. We had to ask a different server for those boxes and decided to order dessert then and there because there was little confidence in seeing our server again. We were never offered more drinks and were left with our empty glassware sitting on our table until dessert was brought out. After we finished dessert (probably one of the best desserts we’ve ever had—their peach baklava), we waited 15 minutes before deciding enough is enough and my wife walked to the bar to ask for our bill. Our server brought it over to us and again, we waited and waited before bringing her our card to pay and get out of there.
We had a 6:30 reservation and were there for almost 2 hours. It was a Friday night. I would assume that a restaurant with food as good as this would be packed and they’d need their best servers working to manage crowds. Very much not the case. It was also strange to me that the manager wasn’t aware of what was going on. As a former server in a high end restaurant, having an awareness of the restaurant as a whole is a pivotal part of ensuring guests are having their needs met, enjoying the food, and would want to come back because of how good of an experience they are having. It seemed that no one particularly cared that we (and the other tables around us) were being ignored and left wanting more.
Again, the food was excellent. I’m excited to eat my leftovers. But unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place to my friends because the service was downright lousy. I hope they are able to train staff to just be more attentive. I would have so much more sympathy if it was a bustling Friday night and they were in the weeds and doing their best. But it was empty and there were so many staff working who should have noticed that we (and other guests) were not having a great time.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Dawn Doran
Great place to celebrate a birthday! William our waiter was very attentive and Chef Willy's dishes are creative and amazingly delish!!! Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Zucchini and Fennel Salad
Barbara Gulten
Beautiful addition to Monroe st. scenery and restaurants. Great location and beautifully done interior. Staff is friendly and helpful. The interior is beautiful, clean, and well decorated with a modern and warm feel. We sat at main room by the big open window - such a great feature. Feels nice on a summer night to have an indoor outdoor seating feel. Food is all right and has room to improve. Best dish we had was the charred mushrooms - wish all the dishes left that kind of flavor and memory on our tongues. The tacos were too dry and flavorless. The peach cobbler could have been great, but the dough was burned in the bottom so we opted not to eat that and just eat some of the peaches. Hoping to return and try other dishes at some point.
Dietary restrictions: We did note gluten free when we made the reservations. The menu doesn’t have much that can be made gluten free. They were careful to check and provide my friend with information. She was able to have the Cesar salad and a burger with lettuce instead of buns. Their frier is not gluten free friendly so be careful when ordering fries and other fried food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Christian Bonner
The decorations and atmosphere were promising. However, the restaurant was incredibly empty. Thus the lower atmosphere score. We were there to celebrate my friends birthday and unfortunately it was a big mistake. The food was oddly paired and incredibly underwhelming. Almost an attempt at being bougie but greatly missed the mark. Imagine bowls of plain yogurt and soft ham. That’s how I describe that culinary experience. The server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu but I felt very rushed during the whole process. We wanted to relax and chill but instead after being there for an hour, we were told the kitchen was closing in 8 minutes with a reservation at 7:30pm. Very disappointed. Much better options in the area to celebrate or if you just are in search for good food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Carlos Orozco
The staff are very nice and helpful! The food is a bit odd. We ordered the fried pickle dip only to find out it’s a big bowl of plain yogurt with a few pickle chunks sprinkled on top. The smorgasbord was very underwhelming.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
Scott Pollan
Visiting from chicago and normally in the city vibe. This shop was fresh, the food hit all my favorite fusion flavors. Had fried shrimp + rice balls, deviled eggs, and fish tacos. Perfect for two on a date or for a casual lunch. Good beers.
The space and decor are lovely and promising, but the food is subpar for the price and severely under-flavored. Crossing my fingers that it improves.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Susan Hill
One & Only had some of the best cocktails we've had at a restaurant in Madison. I would rank the drink quality up there with Fairchild. Food was also quite good! We will definitely return.
John Paul Koczan
In a city full of cool restaurants, One & Only just might be the coolest.
The main storefront window opens completely, which makes the whole space feel light and airy. The decor is incredibly stylish - mid-century modern, skewing a bit more toward the modern end. The whole place just drips with casual sophistication.
The service was wonderful. Our waiter had some great recommendations and was always around to check on drinks. No notes.
Our party consisted of 5 adults and two kids (one requiring a highchair, which One & Only did provide)
Our order: Farmer John Cheese Curds Deviled Eggs Crispy Calamari Crispy Shrimp & Rice Balls Hand Breaded Chicken Fingers Tosazu Beef Dan Dan Rice Noodles
Everything was great, but the Dan Dan Rice Noodles was the standout dish. For those looking for the Epic (ie. Epic Systems) Dan Dan dish, this isn't it...but I think it just might be better. The best way I can describe it as spicy comfort food. Completely addicting. It's definitely my favorite Dan Dan in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicole Karpus
We went for an early dinner a little after 4 and got a great spot at the bar. We've been wanting to come back for awhile, because we are obsessed with the oysters here-- best mignonette sauce in Madison! Just as good as the first time we had it.
We had a lovely bartender who recommended the mussels as well and I'm glad we ordered those, too. So good! We also got a mushroom dish that, yes once again, was great.
Seriously, all the food here was amazing. So happy, so full.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill Coady
Not terrible but so many better places around. Menu is really limited. My burger was greasy but still raw in the middle. My wife's fish was buried in too much cilantro. Bar selection is pretty good, so would go for a drink but not for dinner.
We wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks to the One and Only for hosting an incredible elopement dinner for our family! Robin was fantastic in helping us plan details and menu selections ahead of time, ensuring a seamless experience for our guests. We enjoyed the Deviled Eggs, Roasted Red Pepper Dish, and were delighted by the complimentary Roasted Green Bean Salad from the Chef. All three dishes were absolutely delicious!
For our main courses, we had the Stacked Burger, Scallops, Steak, and Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders. Each dish was beautifully plated and generously portioned. Our server and other staff were attentive and made sure we had everything we needed.
We had little ones in our party, and they were very accommodating by providing highchairs, a children’s menu, and kid-friendly cups. Additionally, we had a guest in a wheelchair, and the space was accessible for them, which was great.
Thank you so much for hosting us! We highly recommend the One and Only to anyone looking to host an event.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The window seat was such a treat! Friendly service, posh (but down to earth) atmosphere, excellent menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had such a disappointing anniversary meal here on Friday. We were seated in the empty half of the space, while the other half was bustling. Our server was MIA - never checking in to see if we needed more water, drinks or how our food was. When I finally flagged her down to mention that my Dan Dan noodles were basically a bowl of mush (way overcooked noodles, I assume) she just shrugged and did nothing to rectify the situation. The rest of the food was just okay. Our bottle of wine was excellent, but certainly not enough to redeem this meal.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
One and Only used to be an amazing place with an amazing menu. Their duck was to die for. But then they made a menu change and I’ve been there twice since the menu change and I always leave feeling sick because of how greasy their new menu is. Great appetizers, but their entrees prevent me from going again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
I want to start off by saying the food and kitchen staff were outstanding. Honestly, some of the best food we’ve had in Madison. One of the kitchen staff brought out our oysters and when I asked where they were from, he lit up and told us all about how they procure their oysters. He came back 2 more times to deliver all of the food we ordered. All of our food arrived to our table promptly and hot. Which leads me to the service…
It was a Friday night and the restaurant was empty. There were 14 patrons at 6 tables. There were 4 servers and a host. You would think that service would be excellent, given that ratio. Unfortunately, our server spent more time standing at the back counter than she did interacting with us. It took her 10 minutes from when we were seated to bring us water and take our drink order. This was the only time we were offered drinks during our almost 2 hour seating. She took our appetizer and entree order and then we did not see her again until my wife got up and asked a different server for our check. The food was all run out by the kitchen staff (which could be by design, but felt unlikely, given the other servers were running their own food). We waited 20 minutes after finishing our dinner to get boxes for our food. We had to ask a different server for those boxes and decided to order dessert then and there because there was little confidence in seeing our server again. We were never offered more drinks and were left with our empty glassware sitting on our table until dessert was brought out. After we finished dessert (probably one of the best desserts we’ve ever had—their peach baklava), we waited 15 minutes before deciding enough is enough and my wife walked to the bar to ask for our bill. Our server brought it over to us and again, we waited and waited before bringing her our card to pay and get out of there.
We had a 6:30 reservation and were there for almost 2 hours. It was a Friday night. I would assume that a restaurant with food as good as this would be packed and they’d need their best servers working to manage crowds. Very much not the case. It was also strange to me that the manager wasn’t aware of what was going on. As a former server in a high end restaurant, having an awareness of the restaurant as a whole is a pivotal part of ensuring guests are having their needs met, enjoying the food, and would want to come back because of how good of an experience they are having. It seemed that no one particularly cared that we (and the other tables around us) were being ignored and left wanting more.
Again, the food was excellent. I’m excited to eat my leftovers. But unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place to my friends because the service was downright lousy. I hope they are able to train staff to just be more attentive. I would have so much more sympathy if it was a bustling Friday night and they were in the weeds and doing their best. But it was empty and there were so many staff working who should have noticed that we (and other guests) were not having a great time.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Great place to celebrate a birthday! William our waiter was very attentive and Chef Willy's dishes are creative and amazingly delish!!! Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Zucchini and Fennel Salad
Beautiful addition to Monroe st. scenery and restaurants. Great location and beautifully done interior. Staff is friendly and helpful. The interior is beautiful, clean, and well decorated with a modern and warm feel. We sat at main room by the big open window - such a great feature. Feels nice on a summer night to have an indoor outdoor seating feel. Food is all right and has room to improve. Best dish we had was the charred mushrooms - wish all the dishes left that kind of flavor and memory on our tongues. The tacos were too dry and flavorless. The peach cobbler could have been great, but the dough was burned in the bottom so we opted not to eat that and just eat some of the peaches. Hoping to return and try other dishes at some point.
Dietary restrictions: We did note gluten free when we made the reservations. The menu doesn’t have much that can be made gluten free. They were careful to check and provide my friend with information. She was able to have the Cesar salad and a burger with lettuce instead of buns. Their frier is not gluten free friendly so be careful when ordering fries and other fried food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
The decorations and atmosphere were promising. However, the restaurant was incredibly empty. Thus the lower atmosphere score. We were there to celebrate my friends birthday and unfortunately it was a big mistake. The food was oddly paired and incredibly underwhelming. Almost an attempt at being bougie but greatly missed the mark. Imagine bowls of plain yogurt and soft ham. That’s how I describe that culinary experience. The server was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu but I felt very rushed during the whole process. We wanted to relax and chill but instead after being there for an hour, we were told the kitchen was closing in 8 minutes with a reservation at 7:30pm. Very disappointed. Much better options in the area to celebrate or if you just are in search for good food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
The staff are very nice and helpful! The food is a bit odd. We ordered the fried pickle dip only to find out it’s a big bowl of plain yogurt with a few pickle chunks sprinkled on top. The smorgasbord was very underwhelming.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
Visiting from chicago and normally in the city vibe. This shop was fresh, the food hit all my favorite fusion flavors. Had fried shrimp + rice balls, deviled eggs, and fish tacos. Perfect for two on a date or for a casual lunch. Good beers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The space and decor are lovely and promising, but the food is subpar for the price and severely under-flavored. Crossing my fingers that it improves.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
One & Only had some of the best cocktails we've had at a restaurant in Madison. I would rank the drink quality up there with Fairchild. Food was also quite good! We will definitely return.
In a city full of cool restaurants, One & Only just might be the coolest.
The main storefront window opens completely, which makes the whole space feel light and airy. The decor is incredibly stylish - mid-century modern, skewing a bit more toward the modern end. The whole place just drips with casual sophistication.
The service was wonderful. Our waiter had some great recommendations and was always around to check on drinks. No notes.
Our party consisted of 5 adults and two kids (one requiring a highchair, which One & Only did provide)
Our order:
Farmer John Cheese Curds
Deviled Eggs
Crispy Calamari
Crispy Shrimp & Rice Balls
Hand Breaded Chicken Fingers
Tosazu Beef
Dan Dan Rice Noodles
Everything was great, but the Dan Dan Rice Noodles was the standout dish. For those looking for the Epic (ie. Epic Systems) Dan Dan dish, this isn't it...but I think it just might be better. The best way I can describe it as spicy comfort food. Completely addicting. It's definitely my favorite Dan Dan in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We went for an early dinner a little after 4 and got a great spot at the bar. We've been wanting to come back for awhile, because we are obsessed with the oysters here-- best mignonette sauce in Madison! Just as good as the first time we had it.
We had a lovely bartender who recommended the mussels as well and I'm glad we ordered those, too. So good! We also got a mushroom dish that, yes once again, was great.
Seriously, all the food here was amazing. So happy, so full.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Not terrible but so many better places around. Menu is really limited. My burger was greasy but still raw in the middle. My wife's fish was buried in too much cilantro. Bar selection is pretty good, so would go for a drink but not for dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
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