WEST. Spacious and contemporary, this restaurant mixes updated diner fare with the clean-lined grace of modern decor. The primarily American menu has Southwestern influences, featuring pastas, noodle bowls, quesadillas, enchiladas, salads, and sandwiches. You'll also find dijon scallops, chipotle barbecued chicken, blackened angus meatloaf, Creole crab cakes, and chicken pot pie. Gourmet burgers prove satisfying as well, and an international wine list is available, along with beers and cocktails. Children's menu too.

DOWNTOWN. Housed in a circa-1858 building, this charming cafe conveys European sensibility in both cuisine and decor. A zinc bar adds a touch of Parisian interest to the interior, and the ambience is invariably welcoming. The menu walks the line between Continental and Italian fare, featuring such concoctions as ostrich tenderloin in a Madeira reduction with portobello mushrooms, and four different polenta preparations including a grilled version topped with fresh tomato sauce and mushrooms. Other menu highlights are equally diverse ­ a delicate penne with prosciutto and peas, signature crab cakes, and a tender buffalo rib-eye. Amazing brunch offerings satisfy everyone ­ try one of the eggs Benedict variations, like crab cakes Benedict or artichoke hearts Benedict.

EAST. Intimate and romantic, this upscale restaurant occupies a historic building near the Capitol, and curries much favor with area couples. The creative menu features such creations as baked chevre with tapenade, a signature cheese-spinach-artichoke fondue, several first course pastas, tender steaks and chops, grilled breast of duck, and asiago-crusted catfish. Lunch also adds in salads, sandwiches, and several homestyle entrees. Great desserts, a full bar, and weekly live entertainment add to Fyfe's already strong appeal.

STOUGHTON. Cozy and rustic, this restaurant near Lake Kegonsa first appeared in 1927 and has been a longtime favorite of area residents. Not far from Madison proper, Halverson's offers a menu of familiar, well-prepared dishes that make an ideal supper when you don't want anything too exotic. Representative fare includes steaks, Norwegian salmon, veal marsala, roast duck, herb-crusted chicken, and baked scallops. Private rooms, a lounge, and a nice wine list round out the experience.

CAPITOL SQUARE. A simple, elegant dining room sets the scene for this wonderful restaurant, whose chef-owners trained at nearby L'Etoile. The accomplished cuisine relies on fresh, seasonal ingredients and may feature buttermilk and dill-roasted chicken, seared wild striped bass with Manila clams, Black Angus New York strip, or tomato-saffron risotto with summer vegetables. Lovely presentation and incomparable flavor distinguish each dish, and sidewalk dining is available when the weather's mild.