It’s a fairly quiet, Tuesday afternoon and I decide to head over to Graze for lunch. Mind you, in the Wisconsin cold it is only steps away and that is why I love working and playing in downtown Madison. The Capitol Square has so many options for lunch, dinner, happy hour and so forth that I guy could go broke, but I was just about to get hangry and so I wondered over.

Upon arrival I noticed that the Cold War Kids, who were in town for the evening to play a sold out show at The Majestic were just getting up to leave and the space was somewhat empty, perfect for what I was looking for and needed. The staff is always courteous and never overbearing. The sweet spot in between the lunch hour and dinner service is always serene with amazing views of our State Capitol. The menu between 2:30 and 5 is somewhat limited and I noticed an item that is apparently popular at the joint, but one that I had never tried before.

Bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish with crispy rice, mixed seasonal vegetables and pork with a spicy sauce. It was love in a bowl. I could eat it everyday! The vegetables added the perfect crunch, pork was well seasoned and delicious and the crispy rice added a unique texture to the dish that left me thinking, “hmmmm, crispy rice? I wonder how you make that?” The spice was just enough to start a little something on my forehead, but not the kind of spicy that makes you smack your ears and beg for almond milk.

If you’re looking for a spot to wow your clients with a view and great food or if you have an afternoon off and could enjoy an adult beverage or three with a friend I like the space at Graze. And it probably has nothing to do with the fact that most of the men rock beards at the joint, making me feel right at home. Even if you don’t sport the latest trend in facial hair be sure to check Graze out when you get a chance.

Looking for that perfect spot to call home near Capitol Square? Visit my special downtown Madison condo search page to find your spot. Call Mark at 608-658-0467 if you just wanna have lunch sometime and check out a few condos.

And if you know how to make sticky rice, let me know in the comment section…