RON STEWART / CLARION
Exposed wooden walls and fixtures, warm lighting, eclectic art and large windows provide a comforting, romantic dining environment at the Weary Travelor on Willy Street.
NOT TOO LATE TO FEEL THE LOVE
Have a post-Valentine's dating adventure on Willy Street
By RON STEWART
Clarion Staff Writer
So you missed dining out on Valentine’s Day. No worries; it’s just another Hallmark holiday anyway. With the possible exception of Mother’s Day, I can’t think of another day that elicits so much dread and trepidation among service professionals. Tell your date, spouse or significant other that you possess some savvy, waiting until the dust and rose petals
have settled. Plan a trip to Williamson Street. The combination of a bohemian atmosphere, funky antique and thrift stores and other diversions help to create a great environment for a romantic dinner or an evening escape.
If a cozy atmosphere is a prerequisite for your dining plans, the Weary Traveler more than fits the bill. Exposed wooden walls and fixtures, warm lighting, eclectic art and large windows provide a comforting
and romantic dining environment. The bar is friendly and well stocked with a wide variety of spirits and an even greater variety of interesting patrons. After a brief conversation with the barkeep, I ordered a Maker’s Mark on the rocks and a bottle of Pabst, settling in to talk with my neighboring
bar patrons. Thirty minutes later, I bade farewell to my newfound friends and was given a menu and shown to a comfortable booth near the window where the parade of passing pedestrians provided an excellent backdrop for the supper I was about to order.
My server was extremely accommodating,
taking time to describe her personal menu recommendations and answering my many questions. The Weary Traveler is especially known for using local ingredients
and supporting many small, independent
businesses. From beer, mustard, cheesecake and meat, to dairy and organic produce, it is no secret that this establishment
supports everything Wisconsin.
The menu, compact and easy to read, features dinners, sandwiches and snacks; all reflecting the season and availability of regionally produced ingredients. For my entrée, I chose the chicken dijonaise, which was simply excellent. The chicken was lightly breaded and pan seared with the bone still intact. Cooking chicken with the bone in is by far the tastiest way to enjoy the breast, which in its boneless form is often nothing more than a tasteless
piece of tough, white cardboard. This poultry was extremely flavorful, moist and tender. The Dijon cream pan sauce, garlic mashed Yukon potatoes and fresh, crunchy green beans were not only delicious, but beautifully presented as well.
My soup and salad were equally impressive. The salad consisted of organic greens with oven roasted sweet potatoes, beets, red bell peppers and carrots napped with an orange Serrano chili vinaigretteand garnished with toasted sunflower seeds.
The soup, Weary’s Tam Ka Tofu, was rich
and complex. This coconut-lemon grass
stew was strewn with cilantro, green beans,
mushrooms and firm tofu to create a rich
and satisfying symphony of texture and
pan-Asian flavor. The fact that both of these
dishes are totally vegan had me reevaluating
the possibility of becoming a granola-snapping
vegetarian myself. The Weary Traveler
features many interesting vegan options on
the menu and the kitchen will try to accommodate
special dietary needs whenever possible.
Meat and seafood are also represented
at the Weary. Bob’s Bad Breath Burger is
a local legend, and with its combination
of burger, garlic, pepper sauce, caramelized
onions and Green Goddess dressing,
it might just be Madison’s most effective
culinary condom… that is, unless you both
order one. The combination of beer, bourbon,
rare cooked Angus beef and nature’s
stinky goodness could also be considered
a powerful aphrodisiac. I’m feeling randy,
baby!
If you decide to visit the Weary Traveler,
please note that they don’t accept reservations.
The hostess will, however, take a
cell number and call you when a table is
ready. A full dining room would be a perfect
excuse to walk across the street to Jolly
Bob’s and knock back a Red Stripe while
you wait.
The Weary Traveler wins big when it
comes to ambiance, food quality and its
support of other local businesses. If you do
go, read the fine print, tip your server and as
always, tell them Stewart sent you! |
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