Diners' Choice: Good for special occasions restaurants in Madison

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best special occasion restaurants in Madison? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Villa Dolce

4.8

4.8 (638)

$30 and under

Italian

Middleton

About the restaurant

A modern Italian cafe in the heart of downtown historic Middleton. With a contemporary vibe this fusion Italian gem features unique topping gourmet pizzas, handmade pasta and famous Gelato.

Top review

Debravip

Dined on Sep 18, 2024

Always a wonderful dining experience- our monthly go to and never disappoints! Consistently great food and service.

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Popular dish

Meat Lovers

The Melting Pot - Madison

4.8

4.8 (637)

$31 to $50

Fondue

Middleton

About the restaurant

At The Melting Pot, fun is cooked up fondue style, creating an out of the ordinary dining experience.
You'll discover all the ingredients for a perfect evening, including attentive service, private tables, & an atmosphere of casual elegance. In addition to the cheese & chocolate fondues which have made The Melting Pot famous, they offer a fine selection of beef, chicken, seafood, vegetarian & gluten free entrees, as well as an exceptional wine list & a full bar. You may enjoy a romantic evening for two, a special occasion with forty of your closest friends, a dining experience to impress your boss, or a night out with the family. Whatever the occasion, an evening at The Melting Pot is always a celebration. Reservations are highly recommended. We do our best to ensure every guest receives the highest level of service. As such, we are unable to hold your reservation longer than 10 minutes past your selected time. If you are running behind schedule, please just give us a ring!

Top review

MaryLvip

Dined 5 days ago

Kailie was amazing. She made a special plate and sparkler to help us celebrate the life of my mom.

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Experience

Oktober FondueFest

Experience

BFFF(Best Fondue Friends Forever)

Experience

Thursdate

Rare Steakhouse

4.7

4.7 (1934)

$31 to $50

Steakhouse

Madison

About the restaurant

Dining and libations on Capitol Square with an incredible view of the Capitol, Rare combines craft cocktails, in-house dry aged steaks and attentive service in an unabashedly old-school steak house setting. Madison's downtown steakhouse features specialty cuts dry aged in-house, like the Rib Cap and the Delmonico as well as offering more traditional cuts like our filet and our rib eye. Rare is also one of the only purveyors of A5 Wagyu in Madison.

Complimenting our steaks and entrees is a specialty cocktail list and an extensive wine list with everything from wines for a big celebration to a weekday dinner.

If you're just looking for a drink after work, Rare offers discounted cocktails, wines and snacks at happy hour.

Top review

Cecy

Dined 7 days ago

Everything was wonderful from the ambience to our server, Ryan. The food was delicious from the oysters and charcuterie board to the steaks, chocolate cake and bananas foster!

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Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro

4.7

4.7 (932)

$31 to $50

Farm-to-table

Madison

About the restaurant

Paoli Schoolhouse American Bistro is located on the banks of the Sugar River in Paoli, WI. The Schoolhouse was built in 1864 and was converted into a restaurant in 2008. We pride ourselves in supporting local vendors and ingredients to bring you the best quality dishes.

Enjoy a meal in our beautiful bistro or on the deck/patio as weather permits. We have a great selection of wine, cocktails, and carry a variety of domestic and craft beers.

The Schoolhouse is also a great venue for small events - micro weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, baby showers, and any other celebrations!

Top review

Jacquivip

Dined 5 days ago

Great hospitality and wonderful food in a historic schoolhouse made for a fabulous weekend brunch.

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Chicken Salad Sandwich

Williams's Pine Gables Supper Club

4.7

4.7 (477)

$31 to $50

American

Madison

About the restaurant

Welcome to William's Pine Gables Supper Club.
We look forward to seeing you soon

Top review

Tessa

Dined 7 days ago

Love this place. I've been here with friends twice and the food is GREAT! Beautiful restaurant and great bartenders and staff. Thank you

Otto's Restaurant and Bar - Madison

4.6

4.6 (1651)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

Madison

About the restaurant

A locally owned Madison favorite, Otto's is set in a beautifully restored 1870s stone farm house with two dining levels. The menu features creative, Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, fresh seafood, Certified Angus Beef steaks and more. A friendly lower-level bar serves classic cocktails and fine wines, and half-price appetizers from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday – Friday. Outdoor dining and live jazz are featured on the deck Spring through Fall, weather permitting. Otto's is also open the first Monday of each month (excluding holidays) in the Spring and Summer when live music is being performed. Main level dining area is wheelchair accessible. Online reservations are available for the dining rooms only, bar and deck table reservations should be made via telephone. Reservations are recommended for dining in the bar, outdoors, and inside for parties of 6 or more. In the event your party is unable to attend, please contact us by phone to cancel your reservation.

Top review

Lindseyvip

Dined 5 days ago

Had a fantastic dinner with a colleague on a Saturday night. Every part of the experience was great.

D’Vino

4.6

4.6 (614)

$31 to $50

Contemporary Italian

Madison

About the restaurant

Wine/Cicchetti (pronounced: che-kett-ee) Bar
Fine Italian Dining
Irresistible little snacks of every imaginable configuration from the varied regions of Italy. Eat them at the bar with an ombra (shadow) of wine with an aperitif. Fine Dining Menu Also available Wed-Sat-Classic Italian favorites and daily chefs specials including Chicken Parmigiano, Sicilian Steak and Shrimp Scampi. Sunday Supper 5-8PM

Top review

Terrivip

Dined on Sep 25, 2024

Our favorite Madison restaurant Sat outside Great food and service as always

Ruth's Chris Steak House - Middleton

4.5

4.5 (1137)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Madison

About the restaurant

One day call-in advanced reservation is required for Wine Dinners, all guests must order from Wine Dinner Menu, no substitutions.

For reservations on holidays, 20% GRATUITY WILL BE ADDED TO ALL CHECKS

For parties of 6 or more, please call the restaurant and ask to speak with a manager.

For parties of 5 or more, gratuity of 18% will be included.

***Separate Checks will not be accepted for parties of 9 or more***

Ruths Chris Steak House serves the finest aged, corn-fed USDA Prime beef. Broiled in a trademark 1,800° oven & served on a plate heated to 500 degrees, your steak is presented sizzling hot at your table.
Additionally, the menu includes select fresh seafood & other meat entrees. A variety of fresh-cooked vegetables, including seven kinds of potatoes, salads, homemade desserts & an extensive selection of over 100 domestic & imported wines complete your dining experience.
Ruths Chris never fails to please

Top review

LES

Dined 3 days ago

food was very good with the exception of the lobster bisque, which should not have been served.

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Woodford Reserve Dinner

The Mariner's Inn

4.5

4.5 (1832)

$30 and under

American

Madison

About the restaurant

When Bill and Betty Von Rutenberg opened The Mariner’s Inn in 1966, they set out to provide a steak and seafood dining experience like none other. Mouth watering, delicious steaks aged to perfection and an assortment of seafood from lobster to the famous Friday Fish Fry.
Bill and Betty’s sons, Bill, Jack, and Robert, along with their crew, now carry on the tradition of outstanding hospitality of von Rutenberg Ventures. Waterfront dining on the patio and a sunset over the marina make dinner at Mariner’s an evening to remember. We offer five options for dining. Dine-in, expanded outdoor seating, carryout, curbside, and dockside. Try our monthly summer Lobster Boil. You can now enjoy the lobster boils by dine-in or takeout! Advance reservations required.

To make a reservation that is larger then 8 people please call us.

Top review

Michael

Dined 4 days ago

The steaks at Mariners are undeniably great, but I was a bit less than impressed by the vegetable and potato included in the dinner purchase. Without upgrading the included choices, I got very disappointing green beans (more or less of the canned variety) and shoestring potatoes. If you eat here, I would advise you to budget accordingly and pay extra for better sides. Service was great. Table next to us was unbelievably obnoxious, which is certainly not the restaurant’s fault. LOUD people, with over the top laughing. Will return, but probably not on a Saturday night.

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Tenderloin Combo Dinners

Draper Brother's Chophouse

4.1

4.1 (154)

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Madison

About the restaurant

Step back in time to 1867 when the Draper Brothers founded their renowned meat house in the heart of Madison. Their passion for quality and taste quickly made them the region's go-to destination for the finest cuts of meat.

Nestled within the walls of the iconic building that was once home to the renowned House of Wisconsin Cheese and Blue Marlin, our stunning interior design celebrates the building's rich history while introducing a new level of elegance and sophistication to Madison's culinary scene.

Sink into our plush, comfortable seating, bask in the warm glow of soft lighting, and enjoy impeccable service that attends to your every need. If you're looking for an intimate evening for two, a celebratory night out with friends, or a sophisticated venue for a special occasion, our restaurant provides the perfect ambiance to create unforgettable memories.

Top review

Brian

Dined 5 days ago

Great service by Ryan. I mentioned that it was our anniversary and nearly every employee wished us a happy anniversary.

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Popular dish

16-Oz NEW YORK STRIP

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