UW-MADISON. Located on the university campus, this enterprise is affiliated with UW-Madison and serves as a practical learning experience for certain of its students. Ice creams and cheeses produced by the university are renowned for their flavor and quality, and you'll often see folks tackling a multi-scoop cone in absolute bliss. A number of recipes are standards (chocolate peanut butter, orange custard, chocolate chip), and monthly innovations also appear (tiramisu, cotton candy, rootbeer float). Make sure not to let this one slip by untested. And they're open year-round, so summer visitors won't miss out!

DOWNTOWN. The flavor of just-caught seafood can't be beat, and Blue Marlin treats it with a light hand, often simply grilling fresh fish and coaxing out its delicacy with light sauces or a brush of aromatics. The menu changes depending on what's available, but you're likely to find blue marlin, tuna, salmon, Alaskan halibut, swordfish, or Chilean sea bass. Shellfish and items from the raw bar can also be had. Plus, soup and salad are included with meals, and wines are available as well.

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. Awash in color, thanks to suspended kites and vibrant artwork, this delightful cafe maintains a faithful following that it cultivated early on. Serving three meals a day, Mariah is affordable enough to frequent regularly, and since you order at the counter, it has a pleasant sense of casualness. Breakfast delivers bacon and eggs, tasty burritos, and stuffed omelets, along with great French toast and a customer favorite, sweet potato pancakes adorned with sour cream and maple syrup. Baked items are great to-go items, and lunch brings on gourmet sandwiches, soups, and salads. At dinner, pastas and seafoods are popular.