Sardine is the Madison restaurant that checks every box: the patio has a great view of Lake Monona, it’s the perfect place for a first date, and the French food is all excellent. Stick with Sardine’s staples, like the moules-frites, duck confit frisée salad, and the slightly unexpected gruyère-draped hot dog, which you can only get at the bar (a.k.a. the best seat in the house). Speaking of the bar, we love hanging there for Happy Hour when they do $5 Kronenbourg and discounted East Coast oysters.