Tangent

Firstly, wow! The food here is SO GOOD. I highly recommend trying the lobster nachos. The pickled onions paired fabulously with the succulent lobster. I came here for an art event (chalking up the sidewalk) and stayed for the yummy food. The beers are tasty and there is beautiful art to look at inside. I'll definitely be coming back.

I was hesitant to visit Tangent for to celebrate an anniversary with my fiance due to some of the reviews I read, but in the end I can say it was definitely worth it. The host was cheerful and welcoming. Our server was very helpful in providing drink suggestions, which were amazing. I loved their sour beer. The location and building are pretty neat too. I gave four stars because, while everything was good to my pleasant surprise, the place feels like it's new and doesn't quite have all the fine details ironed out. More specifically the aesthetic. The place doesn't know if it's trying to be upscale or cozy or familiar. Fancy decor, but metal trays for the food, and a flimsy laminated paper menu. Like peacocking but in restaurant form. Still a great place, and I am interested in coming back in the future.

Atmosphere is great and service was decent but food was mixed. Some people at our table liked the cheese curds but I was not a huge fan- the batter was too thick and pancake like. I loved the jalapeno peppers. They had a great kick to them. However they ran out if them and we only had one order for our table so I only got to try a bite. The vegetables ceviche was good but was more like guacamole than ceviche. For entree, I had the steak and bleu cheese wrap. It was ok. I liked the flavors but it was too messy. The lettuce and tomato also made it too watery. The steak pieces were too big and made it challenging to eat. I also got to try a few bites of the burger. It was really good but the flavor was 90% because of the bleu cheese. Without the cheese the burger would have been mediocre. The fries were bland and nothing special. For dessert we had the flourless chocolate brownie. The brownie itself was disgusting. It tasted like coco powder mixed with oats. It lacked the rich flavor of a normal flourless chocolate cake. The candied bacon was good and I also liked the whipped cream. The bacon ice cream was interesting but nothing I would want to eat again.

Took my Dad & Daughter to Tangent for lunch a few weeks back. This was our 1st time there. We had a great experience. The waiter was pleasant while telling us their specials. Ruben. “Great I’ll take it” I didn’t realize how good this sandwich was until I tried one yesterday at another restaurant. Man the Tangent has the best Ruben! Lots of meat & cheese with just the right amount of dressing. The pub chips were awesome too. All good things to say about our meals. Look forward to trying other menu items.

Before I’m even sitting in my bar seat Kelly, my bartender, already has a lunch and full menu sitting in front of me. He gives me space but gladly steps in when I’m looking for pointers. Easy to talk to and slips in the Vintage history when he finds out I’ve never been to Tangent before. After trying a few bites I fall in love... The lobster and crab chowder is different than a typical chowder but amazingly full of healthy sized chunks of meat and the half sandwich is the perfect size for lunch. The “inn-keepers/manager” meeting is happening in my peripheral, I could plug my headphones in and hear the exact same music and the decor is perfect for the young professional Madisonites. Wonderful vibe and boasts the potential East Washington has. I will certainly return.