We all have favorite restaurants, including those we wish we could eat at just one more time. Here's a look at some of the iconic restaurants around Madison that have closed over the years — but still left their mark.
Jimmie's "Ace of Places" Restaurant
Jimmie's "Ace of Places" Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge, at 906 Regent St., was also known as Jimmie's Spaghetti House. It later became Josie's Spaghetti House.
Source: Catherine MurrayAntonio's on Park Street
Former home of Antonio's, 1109 S. Park St., which used to be run by the Schiavo family.
JOHN MANIACI -- State Journal
Buraka
Buraka East African cuisine, 543 State St., closed in October 2013 after 13 years in business. Here, two people dine outside in June 2005.
Derek Montgomery -- State JournalPoole's Cuba Club
Poole's Cuba Club was a revered Madison supper club on University Avenue that closed on Dec. 1, 1988. It was started by Lyle Poole in 1946 and was known for its steamed shrimp specials, fish fries and steak. The restaurant building is shown here in 1989.
State Journal archivesThe Dardanelles
Barbara Wright ran The Dardanelles, a Mediterranean restaurant on Monroe Street in Madison, before closing it in 2010.
STEVE APPS -- State JournalGolden Dragon
The Golden Dragon restaurant, 112 E. Mifflin St., opened on June 6, 1974, and operated for 25 years before closing in 1999. The owner, Suey Wee Wong, picked that day because a book of oracles said it was a good day for a new venture. Her son, Suey Wong, is pictured here in the restaurant in 1995.
State Journal archivesJosie's Spaghetti House
Josie's Spaghetti House, 906 Regent St., was a fixture on the corner of Park and Regent streets since 1964 -- known for homemade sausage and spaghetti and meatballs. A fire in July 2004 shuttered the place, and the owners never reopened. The site was redeveloped. The defunct restaurant is shown here in 2006.
JOSEPH W. JACKSON III -- State JournalLa Paella
La Paella, 2784 S. Fish Hatchery Road, closed in 2006. The restaurant was opened in 1994 by Tomas Ballesta.
Capital Times archivesThe White Horse Inn
The White Horse Inn closed in 2006 after operating for more than 25 years.
STEVE APPS -- State JournalRossario's
Rosario's, at 6001 Monona Drive, closed in 2011 after 36 years.
JOSEPH W. JACKSON III -- State JournalWild Iris Cafe
The Wild Iris Cafe, 1225 Regent St., closed in 2001 after nearly 11 years in business. This photo is from 1994.
State Journal archivesLeske's Supper Club
Leske's Supper Club closed in September of 2001 after being a fixture at the corner of Monona Drive and Broadway since the mid-1950s.
Capital Times archivesOvens of Brittany
The original Ovens of Brittany restaurant opened at State and Johnson streets in 1971, and other locations opened around town in the years that followed. The landmark restaurants were known for bringing continental cuisine to Madison. The last one shuttered in 2000. This picture from Ovens dates to 1974.
State Journal archivesFyfe's Corner Bistro
Fyfe's Corner Bistro, 1344 E. Washington Ave., opened in 1993 and closed in 2007.
Capital Times archivesCafe Continental
Cafe Continental, 108 King St., Madison, closed in 2010 after 25 years in business. It was run by the Schiavo family, which also used to run Antonio's on Park Street.
JOSEPH W. JACKSON III -- State JournalAmato's Holiday House
Amato's Holiday House, a popular Italian restaurant on South Park Street, was owned and operated by Sam and Roselyn Amato for 43 years. It closed in 1990. It's shown here in 1987.
Capital Times archivesCrandall's
Crandall's, a popular Downtown establishment, first opened on West Main Street before moving to this location at 116 S. Hamilton St. The restaurant moved to the Railroad Depot on West Washington Avenue in 1990 but closed three years later.
Capital Times archivesGino's Restaurant
Gino's Italian restaurant on State Street was open for 50 years before closing in 2013. Gino's opened in 1963 and then moved across the street four years later to 540 State St.
CRAIG SCHREINER -- State JournalIrish Waters
Irish Waters Restaurant and Pub, 702 N. Whitney Way, closed in 2007 after almost 30 years in business. It had a dark oak and mahogany bar, stained glass, brass and hardwood floors.
Capital Times archivesWilson Street Grill
The Wilson Street Grill, 217 S. Hamilton St., served its last meal on New Year's Eve 2001. In this 1995 photo, Andrea Craig, left, and Nancy Christy pose in their restaurant.
MEG THENO -- State JournalNamio's Supper Club
Namio's Supper Club on Park Street opened in the late 1960s and closed in 1992. It's shown here in November 1982.
ED STEIN - State JournalFess Hotel restaurant
The Fess Hotel restaurant opened in 1975 and became a hot spot for nearly two decades, closing in 1994. Located at 123 E. Doty St., the building was historic -- built in the 1850s and run as a hotel until 1972. It now houses the Great Dane Restaurant and Brew Pub Downtown. The building is shown here in 1973.
Capital Times archivesMcDonald's on the Capitol Square
The McDonald's restaurant, 20 W. Mifflin St., closed in 2004 after being the Capitol Square's fast-food mainstay.
JOSEPH W. JACKSON III -- State JournalThe Monastery restaurant
The Monastery restaurant closed in 1994. Its interior is shown here in December 1984, with owner Biagio Gargano and employees Van Zoest and Susan Armstrong.
The Capital Times archivesGoal Post Supper Club
The Goal Post Supper Club, located on Branch Street in Middleton, closed in 1989.
State Journal archivesParisi's Bar & Grill
Parisi's Bar & Grill, shown above on the left, closed in 1983. It was located near the corner of University and Highland avenues.
JOSEPH W. JACKSON III - State JournalGriff's Restaurant
Griff's Restaurant & Frozen Custard, located at 1233 McKenna Blvd., closed in 2010 after being open since 1993 in a spot near Elver Park. It was known for its fried chicken and burgers.
Capital Times archivesMinnick's Top Hat
Minnick's Top Hat restaurant operated for 35 years at its location on University Avenue at Branch Street in Middleton. Bill and Alice Minnick closed the place in 1988.
SCOTT SEID - State JournalPines Supper Club
A landmark for more than 30 years, the Pines Supper Club, 2413 Parmenter St., was altered into a private-investment venture. It's pictured here in July 1979.
Wisconsin State JournalHoffman House Restaurant
The original Hoffman House Restaurant was started in Madison in 1946 by seven Hoffman Brothers, who later expanded into other areas of the Midwest. The photograph above, taken in 1955, shows the Carousel Bar in that first Hoffman House Restaurant, 514 E. Wilson St. Photo image ID: 29186
Wisconsin Historical SocietyRohde's
Rohde's Steak House was a popular restaurant at 613 W. Main St. from 1932 to 1982, when it closed. It was founded by Edward and Bertha Rohde. Pictured here is a menu from 1964. Image ID: 106408
Wisconsin Historical SocietyNob Hill
The Nob Hill restaurant on South Highway 12 (33 W. Beltline Highway) was once a popular supper club. Part of its interior view is shown in this picture from 1957. Image ID: 94462
Wisconsin Historical SocietySimon House
The upscale Simon House, 107 S. Butler St. near the Capitol Square, often drew dignitaries such as President Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, as well as Nelson Rockefeller and Adlai Stevenson. This undated menu included a card offering the "Booth Bay Harbor Live Lobster (2 served) Complete Dinner 4.25." The restaurant closed in 1972.
Wisconsin Historical Society - Image ID 105222Leske's Steak House
The Leske family at one time ran a couple of popular restaurants, including Leske's Steak House, 2827 Atwood Ave. Here's a close-up view of a steak dinner advertised there for $2.25 in 1953. Image ID: 32566
Wisconsin Historical SocietyFrenchy's Restaurant
Frenchy's Restaurant, 3302 University Ave., operated until a kitchen fire in the 1960s. This photo from 1946 shows an interior view of the bar, including bar-top juke box controls and a sign saying "Welcome back... Wearer of this badge of honor, you have served your country well and we thank you."
Wisconsin Historical Society - Image ID: 12620Frida Mexican Grill
Frida Mexican Grill, a restaurant and bar at 117 State St., closed in January 2012 after problems with violence and a proposal for redevelopment. It's shown here in April 2006.
State Journal archivesCafe Palms in the Hotel Washington
Cafe Palms in the Hotel Washington was lost in the 1996 that destroyed the building, located on West Washington Avenue. It was known for late-night dining.
JOSEPH W. JACKSON III - State JournalChi-Chi's
Chi-Chi's restaurant, 414 Grand Canyon Drive, closed in 2004. It's pictured here in 1981.
Capital Times archivesRestaurant Magnus
The well-regarded Restaurant Magnus, 120 E. Wilson St., closed in January 2011, citing the economic downturn. Restaurateur Chris Berge opened the high-end eatery in 1998. It's pictured here in September 2010.
Capital Times archivesUpstairs Downstairs Deli
The original Upstairs Downstairs Restaurant and Deli, 232 State St., closed in 1995, ending 18 years of operation at the site.
SCOTT SEID - State JournalDiSalvo's Spaghetti House
DiSalvo’s Spaghetti House, 810 Regent St., operated in the old Greenbush neighborhood, along with DiSalvo’s Grocery. This photo shows the interior of the restaurant in 1944. Image ID: 6816
Wisconsin Historical SocietyBrat und Brau
Brat und Brau restaurant owners, Al (left) and Dick Hiebing, shown in 1980. The campus-area Brat und Brau operated for 25 years at 1421 Regent St. -- from 1969 to 1994. The brothers also had restaurants in other locations.
Capital Times archivesCathay House
The Cathay House, a Chinese restaurant on East Washington Avenue, was opened by Yew K. Low in 1955 and operated for more than 40 years. Even though newspaper archives have many references to the once-popular Cathay House, we have no photos. Credit for this Cathay House matchbook goes to the Lost Madison Facebook page.
Lost Madison Facebook pageNate's Place
In 1960, Nate and Betty Troia opened Nate's Place, at East Broadway and highways 12-18, where they served pasta dishes for about $2 and fish fries for 75 cents. The Troia family was well-known in the local restaurant business -- with siblings opening Paisan's, Portobella and Troia's Steak House.
Catherine Tripalin Murray photoAce of Clubs
The Ace of Clubs, located at 3520 E. Washington Ave., was once a popular supper club run by Leo Welch. A black and white version of this postcard was posted on the Lost Madison Facebook page. This color version comes from the Tichnor Brothers Collection of Wisconsin postcards and was created between 1930 and 1945.
Boston Public LibraryWing's Inn
Wing's Inn on East Washington Avenue was a supper club built by Ralph and Marie Wing in 1933 and operated until it was sold in 1976. This vintage postcard said there was entertainment nightly.
Jolly Bob's
Jolly Bob's Caribbean restaurant and bar, 1210 Williamson St., closed Dec. 6, after operating for more than 22 years. It offered diners tropical-style dishes and drinks.
JOHN HART -- State JournalBunky's Italian Restaurant
Vito and Ninfa Capadona opened Bunky's Italian restaurant in the 1930s, originally located on the corner of Park and Regent streets -- one of three restaurants comprising the so-called "Spaghetti Corner" in Madison. In the 1970s, the site later became the home of Pino's Restaurant and Bunky's Nightclub, operating into the 1980s. The name Bunky's came to life again when the Capadonas' great-granddaughter, Teresa Pullara, opened Bunky's Cafe on Atwood Avenue in 2004. That restaurant still operates today.
Submitted photoThrowback gallery: About the slideshow
Information and images for this slideshow largely came from newspaper archives, with special help from stories written by Doug Moe, Catherine Murray and Samara Kalk Derby. Newspaper librarian Dennis McCormick also provided research. Some images came from the State Historical Society and the Lost Madison Facebook page. (The picture above is a page of restaurant ads from 1977.) Click here to see Part 2 of this project.
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