Restaurants in Madison

Sombra Mexican Kitchen’s chefs take pride in the methods they use to arrive at their contemporary take on Mexican cuisine. Though they pickle their jalapeño peppers and stir their enchilada sauces back in the kitchen, they can’t resist allowing guests a peek at the creative process. So, under the twinkling lights of the multihued dining room, they craft their flour or corn tortillas from scratch. While the flavorful disks are still hot, they proceed to blanket each with homemade guacamole and salsa brimming with Mexican oregano and epazote. They also slow-roast whole chickens and sizzle USDA Choice skirt steaks for meals that can be enjoyed on one of two outdoor patios or amid the dining room’s eclectic collection of cow skulls, Mexican blankets, and foliage teeming with wild piñatas.

Honing in on the diverse flavors and epicurean culture of Asia, Pan Asia’s menu spans the culinary gamut, offering Thai, Japanese, and Southeast Asian specialties. Chefs artfully sear tuna steak, fashion maki rolls with fresh fish, and braise tender lamb in a green curry sauce. Dessert also bears the hallmarks of Asian influence, as diners dig into thai lime tarts, banana spring rolls, and coconut-flavored crème brûlée. These colorfully plated dishes pop against the surface of Pan Asia’s dark wood tables, which sit below high ceilings and adjacent to the full-service Gong Bar. Outside, patio seating supplies diners with fresh air and views of the sun’s ticklish underbelly.