So yeah, I eat a lot of restaurant food. But even I have horizons that could stand to be expanded. For example, I decided recently--I think it was in September, actually--that I really need to get to know Milwaukee dining a little better. A lot better. As in, I know almost nothing about it. (I also had my first Chick-fil-A experience in September; while it doesn't really get counted for Kyle Ate Here, I'll tell you that it lived up to the hype for fast food.)

And truthfully, there are blind spots in my Madison perspective. But I'm trying to do something about that, and September was a good month for teaching my palate a thing or two.


Expanded horizons

For example: I've been doing more restaurant exploration in the Appleton area lately--not just quick-n-dirty. This is not to say it's all as great cuisine. The service at Wiseguys Pizzeria and Pub on Appleton's south side was excruciatingly slow, and the food was too salty. Still, it was more satisfying than the Georgian/Floridian chain Stevi B's, a Cici's clone designed to keep the kiddos distracted without the soul-numbing schlockery of Chucky Cheese.

Closer to home, my UW-Oshkosh self was finally exposed to the wonderment that is the UW Library Mall lunch cart scene. Yon Yonson, Monty's, and others beckon for future visits, but Surco, the new Peruvian cart did the trick for a first meal (also, hi Kate!). And I suppose it's sort of a cheat to say my first trip to Tipsy Cow expanded any horizons when it was solely to return to the loving embrace of the PBR-battered tilapia taco. (Its return was announced on 8/31, as a Thursday special.) (Yes, victory is sweet.)


Beaten path

Man cannot live on Tipsy Cows and PBR tacos alone, however, and the foundations of Madison dining must be respected. Willy Street is reopened now, but back in September the businesses down that stretch were still facing a tough row to hoe. We grabbed some Lao Laan Xang takeout despite living marginally closer to the Atwood location. Kristine erred on the side of spice, rendering most of her dish inedible; on the other end of the spectrum, my phra lam durn don (shrimp) was fresh and colorful but bland. Service at the Great Dane East wasn't all that impressive, but the Texarkana burger came off nicely.

I might have to start going to work via Willy Street now that things have opened up; the coffeeshop/bakeries I hit in September were both letdowns. After a number of disappointing orders, I am convinced that no one need ever order breakfast sandwiches from Java Cat; my wrap was an insult to the bacon it contained. Heritage Bakery and Cafe has added Sunday hours--which is a good sign--but is now selling their morning buns into a second day, albeit at half price. This is less good. The addition of a (good) local coffee to their otherwise-mediocre offerings can only help, and I hope they can make their oddball location work.


The best thing I ate

There are four clear contenders for Best Thing this month. Obviously, PBR fuckin' tacos are right up there, even if the smooth salsa of old was replaced with a chunky and boring pico. Surco's aji de gallina was a huge dish for $5, and the raisins and walnuts made the whole thing just plain work. A pre-late shift lunch of chorizo tacos from Antojitos El Toril was everything chorizo tacos should be: oily, salty, spicy. But I think the blueberry pie at Graze will take the...cake? The blueberries tasted like blueberries, the crust was well-composed and knew its place, and there wasn't a mass runoff of watery goo--the perfect way to send summer off into the sunset.

[And if you haven't seen it yet, there's a new review posted up and to the right over there. Some of that pizza dining was done during September.]