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Blue Marlin
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
21 reviews for Blue Marlin
Review Highlights
21 reviews in English
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Review from Joseph H.
2/27/2011
This is the best seafood in Madison. Bar none. The crab cakes have huge chunks of crab which is always expected, but not always reality when ordering such a dish. The bottom line is that you can get any fish dish on the menu and be extremely satisfied.
I even had a friend from Chicago call to ask for suggestions on taking out a client on a sales trip. She incorrectly assumed that Madison would not have much in terms of food (which is outright WRONG), but it's hard to blame her since it is a smaller town in Wisconsin. I digress - I pointed her to the Blue Marlin and she was extremely impressed.
It's also a smaller little place right on the corner of the capital square. An old roommate of mine LOVES oysters and this is the place to get the best in Madison as well. I'd recommend going here during restaurant week if you are on a budget since it is NOT cheap. So, make sure to budget appropriately for a solid dinner out one of these days and enjoy one of the many gems that Madison has to offer. -
Review from Nikki R.
Joliet, IL
2/18/2012
Review is based upon the customer service as had (never actually had the food).
I went here on my birthday last year which happened to be the NFC championship game (packers vs bears) so the town was pretty quiet while the game was on. So we decided to head out to dinner before the crowds hit the streets.
Based on reviews, I thought Blue Marlin would be the best spot to celebrate my birthday. When we arrived (again during the football game) I noticed the restaurant was empty with only about 3 tables occupied. Perfect i thought!
When we asked for a table we were asked about having a reservation. We said no (we had just arrived in town for the night from the Wis Dells before heading back to Chicago the next day) and I didn't think a reservation on Sunday night with half the town packed into bars or in front of a tv was necessary.
I was told by the host that a reservation was absolutely required as today marked the start of restaurant week and they had a full packed book of reservations. huh? Where?? I would understand of reservations began at 7 and I got there at 7 and was told no but it was 530 and only three tables were occupied! Long story short, we were told "good luck getting a table anywhere in town without a reservation tonight"
Well we had absolutely zero problem or wait down at Ocean Grill. -
Review from Anne S.
Madison, WI
4/13/2012
Whatever.
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Review from Colleen L.
Washington, DC
8/9/2011
The butter-filled ramekin cried softly to itself though our entire meal, seated outside at Blue Marlin on a Saturday night. The bread had come and gone, bread plates and knives cleared away. But for the rest of the meal the ramekin of butter sat there, useless, falling deeper and deeper into the depths of its own buttery despair. It looked sad, lonely and useless.
I speak in such detail of the forgotten ramekin because not only was it crying out to be cleared through two subsequent courses, but it also created the unfulfilled dream for more bread and served as a constant reminder and point of comparison for the food to come.
The food was superbly meh. The mussels with chroizo were utterly forgettable, although I do remember thinking that the white wine sauce would've been tasty had more bread been provided. Don't most mussels come with a couple slices of toasted bread with which to sop up sauciness?
Well, with no sauce sopping going on, my dining companion and I were getting saucier by the minute. The salmon came overcooked but edible, reminding me of an extra-tasty Lean Cuisine. The "special" that night was just a mess. Sometimes a "special" is "special" because the chef wants to highlight particular flavors or use a very fresh just-caught fish or just-slaughtered meat. Sometimes a "special" isn't special at all, but rather satisfying the need to dispose of over-ordered produce or a cut that's just not moving for whatever reason. It seemed to be the latter.
All we wanted was a nice, border-line fancy meal with some good drinks in an outdoor setting. We were sitting outdoors, it's true, and we did order a nice bottle of wine, so thanks to the terrible food, we got ourselves a little empty-stomach drunk-on. The bill came, we scoffed at it, paid up and tottered away in disbelief. I don't think we'll be trying this one again anytime soon. -
Review from Lulu S.
Madison, WI
3/21/2011
I really hate to give a one star review, but I think food poisoning qualifies in this case.
The waitress was great. The crusty bread was great. The honey butter was great. The view was great. The decor was great.
The crab cakes were awful. They were swimming in a brown sauce and were packed loosely - the breadcrumb to crab ratio was not right. The crab tasted tinny, as if it came from a can - and that might explain why the crab cakes were so wet. So not good.
For entrees, my husband ordered a pasta diablo with shrimp. The shrimp were a little bit tough but overall he really enjoyed his meal. I ordered the chef's special of the day: a crab hash with an over easy egg (potatoes and peas) thinking I could fill my crab craving since the crab cakes didn't cut it. The hash was awful. The potatoes were burnt and the egg was overcooked. I managed a few bites of it and then I was done. You know you're in for it if the chef can't manage an over easy egg.
I got sick almost immediately upon leaving the restaurant. It took my husband a little longer but we were out of commission for at least twenty four hours. The only thing we shared were the crab cakes.
Did I mention that two entrees and one appetizer (and one beer and one glass of wine) cost us more than $100? Don't get me wrong... if the food had been spectacular, it would have been worth every penny. I will not go back. -
Review from D M.
Madison, WI
9/7/2011
Don't bother coming back (again). I hadn't been here for 10 years after they made me and my nine guests wait four hours for a table (yes we had reservations). Decided to give it another try with a party of four... it was bad. The service was slow and the staff inattentive, two of main entries were gone by 7:30pm (lobster & tuna). The food we received really unremarkable the oysters (old), the trout (blah), the scallops the same, the marlin (tough on the outside, raw on the inside), & the pasta (coated in some weird spice). Save yourself the trouble and get seafood somewhere else.
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Review from Lindsey L.
Minneapolis, MN
7/23/2010 1 photo
Upscale small place located on the capitol square. Usual upscale seafood song and dance. Friends took me here for my birthday and I loved it.
Definitely fancy!Listed in: Graduation Dinner in Madison
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Review from A W.
Champaign, IL
8/21/2009
In a town that, for me, is otherwise underwhelming, Blue Marlin truly stands out for quality customer service and food. My husband and I split oysters for our appetizer. The plate consisted of two New Zealand and two New York oysters. Both were absolutely delicious (this coming from someone who is not a huge oyster fan, by the way). For our entrees, my husband had the special, which was skate fish, while I had the New York strip steak.
The ambiance was great. Perhaps it was the time of day (early evening), but everything from lighting to noise level was perfect. Our server was very attentive and made it a very pleasant experience. If we ever do go back to Madison, we will definitely stop by this place again! -
Review from Katie H.
6/22/2011
Pretty great seafood, despite being in the middle of the country. Plus the ambience is nice and soothing - try to get the little 2-person table near the front window if you can, as it's romantic! We went on our 1-year anniversary so maybe that's why I'm partial, but I really did think the food was good. I had the blackened scallops, which were just slightly too blackened for my taste, but there's hardly a scallop I wouldn't eat so I was still happy. Great coffee too!
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Review from Aviva C.
Madison, WI
7/12/2011
I went to Blue Marlin a week ago. The bread was delicious and the fish was good, but I found it to be quite overpriced for such small portions. I don't plan to go back-- I feel like I could go somewhere else and get more food for those prices.
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Review from Kim C.
San Francisco, CA
10/15/2009
I was in town from San Francisco for business and admittedly leery about seafood in Wisconsin. It was, however, a delightful meal.
The decor, the service, the ambience. But the food ... it was really very good. Well worth the prices.
Highly recommended. -
Review from Jennifer D.
Fort Atkinson, WI
9/2/2010
Great food and service!! Generous portions with the chef tasting and wine flights!!!
Lovely ambience...music was a nice selection.
Would return! -
Review from Arthur S.
Madison, WI
8/20/2007
Grade: B-
Great food but a very loud place. I prefer not to shout during dinner. -
Review from Doctress Julia B.
Madison, WI
1/4/2011
This place is the go-to for seafood. They have a nice selection of oysters- I'd never tried them, but the server was very helpful with what ones I might enjoy. Also, I went there on my birthday, and they saved me the biggest, most beautiful lobster for my dinner. So kind and awesome! They even brought me a huge finger bowl once they realized I was getting EVERY last bit of that meat out of there- they knew an expert when they saw one! :P All in all, a very nice upscale (read: expensive but worth it) seafood place.
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Review from Jamie J.
Thiensville, WI
9/27/2011
This restaurant is ridiculous. Made reservations for New Years eve, (my birthday). Did the first reservation of the night (like 5 pm). I ordered the lobster. They were "out" of lobster, on New Years eve, first reservation of the evening. What we did have, sucked. NEVER again.
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Review from Nue L.
Madison, WI
3/4/2008
Wonderful, intimate dining, with excellent service. I went here for my anniversary dinner and it was definitely one of the greatest dining experiences I've had in the Madison area. We weren't really familiar with wine at all, but I wanted a white wine that was a little sweet and after listening carefully to what we wanted our waitress came out with their Riesling. We started off our meal with raw oysters on the half shell (delicious!). Then we moved onto their soup of the day--Curried Crab which was very Thai and very perfect--crab meat was quite plentiful. The Mr. had the Grilled Blue Marlin and I ordered the Salmon. Both plates were impeccable. We both had a great experience--yes that was indeed what it was.
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Review from J. L.
Madison, WI
9/25/2011
This is more like 3.5 stars. The rock fish was excellent -- buttery. The marlin, perhaps as typical for this fish, dense, but nicely moist. The Thai crab curry soup amazing -- perfect blend of coconut milk with some spice kick and lemongrass. I love the intimacy of the place, but it was a bit loud (and yucky coffee to end). The service was attentive and warm, but not overbearing. All in all worth the $$ and a nice treat for a special night.
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Review from Arjun C.
Chicago, IL
7/2/2007
Amazing place -- went there for lunch when it dawned on my that for $9 I could get an amazing mushroom burger with salad instead of playing $7.50 for an ordinary bagel sandwich across the street. Salmon salad is great as is the risotto.
Very sweet and friendly waitress. Great ambiance. I'll be back -
Review from Christopher D.
Brooklyn, NY
5/30/2010
A place that specializes in fine seafood is very rare in Madison. When I come to think about it, from someone that was born and grew up in the area, I can only think of Red Lobster and weekly Friday fish fries as places I've had seafood from in Madison! Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are a lot of other seafood places in Madison but the Blue Marlin is probably amongst the best. I recently dined here over the UW graduation weekend. Apparently that weekend was booked in advance for months. I had a special that contained: broiled halibut, a tenderloin, mashed potatoes, and asparagus. All of it was fantastic.
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Review from Sal G.
East Bay, CA
9/22/2007 2 photos
This is a quality seafood restaurant housed in what for decades was an oyster/shellfish market. I know what you are thinking....seafood, in WISCONSIN?? But let me tell you - all their fish is fresh, and come on folks, even in the Bay Area, if you eat seafood, most of it was frozen at one point, and much of it is shipped from somewhere else. Don't think just because some of you live near the Pacific Ocean means everything comes in fresh. Look for specials and variations in the menu from what is online. Raw oysters are really nice, and look for their red curry crab soup, reminiscent of good Thai food. Be advised though - although the prices are reasonable, the portions are not "American style", meaning filling every inch of plate. Still, I wouldn't let this deter you from eating here. What it may lack in quantity, it definitely makes up for in quality. If you want seafood, this is the place.
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Review from Anna V.
Madison, WI
6/5/2009
Blue Marlin is great for date night. I've tried most of the entrees, and my only complaint was that the seared tuna with quinnoa was a little too oily. The soup and all of the other entrees I've tried still make Blue Marlin worth 4 stars. Other reviewers have said that it's loud inside, but the outdoor seating is quiet, peaceful and perfect for summer in Madison.
