3 Best Restaurants in Madison, Indiana

Specializing in fresh-pasta dishes served in a romantic environment, this restaurant is named after chef-owner Andy Richmer's wife and late mother. Seafood selections come with a choice of two sides, from a light Caesar salad to hearty fettuccine pasta with cream sauce. Pasta dishes are large and flavorsome, as in marinated chicken breast atop creamy pasta tossed with tomatoes and roasted poblano peppers. Several by-the-glass options are available on one of Madison's most extensive wine lists.

A true throwback eatery, this place remains largely unchanged since Winfred Hinkle founded the malts-and-burgers spot in 1933. That includes the prices, which remain incredibly low—the weekday lunch special is (at the time of writing) $5.89. Sides include Tater Tots and onion rings. Breakfast options represent hearty, typical diner fare such as eggs with toast and bacon or sausage. A whopping 40 or more shake selections include exotic flavors like wedding cake and Coco Puffs.

Inside a former button factory overlooking the Ohio River, this landark eatery has been a local institution since 1950. Shrimp are prepared six ways, including wrapped in bacon, Panama-style, and rolled in chopped coconut. The "Captain's Table" is a five-course tour of the menu starting with shrimp cocktail and including crab legs, shrimp, and scallops with drawn butter. Be sure to try a slice of house-made key lime pie. Window tables along the front offer the best views.