Cloud 9 Grille
Cloud 9 Grille
876 Jupiter Drive
Madison, WI
(This review has been updated. Click here to read the update to this review)
Madison’s East side has a new restaurant, and it is something to write home about.
The Cloud 9 Grille, located on the far east side off of Cottage Grove Road, brings a much needed new element to the Madison dining scene. While new, interesting restaurants are springing up all over the west side and downtown, this new entrant onto the Madison restaurant scene is one of the first of its kind on the east side, long an area of fast food restaurants, chains, and mom and pop locally owned spots.
We’ve visited The Cloud 9 Grille three times now, for differing reasons and to varying degrees of success. The first time we stopped in, we were merely checking it out after dining out elsewhere. We sat in the bar for an after dinner drink and checked out the bar, the crowd, and the restaurant in general. And crowded it was. It is clear that the east side has been starved for a more upscale, grownup watering spot. The service in the bar was friendly, the wine and beer selections were more than adequate, and the crowd was indulging in a wide array of drinks, appetizers and light dinners. We did not try the food on this trip.
Our second journey to the Cloud Grille was to test their dinner menu on a weekend evening. Seated upstairs, away from the hustle and bustle of the sports bar atmosphere below, we were thrilled with the birds-eye view of Madison from our perch above the city. The capital and the lakes were laid out in front of us as the sun set to the west. It is very easy to state that this is perhaps the best view you will find from a Madison restaurant.
And the food and service was equally as pleasing. Entrees ordered included the Roasted 1/2 Chicken and the Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta. A side Caesar Salad was added, as the entrees do not come with a salad included.
The Roasted Chicken had been in marinaded olive oil, garlic, basil and thyme. Served with finishing touch of lemon-butter, this chicken was moist, tender and very flavorful. The only quibble to be had was that the entree was a bit too oily, with olive oil/butter pooling on the plate it was served on.
The Pasta was chock full of truly spicy Italian sausage. The sauce was just thick enough to hold the pasta and sausage together without completely overwhelming it. A hearty portion, it was one of the better pasta dishes to be had on Madison’s east side.
The wine list is not robust, but full of enough solid and reasonably priced choices that there were no quibbles with it.
On this trip the service was spectacular, with the server being efficient, friendly and helpful.
Our next trip was again for dinner. While the food was still good, our choices weren’t quite as pleasing, and the service, to be honest, was terrible.
On this trip entrees ordered included the Kansas City Strip steak, the center cut filet steak, the double porkchop, and the ground sirloin burger.
The Kansas City Stip was ordered medium rare and delivered slightly undercooked, but edible. This cut of meat is not the best steak in Madison, but we have had far, far worse, at more expensive prices.
The filet was somewhat disappointing. Though a perfectly okay cut of meat, higher quality and better preparation would have been appreciated. Having said that, we would probably order it again in the future.
The Double Pork Chop was a very large 18 ounce cut of pork, brined and then grilled with a mustard and bacon sauce. Though at first the salty flavor was a bit overwhelming, it settled in to a very good entree. We would definitely order this again.
The sirloin burger was large, and was offered with cheese, bacon, onions and mushrooms.
The service was not good. Our server did not bring the bread until asked, about half way through the meal. The bottle of wine that was ordered did not make its appearance until the meals were almost 2/3 of the way done, and again, we had to ask for it. The server was scarce, which caused us the delay in asking for the missing items. She seemed unenthused and uncaring, and was far more interested in her young male coworkers than she was in the tables that she had been assigned to wait on.
We would encourage our readers to not let that stop them from trying this restaurant, however, as this problem seemed to be the exception rather than the rule.
All in all, this restaurant is exactly what the east side of Madison needed, and we’ll be going back - often!
(This review has been updated. Click here to read the update to this review)
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I celebrated my birthday there with my family on December 9th. Started with drinks in the bar which were very good with plenty of alcohol for the money, which is good. I’d rather ask for additional mix than be disappointed with not enough.
We were seated upstairs in the area with tables and couches. The lighting was low which added to the atmosphere and the spectacular view of Madison!! We had the sausage pasta, stuffed porkchop, 1/2 chicken, chicken quesadillas, and the 8 oz filet, which were all fantastic! The filet was cooked perfectly, medium, pink all the way through and very tender, a little pricy $26. The rest of the meals were at a reasonable price. The server, a young gentlemen, was very attentive throughout the entire meal, and I even received a birthday dessert on the house which was very nice.
My family will be back and we will spread the word!
In this area they accommodate large parties, and I will be contacting them for my daughter’s wedding rehearsal dinner.
12/27/06: We visited Cloud 9 for a departmental business luncheon. The atmosphere was pleasant, the appetizers (quesadilla & cheese/corn fondue) and entree (vegetable pizza & mushroom sandwich) were excellent. The soup (american onion) was only adequate. The service, however, was horrible. The server obviously did not want to be there. She was very scarce throughout the whole meal and really did not clear away dishes as between courses, which made the booth for 4 very crowded. By the time dessert came along, we knew to ask in advance for 4 spoons to share the two desserts ordered. Instead, she brought 4 forks (berry custard served in a martini glass-very good and strawberry shortcake-need more moisture with the strawberries), and argued that we requested forks. She finally did bring spoons–soup spoons. She even forgot to bring back the card when the bill was paid. Later, one of our party went back to retrieve the card and they didn’t even ask for any id. This restaurant won’t last long with such sloppy procedures–and they weren’t even busy!
We live fairly close to Cloud 9 — and were excited to see a nice restaurant come to this area! Which is why I am so saddened by the quality of this restaurant — the view is magnificent — and the restaurant itself is beautiful inside…with a nice bar area and lots of tvs to watch a game or what not. Now the bad part…we have give this place 3 tries — desperately hoping it would get better — however it did not. The service is horrible — consistently 3 times it was horrible — and the menu lacks so much — there is not many choices here…and what they do offer has not been so great. I urge the owners to look at what they have invested in facilities and do the same to invest in what menu they offer their customers — and invest in training for their staff!!
I like the place, but the food is not all that great! And their desert menu lacks variety and taste. I love the atmosphere, and would drive all the way from the west side if they have some delicacy.
Was there three times and would not recommend the place. Drinks are good. Service and food leave a lot to be desired.
I have dined here 3 times. Once for my friend’s birthday on Valentine’s Day with a large group of women upstairs, next for my birthday with a large group of friends downstairs in the sportsbar to enjoy NCAA basketball and most recently on an early Saturday afternoon with my cousins who were in town for a shopping weekend. I have been extremely satisfied on all three occasions. My food was delicious and
beautifully presented. The staff were wonderful and service
was excellent. I will go back again and again. The sunset from either level is a sight not to be missed! My only complaint is that there is no TV in the women’s bathroom downstairs near the sports bar, but there is a TV in the men’s bathroom. I had the same complaint at Fitches Chop House but was told by Fitches management that women don’t watch sports. How sexist is that?!? Well, this woman does and would appreciate some equality.
We were told due to prom we could not make reservations until 8:30. The nice woman on the phone stated Prom guests would more than likely leave earlier and we could get in sooner. So our party made reservations for 8:30 and were told to come in as early as we wanted, to have some drinks in the lounge and they would get us in as early as possible once we arrived. Upon arrival at 7:30 the hostess, who through body language, intonation and facial expression was instantly unwelcoming said bluntly, “the lounge is closed you can sit at the bar and check back with us at 8:30″. No welcome to Cloud Nine, enjoy a drink and we will try to get you in a little sooner, nor a sorry about the the lounge is actually closed.
As a business owner myself we soaked in the rude and abrasive attitude of the hostess for a moment, asked her to cancel our reservations took a short drive to Mexicali Rose. The service, food and atmoshere at Mexicali was excellent. Perhaps Cloud Nine could send some staff over to Mexicali for some training.
The atmosphere is very nice and our waiter was great. Cheese soup is to die for ecspecially if your not from wisconsin! Menue does lack what i would enjoy on a regular basis tho.
Been here one too many times. The service is marginal at best. Drinks from the bar are served in glasses that reek of the bleaching solution used to clean them. The smell and taste almost made me sick. There are a lot of places in town that will act as if they want you there and serve their drinks in clean glasses. Find a place that cares.
WOW! Lots of bad comments here… Maybe we are only hearing from the few that have had an unfortunate bad experience. I on the other hand love this place and go there weekly for lunch, and also for client meetings. The service is amazing and they bring out my meal quickly and it tastes delicious. For lunch I usually have the chicken quesadilla which is amazing I love a quesadilla with peperjack cheese…YUM… such a great blending of flavors. I also am fond of the Strip Steak its perfect every time I order. Oh and you have to go there at sunset!!!! The view of the capitol is unforgettable!!
This restaurant is a definite must if you are on the east side!
Such a nice atmosphere and spectacular view. I’d go back once a week. Such ashame the food is so mediocre. We have given it several trys wishing great success for Cloud 9. The area is deparate for a decent restaurant.
The service is poor, and the food is mediocre for the price. Have been to Cloud 9 three times over the past year in hopes that they would improve. Will not be back.
Jimmy…sounds like you own the place and are trying desparetly to regain some cred. I’ve been there once. Everything was alright, nothing out of the ordinary, food was fine, drinks were fine, but the service was terrible. Our waitress lacked class and professionalism that would be expected in such a beautiful restaurant. Unenthusiastic, bored, and unkept, are just a few adjectives that would describe the wait staff we observed while there. I really hope they (cloud 9) read about this because it seems to be the overall consensus with commenters.
I’ve been to Cloud 9 a bunch of times. I really have no complaints except that every time I’ve been there I haven’t been WOWED. That place is so beautiful/classy looking you would think that the food and service would be the same not just OK.