24 new Madison area restaurants open now, 11 more to come

As trees leaf out and patio umbrellas go up around the greater Madison area, a new crop of restaurants, cafes and bars has sprung up from Waunakee to Monona.

This spring, try new spots for Southern-style barbecue, Turkish takeout, iced vanilla lattes and Korean corn dogs. Visit a beer garden in Paoli, a paleo bakery on Park Street and a bubble tea shop near campus.

In addition to this list, some establishments have changed ownership (Kavanaugh’s Esquire Club, Ohio Tavern). Others closed (Hodge Podge in Verona, Taberna Tacos, Cafe LaBellitalia).
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RSK: Most if not all of these establishments are leased real estate. The odds of surviving 2 or more is years is about 60% for various reasons. We shall see. Hospitality is a tough, tough business. But if you make it, it can be very rewarding.