Noshing With Nate

took a bit of a hiatus most of 2025 after what was....NOT a great year personally. But, we did get back into it! Me and solid dude John went to North & South in lovely DeForest, WI! NOTE: This was in September 2025

North and South describes itself as a casual BBQ joint with...and I quote: Grilled Meats and Seafood Dishes along with cocktails. It certainly lived up to the name.

The interior is...fine? Definitely decorative themes with the North & South theme, very much a western tinge to it. It doesn't stand out per se, but it fits. It can feel a bit cramped when it is busy but since it is a local hot spot in the DeForest area.

I picked up a North and South Old Fashioned, a spin on the OG Old Fashioned with So Co and Brandy. It was decent! Not too heavy, not too sweet. Worth a try I'd say!

Got a starter that I hadn't tried before: Armadillo Eggs. These are jalapeno halves stuffed with cheddar, cream cheese, and green onions; wrapped in bacon and smoked. Very good!

For the entree, I went with the Sausage Hot Links. The menu claims it is spicy and also "straight from Texas." I couldn't verify this of course and it was....fine? The heat never really hit but it was tasty.

Overall, solid time. It didn't blow me away, but the food was decent! It is popular for a reason. And multiple locales (Verona, West Madison, and DeForest).

North and South - Deforest
https://eatnorthandsouth.com/madison-north-and-south-seafood-and-smokehouse-madison-menu-deforest
Overall Score: B-

- WE BACK! With a post a week and change late! :D

took a detour and ended up at Grace Coffee out in Cottage Grove with regular noshers Haley, Erik, and John for some coffee and grub! This is one of many Grace locales, but each has their own distinct flavor and may have menu variations.

The decor was modern with some interesting interior design choices (a SWING?!? madness!). That said, very coffee haus-esque and good spacing.

Their menu is quite varied, whether you want breakfast, lunch, brunch, blunner, or just some baked goods. Erik went with the BBQ Brisket Benedict with the included Cheesy Hash Brown bites (which, holy s*** yes). Haley went with the Street Corn Avocado Toast (so fan-c) with eggs to go with her lovely mug of coffee. I went right for the artery clogger that is Biscuits and Gravy (also with the HB bites), and John joined in with a Iced Matcha. Servings weren't huge but they got the job done and (I think?) people were satisfied. I know I was.Also pretty cool, the staff all had signature drinks available as an internal competition. I tried a blueberry vanilla iced coffee and it delivered!

We definitely only scratched the surface of the menu. Elsewhere on the breakfast front they offer wraps, sandwiches, oats, classic breakfast offerings (like French Toast, Nutella Pancakes, and Steak & Eggs), and other varieties of Eggs Benedict. They also offer lunch options like salads, sandwiches (such as a Smoked Salmon BLT and a Bacon Apple Grilled Cheese), Quinoa Bowls, and classics like Chicken Tenders and Quesadillas. They also offer a kids menu if you've got the little ones in tow!

On the beverage front, they have a wide array of iced and non-iced drinks (including a Red Bull Italian Soda, which sounds like it is right up my alley). They have a plethora of espresso options as well, many of which an uncouth savage such as myself has only heard of in passing. They also offer non coffee options, like juice, tea, hot chocolate, and other bottled drinks (if you have a craving for some Calypso lemonade, they've got it!). If you want baked goods, they've got you covered with croissants, scones, danishes, cookies, banana bread, and a host of other seasonal offerings.

Overall, pretty solid! I'd never been to a Grace outpost yet but I'll definitely go again. I will say this, the one thing that stood out to me right off hand is that even though it was like 9:30am it was a constant flow of traffic. Not overbearing but if you showed up later, the kitchen was backed up a bit (which wasn't shocking). Didn't impact the visit though, the staff was friendly, the atmosphere was chill, and the company was good! Can't ask for more than that!

Side Note: Also, the address for this location is GASTON Road. I love it!

Overall Score: B

Kicking off the New Year of at Lakeside St. Coffee House! A few of us braved the streets in some cold and amongst the snow heaps for some cozy coffee and company!

Lakeside St Coffee House is a small local coffee house tucked near Monona Bay. It serves a dual purpose as both a coffee house to gather for a cup of java and a bite to eat by day and as a gathering place for live music and other events by night. The aesthetic is very homey and cozy (have I mentioned cozy) and, when it isn't 10 degrees outside, has a nice outside area for sitting with a lovely view of the lake.

The menu is quality over quantity and very much fits the coffee house vibe. Breakfast options include a Turkey Chipotle sandwich (as modeled by Haley and Erik in the pictures), featuring an egg patty with spinach, turkey, pickled red onion, pepperjack cheese, and chipotle mayo on a french roll. They also offer up a breakfast bowl (also pictured below) with Greek yogurt topped with granola, HUGE blueberries (no joke), walnuts, coconut shavings, and a pinch of honey. Both of these options really hit the spot without going overboard. Lunch options also vary, from your standard PB&J and grilled cheese sandwiches to pesto melts and curry chicken sandwiches. They also have in house baked goods, which is never a bad choice if you want a quick bite.

Lakeside St. Coffee House offers a very diverse selection of beverages. If coffee is your go to, you can get a house mug and refills or just go the bottomless route if you are in need of your java fix. OR you can be basic like me and get a cold brew and not try anything new. :P The tea selection is even more varied with iced teas, Chai and Matcha Lattes, among others. They also offer up coffee specialty drinks like Macchiatos, Americanos, and Mochas of varying sizes. And if you are so inclined, they have other specialty drinks like Italian and French sodas and GOLDEN milk! And if you are feeling particularly "Wisconsin" that morning or eve, they do have a selection of beer and wine available.

The atmosphere is very chill and there's typically plenty of room to find a nook to space out. However, on our visit on a Sunday morning it was fairly quiet up to about 10am and then business really picked up and there was a line for food and drink extending to the door. Which is good! You love to see the support for a local business. It just should be noted that it isn't always a sleepy quiet environment.

I'm definitely inclined to visit again, particularly in the warmer months and for one of their music nights. Per their website, they typically have music almost every Friday night featuring local artists, including Irish sessions, indie folk, bluegrass, and others. If you are so inclined, you can also work with Lakeside Street Coffee House to host an event, whether it be a wedding reception, parties, reunions, etc.

Overall, a solid little coffee shop. Definitely not my usual stop but perhaps it will be! It definitely can be a little busy (which makes sense with the church crowd filing in) but the space is nice and is a good place for conversation, studying, or vibing. I'll be visiting again when the mood strikes for sure!

Overall Score: B

To kickoff , we hit up an oldie but a goodie in Rocky Rococo’s – Monona. Now, I know what you are thinking. Nate, you picked Rocky Rococo’s as your FIRST entry? WTF? And let me assure you, this was all random. The Excel spreadsheet fanatic that I am, I have made up a list of places that I want to try, whatever it may be. It may just be a random spot, a craving, a new restaurant, etc. But, yes, the first random pick was a place that was a favorite growing up (albeit not the Monona location).

Growing up, I remember times when we visited my aunt’s place just north of Warner Park in Madison on weekends. We’d get up to the usual video gaming and such, but usually this would also include gorging on an unhealthy amount of Rocky Rococo pizza. As a kid, I was more into the fact that it was pizza, it was square/rectangle, and it was greasy as f**k. And we loved it! And the breadsticks just complimented the pizza perfectly. Always a delight! So, going into this, I’ve got a generally favorable opinion of Rocky’s.

On this journey, I ventured out to the Rocky Rococo’s over in Monona, just off Monona Drive. It looks, nondescript, and honestly, I didn’t even know Monona had a location before this whole endeavor. It wasn’t…terribly busy but there were a few families and a couple couples dining inside. This location ALSO has outdoor seating if you are so inclined (and I was not, as it was hot as balls when I visited this past weekend).

For those unfamiliar with Rocky’s menu, they offer a fairly standard chain pizzeria menu. The most unique feature, these are pan pizzas so the slices are…fairly decent sized. Unless it is Valentine’s Day, then you can get a heart shaped pizza if your heart so desires. You can get whole pies or slices, and topping offerings are pretty standard (with the wildest style likely being Hawaiian). They do also offer stuffed crust and Chicago style pies as well along with some simple pasta choices like Spaghetti and Fettucine Alfredo. As a good balance to all the carbs, they offer a side salad. This location even takes it a step further, and offers up a salad bar in location which actually was fairly well loaded!

I came in with a craving for the super slice combo deal, which consists of a slice of pizza (regular or SUPER slice, which is just a themed slice from one of their premium pizzas), breadsticks, and a soft drink. The super slice on tap was the Motherlode, which is a stuffed crust pizza with Italian sausage and 5-cheeses. I got marinara sauce for the breadsticks and, per usual, made a mess of the soft drink by combining Diet Coke, Brisk Iced Tea, and Mug Root Beer in one concoction. I’m ok with my decisions.

I started with the breadsticks as the Super Slice was out when I ordered so it would take a few minutes to finish a batch. The breadsticks were…decent? They were decent. Maybe I got a batch that was out a little longer, but they just didn’t have the kick I remember. They were fine though, just lacking the buttery goodness I remember. The marinara definitely helped.

The super slice itself was as greasy as I remember. Your taste in grease can likely vary, but I don’t mind the grease that has always come with the ol’ Rocky Rococo ‘za. This pizza is so greasy, I actually used knife and fork for the first few bites as the slice was a little unwieldy. I KNOW that’s a faux pax, and I eventually did use my hands but I did what I had to do. 😛 In terms of taste, I’m not sure if I had high expectations or if I was just going in recalling my childhood memories, but the pizza was: decent. The cheese mix was good, the sausage had a nice kick, the crust was decent. I was satisfied!

Overall, the meal was decent. I felt full but not grossly full. It did not wow me, but I also wasn’t expecting to be blown away. I knew what I was getting into and that’s what I got, and that isn’t a bad thing. I’ll for sure order Rocky’s again, I will always have a soft spot for the ol’ Weekend at Bernie’s look-a-like and his pizza.

Overall Score – B- (Note: My score is PROBABLY partially biased by youthful memories :P)