Julep

To start was a really nice setting and I was very pleased with the look of the house Julep drink which I ordered from the bar. Was well made and served quickly. We sat, however, and when we weren’t ready to order in the first two minutes were waiting for about 15 minutes until we grabbed a waiters attention to place our orders for drinks and starters. Waited another 10 minutes for our server to show up with drinks.
The menu looked interesting and we found some things we were not expecting. Mole tamales, fried chicken, shrimp and grits. The prices however were not commensurate with the product. $ 6 for cast iron skillet corn bread and it was okay. Not great, not bad, but for $ 6 we expected something more.
The rest of the food we got was more of the same, okay, but nothing special and more than we would spend. If everything was 20%-30% cheaper this place could maybe get three stars. The tamale, however, is worth noting was horrible. The mole was nothing like mole’s I have had in Mexico, and the creative license taken is not welcome. In short, Julep is not worth the money, particularly with cheaper tastier options within blocks.

We read about Julep recently and my husband was looking for some good fried chicken so we went on the early side on Saturday night and sat at the bar. The décor was simple and warm. It looks like they are going to have a really nice patio in the summer! We started with pimiento cheese and oysters and both were very good. For entrees we had the fried chicken thighs which were very good (he said a bit on the crispy side) and I had a special of chicken and dumplings which was fantastic. The rue had a lemony dill flavor that complimented the chicken, celery, and carrots so well. It was a simple dish with excellent nuances. The texture and size of the dumplings were perfect. And all for $ 15. For dessert, we had the sweet potato pie with a hint of cayenne and it was outstanding– the crust was delicious.
We didn’t have any drinks but hope to sample a few next time as we’ll definitely be back. This is one of the better dining experiences we’ve had since moving to Madison. Great job, Julep!

How adorable! The atmosphere is intimate and cozy. Julep is situated in a little burrow with Barolo Wine Bar and A OK Café. All three establishments look clean, inviting, and interesting. :)
Went to Julep with a very large group (we called to make a reservation) and received excellent service. The servers were friendly and attentive without being overbearing.
The the cocktails were good, stiff drinks. I ordered the house Julep and was impressed by the strong but smooth bourbon flavor.
The snacks: The biscuit with butter and jam was a game-​changer. Very delicious, I will be returning if not just for these little nuggets of heaven. The pimento goat cheese with crackers and corn bread were also a crowd favorites.
The small plates: The Mac n’ cheese was great, as was the blue crab jasmine rice cake.
Large plates: The perlou and the Farro Risotto were absolutely delicious.
The food was delicious and satisfying but the portions were not overly large. Most people cleaned their plates completely and did not take home leftovers (we ordered lots of starters and also dinner for each of us).
Julep is a new favorite of mine! I will definitely be returning for dinner and/​or cocktails.

Julep is a new fusion/​southern spot on E Washington, along with a couple other new spots.
It’s in a nice hallway-​like venue with A-​OK and Barolo. So it’s pretty awesome if there is a wait since you can just pop into these business next door and even bring your drink with you when your table is ready!
The setup is not what you would normally expect with what comes with a southern diner (this is not a diner but a hip yet homely atmosphere).
The drinks list is very well executed, with a wide choice of Bourbon and other spirits (port/​sherry, etc). Very good southern-​inspired cocktails as well. I tried the house julep with Rose Bourbon, mint and it was wonderful.
The small plates and appetizers menu has very interesting/​alternative choices. We tried the grilled oysters and pimento cheese which are nicely done with a lot of character. Tried the pot roast entrée, it’s tender and juicy.
Definitely coming back to try the other dishes on the menu!