Cheeseburger in Paradise

Yesterday was a gorgeous Saturday afternoon and we were in search of somewhere fun to sit outside, enjoy the weather and maybe have a summery drink before continuing on with the errands for the day. It would have been nice to sit out by the lake, but for all the lakefront property in the area, good restaurants on the lake seem to be a rarity in Madison (we do enjoy Sardine, but they're not exactly on the lake, so much as have a reasonable view of it).

We decided on Cheeseburger in Paradise in Greenway Station in Middleton which has a fun atmosphere and does have outdoor seating and a huge drink menu. Unfortunately, the outdoor seating looks out onto a parking lot and some of the shops of Greenway Station, but with the fun music in the background, if you have a good imagination, you can pretend you're on an island.

Cheeseburger in Paradise offers a number of the requisite cheeseburgers as well as salads, sandwiches and "specialties" as well as the aforementioned summery drinks. The restaurant has an island theme in both the food and drink menu as well as the atmosphere. They also have a gluten free menu available and the staff seem to have a good understanding of it and the relevant issues. Our waitress was very nice and patient with my multiple reminders about needing my meal to be gluten free.

I have had their burgers before, but unlike other restaurants, Cheeseburger in Paradise does not provide gluten free buns and on this occasion, I wasn't in the mood for just a meat patty with condiments. I ended up ordering the ribs with a side of french fries which are both gluten free. The fries are made in a dedicated fryer and both the ribs and the fries were very tasty! The meal also came with a slaw, which I did not particularly enjoy because of the raisins which were featured in it, but others may find it enjoyable.

Overall, I can recommend Cheeseburger in Paradise if you are looking for a fun, outdoor atmosphere and are in some mood for some American fare with an island twist. Any ideas for other gluten free friendly outdoor dining experiences welcome!