Bud & Marilyn's

People love a throwback. Vinyl records are more popular than ever, 20-year-old dances are all over reels, and mullets are back in style. With its wood-paneled walls and fantastically retro interiors, Midtown Village’s Bud & Marilyn’s is the restaurant version of a 1960s throwback (with less cigarette smoke and excitement over the moon landing). Between friends sipping espresso martinis at the bar, families sharing plates of hearty mains, and couples in booths that look straight out of Mad Men, it’s the crowded and chatty place of your vintage fantasies.

photo credit: Ryan Scott

The menu is full of comfort food like cheese curds, crispy fried chicken, meatloaf, and hot buttered bun sliders (our favorite). Plus, they have a cocktail menu that pretty much pairs with any filling dish you order. From the Regal Beagle that mixes gin, aperol, and elderflower to a bourbon and grapefruit-heavy Sage Derby Smash, they’re all light and perfectly blended. Dishes tend to be hit or miss, so stick to the sliders, ribs, and desserts (which are worth coming for alone). When you’re in the mood for some nostalgia, skip the eBay search for transistor radios and grab a slice of banana cream pie here instead. They probably cost about the same anyway.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Bonfire Media

Teriyaki Glazed Tofu Buns

From the toasts to the buns, anything they serve on or with bread here generally works. These tofu buns come topped with pickled papaya, chili aioli, toasted peanuts, and cilantro. Served on two warm, toasted potato buns, it’s a dish you can’t miss.

photo credit: Bonfire Media

Marilyn’s Fried Chicken

With its own section on the menu, the fried chicken here should be a headlining act. Unfortunately, it’s hit-or-miss, with some batches coming out crispy, and others a little soggy and under seasoned. If you’re in the mood for fried chicken, there are better options in the area (like Crunchik’n or Popeyes).

Pappardelle Pasta

They make beautiful handmade pasta here, which is a great switch-up from some of the meatier mains on the menu. This pasta combines kale, pesto, seared wild mushrooms, asparagus, whipped ricotta, lemon, and basil for a light and creamy dish. The only thing it was missing was Salt Bae walking by to sprinkle some much-needed seasoning.

Famous Stuffed Meatloaf

A meatloaf that nails it with taste, shape, and texture is hard to come by. But they hit the trifecta here. Stuffed with fontina and swiss chard and served with a mound of buttery mashed potatoes, it’s the kind of dish that will make you wish you lived nearby so a couch was readily accessible.

photo credit: Bonfire Media

Funfetti Cake

This cake is one of the more impressive things on the menu, and surprisingly, one of the lightest. One slice is the size of the plate, the white buttercream frosting is fluffy, and the milk crumble gives it a delicious crunch. It’s something you’ll find yourself thinking about randomly, like a show’s catchy theme song.