In the early 1960s, Ella Hirschfeld opened Ella's on downtown State Street as a small kosher style deli. Today, Ella's is undoubtedly the favorite restaurant of Madison's kids and families.

Ella’s Deli Madison

In 1976, Ella's opened a second location, with the aim of providing breezy entertainment as well as delicious foods. Later, Ella's Deli and Ice Cream Parlor on East Washington Avenue became the preeminent (and only) Ella's Deli.

Under the same ownership for more than 45 years, Ella’s offers down home cooking in a fun filled, zany, and carnivalesque atmosphere. Sensory stimulation makes the place memorable. Cheery animated displays are ubiquitous, including jugglers, monkeys, flying supermen, sports heroes, castles, and wild decorations brushing back and forth on wires overheard, or jutting out of trap doors in the ceiling or walls. Many tables have glass tops with odd scenes below, or have moveable parts inside, which contain everything from model trains whizzing through miniscule villages, to marble labyrinth races.