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Top Bar & grills in Madison, United States

Top Rated Bar & grills in Madison

Top Reviewed Bar & grills in Madison

Reviews

Mo Ruthless
at 2024 Sep 07
Mo Ruthless
at 2024 Sep 07
Steak was ordered medium well it was burnt. Bacon burger was ordered medium well it was well done. Whatever sauce they put on it tasted like liquid pepper. The manager couldn't even find time to come out and talk to us about how horrible the food was. This was our second try coming here because it was bad the first time too. Waitress was overly chatty with every person in the building. We sat there for about 30 minutes before anybody even walked up to give us menus or take a drink order. Then my appetizer sat on the counter until my food was done and brought them out together. Waitress decided to clean other tables with no other customers waiting to sit before bringing us menus or even acknowledging that we were there. Won't return.
Kristina Jackson
at 2024 Aug 11
Kristina Jackson
at 2024 Aug 11
Very poor quality food. My rice was so hard that I couldn’t eat it and my macaroni was soupy. None of my food was hot. My appetizer came out cold as well. When I complained they put it in the microwave and gave it back. My chicken was like rubber and I could barely cut it. This was my first time dining here and I can say that I will not be back.
Roy Randall
at 2024 Aug 02
Roy Randall
at 2024 Aug 02
The Boneyard Grill is a great place to come on any occasion. They have a great selection from pulled pork and burgers to grilled pizza. The atmosphere is awesome with all the sports memorabilia. They even have a great lil window to see the pit boss mastering his craft. Will definitely be back.
Brooke Laney
at 2024 Aug 02
Brooke Laney
at 2024 Aug 02
I absolutely love this place!! The BBQ and the teriyaki chicken are my favorites. Everyone is extremely nice and great at their job. There's a window where u can see them cut up and prepare the meat, it's kinda cool to see and means it's fresh 😁💖 definitely recommend!
James M
at 2024 Jul 31
James M
at 2024 Jul 31
Best sound system with actual music in Mtwn. Has good size dance floor. Service is always great. The staff is amazing and friendly. One of the best places in town for a night out.
Stella Crubaugh
at 2024 Jul 28
Stella Crubaugh
at 2024 Jul 28
Haley is the best bartender to roam the earth. If its not her serving the bar, i’m not going !!! THE best, show stopping, never done before. Give her a RAISE!
Erica Webb
at 2024 Jul 27
Erica Webb
at 2024 Jul 27
Thank you so much to Sheila and the amazing GM Bogie for going above and beyond for our party and my mom with her allergy. So understanding and accommodating!! And the food! Delicious!
Our server, David, was absolutely amazing. He was very quick with drink refills and taking our order. The food was really great and filling, especially the parmesean chicken. My only complaint is that the music was slightly too loud.
An absolute gem!! The music is always top notch, and the lady who usually serves on Saturday nights makes the best cocktails. Great vibes, definitely recommended!
Wow! What a great find. Best acoustics. Great music. Al is a wonderful host. Affordable drinks. Just a GREAT place for live muaic in Madison! Will definitely be back!
Unique establishment that brings in the greatest music with solid consistency. Always worth checking what is playing - AND the whole door goes to the musicians ( huzzah ) so drink up and support the owner/staff. 😁
Jess Stetz
at 2024 Jun 28
Jess Stetz
at 2024 Jun 28
Every experience I've had here has been positive! The food is always delicious and the wait staff is great. I recently celebrated my 30th birthday here and was pleasantly surprised by how well they were able to accommodate my party of 19 people!

I love their steak, my husband loves their ribs and my dad raves about the pork chops. He said they're the best he's had anywhere.
Quincy Jones
at 2024 May 21
Quincy Jones
at 2024 May 21
I ordered a ribeye medium rare and for my sides I had steamed broccoli and Brussels sprouts.The meal was well cooked and the service was great.
Autumn Leonard
at 2024 May 13
Autumn Leonard
at 2024 May 13
A lot of the menu was missing, making ordering a joke as we were repeatedly told, "we're out of that." Service was incredibly slow, with some of our party's meals arriving 20 minutes after others. When it did arrive, food was dry, cold, and poorly-prepared. Our server was nice. Definitely not what I'd expect for $50+ a person.
Toju Blagogee
at 2024 May 12
Toju Blagogee
at 2024 May 12
I can only hope that the reason that this was such a bad experience was it was mother’s day but even McDonald’s would have been more prepared. One of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. We had a party of 6 with reservations, we got there right on time. All I can describe it is chaos, orders were missed, our server was always busy (which we don’t blame our experience all on him), we had a wait time of over 2 hours and some of us still didn’t get our food at the end. Ultimately we had to cancel half of our order.

The worst part after this was after experiencing this they gave us this disgusting, and i mean abhorrent “baked mac and cheese”, I wish I had taken a picture of it but i think that I was too shocked. I could only describe it as pasta with a light topping of mystery sauce on it.

The only saving grace of this restaurant is their appetizers, which I am convinced is only because when you come here that’s the only meal you’ll be able to eat within your time there.
Nina PETROSINO
at 2024 Apr 13
Nina PETROSINO
at 2024 Apr 13
Red Rock is great. Nice bartenders and space to dance. It’s a country music bar and so it was my surprise when the DJ on 4/12 during a literal dead night made rude comments towards me when I asked if he could play the one and only Tanya Tucker’s “Delta Dawn.” He said, very sternly: “Why don’t you just go to the bar and get yourself a drink, look around, no one else is requesting songs. Plus, that’s too slow of a song. We don’t do that here.” Alright, I have heard that song played here before. Also, he proceeded to play slower songs than the almighty Delta Dawn (love you Tanya). And no one’s requesting because brother, 15 people max we’re on the dance floor near the DJ booth at that point and it was 9pm. He could have just said: “Not taking requests.” I don’t think that’s a nice way to interact with guests and it made me not want to come back, maybe find another line of work. Peace and love. 💖
Michael Schultz
at 2024 Apr 07
Michael Schultz
at 2024 Apr 07
Service was slow. Had to go to the bar for everything, nobody came to the table. Food was cold and bland. Pulled pork and brisket did not taste smoked at all. Mashed potatoes were watery and bland. Mac and cheese was dry and had no flavor. Had to wait at the bar for 5 minutes to close out.
Incendio
at 2024 Apr 06
Incendio
at 2024 Apr 06
Talk about a diamond in the rough. Tucked away off of Clifty Drive you will find a nice little BBQ joint. The menu was diverse and well organized. I picked the Boneyard Burger and was thoroughly surprised. Tender, juicy, smoky, flavorful and saucy! It was exactly what I was looking for. This will definitely be a place we will find ourselves enjoying again. I got a porter from New Madison Brewing to wash it down.
Tyler Z
at 2024 Mar 30
Tyler Z
at 2024 Mar 30
A great little place to relax, have a drink, and listen to some incredible artists. The place is very clean and has a lovely atmosphere
Jake Medis
at 2024 Mar 29
Jake Medis
at 2024 Mar 29
Red Rock is one of my favorite bars downtown. Good live music on Friday's and good food. Bartenders are friendly also and so are the security. If you want to try out a good country style bar Red Rock is it.
I ordered the Wild West shrimp, wingz, salmon with asparagus and potato soup. Everything was delicious the wings could have been better. The restaurant is really clean.
Friendly service, great food, and really cool decor.
Madison has something special here, and I can't wait to try it again.

We were walking downtown, and the smells coming from Taproom pulled us from across the street. It did not disappoint!
Kayden Carpentier
at 2024 Mar 17
Kayden Carpentier
at 2024 Mar 17
Tried Bonefish for the first time and it was so worth it! The chimichurri steak was so good, I wanted to cry but it was seasoned so perfectly, I knew my tears would only throw it off. We had Cam for our table and she was such a joy to talk to and made great recommendations! Definitely coming back.
Great service! The food is consistently high quality, and fairly quick. This place is always filled with locals -- a thumbs up from Madison residents!

Taco Tuesday is not to be missed. Delicious fish, chicken or steak tacos on special.
K H
at 2024 Mar 02
K H
at 2024 Mar 02
My husband and I came in on a Friday night. Promptly greeted by the hostess and sat in the bar area as requested. Annie our server and Kaden her assistant were attentive. We had the couples special (salad, entree and sides of choice with a dessert). Everything was served hot and tasted great. The drink presentation of the smoked old fashioned was impressive. We will be back!
Ashley Knight
at 2024 Feb 24
Ashley Knight
at 2024 Feb 24
I came in on Thursday the 22nd and Cam was an amazing server! She was very knowledgeable, personable, and welcoming. She also had great recommendations! The food was delicious!
What a great music club. Professionally managed, excellent accustics/sound, house piano, comfortable environment, and quality cocktails. Al books the best in jazz, blues, bluegrass, cabaret, local, regional, and national acts. If you love music and a welcoming joint to hang out in, you will love the North Street...
Charity Faith
at 2024 Feb 21
Charity Faith
at 2024 Feb 21
Stopped here with my partner for a snack and a cocktail. We ordered the vegetarian Susan. It was a lot of food and we had some to take back home. The Wisconsin old-fashioned was delicious and they had a decent beer selection. The atmosphere was cozy and casual. The cost was reasonable. Would like to go back and try their fish fry next time.
A gem of a spot! This place is not only friendly but also offers great value for money. The cheese curds are an absolute must-try – they're delicious! The atmosphere is welcoming, and the service is top-notch. Whether you're a local or just passing through, this spot is worth a visit.
Mark Al
at 2024 Feb 18
Mark Al
at 2024 Feb 18
Stopped here after hiking at Clifty Falls State Park. Bartender was very knowledgeable about the beer. Recommended one that was delicious. Food was very good as well. Decided to try the crawfish taco as I've never had one and was intrigued. Also took her recommendation on the Rock and Roll burger. Both were good. Burger was cooked well and was a good size. Next time I'm down this way hiking, I'll be stopping in again.
Heidi Miller
at 2024 Feb 14
Heidi Miller
at 2024 Feb 14
As a chain restaurant you know what to expect. The food was good, but I've had better local fare. However, our service was amazing. Our server really added to our experience.
Ruben
at 2024 Feb 14
Ruben
at 2024 Feb 14
We came here for a lunch date. We ordered their street tacos. The Thai Chicken, Carnitas, Steak, Shrimp, and veggie street tacos. They were really good. The beers came out cold. The waitress was very responsive, and very nice to talk to. I highly recommend the street tacos. Our appetizers Pretzel came out hot, i wish the beer cheese was more cheezy. The Mustard was delicious. I was extremely suprised, and I am not a fan of mustard. It had a sweet, and spicy taste to it. Very Very pleasant.
Great restaurant, good food, reasonable prices. I mean it was a Friday, so it was packed (20 min wait at 630pm). Server was quick and polite if a little soft spoken. Food came out in a reasonable time. I'll be back next time I'm in town.
Teresa Champion
at 2024 Feb 09
Teresa Champion
at 2024 Feb 09
Our server Cam is so attentive. The food is delicious and the restaurant is beautiful and relaxing. The mini martini flight is a fun way to try some of their signature drinks.
Extremely friendly staff and very interesting decor, sort of what you would expect from this kind of place but somehow different enough to make it a bit unique. Beer was good, well presented and a very decent selection. Food was good but not great, Philly cheesesteak was a bit tough and liked flavor but the other offerings were all very well done and good value except the tenderloin sandwich, do not order this if you are alone, this sandwich and an extra side will make a very nice meal for two. This is the type of place I would go to often for a good meal and drink.
Love the North Street and especially that they support great live music. I bought tickets for the "Arab Blues" on a recommendation from WORT, and they blew me away. Not just musically but bringing together an audience that spoke English, Arabic, and I don't know what else. I felt this show really brought us all together. Thank you.
Kevin Stone
at 2024 Jan 28
Kevin Stone
at 2024 Jan 28
It was a busy Saturday night but drinks and food came out quickly. The meat and fish Susan was incredible! I tried out the Applejack old fashioned and it was only okay, not my cup of tea, but they have a full bar and the other drinks excellent. Ordered the chili and prime rib.. Waaay too much food but oh so good! Highly recommend the Wisconsin Cheese Soup. 10/10
Peter Leung
at 2023 Dec 24
Peter Leung
at 2023 Dec 24
Favorite was definitely the sea bass, more flavorful on its own compared to the other grilled fish. The tuna appetizer while nice tasted a little watery. Nice service and a good dining experience overall.
Robin Johnson
at 2023 Dec 24
Robin Johnson
at 2023 Dec 24
Service is awesome food, is good steak was great, Flatbread pizza was great, huge cob salad, fried pickles good but wasn't a fan of the chili fries.
Jacob R
at 2023 Dec 18
Jacob R
at 2023 Dec 18
I got the chicken biscuits & gravy. A new and better take on a chicken pot pie. Absolutely delicious, highly recommend. Fried curds were fantastic. Friendly staff. It does get crowded quickly, and is a bit too loud. Make reservations if you can
Spent two days in Madison and was in Off Broadway Taproom four times! It’s that good!! Great selections of beers, great food, great atmosphere! Met a lot of wonderful people & staff was amazing & attentive! Fun place to be!
Santé….Roger & Cheryl
H Post
at 2023 Nov 11
H Post
at 2023 Nov 11
Saw a few concerts here. Nice place for a show. Staff was friendly. Venue was clean. A pretty cool place. Parking can be hard to find.
Bob Riots
at 2023 Nov 10
Bob Riots
at 2023 Nov 10
The Old Fashioned is a very very popular place, and can take a party quite a while to find seats on a busy night. Luckily, the bar seating is a free for all and you can find accommodations much quicker there. The cheese curds are indeed cheesy, and the double brat sandwich had tasty bratwursts, though quickly turned into a fork and knife situation when the roll gave up the struggle holding the sausages in. The muddled old fashions and a cherry cordial were both made well.
I came in with my family, and we ordered pretty much everything. The desserts were amazing. I would have taken more pictures, but everything looked so good. Everyone started eating it up faster than a teenager threatened with grounding if they didn't put away the groceries. I had the 6 Oz sirloin with a 4 Oz lobster tail with a parmesan crust, mushrooms, and sauteed onions. It was incredible. The parmesan crust made the stake (which was already practically perfect and medium rare) even better. It was comparable to a Filet mignon. Super tender, beautifully red, and perfectly seasoned. The lobster tail was really good. It's not as good as the stake, but it's still amazing in its own right. I got to try a shrimp skewer, and it was also amazing. The side I ordered was the Mac and cheese. It was the best macaroni and cheese I have EVER had, and I have had some amazing mac and cheese. We got their sampler and tried their white cheddar stuffed mushrooms, spicy chicken bites, and spinach dip. All of it was incredible. I pefered the raspberry lemonade vs. their strawberry lemonade. We also tried most of the desserts. They were all amazing. The only one we did not try was the cheesecake. If you want to try many things and have a little to take home, I highly recommend getting the 6 Oz sirloin and 4 Oz lobster tail. The stake is kind of small, but it was the perfect size to be able to try many things.Our server, Chris, was very kind and helpful. Overall, everything was incredible. The only thing is that if you are on a tight budget, this is not the best option, as our bill for 8 was close to 400. It was still well worth it. I highly recommend this place for great food and great service.
Gary Barnes
at 2023 Oct 21
Gary Barnes
at 2023 Oct 21
Was there to Celebrate our 22nd Anniversary, Awesome Waitress Jenna R is the Best. Top of line Service, Great Food Amazing Steak n Lobster 🦞 Dinner salad was great, great selection of dressings White Balamic Vinger, Roasted Brussels Spouts was Delicious. Mushrooms was Awesome Thank you for such a wonderful evening
Steven Warren
at 2023 Oct 21
Steven Warren
at 2023 Oct 21
On a Saturday there was an estimated 1 hour wait but it took 1.5 hours. The food was pretty good, but it's over hyped I would say. The burger did taste really good also I would suggest it! But the fries could for sure use an upgrade compared to others in the area. Worth a check out!
Shawn Keller
at 2023 Oct 12
Shawn Keller
at 2023 Oct 12
The Old Fashioned Tavern & Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin is a great place to go for delicious food and a relaxed atmosphere. I've been there several times, and I'm always impressed by the quality of the food and the friendly service.

The menu features a variety of classic American dishes, as well as some more unique options. I highly recommend the fish fry on Fridays, which is made with fresh, local fish and served with all the fixings. The burgers are also excellent, and the prime rib on Saturdays is a must-try.

In addition to the great food, The Old Fashioned also has a great atmosphere. The restaurant is decorated in a classic tavern style, with a warm and inviting feel. The staff is always friendly and attentive, and they go out of their way to make sure that you have a good time.

Whether you're looking for a casual place to grab a bite to eat or a place to celebrate a special occasion, The Old Fashioned is a great option. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great dining experience in Madison, Wisconsin.

Here are some specific things I love about The Old Fashioned:

The food is always delicious and made with fresh ingredients.
The staff is friendly and attentive.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting.
The restaurant is located in a convenient location in downtown Madison.
The prices are reasonable.
Overall, I highly recommend The Old Fashioned Tavern & Restaurant to anyone looking for a great dining experience in Madison, Wisconsin.
Megan Brooks
at 2023 Aug 28
Megan Brooks
at 2023 Aug 28
Went on a Saturday night for dinner and drinks with friends. We got there around 7pm and it was not busy. We were immediately seated in a booth.

The service was excellent. Our server was friendly and quick and was knowledgeable about different types of cocktails.

The atmosphere was okay. The floors were very sticky in places, which was gross. The ladies room was dirty, and had a clump of wet dirt and hair between the bathroom stall partition and the wall. The lighting was way too bright in the booth. They turned the lights down a little later in the night.

The food was pretty good and came out quickly. The drinks were very good. I ordered a ranch water with Patron and extra lime, and it was perfect. The drink specials were great. They had pints of craft beer for $2, which I was not expecting. They also had a wide selection of beers on tap.

I had a good time. The drinks and the service were great. Not sure if I will go back though.
JaySerf
at 2023 Aug 21
JaySerf
at 2023 Aug 21
Bartender was great. Very funny. People like him is what turns a place into a local hangout.
Food was good. Fresh, spicy. The carnita tacos is best in town. Boneless wings was perfectly spicy.
Ash S
at 2023 Aug 16
Ash S
at 2023 Aug 16
Great time on my first visit. Very welcoming. I didn't get your name but thanks for making me partner with someone and getting me out on the dance floor! You and Zach both do a good job of teaching the steps! Zach don't forget to check out the Zydeco dancing! I'll be back soon! Bartenders are Great! Thanks Rory (I believe)! Good drinks specials as well!
JaySerf
at 2023 Aug 03
JaySerf
at 2023 Aug 03
Place looks great with plenty of seating. Menu has a variety of options to satisfy and BBQ fix.

Had the ribeye, cooked med-rare, but heavy handed with the salt. Seasoned fried was good. Homemade corn taste good, little sweet, only issues it's soaked in butter and pools in the bottom.
Over all good place, I will visit to try out the burgers, they all sound delicious.
This is a great venue. The place looks small from the outside but it has a lot of room. Eveyone gets a good seat and is up front with the stage. They have a lot of great music from different genres. Go see a show there. You'll love it.
The staff was friendly and attentive. He stopped by several times to see how we were doing. The steak was very good. The grilled shrimp made really good leftovers when I got home. The mango margarita was quite tasty. The fresh loaf of bread served as an appetizer was excellent.
The Red Zone on GameDay was the perfect atmosphere to watch the early game while pre-partying for the Badger football game. Drinks were in the expected price range. It was odd that you could readily get into the building, but they were restricting people from getting into the outdoor beer garden. Thinking it was some weird Madison overregulation. All-in-all, a great place to be on game day.
Good spot to catch ANY NFL game. Went their to watch the Browns but we also saw Lions, Saints, Cowboys fans there. Nice bar food and drink selection.
The North Street Cabaret in Madison, WI is a hidden gem for music lovers. The venue is located in a historic building and has a rich history of hosting some amazing acts. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate, and the staff is incredibly friendly and welcoming.

The stage is small, but it's perfect for the size of the venue. The sound quality is great, and you can really feel the energy of the music. The North Street Cabaret hosts a variety of genres, from jazz to rock to folk, and everything in between. There's something for everyone here.

One of the things that sets this venue apart is the history of acts that have played here. Some big names in the music industry have graced this stage, including Willy Porter, Charlie Parr, and Holly Near, just to name a few. It's a testament to the quality of the venue and the caliber of the acts that perform here.

Overall, the North Street Cabaret is a great spot to catch some live music in Madison. Whether you're a local or just passing through, be sure to check out their calendar of upcoming shows and stop by for a great night of music.
Fantastic bar with a genuinely upbeat atmosphere. Wish there was more art and goods vendors at their gigs though.
Nice place. Great beef taco salad with black beans & corn. The pretzel with beer cheese & a light spicy mustard that we had was delicious. The steak & crawfish tacos were good, except the steak needs to be cut a lot smaller. Our server was very nice. The women's bathroom was actually in pretty good shape. (Which is huge to me) We will be back to try some other options.
Samantha Lindgren
at 2021 Aug 02
Samantha Lindgren
at 2021 Aug 02
One of my new favorite Madison restaurants! The food was amazing! Their menu had a good variety of stand out, unique dishes. My husband and I ordered a couple appetizers and an entree. You are also served complimentary bread with oil. The beef ginger pot stickers were so good and served with chopsticks. The imperial dip was excellent, it had lobster, crab and was so cheesy. It was a served with seasoned fresh tortilla chips. My husband and I each had the burger and fries. We both loved it. Fries were amazing and seasoned so well. The burger was really good too, cooked perfectly and the sauce they use is great. We each had 2 margaritas and both really liked them both. The service was prompt, our server was great and the hostess was very friendly. We ate on their outdoor patio which was really nice and spacious. The restaurant was clean and beautiful. A great place for lunch or dinner and drinks!
Chadwick Domack
at 2021 Jan 12
Chadwick Domack
at 2021 Jan 12
New location is an absolute upgrade. Love the two different floors here. The whole vibe changes when you go upstairs. Night life is busy and a lot of fun. The staff is what makes this place so amazing though. Just got to try their new menu, and I was very impressed as it was all delicious. Make sure to stop here if you haven't yet. There is even a bull ride you can try out.
Great place to see live bands!!
Not a bad 'seat' in the house 👍🤘
Friendly staff, spacious establishment and great food and drinks. We had the nachos and it was delicious! Great place to watch your favorite teams play. There is also a stage in the back where bands can perform and other celebrations can be held.
Good Double sided venue. Food was decent, manager was great! Music side is awesome, you get the best Madison has to offer.
Mark S
at 2016 Aug 16
Mark S
at 2016 Aug 16
Pretty good bar with lots of seating. Selection of alcohol is on par with other bars. They handled our very large group fairly well, but should have had more wait staff working. The lines to get drinks became really long.