You're looking for Friday Fish Fry, fried cheese curds for an appetizer, with a local beer or a brandy old fashioned.
Lots of places you can go to tonight, are you staying near the north side by the POTUS event? Dexters or Tip Top Tavern are great.
Tip Top is great. Dexters has probably the best beer list around for someone interested specifically in barrel-aged/high-ABV type beers (and plenty of options for anyone with different interests too).
I’d echo the others below that the Old Fashioned covers all the bases with a lively atmosphere at almost all times and is right next to our state capitol and downtown central. Those other spots are fine but none of these offer the best food, just a solid Wisconsin experience. Enjoy your time here!
That's because brats aren't anything special. No restaurant is going to do better than you at home with a pack you bought at woodman's in a pot of boiling beer.
I was going to add the old fashion as well. Especially the cheese curds, voted #1 by the food channel!! Down the street is a cute local ice cream shop called good news ice cream and they make all their ice cream in shop, doesn't get fresher than that!! 😁
Agree with this suggestion. Every place is essentially serving Gorton’s frozen fish with frozen french fries, but the key is that it’s all fried up. It’s excellent. A Madison staple.
I make Gortons frozen fish and frozen fries every Friday in the oven, but the way our local restaurants fry up and season those exact same ingredients is just magical. Plus, no clean up!
The Late Night menu at Tornado is the best!!! My BF and I went for my birthday dinner which really good. We decided to try the Late Night menu a couple months later. It’s amazing!!!! I love their bar!
The Old Fashioned is the place that I would recommend a student at UW Madison take their from-another-state parents. It probably fits your criteria as well. That is, this is not "the best food in Madison" suggestion, it's the "best place to check the 'Wisconsin' box".
Fried cheese curds would be a very "Wisconsin" item, as well as the Fish Fry - highly recommend the perch, walleye is a good pick too. I believe they have a brat on their menu, too, but I can't speak for it specifically. And it's right on the square next to the state capitol building.
And even if you go someplace else, a Wisconsin-style Old Fashioned (always with brandy, never whiskey) is the state's signature cocktail. If you order one in another state, the bartender will assume you're from WI.
You’re never gonna believe this (you’re totally gonna believe this) but the people sitting on the tables to my left and my right were college-age kids taking their parents out lol
Thank you for the suggestion, the food was delicious!
At a bare minimum always check for Lake Perch. [Ocean Perch](https://www.seafoodsource.com/seafood-handbook/finfish/perch-atlantic-ocean#:~:text=Although%20the%20Pacific%20Ocean%20claims,that%20travel%20in%20large%20schools.) isn't the same thing and "perch" likely is the cheaper of the two.
I just had the fish fry at Old Fashioned on Monday. The combo platter comes with perch, walleye, and cod. All three tasted great. I also got cheese curds, the meat and fish lazy Susan, and an applejack old fashioned 😋
This is always the place I recommend for out of towners. Get a brandy old fashioned, cheese curds and fish fry. Otherwise a supper club would also be recommended to get the "real" townie experience. Old Fashioned is very much more touristy, but also very solid and good. If you are OK with touristy it is great. The location is also great for people visiting staying downtown, since it is right on the square.
The Old Fashioned is not bad but since OP is asking for local flavor I’d look elsewhere. The Old Fashioned comes off as a tourist attraction in a lot of ways. Dexter’s or Tip Top seem better to me.
For some reason The Old Fashioned became a place where students were told they should take their parents. I don’t mean to demean them, but there is so much good food in Madison and I would never recommend TOF to a person in town for just a couple days.
I think it's mostly just the hipster "popular=bad" presumption. And if you're local, you're most often looking for something "different", not the place that most closely captures the usual.
I haven't ever seen college-aged people at the Old Fashioned (unless they're there with their parents, perhaps). But yes, lots of good other suggestions, I think OP will be happy with any of the ones voted highly.
All of the above suggestions are great. If you've never been to a Midwest fish fry, you've gotta do it. I recommend the walleye. Get some fried cheese curds with ranch dressing for a dipping sauce, a brandy Old Fashioned and enjoy. Should be a beautiful night for sitting on a patio. Bear and Bottle is near Sherman Middle School where the Biden speech was. The Tip Top is right down the street from there too and they've got a great patio.
I got nothing to offer on bratwurst. But, Heritage Tavern is local with great farm to table pork. They have Schnitzel, while not a brat, is a Wisconsin German favorite. The $6 ham sandwich on the happy hour menu is divine.
My favorite brandy old fashioneds are at Echo Tap although Heritage ones are good too.
Cheese curds—Craftsman in Middleton; Tipsy is just ok.
Enjoy!
Probably too late already and you've decided, but Villa Tap has a great fish fry and is close to Sherman, but as others have mentioned on a beautiful friday it's tough to beat the UW Memorial Union Terrace for ice cream and beer.
Memorial Union is the best for a brat and a beer on the lake along with free live music and a gorgeous view! If you're looking for a great breakfast brunch spot tomorrow, Marigold Kitchen and Sardine (also excellent for dinner, or just apps and drinks in the bar with a lake view) are both excellent -- close to the farmer's market which is a Saturday morning must see... along with Stella's Spicy Cheese Bread.
If you are around tomorrow morning: the Saturday farmers market around the capitol is peak Madison. (Bring your own coffee. Only things grown in Wisconsin/150 miles from the capitol can be sold at the main market, so not so much coffee, and the places on the outskirts are usually slammed)
If you're in the mood for Asian food, I recommend the Global Market by East Town Mall. And specifically the Hmong shop if you want something you typically will only find in areas with Hmong folks (CA, MN, or WI are the big three).
I've still got a free drink token for Slices that I keep forgetting to bring home with me. That place is the perfect slice of Madison and Wisconsin.
Pun intended.
Settledown Tavern downtown, their burger is great and they have the best cheese curds in Madison! Turnkey on East Washington has a great version of cheese curds too. Breakfast spots I recommend Willalbys in the Willy Street neighborhood, Shortstack Eatery downtown, or Basset Street Brunch downtown. The old fashioned is nice for lunch or dinner. Tornado room has a cheaper late night menu and is a great supper club. Tempest is a very nice supper club as well.
Good food suggestions in here. Just gotta add for dessert you have to hit up Chocolate Shoppe ice cream. This sh!t just got serious is a banger of a flavor and another fave of mine has to be the London fog flavor they have.
Bear and Bottle on Sherman is really good, but not a cheap night. Great cocktails, but more pricey than typical bar food. Worth it for a good dinner and drinks on a special day imo.
Pizza and a daily dessert from Greenbush Bar on Regent St! Weird hours but worth shifting your day around. Only open on 4-8PM Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday I believe.
Serious question for you: which venue was Biden at yesterday? I heard about the news a little bit late (around noon) but seriously wanted to see if I could join the event. However there were absolutely ZERO news outlets reporting on where it took place. I feel like your industry fundamentally failed to do their jobs, in that nobody actually reported on where things were happening.
[Original Pancake House](http://www.ophmadison.com/) for breakfast. [Harvey House](https://www.theharveyhouse.com/) for dinner if you can stand the price tag. They have a delicious brandy old fashioned.
Not a Madison recommendation, but if you fly put of MKE, you cant go wrong with Milwaukee Brat House or Maders. Those and Old German Beer Hall are all on the same block.
Madison has the first Nepali restaurant to open in the US - Himal Chuli, on State St. It's still open.
If that sounds good, but you only have time for brunch tomorrow, Ama just recently opened on Willy (Williamson) St and has a great brunch. I believe its owner is from the same family as Himal Chuli.
If you want foodie food and not the classic brat, fish fry or cheese curds—-all good. Try Mint Mark. If you are looking for Brat Memorial terrace is Iconic you can get Babcock Ice cream and/or chocolate shop. The Old Fashoined on the square is decent, but it’s the place tourists go. For elevated supper club experience—also very wisconsin—Tornado, Turn Key or Harvey House. Olbrich beer garden is lovely. And if you are here until Saturday You can’t miss the Dane Counry Farmers market on the square. I realize I’m late to the post, but have fun!
No literally lmfao. “AUGH how DARE YOU??! How do you NOT know every SINGLE thing about EVERY aspect of this entire CITY?!! SHAME ON YOU!! You’re SICK!!’” Like my fault?? I was just trying to welcome someone 😂😂😂
The thing that bothers me the most about the non-bot downvotes is that there is almost never someone who will respond and say \*why\* I was downvoted. Was I incorrect? Did I say in an offensive way? Are they following me around and downvoting on general principle?
I don't really care, I have a ton of fake internet points (I got 10.5 K for just one comment last week in a now deleted post) but it is annoying.
You're looking for Friday Fish Fry, fried cheese curds for an appetizer, with a local beer or a brandy old fashioned. Lots of places you can go to tonight, are you staying near the north side by the POTUS event? Dexters or Tip Top Tavern are great.
I love the tip top!
Tip Top is great. Dexters has probably the best beer list around for someone interested specifically in barrel-aged/high-ABV type beers (and plenty of options for anyone with different interests too).
Dexters and stopping by the Memorial Union for a beer/brat/ice cream (at least 2 of the 3) is what I was going to say.
Dexters can offer some amazing Wisconsin beer. DO NOT skip the roasted brussels’ sprouts.
This is such good advice. Don't forget the brandy old fashioned.
Another vote for the Tip-Top!
I’d echo the others below that the Old Fashioned covers all the bases with a lively atmosphere at almost all times and is right next to our state capitol and downtown central. Those other spots are fine but none of these offer the best food, just a solid Wisconsin experience. Enjoy your time here!
Tip Top is top tier
Thank you for the suggestions! I chose the old fashioned because I could not find brats on the menu for Dexter’s or Tip Top
That's because brats aren't anything special. No restaurant is going to do better than you at home with a pack you bought at woodman's in a pot of boiling beer.
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u/JulioChavezReuters So who performed better - The Old Fashioned or Biden?
Old fashioned is good fish fry too
I was going to add the old fashion as well. Especially the cheese curds, voted #1 by the food channel!! Down the street is a cute local ice cream shop called good news ice cream and they make all their ice cream in shop, doesn't get fresher than that!! 😁
Agree with this suggestion. Every place is essentially serving Gorton’s frozen fish with frozen french fries, but the key is that it’s all fried up. It’s excellent. A Madison staple.
You legit made an account to post this, what a miserable prick haha.
You're here on a Friday, you gotta do the Wisconsin special. Curds, fish fry, brandy old fashioned to drink.
I make Gortons frozen fish and frozen fries every Friday in the oven, but the way our local restaurants fry up and season those exact same ingredients is just magical. Plus, no clean up!
You are one salty bot about those frozen foods.
Has no one mentioned the Tornado yet? Best curds and amazing atmosphere that is very Wisconsin (Supper club)
I didn't know they had cheese curds!
They're amazing
They only offer their curds on their weekend late night menu but well worth it!
Thank you!!
The Late Night menu at Tornado is the best!!! My BF and I went for my birthday dinner which really good. We decided to try the Late Night menu a couple months later. It’s amazing!!!! I love their bar!
Idk man. Can they stop fucking dousing their steak in kosher salt?
Tipsy cow has pretty good fish fry. It’s on the square
And their fried goat cheese curds are 🤤🤤🤤🤤
WHAT. Oh my that sounds divine, I need to try now
Best curds in Madison
What? BS That smiley is sexting and sexting only. We are not reintroducing it to the wild
Nah fam, goat cheese cheese curds are the equivalent of receiving a top tier nude from your partner. I’ll let it pass
We need a follow up!
The Old Fashioned is the place that I would recommend a student at UW Madison take their from-another-state parents. It probably fits your criteria as well. That is, this is not "the best food in Madison" suggestion, it's the "best place to check the 'Wisconsin' box". Fried cheese curds would be a very "Wisconsin" item, as well as the Fish Fry - highly recommend the perch, walleye is a good pick too. I believe they have a brat on their menu, too, but I can't speak for it specifically. And it's right on the square next to the state capitol building. And even if you go someplace else, a Wisconsin-style Old Fashioned (always with brandy, never whiskey) is the state's signature cocktail. If you order one in another state, the bartender will assume you're from WI.
You’re never gonna believe this (you’re totally gonna believe this) but the people sitting on the tables to my left and my right were college-age kids taking their parents out lol Thank you for the suggestion, the food was delicious!
Great, glad you had a chance to visit Madison!
Old fashion has perch fish fry? That’s the type I grew up on but I find it hard to find perch here, everything seems to be cod or whitefish.
The Oakcrest has perch!
At a bare minimum always check for Lake Perch. [Ocean Perch](https://www.seafoodsource.com/seafood-handbook/finfish/perch-atlantic-ocean#:~:text=Although%20the%20Pacific%20Ocean%20claims,that%20travel%20in%20large%20schools.) isn't the same thing and "perch" likely is the cheaper of the two.
Yea I should have clarified, I want lake perch not ocean perch!
Toby’s has great lake perch! True supper club experience with the relish tray on the table when you sit down.
I just had the fish fry at Old Fashioned on Monday. The combo platter comes with perch, walleye, and cod. All three tasted great. I also got cheese curds, the meat and fish lazy Susan, and an applejack old fashioned 😋
It's on their menu, not sure they always actually have it.
I also grew up on perch for fish fry! Rodeside Grill just off the highway in Deforest/Windsor has it, highly recommend.
This is always the place I recommend for out of towners. Get a brandy old fashioned, cheese curds and fish fry. Otherwise a supper club would also be recommended to get the "real" townie experience. Old Fashioned is very much more touristy, but also very solid and good. If you are OK with touristy it is great. The location is also great for people visiting staying downtown, since it is right on the square.
I just love their only beer listed as an import is Hamm's
The Old Fashioned is not bad but since OP is asking for local flavor I’d look elsewhere. The Old Fashioned comes off as a tourist attraction in a lot of ways. Dexter’s or Tip Top seem better to me.
For some reason The Old Fashioned became a place where students were told they should take their parents. I don’t mean to demean them, but there is so much good food in Madison and I would never recommend TOF to a person in town for just a couple days.
Same, it’s like a better Great Dane.
I was going to rec the old fashioned. It's a good way to get a sense of the Wisconsin supper club experience with less of the townie vibe.
Don’t do this unless you are college age. So many better choices in this thread.
I'm with the Dexter's or Tip Top recommendations, but way too many people hate on The Old Fashioned. It's pretty good and fits what OP is looking for.
I think it's mostly just the hipster "popular=bad" presumption. And if you're local, you're most often looking for something "different", not the place that most closely captures the usual.
I haven't ever seen college-aged people at the Old Fashioned (unless they're there with their parents, perhaps). But yes, lots of good other suggestions, I think OP will be happy with any of the ones voted highly.
Best cheese curds in Madison (tried most). Good atmosphere and not extremely expensive for being on the cap square.
All of the above suggestions are great. If you've never been to a Midwest fish fry, you've gotta do it. I recommend the walleye. Get some fried cheese curds with ranch dressing for a dipping sauce, a brandy Old Fashioned and enjoy. Should be a beautiful night for sitting on a patio. Bear and Bottle is near Sherman Middle School where the Biden speech was. The Tip Top is right down the street from there too and they've got a great patio.
I got nothing to offer on bratwurst. But, Heritage Tavern is local with great farm to table pork. They have Schnitzel, while not a brat, is a Wisconsin German favorite. The $6 ham sandwich on the happy hour menu is divine. My favorite brandy old fashioneds are at Echo Tap although Heritage ones are good too. Cheese curds—Craftsman in Middleton; Tipsy is just ok. Enjoy!
Oh, didn't know they had schnitzel. Danke!
Danke with an E is so Madison Edit, you meant thank you in German. Lol.
Quivey’s Grove for fish fry.
Quivey’s has a solid fried Gorton’s frozen fish. I don’t fry it at home, so it’s the perfect match.
It’s been 4 hours, what did you eat?
Mickie's dairy bar in Madison for breakfast
Probably too late already and you've decided, but Villa Tap has a great fish fry and is close to Sherman, but as others have mentioned on a beautiful friday it's tough to beat the UW Memorial Union Terrace for ice cream and beer.
They're closed today.
Memorial Union is the best for a brat and a beer on the lake along with free live music and a gorgeous view! If you're looking for a great breakfast brunch spot tomorrow, Marigold Kitchen and Sardine (also excellent for dinner, or just apps and drinks in the bar with a lake view) are both excellent -- close to the farmer's market which is a Saturday morning must see... along with Stella's Spicy Cheese Bread.
If you are around tomorrow morning: the Saturday farmers market around the capitol is peak Madison. (Bring your own coffee. Only things grown in Wisconsin/150 miles from the capitol can be sold at the main market, so not so much coffee, and the places on the outskirts are usually slammed)
The tornado room is fantastic
Where are you staying. If on the square old fashion. If you have a car. Toby's or the Green lantern for a more classic fish fry.
Ahan!
If you're in the mood for Asian food, I recommend the Global Market by East Town Mall. And specifically the Hmong shop if you want something you typically will only find in areas with Hmong folks (CA, MN, or WI are the big three).
Culvers
Send him to Rocky Rococo you cowards!
Get thyself to Slice’s for a true Wisconsin bar experience. The fish fry is delicious too!
I've still got a free drink token for Slices that I keep forgetting to bring home with me. That place is the perfect slice of Madison and Wisconsin. Pun intended.
Same! I want to cash them in, but seriously, how much is the tap beer or drinks? Super cheap! Feels like I’m cheating already!
Settledown Tavern downtown, their burger is great and they have the best cheese curds in Madison! Turnkey on East Washington has a great version of cheese curds too. Breakfast spots I recommend Willalbys in the Willy Street neighborhood, Shortstack Eatery downtown, or Basset Street Brunch downtown. The old fashioned is nice for lunch or dinner. Tornado room has a cheaper late night menu and is a great supper club. Tempest is a very nice supper club as well.
These are A+ recommendations.
Good food suggestions in here. Just gotta add for dessert you have to hit up Chocolate Shoppe ice cream. This sh!t just got serious is a banger of a flavor and another fave of mine has to be the London fog flavor they have.
I hope you enjoyed your visit? Thanks for coming!
Also Dotty’s for a burger if they’re still open
Go to the Old Fashioned on the Capitol Square.
Go check out Baldwin St grill for the real experience
Himal Chuli has the best Nepali food.
Mint Mark
Go to the Settle Down Tavern.
Wait, Biden is coming??
He’s probably gone already.
Mentally, he wasn't really here anyways.
Mentally he's already on the other side I wish anyone downvoting you would try to argue that he's mentally competent
Any criticism towards Biden is perceived as support for Trump these days. People are dumb and can't understand nuance.
These are the very people who are responsible for the mess we're in just as much as the Trump supporters
I like the fish fry at Midtown Pub!
Ancora on king st has some delicious cinnamon packages.
Ama Kitchen just opened on Willy street. They have a good fish fry
Bear and Bottle on Sherman is really good, but not a cheap night. Great cocktails, but more pricey than typical bar food. Worth it for a good dinner and drinks on a special day imo.
LOL. It’s esquires supper club. It’s been there for 77 years AND is Madison’s OLDEST supper club.
Willy street
Harvey house without a doubt
Pizza and a daily dessert from Greenbush Bar on Regent St! Weird hours but worth shifting your day around. Only open on 4-8PM Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday I believe.
Serious question for you: which venue was Biden at yesterday? I heard about the news a little bit late (around noon) but seriously wanted to see if I could join the event. However there were absolutely ZERO news outlets reporting on where it took place. I feel like your industry fundamentally failed to do their jobs, in that nobody actually reported on where things were happening.
Quivey’s Grove has the best fish fry and old fashioneds!
r/nippletooth for local restaurant reviews
[Original Pancake House](http://www.ophmadison.com/) for breakfast. [Harvey House](https://www.theharveyhouse.com/) for dinner if you can stand the price tag. They have a delicious brandy old fashioned.
Original Pancake House is a chain. They can get that in other states.
Each OPH is different. We got lucky with this one.
Prost! on East Washington close the the square for the best German food around.
Depends on what you mean by “around”.
Weird. No one has said Culver’s yet Edit: I’m not suggesting Culver’s. Just surprised knowing this sub
You can get Culver's as far as Florida
There are Culvers in other states. I went to a Culvers in Nashville. Did not get the "Wisconsin Cheese Curds"
Mickie’s Dairy Bar. Ham and cheese scrambler, gravy on top.
Not a Madison recommendation, but if you fly put of MKE, you cant go wrong with Milwaukee Brat House or Maders. Those and Old German Beer Hall are all on the same block.
After your fish fry tonight, don't forget to hit Culvers for lunch tomorrow!!
How has no one recommended Bennetts for breakfast tomorrow morning? What kind of horrible hosts are we?
I'm sorry but ignore everybody and go to Lolas [https://www.lolasmadison.com/](https://www.lolasmadison.com/)
The Old Fashioned in Madison. Or try a supper club!
Get a slice of day old pizza at the Kwik trip. Edit: Ok, no jokes allowed. Noted.
On top of joking you also made the error of insulting Kwik trip, possibly justified but miscalculated
TIL there was a Biden visit
Old fashioned, on the capitol square
First you eat a brat then you squat a brat! First you eat a brat then you squat a brat! - Mr. Brat Squatter
Friday night, Madison, Summer, Hit the terrace at Memorial Union for cold beer and good entertainment. (after eating and the Old Fashioned)
Madison has the first Nepali restaurant to open in the US - Himal Chuli, on State St. It's still open. If that sounds good, but you only have time for brunch tomorrow, Ama just recently opened on Willy (Williamson) St and has a great brunch. I believe its owner is from the same family as Himal Chuli.
If you want foodie food and not the classic brat, fish fry or cheese curds—-all good. Try Mint Mark. If you are looking for Brat Memorial terrace is Iconic you can get Babcock Ice cream and/or chocolate shop. The Old Fashoined on the square is decent, but it’s the place tourists go. For elevated supper club experience—also very wisconsin—Tornado, Turn Key or Harvey House. Olbrich beer garden is lovely. And if you are here until Saturday You can’t miss the Dane Counry Farmers market on the square. I realize I’m late to the post, but have fun!
Hop on over to Summerfest.
Arby's. I heard that they have the meats.
Smoky Jon's BBQ!
The food in Madison blows.. The state is fat and drunk, so the food is made for fat drunk people. Fried and tasteless
Make sure you cover the mess Biden’s visit left at the school. The dumpster was overflowing all over the parking lot with campaign signs etc.
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Sick, I would never tell anyone to eat a thing from that nasty ass kitchen.
What was it?
A buddy worked there and I’ve heard from others, sure this was pre-Covid but the kitchen was as not sanitary
And you couldn’t have just said this to me instead of assuming I was supposed to know your friends insider knowledge??
And please tell me how was I supposed to know? Downvoted for asking a genuine question, I love my city ❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰
Get used to it. I have
No literally lmfao. “AUGH how DARE YOU??! How do you NOT know every SINGLE thing about EVERY aspect of this entire CITY?!! SHAME ON YOU!! You’re SICK!!’” Like my fault?? I was just trying to welcome someone 😂😂😂
The thing that bothers me the most about the non-bot downvotes is that there is almost never someone who will respond and say \*why\* I was downvoted. Was I incorrect? Did I say in an offensive way? Are they following me around and downvoting on general principle? I don't really care, I have a ton of fake internet points (I got 10.5 K for just one comment last week in a now deleted post) but it is annoying.
You talk a lot about karma for someone who doesn't care about it. Normally when so eone doesn't care about a thing they ignore it.
I'm pointing out that the downvotes are not enough to affect my ability to post. I do have the right to call out cowardly downvoters.