Calling all Badgers!!! Good places to eat in Madison by UW campus?

Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,667
Location
Western Iowa
Hey guys, taking my daughter on a college visit to Madison tomorrow and looking for recommendations on good restaurants near the UW campus.

Thank you in advance!
 

Roy68

WKR
Joined
Jul 20, 2012
Messages
510
2x Great Dane. I haven’t been there in a decade or more. Glad to know it’s still good. Honestly I might just be remembering the Pilsner vs the food
 

Swamp Fox

WKR
Joined
Oct 20, 2022
Messages
877
It's my guess that nobody here wants to hear the joke about The Gopher Hole ....
 

NRA4LIFE

WKR
Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Messages
1,785
Location
washington
Dotty Dumplings Dowry - Burgers
Greenbush Bar - Pizza
Greenbush Bakery - Donuts
Tornado Room - Steaks

On Wisconsin.
My 2 next door hot girls both worked at Dotty's. I hope that's still around. Their burgers were epic. It was on Regent street not far from the stadium. Mickie's Dairy Bar for Breakfast too, I lived right above the old barber shop next door for a couple years. Greenbush Bakery is fantastic but they sell out and close early.
 

GSPHUNTER

WKR
Joined
Jun 30, 2020
Messages
4,693
I asked my nephew who lives close by. He knows where to get the best beer. He really, really likes his beer. He mentioned Buckinghams. Also Big Ten pub.
 
Last edited:

badgerboy

FNG
Joined
Aug 14, 2015
Messages
69
Location
Wisconsin
I did my undergrad there and lived in Madison 3 additional years. I'm happy to answer any other questions you might have!

Any restaurant on the square around the capital is going to be good. My two favorites are the old fashioned and Graze. Graze is farm to table and right across from the capitol. The old fashioned has some great cheese curds and has never let me down.

If you are looking for a more unique, college vibe, State Street Brats is a staple.

Great school with lots of opportunity. I hope she chooses wisely. :)

On Wisconsin!!

Sent from my Pixel 8 using Tapatalk
 

madgrad02

WKR
Joined
Nov 24, 2022
Messages
428
Location
Wisconsin
Depends what your flavor is.
Heritage Tavern or Graze (already mentioned, owned by Chef Tory Miller - he has 4 or 5 restaurants in the downtown area that are all pretty good - think he beat Bobby Flay in an "Iron Chef Showdown some years back) for that farm-to-table fair... Tempest for oysters/seafood, old fashioned and dottie dumplings for a classic bar food. College experience, as mentioned - state street brats or nitty gritty. Pizza - Ian's by the slice or Salvatories tomato pies

Brings my back to my college drinking days (not that I advise that for your daughter🤣)
 
OP
jjohnsonElknewbie
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,667
Location
Western Iowa
We stopped by The Old Fashioned after the tour. My daughter and I both had the house burger, and it's legitimately one of my top 5 favorite burgers I've eaten. My wife had the patty melt, and the meat and onions were good, but the bottom bun was soggy from being under the warmer too long. I thought the leftovers were wonderful. ;)

The Korbel brandy old fashioned was good, but I'll stick to my bourbon old fashions. The brandy just doesn't have the bite I prefer, but it was very smooth and dangerous. A guy or gal could get in trouble drinking a few too many of those.
 

NRA4LIFE

WKR
Joined
Nov 20, 2016
Messages
1,785
Location
washington
We stopped by The Old Fashioned after the tour. My daughter and I both had the house burger, and it's legitimately one of my top 5 favorite burgers I've eaten. My wife had the patty melt, and the meat and onions were good, but the bottom bun was soggy from being under the warmer too long. I thought the leftovers were wonderful. ;)

The Korbel brandy old fashioned was good, but I'll stick to my bourbon old fashions. The brandy just doesn't have the bite I prefer, but it was very smooth and dangerous. A guy or gal could get in trouble drinking a few too many of those.
If you asked for a bourbon old fashioned in WI anywhere, you are going to get some strange looks. I believe, per capita, WI leads the nation in brandy consumption.

Did you by chance see any of the Kronsage dorm houses? Spent my first 2 years in Turner House.
 
Top