Paradise is the best dive bar in Madison. It has the best bartenders - shout out Taylor!…read more The food options are perfect greasy drunk snacks. There can be a long line for the pool table and darts most nights so I would bring a deck of cards while you wait.

i love paradise lounge. this spot is a great place if you love a good dive. they also have a deep…read morefryer so order food if you want. the food is nothing to write home about but that's the idea. it's a greasy dive bar! (their brat is so-so, and their chicken wings are so-so. i don't recommend that you go there to eat but definitely to drink and have a good time.) drink deals are good, though. and they have a pool table. the bartenders are always friendly and attentive whenever i go there. i highly recommend it.

Stopped in about a month ago for a friend's little get together, and had a great time! Currently…read morepregnant, so can't shed much light on the beverage situation, but the vibe is fun and pretty much quintessential Wisconsin bar. My kids enjoyed the pinball machines and the board games they had available, and it was the perfect day to sit outside on the deck. We were thrilled to find out that it is non-smoking out there, because we were able to hang out with our kids out there and just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. I definitely plan to return post-partum to enjoy some alcoholic beverages at this fun establishment!

This is become the go to Bluegrass bar in Madison, with live music almost every night. Positive…read moreatmosphere, affordable drinks, really friendly bartenders, and an incredible vibe. It's a default go to before high noon saloon or other places, lucky to have it as a gathering spot in Madison.

I have been coming here for at least the past 20 years (it's been open more than 60+) and can't…read morebelieve I haven't reviewed it yet. The past reviews outline it pretty well. A great cocktail lounge that is outfitted in everything Tiger nestled within a strip mall. They still don't take credit cards, cocktails are good as ever and the lights are still as dim as possible. A throwback to all that is good in a Wisconsin cocktail lounge. It's a great place for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap.

This is such an iconic Madison bar. The tigers, music and usually the clientele make it worth the…read moretrip.

So good and such great service we came back a second night!! Popped in on a super busy Sunday and…read morewere greeted by Alex with an acknowledgment that I see you and I will be with you in a minute or two. Dropped menus right away and let us know the wait on food. We were committed so we stuck it out and so glad we did!!! (Wait time was way less than anticipated!!) Lydia rocked the grill and I had one of the best shrimp salads and the husband is still raving about the grilled hotdog sandwich!! They were both getting their asses handed to them but they greeted every customer immediately, never complained and smiling. Being from the service industry to see those two work together was awesome and so was the food. Not your classic bar food but elevated and delicious. Highly recommend for the service, atmosphere, hospitality and delicious food!!!

I picked this dive bar thinking we'd have a really nice burger…read more Heard it won burger of the week last year. I hate to say it but we were totally disappointed. Sat outside and it took awhile to be waited on. The waiter said to another table it was his first day on job. Well I'm very okay with new people learning but this took it to another level. Very very inexperienced to say the least or they gave him no training. Said it would be 30 minutes for food if we ordered; okay fine! Over 1 hour later we still had no food. He was very forgetful, brought wrong drinks, was told to turn umbrellas down. He didn't know how to turn the handle to lose it, I helped him with that. Said he'd put brewer game on tv - not. Burger of the week was special 65rrr. So t thought I'd try it; finally when we were served our food by the cook herself ( who god bless her ) tired her best to make up for the mess. The burger had fried onions, bacon ( lots of bacon ) good bacon I must say. The burger was huge 1/3 lb they say but all the flavors blended into one so so burger. My wife's cheeseburger was better. They wanted you to vote for the 65rr for burger of the week. I just couldn't. I'm pretty forgiving but this was probably the worst diner/pub I've been to and I've been at a lot!

My mom always talked about frequenting Pitcher's Pub in the 70s, and that her go-to drink was Swamp…read moreWater. I finally stopped in a few months ago, and the drink was delicious! It was SO strong, which had me laughing because my mom is not a drinker! I honestly can't believe that she drank these throughout her 20s. Either way, it was really good, and now I know why it's their signature drink. I was really impressed with how expansive it is inside - lots of pool tables, gambling machines, tv's, and a long bar with plenty of seating. When I went, it was mid-afternoon on a weekday, so I would definitely like to return when the place is hopping! It definitely looks like a super fun place to hang out on a Saturday night.

Nice local dive-ish sort of place. Good pub grub and beer in a comfortable welcoming atmosphere…read more The staff is fantastic : super friendly and prompt service without being overbearing. Just a great spot to hang out and chat with friends while sharing a couple beers.

i love the vibes inside this bar. it's retro, quiet, beautiful and playful. they always have a…read moregreat selection of draft beers, and the bartender always offers a tasting beforehand. the price of drinks are on the heftier side but i don't mind it because the ambience is so excellent in there. a nice bar if you like a place that's calmer and quiet so you can have a conversation with your buddies.

I've heard people rave about The Mason, and it took me far too long to finally come in here, and it…read morewas honestly entirely by accident. I was supposed to be meeting a group elsewhere nearby when our original place closed without warning. So we headed to The Mason and it was a delightful experience. It was very busy with one bartender, so it took awhile to get your drinks, but they were still well made and the bartender was very friendly. It's a small place so it can get loud when busy, but our group had a great time and we enjoyed the place. It is a dark, neighborhood type vibe. And the sealing the deal of the 5th star for this place is that they were dog friendly. My pup had a great time getting pets from customers. Great find!

This place is your classic dive bar with its 'regular ol crowd'... small menu with bar food basics…read more(mostly fried) and full bar with a limited tap (8 typical Wisco beers). I didn't try one but they are famous for the Depot Bomb, which is $5 all day every day. Bartender works quickly with both handling the kitchen and serving drinks. I love the nod to Badgers with the red tin ceilings and W's posted throughout.

Nice dive bar! The staff here is very friendly and so are the locals. Great place to meet up with…read morefriends or to watch a game. Great prices on drinks as well as food.

One of the funnest outdoor places in town. The atmosphere is fun and they get some really good…read morebands playing there. Bring your bug spray and a chair for the outdoor music.

This place actually exists, and not just in Peter Griffin's world…read more Tucked away next to a supper club on a little peninsula on a lake in central Wisconsin is indeed, a tiny bar called The Drunken Clam. You won't run into Peter here, but you'll meet other delightful people -- locals and vacationers. Most of the time, it's closed, but on the rare occasion that you find this building open (usually a weekend evening during warmer weather), it's a bit of a delight. Owned and operated by the people who run Twin Shores next door, this little building has a tiny, crowded bar with one table, and several outdoor tables. The drinks here are the same as the drinks at Twin Shores. It's a perfect spot for an after dinner drink when you want to sit outside and breathe in the fresh lake air on a warm summer night.

What a fantastic fish fry!! Erin was an amazing server. Even though we aren't regulars like many…read morepeople there, it was a super welcoming environment. The energy was great, and the food came out quickly. The grilled and blackened walleye were both excellent. The coleslaw and tartar were also delicious. We've been here before for burgers, and we have really been missing out on the fish fry! I love that you can get the fish fry any day!

I can't believe I haven't written a review for Badger Tavern - I've loved this place since it was…read moreTony Frank's and continue to love it. It is a great neighborhood bar with surprisingly great food and a nice variety of beers on tap. While the food isn't anything fancy, the menu has a good range of stuff and everything I've had is always delicious. Bartenders and servers are attentive and provide good service. It's a small place so sometimes it can be hard to find a spot at the bar or a table, but it's worth the trip. They have one of my favorite grilled chicken sandwiches - again, nothing fancy, but always well cooked and very tasty. My mother swears by their fish fry. Parking lot is usually full and a bit haphazard, but there's plenty of parking down the street if you can walk a tiny bit. Highly recommend!

Love this restaurant!! The wait staff are patient and…read moreefficient. All the dishes I've ordered here are outstanding. Most recently I stopped in for lunch on a Friday. Tried the (only on Friday) perch. My order came with four nice-sized perch pieces, potato choice, roll and coleslaw. The beer-battered perch was out-of-this-world outstanding! Incredibly fresh and tender, with a nicely seasoned crust. So good! A+++

I've been to Off Broadway Drafthouse multiple times and it never disappoints. It's one of those…read moreneighborhood gems that feels great no matter the season. The patio is perfect in the summer, and the inside is warm and cozy in the winter. The food is consistently excellent. Their rotating specials are a huge highlight. Last night I had their fried chicken and it was outstanding -- the breading was crisp, light, and perfectly seasoned. You can tell they put care into everything they serve. Their other specials like the Nashville chicken sandwich, ribs, and Friday fish fry are always worth checking out too. Desserts are always a win here, so I try to save room. Drinks are solid as well with plenty of beer and cocktail options. The only downside is parking. The lot fills up fast, so you may end up on the street if you arrive later. But honestly, the food and atmosphere make it more than worth it. Easily one of my favorite spots in Madison.