This has been my go-to bar when I'm around the square. The Argus has built a great community of happy hour regulars who work around the square. They then offer a later happy hour that starts around 9pm which is a big hit with those in the service industry around the square. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. If you come here enough they will get to know your name and really get to know you. The happy hour special that I love is the $1 off taps, which means I can have a PBR for $1.50 a pint! The Argus also has an extensive food menu that is several pages long. They offer cold sandwiches, burgers, entrees, and a great selection of Wisconsin themed appetizers. The food is much better than you would expect at first glance! Ultimately what I love about this place is how much they appreciate their customers and make you feel welcomed. I hosted a birthday party in their basement lounge, and they had no problem handling 20 separate checks AND getting everyone's food out at the same time. For any history buff I also want to point out that this bar is in one of the oldest buildings in Madison. If you go to the men's restroom look above the sink and you will see an exposed I-beam that is embossed with a Carnegie steel stamp. Talk about history! read more

Pretty disappointed about how someone was treated last night when they asked the owner for water. This person was decently drunk, but not loud, causing a scene or breaking things, just stumbling and needed water. The basement was very hot but that's expected, so the person and their group went outside. They were getting overheated mixed with being drunk and they really needed some water. The owner had them stand there for maybe 10 minutes after rudely telling them to leave, went back somewhere saying she was getting water, came back without water and kept tell them that they needed to leave. Again, this person wasn't causing a scene or being rude, just visibly drunk and too warm. A friend of theirs then went to ask for water in their water bottle so they can take it with them and again were told no by the owner. It's hot as balls out, muggy, and someone who was very clearly over served needed water and they were told no. I get businesses want to protect themselves from drunk people especially in downtown Madison but Argus overserved them, refused them water in this heat and treated them horribly for it. The person ended up leaving crying wondering why they were treated so badly when they didn't do anything. ​​ read more

We stopped in on a Friday and they were slammed but everyone was hustling! We had two fish and chips which okay. They were not greasy but could have been served warmer and more flavorful. Again they were busy so I think that was a factor on food coming out of the kitchen. Also had a BLT. The bread was nicely toasted and the bacon was as bacon should be - amazing! This bar & grill is in a very cool building. I love that there menu give the history on the building. I would go back again to check out the full bar and pool tables in the downstairs. read more

This was the best Fish Fry, I have ever had in Madison! The service is top notch. Amazing Wisconsin kind of atmosphere.

Excellent service and atmosphere, food is great and enjoyed time talking with staff! Will go back next trip through Madison.

We tried Argus Bar & Grill for lunch on a Tuesday. They have a good outdoor patio area but we chose to eat inside due to the heat. It's obviously a historical building based on the ceiling and architecture but it's been updated and was comfortable and relaxing. Our server was prompt, friendly, and checked back with us multiple times. He was excellent about keeping beverages refilled. The menu has a decent selection of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and appetizers. The prices were some of the least expensive I have seen in town. I had the Steve's Conundrum wrap which was smoked turkey, provolone, pesto, and romaine and was served with chips and salsa. My dining companion had a cheese burger. The food was filling, decent portions, and tasty. It was nothing to write home about but it filled my belly, tasted fine, and was a good value. I'm not going to rush back to Argus, but if someone wanted to go, I wouldn't say "no". read more

Despite living in the area for a long time, this was my first time at Argus. I'm not giving it a five star rating because it was some fine dining experience. I'm giving it five stars because it excels at what it is. Argus is a small local bar with very good food. We went for lunch and while I did not try the burger, the person I was with said it was one of the better burgers that they have had. Even that is putting it lightly. They raved about it. So next time I will try one for sure. This time I had a turkey wrap with gorgonzola cheese, Mandarin oranges, apples, walnuts, lettuce, and with a orange-ginger vinaigrette. It was very good. Prices are good as well. Service was attentive and friendly. It had a nice cozy vibe and I really enjoyed it. (Also, apparently, happy hour is from 4-7 with $1.50 PBR's, so that would make the rating 6/5, if possible.) read more

I keep waffling between three stars and four on this one. On a good night, I really like Argus. It's generally not too crowded, prices are average, and on warm nights they have one of the more comfortable options for seating. The music is usually pretty good, and at the very least it's interesting - not a lot of Top 40 or classic rock. Some nights though, the lack of a crowd works against the atmosphere, and the food (in my limited experience) was fine but nothing stellar despite their large menu. It could have been an off night, and maybe my particular sandwich isn't indicative of their other offerings. I always enjoy Argus, but there's not anything that's yet to tip the scales permanently from "A-OK" to "Yay!". read more

We rented the downstairs area for a casual party. It was AMAZING. It only cost $50 and we had the entire area that had pool table and electric darts. There was plenty of space for our group of about 30. They allow outside food so we had pizza and salad delivered. We brought in a cake. On top of the great area, our bar I'll was very affordable. Although we did not eat, the food we saw on tables as we came it looked good. Want to give a big shoutout to our bartender Jordan. He was great. It was very attentive to the group. He kept the bar area very neat and well stocked. In addition to bar tending, he was right there to clean up when a couple drinks got spilled. ( yea, it happens) I highly recommend renting the downstairs for a casual party. Everyone loved it. Great bartender and great space. read more

In town for work staying at the AC Hotel. I needed to find a spot to watch college World Series game. They immediately turned channel for me no objections Great beer selection and a laid back mix of old and young patrons Ordered the burger w bacon and bbq w fries. Delicious and prepared and presented like I would have at home for myself (and I am the best short order cook I know) This is a great little burger and sammy pub...I am in town for three nights and will be back read more

Arrived to Madison for a short overnight and was told by the hotel staff there's plenty of late night eateries. WRONG!!! Walked a mile Literally. Was told by several bartenders in the downtown area they stopped serving at midnight. Finally made it to Argus Bar Grille. Bizzy when I arrived but cleared out before 1am. Kati greeted me and said the whole menu was available! WOW. Ordered a patty melt medium and that's the way it came out with some Awesome Sexy fries. I'll be telling my Coworkers to frequent this spot for certain read more

Argus Bar & Grill - Patty Melt and Sexy Fries (HEINZ) of course! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Talk about terrible service. The waitress was nice but the bartender--a short blonde with tattoos who was too hip to help us--left a lot to be desired. After waiting in two long lines at Art Fair on the Square and not getting a beer, we went to the Argus. We went to the bar to order beers. The bartender wasn't doing much, it was mid-afternoon and there weren't many folks inside, but when we ordered she asked if we were going to sit down, other than at the bar. When we said we planned to sit in a table right across from the bar, she told us to wait for the waitress to take our orders. Unbelievable! Apparently she wanted to check her phone instead of pouring...a whole two beers? Anyhow, we left rather than deal with this kind of slacker b.s., walked to the Dane, had no resistance to ordering a beer there, and had quite a good time. The Argus won't be getting my business any time soon, at least until they train the bartenders on the basics of good customer service. read more

Dive bar atmosphere inside but they have an outdoor patio area for the summer months. It was super crowded in here and loud, so not my favorite scene since they didn't have that many beers on tap. However, everyone here seemed nice, you just have to flag a bartender down if you want service quickly. Very relaxed overall atmosphere, but I probably wouldn't come back just based on the more limited beer selection. Parking wasn't too difficult to find on a Friday night. read more

LOTS OF VEGETARIAN BAR FOOD!!!! Nice place to hang out w/ a large group. Food is good, not awesome. Service is pretty good. Decent drinks ($5). Good beers. A little overpriced, but overall you will have a good time with many coworkers or friends. Good place to watch a game, but they are not open on Sundays. The veggie ruben is my personal fav although a close second is the California fiesta. read more

While in town recently, I met up with my cousin for a morning of farmers market shopping and lunch. We chose Argus cause it was close to our cars (meter feeding in Madison is quite painful!) Argus was not much to look at but their menu sure is! A full page of hot sandwiches, cold ones and wraps too. Not to mention their salads and apps. Everything looked great and the names were the best. I decided to try the veggie Reuben and my cousin got the cheese steak sandwich and a bloody. Both sandwiches exceeded bar food expectation and the creativity in creating a veggie friendly rueben, blew. My. Mind. Plus, the potato chips were legit homemade and you can see the lines of the potato as it was being cut. Also, shout out to the bartender/server working this past Saturday. She was flying solo on the floor and got slammed with a rush. She handled it with ease and skill. We may have been a little late feeding the evil meters but she rocked that rush! You go girl! read more

Stopped in after work on a Saturday. It was busy busy! My friend and I got onion rings and burgers... I asked for mine rare and they made it so. The two bartenders were running smoothly, delivering food and drinks to bar and tables alike. This place has a kind of exciting vibe, and I should stop in more often. I am not a vegan, but they do have a Mediterranean appetizer plate, which is meat and dairy free. Great selection of taps, and reasonable prices, too. Check it out, y'all. read more

I saw the employees call the cops on a homeless black man for daring to walk back and forth on the public sidewalk outside the business (I mention his race because we ALL know how dangerous it is for black people when interacting with police, especially those with mental illnesses, such as this man visibly has). He'd been harassed by patrons on the patio of one of the other bars and had become pretty agitated, but wasn't hurting anyone or doing anything dangerous. He was just pacing back and forth. A man was following him from about a foot behind telling him over and over that he had to leave, which was obviously and unnecessarily making the poor guy more upset. A woman who had been sitting at Argus' patio gave him a cigarette and he calmed down considerably but the employees continued to attempt to have him removed from the area. By the time the police actually got there, he was quietly leaning against a lamp post doing NOTHING. When he was treated with kindness and humanity and spoken to in a reasonable way he calmed down. Shocking! I live about a five minute walk from this place so I go all the time, but I won't be returning after this experience. I don't support unnecessary antagonization of the homeless. They are people and residents of the city who are allowed to occupy public spaces. I also don't support calling the police when a simple conversation can resolve the problem. No one was in danger. No laws were even being broken. These cops did not escalate the situation, but they could have and things could have taken a terrible turn. read more

Dude. Why didn't anyone ever tell me that the downstairs turns into a BUMPIN nightclub on the weekends? While it's a little dungeon-y, it makes for a hilarious mosh pit of action and grooving. Their was a great combination of above 40's and college frat bros that somehow managed to work. The bar upstairs was being flogged, but the downstairs one was manageable and I snagged a Ballistic for a reasonable $3.75. The whole scene was hilarious; I recommend it if you're up for a night of raging. read more

The Argus and I have a relationship. I worked at La Mestiza (which has since closed) next door for a few months while in Madison. I was originally drawn to the Argus by the very handsome man who works there named Davin. (He is still there, go visit him!) The offer live music, pool tables and great food. The best sandwich in Wisconsin exists here: The LGBTA Lettuce, gouda, bacon, tomato and avocado. And you get fries...but not just any fries, sexy fries. Reasonably priced, clean and always friendly, the Argus is one of the best casual restaurants to go to in Madison, read more

My husband and I stopped here for dinner on the patio one evening because they had a pretty good beer selection and decent sized menu. We had the Mediterranean appetizer which was delicious, but definitely could have come with more pita bread. I ordered the mushroom and swiss burger with "sexy fries" on the side and my husband got a salad. The burger was cooked exactly the way I ordered it, and those fries were addicting. Our server was super nice and helpful. She seemed to know the menu pretty well. The decor in the bar area could use some sprucing up, but it matches almost any other bar in the downtown area. The clientele inside was pretty rowdy and loud, and it was kind of obnoxious to be eating around a bunch of people smoking on the patio, but we decided to go with the latter. Overall it was a decent experience and we may find ourselves wandering in again sometime soon. read more

One of Madison's best, most consistent least appreciated Downtown bars. Right off the Capital Square but well above the pricier spots that serve up less value than true substance. Great food good service and authentic Wisconsin hospitality. read more

Its a great place to spend the afternoon for a drink and lunch on the patio. The inside of the building is also very historic. I would highly recommend the jalapeno cheese curds. I think they are super delicious. They are not too hot and come with a yummy ranch dip. I also love the wrap I believe is called RC's Identity Crisis! Its a buffalo chicken wrap with bacon, bleu cheese (I love bleu cheese). Every time I have been here the wait staff has been very friendly and quick to help us out. They have quite a large menu which I don't think is overpriced. I'll be back. read more

So only came here for drinks, but I love the sports bar kind of feel here. TVs playing everywhere, good music playing in the background, nice traditional half rectangle bar that was pretty filled, awesome beer section. I ended up getting a draft cider boys. yumm! The bar is kinda small, but the way they arranged everything makes it look really open and very inviting. Staff was great, greeting you from behind the bar, and thanking us for coming in when we left. Great customer service, which to me makes or breaks a great experience. After reading the reviews for this place, pretty excited to try this place out for a late lunch, or dinner sometime. Seems like a solid place, with good drinks, and great staff! read more

For years I have wanted to come to your bar and check it out. A bunch for my friends got together last night and decided to check out a new bar location, which was yours. As you know, there is plenty of others places in Madison we could have taken our business. After getting severed with our first drinks and having a great time, what happened next was very disappointing. Your staff decided to totally ignore my group of friends (15 thirsty drinkers) and not provide service. We were not intoxicate (I only had one drink). After 20-30 minutes of waiting patiently for service, we left for a bar that would provide service. Myself and majority of my friends are from the hospitality industry and we would never treat customers in this fashion. The bar was not busy or under staff. Sincerely, one very disappointed customer. read more

This is city bar with patio seating, it's not very big but does have good tap beers. We sat on the patio seating like everyone else was doing. They have food service to the patio as well with the spirits. People were having the food but we had drinks. The service was slightly slow because they were trying to work the inside and out but she kept up. It was a nice casual place to sit out. Side on a nice day and relax. The street was king of noisy but that was to be expected. This seems like a neighborhood because every one sitting there was bumping into people they know and talking. Staff was friendly and pleasant. This looks like a nice hang out place. I would go back again. read more

The Sandwiches are very reasonably priced and decent. Certainly not amazing, but I was not displeased when I left. The chips that come with the sandwiches, though, are clearly normal potato chips from a bag, so next time I'll opt for the fries instead. The beer list is pretty good and reasonably priced, and the atmosphere is cozy. I'll probably be back. read more

I went here for their open mic, and discovered their sandwich menu. If the comedy sucks, go upstairs and sit at the bar- then order any sandwich off their menu. Add a spotted cow, a shot of whiskey, and VIOLA! Night saved. Perfectly toasted french bun, melted cheese, avocado, portabello mushroom, onions, and chipotle sauce. If you like meat, there's options. Bartender is perfectly friendly. One of the few things I liked about being in Wisconsin was this bar. read more

I've enjoyed this bar for years. The staff is friendly and the outdoor sitting area makes a great summer day of drinking. Plus I've never had a bad meal from there, love those sexy fries. read more

Argus Bar & Grill - Pbr at the argus - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I had the usual 5-8 happy binge+hoot with close friends. Had a really good time. Nice casual bar with a friendly bar tender (thanks for putting up with us). Pretty good bar snacks (still prefer the Plaza). We ordered the classics: wings, fried curds, french fries, and onion rings. Thought the dice's french fries are far better than Argus'. So why the 3 stars? Because I got the hangover the next morning. This doesn't usually happen to me at other places - what were they pouring in my glass? and I consider myself as a pro on binge. read more

We've some stuff on the menu - burgers, a wrap, onion rings, fries, etc- and it was all fairly mediorce, but reasonably priced at around 7-8 bucks for dinner. But hey - the hot wings here are amazing. No complaints. They're perfect. ORDER THE WINGS!!! read more

Downstairs has a great venue for bands, it's kinda hidden away. Little pricy for the average ambience they offer. read more

This is a great place to unwind and have a great meal! Best fish fry on the square! Their outdoor seating is fantastic, so if you aren't in a hurry and really just want a place to relax and enjoy a drink with a friend, its a great spot! read more

The service is poor and the bathrooms are dirty. To top it off, they are not fond of black or brown people here.

Argus is a fun, tasty and reliable lunch choice on the Capitol square. Especially if you are with a crowd because Argus has something for everyone, including vegetarians and the gluten free. But the main reason I love Argus is because ordering can make you feel just a little dirty, as in "I'll have Dick Frank's super sub and the lady will have Barbara's Garden." Add a side of sexy fries to the order and you get the feeling that this might just turn into a long lunch. Nooner, anyone? read more

I have come here plenty of times now and always have a great experience! It doesn't matter who is working the staff is always very nice and polite. Today I ordered cheese curds, which I get every time because they are amazing, and a BLT even though it wasn't on the menu they said they could make it for me. Came out looking better than ever! read more

See all

I'm happy I found this place while I was staying in town for a few days. It's a great little dive bar. I ended up here with some friends for dinner the first night I was in Madison. Our server was very friendly and service was fast even though the bar and tables were full. Our burgers/sandwiches were delicious and our beer was cold. It was nothing fancy but it was just what we needed after a day of traveling. I ended up here one night for a drink and then again on my last day for a quick lunch because I knew I would enjoy the food. The bartender was awesome. We had a great conversation. Service was prompt and food was still delicious! If I ever end up back in Madison, this is the first bar I would go back to. read more

Argus is where it's at! They're menu is never-ending, with a wide variety of vegetarian options to choose from. Exceptionally friendly interaction between the employees and their patrons. Argus has a sort of Cheers feel to it. They could use a bit more space to accommodate such a fantastic crowd of people, though. read more

Horrible bar horrible bartenders. DONT GO HERE! This place is over rated and horribly managed

This is a great bar. People are great here, very eclectic crowd. The interior is beautiful. Very chill atmosphere. I travel here for business a ton and this is my go to spot to unwind. read more

I'm new to area always looking for new places to eat. Ok so I picked this place on the hot guy review lol. So not disappointed, food is fantastic, love people watching while I get my grub on. I went with classic sandwich, next time I'll try the salad. read more