I had the Carne asada dish today. Properly grilled beef, not pale and just warmed up as some restaurants do. Tasty! Their nachos are thin, crispy and not greasy, served with fresh tasting & flavorful green and red salsa. I like other tacos ( al pastor) and enchiladas (chicken) too. Great margaritas. Although the staff provides fantastic service, I wish owners would warm up their decor ( previous location was more cheerful & inviting.) I know it's in a new place and has contemporary style, but it doesn't have to be "sterile-looking and cold." Maybe they're not quite finished decorating yet? :) I also wish they would expand their menu and add lengua, soups and whole fried fish (drizzled with garlic butter?) I liked this restaurant pre-Covid. Their service and food quality dropped (understandably) during Covid but I'm glad they're back and in a larger space. Can't wait to try dining alfresco in the warmer seasons! read more

Compadres was my favorite Mexican restaurant in the Madison area however (and I'm sorry say this) I'm not fond of their new restaurant. The restaurant is very loud. You can hear every clink of a glass and plate great acoustics but not good for a restaurant. It's very dark inside as the only windows are in the front door. Their old location was bright and sunny. The walls are painted mostly gray with burgundy. Maybe they were going for a Mexican sophisticated decor? The bar has tvs above turned to sports channels. The restaurant screams identity crisis. OK, now some positive remarks: The wait service was very good as was the food. I will be on the lookout for a new favorite Mexican restaurant. I'm disappointed it won't be Compadres. read more

Food is mediocre. It was bland. Tasted like Mexican food for Americans who've never tasted the great flavors of authentic Mexican food.

I wanted to give a higher rating. The food is certainly five stars. Chips and salsa arrive at the table soon after your seated. Both salsas are very good with the red being very mild and the green with a slight hint of heat. I would have liked a spicier, hot salsa with a bite and will ask if they have one on my next visit. The menu is large with a nice variety of enchiladas, tamales, burritos, fajitas and more. The portions are very generous. The enchiladas verde are excellent. The rice and bean sides were bland and average. The steak fajitas arrive sizzling hot with your choice of flour or corn tortillas, sour cream and guacamole. Large enough for sharing. I cannot recommend the margaritas. They are week, pre-made, and flavorless. Save your money as they also add so much ice to the glass that there's really no room for any liquid. Now, the service. Saturday afternoon @ 2pm. We were seated, served chips and given menus immediately upon arrival. After eating most of a basket of chips our server arrived for our drink order. We ordered margaritas and water. We got the margaritas and had to ask for water a second time. They did bring it, but only one glass. Food arrived very quickly after we ordered. It was a long wait between finishing lunch and receiving the check to final payment. I hope they fix the staffing problem soon as I'd hate to write this one off my list. read more

Not authentic Mexican food. I ordered the aguachiles dish which is supposed to have "chile". It was only shrimp in lemon which was precooked. Worst aguachiles I've tasted out of any Mexican Restaurant in the US. Once I brought it to the attention of the waiter was brought back some valentina hot sauce and some other chip salsa. Will not be coming back to this place and recommend anybody else to go somewhere else. read more

Compadres Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Great authentic Mexican food Wow have not had rice like that in a while Super friendly great customer service read more

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That was a very satisfying meal. One of the better Mexican restaurants in town for sure. We ate a steak Torta, a Carne Asada, a chicharron Gordita and several different tacos. Every meal of our deserved a 5 Star except for the tacos. Honestly, I will not come here for tacos but their service, the fresh chips and salsa to begin our meal, the guacamole prepared fresh at the table (it is pretty pricy for $8.50) and the other entrees we had, it is must try place. Out of all the things we had today, the steak torta was so good. I will crave this one for sure and come back for it. read more

Compadres Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

The margaritas are terrific. Love the queso with chorizo. Enjoyed the great service and fresh food. A favorite local place.

Extremely quick service, and the perfect sized burrito. Just big enough so that you can get a descent amount of all "the goods" in one bite and not just a bite of the lettuce! I got the steak burrito, which was the meat the waiter recommended. Only thing lacking was they didn't serve any red or green sauce with the meal, and we all know that the sauces can make or break a Mexican restaurant :) But, the meal was still way above average plus the waiters were efficient and very nice. I would definitely go again. And hit up some tacos maybe next time! read more

Compadres Mexican Restaurant - Steak burrito! - Bars Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

LOVE this place! Visited for lunch on Sunday and can't wait to go back!! When you first walk in you just see the bar with some seating. It is rather 'sterile-looking' but I like it, it's clean and sharp. We arrived early so we ordered a couple of margaritas; mango and strawberry. They were good but I might splurge for the fresh juice option next time. The back portion of the restaurant mirrors the front and offers a a ton of natural light. Service was a little spotty, sat with empty glasses for a little longer than I wanted. The woman that made our table-side guacamole was very friendly and sweet. She mentioned how they've been busy since they opened 8 months ago. All of us loved our food; between the 5 of us we had a good sample of their menu. My dish was incredibly fresh and had the perfect amount of everything; chicken, sauce, rice, beans. Took half of it home, love getting two meals out of one =) read more

Compadres Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

This restaurant was three star through and through. Good service, good food, good drinks, nice hot sauces. Nothing spectacular, also nothing bad. Middle of the road all the way for me. I liked the attempt to elevate mexican food. I ordered several vegetarian sopes, my wife had the carne asada, and my daughter had the quesadilla. We all agreed it was three stars. read more

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Great new spot for Mexican fare! The service was fast, friendly, knowledgeable and quick to assist. The food was great because of the huge range in available spice and some new entree choices. We ordered the ceviche in a 1/2 avocado and found it fresh and a nice change from many of the greasy, cheesy options at some of the local competition. Compadres was overall clean and inviting. It has a small but spacious bar immediately upon entering but doorways to either side lead into a separate dining area with both booths and tables. Not sure if outdoor seating is an option. This spot is a repeater for us. Only downside for us, the side of beans and rice despite having good flavor were not quite warm enough for us. Everything else was hot and fresh. However, we liked that the rice did not have those cubed carrots or peas but instead had bits of chicken signaling a stock possibly. Lots more to try here! Margaritas next! read more

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We stopped by for lunch. Server was attentive, the place was clean and quiet. I had the chicken fajitas and they were very bland, as if they just forgot any seasoning. Not terrible, the chicken and veggies were cooked nicely. But bland. Maybe they were just having an off day but I won't be back. read more

Me and my husband have ordered from compadres for the last 2 years. However, their nachos went from loaded with toppings to minimal toppings. To the point where I have started requesting extra beans and cheese. The last two times I've ordered nachos I asked for extra beans and cheese. I have had NO CHEESE on my nachos and minimal means. Like, none. We stopped ordering from them for 4 months then decided to try again since they've settled in to their new facility. I asked for beans on the side and extra beans. I got no cheese. Again. So now I am paying more for beans for what should be standard on the nachos and still not getting cheese despite asking for extra. read more

Was specifically looking for fresh ceviche, and Compadres hit the mark! Not too watery and very fresh. This place was the old Hody bar, but I had to really think about the location before I realized it. Unexpected bonuses included: tasty tacos that could be ordered mix-and match, large drink selection, and their thin, verde hot salsa was outstanding! Service (at 11:30am on a Saturday) was top notch. We'll be back! read more

First time. Five o'clock. Very nice people working there. Folks at the bar. Family at a booth. I got fajitas. I slathered in verde salsa. Yummy. read more

Came in for an early supper after reading great reviews. Was disappointed. Had the carne asada with jalapeno and cactus, very salty but bland. Companion had the tacos and liked them, asked for cheese on them and got a couple flakes, had to ask for more. They do have good homemade flan, we got the last piece. Presentation of dishes is very well done. Service was pretty good. All in all, it was ok. read more

Ok first I need to ask, why the shower stall in the men's bathroom? Started with guacamole and cheese dip, both very good and traditional. Last place I was at and asked for the chips and quaso it was a pile of chips on a dinner plate with mozzarella cheese that that chef mic (microwave) made, needless to say they are out of business. My wife had an all natural (not from a mix or bottle) margarita that she call "refreshing on a hot summer day". For dinner we had chile rellenos, shrimp fajitas, and an enchilada served with bean and Spanish rice (same recipe I make with green peas and carrots), everything was delicious. Definitely worth stopping back the next time we are in town. But please tell me why there is a shower in the bathroom? Side note, I got my wife to start reading Yelp reviews and our dinning experiences have been 9's ever since. Keep up the great reviews fellow Yelpers. read more

Compadres Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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The New Compadres restaurant is mucho Fabulous ! Great American Mexican fresh tasting food. Great margaritas that are really affordable. The owners and Waite staff is very friendly and the presentation of the food is wonderful. So Good! read more

This place is amazing!!! Perfect service, fab drinks, great food!! I will be coming back here frequently!!! read more

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Average Mexican fare. Salsa was very bland. Very slow inattentive service. Had to request more chips, water etc. food took 25 mins to arrive Vegetarian and shrimp tacos were very good. Veggie tacos had lots of unusual vegetables like cauliflower, yellow and green squash etc. read more

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The service, food and no artificial sweetener margaritas were all top notch. The food was amazing and super vegetarian friendly. We will definitely be back. read more

The food was great but we always make the same mistake and order queso and eat too many chips. The meals were all great and my wife and daughter split a meal while my son kept half his burrito for the next day. read more

This is my 2nd time coming & I love it! The servers are so quick and the food & drInks are great!! The Avocado Lovers appetizer is so fresh & yummy!! read more

We have eaten here over 10 times already. The food is always consistent and super fast. Staff is always friendly. This is the place to go for cheap and quick dinner - also the best mexican food I've tasted near Madison so far. Side note: we got to the restaurant, immediately sat at the bar, got our chips, queso and margaritas within 2 minutes (no lie) and got our food maybe 5 minutes later. We were in and out within ~20 minutes and the bill was $36 for 2 large dishes, chips and queso and 2 margaritas. And it was fracking delicious. I'm sorry but you can't beat that. This has happened multiple times for us...so dont let one bad review fool you read more

See my photo worst meal I ever ate, the meat. Was a complete mystery..the closest way to describe it is steakums...it was so over cooked it was impossible to eat my dog could not even chew it..I am so very dissatisfied it was just awful read more

Compadres Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Came here for a relaxing lunch and got the shrimp fajitas which were amazing and so fresh. The vegetables were a bit crunchy and the shrimp was seared to perfection. I would definitely come back for these! Others got a quesadilla, nachos, and sopas which were also very good. read more

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Rivals Taqueria Guadalajara quality. Near-west Madison needed a place like this. We were seated very quickly despite originally anticipating a 20 min wait. Margs and chips/salsa arrived to the table promptly. Their salsa is a bit thin for my taste but one offers a smoky, chipotle flavor. I judge a Mexican place by the quality of their mole sauce, and Compadres does not disappoint! Hints of chocolate counteract the peppers perfectly. I ordered a side to complement my enchilada compadres with crab meat and shrimp. Instead of a ramekin, the sauce was served in a cute, tiny edible shell. Their story is humble. Their food is high quality. Don't hesitate to check this place out! read more

Compadres use to be my family's favorite Mexican joint in the Madison area. Unfortunately since they moved to the new location the food, service and wait time have gone down hill. The new location is too open, loud, dark and no longer cozy. The new place seems more like a night club or bar. I don't even see the original wait staff from the old location working at the new location. That's too bad because they were great. Well I guess it's time to find another favorite Mexican restaurant. read more

The food here is pretty bland. I've gotten only two things off the menu that I actually enjoyed, and the rest just isn't seasoned well enough or something. But that isn't why I gave it such a low rating. The first time I went, we were told the wait would be about 15 minutes or so. It turned into 45. The place was packed shoulder to shoulder in the waiting area and the bar, standing room only (there is only a single measly bench for anyone waiting, anyway...). My husband ordered a beer at the bar while we waited. It never came. He asked again. It didn't come. Third time asking, we were told they were out of it. Then a minute later, they had the beer. They charged him full price, but then said they'd give him a free refill. When he asked for the refill (there were only two bartenders, and he asked the same one), we were charged even though my husband reminded him when ordering it again. No apology. We were finally seated at a cramped table and told our server would be right with us. She wasn't. She showed up 15 minutes later then said sorry, I'll be right with you. 15 more minutes of waiting and she finally comes back with water and chips with salsa. Takes our order. We got our food in a normal amount of time, but then she just disappears. No refills, no asking how we are doing. We ate, trying to catch any server's eye for more water. Nothing. After we were all finished, we sat an additional 20 minutes before anyone even came to clear our dishes. Still no refills. Just the bill. Then she disappeared again. We had to take the bill up to the front to pay after waiting another 15 minutes for her to reappear. I was NOT happy. But, I decided to try it again when it was less busy. What a mistake. Got seated right away, long wait to even get water, chips and salsa. Each time I've been back (three now, never again), it just never improves. The food is boring. The service is crap. Oh, and this most recent visit, the waitress was complaining to us and other tables nearby that she was "super tired and ready to cry and just doesn't want to be there anymore." This place sucks. read more

We ordered to go to take back to the nearby hotel. I ordered shrimp quesadilla, hubby had burrito. Mine was very good. Hubby was surprised to see everything INSIDE the burrito {lettuce, rice, refried beans} instead of one the side but it was very good. Portions are very good sized! read more

I really can't believe how bad it was. It had to be a fluke. Not sure how this place could make it in the heart of downtown Middleton otherwise. The server was not friendly at all, nor was he good. He never refilled chips and salsa. He seemed annoyed when we ordered drinks and never offered to get us more drinks. That's easy money for a restaurant! He never even visited the table between our order and after our food was delivered, which was a very long time, and they were not very busy. The food was nothing special, and mine was not hot. It was Saturday night and we had no reservation, but we still should have just waited somewhere else out. read more

Beautiful new location! Delicious food, would recommend anytime any day. Service is amazing and I have never waited to be seated.

Better than I expected! Agree with another Yelper that said it's one of the better Mexican restaurants in town. Our favorite Mexican tends to be from casual joints (Los Gemelos, El Jalapeno, El Sabor), and this takes that same food quality and puts it in a nicer atmosphere with more options. It's also less greasy than some of our other faves, which is nice. Prices are very reasonable. We had our standard "first time judgment" meals: one plate of varying tacos and one plate of other traditional favorites. The three tacos were outstanding (campechanos, al pastor, carnitas), especially the al pastor. Bits of pineapple added a superb sweet surprise alongside the crunchy, spicy bits. The sopes come with your choice of many proteins. I chose the al pastor and was glad I did. The beans played well with it. Sopes are fairly new to me, so I don't have a lot to compare it to. This seemed a little firmer than some others I've had. Harder to cut, but really tasty. I was excited to see a variety of tamales. I had a rojo with pork and chicken verde. Both were WONDERFUL. Light and fluffy. The chicken verde was my favorite. We skipped rice and beans, so can't comment on those. The free chips and salsa were good (red mild salsa and green very spicy). Chips weren't greasy and tasted light and fresh. Would try a cocktail sometime. They have a good drink menu that's beyond the usual margaritas. This is on our way home from work, so I think it's going to be a new favorite. Can't wait to try their other dishes. There was a chipotle shrimp dish that sounded really tasty, and the burrito at a nearby table looked great. read more

Had a great lunch here today and can't wait to come back! I am left with the impression that everything was really fresh tasting with bright flavors and a pleasing presentation. The restaurant itself is clean and bright and there is an outdoor space that I plan to try out before the summer is through. I enjoyed a margarita on the rocks with lunch - good flavor with a sweet finish but not cloying. I ordered the Mexicana burrito and really liked it a lot. The cheese sauce was delicious. I asked for a side of verde sauce as well, which was evidently the $2 up-charge on my check, but it was served in a cool little edible tortilla bowl so I suppose that's where that comes from! The complimentary chips and salsa were good - both the mild and hot salsas were very good and I didn't feel the hot version was over the top. The menu is large, and with the sampling of flavors I had today I am looking forward to going back and trying more! The restaurant was full today over the lunch hour but had emptied out by about 12:30 so I would suggest getting there either at 11 or after noon on a week day if today was any indication. read more

Food is ok meh nothing special, it's ok nothing more , could redeem itself with a little more atmosphere and a whole lot less attitude. Probably the least friendly restaurant I've ever eaten at. Go to Labamba at the very least they greet you in a friendly way and treat you like they're glad you came read more

Very nice authentic feeling food. Loved the chicken and fish tacos. Good kick to the spices.

Been to compadres numerous of times and did not get sugar my margarita rim. Love the food but dammit I want me sugar!

The staff, the food, the drinks. Unbelievable! What an excellent place to grab a quick lunch or a nice dinner. This is without a doubt a gem in the Middleton Area. If you haven't been here it's a must. The food is 100% authentic and tastes like a home cooked meal. The restaurant itself has beautiful natural lighting with with a modern twist. You won't be disappointed. read more

Compadres Mexican Restaurant - Bars Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Seriously don't understand what the hype is about. It was the blandest Mexican food I have ever had. With so many fabulous options available in the Madison area of Tex-mex my personal opinion is that the ratings are over inflated. The service was great. We were seated promptly and the food arrived in a timely manner. This was our first disappointing dinner since we moved to Madison. I wish the food was seasoned better. read more