Service was wonderful! Our server was so warm and friendly and fit in with our group with ease. My friends tried the beer flight...ill let you draw your own conclusions as to the hilarity of THAT situation. I got the crockpot. Was a little bland. Like the flavor was there, but it just needed to be kicked up a notch. The steak Oscar was definitely missing something, steak portion was very gristle-esque. Cheese curds were good! I've had better but they were definitely on par. Great establishment overall!! read more

My second time at Craftsman and it did not disappoint! There is plenty of parking outside and lots of seats indoors with a bar area and TVs. In the summer, you can also sit outside on the outdoor patio or on the rooftop patio. We came during happy hour which featured 4$ old fashioned and 4$ Wisconsin drinks. I had the signature Craftsman burger and upgraded cheese curds as my side for an additional 2.99$, which was worth every penny. The food came out very quick. The cheese curds were amazing, melt in your mouth cheese curds, easily top 5 best cheese curds in Madison. The burger was done well and I would definitely recommend it. Perfect place to go to for a meal or to just get drinks and cheese curds with friends! read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Second trip here...We've come on Sunday while they are doing bar Bingo. We haven't participated but always seems like a lot of fun! I've had the veggie Benedict, cheese curds, hummus platter app, juevos rancheros, crab cake Benedict, falafel burger. All really great! The kids menu is large and has healthy options like grilled chicken which is a big plus! I've had a "thyme for a salty dog" (grapefruit drink) each time and it's probably one of the best drinks I've ever had! We go to Costco in Middleton and found this to be one of the best restaurants in the area! Will definitely be back! read more

It was decent. There was a large group of us. Our waiter was friendly. I had a brisket sandwich that was good. Everyone else liked their dish. My MIL felt her food was salty. Issue, everyone who ordered fries had cold fries come out. We told our waiter, we got fresh hot fries, and s couple of desserts were comped! Our server kept apologizing, but t it wasn't his fault! I also like the beer and spirits menu. I'd go back! Oh, also, I liked the atmosphere. Casual, trendy, fun. read more

3rd visit. Not as good as the other two, because of the service we received from Shandi. It is surprising too because it wasn't as busy as the other times. She seemed preoccupied with cleaning duties (at 7pm ... it's not like it was closing time). The cheese curds are (still) the best of four times we had them at different places in Madison this trip. I ordered a pot roast that had no flavor. My coworker who ordered it as well agreed with me; we tried salt and pepper and ended up trying to give it some "oompf" with Worcestershire sauce that Shandi brought us from the kitchen once we tackled her when she occasioned by. The Jury is out for me if I am going to bring someone else here on my next trip. Madison has too many other places I'd like to try. Ah... but that roasted brussels sprout salad may make me come back. And the cheese curds! read more

I've gone to Craftsman multiple times, and never reviewed them because I always left disappointed. I live in the neighborhood and wanted nothing more than to love the place, but it was always just blah. About two weeks ago they hired a new chef, and WOW! It is fantastic now and I'm so happy to have this place so close to my house! He has made just small changes to the menu so far but they have made a huge difference. Even the lettuce in the salads is better. We started with the curry poutine which was amazing. I dream about it. I will go back to Craftsman just for that. My husband got a burger and it was so juicy and full of flavor! Before, it was just fine. Nothing special. I got the chicken and smoked cheddar salad, which could possibly be one of the best salads I've ever had. The lettuce was fresh, the bacon was crunchy, and their buttermilk ranch dressing is addicting. If you have gone to Craftsman in the past and were not impressed, stop back in now. read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Yellow curry poutine. Call me crazy...but this is even better than normal poutine! - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Got the juicy Lucy during my lunch break at work for takeout and man this burger is INCREDIBLE! Honestly haven't had anything on this menu that disappoints! read more

We were in the neighborhood last weekend and thought to stop in for a quick bite to hold us over until dinner. We opted for the hand rolled pretzels along with the large hummus plate. True to it's name, the hummus plate had a good selection to choose from-feta, olives, roasted peppers, pickled red onions, hummus, and pita bread. I will say the portion sizes were somewhat confusing as we had a boatload of olives yet the hummus was fairly small in comparison. While everything was ok. special shout out for the pickled onions. While they were on the verge of being too "cinnamony", they were definitely some of the best I ever had. The pretzels were somewhat disappointing. Flavorwise, they were on point yet they came out without almost no salt on the surface. No idea why and the waitress was confused as well. Disappointed that she didn't offer to bring us a replacement. The beers on tap are fine but would like to see a broader more unique selection. Pretty sure they have the same basic taps from the last time I visited (which was a while ago). Besides the service misstep, our server was friendly and quick with service. As we live downtown, don't think we would ever make a planned trip to eat here but if in the neighborhood under similar circumstances, I would consider stopping in. read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - What happened to the salt.....? - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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Craftsman is probably my favorite of the Food Fight restaurants. Delicious food, friendly and knowledgable staff, a nice atmosphere, and good prices. Some menu highlights for me would be the cheese curds (some of the best I've ever had), the brisket sandwich (flavorful, generous on the meat, and filling), and the smoked chicken and cheddar salad (probably the least healthy salad ever, but packed with delicious smoked cheddar, chicken, bacon and homemade buttermilk ranch). They have a great beer selection that changes often. I've discovered some fantastic beers there, with the help of their knowledgable staff. The upstairs party room seems like a great place to have a get together, and the outside patio is perfect for summer dinners. read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Smoked chicken and cheddar salad, a go-to meal. - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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Always a pleasure to eat here. Curds are amazing! Good service, good food. Not too loud. Great neighborhood restaurant

Our HOME restaurant! I say that because, my daughter and I go there a lot due to GREAT FOOD, GREAT ATMOSPHERE, GREAT SUNDAY BREAKFAST, GREAT STAFF, and so comfortable for a date, your gal pals, your family, or simply by yourself. What also makes it our GO-TO "Home Restaurant" is it's CONSISTENCY OF QUALITY good food! read more

Stopped here after the quarantine ended. Like most places they only take limited people at the moment. I ordered the smokehousr mac and cheese with a stout, while my friend got the char-grilles flat iron steak and some tea. The mac and cheese was fairly good; rich and creamy, with just the right amount of seasoning. It could have used a little bit more of the pulled pork in it. As is that seemed like an afterthought. Portion size also didn't quite fit the price point of $15. Maybe $13.50? Overall 4/5. The Crafthouse also has a great selection of beer. Nothing more to say about this one. 5/5 My friend's meal was a little bit of a different story. The steak was not the greatest. I wish I could still have beef so I could confirm, but he says that it had a foul flavor. He also didn't enjoy the grilles yams, but that had more to do with the texture rather than taste. Finally, the meal came with asparagus, which he says was fantastic (until they brought a second order, but that's a different point). 2/5 In the end they refunded the steak and provided a second ordet of asparagus. At first they gave us a bushel of raw asparagus thinking we wanted to take it home to cook ourselves. They took it back and cooked it to a luke-warm, not-quite-raw consistency. 3/5 All in all it was a dissatisfying experience, but not quite bad enough for a 2 star rating. read more

Visited for the first time and am extremely happy. I ordered the Craft burger medium and my husband had the brat. My burger was the perfect temp, seasoned well and delicious. The portion size was just right. The brat was also very good and my husband commented he enjoyed the cabbage topping as he is not a fan of sauerkraut. Our bartender Chris was attentive, engaging and knowledgeable - we'll definitely be back! Thank you Craftsman for another enjoyable non chain restaurant to visit! read more

This was a BOWL of soup to go. Pardon by French, but WTF. This is a 12oz cup. I looked up The product number on the bottom. It was half full at best. How much is it? Maybe 6 oz? Certainly not a bowl however you define it. Very disappointed. Not to mention gastronomically unsatisfied. C'mon. Get your act together. read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - This was a bowl of soup to go. Pardon by French, but. This is a 12oz cup. It was half full at best. - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Big fan of this restaurant. I've been here twice, most recently for FoodFight week. The BEST cheese curds you will ever eat. Another fun app is Poutine, also great. Upper scale bar food with a dim cozy atmosphere. read more

This place is very cozy and clean, and I love going here over my lunch break, as it's not too far from my office. I am normally not one to get any kind of burger other than beef, but you MUST try the walnut burger. I now no longer want any other kind of burger. It's delicious. Try a tap beer with your meal, they have great options. The ambiance is nice for an upscale bar and grille. read more

I've been here multiple times both for brunch and dinners. I can't say it's in my top favorites, but it's always consistently good. On our last visit I got the Sweet Corn Poblano salad with blackened chicken. It was great, but wished there was a tad more chicken. My husband always gets one of the burgers and loves them. The cheese curds for an appetizer and that dipping sauce is super good!! We love this place for it's convenience and think it's a solid Middleton option. Will for sure always keep going back! read more

This is a mediocre restaurAnt. The cheese curds are amazing- maybe the best in Madison except for Graze: otherwise, I've never been impressed. This is my least favorite of the food fight restaurants. Brunch is their worst. Dinner is okay. read more

The risotto should be called ri-so-so. A trio of confusing tastes that don't belong together. Exceptional cheese curds though. Staff was solid. read more

Came here for lunch for the alleged "best curds in Madison" and boy did they not disappoint. The curds were awesome, and had a great selection of beers from stouts to sours. Also had the brisket sandwich which was equally delicious. Prices were very reasonable, and the restaurant was clean and well put together. If you're looking for lunch in the Middleton area, this is a must. Make sure you have an early lunch as it fills up very quickly!! read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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Service is friendly and food is just ok. Got the BBQ mac n cheese and it was hands down the GROSSEST thing I've ever seen or eaten. It looked like vomit if you want to be vague. Cheese curds are good, but so greasy. Went a couple weeks ago, and the server forgot to put in our food, but made up for it quickly. It's over all just ok. read more

The food was below average. Cheese curds were too salty and lacked flavor. Most of the food was uninspired. The staff was not welcoming.

I had some friends come from out of state that were looking for the quintessential Wisconsin experience, but we weren't in the mood to venture far from the west side. So we decided to try Table and Tap for the first time. Overall, I enjoyed the trip. The atmosphere is great, it feels a bit like an upscale tavern. Our waiter was extremely friendly and informative. The midwest nice definitely surprised my non-Wisconsin friends. We ordered the cheese curds, and I can honestly say they are the best I've had in the Madison area (whatever seasoning is in the breading is stupid good). With a table of 5, we should have had two orders. Everyone liked their main dish, but I must admit there wasn't anything too adventurous to choose from. It was a good choice to bring my friends for good standard Wisconsin fare. This is the type of place you could bring your parents for dinner and they would love it... in fact, it's probably where I will take mine the next time they come in from out of town. read more

My wife and I did a spur-of-the-moment visit after work on a Monday. Service was pleasant and attentive; and that's really all that went well. Appetizer (little fish bites) and entrees (salad and burger) were no better than average, while "hand-cut fries" were over-done yet somehow still tasteless. Tried to order a beer off the menu, but they were out; even the back-up diet Coke tasted funny. We don't intend to ever return - there are too many nearby options much, much better than what we experienced. read more

I've been living in Madison for nearly 3 months now, and while I love 99 percent of everything here, my side of town (west sidddddeee!) is severely lacking in bars. Let me explain. I just moved here from the Bay View area of Milwaukee where I literally had 8-10 bars within a walking distance of less than a mile. And these were nationally ranked bars like Sugar Maple and Burnhearts. So, to move to a quieter part of town with no craft beer bars within 2 miles, well it hurts my beer soaked soul a little. Thankfully, while not in walking distance, Craftsman has been a go to staple for my husband and I when we need a good beer and great food. The beer selection is constantly changing and has a wide variety of types and flavors. If you can't find something here, well then you are just too darn picky. The food too has always been on target. For appetizers, try the hummus plate! I know what you are thinking, really, hummus? BEST HUMMUS PLATE I HAVE EVER TRIED. Two words, pickled onions. Will blow your mind! The veggie burger was quite good and really juicy! Service has always been very fast and friendly, and the prices are comparable to many restaurants in the area. Really great, relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a great meal and an even better beer. Cheers! read more

Had breakfast here last Saturday... delish! I want even aware they did breakfast... pleasant surprise!

My husband and I really wanted to like this place since it's a Foodfight owned establishment and we love some of their other restaurants. We walked in hoping to sit outside and noticed there were two empty tables in their patio area. We were told it would probably be a 15 minute wait, no problem, so we sat at the bar. The bar was steady but not packed - there were even some empty stools. There were two bartenders working and we noticed there were quite a few interesting microbrews on tap we wanted to try. However, we sat at the bar for almost 15 minutes and neither bartender ever even came and talked to us. We walked out. There are a LOT of great restaurants in the Madison area, so Craftsman Table & Tap will need to step up their game big time if they want to stick around. read more

This is my second check-in here, and this was a fabulous visit. The happy hour deal includes apps for $6, and my husband and I really enjoyed the three good-sized smoked salmon cakes that had a lot of great, smoky flavor and were high in salmon and not breading. I ordered the spinach and chickpea stew - delicious! It was plenty of food and had a good back end kick to it. The price was also impressive because it seems so unusual to find an entree for $11. The staff was very friendly, too. Casual but attentive (not overly, like some can be), plus they have a room with board games to invite "campers" which is appreciated. read more

Yes, yes, and more YES to this place!!! My first time here was for Beer-O bingo in February, which runs all year except football season (I was told). They have a guest brewery who sponsors and offers prizes. The only requirement is that you spend at least $10 in order to participate, which is not hard to do. It was really fun and exciting and they had many rounds; so, it felt like you truly had a chance to win. I ended up winning the grand prize that day, which included a Craftsman gift certificate. A few weeks ago, I went to redeem my gift certificate. It was a nice day so we sat on the patio. We were served by Erin who was absolutely spectacular. She made great suggestions (such as the watermelon beer they offered - It was perfection for my palette). She was also super accommodating. When we mentioned we were going to split our meals, she took the extra step to ask the kitchen to cut our sandwiches in half to make things easier. So A+ for the service for Erin!! Now, onto the food.... There is a reason this place was voted best cheese curds in Madison. The batter is so light, crispy, and flavorful. I could eat these all day! We also ordered a burger and a chicken pesto sandwich. THEY WERE DELICIOUS. I had to force myself to stop eating and the only reason I did that is because I wanted to savor the deliciousness and would have something to look forward to for dinner when I took the other half of my meal home. My only "complaint" is that the patio chairs have armrests on them and, thus, are not super comfortable or friendly to those of us with wider hips/legs. So my legs were pretty sore when we finished. It would be awesome if they had chairs that did not have the armrests for the patio. But, alas, that "complaint" will not stop me from returning and talking about Craftsman. This place is absolutely amazing and I really can't wait to go back and try some other dishes (and eat more of their cheese curds). read more

I've been here a few times and this place is consistently good. Today 4 of us came for birthday lunch. We had the Blue Cheese Burger, Brisket Sandwich, Chicken Salad, and Tuna Melt. All of our meals were very good. We had the hummus appetizer (could have used a bit more pita), and the cheese curds (which were good but a bit too greasy for my personal taste). The service was excellent, and pricing is in alignment with the quality. They were kind enough to give the birthday girl an amazing sundae- maple bacon sundae over a brownie. Yum! read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Oh Craftsman, I have begged, begged, begged to come to your restaurant since tasting your foods at my daughter's home in Madison. Last Sunday after I flew in from Los Angeles it did not take my kids too many guesses as to where we should eat. I shared a mushroom burger and a vegetarian sandwich with my daughter, halfsies. Delicious! The sweet potato fries were among the best. We had some of those Crispin (blackberry I think) hard ciders and whoa! Just great! Sitting outside on the patio and enjoying the super friendly helpful staff was a treat. Going home entirely crashing from the goodness and napping was the only way to go... Back Soon!! read more

I cannot say enough about the cheese curds at Craftsman Table and Tap. They were voted best in Madison for a reason, and frankly, they are the best curds I have ever had! I love that the breading is light enough to make the cheese inside extra melty. Plus the flavor of the breading is unique and subtle. I think a lot of restaurants neglect the seasoning. The rest of the food that I've tried is good as well. I went there for brunch and I wasn't excited to try the skillet potatoes. They looked bland. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by the seasoning they used, it was a southwestern type seasoning with a nice kick of heat. They were actually super good! The rest of my breakfast was pretty run of the mill, but not bad in any way. I just was a little disappointed by the bacon. It tasted like the pre-cooked microwaveable bacon you can buy at the grocery store. I wish I would have tried a brunch cocktail, because there are some interesting selections that go above and beyond your standard mimosa and Bloody Mary. As for the service, it was friendly and fast. The restaurant itself is clean and inviting, I love the dim lighting. Will definitely make an effort to go back! read more

Meal was really wow! Service was excellent and we had the warmest & best wait staff. Definitely going back.

A local friend suggested we start our day at Craftsman, as she had been to several restaurants in the same group and found them all to be pretty tasty. She was not wrong. They have a nice beer selection with a good variety of local beers. We started out with the pretzels, which were good but nothing special. I feel like if pretzels are something common in your town, you really have to do something to make them stand out a bit--these were pretty simple. I ordered the bahn mi sandwich, and it was delicious. I'm not a big sandwich person (I leave that to the hubs), but if I had to pick a sandwich to convert me, this is a contender. Soft bread, slightly spicy mayo, and flavorful meats and vegetables. It's not really a bahn mi, so if you're a traditionalist, you might want to skip this one. The cheese curds I ordered as my side were crispy, creamy, and had the right amount of squeak. The hubs ordered the biscuits and gravy benedict, which he said was delicious. They come with skillet potatoes which basically look like thick potato chips. Salty and slightly crispy on the outside, smooth and creamy on the inside. After we had finished our meal, someone came by and let us know that beer bingo would be starting soon. Beer bingo? I love beer bingo! We hung out for a bit, played a few rounds, and had a couple more brews before we decided to head out. There are beers and gear available as prizes (I won a beer for knowing the answer to a trivia question!). Do it. Go play beer bingo! read more

Do you like locally sourced foods (and let's be honest, if you're in Madison and reading Yelp I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to this question...)? Are you on a quest to eat all of Madison's best cheese curds? And by the way, if you just answered "No," you either need to update your bucket list or go see the doctor about options to treat lactose intolerance - perhaps both. Do you like extensive, rotating taps? Do you want to meet a beer sommelier who also offers "Beerology" classes and runs a beer blog? If you answered yes to any of the questions above, it's probably time to venture outside of the Isthmus to visit this surprisingly cool Middleton spot! read more

Excellent food! Great craft beer selection. Nice atmosphere. Yelp checkin is not recognized by the restaurant - FYI.

Cheese curds, cheese curds, cheese curds. Get them! If you don't like them, I'll refund your money. Well, no--but I'll finish them for you. These are the BEST I've had--surpassing the Old Fashioned's. Yep, I threw down! Sadly, the two sandwiches(reuben--not on the menu any longer, and the roasted veggie) I've had there have been decent, but not a re-order item. I really like the feel inside, and I think it's a good place for a group. Sort of Great Dane-ish, but a little more upscale, with about half the menu(not a bad thing). They have decent outdoor seating, and I'm looking forward to trying brunch. Service has been friendly, albeit slow. But...the cheese curds! read more

I'm kind of surprised that, after many visits to Craftsman Table & Tap, I haven't written a review until now. I've been a fan since they opened - how could I not be a fan with their impressive tap list - and they've also been the starting point & destination of our cycling club's Tuesday night rides. First, let's talk taps. Over 20 beers between the downstairs and upstairs bars, with a lot of rotation, but some that will make their home for a while. I've *really* liked this aspect of their beer menu - it's great to have a choice of something new or an old favorite. Wisconsin and other great Midwest brews are well represented (Toppling Goliath was very present this summer), but they bring in great beers from all over, including imports. Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shutdown Ale and I became very good friends this year! They're also doing a lot of cool tap takeovers (folks from a featured brewery come in and "take over" all or many of the taps for a night. Great chance to try some rare or limited release beers) and beer dinners. The food, I'd call it gastropub fare (not sure if that narrows things down much...) is delicious and the variety runs from casual (it's a great place for a burger and fries) to more upscale, dinner-date type of items. One of my very favorite meals in Madison is their pulled pork bahn mi sandwich, served with either fries or greens, depending on your mood. Like the beer list, there are staples, and rotating dishes. Craftsman's cheese curds deserve special mention, and are on my (and many of my friends') short lists of best curds in town. I'm too noncommittal to name a single favorite of anything, but these very well may own that slot for me when it comes to cheese curds. The staff and service are excellent and the servers & bar staff really add to the fun of a visit. The one time we had an issue (just kind of a Murphy's Law of restaurants thing), I brought it up and they were super responsive - truly one of those cases where I was more impressed with them than if there hadn't been an issue at all. Tip: Go on a Sunday afternoon. The Packers will be on, and they have Beer-o Bingo! This is as much or more fun than it sounds, and you may walk away with a coupon for an order of curds and a token for a draft beer or a Bloody Mary! read more

So the good: Josh Ruffin is super fun to talk to - you know so many interesting things about beer! I've been reading some beer books and while they are fun and informative, you are more fun and more informative. So maybe write a beer book, m'kay? There are also beer classes which I haven't attended, but what a good idea. The outdoor spaces are excellent. What a lovely porch and rooftop terrace. The cheese curds are really good. (*Whispers*: Maybe better than Graze). Now the "needs improvement": Your food could be better. The burger had essense of freezer and my risotto was announced as full of vegetables but was sadly not full of vegetables. Let's help keep healthcare costs down, m'kay? Give a girl a little kale. So the summary is that if you were downtown and I could walk to you, Craftsman, I would drink beer on your porch with the same enthusiasm that I do at the Terrace. But you are in Middleton, so if I'm going to go, the food better be good and it's not there yet, so you are going to be in trouble. read more

Upon walking in the place is gorgeous! Very clean and decorated nicely. However, the multiple windows are somewhat of a down fall in late fall. We froze the entire meal. We ordered cheese curds and a few craft beers to start, which were great. The cheese curds melted in my mouth, and were seasoned wonderfully. That's about as good as the meal got. I ordered the beat and goat cheese salad. It arrived without dressing (I had to ask for some) and the beets were canned (not fresh) and not seasoned. Also my salad came without bread which I thought was strange. I also ordered their broccoli cheddar soup that had only broccoli flavoring and not a lick of seasoning. :(. My husband ordered the Craftsman burger which he didn't finish because of the lack of flavor, a salad came with his that was also not dressed (had to ask Again for dressing). Our waitress was overwhelmed and rushed. Only briskly stopped by our table not giving my poor grandma enough time to order an appetizer. :( She was also extremely hard to track down when we needed drink refills. Overall, if you are looking for a nice meal and great service, there are far better establishments in the great city of Madison. If you're looking for a place to get a good beer and yummy cheese curds stop here, otherwise don't waste your time. The 3 stars are for the beer and cheese curds alone! read more