We had a great waitress & delicious food! We have been to The Craftsman several times and enjoyed it every time. Thank you very much, KB read more

The service was amazing!! We had the best server they were really fast with their food too. The food was ok nothing crazy seemed like a lot of taverns around town. We tried the deviled eggs because we've never seen them on a menu they were ok. The Bloody Mary was not good though. read more

We went on a Saturday late afternoon. About a couple of 3 tops, maybe 4 people at the bar. The staff completely ignored us. I guess chatting with each other and playing on their phones are what they came there for. Menu looked OK. Shame not to try it. Ended up just getting up and leaving. Waitstaff didn't seem to care until I asked for the manager. But HEY! So many other places to spend my money. Poor poor service. read more

Gorgeous food - poorly seasoned Our food at the Craftsman truly looked like a work of art, but unfortunately this time the looks didn't match the flavor. My eggs Benedict tasted like the cooked neglected the seasoning on the eggs but overloaded the potatoes. I hate teaching for the salt shaker, but unfortunately in this situation I had to. Three stars because although the seasoning was off the eggs were cooked to perfection and the staff was super friendly. read more

It's a hit or miss with this place, I was literally charged an upcharge for ordering Salmon instead of fish, which is fine however I wasn't expecting to pay for a thin piece of board! Bartender could careless but hay, my husband enjoyed his food. I think it's time to start exploring other restaurants near by. read more

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

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We really enjoyed our dinner here! It was a Friday night so we expected things to be loud but it was quite pleasant and were able to have nice conversations. The cheese curds and pretzel were delicious and the burgers cooked perfectly. The Brussel sprout salad was overpowered by bacon plus the Brussels were not trimmed well and undercooked. That being said, loved the atmosphere and the other items, so I'd still return and get something else. Patio looked really nice but it was too chilly to sit outside this time. read more

My wife and I have been going here for years and alway rave about how great the food and the cheese curds are to everyone. After a long time without being able to come due to the pandemic we thought let's do Sunday lunch. We get there and we're very surprised. Typically this place is packed. We were one of 2-3 tables in there with a few outside. Also, not a TV going in the place.We then found out why, complete menu and food change. We did get the typical cheese curds although not the same metal bucket they typically come in. Ordered the craftsman burger and it's not the same. No fried come with it you have to order separate. My wife always get soup and salad. The salad was ok but the only soup they offer was horrible. The kids meals are very limited and the Mac and cheese is not kid like. 8$ for a brat without anything. Our bill came to $70.00 and we will not be coming back. read more

I was so impressed with the Mother's Day brunch we had here this year! The food was SO GOOD! And everyone was very friendly. I very much appreciated the experience. read more

This place is amazing. I love the food, the dessert, and amazing dessert. We come here all the time. A true staple of Middleton. Every time we come the service is great. Consistent high quality service and good food. read more

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

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The food here is outstanding. I highly recommend the sweet potato fry , the fish and chips , pretzel . The Bergers are good. Ingredients are very fresh .All the foods are perfectly cooked . The chef is an artist truly . Service is very good and people are nice and polite. Ambiance is good. I will go there many more times cos if their perfectly cooked food . read more

Not really feeling the creativity today. Just telling it how it is. Started off strong. Friendly staff, super clean venue and cheese curds/chicken tenders on the OMG level. That's where it all ends. There was nothing else begging us to come back. 1. Brisket sandwich more like a pulled French dip. Flavor was fine, but it wasn't brisket. Also, terrible bun pairing. 2. Brussel sprout salad was over powered with soggy lettuce. Let down. 3. Don't split the salad as a favor and then charge for it. Would have gladly saved the dollar doing it ourselves, or even sharing the bowl. Long story short, expected more from a Food Fight place. read more

Stopped here for dinner a few weeks ago and wasn't super impressed. The food did not look appetizing and tasted just okay, nothing special. The fried cheese curds came out almost immediately after we ordered them, making it seem like they weren't super fresh. There is a good beer selection. If I came back, it would probably only be for a quick drink. read more

The menu is a culinary bridge between what you think you want and what your really want. This restaurant takes classics and puts a comforting spin on them unlike other places in Dane County. Also the whole staff is welcoming, attentive and experts of health regulations. They are attentive beyond all expectations without being too much. This is THE must go to restaurant in Middleton. read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Mushroom Sandwich is to die for. - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

I have enjoyed the Black and Blue Cheese Burger and more than one occasion. You are going to spend more than you think on beer, but the tap list is solid. read more

I have not lived in town for many years but I always make a point of getting to this restaurant when I am home. I have been going since the moment and (before) it opened. The cheese curds truly are the best. This time I have been twice and likely for the last time. My husband and I walked in early on a Friday afternoon. Plenty of staff in sight but no one could be bothered to greet us in an appropriate amount of time. Sat at the bar...ticket times were slow....server would disappear. Food came it was fine. Yesterday...there were three of us...we sat down and the same server got our drink order. I asked for an order of cheese curds and she said she would put them in. We waited and our server was sitting with another employee at the other end of the restaurant eating with what I am guessing was a "manager" standing and talking to them. She got up from the table and brought out our entrees...we asked about the curds..she half apologized and offered to bring them. When we acknowledged what we saw, she was abrupt and rude. And apparently did not let anyone know. We never had a "manager" come over. We paid our bill...everyone working there seems to be in there own world (phones) and really do not care about service. The apparent leadership does not seem to care either. This makes me very sad as I always have made it back... read more

I love the menu at Craftsman - there is something for everyone! The restarting has a large bar, plenty of space for larger parties and a great patio (which is dog friendly)! They have an array of delicious beers and cocktails. My literal only complaint is the type of fry they serve, which is totally a preference so I would never mark them down for that. They are doing the food and drink scene perfectly and Middleton is so lucky to have them!! read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Crispy Chicken Sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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We attended a rehearsal dinner here and though we didn't get to experience the items from the regular dinner menu, the hot buffet surly had some highlights. The pulled pork had a sweet hickory smell and taste, even the edges of the pork were tinged as if they were smoked in small batches. The hummus plate were light and refreshing. The fried minnows, or whatever that small fish that everyone kept mistaking for french fries were odd, but I don't blame Craftsman's, I blame the groom. The drinks were ample and... free so no complaints there. The staff made their way to everyone at the party and were very attentive. I would recommend the upstairs to host any gatherings you may have. read more

Ordered a Salmon Salad. It was completely flavorless and seemed like the dressing was straight vegetable oil.

We've been long-time fans of Craftsman, and it's been a go-to during the pandemic. We ordered our normal dinner last night and were surprised and disappointed at the menu changes. My husband always gets the fish and chips. The batter on the fish has changed - he said it wasn't nearly as crispy/ crunchy as it was previously, and lacked flavor. I got the Craft Burger. This is not anywhere near the same as their previous (and very delicious) burger. The meat was tough and lacked flavor, even though it was cooked to a good medium rare. It came with a small amount of cabbage, pickles, and American cheese, which honestly made it taste like a fast food burger. The urban burger sauce kind of tasted like salsa. The dijonnaise was ok - i used it for the fries though. The previous burger also came with bacon and a side. This new version offers bacon as an add-on for $5 (!!) and no additional sides. If you want fries, you have to order them separately. They also no longer offer their sweet-potato fries and just have the option of criss-cut fries. We like fries but these were just ok. I was hoping we might go back and try out their brunch again to see if that's better, but they also no longer have brunch (that I can tell from their website) so that's also a bummer. I hope Craftsman can figure things out and make it through this pandemic successfully. read more

Usallly love this place and are willing to wait for a table. Tonight we went with friends and we're pleased to have a short wait. Unfortunatelty that short wait was followed by worst food I have had here, ever. Tasted as though our plates sat under hot lamp too long - stale,cold fries and crustedbead/buns. Too bad because our friends were new visitors and tonight made a bad first impression. Disappointed. read more

The brussel sprout salad is so good! Could be shareable. Good service. All around good experience.

Visiting a friend and we stopped in Saturday around 500p for drinks and apps. It was busy. Everyone appeared to be ordering the cheese curds. We got the board and curry poutine. The board had variety, the meat and cheese selection was average. The poutine got soggy quick but had good flavor. I got the Manhattan and was a little disappointed with the mix. Love that they used Copper and Kings though! Overall...appeared to be an average family friendly pub read more

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We are in town for a family wedding and our first stop was Craftsman's for our taste of fried cheese curds because they were highly recommended. The fried cheese curds did not disappoint. They were the perfect balance of crunch and stringy cheese and the ranch dipping sauce that came with it was a perfect balance. We also ordered the Craftsman burger and it was cooked perfectly to order and when we explained that we would be sharing they split the order for us!! The extra care and delicious food really make them a must go for a delicious taste of Wisconsin. read more

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

I attended a social mixer here last night and had the opportunity to sample multiple dishes and drinks. The atmosphere is casual, but modern, with an upper-level patio that features a giant Jenga set for patrons to play with. I'm here to report that the food was perfectly good. The cheese curds were hot and tasty, the chicken wings had a well seasoned breading that wasn't too thick, and the pretzel bites were a fun appetizer. Additionally, the bartenders were friendly, efficient, and knew how to make a mighty fine cocktail. Was it mind-blowing? No. But was it an enjoyable atmosphere with good food? Yes.I would recommend Craftsman Table & Tap if you are in the area and are looking for a good, slightly more upscale bar experience. I plan to be back. read more

Great spot. Parking a little rough. But great place to grab a cold one. Service was timely and we had a large group. I would go back. They even had my Hendricks Gin with a cucumber!!! read more

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I've now been to Craftsman twice - once for dine-in brunch and once to pick up dinner to go. Both experiences were wonderful. For brunch service was quick and quiet with a friendly waiter. I had the morning bun french toast and it was perfect for my sweet-leaning breakfast preferences. The caramelized sugar in the bun was delicious, and the rich custard sauce cut the sweetness (but made for an incredibly indulgent dish). When I went for takeout the other night the bartender who took my order over the phone was funny and accommodating, and the coordination with the kitchen was excellent - I had given him my expected arrival time and they literally delivered my box to the bar as I was walking in the door. I had gone for the brisket melt with fries and I couldn't have been happier. As a barbecue fan, for me the meat was more reminiscent of pot roast than what I generally think of for brisket, but it hit the spot all the same. The cheese had melted into the meat and the caramelized onions rounded out the flavor. The fries were browned and flavorful, and surprisingly held up despite getting a bit steamed in the to-go container on my drive home from Craftsman. In addition to the food, the restaurant hits a nice note with its design - it's on Frank Lloyd Wright Avenue and the designers clearly pulled their inspiration from the road's namesake. read more

I visited Craftsman today and since Covid it has been a while. I was shocked that not just a few items were off the menu but all items! Best of Madison cheese curds are still Carr Valley but served on a lame plate with a thicker ranch for dipping. I had the Panko chicken sandwich and could not find the chicken! The awesome fresh cut thin fries have been replaced with huge pale soft cold waffle fries. The beer menu is still awesome! No Brussel sprout salad!! Even the Craftsman salad has changed. I get that this pandemic has wreaked havoc on the food industry and lowering cost is needed to stay alive but please keep the menus smaller more simple with better quality items and the items we come for and brag about! I will come again because I have been a loyal patron since it opened. I was just very underwhelmed today. read more

We have eaten at Craftsman many times and I'm always happy with the food and ambience, but almost always frustrated with the wait and organization of being seated and served. There are two entrances to this restaurant which I feel confuses getting your name on the seating list and getting seated in general. They don't take reservations but I just found out that they will put your name on the waiting list if you call ahead. This was a bit frustrating as I watched so many people getting seated before us. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to call ahead from now on. I ordered the GF salmon last time with a specialty Crispin. It was really delicious and more filling than I expected. A good place to eat in Middleton, if you're ok with waiting. Call ahead. read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Yum! GF Crispin! - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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The weather was perfect for dining outside, so we did just that. At 11AM on a Sunday morning, the restaurant was sparsely occupied, and most of the other patrons at brunch were also seated outdoors. This was our second time at Craftsman in a week, so we were pretty familiar with the menu (a nice variety of bar foods). My friend ordered the Cuban Pork Sandwich with the hand-cut fries, while I got the Craftsman Burger and substituted the hand-cut fries for sweet potato fries. If you are in the market for some protein&carbs, you really can't go wrong with either. The Craftsman Burger was a basic bacon and cheese burger. I asked for it medium well, and it came out perfectly juicy - I think if I'd gone with medium it would have been a little too undercooked for my liking. I'm a huge fan of sharp cheddar, so I really appreciated that component of the burger as well. The Cuban Sandwich was delicious as well. They were certainly very generous with the meat and pickles, and I loved the combo of the hot/cold deli meats! :9 I must say that the Craftsman's Cuban is one of the best I've ever had. The sweet potato fries were another highlight of the meal. If you are already planning on taking the...less healthy route (fries instead of greens), you might as well substitute the regular fries (which looked like strips of fried potato skin) for a mound of sweet potato fries. You will regret it later when you need to loosen your belt by a couple of notches, but it's wellll worth it! The portions were ridiculously huge and neither the sandwich nor the burger should have been consumed by any one individual, but we were famished so we had an excuse (yea right). A mid-day food coma courtesy of Craftsman was a great way to our Sunday afternoon. (: read more

Fan with 4 stars. I've had several lunches here. Staff is on cue, helpful and down right cheery. The soup and sandwich special is where it is for lunch. Last meal I had an amazing mushroom and ham sandwich with truffle oil. Soup was tasty, hot and just the right amount. While the food is always good, I haven't been blown away yet. Still waiting... read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Ham, mushroom and truffle oil aoili sandwich - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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A great place for brunch, especially on a weekend. Menu is varied; food is very tasty

I have been to the Craftsman Table and Tap twice, and both have been very good experiences. To begin...let's discuss the cheese curds. I'm wee bit obsessed with cheese curds. I'm making it my mission to try every curd in town. The curds at Craftsman are one of a kind. They have some kind of crazy crispy breading that is like none other. My first bite I was unsure of them. The second bite I was intrigued. The third bite I was excited...they are good. Different, but really good. Of course I had to take a picture or two of the bucket of curds spilling out onto the plate...like every other person who goes there. They also have an excellent beer selection, and I appreciated the server's beer suggestion! The first time I ate there, I ate off the lunch menu, which doesn't have a ton of vegetarian options. I chose the Falafel Pita. I like falafel...but I don't eat it very often, so my standards are probably not all that high. Personally, I thought it was good with nice fresh vegetables and a good soft pita. And...it was pretty, which is obviously very important. ;) The second time I chose the quiche of the day which included fresh green beans and tomatoes. This was maybe the third time in my life that I'd ever eaten quiche. I can't say I'm really a quiche fan...but I was trying to be adventurous and try something new. I don't know that I'd order it again, but that's more my fault than the restaurants. I'm sure to all the quiche lovers out there it would be delectable! Both times I ate outdoors. The seating area is nice, save the crazy loud trucks going by all the time. Both times we had friendly, helpful servers. I am excited to go back and try out some more of their vegetarian menu options! read more

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In terms of food, this place is incredible! When they say that they have the best cheese curds in town, they totally mean it. I love all cheese curds, but some just have too much breading on them. That is not the case for these gooey nuggets of gold. And the ranch sauce that comes with them is like the cherry on top. We have only lived in this area for a little over 2 months and have been to Craftsman three times now. The first time was to try it, second time was for their "Paws on the Patio" on Tuesday nights with our dog, and third time was to bring family visiting (so they could try the best cheese curds in town). I gave them 4 stars because the service has only been 'pretty good' each time, not quite matching up with the greatness of their food. read more

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We had family visiting and took them here for Lunch on Sunday. They have enough space to accommodate big groups which is nice. We played beer Bingo and had a great time. They had a nice beer selection. The beer flight is pretty cool because you get to try small glasses of 4 different beers. There happy hour specials were a good deal. The food is fine/pretty good...nothing spectacular, but nothing wrong with the food. 3 stars is the perfect way to describe it. I was a little disappointed that they were still only serving the Brunch Menu at 2 PM on a Sunday. I was hoping to order an entree, but the selection was limited to breakfast items, salads, and sandwiches. I'd probably come back here again if I'm looking for a fun place to go for happy hour with a large group, but there are other places I'd rather go for a meal. read more

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Typical Gastro pub fare, but they do it well. Very good beer selection which continually rotates. Seating is amazing on the top outdoor porch as well as their patio. read more

Great lunch spot. Tried the German pretzels for an app. The pretzels were good and came with two really good dipping sauces. The beer cheese sauce was delicious. For the main course, we split the Tuscan chicken sandwich and the Brussels sprout salad. The chicken was a bit dry but everything else with the sandwich was really good. The brussel sprout salad was the best part of the meal. The salad was huge. The Brussels sprouts were cooked perfectly. I'd highly recommend, if you like Brussels sprouts. Overall, it was a great lunch. read more

When I am in Wisconsin to attend Epic classes, I typically stay in downtown Madison where I have access to great food! This time, I was stuck in Middleton without a car so I was limited to the hotel's shuttle where they will only drive guests within a 5 mile radius. The front desk recommended this place for people looking to eat at a local Wisconsin restaurant. The front desk also recommended their cheese curds, which I am a huge fan of!! As my group of 4 arrived, we were greeted by a very friendly host. The place was packed, but there was no wait time to be seated. It is located in what looked like a dead plaza. I ordered their Car Valley Cheese Curds, Steak Oscar, and washed it all down with a nice bottle of Sprechier gourmet root beer. The Car Valley Cheese Curds is deep fried with a coat of beer batter. It was amazing! The batter was very crispy and the cheese was gooey. I really enjoyed them with a side of ranch. However, I do believe that the Old Fashioned had better cheese curds. The Steak Oscar was a miss. My entire table ordered this dish and we were not happy. My dish particularly came out warm and overcooked. I asked my steak to be medium-well, but it came out more well done. Also, the steak potatoes fries were all burnt! I couldn't eat them at all cause they were hard. The Sprechier root beer is also recommended. It was sweet and creamy...but not thick. The staff members were all very nice and took the time to answer any questions. My group shared the cheese curds and we each needed separate itemized receipts. Instead of charging one of us for the cheese curds, she automatically split the price and added 25% of the cost for each of us. How nice is that! She did that without us having to ask for it. That's forward thinking there and I wish other restaurants would do that too. The entire restaurant itself was very nice. Once you walk in, you can tell that it has a nice bar and decorated to celebrate their football team! When I return to Madison, I don't think I'd return to this place. If I am in the area, then I would only have their appetizers and drinks. read more

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Do not order the Brussels Sprouts salad. It's probably in the top 5 worst salads I've ever had. Extremely flavorless. Just a mountain of mixed greens with a few halved Brussels Sprouts, 5-6 pecans, and some apple cubes. Don't get it. Get the cheese curds, though! Those were delicious! 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

Deeeelicious! First, the upstairs is a pretty cool area to sit and wait for a table. When we arrived we realized we forgot to make reservations (sigh) and were forced to wait around for an hour. But luckily they have a bar and seating area upstairs where you can order drinks and appetizers while you wait! I had wine, my boyfriend had beer and we of course ordered some cheese curds. They are so good, some of the best in Madison! Perfectly seasoned and still gooey inside. When we were finally seated, I wasn't as hungry as I thought I'd be (probably from eating almost all of the curds) so I ordered a soup and salad combo. You get a lot of food for a cheap price ($6.99). The soup was a creamy tomato soup and the salad is a simple tossed salad with lots of feta. Both were yummy, I really enjoyed the soup though and I could have eaten an entire bowl of it. My boyfriend had the Craftsman burger and really enjoyed it. Service was great, too. We will be back, next time with reservations! read more

Craftsman Table & Tap - Creamy tomato soup. - Gastropubs Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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