We came to sit at the bar, lunch and watch college football. Love the atmosphere. Had the chicken sandwich with giardenera and it was awesome. Try the scotch ale on tap. If you like beers, you will live this one. Really nice scotch after taste. read more

Really use to like this place, but now it seems like they are cutting back on portions and quality. I had an OK burger and the wife had the fried chicken sandwich. The fried chicken part was good, but the sauce was to over powering. It ruin the whole sandwich. The half pickles that come with each sandwich.Were a total of 3 slices.Come on if your going to charge me 12-14 a sandwich. And not even including fries. Can I get a half pickle not just 3 slices. The fries were not good also. Limp, greasy and cold. Our go to fried smelt was a very small portion. They use to come in a basket now just a small handful on a plate. Don't waste your money. Over all really really disappointed with the food. For the prices you charge. You should be ashamed at the portions and quality of your food. read more

Absolutely perfect experience at Gates and Brovi. I came in earlier today with my wife and friends and the place was packed! I was definitely not expecting this as it was a crappy Sunday night. We were immediately greeted by one of the friendly workers and assured we would be seated within the next 10-15 minutes. I thought that was a bit of a stretch being that every single table was full and there were several people standing in the front waiting area. But, the host was right! And we were promptly taken to our table. Our server was great! Very personable, knowledgable and FUNNY. She gave us some recommendations (beer and food), and we ended up going with the fried Smelt, Cheese Curds(apps) Cod Cakes, Gnocchi and Fisherman's Stew(mains) and a piece of Strawberry Rhubarb pie for dessert(DELICIOUS). All of it was spot on! Good timing and hot. We were all very happy with our choices. All in all, perfect night. This place is got a great thing going on. My family and friends will definitely be back! read more

It was fine. Wasn't great, but wasn't terrible. I got a pizza, which was somehow incredibly salty. Curds are good. Wings are pretty good. Beer selection is very good. Service is fine. Very kid-friendly. read more

Ugh. I had drinks here and was really looking forward to trying their food. Went in solo at bar and ordered the Friday fish fry special. Ice cold fries and fish. Food came out too fast so figured it wasn't fresh. Go to Laurel if you really want a fish fry right. Manhattan was good, but hate that the food was so terrible. read more

My family loves Gates and Brovie ; it's a regular dinner and brunch stop for us. Their fried cheese Kurds are the best in Madison. I'm also a big fan of the clam chowder. All the food is good. The atmosphere is loud and friendly. Perfect. read more

We went on a Friday night and it was packed with families at 6 PM. We were luckily able to nab a spot at the bar and not have to wait 20 minutes for a table. The bartenders were busy, but we never had to wait unnecessarily long for service. They have a very large beer selection and a well-stocked bar. They had about 6 signature drinks. I didn't get one, but I saw the mint vodka lemonade being made and it looked good! They used fresh mint and muddled it. The menu was a little limited. Lots of seafood options, so I don't recommend it if you aren't a fan of seafood, but if you are, it's a great place for you! I got the Friday fish fry and had the option of cod or blue gill. I chose the cod and it was pretty standard fish fry-nothing too special. It was good and I enjoyed it, but it wasn't great. I did like that they offered malt vinegar for the fish and fries and they served it with Ranch without me having to ask. The coleslaw was good but a bit too acidic. My fiancee got the G&B Burger and enjoyed it. He especially liked the special sauce. However, I was disappointed that it didn't come with any fries or other sides for the price that it was. I liked the decor and atmosphere. It made me think of a New England pub with the emphasis on seafood and beer. Overall, it was a good dinner and I can't complain about much, but I don't know if I'd go back. It seems like a great place for families with kids because of the pizza options. The prices seemed fair as well. read more

As first timers we worried that it would be one of those neighborhood joints where kids were running wild. We were pleasantly surprised to find the tables occupied by adults in conversation. We were greeted promptly and our order was taken right away. We did order wine which was served in cocktail glasses (guess they don't do much wine business). Our food came promptly and it was very good. Our overall experience was very good, with prompt and pleasant service and food that was pleasing to the eye as well as the palate. We would come again. read more

Awesome cheese curds! Really solid comfort foods. Salmon burger and fried chicken sandwich were delicious. Unique flavor combinations. Will go again. read more

Was very excited to try G&B since I love it's sister restaurant, Sardine, so much. Unfortunately, it fell a little short of expectations. The drinks list was pretty good (some nice creative cocktails), while the food was okay. The decor is a bit of a miss- better than many places in the city but feels lost between a sports bar, a bistro, and a New England crab shack. read more

Came here with my three kids, it was fantastic! We had clam chowder, mussels, cod cakes, etc. Wonderful service and drinks too.

Always excellent. One of our favorite places even though we don't live in Neighborhood. All the food is good but any of the seafood/fish items r our favorites. Wish they would have the cod cakes on the menu more often, they r terrific. The oysters, calamari, and bluegill BLTs are awesome. Not what you'd expect from a "burger bar" type place. read more

Beautiful place! My brunch buddy and I tried the bluegill sandwich and the salmon burger. Both cooked to perfection. Sauces and toppings were perfect, not overpowering. My friend had blueberry pie and was smitten. Recommend his to everyone. Great drink menu, even for brunches. They do need to work a bit on the Bloody Mary. It tasted like a pre-made tomato mix. Go fresh, guys! read more

Gates & Brovi - Salmon burger! - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This place has come a long way since it first opened. The atmosphere is casual and dark and friendly. The food is interesting, flavorful and thoughtful.. You can tell that people who own Sardine take the same type of care with the menu here. I would call this casually sophisticated- even the wines by the glass seem to be carefully chosen and also well-priced. I also appreciate how late they are open. They cater to a very diverse crowd- from families in the early part of the evening, to older people later on and everyone in between. I've tried a number of dishes here, including the portobella sandwich and most recently, the clam pie. It's all fresh and well executed. The surprise here is how great the pizza is! And also, the homemade desserts are incredible. Apparently, they change often, so the servers just recite them rather than hand you a list. My one suggestion is that they cut back a little on the nuts and raisins in the carrot cake. Other than that, keep doing what you are doing! Madison is lucky to have this place. read more

Pretty good. The service was quick and the food was delicious. The cheese kurds were very flavorful!

A nice meal and a nice evening out. Ventured over to the westside for dinner. Thought it may be crowded due to the all city swim meet at Nakoma, but we got right in and found a comfortable booth. I enjoyed a variety of their taps. Summer, so a weissbier and of course an IPA. For dinner, i kept my burger streak going and had the mushroom, gorgonzola cheese burger. Messy and delicious. I didn't read the menu very closely and was surprised when not asked about fries, chips etc. So, was very surprised to not get any. She had the chicken picatta, and loved it!! The lemon caper garlic sauce on top of the breaded chicken was oohed on. The potatos completed a delicious serving. We finished, thought about dessert, and so went with the cheese curds. They were pretty good. Lightly battered and even better without the sauce. We'd visit again. read more

I had the same disappointing experience as other reviewers here. Being a big fan of Marigold Kitchen and Sardine, I had high expectations. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, although loud. The menu is quite limited. As for the food, the batter on the fish fry was not completely cooked, leaving it soggy. Fries were average and didn't add anything to the meal; they are just filler. Salads are decently sized but over-dressed. Service was just o.k. Prices are reasonable. I also agree with the other comments that this place needs to figure out what it wants to be; right now, there is no focus or clear vision. I had been anticipating the opening of G&B for some time and really wanted to like it. I hope they get their act together. read more

Great ambience...crab shack meets Wisconsin. Had a dozen oysters, each was big and delicious. A lb of shrimp for dinner boiled in a beer broth. My wife had a seafood stew, which was the special, wouldn't mind seeing that on the menu permanently. I'll be going back! read more

I had the best drink in Madison here! The menu is short but enough for me and my girlfriends to select different varieties to try. All have great presentation and taste. Looking forward to come by again!! read more

Gates and Brovi is a solid choice for dining in the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood. Service, vibe and space is easily a 4 star experience. The vibe is cozy and warm and the large space is great for groups or families. However, I have to give Gates a 3 based on food...I've had good things there, but I've had a lot of mediocre things there. I'd probably end up giving it a 4 star, but food is mediocre and prices are high...double whammy. Good: Bluegill fish fry with roasted red potatoes Cheese Curds (actually amazing!) Crab dip--mmmmm...so good Not so good: Clam/Fennel Pizza--maybe I should have known better, but this was really not my thing. Shrimp Fritters--NOT worth the price. Not that great, and expensive. Parmesan/Garlic Chicken Wings--really not Gates' wheelhouse, these wings were pretty bad, lukewarm and a little soggy Beet salad--good flavor, but too heavy on carrots Shrimp Salad sandwich--just not that good, too sweet, and the avocado was not a good texture with shrimp Overall...I will keep going to Gates' for the bar and atmosphere, but I hope they refine a few things and keep prices reasonable. read more

My family and I stumbled on to Gates & Brovi by accident, and we were so pleased that we did! Decor: Although I am not totally certain as to what the designers of this restaurant were looking for, it is clear that whoever did it is in love with textures and wood tones. The effect is homey, calming, and welcoming. Combined with the beautiful windows and the winter sky, and it was really quite beautiful sitting there. Perhaps the only thing that could be said to mar the experience is the tendency of the designers to push the hipster sensibility a little too far (see the Carling's Black label sign over the bar, or perhaps the red plastic food baskets) past a celebration of kitsch into the patronizing zone. This is Madison, however, and if you cannot handle the occasional smug hipsterism, you will be happier moving elsewhere. Food: Unlike some of the other reviewers, our experience with the food was overwhelmingly positive. Our experience was that the chowder was stellar (A-), the burgers very, very good (B+), as was the pulled pork (B+), and the sliced roast beef sandwich (B+), the french fries were very fine--but not as good as at Sardine (B), and the hot ham sandwich was also better than competent (B). The boiled shrimp--in shell--was fine, but not remarkable (B-), largely due to indifferent spicing and shrimp quality. We did not try the signature lobster. Overall, this is MUCH better than most of the food to be found in Madison restaurants. Service: The service was highly efficient, in good humor, and took on serving our large table with grace. The service is informal, but that is the point of this place. Alcohol: We were not drinking because it was midday. The beer offerings looked competent, but I didn't make a systematic study of the listings. Recommendation: I'd encourage the folks at G&B to think about ways to convince Madisonians that they are getting real value for their gastro-pub fare. This might be either (a) making the food so good that we are amazed that it is being served in plastic baskets and with disposable napkins, or (b) improving the presentation. I'd hate for this place to fold because it doesn't make customers valued. And it might be good to pull down the Black label sign if your customers aren't going to drink Black label. Gotta keep your credibility. read more

Have been three times and can highly recommend the clam pie and bluegill fish fry. Their coleslaw was super blah but everything else was good. Wait staff is just ok. The last time we visited we had a party of six and kind of got rushed out to free up the table. The waitress also didn't ask how we wanted to split the check and it ended up making things really complicated. read more

I give G&B a 3 and 1/2 stars. Their servers deserve a 5-they are always welcoming, attentive and pretty cool! Although their menu has improved since they opened it still is nowhere near the unique, fresh and interesting food served at their other establishments. I will recommend the salmon burger and my husband is a fan of their homemade sausage pizza. The bluegill is nothing special and there are no sides except coleslaw or pickle that accompany most dishes. I was excited when I heard they were opening gut breakfast on the weekends but we were underwhelmed. High prices for typical breakfast fare. If they start adding more locally sourced fresh options I think they would attract more customers. read more

Service was a little slow at first but picked up. The 'spicy' park wings were not spicy at all but delicious! The clam chowder was just ehhh. Burgers my husband and I got were great. Coleslaw was pretty good too. Overall great food. We'll be back again. read more

Our favorite neighborhood spot. Relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Good beers and good food: we get the bluegill BLT and chicken picatta (great value) almost every visit. Highly recommend for any type of occasion, family meals to drinks with friends and everything in between. read more

A regular destination for us. Their fried calamari is some of the best we've had. Their fried artichokes, onions, and lemons are an item I would love for them to bring back. Green goat pizza is another favorite. Don't miss the Tom and Jerry drink around Christmas time. read more

The burgers and sides are very good but the pizza is trash. What an iconic burger for an iconic city. I love the fish decorations. Make sure you snag a mint on the way out. read more

I love the food here! I will explain why i gave 4 of 5 - FOOD IS 5. Love the local feel - even love that they have an awesome baker from State Fair who make the pies! The fresh cut salmon burger is insane. I'm totally obsessed. Here's why i didn't give 5 stars. I come here every time i'm in town for business and the male manager/beard has NEVER BEEN FRIENDLY, SAID HELLO OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED ME! REALLY? SMALL BUSINESS ?? probably needs to learn better guest etiquette! The BEST ambassador of this place is TARA! She recognizes me every time and makes me feel so welcome. Her service is amazing. Food and Tara is the reason i come back. Owner - um... get a clue on friendliness! read more

Service was just fine in this family friendly restaurant i.e. entrees in plastic baskets, condiments in paper cups etc The menu would benefit greatly from a few more healthy entree options - more salads - maybe a nightly fish special that isn't deep fried? We ordered the Beer Boiled Shrimp entree, the Cod Sandwich, Chicken Tenders for the kids, a basket of fries, the Wedge Salad and your Bean and Sausage soup of the night..oh and the cheese curds, because we're Wisconsinites. It all tasted fine but a side of veggies as an option would have been greatly appreciated!! or fruit! My husband stopped in for the Wednesday Chicken special last week and loved it - we are also looking forward to trying the Friday night Fish Fry Please do add some more salads to your menu and some vegetables with the entrees! Thanks! read more

My wife and I were disappointed as we were really looking forward to its opening. It's not far from our home, it's locally owned - and by the same folks that own one of our favorite restaurants: Sardine. The first disappointed was the very limited menu. We're hoping they'll expand it as they work out the wrinkles in opening a restaurant. Alas, the quality of the food was mediocre as well. I had the portabella mushroomopen-faced sandwich. It was overwhelmed by the remoulade. My wife had the beef sandwich - which was just ok. We very much want the restaurant to be successful, but we'll wait a while until we go again, hoping that they just haven't found their niche yet. read more

I like the other restaurants owned by this group (Sardine and Marigold Kitchen) and so I had pretty high expectations for this restaurant. I will keep it brief: on the positive side, the decor is very well done (except for the televisions). On the negative side: the menu is too small, there is no kids menu, there is too much fried food on the menu and there is nothing interesting on the menu. It's basically burgers and fried food, with a New England seafood twist. I am from New England and the clam chowder was mediocre at best. The restaurant would be a lot better if they simply expanded the menu a bit: some non-fried fish, some nice salads and some kid options. read more

An open inviting place that is family friendly, but not too kid-centric. The highlights on the menu include shrimp fritters, clam chowder, great soups from scratch, arugula salad and beet salad, Clam linguini, tuna sandwich and straight-ahead burger that feels just right. It's got a nice neighborhood vibe that makes it an easy place to stop for relaxing lunch and happy hour specials that include a great price on oysters and apps on weeknights. The Friday Fish Fry is so popular that its hard to get a table. If only they had something fruity on their desert menu (pie or crisp would hit the spot). And yes, parking is definitely tricky before 7pm - but it's also right on the bike path. read more

Good food. Neat atmosphere. I would love to go back again soon! I went after a Badger game with a few friends who had been recommending this place for months and I can see why! The décor and building is cool. We had to park a couple blocks away, but I feel like it was worth the walk. read more

When I first went to Gates and Brovi a few months ago, I was an almost instant fan. The restaurant is a a good place to go with a family or group of friends, especially with the two large picnic-style tables that are fun for groups of friends or a party. The food is American, with a menu that sways towards being seafood-centered. Indeed, the seafood is reasonably good for a land-locked area. The décor is an interesting and fresh take on a north woods supper club combined with what seems to be a New England clam shack or seafood place. The owners took these two modest but character-filled venues and spiffed it up a ton, with high ceilings and large windows that fill the room with natural light at lunchtime. Hardwood floors and vintage north woodsy shiny beer signs give the place a nostalgic but also cool and fresh look. Most design elements are tasteful and a good bit kitschy. The seating is mostly wooden, so it takes a little bit of a hit on comfort. However, there is a table and seating that can please everybody. There are traditional tables and chairs, bar stools at the bar, booths, high padded seats around a table, and even two wood picnic tables that I mentioned earlier. Recently, Gates and Brovi expanded their menu to a double-sided page, which added lots of items that can appeal to many tastes. The crowd favorite, and one that I would highly recommend for any newcomer to this restaurant, is the G & B burger. It is divine, with a delicious sauce and a goey, drippy, richness. As with a good amount of their other menu items, the burger requires more than a few of the flimsy paper napkins. Also good to try is the beer steamed shrimp. Soaking in a delicious -broth? -brine? each shrimp absorbs loads of rich flavor, and compensates for the average seafood that is served. Appetizers are delicious and there is a good amount to choose from. The fries are a good thing to automatically get if you are with other people, because the large size comes with a lot and is the cheapest of the appetizers. The fries are perfectly hot and crispy and have just the right amount of oiliness. My brother had the cheese curds one time and said they were very awesome. One downside is that the brown sugar roasted pork sandwich is so choked with greens and a soggy slop that it was hard to pick out the pork flavor, which didn't have that much flavor anyway (Where was the brown sugar part of it? I couldn't taste it). Many things are very messy and soggy and require lots of napkins. There is one mediocre paper napkin that comes with your silverware but that runs out pretty quickly. There are dispensers on each table, but each napkin that comes out of those is so flimsy and thin that you end up having a huge pile of wadded-up paper at the end of your meal. Service is a strong point, with wait staff that are friendly and courteous. When my mother got the wine she ordered, it came not quite as chilled as some might like it. The waitress was very helpful and offered to refrigerate it for longer, which worked. When the wine came back, it was a good deal colder but still in a non-stemmed beer-like glass. Apparently they do not have stemmed glasses for wine, so you have to have it in a regular beer sampler glass. Other users have mentioned parking being a problem, although I live close and usually walk there. It is true that there is no parking lot in the daytime, and you have to resort to side streets. After 7:00 you can park in the Mallatt's parking lot, which is right next to the restaurant. Along with their expanded menu, they also added a parking diagram which handily points out which streets are good to park on. All in all, this is a great place to take the family, or the relatives in town, or anybody for that matter. The food is amazing, especially for the price you pay and the portion size you get. If you are looking for your next place to eat in Madison, swing on by to Gates and Brovi. read more

Nice atmosphere. From the outside, it doesn't appear what it is inside. Appears as a great old building repurposed. Food is average, but not in a bad way. Service was great. Friendly. read more

Not a good restaurant! Nice atmosphere. The food is over priced, not very good, and it's not even served on a plate. Really? I was disappointed enough in it that I decided to post a review! read more

Was pleasantly surprised, nice beer selection and great food. The fish stew was very good along with the cod fritters and cheese curds. We will be back. read more

Quick, friendly service, great atmosphere. Good food. We liked the shrimp fritters a lot!

Great place to take the family. Waitstaff is always pleasant. Had the Friday night bluegill special with baby reds. Top notch. Definitely a family favorite. read more

Went to Gates & Brovi for a Sunday lunch. The service was good and the food tasted average to good. I had a tuna sandwich. At this point I think it is important to mention that Gates & Brovi is not open on Mondays, and possibly purges their leftovers on Sunday. The tuna fish I ate gave me food poisoning. The rest of my Sunday and all of Monday went down the ....well lets say I didn't enjoy my existence. The two important take aways from my experience are: -DON"T EAT AT GATES & BROVI ON SUNDAYS & -Geographically Gates & Brovi is not located near an ocean. Avoid Seafood. read more