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

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

We had friends that raved about G&B as it's know by locals. So we decided to stop in for fish fry knowing nothing but of our friends reviews. PROs - Great Atmosphere Good to Great Food Price isn't too bad The Coleslaw. CONs - When they are SWAMPED staffing is limited. Parking - wait till after 7 pm and you can park in Mallat's pharmacy parking lot. Breading on both cod and blue gill should have cooked in higher heat a touch longer - as it was almost doughy. This is worth the evening - even better if you have a large family or group of friends....friendly place, staff cares and food is YUMMY.....but if you eat at the bar, you don't know anything about the deserts which one of my friends chewed me out that I didn't ask.....didn't know to ask. lol 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

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

Gates and Brovi - YES! Up Monroe Street, away from the hustle and bustle, this place is a not-so-hidden gem, as the wait for a table sometimes reflects. On weekends and Friday-fish-fry nights, expect upwards of 30 minutes. BUT, worth it. Have a drink at the bar and you'll make a new friend while getting some good menu suggestions from the bartender. The atmosphere is great, energetic, loud at times. Lots of families, locals, students, etc. TVs on in the background so you can catch the game (but not a main focal point of the place). The waitstaff is amazing, attentive, well-informed of the menu and the specials. My favorites: MUSHROOM GORGONZOLA CHEESE BURGER (grilled onion, tomato and lettuce..perhaps a bit pricey at $11.50, but an amazing and complex burger!) and the CHICKEN PICATTA in lemon-caper garlic sauce with green beans and crispy potatoes never disappoints! If looking for a vegetarian main dish, try the PENNE PASTA, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, BRUSSELS SPROUTS and mushrooms. Ask about the nightly specials -always good. The parking situation is not the best, but it's a small complaint in comparison; you can park on busy Monroe Street, or find a spot in the neighborhood streets behind (watch for signage!) Easily one of our favorite dinner-out spots in Madison. read more

Food and drinks are good, but not amazing. Definitely a good place for a Friday night fish fry and great atmosphere.

We live five minutes away from Gates and Brovi , and our family (including our 4 year old daughter) couldn't wait for the construction to be finished and the doors to open. Sardines is great, Marigold is a treat, so what's next? A bar-food restaurant, a mediocre one, with too many TVs and to little flavor between in the bun. It is a restaurant that puts the word "kids" on the menu but has little to offer apart from pasta with meatballs galore once a week. "We don't have a kids' menu, but she could have some fried chicken tenders," was what our waitress suggested. It was pretty packed that night, and the place understaffed, so I don't expect a lot of creativity. What I expect, however, is what every junior barista at Starbucks knows and is taught: if you let the customer wait for a long time (here: almost an hour) after having placed the order--offer a free drink, put some bread and butter on the table, at least make a comment as to why it's taking so long. Nothing like that happened. If you bring the wrong sandwich (we ordered cod not pork), don't charge for the (slightly more expensive) pork (which was dry, by the way). And if the fries are cold, be generous with the replacement and don't just bring a hand full (they are cheap). I had the burger, which didn't stand out. Not comparable to what they do at Marigold's. If I came to watch a game on one of the gazillion TVs, I probably wouldn't mind, but I came for the food and I did mind that it was just a bun with a patty. Indistinguishable from your run of the mill burger. The cod sandwich, a piece of battered and fried piece of cod on a bun, that's it. Ever tried the Weary Traveler's Walleye sandwich? I certainly see that G&B offers lobster and steak but this is not the place (in the literal sense) for steak, at least not for me. If it helps--I wouldn't mind paying more for more flavor and better service. All in all, we like the idea and the concept of Gates & Brovi, but we will wait a while until we come back and see if they put these ideas on the plate. read more

This is a neighborhood place very popular with families but also with an active bar in the evening. The decor is basic. The waitstaff are welcoming and friendly. Most important: the food is simple but excellent. Kids are welcomed. read more

Cute local place. I have dreams about the green goat pizza! My boyfriend's cod cakes were also pretty good.

Very glad I gave them a second chance. My first visit was a few months after their opening date and was unimpressed beyond the atmosphere which reminded me of an East Coast fish house. While I'm all for limited menus as long as what's offered are great choices, it was impossible for us to find anything we were even remotely interested in trying... and what we opted for tasted no better than your standard chain seafood restaurant. I actually groaned when my friend suggested we meet for dinner & drinks on Tues. but was assured they had worked out their glitches & revamped the menu. Very pleasantly surprised with the changes! Finally it was hard for me to make a decision not due to nothing standing out but because I was torn between multiple items! We started with calamari which had a panko type breading & no greasiness. Moved on to the beet & avocado salad, a mix of wonderful summer flavors & large enough to share. My friend ordered the cod cakes which I sampled and melted in your mouth. Since I've been missing the South, I was drawn in by the Bluegill BLT with pimiento cheese. GREAT sandwich and the addition of pimiento upped the flavor as well as held it together without being a huge mess. Add a really good server to the mix & I can happily say I will be back.... and no groaning involved beyond that of a satisfied, full stomach. read more

This place is fine, but I think if I ever go again it will be because it is the only thing in its area that has late-night food. Otherwise, I don't think it's anything special for regular lunch or dinner hours. It's not bad, but I don't think it knows what it wants to be. Food is good enough: hot beef sandwich, vegetarian burger, calamari, fries. Everything was fine, just not really "special." The best thing was the small side of coleslaw, in my opinion. There are many other more exciting restaurants in Madison. That said, the prices were reasonable, and the place isn't pretentious. read more

I loved this place. We went after a Badger game and it was warm and inviting. We ended up splitting the pork sandwich and fries and we were impressed. Even though they don't have a drink menu, they will make you whatever drink you want. Just ask for it. I loved the "up north" feel but with the great food. We'll be going back. read more

I said to my husband "I think they did 'Bar Rescue' on themselves." We stopped in the other night and I loved my spicy cocktail, the service was spot on while very busy, and we both had awesome meals. I recently left somewhere where I ate a lot of seafood that was local and the seafood stew was perfect for my post-travel and now-sick self. We were taken of care of and the food was very good. read more

If you're looking for a gluten free pizza with a crust that rivals any gluten crust, you must try the pizzas at Gates & Brovi. We recommend the clam pie with clams, roasted fennel, tomato sauce, cream, basil, mozzarella and parmesan - and to put it over the top, add some bacon. We've never been disappointed with the raw oysters here either. They have a great drink selection as well. read more

Very good. Casual atmosphere. No nonsense, brief menu. The portions are perfect (no one needs a half pound burger). The ribeye sandwich was delicious tonight. Great atmosphere, mix of old WI supper club and sports bar. The name could be more appealing though. read more

REALLY? This place is related to Sardine and Marigold? Seriously? I live 2 blocks from G&B, and like others, was so excited to finally have a restaurant close enough for a quick walk and bite on a regular basis. Bottom line, unless there are MAJOR changes, I will not be back. Here's what's wrong with the place, in my opinion: MENU: very small selection of what appears to be extremely mundane, uncreative food. I can easily make burgers and sandwiches at home - why would I go out for a tuna melt? And I'm unlikely to spend upwards of $30 in a noisy, sports bar environment for lobster PRICE: quite overpriced for very mediocre food (go to the Laurel or Village Bar if you want a decent burger at a decent price!) SERVING SIZE: are you kidding me? for $7.50 you get of a 6x3" piece of focaccia with roasted eggplant and cheese? I'd expect at least double this for the price. My dining companion and I both left hungry (we both ordered the roasted eggplant sandwich and split a large order of fries) SIDES: the meager eggplant sandwich came with a pickle spear, some odd pickled pepper and about 2 tablespoons of coleslaw. For the price, fries, salad or other sides should be included FOOD QUALITY: seemed okay, nothing special. I saw no mention or evidence of local, organic or other quality ingredients. If you're looking for an excellent burger, go to the Weary Traveller for the Bob's Bad Breath Burger...it's a way better value, includes 1/2 pound of organic beef, plus incredible sides...all for less than the cost of the G&B burger with side purchase of fries) SPECIALS: how about adding some specials for every night, not just Wed and Fri? AMBIENCE: way too noisy. The cold air from inside rushes in every time the doors are open, there is no double/enclosed entryway. In the winter, I suspect this place will be impossibly cold and drafty. PARKING: PIty the people that live in the immediate vicinity of this restaurant, they will no longer be free from slamming car doors and cars parked in front of their houses and increased traffic. Cars are everywhere, and parking is a nightmare. DO NOT park in the Metro bus area on the north side of Monroe Street. A car was being ticketed and towed as we were leaving - the parking person said this happens all the time now...a nice $90 addition to someone's dinner bill - OUCH! Why isn't the restaurant concerned about this and helping their customers avoid a ticket (a simple sign might help). Additionally, cars for G&B are parking on the south side of Monroe Street, making passage through the light difficult. On a recent evening, my boyfriend had to wait through at least 6 light changes to get to the traffic signal; traffic was backed up a block beyond the intersection with Odana, and left turns at the light with the parked cars made it impossible to pass through the intersection. UGH! There is a 6 car covered lot behind the building with nearly impossible maneuverability. If you have a Smart Car, you're good to go - use it! Three of the stalls were empty when we tried to park there, and the place was packed. Apparently, most people have not discovered the lot yet. On the good side: Our server was nice, the food arrived in a timely manner, and I love the idea of reclaimed materials used in construction. The exterior of the building is appealing and there are lots of windows. I am guessing this restaurant will have a good following, even if nothing changes. I won't be going back, however, until G&B steps it up a bit. Sorry. I would have given 1/2 a star or zero if it let me. read more

My wife and I went to G and B on a Sat. noon. The place was empty to our surprise but tables quickly began to fill one by one. When the waiter began to take orders he skipped around the room with no system to his madness. We were sitting there watching and wondering why people arriving after us had their orders taken before us. (Even a table of 8). In other words he was taking orders helter skelter. He took all the orders in the room on a pad of paper without turning one order into the kitchen. The kitchen staff was standing there looking out the window watching the waiter. Probably thinking it would be nice to be able to have at least one of those orders. When my wife finally ordered........ a medium burger the waiter told he "sorry they only come well done". Having never heard this before in my life I ask for an explaination and was told " it's easier for the kitchen that way". My wife and I told the waiter thanks anyway and left............ Oh yes the decor was great! Sorry to have to report this because Sardine and Marigold are two of our favorites. read more

Not a place I will come back to. Hardly any gluten free options, with a menu that is less than exciting. Burgers, sandwiches, fried fish (no baked), no fresh juice for cocktails and the same fried food you can get any other chain barf hole. Very disappointing coming from Sardine. read more

Favorite, most consistent, and most frequented restaurant in Madison. Friendly service, often shorter wait times than other restaurants on Monroe or on the square, great atmosphere with big windows and lots of light, and consistently good food with interesting specials. Favorite things on the menu: pizzas, cod cakes, burgers (both beef + salmon), and rotating soups. Only thing I don't love is the tempura veggie appetizer. Also, just a note that the salads are pretty small so I wouldn't order one as an entree if you're super hungry. ;) Breakfast is delicious too - though it ends at 11:30 since it's breakfast rather than brunch. Despite going to G&B a lot it never gets old! This is also our go-to spot when we have family and friends in town since there are options for all types of picky eaters. ;) read more

G&B is a weekly stop for me. The fare is absolutely fantastic and the environment is cool and casual. Reclaimed wood and hardware adorn the entire establishment and give it a cozy Northeastern feel. The menu may be a bit exotic for the taste of some, but everything from the clam chowder and soup of the day to the Bluegill BLT will blow your mind. If you're not into that sort of thing the G&B burger or one of the house pizzas will certainly do the trick. For dessert, try the pie. It's home made specially for Gates and Brovi. Trust me you'll want to buy the whole thing after one bite. Sat. and Sun. breakfast is not a full on brunch menu, but it is sure to satisfy. In case you need to wash that food down with a cold beverage, there is a full bar with talented folks to mix you something up or pour you a brew. The tap selection isn't mighty, but it's quality over quantity in this case. There are plenty of other beers in the cooler to meet your need. The entire staff is full of friendly faces who truly enjoy their work and are quick with witty and intelligent conversation. All of this nestled into a quaint residential area. There is a map for parking on their website. I'm glad to have them in the neighborhood. read more

A theme of East Coast beach from the 70s. This place was doomed from the start. Fried. Expensive. Zip for vegetarians. Obnoxious presence in the neighborhood with no parking. How soon will it go away? read more

Not great but consistently good and it's become a place that I keep returning to after a rough start. Really good ambiance and good service and a great neighborhood asset. I give it 3 1/2 stars. read more

Let's Start of with a nice Atmosphere and ambience, the service was also good and helpful. The food was great, it was really fresh and well seasoned! Gates and Brovi had many options I had a small Mushroom and onions pizza with Parmesan cheese and arugula! It was really good! read more

Gates & Brovi is no Sardine, nor is it Marigold Kitchen. But, with the success of those excellent establishments behind it, this neighborhood pub with family fare, is a sure bet. In the month since G & B opened, I have wandered down there about about a dozen times. Am I related to the owners? No, I am an area resident, who enjoys sitting at the bar with a great Bloody Mary and a basket of yummy cheese curds. And the ranch dressing is not only something for the kiddies! Sometimes I'll have the blue cheese burger, or the steamed shrimp, while watching young and old greet each in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Any new restaurant merits a second visit, as it continues to fine tune its operation. Gates & Brovi is no exception. Perhaps I'll see you there. read more

I have been there a few times and the first few times I was a huge fan of the roasted garlic chicken. It was juicy inside, the "greens" were flavorful as were the red roasted potatoes; however, on two subsequent separate visits, the bottom burger bun was so filled with grease or juice that it disintegrated and I had to eat it with a knife and fork, which cut through the paper that lined the plastic serving basket, which they swear they clean in a dishwasher. I was still skeptical that eating a burger on that plastic surface was sanitary. The service was poor. The plastic "glass" that was served had a big chip in it at the top/lip. I was comped for the meal after asking for the manager. On a subsequent lunch visit with a friend, we had a terrible waitress, (petite with pulled back blonde hair), who excused our 50 minute wait for our food with "it got busy" when it was not busy upon our arrival at 12:05 on a weekday. Then, there was the excuse that the chefs were behind. (Hence, it was someone else's fault, but not hers - no apology). None of this was communicated to us until we flagged her attention as she never came by to check on us and we were sitting outside the kitchen doors! When the food did arrive, the roast chicken I ordered arrived with french fries instead of roast red potatoes, and I said I had not ordered fries. It was brought by the manager of the moment I think. He insisted I had ordered fries. I told him to take them off the plate after repeating I had not ordered fries. The rest of the food was returned on a smaller plate, which made it difficult to cut the half chicken. Then the terrible waitress appeared again after he left and said that the kitchen was out of red potatoes. Again, someone else's fault, not hers. After I finished my chicken, she reappeared with a bowl of boiled, not roasted red potatoes, so someone was either lying about the kitchen being out of them or someone made a quick run to a grocery store. She came beaming back to us with the checks and told me very proudly that I had been comped for my meal. That is what should have happened. In my dismayed state of mind, I inadvertently tipped her, which was not my intention at all. She did not deserve a tip other than she should find another job. While I was originally so happy to find a restaurant that had roast chicken on the menu, I just cannot waste any more time patronizing this place again, nor can I recommend it. I had talked it up so much to my friend who was with me that I was embarrassed that I had done so and I felt compelled to apologize to him. His meal should have been comped as well. After all, we both waited 50 minutes for our "food". read more

Gates and Brovi was okay. A bit pricy for what you're getting. We started with cheese curds. They were okay. Then we ordered the sausage and artichoke pizza to share, which sounded awesome, but didn't taste great. It had a very strong vinegar-y taste, which I did not enjoy. The crust was nice, though. They had a strawberry rhubarb pie that we couldn't resist ordering for desert and it was pretty disappointing. It was served cold and I was expecting a warm piece of pie. Overall just not my favorite experience. read more

Great oysters enjoyed by my family oyster lovers. I had the delicious lemon lentil soup that was dairy free. My Friday Perch fish fry was cooked perfectly. I split it with my daughter, added a side of broccoli and it was plenty to eat. I appreciate a restaurant that has fresh not over cooked veggies. Lots of dairy free dessert options - I picked the strawberry rhubarb pie. Perfect! read more

Just tried breakfast at Gates & Brovi and liked the neighborhood vibe and restaurant ambiance. Service was very good but from there it was downhill. The coffee was good but only served lukewarm - how about serving it piping hot to begin with??? We ordered the Mushroom Scramble and the Blueberry Pancakes. The Scramble was runny, had too much cream cheese, and was flavorless. The Blueberry Pancakes were OK but the blueberries were minimal and lacking in taste. Also, the plates/food/syrup were all cold which is a pet peeve with me - I want my meal to be served HOT - show me you care. The potatoes served with the Scramble are much better than those served at their sister restaurant - Marigold Kitchen - but overall Marigold or Original Pancake House are better choices for breakfast. read more

I love the urban vibe of this place: the high ceilings, the casual picnic style tables perfect for families or large gatherings, the cozy tables for two, and the attentive, friendly service. In fact as of late this corner bistro/bar has become my favorite neighborhood hang-out. One suggestion would be for the waitstaff to become a bit more knowledgeable about the origins of their beef. Although our waiter knew the beef came from a farm in Iowa, he knew little else other than the fact it's not organic-certified (wah, wah). In opting for the vegetarian burger, however, I must say it was the BEST veggie burger -bar none- that I have ever tasted! And I repeated this experiment on three other occasions to ensure it wasn't a fluke. The first time I tasted the veggie burger the waiter tore off the label from the box so I could check it out. The ingredients label indicated it contained 100% vegan & organic ingredients. I am not a vegetarian, and I have a hard time believing there can be anything low-fat about a veggie burger this good, but if you're looking to branch out from beef (not really meant for human consumption), you'd be hard-pressed to find one that made you miss the taste of beef any less than this one! read more

Our group got there just after 9 on a Friday night and the place was still full of people eating - always a good sign. There was still a free table and so were seated right away. The server was prompt, friendly, and efficient - knowing when to engage us, check in to see how we were doing, but otherwise letting us enjoy our meal. The round of signature drinks was again stellar - the hot trollope is a curiously tasty drink that is my new starter drink - the pleasant jalapeño sear won't be for everyone but it works for me. For the main course, I tried the fried bluegill and it was perfect. The breading seemed wonderfully crunchy, crumbly, nicely seasoned, and generally very much homemade. The tartar sauce also blew me away. Wow. Tasted very homemade with what appeared to be coarsely chopped tender home pickled cucumber slices vs the usual chunks of tough-skinned canned pickles. The sauce seemed much less mayo based, possibly with some buttermilk to thin the consistency away from the mayo paste other places do, but this is a great thing - the greasy finish of mayo just doesn't need to be paired with fried fish - the GnB sauce has a much cleaner finish that really shines and accompanies the fish. The side of coleslaw and red potatoes with the fish were completely fine. My companion thought the potatoes were only just lukewarm but I didn't really notice or mind. They seemed cooked perfectly, served buttered and parsley'd, though they could have maybe used a bit of something - maybe a more pronounced garlic note, a splash of freshly ground black pepper, or maybe a small shave of fresh parmesan. The coleslaw comfortably rides the line between a creamier style and a purely vinegar based slaw - works for me. All-in-all, a near perfect meal! read more

Don't miss the smelt or clam pizza. Great cocktails, oysters and a clean, casual atmosphere.

I travel to Madison frequently, and discovered Gates & Brovi. Through Yelp. I've been here several times in the last couple months, and it does not disappoint! The staff is friendly and welcoming, the decor is a very cool Northwoods camp style and the food is well above average! Nice selection of crafts on draft, and the dinner specials have been indeed special. A casual atmosphere does not betray an attention to detail in all areas of the operation. Can't wait to go back! read more

Terrific food, comfortable and unique atmosphere, and excellent staff. I highly recommend the Tom & Jerry in winter and the cheese curds just about any time of year! read more

First time visiting this restaurant and tried a gluten free crust pizza and the bluegill BLT. Both items were very good. Beer was cold and yummy. Our waitress was extremely helpful and patient with all our questions (husband is gluten and milk free, so eating out is a little complicated.) Even though I was stuffed, I brought home a piece of plum ginger pie and had it for dinner. It sounded a little weird, but turns out plums with a little ginger surrounded by a pretty good crust is a great combination. We will be back! read more

Wonderful food, had the calamari, fisherman's stew and cod cakes. Very, very good, especially the stew. Think they are serving Batch Bakehouse bread with the meal, as good as it gets. read more

Green goat pizza is out of this world. Excellent spot for casual dining. Great beer selection. Very friendly staff. Taking my son and his fiancé when they come to town. read more

I'm a fan half the time I go and the other half of the time I consider never coming back. They have reasonable seafood/oysters and decent beer selection. The service is very hit-or-miss. Salmon burger is good; the bluegill is usually bad. Mussels are pretty good, a different spin on the usual broth. read more

Dinner with the kids after a Badger Football game and lunch a few days later...both were great meals. The energy and atmosphere were awesome. On both trips the owner came by to say hello and ask us what we thought of certain aspects of the menu, asked our opinion on some changes they want to make and gave us background on the concept they were going for. Nice touch and although there are some kinks to work out-we will be back often! read more

Living just blocks from this new eatery and knowing that the owners were also involved with Sardine and Marigold (two fantastic spots to eat in my opinion), I was literally counting down the days for Gates and Brovi to open. I eat out at least once, and sometimes twice, a week. I waited about 4 weeks after opening day to let them get settled and to let the long lines die down. The atmosphere is nice -- warm, inviting, clean, minimalist (except for the ridiculous flat screen TVs). The menu was very disappointing. I am a meat eater and can handle greasy foods with the best of them, but there were no signs of that fresh, creative splash that you see at Marigold or Sardine. The coleslaw was average at best. My soda was served in an overly large plastic cup (when I am out without my kids, I like to at least feel like a grown up!). I can't complain that the sandwiches (I have been there twice) were heavy because that is exactly how they sounded on the menu. No light mixed green salad to go along with the sandwich here. Speaking of kids --- we do take ours out 2-3 times a month. There is no kids menu here. Brocach on Monroe street (not downtown) has a FANTASTIC kids menu that serves real (minimal processing), healthy, balanced kids meals for $5-6. I am holding out hope that there will be some changes...but if not, then I guess West Side dining has not changed much since Gates and Brovi opened. read more