The Great Dane is always a good choice for dinner! They're meals are tasty, the venue is nice, the service is usually very good and the price is fair. It's always less busy when you come for lunch rather than dinner, but even during dinner hours, during the week you shouldn't have a problem just showing up without a reservation. The chicken pot pie is my favorite menu item! It comes with a pretzel bun and a delicious side of cooked cinnamon apples (which I use as dessert!) All of this is only $10-$11, what a deal! read more

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I remember back in 1994 when the Great Dane opened. Brewing beer onsite was novel and I was blown away by the quality and uniqueness of the food. Much has changed in 25 years-brewpubs and breweries are opening up every day and even the corner bar is turning out amazing food. And for Great Dane, they have expanded their locations (this location was opened 13 years ago), the different styles of beer, as well as their menu has expanded. Sometimes bigger is not always better and that may be that case at the Great Dane. I stopped in for a quick lunch during the week and saddled up to the bar. Ordering a scotch ale, it took me awhile to scan the menu, it was huge (over 45 menu items). Whenever I see a menu that size, I always get concerned about the kitchen's ability to execute. That was the case for my caesar wrap as it was completely overdressed and dripping out of the wrap with each bite. Flavorwise, it wasn't terrible. For my beer, I feel their efforts have trailed off. It wasn't the scotch ale that I remembered-the roasty malt flavors fell flat. In a pinch, the Great Dane can come through to satisfy a thirsty and hungry customer but don't think I would purposely plan a date to visit. read more

I took my wife to Great Dane at Hilldale on New Year's Eve for the fish fry. It was by far the worst fish fry I've had any where in WI. The beer batter had no crispness to, in fact it was soggy. Almost as it it had been fried, frozen and re-fried again. The taste was so bad I couldn't finish one piece. To compliment my dinner, I ordered their $8.00 blackberry old fashioned with bourbon instead of brandy. I was told there would be a "slight up charge ". No problem, I said. In fact I ordered 2. Turns out there is a $6.50 up charge on each of the $8.00 drinks. The 81.25% up charge was a shell shocker. When I told the waitress how disappointed I was in my dinner, she offered to tell the "chef". Seriously, you can't call yourself a chef putting out inedible food like this. It's an insult to the profession. When she left us with the bill, with no offer of a remedy. My first reaction was to leave no tip. But penalizing the waitress wouldn't be fair. So I explained my dilemma to her when she returned. She offered to go to the manager. They took the dinner off my bill. This was a truly awful meal. We won't be going back. read more

Slow, unpleasant service, cold food. Worst dining experience ever. Great Dane used to be pretty good. Clear they don't care about the dine in experience anymore. Expect to lose customers. read more

We came here last March on our way to Milwaukee after a night in Middleton. As craft beer enthusiasts and fans of the dog breed, it was only proper to stop in and check it out. There's a handful of Great Danes in the Madison area. As a Chicago suburbanite, Great Dane reminds me of Rock Bottom restaurants, only the Danes have both a larger selection of beer and food, plus Sunday brunches. Oh, and they're cleaner, brighter, and bigger (as least the Hilldale location is). I wish we had Great Danes instead of Rock Bottom! We tried a handful of beers, including: Peck's Pilsner (5.36%) - A nice, light Pilsner, this beer is a good one to start with. I stuck with a taste rather than a full pour. Crop Circle Wheat (4.99%) - This Hefeweizen is a fabulous German brew garnished with a slice of lemon. It definitely hits the spot on an warm, early spring day. This was one of my favorites we tried. High Tea (4.5%) - An English Mild Ale. I thought it was just alright; there's some slight roasted flavors that makes this an easy drinker if you don't feel like venturing onto the darker, heavier side of beer. Kelheim Bock (6.4%) - Malty but smooth. Black Earth Porter (5.83%) - This was our favorite beer. The taste of chocolate and coffee is prominent; there's no shortage of flavor here! As typical with brewery visits, we picked up shirts and a growler. I also bought a pint glass with their logo on it, because you can never have too many pint glasses, and this has a Great Dane on it (and we love Danes!). We did not get to try any of the food as we had eaten on the stop previous to this, but their menu is intriguing and I would certainly try some items in the future. The restaurant is clean and inviting; the bartenders were friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Parking wasn't too bad on a Sunday morning at around 11 a.m.; we were able to park easily right on Price Place. We'll definitely be back the next time we do a weekend jaunt in the 608! read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - What's on tap (March 2016) - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The was one of the best meals we had on our trip through Wisconsin. Ended up here around 8:30pm for supper and the area we were seated in had suddenly gotten quite busy with a large group and were seemingly a bit understaffed. In spite of that our server Samantha was really attentive and our food was out in a short time. Cheese curds were fantastic, as was the pretzel. My husband really enjoyed the mac and cheese. My son had a burger which was a bit smaller than he probably would have liked but that is more of an issue of a teen boy's appetite than the restaurant. Will definitely be back if we end up in Madison again. read more

The drinks here are great they do only carry there own beer brands, my daughter ordered a raspberry stout it was tasty!! I had to try cheese curds again since my first experience failed ...these didn't disappoint the dipping sauce was great I had to get the mac and cheese!! It was worth it the dish was stacked and it was delicious hot and cheesey the snap peas salad with cantaloupe was refreshing, service was good read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - A must get the Mac and Cheese - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Went here for lunch while in Madison for work. The inside reminds me of an Irish pub. Their menu has a lot of different choices. They also have different specials each day of the week. Wasn't able to get a beer but they did have a lust of their own beers that looked really good. I ended up ordering the Cajun chicken sandwich as a wrap instead. It was pretty good. Wish it had more of a kick to it. My much spice to it. For my side I chose the plantains since I absolutely love them and you don't find many places up here that offer them here. They had s nice outdoor area where you can bring your dog. There were quite a few dogs there. Any place that allows dogs is a good place to me. I'd like to check this place out another time when I can try their beers. read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Ahh Great Dane, I like your cozy vibes on a cold Black Friday at Hilldale. Unfortunately, your fish fry was sub-par. We ordered the perch, served with fries and slaw. The breeding was too much; and the fish itself wasn't very fall-apart fresh. In its defense, it did say it was "deep-breaded" and I should have seen this as a warning. On a brighter note, the Brown Ale soup was dank! Comes in a crock with golden, crispy Swiss cheese on top. Their take on French onion. It's seriously stellar. Souper! Can you tell I love soup? read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - Brown Ale soup! - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Great beer, pool tables and TVs. Never too busy, but lively. Very good food (burgers and salads). Highly recommend.

This is the Great Dane. Not much different than any other Great Dane in regards to the food or the beer. Pretty decent variations and quality, and the ambiance is pub-ish like all the rest (the front half anyways). The difference here is the back half. Pool house, live music, dancing, pub booths, darts.. all of it. Nice place but going through a bit of an identity crisis. Not sure if its business in the front and party in the back, but it seems to disconnected and disjointed. There is a Sunday brunch that is somewhat decent, but the people that come to it are asshats and rude as all getout (not the fault of the business but it is what it is). The items are frequently near gone or completely empty, and good luck finding a clean plate. The service here is hit or miss. Some folks really enjoy their job and make it truly pleasurable, and others appear to want to be anywhere else but talking to you. The waits are long and don't make sense given there are empty tables everywhere. Maybe they need more bussers to help clean tables or something. It is confusing.... This place is far from crappy, and it's got a good potential for a fun time if you hit it on a good day. But if it's off, you will not enjoy your time.... read more

I really enjoy The Great Dane! I especially enjoy the Hildale location, although the Fitchburg location is where my husband and I had our first date many years ago. Last night we attended the NYE event at the Hildale location. We had a really lovely time. There was only a five dollar cover charge and the band was fun. My burger was well cooked and very tasty. My favorite new discovery is the Stone of the Scone Scottish Ale. Our waiter was friendly but not constantly in our face. It was great to see folks of all ages out having a good time. The Great Dane Hildale put on a great party at a reasonable price. Good service and good food! read more

We love their New London Bridge Fish Fry, pulled pork sandwich, and prime rib special. It wad our dining companion's first time here and he asked for a Budweiser, the pretentious server said they only served their own brews. read more

Great place to grab a bite when everywhere else closes around 9pm. It was a pretty regular stop when I used to work PM shifts at the hospital, and wouldn't finish until 1130 -- too lazy to cook, I'd stop in for the late night menu and a drink. The menu has changed since the last time I stopped in and ordered off the menu. They've added more to the delicious menu and rearranged a few of my favorite items (Jamie's fish tacos with extra habanero sauce -- SO YUM). I recently had the smothered and covered chicken. Which I think is newer, and HOLY YUM! 2 pieces of generously breaded chicken with andouille sausage, shrimp, and artichokes in a cream sauce; mashed potatoes with melted cheese; and green beans. Depending on the time and type of patrons are around, the music can get a little loud, but the space is definitely big enough to disperse the sound so you don't feel like you're going deaf. read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - Smothered and covered chicken. - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The service was a bit slow in the beginning but picked up quickly when we grabbed our waitress. The food was impeccable and I would highly recommend the Wisconsin Mac n' Cheese. This is the place to go when you want your food to warm your soul! read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - Meatloaf - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This pub have done a lot of possible to accommodate its patron. I like the consistency of the dishes although salt in the chips would be nice. The Cubano sandwich and the fish & chips are very decent. Definitely a place to go especially in this time of Pandemia. read more

IT IS OFFICIAL.... I HAVE AN OVER-EATING PROBLEM Before we get to the light bulb point, let's step back and set the scene. I'd been recommended this place by some colleagues who have been to Madison a lot for work. We looked it up and found there were a few locations for the group so we picked here as it was closer to Verona where we were staying and we thought we'd be able to park easier than near the capital (we were right there was a free car lot across the street). We walk in and its packed! Thursday night and we were told it would be a 60min wait for a table for 2! But they said if we could find room at the bar or the high top tables we could just sit. So we hovered and almost left but I was thinking if it's this busy we really have to try it! We got super lucky and found a high top table and were set. We got our hands on the menu which was in the style of an old newspaper (cool!) and the menu was huge! We struggled to pick.... until I saw the fried chicken with shrimp, andoille sausage, artichoke and mushrooms with a side of mashed potatoes and jalapenos and seasonal veggies ... with a name like smothered and covered fried chicken it pretty much sums up an almost perfect meal for me.... sold! As I was ordering I was telling myself.. diet start tomorrow, diet starts tomorrow... salad only for the next week! Food arrives... of course as expected large serve... and it is great. Chicken is crunchy fried and the toppings work well and the jalapeno mashed potatoes are great... a really nice spice that went well with the chicken. Now to the official fatso moment.... the waitress comes over and sees my empty plate... it must not be a common occurrence as she looks over and audibly says "wow" and gives me a HIGH FIVE!... oh the shame... Diet starts tomorrow, diet starts tomorrow. I've said it before and I'll say it again, dam you America and your delicious food!!!!!!!! read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - Smothered and covered fried chicken!! - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

10/10 would recommend this place! Food/beer were amazing and staff were so pleasant and easy to talk to! Abigail behind the bar was so helpful and knew her stuff. I had a German beer and it wasn't heavy or thick and I had the Texarkana Burger that literally melted in your mouth. Every time I'm in Madison I will definitely have to stop here from now on! read more

Meh. Average stuff. Service was ok and it was a available but a bit slow. Food was ok.

Do not get the Walleye on Friday! Bland, soupy, scary. Not happy. Had hoped for better service and review of Friday fish fry, response "Its the greatest, its my favorite fish fry!" Beer...good! read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Good food and service. The bar area is great for large groups! Would recommend to anyone looking for an upscale restaurant whether they're visiting or date night! read more

So the place looks awesome from the outside....great selection of beer and the atmosphere is cozy and lively. On the downside, I've had their food several times and to me its just ok, nothing to write home about or even here. It just tastes ok or glorified bar food. It could be what I had to eat. It's not just this one, I've been to another and had the same impression. read more

This was my second time in Madison, and my second time at the Great Dane. I've never been disappointed, and this time remembered to try one of their many beers. First the beer- I went for their wheat, and it was delicious- just a great flavor without being too hoppy or too heavy. For my meal, I went for the buffalo mac and cheese- it came with grilled chicken and a pretzel roll. It had just the right amount of kick, and the mac and cheese was delicious, just what I expect from Wisconsin! I also had had a brat, and that too was great. Add in a friendly and attentive server, and it was a great meal. read more

I would give zero stars, this restaurant had such off-putting service, we didn't even get our waters before we had to leave. Initially when my family and I walked in, were not greeted by a friendly host but by a teenager who blankly stared at us and didn't say a word. I hesitantly said 'party of 3' and she led us to a booth, again without saying a word. We sat for three minutes, and no one acknowledged us or gave us a menu. We then asked that same hostess if we were going to be given menus or a server. She replied, 'yeah' and walked away. Keep in mind the hostess also sat other people after us and gave them menus and were served right away. Sadly since the service seemed so weird and the vibes were really strange, we just decided to leave because we didn't want to sit through a dinner with staff that seemed very unwelcoming and unfriendly. read more

They were out of several menu items, and we never got everything that we were able to order. What we did get was okay, but overpriced.

Now I remember why I gave up on this place many months ago, despite the excellent food and convenience to where I live. It is loud, loud, loud even during an off-time during the day. If you don't like a little kid using his outdoor voice while his parents are blissfully unaware, this is not the place for you. Honestly, I can't understand why the Great Dane is THE place to bring your kids, because to my mind, it would seem like a place to have many rounds of their crafted beers, converse, and watch the game in one of their bar areas. But they do cater to the small kids here, there is a Baby Disco and the special kids menu. I guess I'm not the customer they want. If you have small kids and order one beer with your meal, well rock on, because this is your place. read more

My friend and I tried the downtown location and it was so good we had to come here as well. We enjoyed some desert and drinks while watching the Bulls game! Unfortunately I lost a dollar because they won. Anyways, the food and drinks here were pretty good! I had the house IPA and my friend had a white zinfandel. We had the black and tan brownie and it was amazing!! The prices were fair for both the drinks and the desert we had. The service was OK. Regardless our server was quick and got our orders right. The atmosphere was fantastic. Even though it was a chill Wednesday night, it was still a good time. Will be returning! read more

I really have no idea where to start, I adore this place! Not only is the food usually amazing (a couple of their dishes are just not quite my taste, tho still well done), but the atmosphere is addicting. I've been going here for a number of years and in all that time I think I've only had one instance of poor service. The regular servers are extremely nice and knowledgeable about both their food and beers, so ask your servers to help match your food and drink! I loooove their in house beers (their Black Earth Porter and Emerald Isle Stout has ruined me for most others)! The darker beers can taste a bit salty but I actually enjoy that saltiness. I'm always excited for the seasonal menu update that the Great Dane does. It keeps their food fresh and their establishment interesting. They have cozy booths with wonderfully high backs that gives the place a nice intimate feel for a date and allows you to actually hear what your dining companions are saying. The downside that pops up is that a lot of other people realize how good this place is. So depending on the time you go, there could be a decent waiting time. read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Me and my wife were passing through and stopped by for some food and beers. We got their cheese curds for an appetizer which were really good. I wish I could say that about the main meal. I ordered the Mayan chicken wrap and mainly got just the wrap and spinach, with just a little bit of chicken. The bartender said they only put about 4oz of chicken in each wrap, which if you ask me is not enough. The bartender was friendly, drinks were a little expensive but the atmosphere was nice enough. read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - Mayan chicken wrap - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I love going out to Great Dane for lunch,dinner or just for a drink! They have great beer and they are always switching it up. You can stick with the classics or try some of their seasoned beer! It never disappoints. I love their food but beware the chipotle chicken quesadillas are spicy but very delicious! I get it almost every time in there. They also have darts and pool tables incase you just want to go in for a drink with friends. Great atmosphere you will not be disappointed. read more

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A fine excuse to eat and drink during the daytime hours, particularly during the warmer times of the year. I've been to all the Dane locations except the one in northern Wisconsin. Each share their own vibe, and special features, and all have a menu developed by a great executive chef, who has recently retired from the industry and moved out of state just this past year. Matt Moyer was his name and I first met him back around 2003 through a mutual friend who had grown up with him in the area. Initially there was no mutual liking shared between us I think I can state mutually. I'm unclear if he was the exec chef that far back but later as the years passed by and we would occasionally meet up at our mutual friends home for parties, we began realizing related interests and abilities. Around two years ago I was frequenting the Fitchburg location, and after a few months I discovered that location was actually the test kitchen and also where Matt spent much of his time. I've avoided reviewing the Great Dane prior to now because of my friendship with the chef, but he's gone and my words aren't as likely to be biased. I've tried nearly everything on the menu and the one thing I ALWAYS return to as well as recommend to others is Jaimes Tacos. The recipe is very simple and even though the tilapia isn't a fish that commands respect it still makes for an outstanding base inside these delicious tacos. The story of their inception is longer than it ever should be, particularly after I heard it the first two or three times. But it begins like many of Matt's stories: "One day while drinking in Tijuana..." I won't bother with the story because it's not mine, and the ending doesn't offer any great secret to why Jaimes Tacos kick ass over every other fish taco I've compared over these last 2-3 years both here in the Midwest as well as Seattle, Denver, San Fran or a handful of places along the coast of Oregon where I spent some time this past summer. Not one compared, though one place DID actually make something damn close, and in one respect was almost better. (They simply used a bigger piece of Rock Cod) But The Great Danes hot sauce still won out. The peanut stew, another solid item to check out. Burgers, all grass fed I think, are large and always better than the staff claims as far as I'm concerned. Poutine. OMG. Nothing further to say. And of course the beers are exceptional. I'll have to go again, perhaps tomorrow and I'll be sure to take some photos and update this posting. read more

The hubs and I love the Fitchburg Sunday brunch, so thought we'd tried the Hilldale location. First, let me tell you the wait staff was great! I will go back again and order off the regular menu, but their Sunday brunch fell short! Food on the buffet in heating containers was cooled. Variety was smaller compared to what we had grown to love and seemed bland in flavor Walking into ladies bathroom feeling bad for a mom changing her child's diaper on the bathroom floor, for lack of a changing table, thus not family friendly?! read more

For the life of me, I couldn't remember if I'd been here before tonight. I think we had plans to meet with people and it didn't work out so we left? Who knows. Anyway! I was here with a group of people and the service was sub-par. Granted, we might have been an intimidating group (ha, yea right), but various people kept saying "Where's our server? Where'd he go?" He may have just let us be to do our thing, but regularly checking on the table would've been nice. It got better as the night went on, though. We shared the nachos, which wasn't extraordinary but satisfied my hunger. I ordered the fish tacos and was really excited because I haven't had any for a whiiiiiiile. Unfortunately, it was kind of disappointing. The presentation was fine, but the taste was meh. The seasoning on the fish seemed lacking and I think there was a point where all I could taste was onions. I didn't use the sauces--I wanted to taste the tacos itself without it. It wasn't terrible, but I've had better so I probably wouldn't order this again. The price wasn't bad though--$10 for 3 tacos, and they were a good size. Not those little mini ones. Nothing too special, but it wasn't horrible. I'd go with a group of people, but it wouldn't be my first choice for dinner with just myself and my fiancé. Although, I'd like to try the tuna tataki sometime. read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - Fish tacos - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Appetizers were good - we ordered the pretzel and it was soft and tasty. One word to describe the entrees: DRY. Burgers were dry, fries were burned and dry, nobody at our table had a good entree and portions were a little on the small side for the price. Our server was really nice and generally attentive. read more

To go orders only online.....no phone orders. Please revise that decison. Its not very convenient when one is already on the road.

This Great Dane location is one of my favorite hangout places in Madison. It's usually less busy than the others and closer to where I lived. Of course, this place brews its own drinks, but the food here is decent as well. My go-to items on the menu were the chicken pot pie, the dane burger, the bbq pork sandwich, and best yet, the honey pepper salmon club, which is probably my favorite here. Definitely give the salmon club a shot. As to why I deemed this location as one of my favorites is because my friends and I came here often to chill and play pool. Serving a crowd of not all college kids was helpful in that it wasn't as loud and wasn't as busy as the downtown location. read more

The Great Dane has a warm and inviting interior. We were able to be seated right away - group of 7. They were not very busy but our service was really poor. Our waitress was very quiet and we really couldn't hear her. She never filled our waters or checked on us. They also have food runners here so she really didn't do much. Almost everyone's food at the table was room temperature. One plate had hot fries and the others had cold fries, it was very inconsistent. I ordered the chicken pot pie and it came out steaming hot- which would've been great but it lacked flavor. I would not recommend this dish. They have a fun environment with darts and shuffleboard but I would never pay to eat here again. read more

Have great starters to share with friends, and also great beer. Would be even better if they had large screens for sport games. They have brunch buffet on Sunday mornings. I like their salad bar which has shrimp and salmon. There's also fresh-made omelette which you can choose for your own ingredients. read more

Stopped in for a quick late lunch. The staff was friendly and have good beer recommendations. We had cheese curds and then split the high point harvest bowl. It was so delicious and healthy. Lots of vegetarian friendly options. Was a little over priced. read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've visited the Great Dane dozens of times. I've never had a bad experience. The restaurant is an inviting, clean environment; the staff are patient and efficient; the food is made with good quality ingredients; the menu offers a wide variety of choices; prices are reasonable. Once, When a dish came out of the kitchen not-quite as expected, the staff brought out a new plate and adjusted the bill. The Sunday brunch is fantastic! read more

Great Dane Pub & Brewing - Chimichurri ranch steak salad (with grilled chicken instead of steak) - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin