Love the vibe of this place. We had a couple pizzas and it didn't disappoint. If you're in Madison, stop in. You won't regret it.

New owners - (mostly) still a great experience. Greenbush has long been Madison's best pizza, and a hidden gem. I'm thankful to report that remains true. The new owners have made some changes (despite promising to not mess with a good thing). Positives: 1. Still the best pizza in town. 2. Cut in squares making it feel like a Chicago tavern style pie- upgrade. 3. The menu is larger now with more choices. We had one of those with the chicken liver mouse crostini (great). 4. Longer hours and open on game days. Negatives: 1. Less sauce than I recall. Not horrible, but missing something. 2. It appears they changed the pepperoni. Seems like boars head. Thicker and less spicy than before. 3. Less cornmeal on the crust. 4. Added basil. Not horrible, but was necessary. Same: 1. They kept the vibe. Christmas lights remain!!! 2. Bourbon list is still near the best in madtown. Prices remain fair with great selection of rare bottles. 3. Service was still great 4. Still a great commitment to quality. Maybe these small changes won't be noticed by most patrons. I did and it went from a 10 to a 9.5 overall. I am hopeful that these changes represent owners who are appreciative of what came before, but not so rigid that they don't think they can improve upon history. read more

Cute little place. It's kind of hidden and tucked away. If you don't know what it is, you can surely miss it. Tucked below the Labor Hall, this cute little Italian restaurant exist. While it may not be ADA compliant, it is absolutely adorable upon entering you notice that it is a downhill slope into the restaurant. Which just gives it that much more character, especially when you see all these Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling, this warm ambience feeling. It is difficult to get reservations so call ahead to make sure you have them. We went about 6:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. We were actually able to get a table for three. We didn't have to wait long for our service to come over. Take our drink order along with our food order. We ordered an appetizer of the cheesy garlic bread. Three slices on a plate with generous amounts of cheese just the right amount of garlic and butter along with a delicious marinara sauce presented to us. It was cooked to perfection with just the right amount of crunch on the outside and chewy on the inside with a good cheese pull. We also ordered two pies and a spaghetti. The pizza is a very thin crunchy crust. I am from Illinois and we have a restaurant here that makes a crust very similar to it. I thoroughly enjoyed it as it is one of my favorite pizza places. The cheese doesn't look like there's a ton but believe me there's more than meets the eye. Highly recommend pizza. As for the past, it was very delicious. It was cooked al dente with the sauce being a very true homemade traditional Sicilian pasta sauce. For a busy Saturday night, I feel that we were taking care of any quick manner. Everything was delicious and I will happily be back. read more

Greenbush Bar - The dining area - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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First visit since the new ownership. First, the service was better. Much more friendly than it was under the old owner. Second, salads were excellent. Finally, the most disappointing was the pizza. No way this is the same receipe. Cheese tasted overly processed and the crust was clearly changed. They ruined the best pizza in Madison. We won't be back. Hope we hear they change it. read more

Wanted to eat here but during our wait witnessed the person setting tables handling each fork with his hands on the tines. In this time of norovirus especially, this was truly unappetizing. read more

Love this place! Casual atmosphere and good pizza! Service was great and food was good. The atmosphere is awesome.

Long time guests of green bush bar x we were told pizza would be the same as with former owners. We ate there recently since new owners and the pizza is Not the same. The cheese was a mix of mozzarella and some yellow cheese . Maybe cheddar and the pepperoni and other toppings were skimpy. We were disappointed as we love this restaurant but pizza was disappointing read more

Minus a star! I read great reviews about the pizza at Greenbush. I spent all day salivating over the pictures I saw on Yelp but unfortunately they don't open until 4pm on Saturdays. At 3:57 I placed my online order for two pizzas totaling $44. I watched the money come out of my account and then proceeded to drive the 30 minutes to pick up my long awaited pizza. I arrive to find the doors are dead bolted shut! This restaurant is CLOSED yet they had no problem processing my online order request and stealing my money. I tried to find a means to contact them on their website but they only list their phone number. Guess what, no one answers. Why, you may ask? Because they are closed. They literally stole my money. If these are the type of people that own this restaurant, I wouldn't recommend purchasing from them if they ever do open back up. read more

Greenbush Bar - Receipt - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I really liked this place! It's definitely a hidden gem that is filled with locals that serves true, homestyle Italian cuisine. Nothing super fancy and has the ambiance of your grandmas basement during a family gathering, in the best way possible. Parking can be a little difficult and there is usually a line, but overall has good vibes and is a great place to catch up with friends. read more

My favorite pizza spot in Madison. Personally, i ask for mine "well done". It'll come out a little floppy otherwise. Great bar and whiskey selection when it's fully opened. I am a bit biased as I did work there before but it's by far the best I've had in my 6 years in Madison. read more

I am guilty of overlooking this gem in Madison. Greenbush is a venerable classic that I need to come to more often. We stopped in on a Saturday night and Greenbush delivered. We were on the fence between pizza or pasta and opted for pasta. We ordered spaghetti and meatballs, pasta carbonara, and fettuccine with a gorgonzola sauce. All three were spot on but I felt the fettuccine was the clear winner. The cream sauce was not as rich as it sounds on paper and when paired with the smoked chicken and walnuts, it was the incredible. Along with the food, Greenbush also serves up some inventive cocktails. Think of craft cocktails without the sometimes tedious backstory or the mustached mixologist. Their version of a sidecar was delicious. Great staff. Cozy atmosphere. Great food. What more could/would someone need? read more

Pizza was some of the best in Madison! Antipasto was dissapointing for the price, but we'll definitely be back for the za read more

Greenbush Bar - a pizza in a pizza box with a fork and knife - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Omg why have you been hidden away from me for so long?! Tucked in the lower level of the historic Workman's Club building, the restaurant is adorned with Christmas lights year round. The feel of the place is warm and cozy, both in size and actual temperature because the brick oven gets hot enough to heat up the entire place. They have a great selection of tap and bottle beers. The first time we came, we got a Daisy Cutter from Half Acre for $4.5. This time we got a great Central Waters Illumination Double IPA for $5.75. At 9% abv that's a great deal! Oh the pizza. You slay me. We go for the 16" thin crust with pepperoni, onions, and green peppers every. time. And it does not disappoint. The dusting of cornmeal underneath the crust gives the zza a nice grittyness. The toppings are spread like a work of art, covering every bite with equal parts of ingredients and cheese. Don't leave without getting their garlic cheese bread, a oh nom... The fresh marinara sauce! You can still smell the fresh sprig of basil the sauce was made from. read more

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Super frustrating. Left a visit at the hospital after a long day. Drove around looking for parking spot at Greenbush. Finally parked and arrived inside at 7:47, we had hope that we could sit and eat, but were prepared to get a pizza to go since they close at 8:00. "Nope, sorry. Kitchen closes at 8:00". But it's 7:47?."Sorry it's all closed down, that's the way it is." Not cool. read more

While around the Maddison area we stopped here for some drinks and dinner. The place is in the lower part of the building and dimly lit with Xmas lights as the main lighting. I can't give my usual good interior pictures or explain the interior because the only open table was at the door so I never got more than two feet from the door. The place is very popular and we got the last table. A stupid line formed pretty quick and the same people waited the whole time we were there to get a seat. We would have an appetizer, pizza and drinks. The appetizer was very good, see my picture. It was toasted bread with goat cheese, prosciutto, tomato and topped with artichokes. The whole thing was very good and a must try. We ordered the pizza special which was Gorgonzola cheese, Neuske'e bacon, tomatoes and fresh arugula. The pizza had a fantastic thin crispy crust that held it all together. The pizza had enough toppings to please, not too much and not too little. The pizza was very good and the bacon really set it off, I never would have dreamed of this combination but it worked very well. Crust is a very personal thing with me and I don't like most crusts but they do a very good crust. This place was a great place for pizza and drinks and I can see why people would wait so long for a table. This place is a must if your in the Maddison area. read more

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Been awhile , treated GF and nephew to pizza ,, awesome pizza for sure .. luv thin crust and build my own toppings, unique local beers Like many's things now days, it was quite expensive .. it will be awhile before we go again Great service ,, thank you !! read more

Greenbush is a local establishment with superior service and quality pizza. I came in on a night of the coronavirus quarantine and Gretchen made sure everything was sanitized and safe for me and my family to enjoy in the comfort of our home (while binging the walking dead! ‍). Gretchen helped us with our order and her recommendations sent us home with two sensationally tantalizing works of art: sausage/pepperoni, and, COPA ham with goat cheese. For my partners birthday, Gretchen sent us away with three birthday treats for his 30th!: a tiramisu, cannoli and key lime pie w candle. It was such a special touch. Thank you! Mikey and I will 100% be back and regulars! read more

My favorite italian restaurant and bar in Madison. The staff often just wait around at the end of the bar and the restaurant is often filled with YOUNG children. Would of defiantly given this place 5 stars for their food but service and the crowd reduce the quality of time here. Hiding under the Italian Workman's Club. I order the house salad and spaghetti with two meatballs and a sausage. They're specials are always appetizing, as well as their homemade selection of des Look out for the dinosaurs that line the windows. read more

Apparently they pick and choose nights that they will do takeout. I understand not taking phone orders but if I go inside you really won't just let me take a pizza to go? This place doesn't have good enough food to have that bad of service. 0/5 read more

Though the pizza is great for something in the midwest, it is absolutely NOT worth the wait or the headache, random non-takeout nights, reservation headache you will endure. It's like they are the ones who think they are doing YOU a favor. Eh, food quality to "exclusiveness" ratio in getting into this place or being able to get a pizza is atrocious. read more

I eat out a lot. And have the waste line and cholesterol to prove it....this place is everything... First - it's a little hard to find. In the Italian club. Down the stairs to the basement. Then through a door...and boom. You're in like a secret place. Second - food is great. Was alone so just went with a 12 in thin crust. Lived up to all expectations. Third - the bourbon selection is ridiculous. If you're into good hard to find stuff. And willing to pay, but not too much. Then this is your spot. Please don't ever change. It's places like this that people are looking for. Stay golden. read more

Fun, supper club-esque, with and aesthetic that reminds me of my dorm room - haha! They have a domestic and craft beer list you would find at most bars. Garlic bread and cannoli have wonderful flavor. We split the 16" pizza amongst four of us and found that plenty filling. We were able to order the sauce to be mixed with pesto, giving the pizza an herby zing. If you're taller then 5'10" you'll have to duck as you maneuver around... pleasant staff and good prices on the food! read more

Despite some bouts with inconsistency, the pizza is definitely worth the (sometimes long) wait Bringing up three children, I've frequented more than my fair share of Madison pizza joints over the years. When we decide to load up the Wagon Queen Family Truckster and head out for pizza, the Greenbush Bar is our preferred destination. I'm always impressed with the balance between crust, sauce and toppings. No one component dominates the experience. The thin crust is sturdy enough to hold up to the sauce and toppings and provides a nice textural contrast. There is a little crunch on the outer crust, and a little chew on the interior. The red sauce intensely savory, with a touch of sweetness that balances the acidity. It is hands-down, my favorite pizza sauce. You get 26 topping options, including traditional favorites like sausage, pepperoni, and anchovies), Italian standards like Copa Ham, Molinari Salami, Prosciutto Ham, and a wonderful selection of specialty cheeses (chevre, gorgonzola, feta). The vegetable topping are fresh (no canned mushrooms here) and act as a perfect foil to the richer meat and cheese toppings. Since I primarily order the pizzas here, I am can not provide much insight to the sandwich and pasta menu other than the kids have enjoyed the spaghetti with Sicilian tomato sauce on occasion. You'll need to rely on the other Yelp reviews for the other pasta options. The wine list is top notch - there are usually about two dozen by the glass options, with a wide array of varietals and price points. The list is updated several times per year and the servers do a great job of recommending a wine that suits your preference. Service is generally pretty good. In addition to assistance with the wine list, the servers have always accommodated requests made by the kids for their meals. Even when things are crazy busy, water glasses are refilled and dirty plates are promptly cleared. Wait times for food and beverages vary based on how busy things are, but I have found the wait staff will generally keep me informed of the approximate wait time. I've always felt the owner does a very good job of training the wait staff here. But things are not all unicorns and rainbows, thus my four star rating: * They don't take reservations and wait times on a Friday or Saturday night can be upwards to 45 minutes. Things also fill up when there is an event at the near-by Kohl Center. * When the place is busy (which is usually the case), there is a little bit of a "Das Boot" feel to the joint, given the basement setting, tiny widows and the low ceilings. * Every once is a while, the pizza crust comes out burnt. While the staff will always attempt to fix the problem with a new pizza, it takes a while to get the replacement. * The tables are tightly packed so things can get a bit cramped and VERY noisy. If you are sitting next to a particularly boisterous table, you'll learn much more about your fellow diners than you ever care to know. So come when the crowds are manageable (weekday evenings and weekends before 6PM) and you will be rewarded with a memorable and satisfying dining experience. read more

I was really excited when I heard about Greenbush Bar. I'm a huge pizza guy and I love New York style thin crust pizza, which they apparently serve here. So I went to Greenbush Bar with the fiancee and we ordered an appetizer and two pizzas. Both pizzas were burnt black on the bottom and my excitement subsided. We tried to address the issue with the waiter to no avail. We were not offered a new pizza nor were we compensated with the bill. It was not a pleasant experience. The only reason I gave this place two stars was because I saw the potential. I was able to try parts of the pizzas that were not burnt and, though I hate to admit it, it was decently good. read more

This really is one of my favorite state hidden gems. So many folks have no idea this is here and it's a really nice meal available among the bars on Regent. We love heading here before women's hockey and it's still an easy walk over to LaBahn. It's a small space and you can't sit until everyone is there, so no that ahead of time. They also don't do separate checks or run more than two credit cards, so plan accordingly. They also have a great beer selection, a couple of interesting specials and a simple but delicious menu of Italian staples done right. It's some of my favorite pesto pasta ever and I just keep coming back for the warm and welcoming feeling right in the middle of campus. read more

After 7 months of traveling to Madison for business, we finally made it here for dinner to try this very famous pie. Well, we opted for a large 16 inch thin crust with pepperoni, bacon, red peppers and mushrooms. Despite the hugely favorable recommendations and self induced expectations, I felt the pizza was just ok. The crust was a bit thin and cracker-esk and the sauce was a little on the bland side for me. All the stars were aligned for a potentially positive pie-eating extravaganza however, despite the hype and late evening hinger, I still felt the pizza was just "ok". I will honestly confess that the overly smokey bacon may have thrown this experience into a slight diversion. Although I'm a huge fan of bacon, this particular bacon (a local favorite) was and had a very intense smokey flavor. It was almost like it had a bit of liquid smoke on it - sort of a bit artificial if that makes any sense. I'd definitely give this place another chance though - minus the bacon of course. All this said, the atmosphere is very cool... Warm and friendly with a strong local vibe. The service was exceptional and the appetizers (roasted garlic and calamari) was very delicious. As I've mentioned in previous pie- reviews... I can be hyper critical about "good pizza". There is a lot of good pie out there but, there's not a lot of great pie. :) read more

Greenbush Bar - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great grommet pizza. I feel its a little priced on the high side for me. The atmosphere is nice and different. Located in the basement, dark with low lighting. Could be a romantic place, but its to loud. I would have ranked it higher...but prices and its loud has me ranking it down one. read more

Have you seen the selection of Bourbon here?? They got the ENTIRE Pappy Van Winkle line and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection available here. So I've been on a bourbon craze lately, and this might slightly skew my opinion of this place, but that's absolutely amazing that they can offer this selection of bourbon for the public. Ok, aside from that, this place is quite the hole in the wall. The bathrooms are tiny, it's in the basement of the Italian Workman's Club, it's dated and it can get very crowded and loud in there. But the pizza is awesome and there's a great selection of booze. We tried an olive oil based pizza with bacon, spinach and goat cheese, and we loved it. Our friends had a sausage, green pepper and garlic and it was awesome too! Service was top notch as well as our waitress was checking in at the right moments. probably my only complaint was that we ordered an Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year neat and what we got was maybe an ounce to an ounce and a half of the bourbon. seemed kinda stingy on the pour, but I get it, it's a rare bourbon. So while this is a whole in the wall, the food and the drink selections are quite worth it, just make sure to get there somewhat early as it can fill up fast! read more

Greenbush Bar - Pappy Van Winkle Flight! 1/2 oz of the Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 year, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15 Year and 20 year - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Stopped in for the first time the other night and was so happy I did. The pizza is absolutely phenomenal! We had the special and I only like thin crust. This was probably one of the best I have ever had. Will be back soon! read more

Greenbush Bar - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Classic Madison Italian eatery and bar. Wonderful atmosphere, very attentive servers and satisfying meals every time.

Ughhhhhhh!!!! I want to give this 5 stars but the overpriced pizza keeps me from coming back as much as I want to!!!! I'm from Chicago. I LIVE for deep dish pizza. I was never ever a fan of thin crust!!! That is until greenbush. To be honest there is no place in madison that gets me excited about their pizza..until I tried greenbush bars signature pizza. That is thin crust with olive oil, gorgonzola, tomatoes, bacon, and arugula. Now I can not stop craving this amazing thin crust!!! Yesterday we ordered the 16 inch "signature" and another 16 inch with bacon, spinach and garlic. I drank water and my boyfriend drank a beer at $3.50. The bill was $70 ( including tip)!!!! That is just way too much!! Also, it must be said that the service was not the greatest but they were suuuper busy at 6pm so that's not impacting the score. The waiter was nice, though It would have been nice to get the beer and water refills sooner than 30 minutes. This is definitely my favorite pizza in Madison never the less! It is a MUST try! read more

Best. Pizza. On. Earth. Thin crust, goat cheese, banana peppers, sausage and tomatoes. Brilliant. I have never been won over by the pasta here, but between the absurdly good calimari and what is, again, the best pizza I've ever had, you cannot miss at the Bush. read more

Recently we were in Madison and our daughter requested noodles. Well, I headed to Yelp to see what suggestions were out there and added bonus if kid friendly. We ended up at Greenbush Bar and the reviews are spot on. It's in a basement, you pass the bathroom, lights on the celling and you will wait. We waited maybe 15 minutes on a Friday, so you can't complain much there. The hostess/server provided our daughter with dinosaurs and trucks to play with and once we were served our server was kind to her as well. We ordered the kids spaghetti, pizza (roasted red pepper, sausage and goat cheese) and the shell special. The homemade bread is awesome and all of our meals were delicious. We enjoyed our dinner, the atmosphere, the cost and the cheap drinks. I believe we will be back! read more

Delicious pizza! We came for dinner and tried their thin crust Bacon Blue Cheese Pizza. They had big pieces of bacon and had the perfect amount of blue cheese so it wasn't overpowering. The crust was nice and crunchy. Definitely worth a try. They had a creative cocktail list with some really good drinks. The service was slow and it seemed like our server was continually rushing us as soon as we were seated, so they could turn over the table. That got a little old after a while. The restaurant also does get very hot during dinner. Aside from that, it was a very good meal. read more

Super cool bar atmosphere and great drink list!! We got there around 5pm and sat right away but within 30 minutes it was packed and stayed that way all night. As an avid New Haven pizza style enthusiast, the thin crust pizza hit the mark well. Another in my party had the thick crust and also enjoyed it. The small salads were enough to share 3 ways but other than that the apps were just okay. As for dessert, cannolis were $5 a piece (really?!), not 75¢ as some reviews state. We were given cinnamon cannolis instead of the chocolate chip we ordered. Be warned, these cannolis are not the same that you will get in New Haven. read more

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This WAS my favorite pizza and I loved the ambiance of eating in , the music, and the salad. The pizza we picked up tonight (pepperoni and sausage) had a few tiny bits of dried out tasteless sausage and so much pepperoni that it was way salty. Very little cheese though we asked for a bit extra. Too much sauce for me. I guess pizza for us now comes from Paisan's, in danger as the building is likely to become high end condo's. read more

My favorite pizza in Madison! I'm actually hesitant to tell people about this place because it has such a special secret vibe about it! The atmosphere is unlike anything else in Madison and while it isn't "fancy" it feels really nostalgic - which I love. Strings of colorful Christmas lights line the walls and each table has a candle which is a romantic touch considering it's dark inside with only a couple small basement windows. My partner and I always get the cheese bread and a large pepperoni pizza. The bread is decent but the pizza phenomenal. Their crust is fairly thin and you can taste the cornmeal on the bottom of the pizza which is something not many places do. The pepperoni is flavorful and sauce perfection. All in all, this place has a special vibe about it. It feels genuine and old fashioned - a place I often imagine my Sicilian grandfather frequenting in the 50s-60s. read more

One of our favorite spots in Madison. They source their good from local farms and make their bread from scratch. We dined with my my mother in law. My wife and her had a pizza with feta and artichoke hearts. I had a meatball sandwich which had a perfect amount of spicing and cheese. The restaurant is the basement of an old Italian workers club. If you are over 6'4", you likely will need to duck when in there. read more

Greenbush Bar - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is so neat! How have I not ever known about it after 4 years of living in Madison. You walk into an unassuming building and into the basement and you find this retro looking restaurant and bar. I would say come for drinks and desserts. And I know many of you would say "what are you crazy what about all the italian food?!". But while their pizza is good, they get expensive FAST. Each topping is an additional charge, meats will increase your price quickly. You get a couple of meat toppings but then you've added 4-5 dollars and 3 veggies you are well over 20 dollars now. I think you can get very good pizza like the ones here at a better value elsewhere. My boyfriend got a pasta and while it was good the meat pieces were terribly small so it was mostly noodles and sauce. The drinks were very tasty. They had draft cocktails for $5 and mixed cocktails for $9. Their desserts are around $6 and all homemade and yummy. So that is why I would say come and enjoy the ambiance, get a drink and dessert but the food in the end wasn't worth it to me but I love the unique place. read more

What a hidden gem! Ok, maybe not so hidden, but I've been a Madison resident for 30+ years and didn't know this place existed until a week ago. Located right next door to Regent Street Liquor, you enter a brick building and can either turn left or right - each direction will get you downstairs to a fantastically cozy, retro, Christmas-lights-year-round bar and restaurant. We went on a Thursday evening around 615pm - The place was packed because of the Badger game. Despite that, the wait for 2 was only 10 minutes. We ordered the specialty pizza (olive oil, Gorgonzola, bacon, arugula) - highly recommend. The dinosaurs in each window added to the charm of this place. The more I mentioned this place to coworkers and friends, I realized how odd it was that I'd never heard of Greenbush Bar until recently - Seems like everyone loves this place! I will be making another visit! read more

Greenbush Bar - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin