The Weary Traveler Freehouse is an unexpected, but also on point eatery and bar situated on the…read morefamed "Willy" Street in East Madison, and have quickly become one of my favorite spots in town! Weary is an eclectic space that is full of a hodgepodge of artwork, mirrors, lighting, decor and a bunch of random items that just make sense together. The vibe here is uniquely local for this part of Madison and from the moment you enter through the large ornate wooden door, you are teleported into a special space where a good time is sure to be had! We have come here for Friday Fish Fry, weekday lunch and weekend brunch, and we have never left unhappy or hungry. The menu is made up of mostly classic dishes such as salads, soups, burgers and sandwiches, with a few mains like steak frites and pork chop. Brunch has your classic brunch dishes such as breakfast plates, biscuits and gravy, burrito and of course, French toast. The fish fry is excellent here, especially the pan fried version, which still provides the light, crisp and fresh fish but less the thick breading. For brunch, the breakfast burrito add sausage was spot on and super tasty! For cocktail, they have a stellar menu of house curated cocktails. For brunch, I went with the Bloody Mary and outside of brunch hours, I gravitate to the Killer Bees Knees gin based cocktail. I will grab a beer on occasion, but the cocktails are too good to pass up! Service is always stellar here whether we are sat in the dining room or bellied up to the bar. Overall, absolutely in love The Weary Traveler Freehouse!

Great food, cozy bar, attentive staff. Relaxed and laid back. Several NA options on the menuread more

This was my second time visiting. I swore I wrote a review the first time but it didn't pop up…read more Anywho, this time my daughter and I were in Madison for the day and visiting the museum across the street and decided to come for dinner. It was Thursday evening and they had a ribs/pulled pork special. We waited about 10 minutes at the bar for a table. The bar and atmosphere is great. Pretty bar lights and an old wood bar. We were seated by the window with a great view of the capital. My daughter and I shared the rib dinner and had plenty of food for us. Our waitress was new and learning but was doing a good job. I'd definitely come back.

Ambiance itself is great!…read more I ordered the spicy burger and it was so so. Nothing grand about it. Not spicy at all. I asked for a side of paprika aioli as that's all they had but the server did recommend I add Valentina to it. Made it much better! Nothing crazy about the fries. Similar to McDonald's tbh. I ordered 2 old fashions to try a few off their menu and the classic was the best. Finished off with a whiskey sundae. All in all, I'd come back with a group for drinks but the food I got didn't impress me much. I'd try something different off their menu.

I highly recommend this restaurant. We stopped by to see if we could get a reservation on a Friday…read morenight. They were able to work us in. The food was very good. I ordered Friday night fish fry, which was deep fried haddock, a popover, coleslaw and french fries. All of the food was cooked perfectly. My fiance ordered a prime rib sandwich and it far exceeded his perfection. The reason for taking time to write this review is due to the service. Every single employee was so friendly and the service was exceptional. The hostess, the wait staff, the bartenders, etc. We also had drinks at the bar and they were amazing! The ambiance was very nice. We were seated at a table with a candle and away from other diners. Thank you, Turn Key!

This is a nice supper club that is away from downtown and has parking. We were sat in their main…read moredining room but apparently theirs an upstairs I don't know if that is for parties or the public though and then the have a large bar area. The area is very moody lighting and even has small lamps on each table. Our server and staff were great and everything came out timely. We got an old fashioned and a sangria. The sangria is strong but you won't know it until you stand up. We started with the cheese puppies and they had a fantastic pull to them. Some of the best version of cheese curds I've had in a while. My husband and I both had salads and the bowl was too small for the salad but it was a decent salad I do wish the cheese was sprinkled on top as it ended up going to the bottom of the bowl. For an entree I had steak frites. Fries were solid and the cooking of the steak was good with the charcoal but it didn't have much flavor. The chard on the side was also good considering I've never had it. For dessert we had the valentine special chocolate cake and again it was good but nothing super special. We didn't stick around the bar too long but enough to get a winning pull tab. I would come back for the bar tenders they seemed chill.

Tons of vegetarian options. All of our choices were delicious. The highlight was the coconut tree…read moreleches cake. Cozy seating. Service was good and friendly. We found street parking easily. Beautiful weather and we appreciated all the open windows as we lean into springtime.

One of the best restaurants I've been to in Madison so far. Spectacular food, nice venue, friendly…read moreand helpful staff, cannot recommend more. As someone whose hometown is Buffalo, the wings were super phenomenal. The reuben bread especially was crispy and not soggy and the meat was good once I put some extra salt on it. Drink was solid as well. I also tried a bit of the layered chocolate cake and that was also really good. Fries were very crispy and salty, like professional potato chips. Everything was out of the park, definitely would go here again!

This place is amazing! It was a very busy Friday night, and we did have to wait a bit until our…read moreserver got to us, but once she did, the service was outstanding! Then, the food! My wife had their grilled cheese with bacon and a roast garlic aioli which she said was extra special! I had the mushroom and swiss burger, which I have to say was the BEST mush and swiss I've ever had! The smashburger was super juicy and flavorful, and the mushroom and saute'd onion mix had so much flavor mixed with the melty Wisconsin swiss has truly set a very high bar. We have some really good burger restaurants back home in Indianapolis, but this burger blew their version out of the water!

Tipsy cow has phenomenal atmosphere and is my favorite bar in Madison. Great sconny vibes and fun…read morebartenders

We stopped by for dinner after a pretty draining couple of weeks, and I can't say enough about the…read moreexperience. The food was great, but our server, Lily, was incredible. She had no way of knowing we were feeling worn down, but her warmth and genuine care completely turned our evening around. She made the visit feel special in a way that really stuck with us. Lily is a massive asset to the team, and we're beyond grateful for the hospitality. We'll definitely be back.

We came without a reservation for brunch on a cold, snowy Sunday. We got in right away!…read more Favorites: The cinnamon roll was a crowd favorite and the schnitzel was crispy and rich. Service was just fine considering the busyness. Some long gaps every now and then but I rent taken care of.

PROS: -Unique/good cheese curds…read more-Unique cocktails that don't disappoint -I loved the Good Idea Smashburger -Molly, our server was GREAT! (other staff was equally friendly) -I enjoyed the overall vibe Music playlist was really good as well,...to the point where I tried to Soundhound /Shazam two or three songs, but due to the acoustics, it proved difficult - all in all still appreciated. They have a good special every day of the week, all of which look enticing. -This was my first time here, but I will be back! -History Lesson: building was once oldest hotel in Madison (1841?) CONS: -The TP in the restroom could improve -Coat hooks somewhere would be nice (in the winter, in a booth, coats take up space)

I came here on my last day in Madison to experience a Friday fish fry, and I was not disappointed!!…read moreThe fish was super crispy and the fries were really good as well. I liked all the different dipping sauces and the slaw they served with it had a nice unique flavor. We also shared the chocolate chip cookie, which was huge and served warm. It was loaded with chocolate chips and had some flaky sea salt on top. I think this had to be one of the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had! All of our servers were super kind and helpful, and the food came out pretty quickly. The ambiance is really nice, we ate in the patio area and it was super cute with nice natural lighting.

We came for regular brunch menu on Easter Sunday. The ambience is open, airy, and inviting. Service…read morewas prompt and accurate. However, our server wasn't super familiar with the menu and didn't know what was in certain dishes. We ordered a variety of dishes. Overall, everyone liked their meals. The flavors were great. Love the Korean fusion. However... despite that we were the first ones in the door, they did not have the chicken that was on the menu. That seemed strange to all of us that they didn't plan ahead for a holiday weekend. A solid restaurant would usually have their menu items well stocked prior to a holiday weekend. Overall, still a good expertise if you're willing to be flexible.

I know most people like it here, but everytime I've been here over the years something has gone…read moreastray. This time we went to Sunday brunch with a group, including some kids. We had reservations, so we were seated right away which was a plus. Also, I will say I don't think any of the issues we had were because of our waitress. She was super friendly and quick enough to take our orders on a day when there restaurant seemed full enough, but manageable. We got our drink orders in and our food at the same time to speed up the process for getting little kids food, and the waitress even took note of that. We also ordered an appetizer to help during the wait. It took a while for the drinks to come out, but they were all rather tasty. I think my apple cider mocktail was the best and refreshing since it was getting hot in the restaurant with the sun beating in. Our food however took forever and the kids meals did not come out any earlier than everyone else. One person in our group also initially didn't get his meal, which the waitress apologized and said there was a mixup in the kitchen. That's fine, it happens, but then the staff running meals tried to bring him the wrong order 3 times. The rest of us were all finished eating by the time he finally got his food. Overall, the food was fine. I got the eggs benedict which was a little underdone on the eggs for me as the whites were too runny for me. The kids chicken nuggets were pretty tasty with a flaky breading. I heard decent reviews of the breakfast burger, but the thing that was the best to us was the breakfast sandwich. It was quite messy, but the messiness of the sauce was worth it. We also got an appetizer of the cinnamon roll. I feel like it's a little mislabeled though, as it was more like a morning bun with some frosting/glaze over the top. Tasted pretty good and helped keep kids entertained for a while. Overall, the food was fine, but the experience wasn't great. With the multiple mixups in orders and getting a little green house effect going with the sun shining in, there wsnt a great feeling when leaving. Again, I don't think it was our waitresses fault, so not sure what was going on in the kitchen.

A must visit in Madison! The food is great and the beer is tasty…read more Came in early evening on a Wednesday. It was pretty empty. They have a wing deal - 15 wings and 2 pints for $25. We got the Korean BBQ and Habanero. The habanero is SPICY!! My mouth was burning after two wings. I always get the APA beer. Classically delicious! Luckily we walked because parking can be tricky to find. Service can also be a little hit or miss. Today our server was a lil forgetful.

Every time I visit Madison, it is an absolute guarantee that I will be stopping by The Great Dane…read morePub...most trips more than once! Great Dane Pub has become one of my favorite spots in Madison for a variety of reasons from the drinks, vibes, service and community support! Situated on the corner of Doty and King in downtown Madison, Great Dane is a welcome sight for any visitor or local looking for a chill spot to have a solid drink, tasty bite and/or a good time! The pub is one large space, but it is separated into a few unique areas. One side is quintessential pub with a long bar, lots of dark woods, and a good sized dining room. The other is more of a pool hall vibe where you will find the other side of the bar, several pool tables, lots of TV's, high tops, darts, etc...We have bellied up to both sides of the bar and while I like both sides, I prefer the vibe of the pub side. They have a fairly extensive food menu with several bar/pub classics such as wings, nachos and burgers. But they also offer a good variety of sandwiches, bowls, salads, soups and even tacos. While we are normally here for the drinks, we do enjoy the cheese curds, wings and poutine! Speaking of drinks, they always have a great menu of house cocktails that is constantly updated for seasonality. I have had several iterations of cocktails and since I visit a few times a year, I always get to try new seasonal cocktails and beers! Service is always stellar here, no matter what side of the bar you are on. Welcoming, friendly and helpful...every time! Overall, I am an absolute fan of The Great Dane Pub!

I went to vintage while visiting some friends in Madison to grab some dinner. We all shared the…read morenachos which had a good amount of toppings and tasted great. I ordered the og burger and it was cooked to my liking and although it's a simple burger the flavor was phenomenal. One of the best parts of our time at vintage was our server Lidia. Lidia had a fun and bubbly personality and made a great effort to make sure we were all satisfied with our food. Definitely recommend checking out vintage if in the area!

Loved my food here. Fries were excellent. Pretzels are hand braided and huge! Plus they give you…read morecheese and mustard to dip them in.... Love that. But the fried cheese curds were the best item of that day! They came out in a metal pull with ranch to dip them in. I asked for a side of buffalo sauce and tossed the cheese curds in the sauce and that just took them over the top!!!! Service was good. Everyone was friendly. My coworker and I got there at the end of the brunch hour (2 pm) and settled on the things we ordered. After we put our order in they gave us new menus.... They could've gave us a heads up as the lunch menu had more items and more of what we really wanted so that we were a bit frustrated with the staff because of that. Place was cool as it was game day for foot ball so it had people in there cheering and giving the place to life.