I really like Mickey's. It's a nice little spot that offers a creative (albeit limited) menu, drink specials, and a cool atmosphere. I've been in a handful of times now, and each time has been just fine. Last summer, I was in and had lunch here on a Sunday afternoon. We opted for the outdoor seating and it was wonderful! It's like a little secret garden back there. So cute. It was fairly busy but service was still on point. The food was delish and the drinks were refreshing. I was there again this past weekend for dinner. One bit of advice I would offer is, if you're coming in for dinner, sit in one of the back dining rooms. We took a table up front in the main bar area, and although the table itself was fine (a little chilly in front of a window) the dining room was super loud because of the bar. It was Sunday, after a Packer game, so I would imagine a lot of the patrons in there had been there a while, and they were loud, obnoxious even. It was our own fault for not choosing a spot outside of the bar area, but still annoying. Aside from that, service was good and the food was great! The chili was fantastic! It had HUGE chunks of the most tender, delicious beef. And they didn't skimp! The BBQ pork was very good, and the Sexy Fries were awesome as well. Overall, everything we had was spot on. The ambiance of the bar area is dark and divey, which is a stark difference from the other areas. They are clean and well lit, done in a sort of vintage-chic decor. There is a pool table in the back and lots of little seating through out the various rooms. Super cool place, all in all! read more

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Surprised. It'sa local joint with folks who have been long term patrons and employees there. I was on a long bike ride when I came across this place by accident. Came in and decided to get their Burger. It was one of the best burgers I've had in my life. This experience solidified my impression that Wisconsin has some of the best burgers in the United States. The peppers! read more

Mickey's Tavern - Mickey's Burger. :) - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Bad service waited over an hour for food and when it was up watched it sit for another 15 minutes

We started of our Sunday Funday with brunch at Mickey's Tavern on Willy Street. It was the first real warm and sunny weekend of spring so their outdoor patio (smoking allowed) was quite crowded. But we managed to get seating for our group of 7 without too long of a wait. We started with drinks- mimosas and their famous bloody mary. I liked my bloody mary (you can order it with or without a beer back, and in a smaller size about the size of an old fashioned glass). It was on the spicy side, heavy on the horseradish but very generous with the pickled garnishes (my fav part!). As for food, don't expect fancy schmancy gourmet dishes. Instead, look forward to enjoying solid, classic brunch dishes. It took some time for our food arrive but we were happy hanging out savoring the sunny day. I had an over easy egg with bacon and potatoes. The egg was cooked just right, bacon was on the crispy side, potatoes were crunchy on the outside, fluffy inside.. yums! You can also substitute the potatoes with greens. My friend had the waffles with fruit and it looked great- with a generous serving of whipped cream. I've also had drinks inside indoors and love the deco. Eclectic vintage mirrors, couches, lamps and art- a cool place to chill with friends. Mickey's is cash only, but they have an ATM in the front. read more

Mickey's Tavern - Bloody Mary with very generous garnishes! - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Come here if you're not a fan of those Barbie mimosas. Here you are served a PINT of mimosas like a proper tavern. Pro Tip: get it with no ice = more mimosas. The OJ tasted fresh and not from concentrate, the champagne was a little more dry than I expected, but nonetheless delicious (who complains about a mimosa?!). Oh the Bloodys. $6.50 with lime and lemon wedge, a pickle, and pickled Brussels sprout, onion bulb and a radish. You can choose a craft beer back, we decided on a PBR back that ended up almost as big as a pint. They are busy busy busy, tables are first come first serve. Grab a mug and fill it with Joe or order some drinks from the bar while you stalk a table. Eggs Benedict - Light Hollandaise sauce. Canadian bacon with perfectly poached eggs. The crusty, saltiness of the meat paired well with the quintessential eggs. Arrived with skillet, skin-on potatoes. Mickey's Burger - one of the best burgers I've had around Madison. 1/3 of punch-you-in-your-face meaty goodness with spicy giardiniera and onions strings. House made slaw and kettle chips on the side. read more

Mickey's Tavern - Mickey's Budget $8.95 comes with housemade slaw and keeps chips - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

As a patron of this tavern and friends with many of the people recently described in a review by a person going by the name "Spike H." I felt the need to call this person out. His real name is Ron Witt. He has a history of stalking, some of which have resulted in restraining orders. He has a history of making false allegations and hateful, almost violent speech towards many members of the Willy. St. community. He has stalked a number of close friends of mine to the point of them feeling very unsafe. Don't take my word for it. Search for Ron Witt on facebook and you will see the results of his harassment and vile language towards contributing members of our community. He also seems to have a personal vendetta against people in bands or anyone he considers "hipsters". I would also suggest avoiding online conversations with him as he will send violent vulgar messages to you and harass anyone on your friends list. Beware of RON WITT. read more

Sunday brunch, not hung over, delicious all the same. Food is so good! We had a variety of menu items among our group of 5, from the biscuits and gravy to the breakfast burrito to the specials du jour, scramble and lox Benedict. Top it off with a waffle with fruit and whipped cream and you'd be hard pressed to leave without a food coma. I've never liked tomato juice and I could take or leave a bloody Mary. But wtf does Mickey add to their bloody Mary? Sooooo good! And a full veggie pickled salad on top really drives it home. Way to go, Mickey! Self-serve coffee was just right. I like being able to warm up my mug at my leisure without having to wait for someone to come check on me. Our server - I swear it's always the same guy - really does a great job of taking care of us. He knows his stuff. Thanks, man. Started our Sunday off right. Remember: this is a cash-only establishment with ATM on site. read more

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Outstanding as always. Sandwich was fresh and delicious. Service was kind and attentive. Rum rickie was on special and I looveed it. read more

Five stars just for the cheese curds. Also five stars for being a safe/welcoming place to the madison LGBTQIA+ community!

I want this to be a five star place, but I almost always leave brunch at Mickey's a little disappointed. The bloody mary is a must. Although it's sometimes a little too spicy, the garnishes are spot on. I also love the rosemary toast that is an option with most brunch entrees. Plus, there is great outdoor seating (smoking is allowed outside), and dogs can dine on the patio. And inside is also pretty great - quirky and comfortable. But, it's too inconsistent for me. On my most recent visit, they had no breakfast specials - which is kind of a big deal because the brunch menu is relatively small. I ended up with two eggs, toast, and bacon. More of a problem, though, the service on the last visit wasn't very attentive. The wait for everything was VERY long even though there were many open tables. Also - cash only, ATM on site. read more

Mickey's Tavern - Brunch. Outside. On a perfect summer day. - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Tried the pork sandwich and it was really really great. The meat was juicy and tender. The BBQ sauce was tangy and sweet and paired amazingly with the meat. This is my second time at this place and both times I've been very happy with the food. The decor is also fantastic. read more

Came here on a weeknight. Told myself that I would only go in if I found a parking spot in their tiny lot. SO SO glad there was. Time Lapse of Night: 8:00 - walk in & had a seat at bar. 8:01 - Ordered Sexy Fries (sm) & Bloody Mary. 8:10 - Bloody arrives 8:15 - Sexy fries arrives 8:15-8:45 - Txted,eat, chatted with bartenders 8:45-? - Someone finally sat next to me. Thus chatted and meant more people. Sexy Fries your so fine.The small size could feed at least 2 people. Thinly cut. Great balance of some slices extra crispy, some soft. Drizzled with just the right amount of truffle oil and topped with a snow shower of parmesan. The Bloody Mary is so far the best on my quest to try as many at any establishment that carries them. Just look at my picture you can see the shredded horseradish and ground pepper. Almost creamy, super rich and kickin. The bartenders were on top of asking if needed anything and friendly. An atmosphere of it's own that worth checkin out. Great diverse crowd. Glad to say that my first time in bar by myself was memorable and not scary. You did good Mickey's read more

Mickey's Tavern - Sexy Fries (Sm) - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I had never been to this place but was pleasantly surprised by how good their food was! I had the vegetarian quesadilla and that was scrumptious. It was not just overloaded with cheese like most. My husband got the lamb burger and he really liked it. They gladly subbed out the English muffin for a regular bun with no issues. The sexy fries were awesome and would recommend the small up charge to get them. They are a cross between French fries and potato chips with a hint of truffle oil Parmesan and a few other flavors. One of the appetizers our friends got was a green chile with pork served with warm soft tortilla shells. We tried it and were blown away. Forgot what it was called on the menu but I don't think we will ever visit there again without ordering that. Highly recommend grabbing a drink and some grub here! read more

Mickey's Tavern - Pimms Cup delish.. Amazing outdoor sitting - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Initially I only knew this place as the "sexy fry" place. In fact, I thought this place was called "sexy fries" because that was what my friends called it. So I had a goose island ginger beer, my friend enjoyed a nice Crispin and her husband had an almond drink. We all ordered some burgers, which was clearly the way to go, and all subbed sexy fries. It was also pretty entertaining to see my friend's one year old chow down on Sexy Fries too - he was clearly a big fan of the truffle oil. We sat in the back room, where there were board games and a pool table (3 quarters for a game), and it was a great hipster Mother's Day dinner. Also, across the street is a "Brew and Grow" place, which I also found entertaining. I'm officially a fan of the "sexy fries" place, whatever name you choose to call it by. read more

If all you want to read is this first sentence, then here's all you really need to know: try their weekend brunch and order the Tofu Scramble. Tofu is one of those ingredients that half the world lives in fear of. Another small percentage of the population will brag about the tofu salad they had at lunch, though we all know they had to choke it down. There are then people who have experienced tofu done right and thus genuinely love the stuff. Trust that after trying the Tofu Scramble at Mickey's, you will fit into the latter group of the tofu world. What makes this tofu so wonderful is that it's marinated in peanut butter. It's special. A common complaint with this often dismissed soy product is its tendency to taste bland if not prepared correctly. When it's cooked up at Mickey's with just the right amount of rich peanut butter, this worry is null and void. Add to this flavor packed mixture some sautéed spinach, sweet red pepper, and red onion and it's no wonder this dish is known for winning over anti-tofu folks. The fresh produce cuts the intensity of the peanut buttered tofu and offers great contrast in terms of color and texture as well. Though it's only served Saturday and Sunday, the Tofu Scramble is so wonderful you'll be craving it all week long. read more

Mickey's Tavern - GET THIS. spinach, sweet red pepper and red onion scrambled with soy-peanut butter-marinated tofu. imma crave this every day now - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We stopped in on our way into Madison for a show. It was easy to find but they don't have much parking. We were just glad we didn't have to fight the crowds on State Street. This is not a good place for large groups. There aren't many large tables, they won't split a check, and you have to pay in cash (however they do have an ATM). Also there's a small, but solid, menu so there may not be something for everyone. That being said, the service was exceptional--even when we asked for substitutions or spilled the last bit of a drink--and the food was delicious. My burger was almost too juicy and the portions of all of our orders, even the salad, were pretty generous. And we needed it, because we also enjoyed their full list of cocktails made with a heavy pour. I would definitely recommend this tavern to a friend and I hope I'll be able to visit again. read more

Mickey's is really the only place in town that feels right anymore. There's nothing pretentious or phony about it, it's a neighborhood bar that is honest to the core. All the old fixtures remain, augmented by the wacky, thrift-store additions of the owner. Different times bring in different crowds. There are regulars at happy hour, a young, hipper crowd that pushes in during music shows, families and couples at brunch.... Mickey's recently started serving food and it's as good of bar food as you'll find. Skip the fancy restaurant and sample the menu here. It's good, locally sourced, lovingly prepared food that can be hearty or delicate - whatever strikes your fancy. It's Mickey's. You'll love it. read more

I was told that this was the classic midwestern bar brunch and it didn't disappoint. My bloody mary was solid and came with (as is apparently common practice around these parts) a small cup of PBR as well. I don't know why I'd need a beer chaser but getting both for $6.50 is a steal. I am no fan of brunch generally. It's usually an expensive pain in the ass that I can't be bothered to go out for. But not at Mickey's. The prices and value are good, and it's lack of presumption means you can just enjoy your weekend morning booze and eggs in peace. read more

This place is very cool. Being from Chicago, the best comparison is "Danny's" The best part are all the little rooms coming off of the main bar room that are painted in all kinds of funky colors with lots of interesting furnishings. My husband and I had fun taking portraits in each room. The outdoor beer garden is super pleasant and they make a good vodka gimlet. minus one star for the dumb ATM that ate my money...booo.. beware. read more

Mickey's Tavern - awesome beer garden - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I'm gonna say this is not worth the wait even if the food is gold. I've been waiting for 45 minutes and there's still no food yet! You really gotta come here with an attitude there's nothing else to get to. Ok. I ate. I changed my mind. I will be back. BUT I will bring work or some game to play during the one hour wait. Tofu scrambler. Best scrambler ever!!! Word of caution - if you're faint hearted for the oil, then you might not be suited for this deliciousness. There onions were perfectly cooked, the peanut butter brought out the awesome eggs and the spinach was perfectly done! It taste more like minced meat to me! Love it. Best scrambler ever!! My boy's biscuits and gravy were good but I've had better. Biscuits were a little dense for me and the gravy a little too runny. I took off a star for the wait. Not for people with little patience or things to hurry to read more

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The best place on the isthmus and for miles around for a bloody mary and a burger. Sitting on the patio during the warm months on a Saturday or Sunday morning is ecstasy!!! I love the bloody with the pbr chaser/beer back/schnit. I also love the side of homemade coleslaw and chips that accompany my burger (I recommend dipping the chips in the slaw.) read more

Mickey's Tavern - #bloody_mad - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Excellent little spot to have lunch and a cold refreshment! *Friendly staff & one of the best spicy Bloody Mary's! ~ I highly Recommend, and don't forget to order their Amazing Dirty Fries. read more

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I recently went to Mickey's Tavern for brunch after Mickey's Dairy Bar was closed. What a great place! When I walked in I thought it was really small, but then my friend led our group to the back rooms. The atmosphere and layout were so cool. It felt like I was in someone's living room just hanging out and eating breakfast. The food was great, too. The bloody mary had the perfect amount of spice and a great variety of vegetables to top it off. The waitress was even kind enough to bring me more olives. My boyfriend, friend and I all ordered the eggs any style with toast and breakfast potatoes with a side of bacon. Everything was great. My other friend ordered the vegetarian scrambler which looked pretty tasty. Very satisfied with my experience and would love to go back. read more

Mickey's Tavern - room off bar complete with board games! - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This is my favorite bar in Madison. Always comfortable. Never packed shoulder-to-shoulder with other patrons. The staff are great, the beer taps are various and reasonably priced. Why ya really ought to go, and this is a not-very-well-kept secret, is that the food is AMAZING. The dinner is great, but the brunch is truly PHENOMENAL. Seriously, go check it out! Have a beer with breakfast, I won't judge! read more

For weekend brunch, two words: breakfast burrito! I like mine with a side salad, but you can have breakfast potatoes if you don't plan on eating until Monday. Oh, be sure to have an amazing bloody with that burro. read more

Great college-type breakfast place. It has some seriously delicious pancakes and incredible corned beef hash!

I have not eaten the food. Just a forewarning. I love their patio and their drink offerings. The boozy coffee is amazing! I have not had anything like it, or that delicious for that matter. It had a whip cream vodka, a caramel vodka and coffee for just $7. Wow? Yes. The beer selection is great too! You see so much Potosi around Wisconsin and yet I had never seen the Steamboat Shandy. I think...why not? Delicious! Doesn't even taste like beer, which is a little dangerous. But, hey, it was pretty tasty. My only complaint about the patio. Some people were smoking. Just because it is outside, doesn't mean people want to snuggle up next to that. read more

Very good burgers-with the upgrade @sexy fries" (cottage fries with truffle oil and parm) $11! That was a something. They don't take credit cards- they have an atm - why do I want to pay$3.50 in fees so they don't have to pay 2-3%? I'd rather pay a processing fee of 30 cents or roll it into a tip. Stop doing that- no one likes that. read more

All restaurants were busy in this area so let's pop into Mickeys. Matter a fact I love dives as they can be hidden jewels. So maybe this wasn't the night, the service was lacking. I'm thinking maybe laughter, good music, etc (no). Food was ok as I didn't expect much but something solid. They have a great location but maybe some adjustments needed. read more

Ok, yeah. I'm a fan of Mickey's. I've been going there for years because they have great food, drinks, music, and especially atmosphere. But the star that's missing here is the star for customer service...actually, just plain kindness/friendliness. Too many times recently have the bartenders here snubbed me while trying to get a drink and then projected straight-up condescension when they finally "deign" to speak to me. I don't feel like the vibes here were always this cruel. But it's gotten to a point where I have to brace myself for it anytime I want to order a drink. It doesn't need to be this way. If Mickey's fixed this they'd win the fifth star, and my heart! read more

Mickey's Tavern - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

food was beyond amazing. service could have been a bit better. overall a definite great place for food.

Great bar. Reasonable price. Bad food. Adorable atmosphere. Lovely patio. Too loud. Also, they only take cash, which is a pain. read more

What used to be a perfectly fine dive bar has now been transformed into a cutesy neighborhood grille serving some of the most bland and disgusting piles of unremarkable garbage that passes for "pub fare" in Madison. Whoever coined the term "Sexy Fries" should never be allowed near truffle oil (or a kitchen) ever again. The decor, except for the admittedly cool lamps, back bar and wall art, is cobbled together from the discount aisle at Menard's. It looks and feels cheap and fake in there. The service ranges from surly and incompetent to very pleasant and incompetent. The staff, whether trying to be polite or not, knows next to nothing about either the food or the drinks they are serving. Boggles the mind. For the life of me, I'll never understand why this place is rated so highly. If you want real east-side bar food, go a half-mile up the road to the Harmony. read more

Damn it. I like this place, don't get me wrong. I just feel a little out of place. From what I understand, they only recently started serving food. The food I got kind of sucked. It's just that whenever I hear a server say "pork burrito," I just can't friggin' resist. So when our tattooed, pierced server told us of such a special, I had to do it. In retrospect I should have gotten the sandwich that had a fried egg on it, and bacon. The vibe is great, one of the oldest bars in Madison. They've clearly expanded their space, branching out to all of the small rooms adjacent to the bar, adding pool tables and kitschy couches, lamps, etc. They've also opened up a nice little patio. Even if it is clouded thickly with cigarette smoke. It was here where I had the "sexy" fries and the pork burrito (I should have known better). Maybe it's because I'm such a taqueria snob, but the flavors really weren't layered. I later thought of it as more of a pork stew burrito. Blech. What's the deal with smoking anyway? Is it cool again? There's something cathartic I guess about sitting down, drinking a few beers with your cigarettes placed within reach. Oral fixation, plus a coolness factor that can't be denied. Something to do with your hands and mouth that make you look complicated, without having to say a damn thing. Well, all it does for me is sting my eyes and make my pork stew burrito taste...marginally better. After a couple glasses of beer, I listened intently as all the smokers compared the shapes of their noses and told Michael Jackson jokes, you know, the ones that refer to him as a pedophile. Whatever, I'd go back , but only if I had a full pack of p-funks and a bohemian sheik goddess bride, adorned with tattoos and nose rings. Such is the near East side of Madison, or so I've been told. Where the old hippies and the new hipsters hang out, to see, and be seen. To smoke, to eat sexy fries and egg sandwiches, and tell bad jokes. Really bad jokes. read more

It's hard not to love Mickey's, if only for their awesome patio in the Madison summers. If I lived closer to Mickey's, this would be my weekly haunt. Mickey's has a sign right when you walk in the door that explains exactly the type of service you should expect, i.e. European style, slow paced, sit back and enjoy the company you're with. In other words, this is not a rush you in, rush you out kind of establishment. This is a place that lets you savor those long conversations with your friends, slowly sip that beer, and nibble on those sexy fries. The sexy fries are a hit or miss for me. Sometimes beautifully perfectly fried, but sometimes a bit overfried and not as enjoyable. But then I discovered their super sexy fries which is regular fries with the same truffle oil, parmesan, and red pepper topping, and this is always perfect for me. I'm also a fan of their salads topped with steak and the lime dressing. I've also been to Mickey's for brunch. Their brunch dishes are just okay for me, but their bloody marys are the star. They're perfectly mixed - not too garlicky or heavy on the tomato taste, enough alcohol for that nice early afternoon buzz. The bloody mary toppings aren't excessive (I don't need a fried chicken with my bloody mary), but not sparse either. read more

My kind of place. *casual vibe; laid-back clientele *great selection of beers, (not surprisingly, very Wisconsin-centric) *jukebox, with a wide variety of tunes *nice crowd (but not too crowded) *delicious looking food (we just had dinner so we didn't eat, but others seemed to be enjoying it) *friendly bartenders *comfortable bar stools (a much-appreciated detail; I have a bony ass) Mickey's is just the kind of place where you could spend an evening and not feel the need to go anywhere else. We did just that. read more

Four little friends went to brunch. One ordered the tofu scramble and instead got the scramble of the day. One ordered wheat berry toast and got sourdough instead. One was disappointed with the portions. And ran out of water because the water container was empty for a good 20 minutes. One was happy. Even though the service was slow. Yes, the food tasted good. But it may have been too little too late. read more

I love Mickey's. I love that it's a converted old house, with the back rooms still looking as such with bright paint and comfy couches. There's a pool table in back, and the bar area also serves as concert space. In the warmer months their huge patio is perfect for a nice night chatting with friends. The drinks run strong (last night we couldn't taste the difference between the whiskey ginger and whiskey Sprites we ordered) and the beer is cold. Sometimes the bartenders can be a little gruff (though never rude or mean), but that's half the fun. Bonus points for supposedly being haunted by a guy who got knifed. No old building is complete without a good ghost story. read more

I like Mickey's, I really do, but the last time I went, the service was horrible. Previous visits included drinking only, and a sample of my friend's sexy fries! And I must say that the bloody mary's are awesome and include an amazing assortment of accoutrements...this is NOT your usually celery stick. You get a pickled mushroom, brussel sprout, olive, pickle, and who knows what else. Meal in a glass! Onto the disappointment. I recently went for brunch and arrived just after my friends received their food. I ordered a drink and food, a friend ordered another drink, and another asked for a coffee. The waitress seemed super overwhelmed by our monstrous order. The waitress brought my bloody mary and forgot my friend's. My friend asked for the bloody mary again. The bloody came and after about 15 minutes, still no coffee. Coffee ordered again after the waitress returned to our table 20 minutes later. We see her take a shot at the bar in the distance. Finally, drinks and coffee are on the table. It was an hour after I had ordered my food and still no food. I asked the waitress (after her 3rd shot at the bar) and she had forgotten to put in the food order. By that time, the bloody mary and nibbles of my friends' chips had been sufficient. I said nevermind to the food order (not knowing how long it would take to arrive!) and drank another bloody mary. All in all, cool spot, crappy service (at least on that occassion). read more

Pretty good! We entered and didn't really know what to think - seemed like lots of regulars gathered there, lots of people eating some tasty looking treats, crowded, maybe a little divey and a band setting up. Some patrons at the bar shuffled around to make room for us, which was great and we ordered up. I started with a beer, cuz I'm boring and only like light domestic beer, but I followed up with their special which was a basil boozy lemonade. Quite delicious - the basil was fresh and muddled in the drink and the lemonade nice and cool. It made for a refreshing drink on a hot night. We only stayed for a couple since there was a band setting up, but had some nice conversation with the regulars. We'd go back, but I would have a snack next time too. read more