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    Nook

    4.9 (67 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndNew American
    Closed 6:15 pm - 10:00 PM

    Nook Photos

    NOOK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Nook

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    Michael W.

    Where do I start? Can I get two additional stars? Great, I rank 7 stars. Everything about this night was amazing. The atmosphere, the food, the tastes, the service - it's truly an experience. Literally one of the best meals of my life in every way. Is it a traditional restaurant? No. You literally have to set your alarm for midnight on the first of the month to get a reservation. And even then, you better be quick on the thumbs. Walk ins? No. Experience -- YES. The whole thing exceeded my expectations. And my expectations were already quite high. The quality and uniqueness of the experience are unmatched. Set your alarm and treat yourself. This is no normal restaurant experience. Shout out to the serving staff - you were wonderful! I hope you are treated well by the owners because you make the experience.

    Malia Y.

    I really wanted to love this place, but it fell short of my expectations. Service: 5/5. Wonderful! The two servers were on top of their game. Recommended some great wine. Not too intrusive on your space. Ambiance: 4.5/5. The atmosphere is definitely quaint seating only 12 people max. The ambiance is intimate to say the least so you might be chatting with other guests. If this isn't your vibe, I probably would avoid this place. The chefs are personable and loved to hear the story behind the dishes. Hip hop/rap was a vibe. Food: 3/5. Given the price we paid, I was underwhelmed. A lot of the dishes on the dinner we partook in were on the tangy side. Interestingly, as much as I dislike olives, their olive soup was tolerable. I really did not enjoy the snail dish-really earthy and there was a bitter aftertaste that lingered. Presentation was stellar but I was hoping for more flavors that melded together to elevate each dish. Portions are "larger" and I was getting full by dish 4 so do pace yourself. We OPTED out of the wjne pairing but the staff seem very knowledgeable about the them. Other: making a reservation can be difficult since time slots are opened at midnight. I was fortunate enough to have someone else snag me the reservation. A long waited dinner turned into a disappointment.

    Menu for 5/11 night
    Cherise K.

    Incredible is all I can say. It blew my other favorite place in Madison out of the water. It was absolutely worth the wait, and the waitlist, and the waiting. It was not just a dinner, it was an experience. Chef Noah and his wife, along with his entire team do an impeccable job with their dinners. Hand crafted, farm to table, fresh and unique ingredients. Each time you come to dinner it is an adventure and different from the time before. I'll post these pictures to share the creativity that comes out on the plate/served, but it doesn't do it justice. And don't be fooled by the size, 14 courses will absolutely fill you up. I also loved that they had coffee, tea, and 4 courses for dessert. Just wonderful. A fantastic experience. An incredible time. I can't wait to be back. From this meal my favorite dishes were the pea soup, the salad, the cod, and the banana bread. DELISH. Happy eating and spoiling your taste buds

    Khair L.

    Unbelievable dining experience, like amongst the best in Madison. Amazing flavors and experiments when it came to the food, with a casual atmosphere established by the head chefs/owners and their servers. Being in the same room as the people preparing and serving your food makes for such a unique and memorable experience. Truly a gem and one of the best tasting-style restaurants!

    Jay N.

    Chef Julie and Noah brought a rare and much needed concept to Madison. On the east side of Madison in the Atwood neighborhood, Nook fits the bill in offering a unique, reasonably priced, tasting menu. The only other place that has consistently done a tasting menu is l'etoile. The chefs are extensively trained and clearly well versed in a variety of cooking techniques as evidenced by their open kitchen that is visible to diners. The restaurant is a bit hidden; a narrow room with dining in front and amazing cooking in the back. The basement showcases the chefs' young kiddo and his quality comic book related artwork. It additionally serves as a small library to cooking books and the restrooms. The food? Excellent really. You are paying a premium but not as much as other tasting menus. The courses start with a snack, followed by a series of vegetarian and meat dishes. I'd emphasize that often times that when one does a tasting menu, they are expecting super premium ingredients. Nook does a variety of things that is unique, sometimes taking a usual, in season ingredient and elevating it with unique imagination, complimenting flavors, and perfect preparation. Taste, texture, and alcoholic pairings are well thought out and perfectly done. The atmosphere is laid back, cozy, and a bit intimate. Given the smaller size of the restaurant, a total of 12 people could dine at six 2 person tables that were nearly adjacent to one another. The layout leads to a communal experience. An important not is that the chefs will allow for the whole restaurant being rented out for an evening if done well in advance. Dietary restrictions are additionally accommodated. I am glad Nook came to Madison and additionally excited to have become a regular here for a reasonably price, delicious, and elevated dining experience.

    Daniel B.

    Nook is the best dinner in Madison. Period. The chefs are mad geniuses and their creative qualities show up in their amazing food, which is eclectic, confusing, provocative, colorful, but most of all, tasty. I opted for the pre-theater dinner, as I had trouble convincing myself that dropping $80 on a dinner in Madison was a good idea. In retrospect though, it would've probably been well worth it. We started off with a fun take on an "amuse bouche:" cruciferous vegetables (broccoli and cauliflower family) with truffle mayo and some cheese curds. A very tasty and refreshing way to begin the meal. The truffle mayo in particular was delicious. Next up was lettuce soup with oyster. The oysters were blended into the soup, but you could still easily distinguish their unique taste. Probably one of the more interesting methods I've ever eaten oyster, but certainly not bad. The soup came with some oyster crackers on top, to put extra emphasis on the oyster theme. After that came Beets! When they use beets, they really mean it. Even the goat cheese that accompanied the dish was beet infused. I'm not a huge fan of beets unfortunately, so this dish was almost destined to be the worst one of the night for me. However, I still finished my plate as it was genuinely a nice interpretation and take on the vegetable. I also loved the hazelnut topping that came with. Our entree arrived next, which was Cod with mushroom and butter. The cod was cooked perfectly and flaked apart easily. There were a variety of mushrooms that the chefs used, but all of them provided a really nice earthiness and nuttiness to the dish. Our final two dishes were dessert-like. The first one can almost be described as a deconstructed Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich. There were grapes to represent the Jelly, a peanut butter chocolate truffle to represent the butter, and finally pieces of angel food cake to be our "bread." It was finished off with some warm milk as well, poured into the bowl. A very fun and creative desert that I greatly enjoyed. The finale was a piece of Carrot Cake bark served alongside a piece of gelatin made of crab apple. Crab apple has a nasty reputation for being difficult to eat, but our gelatin tasted great! Really fun presentation as well. If you live in Madison and want to have a taste of what the city can offer, Nook should be the first stop on your list.

    Thin crust pizza, evoo
    Thuy Dan T.

    For my birthday dinner, the girls and I came to Nook, which has been on my list for quite some time. 10/30 was the last day they were offering the 6-course pre-theater menu for $40. In short -- it was amazing. I was the President of the Clean Plate Club this night. The restaurant is small with essentially one long table seating about 12-16 people. They have a nice beer and wine by glass or bottle selection available and on your birthday, you get a beer on the house! The owner prefaces the vibe of the space as casual and they play explicit 90s r&b/hip hop. Nook is owned by this lovely couple and you can tell this is their passion by talking to them and seeing them explain each dish. The dishes are so well thought out to give you an explosion of flavors and textures. 1st course - snack: a dehydrated thin crust pizza - So crispy and the sauce on top is everything what you'd expect on a pizza - tomato sauce, cheese, etc. It was a great starter and foreshadowed all the Gastro elements the next dishes would have. 2nd - parsnip and pear soup with cream - Favorite dish hands down! The soup was creamy and milky in texture but packed with flavor that honestly made you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Then the crunchies on top sealed the deal. Absolutely delicious - could eat this everyday, especially with winter quickly approaching. 3rd - Caesar Salad - the lettuce was super crisp, the dressing had a strong anchovy taste which I liked and then the sprinkled crushed croutons on top gave every bite brought that extra texture to the dish. 5/5 here too. 4th - beef with pumpkin in 2 ways: as a mole and additional sauce and then topped with pumpkin seeds. A seasonal spread indeed! Meat was a nice medium rare, the mole brought a little spicy kick to it and again the pumpkin seeds for that crunch element. Just Yum! 5th - sweet/savory creme brûlée in a deconstructed way. The tomato custard was pretty acidic, so if you have a cut in your mouth, it might feel a little unpleasant, but the basil cream and the sugar top made for a tasty savory bite. 6th - Nook s'mores - it was a tasty dark chocolate bark with some marshmallow pieces. This was served on a little tree, get it?! That was a cute touch. The star for me was the crabapple jelly! It was coated with cinnamon and other spices which bit through that sweet apple and was a yummy combo. Madison doesn't have many coursed restaurants available and Nook is takin the cake on it. What a memorable night. I will be back for the larger course menu that they will be offering from now on!

    Snail curry
    Hanna G.

    The Nook is incredible, one of the best restaurants in town. Incredibly unique and weird... the food is superb! From olive soup to snail curry, the dishes are SO (once again) weird, but the fam who runs this business makes every dish work. Plus, you get to jam out to 90's rap. Reservations drop the first of the month and if you want a spot at their 12 person table (one meal a night), you should be booking your reservation that first day. I've been here twice and have loved it both times! The menu is always changing, but the salad and starter asparagus are incredible! Book this place!

    Sea buckthorn sorbet with smoked whipped topping

    One of the best meals of my life! Had to pace myself to get through all of the courses but every bite was delicious! Lovely people, delicious and creative dishes, and great ambiance. Personal favorite course was the sea buckthorn sorbet.

    Morels and cream of wheat with a generous lump of butter
    Steph H.

    I live the intimacy of 12 person seating per night at one long table. I've been here twice and all the food is thoughtfully prepared and inspired by what is in season locally. 12 courses are served with generous portions, so wear your stretchy pants. Plating on every dish is inventive and beautiful which adds to the value of the experience. Some past favorite dishes were lettuce soup, morels and cream of wheat, and mango tomato soup. The chefs are experts at reimagining classic dishes and adding a fun twist. Plus, they play 90's hip hop which is rad. The only warning would be to book well in advance because space goes fast. I find it best to be on a waitlist, but it is first come, first served to whoever replies fastest to the email alert. This place is a hidden gem in the Atwood neighborhood and we will definitely return!

    A twist on shrimp cocktail
    lauren s.

    My husband and I went for our 5th anniversary! Everyone I talked to who had been there spoke so highly of everything about this place! So it was very worth staying up late to get a reservation! The owners put there heart and soul into every dish they serve!! We will be back and I can't wait!

    Monica L.

    PROS: Amazing food! CONS: ? I was a bit hesitant when I first heard about this tasting-menu-only place, but was intrigued by the photos of twisted, wirey trees bearing morsels of delicious desserts. All doubts were banished once I tasted the food! The amount of skill and thought put into the composition of each dish is simply amazing. There is no other place quite like this in Madison. I also love the casual, laid back atmosphere!

    Truly the best meal I have ever had! The creativity and execution was absolutely phenomenal.

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    Ask the Community - Nook

    Are they vegetarian friendly?

    When I ate there, there were several people with different dietary preferences and they accommodated them with no problem. I do believe they ask that you let them know when making the reservation so they can plan to prepare the right courses for… Read more

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    Merchant - Chile Pimento Cheese Deviled Eggs

    Merchant

    3.8(747 reviews)
    2.0 miCapitol
    $$

    A few of us were in Madison for a jazz concert at UW. We were looking for a nice pre show dinner…read moreand heard great things about Merchant. The restaurant didn't disappoint. Our hostess and server were pleasant. The cheese curds, burgers and fries were delicious. My New York strip, however, was just OK; tough and not very flavorful. The baked on site carrot cake was really really good! Nice place with nice people and a fun vibe.

    We went here for a Girls Night and had a reservation for 07:45PM. However, service was extremely…read moreslow in which we did not get our food until an hour later. We were a little disappointed in the wait because there were some empty tables around, which showed that Merchant was not extremely slammed, but we wanted to give benefit of the doubt. Fried Cheese Curds tasted alright. We probably got the unlucky batch though, because halfway through eating them, we had dime-sized cheese curds. It certainly didn't feel like we got a full appetizer size of cheese curds because of this. I think typically the smaller cheese curds are at the end of the dish, but here it felt like we had it for 50% of the dish. The Merchant Burger was alright, but nothing to wow my senses. The black pepper aioli was delicious though, but it felt like that was what was saving the burger. Not pictured was the Floral G&T drink, which tasted delicious. Overall: giving this place 3 stars because it wasn't amazing, but it was OK. The interior is beautiful though, but food and service were below our expectations.

    Photos
    Merchant
    Merchant
    Merchant

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    Graze - Heirloom tomatoes with local burrata cheese.  Fresh and yum

    Graze

    3.9(1.4k reviews)
    2.0 miCapitol
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Graze
    Graze - The reason for five stars!  Chefs Signature Korean pork belly, local Hook cheddar "grits", aka polenta. From NY Times feature

    The reason for five stars! Chefs Signature Korean pork belly, local Hook cheddar "grits", aka polenta. From NY Times feature

    Graze - Basque cake, spongy and tart.  Most popular dessert

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    Basque cake, spongy and tart. Most popular dessert

    The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company - 12 Pack Pub Wings (1/2 - 3 alarm, 1/2 - general tso's)

    The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company

    3.8(1.1k reviews)
    2.0 miCapitol
    $$

    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!

    Photos
    The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company - Bar area

    Bar area

    The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company - 6 Pack Pub Wings (habanero hellfire)

    6 Pack Pub Wings (habanero hellfire)

    The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company - The outside of the building is a little shabby and could use fresh paint but I guess that's part of the charm.

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    The outside of the building is a little shabby and could use fresh paint but I guess that's part of the charm.

    Turn Key Madison - Relish tray

    Turn Key Madison

    4.1(104 reviews)
    0.8 miTenney - Lapham
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    Turn Key Madison - Beautiful dining room

    Beautiful dining room

    Turn Key Madison - Charred carrot

    Charred carrot

    Turn Key Madison - Turn key brunch has lots of delicious food

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    Turn key brunch has lots of delicious food

    The Weary Traveler Freehouse - Table Lamps!

    The Weary Traveler Freehouse

    4.0(715 reviews)
    1.0 miWilly St, Williamson - Marquette
    $$

    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

    Photos
    The Weary Traveler Freehouse - Specials Menu as of 4/25/25

    Specials Menu as of 4/25/25

    The Weary Traveler Freehouse - Friday Fish Fry - Walleye

    Friday Fish Fry - Walleye

    The Weary Traveler Freehouse - Side dining area

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    Side dining area

    The Coopers Tavern - Harvest Soup

    The Coopers Tavern

    3.8(592 reviews)
    2.2 miCapitol
    $$

    The Coopers Tavern is a local pub-style restaurant in downtown Madison that has the neighborhood…read morevibe combined with a rustic-almost European energy, which makes sense when you learn the owner is from Ireland! The menu is filled with elevated pub food, a few classics and then a few twists on those very classics. Come hinge, because the menu is carb-driven, so be ready to eat! To start, we went with the poutine, because why not! The fries were crispy, gravy was velvety and the curds were firm, yet melty enough for a good cheese pull! For our mains, we both went sandwiches. I went with the Celtic Burger, which is their standard burger with added caramel iced onion, whiskey bacon jam, Irish cheddar and a garlic aioli. The burger was good and cooked well, but it was less impressive than I expected given all the goods they added to it. While the aforementioned additions sound like a flavor bomb, it was still fairly one note in overall flavor. It was still tasty, but again, not as expected. My buddy went with the corned beef sandwich. He enjoyed it, no major issues! I did appreciate that exchanging fries with fried curds was an option, especially after loaded up on fries as a starter. The curds were well fried, pillowy and quite tasty. Perfect side for sure! In addition to the food, they are known for their bar offerings so you know we had to grab a few cocktails! I went with the Golden Dew and my buddy the Old Fashioned. Golden Dew was delightful, however the old fashioned was a bit sweet, but that's possibly the brandy. Service was great. We walked in and hit the wait list, however was able to scoop up a few seats at the bar before our table was ready. The bartenders were friendly, helpful and an overall joy to interact with. Overall, definitely a fan of The Coopers Tavern! When back in Madison, I would certainly swing by again!

    I was kind of nervous about trying this place because of some of the other reviews, but I was…read morereally wanting something quick before I had to go to my Epic training class. I decided to get the grilled cheese with tomato soup and a side salad. It was plenty enough food. Somebody who seemed like he was in charge took my coat for me, which was really sweet and hung it up. The waiters were really attentive, and even though the grilled cheese has made my hand sticky it's given additional napkins to help with the stickiness I would return here definitely for lunch. I was one of the only few people in here, but I did go for an 11 AM lunch.

    Photos
    The Coopers Tavern - Upstairs private room table decor. There is a full bar behind and not pictured.

    Upstairs private room table decor. There is a full bar behind and not pictured.

    The Coopers Tavern - Dublin Cobble

    Dublin Cobble

    The Coopers Tavern - My personal take on a black and tan - Guinness with Manger's Hard Cider!

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    My personal take on a black and tan - Guinness with Manger's Hard Cider!

    Nook - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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