We were over in the Middleton area to grab a Christmas tree with my inlaws, and stopped at Paul's afterwards to fortify ourselves from dragging a 20 ft tree back to the car. Seemed like the bar area was hopping for lunch time on a Saturday, so that was a good sign. We realized after we had ordered they were doing a meat raffle, so that's always a fun addition. This place is large and open, and separated by the bar and seating area, as well as a pool table area. We snagged a spot and a waitress came over to take our order in a timely manner. She dealt with us changing our orders several times without batting an eye. We all ended up with their cheeseburgers. I got the bacon cheeseburger with fried onions (missed those if they were on the menu!) and I enjoyed how buttery the bun was and soft as well! I would say overall a solid enjoyable burger. We also got cheese curds and the broccoli bites for the table and both of those were a great addition. We also did the family sized cajun fries and those were a hit as well. Paul's does bar food well, and I'd stop back here given the chance again! read more

Paul's Neighborhood Bar - Full menu - New American Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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Had a quick noontime stop at Paul's Neighborhood Bar - a seems to be a good, fun spot with a decidedly corner-bar feel. There is a large kitchen, but try any food. Word is they have a very good fish fry that's worth sampling. The service was fast & friendly. This seems to be spot that'd be a favorite of people who live nearby. read more

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This place was buzzing at 8 am on a Thursday! They had great service. We were greeted immediately and drinks were brought within minutes. Not an extensive menu for breakfast but a little something for everyone. This breakfast sandwich was one of the best I've had around Madison. The muffin was high quality. Hashbrowns were perfectly crisp!! It's a typical Wisconsin bar inside but was clean. Highly recommend for a budget friendly but still quality spot!! read more

Paul's Neighborhood Bar - English muffin breakfast sandwich and hashbrowns with cheese - New American Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Neat bar. A lot of old wall decorations that are really cool. Was super warm inside, even with a tshirt and it wasn't even that crowded. Food was good and decently priced. It's greasy bar food so it is what it is. I'd come back here. Drinks were reasonably priced too. read more

Our food and drinks arrived quickly. Our server Allyana was super friendly, fun, and helpful. Our fish was the best we've had here recently. This is definitely a neighborhood bar with a casual vibe, plenty of tvs, and lots of beer signs. I like that you can order half fish, half shrimp or they have an all you can eat fish fry with baked cod, fried cod and fried perch. Side choices are mostly potatoes. I love their Cajun fries. read more

Paul's Neighborhood Bar - Old fashioned press - New American Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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To be fair, I didn't actually get anything to eat or drink here, but just walking in it smelled gross, was loud and full of obnoxious people. Keep walking. read more

4.1 A neighborhood bar with great service and is hitting it way above where it should. Great job! read more

I really like this place! Good selection of seating to just hang with friends and drink. The bartenders were quick and the beer was cheap, it honestly doesn't get better than that. The decor is pretty funny too if you're looking for a little extra entertainment. read more

Haven't been to Pauls before but been by here plenty of times. A fairly large place with tables in a back room and a large bar in the front with plenty of large TV's around. On this Sunday afternoon there was a basketball game on so the bar area was very busy. We sat at a small table near the bar and had table service fairly quickly. The staff was friendly and efficient. The food was another matter. My wife's burger was pretty much raw.Not pink, red raw. My grilled chicken sandwich had a bad smell , as if it was cooked in something not fresh and was tasteless. I smothered it in mustard and did eat it but it was far from being good. We ended up taking the raw burger home for the dog. I would have sent both back but our server was busy elsewhere when we needed her so didn't make a fuss. Maybe the regular cook was off this day or he was distracted by the game but to serve regular bar food of this poor quality was disappointing. Pauls has been here a long time and gets good reviews so this must have just been a fluke. Either way we will not be going back anytime soon. read more

A few weeks back I joined my daughter, Nicole and my beloved better half for a lunch at this place. Unfortunately it wasn't fish fry Friday, and so I think I was told no fish either. So I chose a burger and a side of some deep fried taco looking things (not worth revisiting) and a soda. The wife had a burger as well. Nicole went with chicken strips and fries I guess. The deep fried mushrooms were bar fare and with a ranch dressing, enjoyable enough. I'd visited this bar quite a few years earlier, and at that time my recall of the interior was shabby at best. I think it was like an open room with bare concrete floor and picnic tables. I may be wrong. But it wasn't anything I wanted to return to. Though this visit, I found that I had been considerably upgraded and was quite nice and had real tables. The bathroom I recall was also decorated very nicely and it was clean enough to not want to suggest it wasn't kept up. The waitress was funny and had the right amount of sarcasm to fully be appreciated and your resulting desire to tip her was a good feeling. Will I return? Probably. I don't drink these days, so there's only one reason I can come up with, and that's because the place has a reputation for being an excellent fish fry destination. The owner happens to be a neighbor of mine, though we've never met, instead his next door neighbor, I talk to from time to time, and she's repeatedly suggested that (she's had some of my cooking) she knows I'd love it. So perhaps next Friday? The three stars are only because I don't care for bar food unless I'm drinking and hungry for such stuff. The burger was ok. The taco appetizer things were hideous. read more

Great service! Good fish fry. Tator tots nice and crisp. Bartenders all worked well together. First time here but definitely recommend.

Enjoyed playing pool, a basket of cheese curds and some great beverages. Service was great. Will be back. Next time.

After yesterday's burger disappointment I was craving a burger while I was in town so I started looking on Yelp and there was tons of chain/mall places which I didn't want because I wanted something local like a draft beer and a bar burger and I ended up at Paul's. Pauls is a cool Wisconsin neighborhood bar that is a good size space with the bar, pool tables, game machines and so on in the front while the back is table and chairs for the dining area. There is plenty of flat screens with sports playing. It's not a complete dive but it's not bad, it's not nice like the old fashioned or places like that. They actually had two servers working the room and mine was not as experienced as the other one because she came over to see if she was taking care of me and with that being said my service was not to bad. Here we go again, I ask if I can gat a rare burger and I'm told that that would not be a problem. The menu is typical bar food and I will post a picture and they serve breakfast. I opted for the 1/3 pound bacon burger with lettuce, raw onion and tomato. The draft beer selection is border line it will do with a few offerings that were not the domestic but mostly domestic, I opted for the Wi Amber. My beer came quick and before I could snap some pictures and two sips from the beer my burger hit the table, has to be the fastest order to table I have ever experienced. The bacon cheeseburger looked amazing and you could see how juicy the beef patty was so it was cooled to my liking, not cooked to dry well. I was impressed with how good this bar burger looked and the toppings were fresh with a thick slice of tomato, mound of thin sliced raw onions and the good lettuce because iceberg blows on a burger. The burger was on a lightly toasted/buttered light/soft fresh bun. This was a juicy burger and became messy to eat. The bacon was hearty and stood up to every bite, not the soggy kind where the first bite pulls the whole strip out. I really liked how the cold thick mound of vegys contrasted with the warm meat and soft bun. The reason I'm giving five stars is because this neighborhood bar puts out a burger that is cooked perfect and it will put most burger places to shame. This was a great quality burger which satisfied my crave so I would definitely recommend the burger here. read more

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Paul's is the quintessential neighborhood bar. The bar is open seven days a week and has the nicest staff, great fish fry and hamburger delivered daily from Jennifer Street Market. Paul's is a great example of a why Middleton is the good neighborhood city. Cheers! read more

We were in town looking to have a drink. We picked Paul's as it was close to our hotel. We walked in and grabbed a seat at the bar. The vibe was warm, the regulars were friendly and the bartenders were super friendly. Most would not order a dry dirty martini at Paul's but that was the mood I was in. The bartender took great pride in her mixology and delivered a perfect drink. We spent the time talking to the staff and we were befriended by a couple regulars. It was a perfect Thanksgiving evening and everything we could ask for. I wish I remembered the staff members name but all I can do is say "thank you for a great evening and you made it complete!" read more

Great food, service and ambiance. Lots of smiles by customers and staff. Try it you will like it.

Tbh did not hit the spot. The water tasted good and they ice was good but not the best for chewing. Fries were good but not enough of them. Chickie sandy was bus but could've eaten 3 more of them and still been hungry. Filet sandwich was not the best (half of the meat was fat #sad) also the food was just not super filling. Servers were nice especially since we had a large party. BLT ranked 4/10. Grilled chickie sandy 7/10. Also the tables were sticky. Prices good. Enjoy! read more

An up north kinda bar (say it in a Sconnie accent) in Middleton is the best explanation for Paul's. The tell tale sign is that the door signage says: breakfast, lunch and fish fry - conveniently omitting dinner as an option without fish. Gaming machines, bar pools and dice, with pull tabs are the norm with a shot and a beer. The fish fry is the big draw at Paul's. They have baked and fried cod or perch with an AYCE price of $12.50. It's served with your choice of potato - baked, krinkle cut fries, or hashbrowns with cheese and/or onions, coleslaw and a roll. The coleslaw was soupy and didn't draw my attention because it was drowning in sauce. The rolls were ordinary supper club like without any flair so again I avoided. My table split the baked and fried cod. I was told by my friends who are regulars to skip the butterfly shrimp because the size and taste isn't impressive. The fried cod was breaded which is my preference; however, the breading lacked flavor and needed a dousing of salt to really make it taste decent. The baked cod definitely had more flavor but was a overdone because it was no longer flaky. The fries were hit and miss on whether they were steaming hot or lukewarm. You are probably asking why I still gave this place three stars? The up north charm and vibe sets this place apart. Everyone else seemed to LOVE this place so maybe I have set the bar too high. Also they let you take home your leftovers for an AYCE meal which is very odd. Service tended to be a little slow because they were swamped. However, the servers were very polite. When I am back in Middleton I will give it another chance for their burgers and other menu items. It is a gem of a place with such a north WI vibe that I can't resist the draw. Maybe next time I am there I can participate in a meat raffle! read more

This definitely a local favorite, kinda divey fish fry place. Service was sub-par. My niece was with us and the hostess and server seemed so confused about the placement of the high chair at the table, like they'd never navigated around one when in reality there were like two being used right next to is. Our server also always seemed to be in a panicked rush despite the fact that they weren't crazy busy. This place gets 4 stars because the fish fry is amazing. It's all you can eat for $12.95, you can get baked cod, fried cod or fried perch. I went with the perch and baked potato for my choice of potato. It was such a good decision. I haven't had a Friday night in Wisconsin in quite some time so I was really wanting a good fish fry and Paul's did not disappoint. So good. read more

Good breakfast and delivered fast on a busy Saturday morning. Well staffed and very friendly.

This has been my 5th visit here. They go as follows: 1) We stopped in on a whim one autumn day and discovered they were having a neighborhood chili cook-off. We bought a ticket and then sampled between 12-15 crockpots of some perfect strangers chili; cooked specifically to health-code, I'm sure, chili. We did not get sick. We did order a Bloody Mary and several beers as the sampling went on... 2) we stopped in for a cocktail. It was a busy Friday night and the bar staff were entertaining and on the ball. It was a VERY busy bar. They were keeping up. Let me tell you, folks in WI stay thirsty... 3) a friend of mine stopped in for a Friday night fish fry. There was a wait, not long, and we'd expected as much since this is typical for a good fish fry. We enjoyed the fish fry but were really more excited about the salad bar. There were plenty of options and it stayed full as we returned for more during our meal. 4) My dane friend and I tried to return for the Friday night fish fry, however, when we checked in at the hostess stand (middle of the room by the way), we were told we could wait for a table if we wanted to, but that wasn't the weirdest part for us. It was the twisted faces and rude tone we were met with that turned us, literally, out the door. We left saying we'd never been spoken to like that at any establishment, ever. It was like we'd done something offense and they were engaging in an argument for which we didn't know we were at fault. That same hostess turned out to be working brunch as a waitress when we returned...why did we return?? 5) Sunday brunch...now here's where the weirdness continues. We ordered one of the specials: the prime rib. I'm pretty sure, as dry and well done as it was, that they sliced the meat and then let sit and soak in some kind of au jus for some time. I left 75% of it on the table. My husband's pancakes were crumbly and almost powder. I took 2 pics after he'd put syrup on them but (I swear!) did not stab, smash or stir them up. He only cut a few bites off the end. We ordered 2 of their bloody Caesar's because they were OUTSTANDING!! upon paying, our waitress who had been friendly the entire time, asked how things were, once again. My husband said things were "pretty good," and then because he's a terrible liar, broke down and said the pancakes were "pretty crumbly." She was empathetic and understanding, which mad us both feel really good. Hence the 3 star rating. It would have been a ZERO based on the 4th visit, perhaps zero stars even based on the food from this last brunch visit, but the brunch service and Bloody Mary (technically a Cesar) bump this rating up substantially. You take your chances here but you will have an adventure. read more

Paul's Neighborhood Bar - Stiff bloody, homemade & served w/ a shnit! Go WI! - New American Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

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We stopped in one morning for breakfast and a few drinks before a Badger game. Breakfast was really good; I'd highly recommend the french toast. We came back later that night and had some more drinks and apps. Service was very friendly and the food was still good. Loved the open concept of the bar; it was nice not to bump into anyone when I needed a refill. We'll be back! read more

2 stars for friendly service and good drinks, but the food wasn't anywhere near good. The cod was spongey and chewy. My son's burger had a stale bun. There are too many other burger and fish options around to risk another food experience like this. read more

Pauls is a nice place to come to chill. Cajun fries are alright, nothing to write home about. Great drink prices. Just waited 5 min for a drink, with 3 bartenders behind the bar. But we got our drinks and have multiple tvs to watch only horse racing on. read more

Paul's Neighborhood Bar - New American Near Me - Middleton, Wisconsin

Best neighborhood food and fair in Middleton, friendly staff with a smile, beat Burger's ! Famous pancakes !!!!!

We love Paul's! It is our go-to fish fry location! Go early, or you'll be waiting a bit. But it is worth every minute waiting. Their fish fry is all-you-can-eat deep-fried cod, baked cod or deep-fried perch. It is extremely reasonable for the area too! Your meal comes with a side and rolls beforehand. The baked cod will be the best you've ever had! It's the only night that have servers on usually, so like I said, it can get busy. read more

Far better then Bennett's for breakfast. Very clean. Barkeeps very friendly. The other customers, bunch of ole timers. Gotta love the stories they tell, and banter back in forth. You walked a stranger, but you leave there as family. And the food is good too. read more

Great neighborhood bar! There definitely isn't anything 'special' on tap here, but sometimes all you need is a PBR tallboy to quench your thirst! I don't come for the drinks anyway- the burgers are delicious! The local Knoche's beef and fluffy, buttery buns are SO GOOD. And this is the place to come for your no-frills all-you-can-eat Friday night fish fry! You're served a dinner roll, coleslaw and potato (I always order hashbrowns!) and a choice between fried cod or perch or baked cod. Do yourself a favor and order at least one round of the baked cod! It absolutely melts in your mouth! read more

Usually they have a decent fish fry but not this time. The portions of the fish were tiny, coleslaw had too much vinegar and instead of tarter sauce we got blue cheese dressing. read more

Pauls is still rocking it in Middleton. In a city where restaurants come and go Pauls appears to be one that will be staying. My wife and I enjoy going here for a beer or wings. Sometimes it might even be carryout. We know we'll always get good service and good food here. The Buffalo Chicken Wings are huge and very tasty too! Keep up the stellar service! read more

Came here for my birthday in November and had a really great time; so, we decided to come back for the Saturday meat raffle. What a disappointment. Although service was slow (there was only 1 server for all of the tables - she was trying her best!), the raffle was running smoothly at first but then our table started being skipped multiple times for buying paddles. When I politely inquired about it, all I got was attitude. We ended up leaving for a different meat raffle, which turned out to be much more fair and organized! We ordered a couple of apps (chicken strips and cheese curds) and we all thought they were yummy. So the food is a thumbs up from what we had. I would maybe come back to meet up with a friend for a drink or something here and there, but unfortunately we won't be back for any meat raffles anytime soon. read more

Went there with the intention of having lunch. Had one round with an order of mushrooms and left. Fairly obvious you have to be a regular to feel welcome. Bartenders were like talking to a brick wall. Bloody Mary took 10 minutes and Sucked. The chaser was not my choice and half foam. Fried mushrooms were OK. Drink prices were reasonable. To many cool places in Middleton to go back. read more

The food isn't bad, the bartenders over serve. The bartenders don't cut people off. This is extremely dangerous and irresponsible.

This place is perfectly quaint and has delicious food and perfectly reasonably priced drinks. Neighborhood bar is right. It's a great atmosphere. read more

I would give this place a 3.5 if I could. We went early because we didn't realize the fish wasn't served until 4:30. Service was a 5. The staff was very friendly and responsive. The fish fry was flakey and had good flavor if you like thin/light batter. I wouldn't say, "it's the best in the area" like other reviewers, but it's a good fish fry. I wouldn't wait over 15-20 min for it. You can add the salad bar for $1.00 which is nice. It was simple with iceberg lettuce and vegetables (and some Spinach) to put on top. I got hash browns with cheese and onions for my potato side and they were good. read more

Would normally give Pauls 4 stars,but have reduced it due to a recent customer service issue.I am a 'sorta regular' here. They have very good fish frys and equally tasty breakfasts [bacon is exceptional] ,along with generally friendly service...That changed Sunday..Was here with companions .. Decided to play the "'cherry master video machine" during our visit..Got to a $50 credit when we HAD to leave...Asked Julie to just clear the machine as she was very busy,and I would return later for the money...Please keep in mind clearing machine involves pressing a button and one second of time. Reply was "can't now". Waited ten minutes as she walked by me 3 times..Finally told here again we needed to leave...She basically went into a public rant yelling to the bartender to "give this guy $50"...We just can not justify returning after this experience..Darn, cause it's generally a decent place... read more

This is a local bar and not a fine dining restaurant, but they have a very friendly staff and serve a great Friday night all you can eat fish fry. If you can get past the noise level and the plain and simple accommodations, you will enjoy the food and the service. read more

This place is so Wisconsin. I was born and raised in Middleton and finally made it to this place 24 years later. I recently moved to Chicago and came back to visit my parents for the holidays. The food isn't much to write home about but the drinks are dirt cheap and the atmosphere is the friendliest around. read more

This was our first time there, we went to try the fish fry. It wasn't anything special, the fried cod was dry. Like others have stated, the baked fish is better than the fried. The atmosphere was what we expected and was just fine, the prices are good but I wouldn't do the fried cod ever again. read more

Fish fry was great. One helping was more than enough. Crowd a little old for us, but they were very friendly.