I've been eating here for decades whenever I'm in Madison. The American fries are the bomb-diggity. Everything is great classic diner/dive food. Kathy's service is second to none, and the cooks are all fantastic. They support COVID precautions which is really important to me as a healthcare provider. I wish I could stop here more often to support Bill and his crew. read more

Is this a Dive? Disclaimer: I don't care for breakfast. I will admit, I've only been once but can't wait to go back. The decor is old school and unapologetically simple. They give you a napkin on the table from the dispenser on the table (like......WAFFLE HOUSE), LOL. Cooking is akin to my Uncle Sylvester (Seal). what do I mean: Big hunk of fresh baked bread. No one cares about a calorie/heart disease/belly fat/digestive issues. Just order, honey! I got the breakfast steak and the waitress (a real adult meaning she's more than 40+) and I worked it out to just order the Lunch steak offering. Those potatoes were as chalked full of flavor & butter that I looked around for my Uncle Seal. It tasted like he was cooking. Didn't want my bread plain with cold butter smothering it. So she took it back on a napkin from my table and had 'em grill it. Umm ummm good! Normally, I'd be irked about cleanliness or proper manners but it's an unassuming place and you get down to earth folks - so it was ok with me. had to leave to go get cash from the UW machine @ the BP but no worries with them. get back when you can. Then she tells me, "he makes his own bread." I could have proposed to him then. Instead, I'll patronize again and my sorority sister was as impressed. The Yelpers got it right all over again! Thank y'all =^) Oh~ I didn't think they were dirty or ill-kept. But in her defense she did come back with the bread on a small platter instead of returning with it on the same napkin. read more

This quaint little breakfast dive is conveniently nestled next to a tattoo parlor and across the street from the hospital. While I was here I did overhear a woman asking when the tattoo shop opened so maybe it really is convenient. And I'm sure the food wasn't great for my arteries so the hospital could come in handy, but all in all I loved it here. It's a cash place, people can whine about it all they want but walking past the place no one should be surprised. My counterpart got the pancakes and each one was bigger than his head. I had the namesake omelette which came with home fries and toast. I'll be getting the same when I return. But let's be honest people we all go to these divey diners because the coffee is great and the people work there are down to earth or so perfectly sassy. And let me tell you, the coffee was hot, tasty, and never ending. And our server Kate was a real sweetheart with just a little attitude to keep us on your toes. read more

The Curve - Banana walnut pancakes with a side of sausage and a steaming cup of joe. - Diners Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I'm here visiting a friend for the week. He just brought me to The Curve for a nice Sunday breakfast. This place is the absolute dictionary definition of "greasy spoon diner" in all the best ways. Good food, good but not intrusive service, decent prices, a parade of regulars in and out. The bacon was fantastic. Too many places seem afraid to cook it all the way, and you get soggy wet bacon. Here, it's nice and crisp. The flapjack my friend ordered was freaking huge, a meal unto itself. Nice big omelets, good side potatoes, good coffee. If I lived here, I'd be a regular! read more

Love this humble diner located just feet from the lake. Kathy, a waitress here for 20 years, has been fantastic every time I come in. She even got my 5 year old to eat an egg for the very first time! Highly recommend their omelette and hashbrown/american fries. They boil the potatoes first, peel, cool, shred and fry-- fantastic! read more

The Curve - Spinach tomato and cheese omelette - Diners Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I grew up in Madison, loving the counter centric, "greasy spoon" cafes. Bev's, Mickey's, The Curve... all great places, all raised a pretty fat and happy guy. Sadly, Bev's is gone, but lucky for us, Mickey's and The Curve are still here and going strong! Now I know this is supposed to be a one sided review, after all it's posting to The Curve, but I suspect that The Curve would be just as gracious to extend a thumbs up to Mickey's and I expect Mickeys would do the same; a genteel courtesy of another time. When you walk in, you know you are somewhere special, somewhere that has thrived through the years because they adhere to just a few, crucial rules; greet, hustle, smile, communicate, serve good food, and thank you when you leave. The staff of three do precisely that every time, and it shows. Weekdays are busy and weekends are packed! I mentioned the staff of three work like a well oiled machine, each knowing what needs to done and when. One waitress (yes ONE waitress!) handles all the tables (7) and 16 counter stools! There is one, extremely hard working assistant that greets, waters and coffees the patrons when they first walk in. He manages and prioritizes order of service and not only does he greet and water, he preps, stocks and watches the restaurant like a hawk so that no one is missed. This is old school service at its absolute best! Oh, yeah, the food. It's pretty spectacular, and not in a trendy way. The Curve adheres to the traditional cafe food menu. Don't look for a salmon and Kimchi soufflé. But you will get the best American fries and steamed omelets you've ever had! If you are lucky, you might get there on a day that they have their own home made sausage patties. Do yourself a favor go to The Curve... you deserve it. read more

Uhhh... the surprise of a cash-only restaurant always catches me off guard and the fact that there was no ATM annoyed me even more (drove to a nearby gas station). BUT, it was marked clearly on the menu, so I was able to handle it before I got the bill. A 'greasy spoon' sort of spot - I had an omelet with mushrooms, cheese (of course - it IS Wisconsin) and bacon with a side of hashbrowns. For the record, I could do without the hashbrowns next time around. BUT the amount of cheese in the omelet will have me coming back for another round (though, that may be the only reason). The place was a little cramped, with stools that seemed unusually low to the ground. I did have the misfortune of needing to use the bathroom, I really didn't want to touch anything and feared someone coming in (I don't remember being able to securely lock the door). I think there are better diner-esque locations to go to in Madison, but I haven't completely written this spot off. read more

I went to this diner for the first time this past weekend and I was really impressed by the food, prices, service and the adherence to COVID. The business seems like a small, local family owned type and unlike some of the reviews the service was really welcoming and understanding. The breakfast we had was exactly what a filling breakfast should be and got my coffee refilled about 3 times. I'd say the quality of the meal was amazing for the very affordable price. I will for sure be going back to this place either for sit down or take out and definitely recommend people looking for a filling brunch to check this place out and support especially during these times. read more

The Curve - Special breakfast with 2 eggs any style and andoullie sausage... for only bout $10 - Diners Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Our service was... not great. However I'm still giving them a 4-Star rating because the food was really good. I may have been thrown off by the fact that we walked in the door and no one greeted us by saying hi, or telling us we could sit wherever. But we figured it out. I may have also been uncomfortable with the fact that we sat at a table near the window where there were three trays of liquid for catching fruit flies... that were full of dead fruit flies. But I guess it's been than in our food. We ordered after the waitress came over about 20 minutes into being there. Our food also took at least 30 minutes to come out. If you're in a hurry or are turned off by dining with unshowered college kids, probably don't eat here. If you're fine with a limited menu of greasy spoon goodness with a classic "indifferent attitude" approach to customer service, check it out. It's an experience. And it was really good. I was hungover... but it hit the spot! We also had to wait quite awhile to pay. Like... a long time. Set aside an hour or two to dine here. But I still recommend it. For some reason, it's charming. read more

I came during the week and had good service. When I have attempted to come on weekends there was a wait, so maybe the waitresses / waiters get overwhelmed on weekends but I had a pleasant experience. I purchased the banana walnut pancake and a side steak. The pancake was gigantic and delicious. The steak on the other hand tasted like it was on the edge of going bad, really not pleasant and a waste of 5 dollars. I overheard the table next to successfully swap out their plate's hash browns with mixed veggies and mushrooms. Most diners are not low carb friendly so this is something to consider if you follow that type of diet. read more

Perfect spot for a simple but delicious breakfast! I've been there about 4-5 times and it hasn't disappointed. Kathy and the staff are extremely nice and attentive. I highly recommend the banana walnut pancakes! read more

Came in expecting a charmingly gritty diner experience - maybe a surly server or too-strong coffee alongside greasy eggs, etc. We saw our waitress twice- once about 15 minutes after sitting down, to take our order, and once to bring us the promised water and silverware, 15 minutes later. Someone else, who I assume was maybe the cook???, came out a few times asking us if the waitress had taken our order, offered us coffee, etc.- and he's the one who actually got us coffee, refilled it, brought our silverware. it took almost an hour for our food to come. If I knew it would take so long, I wouldn't have chosen to spend that time sitting in the windowless back of a water-stained diner. I may as well have just gone out for something nicer, elsewhere. The food was average. Not bad, not great. Meh. read more

If your looking for that Chain Breakfast joint with ho hum food well this isn't the place for you, but if your always looking for those little mom and pop, divey, hole in the wall kinda places then you definitely have to put this on your list of places to hit while in Madison. Good cup of coffee, great food, wait staff was very friend and the locals made for good conversation. You'll get a full belly and it won't empty your wallet..cash only with ATM available. read more

I used to live across the street and gave this diner many chances. It's the kind of food that hits the spot when you're too lazy to cook in the morning. Unfortunately, I've never had a pleasant dining experience here. The waitstaff has always been extremely rude. I recall occasions when the waitress ignored my table while taking orders from people who came after me. Even when I tried to flag her down, she would ignore me. And when you got your food, forget getting checked up on. Every time I drive past it, I remember how awful my experiences have been there. I'll never go back to The Curve and pay to get treated like crap with a side of mediocre food. read more

This is the only genuine small-town diner in town (Monty's comes close) and one of my favorite places to grab breakfast. It's a little dirty and the food's only good enough. Why 5 stars? Friendly staff and a total lack of pretentiousness. They don't ask you for a preference on coffee blend or toast variety - and I like that. The vibe is casual and relaxed. Other patrons aren't hip but they're plenty friendly. Bring cash, tip well. Long live the local diner. read more

Food good. Service ok. Food took an hour to get. Standing room at the door. Prices ok. Cash only. Downside. Orders mixed up. Got someone else's food. One person ate a meal as others waited. Then another wrong meal was delivered but other table said "hey that's mine." Place is filthy. Tables sticky dirty. Holes in walls. Dead flies on windowsill. Really needs detailing. read more

Madison's best breakfast food. The Curve is an old school greasy spoon diner with absolutely amazing breakfast food, for low prices. It has a down-home feel and quick friendly service. The typical breakfast fare such as a plate of bacon, eggs, potatoes, and toast is great, but some of their special's are just out of this world. One morning they fixed me Potatoes Luigi, and it was one of the best breakfasts I've ever had. It was a massive plate of potatoes, scrambled eggs, Italian sausage, chopped onions and green peppers all mixed together in one glorious combination. While not on the menu, they're famous for "the homewrecker sandwich" which you can request at any time. This sandwich is a heaping helping of breakfast ham, topped with fried eggs and melted American cheese between two thick cut pieces of toast. Eat at the Curve, you will be back for more. read more

I love you Curve! This is what greasy breakfasts are supposed to taste like! read more

This place offers no pretentions, but tons of great food. Portions are huge, and prices are good. As other reviewers have said, it wears its badge of 'greasy spoon' with pride, I think, and the cook and waitress have plenty of personality, talking and joking with regulars and newbies alike, and making sure you never see the bottom of your coffee cup. I had today's special--a crazy-big portion of corned beef hash. One of my favorite things to order at a place like this, and I've never had it quite like The Curve made it--homemade american fries with a shredded corned beef, red pepper and some chopped greens made the whole thing so creamy and flavorful. The kind of dish I wish I could sit there all day and finish eating, but alas, I had to surrender near the end. I'll definitely stop back in next time I'm in town--the omelets I saw get served down the counter looked pretty darn good. read more

had a great breakfast there yesterday(1/07/13)--both ordered the biscuit/gravy special that comes with 2 eggs and hashbrowns. Sunny side eggs were cooked perfectly, hashbrowns were crispy homemade shreds of tasty potatoes, the biscuits/gravy were kinda different with a brown gravy filled with sausage and biscuits were unique and all was great Its just a casual diner with a waitress and cook that both are good at what they do--will stop again next time n Madtown read more

This is definitely a Madison area greasy spoon cafe! Love the nostalgic low counter seating! We stopped during the morning of the Iron Man competition. There were a few others in grabbing some food to take to the race sidelines and a few others who stopped in to get out of the cooler morning weather. We started with a cup of coffee. I was very surprised that their regular drip coffee is really good. They source it well. I had the corned beef breakfast. It was spicy and greasy and gave me a little bit of a stomach ache after a while. The flavor was good, but maybe a little too greasy for me that day. My friend ordered the oatmeal with cinnamon and raisins and that was really good! I saw a couple of other plates and breakfast sandwiches walk by that looked pretty appetizing. The parking is a bit tricky if there's an event near by. We found ourselves a parking spot about 2 blocks away. A great excuse for a short walk. Next time I may go with oatmeal or a sandwich option. I hear the pancakes are incredible too. read more

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I agree with Mio S. that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And I will tell you that the 1/3 lb. burger with American fries (read: hash browns cooked in bacon grease) was absolutely the right way to start off my day post-Freakfest. It's a dive with cheap, wonderfully greasy food and an old-school style; short stools surround a u-shaped counter, there are some tables, and you might have to work for service, but overall it's friendly and perfect for preempting or sopping up those tipsy nights. The only downers: Spotty hours (whenever food runs out or the owner/cook gets bored) & CASH ONLY! read more

Quote spoken upon grabbing a seat at the bar; "Uhhhh...when I go out to a greasy spoon place for breakfast, I don't actually want to SEE grease on my spoon!" This place is filthy. Dirty, dirty, dirty! Couldn't even finish half of my breakfast for fear of what kind of dirt and grime,(bugs!) were lurking in the areas of the kitchen that I couldn't see. I am by no means a germo-phobe but, I could not get over the filth of the dining area, what I saw behind the counter, and the kitchen sight lines. A little elbow grease combined with soap, water and sanitizer could go a long way! I just can't understand how this place wins Madison best of polls, routinely. Too bad, I was hoping this could be my neighborhood breakfast place, it will not be! read more

The curve is a inexpensive greasy spoon. The food is good. You should not come here for fancy food. The fried eggs are perfectly cooked and the breakfast potatoes are crispy on the outside. The tables are crooked, the plastic cups are questionable at best. Exactly how a local diner should be. As everyone has mentioned, it is cash only. read more

I love diners, and I love breakfast out on the weekends. I would love to like this place. Food was decent. Service was not. And it is simply a VERY dirty place. If they spent a half-day cleaning it, and suggested to servers to greet people and smile occasionally it would improve drastically. read more

I love the Curve! The chef is excellent the only issue I have with him is that he's a Vikings fan! Other then that he's a good guy and goes by the name of Bode. The waitress Is very nice and always calls me sweetheart or honey so I'm pretty sure she's into me. I highly recommend eating there! read more

Yummy local diner Local and home spun Kathy the waitress was wonderful! Eggs and bacon yummy. Conversation was terrific read more

The Curve is a no-frills kind of place. I was waiting on my wife who was at St. Mary's Outpatient Center just across Park Street and figured I needed some fresh air and lunch. I arrived right around 1230. I had the chicken tenders dinner with french fries and homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. The best part was the soup, it was nice and hearty. The chicken strips were actually pretty good. A few of he patrons sitting around me had the breakfast and it looked delicious as well. I'd maybe go back if was in that part of town and needed lunch. Remember, it's a no frills kind of place. read more

Menu has a good selection of breakfast and lunch items. Coffee is hot and they keep it coming. My eggs were scrambled nicely and they grated cheddar on top as I requested. The ham steak was tasty, the toast buttered and my home fries expertly cooked. Good, divey little diner. read more

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The curve guarantees you the full stomach and send you on your way to tackle the day right. What not to love about that!? It's a small corner lot restaurant beloved by a lot of truck driver regulars (and regulars of other occupations as well). I love that atmosphere. I can always people watch and talk to a stranger at the next table as if we've known each other for a while. My favorite is their egg dishes. The menu is not quite vegetarian friendly, so I make mine up - 2 eggs scrambles with mushroom and onion. The secret must have been the griddle - the egg just taste specially good! I don't think I can recreate that flavor at home. The pancake is HUGE. I could only finish a 1/4 of one stack. read more

Absolutely, hands down - my favorite greasy spoon brunch spot in Madison. Good prices, delicious food, and good company. Some people may find the staff gruff, but I love them and they treat their regulars incredibly well. You might have to wait a while for food when it is busy, but where is that not the case? The bar provides a great environment to have conversations with your fellow brunchers and the staff. Be prepared to talk about recent events with other patrons! read more

One of my favorite diners I have ever been to. The food is fantastic - try the Denver omelette with cheese. I always got the potatoes well done and they were perfect. I left with a full stomach at a reasonable price. Yes, it's cash only, but it's clearly marked on the door, walls, and menu, so if you can't read any of these signs before you try to pay I'm not sure what to say... read more

Great food with great prices. Don't expect a modern atmosphere; think classic, small diner but well worth the trip. Staff can be a bit gruff but hilarious. I well deserved the teasing "no potatoes? WTH is wrong with you" that absolutely made my day. I can't believe I've lived in Madison so long without eating at this diamond in the rough. read more

The best place for your classic family style breakfast. They have HUGE servings and great prices. One note, there isn't a ton of seating and they have a small kitchen, so the food takes some time to come out, especially if they're busy. So, if you aren't in a rush and looking for a hearty breakfast, this is the place to go! read more

The best diner in town. No frills, shitty decor that has not been updated since the 80's. Fast service, great food, giant portions, very inexpensive. The waitress (there is only one, she's been there since the beginning) is very friendly. The daily specials are almost always the best choice. The pancakes are huge, the french toast is amazing, they do steak and eggs just right. Perfect diner coffee, hot, bitter and endless. They have the best Ruben in town, but it is a special only available every two weeks or so. Don't order ala carte items. Order whole dishes, the ala carte items are significantly more expensive than whole dishes. They close at 1. CASH ONLY! read more

Great little diner. Mom and pop operation. Price matches quality. What more is there to say? Expect a wait on busy days, and don't expect gourmet food. Simple, cheap, fortifying food. read more

This rating is based on greasy spoon breakfast food. Do not go here expecting fine dining or exceptional service. However, it's great all American breakfast food. My eggs are always cooked perfectly and their American fries are crispy, not soggy. Awesome place to go after a long night out. read more

I have been coming to this small restaurant for many years, approximately 10 years. The food is amazing! The hash browns are perfect and crispy at the ends. Whenever I order a pancake I can't finish it so I suggest to share it- preferably love the blueberry pancake. Another reason I love coming to this place is the coffee, there is something about their coffee that keeps me away all day. The staff is super friendly and treat you like family. Oh they don't take cards, so bring cash read more

The food was delicious!! The service was even better! The chef came back out and was worried about my portion of hash brown, and tried to give me more. Even though my plate was already heaped with food! Very hole in the wall diner, but very good experience!! read more

The Curve - The Curve Special omelet and toast! - Diners Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

CASH ONLY!!! This is so very important. I made this mistake myself the first time I went there. The food, however, is so very worth having cash. The menu is essentially classic American breakfast and lunch favorites - nice, hearty eggs, excellent corned beef hash, and their burgers are fabulous. The prices are also really reasonable. One very nice lady and two fun cooks are all the staff I've seen, and it seems like they're friends with everyone. If you're looking for somewhere to eat with your family, I humbly but strongly suggest the Curve Restaurant. I take my very particular father there for breakfast, and he thinks it's great. read more