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    The Tipsy Cow

    4.0 (608 reviews)
    ModerateBars, American
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    The Tipsy Cow Photos

    THE TIPSY COW ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - The Tipsy Cow

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    Reviews With Photos

    Madeleine G.

    Fun vibes and good food and drinks at the tipsy cow! I ordered the fish tacos and an avocado taco (did not realize avocado tacos were fried based on the description) but they were tasty! It was very busy for a Saturday lunch likely due to the crowd from the Madison Farmers Market. The sandwiches do not come with a side. Friend loved the steak sandwich. I wish they had a couple more veg friendly options. Overall recommend and great experience!

    Local lamb burger
    Sharon M.

    SO delicious, & a WI classic / must try!! Ordered: - Local goat cheese curds: Loved this! - Fried cheese curds: Loved this! - Truffle fries: Great firm fries (didn't felt too doused in truffle oil), & paired well with the sauce! - Local lamb burger: Really liked this!! The meat was very tender. - Tipsy burger: This is a great burger on paper, but a little too greasy for my liking. Personal preferences! - Fried Mike's pickles: Loved this!! Tasted like an onion ring, but better! The batter compared to the sourness of the pickle is a great combo. Service was also good. Waiter checked in on us often. Nice bar vibes / ambiance. 100% recommend!

    Hermary G.

    First time at this Madison staple! I started off with the seasonal apple cider marg and it was great, though I felt like the apple taste could've been stronger. I got the sour cream and onion fries, and that was a hit! I ordered a mushroom and swiss burger but accidentally got the mushroom sandwich, and the server was so nice and understanding when I brought up the mix up. The burger wasn't my favorite mushroom and swiss burger, but it was good. It is a little loud in here though, so be prepared for that!

    Cheese Curds
    Jeremy O.

    Tipsy Cow was recommended to me by multiple locals here in Madison, WI. Cheese curds are on point, tipsy burger was comforting and heavy. The drinks are on the stronger side in my opinion! Overall everything tasted very good, would come back again

    Sandwich - Asparagus & Egg
    Lindsay K.

    I hadn't been here in years, but used to come here for happy hour after work. Decided to try it out for dinner on a pretty summer evening. We decided to sit outside and had prompt, attentive service. I wish I could remember the name of our server but he was fantastic. My Old Fashioned was delicious, and when we went I wasn't starving so kind of wanted something light. A lot of the appetizers looked decent but still wanted something slightly healthy. They had an open-faced egg/asparagus sandwich that sounded light and intriguing. I almost would call this more of an appetizer than a sandwich, but either way it was delicious and I'd totally order it again. It was basically everything I was looking for and completely hit the spot. Will definitely make sure to come back sooner.

    Date night with my hubby!
    Angela S.

    They have some great seasonal cocktails for around $10. Friendly vibe, definitely a touristy spot. They curate a lot of local ingredients for their menu. Service is always on point. 4/5 due to lack of accessibility.

    Cowboy Burger and beer battered fries.

    Tipsy cow burger is juicy and as good as a restaurant burger gets. Nice job. Beer battered fries are nothing special but it served its purpose. Friendly staff.

    lamb burger, cheese curds
    Akshita P.

    As someone who doesn't eat beef, a good alternative burger is rare to find. This lamb burger is splendid, great quality meat and good flavors in the dish overall. Need to come back ASAP!

    alligator bites, grilled cheese, fried cheese curds, and pretzels (off to the right side)
    Meg L.

    Me and a coworker stopped by here after searching for open places after a late work event. The interior of the restaurant/bar had a rustic, mid-western aesthetic with interesting decor and a local bar vibe. The staff that we met were super welcoming and offered tidbits on what to order. We ended up going with the alligator bites, fried cheese curds, pretzels (with a whole grain mustard sauce and a cheese sauce), and a grilled cheese. Overall, it was great bar food. I'd gotten a mango margarita mocktail which was refreshing and tart. The alligator bites were definitely interesting but pretty good, somewhere a mix between a tougher flaky fish texture wise. The cheese curds were a hit and the grilled cheese was also yum. The pretzels were also great and the cheese and mustard sauces were a good hit if you like that flavor profile!

    Asparagus and Egg sandwich

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    The burgers were good,the service was Great. Nice spot for a dinner date or get together.

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    2 years ago

    Good burger and chicken sandwich. Quick service and everyone was very nice. We will o back when we are in Madison.

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    2 years ago

    Good came out fast. But way too crowded and noisy and quality of fish fry was marginal. Rye bread was hard

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    2 years ago

    Nice servers and atmosphere and the food came out quick. But the food was incredibly greasy like way more that what bar food should be.

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    3 years ago

    Holy freaking cheese curds made with goat cheese. Best thing I had while visiting from Texas. Nice, comfy place to eat in the downtown area.

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    Page 3 of 16

    Ask the Community - The Tipsy Cow

    You might also consider

    The Old Fashioned

    The Old Fashioned

    4.1
    (2.5k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

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

    I heard lots of good things about The Old Fashioned, but my experience was just meh. It was fish…read morefry Friday, and I probably should have gone with that, as it was the special and seemed to be what everyone was ordering. I don't eat a whole lot of deep fried foods and that just seemed like a lot. I sat at the bar, and the bartender got to me pretty quickly and asked me if I wanted a drink. I ordered a glass of wine and a water, but had to ask him for a food menu. I opted for the grilled chicken sandwich with the side salad instead of fries. And then I waited. So long that the woman next to me made comments. People who showed up after I had ordered were eating fish before my sandwich showed up. The chicken was perfectly cooked, but completely lost on the sandwich. There was so much swiss on it, I could only taste cheese and bacon on greasy lightly toasted bread. The salad was barely dressed and just lettuce. I couldn't tell you what flavor the dressing was, but I piled the lettuce on top of the sandwich to try and cut some of the richness. I like cheese as much as the next gal, but it was a chicken sandwich. Even the mustard was lost. The prices are good, the actual restaurant was cute and just across from the capital. The portion was large, it just was lackluster.

    Photos
    Inside bar
    Inside bar
    The Old Fashioned
    Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.

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    Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.
    Turn Key Madison

    Turn Key Madison

    4.1
    (105 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    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.

    We started with the relish tray which had some unique items (tried our first pickled beet egg). The…read morehomemade potato chips and ranch were really good. Would have loved one green item (veggie) on the tray, but obviously that's just personal preference. We had friendly and efficient service. The haddock was excellent. The homemade tartar sauce was also delicious, and the simple fries were the perfect accompaniment. The fish fry came with biscuit that was not good or edible, and the coleslaw wasn't our favorite although some people would probably love the unique flavorings. We were seated in the bar, which was lively and full. If we return again for a date night, I would ask to sit in the dining room.

    Photos
    Beautiful dining room
    Beautiful dining room
    Charred carrot
    Charred carrot
    Turn key brunch has lots of delicious food

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    Turn key brunch has lots of delicious food
    Graze

    Graze

    3.9
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    Good restaurants are run by human beings. Human beings sometimes have bad days. That's part of…read morehumanity. The mark of a good restaurant is how they respond when something goes wrong. Regrettably, something went wrong at my dinner at Graze. After the meal, I received an email asking for direct feedback with the management, which I shared. And I received a very well written apology with a sincere effort to make things right. That effort brought what would have been a 2* experience up to a 4* review. The most important tidbit I have to share for someone contemplating a dinner at Graze is to go hard on the vegetable focused starters. Wow! These were the stars of the show. Hands down. Full stop. Those were five star dishes all the way. Asparagus in season with bread crumbs. Stunning! Young tender beets paired with strawberries? Inspired! While the burger was tempting, I had a burger for lunch and I couldn't bring myself to do a two burger day. I went for the Korean Fried Chicken app as my main, paired with those veggies. It was plenty of food, and I had high hopes for the chicken given the chef's background. But some of the meat was stringy and overcooked. The sauce was zesty with good heat. Still, it fell short of the standard. Warm cookies and milk are never bad. Classics are classics for a reason. But given some of the culinary creativity that exists in the kitchen, it's a bit uninspired. That said, one scoop of seasonal pear sorbet was fantastic! Great flavor and texture. While the server did not know what type of pear was used, I'd put my money on Boscs. The place is popular. Make reservations early. Madison turns out not to be such a late night town, so plan accordingly. While I may not have been tempted to return originally, after the care and attention I received from management, I would indeed come back. I'm sure there is a 5* experience to be had at Graze, but sometimes it takes a second visit to get there.

    We found our way to Graze for lunch when another local place had a long wait…read more It was... just okay. They were out of the first three entrees we tried to order. The food was decent, but nothing exciting. Overall, it was fine, but we'll look for somewhere else next time we're in town.

    Photos
    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
    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

    The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company

    3.8
    (1.1k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    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
    Bar area
    Bar area
    6 Pack Pub Wings (habanero hellfire)
    6 Pack Pub Wings (habanero hellfire)
    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.
    Vintage Brewing Co. Capitol East

    Vintage Brewing Co. Capitol East

    3.9
    (175 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

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

    This was the most bizarre and disappointing meal I've had with Vintage…read more We ordered with our server an appetizer and food at the same time, since we knew what we wanted. Our appetizer arrived at the same time as our food. A big serving no-no. The server should have spaced out our meal. I ordered the fish sandwich and asked for no tartar sauce - I also asked for sweet chili sauce on the side. My sandwich came with tartar sauce on it and no sweet chili sauce. They did end up remaking my sandwich and it was served to me with two slices of cold cheese that hadn't melted yet on the sandwich. Our appetizer pretzel was good but didn't have any salt? Is this normal? Seems odd for a pretzel... My partner ordered the CBR wrap with Buffalo sauce and a side sauce of garlic Parmesan aioli. His sandwich came with no Buffalo sauce and he thought his garlic Parmesan aioli lacked flavor but when I tasted I realized they gave him avocado aioli instead. The fact so much went wrong with the meal had us scratching our heads - was this a kitchen mistake or had our server just totally mis-entered so much of our meal into the system? She did action the changes but seemed confused at first for how to solve my partners no Buffalo sauce request. As a previous server it would have been a no brainer for immediately getting my customer what they originally asked for. The food tasted great, but all around was such a poor experience we won't return. It felt like with all the mistakes there was no sincere apology on the servers end, just a shrug and "oopsies" mentality. There are too many great restaurants in Madison to be spending money at places where service isn't prioritized.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap
    Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap
    Bar - lots on tap and lots of options

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    Bar - lots on tap and lots of options
    Merchant

    Merchant

    3.8
    (751 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    I was out and about, exploring Madison, and Merchant looked like a cool place to stop for happy…read morehour. I sat at the bar, and Mi took great care of me. I had dinner plans, so I just wanted to stop in for a drink and snack. They have some really good offers for HH and their cheese curds are half off. I had never had one, so it sounded like the perfect time to try. I got a glass of wine and the curds. They came out quickly, hot and fresh. It was a big bowl of fried cheese. They come with ranch and hot honey, and apparently they recently won best cheese curd at the cheese curd crawl. They were super tasty. Well seasoned, perfectly fried, and kind of chewy. I am not on the hot honey frenzy train, but I tried it and thought it paired well, just wasn't for me. The ranch was tasty though. Even the happy hour portion was hefty and I couldn't put down half. A little wine and cheese on a beautiful day, just makes for a good experience. They were making some pretty interesting cocktails behind the bar, and it is definitely worth coming back to try out their other options.

    Wanted to sit outside for dinner and came across Merchant. Waitress was quick to come over with…read moremenus and water. We started with the cheese board for $32.00. Let's say not the best board I've ever had. Very light on the cheese for the price. Wouldn't order again. Cheese curds were tasty. My husband at the steak which came rare had to return to cook more. The fries were over cooked. My son had the Mac n cheese with chicken that he enjoyed. We also ordered a salad which was fresh and tasty. The menu was small but a nice place to come and have a drink after work then move in for dinner.

    Photos
    Merchant
    Merchant
    Merchant

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    The Tipsy Cow - bars - Updated July 2026

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