I got into town far later than I wanted to on a Thursday night due to air travel issues and this was the only thing that was open near my hotel. Thankfully, I had already pinpointed as somewhere I wanted to go. The vibe was absolutely excellent .. a dark bar is my happy place so I was pretty thrilled. The bartender was super helpful, immediately got me the late night menu, and continued to deliver excellent service until I walked out the door. I had an excellent steak sandwich with a baked potato on the side and was very happy that I had found something to eat at such a late hour. Food was delicious, would definitely recommend. An authentic Madison experience for sure. read more

I had been really excited to show this spot to my friend who was visiting from out of town, but the experience was not as special as I'd hoped. We came for the special late night menu. After waiting to be seated, we waited nearly another 20 minutes before our waitress came over. I can understand getting behind, but this pattern continued all night. Our appetizers (escargot) and then food both took forever to come out, and the waitress rarely checked on our table. We nearly got up to leave before the appetizer arrived (which I've never done before). To top it off, the steak sandwich was mediocre and overcook, and my friend's steak was also unimpressive. Still giving this review 2 stars since the atmosphere is neat and our escargot was tasty and buttery, but I doubt I'll be coming back to the Tornado Room. read more

Classic WI supper club right near the Capitol square. Rustic wood dining room feels like a hunting lodge with white table cloth table settings. We came for dinner Saturday. Brandy Old fashioned to start. Cute table relish centerpiece that looked like a Bloody Mary with no liquids. Dinner was the Prime rib special with smashed baked potato. Bone in Filet, Rack of Lamb. The French onion soup and wedge salad were a wonderful way to start. read more

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Such a cool vibe and we had a great evening with the most wonderful and attentive server. I realize this is a steak house, but I would have loved to have been able to order a vegetarian entree. That was not as option, but the sides were very nice especially the hash brown pancake and Brussel sprouts. Both hearty and flavorful. My date loved his steak, the mushroom poivre one. You have to phone and speak with someone to place a reservation. She was very nice, but I prefer to be able to book online, just easier. read more

Tornado Steak House - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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A fantastic supper club steak house downtown Madison! The service was spot on in a cool dim lit dining area. The wedge salad was crispy and very tasty. The steak was perfectly tender and seasoned excellently. The cheesy hash browns were a filling side with it. Last but not least, the bread was fantastic and had a delicious flavor. I could literally have filled up on bread, it was that good. Overall this is a must try restaurant when in the area. read more

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Tornado is a regional classic! Bar is classic. I enjoyed the steak and hash browns which are a perfect 10. I wanted the walleye, but I wanted to try the legendary hash browns and and was enjoying a nice bottle of Honig Cab Sav so a steak seemed the way to go. Next time I'm getting the walleye :). Booth is very comfortable. Service was prompt, attentive, professional and Midwest friendly. Love this place and look forward to returning. This goes into my top 10 USA steakhouse list. read more

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Super fun, throwback vibe. Customer service was A+ from the host to server and everyone in between (seriously, you are doted on by several staff members). I enjoyed the complimentary bread and relish tray. Not a lot of NA options. The NY Strip was huge and wonderfully prepared. read more

Having a kid attending UW Madison we decided to check out a local steak house for Easter this year. Once inside we were impressed with the coziness of perfect tables for 2 as well as tables for larger parties. Being fresh bakery bread fans, we enjoyed the bread basket variety served at our table with fresh sweet butter. Our salads, fresh with house made croutons! Steaks cooked as ordered and juicy. I got the largest onion ring I ever seen on my plate. The hash browns the bomb! Came out on our plates crispy the way I like, and the size of large saucers! Needless to say we had no room for deserts. We definitely will return for a special occasion or special holiday. read more

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This place reminds me of an old school steakhouse.. and I loved it! Came here on a Saturday evening with no reservation and the place was super packed.. we were able to secure 2 seats at the bar which was perfect! Ordered a few cocktails, the bartenders were great, attentive, helpful, answered all of our questions and very accommodating. The seating was a little tight (as a lefty) but it all worked out perfectly. The drinks were amazing, the ambiance was lovely, the music was great. I ordered a new york strip and a side caesar salad. The new york strip was cooked to perfection (medium rare) and I also ordered fries.. I love some good steak fries and these certainly delivered. Being at the bar was perfect too because we were able to get drinks quickly and sit side by side, which I always do appreciate. All in all, an amazing location with great staff and food, will be back! read more

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Superb steakhouse, our go-to joint for celebrations, have done so for for over a decade. Not cheap, a little dark, but always worth it. No matter what some reviews might say, they do NOT serve prime rib. read more

The best of the best in Madison. Again, we treated ourselves to a great meal and Tornado did not disappoint. Our entire experience from making reservations to being greeted and served were everything we expected and then some!! The steaks were perfectly prepared and so delicious and tender. The Walleye was excellent and the special asparagus and grilled vegetables were perfect. Hopefully they will have the pineapple upside down cake when you visit! It is scrumptious! read more

Stopped in at 10pm on a Friday to try the steak sandwich on the late night menu. The sandwich was good with lots of steak but I wouldn't come back for it. Love the French onion soup and scallops which I've had on their regular menu. It's a fun place to go to late at night if you're hungry and want to eat good. read more

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Had an outstanding experience at Tornado Steak House. We ordered two items cooked medium and both were absolutely perfect--cooked exactly as requested, with incredible flavor and a fair portion size. The venison was next level--very gourmet and unbelievably tender. You can tell a lot of care goes into the preparation and quality of the food. The atmosphere really stood out too. It has a great balance between a classic steakhouse and a lively bar vibe, which made the whole experience feel both upscale and welcoming. The staff was friendly, attentive, and added to the overall great experience. Highly recommend--this is a must-visit spot in Madison. read more

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Absolutely delightful supper club in the heart of downtown Madison. We went here with friends who had never visited a supper club before and this was a great experience for all. Our server was very friendly and gave us great recommendations. The space was cozy and classic and clean, even nicer than we expected. The steaks were outstanding, the sides were solid, desserts were lovely. Be prepared for an absolutely odd welcome snack of vegetables in a cup of ice, I truly have no idea why this is the snack of choice but, it's a very funny choice for sure. Expect a predictably delicious albeit classic meal and a fun time in a great environment, and you will be very satisfied! read more

Tornado Steak House - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Finally made it here after 42 years. I knew of this place but don't know why I never ate here. Maybe it is because of the prices. It is a $$$ restaurant so I have to wait to till I can afford it. Anyway, it is a good value place because the portions are huge!!! The escargot appetizer was small-ish compared to the rest. The last time I had escargots was in France and I wasn't thrilled but this.... It renewed my appreciation for escargots again. The scallop appetizer was rich with the cream sauce and mashed potatoes but it was very yummy. We had 4 different dishes. Each comes with salad or soup and 1 side. 3 of us had salad and 1 had the soup du jour - cream of mushroom. The soup was very salty. Had to take that to go and add more water later. As for the salad, I thought we all have the same salad just different dressing but I was surprised. The Cesar salad had an anchovy on it! The wedge salad definitely had a high wedge. Right about now we were already getting full. Did I mention the fresh bread assortment and thick pads of butter? They were so good. One of us ate it like it was cheese, out a big slap of it on a slice of bread to eat it. For main meals, we had the rack of lamb, 14 oz filet, 28oz ribeye with bones, and duck breast. It was a full rack of lamb chops so nicely done. The sauce is tangy and sweet and went well with the asparagus. The duck breast was also good and was paired with the green beans. Both steaks (it is a steak house all) were beautifully grilled. I love the charred parts around the bone. So delicious. One down side to this place is the noise. I can hardly hear my what my companion is saying. So take note of that. Come to tornado steak house to eat and not talk and you will be fine. The room is pretty dim too so these photos had to be edited to show the white table top (paper) and plates. Server was very nice and patient with us. It was hard to decide what to order. It was a busy night though. read more

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Had another great visit to the Tornado Steak House. Was a special occasion. Two of us had steaks that were cooked to perfection - New York Strip and a filet. Wifey had the walleye and the other person had the pork tenderloin. The tenderloin was huge and had a cherry glaze Demi sauce. Walleye was lightly batter and came with a sauce that wifey would have preferred in the side. We started with two French onion soups, garden salad and a wedge salad. The wedge was perfect. Nice slab of lettuce smothered with blue cheese/french dressing. All four items became part f the clean plate club. Service was excellent once we got seated. We ate late so had to wait a little for table in the corner. The place is rustic and very "dinner club" ambiance. Highly recommend without any reservations. A great spot for a good meal. read more

The food was great! I felt the prices were fair. The host wasn't very engaging and the restaurant is kinda loud, but the service and food made up for all of that! Get the hashbrowns, they are amazing! read more

This is a great choice if you're in Madison and want a true old-school Supper Club feel. Ambience is fully authentic, and while prices are a bit high for some items you also get the relish glass to start, a warm loaf of bread, soup/salad, and a side with every main dish. Get the hash browns as your side - they may look almost "burned" in pictures but are nice & crispy on the outside and the perfect thickness to be cooked & tender on the inside! Service is fantastic and they definitely turn tables as quickly as possible to get everybody through but you won't feel rushed. Our main course actually took quite a while and our server stopped by a couple times to apologize for the wait - we weren't concerned but they were definitely aware of ticket times and I think they also had another reservation waiting for the table on a Saturday night. :) For our "trouble" they comped a round of drinks and then brought out a free dessert with a candle since I had mentioned it was my wife's birthday weekend. You're unlikely to go wrong with anything on the menu, either here or at their sister restaurant Tempest Oyster Bar. Definitely an amazing option for dinner any time you're in Madison! read more

As a vegan this isn't the typical place that I would choose, but my husband and I desperately needed something to eat and it was very cute outside. I asked the bartender if they could do any of the veggies with oil instead of butter and he delivered! He was super friendly and accommodating! read more

LOVE THIS PLACE!!! This is a hidden gem located near the capital. The downstairs area has a bar that resembles a speakeasy. Great place to chill with friends. The upstairs area is the restaurant area where you can have your try of frog legs or escargot (both are amazing). Good vibes and a great place to impress someone special or to take an out of state colleague to have dinner. This is always a hip spot and I highly recommend!! read more

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Terrific food, great service, and a step back into an earlier time. I would recommend it for anyone interested in a wonderful dining experience! read more

While a reservation was not available, at 5:00pm opening time walk-in dining at the bar was available. This suited us (2) very well as we were ordering a fairly light dinner before a concert. Staff was cordial, attentive without hovering. A manhattan up with called liquor was good and served with a luxardo cherry, not some neon colored sugar bomb. The French onion soup tasted good, but the cheese was a bit of a disappointment to that diner. The lobster bisque was really more of a lobster chowder (potatoes in a bisque were surprising) and the soup was delicious. We split a flank steak, rare, with a side of Brussel sprouts. Very enjoyable. No dessert, had to dash for the concert. We would recommend and will be back. read more

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Intimate, supper club vibes with great service and food. Pre-dinner bread is complimentary and you get a lot of it! Also received a free slice of key lime pie for our anniversary which was a nice touch! read more

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Nothing not to like about this place. Great, old school atmosphere. You can expect delicious cocktails and food to match. Super club fare but done a bit upscale. I had shrimp and my daughter had walleye. Both prepared excellently. I'll be back to try the steak next time. Bar was packed and we got the last table, I believe...on a Monday night! read more

Nice place to visit if you're in the Madison area. Good food! Be prepared to wait when they're a little busy, but it's worth it!

When I was in town for a work meeting, one of our vendor's took us here and it was a great experience. The waitress was super nice, accommodating, and prompt with everything. The ambiance was definitely an old-school steak house with the really dim lighting and that type of aesthetic appeal. After placing our orders, the food took a bit to come out but it was worth it. My steak was cooked perfectly and was tasty. The sides all tasted great as well. The dessert and drinks were also top notch. I would definitely go back again if the opportunity presents itself! read more

Great food, perfect atmosphere. Everything you could want in a Wisconsin Supper Club.

Fantastic birthday meal. Never disappoints me wedge salad with french dressing and blue cheese was fresh. Bread was hot and very good. My t bone steak was done perfectly. The star of the meal was my birthday cake. Swiss roll cake with vanilla ice cream. Wow. And of course a candle. Service was excellent. My birthday meal was great. read more

My husband and I spent Valentine's Day at Tornado Steakhouse. It had been a few years since we last ate there, and it was the place I chose as our "last hurrah" before baby #3 arrives in a few weeks. We were seated in the basement, which we didn't even know existed. It was so nice down there! Beautiful white booths, a private bar, and an old fashioned jukebox adorn the back wall, creating a time capsule below the main floor. My husband had a Pinot Noir, and I opted for the lavender mocktail. It was a little bitter, as the lemon outweighed the lavender flavor, but overall was tasty. I always enjoy the relish and the bread, especially the biscuit- it's big and flaky and was perfect since I was fasting all day for this meal. My husband ordered the hot bacon vinaigrette salad (reminiscent of Wonder Bar, RIP) and I had the clam chowder. Both were delicious! For our main entrees, my husband had the T-bone with hashbrowns, and I had the Filet Au Poivre with brussels sprouts. They accidentally gave me hashbrowns instead, so they brought the brussels sprouts on the side. I was happy to have both, as the hashbrowns are so crispy A few years ago they had a peppercorn brandy sauce that was to die for, and I was so looking forward to it, but sadly they no longer have it the cognac mushroom cream sauce wasn't a bad replacement though! The staff was very friendly and accommodating - what normally would have been a perfectly cooked steak had to be thrown back on because I'm pregnant, and they were so helpful with that. 3 more weeks until I can have my steaks medium rare again read more

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We have frequented Tornados and to date have not experienced a bad meal (or drink)! That ranges food items like perch, walleye, frog legs, pork chop/tenderloin, steaks etc and the sides are shareable. Service is good and servers are polite. The place gets crowded, but it is worth it! read more

I came here for a business meeting. The bar area is a wonderful place to just relax and enjoy a good drink. We did sit down for dinner. I had a wonderful experience with their wine and steaks which was done the way you want it. read more

Classic in the best sense of the word. Old school booths, dim lighting, romantic atmosphere, superb service and mouth watering food. Easy five stars! read more

Tornado Steak House - Bar - Steakhouses Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Best place in town. Was there for my parent's 60th. It was great in every way. Great food, atmosphere and service.

Yes yes yes. No lack of great places in Madison but make a reservation here. Tonado, just remember a wedge comes with bacon !! Otherwise loved all of it !! read more

Everything was great! Meal, apps, drinks were all brought out in a timely manner. Great ambience. Service was great, friendly but not pushy. Food was divine! read more

I was itching to snag dinner reservations here after sitting down for a drink at their bar and I'm so glad I did. I love the interior - so cozy and timeless with an MCM inspired vibe. Speaking of, I tried their mid century modern cocktail which was quite tasty. Excellent complementary bread, wish the butter was a little softer. We saved our bread stick to dip in our French onion soup which was game changer. Truly one of the best French onion soups I've had. The Filet au Poivre had a delectable mushroom sauce which I enjoyed thoroughly. We mentioned being too full for dessert but our waiter snuck in a key lime tart in a to go box for us. Their service goes above and beyond to elevate your dinning experience to the next level. Loved! Would return in a heart beat read more

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As a seasoned traveler if someone was to ask what my favorite restaurant one the world is I would say hands down this place. I can only comment on the steak and the ambience but if I had to spend the rest of my days eating in one place it'd be here. Amazing food, wine, music!!, etc. And it's open late! It's like a Time Machine into a simpler better era. read more

Was in town for work and craving a quality steak. I came in, sat at the bar immediately and ordered immediately (I knew what I wanted). No soup, no salad for me--I just wanted my steak.. 53 mins later, I get my overcooked steak. It would've been nice if I was told that it would be a while. The place has an old-timey feel, and thus the ambiance is nice. The quality of the food was ok for the price point. I'm sure it would've been better had they not overcooked my steak. I wish the bartender would've done something about it when I asked about my food, rather than tell me it would be out in a "moment." It takes 10 mins to make the steak, why did it take 53 mins to get it? I asked and she said it was a supper club... so I guess that's fancy talk for "slow service." read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants that I've been going to since they opened! It's a classic supper club with tons of character, great service and the best steaks in Wisconsin! I love sitting in the bar or at the bar and having a fantastic old-fashion or enjoying one of their tap beer selections. The shrimp cocktail are a great starter. read more

This weekend was my first time in Madison, I came for a conference and had plans to go out for dinner and a night on the town. I didn't make it farther than a dinner at Tornado. Why? Their food was too good and TOO FILLING we had to go back to the hotel to sleep it off. At least now I have no choice but to come back to Madison to spend a proper couple days exploring... and probably return to Tornado. DRINKS: - Mid-Century Modern: I don't like gin but I feel like every time it's mixed with elderflower, it's yummy! - Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: this was super sweet yet also super strong, I only tasted the sweet but the two others in my group said it was very strong - Tornado Manhattan: (not sure if this was the name of it) but a very solid standard manhattan FOOD: let me preface this that their portions are GIANT and incredibly well priced. - Escargots 9/10: if it's on the menu, i'm getting it. It was my friend's first time trying it and he loved it! Flavoring of it was just the right about of buttery salty - Frog Legs 9/10: breaded/fried and rested in a honey glaze sauce, they always just taste like tender chicken wings to me, and I love chicken wings so that says it all. - French Onion Soup 9/10: Softttt healthy serving of cheese over the soup which was very hearty and warmed my soul up - 28oz Ribeye on the Bone 9/10: I swear the bone was not included in the 28oz because my partner and I split and we were only able to finish half each. Got it as rare+ and it was so delicious/tender/juicy. It was ... 2-3 inches thick and probably the size of my hand, and that was HALF the dish!!! Got the hash brown and asparagus as sides. Other dishes I was debating and plan to try next time are the duck breast, venison and rack of lamb. Already thinking of my next visit VIBE: Highly recommend reservations! We got so lucky on a saturday night at prime dinner time with no reservations. We waited about 5 minutes and 3 seats happened to open up at the bar. They look like they may be short staffed though because there were a lot of empty tables? Very dim lighting and supper club-esque. read more

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