they have a huge fake tree inside it is so funny. aside from that banger of decor, theres lots of…read morebar, tall table, and lounge seating.

My husband and I had a terrible experience today when trying to enter Paul's Club…read more We had our passports with us, as well as our translated marriage certificate. I am 19 years old, and my husband is over 21. As soon as we presented our passports, the security guard at the door refused us entry and would not even look at our marriage certificate, which showed that my husband would be responsible for me here in the U.S. In addition to that, he was extremely rude and disrespectful. He raised his voice at both of us while forcing us away from the entrance, used his body to block us (even though we were not trying to force our way in--we only wanted him to review our documents), pointed aggressively at a sign stating that alcohol consumption under 21 is prohibited, and told us to "get out." The issue is that I am visibly pregnant--38 weeks--and I do not consume alcohol. We were only there to celebrate a friend's birthday. Shortly after, our friend tried to speak with him and explain the situation, but once again he showed complete indifference, simply stating that he was "doing his job." My husband and I would not have had an issue if the bar had a strict policy of not allowing me to enter, even accompanied by my husband. However, the level of rudeness and lack of professionalism we experienced was completely unacceptable. He did not seem qualified to be in a security position, as he refused to review documentation and treated people in a disrespectful manner, regardless of whether they were customers or potential patrons. After reading other reviews, I noticed that poor service appears to be a common issue at this establishment, which is disappointing, as the venue itself seems comfortable and appealing. However, after today's experience, I have no interest in trying to visit again or recommending it to friends. I hope you take this feedback seriously and consider hiring staff who know how to perform their roles with professionalism and respect. Situations like this are embarrassing and ultimately damage the reputation of your business.

On a recent trip down Willy Street, a buddy and I were popping in and out of spots for a cocktail…read moreas we made our way to dinner a bit further down the road. One pop in was The Wisco, and once was enough. The space is interesting with a well lit entry way featuring a few games and a lot style machines. Once you reach the bar the space gets dark before turning the corner to a pool table area along with a small outdoor patio through the side door. We bellied up to the bar for a cocktail and after a few moments were acknowledged by one of the bartenders. I say acknowledged and not greeted as she was just awful, we legit felt like we were bothering her by being there. She served us our drinks and then left us alone our entire stay, never checking back on us, even when our drinks became empty. We planned on settling in until dinner time, but after our encounter with this gem, we decided to settle up and get back on the move. The drinks were basic cocktails, no complaints there. Price was standard, however make sure you have cash, as it's a cash only spot. They do offer food, and while we were not after anything, it would have been nice to see a menu. But again, that would have taken a bit more engagement from the bartender to happen. Overall, this spot is in a good location, but next time we will keep walking.

Don't play the gambling games!!!! I hit bonus twice and didn't get paid. The bartenders didn't…read morecare.

I REALLY wanted to love Crystal Corner, but sadly after our recent visit, popping back by on my…read morenext trip to Madison is not looking very likely. Crystal Corner is located in the famed Willy Street area of Madison, sitting on the corner of Willy Street and Baldwin Street. Crystal Corner has the vibe of the neighborhood, as is it divey, funky, nostalgic and truly local. However, even with all those things, this spot missed the mark for me and my buddy. We swung by on Sunday afternoon for a few drinks while wandering around Willy Street. We bellied up to the bar and ordered a couple of Bloody Mary's, to which the bartender said "Oh, I need to make up some mix. I can't believe people still drink those things around here.". Which was odd, as that was about to be our third bloody of the day, with neighboring restaurants going as far as having special bloody menus. The bartender pulled a can of tomato juice out, dumped it in a pitcher, added a few dashes of hot sauce, Worcestershire and some seasonings. And that was it. She then took some rail vodka, mixed it all up, and topped with an olive and pickle. While I know this sounds phenomenal, it was in fact one of the worst bloody's I have had. Additionally, the olive and pickle were a weird, almost rubbery texture. The combination of everything was off putting...and that was just the start. Next up is the space itself. While I appreciate a good dive bar that is full of nostalgic artwork, furnishings, lighting, etc...but it shouldn't be visible that the place hasn't been cleaned since these things were added. The ceilings and floors were the worst part, with the ceiling tiles being caked with black dust and dirt. Again, being worn is part of being divey, but being dirty doesn't have to be. In addition to the the main room ceilings, the bathroom ceilings were awful, missing tiles, moldy pipes exposed and just an overall feeling of ick that is beyond a normal bar bathroom. Last, but certainly not least, was the service and vibes. They were off, and kind of weird. When we arrived, there were a few locals and regulars, and then a few folks, including us. While the bartender was friendly with us, she was very rude, uncomfortably so, to another patron when he pulled out a credit card instead of cash (cash only spot). There was a little back and forth, then he left. Even after he left, she was calling him names and such to the other patrons. Again, uncomfortable, especially as a new patron to the bar. Overall, the bloody wasn't the only thing that left a bad taste here. From the bloody to the service to the dirtiness, this place needs some love and was just not it for us.

It looks like an average corner dive bar from the outside but wow, was this a fantastic place a see…read morelive music in Madison! Heads up: cash only at the bar. Come prepared. Bartenders were very nice. Tip them. There is an ATM near the restrooms if you run out of cash. The acoustics are fantastic and I loved the St. Patrick's Day weekend concert! It was packed, but we still found space to dance. Plenty of free street parking. I'm not used to that as a Chicagoan. That was a nice surprise.

A really fun bar on Atwood Ave, the Ideal has been around for years and hosts local artist Jo…read moreJensen on Gallery Nights in spring & fall. You can also find her art for sale there! Strong drinks, colorful characters, yummy bar food & a cozy feel where you come-as-you-are to meet friends and share a toast.

We went here for drinks after after our meal as we headed home. This is a first class dive bar with…read moresome colorful locals. Two pool tables, music from a cd jukebox, games etc. I ordered a Gin Rickey and the bartender was peeved like how dare you order a drink that I can't make and I explain to him how to make it, he's the guy from Iowa with glasses that starts with A. So he thinks he's clever and calls it a gin Richard, ie d#ck is slang for Richard. Now he thinks he funny and called me Richard the whole time while I was there, basically calling me a d#ck every chance he got. What a Maddison hipster doofus, nice way to treat someone's who first time in the place and the last time.

Pleasantly surprised. Read the name and that's exactly what you get. Good sized inside, reasonable…read moredrink prices and the bartender we dealt with was great. We play in a dart league there some nights so while somewhat forced to visit last night I would surely come back. I like the "old" feel it has. It doesn't breach dated, no that's not what I mean by old. Its a nice neighborhood bar. Perfect place to come and just hang out on a weekday after work.

Oh hi, divey small-town Wisconsin bar in the middle of Park Street! Overlooked with its…read morenon-gentrified exterior, it's next to the Pizza Hut and down the street from the Mason Lounge and Falbo Bros. The inside features wood paneling, ESPN-tuned TVs, and a few games. The bar has a small selection of taps, liquor, Old Dutch potato chips, and packs of cigarettes, despite the smoking ban. As would be expected, the drinks are cheap: two Spotted Cows and a PBR tallboy came to $9.25. The bartender, Ben, was great, doling out the appropriate mix of sarcasm and friendliness, and by the end of the night had offered to take me to a Brewers game and invited the entire group over for dinner. Said a friend, "Now THAT is a bartender."

Stopped in about a month ago for a friend's little get together, and had a great time! Currently…read morepregnant, so can't shed much light on the beverage situation, but the vibe is fun and pretty much quintessential Wisconsin bar. My kids enjoyed the pinball machines and the board games they had available, and it was the perfect day to sit outside on the deck. We were thrilled to find out that it is non-smoking out there, because we were able to hang out with our kids out there and just enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. I definitely plan to return post-partum to enjoy some alcoholic beverages at this fun establishment!

This is become the go to Bluegrass bar in Madison, with live music almost every night. Positive…read moreatmosphere, affordable drinks, really friendly bartenders, and an incredible vibe. It's a default go to before high noon saloon or other places, lucky to have it as a gathering spot in Madison.

Fun bar on the tour before our concert good to stop in grab a beer before we went back to the hotel…read moregreat service

3.5, and heres's why:…read more I'm not an avid nightwalker, so I went on a Friday at like 2pm. They had two specials, a double shot screwdriver and a $6 breakfast sandwich. Drink was mid. Too much OJ. I asked the bartender if the sandwich had a sausage/halal option and he said yes. I asked for that and received pork bacon in ADDITION to sausage...which is kind of "meat lovers"-esque for a breakfast sandwich in my opinion. Other than that, the people were very nice, and other service was spectacular. The bartenders were conversational and extremely polite.

This place is your classic dive bar with its 'regular ol crowd'... small menu with bar food basics…read more(mostly fried) and full bar with a limited tap (8 typical Wisco beers). I didn't try one but they are famous for the Depot Bomb, which is $5 all day every day. Bartender works quickly with both handling the kitchen and serving drinks. I love the nod to Badgers with the red tin ceilings and W's posted throughout.

Nice dive bar! The staff here is very friendly and so are the locals. Great place to meet up with…read morefriends or to watch a game. Great prices on drinks as well as food.