Super chill spot, and the food was really good bar food. Surprisingly not busy. Only nitpicks were that the burger was a little expensive and the fries were a bit plain. Some of the best parts: kind staff, a bunch of our cheesecurds came together in one giant tasty cheese curd conglomerate (curdglometate?), and you get a free drink for posting food on social media. Highly recommend!! read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Burger of the month, fries - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Great friendly neighborhood bar with some cool colorful soccer memorabilia. Comfy booths, lots of TV's & a variety of options of eats & drinks. Fish fry is a real treat, perfectly seasoned breading & flakey fish. Fries crispy outside & fluffy inside. Onion rings were super yummy! Coleslaw was delicious, tangy, crunchy but a very small cup...I wanted more! Served with a wonderful slice of marble rye, wowed by the fresh hearty flavor. Great time, it is a dive bar so go in knowing this and you'll be fine! Enjoy read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Fried cod w/fries - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I've been here a couple of times and each time is wonderful. Service was wonderful and the bartender was hilarious. The gyro burger was so delicious! My goodness, the meat was tender and toppings were plentiful! read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Gyro burger and tator tots with garlic aioli - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great neighborhood bar and Grill, parking is limited i got a juicy Lucy and deep fried mushrooms and the mushrooms were large and very filling! Used my old fashioned cocktail book and they were tasty drinks. Nice stop! read more

Ballin Burger with tater tots. Burger was meaty but lacked flavor. Tots were amazing! Crispy, crunchy and hot. Ordered a spicy Bloody Mary which didn't disappoint. Heavy on the spicy! read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Baldwin Burger with tots. - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

the "food" is subpar and i found flies in my salad. i went into this "place" several times in the hopes of finding some lovely food, a friendly atmostphere, and a nice spot to spend some time! as a married person, traveling alone, i found that when i mentioned my marital status, the two "men," the bartender and the "cook" took great offense and ceased speaking with me. strange, perhaps they only allow single, slutty women there. i am not a piece of meat and that is all that these two apparently wanted. also, i've spent likely well over $100.00 there in an attempt to enjoy some time. well, the owner, berwyn, was always so pleased to charge my card, at least $5.00 every time i walked in without my approval. credit card fraud. i let so much of this go, because i simply wished for a lovely place to spend time. and berwyn, shamed me, one day into spending $5.00 for his "son's" something football. and what the hell was a 10 year-old doing in a bar, all day! i thought that there are health and social services restricions on a 10 year-old being in a bar. this last sunday, i walked in hoping for some convival engagement, and some peace to read my new york times. unbeknownst to me, there was some rediculous football on. unwittingly, i sat at a large table, and a seemingly nice male came over to me and asked if "they" could join me i thought, oh how lovely some interesting, nice, respectable, engaging young people. as i am a social and kind person, i offered to pay for a somehing, fried pickles might have been a thought, for the table. one of the grunters said that they'd ordered. i thought ok. no problem. and then i attempted to engage these "males" in a general conversation. rude! they had no interest in sharing a common table, they wanted that table and they wanted me to leave. i guess first arrival does not mean anything to disgusting, uncivilized non-humans. and now, with my unforgiving and honest reviews, berwyn, has charged my debit card three times, each over $10.00 for a shitty $5.00 salad that i 'ate' on sunday. fraud. i've attempted to phone berwyn five times, three times yesterday and now twice today. cowards. they do not answer there phone. so, the run down is; a meat market - do not stop in as a single woman, and if you do, and turn them down, be prepared to be ignored and treated like you do not exist disgusting food agressive/unsocial "patrons" rude "staff" an unforgiving atmosphere and to make matters worse - credit card fraud!! you make the call. it appears to be a welcoming, friendly bar. but spend any length of time there, and certainly you will spend your hard earned money there, and you may come to find out that your credit card is charged over and over again. if you make it out alive! please, i beg of you keep walking. the "food" is disgusting and the "people" are . . . absolutely without merit. read more

Dropped in to check out the $1 wing deal (on a Monday night) and pleasantly surprised! Inside was well lit, clean and a with few customers. Gabrielle took wonderful care of us--especially since we wanted to try every wing flavor (minus ranch and blue cheese)! We ordered 14 wings (2 in each sauce) and fried pickles. The wings were a decent size, but I think the fried pickles were the star! Not only was the batter crunchy and flavorful, but so was the pickle. Spears over slices, just for that reason!! We didn't order anything out of the ordinary for drinks and spent all our time at the bar chatting. Gabriel checked in a few times to refill, and did not rush us. Vibe was chill and they also had a pool table, darts, slot machines and possibly arcade game or two. Definitely want to come back and check that out! The only con was sitting near the front door. Sit toward the middle to avoid whiffs of urine from people going in and outside. read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

This nondescript place from the outside that I had never noticed, right on E Wash, was surprisingly quiet on a Friday night. I came for some Friday night fish fry with friends before we headed to a show. Fries are nice and crispy, 2 big pieces of cod. I'm not quite sure what the seasoning for the fish fry batter is or how I feel about it, but it's worth a visit (and a break from a packed Friday night restaurant). read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Friday night fish fry - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great food, good prices and Very awesome staff! My new favorite! We had Sunday Brunch and I also stopped in for a burger during the week. read more

I am a Madison native. I am visiting from Atlanta because that's where I currently live, but I grew up here. My girlfriend used to work here. I have jewelry that was made by one of the best known bartenders there. I walked in today and slipped on the floor because it was wet, and the bartender decided to tell me that I would not be served and was extremely rude. My boyfriend parked the car and came in and she yelled at him In front of everyone to get her fuckin ass out of here I understand she has a right, but there's no reason to treat me like shit The bartender is a bitch. Bartender was rude, was wrong and was completely about exercising power. I love this bar and have been coming there for years. my family runs the karaoke there. I am definitely disappointed read more

I've been here twice - once for a burger and fries in the middle of a Saturday (with no big sports events happening) and again for a Friday fish fry. It's a very casual, neighborhood atmosphere. There are many TVs and music playing. Orders are taken at the table. The food was good - especially the burger. The others in my party had the perch. It was GIANT, larger than any perch ever gets in nature. They didn't love the how fish to batter ratio. The service on both visits was a little awkward (I think that's the best word), even though the restaurant wasn't crowded. There was a small wait to order. We had to wait for/request someone to refill our drinks (and on old fashioned was delivered without cherries) and pay our bill. read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I honestly don't know what the previous negative reviews are all about... I've always felt like the food at BSG is fairly priced and pretty damn good too. Look out for the specials on the white board As far as the bar side of things goes- If you... Are too young for a supper club, but too old for State Street Have been displaced because yuppies and hipsters are taking over your favorite bars Believe weirdos make the world a better place Aren't afraid of change (Baldwin can have a *completely* different vibe depending on the phase of the moon) ... this could be the bar for you I always tell my friends to test it out on a Sunday. Good mix of people, make-your-own Bloodies, great brunch menu, meat raffle & Packers read more

Some days you want a burger you can't fit in your mouth with deep fried cheese curds that perfectly cooked with extra crisp- This is the place: read more

"Don't judge a book by its cover" This place is a true hidden gem, one of those places where you're afraid that writing a great review will ruin the place. But hey, they deserve the praise so I'll lay it on. I bet you've driven past this place a hundred times and didn't know it was there. Maybe you thought it was a local run-down bar that had just closed a few hours earlier at 2am Sunday morning. BSG is a super-casual, no-frills, almost divey bar for a great brunch. A nice selection of breakfast dishes, sure to have something for everyone, and the quantities are quite generous. Everything was cooked well, served without delay, and the staff are awesome. Dude behind the bar kept us entertained and made sure everything was perfect. Will definitely be back again and again! read more

I've driven past this place so many times, disappointed I just now figured out what I was missing. The meat raffle was incredibly entertaining with solid choices. Really wish we could've stayed till the end but it was a little long. We came back on a week night and tried their food. The jambalaya special was delicious with the perfect amount of spice. Healthy portion size as well. The Gouda mac n cheese bites were ridiculously good. Beer is cold and drinks are strong enough. Excellent service despite being busy. read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Jambalaya on special and fried Gouda mac-n-cheese bites....both delicious! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is such an unexpected surprise, in the best way possible! I was expecting a dive and the interior give no atmosphere, but their menu and service are worthy of much more. The bartender/server introduced himself, asked for everyone's names, and when he explained their specialties, you can tell there's a lot of pride behind it. Sure there's your typical bar and grill food, such as chicken tenders, burgers, and fried foods. But! Can you expect, a Mediterranean plate of hummus, feta cheese, kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions served with grilled pita bread & drizzled with olive oil? Cajun jambalaya on Thursdays? How about the recent Friday night special they had of pan-fried Sole fish with lemon butter sauce? Did you know their onion rings, fried mushrooms and friend pickles are all made in house? They also try to get all their products and goods from local farmers and merchants. For example, their burger buns are from Madison sourdough. Just amazing, I feel as if we are at a white linen table restaurant. We opted for the Fish Fry and a friend ordered the Juicy Lucy burger, a burger stuffed with American and cheddar cheese. The fish was phenomenal! The beer batter was crisp throughout, flavorful, per perfectly salted as to not to overpower the cod. All orders though, are a la cart. You can order sweet potato fries, regular fries or tots, great choices to your standards at most places. The burger lived up to the name, and cooked to par. Ignore the exterior, and put all doubts aside, you have to try this place! The also serve brunch on Saturdays and Sundays! read more

Baldwin Street Grille - They have darts! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I love this joint, SO much. I've come for brunch on quite a few Sundays. The Bloody Marys are outstanding, and the brunch special is always fantastic. My friends and I love the Eggs Benedict and French Toast. If you're ever nearby, don't be put off by the building's aesthetic. It looks like a dive bar, for sure, but don't be fooled - their kitchen can bust out some 5-star brunch, for sure. read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

2 stars for decent food, but they nickel and dime you with the add-ons. A simple bar burger (without cheese, because it's a dollar extra) and fries runs you $10.50. The fries themselves are $2.50. Next time I'm craving a bar burger, I'm just going to The Paradise. Oh, and good luck trying to have a conversation with the shouting drunk regulars starting fights at the bar. At 8pm on a Saturday evening, no less read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Baldwin Street Burger and imaginary fries. - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Love this place. The staff and owner are super friendly. Great beer selection. Great burgers. Great fish fry. Great French fries.

Baldwin Street Grille is quickly becoming one of my favorite dive bars in Madison. We have only been there twice, but both times the food and the service have been absolutely amazing. The decor is definitely not why you go to Baldwin Street Grille. We really enjoy coming on Fridays for their fish fry. Both my fiance and I got the Cod and Sweet Potato fries. You normally get two large pieces of Cod. They ran out on my order so to make up for it, I got one big piece of Cod and a huge piece of perch. Both were great. We also ordered the Gouda Mac and Cheese bites which were fricken amazing!! The rest of the menu also looks good but we have not had the chance to try anything else yet. Baldwin Street Grille also has a pretty good selection of beers on tap and reasonably priced mixed drinks available which we both enjoy. Ryan is the owner and operator and both times we have visited he is always multi tasking by serving food and drinks as well as checking in with the guest to make sure things are good. Hence we feel the service is top notch. We definitely plan on going back more often! read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Gouda Mac and Cheese bites with a Garlic Aioli.. Amazing - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Hole in the wall bar and grill that is absolutely amazing. I ordered the BLT sandwich with sweet potato fries and a Bloody Mary. The drink was incredible, perfectly spicy, and the sweet potato fries were some of the best I've had in my life. The sandwich was crispy and fresh. Highly recommend. The bartenders that served us were very friendly. We will definitely be coming back for sure. read more

I saw a lot of the regular Yelpers had given this place very good reviews, and since it was also close to my wife's work I decided to give it a try. I'm not quite sure why everyone is so wild about it, but it has a few things going in the right direction. The location is near downtown, so for most I'd say that's pretty agreeable. The building looks really shabby though and the sign is so small that I walked past it once before realizing where it was. The inside didn't impress much either; just an old bar with a pool table. Our servers were very friendly and polite, and the service was relatively prompt in contrast to some of the other reviews I read. Beer prices were completely reasonable for a Friday, I believe I had $3.50 Millers if I remember correctly. I had the cheese curds for an appetizer and the fried cod with red potatoes for my meal. The curds were delicious, and the sriracha mayo sauce that came along with it was a nice touch. The bowl was quite small though, probably about a dozen curds or so in total. The cod and potatoes were good, definitely worth your time. Not my favorite, probably not in my top 5, but good. The Avenue Bar down the street and Midtown Pub are probably the best in Madison (in my opinion), but I'd eat the fish here again. This is one of those places that I'd like to make a return visit to and could see myself upping the star count on, but I'm a little bummed about the atmosphere. I realize that "towny bar" is where it's trying to get its draw from, but it was a bit too much of a dive for my taste. If I'm going to go to a towny bar, I'd like towny bar prices, and our heavy bill didn't reflect that. Granted we had a few beers, but it was a lot more than I expected, and for that price I'd go down the street. The menu has quite a few enticing options though, so we'll see what the future holds. . . read more

Baldwin Street Grille - MMmmmm Cheese Curds - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I've been here a couple of times and I don't get what all they hype is about by other Yelpers. I just ordered and consumed a Juicy Lucy burger and sweet potato fries. The fries were ok and the highlight of the meal. I get the stuffed burger concept of the Juicy Lucy - I've even been to a joint called the Juicy Lucy on the Wisconsin - Minnesota boarder. The Juicy Lucy I had at the Baldwin Grill was over pattied, over cooked with an off-putting texture. The beef itself had a sort of meatloaf flavor. It wasn't a fresh a fresh tasting burger. It was anything but juicy. Others in my group ordered burgers and said they were OK, but did mention that for $8-10 a burger the burgers seemed a bit pricey for an unremarkable bar burger. All of this said the place is packed on a Tuesday night. Like I said, I've been to Baldwin Street Grill a couple of times - no need to come back for food. If you want a great burger - the best burger in Madison, head over to Player's a few blocks away. In closing - I hate to pan a locals joint. I love locals joint... I'd say it's safe to say Baldwin Street Grill is fine if you are after the quintessential Wisconsin bar experience. Come on - they have a meat raffle - that's a plus. As I write this Hendrix is playing... I'm really feeling badly the food wasn't better. read more

Baldwin Street Grille - Juicy Lucy - mine could have used some juice. - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Their food, drinks, and atmosphere are good. They are very welcoming when you come in. However, when they are busy or they don't know you it can be difficult to get a drink. Their .50 cent wings on Monday's are legit! Their stuff cheeseburgers are like no other. I would say to at least visit them once to see whether you like them or not. It's a divey place and they're worth the try. read more

Couldn't get tea at the other establishments but no problem getting a beer. What are you trying to do to me Wisconsin?!? Acknowledged by a customer and bartender right away. Guess tea wasn't my thing today. read more

This is a really cute place. Relatively small menu but there are plenty of options and something for everyone. The food is also presented really nicely. I love the set up also. The bar has lots of seating but there are tables and booths if you prefer. All the bartenders that have ever served us there have been awesome. Super nice and fun. Overall we love this place. Great place to bring out of town friends for dinner or just to go hang out for a few drinks. read more

Best juicy Lucy and cheese curds I've ever had. Spotted cow A+. Stopped in here passing through and was not disappointed. Great atmosphere great prices. read more

I literally only come here when one of friends insists that we go even though it's right next to where I live. It's a place where I'm cool with eating at, but don't really like drinking at. The music is just not my taste (it definitely also is a place that fills with regulars). They do have a pool table, it normally is occupied at night (on the weekend from my experience) but you can maybe get in a game if you're lucky. Brunch on the weekend is pretty good. There is a decent amount of options from omelets to crepes. They also have a build your own Bloody Mary bar which is always fun! The staff is helpful and friendly and there are normally specific specials happening that day. Since they remodeled, it does feel more spacious compared to before! I would definitely give it a chance (no need to be weary based on how it looks outside) read more

Turkey Reuben. We were in town for one night and arrived around lunch. After driving around for a bit and a small argument in the car, we decided on this place for lunch. Since I had recently just started eating sauerkraut (I know, what the heck?) my new favorite sandwich that I have to try everywhere is a turkey Reuben. We walked in, it was rather quiet, so we had our choice of spots and it was hot, so I made a beeline towards the table nearest the air conditioner. We each ordered a drink and some deep fried pickles. I got the turkey Reuben and my husband got something not a memorable. The pickles were awesome as was my sandwich. Nicely griddled and not too greasy. In fact not long after, we were in town again for a concert and walked over here afterwards for a couple of beers. Everyone on both trips were very nice and accommodating, with the other patrons friendly as well. it's a must stop for bar food in Madison. read more

This place looks pretty unassuming from outside. I went there on a Friday night. Had trouble finding the door, was worried it wasn't even open. Started to be concerned that I invited my friends out for dinner to a place that wasn't open and that I would find them outside, grumpy in the neg. degree weather. But I shouldn't have fretted! Finally found the door and walked into a happening, inviting place. It was Friday, so I had to go with the fish fry. They had both cod and perch available. The perch is sort of a flaky crust on the outside but the cod has a beer battered crust . So if you are looking for a that crunchy layer of goodness surrounding your fish. Go with the cod!! it was delicious. They use the loin which is a nice piece of meat. They have drink specials and specials every night of the week in terms of food. 50 cent wings on Mondays! I'm definitely going to be coming back. Such great food at such a chill place. Definitely a great place to come to if you are a sports fan they have a TV for practically every customer in the place. The service that night was great I thought even though some other reviewers said it was a hit or miss. I thought with it being pretty crowded we were waited on in a timely fashion. read more

Where do I begin? I waited three days to write this review. I walk into this establishment and it was a little divey. That is not a bad thing, especially for me. However, when you advertise on your website, a "welcoming environment", please make sure you clean your tables. It took a few minutes but we were eventually greeted by the bartender/server. At this point, it was not busy. There were three of us, with a few more to join. So we made sure to tell her we were on two separate tabs. I have no idea what our server/bartender's name was because she never introduced herself. She did not know what the special was. She actually asked us to get up and read the sign ourselves. We ordered food as well. A few minutes pass, no drinks. Two beers and a glass of wine nowhere to be found. However, we do see her doing a shot with some patrons. We will call this SHOT 1. She then comes over to tell us she does not know what she wrote. It says side bleu cheese. My friend explains it was her side salad. Ok. No problem, people forget things sometimes. We FINALLY get our drinks. The bar is still not busy. Food comes out. She puts a burger with onion rings in front of the person who order an appetizer basket of onion rings. She gives me a salad. I ordered nothing. Luckily, after some rearranging and catching her to explain a few things, our food situation is settled. We were never offered a second drink. However, I did see the bartender talking to some people and taking SHOT 2! So we decided to just close our tabs and move on. And this began the 30 minute sit. During this time, I was able to witness the bartender take SHOT 3 AND SHOT 4. And me? Just sitting waiting to ask for my tab. I wish I were exaggerating, but I was not. When we got there, we joked that the bartender was so spacey she must be drunk. Nope. Not a joke, she had to be drunk. So I finally get the tab. There is a wrong item on it and two tabs were also merged together. She did not know which drink I had, what items should be on what tab (even after I explained it to her) and she did not come back to check on me. The rest of the people who joined us were still finishing their pitcher of beer. She asked me to have them close because she was leaving soon. Ok, no problem. However, she took so much time to close all of our tabs that we realized she was going nowhere. Why lie? You don't want to be bothered with a table? You still serve food at 8. So this should not be an issue. It took everyone about 45 minutes to close tabs. That is unacceptable. It took more time to close my tab than to drink my drink. The bartender was rude. It did get busier but that is the nature of the business. During this time, she did have time to take SHOT 5! read more

Baldwins is great. Good food, good beer, good employees. I've gotten the wings a couple of times and have walked away satisfied every time. They have a variety of sauces and are cooked to perfection. They have tv's everywhere and just recently renovated. Baldwins is a great neighborhood bar. read more

I've been here twice now, it used to be Pug Mahone's. They have a nice selection of craft beers and they've done a reasonably nice job with the interior. The low rating comes from my experience on my second visit. Wanting a late-afternoon burger, I sauntered over to Baldwin St. Grille. Upon entering I noticed immediately that it was quite cold, maybe 55 degrees and that the place reeked of smoke from the wood stove. This is not what you want on a cold and clammy April day. I sat down at the bar and noticed that everybody in the place was fixated on a soccer match, blaring from two large screen televisions, and that they all seemed to be somehow buddies with the owner. I got no service until the owner directed the bartender to help me. I ordered the special, the black and blue burger and fries. The burger was absolutely excellent. I can't complain about the food, but the cold was really getting to me and I was completely put off by the clubby atmosphere. I felt very much like an outsider in some other guy's basement. No one ever asked me how the food was, if I wanted anything else or if I wanted a second beer. When I finally decided it was time to go, the bartender was busy dawdling at the other end of the bar, paging through a catalog and futzing with some other thing. I would say that the experience was definitely one of the least professional restaurant serving/bartending experiences I've had and that the bizarrely cold, clubby, dark and oddly smoky atmosphere will keep me from going back again unless someone drags me there. read more

This is another place that's taken me too long to get to - but I'm very glad I finally made it. Baldwin Street Grille is one of the most unpretentious bars I've been to. Divey and a little rough around the edges without trying to be hipster (although hipsters who like good beer and pub food should come here too). If you show up in a suit and tie, you'll probably be the only one, but I doubt anyone would look at you funny. The bartenders and the owner are incredibly friendly. It probably sounds cliché but I felt like a regular on my first visit. They have a nice tap list with a good local representation. The fish fry was fantastic! Cod loins were perfectly breaded - satisfyingly crispy without that heart attack on a plate feeling. Definitely something I'll be having again, and based on how good it is, I'm looking forward to checking out the other menu items. read more

This is a wonderful neighborhood bar in the land of re-development on the East Washington corridor. Having visited for brunch, dinner, and Wisconsin sporting events I can say it's an all-around great place for any occasion. Their website offers the notion that this is a place "where you are only a stranger once" and it's completely genuine. Staff hasn't changed much in the few years I've been a guest here, and it is a welcoming environment where staff takes good care of their patrons. My favorites about BSG are their 50cent wings on Monday nights, the brunch offerings in general, their fire-breathing bartenders, and the true Wisconsin atmosphere especially during Packers games when free shots are distributed when the Pack scores. The only downfall is finding seating during popular sports events, otherwise it's an all around fantastic option! read more

Great fish fry in an unexpected location! The fried perch is crisp and juicy inside without being soggy or oily. My dining companion was wow-ed and said it reminded him of fond childhood perch memories (how often do you get to have that, eh?). The sweet potato fries were particularly good as well; actually tasted of sweet potato without being dry. Our server/bartender was very friendly and helpful, although at one time we had to flag him down. Overall, will go back for fish fry. BTW, the music playing was Jock Jams. Very loudly. Whether this is a good or bad thing is up to you. read more

BSG is the best place to go for Packer Games, good drinks and amazing wings. After you go a few times, the staff becomes family. Please please please support this neighborhood bar by ordering take out (if you don't want to venture out during COVID). read more

Revisited three times in the last six months. Very hit and miss. One time, great bartender, reasonable noise level no problems other than it being a little hot. Next time, walked in with a group and we all looked at each other and walked out because there was such a poop smell going on. Plumbing problems? I dunno but it was not worth staying to find out. Had lunch there one time and it was fine pub food, without fecal odor. I would visit often if the place was more consistent, was less loud and was not a sports bar. But it ain't, so I don't. Oh and after I put up my previous review someone at the establishment emailed me to offer a comp meal. I don't think my opinion is particularly important, but it still seemed a little sketch. read more

The good bits: The food, for what it is, is really great. Great pub food, particularly the cheese curds. They have a juicy lucy (burger with the cheese inside the patty), which sets them apart a bit in my book. Really, for this type of food, this is a great bet. Also it's not overly greasy, which is great. The bad bits: I'm not one who needs a fancy interior or needs a restaurant to be dead quiet, but the inside of this place leaves something to be desired. I'm fine with a place where the jukebox is playing or there's a TV with a game on. This place has no fabric inside whatsoever which leaves you with the feeling you're sitting in something like a cinderblock box. This also makes it so that all the sound in there bounces off of the walls and it becomes quite loud as a result. When we were there, it wasn't particularly crowded, yet it felt as though there were a hundred people in there due to the volume. It was hard to talk to the person sitting next to you at the table. The food really is good, but I probably won't be back. For me this is one of those "Ok, I know what that place is about now" joints. read more

Two words: Tator Tots This is an unsuspecting old tavern on E Wash and Baldwin with THE BEST Friday fish fry! This really is my favorite fish fry in town and I love that a side option is tator tots. I feel like a kid in my elementary school cafeteria (cuz my momma never made these at home). Owner, Ryan, is usually tending bar and making extra effort to introduce himself to every patron in the place. He has tons of energy and wants everyone to have a great experience. I love what he's done with that corner and look forward to seeing it grow. It's a little divey on the inside, but the food and drinks are excellent and they even have somewhat modern dishes they use to serve the meals. I hope that means he's planning more investment in upgrading the tables, flooring, etc. as the business grows. I think he's going to need to give the place a facelift with Pasqual's moving in next door. One thing my husband and I talked about as we left after our most recent visit was that there was quite a diverse crowd - young and old, different races and ethnicities, and everyone was having a good time watching the TVs (they usually have movies and sports playing simultaneously). I love that about Madison and this bar. Everyone is welcome and has a great time! read more