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Bear & Bottle

3.8 (217 reviews)
ModeratePubs, Tacos, Sandwiches
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

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BEAR & BOTTLE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Good for groups

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Salad
Aurora A.

I've been here a few times and just love the atmosphere here! This specific time I'm reviewing we ordered two salads and had a couple cocktails. The salads came quickly and were AMAZING. The pesto salmon salad was out of this world. So fresh and the salmon was so juicy and cooked to perfection. I will order this salad again! It was a huge portion and I ate half of it the next day. So great portion for the price! Only small complaint I had was the speed of service after the food was served. There were probably 6 people at the bar and it was empty at the tables. It took a little bit of time to get another drink but the bartender was doing dishes etc and not intentionally ignoring us. Other than that I absolutely loved my visit and will be back to have this salad again. YUM!!

Denis D.

You know? I am not a vegetarian, or a vegan, nor do i have a problem with glutenous foods, But the grilled asparagus at the bear and bottle are a delicious steak treat for anyone who has these said traits! Absolutely magnificent!

Brioche blt
Michael B.

Legitimately couldn't find this place even in the parking lot without checking my phone. It's tucked in the corner without much signage. The place itself is modern warehouse garage windows and very clean. The light fixture is impressive. There's not a ton of brunch items, and many over $15. The cheese curds are decent. Most of us got the hangover burger. The let us know they may be out of the sausage patty's but the burgers came without them, or bacon, or spicy mayo. The brioche blt and other item someone got was okay. The server was fine with us splitting the bill.

Old fashioned and banana Mai Tai
PJ C.

Even though we live on the east side of town I had never heard of this place until my father-in-law and his brother told us how they stopped here and had a great meal (I don't want to give their ages because it might deter some from trying out this fun and vibrant place). They did say it was one of the biggest bars in town and I think they are right. We stopped on a Friday night soon after it was featured in the Madison Magazine - thankfully it wasn't jammed. The space is airy and nicely done. Given the cold weather in late April the garage doors were closed so we do want to return when the weather is nice because those doors being open would be great. The waitress was very friendly and warned us of a couple items not available including no dessert (odd). We ordered a couple of drinks but neither the Banana Mai Tai or Old Fashioned wowed us - they were OK. One reason we did come here was that the menu was not just your typical Madison cheese curd, burger & fish fry selection. Yes they have all three but they have a menu with a number of interesting items. I tried the Tenderoni- a pork tenderloin sandwich with avocado and tapenade - it was very good and tender(oni). Pork can be easily overcooked so I asked for it pink and it was! My wife order the Bahn Mi sliders and gave them a big thumbs up - we told this to the waitress and she said it was lucky she got this because they had run out - at 6pm? Boy I guess supply chain issues impact everything. Overall we had a very good meal and we will return to enjoy this space when the weather is better.

Dorthy X.

I know this isn't a taco joint--but when there's a Taco section on the menu, you think, this might be good!!! Unfortunately this didn't hit the spot. We ordered after 9PM, on a Friday night--cheese curds, street chicken tacos and carne asada tacos--and was told it'd be ready in 10 minutes (WOW, that's fast!). Pick up was smooth and the bar had a good amount of patrons. People were spaced out and masks utilized appropriately. They were true to their word and my food came out timely. At first glance, the curds did not seem appealing. They weren't crispy but flavors were there. Definitely tasted better when dipped in sauce, tho. Street chicken tacos had roughly a table spoon of seasoned meat (which was cold), corn and cheese in double-flour tortilla. Two sauces came with it, 1) elote flavored mayo and 2) spicy mayo, which were pretty good. The carne asada meat was a bit warmer than the chicken but lacked flavor. The salsa verde did not help either. Not worth $40 (that's with tip!) in my book. :( I would have not minded if they took an extra 5 minutes to make sure the food was the right temp. This was my first time here, so am willing to give them another shot. Besides that, the space looks beautiful and seems like it would be a great event venue!

Chorizo Fritters
Vicki A.

Really cute place-natural brick and lots of interesting photos and some watercolors. Will be even better in summer- nice patio and glass walls that open up. Which might be why it was so cold inside! Put my coat back on and noticed I wasn't alone. Went for Restaurant Week. Made it for Happy Hour-had emailed-said till 5 and $2 off. When tap brought bartender said till 9 that night. Overheard next bartender said all night and 1/2 off. So they need to communicate better-affects my order! Food: Started with chorizo fritters. 2 big ones-1/2 through first one they brought out my asada burrito! Felt rushed-asked me if I wanted to pack up my fritter?! (Which was good-would have liked it spicier). Beef in burrito chewy and tough. Again- some hot sauce would have been appreciated. The chips and salsa verde was best part. Again generous portion. Molten lava cake-good but bottom hard and half was cold and not melted. Ice cream fine. Was at bar and place was full-with one bartender. Amazing-but took a while to get bill and leave. Overall will try again-but maybe for a Happy Hour in summer-if they figure it out!

Ask for the lemon curd cheesecake. It's AMAZING!
Eva S.

I stopped by while in town celebrating my birthday solo; I was feeling a bit lonely but thought it might be weird to ask for attention while out on my own, so I wasn't going to say anything. The extremely welcoming and kind server chatted with me and made recommendations; I had a huge, delicious sandwich and greens with the best strawberry vinaigrette I've ever had. I felt comfortable enough to mention why I was there, and he brought me a slice of heavenly lemon curd cheesecake as a birthday treat. I stopped feeling lame and just enjoyed being celebrated. I so appreciated the kind reception and will happily visit this spot again next time I'm in Madison!

Crab Rangoons
Dynae S.

Went to bear and bottle a few weeks ago for a business meeting. I grabbed the Crab Rangoons & Birria tacos. Crab Rangoon's were amazing and perfectly crisp. The Birria meat in the tacos tasted so processed and over cooked it was mush and the Birria sauce was flavorless. The walleye was flavorful and the bacon broccoli salad was fresh and full of flavor. Burger was great too. This was the second time I've been here and both times My expectations haven't been fully met. It's a great atmosphere and location but the flavors aren't there for me.

Wonton nachos

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I was not impressed with the chicken nachos...but will give the food another try since they just opened.

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Bandit Tacos & Coffee - Bandito (Pork Shoulder)

Bandit Tacos & Coffee

4.5(96 reviews)
3.1 mi•Capitol

Tacos AND coffee is definitely my idea of a great outing. We went a bit later in the day and it was…read morea bit busy. I didn't end up getting coffee but I did get the chicken tacos which were pretty good. We also tried the chips & salsas. For drinks we got the cherry daiquiris. Overall I enjoyed the vibes and food. Parking was a bit weird (not familiar w/ the area), we found a spot across the tracks by the trails.

You'll discover this little coffee nook tucked in behind a large bike shop that shares the same…read morebuilding. Parking is limited, but there's plenty of seating. Weather permitting, sitting out by the tracks is nice, but you will have to contend with the occasional fly. We ordered two of their tacos and a breakfast sandwich. And as everybody has already mentioned, they were very well put together and flavorfull. The only place I see room for improvement is if they also offered a simplified menu of breakfast tacos with a bacon/egg/cheese/sausage combination along with some fresh pico or salsa. Keep in mind this is another one of those businesses that flip the tip screen over on you when you check out, but that seems to be the norm these days. They seem to have a good formula working for them here and you can even pick up a bottle of tequila, pastry or bagged coffee. Coffee mug refills are $1 and don't forget to bus your own table. They even have a few beers on draft. Informative photos included.

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Bandit Tacos & Coffee - Inside

Inside

Bandit Tacos & Coffee
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Zavala's Market & Taqueria - Hauraches

Zavala's Market & Taqueria

4.6(39 reviews)
8.1 mi

I'm new to Monroe, so naturally I've been on a mission to find the best local Mexican food. And…read morethis isn't a post about the other guys in town--I've tried them all. This is about the clear front-runner: Zavala's Taqueria. I stopped in on a Saturday and had their weekend special, pozole, along with a Tamarindo. Absolutely delicious. If you Midwest Wisconsin folks have never had pozole, it's a traditional Mexican soup that is PERFECT when the weather gets cold. It hits the spot. Now I'm going to let you in on what might be Monroe's best-kept secret: I was the only person in the restaurant at 1 p.m. on a Saturday. Great for my service...but come on, Monroe. These guys are doing it right. This was my second visit. The first time I played it safe and started with three tacos. Also excellent. And yes, the location might intimidate some of you. Don't let it. It's in a strip mall, and you walk through the grocery store to get to the restaurant in the back. Be brave. Your taste buds will thank you. Zavala's has officially moved to the top of my Monroe Mexican food list.

Coming from San Diego, CA, the one thing I missed the most was carne asada fries... I know that's…read morethe typical thing you think of for Mexican food, but it has been on my list to find places that serve it in the Midwest. After trying different variations from other restaurants in Chicago and Madison, I have to say they have the best carne asada fries (titled Loaded Fries under the shareable section). The fries are wedged with an assortment of quac, sour cream, their own cheese sauce, and pico de gallo. What made it so good was the ratios of the ingredients and the cheese sauce. The portions are enough for two people to share, though you may leave with clogged arteries. Although at times there may be a language barrier with staff, they were attentive to our needs and checked on us regularly. A fun fact is that they are located behind the grocery store aspect of the place. Vibes were great.

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Zavala's Market & Taqueria - They expanded and now have a dedicated restaurant section!

They expanded and now have a dedicated restaurant section!

Zavala's Market & Taqueria
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Canteen - Burrito + cheese sauce

Canteen

3.9(363 reviews)
2.6 mi•Downtown, Capitol
•$$

Our visit got off to a pretty disappointing start. When we walked in, we stood near the entrance…read morefor a while before anyone acknowledged us, so we eventually found a table ourselves. Someone later brought over cups, napkins, and silverware, but we still weren't given menus, so we grabbed those on our own. After sitting there for around 12 minutes without anyone checking on us or taking our order, we decided to move over to the bar. Thankfully, the bartender was much more attentive and welcomed us right away. While he was taking our order, another employee came over and asked whether someone had seated us. I explained that no one had, and that we hadn't even been acknowledged when we first arrived. The service at the beginning definitely left a bad impression, especially when there are so many other places nearby where we could go for food and drinks. The bartender did help improve the experience, though, so I bumped my rating up from what would have been a 1 star review to 3 stars.

Let's say this is definitely not starting on the right foot…read moreWe entered and stood at the door for a minute. Not a hello so we sat down He then came over and gave us cups with a napkin and silverware in it Then we got up and got our own menus and we continued to sit 12 minutes without anyone even talking to us We at this point moved to the bar. The bartender greeted us and got our order as he was doing so another guy walked over and asked if anyone seated us I said no we were not even greeted upon entering. This is definitely not a favorite place for me but my daughter and her friends come here on occasion I'd be okay if I never came back. To many great places for food/drinks around the capital to ever visit here again! The bartender actually changed my stars from 1 to 3

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Canteen - Entry

Entry

Canteen
Canteen - Creamy Horchata

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Creamy Horchata

Abarrotes El Primo - Pastor Quesadilla

Abarrotes El Primo

4.7(55 reviews)
9.2 mi
•$

What I will begin to say about El Primo is they are a hard working family owned hole in the wall…read morethat Sun Prairie should be grateful they operate there. I see plenty of cops, firemen, and paramedics going here for their lunches. Quesadillas - I have no idea what cheese they put in them, but you get that, guac, and amazing meat. I always go asada but the quesadilla size is absolutely fair for the price and pairs amazing with both their salsa verde and Rojo. The cooks are always working hard and for the bulk they get, the portions are always over stuffed. Now let's talk about those burritos, ... if you have never had Al Pastor, get Al Pastor. It seasons the already seasoned rice and soaks into the burrito perfectly with out the damn sogginess. They wrap it better than chipotle and that damn thing is so stuffed you honestly say "I only paid this much?!" Pair it with the Salsa rojo with each bite and you'll be hooked. They do come with sour cream, "crema", I always say no crema. It ruins the flavor profile of the Al Pastor. Alright, now the thing you were wanting to know, tacos. Authentic. Cantina. Flat top grilled meat and tortillas (yes they heat them on the flat top as the meat and oil. Tortillas are typical maize but I am a harina Chico myself (that's flour boy for you plebeians, just kidding but it's good to note that if you prefer it tell them "Puedo tener tortillas de harina" because I believe you should make the effort to learn someone's language if you're going to partake in their culture and food. These are hard working and sincere people! You may ask now, "okay dude but what meat should I get?" Honestly, you'll never go wrong with Asada but the Lomo de res (rib eye) is soooo rich and so good! Always tell them to put everything on the taco "con todo" (cilantro and onion) grab a lot of salsa and enjoy. We usually get a side of Pico de Gallo which they can do, as well as some Jarritos. The Pico is for the tacos. Look I can go on and on and on about this place but honestly until you go, you will either say "this guy is smoking crack" or "damn he is 100% right" as a former Los Angelino, again, Sun Prairie should be thanking El Primo from breaking up the monotony of "bar and grill" that Wisconsin as a whole has too much of. El Primo es increíble, ¡Me encanta la gente!

Best burritos in Sun Prairie! Nice grocery store with authentic Mexican ingredients with a counter…read morein back that makes made to order tacos, burritos and other tasty treats. Try it, you'll like it.

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Abarrotes El Primo - Chips and guac

Chips and guac

Abarrotes El Primo
Abarrotes El Primo - To-go order of 3 Chorizo tacos with cheese and avocado.

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To-go order of 3 Chorizo tacos with cheese and avocado.

Taqueria Jalisco - Pastor and Steak Tacos

Taqueria Jalisco

4.3(103 reviews)
6.2 mi
•$

Finally got in here to dine in, and it was just as lovely as expected. We came here for lunch with…read morea group of six and had a wonderful time. Service was fantastic and they were very helpful with taking our order and explaining anything on the menu. We found a table and they brought us over chips/salsa/queso. All of these were so good and it was a struggle not to eat it all... I wanted to enjoy my tacos. Everyone in our group enjoyed their food and there were absolutely zero leftovers remaining! My two pastor and one steak tacos were overflowing with yummy goodness and I was definitely full afterwards! It's so nice that you can order tacos a la carte (or you can go the full meal and get the rice and beans etc, but I never eat them) for a reasonable price. I did squeeze my limes over the tacos, but they were so good as is I didn't even sample the salsas they brought to the table. It was the start of my day so I didn't get to enjoy an adult beverage, but certainly plan to be back again.

I think the first time or two I was at this place I didn't have as good of an impression of this…read moreplace. My previous view was based hugely upon the poor customer experience that I had endured. But two weeks ago I returned because I was seriously craving a taco and the other nearby place had finally convinced me they were second rate. (I wrote a small bit, about that location, not more than a couple weeks back. I won't name it, but I rather hope these words will be taken to heart and affect change) But upon my reentry to this place I was beyond pleasantly surprised. Eduardo, the owner whom I have since met, is the reason why I have returned. An active and dedicated team needs their captain. So trying to reimagine the perfect taco place I had a fresh mindset and I think I was accurate about that choice. Today marks the 6th time in roughly 2 weeks. Basic ground beef tacos with onions, cilantro and some lime. Cheap and delicious. Absolutely not a bastardized low fat gringo taco. Not at all. Heavy on the filling and tasty. It's only missing one ingredient: spice. The orders include a pair of sauces, a green and red plastic cup with something resembling a hot sauce. Tuesday is a $1 ground beef taco. Sparse but not lacking in the meat. So glad I tried again. Eduardo has a key quality that makes a place feel welcoming. Friendly, and informative about the foods that are available. I don't speak Spanish, aside from simple jargon that every English speaker has to have as their basic vocabulary, even in regular American speak day to day situations. The place vibrates with a lot of ethnic authenticity right here in my Middleton neighborhood where I've lived now for 15 of my 25 years in Wisconsin.

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Taqueria Jalisco - Pastor and Steak Tacos

Pastor and Steak Tacos

Taqueria Jalisco - Chips & Salsa brought to the table

Chips & Salsa brought to the table

Taqueria Jalisco - Shrimp tacos

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Shrimp tacos

Bear & Bottle - pubs - Updated October 2026

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