This is a great edition to the Northside. Much of the menu is scratch-made in house. The Nachos of all things are one of the standouts. My absolute favorite item is the squash soup available seasonally fall and winter. The craft cocktails are a highlight and on point. This said the bartenders know how to mix a wide variety of drinks whether on their menu or not. The service is decent and the atmosphere modern and pleasant. read more

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Great stop for a beer, they have a ton of beers on tap. Variety of styles with half being local! Our waiter was very chill and the atmosphere was also. Tables were spread out and they did have outdoor tables with heaters. Food was unfortunately just average. It was Saturday so we chose from the brunch menu, one out of the six of us loved the meal (Korean bowl) but the other five did not like the meal or thought it was just okay. Would come back for beers and maybe an app! read more

Bear & Bottle - California club - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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If I could do this review without giving a star because then I would! We had terrible service, I drank half a glass of water before I noticed that the glass was dirty! The drinks were overpriced and the staff was not friendly! We waited over 30 minutes to even get drinks hence we decided to eat elsewhere! read more

This place is a funky little hidden gem. It's beautiful inside but more fun if you can eat by the bar and not the big wall and blocks the atmosphere of the place. The lighting is great and they have a wonderful fish fry thats light and seasoned. It has an herby taste. We loved it. read more

Carne Asada Tacos. Bursting with flavor! You can taste the pico, the guacamole, the cilantro, and everything else in each bite! read more

Bear & Bottle - Carne Asada Tacos. - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

So happy I found this place while driving past it earlier this week! Super friendly staff, distanced seating, all employees wearing masks, and the food was outstanding. We'll definitely be happy to continue supporting this local business in the future! read more

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Great service from Ava. Nice spacious place. Excellent food, tasty and flavorful. Loved the cauliflower bites. Bowls were awesome. Good variety of beer and wine, cocktails. Outdoor seating. Will definitely be back when in town. read more

Bear & Bottle - Thai bowl plus shrimp. Delish! - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Sure, it's pricey, but the service is great, the food is fabulous. I got salmon sliders and, bc I am GF, they put it on bibb lettuce like a spring roll. The coffee is insanely good, and always a refill. BEST PART was our server, Mo. That guy is everything I could wish for in a server - thorough, accommodating of my GF stuff, and so funny and sweet! Honestly, I will call ahead next time to make sure he's on duty. read more

Due to its location, I feel like this restaurant might get lost in the fray with some of my fellow Millennials.. so I'm writing a review hoping that this'll bring some much deserved visibility to this wonderful place! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take a break from your regularly scheduled downtown brunch and check this place out. My experience of Bear & Bottle has been a pleasant one every time I've been there. Each time, the same waitress recognizes me, and it brings me joy and makes me want to patronize them even more! My first time was at dinner time. I was craving tacos, and to my surprise, they had a great selection of vegan options! The cauliflower was my favorite, although, as I look through their menu again, it seems they've added a couple neat options. They've now got a quinoa/veggie mix or bibb lettuce shells as an alternative to your typical corn or flour shells. Great idea that I think the gluten free and health-conscious communities will appreciate! Meanwhile, their drinks are pricey, but worth it. They had a Winter cocktail that was reminiscent of Christmas. I thought I was going to cry, as all the holiday emotions came seeping into my system.. or maybe that was the tequila..?? Either way, I recommend trying out their selection of juices to pair with your Margarita, or try the Rhuby on for size. You definitely CAN go wrong with Rhubarb, but B&B sure seems to have perfected it! The last time I was there, I tried out their brunch. The Bloody Mary: flavorful. The Mimosa: can't recall what it was called, but they spiked it with tequila and it was MAGIC. I ordered the Salmon Avo Toast (yes, Avo Toast is in the category of "addiction" with me). The toast was actually the highlight - sourdough isn't my favorite, and they found a great multigrain to pair with the GIANT piece of salmon. The sprouts(!) were a great and surprising addition, as well. I feasted! Huzzah! I hope this tale leads you to look up their menu and some pictures of what they have to offer. I think it'll be love at first sight!.Enjoy! read more

Bear & Bottle - Salmon Avo Toast - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We stopped in at Bear & Bottle for a few drinks at the end of our night and we surely weren't disappointed. The ambiance/vibe is super cool and we had an extremely attentive bartender waiting on us. She recommended a few drinks and a shot of us that were spot on. Can't wait to go back and try their food. read more

I went to Bear & Bottle for dinner on a Tuesday night, and I have some mixed thoughts about the place. It's relatively new, has a ~hip~ vibe, and a cool outdoor patio with relatively good food. I ordered a cocktail on their Taco Tuesday menu, with two of the pescatarian options of the mix-and-match tacos (the roasted mushroom poblano and Korean BBQ shrimp). The mushroom taco was okay--a little dry but otherwise good (and slightly spicy compared to average Madison cuisine). The Korean BBQ taco, on the other hand, was delicious, but I could see how it might be too much flavor if you order (e.g.) three of them together. My partner ordered the smoked chicken wings, which were *very* spicy (he loved them). I get the sense from reading other reviews that not everyone is a fan of their spice level--we loved it. Given all of this, in addition to the great service, we still didn't *love* the place. I suppose if I had to make one criticism it would be it's...lack of identity as a restaurant? The menu has everything from poke bowls, to tacos, to Korean BBQ, to traditional pub food. It makes the restaurant difficult to understand and seem somewhat contrived--and the fact that the exterior stone wall kinda looks like a dental office only enhances the "corporate" vibe. read more

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I think this place gets better and better every time I am in. I stopped in last night for dinner with the BF. We really wanted tacos, or at least I did, and he had still never been here, so it worked out! We started with a couple cocktails. I had the Bear's Blinker - Bulliet bourbon, grapefruit, hibiscus, and lemon. It was a really interesting flavor and I like it a lot! He had the Old Fashioned and said it was great as well. Of course we ordered the Street Corn Appetizer. I'm telling you guys, this stuff is not to be overlooked. SO GOOD. I went with the Al Pastor tacos for my main course. These were so yummy!! I do wish there had been more pineapple. Don't get me wrong, there was a generous amount included, I just love pineapple and will always want more :) He had the spicy pork torta with fries. The fries! OMG! Some of the best I've had. The torta was also super delicious. The bread was a little dense for my liking, I would have preferred something a little lighter maybe, but overall it was a great sandwich. 10/10 recommend! read more

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Pros + Cool ambiance and decor, a modern yet rustic atmosphere that is large, spacious, and includes an outdoor patio! + Our server was a nice dude. + My Paloma cocktail was reasonably priced and easy to drink. + There were options to sub out taco shells for lettuce or meat for a vegan option. Cons - Our tempura asparagus ends were fibrous and hard to chew. Batter was kind of heavy, more of like a beer batter than a tempura. - Had al pastor tacos and I wish the pork had seasoning. It needed more spice, some kind of kick, and less pineapple and crema. Tortillas also would fall apart mid-bite. I wish we could mix and match tacos a la carte. While I liked the drinks, service, and atmosphere, the food left more to be desired. We were glad we tried it but maybe we will just stick to drinks next time! read more

Bear & Bottle - Tempura asparagus - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Trying Bahn Mi in NYC for the first time was an experience in itself. We stopped at Bear and Bottle and I had the bahn mi sandwich and it took me back to New York. perfectly crusted pork on pickled slaw with a very tasty ciabatta bread to go along with it. The French fries were less than average and they this place for having a good menu could improve in that aspect. Very nice selection of tap beers, both local and farther out. Also nicely made cocktails. All in all, enjoyable experience on the patio during a hot summer day. read more

Bear & Bottle - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The service and the food are phenomenal. If you have not been here yet it is time to check it out! read more

Bear & Bottle - Prime Rib - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Drive by this place all the time, but decided to try it thos afternoon... well after the lunch rush. Started with a few beers... they have 24 on tap. Need I say more? I ordered the pork belly bahn mi... it wasn't what I expected, but certainly didn't disappoint. My wife had a chicken club with avocado... it was messy..but she really enjoyed it. My brother in law had a burger... ordered medium rare... boom, perfect. Juicy and flavorful. Overall a great experience and we'll definitely return. read more

We have visited three times for their fish fry, always great. I love their side greens salad. The vinegarette is tasty and a nice complement to the fried fish. Have a great selection of beers, and creative cocktails. I Don't like overly sweet cocktails, and they've done a great job of modifying the them to suit my tastes. I tend to ask questions about the menu, and the servers have always been knowledgeable about it, which is refreshing. Updated review to 5 stars. We've been here 6+ times now and have always had great service (We usually eat at the bar) great food, and reasonable prices. read more

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I wish this place was closer to downtown and I would have discovered it a long time ago! I only found this place because I was lost, but I'm so happy the garage door windows and rustic lighting caught my eye. This place is exactly what I want my house to look like. The aesthetic is gorgeous, rustic modern chic. Huge bar, exposed brick, vaulted ceilings, massive windows, and gorgeous wood seating. Yas, yas, YAS! Now to the stuff you actually care about: the booze and food :) All of the cocktails were great and reasonably priced. I had the Paloma and it was refreshing and easy to drink. All of the food was tasty, love the cauliflower bites and you can't go wrong with any of the bowls. Can't wait to go back when we are back in Madison for a visit! read more

Came last night for a light dinner. The vibe and decor were nice. Cool pendant lamps and lovely plant lined tables. Barstools were not sitting friendly. We were slipping and sliding off of them. I suggest sitting at a regular table. The Mexican hot chocolate was strong. Tequila taste was a bit overpowering. Lagunitas beer was wonderful. Crab Rangoon nachos were a little over fried and dry. But the flavors were good. Cheese curds were cheesy and nicely fried. Good ranch for dipping. The bread bowl chowder arrived... in a regular soup bowl.No bread bowl in sight. No explanation. That was weird and disappointing. read more

I -really- wanted to like this place...so much in fact that I went back three times after bad experiences. And I've been back twice with friends, because we live on Northside. But while the decor and location is great, I'm going to stick with Dexters, Tip Top, Slices and the Villa, all blocks away with better food and lower prices. Recent service examples: Twice got the indication staff wanted us to leave, bill came early, and there were plenty of open tables. One night we went thirty minutes without wait service, when we went to find our waitress, she was upset with us in passive aggressive way. Left food on the table or bar each night, instead of asking for a box to take it home. Waited 20 minutes to get a beer at the bar. (Yes, they are often very very busy. One evening, they brought out bare tortillas drizzled in cheese sauce with a little chicken. Felt bad for the waitress, who was awesome that evening. Se we went to Culvers to eat after spending $72 at Bear and Bottle for one round of drinks and two apps. Unfortunately, the California theme also comes with West Coast prices for food. It was so disappointing to spend $300 combined over two weeks here, and not be able to find a reason to go back. Do yourself a solid, go to one of the other nearby local restaurants. Much better beer selections, lower prices, and they get your order right. Read less read more

Tacos were solid (I got the Bulgogi)! Only 4 stars because I really wish the beef and broccolini bowl was still on the menu. Service was great. read more

We live on the Northside, and within walking distance, and I am SO HAPPY to have this restaurant nearby. Definitely an upgrade in food and beverage quality while still being a come-as-you-are, neighborhood place. I've visited several times and always had great service. I recognize many staff members from one visit to the next, so they seem to be doing a good job of retaining staff. The space is tastefully decorated and I love the garage doors that open to the patio. I honestly don't notice the traffic on Sherman unless it's a loud truck or motorcycle. Now for the food and drink: - excellent beer list with "Mendota Coast" to satisfy local taste as well as great offerings from other great breweries across the country - I personally appreciate the local cider, Restoration, when they have it - great cocktails, including daily special and extensive bar spirits available - we've enjoyed the food a lot: excellent salads and sandwiches; GREAT nachos; daily soups have been really good and made with creative inspiration Really hope they keep the momentum, as we plan to hang out here a lot! read more

Bear & Bottle - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place was recommended by a friend. Glad I follow the recommendation. It is a great merge between California and Wisconsin ( thus the name). The menu is extensive. Our wait staff, even though she was brand new, was exceptional. The food was very good. One commented it was the best fish fry she had in a long time. Two of us had salads - one a harvest (I think) and mine was a tuna poke bowl. They were both exceptional. I asked for a starch to go with it...that bread was very tasty. One other was a Ramen dish, which also received positive comments. All-in-all very fun vibe, great decor and exceptional food. Would highly recommend and will be back. read more

Really nice place to spend the afternoon or just lunch.. Very good food and family friendly. I really like this place.. read more

Bear & Bottle - Lunch and friendship.... - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Went here for a late lunch on a Friday. I ordered a pineapple Rita. It was sweet and spicy. They can do it without the spice but I personally like spices drinks. It was nice and balanced. For lunch I ordered the smoked chicken tacos. The tacos were nice. They make there own queso in house which is a nice touch. They were good not amazing but solid. Overall this was a good lunch place. They have a nice menu and I would like to try some of there other options. read more

Bear & Bottle - Chicken tacos - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is a Soft Opening rating. 3 stars. Beautiful space. Great layout of the bar to the left when you enter and seating all around. Garage doors for access outside in the summer. Love the decor. Soft Opening dishes I tried tonight were okay. Elotes: so yummy. Basically one Cobb split in two. Spicy due to the yum Tajin! Crab Rangoon Nachos: I imagined these a bit differently. They were crab rangoons topped with picked cabbage, and orange sauce and green onions. I imagined wonton chips covered with a cream cheese sauce, crab, and green onions. The wontons on some of them were not cooked all the way and had way too much crab than cream cheese it over powered the cheese. Fish of the Day: Paella with white fish, smoked chicken, bacon, and PEI mussels. This was advertised on the butcher paper and our server told us too, my plate came without bacon and smoked chicken. Missing items. Too many red onions for my liking. However, the white fish and the mussels were delicious! Orange Dreamsicle Creme Brulee: the flavors were all there but every bite I took my teeth became really cold. I've had chilled creme brûlée with a hard sugar too, but this was ice ice cold. I wanted this to be a little more on the just regular cold not ice cold side...also, they forgot to give me a spoon so we had to ask for one. I had a bite of the food truck Hawaiian shrimp and it was delicious. Then steamed rice was dry and could've been a bamboo rice or coconut rice to give it flavor. We talked as a table and agreed the tiny slices of pineapple would be so good if grilled with cinnamon! Drink: Tom Collins cocktail was delicious! It was advertised for $7.50 on the menu but came out as $ 10 on the check. They will probably figure out the food soon. Service was okay. I probably will try it once more to try out their other dishes. read more

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We were really impressed by the flavor of the food and portion sizes. Seated in the bar area at a half booth and chairs table. I like these kind of tables. Sit together on the bench side and watch the busy bar area. Our waitress was attentive and very nice. We enjoyed the ambience and service. It was perfect. No pressure. The beer and cocktail list was phenomenal. Loved seeing all the California beers. Some great stuff there and it was refreshing to see all this on tap. Not that I don't love a good Wisconsin Brew, this was a nice different experience. We ordered the Pork Belly Bahn Mi. My wife's favorite of the two sandwiches. The other was the duck confit sliders with hooks blue cheese. Very, very tasty. Then we each split a street corn on the cob. You get two on a stick. Delicious. Been finding some great places around Madison lately. This is another one. Thank you for a great experience. We'll be back. read more

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Great brunch, food was excellent. The outside patio was fantastic and the prices were reasonable. The Cali club sandwich had a lot of great flavors and my husband said his breakfast burger was one of the best burgers he has had. Overall a great choice for a brunch with friends. read more

Bear & Bottle - Cali club with breakfast potatoes - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We came here for drinks and some apps. The ambiance was fun and trendy. The cocktail list had several fun drinks on it. I had the Bear & Bottle Old Fashioned. It was made well and tasted great. For appetizers, we tried the jalapeño poppers, crab rangoon nachos, and the smoked pork quesadilla. The jalapeño poppers were not fried, which was really fun and creative. I hadn't seen this before. Unfortunately, I found the peppers to be a little undercooked. They were supposed to be char broiled, but it did not seem like they were. The crab rangoon nachos were pretty disappointing. The crab rangoon had absolutely no filling in them. It was basically just 6 fried wontons with some cabbage slaw over it. It was not good at all. The pork quesadilla was awesome! The tortilla was cooked perfectly and was slightly crunchy. They loaded it up with the smoked pork, which was delicious. I was surprised at how much meat they actually put in. This was by far the favorite of the 3 apps we had. I'd definitely recommend. read more

Bear & Bottle - Crab Rangoon Nachos - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I previously dined at Bear & Bottle and was greatly disappointed. A couple of years later I ventured out only to find my favorite restaurant closed. So Bear & Bottle was close, so I thought that it had been a few years, I'd give them another shot. I was not disappointed. Well...sort of. The service was good. If not for the menu, I would go back for the service I received. It was competent and well-meaning. The menu, ugh. this is a menu with an identity crisis. Is it Japanese or Mexican? It's quite the divide between the two cuisines. Yes, we should have left, but we were hungry. We already had a chip on our shoulder from our previous visit. But I wanted to give them another try. The taco selection seemed like a train wreck. If I wanted good tacos, I go to Patricia's next door. I settled on the American Burger. With some modifications, It was OK. The patty was juicy and cooked, and the pickles and the onions were OK. I left off the "American Sauce" because thousand island dressing only belongs on a Reuban. The French fries were OK. My dining companion had the California Chicken Club. She told me it was a big regret. Smoked chicken, bacon, cilantro crema, avocado, lettuce, tomato, swiss cheese, and rosemary bread. Culinary-wise, a train wreck. Combing cilantro in any incarnation and rosemary bread. Really? Swiss cheese? The chicken was underseasoned and bland. It still had bones that caused some discomfort to some teeth. The rosemary bread was the biggest disappointment was the bread. It was too strong and overwhelmed everything else. The Bear & Bottle has an identity crisis. It is clear the booze is the star of the show. As a change, I'd made a California Club by replacing the bread with a crunchy white French-style loaf of bread. For the chicken, add a little salt and pepper....maybe a little garlic powder. Keep the cilantro crema and avocado. These are delicate flavor profiles that don't need a strong flavor added like rosemary. Keep the lettuce and tomato and of course the bacon. If you want to add a zing or a stronger flavor profile, maybe consider adding a lime-cilantro aioli with pepper with less of a spicy profile. This is a great location, and I would like to be back. But this is such a mish-mash of menu items, and with a name like Bear & Bottle, where are you trying to go with your menu? Hey, If I want to have drinks, and that's all I want, this is the place. The beer menu is great. But the food menu though. Yikes. read more

Came here today for lunch. Only had food no cocktails. As for the space and interior, I loved it! Super unique to Madison with the wood and the garage doors. The bar looked nice with several well placed tvs. Service was ok, which was expected due to recently opening. The food lost them the stars in my review. First of the menu is amazing, definitely something for everyone. We started with the cheese curds which were average. I prefer mine to be crunchy where as these had minimal batter and were mainly just cheese. I got the chicken tacos which were good. However they were sopping wet as in they did not strain the pulled chicken at all. This really detracted from the quality of the Taco. My dining partner ordered a chicken sandwich and somehow ended up with a chickpea sandwich. They ended giving him a chicken sandwich as well. They were pretty good. Clearly the food and service needs to work out a few kinks. However the menu has many interesting offerings, the interior is stunning, there is a nice patio and there are ample cocktails and beers. I will likely be returning! read more

Bear & Bottle - Cheese curds - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This restaurant was a great place to enjoy dinner on a Friday night. I do recommend their burgers and the veggie nachos!

Third time I've been disappointed here. I guess I just keep hoping the kitchen starts executing on the menu. Today was the Sunday brunch menu, so very limited choices (and easier to get right? Nope). I tried the chickpea veggie hash, which arrived swimming in tomato water. The napkin under the bowl of cold home fries was already unappetizingly soggy when the plate arrived, and there was still a lot of water sloshing around the plate. While the veggies were at least cooked, the dish ate like a soup, not a hash. And instead of the richness of the sunny-side up egg yolks adding to the flavor and texture of the overall dish (which I'm hoping whoever came up with the dish was shooting for), the tomato water washed that out as well. And, there was an overall metallic taste to the dish. Charging $11 for it was the vinegar icing on this cake. There weren't many other people in the place while we were there, so unless a lot of people just show up to drink and watch whatever sports are on the tv, I'm guessing there's going to be a vacancy at the corner of Sherman and Commercial before too much longer. read more

Bear & Bottle hasn't been open long and for me, the jury is still out. From a design perspective, on a warm day, the space can't be beat. There are garage door walls that can be opened fully giving it a perfect flow from indoor and outdoor. The patio is nice with one major complaint. The patio tables have a round support underneath that prevents a diner from getting close to the table. Instead, you need to lean in order to reach your plate or sit sideways. I can't imagine anyone sat at these before deciding to purchase. The bar features beers from the west coast as well as local brews and I thought it to be well curated. They have an diverse menu with appetizers, a solid salad selection, sandwiches and tacos. The last, tacos, are a head scratcher for me as it doesn't really fit with the rest of their offerings. We stopped in on a Mother's Day Sunday and were told up front the kitchen was slammed. Knowing this, we opted for a salad and the pork torta. The Spring Salad was just ok with lettuce comprising most of the salad. I don't understand why restaurants shy away from the other vegetables shining through. It's spring in Wisconsin, take advantage of it. For my torta, is was also just ok. I enjoyed the house made telera roll but the sandwich really lacked any real flavor. Even after adding hot sauce, I found it lacking. I don't often get to this part of town but I would definitely consider trying it again in a few months to give it another chance. read more

Bear & Bottle - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I go here all the time. The service is always great, the drinks selection is extensive and good and the food I order is always delicious. Anything with salmon on the menu is fantastic and you should order it. They have seasonal specials and have a menu diverse enough for whatever mood you are in. It's one of a few places in Madison where I have my usual order but occasionally branch out and always leave satisfied. read more

I'm a huge craft beer enthusiast and when Hopcat closed, I was excited to see their rotating tap list was extensive. They usually have quite a few good options. Their cocktail list is really diverse and delicious as well. Unfortunately everytime I've eaten here I've been less than impressed with the taste and quality of food, and the last FOUR TIMES I've been here with four different groups, they've/we found hair in the food. Mexican rice bowl with salmon is delicious but that's the only good thing I've had here besides the drinks. read more

We stumbled upon this place while driving around town. The outside is deceiving. It looks scary and dark. But once you step inside, it's a whole different story. Nicole (bartender) immediately greeted us. Not only was she exceptional in making sure our drinks never went empty or close to, but she cheered to us each time and was extremely friendly. The food was also phenomenal. We were here for Taco Tuesday and my wife and i both agreed that these are some of the best tacos we have ever tasted. Overall great experience. read more

Food is good very diverse but never ever order the "Big Sandwich" it's 93% bread and 7% meat way to expensive for meat given bear and bottle is 4 stars big sandwich is 0 stars read more

Very cute little place! Loved the patio; minus the mosquitoes, but you can't really control that. And very impressed that it only opened in May this year. Definitely recommend checking it out. Lots of different foods that you won't find everywhere. I recommend the Mexican street corn and the tempura asparagus. I have no spice tolerance so it was a little spicy for my usual liking, but it was so good that I couldn't stop eating it! And vegetarian corn chowder will always be my weakness, pretty different from a usual corn chowder but I liked it! Also, very good cocktails. A good mix of options, not terribly strong, and a decent price. Can't wait to come back for actual dinner sometime! read more

Bear & Bottle - Zam - Pubs Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Love Bear & Bottle! Great craft beer selection from Cali and the Madison area. The cocktail menu looked great. The food menu was a good size with a good variety. I went with the Barbacoa beef tacos and they were so good. Decent portion. Hubby had the pork torta with fries. We were both happy. The atmosphere was great. Good music. Host was super friendly as was the waitstaff. Our waiter came around a reasonable amount. I absolutely love the garage door walls opened up to let the beautiful weather in. Will be back for sure! Can't wait to bring some friends and try some of the apps and cocktails. B&B is a great addition to MSN. read more

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