Well, first time we've been here... we'll definitely be back!…read more Great staff... friendly, seated quickly, offered a few choices of seating.. and this was a Friday at 530.. Carly took Great care of us.. told us about happy hour.. Bev had an old fashioned.. she was very happy.. I had an IPA from the extensive beer list.. our friends also had beers.. We ordered the buffalo cauliflower to share... the kitchen was on top.of thier game.. food came out hot, and good portion sizes. My wife and I shared the fish dinner, fried, with fries and slaw.. again, super hot, and delicious.. Bev also had a cup of clam chowder. Super thick, but still good. Friends had fish, and the carne asada tacos.. all very good. Good people, good drinks, good food.. cool place! A winning combination.

My friend ordered the salmon dinner and it came out DRENCHED in some kind of sauce, as was the…read morebroccoli. She was unstoppable to distinguish what she was eating. The other person ordered the brisket quesadillas, which was tasty but very soggy.

FYI - Cash only! ATM on site…read more Had a delicious cheeseburger and fries! It was cooked to order medium rare and had so much flavor. Fries were really good too! They have quite the variety of burgers. I'll definitely be back!

Players Sports Bar has the best burgers in town when you are on the hunt for the ultimate burgers!…read moreTheir burgers are massively huge/filling, well seasoned, and deliciously made with love! Players Sports Bar & Grill is a fun, casual, cash ONLY, typical Wisconsin neighborhood dive bar nestled in the Atwood neighborhood of Madison, WI. They have a great beer selection, classic bar games, pool tables, and ping pong! This place has plenty of tvs to catch your favorite sports! It was super busy when we arrived on Wednesday night. It seemed to be a diverse crowd of neighborhood locals, blue collar, younger folks, and just people having a great time! It's a great place when you are craving greasy, fried, delicious bar food, and snacks! They serve not only burgers, but cheese curds, wings, and lighter far like salads. They need a round of applause for coming up with some of the tastiest unique burger creations ever such as their Poker Ho Burger, Lotza Motza Burger, and Players Burger. My husband and I were blown away by the burgers! My favorite is their Big Daddy Burger with a side of onion rings and my husband's favorite is their Lotza Motza Burger with fries! The Big Daddy Burger is made with Bacon, Ham, Swiss & American Cheese with spicy garlic mayo. It is served hot, made fresh, juicy, made with a huge 1/2 pound well seasoned patty! The side of onion rings takes it to the next level being fried hard, crispy, golden brown, and hot out the grease! The Lotza Motza burger which is a super fun burger made with Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks, Vito's garlic sauce, pepperoni & Mozzarella Cheese. Its like eating an appetizer and burger all in one! Players Sports Bar is your casual dive bar hooking you up with delicious bar food but don't expect sit down type of service or what you would expect for service at a restaurant. You have to order at the bar. Players Sport Bar is a great option if you are looking for a fun, casual dive bar serving up delicious rememberable burgers!

Great service. Arrived late with our dog and they happily seated us outside. Food and drinks were…read morereally good. Overall just a pleasant evening - so glad we stopped in.

This weekend I was in the area and checked out Off Broadway Drafthouse. Surprisingly, it wasn't…read morepacked despite the packer game on a Sunday afternoon. I was greeted by a friendly host, sat at the bar and promptly greeted by the bartender. Lots of fun options for draft cocktails with creative names and many use local spirits. I opted for the Birria sandwich, a newer menu item. It has a spicy sauce and generous portions. It was calm and cozy at the bar which I appreciated after a busy weekend.

Go here and ask for Cheryl's dry run wings. She's a delight and the crowd is friendlyread more

A stellar example of a Madison dive bar, unpretentious and friendly. I recall the food was ok too.read more

4.5 First off let me…read moresay this is a really cool, intriguing space. Right on State Street, but once you walk up into the space you wouldn't be able to tell. Not to turn anyone off from checking it out, but think bougie club house. Exposed brick and wood paneling, bar and high top seating, a few little coves with couches and golf/football/soccer (strong golf theme) simulators ($45/hour) and a private area with another simulator ($100 room fee, $200 food/drink minimum). We came for drinks, but we did order the Bacon Wrapped Dates (not stuffed with cheese but comes with a delicious red pepper purée) and Buffalo Chicken Dip (served with bread & tortilla chips for those of you who are gluten sensitive/free). Fair prices and decent food, which is the opinion of myself and two other foodies. A lot of potential, but they're just starting out. I'm excited to see what the future holds for them. Also, if you get a chance, grab a chat with Adam!

Came here for my birthday with the girls and had a fun time! The space was clean, trendy and open…read more There are a total of 6 simulators (1 in a private room) and many sports options, to my surprise! The simulator rate is $20/hour (weeknight rate). Plenty of seating at the bar--along with a lounge'y space with a cute backdrop for photo-ops! I recall four beers on tap, and no drink specials. However, the menu did have a variety of "upscale" bar food! We ordered a fair amount but I only remember eating the curds (3/5) and fried green beans (5/5), which was my fave! PROS: I loved that we were able to try a variety of activities at our own pace! Each area had seating, enough for 6-7 people (sofas or bar stool/counter). Alcohol wipes were available. Music level was good and lighting slightly dimmed--great ambience! We got to chat with Collin (the owner) about his vision and learned that the simulators can pretty much play anything! This means events held here can be both adult AND kid-friendly--woo hoo! Just try not to bring a stroller here, as it's on the second floor with steep steps. Looking forward to more events here...and to what becomes of the outdoor space! CONS: We came on a Tuesday, so there was only one person working the bar + kitchen. Service was a slow as it got busy, and later into the night. There are only two private restrooms (which were nice and clean!). I can see this being a problem, especially for a place that can hold 100+ people. Will be back for more indoor fun!

At first glance, the place presents itself as a neighborhood dive--a worn-in local haunt where the…read moredécor is secondary to the conversation. But the illusion fades the moment a Bloody Mary arrives at the table. This is a bar that takes its craft seriously. The cocktail was thoughtfully prepared and balanced, revealing an attention to detail rarely found in establishments trading on casual charm alone. The atmosphere is equally compelling: lively without being chaotic, welcoming without feeling manufactured. It possesses the kind of authenticity that cannot be designed or replicated. In an era of increasingly curated hospitality, this remains a genuinely local gathering place--unpretentious, distinctive, and unmistakably its own.

We like our walleye and eggs for breakfast, and decided to try out the Squirrel's Nest. It is a…read moresmall establishment with a bar to the left and seating area, to the right, with two smaller tables on the side of the bar. We arrived about 10:00 am, and it was packed. It was very loud with people talking, due to the small space. We sat at our table and waited awhile for a server, but didn't know if we needed to order at the bar. After a while, a waitress arrived to take our order. She was very joyful and friendly. We both ordered the walleye and eggs, which included hashbrowns and toast. My husband added cheese and onions on the hashbrowns at no extra cost. We also ordered a Bloody Mary, which came with a chaser. They arrived with a spear of mozzarella cheese, pimento olive, smoked sausage, and a dill pickle. The walleye had a nice thin crust and the eggs and hashbrowns were cooked perfectly. My better half said that he didn't taste any onions in the hashbrowns and they used American cheese, which made them runny. It was a good breakfast, and we enjoyed our time there. However, due to the loudness, we probably won't go back, as it was hard to have a conversation. Be aware that they only take cash, but they do have an ATM in the building. This establishment definitely had a great atmosphere and service, with friendly staff.

Amazing place, great vibe. They ran out of room but let us put up a card table by the dart board…read more So chill. Cheap and great service!

Still a 5 star review from me!!! Nachos and beer for lunch…read moreon a Friday afternoon is a definite winner

Best fish fry in town! Get there early…read more It gets pretty crowded due to their popularity.

Friday fish fry fantastic! Been hitting a lot of southern Wisconsin fish fries and this was one of…read morethe best.

No offense but- not so attractive on the outside- however…read more $6 half sandwich and soup?? Huh?? And delish!!! Artichoke and steak soup- ridiculous Son had an awesome burger- of course he didn't get the special!!!

I came here for Friday fish fry in the winter - I think there was a basketball or hockey game, but…read morenothing causing a crazy wait or crowd. We had some old fashioneds before ordering food, and I thought they were good. Service was super attentive, especially as we delayed ordering to enjoy drinks and an appetizer for a bit. I ordered the beer battered cod fish fry (my staple), and overall it was yummy to eat. The two pieces that came out were enormous and a bit wonky shaped... made me wonder what on earth this fish looked like in its swimming days. The batter was quite tasty, crunchy but not too crunchy/hard, but it was so incredibly think I'm not sure I got fish in every bite. I took one piece home and give the fish part to my pup as a meal topper, and the ratio of breading I had to pull off compared to fish was a bit (quite a bit) much. Still, everything I ate was tasty. I got the salad with my dinner, and was so happy that it came out with quality greens instead of a chunk of iceberg type lettuce. Overall, I'd come back again if others wanted, but wasn't wild about the batter to fish ratio.

Very good bartender. Excellent beer selection. Favorite bar in Madison. Wish we lived closer.read more

No menu, no directions, limited beers on tap. Set up was not good. Very loud, not great for…read moretalking to your friends or family at a table. Asked for a blue moon not sure what I received but the flavor was no good. The food from Hanks inside the restaurant was reheated frozen food.