Was so excited to see another fried chicken joint in Madison (I love fried chicken)! Visited with friends on a Friday night around 7:30 pm and there was a 15 minute wait in line (not bad considering it's a new joint). The atmosphere and service was a 5/5, the staff were very friendly and helpful. The interior gave off old school dive restaurant vibes with a modern finish. We ended up ordering the whole fried bird (8 pieces), the egg plant parm sandwich, mozz sticks, and a bunch of sauces (with fries + slaw). The chicken was very juicy and moist, but the batter was not my favorite (it was too thick and not as crispy - but that's personal preference). The egg plant was very delicious and the mozz sticks were ok (nothing special). The chicken itself could've used a more seasoning - it wasn't as flavorful by itself (the sauces really helped enhance the chicken). Definitely get the egg plant parm, it was so good. Also, they have a claw machine and I ended up winning a stuffed chicken plushie on my first try lol. Overall, I'd give the atmosphere & service a 5/5 and the food overall for me was a 3.5/5. read more

Butterbird - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Top notch ambiance, something special. All they need are a few more vegetarian options...

Really good fried chicken and ice cream bar. Full bar also. Food comes out fast and it's a pretty cool place to hangout.

I definitely feel like you are paying for the ambience of the restaurant and nothing else. Besides the cute chicken decor The food didn't even taste any better than fast food drive-through, yet cost almost twice as much. I came here as a group to get dinner, and each of us was extremely disappointed. I ordered fried pickles which did not taste like pickles at all and instead like cucumbers that were fried in bad oil. The pickles had such a gross taste. I also ordered the eggplant Parmesan sandwich, which was mostly bread and oil. The oil was so heavy that the bread was soggy, and the cheese wasn't warm. One of my friends got the badger hot chicken sandwich, and there was so much oil on it that it was pulling in the bottom of the tray, She stated it wasn't spicy at all, and mostly tasted like old oil. Neither one of us ended up eating the food, as not only did it not taste good, but was extremely oily. Another girl got the butter Bird classic, and while she felt like it was edible she said it wasn't anything fantastic nor did she think it was worth the money. This place has cute decor, and we enjoyed the photo booth but other than that would never come back here read more

We were eager to try Butterbird for a 9pm post-movie dinner. We ordered fried chicken, chicken tenders, and a chicken sandwich, along with Mac & cheese bites and kale Caesar. The chicken was okay- liked the crispy coating but not much flavor. Chicken tenders were bit but somewhat tough. Salad was a bit boring-- not much to it. Overall, the food was okay but disappointing for the price. Also would have preferred actual plates instead of disposable/plastic. The atmosphere is nice and decor is cute. Hope the rest of the experience will improve! read more

Best chicken in Madison! We ordered takeout for three and had a great experience. Chicken and waffles were separated in the Togo box so it wouldn't get soggy, and my daughter's chicken was fried to perfection. She loved the French fries too. 10/10 read more

First of all, whoever designed this place has immaculate taste. All the decor went so well together and really contributed to the ambiance. I'm talking down to the wallpaper in the bathrooms, the speakers on the walls and the employees' outfits. 100% recommend a visit simply for the vibes. I also enjoyed the food. I ordered the rotisserie sandwich and lord was it good. I added a side of closeslaw which I really didn't like, though I am picky about my slaw. The pretzel was decent and came with a massive amount of cheese dip. Overall a good visit, staff were friendly, food came out quick and even though there was a line, it moved fast. read more

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The line was out the door. No biggie, esp since it's new. The service was great. 10/10. The woman who took our order was lovely, repeated the order back and explained that we could order extra drinks or dessert at the bar and sweet spot, no need to wait in the main line again. I also heard a manager as she walked around complimenting someone over the head set on how great they were doing on keeping the front of house looking good. The ambiance was cool. I liked the vibe but hated the bar stools! They were so close to the table and bolted to the floor. 8/10 Waiting at the bar for drinks was a bit odd. I think they should definitely have a soda station rather than making the really busy bartender fill and refill cokes. We got the fried chicken, mozz sticks and chicken tenders. I liked the mozz sticks, my husband said they tasted like chicken. My fried chicken was crunchy (except the thigh which was mushy) but had zero flavor in the breading or chicken itself. It was juicy though. My fries were cold, which i'm sure if I asked, they'd be replaced, but given how busy they were, I didn't expect that. The chicken biscuits they included were not my favorite. Maybe they were undercooked? But they were gluey and again, not much flavor. Same with the coleslaw. Literally tasted like they poured some mayo on cabbage and called it a day. My husbands tenders were also juicy and crispy, but again, devoid of flavor. 5/10 The sauces - definitely insane that they charge a dollar each for maybe 1.5-2 oz of sauce. They buffalo was tasty, the dilly ranch had a ton of flavor. The hot honey was just honey with chili flakes. Fine, but not my thing. The bbq sauce was terrible. It tasted like burnt molasses. I may go back with friends and try a sandwich but this isn't a place that I would regularly frequent unless someone unlocks the spice cabinet and puts some seasoning on the chicken. Check it out, form your own opinion maybe i'm just picky! read more

We were able to get right in at a huge booth as we were with friends. The water was self serve where you get a small glass with ice and you get a bottle that was already filled with water. It was sitting in a cooler and the bottles were sealed. Two of us got the 2 piece butter bird meals that came with pickle chips and we ordered fries that were $5 for a fairly small order. The fries were nothing spectacular, pretty much your run of the mills fries but the pickle chips were quite amazing. The pickle chips were a cross between a new pickle and a cucumber salad. One person got a salad that looked okay, again nothing special. The guy who order the chicken tenders had them with a bbq sauce and he seemed to enjoy it quite a bit. One of us ordered the 2 piece Butterbird with a thigh and a leg with buffalo sauce. He said it was very good and not too spicy. I ordered my 2 piece chicken with green garlic sauce which was actually mayo with chives and the mayo did look green. Our waitress did a fine job. She was basically at the table for us to order and she came one more time to check on how our food was. It was a bit loud there but I felt a lot of the noise seemed to be bouncing off the walls. It was satisfactory to us tho, they did not rush us out tho. read more

Went here for drinks and an appetizer. We had just come from another place but wanted to try this since it's new to the area. Atmosphere is diner / train station / old theatre lobby. You order at the counter then they bring your food to you. Prices are crazy out of touch for a rotisserie chicken. Can get the same at Costco for a fraction of the price. I could be wrong, but I think many will go to check it out but probably won't frequently visit. read more

Butterbird - Macaroni bites - appetizer - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The food is good, the service is good. My main issue is the pricing. They serve a solid fried chicken, but the pricing of a single chicken sandwich makes me feel like I am paying for an experience or atmosphere. It's a good place if you are really in the need of fried chicken. read more

The ambiance is perfect in this restaurant, staff is super friendly and helpful! And most importantly the food was delicious! I would highly recommend this restaurant to anybody going to try new food in Madison! read more

We loved the chicken sandwich, chicken strips, McDonald's-style fries, soft pretzel and hot honey sweet potato. The bourbon smash and old fashioned tasted great but lots of ice so they disappeared quickly. Stylish, airy space and the comfy big booths easily fit 6 of us. Adventures in Babysitting was playing on the TVs and the music was old school and fun. Photo Booth and claw machine were a hit. Don't need to wait in line if you're going to order a drink at the cute bar. read more

Butterbird - Photo Booth - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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We had a great time visiting Butterbird this week. The atmosphere is 11/10. The outdoor eating area was really great if you're looking for somewhere to eat outside. Loved it! The food was very good. I especially liked the fried pickles and dilly ranch. They have a good happy hour too from 4-6 weekdays. The service was amazing! They take excellent care of their customers. My daughter was upset because she didn't win their claw machine, so the manager (or owner) came over, opened the machine, gave my daughter 10 $1 bills and rearranged the toys to give her a better chance at winning. I was shocked. Seriously exceptional care given to us. Thank you, Butterbird! We'll be back! read more

Great food. Small but tasty menu. Loved the smash burger and rotisserie chicken and Swiss sandwich. Tasty chocolate shake to end.

What an experience! Loved the decor, whatever the vibe is in that place inject it directly into my veins I loved it. The food was really well done and very satisfying portions. Everyone was super nice and gave off good vibes. They have something for every one, will be going back. read more

This is such a great location close to the UW campus. While it looks small it's rather large on the inside. Very fun decor, lots of TVs, and plenty of seating. We went about 7:15 on a Tuesday night. Not real busy. I ordered the ButterBird Classic with fries, my nephew had the Spicy Butter Bird and the Chicken Strips! His dad has the Spicy ButterBird with the mixed greens. I have to say that our food came out really fast, but not fast enough for the manager as he gave us each a coupon for free soft serve, I couldn't do it I was full! That chicken sandwich was DIVINE! I don't know if it was the pickles or the dill ranch but the combination tickled my taste buds! My nephew agreed it was good, but he said his spicy chicken was much better! I can't wait to come back to Madison just so I can enjoy another sandwich! read more

Very friendly staff and great food. The inside is casual with plenty of seating. No complaints.

Visited Butterbird with a friend after a half marathon and it was so scrumptious! I was very happy they had options to eat light and to also indulge. We got the harvest salad, the hot chicken sandwich-which is my favorite, sides of Mac and Brussels and we each got a shake (you gotta try the pumpkin!!) everything was incredibly delicious, it's fun to see how they change their menu with the seasons. Can't wait to return! read more

Butterbird - Harvest salad and macaroni - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I went to Butterbird for the first time a few weeks ago, and was very impressed. From the moment we walked in, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The ambiance is great - very retro diner style, but slightly more upscale. There are lots of TVs inside, and one outside as well. You order at the counter, and then the food is brought to your table. I thought that the prices were fair. For $13, I got a HUGE chicken sandwich and a side of fries. It was almost too much to finish! The chicken was incredible - perfectly cooked, crispy, but not greasy. The fries were ok - good, but nothing spectacular. The margarita I ordered was very good, and only $6 during happy hour. We sat on the back patio, which is adorable. I think that this place is going to be a new favorite! I'll definitely be back. read more

Wonderful new restaurant in Madison opened by owners of Harvey House! They do chicken all ways, the right way. We had the hot chicken and a smash burger and both were excellent. Great service, I'd consider it to be fast casual, they have a bar, fun vibe, Photo Booth in back, very thoughtful details. Highly recommend. read more

I do love this place. Recently went back after going there initially around the time of opening. They've figured it out, so I would take some reviews here with a grain of salt (some people just want to trash a place that had hype). The food comes out hot and fast. It's not too busy now either. And the food is just undeniably good. Our favorite things are the Butterbird punch, 2 for 1 bloodies with chaser on the weekend, chicken tenders (incredible kids meal $10 for huge tenders, fries and a drink), and badger hot chicken sandwich. The watermelon salad, kids burger and smash burger are also very good. It's a unique place. Highly recommend. read more

Butterbird - 2 for 1 bloody marys - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We went to Butterbird for the first time with some friends to celebrate a birthday. We were looking for somewhere new, different and not a chain. We absolutely loved Butterbird! Cute place with a fun vibe. The outside area looked great, but we couldn't get a table big enough for a group as it was busy on a Friday night. The food was delicious! I got the Friday fish. I'm usually picky with fish fries, but it was done perfectly - no greasy batter like some places have. Great fries and cole slaw too. And the margarita was delicious! My husband got a chicken sandwich which was also delicious. We are going back this weekend and taking friends! read more

First time at Butterbird -outstanding! Easy to park, very clean, great staff and service. I enjoyed the Badger Hot Chicken sandwich with fries and my husband had the granola bowl. Both were flavorful and delicious. Can't wait to return. read more

During a recent visit back to Madison, I had the chance to try Butterbird and fell in love. The atmosphere was great, the service friendly and the chicken, well... it was awesome. I love crispy outside, juicy & tender inside, chicken that smells good as I munch away. I needed help with selecting a cold brew draft and the bar tender was very helpful! It was fun going up to the counter to get a second, a different experience which added to the unique experience. This will definitely be a "must stop there" place for every trip back home. I've already told my Madison (And Chicago) friends to get there early because it think this will be a busy place as the football season begins. They have the best set up for getting together to watch the Badgers!! read more

ButterBird did not disappoint . Food was fantastic, service was outstanding!! Thank you, Danny and staff for making my daughter's birthday dinner perfect. We will definitely be back soon. read more

This space is INCREDIBLE. The patio space is a personal favorite, with everything from a bar to outdoor games to play! After having the privilege of trying a good portion of the menu, I visited again to try the 3 new summer side dishes. Each one was just as delicious as the other, so much so that my guest ordered a second round to take back to Oshkosh with him not to mention, everyone here is so so friendly!! Always a go-to for a quick drink from the amazing bartending team, if I don't have time for anything more! read more

The fried chicken was a disappointment to say the least. There is waaaaay too much breading that becomes a hard, crusty layer you have to work through to get to the meat. The meat was tender and juicy. Overall though, it was incredibly bland. It was underseasoned and lacked flavor. I'm surprised the sauces are sold separately, given how bland the chicken is. If you're not going to season the chicken at all, at least throw in a sauce for free as part of the entree. We paid for the "hot honey" sauce, which tasted like cheap watered down honey with chili flakes added in. The fries we got in our carry out order was a shockingly small amount (think small size at McDonalds)...for $5?? It was tasty but oh so small. I get there's a lot of hype around this place due to the connection with Harvey House, but sadly it did not live up to it. read more

Honestly, very disappointing. Either Joe Papach started this business to be a giant tax write-off for Harvey House or he's following a long line of chefs who think they can create two businesses just because the first one was successful. Bottom line: The food just isn't that good for being pretentiously overpriced. read more

Atmosphere is fun! We've ate here several times sandwiches salads burgers everything is great!

First time at Butterbird! After kayaking, we were on our way to have lunch at an old favorite & we spontaneously stopped because we've been meaning to eat there since they opened. First of all, it's adorable in there...huge 50s diner style space divided nicely with a covered patio in back, a vintage photo booth, & games. We decided on 2 sandwiches to split, Butterbird Classic & Rotisserie Sandwich, both with fries. We also ordered sides of elotes & mac n cheese, as well as chicken tenders. The classic sandwich was the clear winner... crispy juicy dark meat with just the right amount of dill pickles, ranch, & lettuce. It was a great version of a classic, but there was no seasoning in the batter & nothing to surprise you. Their coleslaw was a nice mix of both mayo & vinegar base & I would have preferred that come on the chicken sandwich rather than plain lettuce. Everything else was fine, with the exception of the mac & cheese, which is my ultimate comfort food. The pasta was well overcooked & mushy & the cheese sauce was gloppy & lacked flavor...it could have used some mustard or garlic. The best part was the fantastic friendly service. The man taking our order was incredibly helpful. Our waitress brought us our chicken tenders (juicy & well brined) & asked if we wanted any sauce...when we told her it was our first time, she left & came back with all 8, which I noticed on the menu were supposed to be $1 each. She also checked back to see which were our favorites. I'd go back to sit on the patio & try their cocktails, but there are better chicken sandwiches in town, Hank's & Merchant come to mind. read more

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Design: gorgeous. Ambience: extremely loud. Like extremely loud. I ponder if the owners have problems with their hearing? Service: good. Food: -sides and sauces: flavorful and wonderful and fresh. -chicken...: multiple mistakes. They way way over bread it. As a result the exterior breading is hyper crispy while the interior is mealy and mushy and weird. Also (probably relatedly) the interior is under seasoned or possibly not brined enough. So all in all get sides here but if you want chicken you're literally better off at Popeyes. read more

Just opened, very cool interior space, and they had Adventures in Babysitting on every TV which is a plus for any restaurant. I had to wait about 35 minutes for a takeout out order which was a little annoying, but it was hard to stay mad after eating the food. The fried chicken is fantastic, and for the tender order we received the portions were enormous. The dipping sauces ordered were all delicious (green garlic mayo and hot honey in particular). Hopefully they get online ordering up and running so we can order ahead of time if we need to pick up, but eating there when it's not crazy busy looks like a great option too. read more

Cool space and nice vibe but given the quality of the food the price point is kind of bananas. The $2 charge for an ounce or so of sauce was surprising and I ordered a leg and thigh combo for $11 and they told me I could only get two thighs because they were, "saving the legs for larger orders." Why even offer that as an option then?! I was disappointed and confused. The chicken was crispy but not much flavor (hence the need for lots of sauce, which they gouge you on) and then you can add super salty fries and an ounce of slaw for $5. Sigh. We live in the neighborhood and I love supporting our local businesses but I'm finding it difficult to motivate and give this place another shot. read more

their tenders are kinda mid-Canes is better if you plan on just getting wings. and Canes signature sauce is better. But the ambiance is great and the customer service is even better. Every employee we encountered was insanely nice and very pleasant: i couldnt believe I was on Regent St. Lol. Their spicy chicken sandwich, although expensive as fuck, was also the best chicken sandwich ive ever had. better than popeyes, canes, chickfila, everything. If it was cheaper I'd go there all the time, but for now, just on special occasions. Definitely worth checking out. read more

This place is one of my absolute favorites in Madison. We went about a week ago and I can't stop thinking about the hot honey sweet potato. There was a bit of a line when we arrived but the wait IS WORTH IT! The chic diner feel is on point and you'll love the classic films they play while you eat. So well decorated. Can't wait to go back. read more

Butterbird opened about a month and a half ago and we've gone four times! We absolutely love the food and the service is unparallel to most all places in Madison. We love the welcoming ambience, and how detailed the team was in decorating. The drinks are unreal - try the BB's Ranch Water and the Bourbon Smash. read more

Butterbird - Bar area and drink (and menu). - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I love this place. The ambience is incredible and the staff are super nice and ready to help with whatever you need. The food is also fantastic, the rotisserie chicken sandwich and fried chicken are among my personal favorites. read more

Chicken is so good, especially love the rotisserie sandwich! Employee Max was super helpful and undeniably attentive. 10/10 will comeback. The decor is also super sexy read more

Amazing Food. Amazing Service. Amazing Atmosphere. The Classic Chicken sandwich was perfectly made. The Egg Plant Parmesan was as good as it gets. Cheesy and tasty. The Cole Slaw - outrageously tangy. And the fried pickles not to be believed. A fun place filled with good vibes. It was a fab time. read more