I have a theory that Yelp randomly deletes reviews. Dotty's has been my #1 favorite burger place for well over a decade. Whenever I need to travel to Madison, I make sure to do it around lunch time just to be able to stop in. read more

Food was good. 3 of us had burgers, and 1 had Walleye fish fry. All thought the meals were good. Cheese curd appetizer lacking as the larger cheese curds were cold inside. 2 of us ordered a glass of wine, which were SMALL and the waitress apologized for the small pour, blamed it on her manager bartending, and charged us full price. The picture is BEFORE I had taken a sip. We won't go back. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - This is the full glass of wine that they served. - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If you're in Madison and want a burger- Dotty Dumplings is the place to go! Their burgers are cooked perfectly and are absolutely delicious! The restaurant is adorned with really cool decorations so make sure you wander around! The staff are super friendly too! read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Delicious burgers - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

It has been a long time since my first review of Dotty's so its time for an update. Since moving back to town over six years ago we have been to Dotty's on many occasions. We still love the atmosphere and the interior decor. Their old fashions and blood Marys are still top notch. The food continues to be solid but ever since covid there prices have zoomed up. I know inflation is high especially for beef but compared to other places their prices seem disproportionately higher. On top of that the burgers seem smaller and you don't get a side and the sides are pricey. $4.40 for coleslaw??? We will likely not be visiting quite as frequently which is too bad since this was a favorite in college when they were on Regent. read more

This small dive bar was a great experience for our first time in Madison. Such a cute place + they had the Badger game on. The parking was a nightmare, we parked a few blocks away and walked. Service was good, waitress was attentive. They do ask on game days for a max one hour at the table. The burgers were really good! Slightly too pink for my liking (I usually like medium, but it was more medium rare). The sampler basket was fine, nothing special. Definitely not worth $16. The jambalaya is more gumbo like, but was probably my favorite thing! Spicy, seasoned perfectly, very tasty! We'd definitely be back for the burgers! read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Jambalaya - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Dotty's is a staple in Madison. Awesome, thick, juicy and favorable burgers cooked to perfection and done right. Honestly, they are so good, I've never tried anything else--lol. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Burger with provolone and bacon. - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

No dumplings found here! This place was highly recommended for their cheese curds and we were definitely not disappointed. We ordered their sampler platter and a couple of burgers. I loved the cheese curds and fried mushrooms. I could eat them al day! My burger was a little on the bland side for me but it was really juicy. Our waitress was new on the job (forgot her name) but she was very friendly and made some great recommendations for beer. Loved the Spotted Cow! The music that was playing was great and not too loud so that we can still carry on a conversation. Also loved the history of this place. read more

See all

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately?) I was lucky to experience the original Dotty's in a tiny hut on Monroe St. and also their location when they moved to Regent St. Not sure what happened when they moved to Francis St. I understand prices are sky high but I was shocked when a basic cheeseburger, an upscale cheeseburger, 2 orders of fries, a water and a Coke were $45 before tip! WTAF? Also after the bill was paid we were told "we are on a wait. Absolutely no rush at all but the table is needed." Kinda sounds to me you were rushing us? Nope. Not the place I remember, won't be back. Can't hold a candle to that little hut on Monroe St. where it all started. read more

If you're looking for a fantastic burger, come to Dotty!!!! Best burger I've had in a long time. They have a great kids menu and I appreciate any place that provides crayons, Wikki stix and oyster crackers for the kiddos. My daughter got the chicken strips and fries w/ranch. The ranch was so good. I got the Runnelstone burger and my husband got the heart throb burger. They both had a special sauce on it that was so so so good! Will def be back for more burgers and the spreechers root beer float! read more

See all

So obsessed with Dottys I came here twice during my visit - and they remembered me from my first visit! Service at table or bar is awesome. The old vintage feel is very cool, be sure to read about their history! The burgers are SUPER fresh and amazing! I had the classic both times and be sure to get sweet potato fries! Homemade bbq sauce is dynamite too. 12/10 recommend!! read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great ambiance for a burger joint. Super packed but quick service. Food is extremely flavorful and fresh tasting. Would love to try all their special sauces. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Cajun Spiced Chicken - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Solid downtown burger joint. In the sampler platter, the fried mushrooms were fire. For the burger itself, I thought the patty lacked seasoning on the inside and the house garlic sauce (mayo-based) put the greasiness just slightly over the top. But nonetheless it was an enjoyable burger that I'm glad help up well. read more

See all

First time here! Looking for more burger hot spots now that DLux is closed. We all really enjoyed everything. Came down for dinner on a Wednesday night before a show at the Orpheum and we didn't have to wait at all. The server was super friendly and just the right level of attentive! We all tried different burgers and we all agreed that they are good. Some of us favored it over Settle Down, some of us not so much. I think if they toasted the bun that would take it up just another notch and do tend to agree that the burger itself is just a smidge on the bland side but the fixings pull it all together. The Buffalo fries are fantastic. Bring a sweater, it was a smidge cold with the air blowing down. Great neighborhood bar and eatery and once again proves why Madison is such a great place to be a foodie. read more

Kept seeing this recommendation online so when my partner and I got to madison with an empty stomach, this was our first stop. For starters, we ordered the sample platter (Wisconsin cheese curds, fried mushrooms, fried mac and cheese bites, fries, and onion rings) which came with Aioli and ranch. Lived the cheese curds and fried, could've gone without the mushrooms. For my entre, I ordered a classic brat with raw onions and sauerkraut. I'm a brat snob, so I'd give it a 7/10. Could've been a little more charred, but overall good flavor. He ordered the Runnelstone, the restaraunts first specialty burger. Great flavor combinations, good portion. Our service was quick. You can tell the place has been around for a while based on the decor and the overall vibe of the place. read more

See all

I've visited Dotty's several times and always have a great experience. My favorite parts of Dotty's are their appetizers and shakes. Their cheese curds are delicious! The only downsides are that parking can be frustrating, and there might be a slight wait if you come at a peak time. read more

I just love eating here, the food is so good. Meal items I've gotten include the Bacon Truffle Fries, Chili Cheese Fries, Chocolate Shake (2x), Toadstool Burger, Heart Throb Burger; I have not been disappointed yet. Pretty average moderately crowded smaller restaurant with busy staff. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Chili Cheese Fries - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Doggy's is a pretty chill bar and restaurant. We stopped in after a Wisconsin game. Love that it's walking distance to Kohl's Center. I enjoyed the food. We shared a pub burger and the sampler appetizer. I thought the pub burger had a great sauce and the meat was cooked well. I hate that none of the burgers come with fries, so it's honestly really pricey per person once you add a side. The sampler was all things fried, so mushrooms, Mac and cheese, cheese curds, fries and onion rings. The cheese curds were great. The Mac and cheese bites were interesting because I think it's just Kraft Mac and cheese (but I didn't mind because it tasted nostalgic)! Overall and good stop if you're looking for pub food. read more

See all

Photos don't do it justice, but the pub burger was fantastic! 6 oz of meat made it the perfect amount without being too much. The onion jam was a great hint of sweet to add to the burger. Good ratio of bread to meat, and the burger was cooked just right! The sweet potato fries were also very good, just a very large portion as they don't come with the burger. Service was friendly and quick on a busy Friday! read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Pub Burger - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I would say my true rating is a 3.5/5. The food overall is kind of just meh. It's nothing to crazy an expected burger but definitely not the hype I was expecting. I think also the fact that the burger doesn't come with fries is a turn off, I would rather you just mark the price up to total with fries. We also tried the sampler and the fries to me just had no seasoning or flavor just regular fries. I think the service was ok nothing too crazy either as he never really checked on us after we got our food. They were also not busy that night but they are close to kohls center so I assume they can get busier. read more

See all

My husband and I stopped here on a drive to South Dakota to pick up our new puppy about a month ago. It is in Madison which is such a fun city! We loved the name and were not mad when we realized it does not actually serve dumplings, haha! We each had the Wisconsin brat which you could never go wrong with! The sauerkraut on it was delicious too! The staff were all super friendly! There is also a lot of cool college sports memorabilia on the walls too! Definitely worth checking out if you're in Madison & need an easy bite! read more

The most delicious burger and fries! We had the Melting Pot burger with lettuce and tomatoes. So good! Skip the cheese curds. Much better ones out there. read more

Love this place! Great vibe with cool airplanes all around the joint. Service was wonderful. Food was very tasty. Delicious, fresh burgers, lots of beer options and kid friendly choices. Very patient with kids and lots of food side dishes. Scrumptious fudge bottom pie. Kids loved the games, puzzles and wikki stixs! read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Been eating here for about 20 years and food and service has consistently declined. Service is always inconsistent. We have generally visited before rush times and have often had to seek out our server and food is usually over or under cooked. We have stopped going here read more

Dotty's is a Madison institution!! And might be my new #1 burger now that Dlux is closed. The food was amazing. Mac n cheese wedges with the housemade ranch never disappoint. My burger was perfectly cooked and the fries were crispy and delicious. My boyfriend did the build your own with allllll the fixins and loved it! Our server was attentive and kind. I love sitting in a cozy booth in the winter. There's such a nostalgia for me at Dotty's as I came here all of the time in college and I'm so glad I made it back!!! read more

See all

The introduction catches it all...Thick juicy burgers. Fries were hot and fresh. I had the Southwestern with coleslaw. Very, very good.

A long-time, family owned institution known for their burgers... However we were not impressed. Our party had 14 people and we had to be seated separately because none of the tables can be moved. It was not a big deal since we were able to sit in the same area. We divided into two groups and the eight of us shared fried cheese curds, fried mushrooms, spicy hot chili, melting pot burger, fish fry dinner, and Beyond burger. The cheese curds, fried mushrooms, and melting pot burger were standard and nothing to get excited about. The fish fry was actually disappointing because the meat was dry and bland. The best item was definitely the spicy hot chili. It had a ton of ingredients with a good kick. Service was slow even though there were not that many patrons dining in and our server brought us food without plates and utensils. I had to remind her a few times. Another thing to take note of is they charge an additional fee for credit cards. Although we were divided into two groups for seating, we paid together under one bill. Who would carry +$200 in cash? read more

See all

Came here spontaneously on a Saturday midday. Started off with the cheese curds, desperately craving them. To be honest, they were meh to me, 3/5. to eat, my partner and I split the melting pot burger and the Pub burger. The melting pot was very underwhelming--the cheese wasn't even melted all the way and barely tasted the English garlic sauce. still decent. The pub burger was my favorite, the aioli was delicious. I'd get that one next time. For a large fries to share--the burger doesn't come with sides which is quite unexpected for a burger spot imo. Ambiance was cool, lots of stuff on the walls to look at Service was good My final eating would be 3.5/5 but I rounded up. Is still come back read more

See all

Good ambiance if you like dark Quant Curds were different in a good way Cajun chicken sandwich perfect level of zing read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Menu - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Came here around 1PM on a weekday, and got a booth immediately. Heard the burgers were good and took a hit deciding. Let's just the burger was amazing and juicy, the onion rings were 10/10 perfectly crispy, and I accidentally ordered a boat of pickles for $6..... but they were amazing and homemade. I count it as getting myself those tubs of grillos pickles from the store. My server was quick and friendly. Was a nice environment for me to a bit of work too. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Onion Rings, Boat of Pickles, Burger - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is the home of my favorite burgers, yes as in plural. You can't go wrong with any of their burger selections. Today, I went with the Stanley's blue ribbon burger, but with a vegan patty. Their barbecue sauce is so delicious, I always ask for extra. We went during the business time of the lunch hour. We had our water and soda pretty soon after we arrived. The food arrived about 15-20 minutes later. The decor is very 50s inspired with an old movie playing in the background. Very cool vibe. This is on the other side of town for me so it's always a treat to come here. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Stanley's Blue Ribbon - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The atmosphere of the place is leaning heavily into old English pub, of which I think it does well. Seating is limited though, so expect a wait during busier hours and weekends. The drinks did not impress. The Brandy Old Fashioned I had was very poorly mixed. Kudos for not skipping on the spirits, but it did make for a less than optimal drink. The burgers are thick cut, juicy, and loaded with cheese. If that's your thing, this will be one of your better options in the Madison area. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Brandy Old Fashioned Sour - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry is a must-visit food stop. The food is crafted and cooked fresh from local farms and markets, leaving the food very nutritious and also supporting the local business as well. The service was fast and quick despite being fully seated due to the Wisconsin-Bama game recently ending. They have a 1-hour seating limit so that helps the flow significantly. The environment itself is as Wisconsin as you can get. Many local decor and references plastered on the wall and of course, lots of cheese references! I highly recommend stopping by if you get the chance! read more

See all

Amazing....for years! Have never had a bad burger. Quaint and quite fine! We love it! read more

After talking to the restaurant and receiving compensation for my not-so-great experience, I can give them an extra star because they were able to help out. Although I still stand by my previous rating - lack of customer service, overpriced items, and messed up drinks and checks - they were able to help me out. I'm sure this establishment is good, probably only when it's not busy, though. read more

Cute little spot in Madison! I was visiting from out of town and wanted to get my hands on cheese curds, so I hopped on Yelp to find a close spot and fell onto this one. I loved the ambience when I went into this spot with all the airplanes and cool decor. I loved it since I am in the aviation industry, so 5 stars for decor. I opted for take out...and there was a bit of a wait but the server was super friendly and asked if I wanted a drink while waiting so service here is wonderful! Now the food...it was delicious! The cheese curds are a musy...I mean, it's Wisconsin and the Homemade Spicy Veggie burger was filling and flavorful. All in all...good local spot! read more

See all

Great establishment! I came here with only the best of company and I was impressed at the great customer service that we received. We first ordered deep fried pickles and they came out a little bit on the over cooked side. Without having to ask our waitress for another batch, we were immediately given a fresh batch at no extra cost. Our new batch was absolutely delicious and went well with our flight of beers. We ordered chili and classic jambalaya which were both extremely flavorful and good tasting. The chili was hearty and was well seasoned. The classic jambalaya was very well seasoned and had the perfect amount of sausage in it. Overall, great experience visiting here. It is clear to see that this place values integrity which is displayed throughout their food and customer service. Kudos, we will definitely be coming back for more. read more

See all

Best burgers in Madison!! You can't go wrong with any of the burgers from here - they are all done well.

One of the most solid places in Madison for a burger! Every time I come here the burger never misses. Consistent quality is key. And the service is always good, too. We got: Stanley's blue ribbon- barbecue sauce goodness Toadstool-I'm a big fan of mushrooms, so this hit the spot read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Toadstool Burger - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I took out dinner from here on a Friday evening. The place was very lively. Had I tried dine in, there would have been a wait. As it is friday, I went for the special fish fry. It was good. The melting pot burger was really good as well. read more

See all

Good food & service. Was able to walk in on a Sunday night without a wait - students weren't at school.