It's good little too late for that one I don't know if I should go back and look for one but I'll get it out of there I think it's just too big to fit the size I don't think I have enough for a little more but I'll look at the size and I don't think I'll go to that size but I'll get one if you can find it I don't think I'm too far out I just don't think I need to be in there I don't think it read more

My burger would've been so good if it were cooked fully. I never send food back but I had to send it back because it was dripping blood and barely cooked. I got a second one barely cooked again. I felt bad and didn't want to complain. But yeah would've been good had it not been raw. read more

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

The burgers were a little disappointing. I got the black and blue and added haystack onions. My bun was crumbling apart. And the burger was dry. Which is a little surprising since All the burgers "are cooked to a nice medium pink." My daughter got the chili cheese dog but was disappointed that the chili was chunky meat and not ground meat. On the other hand, the cheese curds were great and the poutine with curds was delicious. read more

One of the best burgers I have ever had. Great service. I came with two kids and they loved it. They are prepared for kids: cups with little toys, a snack, coloring pages and crayons. Awesome vibe, cool decor and theme throughout. read more

3.5 Stars As the weather warms up and spring (hopefully and lazily) comes our way, we decided to head out and go fast food for a weekend lunch. Dotty has been on our minds for sometime but something else always came up in preference than a burger. Not this time I say! Service - Considering it was sort of packed, I'd say service was decent. Our server was pleasant and did accommodate our requests without a fuss. The food did take sometime to come but that can be attributed to the crowd :) Food - We ordered a Melting Pot, Cajun Spiced Chicken and a Strawberry Shake. The Melting Pot is their most famous and recommended burger so suffice to say we had to give it a try. The cheese trio here simply dominates the flavors in a good way, the patty itself was well cooked (Medium Rare) although quite small for such a burger. Seasoning was on the short hand but the cheese and bacon balanced the flavors. Overall the burger was good, but not exactly memorable (IMO). The Chicken sandwich was spiced well, but the chicken itself was a tad dry. The best dish arguably was the shake primarily due to that fact that it was made from the ridiculously amazing Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream!!! I'd probably venture here in the near future to try another set of their burgers but yeah wont have terribly high expectations. Nonetheless, I'd certainly recommend giving this place a try once. read more

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They claim to have the best burger in Madison, and I have to say I agree! My mom, dad, and I all created our own burgers and absolutely loved them. I did mayo, lettuce, ketchup, and garlic sauce which was perfect, and I loved that I could create what I wanted (I don't like cheese, which most of their options had). I also noticed they had two different vegetarian burger options, which is a plus when vegetarians and non-vegetarians can all enjoy the same restaurant. My only complaint is that you have to add on fries for a $2.50, but the regular fries were outstanding (I got the sweet potato fries which were even more expensive at $4 extra, but they were also perfect). Highly recommend this place if you're downtown Madison and want a great burger. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - custom burger and Sweet Potato Fries - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

When we knew were going to be in town for a while I did some Yelp-Search to find a place to eat for lunch. Being particularly fond of the hamburger, we found a couple of locations that really looked good. In the interest of full disclosure the first place we went to was closed for renovations. I had actually planned on getting a burger at both places so we were going to go to Dotty's anyhow. Dotty's was busy when we arrived and we have about a 20mn wait. Not bad at all and usually a good sign when a place is busy. We had already done our homework and knew what we wanted to order. I ordered the Pub burger with fries, my wife wanted to save herself for a special dinner and only went with the fried pickles. Our order arrived pretty quickly. I hit my burger right away. While my burger was cooked perfectly, the cheese was not melted. Munster cheese is usually a pretty good cheese to use for melting and this was not melted. My burger was supposed to have bacon and I don't recall seeing any bacon. Maybe it was cut up, just didn't stand out. While my burger was good, I felt it was missing some of the fat and goodness that I crave with a burger. The fries were good and I took every opportunity to dip them in what tasted like homemade ranch dipping sauce that came with my wife's fried pickles. The fried pickles by the way were very good. The pickles tasted homemade. They were crispy and the ranch dipping sauce was a perfect compliment. Dotty's has a lot of burgers and I would totally be up for trying some of their other burgers. Dotty's is an old school place and had I gone to school in Madison, I'd be there a few nights a week and on the weekends for a burger and a beer. read more

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I had the best burger of my life here!!!! The Gladiator hit the spot. Our server was friendly and attentive. It was a very cozy setting that made me feel relaxed. I have recommended it to numerous friends already. read more

It's a Madison classic, or so i've been told. this place is good and i've been here a handful of times, but after each visit I resolve that it's nothing that i'm ever going to crave dearly. But, with that being said, there are some highlights at this place that I am sure to order when I visit. The Hearthrob burger. YES. I love spice and this burger has it. It is juicy and packs the perfect amount of heat. Homemade fudge bottom pie. The fudge at the bottom is chewy and decadent. while the topping is light. it's a good mix of textures for a dessert that I enjoyed. The malts are also quite good. Fried Cheese Curds are just ok. nothing too special, as there are plenty of better places around Madison. read more

5/27/22 Cool atmosphere, outstanding food. Started with the cheese curds. They were to die for, with or without the dipping sauce. Ordered the Runnelstone burger. It came out undercooked, but with a quick touch up it was full of juicy deliciousness...so good!!! read more

A-ok except for the crazy flies! We sat in the booth by the door. Wish we asked to be re-seated since I really didn't want to share our food with the flies. Unfortunately the flies will be what I remember about this place ;(. Moving on...we both ordered bunless burgers, which I loved but getting fried cheese curds and Japanese inion rings were way too many fried foods to eat in one sitting. I paid for it later in the day with an unexpected trip to the bathroom. Nothing great or special about the food, just wish I made better choices. Just the burger and cheese curds probably would have been better, or even a burger and a salad! Will have to give the salads a try the next time. read more

I've never had a bad burger at Dotty's. They are simply perfect. Anything with the "English Garlic Sauce" is amazing. All the sides are fresh and tasty - never a disappointment. Also, I love to compare/contrast everyone's coleslaw... Dotty's hits the mark! Going back to their old location and coming to the current building - Dotty's has always done burgers right. They're a Madison staple and a "must try once" destination. Which reminds me... I'm due to go there! read more

This place is one of my favorite burger places in town. Usually it can be very crowded so plan accordingly. I've tried many different burgers and they have all been great. So far my only complaint is that sometimes when the burger makes it out the bun is already soggy. The fries are great and a large size is a great sharing portion. Don't forget about the milkshakes, which they will also split for you as well if asked. read more

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

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Holy s$&@! So delicious! Idk if there are even dumplings on the menu but we went here after a Badgers game in the pouring rain. Waited about 40 minutes for a world class burger! Well worth the wait. Cheese curds were perfect, like they do in Wisconsin and chili cheese fries were really good and not your typical chili. Service was fast, wait staff hustling with that big post game crowd. Definitely will go back. read more

if you are wondering why this place is continuously rated the best burger in Madison, wonder no more! absolutely spectacular!

Great bar, fun college atmosphere, cheese curds delicious obviously. Burgers also very good. Worth a stop. Genesis pours and very reasonable prices. read more

Great ambiance - relaxed, typical pub style interior. Great local beer selection and a burger selection with something for everyone. Had the Melting Pot burger with sweet potato fries - dipping sauce was really good. Highly recommend for a pub burger in Madison. read more

Best burgers I've eaten. Very nice old school atmosphere. Service is great as always.

The Melting Pot, Cheese Curds and Lemonade. All delicious and we highly recommend. Good sauces, too. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - The Melting Pot, Cheese Curds. - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Very much enjoyed my experience at Dotty's. I got the Pub Burger and a Moscow Mule, which was delicious. The only thing is that I wish fries or a side were included with the burger. The cheese curds were especially awesome. read more

Got burgers to go! Had the Runnelstone with the Homemade Spicy Veggie Burger. Really good, but the patty fell apart - would still order again though. The sweet potato fries and the sauce it came with were amazing read more

Oh man this is easily one of the best burger restaurants I've been to. They have an absolutely amazing menu with quite a few unique burgers. Cheese curds are also legit but you're in the capitol city of Wisconsin so that's to be expected. It has a nice ambiance to it and can be really busy on a weekend night but I've never had an issue with food quality or service. read more

This place has so much character. At first, I didn't really know what to make of all the decorations or the old shows on tv, but it was pretty cool. As far as the menu, we went with the burgers. The melting pot is their most popular and has tons of cheese on it. I had the black and bleu which has hot sauce on it, but was pretty good. The cheese curds are incredible but the dipping sauce not so much. They serve them with a strong honey mustard and a dill ranch. The mustard overpowers the curd, and the ranch is okay but a little different. Beer and whiskey selection is on par with what you'd expect at an Irish pub and the service was great. Crowd is a more family oriented for a restaurant so close to campus. I'm looking forward to going back and trying more of their burgers. read more

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If you could only visit one place in Madison to really get a feel for the ethos of this special community- Dotty's your choice. Established in 1969 Dotty Dumpling's Dowry has more than earned its title of World Hamburger Headquarters. The beef burgers are outstanding but if lamb's your thing try the best lamb burger on the planet with a side of well done fries. For the real Wisconsin experience start your meal with an icy cold New Glarus Spotted Cow farm style ale and a basket of fried cheese curds. You only live once. Owner/Operator, the lovely and talented Rachel, is the Recipient of the Dowry her father established so long ago. Now at its fourth location this is a must stop if your ever lucky enough to visit this world class university area. On, Wisconsin! read more

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

I finally had the chance to stop here for lunch after having been meaning to do so for years. The burgers have a great reputation, and I wanted to check them out myself. On arrival, the hostess had us seated in a few short minutes, and she, like all the employees we encountered, was very warm and friendly. The decor is jam-packed with whimsical items to keep your eyes from focusing on any one thing. I doubt you'd have a productive working lunch here if your attention span is anything like mine. I ordered the Heart Throb burger, which had a touch of heat to it. The fries were hot and satisfying. The default cook on burgers is medium, which is a welcome change from the norm. Other orders at my table included a build-a-burger, which turned out great. The burger variety, interesting decor, and friendly staff make for a winning combination here. Check it out. read more

Pretty solid burger place in a fun pub atmosphere. Think early 200's TGI Fridays, but a little...cozier? We started with the deep friend pickles and cheese curds. Both were awesome. The the breading and the pickles themselves were super crispy--not soggy like some restaurants. The curds were great as well. They had a great flavor and were served with homemade ranch (really tasty) and a really delicious honey mustard. I ordered the veggie patty, toadstool style with Swiss cheese and mushroom. The veggie patty was just okay. The flavor was alright but the patty itself fell apart and was difficult to eat. The mushrooms were phenomenal, and I wish there were more on the sandwich. My wife had the Melting Pot and said the burger was really good--flavor, texture, etc, but wished it came with a burger set (onion, tomato, lettuce). Overall the food was good, reasonably priced, and service in a great atmosphere. Check it out! read more

Absolutely fantastic burger. Really, one of the best burgers I've ever had, due to the incredible quality of the beef and cheese. Great beer selection and fried cheese curds. Quite simply, everything you'd want from your local beer & burger joint t. read more

I can't believe I haven't written a review of Dotty's yet! We have bee coming here since we were students. Note that everything is a la cart but if you get a basket of jumbo fries ($3.99), you'll have enough for two plus leftovers. Also, if you don't fancy any snazzy toppings, the Build Your Own Burger is a safe and affordable bet for you. The only reason it doesn't have 5 stars in my book is the service can be spotty sometimes. But that's expected when the median age of the servers are in their 20s. Seating can be hard to come by during special sporting events and the wait can be as long as an hour since the place is far from expansive. If you are in a hurry and sport a seat at the bar, grab it and they'll serve you there. I've had some great service from the bartenders. I have a fond memory of my Home Ec teacher reminiscing about the time she worked there. She said everything is made fresh daily, about how the buns and produces are sourced locally. If you're not into beef, they have an "Adventurous" menu with veggie patties, chicken sandwiches, and burgers made with bison, lamb, or turkey. Check their website for specials which COMES WITH fries and a fountain drink. read more

Came here for a quick lunch. First it is very conveniently located next to the fluno center, in 19 steps your work get transformed to a pub in London. The decor almost makes you feel like it's in a Harry Potter world. The menu is mostly focused on burgers. Our server was very attentive and sweet. After reciting the special and most popular burger options I ordered the melting pot burger. Being that I was in Wisconsin it is essentially a cheese burger with 3 types of cheese. The fries were my fav, crisply on the outside and soft in the middle. The burger was really tasty and messy. I wish I had some silverware to eat it. I am impressed that the bacon is crispyly wrapped under neath the cheese. I wished there were some veggies in the burger but overall great food and experience read more

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

Definitely recommend the Mac N Cheese Wedges--they were delicious! I ordered the southwest burger with coleslaw on top and found it equally as good. The place had a great atmosphere and the waitstaff was excellent. read more

Oh my great goodness!!! This place has been on my list FOREVER, I was finally able to go today and let me tell you.. It was fantastic. It was very busy since there was a Badger and Brewers game going so next time we'll go we when there's nothing going on. Only down part today was that it was super busy. Every other aspect of this place was fantastic. Our server Adam was a gem. Absolutely the nicest guy ever. Next time we'll decid to do double patties because It was so good but not enough with just a single. Try the honey mustard sauce it has some spicy kick to it. Definitely will be back. This place is my new jammy jam. read more

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

Best burger I've had in a long time! Great beer selection. Would also recommend the cheese curds. Was our first time, we will definitely be back! read more

Maybe I got the wrong thing but I'm not impressed. There was nothing super exciting here. My favorite thing here was the cheese curds but I don't really think you can mess that up. I ordered the Basil Mozzarella Chicken, without the bun. It was super eh. Pesto tasted like it was straight out of the jar. I was glad my chicken wasn't that dry. And the whole basil aspect was not even present other than a singular leaf. My friends came and orders burgers so maybe you will care about their opinions more. One of my friends made her own burger and thought it was just ok. Nothing special for her. Another friend got the classic and wasn't impressed. My third friend got the melting pot which he enjoyed. The variation of cheese was a key poiWe got fries to share and they were just standard. Not sure where the hype from this restaurant is coming from. The inside is dingy and gives a dirty feel. Not to mention that there were about 3 flies surrounding us during our whole meal. One positive was the service, but I didn't get a water refill so not the best. I honestly would not recommend; not worth my money. Maybe if you just want cheese curds and a drink this is the place for you. read more

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Famous spot in Madison for burgers & beers. No reservations so expect a wait on football game weekends.

Was recommended this spot by the front desk at the Hampton Inn. They said if you wanted a good burger, this was the place. They were right. The burger was delicious. This is an old school decor restaurant but very nice. For sure we will try again... read more

If you are looking for a burger in Madison, this is the place. Great fries, excellent local beer selection, and the burger options are top notch. I went with the Alumni and it was delicious. Don't forget to buy the kitchen staff a round for $5. read more

Was in town visiting UW, campus tours both official and unofficial and our unofficial tour guide and good friend, a Badger and Madison-area burger expert brought us here after hearing our love for burgers and it did not disappoint. I got the Gladiator and my son the Melting Pot, both excellent! This will definitely be a regular stop should he end up a Badger. Our friend has tried over 20 of the best burgers in Madison to date and this is Dotty's is in his Top 3 (he's got great taste). Look forward to trading more burger recommendations between Madison and Milwaukee in the future! read more

Need something hearty after a day of perusing through Downtown Madison, or a late night bite after indulging into one too many adult beverages? You've found the right place. Dotty Dumpling's Dowry is an old fashioned bar/restaurant that provides just good ol' American, stick to the bones, comfort food. I ordered the special of the nice which was a truffle burger, and it did not disappoint. The burger itself was cooked a perfect medium. It was juicy, buttery, and unbelievably savory. The condiments were also done well. The truffle was not over done and it enhance the flavor of the beef. As for the sides, we ordered fried pickles, cheese curds, and chili cheese fries. The fried pickles and cheese curds were what you would expect. They were fried, battered, and delicious, but nothing out of the norm. The chili fries though was far from the norm because it was coated with Dotty's famous chili. The chili was hearty, full of spice, and had actual pieces of beef tips and pork tenderloin. Using that chili with quality sharp cheddar on a bed of crispy fries was a perfect marriage. Dotty's is classic Americana, and if you are looking quality food and a welcoming atmosphere, you've found the right place. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Cheese curds are on point - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Your classic beer, burgers, fries joint with a cool atmosphere. Dotty's was the first restaurant I went to in Madison and I always seem to gravitate back there. Dotty's offers a nice pub atmosphere, but I still always see families with young kids inside. The burgers are relatively affordable for the busy location and fill me up every time. My friends and I have tried almost all the types of burgers and like all of them. Overall a great place to stop when craving a burger in Madison. read more

Mediocre day at what is probably a good place, a pub with a really good menu. I started with the Chili.. when you say it's "award winning" that sets up some expectations.. so I got a bowl.. topped it with cheese and some sour cream. Horrified, I almost ran from the place screaming.. they put MUSHROOMS in the chili! Who does that and why don't they warn you? I despise the funghi! It's not my fault, I've tried. They took away my almost full bowl, I moaned about the shrooms (got a shrug and a "sorry") and I paid for it anyway. Yuck. We also shared some Mac and Cheese wedge's that were good. OK.. let's move on... Madison is the State Capitol of Wisconsin...but we stopped there because it's a college town and we were on our way back from visiting family in Minnesota. College towns have cool stuff and Madison is certainly pretty cool. It's Saturday and we aren't really thinking about it... but red shirts are everywhere... Oh yeah.. the University of Wisconsin Badgers! They have a home game so most people are at the game and not at Dotty Dumpling's Dowry (whew!) But they were losing 14-0 to the Minnesota Golden Gopher's.. the mood at Dotty Dumpling's Dowry decidedly displayed dismay. (Badgers went on to win later) I think the cook was definitely distracted, I know the server was. "The burgers will be pink inside" Says it on the menu and she repeated it to each of us... They came well done. When I say well done; I don't mean that they did them well.. they was no hint of pink anywhere. That kind of sucks when you've got an $11 Grand Daddy Kobe beef burger or a $9 Buffalo Burger (Bison). So while the burgers had potential... they lacked in execution. To complete the picture.. the burgers max out at 6 oz of meat and are served ala carte, so the pricing is really stiff for less than perfect. We all ordered fries and my son Ian got the Garlic Mayo for his fries (.75 upgrade) I will say that the Heart Throb Sauce that I got on my burger was delicious! No stars taken away because of the mushrooms.. there are obviously some misguided souls that think that's OK. read more

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