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

The service is good, the beer is good, however the food is very overrated. We had a few different burgers and there was no flavor. We had to pay for extra garlic sauce to make it edible. The fried cod sandwich had a one strip of cod that only covered 1/3 of the bun. I wouldn't go back. read more

We had a group of three on a Friday night of a Badger Football and were seated within 25 minutes! Service was fantastic and super quick! I loved the chili/cornbread and Mac and cheese bites! I haven't been to dotty's in some years and it was just like I remember it! Over all great experience and got to watch my Badgers with my friends and enjoy good food! read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Truffle fries, wings, appetizer sample basket - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Great food, efficient service! Lovely atmosphere. A Madison classic! Definitely on the list to come back to.

Fantastic burgers, lots of beers to choose from, friendly service, and cool vibe - need I say more? The food at Dotty's is consistently top notch, but I especially recommend their burgers, their fried cheese curds, and their pickles (fried or regular). read more

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

I've been going to Dotty's for a long time and they are still my favorite burger place in the Madison area! I don't have one particular favorite burger; I've tried most of them on the menu and have never been disappointed. Make sure to order the sample basket as the burgers do not come with any sides (except for the pickles, which I could eat a bunch of those). If you don't get the sample basket, I recommend getting onion rings or the breaded mushrooms. I appreciated that they are limiting the capacity and seating every other table/booth. We did have to wait outside for a bit today, but it was well worth it! read more

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Dotty's is one of the best burger places in Madison! Their sweet potato fries are addicting! They have great drinks and shakes. The vibes are always good and service has been amazing every time. Great for takeout too, ready within 25 min no matter the time. read more

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

Great burgers. Great food. Service is quick, efficient, and kind. The atmosphere transports you straight into a classic pub. Not a single bad thing on the menu. Truffle fries are the way to go for an appetizer! read more

Any restaurant that has The Maltese Falcon on the tv with a classic soul soundtrack in the background is my new favorite restaurant. Did I mention the food and service were both excellent? overall, a great experience, most definitely amplified by the presence of both Stevie Wonder and Humphrey Bogart. read more

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

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Dotty's was great. There was a 20 minute wait so we sat down at the bar and had a cocktail and beer. Service was excellent and place was cool. We had chili, the alumni burger and the melting pot burger. Total with tax was about $70. I'll be back. read more

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

Delicious burgers, quite possibly the cream of the crop here in Madison. I've tried the Melting Pot, the Heart Throb, and the Classic. Can't really go wrong with their burger - they are tasty and sizable (come hungry). The fries are great too. When I was in last year, the interior had good vibes and the waitstaff was more than helpful. During COVID, they are open for takeout (call them and place and order) and I think limited seating on the interior as well. read more

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

A UW madison staple-we arrived about 7:30 pm on a Friday night and waited maybe 10 minutes at the bar. We ordered two old fashioneds which were pretty good, nothing spectacular. They have a good sized tap list as well. We enjoyed a burger and black bean burger as well as the cheese curds. Their curds are phenomenal. Husband loved the burger. The black bean burger was kind of bland probably wouldn't order again. Of note, their burgers don't come with sides therefore the pricing is slightly above average. They also tack on a fee for credit cards so cash is preferred. Overall it's a cool spot for those that want a burger (vegan and vegetarian options included). The best part about our evening was our waiter, Harrison. He was so attentive and sweet! Made our experience great. read more

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

Great costumer service at forty's dumplings dowry! I enjoyed a cup of chili and we had pickles, fries and two of the burgers! The restaurant had a great vibe with great waiters, and great music which was a plus! I would rate this place a 8/10 for service and location and a 7.3/10 for the food quality. It wasn't the best I have had but it was definitely nowhere near the worst! Definitely recommend coming with friends and family. read more

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

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This place has been OVERATED for the last 50 years. I don't know who thinks this place is so good .The burgers are mediocre at best, you could probably find better at Culver's. My server looked so stoned they probably didn't even know what year it was. It's time they shut there place down. read more

Really cool decor and atmosphere. Waitress was excellent!! Accommodated our group of 4 plus an infant without any problems. Food was excellent!! Be it the cheese curds, sampler platter, or burgers and fish and chips. All were excellent at a fair price. We will definitely return!! read more

We went before a UW game. It was packed, but we found a booth. The servers were friendly and attentive despite the crowd. I was asked how I wanted it prepared, but my Black & Bleu burger was not moist or juicy. It just wasn't a burger to make me drool. All the items in this burger didn't seem to 'marry' together. It wasn't the great burger I was anticipating. The fries were also somewhat dry and maybe over-fried. This was only my first time here, so I try not to pass judgement. I will go again and see if I get a burger worthy of their neon signs. read more

7/23/22 - 1:30 PM *I've been here a handful of times and have finally had the opportunity to make a live review * Throw back, wooden atmosphere, that gives a low lit vibe. Seated at the bar without hesitation and had immediate service. Started off with the "Mac-n-Cheese Wedges" without even knowing what they were, and they were delicious (Mac n cheese bites)! Decided to order my typical BYOB (see pic) and wasn't disappointed. Overall, this place is a rare visit, and I can't wait to be back! Pros: attentive service Drink menu: they can make any drink you ask, to perfection Vegetarian friendly (Beyond burger/Spicy veggie burger) Children friendly read more

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Fantastic burger. Medium well but a charred. Should've ordered a double. One of the better bloody Maria's I've had in a min. Feisty college waitress. Borderline rude but more sarcastic. Must have to be if she works at a Badger staple for college kids. read more

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

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I've eaten here a few times over the past 30 years, and the food was always very good. Unfortunately, no more than average this time. Not bad, but nothing to really recommend or get excited about. Burgers seem a lot smaller than they used to be. I don't particularly mind that (don't need a huge burger anyway). But the taste of both my and hubby's burgers was just... nothing special. Not bad but I've had much more tasty meat and prep at several places in Northern WI (e.g., SLO's Pub in Woodruff WI--great burgers & fries!). The fries at DD's (we got the regular crinkle cut) were a good sized order to share but, again, just average. Server was pleasant but slow and a bit difficult to get her attention. Again, not bad but nothing special either. And the music was way too loud. Playing classic rock (60s, 70s) was great but no need to blast it, especially at 12:30pm on a Tuesday. Finally, I understand that many establishments are running on a thin profit margin but I really don't like the tactic of charging an additional fee for using a credit card. Sorry, it's not 'giving a break to our customers who pay cash'--it's charging more for using credit. Overall average, no better, and not the really tasty lunch experience we were hoping for. read more

The Hamburger Headcorders since 1974 An absolute legend. (PSA there are no dumplings served here...you've probably already figured that out) I had the black and blue burger because I love blue cheese and it was Uhmazingg. I also love the perfect little burger size. read more

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So dern good - I remember Dotty's from their Regent Street location back before electricity. (well almost) Now located on Frances St & Gorham St. (a block off of State St.), the place is better than ever. Renowned for their burgers, strongly recommended. You'll become a regular :) read more

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Dotty's was DIVINE. My wife and I were in town visiting from Milwaukee and grabbed some burgers before a Badgers game. The place was absolutely packed wall to wall with Badger fans! Despite so many people we were seated quickly and the service was excellent. The decor inside is unparalleled. As soon as you walk in you automatically are whisked away into a nostalgic trip for any Wisconsin sports fan. The energy was buzzing and the food was the same! I ordered the Pub burger which I can't rate highly enough. I honestly sat and deliberated between 3 or 4 burgers because they all sounded so good. Would highly recommend this place to anybody in town who is looking for a burger. 5 stars! read more

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Comfortable atmosphere, geat service and delicious burgers. The cocktails were good too!! We will definitely recommend this spot to anyone and we will for sure be back!! read more

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this place can get reallyyy crowded with long wait times for dinner. we waited about an hour for a party of 3 but i honestly think this place was well worth the wait. i ordered the melting pot which seems to be their classic burger. i swear the cheese just MELTED in my mouth with each bite. the fries were perfectly crispy and seasoned. the drinks were also huge!!! the service was great and ambiance could be described as just your fun typical pub. highly recommend checking this place out for their burgers!! read more

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

I am very upset at this Dotty's. First off why is dumpling in your name if you don't serve dumplings? I ordered a FRIED cajun chicken sandwich and proceeded to be handed a GRILLED chicken sandwich. I finally received my fried chicken sandwhich and it was horribly mid. I am very disappointed in this especially because of all these great reviews. DO NOT COME HERE!!! read more

one of the best burgers i've ever had in my life. Simply perfect in every way! Highly recommend! read more

Overall - solid 4/5 here. Service was great, they seated us at 3:40pm and allowed us time to order food even though they closed at 4pm. I did a BYO burger, which was good. Not the worlds best burger but def solid. I asked for medium rare and it was a little overdone. The star of the show here is the sauces. Great ranch and the garlic sauce is bomb! Heartbreaker sauce was tasty too. My husband got the top rated burger, I forgot what it was called but with three cheeses and bacon, it was tasty! Would like to try the sweet potato fries and a diff combo next time. With a better bun and a straight medium rare burger (if the sweet potato fries pan out) it would be a five! read more

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Great place Visiting from SAN JOSE CAFIFORNIA had the melting pot, cheese curds, and a beer called Spotted Cow with had Great taste. But the important thing is the service by Manda. She is on point withe food asking if you need anything else asking how the food is great servservice highly recommend this place and Manda as a server. Than you read more

Grrat food tried the Melting Pot the cheese curds and a beer called the Spotted Cow good beer good food. Visiting from San Jose Californi. Service was great by Manda highly recomend. Great place read more

Beyond the fact that the name is based on a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about a traveling circus accompanied by a fat lady named Dotty Dumpling (which is a pretty dope historical fact if you're a literary nerd like myself) the place has legitimately good burgers and a solid beer selection. I had the "original" burger. Sesame seed bun wrapped over a medium patty with saucy cheese, pickles, mustard, ketchup, pickles, onion, and relish (I held off on the relish). It definitely holds it weight. This was my first time in Madison, and we were only in Madison because we took a wrong turn coming back from Spring Green and said, "ah, what the hell, when your in Wisconsin, why not go to Madison." So, I'd say it paid off. And I'm glad we stopped here. A quick Google search said these guys had the best burger in town, and while I can't vouch for everyone else and their burgers, these guys do have a hell of a burger. Thanks, Google. Now stop tracking the heck out of me! No, I don't want the Ad for those sneakers I already bought! I also had a local hard seltzer that oddly tasted like orange Flinstone's vitamins... I won't hold that against you, Dotty. It was definitely nostalgic, but I wouldn't want to session that one. Plus, who liked the orange vitamins? You'd have to be a glutton for punishment. But hey, they do say some like it hot... read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Flinstone's vitamins. You can't untaste it... - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Beware: They over promise the wait time and you end up late for your sporting event, concert, etc. The hostesses huddle behind the desk instead of helping to make tables available. Food has become mediocre for basic bar food. read more

First off, we had excellent service here right before the holidays. I don't even remember our waiter's name but he was fantastic! With a party of five, we shared the sample basket. Everything in here (I don't eat mushrooms) was pretty good, except for the onion rings. The batter on it was heavy. I had the chicken and dumpling soup to start off with. Good flavors, but I wanted a bit more dumpling pieces than I had in the soup. I ordered the runnelstone without the bun. I'll admit that when they market "on a bed of greens" I was expecting more than two pieces of lettuce. The garlic sauce was a hit and they gave me plenty to drench my burger in it. Mine was probably cooked a little bit more medium well than medium. read more

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry - Racquel 's Soup Du Jour: Chicken dumpling - Burgers Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Meant to get pictures but it was a little too dark in the venue for my food pics to come out. Dotty's is relatively quick, perfectly comfortable outside a squeaky floorboard, and has decent tunes playing alongside Turner Classic Movies on every screen. What I wish was a little better are the food and drinks. Cocktails are too sweet and watered down for the price - I want a boozy Manhattan when I order one. And $13 for a third pound burger or chicken sandwich with sauce that slides right off the sandwich - before $4 fries?? Cmon, man. Neither the burger or the chicken sandwich were especially seasoned, either, which means they're very reliant on the scant amount of sauce on the sandwich. There are just too many options for great burgers and bars in Madison. I wouldn't say no if friends were meeting up here, but for the price, I want more meat or better meat. And bartenders, tamp down the sweetness of those cocktails a chunk - I'll stick to the extensive tap list. read more

Great service and amazing food! Definitely a stop for lunch or dinner!! Burgers were cooked to order and very tasty!

Got and Old Fashioned, the Sampler Basket& the Runnelstone Burger! The atmosphere was so fun and our server Emma was great! Loved our experience and exited to come back!!! read more

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

Love, Live, Love Best Burgers I've ever had!!! I been eating here sine I was a teenager and come back Every time I'm in town

Surprisingly delicious burgers in an iconic spot on the edge of campus. We popped in for lunch on a football Saturday so the place was pretty quiet except for the 10 TVs showing the game. The menu has much to offer but the standout are the burgers which include a myriad combination of cheese bacon special sauces and onions from concoctions they dreamed up during their opening in 1974 to more recent varieties like the one with onion jam. This place is a must for any carnivore. Burgers are around $10 and are big, hearty and served medium on a sesame seeded bun. A small order of fries were plenty to share and were long and crispy. Highly recommended read more

The chili was most definitely excellent, but the burgers were just average at best; the beer at the bar was not cold and it was hard to get the bartenders attention for drinks. My husband ordered a side of onion rings with his burger versus fries, and they charged him for a full order of onion rings and gave him eight of them! read more

I love the ambiance of Dottys, I love the food! I tried the vegetarian option and it was so good! The service is outstanding. Amy is an amazing bartender. She was fun and very efficient. The hosts were so nice, greeting us warmly. we will definitely be back. thank you! read more

Great ambiance and service. Good local beer selection. I came specifically because I heard about their amazing burgers. They did not disappoint. read more