The Cardinal Bar is both retro and classy. Stopped in for some pre-dinner beverages and listened to…read morethe live conga band get set-up and play their first few songs. The service was really good with cool bartenders and a mellow vibe. Didn't try the food although it is on the menu. A bit further from campus, the CB seems to be a place catering to a more mature crowd rather than a UW student bar.

The decor is so cute and I really liked the food options and NA drinks! Parking is a challenge so…read morewe parked in the Essen Haus lot then walked over. We arrived shortly after they opened and it was excellent: great service, great vibes. We were so relaxed. We visited on a dancing night and even though we stayed at our table, it was so fun to see people of all ages, sexualities, and wardrobes coming to and from the dancefloor. Once it got busy, the bartenders were really struggling. It seemed like most of them were new because they kept asking one of the bartenders questions. One of them didn't even know where to find the drink I ordered (it was on the menu, and in the fridge in a can). Once all of the employees are as seasoned as the one they were all asking questions to, I think things will run much more smoothly. It also turned into a big party atmosphere which was fine with us, but many of the tables that were relaxing when we arrived were gone shortly after the music started. So just choose your visit time based on the type of experience you want.

I REALLY wanted to love Crystal Corner, but sadly after our recent visit, popping back by on my…read morenext trip to Madison is not looking very likely. Crystal Corner is located in the famed Willy Street area of Madison, sitting on the corner of Willy Street and Baldwin Street. Crystal Corner has the vibe of the neighborhood, as is it divey, funky, nostalgic and truly local. However, even with all those things, this spot missed the mark for me and my buddy. We swung by on Sunday afternoon for a few drinks while wandering around Willy Street. We bellied up to the bar and ordered a couple of Bloody Mary's, to which the bartender said "Oh, I need to make up some mix. I can't believe people still drink those things around here.". Which was odd, as that was about to be our third bloody of the day, with neighboring restaurants going as far as having special bloody menus. The bartender pulled a can of tomato juice out, dumped it in a pitcher, added a few dashes of hot sauce, Worcestershire and some seasonings. And that was it. She then took some rail vodka, mixed it all up, and topped with an olive and pickle. While I know this sounds phenomenal, it was in fact one of the worst bloody's I have had. Additionally, the olive and pickle were a weird, almost rubbery texture. The combination of everything was off putting...and that was just the start. Next up is the space itself. While I appreciate a good dive bar that is full of nostalgic artwork, furnishings, lighting, etc...but it shouldn't be visible that the place hasn't been cleaned since these things were added. The ceilings and floors were the worst part, with the ceiling tiles being caked with black dust and dirt. Again, being worn is part of being divey, but being dirty doesn't have to be. In addition to the the main room ceilings, the bathroom ceilings were awful, missing tiles, moldy pipes exposed and just an overall feeling of ick that is beyond a normal bar bathroom. Last, but certainly not least, was the service and vibes. They were off, and kind of weird. When we arrived, there were a few locals and regulars, and then a few folks, including us. While the bartender was friendly with us, she was very rude, uncomfortably so, to another patron when he pulled out a credit card instead of cash (cash only spot). There was a little back and forth, then he left. Even after he left, she was calling him names and such to the other patrons. Again, uncomfortable, especially as a new patron to the bar. Overall, the bloody wasn't the only thing that left a bad taste here. From the bloody to the service to the dirtiness, this place needs some love and was just not it for us.

It looks like an average corner dive bar from the outside but wow, was this a fantastic place a see…read morelive music in Madison! Heads up: cash only at the bar. Come prepared. Bartenders were very nice. Tip them. There is an ATM near the restrooms if you run out of cash. The acoustics are fantastic and I loved the St. Patrick's Day weekend concert! It was packed, but we still found space to dance. Plenty of free street parking. I'm not used to that as a Chicagoan. That was a nice surprise.

Awesome place. The drinks were very good. The bartender had good dialogue classic movies playing in…read morethe background. All around this is a stand-up place.

This is my favorite spot in Madison. You can take anyone from parents to coworkers to a first date…read morehere and feel comfortable. Its got a great vibe, cool bartenders, and the owner is approachable and friendly.

Bouncer with the one earring is incredibly rude and judgemental. He was disrespectful to my…read moreroommate.

The manager "Sean" (name given by employee) was very unprofessional and terrible to us . We waited…read morein line at the FRONT for 1hr in a thunder/lightning storm. I understand being at capacity but there was no communication. After we were finally let in after 1hr, my boyfriend expressed to ME in our OWN PERSONAL conversation that this was not done well and management should've dome better. Sean, the manager, stated "if you don't like our management, leave.". This is absolutely unacceptable for a manager. If you hear your guests having a bad experience, the managerial and professional thing to do is make it right. We love sottos but this response was so unprofessional. After my boyfriend spoke to her and let her know it's nothing personal, it was just disappointing, Sean FLICKED her MIDDLE FINGER at him. I've never experienced something so unprofessional. I voiced my concerns to a female employee (Hispanic with frizzy hair) and asked to speak with the manager and was met with a laugh. We will not be back after this experience and we will spread awareness on your treatment to paying customers.

Met my husband at woofs about 5 years ago, he was a swinger at the time and decided to cheat on his…read moreboyfriend with me. He said my thingy was way more intense and veiny than his lovers. We now have 2 kids thay we love and care for very much and will be bringing them here the day they turn 21. Hope he doesn't cheat on me again before this! Good burger but the meat from my husband was tastier. Kinda dark in there ngl thought my husband was African American till the next morning.

Summer nights on the picnic tables with good friends outside Woof's just hit different ya know!…read moreAlways the last stop of the night! Meet ya there!

We had heard good things about the fish fry at this classic Wisconsin dive bar on the near north…read moreside of Madison. We also heard it is jammed on Friday nights for the fish fry so we arrived super early to grab a table in the bar area. The place was hopping by 4:30 and people were waiting for a seat! You order your food at the bar. On Friday the menu is pretty much fish fry and not much else - no problem since that is why we were there. We started with some old fashions - always my test of a Wisconsin bar - it was OK. I had the perch fish fry and my wife the cod. The perch was excellent. I really liked their batter it almost tasted like the Colonel's. The cod was also good and a big serving. I also liked their coleslaw which was very flavorful. The fries were very good. They did screw up my order - I asked for fries and got a baked potato but we did a quick switch and resolved that issue. I know food inflation is high these days but we were surprised at the price of these fish fries! The drinks were reasonable. It's not a big place so come early on Fridays.

Stopped in with my daughter on a Friday night to grab their much ballyhooed fish fry. We popped in…read morearound 6:45 and the place was packed to the gills (pun intended!). We bellied up to the bar to grab a drink and post up to wait for an open table or a few barstools to free up. Luckily, we didn't have to wait too long for a spot at the bar to empty out. The interior is nothing to write home about-cozy, a little ramshackle but the food they churn out is absolutely amazing. They were advertising "ohio sized" lake perch from Lake Erie so I had to go with that. Nowadays, most places advertise perch but hide the fact they aren't true hard to get lake variety. These perch were absolutely massive and the sweetness under their most amazing breading was addicting. I love how they batter their fish-it's unique and has almost fried chicken like qualities. My daughter went with the cod which was equally delicious. The accompanying tartar sauce was clearly homemade and spiked nicely with clove. Fries and the bread/butter were ok but not really necessary with the generous amount of fish. Just a classic place to have a classic fish fry. Highly highly recommended!

Great customer service and food! We stopped here on a Sunday to have our anniversary dinner and…read morewe were very happy we did. The vibe here is intimate which is perfect for couples or groups celebrating a special event. There is a cool bar area where you can order fancy libations. As far as the food...everything tasted delicious and was well cooked. We ordered the calamari appetizer and we thought it was a 4/5. I am only docking a point because it was slightly too salty and some of the octopi were slightly overcooked/chewy. We had the soup of the day which was fantastic paired with bread. I ordered the lobster tail with the 6 oz filet mignon and both the lobster and filet were cooked to perfection!! Our sides were mashed potatoes and Brussel sprouts which tasted delicious. We also got a little surprise, we got dessert on the house. Overall, a great experience.

Another great happy hour! Our server Tanisa was so friendly, helpful, and fun. We tried the loaded…read morehash browns for the first time, and they were excellent. I got the happy hour steak salad. The meat and mushrooms portions were very fair for the price. The meat was cooked as ordered, but the marinade was very sweet and a few of the pieces were gristly. Other than that, everything was good. We love the round cozy booths by the bar.