Pretty good! We entered and didn't really know what to think - seemed like lots of regulars gathered there, lots of people eating some tasty looking treats, crowded, maybe a little divey and a band setting up. Some patrons at the bar shuffled around to make room for us, which was great and we ordered up. I started with a beer, cuz I'm boring and only like light domestic beer, but I followed up with their special which was a basil boozy lemonade. Quite delicious - the basil was fresh and muddled in the drink and the lemonade nice and cool. It made for a refreshing drink on a hot night. We only stayed for a couple since there was a band setting up, but had some nice conversation with the regulars. We'd go back, but I would have a snack next time too. read more

First time to Mickey's and I wasn't much impressed. As other reviewers have stated, both the quality and service are inconsistent. I guess we got a bad night. My companion ordered a dry vodka martini, up, with a twist. Waitress wasn't sure they could do a twist (really?). Martini glass arrives with olives in it and as the waitress pours the martini out of the shaker, she says, "that doesn't look right." It was in fact, discolored. The bartender had used *sweet* vermouth. Yes, some real competence there. Our party had to ask twice for water, and my second beer was never delivered. Our sandwiches were good, but the fries were nothing more than glorified chips. The $1 upcharge for the sexy version (with white truffle oil and parmesan) wasn't worth it. I'm sure the regulars like the place, but I'd stick with beer next time. read more

This was the breakfast I wanted at Plaka Taverna. Mickey's is a small, divey bar that always seems like it's filled with hipsters. My family was up this weekend for graduation, and I took them there for breakfast--a first for me. Yes, a bar for breakfast. They apparently have awesome Bloody(s), but due to my hangover from post-grad celebrating, I passed. I had the eggs over easy, with toast and potatoes, and a side of bacon. Without the bacon? $4.50. Bargain. Eggs were cooked flawlessly, toast was wonderful (good bread, too!), and the home fries were outstanding--no hash/sliced ones like Plaka Taverna. Coffee was surprisingly good, too. We all got a form of eggs, except for my brother, who got the breakfast burrito--it came with kickass salsa and the flavor combo in it (chorizo, eggs, cheese) was great. I'll definitely be back. Pics of the breakfast/brunch menu are posted. Delicious. read more

Mickey's Tavern - Brunch menu. - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If pressed, I'd have to say that Mickey's is my favorite bar in Madison, which, as you know, is a town full of great bars. I come to Mickey's for three reasons, in ascending order of awesomeness-of-experience: typical bar-going; my Wednesday knitting group; and their weekend brunch. Mickey's as a bar is fun and homey. It's a collection of different rooms, plus an outdoor patio, which on summer evenings is a divine place to have a beer with friends. The beer selection itself isn't huge, but it's definitely more than adequate. The bartenders are friendly and don't play favorites. There's lots of seating and standing room. The crowd is local, pleasant, and hip, but not too hip -- the "swivel factor" is pretty low here. And they host cool stuff like April '10's Karaoke Underground, which was one of the funnest nights of my life! Mickey's has been incredibly accommodating to our fairly rowdy, 10- to 20-person knitting group as well; while they couldn't reserve a space for us for our Wednesday evening meetings (we generally gather from 5-ish to 9-ish), the back room is usually available, and the wait staff is always gracious as we clamor for booze, soda and food. They're responsive to our requests and frequently check on us. Jane herself even dropped by once to welcome us! But my favorite reason to come to Mickey's is their weekend brunch, which I adore so much that my boyf and I have made it a Saturday-morning ritual. The World's Greatest Sandwich (a BLT with a fried egg and Swiss cheese) is, indeed, the world's greatest sandwich, and their bloodies are always topped with a delicious assortment of pickled vegetables (my favorite is the Brussels sprout). The coffee is serve-yourself (yes!!) and FREE (YES!!!!). The waiters and bartenders are very sweet and always smile politely when I give them my Sally Albright-style sandwich specifications. The food in general is actually really good -- everything I've tried has been tasty -- although, as a creature of habit, I do tend to stick to the WSG. So, Mickey's is really more than just a bar -- it's a restaurant, a meeting place, and the kind of cozy, quirky establishment that makes me thank my lucky stars I live in the Wil-Mar neighborhood. read more

It's a really groovy place inside, lots to look at, visually appealing. The service, however, was pretty odd. My boyfriend and I once went in there and stood around the front door for a WHILE waiting to either choose our own spot or be seated? Weren't sure what to do. Only the folks who go there every day (and you could tell they did) knew what to do. I would like for Mickey's to be more new-comer friendly. Also, I tried the Bloody Mary and it just tasted like someone poured a bunch of pickle juice in it. Perhaps that's something other costumers like, so I guess I can't bash it. Please, Mickey's, have better service and we will love you!!! read more

Mickey's tavern had a friendly environment, but everything was too tight. As a party of five, we were seated so closely the two other tables that my friend kept accidentally knocking into the other table, even knocking over the other's coffee. Constantly having to get up to get coffee in this tight space did not make a pleasant experience. I love eggs benedict, and I always get it at every brunch place I go, but I don't think I'll repeat that here. I always ask for my eggs to be made without butter, and most other restaurants make an amazing benedict without the use of processed dairy. However, Mickey's has not perfected a dairy free eggs benedict. The eggs tasted like a metal pan with a very chalky consistency. My friend who had a normal eggs benedict said his tasted amazing, so I'm sure because some substitutions were made that mine was an exception. But for you lactose intolerant people out there going to Mickey's, don't get the eggs benedict. Other than that, good server and friendly environment. Willing to go again and try something else. Maybe with less people though because the space is too tight for a large number of people sitting indoors. read more

The décor is very 1960s bar in your basement, laid back and enjoyable. The wait staff was some of the best I've encountered in a long time--not too much hovering, but their when you wanted them. Their sexy fries were delicious, could have used a bit more parmesan but I think that is a personal preference. The rest of the food was solid. We had a steak salad and the Greatest Sandwich Ever (as it is so labeled), as my husband said of the sandwich "I don't think it's the greatest ever, but its pretty damn good." read more

Unbelievable place. Walked up to it for the first time and thought it was going to be a standard hole-in-the-wall. Was I ever surprised. The folks that run it are the best. Really professional yet very personable. The atmosphere is the most eclectic I have ever been in, yet they pull it off very well. The background music was a strange collection of some chill genres and yet very pleasant and contributed to the vibe of the place. We went there for lunch and I thought it was just going to be some ok bar food. I love getting surprised by places like this. I had the Mickey's Burger and was treated to a very good, very unique treat. I can't wait to go back and try a few other plates. This is definitely going on my Madison favorites list. Once you got inside everything about it screamed unique but felt free to walk right in. And while it was was-dare I say it- artistic, it could easily be a great place if you are looking for a town bar. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! read more

I hate to admit it but I had never eaten at Mickey's before. It is a short walk from my house. I have no excuse. So tonight I gave it a try. I had a rail drink for $2.50. Good way to start. I asked the waitress for a suggestion, she named a few options so I tried the pork posole and the Sexy Fries. I loved the posole. The pork was so tender and spicy. There were raw sliced jalapeños on top. They were surprisingly delicious and the heat did not drown out the flavor. The sexy fries were excellent but I only could eat a few. They were very rich. There are many items on the menu that I wanted to try. I shall return! read more

Last night I had gone out to dinner with a friend in Madison and after the dinner we found ourselves with nothing better to do at 7 pm on a Sunday night. I know Madison is a substantial town, but 7 pm on a Sunday night does not leave a whole lot of options. But then I remembered I had Mickey's in my back pocket. I would give Mickeys 5 stars on two conditions. The first is if both beers I wanted were actually on tap (the tap ran out and no one switched out the kegs), and the second is if the bartenders just spend a little less time flirting and goofing around with each other. Having said that, I get that being a bartender at an establishment like this is not really about being too serious so I get it. Another thing to take into consideration is the parking. As it is on Willy Street, the parking can be a headache but this wasn't the case on a Sunday night. I've eaten their brunch on other occasions. Solid brunch. In the past I have had the breakfast burrito and it was one of the better breakfast burritos I have had. I also think Mickey's happens to have the best bloody mary in Madison. When someone finds a better one, please send me a message to let me know. The friend I took was just as enamored with the place as I was upon my first visit there. Everytime I go to Mickeys it is just a hodge-podge of people. There really is no set "group" of people that go into this bar. I made my friend take a walk through tour of this bar with me; what can you expect, this bar is in an old house. The different themed rooms complete with chalkboards in the bathroom just make this a place to experience. If you love to sit, drink a beer and people watch get to Mickeys. Now. You won't be sorry. P.s. Cash Only read more

food was beyond amazing. service could have been a bit better. overall a definite great place for food.

Best brunch in Madison, so far. Scramble du jour is fantastic along with a Bloody Mary and beer back. Can't be best. Bartender Kevin is a good dude and the coffee seals the deal. Two thumbs up! read more

Mickey's Tavern - Outside - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

YUMMY!!!! Fantastic drinks! Sexy Fries! The worlds greatest hamburger! I don't know what else to say. Our service was wonderful. The food took a little while but I was with great company so I thought the pace of the meal was leisurely; I didn't feel rushed to be in and out in an hour. My hamburger was sensational! They seasoned the meat perfectly, added that chipotle aioli and some perfectly peppery fried onions on a ciabatta bun! Delicious!! And Sexy fries... the name says it all. I will be back! read more

Mickey's is a great little eclectic tavern on the East side. The food is great and very reasonable, the drinks are strong, and the atmosphere awesome (if a tad on the loud side). I ate the Mickey's burger, which has deservedly been voted best in Madison. This is a favorite hangout, and I'll definitely be back. read more

Mickey's Tavern - Seriously. Good. Burger. - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Rockin' tofu scrambler, solid egg-sausage-potatoes-sourdough-toast for the four dudes I went with (originality all around). Fun, relaxed atmosphere, service friendly but more or less what you'd expect at a tavern on a sluggish Saturday morning. I'll be back for cocktails and pool! read more

Mickey's Tavern - Tofu scramble- marinated in a peanut butter sauce with veggies and fried up - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Mickey's does something weird to me. Every time I visit I end up chanting "one more drink, one more drink!" Obviously that never bodes well the next morning, but during that night I am having the time of my life! Mickey's is a great spot to go out with friends. They have live music, decent seating (indoors and outdoors), a pool table, and great food. I usually go to Mickey's for a late-night experience, but I have also been for lunch. They have amazing burgers and great bloody marys. Their kitchen is open late, so I can eat sexy fries while I am chanting, which is nice. :) The decor is quirky. Very bright paint, cool furniture that looks as though it was picked up at a thrift store, and a jukebox in the front room. It can get packed during weekends, but I just think that creates more opportunities to meet new people. read more

Madison's got a little of everything; but really just a *little* of most things, and irish pubs is one of them. There are only a couple, and this is probably the best, most low-key and most authentic one. read more

Pros: -Fantastic atmosphere and nice energy. I always have a good time here. -Generally solid food. They are a half notch above most bars when it comes to their food offerings, but I wouldn't go there just for a meal. When I have, I've been mildly disappointed. Cons: -Service sometimes borders on the apathetic. It can take a while just to get someone's attention. -Cash only is annoying. -Sexy fries are not sexy. They taste like soggy chips. I've seen this style of "fry" popping up more and more often, and I'm adamantly opposed. Make fries or chips. You can't have it both ways. read more

Was in town for one night only, wanted to check out some local music. Based on a review in the Onion, chose this place, very wisely. Cool, divey neighborhood bar with a lively but relaxed crowd, attentive bartenders, and a good beer selection. Didn't get to sample the food, but suspected that it was very good by the feel of the place and the specials on the chalkboard near the bar, and it looks like that's the case based on the reviews below. The stage was near the front entrance, and there was surprisingly good sound and clear vocals given the set up. It was busy but not so jammed that it was difficult to move around. Good show, Mickey's. read more

Great bar. Reasonable price. Bad food. Adorable atmosphere. Lovely patio. Too loud. Also, they only take cash, which is a pain. read more

Really solid brunch place. The menu is simple but they do it right! I ordered the daily scramble which was amazing and had some friends got bloodies which they also said were on point. I've eaten out on the patio in the back which is really nice if the weather is right. Haven't been there for dinner yet, but definitely want to check out some time. read more

I Love the decor and the original charm kept when converting the house into a bar. The little rooms in the back with the old couches and furniture are great for hanging out with a small group of people. The food is fun, with a name like "sexy fries", who wouldn't be tempted? It isn't gourmet by any means, but for casual hippie/hipster-area bar its perfect. Willy Street is of course, a great location, with lots of other bars and restaurants a hop, skip, and a jump away; and the people who hang out or live around the area are great. If I lived a little closer, Mickey's would be a main hangout. read more

Well, its a house converted into a tavern. So the seating arrangements can sometimes be tricky; BUT if you can get a group of people together and grab one of the rooms with couches I guarantee you'll have a terrific evening! The prices are reasonable and the drink specials are ok, they sometimes have live music which makes for a good time!! read more

Good food reasonable prices staff is friendly but you are on your own for some things like seating and water. Bloody Marys are good and the food is plentiful. read more

Mickey's Tavern - The best bloody Mary's around! Loved the PBR beer back! - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Love mickeys!! Cozy,,comfy, fun atmosphere whether you're grabbing a quick drink or meeting up with friends. Good prices & the staff is so great. read more

There's a lot to like about Mickey's. There's a cozy, fun atmoshphere, a great patio, generally tasty food, and interesting live music offerings throughout the week. All of this is trumped by a few snooty, hipster bartenders. For every friendly, helpful staff member there is a rude bartender just waiting to ignore you. When s/he finally sidles over to you, don't expect eye contact. More than likely your drink order will be met with an eye roll and a heavy sigh. True story: A friend and I walk into Mickey's. The last game of the NBA finals is on the TV with 8 minutes left. We sit down, and wait for the bartender to stop her conversation long enough to help us... all the while, we are watching the game. We finally order our drinks, get them, and continue to watch the remaining two minutes of an intense game. Immediately after closing the cash register the bartender grabs the tv remote, and changes the channel to some black and white movie that's halfway over. Now if that's not a big "Fuck You", I don't know what is. Long Review Short: Be prepared for the bartenders to be dicks to you. Not all of them! Just most of them. read more

Mickey's Tavern has the best burgers in town. Always perfectly cooked and delicious. The chicken tacos are also amazing. I've had them several times and they have always been so very amazingly scrumptious. The tacos come with a spicy salad that is also very good. Things that I've ordered several times that I would recommend: Biscuits & Gravy, Coconut Squash Soup and the Eggplant Panino. But really, anything you order will probably be worth it. The space is very casual and fun. The patio is nice when it's warmer, although you'll have to deal with smokers. They have a good selection of beer and make a good mixed drink. They make a good Bloody Mary, too. If you haven't been there, just go and check it out. I've never been disappointed. read more

I like Mickey's because what you see is what you get. Someone had the brilliant idea of taking an awesome old house and putting a giant bar in the middle of it. Then they filled the bar with great Wisconsin beer. Then, they opened up the kitchen for brunch, lunch, and dinner and put delicious, local food in it. Delish. Plusses - great beer list - fun atmosphere (laid back, kinda hipster) - good food Minuses - this place is "seat yourself", so sometimes you have to wait for people to leave in order to sit down - it can get a little crowded (but that is only because a lot of people like it, right?) read more

So I've tried to love Micky's - I just can't get into it. The service is so so. Micky's tries very hard to appease the hipster crowd. I'm just not into any casual trend in which somebody has to try to be casual. First off parking is always a hassle. As I mentioned the service is so so. You have to sort of be your own advocate to get service at all. I had the sexy fires and a stewed pork appetizer. The sexy fries are a home made pile of house cut potato chips with truffle oil and parmesan. They were greasy and cold - but had decent flavor. The pork was heavy on spice and salt - not so much on flavor. The spice and salt more or less bowled over the pork flavor. My review rating of 2-Stars is based on 3-4 or for experiences where the food and service has been so so. Maybe it's a place that caters to the regulars - I'm just not a regular and not impressed. I'm not a hipster and not really interested in the hipster scene. read more

First-timer, life-timer!!! Went and played golf at Monona this past Friday and afterwards we were looking to grab some food, so my friend suggested Mickey's. I hadn't heard of it since I'm new to the area and don't get to Willy St., so didn't know what to expect. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. It's a complete dive bar from the outside, sort of your typical WI corner looking bar. Inside there's a ton of character from this old house turned bar/restaurant. It was the first night they opened the patio in the back so it was very busy. Our server was incredibly busy and I was a little taken back when they said they didn't even have any more Miller High Life, but they had plenty of others to choose from. Not a big deal. We did have to go the bar to order drinks at one point since our waitress wasn't anywhere to be seen. But.... she did apologize and was very attentive the rest of the night. Again, just a busy night. The Food: This is where Mickey's really shines!! My friend had their burger which is rated the best in town, so says he and much of Madison. I had a green chile pork dish that is topped with Mozzerella and comes with tortillas. I have never tasted anything like it and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very spicy and I loved every bite. My other friends ordered these loaded quesadilla's (she's vegetarian) and mac n' cheese, and both of the dishes were impressive to look at and taste. For a 'dive bar,' I have yet to find better bar food. I highly recommend Mickey's Tavern! read more

I love everything about this place, from the cozy atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in someone's house to the cheap prices and delicious food. Best brunch spot in Madison. Their biscuits and gravy are homemade and decadent. The bloody Mary's have a good balance of spices. No credit cards accepted but they have an ATM right by the front door. read more

Mickey's Tavern - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I love Mickey's in the morning and in the afternoon, especially in the evening on the patio underneath the moon. Lived in this neighborhood for about a year, and Mickey's was by far my favorite place to hang out. The weekend brunch is decidedly solid, especially given their awesome breakfast potatoes. My husband and I would most often share the scramble du jour and the special breakfast sandwich-consistently rotating and consistently good. I especially liked the specials featuring pulled pork. I only ate dinner here once, but the pulled pork burrito I had that night was delicious. I would be remiss not to mention the best feature of brunch: the rocking Bloody Mary with a beer back. The Bloody Mary is hearty and spicy, and the beer helps to neutralize the bite and provides a clean finish. The pairing is so natural and the Bloody so good that Bloody Mary's at other establishments suffer by comparison. Don't try it unless you're ready to set a new bar for Bloody Mary consumption (and spend the afternoon in a blissful state of buzzed slumber). read more

Great bar. Great food. Good selection of beer - on tap and bottled. I like having lunch in the outdoor seating area on a nice sunny day and I've seen many great musical performances in the bar at night. My only complaints are that the "stage" area can get quite cramped and that second-hand smoke can be annoying when dining outside. The bartenders at Mickey's range from exceptionally good to really crappy. Please don't write the bar off if you happen to get a crappy one on your first visit. read more

I love the homey neighborhood atmosphere here. It's my go to place for meeting up with friends and sometimes you will end up in conversations with friendly strangers. Drink prices are fair, food prices are fair and always delicious. The only downsides I can find is that there can sometimes be long waits for bathrooms and the service can be very slow since it is constantly busy. But no worries, I just come when I am not in a hurry to go anywhere else. read more

I always enjoy going to Mickey's. I have been hear a handful of times. The reason why I know this is a bar, is because I've gone hear with a couple of times with different groups of friends and they suggested Mickey's. Never eaten, but it's been a fun, chill place to get drinks. I've always enjoyed their beer selection. You can always count on some decent WI craft beers, especially from around the Madison area. The main bar area has plenty of seats, with some low-seating tables for dining. There's another room with a pool table, and a great outdoor patio area. Anytime I'm in Madison, I'm an easy sell to make a stop at Mickey's read more

One of my favorite watering holes in Madison. Has got to have one of the most eclectic set of patrons I have seen. Hipsters, homeless, emos, conservatives (me), and queer, it is a great mix. Drinks are hella strong and have some great nightly specials. I also think their food is great for a bar. It doesn't try to be anything it is not...It doesn't have to as it is that cool. read more

Definitely a very cool bar to visit with great food. All of the rooms are decorated with different items that make it fun to be in and outside has a nice patio right by the lake. The food was amazing and has a great selection of drinks. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Definitely will be going back read more

This is SUCH a cool bar. Total Mad East vibe, come as you are, but with great drinks and food. Anything Jane Capito (from Lazy Jane's) touches turns to gold. I love the decor, too - furniture from your grandma's house, but doesn't smell like old folks. We pop in here during bike rides since they have great access to a trail intersection. Good for night drinking and riding home with head and tail lights. As with Jane's other restaurants, they don't take credit, so bring cash or use the ATM machine. Oh, and get the fries. DANG! read more

I love this place. It's a neighborhood bar that's hip and trendy without trying. The patio is a smokers paradise, in summer anyway. They just added food and the sexy frites are pretty awesome. I had the "Greatest Sandwich in the World," as they call it. I've had better sandwiches, but that wouldn't stop me from recommending it. They've got a nice game room, a nice sitting room full of mirrors. Another one of the bars that gives you a couple settings which allows you to get the right feeling. They also have a lot of cool live bands there so that adds a little liveliness. The lady who owns Lazy Jane's Cafe owns this place, so she knows a thing or two running a cool joint. Gotta like Mickeys. read more

A good bar on the east side with lots of character. Came for lunch and got the Mickey's burger. The patty was flavorful and well seasoned. I was excited about the giardiniera on the burger but could barely taste it. That was a little disappointing. The fries were cooked well and crispy. Overall, it was a solid lunch. read more