You are practically required to go to the "Official Birthday Bar" of Madison every year on your birthday. We stopped in for a birthday celebration and had a great time. It's your typical college town bar with a very large wraparound bar and oversized booths. It is loud, lively, and packed on game weekends. The birthday perk is a beer mug with free beer on tap (or try one of their vodka kool aid looking concotctions) but I recommend you stick to the beer. No sign up required but it is only valid on your actual birthday. Must show valid ID at the official birthday spot at the bar. It can get a little crowded and chaotic depending on the night, and service has its peak-hour rushes, but the birthday tradition alone makes it worth checking off your list at least once. read more

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4/5 Had a really good burger and fries at The Nitty Gritty in Madison. The burger was the highlight, tasty, satisfying, and the fries were solid too. That said, pretty much everything else about the experience felt just...mid. Nothing was particularly bad, but nothing else really stood out either. Overall, I'd come back for the burger, and if it were my birthday then this was the place to be because you get a free beer and your name posted on board. read more

Nitty Gritty - Blue Cheese Burger with Bacon - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Our flight was canceled and they shuttled us to a hotel for the night, we were tired and this place was right down the street so we went for a quick bite. We were quickly greeted and sat upon entry and the place reminded me of a TGIFridays. Our server promptly acknowledged us and took our drink order. Typical bar food menu of burgers, apps, salads and sandwiches. Three of us ordered burgers and one of us ordered the grilled ham and cheese. We had the Chipotle raspberry burger with an extra patty (we split it) and we upgraded to cheese curds for a side. The burger needed seasoning and there was a hint of Chipotle but the raspberry seemed absent all together; the cheese curds were good. Our server was attentive and professional and the highlight of our visit. read more

Nitty Gritty - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I won't lie, there was about 20 of us but if we had known it would be a nearly 3 hour meal at a bar, we wouldn't have stayed. We actually had two guys end up leaving before the drinks were served and one guy ordered their turkey melt and they forgot to add Turkey! It was an experience to say the least! Mary was our server and did her best but man what a time... read more

Nitty Gritty - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The staff were friendly and attentive. The place is your average bar setting and was clean. I would describe the food as college campus food quality. The fries were overcooked but cold at the same time. It was okay. Pricey for the quality. Three entrees, chicken tenders appetizer, and 2 drinks totalled $74 with no tip. read more

Nitty Gritty - Fried chicken salad - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Being from out of town, I heard this was the place to celebrate a birthday and they were right! We were there celebrating a birthday & there were many birthday wishes being shared at the tables around us. I was apart of a large group that was split between two tables next to each other in the upstairs are. It was a tight fit and, unfortunately, the entire restaurant felt crammed. We had a fantastic server pair attending to our group! They were patient with needing more time to put in our order, but when we were ready they were extremely efficient and accommodated any request! I ordered a signature cocktail and would recommend you stick to a beer, seltzer, or mixed drink here -- split a pitcher with the table! Or go for a milkshake! Despite how busy it was on a Saturday night, food for the entire table came out together and quickly! The onion rings & cheese curds made for a crispy & tasty appetizer. Many in the group ordered burgers that were throughly enjoyed and I was extremely satisfied with my chicken strips. read more

Nitty Gritty - Chicken Strips - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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In town for class reunion and wanted some hometown food and atmosphere. Ordered a spotted cow and the draft was Luke warm. Told bartender and ordered a PBR can as they're bottles and can selection is All mainstream . Why not original Leinenkugel and spotted cow I'm in Wisconsin! Ordered the double Bratwurst in my husband's memory . Didn't disappoint but a little stingy on the sauerkraut. The music is loud and mind you it's AC/DC night so I understand and can hang. One or two bartenders seem to be working hard and a few others hardly working . Just playing with the patrons . Probably won't come again even though the prices are fair and specials are good. Not taking care of a complaint and writing off a beer is not good customer service and that above anything keeps them coming back. Remember we aren't all college students!! read more

Nitty Gritty - Double Brat - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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My sandwich was missing a default ingredient (bacon) that was listed in the item's description on the menu. I realized this after taking 2 bites, and then had to wait long enough for our waiter to return that everyone else had finished eating. We had a large group during a busy night, so fair enough. I requested for my order to be remade since at this point it was cold. I was then told, since I had already started eating it, they won't remake my order. Does Nitty Gritty expect their patrons to check for all the ingredients before they take their first bite? I was then told I could order a different sandwich instead, which then ALSO took ages to come out. Bottom line, it took ONE HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES since we were seated for me to receive my food. They then charged for BOTH the incorrect and the new sandwich, and after having to talk to the manager, only one was voided, and I received no compensation for waiting 100 minutes for food. Very good food, but disgusting service and management. Complete disgrace. read more

Walking distance from our hotel where we were in Madison for a concert we were immediately greeted and seated. Waitress attentive brought our beverages and water right away. My nephews both ordered burgers that they enjoyed I had a black bean burger that was delicious had the chips that could have used seasoning. Nice beer menu read more

Kicked out from all you can drink for your birthday when you turn 21. Brother had 3 drinks and was cut off and kicked out

Great burger joint on campus to celebrate birthdays. Everything we tried was good. Cheese curds and pretzel sticks as an appetizer. Pretzel bun burger with onion straws Buffalo chicken mac n cheese Spicy fried chicken sandwich read more

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Good food, convenient location, nice staff and owners. 3 generations. Extremely crowded with long wait list during UW game days

Food was fantastic, I'm gluten free and they were able to accommodate it very well. Service was very good and had a welcoming atmosphere. Had a great time celebrating my friend's 21st read more

Nitty Gritty - Hot Mark's Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with fries and an angry orchard - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is definitely a college bar, so make sure you have that mindset and are well aware. That being said it is the birthday bar of Madison, you can attend this bar two days before your birthday or up to two days after your birthday, get a cute mug, and get free drinks all night long. They have a pretty good selection of drink options, constant drink specials, and music that isn't too loud. The food is OK, I found the cheese curds to be decent, nothing to write home about, but definitely a good shareable. read more

Nitty Gritty - Cheese curds - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Tate and Camen were so terrific to us. we came to celebrate a birthday and left with lifelong memories. we thank the nitty for being the setting. we thank the staff for being kind. read more

Great 'college bar' atmosphere. Very good burgers. I like that they ask how I would like it cooked. Servers are friendly. Sides and appetizers are all tasty. And....definitely the place to go for your birthday! You get a free beer and a little dessert treat. It's a place we go to again & again. read more

Nitty Gritty - Black & Bleu Burger with waffle fries - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The food was great. We had very good service. I've been coming here for years . But out state for 25 years and the restaurant was great I got a new birthday glass . Will try to get back every year from now on.Maybe even more often read more

The food was great and both times the bar staff was awesome. The food was great. Walking distance from our event.

Great place for drinks but sadly not a fan of the food they serve here. They have a pretty extensive beverage menu and very interesting shots. As far as food, it's mediocre at best. I would come here for drinks and appetizers only. read more

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After a long drive into Madison, I was looking for a quick happy hour bite to eat with my partner after arriving to our hotel. A co-worker had recommended Nitty Gritty and I realized it was right around the corner so we decided to hit it up. A classic college bar atmosphere with a large selection of birthday drinks and shots, we were unsure if the food we ordered would be up to our usual standards. I'm so glad we stopped in, even if it was just for a drink and appetizers. We ordered a soft pretzel and cheese curds and a drink each, leaving more than satisfied. The cheese curds were some of the best I've had in a while and the mustard and cheese sauce for the pretzel was delicious (I just wish the pretzel was a little saltier). The service was fast and kind and I was happy to find non-alcoholic beer on the menu. read more

Nitty Gritty - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've been coming to Madison for over 6 years and I try to stay at the same Doubletree downtown and have wanted to try The Nitty Gritty ever since as it is a block away. The only reason I hadn't yet is it's more of a University bar and grub hangout and not my style. I had an early flight and was flying al morning so didn't want delivery and decided today I would walk a block for dinner. Fail #1 was the sign on the door stating they are currently only open for takeout and delivery orders. (Wait, this is Dec 2022, right?) So, I go in and place an order for Itty-bitty's (their sliders) and cheese curds. As I'm waiting about 15 minutes a delivery guy comes in and the two of us proceed to wait.... and wait... and... finally about a half hour later we both get our orders. Sheesh! Food pictured below. The curds were terrible! The walk back to my hotel took 3 minutes and they were ice cold and just yuk! What was worse was they were served with 1,000 Island dressing for a dipping sauce! ARGH! Double yuk! The only thing good about the sliders were the buns. Two stars for the soft potato rolls! Same yuk 1,000 Island dressing when I was told by the staff it was ketchup and mayo..(no mention of relish though!) Even though I come to Madison often I will not be coming back here! read more

Nitty Gritty - Only Takeout and delivery as they are renovating! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Yes it's a college vibe! Most locations are in this area. If you go to a bar expect a "bar-type" atmosphere! The waitress we had was quick and wonderful! Our food was hot and fresh! My hamburger was so good! That raspberry aioli was perfect! Our drinks were perfect and delicious! If I had to read the previous comments to make a decision on where to eat, we would have totally missed this experience! We had a great time! read more

Nitty Gritty - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Management should be ashamed of themselves. Service was horrible and food took way too long. Wasn't even that busy but the incompetent idiots on staff was rushing around the place like chickens with their heads cut off. Absolutely horrible. Would not recommend unless you want to ruin your night. read more

We have lived in Madison for 4 years and I haven't been to the Nitty Gritty personally, which I know is a crime. During these pandemic days, we have been supporting restaurants when we can and we had the home-bound Nitty Gritty experience in our apartment this week -- it was wonderful and we can't wait to order from them again. The food prep and delivery was fast. Like really fast. They offered household supplies for folks at the bottom of their menu, which I thought was great. Their prices for gloves and toilet paper and lower than I have been able to find anywhere for months. It's also great for people who can't leave home to have delivery and household goods at once. We ordered the corn dogs and soft pretzels for an appetizer and then the fried chicken sandwich and a cheeseburger for meals, then cookies for dessert. Every box had a note written on top about staying safe and thanking us for ordering with them -- y'all about going the extra mile. Hands down, the corn dog and pretzels will be ordered again. We loved our sandwiches too and would love to try more from the menu. Overall, the Nitty Gritty Home Experience was outstanding and we will be making this a regular spot for takeout (and we will go in person someday too!) read more

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Nitty Gritty definitely satisfied my craving for a thick, greasy, juicy burger! I ordered the roasted garlic burger and I loved it (but it is definitely heavy on the garlic)! The fries are crisped to perfection, and I dipped it in a ranch sauce. My friends also had a great experience with their burgers. Prices are slightly on the higher side for a burger, but still reasonable. Inside it is incredibly spacious and it's a great place to come to with large groups. I noticed that the large space may make it hard on their workers. A couple times we tried to flag down a server and they simply didn't see us because they were preoccupied with other tasks. They do come by to check on your table occasionally though, so it wasn't too big of an issue for us. The staff is very friendly and helpful! Restrooms are available and they are kept clean and stocked with supplies. read more

Nitty Gritty - Roasted Garlic Burger - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Good location but the food was not very good. I ordered my burger medium well and it came out very pink and bleeding. The fries were the best part. My wife ordered the Strawberry and Pistachio salad, which the menu says it comes with chicken, and she received only the salad (no chicken) for $14. She wanted a protein too but now to add chicken it would be another 20 min. Just a terrible experience. read more

Nitty Gritty - Menu showing salads - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is the place to go for birthdays! However, I was a little let down when I went. Overall, nothing was bad, just wasn't great. The wait for food was long. My partner enjoyed his burger, but I wasn't a fan of my tossed chicken tenders. The energy was fun and staff was all nice. read more

Nitty Gritty - Burger - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Service was a bit slow for it to be peak hours. Good was decent. The is was first time trying cheese curds. Was busting UWM

It had been decades since I lasted visited the Gritty. We were going to the UW hockey game and it was my wife's birthday so it was a chance for her to get some freebees. She got the all you can drink mug, the balloon, a flower, and a free burger. Which is nice. The burger was decent - no complaints since it was done medium rare as she ordered. She doesn't drink beer so she opted for their tapped cocktails. She tried two and neither tasted like their was any alcohol in them. I suppose that is a good thing if you have 21 year olds that could drink for free all night but really they were a bit of a joke. She did finally get a cider and that was good. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich - everything that surrounded the pork was very tasty but the pork was very dry - no sauce could rescue it. The one plus was that their fries were good. The server was friendly and attentive despite the crowds piling in for the pre-game drinks. read more

Birthday Bar!! The bell is rung, your name added to celebrant list and free gritty burger and beers! Fun and free!! No brainer!! read more

Nitty Gritty - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

It's a college bar, so if you want that vibe check it out... I had a warm beer and a burger made very wrong, table had barely any dry chicken on the soggy nachos.. Oh and the warm beer was the wrong one So ultimately out of the two things I ordered, I didn't get either... read more

Burger was the most okay burger i've ever had in my life. fries were not crispy at all but the servers were great and came to us many times to ask if we needed anything read more

A business with two faces but in a good way. During the day, it's pretty empty with only a few people coming in and out for lunch for the quiet atmosphere. At night when the bar start pouring drinks is when it get extremely lively. The food was good for the most part. Just the typically greasy food you expect from any bars except this one actually taste good. Altho the burger buns i had was a little stale/soggy so I don't know what that was about. One of the reason I do not prefer to come here at night is because of the patron. Yes, a bar will have loud and rowdy people but more supervision of the patrons would be appreciated because some people that shouldn't be continually drinking are. It's just mainly a safety issue at night. This is a good place to eat and/or hangout depending on your preferences. The only improvement would just be dealing with people who drank too much read more

Very fun college bar vibes! I aways stop in for a burger when I visit! This time we ordered nachos, mini corn dogs and tatter tots. The food is always good although the nachos could've used a little more beef topping. I'd recommend the Pretzel Bender Burger!! PSA: you get a free drink on your birthday! read more

Nitty Gritty - Nachos and Cole 's Mini Corn Dogs - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My fiancé and two good friends had just had a great day on the slopes at Cascades and were heading home to Chicago but were ravenous! Everything was closed and thank god we found Nitty Gritty! Cute college town atmosphere and what was awesome was it was one of my friends' birthdays so he got a free glass mug that he could take home, as well as free beer from a list of really good ones! He also got a mini birthday sundae in a shot glass! First of all, you can't go to Wisconsin without getting some cheese curds and these were deliciousssss!!! Like...so good. Crunchy outside, gooey inside. YUM. The ranch dressing was actually some of the best I've had. So good! I got the Chicken Bacon Ranch Wrap with fries. I got my chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. Highly recommend that! My fiancé got the Buffalo Wings. I thought they could use some more sauce. They were a little dry. My two friends each got burgers that they raved about - The Roasted Garlic Burger and I can't remember the other but I believe it was even better! Also, we got there during power hour so $1.75 well drinks, $1 high life draft and $2.50 bomb shots. Man...I forgot how cheap college drinks are! read more

Nitty Gritty - Buffalo Wing Platter with Bleu Cheese Dressing - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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decided to grab a bite after my yearly cancer checkup wanted to go to a bar/resturant saw this on Apple Maps and it caught my eye and I'm glad it did amazing food and service will definitely be coming back read more

I came into Nitty Gritty feeling like a shell of a human after an exhausting day of traveling from Chicago to Wisconsin for a day of skiing. Thankfully, the staff, food, and drinks, cured by hanger and gave me life! Drinks: They have an AMAZING birthday special my husband was able to take advantage of where you get a beer mug (yours to take home) with a balloon on it and you fill it up as many times as you want from a variety of great beer options all night FOR FREE! They also have a "Power Hour" @10pm that includes some pretty amazing drink specials for the non-birthday people. Food: White Cheese Curds: When in Wisconsin, you gotta get cheese curds and these were sooo good! The dipping sauce was delicious too. Garlic Burger: My only complaint is that the bread to meat ratio is off so I was tasting the bread more than I wanted. If they added a second patty and more onion strings, this burger would be perfect. If you like garlic, this is a delicious option but you may want to take off some bread or order a second patty! Farmer's Market Burger: My husband ordered this one but I stole some bites and wow is it delicious! This burger is packed with meat, a crazy good bacon jam, and an insane cheese sauce. This one was a winner! Pro tip: get the waffle fries! They're more flavorful than the regular fries! Staff: The service was great (shout out to our server Mariah!) and this was an awesome way to end our day trip to Wisconsin! read more

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Always fun place to go, good drinks and food. Make sure you leave time if there is an event

Service has been SO SLOW every time i've gone here. I've had to ask several other people for my check after giving up on waiting for the server to come over. Table ordered milkshakes which were forgotten about and not brought out until roughly 25 minutes later. Food is ok. Nothing special. Will definitely try other places nearby before choosing to come back here. read more

Before going to the play Mean Girls at the Overture I stopped at the Nitty Gritty with my daughter and granddaughter it was the best And the worst meal. We started with Cheese curds and they were very average small pieces. Then we ordered a Nutella milkshake, OMG it was so good. I ordered the ruben again very average. I like a shaved Corn beef and this was more like a roast. My daughter ordered a salad which she said was the best salad she has had in a long time. She ordered chicken but they forgot to put the chicken on the salad. When we ask for the chicken that brought a very dry over cooked chicken breast. My granddaughter had the child meal sliders. The service was great. read more