Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Rare Steakhouse

    3.8 (397 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSteakhouses, Seafood, American
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Rare Steakhouse Photos

    Business Info

    RARE STEAKHOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Rare Steakhouse

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Entrance
    Tom F.

    Always a treat to return to Rare! Decided to treat the kid & his girlfriend for his birthday. The surrounding are best described as "early Scorsese" or dark lighting with burgundy leather banquet seating. Cool vibes. Waitstaff, mostly college age, all in formal attire. Classy. Y'know? Greeted warmly & professionally by our server, Ashton, who informed us about the foie gras special & took our drink orders. My shaken Hendricks martini with a twist was delivered shortly thereafter & scratched the itch! Ashton then took our order of sweet chili shrimp with lime, the foie gras special with roasted apple, Caesar salad, bone in ribeye, New York strip, brussel sprouts and creamed spinach. The ribeye was cooked perfectly & tender. The NY strip was medium (mid rare was the target temp) and was swiftly refired and served. Shockingly fast too! Delicious. The sides were excellent as well. Somehow he had room for dessert. He ordered the bananas foster (made table side & always a fun show) & the espresso creme brûlée. Ashton kindly served a super smooth chocolate mouse cake square with graham crust topped with whipped cream and a candle. Nice. Just a lovely night all around. If you're craving steak & professional service in an old school setting...I suggest a reservation at Rare!

    Amy M.

    You will not be disappointed if you order the Manhattan to accompany the charcuterie and tuna tartare boards and jumbo shrimp cocktail. Next order a cab to compliment your medium rare capitol cut with a side of mushrooms. Drool over your dinner companions menu choices of scallops and halibut and make a note to order those next time. The private dining room and exceptional service topped off the wonderful meal.

    Beste B.

    The place where we celebrated our wedding ceremony with family and friends! We've been visiting from now on for our special occasions. I usually get their new york strip which is great!! And never skip cream brûlée because I just love that desert ‍

    Japanese A5 Waygu
    Shawn P.

    Hubby treated me to Rare for my birthday! The food was superb and the overall experience made me feel fancy. We started off with the sweet chili shrimp followed by lobster bisque. The hubby tried the japanese A5 wagyu which is a rare find for a Wisconsin restaurant! He absolutely loved it! The texture was not for me. I enjoyed my perfectly crisp and tender filet mignon and our side of lobster mac & cheese. Follow me on Instagram at yelpershawn for more reviews!

    Ashia E.

    Came here for my anniversary. I wish I could remember my waitress' name. She was amazing. She even bought us a complimentary dessert. We were brought out champagne for our celebration and our waitress actually chose our champagne, which we happened to love! It was very sweet and we ended up getting a bottle of that same drink. The food was not a disappointment. I had the NY strip and it was so juice and tender. My partner had the captain cut which was great as well. We got the truffle fries on the side which came with a good sauce. The ambiance is very nice, it's dim lit and it has an intimate vibe with music. I was impressed. Keep in mind this restaurant is very expensive. We only got two entrees, one side, a bottle of wine and it was $200. The price was definitely worth it.

    burger and steak
    Yun C.

    Went during their happy hour. Service was quick and polite. Happy hour deals are great, but don't get the steak--it's a tiny, tiny little thing. It's a bit dark inside the restaurant, but there are nice candles that add a flair to the environment. Overall, good happy hour spot.

    Lobster Mac
    Donavan R.

    This place is absolutely delicious! I loved everything I consumed, the service was top notch, and it's a nice relaxing setting! My favorite thing was by far the tableside made bananas foster with a little "history" lesson of the dish! I highly recommend checking this place out especially during their weeknight happy hour 4-6 for half off quite a few menu items! I believe I served was Damian, he was incredible and very attentive! 10/10 will be back!

    Filet (wet-aged) and watermelon salad:)

    Fantastic experience for my 1st visit to Madison. I chose the medium-rare Filet which tasted very good. Watermelon with mint makes the salad refreshing! People are friendly and caring, excellent service! A good place for date with others!

    Japanese style cheesecake with seasonal berries
    Gabby N.

    We decided to dine at Rare Steakhouse for our wedding anniversary, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. We arrived to our 7:30PM Saturday reservation 20 minutes earlier. We were greeted enthusiastically by three staff members at the host table, and were seated immediately, along with greetings of "Happy Anniversary!" We were seated in a cozy and large booth, and were served complimentary champagne to celebrate. The restaurant was darkly lit, which we loved, and each individual table had its own candle. The dining room gave off a sophisticated and cozy ambiance. Luciana was the most attentive and kind waiter. Before we ordered, Lucy made sure to go over the menu highlights in great detail, and shared the daily specials with us. At one point in the evening when she was making a banana foster for a nearby table, she made sure to send over another waitstaff to check on us and deliver the dessert menu. She also warmly wished us a happy anniversary throughout the evening. Luciana helped us decide on our steak order: two 8oz rib caps, and they were cooked perfectly to our medium request. I asked for additional au jus on the side, but the steak was already so juicy, I barely touched the saucière. The mashed potatoes (with the cooked skin included) were the best restaurant potatoes I've ever had! They melted in your mouth, and were light enough not to dominate the steak. My only food critique is the complimentary bread basket with honey butter that's served at the beginning of the dining experience. The bread was extremely tough and chewy, and did not taste fresh. We had some of the best food and the most incredible service in Madison at Rare Steakhouse, and we're excited to dine with the staff again. All the little details and warm hospitality made our visit perfect. Thank you for making our wedding anniversary so special!

    New York Strip
    Chone M.

    You will not be disappointed, but you will not leave itching to come back. You know what you are getting yourself into price-wise, but you are better off dropping a band at a better steakhouse in the area. Service is mediocre, and my New York Strip was overcooked and not medium rare like I ordered. Drinks were great though

    Porterhouse (dry-aged)
    John T.

    What an excellent dining experience. I'll keep this review straight and to the point: The waitstaff are very kind and knowledgeable, I was amazed that they knew every step in the cooking process that takes place from where the cattle is raised to how it is prepared. I thought I could stump my server with my questions but I was wrong! The ambiance of the steakhouse is very clean and sleek. You can tell a lot of care went in to craft an excellent environment for dining. The food!! Everything on the menu is of the highest quality and cooked to perfection. I ordered a porterhouse steak (bone in steak with a new york strip on one side and a fillet mignon on the other) and I have never had a fillet tase as tender, cooked perfectly and flavorful. Appetizers were also such high quality. Example: we ordered a charcuterie board and I thought I would be able to find a sour/bad grape but every single one was fresh and delicious. If you are looking for a high quality dining experience, this is the place in Madison.

    Menu for Valentine's Day dinner
    Anthony V.

    We went for Valentine's dinner, and Rare Steakhouse did not disappoint. The mgr was kind enough to find a booth for us.... So much more romantic. The atmosphere was perfect for Valentine's. Our server was so nice & friendly. Everything was just excellent. The Oysters Rockefellers were perfect. The lobster bisque was so creamy good. The filet was a perfect medium, tender, juicy and full of flavor. It cut like butta. The lobster was tender and sweet. The bartender mixed my Mudslide very well, not watered down. In the end, we left satisfied and looking forward to our next visit to Rare.

    Whipped Burrata

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Sarah K.

    Sarah K.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Ed Y.
    5
    28
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Thuy Dan T.
    4997
    1565
    16008

    6 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Rare Steakhouse

    Is there a dress code for this restaurant?

    The restaurant has no dress code.

    View All 3 Questions

    The Old Fashioned - Cheese curds in poutine

    The Old Fashioned

    4.1(2.6k reviews)
    0.1 mi•Capitol
    •$$

    This was my second time visiting. I swore I wrote a review the first time but it didn't pop up…read more Anywho, this time my daughter and I were in Madison for the day and visiting the museum across the street and decided to come for dinner. It was Thursday evening and they had a ribs/pulled pork special. We waited about 10 minutes at the bar for a table. The bar and atmosphere is great. Pretty bar lights and an old wood bar. We were seated by the window with a great view of the capital. My daughter and I shared the rib dinner and had plenty of food for us. Our waitress was new and learning but was doing a good job. I'd definitely come back.

    The Old Fashioned has been stable in downtown Madison for sometime. U can tell from the interior…read moredesign lot of old pictures few in black and white. The bar area old school feel to it. Race weekend in Madison for IM 70.3 relay. The Old Fashioned spot that heart of downtown and really greatest thing learn so many great spots around the capital. It close to the hotel so ended up going here twice for dinner. So got to try few menu items. ONE thing most looking forward to was the Cheese Curds. Never been to state of Wisconsin. They know cheese. More so at The Old Fashioned, There cheese curds were on the food network. It definitely lived up to the hype. The flavor was amazing. The first visit got bratwurst sandwich was da bomb. The sausage had so much flavor and delicious. Second time cheese board each cheese was local. Nice presentation and light starter good one. Second trip had chili with spaghetti. Ok. The cheese curds by far the star. Service five stars. Friendly, attentive, and positive vibes!!!!

    Photos
    The Old Fashioned - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    The Old Fashioned
    The Old Fashioned - Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.

    See all

    Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.

    Haven - Yumberry Ice Jelly

    Haven

    4.6(48 reviews)
    0.4 mi•State-Langdon, Capitol

    Food (A) And hr food is really good here and a great option…read morefor Madison. All the food is really good and for the most part tastes fresh. I got the deep fried octopus thing. These were amazing. Also got the sesame chicken which was really good. The chicken was nice and crunchy. Also got the lamb skewer. This was okay. The flavors were all there but they need to work on this one. Has potential to be really good. Value(A) I got two appetizers and a dish for $36 including tip and tax. You can probably spend $25 and get out of there and be full. Note I had leftovers. Service (A) I want to give to them an A+ because the server was super nice and helpful. But that food came out in wrong order and lamb took a while. The food was fresh since it was hot. Note I went around 2pm on a Monday so there was only 1 other table. I could see this service taking a while when full. It's a small place and the exterior is crap. But the interior is really nice It's a good place, go off hours and you should no problems. It's worth it and the other reviews seem accurate. Give them a shot

    As reviewed extensively, the braised beef noodles in red chili broth take the cake at this…read morerestaurant. I am a big fan of Sichuan peppers when it comes to spice. The feeling of numbness for some reason makes the food very appetizing. It's a big portion, where you can probably bring it home for leftovers. Skewers are also an option here as a nice aside. There is a variety of alcoholic options, including wine, liquor shots, beer, and sakes. The drinks are great with the games they have in the restaurant and the ambiance.

    Photos
    Haven - Heaven

    Heaven

    Haven - Apple Bavarian Tart

    Apple Bavarian Tart

    Haven - Stir-Fried House Made Noodles

    See all

    Stir-Fried House Made Noodles

    Alchemy - Vindicator (turkey sandwich)

    Alchemy

    4.1(433 reviews)
    2.0 mi•Schenk - Atwood, Williamson - Marquette
    •$$

    I visited from out of town for lunch recently, and this was easily my favorite meal of the trip! We…read morewere looking for a casual stop with delicious food, and this fit the bill perfectly. It was pretty busy at lunch time on a weekend, but luckily we were able to snag seats at the bar. The staff were very friendly and attentive, kindly offering recommendations. I loved that the menu offered both elevated takes on classic dishes in addition to a rotating seasonal menu. Eventually, we decided on the kimchi reuben and the Vindicator, which was essentially a turkey club. There was a great selection of sides to choose from as well, so we went with the wasabi green beans and seasonal lemon zucchini pasta salad. The turkey club was served on sourdough from an amazing artisan bakery down the street, and was absolutely stacked with delicious, high quality ingredients. A large slab of melted cheddar paired perfectly with a smoky chipotle aioli, which almost tasted like bacon. The reuben was also super unique- all of the flavors came together very well, and I loved the contrast of having refreshing kimchi to cut through the decadent Swiss and pastrami. The pasta salad was dangerously addictive and had the creamiest lemon Parmesan dressing. I thought the green beans were crunchy and well cooked, but didn't really taste any wasabi. We left full with leftovers, and felt that the value was great given the quality and quantity of the dishes. I would absolutely be back given the chance, and highly recommend paying a visit!

    LAVENDER HAZE ooooo so good! Great spot on the Eastside for dinner & a fantastic cocktail. Such a…read moregroovy spot, love the atmosphere there with all the beautiful wood work. Truly friendly people just enjoying life!

    Photos
    Alchemy - Cutest corner window seat

    Cutest corner window seat

    Alchemy - Stuffed Grilled Cheese

    Stuffed Grilled Cheese

    Alchemy - Kimchi Reuben

    See all

    Kimchi Reuben

    Rare Steakhouse - steak - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...