Cancel

Open app

Search

Rare Steakhouse

3.8 (393 reviews)
Ultra High-EndSteakhouses, Seafood, American
Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM

Rare Steakhouse Photos

RARE STEAKHOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Upscale
Outdoor seating

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

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!

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!

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

View of the capital on a gorgeous Fall day
MaryDan H.

The Rare Steakhouse is the perfect restaurant for a special intimate dining experience in downtown Madison. It's centrally located right on the Capital Square. While there's limited "super closeby" parking, there are two huge parking ramps within a block. We thoroughly enjoyed our booth on the far left wall of the dining room. Our server, Genevieve, was very attentive and personable. She had great insights on all of the menu. Genevieve touted the Pork Chop as the owner's favorite dish...she was so right! The pork "chop" was more like a pork roast for a family of four! It was well seasoned and so tender. We both think it was the best pork we have ever tasted! We rounded out our meals with a side of hashbrowns and green beans. Both sides were delicious and nicely prepared. We topped off the meal with cappuccinos and bananas foster. Genevieve expertly demonstrated making the dessert tableside with ease. Awesome job and incredible dessert!

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.

Banana Foster dessert and chocolate cake

Food and experience were amazing in celebrating our anniversary! Our server Jahar was very welcoming and knew his menu and definitely gave great recommendations and history behind the Banana Foster which was so great to hear. I highly suggest the tomahawk steak and sea bass. The old fashion drink had a very nice presentation and taste. I am definitely coming back and highly recommend this place!!!

Whipped Burrata

See all

22 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months 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

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Sarah K.

Sarah K.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ed Y.
5
27
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

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 2

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 2

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Thuy Dan T.
5000
1521
15307

6 years ago

Helpful 9
Thanks 0
Love this 6
Oh no 0

4 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

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

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

Tornado Steak House

Tornado Steak House

4.0
(843 reviews)
0.2 mi
$$$

We (6 people) were seated at a dimly lit, half booth/ half table and both the chairs and booth…read moreseating was badly ripped up, which could have snagged my silk attire, so we had to trade out some chairs. Our food and cocktails were great! We started with the Oysters and Escargot, they were out of the Sea Scallops ;) and the Salmon...we ordered various cuts of the steaks, which they were good, but very heavy peppercorn crust on the Filets. The Cognac cream sauce had capers in it, that we didn't care for and it was cold. I am a California wine drinker and there aren't any CA wines on their wine list by the glass!!! I was the only one who wanted an oak barreled Chardonnay and they don't even have one, very disappointing. Their list is french wines, and no one knowledgeable on describing the flavor of any of the bottles on the list...as we did ask and they were pleasant but no help! When we got home and looked over our receipt, we were charged for a glass of Malbec wine that we did not have. We were in town for a college graduation and this was over all a good evening!

I got into town far later than I wanted to on a Thursday night due to air travel issues and this…read morewas the only thing that was open near my hotel. Thankfully, I had already pinpointed as somewhere I wanted to go. The vibe was absolutely excellent .. a dark bar is my happy place so I was pretty thrilled. The bartender was super helpful, immediately got me the late night menu, and continued to deliver excellent service until I walked out the door. I had an excellent steak sandwich with a baked potato on the side and was very happy that I had found something to eat at such a late hour. Food was delicious, would definitely recommend. An authentic Madison experience for sure.

Photos
Dining Room
Dining Room
Wedge Salad
Wedge Salad
Bar

See all

Bar
Kettle Black Kitchen

Kettle Black Kitchen

4.7
(73 reviews)
1.7 mi

Was a little disappointed at first this isn't the kettle black kitchen I thought it was going to…read morebe...HOWEVER the food was still incredible! The cocktail menu had excellent choices as well. They were accommodating to our dairy free request. Every dish was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. Portion sizes were perfect. The Mac with the short ribs had a bit of spice I wasn't expecting but tasted great. The elote was also spicy! Overall I'd recommend this restaurant however I'd warn it's not the French restaurant it was a year ago and a lot of the pics shown on Yelp are not offered anymore.

Updating review as the restaurant changed ownership (but kept the name). We stopped in on a…read moreSaturday night post game-it was jumping! Special hats off to our server who allowed us to grab a table in the back. A cute and homey interior with random artwork-it was loud with the full house. An eclectic menu which leans southwestern offers a decent variety of dishes although vegetarians might not have too many options. I wasn't that hungry so opted for the biscuits and the poblano risotto. The chef doesn't hold back on the flavor-bold, spicy, intense. The biscuits were dipped in a smoked chili butter and honey-best eaten with a fork. The risotto was well prepared although a little soupy. Again, big bold flavors. Opted for the house made carrot cake-it didn't disappoint. One of the best I've had. Definitely a place I will come back to as it's a 7 minute walk from home.

Photos
Menu
Menu
Alcohol drinks menu
Alcohol drinks menu
Dining area

See all

Dining area
The Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned

4.1
(2.5k reviews)
0.1 mi
$$

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 ambiance is amazing warm woods which were very inviting. Wednesday night 5:30 a party of 6 and…read morewe were seated immediately in the bar area at a round table. The waitress was quick to come over bringing menus and taking our drink order. We order the cheese curds of course and the cheese plate. Visiting from Florida so I can't really speak on the curds. We all thought they were tasty. For our main course two of us had burgers all claimed they were well prepared and tasty, Mac n cheese was dry, spinach salad with salmon was fresh and flavorful. I had the wedge salad which was over a half head of fresh crispy lettuce. Two dressings combo so refreshing. The cheese tray was nice for $14.00. Overall service was great and the food was good.

Photos
Inside bar
Inside bar
The Old Fashioned
Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.

See all

Schlitz beer with a pickled egg on the side.
Lallande

Lallande

4.7
(58 reviews)
1.7 mi

It was our first time here, so we asked for seats at the bar, which looks directly into the…read morekitchen. We had so much fun, and we could see that all of the staff were also having a good time. Nothing but positivity, and it transfers into each and every delicious dish! We absolutely loved the complimentary cheese puffs (Gougeres). It was the perfect start to a fantastic meal. I enjoyed a starter of beet, walnut and cheese tart, and my dining partner thought his French Onion soup was stellar. I chose Monkfish stew for my main dish. It was incredible....silky, savory broth with melt-in-your-mouth monkfish plus tender shrimp and asparagus. The bread served with the stew was so delicious to soak it all up. My dining partner thoroughly enjoyed his Bistro steak with king trumpet mushrooms. The mushrooms were so elevated and so delicious. We shared a side of charred carrots and thought very highly of them, too. We closed out our epic meal by sharing one slice of Gateau Basque cake. It was served with a side of a tart cherry compote, and together this dessert was perhaps THE BEST dessert outside of France. Incredible! Sitting at the bar, our server was bartender Nina W. She was entertaining and didn't mind all of our ongoing questions. She added a another level of true enjoyment to our experience. Just as we were finishing up our dining experience the orchestrating chef stopped over to introduce herself. Once Annemarie said her name, I knew she was one of the founders of Lallander and next-door Bloom Bake Shop, having been a customer ever since their first bakery in Middleton. I told Annemarie how impressed we both were with the food, and how all the staff seemed so happy. She said something like a restaurant is only successful with good people. It seems she is keeping her people, and her customers, very happy.

This French inspired place was on our list to try so with a reservation made two weeks in advance…read morewe arrived on a cold snowy Friday evening. We were ten minutes early and they had just opened - strangely they would not seat us though our seats at the kitchen bar were open. So we huddled on the bench five feet away from our seats. It was not a great start but that was soon forgotten given the rest of the evening was fun. When I went on-line to make a reservation the only seats available were at the kitchen bar - that turned out to be fortunate because it was highly entertaining. When we return we will book these seats again as a couple (if you are with a group it is not a good place to hold a conversation). The bartender/ our server Jackson was super friendly and did a great job answering all our questions as we quizzed him on the action in the kitchen which was right in front of us (it's a small tight space). We ordered a beer and a wine followed by a small cup of French onion soup which was very tasty and a serving of their pate which was also very good. It was good that we had these front row seats because for some reason the kitchen appeared to be running a bit slow so the wait for our mains was pretty long. We did notice that when the owner arrived she started to direct the kitchen staff and the pace picked up! I got the pork tenderloin which was very flavorful and done with a bit of pink so it was not dry. It was a large serving. My wife got the sea bass in a puff pastry which was beautifully presented. The sauce was essential otherwise the dish would have been a bit plain. She really liked it. We were too full for desserts but they looked tempting though they did give us some savory cookies from their Bloom Bakery which is next store. This is not an inexpensive place to dine but it was well worth it. We will be back!

Photos
Open kitchen.
Open kitchen.
Beet, walnut & chevre tart
Beet, walnut & chevre tart
Aviation cocktail. Pretty and delicious!

See all

Aviation cocktail. Pretty and delicious!
Johnny Delmonico's Steakhouse

Johnny Delmonico's Steakhouse

3.8
(253 reviews)
0.3 mi
$$$

Celebrated Mothers Day at Johnny Delmonico's and from start to finish things were an A+. Our…read moreserver Ashton was friendly, knowledgeable of the menu and made great recommendations. He was a consummate professional and was always available without hovering. We started our meal with a couple cocktails, and I have to say the Pear Martini was delish! The guests in my party were equally happy with the Bees Knees and the Gimlet. Very nice drink menu, lots of choices for everyone and all drinks were well made. Food wise, we started with a couple appetizers. The Oysters on Half Shell, the Stuffed Mushroom Caps and the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. We also tried the French Onion Soup. Not a complaint to be heard, and we practically licked the plates clean if that gives you an idea of how tasty everything was. Entrees included the Salmon, the Seared Scallops, The Waygu Burger and the Manhattan Surf and Turf with the addition of Marrow Butter. Absolute perfection... each and every one. I would not hesitate to recommend you give it a try, you will NOT be disappointed! Thanks for making my Mothers Day so incredibly special.

A fancier downtown restaurant with coat check and lots of comfortable seating…read more Great steaks, cooked to near perfection. Comes with a starch side. Okay cocktails and large selection of liquors and wines (on the pricey side). Good service. It was a Thursday night and wasn't busy. Server was a bit slow but steaks came out fast after our order was placed.

Photos
Entrance
Entrance
Creme Brulee
Creme Brulee
Ahi tuna

See all

Ahi tuna
Pig in a Fur Coat

Pig in a Fur Coat

4.4
(563 reviews)
1.0 mi
$$$

Crowded as expected but nice atmosphere, I got sat at the bar pretty quickly. The staff are super…read morekind and good at making conversation and being helpful. I got a cocktail and the 4-course. The cocktail tasted really smoky yet incredibly smooth. The fois gras mousse was kinda ok but also 4 small bites maximum. The salad proved that even basic vegetables can be perfected. The casonelli was one of my favorites dishes for sure. Extremely satisfying texture and flavor combinations. The pork collar was also pretty pretty solid with flavor combinations, and texture was a little chewy depending on how you cut it (in a good way). The dessert was not bad, to me it kinda reminded me of really fancy whipped cream on top of vanilla pudding. Would come back here again (if they weren't closing!)

Wandered into this restaurant with a group and enjoyed a lovely dinner!…read more We tried a few different cocktails, all of which were nice. We tried a range of dishes and some of the favorites included the lamb belly, the beet salad, and the duck breast. Many items were beautifully cooked, such as that duck and the octopus on top of the risotto. However, overall we felt that there were some missed opportunities for stronger flavors. There were many bites where I felt that everything was tasty but just missing the full flavor potential of such lovely ingredients. Service was perfectly fine and friendly and everything came fast once we ordered! I would certainly return for another visit and hope that this restaurant, which is clearly a community staple, takes some bolder flavor risks in the future!

Photos
Sicilian sfingi
Sicilian sfingi
Storefront
Storefront
Pig in a Fur Coat

See all

Rare Steakhouse - steak - Updated June 2026

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