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    The Curve

    4.1 (122 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 1:00 pm

    The Curve Photos

    Business Info

    THE CURVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Curve

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    Burger and onion rings
    Ariana E.

    Know before you go-this place is cash only. Their prices include tax, which is nice, so we didn't have to worry about carrying around loose change. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is a very old diner, so everything is very dated but in a classic way.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is a great value for the price. We both got cheeseburgers. Solid burger, a bit dry. The onion rings were my favorite. They were so crispy and delicious. I do wish they had the classic restaurant buttermilk ranch instead of the bottled stuff. The fries are on the crunchier side, but not bad. My only issue was the service. We sat at one of the tables in the back and it took almost 15 minutes before someone came over to us. We tried to wave one of the servers down, but they were busy with the other customers. We considered leaving because we thought they forgot about us. Eventually, we got the attention of the server at the bar. Unfortunately, other than taking our order, she never checked on us and didn't refill our drinks. We were also confused at the end when it came to paying. She went to another table to take their money and bill, but we waited a long time and she never came to us. We ended up walking up to the bar and paying there because at that point we were there for over an hour already. Lesson learned. We should've waited for a seat at the bar so she could have noticed us. If we were in a hurry to get to a game, this slow service would've been a bigger issue. You get what you pay for I guess. Come for the inexpensive food, not the service.

    Chili smothered omelette
    Dan D.

    The Curve is still a Top Tier old-time spot in Madison. Outstanding meals for the money; fast & friendly service; [[HIGHLIGHT]]in a place where time has stood still.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Head on in, you won't regret it

    Smoked sausage special.
    Rob W.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Everything a diner should be - nothing that it shouldn't.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Six stars. Probably the best breakfast in Madison and definitely the best value.

    blueberry pancake, omelette special
    Michelle L.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]feels like this diner opened in the 60/70s - kinda giving dilapidated energy from the outside but reminds me of mickey's dairy bar on the inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]personally i didn't love the ambiance inside there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] you seat yourself and then the servers will come over to take your order. seems like they were understaffed so the service was a bit slow but they were trying their best! we got a blueberry pancake & omelette special to share and it was a crazy amount of food that even the 2 of us couldn't finish. i liked that the hash browns were crispy but the omelette felt a bit too oily for me liking. the blueberry pancake was MASSIVE. but for 5 people the total was only $40 which is crazy. cash only btw!!!!

    Sausage and Eggs!  Yummy
    Rick-Michelle A.

    Amazing food! Was on our way to another breakfast place and spotted this little diner! At at the counter and had great food and plenty of it! Cash only but worth it! Priced super reasonable and will return before my trip Is over!

    Insides
    Corbin B.

    Essential, affordable, friendly, greasy spoon. Good crispy home-fries. Cash only! Whats the difference between home-fries and hash-browns? I like what they do here as opposed to the cubes potato stuff.

    two eggs sunny side up with american fries and white toast
    Pam G.

    sit down and EAT classic american breakfast place so so affordable and sweet staff cash only tho

    The Curve Omelet

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    9 days ago

    Never disappointed when I stop at The Curve. Simply fantastically simple & so yummy!

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    2 years ago

    Great breakfast spot . old style blue plate special. Cash only though had an omelet and hash browns very good.

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    2 years ago

    Unprofessional staff, very rude make sure you don't take your kids to the restaurant because they will throw a fit if the child cries.

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    2 years ago

    Basic diner food. Good price, good food, good service. You won't be disappointed. A great place for breakfast.

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    3 years ago

    Great food at a great price. Service was excellent. If you're looking for good service and quality food this is the place to go.

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    Page 1 of 4

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    Cottage Cafe

    Cottage Cafe

    4.2
    (169 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $

    Great food and service! Best hashbrowns I've had in a long time. Really big pancake that doesn't…read moredry out and absorb all of the syrup. Great butter and coffee as well. My daughter had the pancake and sausage link which were also very good. Portions are large, prices are good, and the servers are all very personable. I don't typically allow my daughter to have a lot of sugar but when we first arrived, our server Danette gave a little cup of fruit loops to my almost 2 year old to keep her occupied until the food came out. If you're looking for some good food and decent prices, this is the place. We love a good simple diner with great food and great service.

    I wanted to like this place, I really did. Did some research on solid diners in the Madison area…read moreand this is one of the ones that popped up. It was off the highway, so I thought I would give it a go. Walked in and it was what you would expect from a Wisconsin diner -- old carpeting, waitresses who are lifers, and signage from the bygone era. I sat at the bar, with barstools that came about 4 feet off the ground, and asked the cordially waitress what was good. She rattled off about 3/4 of the breakfast menu so I needed a few minutes. A few minutes passed and I went with the Krab Cakes Benedict (why the K?) and the Cottage Platter. The crab cakes were decent (definitely better than the Cottage Platter), but very crisp on the outside, straddling the line of burnt, and somewhat cooked on the inside. Light on the seasoning. As they say on the cooking shows, it was screaming for some acidity...or in this case some Old Bay. Then the Cottage Platter, which I was very much looking forward to, fell flat for me. The hashbrowns had a funky taste to them, which I couldn't quite place. And again, overall, the dish was lacking in flavor. Would I go out of my way to hit this place up again? Most likely not. If I was in the area and wanted to try something else, I probably would.

    Photos
    Signage outside
    Signage outside
    Cinnamon Roll
    Cinnamon Roll
    Lunch date!

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    Lunch date!
    Mickies Dairy Bar

    Mickies Dairy Bar

    4.1
    (444 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $

    It had been decades since I last had breakfast at Mickies. With the recent publicity about the…read morelong time owners retiring and new folks taking it over we thought we would give the place a try - especially before the students all return to campus. It was a bit after 8am on a Friday morning and the place was hopping but we were able to grab a booth. The wait staff was hustling and eventually got to us. The service was very good from that point onward despite the fact that the place was packed by the time we left. The menu is on the back wall or via a QR code (never my favorite). They also have menus on the wall from the 50's which are eyeopening given today's prices. We started with a cherry milkshake that was not only delicious but huge so two of us split it. All three of us opted for their breakfast sandwich which you can build with many different variations - way more than most restaurants. All three versions were tasty. The side of yanks (American fry potatoes) were just OK but I didn't order them. Thumbs up and we will need to return sooner rather than later.

    Was a great stop on our Wisco trip! My Mom and I split a Scrambler and a cinnamon roll for…read morebreakfast. The food was great and it seemed like the kitchen was really pumping out orders. Our server, however, kept on leaving and not returning or checking in on us for long periods of time. Additionally, the girl who was taking payments was a little snarky and kept on dropping change onto the floor. Other than that, the ambiance and food were spectacular. A definite stop if you're in Madison!!

    Photos
    By the Counter at Mickie's Dairy Bar
    By the Counter at Mickie's Dairy Bar
    Vanilla shake
    Vanilla shake
    Storefront for Mickie's Dairy Bar

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    Storefront for Mickie's Dairy Bar
    Hubbard Avenue Diner

    Hubbard Avenue Diner

    3.7
    (413 reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    While working in Middleton, Wisconsin, we stopped into Hubbard Avenue Diner for lunch (right next…read moreto the National Mustard Museum). It ended up being the perfect quick stop during our break. This classic American diner has really cute retro vibes, friendly service, and a menu full of comfort food favorites. I ordered the half sandwich and soup combo -- the turkey pesto sandwich was fresh and flavorful, and the white chicken chili was warm and delicious. They're also known for their pies , so definitely consider saving room for dessert!

    I came to the diner expecting way too much from people saying this is the go to made from scratch…read morepie place. I ordered the Popeye, a spinach omelette and a slice of apple pie. The omelette was OK like 2.5 stars with fresh spinach, tomatoes, olives and feta cheese. The eggs were overcooked leaning heavily toward rubbery. Ingredients were as advertised but took over because of the omelette's texture. The star was the biscuit - layered and buttery perfect with some honey. I ordered the apple pie but it had a crumb topping which was very blond in color with a thick underbelly of floured glue! Yuck I complained and was told that this is how they make their pies and if I wanted a full top crust- well only cherry and peach apple have double crusts. Cherry pie did have a double crust and the filling was almost thick enough to hold up my fork! I'm not sure that the cherry filling was not canned. What do you think? Service was excellent my waitress was attentive and very loyal to the business. She stated she told the cook? about my apple pie concerns and proudly gave me a coupon for a free slice of pie the next time I dined inside. I left the coupon with a substantial tip for her service.

    Photos
    Hubbard Avenue Diner
    Bacon Blue Cheese Burger
    Bacon Blue Cheese Burger
    Avocado Benedict

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    Avocado Benedict
    Short Stack Eatery

    Short Stack Eatery

    4.1
    (646 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Every time I'm in Madison, I make it a point to stop here. I'm usually just passing through so I…read moreget here right when it opens, which is one of the best times. It's quiet and it feels like the world slows down for a minute. It's comfortable and also very eclectic, a get your own coffee place. Condiments, water, etc. along the back wall. Order at the counter, they'll give you a number, and then bring your meal out. The menu has a great selection of offerings, but I always get my usual. The pancakes are unreal, so delicious. You will also find adult beverages here as well for those who need a morning/mid-afternoon pick me up. It gets packed so plan well ahead or be prepared to wait a while. Great service. Great place.

    What a great breakfast! In true Becky fashion I've been meaning to try this place forever, heard it…read morewas closing and will now go once a week until they are done! If you're reading this and it's not the end of May 2025, go check it out. But not if the weather is super suspect because you stand outside to wait your turn at the counter! I had the trio and those were some of the best pancakes I've ever had. I wish they kept the butter on the tables so it was softer and easier to spread! I appreciated a truly pretty and fresh tasting fruit cup with a variety of fruit, and the chorizo was fantastic with great flavor and heat. I didn't try the coffee but my friends appreciated the different flavor option. I want to redo my kitchen with their lighting and wonder if they'll auction it off?

    Photos
    Cajun biscuits and gravy + sweet potato pancakes + mimosa + bloody mary = heaven
    Cajun biscuits and gravy + sweet potato pancakes + mimosa + bloody mary = heaven
    Mmm bloodys!
    Mmm bloodys!
    Short Stack Eatery

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    Marigold Kitchen

    Marigold Kitchen

    4.3
    (920 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    We stopped by for a late breakfast on a weekday when we were visiting Madison. Thankfully, we were…read moreable to walk right in. We tried about two months ago on a Sunday and there was quite a line so we tried somewhere else new to us. It was worth the trip back here! Marigold is a really cute place inside. We were between the breakfast and lunch rushes so we easily found a table after ordering. We noticed there was a steady flow of customers and the tables turned over at a decent pace so maybe we should have stood in line last time around. Hard to know sometimes. We ordered the breakfast burrito, avocado toast and buttermilk pancakes. Service was quick and friendly. The pancakes were fluffy and they looked good. The avocado toast and the breakfast burrito were delicious! We will definitely stop by Marigold when we're in town again!

    Food was alright. We got the breakfast sandwich which was just ok, but the chilaquiles were…read moredelicious. One thing to note: it's not great for kids. The atmosphere is fine, but for picky eaters, it's a no go. Nothing against the restaurant, their food is just a little too niche and we're unable to make common substitutes or additions. Examples include: don't have chocolate chips for pancakes, syrup is served too hot, cups were breakable. I just wish the had a kids menu section with 2 items that where super simplified and came in kid friendly utensils etc

    Photos
    Marigold Kitchen
    Sweet potato kale and pesto hash
    Sweet potato kale and pesto hash
    Three grain bowl

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    Three grain bowl

    The Curve - diners - Updated August 2026

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