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    The Grumpy Troll

    3.8 (446 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    The Grumpy Troll Photos

    Business Info

    THE GRUMPY TROLL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Savanna B.

    Nice waitstaff, fun brewery atmosphere. The beer was cold, my son enjoyed his mini corndog kids meal. My husband and I shared the southwest salad (not memorable, but decent for a midwest salad) and the Nono hot chicken sandwich, which was excellent. We got the waffle fries as our side, which was a mistake as they were t great. My aunt had chips with her BLT and they were delicious though!

    Medium rare burger
    Jake W.

    5/5 overall Ambiance 5/5 Small and cozy. Nice people all around Service 5/5 Jen was amazing! Spoke to all guests and was prompt. Drinks 5/5 Amazing! Food 5/5 Just stop it already...beer cheese soup is a must, Cheese not too heavy. Very good use of Cayenne pepper. Creamy, with some heat. Dagggummm shooot That burger!? Asked medium rare and came out perfect! Juicy, seasoned to perfection, one note... add in lettuce to the bottom to catch the juices. When cooking a patty to perfection like you do, the amount of juice that will be absorbed in that delicious brioche bun is immeasurable. All in all, this place is a must! Come come get ya sum daggummmmm shooot. I tell you Hwat.

    Brewhouse at the grumpy troll
    Troy S.

    Cute little place in a cute little town. I was amazed at how good the beer was. But it has been around for over 20 years so they must have good beer. It's also a restaurant but I did not have any food. The bartender was super friendly, I was here mid week, Mid afternoon, the bar looked like it was mostly regulars, but the bartender still took time to come over and chat with me. They sell some merchandise. I got a sticker. I'm a brewery tourist and I collect stickers. Free street parking. There is some outdoor patio seating as well.

    Waiting area
    Sho R.

    I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon. There was a 20 minute wait for seat. Fortunately there were seats in bar. I went for a comatose burger. It was a nice burger with an egg. It filled the stomach without being too heavy for me. Grumpy chips was slightly better than normal chips. They have a cool waiting area with some game boards.

    The Grumpy Troll sign
    Twilight T.

    I've eaten at the Grumpy Troll 3 different times and I absolutely love the food at this restaurant. And after being there 3 times it became one of my favorite restaurants. My favorite is the French Dip. It's definitely a great place to get a bite after a long day of hiking either at Blue Mound State Park or Governor Dodge State Park or after spending all day touring either at House on the Rock or Cave of the Mound Can't wait to return to the Grumpy Troll again in the future whenever I am in the area again.

    Pastrami sandwich and waffle fries - Uncle Sal
    Lisa L.

    What a unique place! Enjoyed a flight of their in house craft beer, and their pastrami sandwich and waffle fries. We also enjoyed the cheese curds as a shared appetizer. Their home made ranch was soooo good! Everything was very tasty and the service was impeccable. Our server Caitlyn was knowledgeable and very friendly. The restaurant itself was very clean and filled with unique and interesting decor.

    Cheese curds
    Karen N.

    Was in the area on a Saturday and stopped in for lunch, and had to wait 10-15 minutes . The food offerings are typical bar food items, cheese curds, burgers, etc. We tried the cheese curds and they were good, lightly fried. My husband had a burger, and sandwiches . My husband had a burger with fires and I tried the loaded baked potato with pulled pork. It was topped with cheese, tomato and green onions . It was supposed to come with a side of sour cream, but I did not receive it. Service was a bit slow , but so I did not bother asking for it. Due to slow service, it took away from the experience and we did not receive drink refills. There are not many options in the town so it was pretty busy.

    John M.

    Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday . We had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. I asked the server (Bella) what kind of lagers they had since this is a brew pub. She didn't know so I just looked at their draft list. Had their Captain Fred lager. Light and crisp with a 4.6 ABV but not outstanding. Menu has a good selection of BBQ,sandwiches,Quinoa Bowls and appetizers. I wanted to try their wings and asked what was their Nono sauce. She wasn't sure but thought it was similar to Nashville Hot. It was more of a spicey mustard sauce which was just ok. Also had the cheese curds which were good and a brisket meat pie which was pretty small but tasty. My wife who is gluten free had their burger of the month which came with pork belly on top on a bed of lettuce. Tasty but tasted more like bacon than pork belly. Service was slow and it was hard to get refills of ice tea or another beverage due to lack of enough servers. There are not many places in Mt. Horeb for lunch so Grumpy Troll seems like they are always crowded with locals and people traveling thru.

    Their tipping device with obscene tipping suggestions.
    Ari L.

    I'd really like to give them a higher score based upon the food and ambience, but service was average and their tipping suggestions were obscene. In addition these tip suggestions were based upon the total after tax. Excuse me? Tip should be calculated on the total before tax. Anything otherwise is outrageous. Also, please set your tip amounts to 15%, 18% and 20%. No one should be asked to pay 25% or 30%. That should be our choice to choose under custom. I'm tired of restaurants putting customers in this positions. The only good thing was that the server didn't hover over me while I calculated what 15% was. As for the food, their wings and cheese curds are pretty decent. Burger is ok but the patty doesn't taste that fresh. I do like their beer selection.

    Enjoying the burger
    Heather B.

    Only a short wait it was noon so we expected it. The waitress kept apologizing for the wait. There was no need it! We understand. The food was great! The small pizza was a good size I didn't even need the large and I have leftovers. My partner had a burger of the month which he inhaled. I also had cheese curds they have a differant texture than I'm used to but still very yummy! The staff were amazing keeping each table clean and quickly filled. Will def visit again!

    Kelsey J.

    Loved the food here! Highly recommend the beer cheese soup! The cornbread was great too! I would come back again!

    Deep fried green beans
    Anthony V.

    I think I sold this place short on my last visit. Although the cheese curds were good, they didn't appear to be freshly made, just taken from a frozen bag of goods. We, however, really liked the deep fried green beans. Not too many places off them, and I don't know why. They have a wonderful crunch on the outside with a soft and chewy green-bean taste on the inside. My wife, who doesn't like green beans, really likes these. We thoroughly enjoyed the Grumpy Troll burger. I liked that our server asked how I wanted it prepared. Even better, it was made to a perfect medium. This was a delightfully juicy burger, running down my hand. credibility the burger was assembled with a nice balance of bacon, cheese, and just the right amount of barbecue sauce. Our server was OK. He seemed a bit rushed. I wish he had kept a better eye on our drinks that needed refills. Other than that, I have a renewed liking of this restaurant. I will be returning.

    IPA - so hoppy and fragrant!
    Jack G.

    This is about as good as a brew pub gets. Closest comparison is Deschutes Brewery in Portland Oregon. Excellent pub fare and remarkably good (i.e., great) beers. Don't expect fine dining, but pub food doesn't get much better than here. Outstanding service. We drive from Madison to trollville to enjoy ourselves here.

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    2 years ago

    Great stout! Friendly service! Friendly customers helped with beer recommendations! Fun stein club option. Cool spot to have a beer!

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    4 years ago

    Excellent gem in Mount Horeb! We go there often for work lunches and celebrations! I recommend the uff da pretzel every time!!

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    2 years ago

    great food excellent service very pleasant enviornment. Anbiance- great looks.

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    Ask the Community - The Grumpy Troll

    Is there ela place our dog could sit with us while we ate?

    They changed their policy to allow dogs and they have opened up the patio to the outside so you don't go through the restaurant.

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    Wisconsin Brewing Company - Inside of tap room

    Wisconsin Brewing Company

    (108 reviews)

    $

    Great selection of beer and a quiet brewery. The outdoor area is really nice…read moreStaff is friendly Very clean bathrooms

    My partner and I have been to Wisconsin Brewing Company a few times now, and it's become one of our…read morefavorite low-key weekend stops. It's the perfect place to spend a relaxed afternoon -- good beer, friendly staff, and a laid-back vibe that's never too crowded. The space itself is great -- high ceilings, big windows that let in tons of natural light, and a nice open layout. The outdoor patio overlooking the pond is especially beautiful when the weather's nice. It's also dog-friendly, which we love! Our pup is always happy to come along, and we even picked up one of their dog toys from the merch area -- easily her new favorite. They've got some fun merch for humans too. The beer selection is solid, with something for everyone. We've really enjoyed the Lil Louie Lager and Badger Club Amber, and they always have a few rotating taps that keep things interesting. The staff has been consistently friendly and welcoming every time we've visited. If there's one area for improvement, it's the atmosphere. The space itself is awesome, but it sometimes feels like it's missing a little energy I'd love to see more events, live music, or themed nights to bring the place to life. It has so much potential to be a real community hub. Overall, Wisconsin Brewing Company is absolutely worth checking out great beer, great staff, and a beautiful, dog-friendly spot to unwind. With just a little more happening in the space, it could easily be a five-star destination.

    Viking Brew Pub - Open face portobello sandwich with sweet potato fries upgrade

    Viking Brew Pub

    (112 reviews)

    $$

    Time to update my review again -- and UPGRADE my review. I am consistently impressed by Viking Brew…read morePub. I love that it's a local joint, love that it has a legit Viking ship bar that blows smoke/steam, and love getting beer brewed on site. And a nice variety of beer at that. It had been awhile since I've been here, but it continues to be delicious. We came here for a Friday fish fry and while busy, the wait wasn't terrible at all. We went to the bar to grab a drink, and it seemed a bit wrong not to get a beer but it also seemed wrong not to get an Old Fashioned while waiting for a fish fry. So, Makers Old Fashioned Sour it was, and it was really good! I'd definitely order it again, and love that they didn't over-fill it with ice. It could sit for a bit and not get so terribly watered down. But OMG the fish fry! We try out a new fish fry spot every month, or at least most months, and I have to say this fish is probably my #1 that we've had. It was so delicious. The breading on the outside was light but crispy, and the inside was juicy and moist (sorry, it's really the best word to describe this!). I brought the third piece home (it took a lot of willpower not to eat it). I tear the breading off and give some of the fish as a topper for my pup's dinner. This fish and breading was seriously so good I'd eat the breading straight out of the refrigerator off the fish. The french fries were good, but had a few too many that were overly crunchy (reject fries, as I like to call them). Even so, still good and the fish still gets it 5 stars and the title of "Best." The roll that came with it was likewise delicious. Fun, local atmosphere and good food all around - the regular menu is great, the fish fry is great, the beer is great, and the drinks from the bartenders are great.

    Elsa was a great and attentive server. Pepsi shop. The pretzel was great (we got the lingonberry…read moresauce instead of the mustard and it was a sweeter but very tasty substitute). The Norwegian meatballs were tasty (the brown gravy was a bit heavy) and the fresh roll was to die for! The chicken in my sandwich wasn't vey flavorful and did not bring out the flavor of the pesto aoli. I would go back to try other offerings on the menu.

    Full Mile Beer Co & Kitchen

    Full Mile Beer Co & Kitchen

    (153 reviews)

    $$

    I came here for a late lunch and beers on a random weekday in fall. It wasn't very crowded at the…read moretime, which I consider to be the absolute jackpot of times to visit any establishment. Our server was super kind and attentive, and was very capable of answering my questions about the beer menu. I wish there was a darker option on the menu, but I get that it's "only" October and I'm hoping to come back and see some options as winter kicks into gear. There were still a lot of ipa/hazy ipa options on the menu but definitely some more October-type beers as well as your standard lager/ale types. I ordered the grilled chicken sandwich, and while I'm not really a slaw person, it came on the sandwich and I hate to remove such a key item. I liked the texture of the slaw more than normal slaw you often get, and the chicken was nicely cooked. It was a bit messy, but I'm just a messy person so zero judgment there! I also ate it in its entirety. I wasn't as wild about their french fries -- definitely needed ketchup and a lot of them were kind of the burnt crispy reject ends. Next time I might opt for a side salad, but I struggle to turn down potatoes in any form. I'm very much looking forward to returning for a Friday night fish fry and to continue to sample their beer menu. I was likewise impressed that they had a pretty extensive cocktail and liquor menu - something for everyone. Definitely recommend checking them out!

    A true gem of a spot. We stopped in for some cocktails/beer and dinner while we were in the Madison…read morearea. We have two young kids so this was the perfect place for us - something on the menu for everyone, casual but inviting atmosphere and friendly/attentive service. I ordered the strawberry mojito which was recommended by the wait staff and it was delicious. We shared the brussels for an app then I got the crispy wings and my husband had the hot chicken sandwich. Such good food, cannot underscore that you have to try this place!

    The Grumpy Troll - sandwiches - Updated May 2026

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