This was my second time visiting. I swore I wrote a review the first time but it didn't pop up. 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. read more

See all

Stopped in for something to eat and was pleasantly surprised by how good everything was. The old fashioned drinks are delicious and are always my go to when drinking here. We started with the fries and horseradish sauce, which had a nice kick. For my main dish, I went with the salmon salad, and the kitchen was kind enough to divide it between us. It came out looking really nice and made sharing easy. The ingredients tasted fresh, and I especially liked having a deviled egg included with the salad. Our bartender was also incredibly attentive and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the visit. Overall, the food and service made this a really enjoyable stop. read more

See all

The food here is average. Nothing terrible, nothing outstanding. Service was good. read more

See all

The Old Fashioned is located right off Capitol Square in Madison. They are a 3 diamond on AAA's restaurant list. The inside was very spacious to handle the amount of people stopping in. Their menu had a decent variety for food and drinks; easy to find something for everyone! We started with this Classic Old Fashioned as it's one of their staples. It had kore of a fizzy taste and not your typical variation of the drink. It was more refreshing for a summer day but I enjoy the classic styling more. For food, we started with the Cheese Curds that were seen on Food Network. I liked the flavor of cheese but wish they were a bit crispier. For entree, we shared the Old Fashioned Burger. The kitchen was kind to split the entree for us onto two separate plates. The burger was thicker than I expected as well as more well done. As far as service, staff was hustling. There were pockets of time we waited for water refills and there was quite a long wait between the curds and burger. Our server was extremely kind and bubbly through the lunchtime chaos which is always appreciated. read more

See all

Popped in for a quick bite. Ordered French fries with horseradish dipping sauce for our app. The decided on the Salmon salad for our entree. The bartender had the kitchen split it for us and the presentation was wonderful. Everything tasted so fresh and the deviled egg added to the salad was a nice touch. The service was top tier. read more

See all

This felt like the kind of place that a basic bitch would need to visit during a trip to Madison so we elected to stop in for lunch. It's hard for me to write this because it's a little bit of a sore spot knowing that I should have ordered the old-fashioned and I did not order the old-fashioned. I couldn't tell you what came over me actually I could. I felt very hung over last night after having a bourbon drink so the thought of it makes me shutter, but I don't know. Maybe I should've just sucked it up for the experience. GF however did order a local favorite the bloody Mary I am extremely picky when it comes to bloody Mary's from restaurants they need to be of a certain thickness. There needs to be a certain ratio of horseradish. This was on the thicker side, not as thick as I would've liked it. I feel like the horseradish might've been a little bit too aggressive for my liking. You hear about all these crazy garnishes, but the garnish felt pretty on par with what you would get at any other restaurant in the country. GF was asked how her bloody Mary was, "it was solid". We just wanted to do a little sharesies so we ordered the cheese curds which was an absolute must. obviously they were so good are they cheddar? Every cheese curd I've ever had previously has been white and these were orange and I'm intrigued by that and sure don't want to read into a little bit but the bottom line is that they were fantastic and I could not stop consuming them no matter how full I got. We also ordered the vegetarian Susan, which feels like a supper club thing to me, so we were somewhat successful in participating in the culture of Wisconsin during this restaurant trip. That shit was literally served on a fucking Lazy Susan. Why is that not more of a common thing that is fantastic and convenient. So many good things: pickle green beans that were tasty and made me feel better about myself, an excellent dill, potato salad that exceeded any expectations, deviled eggs, that were wonderful, coleslaw that was light and refreshing, there was also a cheese dip with two kinds of cheeses and crackers. Oh my God, so good. All the food at this place was very enjoyable and I hazard to guess that the old fashioned would be too read more

See all

Incredible joint. Exactly everything I wanted to find in WI, and more. Delicious cheese curds, excellent burger. The vibe was over the top, starting with the true classic country music to the Hamms beer sign next to a mounted deer head. Prices were spot on. Full bar, great salads and sandwiches, hardy entrees. Across from the capitol, this is a gem. Great service. Welcome to. Wisconsin. read more

The Old Fashioned - Burger with bacon, pepper Jack, and jalapeno. - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was on a quest to find some amazing cheese curds while in Wisconsin and The Old Fashioned kept coming up in my searches! Luckily, since I was traveling solo, I was able to get a spot at the bar - it was very busy but I got seated right away. Ordered a Shrub, which is a non-alcoholic drink with cherry flavors. The company that makes the drink is woman-owned and Wisconsin based. I liked it! It tasted somewhat like a cherry Sprite but lighter. My cheeseburger had the option of upgrading to curds as a side instead of fries or salad and they were really good! They were a tad too salty but the ranch that came with them was fantastic and helped hide that a little. The burger was awesome too! Cooked perfect for my taste and the cheese melted all over it - yum. I really liked the atmosphere of the place, too. It felt like what I'd imagine Cheers to be like - much more so than the actual Cheers bar in Boston. Great decor, lighting and the staff was attentive for being at a busy bar. Definitely check them out when you are in Madison!! Parking is a little hard, but there's a garage a few blocks away that's only $1.50 an hour, so I'd recommend that. read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

After dropping the kid off at school, met friend for lunch. It delivered on pub food expectations. The restaurant is the typical bar pub style restaurant. Staff were friendly and service was slow but it was fine since we were not in a hurry. The portion size was large and food was good quality. Cheese curds were good. It's a good option for lunch or to grab a drink. read more

See all

Excellent, historical as well as famous eatery directly across from the Wisconsin Capital building. Although busy, the service and food was fantastic. Plenty of brewski selections to chose. Obviously, we had the app sampler then, I had to have the Wisconsin cheezeburger. Deliciously Delicious. Don't leave Madison without visiting! read more

See all

I need to qualify this statement by saying I got takeout, and only got one thing - the cheese curds. On a recent stop through Madison, I asked a friend what "must try" items I needed to check out, and he recommended the cheese curds at The Old Fashioned. Needless to say, I found my way here. Came on a Monday evening in the summer time, and while it looked like most things in downtown were rather dead, this place was bumping. I'm glad I came in when I did, because a mob of people came as soon as I placed my to go order. The hostess that took our order was super friendly and even recommended a few sauces to try with the cheese curds (paprika and ranch). We placed our order, and within 10 minutes, we had our cheese curds. Walked across the street to the Capitol and sat at one of the benches, prepared to try the cheese curds. The cheese curds were......ok. I have not had a ton of cheese curds, but from what I was told to expect, they should be crisp on the outside and nice and cheesy on the inside. These cheese curds were cheesy no doubt, but were not crisp at all. It's as though they had been sitting out for a while (maybe that's why we got our order so quickly?). The sauces were good, but did not elevate the cheese curds to the level of "must try." OVERALL - perhaps it was just an off night, but it wasn't enough to bring me back. perhaps dining in is the way to go. CELEBRITY RATING - Ashton Kutcher read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I came to try their famous award winning cheese curds. I tried their Poutine as well. They were great. For main course, I tried their walleye tacos and they were fresh and tasty. This is a nice restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. It is right in front of the Capitol building if you want to sit out side on a nice day. The interior is really fun too. The place is busy but they are staffed well and everything you order magically comes so fast, I was surprised how efficient their service was. They also have a small selection of goods for purchase at the front desk. You can buy local cheese, candy. read more

See all

The ambiance is amazing warm woods which were very inviting. Wednesday night 5:30 a party of 6 and we 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. read more

See all

This place is well past 2500 reviews and the general consensus puts it at four stars. I also wondered why I should even leave a review with so many already on the books, but everyone loves pictures. I should mention that you'll have to park at the local parking garage or pay for street parking (free after 6). This place is basically a fancy pub grub kind of place and they have a very extensive menu. They also have a very extensive selection of whiskeys, other distilled items and beer, but a very short wine by the glass list. There are ice cream drinks, along with spirit free wines and mocktails. This business is divided into three parts, two rooms with adjacent bars, and an upstairs where it's a little quieter for dining. We started off with onion strings, which are topped with paprika and are quite salty. Since it was Friday night, we all opted for the fried fish special. The rye bread slices seemed out of place, the fries may well have been from McDonald's, the poppy seed cole slaw was good, and the two planks of fried cod were decent. Considering their location, they could've charged more and the good news is that despite any shortcomings, you actually get your moneys worth here. Keep in mind, when you cash out, there's almost 3% charge on your credit card. I agree with the final consensus, four stars. Check out the informative photos. read more

See all

Amazing cheese curds and the chipotle dipping sauce is a must. I ordered the old fashioned burger and it was amazing! Lots of amazing flavor! I got the shoestring onions as my side. The portion sizes are large! Our server was great and did separate checks for our group of 5 without even having to ask! read more

See all

Ambiance itself is great! I ordered the spicy burger and it was so so. Nothing grand about it. Not spicy at all. I asked for a side of paprika aioli as that's all they had but the server did recommend I add Valentina to it. Made it much better! Nothing crazy about the fries. Similar to McDonald's tbh. I ordered 2 old fashions to try a few off their menu and the classic was the best. Finished off with a whiskey sundae. All in all, I'd come back with a group for drinks but the food I got didn't impress me much. I'd try something different off their menu. read more

See all

I heard lots of good things about The Old Fashioned, but my experience was just meh. It was fish fry Friday, and I probably should have gone with that, as it was the special and seemed to be what everyone was ordering. I don't eat a whole lot of deep fried foods and that just seemed like a lot. I sat at the bar, and the bartender got to me pretty quickly and asked me if I wanted a drink. I ordered a glass of wine and a water, but had to ask him for a food menu. I opted for the grilled chicken sandwich with the side salad instead of fries. And then I waited. So long that the woman next to me made comments. People who showed up after I had ordered were eating fish before my sandwich showed up. The chicken was perfectly cooked, but completely lost on the sandwich. There was so much swiss on it, I could only taste cheese and bacon on greasy lightly toasted bread. The salad was barely dressed and just lettuce. I couldn't tell you what flavor the dressing was, but I piled the lettuce on top of the sandwich to try and cut some of the richness. I like cheese as much as the next gal, but it was a chicken sandwich. Even the mustard was lost. The prices are good, the actual restaurant was cute and just across from the capital. The portion was large, it just was lackluster. read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Despite hearing that it's one of the best cheese curds in Wisconsin, they were a little greasy but still delicious, crispy, and had a melty cheese pull to it. The fish fry was alright since the fish and fries were crispy, but the rye bread was not toasty. The cole slaw was more like cabbage salad than true cole slaw since I don't think they used mayo in it which is healthier but I prefer it to have some mayo in it; makes sense since the fish fry was battered so the slaw provided some contrast to cut the richness. I went on a weekday evening and it was crowded since it's so popular. On the bright side, I ordered the food and it came out relatively fast like less than 15-20 min after ordering. The server at the bar was pretty attentive and friendly since they kept refilling waters before it gets empty and kept an eye closely at customers while doing other tasks. read more

See all

First, the one good thing. The cheese curds were really good if salty. The rest. The service was poor at best. I guess our waitress was having a bad day? The food - hamburgers and fish - took forever! It's wasn't crowded. The French fries were tough and cold. The hamburger - which has a fried egg - was cold. The salad? Just lettuce straight from a bag. When I pointed all this out it was clear the waitress couldn't care. The manager seemed lost. Oh, the "replacement" burger was still not really done. Oh, and the place is musty - needs cleansed. What a fail. There are lots of places to eat on the square, so avoid this one. read more

Stopped by The Old Fashioned in Madison and loved it. The location right off the Capitol Square is perfect, and the atmosphere is classic Wisconsin--cozy, lively, and great for grabbing a drink and food. The cheese curds are a must-order--crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and totally live up to the hype. We also grabbed drinks at the bar and everything hit the spot. Great food, great drinks, great vibe. Would definitely come back next time I'm in Madison. read more

See all

Nice dinner at the bar of The Old Fashioned. Service was great, the bartender was so kind. Cheese curds were great, suggest getting ranch or aioli for dipping! Salmon salad was very tasty as well. Just wish they included more than half a deviled egg. Also added a salmon cake and it was great! read more

The Old Fashioned - Salmon Salad - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Returned to our go to Madison favorite. The fish fry lake perch was as we remembered- outstanding. The onion strings were perfect with a great burger. The service was excellent. We'll e back soon. read more

The Old Fashioned - Burger with onion strings - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

My coworkers and I stopped in for dinner as we were in the area for a work conference. We didn't have any recommendations so we went rogue on ordering. I'm a huge Philly sandwich lover so that was a given. Also tried the Cobb salad with chicken, chips and dip, and their shoestring onion rings. The chips and dip were amazing. You have to get those! The whole table loved them. I tried the Philly sandwich, but I didn't like the huge bun it was served on. The meat itself was fine, but it lacked proper flavor and didn't have enough peppers and onions in it. Surprisingly the Cobb salad was the star of the show for me. I asked for no blue cheese, but they served it with blue cheese anyways. We were so hungry I just ate it. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the blue cheese since it was mellow. The shoestring onion rings were bland bland bland. I will stick to a salad and chips if I ever make it back. read more

See all

After hearing about this restaurant for some time, glad to finally make it out there as it was a great time for myself and my guests. Located right across from the Capitol, it made for a dramatic backdrop to the restaurant. Additionally, the hustle bustle of downtown Madison lends itself to tons of folks coming and going so try to leave yourself some additional time to cozy up to the bar and grab a drink because you will likely be waiting a short while for a table. Also, parking is atrocious and you may need to hunt for a spot and walk a bit to get back to the restaurant. You've been warned but the destination is worth the journey. Btw - beer is extremely reasonable and they have dozens of taps which is super cool. I think I only paid like $3 for my beer but full disclosure, I only like beer that you can see through and it was a local beer so YMMV. Once seated, service was excellent throughout and we started with something that TOF is known for, the cheese curds. When they arrived at the table, they were sizable curds of random shapes/sizes (so clearly homemade) and their consistency was so light and airy that it was truly some of the best I've ever had. Granted, I'm not from WI where cheese curds fall from trees, but to my touristy palette, these were excellent. There were a ton of great menu choices but I ended up ordering the pork schnitzel and it was spectacular. Reasonably priced yet crispy and moist (a combo that's hard to acheive!) and I loved the unusual cherry mustard sauce that paired well with the entree. If you're schnitzel hunting, just be aware that this is only served at night. (As of my review) The folks that were with me all loved the warm Cheers bar type ambiance, and super enjoyed their meal and they all noted they can hardly wait to come back when they land back in Madison. Excellent experience and highly recommended! read more

The Old Fashioned - "Wow" level Pork Schnitzel with a cherry sauce that was a perfect accentuating compliment. Highly recommend! - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is decked out for Christmas and looks great. Are server was very sweet and split our burger for us. Service was very prompt. They aren't kidding when they say the best cheese curds. I've been trying quite a few since moving here and these are by far the best. I think I swoomed over every single bite of my burger. Maybe the best burger I've ever had in a restaurant. We tried the jelly good sodas and the cream soda was really good my husband said the orange soda was good. The bread pudding wasn't great. It wasn't bad. Luckily it didn't have any damn raisins in it lol read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

If I lived here, The Old Fashioned would be my joint hands-down especially during cherry bounce season! I usually make some for myself, so what a treat to see it on a menu somewhere. It's so fun inside, especially right now, while it's decorated for Xmas. The place was tidy (even the bathrooms were super nice) and all of the staff were friendly and helpful. If you come to eat alongside your beverages? Come hungry! My partner and I split the spinach salad and the schnitzel plate and STILL took leftovers home! Speaking of that perfectly pounded thin and crispity-crunchity schnitzel, you gotta try it. It's so good, and practically melts right on the tongue. I'd come back for that alone! read more

See all

Really popular spot in downtown. The bar is full service so it's easier to grab a seat at the bar in order from the menu. People there are super friendly and they serve a lot of nice comfort food. It's got a classic old-school vibe like the name would suggest definitely worth a visit. read more

See all

A nice historic place on the square. The restaurant is older and the seating is too, but not run down. We had a group and tried the cheese curds, pretzel and deviled eggs. All were great and I would recommend them. We also got onion states with a couple of our sandwiches which were also fantastic. Beer cheese soup wasn't very hot and was okay. Salmon salad was fine but had to ask for a lot more dressing. The adult grilled cheese needed a better cheese option. It was miss. The pork schnitzel sandwich was pretty dry. The Friday fish fry had a couple of sad little pieces. The servers were very kind and on the ball. read more

Food: It was good food, nothing I've haven't had before, but it wasn't anything to complain about either. Service: It was okay as well, nothing out of the ordinary. He did seem a little frustrated at times because we were slower to order than most, but it was our first time so that's going to happen. Ambiance: It has that Midwest charm. read more

See all

Such a fun Madison spot! Came here with my husband and had a great time! The cheese curds and old fashioneds were delicious, and the atmosphere was lively and very Wisconsin. It was a little busy when we went, but overall a great place to stop for a cocktail and a meal. read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Food 5/5 Service 4.5/5 Ambiance 4.5/5 A Wisconsin staple at this point, The Old Fashioned does pub food (and even some brunch) well. The cheese curds were solid, the tenderloin sandwich lasted me a whole two meals, and the food the rest of my party got (a Belgian waffle and a Double Brat) also was quite tasty. Would recommend after a nice market stroll. read more

The Old Fashioned - Tenderloin sandwich - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The best cheese curds in town!! Based on the number of reviews alone, it is worth trying.

This was a highly recommended place and it didn't disappoint. We ordered fried cheese curds, a cheese and meat platter, bacon mac and cheese. The place had good ambiance and great cocktail menu as well and also got their old fashioned. The mac and cheese was definitely their highlight, including smoked trout in their platter. If i wanted to grab some bar food, drinks and just relax, I'd go again and the service staff including the waitress was very knowledgeable, hospitable and attentive. read more

The Old Fashioned - Meat and cheese platter. - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Visited The Old Fashioned while in Madison, WI for a friend's 40th birthday, and we ended up going twice in one day. That's how fun it was! It's a casual spot with good energy and plenty of seating both indoors and out. We walked in both times with no reservation and were seated right away, even though it was busy. For lunch, we ordered the poutine (featuring fresh cheese curds and house-made gravy) and paired it with a Wisconsin style Old Fashioned (features Brandy). We also ordered a Schlitz beer, which came with a pickled egg on the side. Yes, a pickled egg! It was such a fun regional touch and surprisingly tasty. The food hit all the comfort notes, and the prices were reasonable. Our server was friendly, quick, and had great menu tips. A standout spot for cheese curds, unique beer pairings, and Wisconsin vibes. Definitely recommend if you're visiting Madison, it's a local staple and worth the stop! read more

See all

Brought some friends from out of town. Drinks arrived on time but the food took forever, we had three different servers. Bathrooms were clean. read more

An established anchor for locals and tourists. They have a diverse menu from bar food to German food. Lots of beer choices. In fact, a majority of the selections are local. Menu items they are known for include an Old Fashion (thus the restaurant's has in its name), cheese curds (featured on Food Network), and pork schnitzel. I enjoyed the pork schnitzel and local Spotted Cow. I sat at the bar and enjoined great service, ball game playing, and food. The place was packed and as I left a bus dropped off more patrons. Just FYI you may have to speak a little louder when busy. Great experience overall, thank you The Old Fashioned. read more

The Old Fashioned - Pork schnitzel - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Casual restaurant and bar located in downtown Madison! Of course being in Wisconsin, I had to try the cheese curds. They were made out of cheddar, and I was surprised at how sharp they were. Definitely a little greasy as expected, but still super tasty. We also got the combo fish fry, which came with three fish to try. The wait was roughly 20 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. The waiter was really helpful and gave us recommendations. read more

See all

This is a Madison Institution. The Cheese Curds are supposed to be the best and were really good. I also had the fish fry which was tasty. Service is friendly and you have a great view of the State Capitol Building. This is a great place to stop by if you are in town. read more

I wanted to get the curds but we were cheesed out (Lakefront curds and the Mars cheese castle ). They are award winning here, so if you are remotely in the mood, order them. Door County Cherry Salad - perfection. Great ratio of dressing to lettuce. The blue cheese was not overpowering and the cherries were such a great add. I would order this anytime I'm in Madison Heirloom BLT- I believe this is seasonal but that means that you need to hurry here and order it. Absolutely amazing. Location is great. We went in the summer and sat outside people watching and looking at the capital. Love this spot and I will dream of this salad until the next time I get here. read more

See all

Best Reuben I've had in my entire life. 12/10 would recommend. And they don't skimp on the meat. read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin