Title: Not great for anyone who is not neuro-typical Staff is not great? I don't want to be rude or anything but they didn't seem to be giving us a personal experience. When we were trying to make a reservation it seemed like they were trying to rush through things and they were ignoring our questions and explaining things inadequately. We had issues with getting our name on the wait list as well. At first they told us we couldn't put our name down because our entire party wasn't present, but that the wait would only be about 35 minutes by the time our last person got there, however only ten minutes later when they had arrived the wait had jumped to an hour. This was frustrating, and one of our party members was upset, so the hostess said that they would send for a manager. However, while waiting for the manager, the hostess still never asking for our group name to put us on the wait list? She just told us to wait next to the hostess booth and then ignored us and continued to help people who were in line behind us, putting their names down on the wait list while we were waiting, still not even put on the wait list. :( When the manager came, she was immediately hostile and annoyed that we needed to talk to someone who could actually answer our questions. She was treating it like a Karen situation when in reality we are all neurodivergent and have ligit questions and misunderstandings. While one of our party members were getting frustrated and flustered with the situation, the manager lady put her hand on their arm without asking, which is a big NO especially for people who struggle with social situations and neurodivergency. Two of us ended up having an anxiety attack by the end of the interaction because it was so stressful, so we did end up just leaving. It was a pretty uninviting place for anyone who struggles with sensory disorders or anxiety. On the plus side the bar was alright. We got some drinks while waiting for our final party member but again, the hostess/manager situation was unpleasant. read more

A couple of co-workers who went to school here recommended this place. It's definitely got a local feel and I'm sure it holds great memories for a lot of people. As a visitor just passing through, this place was very average for me. I had high hopes for the lazy susan and fried cheese curds, but they fell short. Given the good reviews I was expecting a better balance of tastes from the lazy susan, but it was all just salty, sour, and meh. We came for dinner on a Saturday night and the wait was 45 minutes for 2 people. I guess also with the name Old Fashioned I was expecting the place to be more swanky and have better quality food. I would probably try somewhere else if I were to find myself back in town. read more

The Old Fashioned - Dat lazy susan. Two words, sour and salty. - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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What a sandwich! I went with 2 co-workers and we first ordered the cheese curds and they were excellent and I normally don't think that much of them. For dinner I ordered the prime rib sandwich and it was huge and I could only eat half. The meat was tender and lean snf cooked to perfection. It was topped with cheese and mushrooms, my mouth is watering thinking about it. The restaurant was busy but we were seated right away. The waitress took our drink orders shortly after we sat down. I had a Margarita which was cold and tangy. Cute place with a good amount of college students. read more

We came here after we didn't make the Fromagination for dinner. We waited over an hour. We couldn't complain I guess since this place is the Happening place apparently. What I didn't know was it was going to be this busy the entire time. We got sat by the reception desk. We met our waiter who was a nice man. We asked what he recommended. He said obviously the cheese curds as it was rated #1 in the state for cheese curds. We also got the beer cheese soup. The cheese curds were amazing. Hence the words were. Demolished those things with the tiger sauce and garlic sauce. The beer cheese soup I didn't like because it tasted like beer. My wife loved both. The beer cheese soup came with popcorn. We ordered the fish fry trio with cod, walleye and perch. My wife got a chicken sandwich with gluten free bread. The wasn't thoroughly impressed with the sandwich. I thought it was good but nothing to say wow over. The fish fry was good. My wife liked it and she hates fish. So that was a win. My wife downed 3 beers of different local brews. Our waiter brought me a sample of the local root beer. The reason for the 4 star and not 5 was of the following. The check was 46 dollars for 2 entrees and 2 apps. The beers were on happy hour which was cool. Also, the sandwich wasn't a home run for the cost. I wasn't a huge fan of the soup. Having said that I'd give it an overall 4.5. read more

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Love the view of the Capitol. Delicious food and great service. Never disappointed when we go there. read more

Had the classic old fashioned and it was the best old fashioned I have ever had!! Had the Walleye fish fry platter and it was amazing, as well as the curds, slaw and a salad. Service was great too! Ate at the bar. If in town again, will go back!! read more

Excellent! The rhubarb old fashioned was great! Fish was also excellent! The cheese curds are certainly some of the very best we've ever had! read more

The Old Fashioned - Fish and chips - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Stopped here after a long weekend in the Madison area. This is becoming one of our favorite places to stop at when we are in town. DO NOT SKIP either one of the Lazy Susan appetizer options, pick which ever one that appeals to you, you will not be disappointed! The Brandy Slush (get the added Cherry Juice!) is my go to beverage of choice, especially if you can sit outside on a nice summer night. Portions are good sized, if not on the larger size. Tried the Fish Fry sampler, included Cod, Perch and Walleye, and it was great! My wife got their Saturday Prime Rib special and the Queen cut is massive! Delicious all around! read more

Really good. We had kind of a long wait for the food and the fries that came with my Reuben were quite cold and soggy but everything else was beyond superior. The cheese curds are a must-get read more

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Went here for the old fashioneds stayed for the lazy Suzan and cheese curds. I will be sure to stop by again on my next trip to the isthmus.

This place was very good. I loved the drinks and the cheese curds were very delicious and it's worth it to visit for some cheese and drinks. I will say that the poutine left a lot to be desired, there was very little gravy and the fries were kind of gross. I ordered the schnitzel and it was very good but the cabbage on the side tasted like they poached it in butter and water, it was very wet so I would get something else other than that. My partner ordered the fish and chips and while it was good I've had better elsewhere. As I said I would pay this place a visit for the iconic cheese curds and delicious old fashioneds read more

The Old Fashioned - The old fashioned was very good, perfectly sweet so it was drinkable and dangerous - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Absolutely amazing! The decor, lighting, and detail throughout the restaurant were very tastefully done. The cheese curds were literally the best cheese curds I have ever had!! As for the service, I couldn't have asked for anything more...they were thoughtful, quick, and kind:) I definitely will want to go back! read more

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Really cool place. I tried a new food: cheese curds. I had a bad attitude about them but was pleasantly surprised. My husband loved his Old Fashion too. Solid place. read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I would give this place a two star and my husband a four star... so to try and be fair I'm giving it a three star. If you don't like old fashions, don't come. My husband loves old fashions and he said it was fantastic. I got the strawberry margarita, had one sip and couldn't drink anymore... it was the worst margarita I've ever had. It was watered down. My husband drinks pretty much anything and even he couldn't drink it. For food it was a pretty similar experience. We got the cheese curds to start and my husband liked them and I didn't. I found them oily. For dinner, my husband got the double brat and he really liked it. The sausage was good. I had the Wisconsin hamburger (I read the burgers were good here) and I was not impressed at all. Pretty disappointing. The fries were fantastic though! Very crispy. Service was good. We couldn't get a table because the wait was so long so they weren't taking any names. We were lucky to find a place at the bar. We also had a few flies flying around. read more

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I heard the burgers here were really good and saw that apparently the cheese curds were the best in Wisconsin. Sadly, I was disappointed by the curds. Just a soggy batter with not much flavor. I literally ate it so that I would be full and not waste money. Will not come here again. Service wasn't bad though. Interior kinda gloomy. read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cool place especially the bar with retro beer (Old Style " on tap. Good food with large portions and reasonable prices. Fast service too. read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

We absolutely loved this restaurant! We loved the atmosphere and the food! Service was quick and friendly :) We LOVED the chicken & biscuits especially and would 100% recommend everything but especially that! Our son also loved their chicken dippers and fries read more

The Old Fashioned - Chicken & Biscuits Wisconsin Beer Cheese Soup - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Nope. Nope. Nope. Flavorless. Bland....in short. Very dark (for noon). Very cold (for summer). Shivering while eating is not an experience or an exaggeration. The service was 5 stars. The Bloody Mary was 3 stars. The food was 0. The beer was 0. I spent $70 and would've been more satisfied watching it burn as I lit the bills on fire. I'm glad I didn't come to Madison for the food. At least I like the person I came with. Not so humbly submitted, Michael C. read more

Wait was too long. Didn't stay. Do not recommend unless you're willing to wait a long time.

Loved the food and drink menu....service could use some work! Hubby and I ventured to The Old Fashioned while our son attended a football camp at Wisconsin. Based on the high ratings we thought we would give it a try. We were seated without a wait even though it was a packed house. It took a long time for our server to get to us to get our drink order. Even so, the drink menu looked amazing, especially you guessed it their Old Fashioned's. My hubby was really craving a BLT and asked if they could put some bacon on their grilled cheese with some tomato. It wasn't that they said no, it was how they said no. Our server was just kind of snotty (it turns out they do not have tomatoes there, which if she had just said that....it would have been cool). Anyway from the person who seated us, the man who brought and refilled water, and our server; were all kind of grumpy and miserable. Food was good, not amazing but I liked it! Probably wouldn't go back though because of the service! read more

The Old Fashioned - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great local spot with fantastic food and drinks! Some great Old Fashions - classic and with a twist! The best cheese curds in Wisconsin IMO! read more

The Old Fashioned - Best cheese curds! - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great Old Fashioned's (of course!!) Deep fried cheese curds and Lazy Susan's are so awesome! Fairly crowded main room but the is an addition and an upstairs read more

Oh CHEESE CURDS, CHEESE CURDS AND CHEESE CURDS... Wisconsin, the state known for its great cheese! You cant leave this state without cheese curds from The Old Fashioned. Its almost given that this restaurant is known for the BEST cheese curds in Madison, WI. Yes, I know there are so many other restaurants that have cheese curds on their menu but this place is probably the best you can get in Madison! I have visited Madison twice in the last 4 months and I think I came here twice just to eat their cheese curds. Their cheese curds are very soft and it melts in your mouth perfectly! With a glass of COLD BEER of your choice, its the best way to end your day after work. They have an extensive menu for lunch and dinner too and supposedly, their gourmet burgers are very tasty as well. I forgot which one but my boyfriend and I tried 2 different burgers and they were both very fulfilling and mouthwatering. Customer service was superb and I really have nothing to complain about their food and service. The restaurant itself is very clean and neatly organized. Only downside about this place is parking. They do not have private parking lot so street parking or public parking is best bet. But anyway, if you are visiting Madison and/or you love fried cheese, please come by The Old Fashioned and try their infamous Cheese Curds! There's usually a long wait for dinner but seats at the bar are available without any wait upon availability! read more

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What a great find! The Reuben is probably the best I've eaten, because of the first-rate quality & flavor of the corned beef. The location close to the heart of downtown near the Capitol made it a perfect choice. read more

Very poor, arrogant service at the bar. NO whiskey in my wife's Old Fashioned. Bartender Ben insisted he poured 2 ounces of Jameson in both drinks but there clearly was none in one. Ben said there was nothing he could do to fix the problem. Then, Ben never came back to take our food order even though we said we wanted dinner and he left menus. Ben did have time to yap at the opposite end of the bar while other bartenders hustled. After waiting to order without success, we finished our drinks and found a different restaurant with great food, good drinks, and a friendly server who got a nice tip. The Old Fashioned wasted our time. read more

If I only had time for one meal in Madison, I would spend it at The Old Fashioned. Situated downtown right across from the Capitol, the location is convenient, and it's nice strolling around the square with that view during the inevitable wait. As for the food, what you'll find are the things Wisconsin is known for and also lots of comfort food and classics. They have burgers and meats grilled over a live fire. They have fish fry on Wednesdays and Fridays. They have lots of local ingredients. And their housemade fresh Wisconsin beer-battered cheese curds are the best cheese curds I've ever had. The first time we went we got a basket of cheese curds ($8) for our group, and by our next visit a few days later, we had already upped that to a basket of cheese curds for every couple of people. They were that good. Incredibly cheesy but somehow not that heavy, and they didn't even need any of the sauces that came with them. I don't know what they do to them, but the flavor was just better than any other cheese curds I had while we were in Madison. It was so tempting to order more baskets but we knew we'd be full off the other food. I initially planned to get a burger on our first visit, but couldn't pass up a chance to try the bratwurst ($9), made locally in Sheboygan and served with raw onions, pickles, and brown mustard on a roll with a side of fries. That was some good bratwurst, and I was very happy with my decision. It all worked well as a combination, and the portion of matchstick fries was so huge that I was so full when we left. I couldn't believe all that only cost $9, but the prices at The Old Fashioned are really reasonable. On another visit, we went on Wednesday so we could try the traditional fish fry ($14). They only do lake perch on Wednesday, but if you go on Friday, you can get perch, cod, or walleye, or all three. (We did try to go for Friday fish fry another time, but sadly it was the day they were closed from the fire.) I was pretty happy with the lake perch, which was easily double the portion size I was expecting, and some of the best fried fish I've had. It came with the same fries as everything else, some housemade tartar sauce, cole slaw, and rye bread, all of which were good. Would definitely do that again. If you're looking for affordable food downtown and want to try some of the stuff Wisconsin is known for (cheese, brats, beer, fish fry, etc), The Old Fashioned is an excellent choice. Friendly staff, good food, casual atmosphere, pretty much everything we were looking for. read more

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Perfect Sconnie experience. Bloody Mary's. Curds. Burgers Can't beat it. Always try to come every trip to Madison. read more

Wisconsin's best cheese curds for a reason. My goodness gracious! We quickly finished our first plate and ordered another. Variety of dipping sauces. I got the grilled cheese and my son and I loved it. Delightful. Downtown parking garages nearby. read more

I was on a mission for quintessential Wisconsin food and k found it! Delicious hot cheese curds, excellent crispy brat sandwich- even the side salad was amazing. I'm not a condiment person- but the Düsseldorf mustard was excellent. Of course I had to drink spotted cow. I also got a brandy old fashioned- no thank you! It was not a real old fashioned- it had soda water in it- but I drank it and it was fine. The service was great and quick and in a lovely location in the square. Hope I can return! read more

CHEESE CURDS, cheese fondue, chili Milwaukee style ARGH don't order all of the above at once because it will be TOO MUCH cheese. We ended up unable to finish our main dishes because our party of 4 ordered too much cheese for starters. The waitress was very passive aggressive towards us idk why. Ambiance was okay but we sat at the table right next to the door and it was SO COLD every time someone came in or out. I think sitting at another table would have made our experience better. Long waits on evenings regardless of whichever day of the week it is. Whole party needs to be present before seated. read more

DOUBLE OFF OF THE BIG GREEN MONSTER TO DRIVE IN THE GO AHEAD RUN IN THE BOTTOM OF THE NINTH TO WIN THE PENNANT!! My colleague and I grabbed lunch here during the COVID event as we were jetting to Milwaukee to check out the completed Alternate Care Facility. A guy at the Emergency Operations Command had suggested it and he was SPOT ON!!! We shared an order of cheese curds for a starter and they were delicious. Being from Memphis we don't have cheese curds, and I heard they were a Wisconsin staple so I was pumped I was finally going to try some. They had great flavor and came with a creamy dipping sauce with the right spices. They were very good - as advertised. I also ordered a cup of the Wisconsin Beer Cheese soup, and it was incredible. It was a great consistency with just a hint of beer flavor. Very warm and tasty. For a meal I ordered the Old Fashioned House Burger and it was MONEY! The meat was unreal with a ton of flavor and very juicy. The combination of hickory smoked bacon, Wisconsin aged cheddar, garlic sauce with the fried egg was AMAZING!!! The fat, salt, and acid mixed together wonderfully and juices just poured from the burger when I took a bite. I can only imagine how well it tastes when eating it at the restaurant. I highly recommend this place, and I hope to come back one day. read more

We love this place! It's the perfect restaurant to bring friends who are not from Wisconsin so they can get a taste of real Cheesehead food & drink & get a close up view of our beautiful state capital. Always a great time at The Old Fashion read more

Service was good, but food was very lackluster. Out of the three of us in our party, nobody liked their entree. Mac and cheese was dry, fried fish and accompanying sauces lacked flavor, grilled cheese ratio (of different ingredients) was off. Bill averaged out to a little over $30/person including drinks and tips. read more

For the past couple of times, there's always been a long wait at the Old Fashioned, so immediately after work before it's even 5PM, we decided to stop by and sure enough, there was no line! However, it was a cold day, and the seats by the entrance gets a drift of cold air every time someone opens the door. Since it was Friday, I decided to get the Friday fish fry special and got the combo. We also shared an appetizer of cheese curds, which were very airy tasting, delicious in its own way but different from other types of cheese curds that we've tried. the cheese curd tasted light and shall I dare say healthy tasting in essence even in combination with the spicy spinach dip. We also got eight 3-oz tasting beer which was presented on a delightful Wisconsin wooden plate with the number of the beer on a round paper underneath each glass. Unfortunately, eight tiny glasses was too much to try, I'd recommend just trying four next time just for the experience. read more

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I had a lousy meal at the Old Fashioned on a Wednesday night. Kids chocolate milk tasted unusual; possibly sour, had unusual flavors. The kid's chicken tenders were overcooked and dark; I wouldn't have served it. Pork cutlet was boring, sauce was tasteless. Side potatoes were boring. It was accompanied by an unusual green -unusual cabbage- coleslaw that was inedible. Waiter stunk and looked like he recently woke up from sleeping in his car. The marvelous cheese curds were overly greasy, but tasted good; why so greasy and not at all crispy? The other meal was a vegetable sandwich that was enjoyed. It's a nice space, but regarding the quality of the food, the employees and management need to improve their standards. Why would I eat here again? read more

Great atmosphere and good food! The cheese curds are the best! Love the Wisconsin vibe!

Great service and food! Love the cheese curds! Atmosphere especially on a game day is fun too!

This place is ok. We came here to try the cheese curds, artisanal cheese and Old Fashioned. The cheese curds were a traditional Wisconsin sharp yellow cheddar curd fried in a beer batter. They cost $7.95 + $0.50 for the tiger bleu dipping sauce. On the upside the cheddar was really good and the dipping sauce was ok. On the downside, it was a little greasy and salty and charging for the dipping sauce was odd. All that said, they were tasty and if I were to eat here, I would order them again. The cheese plate #3 for $12.95 was good and the Old Fashioned drink $6 was ok. Its got a dive sports bar look and feel. Probably a fun college student hangout. Listed in Drive Across America: https://www.yelp.com/collection/4_4-FCUBHEQBq43u7DXRig read more

The Old Fashioned - Artisanal cheese plate #3 ($12.95) - American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Went to visit here on a Saturday around 1. Had to wait about 20 minutes. They texted you when your table was ready so that was nice. Service was really good. Prices were what to be expected in downtown Madison. Cheese curds- they had a delicious light breading. Very cheesy. 4/5 stars. Old fashioneds- good but not quite like a traditional one I'm used to ;) Burgers- Got the spicy burger and the Wisconsin old fashioned burger. Both were very good, fresh and tasteful ingredients. Not out of this world though... pretty standard but good quality. 3.5/5 Side salads were fresh and had a great dressing. Overall, glad we got to try it but probably not a 5 star place. read more

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If you are going to The Old Fashioned, there are 2 things you need to know. 1. They don't take reservations - prepare for long waits, but as long as you know you can put your name in early and just walk around the capital and get a drink nearby 2. You must get the trifecta of cheese curds, the old fashioned burger, and an old fashioned. You will leave very full and happy. I had a great time with a friend before a concert. The decor and ambiance is so cute and Wisconsin. The bar was full, there were loud tables of laughter everywhere, and the staff was very friendly. read more