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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.
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.
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.
I absolutely loved my stop in here while walking the capitol square! The food and drinks gave WI supper club vibes! We sat at the bar to eat and drink and the staff always made sure we were attended to. I definitely recommend stopping in at this cool bar!
There is a waiting time on those busy nights, we visited Friday night. Make reservations, or get on the waiting list, it's well worth it. It's a busy restaurant, and the staff are well experienced to deal with it. It's not overly loud, it doesn't feel cramped. Lots of decorations and interesting things on the walls to see. We had a great waiter, knowledgeable and attentive. Food was delicious, cocktails were expertly made. The food and drink menus had something for everyone. Highly recommend to all people in and visiting Madison.
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
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
4 years ago
On the road for business and this place has always been suggested from my local Madison colleagues. Finally took their advice and tried it out. As soon as I walked I knew it wouldn't disappoint. I LOVED the atmosphere. Dim lighting, decorated for the holidays with strung lights, old sport and local signs hung on the walls and exposed brick. Stopped in on a Sunday evening and they were decently busy. We waited for about 5-10 minutes before we got seated near the window. This was an amazing spot, as you could look out the window to see the fresh snow on the ground and the Madison Capitol Building. Our waitress wasn't overly friendly but she took good care of us. You can't go to The Old Fashioned without ordering an old fashioned...so that is exactly what I did. I went for the classic with Korbel Brandy. My first time with brandy, and it was very tasty! I ordered the beer battered walleye sandwich and cheese curds for the side. Squeaky cheese is a must in Wisconsin! The fish had great taste and the tartar sauce made the sandwich. I would definitely come back to to have another old fashioned and to try other items on the menu. A fantastic dinner stop if you are in the area! read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
Nice restaurant in downtown Madison right in front of state building. Service was good. We really wanted to try cheese plate. It was good but we will not order the same plate again. They offer couple other plates which we will try next. Cheese curds were really good. Sauces were awesome. Warm chips are OK. There's nothing special about them. Definitely will visit again to try some sandwiches. Burgers on plates looked amazing. We only eat halal or kosher so sadly we couldn't try. read more
4 years ago
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A wonderful place to hop in for a drink! The bar has a great atmosphere and lots of choices between cocktails and beers on tap. read more
7 years ago
We stopped here on our way through Madison after seeing all the good reviews. We started with the cheese curds app. Amazing. Get them. Savour them. And then leave. The rest of the meal was underwhelming. We ordered the Mac n cheese with bacon. The cheese had the chalky texture of Tums. We also got the special Wednesday fish fry. The fish had no flavor. None. Not even salt. It was honestly strange. In summary, I would go back for the curds but would find somewhere else for a meal. read more
They make Old Fashioneds with brandy-weird. The Old Fashioned is, in that way, rather fundamental in its menu choices. Serving only Wisconsin made drinks and classic dishes from the area like Cheese Curds, Trout and Walleye, bratwursts and burgers it is Wisconsin culture and food in a Capital neighborhood sized package. I loved the number 41: Wood-grilled and slow roasted pork shoulder. A tender and well spiced roast pork shoulder between buns with pickles and muenster, like a pulled pork with a mustard spice about it. The Curds are soft but slightly chewy to that squeak I'm told they aspire to. The lazy Susan platters are truly appetizers for a crowd. Try anything, the 11 diner table I was part of ordered nothing I wouldn't try again. Don't forget the nightly specials, they run the gamut from fish fries to prodigious prime rib. read more
4 years ago
In Madison on business & read about this place. I arrived around 5:30 or so on a Thursday night & it was packed! Both bars were full, but I managed to find one seat. The service was very good and the food was ok. I heard about their curds, and I must admit, I have had better. I am sure their food is great, otherwise, they wouldn't have such a turn out on a regular basis. The ambiance is very nice & you can tell the locals meet here and it is a regular hangout. I enjoyed chatting with some local students & learned some neat things about Madison. I would return if I get the chance to visit Madison again. Next time, I will order an Old Fashioned & some steak! read more
11 years ago
A long weekend to the Mad City for a family wedding brought us to the place we love to find any reason to show up. The model for bike friendly, great food, great beer, interesting art, fine beer, thoughtful thearter, lots-o-beer, The Onion, really good beer, great education... and beer on the Terrace at the Union! Madison, WI! The 7 hour drive full of blues and jazz and folk and indie and country took us to a hotel check-in and a dinner time conundrum. So many gnosh-eries, so little time! With three smartphones blazing up the data highway, a consensus was quickly apparent... "The Old Fashioned!" But woe is us....Yelpers say wait times can be Rip Van Winkle like, historic, folkloric especially on sat nights during dinner hours... and yes, it's sat night during dinner hours So the parking gods are smiling on us and we find a spot right on Capital square with the first pass. Looks like the Yelpers hit the wait-list nail on the head. A crowd milling about the front door. We excuse our way inside to the host stand. 30 minutes... what?!?... who the heck are all these people... and what are they waiting for?!? Who cares...hell we can do 30 minutes standing on our heads. We begin. And very way-cool is the phone app that keeps you up-to-date on where you are in line. 30 minutes turned into 20, the app gave its electronic "you're up" and we were in, in short time! The joint buzzes with talk and laughs and hoots and whispers. Excuse me's and sorry's. It's deceivingly large and comfortably full! Looks like it could have been an old hardware store from decades ago. Long and narrow. Wood everywhere. Tables up front, looong bar to the left and booths opposite the bar. We're led to the left just in front of the bar through a opening and down a step. Same thing over here just kinda backwards but with one long bench down the wall opposite the bar. Leaves lots of options for table/group arrangements. Our walk continues to the back of the room and up a long flight to even more tables on a second floor and more relaxed hustle and bustle. We are politely deposited, menus left with decisions to be decided. Eric or Bradley or was it Matt stopped with welcomes, nightly specials and drink orders to take. The draught taps were extensive, maybe 30 or more and mostly Wisconsin. But we are in "The Old Fashioned", so the namesake it had to be. Be notified that this establishment lets you build your own with choice of booze, mix, bitters, and garnish. We went original recipe, $5 per if memory serves. For us, the old fashion cocktail "bar" (no pun intended) is set high (see "The Friendly Tavern", Zionsville, IN). "The Old Fashioned" old fashioned did not disappoint. Maybe a tad sweet for our taste, but the evening cocktail math progressed with 5 into 3 so the sweet was not a deal breaker. On to the gnoshing. As we had a late lunch in the city of the Illini U, we decided against full on dinner and went with an order of cheese curds and one of the "Lazy Susan" options for our triad: Lazy Susan No. 6 (our collective thoughts parenthetically): Miesfeld market holiday garlic salami (garlicky, buttery smooth and a peppery end), Bavaria Sausage Kitchen's Braunschweiger (pure liver sausage with just the right amount of bitter finish), smoked lake trout (perfectly smoked and not over-dried), creamed herring (in a delightfully dill creamed sauce), Dusseldorf mustard (a brown mustard tang), dill pickles (house made, cold, juicy and crunchy), deviled eggs (with a dust of paprika), Widmer's Brick spread (sweet and soft with a slightly sharp finish), Vern's Sharp Cheddar spread (sharp and tangy from start to end), plenty-o crackers & rye bread...$15.95 Lightly beer battered cheese curds... $6.95: OK, so's every Yelpers review raves about the deep fried cheese curds - hot, soft, melty and oh so tasty especially after a dip in one of The Old Fashioned signature sauces. That's what they all say. And now for a sharp left turn. We love cheese. Must be four or five high end cheeses in the frig at home right now. Been in Wisconsin on many occasions but have never tried the cheese curds. Until now. Well, we all went for it. Tried the deep fried cheese curds and to a person we decided, don't think less of us now, cheese does not need to be battered and fried to be enjoyed. Cheese is just fine enough as is. We promise to say five Hail Mary's each and attend Confession on every other Sunday for a month. As we sat and enjoyed our lazy susan offerings we commented on plates that passed us on their way to other diners. Steaks, fish, burgers and sides all looked well prepared and overflowing but for us, left for another night. The Old Fashioned is Old School and Old Cool. It's menu is an homage to the true supper clubs of Wisconsin, the north woods and days gone by. You should not let another day go by without stopping in. The decision to curd or not to curd is yours and yours alone. Gnosh on! read more
9 years ago
Stopped in for a late breakfast on a Sunday morning... very impressed with this place! The restaurant was packed but we were able to grab a spot at the bar with full service. Ordered the Belgian waffle with a side of bacon and a coffee. My friend ordered the country fried steak and I tried a bite. So flavorful and delicious, albeit a little heavier than I like to go for breakfast. The service was fast and very friendly, and price is reasonable. Oh and I grabbed cheese curds to go... very tasty! I will definitely keep this on my list to go to. I saw their beer list and want to go back when I can stay longer for drinks. read more
6 years ago
18 years ago
We stopped here last night for drinks on our way to Tipsy Cow for dinner. Honestly, if there was only one restaurant you could ever eat at you would probably have to pick this place....I mean, they have everything....great apps, salads, and steaks/burgers/fish etc. along with breakfast. I actually didn't think to eat dinner here last night because they are normally SOOOO busy! Anywayz....we had cheese curds along with long island ice teas. Ya....we were feeling no pain as we were leaving. The bartender made the comment, "here you go, these are the real deal" and they were strong and delicious!! Yes....he got a good tip. :D P.S. Old Fashioned people: Please open another restaurant on the east side!! read more
8 years ago
BEST FRIED CHEESE CURDS. I mean, you can only (or should only) eat a couple little nuggets at a time, so you might as well go for the gold. The Mac n' Cheese was yummy, too, but not particularly special or distinctive. read more
12 years ago
My dad and I came here for a day trip and were looking for dinner. Through yelp we found this place. Thankfully we found free street parking. The place busy and there was a 20 min wait for 2 people on Thursday at 8pm. Good sign but bad for us to wait. The bar seats were first come first serve and full service. We were lucky enough to have find space at the bar to dine. My dad had the old fashioned house burger (he substituted the burger for grilled chicken which we really appreciated). It was still well executed. I had the spicy burger (definitely had a kick because I bit into a jalapeno). I opted for the side salad instead of fired. it was actually impressed that the salad was a good mix of chard, arugula and baby spinach....that was a hit in my book. The order of fried cheese curds was a lot for 2 people....this delicious greasy goodness is more suitable for a 4 people. I wished the waiter would have warned us....oh well. read more
9 years ago
8 years ago
I totally like this place, and if it were closer to home I would eat and drink there much more frequently. Maybe next time I have a dentist appointment I should stop in on the way to gain some courage to face the drill! And eat something to make the hygienist hurry my visit along. Last time there I was with some friends and we just had some drinks, but usually it's more about eating, and the food is most certainly up to par. All except for the liverwurst the waiter said it was awesome, so I figured even though I was fairly uncertain if I'd ever had it before, and suspected the name already told me all I needed to know. I know now more certainly, I don't need to try it again. Perhaps THIS liverwurst is better than other versions. I'm convinced that the name says all there is to know about this disgusting meat preparation. The Mac n Cheese was something I recall as being even better than they promised. read more
5 years ago
Cheese curds!! This is our favorite spot when visiting Madison. The cheese curds are the best. They lightly bread them so you still get a bit of the squeak from the cheese. The burgers are always decadent and they have the greatest brandy old fashions. Last time we were in we sat at the bar and had a great conversation with the bar keep. Even though it was pretty busy, he kept coming back to check on us and we felt very welcome even though we were just getting drinks and an app. I also love the lighting and long bar. Hands down one of my very favorite places to visit in WIsco. read more
13 years ago
Best burger, cheese curds and pint! Try the #30 burger (Old Fashioned Burger with crispy thick bacon, grilled onions, cheese, and a perfectly cooked sunny side up egg that gives up the ghost as you press the top bun down onto the burger-yum!). The onion strings are also delicious. Their French fries are crisp yet soft inside, much like a McDonalds fry. Situated across the street from the Capitol, busy and bustling, yet welcoming and friendly. Give it a try! For non-burger wishes, try their grilled chicken sandwich or pulled pork. I also noticed vegetarian options on the menu that looked appealing. New favorite! read more
Super impressed with this place. Was in Madison on a business trip and always scope out local places and this time we found this gem. Beer selection was unheard of, a coworker got a flight and it was served very stylish. I stuck with the theme of the restaurant and got a traditional old fashioned and it went down soo smooth. And for $6 a drink I wasn't sad when I went to order my 4th because I didn't feel robbed. The drink was best old fashioned I've ever had. Seriously. We aye dinner too and that was equally impressive. Got a burger, great beef and the GF bun actually tasted like a real bun. Wasn't missing anything. The portion was huge and the price tag awesome. If you want some good hearty food and heart warming drinks this is your place! read more
5 years ago
More info about The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney St
Madison, WI 53703
Capitol
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(608) 310-4545
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http://theoldfashioned.com/
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Ask the Community - The Old Fashioned
Is there a dining area away from the bar or is it all one big bar with tables where you eat food?
We sat by the front window and it was away from the bar. There were several tables that were not right next to the bar
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