The Old Fashioned
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What you've heard is true, best cheese curds ever. I shared them with 2 co workers but I could have easily finished them by myself. They're delicious on their own but the sauce definitely took them to another level. I can't remember the name of my cocktail but it was their rendition of a Moscow mule with rye and it hit the spot. We all also got the Wisconsin burgers. They were juicy and flavorful, I devoured the whole thing. I completely understand why they were so busy on a random Tuesday afternoon. Service was just as amazing as the food was. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town. read more
It was my first week in Wisconsin and everyone told me about cheese curds. So we went to the place that is famous and was on Food Network, they're honestly very good. Highly recommend. The restaurant is cute! I still don't get why they have T-shirts hanging out in the front. From the outside it looks like a whiskey bar. The sandwiches were what you would expect from an American restaurant. It's not your ethnic grandma's house so don't expect any flavor. Very nice staff! I recommend this place read more
6 months ago
I had the Wisconsin burger, cheese curds, and the pickled beets salad. Their food never disappoints, is amazingly inexpensive, and there server was there to answer questions and get me what I needed. To top it off, the view of the State Capital made it it a perfect place to chill! read more
11 months ago
Where to even begin! There is no surprise that food network voted the cheese curds here best in the country! They are heavenly! Riley was such a help in accommodating our large group! All the staff were so kind! The place has such a great vibe! So glad to have had dinner here! read more
2 months ago
The serving sizes are massive. The cheese curds are great. Our server was very nice. The fries could've been in the fryer for longer. They get stale after ten minutes. The burger was good for a thick patty. It's a little loud but it has a bar. The TVs have captioning at least. read more
3 months ago
Located across the street from the state capital building is this cool dive bar. There is mainly street parking from what I could see. After entering I see that this place holds records for most old fashioned ever served and knew I had to try one. I also ordered a chicken sandwich since it was lunch time. The food and service were swift. Overall this was a great visit for my first stop in Wisconsin. read more
I must say that best cheese curds I've ever had. I NEVER order burgers at restaurants but I went out on the edge and did. I was not disappointed at all. First time I've had a burger seasoned to perfection. I'm. It a fan of large onion rings so when i say these small flaky onion rings, my heart started singing. Our waiter was amazing and recommended some other great options off the menu. I definitely recommend this spot. If I'm ever back in Madison, I will be back. read more
Pleasantly surprised but the food. Reasonable prices for the quality and portion. The Haystack Onion Rings were seasoned, thinly cut, and extra crispy- addicting. The Cheese Curds were one of better ones I've had at a restaurant. Pickled Baby Beet Salad was fresh and huge portion. I added chicken, which was generous and nicely grilled. We were passing through Madison and decided to stop in for lunch. It had over 2k reviews, so I was hoping it wouldn't be a tourist trap. It was a random Friday afternoon, but they couldn't seat us at a table (even though there were a few open). So, we sat at the bar, which at least gave us quicker service. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
First off, Our waiter was really great. We waited a LONG time for our food but he was soooo great! Cheese curds were good! Burger..absolutely not. Took two bites and then ate some of just the bun. Fries weren't fresh or good either. I was so disappointed in this meal! Missed the farmers market for how long we waited then to have the meal be genuinely really gross was sad. But like I said- I think a drink and cheese curds is the way to go here. I would not return to be honest. read more
1 year ago
Great food, great drinks, and great service with a fun mid-west vibe. We enjoyed our meal and experience very much! read more
2 years ago
Great restaurant, very homey, nice environment and all the servers were super nice. The beer soup was a little too salty but I liked the cheese curds and the salad. read more
This place has signs on the door that they had the best cheese curds in Madison. I came in to give it a try. The house was full and put my name in for a 20 minute wait for a table. I reviewed the menu and saw a huge selection of beers on tap but ordered the Old Fashioned with cherry juice and bourbon. A different spin on the drink but it tasted good. I ordered the cheese curds appetizer and the 10 oz. tenderloin cooked medium with the mushroom cream sauce on the side. It came with roasted potatoes and carrots. I cut into my steak and it was cooked medium-well. The cheese curds were great and the steak had good flavor despite being overcooked. The mushroom cream sauce did add some flavor as it had a taste of brandy. I ordered a second cherry juice Old Fashioned. The food was good, the place was happening, great beer selection with OK service and OK execution with the food. I did not feel the buzz as expected with the two Old Fashioned drinks. I do have to admit that I liked my steak here better than Tornado. 3.5 stars! read more
8 months ago
4 months ago
Visited the good ole Old Fashioned Friday night to try their fish fry. We stopped by around 7 pm and surprisingly there was no wait for a party of 2. We started off with their cheese curds which were really good (good flavor, nice pull, and crisp outside). I ordered the fried walleye which came with fries and slaw. I had high expectation given the walleye was featured on food network etc., but will say it was good but nothing mind blowing. The walleye had a crisp batter and was cooked well, but for $19 it wasn't worth to me for the size of the fish. We also had the pork schnitzel which was fantastic. The schnitzel was cooked very well and was well worth the price. Overall, good experience! read more
A classic Wisconsin joint -- touristy but just in the right way. I really enjoyed my hazy IPA recommended by our waiter who had excellent recommendations. We had the beer soup topped with popcorn (interesting but I enjoyed), a walleye sandwich (really good and unique), the spicy burger (delicious but fairly typical). The sides of the cheese curds and onion rings really blew it out of the park. Very fun restaurant. read more
First time trying this, was highly recommended by anyone I asked and lived up to expectations! It's your classic college town big restaurant, where if you go at the wrong time you could get a 2 hour wait but the food was great! Drinks were affordable and I loved the onion rings! Would be a great place to be on Saturdays during the season but I'm sure that's not a secret read more
I had a huge prime rib with mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, and some deep fried onions. I asked for a side salad which was delicious as well. I was surprised at how fantastic the food was, since the vibe is a bit divey. The food is a solid 4 stars and the service was solid. However, you might want to bring ear plugs because the conversations I overheard were awful, just some of the weirdest or raunchiest or rudest kind of dialogue you can imagine. LOL. I got in the zone and pounded my prime rib and peaced out. read more
8 months ago
5 months ago
1 year ago
Loved this place! The drinks and cheese curds were wonderful! Shout out too to the beer cheese soup! (Not pictured) read more
1 year ago
Going into a weekend trip to Madison I heard from every local to go to The Old Fashioned. I now know why! First off, this Madison staple oozes character. The walls are adorned with vintage, eclectic signs. Second, the menu is all things Wisconsin. No frills, but great portion sizes. Something for everyone and at a pretty reasonable price (especially considering its locale). I enjoyed the wedge salad (huge!), cheese curds (divine), Wisconsin cheese soup (not what I expected but worth a try), Old Fashioned burger (perfection), chicken dippers (handmade and delish) as well as the fries (salty goodness). Absolutely no complaints here! Third, a spot named after a drink should have a good drink menu. And the menu at this gem does not disappoint! I had a taste of its namesake and it was well done. But the star, to me, was the Slush. It said on the menu it was form grandmas very own recipe and I don't doubt it. Brandy, OJ and lemonade frozen!? Yes please. FINALLY, this spot is always hopping. It is a local favorite that doesn't take reservations. Be prepared for a wait. We lucked out and were able to squeeze in within 15 minutes. The staff is phenomenal. From the host to our waiter-- 10/10. The Old Fashioned serves up Wisconsin favorites-- it boasts outdoor seating and has something for everyone. Don't miss out! read more
3 years ago
I had been really excited to try this place since I'd heard about how highly rated the cheese curds were here!! for a party of 2 on a friday night the wait was about 30-40 minutes. the service was great, and it was a busy friday night. we ordered the bacon mac n cheese, the cheese fondue, the old fashioned house burger and the fish fry. bacon mac n cheese: good but not mindblowing, feel like I probably could've made this at home as equally good cheese fondue: really disappointed by this bc the toast was super subpar. felt like this dish could've been really elevated with actual sourdough baguette pieces. the fondue itself was thick and cheesey as you'd imagine fish fry: tasty, was satisfied with this dish the old fashioned house burger: by far the best dish here!!! i would come back just to eat this alone. i subbed out the fries for the cheese curds which were as delicious as expected. probably the best cheese curds I've had in wisconsin thus far overall pretty happy with my experience and I would definitely come back! read more
3 years ago
This was a great place to grab a bite to eat and some cocktails before the Nebraska vs. Wisconsin game. It's about 1.5 miles from camp Randall but there's a bus stop right around the corner that will take you near the stadium. Plus, you can't go wrong with views of the capitol. On to the food, the cheese curds were sooo good! I of course had to get an old fashioned...it came carbonated which isn't my fav but still enjoyed. The meals were pretty good overall, I was super impressed with my spinach salad but the fries that came with some of the meals were pretty meh. Our service started strong but towards the end of the meal we were having to ask multiple times for items. All-in-all this was a fun place in Madison! read more
Came here with a party of 7 on a Friday early afternoon and we were quickly seated. It's in a great spot in downtown Madison- directly facing the state capitol building. We were able to park at a nearby parking garage. We ordered their famous cheese curds as an appetizer and I got the spicy burger Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Food: 4/5 I absolutely loved the cheese curds. There's a reason why they were rated the best in the state! They were super fresh and perfectly fried. The burger was solid. At first glance, it seemed smaller than typical burgers I've gotten but I ended up being completely full. Price: 5/5 Pretty affordable especially for a downtown restaurant read more
3 years ago
Sconsters, Wisconsinites, cheeseheads. If you like Scon food, it's hard to beat The Old Fashioned. Their burger is the most reliable burger. The oozy egg yolk on top? That is how we should be making burgers more saucy. The onion strings-definitely more grease and salt than a person should eat, but all of the goodness I want to eat! Their sandwiches also stellar. This place just salts all the food so well. Also it's hard to top their cheesecurds. So soft yet so crispy on the outside gah. And the walls are adorned with Scon memoribilia. What's not to like? read more
10 months ago
The price was very reasonable for the portion you get and the vibes were great! The classic old fashioned wasn't the best I ever had (I'm a stickler for fancy maraschino cherries) but I still had a great time! The waitress and hostess were very nice and I would definitely go again! read more
2 years ago
Perfection! With the name Old Fashioned, I knew it was going to be great! Stopped in for lunch and there was a 15 minute wait but the char is first come first serve and we were able to score two seats! Ordered patty melt , onion rings and deviled eggs .... Yum yum yum . Everything was delicious! The decor is fantastic with amazing beer signs and old style chandeliers. I wanted to buy a souvenir hat or tshirt but o forgot.... Lucky me ... I'll have to return next time I'm in the great city of Madison!! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
I'm a flight attendant in town for only a few hours. This was suggested and it did not disappoint. After a tour of the capital (which was breathtaking inside and out) I went across the street to this gem. All the beers on tap are local (which I love) told him what I like and he suggested the best beer for me possible. No clue what it was but I had two. For my meal, went with the airline passenger suggested old fashioned and cheese curds. ON POINT. Every bite. read more
1 year ago
Food was good, coffee needs some attention, nice vibe. Wish the grilled cheese was toastier, the Reuben was solid, and beer cheese soup was good. read more
1 year ago
Food was amazing !!! Super crowded but was still quick service. Waitstaff was nice and although busy answered all my questions read more
It's awesome being right on the capital square and the food is so good. I had someone in town visiting and knew we needed to stop here for lunch. Everyone has to try their cheese curds. We had a great table by the window with a view of the capitol. We started our meal with the amazing cheese curds and then both had the wedge salad. One of the best wedge salads I've had. The perfect amount for lunch. The staff was friendly and the food was delicious. A must stop in Madison. read more
Must stop in Madison. If you need to stop for one place for cheese curd. I recommend this place. Right in the heart of downtown and across from the capital. Cheese curds nice and oily and flavorful. Something about cheese and oil and fried is really good. The burger is very tasty. Quick service restaurant if you are in a rush. Great selections of foods that's will get you staring at the menu trying to decide what to get. I got their old fashion burger and it did not disappoint. Must try and get each time. But there also so many other great items on the menu but unfortunately I was not there visiting long enough to get other items in the menu and I just couldn't eat any more after the burger and cheese curds. Restaurant was nice and clean. Always my go to when ever I'm in town for work at least once per trip read more
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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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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