Tipsy cow has phenomenal atmosphere and is my favorite bar in Madison. Great sconny vibes and fun bartenders

Tipsy cow burger is juicy and as good as a restaurant burger gets. Nice job. Beer battered fries are nothing special but it served its purpose. Friendly staff. read more

The Tipsy Cow - Cowboy Burger and beer battered fries. - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Very cute spot with a great atmosphere, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. I genuinely wanted to enjoy it, but unfortunately the food didn't live up to expectations. I ordered the burger and after just two bites I could tell it wasn't for me. It was extremely greasy and, despite that, lacked flavor. The sauce on it was overpowering and didn't really help bring everything together. I ended up paying for a burger I could barely eat. The truffle fries also missed the mark. If you're looking for that classic truffle fries experience, this isn't it -- the truffle flavor was very subtle and the aioli was a bit too heavy. They also forgot one of my friend's items, which was disappointing. It may have just been an off day, but overall it wasn't the experience we were hoping for. read more

Fun vibes and good food and drinks at the tipsy cow! I ordered the fish tacos and an avocado taco (did not realize avocado tacos were fried based on the description) but they were tasty! It was very busy for a Saturday lunch likely due to the crowd from the Madison Farmers Market. The sandwiches do not come with a side. Friend loved the steak sandwich. I wish they had a couple more veg friendly options. Overall recommend and great experience! read more

See all

SO delicious, & a WI classic / must try!! Ordered: - Local goat cheese curds: Loved this! - Fried cheese curds: Loved this! - Truffle fries: Great firm fries (didn't felt too doused in truffle oil), & paired well with the sauce! - Local lamb burger: Really liked this!! The meat was very tender. - Tipsy burger: This is a great burger on paper, but a little too greasy for my liking. Personal preferences! - Fried Mike's pickles: Loved this!! Tasted like an onion ring, but better! The batter compared to the sourness of the pickle is a great combo. Service was also good. Waiter checked in on us often. Nice bar vibes / ambiance. 100% recommend! read more

See all

This place is amazing! It was a very busy Friday night, and we did have to wait a bit until our server got to us, but once she did, the service was outstanding! Then, the food! My wife had their grilled cheese with bacon and a roast garlic aioli which she said was extra special! I had the mushroom and swiss burger, which I have to say was the BEST mush and swiss I've ever had! The smashburger was super juicy and flavorful, and the mushroom and saute'd onion mix had so much flavor mixed with the melty Wisconsin swiss has truly set a very high bar. We have some really good burger restaurants back home in Indianapolis, but this burger blew their version out of the water! read more

First time at this Madison staple! I started off with the seasonal apple cider marg and it was great, though I felt like the apple taste could've been stronger. I got the sour cream and onion fries, and that was a hit! I ordered a mushroom and swiss burger but accidentally got the mushroom sandwich, and the server was so nice and understanding when I brought up the mix up. The burger wasn't my favorite mushroom and swiss burger, but it was good. It is a little loud in here though, so be prepared for that! read more

See all

Tipsy Cow was recommended to me by multiple locals here in Madison, WI. Cheese curds are on point, tipsy burger was comforting and heavy. The drinks are on the stronger side in my opinion! Overall everything tasted very good, would come back again read more

See all

I hadn't been here in years, but used to come here for happy hour after work. Decided to try it out for dinner on a pretty summer evening. We decided to sit outside and had prompt, attentive service. I wish I could remember the name of our server but he was fantastic. My Old Fashioned was delicious, and when we went I wasn't starving so kind of wanted something light. A lot of the appetizers looked decent but still wanted something slightly healthy. They had an open-faced egg/asparagus sandwich that sounded light and intriguing. I almost would call this more of an appetizer than a sandwich, but either way it was delicious and I'd totally order it again. It was basically everything I was looking for and completely hit the spot. Will definitely make sure to come back sooner. read more

The Tipsy Cow - Sandwich - Asparagus & Egg - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

They have some great seasonal cocktails for around $10. Friendly vibe, definitely a touristy spot. They curate a lot of local ingredients for their menu. Service is always on point. 4/5 due to lack of accessibility. read more

See all

Decent service at 12:30 pm but a bit slow. Decent truffle fries. Lamb tacos were too greasy and on the bland side. Lamb tacos came with charro beans, I thought, but got a small bowl of chili instead. I enjoyed the clam chowder. Garlic aioli with the truffle fries was good (warning, strong garlic) but was not as wild about the fries themselves. Seems to me truffle fries don't need a seasoning coating. Fries were crispy and warm. Good prices. Entrees for $12. I would eat here again, would be nice if they good take some grease out of food, though. read more

After being seated outside, we were ignored by waitstaff for at least 20 minutes despite the place not being very busy and there were muliple waitstaff walking around. Seemed super disorganized. Happy we decided to leave because we walked over to the beautiful beer garden at Great Dane and enjoyed wonderful service, ambiance, food, and drinks. read more

This review is solely based on the bar area of Tipsy Cow! After grabbing dinner around the corner at The Old Fashioned, we were after a night cap in the area and stumbled upon The Tipsy Cow. The main entrance takes you into the dining area, but we entered the side entrance which places you directly in the bar area, which was perfect for us! Both areas are connected through a small hallway, but they both have their own vibe. We bellied up to the bar and ordered a few cocktails. The bartender was super friendly and made a great gin and tonic! We didn't get any food, but those giant chocolate cookies looked delicious! Overall, super chill spot for a cocktail in downtown Madison. Happy to swing back through on my next visit! read more

Me and a coworker stopped by here after searching for open places after a late work event. The interior of the restaurant/bar had a rustic, mid-western aesthetic with interesting decor and a local bar vibe. The staff that we met were super welcoming and offered tidbits on what to order. We ended up going with the alligator bites, fried cheese curds, pretzels (with a whole grain mustard sauce and a cheese sauce), and a grilled cheese. Overall, it was great bar food. I'd gotten a mango margarita mocktail which was refreshing and tart. The alligator bites were definitely interesting but pretty good, somewhere a mix between a tougher flaky fish texture wise. The cheese curds were a hit and the grilled cheese was also yum. The pretzels were also great and the cheese and mustard sauces were a good hit if you like that flavor profile! read more

The Tipsy Cow - alligator bites, grilled cheese, fried cheese curds, and pretzels (off to the right side) - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

ALL I could hear when I walked into this Madison must-have is Tommy Boy. Like legit, Chris Farley was speaking from wherever he is saying-- "God, you're gonna remember this the rest of your life. Can't believe you've never been cow tipping before. Get ready to live." (Yes, I know tipping a cow is far different than a tipsy one... but with a little modification, this could be its motto.) Needless to say, Chris was not wrong. I could see this being my hangout if were to move to Madison. The Tipsy Cow isn't trying too hard. It's a fabulous watering hole in the shadow of the Capitol. It boasts a great patio, friendly staff, rotating tap and plethora of cocktails. We popped in for Happy Hour on a Monday. Absolutely no complaints here! Honestly, I was mad we didn't grab a bite to eat. The menu looks bomb dot com with a dozen or so appetizer options (including alligator bites and goat cheese curds)... and then burritos, tacos, salads, soups, mac n cheese options and more, The Tipsy Cow has something for everyone. The Tipsy Cow doesn't disappoint. read more

O.M.G this place was delicious!! To start the vibes are on point such a fun and cute place, music was great & love the decor! The service was quick, but someone in my group had an order get mixed up and it was very quickly resolved! So service was quick and very very nice. My asparagus and egg sandwich was one of the best things I have ever eaten, it was amazing i'm talking 10/10 perfect it was truly like so so good. Will be coming back when i'm back in Madison!!! read more

The Tipsy Cow - Asparagus and Egg sandwich - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

So yummy! First time here. They had specials and I got the poutine grilled cheese (fries, cheese curds, gravy and grilled onions) and a steak sandwich. read more

See all

Fresh food and great selection for kids. Love the crunchy fries. Decor is hip with lots of interesting knick-knacks. Service was excellent.

We were trying to decide where to go for my birthday and came across the yelp listing for The Tipsy Cow. We had only been at the downtown location once since moving here a few years ago and just hadn't made it back. When I checked out the menu, seeing goat cheese on the list caught my attention. The me u was full of things that our family of 5 would like so I said I know where we are going. My husband and I had apple margaritas, which were tasty. I had the smoked salmon grill cheese, my husband had a spicy Korean sandwich. One kid had a brisket grilled cheese, another ham and cheese, and an other had a goat burger. Everything was delicious and being able to sit on the patio was a bonus. We will definitely be back read more

The bartender with a red snapback and red jersey on the night of 2/7/2026 at around 12:30AM claimed i was underage even though I was 23 and presented a real id. He was super misogynistic and rude. Clearly staff was not trained to properly read ids and on top of that was not trained to provide quality service to customers. Super disappointed as a customer who had to contemplate calling the cops in order to enjoy this bar. Will not be ever be entering this establishment again. Again I provided a legal id, which I would expect an established restaurant/bar to be able to interpret a real id to a fake id which is pretty embarrassing to get wrong and accuse a legal customer of being underage. If I was A tipsy cow bar manager I would fire this bartender immediately as he was going The rudest, most incompetent bartender I have ever came across. Do better. read more

In town for a wedding and was a recommendation. 6 of us for a late dinner. Excellent service, good service and fair prices. An enjoyable experience read more

Just a great place to have really good drink and bar food on Madison's Capitol Square, on a balmy Friday night. We needed to find a place to eat and drink for the four of us and a dog, on our visit to Madison. There are quite a few restaurants with open air dining on the Square, so I suggested a place that none of us had gone before. When we got to the Tipsy Cow around 7, it was fairly busy but there were many open tables in the sidewalk dining area, so was confident that the wait wouldn't be too long. We were quoted 30 minutes for a table of 4 outside, and ended up only waiting 15. The restaurant uses an automated waitlist so can use the link sent to your phone to see where you are in line. The tables outside are spaced far enough apart to allow dogs to comfortably sit their owners. We were brought menus and waters, and given time to peruse the two page menu. Most places in Madison have Spotted Cow Ale on tap, so we ordered two pints ($5 each which is a great price) and Loon Juice Hard Cider ($6). I haven't had any Spotted Cow for eight years, so that first big sip made me very, very happy and set the tone for the rest of the dinner. The cheese curd appetizer ($10) was a must when first eating in Wisconsin, and didn't surprise. It came with two dipping sauces and had been made with fresh curds so was the right amount of chewy and stringey, with a good light batter. It's quite a bit better than what you can get at Culver's which is what people outside of Wisconsin are used to. We also got an asparagus app ($8), which came with 7 big pieces of asparagus that have been grilled over and drizzled with some light mayo dressing and black and white sesame seeds. My wife really liked it. My wife and future SiL ordered the Friday fish fry with Walleye ($16 each), which came with French fries, cole slaw, rye bread and two types of sauce. Both came with a very big piece of expertly battered, deep fried fish. It just puts other fish and chips meals outside of Wisconsin to shame. The fries were not great (probably the only thing not good in our meal), limp and greasy. But the cole slaw was fresh and zingey. My daughter got the 1X1 cheeseburger, using Knoche's beef ($10) and 3 year old cheddar with topped grilled onions. The bun was very soft (squishy), and she said she really enjoyed it. Knoche's was a local butcher shop that closed during the pandemic, but still provides very high quality meat to consumers and businesses. I also noticed that they use Nueske's smoked bacon, which my wife and I think is the best bacon out there. I got two shareable dishes: bowl of tipsy chili ($8) - excellent...I could eat two bowls of this with some bread and call it a very satisfying meal. Memphis Tots ($8) - never had this before, but it was a very popular dish with the table. It was great as -is (with a generous amount of the memphis dry rub seasoning), but also great dipped in the chili. It was very crispy, maybe even overly deep-fried, but it was great for us. The total for the 4 of us was $96, before tip. We laughed since this meal would have cost at least $200 in California and wouldn't have been as good (don't order walleye anywhere outside of the Midwest). We got to enjoy summer eating outside in Madison. And because it was the right amount, we still had space to get the best ice cream at the nearby Memorial Union. read more

See all

A must stop when visiting Madison. Excellent cheese curds and burgers. So many great options to choose from and I always struggle on what to order. But you can't go wrong with the burger and cheese curds. The burger is heavy and juicy with some good cheese curds you'll be full for sure afterwards. Service is always great no matter when you go. Staff is friendly. Even if you have a short trip you gotta eat here especially for the cheese curds. One of the best I had so far read more

The Tipsy Cow - Burger and cheese curds - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

... we had this place recommended to us and when we walked I thought I was going to get a decent lil burger and bar food. The burger I got was the tipsy burger and I'm fairly certain I got mote grease in that burger then I got water to drink. It lacked any and all flavor and listen I get that fat can equal flavor but it looks like the chef went oh sh*t and accidentally spilled a bottle of oil on my burger. My girlfriend got the burrito was "something between bad and meh". The service was actually probably worse. We ordered the pretzel appetizer it came out with the food. Our waitress never asked how the food it was. Never got us a refills of our drink and had us wait with barely touched food for 29 minutes (I'm unfortunately very sure of the time) before I eventually stopped her and just gave her my card so she could just run it. Listen I'm sorry I wasn't racking up 150$ alcohol tab like some of the other tables but that doesn't excuse poor service and worse food. I'm moving to Madison and will not be going back here. read more

I took out lunch from here on a weekday. I took out a couple of sandwiches - spicy steak sandwich and korean beef sandwich. Both were excellent and super flavorful. Because ribeye was used, sandwich had a lot of beef fat which I loved. Sandwiches came nicely packed in aluminum boxes, which were aestetically pleasing as well as retained the heat for a long time. read more

See all

Right off the downtown Madison capital square. They have patio seating, bar seating, and a separate dining area. The raspberry mule was AMAZING and my alligator bites were so good and tender. My friend was with and got the burger special and said that was also very good! Prices were not unreasonable. Good spot! read more

See all

My last night in town, this was an unplanned choice. A lively, nay, raucous bar scene of young-ish folks living the life. My cute pixie bartender was super cheerful and welcoming. I went all in and ordered the walleye sandwich. I think, once upon a time, walleye was somewhat common, if seasonal, as a CNY fish fry choice, but it seems almost extinct, as haddock is king. I have to say, walleye and cod both throw shade at haddock. This fillet -skin on, but I'm totally cool with that- had a perfect beer batter coating, was light and flaky inside, and the chipotle mayo and fancy slaw window dressing were a nice uplift. As my mom used to say whenever she got a particularly big tail order at our local fish fry stand, "ooh! It's so big!". see the accompanying pic to assure yourself this isn't hyperbole. A nice half order of curds, a couple a' pickles (I wouldn't have minded more), a Spotted Cow, and then a Leinie Shandy, because at this point, I'm all in on all things Wisconsin. read more

The Tipsy Cow - Papa's PBR Battered Fried Walleye, with a half order of curds. - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Love the food and beer here. The waitress was super friendly and very attentive. We sat outside on a very pretty spring Wisconsin day. Love this place!!! read more

See all

There were 4 of us wandering around Madison trying the most recommended items from the servers at each stop. I love when the waiters/waitress just get it, hop on board, help us get the item cut in 4, bring the check, and root us on. Just great service for a short stop. This is my favorite burger place in Madison, I have personally eaten here but my guests have not and they agree... most flavorful burger they've tried. It's a cool little bar tavern perfect for a night out with friends. read more

The Tipsy Cow - Tipsy Cow Burger & Fries - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

As someone who doesn't eat beef, a good alternative burger is rare to find. This lamb burger is splendid, great quality meat and good flavors in the dish overall. Need to come back ASAP! read more

See all

Very unfriendly and grumpy hostess, who somehow managed not to assign a server to our table. After about 15 minutes, we finally asked a passing server if she could help us. She was very helpful and friendly, apologized for the long wait and took the appetizers off our tab. The exact opposite of the hostess. Fried shrimp and goat-cheese curds were fantastic. Fried walleye sandwich was huge, but a bit heavy on the batter. lamb burger was very interesting with a strong lamb flavor. Plain cheeseburgers were also decent. read more

See all

Fast service and good food downtown. My favorite Bloody Mary on the square though! Dinner specials are usually a good choice also read more

See all

We stopped here after a bike ride just because it was in the thick of things in Madison. We sat outside and ate lunch (Bacon Guacamole Grill Cheese and Guacamole Bacon Burger), our server was really good, the location is great, and the food came out hot and delicious. read more

Food was AMAZING!!, we got the lamb burgers and I thought was the best ever, onions rings cook to perfection , love everything!! read more

The Tipsy Cow - Lamb burger! - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The location is cute and well-decorated, although I imagine it gets a little cramped when busy. The food is good and reasonably priced, although the burgers and sandwiches do not come with sides. I had the mushroom swiss burger which was quite good, albeit nothing mindblowing. I don't drink, but it seems like a great place to find local craft beer if that's your thing! read more

The food was alright. It took our server 30 minutes to greet us and get us our drinks because she was too busy talking with her friends at another table. Boyfriend had one of the hamburgers and the bun was soaked in grease. Would give this place a 7/10. It's more suited for drunk college students. read more

First time here. We had a total of 4 people they said there was going to be a wait but then found a spot outside and split us up into 2 tables. I asked if they could just put the tables together and she said no it would be blocking. Finally got a table when people were leaving. The waiter that we had was ok the food was go read more

See all

There are many things to consider when it comes to fried cheese curds. How does the cheese stretch? How crunchy? What was used to batter the curds - beer, vodka? What is the sauce it comes with? In my opinion, Tipsy Cow has the best fried cheese curds. The Spotted Cow beer batter is perfection. The consistency of cheese went well with the outer batter. Came out quickly and hot. And goat cheese curds are offered for a couple dollars more. They were melt in your mouth goodness with a side of ranch! So worth it. We also tried the lamb burger which was amazing. Came topped with bacon. Would definitely come back to try more items in the menu. They have a good system for getting a table. They take your number, and you're sent a link with updates on your status on the waiting list. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Requesting a seat at the bar can possibly get you in faster. read more

See all

This is one of my husband's favorite hang out spots. Since he works downtown, he is in walking proximity on the daily. I previously had only been during a Saturday night, years ago. I finally had the chance to spend some time there to eat and drink. I had the grilled cheese with a cup of tomato soup. The soup was very thick, but it got the job done. I had a summer special drink Mind Your Bees-ness. Do you have your choice of making it spicy sweet or sweet. The hibiscus liqueur gave the drink a certain je ne sais quoi. My husband had his go to,the Korean beef sandwich. I took one bite and understood why he always gets it. The combination of the perfectly spiced beef with pickled vegetables and Sriracha mayo is unspeakably tasty! I am looking forward to my next visit there! read more

See all

I went here with friends before a show and none of us were super impressed. There are some vegetarian options, but I was disappointed that they didn't have a black bean patty or other vegetarian alternative for the sandwiches/burgers. I ended up getting the asparagus & egg sandwich and it was very bland and underwhelming. My friends and I also got the alligator bites to share, and they were nothing to write home about either. Our server was friendly and the restaurant had a pretty standard bar & grill-type vibe. I would be willing to try Tipsy Cow again in the future to see if other menu items might be better, but I'm not eager to go back any time soon. read more

The Tipsy Cow - Asparagus & Egg Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all