I LOVED THE FOOD!! It was amazing to eat and looked so good!! The service was also perfect! My waiter was really nice and kind to my family members! read more

Our group of four was very satisfied with our meal. The cheese curds were delicious as was the chicken sandwich, burger and the mac & cheese. I also enjoyed the French Nasty (brisket, fries, cheese, etc) Everything was top notch, and the portions were generous. Very glad we stopped. read more

Stopped by for a late meal on a Thursday night and the place was quite lively, but there were still a few tables open. The servers all seemed to be having a good time and took excellent care of us, checking in just enough but not too much. The menu is small, but has something for everyone. We tried the carnitas - flavorful and tender - and a burger - expertly seasoned and juicy. Both were slightly overcooked: the burger arrived more medium rare than the requested rare, and on the carnitas the yolk of one fried egg was deliciously soft, while the other was just a bit too set. However the high quality ingredients and delightful flavors evened out any imperfections. The drink menu was well rounded and we enjoyed both the beer and cocktails. The small touches in design elevate the interior from the ordinary in an entirely pleasing way. Tip Top is a great addition to the neighborhood and I look forward to enjoying it again soon. read more

I so wanted to love this place as we were there who love this place in their former neighborhood. But, I ordered The Rooster (BLT glorified) during Sunday brunch service and there was 1.2 pieces of bacon on it. Everything else about the sandwich was very good, but it had less than 2 pieces of bacon on a sandwich that they charge about $10 bucks for. The 3 stars is because our waitress was awesome, and the kids enjoyed every bit of their French toast plates. read more

I went for brunch on Saturday morning and loved the outdoor patio I order a egg Benedict biscuit special with sausage and jalapeño with a Bloody Mary top it off , great food and lovely staff shout out to Ben for the lovely breakfast thanks bro keep up the good vibes and good food read more

Tip Top Tavern - Egg Benedict Bloody Mary and beer - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The French connection, errrr wait the Dirty French... haha was great. Highly recommend!!!! We were there around 8pm on a Saturday and there was a good mix of people. Great service too :) read more

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Love the great Friday Fish Fry! In nice weather the patio is wonderful anytime of day And dogs are welcome! Good food and drinks, great staff! *Bring cash or checks. No plastic. ATM in the bar, but charges a fee. Just an FYI. read more

We were there for the brunch on a beautiful Sunday morning and sat outside. I had an excellent burger and my wife eggs Benedict. The courtyard was not very busy and had a relaxing atmosphere. The service was very good. The only issue on this trip was the eggs on the Benedict were hard cooked which of course ruins the dish. We sent it back and this time in the rush to please us quickly the eggs were undercooled with the whites still not set. My wife managed to eat it but was disappointed. She was in the mood for the usual perfect dish and didn't get it. This can happen anywhere and it's not a deal breaker but as I said was disappointing. That cost them the fifth star. read more

I love the Tip Top Tavern. Looks like a bar. Loads of wood, loads of light and and a very positive vibe. The bar and tables are always clean and service is excellent. I am a mixed drink girl and there are plenty of choices on the menu. I can taste the alcohol which is not always the case. Great Bloody Mary's. Most recently I shared a burger and a tuna melt with my son. The burger was excellent, perfectly cooked and oh so tasty. The tuna melt was not my thing. My son felt the same. Great space and good food. How can you lose? read more

What a great little menu for a reinvented local pub. Wonderful sandwiches and great beer menu. The outdoor are converted from the old parking lot is perfect. I hope to see a more extensive menu but the size of the kitchen makes a small menu understandable. read more

Tip Top Tavern - Outdoor area with some shade. - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Food is sometimes sometimes good and somethings just ok. Wasn't a fan of their brunch but lunch and dinner is good. Service is hit and miss. Maybe it's just in my head, but I get the feeling they don't like children. Every time with been in with our young daughter, the service is awful and we get a snarky attitude. This never seems to happen without our child. read more

Patio season has arrived! This is my go to walk-to-able neighborhood bar and in the summer it's the first patio I look forward to visiting! They have a great wooden lattice over half the patio that defuses light and lots of greenery. It looks like this year they've added a tree to the middle of the patio which will add shade and atmosphere as it grows. Plenty of bike parking and street parking if it's too far to walk for you. They have a great beer tap list that is shorter than some but offers plenty of variety and options. They also offer a few bottles and great artisan cocktails, I've tried a few of their appetizers and entrees. I really enjoy their veggie burger, their fish fry and their gourmet grilled cheese. My only complaint is the fact that they are cash only even though they take all their orders on fancy tablets... It just doesn't make sense to me. They do have an ATM on the premises but it's a real bummer to pay a fee. They do take checks, I guess it's just a little old fashioned for my taste! This place gets 5 stars for atmosphere and quality. read more

We had dinner here yesterday. It'd been a while, but the Tip-Top came to mind--the husband is a notorious thought-stealer, just for the record. I'm sure he'll claim otherwise. Anyway, we both love this place. It's very welcoming and comfortable. They have a fine beer list and a full bar. The service has always been great, no matter who is serving the table. We love the friendly vibe of the place. The menu hasn't changed since our first visit, but the quality hasn't either. These folks know how to cook some tasty food, and they seem bent on continuing to do so while also serving you great beers or fine cocktails. They have the best onion rings ever as a starter. Try the vedge burger. If I'm not getting that, I'm ordering the green chile mac 'n' cheese. I admit to taking leftovers home and using them as an ingredient when I cook dinner the next night. Check this place out! read more

This is probably my favorite brunch spots in Madison, WI. Their Bloody Mary's are by far my favorite that I have yet to try! I had a bacon eggs Benedict meal and my husband had their biscuits and gravy, which both were great! They only accept cash, but there's an ATM located inside. This is definitely a dive bar, but the environment is great! We had good service, and a great time. We will definitely come back! read more

Tip Top Tavern - Bloody Mary with PBR chaser - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

When I buy a house, I want to live next to a place like Tip Top Tavern. I'm not sure how long ago it re-opened, but they did an unbelievable job. It's cozy and has some up-north flair, while rooted in modern cuisine, unique beer selection, and delicious cocktails. We love coming here for FRIDAY FISH FRY - one of the best in Madison. It gets a little busy, but the friendly bartenders (Hi, Justin) will welcome you at the bar. We just had lunch on the large patio and started exploring more of the menu. Cheese curds? Salsa Verde Carnitas? Fried Pickles? Classic sandwich menu? Check, check, check, check. And everything tastes great. The prices are very fair, but bring cash, because it's one of those "cash-only" places. read more

Man, Madison is getting so many great new places that it is hard for me to keep track! The Tip Top Tavern is one of those spots I always drove by and thought "Man, what a dive. I bet It's great", but never got around to visiting. So, when I found out they had opened back up with a new owner, a food menu, and a new look I decided I had better get over there. Seriously, folks - what a great little place. After a bit of a rough start where-in I ordered a beer that I couldn't even look at because it was so awful (the Dogfish Head T'weason Ale - what a disaster of a beer. They were super cool and replaced it with their house old-fashioned, which was one of the best takes on the cocktail I have ever had) the meal went really smooth - especially considering how crazy busy it was. Between the three of us we ordered 2 burgers, cheese curds, and the fish fry special. The burger was delicious, moist, and cooked extremely well. The coleslaw was tasty, but had way too much vinegar. The fries were crispy and free of excess oil which was nice. Apparently the fish was delicious as well. Finally - the curds. Oh man, the curds! They were seriously (tip) top-notch. Lightly breaded, crispy, and gooey with some nice tasting ranch on the side. These are the closest to perfection I have ever had. Hopefully it wasn't a fluke! Beyond the food and drink, it really was a nice space. The lighting was great, the decorations were were fun, and it just felt like a cozy place that I would love to hang out at on a Wednesday night to grab a burger and a beer. I feel like all I have done lately is write about how awesome the spots I go to are, but hopefully that says more about how great Madison is than it does about my (potentially) overly-optimistic ratings. read more

For a bar, this place is pretty great! The prices are insane for what you get portion wise. I had their Mac and cheese with peppers in it. It was a nice amount of heat, not overwhelming and was delicious! Also had their fries - because when you find a place that doesn't have shellfish/fish or separates friers, you get the fries whether you're hungry for them or not!!! They came out piping hot, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. Our server was fantastic, she was courteous, friendly, and very attentive and timely. They also had a fantastic craft beer selection!! I was very amazed, considering this place looked like it was one of the bars I grew up in up north where the fanciest beer you'll find is Leinies (lol). I had a gose from I believe Lagunitas, and it was one of the more delightful beers I've had in a while. My bestie got the caprese burger. It was perfectly cooked, and had an amazing balsamic reduction on it that just topped it off. I'll definitely be back. Don't be fooled by the appearance on the outside or in. It's a hidden gem in the north side! read more

I could say "This is a tip top spot!" but that would be CHEESY and my New Year's resolution 23 years ago was to avoid such things. ANYways. I definitely liked the ambiance of this space a lot. A charming neighborhood bar with horizontal narrow wood paneling, lower lighting, tiled floor, tin ceiling, and a very pretty border/trim around the ceiling. Being a small-ish space with lower ceilings and hard floors, it does get a bit noisy when the place fills up so best to beat the rush if you're sensitive to that sort of thing. Also, it's another CASH ONLY spot so be sure to stock up or else they have an ATM on site. My co-workers and I headed here for drinks one Friday. The place seemed to have a "must order food" policy in order to be seated at the tables so 15 of us frustratingly spent a bit of time crowded at the entrance, downing beers, trying to decide if we should move on. Fortunately, I think the staff finally figured out that two beers basically equals the cost of a sandwich (so what's the difference) and we got a nice row of tables. Whew! The place was definitely running a wait by 6:30pm so, again, head out early/late! The Mister and I headed here at 6pm on a Saturday and were able to snag the last open table in the place. The beer list is good and reasonably priced ($4). The menu offers burgers, apps, and sandwiches and sports several vegetarian options. Mr. had the special (Walleye sandwich) which he enjoyed while I had the Seitan Philly ($8.95), also tasty. We started with the cheese curds ($5.95) which were yummy. I'd previously had the kettle chips/dip, which were just that, chips/dip, nothing fancy and the fried pickles which weren't my favorite... All in all I really liked the ambiance (but I'd go early so I can hear better) and appreciate the reasonably priced & yummy options for both vegetarians and carnivores. I hope they are able to work out the kinks along the way (i.e., must order food to get a seat policy) but overall think this is a very nice addition to the neighborhood. read more

I've been a customer of the Tip Top Tavern since they reopened under new ownership. I started frequenting the establishment even before they opened the kitchen. I like the Owner (BEN) and Manager (AL) very much and would like to remain friends with them. However, the people they hire are hit & miss. The bar tenders are frequently rude and inattentive. They huddle with each other at the end of the bar and ignore the customers at the other end. They occasionally take a quick scan to see if there are any empty glasses but scan right past me & leave my glass empty. I have always been a very good tipper even if the service is not quite up to par. The food started out top notch, But began to go down hill in the last couple years. Perhaps they got a new chef. The prices still remain just as high though. So if you want your bank account think you are eating a 4 star meal but want to trick your taste buds into thinking they are eating at Denny's. Then the tip top is your place. I have brought these problems to the attention of both Ben and Al on several occasions. Alas, no changes have been made. As much as I like them both I can no longer be a patron. The Tip Top Tavern has lost my business. read more

I love that the best of this classic Wisconsin tavern was preserved whilst providing a much-needed facelift. It's a great addition to the neighborhood. We were there the week it opened and I enjoyed a few creative cocktails. My husband, a beer aficionado, loved the beer list, which includes 2 nitro taps. We were there again last night with friends for the fish fry. When I read the menu, I was intrigued by the Rooster sandwich, which is essentially a BLT + fried egg. I'm so glad I tried this instead of the fish because it was really good. It's such a large sandwich, though, it is probably better to split with a friend. I can't believe I'm going to write this, but there may have been TOO much bacon (although I managed to eat the entire thing)! If you love bacon, this is the sandwich for you! My husband had the fish, which was a nice piece of walleye and perfectly fried. He doesn't normally like cole slaw but specifically noted how much he liked the slaw. He also liked the tartar sauce, and said it was enhanced with dill. We live less than 2 miles from Tip Top, so we look forward to spending more time there, especially when we can bike there during warmer months! read more

Food and service can't be beat at Tip Top! I hosted a group, and they were happy to have notice so they could get tables together and prepare the waitstaff. It's a small dinning room, but they have an outdoor seating area that's wonderful in the summer. The music on a Sunday morning was soft Motown, and they were kind enough to find the 1 coffee carafe in the whole place and give it to our table. I have never had a bad meal, and everyone agreed that the food was amazing. I can't wait to go back and try something other than breakfast. *Note that they do not separate checks for tables over 4, and I think they only take cash. read more

Tip Top Tavern - Brunch drinks - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I stopped by the Tip Top yesterday evening with some coworkers to finally check it out. I've been curious since renovations began and was expecting great things. After a late shift, we were there for drinks and light food. The place was bustling, and yes noisy, yet we could still have a conversation without straining at a table near the back wall - so don't be afraid to bring a friend here if you actually want to chat. Selection was great and everything that we ordered (and actually received) was excellent. The fried pickles are crispy, delicious, and done right. However after waiting a half hour for an order of chicken wings, we were able to grab our server's attention and ask about my wings. "Oops," she said. And then a not very satisfying half-hearted apology. Having already waited a half hour, we were wrapping our night up and I said, "Let's forget them" since she wasn't offering any solutions. Somewhere between ordering the wings and realizing we wouldn't get them, our server told us she was taking off for the night and asked us to settle up with her. Our bill was completely off. You could say the free beers offset the lost order but it definitely wasn't intentional since the bill came first. I have high expectations of customer service and Tip Top Tavern failed, which is too bad because I was really beginning to like the place. read more

This is, quite frankly, often the happiest place in the World. People are really friggen nice. If you have a shitty attitude, leave it at the door, and order up a stiff drink and some good food. The servers act like family, work well together, and want you to be taken care of. The food wait is sometimes a little too long, but worth it. The specials usually nail it. I almost gave it one star so it doesn't become too crowded. Almost. read more

Poor service by the wait staff is my biggest complaint. We were there at 5:00 (and it wasn't busy yet), and it took probably 15 minutes to place our order. Finally, $16.95 for a fish fry. Yowzers! read more

I liked the slightly divey, hipster-ey feel of the Tip Top. Seating, decor--it was all good. I wasn't particularly wild about the menu or what I ordered, though. Don't get me wrong, it was good, just nothing special. I had the carnitas with eggs and corn tortillas. It was decent. I would have appreciated some salsa or a drizzle of sour cream to go along with it. Maybe some avocado? All that was available was a small bottle of candied jalapeño sauce. Which was decent, but didn't add much to the mix, which was kind of lacking in flavor. My partner had the granola with yogurt and fruit, and it looked amazing. The granola was very obviously homemade, and it smelled great. It most have also tasted great, because his bowl was clean. read more

I really wanted to give this spot 4 stars -- but man oh man! We arrived early, and like another reviewer said, we had to wait FOREVER for service. We got menus, but no water. When the server finally came to take our drink order (15-20 minutes after our party arrived), we ordered wine and also asked for water. Our drinks came out 10 minutes apart, and we never did get that water. The food is tasty. The fish fry is overpriced. The interior is fun and adorable -- the kind of place that inspires you to hang out with friends and linger over your meal. But man -- don't go when there's even a chance it will be busy, because the service can be dreadfully slow. read more

I really loved this tavern! The tavern itself is cute and cozy and the staff is super friendly. We went for lunch on a Friday at about 11am and we were able to be seated right away. We ordered the French Nasty Fries which were fries covered in brisket, BBQ sauce, cheese, and sour cream. It's a huge portion that was very satisfying! We also split the Sconnie sandwich and upgraded our side items to cheese curds. Both very good! I would definitely recommend stopping by the tip top tavern! I know that I will be back! read more

Tip Top Tavern - New American Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I tried the walnut burger and my friend had the Friday fish fry, both were great. They offered a wide variety of sides. Service was fast and the vibe was lively. A great addition to the East side and a wonderful community establishment. If you're nearby check it out. Everyone there seemed to be really enjoying themselves and the food. Fun drink menu! -cash only read more

Food: The fried pickles with special sauce are very good. The breading is like the batter from a good fish fry, and the pickles are cut in deliciously thin chips. The sweet potato fries were also quite good, but they were cold when they got to us. I always appreciate it when a restaurant goes the extra mile to make their own vegetarian burger. This one was fair and had a southwest flavor to it. The macaroni and cheese (which does not come with the cilantro or parsley mentioned on the menu) was pretty bad. You could eat the top layer off, but the bottom layer was completely flooded with oil. Service: The server was very friendly and courteous. However, we only got a refill on the water when the check came. Like most pubs, be prepared for a pretty good wait before you get your food. And, there appeared to be some issue with misplacing our appetizer order. Atmosphere: Fun and kind of hipster. There is a nice outdoor patio, but be aware that it is dog friendly. This means that you may have someones poorly trained dog licking your feet during dinner. This also means that all of the servers and staff will pet the dogs while handling your food. If this is a concern for you, consider a different restaurant. Price: Very reasonable. Starters were about $5 and entrees were less than $10. Payment: Cash only Parking: Street, but there seemed to be plenty of spaces. I love Tip Top Tavern's sister restaurant - Lazy Janes - and I would like to come back for brunch. And, the new ownership has done some great things to the restaurant. But, I would not come back for dinner. The food was fair to poor, and the dog issue is unappetizing. read more

Visited Tip Top Tavern on a Sunday morning and got to indulge in some delicious brunch! We got the Rooster (tasty breakfast sandwich with bacon jutting out every which way) and the Bourbon-glazed Ham Benedict (slight sweetness to a classic breakfast dish). Both were delicious and fair priced. Self serve coffee was an added bonus. It's also family friendly with a surprising amount of sitting room once you take into account the patio and hidden backroom. We'll be sure to check out the tavern for evening festivities in the near future! read more

I like this place and like even more that it is a short bike ride from my house. The soup is always great and the burgers are often as well. I got a mushroom swiss burger on special there once and it was the best mushroom swiss I have ever had. The fried pickles and cheese curds are great. As a bar their beer selection is A+. A little noisy some times but that is mostly the fault of the patrons, the TVs and music were never loud. Only negative I have had is that they added a brunch menu but it was pretty weak, not many options and what we ordered was not very good. Some friends had a terrible time with brunch as well with their food taking hours (literally) and then being wrong. Oh and it gets one more star for replacing the old tavern which was mostly a place to buy cocaine and drink yourself to death. Just the sort of upgrade the neighborhood could use. read more

I have been on two trips to Top Top now, and figured it was time to write a quick review. I've done weeknight dinner and Sunday brunch. The weeknight we stopped in was a beautiful night for patio eating. My partner and I both had the Tip Top burgers and they were wonderful. Nice albeit modest selection of beers on tap (disclaimer: we moved from Milwaukee where anything less than a novel in a beer menu is modest) and just an all around pleasant experience. Service was good--relaxed but not too distant--and we were in and out in decent time. Brunch was a few days ago and nearer to memory. I stopped in with a friend who ordered the pastrami hash and I had the veggie benedict. Mint and avocado? Apparently delicious! My only minor complaint on the benedict was that the tomatoes weren't quite ripe, but as my own garden will attest it's been a rough tomato year. My friend who has a gluten allergy was delighted to learn that they offer gluten free bread and said his hash was delicious. It was pretty quiet, just us and a few other people around noon. Hoping other people find this little neighborhood gem soon. Just, you know, not when I want to be there, it's nice to have some room to stretch out ;). read more

Soooo happy to report that our most recent visit, around Christmas time, was a pure delight. Our waitress, Rachel, was a gem, the service was fast, and the food perfection itself. YAY! W00t! read more

My second time back, the service was terrible. After we ordered, the waitress informed us that the kitchen was backed up and it would be an hour for our food. But, she was willing to give us some complimentary soup if we were willing to wait. Sure, why not. We were on the patio and it was a nice night out. Except that the wait for food stretched to more than 1 1/2 hours and in the last half hour, we watched people who sat down after us get their food before us. Frustration was mounting by the time our food showed up. My sister went with some friends on a separate night. They sat down and then waited for someone to greet them and take their order. All the while, they watched waitress after waitress stop at the table next to them and never bothering to stop at their table or even make eye contact with them. The wait staff couldn't get their act together enough to figure out who was in charge of which table and who had been helped. read more

I loved the Friday night fish fry. The fresh ingredients and recipes are great.The baked cod was the best I've had anywhere. Lisa our server and the host were very welcoming and fast to help us get our food on time to make our show. The back patio in the summer is also very nice. read more

Tip Top Tavern is a hidden gem! One look at the outside of this place would send most people looking for another spot. But I urge you, go inside! The inside is warm and cozy, and the beer garden is beautiful and intimate. They offer a variety of craft beers and cocktails, as well as creative twists on old favorite food options (Poblano Mac and Cheeseeee!) Most of the food is CHEAP, you'll pay a similar price for your craft cocktail as you will for your food. Amazing! A few tips at Tip Top: This place is cash only but there is an ATM inside. There is a smoking and non-smoking section outside, be sure to choose according to your taste. The patio closes before the rest of the bar. (10 pm, I think?) read more

Best sandwich I've had in years : "The Sconnie"! Wow, perfectly cooked pastrami with these awesome jalapenos, that were expertly prepared to remove all of the white pith and seeds to avoid the extreme heat. Instead you just get a mild and flavorful "burn" that is very pleasing. The bread was toasted perfectly and the dressings were all well placed notes in a symphony of a sandwich. Honestly, I will return just for that. Yes, the service was good and the drinks were well prepared, but OMG, that Sconnie! YUM! read more

Came for an outing here for the first time with friends who live in the neighborhood. The bar inside is nice. It is everything I picture for a local neighborhood spot. There is a great outdoor patio space with lots of room for groups. We had the patio almost to ourselves at 6 pm on a Tuesday in July but it filled up as we were leaving. My friends has the special (Tacos with Mole sauce). They liked it very much. I had The Rooster egg sandwich. It was so good. I love that a side salad comes with the sandwich, also with a side of chips or upgrade to fries, onion rings, cheese curds, pickles, or soup of the day. My friends ended the meal with the cake of the day. It was a Salted Caramel Cake. I did take a bite and liked it. I was trying to be good so I avoided more than a few bites. I will want to come here again to try more things off the menu and to try the brunch too. I have heard good things about that brunch. To note: Parking lot is for three or four cars. But there was ample street parking on the Tuesday evening. Weekend may be busier but worth a walk/bike in. read more

One of my very favorite east side hang outs. Despite its size also being a deterrent when finding a location for groups, the quaint corner-bar-size gives this neighborhood bar its charm. It can get noisy in there and fills quickly so arrive early. The patio is beautiful, seems more spacious than the inside, and has table service. The pergola provides for decent shade in the summertime for those of us intolerant of the sun. There are few east side patios not in the blazing sun so TTT is somewhat of a gem. Staff treats you well and is knowledgeable about the cocktails and beer. The beer - fun selection of highly local craft beers on tap; seems to be different options each time I've visited. I would prefer more lager options. I'm yet to try and looking forward to the Chili Mac and Cheese (how couldn't that be great?) and live music (outside preferred). read more

We came for brunch; this is what I wanted the new Avenu to be, fresh food at a decent price. I got the scramble, it was excellent. The toast tasted home made, and I'm quite confidant the cheesy potatoes came into the restaurant as whole potatoes that had to be prepared, as opposed to potatoes pre cut and pre cooked as a heat and eat dump out of the bag thing. I'll be back for more. read more