FYI - Cash only! ATM on site…read more Had a delicious cheeseburger and fries! It was cooked to order medium rare and had so much flavor. Fries were really good too! They have quite the variety of burgers. I'll definitely be back!

Players Sports Bar has the best burgers in town when you are on the hunt for the ultimate burgers!…read moreTheir burgers are massively huge/filling, well seasoned, and deliciously made with love! Players Sports Bar & Grill is a fun, casual, cash ONLY, typical Wisconsin neighborhood dive bar nestled in the Atwood neighborhood of Madison, WI. They have a great beer selection, classic bar games, pool tables, and ping pong! This place has plenty of tvs to catch your favorite sports! It was super busy when we arrived on Wednesday night. It seemed to be a diverse crowd of neighborhood locals, blue collar, younger folks, and just people having a great time! It's a great place when you are craving greasy, fried, delicious bar food, and snacks! They serve not only burgers, but cheese curds, wings, and lighter far like salads. They need a round of applause for coming up with some of the tastiest unique burger creations ever such as their Poker Ho Burger, Lotza Motza Burger, and Players Burger. My husband and I were blown away by the burgers! My favorite is their Big Daddy Burger with a side of onion rings and my husband's favorite is their Lotza Motza Burger with fries! The Big Daddy Burger is made with Bacon, Ham, Swiss & American Cheese with spicy garlic mayo. It is served hot, made fresh, juicy, made with a huge 1/2 pound well seasoned patty! The side of onion rings takes it to the next level being fried hard, crispy, golden brown, and hot out the grease! The Lotza Motza burger which is a super fun burger made with Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks, Vito's garlic sauce, pepperoni & Mozzarella Cheese. Its like eating an appetizer and burger all in one! Players Sports Bar is your casual dive bar hooking you up with delicious bar food but don't expect sit down type of service or what you would expect for service at a restaurant. You have to order at the bar. Players Sport Bar is a great option if you are looking for a fun, casual dive bar serving up delicious rememberable burgers!

My mom always talked about frequenting Pitcher's Pub in the 70s, and that her go-to drink was Swamp…read moreWater. I finally stopped in a few months ago, and the drink was delicious! It was SO strong, which had me laughing because my mom is not a drinker! I honestly can't believe that she drank these throughout her 20s. Either way, it was really good, and now I know why it's their signature drink. I was really impressed with how expansive it is inside - lots of pool tables, gambling machines, tv's, and a long bar with plenty of seating. When I went, it was mid-afternoon on a weekday, so I would definitely like to return when the place is hopping! It definitely looks like a super fun place to hang out on a Saturday night.

Had a really bad experience here about a year and a half ago. My friends were definitely racially…read moreprofiled in this establishment by the security here. I understand everyone was there late, and that can be irritating if your shift is about to end and you want to go home. But if you state that you are open until 2, people are going to expect to stay until 2 am. We went for a friends birthday, and we were going to start here and make our way downtown to just bar hop and play some games of pool. At about 1:00 the security told everyone last call for drinks and we all got something and headed back to the table we were sitting at. They then proceeded maybe 15 minutes later to say we needed to clear out. Now I would like to add we were not the only people in there. At least 10 other groups of people continuing their games of pool. My friend whose birthday it was went to take his last shot at the 8 ball. Literally our last ball, and the security comes over and starts to harass my friend. Stating it's his business which we understood so we started to pack up because at this point they were clearly uncomfortable by the way he was approached by the security. On the way out the security CONTINUED to talk under his breath about my friend. He did not approach anyone else in that bar except us. The rest of the room continued to play pool until they finished their games. He felt extremely uncomfortable and racially profiled since he was one of three POC in that whole bar, and as a matter of fact those three people were in our group. They all felt some sort of way about how he was approached and we all agreed to never step foot in this establishment ever again. And this is not the first incident I've heard of happening here....

Great service. Arrived late with our dog and they happily seated us outside. Food and drinks were…read morereally good. Overall just a pleasant evening - so glad we stopped in.

This weekend I was in the area and checked out Off Broadway Drafthouse. Surprisingly, it wasn't…read morepacked despite the packer game on a Sunday afternoon. I was greeted by a friendly host, sat at the bar and promptly greeted by the bartender. Lots of fun options for draft cocktails with creative names and many use local spirits. I opted for the Birria sandwich, a newer menu item. It has a spicy sauce and generous portions. It was calm and cozy at the bar which I appreciated after a busy weekend.

No offense but- not so attractive on the outside- however…read more $6 half sandwich and soup?? Huh?? And delish!!! Artichoke and steak soup- ridiculous Son had an awesome burger- of course he didn't get the special!!!

I came here for Friday fish fry in the winter - I think there was a basketball or hockey game, but…read morenothing causing a crazy wait or crowd. We had some old fashioneds before ordering food, and I thought they were good. Service was super attentive, especially as we delayed ordering to enjoy drinks and an appetizer for a bit. I ordered the beer battered cod fish fry (my staple), and overall it was yummy to eat. The two pieces that came out were enormous and a bit wonky shaped... made me wonder what on earth this fish looked like in its swimming days. The batter was quite tasty, crunchy but not too crunchy/hard, but it was so incredibly think I'm not sure I got fish in every bite. I took one piece home and give the fish part to my pup as a meal topper, and the ratio of breading I had to pull off compared to fish was a bit (quite a bit) much. Still, everything I ate was tasty. I got the salad with my dinner, and was so happy that it came out with quality greens instead of a chunk of iceberg type lettuce. Overall, I'd come back again if others wanted, but wasn't wild about the batter to fish ratio.

While in Madison for IM relay. Couple spots ended up going back cause right there and good food…read more The Great Dane Pub & Brewing was one of them. In prior review so many options all within walking distance in downtown Madison. Right off loved the vibes, old school vibes, downstairs area (area checked out), restaurant level two levels, one nice spacious car area, and other section more dining room. All around one thing common lots of widescreens. NFL back weekend games and also big college town University of Wisconsin. It can get loud and crazy. The food naturally had to get some cheese curds. Out of the two spots just as solid. Not the best of the two. I ended up having Thai Chicken pasta the first time carbload night before the race. Solid pasta dish. Nice hearty, nice flavor, and nice portion. The second time went with Korean rice bowl. Another nice hearty and refreshing dish. The service was friendly, attentive, and all smiles!

Love this place. Good food and great beer…read more They have the best Fried Cheese Curds in Madison with a delicious chimicurri ranch sauce. Their I-5 IPA is an english style, lower carbonation more frothy. Truly delicious. The wings were spicy and good Salad was a salad and my wife ordered it so... Service was quick and friendly. Pub atmosphere. Next time in town I will come back.

Came here for my birthday with the girls and had a fun time! The space was clean, trendy and open…read more There are a total of 6 simulators (1 in a private room) and many sports options, to my surprise! The simulator rate is $20/hour (weeknight rate). Plenty of seating at the bar--along with a lounge'y space with a cute backdrop for photo-ops! I recall four beers on tap, and no drink specials. However, the menu did have a variety of "upscale" bar food! We ordered a fair amount but I only remember eating the curds (3/5) and fried green beans (5/5), which was my fave! PROS: I loved that we were able to try a variety of activities at our own pace! Each area had seating, enough for 6-7 people (sofas or bar stool/counter). Alcohol wipes were available. Music level was good and lighting slightly dimmed--great ambience! We got to chat with Collin (the owner) about his vision and learned that the simulators can pretty much play anything! This means events held here can be both adult AND kid-friendly--woo hoo! Just try not to bring a stroller here, as it's on the second floor with steep steps. Looking forward to more events here...and to what becomes of the outdoor space! CONS: We came on a Tuesday, so there was only one person working the bar + kitchen. Service was a slow as it got busy, and later into the night. There are only two private restrooms (which were nice and clean!). I can see this being a problem, especially for a place that can hold 100+ people. Will be back for more indoor fun!

I absolutely love going to 7 Iron Social! It is located downtown Madison right on State Street and…read moreis perfect for groups! We've booked a simulator for several birthdays and other special occasions. They have tons of games to choose from on the simulators; golf, baseball, basketball, zombie dodgeball, soccer, and more! It is so much fun when you get a good simulators! We've noticed that some simulators don't work as well or maybe aren't aligned. Some of the equipment they provide is faulty as well. When everything is working well, it's a 5/5 star experience! They also have food and drinks you can purchase while you are playing. I've only tried one of the appetizers but I haven't tried the rest of the food. The appetizer my group got was delicious and the drinks are always good as well. The bartenders and servers are wonderful as well. They are alway super helpful and friendly. They do have happy hour and other specials as well so keep an eye out for those. Overall, if they make sure the simulators are working properly and replace the broken equipment, 7 Iron would be a consistent 5/5 experience in my opinion.

Well, first time we've been here... we'll definitely be back!…read more Great staff... friendly, seated quickly, offered a few choices of seating.. and this was a Friday at 530.. Carly took Great care of us.. told us about happy hour.. Bev had an old fashioned.. she was very happy.. I had an IPA from the extensive beer list.. our friends also had beers.. We ordered the buffalo cauliflower to share... the kitchen was on top.of thier game.. food came out hot, and good portion sizes. My wife and I shared the fish dinner, fried, with fries and slaw.. again, super hot, and delicious.. Bev also had a cup of clam chowder. Super thick, but still good. Friends had fish, and the carne asada tacos.. all very good. Good people, good drinks, good food.. cool place! A winning combination.

My friend ordered the salmon dinner and it came out DRENCHED in some kind of sauce, as was the…read morebroccoli. She was unstoppable to distinguish what she was eating. The other person ordered the brisket quesadillas, which was tasty but very soggy.

Daniel was a great server! Attentive and personable the whole night. He is extremely good at his…read morejob even when it's a busy night. Made it a very enjoyable night. Jessie, the host, was also extremely welcoming. Will come here again!

Echo was one of the few restaurants in town open during a snowstorm. When we had arrived the…read morekitchen had just closed early for the night. Seeing we had just arrived the kitchen stayed open later to get out one more meal for us. The staff was so kind, drinks were great, and there kindness was so appreciated on a snowy night. Ps the Bacon, Apple, Burboun Burger was one I will be comparing all future burgers to. It was SO GOOD.

Layla's food here is excellent. We went here for dinner last Saturday and had a wonderful Brazilian…read moreinspired meal. The lamb was really tender and flavorful, the rice and beans were really tasty, the cheese bites were nice and chewy, and the hearts of palm and avocado salad was probably my favorite part of the meal. This is a nice small neighborhood spot for drinks. I love the labor friendly atmosphere. They also have delicious fries and other bar foods available. The drinks are incredibly affordable too and the bartender was really friendly. Will definitely be back for a Friday fish fry!

Came to watch the first gubernatorial debate last week and figured I'd get dinner too since I knew…read moreLayla had taken over as chef and she's kind of a local celebrity. I've read good things about the non-traditional dishes she's introduced here, but the Friday night fish fry that week was a miss. The fish was large but not very tasteful. The beer batter taste was unmistakable but underwhelming. The tartar sauce was also disappointing and fairly bland, not thick and tart. Sadly they didn't have any malt vinegar either. The fries were a bit better but still average at best. Maybe I just had a miss because I remember Layla's Persian Food as not gourmet but home-cooked goodness. If I'm there on a different day, I still plan on trying out something else.

Unfriendly bartenders. Bartending staff gave me grief about my order of an espresso martini, which…read moreis on their online menu of classic cocktails. I know it's a dive bar, technically, but their website emphasizes the availability of cocktails. I was thrilled about the prospect of being able to order such a drink at a bar in Madison in general. And no, it was not busy, I was the first customer there. So unnecessary attitude about an order despite it being available on the menu. The drink was good though, so that's why this review is higher than one star!

Rating the erstwhile Red Shed and new baby sister of Wando's solely on the #Guinness pour, as my…read morecompanion was suffering through dry January on my first visit here, pregaming for a UW hoops game at the Kohl. First pour looked like a pint they'd serve you in Dublin -- bartender poured it, let it rest, topped it off. Outcome: unblemished white foam, domed above the rim of the 20 oz., G-split-friendly Guinness glass, stopping above the harp. First sip smooth, not a hint of bitterness, drank easy all the way down, light foam coating most of the empty glass. Just how you'd draw it up. Fluke? Had to find out, so I ordered a second, same as above. Heat check? Got a third (stopping back in after the game to wait out traffic), and it was same as above. Sláinte! One visit to a new place does not make it the king of pours in town -- maintaining the lines, having enough staff to know the proper pour, etc., but Jay's is off to a solid start toward finally getting us a proper pour on the campus side of downtown.