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Categories: Nightlife, American (New), German, Steakhouses, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
23 N Pinckney StMon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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How could I resist the $1.50 beer of the month - mind you, it was served in a 8oz snifter, but still! It provided a fun opportunity to sample something I might not otherwise have tried. Their beer list was quite extensive, with lots of tempting options.
I liked the setting and friendly atmosphere of The Old Fashioned. Our server was quite personable and knowledgeable. One downside is that there really are not a lot of vegetarian options on the menu. You're really limited to a couple of salad choices or one sandwich. The sandwich was good - Grilled eggplant, portabella mushroom, wood-roasted red pepper and zucchini, with goat cheese and black olive tapenade on toasted country bread, served with a generous portion of either fries or a salad. The house burger (which no, Mom, I didn't try, I'm still a vegetarian, quit getting your hopes up) got good reviews from our table, after the surprise passed of it being served with an egg, bacon, and cheese.
BOTTOM LINE: A fun, casual spot downtown. Huge selection of great beer options along with good service and reasonable prices. Add a few more vegetarian-friendly options to the menu and I think we'd have a hit!
One of my favorite restaurants in Madison. Great food, great drinks, great fun!
One great thing about the Old Fashioned is it's location. It's on the Capitol Square so it doesn't draw too many college kids. Another great thing are drink specials. Every month, they feature a different beer for glass or pitcher which are often pretty cheap. The bar has most Wisconsin beers on tap or bottle, too. The bloody mary's are spectacular, especially if you get it with the peppered infused vodka.
The food is great. Cheese curds are an obvious must. I usually end up getting the build-your-own burger with extra pickles (FANTASTIC pickles) and fries. Fries are also amazing. I've also tried the mac n cheese (it was good, but I wouldn't get it again) and the grilled cheese sandwich (pretty good). The chili is good, but because it's Green Bay chili it's more meaty than bean-y and has noodles in it. The breakfast is also delicious. I've had one of the scramblers and the waffles and both were spectacular.
The Old Fashioned is a great place to bring in out-of-towners for a great Wisconsin experience or a great place to just enjoy great food.
I've been here twice and only had these things: beer, cheese curds, and fish & chips. That being said, I am a fan. Though I am almost always a fan of these things.
The shining star for me is the cheese curds. Though, cheese always shines for me. I love you, cheese. Don't ever leave me. Our party of 10 ordered 1 basket, then 2 baskets - and they were gone in the blink of an eye. I'm salivating a bit just thinking about them.
Service is good, except they won't split your checks. So keep that in mind as you overpay for your dinner because someone at your table is being cheap - or worse, left without paying. Ugh.
They have karaoke on Wednesdays, with an impressive collection for a traveling act. Karaoke for me gets old after a couple hours, but it was fun while it lasted.
I went here for lunch once and won't be back. First, they gave us a table, and as the minutes ticked by we waited around for a server who never came. When we asked what was up, we were told you have to get up from your table, stand in line and wait your turn to order like at McDonalds. Thanks for telling us! So that's why all those people are standing around in this cramped space like veal. I don't care how good the food is, I'm a grownup and I don't want to eat in cafeterias anymore.
It's a dirty way to rip off servers too...no doubt their tips suffer because they aren't allowed to do their jobs. I understand how it helps them turn tables faster/push through the lunch rush and make a bunch of money, but it's just too uncomfortable. I don't just go to restaurants to eat, I go there to relax a little, too. You won't get that at the Old Fashioned.
While I haven't officially reviewed Madison's tribute to all culinary things Wisconsin, aka The Old Fashioned, I'm on the books as being a huge fan. However I've never made it up in time to experience their brunch menu. We first attempted to hit the place on Saturday around noon thinking the Farmer's Market crowds might have cleared out. Whoops! The place was packed like it was 6:30 at night. With a wait over 30 minutes we postponed our date with delicacies until Sunday. Arriving around 11am on Sunday proved a much better plan of attack. While the place was still humming, we only had about a 10 minute wait. The décor of the place really pops in the daylight compared to the dimly lit ambiance of the evening. I never tire of scanning the walls for the little touches in the Old Style, PBR, or Schlitz signage.
Faithful readers will know that my first impressions of a brunch destination are tied to the drink menu. One companion squealed in delight upon finding her favorite Earl Grey tea on the menu. I on the other hand was eager to sample either their Bloody Mary or Ginger Bloody Mary. Sadly I picked incorrectly. While the pickled asparagus and brussel sprout were divine, their house Bloody Mary was not mixed well and was rather bland. The horseradish was too choppy and no amount of stirring was going to get it to spread. Also the drink lacked celery salt and a rim of spices. Conversely the Ginger Bloody Mary was a delight. While the pickled veggies were MIA the ginger infused vodka stole the show. I was tempted to swap drinks with my partner and steal hers.
While the drinks were inconsistent the food scored perfect marks across the board. I fell out of the brunch mode and went with the house burger. The high quality, perfectly cooked meat was the star of the burger but it got strong supporting performances from the garlic mayo, fried onions, thick bacon, and local cheddar. The matchstick fries were light as air and a good compliment to the heavy burger. My two companions both went the breakfast route. The Wisconsin Benedict featuring eggs, bratwurst, and mustard cream sauce over English muffins were an ode to lumberjacks everywhere. The sauce was so good I could drink it. The Chicken Fried Steak special was an ode to parts South but equally delicious. The gravy clung to the crisply fried steak in harmony. Perhaps the biggest stars were the potatoes that accompanied both breakfast dishes. It appeared as if the cubes of tater where pan fried then sprinkled with cheese before a couple of seconds in the deep fryer. The crisp flavor cut across both main dishes and could be a meal all to themselves.
While the menu is relatively small compared to their regular menu, the specials and varied preparations make this a repeat brunch destination. Here's hoping their Bloody mix matches their veggies for flavor. If that happens, The Old Fashioned may pull into a battle for my favorite brunch spot.
Disappointment. I've heard so many good things but none of it was true. The restaurant was nice with solid wood furnishings, but this shouldn't be the only highlight.
The service on a weekday afternoon was lacking. We were seated and then told that we had to order at the bar. I do not like getting up after I'm seated, especially for something I pay to get: service. I ordered a burger and a side of fries and some fried cheese curds to share.
Cheese curds: they were not completely fried. They were soggy with oil and not gooey.
Burger: it was not hot. It was dry and not juicy. Even the bun was dry.
Side salad: The greens were wilted and drowned in salad dressing. All I could taste was strong pepper and salt.
BOO!!!!!!!! And I read on their outside menu that Monday were buy one get one free burger but this was not true. LAME.
The Old Fashioned.
It's a true classic Madison restaurant no matter how you slice it. Located on the square allows it to be removed from the busy campus, and when you walk in there is a comfortable environment there waiting to have you. The music is at an appropriate level, the food is delicious with many choices that will have you and your friends trying different things from week to week, and it's a great place to have a few beers.
The food here is not only classic Wisconsin roots (from refined Brats, to cheese curds, to heritage dishes you can barely pronounce), but also unique. The menu hosts some 20-30 odd items (if not more) that all sound like a must-try. This is also one of those places where I'd suggest an appetizer, which I usually do not. A friend of mine speaks volumes of their cheese plate, but there's a lot of other choices that are perfectly reasonable as well. As for entrees, my personal favorites are the mac and cheese (yes it's not for 5 year olds here) and the double-brat (or whatever fancy name they give it).
The old fashioned is not perfect though. The service people I've had in the past have almost assuredly been rude. From long waits to forgotten orders to unpleasant attitudes; you name it. AND, speaking of long waits, this establishment almost always has a really long wait. So go early, put your name in, and find another downtown bar to have a few drinks while you wait. But be sure to wait, because it's worth it.
Lastly, The Old Fashioned is the perfect bar to get cosy and relax with a group of old friends. It extends its appeal beyond that of a restaurant by being one of those places that you actually want to stay another hour or two afterwards and either drink at your table or drink at the bar. The place never gets so loud that you can't converse, and with the variety of drinks most of your party should be able to find something they enjoy.
The Old Fashioned is a classic of Madison, so I was told. Naturally, I had to check it out when I visited. The prices are a little high, but the quality of the food makes up for it. The wait staff was not the most attentive at all times. Overall, I would suggest you visit The Old Fashioned if you are visiting Madison.
So, were in Madison for a show at the Barrymore and had some time to kill walking around on a beautiful Fall afternoon. I had to hit up Yelp to find some places to eat near the Capitol. It was 5pm and we were starving (like "I will cut you if you don't feed me now" starving). The 2 well respected and well reviewed restaurants on my list (L'Etoile and Harvest) were not open for dinner yet. However, smack dab between these 2 restaurants was the unassuming, shining jewel of Wisconsin eats. Enter: The Old Fashioned.
Immediately upon entering, I am greeted by one of my favorite smells: the wood-burning fire stove. They had me at woodsmoke. Then, we are completely overwhelmed with joy at the sight of the menu: totally classic and yummy Wisconsin food stuffs. I may be biased since I am from Wisconsin, but this place is like total nostalgia, and it actually made me proud to be a cheesehead. Word, Wisco.
Who knew there were so many beers brewed in WI? We tried and enjoyed several. And, we started off with one of the tempting and yummy (locally produced!) cheese plates. Well played. Then, we moved on to the main course: the house special burger (the one with the egg on top). The hub chose a side of cheese curds (yes, they were very good), and I tried to retain a semblance of health with a side salad. Fail...because then we ordered dessert.
People, you really need to try the "Grasshopper": vanilla ice cream with a few shots of creme de menthe (my dear old Dad used to make us the blended drink version). So simple, yet so amazingly good. And, the mint is really refreshing and palate cleansing after the super rich and fat laden meal.
We were totally stuffed, a little buzzed, but really happy and wood smoky by the time we left The Old Fashioned. So, give it a go if you're in Madison and would like to sample the cuisine de Wisconsin.
I didn't try much of the other food here other than the fish fry as well as cocktails, but I had quite a good experience here.
I started off with the fried cheese curds which were excellent, not too greasy, yet with a delightfully crisp batter. Probably the best fried cheese curds that I've had yet in Madison. I had the lake perch fish fry when I was here, their Friday special. The fish was delicate in flavor and texture with a nice light batter. A bit pricey as compared to other fish fries, but the quality of the fish was excellent.
In terms of cocktails, they make an excellent Wisconsin-style old fashioned. Well balanced in terms of brandy to mixer to muddled fruit, this drink is supurb. I would highly recommend the applejack old fashioned. They also have a wonderful seasonal cocktail menu with specials such as the brandy slush, a very "girlie" sweet and alcoholic slushie as well as last year's spiced-pear-tini featuring Hangar One spiced pear vodka, fresh lemon juice, and fresh cider. I recently went and had their "Purple People Eater" that was composed of house infused Concord grape vodka and lemonade. This cocktail truly brings you back to your childhood days of sipping on a box of ice cold concord grape juice... simply delightful. The in-house mixologist at this restaurant truly knows what he's doing.
If you're around the capitol building and especially would like to try out some exquisitely crafted cocktails, The Old Fashioned is a great stop.
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It seems foolish to even write a review. You know when you walk in the door and their are bus loads of people that a place is good. So why didn't I give them 5 stars?
I hate to wait - if you are this busy, knock out a wall, ban Illinois people, do what it takes to get people served in a more comfortable environment. Nuff said.
I went to the Taste of Madison this weekend, and the cheese curds from the Old Fashioned are probably the best i've ever had. I can't believe I've never eaten here before! They were super greasy (as a good curd should be). Culvers has about the worst cheese curds in the world (more like mozzerella sticks made with cheddar) and these are head and shoulders better than that. The batter was light, and the cheese was fresh. Very tasty.
I had a bit of the macaroni and cheese, and I thought it was tasty, but lacked some underlying flavor which made it seem kind of one-dimensional and not really the transcendent experience that other people seem to have had. The noodles were a little overdone, but I'm not going to say too much about it, since they were made for the Taste.
Anyway, I'm perfectly willing to give them another chance.
We stopped for a drink before dinner elsewhere. Nice atmosphere and inspired beer selection. The house made potato chips were awesome.
There was much confusion on their part about whether they serve champagne by the glass. They finally delivered a flute of Prosecco which my girlfriend really liked.
Next time we'll try it for dinner!
Two words sum up The Old Fashioned: Woefully underwhelming.
Dropped in on Friday night at around 6:30pm. Put in our name, grabbed a seat at the bar. Atmosphere gets big ups; they've got the "kitsch" nailed.
Beer selection is good. A lot of similar styles on tap, but overall, a solid beer showing. Monthly specials are a nice touch; $2.50 for a pint? That's fine by me!
We were seated within 20 minutes of arrival. Our waiter was pleasant, helpful, attentive, and patient. Great service.
Started with the #3 cheese plate and an order of cheese curds. The plate of cheese was excellent- 10 year cheddar, Gouda, and ghost chevre - you can't go wrong.
The cheese curds? Ick. Why people rave about TOF's curds is beyond me. Greasy, over cooked, and the batter? Please... Culvers has better curds, I hate to say it. The Old Fashioned's curds were literally soaking in a puddle of grease, and every bite of curd yielded a soggy, sponge-like greasy "squish."
That's *NOT* how a cheese curd should be - a properly fried cheese curd will have a slight hint of grease in the batter/coating, but it won't literally squirt grease, nor should it be left to drown in the stuff. Good curds squeak, even when fried... trust me - I grew up surrounded by dairy farms; my best friend's parents owned a cheese house, and several of my current friends/co-workers grew-up and/or live in curd country (Green County/Monroe). I know curds. TOF is not good curds, plain and simple. They were like grease sponges with a hint of cheese.
Entrees arrived; fish all around: deep fried cod, baked cod, and lake perch.
Portions (of actual fish) were embarrassingly small. The baked cod was literally equivalent to two chicken McNuggets in size, with a boatload of fries next to it. And, it cost $14. Boo.
The fried cod consisted of two burned to a crisp wedges of cod with a boatload of onion straws. $13. Strike two.
The lake perch was decent, but like its cousins consisted of 4-5 thin McNugget-sized pieces of perch, and, you guessed it: a boatload of fries. Ugh.
They need to change their name to "The Side of Fries."
Total bill for 3 with 2 rounds of drinks and the appetizers? $90. Fook me!!! I left the place starving, and wishing I had gone elsewhere. The fish was mediocre at best, miniscule in portions, and terribly expensive.
The Old Fashined = FAIL
Service= 4.5 stars
Food = 3 stars
Value = 1 star
Atmosphere = 4 stars
Summary: all glitz and glam; no substanance. Maybe the burgers are good... But I'll bet they're the size of a "slider."
The burger here was delicious. That burger (and all the other food) would get at least a 4.5 star rating from me, which is impressive because I am often a bit of a snob when it comes to ground beef patties. Why the three star review then? The awful awful awful service and complete confusion. Lets go back to the beginning.
We went to The Old Fashioned for 2 for 1 burger night. We had a 30 minute wait, but we were able to get spots at the bar. We loved the ambiance of the place, I was beyond happy with my $2.50 beer of the month. While I had asked to close out our bar tab, a bill never came (in the 20 minutes of waiting for it). When the hostess called our name, I left some cash on the bar in hopes that it covered our tab. After we were seated, this continued to go downhill.
It took a while for our server to come and he was really confused by our order. Two of us got the #30, the other two got the #31. Those are the two burger options on the menu so obviously it was rather apparent that we were there for 2 for 1 burger night. He asked each of us what we wanted on the side and we had the option of salad or fries. Fairly easy, right? Wrong.
Our food came and mine was the only order that wasn't completely messed up. Everyone else had questionable things with there meals and the ended up having to take everything back and rearranging it all. I was a little confused because myself and my other friend who got the 30 had massive sides whereas our friends that ordered 31s got sides that were normal portions.
When our bill came there was some serious confusion. Those of us who had ordered 30s got 2 for 1 burgers, the 31s were normal price. But those of us who had ordered 30s were charged for our sides. While the menu says that all burgers/sandwiches come with the choice of fries or salad, apparently that doesn't always apply? Displeased.
The reason I got so frustrated with the bill is that we obviously were trying to take advantage of the deal. The server easily could have told us that only certain burgers were 2 for 1 and that if you got those burgers they didn't come with sides, but you could order some to share (which I would have done). It was the first time in a very long time that I didn't tip at least 20%.
Go here for the food, but don't expect good service.
I was in Madison for work recently and ate at the Old Fashioned after my shuttle driver recommended it. I was not disappointed.
I had dinner one night with my parents and brother who had driven up from Milwaukee and everyone enjoyed it.
Then, I had Saturday brunch with my other brother and it was downright remarkable. Don't bother waiting for a table. Sit at the bar and soak up the kitsch.
If you've never tried the Old Fashioned, you must do so ASAP.
First thing's first: Try the cheese curds. Best you'll ever have. It's not just about the beer battered cheese curds themselves, but about the amazing dipping sauce that comes with them. Simply awesome.
Everything I've ever gotten there was really good and quite reasonably priced. Good size portions that will either fill you up and/or leave you with a to-go box.
I'm not much of a drinker, so I can't really say anything about their bar. However, from the looks of it, it seems to be well stocked with a variety of alcohol to meet everyone's drinking needs.
The only possible downside to The Old Fashioned is the wait. Often there is a bit of a wait to be seated. I've only had to wait 15 minutes or so, but I've only ever gone at lunch time. I'm assuming dinner could get pretty crazy.
If your looking for a good place that serves an awesome burger/salad/sandwhich and some KILLER cheese curds, look no further.
Upside(s): Good, cheap bar. Great staff. Decent menu and portions. Like the burger, tuna sandwich, and Sunday Chicken Dinner. Tuesday tacos are good, too. People rave about the fish (haddock?) sandwich; but, it's pretty dull. In my opinion.
Challenge(s): The bar is too close to the side booths, and could lose a few stools. They also (typically) have constant waits; which pushes the hanger-outers to the bar. So, if you're at the bar, you'll likely have some hangers (2, 3-deep) on either shoulder. You'll be asked to move down "one", quite a bit, as well. Not very relaxing.
Suggestion(s): Go for brunch (Sat/Sun), EARLY. Or, go weekdays, mid-afternoon and/or after dinner rush. Brunch rocks. Killer coffee, and sub the Sausage Gravy into anything. It's fatty/salty heaven.
BURGERS MADE IN HEAVEN, with cheese curds (which I've never heard of, maybe this is a Wisconsin thing? but they are gooooood) and onion rings (thin, crispy, couldn't stop eating those) on the side.
I have never cared less about table manners and gobbled down a burger this fast in my life.
Rolled in at 11:30PM on a Friday in August. Our party of 6 was seated immediately and gave drink orders. Waited 20 minutes, never saw our drinks.
Tried to order food but was told the kitchen was closed, which is fine, it is late. However, two people that arrived after us were able to order fish, so not sure what was going on there.
Went to the bar to order drinks, spent 10 minutes trying to get a bartender to take my order. Two bartenders and two waiters passed me and wouldn't even acknowledge my presence when I tried to talk to them, wouldn't even stop for the $50 I was waving in the air.
Seemed like half the guests were able to get whatever they wanted while the rest suffered, noticed several other angry parties who had similar luck trying to get service.
Left after 40 minutes of no service and went over to Brocach, had an excellent time there.
Everyone seems to be out their minds enamored with the Old Fashioned...
I liked it, just wasn't obsessed.
The absolute best aspect was on Mondays, burgers were $5! Exactly what students needed! Though a bit far from the campus itself where I was at, great deal worth walking for.
The old fashioned is one of those places that you want to hate because it seems so cliche- but you can't. In fact, every time you visit, you become a bigger fan.
Reasons to love it:
* Cheese curds (and cheese platters)
* Cocktails are amazing (and late night happy hour) and they have a ridiculous bar selection
* Monthly beer specials (sometimes $4/pitcher)
* Food is pretty solid
* Great place to take out of town visitors - it's like Wisconsin in a restaurant
*Late night happy hour - 1030-12 - two for one's
Some negatives- it gets packed really easily and sometimes you can wait a long time for a table, and also is a pretty tight space. They should get a little more space.
I rescind my previous review. Whatever kinks with food and service existed when the Old Fashioned opened no longer exist. The walleye fish fry is the best in town. (and so are the aforementioned cheese curds.) You must take out of townies here.
Of all the places to sample Sconnie cuisine the Old Fashioned would be my last choice. Every time I… Read more »
I love the Old Fashioned. Located right on the capitol square it is perfect for lunch for the downtown workers. It is also great brunch spot after attending the Farmer's Market. The bloody mary's are a must for brunch! I love sitting at the bar because it is so long and has several HD Flat screens and lots of different types of liquor and trinkets on the wall. My Old Fashion Favorites: Cheese Curds with Tiger sauce (yum!) and The Old Fashion burger (1/4 beef, cheddar, bacon, onion, fried egg) with fries!
Went on a Friday night without reservations. We were told it'd be a 3-45 minute wait, and it was certainly towards the upper end of that spectrum. But they comped us our first round of drinks for waiting patiently, and we weren't even complaining! Thats pretty sweet service. Everyone's dishes came out promptly and were rapidly devoured. The Old Fashioned made a good impression.
We enjoyed this place so much we went there twice.We also started drinking Wisconsin brandy old fashions at home.
You can't beat this place. Absolutely delicious food, very reasonably priced, amazing beers (usually the beer of the month is great and cheap). My favorite is, of course, the Old Fashioned burger. Cheese curds are fabulous. They have a good brunch too.
Not good for larger groups, and there's almost always a wait. I once waited 1.5 hours (but that's how much I wanted to eat there). And unfortunately, no reservations.
AAAHHH!!!! I love this place! The food is absolutely delicious, not your typical bar food. You have to try the cheese curds with the tiger sauce!! The House Brew is amazing, walleye sandwich is delicious and you can get a hamburger with an egg on it!!
Unfortunately you can't make reservations and seating is very limited which can make for some long waits sitting (or standing) by the bar waiting. But with some amazing libations (pretty good martinis!) the wait goes by pretty quickly.
This place is one of my absolute favorite in Madison and I'd strongly recommend it to anyone who lives here or is visiting.
Overrated compared to what I had heard (at least for lunch). Food was fine, but overly fried and nothing particularly special (I would go to Weary Traveler any-day instead). No table service for weekday lunch despite our 20 minute wait for a table. Good beer and decent atmosphere.
Best thing I had here was my son's mac and cheese, which can be seen as both a good and a bad thing. This was probably the best mac and cheese that I've ever had, and I felt bad for eating most of his lunch (though he seemed more interested in his fruit that his entree, luckily).
Everything else we had was okay to pretty good, at best. I had a pulled pork sandwich which had a really good pulled pork, but the combination of that, muenster cheese, and relish really didn't seem to meld together well. My brother had the special, a prime rib sandwich, which tasted mostly of peppers with a hint of meat and cheese in the background. His beer cheese soup was pretty good, but it was basically a soupy fondue that cost an addition 2 dollars as a side rather than a soup or salad.
Service was attentive and very friendly.
Next time I'll order the mac and cheese and cheese curds, based on the recommendations here.
Good, solid brunch.
Selection is bigger than most brunch menus I've pored over and the coffee is excellent. I had one of their scrambles - which is supposed to be their pseudo omelette - with a side of bacon. The seasoned potatoes on the side were lukewarm and dry, but they weren't supposed to be the star of the plate anyway, so it didn't bother me. Everything was done quickly, despite the fact that the joint was packed to the gills with a mixed crowd of gay couples, college students, middle aged folks and families. Service was brusque but not unfriendly. Prices were more than reasonable. I'd love to go back to see how they rock lunch/dinner.
"Stately and pleasantly it sat, A compact house and strong. Then I went in: The door of it was hung beef, the threshold was dry bread,
cheese-curds the walls." -12th Century Traditional Celtic Song.
Who knew that cheese curds were musical? I had a hunch, but, until last night, I hadn't had the opportunity to sing their song. They are squeaky balls of fried goodness that locals may take for granted, but this chronic traveler is freakin excited about them. If you wanna devirginize your curdishness, please do it at Madison's The Old Fashioned. That they are just a side dish to a full menu of amazing food and drink is a bonus.
A production of Madama Butterfly brought me to Madison, and The Old Fashioned was recommended to me by many locals. So a few colleagues and I ventured over from our place nearby on Capitol Square, on a frigid, snow-flurrying Sunday evening.
The menu is fairly big, but unlike some of the major pubfood-make-a-pig of-yourself-chains, each item on this local gem's menu seemed to relate somehow to each other. It was as if you could choose any three things from the menu, in any combo, and have a great meal.
After a pal and I shared the fried cheese curds and stopped crying from the pleasure, I chose the Old Fashioned Burger. It was perfectly done, and crowned with a delicious fried egg. The gooey yolk (called dippy eggs where I come from) mixed with the "garlic sauce" on the burger. Is it sad that I could have eaten two of these? My colleagues had the Scandavian Chicken dinner and the salmon salad. Perhaps the chicken was a little dry, but it was such a generous, fresh portion that you found a way to adjust your taste buds to enjoy the dryness. It's sorta like pretending to enjoy the taste of shrooms when preparing to trip out on them. The payoff is worth it.
This was all chased with a New Glarus Organic Revolution, which was on tap for $2.50 a pint (what?) and a piece of the apple pie with aged Wisconsin cheddar on top. When I say a piece, I mean an entire wedge.
I have a few more weeks in Madison, and am looking forward to trying a few other things at the Old Fashioned. The menu of "lazy susans" really has my attention right now....one with brats and sausages and deviled eggs...come on.
Squeaky curds-freakishly addictive, like the finest, phattiest herbal blunt, but way cheaper.
I really enjoy the Old Fashioned. There is always an exciting atmosphere, but it can get a little crowded. Their food is excellent and very decently priced. I go there as much as I can :)
P.S. The chili is to die for.
I will concur, they do not take reservations. And that is annoying, especially with the crowds they draw.
But, if you want to have the best cheese curds, EVER, you will need to fight the crowds to get a table (or seat at the bar) here. They have some very interesting menu items, but they also have some really yummy salads if you are not in the mood for the other stuff. I have consistently gotten the portabella sandwich and the walleye, but I will be honest, it is the cheese curds that bring me back.
Atmosphere is fun, energetic, and always busy- a great place for groups or just getting a drink after work and feeling like you're really from Wisconsin/Madison. Tap beer selection is enormous (25 or so to choose from, all from WI) and staff is very helpful. Menu is large, full of sandwiches and burgers, but I really wouldn't stray too far from the cheesecurds, onion strings, soup, and burgers if you want to feel truly satisfied for the money you spend.
Happy Hour is good- 2-4-1 rails and taps- but get their early because it is only from 3-5pm.
Only time I was ever disappointed by the place (in the 30+ times I've been there) is when we got a cheese platter- the cheese was interesting, but for $13 i need a lot more than 3 slices of cheese, a few walnuts, and 2 apple slices.
All in all, great any time of day for drinks or food! watch out, though- they don't take reservations so weekends get crazy.
Im in good 'ol Madison visiting family and was taken to the old fashioned. Of course I had to try the signature drink - the old fashioned which is a brandy based cocktail with some orange slices and a maraschino cherry. It's sweet and really allows the flavor of the brandy to come through. I currently have have an appetite that makes all-you-can-eat buffet owners cringe and at TOF I got soup, (1/2) salad and a sandwich w/ salad on the side. My pulled pork sandwich was tasty with the sweet relish inside. It wasn't dripping with overpowering bbq sauce - a big plus. Itjust wasn't enough to fill me up and i'm glad I got the other two dishes.
Overall I'd say the old fashioned is a big notch above pub grub but the menu which is heavy on the sandwiches and light on full plates of food leaves something to be desired.
First off, I really hate waiting around for a table, so the fact that I go here even when they don't take reservations should tell you something. The Mr. and I have been here several times, weekends mostly, and I'm always up for their Friday fish fry. Can't remember which night (Tues, mayhap?) but Taco Night is also interesting, in a good way.
You must order whatever the drink special of the evening is- each time I've been amazed at old Wisconsin drinks I've never heard of before. Bartenders are attentive and friendly, the location's great and I've never had a bad meal or experience here.
I have only been for brunch but it is very good. They have a version of eggs benedict using a brat patty instead of canadian bacon which is out of this world. Also their potatoes are awesome, I think they are battered and deepfried with rosemary. I also had the special which involved sage sausage and onions scrambled eggs and cheddar, much of which supposedly came from the farmers market right outside the door. Its more casual than I expected after reading reviews here.
Had Brunch on a weekend.
The wait time was 5 mins;
The food was served hot and quickly.The waiter helped with the menu choices and kept the coffee cup full.
We had the Cheese platter, eggs and toast, Eggs Benedict with bratwurst. Really good value.
delicious restaurant on the square - get your fried cheese curds, mac and cheese, and other fatty wisco classics all in one place. if you want to pretend to be healthy, their salads are pretty decent too.
try the minnesota beer "hot chocolate" - dark beer with cocoa powder and chili powder. spicy, tasty, and unique!
Madison, WI
Category: Breweries
Madison, WI
Category: German
Madison, WI
Category: Steakhouses
Madison, WI
Category: Irish
Madison, WI
Category: French
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