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The Old Fashioned
23 N Pinckney St
Ste 1
Madison, Wisconsin, 53703-4207
United States
(608) 310-4545 | map
theoldfashioned.com
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.46/5 rDev +5.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
4.46/5 rDev +5.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
Vibe: Wisconsin. From the beer bottle lanterns to the all wood interior, and I am here for it! Food is classic bar food but well done. Beer list is sneaky big wiht 52 taps, with an emphasis on local craft, all wisconsin at large, don't sleep on some of the Wisconsin favorites being on tap here. Service was great, our waiter was attentive, chill and gave a great pairing recommendation. The beers we got were both great (NG and Lion's Tale) but there were other options on there that I have had where the quality is not as high. So some great beers hiding in plain sight here. Oh yeah and the cheese curds are a must
Mar 21, 2024Reviewed by tcbro023 from Wisconsin
4.94/5 rDev +17.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 5
4.94/5 rDev +17.3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 5
One of the best spots in Madison. Prime location right on the Capitol Square. Best cheese curds in town. Which are great alone, and amazing with their sauces (garlic, tiger blue, etc) Other great Wisconsin food options available too. But to the important stuff, they have 52 rotating Wisconsin beers on tap. They serve many additional bottles as well. Finally, they make a great Old Fashioned and have various different styles available.
Feb 27, 2018Reviewed by Barnoloid from Illinois
4.31/5 rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
4.31/5 rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.5
Really good stop off if you are in Madison, WI. Was lively on a Thur night - we had a 30 minute wait for a table which was spent walking by the state capitol. Service is top notch - friendly and attentive hosts and servers. Beer list is very extensive and super local. Options right across the board for any taste. Food is stellar and at a reasonable price.
Sep 04, 2017Reviewed by Billolick from New York
4.15/5 rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
4.15/5 rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
Fun and relaxed place to catch some typical wisconsin fare along with a huge beer menu...you will find pleanty of quality beer to enjoy...cross the street from the state house dome...as everybody has noted, watch out for crowds at prime times, we went during the week at about 9 for dinner...sat right away, great service...food and beer on point, had a great time..
Jul 20, 2016Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri
4.21/5 rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
4.21/5 rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
This place was super busy on a Tuesday night during winter break. The beer quality and selection are great! All beers are $5 a pint or less...even a Bourbon Barrel aged stout. The food was great..string onions, cheese curds, etc.
Dec 30, 2015Reviewed by TheStoutHound from Wisconsin
4.35/5 rDev +3.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
4.35/5 rDev +3.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
A must-stop, family friendly place with a ton of great Wisconsin food and beer. Remember, its WI only beer but they have over 100 varieties including some really great offerings at very reasonable prices. The food is outstanding; fish fry and cheese curds are my favorite. Due to its reputation and location, this place does get very busy so expect a crowd if you are going during meal hours. They have a full food and beer menu available on their website.
Oct 22, 2015Reviewed by Abbbp from Texas
4.13/5 rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
4.13/5 rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I Just want everyone to know not to get the $75 cheese. Other than that, it was a tremendous night of laughter and fare- solid people, tremendous service, and the beer selection was heavy on quality WI brew no doubt.
Oct 19, 2015Reviewed by cbutova from Massachusetts
4.28/5 rDev +1.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
4.28/5 rDev +1.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Stopped in for lunch during a long drive from Chicago to Toppling Goliath. As advertised they have a huge selection of both drafts and bottles. Being from out of state there were probably 20+ brews I could have chosen and been satisfied with; a lot of good sounding locals brews I had never heard of. Food and vibe were both good as well. Old school, down to earth dining room and bar with mostly wood interior. Had the WI brat sandwich and also sampled some of a fish sandwich. Both were on-point for a cheap lunch sandwich. Recommended by the only person I knew of from WI and definitely made the perfect stop for lunch.
Dec 30, 2014Reviewed by SerialTicker from Michigan
4.6/5 rDev +9.3%
4.6/5 rDev +9.3%
*My review from Yelp*
Well that's just about the best experience anyone could ever have anywhere... ever.
As you can see from my picture, I got the No. 30 with cheese curds, and it was one of the better burgers I've ever eaten. The description of it isn't especially innovative, legendary, or "YOU-CAN-ONLY-GET-IT-HERE", but it tasted absolutely awesome... I don't even know what else to say. The best part about it had to be the bacon. I don't know if they smoke it themselves or where they get it from, but it was some of the most flavorful bacon I've ever had. As a side, I got the cheese curds, and I thought they were also very good. You kind of sort of can't go to Wisconsin without having cheese curds, soooo yeah. Cheese curds can sometimes be bland, but these ones are just artery clogging deliciousness. Please, don't waste your time dipping them in ketchup... they don't deserve that sacrilege.
The beer selection at The Old Fashioned is also insane with I forget how many dozens of taps, as well as an extensive bottled list. Considering I came in a little before 11am, I didn't find it very appropriate to order a beer. Of course, there were plenty of Mimosas and Bloody Mary's being ordered around the place. The prices for these seemed a little high, but it didn't stop them from being ordered at seemingly every other table. What else is there to do in Madison but drink, though? Alright, that was uncalled for.
No complaints from me... everything was perfectly good and perfect. The place was busy, but we didn't have to wait, there was a nice aesthetic, and the food came out surprisingly quickly. I haven't been to any other restaurants in Madison, but good luck in finding a place that'd be more appealing than The Old Fashioned.
Dec 03, 2014Well that's just about the best experience anyone could ever have anywhere... ever.
As you can see from my picture, I got the No. 30 with cheese curds, and it was one of the better burgers I've ever eaten. The description of it isn't especially innovative, legendary, or "YOU-CAN-ONLY-GET-IT-HERE", but it tasted absolutely awesome... I don't even know what else to say. The best part about it had to be the bacon. I don't know if they smoke it themselves or where they get it from, but it was some of the most flavorful bacon I've ever had. As a side, I got the cheese curds, and I thought they were also very good. You kind of sort of can't go to Wisconsin without having cheese curds, soooo yeah. Cheese curds can sometimes be bland, but these ones are just artery clogging deliciousness. Please, don't waste your time dipping them in ketchup... they don't deserve that sacrilege.
The beer selection at The Old Fashioned is also insane with I forget how many dozens of taps, as well as an extensive bottled list. Considering I came in a little before 11am, I didn't find it very appropriate to order a beer. Of course, there were plenty of Mimosas and Bloody Mary's being ordered around the place. The prices for these seemed a little high, but it didn't stop them from being ordered at seemingly every other table. What else is there to do in Madison but drink, though? Alright, that was uncalled for.
No complaints from me... everything was perfectly good and perfect. The place was busy, but we didn't have to wait, there was a nice aesthetic, and the food came out surprisingly quickly. I haven't been to any other restaurants in Madison, but good luck in finding a place that'd be more appealing than The Old Fashioned.
Reviewed by 80x2HopHead from Vermont
4.5/5 rDev +6.9%
4.5/5 rDev +6.9%
Super solid line up of local and regional craft brews as well as classic national offerings. Buy one get one after 10 which is awesome if you are out late. Great bar tender and fair prices
Sep 28, 2014
The Old Fashioned in Madison, WI
Place rating:
4.21 out of
5 with
81 ratings
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