State Street Brats ★ 4.2
State Street Brats on State Street, the campus bar since 1953, sells red and white Wisconsin brats with cheese curds and Spotted Cow taps for game-day crowds.
Try: Red brat with a side of cheese curds
The Plaza Tavern is a budget eat in Madison.
The Plaza Tavern on North Henry, the State Street campus bar since 1930, runs the legendary Plazaburger and cheap beer pitchers in a student-friendly room.
Address: 319 N Henry St, Madison, WI 53703
State Street Brats on State Street, the campus bar since 1953, sells red and white Wisconsin brats with cheese curds and Spotted Cow taps for game-day crowds.
Try: Red brat with a side of cheese curds
Paul's Pel'meni on West Gilman, the late-night Russian dumpling counter near campus, sells a single dish of pelmeni with butter, curry powder and sour cream.
Try: Russian pelmeni with butter, curry and sour cream
Parthenon Gyros on State Street, the long-running Greek counter on the pedestrian strip, serves gyro plates and souvlaki for a student-budget lunch.
Try: Gyro plate with fries and tzatziki
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry on North Frances, downtown Madison's burger institution, runs cheese-curd-topped burgers and hand-cut onion rings under $15 at lunch.
Try: Melting Pot burger with onion rings
Ian's Pizza on State Street, the State Street outpost of Madison's slice institution founded on Frances Street in 2001, runs mac-and-cheese pizza and rotating creations from a late-night counter.
Try: Mac and cheese pizza by the slice
Mickies Dairy Bar on Monroe Street, the campus-side diner since 1946 across from Camp Randall, runs Wisconsin diner breakfasts and the legendary Scrambler.
Try: Scrambler with hash browns and pancake