Madison's American cooking leans on the Wisconsin tavern tradition: a Friday fish fry, cheese curds and a brandy Old Fashioned poured at the bar. Capitol Square is where the form reads clearest. The Old Fashioned on North Pinckney codifies the state canon into a tavern menu, while Settle Down Tavern a couple of blocks down on South Pinckney runs a tight menu and a strong cocktail program.
American restaurants in Madison
2 american places in Madison we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Madison · American across every city.
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The Old Fashioned
- ★ 4.8
- American
- $$
- Capitol Square
Order Fried Wisconsin cheese curds with a brandy Old Fashioned, plus the Friday fish fry if it's a Friday.
The Old Fashioned on North Pinckney, the Wisconsin canon codified into a tavern menu since 2005, runs cheese curds, fish fry and brandy Old Fashioneds.
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Settle Down Tavern
- ★ 4.4
- American
- $$
- Capitol Square
Order The Settle Down burger and one of the rotating Old Fashioned variations on the cocktail menu.
Settle Down Tavern on South Pinckney, in the First Settlement District a block off Capitol Square, runs a tight tavern menu and a strong cocktail program.
More places near The Old Fashioned and Settle Down Tavern
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- L'Etoile Modern European, under 100 m away
- Graze British gastropub, under 100 m away
- Tipsy Cow Burgers, about 100 m away
- Marigold Kitchen Breakfast and Brunch, about 100 m away
- Lucille Pizzeria, about 150 m away
- The Old Fashioned weekend brunch Brunch, about 150 m away