Wisconsin bratwurst is beer-simmered then char-grilled, served on a Sheboygan-style hard roll with stadium mustard, sauerkraut and a glass of Wisconsin lager.
Bratwurst reached Wisconsin with the German immigrant wave of the 1840s and became Madison's tailgate and Brewers-stadium food by the early 20th century. Sheboygan, an hour north, claims the hard-roll style; Madison adopted the bratwurst on a hard roll at the Dane County Farmers' Market on Capitol Square, where multiple vendors grill brats every Saturday May through November, and at Camp Randall and Memorial Union tailgates each fall football season.
3 editor picks for Bratwurst on a hard roll in Madison, ranked by editorial score. All Madison signature dishes · Bratwurst on a hard roll across every city.
The Old Fashioned ★ 4.8
capitol-square · 23 N Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703
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.
Tornado Steak House ★ 4.6
capitol-square · 116 S Hamilton St, Madison, WI 53703
Tornado Steak House on South Hamilton, a block off Capitol Square, runs Madison's traditional supper club tier with steaks and the weekly Friday fish fry.
The Plaza Tavern & Grill ★ 4.3
state-street · 319 N Henry St, Madison, WI 53703
The Plaza Tavern on North Henry, a block off State Street between the Capitol and UW Madison, is home to the secret-sauce Plazaburger since 1964.