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The Wisconsin butter burger is a fresh-griddled beef patty with a pat of butter melted on top, served on a toasted bun with stewed onions and American cheese.
Kenneth Salmon, known as Solly, popularised the butter burger at Solly's Coffee Shop in Milwaukee in 1936, and the style spread across Wisconsin as a tavern lunch counter staple. Madison's Tipsy Cow, the King Street tavern off Capitol Square, codified the butter burger on a downtown bar menu in the early 2010s; the Plazaburger at the Plaza Tavern, the secret-sauce double-stack served since 1964 on North Henry Street, runs in parallel as Madison's other defining tavern burger.
4 editor picks for Wisconsin butter burger in Madison, ranked by editorial score. All Madison signature dishes · Wisconsin butter burger across every city.
Also in: Milwaukee.
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry ★ 4.7
state-street · 317 N Frances St, Madison, WI 53703
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry on North Frances, downtown Madison's burger institution founded by Jeff Stanley, runs a long burger menu with cheese-curd toppings.
Settle Down Tavern ★ 4.4
capitol-square · 117 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703
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.
Tipsy Cow ★ 4.3
capitol-square · 102 King St, Madison, WI 53703
Tipsy Cow on King Street, just off Capitol Square, runs an American burger menu with Wisconsin cheese curds, craft beer and a long whisky and cocktail list.
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.
Learn to cook it, or eat it with a guide
Wisconsin butter burger makes more sense with someone from Madison explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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