Madison King Street Spirits Ghost Walk: Haunting Tales
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Wisconsin cheese curds are squeaky fresh cheddar curds, beer-battered and deep-fried until golden, served with ranch or chipotle aioli as a Wisconsin tavern starter.
Wisconsin's cheese curd tradition dates to the state's 19th-century immigrant Swiss and German cheesemakers, who sold the byproduct curds from cheddar production fresh at the dairy door. The fried cheese curd, deep-fried in a beer batter, became a Wisconsin tavern staple in the 1970s when state cheesemakers and brewers cross-promoted. The Old Fashioned in Madison codified the Wisconsin curd as a downtown bar appetizer; today fried curds appear on every Madison tavern, brewery and supper club menu.
4 editor picks for Fried Wisconsin cheese curds in Madison, ranked by editorial score. All Madison signature dishes · Fried Wisconsin cheese curds across every city.
Also in: Milwaukee.
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.
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
Fried Wisconsin cheese curds 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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