50 Best American Restaurants near Cottage Grove

“One name, Gary. Gary was the gentleman that took my order and the counter along with about 5 other customers during my duration of waiting for my food. Gary was the nicest person I have ever encountered while ordering food. Gary went above and beyond with each customer including myself to make each transaction personable. It was a Thursday evening and fairly busy inside and out. Gary greeted each customer with a friendly face and would take it upon himself to take something off someone’s shirt or something they were wearing to start up a conversation. One particular customer was an elderly woman and her middle age son who was mentally challenged. She approached the counter alone but Gary asked for her son to come up too and to not be afraid that he wouldn’t hurt him. Carried on a conversation with him and his mother asking his name and just being in the moment with him while they placed their order that evening. You don’t see people like Gary often enough anymore in the world and it really touched my heart on how he interacted with every person that came to his register as of each person was special in their own way. I’m not one to come inside and order and wait for my food or to take time to do surveys, but this interaction is one I will not forget. We need more people like Gary. I tried doing this on the Survey but it limited me on Characters I could use. Hope this doesn’t fall on deaf ears. Thank you“

“It's what going out for breakfast is meant to be. If you're last meal was at a chain restaurant within 5 miles of this place you really made a mistake. Just a great little family place.“

“Great place. Food is solid and decently priced. The one thing I don't appreciate is the constant changing of the menu. They used to have the best cheese curds in the Madison area, and then they changed suppliers, and now they are honestly pretty bad. Beside that great food, especially for a golf course.“

“The appetizers were great and the server was amazingly friendly and attentive!“

“when busy just relax, they can only deal with what they are able to remember - how many things can you deal with at once. show respect always anywhere. they do a great job and are very good people. I would definetly recommend coming to four food/ drinks ect.“

“We live in Northern Wisconsin and ate here on a trip to visit family. The food was outstanding, the waitress Jacyln (not sure of spelling, sorry!) was very attentive and took care of us in a timely friendly fashion. The atmosphere is casual, which we like because we don't dress up much! We are so happy we found this place and will be sure to return next time we are in the area. OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND FOOD.“

“We met friends who were from out of town for lunch at Buck & Honey's on Sunday. They had never been there, so with my wife and me having been there before and very much impressed, we suggested it. What an incredible atmosphere, superb food quality and service that is so rare these days. We sure had a very memorable time and dining experience and will be coming back again very soon. Our guests could not stop raving about this place also. A shot out to our waitress Aliyah for such an outstanding job taking care of us. You sure are excellent at what you do and we thank you sincerely!“

“A Sad Return to What Used to Be a Great Spot I first visited the Green Lantern about 10 years ago when I moved to the area, and back then, the food was genuinely enjoyable—good enough that it stuck in my mind all these years. So when my wife and I decided to revisit recently, we were hopeful for a nostalgic and satisfying meal. Unfortunately, what we got was far from it. My wife asked about the fish before ordering and was told it was frozen and cooked—not a great start. She went with a salad instead, which arrived looking tired and withered, like it had been sitting out all day. Limp lettuce and watery dressing don’t exactly make for an appetizing experience. I ordered the 1/2 rack of ribs, expecting at least a decent meal. What I got was a plate of disappointment. There was a pool of greasy brown fat dripping onto the plate, and when I took my first bite, I thought I had just hit a fatty patch. By the fifth bite, I realized—there was no meat, just chewy, rubbery fat slathered in BBQ sauce in an attempt to mask the poor quality. When I politely brought this to the waitress's attention, she relayed the message to the cook. The response? “Ribs are supposed to be fatty.” I’ve eaten hundreds of ribs in my life, and while a bit of marbling is expected, these were inedible. No meat, just fat. What was once a solid local spot has clearly lost its way. If you're looking for a place with quality food and pride in the kitchen, sadly, the Green Lantern is no longer it.“

“First time dining here. Great food and atmosphere. On a side note… To a beautiful lady. You were the beautiful woman dining—maybe with your mom—at “a restaurant by the river”. We locked eyes, shared a smile, and you held the door for me as we walked out. I wanted to introduce myself but got a little nervous. When you turned around after walking away, I knew I missed my chance. If you see this, I’d love a second one.“

“Never a bad experience here. Absolutely wonderful staff - top notch. Great service - and super super quick! Delicious cocktails and the best, best, BEST Chipotle Southwest Salad. It’s my current hyper-fixation meal but from time to time, I like to spice it up with the delicious Steak Tacos and Poke Bowl! A lot of great menus items ranging from their signature dishes to seasonal dishes. Me and my boyfriend always say we should try new places, but can’t resist not coming here!“

“Great food and service! Very friendly atmosphere.“

“Had a great time at Maple Tree Supper Club 🥃🍒🥩 We really enjoyed the Brandy Old Fashioned, the salad bar (homemade croutons & cheese spread were a hit!), and the grasshopper ice cream drink to finish 😍“

“We stopped for a light lunch on our travels and it was very delicious. Great Staff, amazing food, and ice cold beverages!! We will be stopping on our way to and from the Badger games as it's right off the highway.“

“Rumchata French toast and the walleye and eggs“

“We stopped at this Madison WI Culvers on our way to Rockford today and our 16mo made friends walking around the restaurant after we ate. The manager was so nice to her, gave her 2 stuffies and meal cards for our next stop through! Thanks, Ana! We'll see you again in a few weeks. :)“

“The food is always great but the service and warm welcome we get from our server Shana is what keeps us coming back all the time“

“Top burger place in all of Madison! Get the Hanks double, such fast service you will barely be able to sit down at the Musky Bar before it's ready in all its greasy glory. Great sauce makes this a three to four napkin burger. Hits the spot when you have a Hankerin' for the best! Get the pickles on the side, delicious and you get even more! I will be back again and again.“

“I would like to give a huge shout out to Varsity Bar and Grill! We kicked off Rachel's 40th Birthday Party at Varsity on Saturday. The food was oh so delicious, the service over the top exceptional, friendly and welcoming. Varsity is everything you could ask for in a small town bar and grill. Thank you to Tony, Ben, Lyle, Jeff and all at Varsity who helped make the party a success! We'll be back!!!“

“We stopped for a light lunch on our travels and it was very delicious. Great Staff, amazing food, and ice cold beverages!! We will be stopping on our way to and from the Badger games as it's right off the highway.“

“Our table ordered a mix of breakfast and lunch plates. All were delicious! The staff were very friendly. Seated quickly, got to order right away, and the food came fast. We all enjoyed watching them fuel up a plane and take off! Kids loved their paper planes too. ✈️ Plan to be back!“

“There was 2 employees named Gwen and rose and they made our whole experience!!! They were VERY short staffed but those two where sooo happy and just sooo kind in a time that I'm sure was stressful. They stopped to take there time to help me and my family! Those two deserve a raise!!!“

“Delicious AyCe salad bar and fish fry. We will definitely go back.“

“We love bringing out of town friends to Sal's. We had the Valentine's menu and it was the best food we've had in years! Tameka was amazing and the food came out so quick. Clean plates all day!“

“Parking: Lots of spots but they keep pretty busy.

Kid-friendliness: There's nice tables to eat ice cream outside and plenty of space on the inside

Wheelchair accessibility: Should be able to roll right on in for a burger and fries and Frozen Custard too.“

“Visited Monks on Father's day great food a special mention of a young man Maddox, a hostess. He was respectful and friendly and it was a very enjoyable time“

“Great atmosphere best bartenders and drinks!!!! Would never have thought to stop without pub passes so definitely a great pls d to stop guaranteed a good time“

“Food was great and priced fair, we’ll be back.“

“We ordered take out from the Cottage Grove Rd location. Our food was hot and delicious! My phone call was answered by the owner himself and handled with courtesy. He accommodated by vegetarian diet with no issues.“

“definitely better than your typical truckstop food (Denny's, Iron skillet) excellent food, freshly prepared and good service, clean and (pretty servers) awesome bakery, parking for semis“

“Good food and customer service, but I really miss the old location with the outside dining.“

“Man, this place is always busy! As it should’ve! It’s phenomenal! The staff really has a system down to get you in and enjoying your experience and to get you a table as soon as possible while enjoying your time waiting at the bar with great drinks! The service was top notch from beginning to end. Food was hot and delicious! Thank you for a great time!“

“Cute and cozy café! The fries were extra crispy, so they didn't get soggy from the chili which was really nice. The philly cheese steak was okay -- a little dry, but still good and I combined it with the leftover chili to make up for the dryness. The fruit was super good and cut up in smaller pieces. The pancakes were really sweet and yummy too. Overall, decent food, good price, and a nice atmosphere. Will definitely come again! :)“

“Culver’s in Sun Prairie is a dependable place for a good meal or dessert. The restaurant is kept very clean and well organized, with plenty of seating inside and outside. Ordering is simple, the menu is clearly displayed, and the line moves quickly even during busy times. The staff here are consistently friendly and professional, greeting guests with a smile and making sure orders are right the first time. Whether you are coming through the drive-thru, ordering to go, or dining in, the service is quick without feeling rushed.

The food quality is always excellent. The ButterBurgers are hot, juicy, and full of flavor, cooked to order with toppings that are always fresh. The fries are crisp and golden, and the cheese curds are a Wisconsin favorite done right. The frozen custard is rich, creamy, and never disappointing, with flavors changing daily and the option to create your own combinations with mix-ins as a concrete mixer. Everything tastes freshly prepared and made with care, which is why it stands out from typical fast food.

This location is convenient for both residents and travelers passing through. Parking is easy, the dining area feels comfortable, and the staff keep the space clean and welcoming from open to close. It is a reliable stop when you want a meal that is made well, served with genuine hospitality, and consistent every time. Whether you are here for lunch, dinner, or just a frozen custard treat, Culver’s in Sun Prairie always delivers a great experience.“

“Culver's. We enjoy it. It's fast. More clean than a fast food place... Even though it's technically fast food as well. This place was generally the same.

Temp was set a bit cool for mid May. But if that's our biggest beef, they did a pretty good job“

“Our class recently held our 50th high school reunion at this revnue! They did a fantastic job setting up the room and meeting our needs! We've held previous reunions here and will definitely come back again. Thanks to the owners and staff for making our MG reunion a great success!“

“We Decided to try today while out on a motorcycle ride. We Arrived and walked in and were immediately greeted by staff. The atmosphere was nice and friendly. The staff was friendly. We ordered our drinks and food. We got the Prime Rib Sandwich with onion rings and the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich with fries. Both of the sandwiches were amazing. Very tasty and juicy upon first bite to the Last bite with the right amount of meat and vegetables/mushrooms with it. The fries were just right...not to crispy. The onion rings were a tad overdone and really crispy. Overall the food and drinks were 10/10. We will be back.“

“Noel, the manager, always takes great care of us. We've become regulars at the Monona Denny's, mornings and the odd breakfast late at night as well. Noel recognizes us, is warm, and always keeps the coffee pouring before we ever see the bottoms of our mugs. The entire team works like a well oiled machine, and they really put so much effort and pride into their work. It's what keeps us coming back, even more than the food itself!“

“What a great little hidden gem! Great drinks, gourmet food, amazing staff and we even got to meet the owner, Steve! Very friendly atmosphere. We will definitely be back!!“

“I love this Culver’s they are always helpful if you need anything, I don’t even need to eat up
and ask for something because they are there to help you, the food is amazing 100% recommend.

Parking: The parking is wonderful, they have a lot of parking by the back.

Kid-friendliness: They are so sweet with kids.“

“Huck is so knowledgeable in all his drink knowledge and so personable and idk how he remembers everything, your food menu is so versatile I finally tried everything on the food menu and it's even more amazing then the first time I will always recommend full mile“

“Loved the atmosphere. Seat yourself. Amazing Cajun Cod, thanks for the recommendation Angel! Looking forward to visiting again!“

“Great neighborhood tavern! Staffing changes have been made.“

“Excellent service and a great atmosphere“

“Very amazing place with good food and great servers. Will be back.“

“the best chicken wings around . period. mmmmmmm“

“Absolutely perfect rest stop on the way to the Wisconsin Dells (iykyk)! We stopped for the supercharger and were able to take a lovely break for everyone to stretch out their legs. Super tasty food. The crispiest tots. An impossible burger for all my veg friends. They even gave us extra tots! They brought out and cleaned the high chair for us. Truly an amazing experience for what we thought would just be a rest stop.

Vegetarian options: Impossible burger

Dietary restrictions: Impossible burger for vegetarians and vegans

Kid-friendliness: Great kid meals, great kid portions. Really cool about the the tornado of tots left behind.“

“👩‍🦳I love the unlimited biscuits and gravy, and the unlimited corn muffins. The ambiance with the fire and the lanterns on the tables is delightful. It's also nice being able to shop and look around after or before dining. Highly recommend, especially if you're looking for old fashion experience. 💙💚“

“Had a lady serve us,(Frankie) ,outstanding bubbly character who couldn't do enough to help, even offer a potential employment to our son who was there as a student looking for work. Good work Frankie (sorry, lost the contact details)“

“Great place for lunch or dinner. Always new specials & the staff is amazing.“