The highly desireable location means that Cooper's Tavern will always be jam-packed, no matter what the experience is like. We recently visited during a peak time. The wait at around 1:00 on a Saturday was over 90 minutes. When we did get our seats, it was just deafening inside - hard to order because you couldn't hear the server over the din. The menu runs Midwest gastro pub, but the kitchen didn't seem to have much pride the day we were there. Ruben had about 2 ounces of meat, a few strands of sauerkraut - truly a paltry sandwich. I ask you, how hard is it to make a great Ruben?
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Lauren Chipchak
Stopped in for lunch and enjoyed delicious food and very attentive service. Great beer menu as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kevin Gunderson
Best steak I've ever had! Awesome beer menu! Great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Duane Scott
Looking for a place to eat before a concert at the Orpheum. Easy walk. No waiting. Food was good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Scott Teuber
Super disappointed with my last visit to Coopers Tavern. It was on a Sunday evening, the place was probably less than 2/3 full. The bartender asked what kind of beer I was looking for, I said an unfiltered wheat. I might be wrong, but any bartender should have some sense of what an unfiltered wheat is, spotted cow, Blue Moon are the ubiquitous versions of that now, another name would be hefeweissen. What I would have preferred was something like a Paulauner, Ayinger, Hacker Pshorr. But really any unfiltered wheat. He said they didn't have any, he ended up pouring me an Ayinger (Yes, exactly what I was looking for but he had no idea what it was). After looking at the menu just now, I think there are about four beers that qualify as filtered wheats. We then ordered fries and our main course at the same time, since we had his attention we figured we better order both the same time since we didn't know when he might circle back. When we placed our order he asked if we wanted them both at the same time or the fries is an appetizer, we asked for the fries first and for the main course to come later, we were sharing. Not too long later, as I was talking to my dining partner facing each other at the bar, from out of nowhere a plate of fries was thrust between us at face level and placed between us. No, excuse me, here are your fries or served from the side, one minute we're talking to each other and the next minute we both had our noses almost taken off by a plate full of fries (dramatized for effect). We both looked at each other like, that was weird. As we began to sort out munching away on our fries, within approximately 2 minutes the main course showed up. I had mentioned to the bartender, I thought we were going to get these spaced out, all he said was, well I guess the kitchen is running ahead. If that's the case, then why did you ask us if we wanted it earlier or not? I'm assuming he didn't note it in the ordering system or the kitchen didn't care that we wanted one initially as an appetizer and then later the main course. General observation, the staff was standing around quite a bit, shooting the breeze, joking around. I don't know if management was missing this day or what exactly was going on. We were there about 7:30, not super late, I don't know when they stop serving food but perhaps everybody had already slipped it into neutral and had one foot out the door. My previous experience at Cooper's Tavern was quite a few years ago at this point, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I understand how difficult staffing must be these days and training must be a never-ending process. I don't know when I'll make it back, but it's not high on my priority list at this point. It's disappointing, it's a neat place. there are just so many other restaurants near the Capitol....
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
T E
Not a bad place, but we did wait a very long time for a waiter and our food. Also waited for dessert. Thursday night so not busy. Food was good, not extraordinary but ok. Wife had turkey sandwich and i had a burger. Not a destination but ok.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Andrew Pastoor
Great food and a good drink selection!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
cher wuestenhagen
Wonderful first visit. Everyone in our party of 4 ordered differently, and it was all excellent. Give it a try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Philip R
What a great patio to spend a fall afternoon. I'm from out of town and was looking for some good pub food and I found it. Great turkey sandwich, and probably the best balsamic vinaigrette I have ever tasted. Very good beer selection. Service was so kind and patient, special thanks to Maggie amd Cheyanne!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
heather pisano
Cute rustic restaurant with unique eats (ie a beet and goat cheese sandwich). Delicious cheese curds and fresh salads!
Went by again for lunch this week. Probably my favorite place in Madison. Beer selection is excellent, food is top notch, and the staff are the friendliest most effiecient group who absolutely nail all points of customer service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alan Schauer
A bartender who actually knows how to make a proper Margarita—so refreshing to see! We personally prefer our crab cakes broiled rather than fried, but that’s just our taste. Hard to fault the place for that, especially when everything else was so enjoyable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sandy Randall
Great fish and chips.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
RES RES
Great location. Indoor and outdoor seating options. Great menu. Friendly server. Service a little slow. Poutine disappointing (dry unsalted fries, one big lump of cheese making sharing difficult, not enough gravy) but the rest of the food was enjoyed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Teresa Hoffman
Great menu and drink selection! I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Madison!
The highly desireable location means that Cooper's Tavern will always be jam-packed, no matter what the experience is like. We recently visited during a peak time. The wait at around 1:00 on a Saturday was over 90 minutes. When we did get our seats, it was just deafening inside - hard to order because you couldn't hear the server over the din. The menu runs Midwest gastro pub, but the kitchen didn't seem to have much pride the day we were there. Ruben had about 2 ounces of meat, a few strands of sauerkraut - truly a paltry sandwich. I ask you, how hard is it to make a great Ruben?
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Stopped in for lunch and enjoyed delicious food and very attentive service. Great beer menu as well!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best steak I've ever had! Awesome beer menu! Great service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Looking for a place to eat before a concert at the Orpheum. Easy walk. No waiting. Food was good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Super disappointed with my last visit to Coopers Tavern. It was on a Sunday evening, the place was probably less than 2/3 full. The bartender asked what kind of beer I was looking for, I said an unfiltered wheat. I might be wrong, but any bartender should have some sense of what an unfiltered wheat is, spotted cow, Blue Moon are the ubiquitous versions of that now, another name would be hefeweissen. What I would have preferred was something like a Paulauner, Ayinger, Hacker Pshorr. But really any unfiltered wheat. He said they didn't have any, he ended up pouring me an Ayinger (Yes, exactly what I was looking for but he had no idea what it was). After looking at the menu just now, I think there are about four beers that qualify as filtered wheats. We then ordered fries and our main course at the same time, since we had his attention we figured we better order both the same time since we didn't know when he might circle back. When we placed our order he asked if we wanted them both at the same time or the fries is an appetizer, we asked for the fries first and for the main course to come later, we were sharing. Not too long later, as I was talking to my dining partner facing each other at the bar, from out of nowhere a plate of fries was thrust between us at face level and placed between us. No, excuse me, here are your fries or served from the side, one minute we're talking to each other and the next minute we both had our noses almost taken off by a plate full of fries (dramatized for effect). We both looked at each other like, that was weird. As we began to sort out munching away on our fries, within approximately 2 minutes the main course showed up. I had mentioned to the bartender, I thought we were going to get these spaced out, all he said was, well I guess the kitchen is running ahead. If that's the case, then why did you ask us if we wanted it earlier or not? I'm assuming he didn't note it in the ordering system or the kitchen didn't care that we wanted one initially as an appetizer and then later the main course. General observation, the staff was standing around quite a bit, shooting the breeze, joking around. I don't know if management was missing this day or what exactly was going on. We were there about 7:30, not super late, I don't know when they stop serving food but perhaps everybody had already slipped it into neutral and had one foot out the door. My previous experience at Cooper's Tavern was quite a few years ago at this point, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I understand how difficult staffing must be these days and training must be a never-ending process. I don't know when I'll make it back, but it's not high on my priority list at this point. It's disappointing, it's a neat place. there are just so many other restaurants near the Capitol....
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Not a bad place, but we did wait a very long time for a waiter and our food. Also waited for dessert. Thursday night so not busy. Food was good, not extraordinary but ok. Wife had turkey sandwich and i had a burger. Not a destination but ok.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Great food and a good drink selection!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wonderful first visit. Everyone in our party of 4 ordered differently, and it was all excellent.
Give it a try!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
What a great patio to spend a fall afternoon. I'm from out of town and was looking for some good pub food and I found it. Great turkey sandwich, and probably the best balsamic vinaigrette I have ever tasted. Very good beer selection. Service was so kind and patient, special thanks to Maggie amd Cheyanne!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cute rustic restaurant with unique eats (ie a beet and goat cheese sandwich). Delicious cheese curds and fresh salads!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Went by again for lunch this week. Probably my favorite place in Madison. Beer selection is excellent, food is top notch, and the staff are the friendliest most effiecient group who absolutely nail all points of customer service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A bartender who actually knows how to make a proper Margarita—so refreshing to see!
We personally prefer our crab cakes broiled rather than fried, but that’s just our taste. Hard to fault the place for that, especially when everything else was so enjoyable.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Great fish and chips.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great location. Indoor and outdoor seating options. Great menu. Friendly server. Service a little slow. Poutine disappointing (dry unsalted fries, one big lump of cheese making sharing difficult, not enough gravy) but the rest of the food was enjoyed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Great menu and drink selection! I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Madison!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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