My family and I have been coming to The Old Fashioned for years… since my wife went to college here, and every trip back to Madison, this spot is usually a must-visit for us.
Unfortunately, this visit was by far the most disappointing, and it all came down to basic customer service.
My daughter pulled a long hair out of her macaroni, which was obviously unsettling. I understand things happen in restaurants, and I wasn’t looking for a dramatic reaction. But when I mentioned it to our waitress, she simply said, “Oh, I’m sorry.” No follow-up, no acknowledgment beyond that, no offer to make it right. Just a passive shrug-off moment.
Then, when my food arrived, the server dropping it off asked if there was anything else I needed. I asked if they had anything else for the fries besides ketchup and mustard. He seemed annoyed and replied, “There’s ketchup and mustard in front of you.” I clarified that I meant something else for the fries, and he again repeated, “There’s ketchup and mustard,” while acting irritated… only then mentioning that anything else costs extra. I had no issue paying extra, but it was the attitude that was surprising.
The one bright spot was that when I brought the situation to a manager’s attention at the end, she did remove the macaroni from the bill, and I appreciated that. But the overall experience felt ignored, brushed aside, and far below the standard we’ve always known this place for.
The location is great, the history is special, and the food has always been solid… but the service we received on this visit was night and day from what we’ve come to expect. If I’m being honest… seems like it’s gotten worse over the years.
Hopefully this was just an off day, because I’d love to see The Old Fashioned get back to the level of hospitality that made it a favorite for so many years.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 1
Brian Pfeiffer
Great service, drink selection, and you won’t leave hungry.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sam Melchior
Great food. Fun place. Good for family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
julied919
We've lived in Madison for over 30 years. Have been to The Old Fashioned a handful of times - although not in the last 3-4 years. We were on Capitol Square this fall so decided to stop in again and it was average. I ordered an old fashioned and it was very average. I've had much better ones at other bars/restaurants in the last year - even draft old fashioneds I've had are better than this was. The curds are also meh. It seems they used to be better - or other places have since gotten even better at making curds. I was disappointed. We were going to see if we wanted to stay for dinner but just had one drink, the curds and left. Madison is spoiled with the number of very good restaurants for the size of town it is, and it is a rather classic name for a downtown Madison restaurant but this is why we don't go more often. It's really not that different than a lot of other mid-range bars with food. Go if you want to go to the namesake (which I get!) but don't expect to be blown away
Renee H
This place is AMAZING! We arrived before 5 pm- were seated right away. Service & food were excellent and yes... CHEESE CURDS AND OLD FASHIONED WAS AMAZING! Prices were very reasonable- highly recommend!!
RichardK1520
Generally speaking, if you have to wait to be seated, it's a great restaurant. This one is. Waited about 45 minutes and it was well worth it. Huge portions. Delicious food. Would have went back again had we been staying more than one night.
friendofmitzi
This restaurant does not take reservations, so we had to wait 45 minutes for a table on a Saturday night. We found a bench across the street by the capitol and enjoyed people watching. We got a window table which was tucked in a corner, so it was relatively quiet. I wanted to try the fried cheese curds, as we had not had a chance to do that yet. I am from New Orleans, so I expect a lot from a restaurant that serves local foods. I got the curds as a side to my brat sandwich. The brat was outstanding. I was not impressed with the cheese curds and could not finish them. Our table neighbors thought that they were average--and there were better to be had elsewhere in Wisconsin. My husband had a walleye sandwich and thought it was okay. We got a cherry crisp for dessert which I did enjoy. Go here for the atmosphere not necessarily the best food in Madison.
Peachs71
Great dining and best cheese curds in Madison, maybe the whole world. I have tried several items on the menu during my multiple visits, and I have yet to be disappointed. The brandy, old-fashion drink, has won my wife over. Try the Door County cherry drinks. The atmosphere is truly midwestern with memorabilia signs on the walls and beer lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling. They have a long bar and plenty of seating at tables. The restaurant can be loud when it is busy.
Ralph Sordyl
Great bartenders.
Nicholas Sinn
The Old Fashioned is a true Madison staple. The food and service are consistently reliable, and it’s one of the best places to experience classic Midwestern comfort food. The cheese curds are some of the best in town—crispy, melty, and always satisfying. Portion sizes are generous, making it a great spot whether you're sharing with friends or looking for a hearty solo meal. It’s the kind of place that feels familiar, even on your first visit.
Great food and service. They had a BLT special with heirloom tomatoes that was beyond incredible.
Nasim Eshgarf
Nice place in a great location with perfect, friendly staff. They were very helpful when we ordered. I had an amazing Old Fashioned, and honestly, I think I got the best onion rings of my life here!
It’s a must-try spot if you visit Madison. I highly recommend it!
loveHisCreation
This is a great spot if you are traveling and want to get a taste of some real Wisconsin fare, as we were. The beer cheese soup was great as were the cheese curds (no surprise there as they’ve been hailed as the best in the state).
Carol B
When I saw this was a top restaurant pick for 2024, with 4.5 stars I was expecting something a little better than average. My Old Fashioned cocktail was a little watered down, but good at the bottom. I ordered the Friday fish fry (perch) which was a generous portion but my partner and I agreed the fish was flavorless. It came with lots of OK fries and good homemade coleslaw (the best thing). My husband ordered a brat (which was nothing special- he said Johnsonville brand at the grocery store is better). It was supposed to be on a toasted hard roll but it seemed like a regular bun. Service was friendly and fast, retro-tavern ambience was pleasant and interesting .
Dustin A
Had a wonderful time at the Old Fashioned. The cheese curds were good and the beer cheese soup was alright. The Mac and cheese was alright I did not care for the grittiness of the Parmesan cheese. The walleye sandwich and the Door county salad with salmon were great. The service was outstanding and it did not take very long to get our food when it was busy. The old fashions were great! A nice meal before seeing a show and good views of the Capitol.
My family and I have been coming to The Old Fashioned for years… since my wife went to college here, and every trip back to Madison, this spot is usually a must-visit for us.
Unfortunately, this visit was by far the most disappointing, and it all came down to basic customer service.
My daughter pulled a long hair out of her macaroni, which was obviously unsettling. I understand things happen in restaurants, and I wasn’t looking for a dramatic reaction. But when I mentioned it to our waitress, she simply said, “Oh, I’m sorry.” No follow-up, no acknowledgment beyond that, no offer to make it right. Just a passive shrug-off moment.
Then, when my food arrived, the server dropping it off asked if there was anything else I needed. I asked if they had anything else for the fries besides ketchup and mustard. He seemed annoyed and replied, “There’s ketchup and mustard in front of you.” I clarified that I meant something else for the fries, and he again repeated, “There’s ketchup and mustard,” while acting irritated… only then mentioning that anything else costs extra. I had no issue paying extra, but it was the attitude that was surprising.
The one bright spot was that when I brought the situation to a manager’s attention at the end, she did remove the macaroni from the bill, and I appreciated that. But the overall experience felt ignored, brushed aside, and far below the standard we’ve always known this place for.
The location is great, the history is special, and the food has always been solid… but the service we received on this visit was night and day from what we’ve come to expect. If I’m being honest… seems like it’s gotten worse over the years.
Hopefully this was just an off day, because I’d love to see The Old Fashioned get back to the level of hospitality that made it a favorite for so many years.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 1
Great service, drink selection, and you won’t leave hungry.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food. Fun place. Good for family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We've lived in Madison for over 30 years. Have been to The Old Fashioned a handful of times - although not in the last 3-4 years. We were on Capitol Square this fall so decided to stop in again and it was average. I ordered an old fashioned and it was very average. I've had much better ones at other bars/restaurants in the last year - even draft old fashioneds I've had are better than this was. The curds are also meh. It seems they used to be better - or other places have since gotten even better at making curds. I was disappointed. We were going to see if we wanted to stay for dinner but just had one drink, the curds and left. Madison is spoiled with the number of very good restaurants for the size of town it is, and it is a rather classic name for a downtown Madison restaurant but this is why we don't go more often. It's really not that different than a lot of other mid-range bars with food. Go if you want to go to the namesake (which I get!) but don't expect to be blown away
This place is AMAZING! We arrived before 5 pm- were seated right away. Service & food were excellent and yes... CHEESE CURDS AND OLD FASHIONED WAS AMAZING! Prices were very reasonable- highly recommend!!
Generally speaking, if you have to wait to be seated, it's a great restaurant. This one is. Waited about 45 minutes and it was well worth it. Huge portions. Delicious food. Would have went back again had we been staying more than one night.
This restaurant does not take reservations, so we had to wait 45 minutes for a table on a Saturday night. We found a bench across the street by the capitol and enjoyed people watching. We got a window table which was tucked in a corner, so it was relatively quiet. I wanted to try the fried cheese curds, as we had not had a chance to do that yet. I am from New Orleans, so I expect a lot from a restaurant that serves local foods. I got the curds as a side to my brat sandwich. The brat was outstanding. I was not impressed with the cheese curds and could not finish them. Our table neighbors thought that they were average--and there were better to be had elsewhere in Wisconsin. My husband had a walleye sandwich and thought it was okay. We got a cherry crisp for dessert which I did enjoy. Go here for the atmosphere not necessarily the best food in Madison.
Great dining and best cheese curds in Madison, maybe the whole world. I have tried several items on the menu during my multiple visits, and I have yet to be disappointed. The brandy, old-fashion drink, has won my wife over. Try the Door County cherry drinks. The atmosphere is truly midwestern with memorabilia signs on the walls and beer lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling. They have a long bar and plenty of seating at tables. The restaurant can be loud when it is busy.
Great bartenders.
The Old Fashioned is a true Madison staple. The food and service are consistently reliable, and it’s one of the best places to experience classic Midwestern comfort food. The cheese curds are some of the best in town—crispy, melty, and always satisfying. Portion sizes are generous, making it a great spot whether you're sharing with friends or looking for a hearty solo meal. It’s the kind of place that feels familiar, even on your first visit.
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food and service. They had a BLT special with heirloom tomatoes that was beyond incredible.
Nice place in a great location with perfect, friendly staff. They were very helpful when we ordered. I had an amazing Old Fashioned, and honestly, I think I got the best onion rings of my life here!
It’s a must-try spot if you visit Madison. I highly recommend it!
This is a great spot if you are traveling and want to get a taste of some real Wisconsin fare, as we were. The beer cheese soup was great as were the cheese curds (no surprise there as they’ve been hailed as the best in the state).
When I saw this was a top restaurant pick for 2024, with 4.5 stars I was expecting something a little better than average. My Old Fashioned cocktail was a little watered down, but good at the bottom. I ordered the Friday fish fry (perch) which was a generous portion but my partner and I agreed the fish was flavorless. It came with lots of OK fries and good homemade coleslaw (the best thing). My husband ordered a brat (which was nothing special- he said Johnsonville brand at the grocery store is better). It was supposed to be on a toasted hard roll but it seemed like a regular bun. Service was friendly and fast, retro-tavern ambience was pleasant and interesting .
Had a wonderful time at the Old Fashioned. The cheese curds were good and the beer cheese soup was alright. The Mac and cheese was alright I did not care for the grittiness of the Parmesan cheese. The walleye sandwich and the Door county salad with salmon were great. The service was outstanding and it did not take very long to get our food when it was busy. The old fashions were great! A nice meal before seeing a show and good views of the Capitol.
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