The 40 best restaurants in Madison, according to our readers

Over 500 votes came in from our readers deciding which restaurants, bars, and shops are the best places to visit in Madison. We’ve taken those votes and compiled this extremely convenient list for you to browse and refer to during those moments when you’re desperately trying to think of a place to grab a bite to eat or drink. Want to try a uniquely odd, yet delicious slice of pizza? Searching for the best lakeside dining view in town? Need to know where to go for cheese curds? The categories range from best pizza, to ice cream, to fish fry, so all of the bases are covered for you. 

Thanks to everyone who casted a vote and helped us create this handy list for the second year of the Madison Food Guide. Now you can reference the top voted places at your leisure—don’t wait until you’re desperately trying to decide where the group should grab dinner. 

Courtesy of Working Draft Brewery

Best Restaurant: Tony’s Supper Club

Runners Up: Tornado Club Steak House, Sardine

Whether you’re a Wisconsinite born and bred, a transplant, or a visitor in search of the perfect place to dine, these restaurants are sure to hit the spot.  This year, the top three spots on Madison’s dining leaderboard offer a savory mix of classic Wisconsin charm, lakeside elegance, and perfectly cooked meat. 

Tornado Club Steak House was our readers’ number one pick in 2024. Though it slipped to third place this year, Tornado is still steakhouse royalty. Coming in second is Sardine, a French-inspired bistro with amazing views of Lake Monona (winning it best restaurant AND best view). The number one pick is Tony’s Supper Club, a cornerstone of the local supper club scene since the 1940s. 

Read more about the best restaurants in Madison here.

Best New Restaurant: The Northside Lounge

Runners Up: Molten Monkey Pizza, Ama Kitchen

When it comes to dining out, you might have your old standbys when it comes down to deciding where to go for your next meal. If you’re wanting to try something new, there are three highly recommended new restaurants to check out in Madison. Our loyal readers voted and have deemed these three restaurants as the best new places in town. Be sure to add The Northside Lounge, Molten Monkey Pizza, and Ama Kitchen into your restaurant rotation.  

You guessed it—the Northside Lounge is located on the Northside, and this bar is serving up hand-crafted cocktails and pouring local craft beers. Venture over to the East side and you can try Molten Monkey Pizza, which serves Detroit Style pizza with a focus on a “pillowy” crust and caramelized cheese edges. Ama Kitchen, a tribute to the owner’s mother, is located in a multi-level space with a cozy loft dining area and delicious chutney and egg-filled dosas—just a few of their creative takes. 

Read more about the best new restaurants in Madison here.

Best Ice Cream: The Chocolate Shoppe

There are no runners up for best ice cream shops in Madison. The Chocolate Shoppe is locked in at number one and almost no one voted otherwise. The Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream Company dates back to 1962 when the Deadman family decided to embark on a new adventure: a candy and ice cream shop. Chuck Sr. and his wife, Nancy, set on a mission to craft the best ice cream possible, and over sixty years later, Chocolate Shoppe continues to set the standard for ice cream in Madison.

Read more about the best ice cream shop in Madison and find out where you can try one of their 100 flavors.

Best Cheese Curds: The Old Fashioned

Photo courtesy of The Old Fashioned

Runners Up: Craftsman, Table & Tap, Curd Girl

You haven’t truly lived in Wisconsin until you’ve burned the roof of your mouth on a molten cheese curd and, while it burned into your palate, whispered, “worth it.”  So we asked our loyal readers, “Where do you get the best cheese curds in Madison?” And hundreds of Madisonites chimed in. The top three spots to get your curd fix in Madison, chosen by people who know good cheese, are: The Old Fashioned, Craftsman Table & Tap, and Curd Girl. 

You can read more about places to burn the roof of your mouth with a battered cheese curd here.

Best Pizza: Sugar River Pizza

Runners Up: Salvatore’s, Glass Nickel Pizza Co., Pizza Brutta

It’s not terribly difficult to locate a pizza parlor, but it can be incredibly difficult to find a quality pie that blends a pillowy crust, tangy tomato sauce, and gooey mozzarella. Of course, you might want to find a pie that is a little out there, more untraditional. The votes have been cast, and we’ve found the four best pizza places in Madison for you to try.

Sugar River Pizza is an ultimate Madison favorite. The 2024 winner—Salvatore’s—is back on the list for 2025, coming in at second place. With nearly thirty years of experience and eleven different locations, Glass Nickel Pizza Co. has been determined to achieve “Best Pizza” status, and third place isn’t too shabby. Rounding out the top four list is Pizza Brutta, which uses local ingredients from Wisconsin and the nearby regions.

Check out the best pizza places here.

Best Fish Fry: Toby’s Supper Club

Runners Up: Villa Tap, The Old Fashioned

In Madison, the fish fries are as competitive as the Packers–Bears rivalry and nearly as salty. We’ve added plenty of crispy details and side dish intel about the top three picks. Villa Tap is the underdog story we all love. Tucked away on Madison’s north side, you might drive past a dozen times without realizing it’s hiding one of the best fish frys in the city. The second place winner, which also won Madison’s Best Cheese Curds, is: The Old Fashioned. It is peak Wisconsin. Toby’s Supper Club is the king of our 2025 Reader’s Choice survey. They won Best Restaurant overall, Best Old Fashioned, and Best Fish Fry for 2025. And frankly, nobody on our team is surprised.

Read more about these fish fry spots here.

Best Old Fashioned: Toby’s Supper Club

Cherrywood Smoked Old Fashioned from Northside Lounge – photo by Marissa Haegele

Runners Up: Northside Lounge, Tornado Club Steak House

The Old Fashioned is a Wisconsin staple. A classic. A cocktail that sings, “I want to party like it’s 1959.”

In Madison, the Old Fashioned is king. We sip them at supper clubs, toast with them at steakhouses, and debate endlessly over the proper garnish (orange slice or cherry — or both?). Also, we pour the good brandy, and occasionally, some new-age bougie bar will pour some good bourbon, and we can pretend to hate it.

Taking third place is a beloved neighborhood joint that’s been quietly killing the Old Fashioned game, including winning the Madison Old Fashioned Week Contest: Northside Lounge. Sliding into second place is Madison’s favorite Rat-Pack-ish joint Tornado Club Steak House. Tornado isn’t trying to impress you with gimmicks. With wood paneling, low lighting, homemade cinnamon rolls, classic cocktail recipes, and the region’s best prime rib, it’s no wonder Toby’s Supper Club won Best Restaurant overall this year as well as the coveted title of Best Old Fashioned in Madison.

Read more about the best old fashioned here.

Best Bar Food: Oakcrest Tavern

Runners Up: Weary Traveler Freehouse, Mickey’s Tavern, The Old Fashioned, Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co.

Sometimes, all you want is to devour a basket of something fried, suck down a cheap beer, and sink into a barstool at a bar where it’s acceptable to yell at athletes on the TV or argue over the best dipping sauce. If that basket of something fried tastes amazing, plus the bar staff is laid back and friendly, plus the beer is cold, that’s the best bar food equation. In Madison, these five places get an A+ in bar food algebra.

Rounding out our top 5 is the Weary Traveler Freehouse, a quirky gem on Willy Street that serves up some of the city’s most unexpected yet addictive bar food. Mickey’s Tavern is funky, eclectic, and divey in the most delicious way. It’s where married couples, grad students, and laid-back locals looking for a girls’ or guys’ night out can come together over a basket of Sexy Fries and a High Life. Vintage Wisconsin meets modern bar food magic at this beloved local pub. You may know The Old Fashioned for its cocktails (particularly their Old Fashioned, which won a place in our Best Old Fashioned poll) and supper club vibes, but don’t sleep on the bar food. 

In second place, let’s hear it for the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., which also won a spot on our list of Best Breweries in Madison! It’s no surprise that Oakcrest Tavern came out on top. This west-side favorite has become a local legend, thanks to its killer burgers, generous portions, and perfectly poured taps.

Read more about the best bar food in town here.

Best Cheese Shop: Brennan’s Market

Photo courtesy of Brennan’s Market

Runners Up: Fromagination, Babcock Dairy

When you think of Wisconsin, you might immediately think of cheese. Many folks from Wisconsin do feel strongly about cheese, so it’s not a surprise that when the votes for our Madison Food Guide were cast, people had strong takes on cheese shops. These three cheese shops are considered the best in Madison, and it’s not hard to see why. 

Brennan’s Market is our readers’ favorite cheese shop in Madison. Fromagination, our second place winner, slices cheese daily, but you’ll also definitely want to try one of their sandwiches. Babcock Dairy sells ice cream and sandwiches, but they are best known for having a variety of award-winning cheeses. 

Read more about the best cheese shops, according to our readers here.

Best Brewery: New Glarus

Credit: The Beer Junkies

Runners Up: Working Draft, Capital Brewery, Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company

There’s just something magical about a cold beer in a city that really knows how to brew it — whether it’s the golden bubbles of a farmhouse ale or the bold, chocolatey warmth of a winter porter. You served up your foamy favorites straight from the tap.

Working Draft is the newest brewery on this list. This ultra-modern taproom is known for its hazy IPAs, small-batch creativity, and brewery yoga. Our second place winner, the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company, is the OG of Madison’s brewpub scene. Since 1994, they’ve been serving up pints, pub grub, and good times in a stunning historic building just off the Capitol Square. Capital Brewery has been holding it down for over 40 years, long before the current craft beer explosion. Your favorite place for Wisconsin brews is New Glarus Brewing Company. You know it, you love it, and apparently, you voted it #1 — even though technically it’s a short drive out of Madison. 

Read more about the best brews in town here.

Best View: Eno Vino Downtown

Photo courtesy of The Edgewater

Runners Up: The Icehouse at the Edgewater, The Jet Room, Sardine, Mariner’s Inn

Madison’s unique topography lends itself to spectacular views of the city and the nature surrounding it. Whether you’re lake-side or plane-side, these restaurant views offer up unique perspectives of this Midwestern town. We asked our readers to weigh in on their favorite spots, and you’ll definitely want to check out the top picks if you haven’t already. 

The best dining views in Madison, according to the votes, are: Eno Vino Downtown, The Icehouse at the Edgewater, The Jet Room, Sardine, Mariner’s Inn. 

Read more about where to catch the best dining views in Madison here.

Best Burger: Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry

Runners Up: Oakcrest Tavern, Village Bar

Burgers are the ultimate comfort food. No matter the toppings, burgers are simple, yet delightful. When it comes to finding a great burger in Madison, there are plenty of options to choose from. Madison has no shortage of burger spots, but there are three reader-voted burger joints that stand as the best of the best. 

Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry has a unique story. What originally started out as an eclectic gift shop with a focus in jewelry eventually morphed into a hamburger joint. And by 2008, Dotty’s was known for its burgers and hot cheese. Oakcrest Tavern is the perfect hole-in-the-wall tavern serving up great burgers, cheese curds, and beer. Like Oakcrest Tavern, the Village Bar embodies the old-school tavern vibe and serves up a fantastic Brick Burger.

Read more about the best burgers here.