It was my first week in Wisconsin and everyone told me about cheese curds. So we went to the place that is famous and was on Food Network, they're honestly very good. Highly recommend. The restaurant is cute! I still don't get why they have T-shirts hanging out in the front. From the outside it looks like a whiskey bar. The sandwiches were what you would expect from an American restaurant. It's not your ethnic grandma's house so don't expect any flavor. Very nice staff! I recommend this place

First time trying this, was highly recommended by anyone I asked and lived up to expectations! It's your classic college town big restaurant, where if you go at the wrong time you could get a 2 hour wait but the food was great! Drinks were affordable and I loved the onion rings! Would be a great place to be on Saturdays during the season but I'm sure that's not a secret

Going into a weekend trip to Madison I heard from every local to go to The Old Fashioned. I now know why! First off, this Madison staple oozes character. The walls are adorned with vintage, eclectic signs. Second, the menu is all things Wisconsin. No frills, but great portion sizes. Something for everyone and at a pretty reasonable price (especially considering its locale). I enjoyed the wedge salad (huge!), cheese curds (divine), Wisconsin cheese soup (not what I expected but worth a try), Old Fashioned burger (perfection), chicken dippers (handmade and delish) as well as the fries (salty goodness). Absolutely no complaints here! Third, a spot named after a drink should have a good drink menu. And the menu at this gem does not disappoint! I had a taste of its namesake and it was well done. But the star, to me, was the Slush. It said on the menu it was form grandmas very own recipe and I don't doubt it. Brandy, OJ and lemonade frozen!? Yes please. FINALLY, this spot is always hopping. It is a local favorite that doesn't take reservations. Be prepared for a wait. We lucked out and were able to squeeze in within 15 minutes. The staff is phenomenal. From the host to our waiter-- 10/10. The Old Fashioned serves up Wisconsin favorites-- it boasts outdoor seating and has something for everyone. Don't miss out!

This was closer to a 4.5 star experience food-wise, but I am rounding up overall score for the great service our server, Rory, provided (we found out it was only her 2nd shift!). Our table of 3 sat on the patio around 11 AM on a Saturday. The patio was partially shaded and it was fun people-watching as the farmers market was happening across the street. It was about a 5 minute wait to be seated. As I mentioned above, Rory was very attentive and kept scanning her section to ensure waters were filled and nobody needed anything. One member of our party had the sloppy joe w/ side salad, which he said was very flavorful. The other two shared the vegetarian lazy susan tray, which definitely represented classic Wisconsin fare well! The table also shared the chips and onion dip as well as the wedge salad. The homemade potato chips were amazing. We thought the prices were very fair and the food was fresh. We all agreed we would come back the next time we're in town.

Must stop in Madison. If you need to stop for one place for cheese curd. I recommend this place. Right in the heart of downtown and across from the capital. Cheese curds nice and oily and flavorful. Something about cheese and oil and fried is really good. The burger is very tasty. Quick service restaurant if you are in a rush. Great selections of foods that's will get you staring at the menu trying to decide what to get. I got their old fashion burger and it did not disappoint. Must try and get each time. But there also so many other great items on the menu but unfortunately I was not there visiting long enough to get other items in the menu and I just couldn't eat any more after the burger and cheese curds. Restaurant was nice and clean. Always my go to when ever I'm in town for work at least once per trip

3.7/5 The beer cheese soup is decent--- beerly and flavorful. The burger is good, especially the beef patty, well-seasoned with pleasant spices. Also very juicy. The sunny-side up egg is great, liquidy, and delicious. Salad is good, the dressing is decent as well (ranch-like, a bit sweet, was good). I don't feel much freedom to personalize the food, except k can choose how well the patty is cooked. I asked if the salad dressing can be other type (I saw the brandy dressing, which sounds interesting), but I couldn't. Not complaining, just saying that this is what I had. Service is okay. They didn't describe much about the food itself, more of giving me several names that tourists like to order. In general, this is a place I'd check out as a visitor of the city, but maybe with friends (so that you can try different types of food).

I must say that best cheese curds I've ever had. I NEVER order burgers at restaurants but I went out on the edge and did. I was not disappointed at all. First time I've had a burger seasoned to perfection. I'm. It a fan of large onion rings so when i say these small flaky onion rings, my heart started singing. Our waiter was amazing and recommended some other great options off the menu. I definitely recommend this spot. If I'm ever back in Madison, I will be back.

Pleasantly surprised but the food. Reasonable prices for the quality and portion. The Haystack Onion Rings were seasoned, thinly cut, and extra crispy- addicting. The Cheese Curds were one of better ones I've had at a restaurant. Pickled Baby Beet Salad was fresh and huge portion. I added chicken, which was generous and nicely grilled. We were passing through Madison and decided to stop in for lunch. It had over 2k reviews, so I was hoping it wouldn't be a tourist trap. It was a random Friday afternoon, but they couldn't seat us at a table (even though there were a few open). So, we sat at the bar, which at least gave us quicker service.

It's awesome being right on the capital square and the food is so good. I had someone in town visiting and knew we needed to stop here for lunch. Everyone has to try their cheese curds. We had a great table by the window with a view of the capitol. We started our meal with the amazing cheese curds and then both had the wedge salad. One of the best wedge salads I've had. The perfect amount for lunch. The staff was friendly and the food was delicious. A must stop in Madison.