The Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company

Vast drink menu, good food, and casual but classy atmosphere. Lots of indoor seating available. Plenty of TVs tuned to various sports. Multiple pool tables available. The waitstaff was very prompt and filled our orders in good time. However, we had to wait a long time for the bill. I had the Rueben, which was very good. The waffle fries were perfectly seasoned and as good as any I’ve ever had. Bathrooms on the main floor are clean, but are gender neutral with multiple stalls, meaning men and women will be sharing simultaneously, which creeped out my female companion. Fortunately, there are gender-specific bathrooms in the basement. No parking specific to this restaurant, but there is street parking and public parking structures with a few blocks.

A true Madison staple! Later at night on the weekends during the school year it is a bar bar, but it's nice that the restaurant and bar area are separate so it's a great dinner spot anytime. I'm always shocked how they're able to nail seemingly all of their dishes despite having an eclectic menu, highly recommend for any mood you're in. The bar area has TVs and bar games (lots of pool tables, darts, etc.) and they make a wide range of tasty beers. Parking will always be tricky as they're right off the square. It's a really big place so there is almost always available seating.

We've heard so much about Wisconsin and its cheese curds, and we looked forward to trying some. We found The Great Dane Pub & Brewing through a Google search, specifically for fried cheese curds. The menu items look great, I wanted to try everything. We got the cheese curds for our appetizer. To our surprise, they were on the crunchier-hard end, barely tasting the cheese. We thought it was the norm for fried cheese curds until we tried cheese curds the next day at a different restaurant, and they were amazing! My brisket Mac & Cheese, the pastas were too el dentê and the brisket slices were hard and dried. It would have tasted better if the brisket was shredded with a little BBQ sauce or even simmered in some sauce, then baked with pasta and cheese. My house salad with ranch dressing was delicious. Nothing beats a house ranch. You guys did great with that! Next time, I would like to try the pot pie. My friend had it, and he said it was delish along with the side of cinnamon apples.

Such a great vibe on the patio in the beer garden! The plants are beautiful and the food was delicious! The butternut squash and coconut soup was one of the best soups I've ever had. We also really loved the beignets on the brunch menu and the different mocktails! The strawberry lemonade was phenomenal

This place has all the things you’re gonna want to try while in Wisconsin and made at its very best. That includes food, beers and the harder stuff. A stone’s throw from the capital, it is really the ultimate Madison experience. The only downside is the crowds and inevitable wait. I suggest giving your name and then walking around the capital until you receive your text.

We held my oldest child's couples wedding shower at the Great Dane on the square (Doty St) in Madison. It was AWESOME. Chef Matt and Christy made sure the food and atmosphere was exactly what my oldest child and her fiancee wanted! The menu was customized to be light and encompass their favorite foods (brunch). The wedding shower was also a Star Wars themed shower and the Great Dane team went out of their way (food signs and table signs) to REALLY reinforce the theme- very tastefully! I would HIGHLY recommend anyone hold an event at the Great Dane. On the day of the shower, the onsite support staff- Hayley and the 3 awesome young men that were our servers- made sure our guests were comfortable and well taken care of! Special shout-out to the owners- they have hired a fabulous staff!

We had wonderful service! We tried the cheese curds(the sauce was the best part), the pretzel board (Yum!!), and my entree was the birria tacos. I loved the wood throughout the building but didn't love the stairs or how far away the bathroom was. It would be tough for someone with mobility issues. Overall, everything was great, and it was a place I'd absolutely stop in again if I ever found myself near the Majestic for another show.

Delicious meal at this pub! We ordered the cheese curds and pretzel board and enjoyed these appetizers and accompanying dips. The atmosphere of the place is nice, especially being in a cozy pub on a cold day. For mains, we ordered the shepherd’s pie and harvest bowl. Both were quite tasty! Impressed by the quality of food and large portion sizes.

Once again Great Dane is on my list to revisit. It is one of the few large places in the capital area that a large group can drink, eat, sit, and talk at. We had a large group and they had the reservation signs out for us. Some of us got food, most got drinks. The staff person continued to check on everyone for hours. The cheese curds, pretzel, and jambalaya was above average. The jambalaya was huge and came with a large amount of bread. It wasn't quite New Orleans but it was better than most Midwest attempts. The shrimp was surprisingly good. For beer I didn't love the i5 but enjoyed the vanilla earth canned porter.

Rolled into town later on Thanksgiving for the Badger game the next day. With limited to no choices of restaurants opened my son and I landed at the Great Dane Pub. Bar and restaurant were full at 9:30pm. Upon being seated we waited at least 10 minutes for a server to come over to our table. Dorion (sp?), our server, asked if we had been waiting long. I ordered a glass of wine. When my wine arrived the glass had a very large lipstick stain on it. I looked around for Dorion and noticed him over in a booth eating. So - I approached the booth where Dorion was eating and asked for a new glass. My son and I observed Dorion drinking wine from the glass as he walked to the bar. After bringing a clean wine glass, we order cheese curds and both a burger. Our server asked how we wanted our burger done (med and med. rare). We asked for the cheese curds before our burgers. Dorion went back to the booth and continued to eat. Clearly licking his fingers. After a long wait, our burgers arrived. Very over done, dry and cold. My waffle fries were also cold and not cooked. Dorion asked if we needed anything else, yes the cheese curds we ordered. Dorion returned to our table a short time later and said they were making us a fresh batch. Cheese curds arrived burnt. Food was almost inedible, but we were starving after a 4.5 hour drive. When Dorion arrived with the check he said he talked to his manager and gave us the employee discount which equaled out of 33% off the food items we order for a total of maybe $13 off my check. Dorion came back after a brief time looking for the check. When I said I had not signed it yet and asked if he needed it back, he responded "yes". He also stated something about "no pressure" and we got off on the wrong foot. His words and body language clearly indicated he knew he had given us poor service. I have worked in several restaurants and to watch your server sit over in the both and eat through you entire meal and lick his fingers, not knowing if he washed hands is a NO NO! I wish he would have paid attention to us and his service as he did the food he was eating. Both food and service were horrible! Will not return or recommend!

My third trip to The Great Dane was a bit underwhelming. For a starter, my partner and I got the Brussels sprouts, which were supposed to be seared and crispy. However, they were smothered in the aioli, which gave them a soggy, slimy texture. Though the texture was unpleasant, the taste was fine. We probably won't be ordering them again, but if we do, we'll be asking for sauce on the side. I got the mac and cheese again, which wasn't as great as the last time I ordered it. The sauce was a little looser and it lacked the rich, cheesiness that I loved about it. Service was mediocre. Our server seemed like she was trying to rush us out of there. I'd understand if it were busy, but this was 4:30 p.m. on a Sunday with half the restaurant empty. She brought us our check without asking when we would have ordered a slice of the peanut butter cheesecake for dessert. Had she been slightly friendlier, I would have felt comfortable asking to place a dessert order. But alas, we didn't want to stick around in a place that didn't feel too welcoming. Though the food and service were just alright, the ambiance was great. The Great Dane is such a cozy and classic spot. Next time I'm in Madison, I'll still stop in again.

Quick pit stop in Madison. Great Dane was our choice. The cheese curds were delicious! My strawberry lemonade was great! I had the Mediterranean plate. A little out of the norm for me. I really enjoyed the chicken flavor and the pita. Not the best felafel I have ever had. Good portion for the money. No parking, relaxed vibe. Our waitress was very nice. Decent spot.

I have to premise this review with-- I have a Great Dane. (His name is Marvin and he is a goofball.) So like, how could I not pop in for a brew and some merch??! This is a HUGE (historic?) building with a ton of outdoor and indoor seating options. They definitely can accommodate large groups as they have ample space and multiple bars. I don't normally lead with this, but Great Dane Brewing boasted some phenomenal waitresses. Very attentive, engaging and kind. When I got my merch picked out-- they event offered to just add it to our tab, which makes sense but I can't say I'd have requested it without her suggestion! I wish I could remember their names to give them a shout out-- but keep it up. I had the German Pilsner and a Red Ale. (I can't recall their names.) Both were crisp and just what was needed though the lightness of the German Pilsner won me over more. Pricing seemed normal. We didn't order food this time around but it looked delicious. My only complaint, really, is that the bathrooms were down some steps and forever away? I get that is kind of petty but you walked past a ton of staff as you went up/down there. It was super congested-- and it wasn't even 5pm yet on a weekday. I'll be back!

Great Dane is one of my favorite casual restaurants in Madison! They also have one of my favorite Mac and cheeses in town, which is why I always come back. They have a wide menu for drinks and food, making the space great for work events or large groups. Even on busy nights I have not had to wait long for a table, or can at least call ahead. In the summer sitting on the basement patio is gorgeous! Pool tables, darts, and shuffleboard also always a highlight too if you just want drinks or to hangout. Beer list is very large and their house beers are always great! This time we tried the Korean rice bowl and mac and cheese. Mac and cheese was amazing as always, perfect amount of cheese and cavatappi noodles. I also love that it comes with a pretzel bun!

Stopped by as this was (it felt like) the only place with food opened past 10 p.m. I swear it felt like we drove around for HOURS before finding something open. We also like to stop at places that we don't have in the DSM area, as we could always eat that, there. It felt difficult finding food past 10 p.m which in a big city (I'm from DSM area) I would expect more out of...but maybe that's a DSM, IA thing? Anywho, stopped by as boyfriend and I were hungry, and they also had fried cheese curds which I was THRILLED to try--considering cheese is what they're known for. We ordered cheese curds & meanwhile had some drinks. They didn't have crown apple & sprite (which is mine & my boyfriend's go to) so I opted for a Pepsi, while he had a Crown Vanilla & "sprite"--Starry. The bartender was nice and her service was good. *Side note; as big Coke product fans, it was very difficult to find someplace that served Coke products :( Anywho, our cheese curds came out and was excited to get munching as they LOOKED delicious. However at first touch the cheese curds were cold. Tried one anyways and boy was I disappointed. No cheese pull, and very little crunch. Upsetting but I was starving and now hangry so we ate them. Ordered a mac and cheese to go as I was upset and ready to go home. Took maybe 10-15 minutes to get that, and we went ahead and paid. Opened it up in the car and again it looked yummy; but the breadcrumbs were soft and soggy--would've loved them crunchy! And really I didn't taste much seasoning (not even salt). I think the best thing was probably the pretzel bun. It seemed like they had an arcade like area (pool, skeeball, etc) on the other side of the bar, but I was tired, hangry and irritated to go explore. My boyfriend also drives a bigger truck, so it was difficult to find parking/a parking garage where we actually fit. I believe most parking garage clearance was roughly 6.5ft. We found 1 parking garage where we fit and clearance was 8 ft. on the first level only, LUCKILY we found 1 spot. Overall service was good, but was charged twice (eventually one was taken off), and food was not all that great, but maybe it was just an off day for whoever was cooking :/

In town for a wedding and this was the first stop for guests. Large place with bar games, beers, drinks and food. First time trying cheese curds. Very lively and loud but lots of fun. Servers were very friendly! Guessing this is a hot spot when college is in session.

Great food & service! First time trying fried cheese curds and definitely will be back for more.

Excellent food in downtown Madison. Easy to grab a seat during epic XGM conference. Always a must go to in Madison. Food is excellent and large portion and reasonable price food for some good comfort food. Great pub with so many food options. Been here a few times and always struggle on what to order. But you can't go wrong with anything everything here is excellent. The food has lots of flavor and you'll be full at the end of the night for sure. I wanted to order dessert but I was so stuff I couldn't even think about the dessert when the time was ready

Came in for dinner with some friends while in town. We were greeted warmly and promptly sat. Our server seemed a bit newer and couldn't answer every question - but made up for it in personality. They were witty and attentive. I got the Korean rice bowl and it was tasty and fresh. The only thing is I wished I asked for more gochujang sauce - but I lived and it was still good! The building is cool and has a lot of character, but there is only street parking and it can be tricky to find! However, there is a good amount of bike parking around which is awesome!

Well, if you like pretzels, this is the place! We had a three course meal and pretzels figured into each course (yes, even dessert). The soups (both potato and brown ale onion) came with pretzel croutons; the peanut butter cheesecake had a pretzel crust. And I haven't even mentioned the pretzel board! This consisted of crunchy, crackling, brown soft pretzels served with garlic butter and Bavarian mustard, along with pickles and salami. Our server was a bit...off beat. When the soups came, I realized we both had been given teaspoons and asked if there were soup spoons. The response was, "Be glad there are any spoons at all." Uh... We also ordered root beer for drinks that came out well after the first course and only because my boyfriend mentioned it. The restaurant was bustling with people, but not insanely loud; when we first came in we entered the door for the pool hall, which was much noisier. Overall, one to watch in Madison for pretzel fans!

This was probably the biggest surprise of my trip. I really wanted a chicken Caesar wrap and read online that they had one here. Spoiler alert: they didn't but the falafel plate that I got instead was AMAZING. Waitstaff was also really nice and half the restaurant was in a historic hotel lobby which was cool.

First of all , the Nashville hot chicken sandwich is not hot. I asked for extra pickles , and she brought me some half ass sliced, bottom of the barrel pickles. See photo #1. After eating 1/2 of the sandwich, my mouth was not feeling the "hot". I asked for extra hot sauce and this waitress brings me a bottle of hot sauce. I said hey .:: is this what they use for this sandwich. She replies oh you wanted the sauce for the sandwich , ummmm yeah homie. And add some pickles. See picture 2 for the actual pickles that were THICK cut and should have been brought out in the beginning. For $14 sandwich, skip this place. Not worth the money

So lucky to be here in Madison for the CrossFit games! A friend and I came here for dinner and it was quite busy! They had a special menu for CrossFit games to I ordered a bun less bacon burger with fried sweet plantains. It really hit the spot. Friendly Midwestern charm, quick service, really great crowd too. We were here on a Thursday evening. I also got to order fried cheese curds as an appetizer- what a treat! Think of string cheese but like little chunks. It was crunchy and good.

Had a really great experience at The Great Dane! The drinks are definitely the best part about this place, they do have a pretty wide variety of beers from the brewery and some really good cocktails, some of the best i've had in awhile. The food was alright. Our waitress was extremely sweet! She extended her section so we could sit with our dog. Definitely recommend! Really beautiful outdoor seating.

Great local corner bar in a 100 year old building. Great character!! Lourdes took great care of me as I was one of 4-5 losers in the bar at 3:30 in the afternoon. Ordered medium rare steak and came out medium +. Fries and steak both came out warm. I really hate when the kitchen screws it up for the help.

Food 4/5 - For college bar food I thought this place was pretty good. The salad and Brussel sprouts were fresh and tasty. The tacos were packed with favor and the brisket was tender and juicy. Food came pretty quickly after we ordered. Service / Ambiance 3/5 - The ambiance is a darker lite college town pub. Overall service was slow, we had to flag down our waiter on a quite Sunday night. Other staff members seemed to be more active with there tables.

Out of all the restaurants/bars we ate at on our trip, this one had by far some of the best food. The wings and the steak frites were phenomenal. Not to mention their blue cheese and ranch are amazing. It also has a nice vibe with pool tables on one side of the restaurant which made it more fun.

I was in Madison this week for a conference and ended up eating at The Great Dane twice! First night I got the fish tacos. The habanero hellfire sauce was so yummy!! The second day I ordered the chimichurri ranch steak salad and it was also so yummy. The place is pretty big and has a beautiful "garden" area to sit outside. We loved sitting in the garden! The staff were also great and really accommodating to a big group. We also had two gluten free people in our group and they have a good selection for gluten free plates. We were very impressed. I definitely plan to return!

The food was ok and although I didn't drink the beer, the people around me seemed to love it and that's the purpose of a brew pub. My issue is the bartender. I came here twice and couldn't believe just how unfriendly and surly this guy was. I always leave generous tips but I had to stiff this guy. I was nothing but nice and friendly to this guy, but he seemed to hate everyone and obviously disrespects the job. Really Great Dane, do you want this a-hole with the hipster hat representing you right up front. Poor service and worse yet unfriendly service. Horrible.

Came here for dinner during the week while on a work trip. We were hoping for a walleye fish fry but they didn't have any during the week. They were able to accommodate our seating for 5, we didn't really want a booth so we moved over to the bar stool area, they have both indoor, outdoor, and bar seating. Service was pretty quick. We started with some Brussels sprouts. There was a special wing deal that came with beer which is what I got and I got the Korean flavor with the bone in, Soo good. They had a full bar with wine, beer, and cocktails. They were able to split checks and the whole area was huge. They have a downstairs area for events and I can see this really poppin at night. This is in a pretty busy area so parking can be quite difficult, there's some street parking.

Great bar with a spot for everyone. This restaurant/bar/sports bar offers an atmosphere for everyone. Take your pick on where you want to sit and the food and drink will have you wanting to come back for more. Great food selection and drink menu. Service was good and knowledgeable on menu items, served with a smile and friendly conversation. With so many choices in downtown Madison, this one is a must-try.

Excellent service, great atmosphere, delicious food! A gem and must visit in Madison!!

Fish and chips burnt and small if you have a choice steak fritz. Service nice food disappointment

Dropped in to waste some time, great location and space for meeting friends. Staff was super nice letting me try a few beers and explaining differences. I had 2 beers and sat looking out the front window. The poutine was delicious with a good gravy and cheese curds on top.

Got the chicken, apple, walnut salad for lunch and it was delicious! We have been to multiple Great Dane locations and always have a great visit. An awesome vibe with a variety of options for bar or dinner.

This was our second time dining in at the downtown location and it was the second time we were underwhelmed by the food and service. We dined in on a Monday evening. No wait time, and the restaurant was pretty quiet. We stayed for about two hours, and enjoyed the cozy atmosphere. The service was a bit strange, we experienced some positive and negative moments. Our server seemed impatient with our party towards the end of our dinner, and, at one point, left in the middle of the conversation. But earlier in the evening, I had some positive interactions with them, and overall, they did a great job of making sure our waters were full and our orders were taken as quickly as possible. My Big Dog Smash Burger was okay, definitely better than the pub burger I ordered before. The cheese was delicious, but I wasn't a huge fan of the Big Dog sauce. The others in our party had more success with the new London fish fry and the Mexican rice bowl with braised brisket. The highlight, of course, was the cheese curds, which held their flavor and taste the whole 2 hours we were there. Great Dane is in a good location, with a large menu to choose from, and plenty of drinks to go around. If you're in the mood for good pub food, this may hit the spot. But if you're craving a good burger, I would suggest another restaurant.

Yummy food--great food--terrific friendly service.Very nice room. Been there four times in 6 weeks and I'll be back!

I've had several business dinners here Today we hosted 20 people Our server Liam did a fantastic job The food is always great and the drinks tasty Go and try it ask for Liam

Solid service and solid food, and I'm not a hater not a lover! Came for a friendo's birthday dinner. Solid brew vibes. Got a pomegranate old fashioned. It was good. The tacos were definitely pretty yummy. My friend got the dumps which were mediocre. And then you can't go wrong with Mac n cheese. Good place for a friend hang, maybe not the best for a gastronomic mind blowing experience!

We stopped in here as part of a mini brewery tour of Madison. I really wanted to be a fan, but I just couldn't. Let's start with the positives. The staff was present and efficient, but far from friendly. Okay, no big deal. I'm not here to make friends with the staff. The interior is cool with multiple pool tables, shuffleboard table and soft tip darts. Always fun. Lots of TVs also are nice. Also, the drink prices are quite reasonable. No complaints. The problem comes with the beer. This is a brewery and their beers are really just not good. Their fruited sours are neither very fruity or sour. Their mango or passion peach IPAs were almost completely missing the fruit and definitely not IPAs. Their flagship I5 IPA was a confused mess of too much mealtimes and pure buttering hops with no flavor or aroma. Very disappointing. The beer and the service is why I have to give them just 2 stars. I hope they can pay more attention to quality and find their passion in the future.

The exterior gives an inviting old world look that is matched on the interior. I enjoyed the seasonal Botanical IPA that gave a bright tropical taste without much bitterness and the Crop Circle Wheat, a traditional and well executed hefeweizen. Both the bar tenders were prompt and friendly, adding to the experience.

Tortellini was delicious and the atmosphere was great. Not too crowded on a Sunday evening and service was QUICK

The 6 of us came on a Wed night for dinner where they put us by the bar in those semi circle booth. Ordered 2 appetizers: chicken wings and brussels sprouts. Those sprouts looked and tastes too charred. All dishes, 2 appetizers and 6 entrees came together. There was no room on the table at all. We requested to move table but was told no. The guy said he can take some plates away and we endes up consolidating entrees. Half of the place was empty. It was bad because we wanted our friends to not feel rushed and had a good experience in the US. They are visiting from the UK. They wanna compared fish and chips so we ordered 3 pieces of fried haddock. They were too burned and so were my hubby's sweet plantains which were black in color. Our guest said the rice in her Korean rice bowl was undercooked as they were too crunchy. We have been there a few times but this experience was subpar.

Can't say enough about this great place. Walked in and was a little nervous because it was very noisy but happily I found the restaurant part was on the other side from the bar! We ordered famous Wisconsin cheese curds which were by far the best I've had. Husband got the fish fry which he said was perfect. The French onion soup was incredible. I ordered a salad which was absolutely loaded with all the great things I love in a salad...Granny Smith apples, dried cranberries, walnuts, Gorgonzola cheese and field greens! I've never had so many walnuts in a salad ever and that's my favorite part. Actually we went there because of that salad. So I would recommend this restaurant and driving down there you get a great view of the capitol.

Stopped in for a quick drink and loved the ambiance and vibe of The Great Dane! I ordered the Crop Circle Wheat which was a light Hefe. My husband got the Botanical IPA and I liked that it wasn't too bitter. Would definitely stop by again. We didn't get to try any food this visit but will definitely be back!

We went to the Great Dane as a family after my brother's graduation and had a reservation for 12. We were a little bit early and they made sure we were able to get drinks at the bar and were able to seat us almost right away even though we were almost 45 minutes early. Our server was awesome! He was super attentive and friendly and was able to handle such a large party like it was no sweat at all. Our food was incredible and there were so many great choices. I will definitely be back next time I'm in town because there were so many things I wanted to try!

A great place to eat with options for everyone! On a Friday night the two of us were looking for a casual place to eat around the Capitol. A lot of places had hour long waits except The Great Dane. We were super grateful! Inside was a lively atmosphere with conversations at every table. A place where you don't have to worry about screaming to have a conversation with the person next to you. There was a range of tables including couples, families, and large groups. The food was delicious and we'll worth the price! The cheese curds were fresh with a crispy outer coating. For our mains we had the mac & cheese and fish fry which were both tasty. For dessert we couldn't resist trying the brownie/blondie with ice cream!! This was one of the best shareable desserts in Madison that we have tried!!! The blondie was warm the the ice cream perfectly Wisconsin! All in all the food came out fast and the service was great! The server was friendly and checked on us often. Water was refilled and we rarely had to ask for more water during a busy Friday night. We loved the food so much we tried takeout the following week and food was just as good! If you can't find a place to eat I would highly recommend The Great Dane!

FANTASTIC Food! The pesto grilled cheese is awesome! The Rueben sandwich is spot on! The Pierogi are fried nice and crispy with a flavorful sauce on the side. Pub fries are well seasoned but could have been just a bit more crisp. Ask for the pesto aioli and garlic aioli to dip in! It's amazing! Great place to bring a customer or spouse! I'm coming back.

Food was amazing, some of the best mac and cheese and burger I've ever had. The building was very neat, first time being in a restaurant with two story's. The only downside was service was poor. Our waitress took my drink for a refill and came back about 30 minutes later to check on us and didn't bring the refilled drink back, then on top of that our booth was quite dirty. Overall would recommend to try, and would probably try again myself in hopes for better service.

10/10 on the entire meal. Started with: -The West Africa Chicken Peanut Soup. It was packed with huge chunks of white meat chicken. It was similar to white chicken chili with added tomatoes and peanuts. I loved it and would get it again. -the plantains. They were thick chunks (think steak fry thickness) cooked well that walked a fine line between hearty and sweet. Yum! Somewhat tasted like potato somewhat like a banana. Entree: -Ranch Chimmichuri Steak Salad. Huge salad. Each of the components were fresh, well seasoned or marinated and mixed together were perfection. The ranch chimmichuri was amazing but the salad was more than flavorful enough without any dressing. Steak was tender and delicious. Took half home for leftovers. Dessert; The Black and Tan brownie with stout fudge, caramel, whip and vanilla bean ice cream. Delicious. Drink: - Spiked Apple Fizz. The ginger beer was the strongest flavor in this mixed drink but it was delicious.

The service here was not good. We sat waiting to be acknowledged while two tables seated after us were waited on. The bloody mary was great, but the food was fair, at best. We ordered the Daner's Breakfast and the Daily Scramble. Nothing special, just eggs and potatoes. Each was supposed to come with a biscuit but neither did. By the time our waitress came back to our table, it was to give us the check. So she was there a total of two times: To take our order, and to give us the bill. There are a lot of choices in this mall, so we'll pass on this place next time.

We stopped in here after discovering the dinner rush started early that evening in Madison and got a table here just as the crowd started pouring in here too. Because we were on our way to an orchestra concert, we were on a time crunch but our server noted this and was AMAZING at getting us our food quickly as well as closing out our tab before we finished eating to allow for a fast exit. The expedited service from our server was exceptional and so very much appreciated! The vibe here is more of a bar feel than dining but there is a dining area next to the two bar areas. I was impressed by the menu options, offering so much more than just burgers! I would definitely return to try more from the menu. I ordered the Mexican Rice Bowl and my daughter ordered the mac and cheese. I was surprised the Mexican rice bowl came with tortillas (maybe I didn't read the full description because I was in a rush) but was a great addition to enjoy the multitude of ingredients. Plenty was left after the tortillas were filled so a solid meal was boxed up and taken home for leftovers. I snuck a bite of my daughters mac and cheese - very rich, creamy, cheesy and loved the addition of the panko bread crumbs. Both solid choices for our quick meals this evening!

One of those places in madison that always come up in conversation as a must stop. Not really sure why though. The speciality beers are alright. I must admit I've picked up a few six-packs of their beers at the store. Take that into consideration... In terms of food, there are highs and lows from the menu. The fish fry is decent here. As well as the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Not a fan of their pub burger though. The prices are a little high for the quality of food that is served also. The main reason I like the Great Dane is for its pool hall . Lots of space, tvs, and tables (4). To get the balls, the bartender takes your ID and puts a timer next to it. You essentially have the table "reserved" for as long as you wish. You are charged once you return the balls. Compared to other places in Madison where you can be lucky to get more than a game or two in without another group snagging the table. I've had many experiences at Great Dane as a local, yet I wouldn't say it is a special experience. It is great for groups though.

We have recently gone WFPB and so we are trying to eat better when we go out. We loved this food! My husband had the Mediterranean bowl and cleared the plate. I brought half mine home as we splurged on the nachos, no meat, but we did have cheese. It was so good, some of the best nachos I've ever had.

Late review, we were here in October 2023. Our party of six had a great evening having dinner on the downstairs outdoor patio. The trees are lit beautifully; it's a perfect space with lots of greenery, vines, and flowers. The appetizers and entrees were amazing (had a yummy steak salad) and all enjoyed different beer and cocktails (purple haze was delicious). Our server was attentive and prompt. Passing through the restaurant bar area was lively and the downstairs hallway leading to the bathrooms has a great dane bust with a history description and a large UW Bucky statue. We could see the brew tanks down there, too. Fun!

I had the nachos with chicken and it was definitely plenty to share. I think the nachos may have been sitting out too long since it was a bit cold. I had a new drink the dark cherry margarita but it did not taste very cherry...it was good though. Our server was quick, attentive and very friendly. The music selection was a bit random in comparison to other nights.

The crispy brussel sprouts with a tangy aoli were divine. I had a good meaty pup burger and a surprisingly good Great Dane stout that was almost as good as Guinness ( this is high praise from a Guinness friend). Perhaps it had notes of nutmeg? Thanks for a wonderful meal!