Dexter's Pub

It was busy so we had to wait which is totally a sign that this is a good fish fry spot. The bartender was friendly and offered great service. The food was amazing! Several types of fish for Friday Fish Fry plus a lot of other options on the regular menu.our table ordered shrimp, wings, perch, and walleye. Everything was excellent!

I'm not sure if this was an off day based on the other reviews - But we ordered the Harvest Grilled Cheese which sounded like a good combo. The apples were super thinly sliced my suggestion would be larger slices. But the main issue with this sandwich was the herb herb aioli which had so much on here that's all you could taste - tired to get as much off with the chips but it over powered the entire sandwich. Assume the oil in the fryer needs to be changed as the chips and the fries were so dark and it was difficult to eat very many of these. I love pickles and both them were terrible - Sorry I hate to leave a negative review but it we didn't eat any of the chips or fries. Great beer selection but the food today was just off

My partner and I went to Dexter’s for the first time last night on a whim! It’s a great pub and we got there a little before 6 so it wasn’t too busy. The servers were fantastic, always checking in, refilling waters, and the food came in very fast as well! I got the Wednesday night bluegill fish fry with chili garlic fries (upgrade) and a side house salad. I the blue gill was tasty and I loved the fries (huge portion too!) the side house salad was also a great portion and super fresh. My partner was feeling wings that night and got the Jamaican Jerk wings. Wings were cooked great but they definitely had a kick to them! It was so spicy for him he started laughing because he said it was the most spicy thing he’s ever eaten! (Usually a more mild wing fan but he felt adventurous) He’ll opt for something else next time but if you want a nice spicy dry rubbed wing, definitely get those! Tap list was great, there were so many options I wanted to try. I could tell how lively this pub gets later in the evening. It was a very nice warm atmosphere and we will definitely be back as we loved our experience!

If you ever walk into a restaurant on a Friday night and it's completely packed, then you've found yourself a good one. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table, but OH BOY was it worth it. We started off with clam chowder. If the soup wasn't homemade, it surely could pass for it. Extra thick, big chunks of potato & lots of clam. Next up was the Muenster curds. They were good sized with a thin layer of batter & tasted phenomenal. Our main course was the cod. My wife got the beer battered, and I had the baked. Both orders were light, flaky & mouth watering. We both ordered twisted fries, which are potato wedge twisted & seasoned to perfection. The service here is great. Everybody helps out & you can tell that there's good team chemistry with this group of workers. If you're on the east side of Madison & are looking for a good meal with great service, give Dexter's a try.

Everything was absolutely amazing including the Muenster cheese curds, coleslaw and brussel sprouts but the lemon pepper seared walleye was outstanding-Chef’s kiss!! The service we received from Jordan was impeccable! We were sad to hear he is leaving Dexter’s in October❤️

Stopped here for the fish fry as it has been voted Madison’s best for a couple years. They had a great selection of fish fry. A lot of places usually have your basic beer battered cod but this place had three different options with different breading as well. The jalapeño popper dip was amazing. I ordered the vegetarian beer cheese soup, which was OK but I thought it would’ve been better if it had more cheese. It tasted more like a loaded baked potato. The fish was excellent and the waffle fries were perfect. The Wisconsin old-fashioned was delicious. I also had the Caesar salad which had generous portions of shaved Parmesan cheese.

Update: I went here for a Packers game for the first time, what a great experience! It's busy enough to have a fun vibe, but not so busy that I couldn't find a seat at the bar. Touchdown jello shots, $3.50 High Life bottles, awesome food (breakfast burrito, amazing burgers), and A+ service all make for an awesome Packers game day experience. --------- What an awesome bar/restaurant. The fish fry is excellent, but shockingly I preferred the baked cod to the fried. The clam chowder is excellent and all their food I've had is good. There WILL be a wait for fish fry, so be prepared. My favorite thing about Dexter's is their tap list. They have all their beers listed on screens and they also have paper menus with more detailed descriptions. I love a barrel aged beer and they have a ton of options on that front. I've been here a few times but didn't get around to leaving a review. Was here the other night and was blown away by the A+++ service - Jordan especially is the nicest friendliest bartender you'll find. Dexter's will be firmly in my regular rotation for drinks and food moving forward.

Rediscovered this place about a year ago and go there once a month or so. All the food that we've tried has been really good, but standouts for us are the Brussels sprouts, Chili Colorado, and their fish sandwich. Great daily food and drink specials. Service is always very friendly but they, like many other places these days, seem shorthanded. Just be patient and enjoy the place.

Dexter's has one of my favorite fish frys. They make a good old fashioned and have a nice beer selection. Like any good Friday night spot, expect to wait in the bar or choose to enjoy their outdoor area. They have buzzers so you don't need to be listening for your name. Parking lot is small but street parking is typically available.

Solid chill vibe on the inside but not the mist atmospheric place you've ever been. Definitely a must go if you're craving a classic solid burger/rational pub grub food but not really the goto if you're going for a night out. My only "gripe" with Dexters is that for a pub, im hoping the staff would be a bit more knowledgeable on the drinks on tap (especially if boasting a robust tap list!). Been in on multiple occasions where it was evident the staff didn't know what was on tap, what paired with what, etc. Similarly, if you're not on the "bar" side, you do feel comparatively excluded from the space (which, depending on your wants/needs isn't necessary bad!)

First time visit and we are from out of the area. Seated immediately at 4:45pm on a Friday. Friendly capable female server. Had a house wine special and my husband was pleased with tap beer options. Space was clean and bright. Seated a bit too close to adjacent table that had a loud woman patron unfortunately. Menu options broad and many things sounded good. Since it was a Friday I went with shrimp with upgraded Brussels sprouts side. Tasty entree with very light batter but rye bread was cold and dry and Brussels sprouts were overdone. My husband had fried walleye with baked potato. He enjoyed every bite. The coleslaw side was very good. Next time I'm leaving room for dessert! $4 for homemade ice cream sandwiches or mini cheesecake l! Outside space in back looked really nice for warm weather days/nights. Would definitely come back when in Madison.

IMPECCABLE service! AMAZING food! WONDERFUL atmosphere! Pretty much sums up my love for this joint. Jordan C is the BEST bartender/server in the biz. Consistently quick, charismatic, and conscientious of his clients. Love. This. Dude. We are making it a habit to come here while our child is at Proud Theatre on Wednesdays. And it's a habit that I don't ever want to break.

We used to come here late night after work for some beers, and I always enjoyed it -- good bartenders and a large tap list. Hadn't been here in a few years, but heard their fish fry was good so we decided to try it out. And it is still great. This was my first time actually eating here, and it was a great experience. The staff remains friendly and fun and we really enjoyed our server. We came early on a Friday and got a seat, but the line was pretty significant as we started eating. We started off with an old fashioned, and I was a big fan of how they make an old fashioned (however that is)! I ordered the cod fish fry, and it was phenomenal. My other dining mates even commented on how beautiful it looked. The outside was slightly dark and crisp and the inside was moist and yummy. Probably one of my favorite fried cods I've had. Will definitely look to come again!

We have are usual fish fry places in Dane county but we had never tried Dexter's Pub. We dropped in Friday night and the place was packed which is always a good sign. It was an hour wait for a table but we got lucky and snagged two seats at the bar. My girlfriend ordered one of their craft beers and I had an old fashioned. The bar tender was friendly and very professional. We both ordered the walleye and we were not disappointed. I had a bowl of clam chowder which was delicious and loaded with clams! Our fish had a nice crispy coating and was delicious. We ordered some fried artichokes and they were fantastic. I highly recommend adding Dexters to your list of great fish fry places.

I was there for their famous Friday fish fry. I took out dinner from here. As expected beer battered fish was the best thing I had from her. It was nicely coated and fried well. Spring onion burger was really good as well. I also went for a kids grilled cheese, which was good. On Friday evening the place was packed and loud. And people were waiting to be seated.

Food was awesome. Waitress was awesome. Only 2 working on a Saturday night. Everything was great. Cheese curds were awesome. Cheesesteak was delicious. Ice cream sandwich for $4 was awesome.

Tried the lemon pepper grilled walleye this time with the brussel sprouts. Yummy. Only downside of this visit is that they do not have the crustless cheesecake available anymore! That was the best top off to the meal and one of the reasons we always returned As always the service was top notch. Missing Star is only due to the cheesecake issue.

The fish fry was really good! I had the perch dinner and it came with five pieces, I could've split the meal with someone and still been stuffed! Our waitress was ok. She was friendly. We dodged wait foreverrrrrr for the check. I'm talking 45 minutes. Overall good food.

Great selection of craft beers, awesome holiday and theme events with special menus (Fat Tuesday is a great day to visit) and the Dexter's Smash burger is perfect.

Ordered Dexters smash burger (8/12) and the smell of old socks of the burger put me off. I thought it was weird pickles or seasoning. Ate two bites and the server should have known something was wrong and asked. My friend thought it was ok so took it to go and got sick from it.

I've been to this bar multiple times. I've always had a great time great food. But the one issue is they have a female bartender working on Friday nights named Amanda. Absolutely the rudest person I have ever met. She tries to show cleavage to make up for her incompetence. They close at 11:00 at night on Fridays and Saturdays . Let me tell you once at 11:00 hour hits. She acts like she's Cinderella and needs to get home from the ball. God only know she looks like the evil stepmother . The rest of the staff is very friendly and I've never had a problem. I'd give it a five-star review but One Bad Apple always spoils the bunch.

Really nice find. We came while in the area because Dexter is our dog's name, and were pleasantly surprised with our experience. Looks divey on the outside but is not in the inside. We had great bar service. Music was perfect. We didn't try the food, but wished we planned better to try it. It sounded delicious.

Wow. We finally made it to Dexter's on a Friday for a fish fry and we were not disappointed!! Our server was amazing, we chatted all evening about food, wine, traveling. We were able to sit outside and it was a beautiful evening and a really nice outdoor space. The cheese curds were incredible. One of my new top spots in Madison. And the fish fry was outstanding. No complaints. I'd come here again in a heartbeat!

We had a fish fry craving on a Friday evening, so we decided to give Dexter's a try. It was extremely busy, and since they don't take reservations, we ended up waiting about a half hour for our table. Once we were seated, service was fast and friendly. The cocktails were excellent, and the White Cheddar Cheese Curds and Roasted Brussels Sprouts were both enjoyable. But the fish was the star of the show, and made the wait well worth it! We had the Beer Battered Cod with waffle fries and the Canadian Walleye with regular fries. Both were delicious - fresh and crispy without being heavy. I wasn't a huge fan of the coleslaw, but everything else was top notch and really satisfied our cravings. Their burgers looked very good, and I definitely was to try one next time I go. I recommend going during off hours to beat the crowds!

Something about a fish fry? I was expecting it to be an incredible experience as one of the most faved about fish frys in Madison, but I was sorely underwhelmed by the flow of the restaurant and the quality of the food. First, no reservations, which is fine, there are plenty of places that don't take reservations here. But, there isn't really ample space for you to stand and if you visit in the winter that means you're in the cold or the car. They don't text and you just have to check in to get seated. All this can be avoided if you come early and probably if you don't come on a Friday. When we were finally seated, the ordering process was quick. Like you needed to be on your game. Sit down, order fast, eat, then leave. Even though it's a dive bar and many people are just sitting around and relaxing this made me a bit tense. So, now if you're with me this far, well this is where the place really lost me. The food itself was very meh. The fish wasn't very fried or flavorful, the fries were completely average, and that tar tar sauce was sweet. Overall, definitely not my cup of tea and I won't be back, but visit for some of the other dive charm and maybe you'll find better treasure than I did.

Went here for Fat Tuesday after wanting to try this place for years and they did not disappoint! We ordered the gumbo, the red beans and rice, and the etouffee with corn bread. All were the perfect comfort foods that we were craving. The portions were also large enough that we had lots of leftovers for the next day. The most impressive thing though was that you could actually see a full crawfish. Even out of its shell, you could tell it had claws! Also as lovers of cornbread, we were pretty impressed. It maintained a moisture, yet had the crumbliness you want. It also wasn't super sweet like some can be. Based off of this meal, we can't wait to get back to try out their regular menu! We may need to pick up a fish fry pretty soon.

I'm only giving 3 stars because I was SO HUNGRY for wings and they fell short. They did warn on the menu that the wings were pre-cooked and then fried to order, but they totally tasted like leftover meat. I am one of those people that can taste leftover meat a mile away! I will not get their wings again. Drinks were good and the staff was super friendly. (But if you are looking for wings... Try Jordan's Big 10! Theirs are amazing!)

Walked in. Saw 2 open tables. To be told 20.minute wait, did not see anyone else waiting. Person at door seating people turned around saw open tables looked at me and smiled. So definitely felt like my brown skin got that treatment. Racism alive and well!

Beer Battered Cod was excellent - best I had in a long time! I did not like the tartar sauce - which was disappointing. Waffle fries were great. We were seated promptly and service (Katie) was great. There was a mild sticker surprise with additional toppings (bacon, sour cream, etc.) for baked potatoes added up to over $4.

It's been awhile since we have been to Dexter's. We went for the Friday night fish fry. It was pretty busy and loud. We had a short wait, but the service was pretty good and so was the fish. The meals were a little pricey.

This place is phenomenal! I'm a huge service person and every time I've been there they've knocked it out of the park. I try to avoid gluten as much as possible so I ordered the jalapeño popper dip and they obligingly ordered a modified an edible dip scooper. Their kitchen team noticed that I didn't ask without bread crumbs and personally came out to our table to ask if that was a mistake. They were packed full and took the time. My husband had battered Cod and it was amazing. He noted it was light fluffy and enough for two meals. The kids both loved their sandwiches Philly cheesesteak and crispy chicken both large portions. My walleye and Brussels sprouts were delicious. Our server was great as well. Can't beat it!

The food is absolutely wonderful, as well as the staff. I had the smash burger, which was absolutely delightful. My buddy had the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Which I will 100% have the next time because that looked absolutely amazing. The pub fries which we have classified as crack fries, are over the top. They also like to do specialty nights for like Saint Paddy's day, fat, Tuesday, and others. If you miss these days, then I'm OK with that. I don't need you eating. I'll be amazing food before I get there...

Always good food and beer here. Some new faces behind the bar and the food was actually at a faster pace than usual. A solid neighborhood bar/restaurant.

Dexters is my go to place for a casual get together with friends. They have a great tap list with a bunch of local tap craft brews and great bar comfort food. Our sandwiches were a bit dry this visit but the garlic chili fries are beyond flavorful and a must try! I would say this is the place for you if you like tasty apps and local brews!

I wanted to like Dexter's, but the cod was rubbery, the breading was greasy, the cole slaw tasted of onion, and the beer pricing is bizarre. From what I could tell, their full-sized draft is 13 ounces. We won't be back.

Good food at decent prices. Some very outstanding specials (most soups). Always has an incredible tap list, and good, general fast service. Friday fish is insanely busy and overloaded (hour wait at door). Thirsty Thursdays and random lunch has never had that problem, so that's not common other nights. Outdoor seating is ok, but ambiance is always "bar" with good food, think "super club" for pizza, burgers, etc.)

First time. Friday fish fry and I chose Cod. 2 huge pieces that was extra crispy and juicy. Baked potatoe smelled awesome but was on a little hard side. Slaw was dry and bland. I was disappointed with the bread because I asked if the rye bread was the kind with seeds and she said no. Well it was the kind with seeds and it was a slice of sandwich bread. I'll give them another try some time. One of my friends who didn't order the fish fry had pulled pork sandwich with a salad. Now those looked great. And that size of salad, woah! The only complaint was not enough dressing. Totally forgot to take pictures of food. Another friend had waffle fries with her fish and those also looked great.

Dexter's is one of my favorite places to visit because of their extensive rotating tap selection and great food options. I appreciate their consideration in also using local businesses such as Batch Bakehouse's amazing pretzels and their fresh rye bread for Friday fish fries. I brought an out of town friend to Dexter's for a weekend lunch and she was very impressed also! We shared a small pretzel (who could honestly resist here!?!) and white cheese curds with homemade ranch. I ordered the chicken cordon blu sandwich with waffle fries - which I HAD to upgrade with the chili sauce (a MUST try if you haven't!!). Everything came out super hot and freshly cooked. The CCB sandwich was very good and came on a fresh & soft "everything" roll, and I swear it was hot until I finished it! My friend had the special Philly steak sandwich with au jus and it looked delicious on its fresh bakery loaf. Our waitress was so awesome and friendly, I wish more restaurants had waitstaff like her! She had great recommendations and was very timely and prompt with everything. We were also able to try a couple different selections on tap which helped us pick our favorites.

The burger is one of the best on the east side, with mushrooms and fried onions. So delish. Local meet and bun really ups the quality. Usually get it with the fries, which are the coated kind and amazingly addictive. Have been getting it to go, and the woman behind the bar is very friendly and helpful with my take-out orders. It's a great place--current favorite of my swim team group as well. Changing line-up of brews that give enough variety that you'll probably find something you love if you are a beer drinker--and maybe even if you aren't. We love the giant soft pretzel and a triplet of dipping sauces for a post-workout carb fix. I've always found the table waitstaff to be friendly and attentive. To be honest, the only problem I have with the place is the two tvs in the sitting/dining area that up the noise and distraction without providing any enjoyment, but maybe that's just expected at a 'pub.'

This place has great food, Jordan is one of the best bartenders they have. The Friday fish fry is Awsome. They are always pack on Friday and the atmosphere is nice.

Great fish fry, great beer selection. Can be a bit of a wait on Fridays, so be prepared to have a few old fashioneds.

Considered to be the best Fish Fry in Madison according to the Isthmus Magazine so we checked it out with relatives who were in town. Got there about 7:30pm on a Friday and waited about 30-40 minutes for a table. If you like craft beers this is your place - they have an amazing digital beer menu above the bar. I've never seen anything like it... And I assume the beers are good too. After an order of deep fried cheese curds - pretty average - we all ordered fish - two of us got the bluegill and two the cod. The bluegill was nothing great and a bit chewy. I understand the cod was quite good. The coleslaw was very tasty as were the waffle fries. There are lots of fish fries in Madison to try so I won't be rushing back here since it was just OK.

Service is good and they are all kind. Tiny corner neighborhood bar with excellent selection of brews. I'm a whiskey drinker myself so i opted for iced tea. It was delicious. The Friday fish fry is very good.

It is safe to say we found our new favorite fish fry place! We decided to take advantage of the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather. We each ordered old fashioneds and the coloring and flavor was perfect! I got the cod dinner with Brussels sprouts (recommendation from our waitress), and they were amazing! In fact, this item is so popular, they ran out of it (I was lucky to get the last order). I loved having a tasty vegetable (even if they're fried) as my side. The cod was super crispy and had a great flavor to it too! My partner got the perch dinner with waffle fries, and the perch was by far the best tasting thing we ordered! Lots of flavor and nice crispy breading. The waffle fries were great too! Overall I think our bill came to about $60 (we each had 2 cocktails), so not a bad price for high quality food and drinks. We might be back next Friday already ha!

This has do much potential but really turned me off with the staff attitude. Upon arriving we entered the outside area. No where was there a sign that we could not sit at the many empty tables. Finally someone asked if I had told the front that I was here )what? What front?). I went into the restaurant and had to ask where the front was. Got to talk to a hostess and she said there would be a 40 minute wait. Fine. I told her we would get a beer and wait at one of the tables outside. OH NO. I COULD NOT DO THAT even if they were empty. I went outside and told hubby who was fit to be tied and ready to leave. He asked a server and he said oh no we could sit outside to wait. Seems like a case if the hand not knowing what the other hand is doing. We sat with our beer and had a very good fish fry. The story does not end here. We came back two weeks later and wanted to sit outside. But they were not serving outside and would not let us do takeout and eat it outside. So disappointed probably won't be back.

We stopped here for the first time to kill a little time before an airport pickup. So glad we did! We shared a yummy potato app and had a delicious Bloody Mary! Friendly staff and clean atmosphere. We will be back!

Amazing Friday fishfry! Tried the classic cod which was light and yummy and also the walleye for the first time. Became our new favorite! So much flavor without being "fishy"! Old Fashions were great then switched to beer for the great selection! Sides were good, masks and distancing happening. Was a treat to get out and eat!

In the endless search for only the best blue chip Friday fish Fry across the Midwest, Dexter's was our next stop. A fun semi open kitchen and bar area was fast and fun and the fare was superb. We tried the traditional Great Lakes native Perch and Walleye. I'd give the perch higher marks than the walleye which is usually the case but both were super good. Our sides were all better than average although I might suspect the fries as being sprayed or starch breaded. The beef and drinks were well made and reasonably priced. Hey, this place is a true winner! 8.8

Some of the best fish fry I've ever had! Perch on a bed of waffle fries (multiple side options), coleslaw, and a slice of delectable rye (via Madison Sourdough?). Everyone at the table was beyond happy and saying they kept thinking about the great meal. Large kids menu - the cheeseburger was probably one of the best I've ever tasted. Lots of beers on tap and fantastic, friendly service. Interior is split between bar and dining room. The dining room is bright and clean. We'll be back and for more than just fish fry!

We stopped here for a drink after spending the day in downtown Madison. Dexter's is definitely a neighborhood joint, but the drinks and food are way above par. I would go out of my way to stop here even if I didn't live in the area. The beer menu is extensive and they usually have a few drafts on special. The food menu is your typical bar food but turned up a notch. You can tell the ingredients are real rather than frozen from a bag. We ordered the large old world pretzel, which comes with three sauces/mustards. We tried the stoneground, deuseldorf, honey mustard and beer cheese sauce. My favorite was the deuseldorf and stoneground, but I'm a mustard girl. Word on the street is that their Friday fish fry is out of this world, which I have yet to try, but it is on my bucket list.

Garlic chili fries... that blue cheese dressing you make... the prime rib, burgers, fish, all the specials... so freakin' good. Beer choices for days. Affordable prices, great food, great people, laid back vibe. Doesn't get much better.

I only had eaten here once and it was so good I decided to go back. There were 4 of us that went for a fish fry yesterday. Needless to say we will not go back. I had perch and it was kind of fishy tasting, another person had the walleye, she said it was terrible, all of the food came out and nothing was hot, it was barely lukewarm. What a waste of money, never again.

Ordered 4 Sammies and it took and hour and counting and there were kids fighting in the bathroom and you can unlock the bathroom stall from the outside and the design is horrible.

I love this pub! The best way I can describe it is a total craft beer dive bar with delicious food! The building is a bit outdated and bathrooms could use an upgrade. To me this is almost the perfect WI bar if you are into specialty beers. Food is great. Portions are huge! I am on the fence on feeling like it deserves 4 or 5 stars but solid enough for me to say 5. The appetizers are delicious. I'm a huge fan of their homemade chips, wings, and garlic Chile fries. If you are looking for a sandwich I looked the Windy City, you honestly can't go wrong when you are served as jus. The only thing I likely wouldn't order again was the pizza, but it could have been an off night. Beer menu is large and rotating. The active board shows how full the keg is which is nice. You can also look on their website for the current tap list and see how full that keg is.

Super friendly and attentive service. Phenomenal beer selection. Fish fry was good, but based on reputation I was expecting greatness. Perhaps an off night? It happens. I'll try again another time and update.

Great place! Good food, good beer, and mixed drinks ! & great people working there. Wonderful customer service!. The only thing I would advise is for them to remodel the bathrooms. They are pretty nasty! Kicked in door that really should be replaced. Other than that we love going there! We go there all the time. Never had a bad meal there.

I used to love this place but they are so hit and miss now. I never know whether they are going to be open or not - like, they were closed on a Saturday night once before. So, call ahead for the hours prior to going there. They used to have a prime rib special on Saturdays that was awesome but they stopped it because the company they used to get it from went out of business. Haven't been back for awhile just because it's been closed when I've tried to go.