Dotty Dumpling's Dowry

Started with the fried mushrooms, then got the turkey burger + sweet potato fries. The BEST burger anywhere hands down. I can't describe how amazing it was, you just need to try it for yourself! Also the sauces were on point. Awesome beer selection, our fave was the Spotted Cow -- crisp, refreshing and light enough to enjoy with our meal. Service was so friendly and super attentive. 20/10 experience 👌

Tried this burger spot and really enjoyed it! 🍔 -The “Cheese Curds” were a hit—crispy and tasty. - My husband had the “Heart Throb Burger”, a spicy combo with Pepper Jack cheese (minus smoked bacon) and their signature Heart Throb Sauce—he loved it, especially the sauce! - I went for the “Homemade Spicy Veggie Burger”, the bean patty was flavorful, though not spicy to me. I also added grilled onions, tomatoes and lettuce to my burger. The Baja sauce was a bit light, so I added their English Garlic sauce—which was absolutely yum! Definitely a must-try!

Really fun place to eat. We did have a bit of a wait to be seated, but it was worth it. The food is fresh and they have fun drinks to pick from. The atmosphere is really cool to look at and the servers are very kind.

Service was great and the food was fantastic!!! I got the turkey burger, fries w/ garlic sauce and strawberry shake. This was the best burger and shake I’ve ever had!!! Thank you

We thought the food portions were great since we were traveling and didn’t want leftovers. We got the fried mushroom, and burgers. Food was great and overall atmosphere was great. This is definitely a cool place to check out

Stopped in after Boo at the zoo at the Henry Villas Zoo! We were not disappointed! It was a Sunday early afternoon and they were busy! We waited about 30 minutes for a table, but it was worth the wait! They did have seats available at the bar, but we opted for a table! Definitely not fine dining, but fun bar food! We started with the chili fries! These were HUGE, hot and delicious! Their house made chili must be made with brisket, there were huge delicious chunks of meat in the chili! They were a tad bit spicy and had sport peppers on them for an extra kick! We both had the black and bleu burgers! They came with bacon and blue cheese crumbles drenched in Louisiana hot sauce, we added the homemade onion jam and tomatoes to them, they were delicious and spicy! The onion jam had a bit of sweet to it which calmed down the spicy pretty good! I ordered a side of ranch dressing and it was phenomenal! The back wall just past the bar had all kinds of articles and accolades that they have received over the years, definitely fun to read some of them! The negatives, in my opinion, everything comes in paper baskets, which I’m not a fan of. You have to ask for silverware, not a problem unless they are super busy. They do not have a parking lot, but there is street parking if you are lucky enough to find some. They are within walking distance to a parking garage and it seemed pretty cheap to park in there, I think it was $3.70 for an hour and a half maybe. It is a bar, so it is not quiet in there. They do have tvs to watch the sorts games on. Overall it was a great little downtown find! Good good, friendly staff and not bad prices!

They claim to be the best burgers and I’m being 100% honest the pub burger was hands down the best burger I’ve ever had. The wait staff was absolutely fantastic. It is very evident as to why they have been open since 1974.

randomly stopped here for lunch while visiting and the food was great. burgers 10/10. i’m too far from Madison to come here regularly, but i’ll be back when i’m in town!

If you're looking for a fantastic burger, come to Dotty!!!! Best burger I've had in a long time. They have a great kids menu and I appreciate any place that provides crayons, Wikki stix and oyster crackers for the kiddos. My daughter got the chicken strips and fries w/ranch. The ranch was so good. I got the Runnelstone burger and my husband got the heart throb burger. They both had a special sauce on it that was so so so good! Will def be back for more burgers and the spreechers root beer float!

No dumplings found here! This place was highly recommended for their cheese curds and we were definitely not disappointed. We ordered their sampler platter and a couple of burgers. I loved the cheese curds and fried mushrooms. I could eat them al day! My burger was a little on the bland side for me but it was really juicy. Our waitress was new on the job (forgot her name) but she was very friendly and made some great recommendations for beer. Loved the Spotted Cow! The music that was playing was great and not too loud so that we can still carry on a conversation. Also loved the history of this place.

Solid downtown burger joint. In the sampler platter, the fried mushrooms were fire. For the burger itself, I thought the patty lacked seasoning on the inside and the house garlic sauce (mayo-based) put the greasiness just slightly over the top. But nonetheless it was an enjoyable burger that I'm glad help up well.

So obsessed with Dottys I came here twice during my visit - and they remembered me from my first visit! Service at table or bar is awesome. The old vintage feel is very cool, be sure to read about their history! The burgers are SUPER fresh and amazing! I had the classic both times and be sure to get sweet potato fries! Homemade bbq sauce is dynamite too. 12/10 recommend!!

Great ambiance for a burger joint. Super packed but quick service. Food is extremely flavorful and fresh tasting. Would love to try all their special sauces.

Kept seeing this recommendation online so when my partner and I got to madison with an empty stomach, this was our first stop. For starters, we ordered the sample platter (Wisconsin cheese curds, fried mushrooms, fried mac and cheese bites, fries, and onion rings) which came with Aioli and ranch. Lived the cheese curds and fried, could've gone without the mushrooms. For my entre, I ordered a classic brat with raw onions and sauerkraut. I'm a brat snob, so I'd give it a 7/10. Could've been a little more charred, but overall good flavor. He ordered the Runnelstone, the restaraunts first specialty burger. Great flavor combinations, good portion. Our service was quick. You can tell the place has been around for a while based on the decor and the overall vibe of the place.

Doggy's is a pretty chill bar and restaurant. We stopped in after a Wisconsin game. Love that it's walking distance to Kohl's Center. I enjoyed the food. We shared a pub burger and the sampler appetizer. I thought the pub burger had a great sauce and the meat was cooked well. I hate that none of the burgers come with fries, so it's honestly really pricey per person once you add a side. The sampler was all things fried, so mushrooms, Mac and cheese, cheese curds, fries and onion rings. The cheese curds were great. The Mac and cheese bites were interesting because I think it's just Kraft Mac and cheese (but I didn't mind because it tasted nostalgic)! Overall and good stop if you're looking for pub food.

I would say my true rating is a 3.5/5. The food overall is kind of just meh. It's nothing to crazy an expected burger but definitely not the hype I was expecting. I think also the fact that the burger doesn't come with fries is a turn off, I would rather you just mark the price up to total with fries. We also tried the sampler and the fries to me just had no seasoning or flavor just regular fries. I think the service was ok nothing too crazy either as he never really checked on us after we got our food. They were also not busy that night but they are close to kohls center so I assume they can get busier.

Love this place! Great vibe with cool airplanes all around the joint. Service was wonderful. Food was very tasty. Delicious, fresh burgers, lots of beer options and kid friendly choices. Very patient with kids and lots of food side dishes. Scrumptious fudge bottom pie. Kids loved the games, puzzles and wikki stixs!

The atmosphere of the place is leaning heavily into old English pub, of which I think it does well. Seating is limited though, so expect a wait during busier hours and weekends. The drinks did not impress. The Brandy Old Fashioned I had was very poorly mixed. Kudos for not skipping on the spirits, but it did make for a less than optimal drink. The burgers are thick cut, juicy, and loaded with cheese. If that's your thing, this will be one of your better options in the Madison area.

Dotty's is a Madison institution!! And might be my new #1 burger now that Dlux is closed. The food was amazing. Mac n cheese wedges with the housemade ranch never disappoint. My burger was perfectly cooked and the fries were crispy and delicious. My boyfriend did the build your own with allllll the fixins and loved it! Our server was attentive and kind. I love sitting in a cozy booth in the winter. There's such a nostalgia for me at Dotty's as I came here all of the time in college and I'm so glad I made it back!!!

Good ambiance if you like dark Quant Curds were different in a good way Cajun chicken sandwich perfect level of zing

Came here around 1PM on a weekday, and got a booth immediately. Heard the burgers were good and took a hit deciding. Let's just the burger was amazing and juicy, the onion rings were 10/10 perfectly crispy, and I accidentally ordered a boat of pickles for $6..... but they were amazing and homemade. I count it as getting myself those tubs of grillos pickles from the store. My server was quick and friendly. Was a nice environment for me to a bit of work too.

This place is the home of my favorite burgers, yes as in plural. You can't go wrong with any of their burger selections. Today, I went with the Stanley's blue ribbon burger, but with a vegan patty. Their barbecue sauce is so delicious, I always ask for extra. We went during the business time of the lunch hour. We had our water and soda pretty soon after we arrived. The food arrived about 15-20 minutes later. The decor is very 50s inspired with an old movie playing in the background. Very cool vibe. This is on the other side of town for me so it's always a treat to come here.

A long-time, family owned institution known for their burgers... However we were not impressed. Our party had 14 people and we had to be seated separately because none of the tables can be moved. It was not a big deal since we were able to sit in the same area. We divided into two groups and the eight of us shared fried cheese curds, fried mushrooms, spicy hot chili, melting pot burger, fish fry dinner, and Beyond burger. The cheese curds, fried mushrooms, and melting pot burger were standard and nothing to get excited about. The fish fry was actually disappointing because the meat was dry and bland. The best item was definitely the spicy hot chili. It had a ton of ingredients with a good kick. Service was slow even though there were not that many patrons dining in and our server brought us food without plates and utensils. I had to remind her a few times. Another thing to take note of is they charge an additional fee for credit cards. Although we were divided into two groups for seating, we paid together under one bill. Who would carry +$200 in cash?

Dotty Dumpling's Dowry is a must-visit food stop. The food is crafted and cooked fresh from local farms and markets, leaving the food very nutritious and also supporting the local business as well. The service was fast and quick despite being fully seated due to the Wisconsin-Bama game recently ending. They have a 1-hour seating limit so that helps the flow significantly. The environment itself is as Wisconsin as you can get. Many local decor and references plastered on the wall and of course, lots of cheese references! I highly recommend stopping by if you get the chance!

The service is good, the beer is good, however the food is very overrated. We had a few different burgers and there was no flavor. We had to pay for extra garlic sauce to make it edible. The fried cod sandwich had a one strip of cod that only covered 1/3 of the bun. I wouldn't go back.

I am very upset at this Dotty's. First off why is dumpling in your name if you don't serve dumplings? I ordered a FRIED cajun chicken sandwich and proceeded to be handed a GRILLED chicken sandwich. I finally received my fried chicken sandwhich and it was horribly mid. I am very disappointed in this especially because of all these great reviews. DO NOT COME HERE!!!

Came here spontaneously on a Saturday midday. Started off with the cheese curds, desperately craving them. To be honest, they were meh to me, 3/5. to eat, my partner and I split the melting pot burger and the Pub burger. The melting pot was very underwhelming--the cheese wasn't even melted all the way and barely tasted the English garlic sauce. still decent. The pub burger was my favorite, the aioli was delicious. I'd get that one next time. For a large fries to share--the burger doesn't come with sides which is quite unexpected for a burger spot imo. Ambiance was cool, lots of stuff on the walls to look at Service was good My final eating would be 3.5/5 but I rounded up. Is still come back

Cute little spot in Madison! I was visiting from out of town and wanted to get my hands on cheese curds, so I hopped on Yelp to find a close spot and fell onto this one. I loved the ambience when I went into this spot with all the airplanes and cool decor. I loved it since I am in the aviation industry, so 5 stars for decor. I opted for take out...and there was a bit of a wait but the server was super friendly and asked if I wanted a drink while waiting so service here is wonderful! Now the food...it was delicious! The cheese curds are a musy...I mean, it's Wisconsin and the Homemade Spicy Veggie burger was filling and flavorful. All in all...good local spot!

Dotty's is one of the best burger places in Madison! Their sweet potato fries are addicting! They have great drinks and shakes. The vibes are always good and service has been amazing every time. Great for takeout too, ready within 25 min no matter the time.

Great food, efficient service! Lovely atmosphere. A Madison classic! Definitely on the list to come back to.

Great burgers. Great food. Service is quick, efficient, and kind. The atmosphere transports you straight into a classic pub. Not a single bad thing on the menu. Truffle fries are the way to go for an appetizer!

Great establishment! I came here with only the best of company and I was impressed at the great customer service that we received. We first ordered deep fried pickles and they came out a little bit on the over cooked side. Without having to ask our waitress for another batch, we were immediately given a fresh batch at no extra cost. Our new batch was absolutely delicious and went well with our flight of beers. We ordered chili and classic jambalaya which were both extremely flavorful and good tasting. The chili was hearty and was well seasoned. The classic jambalaya was very well seasoned and had the perfect amount of sausage in it. Overall, great experience visiting here. It is clear to see that this place values integrity which is displayed throughout their food and customer service. Kudos, we will definitely be coming back for more.

I took out dinner from here on a Friday evening. The place was very lively. Had I tried dine in, there would have been a wait. As it is friday, I went for the special fish fry. It was good. The melting pot burger was really good as well.

Dotty's was great. There was a 20 minute wait so we sat down at the bar and had a cocktail and beer. Service was excellent and place was cool. We had chili, the alumni burger and the melting pot burger. Total with tax was about $70. I'll be back.

One of the most solid places in Madison for a burger! Every time I come here the burger never misses. Consistent quality is key. And the service is always good, too. We got: Stanley's blue ribbon- barbecue sauce goodness Toadstool-I'm a big fan of mushrooms, so this hit the spot

Great service and amazing food! Definitely a stop for lunch or dinner!! Burgers were cooked to order and very tasty!

Great place Visiting from SAN JOSE CAFIFORNIA had the melting pot, cheese curds, and a beer called Spotted Cow with had Great taste. But the important thing is the service by Manda. She is on point withe food asking if you need anything else asking how the food is great servservice highly recommend this place and Manda as a server. Than you

Grrat food tried the Melting Pot the cheese curds and a beer called the Spotted Cow good beer good food. Visiting from San Jose Californi. Service was great by Manda highly recomend. Great place

Really cool decor and atmosphere. Waitress was excellent!! Accommodated our group of 4 plus an infant without any problems. Food was excellent!! Be it the cheese curds, sampler platter, or burgers and fish and chips. All were excellent at a fair price. We will definitely return!!

Best burger I've ever had! Fun to see western movies on all of the TVs until a sporting event was on then basketball was the show of choice. Get there early because there will be a wait and it could be long! But boy is it worth it! My college kid and I shared the sampler...fried everything...mushrooms, cheese curds, mac and cheese bites, onion rings, and fries. So good! Then I got the Toadstool, a typical mushroom/cheese burger. The burger was cooked well with the perfect flavors of smoke and savory. Freshest bun ever! Perfect combination of everything! Chef's kiss! I just had to ask for more napkins because it was a bit messy. Fun, eclectic spot for great burgers! I'm still a bit disappointed that they do not in fact serve any kind of dumplings sadly. But the burgers make up for it! Definitely a Madison institution!

Beware: They over promise the wait time and you end up late for your sporting event, concert, etc. The hostesses huddle behind the desk instead of helping to make tables available. Food has become mediocre for basic bar food.

I've eaten here a few times over the past 30 years, and the food was always very good. Unfortunately, no more than average this time. Not bad, but nothing to really recommend or get excited about. Burgers seem a lot smaller than they used to be. I don't particularly mind that (don't need a huge burger anyway). But the taste of both my and hubby's burgers was just... nothing special. Not bad but I've had much more tasty meat and prep at several places in Northern WI (e.g., SLO's Pub in Woodruff WI--great burgers & fries!). The fries at DD's (we got the regular crinkle cut) were a good sized order to share but, again, just average. Server was pleasant but slow and a bit difficult to get her attention. Again, not bad but nothing special either. And the music was way too loud. Playing classic rock (60s, 70s) was great but no need to blast it, especially at 12:30pm on a Tuesday. Finally, I understand that many establishments are running on a thin profit margin but I really don't like the tactic of charging an additional fee for using a credit card. Sorry, it's not 'giving a break to our customers who pay cash'--it's charging more for using credit. Overall average, no better, and not the really tasty lunch experience we were hoping for.

Love, Live, Love Best Burgers I've ever had!!! I been eating here sine I was a teenager and come back Every time I'm in town

Warm, vintage atmosphere. Very good service. Food was mediocre and the burger/fries overrated. Burger was a bit of a mushpile and fries were not crispy. Chile was flavorful.

Fantastic burgers, lots of beers to choose from, friendly service, and cool vibe - need I say more? The food at Dotty's is consistently top notch, but I especially recommend their burgers, their fried cheese curds, and their pickles (fried or regular).

Great costumer service at forty's dumplings dowry! I enjoyed a cup of chili and we had pickles, fries and two of the burgers! The restaurant had a great vibe with great waiters, and great music which was a plus! I would rate this place a 8/10 for service and location and a 7.3/10 for the food quality. It wasn't the best I have had but it was definitely nowhere near the worst! Definitely recommend coming with friends and family.

I love the ambiance of Dottys, I love the food! I tried the vegetarian option and it was so good! The service is outstanding. Amy is an amazing bartender. She was fun and very efficient. The hosts were so nice, greeting us warmly. we will definitely be back. thank you!

A UW madison staple-we arrived about 7:30 pm on a Friday night and waited maybe 10 minutes at the bar. We ordered two old fashioneds which were pretty good, nothing spectacular. They have a good sized tap list as well. We enjoyed a burger and black bean burger as well as the cheese curds. Their curds are phenomenal. Husband loved the burger. The black bean burger was kind of bland probably wouldn't order again. Of note, their burgers don't come with sides therefore the pricing is slightly above average. They also tack on a fee for credit cards so cash is preferred. Overall it's a cool spot for those that want a burger (vegan and vegetarian options included). The best part about our evening was our waiter, Harrison. He was so attentive and sweet! Made our experience great.

Great ambiance and service. Good local beer selection. I came specifically because I heard about their amazing burgers. They did not disappoint.

this place can get reallyyy crowded with long wait times for dinner. we waited about an hour for a party of 3 but i honestly think this place was well worth the wait. i ordered the melting pot which seems to be their classic burger. i swear the cheese just MELTED in my mouth with each bite. the fries were perfectly crispy and seasoned. the drinks were also huge!!! the service was great and ambiance could be described as just your fun typical pub. highly recommend checking this place out for their burgers!!

We went before a UW game. It was packed, but we found a booth. The servers were friendly and attentive despite the crowd. I was asked how I wanted it prepared, but my Black & Bleu burger was not moist or juicy. It just wasn't a burger to make me drool. All the items in this burger didn't seem to 'marry' together. It wasn't the great burger I was anticipating. The fries were also somewhat dry and maybe over-fried. This was only my first time here, so I try not to pass judgement. I will go again and see if I get a burger worthy of their neon signs.

The chili was most definitely excellent, but the burgers were just average at best; the beer at the bar was not cold and it was hard to get the bartenders attention for drinks. My husband ordered a side of onion rings with his burger versus fries, and they charged him for a full order of onion rings and gave him eight of them!

Fantastic burger. Medium well but a charred. Should've ordered a double. One of the better bloody Maria's I've had in a min. Feisty college waitress. Borderline rude but more sarcastic. Must have to be if she works at a Badger staple for college kids.

one of the best burgers i've ever had in my life. Simply perfect in every way! Highly recommend!

7/23/22 - 1:30 PM *I've been here a handful of times and have finally had the opportunity to make a live review * Throw back, wooden atmosphere, that gives a low lit vibe. Seated at the bar without hesitation and had immediate service. Started off with the "Mac-n-Cheese Wedges" without even knowing what they were, and they were delicious (Mac n cheese bites)! Decided to order my typical BYOB (see pic) and wasn't disappointed. Overall, this place is a rare visit, and I can't wait to be back! Pros: attentive service Drink menu: they can make any drink you ask, to perfection Vegetarian friendly (Beyond burger/Spicy veggie burger) Children friendly

So dern good - I remember Dotty's from their Regent Street location back before electricity. (well almost) Now located on Frances St & Gorham St. (a block off of State St.), the place is better than ever. Renowned for their burgers, strongly recommended. You'll become a regular :)

Dotty's was DIVINE. My wife and I were in town visiting from Milwaukee and grabbed some burgers before a Badgers game. The place was absolutely packed wall to wall with Badger fans! Despite so many people we were seated quickly and the service was excellent. The decor inside is unparalleled. As soon as you walk in you automatically are whisked away into a nostalgic trip for any Wisconsin sports fan. The energy was buzzing and the food was the same! I ordered the Pub burger which I can't rate highly enough. I honestly sat and deliberated between 3 or 4 burgers because they all sounded so good. Would highly recommend this place to anybody in town who is looking for a burger. 5 stars!