Oakcrest Tavern

Both the fish fry and the burgers were outstanding and the old fashioned was tasty and at a good price. It can get pretty busy and packed for the small space, but it's cozy, people respect each other's space, and everyone is welcome. One of my favorite places in the Madison area.

Fries were good, my burger was good for the first few bites but I lost interest in it the more I ate it. I don't know if it was too burnt -- the onions certainly were, or if it was dry maybe. Either way it was only a mediocre burger. There was also quite a bit of brown grease that was squeezed out which was kind of a turn off. Came away kind of disappointed as I heard good things about their burgers.

Overall, my husband and I have enjoyed the food and atmosphere a lot. The only thing I would say not to get is the chicken strips. They are definitely the frozen chicken nuggets you get from the grocery store and it was super disappointing. Their burgers and sandwiches are really good though, so we will be back!

Went for the Friday night fish fry. I was not disappointed. The cod and potatoes were great! It was pretty full so the seating was maybe a little cramped, but overall a great Madison dive experience.

I had dinner there sunday the 11th, was excited because I heard they used knoches meat. Had with my family breaded shrimp as an apetizer, that was really good, had ordered a burger asked it for medium, it came out cooked beautiful on the inside but on the outside chared not quite sure how that can occur. But when it was dropped off there was a smell nor sure if it was the burger I was smelling or the bartenders BO. Bartender was nice and took it back, burger came back cut in half assuming it was to make sure inside was cooked exactly the same. Half the burger was not charred the other half inside great outside not so great, did not want to complain again about half a burger, least it was edible. Giving 3 stars because of atmosphere, staff, breaded shrimp and fries. Unfortunately loses two stars because the main attraction in going was sadly sub par and did not meet the expectation i was hoping for

Hands down, the BEST hamburger, bacon cheeseburger, I have ever shoved into my shame hole. Their fried cheese curds were also excellent. Service was very good and friendly.

Best burger in Madison. Recommended order: - Bacon cheese burger - Medium Rare - Swiss Cheese - No tomato or lettuce - Both fried and raw onion

Stopped here based on the high ratings and great reviews and we were not disappointed! The food was wonderful. The staff was friendly. I talked to the owner and verified what I'd read on the reviews...that they buy their meat from the meat market across the street, and the market also grinds the meat for the burgers. My mom enjoyed the Ruben sandwich. I had a bacon cheeseburger with fried onions, lettuce, and tomato. The sandwiches came with pickle spears. And we each ordered onion rings. The food was delicious! The grill is right there inside the bar area. The area with tables is crowded, but the charm of the place makes it feel like a cozy place in the North woods. Parking is very tight, and was difficult to maneuver in a minivan. A smaller car would have been helpful. I didn't notice if there is street parking allowed, but the road doesn't seem conducive to street parking. If I'm in that area again, I will definitely go back.

Delicious local spot -- great beer and burgers. I thought the cheese curds were some of the best I've had in the city. I can see this becoming a go-to spot for many.

Really good burgers. Good beer selection. Great service. Good vibe with lots of locals!

A cozy local place with fantastic food with non-touristy prices. I had the burger which is 6oz and perfectly cooked medium. I also had amazing onion rings, which were thick sweet onions with a nice batter made to order. We watched them batter the rings. My wife had the perch fish fry since it was Friday. A huge order that she couldn't finish with nice crispy fires. The coleslaw that comes with it is really tasty not over dressed and twice those little portions that you get elsewhere. It's a bit off the beaten path but well worth the visit. We'll be back the next time we're in town.

Solid Wednesday night fish fry. Perch was on point and the serving size generous. Oakcrest is an institution. A neighborhood and locals joint. Drinks are good to boot.

Great Middleton dive. Great vibes. Very local and comfortable spot. Cant wait to go back.

Oakcrest tavern has amazing burgers, but everyone in town knows that so be prepared to wait in line unless you come at an off time. I ordered a burger, medium rare, with all the toppings and barbecue sauce, and it was so juicy and tender. I love a good thick burger, and the price here definitely makes it worth it. Would definitely recommend coming here just for the burger. I haven't had a nice thick burger like the one here.

Busy place on a Friday night, still great food and service The person that seated us and took our order did a very good job getting our beverages and food delivered in a timely manner. Not our first time there, that's why we went there. It was very busy, but wasn't too loud

ALMOST perfect. Walked in and it is a seat yourself kind of place. Bar was full at 5 pm on a Wednesday but plenty of tables open. Fast service right when we sat down and got drinks and appetizers ordered. The old fashioneds were a strong pour and delish! The cheese curds were some of the best I've ever had. Top 5. Ordered food with another couple. They got their food and we waited another 15ish minutes for ours. Seems the kitchen had forgot our order. We split a cod dinner. Was disappointed to see we got charged for extra fries even though we didn't ask for them. Maybe that's the charge for splitting a meal but would've been nice to be informed. Cod was pretty good but the perch we tried from our friends meal was AMAZING. definitely recommend the perch. The batter on the fish is outstanding. Overall would go back to have the fish again. Be sure to arrive early! Place was packed when we left around 6:30.

Just another Madison classic. You absolutely can't go wrong with any of their burgers. One of the best in Madison. Sometimes seating can be cramped during busy times as the Oakcrest is not the largest. Oakcrest embodies everything that Tavern should be-warm staff, stiff drinks, decent beer, and hearty food.

Excellent bar and grill. Cheeseburgers were cooked to perfection. A nice place to watch some sports. Friendly folk.

The perch plate is the best.. it reminds me of the great perch plates growing up..potato salad is wonderful. Fish was breaded lightly and crispy.. coleslaw was delicious..just wished the potato salad portion was a bit bigger.. price was very reasonable.. Burgers here are fantastic I highly recommend this place..

Experience was horrible. If you're not a extreme liberal. Said thanks sweetheart to a female bartender and guy on staff yelled at me and threatened to kick me out even after apologizeing..then bartenders said don't call us when you're buisy.wait your turn meanly. When they were doing nothing. Guess being an American and thanking a women the old way is not here

It was a Monday night at about 6 pm. The regulars took up most of the bar. The food took forever. I was really looking forward to the burger based on the reviews. The burger was just ok. Really nothing special. It said it was steak trimmings but it needed more flavor and probably more fat content. It was also over cooked. I specified medium rare. Nope! The crinkle cut fries were hot and the best part of the meal. The 2 servers and 2 cooks were working hard. They needed at least one more server. The building and dining room were exactly what I expected from a tavern. Old and rustic. Nothing special here.

The Friday fish fry is fantastic. Perch was perfect. Light, crispy, fresh. Good portion. It is a small place and very popular, so even at 4:30pm we had to park on a side street and wait for a table. My only complaint would be the slow service, specifically just paying our check to leave. We had been done with our meal for more than 30 minutes and needed to leave for a 7:00pm game and I had to go find a hostess and ask to pay so we could get on our way. As long as you're not in a hurry, the food will not disappoint!

I last visited the Oakcrest for St Paddy's I think. Great burgers and very nice food options regarding basic caliber bar food. The meat is very good and brags to be prepared and sourced from the nearby butcher which also boasts their product at many area bars and restaurants in Middleton. I've not shopped there in years but I do recall it being a cut above the grocery stores. But that is reflected in the price so I guess that there reminds me of the one reason I didn't become a regular customer. But the oakcrest tavern is a great neighborhood watering hole that I do have a couple very tame and find recollections of in past years. Three in my writings is a number I feel is a good representation of what I want to be viewed as being a well worth visiting location. Two being meh. 4 is more memorable and five simply had to be a very good memory for whatever transpired to make it leave me with that much enthusiasm. Though in truth, I've got a sh*t ton of memories of 1star beer troughs that I could dredge into the procession of the evening of storytelling if you catch me when I'm particularly loquacious. Those stories are my favorites. My wasted youth is always just a few caffeine drinks from beneath the surface. And this bar has never been in that area of my revelries, nor shall it.

Was excited to try this place but was very disappointed with the experience. Not enough staff, ambience is weird mixture of morose families and old couples overstaying the early bird special. Staff were pleasant but overwhelmed. Burgers are mid and not worth the 30 minute wait. Medium rare = well done at this place, so not sure what medium would be. Fries are an extra $5 on an already overpriced standard burger....onion rings were burned and brittle. No refill on the soda. Everything is nickel and dime, and it takes forever. Avoid.

Back again. Started with the cheese curds. Tipsy cows are better but these are pretty darn good. Didn't have the Bloody Mary this time but it's amazing. My husband and I both got the cheeseburger (medium well). He ordered it with grilled onions. He also got onion rings but my husband would get the fries next time. Everyone is super nice here. Great place to watch football!!

Great brats and cheeseburgers! Fries were delish too. Server could have been a bit more observant and responsive when trying to get drink refills and our check

Found this local gem on a "best fish fry" article and had to swing by. The place is small and parking is limited- we parked in the neighborhood behind the place on Oak Crest Ave.. there's a nice little path with stairs to get to the restaurant. We had to wait about 15 min, but it was a Friday and the Bucks had a game. I would have waited 30+ minutes! We came for the fish fry and it delivered! We got the coconut shrimp for an app, delicious! The sauce was so good that came with it (Shout-out to the waitress that recommended this) Next up was baked cod with a side salad. Cod was perfectly cooked, great flavors and not too oily/buttery. The melted butter and tartar sauce came on the side and I enjoyed both. The salad was plain, but still yummy. My fiancé had the fried perch, baked potato and fries. All very good! The only thing I wish they had were their cheese curds. (They do have them, but not available on Friday during fish fry) SO GOOD.

Here working from out of town and came across the reviews looking for prime rib which is only on Saturdays here but it was excellent! The staff and other patrons were welcoming and suggested other local area favorites to try out , definitely recommend

For the price and for the atmosphere, this dive bar is definitely worth it! The burgers were handmade right in front of us and the servers were quick and helpful. Honestly, I had some of the best sweet potato fries ever here! They made a great spicy Bloody Mary (it was a large glass, with a big Spotted Cow chaser, too)I was hobbling out of the bar after the larger cheeseburger and splitting a basket of fries. I'm happy we stumbled into this place after a long round of golf!

They are what they are, and they know what they are. Menu is small, but when you see what they're working with, it's totally appropriate. Fresh, straightforward burgers made with beef from the meat market across the street. No arugula, cream cheese, avocado concoctions here. Lettuce, tomato and onion (raw or fried) are available. Friday fish fry (we always go perch) is consistently excellent. Decent tap list with local and in-state options along with the swills. This place has a well-earned reputation, and if you plan to kick off your weekend with a fish-fry visit, prepare to get there early or expect a wait. The place is rather small, maybe 12 tables that are pretty close together. Small bathrooms. It's definitely cozy. You will overhear neighboring conversations. I appreciate a restaurant that knows it's limits and focuses on what it can do well. The Oakcrest is exactly that.

This day completely sucked!! After trying to get a hold if them last weekend and their phone being put off the hook the whole entire night!! I figured I would give them another try tonight!! Finally after about 10 phone calls they FINALLY pick up to just put the phone down and not say a word but let me listen to the people in the back ground talking amd laughing at me while I was screaming into the phone trying to get anyone's attention!! Thus went on for about 10 to 15 minutes!! I was bound and determined to get their attention but yet I did not!! Im sorry but these people are very much aholes who think their poop doesn't stink and to good to pick up the phone!!

If you want a fancy burger , fancy sides ....go somewhere else ....if you want a damn good burger , damn good appetizers , great fish ...come to the oak crest it's bar food at its best

A neighborhood institution. Food is good, atmosphere great. I can't really say anything bad about this place.

My first Oakcrest was prepandemic and a Friday fish fry evening. If you like being packed into a place like a sardine, which I do, this place is perfect on a Friday night. Get the perch. We've been back many times for a burger lunch. Not so crowded and they make one of the best burgers in Madison. Date I say this place is a "classic?" I do!

Oakcrest never disappoints, we typically get take out fish fry's on Fridays since they are so busy on Fridays. Fish is top notch and their burgers are outstanding. Staff is always super attentive and service is always great.

This is my go to place when I want a burger on the west side. The people are very nice and the burgers are top notch. Excellent pickle as well. Fries are pretty standard. I have never been able to get here for fish fry on Friday but friends tell me it is awesome. Lots of TVs tuned to sports. Try to park on the west side of the building if possible. The parking on the other side is sort of funky.

You guessed it, amazing burgers. This place is exactly what everyone has told you. A great bar burger with a dive feel. The staff was friendly and you can tell it's a neighborhood bar as the regulars sat at the bar drinking beer with ice. Limited beer selection but the burger is why you should come here.

Excellent dive bar! No wait for a table and friendly, attentive service even during the Epic UGM meeting. Good local beers on tap and excellent cheese curds and tasty grilled walleye.

If you're from further north in WI like me you'll appreciate this little pub, it's definitely got that classic northern WI feel. I really like that you can sit at the bar with a drink and literally have a conversation with the cook has he grills your meal just a few feet away. Great burgers and even better cheese curds. Definitely give these folks a shot!

Some of the best dive bar burgers in Madison (even after the closing of Knoche's Butcher Shop). Friendly staff. Great neighbor bar.

Consistently the BEST fish fry in Madison! Service is always good no matter how busy , and they get really really busy. Parking situation could be better but maybe after the construction it will be. Parking challenge will not keep us away though!

3.5 stars Fish fry review: Went here a couple of months with co-workers after meeting up at a local winery. Got here around 8pm, and the small tavern was still packed. We managed to wrangle some street parking and 1 bar stool for 8 of us (to order drinks). The old fashioned's were strong, but not necessarily the best I've had. 3.75/5 We finally got some high top tables (15-20 mins later) and some food. The fish had all the right look to it. We got perch and cod. Nicer crunch to the cod, but the perch had a nicer flavor. Unfortunately, both were dry and luke warm. Overall, A-OK fish fry - good taste. Could have used a little more seasoning to put it over the top for me. 3.5/5 Slaw - little too dry for me. 3/5 Overall, I will be back with a smaller group to see if it changes the temp and dry levels. I'm sure the large group wasn't so good for the small kitchen.

Charming? Is the word?? This place is tiny, and I don't know if it used to be an old bomb shelter or something because it's impossible to get any reception while you are in here. There is a wait staff but there's a guy that acts as the cook, server, bartender, and bus boy and sometimes that can make him cranky. But food is cheap and portions are hearty, the beer selection is decent. Just don't make the mistake of asking if their onion rings are breaded in house, that's how I found out that guy can be cranky.

I read somewhere that Oakcrest's perch is one of the best fish fries in the area. Maybe I just got a real dud of a meal because my fish was so. bland. I came at 9:30 near the end of food time, but that shouldn't affect taste, right? It looked fine and came with 5 pieces, plus 2 sides (I opted for double fries) for $14, which is a good price point. But the fish just had no flavor to it. I tried some salt and lemon juice but it wasn't doing the job. The tartar sauce was excellent and plentiful though... The fries had the same problem with total lack of flavor. It's probably a nice neighborhood place to hang out though. It's tucked away in the neighborhood and it seemed like at least a few people were regulars that knew the staff. Relatively small and cozy place. I would not return based on the food, but it might be a nice place to hang out for drinks.

3.5 stars. I've driven by this place so many times but have never stopped by. The place gets packed in the evenings. I tried the bacon cheeseburger and sweet potato fries here. The burger was huge and satisfying and you can never go wrong with sweet potato fries but I don't know if it stood out over other places. Not a bad place to go and I wouldn't mind grabbing food here if I was with friends, but I wouldn't necessarily seek it out for dinner alone.

We went here based on the Eater Chicago putting it #1 in top 10 places to eat in Madison. Cool little bar feel. Good brandy old fashioned. We all got cheeseburgers - all thought below average. I sure hope it was not "the best burger in town" like the Eater said. Clam chowder and fish fry (shared) were okay. Service friendly-ish. Food came out fast. Server disappeared - could have had a few more drinks. and not having cheese curds on a Friday night a big miss. Sadly, was disappointed, for my first dinner in Madison.

We had the cod and perch fish fry dinners to go. The fish was bland (cod better than perch), breading was nice and thin, fish was cooked well (not over cooked), tartar sauce was delicious. However, we were horrified to see that the styrofoam underneath some of the fish pieces was melted away. The perch box in particular was really bad, with holes through the entire thickness of the styrofoam container. They should either use a different material or line them with foil. We will not be going back as long as this is happening, no thank you to cancer.

This place is tough for me to recommend. Not because it isn't good - it is really good. We were turned onto this place by someone who had lived in the area for a long time. We also told him that we didn't need anything fancy. This is a typical neighborhood bar - think Archie Bunker's Place - that I swear they knew we are not Madisonites the moment we walked in the door. Fortunately, Wisconsin people are very friendly. We were shown to our hightop table by Kasey (or it may be Kelsey, I've sleep since we left there). She gave us the "first timer" rundown and graciously offered to let us experience all of the appetizers: french fries, sweet potato fries, fried perch, fried cod, and of course - cheese curds. All four of us opted for burgers. When my burger came out without bacon (which I had asked for double-bacon), our server came back with literally a BOWL of bacon. Can I have some bacon with a side of bacon?!? Yes please!!! The burgers were to die for. The bacon was not from Sysco (or Walmart for that matter). We ended the meal - and evening - with an Old Fashioned. I should admit that I am not a dark liquor fan... or rather it is not a friend to me. But on our server's recommendation, we ordered three (someone had to drive) Old Fashioned with Korbel Brandy. First off: they are BIG drinks. Second, they go down like they have no alcohol in them. Wait 30 minutes and you will want to find a bed to take a long sleep in. If you have eaten the aforementioned food items, be prepared to wake up in the middle of the night needing water to help with the sodium intake. Also, put two aspirin on your bedstand so that you can take those and go back to sleep and dream of happy Wisconsin Badgers.

Stopped by this place looking for a burger, and couldn't find many places open. From the outside I was a little nervous, as there was only one car in the lot. It's a small dive bar, with one guy working the bar, waiting tables, and cooking the food. Definitely found a diamond in the rough! The burger was excellent, onion rings and fried good also. Super reasonable prices, food was cooked perfectly, and the service was great!

This is a place I have come to pretty consistently over the years. In my opinion, the best burger in Madison. They get their beef fresh from Knoche's across the street, and it shows. You won't get any fancy millenial burgers with truffle oil and 84 other fancy toppings here. Just a darn good quality burger. If you want to get fancy, they have bacon. That is all you need when quality is king. Last week we stopped in for a fish fry. If you do this, either plan on eating very early or very late. If you show up between 6-8pm, you will wait. But for the fried perch, the wait is definitely worth it. They hand bread every piece in batter before throwing them in the fryer, and it is a fun sight to watch as you drink a perfectly poured Brandy Old Fashioned. Overall, this is the best version of a classic tavern. Great, simple food done well. You have a customer for life, Oak Crest.

Visitor in town. Very much the definition of a locals bar. Very friendly people coming and going and they all seemed to know each other. I had the cod dinner and my colleague had the burger which he described as 'really good'. Decently priced as well. A bit off the beaten path but would return. It's a small establishment- maybe 15 tables and it's cozy but wait staff was awesome.

This little dive is packed on Friday nights. Be prepared to hang out at the bar for a bit but the fish fry is worth the wait. Perch. Go with the perch.

PROS: Solid fish fry, cozy tavern atmosphere CONS: Small space, limited parking We've only had fish fry here, so I can only comment on that. I liked that the breading wasn't as thick and didn't feel as heavy as the fish fry from some other places. I felt comfortably satisfied, rather than greasy after the meal.

This is it. It had it all. Reasonably priced well made drinks, Lake perch fish fry, friendly locals, kitchy/dive enough to be fun, and a great staff. Get over here you!

Love the Oakcrest. Such an old-timey vibe. The paneling on the walls is what gets me. It feels like places we used to go to when I was a young tot. There aren't many places left like that. We almost always go there for fish fry. Yep, it's insanely crowded. Yep, the parking is horrible. Yep, you are going to wait unless you get there at 5pm. It's a small place that developed a large, loyal clientele and outgrew their space. They don't have much room to knock down walls and expand. So they have 2 choices, people. Stay where they are and maintain their almost-patented atmosphere, or move into a new place and become just like everyone else. I'm glad they haven't done that. I'll deal with the crowds. The fish fry is pretty darn good. Get the perch. Cod is almost always disappointing anyway. Their perch is fresh, crispy, and not overcooked. In the spirit of great atmosphere, they hand bread all their fish right at the bar. You can watch them frying it up right there. You see, they have no space, so they have to make do with what they have. That applies not only to the diners, but to the staff as well! At the busy times, the waitresses will weave in and out of the crowds with an impossibly large number of plates stacked up on each arm. It's a miracle they don't spill everything. It's that kind of place. People go there in droves. Count me among the faithful. But if you don't like that sort of thing, it's best to go somewhere else.

A neighborhood bar- old school and nothing fancy. Went for Wednesday fish fry. We ordered perch and received 5 large pieces and a large amount of French fries, cold slaw and a piece of rye bread. They didn't skimp on tartar sauce served on the side. The French fries were really good, not greasy. Perch piping hot and delicious, the cole slaw was creamy. The waiter was a man of few words, but did a good job. We would return.

Stopped in this afternoon with my husband for a cheeseburger & fries. Absolutely hit the spot with the best burger we've had in a very long time. This will be our new favorite for a fast & delicious bar burger.