Tipsy Cow

Great post game spot for food and Drinks on a less busy section of town. They features tons of great shareable and sandwiches. The cheese curds were incredible, melt in your mouth and even some great cheese pulls. The Memphis Tots were perfectly seasoned with a great dipping sauce. The PBR battered Walleye was massive, they definitely give you your moneys worth. Service was friendly and quick making this a pleasant experience.

My friend and I were pleasantly surprised by the flavorful food in this restaurant. We were actually going to another restaurant, but it was completely full, so we walked to Tipsy Cow instead. This place was also busy but luckily there was a table for two available. Following Google overview, I ordered the local goat cheese curds for appetizer. It was yummy 😋 For the main meal, I asked Patrick, our friendly server, for recommendation, and from there I chose spicy steak sandwich. I loved it. It was soft, warm and delicious! My friend - who at first thought he was going to get fast food quality meal - also found his lamb tacos to be surprisingly good. To top it off, I ordered Mexican hot chocolate (a hot liquor). A perfect drink for a freezing winter night! 😃

I didn’t get tipsy from the alcohol, but I definitely fell into a satisfying meat coma after my meal! The food was fantastic overall. I absolutely devoured my three-cheese burger...there was no fuss and no drama, just an incredible combination of juicy meat and rich, melty cheese that made each bite delightful. Our waiter was super friendly. The fries were a pleasant surprise, boasting a perfect balance of crunchiness on the outside and softness on the inside, making them incredibly enjoyable. However, I wasn't particularly a fan of the nachos; the seasoning just didn't appeal to my taste. Loved the place and will be back again.

Words cannot adequately express our surprise at how delicious everything was. Just a block away from the capital building and a beautiful view. The service was fast and friendly and the food quality was amazing! The onion rings were served with dipping sauces that elevated it to a whole new level. The burgers were fantastic and the clam chowder was hearty and delicious. We will definitely stop and eat here again!

Oh boy! The Walleye sandwich was great. I couldn't eat it all. The house made tartar sauce is excellent as well. The fried cheese curds was also a joy to eat. Also had fries with the tipsy aioli is so good, anything you dip into goes from great to jaw dropping.

Love this place for a casual place to get a delicious meal. The tipsy burger (double smash burger) is insanely good, and it’s the largest fish sandwich you’ll ever get that also happens to be delicious. Excellent cheese curds too but you gotta eat them quick as soon as they get to the table when they are hot and fresh for maximum tastiness.

Do not miss this place. Had Korean beef sandwich. Crazy food. Just happened to hit fish Friday and the fish was the size of my head. Maple chipotle wings were awesome. Will be back this weekend.

Visited Tipsy Cow with my husband. We first sat down in the bar to wait for a table. The bar tender ignored us for about 5 minutes. Its incredibly loud inside so if weather permits sit outside if u want to hear the people you are having dinner with. If you'd rather not hear them, than make sure to sit inside and pretend you are listening. We finally got our table outside. Our waitress was great. I personally did not like the goat cheese curds and preferred the regular ones. Those were tasty. My husband had the lamb burger and I had the guacamole burger. I didn't love it. Will visit again to try something new

Tipsy cow burger is juicy and as good as a restaurant burger gets. Nice job. Beer battered fries are nothing special but it served its purpose. Friendly staff.

Very cute spot with a great atmosphere, and the staff was friendly and welcoming. I genuinely wanted to enjoy it, but unfortunately the food didn't live up to expectations. I ordered the burger and after just two bites I could tell it wasn't for me. It was extremely greasy and, despite that, lacked flavor. The sauce on it was overpowering and didn't really help bring everything together. I ended up paying for a burger I could barely eat. The truffle fries also missed the mark. If you're looking for that classic truffle fries experience, this isn't it -- the truffle flavor was very subtle and the aioli was a bit too heavy. They also forgot one of my friend's items, which was disappointing. It may have just been an off day, but overall it wasn't the experience we were hoping for.

SO delicious, & a WI classic / must try!! Ordered: - Local goat cheese curds: Loved this! - Fried cheese curds: Loved this! - Truffle fries: Great firm fries (didn't felt too doused in truffle oil), & paired well with the sauce! - Local lamb burger: Really liked this!! The meat was very tender. - Tipsy burger: This is a great burger on paper, but a little too greasy for my liking. Personal preferences! - Fried Mike's pickles: Loved this!! Tasted like an onion ring, but better! The batter compared to the sourness of the pickle is a great combo. Service was also good. Waiter checked in on us often. Nice bar vibes / ambiance. 100% recommend!

First time at this Madison staple! I started off with the seasonal apple cider marg and it was great, though I felt like the apple taste could've been stronger. I got the sour cream and onion fries, and that was a hit! I ordered a mushroom and swiss burger but accidentally got the mushroom sandwich, and the server was so nice and understanding when I brought up the mix up. The burger wasn't my favorite mushroom and swiss burger, but it was good. It is a little loud in here though, so be prepared for that!

Tipsy Cow was recommended to me by multiple locals here in Madison, WI. Cheese curds are on point, tipsy burger was comforting and heavy. The drinks are on the stronger side in my opinion! Overall everything tasted very good, would come back again

I hadn't been here in years, but used to come here for happy hour after work. Decided to try it out for dinner on a pretty summer evening. We decided to sit outside and had prompt, attentive service. I wish I could remember the name of our server but he was fantastic. My Old Fashioned was delicious, and when we went I wasn't starving so kind of wanted something light. A lot of the appetizers looked decent but still wanted something slightly healthy. They had an open-faced egg/asparagus sandwich that sounded light and intriguing. I almost would call this more of an appetizer than a sandwich, but either way it was delicious and I'd totally order it again. It was basically everything I was looking for and completely hit the spot. Will definitely make sure to come back sooner.

They have some great seasonal cocktails for around $10. Friendly vibe, definitely a touristy spot. They curate a lot of local ingredients for their menu. Service is always on point. 4/5 due to lack of accessibility.

Decent service at 12:30 pm but a bit slow. Decent truffle fries. Lamb tacos were too greasy and on the bland side. Lamb tacos came with charro beans, I thought, but got a small bowl of chili instead. I enjoyed the clam chowder. Garlic aioli with the truffle fries was good (warning, strong garlic) but was not as wild about the fries themselves. Seems to me truffle fries don't need a seasoning coating. Fries were crispy and warm. Good prices. Entrees for $12. I would eat here again, would be nice if they good take some grease out of food, though.

After being seated outside, we were ignored by waitstaff for at least 20 minutes despite the place not being very busy and there were muliple waitstaff walking around. Seemed super disorganized. Happy we decided to leave because we walked over to the beautiful beer garden at Great Dane and enjoyed wonderful service, ambiance, food, and drinks.

The bartender with a red snapback and red jersey on the night of 2/7/2026 at around 12:30AM claimed i was underage even though I was 23 and presented a real id. He was super misogynistic and rude. Clearly staff was not trained to properly read ids and on top of that was not trained to provide quality service to customers. Super disappointed as a customer who had to contemplate calling the cops in order to enjoy this bar. Will not be ever be entering this establishment again. Again I provided a legal id, which I would expect an established restaurant/bar to be able to interpret a real id to a fake id which is pretty embarrassing to get wrong and accuse a legal customer of being underage. If I was A tipsy cow bar manager I would fire this bartender immediately as he was going The rudest, most incompetent bartender I have ever came across. Do better.

This review is solely based on the bar area of Tipsy Cow! After grabbing dinner around the corner at The Old Fashioned, we were after a night cap in the area and stumbled upon The Tipsy Cow. The main entrance takes you into the dining area, but we entered the side entrance which places you directly in the bar area, which was perfect for us! Both areas are connected through a small hallway, but they both have their own vibe. We bellied up to the bar and ordered a few cocktails. The bartender was super friendly and made a great gin and tonic! We didn't get any food, but those giant chocolate cookies looked delicious! Overall, super chill spot for a cocktail in downtown Madison. Happy to swing back through on my next visit!

Me and a coworker stopped by here after searching for open places after a late work event. The interior of the restaurant/bar had a rustic, mid-western aesthetic with interesting decor and a local bar vibe. The staff that we met were super welcoming and offered tidbits on what to order. We ended up going with the alligator bites, fried cheese curds, pretzels (with a whole grain mustard sauce and a cheese sauce), and a grilled cheese. Overall, it was great bar food. I'd gotten a mango margarita mocktail which was refreshing and tart. The alligator bites were definitely interesting but pretty good, somewhere a mix between a tougher flaky fish texture wise. The cheese curds were a hit and the grilled cheese was also yum. The pretzels were also great and the cheese and mustard sauces were a good hit if you like that flavor profile!

We were trying to decide where to go for my birthday and came across the yelp listing for The Tipsy Cow. We had only been at the downtown location once since moving here a few years ago and just hadn't made it back. When I checked out the menu, seeing goat cheese on the list caught my attention. The me u was full of things that our family of 5 would like so I said I know where we are going. My husband and I had apple margaritas, which were tasty. I had the smoked salmon grill cheese, my husband had a spicy Korean sandwich. One kid had a brisket grilled cheese, another ham and cheese, and an other had a goat burger. Everything was delicious and being able to sit on the patio was a bonus. We will definitely be back

ALL I could hear when I walked into this Madison must-have is Tommy Boy. Like legit, Chris Farley was speaking from wherever he is saying-- "God, you're gonna remember this the rest of your life. Can't believe you've never been cow tipping before. Get ready to live." (Yes, I know tipping a cow is far different than a tipsy one... but with a little modification, this could be its motto.) Needless to say, Chris was not wrong. I could see this being my hangout if were to move to Madison. The Tipsy Cow isn't trying too hard. It's a fabulous watering hole in the shadow of the Capitol. It boasts a great patio, friendly staff, rotating tap and plethora of cocktails. We popped in for Happy Hour on a Monday. Absolutely no complaints here! Honestly, I was mad we didn't grab a bite to eat. The menu looks bomb dot com with a dozen or so appetizer options (including alligator bites and goat cheese curds)... and then burritos, tacos, salads, soups, mac n cheese options and more, The Tipsy Cow has something for everyone. The Tipsy Cow doesn't disappoint.

O.M.G this place was delicious!! To start the vibes are on point such a fun and cute place, music was great & love the decor! The service was quick, but someone in my group had an order get mixed up and it was very quickly resolved! So service was quick and very very nice. My asparagus and egg sandwich was one of the best things I have ever eaten, it was amazing i'm talking 10/10 perfect it was truly like so so good. Will be coming back when i'm back in Madison!!!

So yummy! First time here. They had specials and I got the poutine grilled cheese (fries, cheese curds, gravy and grilled onions) and a steak sandwich.

Fresh food and great selection for kids. Love the crunchy fries. Decor is hip with lots of interesting knick-knacks. Service was excellent.

In town for a wedding and was a recommendation. 6 of us for a late dinner. Excellent service, good service and fair prices. An enjoyable experience

Just a great place to have really good drink and bar food on Madison's Capitol Square, on a balmy Friday night. We needed to find a place to eat and drink for the four of us and a dog, on our visit to Madison. There are quite a few restaurants with open air dining on the Square, so I suggested a place that none of us had gone before. When we got to the Tipsy Cow around 7, it was fairly busy but there were many open tables in the sidewalk dining area, so was confident that the wait wouldn't be too long. We were quoted 30 minutes for a table of 4 outside, and ended up only waiting 15. The restaurant uses an automated waitlist so can use the link sent to your phone to see where you are in line. The tables outside are spaced far enough apart to allow dogs to comfortably sit their owners. We were brought menus and waters, and given time to peruse the two page menu. Most places in Madison have Spotted Cow Ale on tap, so we ordered two pints ($5 each which is a great price) and Loon Juice Hard Cider ($6). I haven't had any Spotted Cow for eight years, so that first big sip made me very, very happy and set the tone for the rest of the dinner. The cheese curd appetizer ($10) was a must when first eating in Wisconsin, and didn't surprise. It came with two dipping sauces and had been made with fresh curds so was the right amount of chewy and stringey, with a good light batter. It's quite a bit better than what you can get at Culver's which is what people outside of Wisconsin are used to. We also got an asparagus app ($8), which came with 7 big pieces of asparagus that have been grilled over and drizzled with some light mayo dressing and black and white sesame seeds. My wife really liked it. My wife and future SiL ordered the Friday fish fry with Walleye ($16 each), which came with French fries, cole slaw, rye bread and two types of sauce. Both came with a very big piece of expertly battered, deep fried fish. It just puts other fish and chips meals outside of Wisconsin to shame. The fries were not great (probably the only thing not good in our meal), limp and greasy. But the cole slaw was fresh and zingey. My daughter got the 1X1 cheeseburger, using Knoche's beef ($10) and 3 year old cheddar with topped grilled onions. The bun was very soft (squishy), and she said she really enjoyed it. Knoche's was a local butcher shop that closed during the pandemic, but still provides very high quality meat to consumers and businesses. I also noticed that they use Nueske's smoked bacon, which my wife and I think is the best bacon out there. I got two shareable dishes: bowl of tipsy chili ($8) - excellent...I could eat two bowls of this with some bread and call it a very satisfying meal. Memphis Tots ($8) - never had this before, but it was a very popular dish with the table. It was great as -is (with a generous amount of the memphis dry rub seasoning), but also great dipped in the chili. It was very crispy, maybe even overly deep-fried, but it was great for us. The total for the 4 of us was $96, before tip. We laughed since this meal would have cost at least $200 in California and wouldn't have been as good (don't order walleye anywhere outside of the Midwest). We got to enjoy summer eating outside in Madison. And because it was the right amount, we still had space to get the best ice cream at the nearby Memorial Union.

A must stop when visiting Madison. Excellent cheese curds and burgers. So many great options to choose from and I always struggle on what to order. But you can't go wrong with the burger and cheese curds. The burger is heavy and juicy with some good cheese curds you'll be full for sure afterwards. Service is always great no matter when you go. Staff is friendly. Even if you have a short trip you gotta eat here especially for the cheese curds. One of the best I had so far

I took out lunch from here on a weekday. I took out a couple of sandwiches - spicy steak sandwich and korean beef sandwich. Both were excellent and super flavorful. Because ribeye was used, sandwich had a lot of beef fat which I loved. Sandwiches came nicely packed in aluminum boxes, which were aestetically pleasing as well as retained the heat for a long time.

Right off the downtown Madison capital square. They have patio seating, bar seating, and a separate dining area. The raspberry mule was AMAZING and my alligator bites were so good and tender. My friend was with and got the burger special and said that was also very good! Prices were not unreasonable. Good spot!

Love the food and beer here. The waitress was super friendly and very attentive. We sat outside on a very pretty spring Wisconsin day. Love this place!!!

As someone who doesn't eat beef, a good alternative burger is rare to find. This lamb burger is splendid, great quality meat and good flavors in the dish overall. Need to come back ASAP!

My last night in town, this was an unplanned choice. A lively, nay, raucous bar scene of young-ish folks living the life. My cute pixie bartender was super cheerful and welcoming. I went all in and ordered the walleye sandwich. I think, once upon a time, walleye was somewhat common, if seasonal, as a CNY fish fry choice, but it seems almost extinct, as haddock is king. I have to say, walleye and cod both throw shade at haddock. This fillet -skin on, but I'm totally cool with that- had a perfect beer batter coating, was light and flaky inside, and the chipotle mayo and fancy slaw window dressing were a nice uplift. As my mom used to say whenever she got a particularly big tail order at our local fish fry stand, "ooh! It's so big!". see the accompanying pic to assure yourself this isn't hyperbole. A nice half order of curds, a couple a' pickles (I wouldn't have minded more), a Spotted Cow, and then a Leinie Shandy, because at this point, I'm all in on all things Wisconsin.

Fast service and good food downtown. My favorite Bloody Mary on the square though! Dinner specials are usually a good choice also

We stopped here after a bike ride just because it was in the thick of things in Madison. We sat outside and ate lunch (Bacon Guacamole Grill Cheese and Guacamole Bacon Burger), our server was really good, the location is great, and the food came out hot and delicious.

There were 4 of us wandering around Madison trying the most recommended items from the servers at each stop. I love when the waiters/waitress just get it, hop on board, help us get the item cut in 4, bring the check, and root us on. Just great service for a short stop. This is my favorite burger place in Madison, I have personally eaten here but my guests have not and they agree... most flavorful burger they've tried. It's a cool little bar tavern perfect for a night out with friends.

Food was AMAZING!!, we got the lamb burgers and I thought was the best ever, onions rings cook to perfection , love everything!!

The location is cute and well-decorated, although I imagine it gets a little cramped when busy. The food is good and reasonably priced, although the burgers and sandwiches do not come with sides. I had the mushroom swiss burger which was quite good, albeit nothing mindblowing. I don't drink, but it seems like a great place to find local craft beer if that's your thing!

Very unfriendly and grumpy hostess, who somehow managed not to assign a server to our table. After about 15 minutes, we finally asked a passing server if she could help us. She was very helpful and friendly, apologized for the long wait and took the appetizers off our tab. The exact opposite of the hostess. Fried shrimp and goat-cheese curds were fantastic. Fried walleye sandwich was huge, but a bit heavy on the batter. lamb burger was very interesting with a strong lamb flavor. Plain cheeseburgers were also decent.

The food was alright. It took our server 30 minutes to greet us and get us our drinks because she was too busy talking with her friends at another table. Boyfriend had one of the hamburgers and the bun was soaked in grease. Would give this place a 7/10. It's more suited for drunk college students.

First time here. We had a total of 4 people they said there was going to be a wait but then found a spot outside and split us up into 2 tables. I asked if they could just put the tables together and she said no it would be blocking. Finally got a table when people were leaving. The waiter that we had was ok the food was go

There are many things to consider when it comes to fried cheese curds. How does the cheese stretch? How crunchy? What was used to batter the curds - beer, vodka? What is the sauce it comes with? In my opinion, Tipsy Cow has the best fried cheese curds. The Spotted Cow beer batter is perfection. The consistency of cheese went well with the outer batter. Came out quickly and hot. And goat cheese curds are offered for a couple dollars more. They were melt in your mouth goodness with a side of ranch! So worth it. We also tried the lamb burger which was amazing. Came topped with bacon. Would definitely come back to try more items in the menu. They have a good system for getting a table. They take your number, and you're sent a link with updates on your status on the waiting list. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Requesting a seat at the bar can possibly get you in faster.

I went here with friends before a show and none of us were super impressed. There are some vegetarian options, but I was disappointed that they didn't have a black bean patty or other vegetarian alternative for the sandwiches/burgers. I ended up getting the asparagus & egg sandwich and it was very bland and underwhelming. My friends and I also got the alligator bites to share, and they were nothing to write home about either. Our server was friendly and the restaurant had a pretty standard bar & grill-type vibe. I would be willing to try Tipsy Cow again in the future to see if other menu items might be better, but I'm not eager to go back any time soon.

overall pretty good, atmosphere is pretty relaxed, good for a casual date night. cheese curds were good but a little bland (can get half sizes for most appetizers) and the burger is solid a little greasy but nothing too bad. The service is great and everyone is pretty nice

This is one of my husband's favorite hang out spots. Since he works downtown, he is in walking proximity on the daily. I previously had only been during a Saturday night, years ago. I finally had the chance to spend some time there to eat and drink. I had the grilled cheese with a cup of tomato soup. The soup was very thick, but it got the job done. I had a summer special drink Mind Your Bees-ness. Do you have your choice of making it spicy sweet or sweet. The hibiscus liqueur gave the drink a certain je ne sais quoi. My husband had his go to,the Korean beef sandwich. I took one bite and understood why he always gets it. The combination of the perfectly spiced beef with pickled vegetables and Sriracha mayo is unspeakably tasty! I am looking forward to my next visit there!

All the food is incredible but the fish tacos are my favorite. The burgers are incredible! tomato soup is another favorite! The atmosphere is fun and energizing. He could never go wrong going to the Tipsy!

I went with my family here and it was simply amazing I had the gyro fries which had the perfect balance of veggies meat and sauce. And there is a sandwich or burger for everyone s different taste. Our food came out very quickly very nice employees. The ambiance was very cozy and very friendly.

Great service- super friendly. Yummy tacos & fun place to sit outside and enjoy a meal

Solid bar in downtown Madison - my wife and I were exploring the area & decided to stop by for some beers. They have a good selection of beverages but I optioned for some Moon Man. We also ordered their goat cheese curds and they were some of the best curds. Our bartender was very friendly and we enjoyed chatting with him. I'll be back when in Madison!

Really great wait staff, even on a busy day. Really a good tipsy burger and really good patty melt. Also the goat and regular cheese curds are really tasty.

Staff was so welcoming and accommodating we came back again for dinner during our trip. Food was delicious and there was no shortage of great beer to choose from. Chloe was our server and she was outstanding - so much so we requested her again on our next dinner. Good vibes, food and drinks -- definitely a great casual dinner spot! The Patty Melt was 10/10

The experience at The tipsy Cow is literally what I've been craving for some time! Amazing food, prompt and efficient. Amazing food the gyro fries were phenomenal, the lamb burger was so good we ordered one to go too & the patty melt was superb. Great space with excellent music, the decor was unique and extremely fitting and wisconsinish!! I'd give this place a 10 star rating if I could! We definitely will be back because there's sooo many things on the menu I wanna try

The tipsy cow was recommended to us by local who said that this was a good place to go with friends. So we went. The goal was to enjoy some good burgers but also cheese curds since 3 of my friends (there were five of us) never tried cheese curds. When we walked in the waitress was kind enough to get us a seat at the table and give us menus. I think her name is Peyton. Looking at the appetizers, we were all excited for the cheese curds, but we also discovered fried pickles and I was in the mood for chicken wings so we ordered all of it. When the appetizers arrived, we all went for the cheese curds it was so good! Surprisingly, my friends have never tried deep-fried pickles. My one friend said he does not like pickles at all but after trying these deep fried pickles, they're his new favorite! Everybody loved them. During our appetizer feast, we finally put in our order for our burgers. Not too long after our burgers arrived with our fries, tator tots, and guess what else? More cheese curds! My burger was cooked perfectly medium rare, it was juicy and flavorful. Everything was delicious and our waitress did a fine job taking care of us. If you're in Madison and looking for a great burger, place and some good cheese curds come check this place out. Njoy!

The Tipsy Cow is a nice little establishment near the Madison capitol building. Friendly staff and decent prices for a downtown place. The curds are a staple, so be sure to give them a try!

Best burgers in Madison! Staff is amazing and super friendly. Cool laid back ambiance.

Good food and service. Energetic atomosphere. Easy meeting spot, bar is a decent size to wait for an available table. Always on the list of places to wait around the capitol.

My sister and I sat on the patio and waited over 20 minutes just to get water. The one waitress working outside completely ignored us after we asked for the check--we ended up having to go inside to the bar and pay ourselves. Meanwhile, at least four employees stood around inside doing nothing while people outside waited forever for basic service. We watched another couple who had been seated before us leave in frustration after being ignored for over 20 minutes--they weren't even offered water. Absolutely awful service: slow, disorganized, and completely unresponsive. Total shame because the food and drinks are delicious. Be better!