Tornado Steak House

Classic Atmosphere, Great Service, and Delicious Steak Walking into Tornado Steak House feels like stepping back in time in the best way. The low ceilings and timeless decor give it a cozy, vintage charm. The bar was active and inviting, with two sharp-dressed bartenders working smoothly and smiling the whole time. They seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves, which set a great tone—so we decided to join the fun and have dinner at the bar. The atmosphere was relaxed, tidy, and welcoming. I ordered a steak and really enjoyed it—cooked just right and full of flavor. But the standout surprise was the bread—it was excellent. Honestly, I’d go back just for more of that. A great spot with character, solid food, and a staff that makes you feel right at home.

The Tornado Steak House cooked the best steak I have ever had in my entire life! I am a steak guy for sure but I’m not willing to pay an arm and a leg for the better steaks out there. So, I ordered the biggest and cheapest steak I could which was the 16 oz. Sirloin and it was just amazing! I can’t imagine what the best cuts of steak taste like here. My steak was cooked just right being perfectly tender and juicy. Everything else I had was great as well but it was all about the steak here. I will say I ate here twice while on my trip and each time it took a good while between ordering my food and getting it. No joke it took about a hour each time. Thank you to Tornado Steak House for serving me the best steak I have ever had.

I decided to check this local steakhouse out for a work trip. Nice atmosphere and vibe for Madison but the wait was so long. The host literally forgot about us but no worry there. Got some juicy steak but flavor can be better and kind plain dish without too much sauce options. Overall, I like the food but service can be better considering this is pricey for a steak. And bread can be much better too

This one was packed on a Monday night, so I guess it has a very high credit among everyone. But I can’t tell I really like the steak I got a fillet and it was dry. It came with mushroom sauce, but it wasn’t enough sauce. They also took very long to bring out the food so I don’t see the hype but it was still good.

Our work booked a room for our group of 18 and it was such a fun experience. The rooms are darker but lit appropriately with candles and soft lighting surrounding the walls. Our servers were very conscientious, always trying to cater to any request or desire. The food was remarkable. Between the rack of lamb or the 16oz New York steak, it was all made to perfection. They brought out bread starter baskets with four different types. All seemingly made fresh and warm. The cocktails were made with elegance and a touch of fun to keep things professional but also fun. Will be returning here as soon as possible for a lovely date night. Get a reservation soon!

I’ve been to the Tornado Room many times and I’ve never had a bad experience. The meal was delicious! I had the T-Bone steak with hash browns. The steak was cooked perfectly and the spices were just right. The hash browns were crispy and flavorful. The service was impeccable. Kudos to the wait staff! However, the gold star goes to the stars of the show: the cooks. From the relish to the bread, everything was perfect. I can’t wait to go back. Thanks Tornado Room! You do not disappoint!

One of the most pleasurable dining experiences in Madison. Super cool atmosphere, incredible service and my steak was cooked and seasoned PERFECTLY. The shrimp, French onion soup and wedge salad were also super good but the sleeper here was the pineapple upside down cake! OMG! TO DIE FOR!

Ah the Tornado Room. I have so many pleasant memories here and have always been so impressed with the quality of service and wonderful food, including their late night service. We recently visited for our wedding anniversary and had lovely steak, salmon, bread, king crab soup (unbelievably good) chocolate cake and more! They make a great old fashioned too. Only thing - maybe wouldn’t get the fries next time unless they are the late night batch. Will definitely be going back and continues to hold a special place in my heart!

Let me first preference this and say that I don't live in Madison and I only come to Madison a couple times a year for work. But every time I come to Madison I eat here. So the first time I went to this steak house I thought I was walking into some 1970's mobster establishment and someone named Little Franky is going to take me out to the back. Once you get over the fear of getting whacked, you can enjoy the food. Their wines and meat selection are great. I go to steak houses throughout the US and the Tornado Room is within my top 5 steak houses. I now only order the the 14oz filet, and I get it rare as can be. The filet is prepared well and the cut is great. People I go with talk about the sides being great, but all I eat is this amazing steak. Also the pricing is not bad at all. This 14oz filet is like $50 and in other large cities this would be double or triple that. This filet is so good, I would not hesitate paying $150+ for it. To wrap this up, you cannot go wrong eating here. The decor makes you feel like Tony Soprano might be at the bar but the food is Amazing!

Best booty call in town -- still never a walk-of-shame after at least a dozen hookups with the steak sandwich from the late-night* menu. No matter what you order for your main, get the French onion soup first, hashbrowns as your side chick (or make granny proud and eat your sprouts or asparagus). For cocktails, stick to the classics from the bar (a martini, manhattan or old fashioned will never let you down). *Late night in Madison-speak means kitchen open past 10. Even here, get your ass seated before midnight lest it's Paul's Pel'meni (yes), Taco Bell (no), or go to bed hungry (never)

The service was absolutely great, ambience was awesome as well, the food was great but overpriced for people used to dining in supper clubs throughout Wisconsin. Over $13.50 for a brandy old-fashioned , We both had a drink and appetizer and split a meal and it still ended up $111. Guess we're just country bumpkin types.

This weekend was my first time in Madison, I came for a conference and had plans to go out for dinner and a night on the town. I didn't make it farther than a dinner at Tornado. Why? Their food was too good and TOO FILLING we had to go back to the hotel to sleep it off. At least now I have no choice but to come back to Madison to spend a proper couple days exploring... and probably return to Tornado. DRINKS: - Mid-Century Modern: I don't like gin but I feel like every time it's mixed with elderflower, it's yummy! - Whiskey Tango Foxtrot: this was super sweet yet also super strong, I only tasted the sweet but the two others in my group said it was very strong - Tornado Manhattan: (not sure if this was the name of it) but a very solid standard manhattan FOOD: let me preface this that their portions are GIANT and incredibly well priced. - Escargots 9/10: if it's on the menu, i'm getting it. It was my friend's first time trying it and he loved it! Flavoring of it was just the right about of buttery salty - Frog Legs 9/10: breaded/fried and rested in a honey glaze sauce, they always just taste like tender chicken wings to me, and I love chicken wings so that says it all. - French Onion Soup 9/10: Softttt healthy serving of cheese over the soup which was very hearty and warmed my soul up - 28oz Ribeye on the Bone 9/10: I swear the bone was not included in the 28oz because my partner and I split and we were only able to finish half each. Got it as rare+ and it was so delicious/tender/juicy. It was ... 2-3 inches thick and probably the size of my hand, and that was HALF the dish!!! Got the hash brown and asparagus as sides. Other dishes I was debating and plan to try next time are the duck breast, venison and rack of lamb. Already thinking of my next visit VIBE: Highly recommend reservations! We got so lucky on a saturday night at prime dinner time with no reservations. We waited about 5 minutes and 3 seats happened to open up at the bar. They look like they may be short staffed though because there were a lot of empty tables? Very dim lighting and supper club-esque.

If you're craving an unforgettable steakhouse experience, **Tornado Room Steak House** is the place to be! From the moment you step in, the cozy, vintage ambiance sets the mood for an extraordinary dining experience. I ordered the steak au Poivre and it was nothing short of perfection. Cooked exactly to my liking, the steak was juicy, tender, and full of flavor--one of the best I've had in Madison! The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, making great recommendations for both food and drinks. Speaking of drinks, their cocktail menu is top-notch, and their dirty martini was expertly crafted. The Tornado Room's intimate, classic steakhouse vibe makes it ideal for special occasions or a romantic date night. It's no wonder they have such a great reputation in the area. Highly recommend making a reservation because this place fills up quickly--and for good reason! Whether you're a steak lover or just looking for a memorable dining experience, Tornado Room is a must-visit!

We haven't been to the Tornado Steak house for years and were in the mood for a good steak so here we are. We lucked out and got seats at the bar so waited in comfort with some well made cocktails! This is one bar where the bartenders really know how to make a Manhattan and do it fast. It is pricy at $13 bucks a pop but that's the going rate on high end cocktails these days. The steak I got was an excellent 28 oz bone in ribeye for $72 dollars but it came with a great wedge salad and hash browns which made it a good value. Well sort of. My wife had a filet and caesar salad which was equally good. Everything was cooked perfectly and the food came in a reasonable time frame.. The evening came with a big price tag but we only do it around once a year and it was worth it. There are a couple of other steak places around but they kill you with the price of the sides which I hate. This was a truly an excellent dining experience.

Great night at the Tornado! It wasn't my first visit but we had a large party this time. Our server handled our table well. It was loud in restaurant as we were in a back room with 3 other larger parties but I think that is a lot of the charm. Our food was wonderful. We all had steaks and hash browns. I highly suggest the wedge salad. Was awesome!

I finally got to try the famous Tornado Steak House! After hearing rave reviews, I was thrilled when my friends and I managed to snag a table for 6 one late night. Although there's no online reservation option, it was well worth the effort! Late-night diners get treated to a special menu, and I indulged in their steak sandwich and fries. Everything was absolutely delicious--the fries were crispy and perfectly seasoned, and the steak sandwich was exceptional. I'll definitely be back, especially for the late-night menu.

I haven't gone for a proper dinner yet, but their late night menu is everything. I never knew how much I'd love a steak sandwich until I tried theirs. Best part, I've never had to wait for a seat and food comes out fast

My date's bone in fillet was horrible. My Steak Diane was very tough and overly seasoned with mustard. I could not eat it. I was a little surprised that the wait staff seen I only took a bite and didn't inquire if there was anything wrong with it. Especially when I did not want a to go box. It is sad that the steak there has become cheaper quality, but yet still highly overpriced. Someone suggested that I take the money I spent on that bad meal and give it to a charity. I give a lot of money to charity, and I don't think there's anything wrong with me expecting a nice meal for what I paid.

I have been there for dinner on a week day. I went without reservation, but was able to get a seat in the bar. The first thing kept on my table was a complimentary set of veggies, which was an innovative thing to do. The complimentary bread was warm and nice as well. For my entree I went with Filet au poivre. It was a nice thick steak. It was very tender. Some extra flavor would have been better though. Hash brown side was good as well. The french onion soup was super flavorful and cheesy. May be that is my favorite item here.

This is Madison's go-to supper club. It isn't my style because the inside is very dark and cramped. If you need a little more space to dine then this isn't for you. We only had escargot that was brought out to us before the bread. The garlic butter was great for dipping bread in, once it arrived. Just a quick stop and moved on to something more comfortable.

Came here for my birthday today. The food and service were amazing!! I love the prime rib. My husband had the crab legs. They were huge!! Well worth the money you pay.

I have been coming to Madison for many years and have often been told of the phenomenal steak that is at the Tornado Room. I finally had the chance to see it and experience the food, ambiance, and excellent service. The taste, presentation and overall experience was tantamount to when one has their first amazing steak experience. 12/10 would come back. It's great, I have no complaints.

Came here for a team dinner and it was amazing. We each got steaks, and shared a bunch of sides. The service was phenomenal. We never had to ask for a refill, or for napkins and the food was paced so well that we never had an empty plate. Highly recommend for a large team meal.

I ate here for dinner at the recommendation of a work colleague. I arrived to the restaurant with reservations. I was seated after a brief wait. I stated with a Spotted Cow IPA while reviewing the menu. The menu had many steaks to choose from but I chose the house special which was the 20 oz. bone-in tenderloin. I ordered that with the hash browns and spinach salad with bacon and balsamic. The spinach salad was great as the bacon took it to the next level! I was disappointed when I saw many entrée plate as both the steak and hash browns appeared to be burned. I ordered the steak medium and the hash browns extra crispy. I cut into the steak and it was cooked medium well on the inside and was charred on the outside. The bone was a significant portion of the 20 oz. as I ate the steak with no problem. Unfortunately, my hash browns were burned throughout. The service was good here and the restaurant had a nice ambiance but I was stumped when I was told this was the best steak that Madison had to offer. The food price and the food quality earned this place a 2.5 star rating.

Came here for a wedding anniversary and I wasn't disappointed. Supper club steak house feel. Very small and comfortable restaurant. I'll come back with my boys when they're a little older and can enjoy and nice steak meal!

Had to update my review after we visited recently. We sat at the bar this time and that's why I'm adding a star. The bartenders were friendly and on top of things. The bar area is cool and laid-back. Very comfortable seating and everyone was having a good time and relaxed. My husband and I both ordered drinks, which were expertly made. I had the shrimp cocktail and my husband had the French onion soup. We both enjoyed our dishes. We would've ordered more but we were headed to watch basketball and eat dinner someplace else. The price didn't break the bank. Definitely consider a drink and app instead of the full-blown dining experience!

We celebrated our 7-year anniversary here, and everything was absolutely delicious. I ordered the 8oz filet, which was cooked to perfection, and my partner chose the 28oz rib eye -- it was HUGE! For the price, the portions were generous, and every bite was amazing. We sat in one of the booths by the bar, which offered a cozy yet lively ambiance with dark, intimate lighting. The service was excellent from start to finish. Highly recommend!

Extraordinary environment with delicious food and great service! The tenderloin was perfectly cooked and the crab bisque was delectable. Would definitely return back to try many other delicious meats and sides.

Service and ambiance are always wonderful. Even on busy nights I've never been disappointed. Sometimes food can be hit or miss, I've had really great meals here. The portions are always very generous which seems rare for a steakhouse like this. Drinks are always great as well as sides / appetizers.

You can feel the soul in this place. Great TBone, great staff (even in a snow storm 1/13/24) & a unique building close to the capital. Highly recommend Thanks Tornado

Been a few times while living in Madison for 2 years and always a great experience. Food is delicious, they even were able to split things so we could share easily and try a few different things. Had the lamb and it was huge, cooked perfectly. Also the scallops as a starter and they were so creamy and melt in your mouth. The dim lighting and antique decor really makes the place special and intimate. Waiters are always attentive and knowledgeable on the the menu.

Food was amazing! The waiter even split our order for us and gave us separate plates. Drinks were great. A little dark but it is. Supper club.

Really loved my experience here for valentines day in 2023. 2024 was more mixed. No anchovies on Caesar which was disappointing. Prefer the the ribeye to the house cut bone in fillet (?). Thats just on me, cook on the steak was good. Bread and butter were excellent and piping hot. Shrimp cocktail was good, shrimp were a little tough. Didn't love the duck. Sauce running across the plate looked like the duck was bleeding out its juices. Lobster tail was okay. I think the company that owns tornado and tempest do really good work. I feel now really certain now that if you want seafood, just get it at tempest since they always nail. And stick to red meat at tornado.

Server was kind, bread was good，that is why still 1 star instead of 0. But for the steak.... I would say... Is the kitchen located in the Dead Sea?I have wait for sooooo long and the steak was too salty Is it someone who cooked it grabbed the salt from the Dead Sea? And that guy never save the salt cause no need to pay for it！！！

Tornado definitely has an old school speakeasy kind of vibe with cherry stained paneling & beams, leather banquet seating in the bar area & dark red hued lighting in the bar. The restaurant side has more traditional steakhouse low lighting. JD, our server, was a welcoming & solicitous as could be imagined. He welcomed us & informed us of the specials. He then took our drink orders & left us to consider our options. We ordered the special NE clam chowder x 2, 1/2 dozen oysters & Caesar salad to share. The chowder was exceptional & we have enjoyed it throughout New England for decades! I ordered the bone in ribeye & my son ordered the rack of lamb. The rib-eye was as excellent as I'd hoped for. Nice crust. Perfect cook & well seasoned. The ribeye is served with a large, perfectly executed portion of hash browns that were irresistible! My son was not expecting the lamb to be breaded & found it not very flavorful. JD quickly swapped it for a NY sirloin which was delicious. We really enjoyed our visit & highly recommend a visit. Tornado strongly suggests reservations, so you might want to?

We went here for New Year celebration and were so delighted to welcome the new year here. We got seated in the basement and loved it. It gave me the 1920 vibes, so cool and so quiet. Of course, we got steak and it was delicious. We also got a king crab bisque and it was so good. I never had crab bisque before and was happy with the experience. Overall, we loved the atmosphere and the foods. Our waiter was super friendly and attentive. Highly recommended this place.

Great food and old school super club vibe to it. My daughter had the fillet and I had the rack of lamb. Both cooked to perfection

Got the 28 oz bone in steak. It was cooked pretty Inconsistently throughout. The bartender with the beard was devoid of personality or patience. We met some nice people there that bump this up to a 3 star....even though it had nothing to do with the experience provided by the restaurant.

Incredible meal. Probably the best steak I've had in a restaurant. Service was great, as was the complimentary bread. Caesar salad and wedge salad were even great too. Definitely get the hashbrowns as your side. Generous portions for the price too; we all got multiple meals out of it.

I have only been for the late night menu, which is very reasonably priced (served late night after dinner service is complete). I think they make the best dirty martinis in Madison. The ambiance is great and the service is always good. The back room can be a little noisy but the bar area is great.

I've been to the tornado room several times now. Each time I go I'm never disappointed. The food is so good, especially for the price point. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu! During dinner service you receive fresh baked bread & crudités. Your main will usually include a choice of soup or salad. Be sure to save room for dessert! What makes the tornado room extra special is its late night menu. Most of the prices are half priced compared to the dinner menu. Not to mention they have their fabulous steak sandwich! It's a must! They also have soup, salad, appetizers, sides, and I believe one or two steaks available on their late night menu as well. Their late night ambience is more casual which was perfect when you're starving after a concert. Quick and lovely service as always, even during their late night hours. Tornado Room will always be one of my favorite restaurants in Madison. If you've been looking for a sign to try it out, this is it!

After 6 months. Had to come back. Once again, it was a phenomenal dinner. This time I started with the "soup du jour" being crab bisque. So good. Unique in that it wasn't chocked full of cream but still had chunks of crab, egg, and veggies. The duck will never get old. It's a really nice portion. And really the only time I enjoy a protein without other sides with it. The way they do seating sucks for walk-ins though. I tried 3 different times to make a reservation. They don't even have voicemail working, so you have to call during restaurant hours. The old host guy is borderline rude as well. Not my cup of tea.

This place was phenomenal. We couldn't get reservations until 9:15pm but that was alright bc we just took in a women's college vb game. You cannot skip this place if you love steaks. I've been to many great chop houses in Chicago and NYC but this place beats them in price, taste and ambience. So old school and so amazing. We got the oysters Rockefeller, ribeye and tbone with hash browns and the clam chowder for a party of three. We could not finish. Love this place would definitely come back again.

This location is going viral on social media and I know why!! I arrived with my family and the staff seated us but they never came back! They are racist and the drinks are watered down. If you are black do not eat here The white patrons came in after we did and had their food and drinks. They just left my beautiful black family sitting there until we walked out. This is a whites only establishment. They just don't put the sign up on the front door like they did in the 1950's!! Do not recommend and they have 5 health violations!! Dirty and disgusting.

Wow! The filet is absolutely amazing- cooked perfectly, seasoned perfectly, perfectly tender. The wedge salad and bread were also phenomenal. The service was always prompt, thorough, and extremely helpful in selecting an option. But the atmosphere is truly what makes Tornado a hit. It has that Wisconsin supper club vibe that is comforting yet elevated.

I have to go 5 stars even though I didn't like my steak that much. We had a wonderful dinner and I'll just assume I got unlucky. I've been here before and found the filet amazing. This time it was quite tough. (More like a sirloin from Outback than a filet from a good steak house.) But everything else was spot-on. Our server was super friendly and helpful. The bread was warm and so tasty. The french onion soup good and cheesy, the wedge salad - great dressing, nice and crispy-cold. The hash browns - oh yeah. Perfect! We didn't get dessert but now I regret not getting some to go. Great date!

Service was excellent. We came on Valentine's Day and our server was hustling. Brandon, cheers to you. The food was excellent, unfortunately, we came at 7pm on a holiday and they were already out of the special. Seemed a little weird that they didn't anticipate it being so popular. Either way, we enjoyed the meal. Fun tip, fill out the postcard they give you at the end with your bill and they will mail it! Fun memento of your dining experience.

We went for a drink on a Wednesday night. The ambiance is great - it's very dark, cool, vintage. The service was good and staff were all kind and friendly. We tried the cheese curds and I probably would skip them next time and return for steak

Fabulous birthday supper For my 64th birthday I was treated to a delicious steak dinner. French onion soup was delicious. Wedge salad perfect with the crudités. Fresh bread. Ginger mock tail was perfect. Then the New York strip steak with baked potato. All done perfectly. Ended the meal with a huge piece of chocolate cake with whipped cream. Our server John was very attentive and didn't miss a beat. I give 5 stars.

Probably the best all around steakhouse in Madison. Steaks are amazing. Value is very reasonable and the atmosphere is outstanding. Mixing a nostalgic yet upscale ambiance.

Tornado; where Mad Men go to dine. To be clear, we are a family of foodies who plan trips at home and abroad around restaurants, and have literally eaten at many of the best restaurants world wide. So when I suggest you should make a beeline to Tornado consider the source. Simply finding the correct entrance is an adventure, and walking inside, once you can actually see the interior, slams you right back to the late 50's. You walk through the dark bar, past banquets and down a dimly lit hallway to a set of dark velvet curtains. There you will find the host station and be guided through an interconnected labyrinth to your table. You can almost smell the decades of cigar smoke in the air. Presented with the brief menu you can chose steaks, steaks, a variety of red meat proteins, or a single fish. Please, you know why you are here. The 24 Oz bone in rib-eye is the obvious choice, though they lie and it is actually an unfathomable 32-34 Oz of coronary clogging pleasure. Simply seasoned and seared under a molten hot South Bend Range broiler, these cover the plate with a crispy crust and fork tender rare interior. Paired with "Hash Browns" cooked in individual pans with beef tallow, you might just consider texting your cardiologist for a walk-in the following week. To cut it short, there are none better. The best kept secret? Order the Venison Loin. Not only the best I've ever had, but in a size one person can actually eat without a case of "meat sweats". Is there better food elsewhere? You bet. Are there places with more innovative, cutting edge cuisine? Obviously. Is there any places else that are as true to itself than Tornado? Very few. It's a pretty much the definition of an Upper Midwest Supper Club. Go there and suspend all disbelief.

Loved this place. The vibe was perfect. Loved the cool front door and the old supper club feel. Went with a group of 8. Service was great. Ordered the filet which was good but my husbands was ribeye was awesome. The seasoning was out of this world. Escargot was one of the best I have ever had. Unfortunately I would not order the shrimp cocktail again. It was chewy. Craft cocktails were amazing. Get the manhattan.

We had our conference dinner here and the food was outstanding. The fillet was cooked to perfection and so tender. The people who had the lamb were so impressed with the preparation that we were going to go back. Our servers were efficient and accommodating to our needs. The room and music added to the atmosphere of our gathering.

My sister and I were in Madison for a couple of days. We were not having a particularly great day, and decided to walk across the street from our hotel to The Tornado Steak House. Oh my goodness was that a great idea. That place is on point. We got a table, and were greeted by JD, our waiter. Our bad day turned around immediately. He was just what we needed. We both had the Iceburg wedge salad, and the pan fried walleye. It was delicious. We each had a couple of cocktails, and ended our evening. I highly recommend this restaurant, and DJ as your waiter. Fantastic.

Classic steak house. Are at the bar. Bartenders were knowledgeable and the experience was a throw back to that Rat Pack feeling.

Busy spot even on weeknights. I came with a big group and they put us in the private club room which was awesome. The menu is pretty much what you'd expect from a steakhouse. They have a variety of different cuts as well as non-steak items like lamb chops and duck breast. Portion sizes are huge so be prepared to be stuffed. I had the lamb chops which was really good. I also tried some of my friend's porterhouse and it was delicious. All in all we had a great time and I would definitely return in the future.

Ambience: great Service: terrific Food: average I had a sirloin and it was a very average cut and prepared a little below par for the price. I am giving 4 stars because everything else was very good including drinks.