★ 4

Parents came into town and we wanted to try this place for the first time. The location is right in the heart of downtown near the capitol square. The staff were super friendly, and seated us right away. We had an option to sit “inside” at the bar, or “on the porch” which was more like the center of the building, or outside on the patio. We chose “on the porch” which was the middle of what looked like an old office building with a skylight and tasteful decorations to make you feel like you’re outside without being outside. Was actually kind of cool.

We ordered cheese curds for apps. Honestly, at first I thought the texture was a bit soft/mushie but they really grew on me. The rest of the family agreed. They came out super fast but were still fresh and hot.

Same with the food, our burgers came out like 5 minutes after we ordered. The burger was actually phenomenal, no complaints. Ingredients tasted fresh and there was just the right amount of salt in the meat. Potato bun was nice and fluffy.

The 4 stars comes from the fries. Don’t get me wrong, nothing to complain about the fries themselves. Actually, they were salted, shaped, and crisped exactly like McDonald’s fries. Never seen another restaurant get so close to Macca’s fries, so we’re kind of impressed. But the knocked star: the burger is already $15. Just the burger. And then you pay $5 more just to get fries added on. The burger and fries are good… but $20 good? Nahhh. And it’s on the smaller side too.

Would I recommend this place? Absolutely. I’ll probably end up back at some point myself. Just eat a snack before going and expect to pay $20 for a tummy tickler, and this place is spot on.

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★ 5

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★ 4

Went for the Monday chicken dinner. Slaw and potato salad were good, the chicken was quite bland and tasteless. The fried pickles were good! Our waiter was great and atmosphere is unique.

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★ 3

Food is amazing! And only good prices on food. I would have given this place 5 stars, BUT it took forever to get drinks and their drink prices are double the price compared to anywhere else in Dane County.Sorry this is Wisconsin and I have never paid more than $8 for a Double Tall Captain & Coke. They charge $14 for this and someone in our ground got a None alcoholic drink in a tumbler & it was $9. Sorry, but that's crazy to price drinks that high. This isn't New York or California. I recommend only going there to eat food and only getting water or soda.

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★ 2

On September 27th I went to Settle Down Tavern for dinner and ordered a smash burger and Surprise vegetables! OH WHAT A SURPRISE! I received a small container with 2 string beans 1 red small slice of a pepper, 1 tiny slice of a carrot and 2 small slices of apples! If my legs weren't bothering me I would had taken it back that night for $5. I wish I could post pictures of this dish!!! They should never serve a customer that kind of service 😡

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★ 5

The burger was really good!

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★ 2

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★ 5

Great place, highly recommend. Unique vibe. Unique menu.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Smashburger and fries are amazing! I love sitting in the bar area. The help is great and look for HH and other specials. You won’t be disappointed.

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★ 5

I think Anthony Bourdain would’ve loved it here.

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★ 5

a gr3at place to settle, down.

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★ 5

Best burgers and very nice servers. Definitely be back!

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★ 5

Good food, ate outside.

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★ 5

I came here twice in a week moving my son to a downtown apartment. Had the grain bowl the first time and a smash burger with fries the second. Amazing food - grain bowl was enough for two meals, and it was the best burger and fries I think I've ever had. Fries are the right amount of crispy. Get the cookie too. Service was prompt and friendly, and there's three different atmospheres to choose from - outside, bar, or atrium. Highly recommend!!

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★ 4

The staff was extremely friendly and we were seated without a wait. Food was good, but a little pricey. My 12 year old and I went and had a good time. I probably won't be back though as $60-70 for lunch is a bit much for me when we can get similar food at Culver's for much less. But if you're looking for something fun to do or a new restaurant to try, definitely check it out! Clean, kid friendly, nice outdoor seating, hamburgers and fried foods.

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★ 5

Upstairs bar area great for private parties!
The Sliders are phenomenal.

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★ 5

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★ 1

Unacceptable behavior from some of their staff members. Me and my family went there to celebrate my birthday. It was 12 of us, all adults and a little girl. We requested to sit together outside. The waitress said we have to sit in separate tables which we did. One of the table was big enough for 6 people the rest of us were asked to sit in small separate tables. We asked if the small tables can be together. That was All we asked. The manager comes out and said we are not allowed to do that and after we said what is the reason she said because I said so. She told us we are not going to serve you, you can leave “ thank you” It was such a terrible feeling to get all my family to leave without being able to eat. I am in the restaurant business myself and I understand everything about customer service but this was the worse experience I had in the front of my family. I hope the owner will talk to the staff and make sure they behave appropriately with their customers without making them feel terrible.

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★ 1

The most Racist restaurants ever! They refused to serve our family of 10 because they didn’t want to put 3 tables together on the patio. Even when we said we would eat at separate tables with separate checks, they said we have made a decision! This is only because of our race and the fact that we spoke with an accent, This place is disgusting!

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★ 1

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★ 1

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★ 1

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★ 1

We initially came as a group of people and got separate tables. When we asked to combine two tables for the other part of the group, we were told we could not and the explanation of the waitress was “because I said so.” We were then told by the manager that it’s a fire hazard to combine the tables (which we had already done for one of the tables) and then rudely told us they would not be serving us due to nothing but their laziness and egos. Apparently to the staff and managers it makes more sense to lose 13 paying customers than to combine two tables. Other restaurants next door had no problem combining two tables. Maybe they should train the staff to learn how to do that before kicking people out. And on top that they said thank you after telling us to leave.

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★ 4

Portion sizes were unexpectedly small. Atrium seating is great and our server was attentive.

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★ 5

Cool downtown dinning!! We had a blast outside. Food was good too! Devils birds n pickle puppies are great lil flavor bombs between bites of ur Chopped cheese or yummy fried chicken sand. The chili on the uf da fries is fer real!!!

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★ 5

The Settle Down Tavern is a great little spot just off the square on Pinckney Street.
They offer food along with a big selection of drinks.
I went there for lunch on a Saturday and the first thing that caught my eye was the atrium. It's under a collection of skylights so you get a lot of natural light which is quite pleasant.
The service was great. We had to wait about 5 minutes for a table to open up, but it was easy enough to sit on the bench.
I had the "Good Idea" which is a smash burger with pickles, grilled onions, cheese, and Settle Down's own sauce. It was perfectly done. I got that nice crunch you look for in a smash burger.
The service was attentive without being overbearing.
The prices are quite reasonable.
If you're looking for a great smash burger, this place is a great choice.

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★ 5

Delicious food and the staff was amazing

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★ 3

Service is friendly, drinks are good. The food is subpar as you can’t get chicken with a Caesar salad. The salads are pretty small for a meal.

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★ 5

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★ 1

Found a hair in our mushroom bowl and an eyelash in the Caesar salad :/ wanted to like it here. Service was good.

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★ 5

very good burger just the fries were a little bit salty

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★ 5

Food was great and service was excellent. Left my sunglasses there and they were in the mail shipped to me the next day. Impressive! Thanks to Sam and the entire staff.

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★ 3

The smash burgers are delicious. Appropriately seasoned with salt and pepper. I HATE that their fries (which are good) are always under salted. And when you ask for salt, they give you a ramiken of flake salt. It's ridiculous. Season your fries or give me a salt shaker... I love deviled eggs and hush puppies but their take is... Not good. just give me the basics and would be better... The drinks aren't great. Their red squirrel old fashioned is just a bad take on a classic. That said, the smash burger keeps me coming back, while not ordering anything else.

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★ 5

Very good burgers with interesting tasty sides. Some nice craft beers and cocktail specials. Cheese curds, deviled eggs and crispy fries are all recommended. A lively atmosphere, but not loud, so conversations can be had.

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★ 5

They have the world's best bartender.

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★ 1

A burger place that doesn’t offer bacon as an option. No chicken for Cesar salad.

No thanks. Pass

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★ 4

Appreciate the ability to order half salads and hot dog without the fixings to address picky kids and smaller eaters. Well-balanced delicious cocktails.

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★ 5

Get the hot dog!

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★ 5

Settle Down Tavern!!! Super fun people. Delicious food and Cocktails. Shout out to Abby and Casper behind the bar making yummy treats. If you can keep a secret … you might want to try the “Back Pocket” Mezcal Cocktail :-)

To those that bring their Laptops to the bar….you do allot more drinking than writing. LOL great laughs!!!!

Awesome time !!!!!!!

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★ 2

Decent food and drinks but there are mice everywhere

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

Very good service, bar food, and drinks at reasonable prices in a lively atmosphere!

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★ 3

Edit: TLDR: honestly it's not worth coming here unless it's after 10pm for their late night menu.

I've been here a few times for late night menu and had a good time. Tonight I wanted fish fry and I figured I'd give them a shot. I made a reservation for 8pm, showed up at 7:50, and was seated in the back empty area.

I asked our server one question about the fish fry and he said that they ran out over half an hour ago (7:20ish). We decided that we're already here, so we'll get two drinks and an order of fries, then go get fish fry at Tipsy Cow. The drinks came out quick, although one came with a tomato in the mezcal ginger beer cocktail (?). Our fries took literally 40 minutes to come out, and when they did, they were cold.

To be clear, our server was great and attentive. He was regularly checking in on our and apologizing for the wait.

The late night situation has never let us down, but I'll never come back before 10pm. After 10pm = 5 stars, before 10pm = 2 stars.

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I stopped in here for the first time after seeing the symphony at Overture, and I'm dang glad I did. I've been meaning to go here but I always forget about it being tucked away - I definitely found a new spot for the downtown rotation, though!

It's a cool chic bar area, the bartenders are super friendly, and the cocktails are A+. I've had a lot of espresso martinis in my day, and this is honestly one of the best, no question.

What I didn't expect is for the simple late night menu burger to blow me away. After 10, they just have burgers and fries. A limited menu for sure, but they absolutely NAIL both of them. One of the best no frills burgers I've ever had.

100% will be back, don't sleep on this place as a late night pop in. I know I'll be back.

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★ 5

My favorite burger and espresso martini in Madison!

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★ 5

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★ 1

We attempted to have dinner here, but the staff did not seat us. We were asked to wait 15-20 mins and left our number to contact (as this was requested by the staff). Took a walk around the area and returned 15 minutes later. We inquired if seating was yet available, as we had asked for an outside seat. We could see that many tables were open, people appeared to be getting seats right away, and the restaurant seemed as busy as any of its local competitors.

When we checked back in about seating, the staff we talked to made no effort to acknowledge us or our request. So, we went to Lucille’s next door instead, we were seated and served right away, and had an excellent meal.

I’m not sure what we did to activate the negative attitude at Settle Down, but they were not interested in being friendly or following their own procedures.

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★ 5

Get the Good Idea Burger, substitute the monteray jack for American for an ooey gooey treat. Good food, better drink selection. Go late night for a discount on the smash burger.

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★ 5

Stopped in to the Settle Down Tavern to check out their happy hour and I'm so glad that I did. As a solo woman, you never know what kind of welcome you'll get at the bar. Casper acted pleased to have me there, and made very pleasant conversation as he made drinks. It was fun to watch him work.

Then I discovered that they were doing bingo! Alyssa made it so much fun that I came back the next week. I'll stop in whenever I am in Madison.

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★ 3

I know it's downtown but the price of the meal and the size of the meal didn't match up. The burger I ordered was a good burger but it was small. My husband and I split an order of fries. They were $9 and they certainly weren't anything special.

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★ 5

This is a must try, the food and drinks were delicious. The atmosphere was quant and comfortable. The service was awesome. This is a must try stop on your travels through Madison Wisconsin.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great spot! The cheese curds are some of the better ones in the downtown area - at least in the top 3! Came here for happy hour and were very pleased with everything.

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★ 5

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★ 3

Cool place inside almost like an atrium, service and food on par with the rest.

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★ 5

Great bar food that is done right! Cocktails are also great. Will be returning

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★ 5

Settle down is great. If you haven't been yet what are you doing?

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★ 4

We enjoyed dining in the atrium. Tables were well spaced for comfortable conversation. The room was comfortable and airy. Our server was prompt, knowledgeable, and attentive without being pushy.
We had smash burgers, the Good Idea, the Jalapeño Hot Rod, and the Big Fundamental. We shared a large order of fries. The menu has many unique offerings, such as Ghost Fries and the Greek Freak for the more adventurous palate.
The bar features many themed cocktails, but as tea-totallers, we appreciated cans of Coke instead of watered-down fountain Pepsi.

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★ 5

The best smash burger in town

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★ 5

Would highly recommend the smash burgers.

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★ 5

Holy smokes! This place rocks! I’ve always been a big fan of their burgers (best in Madison IMO) as well as the celery lemonade.

I got wind that fried pickles were a new menu item and had to give ‘em a try. I never thought that the standard fried-from-frozen pickle chips that you get at most bars were in need of an upgrade, but SDT has changed my opinion. Theirs are done almost in the style of a pakora with super thin slices of pickles kind of clustered together in a crispy batter. Absolute game changer.

The chili fries and chopped cheese were both highlights as well.

Service was top notch. Jalen was an absolute gem. Couldn’t have possibly asked for more. Bravo gang!

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★ 5

Great late night smash burger to finish off the night after a show.

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★ 5

Kacper is phenomenal and Jalen was amazing!! Spot on everything!!

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★ 2

Cold bun, small burger, overdone meat, very mediocre bueger

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★ 5

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★ 5

Excellent food, great drinks, friendly staff, and good music.

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★ 5

This could be the best burger in Madison. The wait staff was very attentive and friendly. Go on a weekday for a laid back, low fidelity city vibe.

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★ 5

Excellent smash burger and good happy hour! Cheese curds were too breaded for my preference but was a huge portion! Will return!

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★ 5

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★ 4

The Magic Grain Bowl is terrific! The Flamin' Egg is very mild. The smash burgers are expensive given that they are served a la carte.

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★ 1

Turns out they don't sell food (or anything else) anymore. Clicking the "Order Online" button takes you back to the same blank screen.

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★ 4

This was good. Had lunch with my parents, i had the Multigrain bowl, my dad had a burger and my mom had some of each of ours...haha! The service was fast which is great for lunch. I would go again.

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★ 5

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★ 5

Amazing service!! Loved the fries and espresso martini! Especially loved Abby and Sophia! They are always so friendly and helpful! Definitely a great spot to check out!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great vibe, delicious food, fantastic service

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★ 5

Settle Down is one of my wife and my go to places to eat and grab a drink in Madison. Great food and cocktails with casual Wisconsin vibes.

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★ 3

Smash burgers were not good. The patties were so oily the bread was super soggy in oil when i got the sandwich

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★ 5

Highly recommended. Food was great and our waitress was very nice and helpful

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★ 5

너무 배가 불러 안주를 과자부스러기 시켜서 안주퀄은 잘 모르지만
웨이터가 너무 친절하고 맥주도 맛있었어요.

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★ 4

Great food. Small portions.

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★ 5

Great Tavern! Great service and great bar food!

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★ 5

The food was very good. Cheese curds were tasty and hot. Great smash burger. Our waiter, Ben, was super-friendly and very attentive. He paid attention to everything. He was great

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★ 5

Super yummy and cute atmosphere and nice servers.

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★ 5

This is with it a doubt the best burger I’ve ever had. Drinks were phenomenal and the service was kind and timely. So sad I don’t live in the area because this would be a regular visit on my schedule. If you’re in the Madison Capital area, you’re missing out if you don’t come here.

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★ 5

Guys we are open on monday now i promise

don’t worry about the reservations just come in please

get the settle sauce

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★ 5

Bad stuff first because everything else was beyond exceptional.

Had brunch on Saturday and hot coffee seemed to be a rare commodity 🧐 and was awful. Gas station coffee is better. How about an espresso machine?!

Otherwise service was outstanding at all levels host, bus, servers and bar - thanks William! Steak and eggs were incredible and the presentation was Gordon Ramsay worthy. TBH avg rating of 4.6 is not deserved!

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★ 5

Great outdoor dining, servers were very pleasant

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★ 5

The best cheese curds in Wisconsin!! Seriously. Our server was so kind and helpful, and made recommendations on where to go next. The outdoor patio was really nice, especially because there was live music up the street. Also got the chopped cheese and it was great! We did not like our cocktails, unfortunately.

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★ 4

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★ 5

You cannot beat eating outside in summer, especially when it’s at the Settle Down Tavern.

Made it there Friday night, no waiting for an outside seat, and the Smash Burger was outstanding!

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★ 5

Amazing espresso martinis and cheese curds!

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★ 5

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★ 5

I love the combination of basic bar food done well and amazing cocktails. Settle Down Tavern only has a few entree choices (mostly burgers), a few appetizers, and the rest was cocktails. The smash burger and cheese curds were delicious. The espresso martini was one of the best I've ever had. 10/10 for a lovely summer dinner outside.

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★ 4

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★ 5

Great service and food. Loved the vibe.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

A great place for small bites, cocktails, patio, and happy hour. No chicken options, just beef. From the bartenders to the servers everybody was friendly, attentive, great to still see restaurants where everybody still works together.

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★ 5

Always great.

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★ 4

The weather was beautiful so we sat outside (4 stars vs 5). We had good, fast service. My drink was sweet but by far the BEST espresso martini in the area!!!

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★ 5

The house-made pickles with just the right acidity to cut through the fat, coupled with the light sauce, makes the 'good idea' the best burger in Madison.

The service is quick and responsive, making sure no glass stays empty long.

The atmosphere is open plan with outdoor seating for warm days. A great spot to grab a lunch bite if you happen to be on the square.

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★ 5

I haven’t been here in a few years. Moved to Chicago. Despite all the burgers I’ve eaten since then, this is the best burger I’ve had, to date. Fries are top shelf, as well.

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★ 5

Best smash burgers in town! Julien is by far the best server I’ve had in a long time! Don’t let him go ever! He was so attentive, friendly, and on top of his game. Amazing old fashioned and on Saturday nights they’re $8 and super boozy. Love this place!

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★ 5

Great vegan and vegetarian dishes. Menu was small but mighty! You can sit outside and view a snippet of the lake.

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★ 2

Burger was middle of the road: small, greasy, bun was soggy ($12); french fries were extra and mediocre and paprika mayo lacked flavor($4.50); Diet Coke was served in small glass full of ice, thus diluted ($6.50). Overall value was low. First time here and last time here.

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★ 4

The food and drinks were really tasty. The service was very fast. I wish there would've been a bigger menu though, there were only like 5 options.

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★ 5

Great lunch place in Summer. Short menu, but tasty food, especially the Cheese Puppies, which are a cross between hush puppies and cheese curds.

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★ 5

Nice place! I went there for the bloody which i wasnt actually all that crazy about. It wasnt very spicy at all and i was not a fan of the flavor. Overall nice place though

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★ 5

Great spot to sit outside!!! Garrett is a gem!!!

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★ 5

Pretty flawless experience at the Settle Down. Staff sat me outside, but close to the building so that my wifi worked best, Gave me the info right away. Outside table was squeaky clean. Julian was friendly and polished and a great server. I got an overview of the menu and specials, and got an N/A Heineken with a frosty glass. Picked out this Magic Grain Bowl (okay, weeks ago) and oh my lawd. This is sensational. Kimchi flavor with deeply umami oyster mushrooms, al dente grains and garlicky whipped tofu (without the eggs it's vegan.) The fried noodles were just the right crunchy, rich accent. Friendly prompt service and great food... Perfect weather, too, thanks Settle!!

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★ 5

Delish and the history of this glass ceilinged ARCADE is fascinating. King Street is known for its history as the oldest euro-descendent settled block in Madison. It is frustrating that the tours mention the Peck Cottage as the first “home” built here after Doty’s dealings manipulated legislators to vote to move the Capital” to this HoChunk land. The earliest Eurocentric painting does show tradition structures were actually the first homes here.

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 1

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★ 5

Love the vibes— servers are always kind and fun. Bingo nights are the best!

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★ 5

The perfect saloon

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★ 4

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★ 5

The middle “outdoor” section is like a slice of Europe.

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★ 3

First time here and it was nothing special. Menu is VERY limited and the burgers were nothing to write home about. Expensive for just a burger with no sides. Cheese curds were not that great; felt like it was just breading. Drinks we alright, old fashioned was not good. Service was great and it is a cute place, but not a restaurant I’d go to again.

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★ 5

It was a magic day.

Magic burger
Magic drinks
Magic staff

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★ 5

Exactly what we were looking for. A cozy bar, good drinks, great service, fun background music. We were too early for food, but in time for happy hour - the featured cocktails were perfect!

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★ 5

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★ 5

Great spot for dinner & drinks!

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 4

While I can speak highly of the staff, which are superb, and the atmosphere, which is fun and open, in both my visits I have struggled with leaving feeling that the value was off between what I expected and the food that was delivered. Most recently having the chicken sandwich I think the best part of the meal was the fries. Recognizing it may have been my selections, for the value I would consider alternate dining options which better delivered, though I would return if others wanted to go.

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★ 5

Perfect downtown tavern! I was there several times when they had a streetery and the burger was 🔥. I stopped in with a friend for cocktails and snacks on Saturday. You will NOT be disappointed! Awesome ambience. Delicious chili. I had never had a red squirrel old fashioned before, but it was fantastic 😋. Our server was funny, friendly, and very attentive. There are even jokes in the menus ;) Totally check it out!

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★ 5

Excellent food and service along with fun drinks!

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★ 5

Es un lugar con una excelente atención. Y su ubicación es algo que lo hace único. Está en el corazón de la ciudad.

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★ 1

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★ 1

I really wanted to like this place but I just couldn't. The food was so salty most of my party couldn't eat their food. It was so loud out waiter couldn't hear our order. We tried to fet the attention of a few employees only to be ignored. The food price was too high for the size of your meal. Only 2 beers on tap. If you are looking for overpriced food that tastes like nothing but salt this is your place, if not I recommend the Old Fashioned

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★ 1

Hope you like salty food and horrible service. When asked how everything was we informed waiter that we couldn’t even eat our food there was that much salt. His response was good good and walked away!

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★ 3

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★ 5

The Special hamburger and the mushroom cream soup were delicious.

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★ 5

I flat out love the Settle Down. My first visit was on the first warm day of the spring. The patio had opened up and it was my first sensation of things starting to open up after our long winter of COVID. I ordered a beer (an IPA from Young Blood Brewery, delicious) and soaked up the sun and atmosphere. I decided to keep things simple and ordered the special burger of the day. It. blew. my. mind. I wish I could tell you what was on it but I've had so many since I can't remember more that that it was a surprising blend of Asian flavors brought expertly to the smash version of our classic American dish.

As mentioned, I have returned many times. The cocktails are excellent. I can't tell you much about the beers because I keep ordering the Young Blood IPA. Barely bitter. Citrusy with a light sweetness. On my return visits I have had the following: The mixed greens - cool and crisp with a great lemon tarragon dressing. The Cheeseball & Potter's Pretzels - absolutely perfect with my beer. The Devil Birds - a nice twist on the deviled eggs which I have reordered a few times and I will again. And finally, The Good Idea Burger - a perfectly executed smash burger.

The Settle Down is doing everything right.

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★ 4

Dined with a group of 4 here for a birthday celebration. Overall the experience outweighed the quality of the food, we all ordered burgers with fries. Burgers were just too salty but still very good, fries were okay pretty basic. The Cheese Curds are a must order! So yummy especially with their house made ranch. Atmosphere was great! Soft yellow lighting gave a fireplace aesthetic to the experience. Our waiter was very cordial and kind. The bill came out to a little over 30 dollars a head which is to be expected, you're paying for the service and atmosphere though not supreme cuisine so keep that in mind. That being said I would definitely return here for a celebration in the future!

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★ 5

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★ 3

The food not so good. The lamb sandwich was dry and seemed like a frozen patty de thawed . Fries ok the sauces I didn’t like much. Really over priced for what you get. Very very small serving sizes . Service was excellent

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★ 5

It's as simple as this: Settle Down Tavern makes the greatest burger in Madison.

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★ 5

Best burger and curds in town.

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★ 5

Great spot near Capitol. Tasty food and I'm told excellent cocktails. I've only eaten outside on the "patio".

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★ 4

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★ 4

Pretty neat place. Small menu. Had a burger that was decent. Service was good.

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★ 5

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★ 4

A great vibe, good energy, hard working staff. A limited menu but the food was very good.

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★ 5

Sweet little cozy bar tavern downtown Madison. Good grub, especially the smash burger and beet salad. Good service!

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★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 1

Calling the restaurant takes waaaayyyy too long to get through the time prompts please shorten the hours mentioned to the season it self intead of giving all the time frame hours on the automated system that answers.

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★ 5

The veggie patty is made in house (not frozen) and the "prit' near" burger was outstanding. Great flavor. I did get it without cheese to keep it plant based. Really pleased. Service was great!

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★ 5

fire

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★ 5

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★ 5

Amazing good and atmosphere

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★ 5

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★ 2

Maybe cease & desist your Good Idea Burger? that was not a good tasting burger Try again guys! Someone salted the hell out of my french fries must've been your kitchen take away their salt shakers management. No need to salt the hell out of something that's already flavorful. Otherwise you folks have a beautiful spot on the Capitol Square! Your Grasshoppers & Old Fashioneds were excellent!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

Friendly service and great food!

Source: Google

★ 1

Settle down was suggested to us to try while we were in town. We were a group of four looking forward to a nice experience in downtown. We decided to sit inside as we have been outside all day and our waitress didn’t come to greet us or take our drink order for 20 min, meanwhile four bartenders and other staff are behind the bar or sitting at it having the best conversation I even made eye contact in a desperate attempt to alert that we were ready to order. I personally was famished and in desperate need of food so after we ordered our drinks my fiancé got a old fashioned that tasted like they put the whole bottle of bitters in it and my girlfriend got a martini like drink that was just okay I asked for a Tito’s and Red Bull (no Red Bull) then I asked for a basic glass of cab which she then told me they didn’t have and gave me a list of wine like drinks that at this point I wanted to just stick with water. My fiancé and I decided to get the small beet salad while we waited for our friends to finish their tiny sand-which and it was not even worth what we paid. By the time we were able to get our bill everywhere else was closed so we left our first experience in downtown hungry and sober. I work in the service industry and I would rather eat ham wraps out of my cooler in the hotel then to ever go back. So settle down tavern your service ain’t that great and neither is your food.

Source: Google

★ 5

The place has a great vibe, good service, and excellent food with a creative twist. Thanks for outstanding!

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 3

This is a tough one. The atmosphere is fantastic. Great feel/vibe to the place. Great servers and bartenders - attentive, helpful, professional. But the value and variety just isn't there. The menu is *small*; the prices are *huge*.

Two beers on tap; each are $8.50 for a pint. And they aren't exotic or necessarily exciting.

The food is extremely pricey and the portions are comically small. The smash burger, while delicious, is $13 and features two paper-thin patties on a tiny bun. Want fries with that? Add another $4.50 for a small handful of fries.

I'd much rather hit the 'Bou, Baldwin Street, or any number of east side dive bars where I can get a full-sized burger, basket of fries, and 2-3 beers for what two tap beers cost here.

Cool space. Just far too expensive for what it is. This is Madison, WI, not midtown Manhattan.

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★ 5

Great late night food. Terrific roadside service.

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★ 5

Add this to your places to go. Friendly service, good food and what a neat location. We got the burger and fries. We were surprised that the fries were extra. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and the sauces were homemade.

Source: Google

★ 5

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★ 5

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★ 4

Source: Google

★ 4

The settle down tavern was a great spot to just sit and chat over a meal. We were seated in the Atrium space in the middle and overall the atmosphere was fantastic.

The staff was all fast, friendly, and attentive

All of the food was well made and came with pretty generous portion sizes.

Source: Google

★ 3

I wanted to like this place more than I actually did. The restaurant has a very neat atmosphere; it feels like 'old hotel meets hipster'. The staff were attentive and helpful. The menu here is surprisingly small; I think there are more drink options than food options. My small group tried several things, and our general consensus was that the food was fine, but nothing special, and felt maybe a bit overpriced (i.e. the burger cost a roughly normal amount until you realize it didn't come with any sort of side). The general agreement with my friends was that we are happy to have tried this place, but likely won't go back with any regularity.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

The good idea burger is a great idea…

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★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

We love the Settle Down! Great drinks. Food is no frills and always solid. Lots of cool spaces to dine in at the restaurant. Great outdoor seating options, too!

Source: Google

★ 5

Food is always excellent - elevated by good ingredients and attention to detail rather than being too far out of the box.
Atmosphere, vibe and decor are old school comfortable yet fun & interesting.
Staff is always on point… to the extent of a fine dining establishment.
Chill, fun place with great food and people. Can’t ask for more.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great food and great experience.

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★ 5

This is a very cool place with great food and service. However, we did not appreciate the BLM and Planned Parenthood signs in their window.

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★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

This is such a solid place. Great food, friendly service, delicious cocktails. Check out Oz by Oz after you eat here - same vibe, but no food.

Source: Google

★ 1

The service gets worse every time we go. This time we were seated and waited 20 mins before a waitress came over and told us our server would be right over. Waited another 5 minutes and walked out. Would not recommend. Tipsy Cow across the street gives much better service.

Source: Google

★ 5

Awesome spot to sit outside and have a beer and a great burger. Also, excellent hush puppy style cheese curds. They also gave me a postcard with my check, and offered to send it out for me after I filled it out. Super nice people, really cool vibe. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town for an Epic event.

Source: Google

★ 5

Source: Google

★ 3

Not impressive. Cheese curds were oddly sweet and sandwiches were very dinky. I appreciated the kid friendliness but we won't be in a hurry to return, especially given relatively high cost.

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★ 5

Great food, good prices, sports games are always on, great staff

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★ 4

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★ 5

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★ 4

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★ 5

My gf brought me here today after her positive experience here a few weeks ago. The breakfast burger and cheese puppies were incredible! It's a somewhat limited menu, but I feel like their focus is on quality and not quantity. Our table was located in like an atrium thing and was really cool. Our waitress was suuuuuper chill and a total sweetheart. I'll be back soon!

Source: Google

★ 5

Atmosphere can’t be beat. Food is pretty good too, though it is slightly on the expensive side for a bar. Overall a great place

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★ 5

Excellent lunch, friendly, knowledgeable service! Will come here again!! Relaxing, comfortable atmosphere

Source: Google

★ 5

The settle down tavern is a lovely place to take a rest and have a snack on a day downtown. Our day was a little cold in the inside space of this restaurant was bright and cozy in a perfect spot.

We had special for the day, which was a perfectly sized chicken and waffle, inspired snack.… Popcorn, chicken, and waffle sticks with a lovely Maple and mild hot sauce combo.

We also had Rädlers (3/4 wheat beer + 1/4 lemonade; a shandy in some tongues) …#Perfect.

Service was excellent…attentive and caring. The hostess seated us quickly. Our waiter took our order and we were tipping back our drinks in seconds!

I really like the interior atrium space…it is so light and comfortable. A good place for a conversation and enjoying some time together.

Parking downtown is always a little tricky to me, but there are ramps and street parking options. It’s worth the effort!

Source: Google

★ 5

Yummy good, great spot, friendly people, good drinks. What more can you ask for?

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★ 4

The smash burger was so great

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★ 4

Great space, I'll definitely be back, but drinks are pricey and food was mediocre. Their version of a cheese curd is a hard pass, I did not care for it.

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★ 5

Went to the Settle Down Tavern for a Friday fish fry based on our hotels recommendation and close proximity to our hotel. Very nice place, great atmosphere and friendly staff. We actually had some good conversations with one of the owners who sat by us at the bar, and the fish fry was extremely good! Will be back next time we're in town.

Source: Google

★ 5

Settle Down has consistently good food and drinks. The burger is unique and delicious. I personally love the deviled eggs as a starter as well. The menu is small, so if you’re not in the mood for burgers, probably go elsewhere. But each of their options is served wonderfully. I generally get the good idea burger and today I tried their breakfast version. It did not disappoint.

The drinks also keep me coming back. They are small serving sizes but they’re great ingredients and taste oh so yummy.

The little indoor bar area is cozy and welcoming. I also love when it’s warm and they open their outdoor seating. It’s generally easy enough to walk in and find a spot outside of the main dinner rush time and not have to wait. Even then, could be lucky and get a bar spot.

We’ll continue to come here for dinner, lunch, or brunch!

Source: Google