Mar 25, 2024 by Connor M.

Food was good, service was a good pace for a weekend, good selection of appetizers at a average price

Feb 21, 2024 by Amy T.

Overall good was good. Wait staff attentive. Sunset was beautiful. Overall 4 out of 5

Feb 06, 2024 by Lynn N.

Great food, great service I really enjoyed my meal I would highly recommend. They also just opened a new one in Japan

Feb 04, 2024 by Mike P.

Solid food, some beers are solid some are below average. The German pilsner is their best beer, the Good Dog is the best of the IPAs. Good service as well.

Jan 26, 2024 by Sean S.

Their main highlight meals are no better than any other restaurant doing the same thing but their odd dishes that don't fit with their menu really need some attention to detail.

Jan 13, 2024 by Tim M.

Tired menu, needs to be updated. Staff seems more annoyed by your presence than anything else.

Jan 08, 2024 by Cherri

Nice restaurant with friendly staff! Generous menu with great food. I recommend it!

Nov 10, 2023 by Jimmy W.

Very unprofessional staff and zero communication between the managers. Would not come here ever again...

Oct 17, 2023 by Scott M.

My friend had a Ruben, I had poutine w brisket.. both were delicious. I liked the atmosphere, plenty of tvs to watch sports. I'd stop in again.

Sep 18, 2023 by Susan S.

French onion soup is the best and customer service is always great. Ceasar salad is always a go to as well.

Sep 15, 2023 by Tami S.

Food was ok. Root beer was weak. We were out upstairs which we were fine with. Full of loud noisy kids. Tables were sticky and kinda gross. Had the brisket tacos. Great portion size. Plenty of food. Curry over load. Still burping that up. Waited for ever for bill. In fact we're still waiting. Had to ask. People behind us very unhappy with service and food so that didn't help. They too were loud. Downstairs looked really cool. Our servers skirt was WAY too short. Inappropriately short. I wouldn't recommend.

Sep 04, 2023 by Joshua M.

Service is absolutely terrible at this location. Tables were sticky. Restaurant was dirty Seated right away, Waited 20 min after that for a waiter to acknowledge us. Appetizer and entrees came out at the same time - everything was ice cold Asked for a second drink, never got it. Mind you, it was not busy

Sep 03, 2023 by Shannah H.

Mixed feelings about Great Dane. Great food. Good beer. Terrific hard working bartender. Everything else is terrible. The restaurant was hardly busy, yet two girls were working the hostess stand and working is a generous description. Can we sit on the patio? Yes but you have to order at the bar. 10 min later - can we have a menu? I guess so. We watched as those two didn't seat anyone but would just point people to chairs to seat themselves. I've seen busier restaurants with only one person staffing the hostess stand so to have 2 on a slow evening was terrible. Three employees were hanging out just inside the pass through through to the kitchen. They weee all checking their phones. Meanwhile, there were tables needing bussing - inside and out - and one lone bartender serving, taking orders, and chatting with every guest. Here's the thing. This is absolutely a management issue. This bartender can (and maybe should consider) get a job anywhere. He's quality and carrying the place. The kitchen crew is doing a great job. The rest of the staff needs to be trained in customer service and "if you have time to lean you have time to clean." If there was a manager on duty, that person should be replaced because they are not doing their job.

Sep 02, 2023 by John W.

It didn't start off very well. The 2 young ladies at the hostess stand were pretty worthless. The only thing they accomplished was to tell us that the patio was closed, but that we could order at the bar and sit on the patio. We had to ask them for menus. This was NOT at the downtown location. The bartender seemed to be doing just about everything outside the kitchen. He and the kitchen staff were excellent. The food was amazing. I highly recommend the steakhouse burger. If the manager/owner of this establishment happens to see this review, my recommendation is that you sack the cutesy teenage girls at the front and split their pay up among the kitchen staff and your bartender.

Aug 25, 2023 by Jean D.

Great atmosphere, food and drinks. Service was exceptional. Thoroughly enjoyed! Will definitely go back when I am in town.

Sep 10, 2022

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Dec 10, 2021

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Oct 29, 2021

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Oct 10, 2020 by Mama W.

This is the second time we ordered from Great Dane. First time was great! Food was hot and cooked to the way we liked it(burger) this time it was terrible! Food was cold and burgers were raw. We will never order again.

Feb 01, 2020

Had a great experience

Nov 03, 2019 by Patty H.

came in today for brunch - "Sunday Funday" it was not. Our server treated our questions about the bloody Mary as if we had insulted her. She set the tone for the table by snapping at us - ill advised.   By the time we got our food, my breakfast sandwich was luke warm at best. It wasn't worth it to send it back -- it didn't taste good anyway. The Great Dane has average food, on its best day. Today - I think solidified that I don't need to come back.

Nov 03, 2019 by Patty H.

came in today for brunch - "Sunday Funday" it was not. Our server treated our questions about the bloody Mary as if we had insulted her. She set the tone for the table by snapping at us - ill advised.   By the time we got our food, my breakfast sandwich was luke warm at best. It wasn't worth it to send it back -- it didn't taste good anyway. The Great Dane has average food, on its best day. Today - I think solidified that I don't need to come back.

Aug 15, 2019 by Carri

Crop Circle Wheat!

Jul 20, 2019

xxx

Jul 10, 2019 by Lauryn K.

I came once and loved it. Thought it would be my new favorite place. Tons of creative options, with great upscale bar food that hits all the right buttons for a Wisconsinite. But there's bad news. I went back again dreaming of those piping hot steak frites and crispy fries. The onion soup was spot on again, but the steak frites took unusually long to come out and when the dish finally arrived, it was cold. The meat was tough and gray, even though I ordered medium rare. I got a stomachache while trying to work my way through the fries, which were clearly microwaved to be rewarmed, since they were tough and soggy. Our server was incredible though. She took my feedback to the manager and they took a little off the bill and said they would let the kitchen staff know this isn't up to par. Honestly I'm not that picky, but I just know that this place can be better.

May 30, 2019 by Watt D.

You can try this place if you want but I would not.  It is one of sister restaurants in the Madison area.  The original, downtown has had a great tradition for service and quality, but this location should not even carry the Great Dane brand.   The service is terrible, bartenders and the manager are very rude, food is mediocre and delivered slowly.  They don't even care how bad it is.

May 22, 2019 by Jennifer B.

Came here for lunch during a quick business trip. Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to try any of their beers. Got the cheese curds (had to as an out of towner) and the Webster Street Chicken Salad. It was an enormous salad salad with roasted chicken, Granny Smith apples, cranberries, walnuts and Gorgonzola. I liked both of the items I ordered. Would come back if I ever find myself in the area again.

May 20, 2019 by Chuck R.

Outstanding pub food. Started with the Poutine it was very good(but it needed a few more cheese curds). Then on to the Honey Pepper Salmon Club, just outstanding I will have this again. Significant other had the Chicken Cobb Salad was disappointed, so we will be back but no salads.

May 11, 2019 by Panda B.

You couldn't design a more generic suburban bar if you tried. They must have a contract with Veridian homes for their beige paint range.

Apr 29, 2019

Great Food

Apr 11, 2019 by Susie C.

I have been here several times and have never been disappointed. Friendly staff, quick service, and delicious burgers. The gluten free bun actually tastes good. Cool view if you can sit upstairs too

Apr 09, 2019 by Ashley F.

The worst service ever and we dine out a lot. We live in Grandview Commons and have friends close by who refuse to dine there any longer. They have been given so many chances.Our final last straw was a evening where the whole family and some freinds went there for our parents 50 wedding anniversary. They set up a private room in back. First the hostess when we arrived did not even have us scheduled on their books. Then when they figured it out they didn't have the room even set up. We waited at the upstairs bar and took for ever to get drinks. While this happened we kept hearing this loud apparently drunken  voice of the manager we worked together set this up with named Nina. Then we heard her yelling as she was letting an employee have it. Now we have heard about this Nina from other " good " servers in the past that she was then manager everyone hated. They said she would often get drunk and eat constantly downstairs while on her shift. Her appearance lended itself to this as she was very overweight, very loud, dressed poorly and often had food stains on her shirt and and was always sweating. Which was gross in and of itself. Bottom line the event was a disaster. They refused to give us a credit on the bill. And from what we heard its the management that is destroying this place. And the owner is a drunk little Jewish guy with small man's complex who knows nothing about restaurants. We along with many of our friends won't be going back. We now like to go Monks up the street in Sun Prairie which is awesome.  Alot of Tvs for sports and does an excellent job in all aspects of the restaurant, good reliable qaulities which of course the Dane doesn't have. Try Monks if you have not done so. Bye  Bye Dane.

Apr 08, 2019 by Jim H.

Several of my lady friends who work at AmFam and I went there after work for drinks and sat at a bartop side table. We had to wait over 25 minutes to get our drinks. And the place had maybe 20 people there. And we were there to drink and eat. Then the food came and it was late and cold. We couldn't believe it. One of the male servers basically sexually harassed several of the ladies, one of who I happen to be dating, the whole time even attempting to show her his tattoos. So i complained when check came and asked to speak to the manager. 15 minutes later this very obese, poorly dressed and sweaty manager,  who looked like she should be a manager at a Wendy's, came out and would not give us any credit on our bill. She was rude. We left and will never be back. I am an executive high up and close to the President of AmFam. He's a wonderful man. I told him of our experience and he said he was going reach out to our event coordinator which handles a lot of events. Dinners with clients etc And let her know to take Great Dane off our list. Shame on you great Dane.

Mar 18, 2019 by Raven W.

I've been to this location a couple of other times and usually the food is spot on, but this time it was just ok. I went to brunch with a friend, ordered the steak and eggs. I asked for my eggs to be scrambled and my steak to be medium well. My eggs had no flavor and my steak was medium, which is a bit too pink for me. My friend's water had old food in it & she said her food was cold. Overall I was a bit disappointed because this was my friend's first time at a Great Dane & I wanted the experience to be great. On the bright side, mimosas were $3 & the waitress was friendly. She checked in on us at the perfect times & cleared our dishes when we finished eating. Also- we sat upstairs & had a really nice view, so that was great!

Mar 17, 2019 by Deb A.

Great food but service was awful!!   Food is worth going but make sure you wear your patience hat!!

Mar 08, 2019 by Anthony C.

The service is usually bad, but it's the best option up on top of Cottage Grove hill. I've never had good service at the bar here. When ordering drinks, the service I have had was a bit slow and unenthusiastic. Today, when noting I was ordering to-go food, the bar tender asked, "What do you want?" before my "I don't know" prompted her to get a menu. She didn't get me a water while I waited there for 15 minutes, and in the meantime she also forgot someone else's beer order from one of the tables.

Feb 25, 2019

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Jan 15, 2019 by Molly M.

This place is a go-to with my boyfriend and his family. Experienced the Great Dane myself and thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. Family friendly with the different arcade games, shuffleboard, etc. The food was delicious, had the mac n' cheese & the chicken caesar wrap. The bartenders were friendly and quick to get my meal out. Enjoyed my time here for sure!!

Jan 01, 2019 by Ellen D.

We stopped here for lunch on our way home to Chicago. Fantastic!! Excellent food. Great service. We have three kids and the children's menu is amazing. Has the usual go-to's but some other very fun options that you don't usually see such as kids nachos, stir-fry, and ravioli. Plus it includes one of their sodas all for $5. Adults enjoyed our food as well. Had a flight of beers and they were all enjoyable. Would go back again for sure!

Oct 28, 2018 by William S.

What  happened to the menu at this restaurant? I've been going to the Danes since they were established decades ago.  Their menu used to be awesome, now it's awful. Their favorite flavor has become onion, and their hearty American fare has become fru fru.

Oct 26, 2018 by Jude T.

I keep trying the place, as I am determined to find something I love here, but it consistently disappoints.  The burgers are about the best option, and there are lots of places to go that better.  Fish fry, is ok, but not much to write home about.  Had their perch, but they loaded up with a heavy batter, crunchy yes, but so think on thin little filets.  They have too broad a menu, and don't anything really well.  Their signature "pot roast" is fairly good.  Think heavy, heavy meals.  Beers are good though.  Mixed drinks are very light pours.  It's ok if you're looking for a good basic place, with heavy "guy food."

Oct 19, 2018 by Molls D.

I am writing my review as I sit at the Great Dane. So far pretty good. The Brussels sprout and cauliflower app is delicious, but our waitress couldn't manage to bring us plates. Please don't bring food to a table without the utensils and plates to eat it with. So we are now eating right off the app plate. I have yet to see my wine. Buffalo Mac and cheese is excellent. Will be drinking wine as dessert.

Oct 19, 2018 by Sandera O.

Its okay, the food is good for the price.  But I only went once and don't plan on going again unless its with my grandchildren, not the place I would go for me.

Oct 12, 2018 by S W.

We have been to the Eastside Great Dane many times and for the last number of years it has disappointed us, tonight was no exception. Staff - poor Fish fry - good Black & Tan Brownie - poor Stopped in for an early Friday night fish fry and saw two hostesses. The younger one was on the phone and the older of the two hostesses did not even say "Hello" or any kind of greeting. She actually didn't really say anything as she determined what table to sit us at and where to put the penny indicating who was the next server to get customers. During the walk upstairs and to the table she said absolutely Nothing. She did ask if the table would be "Ok", which we said yes because it was a window table looking at the view....little did we that they had the air conditioning going with the current outside temperature being 40 degrees and customers sitting at multiple tables with their coats on! The waiter did come and ask to see if we wanted some drinks. I said we would until my dining partner would return from the restroom. My beer showed up when she returned from the restroom with wet hands, because there were no paper towels in the ladies room. The waiter came back to take our dinner order and was asked what vegetables came with baked fish - his reply, "I don't know, but it is usually green beans." The two fish fry dinners arrived and were good. We ordered the Black & Tan Brownie for dessert. It was supposed to come with vanilla bean ice cream and it came with chocolate ice cream. The brownie was dry and really didn't taste great. The Eastside Great Dane has so much potential, with the location, the view, and the beer, but falls short every time we have been there to give it another chance in the last few years.

Oct 05, 2018 by Coty B.

Where do I start, just wow! This place is easily on my go to list of places to bring family and friends when they come to visit from out of town . The service and friendliness of all the staff are phenomenal.  I can't say enough about Will, holly, Paige, Klara and Tanner.  By far the best service I have ever received in a Madison restaurant. Ever.!!  Mic drop!!!!

Sep 17, 2018

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Sep 02, 2018 by Gilbert C.

Great Food, Great, Service Great People! 5 Star And More Business. This Business Should Be A Nationwide Franchise.

Sep 01, 2018 by Amy

Menu seems to have gotten a nice upgrade in the last year. Also they offer a lot of variety for kids

Aug 18, 2018 by Joe J.

*3.5 stars? Man, tough crowd. The other reviewers are MEAN! This place is great!* How haven't I reviewed the Great Dane yet? This place is just raw fun :D The falafel is surprisingly good and I'm surprised to see it on a bar menu, and the beer is great every time we come. We've burned our way through the whole tap list, it's all pretty good, and the seasonals are also sharp. We come here all the time, that tells you all you need to know about the quality. Pro tip - this place has the best view in Madison (not lying!), but you do need to sit UPSTAIRS to see it.

Aug 17, 2018 by Joey

Thursday Karaoke!

Aug 05, 2018 by Marie H.

I went here for my birthday celebration with 20 friends and family members. While told having a private room upstairs would require a contract as well as a food/drink minimum we declined to commit to that BUT upon arrival were pleased to learn that they had put us up there anyway because another large party had made a reservation and there wasn't enough room for both large parties to be downstairs. They ended up putting us upstairs in a room with private bar service that overlooked the capital in the distance! The sun was setting and it was all so perfect :) I booked this place for my birthday get together for the sole reason that Great Dane had recently revamped their menu and many of us in our party were excited to try it; and we were impressed! Lots of new menu items were ordered during our visit and all were delicious! I ordered the Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders and my husband got the Santa Maria Grilled Tri-Tip and both were amazing!!! I had a bite of the Brussels and cauliflower appetizer as well as the Wisconsin Style Cheddar Mac dish and again both were delish! Friendly staff, great service, deliciously hot food! 4/5 stars because parking is horrendous (you've been warned)!!!

Jul 24, 2018 by Timothy L.

We live in the neighborhood and have gone numerous times.  Not so much lately. Food is good but not consistent.  Beer is also inconsistent. I am not a beer expert so I thought it might just be me. I asked numerous brewer friends......they agreed wholeheartedly. The main thing that stops us from being regulars is the staff.   Inconsistent again, poor training, etc.  Forgetting to come back and check in, no silverware or condiments, attitude....   More than once our server "jokingly" made fun of us because we did not care for their beer.  This has happened on more than one visit. Not really the way to get return customers. Some people just don't like certain craft beers.  Having options would be my suggestion.

Jul 22, 2018 by Sabrina L.

My husband and I were driving home from the Dells area and were getting hungry. Looked at the map for some where to stop. We found Great Dane Pub! Pulled up the outside of the restaurant looked cute. We got seated. Menu was different then they showed online. We ordered some lunch. The presentation of the food was good. My husband ordered a burger. He asked for grilled onion, the onions were cold. Also his burger looked like a frozen patty. Was nothing to brag about!! I ordered a wrap that was ok... mainly filled with lettuce. Our waiter was blah! Didn't smile or look like he liked his job much.

Jul 16, 2018 by Lori D.

My favorite place for Friday night fish! The Lake Perch is outstanding, and especially good when paired with their Scotch Ale. Great service, great views from the second floor (Eastside Madison), and consistently great food.

Jul 08, 2018 by Marla E.

Went here for Sunday brunch when it opened at 10 am.  Hostess is nice.  But the staff and manager at the bar were very loud!!   Three guys and then the manager (woman).  They were laughing about the night before and how drunk they got and they were feeling that morning.  They were louder than the background music.  The waitress Haley took our orders.  My boyfriend ordered the North Star breakfast.  I ordered huevos  rancheros.  Our food was delivered except for the buttermilk biscuit.  Haley told us it was coming they were still in the oven.  40 minutes later she came with a biscuit and explained they hurried this along.  At the same time we had already finished the rest of our meal. The biscuit appeared to have been deep fried. When It was opened up it was still raw inside.  We showed it to the hostess and she apologized and took it away.    About ten minutes later Haley came with a new fully cooked biscuit.  She apologized many times and said the coffee and beer were free. By this time we had been here for over 50 minutes waiting for a fully cooked biscuit.I know it's not waitstaff's fault.  She did a great job trying to fix the situation.  I see this is a managers fault for not checking in with Kitchen to make sure they were ready for service.  Haley got her 20% tip from us...she was not the problem.

Jul 04, 2018 by Ted H.

This is a really nice bar. It has a large dining area, upper level, and outdoor seating. The beer is good, but the food is amazing. I got the half sandwich with French onion soup and it was the best I've ever had. The soup had this thick and rich caramelized cheese on top with rye bread directly underneath. The flavor was incredible. I definitely want to come back and try more things on the menu.

Jul 04, 2018 by Mark R.

Great beers and really good food quality. Try the quesadilla or soup and sandwich combos.

Jun 22, 2018 by Stephen M.

It all started with the flight of beers presented in the wrong order, it should have tipped me off Unnspired beer, overcooked steaks and sloooooow service sum this place up.   I was so disappointed since the menu descriptions were exquisite but the cooks in the kitchen obviously weren't on the same page.   As far as the beer, skip this place and go to your local package store you'll find better flavors.  The only saving Grace was the attentiveness of our waiter.

May 23, 2018

May 13, 2018 by Kyleigh H.

Had a reservation for Mother's Day this year. Reservation was easy and got seated within 5-10 minutes of showing up. (We got there about 20 minutes before our reservation!) so far so good. First problem I had was that there were four flights of stairs to go up to our seats, which is odd for a restaurant but it was fine, for me at least, for my parents and grandfather on the other hand, was probably a bit more rough. Anyways, had to walk to the other end of the building for the buffet. Keep in mind this buffet was a little over $24 a person. The selection of food was great for brunch! However the food itself, not so good. Over cooked, dry, tasteless or just gross. The only thing worth the price was the selection, and the food would have also been worth the price if it was at least decent! I wasn't expecting perfection for a buffet but at least edible! A few years ago, we remember good food at the Fitchburg location, so was hoping for a good experience at the madison location, however, will not be going back.

May 12, 2018 by Britt K.

Tonight was very busy. We waited for our food longer than usual because the kitchen was backed up. We both got the prime rib, baked potato and green beans. It was served on what looked like a large salad plate. After trying to eat for several minutes unsuccessfully (hard to cut a steak when your plate is full of beans and potato) and when the waitress asked how everything was, we complained about how small the plates were. She said they didn't have a dishwasher that night. (They did however have four hostesses, so that's good) But she did bring us each another (larger) plate when asked. Meat was still somewhat of a challenge, mostly because of fat and tendons. Au jus wasn't especially good either.

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May 06, 2018 by Audrey B.

This is always a must stop when we are in Wisconsin. The beer is really great and a good variety. My husband always gets this specific burger, pretty sure he would make love to it if he could lol..

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Apr 25, 2018 by George M.

Date of my visit: 24-March-2018 Time of my visit: Dinner Total bill (with tax, but not including tip): $32.08 My girlfriend's ice hockey team wanted to come here for dinner.  They placed us upstairs, by combining a bunch of tables together.  There still was not enough room for all of us. My girlfriend and I decided to split the appetizer, so we ordered Old Glory Cheese Curds to share.  They were alright, a bit over cooked, but not burned, which, I thought, was interestingly weird. For our main courses, my girlfriend ordered Chicken Pot Pie and I ordered Texarkana Burger (no cheese).  It did not take all that long for our food to come out, which I was a bit surprised that it was relatively quick (a very good thing!), given the size of the party. My girlfriend enjoyed her Chicken Pot Pie.  My burger on another hand had some issues...  I usually order my meat medium rare, it came out medium...  I understand that some place can't/won't cook anything medium rare and that's fine, but just let me know.  The chips, it came with, on the other hand, were pretty good! Overall a C+ experience!  I would try it again!

Apr 19, 2018 by Bubba J.

Good food ....... good beer ....... service is a little slow otherwise would be a 5 star. That's the only complaint I have.

Apr 09, 2018 by Ryan D.

We had an excellent Friday night at the Great Dane! The beer and food, as always, was wonderful.  Our server, Cassie, was amazing! We will be back! Our favorite dishes include the Mayan Chicken Wrap, the Beef Baja Burger, the Mac n Cheese, and the cheese curds. The Scotch Ale Rocks! Bring back the Buffalo Chicken Wing Flatbread Pizza; it used to be on the menu at the downtown location!

Apr 01, 2018 by Caleb S.

Madison local hang spot. They had some mean fish tacos when I was going there, if they still have them on the menu check 'me out.

Mar 27, 2018 by Emmy B.

Booked the "large" meeting room for a recent lunch meeting.  Booking was easy, and the room cost was reasonable when purchasing food and drink.  The room includes a screen, however, the computer hook-up is on the side of the room, so the presenter cannot stand at the front.   Requested seating for a max 20 people, and it was set-up for 19.  Even after adding 2 more tables, the 15 attendees complained the space was too small, and it was hard to hear the presentation with the eating.  It was tight!   The food was good, and the service was great.  The staff did a good job refilling drinks and tending to everyone, even during the presentation.  At one point I had to close the door, because the kitchen was loud, and it was interfering with the sound in the room, but never had an issue with the waitstaff.   The location is great, however, I can't imagine ever needing such a small room again.  Make sure you see it before booking!  And anticipate you will not be able to fit 2-3 people per table (as they suggest).

Feb 26, 2018

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Feb 25, 2018

Nice :)

Feb 24, 2018

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Feb 22, 2018 by Brent E.

Go here on occasion for the beer which is excellent. The food menu is best described as pretentious and expensive.

Jan 18, 2018 by Klinton V.

Good food, good service, nice employees, fast service on the cheese curds. Nice clean place

Jan 17, 2018 by Jazz S.

From Chicago and was recommended this place for a big group. We had no trouble finding seating and it was nice and quiet on a Sunday night! Be prepared to give yourself at least twenty minutes to pick your food and drinks - it is huge! FOOD: I was suspicious about how good it would be since they had so many different foods from different cuisines, but my friend got a Thai dish that was delicious! All the soups were also pretty good. I had wanted time get the smothered chicken but they ran out so I got one of the burgers that I didn't think was too special. LOVED the cheap beer prices and the beer flight options. Service was good too but it also wasn't very busy.

Dec 29, 2017 by Tom O.

The food here is great. It's worth paying a little extra for it. If you're looking for a place to have a nice dinner and some drinks, this is a great place.

Dec 25, 2017 by RealHonest R.

For real. It is Christmas day. We are here with friends having a good time. Playing dice and just relaxing. It's a goddamn bar, and we for real just got yelled at because we were laughing too loud and making too much noise playing bar dice. It's a bar. And it's Christmas. This place is too hoity toity nose in the air and rigid and stuck up for anyone that would want to have a good time. Instead, we would rather listen to shitty music in a bunch of old people bitching about taxes. It's a f'n BAR!!!!!!!!!!!

Dec 18, 2017

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Dec 16, 2017 by Matthew

Beer is decent and food isn’t bad. Good space with lots of tvs

Oct 10, 2017

Oct 07, 2017 by Elsa W.

i really enjoyed this place until, i found out there was an age limit for kids meals?!? never coming back!

Oct 04, 2017

Oct 04, 2017 by Liz M.

The Pros: -Tons of seating! Came here at 5:30pm on a Friday -- no wait! -Large menu with tons of options & a great fish fry -Open late w/ late night menu! -Their house brew IPA is great. The Cons: -Brunch is just....not good. Skip it and head to one of the million other Madison brunch spots. -Very, very loud. -Pricey.

Oct 01, 2017 by Lisa R.

My first time at this location and I was disappointed in the food. I had the chicken and waffles, waffles were soggy and the whole dish was flavor list. My sister had the quiche of the day and she said hers was very good and it was a large portion. They make a very good Bloody Mary and don't go overboard with the garnishes.  Their beer list is very good and their homes brews are great, I recommend the Crop Circle Wheat. If they seat you on the second floor there is a great view of Madison and the Capital and all the booths face the window so every booth and table has a view. I will probably try them again next time I'm in town.

Sep 29, 2017

Sep 28, 2017 by Food L.

Great Dane is a local favorite but is highly overrated in my opinion. The food is lackluster. However, the ambiance is casual and fun. Great venue for large groups.

Jul 10, 2017 by Brad P.

The good: - Cajun Chicken Sandwich had an appropriate combination of kick and flavor - Vodka Lemonade and house brews are very solid - Plenty of outdoor seating The not so good: - We picked the sunnier side because I love the warmth but we got a very lopsided table - I was going to ask for a different table but none of the open tables had been cleared - Server was adequate but didn't give her name and had to be prompted about refilling drinks All-in-all, the food was very good, which is the most important aspect for me. The building is great and vibe inside good as well.

Jun 18, 2017 by Liamy M.

The Great Dane is one of the few places I always recommend to out of towners. We've eaten at all the Madison locations, have done dinner, Sunday brunch, Mother's Day brunch buffet, special catered work events. The food is consistently high quality and you know whatever you order is going to be great.

Jun 12, 2017 by Jason P.

Hit the spot spectacularly! Fantastic pretzel with cranberry mustard and cheese sauce too. Had a soup and sandwich for dinner: grilled cheese with tomato mushroom bisque. Wow! Great beer and desert!

May 29, 2017 by Tyler P.

We came here for lunch. We shared a bowl of the West African Chicken Peanut Stew. The stew was good but lacked some of the seasoning and spices you'd expect when you think West African. I got the Cubano sandwich with pub fries. The sandwich was good. The bread was fresh and it was a good sized sandwich. The fries, however, were disappointing. They appeared to be frozen fries and tasted like it. Where's the hand-cut fries? They have a lot of outdoor seating, which is great. And they also have shuffleboard! Definitely a fun spot to hang out.

Apr 28, 2017 by K S.

Really should have been 5 stars all along. The Dane is a solid, reliable place to get a delicious, cold beer or cider and a yummy meal. Are they perfect? No, but in the grand scheme of things they don't deserve a drop in their rating over such small complaints. If anyone asks me where to go eat, my list always includes my favorite standby, the Dane. They do it right every time. We've tried macaroni and cheese at a lot of other restaurants and you know what? No one comes close. The second best option is when you buy the giant pan of macaroni and cheese from Costco and add about a cup of milk before baking, then chop up some scallions and tomatoes, throw on some panko breadcrumbs at the end of baking, and have some Frank's hot sauce on the table. As far as we're concerned the Dane puts all other restaurants' macaroni and cheese to shame -- even that Mac's place out in Sun Prairie, which did not do it for me. I'd rather eat at Noodles -- but I always get something else when I go there! Go to the Dane. You won't be sorry.

Apr 24, 2017

Great food and great people!

Apr 24, 2017

Great food and great people!

Apr 24, 2017

Great job all around!!

Apr 19, 2017

Great place to eat!!

Apr 18, 2017

Testing

Apr 08, 2017 by Larry P.

We felt like dinner out.  The Great Dane is convenient plus we've had positive experiences here in the past. Tonight we were seated upstairs.  Thank goodness because its much quieter up than down.  Saturday is prime rib night so I ordered the 10 ounce size.  My wife ordered chicken pot pie. Our server, Katrina, did a fine job. The prime rib was good, not exceptional but good.  It was a good value for the price.  Kathy's pot pie was also good.  She asked for a second pretzel roll.  She's a bread junkie and one smallish roll just wasn't sufficient. I felt like having a sweet finish so I had the Mason jar lemon cheesecake.  It was served with a berry sauce and a crunchy oats topping.  I would not have missed the oats.  The cheesecake was just right.  Adequate lemon, not syrupy sweet.  And, again, a good value. Yup, we'll return.

Mar 28, 2017

Great experience!!

Mar 05, 2017

Would return again friendly staff and atmosphere

Feb 22, 2017

Feb 17, 2017

Feb 12, 2017 by Brendan S.

Great beer and solid pub food make this Madison brewpub a go-to for casual bites after work or golf. The burgers are great. Vegetarians can find many choices on the menu. It is also kid friendly.

Feb 08, 2017 by Tyler C.

I love the Great Dane because I can have a couple of drinks and get to play pool. Food is good and there is always great service at all of there locations.

Jan 23, 2017

testing

Jan 16, 2017

Great

Jan 16, 2017

Great

Jan 16, 2017

Great

Jan 12, 2017

Jan 05, 2017

Jan 04, 2017

testing

Jan 03, 2017 by Bill C.

I have been to several Danes in town.  I use to live within walking distance of the Hilldale location, so this is kind of a comparison between the two...sorry. The food in both locations has been very good.  I order the large nachos with chicken for take out quite often and they are consistently good.  I am also a big fan of the California Turkey Club sandwich.  The fish tacos are usually pretty good.  My old roomie gets their wings and is a fan of those as well. The mozzarella and tomato salad is pretty great too. Oh, and let's not forget the Prime Rib on Saturday evenings....it tends to be outstanding. The beers at the Dane are good as long, but don't ask for a Coors Light (had out of towners ask for one once...it was kind of funny).  I like their Scotch Ale and they often have a seasonal or specialty beer that will hit the spot. The building/space set up and staff is a big difference.  Hilldale has a better set up for me, a larger more spacious, open bar area as compared to the Eastside.  The staff at Hilldale also appears to be more professional.  I am all for fun, but when, on multiple occasions, I have to wait for service because the bartender is doing a shot with customers, that will lose you a star. I would say that as long as you are coming for dining room, you are probably okay.  And I don't want to sound like the old man yelling to get off my lawn, but service still matters to me.

Dec 31, 2016

Hi.

Dec 31, 2016

Great

Dec 27, 2016

Dec 26, 2016

Dec 25, 2016

Dec 24, 2016

awesome

Dec 17, 2016

It was a great experience.

Dec 17, 2016

It was a great experience.

Dec 15, 2016

awesome

Dec 15, 2016

Dec 08, 2016

Dec 06, 2016

Great all around experience

Nov 26, 2016

Great food

Nov 25, 2016

Great place all around!!

Nov 18, 2016

I loved it.

Nov 16, 2016 by Roman M.

I've dined in a couple times now and had a carry-out order, so figured time to write a review! So, the Great Dane is a local chain and I generally think it's a pretty cool place for a quick dinner or lunch that can provide a diverse menu for your friend group. It's got burgers, poutine, tacos, really a little bit of everything. This particular location is newer, on the far east side of Madison, not far from my house. It's one of those ultra-modern buildings with the lofted ceilings and actually sits pretty high up on a hill, so if you're on the second floor of the dining area, the sunset over downtown Madison and Capitol Square can actually be pretty magnificent! I've had their meat loaf entree for dinner, as well as their poutine (fair warning, for some reason the same poutine I got for carry-out once was WAY different than the poutine I got when dining-in, with the dining in being much better!). The food has generally been pretty good, and the staff have been nice and personable. Where the ambiance of this particular location can take a dive (depending on what you want/looking for) is during sports games (because people yelling and hollering down at the bar area echos and travels through the building, like a motherf***) and this location tends to get more families with kids given its location in a more residential area on the outskirts of the city, so keep that mind if you're looking for a more intimate setting for a nice evening out with your significant other.

Nov 07, 2016

Oct 29, 2016 by L S.

A great place to remind two old guys of youth. Great draft beers and the German Sausage Plate served some of the best meat I have ever had. The sauerkraut comes out of the can and is nowhere near real German sauerkraut. Otherwise, a fantastic experience for two old guys who can still climb stairs.

Oct 15, 2016

Oct 12, 2016

Oct 09, 2016 by Ashley R.

Food (Asian wings, Chicken salad, and Cajan sandwich) and beer were good but the prices were a little high for the amount of food. Quality was decent, nothing out of this world. The service that we received from Lacey was some of the worst that we have ever had. Took forever for her to great us, didn't refill drinks, was snobby when she asked questions ("Is she done with that?" When the plate had a napkin covering it with the tableware in top making it clear that it could be taken away.), slapped the check down after her rude "did you save any room for anything else", and when she returned with the card, slapped it down once again and rudely said "thanks". If the food and beer weren't good we wouldn't even think of coming back to this place.

Sep 19, 2016 by Delonda J.

I have been to this Great Dane location a few times and it was always decent. Never 5 stars but always an option out of the very few in the area. Today I called in and ordered the Pub Wings with the Jamaican Jerk sauce-my favorite. Unfortunately what I got today was quite the opposite. I received some overly battered/breaded wings tossed in the sauce. Usually they aren't breaded or if they are it's lightly done and delicious! I still decided to go ahead and eat them but then they were salty and barely edible. Maybe they had a new chef tonight or maybe they changed the recipe-who knows! What I do know is that I probably won't be going back :(

Sep 13, 2016 by Emily D.

The Dane is solid. I've been to this locations many many times and particularly like it for it's upstairs dinning area. You get a lovely view of Lake Monona and the Capitol, and they have huge booths. The menu has some absolute gems that any human with taste buds will enjoy, such as: Sara B's Beet Salad Chimichurri ranch steak salad Mediterranean plate Chicken potpie Inner warmth peanut stew I could go on, but I'll stop there. A solid choice of dinner or lunch. I haven't been to brunch at this location, but if it's anything like their other locations, also a huge win. Go check it out!

Sep 12, 2016 by Kris D.

I am always amused when we get seated at a restaurant and have to wait long enough for the server to know exactly what we want for dinner just to have them come by and be in complete shock that, not only do we know what we want to drink, but we have our dinner order all ready to go as well.  Apparently there was some sort of mix-up tonight and I believe the person who took our order wasn't actually our assigned server.  Still, not enough to ruin dinner for us.  It happens. Great Dane has been pretty consistent for us lately, likely in part to the fact we generally eat early before the standard dinner rushes.  Service has been good, food is generous and tasty.  And it's nice that this location found a restaurant with staying power. Entree prices seem reasonable but the appetizer prices are sure up there.  Saw one appetizer on the menu for $12.25.  That is what I'd expect to pay for a chicken entree.  I'm not in the restaurant biz, but it just seems apps should be between $5-$8.  Or maybe I'm living in the past!

Sep 02, 2016 by Caren L.

Larger menu than expected. Good service and great beer. I'm particularly partial to the Scotch Ale.

Sep 01, 2016

Aug 27, 2016 by Anthony S.

I have been here about three times. Terrible Service, sub par food. Not a good combination when Madison is thriving with foodie options. If you aren't too picky or in a rush than maybe this place is for you. If you like beer go to Hop Cat off of State Street. I have had a few of the basic food options at this place but, dang, epic fail on all accounts. The nachos are uber gross and look and taste like something fished out of a gutter spout. Did I mention the service? It is non existent. Holy cow, thank god there are a gazillion other options in this town. enough said.

Aug 25, 2016 by Aaron H.

Feel like this place is a little underrated on here. I got Tara's Cajun Chicken and it was delicious with just the right spice. Beer was pretty good and the brownie was amazing.

Aug 16, 2016

Jul 20, 2016

Great Work!

Jul 16, 2016 by Kristina F.

Good food and decent beer selection. Personal favorites are the Pub Burger and Pub Wings. I like that this location is always crowded, which often means the food is pretty good.

Jul 13, 2016

Excellent food!

Jul 07, 2016

MAGNIFICIENT PLACE AND MOOD

Jul 06, 2016

Aircon spoilt

Jul 06, 2016

Great service

Jul 05, 2016 by PJ C.

The overwhelming impression of our meal here was how darn cold we all were from the overblown AC on the top floor. Really it wasn't that hot outside. Anyway, the food here was decent. The fried cheese curds were average but the jerk pork tacos were quite tasty. Others in our group liked their meals but again their taste buds may have been frozen!   On the plus side the old fashion was well made and the service was good.

Jul 01, 2016

Jun 28, 2016

Great service thank you

Jun 27, 2016

Jun 26, 2016 by Katherine

Sunday Brunch is the best

Jun 24, 2016

Jun 24, 2016

Fuck you

Jun 11, 2016 by Kathi

The cheddar Mac and cheese is the bomb.

May 21, 2016 by Jason M.

5/21/2016  Arrived at 5:30pm put in our order at 5:45.  At 7:15pm they start serving a table that was seated at 6:15pm.  The food comes out around 7:25pm and it's lukewarm and the fries were cold.  We were told like 3 times it would be a little longer.  On two occasions our drinks took 20 minutes because the bartender had "stepped away".  Twice!  The cheese on my wife's sandwich is hard and my prime rib tasted like cafeteria roast beef, it was cold and chewing.  They comped us our drinks but it was horrible.  We will never eat there again.  It was my son's 17th birthday meal.  The table next to us got a free desert for their birthday, we got ignored.  Save your money and go to McDonalds.  $50.00 for plates of cold food after an hour and a half wait with no explanation.  Avoid the not so great dane.

May 06, 2016 by Roger A.

Excellent food, beer and service every single time we eat here. Every item on the menu is a winner.

Apr 16, 2016 by Andy D.

Came here with the family for dinner.  Had the poutine for a starter, which was pretty good.  I will note that the fries here are different than the Great Dane in Fitchburg, and honestly, those fries make their poutine a little better. The group had burgers, sandwiches and a salad.  The salad was overdressed, but otherwise the rest of our meals were else good.  The waitress stopped by once to check in drinks, when we were pretty much done.  She also didn't bother with a pen to sign the check.  Thanks.  Kinda disappointed by the mediocrity of the service tonight.

Apr 10, 2016 by Bartleby F.

Came in here around 9 on a Friday.  It was busy but we were able to sit at the bar.  I'm just going to go down a quick list here: 1. The bartenders were super nice and ready to answer questions despite the fact it was busy. 2. The bar clientele skewed young--like college kids which is weird because-- 3. It's not cheap.  You're in $15 for most entrees and beers are another $6 or so. 4. Because it skewed young it was really noisy and people were sloppy with drink spillage and knocking into tables and stuff--amateur hour. 5. The food was surprisingly good.  I had shrimp and grits my dining partner had the fish tacos.  No complaints at all about the food. 6. The beer was good.  I had the Scotch Ale and the Emerald Isle Stout, my dining partner had the non-German Pilsner.   7. Large space with an upstairs.  There were darts and pool because people kept asking for darts and balls. I'm sure I'd go back if I find myself in Madison again.

Mar 31, 2016 by Christine L.

We came here for Easter Brunch because a Google search seemed to suggest that this was the place to go in Madison, and I can't search by Easter brunch on Yelp.  I tried making reservations here a couple of days before but was told they were all booked but they would have a few spots by the bar for walk-ins. The hostess reminded me that they opened at 9am on Easter. Okay, that seemed to be a good sign that their Easter brunch was popular enough to open an hour early AND they were all booked. Well, Google fails, because the brunch was unbelievably disappointing. For $25, I expected way better. They had a carving station, a salad bar, other hot entrees like scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, cheesy potato hash, etc. But the bacon was overly greasy, the lettuce wilty, the chicken medallion dry. Out of all their offerings, the best was their biscuits and gravy and chicken tenders. The carving station was serviceable - they had ham, lamb, and prime rib, and the lamb wasn't bad. For dessert, they a variety of pies, and cookies. I chose a lemon meringue, which was still not quite thawed when I took a bite. It really felt like they thought they could get away with a subpar offering and charge an arm and a leg just because it's Easter. I'm not a fan of any business that does that.

Mar 25, 2016 by Jake S.

I live close and come here all the time. It's hit or miss. If you just wanna drink, the beer here is outstanding. If you want food, come in the middle of the day. The last time I was in there it was about 8 pm, maybe 5 people at the bar, and I think a party going on upstairs. I order a beer and ask for a menu. Bartender pours me a beer then proceeds to ignore me for 20 minutes even though I had a menu sitting right in front of me. The food is decent, just dont expect to get any in the evening.

Feb 23, 2016 by Joel L.

Been coming here for years. Only a handful of things on the menu I'd rather not have again. The cheese curds and Nakoma nachos are great apps. The beers are always consistently good. Never the best I've ever had, but really good over the course of the night. I keep coming back for a reason. Try the OldGlory APA, the Peck's Pilsner and the Stone of Scone Scotch Ale.

Jan 03, 2016 by David D.

We used to live on Richmond Hill ten years ago before moving out East.  Stopped for a quick pint at the now Great Dane up on the hill.  The "developers" have turned the whole park into an instant semi-urban slum, and all the beautiful views are gone (including the one at the Dane apparently).  Walked in looking for a brew and was almost knocked over by the racket from some of the totally boozed up customers virtually screaming at each other.  Looked around and saw nothing but detritus and dirty windows.  Tried to get at the hostesses, but they couldn't be heard over the racket.  This place is really a dump.  I don't know if any of their beer is any good, as we never got one.

Jan 01, 2016 by M S.

The vegetarian options are present, but mediocre at best. I resent having to pay extra for a Boca burger - they are boring and  just aren't that good - and none of the other veg options are any more exciting. Twenty years ago their beer seemed like a revelation, but now there are much better brewers in the area, too.

Dec 05, 2015 by Jenn T.

Service is horrid in this location. Every time I've been there, I wait for food and wait for drinks and wait and wait and wait. One time in particular, the waiter was short from the time we sat down. Sorry we wanted to give you money in exchange for decent service and food. Then the most flavorless, flat soda was delivered to our table. My boyfriend asked for another soda and politely explains it doesn't taste quite right. Waiter's response? "Well, it's going to come out of the same gun so it won't taste any better." Since when does a waiter not offer to check the syrup/carbonation to make sure the mixture is correct?! How hard is that?! Brings the second one back to the table. Well, he was right, it was just as nasty as the first one. So when he delivers our food (he never checked back after delivering the second soda to see if it was better) my boyfriend asked for a water because the soda (which he had not drank) didn't taste right. Waiter brings the water. Can you guess what was on our bill? Yep, the unconsumed flat, flavorless soda. Can you guess how much of a tip we gave him?! Horrible service. He made us feel like we were an inconvenience for deciding to come into the restaurant. Food just isn't good enough to justify dealing with the service. Go to the one on Fish Hatch instead.

Nov 29, 2015 by Beth P.

This is my favorite of all of the Great Dane locations because of the view! It would be a great restaurant for prom goers. I had my graduation party hosted here in the upstairs room. The staff was friendly and clearly prepared to handle the massive UW-Madison graduation crowd and special reservations that day. Everything was prepared well and everybody enjoyed their meal. The mac & cheese was the favorite of the day. There are separate bathrooms upstairs so our party didn't have to worry about walking downstairs to use the loo.

Nov 11, 2015 by Jason JD Mayfield

This is just a test review of JlmWeb so I can see how it works.

Oct 20, 2015 by Joel B.

My wife and I stopped here on the way home from a business trip on the recommendation of a friend.  I am REALLY glad we did! I had the Brat and Bacon Pretzel Burger.  It was juicy and Delicious.  ...One of the best burgers I have ever had...and I have had a lot of burgers. As a side I had the plantains.  They were a nice break from the norm and a sweet complement to the flavor of the burger. My wife had the Smothered and Covered Fried Chicken.  She only let me have one bite, but I must say it was phenomenal.  She ate the rest before I could steal anymore. My only complaint about our visit was that there isn't a location closer to our home.  We will be back!!!

Oct 16, 2015 by Clay P.

Lunch visit. Service was good and view of Downtown Madison is hard to beat from upstairs but food was lousy and overpriced. Grilled cheese on bread so hard and crusty it didn't chew,  just kind of became shrapnel in mouth. Had hardly any cheese either. Equally bad tomato soup - watery thin broth with few veggies. Aunt enjoyed Reuben Sandwich but rest of table was equally unimpressed.

Oct 05, 2015 by Jen G.

We stopped at this location of Great Dane on our way home from the Dells.  My husband and I started by sharing the Brown Ale Onion soup.  It was a good size for us to share.  Next we both ordered burgers.  I had the Dane Burger.  The artichoke dip was outstanding.  My husband enjoyed his burger (although I can't remember which one he got).  He also tried two beers:  Old Glory American Pale Ale and the Imperial IPA.  He enjoyed both.  We stayed for a few rounds of pool and hit the road but we'll be back next time we're in town.  I could see this being a regular hangout for us if we lived nearby.

Sep 22, 2015 by Cory P.

Its not often that I sit down in a restaurant and am completely torn about what to order because so much sounds so good.  But decide I did and I was not disappointed.  My husband and the kids all loved their meals and the food was served in a reasonable amount of time.  The restaurant also offered many different seating options from outdoor to tables and booths and was not cramped which is a really nice thing when you are dining with 4 kiddos!  The next time we are in town we'll visit again for sure.

Aug 16, 2015 by Ravi R.

A promising place in Madison to hangout and have fun ... Enjoy a good game of pool or shuffleboard while chugging a good beer from their menu.... Haven't had many food items on their menu but the cheese curds are top notch.

Jul 26, 2015 by Robert J.

It's usually fairly busy because it's the only place in that area. I went here during March Madness time and had a very poor experience, if you want to watch a game other than a Wisconsin game, plan on going somewhere else - even if your team's game is just finishing up. I decided to give it a couple more tries. During those tries, it was just average. If I'm in the area and other people want to go, I'll go. Otherwise it's not somewhere I go out of the way for. If you really want to go to a Great Dane, go downtown.

Jul 24, 2015 by Megan S.

I always come here when I am in town! I love love their Mac and cheese and pretzel! I tried their poutine burger. Honestly I would have just gotten the appetizer then the burger. Their root beer is awesome. I had to take a grower of it home. My husband enjoys their house made beer.

Jul 12, 2015 by Kevin D.

Crowded, great atmosphere, food is not the best. It's about the only thing in the area though.

Jul 06, 2015 by Sarah K.

Chose the Great Dane for lunch with my husband and my sister, who was visiting from out of town, as we had a gift card we had received as a gift and always wanted to try this location. Unfortunately, the service ruined our experience here, and we will not be returning. Upon walking into the restaurant, the hostess asked us if there were just going to be three in our party. We replied "yes-3". She grabbed menus and when she was seating us outside, realized she had only brought 2 menus with her, so apologized and said she would be back with a third menu. After about 10 minutes, it was clear she wasn't going to bring us another menu, so my husband and I shared, which was fine. The restaurant was not busy at all, so can't see a reason why the hostess would have forgotten to bring us the third menu. After about 10 minutes, a waiter greeted us and asked to take our order. My sister and I decided to split a burger, and my husband went with the Wisconsin Mac & Cheese. After about 20 minutes, a different server brought the burger out and asked if we needed anything else. We told her my husband had ordered a mac & cheese and was waiting on that. The waitress looked confused and said she would go check on that. Initially, I waited to eat the burger, as I'd wanted to wait for my husband so we could all eat together, however, after about 5 minutes, and our waiter stating that it would still be a few minutes on the mac & cheese, we decided to eat our burger or it would get cold. About 15 minutes after we got the burger, my husband finally received his order. I asked the waiter if he could please bring us a bottle of ketchup from inside (I don't like eating ketchup that has been sitting out in the sun, and have gotten sick from that before). He looked upset and instead of going through w/my request, which would have taken him about 5 seconds, he instead replied "Oh. No-it hasn't been sitting out here long. Maybe just like 2 hours" and walked away. It took about 20 minutes after my husband had finished eating his meal (and about 45 minutes after my sister and I had finished ours) for us to finally get the bill. Again, don't really understand, as the restaurant was not busy at all. When we finally did get our bill, we noticed there was an additional charge for my sister and I splitting a burger. While I don't agree with this policy, I understand some restaurants have it, but would have appreciated being told of this additional charge by our waiter, or having it noted somewhere on the menu, which it was not. The food was very average, the menu isn't anything special, and the prices are on the high side, but my husband and I will not be returning due to the terrible service we received while here, which ruined our whole experience. There are many other restaurants in the area that are far more deserving of our business.

Jun 19, 2015 by Kristen R.

Fantastic beer, food, selection, and service! We stopped on the way from Chicago to the Cities and were really impressed. I highly recommend this place--nice patio and not too far off the highway, and even independent of those things this restaurant would have been a treat.

Jun 17, 2015 by Dan M.

I've been to Great Dane three times now since moving to Madison in May. It's conveniently close to my place so I can't help myself. I think if Great Dane wasn't so close to my apartment, I would very rarely visit it. Nothing there stands out as amazing. The whole experience feels very average to me. There are many amazing pubs and brewing companies in Madison. Great Dane just feels like it is sort of middle of the road. The East Side location has indoor, floor, and upstairs seating with plenty of activities such as darts and pool to pass the time. The pub servers Great Dane beer, of course so there will be plenty to go around. I am personally a dark, Scotch, and brown ale drinker. Sadly Great Dane delivers a mediocre stout and an above average Scottish ale. Nothing I have had so far on their beer list has wowed me. I am always trying new beers so if this ever changes I will post an update. The food is stereotypical pub food and nothing innovative is going on here. The cheese curds are served VERY hot, have heavy breading, and the cheese doesn't taste fresh. I love cheese curds, but I don't think these are worth ordering unless you are desperate or want something better than Culver's... I've had multiple sandwiches and burgers at Great Dane. Nothing was wrong with them, but there was nothing outstanding about them. The ingredient quality just seems kind of meh. Nothing special really to eat here.

Jun 15, 2015 by Amy T.

We enjoy coming here on Friday nights for their fish fry. The baked haddock with couscous is fabulous.  Best I've tasted for baked.

Jun 13, 2015 by Julie G.

Monday dinner with dad. No wait for a table. I needed a beer for a rough day at work. Waitress asked about our likes a brought some samples to choose from. Food came out fast and hot. I had the french dip and dad had the cuban. We split an order of their specialty fries ?Pautine? - YUM!

May 26, 2015 by Angela S.

The fourth star is just for the variety.  The food is decidedly 3 stars--average and overly salty. The number one thing anyone thinking of eating at any Great Dane should know is that the cheese curds are fake. I mean, the cheese is real, but it's the wrong kind of cheese. Wrong breading, and (grasping chest) wrong dipping sauce!!!  True Wisconsin cheese curds are served with ranch dressing. These had some kind of horseradish dip. Now don't get me wrong, they were tasty--they just aren't the real deal. You'll need to go downtown for the true experience (Paradise and Caribou are the first to come to mind). Rest of the meal, as with the other locations I've visited, was just ok. Not so bad to make you wish you hadn't ordered it, but wonder if you should have chosen the other dish you were deciding between.

Apr 15, 2015 by Brandy L.

The food was good, not great. There wasn't really anything special. The service as well could have been better. My husband and brother n law each had 2 beers. But I couldn't get a water refill to save my life. We ordered cheese curds as an appetizer. It was a bit skimpy for the price. Overall it was good. I just expected more. I don't think I will go back. Just not my cup of tea .

Apr 10, 2015 by Laura Kate S.

This branch of the Great Dane is in a weird location in the middle of housing developments and fake community areas. But, whatever. Those people need to eat and drink too! Clearly they are not encouraged to drive, however, as the parking lot probably could only handle about 15 - 20% of the building's seating capacity. At this point, I also feel calling this location "pub" is hilarious. It's a massive restaurant. Very banquet-hall feeling in both look and in service.  I came for Easter brunch with my family and the food was good, but the atmosphere was quite lacking. When we arrived for our reservation we had to wait quite a while as "our" table was still occupied by the previous reservation. When we were finally led to our seats, there were lots of open tables that would've seated 4 adults and a child, so I'm really unsure why we had to wait 15-20 minutes. Overall, it was a nice time, but I wasn't particularly feeling it one way or the other. Nice food, pleasant service.

Apr 09, 2015 by Jeff

Good food great beer and great people.Fun place

Mar 20, 2015 by Cathie

Brew all their own beer; good food, too!

Mar 06, 2015 by Erin M.

The best part about the Dane is the beer garden in summer. There's often a wait during peak hours, but it's worth it. Since this is a brewpub, I'll say that their beer is decent but not really that exciting.  I like their Scotch ale a lot.  The barleywine is good.  But in a town where we're so spoiled with beer options, there's better out there. TIp: Most of their beer comes in imperial pints, which are larger than standard pints.  That is why you feel tipsy faster here, isn't it? Menu is big and diverse, with a lot of veg-friendly fare.  It's a bit overpriced though.

Mar 06, 2015 by Neil T.

Great place. Have been here many times since they opened. Favorite dishes are the fish fry, tandori cicken and the chicken pot pie. Beers are mostly excellent with rotating seasonals.  I would give it a 5 if the parking was better. Tip: have a friend drive and drop you off at the front door.

Mar 01, 2015 by Rick B.

I was with a party of four just after noon on a Sunday.  The restaurant was moderately busy and we sat at a nice booth in the bar area which suited me fine.  Our server was moderately polite but sounded like a loud robot with the menu and choices and never smiled once. Last time we were there we had a much better server and I tipped accordingly.  i ordered a lighter bock type beer and bloody and both were great.  The rest of the drinks were sodas. The food was acceptable...not bad and not great.  The three burgers were big and my omelette was fine.   I have been at this Dane twice and will continue to return as I like the location, atmosphere and beer with acceptable food  for the price.

Feb 28, 2015 by David G.

Arrogant and inflexible: Just had a bad experience. Asked for what I thought was a reasonable substitution, even offered to pay a substantial upcharge, but they refused.  I'd rather patronize a restaurant that wants to be open to their customers wants.

Feb 15, 2015 by Thomas H.

Let me start by saying I was torn between 3 and 4 stars - for one main reason. The Parking. It's horrible. Whoever planned this building area should find a new job. I've been to this location close to a dozen times, and I think I got a spot in their tiny lot once and I was just lucky to be pulling in when someone left. Be prepared to park far away. Not a huge deal when the weather is nice - but a huge pain with a baby in single digits and snow. That said - the staff here has always been very nice and provide great service. Selection of food and beer is great and I've always enjoyed their food. Upstairs has a nice dining area, 2nd bar area and group room. Very nice place overall - just plan on parking no where near the building whatsoever.

Jan 27, 2015 by Eduardo F.

Very nice place for a happy hour. The beers on tap are great. Food is also great. Service is also awesome and you can get also free popcorn. It just needs a little bit more variety on the menu.

Jan 15, 2015 by Chelsea M.

Returned to the Dane after their kitchen fire and was disappointed. Fruit flies everywhere. Seriously, we were swatting them away from our food. Service was ok. Not overly attentive, not overly friendly. We ordered an appetizer and food and everything came out at once. There was food splattered on the sides of the booths and a general lack of care displayed. Between the fruit flies, dirty booths, and the kitchen fire... We won't be back. They need to clean!

Jan 04, 2015 by Dave

Tara Cajun Chicken sandwich is great but the chicken keeps getting smaller and smaller.

Jan 03, 2015 by Eric B.

The East Side Great Dane is preferable to other Madison locations, particularly Hilldale or Fitchburg. The service was good and I thought the quality of food was a bit better at this location.  Also, the views from the second story of this location are really pretty spectacular, particularly on a clear evening when you will get a great view of the Madison skyline.   My only complaint with this visit was the screeching child in the booth next to us... of course this really isn't the restaurants fault - if I had screeched like that, I would have been banished to the care and barred from family outing for months... Thankfully the little screecher exited the building with it's parental units pretty quickly after our arrival.  Our "server" - the Great Dane has no waitresses or waiters was very pleasant and attentive.   It was potpie weather and I thoroughly enjoyed my chicken potpie. It came with a side of warm seasoned apples - sort of like apple sauce - pre sauce and a little pretzel roll.  Who doesn't like a little pretzel role.

Jan 03, 2015 by Amanda Z.

Went here for dinner tonight with a few other people. I was looking forward to it because I hadn't been in a long time and the menu looked delicious. Got there a little before 9 and it wasn't very busy- should have been an indicator on how the night was going to go when it took 10 minutes to get a beer from the bar. When the rest of the group arrived we ordered an appetizer. We never I r that. Our food took at least 45 minutes to come out (we ordered burgers and sandwiches) and was cold when it arrived, but our waitress did not seem to care. Eventually she offered us a free dessert, which was nice, except that it took an additional 25-30 minutes for that to arrive. Overall, the service was very poor and inattentive, and it was hard to judge the food because it came out cold. Would have been a very bad experience if I wasn't in good company.

Nov 10, 2014 by Gerrit

The Sunday brunch is wonderful.

Nov 07, 2014 by Jenny W.

The service was good, but the fish fry was WAY over priced. My husband got 3 small pieces of perch and fries for $14. The coleslaw had no flavor. I'm left wondering if this is just a chef issue since we have had fairly decent food here in the past.

Nov 03, 2014 by Paige M.

Stopped in here with friends on a trip to northwest Wisconsin.  It was a pretty solid experience - good food, good beer, and even the building itself was interesting.  I really appreciated that there were so many options for sides.  I thought the fried plantains were amazing.  The cole slaw and fries were also good, but I found the cous cous to be pretty disappointing. I've never been in the Madison area, so I don't know how the prices compare to the area, but they seemed a little high to me.  Nothing unreasonable, especially since portion sizes were quite fair for the price.  I just would prefer to pay less for a little less food while keeping the quality the same. Not giving the 5th star because nothing really blew me away, but don't let that stop you from stopping in sometime.

Sep 28, 2014 by Jessie

Great menu. Cozy atmosphere.

Sep 28, 2014 by Junice N.

The brunch at the Great Dane is quite impressive and it also took my by surprise. I've always been pleased with the dinner menu, and the view of the downtown Capital is extraordinary. But, I tried the brunch for the first time today and the waffles were to die for. Melted in my mouth. I also had a bite of my aunts huevos rancheros which were delightful.

Sep 27, 2014 by Brian O.

Came here a couple times this summer and had a so-so experience.  Great food in a nice building and great beer selection..but that's where it ends. The bartender downstairs that served us was pretty rude to me and my friend at different times. Never had that before anywhere. Sarcastic when answering a question and zero people skills or charisma.  Just a jerk. Then the other time, sat upstairs at the bar where there was a really nice vibe. But when we asked the bartender if they could turn on the Brewer game, she forgot and was reminded 1 or 2 more times, but it never came on.  Not the greatest service either. Incredible food though.

Sep 23, 2014 by Nicole Z.

I used to live in madison and now that we don't anymore whenever we head there this is our place to go. I usually always get one of three things but they are always fantastic. Great beer, good food, ok service. One annoying thing is the parking situation and the bars are pretty tiny. Other than that I recommend it. Keep in mind it is bar food though.

Sep 09, 2014 by Keighley

Sunday brunch

Aug 22, 2014 by Tim

The Friday fish fry is great!

Aug 16, 2014 by Tracy

Everything!

Jul 25, 2014 by August

Texarkana burger. Can't go wrong, matches up with all their brews!

Jul 22, 2014 by W S.

I've hit all the Great Dane locations was at the east side one today for lunch. Have to say food was a bit off. Had the Baja turkey burger. The guacamole was just not tasty and threw off the taste of the burger.  90% of the time I have had a great food experience. Today not so much. I want to say that you don't expect a home run every time, but if you are going to a restaurant you kind of do expect a home run every time. Otherwise what's the point of going there?  Would have been 4 stars but food not so great today.  Free wifi that's a plus.

Jul 08, 2014 by Winnie K.

I came to Wisconsin for cheese and beer.  I found both.  Not disappointed in your great state. But really, I came to Wisconsin for work and Great Dane was recommended to me by a local friend.  The beer was pretty good and I was so excited for the poutine.  I also ordered the Asian salad with seared tuna - probably not the best ordering decision I've ever made, as he put it - you ordered a salad.  At a bar.  With a non local fish.   Ok, you got me there.  I was tryna be healthy since we were eating fried potatoes with cheese curds and gravy on top!  I'm sure the other more typical bar food was much better. Service was fine and location is great - close to the waterfront and right in downtown Madison.

Jul 06, 2014 by B P.

I went to this restaurant with my family on Sunday afternoon. It had a nice relaxed atmosphere upstairs and down. The food was excellent with many options for side dishes. I took the hostesses recommendation for the Cajun sandwich and that was very good. The other specialty is the macaroni dish which my daughter had and she enjoyed it. They had at least 12 draft beers to choose from and we tried a sample platter with eight. The bacon on my wife's hamburger was crispy the way she likes it. And my sons hamburger was cooked properly - medium rare. All in all the great experience at a reasonable price.

Jun 27, 2014 by Sara F.

This place is amazing!  I have been here about 10-15 times.  Never had bad service and to be honest the service has been better than most restaurants that I have been to in the Madison area. I live very close to this Great Dane and can actually walk there.  I have visited the Great Dane a few times downtown and once in Hilldale.  All were great. The food is spectacular. I typically get something differen each time I go just because they have so much on there menu that I want to try it all. Best time to go is on the weekend. Try there Friday Fish fry or their Sunday Brunch.  My favorite entree thus far is their Steak with potatoes. They also have good hamburger which you can never go wrong with.  I'm a wine drinker however I've tried their beer and it's good too. The atmosphere is pretty cool. Pool tables, darts, bar, etc. The one on the East side had an amazing view of downtown. Can't beat it. And I believe all of them have rooms for party if that is the route you need to go.  I've rented the semi private room at Hilldale and it was perfect for what we needed it for. I highly recommend giving this place a shot. You can't go wrong. Enjoy!!  And don't forgot to purchase yourself a souvenir (pint glass). :-)

Jun 18, 2014 by A.D. M.

It's a really nice interior to the place, but parking isn't convenient. The food is good, but it's pricey. Same with the drinks.  A $9 margarita?  Seriously?  And it was 99% ice? The cheese curds were not made fresh. They're from a bag. For a place this nice, in Wisconsin, for the price they charge--that's unforgivable.

May 22, 2014 by Alex

Good craft brews.

May 11, 2014 by Haya

Worst place ever. Their $30 brunch and $9 bloodies are NOT worth it! Service was fine but there's really no reason to come here. Way too overpriced for low quality food/drinks.

Apr 30, 2014 by Robert Johnson

A Brew Pub. Being a home brewer I always try and visit establishments that craft their own beers and the Great Dane does not disappoint. Staff was welcoming and accommodating to our group. We were seated and addressed quickly where I ordered up an Old Glory American Pale Ale which I found very good. Ordered the German Sausage plate for dinner and just had to have the Dunkelweizen to round it out. Not only was the meal very good but the beer was on target for it's style. If your in the Madison area, a stop at the Great Dane needs to be on your list.

Apr 08, 2014 by Christopher

They make their own ginger ale and it is actually quite awesome.

Mar 31, 2014 by Capriana C.

Good food, friendly staff. I really dig the variety on the menu, especially the "Daily Naan" option! My one small problem with the Great Dane is that their bar doesn't have a blender...sad... During the summer they have a beautiful terrace to sit out on that I'd love to pair with a blended drink! Overall, I think this is the best location.

Mar 13, 2014 by Elizabeth R.

I went for trivia the other night.  I put my name in for a table and noticed an open booth.  I asked the hostesses if I could be seated there.  They said yes but then did nothing.  It took them nearly ten minutes to seat us and then we never even received menus.  The hostesses were not busy.  In fact, the hostesses at this location tend to just social with each other most of the time.   When we finally sat down, the service was slow.  Yeah, it was trivia night.  But come on.  Check on us occasionally.  Maybe it was a busy night and things fell through the cracks.  Maybe not. I dropped them a star because I tried their Apple Crumble.  It was pretty awful.  It was REALLY cold.  They took it right out of the fridge and served it.  The crumble was described as a granola topping.  It more like streusel or coffee cake.  For $5.50 and I expected a burst of flavor in my mouth.  The only thing I got was a sad, cold whimper. I would skip the pie and try another dessert.

Jan 09, 2014 by Dana L.

I met some friends for dinner and drinks.  We started with a hummus plate and a meat plate (I think it's called the plowman's plate?  Meat/cheese/bread/mustard) and progressed to the Webster Street Chicken Salad and Shrimp and grits.   The hummus plate was as expected as was the meat plate.  The Webster St. Chicken Salad was quite good.   The standout by far was the shrimp and grits. I don't normally recommend grits anywhere but the south, but this is an exception.  They do the grits right, buttery and creamy like they are made in the south.  The shrimp was perfectly steamed and the pork was not overpowering. The service at this location can be a little challenging.  Several times I've had to 'chase' the hostess to our table because she has been traveling at an alarming pace :)  The waitresses can be absolutely salty:  at times abrupt and rude, depending on who you get.  The atmosphere and food make up for it, so I will keep coming back.

Dec 31, 2013 by Doug

Great selection of beers.

Dec 29, 2013 by Matt

Chipotle Quesadilla

Dec 19, 2013 by Cydogg

Mmmm tasty food. Fast service on a Wednesday at 6pm. Had the pretzyl burger with a burger and a brat patty stacked on or some such wisco nonsense. It was good. Great scotch ale as well. 9/10 and would return.

Dec 18, 2013 by Bill

The Brat and Bacon Pretzel Burger is phenomenal!

Dec 15, 2013 by Nora S.

Good food, good beer.  Nice atmosphere. I like the variety on the menu - American-soups, burgers, wraps, mac & cheese.  Irish items, Mexican- enchiladas tacos.  Also like the 1/2 combo options.

Nov 27, 2013 by Jason N.

We went for dinner tonight, it was my first time.  It is nice inside, but I don't know what all the hype is about I will never go back. I got the Cajon chicken sandwich,  it was the worst sandwich I ever had.

Sep 28, 2013 by Allan

The Drunken Jerk is a great meal. The pork wrapped in banana leaves is perfectly seasoned and the fried plantains are tasty sweat. Lastly, the green beans are always fresh even out of season.

Sep 16, 2013 by Jonathan

Mmmm... Cheese Curds!

Sep 03, 2013 by David M.

9/2/13 My wife and I stopped in to The Great Dane to celebrate Labor Day.  The space was Cloud Nine's at one time.  I had a magnificent Emerald Isle Stout.  I watched it as it magically settled and savored every drop as I drank it down.  My wife had a Templeton Rye Manhattan.  You can see the capitol from the restaurant.

Aug 27, 2013 by Adam C.

A local favorite! The brat & bacon pretzel burger may not be good for your arteries but it's the best!

Jul 21, 2013 by Cathi H.

We went on a Sunday morning (11:00 am)  It was early so it wasn't busy at all.  The dining room was clean and stylish and the waitstaff was friendly . The parking lot is small. There is street parking.  We choose to sit upstairs based on other reviews, it's worth all the stairs. The food was really good.  My husband ordered a Bloody Mary.  I took a couple of drinks and couldn't get past how super spicy it was but he liked it.

Jul 07, 2013 by Neal

Fitchburg location is much better than Hilldale.

Jul 01, 2013 by Sean T.

We LOVE this place - it is a representative of Madison!  All locations are great, but our favorite is the East side location - we love to sit upstairs and look at the view.

May 07, 2013 by Phil S.

Good (but not great).  The beer is hit-or-miss but there is usually a wide range of options of Great Dane brews to chose from.  Best one recently was an Abbey Triple which clocked in at about 11.5%. The food is quite varied and, like so many brew-pubs tries a bit too hard.  Best choices are to stick with the more traditional side of the menu (burgers, fries, cheese, pretzels, etc.).  They have a good fish-fry on Fridays as well.

May 04, 2013 by Guillermo

Come out and enjoy our Mexican party. Happy 4 de Mayo!

Apr 23, 2013 by Corey Ross

A contender. I got here about 11am so it was def time for a bloody and bloody is was. One one the better bloodies in town. Nice and thick with just enough kick and a nice amount of greens to go with. I also decided to have a burger. I can't remember the name, but it came on a jalapeno bun with fresh cooked apple wood bacon and it even had a chipotle cream cheese in it. The burger itself was cooked to perfection and seasoned perfectly. The meat itself was not frozen and of good quality. I can't wait to work in Fitchburg again so I can stop here again.

Apr 10, 2013 by Jennifer L.

I live in the area (walking distance from where I live) and was so excited when they turned this building into a Great Dane! I enjoy the food but many of my favorite menu items seemed to have disappeared (bamboozle pizza, prime rib wrap, and the sandwich that had shrimp on it). There are still many great options and my current favorites are the Black & Tan Cheddar Burger, The Mac & Cheese, Tomato & Mozzarella Salad, and the Chicken Salad Croissant. Brunch here is also very tasty! The waffle is a favorite of mine! The Brunch menu has both breakfast items and some lunch choice (burgers, sandwiches, salads, and soup) as well as a featured Bloody Mary bar (never tried). I like the beers here, the Crop Circle Wheat is my personal favorite. Be aware these are not your "light" beers. A waitress once told me their lightest beer the Landmark Light has the equivalent alcohol content to three miller lites, another reason I like to be within walking distance! Just something to keep in mind. This location is nice because you can choose to sit upstairs or downstairs. The upstairs offers a quieter dining experience in my opinion along with beautiful views of downtown Madison. Downstairs gives you more of a pub feel and seems on par with other Great Dane locations. Parking: If you need to park there is a small lot behind the building, this fills up fast on some evenings! Additionally there are some parking spaces across the street and also parking on the street is available - you may have a block walk depending on how busy it is but there are sidewalks and as long as the weather is nice it's not bad. Park on North Star Dr if you don't want to walk up the  hill on Jupiter Dr. Overall I always have a great time here and have never been disappointed with the service or the food.

Mar 20, 2013 by Timothy L.

I have been to multiple Great Dane locations in Madison, and now I find myself within walking distance of this particular one. In comparison to every other Dane in Madison, this one seems to have the best service. I'm not going to lie, the Great Dane restaurants in Madison are very very popular. But I seem to enjoy myself a little more than the others. Tuesday night is the best time to come. They have trivia starting  around 7, and have appetizer specials. This Dane separates itself from the others also because it offers a Mug Club. This club is a very elite group that allows you to bring in your own mug and they charge you a regular size beer price to fill it. Now...I did say it is elite. Currently, there is a waiting list to get in the club, so make sure you get your name on the list asap! If you come between 4-7 parking is a issue sometimes, so be prepared to park on the road and walk. They also offer pool & shuffle board at this location as well!

Mar 18, 2013 by Mike

Getcha some Old Glory. It's delicious.

Mar 11, 2013 by Kaedi

Crop Circle Wheat is my favorite beer, and goes well with the Chicken Croissant Sandwich!

Mar 09, 2013 by Tom

Philly steak sand.

Mar 09, 2013 by Tom

Curds. Great

Feb 27, 2013 by M G.

Very nice place.  A group of us stopped there on our way back from Chicago for a bite. Unfortunately this was day 4 of a guys trip to watch Gopher hockey so we did not partake in any of their delicious beers. The burger and sandwiches were very good and the service was great. cool place.

Jan 12, 2013 by Luna Lynn F.

They have several vegetarian options. I have tried all of them and they are all so good I have trouble deciding which one to order. The last time I went with a friend we wanted to play shuffle board and get a bite to eat. The dinning area was full but they sat us at a table right by the shuffle board table so we could eat and play tat the same time. We had a blast. Great beer, tasty food, exceptionally friendly staff. I only wish it was closer to my house! I do prefer this location however. The fish hatchery location is not quite the same and I have had poor luck at that one.

Jan 12, 2013 by Robynn J.

This is a pretty okay place to go for drinks or meeting friends after work.  The menu is overly large, too many entrees and not very imaginative.  Conveniently located both downtown and at Hilldale.  Nothing special.  Tends to be kind of noisy.

Dec 02, 2012 by MANDO

Cheese curds are AWESOME!!

Dec 02, 2012 by Tricia

Great chicken pot pie, macaroni and cheese, and margherita pizza. Try what's on tap!

Nov 09, 2012 by Tamara C.

Really like the appetizers.  There's a few tables upstairs that allow you to pour your own drink.

Nov 04, 2012 by Jessie

Awesome portabella sandwich. Great with steamed vegetables!

Oct 15, 2012 by Neysan

Try the New Mexico Green Chili - #awesome #spicy green chili goodness

Oct 05, 2012 by Tanya V.

I really enjoy going to The Great Dane.  I love their chicken pot pie with cinnamon apples and beer bread.  I also love their potato soup, their Aztec Chicken Wrap, their artichoke dip, etc, etc.  I haven't had a bad meal here yet, and I've been to all their locations.  The food at all their locations seems to be equivalent in quality.   My husband enjoys their beers. The wait staff at this location have always been pleasant and accommodating.  Service has been good. I also love the brunch at their Hilldale location, but you'll have to expect a wait if you go for this, as it's popular.  If brunch isn't your thing, they have their late-night menu available to choose from.

Oct 02, 2012 by Paul S.

Just found out about this location on the East side. Great area, beautiful building. Awesome views of the city, capital, and lakes from the upstairs dining area. Went for lunch with a big group and didn't hear one complaint. The food was Great. Had a falafel which was just amazing. Others also said the gourmet grilled cheese, fish fry, and green chili were very good. I normally get the fish tacos with the hellfire habanero sauce, IMO the best i've had in Madison. The garlic mussels are also excellent. I haven't been a huge fan of their beers but, the Peck's Pilsner is a favorite. Our waitress and service was top-notch! She did an awesome job especially with the large group. Will definitely be going back!

Sep 17, 2012 by Chris

Great beer bread!

Aug 29, 2012 by Cris N.

Good pub and restaurant. Great service at the bar. Had the buffalo sustain burger. Very tasty. Beers are good and many options of their own brews.

Aug 14, 2012 by Thomas

Somewhat overrated. Good place to go if you're staying at the hotel across the street or you have guests from out of town. No smoking in Madison or Fitchburg. Downtown location has better atmosphere.

Jul 09, 2012 by Carly F

I have never had a bad meal here, or even an "ok" meal - every one has been wonderful.

Jun 24, 2012 by Joshua Hockett

Great Dane Hits on all 3. This past Saturday evening I made my way out to Fitchburg after having read some online reviews on Yelp.com and Urbanspoon.com and several of the hit items the Great Dane serves up. I even found some images on the net that really sold me on making a stop this past weekend to indulge myself in a classic burger that offered something different at the same time. Lets not forget that el fresco dining options never hurts either. At the Great Dane in Fitchburg, you get all that and then some. So let me walk you through the descriptive, visual and sensory pathway that was my “eat feat” for this weekend. Arriving at around 7pm I took the option to sit out at the bar in the “Garden Dining” section of the restaurant which I found fairly busy but not overcrowded either. I grabbed a seat and was quickly given attention by one of the bartenders who then kept close tabs on me during my whole stay. Having already seen the online menu I was pretty sure on what I was going to get for an app and entree but dessert still escaped me as no dessert menu was or is listed on the main menu. That I would have to wait and see on. Appetizer($5.50): Brown Ale French Onion Soup This is the real deal when it comes to French Onion Soup! Great flavor, amazing aroma, a thick slice of melted bubbly cheese and then a thick slice of french bread underneath with ample soft, moist, chopped onions to seal the deal. Comes with 2 small whole wheat rolls to dip in and soak up the broth to! Burger Entree ($10.50) + $1.00 for sweet potato fries as my side The Great Dane’s Brat and Bacon Pretzel Burger This burger is certainly what I needed. A classic burger yet something a bit different and not so basic. The pretzel bun all on its own may be to blame for this as its my first exposure to it but even the brat-burger dynamic may have played in, or maybe the bacon-burger-brat did it, or maybe the cheddar cheese-bacon-burger-brat combo to blame?? Who knows and who cares! It was darn good either way! It comes with Pecks Pilsner Mustard which I was quite liberal with to say the least as its a personal favorite condiment of mine so I was sure to see that nothing here was going to waste. Others should be forewarned....this burger is big and despite the bun and its hard pretzel covering to help support the mass of goodness inside, your going to get a little messy trying to eat this whole, even with two hands. Cut this monster in half and then you stand a fighting chance of keeping your hands from the onslaught I encountered (but so worth it!) The additional $1 for sweet potato fries was very well worth it! Warm, crisp and fresh with that smell and taste of real cut sweet potatoes is what I wanted and that is just what I got. A great companion to go with the taste of the burger! I shall note that sweet tater fries are my all time favorite side dish to any burger period, kudos to The Great Dane for offering this option! Not despite my initial feelings of being full, my curiosity for the dessert menu was still getting the best of me. At about that time my peppy, friendly and very attentive bartender (female who’s name I never did catch) asked me if I would like to see the dessert menu.....I instantly obliged! It took me all but 10 seconds to see the very first item listed was Carrot Cake. My #1 pick for any dessert item anywhere. That said I never even looked at the other 4-5 items listed on the menu, it was a sealed deal when I saw my go-to items listed at the top. More so when it says “4 layer” within the subtitle. I took a chance in hopes this would be a spot on hit as many places in the past have sub par versions of “homemade” carrot cake which leaves me not so happy to say the least. On this occasion, my taste buds nor my stomach left displeased as this was a pure HIT on all levels. Dessert ($5.25) Carrot Cake Authentic cream cheese frosting, moist layers of cake with real carrot flakes and walnuts. I really took my time to let my taste buds bask in the depth, the richness, the melding flavors of what each bite of real carrot cake is supposed to offer its consumer. Its a darn good thing they serve this by the slice because people like me would have the whole cake gone otherwise. So in summary, my bill which totaled just over $26 (with drink) was well worth the food quality, quantity, the service, the outdoor dining atmosphere (even took in 5 innings of the sox/brewers game). I have to admit that during my hour stay I really got the feeling that the waitstaff enjoyed working there. They all seemed happy, energetic, lively and social to each other and the customers at all times. Makes you think its not only a good place to eat but also a all round good place to be on any occasion as well. In my case I come for the food, tonight I was very pleased and must give a strong recommendation for others to give a go with these food items and any others like it. If you find yourself bored and hungry on a Saturday evening, I found your solution right here.

Jun 22, 2012 by Julie

Don't get the margherita pizza! Just don't do it!

Apr 28, 2012 by Joe

Buffalo mac and cheese is carb heaven. Total comfort food.

Apr 20, 2012 by Bradley

Enjoy the beast... Brat and Bacon pretzel burger!!

Apr 14, 2012 by Nic

Great Dane Burger is a favorite!

Apr 07, 2012 by David Williams

Great beer, cheese curds and pretzel brat burger. Way too much food for one, but makes a great late night snack. Service was spot on even for a busy Friday night.

Mar 11, 2012 by BJ

Haven't had a bad beer here yet, try a flight if you can't choose!

Mar 08, 2012 by Travis

If you're hungry here, have a drink. Hungry? Have sum food. Cold outside, come in for heat. Warm? Come in for cool. Walls need more dead moose heads.

Feb 15, 2012 by Lynda

Baby back ribs were awesome! Lots of meat, tender and hull of smoky barbecue flavor! YUM....

Feb 12, 2012 by Elizabeth

Best black and tan brownie in madison!!!

Jan 08, 2012 by Jordan

You need the inner warmth peanut stew. In your mouth. Now.

Jan 04, 2012 by Caroline M.

Solid choice for groups.  Their menu is really big (almost overly so) which suit many peoples cravings.   The beers are, well, lacking.   But that's just me.  And I'm a snob.  So my opinion doesn't count too much.  I got the sampler of 6 beers.   Our attentive server was very kind and didn't seem to mind us lingering at our table, since it wasn't busy. This location has a huge upstairs, which was being set up for a private party.  Again, this would definitely be a great location to hold a get together.  If you're a beer snob, you may want to go elsewhere though.

Dec 30, 2011 by Keith and Kinsey Real Estate

The Buffalo Mac and Cheese is incredible!

Dec 12, 2011 by Emily

Good beer. Decent food. Stumbling distance from home.

Nov 21, 2011 by Jeff Foster

Excellent!. Had lunch here 3 times in 4 days while traveling. If I lived here, this would be one of my regular spots. Great drinks - plenty of in house beers as well as house root beer, cream soda and ginger ale. Some favorites - the pretzels with cranberry mustard (spicy!), buffalo chicken mac n cheese, the Dane burger - all very well put together and tasty. Huge place with a lot of staff and customers each day. Attentive, quick service. Food always delivered correctly by friendly staff. Don't miss the Great Dane Pub!

Nov 10, 2011 by Jake

Okay place. Good beet

Oct 15, 2011 by Sheri

Southwest Tortellini is my favorite. Drunken Jerk is my next favorite.

Sep 24, 2011 by Joy W.

I love their food. I love their atmosphere. I love their service. And I love that I can walk there from my house. Great place to hang out with friends and have drinks.

Sep 21, 2011 by Rusty

The cask conditioned ales are really the way to go. Too bad they are only available downtown.

Sep 19, 2011 by Melissa

Great place to watch a Green Bay Packers game (though service can be slow).

Sep 08, 2011 by -

I've been here a few times and always found excellent service, great and interesting food and great beer made here. I've only tried their iipa and scotch ale, but both were really quite good. I've eaten a pulled pork sandwich - decent, grassburger-excellent, cedar salmon-excellent, and a pizza w/ steak and gorgonzola. Awesome. Always finish with the beer ice cream. Always.

Aug 07, 2011 by Molly I.

Third times a charm!  This is the third restaurant in this location and by-far the best one.  Wonderful beers and pub food.

Jul 23, 2011 by Lucy H.

I've been The Great Dane a number of times but not to this location. We sat upstairs and the view was absolutely amazing! We could see the whole Madison area and the sunset was beautiful. I got the Capital Falafel wrap. The falafel was wonderful - perfectly crisp on the outside and delicious on the inside. It was wrapped in a pita with lettuce and onions, all of  which tasted fresh. I was looking forward to the homemade hummus which comes in the wrap, but I honestly couldn't even see the hummus when I opened the pita. I'll have to ask for extra hummus next time. It also comes with a cucumber yogurt dipping sauce which is very mild but could maybe use a bit more flavoring. Although, the waitstaff, while extremely friendly and on top of things, should be aware that the customers can hear their conversations, chatting, and giggling when they are in their kitchen/prep area. We were sitting in the half-circle booth closest to the kitchen area and I could hear everything they said. Overall, a good experience and good food.

Jul 01, 2011 by Max S.

I think "The Great Dane" is a pretty decent place, I have had a few drinks there and a meal or two.  Great wait staff as well but it can get very loud.  BUT really I have to say I will not return because of the ridiculous stance they have taken in not serving MillerCoors product.  Agree or disagree with the changes in the state budget but that is just flat out silly.

Jul 01, 2011 by Becky D.

Large menu filled with delicious entrees. Quality Wisconsin comfort food. I always try something new and have never been disappointed. Great place for brunch, lunch, dinner or a late night foray.  Huge selection of great beers and other drinks... also a bloody mary bar! WIN! Cozy atmosphere and a great place for families or large groups. Also a nice place to kick back at the bar and watch sports. The building is pretty large so even when it's packed you will never have to wait very long for a table.

Jun 22, 2011 by Doug

Not selling MillerCoors to protest beer distribution provisions in the state budget!

Jun 19, 2011 by Sarah P.

I love The Great Dane!   As a Madison local, I have frequented The Dane over the last 10 years of my life and have always been satisfied with their service, their food, and their atmosphere.   The Great Dane is a local chain, with 3 restaurants in Madison- all in excellent locations (downtown, Hilldale Mall & on a hill on the east side that gives views of downtown Madison and the lakes).   At the newly opened east side establishment we were seated by the large windows on the 3rd floor and had the best view of Madison that I have ever seen.   Having never tried a Reuben in my life (I know, I am shameful) I decided to try my luck at The Dane.  It was excellent.  They serve it on toasted marble rye with thousand island on the side for dipping.  Drool worthy.   What an excellent restaurant.

Jun 17, 2011 by Keith and Kinsey Real Estate

My wife and I met there. Great place! Try the Brat and Bacon Pretzel Burger, and the Oatmeal Stout.

May 31, 2011 by Tony

Great bar!...If you like a lil spice in your bloody mary you should get one

May 31, 2011 by Vince A.

Stopped in here for lunch after the Madison Half Marathon.  First off, was a bit disappointed to only have a small menu available on a Sunday for 'brunch'.  We were seated upstairs with nice views all around.   Ordered a standard burger with a beer but for a side tried the fried plantains.   The plantains were tasty but could have been fried a bit harder.   The burger was a standard puck and small (1/3 oz) but was seasoned well and had the right crispy bacon on it.  The beer itself was great - went for an imperial IPA which reminded me of Hopslam.   I liked it so much I took a growler home.  It's a fine place to grab a brew or a sandwich but I wouldn't expect gourmet.

May 04, 2011 by Scott D.

We arrived the week they opened, and were very pleased. We were just there for a beer and some dessert. They were generous and helpful helping pick out a beer from an extensive and wonderful selection. Reservations would be a good idea.

Apr 21, 2011 by Tina C

Love It!. I love going here for dinner. The California Turkey Club is amazing! That's not the only good thing on the menu, though. I have yet to order anything here that I didn't care for. The prices are right and the service and atmosphere is great. If you have room, try the Chocolate Bourbon Peacon Pie - but make sure you share it with someone else because the portion sizes are -very- big.

Mar 16, 2011 by H

No more buzz time!

Mar 13, 2011 by Rachel Snethen

Mmmm....PIZZA!!. Next time you go there, try the bacon mac & cheese pizza. Totally to die for. They never fail to impress!

Feb 18, 2011 by Chandler

Holly D makes one MEAN bloody mary!!!

Feb 15, 2011 by Rachelle

Love the cheese curds!

Jan 02, 2011 by Allen R.

Same wide menu as the other Danes in Madison and everything generally well prepared - and the view is great. The West African chicken stew was great! Wife's Tandoori Chicken was very nice although she's had better Humus. My London Fish was excellent.  Daughter's Bangers & Mash were just OK - She thought the brats were thin skined and slightly dry. Still, we'll be back.

Dec 16, 2010 by Robert B.

Good beer and wide variety of food on the menu from standard pub fare to more exotic choices like fish tacos and peanut stew.  I had their American pale ale and it was good, with just the right malt/hops balance. The peanut stew was fragrant with spices, full of veggies with a rich peanut sauce--yumm.  We waited about one beer on a Tuesday night--not too bad, but Friday must be difficult.  Friendly, efficient waitress who even put up with my dining companion's flirty hassling with good humor.

Dec 14, 2010 by Chandler

The velvet hammer is hittin!

Dec 03, 2010 by Seth M.

The Dane never disappoints and now they have an east side location! The food is just as good as the other locations, the fresh beer is brewed at the downtown location and brought over, so its always fresh! The Friday fish fry is one of my personal favorites, although the original pub burger is always my fallback! The wait can be a major issue, as they don't take reservations over the phone so you have to come in person to get on the list. This makes for some very crowded situations. An hour and a half wait sometimes, really? At least they have a full shuffleboard table to help pass the time and lots of tvs.

Nov 14, 2010 by Roxanne

artichoke dip bread bowl is the bomb

Sep 11, 2010 by Holly

Working tonight, come visit me!! Best beer in town!

Aug 20, 2010 by Daniel

it's busy. look for the models of Abercrombie & Fitch tonight. we are here in full force. Daniel McCluskey & Farhat Amiri.

Jul 14, 2010 by Leah

Side of onion rings is GINORMOUS!!

Jun 28, 2010 by Lindsay

The cream of baked potato soup is amazing.

May 31, 2010 by Sherri

fun place to grab a drink or shoot pool after work

May 27, 2010 by Leah

Half order of nachos is tons of food for not much money. Good choice if you're hungry, but don't have much cash!

Feb 25, 2010 by Ryan

Free WiFi. I consider it my "home office"

Jan 27, 2010 by Ryan

Play BuzzTime upstairs for hours of drinking entertainment.

Sep 09, 2009 by Jennifer B

I recently took my parents to this location of the Great Dane and we all had a great time! Everyone enjoyed their meal and there was plenty of seating so we only waited about 5 minutes on a Saturday night at about 630pm. I'm never…

Nov 26, 2006 by A R

This is a suburban incarnation of a downtown madison favorite. Not as hip, but bigger, quieter and little tamer than the one near the campus, the capitol, and the courthouse. Still the same great microbrewed beers. Plenty of parking, too,…

Mar 21, 2006 by Laura W.

The Dane is one of my favorite restaurants in Madison. Every time we come back into town we inevitably stop here for a beer and then end up staying for food. My favorite is the cheesy artichoke dip (sometimes I get it for my meal!). …