Settle Down Tavern

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Been on my list for a while , all because of the beautifully crafted Smash Burger! Doesn’t get much better than perfectly cooked Patties and a toasted bun! Cheese curds were best I’ve had in a while. Cozy spot where the staff was very friendly.

Really cool spot with great outdoor seating. The service was excellent, I felt very welcome and had a great chat with the waiters. I had a couple of drinks as well which were very well balanced, high quality and beautifully prepared. The food choice is not extensive but the offered options were great. I recommend getting the pickled veggies as an appetizer or side, since they were delicious.

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

Had an incredible first visit to Settle Down Tavern. Super cute outdoor and indoor dining spaces.

My sister and I both got the PRIT' NEAR burger sub beef patty & shared one order of french fries. We both agreed it was the best burger we've ever had & the paprika mayo on the fries was delicious!

Enjoyed a Moscow Mule & glass of rose. (The burger paired so well with the rose, I urge you to go try it). Their glassware was beautiful.

As if this experience couldn't get better, the service was FANTASTIC. Our server, Trey, was one of the best I've ever had. Explained the menu well, made us feel really relaxed & well attended to.

It is pricey for the amount of food you get, but it is so delicious & worth it. I will be back!!!!

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

Super nice server ever!

We just explore around to get some place to sit down and get some drink and snack.

We walk pass this place and got good vibes with they our door sitting and they staff is super friendly!

I went with my girl and yes they kids friendly!

We kind of sad that we didn't try they burger cause we not that hungry but we will be back if we can!

Server is super nice she recommend kid cocktail for my girl and she love it!

We got some french fries and cheese ball dip, all good and tasty.

Love they service and friendly vibes!

Recommend!

Love the look and feel of this place. Blue subway tile, 1950’s diner-style tables and chairs, indoor and outdoor seating options. Love the manageable menu with unique options. Wish the burgers came with fries or chips; the plate looks a little sad with just a burger, but I enjoyed it regardless.

Yum! There were so many things on the menu I wanted to try. I wish we had come with others so we could order one of everything. My husband & I both got the burgers. After waiter left my husband noted he didnt ask how we wanted them cooked. We asked the waiter & he said they were cooked a special way that meant there wasnt temperature variation.. He said 'I guess you could say they're well done'. Not the best way to explain it because they were so juicy and delicious & if you heard well done you wouldn't expect that. I got the ghost fries because I had read the positive reviews. They were definitely spicy. Next time I probably wouldnt get that version because my husband doesnt like spicy & also due to the spuce, I couldn't eat them all & they were good fries! I got the pudding for dessert & it was yummy & super rich. (Had to share). I agree with other reviewers on the friendliness of the staff. Everyone was smiling and happy to be there. I could see us returning to this restaurant if we were in Madison area. Though there are many choices, the atmosphere here was so welcoming, it would be worth a return trip.

Easily one of the most enjoyable burgers I’ve eaten on any continent. The bun couldn’t be beat. The thin patty was ideal with a delectable crust and sautéed onions. Topped with delicate wafers of a pickle...I can’t wait to eat another.

Service was prompt and friendly without effort.

Excellent food and service. Appetizers are really good and the smashed burgers are the best. Apps pictures are the cheese curds and cauliflower.
Returned on a Friday night for the fish sandwich and spouse decided on the burger. Both excellent

I had been putting off going here, and boy was that the wrong thing to do. The service is spectacular, the food is creative, well-balanced, and comforting. They have so many vegetarian options and I imagine they could be a lovely host to vegans as well! They made a well proportioned bloody all days of the week! This place is a must go. Make it a weekly event! For those who are snobs like me, everything is made in house and the owners are lovely caring people not big business at all. Stop Asian hate is on the board for now but I imagine they support all groups of people. This is a safe space. I had a great lunch.

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

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

The Settle Down is doing everything right.

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

This is 100% my favorite restaurant downtown, possibly in Madison! It is the first place I bring visitors or friends coming back after a long time away from the city. The cocktails are fantastic, the food is delicious, and they offer gluten-free, dairy-free, and veggie options. You can usually choose your preferred atmosphere as well, and sit either in the tavern with a more traditional supper club feel, or in the atrium with high glass ceilings and greenery. I could not possibly recommend it enough!

Great vibe and friendly staff! The Good Idea Burger really is a good idea — it’s bursting with awesome flavor. Haven’t had a burger quite like it. Fries and Bloody Mary were really yummy, too!

Have dined here several times since they opened and it’s become a staple. Lovely margs, solid bloody’s, best fries, and enjoyed their brunch when they had it. Could not recommend enough!

Visited Settle Down Tavern on a Sunday afternoon (around 1:30). There was a short wait for an outside table. As a non drinker, I was happy to see multiple options on the menu for N/A drinks and mocktails. I got the Sauk County celery lemonade which was delicious. I ordered the croque madaaaamne and my fiancé got the burger. Both were great. There are other menu items I would like to try but I have a feeling if I go back I’ll be getting the croque madaaaamne again. So good! Lovely patio and from my quick peak inside, very cute.

We were headed to The Merchant to grab a cocktail before our dinner reservation and ended up here instead. Glad that we did because it was a nice, new, cocktail experience. I had the Gin drink pictured on the left. I found it a fresh new take on a gin drink with cool tomato complexities. My partner had the drink on the right and she enjoyed it as well.