Welcome to Settle Down Tavern
Settle Down Tavern, located at 117 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI, is a vibrant eatery blending the warmth of a traditional tavern with mouthwatering modern cuisine. Known for its burgers, sandwiches, and a standout Friday Fish Fry featuring crispy cod, the menu caters to all tastes. Guests rave about the tasty, locally-sourced dishes like the smash burger and classic chopped cheese. The inviting ambiance, complete with a dog-friendly patio and engaging events like bingo, makes it a perfect spot for friends and families alike. Here, the comforting familiarity of American fare meets a community spirit, inviting everyone to settle down and savor each bite.
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117 S Pinckney St, Madison, WI 53703 Hotline: (608) 442-6335
Welcome to Settle Down Tavern, a cozy gem nestled in the heart of Madison, Wisconsin, at 117 S Pinckney St. This inviting establishment excels in delivering a delightful fusion of burgers, bars, and sandwiches—each dish crafted with locally sourced ingredients. Whether you’re a lifelong resident or just passing through, a visit to Settle Down Tavern promises to be a culinary adventure.
Settle Down Tavern stands out for its commitment to quality and taste, particularly with its acclaimed Good Idea Burger. Made from locally raised beef, this burger features a harmonious blend of house pickles, crispy fried onions, and Butterkase cheese sourced from Cedar Grove, WI. The lavish addition of Settle Down Sauce elevates this burger to new heights. At just $12.00, it’s not only a meal but an experience that you’ll want to savor more than once—after all, as the old saying goes, "A Good Idea always attracts other Good Ideas."
Another highlight from the menu is the Fish Sandwich, which celebrates Wisconsin's rich culinary heritage with a lager-battered Atlantic Cod, complemented by tartar sauce, peppadew relish, and lime coleslaw. On Fish Fry Fridays, the tavern showcases a delectable Fish Platter that features two generously portioned pieces of that same crispy cod. At $19.00, it embodies the essence of summertime bliss on your plate.
The atmosphere at Settle Down Tavern is as remarkable as its food. A pet-friendly atrium greets guests, offering a warm ambiance perfect for casual gatherings. The decor strikes a balance between rustic charm and modern comfort, making it an ideal spot for everything from happy hours to lively bingo nights. The attentive staff and vibrant energy contribute to the overall experience, ensuring that you feel right at home.
Feedback from customers further exemplifies the tavern's allure. Olivia L. raved about the delicious apps, highlighting the unique flavor of their cheese puppies, while Jenni W. described a memorable evening with fried chicken that was perfectly seasoned. Cleda W. enjoyed the fun atmosphere during bingo nights, while Celeste M. found the cheeseburger with a soft potato bun to be a standout choice. Meanwhile, Lindsay K. was pleasantly surprised by the variety of cocktails available, showcasing the tavern's willingness to cater to all tastes.
Settle Down Tavern clearly has something for everyone—whether you’re craving a perfectly cooked burger, some spicy Ghost Fries, or a refreshing cocktail to wash it all down. The blend of quality ingredients, community spirit, and lively ambiance makes this one of Madison's must-visit eateries. So, the next time you're exploring the local dining scene, remember to settle down at Settle Down Tavern—you won't regret it!
Delicious apps and drinks. Lots of happy hour deals and we did not have to wait to be seated. Their breading on their cheese puppies was unique and flavorful. Would def stop by again to try out more menu options
My husband and I came here for happy hour and dinner on a random, cold Monday evening. Right when we entered the building, we were pleasantly surprised by the well-decorated atrium area of the building and saw that the area was also dog friendly. We decided to sit inside the tavern area and thought it was cute and had good music. We got here around 4:45 pm for their happy hour and ordered a couple of drinks and also got the deviled eggs, fries, burger, and their fried chicken special (available on Mondays) that comes with coleslaw and mashed potatoes. The drinks were good and well worth coming back (especially during happy hour) but the fried chicken was definitely my favorite part of the meal. It was well seasoned, and my husband LOVED the mashed potatoes. I really enjoyed the overall ambiance of the restaurant but also the food and will likely be coming back for another night for happy hour or date night.
Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. I love Jesus and I read my Bible daily. Come to this bar every Friday starting at 6 PM in the evening up until closing time we hold a Christian Bible study group. The owners are Christians and love Jesus.
Finally visited SDT! It's pretty spacious inside! I went on a Wednesday night with coworkers for BINGO! Super fun! Ordered their version of the old fashioned, settle down burger and fried pickles! Everything came out fast and hot. Coworkers also ordered curds and ghost pepper fries for the table. Curds were not our cup of tea, but everything else was great! Service was EXCELLENT! Bingo was super fun! Note: they don't split checks so make sure you're ready to pay someone else via cash, venmo or Zelle!
With the closing of DLux, I was on the hunt for a new favorite burger. Found it! Just wish it was a little bigger and didn't take all of 2 minutes to finish but to be fair - I was hungry! I haven't been here and walking in I was struck immediately by the unexpected space! The bar area itself isn't huge, but they offer seating through the common lobby area space that the building shares. Fun lights and large plants and entrances to various office spaces and other businesses mean there's always something to look around at. Made me want to work in one of those little tidy offices upstairs! The night my friend and I went they had free bingo going on, which was fun for about three rounds and then we wanted to get down to business with eating and catching up. We moved inside because it was otherwise distracting to listen to bingo but not play it. I was able to enjoy my new favorite cider company as well as a burger and fries. The fries were that perfect level of salty and crispy and also went down way too fast. My only complaint is that I had ordered a burger and fries to go for my daughter, and they sent me on without the fries - my bad for not looking, but frustrating. I'll be back and I'm looking forward to it.
Okay we both loved our burgers. I got the smash burger and my friend got the normal 1/4 pounder. Soft potato bun, great flavor and sauce. Fries were fresh and good amount for just a small. Inside was super cute, great decor. Food came out fast as well. However, we got the cheese curds and were very dissatisfied. They had no flavor, texture wasn't quite right either. Great portion and fresh but just not something we would ever order again.
I only ate the cheese curds here as a quick snack before a dinner reservation elsewhere, but they were fantastic. The portion was large which made great for sharing. We sat outside and while the outdoor seating isn't special it was still very enjoyable. Service was okay. Nothing great, but no complaints.
Very cool spot! We were in search of a great representation of an "official" smashburger so this is what brought us to Settle Down. Had early dinner reservations and were running a couple min late due to the unanticipated road closure near by. When we finally got in and settled, the space is super cool: entryway of an older building of shops. There's a nice atrium enclosure of glass above so there is plenty of light. Some folks were walking in from the other entrance of the restaurant. It was a weekend so I would like to see how they operate during the day with the surrounding shops and businesses open and attending to customers. Our server was great! There was a special PB&J burger that I tried and loved! It was not overly sweet as the jelly they used was their in-house strawberry jam and in-house made peanut butter. It was delicious. We shared fries and curds. Everything about our meal was great. A couple of rounds of cocktails made the night very memorable and a good time.
I took out lunch from here. Good idea burger was my entree item. That was a nicely done flavorful smash burger. I could convert the burger into lunch basket for just $3 extra. So made it into a lunch basket. Ghost fries has a good spicy kick to it. The ginger beer they have has nice flavor to it. Defenitely go for ginger beer as the drink.
I never even realized Settle Down had moved into this place. A friend recommended checking it out and I'm very glad that we did. We grabbed a spot outside (they've mad an outdoor patio of the former street parking spots) so I don't know what the ambiance looks like inside, but outside was just fine. Not usually a cocktail person, but their beer list was underwhelming to me so figured I'd try the "Uecker? or Euchre?" since I liked everything in it. I prefer my cocktails without ice, and staff was very obliging. This was a delicious smoky cocktail balanced just right with the ginger beer. I'd order it again, and I don't usually say that about cocktails. I had the veggie burger (prit' near) and it certainly ranks among my favorites in the area. It had a slightly charred crunch to it on the outside that was unique and really gave it an interesting flavor. I would have preferred goat cheese over feta on the burger, but maybe that's just personal preference. I scarfed it down either way.