Esquire Club
1025 N Sherman Ave, Madison, WI, 53704
Esquire Club Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Madison for healthy meals suggestion.
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Visit below restaurant in Madison for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1025 N Sherman Ave
Madison, WI, 53704 - Phone (608) 249-0193
- Website https://www.esquireclubmadison.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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mimi r.
Great value, unassuming atmosphere, huge portions. Got the New York strip (perfectly cooked and sourced locally), paid up for the chopped salad in lieu of the dinner salad (excellent). Would never have entered into this place because of its appearance. Not fancy, dark, out of date decor, paper napkins, etc. But it is as good as any higher priced steak house. Recommend the mushrooms on the side of the steak. Came with soup (which was just average but I'm not a fan of navy bean) and had plenty of food leftover. Our waitress (Emily) was a pro despite her young age. Would return for sure for the great meal at an amazing price.
(4)Michelle F.
They make a good brandy old fashioned, but otherwise I am not a fan. Like a previous reviewer, I am also grossed out by tartar sauce that has been sitting out for who-knows-how-long. And the fish fry? I really don't see any greatness there. Cave-ish interior, average clientele age of 75--really not my scene.
(2)Jack T.
My wife and ate there tonight. Food so so. Service not good. Efficent but not friendly. I had the feeling she wanted to be somewhere else
(1)Ashley A.
Love: Cheese curds that were definitely made in house, bread was good and fresh and made in house Meh: Most of the meal was pretty meh. Coconut shrimp tasted good but had an odd texture, pretty much everything was just okay. Not nasty. Not over the top excited to go back; nope, just a-ok, doubt I'd want to spend much money here in the future. Hate: Pop music was blaring over the speakers. WHYYYY? Do you not know your target audience???
(3)Nicole H.
Headed here for a late meal on a Sunday night. Turns out it was a Packer Sunday night football Sunday night, so the dining room only had one other party, but the bar was pretty packed. The staff was a little pre-occupied with the game and the folks in the bar and the single waitress for the dining room was running herself a little ragged. Our meal came with soup and salad - the salads were typical pre-dinner and perfectly ok. The soups left a lot to be desired. We had one of each - cheeseburger and turkey pot pie - both lacked flavor and they weren't worth the space they'd take up in our tummies. Our steaks themselves were gorgeous. Both looked bigger than the 12oz we ordered and they were well cooked. However, we'd ordered fried onions to accompany them and my fried onions were burnt to a crisp. I had to scrape them to the side and eat around them to make sure their flavor didn't alter the taste of my steak. In the end, it was a good, filling meal for a really good price, but it's not like I'll be jumping to head back.
(3)Eric L.
A group of 5 went last night and had a great meal. The service was excellent both at the bar and dining room. Our waitress helped steer the table away from a few dishes to make sure we hit the highlights. The food is not molecular science but it is good mid west meal. It brought me back to my childhood with the 4 courses; salad bar, cup of soup, starch and entree. Our table all had steaks or prime rib and each as cook properly and not over done. Also the large steins of beer were a great touch. We want to come back for a Friday fish fry.
(4)Philip F.
The fish fry is seriously overrated and the quality is inconsistent. The fish options are limited to ocean perch, cod and lake perch. No bluegill or walleye? There are much better places in town for fish fry.
(3)Chin D.
I'll start by saying I sat at the bar with a bunch of buddies for a game rather than actually sitting in the dining room so the comments about poor service may be legit. However, if you're looking to judge just the burgers and steaks they were great. Solid atmosphere with three big screens around a bar, the place is admittedly for an older crowd but they were very accomadating when six 24 year olds strolled in for a game.
(5)Daniele B.
We had the family style fish fry...very tasty! The food came out quick and the staff was very friendly. Even if we were the only ones there who didn't get a senior discount... Lol also we were sweating by the time we left ... A/C pleaseeeee!?
(4)Sheri M.
Not a fan. We had a breakfast buffet for a meeting there and the food was... not much of a buffet. Potatoes were cold and greasy and the rest of the food was just not very good. Have not had lunch or dinner here.
(1)Nina O.
Friday night fish fry- AYCE for about $11.00. I highly suggest making a reservation- this place is packed to the gills. There's a huge bar in the main room, decent bartenders and reasonable priced drinks. We waited about 20 minutes past our reservation because there was a large party being served, but onced we had a drink in hand, the wait was tolerable. Seated, we were happily surprised to see how efficiently they run their fish fry- the tables were pre-set with a bowl of tartar sauce and a family-sized bowl of cole slaw, plus a basket with several slices of really tasty rye bread. Three of us enjoyed perch family-style, with fries and it was really good- a lightly breaded well-cooked platter of perch and fries was easy to share with friends. Looking around, it was a good mix of north and east-siders with an average age of well under 60, on the low side for a supper club. Can't wait to go back!
(4)Susan L.
This is one of the best Friday nite fish frys in Madison. It's always packed so be prepared to wait and have a drink before dinner. The bartenders know how to make their drinks. The dirty martini is my fav. I usually get the baked cod and my fiancé orders the breaded lake perch. None of that heavy battered fish served here thankfully.
(4)John B.
It's like Denny's built a food court at a retirement home. If fish fry and old fashions is your thing and you want to hang out with grandma and grandpa while you eat your food, this is the place. The upper crust in Maple Bluff love this place. The only thing I can chalk it up to is they can get wasted and not drive that far to get home. Wood paneling decor round out this gem.
(3)Steve L.
Determined to find the best darned fish fry in Madison, our "Friday Night Fish Fry Fanatics" decided to try the Esquire Club on Sherman. We grabbed a seat at the large, oval, darkwooded bar, and ordered a couple of Spotted Cows. We were told it would be about 20 minutes to seat our small group, and that was just fine. The bar was cozy, the beers fresh, and the service attentive, friendly, and helpful. Soon enough, our name was called and we were seated in one of the "auxillary" dining areas. Clearly an add-on, not a single decoration, but definitely welcomed; the place was packed and we were seated quickly, so it's all good by me. Our waitress took our orders and brought us a round of Whiskey Old Fashioned Sours. We gnoshed on the deliciously fresh rye bread, which was unlike any other rye I've had. It featured a very mild rye flavor and a very light texture. It was delicious. Fish arrived within minutes: fried ocean perch and battered cod, one order of fries, and two orders of cheesy hashbrowns (cost an extra $2 per). The fried ocean perch is all you can eat, and it's fresh, lightly breaded, flavorful, grease-free, and easily some of the best fish I've had at a fish fry. I scarfed down three heaping plates, and I do mean "heaping." They're not skimpy with the refills. Battered cod was equally good, but it wasn't all you can eat. Three large, beautifully brown, battered and flaky filets are what you get. Fries were outstanding as well; crinkle cut, fresh, hot, crispy. Yum. Hashbrowns were cooked perfectly but the slab of Velveeta that was slapped on top to make them "cheesy" was disappointing. Service was the best yet. No complaints. Three fish dinners with coffees and a couple of rounds of drinks was $70 + tip... A bit pricey by my book. Esquire Club = WIN. Food= 4.75 stars Old Fashioneds= 3.5 stars Service = 5 stars Value = 3 stars Misc = 4 stars (speedy seating and service; lost points for bland interior and no potato pancake option)
(4)Kasey K.
If you're looking for a fish fry and are in madison, look no further than esquire. The coleslaw is the best in town. If you're looking to eat a lot, order the ocean perch. If you're trying to eat a light fish fry the lake perch is spectacular. Beer prices are good and it's got a great homey atmosphere
(5)Kenneth S.
Anyone bashing the E as the home of the Tea Party is seriously misguided. This place is so eclectic you might find some card carrying communists at the bar from time-to- time. Seriously, the large crowd of regulars and semi-regulars ranges from former and current Dems to the same on the Republican end. Non-partisans, liberals, libertarians, agnostics, Catholics, retirees, got em' all at the Esquire. John Sr. is a conservative but he welcomes everyone with genuine good cheer and gratitude for coming to his place. More than 50 years in the Kavanaugh family - this place was LOCAL before local was trendy. Shame on you purveyors of misinformation - no better than Scotty Koch, himself. Excellent drinks at the bar from Joe, Nick and Ben (and Nate on Fridays). Great pours of many wines by the glass. Terrific fish fry and food. btw - Saturday after the big 70k rally, many of us were warming up at the bar, having a drink or wine and some food and swapping "war stories" and photos from our day on the square protesting against the nit wit that was elected governor. Tea Party my rear end.
(5)Aaron Y.
Fish fry was over cooked and greasy. People seem to like it here so maybe I just had it on a bad day.
(2)Kris D.
The Esquire knows how to take care of their customers. We have received excellent service and if there was a problem, it was swiftly taken care of. They have the best fish fry in town and a variety of other items for those oddballs that don't like a good fish fry. Highly recommended.
(5)Alisa C.
TERRIBLE service, went here for breakfast and was in shock and awe at how bad our server was. It took well over 45 minutes for us to get our food and there was only 1 other table in the restaurant. I got our own coffee, drinks, half and half, ketchup and jam. I will NEVER go back there again!
(1)Rob P.
My semi-local friend thought nothing would be more authentically Wisconsin than a Friday Night Fish Fry. After overdosing on spam & corned beef hash for the past week, I was down for something local so I gladly obliged. Wood-paneling and dim lighting make the main bar warm & inviting. Packed with locals, which is always a good sign. Strong brandy old-fashioned. Only downer was the downstairs dining area--kinda felt like a church bingo hall. Soft, tender & delicious bread, oddly sweet coleslaw. Fried cheese curds were good--moderately breaded, not greasy, smooth texture but not squeaky. Family style ocean perch was satisfying but not memorable. Un(der)seasoned but not greasy, breading a little thicker than desired. Crinkle-cut fries were great but also needed salt. Tartar sauce was a little too heavy on the mayo. Still ate a ton and didn't have room for dessert. Overall, excellent deep frying skills but might need a refresher course in seasoning. Great atmosphere; easy to see why they have such a strong following.
(3)Leep D.
This place has really gone downhill. IF you can get a drink (last time I was there, they served their regulars at the bar and totally ignored me repeatedly until I finally asked a waitress how to get a drink at the bar.) The fish fry has been out of rye bread the last two times, and the time before that, it was stale. Also, the breading falls off of the cod, and the perch must be coming from a different distributor, as it is extremely fishy tasting. Coleslaw was good - they must be using the same recipe for that. Too bad- I used to really look forward to dining here.
(2)Caleb M.
I thought that if I had to wait an hour to eat a simple Friday fish fry, it would be worth it... I was utterly wrong. I got the cod and the rest of my family got the all you can eat perch. I thought my cod was adequate but rather tasteless and in need at salt. When I tried my brother's perch, I was HORRORFIED! It tasted fishy and disgusting! The tartar sauce had too much cool whip, and our server never checked on us. The only good thing I have to say about this restaurant is that the fish came in less than 2 minutes. But, I'll never be eating here again.
(1)Lauren J.
I went there a few months ago for Fish Fry after reading a rating that this place was a great place for Fish Fry's. I've had dinner here before and it was very good, so I thought oh why not, I'll give it a try. Big mistake! They usually get pretty busy (usually a good sign), but that night we didn't have to wait long for a table. I ordered the Icelandic Cod and It was terrible. As this was a few months ago, my brain is clouded on which exact fish (cod or perch) the comments were made about, but as I recall: The waitress claimed that the cod isn't "fresh" and she knew I didn't like it, so she offered to get me some perch, which was fresh. That wasn't much better. One (either the cod or the perch) of them tasted, looked like and smelled like a "fish stick." It literally looked like a kiddie meal. All in all, I will never return for a fish fry there. The waitress was very attentive and tried to make me happy, but it was not her fault, she did everything she could to please me. Service = 5 star, Atmosphere = 4 Star, Food (overall) = 4 Star, Fish Fry = 1 Star
(1)Tom K.
As a Wisconsin native, Friday fish fries have always been a big part of my life. When living in Madison years ago, we used to hit all the great fish fries on the lakes around town. And while spending 10 years in Hayward, we used to live for Fridays at Lost Land Lake Lodge and later The Waterfront. Living in Utah for over 20 years, my opportunities are few and far between. So I was excited to have a free Friday in Madison to try the very best. Reading online reviews, going off my past knowledge and talking to friends, I made the tough call between the Avenue Bar (one of my favorite lunch spots) and the Esquire Club. We chose the Esquire. I hadn't been in the club in probably 30-35 years. Overall, it was a good experience. But it wasn't close to the level to which I'm accustomed to in Hayward on our three or four trips out there a year. We had a great time and I highly recommend it, but we would make another choice next time. The bar at Kavanaugh's Esquire Club is great - a full horseshoe with plenty of seating. We arrived around 5:30 p.m. on a Friday in Lent. It was packed already, as was every spot in the parking lot. We put our name in and were told it would be 20 minutes for our party of two. We were seated in just ten. One of the challenges with the Esquire is it just doesn't have a lot of natural atmosphere. The main room with the bar is fabulous. But the other dining rooms are really plain with not a single thing on the wall. The table settings are nice. And outside, it's a totally blah building. Out the back door to the parking lot was an attractive collection of a few hundred cigarette butts sitting on the sidewalk and snowbank. The tables are pre-set with great, fresh rye bread and fabulous cole slaw. And we had quick attention from our waitress. The host gave us menus - actually three stapled, photocopied sheets - pretty tacky (I noticed others did get regular menus). It's a full supper club menu with multiple choices for fish fry. We opted for the $9.95 all-you-can-eat ocean perch. What was notable to me as that the current Web page for Esquire lists the price at $8.95. Not good. Cod was also available at a slightly higher price. The bread and slaw kept us entertained and both were world class. A heaping plate of fish and crinkle fries arrived in good time (beating the Coke our grandson ordered 15 minutes earlier). We had to ask for lemons. The fish was very good - I love perch. But as good as it was, it simply wasn't at the presentation and taste level of what we traditionally get at The Waterfront in Hayward, for example. It was a simple cornbread-type breading that was good, but somewhat uninteresting - not the flamboyant texture of the beer battered fish we have grown to expect. Nonetheless, we polished off the fish, got a few more fries and a chocolate mousse desert. The bill for two with a few beers and desert was just under $40. Later that night, we also hit the Beachhouse in McFarland, another popular local spot. My wife had dinner there with a friend. This is an awesome place with a ton of atmosphere and great fish. Esquire Club Summary (five point scale) Exterior: 2 - Pretty plain building; cigarette butts not pretty Interior atmosphere: 3 - Main bar room is great Food: 4 - Good was great, not overally thrilled with fish batter Service: 3 - Generally good, but shouldn't have to wait for main course to get a Coke Value: 5 - $9.95 for an all-you-can-eat fish fry at this level is outstanding
(3)Sean D.
At first, I loved the Esquire Club for how old-fashioned its style and clientele were. This is the closest I've had to a Wisconsin supper club, and in the winter, it seems especially comfy. But, the food -- outside of a couple items -- is really substandard. Never, ever, ever, get a "broiled" icelandic cod, it comes charred to a crisp. The lake perch is fine. But, that's about it, really. Simple presentation and simple food, but it never elevates to the level of being phenomenal.
(3)Ryan W.
Friday = Great Fish Fry. All you can eat ocean perch. Big bowls of slaw, tartar sauce, and lemon chunks on the table. Dignified and refined, I wouldn't eat perch anywhere else in Madison.
(5)Sara S.
Old-timey fern bar with a fish fry like you used to enjoy with Grandma. Like the other reviewers, I order the ocean perch which comes family style with crinkle-cut fries! This place is so good I make the destination of my twice-yearly meat craving! (That's right - I consider fish meat.) Don't sweat the wait you are likely to encounter (even if you and Gram get there at 4:30). The bartenders make a delightful spicy Bloody Mary, which helps add to the overall feeling that have I reached retirement age.
(3)