The Plaza Tavern

The Plazaburger. It's their thing.

No, the patties aren't grass-fed massaged Kobe beef hand formed or anything like that... it's all about the sauce with this here monster.

That sauce is the stuff I'm sure lots of Madison legend is made of.

It's some sort of aioli ranch dill-onaise hybrid, and this sauce? The biz nasty, folks.

The Plaza Tavern boasts a bar food menu replete with items for you to dunk in that storied sauce.

Cheap drinks, a dive-y feel, Big Buck Hunter/other assorted video games, one of the most random genre-spanning playlists I've encountered in awhile, and really friendly bartenders. Giant-ass paintings of landscapes adorn wood-paneled walls. A back room with a pool table, beer neons, and well... you get the idea.

Were this spot in MKE I'd definitely hit it up for some curds and a few beers every now and again!

Cash only; there's ATM on site, however.

Stop by American Apparel, pop on your high-waisted short shorts and let's get our hip groove on to a jukebox playlist. Now, our chosen jukebox dollar ditties probably won't play until tomorrow's bar crowd comes through but no biggie, this "Wonderwall" request will do. Limbo under the pool stick as that guy goes to break and your next long island's on me, girl.

The place isn't fancy by any means but it's a college kid favorite, which means people-watching is prime on a Thursday when the long islands are only $2. Education is expensive, amiright? And when you're trying to keep up with the youngsters as they down their drinks, treat yourself to a Plazaburger and be thankful you did. This cheesy, greasy goodness, as truthfully described on The Plaza's homepage, "is sopped with secret sauce and delicious." S-o-p-p-e-d. Ain't nothin' wrong with that.

This place is everything I want in a local Tavern. Cheap stiff drinks, ice cold Budweiser, awesome bartenders (Erica is really cool) who know what you drink, solid jukebox, games, and surprisingly good bar food. It seems like everyone is a regular here and they are really friendly, even to new people. Plus, it's a Madison classic and a must try. Plaza sauce should go on everything! Dean the owner is a bad ass, FYI. Great spot to watch a Badger game if you can't get tickets.