The Brink Lounge

Not gonna lie, their margaritas were pretty amazing. Definitely in my top 3. Since I’m allergic to vodka, they made the chocolate martini with a different liquor. I can’t remember which one and it was so strong, I think I almost passed out in my seat. They definitely don’t skimp on the liquor. Great way to top off my bachelorette night!

We used The Brink for our rehearsal dinner venue and it was great! We catered food from somewhere else, (they let you bring in any caterer you want) but The Brink staff was very helpful and laid back in what we could do. I kept thinking «this is way too easy, something is not getting done», but everything was perfect the night of. They had the tables set up, said I could come in and do whatever decorating I wanted beforehand, then they had a staff member checking in with us the rest of the evening. She was helpful but not intrusive. Everyone had a great time and loved the venue. The only negative is the parking, it is a tiny lot, but there is lots of street parking. Since our event started at 5:30 it was not a problem, but probably later in the evening it is busier. Thanks to Matt and his staff for a great night!

The Brink was everything we hoped for in a wedding reception venue! Matt was available and responded quickly from our first inquiry to look at the venue through when we picked up our things after the event. The Brink staff was so helpful and worked well with our other vendors during the reception.
Matt never left us guessing and he made sure that we got exactly what we wanted and we always knew the pricing (which is so helpful when planning on a budget!). Our reception was stunning and I couldn’t have been more happy that we selected the Brink!

I was here for a fundraising event. So I have very little to review. However, the staff was friendly and the bar had plenty of options.
My only issues? The food that was purchased are there pizzas. They were ok. A little too greasy. And the parking situation? Two blocks away in a very abandoned area. Don’t walk alone ladies.

I’ve been to the Brink a number of times — mostly for function type occasions such as fundraiser and private parties. Here is the thing — I really want to like this place and based on past experience I’d given it a solid 1-​star.
The space is amazing given that most of the space is in the basement. But the service is terrible, whether you are there for a private function or happy hour. Last nights experience was slightly better than my usual Brink Lounge experience. A Holiday Extravaganza with a $ 40 cover, people dressed to the 9s and you are serving mixed drinks in plastic cups? Granted many of the people at the party were guests of the various party hosts — but still. When the expectation is that of a formal affair your cocktail ought to be served in proper stemware.
Then there is the issue of even getting a drink at the regular bar. Many times I’ve waited 20 minutes and just given up. the hosted food at fundraisers and parties alike is pretty blah. Again formal party or fundraiser where people are dropping cash and I expectorant than frozen pizza.
Look I really want to love this venue — it’s really a matter of service… The venue is great… The Brink could easily be a 5-​Star joint, but I get the sense that they just don’t care.

Saw some of the best music I’ve gone to in a long time the other night at The Brink Lounge. Locally born musician Paul Kowert with his current project, trio Haas Kowert Tice. Amazing! Phenomenal musicians and a wonderful sound.
The lounge itself is a great place too. Good drinks and a great décor. I was really impressed by this show and tend to pay closer attention to music coming to The Brink Lounge.

It took us 3 tries to eat at the Brink. The first was a Sunday and it was so empty that we figured, «Do we gamble on an empty restaurant during peak brunch hours??» We decided not to and went somewhere else. The second time there was a Rape Crisis function happening. We came in on the tail end of it so we weren’t greeted by any Brink employees to say, «Hey, this is about to end. We’ll get you set right up.» So we just went somewhere else. The third time was a Wednesday night. There were maybe 7 patrons in the place and a band setting up. We don’t like to eat when we don’t know what the music is going to be but it looked like it was going to take them awhile to set up and we didn’t want to leave AGAIN so we sat at the bar for dinner. There was a small selection of decent draft beer. I had a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA… always a good beer. My dinner partner had a peach cosmo. Tasty in that «Schnappsy» sort of way… nothing fresh about it.
We ordered the fondue because it was the only non-​traditional bar food item on the menu. The flavor was right, good consistency but the selection of items to dip was not much to look at: broccoli, carrots (packaged mini-​carrots), toasted bread and celery… yes, celery. We also ordered personal pizzas. I had the BBQ chicken and added Jalapeño… who doesn’t. She had a Greek Pizza. Both were pretty good but again this place isn’t trying to be real fancy.
So, make sure you check their calendar before you go… there seems to be a lot of functions at this place… and you might want to know what kind of music is going to be played before you show up. The blues rock band struck up just as we were finishing and they were playing to a table of what we could only assume were older friends and family. Someone’s grandma was definitely getting her groove on.
The food will fill you up the way Wisconsinites expect to be filled… amply and without frill. No cheese curds on the menu… somehow.

My wife and I had our wedding here in 2011. Matt Brink the owner was great in helping us out with everything. They don’t require a specific cater, thus you can choose any place for it as long as they have a valid license. I would highly recommend anyone who is getting married to check this place out as a venue. I don’t think they have increased pricing since then, but at least check it out as there were no other venues that were low cost in the downtown area.

Yep. 4-​stars, fo sho.
I’ve been back to the Brink Lounge on several occasions since my review of 18-​months ago (goodness, how time flies), and this place remains legit.
+ Staff is always helpful and friendly
+ Typically have some form of live entertainment that is usually quite good
+ Volumes are completely reasonable
+ Plenty of comfortable, private seating — very intimate feel/​vibe
+ Huge bar area
+ Great drink offerings (taps, bottles, mixers)
+ Super reasonable pricing
+ Pizzas are quite good. House made, customizable, cooked well and priced fairly.
Not much more to ask for. Great place.

We randomly decided to check this place out last night for a couple after dinner drinks.
Firs impressions, very chill atmosphere. Laid back, couches and comfy chairs. It’s pretty hard to find an uncomfortable spot in this lounge.
I’ll be back when I’m looking for another relaxing night.

We went for the live music one night. We weren’t planning on staying to eat but it became too late to go anywhere else. The pizza was fine. A little too cheesy for my taste. The previous reviews about the strange décor were right on. It is like a bad hotel bar down there. The space has SO much potential but it is not being utilized.
I don’t think I would go back but am glad I tried it.

The Brink Lounge is awesome.
Located between the border of the «few blocks leading up to the Capitol» and the «almost sketchy east side,» the Brink Lounge is a haven for people looking to chill and have fun.
They have a very spacious interior, good selection of drinks at fair prices and pretty good music, ranging from live bands to jazz/​blues. Add in the pool tables and some swing dancing from time and time and you’ve got yourself a pretty cool establishment!

Went with my boyfriend to the Brink Lounge last night. Yes, when you walk in, you feel like it’s a hotel lobby. That said, it’s still pretty chill and laid back, clean and pleasant. All the bartenders were younger girls. They were attentive and nice.
My boyfriend had a beer on tap, I had a cosmopolitan. The cosmo was very tart, but those are hit or miss everywhere you go. Ordered the spinach dip. It was good, but you don’t get much. Their pizza looked great! We will probably try that if/​when we go back. I don’t think there were actual servers, people kept going to the bar to order. Which was kind of bothersome having people file up to the bar right next to us the whole time.
There was a band setting up, looks like they charge covers for bands, we left before they started, though. Not a bad place, glad we stopped here.

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting The Brink about 4 – 5 times in the last couple months. They always have decent entertainment, never too crowded, great cocktails, and good atmosphere. The Brink is the kind of place where you can always find a cozy spot to sit and you can carry on a conversation.
Some of my favorite offerings include specialty martinis for $ 5, a decent draft beer selection, and some pretty decent pizza.
Check out Thursdays for free jazz! The Madison Jazz Orchestra plays there once a month and they’re phenomenal.

Watch the Isthmus for what is playing there. Went one night for Jazz and another week went for Blues & Jazz. I was not disappointed by the music. It is not The Elephant Room in Austin, but this is Madison. Sorry natives. Service? A waitress will come for your order eventually but it is a trip to the bar for a now drink. For all you Martini drinkers, $ 5 for select from the bar menu. It’s live music! Enjoy.
Johnny Chitown

I went to the Brink because I had a Living Social coupon. When I paid, they said I couldn’t use the coupon because my bill included two regular specials: a half-​price bottle of wine and a discounted pizza. This apparently counted as promotions (against the «fine print» of the coupon). I’ve never been to a place which counted its in-​house specials as «promotions.»
The coupon was the only reason I went to the Brink, and now I have to go back to use it up. Not looking forward to a return because, as other reviewers have said, it’s really blah.

If you’re looking for a beautiful, unique and affordable venue for your wedding reception in Madison, definitely check out The Brink Lounge. It is very DIY — need to find your own caterer, cake, do all the decorating yourself — but if you’re bored with windowless ballrooms and grey wedding food, it may be the place for you. The venue has 3 stories that are all at your disposal and plenty of other rooms plus an outdoor patio for people to hang out as the night goes on. The best feature is the huge spiral staircase on which you get to make your entrance into the dining room. And Matt Brink is one of the nicest people I have ever worked with. He and his dad own the place, they are very accommodating and happy to help make your wedding day perfect!

Plenty of seating at couches and tables, good-​for-​a-​date dim lighting and live music with no cover make this a place I’d likely return. It has a lounge feeling, perhaps since it’s in the lower level of the building. The food was good, pizza was generously topped and tasty. The spinach artichoke dip was served in a bread bowl (which was deceptively not hollowed out very well, I might add… making it appear there was a lot more dip than there really was!).
What would improve this place would be service. It wasn’t very busy on this Friday night and there were at least four staff members behind the bar, and yet nobody working the floor taking drink orders. It’s nice to be able to sit and listen to the music and chat; I found it a bit of an interruption to have to get up to go to the bar every time you wanted another round.
BOTTOM LINE: I enjoyed the atmosphere, nice lighting and lively music which was not too loud that you couldn’t carry on a conversation. If they’d add a server or two it’d be even better!

The Brink was excellent… was there 4−22−11 and had a wonderful time. The atmosphere was laid back, the lighting was just right and the lounge singer was pretty good. I had one of there pizzas which was very good. They use a frozen crust but then add all the toppings to it right there so it was much better than your usual bar type frozen pizza. The beer is excellent and they had a huge selection of wine. The one thing I would change about this place is the service, we had to go to the bar to order everything. They have tables all over the place but no one apparently waiting on them, it was kind of wierd. Maybe we were just unlucky?
I will go back again and see if the service is the same or better?
–INTERESTING–
So after my original post above, I actually read through some of the other reviews and it seems that the lack of service may be the norm for this place. I am not going to change my 4-​star ranking as I really enjoyed the atmosphere here… I hate being at a bar that is so noisy you can’t hear the person sitting next to you so for that alone they get a bonus star. I will say that if the service stinks the next time I stop by I will be disappointed.

They have a nice assortment of music on the weekend. The drink menu is comprehensive, we were happy with what was offered. Spacious and we were comfortably seated — much nicer than so many other bars around town.
It reminded us of a cruise ship.