Wonder Bar Steakhouse

Valentine’s Day date night! We arrived early for our reservation, and was seated right away. I was slightly disappointed with our table because it was right by the hallway for the kitchen and I could hear the servers chatting and things clattering around. Our waitress that night, Colleen, was phenomenal. She checked on us just the right amount and kept the conversation light, friendly and funny. Ask for her the next time you go!
I had the Merlot with dinner and my husband had Johnnie Walker Black on the rocks. Both were generous pours. Our meals came with «warm» bread – the bread was good, but not very warm. The honey butter that came with made the bread better. We started with the crab cakes. Pricey, but delicious! We both ordered the signature steak, which came with a side salad and side dish. We both got the mixed greens, I got the twice baked potatoes and husband got the mashed potatoes. The salad was good, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the oil and vinegar dressing. The twice baked was good, but the mashed potatoes were better. Both our steaks were cooked the way we asked. I was a little overwhelmed by the size of the steak. It was 14 oz, and it was a tall cut of meat.
We finished the meal with the crème brûlée – one of the better ones in town that I’ve had!
I left the restaurant feeling VERY full, probably too full!

If I could give this 5 stars for the steak and 0 stars for the atmosphere I’d do that, but I can’t so I’ll split the difference, even though you can’t really divide by zero in a case like this.
First visit was on my birthday, my friends and I ate downstairs at 6 on a Saturday and the place was busy, but quiet, the food was awesome and the waitstaff very nice. I ordered a special aged prime rib and it was fork tender and delicious, and they even brought me Bearnaise sauce (even though that is not traditionally served with prime rib) without a weird look.
Chose to come again for a second event a few months later. That time we were seated upstairs and wound up next to an extended table of guests who clearly had a huge bar tab running and were getting louder and more obnoxious with each course. We asked the server if we could move or he/​manager could ask them to tone it down a bit but no luck with either, so we got some to-​go bags and took most of the food home where we could eat in peace.
Hoping that this was an isolated event, we came back for a third trip and asked to be put in the «quietest» part of the restaurant. We were led upstairs and put into an alcove. The restaurant itself was quiet, we were there ahead of the bar crowd, this was also 5:30 — 6:00 or so on a weekday, but the alcove had audio speakers mounted in the ceiling above us and whatever generically bad «music» was coming through them seemed to be turned up to 11. We asked the server to get them turned off or turned down to no avail, we then asked again and it got turned to 10.5. because, as it was explained to us, the «music» is for everyone and everyone must be able to hear it over the increasingly raucous bar crowd that was assembling.
My dinner companion actually reached up to see if the wires could be disconnected but they were hidden, so he wrapped my ski jacket around the speakers and that muffled it to about 8.5. That appeared to get the manager’s attention because they rushed over with a concerned look and asked us why there was a jacket hanging from the ceiling. We explained that the «music» was overwhelming us and it was either them turning it down or us leaving the jacket floating up there like that. The «music» got turned to 6, at best, and we ate our meal, (which was not as good as the first time) quickly and then left.
So my 2 star recommendation to diners is this: If you want a good expensive steak and don’t mind a loud atmosphere, check this place out.

I dunno. Not a steak person so I got the walleye. It was pretty boring, not a lot of flavor. Hash browns are pretty tasty though. My husband ordered the same dish as me and had twice as much fish on his plate. I think he liked his, because he ate all of it! 30 bucks for a tiny piece of bland deep fried fish, nope, don’t think so.
On the plus, our server was really nice and others at the table enjoyed their steaks quite a bit.
I really wanted to like this place ;(

This place is probably the best value for a steakhouse in Madison. If you are familiar with places like The Tornado Room, Smoky’s, Johnny Delmonicos’, etc. the Wonder Bar is on par with those, but probably ²⁄₃ the price on average. The steaks are phenomenal, the accompaniments are good, and the service is excellent. Would recommend this place to anyone who wants a good steak.

I really, really want to like the Wonder Bar. Bar area is cozy and they make a good cocktail.
The problem starts one you sit down for dinner. The service (at least the last 3 times I went there) is marginal to poor, which is not what you expect when you are paying 30+ for a steak. We ordered appetizers and once we finished the dirty plates sat on our table for 10+ minutes. Finally we stacked them up and forced them on a passing waiter. Same with the salad/​soup plates except no waiter passed so we had to juggle them once our entrees came. You would think the waiter might check in at least once during the course or possible clear dirty dishes before you bring out a new course!
Well a trip to the restroom taught me that the waiters hang out by the kitchen and talk to each other until orders come out. Obviously no one is managing the place.
Food was good. I had a filet and it was done perfectly (medium+). The crab bisque was salty and it came out in an oversized bowl so it looks like there is not much in the serving. I think the bowl was the reason for the lukewarm temp.
Sorry guys but I can recommend it for cocktails but not dinner. I gave it 3 chances over the year or two it has been open and service is still (to be nice) severely lacking. There are lots of other places in town to get a good steak or seafood.

We make an effort to try new or different places when dining out, and the standard to which they are compared is the Wonder Bar. Southern WI has a number of fine restaurants, but in years of research, it hasn’t been bested.

I have always enjoyed the Wonder Bar for the most part. There have been times when I have stopped in without a reservation and they are so busy they hardly are able to greet you at the door to tell you it is a two hour wait. So use common sense with that. My most recent visit is why I want to review it today, it seems like the kitchen has improved. The Cowboy steak I had was stunning. Ordered «Blue Rare», this steak was prepared to perfection. Everything else, service, side dishes (included with the meal not at an extra cost) were fine but the star was that steak. They really nailed it. Of course the place has ambiance to spare, love or hate that, but it is a one of kind and unique for sure. And it is even haunted. Yep, no lie, look that one up. Otherwise the bar is solid and great place to hang after or before a meal, friendly bar keeps and strong drinks. It is a cozy place with a small parking lot but well worth the trip and worthy of the money they charge, great value for the dollar.

This is a nice restaurant. Service was attentive and pleasant. The food is very delicious and portions are generous. But it has to be a restaurant you go to with a thick wallet. The specials are just that… special to the night you arrive, not discounted. I had a coupon and I still paid well over 60 dollars for my dinner and drink.
If you are trying to impress your date or you are feeling real flush with cash, Wonder Bar is a great place.

We went here for a date after I was away for almost two weeks after a trip to Germany to bike cross around the Hamburg. I was ready for a great american steak.
I came to this place because it was pretty close to my place. I really liked the story behind the old building being gangster related. I love those rat facts about capone and a tunnel to get booze in from the lake.
I ordered the cowboy steak, It was totally awesome, the side salad and the side you get were pretty basic but the entrée was huge and delicious. I went on a Tuesday the waiter didn’t know the market price of the lobster or crab legs which makes me think they must not sell too many of them. Stick to the «famous for.» dishes like the cowboy steak. (I can vouch for that one)

Interesting, I walked in to this restaurant at 10 after checking the reviews on Unilocal.Unilocal says they are open until 11. I just got off work after a 16 hour day (in heels) and I just wanted a glass of wine and some real food.
Bartender looked at me like I was a piece of trash and told me they close at 10.
Awesome.

I don’t understand the infatuation with this place. The atmosphere is meh. We ordered the Porterhouse, mashed potatoes, signature hash browns, and broccoli hollandaise. Nothing was great. The price, if I recall correctly, was around $ 45.
For the ambience (lacking) and the presentation, serving me a $ 45 steak on a hot plate (black plate with a metal insert), I just don’t understand it. The steak was ok, but I’ve had better steaks at Texas Roadhouse for ¼ the price. I really had hoped for more out of this because it was my wife’s birthday and she was disappointed.
I definitely will not go back and I’ll try another place the next time I’m in the area.

Poor quality $ 37 steak. I understand that a ribeye has marbling but this was full of gristle. Check out the plate of fat and gristle. Couple that with a chewy lightly flavored steak and it makes for a disappointing dinner. Bartender/​waiter shrugged it off and stated that’s what you get with a ribeye. Had he shared that you’re going to get a poor quality piece of meat I would have reconsidered my dining options.

We tried calling ahead on a recent Saturday night, the phone just kept ringing and ringing… I even facebook messaged them to see if there was a wait and how long it was, thinking they were swamped and maybe we would be better off to dine elsewhere.
Deciding to chance it, we arrived to a nearly empty lower dining area with no host, and no barkeeper. I finally flagged a waitress and she was quickly to seat us to a table. When I asked if their phone line was down, she replied that they were probably just busy and didn’t hear it. I’d find that believable if there were customers to suggest otherwise.
Being somewhat of a regular here, the food is consistent. You order the steaks, and they arrive cooked to your liking and we rarely leave disappointed, or hungry. I appreciate the side salads that accompany the entrée, as they are almost as big and filling as an entrée on its own. The price point is not bad considering you get a warm bread basket, side salad, and a choice of side.

I called ahead and made a reservation. When i get there I am immediately greeted by the server. She sits me down and I wait about 10 – 15 minutes without anything to drink nor a menu. I finally lean towards the server and ask «do you have a menu?» She says «oh yeah am sorry» she brings me the menu and ask if I would like anything to drink. I order water and it comes out. I ask for a straw and never get it. It’s now 30 – 40 minutes and i am ready to order. The waiter bypasses me to take the order for a couple who was seated after me. Now i look around and realize, i am the only hispanic well am the only what the world would call «minority» wow… I got up and left. You can’t have my business treating me like that. Their restaurant has a very pricey menu therefore I will like to be treated very well. Never ever going back!

Ate here to celebrate our anniversary. The food was delicious. I had a fliet and husband New York strip. Steaks were cooked perfectly and were very flavorful and tender. They did run out of the wine we were drinking (only had 2 glass) so that was slightly disappointing, but the food and service more than made up for this. We will definitely return here.

Started with the oyster Rockefeller. Wasn’t a bad choice. Ordered the filet as my main course, along with the hash browns. The filet was the best part of the meal. Cooked well and tasted great. The hash browns were nothing special, but still tasted good. The Manhattans were good and strong and our waitress really knew her drinks. Didn’t knock my socks off, but for the price, it was well worth it.

I really wanted to love this place. I really did.
Madison has so many good steakhouses, and I was hoping this would be able to break into my normal rotation. However, the meal was just mediocre.
We had two appetizers, the bbq prawns and the stuffed mushrooms. The mushrooms lacked flavor. The prawns were good size and had a good flavor. I would recommend those as a good option.
I ordered the ribeye, which is my favorite cut and what I get everywhere I go. My fiancé ordered the filet. Both were cooked very well, but the flavor was just missing something. It lacked the melt-​in-​your-​mouth, ohmyfreakinggod experience of Delaney’s or Tornado. Overall both steaks were adequate.
For sides, definitely go with the hashbrowns, they were far and away the highlight of the meal. double baked potato was bland.
Price is one thing this place has going for it, because their steaks come with a soup or salad and side dish included.
Overall, I find it hard to say I will ever come back to this place with so many great steak options in Madison. Just didn’t do enough to put it in the same discussion with the best this city has to offer.

For the money, this place is an great value. It has a nice old school charm and they make the best martinis! Martinis are $ 9.50 and beers were $ 5.00.
Unlike many higher end steak houses, Wonder Bar’s steaks come with your choice of one of three salads (Warm Bacon Spinach salad, Wedge Salad with French Roquefort, or House Salad with house made oil and vinegar dressing) and a side. I had the Asparagus Hollandaise and my dinner partner had the double baked potato. The asparagus was a little small, but really, I’m there for the steak so I didn’t mind.
I ordered the Cowboy Steak (rib eye) and my husband had the Wonder Bar Signature. I also added mushrooms. I love a place that gives you the option of «Blue Rare.» The steaks did not disappoint. They were huge (seemed larger than even the portions described), cooked perfectly, and nicely flavored.
Because it’s by the Alliant Convention complex it’s busy. The tables are four tops but with all the food you get and drinks, four would seem a bit cramped.
Will definitely come back when we come through Madison again.

Boo. I have been to The Tornado room quite a few times as well as many other Wisconsin steak places so that guided my expectations going in. Had heard great things, many said this place was better than Tornado.
But it was not. It was significantly worse. Service was just fine, quick and polite. But the food was very standard steakhouse stuff at a price as high as the best places in town.
Our drinks were hit and miss, good Manhattan, competently incompetent Gimlet. It was not even cold, did not seem to have been shaken, just some gin with lime in it.
We noted the shrimp cocktail was outrageously priced but thought maybe they would be some really impressive shrimp. They were pretty average size, only 4 of them, and there was no horseradish and they had zero flavor themselves. Worth 4 bucks maybe, we spent 20 on it.
The wedge salad was not a wedge. it was a thin slice of iceburg with an enormous amount of dressing that tasted like sugar and oil and nothing else. I am not super into wedge but my wife loves it and she said this sucked as well.
There were rolls. Two to be exact. They were like brown and serve whitebread, flavorless wads of dough from the grocery store. Compared to the bread sampler at Tornado you get it was a big bummer. Also, no veg garnish to snack on.
So up till now it had been disappointing but the whole time we were hoping the steaks would be the star of the show and pull this one out. My wife got the house special and I got the cowboy streak, similar to the bone in ribeye I have gotten many times at Tornado and make at home. We both ordered them medium rare, which is usually a safe bet for well seared on the outside, hot pink insides with somewhat rendered fat. You know, a good steak.
What I got was full on rare in parts, bloody and cold inside without much sear. The connective tissue and fat around the rib eye was completely un-​rendered and gross. The main part was better prepared but the meat was not seasoned very much, standard bland steakhouse steak. The steak was large but that was the only thing going for it. My wifes filet was also 80% cold and uncooked and not very flavorful.
We did like the hash browns though. If you want a place to go and have a drink and eat a hash brown you should definitely consider the Wonder Bar. If you want a great steak, or just a fine dining experience where you don’t feel like you were ripped off there are so many places in Madison that will serve you better: Pig in a Fur Coat, Tornado Room, Muramoto, Lombardinos and many others that are considerably less expensive but offer much better food.

The ultimate supper club steakhouse experience! This small cozy quaint spot didn’t disappoint. We went on a Wednesday evening and the pack was packed! The bar is great for waiting for a table, the gigantic fireplace in the dining room is fantastic! Our table was a few spots away from the door… which unfortunately given the small restaurant meant we froze every time someone came in the door. A bummer with our seasons and when we go back we will surely request a table by the fireplace!
Aside from that our food and service were outstanding. We had the sea bass special that was cooked to perfection and my husband had the cowboy steak that literally was the size of an entire dinner plate… which was also delish. I had the steamed broccoli and I could take it or leave it, but my husband had their hash browns and they were out of this world!!! Cheddar, onions, potatoes… divine. We also both had the wedge salad that was a classic steakhouse wedge done to perfection! Definitely going back, when the weather isn’t quite as frigid or when we can get a table by the fireplace!