A Plazaburger without the sauce is like bread without butter. The two cannot be separated. Nestled snugly off State Street alongside trendy neighbors Stillwaters and Bullfeathers, The Plaza Tavern & Grill is known for its great hamburgers and a tremendous amount of history.
A staple to the University of Wisconsin campus, the legend remains that The Plaza Tavern was a speakeasy during prohibition, made bowling history when a Madison woman scored a perfect 300 in an official women’s competition, and of course, there was Mary Huss who created that special sauce; the sauce that seems to generate much attention and drooling mouths. The recipe for the sauce is a well guarded secret, but here are a few hints. A mixture of mayonnaise, sour cream, and dill make up the condiment that tastes great on burgers and as a dipping sauce for fries, but the remaining ingredients are still a mystery to me.
The Huss family owned the restaurant from 1963 until last March when they were bought out by Dean Hetue, manager of 18 years. The restaurant décor and menu has not changed much, but shakes and malts are no longer available. Lunches and football Saturdays are usually the busiest time for the kitchen, but the grill does not close until 11pm for those who wander in for a late night snack. The Plaza Tavern is usually flooded with students on weekend evenings since they close at bartime.
The Plaza Tavern has open space, a large-screen television on the wall, pool table, game machines, and illuminated neon beer signs. Although there are plenty of booths for seating, the space feels more like a bar and less like a restaurant. A place for good eats and drinks with good friends, the atmosphere is low key and relaxed during the lunch hour on a Saturday afternoon.
The menu is simple. The Plazaburger ($3.10) is the best seller and has helped the tavern secure its place in the Madison restaurant community. Served on a wheat bun with sandwich pickles on the side, the hamburger is delicious. If you want to try the sauce and are a vegetarian, the Fishwich ($3.30) is a good alternative. The crispy fried cod fillet is served with lettuce and plaza sauce. Garden and veggie burgers ($4.00) and a selection of deli sandwiches ($2.25-2.50) are served on your choice of white, wheat, or caraway rye bread.
Side dishes are minimal as well. Soup ($2.65), French fries ($1.15), battered whole mushrooms ($1.95), and a few others make up the side dish menu. The golden potato and cheese hash rounds known as cheddar munchers ($3.50) have an interesting appeal to them. I will definitely have to try those on my next visit.
So after you have the burger and sauce you will probably need something to wash it down with. The Plaza Tavern offers nightly drink specials that are fairly inexpensive. Monday nights are a dollar off pitchers, Wednesday is two-for-one Long Island Iced Teas and every day there is a wide selection of domestic ($2.50-3) and imported ($3) bottles. You can check out their website at www.theplazatavern.com for full listings of drink specials.
University of Wisconsin alumni that return to visit their alma mater usually stop in the tavern to reminisce on their college years and bring back a serious sense of nostalgia. According to Mike McKoy who has worked at the tavern since he was in college in 1980, “one time, Joan and John Cusack ate at the restaurant. They are both alumni. I was disappointed that I missed them by a few hours.”
Other Plaza patrons have included Bill Murray, Johnny Cash, Tom Wopat, Brett Favre, Neil Young, Greta Van Susteren, and former Governors Patrick Lucey, Lee Sherman Dreyfus, Tony Earl and Tommy Thompson.
I definitely recommend that you stop by The Plaza Tavern for a quick meal. The menu is extremely inexpensive and the service is fast and accommodating. Since this place has been around since the prohibition, its reputation and popularity among UW students, alumni, and business people for having great hamburgers is no fabrication. Until next week, happy dining!