Bars are for drinking — we all know that. But in a town such as Madison, that can’t be all there is to the equation. Students and adults alike sometimes crave some food with their beer, and there are several options available downtown that cater to bar food aficionados.

State Street Brats (603 State St.) is the first and, to some, most obvious choice. No place else can you participate so actively in three of Wisconsin’s most-loved activities: drinking beer, eating brats and watching the big game. Brats are naturally the first thing to come into every bar-goer’s mind when entering, well, Brats, and the restaurant’s selection doesn’t disappoint. There are two varieties — red and white — and baskets include the sandwich and fries, for just over $4 (you can add spicy fries and, of course, cheese for an extra charge).

Many are perfectly happy to stick with the traditional Wisconsin fare, but if you like to change it up a little don’t neglect Brats’ incredibly tasty selection of tortilla wraps and quesadillas. The roast beef and mozzarella wrap is especially good (and an interesting combination you may not have tried before), and either of the two quesadillas (chicken or three-cheese) is worth the trip.

Of course, Brats also offers some of State Street’s best and most famous drink specials, like Flip Night Tuesdays, where drinks are half-price if you win a coin toss with the bartender. There are 17 beers on tap and 14 available in bottles at all times. Great food, great (and cheap!) drinks and great television reception — who could ask for anything more in a Wisconsin bar?

Just off State Street, at 414 W. Gilman St., lies Amy’s Café, another wonderful stop for a restaurant/bar combination. A favorite take-out place for area college students for years, Amy’s is famous for, among other things, its Broccoli Cheese soup, which is the perfect food to warm your bones on cold fall and winter days. It’s available in a cup, bowl or bread bowl, with the latter still priced affordably at under $3.50 — and it’ll fill you up for hours!

Amy’s is also known for its Greek food, namely the Spinach Feta pie. It’s served in lasagna-like chunks and perfectly sandwiches the spinach and cheese between flaky layers of phyllo, or Greek pastry dough. It’s a tasty treat indeed, especially when paired with the Greek salad.

If you choose to dine in at Amy’s, you’ll almost certainly sit in the bar area, where, if you’re so inclined, you can take advantage of the many beers on tap and the nightly drink specials. The restaurant-style seating makes the late night bar atmosphere unique and offers patrons the chance to actually sit down with some friends rather than fight for space at a tiny bar. The bartenders are always friendly and outgoing and have even been known to offer rounds of shots in the middle of the day to diners.

Further down State lies Nick’s Bar and Restaurant (226 State St.), just across from the newly constructed Overture Center. Thousands of people walk past Nick’s every day without ever noticing its presence, which is a shame — it has one of the quirkiest atmospheres in town. The interior looks as if it hasn’t been redecorated since the ’40s, which could very likely be the case. A long bar sits to the right and booths line the wall to the left. There are lots of tables in the middle, so there always seems to be space for everyone.

Nick’s functions well not only as a bar, but also as a night-after-the-bar hangout. It’s the only place on State that serves unlimited coffee, so if you’re hungover and craving greasy food and caffeine, this is a great option.

If lunch is more your style, try the BLT or the Turkey Melt — both are priced well under Perkins prices at around $5 and outshine the chain in quality. Fries, coleslaw and a pickle are included, with ranch and other dressings available upon request. Keep an eye behind the bar while you’re waiting for your food, as the kitchen is downstairs and all orders travel to the dining room via a dumbwaiter (tiny elevator).

Dinner is also an option, with the Feta Burger standing out as the clear winner. Other burgers are also available, as well as larger entrees like fried chicken. The best part? There’s pie. Where else on State can you find that?

As a bar, Nick’s stands out for three reasons: its seating arrangement, its jukebox and its lighting. As mentioned, there are plenty of tables and booths, so grab a group of friends and enjoy the space. The jukebox contains lots of standards, like tracks from Rod Stewart (the good ones from the old days), Ray Charles and Sinatra, which is rare for a college-student bar. The lights also stay on well through the bar hours at Nick’s, so you can actually see who you’re talking to, rather than stumbling around in the dark.

There are plenty more restaurant/bars to be explored in Madison, but these three certainly stand out. If you’re feeling hungry and want to get your drink on at the same time, check them out and get both your needs met at once.

Got a suggestion for a future Happy Hour column? Send any comments, questions or suggestions to [email protected].