Essen Haus

Essen HausEssen Haus
Essen HausEssen Haus
Bar, Eatery

514 E Wilson St
Madison, Wisconsin, 53703-3431
United States

(608) 255-4674 | map
essen-haus.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.01
Reviews:
29
Ratings:
48
pDev:
10.72%
View: Place Reviews
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Ratings by GIVEMEBACKMYSON:
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Reviewed by GIVEMEBACKMYSON from Alaska

4/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5
You gotta love the ever changing selection of tap beers here. And the Comeback Inn (which you can go to from the side door in the Essen Haus) has still more options.
It is all served in very interesting glassware. Don't get any ideas...
The Boot Game is a good experience, but you may not be able to drive for days after playing. And if you're going to play, play it right.
note: If you are under 35, bring your ID, credit cards, social security card, birth certificate, library card, visa, passport, and a note from your mother. Otherwise, you may not get in.
Mar 30, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.09 by Rilesmiles from Wisconsin

Nov 20, 2016
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Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.86/5  rDev -3.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.5
Stopped in here and at Come Back In over Great Taste weekend.
It was late at night, and fairly empty. The oompah band was finishing up their set, and a couple tables lingered. The walls were heavily laden with dark wood and German kitsch, many maßkrugs lined the shelves and hung from hooks in the ceiling. A painted sign above one corner table signified the Stammtisch, or "regulars table". The space was sprawling, yet when empty it had a certain eerie stillness about it. You could imagine the tables full of jovial souls belting out the chorus to Ein Prosit as the oompah band played, but not tonight. For some reason the air was still and the mood was weary.

The bartender was friendly but no nonsense, busying herself with menial tasks rather than chatting with anyone.

Beer selection was ok, pretty much the typical German standbys. Mostly the big 3, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, and Paulaner, but one Ayinger, Jahrhundert. Also Hofbräu, DAB, Krombacher, and Warsteiner. Oddly there were still 2 Maibocks on tap at the beginning of Oktoberfest season, and the printed tap list was 3 months old. Guessing the selection doesn't rotate all that much. Spaten Okto was on, but I went for my go-to, Würzburger Hofbräu Pils.

Overall it was a good experience, except for the working lady that followed us from the Come Back In, which the bartender guessed was "probably a prostitute". Ya don't say...
Aug 15, 2016
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Reviewed by Riff from Virginia

4.24/5  rDev +5.7%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5
German themed bar and restaurant. Inside has a feeling of a college town bar. The decor is okay but the atmosphere was fun while we were there. Did not partake of the food while were there. The big draw is "Das Boot" or basically glass boots of craft beers. Good selection of craft beers, mostly local but a few national beers. They will make you sign a form and take your credit card in case you break one of the boots, they're a bit pricey. On the other hand you can buy boots from them, they have a number on hand.
May 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.86 by Zatch90 from Wisconsin

Oct 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.64 by UWBadgerFan4Life from Wisconsin

Jul 08, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by Duff27 from Illinois

Jun 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by ShawnL from Wisconsin

May 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.75 by djhowell from Wisconsin

Apr 30, 2015
 
Rated: 4.06 by redleg411 from Wisconsin

Feb 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by twb0392 from Wisconsin

Dec 03, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Todd from Finland

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Jason from Massachusetts

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Canada_Dan from Colorado

Oct 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Fargrow from Michigan

Sep 10, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by bigred89 from Maryland

Aug 23, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by BarrelAgedG from California

Jul 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gotti311 from Wisconsin

Jun 17, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by jera1350 from Minnesota

Jun 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by TX-Badger from Texas

Jun 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Ri0 from Wisconsin

Jun 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by ms333 from Illinois

Oct 13, 2013
Photo of crossovert
Reviewed by crossovert from Illinois

3.56/5  rDev -11.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3
Was at the biergarten here for a brief bit during a great taste pre-party. The beer was Revolution and it was only 2 bucks a half liter. In retrospect I should have stayed there all night and sucked the tap of Maerzen dry.

Didn't go in, or eat. Just slugged a beer listening to the German band they had. I liked the atmosphere, not as authentic as it should be but fun in a sense. Just wish it was always 2$ half liter night there. Saw the taplist for normal hours and it is just a decent mishmash of German beers.
Aug 14, 2012
Photo of scones
Reviewed by scones from Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I love this place, just like I love all German bars. Fun atmosphere, German beers on tap, large selection of German food. Service is pretty good (and all wearing German outfits), and the selection is pretty good too. Only thing I don't like about it is the price - 15+ for a sausage plate/schnitzel with sauerkraut and potatoes. Oh well, I'll still go whenever I can. Also it's attached to another bar next door, the Come Back Inn, which has a vastly different menu and beer selection but is also really good.
Jul 12, 2011
Photo of CuriousMonk
Reviewed by CuriousMonk from District of Columbia

4.05/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
A great place to visit, even though it’s sort of a chain. The ambiance is great - live polka music, German decorations and stuff all over the wall, and an overall great time to be had with the huge Das boots and everything else. The service was quick and friendly. The selection is pretty good for a restaurant - but hey, it’s German! The food was good, not the best German fare I’ve had, but still good especially the potatoes and sauerkrauts. Typical German beers on tap - nothing mind-blowing. The value was about average, and overall, I’ll definitely be hitting this place again whenever I visit Madison again.
Jun 20, 2011
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Reviewed by Czap from Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -0.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Very fun place. Kinda divey, but very large. Great German food and beer selection. It's about the whole experience. The music, the beer, the food, the boot. It's definitely a big draw.

That all being said, I still can't put my finger on exactly how I feel about the place. Almost like they found a formula that works and now it's just on cruise control. That might be part of what makes it so appealing as well. Who knows? Oh well, I am still going to frequent it every time I am in Madison, but there are a dozen other bars that I would rank well above it.
Oct 13, 2010
Photo of Yojimbo1941
Reviewed by Yojimbo1941 from Wisconsin

2/5  rDev -50.1%
vibe: 2 | quality: 1.5 | service: 3 | selection: 2 | food: 1
Downright horrible.

I ate here on 21 March of 2010 with some friends. First of all the beer was flat. Strike 1. Next the food was dry and tasteless and my wife's spaetzle was cold. We've had good German food before so I know this is not normal. Strike 2. After looking at the high prices again and noticing that the restaurant has not been cleaned in say 10 years we decided never to return. Strike 3. Done.

The only reason this place gets business is due to the fact that it's in the same building as Hotel Ruby Marie, and for the locals there is the boot. Still, I've had more than a couple less than memorable experiences at the Essen Haus and in March it was definitely the last. It's too bad because with a little hard work, cleaning, and a new kitchen staff it would be a great place to go. I expect to see this restaurant on Kitchen Nightmares in the near future.
May 25, 2010
Photo of AmberMan22
Reviewed by AmberMan22 from Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
The Essen Haus is really quite a place. Quite authentic looking, but the polka band really puts this place over the top. Additionally, there are boots to be had, with steins and other german beer paraphernalia all of the place.

While the vibe is incredible, the quality just doesn't quite match it. Going exclusively for the beer, I'd say yes 100%, but the whole ensemble doesn't come together as well as it looks.

Service was fairly good considering how absurdly busy they were when I last went. We were a little disappointed because about 160 frat guys were there and had privilege to all the boots for the night.

Selection was good. I had a delicious kostritzer schwarzbier, but there were plenty of other delicious German offerings there on the list.

I haven't actually gone and sat at the bar area, which is unfortunate, but hopefully soon to be rectified.
I would not attend this place for the food alone. Go with some friends and kick back some bräus!
Apr 12, 2010
Photo of bonk0076
Reviewed by bonk0076 from Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
Stopped in here with the girlfriend to get a couple liters of Dinkelacker Dark on tap, as I was told a few years ago that it was one of the few places in the state that has it. Unfortunately they didn't at this time. Atmosphere was great, staff dressed in lederhosen and what not. Didn't try too hard to be a German Beer Hall like some places, was just rough enough to be realistic. Beer menu was solid, but had hoped they had more Schneider or Ayinger varieties there then what they did. Nice place overall.
Dec 14, 2009
Photo of karst
Reviewed by karst from Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Friday night preparty prior to Madison's Great Taste of the Midwest and Bell's had their Bell's ON (tap) found some amazing beers seldom released outside of Kalamazoo, MI
Easy to locate downtown location. Good value. Did not eat but what I saw looked OK

Place was full with beer fest folks but they were handling the load nicely. We were concentraiting of the special release Bell's and ignored bottles and other stuff on tap.

Essen Haus is connected to Come Right In, I enjoyed my last Bells a Bretty Rye beer on the sidewalk and eventually next door at the Come Right INN.
Aug 11, 2009
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4
Wonderful downtown location. Beer garden open until dusk. Prices are are as reasonable as they are everywhere else downtown.

This was our first stop on our quasi-beertour of Madison. The inside is dark and bricky. I've only been to facimile German bars--including those in Amana which I've been told are *quite* authentic. That having been said, this place seemed nice and authentic to me. Only, it wasn't the kind of authenticity that takes itself too seriously. The guys were wearing Lederhosen but jokingly, over T-shirts. The girls were wearing German dress, too, but they looked cute, not gimmicky. I didn't even realize the bartender was dressed up, actually, since the outfit looked so nice. And the waitstaff was the tops.

Very wide tap selection, no so much for bottles. There were a couple of fairly rare beers on tap, but as things were just getting started I decided to keep it easy and go with a Bitburger.

Wisconsin's laxity with liquor laws is really refreshing. No, it's not like they don't ID you or anything like that. But little stuff--stuff that authorities in other states are senselessly strict about--they let go. Essen Haus is connected to Come Right In, and they let you take beer from one place into another. On top of that, there was no one out patroling the beer garden to make sure that you didn't stray more than X amount of yards from the premises. Little stuff like that makes for a greatly relaxed atmosphere.
Apr 06, 2008
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Reviewed by BoitSansSoif from France

3.38/5  rDev -15.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 2
I am going to rate my overall experience at Essenhaus, which is less than flattering, although beer-wise, it's an excellent find.
My first time here, we sat and sat and were never even approached by the waitstaff. 15 minutes later, we left.
My second time, we were treated warmly. The atmosphere was decent, and the oompah music kicked off halfway through the meal. The waitstaff this time did a stellar job. The beer selection is excellent, and it is enjoyable to drink from a boot, but be prepared to sign a waiver--those things aren't cheap if you break one, and they are tippy! The glassware goes beyond the boots, and you can catch a nice glimpse of window displays if you are walking the sidewalk on the Lake Monona side. It really lures you in. The decor is also charming, and a welcome respite for the thirsty.
I thought my first impressions of the place were unfounded, and based on a unique, atypical, and unfortunate experience...and then they brought out the food. I know what traditional German food tastes like, and although it's not a culture known for its haute cuisine, it's infinitely better than what the cooks tried to push over on us. The sausage barely rivaled those of my high school cafeteria, and the spatzle was already starting to get cold when it arrived. The highlights of the meal were the delicious beers, which washed the food down and made it taste better as I drank my way toward the insole, and the mustard, which spiced up the bland flavor between sips. Why didn't I put it aside? I was famished.
The food was quite pricey for its quality. I ate it anyway; I'll eat almost anything, but I still know what constitutes good food. If all meat tasted this way, I would turn vegetarian tomorrow with no regrets. In all fairness, I will return here because it is unique and charming, and the beer selection is good, which is supposed to be the primary focus of this review.
It pains me to bash what is actually a beerlover's gem, but we got started off on the wrong foot. I went in expecting a decent restaurant with a modest beer selection, but found a great bar with a poor dinner menu. It is one of four local bars I like to bring my visiting friends to, and it should remain just that...a bar, and not a restaurant. It's also a decent place to catch Badger games on the telly if you can't make it to Camp Randall.
Jan 25, 2008
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Reviewed by lowbrau from Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev -2.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Great atmosphere and beer. There is a polka band playing most nights. Many good German beers on tap, including Franziskaner Hefe and Dunkel, Spaten Optimator, and Paulaner Salvator. Warm pretzels with mustard and horseradish for 50 cents a piece. Service can be a little slow, but not really a big deal. Go next door to the Comeback Inn for a pretty good selection on tap and a huge selection of bottles. Food is good, but can be a bit expensive. I usually go for the Friday all you can eat fish fry. Be sure to go with a and try a boot.
Jan 05, 2008
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Reviewed by uwmgdman from Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +4.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
Beers: A nice selection of German beers, somewhere around 12 beers on tap, give or take a few. A nice range in German styles, including a few less common styles, including Alts and Munich Helles.

Food: I've sampled 4 different German dishes on different occasions. Every time the food was delicious, portions are quite generous. I really enjoy the red cabbage as a side. I would recommend going for a German dish instead of an American item if you visit.

Service: Service is typically prompt. Especially for meals. Later in the evenings when the place gets packed, it can be a bit spotty, but nothing over the line.

Atmosphere: Very good atmosphere. Often have live German music from one guy to a full polka band. During weekend evenings lots of people drinking a lot of boots and dancing to the polka band. During weekday evenings, a bit more subdued, no problem getting a table, but not too subdued.

Overall a great place to get impossible to find German drafts and German food. Definately recommend. If you prefer more quiet go during the week, less rowdy, for a crazy busy atmosphere, with lots of drinking go on the weekend. If you're there past 11pm on the weekend, the only draw back is the typical student who has too many boots and litters the bathroom with his weinerschientzel.

EDIT: I see a lot of people definately not recommending the food and that was recommended by people who worked there. I've eaten there 4 times and plan on going back. I felt it was good food, maybe some people don't care for German food. I'm still breathing so I guess I'll take my chances again with the cleanliness issue some talk about.
Mar 30, 2007
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Reviewed by badbeer from Iowa

4.06/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Nice place, sits right across from the lake. Inside is about as German as you're going to find in America. There are similar places, and they may be more German, but this is pretty damn good, I'd say. Quality of the beer was fresh. It was nice to have a fresh Helles again, they're hard to come by in America. Service was pretty good, they did their best despite being so busy. The effort is what counts. Selection wasn't huge for on-tap selections, but there was enough to keep the palate happy, and with limited offerings they're able to keep fresher things available. I didn't try any food, but it appeared to be authentic German cuisine, perhaps I'll give it a try next time. Prices were a little on the high side for the area, but it's a place I enjoy visiting when I'm in town.
Mar 29, 2007
Photo of Erdinger2003
Reviewed by Erdinger2003 from Iowa

4.03/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5
I walked in with the expecatations of a Munich beer hall and I saw a lot of heavy drinking and young college kids drink a lot of boots. The beer selection was a little small in my opinion, good, but kinda small. The atmosphere was good, not Germany good, but good. You could talk with friends, some you may have just met, some you've known. They have a small "Beer Garden". It's indoors, the ceiling seems a bit low, and it's next to the bathrooms. The giant ceiling they have is over the food/beer tables next to the tiny stage where not so bad music is played. It got crowded a bit after some time, so about 8:30pm we left for another bar. Overall I would go back just to try the fresher German beer and use the authentic glassware...it's a bit of fun using them.
Jan 14, 2007
Photo of 4thoseabout2bock
Reviewed by 4thoseabout2bock from Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | food: 2
The festive atmosphere to the Essen Haus is infectious.

I was very happy at the Come Back Inn next door, with their excellent selection of beer. When I heard there were TWO dopplebocks (both Salvator and Optimator) on tap on the other side of that magical swinging door, where hootin and hollerin and cheering were coming from, I was lured in to the promise of dark sweet German beer and satisfying German food.

I got the beer. It was great.

So was the atmosphere. Very festive, reminiscent of the beer halls of Munich (when they are filled with drunken American tourists). But, more importantly, all ages were represented here and everyone was having a great time.

The food, however, was horrible. The roulades were supposed to be thin steak and bacon wrapped around sausage meat and pickle. Bacon around sausage. How can you do wrong? Well, they found a way. They came out looking like two little turds and someone forgot to cover them in sauce. The spaetzle was dry and flavorless. The French Onion soup was dirty dish water with onions.

On the bright side the Prime Rib was ok, and so was the liver dumpling soup. Even though the waitress did not bring the au jus with the prime rib (or maybe they don't serve it that way) we kept the livery broth to dip it in and that gave it some nice flavor (if you like liver, which I do).

So listen to DaPeculier Dane. Don't eat here. I was suckered in my the German ambience (under the influence of two doppelbocks :)

But of you love German beer and atmosphere, do DRINK here. And next store. A great stop in a Madison beer tour.
Oct 15, 2006
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Reviewed by DaPeculierDane from Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +12.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5
The Essenhaus is a top beer bar and a must for anyone traveling to Madison. This place is second on my list (after the Memorial Union Terrace) of places to take friends from out of town. The Essenhaus features just about any German beer you could think of…on tap! The specials are great. Half liters are only something like $2.50 during happy hour and boots (normally $16) are only ten bucks on Thursdays. Polka bands play there regularly. The waitstaff are great and wear traditional Bavarian garb. It’s kitchy, dirty, and very Wisconsin. Their bottle selection is great too, plenty of good American crafts and the whole Lindeman’s line from Belgium. Better yet, the Essenhaus has a door to the Up North Bar on its SE wall and a door to the impressive Come Back Inn on its NW wall. If you don’t care for German beer and can’t find the craft you like at Essenhaus, just walk over to the Comeback, grab a pint, and carry it back over to the Essenhaus.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not rating the food because I don’t want to bring down this bar’s score. For me this is a beer bar and I just ignore the whole restaurant part. Now this is very important…don’t eat here. Don’t ask why. You do not want to know. Just, what ever you do, don’t eat here. Don’t even think about it. Avoid the Come Back’s food too. Seriously!
Apr 03, 2006
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Reviewed by shbobdb from Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +14.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 1
Wir gehen zum Essenhaus! Was a common battlecry for thursday nights, when a boot (2L) of beer was available for a mere $10, and 1/2L's were on sale for three (note: this has changed recently. Most likely after the looting that occured during the weekend graduation for the class of '05). The waitstaff is ever quick to please and the polka band blares away singing "I don't wan-her, you can have her, she's too fat for me, oh, she's to fat for me." Truly a pleasant germanic atmosphere. Kitchy as hell, but surprisingly authentic within that. Good beers, good times, good friends, what more could you want?
Oh, yeah, food. Avoid it at all costs. Overpriced and it tastes like poison.
Avoid the bathrooms too, if possible. Late in the night they get rather, uhhh, messy.
Mar 05, 2006
Photo of barrelman
Reviewed by barrelman from New York

4.13/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Live Polka, waitstaff in lederhosen, multiple German brews. Wisconsin's German tradition runs deep in this place. On any given night the clientele runs from 21 yrs. old to old german faces that are practically dead. Most tables are overflowing with patrons and at least one 2-liter glass boot going around (Hint: Two 1-liter boots go around much faster). As tradition goes, the person after the one who finishes the boot has to buy the next one. A good game to play if you are a broke college kid and have your drinking pants on.

If a 2-liter boot seems a little on the sissy side for you, they also offer a 5-liter ceramic stein (courtesy of Spaten) to test your arm strength. Only my friend Big Joe can lift this thing without two hands and physical/moral support. I have never been to a place that is more condusive to Polka-ing(?) and partying at the same time. The truth is, I can only remember leaving this place twice in six years.

A can't miss for anyone with a shirt and shoes.
Jul 22, 2005
Essen Haus in Madison, WI
Place rating: 4.01 out of 5 with 48 ratings