This week’s Wisconsin restaurant pick: Greenbush Bar (Madison)
From Greenbush Bar Google review
Tucked underneath the historic Italian Workmen’s Club on Regent Street, Greenbush Bar serves up thin-crust pizza, cocktails, and an atmosphere that feels like you stumbled into a really good secret. This spot is the perfect example of why you shouldn’t judge a restaurant from how it looks from the street.
The Lowdown
Address: 914 Regent Street, Madison, WI
Bang-for-your-buck: Prices are mid-range but well-deserved considering the quality
Vibe check: Cozy, welcoming and undeniably cool
Perfect for: A casual (but elevated) date night or sharing a pizza with friends
Ambiance
From Greenbush Bar website
The first thing you notice about Greenbush Bar is that you have to walk down a flight of stairs to get there, which already makes the whole experience feel more interesting than your average pizza joint.
Once you get downstairs, you’re greeted by a dark, cozy room with colorful Christmas-style lights and a seriously moody vibe. It’s the kind of personality a newer restaurant spends a fortune trying to manufacture.
What I ordered (and my honest thoughts)
Caesar Salad - $11
The Caesar Salad was really good but I wasn't expecting it to arrive in wedges versus the usual chopped-up romaine situation. If you're expecting a classic look, the presentation might catch you off guard but don’t worry, the taste is solid.
Wisconsin Burrata - $18
The Wisconsin Burrata comes with grilled bread and a pepper mixture (a.k.a. peperonata) rather than the tomatoes I typically associate with a burrata appetizer. I wasn't a huge fan of the peppers because I didn't feel like they added much to the overall flavor. It wasn’t bad, just not my favorite dish of the night.
The Alberici 16” Pizza - $24
This is Greenbush Bar's signature pie, made with mozzarella, Gorgonzola, roasted tomatoes, Nueske's bacon, and fresh arugula on an olive oil crust. The crust was fantastic, the pizza was cooked beautifully, and the combination of salty bacon, creamy cheeses, sweet roasted tomatoes, and peppery arugula made this the clear winner of the meal.
Overall impression
From Greenbush Bar Google review
Greenbush Bar is one of those places where the atmosphere and food work equally hard to create a unique and memorable experience. If you're into a thinner, crispier crust rather than a big, doughy slice of pizza, this is your spot.
An incredible cocktail menu and expansive whiskey list are also big selling points for this joint. Combine that with the 10/10 atmosphere? This is the perfect place for when you want something a little more interesting than the usual dinner-and-drinks routine.
What you need to know (the à la carte version)
Hours: The restaurant currently lists hours of 4:30 p.m. to midnight, seven days a week.
There are no reservations. Tables are first-come, first-served, and the space can fill up quick - particularly on busy evenings and Badger game days.
Expect a moderate dinner bill. During our visit, the Caesar Salad, Wisconsin Burrata, and pizza came to about $60. Adding cocktails brought the total to approximately $90 for the two of us.
Don’t get its twisted. This is the bar on Regent Street but people often confuse it with Madison’s Greenbush Bakery. Showing up at the bakery expecting a cocktail and a pizza would be an unfortunate plot twist.
This is a square slices joint which makes the pizzas easy to share with a group, if you’re feeling generous.
Depending on the day, this may not be the best spot for deep conversation. The dim lighting and snug basement space are a big part of the charm, but it can get lively when the room fills up.
Don’t leave your leftovers behind. Even the arugula on our leftover pizza slices was amazing in the air fryer at home.
Hear more about my stop at Greenbush Bar and see the delicious meal for yourself in the video review:
Not on Instagram? Check out the video on TikTok instead.
Looking for more?
See all of my reviews and live Wisconsin Wing Rankings here: https://www.eatwithtroy.com/
