Best places to get cheese curds in downtown Madison
Yes, I did sample them all
Anyone from Wisconsin can tell you that we are infatuated with cheese. We are the cheeseheads, for goodness sake. I proudly classify myself as a cheese lover, and my favorite bars all have an amazing cheese curd appetizer.
While chatting with my out-of-state friends, I mentioned just how badly I was craving deep fried cheese curds. With a confused look between them, I could tell they didn’t understand this Madison obsession. For all of those wondering why we are so obsessed with this deep-friend wonder, here’s a list of the best places to get cheese curds in Madison. Try for yourself!
The Great Dane
Pardon my sweaty face
These white cheddar cheese curds come with a side of homemade ranch, and they are delectable. If you like cheese curds that are more cheese than breading, these are for you. I’m more of a crunchy curd girl myself, so these didn’t quite reach my incredibly high standards, but they will do the trick just fine.
The Nitty Gritty
ermergerd, cherz cerdz
What I love most about The Nitty Gritty is they have two choices of cheese curds: you can get either white cheddar or their classic golden cheddar curds. The classic curds remind me of my childhood birthday parties at this very restaurant, but most curd connoisseurs prefer the white cheddar goodness. You can always do what I do and get both. No shame.
Tipsy Cow
Cheesin’ with cheese
Just a little hole-in-the-wall, the Tipsy Cow is a wonderful place to have a drink outside and to enjoy the view of the capital. They also have delectable fried cheese curds. These white cheddar nuggets of joy come with a side of runny ranch, the soul mate for anything deep fried. It did not take the two of us long to polish off the basket.
The Old Fashioned
My beautiful best friend with some delicious cheese curds
Voted the Best Place to get Cheese Curds in Madison by Foursquare, Old Fashioned was an obvious place to go. Anyone you ask in Madison will tell you to try Old Fashioned and for good reason. Their cheese curds are the perfect combination of crispy and creamy, but I still was not yet satisfied. My number one pick, hands down, has to be…
Merchant
Does that face convince you? These were by far my favorite curds in Madison, and I’ll tell you why: they are made with that glorious melt-in-your-mouth cheese. As soon as you bite into one of these puppies, you get that wonderful crunch, but here’s the thing: you barely have to chew these ones. They melt away, and it’s a heavenly experience. That’s why Merchant is my favorite place to get curds, but if I’m being honest, I don’t think you can go bad with any choice involving cheese curds.