Dumb Founded
Had a very enjoyable time on a Monday late afternoon with a group of friends. First time there for me. Felt like a cozy kind of up north bar feeling. The place was clean and plenty of staff working. Menu was plentiful with apps, burgers, wraps, fish fry and sandwiches…I’m probably forgetting some. I saw multiple food orders pass me by and got hungry…all looked good and most main dishes were $9.99. I got the patty melt with onion soup. The soup was better than one I had at a very fancy restaurant a while back. If you’re looking for a comfortable place with adequate seating, good vibes and food, I’d check it out.
… morelK. C.
Seven of us gathered at Murphy’s for a little birthday celebration. The site was chosen for it’s proximity to everyone in our group and even though most of us are lifelong Madison residents, most of us had never been here – to Murphy’s or any of it’s previous names.
Conveniently located on Hwy 113 just N of Madison, near Hwy M, it is right on the Cherokee Marsh & adjacent to a dog park. The site has outdoor volleyball courts so I assume they host a league.
We were there at 1pm on Friday afternoon and while there were few in the dining room, there were quite a few patrons at the large bar in a separate room.
Our server was friendly and somewhat attentive, even though we had to get our own silverware and menus from a nearby hostess-type table.
I had a Bloody Mary with Warped Speed beer back and the Bloody was perfect. Spicy and flavorful. Only one pickle & two olives so nothing fancy but still a good Bloody. The beers on tap numbered about ten with a good cross section.
The menu is pretty standard bar fare and on Fridays, a selection of fish. I had the walleye, pan-fried, with coleslaw and baked potato. The walleye was pretty flavorless as I had to add salt, pepper & lemon. I always add lemon but have never before had to season my fish at a restaurant. The cole slaw was bland, as well, needing seasoning and vinegar. The baked potato – perfect (but that’s hard to screw up.) Another diner who had the pan fried walleye as well remarked that it was “flavorless.” Perhaps the breaded & deep fry walleye may be better but I bet it pales in comparison to Villa Tap’s or Tip Top’s Friday walleye fish fry!
Overall, the food was okay, service was attentive (but a bit surly,) and the bar had some seemingly overindulging undesirables who had taken up Friday afternoon residence there.
I don’t think we’ll return.
… moreKathy Smith
Staff is very friendly and welcoming. Charlene was very attentive and helpful with menu suggestions. Other customers were easy to talk with and made us feel welcome. Noise level is what we expected at a place where people are having fun and enjoying sports TV. Give it a try!
… moreRoxie
I really like this bar. The bartenders are always really nice and the food is fantastic. Great place to watch the game, good prices, comfy seats.
… moreRose Bongiovani
Great food & staff. Have plenty of room for large groups. Very nice outside seating.
… moreJason Heilmann
Awesome bar! Great food, great prices, and super friendly staff. Full on sand volleyball courts and league. Shout out to Melissa, made us feel super welcome and took the time to connect with us, which made us seem like old friends. The owner, Chad, found out that we have a cat named Murphy and gave us a shirt, super cool guy. Thanks again, Murphy’s and it’s amazing staff, you rock!
… moreRed CanisSapien
Stopped by for Friday Fish Fry because they have lake perch. Went with a cup of french onion soup to start. Have to say, worst I have ever had. No taste at all, brown water. The lake perch was ok, but after that soup, my meal was blah. Bloody mary was the saving grace, but that was average also.
… moreChristine Buss
Wonderful as always! Great view of Cherokee Marsh.
Great hometown atmosphere.
Fish is always good, nice size portions.
Service is enjoyable and fun!!!
… moreTodd
Good little bar. They seem to have lots of space for activities.
Bartenders are friendly. Drinks are reasonably priced.
… moreJodi Healy
Murphy’s Bar and Restaurant has that perfect neighborhood bar feel where you instantly feel welcome. The menu offers a good mix of hearty pub fare and classic comfort food, and everything we tried came out fresh and flavorful. Service was quick and friendly, with staff making sure you’re taken care of even when the place gets busy. One of the best parts is their Monday night bingo—it’s a fun, lively way to kick off the week, and the crowd is always in good spirits. Whether you’re stopping in for a casual drink, a full meal, or to join the bingo action, Murphy’s delivers a friendly atmosphere and a great time.
… more