Dorf Haus

Fish Fry — Simple deep fry, great breading, perfect seasoning (salt/​pepper), not oily, firm + flaky, 2 pieces at a time, but all you can eat! PERFECT basic fish fry ⁵⁄₅
Fried Chicken — bone-​in, ½ chicken, light crunch, bland. ³⁄₅
Spatzle — served cool, kinda squishy, had much better, no flavor, no gravy. ²⁄₅
Coleslaw — vinegar heavy (too tart for me), but wet. I added honey and salt. ²⁄₅
Fritters — HEAVEN. This is small Indian Fry Bread: soft, light, fluffy, hot. Worth a lactaid! ⁵⁄₅
German Potato Salad — warm, heavy meat flavor, didn’t combine great for me. ²⁄₅
Jalapeño Pretzel — seemed like store-​bought-​microwaved, cheese = can’t, other said «YUM»
Supper Club atmosphere — «Exemplary» = dark wood panel, cheesey bar, average lighting, basement feel, TVs, piano, ADDITION: German themed knick knacks. ⁵⁄₅
Beer — OMG! Very different (German!) but yummy! I couldn’t say the names, so they said «2 oktoberfests, 1 lager, 1 pilsner, 1 dark» I love it this SIMPLE. It’s winter so of course a BIG dark beer was in order. We ended up sampling all of them, but we ordered another (small) dark. ⁵⁄₅
Old Fashioned — It’s not a real Wisco supper club unless they do Old Fashioneds, so ordering one is part of our «club rating system.» First, they «sorta» muddle. They add 2 – 3 scoops of sugar, splash with soda (sweet vs sour), add 2.5 shots of liquor, then swirl it all so much to whip into a froth. Overall, not a great OF. ²⁄₅
CONS — Holy Wait Batman! We arrived at 6:20pm and were told 1 ½ hrs, but got sat 2 HOURS LATER! We were pissed, even for a Fish Fry on Friday at a highly rated place (we’ve waited at many places for 1 — 1 ½hr; this is the longest). Then my partner ordered 1 spatzle, but we were charged for 2! I ordered Chicken to check consistency of the menu — the order was forgotten and came 10 min after the other entrée. No apology + full charge = pissy customers. ¹⁄₅
Overall, Fish fry, beer, fritters, and the supper club «feel» are PERFECT, but we will have to think LONG and hard about a 40 min drive to HORRIBLE wait times. Too bad you can’t order fish in the bar area. Too bad the back of the building is a «show room.» Too bad the main dining area sits as many people as the bar area. 3 – 4 stars.

Classic Wisconsin restaurant. The fried chicken family style dinner /​lunch on Sunday is one of the best dining experiences in southern Wisconsin. Has a good mix of German beers on tap, knows how to make a good manhattan. Family friendly. Can get busy, so be prepared to wait if you go during peak times.

Our favorite restaurant in Dane County. The food is authentic and delicious, and their Monday buffets are an over-​eaters dream come true.

We went for the fish on a recent Friday night. Arrived a few minutes after 5:00 and there was an hour and 15 minute wait! There is a nice bar area in the back, so we sat there and had a couple drinks until our table was ready. Three of us had the fish fry — fried haddock (all you can eat) french fries (baked potato for $ 1 extra) and cole slaw. It was all very good, definitely worth the drive from Madison. They also bring you fritters before the fish. They were delicious, but probably not the best for you. I learned you can make a reservation, so will definitely do that next time as I am not sure what time you would need to get there to not have a wait! One thing is a little deceiving, the place looks huge, but a large part of it is used for events, banquets etc., so it is not available for seating. The actual area for dining is quite small and I would imagine this is why the wait is so long. Service was great, food was yummy, drinks were reasonable. Will definitely return, nice drive from Madison.

I weep like i am at the funeral of a loved one when I eat their fried chicken. Best I ever have had anywhere. They only have it on Friday night. The Schweinhaxen is probably my second favorite. The place can get busy and loud. If you are looking for someplace quiet this is probably not it. This is by no means a fancy restaurant, but if you show up looking looking like a raggityman they might not be ultra hospitable. So take a shower and put on some clean clothes before you go.

We come here with a big group a few times a year for the Friday Fish Fry. It never disappoints! Served family style you get fried fish, coleslaw, German potato salad and fries, and of course the most amazing fritters in all the fish fry land! I love coming here, stuffing myself with glorious fish and fritters and chatting the night away.
Friday’s are crazy busy so we bring a group and make a reservation. You need 8+ for that which isn’t hard to get once people have tried the place once. Beer is always cold and atmosphere is laid back.
Will keep coming here again and again and will ally bring more friends!

We came on a Friday and instead of getting the fish fry everybody raves about, I was craving some Jaeger schnitzel. It was disappointing. Which is too bad, because the atmosphere of this large German beer hall (tucked away in tiny Roxbury) is worth a visit all by itself. The food wasn’t horrible, just not great. Bland, not crispy schnitzel. Bummer. But we’ll be back to give the fish a try some time.

The ambiance here is welcoming and relaxed. The fish fry is definitely one of the best in the state, and the bread included with it is an amazing, pillowy, and unique touch.

Dorf Haus is one of our favorite visits. Tonight we brought along our Wisconsin Supper Club books by Ron Faiola to have Monte and Rebecca sign them. They were busy as always so we started in bar — sampling their «Best of Madison — Old Fashioned» and draught Spaten Oktoberfest. Everyone is always so friendly — the bartenders and patrons — all enjoying the warm, family oriented hospitality. Lauren was our server, admittedly new but anxious to please — she was attentive and served up a fun evening. Everyone at the table visited the salad bar — well stocked with baby spinach and hot bacon dressing, rolls, pâté, cheese spread, salads, and all the usual trimmings for your lettuce salad. Our table tried the roasted prime rib, the North Atlantic sea scallops, Jäger Schnitzel aka Hunter schnitzel (breaded and pan fried veal cutlets with a mushroom sauce and served with a flour dumpling) and the Dorf Haus stalwart — the German Sausage platter — replete with «Best of the wurst and a hock.» Knackwurst, Weisswurst, and a smoked pork hock, all served alongside German potato salad and red cabbage. Be brave and give this a try — it’s a great sample of the Maier’s German heritage and a staple of enduring work ethic of this Southern Wisconsin farming community. As always, the Dorf Haus serves up a fun evening with charming hospitality and old fashioned, delicious food — this is why Madison voted the Dorf Haus — Best of Madison in five (5) categories — Best Old Fashioned, Best Bar for Cocktails, Fish Fry, Best Supper Club, and Best Service — well deserved as Rebecca, Monte and everyone at the Dorf Haus deliver, consistently — great food and great service. Take time to visit the Dorf Haus soon, and relax and enjoy a cold beverage at the bar while you de-​stress before enjoying one of the finest dining experiences in Southern Wisconsin

A wonderful atmosphere for the family. The ambiance of the establishment is one like no other in the outskirts of Madison. The service was excellent, with our waitress going out of her way to find us a gluten free option. The food was mediocre however, but the fritters completely made up for it.

This little treat is worth the short drive from Madison or wherever you’re coming from to indulge in Wisconsin Fish Fry glory.
Located in a small town outside of Sauk City, the Dorf Haus is what I think of when I picture a traditional, historical Fish Fry experience in this great state. You walk into a very cozy looking German House, and are met with a light hearted warm atmosphere of what you worked all week to obtain. Standing tall in front of you are giant glasses of Hacker-​Pschorr beer, delicious Old Fashioneds, great low ambience lighting, and down to earth service.
Every time I’ve been, we’ve had the food served family style. We usually go with a big group of friends and get a reservation ahead of time which is a nice luxury you don’t always see these days. They’re very accommodating, and the service has been good each time I’ve been. Nothing fancy here, just traditional German attire, tableside conversation, and making sure people are getting what they need.
As for the food, the highlight is definitely their Fritters. biscuity, doughy goodness which comes for free before your meal. You must dip yours in honey as provided at the table and send your senses into heaven. This is one of those menu items, much like the Red Lobster cheddar biscuits, that leaves a very fond memory.
The fish is definitely good, it ranks up there for me and is solid for a family style affair. I wish it was actually a little greasier and it’s not my «favorite» but for sure tasty. My wife thinks it might be her favorite, and I don’t blame her as its certainly one of the better ones in the area, especially if you like a lighter one. But mind you, the portions aren’t light — all you can eat and most of the time we are all too full for seconds.
They have almost every conceivable German specialty you could think of on the menu, and I’m always kicking myself for not going on a different day at some point to try them. All sound mouthwatering and authentic. My only knock are the prices, as they tend to be about $ 12 – 20 a dish, but considering that this place is probably an «occasion» due to its location, you can splurge a little.
Wait for that long work week where you just need some «Northern Comfort» and the Dorf Haus is your jam

I really enjoyed this place. It has an interesting interior and everyone in my group seemed to like their meals. They have a good selection of German beers in tap. The servers were friendly and quick and it didn’t fluster them to handle our large dinner group. The only reason I’m not giving them a 4^th star is the lack of vegetarian options on the menu. The salad bar was delicious and high quality but I’d like to see at least one other option. The bourbon pecan pie was delicious.

M’kay. After reading the glowing reviews, I was expecting to have my hair blown back by the Friday night fish fry. What I was NOT expecting was overcooked, rubbery haddock. The breading had zero character (sorry, not loving the cinnamon in the batter). The coleslaw was overdressed, too. I really like the ambiance of the place, and the beer they serve is top-​notch – that’s why they get 3 stars. I won’t be back for the food, that’s for sure.

Enjoyed a yummy fish fry tonight. It was an hour wait but the bar area had a good amount of space. You can’t beat the good selection of German beers and the brandy old fashioned was excellent. The rolls were deep fried I think, like donuts or fritters. Scrumptious! Three of us had fish fry and one had the sausage platter. The fish was very good. The sausage platter was decent but the spatzel and chicken dumpling soup were mediocre. I’d probably give a 3.5 star if I could but it is worth rounding up to a 4.

I had heard about this place for years… I’ve been in Middleton for a little over two years now. I was running out of excuses not to go. My wife and my parents headed out to good ‘ol Roxbury where we took our chances on a busy Friday night. We were greeted by very nice hostess staff who advised that our party of 5 would be about a 30 – 40 minute wait. We said no problem.
Fast forward to our dining experience. Our waitress was friendly and not overly chatty. She informed us of the specials and took our orders. We had the Cod and Ribs. I didn’t personally try the ribs, however I was told they were good.
The fish was fantastic. It wasn’t too heavily breaded or greasy. Just perfect. The German Style potato salad wasn’t my thing. Actually no one in our group liked it. I’ve had it elsewhere. I think the addition of the eggs in the German Style Potato Salad may have been too much.
Food was reasonably priced and the service was friendly.
The beers and other beverages are VERY inexpensive here.
This place is a great supper club atmosphere close to Madison.

This is my secret (read: really far) place to go when I want some kick arse fish fry. After living in WI for about 2 years now I feel that I can, with authority, say that this place has one of the fish fries that I’ve had. There are so many things that make this place stand apart.
1. This is a German themed supper club so instead of the normal starters they start your meal off with fried delicious fritters served with honey and a side of coleslaw.
2. They have a great old timey bar that has German beers on tap. Now, I’m no beer connoisseur but the man says that this is rare.
3. The service at the bar is great and the bartenders are super friendly.
4. The outfits the servers wear are beyond cute. Think old German dresses!
5. The fish. The fish is amazing! It’s not the typical cod but instead it was Haddock.
6. The fish is served family style, made to order and piping hot.
7. The fish is so well flavored, not overly salted and is the perfect combination of firm and flaky.
8. I love the fish.
I could really go on like this but yeah I love the fish here and the price is easy on the pocket book too!

Classic supper club feel and menu with the german specialties.
AYCE buffet on mondays gets packed– food is pretty good and plentiful with the usuals– schnitzels, sausages, ribs, saurbraten, hocks, dumplings, noodles, chicken… and plenty on salad bar
One of better fish fries; with chicken too. Big beer hall and oompa band for buffet with smaller rooms for standard dining. Can drive the back roads for bit of scenery or easy to get to from 12.

Solid supper club. Worth the trip if you live in Madison.

Oh Ya! Oh Ya! This German guy loves the Dorf Haus!
Usually the 1^st Monday of every month the Dorf Haus puts on a Bavarian Smorgasbords that can not be missed.
Great German classic foods include but are not limited to:
Wiener Schnitzel
Schweinsbraten
Knackwurst
Weisswurst
Kraut
Pork Hock
Yum!
They also have a large variety of German beers including one my my personal favorites Spaten! Yum!
Come hungry because this buffet is so awesome.
Now for the best part — -You will be serenaded by a OOm pa Band while you eat. Lederhosen and everything with all the great classic German beer drinking polka tunes (Reminds me of my Grandpa a little… I love it).

Update: We stopped at the Dorf Haus for another round of fish this past Friday, hence this updated review. Full details at
We fully expected the place to be slammed, but were shocked to find that there wasn’t much of a wait — must have been because of the Memorial Day weekend.
Enjoyed a round of German beers in the bar as we waited for our table — they still only offer German brews on tap, which is A-​OK by me. I went with a Spaten Dunkel and once again, it was delish.
We were seated in the dining room and greeted by a waitress. She refreshed our drinks, took our orders, and came back with those infamous fritters. Man, they are tasty.
Fish arrived: two orders of fried, one order of baked. Sides included a baked potato, the German potato salad, and an order of spaetzel.
The baked haddock wasn’t as good with this visit as it was in our last review. It was dry and rather lifeless — almost as if it had been baked earlier and reheated (in a dry heat).
The family-​style fried cod was excellent, as usual — the crispy batter was still light and just slightly salt-​n-​pepper-​ish, and the fish was tender and excellent. I’d definitely recommend the fried fish over the baked — not good for those of us who are watching our waistlines…
Baked potato was as you’d expect — nothing exciting. The German potato salad got mixed reviews — two disliked it, one liked it. The spatezel earned raves — I think I could survive on the Dorf Haus’ spaetzel and fritters alone…
Service was poor for some reason; odd, because it wasn’t busy at all. On our last visit, when the place was packed, our service was stellar… seems contradictory.
Dorf Haus = WIN
Service = 2 stars (largely absent, not terribly friendly)
Food = 4 stars (mostly for the fried cod & spaetzel)
Value = 4 stars (our table of 3 paid $ 44)
MISC = 4 stars (this place has character)
Summary: Still a solid fish fry option, just be prepared to wait for a table and if in doubt, go with the deep fried cod over the baked haddock.