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| - Side Door is an as-yet undiscovered gem, which is both good and bad.
Good because it's never overcrowded or overwhelmingly loud; you can almost always sit where you want; they're big into promotional events; and the staff is super-attentive and friendly. Our group of friends have all become regulars.
Bad because, well, we're afraid they won't survive in the long term! They're situated beneath a high-profile Brazilian grill, and you do more or less go in the side door, so they don't have a storefront the way nearly every other bar in Madison has. They're new, and many of Madison's bars are institutions, making exploratory bar seeking pretty rare. You really have to stumble upon it to find it, unless you're on a site like this.
Here's what I can say. Their menu is full of delicious surprises, both old-school and super innovative. Almost nothing comes without at least some sort of creative twist. Their various tots appetizers are just ridiculously good, and they have an enormous, ever-changing tap list with lots variety and descriptions of every single brew. And almost everything is delicious.
Only thing I'd change (besides their business volume)? They don't really play the bar angle as hard as they could. The dining room is always pretty well-lit, and the music, while quiet enough for easy conversation, could be a bit louder to set the mood without being disruptive. If they'd just add a little sense of intrigue to the place it'd really earn that last star.
Help keep 'em alive! Go to Side Door!
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