5 stars for one of the most brilliant things I've ever tasted: the Madison Shop Dog.
The combination of flavors that hit your palate when you bite into this hot dog is artful. It makes you remember that the best dishes take clever calculation. Do I sound ridiculous for describing a hot dog this way? Try it. I really think this could be on the menu of a top notch restaurant in Chicago or NY as a playful, creative spin on a hot dog.
The sweetness of the onion jam perfectly contrasts with the salty bacon, cheesy sauce and crispy on the outside and mushy on the inside tater tots. This ingredient really ties everything together in my opinion. I typically don't even like tater tots but the Wiener Shop's taste great, particularly in this hot dog.
The other specials are good, but I don't think anything can top the Madison Shop Dog. It's one of my favorite "dishes" in Madison (for perspective: it's up there with Tornado Room's steak sandwich and Sardine's baked creamed eggs).