If you're looking for a place to slam down a few beers, that's one thing. But, if you're looking for a good German restaurant. The Essen Haus isn't it.
Their restaurant isn't well kept up and, the inside of the restaurant is shabby. The tables and chairs are the same tables and chairs that they were using 20 years ago.
Their service is slow, their beer is luke warm, and their food is no better than average. They could do a better job of cleaning and maintaining the place.
Madison only has one German restaurant(the Essen Haus). And, with no competition, the Essen Haus doesn't have much incentive to change.
If anyone out there wants to start a German restaurant, it would be pretty easy to beat the competition from the Essen Haus.