One of the most over-rated establishments in Madison. For starters, the food (burgers?) is totally mediocre. You'd think that they would have some unique offerings, but unlike other restaurant/bars (Dotty's Dumpling Dowry right down the street) the Nitty Gritty has only the most run-of-the-mill selections.
The crowd is as touristy as it gets in Madison. There is not a single night when the bar is not predominantly occupied by college sports loving parents and their obnoxious college-aged frat guy or sorority girl type children. Even on days when there are no sports events (rare) the nitty gritty attracts only the boring and brain-dead.
One of the only redeeming features of the Nitty Gritty is the nightly power hour - 1 dollar highballs (although they are comprised of more water than booze). After as little as $10 you may even find yourself having a good time here.
Three stars because it is indeed one of the the best places to go on your birthday. An endless mug of free beer for you (and your friends) is hard to beat.