The full review · Restaurant
Brennan's Market
The Brennan's Market deli Philly cheesesteak set the bar high for Madison
8210 Watts Rd, Madison, WI
I wanted to find one of the best Phillys money can buy in Madison, so I spent $13.99 at Brennan's Market off Watts Road, close to Middleton. Cool place. You walk in and there are tons of craft cheeses, wine, and specialty things.
The Lowdown
- City: Madison, WI
- Address: 8210 Watts Rd, Madison, WI 53719
- Phone: (608) 833-2893
- Website: brennansmarket.com
- The deli is on the left side of the store
What I ordered
The Philly cheesesteak from the deli. Shaved ribeye, peppers, jalapenos, cheese, and garlic mayo. While I waited I also grabbed a bag of Brennan's branded cheddar cheese curds.
My thoughts on the food
Holy smokes, it looks like one of the best Phillys I have ever seen, and granted I have never been to Philly. Fun fact, this was my first Philly in Madison, so I have nothing to compare it to. The bar is high. The cheese is perfectly melted into it and that shaved ribeye is packed with flavor.
Love that it comes with jalapenos, gives it a nice little kick. The bread is really soft and fresh, but the edges are toasted on the stove top for a nice little sear. Everything is perfectly pressed together. Even the piece of ribeye that fell out at the end was a great bite.
The cheddar curds were in the refrigerated section. Taste is good, but very little squeak. Fresh, room temp curds are always the best. Still a good cheddar.
The vibe
Brennan's has been in the Madison area for over 80 years. The owner closed it in 2017, and the people running it reopened it a few months later in December 2017. That is how much Madison loves this place.
The verdict
That Philly literally made my day. If you have not been to Brennan's for a deli sandwich, I highly recommend it. I will be back over and over. Brennan's Market off Watts Road, go check it out.
Originally published in the Eat With Troy newsletter. Written by Troy Munson.