Licari's Bar & Grill

Yo, what in the world is this. I just stopped at Madison's back to back award winning burger. It is the only place that has won Madison Burger Week two years in a row, and that is Licari's in Madison. This is absurd. I do not even know how to eat what I have in my hand, because it is getting everywhere.

The Lowdown

• City: Madison, WI
• Address: 1405 Emil St, Madison, WI 53713
• Phone: (608) 256-3548 (call ahead to order and pre-pay)
• Facebook: Licari's Bar & Grill
• Madison Burger Week winner in 2024 and 2025

What I ordered

The Pull Tab Burger, which won the 2024 Madison Burger Week. It is a Jenifer Street Market burger with homemade chipotle aioli, American cheese, pepper jack cheese, a ton of bacon, and two jalapeno poppers stuffed inside. The burger that won in 2025 was their Fireball Burger, same patty with homemade fireball aioli, American, pepper jack, and four fireball cheese curds. You can get it on French toast or Stella's hot and spicy bun. I also got an order of Cajun fries with their homemade garlic aioli.

My thoughts on the food

Wow, that is so good. This bun is by far one of my favorite buns. Very clearly not your average burger here, and as of right now it is the best burger I think I have had in the entire Madison area. There is so much flavor on this burger. The cream cheese and the jalapeno popper mixed with everything else, I can see why this is an award winner. Look at the back of it. Just a messy, thick boy, and there is so much bacon.

Now, it is not practical. This is not one of those places where you stop because you kind of want a cheeseburger. This is a go all out and be tired for the entire rest of your day kind of burger.

The Cajun fries are crinkle cut. Crinkle cut is not my favorite, and on their own they were fine. Then I dipped them in the homemade garlic aioli. It is thick, and y'all, this is great. That garlic aioli is top notch.

The vibe

Interesting location with a small parking lot, and a badass bar. Everybody in there was loud, talking to each other, having a good time. Slot machines, shirts hanging on the wall. Really, really cool bar.

The verdict

Hands down one of the better burgers I have had. Burger and fries were 18 bucks, which for the serving size is an absolute steal. This could feed two people, maybe even three. I will 1 million percent be back. Licari's in Madison, go check it out. You will not be let down.