Oakcrest Tavern

Supposedly this is one of the best burgers in Wisconsin. Every time I make a burger video, people say you have to try Oakcrest, Oakcrest has amazing burgers. So I listened. We are at Oakcrest Tavern off Old Middleton Road in Madison.

The Lowdown

• City: Madison, WI (West Side)
• Address: 5371 Old Middleton Rd, Madison, WI 53705
• Phone: (608) 233-1243
• Website: oakcresttavernmadison.com
• Hours: Mon to Thu 11 AM to 9 PM, Fri and Sat 11 AM to 10 PM, Sun 11 AM to 8 PM. Double check before you go.

The vibe

It is a small place. You walk in, the bar is right in front of you, and there is some seating to the left. Oakcrest has one of the best fish frys in all of Madison, and it gets extremely busy on Friday nights. If you go for the Friday fish fry, just know it will be packed to the brim. Get there as early as you can or you will be waiting.

What I ordered

• Bacon cheeseburger with pepper jack
• Cajun crinkle cut fries

My thoughts on the food

First time with crinkle cut fries here. They were okay, good, nothing crazy. They are fine.

Then the burger. That bun feels like my pillow at home. It is so soft. Out of all the burger spots I have been to so far, this is definitely the best bun. It is not a smash burger, it is a classic cheeseburger, and the cheese is perfectly melted into it. Sometimes you go to a place and the cheese is just laid on top. Not here. The bacon is the perfect thickness too.

This might be my favorite classic burger I have had. When I say classic, I mean not a specialty burger, just your basic cheeseburger. My biggest gripe, and it is personal preference, no dig at the restaurant, is that they do not do jalapenos or banana peppers. I love the crunch, the little bit of spice and the flavor they add. Outside of that, maybe a little more salt on the patty. Not too much more, just a little.

Important and interesting info

• The burger with fries was 14 bucks when I went, which is not bad at all.
• They were the only place that gave me a pickle. I love a plain dill pickle on the side, just not on my burger. Great dill.
• Friday fish fry gets packed, so go early.

The verdict

That is a really well done burger, and the best bun I have had for sure. What a good lunch. I am 100 percent coming back. Great prices, really good burgers and an incredible fish fry. What more can you ask for? Go check out Oakcrest off Old Middleton Road.