Update: (November 2007)
We visited Rosati's twice in November and unfortunately our Chicago Dogs didn't measure up to the perfection we saw in September. On our 11-15-07 visit, our dogs were lacking neon green relish and a pickle spear. Instead, the relish was the standard "nothing special" variety and the pickle was a thin slice. We talked to the owner and he said that it was a problem with his distributor sending the wrong ingredients, but assured us that the problem would be corrected. On our most recent visit, our dogs were still lacking the appropriate relish and the pickle spear. Despite the problems, the dog was still tastey. Stay tuned for any updates.

Update: (September 2007)
Rosati's has undergone a major face lift since our original review. Cosmetically, Rosati's has expanded their establishment to now include a dining area, which now includes traditional shelf seating (complete with round stools), as well as some tables and chairs. The exterior now boasts Vienna signage, which makes it awfully difficult for anyone to pass by without getting in line to order up a Chicago Dog.

We recently visited Rosati’s and we can’t say how impressed we are with the improvements they’ve made to their Chicago dog. The crew at Rosati’s have taken their customers seriously and have fine tuned their dog into one of the best in Madison.

Once again, we have to mention that Rosati’s uses a natural cased dog. They’re the only folks we know of in the Madison area that do this. Rosati’s also now uses the authentic neon green relish and a pickle spear, instead of slices. The chopped onions are no longer fried.

When our dogs arrived they looked fantastic. As we took our first bite we were in heaven. The dog was heated to perfection, tasted incredible, and the natural casing provided a great snap. The toppings were expertly applied and in perfect harmony with each other. The “new and improved” pickle spear had great crunch and the flavor was spot on. We’ve always loved the Rosati’s sport peppers, and they certainly didn’t disappoint on this trip. An additional tomato slice was added since our last trip, which really improved the balance. Lastly, the right amount of celery salt was applied over top. And the steamed poppy seed bun was solid as usual and easily stood up to the onslaught of ingredients without losing structural integrity.

Overall, we obviously loved our Rosati’s dog…it won’t disappoint you taste buds or your wallet ($3.49 for a dog and fries). It’s so encouraging to see that the Rosati’s management takes continuous improvement seriously. If you want one of the best and most authentic Chicago Dogs in Madison, you need to head over to Rosati’s. We promise you won’t be disappointed.

Congratulations are in order since the DOGS score for Rosati's has increased to 9.3 and their overall rating has increased to 5 stars. We hope that Rosati's maintains their consistency.

Check out our previous Rosati's reviews

When we walked through the door, we had a good feeling about this place. It screamed Chicago! The walls were lined with pennants from every Chicago sports team. Chicago street signs, maps, photos, and even campaign posters from notable Mayors such as Richard Daley, Harold Washington and Jane Byrne adorned the walls. They even had a classic red, white & blue "Snow Route" sign. The atmosphere was perfect and the Chicago Dogs didn't let us down either.

Poppa's proudly serves Vienna all beef Dogs. Everything was perfect right down to the celery salt. Our skinless Dogs were served on a steamed poppyseed bun. The pickle was tasty, the tomatoes were cut into large chunks and the onions were finely chopped. The sport peppers were great. They even had the bright green relish! We thoroughly enjoyed every bite. These are some of the best Chicago Style Dogs in Madison.

The ambiance made you feel like you were in Chicago. They did a great job of capturing the essence of a true Chicagoland Hot Dog joint. They have an extensive menu and we can't wait to try their Italian beef sandwich. The only disappointment is that they do not have a west side location (hint, hint). Definitely worth the drive. For $3.89, we had a Chicago Dog, a basket of fries and a drink. Although the price has increased by 40 cents, it is still a true bargain! On our most recent visit, they were a little shy on the celery salt.

The Home Depot stores on Madison's East and West sides each have a Hot Dog cart. According to their signs, they serve Best's Kosher Beef Hot Dogs. Each Dog was served on a steamed poppyseed bun in true Chicago style. All ingredients were accounted for and properly placed on the Dog. They use neon green relish and include tomato wedges (our favorite). The taste was incredible and the pickle was perfect. This is probably one of Madison's best kept secrets.

You can get your Dog on either a plain or poppyseed bun. For the true Chicago Dog experience, always request a poppyseed bun. Although you can't get fries with your Dog, they do have a nice variety of chips and an assortment of drinks. There is no place to sit except for a bench outside. In our opinion, this is one of the best places in town to get a Chicago Style Hot Dog.

One of the most impressive things about the "Depot Dog" is the consistency and freshness of the ingredients. Every Chicago Dog they create not only tastes great, but looks good too. Price: $2.00 / $4.50 with drink and chips.
Hours: 10:30 am to 4:00 pm.

Update (May 2007): Congratulations are in order since the DOGS score for the "Depot Dog" has increased to 9.3 (from 8.7).

Update (October 2007): Consistency still seems to be an issue. We have averaged their DOGS score and it has dropped from 9.7 to 9.1. Despite their lack of consistency, we still think it is a great dog and it is still recommended.

Update (August 2007): Well, we have been receiving some positive feedback about Picasso's from our site visitors. Although we have not visited recently, it appears that their consistency problem (see update below) has been resolved.

Update (February 2007): There appears to be a consistency problem with Picasso's dogs since our last review. Based on recent feedback from our site visitors, we can no longer claim that Picasso's has one of the best Chicago Style Dogs in town (due to consistency). Overall, their Chicago Dog is still very good, but lack of consistency bumps them out of the top spot. The chief complaint centers around the ripeness and quality of the tomatoes. Other comments include an over-cooked dog, no sport peppers and a small quantity of relish. Hopefully, this is a temporary situation. We will keep an eye on this situation and let you know of any updates.

Original Review: If you lived in Madison in the '90s, you probably remember a great hot dog joint named "Presto's". At the time, Presto's was one of a few places serving Chicago Style Hot Dogs in Madison. Presto's was locally owned, well known for their incredible jumbo char dog and had the ambiance of our favorite hot dog places...kind of a dive, but with a welcoming atmosphere. Unfortunately, Presto's closed their doors in 1999 (and not due to lack of business). The only reminder of Presto's was an extremely faded sign that remained for many years. The Presto's sign was finally removed in early 2006.

Not long after Presto's closed, "Picasso's Pizza" opened up in the remodeled and expanded space once occupied by Presto's. Even though Picasso's specializes in Italian cuisine, they kept the jumbo Chicago Style char dog on the menu due to demand. About a year after opening, Picasso's was sold to a Chicago native. We recently chatted with the owner and he told us that their char dog still has a cult following.

As we pulled into the parking lot, we reminisced about the Presto's char dog. Once inside we were greeted by the owner and quickly seated at our table. We cracked open the menu and quickly ordered the 1/4 pound "Chicago Style Vienna Beef Hot Dog". The dog is available either char-grilled or steamed. Each of us ordered the char dog and a soft drink. We also split an order of fries.

When we saw our Chicago Dogs, we knew that they would not let us down. We took our first bite and both agreed that they "hit one out of the park". The dogs were incredible! Without even running the DOGS numbers, we knew we had found the best dog in Madison. In the end, the numbers confirmed what we already knew.

The quarter pound Vienna char dog was fantastic, grilled to perfection and served on a steamed poppy seed bun. The mustard was placed on the dog in a zig-zag pattern. The neon green relish tasted great and the quantity was just right. The wedge-like tomatoes were crisp and the onions were sliced/chopped. The two sport peppers were the right size, had good heat and were nice and juicy. The large thick crunchy pickle was outstanding! Celery salt rounded out the dog. All the toppings are generous and compliment each other perfectly.

In our opinion, this is the best Chicago Style Hot Dog in the Madison area and certainly one of the highest rated dogs thus far. We enjoyed our dogs so much, we could have easily had another. A complete lunch (dog, drink, fries) is a little pricey. Picasso's Chicago Dog costs $3.50 and an order of fries is $1.50. Picasso's has an extensive menu including pizza, pasta dishes and a variety of sandwiches.

Mad Dog's Chicago Style Eatery
309 N Henry St, Madison, WI 53703 - 608-251-0934
DogCaching: W 89° 23.415' / N 43° 04.504' - Cart: W 89° 23.892' / N 43° 04.489' (cart)
Mad Dog's Website
Dates: 05-16-08, 04-18-08 & 09-25-07

Update 05-16-08:Well, we finally had a chance to try a dog from the Mad Dog's cart located in Library Mall. Unfortunately, we were underwhelmed. The dog itself was good, but we think it may have been over cooked since it lacked flavor. There were way too many onions and our dog came without any tomatoes. We had to go back and ask for some. Based on our experience with the Mad Dog's cart, we currently recommend that you stop by their store instead. We will try them again soon and report back on our findings. Click Here to View Cart Photos.

Update 04-18-08:There have been many updates at Mad Dog's since our original review. Two of the most notable changes are that they now serve fries and that they have added seating. To accomodate seating, the big counter on the side wall was moved to the back of the store. This change opened up some space for the addition of tables and shelf seating complete with classic round stools. Due to some logistic issue with a fryer, Mad Dog's was unable to serve fries. They solved this issue by serving oven baked fries. We were skeptical, but they tasted pretty good. As expected, our dog was fantastic! They are now regularly operating a cart on Library Mall. Check their website for location details.

Original Review:We have been anxiously awaiting the opening of Mad Dog's for quite some time. A while ago, we received an e-mail informing us that there would be a new hot dog place coming to Madison. Well, wait no longer, Madison has a new dog in town!

Mad Dog's Chicago Style Eatery is now open on Henry, just off State Street. Their slogan, "Hot Dogs That'll make Ya Drool!" is catchy, but is it true? We put their Chicago Dog to the test.

The red and white brick building that Mad Dog's calls home is very welcoming. The outside of the building has a southwestern look and a Vienna Beef neon sign in the window. There is also a red awning with the words, "Chicago Style Carry Out". When you walk inside, you will be surprised by the size of the place. It is very small and there is no seating. True to the words on the awning, Mad Dog's is carry out only.

We ordered our dogs and watched as they were carefully created and wrapped. We quickly headed outside, found the nearest available bench along State Street and unwrapped the dogs. Each dog looked fantastic and we were optimistic that they tasted as good as they looked. Every ingredient was carefully placed on the steamed poppy seed bun to create a visual masterpiece.

Our first bite confirmed what we already knew...the Chicago Dog was fantastic. All the required ingredients were present, and in the right proportions. Each topping perfectly complemented each other and blended nicely to create a great tasting dog. The neon green relish was excellent and so were the two large sport peppers. The bun-length pickle tasted great and had a nice crunch. Two tomato slices, chopped onions and the right amount of celery salt completed the package. The dog itself was good, but did not have the typical beefy flavor characteristic of a Vienna dog. We’re guessing this had more to do with the heating of the dog than the dog itself.

Overall, we loved our Chicago Dogs and definitely recommend Mad Dog's. The owners are graduates of Hot Dog University. Based on their training, we expected a great dog and they certainly did not let us down. A Chicago Dog runs $3.50 (including tax). They do not offer fries, but do offer several chip choices. Mad Dog's has a limited menu, but focuses on typical Chicago-fare...hot dogs, Maxwell Polish and Italian beef sandwiches. They feature Vienna and Scala brand products.

Although Mad Dog's specializes in Chicago food, they have not forgotten where they are located and also serve a nice Brat. They also operate several hot dog carts in the Madison area. Look for their carts on Library Mall, off the Capitol Square and at special events. Check out their website for schedules and locations.

FIB'S - Fine Italian Beef and Sausage
Library Mall, Madison, WI
DogCaching: W 89° 23.911' / N 43° 04.488'
Date: 05-16-08

FIB'S is a creative name for a place that serves Chicago fare in Wisconsin. This obvious play on words actually stands for "Fine Italian Beef and Sausage". For those not in the know, "FIB" is a derogatory term often used by Wisconsinites to refer to "flatlanders" (people from Illinois). Being a former "flatlander" himself, Mitch never minded being called a "FIB" (Fantastic Illinois Bunch).

FIB'S is a recent entry into the Madison landscape of Chicago Style dogs. We're happy to see Madison embracing the Chicago Dog, and new businesses (such as FIB'S) focusing on serving Chicago's best to the hungry people Madison.

FIBS'S is located in Library Mall, which is well known for its lunch carts. The FIB'S cart is very cool and unique. Although it's just a trailer, it actually looks like a building with a brick facade. It definitely stands out from the rest and is very inviting. The top of the cart has photos of many Chicago icons including John Belushi and Bozo. Speaking of Bozo, it's a little known fact that Mitch was selected by the "Magic Arrows" and got to play the Grand Prize Game on Bozo's Circus.

The owners of FIB'S e-mailed us several months prior to opening. Based on what they told us, we expected great things from their Chicago Dog and they certainly delivered! The dog was assembled with care and all the ingredients were expertly placed on the dog. When we got our first look at the Chicago Dog we could tell we were in for a treat. Unfortunately, Mitch's taste buds had to wait while he took some photos. The poppy seed bun was steamed to perfection. The right amount of mustard was applied to the dog and the neon green relish looked the part and tasted great. The right amount of diced onions were on the dog. The pickle spear was excellent and the sport peppers had the right amount of heat and tasted great. Two thick, ripe tomato slices were piled on top and celery salt rounded out the package. Overall, FIB'S did not let us down and we highly recommend their Chicago Dog. As a comparison, we also tried a dog from a competitor's cart parked a mere 30 feet away from the FIB'S cart. There was no comparison between the two. The FIB'S Chicago Dog looked better and also tasted better. Round 1 of the "cart wars" goes to FIB'S.

Although the FIB'S hot dog was good, the dog seemed a little small. We talked with the owner about this. FIB'S usually serves a 6:1 dog (6 dogs to a pound), but unfortunately, they received a smaller dog from their supplier. They apologized for the problem and ensured us that if we come back again, they would have the proper sized dog. We will try them soon and post our findings.

In true Chicago Style, Griff's proudly serves Vienna Beef Dogs. Their Dogs come standard with mustard, relish, pickle, onion, tomato and celery salt. Ketchup and Sport Peppers are available upon request at no extra charge. The yellow mustard was cleverly applied to the Dog in a zig-zag pattern. The Dog had two sliced tomatos, sliced onions and five sport peppers. I would recommend that they put on fewer peppers. Even though the Dog was not served on a poppyseed bun, their bun tasted great and was very fresh. Overall, this was a good sandwich. The only ingredient that didn't do it for us was their pickle spear. The pickle had a sour taste that was so overpowering, it interfered with the overall taste and had to be removed before we could fully enjoy our Chicago Dog. Griff's has ample seating. Price: $3.59 / $4.39 with fries.

Their menu displays several Hot Dog choices including a Chicago Dog. All Hot Dog menu items are Vienna all beef Dogs, but are topped with different ingredients. The Chicago Dog comes standard with mustard, relish, onion, tomato, pickle and celery salt, but they ask if you want sport peppers. On our visit to the Verona location we asked for sport peppers, but our Dogs arrived without any. Our Schroeder Rd visit proved more successful since the peppers were not forgotten.

Their buns are uneventful. They are not steamed and have no poppyseeds. Their pickle spear was good. The tomatos are cut into chunks and the onions were sliced. Their relish is not very exciting and tastes like a dill pickle. They are a little skimpy with their toppings.

Although not the best Dog around, in our opinion, they will do in a pinch. There is definitely some room for improvement. Their fries are excellent, but chips are the only choice at the Monroe St location. Don't forget to try the award-winning frozen custard that made Michael's famous. Price: $2.89 / $5.14 with fries and a drink.

Update (06-22-06): Michael's now serves "Red Hot Chicago" dogs instead of Vienna brand. There has also been a price increase. On our Monroe St visit, the skinless dogs were excellent, the tomatoes were sliced and the onions chopped. The sport peppers were great, and as usual, we loved the pickle spear. Although the relish was still uneventful, we were disappointed at how "wet" it was. There was so much liquid in the relish, the bun became soaked and easily fell apart. The dogs were heavy on sport peppers and light on celery salt, but we were happy to see that the other ingredients were not skimpy. Take a look at the photos and you will see that our latest dogs look more like a typical Chicago Dog. For comparison, we calculated the DOGS score specifically for this visit and the number did not significantly change. Michael's Chicago Dog could easily move up the ranks and become recommended with a few simple upgrades such as authentic neon green relish and bit more celery salt.

Update (05-16-07): Our latest visit to the Schroeder Rd location was pretty bad. The dog was horrible and certainly did not look or taste like any Red Hot Chicago dog I ever had. The dog was completely flavorless and the outside of the dog was brown in color. This dog was so bad, I couldn't eat it. I asked the person working the counter about the dog and she insisted it was a Red Hot Chicago. I still doubt that and will probably never have another Chicago Dog at the Schroeder Rd location anytime soon.