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Rare Steakhouse, Madison, WI

Rare Steakhouse

4.6
4.6
1820 Reviews
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Dining and libations on Capitol Square with an incredible view of the Capitol, Rare combines craft cocktails, in-house dry aged steaks and attentive service in an unabashedly old-school steak house setting. Madison's downtown steakhouse features specialty cuts dry aged in-house, like the Rib Cap and the Delmonico as well as offering more traditional cuts like our filet and our rib eye. Rare is also one of the only purveyors of A5 Wagyu in Madison.

Complimenting our steaks and entrees is a specialty cocktail list and an extensive wine list with everything from wines for a big celebration to a weekday dinner.

If you're just looking for a drink after work, Rare offers discounted cocktails, wines and snacks at happy hour.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 31 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Seafood, Wine Bar
  • Hours of operation
    Happy Hour Tue–Fri 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (608) 204-9000
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Catering
    Join us in one of our two private dining rooms. Whether you would like to have an intimate dinner, business dinner, or host a fun cocktail and appetizer event, Rare will accommodate! Please contact Mary for any inquiry regarding your next event at mary@raremadison.com.
  • Private party facilities
    Created by Wisconsin natives for Wisconsin diners, Rare Steakhouse features USDA Prime steaks aged in-house, certified sommeliers to guide guests in choosing from a selection of more than 400 wines, and truly remarkable service.
  • Private party contact
    Sarah Kuehn: (608) 204-9000
  • Neighborhood
    Madison
  • Cross street
    Near State Street
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 1,820 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Madison

    Good for business meals

  • Madison

    Great for fine wines

  • Madison

    Romantic

  • Madison

    Good for special occasions

  • Madison

    Most Booked

1,820 Reviews
  1. CharlesT

    Milwaukee

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My husband Charles and I have eaten at Rare Steakhouse several time now and have never left wanting a thing. Genevieve was are server twice, we had heard about her from several former guests. We asked for her at least twice. WOW when I hear other people in the industry say that SERVER'S are as important as a class A chefs in helping to establish a broad based business is crucial. We agree. She made it an extra special evening out for us, and was happy to do so. Last, but not least her knowledge of meat and cuts, who additionally as knowledgeable in your wines. Food and service were A one. J and C Turner

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  2. JillM

    Milwaukee

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Rare once again delivered. Started at bar with Old Fashions, moved to dining and had a great conversation with the sommelier. Nice selection of vines. We had the Stags Leap petite sarah. Dinner was amazing, ribeyes, rib cap, waygu and scallops. We finished with a grasshopper and Blaton’s. Still smiling.

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    In general the food was good, but the creamed spinach was just okay. Parts of it were not hot, almost cold; like it had been microwaved instead of prepared in a pan. However, I would eat there again based on the atmosphere and quality of the steaks.

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  4. MicheleM

    Minneapolis

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Consistently a great dining experience, a real treat!

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  5. KurtS

    Milwaukee

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 26, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding special occasion restaurant. Eating here is an event that goes way beyond food quality. The food is fabulous but is rivaled by the top notch service and ambiance. Our waitress truly wanted us to have a fabulous experience and was perfectly attentive without being intrusive. The atmosphere is classy and bustling in a really fun way. But yes, you pay top dollar for the evening.

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  6. Private

    Milwaukee

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 26, 2023

    overall3food2service3ambience3
    The seafood options (appetizers and entrees) were mediocre and overpriced. Will not recommend for seafood.

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  7. NathanD

    Milwaukee

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 25, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5
    Tableside preparation of Bananas Foster was the highlight of the evening for my wife and I.

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  8. SamP

    Milwaukee

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 24, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience3
    Booked a Thanksgiving reservation, when we got there, we found out it was a set menu. Was a little disappointed, but still hoped, given that the restaurant is fine dining that the food would be very good, but was mistaken. Our steaks were supposed to be medium rare, and they came bloody. The sides were barely elevated Sysco food. Our server only came by our table when food was being dropped off, not checking in with us. At the end of the meal we asked to close out, and he decided to bring the desserts that we did not even want and then rolled his eyes when we asked them if they could be boxed up to go. After dinner we were going to grab a drink at the bar and then were rudely told by someone that the last call had already been called like we should have known. Every touch point from the host to the server to the manager to the bar was was a bad. I cannot believe we paid $300 for a subpar meal and to be treated poorly. I feel like we were rushed through the entire evening and treated very rudely. I felt like we were hugely inconveniencing them. As a couple that goes out to dinner three times a week at minimum I would definitely recommend Johnny Delmonico’s over this establishment. I don’t think I will be back anytime soon if ever.

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  9. JohnB

    Milwaukee

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As always, while the food and drink are excellent, it’s the staff and ambience that keep us coming back. Not our table, but the one next to us had an unhappy customer, an older female, who had issues with her cocktail. The server and what I assume was the management went out of their way to make it right. Bravo Zulu, Rare Staff! Outstanding service!

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  10. ALZM

    Milwaukee

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience4
    The steak was good quality but poorly seasoned. The lobster mac and scallops were delicious.

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  11. 2guysfrmlnsq

    Cleveland

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on November 18, 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience4
    Server rushed us through each course. Our entrees arrived 1/2 way through our soup course. And not once did our server make eye contact with anyone at the table. Presented the check before offering a desert menu or coffee..

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  12. DebbieB

    Chicago

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were a party of four. We enjoyed our nite out! The service by Genevive was excellent! The food and drinks were fantastic! The restaurant and bathrooms were clean!!! We appreciated not feeling rushed! Highly recomend this restaurant!

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  13. QuinnyGT

    Milwaukee

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Get the chili shrimp appetizer with the onion straws. Amazing! 10/10!

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  14. MamaW

    Minneapolis

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Timely, we told our server we needed to be somewhere at a certain time and everything was timed perfectly. Excellent food and service.

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  15. Steve

    Milwaukee

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The cocktails, food and service were all excellent but very pricey.

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great stake and sides,our server was fantastic! She had several recommendations that were all great. Try the lobster bisque..

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  17. Thomas

    Phoenix

    52 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    52 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience5
    Great food .. the Japanese pork chop was excellent… great service… thought the center rib was a little chewy.. the woman’s restroom was a disaster, however once they were aware of it they cleaned it up.. the cheese and meat tray very good

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  18. TomT

    Los Angeles

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent service and amazing quality prime beef!!

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  19. Kdjsea

    Seattle

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was delicious and the wait staff even better. Appreciated to seafood options for people in our party who don’t like steak.

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  20. MikeH

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    overall2food2service4ambience3
    Good very average at best for price. Dined at many steakhouses over the country Rare is near bottom.

    1 person found this helpful

  21. JohnS

    Milwaukee

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 27, 2023

    overall2food1service1ambience3
    The service was poor. They brought us the wrong steak and cooked it wrong. They then quickly brought out a new steak but put the wrong topping on the steak. To try and satisfy us instead of comping drinks they brought us each another glass of wine when we had drinks already arriving. This place is over priced and the service was awful. You are better going to Outback SteakHouse. We will never return.

    1 person found this helpful

  22. JeanB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 25, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Overall, It was an amazing night. Great way to celebrate 48th anniversary !

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  23. Maxie

    Greater Boston

    59 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    59 reviews

    Dined on October 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was delicious. Our waitress Genevieve was fabulous. We had a great time .. best steak ever..

    1 person found this helpful

  24. Consuelo

    Milwaukee

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our waitress, I think her name was Genevieve was very gracious and made our birthday dinner special.

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  25. OpenTable Diner

    Miami

    3 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 19, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    It was a very good experience and had a great food. Service was extra ordinary and professional . We felt very uncomfortable at the end of the dinner when we witnessed how the other waiters were treated by a tall African American chef waiter . He thrown the tray to the table behind us all we (4 of us) shocked.

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  26. GregH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome food and service. Expensive but worth it as quality is outstanding

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  27. LauraO

    Milwaukee

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on October 12, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    May was a delightful and attentive server. She is the best!

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  28. Ceeng

    Milwaukee

    193 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    193 reviews

    Dined on October 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were seated upon arrival, and ordered appetizers. Soup and shrimp were delicious. Our steaks were tender and prepared wonderfully. We shared a chocolate slice of cake. It was huge so be prepared if you get it. Service was terrific!

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  29. LisaP

    Los Angeles

    9 reviews

    1.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on October 8, 2023

    overall1food2service3ambience3
    When the food takes so long to arrive that every server has apologized we knew it was bad…. Chicken was undercooked and our steak that was ordered medium was raw…. For $500 the dinner was a disappointment.

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  30. EmilyC

    Milwaukee

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 4, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    This was our second time at Rare Steakhouse. There is much to be satisfied with. Service is great, staff is exceptionally friendly, and the food is high quality. I was a little disappointed, however, in the steak that I had. Ordered a filet, medium. It was a bit overcooked (more like medium well) and a bit tough. Very disappointing, especially considering the cost.

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  31. Rodrigdi

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience1
    Delicious food - regular service - awful ambience - not chic - not fancy - just super expensive - no recommend

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  32. PatB

    Ottawa

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on September 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Absolutely phenomenal food, service and ambience! 6 out of 5 stars.

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  33. BethB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The entire experience was fantastic. Staff at the bar and the waitstaff were knowledgeable and friendly. The food was wonderful, may be one of the best steaks either of us has ever had. Would definitely recommend to others for a special meal!

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  34. Lola

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 14, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    We enjoyed a great manhatten cocktail and a delicious appetizer along with an excellent rib eye with mushrooms and a very tasty creamed spinach. The best was the bananas foster for dessert.

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  35. DeclanR

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 13, 2023

    overall3food4service4ambience3
    Excellent food & wine selections. Lousy nonalcoholic beer selection given the trend in that category. Very noisy. Difficult to have a decent conversation.

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  36. ScottSki

    Unspecified

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 12, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    This is a great steak restaurant but can be very loud with the open air environment from the bar, Be prepared to shell out some dough for dinner. Look at the menu prior to your visit so you know what you are going in to. Wine selection was excellent and the steaks were great, both our sides were cold which was disappointing but were tasty none the less. Asked for a quiet table on the reservation and had a table of 20 next to us, couldn’t hear ourselves speak and out a damper on our 25th anniversary

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  37. DonaldMacQ

    Detroit

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Rare Steakhouse is a RARE find. The classic appearance of the use of wood, lighting and table setting creates a warm, comfortable mood. The servers are responsive to the needs of the diners, quick to appear, pleasant to interact with and unobtrusive as we conversed. Our server was knowledgeable and responded to menu and drink questions accurately and helpfully. Lastly, the starter was excellent and the steaks....oh my.... were superb. As the movie dialogue goes, "We'll be back" the next time we're in town.

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  38. MattV

    Indiana

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    My wife and I loved our steaks. Had a great crisp on the outside and cooked just right on the inside. Highly recommend. It is pricy but the food and service are outstanding!

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  39. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great restaurant that rivals any Chicago area steakhouse with more of a unique ambiance.

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  40. Scott

    Milwaukee

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Rare Steakhouse is always a great experience. We went on a Saturday evening after a UW game during the Taste of Madison festival on the square. It was much busier than usual, but the service was still fantastic and attentive.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Sealed or wrapped utensils used
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

You can order delivery directly from Rare Steakhouse using the Order Online button.

Rare Steakhouse is rated 4.6 stars by 1820 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 31 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Rare Steakhouse

14 W. Mifflin Street, Madison, WI 53703

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Near State Street
  • Neighborhood
    Madison
  • Hours of operation
    Happy Hour Tue–Fri 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Seafood, Wine Bar
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (608) 204-9000
  • Catering
    Join us in one of our two private dining rooms. Whether you would like to have an intimate dinner, business dinner, or host a fun cocktail and appetizer event, Rare will accommodate! Please contact Mary for any inquiry regarding your next event at mary@raremadison.com.
  • Private party facilities
    Created by Wisconsin natives for Wisconsin diners, Rare Steakhouse features USDA Prime steaks aged in-house, certified sommeliers to guide guests in choosing from a selection of more than 400 wines, and truly remarkable service.
  • Private party contact
    Sarah Kuehn: (608) 204-9000
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