Not all that Great...
- July 21, 2008
- Rated 1 of 5 by
Tyler D. from Madison, Wisconsin
I recently wrote a review for this same establishment, and I figured I should put it up here. I used to go there for the Rocky Horror showing on Saturday evenings, and it was fun. Its an old building, and its falling apart, but it was the perfect atmosphere for the R.H.P.S. Small, squeaky chairs, exposed wires and support structures, doors that wouldn't close, and the smell of mildew always made for an... experience... on a Saturday evening. But in stead of going with the flow and restoring it as a classy downtown Madison destination, using it for themed parties and events, etc. it seems the management decided it would be fun to abandon the spirit of the place and turn it into a tacky old showpiece used for frat parties and stand up comedians. There are color-changing lightbulbs in the dining room (which is also adorned with 2,000 white Christmas lights all around), the bar has huge, ungainly floral arrangements adorning it, and the antique chandeliers only have a few bulbs in them each, making it seem as if someone walked into an abandoned theatre and decided it would be fun to open up a restaurant as-is. I've eaten there a couple of times, and while the service is always good, the food is mediocre and very pricey.
The bottom line is this: there are better theatres nearby. There are better, fully stocked bars nearby. There are better restaurants nearby. They could probably pull it off in a more remote area of Madison, but on State St., which is lined with great restaurants and bars, it should remain a historical landmark.