Feiler's

Update: Feiler's is closed.

In a word:  Don't let the facade fool you (in one sense or the other).

The specs: #0176
Address, hours & details via Isthmus; reviews at Ultimate Madison Bar Tour, 77 Square, Doug Moe, Madison Fish Fry, collected at del.icio.us;

JM ate the queen cut prime rib with french fries and a lemonade.
Nichole ate the broiled walleye with the twice-baked potato and a lemonade.
The bill was $21, or $10.50/person, plus tip (thanks, WPR 2-for-1!)
JM and Nichole both gave Feiler's a B+ (see our grading rubric).

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Look, a rainbow!

So, OK, we confess - pulling in to Feiler's parking lot, next to the KFC in the shadow of the Beltline off Verona Rd., we felt like we were getting in over our yuppie heads. Feiler's turned out to be a really friendly place, though. We didn't get any of that barfly swivel-glare-at-the-new-people action that sometimes makes Eating in Madison A to Z uncomfortable.

It was the placemats, of all things, that put us at ease. They've got a cartoon of a posh couple pulling up to a caricature of Feiler's Cocktail Lounge and Cultural Center, plus an outhouse, a peeing dog, and Bert in a tree. The top-hatted ponce is saying to his date, "Let's eat here, it looks like a nice respectable place." T-shirts are also available to commemorate Feiler's recent anniversary.

As for the food, JM's salad was fine though the honey dijon dressing left a little something be desired.  While no connisseur, he described his prime rib as "only OK" although the portion was well-sized.  His meal highlight was the french fries which were golden and crisp.  Someone changes their fry grease often. All in all, it was a great supper club choice.

For Nichole, there weren't a lot of appealing menu choices (vegetarians should probably take a pass on Feiler's). The walleye was a bit dry, but butter and tartar sauce both helped. The salad bar reminded us of Grama's kind of salad - iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots & other typical veggie toppings, coleslaw,  pickled beets, and real bacon bits on a 4' cart with wheels.

The lack of swivel, the tongue-in-cheek placemat, and the general down-hominess of Feiler's won us over (as did the chance to use a $15 coupon). Best of all was the waitress, who juggled half a dozen tables with aplomb and friendliness. It all added up to a pleasant stop.

Comments

[Bob Watson]

It is with sad regret I must tell all feilers has closed as of jan 9th 2015. Farewell to a Madison staple for 50 years!