The Great Dane's second location in Fitchburg has never disappointed me over the years. I'll always love the downtown location and all the hazy memories I have of it from my college years. However, I find myself in the suburbs these days and you can't always head downtown when you want to meet up with friends for a burger and a beer. The Fitchburg location of the Dane serves this purpose exceedingly well. Judging by the crowds that pack this place every night of the week, a lot of people feel this way. I first graced this establishment with my presence right after the opening, for New Years Eve 2002, and I've been a semi-regular ever since. During the summer there is not much more enjoyable than sitting out on the deck having a beer and a burger as the sun heads down on the horizon. During the cooler months the upstairs gaming area is a great place to meet up with friends for some pool or shuffleboard, and you can get food service up there as well.\n\nI have always really enjoyed the food here. I put the buffalo burger at the top of my list city-wide. The mushroom gravy that comes with this at first seemed superfluous, because the buffalo burger was so perfectly seasoned that no condiment was required. That is not to say the gravy went to waste - it is astoundingly good with the fries. It is so good I have a hard time ordering anything else off the menu. However, I've branched out on occasion, and I can safely say that the Capital falafel, Mayan chicken wrap and Cajun chicken sandwich are all delicious. I used to always get the fries, and don't get me wrong I enjoyed them (especially with that gravy), but earlier this year I tried the Israeli cous cous side and this is now my go-to. The cous cous grains are larger than the traditional style, or at least the kind I make at home, but the seasoning is perfect.\n\nAs good as the food is, I really like the Fitchburg Dane because of the beer. The Great Dane is always known for coming up with a variety of delicious brews, and this is true wherever the location. What I like about the Fitchburg Dane is that they have several beers that are exclusive to the location. My personal favorite is the Sugar River ESB - it goes great with a meal or as a stand-alone. If you're looking for something more sessionable, try the Verruckte Stadt (Mad City auf Deutsch) German Pils. And if you're going for something rich and creamy, try the Stoner Oatmeal Stout. The beer is tapped using nitrogen, which gives it an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel. \n\nThe only drawbacks that I have with the Fitchburg Dane are almost all a result of the popularity of the place. Sometimes it's hard to find a parking spot in the nearby garage or on the street. Other times it's hard to even get a table, but the wait is usually not longer than the time it takes to have a beer at the bar, assuming there's room at the bar. The service is almost always good, but I've been upstairs and been forgotten once or twice when it's busy. The price is on the high side compared to some of the other similar places in Madison. And above all, it can be packed, just like the downtown location. I suppose you can chalk this up to being a victim of one's own success, and I certainly don't hold it against them.
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