Mickies Dairy Bar is a no-frills Madison breakfast counter at 1511 Monroe Street, directly across from Camp Randall Stadium. It has fed students, neighbors, and Badgers fans since the 1940s, and people line up for plates big enough to cover the table.
The room is small and packed with counter stools, booths, and shared seating, so strangers often end up eating side by side. The signature order is the Scrambler, which the restaurant’s menu describes as a layer of “yanks” (potatoes) topped with three eggs, one meat or two veggies, cheddar, and toast. You can get gravy on top, on the side, or skip it. Most regulars choose the homemade sausage gravy. Extra veggies cost $1, extra meats $2, and extra cheeses $1.50. Pancakes the width of the plate and thick malts from the old dairy-bar menu round out the menu, and prices stay friendly for student budgets.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Mickies opens early and closes after the lunch hour. It runs about five days a week, so check current hours before you go. Weekday mornings are the easiest time to get a seat. On weekends, expect a line by mid-morning. Avoid Badgers home football Saturdays unless you arrive well before kickoff traffic. The restaurant has long been cash-only, so bring bills. After breakfast, you can walk to the UW–Madison campus, Camp Randall, or the shops and cafés along Monroe Street. For questions, call (608) 256-9476.
