1855 Saloon & Grill Brings Historic Flavor To Cottage Grove, Wisconsin

Food with a twist is what's on the menu at 1855 Saloon & Grill in Cottage Grove.

And the twist is taking familiar American comfort foods and giving them a new edge of flavor you won't find at the chain restaurants or anywhere else.

One twist favorite on 1855's menu is a prime rib specialty called The 1855. The 1855 was modeled an open-faced meatloaf sandwich made in many old St. Louis diners

What they do is take that same theme and instead of white bread they use Texas Toast. Shaved prime rib is ued instead of beef and a red wine sauce instead of gravy. Then it's all topped with crispy onion straws (shaved yellow onions lightly breaded in flour). All this and a healthy portion of smashed potatoes (smashed potatoes have skins on) with lots of butter, cheddar cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives.

Quality food, a quality place and quality prices is what keeps people coming back.

The menu selections can satisfy everybody's flavor preferences and taste expectations, So if you have four people in the car ready to go out to eat and one is screaming chicken, two want seafood and another says pasta, you go where all those needs can be satisfied.

1855 has become a popular destination throughout Dane County and beyond, and many of their signature dishes are bringing people back for seconds, thirds and more. One of those mouthwatering winners is their Tavern Burger. The special grind is cooked to perfection with a hearty slice of Wisconsin cheddar cheese and topped with fresh panco breaded cheese curds. Instead of serving a ranch dressing, they make a Ranch mayonnaise that's served on the side. Another one of those twists that sets 1855 apart.

Another item he says sells "tremendously well" is their pizza, cooked in 1855's wood burning pizza oven. The brick oven is the restaurant's centerpiece - greeting guests with its warm glow and aroma as they walk in the front entrance from Main Street.

Cottage Grove has the face to be the new cool part of town. The east side of Madison is not just about the mall. It's about the neighborhoods where people live and having some real choices when it comes to eating out.

The new mixed-use development of retail and residential space coming to life along Main Street is a sign of this evolving identity. The new brownstone building, where 1855 is prominently housed, is part of a collective effort to bring back a traditional downtown feel. All the photos displayed in the restaurant are of when Cottage Grove had a downtown. The restaurant decor is a throwback to earlier times, with wood floors winding throughout the establishment, making the smooth transition from the rugged saloon feel of 1855's bar area to the old-fashioned elegance of its three dining areas, with seating for up to 200 people.

With a restaurant this size, a big crew to run it is necessary and the establishment has about 70 people on staff - many of whom live right in Cottage Grove and surrounding communities. Most of the kitchen managers are professionals who have been in the restaurant business for years. It's experience that is necessary to run an upscale casual dining establishment like 1855.

1855 Saloon & Grill

218 S. Main Street

Cottage Grove, WI

Phone

(608) 839-3700

Hours

Monday 

Lunch 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dinner 4:30 to 9 p.m. (Pizza oven till 9:30 p.m.)

Bar 11 a.m. - midnight

Tuesday 

Lunch 11 a.m. -4:30 p.m.

Dinner 4:30 to 9 p.m. (Pizza oven till 9:30 p.m.)

Bar 11 a.m. - midnight

Wednesday 

Lunch 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dinner 4:30 to 9 p.m. (Pizza oven till 9:30 p.m.)

Bar 11 a.m. - midnight

Thursday 

Lunch 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dinner 4:30 to 9 p.m. (Pizza oven till 9:30 p.m.)

Bar 11 a.m. - midnight

Friday 

Lunch 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Dinner 4:30 to 10 p.m. (Pizza oven till 10:30 p.m.)

Bar 11 -1 a.m.

Saturday 

Lunch 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dinner 4:30 to 10 p.m. (Pizza oven till 10:30 p.m.)

Bar 11 a.m. -1 a.m.

Sunday 

Lunch 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dinner 4:30 to 9 p.m. (Pizza oven till 9:30 p.m.)

Wood burning pizza till 4:30

Bar 11 a.m. -11 p.m.