Licari's Bar & Grill Claims Third Consecutive Madison Burger Week Title

| June 10, 2026

Licari's Bar & Grill Claims Third Consecutive Madison Burger Week Title

MADISON, Wis. — Burger lovers have spoken, and for the third year in a row, Licari's Bar & Grill has claimed the title of Madison Burger Week champion.

Presented by The Capital Times and sponsored by the Wisconsin Beef Council and Coors Banquet, Madison Burger Week invited diners to explore some of the area's best burgers and vote for their favorites from May 15-22. A total of 952 votes were cast during this year's competition.

Licari's Bar & Grill took the top spot with The 65'er, becoming the first restaurant in Madison Burger Week history to win three consecutive years.

"We work very hard, and we are so grateful for everybody that comes in here to support us every single day," said Sarah Nelson of Licari's Bar & Grill. "We couldn't do any of this without everybody who comes in, especially after being in this location for the last 65 years. We could not be any more proud of our staff."

The top three finishers were:

Licari's Bar & Grill – The 65'er
Union Corners Tavern – Union Smash Burger
Hank's Burgers & Fish Fry – Double Hank Burger

Licari's roots in Madison stretch back decades. The restaurant originally started in the West Washington area in the 1940s before moving to its current location in 1961. Nelson's grandfather, Larry Schmidt, purchased the business in 1981, and the family continues to build on that legacy today.

Nelson said Madison Burger Week has helped introduce new customers to what she describes as one of Madison's hidden gems.

"We know you can get really great burgers in a lot of different places in Madison, but we pride ourselves on coming up with something that adds a little spice, a little fun and a little diversity to the menu," Nelson said. "Madison Burger Week has been a great way for people from across the city to find us and try those unique burgers."

Now in its fifth year with The Capital Times, Madison Burger Week highlights the creativity and quality of burgers served throughout the Madison area. Participating restaurants had the opportunity to feature a signature burger or create a new specialty item for the event, giving diners plenty of delicious options to enjoy throughout the week.

The Wisconsin Beef Council is proud to support initiatives like Madison Burger Week that showcase the versatility, flavor and quality of beef while supporting Wisconsin's restaurant community.

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The Wisconsin Beef Council is a producer-directed non-profit organization funded by the $1.00 per head assessment on all cattle sold in the state of Wisconsin per the Federal Beef Promotion and Research Act & Order. Half of one dollar remains in Wisconsin for local beef promotion, while the other half is forwarded to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. The purpose of the Council is to fund beef promotion, research and consumer education activities supporting Wisconsin’s $2.1 billion beef industry. The WBC operates under the guidance of its Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of representatives from cattle-related organizations around the state of Wisconsin.