World Hamburger Headquarters

When a place humbly declares itself the World Hamburger Headquarters, it is bound to raise one's expectations.

This was the first visit since moving to Madison, but I recall a visit to Dotty's when it was on Regent Street across from Camp Randall to satisfy a gnawing hunger with a burger and milk shake. 
That trip would have been some time between 1978 and 1980 when debate and speech team trips to the capital city included a trip to eat after the day's competition.  It must have been debate, because our coach knew about the fun places to go in MadCity.

Dotty is a name the owner selected from a short story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle where the fat lady in the traveling circus was known as Dotty Dumpling.  Owner Jeff Stanley first used the name for a gift store, and kept the name when he decided restaurants were the way to go.  He added Dowry to complete the alliteration.

Ever since that first trip, I've wanted to go back.  Saturday was the return trip.

The Cheese Curds were amazing - cheese excellence that wasn't overwhelmed by the breading and satisfied a deep hunger with each bite.

The hamburger was perfect.  I tried cream cheese on it for the first time in this lifetime (there must be burgers in heaven, right?) and it was a very good decision; with the tangy-ness of the cream cheese complimenting the hearty bite of beef, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.

It was awesome and quite filling.  Three days later, I can still taste it's goodness.

Dotty's is worth the search - a pretty small cafe and bar right on the U.W. campus on Frances between University and Johnson streets.  Parking is a challenge, but if you park further away it will give you an opportunity to work off the luscious calories.

The modest designation as the World Hamburger Headquarters was given some validity recently when George Motz (Producer of Burger Land for the Travel Channel) declared the Dotty's Dumpling burger a winner and that the cheese curds were not to be missed, ""These are a must-have on a burger tour of Madison. Skip the fries and get some curds, you'll never look at hot cheese the same way again."

If you go, set aside some time as the tidy room has limited seating, but is well worth the wait.  Maybe I'll see you at Dotty's Dumpling Dowry next time - and next time I will treat myself to one of their malts or shakes.


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