Stony’s Bombers are a Big Hit in Madison

, a new burger shop on 20 Waverly Place, sells about 200 fresh-squeezed lemonades per day and just as many milkshakes as sodas. The family-oriented burger joint opened its doors six months ago and has already won accolades as the newest addition to Madison’s roster of restaurants. 

Quality and affordable pricing are two main reasons for Stony’s success, according to owner Jeffrey Stonewall “Stony” Johnson. “The concept is a 100 percent fresh, low-priced, high-quality family restaurant. To accomplish that we bring in fresh-baked Italian bread every morning.” 

“Our meat is fresh, never frozen,” Johnson said. “All of our patties are hand-formed. All of our chicken is marinated in Italian marinade for at least 24 hours. Everything we put out is 100 percent fresh. We try to do everything we can to keep the cost down, so Stony’s is attractive to moderate-income families.” 

Stony’s offers a variety of burgers, notably the single patty Fighter and double patty Bomber with a plethora of 15 free toppings, including grilled onions and mushrooms, cherry and jalapeno peppers. At Stony’s, a double patty bacon cheeseburger with several free toppings will cost less than $7. “People know when they get a good value for their dollar,” Johnson said. 

The three main ingredients of Stony’s burgers, Johnson said, are fresh meats instead of frozen, charbroiling instead of frying, and the unique round rolls, light with a bit of crust, delivered daily from a bakery. 

Marinated chicken, ribeye steaks, sausage, hot dogs and fish tacos, salads and even garden and turkey burgers round out the menu selections. New this summer is a homemade lobster roll on fresh Italian bread. Children’s favorites include half hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. The complete menu is at www.stonysburgers.com. 

Customers walk up to the counter, place their orders and take a seat while their dish is prepared in this casual, BYOB hub. They can watch TV or listen to their favorite tunes. “Our music covers a huge spectrum from the Grateful Dead to Frank Sinatra, Katy Perry to Little Feat, Sixties to 2011,” Johnson said.  

Regarding the replica plane hanging from the restaurant, Johnson explains that “my father was a World War II fighter bomber pilot. That’s why we have the Bomber and Fighter burgers.” 

Dan Baulig and his son, Jack, recently stopped into Stony’s for lunch. “We love the food. There aren’t many places like this in Madison. The ribeye steak is the best around,” Dan Baulig said. Jack said chocolate milkshakes are his favorite. 

A new dining patio will be completed next spring, Johnson said. It will be accessible from Waverly Place. Like the patio at Stony’s original location in South Orange, the area will be lit, enclosed with cedar fencing and have seating for about 50 people.