Restaurant Review: The Madison Bar & Grill in Hoboken, New Jersey

The Madison is a fairly upscale restaurant located on 14th Street in Hoboken. It is a bit stuffy, a bit formal, and a bit overpriced. Still, if you want to impress a colleague or first date, it is a reasonable alternative to Frankie & Johnnie's, which offers food that is far superior, but at a much steeper price. Here is a review of The Madison in uptown Hoboken, New Jersey.

Having lived in the square mile city of Hoboken for eight years, I've visited most of the restaurants dozens of times - even those I didn't like. Whether it was for variety or at the prodding of a friend, I've visited The Madison at least fifty times. The good thing about The Madison is that it is consistent. The food isn't great but it is not too bad. The service is okay but it is not memorable either. The ambiance is fine if you are on a date, but somewhat stuffy and formal if you are there for any other reason. It is dark, a bit gloomy, fine if you are there for romance, uncomfortable if you are just there to eat.

I normally order the filet mignon, which is cooked to your liking. It is large enough to satisfy, but it isn't anything special either. The appetizers are good but pricey and not worth the cost.

My friend John says of The Madison: "It's great to dine on a Tuesday night, because afterwards the bar gets crowded and it's a great place to pick up women."

My friend Mike says of The Madison: "Sure, there are a lot of women there at night, but they are stuck up, overdressed, and not very much fun."

My friend Brian says of The Madison: "I hate that place. The food is overpriced, the drinks are overpriced. They think they are in Manhattan. The bouncers are rude and obnoxious, and they have a ridiculous dress code."

My friend Jen says of The Madison: "I like it. The foods not bad, and the bar scene is pretty good, but a lot of the guys that go there are guido assholes."

My friend Marty says of The Madison: "It's a decent place to pick up lunch during the summer. At least then you can sit outside and dine. I don't like eating inside because it is so dark you can't see your fork in front of your face."

My friend Steve says of The Madison: "The food sucks. It's too expensive. And the bar gets way too crowded for my taste."

My friend Jill says of The Madison: "The menu is pretentious. Sitting in the bar area, it's too loud and you cannot enjoy your meal. I've never had any problems with the service, but it's too dark and there's absolutely no atmosphere."