Madison Modern Social opened earlier this year to rave reviews, and after seeing it for ourselves, we totally get the hype. Here are 10 reasons why your next night out should be here.
- The Vibe
Madison Modern Social feels like a New York City lounge. Two gorgeous bars and moody purple-pink lighting set the tone in this Old Bridge hot spot.
From the wall decor to the display cases behind the glass to the sewn-in pillows that separate each booth, every last detail is elevated.
The starters alone are worth making a resy here. The milk bread comes with a trio of butters: honey, herb, and a chef’s pick. The whipped lemon ricotta with fresh figs and local honey on sourdough toast is also a must. If you like raw seafood, order the tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail, oysters or caviar service.
The Madison Caesar Salad takes its baby gem lettuce up a notch with a lemon parmesan dressing, sesame crumbs, toasted brioche, and deviled eggs.
Trust us on this: get the small plates to share. The fried rice arancini is made with pickled carrots, edamame, romesco and spicy chili crisp for an Asian twist. Chicken nuggets are housemade and tempura battered with spicy BBQ sauce and honey mustard on the side. The Gold Bar mozzarella sticks are topped with truffle aioli and Ossetra caviar.
The Spicy Lumache pasta is just the right amount of hot, with Calabrian chili vodka sauce, n’duja, stracciatella, basil and shaved parmigiano. The lemon linguine, mafaldine bolognese and cacio e pepe ravioli are all made in-house.
Entrees include the Madison Burger made with short rib, bacon jam and Cooper Sharp American cheese; grilled eggplant bruschetta; chicken parm made with top-notch Bell & Evans cutlets; and either halibut or branzino.
But the real star of the menu is the ribeye cap (spinalis) steak, which was so tender it basically cut with a butter knife. It’s also topped with a unique gremolata butter, and comes with potato pave. The truffle parm shoestring fries and crispy tempura broccoli are both exceptional sides.
3. The Sushi Menu
The specialty rolls here rival any top tier sushi restaurant. The Lobster Surf & Turf with lobster meat and filet mignon was so good that even non-sushi fans would appreciate it. The coconut shrimp roll made with mango and strawberry Thai chili sauce is another standout.
4. The Instagrammable Desserts
If you’re all about the ‘Gram, you should be all about The Sphere. A dessert meant to be shared, it literally says “Instagrammable” on the menu. The Oreo ice cream cake is surrounded by an outer layer that melts when your waiter hits it with a lighter. It’s a spectacle of its own, and tastes just as good as it looks.
Other sweet treats include the Dubai roll with chocolate sponge cake, ganache and pistachio praline kataifi; mini bundt carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting; and churro bites tossed in cinnamon sugar, Nutella and dulce de leche.
Each of the two bars have their own unique flare, and the drinks are as good as they are pretty.
Smoke & Mirrors has Patron infused with jalapeno, Illegal mezcal, grapefruit, lime and agave. By Design is Angel’s Envy bourbon, Nixta corn liqueur and Amaro nonnino. Sesame Street is made with sesame-infused Elijah Craig rye with Fernet Branca, cardamom-cinnamon honey syrup and angostura bitters.
On top of a selection of martinis, beer and wine, there are 45 different types of tequila, plus varieties of vodka, gin, rum, mezcal, bourbon, whiskey, rye, scotch and cognac. If you’re celebrating something epic, ask about the Louis XIII.
The mocktails are amazing here, too. Nojito is made with coconut water, lime and mint; Tea Thyme adds thyme and lemon to hibiscus-infused iced tea; and the Madison Lemonade kicks it up a notch with jalapeno, blueberries, honey, lemon and lime.
The Matcha Muse is made with Ketel One vodka, Pandon, crème de cacao, matcha and strawberry cream, and the 50 Cent Espresso Martini levels up a regular martini with Branson VSOP, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, espresso and Demerara.
6. The Happy Hour Specials
Magic Hour, as it’s called here, is from 3 to 6 pm Monday to Friday. Select martinis, house wines and classic cocktails are discounted.
Light bites include shrimp tacos, chicken skewers, pork meatballs and short rib quesadilla. We’re obsessed with the Maddi Moment, which are basically grown-up chicken nuggets with truffle fries and the Madison Caesar salad.
7. The Music
Tuesdays at The Social Club are all about Supper Club vibes. Live music starts at 6 pm, with R&B and classic jazz bands. Madison Thursdays’ DJ also makes it feel like a real night out.
8. It’s a Fun Celebration Spot
This is an elevated spot to celebrate your birthday, anniversary, etc. Dinner packages are for 3 hours and include most of the regular menu items. Or make it a brunch party with your girls, again a 3-hour event, but this time with choices like a fruit and cheese board, lemon ricotta pancakes, sliced prime steak, eggs benedict, mac and cheese, crispy thick cut bacon and a sushi platter.
9. The Team Behind the MadisonÂ
Madison Modern Social is owned by Demetri Rexinis, Kosta Rexinis, and Frank Brusco – known for the renowned Over Easy Kitchen in Marlboro, Holmdel and Fair Haven; Gabriella’s Italian Steakhouse in Red Bank; another Italian restaurant, Patricia’s of Holmdel; and the new Jackson Square Pizzeria in Jersey City.
Well known across the state, the hospitality team has a reputation for all things high-end and next level. The Rexinis brothers had a role in iconic venues like Club Abyss, Deko Lounge, Central Park, Mr. East and Park East. Brusco, a Holmdel native and first-generation Italian American, is involved with five restaurants now.
10. The Location
Sure, it’s a strip mall, but The Shoppes at Old Bridge is a high-end, up-and-coming spot with shops like White House Black Market and Shisheido. Other restaurant options include the longstanding Feast Italian Kitchen, the newly opened Kyuramen, and the soon-to-open The Chop Shop.
Madison Modern Social is located in the Shoppes at Old Bridge at 3801 Rte. 9 in Old Bridge. Hours are 12-10 pm Monday to Thursday, 12-11 pm Friday and Saturday, and 12-9 pm Sunday. The restaurant is all about the experience, but you can order online here.
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