3248 University Ave,Madison,Maryland
4 (49)
Reviews
I dont say this lightly, since I love and respect a lot of the restaurants in Madison, but this is the best culinary experience I had in Madison. Ever. Will not be surprised if this place gets a Michelin star. Service is top level. Very attentive staff. The cocktails are fantastic- loved the wine-based old fashioned and the Manhattan was delicious. Food was delicious and sourced locally- delicious meat and cheeses as well as vegetables and other ingredients. Lastly, the presentation with the chef explaining the food before each meal was very engaging. Overall, a great experience. Oh, and almost forgot- the restaurant also has a store that sells delicious top-level wines and liquors.
The people here are amazing, really pleasant experience with lots of surprise! All the vegetables taste so good, and we really appreciate how they designed beautiful dishes with all theses simple but nice ingredients. I don’t drink much, but I highly recommend the wine pairing - it adds just the right amount of contrast to keep you interested. Personally one thing not to my liking is the stuffed pork trotter, which has a loose and foamy texture inside and soft-sticky skins outside. It’s nicely made but I feel a little bored, and perhaps mixing with some chewy or crispy texture will taste better.
I hope I’m able to capture the amazing food you will experience here in my review. The head chef Ben and his his team of amazing chef and servers have created an extremely crafted selection of food. The ingredients are hand selected locally and paired to make your taste buds crave the next bite. I also found out they are willing to accommodate dietary restrictions(make sure you let them know in plenty of time). I’m already looking forward to my next visit of delightment.
This is an experience and not just a regular dinner - and that package is what garnered the 4 stars. Watching the dishes being made and hearing the stories makes this a more interactive and a learning experience. Each course also paired with a good selection of wines - both domestic and international. The space is small and cozy, at the back of Vom Fass retail. Staff is great - they make the experience complete. You can also grab your glass of wine and meander the shop; checking out all the oils and other libations. One downside is weak or no ventilation. Our eyes were watering from cooking smoke - we laughed it off despite it being a pet peeve. Our clothes smelled like grease and smoke the next day. Needless to say they need a good vent system. This is a higher end/cost experience. Great for special events. There is free parking right in front of it. Go, get smoked, laugh and enjoy it!
Absolutely wonderful experience! The entire setup is meant to give you time to properly enjoy the food, the drinks, and the atmosphere and is done with such elegance it makes a truly engaging evening. There isn't much to say about the food except it's exactly what you'd want it to be - creative quality dishes within a fun theme (ours was "culinary casual") with chefs who really seem to enjoy what they do. High praise to all of them for not only cooking tasty dishes but giving a fun night to go with it. Highlights include a Mocktail menu for those that want to skip the alcohol that are as good (if not better) than some of the wine pairings, unique collections of wine suited to the dishes with thought and care, and a fun host who adds some additional story to everything they put together. Don't be thrown by the price - it is worth every penny and then some. For the food allergy crowd - they take great care to ensure all dietary restrictions are followed without losing on the experience. The night we went they had a vegan and it was actually really fun to see the creative options they put together!