• Madison’s Vodka Bar Steakhouse
396 E. Washington St., Nanticoke
570.735.2654
www.menusnepa.com/madisons1.html
Hours:
Monday-Thursday, 3 p.m.-close
Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-close
Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
All major credit cards accepted.
by Mystery MouthWhen my friend Betty Anastasia and I got wind of a vodka bar steakhouse in Nanticoke, we knew we had to scope it out for ourselves. As we walked into Madison’s and saw the ample display of vodka — we lost count at 70 bottles — Betts and I felt like we were home.
Madison’s menu is equally vast, but what I liked best was the make-your-own-dinner option under the charbroiled favorites section. Pick a meat or fish — which range from the Delmonico ($18) I chose to turkey mignon and salmon — and choose a dry rub, cheese, vegetable, seafood or homemade sauce to accompany it. It’s like the “Choose Your Own Adventure” books I so loved as a mini Mouth!
I bypassed the six rubs and four seafood toppers to add bleu cheese ($1.50), mushrooms ($2) and bourbon demi glace ($1.50), one of 11 sauces. As my two included sides, I opted for sweet potato fries and creamed spinach.
Betts thought she’d get cioppino, a San Francisco seafood stew, or chicken saltimbocca, topped with prosciutto and provolone in a marsala wine sauce. In the end, though, it was a burger that won out, but not just one of the three tasty-sounding burgers Madison’s offers. Betts chose the Dwayne steakwich ($8.50), made with ribeye instead of ground beef.
Entrees taken care of, we turned our attention to the appetizers which are pretty standard, with items like mozzarella sticks, quesadillas and pierogies. Since Wednesday is buffalo night, we gave 10 butter-and-garlic wings a try. (Other buffalo night specials included shrimp, quesadillas and pizza.)
Our server Laura delivered a bread basket, and our wings soon arrived. They were a crisp golden brown, meaty and topped with a generous amount of minced garlic. Despite lying in a pool of butter, they weren’t greasy at all. The wings had a soft scampi-like flavor to them, so soft we added just a bit of pepper to kick the flavor up a notch. And I cannot tell a lie: Betts and I split the last piece of bread to sop up the rest of the sauce after we devoured the wings.
Our eagerly anticipated entrees put in their appearance, and Betts and I marveled at how large the portions were.
Her steakwich was one of those huge, only-seen-in-a-commercial perfect burgers. (The bun even had a sheen to it!) Accompanied by a smattering of crisp fries, the Dwayne was topped with American cheese, saut�ed onions, mushrooms and sweet peppers. Betts said the flavors melded incredibly.
My massive Delmonico was smothered in bleu cheese and mushrooms. It was well-marbled, medium rare just as I ordered it and tender like butter. The bourbon demi glace was the most tasty bourbon sauce I’ve ever had, and it complimented the sweetness of the fries plus added a wonderful layer to the steak and its accoutrements. The creamed spinach, too, was excellent.
There was no room left for dessert (though I did seriously consider a Cr�me de Menthe, Baileys or Frangelico parfait).
Needless to say, Betts and I were very impressed with Madison’s. With burgundy walls, vintage advertisements and honey-colored wainscoting, it’s cozy and intimate with just a handful of tables on both the bar and restaurant sides.
We only had two small complaints: We weren’t given bread plates, and after paying extra for celery and bleu cheese to accompany our wings, we received only three small stalks of celery. Aside from that, from Laura’s friendly and attentive service to the immense portions (I had my Delmonico for lunch and dinner the next day) to offering those classic parfaits I’ve always loved, this little Nanticoke wonder was a great find.
Oh, and about that vodka selection? I treated myself to a delicious grape smash martini, which had the fun taste and color of a grape Popsicle. The fact it came in a good-sized martini glass made me even happier. Betts really enjoyed her first Breaker Brewing Company’s Goldies Blonde Ale, which is made in Plains Twp. She said it was light yet flavorful, and she loved that Madison’s served a locally made beer.
This may have been the Mouth’s first visit to Madison’s, but it certainly isn’t my last, especially since I can’t stop raving about it.
