Madison Restaurant - First Ave Reviews

Nice clean place. Overall good plates. A wide selections of entrees, sandwiches and appetizers. Prices are a little high but portions are huge. Service was very good and they are kids friendly 100%

I will return to Madison grill as a place to remember wonderful food and the promise and of all we can be sustainably. Such a great place for me and my vegan kids. Awesome food and service. 😃

Huge portions and tasty! Head this way if you are in the vicinity for a hearty breakfast. You won't be disappointed.

Fluffy and made from thick slices of egg bread the French toast is moist and served with real maple syrup. A perfect weekend indulgence

We asked a local where to go for a good breakfast. "That's easy" he said "the Madison Restaurant 1st and 53st". Boy was he right. We went there every day of our holiday. The staff are fantastic but what I couldn't get is how they made great food so quickly and for the price. Because we let the crowds that fill the place every day go first, we always got their four seat comfort booth. Now, we like a good sized breakfast, but after a Madison breakfast we didn't even want more than a snack for dinner. Thanks again Madison jmhicks

Last of a dying breed, Madison is a typical Greek Coffee shop but with some major plus factors. On a corner so many windows and light coming in. Many booths which are always nice to have. Huge menu and if giong for breakfast, please note they have HASH BROWNS, not the chopped up potatoes one finds all over NYC but the stringy crispy ones that I dont know anyone else who has...get them, they are great. Excellent service and highly recommended. My go to meeting point for out of town visitors as well. Location makes it less touristy and a bit less expensive.

As we read the huge menu we thought the prices a little high but settled on an early bird dinner for about $30. My flounder dinner included a filling cup of soup, sizeable salad, a whole flounder perfectly prepared, cauliflower (my choice), fries, a glass of wine, tea or coffee, and a huge dessert—enough food for two or more, and good food too. So the diner turned out to be a great value, with delicious food and helpful, friendly service.

great breakfasts, eggs, choices of breads, waffles, pancakes, French toast, fresh fruit, fresh squeezed juices (yes with the pulp and seeds), coffee, etc., very very affordable, great service, proud ownership, easy walking from midtown manhattan, we fired up to get here virtually each morning for breakfast, good service, very enjoyable

Went for breakfast with my wife on our last day of our trip! Great American dinner with a huge selection! We shared pancakes which were huge!!! This was a real good find as out of the way somewhat. If your staying on this side of town head here for breakfast. Make sure your hungry!!!

Stopped in for breakfast and the portions were huge! Had the eggs with with corned beef hash and hash brown potatoes. The coffee was good and kept on coming. Waitress was very courteous. Very clean place.

Fantastic breakfast at a reasonable price. Great staff. Very busy restaurant so go early! Would definitely go back!

A local New Yorker and friend, who is also a foodie, told us about this place. Not a high end fancy olace but two things will happen. You'll be so full that you couldnt eat any more and you'll lose track of time because everyone is there to visit, so you might be asked to leave. Why? Simple theres always a line up. Loves the staff, loved the service, loved the food and will 100% go here again. Try the special with a Momosa and fruit (1/4 of a Honey Dew Melon) and cheesy meaty omlette.

If you like them, then this is The place to go. So many varieties and the are all excellent and served with a generous helping of home fries. Not cheap, but not outrageous like the cost of a hotel breakfast, and way better.

Madison is on first. The place is okay. Kind of the dated dinner look. Not fancy, decent service. They get a big crowd on weekend. The meals are price right for what they are which is relatively high but more food than any human should eat in one or maybe two meals. The cost is consistent with the amount.

The portions here were large. The omelette was at least a 3 egg omelette stuffed with lots of ingredients. Great neighborhood diner- seemed pretty popular for a late Sunday morning. Service was quick given it was a full house.

We went for a weekend with a party of 6 and two of them were young child. At Madison they were very helpful finding a place that we would be seated comfortably. The restaurant was very busy but they manage to serve us a great breakfast. We all asked for a different item on the menu, so we could try the variety of options. We were all happy with the food we ordered. You can build your own omelet. One of the adults in the group was allergic to an item and they just made the item different and no complain. You can order pancakes with banana on the dough and they have real maple syrup. They are open 24h. We eat there twice... Is was a winner for everybody. They have freshly squeezed orange juice and it was great. The kids menu was very good too. The three eggs omelet is huge and taste real food. They use conventional eggs not box ones. This is for the mothers: the bathroom was clean and there is a changing table inside and I saw at least 4 strollers when we were there, so do not feel uncomfortable. I recommend it for you and your family!!

Had breakfast here the Monday before July 4th around 10:30. No line, no crowd. Great menu all around (breakfast, lunch, dinner,) and generous portions. A little too much hollandaise on the Eggs Benedict but perfectly done scrambled eggs and the best hash-browns I've had in ages. The people next to us from California couldn't stop raving about the pancakes and waffles. The food and service were great, but we did suffer breakfsst sticker-shock - $30 a head for what would be 1/3 the cost anywhere else in the country.

We visit relatives a block away and have tried this diner many times with consistently poor outcome. We find it crowded and dirty. Not a repeat.

We came as a group of 5 at around 11AM. The woman who greeted us at the door seemed surprised that anyone would want to come to their restaurant, considering she said "Are you freaking kidding me?" when a line of only 2 people was there in front of us. Not off to a terrific start service-wise, considering the restaurant wasn't busy at all and we were seated in only 2 minutes. However we were to learn that she was more than just a little frazzled... The atmosphere is that of a typical NY diner for the most part, but nothing about the decor, furniture or look and feel of the building gives any indication that they're trying very hard. It has a bland and uninteresting appearance inside. Not dirty, just boring. The menus are jam-packed with so many options that it seems almost inconceivable that they could produce the variety shown in the pages. Everything from Greek to Italian to generic American fare and breakfasts are available, and I began to get the feeling that the Madison couldn't decide what kind of restaurant they wanted to be. Having had a long night previously, we all ordered various sorts of breakfast food, which was served diner-style with hefty portions. The food wasn't bad, but wasn't anything amazing either. Pancakes were tasty enough, the french toast was thick and moist, and the meats and eggs were as you'd expect them. Nothing we ordered was outlandish; coffee, OJ and diner food made up the whole of our meal. We paid an impressive amount of money for this average meal, however, and with 5 people getting nothing but diner food cashed in at over $125! If it had been really impressive food with great service and a comforting atmosphere, we'd have considered it worth it. However the staff was very stand-offish and outright rude to us at times. We left a 15% tip, but didn't really have our hearts in it. On our way out, my wife went to use the ladies' room, and the rest of us waited outside. We were surprised to find out that while she was in the locked restroom, the woman who seated us banged on the door and shouted "Your friends are looking for you!" My wife was disturbed and bothered and when she came out to meet us was incredulously wondering why we had asked after her...but we hadn't. We knew where she was and weren't looking for her, but the crazy woman at the door decided to try and remove her from the restroom by lying to her that we were searching! I very nearly went back inside to demand what her problem was, but decided instead to leave well-enough alone and we went on our way. Suffice to say, we will never be returning to this establishment.

Coming in late to the city and needing a quick bite. Walked down the street and were very pleased. Could not get over the cakes and pies but had to get a Reuben. Very pleased

I came here two weeks ago with friends. The diner is large with all the basic dinner food you would expect to eat in a standard NYC Diner. I ordered a lemonade and ham and cheese omelet for dinner and found the whole dining experience very positive except for the service.

So this is one time that Yelp did nto get it right for me...though it coudl have - they just blew it. So we are in NYC and exploring the upper East Side. I check out Yelp for the 4 stars and this is on top of the list. A nice easy walk so off we go! First the receptions it nice,starts to sit us in the first dining room near the window. The Floor manager opts to take over and hand signals to someone in the second room, has a nonverbal argument with him and they move us there- ok - not feeling the love,. It is another little room with tables by the window- nope - a corner both next the mens' room under a hot light. I should have asked to move but didn't as the place filled up fast...which was evident by how long it took to get our order. Food was typical diner stuff, the cheddar cheese was stringy. The corn beef has skimpy in the portion. The toast, not buttered, was served cold. Yes, many folks have god reviews and clearly it was packed with local regulars - but I wanted to share they were not the friendliest place - I had one waiter stare me down and had me move out of his way after I paid. To many options in NYC. This was not a good one for us this day.

Enjoyed our Saturday brunch at Madison's restaurant. Food was very tasty and the prices were reasonable for New York standards.

Incredibly large menu and a full bar to boot. Service was excellent and the seating was spacious by NYC standards. You can eat breakfast, lunch, or most dinner items throughout the day. I opted for the chicken salad club sandwich and discovered it was not a great combination. No fault of the restaurant. I should have picked one of the numerous other club sandwiches instead.

Standard diner fare: large portions of just passable food. Probably best for brunch or breakfast, otherwise bland but over salted food; indifferent waiters and the temperature is always arctic—probably good on a dog day of August.

Typical New York style diner. Food made to order and not piled up pre-prepared and reheated as is so often the practice. Very good unpretentious selection of all your favorites. If you're tired of restaurants offering overbearing, highfalutin wordy descriptions with a drizzle of this and just a hint of that and sun-dried the next thing, this place is for you.

Can never go wrong from a simple sandwich to simple generous portioned meals ....and they deliver. Neighborhood could not exist without the "MADISON" Been eating here once or twice a week for 22 years.

We received quick, responsive service. Take into consideration that it was 11 pm on a Thursday evening and barely any customers were in the restaurant. Food came fast-large portions. Server gave out free dessert to take home as a Christmas gift-unexpected and very generous.

Nice NY diner with all the usual dishes. I never know how many dots for a place like this. It was good but it is a diner. I had the spinach/Feta omelet and it was good. Wife had one of the specials and I think she fared better than me. So go for the Benedict, Florentine, or some other specialty. Coffee was ok, they are trying to be upscale on the coffee and it was interesting but not my cup of, um, tea (I am really picky about my coffee). Bacon was average for those who care. The staff we very nice and really made us feel welcome. Large portions. One guy at the next table had something omelet thing with guacamole and it looked fabulous. Would go again.

I had heard good things about the Madison Restaurant and decided to give it a try during an engagement on the East Side. Because of the circumstances, I had to do carry-out, but that was hardly a disappointment--the food was marvelous! I got a Monte Cristo sandwich so that I didn't have to decide between breakfast and a sandwich for dinner. First, the sandwich was HUGE. It ended up being the center of two dinners. The base of the sandwich is their marvelous challah French toast which supported a huge serving of turkey, ham, and Swiss cheese. So yummy with syrup and/or marmalade (I used both at various times). I also picked up one of their homemade cheese Danishes for the next day, and it was superb (and also HUGE). The New York diner is, regrettably, a dying breed of restaurants. I don't know why. With places like the Madison, it should be cherished as places to get good honest food, large portions, and a great NY experience. I will happily return whenver I am in the area.

I don’t live in NYC but travel here often. Madison’s is right around the corner from our apartment and I eat here multiple times every time I am here. The staff is always so friendly, the food portions are huge (excellent price for the amount of food you get) & the food is delicious!

The Madison Restaurant offers the usual huge diner menu. Portions are way too big for one person. I would rather have smaller servings, and lower prices.

There are lines every Saturday and Sunday to prove it. Huge, delicious portions, and good service. There is no better diner in Manhattan!

Madison is a neighborhood standard, serving diner specialties off their multi-page menus for hungry Midtown East residents and visitors. Portions tend to run large. Almost everything on the menu is tasty, so you can't go wrong. Prices are on the high side, otherwise it would be overcrowded instead of just almost-always busy. Service is always good as well!

Came in for a real American breakfast experience, and were certainly not disappointed. Loads and loads of food (more than even I could finish, and I'm a good eater). Pancakes were nice and, well, plentiful; otherwise food was decent, yet nothing to write home about.However, the place has quite a nice atmosphere and is certainly a good option to drop by any time of the day.

When they are crowded, the waitresses and cooks get careless. I ordered eggs over medium, rye toast with butter, orange marmalade (not on the table), bacon and coffee. The eggs arrived well done and cold, I got white toast (not rye) dry with no butter or orange marmalade, the hash browns were warm outside and ice cold in the middle which indicates microwave, The waitress never came by to ask how things were and I couldn't find someone to ask her to come to the table. When I finally spoke with the manager as the waitress was nowhere to be found, he just shrugged his shoulders. Who needs this? NYC has too many diners to give this one repeat business.

It's just not that good. EVERYTHING tastes the same. How bacon can taste like paper i can't understand but that's what it tastes like here. Eggs have no taste. Potatoes have no taste. Every single thing tastes like cardboard. Also, this place is VERY EXPENSIVE! I think it's cheaper at Jean George and Balthazar! I won't go back.

We visited this great place and experienced wonderful service from our waitress, Irene. The place is spotlessly clean and has an extensive all-day menu, although we only went there for breakfast. The food was excellent, large portions and served with regular re-fills of coffee. The options were good and should cater for every taste. It is tucked away and was a few blocks walk from our hotel and not located in a typically 'touristy' area but well worth it. Try it and I can guarantee you will be well set up for a day's sightseeing after having breakfast here......oh, and check out their cake selection too!

Neighborhood place and worth the stop! Large portions, most you could share. We ate there 3 times for breakfast and I always had the Challah French Toast, which I shared. It was the best French toast, thick, fluffy, and delicious. My husband had the omlets, which were also delicious. They were light, fluffy, and not dried out!

We were there for Saturday brunch, and not only was the food excellent, but the prices were reasonable, which is something not always easily found in Manhattan. The portions were huge and everything we had was top-notch. There is no wonder why this place is popular.

We had a 5 hour delay in our flight and were very late getting into New York so chose to eat close to our hotel and return for some much needed rest. We found this spot on the hotel list. This is a nice little diner with a very extensive menu. We opted for the Texas burger and fries. The portions are huge - we could have easily shared one dish. It was not crowded and a perfect way to start off our NY vacation. Thanks Madison!

I keep lamenting the disappearance of good old-fashioned diners in Manhattan, all replaced by modern eateries where you don't know half of the words on the menu and the prices let you believe you are eating on Beverly Hills or something. This place is a gem: extensive, varied menu with options for all tastes, all served for breakfast lunch and dinner. Service prompt and friendly, portions huge, full bar, all greatly priced, free wifi, what else can you ask for? Today I particularly liked the Mediterranean salad and the dessert (see pix). The “Au jus” was not all that good, especially with that fake gravy, but everything else was good, we I'll be back here! **

Generous portions of every dish. Expensive but vegetables fresh, meat good quality and from breakfast to night's end on weekends you will eat well and booths make it easy to seat groups or even when I go solo to write. Service less than stellar but for what is offered, location and real comfort food, this is one of those go to for me in New York City.

Portions? Humongous! Service? Exquisite. Atmosphere? Quaint. While staying on the east side for a visit, we happened upon this restaurant on the corner of 53rd and 1st. The dining room is large. The wait staff is friendly. And the meal we ordered served us for multiple days. Although the prices are a little steep, the variety on the menu is extraordinary. Our waiter, John, provided attention but was not overbearing. Water glasses were refilled before they reached the halfway mark and dinner was generous helpings of deliciousness. My husband ordered the chicken parm and sure enough, it covered the entire plate. The sauce was sweet, the chicken was tender and it wasn’t too cheesy. My daughter ordered the chicken marsala. The sauce was divine. The mushrooms were fresh and the chicken was perfect. I had the stuffed mushrooms and a small Caesar salad. The salad fed all 3 of us. And, we ordered a chef salad to take with us that we ate over the course of 3 days. Lastly, we took home a slice of the double chocolate cake and it was rich and chocolate-y. Give this place your business if you are staying or living on then upper east side.

Quick service, good food. We had eggs, hash, hash browns and everything was hot and good. Good portions too. Hashbrowns were nice and crispy on outside and eggs were done well and moist. Very friendly and comfortable family restaurant. Kids welcome and happy there.

I've only been for breakfast haandve been going there for years. Omelets, eggs, pancakes, French toast, etc...all delicious. Hearty servings too. The decor is nothing fancy but the restaurant is clean and the service is efficient and friendly. It's a great value for locals and tourists.

We were out of our neighborhood looking for breakfast. This place is bright, clean and welcoming. The menu is extensive, the service is first rate and you can walk out feeling that you got what you were looking for. We had the blintzes and the challah french toast, both of which can be recommended. Everything was fine, but not a bargain.

Our hotel recommended this for breakfast and they weren't wrong. Wait staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Eggs cooked to perfection. Great coffee. Relatively reasonable.

Went here for breakfast. Huge portions, non stop coffee and great atmosphere with the locals. Scrambled eggs with pastrami to die for. Great value as well.

Stupendous breakfast. Great hash brown potatoes. Fresh, really fresh orange juice. Professional service. Prices are a little higher than I expected. All in all a great place for an American breakfast.

If you're looking for the best Greek diner in the neighborhood for affordable good food and good portions. This is it!

The food and service was good too we ate breakfast there after a recommendation from our hotel! Prices were reasonable too!

This place has been here at least 40 years under. Greek ownership. And having very hearty meals. Great specials throughout the day and specially their meat loaf. , chicken soup. And stuffed cabbage. Have had many meals with family and good conversation. Their home rice pudding is tops . Service can be a bit puzzling at times but generally okay. Prices are good and they do lamb chops well.

Highly recommended by locals we used the Madison regularly for breakfast whilst staying in mid -town Manhattan. All freshly cooked and as you would expect good sized portions from an extensive menu. Helpful service and not too expensive for the area. We will miss our American breakfasts!

Great classic diner food, lovely staff and fab value. Huge breakfast choice - you need a long walk after.

Great restaurant- went back for a burger after having a superb brunch there one day. Pleased to say both times were fantastic - portion sizes are fantastic, if you are very hungry fine if not maybe ask the waitress - we shared a deluxe pancakes with a side of scrambled eggs and bacon and were stuffed! We were going to order one each! Burger was amazing, we shared a fries or we would never have finished it. Again quality superb and I would definitely go back there again.

The food is always good...a huge selection. And the service is always welcoming and good. Have been there for lunch, breakfast and afternoon snacks. It is handy and the booths are private and large. Low key and well run.

Casual eatery with excellent food & service. Just straight-forward food here, no gimmicks. French toast looks huge but is light and airy with excellent flavor. Highly recommend!

Visited NYC for Christmas & at the recommendation of our hotel concierge visited Madison for Christmas Day breakfast. What a delight. Place was packed & the atmosphere was excellent. Menu was plentiful with every possibility on offer. Cereals, fruits, oats and an assortment of sweet and savoury bagels and pancakes. The pancakes were phenomenal, thick and delicious topped with bacon, easy over eggs and syrup. All served with endless New York coffee by kind and patient staff. A fantastic stop for a Christmas morning.

You can't beat the French toast. Sunday morning brunch is so tasty here and your coffee cup is never empty. Feels like a wonderful, local and friendly place to enjoy a meal.

The meatloaf sandwich came with soup. Had chicken Caesar wrap on whole wheat. Coleslaw and pickle were also served. Decaf coffee was very good.

The server knowingly tried to overcharge us by making the bill illegible. He clearly does this often as it took 20 minutes to get it. Food was even that good. Be careful — the $20 salad maybe become $25 or $30, depending on the server.

I went there for lunch with family and waited about 20 minutes to get a table. I ordered the turkey double Decker sandwich and they brought me out a BLT with turkey bacon. So then I reordered the hot open turkey instead. Waitress specifically asked me what I’d like brown gravy or turkey gravy. I said I would rather have turkey. When the food came out it came with brown gravy which at that point I was aggravated because I was with many other people and I was picking off their dishes. So the lady said I will get you turkey gravy, if you can believe it 10 minutes later I still didn’t have it. So I said don’t bother, and she said I’ll just take it off the bill. I still left her 25% tip but the service was not very good.

I love the 90s soapies so I feel at home when I eat here. Food is decent although not excellent (we had French toast with eggs and sausages ), the grapefruit juice is very fresh and delicious though! The setting is just excellent classic diner.

The Madison is a very busy local diner -- not a restaurant as the title suggests -- the booths are tight and the tables tighter. The service is efficient in an unrefined way -- gets the job done -- but the customer service ethos could use some work. My impression is that Madison Diner gets so much business they don't feel they need to be particularly polite or gracious.

We were in NYC for a long weekend and this restaurant was on the list of restaurants the hotel gave us. We love it! We went there for breakfast on 2 days and dinner once. Bring an appetite! The portions at dinner were huge. Very nice food, very friendly people and good location in Midtown East. Next time we are in New York we will come back.

Breakfast at the Madison Restaurant was a treat; fast service; clean; more than ample servings; well priced (for NYC); friendly staff and good food. A cut above your typical New York diner.

It is a basic corner joint. The food is not particularly good, but the portions are large. I recommend going there if you are in a rush. The service is fast, food is passable, and, if you seat by the window, it is interesting.

We had breakfast here. There were many other families at the same time. Portions were huge, food was bland. Se were disapointed.

Lived round the corner for nearly a year and just tried it for the first time, will definitely be back! Great brunch, I had eggs and bacon and my wife had the whole meal pancakes. Friendly efficient service and excellent food.

We love this diner for breakfast and brunch. The food is so fresh and flavorful, the service is excellent and the restaurant is very clean! The omelettes were excellent, the fresh fruit and fresh squeezed orange juice were great. I recommend the vegetarian omelette with feta cheese...yum, yum! I don't recommend the cappuccino as it was very watery, but everything else is wonderful. We got hot pastrami sandwiches "to go" for our train ride home and they were to die for! We ate breakfast here every day of our visit to NYC! For late night dining, the spanakopita was delicious. Can't wait to go back.

Huge menu, huge portions, hefty bill. Service is excellent just a little pricey in comparison to other diners in the area.

When you order take out this coffee shop the manger tells you you need to tip the delivery person 20% or your delivery will take twice as long! Wanted to share this.

The look of this eating place is a bit retro & we loved it! Came here for breakfast on our first morning - a few blocks over from the Courtyard Marriott Midtown East. Food was delicious and our waitress was so friendly. Would highly recommend a visit

For great, inexpensive, fresh comfort food, you can't miss at the Madison. We eat there or have them deliver at least once a week. HUGE portions.

My friend and I stumbled across this place quite by accident as where we had planned to eat was closed due to the unexpected snow storm. Happy accident! The portions were huge. The service was pretty good. The atmosphere was quite pleasant. I had the disco fries and they were amazing. So glad we found this place.

One of, if not my favourite diners in NYC. Its a proper diner with great food and atmosphere. Always busy, great portions, fab burgers and pancakes. Never been let down by this place. Every time iI am in New York I make sure I go here. My mum loves it too.

We visit very often and we love this place. My favorite plate is berries waffle and my husband the avocado omelette♥️ fresh orange juice

Best spot for brunch in town...I love it for breakfast and Lunch...Fantastic French Toasts!! See U soon Madison Restaurant!!

Madison is bar the best diner in New York. There is a line out of the door for breakfast every weekend. Food is delicious, service is consistent, pricing is reasonable. Awesome diner!!!!

Been going here for many years for a reliable and consistent meal. They do all meals of the day and their breakfasts are great with their French toast and omelettes. This also was the place my uncle liked so I went here for 30 years. An older crowd primarily but good fir all.

The Madison Restaurant at first avenue was recommended by the hotel as a good restaurant for typical American food. During our last visit we had breakfast in the Madison restaurant and it was great. Freshly made. Big plates. Quite inpexpensive as well. It was a good experience.

We wandered hoping to find a good place to eat at. We could not have been more pleased. Yes it cost as much as many dinners, but it was exquisite. Drinks, classics and specials were all amazing. So, if you want one great meal at breakfast in a lively local not touristic fashion, here's your place

I've been here several times during the last years for brunch,lunch and dinner and the quality of food was always excellent. The menu is very rich, the quantities served huge. Fast service. The meat of the hamburger is very good and the hamburger very well presented. French toast is one of the best i have ever had. Grilled cheese fabulous. You can't miss hash brown potatoes.

Wow! We live nearby and come here every Sunday and it is amazing! By far the best diner in all of New York!!! I would really suggest their Turkey Club with sweet potato fries!

When we can't decide where to eat breakfast out, this is our default location, as it's around the corner from our pied a terre. We've had guest stay with us who ate nearly every meal here, so they were favorably impressed.

This was a nice place to eat, very busy on the day we went there but food was really good. Staff when available were very pleasant. The issue was that they were constantly standing round counting their tips. This was disconcerting, especially when we were attempting to grab their attention and they continued to count.

The biggest breakfast menu I’ve ever seen, a huge choice. Had the French toast with bacon, eggs and ham….massive portion and tasted amazing. Pretty expensive but worth it

Three times we visited last week the vibe is great typical American diner the breakfasts are fab and plentyful and choice is amazing u must try it great value in NYC as most things cost a fortune

The NYC midtown diner is slowly disappearing, so it's good to know that the Madison Restaurant, at 53rd and 1st has it all: selection, friendly service and reasonable prices. Neighborhood regulars go there for the bountiful weekend brunches, and the dinner crowd is always well served.

Family breakfast. Very large portions and great food. Portions are actually too large and as someone else has said they could reduce both the size and cost. Price was overall reasonable.

I had way better food in NYC , I ordered a steak medium well, I got an over cooked charcol instead. Burnt and bitter. My soup was excellent that came with meal. The service was excellent no complaints, our waitress was very helpfull with directions. My nephew ordered a burger he said it was awesome at least one of us enjoyed our meal. Don't order steak i guess.

Nothing special about this traditional diner on 1st Ave. - it has the look, the feel and the menu of many similar joints around the country, We came in for a late dinner: no surprises, which can also be a good thing, you know.. and mostly appreciate the fact that it was still open and serving food past 11 p.m

Exellent food , good prices , huge portions, exellent service , big place to have breakfast , comfortable , clean , highly recommended

I LOVE Greek food, but the kids aren't always into it, so this place is a great place for all of us. I LOVED the spinach pie. The Greek salad was also excellent. Everyone else ordered traditional diner fare and everyone was very well pleased. Portions were huge and service was very good.

My wife and I go to NYC 6-8 times per year to visit with my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. They live at 56th and First Ave., just a 5 minute walk to Madison's. We eat there at least one time per visit and have already eaten there twice over this Holiday weekend. The staff there has been the same for years and are so friendly to us when we arrive. They know the names of my 2 grandchildren and high-five them. Have never even had close to a "bad" meal. Today, for example, I had a cheddar and broccoli omelet, hash browns and wheat toast. It was simply delicious. My wife and I were there with our grandchildren and 3 other friends who had never been there before. I'm not going to discuss their individual meals, however, needless to say, they loved them. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a place to have a fantastic meal.

Busy neighborhood diner/ restaurant. Went on a Sunday morning, steady stream of people. Not long of a wait. Quick service, extensive menu with very large portions. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Omelets filled the plate with a variety of sides of hash browns, fruit salad, salsa, salads. Sandwiches are enough for a second meal take out. Definitely recommend.

For more than 30 years I have eaten at this restaurant very, very often. The food, the selections, the quality and the service have been excellent. With the last couple of price increases, I'm going to go here only on rare occasions. The prices now are ridiculously high for a coffee shop. For example, one egg is $8.20. Cheeseburger deluxe with fries and the works is $19.35. There are too many other places to eat in my neighborhood that are good and much more reasonable. I'm really disappointed that the prices are preventing me from eating here on a regular basis. Check the menu posted in the window before entering.

Great spot for breakfast or brunch. Menu is about what you'd expect and the people watching is great. Quick, friendly service and the price is right.

Ordered the junior health salad, Sunday brunch special, pancakes and challah bread French toast. The portions are large. On Sunday it gets very busy. Coffee is very good. Juice is freshly squeezed. Pancake syrup is warmed up.

I have gone to this restaurant since it was a much smaller "diner" at the same location back in 1993. It had the best, most delicious cheeseburger, great hot pastromi, fries and sandwiches. All that is gone. It is way overpriced, not at all good value for money. The quality of the meat has gone way down in the burgers, and the fries are soggy, soft and sopped in grease. But the staff are still v friendly although it has lost its neighborhood eaterie aura. Breakfasts became very expensive as did take-out burgers and sandwiches.

Had breakfast on a Tuesday morning. Arrived after 9 and was promptly seated. There were about 4 other parties. Ordered a sausage omelette, french toast with bananas and lemonade. The sausage omelette was probably a 5-6 egg omelette. The sausage was good and chunky. However, the eggs themselves was over cooked and dry. The hash was good. The omelette was also served with 2 slices of bread. The french toast with bananas was probably more of 2 loaves of bread. While the flavor outside was good, the loaves were too thick and not soaked long enough. There wasn't much flavor beyond the crust. The banana slices were slightly raw but ok. The lemonade was good. It was freshly squeezed. Overall, the food was ok. Service was ok. Portions were huge.

While in NYC you know dinner food is fast food, this place took it to another level given the price for an average meal. My family ordered different things but my sandwich was the best of the bunch.

Very good diner food. Great for families. Excellent omelettes, fresh waffles.,very busy Sunday brunch.

I have been here several times for breakfast, so it's time I reviewed it. I always get the same thing, so I can only speak about the French toast, but it is the best Challah French toast I have ever had in NYC, which is why I never order anything else. They make their own challah, and it is always light and fluffy and the slices are obscenely thick, so it is always way more than I can finish. You can't complain about not getting enough. Service is always prompt and the servers are always friendly, but you will get better attention if you go during the week than on the weekend, as it is always packed and crazy busy.

The menu here is amazingly extensive! My friend and I had brunch and had an incredibly hard time deciding what to get because everything looked amazing. Our only regret was we found this restaurant on our last day in NYC. Our food was great- the French toast was soft and decadent, the coffee was never-ending and their cakes are immensely huge! Everything we had tasted great and the service was excellent.

We were looking for a late breakfast venue and Madison's was recommended to us. Glad we went; good service (as an Aussie, I was actually HAPPY to tip for once!), good food in terms of quality and quantity. Nice, open, bright interior and a great spot to enjoy a meal watching the world pass by. Extensive options for breakfast, and other meals judging by the menu; worth a try.

Today, I mistakenly thought my bowl, not a cup, of chicken soup, would be accompanied by bread. I asked for the bread and was given two toasted pieces. I also had decaf coffee. We also had French toast. When the check came I noticed a charge of $2.99. I asked what this was for. When told it was for the two pieces of toast, I told the manager that I was never told there was a charge. He nevertheless charged me for the toast. As I am a frequent patron of this restaurant I will now ask if there is any extra charges.

Had breakfast with friends. Table of 5 in no time. Great food, Fun atmosphere. Enjoyed breakfast. Great quality. No rush, nice place.

Discovered the Madison at 11:30 pm on a weeknight and was delighted to find a restaurant open this late in this area of Manhattan. The Madison is not upscale, but rather a very casual diner-like eatery with a huge menu to match. We enjoyed an open-faced hot pastrami dish as good as any in New York. If you are looking for good food and don't mind the basic ambiance, the Madison is for you. Enjoy!

My wife and I went here for breakfast and the food was good. Solid food for both of us. I ordered the Pancakes and Sausage, while my wife ordered the Eggs Saturday Brunch special, which came with a Bellini. Service was good and we didn't have a long wait. Will definitely eat here again

I've been eating at this restaurant/coffee shop for so many years. I live in the neighborhood. The food and the service are both excellent. The menu offers so many choices. You'll be amazed. During the weekend the brunch hours are very crowded so you may want to go early or late so that you don't have to wait for a table. Other than brunch times, you should have no trouble getting seated. This is one place where your water glass will be refilled without your having to stand up and signal for it. The waiters are nice and efficient. The service is fast and the food is top of the line. The prices are a little high for what I consider a coffee shop but two people can split one of the dinner specials. That's how big the portions are. You'll find something you like for sure.

Ordered a Monte cristo which came out burnt. Should never have been sent out of kitchen and the turkey on top was dry. Salad was passable. Not quite fresh. Maybe their other food is better.

This is a classic New York coffee shop expanded into a cozy neighborhood restaurant. The food is consistently excellent and portions are huge. They have everything you could ever want. Terrific big breakfasts with all the usual egg dishes, waffles and amazing French toast made with thick challah bread. Lunch and dinner specials, pastas, steaks and chops and even fresh fish. I am partial to their many soups, with their chicken noodle particularly good. I love this place and it's friendliness! Waitress Irene and counterman Juan Carlos make me feel like a family member. Owner Nick runs a great place!

Great Sunday breakfast when staying in East Midtown. Omelettes were lovely. Excellent service and reasonably priced

Eggs Benedict and shredded potatoes were delicious. Matzo ball soup excellent. Hero sandwich of corned beef and pastrami made 3 meals. Went back for takeout dessert later and something went terribly wrong with the apple strudel! Soggy and some off-flavor like rancid almonds- had to trash it. The 7 layer cake was good.

The restaurant has outdoor seating with tables and chairs on 1st Avenue and another area on East 53rd Street. Waiter service is very good. Inside is spacious. Only downside it's too expensive for breakfast. Give me a break! = One egg with bacon, ham or sausage = $13.25. One egg any style $8.95. I was hoping the restaurant offered a 'breakfast special' like many Manhattan restaurants do - something like 2 eggs any style, hash browns, toast and unlimited coffee under $13.25 unlike you'll at Madison Restaurant for 1 egg with bacon, ham or sausage. I won't be back to pay those prices for eggs.

Excellent value, giant portions, strong air con. Booth seating in a classic coffeeshop that always hits the spot. Something for everyone.

Had breakfast here, lovely spacious restaurant with booth tables at the window. Food and staff both great, would definitely go back.

We were in NYC for Valentines & Anniversary celebrations and wanted to find a local breakfast spot. OMgoodnes ... we loved our breakfast / brunch so much we went their TWO consecutive days. We enjoyed phenomenal Cinnamon Raisen Challa French toast, eggs, avocado & cheese omelette, bacon, sausage, hash browns and COFFEE. When our food was brought to our table we we thought oh my who is going to help us eat ALL of this ..... in other words large delicious mouth melting portions. The menu has more choices than you can eat in a month. The attached pictures do not do the food justice.

Been eating here less and less for 25 years. Prices are Ridiculous, and food getting worse. Had Grill Cheese, Bacon, and Tomato for light dinner tonight. $13.45 with No drink, +$2 Tip = $15.45 for skinny tough nothing. With a soda, would have been $20 with Tax + Tip for Grill cheese and soda. Diner standard of Half Roast Chicken with two sides is $27.45 here, with soda, $30. +Tax and Tip, just under $40! This,and virtually all other entrees (like meat loaf 26.35), is a ±14.95 most places, except one or two other Greek diners who seem to be 'similar' Two eggs with bacon? Menu price $13.15: with coffee/tax/tip, another $20 meal. Cheddar and onion omelet (they've burnt last two times) with coffee will run you app $23/24 with tip. website is madison1.com Check the prices before/instead of going.

Met with family and friends in NYC and was looking for a good and reasonably priced dinner on a Sunday night. This restaurant exceeded my expectations. Large clean dining room was found. Waiters that were professional and courteous along with being attentive. Menu was huge with daily specials. Food cooked to order and vegetables and fruits were fresh and delicious. Spent over 2 hours there and was not rushed at all by staff. It was a nice way to end a very lovely day. I highly recommend this place. Show up hungry. You won't be disappointed.

We met friends for lunch here and brought our 10 month old. It's a very unpretentious diner, but clean (even the bathroom was decent for a nyc restaurant), bright, and spacious. The food was delicious-- generous portions and served hot and fresh (The chicken gyro was superb). The waitstaff was friendly as well. We will definitely return.

We have been here a lot & have never been disappointed. Great burgers, matzoh ball soup, Greek entrees, salads, milkshakes, etc HUGE, delicious menu!

Never heard of Fr onion soup with vinegar in it but that's what they serve. I liked & found recipes on internet. Balsamic vinegar I would guess. Onion rings lightly battered and not greasy. A real find.

Ample to huge portions. Greek specials and pretty much anything else you could desire. Good food, so so service. Reliable quality.

Madison Restaurant is on 1st and 53rd. Sizeable place with vast menu of options. Food is tasty and portions are very large. Good value.

Fab diner/restaurant on 1st. Came for mid week dinner and the server was friendly, food was great. So good that we came back for breakfast before we had to come home. It was just as generous, great eggs, friendly staff - we'd highly recommend you give them a try.

Last visit was 40 years ago. Prices have gone up! Seriously, place was mobbed at Sunday noon, but still pleasant. Service good but slow which was expected due to peak crowds. My "Reuben" was not served on rye bread and had no Russian dressing. The oddest "Reuben" ever. Not expensive. So, not likely to go back till 2057!

We have been coming back for breakfast at this great dinner. The french toast with hallah bread is out of this world. Simply delicious. The portions are big, son basically you can skip lunch. The service is fast, nice attentive waiters. The menu has a lot of options for everybody. The cakes that are on the counter look amazing, although we never seem to manage to get to dessert.

The challah french toast was fantastic as were the omelettes. Each meal was really enough for two people but tastes so good you may not want to share. Absolutely a top notch place for breakfast for about $10 per person.

Very nice restaurant. The amount of food was incredible, and even the biggest appetite will have left overs for carryout. The price for the amount of food served is well worth it. The smooth jazz was a nice touch too and the wait staff was very nice. There were 4 people in our party, and the wait time for the food after we ordered was only about 20 mins.

While on business, stopped here for dinner. Looks like a diner/family restaurant. A menu that includes pages and pages of items. Seems more like a breakfast place. Food was decent but nothing special. Prices a littlr steep fot the quality. But a decent place if by yourself. The free wi fi and the cold beer while waiting to be served made the meal ok.

Great neighborhood place - you can tell that the locals come here. HUGE menu, with breakfast all day and practically every diner item you could think of. Staff is just attentive enough. Try the cinnamon raisin french toast.

When in NYC I always try and visit MR at least once for dinner and once for breakfast. As many of the reviews mention it's great food and very good service. The diner is clean, staff is friendly, and while it's busy you can usually get a seat as the restaurant is bigger than most diners in Manhattan. I love the French toast for breakfast. Dinner is wide-open as they have a huge selection with a little bit of everything on the menu. Restaurant is convenient to get to as it's on the corner of 1st and 53rd. Highly recommend when visiting if you are looking for a quality mid-range restaurant.

We visit the Madison every time we're in NYC. Huge portions and a great value. Don't miss their incredible french toast!

Huge selection, but we went trice for the French toast. They make it with challah bread and each slice is about 6-8 in long and about 2 inches thick. They serve 2 slices per serving and the syrup is awesome. Prices are average for NYC. Open late.

The food was disgusting and maybe spoiled. The manager was so rude and morose. In the diner, completely empty on saturday night, there were just three bad looking old men, so lovelorn and loser. No, please don't go! it's not a restaurant but an home for elderly.

Great Menu and food but it was crazy busy for Sunday brunch! They don't take reservations and we had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated. The noise level was lively to say the least. I definitely would go back but never on Sunday.

It's hard to have a menu of a couple of hundred items, but Madison does an ok job of putting any item in front of a diner's place setting quickly. Food is adequate, service is very good, prices are steep. Eg. Eggs for 2 could easily run $30 with tip & tax.

Whenever we visit NYC we like to have breakfast at this place. The service is very good and has friendly staff. Great coffee with refills when needed. The menu has may choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Recently had a delicious fresh fruit salad with my meal. Very clean and we like to sit by the windows.

Have been eating here on and off for about 20 years and always visit when we are in New York. Breakfast are great and substantial - huge menu choice and always quick and friendly service - we still chat to the same waitress who remembers us every time and has been there all the time we have been going. We have eaten dinner and lunch here too - good burgers and sandwiches - again huge portions and reasonably priced for NYC. Also good for late night coffee and cake. This is a local place - queued out the door at weekends with regulars going for brunch so you feel part of the city rather than a tourist..

While visiting my granddaughter in NYC, she strongly suggested eating at Madison Restaurant and I am so glad she did. Even though it was the evening dinner hour we were in the mood for breakfast fare - pancakes, eggs, sausage, etc. No matter. The restaurant serves anything and everything from its eight page menu any time of the day so we were able to get exactly what we wanted and let me tell you, it was delicious. Everything was cooked to perfection and I'm certain that if we had chosen something else it would have been just as good. I can't praise the staff and the service highly enough. From the moment we were warmly greeted until we left, the staff were friendly without being obsequious, attentive to our wants and needs without hovering and indeed, they seemed to almost be able to anticipate whatever we wanted and had it for us almost at once. It was a really welcome change from the somewhat indifferent service I've received in other places. Some other reviewers have written of the restaurant's prices and, yes, at first they seemed a bit pricey. I would respond with two replies; first, it is New York City and I would expect to pay more in restaurants there as opposed to other locations. Second, the portions are more than generous. In our experience, we requested "to-go boxes" for our leftovers. We were happily accommodated and the staff even packed it for us. The result was that we essentially got two meals for the price of one, thus lowering our cost for the evening. I heartily recommend Madison Restaurant and urge you to eat there whenever you're in New York. I think I can guarantee that you will be well satisfied.

Had brunch at the Madison Restaurant with friends and kids. It's exactly what you want in a diner. Huge menu, including two pages of breakfast possibilities. Clean, attractive corner location with lots of light. Fast, efficient service. Good food. Got a table for six immediately. Nothing fancy, but food is good. Fresh squeezed juice. Big omelettes. Hash brown side order is huge and crunchy brown! I'd definitely go again.

Not so long ago, there was a Greek diner on every other street corner in Manhattan. As gentrification and big box stores transform quiet neighborhoods into global shopping meccas, it's nice to have a wonderful diner in our 'hood, on 1st Avenue and 53rd Street. Generous burgers, humongous salads, a wide choice of breakfast items (available at any hour) and traditional Greek specialties have allowed the Madison flourish come what may. If you're a tourist looking for a square meal that won't drain your budget, you've come to the right place.

We flew in to NY at 6am and this place hit the spot! The French toast was amazing! And most off all, there customer service was very good.

Don't let the red haired waitresses fool you, this is a 100% Greek diner. It's crowded, it's noisy, there is a glass cooler filled with cream pies, the cash register is near the door. And like most Greek diners, the food is hot, basic, tasty (no haute cuisine here), and piled high. They needed a second plate for the toast because the platter that had my breakfast was overflowing. The service is fast and friendly, your coffee cup never gets below half. I had the 2 egg, Virginia ham special with hash browns and the toast, coffee. $24.00

Great place to have breakfast after a long nite out. Service is quick, efficient and friendly. Food is awesome...breakfast being their best meal served. Highly recommend trying it out...and coffee cup is never empty.

It was our first time in New York City. Madison restaurant has a great breakfast menu. Found that the staff is a well oiled team. They really support each other which makes them a 5 star on service. Food is a 5 star as well. Great flavor. The only reason I gave them 4 stars is because I never could deal with finding a hair in my food. The kitchen staff should be wearing hair nets to keep this from happening. Oh yes, very important, they were very attentive to taking care of me and my son's dietary needs with not being able to have gluten. They took our bread and toasted it for us. Some places won't do this.

This was a recommendation for breakfast and it was very good. I had bacon and eggs with hash browns. The potions were ample and the coffee was very good. The service was excellent and got us started on the right foot for a day of sightseeing.

Had to have a diner type breakfast while visiting NY. We tried Madison and we were not disappointed. The family had everything from Eggs Benedict, Pancakes, Bagel Egg and Sausage sandwich, and a croissant. Of course we had coffee. Breakfast would not be complete without it. Service was excellent by an older Greek woman (sorry I don’t know her name). We will be back.

This has been a neighborhood favorite for decades. Weekends there is a long wait time for breakfast/ brunch. They have all the staples, eggs, omelets with hash browns, burgers, terrific Cobb Salad, also the roast chicken is very good. And every once in a while you'll see a celebrity stop in.

with 3 little kids and their Mom. There must be something special that makes them want to come back. The prices are not cheap but the portions are generous and the food is good with the typically big diner style menu that includes some interesting combos to satisfy every palate.

I'm from NJ; I'm all about diners! The Madison is reasonably priced by NY standards and the menu is extensive. The ambience is bright and open with lots of windows for people watching on the corner of 1st Ave and 53rd St. They are also open very early and stay open very late. The spinach pie was good as was the dirty martini. The staff is numerous and attentive. I've enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner here many times when visiting my daughter and have not been disappointed.

The portions are enormous and the service attentive and prompt. Very good diner food with the usual enormous variety of choices characteristic of good diners. The interior is spacious and pleasant.

On Feburary 12 we were trying to decide on where we wanted to go for brunch. The staff at our hotel sugested Madison's as a great alternative to the typical overpriced NYC brunch. They were right! After walking a few blocks we found a great local diner that was packed with hungry locals and The occasional celebrity. We were seated quickly, served efficiently and brought a great breakfast. Atmosphere? A local place full of people that were clearly enjoying themselves. Great food for a reasonable price!

Had brunch on Saturday. The challah french toast was two huge pieces and NOT dry, which sometimes is a problem in diners. The cost is on the high side but you do get what you pay for. My wife had the cinnamon raisin french toast and was of the same opinion. We saw others eating omelets and one probably feeds two people. I recommend this restaurant.

Started with delicious Yankee bean soup. Next , had turkey sandwich. They give you coleslaw and pickles too. Don't ask for a second order of coleslaw. You will be charged. Big disappointment as we frequent this restaurant.

A neighborhood restaurant that has wonderful food and a very pleasant stuff. The atmosphere is marvelous.

Our first visit we were greeted by our waitress who welcomed us to the neighbourhood. The menu is HUGE. We were ordering and the waitress recommended I have the lunch size fish and trips because I said I wasn't that hungry. The portions are very large to what we are used to. We always seem to have take out containers at the end of our meals. We have been there about 4 times now and the food has always been good! The desserts are all homemade and can easily share one dessert. Again the portions are HUGE. This is a nice diner with fast paced staff members always helping each other out. We have only had dinners there but the breakfast menu looks great. It's a place we will take family and friends when they visit.

I’ve been to Madison many times. It’s a regular diner with mediocre food, yet they’ve hiked up their prices as if they were a high end restaurant. Recently I visited late at night, not feeling too hungry, and asked for oatmeal or cold cereal. The server didn’t want to check for me whether they had oatmeal or not, and then she brought me a bowl with crushed Raisin Bran flakes. When I pointed out that the flakes were crushed, she indicated that she wasn’t going to open up another individual-sized cereal box for me and that they were all like this. This had a price tag of over $10. I said I didn’t want the cereal and walked out.

Ugh! What a drag. The food was nothing spectacular but I must say that the bacon was so comparable to card board ... actually card board my taste better. The french toast was very odd and doughy, think uncooked pizza dough. Lastly, the service was god awful. I went at 8AM and there were more employees than patrons and STILL took over 15 minutes to even bring out water. Save your money

My wife and I were spending a few days in the city and this diner was just down the street from our hotel. We ended up having several meals here, and will gladly come back again. The service is always great, no matter if it's a Sunday morning with a packed house or late at night with plenty of seats. The food is hot, fresh and delicious. If you like diners (personally, I love going to a diner) this is the place for you. The menu goes on for ever, and everything my wife and I had was excellent. Give Madison Restaurant a shot and you won't be disappointed.

During a recent trip to NYC, we ate twice at this local diner - it was that good that we went back for a second meal despite the huge choice in the neighborhood. Be ready for huge portions and lots of extras. A roast brisket of beef sandwich came with cole slaw and pickle and a PILE of roast beef that must have been four inches thick. A hamburger with fries came with cole slaw and onion rings. Everything we had was excellent, but the desserts were a serious treat, all homemade. We went back for Sunday brunch. Again, massive portions, although the actual "brunch" menu was expensive. Order from the regular breakfast menu (also available) for a cheaper alternative, with slightly less overwhelming portions. The orange juice was fresh-squeezed and extremely tasty. We will definitely go back the next time we visit NYC!

This diner was recommended to me by a guy on the bell desk at my hotel when I asked if he knew any authentic diners that were good for breakfast... He sent me to Madison Restaurant on 1st and 53rd and it was just what I was after. A real authentic American Diner that served up a great breakfast and coffee. I had the Corned Beef Hash with two poached eggs and toast and it was superb... Filled me up well past lunchtime! Table service was good and the staff were friendly enough and it was reasonably priced too for NY at US$16.60 for a big breakfast and my coffee... Recommended for visitors to NY looking for that authentic all American breakfast experience.