Madison, Lower Terrace

On Monday afternoon, I visited Madison with a friend visiting from abroad, choosing this venue for its stunning St. Paul’s Cathedral view. The beautifully decorated space was nearly empty, with only one table occupied when we arrived and just a couple more throughout our visit. The quiet, relaxed atmosphere felt like a great choice for catching up. While the setting was undeniably gorgeous, the service fell short of expectations. We entered without a reservation, and the staff assigned tables based on whether guests were dining or just having drinks. Although I understand prioritizing diners during busy times, it felt unnecessary to seat us at a less favorable table in an almost empty venue. This wasn’t directly stated, but it was clear from their behavior, which felt a little unwelcoming. As it’s the season for mulled wine, we decided to order some. We first took photos of the drinks with the beautiful view, but even before tasting, we noticed that the wine’s appearance was off—it was far darker than expected, and its unusual color suggested it wasn’t fresh. After tasting it, our concerns were confirmed; the wine had clearly been reheated for days, with the alcohol completely gone. When we mentioned this to the server, they offered to replace it. Unfortunately, the service still felt rushed. While I had finished my wine, my guest was still enjoying hers when the server cleared my glass and asked if we needed anything else. After we declined, they brought the bill without us asking, giving the impression we were being hurried out. In a packed venue, this might have been understandable, but in a nearly empty space, it felt unnecessary Overall, Madison offers breathtaking views and a beautifully designed space, but the service left us feeling a little disappointed. It’s a venue with so much potential to create a truly memorable experience, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations this time