A beautiful setting with excellent food. The service was friendly if a bit over the top. Would definitely recommend

The ambiance is wonderful! The service is cordial and welcoming. Food is better than good, but not platonic!!

I don't normally take the time to write reviews, however, we chose to dine at Madison's since we were staying on property for our Babymoon and WOW! Service was impeccable from start to finish. They pay attention to the small details which is a nice touch. Our server Rasheem was extraordinary! He had a great feel for timing with his check-ins between courses and was knowledgeable with his recommendations. He made the overall experience wonderful. They brought out complimentary crackers / pimento cheese and bread service. We started with the Caesar salad which was different but so flavorful! Husband got the Wagyu steak, and I had the market fish special with the champagne blanc sauce. It was DELICIOUS! Finished the meal with dessert, we chose the banana pudding (sorry grandma it was better than yours) The inside is lowly lit but not too much where you can still see your menu and date. We enjoyed our meal very much and when we come back to the area we will be sure Madison's is where we come for dinner! read more

Madison's Restaurant - Dessert plate - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Breakfast at Madison's restaurant was nice but not what I expected. I think perhaps we should have had dinner rather than breakfast but as hotel guests, Madison's was just downstairs from our room and it was the most convenient breakfast choice so we ate there. There were six of us and although everyone enjoyed their breakfast no one commented that anything they had was exceptional. In my opinion what was exceptional was the beautiful setting and the first class service. I would love to come back during the high season and have dinner. I can tell walking around the restaurant that the experience of dining there in the evening is probably extremely special. It is one of the most beautifully appointed restaurants I have been in lately and the booths that overlook the waterfall in the wine garden are especially lovely. read more

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Went here after taking a bike ride to Highlands two days ago. The reviews were good, so I thought to myself "self, let's give it a try". I'm quite pleased with myself that I did! I didn't have reservations, so I was told there would be a 15 minute wait. There is a beautiful outside bar, that has a waterfall. Great ambiance. Ordered two drinks there, and whilst the bartender was getting the drinks ready, we got the text our table was ready. The ducks totaled, with tip, $36. The prices are on the menu, and they're cocktails, so, I'd expect this. They were great drinks, too. Now, to the important part. The staff were amazing. They were very very nice. Everyone was smiling. From the hosts/hostesses to the waiters/waitresses. Nicole was our waitress, she was exceptionally attentive and welcoming. Alexia brought our bread around, and she was exceptionally pleasant as well. The bread was fantastic. Now to the food: my wife had the fish and chips, and I had the shrimp and grits (I like shrimp and grits, and I frequently get this out at different restaurants to compare the quality and taste). The shrimp and grits were very tasty. Not the best I've ever had (this still goes to sunny point), but very very good. My wife got the fish and chips. This is the best fish and chips I've ever had. Out was exceptionally moist. Amazing. What was even more amazing was the French fries. I know that sounds weird, but they were savory. I've never had savory French fries in my life. They were the best I've ever had in my life. And I'm 45! Here's the kicker: the cost, without to, was $32. I thought they made a mistake, and I had to check the bill to make sure we got the right one! The meal was cheaper than the drinks! Wow! For that kind of food!!! So, I had to leave a bigger tip than usual. I'm looking forward to going back soon. If even for just those amazing fries! read more

Madison's Restaurant - Southern Fish and Chips: the hush puppies had pimento cheese in them, and those fries. OMG, the fries! - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

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There is a beautiful outdoor space that looks like it is Madison's but apparently it's separate and they are not dog friendly! They immediately turned us away when they saw we had a dog with us, even though they have a huge outdoor space - seems really silly to have such a large outdoor space and not allow dogs, we were so disappointed that they made us cancel out reservation. read more

Great salads and service. Read meant to go back for dinner but ran out of time, would definitely recommend this location. read more

Madison's Restaurant - Kale with chicken - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

We had a late lunch here after a hike and still talk about how fabulous our meal was. Such an incredible spot. The burger is incredible. We also loved loved the pimento and trout dip. Cocktails were also excellent! read more

Madison's Restaurant - Smoked Sunburst Trout Dip & Pimento Cheese - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

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Relais and Châteaux? They need to reconsider this establishment. Called 4 times to make a dinner reservation. Left massages each time. No-one called back. On the fifth try, someone picked up the phone. Mentioned that we called many times. Not a word of apology. By then, could not find a reservation for when we wanted. Seriously lame. We are locals. We will share our experience with people. read more

Whether you choose to have lunch in the lovely wine garden or decide to eat inside, you are not going to be disappointed with Madison's. The atmosphere is upscale, the waitress was friendly and efficient, and our food was delicious! We will return when we visit Highlands again. read more

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Very fine dining! The grilled octopus was cooked perfectly and a very generous portion. And I know this sounds weird, but the homemade buttermilk crackers that came with the charcuterie board (also more generous than most) were amazing. The service was top notch. If you're ever in Highlands, treat yourself. read more

The food was amazing! The service was spot on! The ambiance is great for date night or special occasions!

My husband and I ate here for lunch to start off our weekend anniversary trip. We made reservations a few weeks in advance and I'm so glad we did. We were seated at the perfect table overlooking the wine garden down below. Our server Thomas was so polite and attentive. I had the shrimp and grits, and my husband had the burger. Everything was delicious and service was spot on. We can't wait to come back again! read more

Madison's Restaurant - Shrimp & Grits - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

It was great! We sat outside at the wine bar First come / first serve Calamari and smoked trout dip were the best! House salad with apple cider vinaigrette- highly recommend. Had some specials, brisket tostada with fried okra A pulled pork sandwich, chicken salad sandwich on a croissant. Recommend everything we ate! So tasty, so fresh! Great spot. read more

Madison's Restaurant - Brisket tostada special with fried okra - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

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I have lived in Highlands for 40 years. I have eaten at The Old Edwards Inn when there was no Madisons. It was The Central House. It's a shame that it's turned into a "snooty" restaurant. They're trying to be an upscale establishment, but it falls short after you're greeted and sat at your table. The food was okay. The homemade "chips" had been fried in oil that tasted like fish had been fried in it. I was brought a new "batch", by a gentleman in a suit, and it was better. The chicken salad sandwich looked great. It was too sweet. It was made with grapes in it, which was fine but there was something else that was sweet in it as well. Of course, the ambiance fits in to the now atmosphere of Highlands. Too "snooty". read more

Always good, quiet Never a bad meal, but especially love their. Grilled liver and onion, a difficult thing to make well.

Horrible service Bartenders felt it more important to talk About previous customers that couldn't make up Their mind and the servers that were working. We waited 10 min listening to them while no one else was at the bar! We were a party of 4 and wanted a drink before our dinner table was ready. We went down the road to another restaurant. Gorgeous hotel and outside bar and dining but service stinks! read more

We had an exquisite afternoon brunch in the garden at Madison's last Sunday. The chicken salad sandwich was delicious and the potato soup was velvety and rich. The overall ambiance was a bit pretentious, but gorgeous none-the-less and nothing we couldn't thoroughly enjoy on a beautiful fall day. read more

Madison's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Beautiful environment, fine but uneven service. But Cooking errors were obvious. Undercooked eggplant with over fried crust...unchewable. Dry, overcooked 4-5 oz trout at $35. The almond crust was very hard, combined with soft fish seemed misfit. Best items are Cesar salad and novel black-eye pea humus. Cappuccino is 70% milk/30% coffee. Very good glass wine selection. read more

How many times do you have to send your food back? My friend sent her improperly cooked steak back twice, then threw up her hands in order to settle for Caesar salad. But they put a sweet balsamic vinegar on that and ruined it. She walked away with no dinner and no check. read more

As you can see from the pictures we love good food. Exceptional experience as attention to details is taken into consideration for every aspect of the dining experience. We started with a selection of jalapeño cornbread or fresh bake roll with bacon jam. Tough decisions before we even started the appetizer. I had the shrimp and grits and my wife had the Calf liver. My wife says it was nothing but chicken liver but the way it was presented made it very delicious. My shrimp and grits was full flavor and spicy both dishes were full plates leaving us stuffed. Now service by far was amazing. Our service each time we dined was meticulously attentive and Disney Land friendly taking the time to understand what our food interests are and recommendations. Dining was only half of the enjoyable time we had. This is a destination stop that is a must try. There is bit of a drive through the mountains however this small town is truly hospitable. read more

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The ambiance at the quaint Old Edward's inn restaurant is great. The cocktails were exceptionally good. Our party of five all enjoyed their various menu choices. read more

Best fine dining restaurant in Highlands NC. Period. Corkage fee is $40, which is reasonable for this fine dining restaurant.

All of the entrées are excellent, and so are the appetizers. The servers are great. They know the menu can help you pick out what you would like. Very nice ambience. I will definitely come back. read more

While the service was v good and our waitress was v sweet the food was so disappointing! We were told Madison was a must stop on our visit to Highlands. We ordered a rib eye. It was thin poor quality and looked like we were at golden coral. Horrible. In addition their sommelier talked non stop w the customers at the table next to us. V loudly. Another table finally complained. And he stopped but did not apologize. Net net it was a terrible experience. They did comp our steak but was not enough for a ruined Saturday night. read more

Amazing dinner from start to finish! Michel provided excellent, first class service ! ! It's always such a special treat to dine at Madison's! read more

Absolutely beautiful scenery, great food, and popular location!

We loved Old Edward's and we're very pleasantly surprised at the pricing of the food. We credit it to be much more. Try their Beef Stew it's incredible. The service was first class. read more

Those who follow my reviews know that I reserve 5-star ratings for those select meals that are truly well above what I typically find in normal dining circles. Madison's is one of those experiences. This is a top notch, customer-centered establishment that serves guests of the Old Edwards Inn and other visitors to Highlands, NC. Reservations are a must if you want to be certain to have a place to sit inside. If you are familiar with 5-star customer service, you will be very comfortable dining here. Chef John was in the back; an artist and a craftsman, obviously well trained in his profession. There is no doubt he and Chef Chris take pride in everything that leaves their kitchen. Nicola, our primary caretaker, along with the the rest of the front house staff are likewise, exceptional in their ability to ensure the dining experience is exemplary. The menu changes and is crafted with local and specialized seasonal offerings created to expand the senses. The Chef is the maestro who conducts a symphony of sensory experiences, in which we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to participate. We started with the Selection of Artisan Charcuterie and Cheese with Breads, Crackers and Condiments; included is a house-cured duck prosciutto, handcrafted goat cheese, and a duck liver pate that is phenomenal. The next course included our starters: Fresh muscles in a sauce of spicy pork sausage, jalapenos, and fresh herbs; Diver scallops with creamy cauliflower, Beef Tartar in an incredible balsamic with a rich farm egg, Dark Cove Goat Cheese Tart, and a house made lamb and feta sausage. These were followed by a tender white asparagus over crispy pork belly and a pea puree that was absolutely incredible. I was starting to wonder if I'd have room for the entree, but had no doubt I'd find a way to keep going. For our main course, our party of four chose; A special spicy chickpea crusted tuna, rare of course; the Roasted Mushroom Pasta, Hazelnut Crusted Sunburst Trout, and Slow Roasted Breast of Duck. We finished with a sampling of desserts that were the perfect handcrafted way to end such a memorable meal. Everything set in front of us was visually pleasing, wonderfully tasting, and pleasantly stimulating to all the senses. Madison's is a dining experience, not just a place to eat. We haven't stayed at the Inn yet, but I expect this attention to detail and customer service is a theme that is found throughout the property and look forward to returning to the Spa and Inn soon. read more

Lisa was our server for our delicious dinner at Madison's. She was helpful with our choices plus my dairy issue. Handling a group of 4 women can be challenging but Lisa never blinked! We returned for breakfast and had a newer server. Delivery of our food was slow considering the room only had 4 tables filled. But the food was again tasty and the presentation just as nice as our dinner. The decaf cappucino was a perfect start for my morning, along with the French toast entree. Will be back! Would have loved to have eaten in the wine garden for breakfast or lunch...maybe open that in the future? read more

Food was excellent! Best filet. Service was on point. The Caesar salad was the best I've ever had! You must get this salad! read more

Madison's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Madison's is a charming place to dine adjacent to the Old Edwards Inn on Main Street in the downtown Highlands shopping area. In nice weather you can sit in the wine garden but today it was still "winter" season so we dined inside as it looks like some seasonal sprucing is underway in the garden to prep for the spring & summer season. The staff who greeted us were exceptional. Today was an unseasonably warm day in March and more people were out and about shopping and dining than 'normal' and most places were not staffed for it. A lot of places are still closed in March in Highlands so the ones that are open for lunch catch everyone! Our food is always delicious here. Today we had fish & chips, and shrimp & grits. Both dishes were exceptional. Be sure to ask for a sampling some bread if not offered, they make lovely little muffins and unusual biscuits like one of ours had chocolate, and another craisins today. We enjoyed some fun beverages as well. I had a Moscow Mule which was served properly in it's copper mug. The bartender made my girls some "mocktails" of sprite with fruit that they just LOVED and I ended up having to try to recreate at home later. The decor is classic and elegant, has a such a good feel to it with windows all around to watch passers by if you like. A safe enjoyable bet for a fine dining experience. As we were unable to have dessert, the chef sent out a small cookie to send me on my way which was just lovely. read more

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Thoroughly enjoyed a delightful lunch after hiking waterfall trails. The maitre' D was friendly and the menu was diverse and delicious. We enjoyed a Smoked Trout Sandwich and a Shrimp, Pea, Feta, etc. Bowl which were both unique and delicious. I am gluten-free, so thankful for the bread and the GF Chocolate Mousse. My husband said the Banana Pudding was the best he ever tasted. Our wait staff of Nurja and Anish were a joy as we learned about their home country of Nepal and their college and career plans. They were so attentive, friendly and made the entire lunch that much more enjoyable - THANK YOU!! read more

Fantastic meal! From appetizers to salads to entrees, we loved every bite! Pricey but worth it. The best meal we have had in a long time

Another EXCELLENT experience at Madisons. Everything from the staff, to the food, to the view was stellar. read more

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I looked all of the reviews before giving mine. The reviews are all over the place which in itself should be a big red flag. The place is not clean and the lighting is poor. It is outdated and should be remodeled for starters. The food was Luke warm and it was obvious most of it had been sitting there for a while. The seafood was awful not even close to our good local seafood. The food on the buffet was not being taken care of. Our waitress sat us down got our drinks and disappeared the place really is over priced and substandard. read more

Wonderful choice for breakfast or dinner. Service is very friendly and knowledgeable but slow (not sure if they are short staffed this time of the year!) read more

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Been staying at the hotel for last two nights and decided to have our anniversary dinner at Madison's. What a great experience. When we arrived they had placed rose petals all over our table which was one of the best in the place. The food was excellent with me having the ala carte grilled pork. My wife had the incredible hen. Desert was the warm chocolate cake with ice cream. And they wrote Happy Anniversary on the plate with chocolate. Simply outstanding dinner coupled with 5 star service. We chatted with the new sommelier Philippe who was one of the nicest guys you will meet. I won't say it's cheap, but in my book for the combined food and service its worth it. Very romantic and memorable. Highly recommend. read more

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Everything we had for lunch was outstanding. Shrimp and grits was the best I've had. We tried the October fest special as well and a hit. The bacon and squash soup I could have ordered a pint and been in heaven. If you like Old Fashions, get one. You like wine, nice list. Even a Bordeaux by the ounce! read more

What a treat! We only had lunch, wish we would have saved this place for dinner. Quality food and vibe. Cocktails well done. Lunch menu yummy. Service v good. Beautiful atmosphere. It is the best Highlands offers. read more

Madison's Restaurant - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina