Truly a special place. The service was impeccable and the food was stellar. Had a great steak, my wife enjoyed the seafood pasta she got. The whiskey and wine lists are plenty adequate. I will be back. read more

We had a lovely evening at Madison's! This was the best food and service we had here in Highlands. Our waiter was very kind, and we were also celebrating a birthday. Every member of the staff came to our table to wish me a happy birthday. Our food was delicious and very timely. We all had the house special halibut. We had cocktails which were delicious as well. For dessert we ordered the chocolate chip pie. That too was very good. Overall this was a beautiful experience. The atmosphere was so romantic and peaceful. I look forward to coming back here soon! read more

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

Very formal atmosphere. Excellent service. Charles could not have been a more attentive and informative waiter. The pear salad was wonderful and the chicken pot pie was very good. The mac n cheese was very unusual: truffle oil and rich. My daughters burger was excellent. Great place to celebrate a special occasion. read more

Service and food are fantastic here. Bonus if you can get a seat by the windows. Mother's Day brunch was so fantastic and everything we have ordered here has exceeded our expectations. Reservations suggested, but they don't require reservations for the outdoor area, which is good to know. read more

See all

We lunch at Madison's 4 or 5 times per year and have always enjoyed the experience. Recently it was different, not the food which was very good, but the slow and forgetful service. It took over 45 minutes to get our food. They forgot the rolls. We finally got our food when I went to the reception and asked them to check. We were never offered an apology or explanation. Perhaps they were having a bad day but no one seemed to be managing and watching things. read more

Disappointing menu last few times we've been. They must have changed chefs. Usually only one of 4 in our group has been happy with meal

I can't say enough about Madison's. The location really is stunning, the interior is beautiful, the staff is perfectly attentive, the prices are reasonable and the food was GREAT. My boyfriend and I went for brunch - I had the poached egg and pork belly and he ate the trout and caper omelette. Both were delicious. When my meal came out, I was afraid that the portion was a bit small for my appetite but it ended up being just right. I don't know what they put in their grits, but I'd sell a relative for their recipe. Definitely not a place to be missed if you visit the highlands! read more

Madison's Restaurant - Poached egg, pork belly, grits (made by the good lord himself) and apple chips. Amazing. - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

We're staying at The Old Edwards Inn and ate here for breakfast before our spa day. Wonderful selection for breakfast and it was beyond delicious. Service was super friendly as well. I literally wanted to sample everything, but ended up ordering a classic two eggs, grits, bacon, & toast. Everything was cooked to perfection. Will definitely be eating here on our next visit. read more

See all

Sat outside in the wine garden without a reservation the night we arrived. The BEST meatloaf and mashed potatoes I've ever had. Still trying to figure out how they achieved that elusive umami flavor. Part of it was the caramelization from grilling the slices of potatoes and I think maybe there was coriander in the potatoes or carrots or broccoli. Whatever it was it worked for both this foodie and my more traditional husband. read more

Awesome place to start our day. Absolutely wonderful service and enjoyed the food. Our waitress Victoria was top notch. One of the best experiences we have had in a while. And we have been many places! We highly recommend it read more

On a business trip to Highland. Had a three-course dinner in this place. Man, what a great place to just have fun and enjoy the elegant cuisine. Plus, waiters and waitresses did a terrific job on serving people. It appears to me that they really love what they are doing and care about their customers. Highly recommended. read more

See all

What a magnificent experience!! My hubby and I had a wonderful server, who made us feel like we were his only table! I had the duck gnocchi and my husband had the New York strip...2 PERFECT meals! The flavor profiles of the food were complicated and exciting! Gorgeous property, romantic ambiance, even a little heart on our table fashioned out of rose petals. Don't miss the soufflé-it's worth the wait!! read more

My wife and I celebrated her recent birthday at Madison's. Overall the food was very good and the wine list "reasonably" priced. My wife enjoyed her filet mignon and I enjoyed my ribeye steak. Both were perfectly cooked to our liking, although I thought the portions small for the price. Service was prompt and efficient. The best part of our experience was dessert. We shared a seven layer chocolate cake that was divine. Kudos to the dessert chef! Overall a good experience. read more

Best shrimp n' grits ever. Hands down. Prime rib was great too. But again shrimp n' grits. Amazing vibe and scenery.

Very good....fine dining...our wait staff...excellent. Portions were a little small but not for fine dining...if your going to have 3 or 4 courses it's plenty....just didn't expect fine dining in the middle of highlands NC but it was very good and their wine selection was great. read more

We had a wonderful lunch at Madison's. The chicken salad sandwich was fantastic. I highly suggest requesting Cameron as your waitress. She made the experience even better. Ask her for the remoulade under the bridge. It's a specialty she will specifically make for you. Thoroughly enjoyed our lunch. read more

Eh. I expected more. The side portions are very small. Absolutely hated the soufflé. The table next to us had 3 people leave to smoke then came back and it was all I smelled the remainder of the time. My soup was luke warm. I wish it was a better experience... I would have picked the Ugly Dog Pub for dinner again had I known it would have turned out this way. read more

Horrible service by the host and bar. We chose Madison's to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary and arrived early for our dinner reservation. The host told us to go upstairs to the bar for a drink and escorted us. Once we sat down we were approached by a waiter named Roberto and they told us we were not welcome upstairs. We left embarrassed and went back to the lobby where a manager then approached us in front of everyone to "apologize" and tell us that since we weren't staying at Old Edwards and instead were staying at Half Mile Farm (another OE property) we could not enter the hummingbird room bar area. It was an extremely humiliating way to handle the situation, and truly put a damper on our anniversary dinner. I am appalled and disgusted that they would embarrass a guest like that, especially when we would have been content waiting in the downstairs lobby in the first place. As a business owner myself, I hate leaving negative reviews, but this needs to be a learning opportunity for this restaurant. read more

I cannot give Madison's enough stars. We had a late reservation at 9 on Saturday night. It was a foggy, drizzly night and from the moment we entered the building we were treated like royalty. Our servers were Jon and Ruben and they were absolutely stellar. The food and the wine suggestion were perfectly paired and delicious. We even randomly received roses at the end of our dinner. We also ended the evening in the library with a nightcap and everyone there was also wonderful. I highly recommend Madison's. You will not be disappointed. read more

We stopped in for lunch, right before they were set to close at 2pm, and were greeted with kindness and a willingness to serve despite the late hour. The restaurant itself is inside of the Old Edward's Inn and is quite lovely with dark wood tones and Victorian looking furniture. They offered gluten free bread options which were very tasty. I had a chicken salad sandwich with homemade salt and vinegar chips. My husband had a pulled pork sandwich and poblano pepper soup. Two of the kids had burgers. Our server, Alicia, was lovely and we enjoyed chatting with her. We would definitely go back when in the area again. read more

Decided to have our anniversary dinner here. The atmosphere is somewhat pretentious; however, the food was delicious. I had the seared sunburst trout and my husband had the pork chop. Both meals were well prepared and the service was impeccable. Definitely recommend that you call ahead for a reservation. We stayed during a slow time of year and it was a very busy restaurant. read more

After three wonderful days at Old Edwards Inn, my wife and I decided to give Madison's a try the last evening of our visit, and were overwhelmed with the service, the atmosphere and the food. Everyone from the maitre d to the sommelier gave us first-class attention, and our server recommended the perfect selection of dishes and sides for our 15th anniversary celebration. After a wonderful risotto appetizer, I dove into the hearty and unforgettable Duck & Lamb Bolognese, while my wife thoroughly enjoyed her dish of Hanger Steak. We finished off with a warm slice of chocolate cake, and paired the entire meal with an outstanding bottle of Pinot Noir. The setting was elegant and romantic, and the tables generously spaced to provide an abundance of privacy. Madison's location inside the main Inn means you can follow up your dinner with a drink or two in the neighboring Wine Garden, or cozy up to a blazing fire in the library or sitting room. It's almost like having a private dinner in a Swiss Chalet, or the most magnificent Bed & Breakfast you can imagine. Old Edwards was the perfect place to celebrate our 15th anniversary, and Madison's Restaurant provided the perfect meal for this special occasion. read more

Walked over from the Old Edwards Inn for breakfast. The restaurant is lovely and elegant and filled with mountain light. Plenty of high windows to watch the shoppers and tourist. The food is prepared and served by chefs that must have trained as artist. Beautiful. We loved the various biscuits, omelets, grits, and their special breakfast served in skillets. Everything was perfect and we walked outside to do what most everyone comes to Highlands to do.....shop, relax, reboot, spa, enjoy, enjoy, and enjoy! read more

Great cocktails. Food was good, but small on portion size. Had a fresh halibut with fresh vegetables. Duck confit - "good not great ". Ambience a little stiff. Service was friendly but inexperienced. read more

Reviewing poolside light menu ... Please add a non cheese poolside option to order . Other than that , so nice to lounge in gorgeous spa pool setting and order a Drink and snack. read more

Always consistently good! We used to love the breakfast, too, but we now have a house in Highlands and it is only opened to guests of the hotel. Every meal we have ever had here has been REALLY good. The staff are always friendly and attentive. You'll be glad you went. One of Highlands' best. read more

Came to Madison's on the package deal while staying at Half Mile Farm. It was absolutely one of the best meals I have ever had! The second you sit down you are greeted with pimento cheese and crackers. Following this, we met our waiter who was extremely friendly, welcoming, and had wonderful recommendations. We started with two individual salads, and the cheese plate (I'm personally obsessed with cheese and meats--this was hands down the best I've had!!) we then got our entrees which would the a la carte rib eye-- my boyfriend could use a butter knife to cut the meat that's how tender it was!! He chose the sides of truffle Mac and cheese (heavenly!!!) and the potatoes. My entree was the a la carte sunburst trout (very good! Skin was on but crispy like bacon!) I chose Brussel sprouts and grits, which I'm from the south and I give these grits a 10/10! Even though we were stuffed to the rim at this point we chose to get the special dessert, which was spiced eggnog soufflé. OH MY GOSH! Y'all it was the best thing I've ever had. Melt in your mouth delicious. Reminded me of homemade French toast. Fun to walk to making a reservation!!! read more

See all

Exceptional restaurant. From the food to the top of the notch service, I could not be more pleased with my experiences at this lovely restaurant. The servers went out of their way to provide us with the most personalized experience. Also, the desserts are just divine. read more

See all

Beautiful restaurant/bar outside of Old Edwards Inn. You find yourself in a beautiful garden with a small waterfall. You feel like you're leaving the outside world behind. The food was fantastic! The smoked trout appetizer is a must. Our bartender, Josh, was great. All of the staff were very professional and friendly.The have one of the best Bloody Mary's I've ever had. They also make their ginger beer and other mixers. Definitely will be back! read more

Awesome! Started off with the quail appetizer and it was absolutely the best thing I have had in a very long time. Then I had the beef ribs...they were done perfectly. This was such a great place! I would highly recommend. The service was on point and very attentive as well. read more

We were staying at OEI, on our honeymoon and called to ask when last seating was (9pm). We arrived at 9:05. They refused to seat or feed us. Very disappointing. Would like to go back, as I've heard it's good. But may not go after that crappy experience. read more

My husband surprised me with a birthday getaway to Old Edwards Inn & part of the package he got included a 3 course dinner at Madison's. This place. Wow. What an experience! First, let me say, you should really go here if you're celebrating a special occasion. From rose petals sprinkled on the table...to complimentary surprises from the kitchen...to our dessert with "Happy Birthday" written in chocolate - they really roll out the red carpet for you! We started with salads - one garden drenched in homemade blue cheese, one with pear and fried goat cheese (both decorated with edible flowers!). We also tried their scallop appetizer - large scallops so fresh and delicious. For our mains, I had the beef tenderloin and my husband had the venison. They were both out of this world!! I think I was in a food coma by this point, but I do remember my tenderloin was served perfectly medium rare with purple carrots and a variety of other fresh root veggies (think different types of beets). The service was also outstanding...the food was all perfectly timed and our waiter checked on us just enough. He advised us on the very important decision on dessert...apparently every day they have a special soufflé and he said that was the way to go (but you need to plan for it since it takes 20 minutes to prepare). That night it was an apple cinnamon soufflé. By now my food coma was a permanent condition. Wow...so good...drool. Definitely try the soufflé, hot out of the oven goodness! I loved Madison's and hope to try it again some day if I'm back in Highlands! read more

First let me say that the food was amazing and you should go. That said, the following dining experience is factual and one of the most bizarre I've had... ever... Here goes. We sat in the Wine Garden as the dining room was full. We ordered starters, Tartare for me and a tomato soup for my wife, both of which where done proper. The tartare especially was unique with a sweet relish as a garnish rounding off the flavor of the tart capers. The wine menu was well rounded, lengthy but not too much and organized well. With a nice bottle of Pinot and our steaks ordered we sat under a old oak tree in the North Carolina sky in early autumn, just perfect! The steaks arrived mid rare and the sides of Brussels sprouts and truffles Mac and cheese accompanied nicely. As dinner was nearing desert this was when things went totally off of the rails! We heard a crash from behind us and we assumed a server had a mishap, if only that was the case. Around the oak we sat by came a RACCOON! Yes this critter was on the dining deck! He ducked back into the shadows and I watched him climb into the wait station then up the tree behind us. Literally 10-12 feet from us and the other diners! Perched there, brooding and watching like a masked gargoyle. He would climb down and try to investigate coming in and out of the shadows, this thing even brushed against my leg like a cat!! I jumped up away from the remaining bites of my fillet trying to scare the crazy thing off. The staff referring to him as "Rico" said he had been coming around for a month or so and I'm like "nope, not today! Nope, no way!" We would have stayed for desert although the couple next to us, who equally where stalked by this menace, Rico, will also testify that this auspicious evening will live in infamy and be forever etched in our minds as the evening that Rico the raccoon sent the cart off the rails. Seriously though. This place was too much money for us to be hassled by a not so wild animal. The end. read more

Madison's Restaurant - Rico, local menace and fine food enthusiast - New American Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

See all

Right on Main St downtown Highlands- very chic and elegant! The food is delicious, too. It matches the promise of the establishment. It's very popular, better make reservations. read more

Great place to stop for lunch and an afternoon glass of wine next to the waterfall when in Highlands. Wine garden attached to the fabulous Old Edwards Inn and the quality and service is on par. read more

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

Excellent meal, hostesses, wait staff very friendly and knowledgeable. Had to meet some challenges due to allergies, and kept us safe. From the chartucery plate to dessert, superb. My wife had the trout, I had fiver scallops , both were excellent. read more

I was in Highlands on business and it was early so I had a few minutes to grab a bite to eat for breakfast. Upon my arrival in this town Madison's popped up on my yelp app. This location is inside a hotel which is upscale or appears to be. The wait staff were extremely professional and courteous. They were dressed to impress! This is the type of place where they will place the cloth in your lap sort of place so please note that. I was promptly seated and received a menu and water within a couple of minutes. The waitress was very kind and asked if I had any questions regarding the menu when I was ready to order. I went with the biscuits in gravy since I was in a rush to eat and get out the door so I could work. Upon the arrival of the food I was a little taken back that she had to have a cloth to sit my plate down because it was HOT. That is a first. I then realized that most likely the biscuits were heated up as they didn't taste fresh and they had too much butter on the top which...possibly frozen biscuits? The gravy had to much of a sweet or sage taste for me. You would think for $8+ dollars for biscuits in gravy they would have been freshly made from SCRATCH. I would look for another place to eat for breakfast if I was in the area again. read more

Attention to detail is what separates great restaurants from the rest of the pack. I noticed at lunch today at Madison's that the cloth napkins were made in Italy. That about sums up the dining experience at this, Highlands' nicest restaurant. They have a great promotion going on January through March - locals get 20% off their bill except for drinks by showing a Macon, Jackson or Rabun County driver's license. We took advantage of this discount today and had a very enjoyable lunch. To get things started, the server comes to your table with a basket of three different kinds of fresh hot bread and rolls to choose from with homemade butter. Heaven! I chose the vegetarian burger that comes on a whole wheat bun. It also comes with either salt and pepper chips or a cup of soup. I had the soup, which was a puree of bacon, potato and asparagus. It was fabulous. Sophia had the chicken salad salad served on a bed of arugula. It wasn't too mayonnaisey, so she really liked it. The iced tea at Madison's, as expected, is first class. Service was attentive and personable. It is such a beautiful dining room - the low ceiling surprisingly creates an intimate environment. Madison's is open every day of the year, a real plus since many of the fine dining restaurants in Highlands are closed for part of the winter months. Overall, it's hard not to give this restaurant five stars. The food, the setting, the service are all top notch. Thank you, Old Edwards Inn, for setting the bar high for other restaurants here. read more

Very pleasant setting Solid staff Great food The wait staff and kitchen team are helpful with what is gluten free or can be made gluten free read more

I decided to take a different route to Cashiers and glad I did. I stumbled across this place and so glad I did. Was greeted very nicely they walked me to my table. Mind you they were Super polite and courteous. I ordered the fish n chips sweet tea. They brought me bread different types that were all good. Got my food and very pleased most specially the hush puppies were pimento cheese flavored and as a first time having that ,I highly recommend it and I'll be going back taking friends. read more