I've lowered my ranking to 2-stars (maybe 2.5) after several subsequent mediocre experiences. We won't be going back to our neighborhood pub unless we're desperate (everywhere else is packed, we're super hungry).
The food at Madrona Arms is highly variable, between really poor, and reasonably good. But getting something mediocre is all too common, and I've given up on playing the game of kitchen roulette.
The last time we were there, the chicken in my Chicken Marsala was nearly raw (pink inside, uncooked). I sent it back. The second time I got two pieces of chicken, one course and chewy (cooked but of poor quality), and the other of middling quality.
We've had some good things here: The crab cakes, mussels, grilled salmon on spinach salad, the fish in the fish & chips, the whisky crab soup.
OK, but not great: the French fries, the mashed potatoes with too much cheese, the non-standard Caesar salad, the risotto, the soup of the day.
Things that haven't been good: Anything with chicken (total crap-shoot on quality), the Reuben (don't like their greasy corned beef).
Details below, but sad to say, we won't be going back anytime soon. We really wanted to like our neighborhood pub, but food quality (or lack thereof) - both with ingredients and preparation, is a deal breaker for us.
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The ambiance is Irish Pub / Football (soccer), and there's an emphasis on nominally Irish pub food including bangers and mash, corned beef and cabbage, etc. While there are a few lighter dishes (salmon risotto, mussels, salads), most of the fare is pretty heavy, which is to say high calorie and focused on meat, cheese, pizza and fried items. And it probably goes without saying, but the beer list is extensive and good. The new flooring is a hard surface, and it makes the space much louder. For folks with hearing issues, it's problematic (too much reflected sound), but most folks didn't mind at all. The beer and the sports on TV are great, and the live music on a Friday night is nice. The staff is settling in and getting friendlier.
And now, on to the main item - the food: the prices are reasonable and the quality is varied (some items are good, some are so-so, some just poor). Below I give a rundown of the dishes I've tried.
The mussels are really good - with a lightly spicy tomato broth. The Caesar salad is a good salad (I got mine with salmon on top) - but is basically a romaine salad with feta and not a traditional Caesar. Instead of anchovies, egg yolk, garlic, lemon, dijon mustard and parmesan, that you'd find in a traditional Caesar salad, there's feta and a non-traditional dressing. The grilled salmon was great and cooked to perfection. (N.B. if you want a traditional Caesar, go across the street to Saint Cloud's). The Chicken Marsala is drowning in sauce (almost like soup), and the chicken was of very poor quality (and the first time, way undercooked).
The presentation of the spinach salad with chicken was wonderful with the grilled chicken sliced and grouped, the pear slices in a fan, the tomato slices to the side. The salad part was good (spinach, feta crumbles, dressing flavor). The bacon was great and done just right, the pear slices ripe and very tasty. On the other hand, the tomato was completely lacking in flavor, and the chicken was a disappointment - I'd get either the Caesar or spinach salads with salmon on top (really good, cooked to perfection) and avoid the chicken (good grilling on the outside, but watery, salty and poor texture inside - like processed chicken tenders) .
The Reuben sandwich had all the right fixings, with a good dressing, sauerkraut (or is it cabbage) and good bread, but the corned beef itself was greasy and not great. The black bean burger is OK but nothing special.
The fish component of the fish & chips was really good (top notch), but the fries not so good - they appear to be frozen potatoes and overly crispy, and were just not great (next time I may substitute a salad, though a pub really should have good fries). The flat iron steak continues to underwhelm - while well-seasoned, the meat is tough and poor quality - I'd avoid this item (FYI, for good steak and fries, go down the street to Red Cow). Also, I could do without the cheese on the mashed potatoes.
The Whiskey crab soup is quite good - not much crab but good flavor and a bit spicy (which I like). Last time I tried it, it could have used less salt (actually that applies to most things on the menu).
Generally, the sides are blah - the potato salad had excessive amounts of mayo (or whatever the sauce is), while the coleslaw was standard and bland. The beers and drinks are good - the iced tea was fresh brewed and tasty. They have a good selection of beers, which is now on a darker screen and much less intrusive. For wine drinkers, there's a reasonable selection, though this is not the emphasis of the pub.
My ranking for this restaurant has plummeted, for cause. read more