How Divine! Brunch at Madison and Vine

By: Finance Foodie 

As the last days of the hot summer weather slowly trickle away, the Mister and I find ourselves determined to do as much open patio brunching as possible. However, feeling lazy this past Saturday after a week of work travel, we wanted something close to our 'hood (Midtown East). Luckily, we stumbled upon Madison and Vine, a cute and cozy American bistro located on the bottom floor of the Library Hotel.

Exterior

Located on one of the few quiet corners of the busy Midtown East financial district, Madison and Vine was a welcoming sight with its warm wood paneling and, most importantly, retractable garage windows that allowed for outdoor seating. After we were seated, we were welcomed with a complementary pastry from the bread basket being whisked through the resto -- mmm, what a delightful start!

Complementary Carbs

I was tempted to take advantage of the all-you-care to drink Brunch Special ($20 gets you two hours of unlimited mimosas, bloody marys and screwdrivers), but unfortunately, the practical side of me knew this option would not end well if I wanted to have a productive rest of the day. Therefore, the Mister and I exhibited restraint and each ordered one of Madison and Vine's delightfully refreshing freshly muddled/squeezed Blueberry Lemonade cocktails ($15).

Blueberry-Thyme Cocktails

For our main course, we wanted something sweet and savory, so we shared the Brioche French Toast ($12) and the award winning Vine Burger ($19). The French Toast, although fairly standard breakfast fare, was very well prepared and delicious. I especially liked the use of the brioche bread versus a standard white bread - the brioche's eggyness and high butter content really made the dish rich and soft like a pillow.

Brioche French Toast

However, the Vine Burger was the standout item of the meal for me. The thick, juicy sirloin meat patty was melt in your mouth tender and the distinctive tasting Gruyere cheese provided a nice nutty undertone to each bite. Even the fries were yummy - lightly seasoned with herbs, imagine eating McDonald's version, but more refined and better quality.

Vine Burger

Madison and Vine is a classy yet low key place for brunch. The portions are more than generous - for both the food and drinks. Given that I'm only a quick jaunt away, I'm looking forward to popping in and checking out the rest of the fantastic looking menu soon!

Madison and Vine
299 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10017
(212) 867-5535
hospitalityholdings.com/#/establishments/madison_and_vine
Cuisine: American