Towne Tavern

3.98/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3 | food: 4.5

The Madison is located in a 1920s building in the working class town of Riverside. There are few locations in Riverside that equate to good food and good beer, but the Madison has become one. The new owners basically gutted the inside of the place, finishing it with natural blonde wood (I don't know much about interior decorating, but my wife tells me it is classy.), and re-opened as a martini bar. That's what first attracted my attention since I love a good martini.

I still start off with a martini most nights, but the Madison has slowly built its beer selection to the point where it is becoming exciting. Customers such as myself are lobbying them for additions and replacements. They now have only one real macro on tap, Ultra, which the owner tells me sells really well with all the carbophobics. There are others that are just a step above such as Guiness, Bass, and Stella. Then they have the always present Yuengling Lager, a Flying Fish, two Hacker-Pschorr, and Warsteiner Dunkel. They change these often enough that there is a nice variety. They have a few decent bottles with the best being Fransikaner Hefeweizen.

The real draw here, though, is the food. Everything is great. They have some great burgers, roast pork sandwiches, etc. But they also have Prime Rib, Lobster specials, good crab cakes, excellent onion soup and chili, and lamb lollipops, which are excellent little lamb chops. There are at least three specials every day as well as two soups of the day and veggie specials.

This is my Friday night eating and drinking spot so if you're in the area, drop in. I will probably have my beer advocate cap on.

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