Madsen

I went to Madsen with my partner and another couple last night and I was really impressed by this little new restaurant.

We hadn't booked and we didn't know that they were serving a Christmas buffet. I soon realised that 95% of the food was fish or meat (mainly fish), but the waitress was really helpful and managed to bring me a veggie main in no time. The friendliness of the staff is definitely a rare gem in London restaurants.

Will go again to try the a la carte menu.
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Francesco Marasco
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 7
Saturday, December 13, 2008

I have been to Madsen already a couple of times. The decor is sleek and neat with splashes of red, very Danish; I don't understand the comments about it being "bland" - if you want dark wood and gold-framed mirrors you should not go to a Nordic place! And I love the red blankets for the outside tables - heaters are hideous and do not keep you warm anyway. I am not a great expert on Danish food but I have tried both the pork belly and the cod and they were both delicious - as was the bread. The potato salad is divine - I could live just eating that! The chocolate fondant was the perfect finishing on both occasions - so rich and creamy that my girlfriend is still dreaming about it.

A lot of wines on the list are available by the glass in case you do not want to get a bottle, and also the espresso is faultless. The service was very warm and all the waitresses so smiley, it made a welcome change from the rude service you get in London on many occasions. I have heard high praise for their Sunday brunch buffet from some Scandinavian friends so I will definitely try that.
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A Gentleman from Verona
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, December 01, 2008

Came here on today for the Smörgåsbord or in Danish, Det Kolde Bord. This is basically a buffet with traditional warm and cold dishes.

Although the whole experience was not entirely life changing it was wholeheartedly satisfying nonetheless. I daresay that the best way to sum up this type of cuisine is the perceived blandness of its dishes consistently elates the taste buds and you’ll want more every time.

No service charge! Thanks Madsen.
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bellaphon
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, November 16, 2008

I went to Madsen for lunch with a couple of friends. Having gone to the brilliant Lundum's (that is now closed) for years, we hoped that we had found a replacement. This was sadly not the case. The open sandwiches were very small and considering the size of the portions way too expensive. The meatballs were great though. The restaurant was not heated and the atmosphere and decor was very cold. The furniture looked like IKEA. During our lunch the owner and a friend were carrying big boxes and IKEA bags through the restaurant (and not the back door).

However, the service was great and if you are going for meatballs, this restaurant is recommended.
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Christina
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 1
Friday, November 14, 2008

I cannot believe the first review.. Obviously someone who doesn't know Danish food, which is what this is,. Not Scandinavian or Swedish, but Danish. And Madsen is such a gem, great service, lovely simplistic Danish design, and really well made food (which most of the time will do best with beer and snaps and not wine) with a proper authentic Danish taste.

If that is not to your liking then do not go to Madsen. It is slightly exotic, but take if from a real Dane, it is the real thing.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, November 13, 2008

I love Madsen! Simple as that. I cannot believe the review below - do not even read it - it is rubbish! I have worked in food/wine business all my life and I can say that Madsen is great. The decor is simply but very stylish, the atmosphere is relaxing and warm, the menu is delicious (try the mushrooms on rye, potatoe salad (the best -wow!) or the meatballs-divine), the wine list is very appropriate with the food menu and I would know as I have been importing/exporting wine from all over the world...basically, dining at Madsen has been a pure pleasure. I have been 4times now and everytime I bring different set of friends or clients and everyone gives superb reviews. I hope you can take the time and find out for yourselves as it is seriously a great restaurant and fantastic dining experience unlike Mr Lopez no experienced, closed mind. Now go on and book a table!
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N. Pierre - White
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, November 10, 2008

A group of friends - eight of us - went to have dinner at Madsen’s last night, October 29th. I must state from the beginning that when I go out to eat, food is the first and foremost consideration, followed by the comfort and warmth of the place. I abhor trendy places which offer a “dining experience”, with waiters all in black and plates the size of a football field with a tiny bit of piled up food in their centre, surrounded by sauce drops artistically scattered à la Jackson Pollock. In some cases, less is more. But - in my opinion - more is definitely much more.

One of the reasons for going to Madsen’s is that it is supposed to be Scandinavian and, having lived in Sweden and being well acquainted with Denmark, I happen to love Scandinavian food.

The restaurant has all the traits of a minimalist restaurant: bare tables without a tablecloth, basic seating, cold ambient light and brick walls with nothing on them but the odd small mirror. One of the people in the group said that it felt “like eating at a school cafeteria”. The menu was the first surprise: not Scandinavian at all, but what is generally described as “contemporary European food”, i.e., the same as is offered by a zillion pretentious and boring restaurants. I must admit that the food - slow roasted loin of pork, scallops, plaice were some of the things we had - was quite decent. The portions, however, confirmed the minimalist approach: they were minimal. Price are reasonable, although the fact that one gets such small portions detracts a little bit from the reasonableness of the prices.

The wine list is short and not too good. We were advised to have an Italian wine that the whole group hated, followed by a French one that was slightly better. They should really re-examine their wine list. The bread was excellent and the puddings, although once again small, were good.

The best thing was our waitress, a young Swedish girl that was friendly, smiling and extremely courteous. It is really a pity that the rest did not match her.

All in all, disappointing. I suspect that their fixed price lunches may be much better, when they serve open Danish sandwiches, which are probably far more honest and satisfying. I don’t think I’ll be going back.
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S. Puigrefagut Lopez
Overall rating
Food 5 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Friday, October 31, 2008