Madison on Park serves Mediterranean-inspired fare and elegant cocktails in this modern, airy University Heights hangout, complete with arched vaulted ceilings, cedar-wood walls with bold, geometric designs and indoor/outdoor seating.

Madison on Park is in the University Heights neighborhood of San Diego.  The area is filled with a number of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and artist studios primarily on Park Boulevard and Adams Avenue. I love to go to Madison during the day so we can appreciate the sunlight.  It's like dining outside, but yet you're still inside.   It's also nice to sit here on a nice warm summer night and look at the stars above you.  We were a little chilly when we went for dinner, so you may want to take a jacket. They do have heaters though. 

There is big competition for weekend brunch in San Diego, but I'm not sure everyone is aware Madison serves a great brunch.  Normally, there is a wait for weekend brunch anywhere in San Diego, but we were able to walk right in on a Saturday around noon.   Perhaps it was just the weekend we went, or perhaps brunch just hasn't caught on yet here. I still recommend to make reservations though.  From the service to the food, drinks and atmosphere, it was everything you want out of brunch.  Nick ordered the Papas Locas which was scrambled eggs and jack cheese served with potatoes, pinto beans, chicken and pico de gallo, with sides of avocado sauce, hot sauce and Mexican creme.  It also came with flour tortillas.  Everything was cooked to perfection.  On this visit, I was looking for a sandwich so I ordered the Blondie.  It was roast turkey, bacon, swiss, guacamole and tomato grilled on seeded sourdough and served with a side salad.  So good, so refreshing. 

I love that the menu at Madison offers several healthy, but very tasty options. On our most recent visit I chose the shish kabob which came with marinated chicken, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes.  This was served with a side salad, green rice and an amazing hot pepper yogurt.  The yogurt was served on the side and was perfect for dipping my chicken and vegetables to give it a bit of a kick.  It reminded me of a spicy tzatziki sauce. We also ordered the shrimp spinach fettuccini which was an excellent pasta dish. Other menu options range from salmon skewers, vegetable ravioli, pork chops, and a burger. 

One of our brunch requirements is they have to serve a latte.  And they certainly have good lattes at Madison.  But Madison is really known for their craft cocktails and they offer an array of drinks that range from tequila to vodka and rum.  On our most recent visit we unknowingly ordered the two most exotic drinks on the menu.  The "Any Port in a Storm" comes with Jamaican Rum, Port House Avocado Pit Orgeat, Angostura and a dash of Absinthe.  It is served in a tiki glass garnished with mint, an orchid, cherry, lime and lit on fire before serving.  It was quite a show (photo at the bottom of page).  The other drink we ordered was also beautiful, even though it was not served with a flame.  We ordered the "Clarified Vegan Milk Punch" which had three different rums, Spiced Pear Brandy, Campari, Passion Fruit Ginger Syrup, Pineapple, Lime, Coconut White Balsamic, Creole Bitters, and Almond Milk Fat Wash.  I never heard of most of those ingredients, but it was pretty amazing.  The drink was completely clear and served in a glass fish bowl.  All of this for only $14.  But one drink is enough.