You'll Be Delighted When You Visit Madison, One Of New Jersey's Best Towns To Live, Work, And Dine
By Kristen|Published December 18, 2019
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Kristen
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Kristen is a writer, editor, and social media maven who loves her state. Born and raised in New Jersey, sharing all it has to offer is her passion. After attending Montclair State University, she continued her education online, obtaining certifications in social media management.
You’ll be delighted to visit Madison, New Jersey and I hope you’ll be delighted with our delightful new spotlight series! Focused on food but featuring all sorts of interesting info, we’ll cover a wide variety of New Jersey towns all recommended/requested by readers. First up is a Morris County town that was selected by New Jersey Monthly as one of the Garden State’s best places to live in 2019. Reasons included the school system, safety, and desirable homes.
Luckily, you don’t need to live in Madison to love it. It’s a fantastic town for foodies, and offers several noteworthy attractions. But first, a little history… Nicknamed ‘The Rose City,’ Madison once had a thriving rose-growing operation. The town is home to a portion of ‘Millionaire’s Row,” a stretch of lavish homes that runs from Madison to Morristown, running along the Morris and Essex train lines. Home to nearly 16,000 residents, it packs some fantastic restaurants in its 4.2 square miles. Today, we feature five favorites.
Many of Madison's best restaurants are located in the walkable downtown neighborhood. There are so many worth visiting but we have to start with Shanghai Jazz Restaurant & Bar.
One of the best jazz bars in the U.S., they've also got a magnificent menu. You'll find a sizable selection of Asian fusion dishes including dim sum, sushi, spare ribs, Thai shrimp, tofu, and filet mignon. The Firecracker Beef and Carmen Miranda Pineapple are favorites. When it comes to desserts, try the sampler and as for drinks, the Nat King Cole Mai Tai and Satchmo Sour are popular picks.
Then, there's the jazz! Enjoy live music most nights of the year. Some shows require reservations, so be sure to reach out. Open Tuesday - Sunday, the space can be rented for private events on Mondays.
Daddy Matty's is a casual BBQ restaurant on a mission. They've got good food and their motto is 'Everyone Eats.'
Your meals help support community members in need. Daddy Matty's keeps everyone fed by donating to the Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry. This spot is family-friendly, offers takeout meals, and has a menu loaded with BBQ staples like pulled pork, beef brisket, chili, and smoked chicken wings. To drink, enjoy sweet tea or BYOB! While currently closed for the winter, they do offer catering and event space rentals.
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Dine in or take out at nahm, a Thai restaurant with a French twist.
This eatery serves lunch and dinner but notes on their website that a Sunday brunch is coming soon. Currently, you'll find a varied menu including fried rice, noodles, curry, crab rangoon, soup, a spectacular mango salad, Bangkok jumbo shrimp, and steak au poive. BYOB but be aware that this restaurant is closed on Mondays.
As the name implies, this is a sandwich spot where everything is made from scratch. You'll love the fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and home-cured pastrami. There are over a dozen sandwiches to choose from, including breakfast sandwiches, but we love that you can build your own. Create the sandwich, or burger, of your dreams! Choose your breads, proteins, condiments, and cheeses. I think roasted turkey would work well with Swiss cheese, and sriracha aoili! They also offer entire dinners - a different meal each day of the week (Tuesday - Friday). It's important to note that this restaurant (like several others) is closed on Mondays.
For fine Italian eats and a top-notch wine selection, head to L'allegria.
Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, this eatery was selected as a top wine restaurant by Wine Spectator in 2017. They've got plenty of pasta options, gourmet pizzas, seafood, steak, pork, veal, and more. It's an authentic old-school Italian spot that's perfect for date night or a day out with friends.
Transitioning from food to fun, you'll find Healthy Italia - La Buona Cocina.
Part gourmet Italian market and part cooking school, this is a must-visit destination for foodies. You'll find everything from pasta workshops to family-friendly 'cooking with the kids' classes. Learn to make healthy and delicious meals, try fun vegetarian dishes, and get cooking tips from the talented Dina Deleasa-Gonsar. The food blogger and Home & Family's 'best home cook' is offering a Christmas class on 12/20 but if you're already booked tonight, check out her class on January 23rd. It's BYOB and you'll enjoy Zucchini Rollatini, Chicken Milanese, and more. Be sure to book classes in advance.
Then, there's the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, which is housed in a gorgeous historic building.
It allows visitors to explore American history, with a focus on 18th and 19th century artisans and craftsmen. You'll discover the technology used to make everything from cabinets to shoes and booze while learning about traditions, tools, and trade secrets. It's an absolutely fascinating place with a sizable collection of temporary and permanent exhibits. Admission is just $5 for adults, numerous discounts are available, and the family maximum rate is $15. The museum is closed Mondays all year and Sundays in July and August.
This is only a spotlight, there’s so much more to see. Other popular restaurants include Blue Wazabi (contemporary Japanese and Pan-Asian cuisine), CENTRAL + MAIN (mouthwatering American eats and comfort food favorites), and Grillera (delicious Mediterranean fare). You may also want to check out The Chatham Bookseller for rare, used, and out-of-print books, and Drew University’s F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre. It is home to the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, one of America’s longest-running professional Shakespeare companies.
Have you been to Madison? What do you think of it? Share your favorite restaurants and attractions with us and be sure to let me know what towns you’d like to be featured next. I do have a few in mind that readers have asked for over the years…Ridgewood, Montclair, Haddonfield, and Mount Holly, for starters. Of course, New Jersey is home to many charming small towns and incredible cities. I can’t wait to discover them all.
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