Restaurant Review by Pamela Holz, Tree of Life Center Creative Director and Host of the “Cooking for Life” Show”
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Tucked beside the Hananoki Steakhouse off of Madison Street in Sango, Madison Avenue Bistro is a delightful find. The Bistro shares an entrance and foyer with Hananoki, but while going to the left will put you at a hot seat next to the grill, The Bistro’s dining room is simply yet elegantly welcoming. A beautiful bar lines one wall, and the opposite wall has tables for four along the windows which overlook the patio, where outside dining is available.
Courtesy of Madison Avenue Bistro
The wait staff is appropriately attentive for such a restaurant. Quietly and respectfully, our drink orders were taken. A candle was lit on the table, almost by unseen hands, so unobtrusively it was done. The popular music that was playing in the background was set to a volume that allowed for conversation.
Appetizers are offered: asparagus wrapped beef, bang-bang shrimp, or sushi (an added perk to being connected to a Japanese Sushi and Steakhouse). I ordered the Kentucky Derby roll: Shrimp tempura, spicy crab and cream cheese topped with grilled shrimp and scallops. ($13.95) The artistry of the sushi matched the elegance of the restaurant, and the flavors and textures were delicious: the crunch of the tempura on the delicate sweet shrimp, the mellow scallops that melted in my mouth, and the bit of spice from the crab were offset nicely by the cream cheese.
The entrees arrived not long after we finished the sushi. My dinner companion ordered the special pasta of the day: a linguini dish with lobster and scallops, spinach and tomatoes, with a light wine sauce. The flavors were light and delicate. I ordered the Spicy Glazed Salmon. Beautiful in its presentation, the thick piece of glazed and grilled salmon was on a multi-colored vegetable couscous with a side of lightly grilled asparagus. ($19) It was cooked perfectly, and the tangy-sweet glaze complemented the meaty salmon well.
While the desserts sounded tempting, there was simply no room left to try them. It seems a return visit is in order.
I am delighted to have such a lovely restaurant to recommend to anyone looking for a place to stop by for happy hour with drinks and an appetizer, or to enjoy an evening of fine dining. Madison Avenue Bistro is definitely a plus to the Clarksville Food Scene!
Madison Avenue Bistro
2400 Madison Street, Suite 12
Clarksville, TN 37043
931-645-1660
M-Th: 4pm-9:30pm
F-S: 4pm-10pm
Sunday: Closed
www.madisonavenuebistro.com