Madison Crossing Lounge — Restaurant in West Yellowstone

What a tourist-trap dump. Dismal Houlihan's level cuisine with silly price tags. Service was abysmal too. We had bison nachos, elk jalapeño poppers, trout cakes, and bison sirloin. With the sole exception of the elk, each item indicated clearly the chef had no idea how to cook, nor had any interest in doing so. Think TV dinner crossed with airplane food. The trout was doused in out-of-the-bottle chipotle sauce, a concept that could only have been dreamed up by someone who had a personal animus towards the delicate fish. The bison nachos were a joke, arriving first with zero meat on the plate, then afterwards the same plate reappeared, with the cheese congealed in a microwaved mess over fossilized nacho chips, and a few mangy scraps of ground meat floating indeterminately on top. The sirloin, which the waiter touted as the best dish on the menu, was overpriced and flavorless. Where it should've been a rich ruby (it was requested medium rare), it was an ominous blue, indicating the meat had been hanging out for way too long, but without any of the flavor of aged meat. The sole surprising exception was the elk poppers; I'm not normally a jalapeño popper fan, but for some reason, the elk flavor managed to survive and even achieve an interesting symbiosis with the pepper. Having said that, one good item out of four means this is a major thumbs down, and that was augmented by the fact that the waiter first dumped the meatless nachos on the table, then whisked it back to the kitchen, piled every other dish back, including the sirloin, which the waiter deposited with the comment, "oh, this is exactly what we didn't want to happen," (we had emphasized we wanted the nachos first, then the apps, then the sirloin) and then thrust the re microwaved nachos on top of them all. So we had a table filled with flavorless, cooling food - to which was added the check a few minutes later, as the waiter obviously was rushing to turn the table for another customer. Fine by me - I couldn't wait to get out - but it was a good indicator of the general revolving door approach to every aspect of the meal. There are Chinese restaurants right across the street that serve elk and bison stir-fried, which I'm guessing are a million miles better. They certainly couldn't be worse. This place has such a constant tourist flow, this review will probably not impact as it should, but if you happen to see this review, hopefully you may sidestep an expensive...

5/5 Stars: A Culinary Gem in West Yellowstone - Madison Crossing Lounge

I recently dined at the Madison Crossing Lounge in West Yellowstone, and it was truly an amazing experience! As a vegetarian, I was thrilled to find a menu that catered to my dietary preferences, and the food exceeded my expectations.

Highlights:

Heirloom Tomatoes Confit: This dish was a game-changer! The flavors were rich and intense, and the presentation was beautiful. The heirloom tomatoes were perfectly cooked, and the confit added a depth of flavor that complemented the dish perfectly. Kids' Chicken Combo: My kids raved about their meal, and I could see why. The chicken was cooked to perfection, and the combo included a variety of sides that added to the overall value. Cheese & Pesto Ravioli (Vegetarian): This dish was a standout, and I was impressed by the flavors and texture. The ravioli was cooked al dente, and the cheese and pesto sauce were perfectly balanced.

Service:

The service was attentive and friendly, with our server knowledgeable about the menu and happy to make recommendations.

Ambiance:

The lounge has a cozy atmosphere, with comfortable seating and a warm decor that makes you feel right at home.

Overall Experience:

The Madison Crossing Lounge exceeded my expectations in every way. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was welcoming. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting West Yellowstone, especially vegetarians who might find it challenging to find suitable options.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Tips:

Be sure to try the heirloom tomatoes confit - it's a must! The kids' menu is a great value, and the portions are generous. If you're a vegetarian, don't hesitate to ask about the cheese and pesto ravioli - it's...

We came in for a family dinner, based on a recommendation that this was a nicer restaurant in town. We were informed that there was a 50 minute waitlist, so we walked around the nearby shops and spent 45 minutes doing so. When we returned, we were still on the waitlist and watched the app and saw that there were parties of 6,3,2, and 2 that were seated prior to us even though they waited only between 10-38 minutes. We were finally seated after an hour and eight minutes of waiting. Our server took eight minutes to come to our table and we ordered the trout cakes as an appetizer and a glass of Prosecco. When she returned to take our dinner order, she informed us that they were out of the Elk rack that my husband wanted to order. She explained that our appetizer would be out within five minutes as my husband relooked at the menu. It took another ten minutes after that for them to come out and she rushed off while he asked for a glass of wine. My glass was empty and she didn’t ask if I’d like another. Another server brought his wine and I waited for another ten minutes and finally had to go to the bar to ask for my own wine for my dinner. 3/4 has the chicken and prosciutto pasta. It tasted as though it was made out of full peppercorns and was quite spicy. When she returned to inquire about our dinner, I was still trying to eat and nodded side to side as if so so, and she walked off quickly and did not ask for my response. At this point, I was extremely dissatisfied with our wait, our service, and the food. While my husband and son proceeded to order desert, I walked outside because I was disappointed and when it arrived, it came with one spoon and she didn’t inquire if anyone else would like a utensil. This dinner was supposed to be amazing but was very...