Redux

Redux in Madison, the latest effort by the owner of the old Resto/Rob’s Bistro combination, aims high but falls short. It’s trendy, and it aspires to be urban-​edgy, but at the end of the day Redux leaves the same impression as a likeable but uncool kid who tries too hard to be something that he or she is not.
On the plus side, the food is well prepared; the dining room is understated, bright, and tastefully done (as opposed to the boarding school meets Army mess hall décor of Rob’s Bistro); and the wine policy is BYOB.
The negatives include eager, friendly, but amateurish service (note to staff: don’t wait to be asked to describe the specials, and please provide a cooler for white wine); a tendency to under-​season most dishes; and a scattershot, meat-​heavy range of offerings that makes it difficult to put together a harmonious dinner.
Unfortunately, one theme that does run through the menu is an unfavorable value-​for-​money trade-​off. Plainly put, Redux is overpriced. Here’s how. The offerings are arranged in four categories: meats and cheeses; bites; small plates, and; plates. The portions range from microscopic to small, and the impression is that the menu is designed to produce as large a tab as the traffic will bear. That’s not to say that the food isn’t (generally) good; it is. But the experience doesn’t match the final bill. It’s too expensive to be a regular «go to» place, and it’s not quite up to being a destination restaurant.

Redux in Madison was a culinary experience! First, we sat at the chefs counter where the highly skilled chefs were entertaining and engaged with the guests. The kitchen is immaculate! The food was beyond words. The tastiest combinations I’ve ever experienced. Reasonably priced for such fresh foods. I can’t wait to go back for the rock shrimp and chicken confit. I loved the personality of the restaurant. Warm and inviting.

So my husband knows I love to watch the action in the kitchen… he scored big brownie points bringing me here! When you make a reservation make sure you ask for the counter because not only do you get to watch everything very up close… but the chefs themselves take your order, talk to you about the food or anything else you may want to chat about! It’s better then a chefs table.
We like to try a little of everything so this was nice because you could do large dinner size plates or try lots of little plates which is what we opted for.
Some of the things we love are the truffle popcorn was not doused in truffle oil, so it was a nice subtle taste, Brussel sprouts. you had me at pancetta… Disco fries… MUST TRY… the cheese on top was so soft and creamy it just set off the rich gravy perfectly.
We didn’t have enough room in our bellies to try dessert, but there is always next time… Bravo chef and staff for a wonderful experience!!!
I did see someone mentioned that their dessert was awful, hey Unilocalers… if you get a bad dish, do you ever ask to see the manager and explain it wasn’t so good? I rarely see anyone on here say they did. Sometimes the manager or chef may not be aware a dish went out that was bad and how can they correct the problem of they don’t know about it… give management a chance to fix an error before taking to the keyboard, they will thank you and chances are the problem will be fixed immediately and you’ll get the delicious dish you were hoping for! Happy eating!

A very eclectic place middle of Madison, a new american genre with a french influence.
We went in a group of three and most of us couldn’t make out from the menu.
Ordered a plate of disco fries and Brussel sprouts followed by chicken confit and a fm white fish dish which was hard to pronounce.
Overall the food was good but obviously pricey and the portion sizes are tiny so do not expect to have leftovers or sharing the food with your partner.
A nice new addition to Madison, which is highly popular so ensure getting a reservation way ahead especially for weekends.
I did stop by the market place but wasn’t as impressed with the selection of meats and cheese.

This is something different, and a welcome venue in Madison. Very good overall. Small plates. We ordered Manchego cheese (my one complaint is that the cheese was served in a large block, with no thought as to how to cut it… we had to ask, and were given a steak knife to wrestle with the hard cheese), Serrano ham, vanilla gravalax — this was very interesting, smoked rock shrimp — this the standout item for us — really different and delicious, oysters, lamb risotto, and for dessert mango sorbet and dark chocolate mousse.
The small plates were nice, and allow for sharing and trying several items in one meal.
The service is not polished, and a bit disappointing, considering the menu and prices.
We will go back.

I came here on Dec. 27 with a large group of 10 for my birthday. We sat at the chef’s counter. Everything was awesome. The atmosphere, the food, everything. The chef’s are very interactive and you can walk around and mingle with your group while they are preparing food, and pass dishes around to share. I think we pretty much ordered one of everything so I don’t have a specific recommendation on what to order, but everything was delicious. If you have a large group, just order a bunch of stuff and mix it up. I will definitely be back. One of the best restaurants I’ve been to this year (and I’ve been to a lot) and probably the best first time experience I’ve had for a new restaurant. Also, BYOB!

This is my new favorite place. We did frequent Rob’s bistro and when it closed, I was very disappointed. This is my first experience at a chef’s table. Totally recommend it… Rob and Mike were outstanding. I was a little concerned that when we first got there, the chef’s table didn’t seem as though we would be able to engage in conversation. Was I surprised… Mike and Rob showed us everything that they were preparing and engaged in fantastic conversation. When I got home, I immediately texted friends to tell them that this was a must on their list of fantastic restaurants.

Absolutely amazing. Chef Rob and Michael served us up a wonderful meal. Everything was amazing specifically the shrimp, discos fries, beet salad wrap, and Meyer ice cream sandwich. All so innovative and interesting. Will definitely be back soon!!!

I went to Redux last night for the first time, and I was so impressed… We sat at the Chef’s Table — which was such a unique experience. Rob and Mike were great hosts… They made us feel as if we were old friends, and they just happened to be cooking us dinner.
The food was amazing. Each dish was carefully prepared — you could tell how passionate Rob and Mike are about their craft. The flatbread was excellent… So simple yet so tasty! Next we ordered the Disco Fries and the Rock Shrimp. Best shrimp I’ve ever had and the fries were awesome… For entrees we got the Flat Iron Steak and the Chicken Confit. Both delicious… I can’t wait to go back…

I liked it but didn’t love it, you’re in for at least $ 30 pp so the $$$ rating is right on the money, that sets some expectations. Expect friendly (if inexperienced) servers, a quiet dining room and a fairly heavy, meat-​focused menu. «Bites» are small at about $ 7, «small plates» are a bit larger at about $ 10, «plates» are about ²⁄₃ entrée size at about $ 20.
Flatbread appears first, light brown crispy thick crackers with a nicely scented EVOO, yummy. While we dithered indecisively we also noshed on disco fries, a small dish of fried potato wedges doused in a yummy brown gravy and with a generous chunk of soft French cheese melting on top, basically a gourmet poutine. It’s a seriously greasy small plate for $ 11. Also a plate of finochietta, $ 6 for a decidedly modest pile of very thinly sliced dried sausage. Oh plus we nibbled on dishes of rock shrimp that had been lightly smoked, that was a nice touch, $ 8 each. So I think we got our tapas on pretty well there lol.
For entrees (oops sorry!) I mean «plates» we sampled the lamb, beef, and the duck pasta. A rack of lamb here is exactly 2 thick chops, they were perfectly pink inside, resting on creamy polenta and extraordinarily dark long thin root vegetables that we finally recognized as carrots, $ 20. We weren’t asked how we wanted the steak, it arrived approximately medium and slathered in béarnaise sauce plus a big heap of spinach and turnips (about the only greens we saw), another $ 20. The pasta came with a soft egg and ricotta on top, stir it together to coat everything, supposedly had some kale in it too but hard to spot, I liked it much more than I expected, $ 18.
Conspicuously missing: bread and salad. No fresh greens on the menu at all. And we needed something to soak up the great scented olive oil not to mention the gravy from those disco fries, the flatbread was pretty much useless for that. Ever try to scoop oil with a tortilla chip? Yeah.
Vegetarian rating: 2 stars, there’s exactly one plate of squash & pasta, a small plate with a beet wrap, and a few veggie bites including popcorn and bistro fries. You could add a bunch of cheeses at $ 6 each, so you’ll find enough for a meal.
We sat in the Redux dining room bcos we wanted to catch up with each other, the chef’s counter (ok sorry, «table») looks cool but you ain’t talking to each other over there. BYO but our servers didn’t offer an ice bucket or anything, maybe that’s still growing pains.

Glad that Rob is back. The menu is interesting creative and very tasty.
The table shared several small plates.
All were very good, especially the beet wraps, crispy Brussels sprouts and shrimp.
Main dishes were well portioned and enjoyable. The chicken confit was crispy and delicious the sauce was a bit salty. When we go back we will focus on the small plates.
Service was excellent.

sooooo… I did not like it when it was Rob’s Bistro and reviewed it accordingly, hence just came home and oh my oh my how things have changed. We rarely eat in Madison because it is not inspired cuisine… Well, not the case with Redux. The Disco fries? which many have given rave reviews. Never eat them in the diner, so I tried them and I would consider these a delicacy, «Guy Fieri» where are you? I hate Brussels sprouts never order them, my husband did, I ate all of them. The cheese plates, amazing, pork belly, bacon, we ate it all. I will definitely go back. You have made an amazing come back. Eat at the chef’s table if possible, very personable chef’s and enjoyable atmosphere.

My one word review of Redux would be «Meh».
Nothing was a standout, each dish (and the service) was slightly disappointing. Nothing was terrible, it was all just okay.
The pickle plate was bland and the chicken confit came with a gravy that tasted like my mother’s (canned).
On a positive note– it’s BYO and the complimentary flatbread was flavorful.

So happy to have Rob back! We loved Rob’s bistro and were so sad when it closed. We made a reservation to sit at the chefs table for our first night at Redux and were so glad we made this call. The dinning room is cozy and relaxing, but there’s no substitute for seeing Rob and Mike working the grill and making great food.
We started off with 2 cheeses and grilled bacon. Perfect salty combo. Next we had the fried Brussels sprouts. Crisp and delicious. Also had disco fries — aaaaaaaaahhhhhhmazing!
For entrees we had the chicken fried chicken and flat iron steak. Both very tasty and well prepared.
Desert was the lemon tart. Salty sweet perfection.
So glad to have fantastic food back in Madison. Can’t wait until our next trip back!

Ok, my review is not ever to be mean. I am a very genuine person so please I am sorry if what I say offends. All it is, is genuine criticism.
Ok, the place is very nice. Look sleek and clean. A tad fancy. I love the ambience, it’s very intimate and oh who ever played indie electro pop was on point. It felt welcoming for someone young like me.
Tonight I was there for the first time for Restaurant week
Appetizers: I got the Mussels… I love mussels and when I got them they were piled kinda high which excited me because I was thinking this was a bigger portion than what I expected. However, the ones on top were dry. I didn’t even realize there was a yummy sauce underneath. So towards the end was when I started to put the sauce on my mussels. Also, the mussels were supposed to have chorizo but I think I only ate a few bits. Once again, they were at the bottom.
Entrée: I ordered the Chicken Fried Chicken which came with a corn bread waffle and topped with gravy. The fried chicken was soooo amazing. Nice and crispy. The chicken was juicy. The chicken was superb. Now, the cornbread waffle was way too dry… I couldn’t even finish the second portion of it. And the gravy should have topped it off but there was no flavor. Like no flavor at all. I kept smothering my chicken in it hoping to taste something but I didn’t taste anything. So I was disappointed in that. Like even salt on the gravy would have made it better.
Dessert: This part was the worst… :-(it was supposed to be a white chocolate mousse and the texture was more of a milkshake. My friend got a chocolate mousse and hers was perfectly puffy like a cloud… it didn’t drip at all on her spoon. So the chocolate mousse is great, but I love white chocolate and I only had 3 scoops and I just couldn’t eat it.
Our waitress was super nice but I did feel like we had to wait for her a lot. Like she seemed to disappear… and the place is small and was not busy.
So, sorry guys but this was a miss for me.

We sat at the chef’s counter and watched in amazement as the talented chefs were able to personalize our experience while cooking for dozens of other people. The quality of food, presentation and the sophisticated menu is what one would expect at a Michelin 3 star restaurant yet the place is warm and inviting and feels like home. I had the Oysters, Foie Gras, Crispy Brussel Sprouts and Prickly Pear sorbet (best sorbet of my life and I never like sorbet). The little market is so cute also and I cannot wait to get some of the food they offer. Definitely going back!

Second time around and no misses. I just love the food here. I love the chefs table (sitting in the kitchen). Chef Rob and sous chef Michael are great hosts. They will walk through the workings of the kitchen and really entertaining. The food is top notch. The disco fries are a most. Just go with your gut and the recommendations and you will have a great time. I can’t wait for my third time.

What a gem. If you’re anywhere near the Madison area definitely give this place a try.
We went in for a birthday weekend dinner and sat at the chefs counter which was a great way to sit in the action and enjoy great food. Seeing rob and mike at work was a cool experience as they had to balance the duties of hosting the roughly 10 guests at the counter as well as bang out tasty dish after tasty dish.
I’ve sat at a few chefs tables before and this was by far the most immersive I’ve experienced. You sit literally 24 inches from the line so right in the thick of it.
It was only week 2 since they opened so you could tell they were still working out some of the flow but it was a packed house and everything was excellent.
Ok now the food. It’s a bunch of assorted small plates which are clearly inspired by Rob’s time spent honing his skills overseas.
We started off with the disco fries which were in a veal gravy and topped with creamy cheese. The wedges were expertly fried and it was all topped off with fresh herbs. It was delicious and not as heavy as one would think when they think disco fries.
Then we had the pork belly which was served with a kohlrabi slaw and ground mustard. It was absolutely delicious. The pork belly was perfectly rendered so that it was tender yet moist and with a great sear on the outside for that delicious pork flavor. When you took a bite with the mustard and slaw it was a perfect mouthful.
The kitchen was a little behind (which I never noticed) and to make up for it rob gave us a plate of the fried baby artichokes on the house. They reminded me of the fried artichokes you find in Rome and if you’ve ever had those that’s a very good thing.
Finally for our mains my wife had the skirt steak with soba noodles which was expertly prepared and delicious. The red miso sauce added an almost tangy flavor akin to the hit of wasabi you get with sushi. Plus the soba noodles were served cold which was a nice contrast in temperatures between the steak and the noodles. In a word delicious.
I had the rigatoni which was absolutely scrumptious. It’s funny because when you get the dish you think eh that’s like a half portion but when you start digging in it’s almost like it’s an endless bowl of pasta. The creamy sauce balanced with the earthiness of the mushrooms and peas and brightened up by the fresh thyme made for a very well conceived dish. One I would gladly eat again. But with so many good choices that won’t happen anytime soon.
To top it all off the place is BYOB which makes it so affordable. Not knowing this we walked in empty handed but were pleasantly surprised when our neighbors at the counter gave us half their bottle of Bordeaux. It was a very generous offer so thank you! We promise to pay it forward.
All this for $ 59 not including tip so incredibly affordable especially given the quality of food and atmosphere. My wife and I were excited to have such a spot that is local. We walked out thinking we spent the evening in jersey city without the 40 min drive, parking, and Manhattan adjacent prices.
As I stated at the beginning what a gem. We loved the place and you will to — definitely give it a look. We will be back.
P. S. They know their cheese and charcuterie and are going to have a store open shortly. It will sell everything from cheese to soup starters to cured meats to fresh cuts (assuming I heard correctly that they will have a butchery on site). This may soon be my home away from home.

This restaurant has struck a chord. I travel frequently but live in Madison. I find The dining scene rather boring and lackluster. Thank the food gods for Redux, a modern American restaurant focused on fresh, local ingredients. I stopped in on Saturday night and sat at the chef’s table. Truly a wonderful experience. We only tried a handful of items, so I cannot wait to come back and taste more.

Redux is new to the Madison area but the owner is not. They previously were the owners of Resto and Robs Bistro. They have not skipped a beat! You would think that there would be opening week hiccups but my wife and I didn’t experience any! Food, service and ambiance were stellar.
I will add more to the review in the upcoming days but all I can say is it’s worth it. Place is small so make sure to make a reservation.