Meson Madrid Restaurant

Reviews

• Turtle M.

  star star star star star 19 July 2026

  I like this place, the lobsters are amazingly tasty, great environment, and very cheap price compare with other lobster restaurants, discount deals on Mondays and Tuesdays, just wonderful.
  
  The waiters can be more energetic though, they seem like they all got high in the parking lot then got to work, kinda lifeless.

• Harris C.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 16 July 2026

  I last came here 13 years ago. Today I was driving back to NY and remembered Meson Madrid being this vibrant, energetic Spanish restaurant with to die for Clams in Green sauce (which I'd graciously dip the chips into back then).
  
  I couldn't help but call up to make a reservation and stop by. Check it:
  
  Ambience: 3/10 Place was dead. Run down, dirty, and nothing like it used to be. I didn't even need a reservation bc there were only 5 other tables seated around me at 8pm on a Friday evening.
  
  Service: 10/10. My waiter was energetic, and enthusiastic. He came to our table multiple times throughout our meal to check in on us. Kudos to him for making our experience so much better than it otherwise would have been.
  
  Food: What a disappointment. Raw clams on the half shell filled with dirty and sand. Clams in green sauce, came out cold and again filled with sand. I had to spit out two of them.
  
  Paella was ok.. shrimp and scallops were the type from a frozen bag you'd get from the supermarket and the chicken within was so dry I had to spit it out.
  
  And my hendricks martini... I can't pin point what it was they mixed inside but it just tasted so off. They either didn't use good vermouth, or they didn't use it at all. I drink martinis all the time, and this was the first time I'd taken two sips and put it down.
  
  So here's the thing: I don't know if it's my palette that has changed over the years, or perhaps my expectations from a restaurant. I'm inclined to believe that this place has gone severely downhill since the early 2000s. So sad, but perhaps this review can help them steer the ship back in the right direction.
  
  For an $80 bill with two drinks, two appetizers, and a main, I think the price was not bad at all. I wouldn't return though until I knew for certain they've improved.
  
  Verdict: If you come here with low expectations for a relatively cost efficient meal, you'll enjoy it. If you come here expecting what Meson once was before, you'll be deeply disappointed :/ Cheers

• MT C.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 8 July 2026

  (-) Needs a DEEP clean and to rework their recipes
  (+) Manager & Catering Manager very nice and accommodating
  
  Overall:
  Used to be better in quality, but seems pretty run down with the food and facility.  We celebrated a birthday here on a Thursday night and the place was dead.  What was terrible was the smell and dirtiness- seems like they have never cleaned carpets and the wood paneling holds the food and smoke smells (that's how old and unclean it is-- we haven't had smoking in restaurants in NJ for years it still lingers here).  We were in a private event room and the carpet was DISGUSTING! It was so dirty that your shoes felt sticky when you walked on it.  The food was BLAND at EVERY course. We had an event menu, which offered a lot of choices, but everything tasted sub-par compared to the many Spanish restaurants in the North NJ area.  The calamari was rubbery and greasy, the mussels marinara were bland, the chorizo didn't have that nice rich red color or pimenton flavor, the penne vodka was so mushy and bland (why serve this at a Spanish restaurant?!?), the rice is terrible, and shrimp in garlic sauce were terrible!  Undercooked, under seasoned, watery, and had no garlic taste at all.. I'm guessing they were frozen shrimp too.  If you can't nail gambas al ajillo at a Spanish restaurant, you really have to evaluate why you are in business- that's such a classic that you just can't get wrong. It's embarrassing to Spain. I was pretty embarrassed to have close friends and family from out to of town come here, but in the end the guest of honor was happy so that's what counts.  I, however, will not be returning.
  
  What happened here??? It's always been kind of dingy but the at least the food was decent.

• Jena M.

  star star star star_border star_border 25 June 2026

  Hearty portions of Spanish food & sangria in an old-world lodge like space with lofty ceilings.
  
  I honestly believe they need to update the decor in here. I have been a resident my whole life and I am unsure if it has ever changed. I have my ups and downs for this restaurant.
  
  I came here for a lunch in on Wednesday. We were served salad, pasta, a choice of an entree and flan caramel custard with ice cream for dessert. I ordered the Sirloin steak that came with caramelized onions and string beans.
  
  I do agree with some previous reviews. The steak did not come out hot nor cold. It tasted like it was sitting out for a little. Although the temperature was off, they did cook my steak as asked (medium rare). My boyfriend ordered the Paella which I believe was the way to go here. The rice was delicious mixed with the meats and seafood served with it.
  
  The white sangria was completely off. My cousin asked me to try it, I ate salt. Yes, ate salt. I asked the waiter to remake it. I assumed maybe they mistakenly put salt instead of sugar? Unfortunately, it came out this way again, but less salty. It was strange.
  
  They have a lot to choose from the menu. I would love to try this place again.

• Gloria A.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 24 June 2026

  Food was ok but isn't worth the high prices they ask, I went over 30 years ago, several times, it was great. Now it's disappointing. Not worth it anymore.