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54 Main Bar & Grille
Categories: Restaurants Nightlife Bars Pubs Restaurants, Pubs [Edit]
54 Main StMadison, NJ 07940
(973) 966-0252
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
35 reviews for 54 Main Bar & Grille
Review Highlights
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"Good beer, good food, nice friendly service." In 3 reviews -
"Luckily, happy hour is daily Monday through Friday from 3..." In 5 reviews
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"Do yourself a favor and try the thai calamari." In 4 reviews
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35 reviews in English
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Review from Nelson G.
Chatham, NJ
3/30/2012
54 Main is a cool place to eat and have a good craft beer. In the last couple of years they have really upgraded the beers on tap. The food is good...not great. Keep it simple with a burger and sweet potato fries and you will not be dissapointed.
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Review from Jessica M.
Randolph, NJ
4/10/2012
Came here with my parents for an early dinner. My parents dishes were over cooked and dry and they didn't even eat. I split a Cuban sandwich with my brother and it was average- the best part was the plantain chips. So I wouldn't come back for the food but maybe for a drink sometime as the bar area looks nice -- though some people on here were disappointed by high prices for drinks??
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Review from Andrea S.
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have a tendency to eat at places because they're there and I have some time to kill.
This falls into that category. I really want to give a great review because the bartender that took care of me was adorable, sweet and had these lovable blue eyes.
But.
I just didn't like the atmosphere and the food was only so-so. His octoberfest suggestion for my beer was pretty good at least.
I had the Cajun Chicken Pasta. It was a little runny, not as creamy as hoped and the ingredients were kind of just tossed together without any love or intention.
The female bartender is utterly useless. She didn't acknowledge my existence, just stood there drinking tea. I had my credit card sitting out in front of me and she looked at it and just kept standing there sipping her tea. At least the tea was relaxing her.
Bleh. Doubt I'll ever return.
Maybe for those baby blue eyes though... -
Review from Mike S.
Chatham, NJ
10/6/2011
Simply put, the food is great, and so are the drinks. I've been here for dinner and for beers and it's always a good time.
Let's talk dinner first: Really good menu with some eclectic choices. I had the bacon wrapped salmon a few times ago which was great, and their varieties of calamari is an awesome appetizer too. Last time I went I got one of their burgers, which was good burger, but it wasn't like the best burger ever. I'll blame that one on myself for choosing it though haha. Good place to eat with your family or with friends. Decent drink selection.
On that note, let's talk about the bar: It can get a little loud at night, but not terribly so. The crowd tends to be recent college grads, maybe a little older, so I fit right in. The bartenders are nice (and usually attractive... just saying...) and the beer on tap is probably the best selection I've seen locally, possibly rivaled by some Morristown bars. Seating gets a little limited because they close down the whole restaurant area of the bar, which makes sense, but if you have a big party it kinda sucks unless there aren't many people in the bar. For that reason, I prefer to go on dead nights (Mon, Tues) and bring lots of friends with me to supply the party.
All in all I've never had a bad time here. I'm only giving 3 stars because the manager is a DICK! Deal with his staff while you're there, and avoid him at all costs. My friend with a legitimate jazz band asked to get billed there once, and rather than respectfully saying "No thanks, we don't do jazz here," he said the following, word for word: "You see my crowd here? Do they look like they want fuckin jazz? No they don't want no fuckin jazz. Now get the hell out of my bar." -
Review from Claire L.
Bound Brook, NJ
1/7/2012
Went here for a friends birthday and loved the main street salad! Also, make sure you indulge in pumpkin cheesecake it's to die for!! :) everyone enjoyed their meals aside from my husband who didn't care for the gyro sandwich. So skip that and get everything else.
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Review from Meghan E.
Long Valley, NJ
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Really tasty salads and the kids mean is good. Prices are reasonable and there is live music on the weekends which is great. Only draw back is there are not too many vegetarian options on the menu.
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Review from Justine H.
Bloomfield, NJ
1/12/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Fun bar to come and watch World Cup, or any sport for that matter. The bar area has tons of flat screens so whether you are seated at the bar, or a bar table, you can view a TV without straining your neck in an uncomfortable position. There are also TVs viewable in some of the dining areas, which is nice because when a good sporting event is on this place is packed. The waiters don't mind if you sit in the restaurant area and watch games while solely ordering drinks and apps. That's pretty nice on their part.
Staff is friendly, however, when you order in the bar area, even if 54 Main isn't crowded, expect to have to remind the bar staff a few times if you asked for something like hot sauce. And last time I went my burger came out without the grilled onions or mushrooms that I asked for. The burger was also over cooked. It was decent, but nothing spectacular, which I find perplexing because every time I come here people are devouring burgers like they are the greatest thing they have ever consumed. I have no idea what burger they are eating, but I want one.
Happy hour is Monday through Friday until 7 (I'm pretty sure 7) with half priced drinks and apps. And the apps are good! Get the chicken fingers buffalo style.
My only complaint is that on the on-line menu 54 Main states they have Rhode Island style calamari, which is the greatest thing on the planet. Every time I inquire about this while dining the waitstaff look at me perplexed and state they do not serve calamari that way. Take this off the on-line menu then. It's such a tease! -
Review from Matt C.
Exceptionally poor service and really sub-par quality food.
The location is good.
The bar is cool and they have a good selection of beers on tap.
It was a good start.
We sat at one of the tables near the bar area. Our waitress came and brought us a round of brews then things exponentially went down hill. We asked for 3 waters and she brought back 1. She came and literally (REALLY) threw 3 sets of silverware and napkins at my friend, like it was his job to divide them out to the rest of us... We had to re-remind her about the waters and it took probably 5-10 minutes to finally get them. As the evening went on, and the place filled up, her service continued to deteriorate. (I would like to add that due to her lack of attention we got the attention of another server for routine things... napkins, more water, another round of brews...) There was no follow up on "how is the food". When we were ready to leave it took forever to get her attention for the check, borderline we had to get up and ask her for the check. Really poor service, dismal.
The food: way way sub-par. Pretty much sucked. The chicken fingers were the standard, frozen, mass-produced, re-heat in the microwave high in sodium could barely eat them. (ref picture) and the burger... well, I use the "quality of bun" benchmark and the bun was cold, and the bottom portion of the bun was soaked with grease. It led for an unpleasant dining experience to the point that I couldn't / didn't want to finish... i.e., getting half way done with the burger and biting into a soaking wet bun was simply GROSS. I left dissatisfied and hungry. (the fries sucked too...)
Also, there is a bit of a frat boy scene here. Hats on backwards, loud yelling at the television. If you don't want to surround yourself with 22-year-old testosterone then don't come here.
The horrible service combined with the rancid food overwhelmingly brought this solid 2 star rating to a flat 1 star.
Highly NOT recommended. -
Review from Blanca V.
Madison, NJ
3/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Writing this review now because I just realised I never wrote one.
This is the after-hour watering hole for my company, well sometimes.
The happy hour is pretty good and very convenient in location.
Now that I live blocks away I will aim to have the bartender know my name. -
Review from Rach K.
1/17/2011
Eh...
Came here with a few friends to catch up during Thanksgiving break. We usually do things in Morristown but we decided to change it up and avoid that area since it gets really crowded on the weekends.
We were able to find a parking spot right across the street (score!) and we scurried inside to find that the bar area was packed so we couldn't secure a place to sit. We asked if we could sit in the dining area (since it was relatively empty) but were told that we weren't allowed. We considered ordering some food just to be allowed to sit, but instead, opted to stand around a ledge with our drinks.
The drinks were a bit overpriced but fine and the waitress was attentive - actually, a bit too attentive, if you ask me. She came over way too often and interrupted our conversations and even asked one friend if she wanted a refill even though her beer was clearly full.
Eventually we did catch an empty table and got to rest our feet for a bit, which was nice. There was a live band that was pretty good but loud and made it hard to make conversation. I get that it's a bar and people are there to have a good time, but it's not like it was the type of place where you dance and get rowdy, so I think they could have toned it down a bit.
All in all, it was an okay experience and I'd come here again if I were in the area, but it's not so special that I'd make the trek over just to come here. -
Review from Brian M.
Chatham, NJ
11/14/2011
Really good beer selection and I found the food to be tasty with good variety. Service is friendly. It's a bit pricey but fair for the area. The restaurant area is nice enough to bring family or friends while the bar is good for meeting up with friends or coworkers.
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Review from Nyota W.
9/24/2011
So far, this is my favorite restaurant in Madison. There's something for everyone, the portions are great, service is good and food taste really good. Do yourself a favor and try the thai calamari! I look forward to the rare days when I actually head out for lunch. This place is a hit!
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Review from Micaela L.
Brooklyn, NY
5/8/2008
54 Main is a reliable, if unexciting spot in Madison. The menu is smallish and the food is okay, but there are better places to eat in the immediate area. If you're going to come at all, it's probably better to catch a game at the bar.
Diners beware -- there is live music on weekend evenings, which is nice if you're into that, but quite loud if you're looking to converse with your tablemates. I went with my grandmother once and she was not a fan. -
Review from Jenn S.
New York, NY
3/3/2009
Really wasn't sure whether to give this place 3 or 4 stars - it could have gone either way.
The Good:
+ Big three-sided bar, with several bartenders working
+ Lots of seating, both at the bar and at the many small tables surrounding it
+ Good drinks, strong but not so much you can't enjoy them.
+ Very nice clean bathrooms, never have to wait on a line for one.
+ Prices are very reasonable - some mixed drinks as low as $4.50.
+Good crowd - an interesting mix of middle-aged and college-aged clientele, but everyone feels welcome.
The Bad:
- I've eaten here a few times, and felt the prices were a bit too high for food that isn't anything special - I think you're paying more for the ambiance.
- Bartenders are often rushed and rude.
Overall, I'd totally recommend this place - but I've had the best time when I go with a group of friends, rather than just one or two. Walking distance from Drew University is also a major plus!!! -
Review from K M.
Chatham, NJ
1/11/2012
I love 54 Main. The bartenders are sweethearts! For pub food, it is the best in the area and it has a nice vibe. It does get busy and fills with college student on some weekend nights.
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Review from Jen S.
Morris Plains, NJ
7/26/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Great place for dinner, drinks, or both. This is a large open restaurant with a large bar, high top tables near the bar, and other seating available. The menu is extensive with the usual burgers and fries but other surprising options as well. Try the fish tacos, turkey burger and coconut shrimp rolls.
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Review from Kelly A.
Miami Beach, FL
3/6/2010
When I'm working in the area it's an easy place for lunch or happy hour. Not because the food is great, but because it's convenient and large enough that you don't have to worry about it being crowded. Parking in back is generally available too.
Great beer selection and lots of different bar-food type of appetizers. Good sandwich menu for lunch too.
Don't drive to Madison just for this place, but if you are in town and are looking for a place for lunch or happy hour, it's fine. -
Review from Lenny J.
Middle Island, NY
1/19/2012
Had the short rib entree. The meat was cooked perfectly, tender and juicy. I wish there was more of it. The mashed potatoes were also good and the vegetable medley was a good complement. My guests enjoyed the salmon entree and the pulled pork sandwich. Overall a good experience.
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Review from Don M.
Chatham, NJ
12/31/2011
Always a great spot. Yes, can be noisy at times, so be it.
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Review from Hank C.
2/3/2009
Food here isn't too bad - I recommend the wings appetizer (the spicy teriyaki was good) and the burgers. Everything else I've had here has varied from okay to not so good, but nothing completely inedible.
The bar is fun, though, and one of the few places that serves Dogfish Head out of the tap (which is why some of my friends like this place so much - and apparently they have hotter bartenders here than most places). -
Review from Holly S.
11/16/2009
1 star: very good beer selection and the option of a beer tower (5-6 beers for under $20)
2 stars: good food... boneless wings were meh, but filet mignon wrap was !!!!!!
3 stars: big bar, and big TVs everywhere
I didn't love the atmosphere. Our bartender wasn't too friendly, and the place cleared out after Sunday night football. I mean, literally everyone was gone as soon as the game was over and I felt rude for staying to finish my beer tower, despite the fact that it was somewhere between 11 and 12:30 (beer tower).
4 stars: they were playing the Star Wars soundtrack in the bathroom -
Review from Kristen G.
Madison, NJ
11/29/2010
I got the chocolate lava cake here and it was soo delish! I would love to go back and get the food because it smelled amazing. I also hear that there is really awesome night life at 54 Main. Can't wait to check it out!
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Review from Anthony P.
Boonton, NJ
5/21/2011
Food is ok. Drinks good and staff attentive. Little over priced. Bar is VERY loud. Seating is quieter.
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Review from Andrew P.
Madison, NJ
5/31/2011
Always has different and interesting beers on tap. Their food is awesome also. I go there frequently when I'm not in Morristown. I'm shocked so many people are complaining I always get great service.
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Review from Maria N.
Linden, NJ
3/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, we had French onion soup, chipoltle bbq wings, Texas style Taco salad, & ribs. Ribs not the best but the bbq sauce was good. All else was great!
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Review from Sam D.
Ronkonkoma, NY
11/13/2011
Good beer, good food, nice friendly service! All the ingredients for another positive experience at 54 Main.
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Review from Samantha L.
Morristown, NJ
7/20/2011
Great margaritas. Service is good on a Monday night, and the bar is pretty hopping!
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Review from Chris S.
Jersey City, NJ
Updated - 12/17/2008
This is now 54 Main! Mostly the same place, but with a smaller menu, higher prices, and fewer specials.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2007 First to Review
Ahh, Main Streets, one of Madison's few purveyors of alcoholic beverages. Their menu is pretty… Read more »
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Review from Pasquale R.
Chatham, NJ
Updated - 8/23/2010 3 Check-ins Here
The past couple of weekends I have visited this place for some Sunday night dinner. I have left disappointed and not feeling well after each time. The first time I got the steak wrap which was eh. The second time I got the chicken fajita which was bland and not good. The bartender is super cool and is the only reason why this place hasn't dropped to 1 star.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/5/2009
Wanna be upscale pub/restaurant however pulls it off with the hot bartenders and their prices. Food… Read more »
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Review from Caty B.
Chatham, NJ
11/28/2010
The food is decent, but I really come here for the drinks. Sharing the spinach and artichoke dip and hummus platter with a few Palomas is ideal. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, but it's an inexpensive option to meet up with friends for drinks. It's an easy easy place to go for happy hour or dinner on a weeknight. The lunch menu isn't bad, either.
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Review from Erin Z.
Somerset, NJ
10/4/2009
Look the cozy interior of this pub/restaurant. It's a little dim with exposed brick. The bartenders are really cute and nice. The food has been good both times I have gone and it's a good crowd.
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Review from Elizabeth E.
Washington, DC
2/24/2008
I used to love going to Main Streets for a grilled chicken salad with raspberry vinaigrette that isn't on the menu anymore, and I've always enjoyed their beer selections. I wasn't opposed to going when a few friends suggested Main Streets a few nights ago, but I was so disappointed!
All the tables around us got bread, but by the time we realized this and was able to catch our waitress, our food was there. The food service was relatively fast, but the drink service was incredibly slow. I ordered a cheddar cheese burger and fries, and my burger had american cheese on it and the bun was literally McDonalds quality. The fries were good, but there were about 7 or 8 of these (semi)thick cut fries. I didn't see our waitress again until the meal was over, and I was so disgruntled I didn't want to complain then. I think the main problem is the management and the kitchen, not the wait staff. I left still hungry, upset about the quality, and convinced I will never go back.
I don't recommend spending $10 on the cheeseburger, unless you like stop and shop buns. -
Review from Nancy D.
Budd Lake, NJ
1/17/2011
We were in the Madison area and just wanted a couple of drinks and some appetizers. I called ahead to see if there were any happy hour specials. Luckily, happy hour is daily Monday through Friday from 3 to 6pm. We got a seat at the bar and ordered immediately. Thai style calamari was fantastic as was the blue cheese beef medallions. Nice change from the Morristown restaurants. We will be back again soon!!
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Review from Amanda R.
Washington, DC
6/28/2007
Not bad.. The menu does get old - As of the last time I have been there, the menu had been the same since it opened... Years ago. Cute place though, great for lunch or dinner - I have not been there for the bar scene. Nice alternative to SOHO33 - has a bigger menu. WHen you go, expect to see business lunches. Perfect location for it. Tough parking in the back, during lunch time, I can never find a spot despite the enormous lot in back (only in Madison aka restaurant town). I always get the Turnkey Burger with the sweet Potatoe fries. Very cute atmosphere.
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Review from Joe F.
High Bridge, NJ
8/16/2007
Not a big selection but it's all good; nothing spectacular but nothing terrible, prices OK, the bar is almost as big as the eating area; usually live music on the weekends, gets very crowded (college crowd mostly) at nights/weekends, very noisy too.
