Madison & Fifth (Palo Alto)

367 University Ave. (between Waverley and Bryant)
(650) 323-3900
madandfifth.com

I'd been to Madison & Fifth once before on a whim with B while we were shopping in PA, so when we were wandering University for a spot to celebrate Mom's b-day and Dad started salivating over the menu up front, I didn't have any reservations recommending we give it a try.

This meal, like the first one I had at Madison & Fifth was spectacular - I have yet to have even a dish that was anything short of delicious. We started with the Warm Burrata Mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes, basil and corn, though the fam had some doubts due to not being huge tomato fans - and there were lots (three different kinds!) Once they tried it though, they quickly changed their minds. The only weird thing was that the accouterments to the cheese were different than the specials menu stated.

I shared with Carrot Gnocchi with braised rabbit ragout, wild mushroom and rosemary sauce as well as the House made Basil Linguine with pumpkin, leeks, hazelnuts and goat cheese fondue topped with black truffles with Dad. Both were a departure from the traditional pastas you'd expect at an Italian restaurant in an exotic and tasty way. Mom had the Black Ravioli stuffed with lobster, scallops, shrimp and asparagus in a light spicy tomato sauce. The ravioli was good, though I'm not generally a fan of minced pasta stuffing - I like my meat in pieces, thank you! D is not a huge fan of Italian food, so he apprehensively ordered the Balsamic Chicken Breast Rollatini stuffed with provolone cheese and spinach, and served with vegetables and wild rice. D's dish was the family favorite and he gobbled it down happily.

I'd happily return to Madison & Fifth when in the mood for a modern twist on classic Italian and I think it's safe to say that my family would too!

The Verdict: Worth It