Mark’s Off Madison had just opened in 2021 when I last visited. That time was for dinner, this one brunch. Mark’s is one of Pete Wells’s 100 Best Restaurants for 2023. On the corner of 26th Street and Madison Square Park, the restaurant is from chef Mark Strausman, formerly of Campagna and Freds at Barney’s New York. It’s an always-packed, cozy space with a great vibe.

I met a friend there for brunch, starting with a Bloody Mary ($16). We had to share their steak fries ($14) done Belgian style (double-fried) served with ketchup, garlic aioli and sauce Calypso, which according to chef Mark is “a European cold sauce that is a take on Russian dressing except our adds, brandy, orange juice and cayenne pepper.” Mark had worked in Holland, where the French fries are served with various sauces.

My dining partner enjoyed the Palm Beach salad ($36), which included mixed greens, five jumbo shrimp, hearts of palm, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and a hard-cooked egg in a Green Goddess dressing. It also came with bread—really good chewy-crust bread and a half-bagel.

As a lover of smoked whitefish, I had to try their version as a platter. (I prefer what I make from an Acme whole whitefish, removing the meat from the bones and adding a soupcon of mayo.) Mark’s came with my choice of a bialy and an everything bagel ($36), plus cream cheese, sliced tomato, red onion, green salad, and hard-cooked eggs. I asked for a doggy bag, as it was way too much food for one.

I do recommend a visit

Mark’s Off Madison
Gramercy-Flatiron
41 Madison Avenue (entrance on 26th)
New York, NY 10010
(646) 838-8300
marksoffmadison.com