Madi shakes up brunch scene in Normal Heights

Inspired by its sister restaurant, Madison on Park, Madi is making brunch the star of its Normal Heights menu, showcasing items like mimosas and waffle churro sticks every day of the week.

The restaurant, which opened Tuesday, serves breakfast and lunch all day including chilaquiles, breakfast tacos and quick coffees to go.

“Madison on Park has had a fun and buzzing brunch scene since we opened the restaurant, so we wanted to open a spot that was an extension of that,” said owner Jeffrey Fink.

Borrowing from fresh Californian dishes, Fink’s partner Matthew Sieve created the Madi menu by adding a Mediterranean take to both sweet and savory delicacies. Sieve’s expertise comes from working in his family’s breakfast restaurant in Minnesota. It’s more than 100 years old and has been managed by his family for the past 60 years.

Madi’s menu features five sections: Shares, Lunchy Stuff, Griddle Game, Build Your Own Bowl, and Madi Faves. Specialties include the blackberry and goat cheese pancakes.

Aside from juices, cocktails and beer, Madi’s coffee counter will be under the direction of Heartwork Coffee and will serve coffee drinks, matcha, chair, turmeric teas and other

Madi brunchlikemadi.com; (619) 915-5522

beverages.

Madi’s design team, Dave and Anna Sindelar OFARCHISECTS, added subtle motifs that allude to Madison on Park (which they also designed) hoping to evoke a “moody and sophisticated mid-century modern” vibe.

With floor-to-ceiling windows, the 2,000-square-foot dining room can seat 60 people and the outdoor patio has room for 30.

“You feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the buzz of the retro 70s, 80s, and 90s,” Fink said.

Madi is at 3737 Adams Avenue and is open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

DIANA SCIACCA Madi’s brunch specialties include blackberry and goat cheese pancakes and the Motor Bike cocktail with tequila, watermelon, ginger and lime.