Martini Maddness

Madd Chef Richard Cicic proves once again that he’s crazy about creating a culinary and cocktail experience that can’t be found anywhere else.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 05/06/2009
Those who have enjoyed the culinary craftings of Madd Chef Richard Cicic know that his meals are anything but ordinary. Now that Richard has gone madd about martinis, cocktails at his Madd Chef’s Café and Bistro have become as much an adventure as his menu.

The Madd Chef has just added a new upscale, Vegas-style martini and coffee lounge, where guests can enjoy a quiet evening of custom drinks, designer coffees and distinctive appetizers in a pleasant atmosphere.

“This isn’t the typical bar,” he promises. “This is a place where you can relax before dinner, after a movie, or just hang out for the night. You can bring your wife or a date without worrying about a fight breaking out. Our mixologist’s custom-created drinks, like the cucumber martini or the chocolate-covered strawberry martini, are not going to be found anywhere else.”

The martini bar, which has been cozily inserted between the Madd Chef’s New York brownstone-style Bistro and the casual Café, features a rich granite and molded stone décor fashioned by Justice and Company, the local design and granite specialists.

“James Justice took my plans and transformed them into a masterpiece,” Richard marvels. “It’s exactly the atmosphere I wanted to create. The attention to detail is phenomenal. It isn’t something you’re going to see anywhere else.”

Backlit honey onyx granite illuminates the martini lounge’s archway entrances and accents the bar, which features a gorgeous crystallized black granite top.

“At most bars, people are starring at the bottles of liquor behind the bar, or they’re watching themselves, or somebody else eat in a mirror,” Richard says. “That really sets the scene for an unpleasant dining experience. I wanted to make the ambiance as much a part of the experience as the drinks and food.”

The soft jazz playing in the background adds to the mellow mood.

The martini bar features a large selection of wine, micro-brewed and imported beers, and top-shelf liquor.

“We don’t have any beer on tap and we’re not going to bother with bottom shelf drinks,” Richard says. “Like our food, we’re offering high quality at a very affordable price.”

At the martini bar, Richard invites you to order from the Madd Chef’s Café menu, featuring fresh salads, cool wraps and hot sandwiches—or grinders, as Richard calls them. Or you can enjoy the specially created gourmet appetizers, like clams casino, mussels minier and french brie with caramelized praline sauce or tapas.

“If you’re looking for the mozzarella sticks, you’re not in the right place,” Richard says.

The martini bar will stay open later than the restaurant, Richard promises.

“It’s not easy to find a nice place to go after a late movie,” he says. “Until now.”

The lounge, Richard says, also will be the first smoking lounge in Ohio—except the smokers will be enjoying the innovative new electronic, smoke-free cigarettes. The battery operated cigarettes are a clean alternative to tobacco cigarettes, delivering a hit of nicotine without unhealthy ingredients or the second hand smoke and foul odor.

“This lets smokers stay inside and relax instead of having to congregate outside the front door,” Richard says.

The martini bar is the perfect compliment to the elegant Madd Chef’s Bistro and the more casual Madd Chef’s Café.

The bistro features multi-course dinners served on fine china and tables that are adorned with white linen. But that doesn’t mean the price is elaborate.

“Just because we present an upscale, fancy appearance doesn’t mean the Bistro is only for special occasions,” Richard insists. “We offer a four-course meal for less than you would pay at other nice steakhouses. Our average guest check is $22, with meals ranging between $18 and $24, and that includes the amuse bouche (a small appetizer), soup, salad and entrée. At a lot of restaurants, that is all ala carte and it costs more.”

The Madd Chef’s popular Chicken Vino in a tomato cream sauce costs $18.

Richard says he keeps his costs down by buying his own ingredients. It also allows him to choose only the freshest, natural ingredients, focusing on locally grown products.

About half of the menu changes weekly to give guests a variety of tastes, and to let Richard express his artistic culinary creativity.

The menu features a selection of about eight carefully planned creations, like Maple Glazed Duck—pan seared duck breast with a maple balsamic glaze—or Herb Scented Lake Erie Walleye, lightly coated with an herb crust and served with a white truffle and caper remoulade sauce. The Madd Chef’s All-American Steak features an aged New York Strip, hand-cut daily and seasoned with a blend of 15 spices then finished with a bistro reduction sauce topped with pomme fritz that have been tossed in the pan juices.

Although the tables are exquisitely set for a formal, multi-course dinner, the Madd Chef invites you to dress comfortably.

“It’s our job to look good,” he says. “You just have to relax and enjoy your experience. The look is formal, but the dress code is very casual.”

Wednesday is Ladies Night at The Madd Chef’s Bistro. Ladies get half-price drinks and a special dessert created by the chef.

Friday is date night—an evening out without the kids. To help celebrate, Richard offers a pair of meals for $40, including a dessert for two.

The Madd Chef’s Café, where it all started, is about to expand, with the addition of more space and more tables.
Richard also has expanded the size of his signature grinders.

“Before they were huge,” Richard says. “Now they are colossal. They are hanging off the sides of the plates. You never see anybody increase the portions without increasing the price, but I just wanted to give something back to the people who have made this place such a success.”

All the grinders on the menu cost $7.59 served with fries. Cool wraps are $7.59 served with fries. And the assortment of Madd grilled cheese sandwiches, unlike any your mother ever made, are $7.59 served with fries. You can get a half a grinder, with soup or salad, for $8.79, or you can get half a grinder with both soup and salad, for $8.98.

The Madd Chef also offers private chef tastings for more intimate events in your home.You can discuss your party plans with Richard by calling 330-225-5544. Madd Chef’s Bistro, Café and Martini and Coffee Lounge are located at 1091 Pearl Road, in the Hickory Ridge Plaza, in Brunswick. Find out more at www.MaddChefs.com.
Bistro dinner hours are Tuesday through Thursday 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Friday and Saturday until 9:00 p.m.). Breakfast is served Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Café hours are Tuesday through Thursday, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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