Mark’s Off Madison, or M.O.M., located just off the corner of Madison Avenue and 26th Street in NYC, is the latest restaurant from acclaimed Chef Mark Strausman. M.O.M. is the culmination of Mark’s career, the place where he combines, in a way that is quintessentially New York, all the culinary strands of his career – the classical European and rustic Italian dishes of his training – along with elevated versions of the traditional Jewish foods of his upbringing in New York City.

On the menu at M.O.M. you’ll find all of Mark’s “greatest hits”—the viral Lasagne della Nonna, the entrée salads (first made famous at Freds at Barneys New York), and much-loved cones of Belgian fries. We’re also a bakery, with all breads and pastries baked in house, including two types of sourdough, our own brand of Jewish deli rye, the best challah (so good icon Zabar’s sells it on Fridays!), and, best of all, our Straussie’s bagels and bialys, made by hand the old-fashioned way.

As a Jewish kid growing up in Queens, Mark loved the ritual Sunday trip to the bagel store with his father to get bagels and bialys for their family. He remembers the bagels well. “They were smaller, chewier than the ones you usually get today. My mother never had to scoop out the doughy inside.” They might have remained a memory, but for his kids.“I think my bagel obsession started on the day my son brought home a blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese,” he says. “I wanted to see if I could recreate for my children the traditional taste of the bagels and bialys of my youth.” He began making a batch or two at a time, and when he was finally happy with the result he debuted Straussie’s Bagels at Freds at Barneys New York on Sundays. Serious Eats dubbed Straussie's "New York's best bagel." Now, Straussie's comes to M.O.M.