I came here for breakfast. The food was delicious. I ordered the Country French Breakfast, which came with eggs, bacon, croissant and a potato galette. I didn't even know what the hell it was (galette).Lol! But twas YUMMY!! I like how they have toast, butter and jelly that you can have for free while you wait for your food or you can enjoy with your meal. The ambiance was pretty chill. We didn't have to wait that long for our food. I will definitely come back again. As long as I lived in Columbia I have no idea how I skipped this place. The iced coffee, and the spinach quiche was delicious as well! The employees could look a little happier. It would be nice if they could at least look like they wanted to take my order. Give me a little smile or something :-) lol!
(5)
Tom W.
While in Columbus, Ohio, we enjoyed breakfast at a French breakfast chain which I thought was Madeline's...perhaps it wasn't. Yes, just looked, it was Mimi's...would drive a bit longer to Mimi's next trip. A quick stop on a business driving trip st this location was a bit disappointing. No waiter service, terrible eggs Benedict (one egg was way overcooked and one way undercooked), and generally.not satisfying. Maybe I recall Mimi's in Columbus?
(2)
Christina S.
If it weren't for the service, I would come here everyday because I love their pastries. And I have no problem stocking up on their sweets! Their croissants are crisp on the outside and soft in the center. Perfect! The ambiance and decor is beautiful, and it's self seating. But man oh man the service is so BAD! 2 out of the 3 times I've been here, the cashier had a horrible attitude and gives the most dirty looks (girl with the hot pink lipstick). The cashier on my 2nd visit was nice to me, but was unfriendly to the picky yet polite customer ahead of me. I figured maybe the cashiers are having a bad day, so I'd try to ignore their attitudes and be polite. But to run into this poor experience 3 times consecutively, makes me think no changes are going to be made at this particular franchise to remedy this problem. I like the self seating idea, but every time I come here the majority of the tables are dirty. My boyfriend and I ordered breakfast on a weekday around 10am...the restaurant only had a handful of customers. We waited for what it seemed like forever for some eggs and a croissant. Food is delicious, but is a little pricey and definitely not worth the poor service.
(3)
Heather M.
The interior of this cafe is decorated so well. Pretty light fixtures, nice seating area, and a warm fireplace to cozy up to! We went in the afternoon and maybe it's because we came after the lunch crowd, most tables were left dirty. Ordering was so hectic. We were ordering from both the cafe and bakery menu. One of the workers was telling us to buy the bakery stuff separately in the bakery section but no one was there to take out order. Once we got someone in the bakery section to get our cute little pastries and espresso drinks, she told us to go back to the cafe section and pay for everything together. So we were told different things from two workers. Anyhow, their pastries tasted just as good as they looked! Their cafe mocha was really yummy but also extremely sweet. I had to dilute it with some coffee to tone down the excessive sweetness. If you can't decide on a place to chit chat with people, this place is a safe bet.
(3)
tori a.
I don't believe I will be coming back here again. That's too bad because the food is pretty good. During my last experience there I left with what seemed like bite marks and/or hives all over the back of my legs from sitting on their chair. It was gross and I don't want to even think of what bugs were inside the woven material of their wicker-like seating. A minute after I sat down I started itching. What a terrible experience.
(2)
Jen Y.
I really want to give La Madeleine a higher rating, but sometimes the pastries are not as delightful in taste as they appear so it can be disappointing. I don't mind going back though because there's always room for improvement, and everything about this restaurant is very reasonable.
(3)
Jennifer B.
My coworkers took me here yesterday for a lunch celebration to celebrate that I recently got married and we were lucky enough to grab a table outside which was nice since it was such a nice day. We all ordered sandwiches but it seemed that our wait for quit long and that they had forgotten about one of the girls sandwiches. By the time we got our food we all enjoyed what we had but the service was a bit disappointing. Will go back again but hoping the service will be better when we return.
(3)
Kris L.
This review is for desserts only! Stopped by this establishment on a Friday afternoon for a snack. Tried the chocolate almond tart and the lemon cream cake. The lemon cream cake is new and actually has layers of lemon creme between layers of yellow cake. It was very tasty and sweet and tart at the same time! The mini chocolate almond tart is chocolate ganache on top but inside is actually almond cream which Was delish!
(4)
Nick L.
Food is great and tastes good. Environment is awesome. Employees aren't very French though lol
(4)
Sonny C.
So this place was so so. I had the French breakfast which included bacon, some concoction of has brown, 2 eggs over easy. Croissant was awesome, flaky outside and soft in the middle. Eggs made perfect. Hashbrown was not so great it had down hard pieces. 3 stars cause the staff was instantly depressing. If they had a heartbeat they must have accidentally cooked it and served it to customers. Coffee was good but the initial onslaught of depressing employees was too much to overlook. 4/28/2015 @0800
(3)
Olivia M.
I have gone here twice and will never be back. The first time out quiche was cold and bland (pretty sure it used to be frozen) The cashier had some fake French accent and it was all a bit contrived. The second time I found a fly in my salad and instead of apologizing the manager just keyed in his code to the register and gave me a refund. I left hungry and grossed out.
(1)
Danny C.
When it comes to French anything, I'm completely naive, or ignorant so please forgive me for that. The only French I know is Beef Bourguignon, French Kissing, and France is in Europe... Okay, I know a little more about French, but when it comes to food? Beef Bourguignon and baguette. That's about it. So if you're French or is some French Connoisseur and say that I have no taste in French food then HEY! I'm sorry okay?! :( So my brother told me about this place and how it's a pretty good place for meetings and get-togethers. The food there was pretty good too. So I went with my brother and sister recently and was greeted by a beautiful woman. Was she French? I heard French women were beautiful. ;) Anyways, jokes aside, well half jokes, we ordered our food then sat down by the fireplace. The dim lighting, fireplace, the wooden floor and mystic tables made me feel like I was in a fine dining restaurant. Kinda. In a way. I ordered the French Dip to see if it would be better than the Victoria's Gastro Pub French Dip and come to find out? IT WAS. Seriously, the French Dip at Vic's was subpar. My brother got the Beef Bourguignon and my sister got the Croque Monsieur. The Beef Bourguignon was pretty good but not as good as our own personal versions of it! (Thanks to Anthony Bourdain). The meat was tender and flavorful and went well with the rest of the dish. My sister's sandwich was really good. From the flavors of the meats melding with the cheese and strong hints of garlic. And the pasta salad that came with her dish was good too! Nice contrast from the hot sandwich. The sandwich actually came out hot. Whether nuked or not, it was still good! Service was good and the food was good!
(4)
Eremini K.
I would absolutely come back when I visit the area. Perhaps try some pastries next time!! We had brunch here and tried the Egg benedict and omelette which were light and fluffy and cooked to perfection - not too dry or runny.
(4)
Majlinda K.
Amazing little cafe in Columbia. They have an extensive menu of salads, sandwiches, soups and ymmy desserts and baked goods. I ordered the chicken spinach salad and it was light and refreshing. We finished the meal with some creme brulee and a fruit parfait and they were excellent! The restaurant has a section of different bread selection and butter all you can eat/self serve which was really neat! The restaurant is very neatly decorated and there is a fire place in the middle. The seating is self serve. One thing that was really confusing was ordering. They did not have a good way to order and it was confusing. They had the catering menus at the door but when you went up to the counter they had a slightly different menu. If they swaped those two menus the line would move ALOT quicker!
(4)
Tamara N.
I love the food a La Madeline, but the Columbia, MD location leaves alot to be desired. Their staff have the worst attitude and today when I got a caesar salad, I literally got a box of lettuce and a lemon wedge. Oh, and a nasty attitude when I asked for croutons. I'm not paying $10 for lettuce. They should take a trip a few yards to Mission BBQ and learn something about customer service.
(2)
LaToya E.
On my quest for the prefect cup of coffee I stumbled upon the reviews for this place and decided to check it out. When I first arrived the only menus available by the door were the catering menus but the woman taking orders showed me the regular menu so I could order. Since it was my first time there I decided to keep it simple with a breakfast croissant and a latte. There was tons of yummy stuff on the cafeteria like line but I will save that for my next visit. I paid and found a nice table with a view of the very cozy fire place and waited for the staff to bring out my order. When my croissant arrived my latte was missing but the staff was very quick in making sure I received it. The food was super tasty and the drink was good so no complaints at all from me! I was very impressed at how friendly the staff was! When I told the lady that rang me out it was my first time there she was helpful in telling me where everything was and to rest assured that I would be taken care of.. I value a place with good food AND good service! I'm still on my quest for the perfect warm beverage but I will be back to this place very soon!
(5)
Chad B.
La Madeleine is an intimate, homey pastry shop. It's a good place to go for a warm beverage or a dessert. There's a stone fireplace in the middle of the dining area, and there are little nooks scattered across the restaurant (it doesn't feel like a place with a big, open room). You can see most of the desserts displayed in the window at the front. We stood there for several minutes. No one waited on us at the counter until we shouted for someone. I don't feel like the staff was all that friendly. We ordered at the cash register, paid, and took our food to a table. Once seated, the atmosphere was really nice for a cold, winter day. It helps facilitate conversation. The pumpkin pie and the crème brulee were great but very rich! They were both heavy and very high quality. The pie was very flavorful, and you can really taste the pumpkin in it. It had a large dollop of dense whipped cream on it. The crust was perfectly done. The crème brulee had a thick and creamy taste - I'm sure it was loaded with calories but every bite was delicious. The portions were generous and the prices were reasonable. La Madeleine is great for dessert and discussion.
(4)
Sherry H.
The Bethesda location was much better. They screwed up husband's order. My food was to salty. The mushroom sauce was not hot, almost cold. They took forever to bring out husband's French Dip.
(2)
Maria P.
What a bakery!! The menu might not be huge but they have plenty of delicious food to eat. Desserts are to die for. Atmosphere is cozy and great.
(5)
Jackie O.
The Madeline never fails! :) The chicken and pesto pasta great! Chicken Caesar salad great!! The dessert are so good! They have complimentary breads with yummmmy strawberry jam. If you want to learn a little of French go to the restroom and listen to the speakers. Its seems like a little piece of France.
(5)
Brook H.
Decided to stop here on a whim as I'd always seen this place and wondered what it was like. This is definitely a pleasant, although not exactly cheap, dining experience and one I'd do again. The staff there were friendly and helpful, understanding that I'd never been in there before. It's partially a "cafeteria" style, where you look at the menu and take a tray. However, they do have a server there to take your order for hot foods to bring to your table (the tray is mostly for cold food, pastries, and drinks). You then find a place to sit and wait for them to find your table. The decor is very nice, mimicking a French villa cafe with cozy fireplaces and low ceilings, and works well for reading, using a laptop, or social interaction. Some may feel a bit crowded as tables and chairs are close to each other (to squeeze more customers in), but I enjoyed finding my own little spot to myself. I found the food nicely done and tasty, with my quiche just the right consistency and flavor with a good flaky crust. My soup was obviously flavored with onion and vegetables rather than salt, which was a nice break from the usual sodium-laden fare you get at other restaurants. The pastry I ordered was also nice, although a bit overpriced for the size you get. Overall, I'd say my experience here was a hit and I'll be back. Don't expect to find a cheap lunch here, but it's not going to break your wallet. Plus, the atmosphere and food are merveilleux!
(4)
Asa B.
I went there yesterday with my family for the first time! inside was clean and decorated nicely! Employees were friendly and helpful, the place was really busy and packed during lunch hours! I liked their roast beef sandwich very much!
(3)
Joanna K.
The interior of cafe is decorated well and interesting. It looked cute from outside and that's what made me want to try it out. The restaurant made me feel like I was at a cozy, pastry expert place. I went here for lunch and saw many people dropping in for casual lunch date and students studying. The price is solid for what they give you unfortunately, as delicious as it may sound on menu, the food was just alright. I wasn't blown away by the "fresh bread" or creative sandwiches. I may be back for its desserts - which all looked delicious but I didn't have a chance to try.
(3)
Rob N.
Hey - it's fast-casual pseudo-Gallic cafe food. Relatively cheap, too. What do you want - Michelin stars? Decent coffee. The option of an airline-bottle of wine with your lunch. Salads and sandwiches made to order, along with a handful of hot entrees and soups. Service is swift, you don't have to bus your own tables, and there's complementary brown bread, butter, jam, and wifi. Life could suck more. The sad thing is that the baked goods aren't that great, but they're probably trucked in from somewhere. So enjoy your croque monsieur next to the faux-rustic gas fireplace, and then head back out into the savage wilderness of Columbia.
(4)
Bree L.
Weird set up how you order and pay before you eat (there's no one explaining this to you when you get there) and it's very busy for brunch on Sunday's. Excellent food.
(5)
Renata K.
Very good food! I ordered the French breakfast along with the French toast. The eggs were cooked perfectly and seasoned. The potato thing was really good as well. Bacon was nice and crispy. The French toast was the highlight of my meal though with a generous amount of fruits and berries on top! (I really like fruits) I also ordered the mini desserts which I will try later at home but they look delicious!
(5)
Bernice S.
Love it! I at least felt like I was in a different country. It can get very loud depending on the day. My first visit had a group of people for lunch and they were extremely loud. But then again, it just means good business. Dessert is great and the coffee is... Let's just say I am obsessed! Can't wait go try their Quiche and Paella. After all these years, I'm glad I finally tried this restaurant. Where have I been?
(5)
Frank M.
I had a quiche Lorraine and my girl had an eggs Benedict style breakfast entree and a chocolate macaroon. The food was good, but I felt like it could have been somewhat better. I guess if you are at a chain French-style cafe, you shouldn't expect too much. I probably just built it up too much as I had been looking forward to this breakfast since the day before. The service was great and they were very helpful since it was my first time at the location and was unclear about the process with the table tent numbers. I also ordered a chicken pesto sandwich with their pasta salad that I had later for lunch. That was quite good, but did not seem to be consistent with the French-style cafe theme. In summary, it's as good as any random bakery or boulangerie you might come across, but nothing special. The key is probably to not go into it expecting too much.
(3)
Katherine B.
I only had dessert and coffee, but this place was super cute and i'll come back for lunch. It's like a buffet, order up front type deal. But it was cold out, my son and i wanted some dessert, i had read they had good coffee and i was in the mood for a cappuccino. I got two of the mini parfaits. I like that they save small sized versions of most of their desserts. My son got some chocolate cake. The cappachino was good. It was real, not some powder/sweet stuff. It had good flavor. All in all was pretty good and the real fire was nice to sit by and chat. I could see this being great for a casual lunch, and their breakfast menu also looked pretty good. Will update the review when i have their food.
(4)
Tasey V.
My husband and I dropped by this location midday on a Saturday. As it is sort of cafeteria style, we ordered our meals and got the sides that were already prepared. The girl working the order was rude and pouty (it was midday Valentine's Day, maybe she had a bad day but that doesn't warrant her attitude)- she seemed less than happy to be there and was taking it out on us. My husband and I are both fluent in French and upon placing our orders the girl corrected us on our pronunciation of words such as Monsieur and Provencal while rolling her eyes. I don't even have words for being reprimanded for pronouncing words correctly by an eye-rolling teenager. The food was bland and room temperature (even my soup). We were running errands and not expecting much from the impromptu lunch so at least our expectations were met by a pouting teenager and mediocre food.
(2)
G D.
Cool place, great food and enjoyed eating outside until....I believe they are either a supervisor or Manger but complaining about and loudly talking about political issues such as cattle, farmers, resources and other issues really detracted from the visit. I would've rated it 5 stars but this was loud. I get mingling with customers, but expressing views loudly with customers around? However they are friendly, just tone it down or go on with your daily chores with a simple "hi".
(3)
Yimei W.
This was a place of respite in the cold winter months. Where else around the area can you find a cozy restaurant with a real fireplace? Seriously, it's about the ambiance here. Their food is above average but not mind-blowing. Just enough to give you a "feeling" that you're in a decent, frenchy place. I have always liked the a la carte items you can just order on your own from the counter, as well as the soups, and salads. However--the price is slightly expensive. When you factor in that you don't have to pay a tip, however, it kind of evens out. Their desserts are yummy and they do have nice coffee. It's a great place to get cozy in cold weather and in the hotter months you can sit outside :)
(4)
Ieesha J.
I've always adored this place. Great food great ambience such a cute little establishment. I particularly like how I can choose my menu from different combo sandwiches to salads to luscious desserts. The Columbia location has friendly staff very clean interior. Will always have this on my favorite lunch place list.
(5)
Ms J K.
Food was adequate but unfortunately the slovenly kept kitchen and the chaos of the wait staff poorly waiting on everyone took away from the overall experience The kitchens overflowing trash can being in direct eye line made for the whole dining experience one that I don't want to repeat - I guess the manager was off today.
(2)
Nichole Y.
Found this little gem on Yelp and I was very happy with my choice. I've past this place many times but never stopped in because the outside decor led me to believe that it was finer dining then it actually is. It's cafeteria style and you order with someone, take a number, and have a seat. The decor is very cozy with a fireplace and dark hardwood furniture. I got the Parisian eggs Benedict which was really good and my sister got the turkey brie with a salad and she was pretty happy with her selection as well. The ambiance did a lot for me and I will certainly be back to cozy up next to the fire with a crossiant and coffee soon.
(4)
Te T.
I give seriously up! In a hurry, we ran into the pastry side just a minute ago (8:30am) hoping for a pastry and drinks to go. The display case hadn't been stocked yet and nothing on the speed rack against the wall indicating anything was cooling. Employees looked over at us while stocking the main dining line, wandering, chatting, but never acknowledged or came by to see if we wanted anything. One customer had to almost yell at someone just to get a menu. We gave up for Jae's Grill!
(1)
Margaret N.
Very cute restaurant! Love the fireplace area. I like how you can order food like a school lunch line, pay and then sit down and wait for them to bring your food. They have a pretty extensive menu. A tad over priced though and desserts aren't mediocre, as they may appear. Great place for a hot chocolate or coffee though!
(3)
Sam A.
La Madeleine is a well-rounded cafe/breakfast place that offers everything. I mean, you basically have to grab everything a la carte, but the place is very spacious with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, has a fireplace, and has a great atmosphere to sit down and talk, read, or study, or whatever you need to do at a place other than Panera or Starbucks. As far as the food goes, I don' tknow why some people give this place a bad rep. It's probably the only place in the God-forsaken state of Maryland that has decent food, so I don't know why some people are bashing on it. Maybe they're just spoiled because they're from California or something. But as far as the food goes, it's up to par. I'd say the pasta is really good, they make very good cakes, the creme brulee is expensive, but tasty, the parfaits are very good, the potato galette is always a good option, and they even have white/wheat bread + jam as a complimentary snack, so stock up on those if you're extra hungry. Also, if you'd like to learn some French, eat there, and also dispose of all the food you've ate there as well and spend the ten minutes in the bathroom. It'll teach you how to count to ten and some curse words in Frech. Kidding. Overall, great atmosphere and great food. I like it.
(5)
Coleen F.
Food is usually pretty good. Breakfast is usually my first choice. Particularly enjoy the Country French breakfast. Croissants are delicious. I'm currently enjoying the French dip sandwich. It's really good. Crispy french bread, tender roast beef,and the horseradish sauce has a nice heat to it. My only complaint about this place really is NO WIFI! What's up with that??
(4)
Michael M.
This is an awesome place to grab a bite. Great food and great service. Everything we got was delicious. Definitely eating here every time I'm in the area!
(5)
Jennifer T.
*turkey bistro (Smoked turkey, crisp bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, melted provolone and sun-dried tomato pesto* spread on a toasted sourdough roll; I obviously got this without bacon but this sandwich hit the spot!!! The turkey was good and I loved the bread; it was simple yet very satisfying, not oily thank god; I got this with fruit salad instead of chips which was an additional $1.59 charge) *fresh squeezed orange juice (what can I say? it's OJ haha); potato pancake (good but quite oily, the flavor was good and it was a good size though) *french toast (omg, SUPER SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was drowned in syrup and I honestly don't even know how the french toast actually tasted, this was terrible) *roasted chicken (this chicken was awesome! very juicy and tender and not tainted by a lot of flavors; this came with rice and broccoli; it was a great deal since it was half a chicken on the plate) This place is super cute and service is good, I don't know how the kitchen keeps up with the orders since we can be sitting anywhere in the restaurant and they have to come find our seats; it's similar to a Panera or Corner Bakery Cafe
(3)
Sarah G.
Came here for book club; I hadn't been to a La Madeleine in probably 5 years. This is a nice large location for the shop; lots of places to sit and it has that "vibe" that classy-fies the experience. I was here with 4 other women and most of us got salads. I got the roasted chicken salad with pear and gorgonzola; it was very good but salts you out for the rest of the day. I had a coffee and had my eye on dessert, but I didn't have room. I ate all my salad and it was worth the $13 bill I had. I'd much rather go here than Panera or similar. The food is much, much better and the wide variety ensures my eyes are much bigger than my stomach.
(4)
Ma-e M.
I keep on coming back for pastries and take it to go. In the past, I was annoyed by the lack of communication at the counter but the guy at the to go counter, I get more attention and I'm out of there in few minutes to head home to my dogs.
(4)
Danielle R.
This place is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Columbia (the other being the Famous Dave's next door)! The atmosphere in the place is lovely and as it's a seat-yourself kind of place, you can choose what sort of area you prefer. I almost always sit by the windows if there's a table open there, but the patio is a quiet, pretty alternative and I've heard a lot of people prefer sitting by the fire. I like going first thing in the morning or at slightly off times in the afternoon so it's quiet enough to enjoy the classical music they play on the speakers. All of the food I've tried has been phenomenal, but my favorites are the French dip and the lemon white chocolate chunk cookies (cookies appear to be seasonal, which is a bummer). They also make delicious caramel macchiatos that are just the right level of sweet without tasting overly syrupy. The only downsides to the place are the ordering system, which is confusing for newcomers, and their tendency to forget to put everything in the bag for carry out orders. More than half of the time I have to remind them to get the soup for my French dip, but the online ordering for carry out is so convenient that it's not much of a bother. The minor downsides are so very overwhelmed by the amazing atmosphere and food that it's still a 5-star in my book!
(5)
Milton H.
Came here for breakfast. Selection is limited. Decor is old. Service was fast though. Columbia needs to take a tip from DC breakfast spots. Variety, zest, expansive selection. Possibly may come back but not soon.
(2)
Stacy R.
I've been here 2-3 times this past month. The food has been great every time. The restaurant has been dirty 2 out of the 3 times. To me, cleanliness has got to be top-notch.
(3)
Rae M.
La Madeleine's is a little slice of French Heaven, right here in Maryland!!! Not sure why all the nit picky comments about this restaurant, to each's own I guess, but I LOVE IT! Whenever my mom, sisters and I go on our shopping excursions to Columbia Mall, we have to stop here! I've never had anything but their breakfast, that must be enough, because we keep coming back for more. One word...CROISSANT!!! They have the most delicious, flaky, buttery croissant I've ever had. I almost slapped my mother the first time I had it...it was that good. Then I came to my senses because I would have been picking my teeth up from the ground. A croissant comes with the breakfast meals on the menu. When you enter you're greeted by a member of the staff with a hearty BONJOUR! You can either order off the menu or pick up items from the front counter. It gives you a feel of a cafeteria setting, where you have a tray, pick up items in front of you and go to the register. If you're meal is being prepared, you get a wooden spoon with your order number on it for delivery at your table. I normally order an omelet that I personalize, but I've had the french toast before and it was scrumptious! It had fruit, whipped cream and everything on it.....truly a party in your mouth! The menu is reasonably priced, but remember this is not a McDonald's or Burger King, so you may not want to bring your family of 6...it can become expensive. They have a wide variety of pastries that I have yet to try. My breakfast is so filling that I'm unable to even think about a pastry for later. The fireplace is the center of the room and everyone races to sit around it when it's chilly outside. It's a hot spot. The room has a rustic countryside feel to it. The La Madeleine's on Rockville Pike has a recording in the ladies room where you can learn some France facts and French phrases. Really cool. My only complaint is that this one doesn't have that option. Take it from me..a TRUE FOODIE!
(5)
Natasha B.
I have eaten here a few times, since my coworkers like it, but it is only just ok. The space is cute and cozy. Of the items I've tried the tomato soup and Caesar salad have been my favorites. The pasta salad is boring. My coworker regretted the French onion soup. The espresso is better than average. If you want something quick and casual and are sick of places like Panera, this is not a bad option.
(3)
Sondra j.
This place has done a full 360 since first opening years ago. Food menu forever changing. Staff forever changing. My biggest problem is the cleanliness issue. With my own eyes having witnessed an employee walk straight out of the latrine - by passing water, soap and the likes - and headed directly to the serving counter to (you guessed it) serve customers. Told the manager, said she would speak to her. "Now would be a good time" I said " since she's serving food with filthy hands." After getting a blank stare, I walked out, never, ever to return again.
(1)
R S.
Always stop-by for the cakes.....Tarts ... No complains its the only place to get this in Columbia area. No Choice....
(5)
Nina B.
What a quaint beautiful place! If you get a table by the fire, there is nothing like it. The food is consistently good. Avoid going in on Saturday mornings since its packed but this cafe is definitely worth the trip.
(4)
Serena M.
My son and I went for a late breakfast this morning. Wow. The lady who greeted us was downright surly. Seriously mean. I don't expect a lot from a place with such a bizarre system, but I don't appreciate being barked at. But my son really wanted to eat there, so I didn't tell her to cram it. Our lattes arrived barely above room temperature. Then our food was taken to another table. When we told the food runner, she had to walk around with our plates for five minutes to confirm we were telling the truth. The other table had already confirmed it wasn't their order. My crepe was fine. It may have been good, but I was kinda pissed off at that point. Son's poached eggs were undercooked. I cannot stomach an egg with a runny white, but he just ate everything else and dipped into the yolks because he's chill like that. Plus, with the horrible attitude, why would we send back food? Not eager to learn what they would do with that! That's the last $23 they're getting from me. Fortunately, the conversation was good.
(1)
Eng P.
This spot is just okay. I had the regular breakfast scrambled egg whites with cheese, bacon, a croissant, and a hash brown cake. The hash brown cake? is really good. The seasoning is really good. It tastes like green peppers or a hint of celery are in it. Hard to tell, though. The croissant was hard for a French cafe. The restaurant itself is sort of confusing. There's this cafeteria line upon entering the restaurant, but you can order from the menu at the same time. The baked desserts in the glass case looked good. They need to tidy up a bit, as I noticed trash in a few places. I may try this spot again. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either.
(3)
Dorothy A.
Rude staff, dirty dishes. Food is ok, but not good enough to overcome the extremely rude service.
(1)
Mykol T.
The food as always is wonderful there I had the pleasure of speaking to some of the employees and they are very pleasant. I will be coming back and I will be recommending this restaurant to all of my friends!!! 5 STARS!!
(5)
Ali M.
Yum yum yum! I have seen this restaurant before but never actually gave it a chance. My friend recommended it last Saturday for lunch and it was beyond what I expected. I think as a sum up it is like a classy Panera. The food is fresh. I got the sandwich with Brie and turkey and goat cheese spread, ceased salad and a cup of French onion soup. I hate microwaving food but I never finish a meal so I'm stuck with that rubber taste. The sandwich however tasted just as good later as it did I'm the restaurant. I would give it a 4.5 starts only because it was 30 for lunch of two ( my bf and I) but hey that's the price you pay for fresh foods!
(5)
R B.
I used to come in a lot and enjoyed it, but the last few times I've come in, the people seem very rude and resentful. The manager (a woman) doesn't seem to care about the quality of service or food. I got the Parisian Benedict- I get it at all the le Madeleine's I stop into and this place in Columbia is the only one consistently terrible. The eggs weren't just runny, but cold and the whites were also runny. I had to return it and the "cook" gave me a nasty look and snatched the plate. Then she and the manager snickered in the kitchen and took another 20 minutes to send out my order. I don't usually complain, but after several bad experiences in this one store, I felt I had to write something. The rustic atmosphere is still nice, but this location has been terrible with everything else. This is the first time I've actually returned the food though. I just couldn't eat it. It came back out 20 minutes later overdone, but I'll take that.
(2)
Barbara H.
Good food, lots of choices, nice people. Great place to meet a friend for a get together! Columbia, MD
(5)
Adrienne W.
I've been wanting to go to this place for the longest time and FINALLY made it here last weekend after doing some Christmas shopping at Target, Carter's, and old navy. This was the perfect place to go on a super cold, winter evening. The place is SO COZY. The layout is centered around a huge two way fireplace. We, of course took seats right up against it! I'll post a pic of my daughter oohing at it. The ordering method was slightly confusing, which is why I can't give la Madeleine 5 stars. My husband awkwardly went through the ordering line while me and the child enjoyed the fire. The confusion lies with some items they bring to you (entrees?), while others you pick up on the line as a la carte (quiches, soups, salads?). I ordered a sandwich, which must've fell in the bring it to us category, husband ordered a quiche and Soup. As he walked away with our order stick, the lady beckoned him back to pick up his food. There was a moment of confusion.. Not gunna lie. But all the staff was extremely helpful in sorting it out for us (maybe this happens often?). They were also very kind and accommodating as one staff member followed my finicky self through the restaurant with a high chair while I picked the perfect table. The food was warm and comforting... Just what we needed. Either that or just eating by a fire makes things that much tastier. We were all very satisfied. We didn't have room for dessert but they looked very tastey as well. We will be back as there's plenty on the menu worth trying!!
(4)
Ed M.
Fun restaurant with French style food and Panera method self service. My wife had the chicken pie and I the roast rosemary chicken, sharing a prosciutto pear salad. Salad was excellent and huge, fresh greens with prosciutto bits. Roast coq was also v good the skin crisp covered in rosemary. Pot pie was tasty but should have more chicken pieces though the crust was good and many layered. Entrees were piping hot. The atmosphere is quite comfortable and relaxed with plenty of space. Perfect for us today... in a moderate hurry. We wanted a hot meal sitting down on a cold windy day before checking into a hotel. Also got croissants for breakfast but haven't tasted them yet. Nice restaurant!
(4)
Jen C.
I'm going to start off saying that the food wasn't bad. But there's a reason for that--it was doused, and I mean DOUSED, in butter. In looking through the menu, it didn't seem like there were many healthy options, but there were many tasty sounding ones. Read the calories, and you'll wince...cringe... We ordered the tomato bisque soup, which was very good with their complimentary wheat bread (you can grab as much as you need), in addition to the chicken pesto pasta. The pasta was overdone, oversauced, overbuttered...it pretty much dripped in grease. Tasted good, but for all the wrong reasons. There was also no taste of pesto, and the basil looked like it was sprinkled from a jar (very dark green as opposed to your usual popping green). Bread that comes with it was standard, a little too hard. Someone came and swooped our items without saying anything. You won't really get much service or peppiness out of anyone here except for when you order your food. A decent stop when there's no other options and you are in the area, and are willing to down tons of calories for a small bite.
(3)
Jude S.
I have tried to like this place. Their tomato basil soup is very good, but every time I try to get a salad (which is small and over priced), the lettuce is rotten. I have contacted the restaurant in the past about this issue, and it is never resolved. Yesterday, I ordered take out, and before I left, I checked the salads. One was so bad that you couldn't eat at least half of it. I asked for another salad. She came back with an even worse product. The lettuce was disgusting! The third time she finally gave me a salad that was marginally acceptable. I will not be returning.
(1)
M R.
My husband & I had breakfast here on a whim because it was close to the theater & we had never been. We did not regret it. Upon entering, there were a few customers crowded near the door/take out area and we weren't approached by a host, so we were confused about the process. I explained to a young woman behind the counter (she greeted us w/a huge beautiful smile) that it was our 1st time there & she immediately explained everything clearly. She was very helpful. Apparently the host was busy doing the same thing w/the crowd at the door. He seemed to be having so much fun talking to them I thought he was part of their party & didn't realize he was the host. My husband & I opted to order breakfast from the menu rather than select our food from the "cafeteria line." When my hubby went back to place our order the young lady who helped us was there again eager to make sure everything went smoothly. My caramel macchiato was yummy & my husband said his coffee was good. I had the Country French Breakfast & he had the Parisien Eggs Benedict. As others have stated, the food is delicious w/nice portions, but a bit more expensive than it should be. During our meal, the manager, Theo, made his way to our table, had small talk, & joked about my husband's Yankees cap (go Yankees!). I informed Theo it was our 1st time dining there & I wasn't sure what to do with our dirty dishes. His reply, just leave them there, we want you to enjoy your food and time here in complete comfort. Of course it was delivered with a big smile! Wow, such fantastic customer service, something that seems so rare these days. My husband & I had already made up our minds, we'd definitely return! Then, Theo returned to our table with a welcome gift for our first time there, a fresh warm loaf of French bread!! Yum! I know this review is long, but this location deserves their praises. Yes, I've been there just once, but the superior customer service from the two employees we had contact with made our experience wonderful & guaranteed our return. Yes, it's like a "French Panera," yes the food is a bit more pricey than it should be, but it was yummy, & the atmosphere was cozy & friendly. There's noooo question we will return & I look forward to trying their other locations.
(4)
Sherri K.
For the price the food is decent. nice choies but all high calorie! But one of the things htey are known for is their roasted whole chicken. Its nice that you can hve them plate it on 2 plates, get a side or 2 and have a great meal for a really good price. However for the last few years it seems they are always out of it - it'll be 45 minutes till next one or something like that. I get that when we go in at 8pm. but at 630- thats dinner time. they shouldnt constantly be out of them at that time. Dunno if we'll keep going back since thats our favorite there.
(3)
Stephen M.
For a place that seems to be in the middle of nowhere, its pretty popular. Overall, I would have to rate it average and just like the others in the chain--no better or worse. On the up-side, there are a lot of semi-private tables that are good for catching up on reading or work, even at busy times.
(3)
Rick S.
Went here for the first time today. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It was a little busy, and we didn't know the menu, so that was a bit of a delay for us. But the food was very good, and they had a large selection of food, pastries, and deserts. I will definitely be coming back here soon.
(4)
Michelle T.
This was my first visit, to say the least the only positives is the coffee was hot and the chocolate croissant was good (I prefer them warmed but apparently that isn't an option?!!!). I ordered the American Breakfast, my friend ordered Eggs Benedict. My food came out a good 10 minutes before hers. Both of our eggs were on the runny side (gross). Bacon was super greasy. I can't say we'll be back. Cute place for maybe just coffee and croissants.
(2)
Tim H.
La Madeleine is basically a French-themed Panera--and that's not such a bad thing, really. And besides, it's Columbia, where not much of anything is authentic. There are good menu items here, but the preparation hasn't been perfect in my experience. The price is also reasonable (again much like Panera). Some of the other reviewers speak of this place as if it's an authentic French restaurant, which might be misleading: you're going to walk down a line with a tray and pay at a register like a cafeteria, just so you know. Again, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but don't be fooled. The breakfast options are in my opinion the best part of the menu, so come here before you head out to whichever mall brought you to Columbia in the first place. It's a step up from the usual strip mall / food court fare, and the physical space is comfortable.
(3)
Connie L.
Love the food here! But I can definitely feel myself getting fatter and fatter as I take each bite. The chicken Parisian is really good and I love their pasta salad side dish. Their tomato soup is also delish with the free bread. My coworkers and I love getting this for lunch takeout!
(4)
Victoria W.
I really hate reviewing chain restaurants, and I almost never... I'd say never, give them 4 stars. However, considering I've been to la Madeline 5 times in the past 3 weeks, I figured I should write a review! The food is on point. I've had their pasta, Caesar salad (and with chicken) a few different soups, croissants, lattes, and a Croque Monsieur. Everything was very good! The croissants are good, but not great. Most of the people working here are francophone which makes it that much better! Prices are just right and they're quick enough for lunch during the work week. Definitely stop by!
(4)
Caroline L.
My experience at La Madeleine has been pretty consistent among different locations- nothing stands out b/w the Columbia, Bethesda, Rockville, or Tyson's location. Things might be a bit confusing when you first walk in. I've been coming here for years so I know to just start where the trays are and eventually someone will come up and ask you what you want. If what you ordered is behind the counter, then someone will get it for you right away and you can carry it down to the register. If it's something that they have to make (pizza, pasta, sandwiches, etc), then the cashier will give you a wooden spoon so they can bring it out to you. Ok let's talk food. For me, I always get the duet magnifique (basically the 1/2 and 1/2 combo). Love their creamy tomato soup and think it goes perfectly with their chicken salad croissant. For the kind of ambiance they give you, I'd expect for the price to be much higher but am glad it's not. I also am a fan of the free bread and jams! Their portion for the basil pasta salad has reduced but I can't get it anywhere else.
(4)
Samuel C.
Been looking around for a french restaurant in Maryland. Have not been eating french for for like 8-9 years. The food is pretty good. I order the chicken parisien. The place is nice and fancy. The staff are nice and friendly. Also you can eat outside.
(5)
David G.
I've been to several branches of La Madeleine around the country, and this is the worst of the bunch. There's no pride in this kitchen, at least as far as I can detect - everything I ordered appeared to be frozen and then microwaved. There is no evidence that anyone in the kitchen has any idea of to season of salt food; everything tastes pretty boring. For example, take the potato galette I had this morning with breakfast. At other La Madeleine's, this side dish is yummy, crispy, and hot. In Columbia, the galette was on the soggy side, unappealing. Combine it with one of the worst croissants I have had in a long time (again, undercooked) and a lousy caffe latte like I did and you have a second-rate breakfast. Dinner last night was a little better. The chicken with mushrooms was pretty nice, The accompanying broccoli was steamed and plain, completely flavorless. The green beans were loaded down with bacon and on the fatty side, but they still tasted pretty good. The coconut cake was mediocre. Normally my favorite dessert - if I don't like the coconut cake, it has to be pretty bad. Since I haven't been to a La Madeleine in a couple of years, I don't know if the whole chain's gone downhill or if it's just this branch that's a bad apple in the bunch. Their prices haven't gone down any, though. I still like the concept, and I'd gladly pay the price if the food were good. But if it's descended to the low quality level found at the Columbia branch, I will be bidding La Madeleine adieu.
(1)
Becky S.
I have been to La Madeleine several times now and every time my food is delish! And I'm finally getting the hang of how to order...the only slight issue I have is that it's not clear exactly how to order here...you just have to learn by trial and error... I've had breakfast and I've had lunch here...the quiche was delish for breakfast. The French Onion Soup, salad and fruit I had for lunch really hit the spot...and the Mini Tiramisu I had for dessert was absolutely scrumptuous! We sat in by the window looking out to the outdoor eating area, which is also very pleasant. I'm thinking this is a lot like a real French cafe. The lady at the cashier said Bon Jour and Merci as well... And they have great iced tea too...a selling point for me! I highly recommend a visit here, even if only for the desserts! : )
(5)
Chocolate F.
It's such a cozy environment. Good food, friendly staff, and people, nice and romantic..U can bring your loved ones and kids as well.. Has a fireplace!!! I loved it
(4)
Rachel E.
I really enjoy this chain and this location especially, I don't think I've ever had to wait in line at this location very long and it's usually quiet with plenty of places to sit. I've had somewhat the opposite experience in the Rockville location but I mean it is Rockville. I was introduced to this place a long time ago when I was just a kid by one of my Dads former girlfriends. I always liked to look longingly at the delicious pastries and croissants behind the glass, waving as I passed by. I don't actually wave... anymore. As I got older I usually came here alone for lunch during a work break or just before a shopping trip. I really love their Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta Salade, I never knew until I tried this that I actually liked a cold pasta dish. I've had the croque monsieur, which sometimes is a bit overbaked, but tastes good still. I actually don't recall what I use to order when I was a kid, I know I've sampled the quiches and been partial to the chicken pesto pasta since then. I've been carb crazy for years, I have a t-shirt that says so (lies). I like the little pieces of tomato throughout and the pesto has a good nutty taste to it. They do a pretty decent green bean almondine, there aren't many things in this world I enjoy more than green beans or almonds, together? Parfaite. Sadly not many people in my life share my almond love. Last but not least, their pastries are excellente. I especially love the strawberry napoleon and fresh fruit tart. Also go for the french vanilla tart with berries. I feel like Marie Antoinette herself when I eat these beautiful little creations. They are almost $5 each but ah, so good. The strawberry napoleon has a thick layer of frosting with sliced almonds on top sandwiched in between filo dough and custard with strawberry slices. It is a bit hard to eat but who really cares about that, you figure out a way to eat delish. The fresh fruit tart has sugary glazed fruit with a golden creamy custard and a perfect little tart shell. I haven't been much in the last few years but the food is always consistently good. I love the dark decor with the mahogany wood, fireplaces, and cheerful french music. There's usually hidden places you can sit and the 'teach you french words' tape they play in the bathroom is a cute touch. I recall the service being pretty good at this location and the people at the bakery are almost always kind.
(4)
Manuela H.
OK we're desperate for a little ambience in Columbia. It is relatively inexpensive French bistro. Not hot enough food generally but GREAT croissants, desserts and good salads. You can use up your calories, sit in front of the fireplace, read from your iPad on complementary wireless and speak some OK French. Great free email coupons for salad, soup and dessert keep me coming back. And they support breast cancer contributions.
(3)
Kailyn G.
Nice little lunch place. Basic sandwiches, salads and soup. They've also got a bakery with delicious looking desserts (though I haven't tried any). I got chicken salad on a croissant with pasta salad. But all the food I saw looked decent and there was a significant selection. I went with a group of ten, but since it's seat yourself, we just had to push some tables together. Service: Order at the counter, sit yourself, they bring it to you and clear your plates. Totally confusing, but the counter people are nice enough to answer your questions. Environment: Cute restaurant. Could imagine it being crazy busy and crowded, but I went on a weekend.
(3)
Ashley W.
First time here, will definitely come back. Food - 4, Service - 4, Layout Concept - 3. The system is confusing. Probably made worse that it was my first time there and I wanted to look at everything I could. Someone at the front asked me what I wanted, but I wasn't sure yet. I stared at the sizes of the quiches and someone else farther down asked for my order, still not ready. (Yes, I'm a pain) A third person at the register asked me and I ordered a Quiche Lorraine, steamed broccoli, and a mini creme brule tart. I was handed plates for the first and last, but the broccoli would be brought to me. I made a comment to the guy who rang me up about my indecisiveness, that it was my first time, and we said "welcome!" and presented me with a full (2 foot long?) baguette on the house. I was pleased. I was then shuttled to a station with free bread slices, butter and jams, drinks, and silverware. I'm a bread fanatic, so the free bread (on top of the surprise free loaf) was appreciated. We chose to eat outside, which was nice (though overlooking 175), until we tried to leave. I wanted a small to-go box, but the side doors to go back inside were locked! My friend had to go around front, back through the restaurant to let me in. We were also confused about what to do with our dishes and trays, so we left them outside. I went back to the counter to ask for box, and was told I'd find one by the bread and jam, but then I was stuck again with a plate and awkwardly laid it on an empty table. The quiche was great, very flaky crust and meaty interior. I will definitely be back for the mini tart, even though it claimed it was brule, which I associate with the crispy sugar layer, which this one only had in color. The broccoli needed more flavor, IMHO, but I'm also used to the south where everything is doused in butter and salt.
(4)
Brett H.
La Madeleline is a nice little cozy place. They are a bit expensive for the little amount of food you get. The food was good, but I definitely needed more. Opt for the large portions of the salad. The employees were nice as well as the atmosphere. Not a bad place to go if you are looking for a decent conversation over average food.
(2)
Jody Z.
La Madeleine is a "french bakery cafe" and it is set up semi-cafeteria style. The process can be a little confusing if its your first time there. They take your order almost immediately on a little palm pilot type computerized pad. Then you go down the cafeteria aisle and can grab anything on the line. When you get to the register, they add anything you've picked up and your drink order to your tab and you pay. You grab your own drinks, silverware and napkins and head to a table. The food is cooked to order and will be brought to your table. It has a nice atmosphere and its decorated very much like "grandma's house"...lots of doilies and knick knacks. There are nice tables outside, but the view of the highway isn't exactly the greatest ambiance. From the few times I've been, the place is clean and the staff is pretty nice. Food is good. Great breakfast. Nice fresh, buttery croissants. Amazing cinnamon french toast! This place would be good for groups....easy to pay separately. It didn't appear that there was a separate menu for kids though.
(3)
Roberto N.
Chicken La Madeline, with broccoli, and a side bowl of reduced fat Tomato Basil coup made for one of the better meals I've eaten in a while. KUDOS, to La Madeline Corporate for putting a calorie value in plain view on each and every item!!! (so don't go loading up on the free bread if you're dieting! HEY! Put that slice back!!!)
(4)
B B.
I had the chicken crepe; it was excellent. Sat outdoors - awesome vibe.
(5)
John F.
Chicken crepe riviera so delicious and served so quickly I had to make a second visit. On the second visit I ordered the French dip. The sandwich was dry, but I think this was because it sat below the heat lamp for five minutes. I got the side of green beans on both visits and it was good on both visits. On my second visit I noticed that the cook was eating and talking other mobile phone while I waited for my order. Strawberry Napoleon was stale and disappointing.
(3)
Russell R.
I like to stop here for coffee before going to work and really love the pastries, even if it's just a buttery, hot croissant. I like the coffee, the country-style, rustic ambiance, the classical music in the background, and the complementary bread, butter, and jellies. Occasionally have lunch or dinner with the spouse and the kid. It's quiet good and the portions are the right size. If I have to complain, it's the fireplace has the noisiest fan around and, when it's on, sounds like a low hum that forces me to sit as far away as possible. The staff are very nice and all-in-all a nice experience.
(4)
Craig S.
I was disgusted by this place!Went here last night for dinner with my family. Let me just say for being a french bakery they can't even make coffee right!I ordered the hazlenut latte dumped it out because it was disgusting. I than got the coffee I never had such disgusting coffee in my life!!The food was nothing. Panera is way better in my opion.
(1)
Ned F.
The food is good but unfortunately they had a whole container of spoons that had caramelized onions on them. The whole batch was dirty. Be careful with the utensils or bring your own. I had to ask behind the counter for a clean one.
(2)
Mary M.
Ooh-la-la! French pastries at their finest! I love La Madeleine and when I recently attended a birthday get together there was pleasantly surprised to find Paella!!! I have not been able to find affordable Paella in the area and was so excited to find it for $8.95! Now, my first Paella experience was in Spain, so it's hard to follow up this authentic dish from it's mother-land. La Madeline's paella was good for the cost and I really enjoyed it. Awesome pastries followed and hot tea. Oh - and the staff was really friendly too :)
(5)
Tiffani N.
3.5 stars The ambiance of La Madeleine is what keeps me coming back for more. I like their food (breakfast is the best), the pastries are pleasant and their coffee is pretty good. But I really love how I feel like I'm dining in a REAL French cafe in the middle of some Parisian square. Okay, okay, it's a little Disneyesque pseudo-French but I love all things Disney, too! They have woodburning fireplaces, dark mahogany wood tables and chairs, relaxing French music and even language lessons looping in the restrooms (my kids get a kick out of that). It's also nice to sit al fresco in the spring and summer breeze while enjoying the lovely view of Rt. 175 (smirk). I really do wish there were more places in HoCo like La Madeleine.
(3)
Frank G.
Reasonably good food that's something different from your typical "fast casual" restaurant fare, if a little pricey. If you're out shopping in the area, you could do far worse than stopping in here for a quick meal. That being said, I wouldn't say that anything here "wows" me -- although having enjoyed French staples in both Paris and Montreal during my life, I might have too-high standards for this type of stuff. I prefer La Madeleine for breakfast, and would give them a solid 3.5 stars for it. Their fruit salad is very good -- quality fruits, and actually fresh (I've seen them slicing melons for it). The coffee is always fresh, and available in both American and a stronger French roast. There's nothing bad on the menu (egg dishes, French toast), but also nothing that really stands out. The service at this location has always been very good. Not an issue with this location in particular, but for a chain this size, La Madeleine really should have nutritional information available on its web site. There are healthy dishes marked as "smart options" on the menu, but I'd prefer to have the details so I can make my own choices. The food seems to be standard across all the locations, so it should be an easy fix. Maybe I should be worried that they're not telling me what's in the food? :-/
(3)
Nam P.
Tomato basil soup is the best. We normally enjoy our dining experience here. But today we had to wait 30 minutes for our food to arrive and they ran out of bread. The bathroom was dirty also. :(
(3)
Rick A.
Don't like the roll now used on the Chicken Parisian sandwich. This is the only item I get when eating here and now I think it's and average versus exceptional sandwich. Too bad.
(2)
Brandon B.
Ok crepe, not ok price for it though. Probably won't be going here alot soon.
(4)
Harry E.
Very good sandwiches, soups, pastries and desserts. Price is the only thing holding it back from a 5-star.
(4)
Charles R.
Great food amidst 'comfortable bustle' and classic French bakery offerings and joy. I miss these where I live: central Virginia. LaMadeline is an American success story, serving French dishes such as Chicken La Madeline, including roasted chicken, rice pilaf and hot broccoli. Excellent.
(5)
Juliette B.
This is some real foofoo food (if u know what I mean) maybe I'm not cultural enough for this place. Great service and food anyway. My mom loves it.
(4)
Jeff C.
OK, so we went to La Madeleine in Bethesda almost every week always having to fight for a parking spot and a good seat. When we moved to Columbia, we were so happy that french food is indeed available here. Well, it's much more relaxed, open and I'd say elegant feeling. The food is similar to the ones in Bethesda. I love most of the entree here and have to say they resemble stuff I had in France. In summary, we are regulars here, and do our talking with our feet and money. We don't have the sense to care about the ethnicity of people working there as our nose and taste buds do the deciding, and the food is decent here.
(4)
Diana P.
I wish I could actually vote three and a half stars, but that is pretty much what I think this place deserves. The style of the eatery is a bit like a cafeteria (less than ideal) and it is a little absurd to me that when you enter, all the staff tries to speak french to you. However, the staff has always been friendly to me. I love that it has a fireplace and all wood atmosphere which just makes it more charming to me. There is patio dining too when the weather allows. The food is tasty (which in my mind is slightly less than delicious but I still clean my plate). Their produce is fresh and ripe, which is the key to making produce good. I don't like that if you order a glass of red wine (they only have merlot) it comes in one of those little bottles of wine, which is always blech. But thier homemade leomonade is about as good as you can hope for, well, as good as I can hope for, as it is just tart and sweet enough. However, as popular as it is, and it is pretty popular, the table arrangements make you feel like you are mostly alone.
(3)
Evil W.
Idiosyncratic breakfast place. This restaurant, located in an out parcel of the huge Columbia Crossings mall, is modeled after a bucolic French farmhouse. The staff is mostly Hispanics, so you wind up with the polyglot results of a faux French cafe in Maryland staffed by Hispanics serving faux French food. Still, it beats the continental breakfasts in the hotels and the greasy fast food alternatives. The setup is cafeteria style, although you can order off a menu as well. I recommend the "French breakfast" - which is not terribly French except that it (a) comes with a croissant and (b) comes with a side of the has browns with spinach that taste fabulous and almost make up for the overcooked paper-thin strips of bacon.
(3)
Danny L.
A much better tasting alternative to fast food. In a pinch or looking for a quick bite to eat, this place is great.
(3)
Natasha R.
Had Brunch there. Nice ambiance with the fireplace in the middle of the room. I agree that it's a bit confusing, as I was forced to order as soon as I walked in before I could even see what was son the cafeteria buffet. But the food is decent and I respect their attempt at the French Cafeteria style way of eating.
(3)
Jennifer H.
A little disappointing. Food was pretty good, but when I came in the place looked really gross. Food crumbs all over the tables and napkins on the floor. Chairs all over the place, not pushed under their tables. The staff behind the counter seemed a bit lazy. Soda fountain was a mess and obviously needed cleaning. The area where you picked up condiments had crumbs, food bits and little spills all over. My friend and I had to hunt down napkins to clean our own table! The building itself was meant to have a nice atmosphere with window seating and what looked like a fake wood burning fireplace. If it were actually clean, it would have been really nice. I had one of their pasta dishes and it was very good. If not for the food, this place would have gotten 1 star because of how dirty it was. I might try another location, but with this place being in Columbia, I really expected something much better!!!
(3)
Adam T.
The food was pretty tasty, but I felt it was a little over priced. It seems like a breakfast place, but if I'm going to go for breakfast, I'm going to choose Eggspectation.
(3)
Leeann D.
Excellent breakfast, pastries and coffee drinks! Environment is wonderful with a fireplace. Easy to get in and out with its cafeteria style. Cool place to bring out of town guests.
(5)
Chris C.
Ordered catering through them last night for an event feeding 30+ people. The food was amazing! The tuna salad sandwich had rich, delicious tuna salad and the croissants were flaky and buttery. To boot: the pastry we ordered were phenomenal with lots of variety and everything tasted extremely fresh. The staff are extremely courteous and will help load your vehicle if you need help.
(5)
tania t.
A breath of fresh air in a commercial, suburban parking lot. How can you not love it with it's fireplace and country french accoutrements? Adorable. The wait staff was very accomodating, even though they screwed up an order, and the food was tasty and felt more healthy than fast food in the same area. There's even outdoor seating on the patio, which is great for a sunny day.
(4)
kevin k.
generally good service and food. hey it is franchise. they are all about the same.
(4)
M. M.
I'm writing an update to the review based on our visit last evening. We went at the dinner hour on Sunday in hopes of ordering soup, pastry and in my husband's case an entree. When we got in, we discovered that the pastry case was just about EMPTY - the first time I've ever seen that at any La Madeleine. During the course of the meal they did put a few more things in the case but it was very pedestrian stuff like chocolate chip cookies for the most part. None of the Linzer cookies that are always a favorite with me. I was prepared to overlook this and just figure "oh, maybe today they sold out, the truck didn't come, etc." but then we got our food. We both ordered soup - I got tomato and husband got potato - and it was COLD. It was like they forgot to turn the heating elements in the pots on or didn't fill the pots in time for the soup to warm up. It was kind of disgusting but I had to eat something and the staff seemed like the usual shorthanded and kind of incompetent workers you get at this particular La Madeleine (getting good restaurant help is a constant problem all over Howard County in our 20-year experience of living in the area), so rather than make a fuss I just had extra cups of hot coffee and extra slices of free bread which at least they didn't mess up. I think in the future I'm just going to buy the jars of tomato soup and heat it up at home. I like La Madeleine food in general but as this is the second or third bad experience we've had at this particular outlet, I believe in the future we'll go back to driving out to Bethesda. Oh, and just to add: The setup they now have here for ordering is that you're confronted by someone sticking a menu at you the minute you walk in the door, when you're in a little 10-foot space prior to the start of the cafeteria line. You don't get to see what's on the cafeteria buffet, so if you don't already know then you're out of luck and have to order food before you see. And making people order as soon as they walk in creates major congestion between the head of the line and the door, as there is only a 10-foot or so space, and new people are coming in and trying to join the line and being shunted off with menus. I solve this problem by just never ordering from the menu and always getting soup, salad or something like a friand from the hot bar, but it's a really confusing and bad way to take orders. They used to take your sandwich order from behind the hot food bar after you'd had a chance to look at what was available on the line as well as on the menu, and I think that worked way better than having a waiter jump on you when you're one foot inside the door. (and maybe then said waiter, who was also working the soup station, would have remembered to heat the soup up!)
(2)
Jessie H.
I met a girlfriend for breakfast on Saturday at La Madeleine in Columbia. We both ordered a fruit cup and the Quiche Loraine. The quiche had absolutely no taste. It was so bland that neither of us could eat even half of it. It was very disappointing and I wish would have spent $12 somewhere else. I probably will not return.
(2)
Alph G.
Awesome soup!!! Get the tomato soup - you will not be sorry! The nicoise salad is also quite good. I'm not sure some of the food is very healthy (le croque monsieur, anyone?) but there are healthy options. And there is a fireplace which is really nice in the winter. My only real complaint is that the service at the bakery/coffee section is terrible. Man, I've had to wait forever to get a hot cocoa. But besides that, this place is really good.
(4)
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Address :6211 Columbia Crossing Dr
Columbia, MD, 21045
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Carlyn M.
I came here for breakfast. The food was delicious. I ordered the Country French Breakfast, which came with eggs, bacon, croissant and a potato galette. I didn't even know what the hell it was (galette).Lol! But twas YUMMY!! I like how they have toast, butter and jelly that you can have for free while you wait for your food or you can enjoy with your meal. The ambiance was pretty chill. We didn't have to wait that long for our food. I will definitely come back again. As long as I lived in Columbia I have no idea how I skipped this place. The iced coffee, and the spinach quiche was delicious as well! The employees could look a little happier. It would be nice if they could at least look like they wanted to take my order. Give me a little smile or something :-) lol!
(5)Tom W.
While in Columbus, Ohio, we enjoyed breakfast at a French breakfast chain which I thought was Madeline's...perhaps it wasn't. Yes, just looked, it was Mimi's...would drive a bit longer to Mimi's next trip. A quick stop on a business driving trip st this location was a bit disappointing. No waiter service, terrible eggs Benedict (one egg was way overcooked and one way undercooked), and generally.not satisfying. Maybe I recall Mimi's in Columbus?
(2)Christina S.
If it weren't for the service, I would come here everyday because I love their pastries. And I have no problem stocking up on their sweets! Their croissants are crisp on the outside and soft in the center. Perfect! The ambiance and decor is beautiful, and it's self seating. But man oh man the service is so BAD! 2 out of the 3 times I've been here, the cashier had a horrible attitude and gives the most dirty looks (girl with the hot pink lipstick). The cashier on my 2nd visit was nice to me, but was unfriendly to the picky yet polite customer ahead of me. I figured maybe the cashiers are having a bad day, so I'd try to ignore their attitudes and be polite. But to run into this poor experience 3 times consecutively, makes me think no changes are going to be made at this particular franchise to remedy this problem. I like the self seating idea, but every time I come here the majority of the tables are dirty. My boyfriend and I ordered breakfast on a weekday around 10am...the restaurant only had a handful of customers. We waited for what it seemed like forever for some eggs and a croissant. Food is delicious, but is a little pricey and definitely not worth the poor service.
(3)Heather M.
The interior of this cafe is decorated so well. Pretty light fixtures, nice seating area, and a warm fireplace to cozy up to! We went in the afternoon and maybe it's because we came after the lunch crowd, most tables were left dirty. Ordering was so hectic. We were ordering from both the cafe and bakery menu. One of the workers was telling us to buy the bakery stuff separately in the bakery section but no one was there to take out order. Once we got someone in the bakery section to get our cute little pastries and espresso drinks, she told us to go back to the cafe section and pay for everything together. So we were told different things from two workers. Anyhow, their pastries tasted just as good as they looked! Their cafe mocha was really yummy but also extremely sweet. I had to dilute it with some coffee to tone down the excessive sweetness. If you can't decide on a place to chit chat with people, this place is a safe bet.
(3)tori a.
I don't believe I will be coming back here again. That's too bad because the food is pretty good. During my last experience there I left with what seemed like bite marks and/or hives all over the back of my legs from sitting on their chair. It was gross and I don't want to even think of what bugs were inside the woven material of their wicker-like seating. A minute after I sat down I started itching. What a terrible experience.
(2)Jen Y.
I really want to give La Madeleine a higher rating, but sometimes the pastries are not as delightful in taste as they appear so it can be disappointing. I don't mind going back though because there's always room for improvement, and everything about this restaurant is very reasonable.
(3)Jennifer B.
My coworkers took me here yesterday for a lunch celebration to celebrate that I recently got married and we were lucky enough to grab a table outside which was nice since it was such a nice day. We all ordered sandwiches but it seemed that our wait for quit long and that they had forgotten about one of the girls sandwiches. By the time we got our food we all enjoyed what we had but the service was a bit disappointing. Will go back again but hoping the service will be better when we return.
(3)Kris L.
This review is for desserts only! Stopped by this establishment on a Friday afternoon for a snack. Tried the chocolate almond tart and the lemon cream cake. The lemon cream cake is new and actually has layers of lemon creme between layers of yellow cake. It was very tasty and sweet and tart at the same time! The mini chocolate almond tart is chocolate ganache on top but inside is actually almond cream which Was delish!
(4)Nick L.
Food is great and tastes good. Environment is awesome. Employees aren't very French though lol
(4)Sonny C.
So this place was so so. I had the French breakfast which included bacon, some concoction of has brown, 2 eggs over easy. Croissant was awesome, flaky outside and soft in the middle. Eggs made perfect. Hashbrown was not so great it had down hard pieces. 3 stars cause the staff was instantly depressing. If they had a heartbeat they must have accidentally cooked it and served it to customers. Coffee was good but the initial onslaught of depressing employees was too much to overlook. 4/28/2015 @0800
(3)Olivia M.
I have gone here twice and will never be back. The first time out quiche was cold and bland (pretty sure it used to be frozen) The cashier had some fake French accent and it was all a bit contrived. The second time I found a fly in my salad and instead of apologizing the manager just keyed in his code to the register and gave me a refund. I left hungry and grossed out.
(1)Danny C.
When it comes to French anything, I'm completely naive, or ignorant so please forgive me for that. The only French I know is Beef Bourguignon, French Kissing, and France is in Europe... Okay, I know a little more about French, but when it comes to food? Beef Bourguignon and baguette. That's about it. So if you're French or is some French Connoisseur and say that I have no taste in French food then HEY! I'm sorry okay?! :( So my brother told me about this place and how it's a pretty good place for meetings and get-togethers. The food there was pretty good too. So I went with my brother and sister recently and was greeted by a beautiful woman. Was she French? I heard French women were beautiful. ;) Anyways, jokes aside, well half jokes, we ordered our food then sat down by the fireplace. The dim lighting, fireplace, the wooden floor and mystic tables made me feel like I was in a fine dining restaurant. Kinda. In a way. I ordered the French Dip to see if it would be better than the Victoria's Gastro Pub French Dip and come to find out? IT WAS. Seriously, the French Dip at Vic's was subpar. My brother got the Beef Bourguignon and my sister got the Croque Monsieur. The Beef Bourguignon was pretty good but not as good as our own personal versions of it! (Thanks to Anthony Bourdain). The meat was tender and flavorful and went well with the rest of the dish. My sister's sandwich was really good. From the flavors of the meats melding with the cheese and strong hints of garlic. And the pasta salad that came with her dish was good too! Nice contrast from the hot sandwich. The sandwich actually came out hot. Whether nuked or not, it was still good! Service was good and the food was good!
(4)Eremini K.
I would absolutely come back when I visit the area. Perhaps try some pastries next time!! We had brunch here and tried the Egg benedict and omelette which were light and fluffy and cooked to perfection - not too dry or runny.
(4)Majlinda K.
Amazing little cafe in Columbia. They have an extensive menu of salads, sandwiches, soups and ymmy desserts and baked goods. I ordered the chicken spinach salad and it was light and refreshing. We finished the meal with some creme brulee and a fruit parfait and they were excellent! The restaurant has a section of different bread selection and butter all you can eat/self serve which was really neat! The restaurant is very neatly decorated and there is a fire place in the middle. The seating is self serve. One thing that was really confusing was ordering. They did not have a good way to order and it was confusing. They had the catering menus at the door but when you went up to the counter they had a slightly different menu. If they swaped those two menus the line would move ALOT quicker!
(4)Tamara N.
I love the food a La Madeline, but the Columbia, MD location leaves alot to be desired. Their staff have the worst attitude and today when I got a caesar salad, I literally got a box of lettuce and a lemon wedge. Oh, and a nasty attitude when I asked for croutons. I'm not paying $10 for lettuce. They should take a trip a few yards to Mission BBQ and learn something about customer service.
(2)LaToya E.
On my quest for the prefect cup of coffee I stumbled upon the reviews for this place and decided to check it out. When I first arrived the only menus available by the door were the catering menus but the woman taking orders showed me the regular menu so I could order. Since it was my first time there I decided to keep it simple with a breakfast croissant and a latte. There was tons of yummy stuff on the cafeteria like line but I will save that for my next visit. I paid and found a nice table with a view of the very cozy fire place and waited for the staff to bring out my order. When my croissant arrived my latte was missing but the staff was very quick in making sure I received it. The food was super tasty and the drink was good so no complaints at all from me! I was very impressed at how friendly the staff was! When I told the lady that rang me out it was my first time there she was helpful in telling me where everything was and to rest assured that I would be taken care of.. I value a place with good food AND good service! I'm still on my quest for the perfect warm beverage but I will be back to this place very soon!
(5)Chad B.
La Madeleine is an intimate, homey pastry shop. It's a good place to go for a warm beverage or a dessert. There's a stone fireplace in the middle of the dining area, and there are little nooks scattered across the restaurant (it doesn't feel like a place with a big, open room). You can see most of the desserts displayed in the window at the front. We stood there for several minutes. No one waited on us at the counter until we shouted for someone. I don't feel like the staff was all that friendly. We ordered at the cash register, paid, and took our food to a table. Once seated, the atmosphere was really nice for a cold, winter day. It helps facilitate conversation. The pumpkin pie and the crème brulee were great but very rich! They were both heavy and very high quality. The pie was very flavorful, and you can really taste the pumpkin in it. It had a large dollop of dense whipped cream on it. The crust was perfectly done. The crème brulee had a thick and creamy taste - I'm sure it was loaded with calories but every bite was delicious. The portions were generous and the prices were reasonable. La Madeleine is great for dessert and discussion.
(4)Sherry H.
The Bethesda location was much better. They screwed up husband's order. My food was to salty. The mushroom sauce was not hot, almost cold. They took forever to bring out husband's French Dip.
(2)Maria P.
What a bakery!! The menu might not be huge but they have plenty of delicious food to eat. Desserts are to die for. Atmosphere is cozy and great.
(5)Jackie O.
The Madeline never fails! :) The chicken and pesto pasta great! Chicken Caesar salad great!! The dessert are so good! They have complimentary breads with yummmmy strawberry jam. If you want to learn a little of French go to the restroom and listen to the speakers. Its seems like a little piece of France.
(5)Brook H.
Decided to stop here on a whim as I'd always seen this place and wondered what it was like. This is definitely a pleasant, although not exactly cheap, dining experience and one I'd do again. The staff there were friendly and helpful, understanding that I'd never been in there before. It's partially a "cafeteria" style, where you look at the menu and take a tray. However, they do have a server there to take your order for hot foods to bring to your table (the tray is mostly for cold food, pastries, and drinks). You then find a place to sit and wait for them to find your table. The decor is very nice, mimicking a French villa cafe with cozy fireplaces and low ceilings, and works well for reading, using a laptop, or social interaction. Some may feel a bit crowded as tables and chairs are close to each other (to squeeze more customers in), but I enjoyed finding my own little spot to myself. I found the food nicely done and tasty, with my quiche just the right consistency and flavor with a good flaky crust. My soup was obviously flavored with onion and vegetables rather than salt, which was a nice break from the usual sodium-laden fare you get at other restaurants. The pastry I ordered was also nice, although a bit overpriced for the size you get. Overall, I'd say my experience here was a hit and I'll be back. Don't expect to find a cheap lunch here, but it's not going to break your wallet. Plus, the atmosphere and food are merveilleux!
(4)Asa B.
I went there yesterday with my family for the first time! inside was clean and decorated nicely! Employees were friendly and helpful, the place was really busy and packed during lunch hours! I liked their roast beef sandwich very much!
(3)Joanna K.
The interior of cafe is decorated well and interesting. It looked cute from outside and that's what made me want to try it out. The restaurant made me feel like I was at a cozy, pastry expert place. I went here for lunch and saw many people dropping in for casual lunch date and students studying. The price is solid for what they give you unfortunately, as delicious as it may sound on menu, the food was just alright. I wasn't blown away by the "fresh bread" or creative sandwiches. I may be back for its desserts - which all looked delicious but I didn't have a chance to try.
(3)Rob N.
Hey - it's fast-casual pseudo-Gallic cafe food. Relatively cheap, too. What do you want - Michelin stars? Decent coffee. The option of an airline-bottle of wine with your lunch. Salads and sandwiches made to order, along with a handful of hot entrees and soups. Service is swift, you don't have to bus your own tables, and there's complementary brown bread, butter, jam, and wifi. Life could suck more. The sad thing is that the baked goods aren't that great, but they're probably trucked in from somewhere. So enjoy your croque monsieur next to the faux-rustic gas fireplace, and then head back out into the savage wilderness of Columbia.
(4)Bree L.
Weird set up how you order and pay before you eat (there's no one explaining this to you when you get there) and it's very busy for brunch on Sunday's. Excellent food.
(5)Renata K.
Very good food! I ordered the French breakfast along with the French toast. The eggs were cooked perfectly and seasoned. The potato thing was really good as well. Bacon was nice and crispy. The French toast was the highlight of my meal though with a generous amount of fruits and berries on top! (I really like fruits) I also ordered the mini desserts which I will try later at home but they look delicious!
(5)Bernice S.
Love it! I at least felt like I was in a different country. It can get very loud depending on the day. My first visit had a group of people for lunch and they were extremely loud. But then again, it just means good business. Dessert is great and the coffee is... Let's just say I am obsessed! Can't wait go try their Quiche and Paella. After all these years, I'm glad I finally tried this restaurant. Where have I been?
(5)Frank M.
I had a quiche Lorraine and my girl had an eggs Benedict style breakfast entree and a chocolate macaroon. The food was good, but I felt like it could have been somewhat better. I guess if you are at a chain French-style cafe, you shouldn't expect too much. I probably just built it up too much as I had been looking forward to this breakfast since the day before. The service was great and they were very helpful since it was my first time at the location and was unclear about the process with the table tent numbers. I also ordered a chicken pesto sandwich with their pasta salad that I had later for lunch. That was quite good, but did not seem to be consistent with the French-style cafe theme. In summary, it's as good as any random bakery or boulangerie you might come across, but nothing special. The key is probably to not go into it expecting too much.
(3)Katherine B.
I only had dessert and coffee, but this place was super cute and i'll come back for lunch. It's like a buffet, order up front type deal. But it was cold out, my son and i wanted some dessert, i had read they had good coffee and i was in the mood for a cappuccino. I got two of the mini parfaits. I like that they save small sized versions of most of their desserts. My son got some chocolate cake. The cappachino was good. It was real, not some powder/sweet stuff. It had good flavor. All in all was pretty good and the real fire was nice to sit by and chat. I could see this being great for a casual lunch, and their breakfast menu also looked pretty good. Will update the review when i have their food.
(4)Tasey V.
My husband and I dropped by this location midday on a Saturday. As it is sort of cafeteria style, we ordered our meals and got the sides that were already prepared. The girl working the order was rude and pouty (it was midday Valentine's Day, maybe she had a bad day but that doesn't warrant her attitude)- she seemed less than happy to be there and was taking it out on us. My husband and I are both fluent in French and upon placing our orders the girl corrected us on our pronunciation of words such as Monsieur and Provencal while rolling her eyes. I don't even have words for being reprimanded for pronouncing words correctly by an eye-rolling teenager. The food was bland and room temperature (even my soup). We were running errands and not expecting much from the impromptu lunch so at least our expectations were met by a pouting teenager and mediocre food.
(2)G D.
Cool place, great food and enjoyed eating outside until....I believe they are either a supervisor or Manger but complaining about and loudly talking about political issues such as cattle, farmers, resources and other issues really detracted from the visit. I would've rated it 5 stars but this was loud. I get mingling with customers, but expressing views loudly with customers around? However they are friendly, just tone it down or go on with your daily chores with a simple "hi".
(3)Yimei W.
This was a place of respite in the cold winter months. Where else around the area can you find a cozy restaurant with a real fireplace? Seriously, it's about the ambiance here. Their food is above average but not mind-blowing. Just enough to give you a "feeling" that you're in a decent, frenchy place. I have always liked the a la carte items you can just order on your own from the counter, as well as the soups, and salads. However--the price is slightly expensive. When you factor in that you don't have to pay a tip, however, it kind of evens out. Their desserts are yummy and they do have nice coffee. It's a great place to get cozy in cold weather and in the hotter months you can sit outside :)
(4)Ieesha J.
I've always adored this place. Great food great ambience such a cute little establishment. I particularly like how I can choose my menu from different combo sandwiches to salads to luscious desserts. The Columbia location has friendly staff very clean interior. Will always have this on my favorite lunch place list.
(5)Ms J K.
Food was adequate but unfortunately the slovenly kept kitchen and the chaos of the wait staff poorly waiting on everyone took away from the overall experience The kitchens overflowing trash can being in direct eye line made for the whole dining experience one that I don't want to repeat - I guess the manager was off today.
(2)Nichole Y.
Found this little gem on Yelp and I was very happy with my choice. I've past this place many times but never stopped in because the outside decor led me to believe that it was finer dining then it actually is. It's cafeteria style and you order with someone, take a number, and have a seat. The decor is very cozy with a fireplace and dark hardwood furniture. I got the Parisian eggs Benedict which was really good and my sister got the turkey brie with a salad and she was pretty happy with her selection as well. The ambiance did a lot for me and I will certainly be back to cozy up next to the fire with a crossiant and coffee soon.
(4)Te T.
I give seriously up! In a hurry, we ran into the pastry side just a minute ago (8:30am) hoping for a pastry and drinks to go. The display case hadn't been stocked yet and nothing on the speed rack against the wall indicating anything was cooling. Employees looked over at us while stocking the main dining line, wandering, chatting, but never acknowledged or came by to see if we wanted anything. One customer had to almost yell at someone just to get a menu. We gave up for Jae's Grill!
(1)Margaret N.
Very cute restaurant! Love the fireplace area. I like how you can order food like a school lunch line, pay and then sit down and wait for them to bring your food. They have a pretty extensive menu. A tad over priced though and desserts aren't mediocre, as they may appear. Great place for a hot chocolate or coffee though!
(3)Sam A.
La Madeleine is a well-rounded cafe/breakfast place that offers everything. I mean, you basically have to grab everything a la carte, but the place is very spacious with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, has a fireplace, and has a great atmosphere to sit down and talk, read, or study, or whatever you need to do at a place other than Panera or Starbucks. As far as the food goes, I don' tknow why some people give this place a bad rep. It's probably the only place in the God-forsaken state of Maryland that has decent food, so I don't know why some people are bashing on it. Maybe they're just spoiled because they're from California or something. But as far as the food goes, it's up to par. I'd say the pasta is really good, they make very good cakes, the creme brulee is expensive, but tasty, the parfaits are very good, the potato galette is always a good option, and they even have white/wheat bread + jam as a complimentary snack, so stock up on those if you're extra hungry. Also, if you'd like to learn some French, eat there, and also dispose of all the food you've ate there as well and spend the ten minutes in the bathroom. It'll teach you how to count to ten and some curse words in Frech. Kidding. Overall, great atmosphere and great food. I like it.
(5)Coleen F.
Food is usually pretty good. Breakfast is usually my first choice. Particularly enjoy the Country French breakfast. Croissants are delicious. I'm currently enjoying the French dip sandwich. It's really good. Crispy french bread, tender roast beef,and the horseradish sauce has a nice heat to it. My only complaint about this place really is NO WIFI! What's up with that??
(4)Michael M.
This is an awesome place to grab a bite. Great food and great service. Everything we got was delicious. Definitely eating here every time I'm in the area!
(5)Jennifer T.
*turkey bistro (Smoked turkey, crisp bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, melted provolone and sun-dried tomato pesto* spread on a toasted sourdough roll; I obviously got this without bacon but this sandwich hit the spot!!! The turkey was good and I loved the bread; it was simple yet very satisfying, not oily thank god; I got this with fruit salad instead of chips which was an additional $1.59 charge) *fresh squeezed orange juice (what can I say? it's OJ haha); potato pancake (good but quite oily, the flavor was good and it was a good size though) *french toast (omg, SUPER SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was drowned in syrup and I honestly don't even know how the french toast actually tasted, this was terrible) *roasted chicken (this chicken was awesome! very juicy and tender and not tainted by a lot of flavors; this came with rice and broccoli; it was a great deal since it was half a chicken on the plate) This place is super cute and service is good, I don't know how the kitchen keeps up with the orders since we can be sitting anywhere in the restaurant and they have to come find our seats; it's similar to a Panera or Corner Bakery Cafe
(3)Sarah G.
Came here for book club; I hadn't been to a La Madeleine in probably 5 years. This is a nice large location for the shop; lots of places to sit and it has that "vibe" that classy-fies the experience. I was here with 4 other women and most of us got salads. I got the roasted chicken salad with pear and gorgonzola; it was very good but salts you out for the rest of the day. I had a coffee and had my eye on dessert, but I didn't have room. I ate all my salad and it was worth the $13 bill I had. I'd much rather go here than Panera or similar. The food is much, much better and the wide variety ensures my eyes are much bigger than my stomach.
(4)Ma-e M.
I keep on coming back for pastries and take it to go. In the past, I was annoyed by the lack of communication at the counter but the guy at the to go counter, I get more attention and I'm out of there in few minutes to head home to my dogs.
(4)Danielle R.
This place is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Columbia (the other being the Famous Dave's next door)! The atmosphere in the place is lovely and as it's a seat-yourself kind of place, you can choose what sort of area you prefer. I almost always sit by the windows if there's a table open there, but the patio is a quiet, pretty alternative and I've heard a lot of people prefer sitting by the fire. I like going first thing in the morning or at slightly off times in the afternoon so it's quiet enough to enjoy the classical music they play on the speakers. All of the food I've tried has been phenomenal, but my favorites are the French dip and the lemon white chocolate chunk cookies (cookies appear to be seasonal, which is a bummer). They also make delicious caramel macchiatos that are just the right level of sweet without tasting overly syrupy. The only downsides to the place are the ordering system, which is confusing for newcomers, and their tendency to forget to put everything in the bag for carry out orders. More than half of the time I have to remind them to get the soup for my French dip, but the online ordering for carry out is so convenient that it's not much of a bother. The minor downsides are so very overwhelmed by the amazing atmosphere and food that it's still a 5-star in my book!
(5)Milton H.
Came here for breakfast. Selection is limited. Decor is old. Service was fast though. Columbia needs to take a tip from DC breakfast spots. Variety, zest, expansive selection. Possibly may come back but not soon.
(2)Stacy R.
I've been here 2-3 times this past month. The food has been great every time. The restaurant has been dirty 2 out of the 3 times. To me, cleanliness has got to be top-notch.
(3)Rae M.
La Madeleine's is a little slice of French Heaven, right here in Maryland!!! Not sure why all the nit picky comments about this restaurant, to each's own I guess, but I LOVE IT! Whenever my mom, sisters and I go on our shopping excursions to Columbia Mall, we have to stop here! I've never had anything but their breakfast, that must be enough, because we keep coming back for more. One word...CROISSANT!!! They have the most delicious, flaky, buttery croissant I've ever had. I almost slapped my mother the first time I had it...it was that good. Then I came to my senses because I would have been picking my teeth up from the ground. A croissant comes with the breakfast meals on the menu. When you enter you're greeted by a member of the staff with a hearty BONJOUR! You can either order off the menu or pick up items from the front counter. It gives you a feel of a cafeteria setting, where you have a tray, pick up items in front of you and go to the register. If you're meal is being prepared, you get a wooden spoon with your order number on it for delivery at your table. I normally order an omelet that I personalize, but I've had the french toast before and it was scrumptious! It had fruit, whipped cream and everything on it.....truly a party in your mouth! The menu is reasonably priced, but remember this is not a McDonald's or Burger King, so you may not want to bring your family of 6...it can become expensive. They have a wide variety of pastries that I have yet to try. My breakfast is so filling that I'm unable to even think about a pastry for later. The fireplace is the center of the room and everyone races to sit around it when it's chilly outside. It's a hot spot. The room has a rustic countryside feel to it. The La Madeleine's on Rockville Pike has a recording in the ladies room where you can learn some France facts and French phrases. Really cool. My only complaint is that this one doesn't have that option. Take it from me..a TRUE FOODIE!
(5)Natasha B.
I have eaten here a few times, since my coworkers like it, but it is only just ok. The space is cute and cozy. Of the items I've tried the tomato soup and Caesar salad have been my favorites. The pasta salad is boring. My coworker regretted the French onion soup. The espresso is better than average. If you want something quick and casual and are sick of places like Panera, this is not a bad option.
(3)Sondra j.
This place has done a full 360 since first opening years ago. Food menu forever changing. Staff forever changing. My biggest problem is the cleanliness issue. With my own eyes having witnessed an employee walk straight out of the latrine - by passing water, soap and the likes - and headed directly to the serving counter to (you guessed it) serve customers. Told the manager, said she would speak to her. "Now would be a good time" I said " since she's serving food with filthy hands." After getting a blank stare, I walked out, never, ever to return again.
(1)R S.
Always stop-by for the cakes.....Tarts ... No complains its the only place to get this in Columbia area. No Choice....
(5)Nina B.
What a quaint beautiful place! If you get a table by the fire, there is nothing like it. The food is consistently good. Avoid going in on Saturday mornings since its packed but this cafe is definitely worth the trip.
(4)Serena M.
My son and I went for a late breakfast this morning. Wow. The lady who greeted us was downright surly. Seriously mean. I don't expect a lot from a place with such a bizarre system, but I don't appreciate being barked at. But my son really wanted to eat there, so I didn't tell her to cram it. Our lattes arrived barely above room temperature. Then our food was taken to another table. When we told the food runner, she had to walk around with our plates for five minutes to confirm we were telling the truth. The other table had already confirmed it wasn't their order. My crepe was fine. It may have been good, but I was kinda pissed off at that point. Son's poached eggs were undercooked. I cannot stomach an egg with a runny white, but he just ate everything else and dipped into the yolks because he's chill like that. Plus, with the horrible attitude, why would we send back food? Not eager to learn what they would do with that! That's the last $23 they're getting from me. Fortunately, the conversation was good.
(1)Eng P.
This spot is just okay. I had the regular breakfast scrambled egg whites with cheese, bacon, a croissant, and a hash brown cake. The hash brown cake? is really good. The seasoning is really good. It tastes like green peppers or a hint of celery are in it. Hard to tell, though. The croissant was hard for a French cafe. The restaurant itself is sort of confusing. There's this cafeteria line upon entering the restaurant, but you can order from the menu at the same time. The baked desserts in the glass case looked good. They need to tidy up a bit, as I noticed trash in a few places. I may try this spot again. Nothing to write home about, but not bad either.
(3)Dorothy A.
Rude staff, dirty dishes. Food is ok, but not good enough to overcome the extremely rude service.
(1)Mykol T.
The food as always is wonderful there I had the pleasure of speaking to some of the employees and they are very pleasant. I will be coming back and I will be recommending this restaurant to all of my friends!!! 5 STARS!!
(5)Ali M.
Yum yum yum! I have seen this restaurant before but never actually gave it a chance. My friend recommended it last Saturday for lunch and it was beyond what I expected. I think as a sum up it is like a classy Panera. The food is fresh. I got the sandwich with Brie and turkey and goat cheese spread, ceased salad and a cup of French onion soup. I hate microwaving food but I never finish a meal so I'm stuck with that rubber taste. The sandwich however tasted just as good later as it did I'm the restaurant. I would give it a 4.5 starts only because it was 30 for lunch of two ( my bf and I) but hey that's the price you pay for fresh foods!
(5)R B.
I used to come in a lot and enjoyed it, but the last few times I've come in, the people seem very rude and resentful. The manager (a woman) doesn't seem to care about the quality of service or food. I got the Parisian Benedict- I get it at all the le Madeleine's I stop into and this place in Columbia is the only one consistently terrible. The eggs weren't just runny, but cold and the whites were also runny. I had to return it and the "cook" gave me a nasty look and snatched the plate. Then she and the manager snickered in the kitchen and took another 20 minutes to send out my order. I don't usually complain, but after several bad experiences in this one store, I felt I had to write something. The rustic atmosphere is still nice, but this location has been terrible with everything else. This is the first time I've actually returned the food though. I just couldn't eat it. It came back out 20 minutes later overdone, but I'll take that.
(2)Barbara H.
Good food, lots of choices, nice people. Great place to meet a friend for a get together! Columbia, MD
(5)Adrienne W.
I've been wanting to go to this place for the longest time and FINALLY made it here last weekend after doing some Christmas shopping at Target, Carter's, and old navy. This was the perfect place to go on a super cold, winter evening. The place is SO COZY. The layout is centered around a huge two way fireplace. We, of course took seats right up against it! I'll post a pic of my daughter oohing at it. The ordering method was slightly confusing, which is why I can't give la Madeleine 5 stars. My husband awkwardly went through the ordering line while me and the child enjoyed the fire. The confusion lies with some items they bring to you (entrees?), while others you pick up on the line as a la carte (quiches, soups, salads?). I ordered a sandwich, which must've fell in the bring it to us category, husband ordered a quiche and Soup. As he walked away with our order stick, the lady beckoned him back to pick up his food. There was a moment of confusion.. Not gunna lie. But all the staff was extremely helpful in sorting it out for us (maybe this happens often?). They were also very kind and accommodating as one staff member followed my finicky self through the restaurant with a high chair while I picked the perfect table. The food was warm and comforting... Just what we needed. Either that or just eating by a fire makes things that much tastier. We were all very satisfied. We didn't have room for dessert but they looked very tastey as well. We will be back as there's plenty on the menu worth trying!!
(4)Ed M.
Fun restaurant with French style food and Panera method self service. My wife had the chicken pie and I the roast rosemary chicken, sharing a prosciutto pear salad. Salad was excellent and huge, fresh greens with prosciutto bits. Roast coq was also v good the skin crisp covered in rosemary. Pot pie was tasty but should have more chicken pieces though the crust was good and many layered. Entrees were piping hot. The atmosphere is quite comfortable and relaxed with plenty of space. Perfect for us today... in a moderate hurry. We wanted a hot meal sitting down on a cold windy day before checking into a hotel. Also got croissants for breakfast but haven't tasted them yet. Nice restaurant!
(4)Jen C.
I'm going to start off saying that the food wasn't bad. But there's a reason for that--it was doused, and I mean DOUSED, in butter. In looking through the menu, it didn't seem like there were many healthy options, but there were many tasty sounding ones. Read the calories, and you'll wince...cringe... We ordered the tomato bisque soup, which was very good with their complimentary wheat bread (you can grab as much as you need), in addition to the chicken pesto pasta. The pasta was overdone, oversauced, overbuttered...it pretty much dripped in grease. Tasted good, but for all the wrong reasons. There was also no taste of pesto, and the basil looked like it was sprinkled from a jar (very dark green as opposed to your usual popping green). Bread that comes with it was standard, a little too hard. Someone came and swooped our items without saying anything. You won't really get much service or peppiness out of anyone here except for when you order your food. A decent stop when there's no other options and you are in the area, and are willing to down tons of calories for a small bite.
(3)Jude S.
I have tried to like this place. Their tomato basil soup is very good, but every time I try to get a salad (which is small and over priced), the lettuce is rotten. I have contacted the restaurant in the past about this issue, and it is never resolved. Yesterday, I ordered take out, and before I left, I checked the salads. One was so bad that you couldn't eat at least half of it. I asked for another salad. She came back with an even worse product. The lettuce was disgusting! The third time she finally gave me a salad that was marginally acceptable. I will not be returning.
(1)M R.
My husband & I had breakfast here on a whim because it was close to the theater & we had never been. We did not regret it. Upon entering, there were a few customers crowded near the door/take out area and we weren't approached by a host, so we were confused about the process. I explained to a young woman behind the counter (she greeted us w/a huge beautiful smile) that it was our 1st time there & she immediately explained everything clearly. She was very helpful. Apparently the host was busy doing the same thing w/the crowd at the door. He seemed to be having so much fun talking to them I thought he was part of their party & didn't realize he was the host. My husband & I opted to order breakfast from the menu rather than select our food from the "cafeteria line." When my hubby went back to place our order the young lady who helped us was there again eager to make sure everything went smoothly. My caramel macchiato was yummy & my husband said his coffee was good. I had the Country French Breakfast & he had the Parisien Eggs Benedict. As others have stated, the food is delicious w/nice portions, but a bit more expensive than it should be. During our meal, the manager, Theo, made his way to our table, had small talk, & joked about my husband's Yankees cap (go Yankees!). I informed Theo it was our 1st time dining there & I wasn't sure what to do with our dirty dishes. His reply, just leave them there, we want you to enjoy your food and time here in complete comfort. Of course it was delivered with a big smile! Wow, such fantastic customer service, something that seems so rare these days. My husband & I had already made up our minds, we'd definitely return! Then, Theo returned to our table with a welcome gift for our first time there, a fresh warm loaf of French bread!! Yum! I know this review is long, but this location deserves their praises. Yes, I've been there just once, but the superior customer service from the two employees we had contact with made our experience wonderful & guaranteed our return. Yes, it's like a "French Panera," yes the food is a bit more pricey than it should be, but it was yummy, & the atmosphere was cozy & friendly. There's noooo question we will return & I look forward to trying their other locations.
(4)Sherri K.
For the price the food is decent. nice choies but all high calorie! But one of the things htey are known for is their roasted whole chicken. Its nice that you can hve them plate it on 2 plates, get a side or 2 and have a great meal for a really good price. However for the last few years it seems they are always out of it - it'll be 45 minutes till next one or something like that. I get that when we go in at 8pm. but at 630- thats dinner time. they shouldnt constantly be out of them at that time. Dunno if we'll keep going back since thats our favorite there.
(3)Stephen M.
For a place that seems to be in the middle of nowhere, its pretty popular. Overall, I would have to rate it average and just like the others in the chain--no better or worse. On the up-side, there are a lot of semi-private tables that are good for catching up on reading or work, even at busy times.
(3)Rick S.
Went here for the first time today. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It was a little busy, and we didn't know the menu, so that was a bit of a delay for us. But the food was very good, and they had a large selection of food, pastries, and deserts. I will definitely be coming back here soon.
(4)Michelle T.
This was my first visit, to say the least the only positives is the coffee was hot and the chocolate croissant was good (I prefer them warmed but apparently that isn't an option?!!!). I ordered the American Breakfast, my friend ordered Eggs Benedict. My food came out a good 10 minutes before hers. Both of our eggs were on the runny side (gross). Bacon was super greasy. I can't say we'll be back. Cute place for maybe just coffee and croissants.
(2)Tim H.
La Madeleine is basically a French-themed Panera--and that's not such a bad thing, really. And besides, it's Columbia, where not much of anything is authentic. There are good menu items here, but the preparation hasn't been perfect in my experience. The price is also reasonable (again much like Panera). Some of the other reviewers speak of this place as if it's an authentic French restaurant, which might be misleading: you're going to walk down a line with a tray and pay at a register like a cafeteria, just so you know. Again, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but don't be fooled. The breakfast options are in my opinion the best part of the menu, so come here before you head out to whichever mall brought you to Columbia in the first place. It's a step up from the usual strip mall / food court fare, and the physical space is comfortable.
(3)Connie L.
Love the food here! But I can definitely feel myself getting fatter and fatter as I take each bite. The chicken Parisian is really good and I love their pasta salad side dish. Their tomato soup is also delish with the free bread. My coworkers and I love getting this for lunch takeout!
(4)Victoria W.
I really hate reviewing chain restaurants, and I almost never... I'd say never, give them 4 stars. However, considering I've been to la Madeline 5 times in the past 3 weeks, I figured I should write a review! The food is on point. I've had their pasta, Caesar salad (and with chicken) a few different soups, croissants, lattes, and a Croque Monsieur. Everything was very good! The croissants are good, but not great. Most of the people working here are francophone which makes it that much better! Prices are just right and they're quick enough for lunch during the work week. Definitely stop by!
(4)Caroline L.
My experience at La Madeleine has been pretty consistent among different locations- nothing stands out b/w the Columbia, Bethesda, Rockville, or Tyson's location. Things might be a bit confusing when you first walk in. I've been coming here for years so I know to just start where the trays are and eventually someone will come up and ask you what you want. If what you ordered is behind the counter, then someone will get it for you right away and you can carry it down to the register. If it's something that they have to make (pizza, pasta, sandwiches, etc), then the cashier will give you a wooden spoon so they can bring it out to you. Ok let's talk food. For me, I always get the duet magnifique (basically the 1/2 and 1/2 combo). Love their creamy tomato soup and think it goes perfectly with their chicken salad croissant. For the kind of ambiance they give you, I'd expect for the price to be much higher but am glad it's not. I also am a fan of the free bread and jams! Their portion for the basil pasta salad has reduced but I can't get it anywhere else.
(4)Samuel C.
Been looking around for a french restaurant in Maryland. Have not been eating french for for like 8-9 years. The food is pretty good. I order the chicken parisien. The place is nice and fancy. The staff are nice and friendly. Also you can eat outside.
(5)David G.
I've been to several branches of La Madeleine around the country, and this is the worst of the bunch. There's no pride in this kitchen, at least as far as I can detect - everything I ordered appeared to be frozen and then microwaved. There is no evidence that anyone in the kitchen has any idea of to season of salt food; everything tastes pretty boring. For example, take the potato galette I had this morning with breakfast. At other La Madeleine's, this side dish is yummy, crispy, and hot. In Columbia, the galette was on the soggy side, unappealing. Combine it with one of the worst croissants I have had in a long time (again, undercooked) and a lousy caffe latte like I did and you have a second-rate breakfast. Dinner last night was a little better. The chicken with mushrooms was pretty nice, The accompanying broccoli was steamed and plain, completely flavorless. The green beans were loaded down with bacon and on the fatty side, but they still tasted pretty good. The coconut cake was mediocre. Normally my favorite dessert - if I don't like the coconut cake, it has to be pretty bad. Since I haven't been to a La Madeleine in a couple of years, I don't know if the whole chain's gone downhill or if it's just this branch that's a bad apple in the bunch. Their prices haven't gone down any, though. I still like the concept, and I'd gladly pay the price if the food were good. But if it's descended to the low quality level found at the Columbia branch, I will be bidding La Madeleine adieu.
(1)Becky S.
I have been to La Madeleine several times now and every time my food is delish! And I'm finally getting the hang of how to order...the only slight issue I have is that it's not clear exactly how to order here...you just have to learn by trial and error... I've had breakfast and I've had lunch here...the quiche was delish for breakfast. The French Onion Soup, salad and fruit I had for lunch really hit the spot...and the Mini Tiramisu I had for dessert was absolutely scrumptuous! We sat in by the window looking out to the outdoor eating area, which is also very pleasant. I'm thinking this is a lot like a real French cafe. The lady at the cashier said Bon Jour and Merci as well... And they have great iced tea too...a selling point for me! I highly recommend a visit here, even if only for the desserts! : )
(5)Chocolate F.
It's such a cozy environment. Good food, friendly staff, and people, nice and romantic..U can bring your loved ones and kids as well.. Has a fireplace!!! I loved it
(4)Rachel E.
I really enjoy this chain and this location especially, I don't think I've ever had to wait in line at this location very long and it's usually quiet with plenty of places to sit. I've had somewhat the opposite experience in the Rockville location but I mean it is Rockville. I was introduced to this place a long time ago when I was just a kid by one of my Dads former girlfriends. I always liked to look longingly at the delicious pastries and croissants behind the glass, waving as I passed by. I don't actually wave... anymore. As I got older I usually came here alone for lunch during a work break or just before a shopping trip. I really love their Tomato Basil Pesto Pasta Salade, I never knew until I tried this that I actually liked a cold pasta dish. I've had the croque monsieur, which sometimes is a bit overbaked, but tastes good still. I actually don't recall what I use to order when I was a kid, I know I've sampled the quiches and been partial to the chicken pesto pasta since then. I've been carb crazy for years, I have a t-shirt that says so (lies). I like the little pieces of tomato throughout and the pesto has a good nutty taste to it. They do a pretty decent green bean almondine, there aren't many things in this world I enjoy more than green beans or almonds, together? Parfaite. Sadly not many people in my life share my almond love. Last but not least, their pastries are excellente. I especially love the strawberry napoleon and fresh fruit tart. Also go for the french vanilla tart with berries. I feel like Marie Antoinette herself when I eat these beautiful little creations. They are almost $5 each but ah, so good. The strawberry napoleon has a thick layer of frosting with sliced almonds on top sandwiched in between filo dough and custard with strawberry slices. It is a bit hard to eat but who really cares about that, you figure out a way to eat delish. The fresh fruit tart has sugary glazed fruit with a golden creamy custard and a perfect little tart shell. I haven't been much in the last few years but the food is always consistently good. I love the dark decor with the mahogany wood, fireplaces, and cheerful french music. There's usually hidden places you can sit and the 'teach you french words' tape they play in the bathroom is a cute touch. I recall the service being pretty good at this location and the people at the bakery are almost always kind.
(4)Manuela H.
OK we're desperate for a little ambience in Columbia. It is relatively inexpensive French bistro. Not hot enough food generally but GREAT croissants, desserts and good salads. You can use up your calories, sit in front of the fireplace, read from your iPad on complementary wireless and speak some OK French. Great free email coupons for salad, soup and dessert keep me coming back. And they support breast cancer contributions.
(3)Kailyn G.
Nice little lunch place. Basic sandwiches, salads and soup. They've also got a bakery with delicious looking desserts (though I haven't tried any). I got chicken salad on a croissant with pasta salad. But all the food I saw looked decent and there was a significant selection. I went with a group of ten, but since it's seat yourself, we just had to push some tables together. Service: Order at the counter, sit yourself, they bring it to you and clear your plates. Totally confusing, but the counter people are nice enough to answer your questions. Environment: Cute restaurant. Could imagine it being crazy busy and crowded, but I went on a weekend.
(3)Ashley W.
First time here, will definitely come back. Food - 4, Service - 4, Layout Concept - 3. The system is confusing. Probably made worse that it was my first time there and I wanted to look at everything I could. Someone at the front asked me what I wanted, but I wasn't sure yet. I stared at the sizes of the quiches and someone else farther down asked for my order, still not ready. (Yes, I'm a pain) A third person at the register asked me and I ordered a Quiche Lorraine, steamed broccoli, and a mini creme brule tart. I was handed plates for the first and last, but the broccoli would be brought to me. I made a comment to the guy who rang me up about my indecisiveness, that it was my first time, and we said "welcome!" and presented me with a full (2 foot long?) baguette on the house. I was pleased. I was then shuttled to a station with free bread slices, butter and jams, drinks, and silverware. I'm a bread fanatic, so the free bread (on top of the surprise free loaf) was appreciated. We chose to eat outside, which was nice (though overlooking 175), until we tried to leave. I wanted a small to-go box, but the side doors to go back inside were locked! My friend had to go around front, back through the restaurant to let me in. We were also confused about what to do with our dishes and trays, so we left them outside. I went back to the counter to ask for box, and was told I'd find one by the bread and jam, but then I was stuck again with a plate and awkwardly laid it on an empty table. The quiche was great, very flaky crust and meaty interior. I will definitely be back for the mini tart, even though it claimed it was brule, which I associate with the crispy sugar layer, which this one only had in color. The broccoli needed more flavor, IMHO, but I'm also used to the south where everything is doused in butter and salt.
(4)Brett H.
La Madeleline is a nice little cozy place. They are a bit expensive for the little amount of food you get. The food was good, but I definitely needed more. Opt for the large portions of the salad. The employees were nice as well as the atmosphere. Not a bad place to go if you are looking for a decent conversation over average food.
(2)Jody Z.
La Madeleine is a "french bakery cafe" and it is set up semi-cafeteria style. The process can be a little confusing if its your first time there. They take your order almost immediately on a little palm pilot type computerized pad. Then you go down the cafeteria aisle and can grab anything on the line. When you get to the register, they add anything you've picked up and your drink order to your tab and you pay. You grab your own drinks, silverware and napkins and head to a table. The food is cooked to order and will be brought to your table. It has a nice atmosphere and its decorated very much like "grandma's house"...lots of doilies and knick knacks. There are nice tables outside, but the view of the highway isn't exactly the greatest ambiance. From the few times I've been, the place is clean and the staff is pretty nice. Food is good. Great breakfast. Nice fresh, buttery croissants. Amazing cinnamon french toast! This place would be good for groups....easy to pay separately. It didn't appear that there was a separate menu for kids though.
(3)Roberto N.
Chicken La Madeline, with broccoli, and a side bowl of reduced fat Tomato Basil coup made for one of the better meals I've eaten in a while. KUDOS, to La Madeline Corporate for putting a calorie value in plain view on each and every item!!! (so don't go loading up on the free bread if you're dieting! HEY! Put that slice back!!!)
(4)B B.
I had the chicken crepe; it was excellent. Sat outdoors - awesome vibe.
(5)John F.
Chicken crepe riviera so delicious and served so quickly I had to make a second visit. On the second visit I ordered the French dip. The sandwich was dry, but I think this was because it sat below the heat lamp for five minutes. I got the side of green beans on both visits and it was good on both visits. On my second visit I noticed that the cook was eating and talking other mobile phone while I waited for my order. Strawberry Napoleon was stale and disappointing.
(3)Russell R.
I like to stop here for coffee before going to work and really love the pastries, even if it's just a buttery, hot croissant. I like the coffee, the country-style, rustic ambiance, the classical music in the background, and the complementary bread, butter, and jellies. Occasionally have lunch or dinner with the spouse and the kid. It's quiet good and the portions are the right size. If I have to complain, it's the fireplace has the noisiest fan around and, when it's on, sounds like a low hum that forces me to sit as far away as possible. The staff are very nice and all-in-all a nice experience.
(4)Craig S.
I was disgusted by this place!Went here last night for dinner with my family. Let me just say for being a french bakery they can't even make coffee right!I ordered the hazlenut latte dumped it out because it was disgusting. I than got the coffee I never had such disgusting coffee in my life!!The food was nothing. Panera is way better in my opion.
(1)Ned F.
The food is good but unfortunately they had a whole container of spoons that had caramelized onions on them. The whole batch was dirty. Be careful with the utensils or bring your own. I had to ask behind the counter for a clean one.
(2)Mary M.
Ooh-la-la! French pastries at their finest! I love La Madeleine and when I recently attended a birthday get together there was pleasantly surprised to find Paella!!! I have not been able to find affordable Paella in the area and was so excited to find it for $8.95! Now, my first Paella experience was in Spain, so it's hard to follow up this authentic dish from it's mother-land. La Madeline's paella was good for the cost and I really enjoyed it. Awesome pastries followed and hot tea. Oh - and the staff was really friendly too :)
(5)Tiffani N.
3.5 stars The ambiance of La Madeleine is what keeps me coming back for more. I like their food (breakfast is the best), the pastries are pleasant and their coffee is pretty good. But I really love how I feel like I'm dining in a REAL French cafe in the middle of some Parisian square. Okay, okay, it's a little Disneyesque pseudo-French but I love all things Disney, too! They have woodburning fireplaces, dark mahogany wood tables and chairs, relaxing French music and even language lessons looping in the restrooms (my kids get a kick out of that). It's also nice to sit al fresco in the spring and summer breeze while enjoying the lovely view of Rt. 175 (smirk). I really do wish there were more places in HoCo like La Madeleine.
(3)Frank G.
Reasonably good food that's something different from your typical "fast casual" restaurant fare, if a little pricey. If you're out shopping in the area, you could do far worse than stopping in here for a quick meal. That being said, I wouldn't say that anything here "wows" me -- although having enjoyed French staples in both Paris and Montreal during my life, I might have too-high standards for this type of stuff. I prefer La Madeleine for breakfast, and would give them a solid 3.5 stars for it. Their fruit salad is very good -- quality fruits, and actually fresh (I've seen them slicing melons for it). The coffee is always fresh, and available in both American and a stronger French roast. There's nothing bad on the menu (egg dishes, French toast), but also nothing that really stands out. The service at this location has always been very good. Not an issue with this location in particular, but for a chain this size, La Madeleine really should have nutritional information available on its web site. There are healthy dishes marked as "smart options" on the menu, but I'd prefer to have the details so I can make my own choices. The food seems to be standard across all the locations, so it should be an easy fix. Maybe I should be worried that they're not telling me what's in the food? :-/
(3)Nam P.
Tomato basil soup is the best. We normally enjoy our dining experience here. But today we had to wait 30 minutes for our food to arrive and they ran out of bread. The bathroom was dirty also. :(
(3)Rick A.
Don't like the roll now used on the Chicken Parisian sandwich. This is the only item I get when eating here and now I think it's and average versus exceptional sandwich. Too bad.
(2)Brandon B.
Ok crepe, not ok price for it though. Probably won't be going here alot soon.
(4)Harry E.
Very good sandwiches, soups, pastries and desserts. Price is the only thing holding it back from a 5-star.
(4)Charles R.
Great food amidst 'comfortable bustle' and classic French bakery offerings and joy. I miss these where I live: central Virginia. LaMadeline is an American success story, serving French dishes such as Chicken La Madeline, including roasted chicken, rice pilaf and hot broccoli. Excellent.
(5)Juliette B.
This is some real foofoo food (if u know what I mean) maybe I'm not cultural enough for this place. Great service and food anyway. My mom loves it.
(4)Jeff C.
OK, so we went to La Madeleine in Bethesda almost every week always having to fight for a parking spot and a good seat. When we moved to Columbia, we were so happy that french food is indeed available here. Well, it's much more relaxed, open and I'd say elegant feeling. The food is similar to the ones in Bethesda. I love most of the entree here and have to say they resemble stuff I had in France. In summary, we are regulars here, and do our talking with our feet and money. We don't have the sense to care about the ethnicity of people working there as our nose and taste buds do the deciding, and the food is decent here.
(4)Diana P.
I wish I could actually vote three and a half stars, but that is pretty much what I think this place deserves. The style of the eatery is a bit like a cafeteria (less than ideal) and it is a little absurd to me that when you enter, all the staff tries to speak french to you. However, the staff has always been friendly to me. I love that it has a fireplace and all wood atmosphere which just makes it more charming to me. There is patio dining too when the weather allows. The food is tasty (which in my mind is slightly less than delicious but I still clean my plate). Their produce is fresh and ripe, which is the key to making produce good. I don't like that if you order a glass of red wine (they only have merlot) it comes in one of those little bottles of wine, which is always blech. But thier homemade leomonade is about as good as you can hope for, well, as good as I can hope for, as it is just tart and sweet enough. However, as popular as it is, and it is pretty popular, the table arrangements make you feel like you are mostly alone.
(3)Evil W.
Idiosyncratic breakfast place. This restaurant, located in an out parcel of the huge Columbia Crossings mall, is modeled after a bucolic French farmhouse. The staff is mostly Hispanics, so you wind up with the polyglot results of a faux French cafe in Maryland staffed by Hispanics serving faux French food. Still, it beats the continental breakfasts in the hotels and the greasy fast food alternatives. The setup is cafeteria style, although you can order off a menu as well. I recommend the "French breakfast" - which is not terribly French except that it (a) comes with a croissant and (b) comes with a side of the has browns with spinach that taste fabulous and almost make up for the overcooked paper-thin strips of bacon.
(3)Danny L.
A much better tasting alternative to fast food. In a pinch or looking for a quick bite to eat, this place is great.
(3)Natasha R.
Had Brunch there. Nice ambiance with the fireplace in the middle of the room. I agree that it's a bit confusing, as I was forced to order as soon as I walked in before I could even see what was son the cafeteria buffet. But the food is decent and I respect their attempt at the French Cafeteria style way of eating.
(3)Jennifer H.
A little disappointing. Food was pretty good, but when I came in the place looked really gross. Food crumbs all over the tables and napkins on the floor. Chairs all over the place, not pushed under their tables. The staff behind the counter seemed a bit lazy. Soda fountain was a mess and obviously needed cleaning. The area where you picked up condiments had crumbs, food bits and little spills all over. My friend and I had to hunt down napkins to clean our own table! The building itself was meant to have a nice atmosphere with window seating and what looked like a fake wood burning fireplace. If it were actually clean, it would have been really nice. I had one of their pasta dishes and it was very good. If not for the food, this place would have gotten 1 star because of how dirty it was. I might try another location, but with this place being in Columbia, I really expected something much better!!!
(3)Adam T.
The food was pretty tasty, but I felt it was a little over priced. It seems like a breakfast place, but if I'm going to go for breakfast, I'm going to choose Eggspectation.
(3)Leeann D.
Excellent breakfast, pastries and coffee drinks! Environment is wonderful with a fireplace. Easy to get in and out with its cafeteria style. Cool place to bring out of town guests.
(5)Chris C.
Ordered catering through them last night for an event feeding 30+ people. The food was amazing! The tuna salad sandwich had rich, delicious tuna salad and the croissants were flaky and buttery. To boot: the pastry we ordered were phenomenal with lots of variety and everything tasted extremely fresh. The staff are extremely courteous and will help load your vehicle if you need help.
(5)tania t.
A breath of fresh air in a commercial, suburban parking lot. How can you not love it with it's fireplace and country french accoutrements? Adorable. The wait staff was very accomodating, even though they screwed up an order, and the food was tasty and felt more healthy than fast food in the same area. There's even outdoor seating on the patio, which is great for a sunny day.
(4)kevin k.
generally good service and food. hey it is franchise. they are all about the same.
(4)M. M.
I'm writing an update to the review based on our visit last evening. We went at the dinner hour on Sunday in hopes of ordering soup, pastry and in my husband's case an entree. When we got in, we discovered that the pastry case was just about EMPTY - the first time I've ever seen that at any La Madeleine. During the course of the meal they did put a few more things in the case but it was very pedestrian stuff like chocolate chip cookies for the most part. None of the Linzer cookies that are always a favorite with me. I was prepared to overlook this and just figure "oh, maybe today they sold out, the truck didn't come, etc." but then we got our food. We both ordered soup - I got tomato and husband got potato - and it was COLD. It was like they forgot to turn the heating elements in the pots on or didn't fill the pots in time for the soup to warm up. It was kind of disgusting but I had to eat something and the staff seemed like the usual shorthanded and kind of incompetent workers you get at this particular La Madeleine (getting good restaurant help is a constant problem all over Howard County in our 20-year experience of living in the area), so rather than make a fuss I just had extra cups of hot coffee and extra slices of free bread which at least they didn't mess up. I think in the future I'm just going to buy the jars of tomato soup and heat it up at home. I like La Madeleine food in general but as this is the second or third bad experience we've had at this particular outlet, I believe in the future we'll go back to driving out to Bethesda. Oh, and just to add: The setup they now have here for ordering is that you're confronted by someone sticking a menu at you the minute you walk in the door, when you're in a little 10-foot space prior to the start of the cafeteria line. You don't get to see what's on the cafeteria buffet, so if you don't already know then you're out of luck and have to order food before you see. And making people order as soon as they walk in creates major congestion between the head of the line and the door, as there is only a 10-foot or so space, and new people are coming in and trying to join the line and being shunted off with menus. I solve this problem by just never ordering from the menu and always getting soup, salad or something like a friand from the hot bar, but it's a really confusing and bad way to take orders. They used to take your sandwich order from behind the hot food bar after you'd had a chance to look at what was available on the line as well as on the menu, and I think that worked way better than having a waiter jump on you when you're one foot inside the door. (and maybe then said waiter, who was also working the soup station, would have remembered to heat the soup up!)
(2)Jessie H.
I met a girlfriend for breakfast on Saturday at La Madeleine in Columbia. We both ordered a fruit cup and the Quiche Loraine. The quiche had absolutely no taste. It was so bland that neither of us could eat even half of it. It was very disappointing and I wish would have spent $12 somewhere else. I probably will not return.
(2)Alph G.
Awesome soup!!! Get the tomato soup - you will not be sorry! The nicoise salad is also quite good. I'm not sure some of the food is very healthy (le croque monsieur, anyone?) but there are healthy options. And there is a fireplace which is really nice in the winter. My only real complaint is that the service at the bakery/coffee section is terrible. Man, I've had to wait forever to get a hot cocoa. But besides that, this place is really good.
(4)