| Tarzana |
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Madeleine Bistro 
 based on 20 member reviews
18621 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana California
91356
818-758-6971
Type: Vegan, Organic, International, Gourmet, Beer/Wine, Catering
Info: Vegan restaurant serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. In addition to a la carte menu, has fresh juices, organic and bio-dynamic wines from around the world. Parking in the rear or on street. Closed Mon-Tuesday. Accepts credit cards. Price: Expensive.
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| "Excellent but small portions"
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My Rating |
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6 |
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Posted on: Thursday, July 23, 2009 |
Review: Excellent food! Great desserts! The portions were a bit small but totally worth it!
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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| "Our favorite restaurant"
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My Rating |
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69 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 |
Review: Madeleine's is easily our favorite restaurant. Since we don't live close by, we generally just go for special occasions (brunch or dinner) and we have never been disappointed. The chocolate souffle is to die for. How does Chef Dave do it? The cheese plate is no longer on the menu, but it had smoked gouda. Smoked Gouda! I get the mac and cheese each time, but the red beet tartare is excellent as well. The rosemary seitan with crepes is amazing. The chicken-fried seitan is great comfort food. We can't rave enough about this place. Unbelievable vegan food. We'd be broke if it was closer to us.
Pros: the best vegan food * nice atmosphere * chocolate souffle
Cons: * * |
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| "I live for this place."
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Thursday, April 30, 2009 |
Review: They have the worlds most delicious food. I think it is well worth everyone (including regular eaters) to travel out to this restaurant. They intimate setting and great wine selection really sets it apart from any other veggie oriented restaurant I have ever been to. I always order: The Bigger Macque, Red beet tartar, and any of their desserts are especially yummy. Their caesar salad is to die for as well. I have gotten both of my non-veg sisters addicted to this place!
Pros: food * ambiance * staff
Cons: location * parking * |
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| "Madeleine Bistro"
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My Rating |
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19 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, March 25, 2009 |
Review: Madeleine Bistro is owned and operated by a classical French-trained vegan chef and his wife (who is the restaurant manager). It's a true mom and pop restaurant that serves up incredibly innovative, fresh, seasonal fare. The brunch setting is more family-oriented (vegan donuts are nothing short of divine), while the dinner service is romantic with dim candle light. Each dish is replete with imagination and attention to detail.
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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| "MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE RESTAURANT"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Sunday, February 01, 2009 |
Review: We are so lucky to have this restaurant in SoCal, let alone The Valley! I would literally road trip hundreds of miles to eat there, but luckily it's only a few miles from my home.
The food is so exquisite, so imaginative, and best of all, so tasty! I love salt and spice, and I never find myself wishing to add either to any of there dishes. The flavor profiles are so perfectly balanced.
I discovered this place only two months ago, and I've been there six times so far. All the dishes I've had have been nothing short of transcendent. The beet tartare is one dish to surely not be missed. There are so many dishes to sing the praises of that I can't even begin to list them!
Do yourself a favor: make sure to have brunch there on the weekend and never miss one of their special "tasting menu" nights... You will be over the moon in culinary ecstasy!
Pros: DELICIOUS FOOD * GREAT WARM SERVICE * ALCOHOL SERVED
Cons: HARD TO FIND ON YOUR FIRST VISIT * * |
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| "My favorite restaurant"
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My Rating |
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9 |
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Posted on: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 |
Review: I've been to literally dozens of vegan and vegetarian restaurants and Madeleine remains my favorite. I haven't loved every item I've eaten there, but I've had many more amazing dishes than run-of-the-mill ones. My favorites are the macaroni and cheese, tamales, red beet tartare, chicken and waffles, oyster mushrooms, breakfast omelette, and the donut. We've celebrated many birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's days, etc. at Madeleine and always leave satisfied (if a little poorer). The one drawback is definitely the cost.
Pros: Innovative excellent food * good ingredients * good for special occasions
Cons: Expensive * Not the greatest location * |
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| "Super Souffle"
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My Rating |
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7 |
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Posted on: Sunday, September 28, 2008 |
Review: Finally, a restaurant that serves upscale vegan food in the Valley! My BF and I celebrated our anniversary here on September 13th. We came with big expectations and even bigger appetites. Like a lot of people, we almost drove past the place as their already dark sign was not lit up. We walked into a candlelit room that appeared to have been converted from an office space. My BF thought it could benefited a bit from a designer's touch; perhaps some drapes and lighting fixtures. We could tell, that they had made an effort, however. On to the food. We were very impressed with their organic wine list and happily ordered a bottle of Sofia sparkling wine from the Coppola winery. Next came bowls of french onion soup and the cauliflower bisque. Both were tasty, but the french onion was the favorite at our table. We then split both the macaroni and cheese appetiser and their signature lemon-rosemary seitan for our entrees. We were blown aware by how much the mac and cheese sauce reminded us of gruyere -- amazing! The roasted veggies that came on the side were very fresh, with the flavor of an outdoor barbeque. The seitan was juicy had a fresh lemonly flavor and the creamy asparagus crepe that accompanied it was a triumph! It would fool a carnivore any day. We were having so much fun that we ordered 2 desserts to share. While the bananas foster was sinfully delicious, the chocolate souffle had our eyes rolling back in our heads. How do they do it? Seriously, it was one of the best souffles I have ever eaten, vegan or not, and I've eaten many. One last note: for those of you who are a members of Aadvantage Dining, we ended up with almost 400 fequent flier miles, as a bonus to our great meal. We'll be back for brunch!
Pros: delicious food * friendly service * good organic wine list
Cons: decor * hard to find * |
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| "Simply the Best Vegan Restaurant on the Left Coast"
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My Rating |
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2 |
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Posted on: Thursday, July 03, 2008 |
Review: I've been going to Madeleine Bistro since they opened. I've traveled up and down the west coast and I've yet to find a restaurant that compares to it (SF's Millenium included. Chef Dave (Vegnews Chef of the Year) is a most creative chef and produces combinations that blow the Vegan mind. I just tried a new dish there that revolves around Shitake Mushrooms, delicate tortellinis, greens and 2 sauces. I hate mushrooms. I loved this dish!
The food does cost a little more than your average fare Vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, but if you're paying attention the dollar has been seriously devalued, gas has more than doubled, and everything in the economy relies on transportation costs and the value of the dollar. Most restaurants I've been going to have had to raise their prices. Have you seen the prices at Real Foods Daily lately? They charge around the same, have made the side dish now an added cost and their food is not even in the same ball park as Madeleines. Yes it's more expensive that Native Foods (which I like - but I notice all their sandwiches lately have been trimmed...), but how can you compare the two? Native Foods is great fast food, Madeleines is a culinary experience.
Madeleine's food is Haute Cuisine. The place is not perfectly located, but it is most certainly the best in Los Angeles and probably the west coast. The Beet Tartare is sublime (and it's been imitated - but not nearly as well), the Bigger Macque is crazy with pickles and a special sauce, the Lemon grilled seitan (my personal favorite) is utterly delicious and melts in the mouth. The cheeses that Dave has created are some of the best in the Vegan world. There's the Mac and cheese which is most addictive and if you're very lucky they will have the cheese platter available.
If you get a bad waiter on a bad day, of course you will be disappointed, but that is not the norm at Madeleines. As you probably can tell, I really, really like the food at Madeleine Bistro!
Pros: delicious * creative * vegan
Cons: location * * |
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| "Creative but..."
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My Rating |
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296 |
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Posted on: Monday, April 28, 2008 |
Review: I've been here several times, most recently in April 2008. I was very shocked to see the raise in prices... a sandwich for $14? A dinner main entree for $18-20!
It's fine dining with white table cloth, and the head chef is usually always around to supervise the kitchen, which is nice. But that doesn't justify the crazy high prices for vegan food in Tarzana, in my opinion. Just means that I won't be returning (unless I become really rich soon).
The dishes I've tried: the beet tartare (good), the club sandwich (greasy), the nori rolls (good), the rosemary seitan entree (okay), brunch omelette (tasty), chickn and waffles (good), mac n cheese (decent), the oyster dumplings (greasy), chocolate souffle (good), and a few others.
Well, I have to give it credit for being all vegan, and the food presentation is always very nice - though the taste varies. If you can afford it and want to try something creative, check it out.
Pros: creative cuisine * all vegan *
Cons: poor ventilation * very expensive * waitress says water not filtered |
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| "2 out of 3"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Friday, April 25, 2008 |
Review: 4/24/08 Birthday Dinner for 2: $66.03
The food: Excellent
The ambience: Perfect
The attitude: Inattentive/borderline Rude
Why?: I booked reservations, reserving desserts as well for an anticipated wonderful first experience at Madeleine Bistro.
Upon mentioning that I had reservations for a birthday dinner, this information was not acknowledged. Tea was ordered to start with. The crumpled teabag packets were still on the table by the time we left.
The restaurant wasn't that busy (4 tables max), yet for some reason throughout the course of our meal, our used plates and utensils were left on the table significantly longer than other tables who either were a) larger parties or b) ordering more food - which equals c)it appeared they were treated better for spending more money.
Drinking water, usually brought at the beginning of a meal, made it to the table about half way through dinner.
The bill was brought to our table without being asked if we were ready for it, or if we would like to order something else. I needed to then pull the server aside, reiterate that it was a birthday and that I was informed there was a small slice of cake and ice cream w/ a candle generously provided by the restaurant.
I received a questioning look, and was told that there was no cake, but a small dish of ice cream with a candle. I accepted, and informed the server that we also wanted yet another dessert. At the mention of us ordering more, the attentiveness quickly escalated, but too late.
Last, but not least, I discovered that I was charged twice: the second charge having $20 extra added to an already $66.00 bill.
As a veteran of the restaurant business, I always hold a soft spot for restaurant employees, and at the same time understand the level of service that is to be expected as a customer. I believe this experience to be a fluke, and for now, will not judge the overall excellence of the restaurant.
However, it is not the quantity, but the quality that determines repeat customers.
Pros: Excellent Food * Completely Vegan * Next time will be better, I hope...
Cons: Inattentiveness * Charged Twice * |
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• Hi David,
I was also shocked to learn that they only offer tap water if you don't want their $5 bottled water. You'd think a place of 'high' caliber as it's trying to be would use filtered water! The waitress told me that they use tap water for everything, including ice teas & soups!. response by The Veggie Cook
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| "French Vegan Cuisine... mmm..."
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My Rating |
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4 |
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Posted on: Monday, March 10, 2008 |
Review: I really enjoyed the ambiance of Madeleine's when compared with the average Vegan restaurant in LA, which are mostly casual. I went there with my boyfriend and it was a perfect date atmostphere with the candles. I only ate there once, but thought it was wonderful & talked about it for months, I LOVED the banana split & so did my non-vegan boyfriend; although he didn't enjoy his entree which was some Asian tacos, which seems very strange anyway, since it's a French restaurant. I'd definitely go back, but only on a date, too romantic for an evening with friends, but probably during the day is a bit more casual.
Pros: romantic * good service * banana split-mmm
Cons: not everything on the menu is great * * |
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| "Finally, A Vegan Restaurant"
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My Rating |
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3 |
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Posted on: Sunday, December 30, 2007 |
Review: Our first visit to Madeleine's Bistro could have been a disaster. There was something wrong with the Tempeh and we asked Dave, who we had never met, to try it. He admited there was something wrong, it was too salty. Dave was horrified, comped the meal and sat down with us. Four hours later, with Molly asleep on the couch, we were still talking. I have been back to Madeleine's at least 50 times since. I have had some of the best meals ever there, never a bad meal, and always an enjoyable time. I won't bother to describe the food, since we all have our own tastes but the concept is hard for some vegetarians/vegans to get used to. They serve excellent quality and tastes you can find no where else. Dave designs his food and then uses his exceptional skills to create them. If you want a lot of food for little money, this place is not for you. If you want a culenary experience, then stop by. For my girlfriend and myself, we are usually around $50 and we don't drink alcohol. It is 100% vegan and the service is good. It is the kind of place that you can take anyone to without having to apologize for anything. The menu changes regularly and depends on what is in season. The desserts are mouth watering. If you want to have all you can eat for $15 this is not your place. It is dark and quiet, which I like. It is hard to find. Their sign is unreadable at night so you have to have the address. Their hours seem to change with the wind and they like to take off for national and some not so national holidays, so calling for a reservation is a great idea. We are too lazy to call for reservations and always manage to get in anyway. They are closed Monday's and Tuesday's. Their weekend brunch is something that should be experienced. Try the french toast.
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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| "Best formal vegan dinner in la"
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My Rating |
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304 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 |
Review: Madelines is a great place for a birthday / vegan date! You've got to go there with an empty stomach! You MUST get appetizers and dessert!
Pros: * *
Cons: location * * |
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| "If no Donald Trump, come hungry, leave broke! Hype"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Sunday, November 25, 2007 |
Review: We drove down Ventura Blvd. right past Madeleine Bistro the first time because it looked very dark outside and inside the restaurant. In fact, we initially wondered if the place was out of business. It doesn't look very attractive from the street. When we stopped and got closer to the restaurant, we realized that it was open.
When we walked into the restaurant, it was very dark inside. It was too dark for our tastes. The host was very friendly and informed us about various dishes and suggested some dishes to try. The female server was also very friendly and suggested some of her favorite dishes.
After waiting too long for the food, we started off with the beet tartar appetizer and were quite disappointed that it was very small for its $13 price. It tasted pretty good but was too tiny for us to feel satisfied. We felt it was overpriced.
We also had the seitan fried "chicken" with potatoes and vegetables (around $16 or $17) and the grilled lemon-rosemary seitan with some kind of small crepe (also around $16 or $17). Both of these dishes tasted very good but were not filling enough for us. We were still very hungry but didn't want to spend a lot more money for not enough food. I guess we wanted to cut our losses.
After all, if you're not fairly affluent, the food is not cheap, given the portion sizes. For example, if a couple gets only two tiny beet tartar appetizers and two main-course dishes (and no drinks or desert), the bill will run about $76 with tax and tip. If you also get drinks and desert, you know the bill is going to sharply rise. And if your party has more than two, the bill is obviously going to be much, much higher.
We came, we ate, we transiently enjoyed, we left feeling hungry and ripped-off. We don't mind paying a premium for fine food, especially fine vegetarian/vegan food. But when we leave, we want to feel satisfied and full and that it was worth the extra price. Unfortunately, when we left Madeleine Bistro, we left very hungry and feeling that it was not worth the price we paid.
So, the food is very good if you're fairly affluent and don't mind spending a lot of money for many different dishes to fill you up. But if you don't have money to burn, then you'll leave hungry or broke. Or go to Native Foods (e.g., in Westwood) or Follow Your Heart, eat large portions of very good food at very reasonable prices, and leave feeling very satisfied and that is was well worth it.
Madeleine's: Come hungry. Leave hungry & broke. Overrated.
Pros: Tasty * Vegan *
Cons: Not cheap * Not large portions * Dark inside |
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| "Very good"
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My Rating |
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2 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 |
Review: Being from the San Francisco Bay Area, I was fortunate to have Madeleine Bistro recommended to me by someone local to their area. I was more than enthusiastic about this experience. The food was excellent, the service was excellent, and the price was certainly reasonable for this great experience. Two thumbs up. It was a high point of my trip to Southern California, and I will make it a point to return some day soon.
Pros: excellent food * good service * ambience pleasingly calm
Cons: difficult to find address from outside * * |
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| "Delicious and Creative"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Saturday, October 06, 2007 |
Review: On a recent trip to LA, I had the pleasure of indulging in a wonderous meal at Madeline's Bistro. The food was delicious and creative, both attributes that I appreciate as they are not always present in vegan restaurants. The service was excellent and the owner was welcoming. I will eat at Madeleine's every time I am in LA.
Pros: Delicious * Reasonable cost *
Cons: * * |
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| "Overrated"
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My Rating |
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17 |
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Posted on: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 |
Review: I have eaten here several times and can't really rave about much. For an average of $30-40 per person it isn't all that great, just fancy. The beet tartare is very good, as is the chicken fried seitan, but the pu-pu platter (asian tacos) isn't very good and the cheese plate and truffled mac & cheese are tiny. The bananas foster split dessert is ok. The creme brule is disappointing but I recommend getting a side of chocolate sauce with it - that made it better. The risotto is good, but the italians do it better. I dare say it - Real Food Daily is better.
Pros: organic * gourmet * ambience
Cons: inconsistent service * too pricey * |
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| "the best thing about living in los angeles!!!"
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My Rating |
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17 |
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Posted on: Monday, July 30, 2007 |
Review: Sometimes I wonder why I live in Los Angeles. During these moments of crises, my friends only need to remind me that, if I didn't, I couldn't eat at Madeleine's. This is enough to make me all doe eyed and lovey dovey about my adopted city again. Madeleine's is beyond amazing. If you are visiting Los Angeles, this is a MUST SEE. People will tell you that you don't want to go all the way to the valley to eat. They are wrong. I have eaten at great vegan restaurants all over the country and this is one of the absolute finest. In fact, their chocolate souffle is reason enough to visit Los Angeles in the first place. The menu is incredibly diverse and brilliantly creative. I have never tasted vegan cheese that is so delicate and flavorfull or that has such incredible texture. And as for the deserts--there isn't even room in this space to explain how amazing it is to be a vegan and get to experience creme brulee again. Absolute perfection! Special recommendations: the country fried seitan. It is the yummiest of comfort food. And they will give you extra vegan gravy upon request!
Pros: Breathtaking deserts * Super friendly staff * Creative menu
Cons: * * |
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| "Delicious!"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |
Review: I was treated to the best food I can remember eating at the Madeline Bistro. I was surprised to read some of the luke-warm reviews, as my experience was top-notch! Perhaps I lucked out. I'll be going back again, that's for sure. The lemon-rosemary seitan was outtt of this world, melt in your mouth juicy goodness. I started my meal with asparagus bisque that tasted so fresh and rich, it was unbelievable. My partner had the southern fried seitan, it was also amazing. Perfec t and yummy experience.
Pros: excellent food * nice staff * healthy cuisine
Cons: too far from my house. * * |
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| "Madeleine Bistro has it all!"
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My Rating |
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1 |
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Posted on: Monday, June 11, 2007 |
Review: Madeleine Bistro not only has spectacular food, but a great selection of organic wines and beers as well. The servers are all very knowledgeable about the food and are extremely pleasant as they help you out. I've eaten there probably 25 times since they've opened, and the food is always excellent. They have great sandwiches for lunch,(cajun caesar, chicken club, bigger maque) the Sunday brunch has a great variety of healthy and delicious items (fresh juices, ultra light waffles and bignets), and the dinner menu is always changing to include some innovative new dishes to go with the staples (chicken fried seitan, raw primavera, asian tacos). The deserts are incredible and the new souffle is a chocolate lovers dream come true. An overall great dining experience every time!
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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