With a crowd, our food was generally very good. Wine, very good. Service however, needs improvement. I and another party at our table ordered a steak, mine medium, the other person's was to be close to well done. After we partly ate the steaks, I discovered, mine was too well done, and the other party appeared to have been given my steak. Not wanting to delay the entire meal process, we ate the steaks. Later, I ordered coffee with cream, but received espresso with foam atop it. Thus, although the waiter help was very pleasant, I wondered at their young age, did they know what they were doing? A knowledgeable chef will mark a steak's level of sear, or ensure the waiter knows what's its level. read more

My first time here. I found it VERY GOOD. I started by sharing the octopus tapas, a summer salad and then finished with my own Mediterranean seafood dish. Will be going back soon!! read more

Cool music...nice vibe Friendly ppl Really nice food...healthy creative I will definitely come back next time I come to Fairfield read more

I came here last night to celebrate my anniversary and it was a great choice. We wanted to find a restaurant where we could have dessert for dinner. You know, where you order 3 or 4 desserts, a bottle of wine and share them all because you're grown ups and can do that now? Since there are few places in Fairfield with great desserts and I had read about their desserts I figured it was worth a shot. We made a reservation for 630, which wasn't necessary as we arrived around 630 and found the restaurant about half full, with plenty of outdoor seating available. After being seated we were brought warm bread and oil, ice water and given menus. I get the impression that the menu changes often - there are a ton of daily specials and the wine list and cocktails are both extensive and nicely varied. As we were looking over the menu, the owner Madeline came over to say hello and answer any questions we had. She's a lovely woman and very warm and welcoming. Every time we saw her in the restaurant she was chatting with patrons like they were old friends, including a young boy who was deciding which gelato to have. Our plan to have dessert for dinner changed once we checked out the menu offerings - we had to try something. We ordered some lighter fare - me with a ricotta, avocado, roasted tomato and olive oil Panini with a side salad, and my partner got a white pizza with prosciutto, sweet onions and basil. The pizza was amazing - the salty, smoky prosciutto paired so well with the sweet onions, and my panini was great, too - the ricotta was fresh and the avocados perfectly ripe. Paired with a couple glasses of wine and it was a perfect meal. The menu includes more substantial entrees too, including pasta dishes, sautéed shrimp and large, meal sized salads, as well as appetizers such as braised artichoke hearts, panko crusted fried mozzarella and butternut squash stuffed with hot sausage. Of course, we saved room for dessert and ordered the chocolate lava cake, which was served warm with a scoop of gelato and whipped cream on top. Madeline assured us that the mint chocolate chip would go well with the cake, so we did as instructed and had no regrets. The cake was delicious and the perfect portion to split after a meal. There are a lot of great dessert options to choose from and I overheard one customer saying she was just there for dessert - so, if you're feeling inspired to have dessert for dinner, Café Madeline is a good bet. Price-wise it's not bad at all. Our pizza / paninis were about $15 each, appetizers are between $8 - $12 and all the main dishes / entrees are about $25. Our total bill was $60 and change, so with tip things came to $72. I will definitely be back. I'm curious about their $15 lunch menu - if their lunch menu is anything like their dinners I'll be psyched. read more

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I just love it here. First of all, if you pay attention it seems as though Madeline knows everyone who walks through the doors. This of course means that there are plenty of regulars. And it is easy to see why. I have never had a so-so meal here, everything is always wonderful. I also don't doubt that if a dish is not what you were expecting or does not meet your satisfaction, it will be adjusted without any issues. I find myself wanting to eat some staples off the menu (pizza is yummy, paninis are delicious) but I usually end up ordering off the specials which seem to be classic dishes with a twist. Sausage and squash lasagna in a pink sauce was the most recent and it was an amazing combination of flavors. I also had the best brownie of my life there - salted caramel of course. If you are looking for a cozy neighborhood restaurant with a mix of classic and interesting dishes, this is definitely the spot to try. read more

I've only done the take out family meals so this review is for them, although the patio and regular menu both look delightful and delicious. They give huge portions of made to order specialties. We loved everything. Got the seafood pasta and it was steaming hot and so good. They don't go wimpy on the good stuff at all! Very generous portions and this is appreciated and the reason I tip nicely. That and they carry it all out to my car! Great greek salad. Comes a bottle of wine to boot! read more

Dinner for two...the best thing to do! My husband and I enjoy our Saturday date nights here...the Chicken Marsala was wonderful as always. We finished off dinner with the Chocolate Marshmallow pizza...yummy and entertainingly messy (^: Also enjoyed chatting with the owner and staff...very friendly. read more

Aurora’s - Chocolate Marshmallow Pizza! Yummy & messy...wouldn't recommend for a first date dessert (^: - Mediterranean Near Me - Fairfield, Connecticut

Went for dinner on Wednesday night around 745pm. There was one open table so we lucked out. Place is small inside so I can imagine there would be a wait no matter when you go, especially since the food was excellent. Had the Artichoke app, butternut squash soup, Blackened Mahi and Chicken Tortellini, rasberry choc desert. Everything was outstanding. 5 stars on the food. Waitstaff was very pleasant and accomodating. Prices were on the high side but the quality of food made up for it. I love when I have a hard time deciding on the food since the menu had so many unique choices. We will be back for sure! read more

Casual, friendly, warm ambiance with a bistro vibe. Food based on good quality ingredients done well, more of a euro flair where simplicity takes precedence to let flavors shine. Small but solid wine list. Overall... not an over the top place, but more like dining with the creative culinary friend who cooks a lovely range of dishes that you want to visit often. read more

Hidden Gem! With so many restaurants to choose from in Fairfield County, it's easy to miss one. We have lived in Fairfield for 7 years and have only been here when it was Quatro Pazzi Cafe about 6 years ago. We randomly popped in on Saturday for lunch and so happy that we did. They have a $15 lunch option, which is 3 course. I had the house salad, which was delicious, followed by Pasta with Meatballs! So so good - meatballs were perfectly done. Then followed by a canoli that was so fresh and tasty. My wife had the house salad, a grilled cheese panini with honey which was delicious! And followed by gelato that she raved about. Will definitely go back!! Excited to try other things on the menu too! Service was great and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. read more

Was there for dinner Valentine's Day. Atmosphere was warm and inviting. Started with Panko crusted mozz, so good. Pick of the menu is what I had, short rib ravioli in a light mushroom sauce. Are you kidding me! It was outstanding. I've been here before for business lunches sampling many items on the menu. All delicious. Lauren the owner/host took such good care of us. Staff is terrific. This will be our go to place. Enjoy!! read more

Excellent food at fair price. Wonderful service. Linguini and clams great. Scallops perfect. And chocolate lava cake satisfies chocaholic. Hidden Gem read more

I will start this review by saying that before my recent visit I hadn't been to Cafe Madeline in over a year. However, it had always been a good standby, and my husband and I decided to take another couple there to celebrate their engagement. We went on a Friday night and had made 7:30 reservations. Here are some notes on our experience: - it took us a few minutes to get seated (servers frantically walking back and forth: I wonder if there were short-staffed) - I immediately noticed that there was food debris on the floor beneath my seat as well as food debris left on the chair from a previous customer. Not inviting. - it took about five minutes to get menus once we were seated, though we had glasses of water to hold us over. - once we received our drinks, there was quite a wait and it took us at least 15 additional minutes for someone to come take our order - that's when the wait really set in. I have always loved that Cafe Madeline serves salads with entrees, but it the house salad is lettuce, carrots and chick peas, why did it take over half an hour to bring us our salads. We had finished a bottle of wine by that point and had very little food in us. - Madeline was gracious and thanked us for being patient several times, which I appreciate. - the food seems to have gone down in quality. My sole francaise was served with spinach that had to have been frozen or canned, the pasta was thick and chewy. Maybe this was due to their being swamped, but it's not the food I remember getting at Cafe Madeline. -Madeline did bring us a scoop of her famous gelato to share (on the house) which was delicious and was a nice touch. I appreciated that. - the bill only came to 155 for four people which is a steal in my opinion! All-in-all, I would probably go back again and give Cafe Madeline another go, but I have to say that his was a disappointing experience. read more

Due to the covid 19 outbreak, we ordered dinner for curbside pickup and we were delighted with the quality of the food, professionalism of the owners and size of the portions. Their family size takeout meal includes salad, choice of pasta, entree and also a very nice bottle of wine all for $60. They claim that their family meal serves 4, we say 6 or even 7. We would highly recommend this restaurant read more

We stopped in on our way back from East Hampton via the Long Island Ferry. Had the shrimp over spinach and chickpeas. Added linguine no problem. He had the gnocchi bolognese. We sat out front at a lovely table on Main. The warmed pita and vinaigrette was a nice start and refilled with pleasure. The service was friendly and prompt. Would highly recommend for a nice evening out. read more

Brought my son and daughter here for dinner on a Wednesday night. In short, POOR service - took over one hour for food to arrive and order was wrong. Wait person persisted in arguing with my daughter about her order and then when we cancelled the order became argumentative again. Owner NEVER checked on our table. Our order also, by the way, came after several "regulars" appeared and received their food promptly. There appears to be a lack of service excellence and at the prices charged for rather small dinners, I expect more. Will take my hard earned $$$ next door to Quattro Pazzi or ANY place else. Understaffed, overpriced. read more

Fantastic food. Very clean environment with great waitstaff very pleasurable experience. We will definitely go there again.

We had a very nice dinner last night. Sunday is half price for a bottle of wine! I had the minestrone and some rigatoni w sausage and broccoli it was very tasty! My mom and daughter had lobster bisque and mom had the Fluke dish and daughter had linguine with clams. Pita with hummus was brought to the table at the beginning of dinner and quickly gone it was so good! read more

This place is a gem. Check it out if you're interested in a high-quality meal with a charming, European-vibe. Good date night spot. As far as the dishes go the farfalle bolognese was impeccable, and my wife loved the chicken dish with asparagus and prosciutto. read more

First time at Cafe Madeline in over a year. Somewhat disappointed. My son had chicken with prosciutto on fresh pasta. Well prepared but not special. I had the sole special, which was too heavily breaded and buried under salad greens. The tomatoes, corn, and cucumbers described on the menu were no where to be found. At $27 this dish was overpriced and not very satisfying. In all fairness, over the years I have enjoyed many fine meals here. But menu has gotten larger and more complicated. Quality was definitely off tonight, as is the case at many trendy Fairfield eateries these days. read more

European feel. Tastefully prepared food. Informal atmosphere. Street side dining. Strongly recommend this Fairfield hidden treasure. Least discussed quality restaurant in town. read more

Since moving to CT almost 2 years ago, Cafe Madeline is definitely one of my favorite spots. Great for afternoon cafe/coffee lunch. The salads and apps are wonderful. Eclectic menu of dishes that have a little something special. My daughter goes wild for the Minestrone. Recently, I had the Tuna Panini which has sauteed sweet onions which was a nice surprise, and avocado and the dressing was perfect....was complimented with a nice glass of an Alsace wine. Left feeling perfectly satisfied. Service is wonderful, Madeline, as always, is so friendly and accomodating. The place is spotless. read more

I've frequented Cafe Madeline many times over the past couple of years. It has always been excellent but lately the food and menu options have really been taken to a new level. This place is warm and accommodating and we have learned to recognize the enthusiasm of the staff about certain dishes. Whenever they are excited about something we order it. This has always worked out in our favor here. Cafe Madeline is consistently great and the proprietor is intimately involved and it shows. She's what all others should strive to be like. read more

We've had both lunch and dinner at Aurora's. Both times, we appreciated the friendly service and enjoyed simple and delicious food. I especially liked the Feta Bruschetta appetizer. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. read more

My wife and I were able to get to Cafe Madeline for a Sunday lunch this weekend. I was looking forward to it since she had previously had a great dinner there and highly recommended it. Service was excellent- very friendly and inviting. We started with a caesar salad and panko-coated mozzeralla- both of which were very good. My panini consisted of speck, ricotta, arugula and fig jam, which made for an inspired, creative combination. The speck seemed more like a thick country ham, so I missed the smokiness, but overall was satisfied. My wife's panini consisted of grilled cheese with ham (the same country ham from my dish??) and fried egg. The egg was overcooked, resulting in a solid yolk, however they graciously recooked the dish with much better results. I will give Cafe Madeline another try, and look forward to trying their pizza next time. read more

Casual yet warm ambiance makes this a great place to go on a date for lunch/dinner. Lunch specials are excellent and dinner prices are very reasonable. Be sure to try the chicken piccata or the pizza-both are delicious and you'll be full once you're finished. The gelato and cannoli are also fantastic as well and I will be back here soon! :) read more

Consistent and delicious with an outstanding "date night" atmosphere. I think Madeline makes her pasta every morning and you can tell. Every need is addressed with a smile and eventually knows your name. Love it in our hip and hopping down town of Fairfield. read more

A real treat from start to finish! Madeline greeted us, seated us and offered her assistance with choosing a bottle of wine. The atmosphere is CHARMING! Very European-cafe-esque! The menu is filled with delectable dishes and the presentation is beyond any restaurant around here. Madeline wanders through to say hello and gets to know her customers with genuine friendliness! Save room for dessert! The chocolate lava with mint chip ice cream was incredible! Cafe Madeline IS a real gem! Darling eatery, delicious food and you won't be disappointed! I look forward to my next visit! read more

Went there for lunch today with some friends and we were very disappointed. We ordered 3 paellas with lobster tail. When the food arrived, there weren't any lobster tails. We asked the waiter about the missing lobster and he said that the manager had changed the menu and lobster tails were no longer included. When we told him that it was still on the menu we saw, he said that his manager had not gotten to change it yet. We then asked to speak to the manager and he said that the manager had just left and there was nothing he could do. We then asked him to adjust the bill for the missing lobsters (3), he said he could not do that either. We ended up paying for 3 lobster tails that we did not receive. We were very disappointed and will not come back to this restaurant again. There are plenty of good restaurants in Fairfield and it makes a big difference when they have good customer service. This one does not! Also, we felt like we had been cheated! read more

Excellent pork ragu with linguini and pappardelle with bolognese

Great restaurant and food. Tight seating and no place to wait if your table is not ready. Food was delicious. I thought it was byob so we brought our own wine and then noticed the bar. They charged us $25 corkage fee per bottle. A bit of a rip off. Waiter should have explained the fees. read more

Such good food. I liked how Madeline knew everything she had on hand and was able to work with her chef to create a special gluten free meal for me. It was delicious. Friendly atmosphere. read more

We've been to Cafe Madeline a couple of times. It's a cozy little restaurant with delicious food and fantastic home-made desserts (which Madeline seems to pride herself on making). Madeline and her staff are wonderful and very friendly. We definitely look forward to our next visit! read more

Small place full of charm, friendly staff, food was amazing you could tell it was homemade. Mom and I went for our favorite dessert and the owner made it special just for us!!! This will definitely be be a place I go back to! read more

I've driven by this restaurant at least 50 times and finally last night I decided to try it. The owner Madoline Who is extremely nice is involved in every part of your dining experience. We started off with Panko encrusted mozzarella and butternut squash soup, our main course was the tuna Panini and the homemade pasta with Bolognese sauce and for dessert chocolate cake with mint ice cream and whip cream. All the food at this restaurant deserves the five stars that I gave it, it was extremely good I will definitely be going back. read more

Warm, welcoming! Great menu Excellent service with a smile.. The owner is usually present. Lots of regulars My favorite is the gelato they make! read more

My new "go to" place!! Great food, terrific service. Each visit surpasses the last. A real hidden gem in Fairfield.

Amazing food, service, and atmosphere! Love Madeline and her care for her customers. Have been going for years (over 7) and it is our go to place for delicious food and great service. Highly reccomend! read more

My husband and I recently visited the cafe for lunch after recieving a gift certificate and high praises. During our entire experience we witness who I confirmed as the owner meet and greet each table. She did not once come to our table. As an African American couple, I have NEVER been or felt like I was treated like second class citizens. I am so hurt by this experience. The owner only came by to see how we planned on paying for our meals. I would never go back there and have never felt more offended in my life. read more

In brief, food is good, but atmosphere is lacking. It can be VERY LOUD. Service the last time was poor as well. It's a popular place but I wouldn't return. If you want Italian, there are better Italian restaurants within walking distance. read more