La Madeleine has become a favorite neighborhood gathering spot for our group. The service is primarily self-serve, although staff bring your main entrée to the table. The menu is fairly consistent, with a few seasonal specials added throughout the year. The food is reliably prepared with fresh ingredients, and the presentation is usually appealing. One of the restaurant's most charming features is the large brick-enclosed fireplace in the center of the dining room. During our recent visit, it was still roaring despite the summer heat wave, adding to the warm and inviting atmosphere. The menu offers several dependable favorites, and the bakery display case is always tempting, filled with an assortment of pastries and desserts. Fresh-baked breads are also available for purchase, though the more popular varieties often sell out as the day progresses. What keeps us coming back is the relaxed setting. There's no pressure to rush through your meal, making it an ideal place to linger over lunch, catch up with friends, and enjoy a satisfying meal in comfortable surroundings. Overall, La Madeleine continues to be a pleasant and dependable choice for a casual meal and good conversation. read more

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This place has changed and not for the better! Slowly, month by month, I could see, taste the difference in was once a great dining place. Few desserts are truly "baked" on premise . The meals are mediocre at best. Tremendously Constant staff changeover is also a "telling" sign though some is normal in this industry. Example: ordered Chicken pesta pasta...could not eat it. One bite and I knew there was a problem in the kitchen. The chef hadn't a clue. They no longer served the once selectable bread sticks and replaced them with a dry croissant which has nothing to do with pests. Could not taste a hint of pests, noodles were overcooked and drowning in a milky, soupy liquid. No thanks. I'm done. No more La Madeleine for me. Shortcuts. Bad food. read more

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One of the few true French bakeries I've seen in the Baltimore-Washington area. The food was pretty good. Their baked goods, particularly the Nutella croissant muffin was fantastic. They have a wide variety of savory and sweet products including some more healthier options. read more

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We used to really like this place, and it was our first time back in about a year. Man, the quality was noticeably worse. When we arrived, lots of tables were full of unbussed dishes. We waited about 20 minutes for our food and had to ask noticeably disinterested staff twice for items they did not bring out. We spent more time following up on our missing items than we did eating. We won't be back anytime soon. read more

A casual place, where you order at the counter and they bring it out. I got a savory crepe, it was different but yummy! If I went back, I would try something else read more

la Madeleine - Crpe la Madeleine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I love this French inspired casual chain because it's very nostalgic to me after living in Dallas. I was in Columbia and saw it so I decided to get a quick lunch -- that said this place was hopping. There were so many people so it took a little longer to get my lunch. I was really disappointed in their very famous tomato soup. Honestly, I saw them open a plastic container of the soup and put it into a heater so nothing is made there and it makes sense. Honestly, they are mainly just opening packages and warming them up, but I will say my chicken salad Sandwich was so good. It's like an elevated cafeteria/vending machine sandwich, but it really really hit the spot. They used to offer slices of bread when dining inside. I remember this from years ago, but they don't do that anymore. The prices here are a little bit more than I remember but again it's a year 2025 but it's a solid little spot for a fast casual lunch. read more

la Madeleine - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I love la Madeline. It might be one of Columbia's most underrated restaurant. This French bistro transports you to France with the ambiance, food, and service. The workers are all fun to interact with and will speak French to your kids. The bathrooms even enroll you in French class with a basic vocabulary track playing. I learned to count to 5 just by going to wash my hands. The food is true to a French bistro, the drinks are better than Panera or Starbucks, and the pastries.... Don't even get me started on the pastries. They are swoon worthy. Better than any bakery in the area. The croissants are perfectly buttery. I didn't get it this time, but the ham and cheese danish is by far my favorite thing they have. La Madeline is a must try. read more

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I used to love dining here when I was younger! I felt a little nostalgic, so I paid a visit to try some of their new items. I really hoped that the quality of the food had been maintained since then. The only decent items were the coffee and the pumpkin praline French toast. Everything else did not meet my expectations. The prime rib provolone sandwich looked nowhere close to the photo that was advertised. There was barely any meat on it, not worth the price I paid. Also, I upgraded my side to a fruit salad, and the majority of the fruits were not even ripe. The staff at this location were nice, especially the young lady who was collecting dishes from the tables. It would be nice if there were a drop-off station for the customers; that way, it would make the job more efficient for the staff because it's a lot for one person to bus every table. Or at least a cart for the staff to use to bus the tables. Overall, this establishment is nice for meeting up with friends and family over some coffee and pastries. I hope for the best for the business to improve. read more

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Continuing north, 3 zip codes away from home to 21045, the Dobbins Center area of Columbia, to la Madeleine. I've been to this la Madeleine many times over the years. I never knew the La is la, a lowercase L. Never really a big fan of businesses starting with a lowercase, but that doesn't adversely affect the review. Also, learned la Madeleine & I have something in common. la Madeleine was founded in Texas in 1983. I was born in Texas in 1984 but conceived in Texas in 1983. Staff is nice here. The sandwiches are great as are the salads, soups, etc. The mushroom soup is delicious and my go to for soup, and I'm not really a soup person, but I sometimes get that here. For salads, the Caesar is always a solid choice. I joke with my girlfriend when we've been here together that our friend Cesar would be proud of choosing his namesake salad. I got the Salad Sampler a couple of times where you get 3 different salads and/or soups. They have a good fruit cranberry chicken salad. They have beautiful seating area with various sections, a fireplace, and outside seating. There was one nice June day in the past, I tried the outdoor seating, but there was a bee bugging me, so I skedaddled with my plate of food and went back inside; it was freezing inside that day as they had the AC blasting, but at least I wasn't being threatened by a bee. Also, the coconut cake is excellent. I never get desserts, but I do on birthday deal or if it's free or discounted. Overall, la Madeleine is a great lunch (or dinner) option in Columbia, seems like I mainly go at lunch but have been at dinner too but rare. read more

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I haven't gone to la Madeleine in years, maybe over a decade. I was hanging out with my mom in the burbs and she wanted to go to la Madeleine because the potato soup is "so good". The set up was a little different since the last time I dined. You order and get a number, sit down and someone brings you your food. You used to grab a tray and order cafeteria style. You still get your silverware and drinks but I like the new set up better. The water was in the machine that dispenses the other drinks. It was too close to the fruit punch and gave my water a pinkish tint. I told someone who worked there and they nodded and walked away. My mom and I both got the Cafe Sampler. It was quite the deal. Soup, salad, and 1/2 quiche (you can upgrade to a whole quiche). It was about $15 and there were a lot of soup and salad options. The rest of the menu also looked good. The inside of la Madeleine looks like a French chalet and there is a large outside patio. It would be a bad spot to work a few hours. read more

la Madeleine - Cafe Sampler - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I took myself out for lunch. Been wanting to try this place for a long time. My first time here. It was a bit confusing. I did not know I had to place my order first and then sit down. It looks like a cute and cozy place. I didn't know what I wanted so I ordered the sampler and large americano. I ordered the French onion soup, caesar salad and quiche florentine. Everything is delicious and everyone is so nice, even the manager stopped by to chat with me. read more

12.3.24 Hubby and I haven't been here in years, but we had a coupon so decided to take advantage of it. We were definitely more impressed with our food selection this time around compared to our last visit years ago. He got the Croque Monsieur and thought it was very good, but thet the pasta was average. I got the Chicken Salade Croissant which was good as well. For dessert, he got a lemon tarte and I got the Sacher Torte Parfait and Fresh Fruit Tarte. Hubby thought tarte was ok. I really enjoyed my parfait, but would have enjoyed it even more if it didn't have apricot jam in it. My only issue with this visit is the staff got me the sacher torte (chocolate cake) instead of the sacher torte parfait. I didn't catch this until after I paid and she gave me the desserts. A coupon was applied and she had to call a colleague to correct it and swap out. The parfait was $3 cheaper than the cake, but I didn't want the cake. Long story short, it was a hot mess and I held up the line. I ended up overpaying with the swap which I didn't figure out until after I left the restaurant. So essentially I paid regular price. Moral of the story, if there are menu items that sound similar have staff confirm your order. read more

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I am honestly VERY surprised how this place gets such high ratings. Went around 10am on a Monday to get a quick bite and the cashier was SO RUDE. I asked her if the almond croissant had cream / paste inside and she made such an annoyed face, and said "HUH?". Shocked and upset myself at her response, I asked her again and she said "yea". I didn't want the croissant anymore so ordered a chocolate croissant and coffee to go. My Monday morning mood was completely ruined by her. Went to the restroom and their toilet was one of the most disgusting one I've seen, borderline as bad as a porter potty. There was mold EVERYWHERE. If you can't even clean up after your toilet, how bad is your kitchen? Idk, I was shocked all around. Didn't feel like dining inside at that point so I stepped outside. The patio area is cute I'm not going to lie, but the tables haven't been cleaned -- very sticky and dusty. I am seriously asking, are folks OK with ordering food from such an under maintained, dirty cafe? The coffee was very sour & acidic, not to my taste, but the croissant I ordered was good. Again, I give them credit for what they do right, but after the rude cashier & having seen a very dirty restroom & table... idk if I trust the cleanliness of this place to want to go again. How did they pass a health inspection test? Go look at my past reviews, I don't think I've ever given a one star rating.. but La Madeleine is NOT IT. I won't be coming back again. What a bummer because the pastry chef can bake. read more

I really like this window! And this fire place make me happy... Thanks God! I fled a table near by fireplace today! Coffee and dessert is the enjoyable moment of the day! read more

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The restaurant provides counter service, where you place your order at the counter and your food is brought to your table after, giving a quick-service vibe. My experience here was very disappointing. I visited this restaurant once before, a very long time ago, but I don't recall having such a poor experience. This time, everything on my plate was either stale or poorly prepared. My eggs were watery and didn't taste great. My potato galette was chewy and not crispy, seemed to be reheated or microwaved. The bacon was not crispy and the croissant was dry. The overall quality of the food felt sloppy and subpar. One positive I can take away from this experience was the warmth of the fireplace. Sadly, I don't think I would return. read more

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Oh la la. I love this cozy place. As soon as you walk in, they warmly greet you with a "Bonjour"! They really make you feel welcomed. The bacon, egg and cheese croissant is the best that I ever had. The croissant was so buttery, flaky and deliciously good. I loved the fireplace and the feel of France. They have so many good pastries, danishes, cookies, etc. It's amazing. I will definitely be back to try the crêpes and so much more! Au Revoir! read more

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My coworkers and I were working off site and decided to have lunch delivered. We went with La Madeleine and I'm so happy we did. Initially I wanted the salmon but they didn't have that so I went with the beef & parmesan potatoes. The dish consisted of beef chunks and vegetables in a red wine gravy over creamy parmesan potatoes. The food arrived on time and was neatly packaged. My beef was in separate container from the potatoes which allowed for me to control the amount of gravy on my potatoes. I love when I'm able to put everything together myself. The food was so flavorful. You can tell whoever made it added the carrots last because it still had its crunch which I appreciated. In addition to our entrees we had some pastries. I had what I believe was a raspberry and cream danish. The buttery flakiness of the pastry was amazing. Everything exceeded my expectations and I definitely recommend. read more

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This is my go to breakfast spot every time I visit Maryland. Coffee is good here and the breakfast pastries are amazing. Tomato soup if perfect for dipping and this area is pretty spacious so don't really have to worry about not getting a table. You can refill coffee from self-service area. read more

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Very nostalgic restaurant and staff are very friendly but this place needs a shower. Windows have finger print smudges, bathrooms are gross, floors dirty, furniture dirty and outdated. I would love to see this place renovated read more

Worst place to go cashier made order to go when it was to eat in. Food was horrible Bathroom no toilet paper Ants on fireplace Went to order a to go order after eating - cashier first refused to take Cash mostly because she couldn't make change!! The last I knew cash is a legal way to pay for services. I am Not coming back here again. Some workers weren't wearing gloves when preparing food. Some of women workers were standing around and letting an elderly man and young man do most of the work. read more

Food out of this world Unbelievable great fast service Nice quiet private comfortable sitting Best of all was the hard working friendly staff . See u next time read more

Maria and crew & LaMadeline Columbia Md Save the day ! we had to place a Last minute order as our cater canceled last minute! Food was incredible and they handled it with so much empathy and grace! thank you ! read more

An old favorite. I love the chicken friand, although their mushroom sauce quantity has decreased significantly. I also enjoyed their croque madame. I tried a few of their desserts: Nutella croissant: pretty good Coconut cake: good, cake is nice and moist Chocolate tart: one of my favorites. Even if it was tiny, it's very rich and memorable Almond croissant: good, has filling but I like the tarts more read more

la Madeleine - Nutella Croissant Muffin, Coconut Cream Cake, Almond Croissant, Chocolate Tart - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Whenever I go to Columbia, I try to make it a point to stop at La Madeleine. I love this French cafe and came here earlier for lunch. It's a casual vibe and the decor seems very quaint and French like (haven't been to France yet but hope to someday!). The restaurant is pretty big with lots of indoor seating as well as a cute outdoor patio. I got my go to - Chicken Friand which is a pastry shell filled with chicken and mushrooms topped off with their delicious mushroom sauce. I also got a fruit tart to go (not the freshest but still good). Everything I've ever had here has been good overall with reasonable prices. Other items I've enjoyed are their Quiches, potato galette, chicken salad croissant, croque monsieur, butter croissant, and coconut cream cake. Service isn't the best but the staff are friendly enough. A very solid French cafe I enjoy venturing out to when I make the drive. read more

la Madeleine - Chicken Friand & Fresh Fruit Tart - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I am not understanding the bad reviews at all. la Madeleine has been one of my favorite budget-friendly restaurants/cafes for about 10 years now. The food is always fresh and flavorful , whether you are getting breakfast, lunch, or dessert. The coffee and espresso beverages are also amazing. Way better than your favorite coffee chain restaurant! I've dined in a lot in the past. but now I get carryout or delivery more often. Food is delicious no matter which way you get it. Dining in makes you feel like you are at a French cafe. My favorites are the chicken salad sandwich, the pastas, the custom egg white omelette , the potato galette, the tomato basil soup, and their signature mushroom soup! I just moved back to the area and I am so happy that I live near the restaurant again! read more

Had a good meal ( duet magnifique; grilled cheese with tomato basil ) here yesterday. Love the fireplace and casual seating. Of course, I had to get a fresh loaf of sourdough bread to go. read more

la Madeleine - Grilled cheese with tomato basil soup - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I used to be impressed by the options and food quality, but it was just ok. We went on a busy Sunday, and everything seemed rushed. People were lined up to the door. There was only one menu available being passed from person to person. I ordered the croque monsieur and pesto pasta salad. My brunch buddy went with the avocado toast. My sandwich was barely warm, and the pasta lacked flavor. The avocado toast was...just sad. For $6 you get A slice of toast cut in three, with a lemon wedge. I'll only go back for an overpriced lemon tart. read more

la Madeleine - Avocado Toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I'll say that it was great based off of the coffee, it was fresh and the customer care was great. Nice smile and happy energy.. if in the area again I'd stop by. The ambiance was great as well. read more

The Salads are always fresh.. love the croissants and the hot chocolate is amazing.. love the outdoor seating in the summer and the fireplace in the winter. read more

La Madeleine is a wonderful place to eat. The food is delicious and the staff is wonderful. They make you feel comfortable and ready to enjoy your meal. We love their coffees and there is a girl there Jessica that makes the very best cappuccino. She always has a smile on her face no matter how busy it is. La Madeline is our favorite restaurant in Columbia. read more

We actually enjoyed la Madeleine this past Sunday! So much that we plan on having a simple dinner here sometime this week. I love the café sampler since it's a little bit of everything. Gives you a chance to try more than one menu item since there are lots of options here, which I like. The chicken friand, potato soup, and petite salad are magnifique! Great portion size too. My husband and I also enjoyed their quiche lorraine. Would love to later try their crepes here as well. I've had their crème brûlée before and it was okay, nothing out of this world. Maybe I'll try another bakery item when we return. Plenty of parking, no fuss ordering and finding a table to dine. Establishment could be little more tidy. The staff here are lovely. Super friendly as well, even Arsène was kind enough to try to teach me a little French, to which I clearly wasn't that great of a student haha. Although the overall review rating for this one is not that great, I think this is a nice and simple spot for lunch or dinner as long as you manage your expectations. read more

la Madeleine - Caf Sampler - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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We arrived at 7:15 PM. They were preparing to close at 9:00 PM. The food was terrible. I have never seen a tasteless looking and (tasteless) chicken. Swamped in a disgusting grey gravy that was only warm. They said their menu was limited due to the tie of the day. The French onion soup was served without croutons and they handed us a few pieces of Swiss cheese as they were unable to prepare it properly. The people at the counter who were serving food were doing so in between cleaning the toilets. They could have cared less about customer service or food quality. This is my second experience like this at this location. This location was shameful and the owner should just cut their losses, fire the staff and start over. They did not even have ice in the ice machine. We had to ask for everything. If a store is scheduled to close at 9 Then they should not be 'almost' closed at 7:15. We asked for a sandwich and they said they were out but could prepare one for us in 30 minutes. They were only interested in being home at 9:01PM. There was no way that the food service team was washing their hands in between cleaning the bathrooms and serving food. It was disgusting. read more

Amazing French classics from sandwiches, pastries, salads, coffee, sweets. Cappuccinos are huge and a MUST! read more

la Madeleine - Sandwich Cappuccino - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

We went there last night for dinner. The cashier was very friendly and helpful. The person who delivered our food was also very kind. The food was good, not great. I enjoyed the entree but my caesar salad was underdressed. We sat outside on the patio and it was a very nice atmosphere. I will definitely go back. read more

This place is so perfect! The atmosphere, the ambience combined with the menu selection, had me swooning right off the bat, and to top it all off, the service was very friendly and welcoming. I had a wonderful brunch experience here, and if I lived close by, I would definitely come back for a date. I ordered the Chicken la Madeleine - This is balsamic marinated chicken topped with creamy mushroom sauce. Served with rice Provençale and steamed broccoli. I also ordered the Breakfast Croissant Sandwich - This is scrambled eggs with a choice of meat [I chose turkey] with cheddar on a butter croissant. I topped my meals with a double shot of Chai Tea Latte. Everything was delicious! This is the kind of place that makes you forget what time it is or the thousand to-do's on your list for the rest of the day; a little oasis or mini-vacay if you will. The service is always phenomenal. If you speak French like myself, the majority of the servers speak French, and they will speak French with you. read more

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I came here on a Saturday afternoon for brunch. It was definitely busy and it took awhile for our food to come out. There were plenty of seating areas available so wasn't sure if they were short staffed. Croque Madame: this sandwich was filling and looked yummy with the fried egg but the chicken parisien was better. Chicken Parisien: this balsamic marinated chicken was soooo good. The bread was very fluffy which made the sandwich so much better. This might be my new fav go-to order here! read more

la Madeleine - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Lovely ambiance, clean cafe. Quick service and a variety of pastries, sandwiches, and breakfast. Plenty of seating, indoor and outdoor. read more

la Madeleine - Half grilled cheese & cup of Tomato Basil Soupe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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And so ends my 2 decades (+ plus) long love affair w/ La Madeleine . I have loved this place for years. Had the same exact meal every single time for 2 decades (I tried everything but always came back to the same faves). It was the atmosphere, the well prepared foods, the quasi-Francophile in me and the bistro feel of this place. It was always warm & inviting. Some of the BEST Onion Soup & Tomato Basil Soup you'll ever have . Granted, it's been years since I've been in here but... WOW! They completely re-did the format/ layout. Maybe the change happened during COVID but it's a lot more sterile/ run of the mill now. French music isn't playing and the bathroom no longer pumps French lessons through the speaker. The employees speak limited French like it's part of their job to say 'Bonjour' & 'Merci' w/ no French 'funk' on it. ZERO feeling to it. It's all so blasé . It's just... a nondescript French eatery now. *le sigh* ‍. Got my 'Chicken Friand' which had a mushroom sauce that was burned. You could taste that it was cooked/ heated too long. FAIL!! et Strawberries Romanoff' with the most liquid cream sauce I have ever experienced. It was basically sweet milk. No heft, no thickness, no flavor aside from the sugar, to it. MASSIVE FAIL!!! (to go, regretfully... ‍) . Obviously the decor, and the way they do business has changed, but the fact that the food is so subpar based on what it used to be, I'm afraid this will be my last foray into a 'La Madeleine'. #Adieu #LaMadeleine read more

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I like some of the items especially the chocolate based pastries and sweets. Omelets are alright. It is a bit overrated and overpriced for what it is. However, the outside seating is very pretty and the ambience is great. Coffee was too bitter. Overall, I would go again but stick to my usual order to avoid disappointment. read more

This place is a delightful French bistro that offers a truly satisfying dining experience. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with the inviting aroma of freshly baked bread and baguettes, setting the stage for a memorable meal. One of the standout dishes is their tomato basil soup. Bursting with flavor and made with high-quality ingredients, it's a warm and comforting option that leaves you wanting more. Pair it with a freshly baked baguette, and you have the perfect combination for a light and fulfilling meal. If you're in the mood for brunch, this place is an excellent choice. They offer a variety of delectable options that cater to different tastes. Whether you prefer classic brunch staples or more unique dishes, their menu has something for everyone. To top off your dining experience, be sure to try their wonderful espresso.The ambiance is cozy and inviting, with a touch of French charm. The attentive and friendly staff adds to the overall experience, making you feel welcomed and well taken care of. read more

la Madeleine - Tomato Basil soup - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Columbia, Maryland