My wife and I had a fantastic experience and dinner celebrating our 44th anniversary. Nallely was a great server as were the other attentive staff that served us. The restaurant was full but not noisy! Each dish of our meal was superb, especially the sauces. To top it off, the chocolate truffle dessert was the best restaurant dessert we have ever had. If you are ever in Cambria you must eat here. read more

Natalie came to our table and treated us like we were old friends. What a great way to start the evening of our Christmas dinner. Unfortunately they were out of the ribeye special by 5 p.m. We had amazing scallops, and tasty bread. The salmon was great but small portions. The beef short rib pasta was more like a stew with pasta but flavorful. Great desert too. I only wish they had local micro breweries on tap and the ribeye of course. They only beer and wine, no cocktails. The atmosphere was nice festive and quaint. read more

Madeline's - The two of us couldn't finish this rich desert. - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

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So this is our second visit here. We were quite disappointed this time around. My wife's filet was not cooked according to how she ordered it (a little on the rare side this time). And no she did not say anything to management about it. They should know better for the price you pay here. I had the Venison Special. It was just OK but edible. A little on the tough side. I would Not recommend this item. I will not be returning to this place as there are other and better places to try. So be carefully with this place on what and how you order. read more

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We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and dessert. Service was excellent, nice quaint atmosphere. Thank you David for making my first visit so special. From the special table, birthday wishes and dessert! The wine menu and choices were awesome. We will be back read more

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We ate here a few years ago and it was great. Probably one of the top 50 meals we've ever had anywhere in the world. Had mushroom crepes, venison, and rabbit. Each one better than the next. I neglected to leave review but if I had it would have been five stars. We ate here again last night. There was a quail appetizer that was very good. The duck flatbread was okay. Everything else was just plain bad. Elk was tough and chewy and in some terrible overbearing sauce that hid any flavor the elk might have had at some point. The gumbo is more like a gravy cioppino. I guess they were trying to be innovative. It was just a complete fail by my tasting. The scallops in the polenta were bad as well It may be one of these places that had to cut back during COVID and just never managed to recover. I don't really know. I just know that personally I'll never eat there again. read more

This was the one meal that we didn't get any recommendations on. Our brief stay included a ton of restaurants we "had to" try. No one pushed Madeline's. They should...and we will. It was the best meal we had all weekend and a top 5 ALL TIME meal for both of us. The Meal: We opened with the scallops...they were perfection on a plate. 3 perfectly seared diver scallops covered with lemon beure blanc and micro-greens on a bed of duxelle. This was a hole in one to open the round...so very good, every bite. We followed that shared plate with our own bowls of poblano chili soup. Creamy, savory, spicy, fresh and peppery...the soup was amazing...and the bread we used to sop up that broth was also amazing. It was another perfect course. For mains, I got the Louisiana Gumbo and my wife got the stuffed chicken breast. I'm a gumbo snob...that is to say, I love gumbo and I can tell you what is good, what is bad, what is missing and what is right on. This gumbo was perfect. Big pieces of andouille, huge shrimp and diver scallops, perfect roux, a little too much okra...it was amazing...and the rice was fluffy and soaked up that roux beautifully. The chicken wasn't as good as the gumbo...she said it was a bit too salty. But it was still good. The desserts were delicious...a creme brulee and lime pie. So good. A truly perfect meal. And did I mention the staff? The manager - a nice young guy whose name I did NOT get, much to my shame - and our servers were kind, helpful and always in the right place at the right time. I couldn't have asked for a better experience...I look forward to going back. read more

Best fine dining in Cambria Service is impeccable Food is innovative and delicious! Small but cozy dining room Excellent wine selection read more

Amazing option if you're looking for a high end dinner in the heart of Cambria. My girlfriend and I celebrated an anniversary dinner there and weren't disappointed. The service and food were both great. Not cheap, but worth it for a special occasion (we spent about $80 per person, which included drinks, appetizers, mains, and dessert). We split the eggplant bruschetta for an appetizer, as well as the spinach salad. For main, I had the rack of venison. And we split raspberry creme brûlée for dessert. The wine and beer menu is also extensive. Highly recommend read more

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Best restaurant in Cambria. Dog friendly on the patio. We called ahead to reserve an outside patio table. Service was amazing. Cody our server was super accommodating, and attentive!! We enjoyed the duck breast, and venison. It was so good we returned the next night. Thank you Cody, and Michel. read more

Highly recommend! First time in Cambria, I enjoy fine dining and this was such an experience. Outdoor seating was pet friendly which was nice so we could enjoy with our fur baby. We had a bottle of Caymus, appetizers: octopus and quail, entrees: salmon and duck, and for dessert crème brûlée. The pricing for the full bottles of wine were not bad at all. And the duck is a must have!!! The creme brûlée was okay, thicker than I've had. We went to the wine tasting that was set up at Cambria Shores Inn, I'd give it a 4/5. View was amazing. Dog friendly read more

Madeline's - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

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My husband and I ate dinner here last week. My filet mignon was cooked medium well instead of medium rare. My husband's stuffed chicken was just ok. We will not be returning. read more

We had an amazing dinner at the Madeline's. Everything from service, presentation, taste and food selection were at the top of the dinner game. Located at the Main Street of Cambria, we sat outdoors at their makeshift patio where they try to recreate indoor dining outdoors. Small heaters are next to the few outdoor tables to keep the customers nice and warm. We ordered the Louisiana seafood gumbo and the pork belly entree. The gumbo was filled with seafood and it has a little kick to it as well. It was great since it was a little windy and cold that night so the gumbo really warmed me up. The pork belly was prepared with a crispy skin on top, melts in your mouth when it comes to the meat part of it. Everything about it was great, and we can't wait to come back the next time we are nearby. read more

Took a break from driving and stayed at Cambria overnight. We ended up going to Madeline's, since they allow dogs with outdoor seating (two table for two up front) The ambiance was nice, even when we sat outside, since they provided this cute little heating lamp that gives off plenty of warmth (so cute that I had to also include a similar picture ). Now for the food we ordered: Bruschetta - not your typical bruschetta. Really good, if you don't mind the goat cheese. Green Lipped Mussels - with real saffron! Pretty good, but I would prefer it with more seasoning. Fresh fish - Halibut - hubby said it was ok. Long Island Duck Breast - it was ok. Not gamey, not dry, but many of the pieces were too raw for me (dark red and a little hard to cut into smaller pieces). The ends were pretty good. Creme Brulee - really good. Apple pie a la mode - it's ok. Ice cream wasn't creamy enough. Wonder if it's dairy free. The crust was not as. good as I hoped for. The service was great! Everyone's very attentive. They get an extra star from me! read more

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We're giving Madeline's a very generous three stars here. VERY generous. We'd read the (mostly) glowing yelp reviews, and had even gotten some first-hand thumbs ups from people who'd recently eaten there, so we decided to give Madeline's a try, and went in with fairly high expectations. Trying to give them the benefit doubt here, because (being a realist) I understand that restaurants (like people) sometimes have off nights, but this was a real doozy. It started off fine. Our server was very nice and answered all our menu questions before we ordered. We ordered the scallops to share, and my wife ordered the Madeline salad. The scallops were OK, but I found them to be under seasoned, and they needed more of a sear. They just didn't have much flavor, and (oddly) didn't have much of a scallop flavor. We waited on my wife's salad to come. And waited. And waited some more. I finally had to walk back to the kitchen and point out to one of the servers that we were still waiting on a salad. This is where the wheels really started coming off. They finally brought her salad, which was pretty good, but they'd already fired our dinners, which they apparently left sitting out while they waited for her to finish her salad. Our entrees came out, and my wife's duck....although tasty, was only luke warm, and the medium rare filet mignon I ordered arrived well done.... I mean like solid brown in the middle well done, and not even a hint of pink! Our server agreed it was way overcooked, and said the chef would "be all over" getting a properly cooked steak out to me. So we waited. And waited. And waited some more, and all the while my wife was eating her duck before it got completely cold. It was a Monday evening, and they certainly weren't busy. What was the chef DOING back there? Finally, AFTER my wife had finished her meal, my steak arrived. This time, it was cooked to the proper temperature, but it took almost twenty minutes for it to arrive, and, much like the scallops, it was under seasoned. The server preemptively took half the price of the steak off the bill, which I felt was the bare minimum, but really, they should have comped the entire steak and my wife's salad for how badly they screwed up the timing on everything. Anyway, overall, it was a very disappointing experience, and Madeline's certainly didn't distinguish itself as being special or better than many of the other restaurants in the area. read more

Went to Madeline's tonight, fully intending to try the Stuffed Chicken Breast but a lot of other people had the same idea today and they were sold out and I've never been so glad to settle for a second choice! Our server was Omar, he was the perfect combination of classy, fun and personable! Since first choice wasn't available we asked Omar what his favorites were and they were all in the running anyway so we ordered every one of them! The Omar Special was amazing! The scallops, should probably be served with spoons because that sauce is soooo delicious! (Or save some bread!?!) We were torn between the first and the third salad, Omar likes strawberries so we tried his, delish!! Then the entrees! My best friend and I were torn between two of Omar's favorites so we ordered both and shared them: the Braised Shortribs are so tender! Pure comfort food, pasta cooked to perfection. But the showstopper was The Duck with the Cherry Reduction! Juicy, tender, crispy skin! Flavor for days! It was the perfect bite on repeat! It is not to be missed for me! Even the little stack of perfect scalloped potatoes were great! I recommend the Omar special...just save some bread for that lemon beurre blanc! read more

The food here is always great and the staff is friendly and helpful. They have an extensive collection of wines out for viewing and tasting - be sure to check out the label on "Late Bloomer". We've been here for both lunch and dinner with friends and we love introducing new people to this fine restaurant. read more

Very beautiful view and outdoor seating. Great, quick service. Apps and drinks were great!

Mixed emotions about this place. Cons: Felt super stuffy. Our waiter was nice when he was around. Would disappear for a while. The scallops appetizer was overcooked (chewy) which is very disappointing due to the fact that it's $16 for 4 itty bitty scallops. The lamb was ehh. Pros: My husbands gumbo and our chocolate cake were amazing. THE best chocolate cake I've ever had. Our wine was delicious and we took a bottle of cognac to go that was literally amazing! I may order out cake and buy a bottle of wine from here again but atmosphere was not like able enough to eat there again. read more

Madeline's - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

Awesome food , price was just right for the food and wine !! Love it and would go back 100%

Went here with friends as they were treating for my retirement and it was a very nice experience. Something I think the ladies would like and they did. My best friend and I liked it but requires dessert later the complete the appetite. I am saying portions are large but most higher end establishments fall into this same category (this isn't the Claim Jumper). Menu is high end and seems a bit limited as much if the food is for someone with a wider range of cravings than I have. With that said I had the short ribs (rib) and it was very good as were the scalloped potatoes and mashed potatoes. Bread was excellent and Caesar salad was good. The ambiance and service here was too notch! Definitely the classiest place in cambria and deserving of 4.5 stars but I like to round up! read more

The host was delightful, our server was kind and helpful, the atmosphere was uncomfortably close which is understandable in a tiny place, but most importantly the food was very disappointing. The potato leek soup tasted like leeks simmered in a bowl of cream, watery, bland, seemingly without potatoes. The peach buratta caprese salad was downright sad. Four little wedges of tomato, about half a small peach and two tablespoons of buratta over a little pile of butter leaf. It looked very unappetizing and unlike any of the dozens of caprese salads I've enjoyed before. The chicken breast was dry yet butter soaked, scalloped potatoes were under seasoned and under cooked. Polenta was similarly oily and under seasoned. We were here for an anniversary dinner, at no point in the reservation call, arrival, seating or service did anyone ask if we were celebrating anything special. I'd recommend staff make asking that simple question a part of the reservation call script. Guests can be greeted with "happy anniversary" etc. It's a nice touch. We won't be back. Moonstone bar and grill was heads above this place, wish we'd dined there. Next year I suppose! read more

On our road trip from NorCal to SoCal we stood two nights in Cambria. It was off season, during one of the stormy weeks in January 2023, and quiet. It was honestly perfect. No crowds, we got the cute streets to ourselves, and got to walk into boutiques and restaurants with no crowds or wait time. We decided on our first night in town that we would eat at Madeline's. The reviews looked good, it was walking distance from our hotel, and again, no wait! We walked in around 6:30 pm on a Tuesday evening, we were seated in this little culdesac by the bar. There were maybe 10 people total. We were helped and catered to immediately. Interior: Bistro vibes, dim lit, classic decor, white linen tables, nice wine bottle display, antique portraits hung on walls. Taste: I like that the menu was straight forward and only offered its patrons a handful of options for each course. We chose the bruschetta and wild mushroom crepes, both so good. The bruschetta was the stand out! Very flavorful and had a modern twist to it- no bread, instead the toppings went on top of a toasted eggplant. For the salad we had the beet and frisbee salad, so good and refreshing, a mix of roasted beets, bri, red onion, frisee lettuce, and a balsamic glaze, yum! For the entree we had the truffle risotto. It was good, a little more moist and runny than others I've tried. The truffle was faint in taste. The servers were kind and happily divided each plate for us to share, no questions asked. I felt like I was given a full ordered plate, I was full after the salad. Overall 4/5. The crepe and risotto could have been a little better but still great. Happy full stomachs. We ordered to glasses of white wine: a Riesling and Pinot. Price: Fair given the location, great service, no wait, fast seating, and flexibility! Exterior: Cottage vibe, design and color reminded me of an old German home. Simple and the sign was minimal and classy. Would not stop again if I visited Cambria, I would try another restaurant, but totally recommend it to a first timer. Worth it! They also have a tasting room by the beach, we didn't get to stop by but would next time. Great view of the ocean, right on Moonstone Beach Drive. read more

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Very nice restaurant. Nice window seat. Romantic ambiance. Food and service were competent, but not as great as I had expected from the reviews. My wife and I thought it was a bit of an off night (it was a Sunday night and I don't think the owner was there). The mushroom tart to start was fair - it tasted ok (not special). It was a little underseasoned and could have used some more flavor (more flavorful mushrooms? carmelized onion or shallots? some type of cheese or herb?). Also, it felt like that dish had been prepared a long time earlier and microwaved before serving because the temperature was uneven across the slice, extremely hot on one side, and the crust had no taste or texture. Sauce dotted on top did add some pleasant flavor. The pappardelle pasta with rosemary sauce was tasty - again a little underseasoned, but I added salt and it was better. The sea bass special was very good. Fish prepared well. The sauce was very rich. The "famous" chocolate cake was more like a tall chocolate silk pie - there was no "cake" in it. It looked like it had 2 layers of chocolate - one dark, one lighter. Crust was a little soft, like the savory tart earlier. Because the filling is so soft, I think it would have been better if the crust were a little firmer or crisper. (It seemed like it was an older piece of pie from the day before, and the crust got soft from the time and refrigeration.) Service was good. But we were served by at least 4 different people (kind of a team service). They were all pleasant, did the job well, but the lack of a single point of contact made for a less personal and personable experience (I don't remember hearing anyone's name!). It was a pricey meal (our most expensive in Cambria). We thought we had a better experience at Sow's Ear (food and service, cozy but not as romantic). But again, it could have just been an off night for execution at Madeline's because the elements are there. read more

Very great service and food. Only wish they served liquor. This place is very cozy. I will go again my next time in town.

This rating could have been much higher. After our salads, which were great, there was a long wait for which our server, Natalie, was apologetic . When the meal came my double pork chop was hammered, I mean burned on the bottom. My wife's stuffed chicken breast was great. Natalie had my order refired. Looked great but raw in the middle. However, listen restaurant owners! There was a heart felt apology, no charge for my meal, a replacement offer of anything on the menu and an free desert offered. That's how you take care of customers!! Thank you Natalie, you were great and we had fun. We will be back read more

Incredible customer service! Every employee treats their customers with respect and professionalism. The food is great, especially the filet mignon and the flourless chocolate cake. This is a wonderful restaurant for us adults to get away and have a romantic, delicious dinner in a great environment. read more

Great food, ambiance, great service! Don't miss out, go there. Love the blue-lipped mussels- yummmm! read more

Service was great, as was the ambiance. The food, however, could be much better. I had the scallops appetizer. It came with a nice amount (4) of divers scallops in a tasty lemon butter sauce. I also ordered the winter salad, with kale, pistachios, and red onion with pomegranate vinaigrette. Unfortunately, this dish was tasteless. I prefer when kale in a salad is massaged to make it softer and more edible. I assumed the kitchen would do this, but I was wrong. The vinaigrette was bland, and while I was glad to get some fiber, I grew tired of chewing this salad with so little payoff. read more

The service was good and the restaurant was nice. I ordered the below entree and the noodles were wide noodles three and four of them stuck together throughout the whole dish, I was trying to overlook it but I couldn't eat the noodles at all. I brought it to the waitresses attention and they only gave me a 10% discount and I did not eat the meal. She said that was their policy! Was totally upset after spending $125. Côte Courte Braisée $32.00 Braised short ribs, wild mushrooms, baby spinach tossed with pappardelle pasta read more

Our server Gio was super sweet and patient. Gave us great recommendations on dishes, and it was Amazing! Everything was delicious! Definitely need to make the trip back soon! read more

Madeline's - Scallop Appetizer - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

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Really nice place at the north end of Cambria. Pleasant ambience with attentive service and a good menu. I usually order the filet which is always excellent, not surprising given the number of cattle in the pastures in the area. Decent selection of wines by the glass or bottle. And they take bookings, unlike the higher end restaurants in Morro Bay down the road. read more

The only reason we gave this resturant 5 stars is there is not a choice for 6 stars. What a fantastic little gem in this nice little town. We were greeted at led to our table outside as we have a little dog. Our server was wonderful and very attentive during our lunch. The Owner/Chef checked on us during our meal to make sure everything was OK. Believe me it was. Homemade mushroom soup was probably the best we ever had. The Croque-Monsieur and Shrimp sandwiches were outstanding. We will be back!!! Thank you all. read more

My wife and I had a great table by the window. We ordered the fresh fish. The food and service was outstanding. We'll be back for sure!

We were in Cambria for a night. Madeline's is always our go to for a fantastic dinner. Great wine list and amazing steaks. My guy was a little bummed they still don't have a ribeye on the menu and they were out of the short ribs but he enjoyed the filet almost as much as I did. We ordered the filet with the scalloped potatoes and steamed spinach instead of the mashed potatoes and veggies. Everything was delicious. read more

Fantastic birthday dinner! Came with friends and we had the duck and filet mignon, both cooked to perfection. I was surprised the potato gratin paired so well with the duck but it was phenomenal! Nice selection of wine that pair perfectly with your dinner and the desserts were also tasty. Wonderful staff, quiet and intimate atmosphere. Big gem in a small town. Thank you! read more

I would call it more of an experience than a meal. As local foodies and service workers, nothing thrilled us more than an opportunity to try Madeline's for the first time. Exquisitely prepared with love I could taste every single flavor in every single bite. We ordered the stuffed chicken and papardelle pasta and shared, although I garnered more control over the scalloped potatoes and the delicate creme sauce that made me happy I ordered togo...no one would see me polishing it all of with my bread! Big love to ya'll at Madeline's. Warm service as well, thank you! read more

This was the last restaurant where I ate with my mom before I lost her last year. I remember the food was so wonderful I couldn't wait for us to go back but I haven't been there since. I do plan on going back someday! read more

Wow- what a gem! The scallops are legit. Octopus is perfectly nestled in roasted tomatoes. And being a NOLA gal, I'm snobbish on my gumbo- but, again, WOW! Please try by if you're lucky enough to get the chance. Oh & ps: wine selections are fabulous for even the most discerning wino read more

Madeline's - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

Great service! The bartender was friendly and made some great recommendations while we waited for a table. Everything we ate was delicious, from salad to entrees (sorry, It was a while ago so I don't remember exactly what we ordered). It was a beautiful place for a lovely date! read more

We were celebrating my husbands birthday and I booked a table at Madeline's. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND making reservations. There were several people who did not have reservations who were turned away at the door because of the wait time. We started the meal with wine and appetizers. We ordered the Green Lipped Muscles and the Duck Terrine. The muscles were perfection, lying in a savory broth of butter and garlic. These muscles are addictive. I only wish we had placed two orders of the them as they were that good. The duck terrine was always delicious. The terrine is wrapped in bacon. The dish was savory, with notes of sweetness. Absolutely delicious and the perfect accompaniment against the brightness and acidity of the muscles. I ordered the Louisiana Seafood Gumbo. The seafood was perfectly cooked and the seasoning is on the spicy side. I've had better in New Orleans, but this was very, very good. I would have preferred more rice in the dish. Other than the water and wine on the table, there was really nothing to neutralize my palate during this meal. It wasn't slap your mama spicy, but it was spicy. My husband ordered the lamb sirloin which was perfectly cooked at medium well. Many restaurants in America don't know how to cook lamb and it's always overcooked and to tough. The chef at Madeline's knows how to cook lamb. Perfectly seasoned, PERFECTLY cooked on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes with a side of carrots and squash. My husband loved everything and there was nothing left on the plate at the end of the meal, which is rare for him. They have a very large wine list and the ambiance is wonderful for a romantic dinner, or just a relaxing dinner with friends or family. The service was impeccable. We loved it here and will definitely be back. read more