Started with the winter salad that was light and delicious to begin this journey- naturally had a glass of the house French champagne. Food was, is and has always been nothing short of exquisite! I came in as they had Venison on the menu again and it was cooked to perfection, came with mashed potatoes that were smooth, silky and full of butter and cream, as they should be..... just pure art. Service and ambiance is always on point- David and Natalie were so very kind and accommodating. Will be back again and soon! read more

Madeline's - Venison Sirloin......outstanding! - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

We stopped in Sunday evening to the Moonstone Drive location, just to have a nice glass of wine. We had never been here. It was around 7 and there was only a few people there. It was clean, very nice ambiance with music playing. The gentleman greeted us and offered wine tasting, we said we are here just for a glass. We discussed options and he gave us information. We chose a malbec and sat on stools on the patio that evening to enjoy our glass. We really enjoyed this place and look forward to visiting again while in the area in the future. There is a small indoor area as well, and a downtown main street location. read more

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

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Madeline's is always great. The owner /chef is always present to recognize the loyal customers and greet new diners . Food is consistently wonderful . And have a wine or two from their extensive collection. read more

Just finished our Christmas dinner at Madeline's and it was absolutely delicious! We were sat immediately at a comfortable table and my son ordered a glass of Cabernet and I the Madeline salad. I loved the combination of beets, goat cheese, green apples, hazelnuts, and red onion with the salad mix. So many great flavors! I ordered the filet mignon which came with mashed potatoes and green beans and carrots. The vegetables were so fresh and my meat was cooked perfectly, and tender. The sauce brought it all together. My son had the venison with a root mash and the same vegetables. He enjoyed his, but thought my filet mignon was better. He enjoyed the root mash! We shared the pumpkin brûlée. We both expected a stronger pumpkin flavor, but it was subtle. The topping seemed a bit too burnt, but overall delicious! The noise level was a bit high, it's a very small restaurant, but we were comfortable and felt well served. read more

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It was our 45 anniversary. A friend highly recommended this place. It was excellent. I had halibut fish and it was outstanding. My husband had duck and he went on and on how good it was. Dessert was on the house for our anniversary. Cody and his staff were outstanding. Highly recommend this place. Ambiance was quiet. We could hear ourselves read more

Must try in Cambria. Affordable corkage fee. BYOB Relaxed and cozy atmosphere. We sat outside and it was great. read more

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

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Back again, with friends, and our meals were fabulous! I was happy to see that they have maintained their overall style with an understated dining room offering a small, but welcoming list of French-California cuisine to tempt you. We started our meal with the Duck Terrine (Duck and Bacon pate, Duck Sausage, Cornichons and Toast Points) and Baby Spinach with Bacon Vinaigrette, Red Onion, Toasted Pecans and Dried Cranberries. Entrees consisted of the Stuffed Chicken Breast, thoroughly enjoyed by our friends and my wife went with the Polenta Madeline and I chose the Louisiana Seafood Gumbo. All were served hot and in a timely fashion by our very attentive waitperson. Nallely? Somehow, we had room for dessert and chose to share an Apple Tart and Lime Pie. During our meal we also enjoyed a bottle of Madelines Caydens Cabernet along with a glass of White Wine. Their wine list is extensive and offers many local choices. We will be back during our next visit to Cambria. read more

The food was absolutely amazing. Service was quick, food was hot. Order the bruschetta!!! My husbands filet was the best I had the salmon special Staff was friendly read more

Had dinner here tonight. First off, the restaurant was busy and we showed up without reservations. The host sat us at the bar for a few minutes, and then came to get us and seated us at a great table. Appreciate that! Once seated, they brought us some bread and waters. I ordered the stuffed chicken entree which is served with scalloped potatoes and carrot/asparagus medley. My wife ordered a glass of Chardonnay and while it is not a menu item, the kitchen was kind enough to prepare her a scallop entree. The scallops were cooked in butter and served with rice and the carrot/asparagus medley. The food quality is high. I have a couple of quibbles, hence the 4 stars and not 5 stars. While the scallops were tasty, the rice was unembellished and was akin to rice out of a rice maker. The portion of stuffed chicken is very petite. Had a key lime pie slice for dessert, which was enhanced by a raspberry sauce and raspberries. IWe are grateful to have been served a tasty dinner in an upscale restaurant without having made reservations. read more

Madeline's - Scallop entree (off menu) - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

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We had a great time here! Natalie was so attentive! Loved the bread with an in-house made herb butter. Salad was great I loved the dressing. We enjoyed our entrees. California Central cost wines are where it's at!! Loved the wine so much we bought some to take home. It's also a wine shop. Cheers! read more

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This is Cambria's fine dining restaurant. Recommend making reservations since it is a small restaurant. Street parking is easy. The first thing you notice when walking in is how there are so many paintings on the wall. The tables are nicely spaced apart. The service here was attentive, and we never felt rushed. We had to order elk when our waitress mentioned it as one of the daily specials. I've never been to a restaurant that served elk and was intrigued. We decided to split a Madeline Salad so we could say we had something "healthy". Splitting the salad was a good decision to avoid filling up on salad before he entrees arrived. The duck breast was good. The elk was divine. I preferred the elk. It was tender and flavorful. The bread was unmemorable and it came with an equally bland whipped butter spread. Madeline salad -- $13 Elk (daily special) -- $40 Duck Breast -- $33 2021 Morgan Pinot Noir -- $15 There is one spacious restroom at the back of the restroom. No diaper changing tables, however, this shouldn't be a problem as I think most of their customers do not bring infants. Overall, I loved this small charming French restaurant and am looking forward to stopping by again next time I'm in Cambria. Mention you are a guest of Cambria Shores Inn for a discount at the restaurant. I stayed 2 nights at Cambria Shores Inn (see my review) where this restaurant has their Madeline's on Moonstone wine tasting room, with a deck overlooking the beach and ocean across the street. . read more

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Duck breast is a must! The wait staff are super friendly and very helpful and informative with the menu. Will definitely come back when visiting Cambria! read more

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

Had dinner at Madeline's for our anniversary and had a great dining experience. Staff and David, the owner, were very attentive and kind. We had the duck & champignons, the short ribs, chicken stuffed with Brie and walnuts, and chocolate truffle cake -- all were excellent! Very intimate setting and nice tables. Highly recommend. read more

Absolutely in love with this small but cozy restaurant! Not only was the food absolutely DELICIOUS but everyone was so friendly. We ordered some scallops which it's definitely a must try! it won't disappoint and they're filet mignon with a side of mash potatoes was delicious as well...and went well with a glass of wine. read more

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The service was exceptional from the first phone call to getting the check after dinner. Lovely restaurant experience with great staff - hopefully I will get back here again soon. read more

During my trip to Cambria, the host at White Water Lodge recommended a popular dinner spot that's difficult to get into. I called and found out they were fully booked, but luckily they were able to reserve a seat for me at the bar since I was dining alone. I was thrilled! The restaurant itself was charming, with friendly hospitable hosts and servers. Everyone was incredibly friendly, polite and pleasant. To start off they served warm bread and whipped butter infused with parsley. It was an absolute delight! For my starter, I had the soup of the day, a light and tasty potato and leek soup that was perfect for the chilly night. As for the main course, I couldn't resist ordering the fillet mignon. It was cooked to perfection, with an exquisite blend of flavors and juicy tenderness. The creamy mashed potato was delicious , although I wished there was more of that Overall, it was a delightful dinner experience that I will definitely revisit the next time I'm in Cambria. read more

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My husband and I tried this quaint French bistro for our Anniversary a few nights ago. We have a vacation home close by Cambria, so it wasn't too far of a drive. We were pleasantly surprised by the whole dining experience at Madeline's. I ordered the Madeline salad with apples, roasted beets, goat cheese, roasted hazelnuts with a vinaigrette dressing. It was wonderfully refreshing and tasty. I also ordered the Bruschetta with eggplant and roasted peppers, goat cheese with balsamic glaze for my entree. It was equally tasty and completely filling. I took half the Bruschetta home because it was so much for me to eat. I ate it the next day and added some roasted pumpkin seeds on top and it turned out even more flavorful! I thought even roasted pine nuts would be good too. My husband opted for the Duck confit with wild mushrooms in a puff pastry and pan seared Duck breast with scalloped potatoes and vegetables for his main entree. Of course I had to try them both after he raved about them. He did say that the duck breast was a little overdone, and if it was just a little less cooked; it would have been stellar. Service was excellent, with waitstaff coming around every 5-10 min to check water levels or if we needed anymore wine or anything else was appreciated. They are also extremely friendly and pleasant. Wine list is extensive with many selections of amazing wines. I had the Viognier and my husband had a Petite Syrah that was very good. For dessert we split a Chocolate Truffle mousse cake. What a decadent delight! Our evening was wonderful and we truly enjoyed this little hidden gem. The decor reminded us of some of the small, quaint bistros we visited in the South of France. We will definitely be back. Thank you Madeline's for a memorable anniversary dinner. Bon Appetite! read more

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Perfect dinner! White tablecloths, candle on the table, and balloon wine glasses all say fine dining. Atmosphere means a lot and it was cozy in a good way here. The cuisine is farm to table and freshly prepared. You can tell. The Fall Salad was just right. Healthy, delicious, and perfectly dressed. We enjoyed every bite. The Mushroom Pappardelle was also well executed. Light, yet rich and fun to eat. Service was top notch. We look forward to dining here again. read more

Madeline's - Welcome to Madeline's! - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

Imagine dining at this groovy and comfortable little restaurant, with its crafty menu and Parisian music playing over the house system...when a voice from my jazz past comes on. Madeleine Peyroux. Singing the sultry and sexy cool French music that played even better in that setting with the smells of good food, the smiles of cute little waitresses and the pour of a good drink. This place gets high marks for just about everything. If it wasn't for the weird table for two - right next to the kitchen door - we'd be at a solid 5. It's funny, with all the coolness happening here, only to find yourself seated next to the swinging doors of distraction, felt odd. Wifey and I agreed; there was one table too many in that place. And it was ours. Let's not bury the lead though...Madeline's was a beautiful night out. read more

My husband took me here for my birthday getaway to Cambria. Host was very welcoming and per my husband's request, had a nice little table in the front by the window. Our server was very professional and friendly. I had two starters for my dinner because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat a whole entree (hotel room had less than adequate working fridge so, no leftovers!). Even though the potato and leek soup was on the thin side, it was good. Also had the Madeline Salad which had all the things I love in a salad, goat cheese, roasted beets, apples, hazelnuts and an apple cider Vinaigrette. Very good. My husband had the Long Island Duck Breast which he said was very good, as well as the sides of scalloped potatoes (delish!) and vegetables. For birthday dessert, we had the warm apple tart with vanilla ice cream, very yummy! read more

The food was absolutely delicious, best filet mignon we've had. (Better than Gordon Ramsay's kitchen in Vegas). We were celebrating my birthday and this was the perfect spot. Such kind staff members and beautiful environment. Definitely coming back in the future. read more

Madeline's - Filet Mignon GF - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

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Wow! The food at Madeleine's is top notch. Glad we made a reservation because the place was full. The braised short ribs were fork tender, the sauce and pappardelle were simply delicious. The stuffed breast of chicken and scalloped potatoes were decadent and rich. Our server Nallely was helpful, attentive and we appreciated her input. read more

Madeline's - Stuffed Stuffed Breast Of Chicken - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

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Food service and ambiance are all nice. We had an intimate lunch for two. Enjoyed the soup and sandwiches. read more

First time at this restaurant. A wonderful little French bistro with superb food, attentive service, and a nice ambience. I will certainly be back! read more

It was amazing!!! Food was outstanding. The mushroom appetizer and the eggplant appetizer was wow read more

Madeline's - The eggplant and mushroom appetizers - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

We went to this lovely restaurant located in our favorite place to escape to...ahhh Cambria you have our heart. This restaurant is the perfect date night getaway... amazing menu and outstanding wine list. White tablecloths, candles and flowers make a for a very romantic evening dinner. They have a very small outdoor patio if you'd like to dine outside. They seve lunch and dinner. The service was stellar start to finish from the hostess to our server. The food was amazing. We will definitely return and highly recommend a visit to Madeline's. read more

Haven't updated my review here in quite a while. Madeline's continues to be one of the finest restaurants in Cambria, offering delicious french cuisine in an elegant setting. The prices are not cheap, though they are appropriate and on par with other restaurants of this caliber in Cambria. read more

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Oh, Madeline's!! I wanted to love you, but it was so mediocre (almost shameful, considering how expensive eating out is in today's inflationary economy) that I am deflated. It started out so promising with an enthusiastic welcome and attentive service at the front. But, that was the highlight, followed by a slow flameout. We had the warm spinach salad, which is a fun opener, considering it's not something you see on many modern menus, nor is it a dish you'd ordinarily make at home. It was okay, with a good wilt to the spinach leaves but maybe too much acidity from the vinegar and mozzarella cheese that didn't seem appropriate for the dish. The wine list is interesting and we'll priced. They have a good selection of central coast and international wines. Several whites and reds by the glass and many interesting options by the bottle. The gumbo, which was highly recommended by the server, was just a beige mess. It had almost no taste, save for the spicy sausage. The scallops and prawns were overcooked and rubbery, and the clams were just shells with little, if any, meat associated with them. Such a disappointing dish. The duck was also just blah. It had obviously been reheated, as the slices were curled up on the edges and the texture rubbery and color grey. The highlight on the plate was the scalloped potatoes, which were perfectly cooked with a wonderful crispy exterior and creamy interior. The veggies were okay: asparagus and carrots, which appeared like some afterthought on a dish you'd get at a fundraiser banquet. The place is very quaint with dim lighting and a cozy ambiance. The tables are spaced properly, but we could still hear the couple across the way talking to their son on speakerphone, and the loud lady in the party of three behind us talking about her disappointing trip to Barcelona. The server was wonderful at the beginning, but I almost sensed he was embarrassed by the food preparation and kept his distance at the end, only to send another server out to dutifully present the check and collect the payment. We paid, but we were not delighted. We are locals, and we want to be supportive, but the execution of this meal made it impossible. read more

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We dined at Madeline's on Sunday evening at the suggestion of our hotel and they've been on my bookmarks for Cambria for awhile now so it all came together. Our hotel called over and made us a rezzie for 645p. We arrived and were seated at a perfect table for two in the front window. We started with a bread and butter basket. The bread was warm and fresh. We both ordered glasses of wine. I had the Austin Hope Cab, scrumptious! I think my bestie had a Paso Zin. We shared the spinach salad which was fresh and yummy. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli special, served atop sautéed spinach. It wasn't life changing but it was good. My bestie had the filet, it looked great. I did have a tiny little bite :) which I rarely do but wanted to try it. As much as I would have liked to have dessert we were too full, since we'd had brunch a few hours prior. I'd also picked up a slice of pie from Lynn's earlier in the day and remembered I had that back at the hotel for later. Service was 5 STAR. I was going to try a wine from Madeline's Cellar and when I asked our server about it, and described what types of Cabs I love - he was so honest and transparent in saying their Cab is nothing like that but he happened to have something open that is. I absolutely LOVE the honesty and fantastic recommendation. As soon as I tried the Austin Hope Cab, I knew he'd listened to me and poured something that was exactly what I described. We eat at some of the same places each time we are in town, it was so nice to finally try Madeline's. I'd definitely recommend a visit, if you're looking for a nice sit down place. We also like Robin's but wanted something different and I love the sandwiches at Soto's True Earth Market for something a bit more casual. Moonstone Bar and Grill is also ok, but Madeline's is definitely a place you'd select if you are in town and looking for something celebratory and special. The other places are special in their own way too but Madeline's is a lovely choice. read more

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Madeline's is just a nice, comfortable, quiet and remarkable restaurant. The food is outstanding. If they serve it, they do it right. Delicious food that's the best in Cambria. read more

Wow what a fantastic restaurant. We have eaten here many times and it is our favorite place to dine in Cambria. The food is always on point. We have never had a bad experience. The staff is very friendly and attentive. Never had to ask for more water, etc.. it's great little date night dinner spot. You can dine inside or alfresco! Highly recommend. read more

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I wasn't expecting to enjoy this place so much! the wait was a little frustrating but definitely worth it! my parents are not fans of oysters but we got some here and it converted them! these were the best oysters we had on our trip and we went all the way up to SF to an oyster specialty store! definitely would recommend this place! there's a line for a reason read more

Everything was perfect here. The food was amazing, the service was spectacular and even the atmosphere was lovely. I would definitely recommend this place read more

Such a beautiful establishment with amazing tasty food. Brooke our server was the sweetest. Want to go back asap. read more

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EXCELLENT FOOD! Very quaint and cute restaurant, loved the 2 outdoor tables for a romantic, semi private dining experience. We ate there both nights we were in town because the food and ambiance was so delightful. read more

Madeline's - Filet Mignon & Roasted Duck. - New American Near Me - Cambria, California

Madeline's might pretend to be a bit more than it is: a continental restaurant of fine dining. Tables are properly set in white table cloth and napkins. Dinner music was easy to listen to and the volume was just enough to easily hear a table mate. Servers were all dressed in black and were appropriately pleasant in demeanor and in appearance. Service was generally very attentive and appropriate. There was one minor lapse when a server cleared more sets of my table than I gave him permission to clear, but that was not a major issue for me. I give Madeline's only three stars because of the quality of the food. The food wasn't bad. It just wasn't particularly good. I had a glass of house Chardonnay, the stuffed chicken breast entree with green beans, carrots, and scalloped potatoes with onion. Bread with herbed butter was given. For dessert, I had the creme brûlée. The pre-meal bread was the most disappointing offering of my dinner. It was insipid white bread in the shape of a baguette and sliced on the bias. The crust had no crunch and was not as brown as it should have been. The house Chardonnay was the style that inclines toward the stark and oaky. I prefer soft and buttery Chardonnays, but that's just a matter of taste. The green beans and carrots were served barely warmed on the plate. They were both hardly cooked: a style enjoyed by many, but not my favorite. The beans were very fresh-tasting. The carrots were in the form of slices on the bias from very large, tough carrots. I would have preferred that either the carrots had been tender baby carrots or that the large tough carrot slices had been cooked long enough to tenderize them. Carrots cooked long enough will caramelize into a sweet tender treat. The scalloped potatoes with onion were very good. The stuffed chicken breast was ok, but it was drier than it should have been. Creme Brûlées come in various styles from eggy, to creamy to pudding-like. This one was not eggy but leaned toward a creamy pudding. I wish it had had a bit more vanilla. Portion sizes were all appropriate. My dinner came to around $64 without tip. In summary, if you want a restaurant that is perfect for a great conversation with table mates in a "proper" atmosphere, Madeline's does a great job. But there are restaurants in town with better food. July, 2025 read more

The best of Cambria for dinner. I started with a glass of wine. The father of the owner greeted and seated me. What a treat. I had the duck which was done to perfection, juicy and so much great flavor. This is an exceptional place even if it was located in Manhattan NY. Here in Cambria it is a super star. Always an excellent place to celebrate or just have a great evening. My best to Malorie. Anything you order will be exceptional. In my travels around the world I would rate this one of the best for many reasons. Enjoy read more

After a beautiful drive up from Los Angeles, we had a lovely dinner at this charming, intimate spot. Cozy, warm, decorated with landscape and portait paintings, it has a very romantic feel. Service was excellent and the food was very good. My wife would have liked a couple more mussels in the appetizer she ordered as a main course (even if it came at a slightly higher price) and we both would have enjoyed a little more goat cheese on the bruschetta, but my steak and the apple pie dessert was excellent. Without those minor caveats we would have given the meal that final star. However, we can give five stars to Giovanni, who served us some very nice cabernet at the Madeline's wine bar on the beach before we headed to dinner. He was charming, attentive and a delight to spend time with. And that sunset was pretty spectacular, too! read more

Madeline's was recommended and it was much appreciated. The restaurant is cozy and has a great vibe as you enter. We enjoyed a great lunch and our server was fabulous! My friends had the hamburgers and I had the mushroom soup with salad. It was delish and we topped it off with a raspberry lime pie that was yummy !!! The next time I'm in town, I'll be back. If you go for dinner, be sure to make a reservation!!! Thank you Madeline's!! read more

Came in this evening to celebrate Mother's Day with my mom and husband. We made a reservation for 5:30pm the night before. Highly recommend making reservation. The ambiance is cozy and warm. Tables are close together but the space is small so they did well with the spacing. We were very impressed with the wine list. I ordered a Gruner and my mom a Rose. Both were great. We started with an appetizer of scallops which my husband and mom said were delicious. I had the soup special of potato/leek and my husband got the Madaline salad. I did not care for the soup so my mom ate it and enjoyed it. My husband's salad looked good and he really liked it. Our main meals were Filet Mignon, the stuffed chicken breast and the seafood gumbo. My husband really liked the gumbo...spicy but not too hot with flavor. My mom's chicken was really good, I wish I had gotten that. I had the filet mignon which was ok. It was not cooked correctly and had no flavor. The waitress did offer to send it back but we had already waited a while for the food so I did not want to wait. We ordered desserts...chocolate cake, lime/raspberry pie and the apple tart. They were delicious except for the chocolate cake...again, not much flavor. We ordered coffee with dessert and it was really good. I did not need sugar as it was very smooth and just lovely. All in all it was ok for me and good for my husband and mom. We did receive a comp dessert for my steak issue which was very nice. I would like to suggest providing actual soup spoons with the soup and gumbo...it would elevate the experience a bit. I do not know that I would return but if I did I would order a different meal for sure and get a glass of Gruner...not easy to find. I feel like the prices were definitely in line with the quality...fair and reasonable. I would have given a three star but my mom and husband said they think a four star fit for them so majority ruled read more