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Café Madeleine
Categories: Restaurants Creperies Food Coffee & Tea Creperies, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
2248 30th St(between Ivy St & Juniper St)
San Diego, CA 92104
Neighborhoods: South Park, Golden Hill
(619) 544-1735
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:30 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Breakfast, Brunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
96 reviews for Café Madeleine
Review Highlights
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"The crepes were absolutely delicious." In 28 reviews -
"Any the Illy coffee is perfect every time." In 8 reviews -
"I have tried their savory and sweet style crepes." In 2 reviews
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96 reviews in English
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Review from Gregg H.
San Diego, CA
4/10/2012
The Croque Madame was devine.
Friendly staff that helps you find the best thing on the menu.
Perfect for a quick lunch at a reasonable price for the quality of the food served. -
Review from Tracie U.
5/14/2012
You broke my heart, Cafe Madeleine. My Croque-Madame loving heart. Seriously, I think I left it there in a thousand little pieces. You are a delightfully charming cafe close to home. I had such high hopes when I saw my beloved bistro favorite on your menu.
I can perhaps forgive the lack of bechamel sauce; at least there was cheese. I cannot however overlook the fact that the cheese was a globby mess; combined with the overcooked egg on top, I wanted to cry.
The beauty of this sandwich when it's done right is that beautifully browned, crispy-in-parts topping of cheesy bechamel goodness and a nice yolk-y egg. I've had some mediocre Croque-Madames but never one where there wasn't even an attempt to create a nicely browned top. That thing didn't look like it spent any time under a salamander. Based on the fact that other reviewers seemed to enjoy it...maybe it was off day?
My Americano was good, the staff was friendly and I love the atmosphere of the place, so I will definitely be back. I'm interested in trying the crepes. I just need a little space...and time to heal. -
Review from Erin B.
Oceanside, CA
3/21/2012
Wonderful coffee and the best breakfast pannini in town!
The owner and staff are awesome. They always remember my boyfriend and I, and it's nice having a smile and chat to go with our order.
Absolutely beautiful presentation and great location. Would make anyone's morning brighter (and much more tasty!). -
Review from Amanda H.
San Diego, CA
5/26/2012
Cafe Madeline is one of the best additions to South Park. I usually just get the vegetarian crepe with an egg on top, which is pretty much the best crepe I've ever had. Between my husband and myself, we have tried most of the items on the menu, and they all are excellent. Very fresh and authentic. They serve Illy coffee, which is probably the best out there. The service is fast and all of the staff are very friendly. This place is wonderful!
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Review from Renee L.
San Diego, CA
5 stars again, of course for fantastic coffee, but also for perfect service!
I love that when Johanna sees me coming and has my coffee ready before I even walk through the door! Truly the best coffee in town. It makes my mornings when I get to get a cup. -
Review from Carrie H.
San Diego, CA
5/21/2012
This cafe has a wonderful neighborhood feel, and they know how to make a cappuccino. The staff is always friendly, and they will bring your drink to you even if you order to go. As soon as I set foot in the cafe, time slows down for me. Thank you, Cafe Madeleine!
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Review from Shannon H.
San Diego, CA
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
A little pricey, but super tasty. Super cute and well designed place--you feel like you leave San Diego a little!
I'll be back! -
Review from Julie E.
San Diego, CA
5/7/2012
I love it here! First off, GREAT food and fun coffees of all sorts. Secondly, the staff is AWESOME! I love coming here because you are always greeted warmly, never feel rushed, and it's part of the neighborhood. The interior is welcoming and I like how they have art that features local artists. Almost always one of the staff members suggests something that is new, or something they just created themselves. I really like that. The presentation of the food is also so great, and it's just a place that makes you feel good! The Croque Madame is my favorite!!!
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Review from Lindsay S.
San Diego, CA
5/22/2012
Great service. Staff was very helpful. Crepes were fantastic and reasonably priced.
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Review from coco s.
San Diego, CA
4/30/2012
Glad I finally went. Birthday breakfast with my babe. Babe had fresh berries in his crepes. I had the smoked salmon with capers and creme fraishe. Mmm. It was the perfect start to my day.
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Review from Mikaela P.
San Diego, CA
5/20/2012
Great place to sit and drink an iced latte on a sunny day. Great place to rest while walking around South Park. I haven't eaten any food there yet, but I'm sure I will.
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Review from Nicole S.
San Diego, CA
4/14/2012
Loved our mocha coffee's!!
Breakfast was so delish.. tried both the veggie crepe and prosciutto panini.
Both served with salad.
Staff was quick and friendly.
Space is limited -- we sat in the window seat (miniature sofa without a back) not the most comfortable but super cute. We brought our books and homework with us. We relaxed a little after breakfast. Good experience, great food and drinks. -
Review from Alice A.
2/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Paris bistro experience in San Diego:
Sidewalk tables, except with better weather.
Savory and sweet crepes. I had prosciutto, arugula, pear with bechamel sauce crepe and a banana Nutella crepe. Both were delicious.
Paninis with the same filling choices as the savory crepes (san Bechamel sauce). Good.
Illy's coffee and cappuccino, my fall-back coffee brand well executed.
It's located at the corner of a quieter street one block away from 30th, within the same block as Stone company store and a new wine bar that looks to open soon. This means I will be able to get three of my favorite beverages without leaving the block. Yay!Listed in: Coffee spots
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Review from Amy S.
1/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Cute spot.
Great location.
Yummy coffee.
Yummy menu.
Friendly staff.
Outdoor and indoor seating.
Intimate and quiet.Listed in: Sleep In a Cup, Tree Streets
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Review from Oriana S.
San Diego, CA
3/9/2012
What a lovely place to eat! It is so cute in here and it makes me feel like I'm in Paris. I've never had a bad experience at Cafe Madeleine, I think they hold themselves up to a very high standard. I always get the veggie (vegetarian) crepe because it is such a unique dish. It has E.V. olive oil, balsamic vinegar, cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce. I personally have never seen more professionally presented crepes, and especially at a catty-corner type of cafe like this which impresses me greatly. I also adore how they have tons of little treats to chose from-- their macaroons are super tasty.
The only downside is that the cafe itself is very small, but good things come in small packages, so it's definitely worth stopping by :) -
Review from Jennifer P.
San Diego, CA
3/28/2012
Enjoyed our breakfast on the patio with our dog and the service was excellent.
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Review from Jack M.
Rancho San Diego, CA
12/30/2011 3 photos
I love it, when I find a place like this, simply by driving by, and looking for a place to kill some time.
I had eaten a sandwich earlier, so I was in the mood for some nice tea and a light pastry. I was in luck because not only did they have some very nice Earl Grey Tea in a little white pot, but they had the best BLEEP plain croissant I have ever BLEEPING eaten in my life, so far.
The "plain" croissant, (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) where can I start? I know, it was like; a duh, a duh, well, that's what my brain was telling me when I bit into it. Perfect out side crust. Not to flakey, so that it falls apart, but just enough, so you have that nice crunch before you venture inside the little piece of bread made in heaven. The inside was a buttery moist chewy a duh, a duh. Dam thing drove me crazy. I can't even describe how good the inside was. Just get one when you go, but make sure it is the "plain" croissant because, after asking the owner about them, she told me that the pastry dough is imported from France, but they bake them on the premises.
The tea was great, the location was quaint, and the croissant was out of this world amazing. -
Review from Jamie L.
San Diego, CA
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty tiny and it's always closed when I'm in the neighborhood, but I was so glad it was open that day...
Beside a lovely crepe selection, they carry Opera macarons and Illy coffee-- two things I travel some distance for on a semi-regular basis. The place itself is very French and it's in a rapidly Brooklyn-izing neighborhood. I've been frequenting bars in South Park for years, and the number of cute, crafty shops that have popped up the neighborhood in such a short time is astounding (including the Stone store, which previously was only in Escondido). So the areas surrounding the café have grown increasingly quaint and refreshing. The café is quickly becoming a one-stop shop rather than driving all around town for indulging in the things I love. -
Review from Carrie O.
12/25/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Love this little place! So glad my husband and I finally tried it. He gets his hair cut across the street at Salon on 30th, so we visited Cafe Madeleine for lunch post, and it was delicious! I had the vegetarian crepe, which was so good! It was almost like an Italian-style crepe, because it had pesto, tomatoes & mozzarella cheese. Yum! I never would have thought to put that in a crepe, but it was so good. My husband had the vegetarian panini, and it was similar to the crepe as far as ingredients, but on perfectly pressed bread that was crispy, not soggy at all. Both our entrees came with small side salads with a yummy balsamic dressing. Oh, and we split a nutella crepe for dessert, and it was heavenly.
Overall, definitely a place we'll visit again! So far the best crepes I've had in San Diego! :) Really friendly employees, too! -
Review from Amy M.
San Diego, CA
3/4/2012
Came in for lunch with a friend and had a lovely experience. Maybe it was the awesome company and the beautiful day, but I'm pretty sure the delicious paninis and comfy atmosphere played a pretty big part! We ordered a chicken panini and roast beef panini and split them and they were both delish. The bread was nice and crisp - no soggy paninis here! It was about $10 for a panini and an iced coffee - not bad! I wish I lived in this hood so that I could come in more often, but I definitely think I'll pop in again and would love to try on of their crepes next time!
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Review from Hannah C.
San Diego, CA
12/19/2011
1 star for how darn cute the place is and the euro feel of the outdoor, sidewalk seating option.
2 more stars for the amazing food and Illy coffee. Illy coffee is one of my favorites, and I very much enjoy a real cappuccino at a place that knows how to make a real cappuccino. Highly recommended. The salmon, capers and crème fraîche crepe was pretty phenomenal as well.
A fourth star for location as this little cafe adds a great aesthetic to the already quaint South Park community. Grab a cup of coffee to or from the dog park, sit outside with your pup, then walk around to the little boutiques 1 block over, ending the afternoon at the lovely Stone Brewery tasting room across the street from Cafe Madeleine to complete your stellar South Park Saturday afternoon!
I'm docking one star only for the poor service. The cappuccino's came fast, but the crepes took nearly 30mins, while we watched 2 other tables sit, order and receive their food in the interim! I think they forgot about us, and they weren't even apologetic. The only response I got was "all food is made to order and may take time." Time is fine, but watching my neighbors eat food they ordered 10 mins after me while I'm starving rubbed me wrong. That said, it kinda adds to the french-like "charm" haha I'll still go back as this was likely circumstantial / accidental.
Bon appetite! -
Review from Jared N.
San Diego, CA
4/21/2012
I went here about 2 weeks ago and I've been back four times. Everything I've had has been very good.
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Review from patty p.
Lemon Grove, CA
2/23/2012
What a cute classy café. Took my daughter there today to try out their crepes, I wasn't expecting such a cute place.. Forgot we were still in San Diego. The crepes were delicious! I had a mexi-mocha which was very good btw, the price is reasonable.. I think around $ 6 each crepe, depending on which one you order. We had the fruit filled ones, but they did have a variety of breakfast/lunch ones as well. I was more than happy to have gone there.. Will be back soon :)
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Review from Mark D.
San Diego, CA
3/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great family run coffee shop in South Park. Didn't have the time to sample any of the food, but they do offer a nice variety of sandwiches for lunch, to go along with the typical coffee shop menu of drinks. I'd much rather go here when I'm in the neighborhood than one of the huge corporate chains.
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Review from H F.
San Diego, CA
4/26/2012
Another hidden little place to eat quietly in South Park with exceptional food. LOVE this place. The owner and service and FOOD was so great. I had a great experience with my mom for lunch. The selection will keep me coming back for months to get through all the choices on the menu. I will be back and expose more friends to this quaint secret tucked sweetly in the neighborhood.
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Review from Elyse B.
San Diego, CA
10/29/2011
This place is great! The food was great. I ordered the Ham Crepe, and my boyfriend ordered the Veggie Panini, both tasted great, and you could tell it was fine ingredients.
Price is good, not too much, but not dirt cheap either. I love sitting outdoors, and there is cute little tables, and its right on the corner in South Park, so its great to people watch! -
Review from M K.
San Diego, CA
11/26/2011
Love this place!
Crapes are great, paninis are crispy and delicious.
Great atmosphere too! Come here on a sunny day and sit outside, it's so nice and peaceful and free coffee refills! -
Review from Patricia Patti P W.
San Diego, CA
7/17/2011 9 Check-ins Here
Hi Gerome! Ooooo lala!!!! Nicely done sir!!
And you think that Vagabond's is great???? This place really hits it out of the ballpark when it comes to fresh quiches and pastries. Simply elegant, flavorful and worthy of more visits! I love the crepes here too, they are very, very good. My dear husband and I split one that was oozing with chocolate and bananas. Serving sizes of the quiches and crepes are pretty generous, I cut my veggie quiche in half to save for later on today or as a snack for my man.
Nice atmosphere, very French! :) Very family and doggie friendly too!!! The cappuccino that I had rivals my favorite shop Santos' hands down. Now I have two places to get the best espresso in South Park!!! -
Review from Tiffany L.
Jersey City, NJ
8/29/2011 2 photos
I didn't actually go to Madeleine, so I can't comment too much on the interior/service/etc, since my husband brought us home breakfast from here this morning. Firstly - their coffee is amazing! My vanilla latte was delicious and husbands Illy coffee as well.
We had a quiche, chocolate flourless cake and blueberry tea cake. Some (maybe most?) of their pastries are bought, so I would like to know which ones, if any, they make in-house and try those. The quiche was good, my husband did not like the texture of it at all and said it tasted "raw." It wasn't raw, but the egg custard is much more of a cream base and a little different than most quiches we like. The crust, however, was so delicious and flaky. It came with a side of arugula-heavy greens that had waaay too much vinaigrette on them. The dressing was tasty though. The cakes were okay. Blueberry tea cake tasted like an outside company bought frozen pastry (probably Opera), the flourless cake was good but standard. I would like to return to try their crepes and for their coffee. -
Review from Dana F.
San Diego, CA
11/12/2011
Been looking for a place to have a great crepe since I moved to SD. I used to really enjoy some places from the Los Angeles area and haven't had much luck finding an establishment that has a tasty crepe with chicken.
I have eaten here a few times, so I think I have enough info to form an opinion. I have tried their savory and sweet style crepes. They do not have the biggest selection of menu items, but I really like what I have tasted. Their chicken crepe with pear and Gorgonzola has a lot flavor and comes with a small salad on top. They only have one fruit topped crepe that comes with berries and jam. I rate it OK and wish they had more crepes with fruit to choose from. The batter or mix they use for the crepes compliments the ingredients and is light and tasty.
I have only eaten one of the panini's on the menu and it was pretty good. They also have a decent selection of muffins and croissants. I noticed a few people eating the quiche's, but haven't tried them. The coffee has a nice flavor, but you have to ask for refills because they don't leave a dispenser on the counter with the cream and sugar.
Not a lot of places to sit inside, but they do have outdoor tables as well. The service has always been great and I think the owner is the lady who takes orders at the counter. I prefer places that don't rely on a waitresses because they are usually cheaper and you get just as good service. I always throw them a little something in the tip jar. Oh yeah the place is dog friendly and you can easily get out of there for about 10 bucks a person or less.
Speaking of, a unique circumstance occurred today that showed a little something about their customer service. After I ordered my food, I was drinking some coffee at my table and reading a magazine. I notice that 2 dogs came running by and they almost got hit by a car after they ran out in the street and because it was raining. Being a pet owner myself, I ran outside to see if I could round them up. I told the lady at the register I would be back and she noted the dogs too and understood what I was doing.
It took me a little while to grab the dogs and put them in my truck so they wouldn't run away or get hit by a car. Luckily they had collars with name tags and I was able to get ahold of the owner who lived near by. One of her house guest had left a gate open allowing the dogs to get out. After about 15 minutes I returned to the cafe. They made sure no one had disturbed my table which still had my coffee on it. They provided me with a fresh crepe and were very cool about the whole thing.
They are really close to the place where I am getting some killer tattoos so I will continue to frequent this cafe in the future. I will add updates as I try new items on the menu. -
Review from Marion c.
Los Angeles, CA
8/22/2011
YUM.
We had two savory and two sweet crepes (so we could sample a good range of items) and they were all so delicious. This was off the beaten path for us since we were just in San Diego for the weekend, but we will totally go back. Super friendly folks, organic ingredients and fresh, delicious coffee plus first rate crepes and a very relaxing atmosphere outside. -
Review from Jen S.
6/14/2011
This place is magnifique (said in my poor excuse for a French accent)!! It is so awesome for so many reasons!
I lived in France years ago, and this place captured the soul of some of my favorite smaller cafes in Paris that I used to frequent. It is a small place located in South Park away from the hustle and bustle and therefore offers a more relaxing atmosphere.
First of all, if anyone truly knows coffee, they will know that only Illy and Lavazza are the only "good" brands of espresso. Cafe Madeleine serves Illy, which is a good quality Italian coffee.
They also serve both sweet and savory crepes, and the prices are fair. I split the smoked salmon crepe (the portions are huge) with a friend and it was lovely. I have also had the pear crepe, which was very yummy.
Their salads are also beautiful and very fresh. I had the one with baked goat's cheese and it was one of the best salads i can remember having.
They also sell some imported goods form France, such as specialty bottled drinks and mustard (though I would like to see them sell balsamic French mustard).
The seating outside is very cozy with comfortable chairs. Also, the sexy little French Canadian woman who works there is very sweet, and hard-working. I wish I had the courage to ask her out, but i am sure she digs up on the men folk.
The only reason I don't give this place 5 stars is due to the fact the inside is stuffy and hot. Even though they keep the front door open, they need some fans in there or something. The heat from the crepe stove really warms the place up. But the decor is very charming and "French", and they were playing some cool chill music.
I will be back to this place for sure! -
Review from D W.
San Diego, CA
8/22/2011
Was hungry so I had the savory crepe with smoked salmon & capers with greens and was pleasantly surprised. The crepe itself was not too thin or thick, moist enough. The lightly vinaigretted greens come partially covering the crepe as if it were nude like Adam. I also had their $3.25 special, fruit cup had strawberries, a few blueberries, banana , orange, pineapple, & cantaloupe.
My friend had the pear crepe and she needed more sweetness in it. -
Review from LY T.
La Jolla, CA
2/4/2012
What every neighborhood should have... a local cafe with a simple menu where one can Revel, Sip, Taste within walking distance from home, and enjoy the neighborhood storefronts along the way!
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Review from Tawnie b.
San Diego, CA
12/20/2011
Yum yum yum! And omg the coffee is so smooth. Crepes were perfect and hit the spot. Service time is long but well worth the wait.
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Review from Gigi C.
San Diego, CA
5/2/2011
I love crepes.
We just tried this cute little cafe this weekend and was pleasantly surprised.
The environment is relaxed and genuinely european.
Madeline's also has a very good variety of crepes. Savory and sweet, there are several to choose from without being too many. The crepes included a small salad.
The price was excellent.
I would give cafe a higher rating if:
1. there was more of the "classic" sauce on the crepes
2. the crepe's pastry itself needs to be a little thinner
The service is very friendly but slower than I wanted (but I was hungry).
I will come back here again. -
Review from Drewski D.
San Diego, CA
11/17/2011
Great food, good coffee, awesome service. They'll walk down the street to get you hot sauce if they're all out.
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Review from Lahnna E.
5/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
"They have Illy coffee! We're going!" Those were the exact words I used when deciding where to go for breakfast yesterday.
It's a tad inconspicuous when you're first looking for it due to it's tiny size. I first noticed the outdoor seating and the Illy logo umbrellas. As I said, it's a tiny, corner cafe with a very demure personality. While they have some cute knick-knack decor, the walls are rather bare. They do have a cute table by a little pitcher style window with a small wrap-around couch which is where we sat.
I ordered the Fresh Berries Crepe, a sparkling apple cider, and a large mocha while my man-friend had the Pear Crepe and a large mocha. Both crepes were perfect in consistency and flavor. My cider complemented it nicely.
Lastly, the young woman behind the counter was pleasant and attentive. I will return to try some of their monthly specials like the Caprese Panini. -
Review from Angie L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/6/2011
The place is really cute and the staff is nice. Small, quaint little place to stop by for a little coffee and something light for breakfast. Girls, maybe you want to bring your friend to catch up here while enjoying sunny weather outside. Good for pairs.
Should've tried a savory crepe, the dessert one was a little bland. It was supposed to be simplistic, just lemon and a hint of sugar I think, but it was almost too simple. Chicken panini was not bad, it was missing flavor but I like the cut of the chicken, wasn't too thick in between the bread.
The madeleine though wasn't as good as people had hyped it up to be. It was a little too spongy I thought. -
Review from Olivia R.
Perfect little neighborhood breakfast spot! I ordered the prosciutto crepe and fresh squeezed orange juice. The crepe had a lovely béchamel sauce with mushrooms and cheese. The OJ was the perfect addition to the already delicious meal! I will be back for sure!
