- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Cafe Madeleine
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Food Bakeries Restaurants Sandwiches Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Sandwiches [Edit]
300 California St(between Battery St & Sansome St)
San Francisco, CA 94104
Neighborhood: Financial District
(415) 362-3332
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:30 am - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
276 reviews for Cafe Madeleine
Review Highlights
-
"Mmmm hot chocolate with chocolate whipped cream." In 11 reviews -
"this place is still five stars because of their cakes." In 76 reviews -
"Their pastries are fabulous and reasonably priced." In 35 reviews
Loading...
276 reviews in English
-
Review from Kristin H.
Marin County, CA
3/29/2012
Ahh the age old question - what to get for lunch ....
Almost every wednesday a good friend and I make a point of trying out a new lunch spot in the Financial District.
Last week, through some assistenace from Yelp, I chose to go to Cafe Madeline. She had heard good things from co-workers to off we went.
She had the ham and brie recommended to her and ended up loving it as much as she expeceted.
I was surprised (shouldn't have been) to see their many quiches - it is a french restraurant after all. Quiche has always held a soft spot for me, as I remember my mom making ti growing up. It has since become a staple at brunches I like to host. Anyway, I got the mushroom and spinach quiche and it did not disappoint. The crust was flakey and a little sweet and the consistency of the egg and milk mixture was the same the whole way through ... but what can I expect from a place apparently known for their baked goods - let's hope they know how to bake a quiche.
Taking this into consideration, my friend and I each ordered a mini dessert. She got the mango cake (light, moist and fluffy) and I got the cheesecake (another personal favorite that despite it's mini size was not dried out and ended up being quite delicious).
Needless to say, I have a feeling we'll be back. Oh, be aware, there's very little seating so get there early or expect to carry your lunch elsewhere. Because it tends to get a bit of a line, it can be loud - but you get used to it after a bit and the tables are tucked in the corners so they did the best they could given the space. -
Review from V B.
Burlingame, CA
3/20/2012
What a year, what a month, what a day!
After all that, it all stays the same (pretty much)
My love of hot chocolate remains (always)
A nice discovery for a late celebratory lunch.
A ham and brie with an amazing cup of hot chocolate that hit the spot and thankful that my friends will go for it again in 2012.
The Denver thing, might have been a blessing in disguise.
And coffee drinks? I am in serious thinking of trying a latte here. They look fancy! -
Review from Clarissa P.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
My previous employer used to get their "monthly birthday" cakes from Cafe Madeline, and they were definitely looked forward to. I've tried approx 75% of their cake offerings (by comparison to their cake list on their website.) All cakes were extremely delicious, moist, and gone within 5 minutes. There was not one cake that I did not like- they were all so amazing!
I recently have tried their lunch menu items and was presently surprised. The ordering process is very fast, as the sandwiches are prepared before hand and 'grilled' when ordered. I also think the salads are prepackaged.
So far, I've tried the:
Fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with fresh basil and pesto spread on a sweet Italian roll (grilled sandwich)- my favorite, go-to sandwich from CM. The bread has a great crunch to it, the mozzarella is deliciously gooey and very well complimented with the pesto spread. It doesn't make you feel too heavy but satisfies the savory craving that a salad can't.
Avocado melt with bacon, Havarti cheese, tomatoes and mayonnaise on ciabatta (grilled sandwich)- I only ordered this sandwich once. At first it was good, but I got tired of it after a few bites. The bread and the bacon are both well cooked, making the sandwich very tough and hard to chew. I also felt the bacon was too salty- the sandwich itself was ok but I don't think I'll be ordering this any time soon.
Oven-roasted chicken, portabella mushrooms and feta cheese with mixed organic greens and Balsamic vinaigrette- I'm currently eating this salad now and must say I'm a fan. The Balsamic vinaigrette dressing is very light, allowing for the flavors of the chicken and mushrooms to stand out. I'm so loving these mushrooms right now- they did not skimp on the mushrooms, there's alot of them and they are delicious. Also, the oven-roasted chicken is well seasoned and doesn't taste bland. The serving is generous, I was able to get 2 full servings from this salad.
Tomato soup- I always order this soup with my sandwiches, but I've gotta say that it's not as silky as I like tomato soup to be. It's actually very chunky, and has an overpowering flavor of onions and salt- sometimes too overpowering. I usually can only eat half a cup at most, saving the other half for later. -
Review from Mel G.
5/23/2012
Nice place to grab a mid-day work coffee or treat. However, right on the cable car line so a bit noisy.
-
Review from Krystal C.
San Francisco Bay Area
5/20/2012 16 Check-ins Here
Cafe Madeleine has been my go-to spot for delicious cakes for years. Anytime I'm summoned to bring dessert to a party I immediately call-in and place my order and it's ALWAYS a crowd pleas-er. Steering away from the tantalizing desserts, I now come here weekly to feed my caffeine addiction. The regular coffee is a perfect way for me to start the day. Every now and again when I want to jazz things up, I upgrade to a mocha - the homemade whipped topping is ohhh soo good. Another one of my favorite menu selections is the chicken sausage and zucchini quiche that comes with a side of mixed greens. Honestly, I've yet to be disappointed by anything here. The customer service is also fast, friendly and efficient. I LOVE this place:)
-
Review from Solomon W.
Austin, TX
3/15/2012
Cafe Madeleine is typical of San Francisco: sleek, cutesy bakery with a large clientele base coming in with their umbrellas and the like. The offerings are pretty standard, with nothing possessing any sort of unique character.
There was a really good crispy biscotti boasting big ol' chunks of almonds.
The bear claw was not really crisp and flaky, but the middle was filled with a fluffy, hearty chocolate paste. Also, an abundance of almond slices adorned the top of the pastry.
Nothing terribly satisfying here that you have to absolutely run out and get... but definitely a good choice if you are passing through. -
Review from Lily S.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2012
Came here twice and got the tiramisu and creme brulee.
Both things were very unforgettable and the creme brulee was served cold, probably been sitting there for a while..
Not impressed for the price. -
Review from Fawn B.
Daly City, CA
2/24/2012
How I Became a Difficult Customer:
First, I discovered the Goat Cheese Salad at Cafe Madeleine: Spinach disguised by the perfect balsamic dressing (not too sour), sweet and juicy grapes, sliced almonds, goat cheese, and a slice of chewy bread. Later, Café M began using strawberries instead of grapes in my favorite salad. More tangy, less sweet and juicy. Slight downgrade.
To my horror, I began to notice an insufficient or uneven dressing, when previously the spinach had been expertly tossed and evenly coated, with the goodies arranged artfully on top. So I began to request extra dressing. Then I started to request extra dressing on the side, to be sure I got it, and so I might have some left over for next time, or for dipping my bread.
One day, I took a step off the beaten path and bought the Burrata salad instead. The unique feature of this salad is olive oil and truffle salt on top of Burrata, a fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella with cream mixed into the center. The cream makes it seem like the cheese is melting before it even enters your mouth. I fancy that during my walk back to the office the cream is also melting the truffle salt and thereby increasing and distributing the flavor. :)
Now, what could be better than taking my favorite sweet and slightly tangy salad and adding a little salt and cream?
"One goat cheese salad, with extra balsamic dressing, please, and add Burrata cheese with truffle salt. Lots of truffle salt! Oh, yes, I'd like olive oil on the Burrata too." "Oh no, the goat cheese is missing!" "I can't tell if there's extra dressing--could you give me a side of the dressing as well?"
I'm not going to compliment myself by saying I have "discerning taste." I'm downright troublesome!
Thank you to the amazing staff at Café M. on California St., who always deal with my special requests with great smiles and willingness to help--especially you, stylish lady with the braid. -
Review from Ann L.
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Went to Cafe Madeleine just to get a chocolate chip cookie. It's close to Embarcadero Bart in the FiDi, 2 other locations in SF.
They don't have chocolate chip with nuts I wish they did. It's a huge chocolate chip cookie No Nuts for $1.75.
It was ok, nothing special. A bit crunchy on the ends, soft inside. Cold.
Looks like lots of yummy cakes & other desserts. Sandwiches & other stuff too. Charged it.
Hrs:
M-F 6:30am-5pm -
Review from Sandra G.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2012
Say it with me... CRèME BRLUEE.
This little baked custard will was heaven in my mouth. It was a wonderful ending to my lunch. I just learned it has been infused with Tahitian vanilla with a caramelized sugar crust which added to its slendor. I love Tahitian vanilla and even had it infused in a birthday cake a year back. Now that I know that cafe Madeline has it, im a loyal fan...
I also tried the STRAWBERRIES & CREAM. It looked so perfectly stacked - almost too pretty to eat. The layers of ladyfinger cake was light and airy, while the fresh strawberries and strawberry cremeux dissolved you into bliss. yum! -
Review from Polina F.
San Francisco, CA
3/27/2012
Rather yucky sandwich with "caramelized" onions that were mostly raw. Macaroons out of stock. No wi-fi.
-
Review from Andrew M.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
At first glance this place looks like it's strictly baked goods, but they also serve normal food. I came here for lunch and the sandwiches are delicious. The cakes look amazing, I haven't tried one yet though.
-
Review from Chandler M.
South San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
Outstanding hot chocolate with more chocolate whipped cream on top. A nice pastry. Cozy interior. Staff looked slightly stressed, so one star docked for that reason, but the customers inside seemed to really enjoy themselves. When I got my hot chocolate, a middle-aged man, a customer, said, "That looks really good!" I tried it right in front of him and assured him that it was. The baristas can really make a hot chocolate, and a reasonably priced one (for the SF Financial District, anyway) at that.
I walked by this place by happenstance while walking to a meeting just down the street. When I got to my meeting, the receptionist at that facility recognized my cup and commented that I chose a really good cafe. Apparently this place has a pretty good rep.
I'd come back. -
Review from Grace L.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
What I love:
Fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with fresh basil and pesto spread on a sweet Italian roll
Chopped salad with candied walnuts, apples, blue cheese and mustard-dill vinaigrette
Spinach salad with goat cheese, strawberries and toasted almonds with Balsamic vinaigrette
They also used to have this amazing broccoli salad with beef... so great! -
Review from Marylouise R.
Vallejo, CA
I'm so happy that I work close to this place again... oh how i've missed a good pastry!
My favorite breakfast pastries: almond croissant, chocolate croissant, and when i'm feeling extra indulgent a bacon and cheese brioche.
for lunch, you can't go wrong with their menu. my fav is the oven roasted chicken w/ parmesan and artichoke hearts.. YUM!!!
desserts - this place specializes in desserts. their chocolate raspberry truffle cake is divine. the red velvet is so good... and lastly, the kpoi cake. thin layers of hazelnut cake with a coffee buttercream. yes... COFFEE buttercream. SO damn delicious! -
Review from Diana V.
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Three words: Chocolate Whipped Cream.
Made from scratch.
Topping off a hot cup of cocoa.
Heavenly : ) -
Review from sasha h.
10/12/2011 1 photo
Cakes, petit fours, cupcakes, French pastries.. that is why I love this place.. Their sweets are incredible. We always get our desserts from madeleine for large work dinners, client lunches, birthdays and whenever anyone has a sugar craving and they want to share. They also have an assortment of salads, sandwiches and select deli items for lunch. Pretty much everything is decent, you can't really go wrong. They are really efficient here, the line moves pretty quickly so don't be offended if they don't chat a lot, it is just usually really busy so they try to go as fast as possible. Single pastries are on the pricey side.
From the cakes, all are pretty good but some popular ones around our office are caramelia, chocolate raspberry truffle, fruit tart, frou frou, chocolatine, tiramisu, mango, triple chocolate, key lime, lychee cremeux -
Review from sara p.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2012
The nicest staff and consistently excellent food. Light, fluffy quiches, strong coffee, flavorful sandwiches and tasty salads (love the bean with chicken) keep me away from the dessert case.That is saying something for someone with a serious sweet tooth.
I love that they use compostable utensils and packaging. -
Review from Rachelle Q.
Fremont, CA
10/4/2011
Three words: Chocolate Whipped Cream. On Cafe Mocha. Heaven!
Bonus points for the friendly and helpful workers. -
Review from Jeanette S.
Berkeley, CA
8/10/2011
The Tahitian Vanilla Pudding topped with a layer viscous (yet not too sweet) rich caramel and three delicately placed blueberries left me very satisfied! The pudding itself was thick and dotted with flecks of vanilla bean.
This dessert was pricey though, at $5.50. But that just gives you a good reason to skip out on lunch altogether and order a dessert.
Also, the ladies behind the counter were so adorable! Full of energy and smiles -- definitely coming back!Listed in: Frequent Buyer Cards, The Hunt for Baked Goods
-
Review from lura m.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2011
Their cake made me sad.
My husband got me a lemon coconut cake for my birthday and I happen to be someone who LOVES frosting. While the inside of the cake was fine (not amazing but fine), the frosting made me want to cry. It was bland and instead of a delicious vanilla buttercream all I could taste was butter.
From now on we are sticking with a place we already know and love - Suzie Cakes in the Marina. -
Review from Elaine Y.
10/16/2011
Our company gets birthday cakes here for our coworkers and it has been about 4-6 cakes now and it has not yet once failed. The quality of the cake is just so high. Moist cake, cute decorations, taste great, and creative combinations. For my own birthday, my coworkers got me the Green Tea Taramisu. One bite of that and it has gotten me hooked. I don't want to admit this or even too embarrassing to say this, but the first minute I got home with the leftovers, I immediately got a fork and start digging back in.
This place is amazing, if you don't try to get a cake here, you're making a big mistake. The cafe itself is a really cute too. You just can't go wrong. -
Review from M G.
Oakland, CA
2/21/2012
I've attempted to buy coffee or pastries here about three times and every time I go in, the lone person at the counter is always on the phone and doesn't even acknowledge the line of people stacking up. There's no effort by the other staff to take over the register, there's no effort by the person on the phone to wave down help from them...NOTHING.
So--I will take my business elsewhere. -
Review from Julie T.
South San Francisco, CA
6/24/2011
I LOVE THEIR CHOCOLATE DECADENCE CAKE! Chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting! It's so perfect... and amazing... and always moist. The sheet cakes are wonderful because its lined with HUGE chocolate covered strawberries. MMM I order one of these every birthday. I can't wait to order another. Birthday countdown, less than a month! YAYYYY
Prices are not bad either!
MM thinking about it, makes me want to drop by and get a cupcake RIGHT NOW -
Review from Katy A.
6/30/2011
this is the best place in the FiDi to purchase a birthday cake. Awe inspiring look, will personalize and it's worth every penny!
Also...when a place has chocolate whip cream on their mochas...you really can't go wrong. It's pretty much an experience your belly and taste buds need to have before you die. -
Review from J B.
San Francisco, CA
10/25/2011
Grilled cheese and tomato soup- love love love.
This is such a great spot and yes, I am a fan. This is one of the perks of working in the Financial District. -
Review from Elle L.
San Mateo, CA
1/4/2012
yum yum! love this place! Chicken chipotle was delis, also has the Cobb salad. The desserts look tasty, so will have to wait till the next time. This will be my new favorite place.
-
Review from Melinda S.
San Francisco, CA
8/21/2011
I came to this place with the help of Yelp reviews. I typed Panini, and the first result was Cafe Madeleine. My personal favorite is the Mozzarella and tomato. http://Bomb.com. The pesto helps take this panini up a notch. I tend to pair the sandwich up with the tomato soup if I have room, and it never disappoints. The soup is the perfect amount of salty and compliments the sandwich nicely. After eyeing their selection of cakes and assorted sweets. I grabbed a couple slices for my roommate's birthday. To this day we still talk about how amazing the dessert was.
Great place for lunch and desserts. After reading more of these reviews I'm looking forward to stop by for mocha one of these chilly SF mornings. -
Review from Tianjiao G.
Troy, NY
12/22/2011
i was passing by this cafeteria and stoped by cuz their dessert looks so yummy. Actually it was ok maybe i should try some panini. still four star cuz of other reviews i dont wanna misleading.
-
Review from Ashley O.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2011
Ambiance: Really cute and simple with enough seating (both indoors and outdoors) to bring a few friends. During lunch hour, there's definitely a line, but nothing too outrageous. The staff is always welcoming and helpful.
Drinks: Their coffee drinks are pretty standard, nothing crazy. If you order a hot chocolate, though, make sure to ask for chocolate whipped cream. They also have a pretty good selection of other organic beverages in the fridge. :)
Food: Sandwiches = amazing + great selection! I especially recommend the tomato mozzarella or the eggplant.
Dessert: They have a lot of little bites to choose from, all of which are really good- sometimes seasonal, too.
Only complaint: I wish they closed at 7:00-7:30 PM (instead of 5:00) so that I could go after work sometimes, too. -
Review from Cat C.
9/13/2011
My boss ordered a cake here for a going away "present" for a co-worker. I've heard this place is pricey but the cake was delish! It was a sweet & semi savory strawberry mousse cake with basil in it & the biggest strawberries ever. Definitely unique but tasty. Maybe I'll stop in one day for a pastry or a mini individual cake when I want to spoil my self.
Listed in: Sugar Rush
-
Review from Angela K.
2/11/2011
Their cakes are amazing! My company always orders cakes from Cafe Madeline for our gatherings, and they never disappoint. If you're a fan of chocolate, you're going to love their chocolate cakes. I would definitely say they are a bit on the rich and creamy side, too sweet in my opinion.
Their lattes are pretty comparable to Peet's coffee, extremely strong and bold, yum! I took off one star cause this place is pretty expensive. $60 for a large cake, and $4 for a latte.
The inside is kept surprisingly clean and they have a couple of chairs and tables for you to sit around. I will come back to try their pastries and sandwiches next time, hopefully it's as good as all these reviews say they are! -
Review from Linda L.
Oakland, CA
12/16/2011
This is right next to my building and it is always packed during lunch. They're known for their desserts but their coffee is pretty damn good! I wanted to order a soy mocha and they informed me that they couldn't do it since the chocolate they used was actually chocolate ganache. *Unlike starbucks, they realize there are people who are lactose intolerant. I ordered a soy vanilla latte instead. The service was a little slow but only because the chef was helping a customer with a choice of cake. They're cake is quite delicious and rich. And they have great mouse options too! The cakes sell quickly so you might have to pre order sometimes. I recommend coming here. It is a bit pricey but worth it!
-
Review from Josephine L.
Boston, MA
11/16/2011
This nondescript little cafe in the middle of a barren stretch of the Financial District has a hidden secret: an amazing dessert selection. The triple chocolate cake is divine. I don't know if they make their desserts in-house and I almost don't care. Being able to bite into a moist, smooth cake that doesn't make your teeth hurt and fills your senses with the best of chocolate's musk is pure heaven.
Comment from Michelle L. of Cafe Madeleine 11/16/2011
Yes, we make all of our own pastries, cookies and cakes.… More » -
Review from Alice L.
3/29/2011
OMG, their cheesecake... I won't go into details on the state of ecstasy that its tender morsels elevated my taste buds to -- a lady does not kiss and tell. It's suffice to say that the way I stuffed that thing into my mouth would cause men to uncomfortably cross their legs.
Initially, I thought the cheesecake must be made with marscapone instead of ordinary cream cheese, but my conjecture was off base. I have no idea how Madeleine is able to make the the filling so light and fluffy. They must have whipped the cream cheese within an inch of its life. One day, I would like to learn to whip it, whip it good, like that. -
Review from Stephanie A.
Milpitas, CA
1/5/2012
What a cute place in a nice location with friendly staff.
-
Review from ryan n.
San Francisco, CA
12/2/2010
Quite possibly one of the best places I've been for a quick bite. Great staff in the cafe that is always friendly, polite and helpful. Even when they are busy they manage to make you feel like you're the only customer there. The food is great. Love their express sandwhiches which are often times proscuitto with basil butter, or mozzarella with tomatoes, just something that was easy to make perhaps an abundance of food they had from the day before that they can make a quick and easy sandwhich with. The only gripe that I have is that it is pretty expensive to get lunch there. One could easily spend 12-20 dollars to just eat for lunch.
Great service and food is what will keep me coming back from more. -
Review from Andi T.
8/7/2011
I got a great salad here -- took it to my new building's rooftop garden, and it was one of the best lunches I've had in a while. The lady at the counter keeps the line moving, and the orders came up quite quickly. Next time, I'll have to peruse the desserts...
Listed in: Veggie Lunch in the FiDi
-
Review from Jasmine L.
Hercules, CA
2/29/2012
I love this place! Good cake, good coffee and great customer service! They already know my order the moment I step into their door.
-
Review from Michael S.
New York, NY
5/21/2011
+ Amazing fresh grilled paninis
+ Good coffee
+ Tiramisu to die for
+ Good prices for a FiDi place
