La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Galleria/Uptown5015 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77056 (713) 993-0287
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
12 Reviews for La Madeleine French Bakery & Cafe
No it's not the best of French fare, but this place manages to satisfy for lunch. Themushroom soup was awesome, albeit rather heavy (go for a cup rather than a bowl if you're watching your girlish figure). The prices are decent, the atmosphere is relaxed, and there's a lot of soup/sandwich/salad type stuff going on here. Better than going for garbage at the food court for lunch!
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This place offers a great selection of cafe style food as well as meals. They offer the standards such as sandwiches, soups and salads; as well as crepes and pasta. i had the spinach quiche and it was good. The desserts that they have are all great. The tomato basil soup is very popular. In fact, they have them in jars which you can bring back home. Another good thing about this place is that they offer free bread, butter and jam. Order a soup and knock yourself out with the free bread.
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Those other reviewers have never been to France apparently. La Madeleine is.... basically the Jack in the Box of French food.... Plus if you ask me, the prices are too high for what you get... The food is frozen entrees shipped in from a "kitchen". The bread is baked off location as well. For the same price you could go to Cafe Montrose or Hollywood and get REAL, FRESH FRENCH FOOD!!
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SO GIRLY! It is the perfect place to veg out after a day of shopping with the girls! They have wonderful french food to fill you up when you're starving and sinful deserts and fresh coffee when you feel like being sitting outside bistro style being scenery for the westheimer traffic. I have to say though, I have been a touch dissapointed with some recent menu changes they have made(ie not including the cesar salad as an option with the duet magnifique) however they still remain one of my girls day out lunch spots due to their almost rennasaince style interiors.
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Not a bit french dessert person but my cousin took me there.. I liked the atmosphere though.
For a fair price, you can expect a good meal at La Madeleine any time of day.
Of course, I love to go in for a flaky croissant and some eggs but there's also something to be said for their Spinach Salade - Fresh spinach with mushrooms, roasted pecans, bacon, red bell peppers and strawberries. Tossed with balsamic vinaigrette - on a hot Houston day. And then there's always the option of going with something warm from the kitchen - in that case I would suggest the Portobello Poulet Crpe - Balsamic marinated chicken sauted with garlic and roasted potatoes, tossed in a creamy mushroom sauce with Portobello mushrooms. Served with green beans almondine.
I always find the sauces to be rich and the atmosphere nice. This place is always ready to serve you a good meal that feeds your hunger as well as your good taste.
Top it off with a few cups of French Roast Coffee and Oh, La La.
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Authentically French, but much cheaper.
Fantastic Tomato Basil Soup, and the Spinach Salad is pretty good.
It is no wonder that it is busy at lunchtime, and the location is decent because you can people watch.
As for "authentically French"... that refers less to the food as it does to the standoffish detached staff. VERY authentic, and I applaud their hiring.
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This chain restaurant gets 4 stars for the price (relatively cheap compared to other French restaurants), ambience (really really cozy, by-the-fireplace feeling), and good food.
While it may not be the best French food in Houston, and its authenticity isn't 100% French, it does get your fix in whenever you crave for crepes or any other simple French dishes. The desserts here are also good. The chicken is covered, literally covered, in herbs that some people may think it has too much seasoning, but many people like it that way since otherwise the chicken may be bereft of flavor.
If you're looking for good and a more authentic French restaurant without breaking the bank, check out Bistro Provence.
Shopping at the ginormous Houston Galleria will build up an appetite. For something quick, but not greasy fast food, La Madeleine is the perfect spot. Located right off the food court, it's got a cute French cafe atmosphere and is probably the cheapest good French food you will ever have. The chicken friand is a delicious puff pastry filled with chicken and mushroom topped off with a savory mushroom gravy. The best part is that it's only $5 and you won't be able to finish it all. If you want a salad, ask them to put the dressing on the side because they will give you a generous portion. Next to the drinks, they have baskets full of complimentary fresh white and wheat breads with various jams and jelly. Bon Appetit!
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Even though this place is a chain I totally dig it. Free bread! Free jelly! And a biiiiig caeser salad. What more could a person want? I also like some of the little baked things or the pastries they have. I miss this place. I used to go here get a salad, nosh on bread and have tons and tons of coffee. This would only set me back about 5 bucks and I was sated for quite some time.
Food: Good
Selection: Good
Location: Good
Ambience: Good
Price: OK
= 4.5 stars
Rec: Nicoise salad
now that i'm out in LA, i miss La Madeleine... for the price, the food is fantastic. the menu's not really "french," but who cares, we're in houston, toto, not lyon. they have the best tomato basil soup i've ever had. they're famous for their chicken caesar salad. very yummy chicken salad sandwich. and the strawberries romanoff is so good... (i think i've finally figured out the recipe for the sauce, if you're curious, it's sour cream (yes, sour), then add brown sugar and cognac/brandy to taste) also, free bread, butter and jam, and free refills on coffee... *sigh* there are no places like this in LA :(
some locations outside of houston include atlanta, ausin, dallas, san antonio, baton rouge, new orleans, phoenix, and DC.
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