Great restaurant! How are there not hundreds more reviews?! I loved everything about it. Food: as close to perfection as you can get we shared (thank you for not charging for sharing!) a Croque madame. The egg was cooked to perfection. The white was cooked but creamy and even a little crisp edge like I like. The egg yolk was runny like a velvety sauce but not gooey. I appreciated that it was not drenched in hollandaise sauce, but just enough to add flavor and creaminess. The ham was light and thinly sliced to add a nice flavor. The added perfection was the fresh green crispy tart romaine salad to cut the creaminess of the sandwich and add a crunch. Our drinks were likewise delicious. The Mexican Mocha with Abuelita chocolate was the best I've had in a while--chocolatey but not in an oversweet way. The creamy iced caramel latte also was delicious without being too sweet. Finally the fruit tart had a buttery crumbly crust and fresh natural tasting (not overly sweetened) fruit was yummy. The decor is so fun. I love all the antique touches, blue metal based carved tables, cafe chairs, funky light fixtures, wooden counters and coffee station, etc. The corner location huge glass windows and doors light up the place. The staff: friendly and constantly serving, cleaning, refilling. LIVE LOVE LOVE IT ALL!! read more

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Ahhh, I love Cafe Madeline! I've been meaning to visit the North Park location for ages and now that I've finally gotten around to it, I'm kicking myself for taking so long! The vibes are great and eclectic, it's almost homey. You order at the counter and can sit inside or on their patio. Plenty of smaller tables and I wasn't the only one to pop in alone. Staff were friendly -- especially to the regular I saw come in. While it's definitely a coffee shop in feel that serves food, the food that they serve is incredible. I had a delicious chai latte and the Madeline Benedict, both were incredible. After ordering I remembered how much I love the lie dirty chai from the South Park location -- next time. It didn't appear there was a parking lot so you have to find street parking. It's on the north side of El Cajon Blvd and there was street parking on Ohio that wasn't metered. That said, it was a Monday morning. I'll be back though, yum! read more

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My friend and I tried this place yesterday since seeing it on social media. Parking: Finding a spot can be a bit of a gamble. While there is street parking available, it's North Park, so it fills up fast. There are a few dedicated spots in the back, but don't count on them being open during peak hours. The Food & Drink * Quality: The coffee and food hold their own. The flavors are solid, and the quality is definitely there. * The "Hidden Fee" Frustration: A heads-up for future diners: when ordering items like the Caprese Baguette, be wary of the "side" options. Even if the cashier asks which side you'd like, the breakfast potatoes come with an extra charge that isn't always explicitly mentioned during the ordering process. The Vibe * Atmosphere: While the French-inspired concept is clear, the interior doesn't quite hit the mark for everyone. If you're looking for a highly curated or "Instagrammable" aesthetic, this might feel a bit underwhelming compared to other spots in the neighborhood. Service : The staff was attentive and efficient, ensuring that the food and coffee arrived promptly and making the overall experience much smoother. It's always a plus when the team's hospitality outshines the layout of the room. read more

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Finally tried cafe madeleine after years of driving by. Upon first walking in I noticed it was clean with plenty of seating and we were greeted immediately. After ordering at the counter, we sat down and they brought our order to us. I got the salted caramel cold brew and the coffee was good but it lacked any salted caramel flavor and it was mostly ice. The ham crepe was solid and the crepe is made fresh. The madeleine Benedict was just okay. ONLY because their version of hollandaise severely lacked flavor. Aside from that, the poached eggs and toppings on top of the bread that was used were very tasty. I will go back and try something different next time. read more

Cafe Madeleine - Ham Crêpe - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Stopped in to grab coffee and breakfast. Place next door had a long line looked like they are more popular with take out orders. I had the breakfast croissant and my friend had the simple breakfast . Place was clean , your order at counter and you can sit anywhere available . Good came out pretty quickly and tasted pretty good. Will probably return when in area. Service was good and everyone was friendly. read more

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"Never reached out" Waste of ur time to do so. Hi Hanafi, thank you for taking the time to share this detailed feedback. We understand how frustrating long waits, pricing concerns, and service issues can be, especially when you're on a tight schedule. This is not the experience we want for our guests. Please reach out to our manager at angottidante@gmail.com. He would appreciate the chance to learn more and address your concerns directly. read more

I saw this cute brunch spot while exploring North Park and gave it a try! The smoked salmon platter came with a variety of fresh ingredients, I thought that the smoked salmon paired well with the crème fraiche and bread. I also tried the lemon meringue tart, which was refreshingly sweet and sour, and big enough to share for two. Service was quick and our food was brought out quickly after ordering at the front cashier. The interior seating is cute and very open space (but it can get hot in the afternoon when the sun is shining in!). Like most of North Park, there is metered street parking right in front of the store. read more

Cafe Madeleine - Smoked Salmon Platter - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Not as good as France but still pretty good with good service. Clean and comfortable. Inside and outside seating. Prices are reasonable. Savory crepes were really good. Lemon crepe was lacking. Tasted mostly of butter and little lemon. Croque Madame was quite good and filling. read more

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Visited with family first time with aunt/uncle, cousins from out of town, along with mother, brother & daughters. My daughter says she like the French onion soup & has tried them a couple of times. I tried a breakfast skillet as did mom. Service was kind & with a smile & assisted us as we were a large group (10). I think it the food was okay, I ate the skillet but should have went with something without pork as I believe my body completely rejected it. I started feeling nauseous after 30min to an hour. So after we left it all came out and my stomach immediately felt better. My mom was fine as was everyone else. Everything was cooked well & seasoned well. And my cousin bought some to go for later. Suggest sitting outside it was pretty warm inside even though well ventilated. Nice cute inside atmosphere. Check them out may your experience be great as everyone else. read more

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Enjoyed lunch here after a yoga class. Plenty of seating available in and out of the sun I enjoyed the ham and cheese croissant but switched Swiss for mozzarella. It was really yummy. My husband enjoyed a double espresso over ice with some avacado toast. read more

I stopped by Cafe Madeleine on El Cajon Blvd in North Park for breakfast, and honestly, I left feeling ripped off. The total came to over $62 for 2 people (including tax), and nothing on the plate justified that kind of price. I ordered: * Breakfast Panini (~$18) * Vegetarian Panini (~$16) * Nutella Crêpe (~$13) * Truffle Fries (~$4) * Side Breakfast Potatoes (~$4, plus another side noted) The food was just okay--nothing special or memorable stood out. The paninis were average at best, the crêpe was fine but not exceptional, and the portions felt really small for what they charged. The breakfast potatoes were a decent side, but overall, it didn't feel like quality or creativity that matches the prices. Truffle fries for $4+? Come on. I get that it's a cute French-inspired spot in a trendy area, but the value just isn't there. For $60+, I expect food that blows me away, not basic items that could be found elsewhere for half the price. I really hope the owner sees this and rethinks the pricing--because right now, it's hard to recommend coming back. read more

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Cute little cafe off of El Cajon Blvd. Pretty yummy food but just the value is not there for me. My little panini (turkey) with a very small salad portion ran $20. Very friendly staff. Tight indoor seating and Some outdoor seating available here. A few dedicated parking spots in back but otherwise it's street parking. read more

Cafe Madeleine - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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This place served a perfect breakfast for me! Such a cute spot and friendly service. There's a small parking lot behind the entrance. Ordered: *Salmon Benedict - delicious! I loved the asparagus addition to it. *Rose Vanilla Latte - satisfying however, I didn't like the pieces of flower that it was topped off with. I'd visit again! read more

Cafe Madeleine - Salmon Benedicte - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

A bustling yet efficient cafe. There was a line inside for brunch but it moved quickly. There were multiple boards with their standard entrees, beverages, and specials. There was a display case near the register with their baked goods and desserts. However, there wasn't clear pricing on the items. Despite the busy crowd, we received our food within 15 minutes. *Salmon Benedict: came with a side of potatoes and peppers. The smoked salmon was soft and the Hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy. One of the eggs was cooked perfectly while the other was a little overdone. The potatoes were on the blander side while the peppers absorbed the seasoning better. This was a good hefty plate. *Creme Brulee: caught my eye in the display case. This custard leaned heavier on the cream than egg. I was impressed by the vanilla flavor and there were visible seeds at the bottom of the ramekin. The ramekin was also deeper and larger than average so it was shareable. *Iced Chai Latte: very middle of the road. The spices were subtle and I would have preferred a greater tea to milk ratio. However, I liked how there wasn't an overwhelming amount of ice in my drink. My biggest complaint would be the overall cleanliness. The tables were a bit sticky and I did have to fight off a fly and ant during my meal. Despite the place being packed, it wasn't too loud so this would be a pleasant spot to get work done. Overall, my experience was pleasant although clearer pricing and cleaning could be improved upon. read more

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Fabulous! Parisian restaurant vibes paired with quality and delicious meals. Friendly servers too! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the ham panini. Crusty French bread with meaty layers of ham, crunchy pickles, and the kick of mustard. Also love their tarts. Raspberry tart was the perfect sweet treat to finish off the meal. Gotta pair it with a cappuccino. Oh, and their French onion soup is epic!! read more

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Small French cafe with very difficult and limited parking on a busy street. Service was good, you order at the counter and they bring food out to you. They have a handful of tables outside and about 9-10 tables inside in a smaller space. We got the BLT and the Steak. The BLT was tasty but heavy on butter and oils on the bread. We felt the steak was a bit overpriced and very heavy on butter and oil as well unfortunately read more

Food was amazing as well as the staff! My boyfriend and I were sat outside so naturally a tiny bug had flown into my drink! The server offered to remake it for me and was so sweet about it. We got the croque madam and the rose vanilla latte! Such a delicious breakfast read more

Beautiful little French café. Menu is great with lots of breakfast, lunch and drink options. I had the smoked salmon open faced sandwich and an iced caramelato latte. Both were delicious. It is very casual, you order at the counter, grab a seat and they will bring the food out to you. Great for a quick stop for lunch or chat with friends. read more

Cafe Madeleine - Smoked Salmon Open Face Sandwich and Iced Carmelato Latte - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Workers were so friendly and the food was really yummy! However, the vanilla latte was not very flavorful and the tea refresher kind of just tasted like Lipton tea with very underwhelming flavor. I think the serving sizes were reasonable despite what the one star reviews say, but do expect prices on the higher side. The lava cake was super yummy and they were so great about bringing it out warmed after we had finished our meal. Happy eating:) On another note, the available public bathrooms are so clean and convenient. Probably the best public bathrooms I've seen in SD!! read more

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Stopped by Cafe Madeleine for brunch and ordered a mix of savory and sweet crepes along with a couple of drinks. Here's how it went: A la carte & Crepes: Croque Monsieur - a hearty take on the classic, generously filled with ham and cheese. Ham Crêpe - stuffed to the brim--beautiful flavor but surprisingly thick. Nutella Crêpe with all berries & banana - rich and indulgent, but again quite heavy and dense. While the fillings (both meats and fruits) were flavorful and generous, the crepes themselves were too thick. They lacked the light, delicate texture you expect from traditional French crêpes--felt more like a pancake sandwich than the ethereal, paper-thin variety you'd hope for. Drinks: French Lemonade - refreshing with just the right amount of tart sweetness. Pistachio Matcha (iced, oat milk) - smooth and creamy; the nutty matcha flavor was well balanced and enjoyable. Overall: The drinks were a definite highlight--delicious, refreshing, and well-prepared. The food had solid flavor, but the extra-thick crepes felt heavy and veered away from what you'd typically expect from a classic café crepe experience. If you love decadent, generously stuffed crepes and quality coffee or lemon drinks, it's worth a try--but for a lighter, more traditional feel, you might leave wanting. read more

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I spent like 25$ on the soggiest sandwich I've ever eaten and a cappuccino that tasted burnt. Bro. Also the place was so stuffy and broiling. read more

I love Cafe Madeleine! Definitely does French cuisine justice. It's a nice, cutesy place for quiet breakfast. The times that I have been, the service has always been great. They have a pretty reasonable amount of seating, both indoors and outdoors, but it does sometimes fill up. I have tried various drinks and pastries, and they have all been really good! I would highly recommend the Mexican Mocha! On this specific visit I tried the Spinach Quiche Lorraine Quiche. The Spinach Quiche was tasty, but could have used a bit of salt. I did not care much for the Lorraine Quiche. I would also highly recommend Vegetarian Panini, super yummy! read more

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Always weary of establishments that do both a coffee bar and serve food. My theory is that you can only be good at one, and it's rare to come across somewhere that does both...well, Cafe Madeleine does it! The rose vanilla latte was so delicious, and kept its warmth throughout my breakfast. The Nutella crepe was incredible, I mean you can't really go wrong with Nutella and sugar, regardless it was phenomenal for a solo Saturday breakfast date. read more

Came for breakfast and got the breakfast croissant, cafe Cubano, and strawberry almond muffin. The breakfast croissant came with eggs, bacon, Swiss cheese, arugula and tomato. The croissant was light and flakey, the bacon egg and cheese were delicious and the arugula added a nice peppery touch. My only complaint was that it was on the smaller side. It came with a side salad which would have been good for a lunch option, you can upgrade for breakfast potatoes for around $3 but instead I got the strawberry almond muffin. The strawberry almond muffin was excellent! Great flavor, was served warm and had a slight crisp exterior. A definite standout for me. I haven't see a cafe Cubano at coffee shops so I got it. Espresso, brown sugar, steamed milk and cinnamon. It was delicious, nice and smooth, just the right amount of sweetness, not overly sugary but not bitter. I liked the vibe here, very laid back like a French bistro, not a commercialized breakfast spot. You stand in line and order at the counter then take a table number placard and they bring it to you. There are a few parking spots out back but be sure that you're not parking in the spots reserved for bunny chow or the apartment complex, they are marked on the ground, otherwise theres street parking available. My cafe Cubano came with a Madeline so I think all the coffee drinks come with that little Madeline pastry, thus the name of the cafe, the coffee was smooth so id try a another coffee drink next time. I'd defiantly get the strawberry almond muffin again. Service was friendly and prompt, ambiance was cute and quaint, food was good. My only complaint is that the pastries in the case and coffee don't have prices. They are fair prices so it not like you're getting gouged but it would be nice to know. read more

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We are regular customers at Cafe Madeleine on El Cajon Blvd and come here often for crepes. Today's experience was extremely rude and unprofessional. We arrived at 3:03 PM after checking online, which clearly states a 4:00 PM closing time. The server told us the kitchen closes at 3:00 PM on Sundays. That alone would have been fine. However, when I mentioned what their own website says, she became visibly annoyed, turned her back on us, and made comments behind us. When I addressed it again, she responded sarcastically and disrespectfully instead of explaining the situation. This is not acceptable behavior toward paying customers, especially regulars. If the kitchen closes earlier, the hours should be updated. Rude attitude and poor customer service are unacceptable. I will never go back to this place. read more

For a French bakery, I was expecting a wider selection of baked goods. They had only a couple of croissant options and a few tarts, but I was hoping to see more varieties of bread and pastries. I ordered a latte and an almond croissant, which was absolutely delicious. Their menu looks fantastic, though I didn't get a chance to try anything from it this time. read more

Cafe Madeleine - Latte - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Ended up here on Thanksgiving morning when other places were packed with long lines. I was able to park, walk in, order and eat with no wait. Berries crepe was outstanding!! read more

Cafe Madeleine - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Everything I have tried here is amazing but you are a fool if you do not get the Croissant French toast. The tarragon hollandaise sets the Madeleine Benedicte apart from others. The miele latte is my favorite but I plan to make my way through the coffee menu. I've also heard great things about the quiche and crepes so I will absolutely be back. read more

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I love this cafe- the vibes are impeccable and the food is delicious. I used to sit here most mornings to work, and the service was always quietly professional and so pleasant, and when my friends were in town from the Bay Area, of course we came down! The rose vanilla latte with oatmilk is my every-day go to! read more

I was out with my college group camping over the weekend in the area and we decided to go here for our first meal after our trip. I ended up getting the turkey panini and French lemonade and I would recommend this to try. I for one am not someone that likes avocado on a lot of things but I do like how it works for the turkey panini. The bread was soft and amazing. The French lemonade was pretty good for having that for the first time and I do think it being carbonated is different but good. The breakfast potatoes was good too, not too crispy or mushy. I do think the bacon, turkey, cheese, greens and avocado on the paninis makes it something worth getting if I'm in the area again, which I hope I am really soon. The only downside is parking isn't really the best since it's in a small lot in the back with some street parking. Inside there was decent seating given it was a group of about 15 of us at the long table inside. read more

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Food was good, the reason for 3 stars, service was terrible. Ordered food with 2 other friends. Food all came about 5 mins apart from each other. Once I received my food, server said hed be right out with the silverware, waited 4-5 mins before going in to request it. Server never came out to ask if we needed anything. Had to go inside again to request a refill for coffee and water. read more

Great food!!! Found this place by accident cruising thru town. Food is fresh and made to order and the coffee drinks were so good!!! We had the simply breakfast which had gluten feee bread so good!!! Madeleine omelet was amazing and the service was great. We will be back!!! read more

Cafe Madeleine - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Visited Cafe Madeleine to catch up with an old friend. There was plenty of convenient parking. Seating was available indoors and outdoors. There were so many great food and drink choices that I had difficulty choosing. I had a croissant and their eggnog latte with oatmilk. They were both really good. It was seriously the best croissant I've ever had! My friend had the almond croissant which she really enjoyed as well. No complaints; I would say the only thing missing for a 5-star review would be better service. The only service we had was someone taking our order at the counter and she was fine but not necessarily friendly/ welcoming. read more

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First time here for breakfast, I had the spinach quiche, cousins had the smoked salmon crepe. Had the French lemonade and coconut cream French lemonade, everything delicious! It was very hot today and restaurant doesn't have A/C. We sat inside and it was very warm. You order at the counter and your food is brought to you. Chilled water is self-serve. Another customer who was a regular brought us water and provided recommendations. Nice clientele, we will be back in the fall when it's cooler! read more

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Just a fantastic representation of North Park. Such a great time. I'm a big fan. I'll be coming to this traditional French place again read more

Cafe Madeleine - Best Coffeehouse with Lena - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Liked this place a lot. Nice server lady, cool interior. My omelet was completely under seasoned I'm talking not a sprinkle of salt. However, the croque madame was out of this world so my girlfriend and I shared that and were both pleased. The coffee was great too! read more

Cafe Madeleine - I don't remember what this was but it was good had a Spanish name I think. - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

I came here the other day with my family and unfortunately i would not return. The service was horrible the lady at register was rude and unhelpful she had messed up one of the drinks and we got our drinks and told the waiter he didnt seem to care we had to ask him if we could get the correct drink and when we did get the correct drink which was a frappe it seemed to be melted for some reason. But to ultimately top this experience off there was a fly in my food I had gotten the salmon toast. We had told the lady at the register and she did not care. They didnt offer a refund or anything. Honestly this experience was really disappointing and I do not recommend coming here. read more

Cafe Madeleine - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

Surprisingly good French bistro. Having spent a lot of time in France, I'm usually disappointed in so-called French restaurants in the US. They are often almost Disneylandesque takes on the French dining experience. This place is an exception, though. I had ordered their yogurt and fruit parfait for the first time, which is delicious with fresh fruit and honey, and I decided to have a croissant on the side. I didn't have much in terms of expectation as croissants are a pretty hard thing to perfect. I got a croissant right out of the oven that was comparable to any croissant I ever had in France, superior to many. A shout out to Jose, the guy who made them. The coffee is always good and it really has that basic French bistro atmosphere. Hats off to these guys. read more

Found this place in North Park. The food was excellent. I had a Spinach crepe, cooked perfectly with mushrooms and cheese. My husband had prosciutto panini. He loved it. Nice atmosphere and patio seating. We will be back. read more

Cafe Madeleine - Cafes Near Me - San Diego, California

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Really bad experience. We got there about 11 o'clock there were not many people parking was easy. They were probably 6 to 8 people in the shop most standing around doing nothing. The gentleman that greeted us and made our coffee was very delightful although I would say the drinks were sub part especially for the price. And then the food super expensive $70 for two of us for lunch or breakfast or whatever they would call it food was cold by the time I got to our plate I saw it sitting on the dock for at least 15 minutes before anybody would bring it to our table I asked the waitress if she could just bring the one plate that was ready and she would not that's the food was called the eggs were hot but the prosciutto underneath was ice cold as if it had just been taken out of the refrigerator the toast was barely warm. For an $80 breakfast lunch I could've gone anywhere else and done better. I do not recommend this place and I will not go back nor anyone in my family. read more