I took my spouse here Friday July 7 expecting the wonderful food and service I always experienced the many times I ate there before Covid. What a shock. The coffee was lukewarm, the Brie was not melted (ordered the melted Brie sandwich on a baguette), the ham was I believe a processed ham, and worst of all the baguette was not at all crusty. I went up to the register to give my input. I started out pleasantly asking if perhaps there was new ownership or a new baker. The young girl said no and wondered why I asked that. I continued being pleasant by saying a friend and I frequented La Baguette before the pandemic and always had delicious food and superb service. I then explained this time was different - the Brie was not melted and the baguette very soft. I was haughtily told the Brie sandwich was cooked 1 1/2 minutes and I must of gotten the 'rustic'???? Baguette. I explained again that this time the Brie was not melted and baguette not crusty. I was taken aback by what she rudely said next: "We'll if you don't like the food, don't eat here!" By then I was angry and said "if you were a good business person you would just apologize and thank me for the input. And believe me I will NOT be back. " When I got home I tried to call the number on the website to talk to the manager - twice a recording said you had to have some kind of remote access code to continue. So I clicked on 'contact us' two different times and was told either wrong URL or page was moved or deleted. So not being able to reach anyone I'm giving the first bad review I've ever given a restaurant. And I didn't even get a chance to talk about the lukewarm coffee and processed ham. Oh and to add to the experience I had ordered a baguette to take home. Guess what - that was crusty either! read more

An authentic French café bakery right in Madison! The owners are from France and they serve café, pastries, bread, quiche, etc the French way. The atmosphere is very Parisian. Stop by and practice your French! read more

Wonderful menu selection. The food was fresh and delicious. The baked goods are phenomenal

Meh - croissants are just ok. I stopped twice as I had just returned home from Paris and was still craving them! I won't go out of my way to stop again. Plus the owner or person working there just didn't seem like a pleasant person unfortunately. At least force a smile to paying customers?! read more

It's neat that they speak French here! However that was the only thing that really made a lasting impression on me. I tried their tomato soup which was very watery, didn't really seem hearty at all. The goat cheese quiche, I appreciate this being warmed up. This was pretty good but the dough seemed a little undercooked. Ordered one of the sandwiches, these do not come with the bread warmed which I would have loved. But maybe they are pre-made and ready to go. The baguette was good and overall a okay sandwich. The chocolate croissant was not crispy with lots of flaky layers. It was like a doughy pillow. When you picked it up it would start to droop and did not hold it's shape. This was probably the most disappointing thing we tried. They only accept cash and check. For being such a large storefront I was a little surprised by this. Someone else at another table ordered some sort of smoked salmon sandwich. This I did not see on the menu, secret item!? read more

Really cute place to check out! Like everyone else has said, it truly is an authentic French bakery - be prepared to hear French, order from the French-speaking owner (in my case, using a lot of gestures and trying to use whatever basic French abilities I retained), and pay in cash. It's a large open space and the display of baked pastries is jaw-dropping. From beautifully crafted macaroons to the largest pain au chocolat that I have ever seen in my life, this is your go-to place for an pick-me-up sweet treat. They also have a hot menu which you can order from, ranging from soups and salads to tartines. Some of my individual item reviews: -Chocolate Tart: INCREDIBLE. Definitely would recommend sharing with a friend, because the chocolate is rich but the perfect level of sweetness, almost between milk chocolate and dark chocolate. Never wanted it to end. Super sad times when it did. -Salmon Tartine: Good, simple, and fresh. Served with fresh-squeezed lime and topped with chives. Pretty standard overall, but very good if this is what you're looking for. -Prosciutto Tartine: Amazing. Served with blue cheese, walnuts, and sweet, sweet pear slices. A lot of really intense flavors playing together at once, but in the most beautiful way. Would highly recommend. -Macaroons: Beautiful aesthetically, also average taste. The strawberry macaroon tasted very artificial, but was probably one of the most gorgeous macaroons I have ever seen (very Instagram worthy). -Tomato Basil Soup: Delicious. You can really taste the tomatoes in this (which can be good or bad, depending on your preference) and it retains a thick texture topped with spices. It's served with a plate of swiss cheese and homemade seasoned croutons to put in. This soup was one of my favorite parts of my visit and comes in a perfect size. This bakery really did an incredible job retaining its authenticity - it really made me feel like I was back in European cafe. Although the atmosphere is not as warm or cozy as I expected (no music, pretty simple tables/chairs, average service), I still think La Baguette is a great place to stop by to enjoy some pastries with company. read more

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I really love the authenticity of La Baguette. The owners are French, and that makes me happy. I took 10 years of French classes and was happy to know I could understand them when they explained to me what each quiche was made of. The quiches they have are made from local ingredients. They usually have a pretty good assortment. I tried the Chocolatine for the first time. It was super good. Anything chocolate here is pretty darn good. I also had the Chocolate Ganache Tart. It was très delicieuse. Their bread pudding is another must-have. The caramel sauce on top is heavenly. I'm drooling just thinking about it. I've never had bread pudding before here, but I definitely like this one! It's cash only, which is a minor inconveniwnce, but there's an ATM in the parking lot, so it works out! read more

We've been coming here since 2008! Love this place! Super bummed that we won't be able to go this year! read more

We went here for a coffee and snacks. The ambience was neat. Felt like I was in a small French country side cafe. Service was pleasant. We had a lattee, hot coffee and ice coffee, fruit tart, and cherry flan. Everything we had was good but not out of the ordinary. This is a small family run cafe and u can see the difference in the service they provide. I heard some quest talking about how good they baked breads were. Will come again for them. read more

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Food was excellent. We had a Parisian sandwich and cinnamon roll. Cappuccino spot on. Great service.

It's adorable. I stopped in on a sunny summer day and they had the door open to the bakery, making my visit feel like I had stumbled upon a nice neighborhood café. It seemed the type of place that would have a collection of regulars, since everything was so authentic and made with love. The pastry cases loomed out at me with numerous tarts and scones, but it was the croissants I was craving. I settled on a chocolate almond croissant and loved its flaky exterior and gooey almond insides. The thin layer of melted chocolate on the bottom portion of the pastry was perfection. The dark richness of the chocolate nicely complimented the sweetness supplied by the almond and both were enveloped by the croissant's soft interior. Can't wait to be back to try some of their famed breads, sandwiches, and definitely the tarts. There was a caramel nut one that I almost caved into buying but I wanted to savor that croissant, and that I did. Until next time. read more

La Baguette - chocolate almond croissant - Bakeries Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My fiancé and I were very excited to get some authentic French baked goods as I hadn't had any since my time in France. The experience from beginning to end was a highly unpleasant one. The cashier was snippy and rude. The predominantly White customer base kept staring at us, the customers in line didn't adhere to six foot distancing, and a geriatric White man aggressively pointed to the exit of the door once we received our items; none of which were addressed by the bakery workers. I do not recommend this place, especially if your a POC or a supporter of people of color. read more

La Baguette is a family owned French bakery with friend service and tasty treats! Everything is incredibly fresh and most things are made well and baked well. I enjoyed the chocolate croossant and the Sandwich de Brie! The bake of the croissant was okay, some of the dough was not flaky and was doughy, probably because it was a little too warm when baking (thanks Great British Baking show for teaching me more than I ever needed to know about pastry) read more

La Baguette - Crepe menu! Not sure when all they have crepes, I think it's before noon - Bakeries Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've shopped at La Baguette for almost 20 years (they started in Minocqua) and have always found their breads, pastries, and lunchtime offerings fresh and delicious. read more

Such amazing French patisserie! The almond croissant was to die for. You can call ahead and do take out or you can walk in with a mask on. Very accommodating really wonderful bakery!!! read more

Wow, paid $8 for a sandwich that had ONE very thinly slice of prosciutto, one small piece of mozzarella with tomato and lettuce. Went to the counter thinking it must be a mistake to have paid so much to receive so little. The girl looked at me like I was crazy and said "yeah, that is all you get." Well that is all they get from me now. Loved coming here and it had been awhile. Plenty of good sandwich places in Madison i will give my money too. read more

I have passed by this place for a long time and finally tried them out. I got a few macarons which were ok and a baguette, I mean it's in the name right? The baguette was just bad, very salty and bland at the same time. Not tasty. My friend got a quiche slice and fruit tart. Tart was just ok, the strawberries were the best part out of everything. Not trying to be mean but it should be better. read more

Moved to the other side of town so just went back here for the first time in a while. And everything is still delicious and owners super nice. I was able to ask about some pastries and macarons for my birthday. Almond crossiant was warm and sweet, went perfect with my coffee. They now take credit and debit cards too! Consider supporting this small business during these trying times, your won't regret it. read more

Excellent coffee, breads and pastries.. haven't had the sandwich or soup but I'm sure it will be great. Cozy and convenient!

Amazing baked goods, and best croissants in Madison! Get there early in the day, as the selection becomes scarce in the afternoon.

Pretty generic place but good food for good prices. Got a tarte amandine aux poires (pear & almond) which was delicious, and got a Mediterranean sandwich which was also good read more

Truly authentic and wonderfully delicious food! The bread was soft and fresh and their coffee and cinnamon rolls made for a wonderful afternoon treat. Definitely coming back here again. read more

TASTE of FRANCE!! La Baguette is so AMAZING and AUTHENTIC! 10/10. The people there are French and the pastries and quiche are so incredibly yummy! The lattes are very strong (as they should be) l recommend add sweetener to it. I highly recommend this place, fairly priced! read more

Finding an authentic French bakery on the outskirts of Madison was a real surprise. Having lived several years in France, this place is amazing. read more

I love this place. I moved to Chicago after living in Madison for 4 years, and I haven't found a boulangerie with better baguettes than here. I've tried over 40 places with strong recommendations and they all failed to meet the standard set up by this place. I keep going back to the place, even after the older lady that only speaks French over charged me once on a baguette. At the time it was marked as 2.75, but she insisted on trois, trois! I didn't know how to say 2.75 in French so I hung my head in shame and paid the extra quarter. I still haven't forgotten about it after 4 years. Still, the call of the delectable pastries and boules call to me, even 200 miles away in Chicago. I come here every time I am in town. Oh well. Sometimes I would just eat a whole rustic baguette with some butter for a meal. When I die, I want to be buried in their cream puffs. I am glad they only take cash, because if they took cards I would be up to my man-boobs in credit card debt. Tre bien read more

My husband, a Francophile who has lived in France, wanted to try La Baguette for pastries, went to get some to go for us. We got a baguette, an apple tart and a pain au chocolat. The baguette, even with butter, was absolutely awful. Inauthentic, anemic and really just tasteless. I had a few pieces and had to throw it away. I cannot understand how a place named La Baguette could serve such garbage. It reminded me of old supermarket take and bake kind. I will stick with Madison Sourdough! My husband tried the other two purchases, which looked underbaked and he said the chausson seemed inauthentic. The croissant didn't have the right consistency, either and he said overall that they probably just don't have the right ovens or recipes to do any of it correctly. Just because the owners are French doesn't mean they aren't cutting corners. Would never go back. read more

The food and good will of this bakery cafe is superb. I hesitate to write a positive review, because the service is so friendly and intimate, I worry if they became too busy. Owners are French and tolerate patiently my overwrought use of high school French. English is the primary language, but you can watch French television while there, and easily dream you are in France itself. read more

Fabulous and very authentic French bakery. Better than many places in Paris but with much the same feel. Totally family run

Can't say I've ever had a 'soggy' croissant before but I have now and it's not something I care to repeat. I've had better croissants from grocery stores. I bought 2, a plain and an almond. I tried the almond first and it was damp on the bottom. Don't know how else to describe it but it wasn't very appetizing. Then I though maybe because of how they made the almond the plain wouldn't suffer the same fate, but alas. My intention isn't to be mean-spirited but it was very disappointing. read more

La Baguette is still making their fantastic breads, desserts, quiches, and even crepes for take-out so I hope their Madison fans will remember La Baguette during these difficult times for small businesses. Because we're being "safer at home" due to the coronovirus, we were able to order their usual delicious bread and quiche as a take-out, and the owner brought it out to our car. Although we missed their charming ambiance, the food was just as good as always. read more

Nice little French bakery. The quality of the baked goods and lunch items is really remarkable and reasonably priced. I've been there several times for lunch and enjoyed the sandwiches and soups including the French Onion soup. The breads are fantastic. Of course you'll want to save room for dessert. read more

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I dig the quiche and pastries. Just so you know what to expect, this is very much a little bakery with a bit of cafe to it, not a full-service restaurant. If you go in thinking you're going to get a sit down meal beyond a pastry, quiche, sandwich or soup, well, that's not what they have here. My wife and I like to have a simple coffee 'n quiche weekend breakfast here sometimes. Maybe a pastry as well. My problem is I want to buy ALL of the pastries. I usually succeed in avoiding doing that. Negatives are sometimes the coffee is a little weak, and I have to muddle my way through talking to the cashier who only speaks French. (I'm vaguely conversational in Spanish so I sorta kinda know what she's saying.) And yes it's cash only. read more

I've been to La Baguette several times - always to get a pastry to go. The owners are a little snooty (okay - a lot snooty), but I've generally been pleased with the quality. Another reviewer who commented on the cash only, but not liking to give change situation is spot on. This morning I got there early and the cases were mostly empty. The woman who runs the front of house said, "Everything's ready - we just haven't brought it out yet." I ordered a pain au chocolat, paid, and she brought a warm bag from the back. I thought, "Wow - straight out of the oven. Score!" I took the pastry home in eager anticipation. I drew it from the bag. The top was golden and flaky, and the bottom was - RAW. Seriously - that thing needed at least another 20 minutes in the oven. I paid $3.25 for a pastry that was inedible - but I was too far away and pressed for time to do anything about it. They should NEVER have sold it to me - and there is no way they didn't know. Shame on you, La Baguette. Never again. read more

This self-entitled "European gourmet" bakery doesn't even know what a cappuccino is (drink invented in Europe, by the way!) I ordered one and I was given a mug filled to the brim with a dark fluid (clearly not expresso) covered by a very thin layer of foam. When I returned the coffee, a very irritated owner asked me what is a cappuccino!! When I explained to him that a cappuccino consists of one third expresso, one third milk, and one third foam (per European Union standards!) instead of apologizing and offering to make me another, he, even more irritated, went to the till and handed me over a $5 bill, which, disgusted by his attitude, I refused. But this wasn't all. The soups were mere colored water and the French (!!) onion soup made with NON- caramelized onions and because of this it was obviously tasteless. The pastries were not bad, but mediocre. The only good thing we had was an eclair, but even this one did not rise to the status of "gourmet." read more

This is not really fair because it was a very long time ago and at their old location but I once ordered soup and they brought it out by the cash register before I paid. When she handed me my change, a nickel literally fell in my soup. I was shocked to hear her tell me it will be okay and to just go ahead and fish it out. She made no move to take back the soup with the nickel in it that SHE dropped. I was so shocked and I thought wow if that is what they do in front of the customer, what goes on behind the customers view. I had to insist that she take it back but I think I switched to a different soup so she could not reserve it to me. I never went back and I did call and complain. read more

YUM-YUM-YUM & CASH-CASH-CASH! This is my favorite little French pastry shop. Talk about authentic...I have stopped by this place numerous times and am always amused by the guys and gals speaking French around the tables! I love their bread and croissants! Super buttery, super yummy, super-duper! The only downfall is this is a check or cash place - no credit cards here. if you feel the need for some great French bakery then look no further. read more

It's too bad Yelp doesn't have a 0 star option. Owner was the worst! We stopped at Moka Coffee before entering La Baguette. We ordered lunch from La Baguette with our Moka coffees in hand. No problems. Until we received our order. We then went to sit at the tables outside the restaurant and shortly after, the owner of La Baguette came out yelling obscenities at us because although we had ordered FOUR meals from them and spent over $40 at their establishment, he refused to let us sit at the tables because we had empty cups from a different establishment. THERE WERE ONLY THREE PEOPLE IN THE RESTAURANT. ALMOST ALL OF THE TABLES WERE UNOCCUPIED. He waved his hands angrily. He shooed us away as if we were lowly stray cats. Genuinely think he might've thrown hands if we didn't leave immediately. He is a threat to his customers and an abomination to French delicatessen. (And if he is TRULY french, that's a sad excuse for a croissant.) 0/10 would never recommend. read more

Ok, ok, I get it. La Baguette is terribly French and I'm just a rube from DeFo. But come on. $7.95 for a few sparse ingredients slapped between two halves of a baguette? Furthermore, although I have impeccable dental hygiene, I found the sandwich quite literally PAINFUL to eat. I don't believe that ANY sandwich--even a rustic, terribly French sandwich--should cause my gums to bleed. FURTHER furthermore, the proprietress' irritation at my lack of exact change was palpable. Sigh. This was on my bucket list, but I would never go there again. read more

La Baguette is truly a very nice bakery - very European indeed! I have been living in France for the past six months, and I feel it's just like in France (though many of the items are larger because they service American customers!) I miss speaking French, and it's nice that I can go in there and speak French again! Some of the people there know me and so always talk to me in French, which I love! I am a huge fan of their cinammon rolls, and they have a great French wine selection (not vast, but good quality). It's quaint and cute... only wish is they had ice cubes available, and wi-fi! haha.... I hope to go there again soon! A bientot! read more

On a lazy weekend morning, it doesn't get better than La Baguette. The ambiance is great. It's a cozy, sunny place with friendly, often bilingual, staff. First of all, bottomless coffee. You can linger as long as you'd like and they'll keep you caffeinated. Order at the counter with one of the friendly staff, but your choice will be hard. Gaze into the glass cases and choose from an assortment of generously portioned sweet and savory treats. I highly recommend the classic and simple quiche au chevre. Dotted with tasty hunks of tangy goat cheese, sprinkled with herbs, nestled in a buttery crust. It is perfect! If you're feeling a bit more hungry, try the Croque Monsieur: thinly sliced ham between melted cheese and thick bread, coated in egg and fried. Yum. And of course, it's hard to resist a sweet treat. My favorite is the pain au chocolat. A perfect sweet bite to have with the previously mentioned bottomless coffee. I haven't tried any of the absolutely beautiful galettes or other desserts or taken a loaf of the fresh baked breads, but I plan on doing so soon. It's just that every time I go to La Baguette, I leave feeling so happy and full that I can't even think about my next meal. read more