In the midst of the cluster fudge that is Reston Town Center there's a jewel called La Madeline. Perhaps it's my fascination with all things French but I really love the overall quaint ambiance of this place with its aroma's of fresh baked bread and delicate pastries. It's the perfect spot to linger for intimate conversation, espresso and a nosh. read more

the food is ok. but you select your food and place it on a tray, and then pay. it's like a school cafeteria. no thanks.

I love this little restaurant. The food is always made fresh and cooked to order. The staff is always very friendly. It's a little on the pricey side I think but worth it for breakfast on a weekend. I've heard they may be shutting down in the future for expansion of the Reston Town Center. I wonder if that is true? I really hope not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

There was a cleanliness (bug) issue, but it seems to have been remedied. (At least I hope it has.) However, I have been swindled several times by their Loyalty Rewards program, in which they entice you in with offers that are not fulfilled by the La Madeleine App. This happened to me recently. When I told the manager on duty about it, he said the problem is with the App, and he could do nothing about it. So I had to write a complaint and wait for the La Madeleine district manager to issue me a refund. (Am still waiting.) Also, whenever I have to wait for a dish to be prepared, the wait is very long, and this last time, the food was cold when it finally got to my table. It's too bad, because I used to like eating here. read more

I ordered the Sacher Torte cake for a birthday and it was delicious! It was a rich chocolate cake with raspberry preserves with chocolate mousse on top. I have not had other items on the menu but the desert was great. I definitely recommend! read more

I have to say that the Reston La Madeleine has gone WAY downhill from what it used to be. I've been coming here for years, and the place always used to be packed, with impeccable service and wonderful food. I am not sure what changes have occurred over the past few years, but every time I'm there now, something goes wrong. Specifically, I'd like to mention my experience yesterday afternoon: My boyfriend and I arrived around 12:45 p.m. - it wasn't terribly busy and ordered two entrees. We took a seat and enjoyed our drinks and some bread. About 20 minutes went by and our entrees still hadn't arrived, but I figured, 20 minutes is about average, let me give it a few more minutes. At this point, it had been 30 minutes when we had asked how much longer our food was going to take, because 30 minutes was uncharacteristically long for lunch at a half empty restaurant - and we were informed that they had not even started making our food yet, because their printer ran out of paper and didn't print a whole bunch of orders. A common sense moment here - with all the staff working and circling the restaurant, I would have hoped someone would have noticed that it we had been waiting a long time, especially knowing that this problem had arisen. They told us that they would make our food immediately, but I had to leave for work soon, therefore it was no longer worth the wait and we asked for a refund. I am less upset that we never got our food, and more upset that the staff was incompetent in knowing there was a problem, and didn't think to check in with customers regarding their orders. Thank you, La Madeleine, for being the reason I went off on a 10 hour work shift without a meal. read more

I like this restaurant for quick in and out lunch. I ordered chicken cordon bleu pasta which is delicious comes with some bread, my daughter tried kids pizza it was the perfect portion for her. Sometimes i also order half sandwich with pasta salad which is filling and perfect portion. I prefer this place over other places around the Reston area. read more

It's a cafe/restaurant with a nice atmosphere, but man, the food is HEAVY! We had crepes (beef and chicken, $11 each) and I swear they must use a cup of cream and a block of butter for each plate. It was very tasty for the first three bites and then after eating half we were greased out. Their sandwiches looked good though, I will try them if I go back. read more

So i have to say, i have never really been disappointed in La Madeline before in the past. I haven't been here in at least 2 years, and i gotta say, their culinary standards have sunk pretty low. I used to love their desserts! But now, i know for a fact that i will not be returning. I ordered the chocolate torte (by recommendation by one of the employees) and it looked so darn good. But after that first bite, i realized that what i had in my plate was the worst chocolate cake i have ever tasted in my life. I honestly would have rather eaten a cake from Shoppers. It tasted like it was drenched in rotten chocolate syrup! It just had this really off-putting, cheap chocolate syrup taste to it. I'm usually not one to complain to management if something i purchase tastes horrible, but because it was that bad, i just had to. The management was very nice, he apologized for my dissatisfaction and offered for me to try another cake on the house. I chose the coconut cream cake because i LOVE coconut. Also a mistake. It was WAY too sweet. I know that coconut cream cake is meant to be sweet, as any cake is (I'm a baker, i know my cakes!!), but i'm talking about horribly over-sweet. I have never left cake unfinished before, but i threw it away after 3 bites. Needless to say, i was disappointed with 2 cakes in a row, and i will not be ordering dessert from here ever again. read more

Awful. Some of the staff was very helpful and nice but others were very rude. Then food was okay, in comparison to other la Madeline locations it is not good. For the area there are a lot better options with much better food. Skip for sure. The tables are always dirty and sticky. The free bread area always is always old bread or out. Manager doesn't have control over employees, I saw a staff member mouthing off to a customer and the manager helplessly try to calm her employee down and tell her to be quite. It was quite an embarrassing spectacle. read more

The food is definitely delicious (I love the croque monsieur, just wish they offered a croque royale!) and the desserts are mouth-watering! Just be forewarned that the staff is not necessarily top-notch in speaking English or in providing excellent customer service. My husband jokes that the employees are asked only one question, "Can you speak French?" and if the answer is yes, they are hired. So, go for the wonderful food and the cutesy ambiance, but don't expect friendly service. read more

Found a bug in the broccoli in chicken la Madeline dish I ordered. Brought it to the manager's attention. He tried to crumble the broccoli apart instead of looking at the bug we pointed it to him. But my husband was still able to find it and showed it to him. He apologized and said they should have checked and taken it out if they have seen it. Said all vegetables have bugs and by the sound of his tone, this is normal and why should we complain. Offered 10 dollar gift card but took it back when we asked if we can just get a refund. But we did get a refund. read more

la Madeleine - A bug!! - Bakeries Near Me - Reston, Virginia

I LOVE this place. We came here for a weekend get away and I was so thrilled to see a La Madeline here. I ordered the potato patty looking thing. I can't remember the name. It is like hash browns in a quiche form. I got a side of fresh fruit and coffee. My husband got the eggs Benedict and he said it was really good. I love that they have mini bread slices you can help yourself to with butter and jam. read more

It astounds me how many times we can come here, and still be disappointed. If it's not one thing, it's another. The food is generally good - however, that's about the only good thing. Their entire staff is disorganized - someone will take your order, jot it down on a tablet, and then walk away. When you go to pay, you have to give that person your order all over again. It's generally a 30-45 minute wait for your food, regardless of how big your party is, or what you ordered. Most recently, we went there, and their drink machine wasn't working. The staff are generally slow and rude, and frequently overcharge or ring up the wrong amount. This place used to be great, I've been coming here since I was, what...thirteen? But not anymore. It's on our "Not even if we're desperate" list. read more

Definitely the best of the "quick-serve" restaurant trend--and they were certainly around well before that was trendy. They frequently play French language lessons in the restrooms, which is a cute little touch for the French Bakery-Cafe. My husband, a classically trained French chef, actually likes the place and says that the food is made incredibly well, especially considering the "quick-serve" aspect. The Tomato-Basil Soup is creamy and delicious. A great choice for a rainy day, and it will definitely fill you up, particularly if paired with one of their wide assortment of salads or pastries. Their hot food selection is challenging to comprehend (some stuff is displayed, other stuff is ordered off a menu) but 100% worth asking to figure out. There's homemade bread served off to the end of the line--make sure not to miss this treat! There's a great selection of what appear to be homemade preserves: blackberry, orange marmalade, strawberry, and of course honey. The prices can be all over the place, depending on what you order. If you get full entrees, your meal (one person, with a drink) would probably be around $15-20, but if you do soup and salad you can get out of there under $10, no problem. When I was in college in San Antonio, my roommate and I would save up and get a bowl of soup and eat a huge pile of bread--I know this is not considered "cool" in the restaurant biz, but they really really did not care--they just kept putting more bread and preserves out there for us. That really says something about their guest services. :) read more

This place was decent, but nothing great. The food was overpriced and nothing that left an impression. I did like the decor and atmosphere, but that won't bring me back. read more

Staff has NO skill at customer service!! I stood in line for over 20 minutes under the sign for specialty coffees and when a clerk finally waited on me, she said I was in the wrong line!!! I asked for the manager and he simply apologized - didn't even offer a complimentary coffee. Needless to say, I went elsewhere. This is not the first time. read more

yucky. french onion soup and shrimp florentine crepe very very salty. chicken a la madeline was bland bland bland. we left each dish half eaten if that tells you how it tasted. 32 bucks for crap. ...but the place was hopping for lunch that we were wondering... did the rest of these ppl eat what we did? read more

Great crepes, don't ever try chicken la madeleine! Its a horrible dish. Horrible service at this one surprisingly - much nicer, attentive people at Alexandria location. read more

I used to love going to La Madeleine as I always found the food good and staff friendly. But I have been there twice recently and it was really awful. I could not get anyone's attention to give them my order. And when he finally stopped talking with a coworker, he took the order from the person behind me. She happened to be having lunch with us so she said something to him and he came over to me and said I had to order the soup "over there" but there was no one "over there" to take an order. I finally went to the cashier and gave my order and he gave me the wooden sign with the number on it. I ordered a soup and sandwich as did my husband. Everyone else at the table got their order, but my husband and I never got our sandwich. Some of the staff brought sandwiches over to us but not the ones we ordered, so we told them what we had ordered. They never came back. Finally my husband finally went up to the cashier and after about 10 minutes- got the sandwiches. No apology, no explanation- It was very uncomfortable and so unlike the prior experiences. But will not be back. They just rush you through the line and act irritated if you ask any questions. read more

A tiny salad and small soup for $12, what a rip off!!! And there was nothing special, just plain food. I bet you can do the same at your own kitchen within 15 minutes spending twice less and feeding more people. The silverware was old and dirty, the restroom outdated and disgusting... Yuck... read more

Poor customer service. I ordered a tuna salad sandwich. Asked it be served on a baguette instead of a croissants. When the server brought it to my table I told her about it and she just gave me a dirty look and ignored me. I asked politely and she just seemed annoyed at my request. Food is overpriced. However, according to many people in my party, the tomao soup was delicious. Will not return and I do not recommend. read more

It's a great "girlfriend" spot, but the food is OK.

Second time I walked out without ordering. Why is there no person to order from or greeting customers. At 5pm, it can't be that hard. BTW, the food sitting in the glass case didn't look appealing anyway. read more

Being new to the area..and desprately seekin european icons i stumbled in on La Madeleine - My expectations were high and now upon a few visits and ready to review..id say average ..a-ok...My cappucino has been both good n bad depending on who makes it...kind of what happens now at most chains like starbux ..this is ofcourse if you notice such things...as i do..being very picky about coffee amidst other things... i like the decor very much..dark wood tones..french decor..books..eifel tower lamps..bla bla.. ..definate french touch ..but then u turn around and see combo specials and a large choco chip cookie..or an overisized muffin.. canteen style service and u immediately realize..the french ness is out and americana is IN. Soups are pretty good! Breads --id say the baguette's are great...and the croissants were well..not..good simply put.... !...Im still tryin to find a good croissant in the US...ya..the quest is on!... Over all la madeleine - is OK...and i'd continue to visit ..well..now & then :)) read more

Today, I placed an order online (like I've done before) that was confirmed via website and my email; when I showed up at designated 1:05pm time, I was told that their internet wasn't working so they didn't get my online order; she asked what I would like to order. Really? No... that's ok I'll give my business to someone else. read more

We stopped in this place last night for a light supper. I think it has potential, but the people working here are in dire need of training. They exhibit rough manners, improper tone and volume of voice, and an overall "I don't care" attitude. We ordered two "duet magnifiques": sandwich + soup + pasta salad or chips. We were given our soup at the counter and found a table. The tomato soup was quite tasty, but the French Onion was too salty. Although the tables were only 1/4 occupied, we waited over 20 minutes for our hot sandwiches: the chicken was pretty good, but the turkey was just OK. The caesar salad was fresh and tasty. Maybe if we find the days and times when competent, professional people are working, and find fail-safe items on the menu, this little cafe would be a great place to drop in for a bite. I don't know if we're willing to work that hard for them though. Too bad; I think this place has potential if the management would rectify the glaring problems. read more

I have been going to this cafe for the past 10 years. The quality of food has gradually gone down and is somewhat inconsistent. The plates and cutlery are not very clean. There are no organic or farm to table items on the menu. Needs to have better management. read more

Went for breakfast yesterday. Waited more than 30 minutes for my eggs and coffee/ Latte. This is an expensive restaurant with bad service.

The coffee and eclair were excellent...the welcome (this was my first time here) was awful! No greeting...never a smile...I wouldn't dare recommend to anyone...though I might put up with the rudeness to get a pastry for takeout read more

Much patronized by middle aged and senior women, none of whom know what they want to eat. They spend a long time debating this with each other, which would be endearing except the rest of us are stuck behind them. Due to La Madeleine's incredibly inefficient counter layout there is no way out. The staff are none too bright so no help there either. read more

This place wins on atmosphere hands down. It's dark wood, stone fireplace, cheery employee faces make it instantly cozy. You proceed along a cafeteria style line, which means you get to look at everything and order muc more than your stomach can really handle. the pastries are light and buttery, the soups rich and flavorful. they have pastas and meats and breads and desserts. it's great! you can scoot into a little table by the fire place and pretend you are in a french cellar bistro. read more

Awesome place for pastries, and great service specially the management (Louis ) he is awesome, he goes above and beyond for his customers. I recommend it for pastries lovers. And breakfast is Soo delicious. read more

I don't get the hype surrounding this chain. My croissant was flaky but overcooked. The food is not cheap. My "dry cappucino" was basically espresso mixed with milk - nothing dry or foamy about it. I have no interest in returning, when, sadly, Starbucks makes better coffee than a French place. read more

I like this place. I've been here three times (at different locations) but my last experience was a good one. The food was done well. My only complaint is that we did wait a little longer than I would have expected, but it was a Saturday morning. It has a great vibe where you can just hang out with friends and eat and chat - very laidback. read more

Went for Breakfast. I had the French Country Breakfast (7.49): scrambled eggs - good croissant - exceptional! sausage patties - dry potato "thingy" - dry and overcooked. It was way too cooked. The potato strands were hard and very crunchy - not crisp - hard and crunchy My wife had the Yogurt Parfait (5.49). It was great - too large for her to finish (but everything is relevant). I had a couple of spoonfuls. Tasted great. Although I usually like the French Breakfast, I am seriously considering having the Yogurt Parfait and a croissant next time. OJ - 2.39 coffee - 1.99 (with free refills) As with other reviews - yep - the place is pretty casual, but nicer than going to a burger joint for breakfast (or any of their other meals). read more

I know La Madeleine is a chain but this is the only one to which I've ever been and I'm scared to go to another in case the other locations aren't as good as this one. This is one of my favorite places to study. As long as you're not there around lunch time (which is when it gets pretty crowded and noisy) the atmosphere is perfect for reading and drinking coffee/tea/whatever without having to be in some dark coffee place. The fact that they have never-ending cups of coffee doesn't hurt either. There isn't any wi-fi, which has been ideal for me when I need to be in serious study-mode... reduces the temptation to go on Facebook or start chatting. I usually go either in the morning for breakfast or in the early afternoon (after the lunch rush). In the morning I usually get the Country French Breakfast or the American Breakfast (without meat for me). Neither is really stellar -- about the same as making scrambled eggs at home and getting a croissant from the grocery store. In the afternoon I'd get the Tomato Basil Pasta with Chicken. This is probably my favorite dish at this place. I will admit that the prices are a little much considering the food is only so-so. I usually get coffee and a croissant just so it looks like I'm a truly paying customer and not some random loiterer who comes in a couple times a week with a stack of books and notes. Another plus is that if you're signed up for American Airlines points with your credit card -- this is one of the restaurants in the area where you can earn points that go toward your miles! read more

Please beware they have bed bugs or ticks in the chairs. I went last night with the family and we all got bit while we where sitting. I called to let them know and the manager told me someone else earlier that day had complained. All I got was they would have it cleaned. If this is a problem in the chairs whats in the food? This is a serious matter. read more

This was the most horrifying experience of my life.. not because of the service but because of what I find in my food! I had previously visited the location in Springfield.. just a few days prior. The tomato basil soup has and always was my favorite. Well a few days later I decided to visit and take out from this location. Halfway thru my soup I found a creepy crawler.. with legs.. floating around in my soup! I was horrified!! And to think I had eaten half of the soup..needless to say I'm scarrred for life. I never want to eat at a La Madeline's again nor do I want to hear the words tomato basil soup. I'm so picky now when eating out .. I check ALL my food now.. and just thinking about the roach image In my soup turns my stomach every time! read more

The best part about my visit here was the host (Michael). He was extremely pleasant and helpful from the time we walked in the door up until the moment we departed. I really enjoyed my meal here as well. Who knew a sandwich could be so good?! (Either that, or I was very hungry! LOL). I had a turkey & bacon sandwich (I think it was called the Turkey bistro). The chips that came with it were pretty tasty as well. The star of the whole meal was one of their desserts (pastry item). I can't recall exactly what I had as I'm super late writing this review...but just trust me when I say they do a good job with their pastries! read more