I'm glad my friend told me about this French Café. Merci mon amie! It's located in the Cedros…read moreDesign District which is the heart of Solana Beach. I decided to have brunch there but when I arrived everyone was watching a soccer game...rooting for the French Team. It was pleasant to see the owners, staff, and guests so into the game. It created a welcoming and fun atmosphere...making my French experience more authentic. Just be aware, that majority of the seating is outside with an overhead shade. I looove eating outdoors so the setting was perrrfect. When it was time to order, I went inside to place it at the counter. Not too long afterwards, my warm latte came out then my breakfast...I didn't have to wait at all. Everything was sooo yummy. C'est vraiment bon!! I can't wait to go back to try the other menu items. I highly recommend Madeleine to the Yelp Community :-)

(editing to add this is a French-owned and Black-owned business, in case folks are looking!)…read more I usually come here when I'm doing errands on Cedros - and I usually just want to get my français on and order a café crème and a croissant. But today I needed a little extra je ne sais quoi because my morning was annoying, so I decided to splurge on lunch and not just a pastry here. I asked Steve, the (très beau et gentille!) co-owner what the quiche of the day was. There were two: one with jambon (ham) and one with épinards et fromage de chèvre (spinach and goat cheese). When I hesitated, he told me that the spinach one was amazing. Even though it's $20 for a quiche plate, I decided to go for it. I thought I was going to get a sad little quiche slice for that amount and might regret it. But OMG, it was more than worth it! Already they have a lovely patio on this pretty street in this fancy design district. But it was also a HUGE and exceptionally savory rectangular slice, alongside a DELECTEABLE petite salade. I asked Steve what mustard they use in the vinaigrette, and he said plain old Dijon - but the proportions and the seasoning were EXCELLENT. So it was salad perfection, not heavily dressed at all, just delightful. The patio was full on a Friday with ladies who lunch - but did that include me, as a solo diner, since I am a lady who had lunch? I'm not sure, but you can feel comfortable here no matter what. And now I know Madeleine Cafe is much too good to just come for coffee and for ordering in French from Steve or his co-owner Emmanuel. I don't want to spend that much for lunch every day - but I'll be back!

We came in hungry! I had stopped into Forchettina in Encinitas before, to bring food to my daughter…read moreand her family. And we go back to that location decades, with different owners. The turn over is amazing. But this time, this restaurant is here to stay! I must congratulation this Italian Couple from Sicily and Naples only to say: This location has finally landed in the right hands! We start with a terrific Italian Red, recommended by the owner. Caesar Salad and Marinated Artichoke Hearts. That's what I thought the menu says but it turns out to be yummy grilled Artichokes, that includes the heart. Next is a Chicken Parmesan Plate that includes penne marinara and I take a Sausage Pizza. Totally authentic. Totally enjoyable. Totally satisfied. We will be back for sure! With garlic, gusto & gratitude, Chef Marian San Diego Foodies Carlsbad Foodies

Forchettina is a forche-amazing. You might just miss it and just drive by this place. Don't worry,…read moreturn around. Find the parking lot and come inside. Enjoy delicious pizzas, pastas and of course the dessert. The wine is delicious. Even the water is delicious. Not to mention the owner - she's amazing - passionate, talented and authentic. Welcome to a slice of Italia in Encinitas. Ciao baby. PS: You know you stumbled up on a great gem, If you are having Spaghetti Carbonara for dessert on top of their amazing Ricotta Pistachio goodness.

Just ate at Solterra for the first time in awhile. They've made some nice upgrades to the menu…read more Crab cakes are very nice. The ragu pasta was also excellent. The wines remain quite good. I see some negative comments about the service, but ours was excellent. Our server, Phil, knows the wine and made informed suggestions based our likes. All in all a very well spent evening.

Wonderful staff! Great food…read more They are also a winery. We had the Sauvignon Blanc they made, & it was so delicious. We got a take home bottle, we loved it so much. We have been coming here for years, when we visit family in San Diego. Has never disappointed. Nice ambiance, as well!

Kael provided great service…read more Very cute restaurant, inside was welcoming and cool. I sat outside. Chopped Italian salad- overall delicious, I will say I like mine a bit more chopped but the flavor and ingredients were so fresh and bright. Pastrami sliders- shut your mouth so good- savory, cheesy, salty, yum yum yum!

Came for lunch with the wifey. She'd been here with friends previously and said I'd like it. She…read moreknows me well. We had a chicken sandwich, the whole shebang sandwich and some fries. Oh and she had a cookie. The sandwiches were great. They both had little twists that made them especially enjoyable. For example the chicken sando has a kale salad mix In it that was delicious and prevent the sandwich from being too dry. A woman eat alone next to us noticed my wife had a cookie and the woman had one too. They struck up a conversation about how lucky they were that they still had cookies after noon and how they get so sad when they carve a cookie but are sold out. The young ladies working there were so polite and helpful too.

We had an amazing evening at CTZN, The ambiance was…read morebeautiful, the team warm and inviting. The kitchen staff made delicious chicken croquettes and papas fritas and the hamachi crudo was unbelievable, among other tapas. Our white Negroni and the traditional Negroni were delicious, although we sat at the bar so we were able to see all the gorgeous cocktails Bailey made. Will definitely be back to try the paella!

I would look at Shirley O's pix.... she did a way better job of photographing than I did…read more We sooo lucked out, going on a Sunday when they make fresh Paella right out front. Smells so good as you get close to walking in.... There are so many things this restaurant does right, it's hard to know where to start. First, by accident we showed up on a Basque Holiday. Amazing luck. Imagine this: we order their Paella that takes 45 minutes to finish and while we wait, we order something from every category to taste. The combination of how they 'treat' the ingredients, how they 'plate' the food, how amazing their staff is, down to their advisor who is basically an executive chef .... How inspired he is, how much he appreciates the fine job everyone in his Kichen does, how inspired our waiter is ... how nice the hostess is ... well, this was the most amazing experience. I believe it is the CAÑA DE CABRA TOAST, that has sliced peaches and jam with goat cheese that is one of the best starters we have ever enjoyed. Lisa says: 'The mint on the top is just the right addition'. Grilled Shrimp and PATATAS BRAVAS are done right. Careful of the heat on the potatoes, if that's not your thing. But just look at what they are creating .... all the work put in to thinly slice them and top them. The broth with clams makes you ask for more bread. The Seafood Paella arrives. Lisa says: "The scallops are done right and the fish is very light. The rice is flavorful, more of a smokey rice with great flavor rather than just saffron. I am a NY'er and I know my cheesecake. I rarely order it because it's not like back home. But with their 'in house' pastry person, I just want to say every bite, every look, every berry, every texture is just perfect. This Basque cheesecake is something I will think about and come back for over and over again. As Lisa eats her birthday dessert, her eyes roll back in her head. Aaah. So it isn't just me that loves this dessert! Can't wait to try everything on the menu! I'm bringing San Diego Foodies and Carlsbad Foodies from Meetup back here, so we can taste everything I missed! Now I hope I can get everyone to share. lol With garlic, gusto and gratitude,  Chef Marian  San Diego Foodies Carlsbad Foodies

Great ambience, delicious Branzino puttanesca, Lobster ravioli, calamari fritti!!…read more Why haven't we been here before now? Celebrated three birthdays with big family group and had a blast!

The other night we wanted something different and this beautiful restaurant is literally four…read moreblocks away, but it was a beautiful night and going to be a beautiful sunset so I called a lovely lady named Laura to order pick up. She absolutely agreed that this was maybe a night to eat on our beautiful balcony such a nice lady. We ordered two pasta dishes, a linguine with as much seafood as you could possibly imagine and a a pasta Bolognese both were incredible and after the four minutes, it took to get them. It was like eating them in the restaurant. A local gem!!!!

Exellent food. Exellent service and excellent ambiance…read more Very good wine !!! Not easuy to parkl,

My wife and I were in town for one day to visit family. After the graduation ceremony we all…read moregathered at Vigilucci's for a 6:30 reservation. I was very impressed with the valet parking and great greeting once we walked it. They immediately sat us at our table and this was a busy Friday night. The restaurant is beautiful and has several different rooms. So they can handle a lot of diners. Our server was exceptional, as was every staff member that came in contact with us. We started with wine and their amazing homemade bread. Loved that bread it's crispy and very tasty. I ordered the seafood special and my wife had the tagliatelle with sausage. One of the others ordered the butternut squash dinner. Everything that came out was incredible!!! The seafood on my pasta was a large scallop, mussels in the shell, clams in the shell, two very large scrumptious shrimp and calamari. The pasta was delicious as well. Then we topped it off with two orders of thru delicious tiramisu. OMG some of the best I've ever tasted. Bravo

Excellent food and service Always a delicious meal with…read moreabove average portions Friendly and knowledgeable staff Attractive and comfortable setting Favorite of locals! Enjoy your meal

Terrible service. Reheated food served. Place is…read moredisorganized, priority is take out orders and not customer at the restuarant