09/01/09

Worst Service for High Class Priced Food

by Angie C

The waitress Jenny was rude and condescending to my friend and I. The next day we found out that she charged 20 dollars extra for her tip on the credit card without our consent.

• Pros: Good Appetizer and Entree
• Cons: Bad Serice and Over-Priced Desserts

06/21/09

Beware, read this before you go

by violetgirl426

I went to this place with my boyfriend for my birthday dinner. My boyfriend called ahead of time to see if they offered anything for free for birthday and the manager answered they offered free chocolate cake.

It was so dark when we went inside and I told the waitress to give me a few minutes for me to decide what wine to order. It was so cold inside that I decided not to order wine and to order hot tea instead. The waitress looked at us as we were too cheap to order the wine. My boyfriend and I already checked the on-line menu and knew the prices and we can definitely afford anything in the restaurant. As a matter fact, we had spend $35 + 40% tip for lunch because the service was so great. I told the waitress that we are still full from lunch and I would like to save my stomach for desserts, so we are going to share one appetizer and one entree and two desserts. Again, the waitress looked at us as we should leave because we did not want to order more food.

While we were waiting, we saw how well the waitress treated her other "two" tables. She was attentive and refilled iced water and cleaned their tables constantly. She did not offer us any ice water and only brought us our food and never cleaned our table. I placed my tea wrapper on the edge of the table to make it visibly clear that it was trash. The wrapper was still there when we left. This place was high end and other high end places that I had been to at least clean everything before dessert. I think because my boyfriend and I look young as if we were college kids, and she treated the other mature customers well.

When my boyfriend asked the waitress to bring us my free birthday chocolate cake, the waitress looked shocked and gave him a look as if "how dare you ask me this." She did gave us one scoop of "ice-cream" and no chocolate cake.

I would like to emphasize that the check was $66 for two people. We spent high class money, but was given worst service than Denny's.

The most SHOCKING things was that my boyfriends ATM/bank card was charged $20 extra as added tip. We tried to contact the restaurant but did not get any reply from the owner. The money was not credited back until one week later. This was ridiculous because what if my boyfriend had an overdraft in his checking account. The restaurant said that they would send us gift certificate to make up for everything, but we never received it.

The food was excellent, but we never went back. Can you believe that I used to refer people to this place and this was how the restaurant treated its customer by ignoring and not keeping their promise.

• Pros: Excellent Food but Overpriced
• Cons: Cocky and Rude Waitress, who gave herself $20 tip

05/30/08

interesting vegan dishes, excellent ingredients

by kocur5

With a lack of "high end" vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the Los Angeles area, it is nice to have Madeleine Bistro. I can already hear the cries about available "veg cuisine", but I truly appreciate an opportunity to enjoy a gourmet vegan meal without having to rely specifically on authenic Indian/Asian restaurants, that happen to be vegetarian friendly, for my dietary considerations.

I appreciated the well prepared organic vegetables that appeared throughout the meal. My favorite dishes of the evening included the appetizer of beet tartare and the chocolate souffle dessert. The bottle of wine we ordered was reasonably priced and organic as well. The service was friendly and unobtrusive. I can't comment on the need for reservations, as I dined during a mellow weekday evening.

• Pros: gourmet vegan, organic ingredients
• Cons: Oddly functioning front door, dining room a bit too darkly lit (unable to easily view the food)

04/08/08

Delicious vegan food with a gourmet flair

by Nekishaw

Madeleine Bistro is amazing. This is my favorite vegan restaurant in the Los Angeles area. Even carnivores find the food tasty. The weekend brunch menu is fantastic. Try the waffles and "chicken," the skillet, the omelet torta, the Madeleine club or the portophilly. For dinner, the red beet tartare, gnocchi and creme and chicken fried seitan are all good choices. I have yet to be disappointed here. The owners are friendly and hospitable.

• Pros: Great food, interesting vegan dishes, friendly service
• Cons: Minimal parking, average ambience

09/24/07

Over rated

by marla5575

Madeleine Bistro is over priced and over rated. It's great to have more vegan fare available, and the atmosphere is nice, but the servers are arrogant and the food isn't always great. The risottos are very good and the chicken-fried seitan is very good, but the appetizers are teeny tiny and not as good as they sound. for $40 per person I expect better. Real Food Daily is better.

• Pros: ambiance
• Cons: food isn't so great

06/24/07

My all-time Favorite restaurant.

by aspiringvegan

I have to say that this is my favorite place for brunch as well as for dinner. I have yet to try something on the menu that I have not loved and most of those items I've never had anywhere else. The chef/owner is very creative, the food is mouth-watering and the ambiance perfect for a brunch with the family or dinner with a date. I have lived in LA for the last 4 years and this is one place I make a point to take all my out of town friends to. Its very unique food is an experience of a lifetime that no one should miss.

• Pros: food, food, food, parking, ambience
• Cons: can't get enough of!

05/14/07

The Greatest Food (Vegan or Otherwise) In The Land

by jtg73

Madeleine Bistro, I want the world to know, that this vegan is finally home....

No more searching the streets for something resembling something else...

Your bigger maque. Your Barbeque Tempeh Salad. Your beet tarar. (And I hated beets before you.)

Your special surprises that always ROCK...

The people are cool. The restaurant's clean...

And, yes, you have desserts that can make a grown man cry...

Yes, I love you. Yes, I will marry you. Yes, I will be faithful.

If you haven't been...Get there.

06/06/06

My favorite restaurant!

by procrastinasian

Whether or not you're a meat-eater, this is a must for a wonderful dining experience. I've been there many times now, even though the restaurant is pricey and 30 miles away from where I live. The food is delicious and beautifully presented. It is innovative and healthy, and the staff is very accomodating. Make reservations if you're going during a popular hour on a Friday or Saturday night. I can't recommend it highly enough! The chef can make absolutely anything taste delicious and unique. The prices are fairly high, but the food is very filling and I think it's definitely worth it.

• Pros: Really delicious food, nice atmosphere, easy street parking
• Cons: A bit pricey

05/12/06

Gourmet Delicious

by harmonyharmony

This upscale vegan bistro is mouthwatering even if youre a meat eater. The candlelit ambience and impeccable service whisks you to another time. Try the wonderful soups, entrees, or brunch. Honestly everything is gourmet and delicious. What a treat to have it here in the Valley.

• Pros: Beautiful ambience, Conveniently located

Haute organic vegan fare samples cuisine spanning the culinary map.

by Contributor

In Short
Olive walls with muted sconce lighting and ivory tiled floors create a subdued setting not unlike an expensive day spa. Moms taking the night off, date-nighters and business folk dining solo fill the small dining room. Artfully presented, portion-conscious dishes include Asian tacos, Mediterranean salad and grilled Jamaican jerk seitan. Even some featured wines and beer meet an organic approval rating. On weekends, patrons can also opt for a vegan brunch with scrambled tofu skillets or wheat-free pancakes.