Cafe Maddalena

If you don’t have time for one of their wonderful dinners, stop by for an appetizer, a great glass of wine and desert. We did, and it was the best. The atmosphere and the friendly service is top notch and even had a delightful conversation with the owners while watching the fabulous dishes being prepared. A must when in Dunsmuir.

I’ve been twice and loved it both times. While ordering seafood in the interior of California can be dicey, I had salmon on both visits and was absolutely pleased. Our first visit was with our family of 5 for Mothers Day, and nobody at the table was anything but ecstatic with their meals. We were there with friends about a month ago, and once again we enjoyed a great meal. The staff is friendly and professional.

The restaurant had a charming ambiance and an inventive menu. Combine that with excellent service, yummy food and good wine (with knowledgeable advice on which bottle to pick) and we had a memorable meal befitting a special occasion. We were traveling south from Ashland and met up with our friends who were traveling north to get there. We all agreed that it was as good as any meal we had in Ashland and we will definitely return.

Omg by far the best place to eat. And its in my town… I just went there thursday oct 2,2015… My best friends mom and i went. We got the french red blend (red wine). Then we the salt spring mussels steed in a white wine, shallots and cream … Let me just stop right there. It was our first time eatn mussels (adved oyserts) …OMG HEAVON!!! The sauce was so creamy. So earthly. The mussels just melted in your mouth. A MUST TRY … Then we both ordered the mushroom stuffed crispy quial, on a bed of cabbage and mashed potatoes w a mushroom sauce… OMG AGIN HEAVON. The quail was perfectly cooked w just a little bit of crisp on the top… I was little disappointed w the mashed potatoes, then for dessert i got there chocolate cake (more like a brownie) OMG I THOUGHT I WAS IN HEAVON. Its this cake w a burbn sauce… I took it home and NURESD IT FOR TWO HRS… its that good…
Now heres something you should know. They change there Menu EVERY 6WEEKS.

We had a wonderful evening here in mid-​June.
From the lovely table by the window overlooking Sacramento Ave., to the excellent food, service and wines, it became clear to us why Café Maddalena is held in such high regard.
The restaurant was full, and there was some turnover while we ate, but there was never any sense of having to rush. We ate inside and the ambiance and noise level were convivial.
Our gracious server recommended some wines to try which turned out well matched to what we ordered.
One appetizer that really stood out was the squid which was exqusitively spiced. The chevre cigars were also delicious.
Salmon arrived perfectly cooked with a tasty green sauce. The portion was really large. Duck breast was downright delicious and served on a bed of yummy lentils.
We had a cheese course, a lemon meringue tart and cappuccinos to finish the meal.
Dinner was affordable compared to lesser fare in bigger cities.
It was a lovely evening. Had they been open the next night (a Monday) we would have gone back.

Wonderful food with a creative menu and fresh presentation. You will think you are in San Francisco. Excellent service with warmth and attention. A not-​to-​miss spot!

Omigod! still everything perfect down the smallest detail – delicious, delicious delicious I never eat pizza here but another guest shared a bite with me. So I came back to take Slater is got the best darn pizza fresh clams in the shell and prosciutto mozzarella it was fabulous

Food: good. Service: not so much, or maybe just our waitress (Crystal) did not seem to care. We were not asked if we wanted any drinks. We understand busy nights, and we’re ok with slower service. But not so ok with lack of interest and attention. Zucchini fritters: good. Chèvre cigars: average. Duck, steak and pork dishes: good. NO vegetarian choices. Chef and waitress had no willingness to create an acceptable vegetarian option for my friend. Overall: not worth the money.

This is the best restaurant in the Shasta and Dunsmuir area. The good is always great and on time. Also, the services is hard to beat. A real gem in a town with not much to offer relative to dining.

It was a cold autumn evening, driving up this mountainous section of the 5 FWY (It’s true, the 5 FWY actually goes through some pretty parts of northern Cal), and I was HANGRY – yes, hangry. And since I still had quite a bit of a drive up to Oregon, I thought Dunsmuir would make a great pitstop for dinner. If you have not checked out the quaint town of Dunsmuir, DO IT! It’s so pretty! It’s like a village nestled in the mountains of Siskiyou County. Actually, it IS a village nestled in the mountains of Siskiyou County!
I made reservations earlier for my much anticipated meal of the day. I drove up to the the small parking lot just outside the restaurant with no problem at all.
From the outside, it looks like a tiny New England cottage. It looked quite inviting.
I walked inside and was warmly greeted by the hostess. I took my seat, soaking in the intimately charming atmosphere. Maddalena seats about 28 in close quarters (If you don’t mind people eavesdropping on your conversations, or your eavesdropping on … I said it was intimate! I absolutely fell in love with this place, visually that is.
When visiting small towns, I’m always on the lookout for restaurants that serve very seasonal dishes. Café Maddalena is such a place.
So, expecting a lovely experience, instead my server took quite a while to take my order and didn’t really pay much attention to me throughout the time I was there. It wasn’t even busy. Plus, my server was very cool with me. I noticed that she was quite jovial with the party sitting next to me (I think they were regular locals). I just couldn’t understand it. Now, if you know me, I’m pretty easy going. I’m not demanding nor do I nitpick when at restaurants. Why would this server treat me like this? Anyway…
I ordered three items: an arugula salad with slices of persimmons, almonds, prosciutto drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette, the pumpkin empanadas, and the crispy Portabello
mushrooms with Parmesan shavings.
Before I had the salad, fluffy focaccia bread was brought out to me. It was delightfully pleasant. It also went well with my glass of red wine (sorry, I forget the name – but I know it was local!).
Then came the salad. It was perfect! The combination of the sweet, savory, and crunchy made this salad truly satisfying. And, oh! Those persimmons were quite flavorful and crunchy!
It took a while, but next came my pumpkin empanadas. I was really looking forward to this item. However, I noticed that the pastry didn’t hold. And when I bit into my pieces of empanada, it had a very starchy and dry texture to it. It was lackluster and didn’t have much flavor. Such a let down!
Then, came my crispy Portobello mushrooms. This is the point of the meal I started to feel really bad. Even as I write this, my stomach is starting to turn. The mushrooms were extremely salty and oily. I couldn’t even finish them. I started to feel sick. The combination of bad service and the last two items, left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Plus, when it came to pay my bill, it took forever just to get my server’s attention.
Though this was a bittersweet experience, I am willing to go back and give it another try. I am planning on driving up to Oregon this way again anyway in the near future.

Put it this way — we plan our road trips around the Café Maddalena schedule. We can only travel through Dunsmuir on Thursdays through Sundays (when we can stop for dinner) because driving through town when Café Maddalena is closed is just too sad to bear.
Appetizers are always interesting, and the wine list is small but well thought out. Don’t fill up on the house-​baked focacia, because you need to save room for the. .. salad dressing! Yes — the salad dressing! The champagne vinaigrette salad dressing is out of this world — they should bottle it for retail! The entries are well-​sized, well-​priced, beautifully presented and TASTY. I have never gone wrong with any of them.
Café Maddalena would be an instant hit if it were located in a «foodie» mecca like College Avenue or Uptown in Oakland — it is that good and it easily competes with the best the Bay Area has to offer. The fact that this gem is tucked away in Dunsmuir is just a bonus.

Last Friday we went to my favorite restaurant — Maddalenas — for a special anniversary dinner. We drive from Redding so it must be good.
I ordered the grilled Mahi with an aoili sauce and should have known when they brought my plate and it smelled «fishy» to send it back. So shame on me, but I think they lost a real fan. The aoili was strong enough to «disguise» — but that’s not what I expect for that price.

Went back this weekend. Still great. It’s the off-​season so the town is pretty much dead but the restaurant was packed. If you’re on the 5, stop for dinner. Well worth it. Potato leek soup was perfect. Salmon– perfect. The only C+ was the bean and tuna salad– no lettuce and little tuna.

We are close to Redding and find the 40 minute drive worth the effort. The food, wine and service is 5 star. You will not be disappointed.

You simply can’t believe a place this good is this remote! But it is true. Every detail is perfect, from the greeting at the door to the quietly attentive wait staff to the cozy elegance… But it’s the superb food that really nails those 4 stars. Yes, the beet salad and the sole (and so much else) really are phenomenal. And the beignets would stand out in New Orleans. Heck, you could just have wine and a couple of their exquisite desserts and go home happy. Worth a trip to Siskiyou County!

The food speaks for itself. Gourmet, fresh and creative dishes is all this restaurant knows how to prepare. The bread is absolutely amazing. My wife and I have been here about 6 times now and it continues to impress us every time we come back.

Great food. This place would be great in a city. In a town the size of dunsmuir it is an unexpected treat. it has to be the best in the county. Make sure you check to see when it is open.

Well worth a drive from anywhere!
Cindy and I went to Café Maddalena after the Siskiyou Arts Museums Gala & Auction last night for some late night appetizers. They were closed/​closing but invited us in and treated us like VIP guests. Brett and his staff are excellent.
We started with the Corn & Onion Beignets, they were rich, savory and melted in your mouth. Then we shared an Endive & salad that was extraordinary. I had the Steamed Mussels with Yellow Curry. They were fabulous. Cindy had the Leek & Gruyère Torte, she said it could not have been better. Brett also had us try the soup, which was easily one of the best we have ever tasted.
Thanks again Brett. Charlie Miller Dunsmuir Outdoors & Gear Exchange.

This place is a gem.
I have eaten here about 10 times over the years, mostly as celebratory family dinners. To put this restaurant in perspective, we will drive from an hour away because this is the best fine dining restaurant within a 100 mile radius of Redding, CA (The restaurant scene in Redding is really quite depressing and I think many would agree).
It is a small and quaint bistro style café that is kept very clean and in great repair compared to other places in town. During the warmer months, they have a small patio area. I prefer the inside with a view of the narrow kitchen and the busy cooks with their crisp white chef garb.
Everyone there is very friendly and accommodating. You can show up with a suit and tie or in your swim trunks (I have done both).
I believe the restaurant closes for the month of January. I also vaguely remember being told that period of time is used to forage new wines and recipes in Europe.
The menu prices and wine selection are modest to reflect the income level of the surrounding area; however, the prices and the quality of the food make it well worth the drive.
There are no culinary boundaries being pushed here, which is why I give 4 stars. These are common and familiar dishes prepared exquisitely.

I was having a «two fat ladies «moment. Even though, I peered around the open kitchen and there was no one who resembled either woman. It was the butter! The melt in your mouth goodness of my lingcod and accompanying risotto approximated being in an episode of the BBC show. There is no frugality with butter at this venue.
I have had Café Maddalena on my must list for years. Unfortunately trips to Northern California did not coincide with opening hours or with available reservations. This time I lucked out. The meaty chanterelles on the angel hair pasta, goat cheese stuffed zucchini flowers and a fresh fig tart were also stand outs. Service at this fine dining establishment measures up to anything in a big city. The simple and clean décor of ceramic plates on white walls and blonde wood are reminiscent of a Scandinavian getaway making the artfully presented food the masterpiece.