Chez Nanou

This one’s going to be long and divided into two parts:
PART I: How I’d rate this restaurant based on my first three or four visits: 4 stars
+ The atmosphere is truly pleasant and welcoming. It’s intimate and cozy, nice and dark, and very relaxed.
+ The service is superb. If I’m not mistaken, Monique has been our waitress every time we’ve been there, and I can’t say enough good things about her.
+ The food is generally delicious; their salad dressing is out of this world; French Onion soup is earthy, sweet, and served sizzlingly hot.
— The menu is very limited. There are a few appetizers, some crepes, a chicken dish, and three gratinee dishes.
— They are always out of at least one special. Every single time we’ve been there, this has been the case. Even more annoyingly, they refuse to erase that special from the blackboard. Why must I know that I could have had boeuf bourguignon if I’d shown up an hour ago if there’s no boeuf bourguignon to be had? Just get an eraser.
–Prices are high. The dish I usually get (tartiflette gratinee) is primarily composed of potatoes. It tastes great, but $ 16 seems a little high.
— I often wonder how much of the food’s appeal comes from what must be a massive amount of butter, cheese, and cream.
— Their loyalty program sucks. Eight visits gets you a free dessert. That comes out to $ 1 a visit for a place where you’ll pay $ 100+ for a dinner for two with a bottle of wine.
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PART II: Tonight’s experience: 1 star
Tonight was an absolute shit show. We made a reservation for eight. Our son turns six months tomorrow, and his grandparents are in town. This was literally the second time we’ve able to go out in those six months. We wanted something nice and romantic.
We were seated at a table that should not have existed. It was shoved into the back of the restaurant under a bright light, right across from the kitchen and the bathroom, and inches away from a refrigerator. Every minute and a half or so, one of the waitresses had to get something out of this fridge, and when it opened the light became even brighter. We were right in the middle of the area where the staff congregated, and they kept hitting my wife’s chair, which was completely unavoidable. Again, this table should not have existed.
So we asked Monique if there was anything to do. As usual, she was fantastic. She apologized and told us that she could move us to another table as soon as they paid their check. By the time we got to that table, though, it was already 8:20.
We ordered wine based on Monique’s recommendation (neither of us knows a damn thing about wine) and it was fantastic. French onion soup was uncharacteristically bland tonight; entrees were just what we expected from previous experiences.
Then we ordered dessert. Again, half of the menu was unavailable, but staring at us from the blackboard. But that wasn’t a huge problem: they still had their sea salt caramel cheesecake. We ordered a slice to split.
It was awful. Just absolutely awful. In the fourteen years we’ve been together, my wife and I have never ordered cheesecake and not finished it. There’s a first time for everything. The problem was pretty clear: It was overcooked. The edges were way too brown and the cake had sunken into the crust. When we cut into it, it was dry and mealy. If Nanou had tasted a slice, she wouldn’t have served it. Or at least she shouldn’t have.
So Nanou comes by making her rounds and asks how everything was. We told her that the meal was fine, but that the cheesecake was not good. She came up with a few excuses, but she apologized. Ok. No huge deal. Then the check comes. And the cheesecake is on it. I catch Monique’s eye and tell her that I think they should take it off the bill. She goes and tells Nanou that. Nanou responds by glaring at me and making this incredibly dismissive gesture with her hand, flicking her wrist in disgust. Apparently this meant that she would take it off the bill, but it was about the most obnoxious thing I’ve seen in quite a while. If Nanou wants to complain about customers, she can do that in the kitchen. And that table should not exist.

I had an awesome, great experience at Chez Nanou. So glad I got a chance to come out here before leaving the city. It’s a super cozy place that gives a homely feeling. The owners would come out every so often to say hi and to chat. We were a party of two, and got seated immediately for brunch at this nice little corner by the windows overlooking the streets. The table was nicely made with little flowers and ornaments, perfect with a couple, or a good friend, I love it at once.
We went there for… crepes! A lot of crepes. Had the parsienne, a savory crêpe with ham, mushroom, béchamel and Swiss cheese. I love cheesy mushroom crepes, the ones here are so fresh and the béchamel sauce adds a creamy texture to it all. The dessert crepes complete our day and make us yearn for more. Love the nutella crêpe and lemon curd crêpe. The hazelnut chocolate complements very well with the citrus lemon. We also had the omelette, which was great though I prefer the crepes more.
The service was awesome. We were made to feel very welcome and had all our questions answered. Wonderful experience overall and I’ll be back the next time I’m in town. Do note their opening hours, dinners and weekend brunch only.

After living in Madison for 4 years, I finally discovered Willy St my senior year and I wish I knew about it earlier. I looked up restaurants on Willy St and found Chez Nanou, which I immediately jumped on because I love French restaurants ever since I traveled to France.
This restaurant is adorable! Our waitress spoke French very fluently (she was clearly from there), and the ambiance was so cute with checkered table clothes, flowers, and an adorable little chalkboard with the daily specials.
We tried the special appetizer, the Tuna Cocktail, which was excellent. My mom had the Norvegienne crêpe and I had the Campagnarde crêpe. Both were sooooooooo good and made with buckwheat which is great because I am gluten-​free.
I will definitely be returning to this restaurant! This is a must-​go restaurant in Madison!

Adorable brunch spot with no wait!
The checkered table cloths and flower vases on each table make it very cheery. Our waitress’ big smile and French accent added to the experience as well.
I loved that my crêpe had prosciutto and Brie. The crêpe itself could’ve been a little more flavorful; perhaps a grainy mustard would’ve tied the dish together. My friend’s smoked salmon scrambled eggs tasted great and I enjoyed my latte. The menu had a lot of other tempting options so I would like to return and try a sweet crêpe, other desserts and the Croque Madame.
I hate waiting in line for brunch so depending on how the rest of the menu tastes, I may become a regular!

This is a wonderful little place in the heart of Madison. Having lived in France before, I feel at home here. Yes, the service is not super fast, but that’s exactly the point; If you need fast food, go to McDonalds! But if you want to sit down, relax, enjoy good food and a pleasant environment, this is the place to go. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but I don’t mind paying for something I truly enjoy.
P. S.: This is not a French haute cuisine restaurant, so level your expectations accordingly. Very good food nonetheless!

Went here on a whim and was pleasantly surprised. Service was exceptional, true French cuisine. Definitely get the berry tiramisu if they have it in their specials. Crepes are amazing.

«Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas
Je vois la vie en rose…»
— Edith Piaf, «La vie en rose»
After a long week of all work and no play, I really needed a break. I lazily browse around for somewhere that could take my mind off the dreariness of modern life, and I saw this quaint place. Chez Nanou is a delightful bistro that captures the ordinary French aesthetic. The owner is from France, and she wanted to bring the French culinary experience to America.
The food here is delicious. It’s French without the pretensions. This is the sort of food you might be served at a bed-​and-​breakfast in Aix-​en-​Provence after a long day touring the wine country on a Vespa with your summertime lover. Hearty, good portion size, all-​natural and organic, and without the pomp and pretension of haute cuisine. I got the Provençal scrambled eggs with bacon, browned potatoes and a side salad. There’s nothing to remark about the bacon and salad, but the eggs and potatoes were quite good. The eggs had Gruyère and herbes des Provençe mixed in, creating a abundantly pungent and savory egg concoction. Personally I am an enormous fan of the food of Southern France precisely because of the earthy fragrance that compose herbes des Provençe — rosemary, thyme, sage, lavender. Like the charmingly rustic countryside of Southern France itself, the food speaks to the ways most people, at the end of the day, look forward to a wholesome, home-​cooked meal. For me that day, I was looking forward to peace and quiet away from the bustle of modern life. Here you can get that. Step away from the noise. Take a seat at the checkerboard tablecloth, get a cup of coffee, and escape, even if only in your head, to a better place for a while.

Chez Nanou is this place you want to go not just for a lovely meal but also a warm, cozy and relaxing evening! Their décor and style of dining made you feel like you are in someone’s dining room.
They have a number of options for lunch and dinner, including gratins, salmon and savory crepes. I tried their mushroom gratin, which is rich and very homely. They also have daily specials available, like the tapenade and apple pepper cream soup I tried, both very flavorable and appetizing!
Last but not least, their wonderful selection of French wine and their signature dessert, lavender crème brûlée, also made it a wonderful experience.

I highly recommend the Croque Madame (same as a croque monsieur but with a sunny side up egg on top) and the hot chocolate.
Their hot chocolate is the closest thing I’ve had to the hot chocolate at Angelina in Paris. It’s incredibly rich and chocolaty. It’s a meal in and of itself! but go ahead and order the croque madame too!
Their buckwheat crepes are also very good, but are a little pricey for what you get.
Really nice staff and the chef is a very sweet lady! Also, the place is very adorable with a France themed décor.

What a lovely place. Just charming.
There is no doubt what kind of food you’re in for here, and it’s like being hugged by your mom, if she was born in the south of France. I went with the special mushroom soup to start, then the entrée of the night: a cordon bleu, which came with lightly and expertly fried potatoes and a nicely fresh side of greens. My lovely date’s app also pleased: a salmon/​apple/​cucumber/​dill creation that was thoroughly enjoyed. Her buckwheat crêpe entrée worked well.
If you like crème brûlée, the lavender-​infused dessert is a must. If you don’t like crème brûlée, you are a sad, sad soul.
Reasonable prices. Attentive service, including a visit from the chef herself. What a gem.

Outstanding! Went for Father’s Day brunch tried both crepes, scrambler and gratin. This place has absolutely the best scrambled eggs in Madison, no other restaurant comes close; it’s like eating a French egg cloud. We also tried their crème brûlée and lime chocolate cake, both fantastic. The place and service will make you feel like you are in your French grandma’s kitchen. Nanou is very warm and friendly, I can’t wait to go back!

Just dined here for the second time. This place is so charming and personable! The waitress recognized our names from having had reservations earlier this week for Valentine’s dinner. Unfortunately, we had to cancel because I got food poisoning… but she was so sweet and recommended some great items.
We were a little baffled by what was on the wine list, so the waitress let us sample the wines to see which ones we would prefer.
My boyfriend ordered one of the delicious savory crepes with prosciutto and I ordered a ham and mushroom cassollette which was amazing! I thought it would be pretty heavy, but it wasn’t at all. I even ordered a basket of bread to soak up all of the sauce.
I will definitely come back here. Highly recommended for those who want a nice quaint, homey, atmosphere.

On a cold and blustery Friday night, Chez Nanou served as a warm respite for my girlfriend and I. Small and charming (probably only about 6 tables), the restaurant focuses on French comfort food. The menu is small with focusing on crepes, salads, and cassolettes (with a smattering of specials/​appetizer/​sandwich options). Suckers for french onion soup, we both opted for the soup and decided to share a savoyarde cassollette. I found the soup to be better than average. The rich beef and onion broth could have used a bit more cheese melted on top for it to become a favorite in my book. The savoyarde was exactly as advertised. Bacon, potatoes and onion all in a bechamel sauce with melted Gruyère cheese. Rich and decadent, I can only imagine the calories that were buried into the casserole but it was worth it. As rich as it was, I thought the portion size was perfect to share between two people.
We ended the night with a dessert crêpe with banana flambé and rum. While solid, I think it could have used more rum and more butter to really transform it.
I would definitely come back. Our waitress was extremely friendly and helpful and you can taste the care that goes into preparing and creating the food. My only recommendation is to put a few simple proteins on the menu to offset the rich and heavy (albeit yummy) dishes that are currently on it.

Had a great brunch with friends. Everything was delicious (especially the French Hot Chocolate with a hint of orange blossom). Portions are just perfect and everything has that great homemade quality.
Service was a bit slow but it was a quiet, snowy day so I wasn’t too put off. My only wish is that there was a bit more variety on the menu during brunch. Other than that, I’ll be back frequently.

This is lovely and couzy place to eat authentic and amazingly crafted french food. The décor is extremely welcoming as well as the staff. I came here for Christmas eve lunch with my parents and both loved the food and place, which is difficult since they don’t like to eat out. I would recommend this for a romantic date or to anybody who likes little and cute places that offer high quality food.

If you ever want to escape to France for a few hours for brunch, try this place.
Everyone’s nice and friendly, not to mention willing to give you some free French lessons.
Place is quaint and cozy. Food is delicious. Croque Monsieur was absolutely unforgettable. The Morroccon Tea was so good. The French toast is probably the best you will get here in Madison.
Didn’t get to try the Nutella crêpe, but I’m pretty sure it would’ve been unforgettable as well.

This is a really cute place, but otherwise I wasn’t entirely impressed. The service was really slow and the food wasn’t all that great. I could have made something better at home.
My guy and I met with some friends for brunch one Saturday. I love French food so I was really excited. Crepes? Yes please!
I ordered the mushroom crêpe. It tasted like mushroom and crêpe, but there wasn’t much else going on. Some onion, salt, cheese, and a light sauce would have been nice.
He got the boeuf bourguignon. It was good, but I could have easily made it at home. If I’m going to pay around $ 20 for a restaurant dish, then I want to be impressed.
I’m tempted to give this place 2 stars, but I have a feeling that their french toast and more rich entrees are decent. Maybe I will return to try them out – maybe.

I love how friendly and homely this place is. Feels just like being at a family-​run café in Europe. The decorations are all pictures of France, the cute little lace curtain that covers only the bottom half of the window, a bar table at the window just for two — perfect for people watching!!!
I must comment that since this place is really small, there was only one waitress who attended to the 15 or so customers. You must definitely be prepared to wait if you arrive after 12pm for brunch. However, with wonderful company and the relaxing ambience, the wait is not bad at all — maybe 30 – 40 minutes for food. There was no wait for seats on the other hand, so you get a comfortable seat and water or drinks to quench your thirst!
Now now now, the highlights! of course, food.
I tried the croque madame — good but not wowing. I definitely enjoyed the crispy ends of the bread, but not all ends were crispy. I loved the creamy cheese but the bacon was a little salty. The egg was kinda separate from the whole croque madame. I also prefer the egg to be more runny.
The highlight was my friend’s dish, which was a special item — the Chicken Dijon. ohhhhhhh how i love this baked casserole. chicken, cheese, rice with a pink sauce. oh it is the most wonderful casserole I’ve had in a while. very delicious and substantial.
I also tried my other friend’s omelette — mushroom, onions and spring onions. do note that the onions were not mentioned in the menu, but were still included in the omelette. I enjoyed the omelette, gigantic portion and very generous with the ingredients. The flavor was good but the egg was a little too cooked for me on the outside. I like my eggs more runny.
We then ended our brunch with dessert! Café Gourmand had bite size tastings of the crème brûlée (with lavender flavor, a little on the strong side), lemon curd tart, a milk custard like thing with almonds, cookie and nutella crêpe. I LOVE the nutella crêpe, it was more american styled as it was rather thick. still, the bite size version makes it the most adorable thing in the world!!! Also, you get an espresso or coffee with the Café Gourmand!
In summary, I would visit on a day when I’m not in a hurry to go anywhere, when I’ve good company. The food is delicious enough for me to return, and service is really homely and friendly but I usually get too hungry and restless if I wait too long…
P. S. Chez Nanou is such a kind friendly lady, she came out to greet everyone in the restaurant, table by table. She made sure we enjoyed her dishes!

I have worked on this side of town for multiple years, and had honestly never noticed this restaurant until my drive in this morning. I knew I needed to go there for lunch.
Hastily corralling a work friend, we headed to Chez Nanou. I easily found street parking, and we headed in. I wasn’t really sure what to do as I walked in as there was no greeter desk (and I never know if I should wait to be seated or seat myself ANYWHERE that there isn’t a host!) We wandered over to the register and a lady popped out of the kitchen very quickly. She invited us to sit anywhere we wanted, and we picked a table for two by the half-​covered-​with-​rustic-​French-​lace windows. It seats probably about 20 people, and there were 7 others there when we arrived.
I cannot tell you how excited I was to find a real creperie, and even more excited to hear that the chef was French. It just made it all feel more authentic.
We looked through the small but ample menu, and I selected the Crêpe Parisienne (Ham, mushrooms, Gruyère, béchamel), while my friend chose the Sucre Sale (Pear, walnuts, goat cheese, honey). All savory crepes are made from buckwheat, so they are gluten free. They were absolutely amazing. A nice sized portion (slightly smaller crêpe than you get from the food carts in Paris) but choc-​full of creamy goodness, my Parisienne was served with a lightly seasoned and incredibly fresh tasting salad.
Cons? It was a little pricy ($ 13 for my Parisienne), and the service was not speedy, but this didn’t stop the five stars. It doesn’t advertise itself as a fast food restaurant, and I appreciated that things were literally being made from scratch for me.
The ambience was fabulous, it felt very authentically French, and I have to admit to rounding out my meal with a really good Nutella crêpe. How could I not? I’ll be heading back very soon!

What a darling little bistro.
We were meeting friends there to celebrate their recent engagement. They live in the neighborhood and were always anxious to try it, but of course it was the out-​of-​towner (me, who spied it while driving by), who recommended it.
This place is small, with only about eight tables, but it’s the perfect place for a leisurely brunch or lunch, or even a romantic dinner.
The décor is simple, but charming, with pictures of Provence decorating the walls and French books stacked neatly in the corners.
I started with the French hot chocolate, which came with an adorable homemade marshmallow ghost (see photo), and a small dish of whipped cream. It was so thick and rich and creamy that it was more like a dessert than a beverage. We all shared a plate of sliced baguette with delicious jams and butter on the side.
I can’t not order a croquet madame whenever I see it on a menu, so of course that’s what I had. The salty ham, nutty gruyère, creamy bechamel, and soft (but not too runny) egg made it a flawless version. It had some lovely salad-​y thing on the side. The others had pain perdu (french toast) and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Everything was excellent, and well-​prepared.
Service was very pleasant. We appreciated that we were not rushed at all while we were. I always feel guilty staying too long at a table when the restaurant is busy, but there was never a wait for a table so it wasn’t a problem at all. The food was made to order, so it took a bit of time, but clearly there is not a lot of staff working, so have patience, because it’s worth it.
The lunch and dinner menu looked equally appealing and they offer beer and wine to enjoy with your food. Prices are more than reasonable for the quality you’re receiving.
I can’t wait to go back again next time I’m in Madison.