Madeleine’s

I love this restaurant!!! The food is always outstanding and the dining room makes you feel like royalty.
I’ve celebrated anniversaries in the dining room and met my husband for quick lunches… every time it’s great service and delicious food.
This quaint, charming restaurant is truly a gem and one I will continue to visit year after year.

Is this place still open? Called the number listed here on Unilocal and on their website to make a reservation, but it was not in service.
Wanted to take my mom and grandma here for Mother’s Day! If I actually get to try it one day, I hope to increase the rating.

Their last day open is tomorrow. We are sorry you had to close :(

Another hidden gem in Pasadena tucked away on quiet Green Street. The restaurant has beautiful brick walls, richly painted on the inside with golden molding, hardwood floors, low lights and a charming fireplace. It’s a historic building divided into smaller rooms, which Einstein walked throughout, speculating about light, energy and photons.
The wines were excellent here and the food was really good. I had the seared duck breast with bok choy. Duck meat is finicky and can dry out easily but this was juicy yummyness. Side of bok choy was alright… crisp tender and definitely without that ever ubiquitous «brown sauce.» The steaks are decent but I wouldn’t say it’s their specialty. Desserts were just alright by me. The crème brûlée was just sweet enough and the chocolate cake was very smooth.
There’s also a small bar that offers flights of wine from their well stocked cellar.
I read so many reviews about the difficulty parking on Green St, but I’ve parked here dozens of times without much difficulty.
Food here is good but not fantastic. I’d give it 3.5 stars but the charming ambiance and gracious service bring the rating up to a solid 4 stars.

I probably drove by this place hundreds of times but never realized it was a restaurant. I discovered this restaurant through the DineLA restaurant week, and thought I would give it a try because there were many compliments about this place on Unilocal.
PARKING: There is no valet parking available. They do have a lot on Wilson for their patrons, but it was full when I got there. Luckily, I found a spot on Cordova and only had to walk a block to the restaurant.
ATMOSPHERE: Nice and warm. I like their decorations. I was sitted in a small room with a small bar and 5 – 6 tables. I loved the fireplace next to me (especially when it was freezing outside).
SERVICE: Great! I felt like ordering a glass of wine, but couldn’t decide on what to get. The server was super helpful and poured me 2 different types of wine and help me choose the perfect wine to go with my meal.
FOOD: Instead of going for the DineLA set dinner menu, I ended up ordering from their regular menu. Here’s my take on the things I tried:
Salmon and Tuna Tartar: Serving was super small, I personally preferred the tuna tartar more because of the avocado they added to it.
Garlic Potato Gnocchi: Served with Shaved fennel and roasted fennel cream sauce. This was the first time I had potato gnocchi, so I don’t know what to compare it to, but it was creamy & chewy.
Rack of Lamb: It was served with Kabocha Squash, Shiitake Mushrooms, Cabernet and Sweet soy Reduction. This was GREAT! I highly recommend this if you like lamb!
Blueberry Cake with Raspberry Sauce and Walnut: Server recommended this dessert as one of his favorite. This was delicious!
A Tasting of Chocolate: Served in a martini glass and included Chocolate terrine, chocolate mousse, chocolate crisp. Like the title, this was very chocolaty and rich in flavor.

Maybe I went on a bad night. I brought my girlfriend here for our 5 year anniversary. The setting was perfect, the fireplace was going, the lighting was great.
However, we had a horrible time here. We ordered one of the special 5 meal courses which includes two appetizers, champagne, main course, and dessert. The first two items were great. The oysters with caviar. However, it went down hill from there. My girlfriend had the scallops and mashed potatoes or something and I had the quail (which was great). The scallops was poorly marinated. It was so salty that I literally had blisters in my mouth after eating it. Desert didn’t top it off but I just think I don’t have a tongue for those things. The damage came out to $ 150 on the AMEX.

What can I say, this place is a hidden treasure. Its beautiful in my eyes. Really, a hidden gem in Pasadena among tons of diamonds in the rough places.
Politicians have their very small gatherings. Theres a couple medium size halls for groups.
Atmosphere: Nice dinner, great for dates. Building is old and gives a classic back in the Victorian days look with uncle scrooge, halls with long tables and fireplace.
Rooms: There are a couple rooms. One large one that would be great for small wedding banquet/​politician gathering/​private club meetings or events. That one large room (not banquet) is then used as seating area with plenty of seats — it has a fireplace. Other room has hallway long table fits 35+. Small miniture corner area fits around 6+ people and other room. Bar area indoors has a couple seats with a very nice out door patio seating area — they do have happy hour with 50% off certain foods.
Wine Room: Not in the same location, its across the hallway.
Parking: Difficult of course. Street side parking or I think they do have valet, not sure though.
Service: Awesome. They were nice enough to show me around the whole place before it opened, explained they do banquets and carry large parties too.
Don’ want to say too much, because you just have to visit this place one day. Everyone else on here explained everything =).

I could not have dreamt of a more enjoyable dinner.
From the time we walked through the door we were treated extremely kindly by every single member of staff, in a personal rather than robotic way. We were shown all three rooms and given our choice of where to dine. Noticed a patio area that looked great, had it not been a chilly November night.
We chose to have a glass of wine in the cozy bar area while waiting for a table in the main dining room. Ten minutes later, as advertised, we were gently escorted to the dining room. By the time I looked up from my menu, the entire room had filled with happy diners.
Service in the bar nook and the main dining room was impeccable. Polite, patient, helpful and fun.
Great menu selection as they offer the main menu along with the more casual small bites menu. Great wine list as well, though from memory it was a bit heavy on CA wines. Saying that, I was blown away by the quality of both of the wines I tried that night.
On to the food. I had the tenderloin med rare (perfectly so) with charred asparagus and mashed potatoes enveloped in a thin pastry blankie. Every single bite was what I imagine Christians think heaven is like. Each aspect carried amazing flavor that combined with it’s plate partners in complete harmony.
The deserts we all shared — maple something and apple something — were to die for. Qualty not quantity here — they really pack a punch of nirvana in a neat little package.
The most overwhelming aspect of the entire experience was the fact that madeleine’s manages to magically combine class, grace and a down-​to-​earth friendliness. As we were bade farewell by staff and chef, I let them know that we would definitely return.
ps. street parking was a cinch on saturday night

this place really deserves a 1 star HOWEVER i have a feeling that last night’s service and food wasn’t the norm — so i’m giving it a 2 star «gut instinct» rating
so where i do i start…
the ambiance is really nice — the place is like a large mansion with a bunch of rooms to dine in — so, it’s unique and … just plain cool. however, unfortunately ambiance doesn’t make or break a place… fr me it’s all about the food and the service.
sOoo
service was very very very average (and that’s being nice) i can’t count HOW many times we had to repeat our requests to the waitress — where is the butter we asked for? where are the lemons? where’s her fork? i mean she was nice and all — actually quite nice but just lacking in service — especially when i sent back my wayyy over cooked lamb which came back RAW and she never once came back to ask me how it was… service was a 1.5 star outta 5
sOoo
omg — the food — it couldn’t have gotten much worse — i ordered the lamb chops which came out wayyyyy well done so i sent them back (and i rarely send back food — read my review about la grande orange wayyy below about how i more or less ate raw undercooked chicken) anyway, my 2^nd chops came out RAW… i swear to all that’s holy about pork fat that it was RAW! and that waitress never came back… so i just sucked it up and ate it.
so service was very lacking, the food was … OMFG… i mean it really really really to the 10^th power deserves a 1 star but as i said i have a gut feeling that last night was not the norm so i give it a 2 star.
OH… i ordered the pre fix menu (soup, lamb and some bread dessert) and 2 beers came out to $ 52 + tax tip $ 65.
would i come back here again? probably not… i would rather spend $ 65 @ maestro’s or craft or any other high end place…

I picked this place since they have an interesting bistro menu and the place look personable with DINELA restaurant week.
I started with ordered of drinks; Mojito and rum and coke. My mojito tasted ok… nothing to wow about… i thought it was weak and flavor could have been more stronger…
We ordered off the bistro menu.
Grilled Lollipop Lamb Chops, it came with Micro Greens & Dried Fruit Curry Chutney … I did not taste this at all. since the color did not look tempting… but of course the guy would eat it and he actually like it… so he ate the plate…
Seared Sea of Cortez Scallops /​Saffron Rissoto, Proscuitto Crisp, Fine Herb Oil… it was cook right since I like it under cook and it came out this way. yet, it was not hot, but slightly warm… it tasted ok. nothing crazy like when i read it from the menu…
Seared Hudson Valley Fois Gras /​Seasonal Preparation of apples… this was 20 and the portion came out to be SMALL. lol… it had apple and honey surrounding the fois gras… since I love fois gras, this was what i end up eating most… the honey drip was what kept me going… i was not impress with this item as well.
We also ordered 2 desert, but i can’t even recall what it is since I did not like either one. =) My friend sure enjoy it since he was very happy to eat desert. I told him that I am not impress, maybe because coming from a 7 days cruise, I had so much desert for the week that this was like nothing compare to what I had a week ago.
Then our waiter brought over 2 chocolate martini, said from the house; and I am like mmmm. yum… I drank all of it. and I asked for more cherries, and he gave us… that was great. I did not expect it and they took care of us…
I say this place is not a foodie location but to have a date, or enjoy one another company; its a good place to meet and mingle, its personable… and setting is right for u to do that…

The gal who took our reservation asked if we were celebrating anything in particular and I told her this was going to be our anniversary dinner.
I was impressed most by the service at Madeleine’s– every person we came across, hostess, bus boy and waiter all told us «happy anniversary!» at some point. We were not in the least bit rushed and our waiter was perfectly attentive without being the least bit intrusive.
The space is adorable… catty-​corner from CalTech, charming old brick building, interesting paintings, plenty romantic and the knowledge that Albert Einstein used to sleep upstairs!
We had rack of lamb and duck two ways. Lamb was amazing/​perfectly done… I haven’t had duck too often (grew up with some traditional Chinese-​style duck which was never a favorite of mine) but this could change my mind. I was a little surprised, however, by some parts of the duck being overly cooked. I always go by the chef’s recommendations and this was rec’d «medium rare», so I said «go for it!» The ensuing chewiness threw me for a loop.
We had an apple crumbly thing and chocolate mousse. I was very pleased with that mousse– I’ve had a lot of decent mousse, so appreciated the unique touches (candied orange peel and can’t remember what else now). Quite good!
Wine drinkers will really appreciate the selection and recommendations there.
Remembering that it was, after all, a special occasion, our experience probably would have been good regardless of all these things I’ve mentioned.
We’ll need to come back on a more unbiased day to see whether Madeleine’s is worthy of another star!

Years ago, I had a wonderful birthday at Restaurant Halie, the spot Madeleine’s currently is. I remember having divine service and food. That memory always reminded me just how great service can really make a meal.
Last night, the Valet-​phile and I walked into Madeleine’s with an open heart but hopeful of more good memories. The restaurant looks very much the same with the deep red walls and eclectic furnishings everywhere. I have also visited the wine bar in the past but haven’t had the food so I was very excited to see the «new» menu.
The restaurant is a collection of rooms divided into a main room, wine bar, banquette room and cocktail bar. Apparently, it used to be the former residence and office of Albert Einstein. They have a free parking lot behind them off Wilson but I couldn’t find a way to cut through the medical offices so I walked around back to Green.
I had made reservations earlier in the day and they seated us at a nice table inside the main dining room. I had a view of a painting I later decided was a giant cocoa brown hand spilling a shower of gold into an inky black pot. Or perhaps not, it was abstract after all.
The dineLA menu appeared to be slightly different from the actual menu last night. I was all set to get the rack of lamb but they were now lamb chops. Still, I was going to try them but the server was adamant the duck confit was the best of the three (the other choice was sea bass) so I went with that as did the Valet-​phile. I probably should have ordered something different but the Valet-​phile said there was no guarantee she’d give me a bite if the duck was really that great!
The choice for appetizers were the soup of the day, fig salad and the tomato and eggplant tart. I opted for the tart. My friend had the soup which was a tomato soup with bacon. I didn’t taste it but she said it was very good. I loved my tart which also came with a bit of salad. The crust was so buttery and rich. I was also enjoying the hot bread that had a satisfying crunch when you bit into it. The bread was so hot, it immediately melted the herbed butter I judiciously slathered on top.
If the meal had stopped here, I would have been happy. Even though I liked my friend’s wine more (she got the syrah), I was still in a good mood. My pinot noir was just not as flavorful and soul stirring as that syrah.
We had gotten our appetizers the same time as the table of three next to us. When they got their mains, I expected ours about the same time. They were finished for a good 10 minutes before any sign of life came to us. We waited probably another 15 – 20 minutes after getting sharper knives before our duck confits came. That’s right, if you followed that time line, we waited over 30 minutes for our main entrees. That is simply unacceptable when no one comes over to tell you why.
The Valet-​phile and I simultaneously carved into our duck legs and ate. I chewed thoughtfully and contemplated it. The silence between us was almost palpable. I finally asked her what she thought. «For that tremendous wait, I expected to do somersaults through the dining room.»
Yeah, it was all right. I wanted the meat to fall off the bone. Instead, I struggled to shear the stringy duck off. Sigh, chewy duck isn’t good.
They brought us more glasses of wine on the house to make up for the wait. That was the first time they acknowledged we were agitated. Later, the server told us the kitchen was backed up. Sure, the dining room was about halfway filled but there’s just no way I could see they were slammed. I noticed they comped the desserts for the table next to us for their long wait.
The Valet-​phile again chose the better item. She had the pear tart for dessert and I got the blueberry and pumpkin cake. My cake was fine, not too sweet and had a slightly chewy bottom which actually isn’t as bad as it sounds. I like a spice cake with a bit of a bite to it and it was definitely a great Fall dessert. My friend’s tart though was simply awesome. The other dessert choice was crème brûlée which the server described as «just crème brûlée.»
We lingered for a while, mulling over our meal and catching up over inconsequential tidbits but I couldn’t help feel slightly dissatisfied. I might give Madeleine’s another chance but I’m in no hurry.

Saturday, reservation for 6 people at 7:30PM. When I entered the restaurant, it looked amazing. There were separate rooms, each looked unique and modern yet homely. Surprisingly though, the restaurant was quite empty.
We ordered:
— seared scallops appetizer (AMAZING!!! the little tomatoes in the dish added a nice touch)
— seared duck– it was good, but not as good as the lamb
— rack of lamb — the BEST! The lamb was cooked well, and the jus on the plate was sweet and kind of thick, but it made the lamb taste really good.
The place is really pricey though. The entrees were about $ 30 — $ 45 a plate. I will go back! When I earn more money.. .

I loved this place. Cozy restaurant with very nice lighting. Very nice spot to take a date (even though I went with a good friend of mine).
Appetizers: We ordered the Seared Hudson Valley Fois Gras, which was served with stone fruit and some sort of fruit purée (apricot?). Only one word to describe this dish: DELICIOUS!!! Our waiter that evening was kind enough to bring over a complimentary glass of Reisling, which paired remarkably well with the fois gras.
Bread Basket: Warm, fresh chibatta bread that easily tore apart with your fingers and tasted just wonderful with the olive oil and basalmic vineger.
Main Courses:
1. I ordered the Duck Two Ways, which was (1) duck that was pan seared and (2) duck confit, both served in a delicious blueberry and rosemary sauce. My friend thought that this dish was just acceptable, but to me, it was completely wonderful! The duck in the duck confit slid right off the bones and the seared duck was seasoned perfectly. Both went really well with the sauce. Even though I was sorry not to have ordered an additional appetizer at first, I was glad that my friend discouraged my gluttony because the entrée was a pretty good size. I stuffed myself.
2. My friend ordered the Tenderloin of Beef, which was served with whipped potato pastry and grilled asparagus. The tenderloin itself was made quite well and tasted fine, but it wasn’t anything extraordinary. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the whipped potato pastry, which consisted of mashed potatoes wrapped in a flakey pastry crust. Simply awesome.
Dessert: Crème Brulee. Nothing extraordinary about this dessert. It did not disappoint, it was simply crème brûlée.
Will definitely come back here to try their brunch/​lunch menu. Relaxing atmosphere with a great, friendly staff.

So I went here last night for a friend’s birthday and I must say the ambiance of this place alone is a solid 2.5 stars. (I would give it 4.5 stars if I could) So many rooms, a main dining room with a large fireplace, a couple of smaller rooms for private parties, a patio/​court yard, and a little wine bar to hang out in as well. Another thing was that there was all kinds of art everywhere, including paintings from (local?) artists hanging all over the restaurant that were for sale. We sat in the patio/​courtyard which was fun since we’re pretty loud, (well at least I get a little chatty after a few drinks!!) The service was a little on the slow side, but maybe that’s expected so you can take in the ambiance. I wouldn’t go there STARVING and expecting to eat right away in other words.
The food was good: the portions were a good size and the food was very flavorful. Started with the Fois Gras, which I’ve never tried before last night, and I must say it was tasty! For the main entrée I had the Rack of Lamb… it was good, but definitely not the best I’ve ever had. The sweet soy reduction was great with the shitake mushrooms and squash, but I think it over powered the meat instead of complimenting it. Again good dish, but I thiink I like rack of lamb served without sauce or with mint jelly.
I got to trade some of my dish in order sample my friends’ steak dishes and here’s my order of preference: Flat Iron Steak (special) had a really tasty sauce, served with potatos and green beans, the NY strip was also quite flavorful, and the Hangar Steak was just OK to me– it was on the bland side. My friends also said the chicken and sea bass entrees were tasty, though I didn’t try it.
Though I was stuffed, I did get a chance to taste the desserts. The Chocolate Lava Cake with bacon was uhh. interesting. Let’s just say I’m not a fan of the bacon ice cream, but the cake was good. The Crème Brule was good, but also, not hte best. They did have a Banana Binget on the menu that I was tempted to try, but I was too full. Maybe I will try on the next visit, because this place is definitely worth going to again as we all had a great time.

Thought they would serve mostly french cuisine, but its more general and modern. The place has a nice ambiance with the live ‘soft’ music in the corner. The locations seems to be in some kind of old Pasadena house with several small businesses occupying it. Down the hall is a nice wine bar that is associated with the restaurant and the wine list is extensive. Service was great.
The food in my opinion was just OK. We had some kind of fish (I forget what it was called, but it was something I’ve never eaten) that was grilled and placed on a hard black wild rice. It seemed a little overcooked, but we ate it anyway.
It is a little pricey, but it definitely has the fine dining feel to it, so I guess you have to live with it. I probably won’t be coming here again soon.

Ok, so I preface this by saying that I had to send my fish back because it was woefully undercooked. Being a preggo lady, I have to make sure my meat is cooked.
Once that happened, I got it back and it was perfect. Delish. I had the New Zealand See Bass on the price fixe menu for Restaurant Week. The crème brûlée was the best part of the meal though. So good. Service was quite good. Friendly and unobtrusive.
Love the ambiance here. It would be a nice place for a romantic dinner. We have been to the wine bar next door and even though it’s small, it’s fun and different. This building is OLD. I think Einstein had an office here when he taught at Cal Tech.

Had dinner with some friends for a birthday. We got the DineLA «deal», so the dinner menu is kinda set.
All in all, the experience was good. The atmosphere was good and warm. I especially like the many small dinning «nooks» where there’s just a few tables each (less than 4). Very private and I really should take my wife there to experience it.
The dishes that we ordered were good — plating was excellent, items are fresh and they taste good. However, it wasn’t exceptional, which was somewhat of a disappointment. The beef medallion that I ordered was good, but wasn’t something that’s comparable to Ruth’s Chris — a little on the salty and chewy side (trying to hide something?) However, I really liked their onion and olive tart. Pretty innovative and completely delicious. I have to try to experiment with making that at home!
In all, this is a good place for a small group to dine and enjoy the time and company. A little on the pricey side, but this is what it usually takes.

I’ve always had extraordinary experiences at Madeleine’s. Admittedly, I’m usually in very good company, but that only improves upon the excellent food, wine, ambiance, and service here.
The first time I went was last February with my best friend to celebrate his birthday. We had dinner in the Bordeaux room, tucked away in a corner. We shared a bottle of Halter Ranch syrah and enjoyed lovely steaks, perfectly cooked, and for dessert, an amazing crème brûlée. Some aspects of the meal weren’t quite spot-​on, but overall, it was delicious.
I didn’t go back until almost nine months later, when Wendy and I decided to celebrate the election with the Drinking Liberally crew, which meets here every Tuesday night. Most of the group had actually filtered out by the time we arrived, so we sat in the wine bar and watched the rest of the returns on CNN, kept company by the incredibly sweet, friendly, and very attractive duo of Aaron and Garrett.
Aaron is a wine genius — he has a skill for knowing exactly what you’ll like. After Wendy and I had our first glasses of wine, he poured us a white port, Krohn Porto Lagrima, which tastes a little like apricots and has a nice honey finish. I ended up buying a bottle of this for myself shortly after trying it. He also poured us a glass of Lustau Solera Reserva Pedro Ximénez Sherry «San Emilio», which is dark, sweet, and has the heady scent and taste of raisins. I lust this sherry. Aaron also always remembers that I like the Quivera Grenache and thinks about what else I might enjoy trying. (At some point, perhaps he’ll realize it’s him.)
I’ve been back for dinner after a new chef came aboard and the food is now incredible. I’ve been delighted by everything I’ve eaten, from buttery-​soft hamachi to perfectly cooked scallops to pillowy gnocchi to exquisite steak to heavenly dessert.
I’ve also visited the wine bar alone one night and randomly sat next to an intelligent, handsome, interesting fellow with whom I verbally sparred all evening. Mmm, brain sex… almost as good as the real thing. Such is Madeleine’s; there’s always something wonderful to discover there.
There’s absolutely nothing I would change about this place.

Went to Madeleine’s for Sunday brunch w/​a couple friends. I wanted to dine out on the patio, so I gave this place a try. This restaurant is rather nice. My friends and I had a good time. The atmosphere is just right.
My friends and I were waiting for our basket of bread, but instead, a large plate of fruits was offered. It was pretty refreshing. Now, the food.
Food = 3.5 stars
Overall = 4 stars
I ordered Steak & Egg. It was not bad. I ordered medium well, but turned out to be well done. So, the steak was a little too hard. Conclusion: For 22 bucks, I can get a better entrée else where. My friends ordered Smoked Salmon Egg Benedict (too salty for my taste), Mushroom Omelet (decent), and French Toast (heard it was good, but didn’t try it myself).
For dessert, I tried assorted (3 scoops of) ice cream. It was good (ice cream is always good ^^), but a little bit too sweet. We didn’t try any wine or drinks, so can’t comment on that.
I would consider the service to be pretty good. There were times my friends and I needed something, but could find anyone to serve us. I mean you can’t expect the server to to 100% attentative, which was fine. The service we received was good enough.