la Madeleine

I used to be a regular at the Bailey's la Madeleine, but not anymore. I used to enjoy the ambience, but the music at this location is too loud and distracting. It wasn't always this way. I have stopped in several times to see if the issue was a fluke, but it's been the same every time I've visited the cafe in the last few months. The cafe isn't a club - TURN DOWN THE MUSIC!! I also noticed that the price for a regular cup of coffee increased 40 cents in one week! That is a significant jump in a very short period of time. And to be honest, your coffee is not the best. It's OK, but certainly not worth $3.39 a cup. While other cafes may charge that much, their coffee is usually of higher quality. So, from now on, I'll be frequenting another cafe, where the ambience is much more agreeable.

The quiche was raw on the bottom, so I brought it back up and showed them. There was a bit of an attitude with that. I said I was sorry to have to bring it back in but you could pull the dough underneath and it was still stretchy and raw. They picked at it and then said they would put that one in the oven and bring it back out to us. I thought after you touched it you want me to eat the same one.. I also suggested that they also may want to look at the batch since they had all just come out. again got a look and attitude from the lady. Not the same person that rung us up. They said they would put it back in the oven - 12 mins later someone brought it out to us (which was nice) but she still seemed annoyed. I brought a friend who just moved to that neighborhood telling them how great La Madeleine is in the hopes they would go back and we would meet there in the future - not very likely now. We sat outside and while it's a nice set up - it was a mess out there - there was a plate of food from previous night, litter all over the patio and just filthy - looked run down and sad.

The food was served very cold. The coffee was not fresh and it was cold as well.

This La Madeliene had signs and a menu option for a cafe sampler. However, they would not honor it. I pointed out the sign said a cup of soup, a petit salad, and a half a friand (upgraded for a price to a whole) and they would not do it. I was only allowed two items and they were about to ring me up for each item separately at full price. If they are not going to allow the sampler then they need to take down the signs and take it off of the menu.

Food quality has decreased significantly.

I had to wait several minutes before anyone came to the register to take my orders. There were several staff milling around watching me wait.

Well she did. Got home and found a commodity surcharge. Nothing on the menu indicated such a charge. To me this is fraud

When I walked up to the counter to order, there were 4 guests in front of me. As I looked at the menu, one by one the guests in front of me started to leave. I was not sure why. They all left. Then I was first in line so I walked up to the register. Employees kept walking by without saying anything. Finally after a few minutes I asked if this is where I order since I don't come to La Madeleine very often since there are none in my city. They said yes and they were coming. I waited another 4 minutes when I was about to leave myself and go to Panera. I usually go to Panera almost every day. That is when the employee that told me the employee that works the register appeared to take my order. The restaurant was not very busy at all especially since everyone left that was waiting before me. When I got my food it was so small. I regretted coming and wished I would have gone to Panera.

Sales would not inform another woman that she was incorrect in that she was next. Sales acknowledged me as being first but when confronted by the woman, Sales would not/could not do the right thing and placed the customer in the position of correcting the woman. Afterward, Sales was noticeably upset and rude.Sales should have done the right thing upfront but by not doing so, contributed / responsible for the bad experience.

The menu was hard to decipher and exactly where to order in the café. It seems all orders now have to be made in the bakery and not in the café itself. On a earlier visit I joined the rewards program and even it was hard to to determine how to get the rewards for the first 60 days. It was difficult to determine what and how to get the reward so I was never able to redeem it. Also the commodity surcharge should be be explained in advance on the menu or a notice in the restaurant. Most persons will understand without reading it on the receipt later.