$/$ – cheap to moderate, 3.7 stars

In the future, I’ll try to avoid rating major chains, but it amazes me how many people have never even heard of la Madeleine. I’ve been eating here since I was at least 9 with my dad, and it really hasn’t changed much. (I like this location the best, but it’s not the original one I used to visit.)

It’s a cute cafe with warm lighting, fire places, basic wooden tables and chairs, and small decorations that remind you of a French country home. la Madeleine is a great place to have breakfast or lunch with friends or just sit and think with a cup of coffee and free bread (their blackberry jam is yum). The food is quite good and very filling; I spent $12 on the chicken pesto pasta and was able to save 1/3 of it for later. I also love the chicken friand and the creamy tomato soup (I’m not one for tomato soups, but I would consider bringing a jar home!). It is a bit greasy, however. Their breads and pastries are tempting, but I didn’t enjoy the lemon curd tart (way too sweet, more caramel-like taste and texture than lemon).

la Madeleine tries to be European, but cut them a break! It’s a chain and a consistently good one. I like to come as an escape from structured decor, trendy scenes, and the miseries of d.c. area traffic.