La Madeleine - Reston

This is my second time in this location. To say the least my first experience wasn?t that impressive but I wanted to give it a second chance cause it was busy on my first visit. So this time I decided to not order any bakery items because apparently they refuse to heat them up in this location. I decided to go with the cafe sampler, with chicken friand and French onion soup, I also made sure to ask for the soup and friand to be put in separate plates, and to NOT put the bread in the soup because it gets so soggy. You can clearly see in the pictures that they did exactly the opposite Not to mention the lack of customer service experience that their employees have and the negative attitude. I?ve been to multiple locations before and my experience was nothing but amazing in any other location, this one though is soo disappointing!!!

This was my first visit. It?s not a bad atmosphere and it served well as a place to sit and write. I got a lemon tart and tea. For tea they hand you a tray of bags to choose from. The tart looked lovely, but unfortunately tastes like sweetened condensed milk poured straight into an overly sweet pastry shell. In fact, I tried multiple times to discern if there might be any ingredient in the tart filling other than condensed milk, to no definite conclusion. There is probably some lemon juice mixed in, but it is faint. A couple bites was all I could do. I?d like to come back to try a meal. Perhaps they do better on other items and I?ll be able to update my review, but I suggest avoiding the tarts.

Twice at this location and won?t return. It?s consistently bad. The desserts are low quality but still have a market price. I so desperately wish that a good bakery would open closer to Reston town center. This location dominates right now but for no good reason (maybe because of remote work, people like to sit and chill). The desserts always taste old or like an ingredient is missing. I went to get two almond croissants and it came out to about $9.. honestly, Trader Joe?s croissants taste better. Today, the showcase was dirty, that sealed my decision to never return.

The food was good, but the service was lack luster. Not only did I have to go back in to remind them about my order but I also witnessed other patrons having to do the same for their Cafe orders of hot drinks. Nonetheless The food was good a little bit rushed I ordered French onion soup and I’m pretty sure they put shredded mozzarella cheese on it instead of Gruyere and I am certain it was just thrown on as it wasn’t even melted when it arrived to my table. After OI finished my lunch I picked a few things to go from the deli case as of yet all I have tried was the crime Brûlée and that was good though it had broken a bit at the very bottom.

I HAVE NEVER HAD COFFEEE AND PASTRIES SO GOOD! I was shocked by the quality! Whoever is baking these and prepping the pastries is doing a phenomenal job! I will be enjoying another croissant and coffee soon! The tomato basil soup is to die for!