La Madeleine - New Menu Items

I recently went to La Madeleine again. For those of you unfamiliar with the name, it’s an American French-themed restaurant. The food is good, though you wouldn’t close your eyes and think you’re in Paris. This time I went back to sample the new menu items – Beef Bourguignon en Croute and Chicken Cordon Bleu. They were not spectacular, by any means. They were, however, very good replicas of the original recipes – like if your home-cooking grandmother were to make them… with a bit too much salt.

This begs the question: Does La Madeleine belong in the French restaurant landscape, or is it an imposter? The chain restaurant that’s a French-themed hybrid of Panera Bread and Old Country Buffet is indeed intriguing, somewhat amusing, and infuriating for some French language enthusiasts. Those expecting an intimate French bistro are a bit shocked at the casual serving style. Francophiles are horrified at the amalgam of a menu. But how is the food? The answer depends on your personal food philosophy. Do you adhere to strict guidelines of formal French cuisine or do you allow great food a little room for interpretation? It’s all in how you look at it.