Madison Park Cafe

04/18/2008 Posted by eatinginseattle

Upon arrival at this busy cafe I can see there is a wait for me and my friend. The artwork was beautiful and the smell of the cafe was like a baked egg. The cooks looked busy. Overall that the food looks amazing so my friend and I decide to wait. I ask the host how long the wait is and he says with a smile "It all depends on when people get up, it's Sunday you know and I'm not about to push people out the door. As soon as they do we'll get you seated, would you like some coffee before you're seated?" How refreshing, good customer service from a good looking professional in an otherwise awkward situation. We waited and were seated at a clean table in the center of the restaurant by the host who apologized for the wait time, he’s very charming. We had people waiting on us hand and foot, the host provided us water, a sassy red headed woman with a New York accent and unusual personality was quick to refill our coffee and said something incomprehensible, a bald gentleman who later claimed to be a flight attended smiled from across the room while taking another table’s order and a high energy talkative lady with a tan and frail body shared the specials (as well as her life story) and took our order. This was our waitress and she talked so much we just sat and listened. We noticed she was genuinely interested in hearing how our morning was going as well and she is a hoot, we let her know that and she started clapping her hands, wonderful character in this place! Overall, we had such a great breakfast and the cost was minimal. I would recommend that all my friends experience this wonderful site for weekend breakfast. 5 stars all the way. Downside: they don't take reservations for breakfast. I say: if you don't want to wait, there's an IHOP right down the street; I prefer style, great service and good food even if I have to wait 20 min.

Pros: Service, Food, Value, Ambience

Cons: Bruch does not take reservations

03/13/2008 Posted by bistecca

I can't believe we've lived in seattle for almost 40 years and never tried this oustanding little restaurant. We recently had one of the BEST dining experiences we've ever had at the Madison Park Cafe. The owner, Karen, greeted us at the door..... we felt like welcomed guests. She frequently checked in on us during the meal, as did other wait staff. Everyone was so friendly and attentive! And the food..... oh, the food... everything was extraordinary. Even simple items like the salads were unique and flavorful. I had the most delicious, unique preparation of fish ever... sturgeon in an orange vanilla bean sauce that was lick-the-plate good. The wine list is outstanding, with a good mix of new world/old world, and the staff are all very knowledgeable and helpful in selecting the perfect wine. Can't wait to return, and we'll pass along the good word!

Pros: Extraordinary food and service

Cons: none

03/01/2008 Posted by zantar

I heard that the brunch was good so I called to make reservations. But apparently they don't take reservations. Alright, no problem, just tell me how long I have to wait. They tell me, "The wait could be 10 minutes, it could be 0 minutes." My group of four had to wait AN ENTIRE HOUR! Not only that but they treated us like feces. After half an hour they said it would be "only a short while." When a short while turned out to be another half an hour I asked what was the deal. Their response: "Maybe your party should go somewhere else because we don't know when we could seat you." Are you for real? You make me wait and then say you don't need my business like I did something wrong? They also mentioned that the wait is never 10 minutes, always much longer. THEN WHY DID YOU TELL ME 10 MINUTES OVER THE PHONE? My party and I were livid and left. If you are looking for a great French bistro for lunch then go anywhere but here. I recommend 35th Street Bistro in Fremont. Almost never a wait. Great service and food. P.S. I never write reviews but I couldn't help myself with this place

Pros: Don't know

Cons: The wait and lying about it

01/20/2008 Posted by JeffandChristyClarke

We celebrated our 27th anniversary here on 1/17/08, coincidentally the restaurant has been in business 27 years as well! Both of us were very impressed with not only the quality and quantity of the fare, but also the perfect timing of when each course was brought to the table. We both started off with onion soup,which was excellant. The seafood salad was equally impressive. I had the Monkfish, which was lightly braised and very tender. My wife enjoyed a very nice filet, also perfectly cooked as ordered. After splitting dessert, we could not have eaten another bite. We certainly will not wait a whole year to return, even though we live north of Everett. Definetly worth the trip.

11/14/2007 Posted by amerdine

I had been looking forward to dining at the Madison Park Cafe because I had heard such nice accounts from others about their French bistro fare. It was very mundanely disappointing. While the cuisine was decently prepared it was nothing special. As a main course I ordered the Cassoulet which I had heard raves about, but sad to say, I have eaten much better elewhere in this city with a far larger portion for less money. This pitiful thing was the size of a Creme Brulee, and even with an uninspired organic greens salad (toasted hazelnuts, gorgonzolla and crunchy unripened pear slices) as a first course, I departed the empty, yet claustrophobic, dining room still feeling hungry and dissatisfied. Yes, I could have had dessert, but the choices on the menu were so uninteresting that I decided against it. Perhaps this place is better for brunch, but I don't intend to go back to find out what I am missing. It was a very forgettable dinner....don't bother!

Pros: It was clean and the service was attentively average.

Cons: The dining room is very small and awkward without good table choices.

07/22/2007 Posted by dftc

The food is good but the wait staff / owner(?) are horrible. Cocky look from the waitress when we came in and then stuffed into a corner. The service was slow and inattentive really making not worth my time. There are far better places to eat in Madison Park, pick ANY one of them.

06/22/2007 Posted by ylang48

Don't go there if you are looking for the latest trends! The owner, Karen Binder has not felt obliged to run after every food trend coming from L.A., New York or Europe. No fusion type food, no Adrian Ferra style 'cooking' (but is this really cooking????), just excellent French cuisine that is perhaps sometimes a little adapted to American taste. After all we French sometimes like real heavy and stuffy meals which would just not appeal to Americans, even the traveled ones! The inside is cosy and feels like home when the dinner table is prepared for a special occasion. But the greatest thing about the Madison Park Cafe is its owner, Karen. Nobody is as charismatic, warm, caring and fun as she. And if you want to learn about wines - yes even for a French! - ask her because she is extremely knowledgeable about our wines. Last but not least, her prices are very reasonable. So no excuse for not trying it out! A French Seattle lover

Pros: Welcome, ambience, food

Cons: Can't find any just now

01/04/2007 Posted by clockwatcher

I went to this fantastic little place last night and had one of the best dinners I have had in a very long time. Luckily, the new chef Amanda, is an acquiantence and we let her pick all the food, while a very nice gentleman picked all the wine pairings. What a treat! The fois gras was perfect and to die for. I actually ate octopus (which I have never done), which was not chewy, nor fishy, but had a great flavor. Her preparation of duck was divine: red, not at all overcooked, not overly salty and was served with a delicious parsnip puree. Then came steak frit, medium rare, with perfectly done fries. The desserts, including the best truffles I've ever had, were delicious! And the server was engaging, bringing us the bottles of wine to see, and would give descriptions of the vineyards and varietals. Overall, an amazing treat and I would recommend this place to everyone! The atmosphere was very relaxed, and the pictures on the wall were gorgeous (and they change them periodically). Don't let the gourmet menu put you off, this place in very casual, and very much a neighborhood establishment. Amanda (who I believe came from Barking Frog) is a genius and you should very much jump at the chance to enjoy this gem of a restaurant!

Pros: Food, Service and Atmosphere

Cons: Street parking

07/21/2006 Posted by rmoeur

Seattle is truly one of the 'best' backyards in the world. I know, I've experienced most of the world, and I thank my lucky stars that I get to call Seattle home. It also gives me context for what is good, better and unmistakably 'best' when it comes to creative chefs, dining experiences and attention to detail. I've not stopped before to write a review, but feel compelled to do so now. And, while not a 'review' per se, its more of an exploration into true creativity, imagination, risk, and the rewards of doing so. I call Madison Park 'home' or at the very least my backyard. And one of Seattle's 'best' is tucked into a little house not far from the lake. The Madison Park Cafe has 'evolved' since I first experienced it, but is now realizing what it can be. Amanda Zimlich is a breath of fresh air, with imagination, creativity and a bit of culinary daring that serves the cafe well. With skill she has honed over the years, learning from Ludger Szmania and exploring ideas at the Barking Frog, we now have a new 'best' on the list of places to dine in Seattle. With all experimentation comes learning, and those lucky enough to patiently wait for a table in this little bistro are well rewarded. I've had many 'firsts' at the Madison Park Cafe, and all were a delight. My service experiences have included very knowledgeable staff who made excellent suggestions for pairing wines with my courses. The brunches are legendary and need no more accolades. The desserts are, as they say, 'to die for'. I would encourage those with a desire for a beautiful quiet location, patience for the wait to be seated, and a sense of exploration in their dining to put the Madison Park Cafe on their list of BEST places to dine in Seattle.

07/21/2006 Posted by madshoe

I was encouraged to go to the Madison Park Cafe by a friend of mine who had sort of happened upon it while she was walking from her car to go to a nearby sports bar...she checked out the dinner menu and told me about it--I have been looking for a place to eat that is off of the beaten path and secretly great--well I think I found it! I took a few of my friends (foodies from out of town) and we had dinner a few nights ago and had a wonderful experience! They looked busy for a Tuesday--just a couple of servers but they did a fantastic job keeping up on our table, and they were very attentive and knowledgeable about the food. The food! Awsome! The Mussels are the best in town, and that crab salad was delicous. I also had a wonderful pork tenderloin that had truffle sauce and my friends loved their ahi nicoise salad--it was excellent. For dessert we shared the cherry cloufoutis that had a goat cheese ice cream on top--it was phenominal. I highly recommend this place--go here and ask to sit on the patio (though it is nice inside too.) Don't miss it!

Pros: food