La Madeleine's

Price:$$

Decor: Sit down Cafeteria

Summary: French cuisine cheap and fast? Ooo la la!

(3 crabs out of 5)

Karen-It's Saturday in Columbia. You're starving. You're broke. And there's an hour until the movie starts. Whatever can you do to appease your crowd of friends without resorting to Taco Bell?
Believe it or not, there is an option: La Madeleine, the restaurant situated along with Famous Dave's and the Macaroni Grill on Route 175. Its rather similar look to its neighbors may put off potential diners near their credit limit. Plus, it's French, the most expensive of cuisines, right?
Mais non! La Madeleine actually manages to serve up the relative novelty of French food, in all of its puff pastry glory, for less than what you'd pay for chicken tenders at Appleby's.
Paul's choice was (as usual) the best on the menu, the chicken friand. Light, crumbling puff pastry serves as bowl to mushrooms, chicken pieces, and a fantastic creamy mushroom sauce much like mushroom bisque. For $5, no less.
I'd recommend my dish for those with a few more dollars (4 more, to be precise) and a particular affinity for crepes. The portobello mushroom crepes are a lot like the Chicken Friand, but with thin, light French pancakes covering larger, meatier Portabellos. Same good sauce drenches the lot.
You can also enjoy free pieces of bread, with different flavors of jams or butter. We did not get to sample any of the dessert crepes or pastries, but the dessert case shines with chocolate creations.
What's the catch? Well, of course there must be one, or four. La Madeleine is cafeteria-style, meaning you must immediately know what you want as you approach the buffet line. The frantic search over the menu is not quite a relaxing dining experience, and can be hectic with a large group. You'll also need to push your own tables together, and the waiter's refills of your water will leave you wondering about whether or not to leave a tip.
Plus, the line for La Madeleine twisted way, way past the point of no return for me the last time I tried to get in-well, alright, it was the day after Thanksgiving.
Nonetheless, La Madeleine fits into a welcome and needed niche in the area's dining scene-quick cheap, and a taste that is if not la crème de la crème, at least la crème de Columbia.

Reviewed-12/02