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| - What a darling little bistro.
We were meeting friends there to celebrate their recent engagement. They live in the neighborhood and were always anxious to try it, but of course it was the out-of-towner (me, who spied it while driving by), who recommended it.
This place is small, with only about eight tables, but it's the perfect place for a leisurely brunch or lunch, or even a romantic dinner.
The décor is simple, but charming, with pictures of Provence decorating the walls and French books stacked neatly in the corners.
I started with the French hot chocolate, which came with an adorable homemade marshmallow ghost (see photo), and a small dish of whipped cream. It was so thick and rich and creamy that it was more like a dessert than a beverage. We all shared a plate of sliced baguette with delicious jams and butter on the side.
I can't not order a croquet madame whenever I see it on a menu, so of course that's what I had. The salty ham, nutty gruyere, creamy bechamel, and soft (but not too runny) egg made it a flawless version. It had some lovely salad-y thing on the side. The others had pain perdu (french toast) and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Everything was excellent, and well-prepared.
Service was very pleasant. We appreciated that we were not rushed at all while we were. I always feel guilty staying too long at a table when the restaurant is busy, but there was never a wait for a table so it wasn't a problem at all. The food was made to order, so it took a bit of time, but clearly there is not a lot of staff working, so have patience, because it's worth it.
The lunch and dinner menu looked equally appealing and they offer beer and wine to enjoy with your food. Prices are more than reasonable for the quality you're receiving.
I can't wait to go back again next time I'm in Madison.
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