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An Online Magazine for Learners of English Restaurant Reviews by ESL Students at Rice Univ. La Madeleine, a French Restaurant and Bakery Photo: Sophie Ho There are three reasons why I found it appealing: the atmosphere, the variety of food, and the price.   Sophie Ho from Taiwan Since I came to Houston, I have been to several restaurants such as Chinese, Japanese, American, and Italian styles of restaurants, but the one I enjoy the most is the French restaurant and bakery named La Madeleine. There are twelve of these in Houston. The one located on Westheimer is my favorite. There are three reasons why I found it appealing: the atmosphere, the variety of food, and the price. The atmosphere is pleasant. Before you even walk into the restaurant, a wooden water mill immediately gets your attention. It's a great feeling when you are having a meal. You can watch the water mill moving and listen to the sound of water. The water mill turning endlessly symbolizes one's life and energy lasting forever. In addition, the building is made of heavy timber, which gives you the feeling you are back in the old days when people were close to nature. The atmosphere is very relaxing, as everyone seems to be enjoying dining together. You won't feel uncomfortable at all, even if you are simply reading a book alone in the restaurant. There is indoor or outdoor seating, so you can choose whether you prefer to have fresh air or air-conditioning. Photo: Sophie Ho The atmosphere is very relaxing, as everyone seems to be enjoying dining together.   Secondly, the restaurant provides a great variety of foods to meet everyone's preference. For example, if you like Italian food, there are pizzas and pasta. If you prefer to have a light meal, it offers sandwiches and soups. I have tried "ratatouilla pasta" which is mixed with vegetables and served with a sauce flavored with rosemary and "rosemary rotisserie chicken." Both of these dishes are delicious. The restaurant is famous for its pastries so try one of these, such as cheesecake, "tiramisu", or strawberry Napoleon. Thirdly, the price is reasonable for each meal. There are set menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; for example, an omelette and coffee for breakfast; a caesar salad, a cup of soup and iced tea for lunch, or pasta, caesar salad, and iced tea for dinner. If you order individual items from the menu, you can have pizza, sandwiches, or pastry. The prices at La Madeleine aren't expensive compared with the prices at other restaurants in Houston. They even provide free bread, butter and jam to go along with the meals and refills of iced tea and coffee. Whether you are students, housewives, or businesswomen or men, La Madeleine offers you a pleasant dining experience. More International Restaurants in Houston: Eatzi's Bakery and Restaurant | Churrascos, a South American Steakhouse Stoli Grill, A Russian Restaurant | Sasaki Japanese Restaurant Return to: International Dining in Houston | Restaurant Reviews | World of Tastes | Home Page TOPICS Online Magazine - ©1997-2006 topics_mag@yahoo.com Published by Sandy and Thomas Peters