Bistro Madeleine

Cheerily authentic French restaurant besides the Dubai Creek 20 Reviews

Meal Deal

Lunch deals

A French-style two-course meal. Dhs75 Timings: Noon-3pm (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)

Bistro Madeleine’s seafood platter

Sample lobster, tiger prawns, oysters, mussels and crab. Dhs160 per person; Dhs300 per couple Timings: 7pm-11pm (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday)

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From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2011

As you step through the door at this InterContinental venue, there’s no mistaking where you’re supposed to be. Red checked cloths adorn the Parisian-style tables, Edith Piaf-style melodies fill your ears and the smell of sautéeing onions wafts from the kitchen – we half expected Marcel Marceau to appear, offer us a Gauloise and break into an impromptu mime. But far from being tacky, the overall effect is rather charming. While the staff themselves aren’t French, they’re friendly and eager to please, proffering a menu packed with authentic Gallic dishes: cassoulet, coq au vin and croque monsieur all feature, alongside a specials menu that’s written entirely in French (it’ll give you a chance to practise your long-forgotten school vocabulary, or you can ask the staff to translate). The food itself, while not as outstanding as at French neighbour Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire, is competent, reliable and great value – you can grab a filling, homely meal for two and get change from a Dhs200 note. We also hear the breakfast is worth a look. Early morning croissants and chocolat chaud supped from a creekside table? Why, Monsieur, you are really spoiling us.

By Time Out Dubai staff
Time Out Dubai, 24 March 2011

• Previous reviews
  • 21 March,2012- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 05 April,2010- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 25 January,2010- reviewed by Daisy Carrington
  • 17 March,2009- reviewed by Time Out Dubai staff
  • 21 July,2008- reviewed by Daisy Carrington

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Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

User reviews:

Posted by: JC on 08 Mar ' 13 at 08:45

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This place COULD be wonderful.
The food is amazing, the atmosphere is great and you feel like in Paris the time of a dinner... but what a bad service! And who is this pretentious rude chef? How dare he treat his clients like that?
I will never come back just cause of this man, despite the quality of the food.

Posted by: Robin on 06 Jun ' 12 at 07:02

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

My wife and I have spent the last two years dining at Bistro Madeline (and also next door at Reflets) and we think it is one of the best kept secrets in Dubai. Everything about the place is superb although sometimes caution is needed when picking very traditional French dishes (don't do it!). After we move to Doha we will return to stay at the Intercon so that we can dine at BM. I would recommend the Intercon Priviledge Club Card which gives discount which makes it even better value.

Posted by: Robin on 06 Jun ' 12 at 06:51

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

My wife and I have spent the last two years dining at Bistro Madeline (and also next door at Reflets) and we think it is one of the best kept secrets in Dubai. Everything about the place is superb although sometimes caution is needed when picking very traditional French dishes (don't do it!). After we move to Doha we will return to stay at the Intercon so that we can dine at BM. I would recommend the Intercon Priviledge Club Card which gives discount which makes it even better value.

Posted by: Iain on 19 Jul ' 11 at 07:34

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The food was filling and wholesome, the ambience was nice, but the customer service stood out for me as the very best I've received during my years in Dubai.

Posted by: Mohamed Shahiq on 08 Mar ' 11 at 06:38

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Mohamed Shahiq on 08 Mar ' 11 at 06:38

OverallDecorService

FoodAmbienceValue

• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Mohamed Shahiq on 08 Mar ' 11 at 06:36

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Mohamed Shahiq on 08 Mar ' 11 at 06:36

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: wang yujuan on 22 Jun ' 10 at 13:10

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The food quality and the quatity are really nice especially for the family or friends party.Through the restaurant windows you can see the chefs how they are cooking your food, like live cooking stations. the set menus are excellent choises with very valueable prices, also the business lunch is just so good for the people who want a fast service and a tasty food at your lunch time.i think there is nowhere to find this kind of package except here.

Posted by: Julie on 08 May ' 10 at 09:16

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• Would you go back to this restaurant? No

I went to Bistro Madeleine for breakfast, and even though the food is indeed quite decent and the prices reasonable, the service was so poor that I surely don't feel like going back again.
The waitress was obviously not in the mood, and had poor interest in our table. Consequences: two of us had finished their entire breakfast when the third one was still waiting for his order to come (assortment of bread and viennoiseries, nothing to be cooked). After two follow ups, it finally came, wrong. We obviously complained, but since there was no manager, they could not care less. My beverage never came, but I gave up and was glad that at least the cheque was fast arrived!

Posted by: Deepak on 20 Mar ' 10 at 14:15

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Dear All Fans Bistro Madeleine and all French Guest or not French Guest also...just to let you know about Bussiness Lunch its very Good to have your lunch in Bistro as Quick Lunch... The food also is very good and tasty For the Dinner also its Very good to have our traditional French food like the Onion Soup,Quiche Lorraine,Cassoulet,Duck Confits and there is a lots of Nice and tasty food also the dessert like Tart tatin,Creme Brule,Crepe Suzette its just Wow... Good.And Just to let all the Fans know that in Every Wednesday Start in the evening at 18:00 to 22:00 we have something special in the Restaurant that there is a Person who can draw or make your caricature of your face in Only 15 minutes so don't missed this occasion thanks a lots to all fans and all the person that will read this.Thanks in Advance and See you all in Bistro Madeleine....

Posted by: Deepak on 20 Mar ' 10 at 13:51

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: aziz anhayfou on 18 Mar ' 10 at 19:04

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

great restaurant i will be back thanks a lot

Posted by: Sameera on 14 Mar ' 10 at 21:02

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Fantastic Business Lunch, Love to go there. what a lovely service.

Posted by: Pursnickitty on 06 Mar ' 10 at 11:12

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I'm willing to admit that maybe it's just me, but I really didn't enjoy the food we had here. The breads we were served were excellent, but the mains we chose we're not good. I had the duck breast on salad and my companion had the pork sausage made from pork belly. OMG! The server was not kidding, the pork sausage is very very strong, 100xs more gamey than anything I've ever had. It was like eating a musk sack from a skunk. To be fair, the server informed us that the sausage was "strong." Only after we told him we could not eat the dish did he claim that only truly French people enjoy this dish and that even the chef could not eat it - um, would have been nice to know ahead of time. Otherwise, my duck breast was deep fried, but apart from a little salt there was no seasoning. I like crispy fried fat just as much as the next guy, but I expected a little accompaniment - a sauce of some kind, like plum or wild berry sauce. Otherwise, the salad was nice and fresh and lightly dressed. Anyway, we plan on coming back, but it'll be for the pastry, coffee and ambiance. If any one has a main to recommend that would be helpful.

Posted by: Fair on 18 Oct ' 09 at 10:56

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

This restaurant provides a good atmosphere for a family dinner or catch up with good friends. The maincourse of Duck piece and potato is really super. The only thing bothers a bit is the restaturant manager and waiter constantly want to ask you what you think of the food and that can be a bit annoying.

Posted by: Mamta on 02 Jul ' 09 at 07:57

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• Best for: Romantic
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Great place to go with your beloved. Wide variety of wines! Absolutely great food and excellent service. I am definitely going to visit this restuarant again!

Posted by: Amelia Jane on 04 May ' 09 at 09:31

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• Best for: Business lunch
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Have been there a few times and its consistently good, infact its a favourite spot to have lunch and relax.
Food is great and service outstanding.
Keep it up guys!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Baz on 08 Apr ' 09 at 07:30

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Posted by: Jane C on 22 Feb ' 09 at 09:03

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• Best for: Family friendly
• Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Maybe the menu's changed since Time Out visited? Strongly suggest a revisit to sample the onion soup, cassoulet or any one of the daily specials (I've recently had very succesful tarte tartiflette and rabbit with tagliatelle, it's pot luck what's on the board, but they change regularly and are all good and authentic) and their irresistible tarte tatin - juste comme il faut! I miss the proper unpretentious French cooking that I found when living in Paris, and have found it again here in Dubai - hurrah! Have taken numerous friends there for a relaxed evening or weekend lunch, and all are now fans. Bon appetit.
Jane C