Mademoiselle Colette

This is as authentic as it gets. I normally hate eclairs, but I adore the ones from mademoiselle colette. Be warned: You have to go super early to get a croissant, they always sell out.

My favorite place in Menlo Park! A true Parisian experience with the best pastries and cakes. The ambience itself is worth the experience. Can’t wait to go back!

The best place — no other place like this in the Bay Area! Love the food, ambiance, chefs and service!

This PLACE. It’s so cute. It’s so delicious. It’s so… ah. Love.
I’m really excited to see a place like Mademoiselle Colette in Menlo Park. My husband and I came in for a late lunch one weekend afternoon. I got a smoked salmon sandwich and he got one of the salads. We also got several pastries (duh! they are incredible and right smack in front of you when you walk in — how can you not?). Everything was lovely. The service, the quality of the ingredients and the pastries were delicious. We especially loved the bag of 6 pâté a choux. Can’t wait to go back!

Great little French café with a friendly and down to earth atmosphere. The menu is limited but food is good and the pastries are very delicious. The only down side is not enough seating inside.

If you want fine French cakes in the Bay Area, there is simply no better place. Period.

Love their ham and cheese croissant. Very decent tasting. Owner is very nice and polite as well. Raspberry éclair has great combination of sour and sweet taste.

Best chocolate croissant west of Paris!
Nice to see yet another authentic and original place in Menlo. No need for chains like Starbucks!!!

Mademoiselle Colette is a nice addition to downtown Menlo Park, they offer french pastries, decent coffee, and good brunch options. This place is new so I can understand some of the service reviews below but i’m giving them four stars for really good pastries & desserts, the quality of the brunch, as well as ambiance. Service wasn’t perfect but they were putting good effort into it only one thing really peeved me.
Let’s start off with how cute Mademoiselle Colette is. From street view you see «patisserie» and it immediately calls you in. The inside has pretty pastels, wood tables, flowers on each table, and a pastry selection that will make you drool. However Mademoiselle Colette is small. Expect a line if you come on the weekend during busy hours (usually mid-​morning). If you opt to eat in on a rainy day expect to compete for a table. While still in line my mom was trying to save a table but a guy working there said that you aren’t allowed to sit at a table until you have a number. Which is understandable considering the size/​popularity of this place. However when it was our turn and we had a number a party of 4 took up a table and they clearly didn’t have a number yet. Wish they were told to leave the table and make room for customers who had already ordered!
The brunch menu selection is small but they do a good job with execution. I had the Colette Brunch which had poached eggs, asparagus, arugula salad, and toast. It was a tasty healthy option that I would order again. Along with my meal I had a latte (average) and lemon tart (pretty delicious). I also tried the chouqettes bag which comes with 6 pieces and it was amazing! I had never had anything like that before. It was simple, sweet, yet had me coming back for more (no wonder they sell it in quantities of 6).
I would return! This is a cute place to have a mother daughter brunch, catch up with the girls, or even to come by yourself when you’re looking for a treat. Just keep in mind that indoor seating is a challenge on a cold day (they should implement their rule about not sitting at a table without a number to all guests!)

Went in to have lunch at this place as my Mother highly recommended it. The staff seemed outnumbered and the atmosphere a bit chaotic.
There are only a few tables inside so we sat in one of the outside tables (heat-​lamps helped with the cold weather). My Father asked one of the staff members where the garbage was and it was clear this person didn’t know (he might have been the owner’s son… who we later saw have a crying meltdown outside)
I ordered the croque Madame which was not pleasant at all. Filled with a heavy cream sauce, it overpowered the sandwich. The egg wasn’t properly cooked either. I had a coke, which I was given in a bottle, not opened.
My parents had their club sandwich which they said they enjoyed but the side salad had no flavor.
The food was overpriced and the service was terrible. Much better options for French lunch and/​or dessert in Menlo Park. I didn’t try any of their pastries but they did not look very appetizing.

4.5 stars. Amazing atmosphere. Yummy authentic French offerings. Pricey, portions are on the smaller side.
What an absolutely delightful Patisserie! The quality, authenticity and attention to detail is evident in every aspect of Mademoiselle Colette. I love the chic interior and the back patio is sheer bliss on a warm afternoon.
Pastries and breads naturally steal the show. Everything is made in house and absolutely divine. Food menu is very limited with only about 5 – 6 options available at one time, mainly salads, sandwiches and maybe a quiche. My Nicoise salad was $ 13 and tasted very fresh. I left full and satisfied even though portions are definitely on the smaller side. Coffee is about $ 3 per cup and it’s unclear whether or not refills are complimentary. No one offered us one.
Overall I’m definitely a fan of Mademoiselle Colette. I’m glad they have finally established real hours and I love that so many of the patrons were French! Clearly they are offering a legit French experience!
Adding to the French experience was the funky service. Our server himself was amazing, but one of the women working behind the counter was just plain curt. Please be more patient with customers and maybe offer coffee refills as well as water at the table when it’s busy? More menus wouldn’t hurt either :)

First impressions: This place is super chic and I love the details of the décor. The food is a bit on the pricey side, but the quality is to match. Arrived on a Monday morning around 10am, There were only 2 tables unoccupied (granted the place is small, and indoor seating is limited). Before ordering, I took some time to understand what the offerings were. The ladies behind the counter were busy, but luckily, a baker from the back was available to help describe what many of the items were. He even offered me a sugar pastry to try. While I could tell the choux pastry was done well, it was too sweet for my liking. I ended up ordering the following:
— Croque Madame: Love that it was not smothered with cheese and bechamel sauce, however, something was off on the flavor. Would not get this again.
— Quiche Lorraine: Love the rustic way of how this was made, but it was not as fluffy as I would have liked. Flavor was good.
— Hazelnut Éclair: Beautifully made! The flavors are full, and it was not overly sweet. Loved the mix of smooth and crunchy textures. Well done!
— Plain Croissant: Very small for the price, nicely baked, but way too buttery!
— Lemon Tart: This was highly recommended, however, it was a bit too tart and sweet for me.
— Name? — A circular croissant with mascarpone cheese fill. Once again, great flavor, nicely baked, but a bit too buttery, like the plain croissant.
— Macarons — a purple and a white mystery flavors (as the ladies behind the counter had no ideas what flavors they were). As I was adventurous, I got one of each to try. The purple one was tart and fruity, not my favorite. The white one had floral scents and was interesting in a good way.
— Regular coffee — strong and flavorful. (They have sugar cubes on the tables) Huge plus!
Props go out to the men working the floor. They were very attentive and promptly removed any plates that were done from our table. Lastly, besides the obvious from above with lack of understanding of items from the ladies behind the counter, I’d also like to suggest to management to polish the silverware. While it’s lovely that the utensils are silver. The forks were very tarnished and unappetizing.
I know this place is new and they have to go over some learning curves. I will try this place again and hope to eventually make this one of my regular bakery cafes.

I’ve tried to try this place several times but each time the display case was empty. It is a darling place but they seem to have a hard time keeping things in stock.
In addition to that, once when I walked in with my mother, the staff didn’t even acknowledge that we had come in for lunch– and just went about their business as usual.
I’ll keep trying (and update my review) but it has been a bit frustrating.

Able to get a table for two for lunch, which will be tricky in the future as more people find out about this place. It’s very small and tidy with the pastries on a marble countertop as you walk in. You need to place your order at the counter, then find a place to sit. I had the Croque Madam which came with a small green salad ever so lightly dressed. Both went well together.
I foolishly did not buy my dessert when placing my lunch order, but my friend did. She let me taste it and I thought I’d buy one to go, but by the time I got back in line it was gone. :-(I did buy another dessert to go, but have not tried it yet. I’m sure it will be awesome.
I would have given it 5 stars, but they have only 1 register and it took a long time (5 minutes) to actually be able to pay for the pastry after ordering it. They have the right number of people, but one more register would make all the difference.

(Still chewing)
In the midst of all the processed pastries, this place is a Mecca, an oasis for your sweet tooth.
The lemon tart reviews is what brought me in, BUT it’s the spontaneous recommendation made by a clerk for the raisin-​orange confit (?) that will definitely have me returning.. .possibly even on a daily basis. My wallet may beg for mercy.
Ah, delicious!

Un sitio espectacular, con riquísima pastelería. Muy fresca, puedes ver mientras trabajan.
Llenos de detalles, la decoración es preciosa.
tienen una terraza atrás al aire libre.
Los croissants de chocolate, los choux de queso o de azúcar, riquisimos.
Espero volver

I completely fell in love with this place today! I just noticed they had opened and everything in the window looked so good that I couldn’t wait to give this new place a try.
They sell all sorts of tempting pastries and coffee, and they also have a small lunch menu including salads, sandwiches, and soups. The man behind the counter kindly explained what the dishes entailed (I really don’t know French food!) and I settled on a Croque Madame and a raspberry éclair. My husband had a salad. You pay at the register then take a number to your table so the staff can bring you your food. The food was amazing — beautifully presented and delicious! Everything tasted fresh and perfectly cooked.
The interior of this place isn’t huge, but it’s airy, bright, and beautifully decorated. Everything is marble, crisp white, woodgrain, and gold, with pretty accents like orchids, antique books, mirrors, and colored glass. There’s so much to look at! It feels relaxing and chic despite the constant flow of people seeking pastries. There’s also a little outdoor patio in the back with plenty of seating.
We visited during downtown Menlo Park Halloween, so it was a crazy busy day for all of the small businesses along Santa Cruz. It was no exception here, but the staff handled the crowds with ease and kept the delicious food coming. Everyone on staff was gracious, friendly, and went out of their way to make guests feel welcome. Service was brisk and attentive. I also loved the family feel — it seems like the owners are a French couple and they had their kids helping them behind the counter.
We’ll definitely be back — this place really stands out as a new favorite in an area with lots of competition!

Pas pour moi.

My friend and I were here around 1pm for our Sunday brunch. Initially we were so confused, because there was nothing on their pastries stand. But it turns out their pastries were completely sold out — LITERALLY zero left. They were also out of Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame. :(
We both chose Eggs Benedict which was delicious and light. Service was fast. Their interior decorations are absolutely beautiful and very Parisienne. We’ll definitely have to come back to try their pastries.

I’m writing this review during the opening week of Mademoiselle Colette. So far it’s a big success. There was a line forming just as the place opened. I came a day earlier in the afternoon and all pastry/​bakery items were gone.
I had a crossiant which was light and flaky. My wife (a better judge of food than me) said the crossiant was good, but not great. I also had the strawberry fruit tart, which was good.
This place also serves breakfast and lunch. We didn’t order anything, but while perusing the menu, I felt items were a little over priced.
Overall, I’m glad to see this place doing well. Downtown Menlo Park needs more liveliness and «Colette» is a hit so far. Hope the success continues.

We went for lunch today and were really impressed, especially for it being the first Saturday they’ve been open! They have a number of brunch platters before 11 (think eggs benedict, danishes, etc.), and a nice selection of salads, soups, and sandwiches after 11. The ambiance is wonderful — crisp white walls, warm wood tables, marble countertops, mismatched silver (real silver!) — and loads of patrons speaking French with the folks behind the counter.
We had the croque-​monsieur, a raspberry macaron, and a chocolate éclair. The sandwich was perfect — great bread, nice crunchiness, and the salad on the side was simple and lovely. Looking around, their salade niçoise and the club sandwich also looked really good — we’ll be back to try those.
The macaron was outrageously good, and I’m not really a macaron person. It was filled with fresh raspberries and cream and was — dare I say it? — really pretty worth the $ 7 we paid for it. The éclair was nice, but small, and not as rewarding as the macaron for the same price. We’re looking forward to trying their other pastries!
Only a few hiccups –
They were sold out of croissants by 11 and were sold out of most pastries by 2 — they’re restocking periodically throughout the day and I’m sure they’ll figure out supply as demand stabilizes. Service at the tables was a bit unsteady, but again, likely something they’ll work out in the next few weeks.

the much anticipated french pastry shoppe opened their doors this morning in downtown menlo park! i am soooo excited to see a new bakery opening so close to where i live. i’d read about them in the almanac and also saw them at the fitness extravaganza in august so i was eagerly anticipating their grand opening.
i was actually the only customer when i walked in, just me and a handful of staff… one of the pastry chefs explained each and every single one of their offerings to me, madeleines, macarons, tarts, puff pastries, croissants… OMG, i was seriously drooling out of the corners of my mouth as i listened to each of her descriptions and gawked at the corresponding pastry. the tarts were all clearly handcrafted and beautifully designed, like little works of art, too beautiful to eat!
after several minutes of deliberating, i chose two macarons: salted caramel and passionfruit and the breakfast puff pastry which was a cheese and black pepper puff (there was a french name for this, but i totally forgot what it was called). the cashier put the macarons in one glossy bag and the puff pastry in another, to keep the sweet and salty separate, and rang me up. the total wasn’t bad at all, only $ 5.45 for all 3…$ 2 per macaron, $ 1 for the puff pastry, $ 0.45 for tax. i expected such a fancy place to have much higher price tags, but i was delighted to see smaller numbers!
i was only inside for a few minutes, but when i left, the small store had filled up with customers that i was tiptoeing around everyone to leave! good sign of local interest!
and back to the pastries, i pretty much devoured everything right away… i just couldn’t wait! the salted caramel macaron was actually pretty heavy (more filling and bigger than most macarons i’ve had) and the taste was just ah-may-zing…the sea salt and caramel flavours just danced on my tongue, inside my mouth, and slid down to my stomach. the passionfruit macaron was a bit smaller, but it was every bit as delicious as the first macaron. normally, passionfruit-​flavored baked goods have a bit of a tart, sometimes sour or tangy taste, but this macaron wasn’t sour at all. it was just a little bit tart, but mostly sweet, and oh so delicately assembled. both macarons were slightly crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, with ample filling that was creamy and smooth, i could lick the filling all day long!
and the savory pastry puff? it was really small and delicate, and when i took my first bite, i saw the inside of the puff, hollow, but with a punch of cheese and black pepper flavour. it was soft and savory and made me wish i had bought more than just one! ah, next time…
welcome to menlo park mademoiselle colette! i can’t wait to visit you again and try more flavours. a bientot!