Madeleine Bakery and Bistro — Restaurant in Wilkinsburg

The Bakery that doesn't want your business.

After several years of wanting very badly to support this local business, I've made my last trip. I live in the neighborhood and have been visiting since they opened in 2017. Quality-wise, all the reviews are correct, everything is fantastic and the bread is the best in Pittsburgh by my standards. Which is why I have tried again and again to be a customer.

But you have to be the luckiest person in the world to actually get what you go for. I live close enough to walk but it's at least 15 min each way so it's not a drop in the bucket. Today we walked over and waited in line for 15 min only to walk in and have them tell us "we just sold out" of all three things we went for. So we left with nothing. It was only 11:30 and there were still 10 people in line behind us.

And it's not just a pandemic issue. There has always been an issue with being sold out of items. As their popularity has grown and then the pandemic, it's now not worth the trip. I really have tried to be understanding. I have owned a small business and I know it's hard to keep up with inventory and forecasting. And I also know for bakeries that baking happens late and overnight to be ready for early morning opens. But when you haven't adjusted in three years, one has to wonder.

Let's just start with the baguettes. Despite being one of their staples, it's one of the hardest things to get. In the beginning I just tried my luck and was successful probably 60-70% of the time. But when they started getting more popular, that started dropping. So I started asking.

Just some examples - I asked, when's the best time to come? They said "early". So the next day I showed up when they opened at 8am. And they said "oh. sorry, they aren't out of the oven yet." Later after a few more unsuccessful attempts, I asked again, they said "call first, we can hold them". So I tried calling at 11:30am and they said "we're sold out". On other attempts I asked "what time do I need to be there"? They said "10:30 is usually a good time", I couldn't be there exactly at 10:30 so I went at 11...and they were sold out. Recently I called ahead around 11:15am and asked if they had baguettes before I walked over. I was told "no, we're sold out, but we have a few more coming out of the oven in about 10-20min", so I asked if they could set two aside for me, and she said "oh no, we can't do that." And there have been times where the workers have seemed like they are the ones frustrated with me for asking. Now the only thing I get when I ask is "order them 24 hours in advance". Really?

As for the rest of them menu, it's hit or miss what they seem to have. I know the pandemic has greatly reduced the menu, but even before it was never a given what they would have and when. But at least before there was enough variety that if they didn't have what you went for, there was something else you could pick up. Now they usually only have 3 or 4 things at all.

I don't pretend to know what it takes to run an authentic French bakery, but from a business perspective, I don't quite understand why adjustments haven't been made after 3 years. I know we aren't the only ones. Our neighbors have shared similar experiences. So it seems like they're giving up a lot of business when they sell out of things by 11:30 every day but don't close until 4pm. There are many previous reviews here that say the same thing. If there is competing demand from restaurants and catering orders, I could understand that, but seems a little discourteous to spite your neighbors who have welcomed your business and supported you from the opening in favor of larger businesses.

I'm really very sad because their goodies are a wonderful addition to any day. But I've tried and it doesn't feel like Madeleine's is trying in return.

If you're willing to be flexible, it's absolutely worth the trip. But otherwise, don't waste the time unless you order 24...

Edit: it's been six years and I need to update my review. The original review from 2019 is below.

I'm sad that I basically will only ever get croissants here. Their croissants remain the best in the city, but everything else has become either totally inaccessible or inedible for me. They haven't had bread the last six times I've been in, at different times on different days. I guess you must need to order bread ahead. The pastries, especially the danishes that I once loved, remain tasty but are now so hard and unpleasant to eat. Most recently, I got a circular pear almond danish which had a dough that was so hard and laminated that it stabbed me in the gums on each bite of the outer shell. It was $8, which I'd be happy to pay for a dental procedure, but not for a disappointing pastry. The pull-apart bread has a lovely inside couple of bites, but you need to get through the teeth-crackingly hard top later. The chocolate stick inside the pain au chocolat that I got last month was so thick and hard that I actually had to pull it out and eat it separately.

The shop is still cute, and the croissants are still excellent. They did update their coffee offering, and they now do sandwiches, which are fine but expensive. I can't speak for the loaves of bread because I can never get any, and the other pastries are so difficult to eat that I will probably avoid them now. I hope that those previous pastries will return someday.

Old review:

I love Madeleine so much. The space is so cute and in a lovely little part of the neighborhood. The pastries are out of this world - good luck getting a pain au chocolat but if you do be prepared to be changed forever. No matter when you go they always have something delicious for you. I only wish they had a bit better of coffee on offer, but that's not enough to take my rating down because their pastries are just...

I’ve been coming here for a long time. I live right around the corner. On Sunday, September 14th I was attacked by a pitbull who ran out of their house, and attacked me. He chased me halfway up the street near Madeline’s. I grew up with dogs. This encountered terrified me. Anyway I started hanging up signs in Regents Square to warn people. She tore them down. I asked her employees if they would hang a banner in their window warning our community and they refused and banned me from the store. That’s fine, that’s their right. But you have a right to know that this baker is actively destroying the flyers I put up because she is afraid that the nearby danger will scare you away from her store. I think this is shameful, greedy and evil behavior and shows a lot about who she is as a person, but it is her right. She care more about making money than your safety.

In any case, all of the rumors that she is spreading about me is false. I peacefully asked her to hang a flyer. I did yell and say that blood was on her hands for doing the irresponsible thing, but I left her alone. She accosted me on the street when I was hanging flyers. She started yelling at me. I am not your enemy. I am your neighbor. There is a dangerous dog in the area. I was attacked by it. You should use extreme caution. Please avoid the corner of Union and Peebles street if you value your safety, the safety of your animals, and the safety of your children.

Sadly honesty is hard to come by these days. The pull-apart and danishes are the best things on the menu. Highly recommended. So 4 stars for food, despite being fired for caring too strongly about my neighbors. But cest le vie. It’s a small price to pay if someone avoids getting...