Wow. All I can say, wow. From quality to price, a find dining experience that won’t break your budget. We had three course meals, two additional sides, a bottle of wine, and an additional appetizer for less than $75pp… We absolutely found a new favorite. Best French onion I have ever had… ever.. can’t wait to try the rest of the menu! (Really great with food allergies too!)
Amy Tamberelli
Sadly this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. It was a special night with my parents visiting from several hours away and looked at lots of restaurants and wish we picked differently. It was a Saturday night we were seated with no menus for 10 minutes. When the server came over she then explains they are short staffed, she was the only waitress for the evening and also had been working all day brunch as well. Not sure what to think at that point restaurant was about half full so we decided to stay. My kids wanted a flavored soda that was on the menu but they were out. My parents had not one bite of food minus a single piece of bread for 2 hours!! Our app didn’t get put in correctly either and when we asked about it waitress explained kitchen thought it was to go out with dinner. We ordered an app size pasta as an app and a few people got soup but why would an app come out with dinner. They ran out of bread (it was 6:30 on a Sat night) so we couldn’t get more to eat while we waited the 2 hours. Restaurant had filled up all seats taken. Entrees were portioned so small- branzinos were 2 bites, literally. After waiting 2 hours with no food 2 bites. I couldn’t eat my Salmon it was like gelatin and cold and the steak was rare and not medium, my kids still ate most of it bc they were starving! When we asked about food taking so long after 2 hours of waiting we were told kitchen was also short staffed only 2 people cooking. It was a lot of money to spend for a very disappointing experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kholl Holl
The scallops were cooked perfectly. Every entree was flavorful and satisfying. I had to
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janine Sutton
We came to Cafe Le Jardin to celebrate a birthday. A simply decorated restaurant, with chic French cafe flair. We chose dining here based off their menu online (which needs update as they had items that were apparently from summer menu). We are well into fall. Our table ordered the 3 course meal including amuse bouche, appetizer, entree and dessert which was reasonably priced. Honestly would have paid a bit more for slightly larger serving sizes for the three course menu. I didn’t leave hungry, but not quite full either.
I was disappointed by the cheese plate that I had ordered for my appetizer, so much I forgot to take a picture because it was unappealing. There were two slices of Gruyère, some blueberries and raspberries, a small container of honey and a portion of a baguette. Although it’s a small plate, I felt like some more creativity could have been put into it.
The pictured stuffing and escargot bone marrow appetizer was cold, which we didn’t quite expect and think would fit the fall menu better if hot.
We had other appetizers like moules frite and coquettes (scallop) which were tasty, but again quite small servings.
The bœuf bourguignon was tasty, but definitely not the traditional rich sauce I was expecting. The pappardelle pasta was cooked perfectly but the three strands of it under my beef left me wanting more.
We had Crème brûle and chocolate mousse for dessert, the crème brûle was more loose than I’m used to. The chocolate mousse was rich and tasty.
I do wonder if the meals would have been larger or different if we had not ordered the three course menu.
The service was fine, but definitely feel as there was only one waitress for the entire restaurant for the first at least hour to two hours we were there that it did suffer some. No water refills until asked. Potential to upsell items towards dessert like coffee but never asked if we’d be interested so I feel that the restaurant it’s certainly missing out on sales.
I’m not sure, especially as it was a bit of a drive that we’d return, but worth a try for some.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Beef Bourguignon
Chris Orion
Wow! One of the top 10 meals we've had locally! Everything was crafted with such care, respect and attention to the food. Flavors were as harmonious as a symphony.
Parking: Plenty of parking along adjacent residential streets.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Beef Bourguignon
Joe Alfano
Great restaurant with amazing service and outstanding food. Will definitely go back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Becky Clark
I really wanted to like this place, as I love their sister restaurant, but sadly their brunch was a let down. Service was very slow. This would probably be a great place to catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, but not so great for a quick bite. 2 out of 3 dishes were misses for me. The waffles were sized for ants, and were not a filling meal on their own. I had the tomato tart, and the pastry part had an awful texture. It was hard on the bottom, but chewy and almost raw in the middle. It almost tasted like they did not cook the pastry first, but cooked everything together. The crème brûlée French toast was amazing, and the star of the show. If we all got this, I would give this spot a 5 out of 5. Sadly, due to small portion sizes, we went to another spot afterwards as everyone was still hungry.
I will definitely come back as on Sundays, they had an all you can eat cheese tasting for a decent price. There is no way to mess up cheese, and cheese is my favorite food, so I’m excited to give that experience a try!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Meghan Kopp
Wonderful experience! My husband and I went for Sunday brunch with our dog. He got the very savory beef bourguignon omlette and I got the sweet creme brulee French toast. The omlette was very flavorful and the beef and vegetables were cooked perfectly! The French toast was nice and moist and it had a beautifully crunchy top as a creme brulee should. The French toast was also sweet but not overly so. We also got small pastries, which were delicious and crispy. The chef also happened to come out the front door near where we were seated, saw our dog, and asked if she was allowed to eat anything. He then came back a few minutes later with a bowl full of poached eggs, carrots, potatoes, and snap peas all cut to kibble size. The staff were all very friendly and accommodating. We opted for a shorter stay but there were groups that stayed longer and seemed to prefer to not be disturbed, similar to what you would see in Europe. The patio was beautiful and played soft French music, really creating a nice atmosphere.
Parking: Lots of street parking and parking across the street by the rails.
Kid-friendliness: Kid and dog friendly! Everyone loved our dog and there is a kids menu item.
Wheelchair accessibility: There are 3 steps to go inside, so wheelchair accessibility is limited to outdoor seating
Food was delicious. I give it a 4.7 overall for brunch. Ambience is nice cafe style. Had the eggs nenedict w ham and crouissant. Potatoes little salty. Cannot wait to try dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sam Watson
The food here is amazing. Everything is made with the freshest and best ingredients and they have all kinds of unique options. The prices are totally reasonable!! We go all time time for brunch!
One of the most bizarre dining experiences I've ever had. Made a reservation and drove an hour after seeing the glowing reviews. The inside was empty except for 1 other table. Took 15min before the waitress came by, she asked if we'd like to hear the specials. We said yes but somehow she didn't talk about the specials or ask if we wanted drinks or to order food. We were confused but managed to order. About 30 min later later the appetizers came out (side salad, French onion soup, escargot). My husband was dismayed by the salad, it was just a big pile of onions and olives (his 2 least favorite foods) over baby spinach. My French onion soup was lackluster at best, very clumpy lukewarm cheese and little flavor. A little shocked they charge $15 for it, if that's how it usually tastes. The real disappointment was the escargot, which we both spit out fearing food poisoning. Love escargot but this was clearly off.
I hadn't sent back food in over 20 years, and the last time I did was raw chicken. As in completely raw, never touched the heat raw. We simply don't do that unless the food is a health risk, so believe me that when we sent the escargot back we were genuine that it was inedible.
Over 1.5 long hours into the experience, the rest of the meal finally came out. The tomato tart for me, the steak for him. The tomato tart was completely changed from the description on the menu. It was advertised as roasted tomato with bacon and goat cheese. What I received had no bacon or goat cheese and the predominant flavor was lemon, which was quite a surprise. I was just grateful for food at that point and let it go. My husband did like the steak but it was too little too late (also the waitress never asked how he wanted it cooked and we didn't see her for some time, so it was a guessing game). She did ask if he'd like a box for the fries, he said "please." Never saw that box. She was nice and apologetic about the wait and other issues so we still tipped at least 20%, but that is not an experience I want to repeat.
Perhaps an off day, but does make me wonder how many of these glowing reviews are real.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Derrick Russo
This place is a gem! My favorite brunch spot by far! Food is always top notch and affordable. I love that you can get a individual french press for the table. If your looking g for a good spot to stop this is it. They even have out door seating when it's nice out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Karryl Boggs
We love having Café le Jardin in Audubon—it has truly become a favorite of ours. We've dined here at least 15 or 20 times, and each brunch and dinner has been consistently excellent.
Tonight, we stopped in for the prix fixe dinner, and it was absolutely fantastic. Every dish was perfectly crafted, and we especially appreciate that it's BYOB, which adds a nice personal touch to the experience. My husband and I tried one of each item on the tasting menu, and we were not disappointed.
A quick note to management: Please continue offering the special menus! While we enjoy the standard menu, it’s always a delight to try something new when you offer special menus or collaborative events. The blend of old favorites and fresh, exciting options is a major reason we keep coming back.
Café le Jardin is truly a gem, and we look forward to many more meals here.
Parking: There is street parking close to the restaurant, along with a free parking lot close by.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Fries, Frog Legs and Deviled Eggs, Escargot, Moules Frites, French Onion Soup, Crème Brûlée French Toast
KJ Sachs
Once the great Crux Cafe and then a BBQ place (never tried), the Café Le Jardin brings some French vibes to this little corner of Audubon.
My husband and I are working on various projects and decided rather last minute to go on an impromptu date to take a break. Most restaurants are closed on Mondays, but I knew this one was open because it usually has a Monday prefix menu announced midday.
Having been to the Crux Cafe many times, walking into this one was very familiar as far as set up. We were greeted and seated with a smile. It was not busy yet, so they let us choose our corner. It certainly wasn’t quiet, but the atmosphere was cheerful as other guests included families, friends, and other couples. The seating outdoors would have been great if it wasn’t so darn hot.
The water was served in a chilled water bottle with a glass. Borrowing this idea! We opted not to get the prefix menu, but to try a few things off the appetizer list. And pardon me for not using the French labels from the menu. We had the mussels (came with shoelace French fries), scallops, frog legs (first time trying them), and my absolute must have when offered - escargot. Everything was very well prepared and delicious. The only thing missing was more bread to sop up all the amazing sauces!
If you are looking for a different experience for your next date or outing with a friend, this is a great spot. I imagine brunch on Sundays is amazing - especially because you can walk down Merchant Street and shop afterwards. #trustkj
Wow. All I can say, wow. From quality to price, a find dining experience that won’t break your budget. We had three course meals, two additional sides, a bottle of wine, and an additional appetizer for less than $75pp… We absolutely found a new favorite. Best French onion I have ever had… ever.. can’t wait to try the rest of the menu! (Really great with food allergies too!)
Sadly this was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. It was a special night with my parents visiting from several hours away and looked at lots of restaurants and wish we picked differently. It was a Saturday night we were seated with no menus for 10 minutes. When the server came over she then explains they are short staffed, she was the only waitress for the evening and also had been working all day brunch as well. Not sure what to think at that point restaurant was about half full so we decided to stay. My kids wanted a flavored soda that was on the menu but they were out. My parents had not one bite of food minus a single piece of bread for 2 hours!! Our app didn’t get put in correctly either and when we asked about it waitress explained kitchen thought it was to go out with dinner. We ordered an app size pasta as an app and a few people got soup but why would an app come out with dinner. They ran out of bread (it was 6:30 on a Sat night) so we couldn’t get more to eat while we waited the 2 hours. Restaurant had filled up all seats taken. Entrees were portioned so small- branzinos were 2 bites, literally. After waiting 2 hours with no food 2 bites. I couldn’t eat my Salmon it was like gelatin and cold and the steak was rare and not medium, my kids still ate most of it bc they were starving! When we asked about food taking so long after 2 hours of waiting we were told kitchen was also short staffed only 2 people cooking. It was a lot of money to spend for a very disappointing experience.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The scallops were cooked perfectly. Every entree was flavorful and satisfying. I had to
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We came to Cafe Le Jardin to celebrate a birthday. A simply decorated restaurant, with chic French cafe flair. We chose dining here based off their menu online (which needs update as they had items that were apparently from summer menu). We are well into fall.
Our table ordered the 3 course meal including amuse bouche, appetizer, entree and dessert which was reasonably priced. Honestly would have paid a bit more for slightly larger serving sizes for the three course menu. I didn’t leave hungry, but not quite full either.
I was disappointed by the cheese plate that I had ordered for my appetizer, so much I forgot to take a picture because it was unappealing. There were two slices of Gruyère, some blueberries and raspberries, a small container of honey and a portion of a baguette. Although it’s a small plate, I felt like some more creativity could have been put into it.
The pictured stuffing and escargot bone marrow appetizer was cold, which we didn’t quite expect and think would fit the fall menu better if hot.
We had other appetizers like moules frite and coquettes (scallop) which were tasty, but again quite small servings.
The bœuf bourguignon was tasty, but definitely not the traditional rich sauce I was expecting. The pappardelle pasta was cooked perfectly but the three strands of it under my beef left me wanting more.
We had Crème brûle and chocolate mousse for dessert, the crème brûle was more loose than I’m used to. The chocolate mousse was rich and tasty.
I do wonder if the meals would have been larger or different if we had not ordered the three course menu.
The service was fine, but definitely feel as there was only one waitress for the entire restaurant for the first at least hour to two hours we were there that it did suffer some. No water refills until asked. Potential to upsell items towards dessert like coffee but never asked if we’d be interested so I feel that the restaurant it’s certainly missing out on sales.
I’m not sure, especially as it was a bit of a drive that we’d return, but worth a try for some.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Beef Bourguignon
Wow! One of the top 10 meals we've had locally! Everything was crafted with such care, respect and attention to the food. Flavors were as harmonious as a symphony.
Parking: Plenty of parking along adjacent residential streets.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Onion Soup, Beef Bourguignon
Great restaurant with amazing service and outstanding food. Will definitely go back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really wanted to like this place, as I love their sister restaurant, but sadly their brunch was a let down. Service was very slow. This would probably be a great place to catch up with a friend you haven’t seen in a while, but not so great for a quick bite. 2 out of 3 dishes were misses for me. The waffles were sized for ants, and were not a filling meal on their own. I had the tomato tart, and the pastry part had an awful texture. It was hard on the bottom, but chewy and almost raw in the middle. It almost tasted like they did not cook the pastry first, but cooked everything together. The crème brûlée French toast was amazing, and the star of the show. If we all got this, I would give this spot a 5 out of 5. Sadly, due to small portion sizes, we went to another spot afterwards as everyone was still hungry.
I will definitely come back as on Sundays, they had an all you can eat cheese tasting for a decent price. There is no way to mess up cheese, and cheese is my favorite food, so I’m excited to give that experience a try!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Wonderful experience! My husband and I went for Sunday brunch with our dog. He got the very savory beef bourguignon omlette and I got the sweet creme brulee French toast. The omlette was very flavorful and the beef and vegetables were cooked perfectly! The French toast was nice and moist and it had a beautifully crunchy top as a creme brulee should. The French toast was also sweet but not overly so. We also got small pastries, which were delicious and crispy.
The chef also happened to come out the front door near where we were seated, saw our dog, and asked if she was allowed to eat anything. He then came back a few minutes later with a bowl full of poached eggs, carrots, potatoes, and snap peas all cut to kibble size.
The staff were all very friendly and accommodating. We opted for a shorter stay but there were groups that stayed longer and seemed to prefer to not be disturbed, similar to what you would see in Europe. The patio was beautiful and played soft French music, really creating a nice atmosphere.
Parking: Lots of street parking and parking across the street by the rails.
Kid-friendliness: Kid and dog friendly! Everyone loved our dog and there is a kids menu item.
Wheelchair accessibility: There are 3 steps to go inside, so wheelchair accessibility is limited to outdoor seating
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Creme Brulee and Creme Brulee, Eggs Benedict, Beef Bourguignon
Food was delicious. I give it a 4.7 overall for brunch. Ambience is nice cafe style. Had the eggs nenedict w ham and crouissant.
Potatoes little salty. Cannot wait to try dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
The food here is amazing. Everything is made with the freshest and best ingredients and they have all kinds of unique options. The prices are totally reasonable!! We go all time time for brunch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
One of the most bizarre dining experiences I've ever had. Made a reservation and drove an hour after seeing the glowing reviews. The inside was empty except for 1 other table. Took 15min before the waitress came by, she asked if we'd like to hear the specials. We said yes but somehow she didn't talk about the specials or ask if we wanted drinks or to order food. We were confused but managed to order. About 30 min later later the appetizers came out (side salad, French onion soup, escargot). My husband was dismayed by the salad, it was just a big pile of onions and olives (his 2 least favorite foods) over baby spinach. My French onion soup was lackluster at best, very clumpy lukewarm cheese and little flavor. A little shocked they charge $15 for it, if that's how it usually tastes. The real disappointment was the escargot, which we both spit out fearing food poisoning. Love escargot but this was clearly off.
I hadn't sent back food in over 20 years, and the last time I did was raw chicken. As in completely raw, never touched the heat raw. We simply don't do that unless the food is a health risk, so believe me that when we sent the escargot back we were genuine that it was inedible.
Over 1.5 long hours into the experience, the rest of the meal finally came out. The tomato tart for me, the steak for him. The tomato tart was completely changed from the description on the menu. It was advertised as roasted tomato with bacon and goat cheese. What I received had no bacon or goat cheese and the predominant flavor was lemon, which was quite a surprise. I was just grateful for food at that point and let it go. My husband did like the steak but it was too little too late (also the waitress never asked how he wanted it cooked and we didn't see her for some time, so it was a guessing game). She did ask if he'd like a box for the fries, he said "please." Never saw that box. She was nice and apologetic about the wait and other issues so we still tipped at least 20%, but that is not an experience I want to repeat.
Perhaps an off day, but does make me wonder how many of these glowing reviews are real.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
This place is a gem! My favorite brunch spot by far! Food is always top notch and affordable. I love that you can get a individual french press for the table. If your looking g for a good spot to stop this is it. They even have out door seating when it's nice out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We love having Café le Jardin in Audubon—it has truly become a favorite of ours. We've dined here at least 15 or 20 times, and each brunch and dinner has been consistently excellent.
Tonight, we stopped in for the prix fixe dinner, and it was absolutely fantastic. Every dish was perfectly crafted, and we especially appreciate that it's BYOB, which adds a nice personal touch to the experience. My husband and I tried one of each item on the tasting menu, and we were not disappointed.
A quick note to management: Please continue offering the special menus! While we enjoy the standard menu, it’s always a delight to try something new when you offer special menus or collaborative events. The blend of old favorites and fresh, exciting options is a major reason we keep coming back.
Café le Jardin is truly a gem, and we look forward to many more meals here.
Parking: There is street parking close to the restaurant, along with a free parking lot close by.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Fries, Frog Legs and Deviled Eggs, Escargot, Moules Frites, French Onion Soup, Crème Brûlée French Toast
Once the great Crux Cafe and then a BBQ place (never tried), the Café Le Jardin brings some French vibes to this little corner of Audubon.
My husband and I are working on various projects and decided rather last minute to go on an impromptu date to take a break. Most restaurants are closed on Mondays, but I knew this one was open because it usually has a Monday prefix menu announced midday.
Having been to the Crux Cafe many times, walking into this one was very familiar as far as set up. We were greeted and seated with a smile. It was not busy yet, so they let us choose our corner. It certainly wasn’t quiet, but the atmosphere was cheerful as other guests included families, friends, and other couples. The seating outdoors would have been great if it wasn’t so darn hot.
The water was served in a chilled water bottle with a glass. Borrowing this idea!
We opted not to get the prefix menu, but to try a few things off the appetizer list. And pardon me for not using the French labels from the menu. We had the mussels (came with shoelace French fries), scallops, frog legs (first time trying them), and my absolute must have when offered - escargot. Everything was very well prepared and delicious. The only thing missing was more bread to sop up all the amazing sauces!
If you are looking for a different experience for your next date or outing with a friend, this is a great spot. I imagine brunch on Sundays is amazing - especially because you can walk down Merchant Street and shop afterwards. #trustkj
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent! Apps and lobster roll were incredible.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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