Chez Mamou Reviews

Literally, best croissant I have had outside of paris.

When we lived in Santa Fe, my Husband and I loved going to Chez Mamou. Everything is so delicious! If you want to go for breakfast, or coffee and a lovely sweet, it's great! If you go for dinner, that is wonderful as well. Very cozy!

Great food, horrendous service, mediocre coffee

Update Aug 2019
Same as before. If the atmosphere, location, and the food were not as good as they are, there's no way we would put up with the dismissive, inattentive, and always overwhelmed service. The managers are often surly and seem put out by having to attend to customers. Some of the waitstaff are very kind but seem harried by the managers' barking. Unpleasant.

We stopped here on our way to Albuquerque and had a delightful lunch. Wait staff was attentive and charming. Food was excellent. We had the onion soup which was very authentic. The mussels and the pork medallions were both beautifully prepared delicious.
Very nicely done!

Delicious Breakfast. Can t wait to try for Lunch/Dinner.

Thoroughly enjoyed brunch here. French Cafe atmosphere and food. Pastries looked devine but we are dieting so choose the egg white omlette. Great! Reasonable prices.

Awesome brunch! The omelets and eggs Benedict are authentic French recipes with highest quality ingredients. We came to Santa Fe for a long weekend and chose Chez Mamou three mornings! Service was great too.

Delicious food, great ambiance, good service (absolutely no complaints, contrary to some cranky reviews), and terrific music-cello and guitar. We loved it!
Fabulous food, and the feel of France.
The owner is French and it shows.
Highly recommended!

Stopped here to pick up breakfast on our way out of town. The food was alright but greasy. The bakery items were tasty, but everything was very pricey. The woman who was working while I was there was rude and dismissive. She barked at the gentleman working there loudly in front of customers, which is completely unprofessional. I dropped my coffee on myself walking out the door. When I let the lady know she laughed and walked away from me mumbling something along the lines of I can t deal with this. The gentleman behind the counter thanked me for letting them know and handed me napkins. The only reason I m giving this two stars is for the pastries and friendliness of the gentleman. I wish I was able to get their names but I would not recommend this place as long as that awful woman is working here. She ll be easy to spot. She s the one with her nose in the air treating her staff and customers rudely.

Chicken Marsala and Cordon Blu were awful, tasted like reheated, the lack of flavor reminded us to hospital food, the server noticed that we were not happy and just told us that that s how French cuisine tasted like, what a disappointment.! We also ordered French onion soup and taste like boiled water! Also the server brought hard cold bread to the table!........ I had so many expectations about this places and ended up being such a disappointed!!! Definitely not coming back!

Coffee and pastries here are too good.., they don't explain this to you as you walk in the door. Because of the lack of warning, I left after eating about a half dozen cookies and different sorts of pastries all which were absolutely incredible. It's just not fair.

They also open really early in the morning which causes me to go back in the next day while everyone else is still asleep to go eat some more. Too good.

Sitting area outside is nice. Food and coffee was alright.

Such a lovely space with kind people and amazing food. Excellent coffee.

Fantastic restaurant just off The Plaza. Best chicken crepe... better than in Paris! Delicious spinach quiche Check them out... patio and very nice staff

My husband and I were delighted with Chez Mamou the 3 times we've dined there. They make you feel like family with the intimate space and the warm atmosphere. The service is like you're in their kitchen. The food is very tasty and cooked just right and the pastries divine. It's tough to make a decision on the sweets so I end up taking some home too. Try it!

Haven't tried breakfast but was impressed with their sign - "Brunch until 5pm". I had dinner on my own a couple of night ago. Then when I described it to business acquaintances I was meeting with, they cancelled what they had planned for the night and booked at Chez Mamou. The food was excellent but the service was a disaster. We got a new waitress who new nothing, I mean nothing, and she was inappropriate to boot. We had a good time anyway and will return. However I hope management reads this does better staff selection and training in future. The young bus boy filled in quite well and we enjoyed ourselves due to the good french cooking.

Just had breakfast, and the food was amazing. The atmosphere did feel a bit too soft stuffed for comfort, and everything didn t really match but personally it wasn t a problem for my family. The crepes and egg Benedict were delicious, as well as the baked goods especially the almond croissant. The French onion soup was very good too, although the broth was just a bit salty, so make sure to request for more bread to go with it! Btw, totally recommend their chamomile mint tea. naturally sweet and just spectacular. Otherwise the service was nice and very sympathetic after dropping water at our table. All in all, the food was great, the service was plenty, and the atmosphere was decent. 4 stars. Would come back.

The French delight in Santa Fe is placed very well and has great staff. For a French establishment, the portions were very good and chicken was great quality. Waitress Molly was incredible!

Great food helped find us a seat eventhough we had no reservation. French food in Santa Fe New Mexico, yes please

We stumbled upon this little gem on our last day in Santa Fe. Nice wine list. My husband drooled over all of the fresh French pastries that were displayed in the bakery. We had a wonderful brunch, eggs cooked to perfection, not overcooked and rubbery. We will seek this out for dinner the next time we are in Santa Fe!

Very freindly staff, beautiful design, very good food. I felt imideatly home

Amazing pastries with amazingly terrible service; sad but true.

Great atmosphere, great service, great food, n great memory

The crepes are amazing! The restaurant is very cute and clean. The people who work there are very nice. Prices are not bad considering how good the food is. The dessert pastries are incredible!

My wife and I were celebrating a special occasion and chose CHEZ MAMOU for Sunday brunch - and it was a wonderful experience! We've visited France many times, and CHEZ MAMOU is indeed very "French", with a bright sunny atmosphere and lovely charming ambience. My wife ordered her favorite Croque Madame, and I ordered the Omelette Jambon with additional mushrooms. Both meals were exquisite and delicious. Service was outstanding. Very delightful atmosphere, and convenient to the Plaza.

Review from a french person.. very nice staff, nice place, quiet. Very good food. Loved the dessert. My cordon bleue tested nothing like a cordon bleu but was good. Waiter was nice and talkative. A bit expensive, but food in SF is expensive anyway and French food in the US is always expensive..

Despite the fact that they were majorly short handed, the staff still managed the room with grace. All of my dishes were hot, fresh, and delicious. I love this comfortable, yet upscale place!

The most horrendous service I ve encountered. What started off as a beautiful Sunday morning looking forward to brunch at a place I d yet to eat at in Santa Fe turned into being seated in the sun for 15 minutes before being asked for our drink order. Then an additional 15 minutes before our water was delivered, yet missing my cappuccino. Our food was delivered missing the salmon carpaccio and side of scrambled eggs. When our meal was nearly finished we were asked what drinks we had and I reminded her of my cappuccino to which she didn t seem to care. I asked again for the scrambled eggs and carpaccio. The eggs arrived when our plates were empty and pushed to the side. There was no responsibility taken and nothing done to make it right.
Living in Santa Fe it s nice to have a variety of great restaurants. Unfortunately this is not one of them I ll be recommending or making a second appearance.

I just had a tasty brunch in a very pretty atmosphere at Mamou's. BUT, their service is outrageously slow. We had to wait nearly 1/2 hour to pay our bill and there was just one patron in front of us. We have experienced this before, with our attempt to buy a loaf of bread. They don't have a cash register so If they have to give change they have to look for it. I probably won't go there again.

Friendly staff and yummy food, the croissants are amazing!!!

This is without a doubt one of the top 3 restaurants I have ever visited anywhere in the world. The French pastry chef, Paul, is a true master. The fruit tart we had was insane, definitely an epiphany of culinary delight. My fiance and me visited here back in early September and it was INCREDIBLE. All the pastries are absolutely fantastic, and we stocked up on plenty for our trip home. The breakfast and lunch items we shared off the menu were divine. If you go here and don't like the food, the service, or the ambiance, check your pulse. I would seriously drive here from our home in Denver and the trip would be completely worth it. The owner was incredibly friendly and passionate about her work. If you go to Santa Fe and don't stop here, you truly missed out. HIGHLY recommended.

The owner Noella illegally withholds her employees tips and checks to profit herself. Not only that but this place has been known to have rats and mice and the owner will go under the table to dispose of them before the FDA noticed. Have fun eating here!

What a lovely brunch we had yesterday morning at Chez Mamou! The decor was thoughtful, with delightful Ira Yeager paintings, colorful velvet pillows, string lights and cafe seating. The food was delicious with great coffee, well-proportioned servings and perfect seasoning. And did I mention the accordion music? A musician serenaded us throughout brunch with traditional French songs and well-known American tunes as well; a sweet slice of Paris in the heart of Santa Fe. We will make coming back here a tradition!

Every item was delicious. Only time I've had frog legs not at all chewy. Perfect wine pairing recommendations.

Plenty of stuff on the menu you don't find at most restaurants! The three things we had were great, and they accommodate dogs at some of their outdoor seating.

Cute spot with a quaint alley for some outdoor dining. Our server was very good. Great suggestions and good food. Very close to the square.

The food is really good, if a bit pricey for the portion size, which seems to be par for the course for many upscale places. Service was adequate, if not overly friendly. Next time, I think we'll try for brunch or lunch.

Great food and service. Met the owner she was super nice! Aaa+++

While visiting Santa Fe, we ate breakfast and lunch at this very charming French bistro. The food was superb, staff friendly, and the owner was charming. Also found some beautiful pieces of jewelry at the attached boutique run by the owner. You have to include a stop here on your next trip to Santa Fe

I only ordered pastry to go. Taste good but they were cold (not sure if that is how French tarts/cakes should be served?) and overpriced. Main reason for 3 stars is the old lady staff was rude, though I understand she was busy with other customers

Other reviews also point out problem with service

My sister and I waited to be seated. Then, we waited until other customers who arrived after we did were waited on. The croissants were good, but everything else was cold, overcooked, and overpriced. There were flies everywhere. Not a pleasant experience.

Perfection. Everything is just as it should be. The beautiful, picturesque pastry case is loaded with a wide range of French pastries, including gluten-free options look almost too good to eat... almost . The croissant alone is a masterpiece, but a leisurely brunch in the garden feels like divine self-care.

We had a perfect evening last night. Food was superb, service was exceptional.

Overpriced grocery store food served by fancy wait staff. We walk away consistently underwhelmed.

Visited for a birthday meal and they did not disappoint! The Short Ribs were cooked to tender perfection, a generous portion of asparagus, and lovely buttery mashed potatoes. Took home a couple of treats for dessert (lemon tart and pear tart). They were equally decadent. A lovely, intimate space and attentive service made this one of our best meals ever in Santa Fe!

Quaint French restaurant and bakery. Good for brunch, pastries to go or a fancy French dinner. A must visit while in Santa fe.

We loved this restaurant way more than expected. We went recently and their outdoor hearing set up was the most comfortable we have found in Santa Fe. The food was delicious, wine was great, our daughter found something she liked, and we enjoyed the pastries we took back with us too! Will return many times

We had two lovely breakfasts on the side patio here and couldn't have been more pleased. Our service was fine in every respect. Food came promptly. My wife loved the ham and cheese omelet and ordered out both days. I liked the Benedict and was impressed with how much ham the put on it. A great experience

The food was good, but the service was slow on the day we were in. They appeared to be short handed, but refills were never provided.

Next to La Sena, this is the best food outside your typical Mexican dishes found everywhere around the Plaza.
Pictured here are Marsala Chicken with fresh mashed potatoes and sauteed spring veggies. And a sirloin steak topped with potatoes and gruelyer, served al fresco on a beautiful May spring day.

Gem of a restaurant. We found this place simply walking past it. Read their menu and a friendly waiter encouraged us to come back for dinner, so we did. We had to eat outside because of COVID-19 rules, but they were VERY accommodating and VERY helpful. They turned on heaters for us and even looked for specialty wine they heat up.

Our food was quite memorable. Delicious and superb. While we ate a man came to pickup food. He was local and said this is the best restaurant in Santa Fe. He even said he would come back the next night to dine outside like we did, so you know this place is good!

We will definitely come back here when we visit Santa Fe. The food and service was excellent and quite memorable.

The food is good but the staff seems annoyed to have to wait on customers. We have eaten here twice with the hopes that the second time would be different. Both times the busboy stomped around in hard soled dress shoes and the waitress seemed to be bothered by the mere presence of the patrons. I think if the staff were switched out, Mamou would be a 4 star restaurant, and would become a brunch staple for me.

As one of the previous reviews noted, crepes were dripping oil, due to the cheese abundance perhaps. Had quick service though. Did not try their pastry so there is still a hope.

We went in just for dessert, my husband & I were greeted by a very friendly waiter who gave us a full run down. We had the lemon tart, raspberry pastry, chocolate pastry, and a cherry pastry. All were delicious- but the favorite was lemon tart! Great coffee as well. The waiter who helped us convinced us that we have to try the place out for breakfast or lunch!

Delicious food. The French onion soup is delicious any time of year. Hubby's go to is beef bourginon. Pastries are so tempting

Quality wasn t matched up to the price!
We stayed in the hotel across the street and got recommended by the Frontdesk receptionist.
It was Xmas day 2020, a strange year has it been. As we got seated and served with drink, the menu arrived and we found out that the only choice is a 3 courses meal for $115.
That should have been for mention to us. The restaurant does look like an average place so we was a bit taken back with the limited offerings and high price. At $115 for a 3 courses of appetizer, main entree, and a dessert, our expectation were up! To our disappointment, our 2 main courses didn t live up to the price. We had seafood au voie lay and prime steak. The seafood was ok but the steak was chewy and overly covered with sauce. We didn t bother to finish the steak.
It was around 9pm and one of the heating torch closed to our table started to go out, we asked the server to turn it back on but it on last 10s before dying again. They knew but didn t really care. We started to get cold as temperature was in the 30s and decided to pick up our desert and leave. The deserts were just choices from the bakery up front, and as of this writing, I haven t tasted them. Our appetizers were cream stuffed croissant with romaine lettuce, radish and lightly grilled oyster. The croissant was pretty good but the oysters were overly seasoned.
Oh, it also included an average small glass of champagne.
Definitely not recommended this highly over priced 3 courses dinner!

Very low key and relaxing vibe. Food, drinks and service were great. My only critique would be to put on a little background music.

Bad service. And the pastries were overpriced and stale . . .

If I haven't written a five star review already... Here it is. They know how to make great food, pastries and cappuccinos. Delight!

Absolutely terrible dining experience. Long wait to have order taken, 40 minutes before food was brought out. Server never came to check on meal or refill water. Food was mediocre and overpriced. Had to go inside to find waiter to cash out and get take out box. Several other patrons left out of exasperation.

When you first walk in, you re greeted by classical music playing overhead that goes with the classy atmosphere. But there is no dress code or anything. There normal people eating with friends and family! The wait staff are very nice and helpful. The food is quite delicious and a little but not too expensive. The desserts are to die for!!! They are some of the best desserts I ve ever had. They are made fresh everyday and are a little expensive but so worth it! They are so rich that you can get a small 5 tart and share it with someone. I d definitely recommend going here if you have sweet tooth and want a place that is relaxing to eat at!

A great meal every time I've visited. One of my favorite places of all the places I've lived.

I usually don t write reviews, good or bad, of places I dine at. Call me lazy. But this time was different. Chez Mamou....Awesome cuisine, wine, desserts, service, and ambience! The French onion soup alone is worth the visit. The wild salmon was cooked to perfection. The crab cakes were rich, and pure crab. We battled the agony of choice of desserts by picking two at random and came away thinking we chose the best. All this was topped off by an exquisitely brewed espresso. The service was prompt, courteous, friendly, and attentive from start to finish without us feeling rushed or being hovered upon. Given the overall experience, the price was very reasonable. Santa Fe boasts of some of the finest restaurants. This is among my very best.
Will be returning to Chez Mamou soon!

Beyond the line of excellence in service, quality of Real French cuisine atmosphere and the beautiful personalities of each server. Now on to the decadent pastries baked every day . Taste of one of the multitude of treats will have your mind float to one of the many sidewalk cafe on the Champs. I loved this piece of Heaven two blocks from the square.