Croque Madame Near Me
A croque madame is a hot ham and cheese sandwich from France. It is covered in creamy bechamel, baked or broiled until the cheese bubbles, and topped with a fried egg. It is rich, salty, and messy in the best way. You find it on brunch and lunch menus at French bistros, brasseries, and bakery cafes across the United States. If you typed “croque madame near me” into your phone this morning, this guide gives you named places to try, a way to find more, and a way to make one at home.
A note on method: we did not visit or taste at these restaurants. Each pick below comes from the restaurant’s own site, a reservation listing, or a published guide that names the dish, checked in early October 2026. Menus, hours, and owners change, so check the current menu and call before you go.
What Is a Croque Madame?
The croque madame sandwich starts as a croque monsieur. That is two slices of bread with ham and cheese inside, then more cheese and a white sauce on top. The kitchen bakes or broils it until the top turns golden and blistered. To make it a madame, the cook adds a fried or poached egg on top.
The usual parts are simple:
- Bread. Soft white sandwich bread (pain de mie) or brioche, sliced thick.
- Ham. Thin slices of cooked ham, often jambon de Paris.
- Cheese. Gruyere is the classic choice. Some kitchens use Comte or Emmental.
- Sauce. Bechamel, a sauce of butter, flour, and milk, often with nutmeg.
- Egg. A fried egg with a runny yolk. Some places poach it.
You eat it with a knife and fork. The yolk runs into the sauce and the bread. That is the point.
What Is Croque Monsieur, and How Is the Madame Different?
If you are wondering what is croque monsieur, it is the same hot sandwich without the egg. The croque monsieur is the original. The madame came later. Most menus that list one also list the other, and the price gap is usually small.
The name comes from the French verb croquer, which means “to bite” or “to crunch.” Culture, a cheese magazine, explains that the egg on top is said to look like a lady’s hat. That is one popular story for the “madame” name.
Where the Sandwich Comes From
The Larousse Gastronomique, a standard French food reference, says the first croque monsieur was served in 1910 in a Parisian cafe on the Boulevard des Capucines. That line is quoted on Barry Popik’s food history site, The Big Apple. The same page notes that the earliest well-known use of the name in print is in Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time, in a volume from 1918.
The madame has a fuzzier history. Popik cites a 1951 travel guide that said “with chicken, it is a croque-madame.” So the early madame was not always about an egg. The page also quotes a source saying the Petit Robert dictionary dates the name to around 1960. Today, nearly every menu in France and the US means the egg-topped version.
Croque Monsieur vs Croque Madame vs Variants
Menus use several related names. This table shows how they differ.
| Sandwich | What Makes It Different | Typical Fillings | How It Is Cooked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croque monsieur | The original | Ham, Gruyere, bechamel | Baked or broiled until bubbling |
| Croque madame | Adds an egg on top | Ham, Gruyere, bechamel, fried or poached egg | Baked or broiled, then topped with the egg |
| Croque provencal | Adds southern French flavors | Ham and cheese with tomato slices or tapenade | Baked or broiled |
| Croque hawaiian | Adds fruit | Ham and cheese with pineapple | Baked or broiled |
| Monte Cristo | American cousin | Ham, often turkey, and cheese | Dipped in egg and fried or griddled |
The provencal and hawaiian versions are described in a croque monsieur history from Oak City Spice Blends. Culture magazine calls the Monte Cristo the American egg-dipped counterpart that grew out of the croque. Kitchens vary, so read the menu description before you order.
Quick Comparison of the Picks
No list can name the right croque madame near me for every reader, since the answer depends on where you live. This table covers nine restaurants in six metro areas where the dish appears on a menu, a reservation listing, or a published guide we could read.
| Rank | Restaurant | City | Style | What to Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buvette | New York, NY | Small French cafe and wine bar | Croque madame at breakfast |
| 2 | Mon Ami Gabi | Chicago, IL | Classic French bistro | Croque madame at Sunday brunch |
| 3 | Republique | Los Angeles, CA | Bakery, cafe, and restaurant | Croque madame on the family style brunch |
| 4 | Cafe de la Presse | San Francisco, CA | Parisian style cafe | Croque madame, or split one with a monsieur |
| 5 | Bouchon Bistro | Yountville, CA | Thomas Keller bistro | Croque madame |
| 6 | Bouchon | Las Vegas, NV | Thomas Keller bistro | Croque madame at breakfast or brunch |
| 7 | Cafe Campagne | Seattle, WA | French bistro near Pike Place | Croque madame at brunch |
| 8 | Chez Billy Sud | Washington, DC | Georgetown bistro | Croque madame at brunch |
| 9 | Pastis | Washington, DC | French brasserie | Croque madame |
The order is not a taste ranking. It runs roughly from east to west, then back to Washington.
The 9 Picks
These are real places, not paid placements. If your croque madame near me search brought you here from one of these cities, start with the matching pick.
1. Buvette, New York, NY: Best for a Morning Croque
Buvette is a small French cafe at 42 Grove Street in the West Village. Its own site describes the day there as starting with “fresh croissants and croque madames at morning light.” The Infatuation’s review lists a croque madame with prosciutto in its food rundown.
- What to order: The croque madame, early in the day.
- Good to know: Buvette is a small cafe. Expect a wait at peak brunch hours.
- Best for: A Paris cafe feel in a quiet West Village street.
2. Mon Ami Gabi, Chicago, IL: Best Sunday Brunch in Chicago
Mon Ami Gabi is a French bistro with a Chicago location. Its OpenTable listing describes a Sunday brunch, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., that includes omelette Lorraine, croque madame, and creme brulee French toast.
- What to order: The croque madame with a side of frites.
- Good to know: The listing names brunch on Sunday only. Other days, ask whether the kitchen will make one.
- Best for: A classic bistro room with a big menu.
3. Republique, Los Angeles, CA: Best for a Group Brunch
Republique sits at 624 S. La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. Its OpenTable page lists two pre-set family style brunch menus. Menu #1 on each starts with a croque madame, followed by kimchi fried rice, chia seed pudding, and brioche French toast.
- What to order: The family style brunch, Menu #1.
- Good to know: The listing shows $62 per person on weekdays and $85 per person on weekends, with pastries, orange juice, and coffee included.
- Best for: A table of friends who want to share.
4. Cafe de la Presse, San Francisco, CA: Best Near Union Square
Cafe de la Presse is at 352 Grant Avenue in downtown San Francisco. A diner who ate there in late August 2026 wrote on OpenTable: “We sat outside & had the Croque monsieur & the Croque madame. Both were delicious.” The listing’s review summary also names the croque madame as a standout.
- What to order: One madame and one monsieur to compare.
- Good to know: The OpenTable menu tab links to the restaurant’s site and does not list items, so check there for the current menu.
- Best for: A sidewalk table downtown.
5. Bouchon Bistro, Yountville, CA: Best in Wine Country
Bouchon Bistro is Thomas Keller’s French bistro at 6534 Washington Street in Yountville, in the Napa Valley. A Pearl restaurant profile lists the croque madame among the classics on its menu, with steak frites, quiche, and roast chicken. The profile also lists a Michelin Plate for 2025 and 2026.
- What to order: The croque madame with a glass of local white wine.
- Good to know: Weekends in wine country fill up. Reserve ahead.
- Best for: A long lunch between winery visits.
6. Bouchon, Las Vegas, NV: Best on the Strip
The Las Vegas Bouchon is in The Venetian Resort’s South Tower. Thomas Keller’s own site says the croque madame stays on the menu year round, along with roast chicken, steak frites, pot de creme, and lemon tart. The same page quotes the Las Vegas Review Journal calling its breakfast one of the best in the city.
- What to order: The croque madame at breakfast or brunch.
- Good to know: The restaurant sits inside a large resort. Leave extra time to find it.
- Best for: A calm, sit-down breakfast away from the casino floor.
7. Cafe Campagne, Seattle, WA: Best Near Pike Place Market
Cafe Campagne is at 1600 Post Alley, steps from Pike Place Market. A TableJourney profile updated in May 2026 lists the croque madame among its signature dishes and suggests it at brunch with a glass of Sancerre. A diner’s September 2026 OpenTable review also mentions the croque madame.
- What to order: The croque madame at weekend brunch.
- Good to know: The market area is busy on weekends. Book a table if you can.
- Best for: A French brunch before or after a market walk.
8. Chez Billy Sud, Washington, DC: Best in Georgetown
Chez Billy Sud is at 1039 31st Street NW in Georgetown. It opened in 2014 in the space of Cafe La Ruche, according to Washingtonian. A September 2025 Washingtonian guide to French brunch in DC says its brunch includes a croque madame.
- What to order: The croque madame at brunch.
- Good to know: The OpenTable menu tab we read did not list the croque, so confirm it is on that day’s brunch menu.
- Best for: A French brunch in Georgetown.
9. Pastis, Washington, DC: Best Near Union Market
Pastis is a French brasserie at 1323 Fourth Street NE, near Union Market. The same September 2025 Washingtonian guide shows a photo captioned “The croque madame at Pastis.”
- What to order: The croque madame.
- Good to know: Our only source is a photo caption, so call to confirm it is on the current menu.
- Best for: A brasserie meal in Northeast DC.
Cities We Could Not Confirm
We looked for a New Orleans pick. Time Out’s July 2024 brunch guide said Couvant, at The Eliza Jane hotel, serves a croque madame at brunch. We could not find a 2026 source that confirms it, so call first.
In New York, a WhatNow article from July 2026 said a new Upper East Side brasserie, Jean Claude, at 1481 York Avenue, planned to open this fall with a croque madame on its lunch and brunch menu. We could not confirm that it has opened. The Pastis in New York’s Meatpacking District is known for brunch, but the source we read named only its croque monsieur.
How to Find a Croque Madame Near Me
Search apps do not always know the dish. These steps find it faster.
Use More Than One Search Term
Type the French name first. Then try the English description. A search for “croque madame near me” may show places that sell only the monsieur, so open the menu and look for the egg.
| Where You Search | Terms to Try |
|---|---|
| Google Maps or Apple Maps | croque madame, croque monsieur, French brunch |
| Yelp | croque madame, then filter by French, brunch, or bakery |
| OpenTable or Resy | French bistro, then read the brunch menu |
| DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub | Search the dish name, not the restaurant type |
| Instagram or TikTok | croque madame plus your city |
| Restaurant websites | Look under brunch, lunch, sandwiches, or tartines |
Know Which Places Tend to Have It
- French bistros and brasseries. These are the most likely spots, especially at brunch.
- French bakery cafes. Many bake their own bread and sell croques at lunch.
- Hotel restaurants. Hotel brunch menus often carry a croque madame.
- New American brunch spots. Some offer a version with a twist, such as a different cheese or bread.
- Wine bars with food. Small French wine bars often serve a croque as a bar snack.
Read Reviews and Photos
Search the reviews on Google, Yelp, or OpenTable for the word “croque.” Look at recent photos. You want to see a bubbling, browned top and a whole egg. A flat, pale sandwich in a photo is a warning sign.
Call Ahead
A two-minute call saves a wasted trip. Ask three things:
- Do you serve the croque madame today?
- Is it on the brunch menu only, or also at lunch?
- Do you fry or poach the egg?
Many kitchens serve the dish only at brunch on weekends. Some list a monsieur and will add an egg if you ask.
Explore Other Egg Dishes From Around the World
If you love eggs at brunch, there is a lot more to try. Colombian kitchens make a breakfast soup with milk and eggs, and our guide to the Best Changua Near Me shows where to look. Argentine cafes scramble eggs with ham and potatoes, covered in our Best Revuelto Gramajo Near Me guide. And for a savory pie with eggs baked inside, see the Best Tarta Pascualina Near Me.
How to Judge a Good One
Star ratings will not tell you which croque madame near me is worth the trip. Your own eyes and fork will. Check these points.
- The top is browned. The cheese and sauce should bubble and show golden and dark spots.
- The bread holds up. It should be crisp at the edges and soft inside, not soggy.
- The sauce is creamy. Good bechamel is smooth and coats the bread. It should not be thick paste or watery.
- The cheese has flavor. Gruyere tastes nutty and a bit sharp. Bland cheese makes a bland sandwich.
- The ham is good quality. It should taste like real cooked ham, not processed deli meat.
- The egg is right. The white is set and the yolk is runny. A hard yolk misses the point.
- The size is fair. It should feel like a meal, not a snack.
- It arrives hot. The cheese should still bubble at the table.
One more tip: this dish does not travel well. The egg sets and the bread softens in a closed box. Eat it at the restaurant when you can.
What to Order With It
The croque madame sandwich is heavy, so pair it with something light or sharp.
- A green salad. Many bistros serve one on the side with a mustard dressing.
- Frites. Classic, but heavy. Share them.
- Pickles or cornichons. Their sour bite cuts the richness.
- Coffee. A cafe au lait or an espresso works at brunch.
- A glass of wine. A crisp white, such as Sancerre, matches the cheese.
- Something sweet to share. A croissant, a tart, or creme brulee.
Price Expectations
We could confirm only one current price. Republique’s family style brunch on OpenTable is $62 per person on weekdays and $85 per person on weekends, and Menu #1 includes a croque madame among several shared dishes. We could not confirm current a la carte prices at the other picks, so check each menu.
How to Make a Croque Madame at Home
You can make a croque madame sandwich at home in about 30 minutes. This version follows the classic method: make a bechamel, build the sandwich, bake, then top with an egg.
Ingredients
For 2 sandwiches:
- 4 thick slices of white sandwich bread or brioche
- 4 thin slices of cooked ham
- 1 and a half cups grated Gruyere cheese, divided
- 2 tablespoons butter, plus more for the bread and egg
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup whole milk
- A pinch of nutmeg, salt, and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- 2 large eggs
Steps
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a small pot over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes without letting it brown.
- Whisk in the milk a little at a time to avoid lumps. Cook, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sauce coats a spoon.
- Take the pot off the heat. Stir in the nutmeg, salt, pepper, and a small handful of the cheese.
- Lightly toast the bread. Spread Dijon mustard on two slices, if you like.
- Put the ham and a little cheese on the mustard slices. Close with the other slices.
- Set the sandwiches on the baking sheet. Spread bechamel over the tops and cover with the rest of the cheese.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, then broil for 1 to 2 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbling. Watch closely so it does not burn.
- While it bakes, fry the eggs in a little butter until the whites are set and the yolks are runny.
- Put an egg on each sandwich and serve right away.
Tips That Help
- Use bread that is a day old. It holds the sauce better.
- Grate your own cheese. Pre-shredded cheese has coatings that stop it from melting smoothly.
- Make the bechamel first. It can wait a few minutes off the heat.
- If the sauce gets too thick, whisk in a splash of milk.
- For a croque monsieur, skip the egg.
The New York restaurant Little Frog shared a larger brunch version with Domino in 2017. Its chef made the bechamel with a diced shallot and nutmeg, piled grated Gruyere on top, and baked the sandwiches at 400 degrees F for about 20 minutes.
Storage and Reheating
A croque madame tastes best right out of the oven. If you have leftovers, follow these steps.
- Store the parts apart if you can. The egg reheats poorly. Fry a new one when you reheat the sandwich.
- Refrigerate. Wrap the sandwich and keep it in the fridge. Eat it within a day or two.
- Keep extra bechamel. Store it in a covered container in the fridge. Whisk in a splash of milk when you warm it.
- Reheat dry. Use an oven or toaster oven at about 350 degrees F until hot in the middle. An air fryer works too.
- Skip the microwave. It makes the bread soggy and the cheese rubbery.
Dietary Notes
- Gluten. The bread and the flour in the bechamel both contain gluten. Ask whether a kitchen offers gluten-free bread.
- Dairy. There is dairy in the butter, milk, and cheese. This dish is hard to make dairy free.
- Pork. Most versions use pork ham. Some kitchens offer turkey or a vegetarian version.
- Eggs. Ask for a well-cooked egg if you avoid runny yolks.
- Calories. This is a rich dish. Treat it as a full meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a croque madame? It is a baked ham and cheese sandwich with bechamel, topped with a fried or poached egg.
What is croque monsieur? It is the same sandwich without the egg on top.
How do I find a croque madame near me? Search the dish name in a maps app, read the brunch menus of French bistros and bakery cafes, and call to confirm.
Where did the sandwich start? Larousse Gastronomique says the first croque monsieur was served in 1910 in a cafe on the Boulevard des Capucines in Paris.
What cheese is used? Gruyere is the classic choice. Comte and Emmental also work.
Is the egg fried or poached? Usually fried with a runny yolk. Some kitchens poach it.
What is the difference from a Monte Cristo? A Monte Cristo is dipped in egg and fried. A croque is baked with sauce and cheese on top.
Can I make it ahead? Make the bechamel a day ahead. Build, bake, and add the egg just before you eat.
Is it a breakfast or lunch dish? Both. In the US you see it most often at brunch.
Final Thoughts
A croque madame is simple: good bread, ham, nutty cheese, creamy sauce, and a runny egg. The hard part is that not every bistro makes it every day, and many list it only at brunch. If you live near one of the nine places in this guide, start there. Buvette covers New York, Mon Ami Gabi covers Chicago, and the two Bouchons cover Napa Valley and Las Vegas. Republique, Cafe de la Presse, Cafe Campagne, Chez Billy Sud, and Pastis cover Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington.
Everywhere else, a croque madame near me search works best when you use the French name, read the menu, and call ahead. Judge each plate by its browned top, smooth sauce, and runny yolk. And if no place nearby gets it right, a pot of bechamel and a hot oven will get you there at home.
Key Takeaways
- A croque madame near me search works best when you use the French name, read brunch menus, and call to confirm.
- A croque madame is a baked ham and Gruyere sandwich with bechamel and a fried or poached egg on top.
- The croque monsieur is the same sandwich without the egg, first served in a Paris cafe in 1910 according to Larousse Gastronomique.
- Nine verified picks include Buvette in New York, Mon Ami Gabi in Chicago, Republique in Los Angeles, and Bouchon in Las Vegas.
- French bistros, brasseries, bakery cafes, and hotel brunch menus are the most likely places to find it.
- A good one has a browned, bubbling top, crisp bread, smooth sauce, flavorful cheese, and a runny yolk.
- At home, make the bechamel first, bake at 400 degrees F, broil briefly, and add the egg just before serving.
