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- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 4 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
158 reviews for Gainsbourg
Review Highlights
"fabulous small plates so you get to try lots of."
(in 19 reviews)
"I had the delicious steak frites for $8."
(in 21 reviews)
"Happy hour is seven days a week, from 4:00 to 6:00 p."
(in 19 reviews)
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158 reviews in English
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Review from Fred V.
Seattle, WA
2/8/2012
I never thought that I would find a truly great place to dine as well as a place that does happy hour right! This place blends the funky (mismatched dinnerware and utensils, dark decor, French influence) and the dishes that compliment your palate for out of the ordinary, ordinary.
Happy hour is the best - get the namesake Gainsbourg - lamb and beef patty on a toasted baguette and make sure nto to skimp ($1 buch more) and get a generous topping Gruyere that goes so smoothly with the carmelized onions and Dijon!!!
I am super happy that the owners decided to reopen this joint after a fire last year - I will definitely be back to try some other options like the mac n' cheese or the French dip.
This place just does it right and doesn't come off as pretensious or stuffy like some other eateries in the neighborhood that just try too hard. -
Review from Angie C.
Lynnwood, WA
Have you tried the poutine? No? Well, you should.
Also, there's something to be said for a place that serves the most delicious bread & salted butter around. Drinks are yummy & strong, staff is always patient with our indecisiveness about ordering & fairly prompt with getting me my deliciousness.
I am thoroughly relieved they were able to rebuild after the fire & hope they will be around for a long time. Tonight the movies on the wall were all old 18-1900 films, which were adorable. The place isn't cheap, but it is high quality & if you share plates with friends it is damn affordable. -
Review from Tom L.
10/22/2011
My girlfriend and I decided to give this place a shot for date night. It was close by and I haven't tried a french restaurant in awhile. Once we got there we were immediately seated.
The restaurant has a dark colored motif going for it. It definitely had a retro french influnence to it. I noticed that there is an old movie projector next to the front entrance. I thought it was kind of interesting.
For an appetizer we order the roasted brussel sprouts, with bacon, carmelized onions, and a sauce on the side. Now I'm not a huge fan of brussel srouts, but these were AWESOME!! For our amin course I ordered a steak which came with roasted potatoes and a side salad. My girlfriend on the other hand ordered the poached chicken in duck fat ,which came with french fries. Once my food came out I cut into the steak and noticed that it was under cooked. I the middle was still raw. I had to send it back to get it re-cooked. Once it came back it was perfectly cooked on the inside, but it was kind of burnt and bitter. Not my best steak experience. The roasted chicken that my girlfriend ordered was dry an luke warm, but it did taste okay. Would have been much better if it were hot. Even the fries were a little cold.
I'm not sure if I hit this place on an off day or what. The highlight of the Gainsbourg was the service, at least for us. The server was very attentive and friendly. She apologized for the under cooked and cold food and never made any excuses for it.
All I can really say is that I'll give this place another shot. Hopefully my next visit here will be better. And if so I'll update this review. -
Review from Richard H.
Seattle, WA
2/4/2012
Gainsbourg is one of those places that seems too hip for Greenwood, yet fits right in. The franco-centric style of the place is balanced with beautiful local art (it seems they're on a graffiti style kick at the moment and it's awesome) and the unpretentiousness of the staff. The food is French style comfort food, generally delicious. Their Croque Monsieur/Madame is delicious and is big enough to fill me up. Some of the other entrees seem a bit small for the price, but I guess that just leaves more room for some of their small plates. I love their cocktails and the beer selection leans towards fancy craft beers (all bottles, no draft last time I was there).
They just recently had a kitchen fire they closed them down for a bit, but it gave them an excuse to remodel simultaneously. I haven't been back since the remodel, but I'm excited to see what they've done! -
Review from Haroun K.
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
The happy hour was pretty sweet. The beet salad is one of the best salads I've had in quite a long time, and it's huge. The french fries were not bad. And I believe they even have esargot for a few bucks. There's a nice selection of classic cocktails on the menu, too. Service was fast and friendly. I'd definitely return for happy hour.
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Review from Arren P.
Seattle, WA
2/3/2012
The absinthe selection is excellent and fun, and the food is pretty good as well. I do have to say the poutine is not as authentic as I might like, it is rather tasty. Service can be a little slow however, suitably french.
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Review from Wade F.
1/8/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Gainsbourg is a solid place for a glass of wine and some food. The staff is great and very nice. Food is above average, and you have to give the escargot a whirl if you have never had it before. Get there early or late because it tends to fill up very fast and there isn't an abundance of seating room. I'm not a huge french food person, but I'll be back to Gainsbourg for sure.
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Review from Jeffrey S.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 12/24/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 3 Check-ins Here
This place already offers French cafe favorites at very reasonable prices, but with the Yelp discount vouture, it made the experience, fantastic!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/22/2010
Love, love, LOVE this place.
In fact, contemplating whether it's my new fav French place in Seattle.… Read more »
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Review from Rachel E.
Seattle, WA
9/17/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Small venue.
Solidly good french food. First time I've ever tried escargot and I'm hooked! Who knew it was a vector for butter :)
Great service (slow only if they're slammed)
One cook, one server, one dishwasher. Well oiled machine.
This place is a Greenwood staple in my restaurant and bar profile -
Review from Erik H.
Seattle, WA
7/8/2011
Very good food for the most part- definitely recommend the french onion soup, french dip, croque madame, and mac 'n cheese. Lamb burger is so so, and the salads are pretty pathetic (small amount of mixed greens, a couple radish halves).
Portions on the smaller side.
A tad pricey for the portions, in my book. But food quality is quite good.
Dimly lit, nice atmosphere; what look to be french movies play on a large screen in the back.
Servers are friendly, but food takes awhile to arrive - at least you know they're not microwaving it.
One of the better restaurants in the area. -
Review from Ian C.
6/15/2011
What a nice cozy place, and delicious hangar steak!
Good beer too, and prices are fair! hurray! -
Review from Necia D.
2/26/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 2 Check-ins Here
Oh Gainsbourg, you do strive to confuse. Your come-hither look is conspicuously romanti-kal, all low lights and sumptuous reds and a swanky couch at the entrance. But once inside things feel instantly less welcoming. My friend and I arrived to a somewhat busy hum, and we did that little polite and patient smiley thing you do where you are trying not to be intrusive, but you do want to be somewhat conspicuous. You know the look. Not much happened with that. There seemed to be one bartender, two cooks, and at least one, possibly two servers.
The female server saw us come in but looked away. I know that move, having been a server in my youth for ten years; it's "I'll field this in juuuust a second." No problem. But finally, after more of that, we did advance toward her. We politely said, "Two?" and she said, "Yeah, we're full." Well, we could see that, because there seemed to be four people waiting, so my illustrious companion, Ms. P, said, "Yeah, well, could we get on the list?"
The woman replied that there was really no list. Ms. P. commented that it seemed there ought to be. Indeed.
That seemed to be all she wanted to do with us. Her further looks in the next minutes were not at all welcoming. Finally we just forged our way down and clustered around the one free bar stool that was available.
The bartender got to us after a brief wait. The inimitable Ms. P, who is a teetotaler, ordered coffee and I ordered an old fashioned. It was passable. My friend's coffee was more complicated. See, because he filled a French press with grounds, and after about 10 minutes he returned with a steaming kettle...and set it down, right next to the French press, about 3 feet away from us. He didn't pour the water in. He didn't move it closer. There was no cup. We were...well, hmmm. Then he forgot about us for a while.
Intermission...activity music...meanwhile we could see delicious things happening in the small open kitchen--yay, the cooks are a bright spot there. Quartered Brussels sprouts searing in the pan with very good quality bacon (spoiler: I had some! They were great.) When the bartender came back he slowly realized he needed to pour the coffee and kinda...bring it into range. He'd forgotten whether she wanted cream and sugar. Sigh. I'd had my drink for 15 minutes by this time.
Ordering went smoothly--two apps and two entrees. We had the poutine (undersalted, but otherwise pretty darn good) and the aforementioned Brussels sprouts (excellent!). Then some time later the bartender resurfaced and offered to clear our appetizer plates...then asked if we wanted anything else. Hmm. Well, yes, our entrees would be good...? Ooops. Mind you this guy is really nice. I am all for not being a tightass about slip-ups like this, but...when we reminded him we'd ordered he truly had no recollection of what we'd ordered (two lamb burgers) or how we wanted them (both medium rare). Or what we wanted with them. Anyway. I was still totally on his side, honestly.
We got our burger (we'd decided to just split one, as it had been at least an hour since our app order and we were now full) and it was pretty good. But a very bright spot was the sudden appearance of a beautifully plated cheesecake slice, compliments of the kitchen (and indeed, he did bring us actual compliments, which was a double-whammy bonus!) For this review, my every star goes to the kitchen staff.
I should note we'd come in with the Yelp deal, and the bartender was kind enough to fill us in that we'd underspent. So I asked him if he could make us some cool non-alcoholic cocktail or other. Mind you, Ms. P probably indicated her teetotality by ordering a coffee, right? And as a bartender (yep, did that too, years ago) who hasn't seen the teetotalers, and surmised as to some of their reasons for choosing that path? So I could not help thinking WHAT THE HELL? when our bartender responded, "I could, but if they don't have alcohol they're not cool." Sigh. Oh bartender, that was your last bonus life in the second level. Sorry, but that was really a gaffe. I like the decor, the chefs, and the good intentions here and there (well, more HERE than THERE) but you guys have some work to do with service before I'm quite convinced you're living up to appearances. -
Review from Anna C.
Seattle, WA
4/22/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal
I heart the Gainsbourg. Heart heart heart.
See you tomorrow! -
Review from Michelle U.
Seattle, WA
5/20/2011
Gainsbourg it a dark, Parisian inspired little nook of Greenwood. I've been here once before, and after both visits, I can say I enjoyed my meal, but wasn't wowed.
The frites with different dips/ketchups were one of my fave items. The pasta was okay, a creamy cheese sauce, but nothign I couldn't make at home. And bottom line: not NEARLY enough melted gruyere spilling over the top of their French onion soup! Come on, that's the best part of that dish!
Ultimately nice ambiance, it's relaxed, casual, and usually there's a table or two available...but if they could add a little gruyere to the soup, I'd be willing to bump it up a star :) -
Review from Viola S.
Roselle, IL
5/31/2011
Our server, Karina, was outstanding! So sweet, helpful and genuine. The most impressive part of our experience for sure.
The poutine was a surprisingly large portion for $7. Very tasty. I wasn't as impressed by the mac & cheese, unfortunately. It was quite bland. May return for the poutine, but sadly there aren't any other vegetarian entrees besides the mac & cheese. -
Review from Taryn H.
Seattle, WA
6/15/2011
Husband and I were looking for a place for cocktails. Gainsbourg peaked our interest due to our mutual love of its patron saint Serge.
The cocktail menu is quite feminine, with drinks named after famous French bombshells and chanteuse, all seeming to be variations on the French 75. I had the Brigit Bardot, which was gin, creme du peche, and champagne. Very smooth and drinkable, but quite sweet. I prefer drier drinks, so the cocktail menu wasn't too exciting for me. My husband had an absinthe -- they had around 10 varieties.
We didn't have dinner, just dessert -- a stellar dark chocolate cake, with a hint of Gran Marnier.
We dug on the vibe. Nice lighting, Good soundtrack. Friendly servers. -
Review from Martine W.
WA
3/11/2011
This restaurant is a game of duck-duck-goose. Or in this case, good-good-good-bad!
Ambience: good
Food: great
Liquor: good
Service: BAD.
I'm sorry, usually I'm the nicest reviewer ever, but I worked in the restaurant industry for a million years and the service here is officially whack. (I've been several times and had several different servers, I would never base a review like this on one time.) If a customer asks you for something, like a SPOON for example, you should turn around and get that right away as clearly a customer cannot eat soup without one. This happened in subsequent visits, so it wasn't an isolated incident. I could go on and on about the service, I think the training must be slim to nonexistent, I wanted to get out of my booth and do a little F&B education! I think their staffing is also inadequate. Tip to management: 6 tables per section. One server per section. As Tim Gunn would say: make it happen!
Aside from that little rant, Gainsbourg is a gem! The food is amaaaaaazing. I cannot get enough of the parsnip soup and I'm afraid to try the French onion for fear I might never eat at home again. Their croque monsieur is realllly good, and the au jus for the French dip is made of concentrated French onion soup which is utterly delicious. The food, the ambience and the cute black and white movies are enough to keep me coming back for more, despite the atrocities of the waitstaff. -
Review from Aaron E.
Updated - 2/20/2011 Purchased a Yelp Deal 2 Check-ins Here
Bummer! Each visit seems to be worse and worse!
The steak frites were mediocre at best. A tough, chewy piece of beef is never appealing... and what happened to your frites? On previous visits they were always the highlight! Crispy, hot, fresh, a tiny bit greasy. Recenlty they seem limp, cold, and clumpy (you *try* to grab one and they all just stick together).
While disappointed with recent visits I was still willing to give it another shot last night. Ouch. The french press was pretty awful. It's typically such a rich, luscious coffee but it was bitter and sour last night.
And the burger and fries I had last night? Eh. I didn't think the additional dollar for the tiny dallop of bleu cheese was worth it. I'm all for bleu cheese in moderation (it's such a rich, powerful flavor)... but this was an excessively small amount. The extra cost of bacon wasn't worth it either. I didn't even notice it. While the patty was nice and juicy, it was extremely greasy. The baguette was an interesting choice as a roll, but it made the dish really hard to eat. Again, the frites were not good :( At $20+ for a barely drinkable french press and a mediocre burger I was not a happy camper.... definitely not worth the cost.Listed in: Because of Yelp
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/14/2009
I have to admit I'd never heard of Gainsbourg before Kiki mentioned we should go there. Bad Aaron. I… Read more »
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Review from Katy H.
2/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Can we say yum? What a fabulous late lunch I had here a while back. In fact, I couldn't write about it until now because I've been too busy being so FULL!
For tasty French food and fine cocktails all served up in an adorable setting, look no further than Gainsbourg. I was so impressed with the food and the service here. Can't wait to come back again soon! -
Review from Kelly B.
9/25/2011 1 photo
We happened upon Gainsbourg on a Friday afternoon for happy hour and couldn't have been more delighted. How much for escargot, you say $3??? Short but tasty and very well priced happy hour menu. The regular dinner menu looked awesome - I can't believe they only charge $14 for steak frites. The atmosphere was divey retro French chic and the service was outstanding. Will be back soon!
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Review from izzy w.
1/20/2011
Were those beatniks planted there?
One of my favorite HH whores, er, companions and I decided to check this place out.
Uh-huh. Definitely my kinda joint.
Service was prompt and appropriately attentive.
Food was good, too. I had the tilapia fillets with salad and both were très tasty. The fish was accompanied by an excellent tartar sauce.
My companion had the mac 'n cheese and was very impressed. I had a bite or two (really, have you ever had mac 'n cheese sitting a few inches from you and been able to resist taking a hunk for yourself?) and was in total agreement with her. Very nice.
Now for the primary reason for our visit: cocktails. I had something called the Edith Piaf. Cute name, eh? It was a beautiful drink with vodka, lemon juice and creme de violet.
The pal had a standard Makers Mark manhattan, which she loved. Both drinks went down smoothly, as they should.
Prices were reasonable, for what we got.
Anyway, back to those beatniks. There were two of them sitting behind us. For a little second, I longed for the days of cigarettes; these two would have no doubt been smoking, if allowed. That would have completed my nostalgic picture.
The ambience is incomparable here. I'll be back. -
Review from Jara M.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 4/14/2011
And I did bring my friends there for my 40th birthday! Unfortunately there were 2 other birthday groups there that night. I had reserved a month in advance and ended up standing, waiting with my party for about 10 minutes by the door while they tried to squeeze us in. I also had to speak VERY LOUDLY to get someone to make eye contact with me or my group.
Once our waiter figured us out, he did a pretty darn good job and was running around like crazy to make us all happy. The food was pretty good. The drinks were pretty good. The dessert was delish!
It woulda been nice to get a complimentary drink or dessert for the birthday girl :) But overall I had a good time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/23/2010
I was originally drawn to this restaurant because of the name. I'm a huge fan of Serge Gainsbourg.
… Read more »
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Review from Amber B.
Seattle, WA
5/13/2011
Gainsbourg is my kind of place.
Charlottte Gainsbourg is one of my favorite cultural icons since The Science of Sleep came out. I had no idea there was a connection, just thought it was a common french last name.
I enjoy special nights going here before a show or a date because it makes me feel like a grown up. I can't quite put my finger on the decor, it is kind of Mouline Rouge meets french fairytale?
More importantly the food is pretty much to die for. The portions are not at all huge but there are lots of small things you can order. This last trip I had the cheese platter, olives, mushrooms, and frites. Those ranged from $3-$7. I like to do that rather than order the 1 thing on the menu that is vegetarian - the brie macaroni. Although that's tasty too, don't get me wrong.
Drinks - they have a happy hour but only bottled beer unfortunately. If you are going to a french restaurant expect to pay for pricey cocktails and imported beer. Frankly I'm more inclined towards the non-alcoholic sparkling lemonade and other gourmet sodas.
Je t'aime Gainsbourg! -
Review from Formica D.
Seattle, WA
9/5/2011
I recently tried Gainsbourg with a few friends for happy hour, and it exceeded my expectations.
Maybe I am eating at the wrong places, but unlike other reviewers, I found the portions generous for the prices, so much so that that I over-ordered. I can't remember it all, but I think we had the charcuterie, poutine, brussels sprouts and macaroni & cheese, as well as some wine and cocktails. Everything was delicious--except the poutine, but I don't care for poutine.
The old-world bistro atmosphere, though a bit forced, was right up my alley.
I do have to strike a star for the service which, although pleasant, was inattentive. The server came by immediately after we had seated ourselves. Since we hadn't had a chance to look at the menu, we asked her to come back. That took her so long we wished we had ordered something during her first pass. Our food came out intermittently (which was perfect for grazing), but if it hadn't, I'm not confident the server would have checked on us. Still, she was nice when she was around.
Greenwood is out of my way, but Gainsbourg is on my list of places to try again. -
Review from Carla J.
Seattle, WA
12/7/2010 Purchased a Yelp Deal
It is the morning after, I was a little PIG! I ate so much food I can't pronounce or spell! It was delicious, let me break it down....
Starters: Mushrooms with truffle oil HEAVENLY, French Onion Soup FANTASTIC. Meat & Cheese platter (it WAS called something else frenchy) but that is what it was it was yummy!
And WHY did I get so greedy wanting to try EVERYthing?? Because I had the yelp deal $50 worth of food for $25!!! I entered the joint getting a deal (mind set) and I OVER ORDERED!!!
I don't care! I splurged, I enjoyed myself!
En tree's:
Chicken Wings: Soaked (marinated I guess) in Duck Oil (called something else) They where crispy lil bites of JOY. 5 Stars!
Mac & Cheese, the ultimate comfort food! Prepared from scratch, pasta perfect and cheese sauce throughout, rich yumminess! 6 Stars!
Lamb & Beef Burger! Seasoned to perfection! I lost the bread and ate the meat! 5 Stars!
Had a beer and a French 75 Cocktail with lemon zest! The perfect finish, another 6 Stars!
I will be back! When I am not feeling full anymore! My experience was AMAZING, GREAT FOOD, GREAT SERVICE.Listed in: Carla's Favorites!!!
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Review from Miriam H.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 10/9/2011
Second childfree episode, only four stars because the back wall was projecting "Robot Monster" (1953) and our olives took seventeen minutes to arrive (ordered with frites, but I understand frites take preparation time when they are fresh). Did you know Elmer Bernstein composed music for "Robot Monster?" A calculated ploy by Gainsbourg staff to sell more alcohol because "Robot Monster" is only half-watchable after a few drinks. In my case their ploy worked.
Blessedly we had the counter, to find some swellegant cocktail tomes. The frites were thin, greasy and salty -- top notch. Brigitte Bardot cocktail was fine and light--not bombshelly like its namesake yet feminine. I followed it with a Byron (Canadian Club & 7-Up, not sure what this has to do with Byron) with no stomach revolt.
We were offered aioli with our frites. I asked for vinegar too, and got it. And waggishly one server asked me if I wanted vinegar with my chocolate cake too. I did not have enough to drink for me to accept her kind offer1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/19/2011
I suggested Gainsbourg to my better half when we had some childless hours to spend. My spouse is… Read more »
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Review from Clover A.
11/20/2010 1 Check-in Here
The food-Fromage A Trois and the Croque Monsieur with frites-was good, but not stellar. The cheese plate was better than the entree, but again, not WOOO HOOO or anything.
The service was kind but confused overall, we weren't sure there was a clear idea of what we were doing there (trying to have dinner) and trying to pay the check in a timely manner became a bit difficult.
My cocktail - the Edith Piaf- was delicious.
The atmosphere was nice, and I did like it, I just didn't fall in love.
I have no doubt I'll try it again to be sure, I think I might need practice to get good at being a patron here. -
Review from Sarah M.
King, WA
2/27/2011
Yum yum. For an appetizer we got the escargot and the poutine fries. I tried the famous french dip sandwich for my entree.
The service gets a little sloppy once it gets busy. Had to wave the waitress down for drink refills and the check. Sadly though the food was tasty, most of it was cold because they let it sit around while they were taking care of other customers :(
I might give Gainsbourg another try when they are less busy.Listed in: Restaurants
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Review from Justin I.
Seattle, WA
9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I gotta say, I've changed my tune about this place a little. I was really excited to have a French place in Greenwood, but after two or three visits, I was kinda disappointed about the level of food quality. The steak in the steak-frites was gristly and tough, the bun on the Gainsbourger was stale, et cetera. After not visiting for almost a year, E and I decided to give it another shot tonight, and I can tentatively say we will be adding it back into our rotation. Our server was amiable and (for the most part) attentive, our drinks were delicious (pineapple soda?!) the salads were fresh, the baguette crisp and chewy, the brussels sprouts tender and flavorful, pan-roasted with pancetta and shallots and ladled with a citrus-y Hollandaise (despite having a slightly odd BBQ sauce taste which I couldn't quite get a bead on). Best of all, we were thrilled to see they added entrecote to the menu! I won't say it was up to par with what we had in Paris (at Relais de l'Entrecote), but nothing is, really. Anyway, the steak was cooked perfectly to order, lean and flavorful, and the frites were flawless. I would say they could've sauteed that garlic just a touch longer as it was a bit harsh, but this is a really minor complaint.
They were also showing episodes of "Do You Do You Scopitone" on the back screen, which was hilarious and fun to watch while we were eating, if a bit of a detriment to conversation.
We'll be back. -
Review from Cameron L.
Seattle, WA
8/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I'm subtracting a star because I missed the opportunity to try their burger on a croissant. That lasted for a few weeks... damn. Otherwise, this is my go-to place. Great outdoor spot to take the dog. Super-friendly servers, great selection of absinthe. Try their weekend brunch, their menu is delicious. I had steak and eggs a few weeks ago, cured my sunday hangover.
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Review from Kristine H.
Seattle, WA
I had a gift certificate and on a recent rainy night, we decided to check them out. All of the booths were taken except for a small table with an overly bright lamp. We chose to sit at the bar near the painting of Serge who watched the patrons with an indifferent eye. We weren't in the mood for alcohol. I stuck with water and my boyfriend went with one of their house lemon sodas.
Our order was simple. He went with two of their mixed plates for his dinner. The cheese plate came with Ewephoria (a sheep's milk Gouda), Tomme de Savoie, and infused chèvre. There was also a small portion of bread, apple slices, honey, and almonds. The charcuterie plate had Saucisse au Sec, Rosette de Lyon, and smoked duck breast. It also came with bread, some whole grain mustard and cornichons.
I picked their poisson and frites: three small portions of panko-crusted Tilapia with house-cut chips, tarragon rémoulade and ketchup. The tilapia was tender and flaky. And the frites were excellent. I can never pass up the offer of sautéed mushrooms. These were especially good, cooked with onions in a white wine reduction.
There was one cook and one bartender covering the entire place. The cook got the orders out quickly but at times, the bartender missed chances to refill our waters. She was pleasant and the food was good so there's no stars lost. Before we left, we ordered a croque-madame for my best friend who was working late. It was quickly made and looked quite good!
I have one constructive criticism for the kitchen. A higher quality bread would go better with the menu items. The bread that we received was a little too chewy instead of crusty. I would go back and see if they can gain an additional star. Right now though, they clock in at a solid three. -
Review from David T.
Seattle, WA
3/17/2011
Mmmm poutine!
Don't know why I never made it in here since I live right down the freaking street. Cozy place w/a good selection of drinks, ambiance nice and laid back... I had the croque-monsieur with a belgian.
Recommend? yes. -
Review from katya l.
6/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
My experience at Gainsbourg started out swimmingly and ended with me wondering if I'd been transported to a rowdy Ave bar mid-meal. When we first walked in, I was charmed by the rustic French decor, the soft warbling of Edith Piaf playing over the house speakers and the several other couples having intimate conversations in the cozy booths. We snagged a tiny table in the back (although once one of the couples left we moved to a bigger booth) and ordered a couple of glasses of wine.
I thought the menu was quite reasonably priced for good French food, but what I didn't count on was the small portions - and these weren't small portions of Cafe Campagne quality where the flavors are so exquisite and rich that a few bites is all you need. The French onion soup, while quite tasty, came in a tiny ramikin, half of which was taken up by two large croutons. The charcuterie platter bore four paper-thin slices each of salumi and salame, four small slices of baguette, four slices of duck breast that were literally half fat (think more like bacon) and three triangles of cheese. A little bare-bones for $11. When we asked for more bread, which was absolutely necessary unless we wanted to stack the meats or eat them without bread at all, we were charged $3 - and we were not warned about it. Our first wine pours were shallow even for the small glasses they used - disappointing, when the wine is $9 a glass.
Aside from the overpriced food and tiny portions, the service and the clientele were what really ruined the night for me. I'm not generally a stickler for service unless it's really bad - and it was really bad. Halfway through our meal, all the quiet couples departed and were replaced with a raucous foursome that seemed to know the server and one of the cooks. With their arrival, our night quickly turned from a nice French meal to drinks at a dive bar. Once we finished our food and wine, we waited for 15 minutes for the server to come by - in the meantime, she served shots to her friend behind the bar while his companions laughed uproariously and knocked down bar stools, and one of the cooks cursed up a storm. We had to shout to be heard over their 'conversation'. When the server finally came around, we ordered another glass of wine and a croque madame. At that point, we were the only party in the restaurant aside from the party monsters, and the only ones eating. Still, it took the sandwich a good 20 minutes to arrive.
When we finally escaped, we handed our server a Seattle Weekly deal for $50 - the only saving grace of the night, aside from the good food, was the fact that we didn't have to pay for the entire meal. She ended up applying the discount after she added tax (which is what's supposed to be done, technically, I know, but no one does it) so we still had to shell out for it, not to mention the surprise bread charge. We left disappointed and annoyed. Gainsbourg seems to be confused - the clientele and the decor don't quite match up, as do the food portions and prices. The night started our so well, but the latter half of our experience ensured that I'll never return here again. -
Review from Jackie K.
1/31/2011
I totally dig this place. It is a shiny spot on this dingy Greenwood strip. But like most small-plates joints I can drop a hefty load and still come away a little hungry. Next time I need to venture to the meal-sized plates and forgo the "let's share a bunch of bites" philosophy.
Their varying happy hour specials are the best deals. Really. Monday is all-day happy hour.
This just in: wild boar bolognaise just added to the menu! -
Review from Kiana F.
8/8/2011
All the food that I had while there was delicious. Their garlic aoli they give you with the frites is to die for! Our cheese platter was also SO GOOD. I enjoyed my drinks - the Lemon Incest was delicious. And their cassis drink with champagne was also super good. I'll definitely be returning!
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Review from Tammy W.
10/9/2010
"Heaven ... I'm in heaven ..."
HOW could it have taken me two years to know about Gainsbourg? My mother, aunt and I were taking in a play at the Taproot Theater today, and I did my dutiful Yelp research in advance for a good lunch spot in Greenwood. Well, we chose the newly-opened Olive and Grape (more on THAT lousy experience in another review), but in my research I discovered Gainsbourg.
I was under the mistaken impression that they were only open for dinner, but as I walked by to meet my family I saw that they are indeed open for lunch! (Must read those posted hours on Yelp more carefully!) We ate at O & G, saw the play, fell in love with the kitties at PAWS, then hit Antika and the City of Hope Thrift Store, finishing just in time for happy hour.
Happy hour is seven days a week, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., and all day Monday, baybee. $1 off specialty cocktails, but my oh my, the deal of the century is the escargot with crusty bread for THREE DOLLARS. Regularly $6, slashed to $3, served baked in a white ceramic escargot dish - 6 little gems floating in a sea of buttery goodness. And just in case you missed any butter, use the soft-on-the-inside, perfectly-crunchy-on-the-outside bread to soak it all up!
I also tried the olive selection - regularly $3, only $2 during happy hour. You could not buy more olives for $2 at any deli or grocery store olive bar in town; I ate about 10 but still had plenty to take home.
The $5 Gainsbourg burger is also another screaming deal during happy hour, as is the baguette for $1.50.
The two specialty cocktails I sampled were delicious: The Lemon Incest was my favorite.
I also ordered the poutine, which was a little unsalted but otherwise perfect, and the brussel sprouts. How can you say no to brussel sprouts with bacon? Again, delish.
The interior is red and black and adorned with cool wallpaper, with old movies playing on the back wall and an open kitchen. Black and white photos of French scenes abound, but the pièce de résistance is a dripping oil Venus lamp right out of the 70's by the restrooms. A great eclectic vibe. -
Review from Wing F.
Seattle, WA
11/8/2010
This was the perfect place to run out for a quick absinthe dip. We went for happy hour and had the olives, frites, and cheese plate. The absinthe selection was varied and the server knew the differences which helped us pick.
I hoped there'd be more Gainsbourg on the radio, but all in all it was a great time. -
Review from Lara H.
Seattle, WA
8/31/2011
The best thing that I can say about Gainesbourg is that the happy hour is from 2-6. So, I hung out there with my computer waiting for Naked City to open. The Happy hour menu is sparse and the best that I can say about my waitress (in her case waitress is a misnomer) is that she brought some water without me having to ask. The Gainsbourger is a lamb beef mix and is greasy, bland, and undercooked. I had to ask her (loudly, as she was behind the bar most of the time-I was the only person there) for ketchup, another glass of wine, and the check. There's not much for good deals/service/food in Greenwood so happy hour prices from 2-6 is the best you're gonna get.......It's 4:00, Off to Naked city now.
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Review from Victoria C.
Seattle, WA
12/19/2010 Purchased a Yelp Deal 1 Check-in Here
I came here with a few girlfriends for a ladies' night, and we all loved the place. Perfect place for some low-key girl time, without having to worry about getting hit on by creepers, and without having to worry about talking too loud, and where you can enjoy some relatively cheap and tasty French-ish food.
PROS:
1. Good small plates menu. We got a baguette ($3), escargot ($6), a charcuterie plate ($11), sauteed mushrooms ($7), poutine ($7), and pommes frites ($4). There were lots of other things to pick from as well. And everything tasted fresh and delicious.
Note: Don't get the baguette. Every other dish comes with a side of baguette, so don't pay for it.
2. Unique cocktail list. A couple of us got this black currant champagne drink ($9), and others got lavender lemonade ($7), among other mixed drinks.
3. Pretty speedy service.
4. Private, tucked-away location. I call this a good thing--kind of speakeasy-esque.
CONS:
1. Not the best portion sizes. The plates of pommes frites and poutine were tiny. At Cafe Campagne, another French place in Seattle (and much classier), the pommes frites are the same price, yet you get like six times as much (I kid you not).
2. Kind of divey French food. Like I said, it ain't Cafe Campagne. And it certainly ain't Paris.
3. A little on the over-priced side. -
Review from Kelly S.
Seattle, WA
7/5/2010
I cannot believe I haven't written a review about this place yet. I just assumed I did since I live down the street.
I really heart this place. Their food has always been good and their drinks (especially their champagne ones) are really delicious.
Their Tuesday nights are awesome right now (1/2 price bottles of wine) I went here for my Birthday (you can reserve a nice big table complete with candle). Boy oh boy I was in such a birthday, champagne cocktails, french cheeses and cake induced haze, that by the end of it all, the only thing I could do was smile and pass out in bed.
Thanks Gainsbourg! You never fail me!Listed in: My fav places to add a dress…
