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- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated, Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
233 reviews for Maximilien Restaurant
Review Highlights
"i'm so glad my friend suggested it for happy hour."
(in 80 reviews)
"This place is tucked back inside Pike Place Market."
(in 19 reviews)
"...views were amazing of the sun coming down over Puget Sound."
(in 16 reviews)
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233 reviews in English
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Review from Connie C.
1/30/2012
Go past the fish-throwers, to find the neon signs of Maximilien. Came for a friend's birthday party, we had our own little space upstairs by the bar for our group of 16. The waiter was willing to split out checks out by couples/individuals, and was timely w/food orders and service.
Now, for the food. Some in the group were complaining about how expensive the menu items were (dinner, each plate is at least $25), so some people just had soup ($11!) and salad ($9). The salad was weak looking, but the soups were the biggest bowls of soup any of us had ever seen.
I had the chilean sea-bass, which was EXTREMELY delicious, very impressive. All the folks who got it had HUGE cuts of fish, which was awesome, it was tender and juicy. Really good, paired with a big plate of veggies. I felt like my dish was very worth-it for $28, a nice view, in downtown Seattle. Those who ordered the duck also liked it a lot (if you're not used to having bloody duck, I suggest ordering it well-done...even at medium, it was still very pink, which I think in the U.S. we're not very used to seeing outside of steaks).
All the food was great. We brought our own cake, and the restaurant charged us each $2 to have it plated...
The food was great, the service was good, and we had a nice view. -
Review from Ken A.
Nampa, ID
11/26/2011
Stopped in for lunch with no reservations at 11:30 on black Friday. They immediately sat us downstairs at a window seat. Service was excellent. We each had a bloody mary, nice on the spice and garnished with olives, cornichons and a lemon.
We started with a half dozen oyster shooters and the cheese plate. Both were good. We each chose an order of mussels for our mains. I had the Maximilien with carmelized onions, my wife had the Roquefort. We traded back and forth and both were very good. Neither of us could finish our portions. Bread for soppin' up the goodness may have filled us up prematurely.
Nice lunch, huge portions and a decent price. Took a walk to the space needle to work some of it off. -
Review from Dana R.
Bainbridge Island, WA
Updated - 11/20/2011
Had a wonderful dinner here Friday night with my husband.
He started with Hudson Valley foie gras prepared two ways ... one, the liver was house-cured in milk and Armagnac and then seared and served over a bed of apple marmalade and the other a tourchon of foie gras with the perfect amount of brioche. The plate is garnished with a balsamic reduction. Both were exquisitely prepared ... the best he'd had in quite sometime according to my husband.
I started with the French onion soup. I asked them to add a bit more cheese, and once they did it was among the best onion soup gratinees I've had ... if the onions were just a little bit caramelized and there was a sheet of gratineed cheese on top (rather than shredded cheese) I'd say it was the best I'd had.
My husband's Coquille St. Jacques aux Champagne was almost perfect. Unfortunately, all but one of the scallops were slightly overcooked. The dish is made with wild caught sea scallops, Tobiko caviar and Champagne beurre blanc and is served with roasted garlic-whipped potatoes (not as good a my whipped potatoes), asparagus and golden beets.
My cassoulet was rich and yummy -- perfect for a cold night! The white beans were just a bit overcooked for my liking (they were a tiny bit mushy) and there could have been some roasted garlic cloves and more of the broth (it was just a touch dry for my liking). The duck confit was fantastic, as were the Toulouse sausage, garlic sausage, pork, lamb, and veal.
Overall, a very good meal. I just love the ambiance (except for the woman diner from Texas with a shrill voice who felt the need to talk/yell at her dining companions as if they were sitting across the restaurant) and the warm and friendly service.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/19/2011
I'm embarrassed to say that after living in Seattle for many decades I only just dined here for the… Read more »
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Review from Heidi H.
Long Beach, CA
2/8/2012
Nice location right in the middle of the Pike! We had a table with a view of the Puget Sound at sunset. My better half called early to make special arrangements for our anniversary. When we arrived, there were rose petals and chocolates on the table. The waiter was quick to serve us champagne as we were looking over the menu. Excellent service. Excellent food.
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Review from Suz L.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
Best Brunch in SEA.
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Review from Big B.
Seattle, WA
1/10/2012
As romantic a place as they come. You can not go wrong bringing a date here.
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Review from Angela K.
12/20/2011
For a fancy and romantic restaurant, the dinners are delicious, decently-priced, and very filling. This is a wonderful French restaurant to go for a date. I recommend the Coquille St. Jacques aux Champagne; the scallops are large, juicy, and flavorful sea medallions. I hear their happy hour is good, yummy wines!
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Review from Anne N.
Seattle, WA
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Day 3 of Restaurant Week.
Aside from the gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, I can't say I would go out of my way to give this restaurant another try. Let's see why.
Starters: The steamed mussels took 40 mins to get to our table after ordering. Portion was good but the broth was under-seasoned.
Entrees: The Artic Char had a crispy skin (a plus!) but the meat was unfortunately overcooked. The better choice was the Beef Bourguignon...such a simple dish (tender chunks of beef in a "stew" made up of Burgundy red wine) but perfect on a cold autumn evening.
Desserts: The assortment of cheese and fresh fruits would be perfect for those that like blue cheese, goat cheese, and sheep cheese (you get a small piece of each, along with some fig jam, almonds, half of a strawberry, and a couple of grapes). I don't...so I went for the chocolate/coffee mousse. It was mediocre, nothing to rave about.
An overall "meh" experience. -
Review from Mitzi V.
Sammamish, WA
11/14/2011
I would love to review the food here, but I can't because after I had made reservations for my anniversary, they denied it had ever happened. I don't like being treated like an idiot: "are you sure you have the right Maximillien? It is impossible that you made a reservation." Ugh. And that's just a small sample of the oozing superiority and attitude I got during that conversation despite my knowledge of the party that had booked the restaurant that night, the exact number of people attending that party, their anniversary rose petal offer, etc.
We were ready to drop serious dough on wine and food that night, instead we went to Place Pigalle which was another disaster altogether. What's going on Pike restaurants? -
Review from Mario G.
Santa Barbara, CA
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is off to the side in Pike's Place and we came here on the basis of a recommendation from a friend. I generally assume most places in the market would be pretty touristy, and thus low quality. Maximilien's is not that place.
We sat outside on the patio, which had a great view of the Sound on an awesome, beautiful day. I ordered the lamb burger. Generally, I'm not a fan of burgers, because once you've had your first, you pretty much get the gist of what others are like. This burger was amazing. It was extremely filling and hit the spot after a long day of walking. The menu looks amazing and I probably shouldn't have gone with the burger. But, hey, I was craving it.
Great place! I would definitely eat here again. -
Review from Poulina K.
Kirkland, WA
Updated - 8/16/2011 1 photo
Spent another beautiful Sunday afternoon on the patio at Maximilien's and this time it was definitely worth 4 stars.
- A dozen oysters for $17, simple, fresh and not very pricey
- Raspberry sangria: so delicious I wish they would sell it by carafe
- Clams in chorizo broth, steamed just right with that salty and spicy charm.
- Bloody Mary: House spice blend with fresh dill, wich always reminds me of Russia.
Since this is a French restaurant I would expect the following items to be perfect, but I think they still deserve a few accolades:
- French 75 and Soupe à l'oignon - 5 stars.
Our server was engaging, polite and very pleasant. We even exchanged some basic (on my end) French.Listed in: Show off your Emerald City, After 5 pm Bliss
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/18/2010
Finally made it down to Maximilien for late lunch on one of the hottest days this summer. We got a… Read more »
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Review from Danny R.
Anchorage, AK
10/24/2011
This place is excellent! I give the service 5 stars and the food 4.5 stars. My wife and I had the Beef Cheeks and the Scallops. As you would expect from a French restaurant, the sauces were rich, complex, and decadent. The only reason for the 0.5 star deduction on the food was that my scallops were slightly overcooked on the outside making them a little stringy.
Regardless, a supurb experience! -
Review from Jane S.
Seattle, WA
2/2/2012
Sorry, but the service was terrible. My husband and I stood at the hostess station for 10 minutes before anyone acknowledged us. When we said we were there for happy hour, they dismissively sent us upstairs, where the same thing happened. Once seated we immediately told the waiter we were there for the happy hour special (which included a sampling of everything on their happy hour menu). Our waiter casually said they don't have it anymore, and the ap that directed us there in the first place was wrong. SO, three setbacks, but we order anyways. Chicken wings confit were cold, greasy, and flavorless. The escargot was grainy and slimy. I suspect the herbs were not washed? It tasted like dirt. The stuffed mushrooms were FREEZING. Like, freezer freezing. And the fries...they were OK, but the sauces served with them were similar to Cristco and mustard. And every weirder, the sauces were scentless! We were so stunned at the food and service, it was almost comically bad. We had a nice view and a half hour to kill though, so we ordered the bucket of beer and had a good laugh while completing the comment card. Definitely not going back. One of my most memorable bad restaurant experiences.
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Review from Katy M.
San Francisco, CA
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
First the good: lovely deck with a fantastic view, charming interior, great location in the market. Everything else: meh to yuck. Service was friendly but pretty incompetent - things came out in random order and it was hard to get a server's attention. Dishes ranged from okay to disgusting - we sent the mussels back because they tasted really off (to the restaurant's credit they didn't charge us for those).
I would go back but probably just for drinks, or things like a cheese tray that don't require much technique (though the cheese tray was expensive and incredibly skimpy). The upstairs space inside looked like a very romantic spot to spend happy hour as well. Don't come here expecting a great meal, and you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Vy T.
Easily this place gets a 5 star review for its patio for happy hour. I mean, talk about stunning views of Puget Sound - and considering I'm an out-of-towner who was looking for a good happy hour, we meandered our way and got a side table.
Using my best French accent (cuz those 4 years of high school French still linger somewhere), I ordered the French martini while my friend settled for the sangria. We also ordered the belgian frites and the assiette de fromages. Our waiter seemingly approved of my accent, and I knew this place was 100% French, no faked accents here. I was excited about the possibilities.
This is where things went awry and why I give this place a 3.5 bordering on 4 star review..(I wish we could give 1/2 stars!!) The belgian frites came out piping hot and they even threw in a side of baguette bread for good measure. I wondered where the plate of cheese was and asked our waiter. Finally it came out and..
saddest cheese plate ever. For $8, I was disappointed - or maybe that was just a very French presentation of the meal? I guess after getting a little buzzed and munching away at Belgian fries, I was underwhelmed by this finale.
Overall, the place is fantastic for happy hour, in a wonderful location, has good service and a killer view. I just wish that cheese plate hadn't been such a letdown! (but maybe I'm just being snooty?)Listed in: My visit to the Emerald City
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Review from Shannon B.
Seattle, WA
6/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
We tried Maximilien in the Market for Happy Hour on a gorgeous Seattle sunny day and were not disappointed.
It had been a rough day and so in lieu of finding a spot in my normal favorite Pike Place garage I splurged and let the valet deal with my car. Very happy I did that! It was hot enough that I would have been sweating, er, GLOWING, after making the hike from my garage to Maximilien's through the packed Pike Place crowd. Even though I was just meeting friends, it's never a good look.
We found a spot outside overlooking Elliott Bay and after giggling happily at being seated outside in the glorious weather, we perused our menus. We decided to split everything and ordered for the table: Assiette De Fromages (Plate of Five assorted Cheese served with fresh fruit), Fougasse Vegetarian (Flat brioche, créme fraîche, tomato, basil, onions & goat cheese), Champignons de Paris (Braised with white wine, coriander, lemon and thyme) and Belgium Frites (Fries cornet served with two dipping sauces). All were quite good, not a bad dish in the bunch. -
Review from Angie R.
Seattle, WA
5/23/2011
the worst service I have had downtown lately.
I went here for happy hour during one of our sunny days. We were ignored pretty much our whole time there. The place was not crowded. It was busy but definatly not overwhelmingly so. One waiter must have agreed because he stood around doing nothing most of the time.
Our waiter ignored our request for water 4 times until another one brought it over (the only good thing about this place besides the weather)
If i want mediocre drinks and over priced apps I have plenty more options than this place. -
Review from Sin-Yaw W.
Seattle, WA
8/25/2011
The famous outdoor patio has a very nice view of Puget Sound. I ordered a Martini and enjoyed the lovely Seattle summer until my guests arrived. We seated downstairs that is kind of stuffy. Again, the view is spectacular.
For a French restaurant, the wine list is not at all impressive, particularly not many local choices. Escargo were ordinary, Foie Gras were large and delicious. Breads were excellent.
As for the entrees, the general impression were mediocre. I had halibut. Others had Elk, duck, and salmon. They were all pretty good, but also nothing to boast about. It went downhill after.
My creme brule was really average. Someone order souffle and it was really bad, essentially undercooked inside and not much the rich and creamy flavor and texture you would expect.
For food, go across the street for Chez Shea. For view, go Water Front or Edgewater. For drinks, go Zig Zag. Let tourists pay here. -
Review from Andrew F.
Seattle, WA
5/18/2011
The food at Maximilien is great. The view on a clear day is even better. What's not great however, is the attitude. I get that you want to be authentic and have French staff, but let's face it - Americans and French people don't exactly have the same standards of courtesy and friendliness. My girlfriend loves this place, and their lunch deal is pretty good, but by the time the meal is over, I end up feeling like we were not welcome.
So yes, the mussels and steak frites are delish. No, I wouldn't waste my time there if I actually wanted to enjoy myself. -
Review from Jeff A.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2011
Excellent!
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Review from Theresa R.
Seattle, WA
8/30/2011
It was our first time and was pretty impressed.
We had lunch (mid-afternoon).
View was amazing (what we could see - we were stuck in the middle of the patio). Next time will ask for a "window" seat.
Server was wonderful - husband had the steak, I had salmon.
Only regret was I wanted more of those buttery delish potatoes.
We didn't have dessert (we got some ice cream at the market).
Overall great afternoon - will go back! -
Review from Katy B.
4/15/2011
In. Love.
I had the most wonderful dinner here while my aunt was in town. We started with a dozen oysters (which I do not typically eat) and I will admit that the 2 that I tried were briny and delicious. My entree was the Chilean Sea Bass served with these heavenly (and I'll pretend fat free) potatoes, roasted fennel, and broccolini. I did everything but lick the plate. It was divine. Perfectly cooked fish.
My aunt had the fois gras 2 ways, and she enjoyed it as well but found one of the "ways" too salty. I admit I didn't try it, and I admit I have no idea what fois gras is.
Dessert was also amazing. I got the little sampler with espresso. A sinful bittersweet truffle, pear sorbet, a cream puff with ice cream and chocolate, and CREME BRULEE. Yes please! Yummy. And a great way to finish the meal.
We shared a bottle of chardonnay. The service was amazing. I'll definitely be back for a date night. -
Review from Diana M.
5/28/2011
When I go to a more upscale restaurant, I expect the food to be at least decent. Our food was barely edible. I'm shocked to see this place has so many great reviews because I thought the food was completely vile.
I ordered the Coquille Saint-Jacques - the pan seared diver scallops. They WAY overcooked them. It was like chewing on rubber. The sauce and flavoring was completely absent. I feel like I would have been better buying a bouncy ball from a 25 cent machine and making a meal out of that. It would have been the same texture.
My husband had the Coulibiac de Saumon Sauce Dijonnaise - or the baked salmon with goat cheese stuffed in a puff pastry. My husband wasn't thrilled with his food and when I tried it I actually gagged. Maybe this is partly my fault - goat cheese is just awful in general and the pairing with the salmon makes it even more disgusting. But the pastry was actually burnt on the bottom as well.
Despite my harsh words, I will admit that the view is gorgeous and the service was decent. But considering we went there for a food it was AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL.
We don't splurge often on a nice dinner out so it made me incredibly angry we had such a poor experience. I was looking forward to a nice meal and it really soured our evening. We will never go here again. -
Review from Jon D.
5/30/2011
Sacre Bleu!! Talk about swank! I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that is exclusively FRENCH until now. And let me tell you, any French restaurant that I ever go to after this is going to have to be pretty extraordinary to top the experience that we had at Maximillen. This place has set the bar pretty high for me. Now I finally understand what all of the hype is about surrounding French food.
I've gotta admit, my understanding of French culture is pretty limited at best. And probably a fair bit jaded. Let me sum it up this way:
Jaques Cousteau? - the Steve Zissou of yesteryear.
Gerard Depardeau? - hack.
Baguettes? - why are they sticking out of EVERY grocery bag in EVERY movie I've ever seen?
Napoleon? - if he were alive today, he'd probably drive a Hummer. (though he did make some fun ice cream combos...)
Right about now you might be asking: "C'mon Jon, was it really that g..."
To which I reply: "Shut the front door! I'm gonna stop you right there. It was that good."
Seattle's got it's fair share of romantic dining spots without a doubt. But I gotta say, Maximillen's kinda got the market cornered (get it?!) on guaranteed post-dining action spots. The view from any seat in this establishment is nothing short of incredible. That is of course, if you can find the place. It is tucked away pretty good at... yup... the corner of the market.
And of course, any good French restaurant is known for their food (or so I'd been told before this) and now I see why. Dear geehosafat this was good. Every bite was like Bastille Day in my mouth. Our service was pretty good (authentic Frenchmen to boot! awww-haww-haww) complete with Bonjours, Bon Appetite's, and the French 'tude that they're famous for!! (bravo I say! Bravo!!) Not the cheapest place in town but... you definitely get what you pay for with Maximillen - and that's an exceptional dining experience.
Got a date you want to impress? (Or hope to later undress?)
Maximillien's your spot. 4 Stars. They make the French look good and help us to remember that they make more than just fries, toast, and soup with onions in it. ;-) -
Review from Phuong M.
Renton, WA
I came here with a couple of friends on a nice sunny day. Got sat outside in order to enjoy the sun and the view. The environment was lovely and the service was great.
I got the lunch express which was the 3 course meal that came with a soup or salad, duck confit or something else (i forgot) and a creme brulee.
I chose the salad which was tossed in this flavorful dressing with assorted veggies and blue cheese and also topped with nuts. I really enjoyed it. The duck confit was very rich with flavor and super tender. It was delicious! And the finishing touch of the creme brulee was a wonderful ending to my lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate.
I definitely will come back again on a nice sunny day! =) -
Review from LH J.
Newark, CA
7/7/2011
Pretty bad service. I walked in and no one so much as glanced at me for 5 min even though the restaurant wasn't that busy. I don't understand why they weren't able to at least seat me first.
Overall the food was ok:
1. The escargot was too bitter
2. The halibut was nice and moist
3. The complimentary bread was amazing
4. The souffle was very mediocre.
The service was also extremely slow. -
Review from Nichole M.
Seattle, WA
10/14/2011
Great view! Great food! Great service:)
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Review from Faith Y.
12/23/2010
I kind of felt like I was being judged ... not the best start to a nice happy hour with friends. Perhaps it was our age, perhaps it's because it looked like we wouldn't be buying expensive bottles of wine, I'm not sure. Our server was perfectly civil but hardly cracked a smile and treated us with the minimum amount of service without being too rude. Very ambivalent that.
Only the upstairs portion is Happy Hour but it was pretty packed and 5 of us had to squeeze around a tiny square table that would barely accommodate 2 folks with full plates of food.
Plus, I know a lot of places do this but for some reason, they irked me when we were firmly reminded that happy hour prices are only valid if every person buys a drink. Touchy touchy. 3/5 of us ordered wine/beer and the other two ladies just weren't feeling up to it.
The food wasn't terribly impressive either. I can get croissants, goat cheese, Belgian fries and mussels anywhere in Seattle. Nothing to sneeze at, I'm sure their dinner menu might have more offerings.
It was all a bit meh for me unfortunately. Guess I'll have to stick to some French bakeries instead. -
Review from Ann M.
Gresham - North Central, OR
3/25/2011
Unimpressed. That sums it up the best. At least for happy hour. I agree with previous posts that the view is amazing...it is. And it is really nice that they put windows along the back wall so those who are unfortunate enough to have to face that way on a sunny day can still enjoy the light.
As far as food is concerned, we left feeling kinda gross and in search of a salad. We had the oysters. Small and the champagne mignonette was just okay. We also had the fries, which were fine, but I didn't like that my only options were two different mayonnaise sauces. And finally the chicken wings. Meaty and tasted okay. I guess I just had a different expectation for this place. Seemed like the food should have been more refined instead of standard sports bar happy hour fare.
Service was also, meh. Seemed like he really couldn't be bothered with us. This is in comparison to every other restaurant or happy hour we went to on our trip.
There are better places to go for happy hour. We won't be back. -
Review from Amy S.
Reston, VA
12/8/2011
Fantastic place for lunch. The staff is a bit stand-offish, but the food is excellent.
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Review from Sachiko K.
San Francisco, CA
8/25/2011
Great restaurant, horrible treatment of customers. I called Maximilien restaurant earlier to talk with the owner- I think his name was Alex?? I was interested in finding out the names of the dishes and info on the restaurant for my personal restaurant blog. My friends and family and I have eaten there numerous times, the food has been spectacular, the ambience, memorable. So naturally I want to include this and share it on my blog. Well I have the owner on the line and as soon as I mention my site, he goes, "I have no time for you thank you bye and bye" and *CLICK* HANGS UP on me!!!
Unbelievable! Is this guy for real? He didn't even hear what I had to say. I'm not a salesman or telemarketer, mister! I am calling because I want to FEATURE your restaurant on my site. With this kind of extremely rude behavior, I have changed my mind. I had no idea that a 4 star restaurant would be hosting a 1 star employee. The owner himself, hanging up on a longtime and dedicated CLIENT.
I'm sorry, but this rating deserves a 2. A delicious experience but unfortunately lacks the package of respectable customer treatment. At the end of the day, it turned out to be that stereotypical, snobby french joint! Sad. -
Review from Anna N.
2/14/2011 6 photos
Great Place fo Valentine's Day!
My fiance took me here for valentine's day & i was definitely not disappointed in their service and food! The chef created a Lover's menu just for Valentine's day & we opted for this wonderful selection.
The place is quite small, but it had a wonderful ambiance to it. I enjoyed the atmosphere & the view was amazing. It's a little treasure that's sorta hard to find because of how its secluded in the back.
My fiance had their clam in wine sauce & I had the foie gras for our appetizer. The clams tasted so light & yummy. The foie gras was sheared slightly & it came w/goat liver...delicious!!! I recently came back from Paris a few weeks ago & the foie gras here is just as good if not better!
For our entree I had the medallion tip & my fiance had the sea bass. Both came out w/a beautiful presentation! The sea bass was soOO tender & the brocholini that came w/it complimented the dish so well! The medallion tip had the most delicious sauce i've ever tasted! It came with the right amout of veggies (carrots & green beans) to really make it taste very healthy. The different textures and taste on each plate was very enhanced by not only the sauce but the side dishes that went w/it.
Our final dish was dessert. We had the creme brulee & the chocolate mousse. To be honest I had better creme brulee, but it's still pretty good. The chocolate mousse was covered in creme fraiche, very delicious & sinful!
I love that the chef made a special menu for Valentine's day. It really gave you a variety you normally wouldn't select as a combo on your own. I thought it brought out the romance of the holiday & I came out loved (in my belly) & heart! -
Review from Katie B.
11/18/2010 1 Check-in Here
Want to know what makes an hour happy? A stellar view of the Emerald City, $4 glasses of wine, $2.95 Kronenburgs and an appetizer menu with cheap individual prices or a flat fee for all 8 ($20). Another excellent Katy H suggestion and I think it made my mom, sister, and I very happy tourists.
We got there right at 5pm and clearly we weren't the only ones aware of their awesome HH because the upstairs bar area (where HH is offered) was already full. Luckily we were able to grab a wonderful seat with a view of the sparkling water and the stunning sunset on the horizon. The authentic French accents helped set the scene even further.
The dishes were simple (Belgian fries were silly, like deliciously silly, skip the dipping sauces, though) and small but they were the perfect HH dosage.
Even though Pike Place Market was dying down, Maximilien was going strong and now I know very well why! -
Review from Brittany S.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 4/8/2011
Ok... so before their happy hour was a good deal. Now.. it kinda sucks. Go somewhere else for HH unless you're coming for the nice view.
They've changed it so that there's 4, 6, 8, and $12 dollar items. There's also a 1 drink minimum now. At first the menu seems great, escargot, foie gras what??
But the $12 foie gras was just two slices of break with a thin slice of foie gras on top. Sad really.. although delicious
The $6 pulled pork was meager.. sliced baguette with some pulled pork.. for $6 meh..
Mussels overcooked although tasty broth
And the oysters weren't even completely removed from the shell...
Plus the french waiter had an attitude. Blah
Only thing I can say is if you want a nice view, this is your place. But don't go for happy hour, and I'm sure you'll be much better off for the regular priced menu, food-wise and service-wise1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/20/2010
This place was ok, I went for HH and to the 8 small dishes for $20. We also got the cheese plate and… Read more »
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Review from Yvonne D.
9/1/2011 4 photos
So the four of us went to this restaurant to try the happy hour. It was pretty good, cheap, very decent taste. The fois gras was a bit expensive for $12 you only get a small slice, I'm a fan of fois gras but I did not like the one here. The fries was good, the chicken wings were good, the pull pork was ok, the escargot was ok... overall the taste was not bad, the price was super cheap. We got a ton of food and a $22 pitcher of sangrita and the bill was less than $100. That was very decent, the service was ok, the waitress was nice and friendly however she keep on trying to clear our table...it got kindda annoying after a while...but overall she was nice. I would come back here, and oh yeah the view was AMAZING =)
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Review from Victoria C.
Seattle, WA
2/17/2011
I was a little sick when I came here for HH, so perhaps my impression of the food is a little off due to blunted taste buds and such.
PROS:
1. Real French people greeting you and serving you!
2. Amazing view. One of the best in Seattle for dining. The place is tucked away in Pike Place market with windows facing the west, out toward the water and the Olympics.
3. $3 small plates for HH.
CON:
1. I felt like everything I ate was bland. I thought French food was supposed to be rich and decadent? We shared the mussels, Belgium fries, smoked salmon, spinach/cheese puff pastry things, and the toasted baguette with salmon spread. The mussels were definitely bad; most of the shells were either broken and cracked, or all the way open; and the meat was grainy and fragile.
2. Minimum 1 drink per person. I guess that's not unheard of, but most other places don't require a drink for HH. Lame. I don't drink a lot, and definitely not when I'm sick.
Meh. I still like Campagne better when it comes to French food.Listed in: French Fix
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Review from Emma L.
San Francisco, CA
7/25/2011
Great view - not so great food at very expensive prices. If you're just coming for happy hour or a drink - the view from upstairs or on the outside patio can't be beat. The service was fine. The prices were not so fine for the quality of food. Oh well, it's the market. If you're a foodie, I'd pass.
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Review from Natalie W.
Raleigh, NC
12/26/2010 Seated via OpenTable
Eat in the bar with the good view! Outside patio really doesn't have aview.
I ate lunch here and had terrible service, but liked the mussels and house salad. I feel like the inside space could be good for a date at night- would be willing to try space again... but no more service ignored solo dining!
FYI's~
* Can make on line reservations- even for lunch
* Happy hour- great view- tiny space -
Review from Merey T.
Seattle, WA
8/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Meh. I had a nice time here, but it was due to the company, not anything the restaurant had to offer. Sure, the view was nice, but the food was just mediocre (with the exception of the french onion soup). I ordered the foie, oysters, soup, lobster, and chocolate mousse. I'm told the Tuesday wine deal offered a decent selection for a good price, but I'm not into wine myself. Additionally, the patio furniture is very cheap and plasticy and the menus were dirty, which is unappetizing. While they can't really help it, walking through the fishy market also doesn't scream refinement.
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Review from Ashley P.
Seattle, WA
3/29/2011
My smoking hot husband brought me here last week and I was blown away. The wine was fantastic, escargot delish and the seared scallops perfect in every way. The service was great, food was phenominal and watching the sunset over the sound was perfect. It was a great night! All of this week I've been thinking of the scallops and the wine. Oh! Such a great date!!
I love this restaurant. If you want to score some points with your lady, come here!
