This is a lovely little French bistro in the outskirts of Capitol Hill, so while a bit out of the way from the city, this offers a lot of free street parking. We even got lucky to find a spot right near the restaurant. We made reservations in advance which is highly recommended for Friday and Saturday dinner, especially if you want to eat around 6-7pm. We got the following - Amuse bouche was a gazpacho. Builds up the appetite. Very refreshing. Included in the dining experience - Beef tartare - pretty fresh, a little heavier on the pickle. I liked the variety of toast they offered and they topped up the toast when we ran out - French onion soup - a bougie variation as they use veal bone broth. The smell can be a little off putting due to the pungency of the cheeses but when you take bites off the bread and soup, it's soooooo delicious. Super rich dish - Cassoulet - the duck is good. The sausage was very strongly spiced with a texture that is atypical of meat sausage but still good pairing it with the beans. I normally don't prefer beans but it soaked up the duck fat and seasoning really well. This dish was also extremely rich so just 1 entree and 2 appetizers were enough for 2 people - Ice cream - the rotating flavor was crème fraiche which felt like vanilla but extra creamy. Still doesn't beat the Movenpick ice cream from Switzerland but this is close - The wines we got (1 pet nat, 2 reds, 1 apple dessert wine) were excellent and pairs well with the respective food A few positives about this place: - They can pour wine by the half glass at exactly half the price of a glass so you get to try a bunch of wines without breaking the wallet or overcommitting - Some items are genuinely well priced - a double shot of espresso for $3 stood out - Gift cards worked with Resy credit. I stacked 4 gift cards totaling $140 on top of this month's Delta Amex Plat/Reserve $10/$20 Resy credits alongside my Amex Gold for the remainder to run multiple cards in one tab. They were patient and willing to work with me on this to use my credit card benefits fully The con about this place: - 20% mandatory gratuity. But this is one of the very few places that actually delivered service to this standard so I can't really complain - Birthday dinner but all they did was put a cheap candle in the dessert. Expected via reviews, but just a heads up read more

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My husband and I went here for a late Valentines dinner. We were able to avoid the crowd but still celebrate the special day. We ordered escargot, steak-frites, and cassoulet. We're not big French cuisine enthusiasts but after this meal, we have a greater appreciation for French food now. The space is pretty relaxed and intimate. It suits both a casual and a formal setting depending on what you're there for. We would love to come back and try their other dishes! read more

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Some coworkers and I came here while in Seattle for work. We walked in on a Tuesday without reservations and were seated immediately. Everything was amazing. We ordered family style and had a couple of the specials plus small plates. The service was prompt and the vibe was slightly upscale without being pretentious. By the time we left there was a wait so come early or make a reservation! read more

This is one of the best French bistros in Seattle. The atmosphere feels simple yet well-decorated--even the bathroom had nods to French culture. I loved the photo of Zidane from the 1998 World Cup right at the entrance. The food was absolutely delicious. Dinner started with a small surprise - an asparagus muse bousch shot :) We had escargot, perfectly deshelled and cooked in delicious butter. The duck came on a light, beautifully designed plate. The oysters were impressively clean, which we really appreciated. The steak frites were medium rare and had a delicious sauce--though if you're not a sauce person, asking for it on the side is a good option; I thought it was a great combo. The service was fast, professional, and high-quality, even though the waitstaff weren't overly chatty. You can see into the kitchen, and everything feels well-run. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Such a beautiful seating at the patio and by the window! Didn't want to leave the place. Staff was not annoying! Salad, escargot and steak were so good that we talked and talked about it. read more

L'Oursin - Escargot - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My husband and I made reservations for dinner on a weekday. It was pretty busy when we arrived at 5:30pm. We shared 3 small plates and one entree. Loved the foie gras, it was rich and melted perfectly in your mouth. The raw scallops were good, but not my favorite. I appreciated how it subtly tasted like the sea. Also loved the escargot, came with a lovely sauce and the baguette to dip was to die for bread. We lastly shared the steak frites - it was aged beef so it had a funky taste and the sauce had capers. A little salty. We will definitely return again! Such a great find. read more

L'Oursin - Foie gras - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Food is not tasty. Service was not great. Food took a really long time to come out. It was a cute restaurant.

The service here was great. Very quick to help and attentive when possible - especially since I came during a dinner rush. The decor of the restaurant was gorgeous. Parking was a tad tricky as I parked in the neighborhood. I RSVP'd ahead of time to ensure seats and I could see why. I had the escargots, terrine de foie gras, french onion soup, and the cassoulet. I enjoyed the escargot and the foie gras (unfortunately forgot to take pictures). I did not know how to appreciate the duck and the onion soup. The confit duck was not as juicy as I preferred and the french onion was a tad salty for my liking. I do recommend this place for a date night so don't let what I say deter you from appreciating the food! I will say that there is a 20% service fee already added. read more

L'Oursin - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Everything was overly salty, generally lacking flavor besides salt. The ambience is lacking as well--cold and overly bright, uncomfortable chairs, no warmth whatsoever. Drinks were decent. Wouldn't return. read more

I went back for a family dinner and had a delightful time! The food was amazing, as always, as was the service. They don't have high chairs, but they were very accommodating to our group of four which included a toddler. We were able to put our travel high seat in the banquette, and it was perfect. We had the salade, pate en croute, pain et beurre, and gambas grilles for appetizers, and then the steak frites and poulet for main. It was more than enough food for three adults and toddler. We ended up bringing the entire chicken dish home. The gambas grilles didn't really do it for me- I didn't find the textures of the prawns appealing, but the flavors were spot on. The pate en croute instantly sent me back to Paris, and the frites were a big hit with the toddler, haha. We went at five o'clock, and it was a mix of diners: coworkers, dates, and family dinners, which really soeaks to the versatility of the restaurant! read more

L'Oursin - Dessert: assortment of sorbet and creme brulee. - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We visited this establishment for our wedding anniversary. The service was very pleasant, and the appetizers--chicken pâté and beef tartare--were excellent. However, the main courses (steak with fries and duck casserole) were heavily oversalted. We tend to salt our food quite generously, but the salt level here was excessive. read more

Such a cute French spot! The neighborhood it's in is quiet, so pretty easy to find parking. My friend and I made a reservation, and were promptly seated at res time. The inside gives a bit of dark rustic vibes, but still cute. I loved their special cocktail menu, which had a little story and description for each drink. I ended up getting a NA drink and also had an assortment of small dishes to share. We ordered the fish croquettes, the beef tartare, the French onion soup, and escargot. Food was amazing. We started with little gazpachos as amuse bouche which was super refreshing. The croquettes were hot, crispy, pillowy, and the fish inside was so good. Their homemade tartar sauce was also amazing. The beef tartare was deliciously marinated and it's served with the crispiest little toasty breads. I almost deafened myself with the crunch lol French onion soup was the only disappointing item. It was waaay too salty, we were barely able to save it by dumping water into it, but the onions and bread that had soaked up the original soup was too far gone to save. Last was escargot which is served with some bread and omg this was delicious. The snails themselves are nice and tender, and the sauce, I could've had an entire baguette to soak up all that goodness. 10/10 Overall, super amazing place. Service was super quick and thoughtful. Only negative was the overly salty French onion soup. Don't let that stop you though! I'll think about that escargot for awhile!! read more

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Dinner started well with a tasty amuse bouche. Everything went downhill from there. Had soggy roast chicken, smothered in too-salty gravy. This for $48! Roast chicken should have crispy skin. The wines by the glass were totally unimpresive and a stingy pour for $18. The bottled wines were by unknown vintners, the cheapest being $100! The salad was delicious, as was the mousse pate' with sorry pieces of see-through toast. The service was very good, although we got seated next to a loud talking mother with a squawking baby. So much for a disappointing birthday dinner for $239 for two people. read more

Food was fine, but not worth the price, especially considering the poor service. The server wasn't friendly, and didn't provide good recommendations. We saw our server twice during the meal; once to take drink orders and another for food orders. Server never refilled waters or checked on how we enjoyed the meal. Don't order the salmon it was over cooked. There was also a required 20% service charge, which would be fine if the service was better. The ambiance was fine, nothing special. read more

This place was super crowded, but for good reason! We enjoyed the food a lot and the service was great. The decor is simple without being boring, which gives the whole spot a really nice, chill vibe. read more

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Finally checked out L'Oursin after having it on my list for a while. Place is cute, has a curated beverage list and service was good which led to a round up on overall score to a 4, with the food coming in closer to a 3.5 given the price point. There was a complimentary amuse bouche, small root vegetable soup with a crunchy sunchoke chip- flavorful and nice start to the meal. From there we ordered: - hamachi crudo - light, fresh, flavorful - gambas - butterfly grilled and served on a yummy sauce that was a little salty in its own but good to dip bread in - salad - shareable portion and liked the fresh herbs - steak frites - came with a good portion of skirt steak and fries, but was surprised by the cook on the steak- it was well done. The meat was chewy although not tough so did still make a dent in the entree, and was pretty heavily doused in sauce. Fries were fine. Would likely try something else next time - creme brulee - solid execution, would order again - chocolate mousse- ok, was on the sweeter side Overall would return for drinks and apps if in the neighborhood. read more

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I was recommended L'Oursin as one of the best restaurants in seattle and it did not miss! I was in town for a conference and was told by a local bartender that L'Oursin is a fancy yet approachable local spot that I could not leave without trying, and she was right! The ambiance in here is super cute and fun, with French decor covering the walls, cute string lighting, and a warm interior. There aren't a lot of tables in the space so I strongly recommend getting a reservation or coming at a non-busy time like I did. I dined here by myself on an early Sunday evening and it was still almost full. The staff are very friendly and happy to help with their recommendations. The menu is a short list of dishes ranging from small plates to larger ones and I've been told every one is a hit! To drink, I had the sarah jessica parkour recommended as I was in the mood for something light and refreshing and it hit the spot. It was a fresh and tasty cosmopolitan-inspired cocktail that was well-balanced and not so liquor-forward. Before my food came, I was pleasantly surprised with a taste of a mushroom soup, that was bursting with flavor despite the small size of the palate warm-up. For food, I wasn't overwhelming hungry so I had 2 of the smaller plates. I ordered the sea urchin special and escargot. I had never tried sea urchins before tonight, but I could tell these were super fresh and light. They were accompanied by some delicious toasted brioche with butter. The escargot was my favorite between the two, with a tasty homemade pesto and crisp sourdough it was outstanding! For dessert, I had the chocolate mousse, which blew my mind with how smooth and delicious the chocolate flavor was. It cane with candied hazelnuts that balanced out the richness super well. This meal might just be the highlight of my trip and I can't wait to come back one day and try some more of these creative and delicious plates! read more

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Came here for a birthday and we hadn't really eaten much French cuisine. Overall both the food and service were good. We enjoyed most of the dishes except for the lingcod which was a little bit too salty. Our favorite were the escagrots and sea urchin. read more

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I love L'Oursin! We were recently in for our anniversary and as always it hit the spot. 10/10 service, vibes, and of course food! I realize I've never written a review so cheers to them and their awesome staff! Y'all Rock! read more

Wanted to leave a warning for future diners so you aren't blindsided by the bill here. L'Oursin automatically adds a mandatory 22.15% service charge to every check. Because it is a mandatory fee and not a voluntary tip, Washington State law requires them to charge Seattle's 10.55% sales tax on top of both the food AND the 20% service charge. This means you end up paying an effective 22.11% just for the service charge. Personally, I don't think the service here deserves a 22.11% premium. Food - 3/5 Service - 1/5 Atmosphere - 4/5 read more

Appetizers were okay. The tartare was a bit on the salty side for me and there was a bit too much caper in the mix. The truffle brie (seasonal) with the jam was the star of show. The hanger steak was cooked well and tender but the sauce was very overpowering and dominated the dish. read more

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Note there's a 22% service charge regardless of party size. Came for an anniversary celebration but there was nothing special provided. Staff were okay but nothing special and didn't justify even a 20% service charge. They were chit chatting amongst others and didn't really seem like they wanted to be there. The ambiance of the restaurant was okay. Not too many tables. For the price, I expected a little more. I got the steak frites and the steak had an odd texture - it was rubbery and not super tender. The sauce was already congealed when I got it too. It wasn't a traditional French peppercorn sauce and just okay. My partner got the cod and found 6 bones in it. For a fish dish that's $50, I would expect there to be no bones. Staff even said it was normal to have bones in the dish. Overall, I won't be coming back. Service was not very good and food was not worth the price. read more

L'Oursin - French onion soup - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Where do I start. The host was annoyed when we walked in from the start. Just two of us trying to get a quick dinner, no big fuss. We had a reservation. From EVERY employee, it felt like us being there was an inconvenience. The staff was publicly taking shots at the bar while they were working. And on top of it all we were charged automatic 20% gratuity for the rudest service ever. Do better. read more

Great experience. Menu and wine program is stellar. I'm definitely coming back again. The tar tar was smackin' read more

L'Oursin - Everything was proper - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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food was pretty good, i got the fish dish and the skin was really crispy and cooked well but the seasoning on the veggies were lacking a bit. the steak frites was pretty good but the sauce was also lacking a bit for me, was not well balanced. also the food took over 45 mins to come out which was a bit much considering it wasn't that busy for a friday night. the espresso martini was good but not the best i've had. also there was a small rat in the dining area that ran out while i was eating so i dont think i would come back but it wasn't bad. read more

I came here with a friend last month and we ordered the steak frites and half braised chicken. It came out looking beautiful but that was about it. The steak frites were dry and chewy and the chicken was dry as well and did not have much flavor. Very disappointing. Not worth $50 an entree. The crispy fries were great though. I would say the fries were the best part of the entire meal. read more

L'Oursin - Steak Frites - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Now that I've come to this restaurant twice in one month, I can conclude: 4 stars Some thoughts: Really fun cocktail menu themed after movies Came for the French onion soup. Piping hot just like how it should be. Lovely selection of French wines Cute ambiance Delicious Crème Brûlée read more

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I can't believe it's been 6 years since I ate here. Came here last night with a friend and everything was wonderful. There were so many menu items we wanted to try, it was hard to finalize our order. We ended up with oysters, escargot, goat cheese salad, salmon special, and steak frites. The salmon was significantly undercooked but I kept the 5 star rating because they made it right and the flavors were still amazing. Great experience all around and looking forward to visiting this spot again much sooner!!!! read more

My girlfriend and I came here for my birthday dinner. We decided on L'Oursin because the menu looked interesting. We didn't realize until we arrived at the restaurant that this place is more casual than we had anticipated/wanted. It's somewhere between a restaurant and a cafe. This restaurant does not have many large entrees. So, we ordered several small/medium plates and shared them. We were happy with everything we had. They gave me a complimentary birthday ice cream with a candle! read more

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Came back a second time - we were hella hype, so we brought friends. Got a last-minute reservation for 4 on Resy on a Saturday at 6:30pm that wasn't too busy, but at the same time, it felt different. The appetizers were good - foie Gras and the Pate were both highlights. Similar to last time, the escargot quality was better, but the sauce was extremely salty. For the mains - we got halibut, steak frites, cassoulet, and the chicken. Chicken was my highlight - the halibut was definitely underwhelming this time. We ordered just the creme brulee this time, as well as the banana flambee ice cream. The creme brulee the first time was better - the crust is way too thin this time. Ice cream was fine. Overall the service quality felt worse this time - food took almost 2 hours to come out (its 821pm and we just finished our mains) The missus downgraded her previous rating to a 3/5. I'm inclined to agree - from a consistency perspective this place really feels worse than last time (objectively speaking). read more

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This is one of my favorite Seattle restaurants - the wine and cocktail selection is fantastic, the food is always solid, and the service good. Greater than the sum of it's parts. read more

It was fine. Our first waitress was an angel, then our waitress that she had to switch to because her shift ended was rude and snobby. Bartender was great. The worst offender were several mice that ran around the dinner area. Glass half full? read more

Really cute, intimate interior. Tables were kind of close together. Large menu with cocktails and wine. French Fare. Very kind, polite service. We got a couple mezcal cocktails ($18 each) Food: Bread & Butter ($6) - nothing special Pate en Croud ($18) - this is such a tough dish to find - i'm happy I got to try it for the first time :) and that they sell it here Calamari ($18) - small portion but perfectly crispy fried Steak & Frites ($42) - salty and overpriced as steak usually is (personal opinion), but I like the way it was cooked Beautiful Plating. Automatic 20% gratuity added to bill. read more

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Just loved everything! Great team service, everyone was nice, except one server, I think we must have pissed off accidentally. The Vol A Vent with a perfectly sexy egg and chanterelles was the star of our night. The bread and French butter was OTT. A big Kudos to the bar my Bergamot and tonic has to be my best mocktail of the year so far! French Onion soup was spot on! Excellent! And our apologies if we were a little too demanding but you guys delivered nonetheless! read more

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Wonderful, delicious again and again! Great service perfect cocktails!!! What else, hmmmmm

So we came by for our anniversary dinner. The waitress seemed off, like high off. All night long she kept doing things that seemed like she was forgetful or maybe didn't like us? When sharing about specials, we had to ask for elaboration as she only told us "burger", "fish" specials. Ok, what makes it special? I have food allergies, this requires me to leave my house with at minimum two EpiPens, when you aren't asked if food allergies should be considered at a French restaurant, that's not French. This place is a cross between a cafe/bistro as some prior reviewers shared. We were seated and rushed with what we wanted for drinks and our meal, our waitress wanted us to order everything all at once. This was peculiar while not checking in during our meal. The establishment wasn't busy and we were one of 6 tables Seated. We had the steak and frites, cod and mussels dish, duck pate, and the fried chickpeas. The illustrated cocktails are available for purchase at $10 which comes with recipes if you want to purchase a book. We tried four drinks off the menu, the sour, fizz, manhattan, and another I'm forgetting the names. The drinks were amazing and creative. An anniversary meal that was over $300 and I can only confidently recommend the drinks. There are other French bistros to try. read more

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This visit is from a little while ago. Menu offerings and prices are subject to change with inflation. L'Oursin is an old school French restaurant in Central District. It doesn't have as much buzz as several other French restaurants, and that's perfectly fine. We went on a hot day, and it was quite stuffy in the back. Luckily, our reservation was early, 5-ish, and the restaurant was still fairly empty. I requested a table change, and they accommodated by moving us closer to the door with better air flow. Be warmed if you are hot temperature sensitive. The lights are kept low inside; with the bright sun outside, everything looked darker inside. I was very happy with my table near the front. Service was cordial; they left us alone until we asked for them, which is very European style. I have no problem with that. The Food: Gougères, $12 - 4 Stars Menu: Two warm smoked sockeye salmon cream puffs Self-explanatory. It's delicious! Zucchini Soup with Bay Shrimps and Crème Fraîche, $12 - 5 Stars A cup of refreshing chilled soup. We scrapped every bit of it. LOL. Saumon Aux Morilles, $38 - 3.5 Stars Menu: Butter-poached king salmon with green lentils, haricots, and gray morels We didn't ask before ordering, and we are guessing they kept true to French ingredients because the salmon is very pale, which could be Atlantic salmon. It was ok, but we much prefer the richer Pacific salmon. Cabillaud Grille, $36 - 5 Stars Menu: Neah Bay lingcod with squid, manila clams, sage, corn, and potatoes The only thing wrong with this dish is that I want more. Hahaha. It was very yummy, and the sauce is great with the bread. Pain et Beurre, $6 - 4 Stars Menu: Warm breads and salted whipped butter Hmm, bread and butter in a French restaurant - would I say no?? read more

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Went with a friend for a mid-week dinner. Straight-forward french menu with NW influences. Extensive wine list. Stylist plating. Simple interior with an exposed kitchen. Community feel. Service was attentive without being intrusive. Just a note for those who care, there is a required 20% service charge. Will be back. read more

3.5 - food 4 - service We came here for date night. Ordered 4 dishes to share, Raw Alaskan Scallops Terrine De Foie Gras, French onion soup, and seafood stew dish that forgot to take pic. All the dishes were good but not wowed. The seafood dish which was very salty...our waitress was nice to comped one of the drink. Good experience but not sure if we'll be back. read more

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We made a reservation last minute. The restaurant was slightly busy. Our waitress was very nice to recommend a few dishes and drinks. The vibes of the place felt like a date night sort of place. We had the madam blanche and madamoiselle Scarlett drink. Both were very good and sweet! The raw scallops were really good. I definitely recommend getting this along with the pate en croute. They were the better parts of the course we had. Cassoulett was a letdown. It was mostly beans. I wish there was more meat considering the price we paid ($48). The creme brulee was delicious! But the mint ice cream was a bit underwhelming. I would come back trying different dishes instead~ read more

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