"If you're like me and have a real soft spot for a superb well-executed old-school French bistro, Le Pichet is one of the best in the country." - Anthony Bourdain
I happen to agree Mr. Tony B.! As soon as I entered La Pichet, I felt as if I had time warped to France. LP is about authentic as it gets stateside, all the way from the décor to the cuisine with phenomenal service.
LP is open from 8am to midnight 7 days a week, so my husband and I thought it would be a great choice for a late dinner after a very busy day of seeing the Seattle sights. Please note, they have 4 menus, with the La Casse Croûte and La Charcuterie available all day...so we inadvertently missed the dinner menu; however, easily still enjoyed a full meal of assorted French specialties.
First, LP offers a very large selection of aperitifs to choose from if you please. Or, just choose one of their many fine, and some rather affordable, wines by the glass, half or full carafe, or bottle. Be sure to indulge in the wonderful, complimentary baguette and super creamy butter while perusing the menu and/or waiting for your food - just be sure not to over-indulge - the staff will keep it coming and it's oh so good.
Off the La Charcuterie Menu: In my opinion, one of the best ways to begin a meal done "tapas style" at Le Pichet is by ordering Olives with Pastis and choosing either their 3 or 5 item Assiette Plate- a great way to sample charcuterie items and super affordable ($8 and $14, respectively), served with tangy cornichons. The house made Terrine au poivre vert (duck liver, pork, and green peppercorns) was to die for. The slow braised, pressed Beef Tongue was amazing. For me, the charcuterie highlight was the Smooth Chicken Liver Pate. Smooth indeed. Not a bit grainy. And for those less experienced, the typically very inexpensive Chicken Liver, the terrine at La Pichot had complex flavors and silky texture, might have easily been passed off as a high priced foie product. Very impressive.
Off the La Casse Croûte menu: My hubby just had to try the Asperges et poireaux en vinaigrette et ses grattons de poulet (grilled asparagus, with white wine vinegar and walnut oil garnished with crispy chicken skin and Roquefort cheese). We're both big fans of asparagus and this dish certainly did not disappoint. Plump veg, seared perfectly, with amazingly flavorful and well accompanied vinaigrette. And, the slight saltiness and texture brought by the chicken skin was a nice touch. Highly recommend.
The Œufs plats, jambon et fromage consisted of two beautifully cooked eggs atop some lovely ham, covered with gruyere, and put under a broiler. Very tasty indeed. Although eggs are good any time - day or night - this dish with a few pieces of baguette would make for a perfect breakfast. Yum!
Overall: After sadly experiencing way too many extremely overpriced and poor quality food at French restaurants across the U.S., La Pichet was a wonderful, welcomed change. Simply amazing and authentic food at a quite affordable price. Oh, and at the end of the meal we were presented with two house made, hand wrapped, and delightfully delicious caramels. The perfect way to end a great meal! Tres magnifique! read more