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    Maximilien

    3.7 (929 reviews)
    PriceyFrench
    Closed 4:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Maximilien Photos

    Business Info

    MAXIMILIEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Maximilien

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    Charcuterie board extraordinaire
    Rima Z.

    Popped in for appetizers and a glass of wine after visiting the SAM. Fabulous experience. The atmosphere is just beautiful; you can't beat the view amd the vibe. Service is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. Our water glasses were never empty. We opted to have the daily specials. My companion ordered the seafood chowder - he liked it. Good flavor and not overloaded with the perennial potato filler. I had the roasted pear and beet salad with arugula. Fantastic play of flavors and the pears were perfectly roasted. We split the charcuterie board - absolutely delicious and a generous size. More than enough for sharing. The terrine (don't recall - rabbit?) was fresh and flavorful, the variety of salami was unusual and a great selection, same for the cheeses. The accompanying pickled veggies were crisp and not too vinegary. The baguette was just the right amount (flavor and texture would have been enhanced had it been slightly warmed). A beautiful glass of French wine and the view made for a lovely start to the evening. It's a little pricey, but worth it for the thoughtfully created dishes. I'll be back. The menu is too enticing to resist.

    Soupe a L Oignon

    A hidden gem inside the Pike Place Market serving authentic French cuisine. Service was too notch and the views of the sound are incredible.

    Chenie X.

    We came in as a group of 9 to celebrate my friend's birthday on a Friday night. At 5pm, there were still some open tables. They would only take the order after all members arrive. I got the soup of the day, duck confit, and chocolate cake for dessert. The dishes were excellent. Chestnut soup was creamy and rich. The duck was super tender with perfectly fried potato wedges. The chocolate cake was dense. It's a bit pricey understandably at the tourist site, but the view is great. The service was quick. I noticed they didn't come at all for water refill though. The ambiance was intimate. It's quiet and great for conversations.

    Meredith F.

    Exceptional view, service and food! Sadly they are serving tiny portions that are so expensive! It's not their fault... the economy is so hard on restaurants now. :( We will still support them because this is my favorite restaurant in Seattle!!!!!

    Holly M.

    A quaint, low‑lit two‑story spot overlooking the Seattle waterfront sets the tone for an effortlessly romantic night. Inside, the views are just as stunning as the ones outside, big windows framing the water so beautifully it feels like part of the décor. Step outdoors and the bubble seating lets you soak in the skyline without ever getting cold. From the appetizers to the main course, everything was spot on: fresh, thoughtful, and full of comforting flavor. It's the kind of place where the ambiance and the food blend into one long, lingering moment. The service was great too!

    Fresh oysters
    Karlo G.

    There are many selling points to Maximilien. The afternoon and twilight panoramic views are definitely one of them. This restaurant is located on the main floor of Pike Place Market near the Market Spice Shop and Don and Joe's Meat. This restaurant has 2 levels. Main level has bar top seating and dining room area. The 2 level also has a dining area and patio. Both levels have a full view of the Puget Sound. I've dined here numerous times have always enjoyed their both food and cocktails. One of my favorites are their steak frites, which is a filet mignon with demi-glace served with fries. I've also tried their french onion soup. Delicious and flavorful topped with melted gruyere cheese. My other favorite dish is their salmon, which was cooked to perfection. They also have fresh oysters on a half shell. For dessert, I recommend either the creme caramel or profiteroles. I've also tried their LE IGLOO, which is usually available during the fall season. Customers can book an igloo with a seating for 5 on their outdoor patio. Perfect cozy setting for private dining while staring out into the Puget Sound. Service was ok. The pricing is on the higher end, which is understandable given the location.

    View from the restaurant
    Marina Q.

    Requested an Arnold Palmer with light ice but it came with more ice than the drink. The service is great but the portions felt small. Besides the scallops in the photo, I also had the onion soup that I'd easily have more but the restaurant didn't offer options between cup and bowl.

    Drinks!
    Anjelica C.

    Food - started off with baked camembert which comes with a refreshing salad & crostinis. our server suggested we get a baguette (w/ butter) to eat with the cheese since there aren't a lot of crostinis but we ended up eating the bread & butter by itself before the cheese even got there. then our server gave us extra crostinis anyways. i had the duck which was delicious. crispy skin & crispy potatoes. choco profiteroles & cheesecake for dessert. both really good esp the ice cream on a hot day. the berry sauce on the cheesecake was really tart but nice since we had some very sweet chocolate. Service - excellent! our server was attentive, brought us extra crostinis for our baked camembert, and sent us a dessert for our anniversary! Ambiance - a mix. because its in pike place you get a ton of tourists. it also has a really nice view, esp at dusk. my husband and i went for our anniversay so we were all dressed up, but there were a ton of people in t-shirts and sneakers. we walked in through the fish market side and theres a really cute neon sign. parking - its in pike place so if you can find street parking, just take it. we parked on the side closest to the water and didn't realize there was an elevator up so we took the stairs (in heels).

    Pork chop
    Kimaya C.

    Came back for lunch. Got the pork again and also tried the lamb. Was a bit disappointed as the pork was a bit tough and didn't live up to our first experience. The service was also a bit disappointing this visit. It took a long time for a server to come take our order or even to bring over water. The ambiance was lovely since it was a sunny day and they had outdoor seating as well and water views with the indoor seating. Still do enjoy the food here so hope to have a better experience next time

    Steak Aux Echalote (8Oz)
    Vince U.

    The ambiance here is chef's kiss with beautiful water views of the Great Wheel and the Sound. Truly a cute spot for a date or a night out with friends. My French Martini was also a standout, perfectly balanced and delicious. The food, though, was a bit of a mixed bag. My steak came out more medium-rare than the medium I ordered, and the cut was surprisingly fatty for a filet. The pork tomahawk had nice flavor but also came with quite a bit of fat. On the positive side, the mashed potatoes and vegetables were excellent. Well seasoned and genuinely tasty. Service was friendly, and everyone seemed on their game, though we did end up waiting about 45 minutes for our entrees. Overall, a gorgeous setting and great drinks, but the food didn't fully meet expectations this time. I'd give it another try for the views alone.

    Mountain with snow in the diatance
    Karl C.

    A fantastic and Authentic French restaurant. The foie gras, the Beef Wellington, the cocktail and dessert were all fantastic. The service was also great. I will definitely be back.

    Cote de Porc Charcutiere (pork chop) and Morue Charbonniere a la Francis (blackened cod)
    Melissa G.

    My sweetheart booked a Friday night reservation at Maximilien, given the restaurant's self described promise of being "a romantic and charming French restaurant located in the heart of downtown Seattle's historic Pike Place Market." Unfortunately, Maximilien didn't live up to the private and intimate dining experience we were looking for. Initially, I had some reservations before even arriving. My partner booked through Resy, and I was disappointed to learn that he put a card down since there is a $35 cancellation fee per person. This forced us to keep our reservation so I tried to keep an open mind since French is a new cuisine for me. Maximilien is tucked away on a first floor alley, and it was difficult to find via Apple Maps. We were even asking security around Pike Place for assistance and nobody seemed to be familiar with this spot and even suggested others, which felt like a red flag. When we finally arrived, we were seated upstairs next to a large birthday party. Maximilien has two-levels, and I wish that we had stayed on the first. Upstairs was not only congested with big parties, but the waterfront views weren't very visible and we were hoping to at least catch a glimpse of the Ferris Wheel. There's also very harsh red lighting throughout the restaurant, which I wasn't a fan of. Overall, the food was decent but nothing that had me hooked on coming back. Cocktails were well crafted, and the highlight of our evening. Pro tip: Order the French 87!

    Onion Soupe a L Oignon
    Christopher N.

    Tucked away in the Public Market, the entrance to Maximilien evokes old time charm. A relatively small, intimate space with big windows allowing you to look out afar while dining. But for dinner in the winter, there wasn't much for us to look at, lol. The service was quick even though there seemed to be only one or two working the floor. Both spoke with French accent, so you know you are at a French restaurant. We had the onion soup and mushroom soup. But we're very well prepared. I liked the thyme they put in the onion soup. For main, we tried the Chilean sea bass and the special cassoulet. Sea bass was succulent. The cassoulet was a bit heavy as expected and could use less salt. A good wine list focused on French and regional selections. We tried for the first time a white chateauneuf, they had an excellent one to pair with the food.

    Frites and cheese

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    Good French food in the Pike Place Market. They have a good selection for dinner and are fairly busy. I liked their French onion soup.

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    Maximilien Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Maximilien

    What are igloos like?

    They are like little plastic hats that make you feel like you were in the outdoors while keeping you protected from rain and wind.

    Are the igloo outdoor seating open all year around?

    April & October only

    View All 4 Questions

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    L'Oursin - Crispy tripe

    L'Oursin

    (181 reviews)

    $$$

    Central District

    My husband and I went here for a late Valentines dinner. We were able to avoid the crowd but still…read morecelebrate 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!

    Finally checked out L'Oursin after having it on my list for a while. Place is cute, has a curated…read morebeverage 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.

    The Garrison

    The Garrison

    (77 reviews)

    $$$

    Ballard

    This spot has quickly become a neighborhood favorite for our family. It has really beautiful…read moreinterior and ambiance and their oysters are delicious and a steal at 2.50 per oyster during happy hour. It's located on market Street so parking can be a challenge, but we are normally able to get by after doing a few laps or paying at a paid lot nearby

    I leave fairly close but hadn't visited The Garrison since they took over this space. Had dinner…read morewith friends in the area that didn't serve alcohol and we were looking for a place to grab a drink and this space popped up. We had a table in the front section which was nice to be able to catch up since there was four of us. Since we had just ate dinner we were really just here for drinks however we did order the Crab & Caramelized Leek Dip which is a warm dip served with warmed house corn chips. Was very tasty. We had some of their Hpuse Creation cocktails. I had a clean vodka martini, one of my friends had a gin dirty martini with the pickled shrimp, another had a regular dirty vodka martini and one had the Dr Walnut. One of my friends got an additional cocktail the White Wolf. The dirty martinis a house brine that makes the drink look pink my friends seem to enjoy Can't say too much about ambiance since we didn't see the entire space but where we were was nicely lit and the restroom was neat. Service was great attentive and very informative. Will have to stop by for HH sometime

    The Coupe & Flute - Table

    The Coupe & Flute

    (110 reviews)

    $$

    Beacon Hill

    I came here for an early dinner with a friend on a Sunday. It wasn't busy at all and it's a very…read morecute spot to go to for a little girl time. I got the St. Germaine spritz and we shared the lemongrass steak nachos, frites, and kimchi arancini! St Germaine spritz: I love a cocktail/alcoholic beverage that is on the sweeter side. I don't really love when can I taste the alcohol in a mixed drink so this drink was definitely up my alley. It was super refreshing and had a nice bubblyness to it. Lemongrass steak nachos: the lemongrass was definitely a standout taste in these nachos which I loved! I loved the combo of the fresh ingredients like the cilantro, lemongrass, and cabbage with the steak and queso, it helped to balance all the flavors and didn't feel heavy Frites: pretty standard tasting fries, not too skinny and not too thick which I liked! The chili mayo had a nice smoky sweet flavor and it was a great dipping sauce! Kimchi Arancini: these were crispy and had a nice gooey cheese in the middle which definitely had a cheese pull. The kimchi taste I felt was relatively mild which is great for people that don't want such a strong sour kimchi flavor, I love kimchi so I could've definitely had it stronger. They do give you a side of kimchi to go with it, but I didn't love the kimchi it came with. I'm used to getting kimchi from Hmart or other Asian grocery stores but this was pretty mid to me. Overall I would definitely come back to try their other dishes and cocktails! Their brunch menu looks good and I'll probably be back for that next time.

    This is my go-to spot whenever I'm in the mood for a casual drink. Definitely a great place for…read morechampagne and wine. It's a cute, cozy neighborhood spot with good food, reasonable prices, and a warm, relaxed atmosphere. Every time I come, I end up ordering the cauliflower and the bao buns--they're just that good. On my last visit, I tried the galbi-jjim bao, which was generous in portion and really flavorful. The cauliflower dish feels almost like a fresh salad, light and easy to eat, and the gnocchi with chipotle sauce had a nice subtle kick. The focaccia and sardines paired perfectly with champagne and white wine. Right next door is Homer, a very popular restaurant, and I've been to both--but honestly, I prefer this place. Maybe it's a bit less trendy because there aren't many main-course options, but everything I've tried here has been consistently delicious. Overall, it's just a comfortable, inviting spot that's perfect when you want good food and a relaxed drink. Also staff are friendly and welcoming. I've been back many times and will definitely keep coming.

    Maximilien - french - Updated May 2026

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