Copine Reviews

Four of us visited for the first time and had a great experience. Easy to find with free street parking the staff are friendly from the get-go. There were two specials/items not on the menu but we decided to stick with menu and ordered two starters, three different entrees, and two desserts. We had a variety of drinks, one of which turned out to be a $21 glass of red "house" wine that took us by surprise when the bill came. The starters are delicious but very small portions and perhaps not worth the $. The scallops were just slightly inconsistent (we had two orders with varying reviews), the beef was great, but the best was the duck prepared in a puff pastry. This is the dish worth returning for! Our desserts, especially the cheesecake, were works of art. So, adding and subtracting we end up with a solid four stars.

Dinner at Copine is the complete dining experience. The minimalist space is quiet, and conversation is easy. Service is excellent without hovering, or pretense. The food is complex, and beautifully presented. I had the Dungeness crab salad for a starter, and pithiviers de canard ( a rich duck pot pie ) with cherries and candied pistachios for my main course. My wife and I split two desserts, the chocolate gateaux with peanut butter ice cream, and the apple tart. Possibly the best meal we have had in the last year or more. This is a wonderful restaurant.

Completely enjoyed our evening meal here. If you follow me you know I enjoy places that offer really good flavor profiles and takes pride in how food is plated. Copines offers all of the above. It is a very classy place maybe a tad too for me for a simple Saturday date night. The wait staff is very good and friendly but the server we had was, like I said, a tad over the top. Can't really explain this comment you'll just have to experience for yourself. Maybe could say a bit formal with a low key atmosphere.? Having said that I would defiantly go back! I started with the FOIE GRAS TERRINE and had their delicious and buttery Scallops. I would recommend a reservation and ask for a seat along the window. They are more private. Happy eating!

A small group of us went for dinner, all of our first time and this restaurant and almost everything was either at or beyond expectations. The atmosphere was very nice, the service was excellent was staff that attended to the details and were knowledgeable. The food was outstanding, in a verity of dishes from foie gras, scallops to pork belly all was cooked perfectly and seasoned well. As a group of amateur foodies, we were all impressed. This is a “should eat” place for those who enjoy food. This is an expensive restaurant that the food justifies but not without two minor annoyances; the wine list is limited, expensive and not as inspiring as the food offerings. Second was a line item on the check which charged $1.00 for a dinner roll for one of our group who had wanted a second roll with her dinner, and in our opinion a bit tacky

This is fine dining at its finest inspite of its relaxed and friendly feel. Well-paced, polite, informative, delicious and more our experience was nothing short of fantastic. We look forward to returning when they change their menu later in the season.

Copine is one of our favorite restaurants and we typically give our visits 5 star ratings. This meal was not up to the usual standard and did not earn the price we paid. We had the four course option. The fois gras tart had way too much pastry and micro greens and way too little fois gras custard. It tasted like eating a piece of pie crust. The agnolotti were good, but the beef-based broth was harsh and (in my opinion) poorly paired with the lamb filling. The halibut with lobster mushrooms was simply strange. The fish was well cooked but non-descript and the the lobster mushrooms (clearly intended to drive most of the flavor) tasted like they had been boiled - bland, and lacking texture. The taste was more like canned artichoke than elevated mushroom. The desert was simply ok. Again this was our first non-great experience and we will likely go back soon. But, I hope things get back to normal soon.

Took some friends to dinner here last weekend. We had dined here once before and thought it was wonderful. I wanted to give it a five star rating, but our experience was just short of that, so only 4-1/2 stars. Sunday night is prix fixe 3 courses for $ 65.00, or 4 for $ 75.00. A screaming deal for the quality of food. The food was exceptional, beautifully prepared with lots of love, creative and served very hot. Most of us started with the seared ahi tuna. Perfectly rare and a good portion. Our extra course was a gnudi pasta in a sauce with mushrooms, again nice portion and prepared with lots of TLC. I had the saddle of lamb for my main course. WOW ! Perfectly medium rare and 3 very large pieces ! YUM ! My wife had the scallops, which she loved, but there were only two medium sized pieces for the main course. And my wife never complains about not getting enough to eat... We opted for the cheese dessert which was very delicate and tasty. The service was spot on by Amy. We especially noticed that their stemware for the wine was top notch. That's a big plus ! It shows that they care. Also, one of the guests was dairy and gluten free, the chef was only too accommadating for her request, but her main of grilled veggies was a little light on the quantity. The only real downer, other than the small main for my wife, was that each person received a nice, warm, tasty bun roll at the start of service, but that was it, no more durning the course of the dinner. I wanted to lick the sauces off the plate when she told us that there was no more rolls for the table. Ouch ! Come on, even if you charge a small fee for extra bread, don't let your marvelous sauces go into the dishwasher. Enough said, we will definitely go back, but I want to BYOB, bring my own bread ! Ha ! Ha ! Cheers !

This restaurant has a lovely, quiet minimalistic,elegant feeling. Our waitperson was exactly all you could hope for, knowledgeably able to describe the menu, including the beer ( we are not especially wine drinkers, but the wine list did look appealing), present when you need something, but not hovering when you don't. Service was perfect! Concerning the food, it was simply amazingly delicious, everything. I don't need to describe the individual plates, as I believe the menu is recreated often. I will say the foie, scallops, and tiny pastas were the best I have ever tasted. I can't remember what the dessert was called, but it was light,delicate and wonderful. This resturant is not inexpensive, but well worth the price. .

Food 4.3/5, creative. Menu mostly unchanged over past couple of months. Casual, comfortable atmosphere with very manageable noise level, making conversation pleasant. However: rigid regarding how one must order. We were not allowed to order a shared appetizer with drinks, we were told we had to order the whole meal at the same time. We complied. Unfortunately the appetizer we said was meant to be shared with drinks showed up with everyone's first course. When we noted that was the problem we tried to avoid by ordering the shared plate with our drinks, the waitress response was "I don't want to be caught in the middle" At the end of the meal, after paying the check I saw the chef and asked if it was OK to give him feedback. I noted what had happened,and listened to his rational for wanting us to order the whole meal at once, though I noted that he should allow diners some discretion regarding their preferences. I pointed out the issue of the appetizer meant to be shared with drinks coming at the same time as everyone's first course, but he insisted that the way things went was OK and if I didn't like it "there are a lot of restaurants in Seattle and I don't have to come back" so I won't. Did not seem interested in or gracious that I wanted to give him some feedback about what was happening in the front of the house, saying "I know what goes on there." This despite my noting that I thought the food was great, and that I had eaten there, and at his previous, now closed, restaurant a number of times. If you go and want to decide how to pace your meal, order the appetizers and say you'll think about whether you want more food, then order additional food when ready.

Service was great and so was the food. The Foie Gras was delicious as was the Grimaud Farms Pithhveiers de Canard (duck in a pastry). The halibut was also quite nice

I have dined here now three times and every time, amazing! Light and flavorful and thoroughly satisfying to the last crumb, you'll be tempted to lick your plate. The sea scallops are like nothing I've tasted anywhere, with their red wine beef reduction and the pan seared halibut will tempt you to take your pants off and dance! so delicate and rich. In a city chock-full of superb restaurants, Copine is top level, and easily one of my favorites.

Fabulous creative dishes with fresh local ingredients. Understated but very attentive service. A quite space tucked out of the way in Ballard. Founders Shaun McCrain and Jill Kinney have worked variously at Masa's, La Folie, Elysees du Vernet and Taillevent, Per Se, Michael Mina, Jean George Vongerichten, Lidia Bastianich, Thomas Keller, and Thierry Rautureau. The only room for improvement is the wine list, which is small (though a few gems). If you've got a wine cellar, bring a bottle from home.

This is an amazingly high-end neighborhood restaurant in the heart of Ballard. The style can beat be described as “Elevated Northwest / French cuisine” and the menu packs a ton of technique and flavor. My parents (who were visiting from San Francisco) were blown away with the food and service. On top of that, they are extremely accommodating of dietary restrictions (my Dad is lactose intolerant). You won’t be disappointed coming here!

We were four of us at COPINE for dinner. Going simply by the very French name, our expectation was clearly French cuisine. Over several visits to Seattle we had tried numerous restaurants in the Capitol Hill as well as in Fremont areas. This restaurant is in the Ballard area. In keeping with current trends, the décor was modern with an open kitchen. We were received by a very friendly waitress. Her suggestions helped us choose the food and wine. Her descriptions turned out to be on the dot. So no surprises. We chose Chilled Vanilla Scented Corn Soup, Ahi Tuna Crudo, Heirloom Tomato Salad, & Carnaroli Risotto for starters. They were all very good but the vote for the most innovative dish would certainly go to the Carnaroli Risotto. The Dungeness crab in a risotto was original and delicious. The Heirloom Tomato Salad, that showed how a talented Chef can make a simple tomato salad exquisite by choice of the right ingredients and their combination, came a close second. For the main course we chose Pan Seared Halibut, Caramelized Sea Scallops & Poulet Roti. The accompaniments to the roast chicken (young carrots and marble potatoes) made it a notch above the ordinary. The halibut was cooked just right (not overdone) and the accompaniments (blistered tomatoes and nicoise olives) heightened the flavour of the dish. The scallops could have been a little less sweet. The caramel overrode the fine taste of the scallops. The sweet corn was compensated by the mushrooms and the peppers. This was the only dish that called for a good sprinkling of black pepper. It was more American than French cuisine. For dessert we shared the Valrhona Chocolate Mousse. Good dark chocolate and up to the standard of a French chocolate mousse. In summary we would tweak the description of the cuisine as “contemporary French style cuisine with an American touch” instead of “We offer contemporary American cuisine executed with classical French technique and attention to detail”. One issue the restaurant needs to address urgently is efficient evacuation of the food smells from the open kitchen. It strikes you as soon as you enter the restaurant.

I liked this place. The Great Pieces: I especially loved the hostess, crazy gorgeous housemade roll, and the beef tar tar with sardines (yes together ). The smoked pork belly dish is nonfatty and gorgeously smoked & delish. The foie was unique and very nice. Every plate was thoughtfully presented and visually appealing! The chocolate granache dessert could be served at any fine restaurant anywhere in the world for its flavor, texture and plating!! The Needs Tweaking Pieces: The salmon amuse bouche had an akward chuncky mouth feel. The Amuse Bouse coupled w/ thr super austere, contrived, and "seen it everywhere before" atmosphere took away a bit from setting the stage for a nicer night. Sitting below street grade and having headlights flash me in the eyes was annoying. The duck confit in the pastry was a bit dry. (We both had the duck..both bit dry). It was also very odd having the men's bathroom door so very very close to the stand alone Huge Broth/Soup Pot. (That felt as if i was back in China). Wines by glass do not adequately cover the varietals to match the Entrees. Additionally the bottle are arranged by price which is "unique". Misc: The restaurant, kitchen & bathrooms are spotless. Service is nice. Prices are appropriate for the quality. Entrees leaned on the small side. The kitchen is a calm, efficient & talented team. A very nice clientele and nice servers. Hopefully they fix the pieces that need tweaked. I would drive to ballard to sit at the bar to be seated by the hostess, served appetizers ( the tar tar) and the choc granache. I would also love to buy more those dense dinner rolls. (Only one per person)

This was my first time at Copine and I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t know why this place hasn’t shown up on my radar before. First of all, the environment is lovely. Nice minimalist decor and well spaced tables; a very comfortable upscale space without being fussy. Personally, I would prefer they had table cloths on the tables, but that is just my preference. The food was excellent in every regard: taste, creativity, appearance and portions. The tasting menu allows choices within each course, which I like. The service was very professional as was the wine service. As a matter of fact the wine pairing which I had was very well chosen, and even a little outside the box. All in all, to my taste, one of the best fine dining experiences available in Seattle. Bravo Copine.

I went to Copine while visiting a friend in Seattle. The ambiance in the restaurant created a lovely dining experience. I was happy to have a conversation that I could hear without the pounding of music and restaurant chatter. More importantly the food was beautiful and delicious. I would be happy to return anytime.

Having lived in New York City, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area (but especially NYC), it's pretty difficult to excite us about restaurants, but Copine was a totally unexpected WOW for us. My wife and I did a weekend getaway in Seattle. I happened across the reviews for Copine in Yelp and Tripadvisor and decided to visit for dinner. What a treat! Dinner was delicious and presented so elegantly. I have to say that it's one of the very few occasions since we've left New York City that I've had such a beautiful meal in both taste and presentation. It was a surprise, but perhaps not unexpected to learn that many of the staff came from Thomas Keller's Per Se in New York. Copine definitely joins our currently very short list of must-visit restaurants in the Seattle area.

. . . though at Copine, the food is all that really matters~~!! Seldom, if ever, have I enjoyed 'fussy' food this much. Almost cannot believe how much, really. What I don't understand is why Copine is not as yet ranked in Seattle's top ten? To be honest, fine linens and a sublimely elegant atmosphere usually count more for me than 'creative' fare, but I left all that at the door when entering here. (Bare floors, starkly naked table tops, and hard chairs . . . usually result in an almost painful evening.) Not so this time. Fun cocktails and appetizers abound . . . as do servers of unusual good humor and helpful disposition. A stunning wine list and ample selections of recognizable courses, led to several hours of superb dining! The crab salad is beyond spectacular, topped with slim-sliced tiny dime-sized radishes and packed with succulent FRESH crab; just enough little bits mixed in for amazing flavor, without being the more customary 'filler' ~~!! I would happily return again just for this, were it not also for a chicken breast magnificently served bare of skin or bones, ready to slice. The drinks, courses including an apple crisp dessert and Calvados finish, were all prepared with care, and served to absolute perfection . . . Well now, a new standard has evolved which no longer requires my usual stipulation of white linens and subdued atmosphere to excel: Copine did not disappoint ~~ Parking available in garage below, or on the street. Immaculate, easily accessible restrooms, also.

This was our first visit to the restaurant and probably our last. The evening was a mixed success. The restaurant is off the beaten track a mile or so north of downtown Ballard. The restaurant itself is newer with good but not particularly romantic ambiance. The food was reminiscent of, and as good as, a Michelin 3-star experience in France. I started with a truffle risotto and followed with a Wagyu Rib-eye. Both were incredible. My wife had the vichyssoise followed by a squash ravioli. Once again, both dishes were off the top of the charts excellent. Prices were high-ish but dirt cheap compared to what you might pay for the same quality food in Paris or Monaco. The wine list seemed perhaps over-priced, but with a good selection of french wines at all price points. Our only complaint was that the portions were small. The risotto was gone in a few bites. My wife's ravioli was so small as to be a parody. We were joking that we would need to go somewhere for dinner at the end of the meal. That said, given the reasonable prices we probably could have ordered a third course. As to why we might not go back: No particular reason. For us, the issues were: The long drive from downtown Seattle, the small portion sizes, and that it kind of felt like a disconnect between a 3-star meal without the ordinary trappings of the 3-star experience. All that said, I vacillated as to whether to give 4 Tripadvisor-stars or 5 stars. Either would be justified and I do recommend giving the restaurant a try. It's as close as you can get to the Michelin 3-star experience without buying a plane ticket.

Atmosphere, artfully crafted food, a culinary delight at every level, this is one of Seattle's Must-Try restaurants. Tucked away in Crown Hill/Upper Ballard, you really should make a trek here, be it from in or out of town. The cuisine is New American, French inspired food from the wonderful team behind the Book Bindery.

My spouse’s test of a superior restaurant is the ability to serve a Negroni cocktail. If they say, “What is that?” they fail. If they say “We don’t have the ingredients” they fail. If they bring a Negroni, but it’s the wrong color because it hasn’t been mixed correctly, they fail. Copine delivered a beautifully crafted, perfectly colored Negroni that was accompanied by an extravagantly swirly orange peel. Score! But that was just the start. Our server, Jason, asked us if we had any questions, concerns, allergies. Wow, that is so Seattle. I love it, especially because heck yeah, I had questions, concerns and allergies. Kidding aside, Jason was a great server and added to the experience of what ultimately was the most important—the food. Oh the food! Everything we ate, appetizer through dessert, was exceptional and inventive. On paper it sounds a little weird. For instance, I had the chilled corn soup that was garnished with chanterelle mushrooms, popcorn, and flowers, with a hint of vanilla. Fantastic! In addition, the food was plated beautifully. There were splashes and dots of sauces, and flowers and perfect vegetables. On my plate of duck in pastry, they had tiny slices of figs with a brulee coating. So someone in the kitchen sliced figs and then used a torch to get a perfectly sweet and cracking coating for a morsel of pure pleasure. Clearly none of this was anything I would make in my home. Isn’t that the point of going out to eat?

This was my second dinner at Copine and it was as good as the first time. This time I had the ribeye steak, which was very good. This restaurant takes great care in the preparation and presentation of its food. The service is good, and the space is very spare, and can be noisy.

I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time. It gets great reviews here. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong dishes or came on came in on an off night. I say that because I just don't understand how this restaurant gets so many 4 and 5 star reviews. The only great part of this dinner was the wine. Very delicious Pinot by the glass. The Beef Tartare was nothing special and didn't have much flavor. I've had delicious beef tartare at 3 other locations in Ballard and Copine's should be at least as good or better. Not much flavor and pretty boring left me feeling disappointed. The Risotto was literally eaten in 4 spoonfuls. It was good but not so amazing to only serve 4 bites. Because of the excessive price for the small portions that were nothing special, I have to give this place 2 stars. If the food was amazing, it would be a different story. Better places to go in the area.

One of the best restaurants in Seattle. The service here was also fantastic. The plating was done beautifully and the taste was just perfect!

Food is inventive and good if a bit overwrought. There’s a lot on the plate and while it was mostly yummy, it was also a bit style over substance. That said, of all the many meals I’ve had in Seattle, this was one of the better ones.

My experience at Copine had many complex layers, very akin to the food emerging from Copine's kitchen. We chose to reserve space at the bar, which proved to be quite prescient considering the stark, coldness of the Copine interior. At least the bar had color and depth, maybe just due to the bottles on display. Copine adheres to the "food is the star" school of restaurant design, as the unadorned white walls, dark concrete floor, and bare wood tables, add no warmth or texture. I would label the space "Scandinavian minimalism," if that makes sense. I wanted some color, a painting, a rug, something....My wife liked the decor, pointing out the wood ceiling. Okay, but it wasn't enough for me. In contrast, service was warm, professional and fun. The liquor and wine program is run well, with a unique, well priced wine list and excellent cocktails available. Copine takes booze seriously. Our food server was great, and he certainly enhanced our dining experience. My tagliatelle appetizer, topped by a poached egg, was scrumptious, as was the foie gras terrine. The flavors at Copine are subtle and light. I would never call these dishes hearty. Both appetizers are on the border of "precious," without crossing that uncomfortable line. The chef has an artist's touch, kind of like the Japanese chefs cooking French food in Paris. Our pork entrees were a mistake, both of us not enjoying the flavor. It was a palete thing, not a kitchen error. Copine tried to comp us the two dishes, but I would not allow that. It was not their fault. Desserts were amazing, both illustrating culinary mastery. Before we knew it, we were the last patrons in the restaurant. Oops, that happens a lot to me. If I'm drinking, I'm gabbing, and time doesn't exist. I apologize to all the restaurants where I have over stayed my welcome. One weird thing happened at Copine. I often tip the kitchen staff towards the end of my meal at a restaurant. Before I walked into the kitchen, I asked our server if this would be okay. His permission was granted, and I walked into Copine's kitchen and was greeted by the chef, who was visibly uncomfortable with my presence. I thanked him, offered the cash for the kitchen staff, which he said was unnecessary, but accepted at my insistence. I turned around and walked back to the bar, feeling strange about this interaction. I have done the same thing at restaurants in Paris, New York, Milan, and even Salt Lake City. Never have I felt so weird, as I did after doing this at Copain. My tip was obviously not welcomed. I don't know why. My gesture was in good faith. Although our experience at Copain had more ups and downs than the value of the Argentinian peso, we will return, because that chef can cook his ass off, and Copain's gestalt is what fine dining is all about.

My husband and I went to Copine for dinner with a friend recently and were wowed by the food, its presentation, the service and decor. The food focuses on contemporary American with a French twist. Though there were relatively few offerings, it was difficult to chose among them because everything looked wonderful. Our server suggested that each person consider ordering a starter and a main. Two members of our party followed her advice while the third opted for a main and dessert. We all tasted each other's choices. The Hawaiian hearts of palm starter featured the major ingredient raw, cooked and pickled. I especially enjoyed the taste and texture of the included compressed watermelon. Carnaroli risotto with dungeness crab was beyond superb -- rich, flavorful and one of my favorites for the evening. Pan seared halibut, one of the mains, proved to be perfectly prepared. It was flaky, moist and had an exquisite taste. The handmade English pea agnolotti featured small raviolis bursting with flavor. And the duck in a puff pastry was tender and delectable. I was the one who deliberately saved room for dessert, but I ended up having little of the chocolate mousse with peanut butter ice cream and chocolate cookie crumble once the others got a taste of the amazing concoction. The total price for dinner, including a bottle of wine, coffee, tea, tax and tip was slightly more than $200. Everything came beautifully presented, almost like works of art. The dessert actually looked like a small sculpture. This emphasis on appearance reminded us of some very special meals that we have enjoyed in Japan. Service was extraordinary, always professional, always anticipatory of our needs. I found it to be quite European in its approach, which we truly appreciated. The restaurant, which is at the ground level of a condo complex, displays a minimalist decor with much warm wood and nicely spaced tables. A long bar beckons for drinking and dining. We appreciated the big windows until the sun started to sink in the sky. The screen did not block it enough and I needed to put on sunglasses. Whatever is used for noise abatement here works extremely well. At 24th Avenue and 65th Street, Copine is far enough away from Downtown Ballard that parking is not a problem. At 7 p.m., we found a space for our vehicle quickly in the immediate neighborhood.

The service was impeccable. Probably best service I've had in Seattle except maybe Canlis. One appetizer (scallop crudo) in addition to those listed on on-line menu and one entree (wagu beef). We ordered the scallop crudo, presented in a short circular mound, topped with finely sliced radishes. The texture was more like a ceviche but without any south of the border influences. Outstanding. The fois gras terrine had been one of our favorites when the owners were at Bookbindery. Again, outstanding presentation and taste! We were tempted by most of the other starters, too, and think making a dinner out of three or four of them would be great. Our mains were a step down. He ordered a traditional French duck pie. Gorgeous presentation, but surprisingly dull taste. Good, but not great. I order the chicken, a beautifully moist breast wrapped in caul & served with gnocchi-like potatoes. Chicken was spectacular, but potatoes were not hot and strangely spongy, a Disappointing accompaniment to an otherwise great dish. BTW, cocktails were top notch with several unique variations on old standards. Wine list was strong. Two cocktails, a bottle of wine, two appetizers and two mains $200-ish.

We had a fantastic restaurant experience at Copine. Everything was great - food, wine, service, ambience. We shared the foie gras, slow poached egg, and duck. The desserts were equally good. The chef has had extensive experience at restaurants like Per Se and you can see it throughout the restaurant. Highly recommended with no reservations.

Hands down- The best Restaurant I ate in the past 5 years! Everything was PERFECT.... taste, smells and looks were devine! Highly recommend ❤

Just finished one of the best dining experiences I've had in many many years. If you've every wondered what a 3 Michelin Star restaurant might be like then Copine is your place. It's starts with great service from the moment you arrive to when you leave. All the staff are attentive and understand fine dining pace. Food and drink were delivered at the right moment with the most professional but relaxed staff ever. We have eaten all over the world and Copine really qualifies for a fine dining experience. I ordered the lamb and it was cooked and presented perfectly. We'll be heading back very soon.

Delicious food, beautifully presented and well-paced. It was good value. I look forward to returning.

After reading all of the over-the-top reviews and hearing all the hype about Copine, I couldn't wait to try it for my wedding anniversary dinner. Excited Seattle might finally have another “real” first class restaurant to compete with the likes of Canlis (certainly, the prices compare to Canlis). Butter service and foie gras?! Couldn't wait! What a total disappointment. I am kicking myself because I should have known better than to trust the impressions of wild-eyed and too easy to please Seattleites who continue to rate mediocrity as exceptional simply because a new hipster place is supposed to be good. My husband and I arrived on time for our 7 pm reservation on a Tuesday. The restaurant has an inviting rustic-elegant ambience and we were seated promptly. After greetings from our server, we were quickly informed that there was no more Foie Gras. On a Tuesday. At 7:00 pm. So, that was a pretty big bummer that started things off at a deficit as the menu is already small and the foie was the draw for us to begin with. We ordered $22 glasses of Champagne as we were celebrating which was served in white wine glasses. Pretty tacky given their charge for glass bubbly, but the Champagne tasted pretty good. From the really short wine list, we ordered a bottle of Crozes Hermitage red wine (Syrah). For our first courses, I ordered what I thought would be a dietary splurge – Mushroom Risotto – and my husband Hamachi (fish) crudo. For main courses, I took the recommendation of the server and went with the Poulet two ways and my husband had duck breast. Next came an amuse bouche (salmon croquette) which was the best thing we tasted all evening and “the roll” (singular, one per) and no such famed butter service. The roll was good, but it was clear that seconds weren’t an option as the menu advertised that you could purchase some to go if you just didn’t get enough. This place is not a bakery, so I found this to be pretty cheap, tacky and off-putting. Our wine and first course arrived in reasonable time as far as the duration between courses goes. We got lucky with the wine as it was exceptional, thankfully. Our first courses were underwhelming. The Hamachi was sliced thinly and raw, topped with an array of vegetables that overpowered the fish. My mushroom risotto, all 2 tablespoons of it, was hiding under a parmesan foam (think latte) and tasted okay. Both underwhelming with waistlines intact. We then sat for at least 40 minutes after our first course plates were cleared when we realized our wine bottle had been drained and we were getting down to the end of our sips with no entrees. My husband caught the eye of our server who was “just on her way over to check on us” (yeah, right). Our meals arrived 5-10 minutes later. After getting seated at 7:00 pm, our entrees were served at 8:30 pm with no explanation or apology as to the delay. On a Tuesday. Amateur hour. At that point, after such poor service, the food was an afterthought and just tasted utilitarian. There were no menu disclaimers about certain orders having minimum cook times (sometimes specialty dishes in fine French restaurants can take 30 or more minutes to prepare). Regardless, it had been more than an hour from the time we placed our order to when we got our main courses. I can only imagine how poor the service would be on a peak night. They comped our Champagne for their major blunder saving us some expense from what would have been a $300 mediocre, poorly serviced meal. Bottom line, there are plenty of other places in Seattle where you can have a mediocre meal for a third of the cost.

It is truly impossible to describe the experience of dining at this exquisite restaurant and being privileged to partake of the chef's unique and delicious cuisine. One simply has to go and see and taste for oneself! The welcoming atmosphere, excellent sevice and beverage service only add to make this perhaps the best restaurant in Western Washington! No surprise that they have received so many prestigious awards! Bravo to the chef and all the staff. We thank you for perfect evening!

Each and everyone of us was thrilled- and one of us is a hyper critical foodie and has a professional sommelier's degree. I had the best sable fish, ever. ( tied, but never surpassed). The tuna crudo was small but scrumptious with , I think, some licorice tones in it. Two of us had the lamb - perfectly done and not skimpy. They both had the risotto too and just about had a fit of bliss about it. The heirloom tomato was delicious too. I couldn't have dessert but I gather the chocolate dessert was up to the same standard. Don't miss this restaurant---its my new crush.

This restaurant is just lovely in all respects. The atmosphere is understated elegance, clean lines without any cold harshness, just a perfect balance. The tables are well spaced, the lighting is soft without being dim. You can enjoy dinner conversation without having to shout, even when the restaurant is full. The service is impeccable- warm, welcoming and efficient. The food is awesome, beautifully presented. Each bite is a delight. The foie terrine, for example, is a study in balanced nuance. The lamb is absolutely stunning. The vegan and vegetarian dishes are also excellent; you won't be feeling like you're in second class. The wine list is well thought with good choices at many price points and they make great cocktails.

All our apps (fois gras, pork belly, scotch egg) were excellent and everyone enjoyed their entrees--I had the duck and it was fabulous!!! This being said, our server was not wonderful, but the food made up for it. Go here!

This is some of the most beautiful food I've ever eaten and fortunately the flavor was as impressive as the presentation. The ambiance was an unassuming yet elegant industrial feel. The staff was friendly, professional, and very knowledgable. The food choices were adventurous, if you are after something different than the usual fare, but with all the usuals still on the menu. Great cocktail and wine list. This is my favorite restaurant in Seattle so far - and there are many good ones. It was definitely worth the trip to Ballard to get there.

My French wife has been here 7 years and said that she's never enjoyed flavors or food like this here. Simply pure creativity and amazing food. Sit at the bar if you can't get a rez.

We're local. We've known of Copine since it's opening, followed the successful reviews, and finally were able to find a kid-free night for a dinner-date. Reservations are a good idea and we had them. The interior is just right - classy, modern, sleek and not too pretentious. Some guests were dressy and others were in Seattle nice-casual. Nothing about the service says 'hurry up' - everything is timed to perfection and the guest gets to set the pace. We wanted a slow meal. I think the best part of the meal was with every course, and every bite, we just kept smiling. There are little surprises and the attention to detail is incredible. The amuse bouche gave a very clear indication of what the rest of the night would bring. Absolute perfection! Our starters in included a tomato salad which featured several, beautiful varieties of heirloom tomato, grilled bread, fresh panna cotta. Oh wow! My husband ordered the corn soup - scented with vanilla - popcorn, mushrooms - we couldn't believe it. The fresh, homemade challah dinner roll was incredible. The small bit of lobster risotto - oh my goodness!! My husband had the special - beef from the 'flavor curve' and potato croquettes. I had the roasted chicken with delicious crisped ski. Perfect portion sizes. And, have I mentioned the flavor? It is obvious that every detail is cared for and decided by the Chef - it's all just right. Dessert was chocolate mousse with some peanut butter ice cream - a perfect ending with our espresso. If you need a nice restaurant in Seattle, Copine should be on your list! Warm greeting, professional, knowledgable and friendly service, and the food was fantastic!

We were there for a special event and Copine made it very special. We have been to many places where one part of the meal was very special but other parts were disappointing, not at Copine. The restaurant is very nice and the acoustics such that one could have a conversation even with a full house. The service was professional and the whole crew seemed to work as a team. The food was as beautiful as is was delicious and special too.

I absolutely love everything about this restaurant and the glorious food they have to offer . It out ranks some of Seattle's other restaurants that are considered 5 star while I was growing up here , and continue to rank that way . Copine is 5 star * The interior is no fuss and has that Northwest feeling , the menu has a nice choice to choose from . What I think is the total clincher are the beautifully presented plates of food , they are delicious. The servers are helpful and not pushy , my only complaint is you have to order all your food at once . Deserts are nummy and just as beautiful to look at as all the other dishes . Parking can be found on the street or in their parking garage. They have a nice selection of wine and their drinks are tasty . They also have gift certificates. Go check out this incredible restaurant.

As soon as we saw that the proprieters of Copine were the Book Bindery folks, we jumped to get a table this evening. The restaurant is on the ground floor of an upscale condo complex in a part of Ballard that we had never explored. The interior was industrial-modern , with poured concrete floors, lots of white walls, and wooden tables. It's a new place, so I don't know if the owners are planning to add some artwork or textiles to the dining room, which would truly compliment the surroundings, and buffer some of the noise. I do want to suggest that the owners consider that the servers may need a bit more training (or have more experience with finessed service). We found our younger waitress to be "fine"...but rushing up to the table to ask if we wanted anything to drink right away without even properly greeting us and giving us a moment to catch our breath, look at the menu, take in the surroundings...not a great start. As a former server, i know how someone's true enthusiasm and professionalism can shine through and enhance a dining experience. In the grand scheme of things, though, not a huge deal..just a suggestion. On to the most important thing, though-- the food! The divine food! :) After an amuse bouche of a salmon fritter, we were treated to the best darn rosemary roll I've ever had, truly. Sweet, but also savory..i could have eaten about 3 of these. We shared an Ahi Tuna Crudo starter, with compressed watermelon, jalapeño, and mizuna salad. DELISH! even my bf, who isn't a huge raw fish fan loved this. It was incredibly beautiful, and a delight. We shared two entrees. First, the gorgeous Sweet Corn Agnolotti, served with lobster mushrooms, mission figs, and a brown butter emulsion. Bright and summery, with the most luscious figs. We also shared the Seared Halibut w "tomato raisins", niçoise olives, and artichokes. This was the BEST piece of fish I've ever had: perfectly golden seared and crusty on the top, and silky tender melt-in-your-mouth goodness underneath. Expensive at $28, but I have to say, delicious. And those tomato raisins were sweet/sour perfection. We skipped dessert, but had two very strong and rich cappucinos. My takeaway? I loved the food...didn't love the prices...(sorry-- hate to say that, as i know it must be so difficult to start a new place in Seattle, but this price tag will keep us from frequenting this as a favorite) and would suggest a bit more selectivity in waitstaff (you can't fake enthusiasm). If you're looking to try picture perfect and spot on artisan food, check Copine out. PS--it's not in the main downtown area of Ballard, so parking was easy!

We were a party of 6 and tried a variety of dishes. A few had the lamb and another had the rabbit - and really liked it all. My husband had the halibut and enjoyed it but found it a little plainer than mine which was really awesome. I had the special for the evening - the Scallops. If they offer them, do try them. I loved every bite! We also ordered the Foie Gras and the beet salad. Both were lovely. We were very pleased with our entire experience. The plating is very creative, and the dishes brought out by several servers to arrive at the same time. We also ordered 2 bottles of the Chateauneuf du pape which was delicious. We look forward to returning to Copine. Three pot de cremes were devoured with much delight. There is free parking under the building, which helped, and will keep you dry if it is raining. FYI, find parking on the entry level as there is a gate that closes on the lower level.

This is a restaurant where you don't have to starve yourself all day in preparation for eating there. The intent, we were told, when we asked about sizes of entrees, was that everyone could be able to eat a starter, an entree, and a dessert. And indeed, we were able to do that without any trouble. If you're hungry, take care in ordering because you could still end up a tad hungry at the end. For example, I probably should have ordered two starters. That said, everything we tried was delicious. The challah type rolls were served hot, with a small cube of butter that was easily spreadable. At first bite, the Hawaiian hearts of palm salad (with roasted beets of various varieties and a cardamom poached pear) seemed rather ordinary. But with every bite, I liked it more and by the time I'd finished, I wished there had been more on the plate. The Yukon gold potato soup is a definite winner--very smooth with the potato flavor shining through. My crispy sablefish in a bonito broth was just as advertised--a nice piece of black cod, with skin seared perfectly crispy, sitting in bonito broth with an assortment of small diced pickled vegetables. The bonito broth was so evocative for me--like a fine dashi without the kombu. The pickled vegetables were perfectly done. Not so vinegary to be puckery, but with just the right amount of sweetness. My husband was very happy with his beautifully presented rack of lamb, although he did think that the "medium rare" was more on the rare side. For dessert, he had the chocolate gateau and I had the apple tarte tatin. The tatin was out of this world, with very flavorful apples. He felt the gateau was something that could have easily been served at the best of restaurants, although the one bite I tried didn't do that much for me. We also enjoyed the Mouton Noir Love Drunk rose, one of most easily drinkable wines I've ever had. Service was professional. The restaurant was not full when we went, but the time between courses was paced for fine dining. The noise level is not the quietest we've ever experienced, but would probably be considered moderate. I agree with the first reviewer about being below street level and having to deal with car headlights. That said, we look forward to returning and trying other items on the menu. Prices are reasonable for what you get and below the finest fine dining in the area. There is a small take out menu.

One of the best meals we have had in Seattle. All of our dishes were superb. Perfect sauces, seasoning, presentation and service. The northern Seattle location is not near anything else we know but the trip is more than worthwhile. Highly recommend.

It is rare to find a restaurant with such competent and seamless service. Yes the food is wonderful, the appetizers are works of art, the setting is lovely, but the service was most impressive. Scan other reviews to see comparable superlatives about this fine establishment. We will certainly return.

Had some trouble with the online reservation system so called and booked in for a very early dinner before an event at nearby Ballard Homestead. There was no need as the place was very quiet on an early Thursday evening...maybe a happy hour is an idea. Fantastic menu. The service was smooth, efficient and just friendly enough. Drinks and wine list were great. I appreciate a manageable, well curated menu. complimentary amuse-bouche. The food was well put together with A+ on presentation and contrasting textures etc. The portion sizes...were a bit small for the price, but we left satisfied.

Modern, cool atmosphere..sophisticated. Engaging waitstaff..beautiful food. Interesting, well priced wine list. Nicely paced.. varied choices. Loved the generous lamb entree and the chocolate gateau was a delicious share. No espresso available tonight so we skipped coffee but managed to spend two hours plus at our table...watching the #40 bus go by:)

It has been a long wait for the return of this chef and menu. Worth the wait. Everything was spot on -- just a great meal prepared with incredible attention to detail. We will return to being regulars.

This was a great dinner stop. Nice atmosphere - you can talk, or more importantly, hear each other! The service was fantastic. Great staff, very helpful, friendly, and there when you need them. Appropriately attentive, but not too much. The food was very good, and very pretty, too. Artfully constructed and laid out on the plate, with thoughful creativity in the flavors and textures. The courses came out in a timely manner, didn't make you wait for them. Very well done! Michelin star quality without the price.

We went here with friends who live in the neighbourhood. Fantastic meal. Everyone course was done to perfection.

Service and dishes presentation was well done. However it was little too salty for our taste. We ordered three appetizers and two main dishes. Everyone of them were salty.

My husband surprised me with dinner at Copine for my birthday. What a truly amazing experience. I loved everything about it, the food, the ambiance and the service. The menu was incredible. I think it's a great restaurant for a special event or a quiet evening out. I love the portion size. This was just enough, as a matter of fact I had leftovers. We are taking our grown daughter there during Christmastime.

This is my third time here and it's one of my favorite locations in and around Seattle. The food is of the highest quality, presentation is flawless and it tastes sublime. The staff is friendly, professional and attentive. This is a must visit if you have the chance. Highly recommended.

Went to Copine for an early dinner. Decor is post modern, modern. It is in Ballard on the ground flour of a new Seattle style new millenial condominium. The meal got a slow start. No draft beer, certainly no craft IPAs. But the cocktails were excellent and well thought out. I had a kind of manhattan with a smoked cherry and sage leaf. The smoke cherry sounds bad, but is delightful and adds a nice smoky flavor to the rye. The amuse bouche was a kind of croquette of deep fried salmon. Over cooked, old salmon is not very appetizing, I must say. Our first course was crab, and it was just some shredded crab with a radish that had been mandolined. Lemony sauce. Not very inspired, but well assembled. At this point I am thinking, meh. But the agnolotti with spring peas arrived, and it was tremendous. The pasta was very thin, the pea mixture devine, and the mushroom sauce was very tasty, if a bit sweet from the agave added to it. Because the size of the main courses was toward the appetizer end of things, we ordered another main instead of dessert. The scallops were excellent. We didn't have any meat, but there is a strong focus on serious cuts of meat, Wagyu rib eyes, duck breasts, and the like. I suspect if you eat meat you will find great main courses too. The wine list is small, and focused on the Pacific Northwest, but excellent.

This is not our first time nor will it be our last. The staff is calm and pleasant and they have everything under control and you feel the conference. Point being, it makes it so much easier to start your dining experience with a relaxed feeling at the front door. For me it's also about execution and how far does one take it. It is easy to fall short of the mark but here details are important for a great customer experience. We had a reservation which I do recommend. We were taken and seated at our table. Our server greeted us and make sure we are comfortable and being taken care of. As a fun quick sit down starter they bring to you a bite size salmon Croquet that gives you a strong hint of about what is coming from the kitchen. At the time of ordering we were brought this amazing warm puffiness of a fresh rolls baked with a hint of Rosemary which can be overpowering). The top of the role was finished in a sea salt crunchiness. Very very nicely done. I appreciate a good baker in the back. I ordered as a starter dish, the Tagliatelle with a soft poached egg served with a Parmesan cheese broth. Topped with finally shredded and finished crispy pancetta. WOW what a Gastro treat. I broke the egg and that the richness of the Yolk cream on to the pasta and into the broth. Really off the hook people. Just nuts. Yum! Next came the entrées. Off the menu special was the shoulder strap. steak medium rare. So nicely prepared and extremely tender savory meat. Really tender. Served with morel mushrooms, their version of a au gratin potato which was Julianne sliced and stacked yellow potato and an amazing cream spinach. I hope they make it a regular menu item. My wife ordered the lamb chops which also were pink and amazingly fork tender. Really hard to go wrong at Copine. I hope you give it a try and get to experience the layers of flavors that the kitchen has prepared for you with each bite. Great experience and keep up the good work!

We had drinks at Copine last night, and our bartender was super informative about all the drinks, really cool guy. The atmosphere is really nice. The place was crowded at 8pm on a Tuesday night, and I can understand why. We didn't have any food, but it smelled really good.

Visited Copine with friends during a trip to Seattle. My friends are “foodies” and recommended this restaurant for our last evening together. Wow is an understatement. The service, food, presentation were all superb, I highly recommend a visit if your looking for fine dining but don’t need white table cloths and black tie attire. I’m sure the menu changes, but my meal of Pumpkin soup, Sablefish and Blueberry cheesecake (the menu describes the dishes in much more thorough detail :)) was the highlight of this trip!

This place is on the fancy side for Ballard. Service and food were impeccable, wine suggestion was great. The dinning room is minimalist and beautifully stark.

We live only two blocks away from the restaurant, and decided to enjoy the (albeit brief) sun break by walking to dinner. Upon entering, we were promptly greeted and invited to take a peek at their menu - one quick glance was all it took for us to decide to eat there. We were seated at a table with a great view of the beautiful open kitchen, and right before our cocktails arrived we were pleasantly surprised by a wonderful "amuse-bouche" (I believe it was a sort of Salmon Croquette topped with crème fraîche & caviar - delicious!). Next was a Hearts of Palm Salad (w/ cardamom poached pear!), "Scotch Egg" (absolutely delicious, though I would argue a true Scotch Egg is wrapped in sausage meat, breaded, then deep-fried - this was a deep-fried soft boiled egg sans sausage meat), and Preserved Black Truffle Risotto. Main courses were the Duck Breast with crispy polenta, and the Pan Seared Halibut with Pernod sauce. We were stuffed and sated from all of the great food, and we'll definitely be back. NOTE: the entire staff had a very austere/cool demeanor - not rude or cold, but teetering on the edge of somewhere between reserved and unapproachable. Nothing to complain about…just a friendly suggestion for management to keep tabs on this…

The space is a bit far from the East Side, but the drive was worth it. Tables are nicely spaced out and noise levels are low (yay!). Service was friendly and attentive. The food was a bit all over the place. The amuse bouche struck me as pretty bland. The mushroom soup was delicious, but a few cracks of pepper would have made it perfect. The highlight was the sturgeon, but darn... such a small piece! Vegan chocolate mouse is one of my favorites. While it was nicely balanced, it had not quite set yet and reminded me more of a Catalan hot chocolate. Too bad on the latter. Would I go back? Sure, definitely need to probe again. But the prices at around $200 per person (with drink and tip) are a little too high to walk away hungry.

Copine exemplifies what 5-star dining in Seattle is like: 1) decor is understated, maybe too understated. Like you're in a Dansk showroom, all nordic simplicity. Your eyes need a few more focal points for a multi-hour dining experience. There are few interesting vases to ponder. 2) The crowd is without a doubt serious foodies who come to have their taste buds delighted. They are dressed in tee shirts and shorts, ready to dig in, with no muss or fuss. For a place you'll drop $75-100 per person, it is very unpretentious. 3) The food is the STAR here, no question. They're so serious about the food, they DON'T want you to order appetizers first while perusing the entrees entrees. No no, they want you to order everything at the same time so that they can properly space it out, with an amuse bouche thrown in. Definitely order a starter or two. The foie gras is an art piece. Seriously, you will want to take photos of it, it's so beautifully composed. A line of black sesame, cubes of foie gras, dashi and edible flowers, with tiny, beautifully flayed out peaches. But gorgeous would mean nothing if the flavors don't match, and heavens, this foie gras does! It's a delightful symphony for your mouth. The night we were there, they had a special starter of wagyu beef tartare. Also excellent. The pork belly is nearly entree-sized and a very good value if you have a big appetite. 4) The entrees change a little with the seasons. But the duck seems to always be there. It's wonderful, served in a flaky pastry crust, and because it's summer, garnished with cherries dipped in pistachios. My husband had the scallops, and although there were only 3 scallops, a bed of sweet corn and peppers kept it lively and also more filling. 5) There are 4 desserts to choose from, including a seasonal deconstructed strawberry shortcake. The chocolate mouse was the winner at our table. Served with peanut butter ice cream. 6) There are cocktails to choose from, but as mentioned, most diners come for the food, so the preferred accompaniment is wine. They have a good wine list, both white & red, as well as sparklers. Although there's no sommelier, the servers are good about recommending wines that go well with what you order. Actual espresso or french press coffee for afterwards. Because Copine has no view and no sumptuous atmosphere, this is not necessarily the place to take high-end business clients or people who need to be impressed. It's not the place to dress to the nine's. But, it IS the place to impress the hard-to-please foodie and the person who's well-traveled and appreciates the finer points of fine dining. The food is actually better than Canlis and a much better value.

Had my birthday dinner here and it was wonderful. French precision, perfect engagement by Jason, our server, and PNW’s stunning ingredients and, it seems, quite the fabulous recipe. From the amuse to the challah roll to dessert it was as perfect!

We enjoyed a dinner of no decisions at Copine’s pre-fixe holiday dinner. The delights came all night - cavier, duck, and Copine’s amazing house made rolls. It was a meal to remember.

Shaun and Jill have done it again. I will say I have become their groupie. Followed them starting with Book Bindery. Everything we had that night was incredible--nothing disappointed us, even the bread. We started with the tuna and the scotch egg and both were delicious. My wife and the duck pastry and I had the fish. Again well presented and creative. Service was good.

The room is understated but the food is far from it. Everything we had was presented like n intricate work of on the plate. Flavors and textures were well thought out.

This was my third or fourth dinner at Copine, and it was as wonderful as ever. The energy here goes into the food, and it shows.

Copine pays careful attention to everything a diner could want - the service and food are excellent, and it's relatively quiet. I had crab salad, sturgeon, and a delicious dessert that took me to the tropics with passion fruit and coconut gelato. It's a bit out of the way for tourists who are staying in downtown Seattle, which makes it nice for locals who are used to street parking.

Food was very good -- interesting and flavorful -- I really liked the crab salad BUT.... the portions are SOOO small -- and too many rules: we had to sit on on the end of the bar if we wanted food, we couldn't have the bread with our cocktails because "the chef wants the bread served as part of the coursings" Coursings? -- and my personal gripe is when the busser rushes in and sweeps away the plate and utensils the minute I put them down. Not blaming the staff, because this place is run by a "Significant Seattle Chef" who I am sure sets the rules. As others have said, the decor is super-minimalistic. My husband said the place was cold, but he was talking about the decor. Actually, on this cold November night, the place was nice and warm and my feet appreciated it. Would I go back? Probably not, but if a friend insisted AND had already eaten there, I would go. I give it a average of 4 out of 5 because Copine would rate a 5/5 for executing what what they promise -- but it's a 3 for me.

The decor is minimalist, yet welcoming. Cool shades of gray and warm wood make for a lovely space. The waitstaff is attentive without hovering, and very knowledgeable about the menu. The menu is small, but it was incredibly difficult to pick. Everything sounded delicious. You begin the meal with an amuse, which was a bit of cured tempura salmon with roe and creme fraiche. Lovely and delicious. Their brioche dinner roll is rich and decadent. I wanted to eat 3 or 4. They're that good. The soft poached egg over housemate tagliatelle was incredible. Luscious and so flavorful with the parmesan brodo. Outstanding! Roasted chicken with morels was beautifully juicy and cooked to perfection. The duck-stuffed pastry was really remarkable, full of perfect duck confit. The plates are all beautiful, with a variety of well thought out sauces, decorated with flowers and micro greens. Just stunning to look at, and fun to eat with all the different flavor combinations. Everything has a purpose on the plate, and you can taste the effort and thought that went into it.