Gainsbourg Reviews

We live in the neighborhood and sad to say it took us over a year to try this place. What an amazing experience! Wish we had discovered it earlier. (I read other reviews on this place and one stated the neighborhood is sketchy. IT is NOT. We live 20 minute walking distance and area is peaceful. The restaurant is right on main street along w/ many other businesses. Parking is plenty. No sight of riff-raffs, homeless, prostitution; None to be seen.) The place is cozyily decorated with numerous paintings, table candles covered with dripped wax, and various wall ornaments. Very woodsy and obviously Frenchy appearance. A wonderful dim lit ambience. You could truly feel you're tucked away in a tiny european bistro in a remote village. My only suggestion is to remove the mini-Eiffel Tower structure and mini-wine rack from the bar; Free up bar space and make it more customer friendly. On one wall, never ending playing of black-n-white (early 1900's) movies in silence. Fun to watch. The food ordered is out of this world! I got Escargots under starters which came with light herb/garlic sauce and thinly sliced baguette. Also from the same category was an order of Frites. If ordering the Frites be aware there is a similar dish "Poutine", that can be confused because we wanted the dish with mushroom gravy covering it and instead got the plain Frites. The Frites were nicely cut thin and came slightly crispy. Other items on the menu that caught my eye and want to order next time would be the Hanging Tenderloin steak w/ Frittes. Duck Confit, French Onion Soup, sauted Mushrooms in white wine sauce, and Gainsbourger. I encourage you to look up website and see their menu. Many others not listed. We each had a glass of red wine (both from France) - Bordeaux and Cotes du Rhone which went well for the night. There are other wines offered as well as unique cocktails advertised in separate menu. Finished the night with a desert: Chocolate Mousse which was nice. I think they added waaaay to much whip cream as a top layer. It's nice to have to compliment the Chocolate but it took me several diggings into the standing glass dish to get past the white cream layer. I'll probably ask for it on the side next time. Also offered is Creme Brulee. Happy Hour is also available and the kitchen is open until midnight. We actually entered little past 10 only w/ the intention of having a drink but was offered a menu which surprised us. So we ended up ordering and happy we did. Deeeelicious Food!!! The staff were nice. We sat at the bar which are several plus seats to choose from. There are tables mostly lining the wall and few down the middle floor space. There is NO tv like most restaurants have at bar. So if you're into sports and want to see an event this would be the wrong place to go to. BUT keep in mind there is the old silent films playing on one wall. We will come back and very soon!!

Very enjoyable, especially for late nights. One of many restaurants in neighborhood but especially nice after late night entertainment.

We went there for a very late dinner on a Monday night, all night HH! While the escargots were good, the French onion soup was outstanding! Also Roasted Carrot soup, which was tasty, and beet salad, very good. Monday is not a night for a quiet dinner, as there is a DJ, but if you're in the mood, it's fine. Our food came out slowly, surprising for Monday after 9:30, but apparently they got unexpectedly hit with their smaller Monday staff. Service was good. My only disappointment, minor, was that they serve martinis in the squat heavy glasses. but it was made well! I look forward to going back for Duck Confit!

Not everyone in our group was hungry, so some ordered entrees and some split appetizers, which were excellent. The standout for me was the Kingston Sly cocktail made with Ancjo Rum. Lime, Cinnamon Tincture, Grapefruit, and Pernod. It was one of the best drinks I had during my many weeks in Seattle, and I hope to return to have another.

The Steak Frites here is just delicious. A lovely, slightly sweet pan sauce accompanies the dish and the frites are those slender perfect ones. It's always cooked to perfection (our choice, medium rare). It's a perfect dish to share. Another small but special thing about this dish is the cinnamon spiced ketchup that comes with the meal. The atmosphere is very cool. Black and white films projected onto the wall and the place stays true to its inspiration - Serge Gainsbourg. For those who enjoy absinthe they have the genuine experience here. I've not had it but I hear from those who have it's the place in north Seattle to enjoy it.

Nice place, god choice of beer to reasonable prices. Bartender was very nice, and responded quickly to orders. good atmosphere and polite employees. :-)

This food is legit, the $6 happy hour “gainsbourger” is incredible. Frites are really crispy and amazing. The cauliflower soup du jour is outrageously good. Nice cozy atmosphere with the kitchen visible from bar so you can watch them create your food. Worth a trip to greenwood neighborhood to try it out

It's another place and time when you enter, or maybe it is Seattle 2022. Cocktails are innovative and delicious. A lovely selection of booze creates a broad ranging palette from which to create. The food is honest and fresh and good on the limited but thoughtful menu. When you don't know where to go, go here instead.

Fine food, great atmosphere like being on the Left bank of Paris maybe even..! Special cocktails, great booming neighborhood

I loved this place! The atmosphere is dark--a bit mysterious and romantic. The food is authentic French and priced very reasonably. Nice drink selection with an amazing variety of Absinthe. We tried the Poutine, onion soup and the Gainesbourger. Each was delicious! We had just enough room to share a piece of chocolate cake, and while I'm not usually a big fan of chocolate cake, I must say this gives the cake at Bakery Nouveaux a run for it's money. I have already recommended this place to friends and will be back for sure.

Tried this spot prior to a show at the Taproot. The room is quaint, with a long bar/open kitchen on one side, booths on the other and two curiously large tables in the middle (for community dining, maybe?). Really liked the cocktail selection, and the bartender was accommodating. Food was hit-or-miss, though. Chef has a heavy hand with the salt shaker for sure. The sautéed mushroom appetizer and the potatoes in the duck confit were so heavily salted they were almost inedible. The duck breast entree and the Brussel sprouts appetizer were better choices. Server never came back to check on us after bringing the entrees, has to flag someone else down to get more aoli. Overall pretty mediocre, not worth going out of the way to try.

The owner of this bar/bistro has a sense of humor. We got 20% off our bill for wearing Halloween costumes. But be careful--if you groove on atmosphere, check it out first. It's a new-age bar with a few tables and the music is stereo NOW. The wait staff is very friendly and the food arrives quickly. The best thing on the menu is a nice chicken meal with salad. And the French onion soup is excellent. The fish was deep fat fried; the pasta disappointing.

so, its been awhile since we went for dinner mostly because its restricted to 21 years and older and the parking can be challenging - actually very challenging. The guy who owns it gets high marks for knowing how to do it in a challenging neighborhood - the steak frite is excellent, salads are inspirational and the bar is great. We are going back to try the Friday night raw oyster special. Its cozy and down home rough around the edges decor which I find relaxing. You should try it. My only reservation - don't get the frys as a bar snack.

Hubby and I came here because we usually can't with our boys (21+). We had been here before and thought we'd try it again. It was definitely not a place to go if you're on a tight schedule. It fit what I've heard about dinners in France that can be hours long. We weren't there hours upon hours but we weren't in and out. Food: I should have realized that the baguette would not have been a full baguette for the price. I thought it would be warm. The rest of our food was pretty good. Prices: Steeper for the portions. Service: Good. Pretty laid back, casual. Décor: Rustic chic (see pictures) I'm curious if this is comparable to a casual dinner place in France.

I know absinthe is "fashonable" right now but they really don't know how to give it it's due. Find a better place to be introduced to this fine drink

Amidst the polyglot mixture of businesses on the east side of Greenwood just north of 85th, you wouldn't expect to find this hidden away gem. But it's worth a try no matter where you live in Pugetonia. The ambience is comfortably casual, dimly lit with all kinds of nods to France including any number of French reference books stacked at the bar. What made our experience great was the relaxed, friendly service coupled with any number of tasty treats. We all enjoyed our individual orders: duck confit, French dip, croque monsieur, croque madame, and au poulet. The frites were thin cut, crispy and delicious. Only the chicken seemed to be a bit on the dry side. They're able to accommodate larger groups no problem --- we made advance reservations for the six of us, and our table was all set when we arrived. Great experience all around. Looking forward to returning.

Went because it was the nearest place that sounded interesting with good food so we walked nearly a mile to see. It wasn't worth it. The atmosphere is a matter of personal taste but the food was just plain indifferent. The fish special was over cooked and the chicken was undercooked. The kitchen did semi resurrect the chicken which tasted fine but should have been cooked properly first time around. The salted caramel desert was fine. Poor selection of beer.

This is a neighborhood bistro-type place. The happy hour is all day on Monday. Try the french onion soup and frites. They usually have a trout dish, which is very good. The staff is always helpful and well tattooed (it's in Seattle for gosh sake).

Found out about Gainsbourg prior to our visit to Seattle and had looked forward to eating there. Fun atmosphere, but nothing exceptional about the food. Be aware that if you have teens, the restaurant is 21 and over only.

My husband and I love the atmosphere at Gainsbourg -- kind of Belle Epoque goth. But as charming as the wax-covered candelabra and Serge Gainsbourg film loop are, it's the poutine that keeps us coming back. That oniony, cheesy, mess o'potatoes is something I never understood until I had it here. The sandwiches are pretty scrummy, too, especially the Croque Monsuier and the chicken one. Mixed drinks are yummy and pack a great punch, especially the Jacques Dutronc, and we find prices for drinks are not as steep as at other Seattle bars.

The happy hour deal is unbelievable. For $7 (as of July 2024) you can get a top quality burger (a mix of beef and lamb). It's a dollar to add bacon, gruyere cheese, or blue cheese. About $3 for fries and you can also get a small roasted beet salad for a few bucks. There's a lot more on their happy hour menu and they do it all very well. Best part about it is that it's an all day happy hour on Mondays. Gainsbourg has a bit of a dive bar vibe in several ways, but they don't cut corners on the food. You can see the very active kitchen right behind the bar and think about what you'll want to order when you come back not during happy hour. Great place to hang out with friends or sit down with a book (which I saw a few people doing).

This French-themed restaurant and bar fills a unique niche in the lovely hamlet of Greenwood. Sophisticated cocktails and a well-proportioned menu of rich but restrained dishes never fails to satisfy. Definitely the place to try your first sazerac, the signature cocktail of New Orleans, or give absinthe a try! Service is attentive, reliable, and friendly. Check out their Monday all-day happy hour for an introduction to this wonderful neighborhood spot. I visit at least weekly and am obviously a huge fan.

I adore this place. The giant wood tables and vintage candelabra. Fantastic menu. Wonderful wine selection. The artwork. They actually know how to make a proper Croque Monsieur. Loved our waiter. I'll be going right back the next time I'm in Greenwood.

Our new favorite bar/restaurant. Food is great, bar is excellent. Hamburger is is particularly tasty but the steak is excellent. French fries are always a great choice- heard great things about the French onion soup.

The duck brie baguette was AMAZING. Love, the servers here and the variety of tasty fusion style drinks they offer (recommend the Hemingway inspired Absinthe drink 'Death in the Afternoon' with Cava). The bar staff truly know their stuff; a deep knowledge of all things absinthe. Thursdays they offer discounted Absinthe drinks, so I highly recommend checking out their happy hour. Great music, cozy French vibe. A real gem in the Greenwood 'hood!