Voila Reviews

5 years ago I stumbled across this restaurant and had the best burger I have ever had in my life. It set the standard and always has been forefront in conversation and burger comparisons. We were coming through Seattle and had to take a detour to see if in fact my experience was a one time “all the stars lined up” type event. We arrived and it seemed as though our server though did not share my same excitement. She was very cold and we were almost made to feel that we were were imposing. We placed our order reluctantly and thought for sure we would be disappointed. Well, the masterpiece arrived and it was as good as it was 5 years ago. My wife described it like this. You know when you walk somewhere and smell a great BBQ and you want to eat the smell? That’s what this burger tastes like. Unfortunately though our experience was was very disappointing. The server was not the right person to be waiting on people. First time ever I had someone role their eyes when I asked for more ketchup. Have to say I have never had a server so impersonal and in a weird way kind of rude. Not sure if that’s a French thing. My credit card was declined twice and I found out it later it was the way the server entered the details. Will I go back. Definitely. My concern is that if this type of customer service is normal not sure if they will be around the next time I’m in town.

Great food and an inexpensive price. They always seems to have fun specials nights like half price wine night!

So, we were in Seattle for our anniversary and found this little gem in the neighborhood. We did not have dinner reservations but they took us in anyway. The dinner specials were amazing and very delish..... Nice big servings, the food came out quickly and it was just great. I did not like my red wine, it was a bit bland... And when we ask for bread for our meal, it came out cold. I wish they would serve hot bread. But other than that, great dinner experience. I cannot wait to go back and visit!

Terrific menu and leisurely pace. One of us had the soup and salad with French Onion Soup, and the other had Merguez Sausages with particularly tasty fries -- garlic and parsley in the oil. And the salad dressing was special too, made with rice wine vinegar and a little honey.

This is exactly the kind of little neighborhood spot that a small restaurant should be. It's charming and friendly. The window seat is a fantastic spot should you be there on a sunny day!! The comfortable setting perfectly compliments the comfortable food. The wine list is off the beaten path but has come real winners. The steak frites will NEVER let you down!! It includes truffle butter and is quite divine! We come often on the weekend and have enjoyed every experience! Reservations are smart although they will try to work with you.

We went for my partners birthday. We have heard great reviews about this restaurant from our friends, so we decided to give it a try. We started with the Escargot and cheese platter. It’s been years since I have had escargot and was excited to try theirs. When it can kit to the table it was covered in so much sauce on couldn’t even see the escargot or enjoy the flavor of it all you could taste was the sauce. The cheese plate was underwhelming for the price point. There were 3 different type of cheeses but the portions were so small it was awkward to cut off a piece because you were not sure if you were leaving enough for the other people at the table. Overall the cheese was good but not the best I’ve had. We weee told that the salmon was the best dish in the menu and it was always consistent. When it came to the table it looked beautiful and delicious. But when you bit into it it was dry and over cooked. The hanger steak was amazing! It was cooked to perfection (at the temperature I asked for) and the sauce tasted great. We ordered 3 different deserts and each were delicious. It’s a good restaurant but I it only earned 3 stars in my opinion based on the portion of the cheese plate and the over cooked salmon.

Went to celebrate a friends birthday and I ended up being extremely surprised about the quality of food. Its closer to the Madison neighborhood, with plenty of street parking. There is a small outdoor patio, but large windows if its a nice summer day for some fresh air. You can make reservations, but I don't think you need to. Its not extremely small, but good size restaurant. For Seattle, the pricing is pretty standard, but more on the pricey side like three money signs. All in all the food is really good and the wine. The French authenticity came from the staff, where you tend to wait for awhile to get service and some of the food items take longer to cook than others. I'll be back, great date spot too!

I just found the food ok. Maybe Sunday night is not a good night to eat out, but when I saw beef bourguignon I thought Voila (Wa-lah), I had to see if it was as good as what I carefully simmer and store in my refrigerator for 3 days before serving it to my guests. Well, the first bite was just as tender as you might expect, it was prepared with the time it takes to prepare such a meal. But what was strange was that the next few bites left the taste of what my wife described as something akin to barbecue sauce having been added to the mix. She ordered chicken, and it was overdone. We did not complain as the meal was fine, but it was just off enough to make me wonder if I will ever return. Ah, I miss Casis at Alki. My suggestion, go give the place a chance, may we just got there on a bad night, after all, we cannot always be at the top of our game all of the time. I will watch for other reviews, and probably give it one more try. It is in a great neighborhood for dining.

Great hidden gem in a lovely neighborhood. Small space, but cozy; been there several times months apart when visiting town and never disappointed. Truffle fries are too die for, and the service is really always wonderful. Just a great experience, much better than many of the over hyped restaurants downtown. Worth a trip.

A short menu - makes for easy selection. Always a daily special. Onion soup & mussels are excellent, as are their frites.

Voila isn't trying to be a fine dining French place but instead the type of great bistros that are all over France. We somewhat stumbled on to the place for a dinner before I had to take the red-eye back East and were glad we did. Pleasant inside with good service. Menu was fine but the specials were great. To start, my wife had the raw zucchini salad which she loved. I had the escargot which were served in a traditional manner over toast. For her entrée, my wife had a Sockeye salmon dish with a crème fraise sauce. I had the lamp chops, cooked very well with great potato gratin soufflé. Overall great meal and hope to go back when we are in Seattle.

It had been a few years since we have been to Voila, which we had always enjoyed before. Our food last night, however, was very disappointing. I had the Boeuf Bourguignon and it was too hot to eat comfortably for several minutes after it was served. It had obviously been microwaved to re-heat it. When it finally cooled down enough to be safe enough to take a bite, the potatoes and carrots were mushy and overcooked and the beef was pretty tasteless. I sampled my husband's mussel dish and thought they were not fresh. We will not be going back again.

Always a good meal. The bar is small and intimate but pours a great martini! I try to eat here a few times a year. Great country French food. Prices are mid range and is a very good value.

We had a nice meal and the food was quite good. I did have two issues. (1) the portions were too small, at least for my gnocchi dish. Hey, throw a few more on the plate! The ingredient costs should be pretty low, so make the portions a bit bigger. (2) the house wine -- a Pinot Grigio I think -- was way too sweet. Yes, they replaced it, but it was weirdly sweet. Still, good food made well.

We were extremely delighted to find this gem of a bistro on our way back from visiting the Japanese Gardens. The atmosphere is casual classy and our food and wine were top notch. We ate a perfectly seared thick cut of yellowfin tuna served Nicoise-style on a bed of green beans, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, black olives and lots of anchovies in a perfect vinaigrette. The wine was excellent, the service thoughtful and accommodating, and the retro French vintage jazz made it alum have to remember.

It took over 75 minutes for the meals to arrive. The lamb we ordered was uncooked and had to be sent back and was never returned. We did not receive anything but the vegetables included with the meal. They paid for one glass of wine to make up for this mistake, but that was it. The rest of the food was average, but the ambience was nice.

This restaurant is near our home and one of our favorite haunts. The service is very attentive without being intrusive. During the winter months it is a cozy little restaurant with delicious food and the feel of a location across the pond. They offer daily specials in addition to a delicious menu that changes seasonally. During the summer they offer outdoor seating behind the restaurant and open the windows on the street-side of the restaurant. We truly enjoy it throughout the year and prefer its cozy authentic feel to other restaurants in the area. Just to be sure, make reservations, but we have had luck without reservations, too. It is well worth a try!

Looking for a classic French spot and remembering that East Madison is a mecca of culinary charms from France, we settled on Voila because it included more classic dishes we favor. A quiet Tuesday eve and we had almost a private dining room. Service was exquisite. Food well prepared. Street parking available behind the restaurant. Highly recommend the salmon on the bed of sautéed baby spinach. The frites are properly done - very crisp outside and delicately moist in the center.

We first tried Voila during a Seattle restaurant week of specials and loved the setting on Madison, the friendly service and the delicious food. Then we learned they offer a similar menu every Wednesday and if we lived closer we'd go there much more often (we are two hours away). Their bread is perfect; wines nicely priced; boeuf bourguignon is sublime; the profiteroles are the best I've had anywhere. Marco in the kitchen is sly with recipes (all he would tell us about the divine chocolate sauce is that "it's made with love." Sarah in the front is knowledgeable and charming.

What a pleasant surprise for a intimate Madison Valley neighborhood. Our group of 6 enjoyed excellent, unrushed service. Wine list was good and the food was even better. How lucky are those who live in walking distance.

Love the meals I have here. Always delicious! And then, the profiteroles!!!! So awesome! Be sure to save room for those! Equally as nice a dinner!

We went to the restaurant on the 17th of October our first time there. Four couples and we all ate off the Dinning out menu. Small location, romantic atmosphere. Great food and a lot of it, be hungry if you go. The staff was very friendly and helpful. If you know French try out your skills.

Did not ask for vaccination cards even though we had them in hand. Server stated "we trust you". Owner walking through restaurant without mask. Have gone here for years with family but will not return due to owners obvious defiance of Covid mandate and his direction to staff to wear masks but not confirm vaccination status while he does not wear a mask himself.

I had the juiciest and most flavorful grilled pork chop.

Great roomy place, not too noisy. Excellent food. Profiteroles to die for. The outside patio offers a nice secluded space when whether permits. Great welcome. Efficient service. Not rushed, just fine. Great variety of foods. Excellent wine selection (although on the pricey side) but wine by the glass is perfect.

My husband and I have been dining at Voila for several years, and we are always delighted with our experience there. We are always graciously greeted at the door and promptly seated in the small casually elegant dining room. Reservations are recommended. Service is professional and attentive. I find the french accents charming. The menu consists of nice variety of bistro faire. And most evenings delicious specials are available in addition to the menu items. The cassoulet is a personal favorite as are the garlic frites. French wines at a range of prices are available by the glass and bottle. Voila is a wonderful place to spend a pleasant evening enjoying good food.

We enjoy stopping in for a glass of wine and a snack but decided to try dinner. The mussels and steak were good but not amazing but we find it a comfortable spot to go hang out and get something to eat or drink. Dessert menu is limited. .

Nice local restaurant, a bit noisy, nice outdoor seating in the rear of the restaurant. Entré (grilled wild salmon with fennel salad) was cold by the time it arrived. Moules Provençale were ok, nothing really special. The two entre´s, soup, two glasses of wine and a mixed drink came to $83. A bit pricey for average, nothing memorable food. There are lots of good restaurants in Seattle. Voila didn't impress as one which would warrant a second visit.

We stayed in a nice little VRBO without a car so our choice for dinner had to be within walking distance. We were very happy with all of the choices within a few blocks. Voila was memorable because the maitre'd was so friendly and on top of everything. We thought the food was well prepared and reasonably priced. I have spent a great deal of time in Paris so it always feels nice to be in a restaurant that feels Parisan.

Voila is not cheap, but you do get what you pay for. Fifty bucks (Wednesday only) gets you a three course meal of appetizer (French onion soup for me), main course (beef bourguignon) and dessert (profiteroles). Add $13 for wine. All were excellent. This is a small, crowded restaurant with about 20 tiny tables and one waitress (plus the owner), but service was very good. Noise level was not too bad, but you are seated close to other tables where you might exchange pleasantries with strangers. This is not a "regular" restaurant that you might frequent once per week, but more of a place to go for a special occasion. No lunch, dinner only starting at 4:30pm. We observed one couple turned away because they did not have reservations.

I love, love, love Voila! I don't get out to Madison Park often, but when I do, Voila is definitely on my mind. I got engaged here, so it holds a special memory for me. The food is lovely and my favorite all time meal is the cassoulet. I tend to get this more often than not. I enjoy their escargot as well. This place reminds me of everything French that i love. Their portions are pretty large and every bite is wonderful. I love their wine selection and even their house red is yummy. If you love French cuisine, i would definitely recommend you pay Voila! a visit

On a chilly Sunday night we appreciated the little curtained entryway that shielded diners as people entered and departed. The servers are helpful and friendly. And the food is great! I wouldn’t have wanted to exchange my partner’s tenderloin for my duck, but had to admit it was mighty good. Some people shared profiteroles for dessert, but I was happy with my coffee.

I was pleased with everything at this restaurant and would not hesitate to recommend it. Seating was available with a last minute reservation. Not always the case in Seattle. We enjoyed the table we were at, the restaurant was not too loud or crowded. The appetizers and salad were excellent and each of us enjoyed our main courses. There are some nice wines on the menu to choose from; sorry that I can't recall exact recommendations since we dined a couple of weeks ago. We'll definitely return!

Stumbled across this gem of a bistro one night on our way to a concert. We did not have a reservation, which they take, and ended up sitting at a bistro table overlooking the small bar area and the dining room. The atmosphere was lovely and understated. It was very obvious that this establishment was frequented by locals. The service was prompt but not hovering, the menu brilliant - something for everyone. The wine selection more than satisfactory. I had watercress/pear soup which was absolutely lovely and steamed mussels. The mussels where hot and not over cooked but could have used a bit more garlic and tomato. Will definitely consider going again when in the neighborhood.

My husband and I were craving French food one Friday night so we headed for Seattle.....to Madison Park.Neighborhood....We came across the Voila restaurant and thought why not...They found us a small table right near the bar...I like people watching so that was perfect for us...We ordered escargot for appetizers. They were ok but too drenched with pesto sauce for us to really taste the meat. I ordered Kobe Beef hamburger with brie on top. It was melt in your mouth good. The meat was tender and juicey and the meal was very filling. My husband ordered beef bourguignon. He really liked it. For desser I had the profiteroles with a dark chocolate melted on top...Oh was it good.....We loved our meal overall and the service was excellent. We were strongly hinted at the end to make reservations next time..I believe it because after we were seated everyone else was turned away at the door....The price was right...Not too expensive for delious filling meal...We will go again soon...

We stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant in lieu of Rovers. It was a phenomenal mishap! Absolutely delicious, fresh and fabulous! We truely enjoyed the artichoke ravioli and pork loin. Both were beyond our expectations. We walked in with no reservation but were sited promptly. A few were turned away for lack of reservations. Overall an enjoyable meal!!!

The $28 cassoulet was mostly beans and oregano. I do realize the dish takes many forms, but the duck confit I specifically asked about was merely a bland, skinless, roasted duck leg. But the worst was that the owner (or Mâitre d') chose to loudly lecture and berate his staff in the hearing and sight of customers. And not only his staff suffered: his attitude toward us throughout conveyed that of course we knew nothing about food and wine. Too bad; it used to be a decent bistro.

After a day sight seeing in Seattle what a delight to head to Voila for some French cooking!Our server,Sarah,was wonderful and really made us welcome. Friendly but not intrusive. Our daughter had French Onion soup followed by a beet salad. I ordered salmon and spinach with a creme fraiche sauce and my husband had one of the specials,duck breast. All absolutely delish! Washed it all down with Cote de Rhone which was a treat as we usually don't drink French wine. On the higher end of $$$ but as a special treat worth it. Wish we had time to fit in a return visit it was that good!

Another great meal at Voila! Our vaccine cards were checked upon entry and waitress asked if it had been reviewed. We started with the Escargot which had way too much sauce so the snails were lost, but still good. The main menu is good, but they had lots of special items so we each had one. I had the Cassoulet with duck and white beans that was excellent and generous. I took home half of it and will enjoy again. My spouse had the Beef tenderloin and said it was great. The wait staff was very attentive and each one I observed was there to make your dining experience great. The best service is when all of the staff help each other versus “just my tables”. We started going to this restaurant when it was as on Roy and Queen Ann under a different name. We were sad when it closed for some time, but delighted when we found it again.

While visiting a Seattle friend we stopped in for lunch at Voila. This was not our first choice but the restaurant across the street where we had originally planned to go was closed. This was a sunny Thursday in June around 2:00 and we were the only ones in the restaurant which gave us pause, however, what a good decision! I ordered the gnocchi pistou (pesto) and was blown away. Handmade, melt in your mouth gnocchi, the best I've tasted so far. Other dishes ordered, croque madame, and le burger. Both received two thumbs up. Highly recommend the gnocchi dish.

My wife and I ate at the Voila Bistro in Seattle’s Madison Valley for the first time this weekend. What a surprising gem in a quiet neighborhood. As we arrived shortly after 5 pm, we chose the Happy Hour menu at the bar from 5:00-6:00 pm—it was a pleasant way to sample the menu with full-sized servings at very reasonable prices. She ordered the three-cheese ravioli and I the lamb sausage with pomme frites (French Fries in a French Bistro) with a shared green salad (generously portioned for two) with a light lemony vinegarette dressing. Each dish was top rated for flavor, presentation and substance. We closed the meal with an amazing chocolate covered pastry with ice cream (think ice cream puff with chocolate). I would return for that dessert alone—but of course, I want to try other menu items to earn that treat next time. Bon apetit Seattle!

We like the Madison area, so my husband and I just parked where we could and started walking around. Wandered in to Voila and found the ambiance so appealing, we stayed for lunch. We sat at an open window table and enjoyed watching the passersby. We started with a nice fresh zucchini salad with walnuts; I had grilled Idaho trout served with asparagus, and my husband had the pumpkin gnocchi: everything was delicious. Charming French waiter. We will definitely return.

The food is really good, limited bar menu. I made my reservation through "Open Table" and received a message that I cancelled my reservation, after we had left the restaurant. I called the owner, who said he would fix the problem, however, he id not. I know it is only 100 points, which amounts to a dollar to me, but, it is the point. I just wonder if he does this often???

SOOO delicious!!! We enjoyed our dinner so much that we returned within two days. Each dish we tried, mussels, steak, boeuf bourguignon and salmon, was excellent. The portion sizes were reasonable. Service was above average to very good, depending on the server. What is there to complain about?? Nothing!

No frou frou, no pretension. This is the way I remember neighborhood "corner restaurants" in Paris 40 years ago. No show, all deliver. Ham sandwich with appropriate amount of good quality butter, outstanding bread, good cornichons. Beautiful glass of muscadet. Basic food of high quality--that's what "French" meant once upon a time. Oh, and it's a very pleasant place with friendly service. Mercifully, it is not "cute".

We always come back to Voila for special occassions...and just when we're in the mood for some classic French dishes. We were back for a birthday celebration and each had a special which were fantastic. As an additional note, the outdoor patio in the summer is perfect.

I actually have visited Voila three times during this summer 2020, ordering different entrees each time, and marveling at how very wonderful the execution is of every dish. Service is outstanding, and they have opened the very large windows to assure high circulation of outside air during the Covid era. I can highly recommend the Boeuf Bourguignon, the Saumon A La Ciboulette (Sockeye Salmon); and the Halibut (special order). I always enjoy their Salad Maison as a starter. Mixed drinks are a very good pour, and overall service is excellent. I've been to France multiple times and you won't find a more authentic French restaurant in Seattle than Voila.

Went here for an informal business lunch. About 1/3 full during the weekday, and no problem finding street parking in back of the restaurant building. Only one server but he managed to cover all of the tables efficiently. Based upon other TripAdvisor reviews, I ordered Gnocci with pesto, and it was delicious!! I only wish the portion was larger. It wasn't that much less expensive than the Hanger Steak and Frites that my lunch partner ordered, which was a sizable portion of both and she seemed to enjoy it all. We shared a Crepe Sucre for dessert, which was served piping hot with whipped butter on the side, and super good! I will definitely go back particularly on Sunday night when bottles of wine with dinner are half price. Based upon the wine list, that would be a very good value!

This is the best French restaurant in Seattle. Very cute little space, they have incredible food (highlights are turbot if it’s on special, escargot, steak frites, French onion soup and a surprisingly amazing burger), and they are always accommodating. Highly recommend!

We are lucky enough to live within walking distance, so this is a common date-night and impress-the-parents spot for us. The classic French comfort foods (onion soup, cassoulet) never fail to satisfy. Lighter fare is also available. The service is spot-on, attentive without being obtrusive.

After a long walk in the Washington Park Arboretum Saturday, we were feeling peckish and thought of popping in at a certain, famed French "chef in the hat" bistro in the Madison Valley for a quick lunch. Upon arrival we perused the menu from the window, and decided the brunch options looked a bit too heavy for our palates, whereupon we happened to glance across the street and ... VOILA! The eponymous restaurant, which we have passed by countless times over the past few years without every entering, popped alluringly into our field of vision. We decided to give it a try. Bizarrely, at first there was no one to be seen inside, doors and windows wide open to the street with nary a soul in sight. We called out and the hostess popped up from behind the bar, having been folding napkins or tending to some such task. Given the wondrous choice of the entire oyster of seating possibilities,we took the best ones in the house at a high marble table next to a huge window that had been opened to let in the welcome late September sun. Swiftly our plates arrived: a succulent green salad with a tureen of savory cauliflower and potato soup for me, a bowl of gnocchi in a roasted tomato coulis for my out-of-town guest, who pronounced it the most phenomenal potato pasta he'd ever encountered. We went away marveling at our serendipitous and sublime experience, yet puzzling over why we had been the only--and fortunate--guests. Wise up, Seattle!

Very nice classic French restaurant on Madison. Small local has a bar also. Food is classic French . Service is very good. Good value.

Super amazing food with the type of service you would expect at a french restaurant. Loved everything!

While visiting relatives in Seattle, they suggested a nice, quiet, neighborhood, French Bistrot for dinner. Voila! What a great idea. We genuinely looked forward to this dining adventure that we wished existed in the food wasteland where we resided. Upon arrival, we found this site to be really “hopping” and even though we had reservations, we still had to wait outside for about fifteen minutes. We were finally seated by a curt young waitress who was obviously overworked due to the large crowd and no additional visible help. She took orders, delivered prepared meals and bussed tables, clearing them for the next patrons. We were five in number and decided to “test” the menu. Three of us ordered the French onion soup and two, seasonal mixed greens with a honey Dijon vinaigrette. Both choices were well received. Our wine choices included a Hautes-Cotes de Nuits and a Sancerre from the cave of Raimbault. These were “spot on.” It was on to the mains. Our young nephew had Kobe beef hamburger with brie, caramelized onions and served with fries. My sister enjoyed the Boeuf Bourguignon. Arlee had the grilled salmon in chives, crème fraiche and served with sauteed spinach. My brother-in-law and I both ordered the hanger steak in a shallot sauce with pomme frites. His came out a perfectly done “medium rare” while mine was medium well to well done even though we both ordered the same degree of preparation. After taking a bite which was like shoe leather, we tried to obtain the waitress’s attention. She finally came over about fifteen minutes later and I explained the problem. Instead to immediately taking my plate, she responded that, “she’d be back.” About one-half hour later, she came to ask if we wanted to order dessert. I again explained that my meal did not come out as ordered and she haughtily exclaimed, “Well, you ate a piece; it cannot be returned at this time.” I responded that I could not know the level of doneness without cutting into and trying a bite. Her response was, That’s too bad and we’re out of the Onglet a L’echalotte now. Instead of asking if I would like to order something else, she stated that she could only offer me a free dessert which I declined. All the others had finished their dinner and I didn’t think that it was fair to make them wait. I asked that my plate be taken off the check which she declined. I paid the bill and left an inordinately small tip to show my displeasure. In fairness to the waitress, she was probably stressed by the large numbers of people she had to serve and may have forgotten to come back immediately for my plate. However, attempts to wave her down failed and her responses to my request were uncalled for. My sister was thoroughly embarrassed as she had recommended this restaurant after a wonderful evening at Wild Ginger the previous evening. So much for the neighborly French Bistrot Voila.

The happy hour was recommended to us and the recommendation was correct. The happy hour was excellent! We tried a few of the apps and liked them very much. Although the restaurant and bar area are small, the food and service was great. The location on Madison is not hard to find. Try Viola when you are in the area, you won't be disappointed.

We had dinner here last week before heading downtown. Both the service and food is great - if you're local like us and ready for a new menu, know that they do offer nightly/ weekly specials. The night we were in, I had a seafood special that was delicious with a saffron sauce and black rice. He had steak, which he enjoyed and I forgot to take a photo of. We shared the bread pudding for dessert, which is so much better to eat fresh when dining in than it is to bring home and reheat.

This frenchy restaurant is really a good one... And it's not because the cook is my brother-in-law ! Laurent Gabrel is really creative. His simple classic french cuisine is not so complex and even not expensive. Taste it and you will see, you are gonna approve it and probably come back.

It was all fantastic. The service was excellent and for the price ....we will definately come again. The place was so bizarre...in a good way, the maitre'd was very informative when we arrived and told us about the place as he took us to our table. The menu was superb and food faultless. Well done! Really beautiful French cuisine that did not dissapoint. The service was way beyond my expectations, which was nice as I had high expectations from the staff anyhow. Top marks, will definately return on a regular basis.

We had high hopes for visiting Viola Bistrot again after dining there for many years. We originally starting following Chef Laurent Gabrel with a French restaurant on Roy Street near Seattle Center. Sadly, our recent visit fell short of expectations. While the ambiance was pleasant and inviting, the service and food left much to be desired. The service seemed rushed, probably since the café was very full thus making the experience feel less enjoyable. Our drinks were perfect, but food didn’t measure up to past visits. The Escargots Persilles were tasty, but they weren’t spectacular partly due to the presentation, prefer the traditional escargot baking dish. My French Onion Soup seemed too strong and missed the traditional white “Lion Head” bowl. My spouse’s Mussels with blue cheese onion cream sauce was just okay, not as spectacular as in the past plus the quality didn't match the price point. We really wanted to like this place as we have in the past, but the experience was underwhelming. We hope the restaurant can address these issues (more staff/return to former quality). For now, though, we wouldn't rush back.

It's a quiet little spot in Madison Valley and it serves a French cuisine with some PNW flairs. I went for lunch and had the egg, ham and Swiss cheese crepe and my friend had the salmon, artichoke and crème fraîche crepe. A few sweet crepes are also served as well as traditional desserts (crème brûlée, lemon tarte, etc.). The bistro also has a number of American style lunch items such as a chicken burger and a hanger steak with fries along with the more stylized ravioli lemon mint, the Kobe beef with brie and onions and the traditional French Onion Soup. There are several salads and a good wine list. It was moderately priced and would be good for a business lunch or a date. They also have a larger dinner menu.

My wife and I visited, Voila!, for the first time, last night. Very cozy, casual setting awaited us, as we had reservations, but as it turned out, would not have needed them. The wait staff greeted us, and sat us down a table for two, against the wall from which hangs a very large mirror. It was warm inside, and no wearing of extra jackets, or coats, were needed. This may seem like a given, but these days there seems to be a number of businesses that keep rather cool temperature settings in their establishments. We ordered drinks, which were served only a few minutes later, along with fresh bread and butter. We did not order salads as we had already had our own appetizers at home (I know, kind of cheating, but we like our own cooking, too). Besides the menu, we were presented the specials of the evening. One of them being, Cassoulet, which sounded delicious! I, half jokingly, asked if we could sample a spoonful of the cassoulet, and to our surprise, our wait staff went off to the kitchen and brought back a sample. It was as delicious as its description! So, my wife ordered it, and I order the Beef Bourguignon. Our order arrived after about 15 to 20 minutes, time to talk, have some bread, quaff our beverages/wine, and watch dishes presented to other patrons who had arrived before us. Our plates arrived and looked, and smelled wonderful. The cassoulet was served in a round, ceramic baking dish, looking so good! My dish was served in a large, deep round bowl, and piping hot! We both thought our selections were delicious, and while my wife knew she'd be taking half of her plate home, I couldn't stop enjoying the beef bourguignon until I mopped up the last bit of sauce with a piece of bread! We'll definitely be returning to, Voila!

We often dine at Voila when we visit Seattle. We've enjoyed fabulous meals over the years, but unfortunately they have dropped their standards, but not their prices. Our meal last Saturday was at best mediocre. For $27 per entree we were served a tasteless fillet of snapper and a few boiled potatoes. The service was equally lackluster. After cocktails we were not offered a beverage with dinner. On a slow night I expected the attention of my server as each course was presented. So, no wine offered with dinner, no coffee offered with dessert. There are so many other restaurants to choose that I doubt we will be back.