Maximilien

Maximilien is a good option to get your French fix with rich flavors. I like a simple duck confit or steak with fries. They do have... more

The food, the view and the service (zero arrogance, perfectly pleasant) = 4 stars. Best French restaurant we have tried in Seattle to date. We will be back. I almost hate to rate this so favorably, because I am worried 2 many great reviews may forfeit the secret / cul de sac this lovely restaurant enjoys. But ""bonne chance"" all the same. more

We tried Maximilien in the Market for Happy Hour on a gorgeous Seattle sunny day and were not disappointed.... more

We tried Maximilien in the Market for Happy Hour on a gorgeous Seattle sunny day and were not disappointed. It had been a rough day and so in lieu of finding a spot in my normal favorite Pike Place garage I splurged and let the valet deal with my car. Very happy I did that! It was hot enough that I would have been sweating, er, GLOWING, after making the hike from my garage to Maximilien's through the packed Pike Place crowd. Even though I was just meeting friends, it's never a good look. We found a spot outside overlooking Elliott Bay and after giggling happily at being seated outside in the glorious weather, we perused our menus. We decided to split everything and ordered for the table: Assiette De Fromages (Plate of Five assorted Cheese served with fresh fruit), Fougasse Vegetarian (Flat brioche, cr?me fra?che, tomato, basil, onions & goat cheese), Champignons de Paris (Braised with white wine, coriander, lemon and thyme) and Belgium Frites (Fries cornet served with two dipping sauces). All were quite good, not a bad dish in the bunch. more

We tried Maximilien in the Market for Happy Hour on a gorgeous Seattle sunny day and were not disappointed. It had been a rough day and so in li... more

Nestled in the corner of Pike Place market, this romantic French restaurant could almost be called a hidden gem; their happy hour is one of my personal favorites. With each plate at $2.95, not only are you presented with great value but the food is always delicious from the steamed mussels to the fries. For drinks, their French martinis are made to perfection along with plenty of wine choices. The best part of the service is that some of the staff will speak to you in French to add to the authenticity and charm of this place. Bon app?tit! Pros: friendly staff, flavorful food & drinks, spectacular views Cons: downtown parking can be tough to find, some close quarters more

Exquisite food, wonderful service, friendly atmosphere and beautiful views...it doesn't get much better! Come here for lunch with friends or business associates or a romantic evening with a loved one. NEVER disappoints. Still my favorite restaurant in Seattle! Bon Appetit! Pros: Food, Wine, Bar, Service more

I have eaten here a few times and enjoyed my dining experience each time. The food is wonderful, and the wait staff are attentive. Furthermore, the view is spectacular. Pros: Food, service, ambiance Cons: A bit pricey, but worth it more

What an amazing place! I cannot believe it took us so long before dining at Maximilien! Pros: Service, view, food & wine, atmosphere - Tres romantique! more

Eating at Maximilien is a taste of Paris with the view of Seattle. I have eaten here a handful of times and have never left without wanting more. Beautiful view, food and great staff! It a must try for any breakfast lover. more

We were so excited to see there was still seating available two weeks before New Years Eve. They advertised Cabaret Music by Rouge, and did they ever deliver. The menu was set, allowing for a choice generally between two plates per course and the whole dinner ran about $79 without drinks. In looking around at other possibilities, this was quite average. They had two seatings; one at 6pm one at 9pm. When we arrived for our 9pm reservation the waiting area was crammed with people - come on, it's New Years Eve, you have to expect that. Some of the older patrons dressed as if they were in Paris in the 1930's with nice jewelery and throwback hair. Fine dress isn't required, but if you're dining out downtown you should make it seem somewhat special, don't you think? The service was fantastic - I knew our waiter was busy and with live music, I could see how he might be close to a breakdown, but he was very measured with the run-through on the menu as well with checking back with us. The owner was a little on edge (as anyone who's ever worked in the business will know, that comes standard with big events). We started with a selection of delicious fresh oysters, and I moved onto the lobster bisque, while my girlfriend chose the duck confit. Nice to have a bisque that you could actually taste the lobster. The entrees were beef wellington and she had leg of pheasant. Both cooked to perfection. The bread is delicious, but be warned, the food is rich and you'll need room. Dessert was a yule...chocolate log...I forget exactly, but we split one and took the other home. It was good dessert, not great. Everything was great otherwise, especially the music with a singer dancing safely-provocatively, stealing a kiss here or there from gentlemen in the crowd, or singing like a bird for a moment tableside. I recommend it to anyone, but make reservations - it's not all that big of a place. Pros: romantic setting with attentive service Cons: downtown parking more

I made reservations here for a lunch after a graduation ceremony. We ended up being early and the greeter accommodated us by moving our reservation up even though we had a group of 7. He spoke french which was fun cause we had french speakers in the party (although our server was from Spain and didn't speak any french). We were seated downstairs and even though we weren't right on the window we had great views of the water. In addition, the food was outstanding. I sampled almost everyone in our party's meals and everything was fantastic! It was french food but using incredibly fresh pacific northwest ingredients. My husband had the coq au vin which was outstanding (and I've had it in France too!), my dad started with the assiette de saumon fume which I highly recommend, and I found, like other reviewers, the baguette with butter to start to be mouth watering! I wasn't super impressed with the clam chowder but in light of the perfection of everything else I feel guilty mentioning that. We had champagne to start and then a beautiful light white wine recommended by the waiter that perfected the meal. At the end, the waiter surprised the graduate by bringing out a delicious dessert (on the house) of profiteroles au chocolat with strawberries that was to die for in combination with our caffe lattes. Wow. Finish that off with a stroll around beautiful Pike's Place Market (needed after all those courses!) and you have a perfect afternoon! I anticipate this being a great place for a romantic evening as well and will be going back with just the hubby. Pros: water views, fresh ingredients, terrific food, excellent service, warm atmosphere Cons: small bathrooms more

What fun! We ended up at Maximilien's on a friend's recommendation - given its location in the overly busy Pike Place Market, I had my doubts and thought it might be a tourist trap. The service was fabulous - polite Frenchmen! - as was the food. At the table, we had tasty cafe au lait, crepe with crabmeat, the pastry basket (yummy freshly-baked croissants!), and French toast. And yes, the views are spectacular too. What an unexpected treat! Pros: Great food, views, atmosphere more

Get there before the mussels go out of season. I've had all four versions of their luncheon moules. They're all outstanding, but if I had to choose the best of the best, it would be Les Moules Maximilien -- exactly the right proportions of wine, parsley, creme and pastis. I was forgetting how wonderful Maximilien had become, until recently. Good service, good food, good ambience. Good all round. Pros: food, wine, service more

Very disappointed in what was one of my preferred restaurants in the Market, a few in Seattle that serves mussels in many variations. Today, had to remind our waiter for salad after sipping a glass of wine for 40 minutes at an empty table. Greens arrived with overcooked mussels *then* bread and butter. Waiter did not bother to set out the bread plates, reason at once apparent as they were still dripping wet. Requested dry plates which never came. Overall: Bad food coupled with inferior service. more

They close at NINE PM during the week. NOT ten. Make a note when trying to plan things like going away gatherings for friends. more

My girlfriend and I went down on a weekend to grab a bite to eat before a play. The food was great and so was the service. Our friendly and knowledgable waiter made us feel very comfortable, not to mention the great view. Tip: Be sure to bring cash if you plan on using valet parking. Pros: View, Valet, Quiet Cons: Traffic more

The first bite into a lovely baguette round smothered in butter surprised me. The high butterfat content of the butter was something that renders memories of lunches in the Swiss alps. Gorgeous, creamy, and so so French. The summer menu is simple and straightforward. Go for the thing that grabs your eye, as long as it uses seasonal fresh ingredients (impossible to NOT in this season) and seafood. The old standbys also look superb. Beautfiul rose wine, gorgeous sunset, excellent service, easy on the palate... Pros: execution, view, service Cons: little loud over 99 more

The view was breathtaking. The service was fine and the room, charming, but the food was absolutely not worth the price. Mussels were cold and the broth was flavorless. Salads were standard fare. Perhaps the worst French food that I've encountered. Pros: The View, Good Service, Charming Room Cons: The Food, The Food, The Food more

I took my mom for brunch here on Mother's day. The food and the view were spectacular. My wild mushroom and crab omelet was superb. Max's is definatly worth the moola for a special night ( or morning ) out. Coffee was excellent as well. Service was average, we had reservations and still had to wait 15mins for a table-but it was worth it. Pros: Food, Ambience, View Cons: Service average, Reception fairly rude more