4. Restaurants

Maximilien

81A Pike St,Ste A, Seattle, WA, 98101
  • (206) 682-7270
  • Store is closed

Maximilien Menu

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  • Annette D.

    One of the best meals ever! Ate in the bar overlooking the water. The mussels were perfect- absolutely delicious. The croque Monsieur was delightful as well. Would go back again anytime.

    (5)

  • Selena P.

    My favorite happy hour place! My bf and I went there this past week to enjoy the sunshine and have a cocktail (or two). The deck was open and we got a table right at the edge overlooking the water. It was perfect! We were served quickly and warmly. The staff was nice and efficient. The bf had the signature bloody mary, it was a bit spicy and pretty tasty. I had the hh white wine and it was very nice with a great finish. We ordered two orders of the mussels, an order of the Belgium fries and a side of bread (to sop up the broth from the mussels). Let me begin by saying the orders for hh are not tiny. The mussels came out in two large bowls and were practically a meal! Nicely seasoned and cooked very well, my bf ate them all along with the bread in the broth, it was that good. The real surprise to both of us was the fries! So crispy and flavorful. There was salt, pepper and other seasonings on them that just sent our taste buds over the moon! We loved them so much, we got another order and ate them all!!! It was a great experience and I am definitely going to go back there again and again....and again.

    (5)

  • Amy S.

    Fantastic place for lunch. The staff is a bit stand-offish, but the food is excellent.

    (4)

  • Midge C.

    My friend and I had some time to kill before heading to Chez Shea. We sat upstairs and enjoyed the beautiful view while we pre-funked for our next French meal. Oops, we didn't mean to order 4 items from the Happy Hour menu! Lucky for me, I am a bottomless pit. Maybe I need to invest in more elastic pants... This is a great place for appetizers. Only $2.95, or get all 8 for $20. Dangerous for a hungry girl like me! We had some frites, ham/cheese croissant, and a delicious goat cheese spread on baguette and something else I forgot. I just know that it was buttery. I had a pretty good bloody mary as well. I won't be rushing here dinner anytime soon, but might go again for some HH action.

    (3)

  • Justin P.

    Wow. Talk about a hidden gem! One of the better happy hours in town, nice selection of appetizers for only $2.95 and a few drink specials ( including a $5 absinthe drink). The space itself is classy and cozy with an unobstructed view of the sound (pretty darn romantic). Service was excellent, especially since I was in the upstairs bar with a group of 10! I'm definitely adding Maximilien as part of my regular "night out" rotation. Big thumbs up!

    (5)

  • Thalita B.

    Services need to be improved!

    (1)

  • Kathleen M.

    O...M...G...I loved it! I la la la la la la la loved it! Great everything! Great food, great service, great atmosphere, great view! Servers were amazing: friendly, prompt, and attentive. The entire west side of the building has wall to wall windows overlooking the Puget Sound and Olympics. I happened to be there on a sunny fall afternoon and I couldn't take my eyes off of the view. I had a mimosa, which was so refreshing on a Sunday afternoon and the Saumon Grillé sur Salade Tiède (I cannot pronounce that to save my life) with grilled salmon on wilted baby lettuce, red onions, cherry tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, walnuts and Dijon vinaigrette. The salmon was grilled to perfection, the vegetables were fresh and perfect, and I could have eaten an entire bowl of the walnuts. Had an excellent experience and everyone must check out Maximilien!

    (5)

  • Jackson R.

    I had just injured my eye, and my girlfriend decided to take me out and treat me because I could barely walk by myself. I tried to refrain from having "poor me" syndrome, and I thought we would be treated nicely at Maximilien. But as soon as I walked in the door and said the dreaded phrase "happy hour," we were relegated to second-class citizen status. All of a sudden, "we are very busy right now" became the staff's mantra. The maître d', who had brusquely greeted us earlier, let his staff suffer. Our poor server had to manage six or seven tables all by his lonesome, and although he was profusely apologetic and friendly, it was evident to me that he didn't have the support of the rest of the staff. Drinks took 25 minutes to arrive at our table, bread took eons, and our food may as well have been boxed up on our way out. Cheese and bread do not take a half-hour to serve. They just don't. The mussels were OK, but I wouldn't order them again. My lady's drink, the french martini, was awfully sweet, but she still enjoyed it and was a good sport. At their reasonable prices, the wines were solid. I had syrah and she had a glass of the house white. We were so hungry by the time the food got to us, we wolfed it down and were still unsatisfied. I didn't want to order more food, so we paid our tab and peaced out. We went to Palace Kitchen (because I knew I could trust them) and paid ten dollars more than our Maximilien tab for amazing food and great hospitality. I was definitely disappointed for an experience that promised so much and delivered so little. Please don't advertise a happy hour that you're only going to execute half-heartedly.

    (2)

  • Mimi L.

    If I ever get around to making my fave happy hour list in Seattle, Maximilian would surely make its way to the top. This place is a great place to have a nice, outdoor dinner during the summer. I love the view...just spectacular! I always start off with a French martini here. They make it so well...I don't know what is in it precisely but I can say that it is very refreshing and yummy! We ordered the 8 items on the HH menu for $20. It's a good deal! Some dishes were more memorable than others. I liked goat cheese pot...very creamy! The mussels with white wine and butter was also good. We had a lot of food so it's hard to recall. I think the rest of the food were: mini-croissant stuffed with cheese and ham, country pate on a toast, salmon quiche, some kind of toast with onion and balsamic drizzles. All were decent except salmon quiche. I couldn't really taste any salmon in this little morsel. I think the $20/8 plates is a great deal! Other items on the happy hour menu that I liked in the past were: the oysters (4 for $5), the salmon lox plate. This place is a fun place to hang out in the summer time on their patio and enjoy the ocean view and breeze. Service was polite and helpful. I don't recommend the upstair area as they didn't have AC up there and it was really hot! Bottom line: great deal HH at Pike Place Market!

    (5)

  • Angie R.

    the worst service I have had downtown lately. I went here for happy hour during one of our sunny days. We were ignored pretty much our whole time there. The place was not crowded. It was busy but definatly not overwhelmingly so. One waiter must have agreed because he stood around doing nothing most of the time. Our waiter ignored our request for water 4 times until another one brought it over (the only good thing about this place besides the weather) If i want mediocre drinks and over priced apps I have plenty more options than this place.

    (1)

  • Dee B.

    If you have a sweet tooth I recommend the dessert sampler. It is amazing. The salad, oysters, cheese platter and soups are definitely worth it.

    (4)

  • Esther W.

    last year, i always ate here at least twice a week during my class break. i love the ambient, the waitress, and the food. the price is pretty affordable. sometimes different days, different taste on the food they served, perhaps depends on the chef on charge that day. i love the "duo the canard". it can comes alone or with the foie gras, but if you order the foie gras it self for the appetizer, wow. the balsamic reduction and the cold foie gras just melt in your mouth. also try the "SHRIMP BISQUE", "the "VENISON" - but the last time i checked they dont put it on the menu anymore. the salmon and halibut are also good. especially when served with carrot flambee. well for me, this restaurant is a good place for me to chill out from my stress :)

    (5)

  • Jon S.

    The service is wonderful and the food is delicious. Also one of the most romantic venues in Seattle. You can sit by the windows (five tables, I think) and see the Seattle Eye as well as those ferries coming in. Try the cassoulet if you are a carnivore. Vegetarians can ask for a vegetable plate and they will be delighted. Wonderful place.

    (5)

  • reese h.

    Just wonderful. Simply elegant cuisine, respectful and courteous staff. He knew the subtle nuance of swooping in when we needed, and hanging back when we didn't. We were there for a birthday dinner experience, so $$$ was less of a concern, because it IS expensive. We enjoyed the guidence with wine and apertif parings. Scrumptous. Didn't know about Happy Hour, so maybe I'll hit that up! Can't afford to go for dinner more than once a year, but that's ok!

    (5)

  • Jason C.

    The "Bonjour!" you receive at the restaurant entrance lets you know a) these guys are a bunch of phonies who are trying to fake their French authenticity with crappy attempts at embracing another culture or b) they are French. Either way, this cheery greeting served an appropriate foreshadow for the delightful surprises that would ensue. Tucked in the bowels of the Pike Place Market, the sunken location of Maximilien's gives off a "red light district" vibe, further enhanced by the glowing red that Max's sign emits. Blessed with a sunny and warm day, we were routed to the balcony where several other locals where taking in the sun and the view (via sunglasses and under umbrellas). The happy hour here boasts an 8 piece selection for $20. Not a bad deal at all. The French-ness of course is probably up for debate, but its tastefulness and presentation is not. Garlic Mousse, Tarte Flambé Mini Croissant au Jambon, Moules Marinière, ordering these make you feel both sophisticated and dyslexic at the same time. The only downer was that I left the restaurant a bit hungry. But I like to think that the controlled portions were part of the "French" experience, when upon leaving, I was welcome back to America where I could follow up my meal with a Big Mac and Coke.

    (3)

  • Jane L.

    Upstairs at Maximilien's feels like a secret tree house and the unpretentious comfort of a wealthy aunt's front porch with a great wide view of Elliot Bay. Low ceilings create a cozy, clubby feel, which has been discovered by the younger set. At the top of the stairs you'll see a micro bar on your right. It's usually jammed to standing-room-only capacity on the weekends. To your left are tufted bench seats and tables to enjoy the view, wine and light fare. My friend's cheese plate was a tad too Miró for me - a few elements artfully placed. The mussels were fine, but nothing special. I think Wild Ginger has spoiled me with their fabulous mussels in a broth of coconut milk, lemon grass and other subtle flavors. The wine list, however, is impressive. It's so nice to open up a wine list and not feel as though you're walking down a supermarket aisle! Their Malbec wine by the glass was fabulous. And our waiter was very generous when we asked to split a glass of wine. Generosity stands out in these economically pinched times. It's a great place to stop after a hectic day shopping or after an early show.

    (4)

  • Philip L.

    Just stumbled onto Maximilien's on a trip to the market and was pleasantly surprised by some sunny outdoor seating, big steins of beer and a couple very tasty sandwiches. Great spot for lunch on a nice day.

    (4)

  • Sherwin T.

    I feel by saying this, I sound touristy, but being in Maximilien felt like being in Paris. Upon entering, you're greeted by a French-accented host and French-accented servers, and behind all the "bonjours", a pair of live musicians perform French tunes. The restaurant's woodwork feels European as does the claustrophobia of the small café tables and tight spaces. The most glaring indicator of NOT being abroad is the panoramic view of Puget Sound. This past Thursday night, we went for happy hour (5-7pm, M-F). Unfortunately, the only spot to get happy is upstairs in the bar area, which can accommodate +/- 11 (there are 4 spots at the bar, 2 two-tops and 1 three-top). On this particular night, the restaurant was busy, but service was prompt and attentive, AND our server always approached our table with a "merci", "pardon" or "bon apetit". Maximilien's HH menu is great! Food items are $2.95, but for a measly $20, you get all 8. You can choose between one white or one red varietal - glasses are $4, bottles are $19. I didn't pay too much attention, but I do believe there are cocktail and beer specials too. Oh, and if you go before the end of the month, they are participating in New Urban Eats = 3 courses for $30. Afer experiencing Maximilien, I feel like I'm now in the know because its marvelousness is tucked away down a hall in the market (look for a red neon sign by the Market Spice Tea shop). I do plan to return for HH, as well as for their huge, beautiful deck. I'm not certain what they serve out there, but the views are on par with the Pink Door's.

    (4)

  • Deseree K.

    We went there again on Saturday night and they did not disappoint! The food and service was wonderful. I've read some reviews about their brunch, perhaps we'll have to try that soon. Thank you for another great experience Maximilien!

    (5)

  • Nobbi L.

    Well! That was a first for me! I actually received a Thank You message from the owner of Maximilien. Now that's running a business well and great customer service

    (5)

  • Sam M.

    Fantastic service, incredible view, and great food. Not much more you can ask for!

    (5)

  • Bill V.

    Execelent view. Good food. A French spin on Seattle seafood. I had oysters on the half shell. Very well prepared. Very nice experience.

    (3)

  • Kevin C.

    Finally we meet again, Maximilien. It has been 3 years since I last visited you when you introduced me to your dungeness crab omelet. You left my mouth salivating for more but you went so far way. The omelet this time around was just as delicious although less crabby and more eggie, but your escargot was scrumptious, delightfully garlicky and buttery, and full of tantalizing flavors. Now you leave me again, but somehow I know that we'll meet again one day.

    (4)

  • Michael E.

    Go here, in the summer, for a bucket of Stella's. No Need to eat the food, but if you must, get one of each app during happy hour. Some are ok, some are less so, but it's always fun to have one of each (esp for $20). They are very authentically french, with eh, so so food, but, the patio is prob my favorite in the city!

    (4)

  • Joel G.

    I would come back. Good view. Plates were not very big but great view!

    (3)

  • Me H.

    I don't recommend Maximilien In The Market no I don't. The bar is small, the staff can be a bit rude, the place is hidden in the back of the Market do yourself a favor and don't bother trying to find it. You can just stop reading this review now and move on. . . . . OK if you didn't follow my instructions above to stop reading shit you should have because I don't want to sing the praises of Maximilien In The Market and have the place get so packed I can't find a seat for lunch or happy hour. So please stop reading and never, ever, ever go here OK. Happy hour on the patio begins in May, before that it's upstairs in their tiny bar area that's, please note it's not good for groups. Happy hour goes Monday to Friday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Saturdays 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm but per their website they now have extended happy hours from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm! I have to say it's currently my FAVORITE happy hour spot around, LOVE IT. I like to go and grab a table on the patio and enjoy their happy hour while a man with a French accent waits on me. They have all kinds of tasty treats for only $2.95; the tarte flambe is great as well as the Belgium fries but the mussels are the winner and what I always go back for, well those and their French martini's for $4.00. The tables and chairs on the patio are clean and well kept for being plastic. I think their outdoor patio is a secret gem hidden in the Market with a pretty nice view over looking Puget Sound on to West Seattle where you can sit and watch the cargo ships come and go as well as the ferries. For lunch they have a great 3-Course Prix Fix menu for $22.00, yes it's expensive for lunch so I don't do it all the time only special occasions but let me tell you it's well worth the price. You start with either their French onion soup or house salad, I always go for the soup I think their French onion soup is the best around right now. For you main course you pick between a steak frites or your choice of mussels, since I don't eat cow I always go for the mussels and this last time I choose Les moules Roquefort which was mussels steamed with cream, blue cheese, beer and bacon and I have to say it was one of the most amazing things to cross my lips in a very long time, I was mmm-ing during my whole meal. I will note the order of mussels it HUGE enough to feed two people especially considering you have dessert coming too, it's creme brulee, you don't get to pick but their creme brulee is pretty amazing and dessert at lunch is pretty decedent for me. Speaking of their desserts their Profiteroles au chocolat are amazingly delicious, vanilla ice cream filled cream puffs, topped with chocolate sauce to die for I tell you TO DIE FOR! So please don't go because if I go and can't get a seat I'll just cry I tell you, cry big crocodile tears. But in all seriousness I will say the service can be a bit rude at times but when they speak with their French accents I get over it real quick. But an attractive man with a French accent can get away with almost anything with me.

    (5)

  • Effie M.

    This place is delicious! I ate waay to much bread and drank too much of their amazing french wine, but so worth it. You get a nice view of the water and gourmet food. I had steak and it was one of the best i've ever had. Will definitely go back when I visit again!

    (5)

  • Jessie R.

    I thought we were going to Matt's in the Market, but apparently my friend heard me wrong and made reservations for Maximilien in the Market ("Oh", she said "I thought you said Max's...) This little hiccup in communication turned out to be a VERY lucky mistake. We were promptly seated on the terrace where we enjoyed on of the lovelier evenings that I have experienced in recent history. The view was breathtaking, the temperature outside was perfect, and the food was just what I was craving. All of the staff here speaks French, which is fun, even if I have a bad habit of automatically answering in Spanish. Oops. I ordered the beef tenderloin, if in part only to be able to say "beef" in French. hehe. It was, as the name states, incredibly tender and the sauce was gorgeous. It came with these little mushrooms that looked like they were straight out of a fairy tale. I want to go back.

    (4)

  • Buu H.

    Went here for my husband's birthday with his dad. The food here is excellent. I also like their mostly casual atmosphere and how reservations are preferred but not required so if we don't feel like cooking that night it's okay to just drop by. The prices are also very reasonable. Definitely my new favorite French restaurant in Seattle.

    (5)

  • Rachelle L.

    I stumbled into Maximilien for the first time a while back while trying to get away from the crowds at Pikes Place. I've always sat on the back patio where they have a few couches and a great view of Pugent Sound. We usually stop in for just drinks so I haven't tried any of the food, however one time I saw a french fry basket on someone's table while walking in and decided to order one while we enjoyed our cocktails. They were so tasty! Seasoned French fries served with 2 different aioli sauces. One day I will have to go back for lunch or dinner, if the fries are any indicator i'm sure the food is fantastic. The service has always been good and the wait staff is friendly and professional.

    (4)

  • Laura P.

    Summer, where have you gone? It's only important to me because we certainly would have enjoyed our happy hour on the patio just a little bit more if it weren't so damn brisk out. I'm going to blame the lack of summer for hampering our enjoyment of HH. While the view is wonderful, the food was just okay. Maybe the cool breeze affected the tastiness of the Belgian frites and the brie tarte flambe. The mussels looked and smelled great but could have used more garlic. Much, much more garlic. And before you write me off as a picky snit, my co-workers agreed. At $2.95, I won't whine too much. Our server was clearly overwhelmed by our table of baker's dozen or so. I got there first and begged to get my own check, which she kindly did despite that not being their policy. Extra stars for me not having to do much math while the rest of our crew tried HH mental gymnastics. For that she got a generous tip. On Sundays they offer a 3 course for $30 includes a salade verte or French onion soup, choice of entree, and Apricot tart from 5-10pm. If summer does come. . . ever, or say, even this Sunday, I'd be willing to give Maximilien another whirl.

    (3)

  • Loralee V.

    After shopping for dinner in the market on Tuesday, I just had to grab a quick bite at one of my fathers old favorite restaurants, Maximilien's at Pike Plae Market. The view from any seat in this establishment is nothing short of incredible. That is of course, if you can find the place. Tucked away in the corner of the market behind the acclaimed fish tossing vendor, the panoramic views are nothing short of spectacular no matter the weather. --Puget Sound, Elliott Bay, West Seattle, and of course the Olympic Mountains. Antique mirrors covering most of the walls made this experience sublime. Drinks were delicious and the food nothing short of spectacular. The Chefs at Maximilien cook local ingredients with French techniques. The seasonally changing menu highlighs the "Duck Confit," although I only had time to share the happy hour Penn Cove Mussels Marinière in a butter, white wine, shallots, garlic and parsley sauce. --Yum.-I must return for more!

    (5)

  • lisa a.

    I will never eat dinner here again. The staff is noticeably snooty, and the food is mediocre for the expensive pricing. I just don't tend to leave here feeling happy about my experience. What has drawn me back repeatedly is the gorgeous and romanic location with a view of the water. This place is best for a Saturday brunch with family. You can' go wrong with a warm basket of fresh croissants and jam with a good cup of coffee. If you don't need to sit and enjoy the view, you're probably better off going to the French bakery in the market.

    (3)

  • Betsey S.

    Maximilien est ma nouvelle happy hour preferee! Lindsey S. et je suis all cherche quelques bouchees et quelques boissons delicieux, et a trouve un bel ensoleille pont avec une vue balayant de l'eau, Seattle d'ouest, et completement au Magnolia. Notre garcon etait tres doux et nous a parle francais. J'ai entendue meme quelques-uns autres dineurs parlant francais conversationnel se. Les veritables Francais viennent ici, ce doit etre la vraie affaire! Nous avons pense de ne Yelping pas de ce lieu a tout, donc il ne serait pas l'emballe prochaine fois nous voulons de la brie et du vin. Mais je ne peux pas resister, pour qu'est pourquoi ceci est tout dans le franais. Basically, Maximilien is Le Shit.

    (5)

  • Jessica W.

    Food was good but the service was ridiculously slow. I might go back but definitely not with a large party.

    (3)

  • Jerry O.

    Great food, service and view. Just go.

    (4)

  • Kate B.

    After two awful trips in a week, Maximilien is officially crossed off my list. Yes, they have a patio and, yes, the happy hour bites are only $2.95. If that is enough for you then you will be just fine here. I, however, am partial to food that is hot and supposed tarts that are that and not just cold (yet still scorched!) white bread with coagulated cheese and rotten lettuce. We sent the 'tarts' back only to get the same ones sent right back but this time only burnt. Yeah, I guess that means they are hotter. Nice try. When we finally asked to talk to the manager, he had no time to do anything but comp our bill. A nice gesture but some indication that he wants it to be better for us so we come back might have been nice. There are too many great happy hours in Seattle to waste your time and money at this spot. Trust me.

    (1)

  • Marcail M.

    Sometimes the tourists get it right in this city. I generally avoid the the restaurants in Pike Place because I think they're overpriced, but a friend recommended we go here for happy hour last week, and I am SO glad I did. The drinks were delicious - I recommend the French Martini ($4 or $5 - I can't remember now) or the 6 stella artois for $15. The drinks were cheap and good, and the food was the same. For $20, you can order all the apps (I think there's about 8 of them). They say it feeds 2 people, but you could easily share it with 3, maybe 4 if you weren't starving. I had the fries with delish aioli, the goat cheese, and the salmon cakes. All were excellent. We sat outside with a gorgeous view of the water, and the maitre'd was really great about accommodating our big group, even though several of our party were late. I'd give this place 5 stars if it weren't for the $1.50 charge for bread. But all in all, a great place to go for happy hour!

    (4)

  • Sarah S.

    I definitely would have enjoyed my visit to Maximilien in the Market more if I had been on a date. Instead, I was with two of my best girlfriends, and we were looking for a new happy hour spot with delicious food, so we landed here. We were greeted promptly and went upstairs to the bar, where there was live music in the form of a guitar player and singer, who are were there for "First Thursday". They were singing in the room with the view, so we opted for a table near the bar, so that we wouldn't be rude if we talked. My two friends are currently sober, and I had planned to skip the liquor too, but I felt a little bit of pressure to order a cocktail by our server, so I tried the French Martini, which was delicious. We ordered just about everything on the $2.95 happy hour food menu- including the salmon (sort of bland), two orders of mussels (about 15 mussels/serving- great deal), the cheese plate ($7), the goat cheese spread (yum), and bread of course. My main issues with my experience was the pressure to order a drink and the fact that the singer came into the bar area for a few songs and she was singing AT me and it was horribly awkward eye contact. I want to reserve full judgement until a) someone takes me here for a romantic full-dining experience, or b) I get blown away by brunch- and so, I leave this with three stars, and anticipate bumping it up to four.

    (3)

  • jim I.

    The most French part of this experience was the service: Ecule, serveur! I'll throw one star for cheap HH and one for the view.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth G.

    Excellent restaurant, highly recommended. Expensive, but you get what you pay for. Great waterfront views, quintessential French waiters, typical French bistro ambiance. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • John H.

    We went there last evening for my wife's birthday, as I wanted her day to be special. It turned out to be a wonderful experience, the food was superb, the staff were very attentive and knowledgeable and the view was lovely. Oh, and don't forget the 1664 French beer!!

    (5)

  • Priscilla R.

    I really enjoy Maximilien in the market. I have been here three times now. Once for lunch and twice for dinner. Each time the food was wonderful, the view was amazing and the staff was incredible. Tonight I tried the special: scallops with white wine sauce, mushrooms, and potatoes au gratin and it was delicious! My mom ordered the salmon in puff pastry and I have to say my dish was much, much better. :) The escargot was garlicky and herby and had a great texture, and the wine recommendations were excellent. This is definitely a must try and a great place to bring out-of-towners to impress them with the view.

    (4)

  • Andrea W.

    I have only been here for happy hour, but I've always had a great time and been impressed! I couldn't believe it when I ordered the happy hour red wine pour (for $4 or $5) and the server refilled my glass for free! My friends and I generally split several appetizers and they are always great. My food has always been prompt and the service has always been attentive and right there when needed. The upstairs has a beautiful view of the water, and it's a perfect place to relax and unwind after work. My only critique would be that the tables upstairs feel a little crowded, but not anything that is a big problem. Prices are very reasonable, especially at happy hour. Great place, I usually end up there at least once a week! Pros: Beautiful setting, excellent food, good service, good happy hour Cons: Parking

    (5)

  • Diana L.

    We always visit Maximillien's when we are in Seattle on vacation. With it being at Pike's Market it easy to get to. The food was very good - I had the crab cake eggs benedict - my friend who had the crab omelet said it was the best omelet she has had and service was efficient as well. Love the cozy feel of the place and the view is outstanding. I would have gave them 4 stars on this visit but they were reluctant to honor a special request as we wanted 2 appetizers from the dinner menu at brunch...oh well, maybe next time.

    (3)

  • G S.

    This place has a great view and good service. But with the food our expectations were high with all the great reviews. We went for dinner. Had the creamed corn chowder soup - excellent. And the dinner salad - really about 3 bites for $9, but very good. For entree - Salmon en croute with goat cheese and spinach. Salmon was very dry, no taste of the goat cheese and lots of spinach. Not much sauce, which was very good. Friend had the lamb shank and said it didn't cut it for him - it was not piping hot and said he's had much better, especially at Cremant (no longer in biz). He said the sauce was a bit bland, not tangy wine reduction sauce, just blah. Not distinct tastes that really stood out. Just like the salmon, nothing wow about it either. For dessert - profiteroles - very good. We won't return - way too expensive for not outstanding food as it should be with a restaurant of that calibur.

    (2)

  • Sonja S.

    The Day after Christmas has been for the last ten years the most hallowed women's holiday of the year - It's Women's Shopping Day and we take it serious in these parts. We have tried a number of restaurants over the years, some of which were French... and not the crowd favorite. This year the task of selecting the restaurant fell on me.... a HUGE amount of pressure. I selected Maximilien based on a few off hand comments from friends who said it was the best French Restaurant in Seattle - but honestly after 20 years of being in Seattle I had no idea where it was. I will never forget it again. We were seated upstairs with a view of the sound, cozy on a Grey and blustery Seattle day. Yes the service was very French, slow and polite and professional - perfect for our ladies lunch. We ordered wine and bread and after much dithering, food. OMG It was my great fortune to order the escolar. Escolar is not a "popular" fish, it doesn't show up often and when it does I eagerly order it. The preparation was unbelievable with a tarragon creme sauce, roasted carrots , perfectly cooked rapini. it was a delight. I could eat that dish again and again and again. Three of the party ordered Salmon with lobster sauce, and although all three were skeptical about the lobster sauce, it was a resounding hit. We had one Vegetarian in the group whop raved about her flat bread sandwich with creme fresh and tomatoes and other healthy stuff - my sister the adorable Auntie AK ordered The hanger steak with Roquefort cheese gravy and pome frites which we all coveted. We were there for almost two happy luxurious hours - we will go back again. It was a perfect way to enjoy each other, great food and the beauty of Seattle. Really, VERY special. Thank you Maximilien!

    (5)

  • Steven W.

    Very good, excellent selection. First class service. Nice view, great location, south past the pig at the market, past the meat market, take a right. Would never know it was there.

    (5)

  • Lauren B.

    After reading so many great reviews, I decided to hit up the happy hour at Maximilien with a friend. The food was amazing, the prices were reasonable and the water view off the patio rivals that of The Pink Door. Overall, the only word I can conjure up to describe this place is ... um... French. Very, very French. French food, French decor, French Drinks and French snobbery to boot! I was very surprised to find that all but one waiter had an authentic French accent. Though, to my dismay, the snobbiest waiter was the only dude who lacked a French accent and clearly hails from the Northwest. He literally took our order, threw (yes, threw) our food on the table, and completely disappeared for the rest of the evening. Where are your manners, Sir! I am only giving this place four stars, because you literally have to chase down a waiter during happy hour. Otherwise, this is the perfect happy hour venue. The happy hours last until 7pm, which is a huge plus. We ordered the Belgian fries, mini ham croissants and the cheese and fruit platter. This was all delicious, but I'll admit I was a little envious of the girls who ordered the steamed mussels next to me. Overall, I highly recommend happy hour at Maximilien!

    (4)

  • Christina A.

    WHile visiting Seattle, WA this week all the way from San Antonio, TX, I had to of course really embrace the whole Pike Place Market experience. I had lunch at Maximilien in the Market and was so very thrilled to have such another great dining experience in the Emerald CIty. First, the restaurant is inside the market situated high up with spectacular views of the Puget Sound. The view was almost better than my food but not quite. I started with a cup of French Onion Soup, it was perfectly prepared with the right amount of onions and spices and topped with a perfect size crostini so I wasn't cutting the bread and cheese but rather using my spoon properly. For my lunch, I had a Vegetarian Brie Quiche. AMAZING!!! It was not overwhemled with egg which was expected, in the inside you could really tate the flavor of brie and much to my delight onions and spices where in the middle, therefore not everything blended together, but rather 3 different parts to happiness. For my beverage I was boring with just water; however, I was told but every Seattelite that the happy hour there is to die for with amazing french cocktails. Next time, I will have the Coq au Vin. Maximilien=Tres Delicieux!

    (4)

  • Winona R.

    When you fight with your lover, sometimes you remain frustrated with each other, for no apparent reason--then make up in a burst of firey passion, totally forgetting why you were annoyed with them in the first place. This, of course, is a metaphor for the lovely experience I had last night when I popped into Maximilien for dessert. It was a Friday night, and we stopped by on a whim because it sounded good. It was great. The restaurant was busy, but we were seated within 10 minutes at a great table outside looking over Elliott Bay (they really are lucky to have this amazing view from their patio!), our server was prompt, friendly, and always ready to take care of us with a smile and a "ca va, mademoiselle?" What more could you ask for, really? Dessert was delicious. I had the smooth, rich creme brulee, and my friend's mother tried their dessert sampler with espresso--you get to try 4 desserts: a profiterole, small scoop of raspberry gelato, tiramisu, and small taste of creme brulee, in this case, served with a shot of espresso. When I saw it come out, I was almost disappointed that I hadn't ordered the same thing! Almost. It was the perfect way to end a lovely evening. I am eager to return again soon!

    (5)

  • tina k.

    My first time there with the Arts Legal Clinic crew. A great place to have happy hour, $2.95 for food and $4 cocktails! Hidden in the Pike Place Market overlooking the beautiful view of Elliot bay. A nice and intimate atmosphere serving French! très bien!! Try the scrumptious steam mussels!

    (5)

  • Max M.

    Just walked in because of the name. We had the 22 USD express lunch with a bottle of wine! A must go. Super food, super view and friendly. The express lunch comes with a choice of onion soup (that is what I had) or Maximilien salad, choice of mussels (I had Maximilien style), and creme brulette. A 0.5 litter bottle of Rose was plenty to get two people close to drunken :-). I think 1/2 liter is enough for two people for lunch. Of course they also have a full blown menu with a lot of nice items, but the express lunch is a great value. BTW - all staff is off the boat French.

    (5)

  • Jeff G.

    We were looking for a nice high class romantic place to have dinner. The happy hour is.amazing. $3 apps and $4 drinks. The food was great and the service was fantastic. Highly reccommend.

    (5)

  • Elanie-May I.

    Let me start off by saying that my foodie companion and I had been talking about getting together for dinner at Matt's in the Market (Yep... you heard me correctly. Matt's in the Market, not Maximilien in The Market. *pause* Just give me a sec... you'll understand why in a minute.) for, like, over two months. Well, wouldn't you know it... the night that we finally did meet up, Matt's in the Market was closed for a private party. [Who knew? (Apparently, not us.)] With that said, we had to find something else. With that said, it needed to be close by, on accountah we were hungry. Also, factor into account that we both had parked our respective cars in downtown Seattle, pre-free parking (read: before 6:00 p.m.), so there had already been money invested in the outing, not including some driving around and walking involved. Oh yeah, and it needed to be on my "Possible Restaurants" list. [Did I mention that I am a tad anal-retentive? (If not, please do take this into consideration if you happen to read my reviews going forward.)] And, oh... one more thing... just a co-inky-dink, really... the name of both of the restaurants contained 'In The Market' so, in my humble opinion, it just felt right. *pause* Well, guess what? You would think with all of that* working in our favor, it would be, at the very least, four stars. *insert buzzing noise* Nope... not even close. Appetizer: Eh... the French onion soup... it was okay. Nothing exciting. A little on the small side too, however, that could be because I was starving so I gobbled it down in, like, three bites. Entree: I hadn't had lobster in, like, forever so I thought I'd treat myself. If you, like me, enjoy a lobster tail from time-to-time, doesn't "Lobster Tail with Parsnip-Chives Whipped Potatoes, Broccolini, and Baby Carrots" sound like something enchanting? Sorry... not so much. My lobster was a little bit overcooked, resulting in it being quite chewy. (My foodie companion thought hers was cooked perfectly, however, to be fair, she did have a cold.) The potatoes, broccolini, and baby carrots were okay but, like, the soup, nothing exciting. Chocolate Mousse: I wish I could even say that this was okay, however, it was not even that. The chocolate mousse was topped with a white chocolate creme. It looked gloppy, resembling more a pudding than anything (To tell you the truth, I like pudding better.) and, surprisingly, not much flavor. I didn't even finish it. (That is saying something, on accountah I hate wasting food.) The only saving grace is that the service was excellent. The staff were incredibly attentive, stopping by repeatedly, refilling our drinks, asking us if we needed anything else, etc. They even wiped off the table, pre-dessert. [Of course, now that I think about it, this might have been specific to the two of us. (I'm going out on a limb here but I'm guessing that you're probably less messy.) ] Oh yeah... for those of you romantics out there, the view is beautiful, overlooking Puget Sound. However, I told myself that, for me, my Yelp restaurant reviews would focus on the quality of food and the service with a hint of price/value factored in. So, there you have it... two stars. all of that* = everything, including the co-inky-dink

    (2)

  • Vanessa F.

    Good food, not great. Not the best bloody mary either. The service brought this review down for me ..... we were completely forgotten....watching people who sat down way after we did getting thei food before us. Our waiter dropped the ball but comped my second drink....didnt make up for it.... nice view though.

    (3)

  • Elizabeth E.

    After reading the reviews I decided to impress my out-of-town friend with brunch, and so we went as a group and we all felt luke-warm about the food and our experience. The restaurant is definitely special for its views of the water. The staff is also professional, polite, and helpful. However, we ended up with bad seating (drafty and with a limited view), our food took absolutely forever to arrive, and the food, while tasty, was nothing special. The brunch menu is very limited, and doesn't carry much in the way of traditional breakfast-fare. I would also say what we did order was overpriced. All that being said, the quality of the food is very high, fresh, unique, and tasty. I may be tempted to give it a second try for happy hour, but I would request better seating. There is seating upstairs

    (3)

  • Mary Q.

    Ah the French, if there's one thing they've perfected it's how to wine and dine. I came here with some friends but the entire time I couldn't get over how romantic this place was and how it'd be a perfect date spot. We started out with the escargot appetizer which was totally yum. The waiter suggested dipping the bread into the melted butter which is a tip I will now pass on. For the main course I had the duck which came in 2 preparations, one was a duck confit cooked in its own fat and other was a duck breast covered in a capers sauce. The confit was more crunchy than what I've had in the past but a nice change in texture. We finished off with a creme brulee which I would have to say was my favorite dish. I always believed that all creme brulee basically taste the same but it's the texture that sets them apart. The creme brulee here was smooth and decadent, perfect ending to a great meal. Be warned though if you come for dinner and not happy hour I would say this place is more of a $$$ than $$.

    (3)

  • Ferron S.

    This is a tough one to write a review for. I think the food is great, but the last time I went the service was horrible. We waited for an hour for our meal and there was only 5 of us, That being said, they have the best French fries I have ever eaten.

    (3)

  • Danielle C.

    I would love to give this place 5 stars, but I have had mixed experiences with the service. Oh, and we've only ever gone for HH. The menu is great, delicious mussels, fabulous quality cocktails, great deals on cheese and other yummies... and all of these items come at a very affordable price. Soooo I was so excited to share this new find with friends! A few months ago 6 of us went for Happy Hour (granted, the bar is small...) and they decided to open up the deck even though they weren't adequately staffed. I know that the French style of eating out is not to rush, and is to enjoy the whole experience with friends. However, we were very frustrated when it got so busy (on the patio, I assume, since we were sitting inside) that we had to wait 30 minutes... for a glass of wine we saw sitting on the bar. I'll still try it again, but probably not with a group. Or on a Friday. And I still question the decision of the management to sacrifice service just to open up the patio for more people.

    (4)

  • Vive l.

    WOW! Was this ever a great escape from the throngs of folks outside. Escargot, scallops, aperitifs... We hit this place at the right hour (sundown, before the dinner rush), just a few folks in the place, slid off our coats, watched the sunset, and remarked how the feel of the place hearkened of Paris. Great find, will have to go back for dinner sometime.

    (4)

  • Patrick M.

    Enter Pikes Place Market. Dodge the fish, go past the spice shop. No, not there, there. Yeah, down that dingy hallway. Trust me, I know what I'm saying. Enter the door WOW! The first thing you get is what looks to be a rustic french bistro. With a fantastic view of the bay. Settle down, look at the menu, blow the rust off your all-but evaporated high school French skills. No, that does not mean "oven roasted tractor seat". It doesn't matter, I suspect they could make an oven roasted tractor seat taste good. Romantic? Well, I was there for brunch with my charming and wonderful ladylove, so I may be biased. But we were there with two other friends as well, so the social aspect was quite nice. And the food?? Very good indeed. I had a simple ham and mushroom omelet, with garlic-rosemary potatoes. There weren't a lot of crumbs left when I was done. Filling. Indeed, it was heading towards being a full ome Note - as many visitors to Seattle know, the city emitts some strange coffee-ray, forcing the vast consumption of large quanities of the stuff. This is the only explanation I have for the fact I drank two cups of coffee there. And I HATE coffee. Very nice place indeed.

    (5)

  • Martine W.

    They do in the deep summer have outdoor seating on the deck here even for HH and it is everything you want it to be.

    (5)

  • Alice R.

    Wow, didn't know this was voted one of Seattle's best places to kiss. Of course, I'm the nth person to mention it in a review. I will have to come here with the SO and give it a whirl. It was SO gorgeous here the other day with temperatures soaring into the 90s. Nothing really mattered except the beautiful view of the sound, the olympics in the background, the lovely breeze and the shade under the umbrellas. With all that, I didn't mind paying $8.95 for my glass of wine and god knows what else for the cheese plate (which was good). The BREAD is what did it for me. A good source sitting at the table next to me (because I love listening to other people's conversations) told his little group that the restaurant gets the bread par baked from some bakery that the owners scoured all over the place for until they found someplace that met their expectations. Then these lovely par baked breads are then heated to perfection and served to the loyal patrons who want nothing better than to enjoy their glass of wine and eat bread with cheese and butter. Yum. I dunno. I can't really vouch for the story, but it did make the bread taste extra, fluffy and yummy.

    (4)

  • Melissa H.

    Mmmm, how many brunches have I had here. Can't even count. Nor can I seperate the memory of this restaurant from the food. Sure I have had a few things that were awful but I have had many more things that were sublime. I just took the new boyfriend here when we went to Seattle this last weekend. It was one of those come meet my family and see the town I grew up in trips and as such Maxmilien was top on the list for brunch. The view is outstanding. Really it is just beautiful. Having spent my most meaningful years staring at the Puget Sound it still never fails to make me swoon. I guess I forgot to inform the BF that we always have champagne here, always, so he ordered a Bloody Mary and dashed my hopes of romantical champagne brunch. Oh well. It was still lovely. Thanks for all the memories Maxmilien's. I love you. As an aside the first phrase out of my mouth when we sat down was "I miss Larry".

    (5)

  • Geoff K.

    After reading some good reviews about Maximilien before a recent trip to Seattle with my girlfriend we decided to stop in for lunch while wandering around Pike Place. Unfortunately, I have to say my experience was quite disappointing in almost every aspect. To begin, the service was friendly enough but the first, and last, time the waiter came by our table was to take the food and drink order; water glasses were never refilled and nobody came by to check on either our food or drinks at any point. For the meal, I ordered the Salmon Salad Sandwich with greens and a Bloody Mary. I don't know if the 'Almost Famous' Bloody Mary recipe was actually supposed to taste the way it did when I got it (since I never saw my waiter again and couldn't ask) but there was so much dill in it that it overwhelmed any other flavors and I couldn't drink more than a quarter of it before it was too much to take. The salmon in my sandwich was nicely cooked but the brioche roll was so large that it dwarfed the salmon inside and I was left with almost half a roll by the time I finished the salmon. Perhaps due to the size of the roll there was an excessive amount of mayonnaise spread over the sandwich but, even so, the tarragon flavor was hard to find. My greens were even worse: Over a handful of mixed greens there were two croutons, one extremely thin slice of tomato and two slices of cucumber - one of which had obviously been left out for some time since the side of it was dried out like the cut end had been left uncovered in a fridge overnight. The dressing seemed to just be some plain oil drizzled over top which added nothing except a general oiliness to an already disappointing salad. After two meals at other restaurants (Union and Il Bistro) during the trip that were excellent this was, overall, a mediocre meal at best that fell well short of both the reviews I'd read and my expectations.

    (2)

  • Craig V.

    OK so people rave about happy hour and the view... that's great, but the food is very mediocre at best. My wife and I went here on a recommendation forgoing the usual brunch wait at Le Pichet which we both regret. We were there for brunch on Sunday and my wife ordered the salmon Benedict and I ordered the skirt steak where we both had French onion soup and escargot to start. First let's say the escargot needed more garlic...way more. The French onion soup wasn't even close to what I can make at home and I'm not even French. The Salmon benedict used farmed Atlantic salmon (just a few feet from the world famous Pikes place fish market). And the skirt steak was way too fatty and the sauce was bland, had no soul, and the frites were soggy. Save yourself if you want brunch and got to Le Pichet or Cafe Campagne...this place must be for the tourists and happy hours folks

    (2)

  • N. C.

    I love this little french cafe by the bay! You are exposed to the full view of the beautiful bay. It's really lovely. The food was as charming as the restaurant. It's not over the top and it's no bland either. The flavor is just right. The whole experience at Maximilien comes in a full circle.

    (4)

  • J R.

    Approachable French cuisine with a view. We had a very intimate evening on a Friday night. Seated right on the window overlooking Elliot Bay. The foi gras and duck breast were amazing and had a nicely paired bottle of wine. I will be returning.

    (5)

  • Jayne A.

    If you'd like a great view of the water from the market, this is the place to go. It also has a bonus of having very nice French foods. I went during the lunch hour and shared a cheese and fruit plate and a vegetarian tarte (essentially French pizza) over a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. Everything was scrumptious and delightful! I gave the restaurant 4 stars, as opposed to 5, because the server was a little snooty and the ambiance was less than I expected for a French restaurant. But, if you're looking for a view with reasonably priced French food, this is the place to be!

    (4)

  • Cherie M.

    I'm not usually a huge French food fan because menus are usually pretty meat-heavy, but we decided to try it for Seattle Restaurant Week. Yum! We had the pork chop and the crab cake and both were delicious. Really unique, interesting sauce on the pork chop. It could have been thicker, but the flavor was great. Great view of the Sound and they make a mean creme brulee.

    (4)

  • Elyssa H.

    Perfect happy hour. Eight different small plates for $20. Good portions of food. They also do a 6 beers in a buck for $15. Good value. It's always full and super busy (we got there at 5pm and weren't seated until close to 6pm, but they did let us order drinks from the bar while waiting) so get there early!

    (4)

  • leila e.

    Amazing little hidden gem. Great view of the sound. The service was great. The food was priced fair and everything tasted amazing. Great fresh bread and seafood. The portions were good too. I shared muscles and there were still leftovers. Would highly recommend for a night out with friends.

    (5)

  • Nai S.

    4-star only because I haven't had their lunch or dinner yet. I absolutely love the happy hour menu, I usually order almost everything. I don't know anything about French cuisine, but it's pretty authentic to me! Very cozy and romantic atmosphere with a lovely view. Service is great! If you're going for happy hour, I suggest you get there right on the dot because it's difficult to get a seat.

    (4)

  • Nikki S.

    Maximilien's is a pretty solid French restaurant with a great view. The best advice I can give about this place is to not judge it after one visit, because the quality of any one experience there can vary so much. The location in Pike Place makes it a romantic spot with a killer view of Elliott Bay, as well as a tourist trap. It is often packed on the weekends, and during these times I have found that service is a bit slower and food not quite as good. They may overcook your steak just a bit or forget that you ordered the foie gras. On Thanksgiving weekend my family and I waited over an hour for our food. Also, the special events they sometimes have featuring food and wine from a particular region are cool, in theory; but again, you will get a crowd and food that is produced "en masse" and more hastily (i.e., not as good). I still am really fond of this place and have been there many times. The view never disappoints. Go during "Appy Our" for great deals on drinks and tasty mussels. Plus during the summer you can chill on the back patio overlooking the bay. My best overall experience at this place was on a random night in the middle of the week, I think it was a Tuesday. My husband and I went with his boss and his wife. The food was phenomenal, perfectly cooked magret de canard, perfectly seared foie gras and tenderloin. Our friends really appreciated the wine list, which really is good. When given the time, the chefs here at Maximilien will make you a killer meal. So go during the middle of the week, on a semi-sunny but not so crowded day, and be prepared for Maximilien's to knock your socks off!

    (4)

  • Brandon C.

    Fantastic happy hour. On a nice day when the sun is going down during happy hour, sitting on their patio with a nice Absinthe ($5) and 8 appetizers for only $20. The food is balanced nicely. Their confit chicken wings are a memorable twist to the American favorite. I have been here a few times THIS MONTH. I feel the need to try everything at least once here before I move to the next adventurous restaurant. Two thumbs up to the oddly nice Frenchmen at Maximilien's! Their French martini is really fruity and their margarita is cute and sweet, but the absinthe is where it's at. Proper presentation and execution. Bravo!

    (4)

  • teresa m.

    we began with the chartreuse lemonade, and a fremont ipa. both were fine. the view is exceptional overlooking elliot bay. we each had the dungeness crab and smoked salmon salads. it had avacado, cherry tomato, crostini, and was excellent. the server was friendly and efficient. the ambiance was relaxing, and everything was perfect. thx...

    (5)

  • Edie S.

    Had dinner here on a Monday night and it was still perfection. My parents were celebrating their 59th anniversary. We have been going to Maximillien's for years. The service is impeccable, the food fresh and delightfully French, and of course the view is sublime. They really care and are so friendly.

    (5)

  • Bugoofus S.

    I had a memerable lunch there and look forward to going back. Nice atmosphere and good food downtown.

    (4)

  • Rachel K.

    Oh. My. Lord. This place is amazing. We basically decided to go here because it was close to our hotel and seemed good, but it was way better than I imagined it would be. Going during the March Supper month was also a total steal. We both started off with a cup of the French Onion Soup. Yum! Each of us opted for a fish entree: I had the salmon with a pepper crust accompanied by gratin potatoes and roasted vegetables, all in a wine reduction sauce. I laughed because even the winter tomatoes were amazing. My girlfriend had the sea bass with a creamy polenta cake, green beans and beet in a butter and lobster sauce. We both savored every bite. For dessert we had some sort of chocolate mousse cake which was also scrumptious. She was not looking forward to the chocolate and fruit (raspberry) combo but then liked it so much that she ate the half of mine that I was too full to eat. And to top it all off, some really delectable espresso. Perfect. My only regret was that we didn't get there half an hour earlier (arrived at 7:30) to enjoy the view for longer!

    (5)

  • Audrey M.

    We had our wedding reception at Maximilien. They really pulled off an outstanding evening for us. We rented out the entire place (new outdoor deck included) and went with the buffet option. I have to say, we were trying to have a relaxed and low key time, and they really bumped it up a notch. The food went over with my foodie friends and family fantastically!! The wine choices were just what we wanted. The staff was extremely efficient and not at all "suck-uppy". Which is good, 'cause I never pictured myself as someone who would get married and have a big party ... just goes to show you! Willy was easy to work with, he coordinated with our florist, cake lady and the band and left nothing for us to stress about! We would recommend this sweet French joint to anyone!

    (5)

  • Sam H.

    You know those noisy fish-tossing guys in the market? If you keep walking past them, past market spice... all the way back you'll find this place. I've had a number of the food items. Now that I'm ruined by Cafe Campange, I really can't say I'm impressed. Everything is pretty ok though. You won't want to send it back. Probably my favorite thing is the brunch crepe with chocolate and seasonal fresh fruits (I like it when they have currants). It's a simple deconstructed dish: crepe, fruit, chocolate, and whipped cream. Hard to mess up if you ask me. But the reason I go for the scenery and to hang out with Jan D. I can't believe I haven't bothered to review it before now. So first off, the view is stellar: right on the water and upstairs has a city view if you sit near the bar. Jan always orders a gray goose, chambord, and lime martini here. It's pretty good, but a little too sweet and pink for my scotch-swilling habits. They do make a mean cup (or five) of joe. If you have a sunny Saturday, I recommend heading here with a friend and relaxing with some good conversation. Don't hurry. Just sit back and enjoy Maximilian for what it is.

    (3)

  • Spicy G.

    Bread & Butter: Love the bread and butter. Oysters: They weren't shucked properly, I could taste the gritty little pieces of the shell in my mouth. Duo de canard with seared foie gras: LOVE IT! The vegetables were perfect, not overcooked, not undercooked. The gratin dauphinoise was well-seasoned and really tender. The sauce was really delicious. One little complaint: I just wish the duck confit was crispier. Salmon de fume: good, I'm not usually a salmon person but I liked it. Dungeness crab cake: this dish didn't impress me. On the menu, it's stated "served with wilted lettuce, cherry tomatoes, walnuts, and dijon dressing?" but I didn't feel the presence of the dressing. I would love to see more tomatoes on the plate to balance the crab cake. Poached-pear and almond tart: the dish came out cold, had to send it back to the kitchen. Creme brulee: It was good but not the best creme brulee I've ever had Great view is almost a plus.

    (4)

  • Phillip D.

    Maximilien's is a hidden gem - worth the effort to find and enjoy. It's my new "special place" for happy hour cocktails with friends downtown. Full bar - Absinthe, French Gimlet, Stella, and a nice list of French wines. Goat Cheese and Garlic Mousse, among other tasty appetizers. View, view, view... This place makes a great happy hour for a few special people - its menu is broad enough to satisfy all but your bowling team buddies. It's small, though - so I wouldn't go with a big group - and you might think twice if you're not among the first on a Friday. And save a spot for me...

    (4)

  • Anondah M.

    They are extremely inexpensive for the great foods, service, atmosphere, and the view!

    (5)

  • Maya W.

    We stopped in for a drink while cruising Pike Market (a crowded market will make you want to DRINK) and all of the staff upstairs were so friendly and kind. Especially Eric! We talked his ear off and he was delightful. If we ever return to Seattle we will be sure to venture back upstairs and maybe actually eat some food.

    (4)

  • Ronnie K.

    A true gem of a restaurant, hidden away in the Pike Place Market. I would give this place more stars, if I could. The food is consistently awesome, the service is great, and the view from the restaurant over Elliot Bay is phenomenal. This is great place to go for a long lunch with friends. I haven't yet made it there for dinner, but sure intend to do so. It's a very relaxing experience to dine here. There's nothing hurried about it and you can enjoy your fare leisurely while taking in the gorgeous scenery.

    (5)

  • Jen B.

    I have three words for you: Salmon Eggs Benedict. You won't be sorry.

    (4)

  • Greg A.

    Located in Pike Place Market (same floor as the guys who throw the fish), this place is known for its mussels and I understand why. It's a French restaurant and it's not very large so it fills quickly. Definitley get the mussels. I got the mariniere, which was with garlic and tomatoes--excellent. It's a huge portion so be hungry, and you can probably do without the salad.

    (4)

  • Noelle H.

    I go here when I want a serious pick me up with my best friend, or when we are celebrating a birthday, or because it is a Thursday... you know, anytime! There is never a better time to celebrate your ability to eat amazing food than whenever the fancy strikes you! The Foie Gras ($20) with a glass of lovely Sauternes ($11) is why I go. Mussels ($12) and Onion Soup ($6) are great ways to begin as well. I have always enjoyed the Fresh Fish of the Day ($ varies, about $24 usually) and the Lamb ($25) has netted many a contented sighs from my dinner companions. I think they must have some magic sauce pan that the Chef/Saucier mixes up a batch of perfect in for every single meal I have ever had there. Delicious. Upstairs the bar is a bit crowded, especially during brunch, but the views are nice. I like the lower floor on the SW corner table by the window. Sometimes I do have to switch out my chair for one that's a little more comfy to enjoy such a lux meal in. Enjoy this place, and an added bonus is their Maitre'd who is always a gracious and helpful man with an occasional witty comment that gives me a smile. I do wish some of the newer staff were more familiar with wine selections and had some suggestions based on complimentary tastes with ones meal, but I feel like Chef will probably adjust this once he realizes that the food his kitchen produces is best enjoyed with a glass or bottle of wine that opens up the brilliance even more. (Worth a few trainings I think). Bon Appetit!

    (4)

  • Greta D.

    Very very please with the croque madam sandwich! Eggs were perfect. Needed to each this lovely sandwich with a fork to soak up the egg yolk. It was divine. Skip the side salad and go straight for the fries with fresh parsley. I'm in a total food coma now.

    (4)

  • Bill P.

    Mussels were beyond excellent, and the location is great (with fantastic views on the elusive clear day in Seattle). Definitely on our favorite list.

    (4)

  • Cathy C.

    Best Brunch in Seattle!! We love to go to Maximilien for Brunch. The view is amazing the service is attentive and the food is delicious. We always order the Crab Omelet , it is DELICIOUS! It has about a pound of Dungeness crab meat. The sweetness from the crab meat goes so well with the mushrooms, cheese and fluffy eggs. The Croissant basket is a MUST. You have to order this as well. I bet you have never tasted such light and delicious Croissants in your life. Their Bloody Mary's are good too. My hubby says that their Bloody Mary's are his favorite. Everyone should experience Maximilien's Brunch.

    (5)

  • Calvin C.

    This place has a ridiculously good brunch.

    (5)

  • Paula K.

    I took my Mom here for Sunday brunch. Very hidden in the market, I had never heard of Maximilien, found it on Yelp (I love Yelp) so decided to try it out. First, fantastic view - we didn't have a 'window' table but there was really not a bad table for views. I had the scrambled eggs with salmon and goats cheese, it was really good so were the frites that came along with my eggs. My Mom had the brioche french toast, it was a little on the dry side - not very tasty, I wouldn't recommend it (the whipped cream was awesome). I would say Cremant was better for brunch but I will go back to Maximlien and try dinner (and the fantastic view).

    (3)

  • alfred k.

    3 courses for $30 bucks, you can't beat it. We had a great view over looking the water. It was nice. The staff was really friendly and walking distance from downtown. Great food for a great price.

    (4)

  • Margaretta L.

    Named among the best places to kiss in Seattle, Maximilien is my favorite place for traditional French food. They offer an unbeatable happy hour deal - piles of wine-marinated mussels for only a few dollars with the purchase of any beverage, which you get to enjoy while taking in the sunset over the Seattle waterfront. (Call for times, they change the hours of happy hour based on the optimal time to view that sunset.) Get on their email list to get in on their special event menus (normally featuring live music). And make sure to stop by during pear season - their tarte aux poires is even better than a first kiss. Unfortunately, I don't get to go as often now that I'm a vegetarian!

    (5)

  • M S.

    The food was okay. I liked the clams I had for the appetizer except some of the clams still had sand. Yuck. I ordered the halibut which wasn't as soft as expected. I didn't even finish half of it. The profiteroles au chocolat was pretty good and the highlight of the dinner. The view was beautiful and the server was pretty attentive. It was a romantic spot but I don't think the food was worth the price.

    (3)

  • Nancy L.

    Doing the touristy Seattle thing, we thought we would have dinner at Pike Place. We ended up at Maximilien and were gearing ourselves up for some uppity French food and service. We were pleasantly greeted with a friendly 'bon jour' and were promptly seated, even with our 8 month old baby. They even gave our baby his own place setting...spoon and napkin! The food was good...we went for their special promotion of a $30 (per person) for 3-course dinner. Kinda pricey. For the main entree, my hubby ordered the dover sole, and it was ok, he enjoyed it and I ordered the mussels, thinking it would be yummy. When it came out, it was just a bucket (or pot) of mussels and nothing else. Portions were plentiful, but I was expecting at least something else to go along with the bucket of mussels. All in all, it was good. You get a great view of Puget Sound and some really authentic French waiters. If I get a craving for French food while I'm in the Seattle area again...I'd stop by.

    (4)

  • Lisa W.

    I have been here a couple of times for happy hour. They have one of the best outdoor happy hour decks in Seattle when summer rolls around. This was the first time I actually dined in the restaurant. We were going to dine in the bar, but apparently you need to be in the dining room for the full dining menu. Maximilien has every opportunity to be snooty and uppity...beautiful view of Elliott Bay, gorgeous French menu, sharply-dressed staff...I was ready to feel intimidated. On the contrary, we felt so welcome when we were seated. Several different servers/staff came by to make sure we were always attended to. We ordered a bottle of red wine (I'm not quite up to snuff on my knowledge of French wine but it was a cab sauv/merlot/cab franc blend...manifique!) I ordered a bib lettuce salad with pine nuts and blue cheese...I'm not a fan of blue cheese but didn't want to offend anyone by asking them to remove it...of course picking it off of my salad and shoving it to the side of my plate probably wasn't all that kosher either. My boyfriend had the Chilean sea bass with lobster sauce, green beans and polenta. He was raving the entire time. He's a big fan of French cooking techniques apparently. He kept talking about how he wanted to go back in the kitchen and watch them prepare it. He'll have to settle with the Food Network Channel. In any case, it was a very happy experience. There's more to Pike Place Market than fresh flowers and flying fish.

    (4)

  • Amy K.

    Love this place! One of my favorites in the market and their happy hour rocks! Great views, incredible atmosphere. Definitely hit the deck on a sunny day, this is Seattle at it's finest!

    (4)

  • Evegenia Z.

    We had the cheese plate, Croque Madame, and Tarte Flambee Paysanne. The cheese plate was a nice starter with a glass of wine. The Croque Madame is a ham and cheese sandwich topped with bechamel and two fried eggs. It's a really heavy and rich sandwich. Everything about was done really well and the over medium egg yolks melted into the cheese and bechamel nicely. The Tarte was also a very heavy and rich dish, but so delicious. The sliced potatoes, ham, creme fraiche, and goat cheese did wonders to the thin crust.

    (4)

  • Marcie C.

    Wowee! I didn't even realize this restaurant was in Pike Place. The only French food I've really had was in France, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The dining room was a lot smaller than I anticipated, but I think there was an upstairs and I didn't see the patio. The menu had a lot of great options. For my appetizer, I went with the mussels, which came in a huge pot with thick wine sauce. It was very yummy and flavorful. For my entree, I went with the catch of the day, which was seared scallops, au gratin potatoes, brocollini and golden beets. The creamy sauce was exquisite! For dessert, I went with the grand marnier souffle, which topped the hard-to-top dinner! Very light and fluffy/foamy with a clean aftertaste. The portions were very large and the pacing of the meal was nice and slow, so I could enjoy each course. The lighting became very dim half-way through the meal and it took awhile for them to turn on some little lights. But, I highly recommend this place! Plus, they play French music quietly in the background for great ambiance!

    (5)

  • Luke N.

    The place was recommended to me by a friend who happens to be a chef visiting from France. I had to try it to believe and boy was I blown away! I frequent this place ever since. I especially go when they have their themed monthly pre-fixed dinner for the value. I have to say though that anytime is great- lunch is cheap, brunch is exquisite, and the happy hour is a steal. Top that with the amazing view and you're in french heaven! They serve really fresh seasonal ingredients and are very generous in portions. One particular dish that unfortunately is only served in winter is the Cassoulet. Maximilien has the tastiest and the most authentic one in Seattle! Believe me coz i've had it all throughout France when I lived there for a year. And oh yeah...the mussels..mmm mmm mmm...you cannot have enough of! Thankfully, the portion is more that enough to feed two! The bottom line: the food is excellent and surprisingly affordable compared to most sit-down fine dining. I have to admit that the service can be a little inconsistent at times but friendly, nevertheless. But...this should not deter you from trying this place because you have no idea what you'll miss out on!

    (5)

  • Elizabeth P.

    I went with a group of people for New Year's Eve and the food was delicious but the server was not knowledgable about the menu nor was he very helpful. He refused to clear our plates from our table after they had been sitting there for a while. I would definitely try their happy hour but that's about it.

    (3)

  • Jeannette B.

    Had a wonderful bistro style diner! The foie gras was to die for, the fish of the day: sole filet stuffed with crab, with a sauce made of truffle and Armagnac....Don't miss the Grand Marneir Souffle! Great wine: try the Pouilly 2005. Service impeccable, bilingual French-English. Excellent french address.

    (5)

  • Bill S.

    We found the staff noticeably unfriendly. The food is overpriced, mediocre, and with very small portions. The salmon on a bed of salad came with "fingerling potatoes". I had to search for the five dime-sized pieces of potato. A four inch piece of delicious baguette bread was served to five of the six people in our party. The one person was skipped because she had ordered a croissant sandwich. When we asked for additional bread, we were told there would be a $1 charge for that. I consider this a tourist trap. There are better was to get the romantic view without being taken.

    (1)

  • Jaclyn H.

    How disappointing. Our party of two arrived on a very warm evening, 85 degrees outside. We asked to sit outside on the deck, but no we had to sit inside and were discouraged from even attempting to find a place to sit outside. There was only one other table occupied inside. The only air coming in was from a window which swung out a few inches from the top. Too bad we didn't leave after our first cocktail, but we had a $100.00 gift certificate so we felt compelled to use it. The food was ok, the service minimal. However, after giving our server our credit card along with the gift certificate, he proceeded to give us 15% off our food . He was too lazy to read the gift certificate, which was for $100, and merely provided us with a snobbish apology. The dynamite view does not make up for being forced to dine in a sauna nor for the basic lack of customer service. We will not be back.

    (1)

  • Bea D.

    After reading the recent raving reviews on Maximilien, we decided to go there for our anniversary dinner on a Monday evening. While the view and sunset were lovely, the service decent, and the environment OK, some of the food was barely restaurant quality. My guess is this was the chef's night off. Avoid the lobster bisque and any dish with prawns. The evening started well with an nicely priced bottle of Rose ($35), perfectly chilled for the warm summer evening. The bread was a fantastic crunchy warm baguette. Unfortunately the lobster bisque we shared for an appetizer tasted like raw flour and corn starch. It was way too artificially thickened and the complex seafood and lobster taste I expect in a bisque simply wasn't there. My husband ordered the halibut for his entree, and that was the meal's high point. It was perfectly cooked and deliciously balanced with a simple sauce. His mashed potatoes were a tad bland though. I ordered the special: two scallops and three prawns on a shallot marmalade. The scallops were also perfectly cooked, and the shallot marmalade a nice paring. The broccolini, golden beets and dauphinois gratin (potato) garnishes were all good too. But the prawns, oh the horror, were overcooked to a hard rubber texture and in two out of three I found the vein still inside (and the vein is a shrimp's intestine... not pleasant at all!). This is certainly not what you expect for a $35+ plate of food in a French restaurant (!). At the end of the meal I pointed this out to our server and he apologized and offered us complimentary dessert, which was a nice touch. We tried the dessert sampler with espresso, and everything about the desserts was perfect. Crunchy and soft coffee macaroon, lovely profiterole, a perfect taste of creme brulee and a refreshing mini scoop of raspberry sorbet. Even though we did have some good food at Maximilien, it really hurt to have it ruined by extremely basic mistakes. We will most likely never come back because at this price point, we might as well head over to always reliable Campagne.

    (2)

  • Lina H.

    My husband and I went to this restaurant today. We had the skirt steak with fries and the lamb burger. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent. However, my husband noticed a small bug which was crawling on my plate. We felt bad about the situation. We didn't know if we should say something about it, but decided that we had the responsibilitiy to at least notify the waiter. We told the waiter who took the plate. A higher up waiter came back and said that the bug was a caper. I told him the bug was crawling and it was not a caper. To his benefit, he did offer to fix the check which we declined because the bug could have been from the fresh flowers on the table and we did love the food. I'm not easily grossed out. Then the manager came out and he showed me a caper in his hand and said that the bug I thought I saw was a caper. I told him that it wasn't a bug and that it had crawled. I also said that I wasn't looking for a free meal. He smiled humoring me and patted me on the back and said something in French. No apology whatsoever. Again the food was fantastic. I've never eaten a lamb burger and it was wonderful. I wish this bug thing never happened, but can't get past the manager's conduct around this issue.

    (2)

  • Rick L.

    While I didn't know this place was voted the best place to kiss in seattle [I think the locks are the best for that, or else the northern beach in N. seattle] - I did find it really appealing, the sights and atmosphere was very rich. I had a drink that knocked me on my ass [I'm not sure what it was, so don't ask] - but the best thing was, for a fancy place, it actually had AWESOME prices.

    (5)

  • Maria C.

    I've only had brunch here, but what a brunch it was. Crepes stuffed with scrambled eggs and crab. wow. brioche. wow. The view is spectacular and the the wall of mirrors reflecting the view to every corner of the room is a great touch. I've never been to France, but it felt like France to me.

    (5)

  • Steve F.

    as far as food, atmosphere and service go this should be your number 1 stop if you are going on a date or even if you are just looking for some excellent french cuisine. as others have stated, the upstairs for happy hour is tough to beat, although it can get a little loud sometimes. almost all tables upstairs have a view of the water and the tables are cozy. it's wonderfully romantic and the waiters are very accommodating. they have a great menu with incredible prices ($2.95 appetizers) with a range of foods, i love the mussels (a fantastic deal), the mini-croissants and the frites! get there early for a table, because it can be crazy. i would also recommend going for saturday brunch as they were having a prefix with french onion soup, mussels and creme brulee which is a ton of food for a very reasonable price. they occasionally have the outdoor patio open on nice afternoons and i would recommend that as well.

    (5)

  • Latife N.

    DO NOT go here on a warm evening. Our night out turned into an un-sexy sweatfest as the setting sun blazed through the huge windows. I cannot remember what I ate, but whatever it was was not refreshing. Save this one for a winter night and you will enjoy the view so much more. If I can bear to go back I am sure I'll love the food and will promptly amend this review.

    (2)

  • april d.

    My first visit to Maxilien's was as a teenager with my dad who grew up in a French household in RI and knows his stuff. We went and he ordered the escargot and I balked, I eewwwe'd and I stuck my tongue out and cried "never!" but with a little coaxing I tried just one little slimy snail and from then on I was hooked (yes, it is actually one of my favorite foods and I try it whenever I get a chance). I have since gone there on dates and it is always lovely and warm and friendly. the view is incredible, the warm rich wood tones and candlelight is enveloping and romantic and the food quite good and surprisingly, not as expensive as French restaurants can be. The menu is full of traditional French fare both urban and provincial faves and the wait staff knowledgeable and accessible. Plus as a little hole in the wall at the Market, it is such a great alternative to the chains. If you have trouble finding it, it's past the pig and the fish throwing place toward Market Spice and the butcher shop.

    (5)

  • Eric W.

    French place, french waiter, meh, it was okay. My fiancee and I ordered the express menu with coq au vin,so I was expecting great things, especially after going to yelp. The french onion soup was good and hit the spot on the cold day. The view was great as well, I though I was going to feel a little out of place though because of the fancy atmosphere of it all. However once I got my classic dish, the coq au vin I was very very disappointed. Not only were the knife skills horrible on the mirepoix (if you are going to serve your dish with the mirepoix make sure it is perfect), but the chicken was not braised longer enough and didn't give off enough flavor and was not fall off the bone tender. I had to add salt, and this dish was expensive. Who wants to add iodized salt to a french classic? not me!! Anyway the bloody mary was good, nothing special. Finally the highlight, the creme brulee, it was tastey and refreshing after such a bland french classic. I am saddened to say that the coq au vin was not made with love or passion!! If this place can make such great mussels, which is pretty easy to do by the way, why must they not care to put the same amout of love into their coq au vin? All I want is a little coq au vin.....

    (2)

  • megan d.

    maximimillien is the only place i like almost as much as my first love the peesh. the waterfront view is hard to beat. and the prices are cheap considering the high quality of food. they have an amzing pate as well as amzing happy hour and breakfest. defiantly a better stop to make than campagne if you are in the market.

    (5)

  • Deborah S.

    I can't figure out why I can get reservations on short notice at this wonderful restaurant and lounge. The views of the Sound are to die for, the food is authentic French cooking with no fooling around with tried and true recipes, the owners bend over backwards to be accommodating -- it's like stepping into another world where peace and pleasure reigns. Day or night, just drinks or a special dinner -- I make it a point to stop in every time I'm in town. Don't you try it, though -- I want to still be able to get a table! Seriously, it's sublime!

    (5)

  • Kathleen G.

    Just got back from a visit to Seattle and a highlight was lunch at Maxiillien. The food was delicious, the view wonderful and the service great. I had the grilled skirt steak - it was rare as ordered and the wine reduction sauce was rich and a perfect accompaniment. The just cooked french fries were the best I've had in years. I highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • Sarcastic T.

    Well, of course we sat outside even though it must have been over 90 degrees. The view was lovely. I find it adorable that every staff member with whom I spoke had a French accent. The drinks were good and the food was tasty! Love the interior.

    (3)

  • Cecile D.

    I love this place! Max's is one of my favorite happy hour spots in Seattle. If you love great food for cheap, come here! In the summer they have an outdoor patio that has a pretty view and most happy hour appetizers are $2.95. I love their butter too! I know what you're thinking...butter is butter....but No! not all butter is this fantastic! I recommend everything on their happy hour list. I have never been disappointed. The staff is polite and nice and remembers me which is always nice!

    (4)

  • Sarah K.

    I was introduced to Maximilien's earlier this year by a friend of mine and fell in love. I was slightly disappointed I hadn't found out about it sooner. I have since gone back atleast one or twice every two weeks just for their happy hour. You can't beat $2.95 for smoked salmon, mussels, pom frites and cheeses! The service is impeccable and the food is delicious. I have also heard that brunch on Sundays are quit good but haven't had the chance to stop in. So, if you ever find yourself walking around Pike Place during the day, stop by Maximilien's, you won't regret it.

    (4)

  • lynn n.

    yesterday, my friend and I went in here @ 2:30...and stayed until 4:30...with only two glasses of wine and one cheese plate between us! The service was so great, the food and wine delicious, and the view to die for!! Our server encouraged us not to hurry,even after we had eaten and paid our bill, now please tell me how often does that happen? It was the perfect place to go right before christmas to spend some great time with a friend to collect and relax before insanity ensues!!

    (5)

  • Arianna G.

    The food is good, the view is very good, the service is good. It is by no means wonderful. It's certainly not worth the cost. I don't mind paying money for food. I don't mind paying more money for really good food, but really I wish that I'd decided to get dinner elsewhere. I just had a dinner today for roughly the same price and I'd choose this place over Maximilien's any day of the week. I'll probably give Maximilien's another chance sometime, but only after I've worked through most of the other restaurants in Seattle.

    (3)

  • deana f.

    The food has always been great, however the service has been questionable since Dan has left!

    (4)

  • Ann M.

    great brunch menu and killer patio.

    (4)

  • Adam S.

    What a great place! I'd really like to give this place 4 stars or even 5, but there were a couple of problems with our dinner there this past week; I'll get into that in a moment. We've eaten there twice for brunch. Great croissants--slightly crisp but still light, fluffy and rich. The best onion tart (I think they call it a tart) that I've ever had. Perfectly caramelized onions with a hint of wine....anyway, seriously yummy. Nice, relaxed atmosphere, at least for the brunch. Attentive and polite staff. Now for the dinner. First off, maybe the worst cocktail I've ever had, I think they called it an Orangina Sunrise. I only had a couple of sips. The waiter asked if anything was wrong with it but didn't offer to replace it or take it off the bill, which at a place like this you might expect. We were there for their 11th anniversary dinner, so perhaps the problem with the dinner service was that they had 2 seatings at 6pm and 8pm. Because we were in the 6pm seating we felt very rushed. We wanted to relax and enjoy our cocktails before we ordered but the waiter came around twice asking if we were ready to order and put our salads down the moment we were finished with the drinks. At dessert we were not offered coffee and the bill was down before our desserts were finished. I was really looking forward to a nice relaxed, romantic dinner with my wife but we did kinda feel rushed out the door. The food, however, was excellent. A smoked duck salad with a nice amount of pefectly smoked duck and a light hint of dressing that complimented it without changing or overpowering it. Very good! A sole dish with plump, fresh mussels. The fish was rich, creamy and cooked perfectly, the sauce was described in their online menu and in newspaper mentions as a wine and cream sauce but for some reason was instead a nicely flavored but kind of run of the mill lobster sauce. Given that, though, it was still an excellent dish. A nice cheese plate with a spectacular brie and two cow cheeses--the highlight of which were the condiments they served the cheeses with. Very nice. A wonderful mousse for dessert in a white and dark chocolate cup with a very intense chocolate mousse. My wife was a little put off because it was slightly gritty (sometimes a sign that the chocolate was overheated) but I think it was because they used a very minimal amount of cream in order to highlight the flavor of the chocolate. Again, we really like this place. We really were put off by the rushed service however, so I'm hesitant to raise the rating. Perhaps after our next visit.

    (3)

  • Tracy P.

    I took my friend to this place and I was nothing short of impressed. Our server's name is Kelvin, and he is delightful. Oh - the food is wonderful.

    (5)

  • Mark V.

    The one thing Maximilien's has going for it is the view. The food is good, but the service needs some help. I went to Maximilien with some friends for lunch. I had the Chicken Croissant with a side salad. The croissant was very tasty. As for the service, our waiter was very nice, but he got one of our orders wrong, which he corrected. I had asked for another glass of beer, which I never received. Sometimes the wait for a table can be long due to Maximilien is located in Pike Place Market. Overall it's a good place to grab a bite to eat.

    (3)

  • Kerry M.

    The wait staff was TERRIBLE. Our waiter was rude, arrogant and shorted us on our bill. And the food was nothing special. I will never go back.

    (1)

  • Ned B.

    This was a surprising little gem that my wife and I found one Saturday when looking for a late lunch around Pikes Place Market. First, when walking in, it feels very dark and pub like. Made me think of a classic Irish or British pub... It is certainly not that! The menu is classic French bistro with a contemporary flare/twist. We chose one of four preparations of Mules Frites (muscles with fries) and their Wagyu Beef burger with a side salad. For an appetizer we also ordered the Escargot to share. The appetizer arrived in an acceptable amount of time and was quite satisfactory as a starter and disappeared quickly. The entrées arrived shortly after we finished the starter (couldn't have been timed better IMHO). The burger was beyond tender and was delicious with the Brie melted on top. The muscles were equally good and well as good as any we'd had in the US. Overall I'd say this is a great gem that is well worth braving the crowds of Pikes Place. Probably want to have a reservation if you arrive at popular eating times. We showed up without one and they seemed a little ... put-out ... how very french.

    (4)

  • Rich T.

    The patio is beautiful here and that is a highlight. It is funny that there are so many great classic bistro's in the market. This one is completely hidden away and has a marvelous view of the sound. The food is lovely. The duck confit is great and the soup d'oignon is a classic. The oysters are terrific. This is the goto place for those days when you just want to watch the ferry go by whether it is on a sunny day or a cold wintry day and a warm brandy feels just right.

    (4)

  • Anita G.

    This is another place on my happy hour only list. I have been for dinner once and it was fine but like the other places on the list, there are other places I'd enjoy more for the price. But, I do really enjoy their hh. The view alone makes it totally worth it on a sunny summer day even if some dishes are a miss. The whole atmosphere is kind of romantic. And you can't beat the location, literally walking through the market to find it tucked away in the back corner. Avoid the cheese plate, the slivers are a little pathetic like the size you'd sneak off when preparing a cheese plate for guests at home. But like I said, I enjoy it and find myself here every once in a while during the summer. Service can be spotty but I've never had a horrible experience.

    (4)

  • James F.

    The plus: great pattio other than that, not a fan. The bread was not very good (which is key for a french restauraunt). The french onion soup was mediocre and not well prepared (cheese was not melted and the top was just a few sad slices of french bread), and the frites were super greasy and soggy, felt as if they were refried multiple time. Worst of all, it was way too expensive for how mediocre the food is.

    (2)

  • Katie C.

    I recently treated myself to a fabulous lunch at Maximiliens. I sat upstairs facing the beautiful view and indulged with my bloody mary's and mussels. I highly recommend both!

    (4)

  • Cynthia L.

    Dear Moules Frites: I think about you often. The best in Seattle. P.S. Tell your friend escargot that they are a little bit too thick and sticky, but it's nothing personal. Love, CP

    (4)

  • Phoenix A.

    It has been quite a long time since I've had French fare. Why, oh why did I wait so long! Well, maybe because I was waiting to actually go back to France, but hey, I got a piece of it right here. Came here with the bf, the lovely Amy S., and the inimitable Roo S. for a Friday dinner. It was their first visit to the city, so they had to have one of their dinners at Pike's Place. We had a wonderfully rare sunset view of the sound. I was the only drinking so I started off with a red tri blend. The Smiths ordered foie gras for their starter and the bf and I had the grilled octopus served over white beans in a tomato ragout. Watching Roo enjoy foie gras, I must say, was quite pornographic. Sorry, Amy, but you know it's true. The bf asked our waiter, Carlos, how the octopus was. He said it was great and it turned out to be just that. I've only had tako in the past and it was always like chewing on a rubber band. Grilled, it was much easier to eat. For our entrees, plates of osso bucco and duck arrived. I myself had the grilled lamb with beets. This was probably the best restaurant lamb that I have ever had. No gamey flavor whatsoever. When I cook it home, my kitchen smells like a friggin barn. It was a little more on the medium side and I prefer it medium rare, but it was really tender so I didn't mind the over-doneness. Of course, I had to have dessert, so I waffled over whether to have profiteroles or creme brulee. I let the creme brulee win, but it was a little on the runny side for me and I prefer creme brulees that are almost flan-like in richness. In the end, dinner was absolutely lovely and so was Carlos, who was nice enough to lead Roo to a spot where he could take a picture of the amazing sunset. We'll be back again when the hankering for French food returns, until then, bravo, Maximillien!

    (4)

  • Logan D.

    Great food great service. The patio is a wonderful space. Nice after a long day downtown.

    (4)

  • Terri W.

    Delicious!! This place has the best baguettes in Seattle! They're amazing. A bowl of mussels, a couple of baguettes, that exceptional butter, a glass of white wine, a view of the Sound.... a perfect meal. However, we had a more substantial meal, and the highlight for us was the foie gras. Oh. My. Stars! Do NOT pass up the foie gras!

    (5)

  • Poulina K.

    Spent another beautiful Sunday afternoon on the patio at Maximilien's and this time it was definitely worth 4 stars. - A dozen oysters for $17, simple, fresh and not very pricey - Raspberry sangria: so delicious I wish they would sell it by carafe - Clams in chorizo broth, steamed just right with that salty and spicy charm. - Bloody Mary: House spice blend with fresh dill, wich always reminds me of Russia. Since this is a French restaurant I would expect the following items to be perfect, but I think they still deserve a few accolades: - French 75 and Soupe à l'oignon - 5 stars. Our server was engaging, polite and very pleasant. We even exchanged some basic (on my end) French.

    (4)

  • Corinne W.

    Maximilien is your new favorite happy hour spot. Why? -the VIEW. -cuddling in a romantic old-world setting. -adorable waiters who are either French or who fake a great French accent. -once again, the VIEW. The happy hour food: tasty, greasy and sometimes kind of weird. The happy hour drinks: dependable beer and wine, nothing too fancy. Cocktails are sugary, stick to the wine. Caution: this spot is popular and often booked out for private events, have a plan B in case they're busy or booked. Best time of year to visit is the early spring or fall.

    (4)

  • Andrea B.

    Restaurant week brought us to Maxmillien. $28 for 3 courses? We're there. The restaurant week menu was solid, though not as fancy as the rest of the menu (no duck confit, etc). You could choose from the onion soup, pate, or moules for appetizer, salmon, beef cheeks, or flatbread for entree, and the bread pudding, pear sorbet, or a cheese plate for dessert. Warm bread with sweet cream butter was a bad bad start, since I have no self control. Very very good bread. Hubs and I went for moules and onion soup, beef cheeks and salmon, and bread pudding x2. Appetizers were a nice start - solid. Entrees were pretty good. Beef cheeks were tender, well-seasoned potatoes, with some veggies. Good sauce. Salmon was moist and well cooked, though a tad underseasoned. The sauce on the plate had no flavor and added nothing to dish. Rice was cooked right, but it was underwhelming. Bread pudding with ice cream was very good.

    (4)

  • Greg J.

    If you are at the market, try this place out. Dont be scared by the French restaurant thing. Get a french 75 and a great app and sit above the bar over looking the sound. What a great place.

    (5)

  • Elle G.

    I only experienced Maximilien for about an hour, but it wowed me enough to give a four star review. I came here for another team lunch and I was impressed with the venue, seating, food, and service. First of all the view was AMAZING. We were lucky to have reserved outdoor seating right next to the ledge and we got a great view of the Seattle waterfront. Our server was great, taking our drink orders immediately while we had a chance to look at the menu. There were so many yummy options! Unfortunately on this particular week I was trying to keep my eating light and clean so I was extremely lame and ordered the Pike Place Salad and added chicken. I was surprised at how flavorful it ended up tasting and the chicken was cooked very well. My favorite part of the salad was the eggplant and potatoes. It actually ended up making me feel very full as they gave a hearty portion size of chicken breast. Aside from my lameness, some of my colleagues ordered Wild Salmon and said it was pretty good. One of my colleagues ordered the thing I wanted the most - their Croque Madame - which she raved about. It looked to be a big portion size and I was jealous that I couldn't indulge! I want to experience Maximilien at night. I'm sure the view is even more incredible with all the lights around the Market and Seattle making the ambiance totally romantic. I like how it's in a nice, tucked away spot in the Market. I'm also trying to find out more about French cuisine so I'm dying to come back so that Maximilien can wow me again and I can give it 5 stars.

    (4)

  • Dana R.

    Had a wonderful dinner here Friday night with my husband. He started with Hudson Valley foie gras prepared two ways ... one, the liver was house-cured in milk and Armagnac and then seared and served over a bed of apple marmalade and the other a tourchon of foie gras with the perfect amount of brioche. The plate is garnished with a balsamic reduction. Both were exquisitely prepared ... the best he'd had in quite sometime according to my husband. I started with the French onion soup. I asked them to add a bit more cheese, and once they did it was among the best onion soup gratinees I've had ... if the onions were just a little bit caramelized and there was a sheet of gratineed cheese on top (rather than shredded cheese) I'd say it was the best I'd had. My husband's Coquille St. Jacques aux Champagne was almost perfect. Unfortunately, all but one of the scallops were slightly overcooked. The dish is made with wild caught sea scallops, Tobiko caviar and Champagne beurre blanc and is served with roasted garlic-whipped potatoes (not as good a my whipped potatoes), asparagus and golden beets. My cassoulet was rich and yummy -- perfect for a cold night! The white beans were just a bit overcooked for my liking (they were a tiny bit mushy) and there could have been some roasted garlic cloves and more of the broth (it was just a touch dry for my liking). The duck confit was fantastic, as were the Toulouse sausage, garlic sausage, pork, lamb, and veal. Overall, a very good meal. I just love the ambiance (except for the woman diner from Texas with a shrill voice who felt the need to talk/yell at her dining companions as if they were sitting across the restaurant) and the warm and friendly service.

    (4)

  • Katy B.

    In. Love. I had the most wonderful dinner here while my aunt was in town. We started with a dozen oysters (which I do not typically eat) and I will admit that the 2 that I tried were briny and delicious. My entree was the Chilean Sea Bass served with these heavenly (and I'll pretend fat free) potatoes, roasted fennel, and broccolini. I did everything but lick the plate. It was divine. Perfectly cooked fish. My aunt had the fois gras 2 ways, and she enjoyed it as well but found one of the "ways" too salty. I admit I didn't try it, and I admit I have no idea what fois gras is. Dessert was also amazing. I got the little sampler with espresso. A sinful bittersweet truffle, pear sorbet, a cream puff with ice cream and chocolate, and CREME BRULEE. Yes please! Yummy. And a great way to finish the meal. We shared a bottle of chardonnay. The service was amazing. I'll definitely be back for a date night.

    (4)

  • Natasha L.

    Review for drinks only: French restaurant with a real French guy at the front. He made us French drinks that were excellent but small. $10 per cocktail. Also great views.

    (4)

  • Laurie V.

    First of all my review may be skewed as I was here for a corporate function. However I will come back. We were unbelievably late due to traffic. The restaurant was very accommodating and kind about our tardiness. Our lateness aside the food was delicious. The highlights for me were the foie gras and the crème brûlée. Both were decadently fabulous without being over the top. Simply amazing.

    (4)

  • Lala W.

    Properly, the food is probably a 3.5 star and the service is more like a 2-2.5 star, after a disappointing visit. My boyfriend and I dropped in for a quick lunch- and opted to seat outside. The host seated us in the shade, where everyone else was sitting in the sun. After some debate, we decided to switch tables. When the host realized we had switched tables he approached our table and rudely said "The problem is, this table is for four table." We very politely let him know that we were cold in the shade, there were many empty tables for four people. He eventually decided to pull the tables apart and let us stay in our warmer table. The next problem came with the service when our food came. My boyfriend ordered a burger which came on time, but the waiter misordered my croque monsieur on his computer and a different dish came. We let him know and he reordered for us. It took over 15 minutes, as I watched other tables get their croque monsieur, for mine to come, which was extremely annoying as my boyfriend was finished with his burger. Overall, the service was generally slow- perhaps they were having an off day or were just understaffed, but probably won't be back for a while.

    (3)

  • Alicia H.

    We really enjoyed a break in our day by having lunch here. We tried the wine flight, which was delicious and all the wines were worth having on their own. Then I had a fish special, which was an Ahi Tuna pan seared perfectly and it cut like butter. My boyfriend had the brie burger which was also quite good. For dessert we tried the profiterole and the creme brulee. Both were delicious and well made. I'm not sure I could choose between them if I had to. We enjoy french food and boyfriend has been to Paris 3 times, so don't go here expecting to find healthy options (get the salad then). The french love rich foods and this restaurant does them very well!

    (4)

  • Faith Y.

    I kind of felt like I was being judged ... not the best start to a nice happy hour with friends. Perhaps it was our age, perhaps it's because it looked like we wouldn't be buying expensive bottles of wine, I'm not sure. Our server was perfectly civil but hardly cracked a smile and treated us with the minimum amount of service without being too rude. Very ambivalent that. Only the upstairs portion is Happy Hour but it was pretty packed and 5 of us had to squeeze around a tiny square table that would barely accommodate 2 folks with full plates of food. Plus, I know a lot of places do this but for some reason, they irked me when we were firmly reminded that happy hour prices are only valid if every person buys a drink. Touchy touchy. 3/5 of us ordered wine/beer and the other two ladies just weren't feeling up to it. The food wasn't terribly impressive either. I can get croissants, goat cheese, Belgian fries and mussels anywhere in Seattle. Nothing to sneeze at, I'm sure their dinner menu might have more offerings. It was all a bit meh for me unfortunately. Guess I'll have to stick to some French bakeries instead.

    (2)

  • Katie B.

    Want to know what makes an hour happy? A stellar view of the Emerald City, $4 glasses of wine, $2.95 Kronenburgs and an appetizer menu with cheap individual prices or a flat fee for all 8 ($20). Another excellent Katy H suggestion and I think it made my mom, sister, and I very happy tourists. We got there right at 5pm and clearly we weren't the only ones aware of their awesome HH because the upstairs bar area (where HH is offered) was already full. Luckily we were able to grab a wonderful seat with a view of the sparkling water and the stunning sunset on the horizon. The authentic French accents helped set the scene even further. The dishes were simple (Belgian fries were silly, like deliciously silly, skip the dipping sauces, though) and small but they were the perfect HH dosage. Even though Pike Place Market was dying down, Maximilien was going strong and now I know very well why!

    (4)

  • Anna N.

    Great Place fo Valentine's Day! My fiance took me here for valentine's day & i was definitely not disappointed in their service and food! The chef created a Lover's menu just for Valentine's day & we opted for this wonderful selection. The place is quite small, but it had a wonderful ambiance to it. I enjoyed the atmosphere & the view was amazing. It's a little treasure that's sorta hard to find because of how its secluded in the back. My fiance had their clam in wine sauce & I had the foie gras for our appetizer. The clams tasted so light & yummy. The foie gras was sheared slightly & it came w/goat liver...delicious!!! I recently came back from Paris a few weeks ago & the foie gras here is just as good if not better! For our entree I had the medallion tip & my fiance had the sea bass. Both came out w/a beautiful presentation! The sea bass was soOO tender & the brocholini that came w/it complimented the dish so well! The medallion tip had the most delicious sauce i've ever tasted! It came with the right amout of veggies (carrots & green beans) to really make it taste very healthy. The different textures and taste on each plate was very enhanced by not only the sauce but the side dishes that went w/it. Our final dish was dessert. We had the creme brulee & the chocolate mousse. To be honest I had better creme brulee, but it's still pretty good. The chocolate mousse was covered in creme fraiche, very delicious & sinful! I love that the chef made a special menu for Valentine's day. It really gave you a variety you normally wouldn't select as a combo on your own. I thought it brought out the romance of the holiday & I came out loved (in my belly) & heart!

    (5)

  • Zara P.

    Love Love Love this place! Food is authentic. Service is eloquent. View upstairs is beautiful at night. And last but by no means least...... they have Absinthe. Only ding them 1 star because I don't think this restaurant serves everyone's palette. We brought friends here and although we love it they had a hard time finding something they liked.

    (4)

  • Lindsey D.

    J'Adore Seattle and j'adore cafes like Maximilien's! Nothing quite tops a sunny day without a cloud in the sky, a breezy 75 degrees, a delicious meal and the view of the water. This was my experience at Maximilien Restaurant. Tucked away in Pike Place Market, this French eatery is a quiet welcome to the vibrant atmosphere living just outside its doors in the Market. Once inside, you're welcomed to an intimate restaurant with dark wood, casual tables and one large window with a view of the water. The deck boasts the same view and it's perfect dining for a sunny day. I bet it is one of the best views of the water too. I sat outside and enjoyed a Pacific Northwest Salad which consisted of fresh salmon, crab meat, avocados, lettuce and topped with a sweet lemon-like vinaigrette. It was light, refreshing and had the seafood kick I was looking for. However, I couldn't let the meal go by without a guilty pleasure, so I added a side of their delectable french fries. These fries were doused with salt and herbs and came with a mayo. They were addicting and I couldn't eat just one, so I enjoyed every last bite! The meal was delicious, the view was stunning and the experience was perfect. Bravo Maximilien. Until we meet again!

    (4)

  • Luc F.

    That place was fabulous. We got a very nice spot with a view on the pudget sound (reserved ahead of time), the ambiance of the place was perfect, not noisy at all and the food was really great with very good wine pairing. We will definately go back there.

    (4)

  • Heather E.

    Tres bonne! I love french food, and seek it out everywhere I go. This hidden gem is the best french food I've had in America. The view of Elliot Bay alone is worth the trip. Beautiful. The service here is top notch, and they give excellent suggestions if you're having a hard time deciding what to get. Whenever we go here, we HAVE to go all out because everything is so good, and the presentation is always gorgeous. The Assiette De Fromages (cheese plate) always has excellent variety, and it's a nice way to start off the meal. The fresh bread is to die for. As for main course, I always have to chose between Coq Au Vin and the always delicious Croque-Madame (I get it without eggs, so a Croque-Monsuier, but I'm sure it's great either way). Finally, I usually choose to end my meal with Café Gourmand, because I love the dessert samples, or Soufflé au Grand Marnier. Can't be beat. I will come here every time I come to Seattle and recommend it to everyone!

    (5)

  • Alex J.

    the reservation process was great. Very professional gentleman. got all my details correct the first time. I got the lovers package ($20) which included rose pedals, 2 drinks and chocolates. THIS PACKAGE WASNT IMPRESSIVE. maybe one rose or so of pedals, half of them were half dead. the chocolates are actually just 2 pieces and weren't that hood. the drinks we got were non alcoholic and were great tasting. we got the Magret et Confit de Canard aux Figue (a $30 duck dish) & a fish dish that was on the very top of the menu (something like sea bass or something). I DO NOT RECCOMEND THIS PLACE. The view was great but the food was not and I rather have went to SKY CITY at the space needle.

    (2)

  • Elizabeth L.

    Best rooftop HH downtown - get here early as the rooftop gets packed. Actual restaurant is fairly small. Good: - View is fantastic, overlooking the waterfront. One of the best sunsets downtown - House sauvignon blanc is excellent - Smoked salmon was delish - Chicken wings confit - tasty and satisfying - Belgian frites are decent, but dipping sauces are not particularly noteworthy Bad: - Mussels - white wine seemed cheap - Cheese plate is miniscule as Yelper Katy H noted - Goat Cheese Mousse - baguette croutons are severely hard (ie: cut your mouth). - Salmon coulibiac (puff pastry) sounded tempting but is essentially a crude, dense mini-pastry with dry salmon with an indiscernible amount of spinach. It appears they've removed this from the menu. HH (5-7p M-F, 8-10p Sat) features $4-8 small plates, $5 house red/white glasses/ $20 bottles, $4-5 cocktails, $5 absinthe.

    (3)

  • Sin-Yaw W.

    The famous outdoor patio has a very nice view of Puget Sound. I ordered a Martini and enjoyed the lovely Seattle summer until my guests arrived. We seated downstairs that is kind of stuffy. Again, the view is spectacular. For a French restaurant, the wine list is not at all impressive, particularly not many local choices. Escargo were ordinary, Foie Gras were large and delicious. Breads were excellent. As for the entrees, the general impression were mediocre. I had halibut. Others had Elk, duck, and salmon. They were all pretty good, but also nothing to boast about. It went downhill after. My creme brule was really average. Someone order souffle and it was really bad, essentially undercooked inside and not much the rich and creamy flavor and texture you would expect. For food, go across the street for Chez Shea. For view, go Water Front or Edgewater. For drinks, go Zig Zag. Let tourists pay here.

    (3)

  • Ann C.

    I have mixed feeling because the food was much better before. Sometimes the food is good, sometimes not. Actually last time my food was horrible. There must not have been the good chef? It's not steady. I hope quality will be more steady so I won't be disappointed again.

    (2)

  • Jay M.

    Exceptional service with exceptional food!

    (5)

  • Matthew C.

    Great location with a cool view of the sound. The service is tip top. We just popped in for a drink and app, so not too much to review. They make a killer Old Fashion with a French twist...i encourage you to try it.

    (4)

  • Joel R.

    Maximillen is a classic French restaurant at the southern end of Pike Place Market. Classic often means "old" and in certain ways, Maximillen is just that. The eerie neon sign that glares at you from the entrance indicates a restaurant that is past its prime. But don't let that put you off, because Maximillen is also a classic where it counts: the food. At a recent dinner here, I enjoyed the oysters, duck duo and lamb with salad. All were excellent. Service was top notch. Prices were fairly expensive, but right in line with what you'd expect for a place like this. The view from the upper floor is tremendous. Recommended; this place is a lot better than it looks from the outside!

    (4)

  • Amy T.

    Maximilien is FANTASTIC! We reserved Maximilien's upper floor for a small reception and it was perfect! The space was intimate and romantic and the view couldn't be beat. We worked with Willy prior to the event date to determine the menu. He was always open to answering my questions and would respond to my emails within 1-2 days. I had a number of set-up requests for the day of the reception and Willy said it would be no problem to execute my requests. Willy and his team really followed through- they not only set-up as I asked, but set-up better than as asked! There were even extra little touches. They printed menus specific to our event. They also set out flowers and candles at the tables. Ali was our server and we were more than impressed with him. He was wonderful and really helped to make our event extra special. I cannot say enough good things about Ali! THANK YOU, ALI! The young gentleman that served our passed hors d'oeuvres was also great! He did a great job making sure everyone was attended to and explaining the hors d'oeuvre options. The food was impeccable! Everything was amazing, but some of my personal favorites were the beef wellington, crab cakes, sea bass, creme brûlée, and the beautiful and delectable cake - the croque en bouche! I can't wait to eat at Maximilien again! If you're considering having your special event at Maximilien- DO IT! You will be extremely happy that you did!

    (5)

  • Gantsa Maven Z.

    Unfriendly arrogant seating service. We were seated outside(nice view & weather). We ordered multiple apps. The very cheap plastic furniture was very uncomfortable and the umbrella stand and odd table legs left no room for your feet. I had to request Indoor seating. A rather rude employee-the one who seated us barked that if we only get drinks and appetizers we can't sit in the (empty) dining room just at the empty and dreary small bar. I then said then I'll pay for my beer and cancel the remaining entire order. He sarcastically agreed and I got my check. I felt bad for the nice waitress. Guests should not be treated this way in tourist area or any other.

    (1)

  • Ashley W.

    Great view, hard to find though. Window seats look over the water and at the led wheel. The food was good, but for the restaurant I feel it could have been considerably better. So four stars for difficulty to find and no wow factor in the food. Great food and great location.

    (4)

  • Keriche C.

    Wow! What a view! This is a great spot for a warm Seattle Evening. They have a fantastic view from their patio (there's also a great view from inside). The service here was good and I love the intimate bar and restaurant. I ordered a steak with bone marrow and every bit of it was completely delicious and totally memorable. They have a great selection of local and international wines. I had some visitors from out of town and recommended Maximilien for dinner. They both had a really great experience. They ate the scallops and salmon and both said they were fantastic. This is a great place to take out-of-towners when they're visiting or just for a romantic night out with your love.

    (4)

  • Emily T.

    Q: What do you do when your boss hands you the credit card and tells you and your coworkers that you should treat yourself to lunch and drinks while on the clock? A: You run out the door with credit card in hand shouting "Mama's gonna eat!" and head straight to Maximilien. Or...at least that's what *I* did. There's plenty of dining options in and around the Market, but if your palate is begging you for something a bit more sophisticated, give Maximilien a shot. I'm willing to bed both your palate and you stomach will be pleased with your choice. Here's what I ordered: Crab Cake Sandwich (with salad) - $13 Orangina Sunrise(s) - $8 approx. Coffee Mochaccino Mousse Here's what I thought about each and every item: DELICIOUS The crab cake was large, rich and filling, but I'm happy I ordered dessert anyhow as the Mochacciono Mouse, was my favorite part of the meal. It was rich and light and the shortbread(?) cookies served alongside were the perfect addition to the chocolate and coffee mousse. We sat outside on their large, umbrella'd patio. We had a lovely view of Elliot Bay. Since the restaurant seems rather upscale it was a bit sup rising to be seated on plastic furniture, but I don't see how that's really a problem. The service was top notch. We were greeted promptly and our server was very personable with a good sense of humor, but didn't hover over our table. All in all, I would be very happy to return.

    (5)

  • Richard E.

    We actually spent an hour looking for another restaurant near the market, then when we finally found it they were closed. We said "screw it!", settled (or at least thought we were settling) for Maximilien because it had seemed okay-looking when we passed it earlier, and ended up being REALLY glad the other place was closed. The food was great, I didn't feel like I was paying too much for it as others seem to have felt, and when we asked to be moved to a recently vacated window seat, the owner said it would be fine and helped us move our drinks/silverware to the table himself. Granted they weren't very busy, so who's to say their service doesn't suffer when they get busier. But all in all, we had good, photogenic food with a nice view.

    (5)

  • Victoria C.

    I was a little sick when I came here for HH, so perhaps my impression of the food is a little off due to blunted taste buds and such. PROS: 1. Real French people greeting you and serving you! 2. Amazing view. One of the best in Seattle for dining. The place is tucked away in Pike Place market with windows facing the west, out toward the water and the Olympics. 3. $3 small plates for HH. CON: 1. I felt like everything I ate was bland. I thought French food was supposed to be rich and decadent? We shared the mussels, Belgium fries, smoked salmon, spinach/cheese puff pastry things, and the toasted baguette with salmon spread. The mussels were definitely bad; most of the shells were either broken and cracked, or all the way open; and the meat was grainy and fragile. 2. Minimum 1 drink per person. I guess that's not unheard of, but most other places don't require a drink for HH. Lame. I don't drink a lot, and definitely not when I'm sick. Meh. I still like Campagne better when it comes to French food.

    (3)

  • Phuong M.

    I came here with a couple of friends on a nice sunny day. Got sat outside in order to enjoy the sun and the view. The environment was lovely and the service was great. I got the lunch express which was the 3 course meal that came with a soup or salad, duck confit or something else (i forgot) and a creme brulee. I chose the salad which was tossed in this flavorful dressing with assorted veggies and blue cheese and also topped with nuts. I really enjoyed it. The duck confit was very rich with flavor and super tender. It was delicious! And the finishing touch of the creme brulee was a wonderful ending to my lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed everything I ate. I definitely will come back again on a nice sunny day! =)

    (4)

  • Farz D.

    I skipped this place for a bite to eat a few times because of the neon sign. I refuse to go where neon signs tell me to go. Well, okay..not always true but still. You get it. I was oh so wrong. Sun is out? Hungry? Get a table on their patio. I've not found better out door dining in Seattle (do let me know if you think somewhere beats this place). The 3 course $25 prix fix is a bargain. Onion soup, les moules and creme brulee? OKAY! ps a great spanish coffee can be found here.

    (4)

  • Abby T.

    You know that obnoxious glowing red neon sign in the Pike Place Market, down at the end of a dark cement hallway? Yep.. that one - that's Maximilien's. Discouraging? yes.... ignore that. Follow the light at the end of the tunnel, I promise - good things await you. I have not had a full meal here yet - maybe when I do I can add that fifth star. We came for drinks and apps - sat outside on the patio overlooking the water, gorgeous. Happy hour is decently priced and the drinks are done well. Perfect spot for some Oysters on the half shell and a martini on a nice day :)

    (4)

  • Rachel M.

    Lunch with the little kiddos. Lovely outdoor patio. Wonderful food and service. Perfect sunny afternoon! Will return!

    (4)

  • Heather B.

    If I could give zero stars I would - just went there for happy hour which is supposed to be 5-7 M-F only to be told that there was no happy hour today because happy hour is held upstairs and there was a private party up there. I'm sorry then still have happy hour, just do it in the bar or something! I saw a drink I wanted to try but I guess I never will since after this blatant false advertising I will not be going back. Oh and FYI, I turned your guys' little sign around outside the restaurant - hope you lost more business.

    (1)

  • Paul L.

    Ambience: 4 Food: 3 Value: 4 Cozy up to a private upstairs view of the sound at the end of your work day This hole in the wall find is behind the fish tossers in the middle of the market, a place you'd have to ask to find. The trip is definitely worth it. The feeling is definitely secluded and old school, where it's like you're back in the old days of waiters in vests. We were there at happy hour and had all the appetizer plates and the clams. The dishes were okay, not spectacular, but the experience of chatting in a place frozen in time was cool.

    (4)

  • Mammlet M.

    After reading mixed reviews on Yelp I did not expect to be impressed, nonetheless we navigated the hordes of tourist and corridors of Pike Place market and finally found the red neon sign of Maximilien. We had no reservations at 6:00pm on a Friday and were quickly sat on the roof top terrace. The initial service was a bit spotty (water, bread, butter, etc). This was remedied once our drinks arrived (I am always happier with gin in-hand). And the service thereafter was 4 stars. FOOD = really good, no complaints, not one. I do not normally get all gaga over fois gras, but their $20 appetizer duo preparation is nothing short of amazing. One preparation was soaked overnight in some sort of brandy and milk the other seared in a cherry compote type thing, which is fairly standard, but yummy. The Beef Cheek entree was the star of the evening it was tender, savory, and saucy. WINE = nice selection, reasonable prices. We'll be back.

    (4)

  • Alexandra K.

    The servers were not on their game when we were at Maximilien. Service was slow, we got the wrong bill, and based on that, I could not give it four stars. That said, I was pretty happy with my lunch, which was a brioche slab with goat cheese, creme fraiche and roasted vegetables. I can't recall what my brother-in-law and sister had, but they enjoyed it. The best part of Maximilien was the view. I ate here during my first trip to Seattle, so a view like that was amazing to see.

    (3)

  • Linda P.

    My Favorite place to eat at Pikes Place Market! I've been coming here for years for lunch every time I visit downtown Seattle.It's hidden away in a corner of Pikes Place market away from the hustle-bustle and crowds. The ambiance is lovely inside and outside, we usually sit on the outside patio enjoying the view of the harbor. The food is fabulous and the prices are moderate. The house wine, sold by the carafe is very good quality at a reasonable price. I always start off with the mussels steamed in a white wine broth with just the right seasoning. The French bread served alongside it, dipped in the broth is a veritable feast! The escargot is also divine, so are the salads and sandwiches. I haven't had dinner here yet but I'm sure it is also very good. You just can't go wrong eating here!

    (4)

  • Chelsea J.

    Maximilien's for Happy Hour is wonderful. High quality food, wide selection of eight small plates for $2.95 and good drink specials, too. Select red and white wines are $4/glass. You can't beat the view on the patio overlooking the Sound. Service was pleasant and prompt even though they were very busy. I had the Belgium fries and the mussels in a white wine/butter sauce and they were both very good. Fries were crispy and salty and came with a dipping sauce. They were a huge portion for $2.95, easily could have been shared between 2-3 people. Generous amount of mussels for the price, probably about 20 in the bowl! Another option is getting all 8 small plates for only $20. That was too much food for the two of us at the time but would be a great option for two or three hungry people! My friend had the cold cuts plate and said it was quite tasty. I tried the cured ham and it was good but very salty. I look forward to returning for dinner soon. I also hear they have an excellent brunch!

    (5)

  • Nina H.

    Happy hour is such a great deal here! The view is amazing and I love the authencity of this place. French is such an exotic language that I definitely am easily won over by a simple 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir.' The ham and cheese croissants were SO amazing! They're only $2.95 too. We also ordered the Belgian fries (pomme frites) which I thought were mediocre but everything else made up for that I think. I seriously enjoyed the smoked salmon plate that was a half-off appetizer for $7. Oooh and I can't forget to mention the fruity martini that I had!!! $4 for a glass full of fruity bliss. :) I think it was infused with pomegranate, cranberry and something else? I don't really know, I could've just made that up. But it was sure damn good for the price and view and amazing atmosphere of the restaurant.

    (4)

  • Jessica K.

    First off, I really enjoyed this place and the overall atmosphere. The food was good and the Happy Hour was unbeatable. I was able to get a few appetizers and two cocktails + wine with a friend, and it was around $30... score! I took one star away though because the staff is not that great. Our server rarely checked on us and forgot to bring one of the items my friend ordered. The weird thing was the place was not crowded, so not sure why he wasn't doing a better job of waiting on us. Honestly though, the view kind of makes up for it... all in all, it's an alright place and I'll have to try it out again.

    (3)

  • Amanda I.

    If you are looking for a cozy and intimate dining experience at Pike Place Market, with a waterfront view, Maximilien is a great choice. While the food was tasty ( I ordered the tasting menu with monkfish, oysters and bread pudding), service was painfully slow, the food was served cold, and drinks were not refilled as quickly as I like. All in all, great for ambience, but not worth the price in my opinion.

    (3)

  • Donna F.

    Sat on the deck on a beautiful day. Good view of the water and the service was excellent. Food is pricey but good.

    (4)

  • Jason K.

    I was initially wary of hitting a restaurant in the heart of the busiest tourist stop in Seattle - Pike Place Market. Well you can throw out those (usually well-founded) fears with Maximilien. Lovely food, great service, decent price point, and spectacular views. My wife and I each had the three course meal and the escargot and duck confiit were superb! Brave the crows and head in...especially just before sunset.

    (4)

  • Anthony Y.

    A little bit overpriced, but the view is stunning. The quality of the food is ok. The mussel is decent, but the other foods were a bit disappointing.

    (3)

  • C C.

    This place is cramped and seating is tight, so if you have a fat boy in your group, the poor guy won't be a happy camper. The beer is not so great, so you better like wine, because that seems to be okay. The appetizers available during happy hour are average at best. There is nothing here you cannot duplicate at home. Good luck!

    (3)

  • Alvin C.

    It hurts me to rate this place 2 stars. Overall experience- Came here many times for lunch with coworkers. I decided to have my girlfriend's birthday dinner here. I usually have a blast here. The food and drinks are AMAZING but a little on the pricier side. The reason why I decided to post a low rating was because of the HORRIBLE service my party received last week by a server called "Sandra" (at least that's the name on the receipt). Our party was under 8 people. The restaurant wasn't packed (had empty tables). We were having a blast until we placed our first drink order. She came back with our order but managed to miss a couple drinks. It went slightly down hill from there. We had to constantly remind her what we ordered for drinks (....and we were the ones that were drinking). The drinks didn't take too long but managed to miss items in 4/5 orders we placed. After the entrées came, she disappeared. This was when we stopped being served and it all went downhill. We actually saw the people who took our plates more than her. We waited about 30ish mins from when our last entrée plate were taken away. A server came to fill up our water. We decided to ask him to take our order and ask where our waitress was. He couldn't give us an answer but took our order. After having no server/waiter/waitress contact for roughly 30 mins after we received our desserts (one missing dessert), she showed up with our bill and disappeared. We decided to not waste more time with the missing dessert. Because of the group size, the 18% gratuity was enforced. I DID NOT think that was worth a 10% tip service. I think this server/waitress was the worst waitress I've ever encountered (...but I still had to give her 18% tip). Maybe the reason for the HORRIBLE service was that we were all in regular clothes and not our business attire? Never had a problem with service when I went there during lunch hour. Food was still super good though....but good food is easily found in Seattle. 5 stars for super good food.... -3 stars for the service.

    (2)

  • Katie D.

    The views are amazing but the food is lacking. Go for drinks.

    (2)

  • Monica A.

    After searching Yelp for a new spot to check out for Easter brunch, I landed on Maximilien to try something new. They were offering a special 5-course menu at a reasonable price which was great. The food was excellent, but it took quite a period of time between each course. So much so that by the time our main course came around, we were so tired of sitting and waiting that we decided to pass on dessert (which is SO unlike me) just because we wanted to get up and walk around. The croissants were excellent, and there was a lot of food. Just wasn't blown away enough to entice me to come back anytime soon.

    (3)

  • Sila B.

    This is a GREAT happy hour spot. This little French joint offers great views of the sound, decent drink prices and interesting appetizers, and a fabulous outdoor patio for the summer time. The Maximilien margaritas are delicious, and try a whole bucket of beer for $15 (maybe not the best idea to try the whole bucket by yourself; remember, you're in public). The restaurant offers a variety of appetizers for $2.95 (you can try all 8 for only $20) such as tarte flambe (brie and tomatoes in a flaky pastry crust) or goat cheese to spread on toasty baguette slices. Who can say no to cheese?

    (4)

  • Randy C.

    Mixed. Quickly seated, nice views, pleasant service. Looks like a good choice if you like clams or mussels. I tried the fish soup and really hated it. Really. I could only do two bites and then pushed it aside. The soup was like a a puree of not-fresh fish. Blech. The sandwich was however quite good. I think this would be a good choice if I knew not to order the fish soup.

    (3)

  • Walt C.

    Stopped in today for a Valentine's Day lunch. Soup and appetizers were fine, but the entrees were a mixed bag: my salmon was very nicely done. However, the duck my wife ordered came out bone dry. This is surprising and disappointing for a French restaurant. That said, our server and his manager made things right: we weren't charged for the duck and were even given a complimentary dessert (both offerings much appreciated). So high marks for responsiveness to customer complaints, tempered by our disappointment over the duck and a general feeling that the food was (merely) fine but not outstanding.

    (3)

  • Unjeela G.

    For a fancy and romantic restaurant, the dinners are delicious, decently-priced, and very filling. This is a wonderful French restaurant to go for a date. I recommend the Coquille St. Jacques aux Champagne; the scallops are large, juicy, and flavorful sea medallions. I hear their happy hour is good, yummy wines! Also, once when I came here with my date, the servers had to move us to a different table because they had to make accommodations for a different group. We didn't mind, but they apologized repeatedly and gave us two glasses of wine on the house! Way to be awesome, thanks!

    (5)

  • Viet L.

    I really wanted to like this place because I had read good things about it but sadly I will not be coming back again. The food was okay, not great. What really irked me was the service. I went here for lunch with a couple of friends during summer. There were only maybe 2-3 other parties there at the time. The french waiter (male) took our orders. After about 40 min we started to notice that people all around us (including people who came in after us) got their orders and that we were still waiting for ours (we didn't order anything fancy). We finally asked the waiter (who didn't even bother coming around for a long time) and only then did we get our meals after another 15 min wait. I am pretty sure they had forgotten about our food. It turns out that my dish was incorrect. I ordered the croque madame but what came was something entirely different though I can't remember what it was. At this point I was pretty pissed and hungry so I ate some fries off of the plate. I had to flag down the waiter again to tell him that it was an incorrect order. He stood there for awhile trying to determine who it belonged to. He then took the plate and walked it over to a nearby table and gave it to another lady! The plate that I had eaten off of! He didn't even bother to walk it back to the kitchen and at least pretend that they remade it. So I had to wait another 10 min for my food to be made. It should be noticed that at no point during this ordeal did the waiter apologize. I have had better service at McDonalds. I will definitely not be coming back here. Worst. Service. Ever. The only good thing about the restaurant is the view.

    (1)

  • Melissa G.

    Had Sunday brunch here with a few friends 3 weeks ago. The view was beautiful looking out on the water on a rare sunny Seattle March day and my croque monsieur was delicious. Everyone at our table enjoyed the French atmosphere and their food. The only downside was that we were 5 minutes too late to order the basket of fresh pastries since they stop serving them at 1pm which was quite disappointing and I hope they extend this option to 2pm in the future but otherwise, a very enjoyable meal and we will visit again.

    (4)

  • Aly M.

    This place is so random. My husband and I had dinner reservations at Coterie Room and decided we'd hit Maximilien for drinks beforehand. We were so surprised to see only three tables in the (extremely tiny) bar. We were there at 6pm on a Saturday evening and each ordered a drink. I also tried to order some frites, but they only make those after 8pm. Seriously? No french fries in the bar? That seems kind of ridiculous. Instead we got the charcuterie plate, which was just okay. It came with a whopping three cornichons, which seemed more than a little stingy. The meat selections were fine (aside from the pate), but we were frustrated that our waiter wasn't able to tell us what they were. It was kind of like meat Russian roulette. The whole time we kept looking at each other and saying what a random place it was. The inside had a very nautical feel. The bar was dark and overlooking the patio that it appears is only used in the summertime, as it was full of tipped over chairs and tables (not to mention garbage). The views of the sound were lovely, I will admit, but we can go elsewhere for that.

    (2)

  • Joyce J.

    I went during Restaurant Week with 11 other friends for a birthday celebration. The table was set and ready when the party arrived so props for that. The service was not stellar, but we all got our food, so no complaints. The flavors for the dishes were rich so it was a little much after a while. The presentation was satisfactory. The dessert was pleasant enough. For a restaurant located in a touristic spot, Maximilien is really not bad. For the Restaurant Week price, the value proposition was decent. On a regular day, if you are not big on portions, I would recommend splitting entrees, so you can mix it up before the strong flavors for each of the dishes overwhelm your pallet.

    (3)

  • Laura J.

    Best Foie Gras at the most affordable price ever!

    (5)

  • Katy M.

    First the good: lovely deck with a fantastic view, charming interior, great location in the market. Everything else: meh to yuck. Service was friendly but pretty incompetent - things came out in random order and it was hard to get a server's attention. Dishes ranged from okay to disgusting - we sent the mussels back because they tasted really off (to the restaurant's credit they didn't charge us for those). I would go back but probably just for drinks, or things like a cheese tray that don't require much technique (though the cheese tray was expensive and incredibly skimpy). The upstairs space inside looked like a very romantic spot to spend happy hour as well. Don't come here expecting a great meal, and you won't be disappointed.

    (3)

  • Jeanny M.

    We went to Maximilien for their Sunday Supper. $30, and you get a choice of French soup or salad, an entree from their regular full menu, and the dessert du jour. Made reservations (though unnecessary, I needs me some OpenTable points), found parking easily (hooray for Sunday evenings), and were seated promptly near the window looking towards the water. Service was quick and attentive, though his accent was a bit hard to decipher. We both ordered the salad to start with, which was awesome! The plates were chilled (unlike the warm plates we received at crappy Cremant in March 09), and they came out within 5mins of our waiter disappearing with our order (unlike Cremant taking 45mins to give us icky salad). For entrees, the hub ordered the beef tenderloin with the foie gras add-on. The beef tenderloin by itself was $39 so you're already coming out ahead! And the foie gras was really a curiosity. It was pretty good, but not so good that we'd try it again anywhere else for any reason. I ordered the fish of the day, which was a flakey white fish with some veggies and mashed potatoes (the beef came w/ similar sides). Hub decided he wanted a glass of red with his tenderloin and so ordered a pinot noir recommended by the waiter. It was great, and just $9 a glass (2006 Domaine Valmoissine, Louis Latour). Dessert was an almond pear tart a la mode. Tasty! The check was a bit of a shock and here comes my own faux pas. When the waiter was explaining the menu earlier, and he got to 'fish of the day' which listed 'market price'....well, everyone knows market prices = $$$$$$ so stay away. But he kept pointing at it and repeating himself but the "not" of "not included" wasn't very clear. That's my fault for not asking clarification. So I thought it WAS part of the pre-fixe and why not get it, when it's normally much more (as was the tenderloin)?? So my order was actually the salad as a separate item and the fish at market price, it was nearly $60! The price we had hoped both of us would leave with. Sigh. And that's why we had to share the dessert, I thought they made an extra big one so we could share and be all romantic or something..but we actually shared the dessert that came with my hub's properly ordered pre-fixe meal. *epiphany* That was really embarrassing and the waiter handled our fluster well..he's probably used to it. We paid the check as laid out because we received exactly what was listed. But it still kind of put a damper on the evening. In sum, make reservations via OpenTable for points, stay away from market price no matter what, foie gras is just okay not worth all the drama, try the French onion soup because it's supposed to be really good. I will go back for their Happy Hour (they have a bucket of beer and you can order 8 appetizers for $20) and probably their Sunday pre-fixe once more, now that I've learned my lesson. PS: It was voted a romantic place to kiss..so we snuck a quick peck at our table with the glorious view. :)~ PPS: I had a hilarious exchange with a friend who kept saying "Max at the Market" when she really meant Matt's in the Market (whole other place). Max, Matt's..sounds kind of the same.

    (4)

  • Thu T.

    Went to Maximillien for a happy hour with my friend. Don't be deceived by the neon light outside! It actually felt pretty intimate and very classic inside. Great happy hour prices. The absinthe was good :) Mussel, baguette, butter, and belgian frites... are lovely appetizers on a decent patio.

    (4)

  • Chris H.

    Go for the $35 Sunday supper. It comes with 3 courses (salad or onion soup), choice of any main (a fish, a cassoulet, duck, filet, etc.) and then one dessert option. The restaurant is super quiet, hosts only like 10 tables but has great views of the water. The service I found to be mediocre. Unsure how to explain it, she just seemed bored. My soup was very good. My seabass was a little overcooked and was obviously under the heat lamp waiting for my friends who had filet. The bread pudding was just ok and not worth mentioning. Pro: $35 Sunday supper with choices, view Mod: VERY quiet, service Con: smell (the restuarants in this area have a nasty built-in smell)

    (3)

  • Larry R.

    My family and I used to love this place but I personally agreed with other reviewer saying over rated on the food and over priced. We've been here 4 times in like 3 year span. Each visit we've spent almost $300 w/ tip.The service is still good, but the quality of food have drastically went down hill. I hate to say but not coming back.

    (2)

  • Mario G.

    This place is off to the side in Pike's Place and we came here on the basis of a recommendation from a friend. I generally assume most places in the market would be pretty touristy, and thus low quality. Maximilien's is not that place. We sat outside on the patio, which had a great view of the Sound on an awesome, beautiful day. I ordered the lamb burger. Generally, I'm not a fan of burgers, because once you've had your first, you pretty much get the gist of what others are like. This burger was amazing. It was extremely filling and hit the spot after a long day of walking. The menu looks amazing and I probably shouldn't have gone with the burger. But, hey, I was craving it. Great place! I would definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Trip C.

    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, créme fraîche, 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.

    (4)

  • Anna W.

    I tend to get very intimidated by French restaurants, because let's face it, anything French has the propensity for nose-upturned pretension, and that's not something I like to deal with when I'm just trying to eat. When we first arrived, Maximillien gave off that familiar vibe, especially when we mentioned that we were there for happy hour. The seating situation upstairs was a little awkward, because the main room fell victim to the dreaded prom season -- awkwardly fitting tuxedos, gaudy dresses and all. The manager didn't pretend to be too nice or sympathetic towards our plight, but he did find us a table tucked away by the bar. No worries, I'd rather stare at a cabinet full of Grey Goose than a gaggle of seventeen-year-olds. Once our waiter (and subsequently, our food and drinks) arrived, all the awkwardness and intimidation were redeemed. The waiter was actually friendly and attentive (when a couple of our orders took a bit to arrive, for example, we got a free wine refill). The happy hour prices and quality also took me by surprise. I will definitely excuse all surliness for a $3 hornet of frites and $5 cocktails. The actual happy hour is pretty unheard-of, too, with few places offering such great deals at the prime dinner hour of 8pm on a Saturday. If you're looking for good food with a great view or, like us, need a good place to grab a bite before heading to the Showbox, this is definitely the place to go.

    (4)

  • Connie C.

    Go past the fish-throwers, to find the neon signs of Maximilien. Came for a friend's birthday party, we had our own little space upstairs by the bar for our group of 16. The waiter was willing to split out checks out by couples/individuals, and was timely w/food orders and service. Now, for the food. Some in the group were complaining about how expensive the menu items were (dinner, each plate is at least $25), so some people just had soup ($11!) and salad ($9). The salad was weak looking, but the soups were the biggest bowls of soup any of us had ever seen. I had the chilean sea-bass, which was EXTREMELY delicious, very impressive. All the folks who got it had HUGE cuts of fish, which was awesome, it was tender and juicy. Really good, paired with a big plate of veggies. I felt like my dish was very worth-it for $28, a nice view, in downtown Seattle. Those who ordered the duck also liked it a lot (if you're not used to having bloody duck, I suggest ordering it well-done...even at medium, it was still very pink, which I think in the U.S. we're not very used to seeing outside of steaks). All the food was great. We brought our own cake, and the restaurant charged us each $2 to have it plated... The food was great, the service was good, and we had a nice view.

    (4)

  • Natalie W.

    Eat in the bar with the good view! Outside patio really doesn't have aview. I ate lunch here and had terrible service, but liked the mussels and house salad. I feel like the inside space could be good for a date at night- would be willing to try space again... but no more service ignored solo dining! FYI's~ * Can make on line reservations- even for lunch * Happy hour- great view- tiny space

    (3)

  • Sylvia W.

    It's been several years since I've been to Maximilien and it was as good as I remembered. Even though I was there with friends for their budget friendly Happy Hour, I ordered their salade niçoise. Served NW style, it came with seared ahi tuna. I ate the whole salad, washing it down with a French Martini (vodka, cranberry juice, pineapple juice, Chambord). I later shared their 8 apps for $20 special w/the gfs and tried their moules marinière and tartine w/pate. Enjoyed the tartine enough to order my own and enjoyed it with a Stella (served in bottle). Wrapped up our meal with a Grand Marnier Soufflé. We'd selected the size for two and shared it amongst 7- it was plenitful and just right for all the food we had consumed.

    (4)

  • Elena M.

    Love, love, love this place! One of the best restaurants in Seattle. Chef Christian Potvin's creativity and talent in making scrumptious dishes is epic. Perfect for an intimate dinner, perfect for happy hour out on their deck. I will drive from Bellevue to downtown just to eat here. Can't say enough about this wonderful place.

    (5)

  • Eyzan G.

    Great experience! Officially LOVE French Food Now. I just wish they have a menu for kids. Other then that. Over all experience was amazing!

    (5)

  • Andrew F.

    The food at Maximilien is great. The view on a clear day is even better. What's not great however, is the attitude. I get that you want to be authentic and have French staff, but let's face it - Americans and French people don't exactly have the same standards of courtesy and friendliness. My girlfriend loves this place, and their lunch deal is pretty good, but by the time the meal is over, I end up feeling like we were not welcome. So yes, the mussels and steak frites are delish. No, I wouldn't waste my time there if I actually wanted to enjoy myself.

    (3)

  • Nina B.

    Amazing views! As a first time tourist to Seattle, this place was definitely a gem to enjoy a brunch at. The views were spectacular over the water. The food was pretty good as well. It's a pretty unassuming place when you see the neon signs pointing to it, but much classier when you get in and sit down. I would definitely go back here next time I'm in Seattle.

    (4)

  • Julian M.

    As my first experience with French dining, Maxmillion did not disappoint. I sampled a variety of items from the happy hour menu and each was affordable and tasty, from the Mussel Marinière (perfectly cooked in a white wine and butter sauce) to the Chicken Wings Confit (non-greasy and paired with a delicious creamy Roquefort dip). With the friendly (and French-accented) servers and excellent view of the downtown Seattle waterfront, I'll definitely be back. With an upcoming first-time trip to Paris planned for the spring, Maxmillion succeeded in making me even more excited to further explore French cuisine.

    (4)

  • Anne N.

    Day 3 of Restaurant Week. Aside from the gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, I can't say I would go out of my way to give this restaurant another try. Let's see why. Starters: The steamed mussels took 40 mins to get to our table after ordering. Portion was good but the broth was under-seasoned. Entrees: The Artic Char had a crispy skin (a plus!) but the meat was unfortunately overcooked. The better choice was the Beef Bourguignon...such a simple dish (tender chunks of beef in a "stew" made up of Burgundy red wine) but perfect on a cold autumn evening. Desserts: The assortment of cheese and fresh fruits would be perfect for those that like blue cheese, goat cheese, and sheep cheese (you get a small piece of each, along with some fig jam, almonds, half of a strawberry, and a couple of grapes). I don't...so I went for the chocolate/coffee mousse. It was mediocre, nothing to rave about. An overall "meh" experience.

    (2)

  • Alicia W.

    French cuisine + a view.

    (4)

  • Ruby W.

    Love this place!!!

    (5)

  • Jon D.

    Sacre Bleu!! Talk about swank! I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant that is exclusively FRENCH until now. And let me tell you, any French restaurant that I ever go to after this is going to have to be pretty extraordinary to top the experience that we had at Maximillen. This place has set the bar pretty high for me. Now I finally understand what all of the hype is about surrounding French food. I've gotta admit, my understanding of French culture is pretty limited at best. And probably a fair bit jaded. Let me sum it up this way: Jaques Cousteau? - the Steve Zissou of yesteryear. Gerard Depardeau? - hack. Baguettes? - why are they sticking out of EVERY grocery bag in EVERY movie I've ever seen? Napoleon? - if he were alive today, he'd probably drive a Hummer. (though he did make some fun ice cream combos...) Right about now you might be asking: "C'mon Jon, was it really that g..." To which I reply: "Shut the front door! I'm gonna stop you right there. It was that good." Seattle's got it's fair share of romantic dining spots without a doubt. But I gotta say, Maximillen's kinda got the market cornered (get it?!) on guaranteed post-dining action spots. The view from any seat in this establishment is nothing short of incredible. That is of course, if you can find the place. It is tucked away pretty good at... yup... the corner of the market. And of course, any good French restaurant is known for their food (or so I'd been told before this) and now I see why. Dear geehosafat this was good. Every bite was like Bastille Day in my mouth. Our service was pretty good (authentic Frenchmen to boot! awww-haww-haww) complete with Bonjours, Bon Appetite's, and the French 'tude that they're famous for!! (bravo I say! Bravo!!) Not the cheapest place in town but... you definitely get what you pay for with Maximillen - and that's an exceptional dining experience. Got a date you want to impress? (Or hope to later undress?) Maximillien's your spot. 4 Stars. They make the French look good and help us to remember that they make more than just fries, toast, and soup with onions in it. ;-)

    (4)

  • Katy H.

    When I had first moved to Seattle this was my first "Happy Hour" experience in the area. I was totally impressed with the prices and the quality of the food. I've actually been to Maximilien's about 8x but never outside of happy hour. So this review is specific to their happy hour... The service is good although at times it can be slow because they have a crazy happy hour rush. During the summer and warmer months you can be seated outside to look out upon the Sound. It's quite lovely! They also have great views of the Sound through windows indoors. All in all the atmosphere is nice and the service is good considering everything is rushed and packed. I recommend the cheese plate (even though it appears to be smaller and smaller each time), the salmon plate, the mussels, and everything else on the happy hour menu!

    (4)

  • Diana M.

    When I go to a more upscale restaurant, I expect the food to be at least decent. Our food was barely edible. I'm shocked to see this place has so many great reviews because I thought the food was completely vile. I ordered the Coquille Saint-Jacques - the pan seared diver scallops. They WAY overcooked them. It was like chewing on rubber. The sauce and flavoring was completely absent. I feel like I would have been better buying a bouncy ball from a 25 cent machine and making a meal out of that. It would have been the same texture. My husband had the Coulibiac de Saumon Sauce Dijonnaise - or the baked salmon with goat cheese stuffed in a puff pastry. My husband wasn't thrilled with his food and when I tried it I actually gagged. Maybe this is partly my fault - goat cheese is just awful in general and the pairing with the salmon makes it even more disgusting. But the pastry was actually burnt on the bottom as well. Despite my harsh words, I will admit that the view is gorgeous and the service was decent. But considering we went there for a food it was AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL. We don't splurge often on a nice dinner out so it made me incredibly angry we had such a poor experience. I was looking forward to a nice meal and it really soured our evening. We will never go here again.

    (1)

  • Opal D.

    Wonderful food and view. Our order took extremely long to come out, and the cooks didn't get my request for "no cheese", however, the waitress brought a salad while they remade the omelet and the food came out impressively fast the second time around. Because she was so apologetic about the wait and I had great company at the restaurant, I did not mind. I would absolutely come back here!

    (4)

  • Daina B.

    Definitely make reservations and request a seat by a window or along the edge of the patio for a great view. Food was absolutely delicious and a great way to end our trip to the PNW. I had the salmon encased in a pastry like dough and it was like heaven in my mouth. One of the best things I've ever ate. Wait staff was nice as well as the host. Bathroom is a but dingy. WOuld recommend for a nice night out.

    (4)

  • Bianca T.

    I've been here several times in the bar area. I've never actually had a full meal. That being said, I love this quaint little place! Our last visit was to kill some time whilst we were waiting for friends to show up for dinner at another restaurant down the alley. Hubs and I had drinks and the cheese plate. I don't recall what he drank (probably a G&T), but I had the French Martini. Actually, several of them!! Oh my, they are SO delicious. The cheese plate was completely yum too. It had several cheeses, bread, olives, and I think maybe some crackers. Everything, including the service at the bar, was excellent. After reading other's reviews of the actual meals (brunch sounds especially good) I'll definitely venture my way back to get the whole experience.

    (4)

  • Eimi M.

    We stumbled upon Maximilien, not knowing it was an upscale restaurant, hence, Roo and I in jeans and sneakers since that's all we packed for our trip. Yet, Carlos, our waiter treated us with the utmost care, as if we LOOKED like we were supposed to be dining there. The food was delicious and surprisingly inexpensive compared to a similar dinner in Los Angeles, which would've been double the price, at least. Roo and I ordered the foie gras, which was served two ways - seared and as a pate. It was delicious and only $20 and yes, it was quite pornographic the way Roo ate it. I should be jealous. For the entree, I ordered the venison osso bucco, which I thought was fairly good, considering the leanness of the meat. Roo ordered the Duo de Canard aux Framboises, which is duck for those non-French speakers, with MORE foie gras for a mere $34, which led to more food porn. We ended our meal with Poire Belle-Hélène. poached pear with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. It was really good, but I personally would've preferred the pear to be at least luke warm. But maybe the ice cream cooled it off already? tl;dr - Ate at an excellent French establishment for half the price of the same meal in LA.

    (4)

  • Ray V.

    I was hoping the hype would be lived up to, but unfortunately no. On our visit from Portland we found the food good, but overpriced. The staff was very friendly and on top of their game though. The view of course was outstanding. My biggest complaint, how can a full kitchen not be able to do "frites" for a 3 year old, as a retired chef, I just don't get it. There are many fine points to Maximilliens, and I wouldn't rule out visiting again, it just won't be on the top of my list.

    (3)

  • Nick C.

    5 stars for the view alone if you are lucky enough to get the right table. I had the croque Madame and sampled some of the crab sandwich. Both were delightful.

    (5)

  • Ken A.

    Stopped in for lunch with no reservations at 11:30 on black Friday. They immediately sat us downstairs at a window seat. Service was excellent. We each had a bloody mary, nice on the spice and garnished with olives, cornichons and a lemon. We started with a half dozen oyster shooters and the cheese plate. Both were good. We each chose an order of mussels for our mains. I had the Maximilien with carmelized onions, my wife had the Roquefort. We traded back and forth and both were very good. Neither of us could finish our portions. Bread for soppin' up the goodness may have filled us up prematurely. Nice lunch, huge portions and a decent price. Took a walk to the space needle to work some of it off.

    (4)

  • Jamie J.

    I'm in love. A bit a France in the heart of Seattle. Who knew? Almost every single person here speaks French. Seriously I walked in and a group of people were waiting to be seated... ALL speaking french. Having just come back from France, I felt at home right away. The menu was for sure french in every way. To express my gratitude I will review in French. La nourriture, c'était délicieux. J'ai pris le poisson, Halibut, avec des légumes et de la salade. Les légumes était génial! Le poisson était un petite peu trop sèche, mais c'était bon encore. Mon amie a pris du saumon, qui a été bourré avec du chèvre et emballé dans une pâte feuilletée. OMG. Tu ne comprends pas! Pour le dessert, j'ai pris le gourmand. C'est un dessert très français. C'est populaire la. C'est un espresso avec les petites desserts. Oh la la. Mon amie a pris le mousse au chocolat noir et blanche. C'est le meilleure chose! La service était bien aussi. La femme parlait français avec moi, et elle était très sympa. J'adore ce restaurant parce que c'est très français, et j'adore la France. You must go and soak up the culture for yourself. I forgot to mention that there is the terrace that over looks the Puget Sound. We got to watch the sunset while munching on our petite appetizer salad. It doesn't get much better folks. Voyez! Mangez! Français.

    (5)

  • Danny R.

    This place is excellent! I give the service 5 stars and the food 4.5 stars. My wife and I had the Beef Cheeks and the Scallops. As you would expect from a French restaurant, the sauces were rich, complex, and decadent. The only reason for the 0.5 star deduction on the food was that my scallops were slightly overcooked on the outside making them a little stringy. Regardless, a supurb experience!

    (5)

  • Ann M.

    Unimpressed. That sums it up the best. At least for happy hour. I agree with previous posts that the view is amazing...it is. And it is really nice that they put windows along the back wall so those who are unfortunate enough to have to face that way on a sunny day can still enjoy the light. As far as food is concerned, we left feeling kinda gross and in search of a salad. We had the oysters. Small and the champagne mignonette was just okay. We also had the fries, which were fine, but I didn't like that my only options were two different mayonnaise sauces. And finally the chicken wings. Meaty and tasted okay. I guess I just had a different expectation for this place. Seemed like the food should have been more refined instead of standard sports bar happy hour fare. Service was also, meh. Seemed like he really couldn't be bothered with us. This is in comparison to every other restaurant or happy hour we went to on our trip. There are better places to go for happy hour. We won't be back.

    (2)

  • Mitzi V.

    I would love to review the food here, but I can't because after I had made reservations for my anniversary, they denied it had ever happened. I don't like being treated like an idiot: "are you sure you have the right Maximillien? It is impossible that you made a reservation." Ugh. And that's just a small sample of the oozing superiority and attitude I got during that conversation despite my knowledge of the party that had booked the restaurant that night, the exact number of people attending that party, their anniversary rose petal offer, etc. We were ready to drop serious dough on wine and food that night, instead we went to Place Pigalle which was another disaster altogether. What's going on Pike restaurants?

    (1)

  • Lisa D.

    PHENOMENAL Happy hour. $17 bought me 2 beers and THREE plates. They have a deal $15 for a bucket(6) Kronenburg beers and you can get all 6 or 7 appetizer platters for a flat $20. definitely worth it and damn skippy, I'll be returning. Gorgeous deck views too.

    (4)

  • Theresa R.

    It was our first time and was pretty impressed. We had lunch (mid-afternoon). View was amazing (what we could see - we were stuck in the middle of the patio). Next time will ask for a "window" seat. Server was wonderful - husband had the steak, I had salmon. Only regret was I wanted more of those buttery delish potatoes. We didn't have dessert (we got some ice cream at the market). Overall great afternoon - will go back!

    (4)

  • Tom M.

    I got a chance to speak French and have the most delicious mussels, baguette and house white wine! Not a bad day in the market.

    (4)

  • Christine H.

    Happy hour here is incredible! The prices are fantastic and the food is amazing. This is where I bring out of town guests when we want some food, drinks, and one of the best views in Seattle. It is here that I found my love for Absinthe. Sadly it is horribly expensive elsewhere but only $5 for a full properly presented Absinthe on happy hour here. SO GOOD!!! :)

    (5)

  • Jason P.

    Great view of Elliot Bay, quaint ambiance, roses on the table, and french speaking waiters...this place might be a great date place when in downtown. Instead, I came here for lunch with my coworkers. My dish was well done. I had a seafood linguine with a tomato cream sauce (dont remember the french name). It was tastefully rich and filled with scallop, salmon, and mussel in every bite. At $17, the portion was satisfying for lunch. My coworkers ordered the duck confit and flatbread. Aside from the duck being on the salty side, they were satisfied. This place also has outdoor rooftop seating, which I'd imagine is beautiful on a sunny Seattle day.

    (3)

  • Yvonne D.

    So the four of us went to this restaurant to try the happy hour. It was pretty good, cheap, very decent taste. The fois gras was a bit expensive for $12 you only get a small slice, I'm a fan of fois gras but I did not like the one here. The fries was good, the chicken wings were good, the pull pork was ok, the escargot was ok... overall the taste was not bad, the price was super cheap. We got a ton of food and a $22 pitcher of sangrita and the bill was less than $100. That was very decent, the service was ok, the waitress was nice and friendly however she keep on trying to clear our table...it got kindda annoying after a while...but overall she was nice. I would come back here, and oh yeah the view was AMAZING =)

    (4)

  • ole Y.

    Went there several times. Just feel so special to have dinner in this cozy place. Food is always good, confit duck, Foie gras and so on. The view never makes you disappointed. Service is always warm. Definitely will go again.

    (4)

  • Jean Y.

    Came here for Sunday brunch with 3 friends. We didn't have a reservation, and the wait was really long. Service was not great. The wait staff walked by us several times before finally putting our names down on the waiting list. Good atmosphere. Cozy interior. Wait staff spoke French to one another which added to the "Frenchness" of the restaurant. The food was good. The brioche and croissant basket was great as a starter for sharing. Two of us ordered eggs benedict, and two of us ordered croque-madames. A tad greasy but delicious!! We also got mimosas which were decent.

    (4)

  • Daisy B.

    Sarcrebleu! How did I not know they opened a terrace at this restaurant? We had the dreamiest 14 juillet! A perfect summer evening and a perfect sunset upon the Olympics "en plein air." Confit de canard and moules frites were tasty treats. We started with a gazpacho de mer and salade aux noix. Wine flights were ample pours. I love it when I feel I'm vacationing in my own city. It wasn't hard to imagine I was on the Mediterranean. For the Fete Nationale they had a French accordion player. A block away Cafe Campagne was hosting a fete on Post Alley too. We're making this an annual tradition!

    (4)

  • Brittany S.

    Ok... so before their happy hour was a good deal. Now.. it kinda sucks. Go somewhere else for HH unless you're coming for the nice view. They've changed it so that there's 4, 6, 8, and $12 dollar items. There's also a 1 drink minimum now. At first the menu seems great, escargot, foie gras what?? But the $12 foie gras was just two slices of break with a thin slice of foie gras on top. Sad really.. although delicious The $6 pulled pork was meager.. sliced baguette with some pulled pork.. for $6 meh.. Mussels overcooked although tasty broth And the oysters weren't even completely removed from the shell... Plus the french waiter had an attitude. Blah Only thing I can say is if you want a nice view, this is your place. But don't go for happy hour, and I'm sure you'll be much better off for the regular priced menu, food-wise and service-wise

    (2)

  • LH J.

    Pretty bad service. I walked in and no one so much as glanced at me for 5 min even though the restaurant wasn't that busy. I don't understand why they weren't able to at least seat me first. Overall the food was ok: 1. The escargot was too bitter 2. The halibut was nice and moist 3. The complimentary bread was amazing 4. The souffle was very mediocre. The service was also extremely slow.

    (3)

  • Ashley P.

    My smoking hot husband brought me here last week and I was blown away. The wine was fantastic, escargot delish and the seared scallops perfect in every way. The service was great, food was phenominal and watching the sunset over the sound was perfect. It was a great night! All of this week I've been thinking of the scallops and the wine. Oh! Such a great date!! I love this restaurant. If you want to score some points with your lady, come here!

    (5)

  • Mike B.

    Lemonade 101. Warm sprite served in a wine glass you charge $4 for is not Lemonade. Way to goad us in from the hostess station. So after some warm sprite and waiting on a pretentious lazy waiter for 20 minutes, we left. Hell, I didn't even get the cheque from him, I just paid my tab to the table and left. Plenty of better places in the area with exceptional service. You can keep your tourist traffic ignorant to your lack of hospitality, we locals will stay far away.

    (1)

  • Cameron B.

    Highly recommended. We went here as part of the Urban Eats / 30 for $30 program on a Sunday evening. Since we were just wandering around the market trying to figure out where to go, we had no reservations, but were seated immediately to a table with a nice view of Elliot Bay. Since we were getting the good deals on the entrees, we started out with a reasonable priced $33 bottle of French Burgundy, which was excellent and full of flavor. For apps, we got the lobster bisque and the smoked salmon lox. Both were excellent and portions were reasonably sized for appetizers. The complementary French bread was chewy on the outside and warm and moist inside, which made an excellent sponge for the bisque. For the entrees, we ordered the crab cake, which was the size of a large hamburger patty and served on top of a bed of greens and cherry tomatoes. This was EXCELLENT and the heat of the crab cake made the tomatoes nice and warm. The second entree was a white bean soup with various meats like lamb and duck confit. It too, was amazing. For dessert, we had an almond tart and a chocolate cake type dish. A perfect end to an amazing meal. Every time I go to a French restaurant, I am always so envious of the the French and their cuisine, I am simply blow away time and time again. Maximilien is no different.

    (5)

  • John S.

    This place was recommended to me, an out of towner, by a woman that I only spoke to for a moment. Of all the places in Seattle that serve brunch, this woman thought this place was the best. It's a good thing she thought so, because I'd say it was one of the best brunches I've ever had. The interior of this French bistro is dark and comforting, and is offset by the bright views of the water and Seattle sky that stream in through the windows. The service is excellent, and the four of us that were there were in good hands throughout. We went on Mother's Day, and they still found space for us. The food was excellent. I strongly encourage you to get a basket of their fresh baked pastries and croissants to start the meal. The dough is flown in daily from France and baked on site. No wonder it was the best croissant I've had outside of Paris. I ordered an omelette with goat cheese and smoked salmon, and it was incredible. A meal like that, served in a place like that, gives you energy for the day. It is a great place, for tourists and townies alike.

    (4)

  • Merey T.

    Meh. I had a nice time here, but it was due to the company, not anything the restaurant had to offer. Sure, the view was nice, but the food was just mediocre (with the exception of the french onion soup). I ordered the foie, oysters, soup, lobster, and chocolate mousse. I'm told the Tuesday wine deal offered a decent selection for a good price, but I'm not into wine myself. Additionally, the patio furniture is very cheap and plasticy and the menus were dirty, which is unappetizing. While they can't really help it, walking through the fishy market also doesn't scream refinement.

    (2)

  • Marlyn C.

    I went again with a group of friends to celebrate a birthday. We went on Sunday to take advantage of the Sunday dinner (3 course dinner for $30). It was one of those retarded hot 90 degree days in Seattle. We sat on the patio for the breeze and it was fairly pleasant. I hate the waiters at this place. They're French and have this superior and bored attitude. They make jokes that all sound like insults. You're best off just ignoring them. The cheese and antipasto plates were beautiful and delicious. We also shared the crab cake appetizer, which was delcious- not too breaded and just the right amount of crab. Our dinner salads were also nice. Unfortunately, half the table (10 of us) ordered the lobster tail and they were overcooked. What a disappointment and shame... The dessert was okay - a sundae with chocolate syrup and almond flakes. Meh. It was a great dinner for two but a terrible experience for 10. But the waiters suck either way.

    (2)

  • Sharon K.

    I am not a seafood fan but the other stuff on their happy hour list was delicious! For girls night, my friends and I chose to order the $20 happy hour list where they gave like 5 different happy hour dishes. Tiny in portion but tasty. Although I don't like oysters and mussels, it did look tasty and my friends enjoyed it thoroughly. I particularly liked the garlic fries. The view is great from the patio but it definitely is crowded out there since they blocked off half of the place. Our server completely forgot one of our orders and the cooks turned off the fryers by then so he gave us complimentary creme brulee. Soooo good! Validated parking at the Market garage off of Western after 5pm. Just remember to have the server get your ticket stamped before you leave! This would be a nice place to go on dates - guys could easily grab a nice bouquet of flowers at the pike place market before heading in to meet his date at the restaurant haha.

    (4)

  • Christopher R.

    Psudo-French restaurant that fools the uneducated foodie who wants to experience the cooking and service of France. The views are excellent, but it goes downs quickly from there. The outdoor table and chairs are cheap lawn furniture that is uncomfortable and unstable. The silverware is cheap cafeteria style flatware. The service is no better than the average mid-service level restaurant. Real French restaurants offer table-side service and their menu offered none. We had the escargot which was good, not great and there were no slices on toasted bread served with the dish. The main dish beef tenderloin with bone marrow and foie gras was very good. The deserts were unexciting and we decided to pass as they all seems average. Overall Maximilien's was an average, typical place to eat with the view being it's best feature.

    (2)

  • Suz L.

    Best Brunch in SEA.

    (4)

  • Nina N.

    This is my kind of place, and since they have the 3 for 30 it makes it worth the trip down to pike place market. Let's say, happy hour is also worth it.... $4 french martini's.. good company.. good service..good view... and if you dare to @ $2.95 small apps, and half off the normal apps.. seriously.. my friends and I are going to be there next wednesday for girls night.. well the beginning of our girls night, so it's so the place to be..... btw if you want to try the 3 for 30 they do not participate with dine around seattle for the month of march so go directly to their website :) so my type of scene, and palate :) holllaaaa

    (5)

  • Morgan P.

    The view is good, but not spectacular as there are a bevy of much nicer sweeping view restaurants in the greater metro area. The Maximilien Margarita ($5) is a shitshow. It comes in a daiquiri glass and reminded me of Kool-Aid. The bartender is an absolute amateur. Stick with wine. Disappointing. The Jaillance, Cremant de Bordeaux, Brut Rosé ($9) was a perfect accompaniment to the meal. If you are a foodie or gourmand, you will find the menu quite interesting. I had the Duo de Canard au Poivre Vert ($27) with Fois Gras (an extra $7). First rate! My guest and I did not speak for the 20 minutes as we ate our meal. Perfectly prepared. The only downside to this place is the service. As other reviewers have noted extensively , they are really a bunch of sad clowns. I was unlucky enough to have had *Carlito* this time around as my server. Very rude, unprofessional, brash etc... i know the french are known for being rude, however in dining, rudeness is not acceptable. Go there for the food, not for fine dining or to really impress someone romantically as you will both end up being distracted by the server.

    (3)

  • Amy M.

    I don't think there was a better deck to be on in Seattle today than the one at Maxmilien's ("In The Market" seems a little gratuitous, no?). Continuing my tour de force de salad nicoise -- seattle 2009, I have to say, the salad nicoise was pretty good at M's. The tuna slices were a wee thick, but the pepper coating was more subtle than not, the size was otherwise appropriate, and it was seared perfectly. The one odd element was the presence of green bell peppers--but I still enjoyed it. my friend had fries; they were very good, and, incidentally, fried in peanut oil instead of duck fat, per the usual french restaurant practice. I enjoy the peanut oil fry much more than the duck fat fry (full disclosure, I do not eat poultry/fowl). The server was nice, and the maitre d' (with the necessary french accent) subbed in on our order when the server was elsewhere. in and out in under an hour--spectacular view all the while. Can I live on this deck?

    (4)

  • Sarah K.

    I just went here for the first time today. As a Seattle native...who never knew it was there... What is wrong here, people? The servers were all so pleasant with lovely accents ;) And they sat us very quickly for a busy lunch ON THE PATIO. I saw the view and I died. And then I came back to life again ordered the Sauvignon Semillon (Divoon, darling) and the lemon chicken croissant sandwich. A little oily, but still delicious! They let us stay forever and talk our heads off and THEN...Dessert. Mmmm. I had the tiny chocolate profiteroles. To die. And my friend had the creme brulee. We shared, we laughed, we cried, and we made it through dessert with some of our dignity inact. What a charming place, I will definitely have to come back here for date night!! Thank you, Maximillien!

    (4)

  • Kat F.

    I came to Maximilien for happy hour with friends. I'd read the rave reviews in the Seattle Times and I wasn't disappointed! HH has drink specials - $4 wines and a selection of inexpensive cocktails - as well as a list of small plates for $2.95 each. Featuring items like garlic goat cheese mousse and mussels steamed in white wine and garlic, the plates aren't particularly small and everything that we sampled was delicious. The view from the patio where we were seated was beautiful. I'd read a few things about the servers being hard to flag down or rude but our waiter was friendly and helpful. I'm hoping to come back again before winter hits!

    (4)

  • Lisa C.

    I'll be honest, I was hesitant. This place is tucked back inside Pike Place Market. You literally have to walk through the smell of fish to get to it. And I had heard all about this glorious patio - which I will admit had an amazing view, but it was mostly obscured by the large wall as well as umbrellas. I thought I had made a bad choice when I realized all the outdoor patio furniture was plastic. Lucky for me the food here is abso-f*cking-lutely amazing. I started the evening with a French 75 - it was exactly what I needed on a warm summer night. The taste was crisp with hints of citrus. Our group decided to share a dozen raw penn cove oysters. They were a nice manageable size to eat raw and were served cold with lemon and shallot vinegarette. The wine list was definitely full of french options, with some local wines, and I appreciated that most of the bottles of wine fell into the $30 to 40 a bottle price range. We shared a L'Ecole (fabulous winery) 2007 Semillon. Great summer wine. My entree blew my skirt up! I had the fish special of the day which was 2 deep sea scallops, seared, with a very light creamy mushroom sauce and sauteed mushrooms. It was accompanied by broccolini, golden beets and dauphinois gratin (potato). I'm pretty sure I could have died and gone to heaven a happy girl. I would say this meal ranks pretty high up in my best meals ever list - maybe even top 10. My dinner partners had the lamb shank, crab cake over salad and Alaskan Halibut. We were all members of the clean plate club. So all in all the food was amazing, the view great, the service good, but you're surrounded by tourists sitting on plastic patio furniture.... what's a girl to do?

    (4)

  • Heidi H.

    Nice location right in the middle of the Pike! We had a table with a view of the Puget Sound at sunset. My better half called early to make special arrangements for our anniversary. When we arrived, there were rose petals and chocolates on the table. The waiter was quick to serve us champagne as we were looking over the menu. Excellent service. Excellent food.

    (4)

  • K S.

    flippin fantastic! french duet were a bit loud though. i don't think they play every night, thankfully.

    (5)

  • Emma L.

    Great view - not so great food at very expensive prices. If you're just coming for happy hour or a drink - the view from upstairs or on the outside patio can't be beat. The service was fine. The prices were not so fine for the quality of food. Oh well, it's the market. If you're a foodie, I'd pass.

    (1)

  • Erin L.

    One of the best spots near downtown Seattle for a secluded, quiet and very reasonably priced happy hour. Arrive a little early to guarantee a good spot in the cozy upstairs bar. You'll find one of the best views of Elliott Bay. While Maimilien's offers a lovely outdoor patio with the same stunning views in the summertime, for some reason I'm most often drawn to this place on a stormy winter night. The red wine and cheese plate seem to perfectly accompany a dark gray Seattle evening spent with a couple of close friends.

    (5)

  • Wendy H.

    Apart from Dad, I've not yet met the exceptional man I'd want to take for a treat here.

    (5)

  • Jeremy M.

    This trip was a lot better then our last encounter! Upon arriving I saw the same waiter that served us last time and I completely avoided eye contact with the guy just in case he might remember me. After getting seated it turns out or neighbor sitting next to us was my sister! hahaha! What a coincident! We came here because we felt this place deserves another try and the sunday supper menu is simply too good to be true! For the price of 30 bucks you get a soup or salad, entree, and a dessert! Pretty good deal if you ask me. My girlfriend had the salad and the duck and I had the soup and beef tenderloin. The girlfriend requested her duck to be cooked well done but it came out medium rare and not neccessarily to her liking but still manage and my steak was magnificent! Very tender w/ a great combination of whipped potatoes aside from mushroom, carrots, and green bean. The finishing item would be a peach tart(?) topped with apricots and pine nuts which really tasted great! Also don't forget about the view! Besides the fact it was still a little warm outside it's still a very breath taking view right around 7:30-8:00ish, you can watch the sunset

    (4)

  • Naurry K.

    Ugh.. the only thing bad about this place is that everyone's already been here and written fantastic reviews that are all true. I can't add anything that's new or different in here. The food's fantastic. The view's incredible. The service is good (although I did encounter a little snootiness one time). It's romantic. It's settled in the iconic Pike Place Market. (Jeez.. Axel scored a hit with this one.) So dear Yelpers, I offer you this little fact: Christian of Au Bouchon and XO is now manning the culinary helm of this incredible little restaurant. Ce magnifique!!!

    (5)

  • Brenda H.

    Maximilien is quite the hidden surprise. The white-table-clothed restaurant, which is around the corner from the fish throwers, was a cute surprise. Inside the restaurant was empty... because everyone was on the patio! The first thing I noticed was that the patio has a tremendous view of Puget Sound and the set up was quite beautiful to say the least. After being seated (which I have no doubt was helped along by my friend's impeccable French) we were promptly approached by our waitress. She was quick and efficient and our drinks were empty :) Happy hour menu is full of 8 great food options, which are $2.95 each or $20 for all 8, as well as several drink choices from the usual red and white wine to the French martini to $5 absinthe (tasted like liquid good n plenty's). Overall I can say that it was quite the pleasant experience. Everything you could ask for in a happy hour/restaurant: good drinks, cheap food, and quick service! Word to the wise: Don't try to get a table until everyone coming is there. They won't seat you before the whole party arrives. *Au Revoir*

    (4)

  • K M.

    I can't get over how good their happy hour deals are - seriously good food & drink for very little moolah. I wish they had more outdoor seating available - on a nice day this place fills up fast!

    (4)

  • Flippitti N.

    We stopped here for a late lunch on 5/16/10. We were seated inside and still had a great view of the water. Our waiter appeared almost instantly to pour our water and get our drink orders. He was soft-spoken and polite. If he were really French, I couldn't tell. Before our meals arrived, we each got a small plate of crusty French bread. It tasted pretty authentic, like what you get in a Paris boulangerie. You only get one, though. If you ask for more, it's $1 for each additional piece. Frankly, that seems kinda cheap for a classy restaurant to be charging for bread by the piece. Anyway, our orders arrived rather quickly - within 15 mins - and overall, everything was delicious. My crab omelet was light and fluffy. The crab tasted fresh and there was a lot of it in the omelet. My daughter ordered the steamed mussels which came in a large pot. The mussels were also fresh. My husband's fish soup came in a very generous bowl and had just the right amount of seasonings and flavor. It looked pureed and normally he doesn't like his soup that way but he inhaled this one. For dessert, my daughter's creme brulee tasted freshly made although the caramelized sugar topping was a little too toasted for her. My husband's profiteroles au chocolat was generous enough to share and a great ending to a lovely meal. By the time we finished eating, the restaurant had emptied and the staff had started prepping for the late afternoon and evening service. We never felt rushed by our waiter and he continued to refill our water glasses and left us alone until we asked for the check. If you're visiting Pike Place, stop by Maximilien's and give it a try. It's just around the corner from the noisy fish market but you won't even hear the noise when you enter the restaurant. Overall, delicious food, great atmosphere and the view is wonderful, even inside.

    (4)

  • Debbie P.

    Great views of the water in a tucked away location behind the madness of Pike Place. I've come here several times for breakfast with friends and have yet to be disappointed. You must order the bread basket if you like freshly baked pastries as good as the bakeries in Paris. The croque monsieur is also yummy as well as their coffee.

    (4)

  • Christina L.

    love this place. i'm so glad my friend suggested it for happy hour. on a SATURDAY. it doesn't get more awesome than that, people. our server's name was JEAN and he was awesome. super friendly and helpful. joked around with us. suggested we move behind the plants to have more of a quiet area with a nicer view than where we were sitting. the prices for the food are really good. the only food item i ordered that i could've done without (not because it wasn't good, it just wasn't that much for $12) was the charcuterie plate. the french martini was only $4 and tasted really good... but was kinda weak. my boyfriend and i enjoyed the bucket of 6 kronenbourg beers more probably, as they were only $15 bucks for bucket. it's a nice light beer that goes well with the food. i had to use it to wash away the escargot aftertaste =p and did i mention the VIEW? it's got a fantastic view. we basically sat there the whole happy hour with great service from jean and ordered most of the things on the happy hour menu. i can't wait to go back =)

    (5)

  • Jerry L.

    Gave Maximilien a try for Happy Hour and you definitely want to come here early. We waited 40min before getting a table upstairs for HH. We ordered the following of the HH menu: Yes... order: French Martini Frites No..don't order this. Moules (Mussles) Tarte Flambee The views were amazing of the sun coming down over Puget Sound. This is a very romantic place to go for a dinner date.

    (4)

  • Deborah J.

    I've loved Maximillien for over a decade. The food is not cutting edge, but it's solid, and I think our waiter's French accent was pretend, but the place is so stinkin' cute, and the view is nonpariel. The water vista, the Ferris wheel, the music, the ambiance, the service....it all adds up to a pretty special evening. It's not trendy (thank goodness), so you can actually sit amongst grownups and have a decent conversation without having to yell at your table mates to be heard. As a single woman, I happily patronize places repeatedly when I'm treated respectfully, but this is also a great spot for a romantic dinner for two.

    (4)

  • Naarah H.

    LOVED this place. We showed up Friday night without a reservation and they were full. Normally I wouldn't go back, but the menu looked amazing. We made a reservation for Saturday and I am so glad we came back. The host was so polite, the server was knowledgeable about the food and wine and very professional (but not stuffy, he was friendly and funny). I loved the ambiance, it was dark and small, but cute. The food was nummy rich (melt in your mouth tenderloin and foie gras) and perfectly cooked (med. Rare).

    (5)

  • Edward C.

    I've been here a couple more times, and I just haven't been as impressed. If happy hour is busy, you probably won't get a view of the water, which is one of things that's so great about the location. And after eating some of the happy hour food multiple times, it's mainly just carbs with cheese. Which can be good, but it can also get somewhat boring. I guess what really compelled me to take off a star is the last time I went, I ordered the cheese plate, which just really was not that tasty. Too many generic creamy cheeses of the plain sort and not enough interesting, hard cheeses. And compared to other happy hours in the area, this place is no longer near the top of my list.

    (3)

  • Kelsey F.

    We returned for HH because everyone was saying that this is where it's at. No kidding. The HH menu has eight "small" plates listed, each for about $3 but you can get the full she-bang for $20. We opted for that route since we were both hungry and let's face it...coming to a general consensus was NOT going to happen. The HH menu also has a few discounted appetizers, including an assortment of cheeses and the much-loved-by-us-last-time smoked salmon, but we stuck with the small plates. You'll also find a handful of drinks on the HH menu - and by a "handful" I mean about four, plus the house red and white wines on discount. The bright side for those who enjoy a little Green Fairy - Absinthe is on the menu. For those who don't enjoy it (like me), I recommend taking someone who does like it and forcing them to order it for the little show you get. So, you say, that sounds nice...but for your $20, what did you get? -a brie and tomato tart -a salmon-cheese-spinach puff pastry -a few mini croissants stuffed with ham and cheese -steamed mussels -belgium fries with sauces -goat cheese mousse -roasted onion and swiss cheese tart -pate/mustard/cornichon tart And a helluva view. Winner of the night was the belgium fries (dude!), with a close second being the mussels (because we're suckers for those) and the least fave was the pate tart...mostly because neither of us are pate eaters. Service was top notch, drinks were great...did I mention the view? Seriously. I love this restaurant. I ADORE this restaurant. I'm angry at myself because I haven't been back in a few days and that means I'm slacking or something. Yes, it's still spendy-ish but you get what you paid for.

    (5)

  • Janice F.

    If you are ever to spend $9 on a basket of bread, do it here! The Sunday brunch was brilliant, but the highlight was definitely the croissants, brioche, and pain du chocolat ! Advertised as made in France, with real butter - baked fresh every Sunday. It was heavenly, divine, buttery, airy, flaky - as delicious as anything you'll find in a French boulangerie. The croque madame and onion soup were both very nicely done - slightly runny fried eggs on top a ham and cheese sandwich.I love how something so simple, can be so good.. A peppery cup of onion soup was the perfect antidote for the rainy morning. Service with real French waiters is a bonus!

    (4)

  • John V.

    My daughter and I had another excellent experience for dinner last night. We went on spur of the moment as they were opening, and the ambience was as good as expected and the food (sea-bass for me and a brioche for her) exemplary. Two nice touches - my daughter didn't see anything sufficiently vegetarian on the menu, so a quick consultation with the chef resulted in the vegetarian brioche with arugula side. Then, I forgot my laptop under the table, and got an email on the way home mentioning my oversight. Picking it up later, my wife and I had some wine, cheese, and dessert, watching the ferries - she was very impressed.

    (5)

  • Aubrey C.

    The best thing I can say about Maximilien is that I'm giving this place 5 stars despite living in California. I've been to Seattle a few times over the past 3-4 years, and every time I go, I have to come to Maximilien or it feels like a wasted trip, food-wise. I disagree with others who have said that the service is mediocre. I find the service perfectly fine. The waiters won't sit down and chat with you, but really, who wants that? As long as they're prompt and efficient, and give you information about dishes when you ask for it, that's all you can ask. The food here is quite good, especially for brunch. We're talking authentic French menu items, such as croque madame and things of that nature. It all tastes very savory and the best part is, you can enjoy it while looking out over the water. Which brings me to one of the best things about Maximilien -- the view. Going at sunset is especially stunning. The view plus the fact that this place is on the small side means it's a great date place. Another plus is that you can make reservations online -- a very convenient (and probably necessary, given the size of the restaurant) option.

    (5)

  • Kim K.

    Delicious breakfast, great waitstaff, very clean, decent prices, amazing view. Basket of breads and croissants were buttery and tasty! The french toast was thick and crispy, with delicious berries and heavy whipped cream. A definitely must go or repeat restaurant!

    (4)

  • Jay S.

    Trendy, crowded, hyped. But... a great view on the back deck in the summer. Makes for a fantastic afternoon drinking with friends and eating order after order of their amazing mussels with baguettes. Makes me miss summer already...

    (3)

  • Jessie P.

    Tous les garcon parlents francais!!! There is some portion of my brain that lives in France. It speaks flawless french, is very thin, gorgeous and chain smokes. It lies dormant for most of the year, but every once in a while, when placed in the proper environment, that elegant little trollop comes out to play. Maximilien certainly brought her out in full effect. The happy hour in the bar upstairs is highly suggested. Even in the midst of a torrential sunset downpour, the view of ferry boats on the sound, cocktail in hand was an absolute delight. Bring friends and take them up on the 8 appetizer for $20 offer accompanied by a bucket of beers (I have yet to determine how french it is to get a discounted bucket of anything, but the thick accents that abound in the place will assuage your fears). Fan favorites included the moules mariniere, Mini Croissant au Jambon, et encore le goat cheese and garlic mousse. Bon appetite.

    (4)

  • Alice C.

    What a great restaurant hidden in Pike Place Market. Hubby and I had a chance to go on an afternoon date today and sat in the patio enjoying the Seattle sunshine. We got the Les moules Marinière which is probably the best european style prepared mussels I have tasted. It is full of yummy butter, white wine, and minced garlic which does not over-power the mussel. Hubby got the Pacific Northwest Salad which is okay. Can't expect much out of a salad. I also snuck in a glass of French Martini. Felt a bit guilty drinking in the afternoon, but at least it is "after-noon" - I made sure I ordered the martini after 12pm. $8 for Grey Good martini. Not bad.

    (5)

  • Eric K.

    4.5 stars. You know that stress when you set up a group dinner for 6-7 people? You know how you aren't sure how many people will show up? How you wonder how the restaurant will handle the invariable change to the reservation right before the dinner and whether the service will be bad and the speed of the meal with be at a snail's pace? And on top of all of that adding the stress of no one in the group ever having gone to Maximilien, the stress of only two people in the group being people who eat out regularly and enjoy French food, and the stress of knowing these are people who don't normally spend a lot of money on food. That is the stress that was firmly resting on my shoulders as I walked into Maximilen. But the minute I passed through the doors they took the stress off of me and provided a mostly perfect meal during Seattle Restaurant Week. I had requested a view table and we got a great table upstairs right next to the windows. Our reservation was at 8:30 so we got to see the view in the light and then watch the sunset. As an all guy table we also felt less weird since we had a table of about 15 women next to us. Go Maximilien! To start I had the smoked salmon and ordered the duo of foie gras off the regular menu. The smoked salmon was incredible. A couple of the people didn't finish theirs since it wasn't fully cooked so I got to enjoy 1 1/2 portions. More for me! For $20 I was really impressed with the size of the foie gras. I preferred the seared but the guy I shared it with felt the opposite. For an entree I ended up trying everything. Personally I ordered the halibut (which was replacing the mussels dish which they were out of). I also tried the cassoulet and the lamb belly. My favorite was definitely the halibut. It wasn't as flaky as normal but that worked well and the sauce was absolutely incredible. It was definitely the best halibut I have ever had. We had been warned that the lamb belly was fatty so I didn't order it but upon trying it I felt it had just the right amount of fat. And it was so juicy I couldn't help but enjoy it. And the cassoulet was way too full of meat for me but the quality of each meat tasted great from what I had. I also loved the mashed potatoes that came with the halibut and lamb belly plates. The only real snafu during the dinner was the dessert course. Our order went in right after the table of 15 next to us and so our dessert took a very long time to come. And we found out during that time that they only had one order of the profiteroles au chocolat left so two of us had to change our orders. They did bring us an extra dessert to make up for it and the desserts were good. The issues with the dessert and the fact that the food felt a bit more heavy/rich than it needed to be are the only reasons I am giving Maximilien four stars. For now that is, I will be back.

    (4)

  • Ks K.

    We ate at the Bistro before the dining room 5:30. Awesome view. Just happened to be a clear day with views of Olympia & even a sunset. We tried croque-monsieur, corn chowder with crab, chocolate mousse, limon sparkling drink. All excellent. The croque-monsieur really stood out. There are many places that try, but here they succeed. The chocolate mousse was another star, topped with crème fraiche. Small seating area. Very bright when the sunset is coming in, but they put the shades down, they up again once it isn't so intense.

    (4)

  • Lauren M.

    My husband and I came here for a late afternoon lunch on a Saturday. The sun was out so we even sat on the patio which was really nice, but the wall is a bit high so when sitting you don't really get much of a view. The staff was great when we walked in, we had a hanging shopping bag with us and they took care of that and got it for us right away when we left too. Service during the meal was fine, but a little off - we started with one waiter, then another woman finished up without any exchange or anything. We both had mussels, my husband had the one with the cream, I had the basic one. overall, they were good. Fries were not traditional super skinny, super crispy, but well seasoned with herbs and still on the thinner side. Good, but nothing amazing. I didn't like that they give you just one small piece of baguette for dipping. I didn't ask for more and I'm sure they would have brought it but it just seems odd. I've had moule-frites quite extensively throughout France and Brussels and they always leave a bread basket so you can soak up all the goodness. The bread was good. Overall, a nice spot and the food was good enough, but nothing amazing.

    (3)

  • b b.

    The restaurant is wonderful! We were there for a 5:45 seating, they sat us early and promptly brought a menu and drinks. Our server was attentive and kind but not in your face. He seemed to get the fact that we were there to talk and have a leisurely dinner as opposed to being rushed even though we had a PRIME table. We were right next to the window with a view of the sound. It was magnificent. The food was rally good. I gave this place 4 stars instead of 5 because I ordered the special and it was $30 dollars, which in my opinion is a bit steep for 3 smaller sized sea scallops and a little arugula in the center of the plate. The scallops were cooked nicely and had a lovely lobster sauce but is a much smaller meal than I expected. .My friend ordered the sea bass which was cooked to perfection - light and buttery. I would definitely recommend going there for a special occasion dinner as it a little expensive. Or if you can, get there on a sunny day when the deck is open. They have a wonderful happy hour!

    (4)

  • Thigh C.

    My new favorite restaurant in Seattle. Easy. Ambiance, food quality and quantity, good service and reasonably priced. Topnotch. What really impressed me is that they respect your time. They don't bus your table right away. They wait for you to call them for your check. Yes, we were here on Sunday brunch. Likes: 1. Darn... what a view. 2. Servers are very professional. 3. Great Sunday brunch. We ordered Crab Cake Sandwich (good), Croissants, Brioche & Pains au Chocolat Basket (recommended), Eggs Provençal and Merguez (good), Fougasse Végétarienne (very good) and steamed mussels (wow and spectacular - you should order this). 4. Ambiance - fresh cut flowers, rustic, distressed furnitures, accordion music on the background ... Most appealing restaurant that I've been in Seattle so far. 5. We are group of 6 with no reservation and seated right away - in a very nice view. 6. This is what Sunday brunch is all about. Not too busy, not noisy and relaxing. 7. You are in Pike Place Market. What else to ask for? Definitely recommended.

    (5)

  • Nita M.

    Great happy hour! It goes till 7 and it comes with a beautiful view of the Puget Sound. It's $15 for a bucket of 6 french beers, $5 for a margarita that does have a good-i'm getting tipsy-amount of tequila in it, and $20 for a big spread of food. Granted, the service is rather on the not good side, but it's easy to ignore and then not tip as nicely as I would otherwise. The $20 for 8 small plates happy hour special was so-so. Granted, as a vegetarian I could only eat a bit of it so that's what I will review. The onion cheese toast was remarkably unremarkable & was the tiniest of the small plates (like literally 2 bites, not very shareable). I would definitely skip this unless you absolutely love the taste of caramelized onion. The tomato brie tart was alright - there was a lot of brie on it, but the brie wasn't a very good brie, and it generally lacked any other flavor. The french fries were good like all french fries are, however a little on the salty side (not a complaint of mine because i like salty food, but everyone I was with was off-put). The standout of the plates was the garlic mousse cream with crostini's...seriously SO good. Basically their mousse is a fancy way of saying "spreadable cheese" with lots & lots of garlic and herbs. Everyone else thought it was really good too, and people were adding it to their meat/fish bites to make them taste better. I would recommend ordering multiple portions of this stuff, and skipping some of the other things.

    (4)

  • Erik V.

    Happy Hour Review: Stopped by for the Saturday HH and landed a seat upstairs by the windows. Absolutely amazing view, which is certainly a big plus as other reviewer's have said. Can't say that a ton of items screamed to us off the limited menu but we enjoyed what we had: goat cheese spread, mussels, and cheese plate. Food wasn't amazing but certainly wasn't bad either. I actually really liked the goat cheese and the mussels were so-so. With the price, definitely not a bad deal all around. Added on a creme brulee from the regular menu to finish off the stop surprisingly full. Service was pretty good and our very French waiter stopped by frequently to see if he could do anything for us. Attentive without being pushy. My gf's cocktail was pretty good and the options of beer, wine, or mixed drinks on the HH menu gives a nice range of options at reasonable discounted prices. All in all, a place that we will definitely drop by if we are in the area but not a HH we will go out of our way for.

    (3)

  • Ngoc K.

    Wow, this place is pretty dang good! The service was quick, too. Wish they had more selection on the menu. I had the duck and it was FANTASTIC! We, as a group of 7, tried almost all of the appetizers and loved all of it. Would come back here again.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    Went for Restaurant Week. Romantic setting, beautiful view, comfortable and quaint. Food: I had the Mussels, Crab Cake (came with arugula and mashed potatoes) and Creme Brulee. It was delicious, there's no doubt about it, but if I had to pay regular price for these items, I don't know how happy I would've been - it was QUITE the deal for $25. And they give you bread and butter to start (thank goodness). Drinks: French 75, a Pike Place beer (something to do with Nellie?) and two glasses of wine. All fantastic. Maybe even better than the food. Service: Pretty good - I liked our waiter. He was friendly, slightly informative and on top of things. Will I be going back? That depends... will it be during Restaurant Week?

    (4)

  • Paul R.

    My wife and I don't get out much following the arrival of two children in less than two years. When we got the opportunity for brunch without kids on Mother's Day it was with little notice and Maximilien In The Market was the only French-influenced restaurant where I could get a reservation. Since breakast is normally the hardest meal to serve badly I figured any place was likely to be at least okay. Yelp reviews were generally good and the restaurant's web site had some appealing photos of great views. The restaurant was easy to find given the instructions provided via the web site. We were greeted quickly and shown to an upstairs table that, while on the inside (not against the window) still had a good view of the Olympics and since they seated us both on the same side of the table (technically two small tables pushed together) we could both enjoy the vista. Menus and water were promptly provided as well as description of the two specials of the day. We chose the basket of pastries - two croissants, a pain au chocolate, and brioche bread for nine dollars. These were brought before our main course, were hot, and were decent but not great in any way. The menu says they are made in France and baked fresh daily at the restaurant - huh? They were overdone slightly and the brioche was just plain bad - dry and tasteless. We saw lots of tables served the baked goods as well and I didn't see one of them eat the brioche. On the plus side the single-serving squeezable jam was fun, if environmentally unfriendly. I ordered one of the specials - crab-cake benedict. My wife ordered a lamb sausage and scrambled egg combination. The food took longer than expected to arrive but we were kept happy with water, a cup of coffee (which my wife said she liked), and the view. When breakfast arrived it was warm but not hot. My wife liked her meal and commented that the sausage tasted fresh and the eggs truly resembled the style we'd had in Provence years ago. My meal was passable, though unremarkable in any way. It is all too common to find Hollandaise sauce mediocre and this was no exception. On a positive note, the meal wasn't smothered in sauce. The breakast potatos were pretty much cold and slighly undercooked. The big argh!! came with the bill: the crab-cake Benedict special was twenty-four dollars! This was 50% more than the regular Benedict offerings (ham, Canadian bacon) on the menu, and the waiter hadn't mentioned the price of the crab-cake special. I certainly wouldn't have ordered it for twenty-four dollars and the breakfast wasn't worth half that price. Service was decent for the entire meal and the staff friendly. For the price just about any place would have been better or a heck of a lot better. I recommend skipping this place and if you want a great view of Puget Sound have crepes at La Cote and then drive downtown and walk the sea-front promenade to burn off a delicious meal!

    (2)

  • Tina P.

    One of my go to spots for happy hour. Fantastic small dishes at reasonable prices. Plus, who can beat the outside patio/view on a warm Seattle day? The only thing keeping me from giving this a perfect "Woohoo! As good as it gets" is the staff. I have had a few unfriendly encounters here. But nothing to gripe about since I am getting a deal with a great view and delicious food!

    (3)

  • Sonya G.

    Excellent happy hour - decent liquor and wine, but the kicker is their "$20 for all 8 appetizers" deal. My date and I left stuffed. And with delicious nibbles like mussels, goat cheese, and salmon puff pastries. The atmosphere was great, too. A man was playing the accordion right around the corner from our table on the top floor (with a great view of the water!), so there was a very authentic feel to the place. Only reason to not get 5 stars is that our waiter (while adorable and definitely French himself) forgot which appetizers we ordered, which shouldn't have been hard considering we ordered all of them.

    (4)

  • Brianna C.

    Value: 4 Service: 3 Food: 3.75 Ambiance: 5 The view! We had Christmas Eve brunch here the other day, for the first time in two years. We used to come *every* Christmas eve after shopping in the market, but have been branching out and trying other establishments for the last two years. Our family has deviated from it's Xmas eve devotion to Max's because for awhile we were not super impressed with the service and the food and wondered if, for the price point, we could find another comparable French restaurant to host our post final shopping nosh...so this was a sort of homecoming for us. Here is a rundown of my justifications for scoring each category. Value: The view, the location, the decor - for what you get, it is totally accessible both in price points and formality. You don't have to wait until you are dressed up in your opera best to get a good table. The service: We came in without a reservation as the rush was dying down but still with plenty of time for our party of five to have a bite and a glass before they closed. We got seated pretty much immediately and ordered a round of cocktails which arrived quickly and our order was taken. Everything was fine with our service except: when our meal came we asked to see the wine list again. It was halfway through our meal and after several failed attempts to flag someone down that we finally were able to order a bottle of champagne, which did come immediately after ordering. The waiter did a nice job of opening the bottle and pouring the glasses, but ran away without letting anyone see the bottle. Again, it was an effort to get anyone's attention to alert them that we wished to get a glimpse at what we were drinking. Let's talk about the food already: I had the oeufs bénédict, and while the sauce was that perfect knife's edge balance of tangy/creamy and my eggs were pillowy and poached just right: the english muffin underneath was a bit too charred. I don't shy away from a nice rustic blackening now and again dish depending, but this was just a few molecules beyond what was warranted. Not enough to send it back (because that sauce! my god, you could put it on cold cinders and be happy) but enough to make me focus on the charr-ed ness more than my palate wanted. My dining partners had the onion soup which was deemed so delicious someone else had to have a bowl: the bistec and frites which were a tad over-salted (as is easy to do when dealing with reductions); and a creme brule that was delicious but not a stand out. To sum up: the overall feel and the view that Maximilien commands of the Puget sound, enhanced by large wood framed mirrors everywhere in the restaurant really carries the day. You can probably get better french cuisine and better service elsewhere in the city, but you kind of won't care once your breath is swept away by the view and the charm. You'll still feel like you got your moneys worth in the end, even if you have to ask to see the bottle and are left wondering what the tipping point is between charred and burnt.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 10
  • Mon : 11:30 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Valet, Garage, Street, Validated
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Maximilien

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