Bistro Shirlee

Restaurant · Laurelhurst

Bistro Shirlee

Restaurant · Laurelhurst

3600 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105

Highlights

Sunny, contemporary French-leaning bistro with pastries, share plates & an extensive wine list.

3600 NE 45th St, Seattle, WA 98105 Get directions

@bistroshirlee

Reserve

@eater

"Renee Erickson’s new restaurant opened this spring in the former home of Saint Helens Cafe. The star chef amended the menu slightly, adding more local and sustainable sourcing, along with new French dishes like steak au poivre and Parisian gnocchi. While fellow titans in the industry (Tom Douglas, Ethan Stowell) contracted their Seattle portfolio, it’s worth noting that Erickson was still in expansion mode." - Eater Staff

15 Most Important Seattle Restaurant Openings of 2019

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@infatuation

"Bistro Shirlee opened in the old Saint Helens Cafe. It’s owned by the same team behind some of our favorite spots in town, like Deep Dive, The Walrus And The Carpenter, and Bateau. We wanted to love this place, too, but we found that the food is expensive and not worth the price tag. However, there are some clear hits - like smoked salmon tartines and crispy pomme frites that taste great with a cocktail. The entrees are where things start to go south - their roast chicken dish had too much cumin and the burger was far too dry. If you’re biking on the Burke-Gilman trail and happen to ride on by, you should stop in for a drink and a pile of fries in the attractive space. Otherwise, you can skip this place." - Aimee Rizzo

Bistro Shirlee Review - Laurelhurst - Seattle - The Infatuation

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@eater

"Renee Erickson’s new restaurant, Bistro Shirlee, opened last week in the former home of Saint Helens Cafe, which her restaurant group, Sea Creatures, acquired last year from Josh Henderson’s Huxley Wallace Collective. The French-leaning bistro in Laurelhurst is now open Monday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 10 p.m." - Megan Hill

Renee Erickson Debuts Bistro Shirlee in Laurelhurst - Eater Seattle

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@eater

"Restaurateur Renee Erickson is a powerhouse, but she had to start somewhere. Her origin as chef and owner of Boat Street Cafe — and the invaluable help of her mom, Shirlee — are on display at the remade Saint Helens Cafe." - Megan Hill

3 Places to Try in Seattle This Weekend - Eater Seattle

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Justin Anderson

Google

Great new spot for Renee Erickson. More casual setting for her same great food. French bistro feeling with classic northwest favorites such as fish and chips. Same old great bar program, as is featured in all of her restaurants. Best addition to this spot is the outdoor seating area!

Pranati Shrivastava

Google

Cute little french bistro beside BGT trail. Me and my husband walked in one afternoon for brunch and enjoyed brunch menu served. My hubby loved his duck confit, and I got veggie version of eggs benedict for myself with a radicchio salad. For us the ambience and freshness of the food elevated the experience .

Andrew Lee

Google

Bistro Shirlee is a great addition to the Sea Creatures group of restaurants by Renee Erickson. I visited on Mother’s Day Sunday and while the tables were all reserved, most of the bar was open. The restaurant is up a flight of stairs from the front door of the building. The restaurant includes much of the same interior design characteristics found at Erickson’s other restaurants – marble countertops, brass or other metals, and white/light blue walls. It’s inviting and classy. The waitstaff was busy but friendly. My partner and I ordered the quiche and the Shirlee burger. The quiche was very tasty – the filling was eggy, cheesy, and soft. The crust had the proper amount of butter as well. It was tough and crusty to begin with but as the liquid from the filling soaked the crust it was easier to cut. The vinegar dressing on the accompanying salad did well to cut the richness of the quiche. Overall, my favorite dish was the Shirlee burger. I had the burger at Bateau and think it was one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten. The Shirlee burger is almost basically as good. There are some slight differences. The burger bun had poppy seeds and the onions weren’t as dark brown as they were at Bateau. The patty was meaty and the cheese was nicely melted and mellow. The fries that came with the burger were excellent as well. While an $18 burger isn’t cheap, I believe it is definitely worth it. I hope to visit Renee Erickson’s other restaurants soon.

Hannelore Ohaus

Google

The menu isn't extensive but the quality of the dishes means that whatever you choose will be great. The space is bright and airy with Renee Erickson's classic, tasteful style. This is a great bunch spot, but it's popular (for good reason), so if you're in a hurry or with a big group, you might want to call ahead. There isn't a lot of parking right in front of the restaurant, but if you're willing to walk a block or two, you should have plenty of options.

Nick Sullivan

Google

Went here for valentine's day. Great spot and amazing prefix menu. Wine was excellent and would definitely go here again.

Linda McLoon

Google

Very nice food in a casual atmosphere. It is very bright and sunny in this second floor restaurant. I loved my cocktail...a riff on a gin Rickey. The chicken mousse with fig is out of this world, and it came with just the right amount of toast. The coho salmon on ratatouille was fine. The ratatouille was delicious, but the salmon was overcooked. The vanilla pot de creme was perfect..light and a great flavor. The service was impeccable!

Michael Rennaker

Google

Bistro Shirlee is a great new location from Renee Erickson. French bistro atmosphere with comforting favorites deliciously executed to perfection. Whether you'd like burger or a beautifully prepared salmon filet, the simple menu is unpretentious but exciting. Brunch is fantastic too, you should check the menu as it changes seasonally. The outdoor seating area along the Burke Gilman is perfect for summer happy hour, with a fire pit to keep you warm. The wait staff are friendly, personable, and very professional. This a fantastic neighborhood gem, and a delightful improvement over the previous tenant. I always feel so comfortable and at home when visiting Renee's restaurants, and this place does it better than any other. I can't wait to go back!

Infantile Bambino

Google

Staff: extremely professional and customer service oriented. Food: Great presentation, delicious but just be aware that portions are european sized so much smaller than typical American restaurants Drinks: A+++ Ambiance: we were seated in the upper outdoor deck which is beautiful. Not to mention the cozy fireplace to add to the views.