LJ's Bistro & Bar

Very special eatery located in Lake Stevens. Exceptional service and tasty food made for a fun night out with friends. They have a variety of unique cocktails, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Our table had the Heart & Soul, Smoked Manhattan, among others. The broccoli and chicken harissa appetizers were delicious as was the grilled bread with butter. I shared the scallops with lemon spinach risotto with a friend and another friend had the filet mignon. The dishes were cooked perfectly; both were tender and flavorful. We finished with the lemon vanilla cheesecake and apple/pear crisp with vanilla ice cream. We were celebrating two birthdays and the server put candles in the desserts for us. The last highlight was the jackalope wallpaper near the restrooms. Very cool! PS If you found this review helpful, please "heart" it. Thank you!

Amazing little place and our absolute nee favorite. The service is amazing as always the food amd menu is what is brilliant about this place. They have a fairly limited but tried and tested list of items. Their cocktails are absolutely 🔥 and their appetizers are must haves. The entre selection as mentioned before may look limited but you cant go wrong with any of them. Don't forget dessert the cheesecake 😋..

My husband and I went to have a late valentines dinner. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable, service was great as well, I believe our waitress was Jessica, very nice woman! I’ve been dreaming of the steak since we left! Highly recommend this place!

Fantastic steak house in Lake Stevens. Excellent service too! I ordered the filet mignon and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Try the cinnamon roll bread pudding, it was perfection!

Went to check this place out. It was excellent! When we ordered drinks the server told us about today's special and at the time it was a New York prime steak (My Favorite!). I was really happy to hear that. We had margaritas, and wedged salads. Both were flavorful and delicious! Then I got the special the New York strip. My date got the Halibut dinner. Both were exceptional!

I have nothing bad to say about our experience at LJs. We had a fantastic experience, from the service, to drinks and food, it was top notch. We started with the clam appetizer, they came out in the most delicious broth and were very tender and not overcooked. The bread served with the clams was so good dipped in the clam broth. For mains, we had the confit chicken and jambalaya. The chicken was so tender it wouldn't stay on the fork but had a crispy exterior. It was exquisite! The jambalaya was really good, though I chose to have the spice as a level 3/5. It was a bit much (not at all a knock on the chef or establishment, it's what I asked for) so be careful when ordering! It was super good, and the shrimp tails were removed! About time a restaurant figured out that we do t want to dive, finger first into our dish to pull shrimp tails! Desert was the lemon cheesecake. Again, no complaints, it was fantastic. All in all, it was a great stop on our way up north for the weekend and we will definitely stay be back next ti.e we are in the area!

Took my wife here for our anniversary. Absolutely exceeded my expectations! Not only was the staff attentive and friendly the food was top notch, we loved everything we ordered. Cocktails also very impressive. I highly recommend. We will be coming back!

This place is absolutely amazing. Great upscale menu, friendly service and cool atmosphere. You get what you pay for. 10/10 Update: LJ's is better than ever. Their menu has elevated even higher and you get a level of service and food quality not easily available in the area. We absolutely love LJ's!

Great local place!! Went here few times at its previous location. Incredible brunch and dinner was incredibly good. Highly recommend

Fun place to go with my friend we love the drinks and foods always good, don't love a lot on the menus my self but the ambiance for me and my friends are the reason why I go! And service is bar non some of the best! I love the fries.

We love LJ's so much! We've been there many times and we always have excellent service and the food and drinks are phenomenal! Highly Recommend!!!

The Chef's creativity is unparalleled!! The service is exceptional, and seriously wonderful. if you're looking for a delicious meal with an artistic touch & attention to detail...you want to make reservations at LJ'sBistro in Lake Stevens. The chef offers a variety of options, but in my humble opinion ask about THE special and you always want to give it a try because it's always outstanding. BRAVOOOOO!

Fabulous food, great service, quaint and relaxing dining - be sure to make a reservation they stay well seated and walk-ins are often turned away they are so bus and delicious. Great menu and they often have new featured items or custom cocktails they offer

My mother and I had the best meal ever! Great service, wonderful ambiance and did I say the food was amazing. Thank you

Went again after 5 years at the "new" location atmosphere is awesome nothing like it in lake Stevens ! Super clean, great drink options. We had the filet mignon! It was really good! 10oz $48 if I recall. Just a little salty maybe hold off on the butter they toss on top. Overall really nice spot for a nice dinner without leaving town! Service was great !

Foods and services are great for Togo. I only ordered Togo. Never sit in, so can't review anything related to that. Foods I tried are all delicious. A star taken out due to prices. I think it is on the high side comparing to many other restaurants. Recent inflation taken into account. Not sure if high prices is due to the ambient of the restaurant, etc. Can't tell cause I only ordered Togo.

Love love love LJs. It's always such a great experience. We love sitting at the bar. Andrew is FAB. If he recommends a special...do yourself a favor and just order it! Yet again, tonight his recommendation was spot on. Duck Confit with farro-based risotto and a toum. OMG amazing. And huge portion as two duck legs. Started with the most delicious Brussels sprouts (chimichurri and Mama Lils peppers!...super nice change from the also-yummy-but-can-get-anywhere balsamic Brussels sprouts) and Burrata with my fave delicata squash. Super delish. The Burrata won over the hubs but I refuse to make a choice between the two. Cocktails were en pointe as always...a couple RDMPs, a Smoked Manhattan and a Smoked Old Fashioned (perfection) and capped the night off with a couple Goodnight Beautifuls. As always, an amazing experience where we can't wait to come again! Without a doubt the best choice for an impromptu date night!

Breakfast was bomb! First time experiencing breakfast at LJ's & we loved it! We ordered the Breakfast burrito, Fried chicken and waffles and of course a side of extra crispy bacon which was all Aaaaaamazing!!! Hope you enjoy your LJ's experience!!

Another place I do not get all the local hype about. Came in to try and was informed it was reservations only and why didn't I make one. Definitely did not make me feel welcome and want to come back.

LJ's has GREAT food, drinks, and ambiance. It gets busy so reservations are recommended. Parking is also a bit difficult to find but it's definitely one of my favorite places to eat.

We moved to this area eight years ago and have always found the food scene lackluster with only one exception: LJ's! As one of the only local restaurants with an actual chef who is there almost every day, it's no surprise that their food is fantastic. Everything is delicious, but do not miss the wedge salad! The drinks are also to die for and updated seasonally, I actually dream about the Brewja-Ja. Made with poblano chilies, it is literally the most unique drink I have ever tasted. Do not miss this gem while you are in Lake Stevens!

LJ'S bistro, and bar was a pleasant experience. The service was great, and the way to provided great recommendations being this was my wife's and I first time. the burger was good. My wife wanted a little more sauce on it but that's just her being picky. The lamb shank was absolutely wonderful. the lamb meat was literally falling off the bow. It was so tender and juicy. Also, the lamb shank had a gravy that was matched perfectly. The creamy polenta, and vegetables were a perfect side for the lamb. I will definitely go back for more.

I ordered the petite tender. Hubs ordered the jambalaya. For drinks we ordered lemon drop, rmd and some fruity cocktail. For dessert we ordered the seasonal peach crumble. Steak was tender and delicious. The sides of grilled zucchini and mashed potatoes were well seasoned and taste great. Hubs jambalaya was spicy (you can adjust the level of spice... hubs likes it very spicy) Drinks were great and dessert was perfectly cooked. Great service, food was delicious and cozy ambiance. Great for a date night. Would recommend for special occasions.

The food is always amazing here! This is hands down my favorite restaurant to eat a nice and tasty meal in Lake Stevens. I've tried about everything, that isn't seasonal. Love the goat cheese and beet salad. Pasta is always a wonderful option and is typically on their fresh sheet. Brunch is always great too!!! Servers are very friendly and helpful. Simple and romantic layout, with a perfect patio for the summer.

Everything was delicious. Fries were very crispy with enough potato in the middle. All cocktails were well made. The pasta had just enough cream and the mushrooms were cooked perfectly. The steak was a beautiful medium rare. Service was wonderful. This will be our go to date night.

I battled with whether to change my review, however it will influence whether I return. If you read my other reviews you'll know how important this place is to me. But I actually walked out without ordering, and I went home. My experience was so bad that I left, in tears, and it ruined my night. When my heart was in a place to support the restaurant, by purchasing a margarita that they made to raise funds. Unfortunately, margaritas are full of carbs and I usually avoid them. When asked to replace the agave with stevia, I was judged and the answer I recieved... Oh, the stuff that's even worse for you. Wow. I didn't think my choices would be judged so outwardly and vocally. Think twice if you want to make changes here.

Me and my husband went for a late Valentine's dinner I was so so excited got my hair done etc And when we went inside it was nice lighting and nice decor Everyone was polite The food came out my husband loved his food My food was a mushroom noodle and omg I could not eat it something about the flavors were clashing! The spicy and the cream did go together in my opinion and with a drink didn't help I told the waitress and she said no problem and took the $26 off the bill I appreciate that!!! So my husband loved the duck he got! It costs a little more but nice and romantic!!!!

Ambiance especially in the bar is very romantic. We love coming on Tiki Night on Tuesdays. Food is exceptional. Bartenders make amazing drinks and are so knowledgeable and friendly. We love this place for a romantic getaway or a family meal with the kids.

Nothing has changed in the year since we last checked out this place, but we did--in the sense that we purposely came in for dinner, rather than drinks and apps. It's about time, and it was so worth it. It's still the same little dark grotto tucked in to a totally anonymous far-suburban strip mall. It's REALLY well cut off from the parking lot. In fact, even arriving after dark, we weren't sure it was open, because there was NO light coming out around any of the curtains. We walked kinda slowly toward that blackened door, and arrived just in time for the hostess to open it. A very happy couple (the wife seemed especially giddy) came out just as we stepped to the sidewalk. Two more satisfied customers tagging out, to say the least. The interior and decor are unchanged. As ever, it's all super nice without being overbearing about it in the slightest. We noted the painting-like art of martinis, manhattans, and so on framed around the dining room. The hostess and servers were all bubbly and friendly without overdoing it. In this age where places struggle to get enough staff, let alone nice and knowledgeable staff, to say nothing at all of genuinely charming staff, these guys have maxed out the good qualities in their hiring. That's saying a lot. Bone Marrow Any place that even tries this is cool with me. Theirs is awesome. Rich and tasty, with bitter greens and I believe a little onion on there. Some toast with it. Plenty of rich juices along with the rich marrow bits. Soak all that up with that toast! Now, admittedly, the places that try making a bone marrow will usually do a good job with it. Pro kitchens don't try it on a whim without knowing what they're doing...but it still makes me so happy when it's done well. Our (tiny little) faithful hound has been making happy growls at the leftover bone ever since. Bread and Butter Chewy without being crunchy on the crust. Some flour still sticking to the outside (just a little). Soft chewy crumb. It's pale white bread, but rich like a peasant bread. Plenty of flavor. Combines well with just about anything on the menu. Like, say, the bone marrow, for starters. Good butter, too. Teres Major Ordered medium rare, cooked medium rare. 8-ounce portion, $33. Mashed potatoes that are pure comfort on a plate without too much seasoning interfering with that root vegetable flavor. Tastes good alongside anything else on the fork. Easily the best steak value on the menu. Burger Ordered medium rare, cooked medium rare. Yeah, I will clap when kitchens just, you know, cook all the proteins to the right temp. Not all kitchens do. Nice chewy bun, good fresh veg, the iceberg is a solid 1/4" of crunchy lettuce. I added pickled serranos and got a clear little ember of heat and some nice pickling/vinegar flavors too. This is a good balanced burger, with a thick-ish patty, that could probably stand up to every single one of the extras listed on the menu. Those truffle fries and the dipping sauce with them were easily worth cheating on my diet. Martini She took down every note on the order perfectly and the bartender executed everything perfectly (dirty, olives, no vodka pref). It's an easy order, yeah. But some other place messed one up just a few days ago, so we were inordinately pleased with this one. A California pinot noir This bottle got the job done, no problem, and at a very good price. Perfectly happy with the wine. Forgive me for misplacing the name in my memory somewhere. 2 entrees, 2 apps, 1 cocktail, 1 bottle of wine, & tip, took us out the door at about $215. Given that we tip really well at good spots, especially when we will be back, this was fine for a truly nice dinner. Some friends just moved up a few miles from here, so it's likelier and likelier we'll be back more often. I'm pretty stoked about that. There are probably fewer than a dozen spots this nice between here and our neighborhood (30 minutes away).

A favorite of ours, have been customers since they were up at the foot of Frontier Village. If there's a date night, anniversary, or birthday this is the place we go to fill our grown up needs away from the kids. Drinks are always on point, food is delicious. Had a weird experience being there for wife's birthday and the only reason to not give 5 stars. Made reservations and asked to not be sat in center of the room. The only open spot was the first table next to hostess station. We took it anyways and the wife had her back to that area and I was facing it. An older (mid to late 50's) waitress kept leering at us. I'd look up and catch her with a face that was very unwelcoming.

Tried LJ's for lunch for the first time (done dinner previously). I am rating a 2-star mostly due to customer service. Our waiter was terrible and didn't give us any attention. Her name is Shami L (according to my receipt). I know she had a busy area to serve but she did spend a good amount of time chit-chatting with one table specifically. She had to have been talking for at least 10 minutes without looking up. Its so frustrating because we love the ambiance and food was good. I especially loved our coffee! So rich & bold. I wish I could have gotten more if our server paid us any attention. What's your deal, Shami? Anyway, she sort of ruined our mood at brunch. I don't mind coming back but hope I don't get her again. I ordered the LJ burger.. meat was good but bun was too greasy for my liking. The host was very friendly and always had a smile on her face.

Delectable menu. No reservations allowed so it can be difficult to get into but worth the wait!

20 Oz prime ribeye was great. Flavor was good, 20 oz is a lot, almost couldn't finish the whole steak. $70+ for the steak is more on the high side. Drinks were great. Neat little bistro in a Lake Stevens strip mall, kinda unexpected in a good way. Service was good. Most likely will come back again.

Delicious food every time and very tasty drinks!! Service is always friendly Definitely recommend

Yummy food and drinks! One of Lake Steven's best restaurants. Relaxing and enjoyable.

We came here with our eight month old and we were a little nervous because it's a pretty nice little place. The staff was so incredibly friendly and accommodating and it really took the stress out of going out with a little one. The food was fantastic and this restaurant is now always near the top of my list for recommendations. Love this place!

We have dined here for brunch and dinner. The food and cocktails are delicious. Service is also amazing!

Amazing food. One of the few places we can get a steak cooked properly. The service is always on point and the restaurant has a great look that can be casual or for a romantic vibe.

I came here on my birthday this year. Reservations were easy, service was top notch and my drink was delicious. I won't dock any points for the steak, it was delicious but I still think I cook the best steaks. No offense lol I'm just teasing. The fries were the best I've ever had and salad wedge was also delightful. Thanks for the great experience

Food is amazing Service is alright but not perfect The ambiance was pretty cool if you want to go with a family I recommend the steaks

LJ's is a real Lake Stevens treasure. My husband and I have been coming here for years and have never had a single complaint. The lighting is dark and moody which is something I absolutely love. It makes the restaurant experience that much more enjoyable and cozy. My go-to orders are the Truffle fries (oh my god, with the garlic aioli... to die for!!), the LJ's burger Medium rare, oh so juicy, and so flavorful! And then the Mac and cheese... just order it... you'll thank me later! Menu Prices are very fair when considering the quality of the ingredients, atmosphere, and experience! They also have a Beautiful bar with fantastic options. If you haven't been to LJ's, I suggest you check it out!

We loved LJ's! Didn't know it was going to be so packed but we were able to sign up to sit in the bar and have a drink while we waited for our seat. It was worth the wait. Our server was extremely friendly and thoughtful. Gave us her favorite options and it didn't disappoint. The pork chop was amazing and the wagyu burger was awesome as well! Pork Belly app was very nice with a good amount of adobo. I do appreciate a darker intimate setting for a date night!

This was my second time here. What a wonderful time we had. We were seated outside. No reservations and found parking with ease. Great cocktails and delicious food. This is a must try if you are in the area. $$$

This is solely a review of our takeout experience. On 1/23/24. The phone was not answered on 4 phone calls. I ordered online and that went through. We ordered: Macaroni- it was basically a small container of noodles in a watery liquid. Halibut dip- very very small portion. Smelt like the fish had gone bad. Had a large hair in it. Half wedge salad - it was the same as a crummy pizzeria salad, iceberg lettuce with some rock hard bacon bits. The house salad - I'd say it was fine but not worth the price. Side of fries - these were fantastic and really the only thing we ate. I've always had a great dine-in experience here but I will never order to go here again. $110 wasted.

Best food around. We discovered this place by word of mouth from friends over in Edmonds, we have been back 3 times in less than 2 months and will be returning Sunday for New Year's Eve. The wedge salad is incredible! A must, also the lavender lemon drop was probably the best drink we have ever had. I can't wait to try something new!

My daughter and went here for dinner and had an excellent meal. Everything was cooked well and the ingredients fresh. I had the homemade pasta with chicken and veggies and liked that the sauce wasn't heavy so the rest of the ingredients came through.

Good food and excellent service! The cocktails were good as well. We got some shared plates -- the adobo pork belly, and ahi poke. Both were good and reasonably priced. Neither were quite five-star quality, but I would order either again. The ambiance is great and I LOVE the high-back booths for two. Great spot in Lake Stevens!

Nice, dark, relaxed atmosphere and killer food (get the bone in pork chop). They have delicious & fun cocktails, too. I'm not even a big drinker but I like theirs. My wife loves their wedge salad and says no where else's is nearly as good. The service is a bit bland, but it is sufficient.

Love the gourmet and modern food here, the ambience is more than what you'd expect from Lake Stevens. Great for appetizers and dinner.

Got takeout after a busy work week at my job in Lake Stevens. Overall, the meal was delicious. The pork chop was a little dry but acceptable otherwise. My wife and I were pretty pleased with the meal. The only thing we didn't like was the desserts. We got two different desserts and they were terrible (and I'm never picky when it comes to food). Only reason for the four star, but overall we would eat here again (minus dessert) as it does look like a nice restaurant and the staff was nice.

I love LJs. And I love that it's in Lake Stevens. We need more places like this that serve great food, have good service, and a chill but slightly upscale ambience for being in suburbia USA. Beet Salad, Smoked Gouda Mac, Scallops, and Steaks are delicious.

Amazing food and service! Great ambiance and cozy setting. The wedge salad was excellent as were the Brussels sprouts and broccoli. The double cut pork chop is wonderful as is the papperdelle pasta. Can't stop there...everything is outstanding.

The brunch here is fantastic and the champagne problems is a must. I went with the biscuits and gravy, and my wife went with the chorizo style burrito. Both amazing.

Great place for special occasions! Food, cocktails and atmosphere are top notch! The double pork chop is a specialty and carefully curated.

I'm so happy Yelp added LJ's Bistro & Bar to my suggestions, because our takeout date night was dinner was DELICIOUS!! At first sight the menu seems small, but don't let that deter you as great things come in small packages! I greatly appreciate the quality of the ingredients, and attention to details given to each item we ordered. Each entree even if listed as a small plate could be served a' la carte. My husband and I really enjoyed the our selections and will return; we highly recommend!!!

Absolutely fabulous!!!!! I received a gift card for LJ's and finally was able to have dinner there this evening. We ordered the steak and blue cheese flatbread appetizer which was absolutely delicious. And then a wedge salad and a beet salad. They both were very fresh and very generous in size. Both salads were wonderful, we would definitely order these salads again! The main course was the filet mignon dinner. The steak was absolutely melt in your mouth tender and extremely tasty. It came with garlic mashed potatoes which were phenomenal and broccolini. For dessert we split the bread pudding, it also was excellent. I highly recommend this little restaurant and look forward to returning again soon.

Had the burger here , pretty amazing flavor. Far better than your average burger. Highly recommend.