Voila! Bistrot

Wanted to love this neighborhood spot, but everything was way overseasoned. The escargots were served on slices of bread that fell apart, and topped with a heaping scoop of garlic and herbs that far overpowered them. The mussels in the blue cheese broth came recommended – the broth was very thick and viscous, and way too overpowering, could barely taste the mussels through it and the combination was strange. The beef bourginon was the only delicious dish, and even then, crazy strong amounts of rosemary came through, and I’m not one to ever think there are too many herbs. The 3-course dinner is not worth the price if you add up the cost of the 3 dishes you’re ordering.

It's a small cafe styled as a French bistro. They have a good food, especially French Onion Soup and Creme Brulee (perfect texture, sweetness level, and real vanilla beans). Drinks are okay.

The food was amazing and fairly priced. The music was a little too loud for our taste, and the ambiance a little too noisy. A few dishes were unexpectedly spicy with pepper. We would've preferred that had been mentioned in the menu or by the waiter, as there was no reason to assume so (e.g., the fries had pepper, as did the onion soup) and some of us can't handle spicy food. Adding a mild option would do wonders for the menu and for our chances of returning.

The place was nice, the food was good. However, I had the French onion soup (dish I love and I've had many times before in other restaurants) and it was spicy. This dish is not traditionally spicy and the menu didn't say it was spicy. I am very sensitive to spicy food, couldn't even finish it because it really upsets my stomach. My husband tried it and it was spicy for him too. Those things should be mentioned on the menu because not everyone can have spicy food. (His fries had something spicy too)

Little French restaurant with amazing food, service and atmosphere!! And as an added bonus, they have great coffee as well

Went on a quiet Sunday. Was so pleasantly surprised by the cozy ambiance, but the food was also excellent and matched the ambiance. I had the soup of the day (a perfect leek soup) and a Niçoise salad which was enough for two or three people. My husband had a crepe which was also sizable. There was one staff member that day and she was busy but kind and attentive. They have a Wednesday special that I plan on checking out (3 course meal for 59). I strongly recommend this place for a nice date night or just to feel you’ve escaped the city.

This place should be called a modern American restaurant/cafe with outstanding service. There is absolutely nothing French about this establishment besides the original bar setting and the decor. As it changed owners through the years, the dishes kept the names, but strangled far away from any resemblance of French cuisine. Sadly, this is a common trend in our city, especially, when it comes to French cooking. Please, do visit and have a great time, but keep your expectations low.

If you’re not eating here, what are you doing?? I came in for the first time this week and the vibes were immaculate. Friendly and attentive staff, gorgeous space, and INCREDIBLE food. I will be back. Often.

Good food good service and good ambience. In summer you get to sit outdoor at the back. Their deserts must have.

We really enjoyed the duck and mussels here! The duck was a special item of the day, so hopefully you'll get to try it out. We also loved the scalloped potato's they had as a side for all our mains - that alone I would come back again.

Food was bland, hanger steak was very tough, service was lackluster and slow, space was very cold.

It's always just wonderful all the way around. The food is authentic and fabulous, as well as appropriately priced. The service was amazing as usual. We love this place.

I came here on a Sunday evening around 7pm. There was ample space but I did have a reservation for 2 just in case. The space is intimate and quiet, with an upscale vibe. Service was great and immediate. I tried the house salad and the escargot. The house salad was fresh and tasty, and the escargot was delicious! It was probably my favorite item I had. For my main course, I had the mussels La provencale, which actually was a substantial portion of mussels which was great! I enjoyed them but preferred the escargot. I got fries on the side to supplement as well. The fries were crisp and tasty. I also tried the special of the day which was a filet mignon. Great buttery rich taste on that. For dessert, I had the creme brûlée - it was excellent. Overall, I'd come here again if I'm in the area! Great spot for French cuisine.

Great service and delicious French bistro fare. A true neighborhood gem. Like a trip to Paris.

What an adorable French bistro in a quiet little neighborhood! My friend and I stopped by after seeing a piano concert nearby and weren't sure they'd seat us so close to closing time (9pm). Thankfully the owner/manager who came to see what we wanted after about 5 minutes of milling about the entrance let us sit in the front room and eventually sent the server over from somewhere else in the restaurant. It wasn't a welcoming start to our experience here and that is where the last star was dropped. Otherwise this place is absolutely adorable and transports you to a Parisian open window somewhere near Montmartre. We had designs of having delicious French desserts and that is exactly what we found here. The bread pudding is an absolute must have. It was probably my favorite bread pudding I've had in the last 5 years. The vanilla anglaise sauce was simply delightful and paired perfectly with the dish. The seasonal sorbet they had was the pineapple sorbet from Olympic Mountain Ice Cream (Shelton, WA), a sorbet you just simply must try. They make all their ice creams and sorbets with the actual ingredients in the name of the flavor so everything tastes real, and is not overly sweet as some sorbets from the store can be. We agreed that we must return for a full meal here sometime as the back patio is also very cute and it seemed like the locals come here and enjoy the space. Parking was easy to find and our server was nice and friendly. The wines we had were also quite good. No doubt we will return!

Hostess made us feel as though it was an imposition to seat us on the patio. "Patio is apparently for 4 tops only". She brought us back and there was a table for two open and ready. Waiter was very rushed the entire time. He stated he was the only server left, which explained his urgency. Last order of Lamb. Tough and overcooked. Could not use my knife because of the bone and small chop. Used my Mediterranean finger eating skills. 1 point for me! Homemade desert and coffee fantastic! Should I try again?

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

This review is not based on food at all...since we've never been able to eat here. We have been turned away now 3 times from eating although each time we've arrived prior to 845 (stated close time is 9p). The last time was the last straw and we've now completely given up. They seated the couple who came in immediately prior to us (it was 8:23p) then wouldn't seat us (party of 3) for dinner. The host (or server) said he'd be 'right back' and then 'checked with the kitchen' and they wouldn't be able to serve us as they were closing. Jumped back in the car and headed up the hill for a much better experience at Rione.

Dry overcooked food, supermarket vegetables for the price of quality fresh food. Wasted a precious night and $

We had another wonderful evening at Viola last night! The food, atmosphere and service were all just lovely! We have dinned here many times and have never had a bad experience. We actually had 3 guests from France with us a bit ago and they love it! The owner went out of his way to chat with them In French and made one of their favorite French drinks they had been missing! :-)

Been here 6-7 times and won't be back. Service has declined with each visit. Last night we were halfway through our appetizers and they asked if they could clear them since the entrees were ready. When they did bring the entrees they dropped them on the table incorrectly so we had to switch them because they had dropped and dashed without saying a word. Not our fault you or the chef didn't time the meal properly! Food was decent, but even that didn't seem as good as previous visits. We'll be looking for a new French place in Seattle.

Voila is a very quaint French Bistro restaurant that was my first meal in Seattle. The service was very friendly and very open to recommendations. I wanted to start with some traditional French Onion soup which was tasty. It was nice to know that they used traditional Gruyère Cheese. I then had their Beef Bourguignon which was the first time I had had the dish. It had an interesting flavor and not having it before, I am not able to compare it to other versions. The wine selections were nice and being with my cousin and his partner, we had a nice visit and dinner. Give it a try but call ahead for reservations to make sure you have a table.

We haven't been in a while between COVID and health issues, but it has always been one of our favorite French spots. Seattle doesn't have a large choice of French food, so Voilà! is a treat.

French food that does not disappoint. Can get busy but that's because it's good food. Great date spot for someone special.

Lovely spot!! Neighborhood French bistro with yummy cocktails and French menu. Back patio is quaint. Fave Sunday dinner.

I'm glad I finally got to try this quaint local French restaurant in Madison Valley. The food here is wonderful -- flavorful, hearty, and prepared nicely. The portions are great and the there's a ton of menu options to pick from (and they even have several daily specials). I will say, I wasn't a fan of the cocktails, felt they were limited and too spirit forward. For appetizers, I got the mussels in white wine sauce and the French onion soup. Both were decent, but not sure if I'd rave home about it. As for the entrees, I tried the classics -- Boeuf Bourguignon and Hanger Steak in shallot sauce. Now these were stellar! I especially loved the shallot sauce with the perfectly cooked medium-rare steak. The desserts were amazing! The creme brulee was executed perfectly and the ice cream filled puff pastries topped with chocolate sauce was decadent and comforting. Overall, Voila delivered a great dinner! I'd recommend this place for food and wine (but not really for cocktails).

Service and management need a course in etiquette. We have dined at this business over 40 times when not in Paris, NYC, LA, Rome, Amalfi coast, Riveira. This was one of few unique places in Madison Park/Valley, sad it has changed from a 5* to 0. Seattle has changed however their attitude borders abusive and is appalling, Non-A Bien tot.

Very cute and cozy atmosphere. Ordered the peppercorn steak tenderloin, ravioli, and asparagus. Everything was 10/10

Very cute French spot in downtown Madison park. Large windows so the indoor seating feels nice and breezy. Looks like they have a lot of patio seating but we walked in on a Sunday evening and it was totally full so sat inside. We came at a busy time so service was on slow side but server was friendly. Ordered beet salad and mussels to start. Beet salad was excellent. Such a great combo with apples, hazelnuts, cheese. Was not expecting it to be diced but it was perfect. Mussels themselves were good but broth was a little too tomato-y for me. Needed a little more creaminess/richness. Mussels weren't fishy tasting at all. I ordered the Kobe burger and husband ordered the steak frites. These were both excellent. Everything tasted high quality. Burger was the best burger I've had. The aioli and the brie and toppings were so flavorful and rich together all within a perfectly toasted bun. The steak was awesome too. Both dishes came with fries that were crispy on outside, soft on inside, nicely seasoned. Come during happy hour if you can. Many of the dinner dishes and apps were several dollars off. Ohh! And we came on a Sunday when they have 50% off wine bottles. Great deal on some nice bottles. Would love to come back and dine on the patio.

My dad always spoke so highly about this little neighborhood French spot he loves, so when I went to visit down South I had high expectations! This place is easily accessible and there is parking on side streets. It is a smaller space, but almost makes you feel like you are over in Europe. It smelled amazing walking in, so I knew it was going to be good. The servers were all excellent and very friendly and the bartender Kat knew my dad by name and was all smiles. The food was excellent. We got the Endive salad and the Bibb lettuce salad to start and both were lightly dressed but very flavorful with great nuts and cheeses mixed in. For mains I had the salmon dish, and I am a picky salmon eater and this was awesome. The lemon dill sauce went perfectly and the salmon was still a little pink, just how I like it. My dad is a massive fan of their Cassoulet and made sure to give me a bite, and I was blown away! I will be back for this dish!

This place is our long time favorite, we have been coming here for years. The food is always top notch and today's meal was great as usual. Unfortunatelly, we were rushed through our 3 course meal by the staff, constantly asking us if we were done when we still had food on our plates and were trying to slowly enjoy it. We barelly finished desert about 80 minutes into our dinner, when we were asked to leave, because the next patrons were waiting for our table. Unacceptable and unheard of, especilly for a French restaurant.

I've come here six or seven times in the last year, and each time it's been great service and a great vibe. I'm going to try and not repeat what other, better written, reviews have said about the place but this is a cozy French-cuisine restaurant in Madison Park. It has beautiful wide windows, a variety of (comfortable) seating, and typically ranges from a quiet buzz of conversation to louder (esp. when people get wine infused & enthused). Three observations that I haven't seen written about It has a sneakily well stocked bar off to the side. Anecdotally it's never full but it's six or seven high top chairs that are great for getting dinner with a friend. I say sneakily because I think everyone gravitates towards the wine, but there's a lot of cocktails too The back patio is very cool in the summer. It's on my Mount Rushmore of favorite summer patio in the Madison Park / Valley area. If they have mussels, get them!

We came in as if we don't know much about French cuisine, so it feel a bit intimidating. Overall, we had great experience: the servers were nice, attentive, and helpful; the food was delicious and excitement. They are a bit on the pricey side. It felt like people go here are mostly regular customer. We had the blue cheese mussels, soup of the days, filet mignon with smashed potato, and crème brûlée. It is definitely a night date kind of restaurant once in a while.

My all time favorite go to for the Boeuf Bourguignon! Great burger as well. The profiteroles are just TOOOOOO delicious! Always enjoy it here.

French Bistro with limited set menu in the style of Les Halles in NYC. A concentration in great charcuterie and cheese plates, steak frites and chocolate desserts featuring Noel Morogoro 68 percent from Tanzania. You'll have a blast with a group. Break out the chateauneuf de pape for this meal, you'll need it. The French paradox in action!

I tried this place for the first time recently and was very happy with the results! The mussels were amazing as well as the ravioli, and not too crazy priced for the quality. We'll definitely be coming back soon. The service was also top tier!

Celebrated a birthday at Voila last week. Dishes ordered were two different salads and onion soup for apps, skirt steak, ribeye, and beef bourginon for entrees. Dessert was the pastries with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Excellent!

Amazing place; it is likely we will be back again! It was extremely busy for Mother's Day, as expected! The food was delicious, and they made a great dairy-free version of the salmon dish for one of our party--thank you! The cappuccinos were also very lovely with dessert, great espresso-to-milk ratio. Additionally, the lime-cranberry soda water mocktail was pretty good (I usually hate mocktails because they're frequently made with about a pound of sugar, or so I assume. Voila!'s were well-balanced and did not clash with the food, though I would love to see zero-alcohol options like Joyus added at more restaurants!) Our waiter was friendly, and had zero qualms about our complete inability to pronounce anything French haha! Saying this as a picky eater who generally dislikes European fare, Voila!'s menu felt like it had great diversity in options.

We're visiting from out of town and Voila was recommended by our hosts so we came to dinner monday evening. We loved the atmosphere! I ordered the St Tropez, and my bf ordered the sazerac-the drinks were incredibly delicious and so prompt! We ordered the escargot (a first for us!) and the house salad. The escargot was so good! I wish i could have bought a bottle of the dressing on the salad, i loved it so much. For dinner my bf ordered the scallop special with black rice and i ordered the ravioli-everything was incredible. We decided to have the profiteroles for dessert and they were the absolute cherry on top of a perfect evening. Our server dennis was knowledgeable, attentive, friendly; we were so grateful for his recommendations-everyone one of them was on point. We LOVED the food, the service, couldn't have chosen a better place for dinner for our anniversary. I honestly miss this place already.

An friend and I went here for a celebratory dinner and were not disappointed. It's a tiny intimate atmosphere that likens to a French cafe. The service was top notch and no one batted an eye on a Friday night when we entered with flip flops on our newly pedicured feet. We both had cocktails, app, entree and dessert and it was worth every penny. We had picked out our choices from the what seems to be modest menu until our wait person listed off the numerous specials of the day and both of us changed our minds immediately, again not disappointed. You cannot go wrong ordering anything off the menu. Whatever you get for lunch/dinner, finish it off with the chocolate profiteroles.

Went with my husband, son and daughter-in-law. We ordered the escargot and french onion soup for our starters. The escargot came with being applied on the bread so you didn't have to work to get them out of the little circled dish. The french onion soup was very flavorful and not too chessy. The guys had steak frites and was happy that the meat was cut so nicely for them and they gave you plenty of frites. My daughter-in-law and I had the lamb chops with vegetable. The lamb chops were cooked just right! Everything looked wonderful and was so delicious that I forgot to take pictures! Which means you'll just have to go and try Voila! for yourself!

Rushed service, but the food was great (mussels/frites/salad for the seafood lover, cheese ravioli with lemon mint sauce/soup for the vegetarian). The outdoor patio was really enjoyable other than a few gnats which are common in the neighborhood. This isn't a 5-star review because of the service. The waiter made us feel rushed when we had his time, and then there were big gaps when we didn't see him at all. We skipped dessert because no one came to take our order. From the waiter's comments when we spoke up -- the issue was that the main dining room was busy and we were on the patio. We understand staffing issues nowadays and would have preferred being told the patio was closed due to staffing vs. being seated and not served well. It also didn't help that there was another party on the patio that was clearly getting white glove treatment -- maybe friends or regulars and known to the owner and/or chef. I wouldn't care except for the rushed / missing service we were experiencing. We'll give Voila another try but not if the same waiter is assigned to us. And not for a while because we ordered the only vegetarian entree option, so nothing new to try next time. PS - maybe nitpicky. At a restaurant of this price range, I expect the bread to be warmed-up - especially since it costs extra. Cold bread is not appetizing.

Nope. Not worth it. Dined here last week and felt the most discomfort I've experienced in a restaurant. The older waiter with glasses and facial hair ran around the restaurant the entire time maskless, whistling, humming, and talking aloud to himself while traveling the (small) floor of the restaurant. Luckily he was not waiting on us, but as my anxiety grew, I had to ask our waitress, a younger black woman with an accent if that man was the owner. She gave me a knowing look at what I was about to say as she said No, he is not the owner. I obviously go on to say I'm extremely uncomfortable that he is walking over me as he makes his rounds, without his mask on, forcing droplets out as he whistles and mumbles over my head. She says I know, you're not the only one who has expressed this, and I could see in her demeanor that she was uncomfortable with him herself as she said, I am really sorry, he won't wear it. I could see in her demeanor that she was also uncomfortable working around him herself. He walks by so I look at him as we are talking about him and ask him directly, why aren't you wearing a mask? He bends down in front of me I and replies "because I get tested once a week." I say that I don't know that to be true, that leaves a week of unknown status as it can change day by day. I haven't seen his vaccination status, and regardless, there is a mandate that requires it and it is making me extremely uncomfortable. He looks at me with the biggest fuck you face and says sorry you feel that way and that he will stop whistling......He does not stop whistling, talking aloud to himself, and looking over at us as we are eating our meals. Not only is it distracting and obnoxious, but it is also completely disrespectful and dangerous. The Consent and comfort of customers who have come in to dine should be the priority. Our waitress apologized for his behavior and tells us that she is going to speak with the owners as she is in agreement with us and sympathizes with our discomfort and again, we aren't the only ones who raised this issue. We understand that she can't convince this guy to do anything. We said we felt bad she had to work with him. Now, I would have left it at that, but my husband left his card at the restaurant. I run in two days later to grab it and this dude is working, SUPRISE! without a mask, running around as he was when we were in. I have to believe the owners know this at this point, especially with cameras in there. It's a shame they aren't doing anything about it. Wearing a mask as a service worker is an active mandate and should be enforced. If I go out to eat, I take comfort in masks being worn as strangers move around me and I do the same for others. I will not be going to cramped places like this once the mandate is lifted. It is reasonable for my expectation anywhere I dine it, to enforce the mandate and for customers to decide we don't want to be served by or around anyone who disregards that. That is someone who moves about their world unsafely and puts others at risk. BTW vaccination does not protect from Omicron and some people don't have the luxury of missing work and isolating at home when they catch Covid. DO BETTER.

Fantastic French restaurant in Madison Valley. We had our beat holiday party dinners this year and it was a huge hit! Food is always excellent and the atmosphere is amazing! So lucky to have this in our neighborhood!

This was a first for my entire brood to be together for dinner after a long 2 year COVID hiatus. We definitely loved the ambiance of the place. It was certainly nice and quiet after 7:30 pm on a Saturday night. We enjoyed our meal albeit the Onglet A L'echalote et frites was a bit chewy. Hubby and I suspect that it was cut along the grain of the meat vs across or perpendicular to the grain of the steak. There's that, or the steak knives need to be sharpened. The staff was accommodating and on par, especially for a group of 8 adults. The steaks were not cooked per request, which could be improved upon. A gratuity of 20% was already added to our bill. Overall, we will be back again.

Food was amazing and Awesome atmosphere. Terrible experience with staff could definitely tell they need some work with customer interaction multiple times felt very uncomfortable with experience if you're ok with just good food this is you're place but other than that wouldn't recommend for the quality of service.

Sunday, early evening, after spending 8 years of our life in Paris, we crave for some real French food. Voilà! Bistrot menu sounds answering our craving and we make a reservation on the spot. The disappointment starts at the entrance. Even though only two tables were occupied, the hostess direct us to the worst table in the room. We politely asked to move to another table and it took a while and some arguments before they reluctantly move us to none of the tables of our choice. Needless to say, most tables which could have been our pick stayed empty till we left after dinner. So unprofessional and certainly enough for us to never return. The food? Other than the name, not really French or bistro flavors. "La petite difference..."

It's rare for me to visit a restaurant twice unless if it is good. Outstanding wines. Each dish has an unbelievable flavor. The atmosphere is great. The restaurant is situated in a wonderful old building whose character has been preserved. Plenty of great food options on the menu. Chef Laurent has created a warm and unique space with food that is fresh and exciting. The service is outstanding. Great staff and food. Thank you for seating us without a reservation! I will definitely go again.

I have been coming to this restaurant, for literally decades. Hadn't been for several years, as I moved out of the neighborhood...but they remain spot on. All new staff, (not unexpected with the pandemic), and perhaps not quite as attentive as the old regulars, but still excellent food and good service. Highly recommend.

This is one of best neighborhood restaurants in Seattle. The owner, Laurent is often in the kitchen or dining room greeting guests. A modest man that is a talented chef. This is an exceptionally good restaurant.

Had dinner here to celebrate Bastille Day - food was delicious, wine was crisp, service was excellent and I was just overall very impressed. Their restaurant is on the smaller size, but allows for intimate dinners and great conversation.

The beef was really good. The pork was a little of oily. But the taste was really good as the meat is really soft. But the most delicious one is the dessert. The ice cream with the chocolate is the best one I've ever tasted. The chocolate is not too sweet, just right there. But the lemon tart was a little bit sweet for me.

I made a reservation for two for my partner's birthday today, and the service was excellent. Ashley M made us feel right at home on the patio, was conversational and made an excellent wine recommendation. The salmon, as well as the steak were delicious, and she even surprised my partner with crème brûlée for his birthday. We will be coming back and highly recommend this spot.

This place has a cozy atmosphere with friendly service. They were fairly busy on a Friday night, but happily seated us at the bar even though we did not have a reservation. Located in the Madison Valley neighborhood this a great neighborhood French bistro.

Recently came here while on a trip to Seattle and WOW! I was looking for small/intimate dinner places to take my bf for his bday dinner and this place was right by our air b nb. It was perfect for the two of us to indulge in such tasteful food (the steak and ravioli left us in awe). The dessert was also delicious and by far the best crème brûlée I've ever had! The drinks were so good and pricing was very much appropriate. Would def come back here when I find myself in Seattle again :)

Well, this is a cute place for some good food. I would not recommend going here if you are in a hurry, but if you have time for a nice laid back meal go for it! They are not afraid of their acids here - strong balsamic on many of the dishes we ordered. Tomato salad, beef Burgundy, roasted pork chops were all delicious. I ordered the carrot and cilantro soup, and the pan seared scallops. The scallops were probably my one mistake - they were just okay. I told my friend the next day, and he said he would never recommend the seafood here, but everything else is good - he's a regular, so I'm thinking he might be right. Going back tomorrow for dinner - thinking about going for the escargot, I'll report back.

I have been there twice since New Year's Eve (2019), the customer service, flavor, and quality of the food are excellent.