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- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
271 reviews for Chez Shea
Review Highlights
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"Duck & Foie Gras Pate: Standard pate plate." In 37 reviews -
"This place is a very hidden in the pike place market." In 33 reviews -
"Dessert - pineapple basil sorbet - so light and refreshing." In 9 reviews
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271 reviews in English
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Review from Tracy Z.
Seattle, WA
5/7/2012
We tried Shea Chez on Seattle Restaurant Week, and all 4 of us was so pleased with the food and services. I knew I was overdue for a good review for this place, but cannot believe that by the time I get to write the review, it's already closed down.
It definitely made awesome memories of fine French food for me. It's definitely one of its kind!!!
I am writing this now to show my support, they deserve a 5 star on every category!!! Hope the owners will open another one just as good :) -
Review from Tom B.
This week is the last week for Chez Shea, and it's hard for me to believe that last night was my first time here. I've been meaning to come here for so, so, so long, and now here they are on their way out. It's another Seattle landmark gone; we lose Le Gourmand this year as well. It's like seeing the Kingdome come down (OK, that was for the better), or Elliott Bay Book Company give up on Pioneer Square (OK, not a total loss by any means), or great old clubs like the OK Hotel, the Fenix, or the 211 pack it in. Yeah, that feels more analogous. This is another institution that won't be around for us to enjoy, and that's a shame.
When I was going to the U, lots of my friends worked restaurant, like a lot of our friends did in college. Almost universally, when asked where they would go for a great meal in a place that got everything right, they virtually always all said Chez Shea. It was handed down as received wisdom by their veteran co-workers in the industry, who often couldn't all agree on much of anything. But pretty much everybody agreed that this was a place for wonderful dining, with everything in place from service and decor to kitchen and bar.
As I've grown older, tried tons of places, and established my tastes through my own experiences, I've come to realize that this kind of polished bistro dining is my first choice as well, at least when I feel like doing something a little fancier. You can glossier places in much nicer buildings than Chez Shea, but it's hard to imagine a better setting. Back in college, I always figured when I got out, got a job, and started going out to eat with people, this place would just be a given. But I got so hung up on trying new places that I never did get around to trying this place when Sandy owned it, and only just now. So I never really grasped just why this one's probably the best of the bunch.
First of all, the setting: the setting no other place has, aside from Matt's. You sneak up an unobtrusive staircase from a busy sidewalk, automatically feeling a bit more urbane than many Seattle entrances make you feel. Zigzag your way up the stairs and down the hall, and enter through a cozy, chattery bar area with tasteful, evocative art and beautifully subdued, unpretentious decor. Everything feels welcoming, almost homey, and the service is friendly and puts you at ease instantly.
Through to the dining room, you find simple tables and chairs and sparkling white tablecloths set tidily. More important, you find the iconic bank of swiveling warehouse windows framing a view of the bay, West Seattle, and the Olympics. You're in a secret spot, with a secret view of a vista you take for granted, but seeing it here forces you to take it all in again for the first time. Turn to the left and the pink of the Public Market sign is loud enough to knock you down, sitting right there in your face. Sunsets here are yours, no-one else's. Drink them in.
The table service is cheerful, eminently prepared, and delighted to share the treats from the larder with all comers. A few wonderful beers from a perfectly edited list; a great sheet of reds and whites by the bottle or the glass, a card with custom cocktails, as well as all the usual suspects. They get the most out of their available real estate, and the same goes for the food. We made a pretty good dent in the bar stock last night, and did the same to the kitchen.
Everything here is prepared with exacting attention to detail, and a cleanliness and directness to the aesthetic that affects everything from ingredients to seasonings to plating. They pick the feature of the dish, season it appropriately, set it in the middle of the correct plate without wasting a lot of time showing off the crockery, and then they put it in front of you. Expertly executed food that does not call undue attention to itself...this is what eating a great meal is. They don't junk up a pint of cream with five vegetable reductions and ten seasonings and pour that over your $15 piece of fish or beef and then triple the price. They give the dish what it needs.
This applied to everything we tried--mushroom/leek/gruyere tart, escargots, oysters on the half shell with two different fresh mignonettes, ahi crudo (magnificent), rockfish, scallops, frenched rack of lamb, flourless chocolate cake, meyer-lemon baked alaska, and creme brulee with fresh blackberries. We didn't even try everything we wanted to, either. Out of stomach by then.
Saying goodbye to this place for me personally means saying goodbye to an experience that always served as an idea of what would be a mark of arrival into adulthood. From those broke college days when it was in just a vision of the future, through the years learning to appreciate the skill and effort required to do what they do, until now, and it's gone. But I still love you, baby. -
Review from Danielle F.
Seattle, WA
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Everything was absolutely delicious and the restaurant itself was charming and romantic. The restaurant sits perched just above Pike Place Market, so you can look down into the market if you have a window table. The lighting, decor, high ceilings, all created a cozy, romantic atmosphere.
The food itself was all fantastic. Best steak au poivre I've ever had. The onion and mushroom tart was to die for, as was the potato gnocchi. Suprisingly, the pineapple basil sorbet beat the pants off of the creme brulee, which I had high hopes for.
Service, etc. was all impeccable as well. I highly recommend this place for a special night out. -
Review from Kathy A.
This was definitely very close to five stars. There were just a few small cons that kept me from giving it a perfect review.
I was super excited to try out Chez Shea and I recently dined here for Seattle Restaurant Week. You know the drill 3 courses for $28. Such a great deal. On top of that Chez Shea had a special that was 2 glasses of wine for an additional $15.
To start the ambiance here is impeccable. You really feel like you are in Europe. The restaurant is tucked in a intimate space upstairs from the Pike Place Market. I was lucky to dine here on a lovely warm evening so they had the windows wide open. It is on the small size so getting a reservation at the exact time can be a little tough, but far from impossible. The staff here is incredibly attentive and really sweet.
To start we tried two of the different options of appetizers from the SRW menu. The Pan Sauteed Calamari and the Gruyere and Mushroom Tart. Both were excellent, but I really enjoyed the calamari dish. There were large succulent pieces of the meat and the sauce that accompanied it was awesome.
For entrees we tried three different options. I personally ordered the salmon, and my two dining partners had the Bouillabaisse and the Strip Steak. I definitely had the best entree of the three. The Bouillabaisse was very good, but the portion size was a joke. Our server said it was a good sized dish but there was very little sauce and only a few meager pieces of fish and shellfish. The steak dish was just okay. They put WAY too much pepper on the steak so all you could taste was that and the accompanying sides of mashed potatoes and veggies were nothing special.
For dessert we had the creme brulee, chocolate mousse, and pineapple basil sorbet. The creme brulee was delicious and my favorite, but the sorbet was also very good and quite refreshing. The creme brulee came with a small biscotti, but it was tasteless and the sorbet had two little butter cookies with it which were pretty good. I personally didn't care for the chocolate mousse.
All in all it was a good meal and I would definitely recommend Chez Shea and I hope to return myself. I will mention they do charge for bread, which I've never been a fan of since I am a BREAD FANATIC!Listed in: Restaurant Weeks
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Review from Amanda M.
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
We had the most perfect dining experience at Chez Shea this past winter. We couldn't have picked a better place for a romantic anniversary dinner! From the moment we walked in and the hostess took my coat to the moment we left and were presented with house-made chocolate truffles on our way out as a nod to our special occasion, the evening was simply amazing.
Our server skillfully struck a balance between tending our every need and yet not hovering. The service was some of the best I've seen.
And the food! Oh, my. The escargot was phenomenal. The house salad was excellent, with a perfect amount of flavorful dressing. My scallops were tender and perfectly cooked, with a wonderful combination of textures and flavors in the accompanying sides (featuring lentils, yum!). Not one thing on my plate went uneaten - it was a perfect portion, the entire dish perfectly planned and executed. My boyfriend loved his pork loin and there was nary a crumb left on his plate, either.
My heart sank when I read the news this week that Chez Shea will soon be shutting its doors. Seattle will lose a true gem in fine dining. I'm glad we were able to enjoy such a memorable dinner before we missed the chance - I hope you are, too! -
Review from Linda T.
4/17/2012
I made reservations a month in advance to dine here for Restaurant Week. I loved the atmosphere here and the views of the Market and Puget Sound. Definitely a great date night spot. We had a group of 4 so we got everything on the Restaurant Week menu and shared our plates across the table. Everything was delicious, but my absolute faves were:
Appetizer: gruyere, spring onion, and mushroom tart
Entree: pesto gnocchi
Dessert: creme brulee
Other notable items were the escargot which were very tender and nicely served without a shell. The seasonal sorbet of the day was a pineapple basil flavor that sounds odd but was actually super delicious and refreshing. I'd love to come back here again to explore the rest of their menu. -
Review from Diana C.
Food is good, but not great, the menu is interesting and I'd like to go back to try some other things, but I'm not sure if I will go back. Staff gave decent service but nothing outstanding.
I had the Beef Tartare to start which was best part of the meal. I also got the organic salad as a supplement to share with my bf. He got something else that he didn't enjoy as much ( i don't remember to be honest).
For the entree he got the Wagyu Beef (Kobe beef) and it was far too chewy to have been Kobe in my opinion. I had the pork loin and while it was okay, it wasn't as good as I would have hoped.
For dessert i had the basil pineapple sorbet which was very refreshing and would be a great summer dessert. My bf had the creme brulee which he enjoyed.
I would say that we had a good time, but it wasn't all that special. The only real outstanding part was the little Asian lady (I think she may have been the owner) that came by and asked us how we were doing and if we needed anything. The decor is cute and the space is nice, but I didn't think it really lived up to all the hype I've heard. I'll have to say it's a solid 3.5. With better service and a slight tweak on the dishes I think it could be a solid 4 or 5 star establishment. For the prices they charge I don't know if I'd go back unless it was for another "Dine around Seattle" event. -
Review from Benjamin L.
Seattle, WA
3/28/2012
We celebrated my wife's birthday here. We each ordered the 7 course taster menu with 5 wine pairing. It was fantastic. I'm not normally a french food kind of guy (read my other reviews, they all bars and Chinese food), but the experience was really a treat. Each course was a surprise and a delight, it brought a degree of excitement and anticipation back to dining. Add in the expert wine pairing with the food, and that's the icing on top. I also learned that I like foie gras. It was buttery, meaty and the surprise of the dinner.
Atmosphere and service was top notch, we had a great view of the bay. Not enough good things to say about this place. -
Review from Cheryl S.
Bellevue, WA
4/17/2012
Closing after 30 years!
Bummer
Get their quick
http://blog.seattlepi.... -
Review from Susie O.
San Jose, CA
4/2/2012
Magnifique! Delicieux!
What a beautiful dining experience we had from start to finish.
Bf and I were able to score a last min reservation at 5:30pm Sat night. We were able to find the restaurant b/c I noticed the half round shape of the the windows from the Yelp pics. Its on the 2nd floor of the flower shop at the corner of Pike & 1st.
I cannot sing enough praises for this restaurant. Great location, beautiful view, wonderful service and....the food is FANTASTIC.
We were seated at the window and dined just as the sun was slowly setting. The restaurant took on this soft dusky glow..it was incredibly romantic.
Standouts:
- Steamed Clams: Incredible. My bf ordered this as his starter and then immediately ordered another. The marinade was a perfect harmony of white wine, garlic and butter. Divine.
- Gigandes White Bean & Micro Greens: Over-the-top delicious. Apparently this item is new to their menu..you must try it. I think this is one of the best salads I have ever had. Again, PERFECT balance of flavors & ingredients and the white beans were a delicious compliment.
- Seabass: The seabass was cooked to absolute perfection. It honestly could not have been cooked any better. Award winning. Slightly crisp outside with the most tender, meaty, flakey fish falling apart on your fork. The subtle seasoning highlighted the seabass flavor without overwhelming.
Less is more here. Chez Shea uses such simple ingredients but marries them together to create outstanding dishes.
Bf and I almost made an impromptu visit the next day while at Pike's Market to order another round of steamed clams.
Merci boucoup for the lovely evening, Chez Shea. We won't soon forget you and hope to be back one day to visit you again.
Merveilleux! -
Review from lauren s.
Seattle, WA
3/22/2012
Made a reservation for Dine Around Seattle and my husband and i met here after work. We ate early, at 5:30. The restaurant was not 1/2 full when we came, but was full when we left. Really lovely atmosphere, and really good service, if a touch overly eager on the part of the water filler-uppers. Also slightly annoying that they charge for bread that's just a baguette (not a bad baguette, but nothing fancy).
I had the leek and camembert tart and Chris ordered the soup of the day, which was a creamy sunchoke bisque. My tart was good, but the soup was amaaazing. We both enjoyed our entrees (asparagus & candied meyer lemon risotto for me, Wagyu steak for him), and i've never met a dessert i didn't like. The risotto was really good, and I loved the contrast of the toasted nuts with the soft boiled egg. I only wish the egg had been warmer, but that can't be helped I suppose since they cool as soon as they're cut.
We almost always order crème brûlée when it's on the menu and this was one of the best - extra thick crust of sugar, cool custardy inside. The chocolate mousse wasn't bad either! It was rich, but not overly so and really really smooth.
We enjoyed our meal, had good service, and would come back here again. -
Review from Melinda M.
Seattle, WA
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Chez Shea is one of those hidden gems in the market--it makes you feel like you're in on a secret. Tucked away upstairs next to Matt's, it's a trick to find if you don't know where you're going. The ambiance is cozy old market with a touch of class: big arched windows lit by the neon pink market sign, sunset peeking from behind the neighboring buildings.
I went for the first time during Dine Around Seattle and it was a great way to try out their menu. Every dish was well executed and beautifully presented. The tuna crudo starter was the star, with a fresh and interesting mix of flavors perfectly complementing the fish. The escargots were a buttery, garlicky treat--sort of what you expect if you're having them. I had the scallops for an entree and they were perfectly cooked and delicately flavored--but the Wagyu beef was better. The service was attentive, never rushed, and we felt well taken care of.
I'll be back and am looking forward to popping in for happy hour sometime. -
Review from Lisa F.
Los Angeles, CA
3/7/2012
This place has too much hype. They would not give us reservations for two even though I began calling a week in advance. We get there and there are tables sitting empty in the dining room. We got stuck sitting at the bar that reminded me of a local pub. I even had my Christian Louboutin's on which pissed me off. The bartender only had the two of us, a three top and a two top. He suffered from serious head-up-ass, was slow and made ME want to fire him. Zero personality as well.
Ordered two appetizers and entrees. The food reminds me of every other restaurant in Seattle that has been around for 20 years and has not 'refreshed' itself. Definately no thinking outside the box with the food.
Meh. had better. will not be back. -
Review from Lisa C.
Seattle, WA
3/25/2012
Tonight my father and I ate from the Dine Around Seattle menu. Other people have commented on the excellent food. It was delicious (beef tartare and dungeness bisque to start; scallops [perfectly executed--hard to do] and pork loin for dinner; pineapple basil sorbet and creme brulee).
What made the biggest impression on me was the service. I worked as a server for 3 years, which makes me more aware of the invisible gestures that build a wonderful experience. We were treated excellently, even though we spent what's definitely on the low end of a typical table here. Our server was kind, knowledgeable, and graceful. The side of quality bread was only a few dollars.
We knew walking in that all the tables were booked, and had planned on eating at the bar. It was nearly empty at the time of opening, though, and we were given a table near the window instead. They only asked that we eat "quickly" (1 1/2 hours!) so they could honor the table's reservation.
It was a special father-daughter day for us. Thanks for topping it off perfectly, Chez Shea!
PS. Pineapple Basil is a beautiful, beautiful thing. -
Review from Victoria C.
Rowland Heights, CA
4/24/2012
This place is a ltitle hard to find if you're from out of town. It's on the 2nd floor next to Pike Market. The ambiance wasn't as nice as I had previously thought or saw in pictures. But the food more than makes up for that. The different foods had such wonderful flavors, with each ingredient contributing just a little bit to the overall taste. Nothing over powering but just enough. I wish the menu has more choices though but I have to say that everything I ordered was great.
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Review from Chris Y.
3/7/2012 2 photos
Came here to try the Dine Around Seattle promotion for dinner...
There was a little snag when it came to seating, but after that the service was excellent. Our server was a charming French lady who was very attentive to small things like fill water and quickly clearing away dishes.
I was very impressed by the Foie Gras add on for $20. One of the best pieces of Foie Gras that I've had in Seattle. A nice thick cut that was perfectly seared. It was served with red wine poached pears that did a good job of cutting through the richness.
The one dish that I wasn't too fond of was the slow cooked Wagyu steak. It was not a very good cut of beef and was over cooked. I was very impressed up until I received my main course. Interestingly, they did not ask how I wanted to have my steak done. I would avoid this and try something else if doing the prie fixe menu.
Otherwise, this is a restaurant I would come back to. It had a very charming vibe to it. But I'd be interested in trying their courses from the regular menu. -
Review from Danielle J.
Seattle, WA
2/14/2012
I have wanted to try this restaurant since I moved back to Seattle. My lovely fiance took me there on Saturday evening and I was sorely disappointed. For starters, I walked in and was not greeted by anyone for a solid 5 minutes. The man then took the lady's coat from the couple that was in line in front of me and sat them, without addressing or looking at me. When he returned, I was patiently waiting and had taken my coat off at this point, which he did not offer to check for me. Ding number one.
When we were seated, our menus were set in front of us and when our waiter came over, he simply said "Any questions?" to which I replied, "How are you tonight? Do you have any specials?" He stated he was doing fine, busy and no specials. Wasn't that nice! Then, I asked him if we could order some cocktails and get some bread, which still had not been brought to our table.
We finally received our drinks and placed our dinner order, again with zero enthusiasm from the waiter. Our food took nearly an hour to come out and at no point were apologies made. Worst part is that when the food did come out, it was lukewarm and bland. I had the scallops dish and my fiance had the waygu beef entree. His was much better than mine, as my scallops were gritty and poorly seasoned.
When it came time for dessert, we decided to have it elsewhere.
So disappointed and I certainly hope it was just an off night or a new server or something, because I am baffled that this place has 4.5 stars.
Oh, and when I left, they couldn't locate my coat. Finally, a nice woman had me come back to look at the coats and helped me find mine. She was nice. I wish the rest of the staff had been as sweet as she was. -
Review from MarkAndMiranda C.
Seattle, WA
3/22/2012
M & I heard about this place from Dine Around Seattle. What a find! I have seen the sign a million times, but would have never known about the restaurant. I love the ambiance. It's very romantic with huge old-fashioned windows along one wall with a pretty good view.
For appetizers, we ordered a crab bisque soup and a salad with goat cheese, mandarin oranges, almonds, and pears. Both were so delicious, but especially the soup. For dinner, M got the asparagus risotto, which was excellent. I got the pan-seared sea scallops atop a yummy mixture of lentils, bacon, and cream. For dessert, M got chocolate mousse and I got vanilla bean creme brule.
Overall, the service was flawless, the food was excellent, the ambiance was great. I have nothing bad to say about this place. Well, I did take a peak at the regular menu and it looked a little pricey. -
Review from Sugar B.
Renton, WA
2/5/2012
We too were snubbed by the staff. My wife and I had the nerve to share 2 appetizers and an entree (with the idea of splitting dessert, although 1:15 later we had to rush to pay and leave to catch our theater show). Apparently Chef wasn't good at sharing, because this elicited multiple odd comments from the staff during our meal.
Funny that there was no problem with us sharing a bottle of wine, though.
The food was excellent, living up to our high expectations, but we won't be burdening Chez again with our dining socialism, and the sharing plates can be locked back up in the cabinet. Instead we will remain part of the rabble at Cafe Campagne. -
Review from Shanna G.
Seattle, WA
4/13/2012
My husband & I have been here twice, both for Restaurant Week. I don't think we'll be able to wait for the next one to come back, it's just that good.
For the first course, we had the soup of the day, mushroom & leek tart, & escargot. All were amazing, especially the tart. So buttery & tasty, I wish my husband had let me steal more but I was happy with my buttery & garlicky escargot.
We were able to sample the bouillabaisse, wagyu steak, scallops, & potato gnocchi for our main courses. The wagyu melted in your mouth (weird to say about meat, but it's the best description I can think of), the bouillaibaisse had enough seafood in it for two people to share without fighting (I'm protective of my food, ok?), the gnocchi was tender, & the scallops were delicious (per my MIL, I didn't try because there was plenty in my boullabaisse).
Desserts were chocolate mousse & creme brulee. The mousse is rich, dense, & topped with whipped cream & shaved chocolate. I wish I could have this every day. According to my husband, the creme brulee was delicious.
We partook of the wine pairing when we went last fall & it was amazing. So good that I asked for the wines we shared so I could go home & find a bottle.
Overall: loved it. Great food, the place itself is good for either a romantic dinner for two or a nice outing with in-laws, & the service is friendly, fast, & knowledgeable. -
Review from john-michael c.
Santa Clara, CA
1/10/2012
Hot damn happy hour!
We got their early but didnt seem open so we walked around for a bit after posted open hours... but what you really need to know which we didnt seem to know is that it is on the 3rd floor. And dont forget that you can take the elevator if you so choose. But otherwise we found it to be a darkly lit cozy space with a lot of character and even better smells.
After looking over the menu and reminded of the soon to be rarity of its commodity like status, foie gras was selected first (gotta remember that for some of us that live in less than friendly places.. *cough*california*cough* Foie gras will be no longer sold in California around July 2012). Hopefully we will go the way of Chicago and keep on keepin' on like here in Seattle. But to round out the table, an order of escargot, pork belly, lounge burger were delicious. Paired with house wines and this wonderful drink that was mixed with maple syrup.. it was so good that I literally cant remember what it was called. Should call it the Mind Blower... erm.. hahahaha
;D -
Review from Ashley Z.
Seattle, WA
5/8/2012
Can't believe this place closed. Such a charming, romantic place serving excellent seafood. Chez Shea will be dearly missed.
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Review from Ninette C.
Seattle, WA
1/28/2012 4 photos
Happy hour review only:
I can't pronounce the name of this place...is that silly? Anyway, I have been wanting to try this restaurant for forever. I still want to go to dinner but on this particular day, my friends and I went for happy hour after work.
I didn't see the restaurant area but my friend said it was tiny, which isn't surprising considering its in Pike Place. I'm guessing its probably about the same size as Place Pigalle. The bar area is tiny, but cute with its dim lighting and all. Since there's no tables, I wouldn't recommend it for large groups.
We ordered (for 3 of us to share):
-Escargot
-Soup du jour: creamy potato soup with cream
-Steamed Manila Clams
-Duck proscuitto with arugula salad
-3 glasses of wine
-1 beer
We enjoyed all the food we had! I feel like the prices were reasonable for happy hour, but this was truly just an introduction to Chez Shea. I feel like I hadn't tried anything super unique and everyone I know who's been here loves it (hence 4.5 stars on Yelp). So in conclusion, happy hour- good times- but I really need to come for dinner soon! -
Review from Victoria C.
Seattle, WA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
We came for a celebratory dinner (I passed my dissertation proposal defense!) and were, for the most part, pleased with our experience. Well, perhaps, I was more pleased than my bf (but then he is known to be picky).
PROS:
1. Excellent service. We were greeted at the door instantly, our coats were taken, seated right away, and provided with menus. Very attentive.
2. Food came out fast.
3. Food was delicious. Mild flavors that stood on their own. Nothing was overly seasoned or spiced, which was surprisingly nice. I ordered the escargot and sea scallops, and my bf ordered the persimmon goat cheese salad and 24 hour steak. We shared the cake noire for dessert. Everything was great except for the escargot. Scallops were seared to perfection and served on a bed of bacon onion lentils. The steak was juicy, tender, and flavorful. And the cake? Dense, rich, not too sweet. Yum.
4. Great view facing Elliot Bay.
CONS:
1. Escargot. They forgot the butter and I sat there eating one after the other, wondering why it was so dry. I should have asked the waitress about it, but I didn't want to come off as demanding and I couldn't remember what the menu said (if it was served with butter or not). I checked it after and yep. They forgot the butter!
2. On the pricier side. But that's French food for you. -
Review from Tiffany C.
Los Altos, CA
3/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was probably the all around best meal I had in seattle. The tuna crudo was really great and refreshing. I got the scallops as an entree, which were perfectly cooked. Nice and seared on the outside but not overcooked. I also got the foie gras. Gotta eat as much as I can before the ban sets in in California. For dessert I had the creme brulee. The service was excellent, and they I loved that they described the food as we received them.
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Review from Travis Y.
Seattle, WA
2/10/2012
I had heard lovely things about this restaurant and I just had to try it. I went with my friend a couple weeks ago and we had a Fabulous time.
We walked in and were greeted and seated right away. We had made sure to make reservations. We sat by the windows that overlook the water and it was quite beautiful. I noticed that with most of the couples there, the women sat facing away from the window. In fact, my friend was the only one facing the window because she just Loved looking out into the beautiful night.
We decided to go with the Pre-Fixe since we didn't have too much experience with this type of dining. She ordered and nice glass of wine that's where we began.
As my profile states - I LOVE truffle anything. lol
The soup they served had truffle oil!! Mmmmm. We also had some interesting oysters. I'm not a huge seafood fan and I'm definitely not into oysters but what I can say is that the flavors they offered with their oysters were quite delicious.
All in all, this dining experience was all that people had said.
Romantic night with a beautful view. That combined with delicious courses made the night Amazing!! -
Review from Jerry M.
Kirkland, WA
Dining around Seattle menu was definitely worth it.
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Review from James L.
Tacoma, WA
1/26/2012
Introduced to this magnificent restaurant by Chef Tak & his wife from (Gig Harbor) Bistro Satsuma. (Our "Go To" place for Sashimi/Sushi and fine Japanese cuisine)
We had been looking forward spending a fine evening with our friends. French is not our usual choice, not because of conscious exclusion, but merely from limitation of imagination.
Although we had been to Pike's Place many times in the past, we never knew that this place existed.
What a Treat! Fantastically prepared, presented, and of course delicious food, excellent wine, and (I really shouldn't have) dessert!
Chef Tak and I opted for the Chef's choice (equivalent to Japanese style "Kaiseki") for the supreme experience!!
Except for the need for extra exercise...No Regrets!!
Not cheap, but hey, this is Not Fast Food!!
Parking can be tricky, after-all, it IS Pike's Place.
Great for real or imagined Special Occasions (we elicited Chinese New Year). The environment inside is far different from the hustle and bustle outside. The advantage of dinner time, is that Pike's Place settles down...parking improves as does the bustle outside.
For those who attend to such matters, there is an obvious police presence nearby for peace of mind for your parked vehicle, and your journey back to it after dinner. -
Review from Brad N.
Edmonds, WA
12/1/2011
Had a 6:45 reservation on 11/26/11 with my wife and 4 other friends and we were seated promptly. All of us ordered the 7 course tasting menu.
Pros:
Food wise, every course was delicious.
- 1st Course: Oysters on the half shell, 2 with a lemongrass/ginger and 2 with a tomato/horseradish mignonette. Oysters were incredibly fresh, sweet and salty in the way only oysters can do. The lemongrass/ginger mignonette was a touch overbearing but had great flavor. Tomato/horseradish was awesome on a plate. If you can imagine what awesome tastes like, that was what it was.
- 2nd Course: Celeriac and apple soup w/ truffled croutons and caramelized leeks. Not outstanding but solid. The interplay of flavors between the celeriac and apple was surprising if not a little on the too sweet side.
- 3rd Course: Pan seared foie gras on toasted brioche garnished w/ jellied kumquat and poached pear. Heaven on a plate. The size of the foie gras was generous and paired nicely with the pear and kumquat. Only wish I had about 4 more servings of this.
- 4th Course: Pan seared rock fish with a saffron sauce served w/ red potatoes. I will say that I was a touch disappointed with this. While the saffron sauce was outstanding, the rock fish was a touch overdone.
- 5th Course: Grilled tenderloin, mashed potatoes served w/ carrots, green beans and demi glace. Very simple dish and simply delicious. The meat was a perfect medium rare and was seasoned very nicely. Fork tender, it paired nicely with the creamy potatoes and al dente cooked veggies.
- 6th Course: Cheese plate. Very good choices indeed, a good blue cheese, an amazing triple cream cows milk cheese and a goat cheese, all served up w/ mango and fig chutney. The figs were awesome when paired up w/ the triple cream.
- 7th Course: Blood orange sorbet. Nothing to write home about. Had good flavor it was a good, light finish to a heavy meal.
Price: While $75/person may look a bit steep, for the amount of food you got it was a pretty good deal.
Service: Our waitress was attentive but not overly so, and was extremely knowledgeable about the food being served.
Con:
Despite the above praises I did have one complaint. The timing between courses was disjointed and at times, embarrassingly slow. I understand that a tasting menu is nothing to rush and enjoyed at a leisurely pace but we sat there for 3 hours eating our dinner amounting to approximately 25 minutes per course.
In all, I wish I could give half stars as Chez Shea probably deserved 4.5, but I just can't give them the perfect 5 due to agonizingly long dinner service. -
Review from Sonya G.
11/20/2011
Divine!
A friend and I came here for Dine Around Seattle, a month-long event featuring nice restaurants with 3 course meals for $30 (and lunches for $15!). We enjoyed everything about the experience; from the ambiance, to the service, to the food.
I started with the leek and camembert tort, which was pastry-cheesey goodness. Followed, and aptly met, with a duck and fingerling potatoes (some of the best I've had, mind you) entree. And of course, the creme brulee for dessert -- served with two miniature gingersnap cookies, a fantastic pairing.
Along with the price fixe menu, I also had a glass of local cab-merlot that completely hit the spot. And my friend's steak? Still mooing, just the way she likes it!
Our waiters were attentive and kind, and the decor here is just lovely :) -
Review from annie t.
Bellevue, WA
4/15/2012
Came here on a $30 dinner menu and was not disappointed. Food portion was generous for the price and very delicious. We also ordered Foie Gras which melted in your mouth. The only thing about this place is that they do take a while to have the food come out, so be prepared for a long dinner.
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Review from Tara L.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 11/10/2011
Wish I could give this place more than 5 stars. I had really wanted to share this experience with my parents but I knew that the tasting menu would be too much for my diabetic mother's blood sugars. On a whim my husband called the restaurant and they amazingly showed immense understanding and had their chef make a custom tasting menu for my mother (regular menu for my father). They arranged it so that they called at the end of the night to have my husband pay for the tab as it was a special anniversary present for my parents. We didn't even have to ask them to do any of this, it was their idea (meal + call-back for tab).
May I also add that this was in the middle of Restaurant Week when they were fully booked, busy, and packed?
Amazing. Big thank you to Chez Shea!! We'll be back for sure.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/12/2010
I LOVE THIS PLACE! If I were rich I'd eat here everyday although I'm sure I'd get grotesquely obese.… Read more »
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Review from Christine L.
Seattle, WA
I went here for Seattle Restaurant Week.
Food: Great (mostly), small portions. Here's what I ordered:
* Cold Smoked Fraser River Sockeye Salmon - good quality, fresh, very yummy
* 24-Hour Slow Cooked Painted Hills Tri-Tip Steak - delicious and oh-so-tender, cooked to perfection
* Limoncello Baked Alaska - very lemon-y and sour, not for people who want something sweet
Service: Pretty good, we were checked on multiple times throughout the meal, but it was slow at times (our reservation was for 5:30 pm and the restaurant was about half full).
Cost: Reasonable, but it was Restaurant Week.
Atmosphere: Small, romantic dining room overlooking Pike Place Market sign and waterfront.
Overall, it was a lovely dining experience, and I'll be back again. -
Review from Chris O.
Seattle, WA
2/8/2012 7 photos
This review is a little late in coming but I couldn't leave the restaurant without my wholehearted endorsement. My partner and I were looking for a way to spoil ourselves with a nice meal. It had been a while since we had a nice date and we chose Chez Shea as our venue.
A little hard to find, but I've noticed many of the greats are this way. We were greeted warmly by the host and had our pick of window seats as the restaurant wasn't quite bustling just yet. As it is French inspired, I expected the usual crowd wouldn't arrive until 7:30 or 8pm. I was right.
Completely indulging in each course of the menu, we started our journey with an appetizer of fresh seasonal organic house salad for Shane and a warm leek & Camembert tart for myself. The tart was so light and fluffy that it melted on my tongue into a pool of heavenly goodness. Which, for the record, tastes a lot like pillows of seasoned fat. The second course, if possible, was better than the first. A classic escargot with butter and garlic for myself and a sun choke soup for Shane. He managed to part with a bite before wrestling the bowl back to savor every last drop. The hint of autumn in the country was simply perfect. For the main I ordered up the bone in pork chop which came with fingerling potatoes, and a truffle oil emulsion. I don't know if I've ever tasted a chop so moist and tender. The rind of fat was seared with a delicate touch and once again seemed to dissolve upon impact with my tongue. The herbs and seasoning were handled well as the potatoes were the perfect compliment to this ultra-rich experience. Shane had the fillet of beef which he claimed "could turn me to the dark side of the meat lovers." which, from the expression on his face, was a very good thing.
In traditional Parisian style, we finished with a cheese course of blue, Gouda, goat and sheep's milk cheeses served with herb'd crackers and candied nuts. Each was amazing and finished our evening perfectly.
I must also mention that we each had a (maybe more than "a" wine pairing) wine paired throughout the meal at the recommendation of the server which all worked out well. By the end of the evening we were floating, high on our rather nostalgic visit back to the side of Paris we fell in love with just last April. -
Review from Sara J.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2011
Chez Shea went above and beyond to help me make my parents' anniversary special. Of the various businesses I spoke to in orchestrating surprises to celebrate their 40th, Chez Shea was far and away the most helpful and kind. Lotta even sounded excited to help.
What's more, my parents are still raving about the food! And when I got the receipt for their meal in the mail, I was shocked that it was so reasonably priced. -
Review from Kendra B.
10/1/2011
We heard from a friend that Chez Shea was a nice place for a romantic dinner, and has excellent French food. Having recently visited Paris, and wanting a nice place for an anniversary dinner, we made a reservation at Chez Shea.
First off, though the address is in the Pike Place Market area, it is not a tourist trap by any means. Across the street from Rachel the Pig is a building with food kiosks on the outside, and shops inside. Chez Shea is upstairs, tucked away in a corner. Once you enter, you see the fantastic view over the "Public Market" sign to the bay.
The seating comes in several forms. There is a window seat bench running along the wall facing the market sign, with padded seats. Tables are in front, with wooden chairs facing. These are best for couples. Other areas have large round tables further from the window to accommodate large groups. We sat at the window, having requested a view in our Open Table reservation for our anniversary.
The wine list looked good, but we decided to go with a sangria for me and Oban 14 scotch for him. The sangria was white wine, and was studded with fresh pineapple. Yum!
For the first course, I ordered house-smoked salmon, topped with caviar, accompanied by cream fraiche. It was heavenly- the best smoked salmon I have ever tasted. It was still soft, and came apart beautifully with a fork. My husband had escargot in a pesto, and enjoyed it as well.
Next, we ordered a beet salad for me, and foie gras for him. The salad was nice and fresh, crisp, with well rounded flavors. The foie gras was seared and still soft, served over brioche toast. It beat the foie gras we had in Paris!
For the main course, I had blackened Sable Fish with lentils, fava bean paste, and artichoke hearts. It was salty, flaked apart perfectly, and was absolutely fabulous. My husband had the Wagyu top sirloin with mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots. The vegetables were delicately prepared and fresh, and the beef was outstanding- tender, juicy, and extremely flavorful. Wagyu is a specially-raised breed of cow with a higher ratio of healthy fat (omegas) than conventional beef.
We finished with the fromage plate, which featured five distinct and lovely cheeses. It was accompanied by wine-soaked raisins and apricot chutney, as well as house-made crackers. A perfect ending.
The meal was excellent, and the service was equally great. We ate at a very relaxed pace, and never felt rushed. Our meal lasted for at least three hours. Our water glasses were always filled, and the server came over at just the right moment each time. She explained what was on the plate when she delivered it, and was very friendly. She even brought over a small bag with two truffles when we had finished, wishing us a happy anniversary.
Overall, this is a great place for a memorable meal. It is pricey, but well worth it for a special dinner you will not find at an American restaurant. -
Review from Olga L.
2/12/2012
Hubby took me to Chez Shea last night for a very romantic Valentines dinner. What a great place! We've walked by the entrance about 100 times and never even knew this little goldmine was there. In case you don't know where it is, it's at the entrance of the Pikes Place Market. You find the flower shop at the corner - and no you don't go to the flower lady and get a secret code in a bouquet of roses - and go up the stairwell on the left side (if you're facing the flower shop). Up to the 3rd Floor, you'll see the place.
It's a small restaurant that was absolutely packed last night. We really wanted to get there early and have a drink at the bar and order some oysters but there wasn't a seat to be had at the bar. They did have our table ready so we just sat down.
We had 2 dirty martini's and a dozen oysters that came with 2 different mignonette sauces and I had a tough time deciding which of the 2 I liked best! I found it a little strange that the mignonette came on the oysters and that you didn't dip them. After the first one, I didn't even care about that anymore.
Our waiter, Andrew, was awesome! He was sooooo accomodating - even when we asked him to move us to a table where we could sit next to each other. Now, some of you may not understand this, but Hubby and I sat next to each other on our very first date and that's a prerequisite for us to have a great evening. We hate sitting across from each other but we will if we have to. Andrew spotted a corner 2-top where Hubby could swing his chair around and have to say it made us really happy. The service here is truly excellent and they do whatever they can to make it a great evening for you.
We both had the tasting menu and can say each course was made to perfection. Instead of doing the wine pairing, we opted for a bottle of nice red wine and order our own extra white wine for the fish course. They do not have a sommelier so the wine comes pre-paired and we wanted to switch some things out. In the end, Andrew told us we would be able to do our own pairing with half-glasses from their wine list. Excellent!!! For the first course, we had oysters again (but we LOVE oysters and at them really fast!) and they were just as good the 2nd time around. They then came with a Dungeness Crab Bisque that was just to die for. I tell you that I really thought about licking the plate - it was that good. Our third course was the foie gras and I have to tell you that I can live on Foie Gras alone and nothing else. If it's done well, then we're in heaven, if it's not, well it can make me grumpy. This foie gras was truly excellent, served on a crispy sweetish bread with poached pears. We made yummy sounds that I hope were only audible to us but I don't think we cared very much at the time. So delicious...
The next course was fish and they had a beautiful Sea Bass - cooked really well but just slightly over cooked - with excellent roasted potatoes and veggies. It had a crispy top which I love and we paired it with a nice Pinot Gris they had by the glass that went really well with it. The meat course was a 2.5 ounce filet mignon served with a truffle butter pat on top sitting on potato puree. I wanted to smear this all over my body it was so good. The filet was cooked to perfection and all the flavors just were incredible.
They then give you a cheese course with the cutest tiny cheeses - just enough to finish up our wine! We then had the dessert which was a pineapple basil sorbet that I thought was the perfect finish for a wonderful meal.
Chez Shea is romantic with great ambiance and amazing service. Their food is truly top notch and not overly priced at all. The price fixe menu is $75 per person with wine pairing an additional $35 per person so $110 per person is really a deal for what you get here. This place goes on my Revisit List - and hopefully we'll go again really soon!! -
Review from Jen T.
***This place is a very hidden in the pike place market...best directions are to head towards the gyro stand and enter from there....
SO excited that we were able to get reservations for 4 during restaurant week!! We showed up exactly on the dot. Not a minute late!
We were greeted right away and was told that it would be a few minutes while they set our table up.....34 minutes later....and after I had to how much longer it would take for us to get seated..... finally we get a table!
I ordered the following...
Cold Smoked Alaskan Sockeye Salmon - this was delicious, sashimi never tasted so delightful and fresh- the citrus fennel salad left a refreshing taste on the pallet
24-Hour Braised Painted Hills Tri Trip Steak- this literally melted in your mouth....delicious. Potatoes were a bit too creamy than what I'd prefer
Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee- WOAH, this was very intense. So creamy and rich- delicious. Wish this made some type of a crisp rather than the vanilla wafers as a garnish
2- glass wine pairing - had two glasses of sparkling rose- it was ok
The server refilled our glasses often- which was very nice. ( our glass was never empty)
Although the servings looked super tiny ( costco sample size) it was very filling and the flavors were amazing.
It was a delightful experience- Would have given it 5 stars if they didn't make us wait for our reservations without follow up. -
Review from Long P.
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
A little hidden: up the stairs from the Crumpet Shop sign and right next to Matt's in the Market.
Went for Restaurant Week....apparently so did everyone else, so service was a little slow. But got a free delicious quiche for our troubles.
Appetizers were better than our entrees in my humble opinion:
-BEEF CARPACCIO
-OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL -
Review from Steve V.
8/1/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My wife and I went here for our 1st year wedding anniversary after receiving an abundance of excellent suggestions from fellow Yelpers. This place was 5-star all the way from the food to the service to the views. Definitely my new favorite "go-to" fancy restaurant. A little hard to find - very close to the Pike Place market; enter where you see the Crumpet shop and go up the stairs.
Food: you have the option of going with the ala carte menu which includes first dish, second dish, main dish and dessert options +/- a cheese plate. OR, you can go with the pre-set tasting menu of 7 courses for $75 (an extra $35 for wine pairings). ALL persons within the party MUST agree to also get the pre-set menu. We went with the tasting menu and we got:
1. Oysters on the Half Shell - there were 4 on the plate. Two had a cucumber mignonette and the other 2 had a tomato-horseradish salsa. Oysters were great, although you did occasionally get a small piece of shell in there. Toppings were great.
2. Walla Walla sweet onion soup with truffle croutons - you have to like onions! It was very sweet and basically consisted of pureed onions with a touch of cream added. Wouldn't run to re-order it, but glad I tried it.
3. Seared Foie Gras with balsamic poached mission figs, champagne grapes and brioche toast - good size portion and very well prepared. Probably not the healthiest thing on the menu and I may not necessarily re-order, but probably prepared better than most other places I have eaten it.
4. Lightly smoked Columbia River Sturgeon - nice white fish. Not super flaky, but not super dense either. Dish included green lentils and fava beans. The best inclusion was the King Oyster Mushroom...yum!
5. Painted Hills Natural Tenderloin of Beef with green beans, baby carrots, mashed potatoes and demi glace - this dish was amazingly prepared. Perfectly cooked! Not too red and not overdone. The beef melted in your mouth!
6. Fromage (cheese) plate - there were 3 slices of cheese, 2 from cow's milk and 1 from sheep's milk. The blue cheese was super strong.
7. Dessert - pineapple basil sorbet - so light and refreshing! The pineapple is not overwhelming and the basil tastes so fresh.
[an exception to the rule: since there were 2 of us, they let us substitute out one dessert and gave us the chocolate mousse, so we could try 2 things....also really good. Very rich and made with dark chocolate. Pairs nicely with coffee.
-plus complimentary bread and butter
Drinks: wide selection of red, white and sparking wines. A decent beer list too.
Ambiance: really nice. It was a little hard to find the location, but the building is old and welcoming. From my seat, I could see the water as well as the neon red Pike Market sign....really cool. Very nicely decorated with old chandeliers and artwork.
Customer service: top-notch! Staff were super-friendly and all seemed to work with each other well. Definitely let them know if this is a special occasion (they gave us some free truffles to go). Water glasses were filled constantly. They knew EVERYTHING about the dishes and ingredients. Great service with a smile.
Parking: free parking in the 1531 Western St. parking lot. Not sure how safe it is to walk back here at night, but free. They validate your ticket.
Price: expensive, but worth it. Tasting menu for 2 with a glass of wine each including tax and tip will run you slightly over $200
So, definitely go! We loved it and would definitely go back.
