Le Pichet [SEA]

[chefrodrigo]

We went up to Seattle for a bbq competition on Sunday. That evening we ventured out to find some food and walked by Le Pichet. They were not able to seat us because we didn't have reservations. That made me want to eat there even more.

So now I'm curious. If its that full on a Sunday evening whats the story???

Rodney

[tighe]

Le Pichet is a Seattle eG All-Star! If you do a search on Pichet, you'll find a veritable plethora of threads on it.

[cheeseandchocolate]

Ooooh yeah...Le Pichet! Mmmm. Oh, how I love that brandade. And all the other things too, of course. But the brandade...

[Blue Heron]

We were there for dinner w/2 other couples on Valentine's Day. The food was wonderful, hubby and I shared their Valentine special NY Steak for 2 w/ Port Wine Sauce & Mushrooms and Tallegio Scalloped Potatoes. We started off with their charcuterie plate, I love their rillettes and country pate. Ended with their cheese plate which was great. They include an amuse bouche and a small after dinner chocolate treat. Their signature Roast Chicken is always good, too. Prices are reasonable. It can get a little noisy when it gets crowded, though.

You really need to go! It's a favorite of this board.

Edited February 18, 2004 by Blue Heron (log)

[Schielke]

Katie and I had valentines day lunch at Le Pichet. I had their version of Raclette, which was very very good. Katie had the onion soup and was quite happy with it. good ol le pichet!

[Coop]

Le Pichet is my firsty choice for lunch in Seattle. I've never been able to get in for dinner, that's the only reason it's not my favorite then too.

[BastilaShan]

What's good at Le Pichet for lunch?

Anything good other than sandwiches?

Also, what is amazing about their roast chicken?

It seems quite popular but i find it hard to justify paying so much for roast chicken...

Thanks!

[agnolottigirl]

Grilled sardines! Also the ham platter is great. . . butter lettuce salad is nice. . . Cheeeeeeese. . . .and they will just keep bringing you bread and butter forever, as far as I can tell. Great place to while away the afternoon.

I think the chicken must be brined. It was definitely top 3 chickens ever--super-moist, tasty. It was with a taleggio sauce the night we went, with brussels sprouts.

The brandade is great too.

[chefrodrigo]

from the excitement i've seen after starting this thread it looks like i need to get back to seattle with a reservation.

rodney

[little ms foodie]

I did a search for Le Pichet but just came across the chicken post so i thought I'd start a restaurant review post.

My husband and I have been eating here for a few years now. We just love it. I think it's the best priced french bistro in Seattle by far.

Anyway we went last night for dinner and again it was awesome!

As usual our eyes were way bigger than our stomachs and we just couldn't stop ourselves from ordering way too much. Started with a glass of cremant d'Alsace (sp?) thanks to the topic & article of jbonne's I just read. Dayne had a lentil salad with greens and sausage with pistachio from Lyon. YUM! this is awesome, there is a bacon vinaigrette or something on it and the lentils were perfectly cooked. I had the pate which is just so good I can rarely not order it.

Next up we ordered a pichet of cru Beaujolis and I had the onion soup while Dayne worked on a huge charcuterie platter- ham, sausage from Lyon, pate, rilettes, another sausage and veal tongue. oh my!! the veal tongue was soooo flavorful and the rilettes just rock!

We shared the roast chicken, it was perfect as always. So juicy it boggles thought IMO. Served with a gratin of potatoes, leeks and gruyere. We were soooo stuffed, no room for cheese but the selection looked awesome.

And all of that for $115! DAMN!! I love this place

[jrt]

While Le Pichet is, in a way, "French trucker food," I do consider it to be one of my absolutely favorite restaurants anywhere. I used to go in once a week on Saturdays, but that precious little timeslot has been compromised by Matt's in the past few months. :)

For me, the kicker of Le Pichet is its wine list. There are precious few places in the city where you can get so many tastes of so many reasonably priced wines from a relatively knowledgeable staff.

Also, it doesn't hurt that its street view gets better with each glass of wine.

[SparrowsFall]

Le Pichet is, in a way, "French trucker food,"

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Ain't it so! It's just stunning how good the food is in French truck stops.

I still find Cafe Campagne to be better food. And always great wine choices, with reasonable markups.

Steve

[Abra]

We need to go to Campagne for dinner. We've only ever been for brunch, where the Oeufs en Meurette totally rock. After the new year, dinner at Campagne, I swear.

[halland]

I love Pichet and have been going for a few years now. Lately it seems the service has slipped a bit. Is it just me? Was I there on a bad day?

Hal

[little ms foodie]

I love Pichet and have been going for a few years now.  Lately it seems the service has slipped a bit.  Is it just me?  Was I there on a bad day?

Hal

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hmmm....Last night I was thinking that we had better service than we've had in the past! haha!

I've eaten at Cafe Campagne a few times but honestly I like Le Pichet better. I think its a combination of the atmosphere, the changing menu and the owner. It just always makes me feel like I'm in one of my favorite neighborhood bistros in Paris.

And I have to say that I've never heard French Bistro food referred to as French Trucker food. Someone should tell Keller before Bouchon does too well!

Edited December 17, 2004 by little ms foodie (log)

[Andrew Fenton]

Dayne had a lentil salad with greens and sausage with pistachio from Lyon. YUM! this is awesome, there is a bacon vinaigrette or something on it and the lentils were perfectly cooked. I had the pate which is just so good I can rarely not order it.

Le Pichet does lentils better than just about anywhere I've been.

[Really Nice!]

Le Pichet is great. I really enjoy their charcuterie. Sometimes the service is a bit off, but their tables are always reserved and full everynight so it hasn't affected them yet.

I found my current favorite wine, Domaine Forca Real Cotes du Roussillon, there about four visits ago. We have this bottle every time.

It's imported by someone in California and the folks at Le Pichet say they only supply restaurants.

Time to open Chez Really Nice!

[jbonne]

Pichet rocks.

rocks. rocks. rocks.

i'd laud them for their snails alone. but one of my really special Seattle pleasures is a simple breakfast at the bar here -- double espresso with a baguette (plus butter and jam).

[SeaGal]

Pichet rocks.

rocks. rocks. rocks.

i'd laud them for their snails alone.  but one of my really special Seattle pleasures is a simple breakfast at the bar here -- double espresso with a baguette (plus butter and jam).

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Yes, yes, breakfast!

Also the Oeufs Plat are really wonderful. I also sometimes have cheese for breakfast--odd, but very good.

We must try them for dinner sometime.

Jan

[BetsyinKY]

Wah!! No fair! I am stuck all way over here in KY where all I can do is dream about Le Pichet. I still wake up with drool on my pillow after a good dream about their baked ham and eggs dish. Let's see....four more months until I can get back to Seattle.....wah!!

[Abra]

I hadn't been to Le Pichet often enough before last night to realize that they change their menu every six weeks. Now, for 3 more weeks, you can have a really wonderful dinner if you have exactly what I had. Wowsers, was it good!

Crisp fried pork tongue on shredded carrots marinated with cumin, currants, orange and parsley - oh, that tongue! Indescribably, meltingly rich and tender, with a big pile of carrots as a lovely foil.

Fish of the day (halibut last night) wrapped in Serrano ham and pan roasted, on pearl barley, grilled figs, and endive - a gorgeous balance of flavors and textures. Next time I'd beg for a couple of extra figs.

Chocolat chaud - Parisian hot chocolate, not on the menu, not on the board, but offered by our server. A very shareable cup of thick, warm chocolate, like a thin ganache, and another bowl of whipped cream, for you to assemble one spoonful at a time. OMG.

Three more weeks, get some! Shel's chicken liver terrine was a huge, velvety portion, and his salade Nicoise was big enough that we had leftovers for lunch today, and was piled with tuna.

All that, plus a demi-pichet of Saumur, for under $70 plus tip. What a nice restaurant.

[little ms foodie]

Della and I had the crispy tongue on Monday night!!! we also had the soup du jour, a butternut with sage and fried squid garnish (YUM!), salad with lentil vinaigrette, chevre and figs and the charcoutrie platter of sausisson, jambon, more tongue, pate and rillettes.

no room for dessert but we had a pichet of nice red and our total was around $70 also.

[Peter Johnson]

Had the steak tartare at Pichet last night. Oh. My. God.

It was fantastic; included a terrific salad with cornichons and six pieces of heavily buttered and nicely toasted baguette.

I can still taste the combination!

[kieran]

Okay, people. it's settled. Husband and I are finally going to try Le Pichet in the very near-term future. Will report back. Should we make a reservation?

[Peter Johnson]

Okay, people. it's settled. Husband and I are finally going to try Le Pichet in the very near-term future. Will report back. Should we make a reservation?

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I highly recommend it. I've had trouble getting a seat for one at the bar on a Tuesday at 6:30. No harm in getting a reservation.