Chez Shea

Excellent food and excellent service. We did the 7 course tasting menu.

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 :)

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 décor 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 décor. 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/​gruyère 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 crème brûlée 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.

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: gruyère, spring onion, and mushroom tart
Entrée: pesto gnocchi
Dessert: crème brûlée
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.

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 Gruyère 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 entrée 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 crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, and pineapple basil sorbet. The crème brûlée was delicious and my favorite, but the sorbet was also very good and quite refreshing. The crème brûlée 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!

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 entrée 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 crème brûlée 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 décor 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.

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.

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 Unilocal). So in conclusion, happy hour– good times– but I really need to come for dinner soon!

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.

The name Chez Shea should be synonymous with the words modern and affordable French. I would highly suggest the tasting menu. At seven courses, it is a copious amount of fresh and local food.
The meal starts with a couple slices of a baguette and fragrant olive oil. The tasting course begins with oysters in a half shell. So fresh and topped with mignonette, a typical vinegar and shallot based sauce for oysters, and in this case of the variety of cucumber or tomato. The next course consisted of sweet corn soup topped with truffle croutons. Heaven in every spoonful. I had to stop myself from licking the bowl and wait for the sonoma foie gras came. It was seared and came with sweet and sour figs, grapes, and brioche on the side. Best foie gras I’ve had in a while. Next, the rockfish was cooked perfectly and embellished with a plethora of color: peppers, potatoes, onions, and olives. And just when you thought that was the main, they came next with a tenderloin of beef, complete with green beans, carrots, mashed potatos, and a awesome demi glacé. Every bite melts in your mouth and after you finish this one, you will be asking for more.
After the main dishes, the meal tapers off with a plate of cheese: delicious goat milk bucheron, a creamy st andre, and a wonderful blue. And when you thought you couldn’t have anymore, they come with dessert: a surprisingly good basil pineapple sorbet.
Chez Shea is located on the corner of Pike and 1^st, and a bit hard to find if you don’t notice the sign to the 3^rd floor. The tasting menu is $ 75, and $ 35 more for wine pairing.

Tucked away upstairs near pike’s place, this hidden gem is truly a wonderful find. Many restaurants in the Seattle area average 4.5 stars. but I feel that this one deserves it.
Food is 5 stars.
Service is 4 stars.
We enjoyed the delicate French flavors in each dish. Complimentary potato bread with soft, spreadable butter to start.
Ordered:
Smoked salmon — pretty piece of smoked salmon with a tartar sauce spread across the plate garnished with sliced red onions
Coquille St Jacques — pieces of scallop, shrimp, and mushroom in a light sauce served in a half shell (hubby called it Japanese dynamite. but it was not a mayo sauce). Loved the sauce so much that we dipped the potato bread in it.
Heirloom tomato Napoleon — beautiful dish with fresh ingredients. Tomato and arugula layers topped with Beecher’s cheese and thinly sliced red onion. A bit of olive oil also dressed the salad.
Lightly Smoked Sturgeon — white fish cooked to perfection on a bed of lentils with fava beans
Pineapple basil sorbet — homemade ice cream served in a martini glass with a round cookie and a small slice of dried pineapple. Tasted like a mojito… very refreshing.
Service wasn’t bad but it wasn’t stellar either. When I asked for recommendations, I got some but not an elaborate or enthusiastic response. We wrote on Opentable that it was a special occasion, I guess they don’t read comments.

Flawless Nom Nom Nom. Been here five times now and have yet to discover anything to dislike about their happy hour (HH); just more reasons to adore them even more! Well, actually, we (the better half and myself) felt truly bummed out to find that Chez Shea no longer served HH in their dining area; thus we were forced to the bar area instead. *Sigh* We always anticipate seeing our favorite Frenchy waitress Angelic[1] at our normal dining table, the ever so elegant perfectionist that incontrovertibly will ensure an impeccable visitation at this fine establishment. On a high note, Andrew the bartender, who we ended up with, was super cool and professional. Angelic saw us and dropped by for an inviting, short, impromptu tête-​à-​tête about favorite local foods. I would say Angelic and Andrew = the «A team» for Chez Shea.
Okay, so what about the food already?! Started with the flavorful and savory escargot baked in garlic, shallots and parsley butter. Baguette slices dip right into the sauce as they melt on your tongue with each bite of the soft snails. Délectable! Only $ 6.50 during HH! The Lounge Burger, also priced at $ 6.50, consisted of ingredients that include fresh ground beef tenderloin, gruyère[2], tomato, sharp tasting red onion, gerkins[3], thin sliced skin house made potato chips with a rustic, browned toasted bun from the local Columbia City Bakery. One of the greatest tasting burgers in town (Andrew, I agree with you), in a French restaurant no less! A glass of house red wine ($ 5) paired well with le food.
Total bill for HH: $ 40 including tips.
I can’t wait to come back next week! Au revoir for now!
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[1] Angelic is our usual server and obviously has a cutesy French accent (at times when she speaks it), pleasant smile, and a hint of detail oriented mannerisms that can’t be denied.
[2] Gruyère is a yellow Swiss cheese with a nutty, complex flavor.
[3] Gerkins are a Francophile’s variation on the traditional pickle. «Cornichons» is the official French name for these crisp, mini, tart cucumbers.
+++This update review is dedicated to my Unilocal Bud Matteo, for which I am a fan of his book club+++

Came here for Seattle restaurant week
Chez Shea is a small intimate restaurant with nice décor and friendly staff.
We had the ahi tuna and escargot for the first course. Duck confit for the entrée and crème brûlée for the dessert.
The ahi tuna was good and the escargot was in a really delicious butter/​olive oil sauce.
The duck confit was decent, but nothing special.
However, the crème brûlée was definitely the highlight of the meal. It’s the best vanilla crème brûlée I’ve had in recent memory.
The food wasn’t so great that it made me want to come back at full price. But, I would come here just for dessert.

I do not know if it’s purposely put out this way, but if ever there were a craving for nostalgic California — Nouvelle Cuisine from the early 1980’s, it can certainly be found here. The plates are perfectly prepared as an homage to perhaps one of the greatest food cultural movements ever, Westcoast 1977 — 1984.
Think of it as food throwback. Every course demands respect from the era. The baby carrots dare me to remember when they were the most important topic at dinner tables up and down Highway 1, from the Bay to San Diego. Sauce reductions that beg to return to our favor, serving sizes that insisted upon quality and flavor over quantity.
Someone at Chez Shea is taking lots of time to investigate wine pairings, mostly from old world. Fantastic.
While the Dine Around program was excellent the first time around, going for the seven course tasting menu at return visit was well worth the time and money.

A cute, lovely place that is hidden and tucked away from the busy Pike Place Market. I’ve never had French cuisine before so I thought this would be a great place to try during Seattle Restaurant Week. Mostly cause I am a total fan of butter… and lots of it.
First courses:
I had escargot for the first time in my life! Each snail was covered in butter and garlic, and was accompanied with pieces of baguette. Very delicious and highly recommended. My friend had the leek & camembert tart which is like a quiche, and it was very creamy and flavorful.
Second courses:
I had the duck leg and it was amazing. The skin was crisp and the meat was very tender. Each bite was just oozing with flavor. My friend had the bacon wrapped pork which was also delicious.
Desserts:
Lastly for desserts, we had the vanilla bean crème brûlée and the pineapple basil sorbet. I really enjoyed the crème brûlée, and the basil complemented the pineapple sorbet surprisingly well. Mmmm so good!
The service was pleasant and respectful. Our waitress was helpful in answering a lot of my questions and she did not make us feel rushed at all, which I appreciated a lot. Chez Shea is a good spot for a date or to meet up with a friend for catching up. One of the best places I’ve tried for Seattle Restaurant Week.

Once again, thanks to Restaurant Week for allowing me to try out a place I never would have found or tried otherwise!
This is a beautiful little restaurant on the third floor of the Corner Market Building (the one on your right if you’re looking at the Pike Place sign and the flying fish). The view would be fantastic if it wasn’t raining and the windows weren’t fogged up, and it’s decorated wonderfully and the ambiance is definitely romantic. Service is great, not overenthusiastic but classy and helpful.
Drinks: we decided to be extra sophisticated and have cocktails to start out. My «Suite 34» was bubbly, pink, fabulous, and all together too girly for the boyfriend to be willing to try. He was excited because they were willing to make him a Vesper. Any restaurant that lets you pretend you’re James Bond gets bonus points. They also had a good wine list, both by the bottle and the glass.
Food: my leek and camberert tart appetizer was delicious, with completely balanced flavors. The boyfriend loved the pear and candied pecan salad. We both had the salmon, and it was delicious. The sauce definitely wasn’t French, but it was a great addition to the fish. (I saw the pork at the next table and it looked good but suspiciously pink– I would have wanted it more cooked). For dessert, we had the crème brûlée and the pineapple basil sorbet. The crème brûlée wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but you can’t really go wrong with that dessert. I couldn’t decide how I felt about the sorbet, but it was an interesting mix of flavors and good overall. Serving size was definitely on the small side; we weren’t sure if we were going to be full after three courses, and we’re not huge eaters.
Definitely recommended… especially at 3 courses for $ 28.

Searching through the menu samples for Dine Around Seattle this March I knew I had to go to Chez Shea! Even though we procrastinated a bit and waited until the end of the month, we were able to make a reservation (I think this was necessary to get a table even mid-​week during this DAS promotion!).
We arrived about 15 minute early but were promptly greeted and invited to wait in their lounge area at the well-​stocked bar. Before being seated, the staff offered to take our coats and we were escorted to our table right by the window overlooking an empty Pike Place Market. The dining area can probably seat about 60 or so patrons so it isn’t a huge place, but it’s also not so «cozy» that you’re sitting on top of the people dining beside you. The décor is tasteful including chandeliers and candlelight, and it isn’t so dark that you can’t see what you’re eating; you can also see the glow of the red market signs from across the street. It does have what I consider a «French» feel to it.
My husband had the beef carpaccio and loved how the onions really complimented the meat! We both had the halibut cheeks for our entrée and the fish really paired well with the mushrooms, greens, lentils and apple parsnip purée (my only thought would be to increase the amount of greens and purée as I ran out of those fairy quickly and had «extra» fish). Knowing my husband’s palate, he would have enjoyed a bit more salt in this dish (which is on the table), but it was still very enjoyable, light yet substantial enough to fill us up (big enough that I even shared one whole piece of fish with my husband!). For dessert, I had the bitter dark chocolate and coffee mousse cake — very tasty and enough coffee flavor to not require an espresso on the side!
I get the feeling that the restaurant isn’t usually that busy but the $ 30 for a 3-​course meal enticed enough people to come out to put higher demand on the kitchen. It didn’t feel like the wait was too long between courses, but our waiter did come around to apologize at one point. They kept us stocked with bread and a basil-​oil sauce between courses as well as doing an excellent job watching our drink/​water levels throughout the night.
A note on parking: Chez Shea does validate after 5:00pm for the Public Market Parking lot. (Another plus!)
As we departed, we were approached by one of the staff who asked us how the meal/​experience was. This seemed natural, like saying farewell to a friend at a dinner party. We’ll definitely be going back!

Dining at Chez Shea is extremely pleasant. The restaurant is cozy and intimate. The candlelit space with windows overlooking Pike Place Market is lovely. Service is great. The servers are very friendly and accommodating of requests.
Unfortunately, on my two visits here, the food just hasn’t impressed me. There wasn’t anything wrong with the dishes, but I haven’t been wowed. I think my dining companions on both occasions have felt the same way too, since no one remarked at the table, «Oh wow, this is really good!» either time.
I won’t go into detail about the food, but I’ve tried veal carpaccio, oysters on the half shell, potato gnocci with prawns, seared rockfish, crème brûlée, chocolate mousse, flourless chocolate cake, and several glasses of wine. I’d say the appetizers are better than the entrees, and the desserts stand out the least. Portions are on the lighter side, and I left neither full nor famished.
Still, Chez Shea is worth a try, and judging from the overwhelmingly positive reviews, you may enjoy the food more than I did :) Also, the menu changes seasonally.

I sure am a sucker for a price fixe menu! Chez Shea is a wonderful spot for a date, dinner with an old friend, or even folks from out of town. The views are killer, the location is perfect and the food is divine.
Tonight my dining partner (shout out to Mindy E!) and I enjoyed a TON of delicious food here. Opting for a 3 for $ 30 menu as part of a local promotion, I enjoyed a bartlett pear and candied pecan salad, a wild mushroom risotto, a crème brûlée and a faboosh wine pairing!
The salad was insanely good. Each ingredient was delicious and when piled together to make a salad it was like an explosion of yumminess in my mouth. Everything from the simple dressing, the cheese and even the dish it was served it was simply perfect.
The risotto was also tasty and the portion size was just right. Dessert was also great and the overall experience was one of the best I’ve had in Seattle.

I moaned.
Yes, it was that good. Would I choose to eat there for the rest of my life over sex? Absolutely not (actually, with hesitation…). But would I take a job offer from them if the job description is to lick every plate clean? Definitely yes.
Do take advantage of their happy hour! My dinner reservation was at 5:15 but I arrived early and they were able to accommodate my early arrival, and sat me at the lounge initially. I ordered escargot and pork belly from their happy hour menu, and they were so yummy!
The escargot was fresh, and I loved the garlic and pesto combination. The escargot that I’ve had at another restaurant had that «soil» taste, but the escargot here has that clean flavor. The baguette that came with it was soft and slightly buttery — very good complement with the garlic pesto.
The pork belly was stringier and tougher than I had expected, but the skin was almost crispy. It was a good balance of flavor between the sweetness of the julienned apples and the refreshing veggies on top. The sweetness of the garnish went well with the savory flavor, taking the greasiness out of the pork.
The soy sauce they used was not overpowering, it reminded me a lot of this braised pork that my dad always makes at home. Slight acidity in the soy sauce makes the fatty pork appear lighter, easier on the palate.
But the highlight of my night was that foie gras! It reminded me of the best filet mignon EVER! It had that buttery texture, sweet, and literally melts in the mouth! The fattiness was compensated by the sweet and sour fig. Texture-​wise, the brioche gave it a crispy, more satisfying chew (otherwise you’d think that you haven’t eaten anything because the meltiness of foie gras pretty much slides into your throat). The dressing was a bit tart and slightly bitter, but in a good, complex way!
I topped my meal with an order of creamy chocolate mousse. Yes, my stomach is a bottomless pit. The mousse was fluffy, creamy, smooth, and rich… it was like a chocolate pillow…
The little place right across from the market, on the second floor, is intimate and romantic, but since Pike Place Fish is right outside of the window (I could see them from my dining table), those rambunctious (and sexy) men really bring the some energy and character into the restaurant, over the soft jazz music playing in the background.
Now, let’s talk about this plate licking business…