Restaurant Christine

What a lovely gem!

Came here with mother and wife on a Saturday for lunch and were really impressed by the food.

The fried oyster po boy was something out of this world! I never knew you could have such good po boy outside of Louisiana 😉

Wife ordered the lamb gnocchi which was also very delicious! 😋 We also ordered a warm beet salad and a cannoli which we liked as well.

Their lunch menu is quite reasonable. And their proximity to Green Lake makes this place an ideal fueling station after your run or biking tour. 😄

My girlfriend and I came because the reviews were glowing and this spot did not disappoint. The food was excellent. My zucchini sandwich was perfectly cooked and tasted amazing. Her picatta styled chicken was also tasty. The service was a little stilted, but was still friendly. The decor needs an update, however, the lived-in feel of this neighborhood gem lets you know it's a beloved local spot. Would certainly recommend to natives and travelers alike.

Are you tired of fancy wannabe Seattle restaurants serving expensive yet does not worth eating type of food?
Then Christine is the right place for you to eat. Each dish deserves the price and also an applause. Some of the menu items might have unfamiliar flavors that makes the experience even better. Cooking techniques and inclusion of vegegtables are perfect.
Elk Osso Bucco/ Even better than mine and many others' grandmas recipes. Not gamy at all and truly slow cooked to perfection.
Escralo Salad/ Wilted well made, flavors of garlic and olives create an impressive harmony.
AK Coho Salmon/ I was thinking I figured the best marination and cooking techniques for salmon. But I would love to hold a candle for this one. This is rare find as a salmon dish in Seattle.
Beef Liver/ I grew up in Istanbul, eating home cooked liver and always loved it. It is really hard to find these special delicacies in PNW. They know what they are doing at Christine, best liver in town.
The last and maybe the most important detail is the vibe at Christine. It is QUIET!!! Somehow there are yellers wherever you go/ People talk so loud, I believe many have hearing problems that they are not aware of. Christine's clients are talking softly.
This might be the longest review I have ever written. Restaurant Christine deserves to be talked about.

A true treasure!
In on of the pictures I posted, you can see that the salmon is cooked perfectly. I wish I could cook salmon like this: medium rare, crispy skin, perfectly seasoned.

Atmosphere is literally "white table cloth" and our attire was typical Seattle shabby (no chic). And yet, we were not under-dressed. So casual and friendly are the staff. The background music was at a perfect level. Well under the conversation level.

The atmosphere fosters conversation. I cannot say enough about this. The tables are nicely spaced, so you are not sitting next to the people nearby. This place is welcoming.

No cocktails, just beer and wine. A very nice selection. Definitely coming back.

My partner and I stumbled across Restaurant Christine after the location we wanted dinner at didn't pan out. We found ample street parking in the neighborhood and were astounded by how unassumingly lovely the site is. The building gave me a sense of midwestern charm, touched with the atmospheric vibes of the Pacific Northwest. Despite not having a reservation, we were promptly seated. Furthermore, before entering the restaurant, one can smell the seafood emanating from the kitchen. I would have requested a central area seating location if the restaurant was more relaxed, as the kitchen is located in the dining area with a clear view.

After perusing the menu, we settled on a half dozen oysters, marinated red cerignola olives, accompanied with the seafood nero risotto and the crab ravioli topped with even more crab. The half-dozen oysters exceeded all expectations in sweetness and brininess; they are one of the city's best oysters I have had. The marinated olives are plump, red, and meaty, providing the perfect accompaniment to the red wine we ordered. The main course is truly the piece de resistance: the seafood nero risotto is lovely to admire. The dark, inky color is derived from squid ink. The flavor is highly umami while holding true to the halibut, squid, and shrimp accompanying pieces. The only thing that could have elevated this dish would have been a gram or two of shredded black truffle. The crab ravioli, however, was the best dish of the night. The entree is savory and meaty. The salty cheese paired with the buttery seafood sauce and crab was a marvel to taste. I held my breath multiple times and went as far as to scoop the sauce with my knife long after the ravioli was gone. We finished the night with Porto, which is wonderfully priced and an excellent dessert wine.

My only qualm with Restaurant Christine is the music choice. The music ranged from The White Stripe's Seven Nation Army to chamber music, which was oddly off-putting. Despite the babble of sound, the restaurant is vindicated by excellent food, which endears and perpetuates what Pacific Northwest cuisine is and can be. I will be returning. Oh, and Cody was polite and considerate of our needs.

The food is the standout here with everything being absolutely delicious! The menu changes often to utilize fresh ingredients and there are always specials to further capitalize on what's in season.

The service was really great as well, the food pacing was perfect and the wine extremely tasty (they even brought out an ice bucket to keep our white wine chilled.)

The spring risotto with nettle pesto was incredible as was the pink lady (apple salad) and tuna tartar with ginger glaze. Everything was super fresh and delicious.

The only thing that brought me pause was the ambiance. They need a total makeover inside this place. It's like the restaurant was decorated on a timed shopping spree from a going out-of-business TJ Maxx. It's clear the focus is out on the food/menu here and in one respect that's totally fine and even appreciated. That being said, it does create a weird Identity for this otherwise wonderful neighborhood restaurant.

Adam is wonderful! He is so kind and helpful with explaining the menu. He is passionate about what he does and the atmosphere of the restaurant and quality of the food reflects that: it's made from scratch and is all incredibly fresh. The menu is seasonal, so the food is literally as fresh as it can get. We got three different dishes to try them out (beet risotto, clam pasta, and mushroom chicken sandwich), and I can't pick a favorite because they're all incredibly delicious. We will definitely be coming back and we're excited to see how the seasonal menu changes. ---- update as of 2/15, everything is still fresh and the restaurant is lively as ever! Happy for Adam to see his restaurant thriving :)

New post: Valentine's Day 2022

Came here for a late date, and again, it is the most wonderful place. Perfect atmosphere, cozy, and the food was absolutely perfect!
We came in when it first opened, and more in between, and have never been disappointed.
The wait staff is sweet, and care deeply for your experience. Please, do not hesitate stopping in to Restaurant Christine.

Old post:
I had a wonderful experience with Restaurant Christine. Adam has created a wonderful atmosphere exquisite food with this restaurant.

We ordered three items off the menu, and were extremely happy with each dish. We would have been happy with a dish each, but had to try multiple items. The food was light, and perfect for a lunch. With enough room for a dessert and espresso.

We are excited to try dinner, and to finish the rest of the menu! Each item is seasonal, and I am more than willing to try new items produced in this kitchen. So come get them while they are still here!

This restaurant is a MUST try. Not only are all of the people who work here super kind, the food is AMAZING. Definitely one of the best in Seattle up there with Spinasse and Canlis IMO. I'd drive here if you live within 30 miles 🤩

2023 Update: The food here is still amazing and the lunch special an incredible deal. I just tried their summer menu, and the chicken milanese is one of the best things I’ve eaten this year, period. The pistachio cannoli is lovely, too.

2022: The food here is awesome. The owner is really friendly and works hard to create a menu that is seasonal, fresh, and unique. It is very cute inside, great spot for a date night. The lunch specials are also great value for the price.

We have a great time every time visit. The food is terrific, but Adam, the owner, is amazing. He’s super friendly, happy to help with the menu, and accommodating. He overheard we were going to split our dishes and he plated them split for us.

The menu changes often and there’s always a special, so we always have something new to try. Today we got the mushroom risotto special and spring chicken sandwich

This is such a beautiful location, with an elegant atmosphere. The menu is well thought out and offers a beautiful selection of seasonal offerings.
The portions are generous and plated to accentuate each dish.
This is a wonderful restaurant, locally owned and operated. Adam (I think it's the owner's name) was charming and offered excellent descriptions of each dish. I can't wait to see what each new season brings to the menu. I will definitely return!
Thank you for such a delicious appetizer, meal, and dessert!

I came here with two friends and had one of the best meals ever. I’m still thinking about it. The seared plum salad, seafood risotto, pistachio cannoli, and panna cotta were all phenomenal. Everything was seasonal, fresh, and bursting with flavor. The chef came out to chat too. This place is a gem. 10/10 recommend.

I came here for my son of UW commencement with my family. All the food here was fresh and delicious, and above all, Ruby who served my family, was very kind. We will come back again.

Had a wonderful experience at Restaurant Christine a few months ago. Adam was very accommodating for a reservation request. The atmosphere was cozy and just what I was looking for. The food was great and Adam was very open to feedback.

A wonderful experience. Just by accident we found this great restaurant. The location is perfect in a small enclave of restaurants, pub, bookstore in a part of Seattle I didn't know existed - and I've been a Seattle resident a very long time... :-) The atmosphere is very welcoming and the wait staff was outstanding in their hospitality and professionalism. The menu was great. Several items we had were made in house.. like a great focaccia and an incredible chocolate truffle cake. Salmon was the special and it was perfectly prepared.
Could not have been better. Looking forward to going there again.

A great place to treat yourself. The food is exceptionally well prepared using local, regional ingredients. Weekends can be really busy. They have very good lunch options.

Chef Adam is a superb chef! Everything I had here was outstanding! Adam is very personable and all the dishes he made for me were full of flavor! I definitely will be returning and I definitely recommend checking this place out!!

The chicken marsala and Tuscan bean soup special were amazing, the marsala is one of the best I've had in Seattle to date. My partner and I will be back to work through the rest of the menu. Very recommended!

I just had the BEST burger from Restaurant Christine. Placing a takeout order over the phone was a breeze. I got the Zoe burger on a gluten-free bun (SO excited to see they have GF options). I like my burgers well-done, and they managed to cook it that way without drying it out. The burger was thick and juicy and just perfect. And the fries that came with it were perfectly seasoned and crispy. The owner is also delightful to talk to. I will definitely be coming back again and again!