great little french restaurant – sit at the bar if you dine alone as I did, or sit facing the post alley promenade near pike place. the bread had that great crust we normally can’t get here, the butter unsalted, the service was unobstrusive but quick to respond, and the menu was typical french cafe – salad, soup, steak fritte – if you love simple french food, this is for you. cafe ambience is great, simple white curtains, classic bistro decor, flowers at the table. enjoy!

I came here after my haircut, looking like little orphan Annie, and fell in serious lust with this place. It’s a little slice of France tucked away in Post Alley near Pike Place Market. Seating is limited though, so unless you don’t mind eating at the bar, come here after lunch (but before 2) or early.

After hearing Cafe Campagne talked up for several years in Seattle, we finally decided to head there to see what all the fuss was about. I reserved a table via OpenTable and requested a romantic table, if possible. We were seated at a two-top facing Post Alley, and if was nice and quiet – perfect for a romantic date night.

I started with an Alsace Pinot Gris (by the glass) and it was lovely; it was dry with a hint of sweet that went perfectly with our meal. We decided to try as much as possible without stuffing ourselves so we split everything.

We started with Escargots de Bourgogne, wild Burgundy snails roasted with parsley, garlic and shallot butter. I must admit, the mental picture of Burgundy snails running wild gave me a giggle. When the escargot arrived, it was a gorgeous lush green from the parsley and the flavor was sublime…we ordered additional bread to ensure that all the sauce was sopped up and enjoyed. Next was the Soupe du jour, a lovely carrot ginger puree that made my taste buds dance.

After the soup came the Salade verte with Roquefort. I must say, there is something to be cherished about a salad simply dressed with the finest ingredients. Truly, it was green (mostly green, some purple) lettuce leaves dressed with a simple vinaigrette and topped with crumbles of Roquefort…very, very basic, and absolutely divine.

Our entree, Truite aux amandes (pan-sautéed boneless trout with steamed potatoes and an almond, lemon and brown butter pan sauce), arrived swimming in brown butter. The almonds were seated atop the fish, golden brown and fragrant. Initially, it seemed as though the trout were overly doused in the brown butter…until we tasted it. The brown butter had a perfectly nutty flavor and was outstanding. Again, more bread was needed for sopping purposes. The fish itself was a bit of a nonevent, it truly didn’t taste like much of anything but I rarely enjoy trout so this could be exactly how it is supposed to taste. The sauce definitely made the dish.

Our server provided impeccable service, appearing when needed but never hovering. Overall, it was a wonderful, romantic evening – I highly recommend Cafe Campagne when you’re near Post Alley.