We've dined here three times now. The first time, they were out of what I wanted for my entree and the replacement was just okay. There were some memorable dishes, but overall, we weren't super... More

We've dined here three times now. The first time, they were out of what I wanted for my entree and the replacement was just okay. There were some memorable dishes, but overall, we weren't super impressed. We decided to go back to get the entree I wanted. It was spectacular. So we decided to try it again. This time knocked my socks off! Truly, truly, I can't imagine how this place gets bad reviews. One of the "sides" was absolutely one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten, and we are quite sophisticated when it comes to food. The service is slow, but if you can look past that, I can't imagine anyone not LOVING this place! Pros: inventive, delicious food Cons: noisy
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I'd have to say that with all the hype this restaurant has been getting lately, I was very disappointed yesterday. I thought the menu was good but my curiosity of Korean/French was not satisfied... More

I'd have to say that with all the hype this restaurant has been getting lately, I was very disappointed yesterday. I thought the menu was good but my curiosity of Korean/French was not satisfied when I learned that by having a kimchi pancake constitutes a fusion of Korean and French fare. The menu was inventive however and the food tasty. The service was one of the worst I have gotten ever from a restaurant that cost more than $15. The waitress that oversaw our table was very unpleasant, and uninviting. She had the aura that she did not really want to be there or that she had a masters degree and that she really didn't have to be there doing this mundane task of serving for God sake! You know this type. Needless to say, I probably would not return unless I found out that this waitress, with the glasses, was gone. The octopus was bland unlike Tavolata or Harvest Vine. The lasagna was plain and uninventive by any means. Overall, for the press and price, this was gust a normal good neighborhood restaurant and not one to seek form another neighborhood. Pros: food was good Cons: food was not great
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easily one of my favorite restaurants in the northwest. coming from ny, i've been to my fair share of french and korean restaurants- and joule is a stand-out offering the best of both. seaweed... More

easily one of my favorite restaurants in the northwest. coming from ny, i've been to my fair share of french and korean restaurants- and joule is a stand-out offering the best of both. seaweed butter for a perfect mini-baguette... whole daurade (recently lauded as a 10-best in food & wine magazine)... mac & cheese with truffle oil? mind-blowing... the chili-ice cream is incredible, but if you have to have just one desert--- "joule" box--- period, end of story. on my last visit i asked to be seated at the counter, and being able to watch and interact with the owner/chefs made it an even more memorable experience. if you are into tasty food with a creative flair, joule will not disappoint. just make sure you have a reservation if you're going on the weekend- standing around waiting for tables to open up is not fun. Pros: cozy size Cons: seating availability due to cozy size
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I went to Joule on a Sunday evening for a bite having never heard of it and really not expecting much. I was just walking by looking for a place to eat and it seemed like it could be fun. As it... More

I went to Joule on a Sunday evening for a bite having never heard of it and really not expecting much. I was just walking by looking for a place to eat and it seemed like it could be fun. As it turns out Joule is a fabulous place to eat. It is a bit small but the space is inviting and has a positive modern vibe. I had four items: The boar bacon salad with roaster corn and cilantro was superb. Everything is better with bacon but this was on a completely different level. The bacon was thick sliced and just a little crisp, and with very little fat (for bacon) it did not feel heavy, even on a hot summer night. The savory and smoky bacon was well balanced by the sweetness of the corn, and the acid from a well structured vinaigrette brought the dish together. The olive gnochi was good but not great. It was well prepared, tender but with just enough bite to feel satisfying, and the pasta itself was very good with the subtle olive flavor, but not enough was done with it. The small bit of cheese and the sweet red peppers were fine but didn't really elevate the dish to what it could be. Hopefully they will tweak the dish and give it a bit more pop, but it was good and would probably order it again. The bread was fantastic and it comes with three butter options. I chose the seaweed butter which was good, but very potent. If you have any aversion to seaweed go for one of the other options. If you love seaweed, dive on in. Finally I had the bison hanger steak with garlic and chimichuri. It was tender, perfectly seasoned and just melted in my mouth. If you haven't had a hanger steak before, this is a great place to try one. The chimichuri was strong but not overpowering. It really accentuated the natural depth of flavor in a hanger steak rather than overwhelming the meat as chimichuri so often does. All and all it was a great little place to grab a meal and have a drink.
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Great spot for a date - food is fun to share and quite good. Best of all, it made the best next day leftovers I've ever had. Prices are very reasonable. Only dish I didn't like was the olive... More

Great spot for a date - food is fun to share and quite good. Best of all, it made the best next day leftovers I've ever had. Prices are very reasonable. Only dish I didn't like was the olive gnocchi, which weren't particularly tasty and whose texture was unexciting. Pros: Interesting food, very cozy, very reasonable prices Cons: Some dishes cute use a little sprucing up in terms of texture/spice/acid balance
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We went to Joule a few months ago and it was really good, but not great. We went again last Sunday for their Urban BBQ series and it was a fabulous experience. Four of us ordered one of each thing... More

We went to Joule a few months ago and it was really good, but not great. We went again last Sunday for their Urban BBQ series and it was a fabulous experience. Four of us ordered one of each thing on the menu to taste it all and then ordered seconds, thirds and fourths of some of the dishes. There were some inventive dishes (bruschetta with onion,capers, goat cheese and grilled grapes) and crazily tasty drinks (blood-orange juice, sherry vinegar and sugar, anyone?) The chefs/owners were friendly, the live music was a compliment instead of a distraction, and seating was available without a wait. Their BBQ series menu changes every week.
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I must disagree with the negative reviews posted. I have a feeling that some of these reviewers just want to keep traffic down so they can keep this amazing little place to themselves. Joule... More

I must disagree with the negative reviews posted. I have a feeling that some of these reviewers just want to keep traffic down so they can keep this amazing little place to themselves. Joule quickly is rising to the top of my short list of favorite restaurants in Seattle. The food is innovative and executed to perfection. Don't expect Korean or French cuisine, but enjoy a meal that hints at what is great about both traditions. Do yourself a favor and try the calamata gnocchi if they're on the menu. While you won't have a "fine dining" service experience, you will be attended to by a freindly, competent staff. Get to this restaurant soon. It won't be long before this pair of chefs earn a Beard Award and we won't be able to get a weekend table here. Pros: great food! Cons: small space. wine list left a bit to be desired
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I was hesitant to try this place after reading some of the reviews but I was very pleasantly surprised tonight. The Korean-French fusion cuisine is definitely unique and pushes culinary boundaries,... More

I was hesitant to try this place after reading some of the reviews but I was very pleasantly surprised tonight. The Korean-French fusion cuisine is definitely unique and pushes culinary boundaries, but I really liked what we ordered: the kalamata olive gnocchi, sliced almonds, red pepper served with a side of crispy white rice cakes (addictive), duck a l'orange with a kumquat sauce (carefully prepared, flavorful), a fresh whole branzino fish (perfectly grilled and moist) with olive tapenade and poached red grapes. We finished off with a dessert called the Jewel Box: tapioca pudding scented with basil and coconut, topped with lightly broiled grapefruit sections. A modern take on an asian dessert that was light and refreshing. The server was very friendly and chatty too. The place had a nice buzz of activity for a Saturday, but I feel this place deserves more attention. I mean, if this place was located in SF, LA or NY, it would be totally packed with people looking for something new and different. Pros: Food, Parking Cons: The tables next to the door might be a little drafty.
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We were really looking forward to this restaurant as it combined 2 of our favorite cuisines. I have no idea how you could have a French/Korean fusion restaurant and have the food be so bland. It... More

We were really looking forward to this restaurant as it combined 2 of our favorite cuisines. I have no idea how you could have a French/Korean fusion restaurant and have the food be so bland. It quite literally seems impossible. We were also disappointed by what you got for the price. Hey, how about putting a scoop of rice with our entrees, at least? (no rice to be seen on the menu at all, btw, which is so strange for with all the Korean dishes) The service left something to be desired but it really was the food that let us down the most. I wish I could recommend this restaurant but I can't.
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