Le Caviste — Restaurant in Seattle

I'm a winemaker and grower in St. Helena in Napa valley, and I'm also a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. My wine has also been sold here in Seattle at two wine bars. In addition, I'm also a Purser with Delta Airlines and my normal route is Seattle-Paris every week. So, I received a couple of recommendations to visit Le Caviste and did so last night for my first and probably last time. It is true that this is a very cozy establishment that exudes the feeling of being in an authentic French wine bar. But, the level of service is lacking. Not from the nice regular staff, but the grouchy owner himself. Upon entering, I was greeted by a server and I went to the bar and sat down and was still taking off my coat when the owner came up and gruffly asked, "What are you having?". I told him, "Let me take my coat off and give me a minute to look at the menu". He went away and I browsed the menu which was on chalkboards on the walls. A nice touch, and what appeared to be a really nice selection of wines by the glass and/or bottle. A coworker was joining me and texted me that he was hungry. The owner came up and saw I had finished my delicious glass of Sancerre and asked me if I wanted another. I asked him what vegan food options were available and he laughed and said, "None, this is a French restaurant!" I told him "French restaurants serve vegans and vegetarians, don't you have any vegetables you can cook?" He told me, "You can order the olives". I told him I'll take an order of olives but asked him for a bread basket, and he said "Yes..you can have bread but I only have butter....no olive oil." Bewildered, I asked, What kind of French restaurant doesn't have olive oil?" and he incredulously said, "Maybe the ones in the South". My friend and I enjoyed the wine and the olives were deliciouslly briney and the slices of baguette and country style French bread was truly the closest to actual French bread that I've ever had in the USA. My friend noted the online menu showed pics of steak tartare being boasted as their specialty, and I zeroed in on the pic of the grilled asparagus but neither item was on their actual menu. The owner came by a while later and started to argue about something with me and I asked him, "Have you ever actually been to France?" and he replied, "I go at least once a month" and to that, my coworker laughed and said, "Chris flys to Paris every week!" The food menu at Le Caviste wasn't only bar food but real entrees as well. So that indicated to me, a chef in the kitchen and any good chef (especially one who's cooking French food!!) worth his salt can easily grill up or sauté vegetables in some olive oil and herbs. Oh wait....this particular French restaurant doesn't have olive oil.....!! The "Poor" rating comes from the rude indifference exhibited by the owner (David) and his arrogance towards vegan diners. Otherwise, I could've become a loyal fan. Oh and one last irritation, they DON'T accept...

Most was excellent, save for one situation. This 1 thing is why I give this place 3 stars, but the 3 stars are from 1 visit and experience.

I had an unfortunate "encounter" with the bartender serving me that was not only a moment of rude exchange, but also bad customer service attached to it.

I was on a date and ordered the meat and cheese platter they serve. Throughout the night, my date is not eating and I discover he's vegan. Not a vegan who will die at the sight of animal products, but still vegan and therefore limited to eating bread and mustard and a few olives. Feeling bad, I ask the bartender "do you have anything other than mustard he can have on his bread, or food that's not animal based?" all with a smile on my face, and his attitude changed quickly. He asked, with a gaze meant for flat-earth believers and people who request expensive streaks be served well-done, "and what exactly would that be? I don't have anything only mustard" to which I replied, still being nice " um, well I've never been here so I have no idea what you have. He's vegan, I'd like to order something he can eat since I ordered a plate that's 95% animal-based." Instead of saying "hold on let me find something" or "sorry, we have limited food products without animal ingredients" he chooses the rude filter and says "and that would be...?" You know, because in Seattle we don't have thousands of vegans running around everywhere who would request similar food items. Anyway, as I'm stared at and talked to like I'm a moron, I say "aioli, tapenads, i don't know what you have" to which he pipes in quickly "aiolis have eggs in them."

Maybe he's been burned by relentless vegans over the years, I don't know, but his rude demeanor only stopped when i gave up and said for him to nevermind the question.

In any other establishment near the price of this one, you'd usually have someone at least TRY under the circumstances. I was in no way treating him like a bad bar tender, but he definitely treated me like an annoying patron. I didn't know trying to be kind made me an idiot!

Now, there was a female bartender/waitress who was the opposite. She mentioned their salad but OFFERED to have it made without the animal products and said she'd try to figure it out, but we were already over it by then.

And yes, this means my date still ate only mustard, bread, olives and tiny pickles for 4 hours, and it...

Small, cozy place that's been open over 10 years. It does get VERY VERY VERY loud during happy hour, esp on a Friday. Keep in mind it's in the heart of Amazon country. If you want to hear your friends then go after happy hour, or scream louder than the table next to you. Tight quarters, made most of every inch for more tables/seats. If you get overwhelmed with the 20+ wine offerings ask the owner for suggestions based on your taste & and tendencies. The wait staff that helped us couldn't even give me a suggestion after I gave her body/style/taste/barrel style/dosage preferences. The owner found me a wine after 2 tastes/tries. I usually go Champagne & wine tasting to find something. I don't think they have flights here. The boards or planche de charcuterie is decent. Finding the right "pairings" or suggestions seems to be a skill they can hone more. Wine enthusiasts do love the sip experience, but more are leaning towards the full food/wine taste experience. I love to see a small place survive & thrive, and improve. Lots of opportunity to hone the staff's wine taste knowledge, I think. They don't all have to be sommeliers but they could know the offerings better or suggest speaking to tbe owner if tbe customer says they are overwhelmed. The lady staff just looked at me with a blank stare and shrug of her shoulders while rushing me to.pick something. This very cute French wine bar is most definitely "Americanized" & works at an "Amazon fulfillment center" pace. The 2 wines I tasted were fine but not worth a 2nd glass. I'll try...