Best Restaurants with a Vibrant Bar Scene in Columbia City

First ate there almost 40 years ago. Food and ambiance still as good as ever

Highly recommend - very pleasant atmosphere, great menu options, the best bolognese we’ve had in Seattle area. Service was fantastic - unsurpassed attention to detail, great pacing. We really enjoyed the restaurant and look forward to our next visit any time we find ourselves downtown. Located a little south of the city center on a very nice block with galleries and unique shops. It’s proximity to the stadiums makes it a wonderful pre-game/post-game option for Mariners or Seahawks games for people that are looking for a nicer culinary experience.

Had a 5:30 reservation for Friday night and was seated promptly. The Seattle Restaurant Week menu looked great and the waiter was helpful in choosing a starter cocktail and then the three courses and a wine pairing. Ordered the Half Chop Salad - romaine, blue cheese, cherry tomatoes, bacon, avocado chickpeas, all came together with a perfect dressing, Next had the roasted delicata squash and chanterelle dish (rich, complex flavors) and a delicious flat bread that is usually only on the happy hour menu. Everything was wonderful and such large portions I took half of everything home and enjoyed amazing leftovers the next day. Terrific value and great service. Only quibble is that the restaurant is quite dark and moody (bring your flashlight to read the menu) and gets very loud when it fills up - everyone is having a great time but it's noisy. Highly recommend, especially if you can enjoy it earlier in the evening.

I had a wonderful experience at Toulouse. Today was my 2 year anniversary with my girlfriend, and Toulouse played a huge part in making my evening with her special. We were seated at a great booth by the candle-lit wall and had a great view of the room. The food and drinks were exceptional. Great soups to start the evening- which led us to our main courses of bolognese and the big east junbalya. Both fantastic dishes with bold flavors! To top things off we got a special anniversary dessert, beignets and vanilla ice cream! Fantastic evening. Would absolutely recommend to anyone!

Amazing cocktails, and the vibe was literally perfect for a night out with my mother and finace! Will be back again!