The good, the bad, the ugly. The good... You cant beat the view, it was gorgeous. We were determined to have a nice dinner out for our anniversary. The service was very friendly and attentive. We were given a free desert, how nice! The cocktails were delicious. We ordered the Char Su Pork for an appetizer, I had the steak and my husband had the fresh fish. For desert the peach cobbler. The carrots and potatoes on my steak plate were very yummy. The bad... The Char Su Pork I would not recommend. I had no idea that it was bbq pork (served cold) and the plate did not make sense. It hit my stomach like a lead balloon. The steak was a little underwhelming. The dessert I would not order, it was total cinnamon overload. The ugly... No live jazz! We were looking forward to that. Please call ahead to confirm if thats something that you are wondering about. read more

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Love this place for brunch (Brunch only served on Sundays). This time around we got the regular breakfast (eggs, potatoes, toast, bacon) and the prime rib benedict. Both were delicious. Huge portions; definitely a good value. A really beautiful view of the golf course and surrounding mountains. Wait staff goes above and beyond. Only complaint, wish the hollandaise had a bit more of a kick. Otherwise, an all around great experience. read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - Simple breakfast - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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We held our special sapphire Jubilee, (65th) anniversary celebration here recently and it was an amazing success. Deanna, Liv and Chef Gerelle looked after forty guests and a classic jazz quartet with no problems. This is the second occasion we have used the Bistro at Shuksan for such an event, and we continue to be impressed with the food, service and ambiance. Highly recommended! read more

The true definition of hidden gem. The food was amazing. I enjoyed the shrimp and grits and immensely. The view just adds to the whole experience. The service was great as well. I will be back. read more

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Dinner of the year! It's so nice to be greeted and made to feel welcome. We arrived early and our table on the patio was all set and waiting for us. Our super friendly and attentive Server, Rachel, surprised and congratulated us on our 35th wedding anniversary! The view overlooking the golf course is beautiful and a nice treat. The starter Caesar Salad was delicious! Our meal got even better. The Shimp & Grits was full of amazing flavors and just the right amount of heat. The Ribeye Steak was tender and full of the perfect mix of flavors...meaty, salt and pepper, fat, and butter...grilled to perfection! We shared a sumptuous Marble Cheesecake, feeling oh so good. Great ambience, super service, generous portions with creative plating, mouth-watering selections, and a great Bistro! Go!!! read more

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We came here for lunch on Sunday, and had the place entirely to ourselves, except for one other couple in the bar area. The place doubles as a conference center since it is located at the club house of a golf course. The view is nice, but the ambiance does not entirely feel like a restaurant. We ordered the crawfish etouffee and the gumbo for $25 each, which seemed reasonable. The service was great when the server was around. It seemed that the place was short-staffed since there was only one server/chef/host. For example, we were waiting around by ourselves for 15 minutes to be seated before I finally went back into the bar area to look for an employee. Our first set of bowls had dried onion and carrot stuck in it. We got a new set that was clean after bringing it up to our server. The etouffee and gumbo tasted good, 4.5 stars. However, 5 minutes into our lunch, we found a piece of hair in the etouffee, which damped our appetite. The entire lunch was comped and they even gave us an extra order of etouffee to go. The service is 4 stars. If they had more staff, it would have felt more like a restaurant, but I didn't mind. I liked the serenity. It just too bad that we found the dried food scrap in our bowls and the hair, which were serious issues. Otherwise, everything else was great. read more

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Ok pictures looked amazing! But you walk in and it's this weird retirement cafeteria vibe. Food was about the same. I had high hopes based upon reviews and pictures of food. But high priced for lack luster food. Waiters were nice but unfortunately highly don't recommend. Atmosphere was extremely strange. read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Tried this place one Sunday afternoon, and we were quite pleasantly surprised. The food was really good, the plating was beautiful, the service was pleasant, and the view was pretty. It is a bit "out-of-the-way" but we plan to come back for our after-church brunches again, especially as spring and summer arrive and the view will be even prettier (and maybe we can sit outside). Quick review o the dishes we tried: BEETS: very good. (But to be honest we prefer red beets over golden beets, as they are more flavorful in our opinion.) FRIED GREEN TOMATOES: really delicious! Getting this one again! WEDGE SALAD: this was okay. Gotta admit, we have a favorite place for our favorite wedge salad, and we had just recently had that a week or so prior, so it would be pretty hard to please us. We probably shouldn't have even ordered it. We actually didn't care for the pickled blueberries, and the bleu cheese was a bit assertive for our taste. OSPREY HILL FARM CHICKEN WINGS: we ordered 2 plates -- one "fish sauce" and the other "hot" and they were both good. But we especially liked the fish sauce version. Would order again. GUMBO (or was it JAMBALAYA?): by this time, we were getting pretty full, so we ended up taking the two main dishes home to have for dinner. I can't remember what hubby said about the gumbo. PORK CHEEKS WITH GNOCCHI (?): this is the main dish that I took home for dinner. It was really good. CREME BRULEE: Hubby said that this was "fine." STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING: I am a sucker for this dish, and always get it when I see it on a menu. It was really yummy. read more

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I had high expectations for the Bistro at Shuksan. I visited in a day when the owner was offsite doing a cooking demo and there was a large party going on in the event section of the restaurant, so I will take this into consideration for my review. I had the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, but the dish was a bit blah. I love shrimp and grits, but this one was just lacking in flavor. My mom had the Beets by Matthew (skyr | fennel | housemade farmers cheese | holmquist hazelnuts). The beets were delicious but the dish felt just thrown together. Maybe it was just an off day - so I will give them another shot and hopefully can update my review. A word on ambiance - there was none. The server, however, was very sweet. read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - Beets by Matthew - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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We live just 5 minutes away from this amazing spot and finally got to have a kid free evening to take ourselves out on a date. We called a day or 2 before and reserved an outside table by the live music..so glad we did this it was beautiful out no need for a sweater. Music was wonderful! The service was on point my only tip would be to not ask if we want the bill til our food and drink was gone, but that's it. The food was beautifully plated, the wedge salad with picked blueberries was amazing I would get it over and over again! The mushroom risotto was so good, my husband doesn't like mushrooms so I never cook with them, so it was nice to order a me meal. His dinner was amazing he thoroughly enjoyed it as well, and we ended with the strawberry basil cheesecake and I could ear that everyday I'm a suckered for cheesecake and the crust was on point literally couldn't do it any better..we will be back thanks Chef Matt for coming and seeing how everyone's meal was bravo cooking such a beautifully delicious meal!! read more

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Shut the front door! What the heck is great Cajun cuisine doing out at a golf course in northern Bellingham? Best jambalaya I've had in a very long time. Portions were healthy but not over the top. Good value too. Service was fantastic and the cocktails and wine were excellent. Hidden gem????. You bet! Super happy that we listened to the referral to come out here. I'd come back in a minute! read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - Jambalaya - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

We had a memorable meal at the Bistro at Shuksan. Chef Matthew weaves together a delicious combination of flavors. The fried green tomatoes topped with Dungeness crab paired with the beet salad was a perfect combination. We tried the jambalaya, gumbo and shrimp po boy - all yummy! The flourless chocolate cake with orange zest was the perfect finish. We will be back! read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - Fried green tomato with Dungeness crab. - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Ate here after a round of golf. I think I'd come back just to eat here. Chicken sandwich was the best I've ever had!

We came in for the first time for an early dinner and to enjoy live jazz. The service was friendly and attentive--enjoyed our wine and beer, the hamburger was perfect but was disappointed with the mushroom risotto -- lacked Unami and the plating could have been more nicer with some garnish or green. Agree with the review from Linda L. that the atmosphere was lacking (felt like dining at a hall) given that it was dark outside--no view. The service was spot on and friendly, the manager and the chef were even present checking in on the diners. We hope to return since we feel the effort and care is there to make it a great dining experience. Hope this review is helpful. read more

Great food and service. Chef is gluten free so there are lots of options and little worry about cross contamination. Ambiance was better than expected based on reviews. Window table, white tablecloth, linen napins. read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - View from our table. - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

We had an amazing family meal at the Bistro! Chef Matthew Boudousquie prepares incredible farm-to-table Cajun dishes, drawing on his New Orleans roots and incorporating local ingredients. We sampled most of the menu, sharing family style, and everything was delicious, from the jambalaya, to the shrimp and grits, to the gumbo, and more. The fried green tomatoes with Dungeness crab were a particular standout to me, as were the beets. The specials included an elevated take on green bean casserole and a delightful savory peaches and cream. The outdoor seating area is gorgeous! It's a perfect spot for a date night, a family meal, or a group dinner. Can't wait to go back! read more

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Matthew, the head chef is truly a master of his craft. The team that he has curated at The Bistro demonstrates his attention to detail and dedication to provide a healthy environment with amazing farm to table food. All of the employees are in a great mood and happy to serve you one of the best meals in Whatcom County. I also recommend going there on Friday for their jazz nights. This time I got the half wedge salad (not pictured because I ate it so fast!) the pork cheeks with a blueberry glaze, gold beets and mushrooms over puréed celeriac (the best I've ever had,) and a bread pudding with creole cream cheese frozen custard, that is served over candied bourbon pecans with a sweet bourbon creme anglaise to end this gastronomic symphony. Truly a delight!! Will be back many many many more times. read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

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Don't let the dark parking lot and empty entry dissuade your mission to eat some amazing Cajun food. Make sure you go past the hostess station and into the restaurant. It is beautiful, tasty & phenomenal service. read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - Beautiful table settings! - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Amazing food!! Service is top notch. Everything we have tried is worth having again.

The best/most gluten-free friendly restaurant maybe in Washington state. Great food even from a non GF perspective. Great cocktails - $7 at happy hour! And great service. Seriously, check out the happy hour menu. Minus one star for the dining room that is giving corporate retreat vibes. I know it's at a golf course, but they can do better. read more

Great food, wonderful drinks and a lovely atmosphere. Totally recommend. Service is impeccable!

Excellent southern food, great service & Chef Msthew is attentive & fun. Great view. Went today for Happy Hour & disappointed that we couldn't sit on the nice deck if not part of the golf tournament read more

Came for dinner and the food was decent. The ambience was odd, a little staging would go a long way. The wait staff was pleasant. Left something behind and after a bit of miscommunication, am hopeful to retrieve my sunglasses. read more

This is my favorite place in Whatcom county. Started with fried green tomatoes topped with crab. Omg, i could eat this forever. Moved onto wedge salad with bacon and blueberries. Perfect combo. We shared the ribeye. Best steak in the county!!! Great staff, you will not be disappointed! I didn't take any pictures since we were so excited to get in there. And it was all gluten free and a short drive! read more

We enjoyed the shrimp po boy, wedge salad, and bacon cheeseburger. We actually got it to-go. They had our order ready in 20 minutes. Friendly staff. read more

Do yourself a favor and go check out the new happy hour menu! The food and service is great and so are the cocktails :-) read more

The Bistro at Shuksan - Do yourself a favor and go check out the new happy hour menu! The food and drinks are fantastic and so is the staff :-) - Southern Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Thank you to the beautiful staff here! Shout out to Matt, the executive chef, Megan, outstanding hostess, and Jarrell, the pastry chef. When I say red carpet treatment, I mean just that!! It was my birthday and they made me feel extra special. The food and service are OUTSTANDING! They even sang! The fried green tomatoes with Dungeness crab..OMG!! The jambalaya and gumbo were outstanding. If you get a chance to dine here, get ready for an EXPERIENCE read more

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We have eaten at the Bistro at Mt Shuksan so far three times this summer with our extended family of eight to ten people. Each time everyone raved about the food. I saw one negative review about the food and service and ambience. Was the reviewer from a competitor? We love the food including having many gluten free options. A five on the food for quality, originality, and freshness. The service is very friendly and good. Not amazing but good and appropriate for the setting. The ambience is fantastic. The view of the golf course and Mt Baker is spectacular. Love the Bistro read more

LOVE this restaurant. Sunday has ALL DAY happy hour! One of the best burgers I've ever eaten!

Great food and excellent service! The location is at a golf course and is a nice venue. New Orleans cuisine with fresh Northwest ingredients! read more

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great food and service! We love taking our out of town friends and family here, they have amazing food and amazing views of Mt Baker. definitely worth the trip! read more

All around fabulous menu, beautifully presented, and always superbly delicious. And when it's warm enough to eat on the deck, the view can't be beat! read more

Love this place. A little out of the way, the food and service are excellent. Too often 'Cajun' food in the northwest is rather muddled, with little clarity in the flavors. Not here. Everything was quite delightful. Probably the fried green tomatoes with Dungeness crab being everyone's favourite. The missing fifth star is for the rather bland golf course ambiance. Maybe the summer will fix that. read more

This hidden gem of a place has amazing Southern comfort food like their Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice, Gumbo, Po Boy, Fried green tomatoes, etc. The chicken wings is to die for - so full of flavor! We also got to chat with Chef Matt & Asst chef Jarell, as they explained how the restaurant came about. It is a one of a kind Cajun place in Bellingham. Server, Megan was attentive and very pleasant to all of us. We shall be back for more. Luz & family read more

This is a Whatcom County "Best Kept Secret". The food is on point, service is fast and friendly and the view is terrific. As for the folks that complain about the "vibe" if you read the description the restaurant is in the clubhouse of a golf club...the space is used for more than just dining. If that bothers you then go someplace else. If you want great quality food, and great service that's a little off the beaten path you can't do much better than the Bistro. read more

Authentic NOLa cuisine. Gumbo, Jambalaya, Fried Green Tomatoes (topped with crab)... All delicious. Friendly staff, magnificent Mt. Baker views. Our favorite restaurant for visiting friends & family. read more

Incredible food. Easily the best food I've had in Bellingham. Well priced, local, beautifully plated, and delicious! Fast service. Great environment. In particular, our server Rae was phenomenal. Thank you Rae and the bistro staff!! read more

If you have never had good Cajun/Creole food, you might think this is a great place BUT for someone raised in the South and can cook Cajun Creole food, it was a BIG disappointment. I am assuming the Executive Chef didn't think someone might actually know Cajun/Creole food might decide to try The Bistro. We did and were more than sorely disappointed. From the time we were seated, to the time we actually got a cocktail was over 40 minutes as I watched the Chef razzle dazzle cocktails for folks in the bar. Are you a Chef or a Bartender? We sat at an empty table over 20 minutes before anyone came by to get a drink order. Another 20 minutes to actually get the drinks which were delivered with a history of said drinks. The Fried Green Tomatoes were in a flour batter with a blop of crab meat on top. This could have been a good starter of the tomato had been a bit thicker slice and a cornmeal coating. A remoulade sauce or shrimp sauce would have sufficed. The Pork Cheeks were a BIG disappointment along with my Shrimp and Grits. The excruciatingly long wait for an OK cocktail, slow service from an inexperienced wait staff, an over confident Chef and disappointing food was a tremendous let down for an anniversary dinner. If you are familiar with this type of food, you might want to think twice, if not, you'll probably love it until you actually go to New Orleans and eat at a restaurant there. read more

What a wonderful find! The setting was beautiful. The staff was friendly and attentive. We have been searching for good Louisianan food and we found it with Executive Chef Michael. Excellent gumbo and crawfish etouffee. Amazing beet small plate. We went on a Friday and were able to enjoy a good jazz quartet. We will be back. read more

Food was wonderful. Nice selection. Service was great. Made one wrong item for our order but gave it to us on the house while they cooked the correct item. Nice deck overlooking golf course and territorial view. White table cloth inside. Very reasonable prices read more