French bistro charm with a local wine twist
Perry District · Spokane · French · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into a French bistro in Spokane's Perry District and finding a wine list that leans into local Washington producers is not what most people expect — and that's exactly what makes Francaise interesting. The list isn't long, but it signals that someone here made deliberate choices rather than just calling a distributor and saying yes to everything. The $$$-tier pricing feels appropriate without tipping into wallet-punishing territory.
With somewhere between 30 and 60 bottles, this isn't a deep cellar situation, but the focus on local Spokane and Washington-area producers gives the list a personality that most French restaurants in mid-sized American cities completely lack. The range supports the bistro format well — you're not here to geek out over a Grand Cru, you're here for steak frites and a glass that doesn't embarrass the food. Gaps exist, particularly if you're hunting for old-world French bottles to match the cuisine's roots, which feels like a missed opportunity given the concept. Still, leaning into regional identity rather than defaulting to generic California selections is a legitimate and defensible choice.
The by-the-glass program runs 8 to 15 options, which is a solid range for a neighborhood bistro. The Winescape Chardonnay from Spokane at $15 a glass anchors the list and gives locals something to root for. Rotation details aren't clear, but the program appears fairly static — don't expect a weekly surprise pour.
Winescape Chardonnay — $45
At $45 a bottle, this Spokane-made Chardonnay lands at a fair markup relative to the $15 glass price — drink the bottle and you're not getting penalized for committing. Supporting a local producer while getting good QPR? Easy yes.
Winescape Chardonnay
Most people at a French restaurant reach for something French-sounding, but this local Spokane Chardonnay is the quiet overachiever on the list. Washington Chardonnay at this price point often punches above its weight, and it fits the bistro's crêpes and moules frites better than anything flying in from overseas.
Winescape Chardonnay
If you're ordering by the glass and planning on more than two pours, do the math and just buy the bottle — at $15 a glass, three glasses gets you to $45 anyway, and the bottle gives you more. Paying glass prices for a full evening adds up fast.
Winescape Chardonnay + Moules Frites
A crisp, unoaked-to-lightly-oaked Washington Chardonnay and a bowl of mussels in white wine broth is a combination that basically writes itself. The wine's acidity cuts through the brine and butter while keeping the whole thing light enough to justify an order of frites on the side.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Francaise isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its commitment to local Washington producers gives the list a genuine identity that most French bistros in this price range completely skip. Come for the moules frites, order the local Chardonnay, and appreciate that somebody thought about this list instead of just phoning it in.
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