In a city constantly evolving, the best stories often come from the places that refuse to give up.
Good Voyage, a neighborhood café and French-inspired bistro tucked into Seattle’s South Park neighborhood, should have been a total loss. In November 2023, an electrical fire tore through the cozy space, destroying everything inside. The damage was devastating and everything inside was lost. But the story didn’t end there.
“I think mostly I was in shock,” says owner Campbell Scarborough, reflecting on those early days. “There was a lot of stillness and long days. A feeling of, ‘Am I supposed to be somewhere?’”
At the time, walking away felt like a real possibility. But the community – regulars, neighbors, friends, even fellow businesses – had other plans. Within 12 hours, a GoFundMe was live. There were fundraisers, offers to help clean up, job offers for displaced staff, and more than anything, an outpouring of belief in what Good Voyage had built.
“There was this chaos on the patio, potted plants everywhere after the fire,” Campbell recalls. “Someone saved a begonia clipping, nurtured it, and surprised me with a fully grown plant when we reopened. That’s symbolic of how our neighbors nurtured us back to life.”
And they did more than bring it back, they helped it become something even better.
Reopened in January of this year, Good Voyage has retained its charm while leveling up. It’s still the kind of place where you can grab a morning coffee and croissant or settle into a corner for wine and dinner. But now, there’s a full kitchen, an in-house pastry program, and a cocktail menu (plus a thoughtful N/A program) curated with the same care and intention as everything else.
“We wanted to keep that escapist spirit, but make it more functional, more complete,” Campbell explains. “It was important to create a space that transitions from a vibrant café to a moody bistro, somewhere you can come morning to night and feel at home.”
That balance of elegance and accessibility is what Campbell calls “authentic but not stuffy.” The food is French-inspired, yes—but you don’t need to whisper when you order a glass of bubbly. In fact, one house rule? “Champagne bottles come with frites. Always.”
The kitchen is now helmed by Max Walsh, who first connected with Campbell over wine at Left Bank (Good Voyage’s sister shop). After running a breakfast pop-up at the original café, Max took on his first executive chef role in the newly rebuilt space, and it’s safe to say he’s found his groove.
“We do all the duck butchery in-house, use every part of the animal,” he says. “It’s always been my favorite protein to cook with.”
The menu, guided by French influence but rooted in seasonality and neighborhood tastes, hits that rare sweet spot: elevated but familiar. Think lentil salads, seasonal veggies, a Jambon Beurre, and the breakfast sandwich, an old favorite locals insisted had to return. One unexpected star? A winter chicory salad that started as a staff party dish and ended up a crowd favorite.
“This is my first time running a kitchen,” Max admits. “The learning curve is real. But our team, they’re incredible. So much passion and pride in what they do. That’s what makes Good Voyage special.”
There’s no corporate polish or hospitality empire behind Good Voyage. That’s part of its magic. Campbell, who also owns Left Bank, never set out to build an empire. “Except maybe the Yankees,” he jokes. His approach is simple: be a good neighbor first. Nearly everyone on the team lives in South Park. And when the restaurant reopened, some staff left other jobs to return, not because they had to, but because they wanted to.
“The hardest part right now is the economy,” Campbell says. “People crave these third spaces, places to connect, but it’s harder to access them. We want Good Voyage to be one of those places. To feel welcoming. To feel safe.”
So, what’s next? The team has ambitious dreams. More themed dinners. A hit monthly oyster party. A long-term goal of being open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. “But mostly,” Campbell adds, “I’m dreaming of a day off.”
Whatever the future holds, one thing’s certain: Good Voyage is more than a restaurant. It’s a love letter to South Park, a gathering place for joy and comfort, and a comeback story worth celebrating.
As Max puts it, “If we can make people leave with a smile on their face, we’ve done our job.”
So go for the duck. Stay for the frites. And toast to resilience, with Champagne of course.
Learn more about Good Voyage here.
Kate Neidigh is a writer for Seattle Refined, covering travel, lifestyle, fashion, beauty, real estate, gift guides and feature stories. See more of her work on Instagram here.
Dining and Cooking