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    Altura

    4.4 (711 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndItalian
    Closed 6:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Altura Photos

    Business Info

    ALTURA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dressy

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    Recommended Reviews - Altura

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    Anh N.

    Reservations were made for this place for my boyfriend's birthday and there are limited amount of spots so make sure to reserve your seats beforehand! There is a set menu and I believe it changes every month, but if you have any allergies you can informed the restaurant ahead of time to make accommodations. It's a small restaurant but its cute and homey vibes. It was such a wonderful experience from the service staffs to the food that was served. We sat at the bar area and got to watch the craft and smell the aroma curated. Love this place, and would love to come back.

    MinJung K.

    The food, the presentation, the service--this place is truly an incredible gem in Seattle. The open kitchen adds so much to the experience; you can watch the chefs work their magic as you dine. If you want a closer look, there's bar seating right up front, though we opted for a table. The uni bite was unforgettable--I still think about it, and honestly, I could eat them like popcorn. The ambiance is vibrant and welcoming, and the staff makes you feel taken care of from the moment you walk in. The drink menu is excellent as well and pairs beautifully with the food. A memorable spot through and through.

    Birthday surprise and the evening's menu
    Morgan B.

    11/10 - one of the best meals I've ever had. We did the chef's table and not only was the service exceptional, the experience of getting to chat with the chefs and see what they were doing was well worth the small additional cost. My partner booked this for my birthday after Reddit told us it was the place to go in Seattle. I'm happy to report Redditers know what's up. I was able to ask for a few modifications due to allergies and being a picky eater and they were kind enough to accommodate me. Starting out, the vibes were immaculate. The place is quaint, but warm and lovely. Something that makes Altura unique is the attention to detail - not only in the food, which is exceptional, but also down to the cutlery and flatware. Everything is served on something unique that makes the food even more pleasing to the eye. The service was also exceptional. With no one person truly "serving" you, you get to chat with a variety of folks and it makes for a very fun experience. The sommelier is never far away and has fantastic recommendations. We chose the pairing that married alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options. Every pairing was perfect, but many of the wines were very unique! And finally, the food was so. damn. good. From the wagyu crudo, to the charcoal grilled octopus, the braised shank ravioli, and the honey semifreddo - nearly every bite had me turning to my partner to say "this is so good!" And again, every item on the plate intentional, well cooked, and perfectly crafted. All in all, a wonderful evening and an exceptional meal. Just go eat here.

    Vanilla Semifreddo
    Edward C.

    The experience was super fun and delicious, love sitting at the counter top and seeing the chefs do their things. The staff is very friendly and they do the whole "putting the plates down at once" thing. The team is very lean, you can see everyone doing everything and the operation is impressive. For foods, very delicious and similar to typical fine dining - hugely flavorful, unique twist and well seasoned. Standouts: - the tomato dish was absolutely fantastic. Best tomatoes I've ever had in my life. They were served cold so I can only assume if they were room temp, it would lose structural integrity because they were so ripe. - the prosciutto wrapped mussel was really good. Just a whole bite of umami! Ambiance was very relaxed, small spot so you have to make a reservation and it's a whole experience.

    Complimentary aperitif of apple juice, fennel, and other juices
    Dawn G.

    Another delicious and imaginative dinner at Altura! I cannot rave enough about their stellar mocktail pairing. They put so much thought and effort into these mocktails and I could drink a gallon of them. Service was friendly and attentive per usual from each member of the staff. We sat at a table but were able to watch the chefs at work and preview dishes as they came out. Looking forward to returning!

    Wagyu ribeye with summer vegetables and garlic scape pesto
    Kelly L.

    Came here for a friend's birthday and it was a lovely but expensive ($$$) night. Reservations were relatively easy to make and I prepaid for the meal on tock. Be aware that the meal does take the slotted 2.5-3hrs. Started at 8:30pm and finished around 11ish. I opted for the N.A. drink pairing cause it's usually more interesting. My friend and I ended up sharing, since some of them were hit and misses for certain flavor preferences. Didn't get a picture, but the last dessert was a combo of a cannoli, cherry marzipan, and rich hot chocolate. It was so so good. Overall a great meal for Seattle. We were pleasantly full after everything. We sat at the chefs counter and it was so much fun to see how the chefs prepared everything. Truly a lot of moving parts and a profession of precision. Noise level was great too. At the end, they provide the menu to take home which is a nice touch.

    Qingyi Y.

    The food was all pretty good -- I especially liked the ravioli; it had all the best things in there! The first few bites of each dish were great, too. Their flavor palette leans more toward umami and earthy tones, which I really enjoyed. I also love that they include a palate cleanser between the savory courses -- the shaved ice tastes like that "green grass" flavor from Harry Potter candy, but in a good way. That said, it was definitely too much food for me. I didn't realize how full I was until I walked out, and then I felt kind of sick for the next two hours. The cannoli in the final dessert wasn't anything special -- I'd honestly drop that.

    Maria P.

    It's taken me a loooong time to write this review and I hate myself for it! I found Altura by sheer coincidence looking for a special dinner. I'm so glad I found it! Best experience, service and food I've had in a while! Worth every penny! I went to the location for dinner the week of Christmas and decided to do the counter experience and enjoy the tasting menu. Oh. My. God! The food was delicious, completely understated, and I can tell that they're consistently amazing based on the person seating next to me, who was a local! And they told me they love the place so much that the go at least a couple times a year!!! The ambiance is relaxed but still formal enough that you know it's for special occasions I do love that it didn't feel like I had to make too much of an effort still. Definite must try!

    Rack of lamb with potato purse and radicchio
    Jo L.

    The food was amazing and definitely worth it for a fancy occasion. The flavors were wonderful and while it's billed as Italian there were a lot of cool fusion flavors such as yuzu, osmanthus, and Persian black rice. We had a prix fixe menu with the A5 wagyu addon and it was buttery and delicious. It's a really cozy restaurant with not a lot of tables. We could also see the kitchen staff at work which is really cool for a fine dining restaurant. I'm taking one star off because my partner, who is lactose intolerant, was given dairy on multiple occasions throughout the evening. He had been asked at the time of booking whether there were any allergies in our party and we were also asked again when we were seated at the start of the meal so we had mentioned this at least two times. Despite this he was given several dishes with dairy in them and when we pointed this out, the staff seemed to struggle to find substitutes, which is weird because dairy is not that unusual an allergy. I appreciate that the staff tried to be accommodating and I'm grateful that his allergy was only mild because in other cases that error could have sent someone to the hospital or had them spend their in the bathroom depending on the severity. (The bathrooms were nice, though.) Apart from that, I had a great dining experience.

    Riddhi G.

    WOW!! Literally we went to celebrate my birthday and were so impressed by their prix fixe menu. This was a place my family and I have been wanting to visit for a long time and so lovely when a place lives up to it. Also, they knew it was my birthday so they even brought out a candle for me to blow Incredible food and service!

    Kailey C.

    Normally mutli-course prix fixe restaurants leave you hungry and wishing you hadn't spent so much on such small bites of food. Altura is the absolute exception - totally worth every penny, and worth 2.5hrs of your time. The menu is technically 10 dishes, including the optional ribeye - but when you count the small sides like prawn heads and popcorn (a play on popcorn shrimp), and homemade sourdough with butter sprinkled with smoked shaved mushrooms, it comes out to 12+ dishes. Every bite was delicious, and each plating was unique and playful. You can see and taste the care and passion that goes into each dish - highly recommend sitting at the counter so you can see all the chef's at work! So much attention goes into each bite, it's truly incredible. Just wish we had run around the block mid-meal - they provide a sorbet and granita palette cleanser, but after that is 2 well-sized entrees and 2 dessert dishes that are actually 4 different desserts! Really looking forward to going back and trying the menu next season!

    Sophia T.

    If you're looking for a place to celebrate any special events, then this is the place for you. My boyfriend and I had celebrated our anniversary here back in 2022 and had such a memorable experience here that we decided to come back again this year to celebrate our anniversary again. You must reserve ahead of time if you ever want to come here at least 2 weeks ahead to get a guaranteed time slot and seat choice. Make sure to write in the extra notes that you're celebrating your special event, so they can cater their dessert to the occasion. They have 2 time slots on the weekend (5:30 pm and 8pm) and the meal usually takes 3-3.5 hours, so be sure to plan your time well. The first time we went here we dined at their table. This year we decided we wanted to watch them make their magic from the bar seat view. They start by handing out warm hand towels and followed by the course meals dependent on the season. Midway during the course they ask if you'd like to add in wagyu by oz to your course meal (with extra cost). We ended up ordering the 3oz wagyu each time we went because it was so juicy and soft. Overall, it was a magical experience and the perfect place to come to when you have a special occasion you want to celebrate!

    Prawns
    Edward S.

    I had been to Altura a few times through the years often for special occasions. It is always wonderful and after this meal, I think better than ever. Make reservations well in advance--I tried booking for my birthday and had to go the week after. It is in Capitol Hill, so parking is a challenge. They have two seatings a night and a fixed menu that changes. The interior is beautiful and a little quirky (e.g., there is painting of nun over one of the toilet seats). Service is impeccable, just the best. When you book you have some options. I booked the matching wine course while my wife booked with half of a wine course. While the wine matches are incredible, the non-alcoholic drinks they served were really wonderful, some of the best I have had--really worth it to have one person try that. I need to give thanks for Altura for providing the menu after the meal--I took some notes, but great to have the details. We started with a glass of champagne with the Stuzzichini course. What a start to the meal. There were three bites, the best was a beet sponge cake (which does not sound good, but was absolutely delicious) and then next a fermented potato with caviar. You go to a meal to have new, unusual bites and they really delivered. Next was mussels and a Riesling. My wife does not even like mussels, but loved this prep with some roe and pancetta. I wish I could have had a dozen. This also came with fried prawns, perhaps the one bite of night I did not love (but imagine many will). After that was salmon with spot prawns served with a Pinot Meunier (a white grape I had never heard of, but matches well with seafood). It was amazing how great the salmon was--simple, but perfect. Next was sweet corn Agnolotti and sourdough bread matched with a buonamaico. They had these morel mushrooms with this that were out of the world and I could eat that bread they served every day. They had a rhubarb sorbetto as a palate cleanser, then onto the red meeting. We chose the lamb saddle and then took there option to add 2 ounces of Wagyu steak (which was perfect for the two of us). This was matched with Vinous Obscura Sagrantino from Oregon which was my favorite wine of the night. Both the lamb and steak were superb and cooked just right, I think I like the lamb a bit more. Then it was dessert time. So many tasty bites! it was matched with a lambrusco--another great complement. I think my favorite thing was this aerated hot chocolate, but overall a fantastic way to end the meal. We will definitely be back again.

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    Altura Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Altura

    Looks like the Christmas eve or New Year's eve dinner is a bit more expensive than typical dinner. Is the menu significantly different?

    Is it better to sit at the Chef's Table or a regular Dining Table?

    If you have a small group, it's a unique experience to sit at the chefs counter and watch the kitchen while eating, while still being able to have a conversation. If you have a larger group, I'd recommend the regular dining table. It's the same meal… Read more

    Do they have a vegetarian tasting menu?

    I've been twice now and they adapted the tasting menu for a vegan and a vegetarian both times successfully, we did let them them know ahead of time.

    Usual dress attire at this place on a Friday night?

    I've seen everything from light casual to dressy. I suspect the dressy ones were celebrating something special.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Cascina Spinasse

    Cascina Spinasse

    4.4(1.5k reviews)
    0.7 miCapitol Hill
    $$$

    Adam our server was so kind and helped us curate our order to make our first time at Spinasse a…read morenight to remember. Our order with pictures in order: 1.) Cavatelli al guanciale; pasta with pork, garlic, and kale. A great compliment to the butter and sage pasta, the pork being so soft and flavorful. 2.) the Cavolfiore con bagna caoda; a roasted cauliflower with an anchovy sauce and lemon. Did not think that a vegetable could be the star of the show, but with that sauce, it was our favorite. Loaded with flavor, every bite was perfect 3.) Tajarin con burro e salvia; butter and sage pasta. The fine cut literally melted in your mouth, best to eat first while it's warm. This is a dish that stays year round on their menu and was highly recommended by our friends. We ordered the pastas in the half order which was perfect for 2. Your order comes with complimentary bread which you can ask for olive oil on the side for. Will definitely be back!

    We had our final dinner in Seattle at Spinasse and twas a wonderful time…read more First off, Spinasse gives Capitol Hill from the moment you enter. It's minimally furnished with just the right amount of ambient lighting. Secondly, it's Italian, but Piedmontese Italian if that means anything to you. We started with crespelle ($29) which is an Italian crepe. The version we ordered was stuffed with prosciutto and parmigiana fonduta with arugula salad. The crepe was light and airy and paired perfectly with the salty prosciutto and parm. Perfect starter. Honestly, all the pastas we ordered were absolute fire. Of the three, I liked the Tajarin Al ragù ($20/$34) the most. It's a fine hand-cut egg yolk pasta with pork and beef ragù. The pasta is so finely cut; it's delicate. What I liked best was the way the ragù sauce enveloped itself into the folds of the pasta. Each bite was cohesive and really intentional. The risotto was also quite good as well - that night, it was the risotto ai gamberi ($21/$35) which highlight spot prawns. The spot prawns were sweet and the Calabrian chili was a really nice complement to the sweet and creamy. Delish. I'm sure the risotto is great in any season. I must say - the best thing about the menu is the fact that you can order a smaller portion of any of the pasta dishes as to not have to fully commit to one. This is a superb way to eat. Live actually. Include Spinasse on any itinerary if you can.

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    Cascina Spinasse - Cute and rustic

    Cute and rustic

    Cascina Spinasse - Antipasto Misto Della Casa

    Antipasto Misto Della Casa

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    Due' Cucina - Capitol Hill - Mushroom & White Truffle oil - IG: @nelson_eats

    Due' Cucina - Capitol Hill

    4.3(882 reviews)
    0.2 miCapitol Hill
    $$

    We were lured over to Due' Cucina after having a fantastic experience with their fresh porchetta…read moresandwiches at the Camp Yelp event earlier this month. Fatty and tender meat, dripping with juices, on top of the perfect focaccia with an ideal crunchy fried crust and airy interior, not to mention the excellent marinated eggplant, tender and filled with tangy vinegar essence. I couldn't wait to give their actual restaurants a try, and that's where we found ourselves over the rainy weekend. This particular location is open and clean with extremely friendly staff. Ordering is really easy on the 3 kiosks in the front, although the pasta chef/cashier is also happy to take orders, offer suggestions, and help with any questions. The menu displays the level of al dente to expect with each type of pasta but can be adjusted in the order notes. They also have a very convenient monitor up near the kitchen that displays order status, whether in the preparation phase or complete. I especially love how this restaurant has bar seating in front of the fresh pasta making station. We were able to watch as the chef mixed up a batch of fresh spaghetti, measuring out the semolina flour and water (at least, that's all I saw her add to the combo mixer-extruder), preparing the die, and then extruding the pasta. And yes, as with any high quality pasta, they use bronze dies for extrusion here! The pasta is dried on racks for a bit to really give that al dente bite when cooked. Suppli Al Telefono ($3.70) - An order comes with a single piece nestled in a mini fry basket. This is somewhat similar to the more commonly seen (in the US at least) arancini. It's a smaller log-shaped fried croquette, with tender rice cooked in a fragrant tomato based sauce, stuffed with tons of gooey, stretchy cheese, and then deep fried to golden perfection. The breading is fantastically crunchy, contrasting against the much softer interior. It's a great pairing of texture and flavor. (5/5) Short Ribs Ragu w/ Fusilloni ($14.90) - The chef recommended the fusilloni with the ragu. The fusilloni, essentially a larger fusilli that has longer "fins", has plenty of spirals and crevices to catch onto the sauce. The extrusion is a little inconsistent, with some pieces being longer than others and others being more spirally, a sign of manual hand cutting rather than being machine sliced. Per the menu, the fusilloni is cooked until a "2" al dente level. This is actually more al dente than most Italian restaurants, meaning the pasta has a very firm bite, yet remains slightly chewy. It's definitely cooked through and pleasant to eat, although trending towards the too al dente side. The pasta is only lightly sauced, but what sauce there is clings perfectly onto the micro rough surface of the pasta. Each bite is consistent in taste with all the rich umami and tangy notes from the red wine tomato sauce. The parmigiano reggiano adds an additional burst of savory saltiness and the short rib, rendered perfectly tender, is given in enough quantity to satisfy. Due Cucina really does serve some great pasta. (5/5) Rustic Porchetta Sandwich ($11.90) - With how great the porchetta sandwich was at Camp Yelp, this is a disappointment. The porchetta, while still flavorful with somewhat anise-like and garlicky aromas, is completely dried out and tough. It's like the pork had been pre-sliced in the morning at a central kitchen, shipped to the restaurant, then placed in a dry heat tray for service. After the meal I confirmed my suspicions with the chef - the porchetta is prepared off site and and driven over every morning. The focaccia, so airy and crisp at Camp Yelp, is also subpar in store. It's floppy, completely saturated with oil, yet feels dried out on the interior. At least the eggplant hasn't degraded in quality too much. While still having a bite (e.g. not super tender), it's grilled and marinated until tangy and savory in a vinaigrette. Interestingly they serve the sandwich on top of a bed of lettuce tossed in a balsamic vinaigrette. The oils in the sandwich drip down while eating to add even more flavor. (3/5) I know that their porchetta is high quality when fresh, but I think the way they have it set up now makes a sandwich that's still tasty, but definitely could be much better. If they choose to open a specialty sandwich shop that roasts the porchetta in house, I'd definitely be a regular. With Due' Cucina, though, I'd stick with the excellent pasta. At the end of the day, pricing is very reasonable. For less than $40 after tax/tip, we both left satisfied. What a rarity for Seattle nowadays. And as a bonus, apparently they refresh the menu often. According to the chef, starting on Monday, Due Cucina will be introducing new pasta shapes, sauces, and different sandwiches. I'll be back for more pasta in the near future! Bathrooms - Two unisex rooms that require a code to enter.

    The good: portions are large and prices are lower than expected. Financial and tiramisu were very…read moregood. Takeout was quick. The meh: carbona focaccia sandwich was a salt lick. The short rib ragu and bolognese were 2x pasta to sauce, which was surprisingly dry given they were swimming in oil. Pasta is obviously homemade and tasty. Next time we'd plan to eat in the restaurant rather than doing takeout.

    Photos
    Due' Cucina - Capitol Hill - Ambience

    Ambience

    Due' Cucina - Capitol Hill - Suppli Al Telefono

    Suppli Al Telefono

    Due' Cucina - Capitol Hill - Suppli Al Telefono

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    Brunello Ristorante

    Brunello Ristorante

    4.3(475 reviews)
    3.9 miRoosevelt
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Wheelchair accessible

    We had a fantastic meal here. The lamb special was tender and flavorful, the penne vodka was rich…read moreand perfectly balanced, and the lobster stuffed ravioli was absolutely delicious. Everything tasted fresh and beautifully prepared. We finished with dessert and espresso, which were just as impressive. The lemon cake was light, fluffy, and perfectly citrusy, and the tiramisu was creamy and indulgent with a lovely chocolate drizzle. The espresso was smooth with a great crema and paired perfectly with dessert. A special shoutout to our server Manuel, who was outstanding. He was warm, attentive, and made the experience even better. We also loved the small, cozy atmosphere -- it felt welcoming and charming, the kind of place where you want to sit, relax, and enjoy your meal. We'll definitely be back

    FOOD POISONING ALERT…read more I'm 8 months pregnant and came here on Mother's Day with my husband and toddler, hoping for a nice family celebration. Unfortunately, it turned into one of the worst dining experiences I've had in a long time. I ordered the seafood linguine special, while my husband had the veal marsala. The seafood in my pasta immediately tasted off -- especially the clams and mussels, which seemed old and likely frozen for far too long. Even my toddler, who normally LOVES seafood pasta at Italian restaurants, refused to take a second bite after trying it. I enjoyed seafood pasta from many other places but could barely finish my food that day. Later that night, I developed severe abdominal pain. At 8 months pregnant, any cramping is terrifying, and I genuinely thought I might be going into labor. After hours of pain coming and going, bloating, gas, vomiting, and diarrhea the next day, it became pretty obvious the food was the cause. Ruined Mother's Day and caused unnecessary stress during pregnancy. I will never order seafood from here again.

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    Brunello Ristorante
    Brunello Ristorante
    Brunello Ristorante

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    Mezzanotte - Tajarin al Coltello

    Mezzanotte

    3.9(165 reviews)
    5.3 miGeorgetown

    I was here for a work party and loved the food. Upon exploring the website, we saw their Nonnakase…read moreoption and decided to splurge on a reservation when we had family in town. BEST IDEA EVER. It was legitimately one of the best dinners I have ever had. There were 9 courses total, and everything the chef brought out was incredible. The service was wonderful and personal and attentive from the chef to the bartender to the wine director. So while I already would recommend this place to any serious fan of Italian cuisine, I cannot speak highly enough of the Nonnakase experience. Absolutely worth every penny. Also the bathrooms are delightful. Great vibe, don't miss out.

    My wife loves this place because they make their noodles from scratch, or so they say. I was super…read morestoked to try this place....again. And then I recalled why I didn't want to come back from the first experience. First, the location is unique, and I really appreciate that this business is trying to keep Georgetown alive with cool quirky places to eat. This def fits the bill. But, I couldn't help but notice the political statement taped to the front window, super classy. I dine out to escape my day. I don't need it thrown in my face at dinner. Next, when the menus were brought to us, it was for their 3 course restaurant week special. $50 per person, and there are two choices per course. My family all chose what we wanted and then waited for the meal. Like previous reviewers, the wine is brought out in oversized shot glasses not really, but might as well be). I get that in Italy, dinner wine (peasant fare) is served in cups, not stemware, but $18 for mediocre wine, I'd like to see a more appropriate pour. Lamb Polpettine was essentially lamb meatballs on a cold and very loose polenta with what was described as salsa diavola, but it was essentially a chunky red sauce. There was nothing about this that wowed us. In fact, it was pretty bland overall and underwhelming. But the manner in which you are greeted and served at the restaurant and the remainder of service, you would think it was going to change how you felt about food. I don't even want to go into the salad. Again, underwhelming. The mains came out and although tasty, the portions were very small compared to the price we paid. And if you opt for the truffle, it's finely grated and it covers the entire plate. Also, it's an extra $12......for less than $2 worth of black truffle. It absolutely ruined the dish. An educated server would be able to caution against it, if, of course it wasn't intended to raise the final price, essentially raising the tip. If you order risotto there, be fair warned, it is extremely loosed and not very well made imo. Bland, lacks imagination, and the rice grains were cracked and soggy on the ends and crunchy in the middle.. Last was the dessert. Again, it was tasty, but it comes in these tiny jars that equal about 2-3 spoonfuls of either panna cotta, or tiramisu. At the end of our meal, the bill was over $250. For that price, I could have eaten somewhere where I could have left a little more satisfied and felt like I was actually in an upscale restaurant, not a political statement masquerading as fine dining. Having worked food for a long time, I felt obligated to leave the customary 20% gratuity knowing full well the workers there made their "living wage" before the gratuity kicks in. It included an additional 2% to pay for employee health insurance. Isn't that an employer cost? Why put that on the check? Anyway, out the door for $300 and vowing never to come back. Buyer beware.

    Photos
    Mezzanotte - Bar

    Bar

    Mezzanotte - Bucatini All' Amatriciana - IG: @nelson_eats

    Bucatini All' Amatriciana - IG: @nelson_eats

    Mezzanotte - Bucatini All' Amatriciana - IG: @nelson_eats

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    Bucatini All' Amatriciana - IG: @nelson_eats

    Barolo Ristorante - Organic hanger steak with barolo sauce

    Barolo Ristorante

    4.0(1.4k reviews)
    1.0 miDenny Triangle
    $$$

    Came here for happy hour on a Friday night and were able to get a table for two relatively easily,…read morealthough it was busy. During HH, they offer 50% off bar menu items, which is a spectacularly good deal. My partner and I ordered the carbonara and the ragu, and both were very good but the carbonara was amazing (flavorful, creamy, not too salty or cheesy, decadent without feeling too deadly). The tiramisu is a very good dessert with a nice strong espresso flavor and not too much sweetness. Our waitress kindly checked in right before 7pm to make sure we had any additional orders in before happy hour ended, which is a mark of excellent service. The bathroom is clean and brightly lit. I'd be happy to come back!

    I'm visiting Seattle this week and I'm staying across the street near Barolo Ristorante. They close…read moreat 11, & I called an around 10pm and was very respectful about it ...I literally said, "I know it's late, please let me know if your kitchen is closed. I can just do takeout." I tried to order the fettuccine de mare, listed at $29 (no extra fees on Toast), but they told me it would be $43. That already didn't make sense. Then the server says, "We actually have 50% off happy hour until 11, come in and dine." So I came in. Ordered a drink, escargot, and a steak medium rare. The escargot came out fine. Then... nothing. 39 minutes later (at 10:45pm), the server asks if I'm waiting on anything else. Yes... my steak. She goes to check, disappears, and then comes back with something that honestly felt DISTESPECTFUL. The steak looked like scraps. Uneven, mismatched chunks, all different sizes, with burnt, crispy edges and covered in sauce like they were trying to hide it. It didn't look like a single cut of meat it looked like pieces from multiple steaks thrown together. The plating was sloppy, and the side looked like an afterthought. I didn't take a bite. I looked through it and said, "This looks like pieces from different steaks." She told me she watched them cut it... then immediately followed that by saying she saw them put it under a heat lamp to reheat. So which is it? I work in the food industry. I'm not going to be gaslit over a plate like that. She offered to refire it, but at that point it was almost 11 and they were closing. I paid for my drink and left. Honestly, I wouldn't have been upset if they had just told me the kitchen was closing when I called. But don't invite me in, forget my order, and then serve something like this and try to pass it off like it's normal. Just be honest.

    Photos
    Barolo Ristorante - Inside

    Inside

    Barolo Ristorante - Charred salad

    Charred salad

    Barolo Ristorante - Lumache - baked escargot

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    Lumache - baked escargot

    Haerfest - Tonnarelli - IG: @nelson_eats

    Haerfest

    4.4(76 reviews)
    2.4 miWallingford

    Haerfest is the perfect date restaurant for a quiet romantic night with delicious, authentic…read moreItalian food. My boyfriend and I decided to come here for a last minute date on a Sunday and were surprised that we were easily able to make reservations for 7pm. The restaurant was fairly empty when we arrived which was so surprising because it had such a cute aesthetic and the food was absolutely delicious. We were both super hungry so we skipped appetisers and went straight for the pasta and it didn't disappoint. The Tonnarelli was what both of us were eyeing and it delivered in every way, from the freshness of the tomato to the perfect consistency of the sauce. We also decided to be adventurous and try the Ricotta Gnocchi despite the fact that both of us are not huge fans of ricotta, me especially. I loved the base of the paste and the flavours were great, I think I just got bored of the dense texture of the ricotta after the first few bites. Our server was super friendly and recommended me an incredible white wine to go with dinner that really cut the acidity of the pasta. The sauces being to tangy and acidic was my boyfriend's only complaint about the food, but he was the one driving. I really loved the pasta here and can't wait to come back and try more of the dishes on the menu!

    What went well: - service…read more- ambiance Not so well: - food at price point In short, my friends and I enjoyed ourselves for dinner last night, but I struggled to wrap my head around the price points... $47 for halibut and "greens". The halibut size was smaller than average, and the greens consisting of two small artichoke halves and a single branch of collards. Similarly, we paid $23 for a seared tombo and were given four thin slices of meat. I feel slightly robbed paying about $80 and leaving quite hungry. The food was good, but by no means would I argue this is worth going out of your way for.

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    Haerfest
    Haerfest - Campanelle (HH)

    Campanelle (HH)

    Haerfest - Ginger ale

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    Ginger ale

    Altura - italian - Updated May 2026

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