Food is great. Every dish is a surprise! The service is also great! Wine collection is good too. If I had to say the bad impression, it would be the truffle... it felt a little wired that a saleswoman/waitress took the truffle to you table and asked if you want to add to your pasta for a separate cost. And she didn't mentioned how much is going to add. In the end, we found adding too much makes the pasta tasted all of truffle flavor. The total cost $400+/person after the tax. Even though the reservation told you $160/person, remember the tip, tax, alcohol and they recommended truffles. read more

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Absolutely stunning plating, incredibly creative dishes that also taste great, and highly attentive service. Kind of funky decor and relaxed feel. All in all one of the best all around meals in Seattle. Better food than Canlis. Just as innovative as Violet. Very expensive but worth every penny. Before drinks it runs about $250 a person including service and taxes. Would have been happy if it cost even more. read more

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Worth every single penny and then some. This is a meal I'm going to remember for the rest of my life. I almost can't put into words how delicious, artistic, and genius this multi-course experience is. I absolutely love how you don't get to see a menu beforehand that explains what each course is. They don't hand you a detailed menu until after the dinner so you have a chance to explore the flavors on your own without reading what's in each course. The utter craft and skill that the chefs show at Altura is truly magical. I nearly got emotional at each course as the mastery shined through in presentation and taste. A truly unforgettable experience I could not recommend to anymore more who has the means. Beautiful and so, so well done. Hats off. read more

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Where do I start? This place was on our list of places to try and man did it not disappoint! First and foremost, have to give massive kudos to Mimi who is the first person you see when you come through the door. She is so accommodating, kind and personable. She really did set the tempo for the entire evening. The kitchen line was also just as kind and accommodating. And the food is really crafty, well seasoned, and prepared perfectly. It was my wife's birthday and everyone knew who she was and said happy birthday. Not expected of course, but it's that little extra touch that made dining here that much more personable. We will definitely be back. read more

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This was one of the most interesting meals I've ever had. From eating popcorn with a fork to the savory cannoli, the tasting menu is extremely creative. We frequently asked staff questions that almost seemed idiotic, but they're professional to a tee. They have all the answers about the menu's creation, components, and sources. And they have great mustaches. We didn't do the full wine pairing, but we did take recommendations for a glass to start with and end with. Despite my date not being an oenophile, we both enjoyed the recommendations. Looking back, I'd make the same decisions. I can't believe they fit us in without a reservation on a Friday night but it was such a fortunate happenstance- the less fancy place we expected to go was uncharacteristically booked. The space is intimate, giving off an active yet calming vibe. It's a modern, simple background for a baroque culinary tableau. The meal experience took two and a half hours, exactly as staff said it would. I thought time flew by. We started hungry then ended stuffed- when they brought out the second dessert course, we could barely handle it. However, their aerated hot chocolate-based dessert is so worth it! Some of our favorite pieces were the pillowy gnocchi, stunningly plated in red with fruit and beets. Even the palate cleanser sorbets, with tarragon and fruit flavors, were delicious on their own. The locally sourced crispy duck was perfectly fatty and seasoned. Of the stranger pieces, we both loved the fermented potatoes with black butter. At the beginning, we were hoping for bowls of everything, but no course disappointed and we left fat and happy. It's also sweet that they send you off with a box with a little shortbread and chocolate truffle and a menu to remember things by. I'm still surprised Yelp categorizes this place as "Italian" because that's not apt for the diversity of flavors and inspirations here. Though there was gnocchi, a savory "cannoli," and a vaguely Italian dessert, this place is New American fusion in my mind. read more

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We had a great tasting experience dining at the "chef's table" with wine pairing at Altura. I'm surprised it does t have a Michelin star yet. We actually almost missed our reservation, slight oversight on timing on my part, arrived 13 minutes late dressed super casual. Definitely felt underdressed as many diners were on a date for an anniversary or birthday. We were visiting from out of town. In any event they made us feel comfortable none the less. The chef's table is a seat at the counter where the chefs are preparing your food. It's a fun experience if you're on a date. The chefs were not very interactive or talkative, most were just really focused. I personally prefer a little more interaction but I get it, their job is to make you the best food experience they can. This team did not disappoint. One downside was they offered a substituted finale as an upgrade (eye of the ribeye Wagyu for $25 an ounce). The $25 felt like a high mark up for a substitute vs. an add on. For reference, this pricing is similar to other restaurants base pricing (over last few months) for Japanese A5 Wagyu Ribeye without having to substitute a dish. That said, for most dinners, another main might have been too much food... I'm a 6'3" growing boy!!! Overall, this was a really nice experience, the best dinner we had during our visit to Washington. It's a beautiful little restaurant and the tasting menu was very unique and memorable. It's comparable to Michelin rated dining experiences. I would absolutely go back. Book reservations well in advance! read more

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This review is overdue as I visited in July 2019. It was a special birthday dinner for my mom as we were away in Seattle. I had made reservations for this dinner a few months ahead of time and they do require a deposit down which goes towards the overall bill. The whole experience was top notch. The service was extremely welcoming and friendly. Our waitress offered a complimentary champagne as celebration for my mom which was very sweet. We did the tasting menu with an added supplement of the wagyu beef. We sat at the high top bar table to watch the chefs prepare everything which is always so neat to do. All the courses were unique, plated so beautifully (our waitress even shared that the head chef/owner makes some of the plating dishes himself!), and quickly devoured. My favorite was the wagyu beef course..... absolute perfection. The pasta course was also great as was the desserts (in photos). Altura is a wonderful dining experience. You should make reservations, plan on a few hours of dining bliss.... and you will leave full and happy! Thanks for the wonderful experience for myself and my mom... the birthday girl! read more

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One of the best meals I've ever had! The food was creative, interesting and absolutely delicious. It was definitely a splurge but an experience we will remember. The service was great and the low key, unpretentious atmosphere certainly made the experience more enjoyable. read more

Came here for Vday dinner with my wife. Had read many reviews and bogs that this is one of the "best restaurants" in Seattle and it did not disappoint. Made a reservation month ago for dinner on Vday for $225 per person, I believe the price for regular days is a bit cheaper, don't know how different the menus are tho. We requested to sit at the counter and was granted that request which made the experience that much better. We were greeted by our server and were told dinner would be 14 courses, starting with smaller size bites to heavier courses. While 99% of the menu is prefixed, entree was an option between local Wagyu and duck breast. Wife and I ordered one of each to try. I ordered a bourbon on the rocks and wife ordered a cocktail. From start to finish was about 2.5 hours. Every course was perfect, there wasn't a course that wasn't memorable. Had few moments to quickly chat with the chef that was in charge of the meat station, and learned some interesting facts about cuisine of Seattle and the restaurant itself. Definitely worth the $$$$ and will definitely recommend this to all friends. read more

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Atmosphere is nice though, I do quite like the 'casual fine dining' thing they have going. Service however is subpar. The food is lackluster for such a fine dining experience. There's nothing wrong with the portion size, the ingredients they use, or anything like that. Just... there's nothing special at all about the food. It's not even 'different', really. It all tastes okay... not bland or overseasoned or anything like that, but just okay. Imagine if you get a meal from a cafeteria or something? It's kind of like that. And yes, there's original spins on the food, but that shouldn't be a sole determinant of whether the food is 'good' or not. read more

We were on a family vacation to PNW that coincided with my birthday. Our children and significant other had never experienced a tasting menu. We got wine pairing and one N/A pairing. Everything from the moment we walked in was perfect. It was not formal at all which suited our group, but the food and service was indicative of a fine dining restaurant. We were over fed and over served in the best way possible. We got several ounces of the waygu add on as well. Just perfection. read more

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Altura has been on my list for a while and we finally stopped in a few months ago during their celebration of shellfish. Located on the quieter north end of Broadway, the restaurant is unassuming from the outside, yet cozy and casual on the inside. The décor is eclectic and the space consists of a long bar and just enough tables to still give you an intimate dining experience. The multi-course menu is fixed and changes seasonally. The food may look fancy, but you don't have to worry about fine dining protocol here. Think about your experience here as a well thought out masterpiece. From the stuzzichini to dessert, every course was thoughtful in its composition and plating. After all, you eat with your eyes as much as you do with your stomach. While creative, every dish was still approachable, with a twist on familiar ingredients. Our meal began with a flight of amuse-bouche style bites, including a spicy blood orange and parsley soda that packed a punch. We devolved into courses like beet sponge cake with maitake mushroom and white truffle and beef crudo with parmesan fondutta and quail egg yolk. A play on a savory cannoli with uni had promise, but was overwhelmed by chives. One of the more interesting courses was a fermented potato with black butter that just melted in your mouth. The aforementioned shellfish was delightfully presented, but very sandy, while a satsuma and sea buckthorn sorbetto proved to be the perfect palatte cleanser. Our duck was so perfectly cooked, I could've easily eaten another plate and a winter herb brodo hit the spot on a cold winter night. Though a bit on the pricier side, I think it's worth the experience for a special occasion or just a nice night out. read more

If Altura could title their menu, it should be "BOUJEE AND BOOZEY" because this restaurant DELIVERS on all levels. One of the most exquisite dining experiences I've ever had, honestly! Holy shit, it felt almost illegal that this meal was so good. I could die happy now. We came here to try their spring 2021 tasting menu and everything was hand-crafted and plated beautifully. What I loved about this dinner was that you could really get a sense for how much love the staff puts into their product. We had 7 courses, each thoughtfully ordered to take you and your taste buds on a trip to FLAVORTOWN! I could try my best to depict how amazing this meal was but you'd have to come by to try it yourself. The staff is attentive to their guests, and passionate about the food their sharing which is rare to find in today's restaurant scene. Please get an old fashioned while you're here because it will knock your socks off in the best way possible!! The savory cannoli and the kumamoto oysters were my favorite appetizers. As far as entrees go, the ravioli was unlike anything I've ever introduced onto my tongue. I loved this item the most because we got to watch it from start to finish, how it's made. They paired two of the items with house made bread which were baked to perfection. I like my bread like I like my men - crusty on the outside, soft on the inside (jkjk) Lastly, the strawberry cake with aged balsamic was MIND BLOWING. I have a bit of disdain for this place now because they've set the bar so high for my taste, I'm afraid I'll never be the same woman again. read more

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This place is AMAZING! We booked our dinner several weeks in advance and pre-paid for the meal. The dinner was like an omakase style where you'd be served with a set of chef-decided courses without knowing in advance the actual details. And we did the menu with an non-alcohol drink pairing. The whole experience was a true explorative adventure! We started with a few stuzzichini (appetizers) including caviar with fragmented potato, Manila clam, sea urns cannoli, sponge cake with albacore tuna, and beef crisp. We then had the charcoal broiled mussels, the kanpachi melon salad, and the scarpinocc with truffle. The entree was a beautifully-plated two cuts of stake. The dessert just brought the whole journey home. We had a raspberry panacota and a "chocolate three ways". Everything was beautifully-plated and very "floral" (there was a lot of usage of flower for decorating the dish). The paired drink leveraged similar ingredients from the course to tell a cohesive story. All just elevated the meal to a different level! In short, you get what you pay for and it's a worth-trying experience at least for once. read more

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What a lovely dining experience! The staff was attentive and accommodating - which made our meal so fun as we didn't have to worry about food allergies! The food was of course excellent. We will definitely be back. read more

Altura - Stuzzichini course was delicious! - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Excellent food and service for that very special night with your very special person.

Outrageous pricing, but the food is exotic and exquisite! I can't begin to explain the dishes. Incredibly bizarre and delicious! We had the full five course. This is a must go at least once! read more

Probably the best food in Seattle. Tasting menu was out of this world in flavors and presentation. The restaurant was organized very uniquely, lots of cool decor and can see all of the cooks preparing the food right behind the bar. This place would easily have 1 or 2 Michelin stars if Michelin did reviews in WA (service was great, but not quite 3 star caliber). Would highly recommend anyone go here if money is not an issue. read more

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I was at Altura to celebrate a friend's birthday and, now that I have relocated to anothet city, it was definitely one of the most aesthetically, tastefully and ambiance wise, memorable meals I had in Seattle. The menu is a fix prixe multi course and changes regularly depending on available ingredients, and you can opt for optional courses like truffle/cheese or steak plate s and/or pairing drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic options). We had the multi course meal (everyone who went to the restaurant had to pretty much had the same thing here...with some accommodations for dietary restrictions, of course), added on the truffle/cheese course and got the half alcoholic/non alcoholic and another non alcoholic pairing. The courses were all wonderful. They were beautifully plated and all tasted great. There wasn't a dish that I didn't enjoy honestly. I think what helped too was the portion of each dish was right. It was light and wasn't too much in quantity that you ended up feeling stuffed over the course of the meal. I also appreciated the staff with great service mind. Even though it was a high end restaurant, the staff was friendly and there wasn't a stuffy atmosphere at all. In fact, the ambiance was intimate and they really took the time to pace out the meal and cater for each table (I knew this because we sat at the bar so we saw a bit of actions/preparations that went into their work!). Overall, I loved the meal there. Altura will definitely be among my top picks for Seattle for those looking to celebrate special occasions. P.S. if possible, get the bar seating of you are inclined to also observe some kitchen show and definitely make a reservation ahead of time! read more

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What an awesome experience we had tonight for my husband's birthday. Me and my husband and my son had reservations here tonight. The service was amazing the restaurant was beautiful, very cozy, and the wait staff was very attentive. We had wine pairings with every single item that came out, we had a mini course meal and it was just absolutely wonderful. The flavor and textures and tastes that just worked together. The chefs were amazing. They worked so well together. The kitchen was spotless and very well organized. The first course was a series light seasonal ingredients paired for the Pacific Northwest. We also got the wine pairing for the night and the sommelier, Jonathan, helped us with every course with an incredible wine pairing. It lead with a fermented potato and caviar dish which was phenomenal. Followed by state Crudo, grilled oysters with forest forest leafs, and only see urchin wrapped in what I can only describe to be crunchy heaven. Presented by the chef, nonetheless. Nathan. Next we were served seared muscles wrapped in bacon with a bowl of seafood mousse and salmon roe. Next we had a squid ink risotto with lightly cooked gooey duck which was incredible. Followed by lobster ravioli, topped with a forage of the forest see nettles and other greenery. Finally we had a light intermission to cleanse the palate with a strawberry mousse and fennel. And for the final course, the main course, we had incredibly cooked and seasoned lamb, And I got a five Japanese Wagyu from Hokkaido. Finally, dessert consisted of almost 4 different dishes too much to explain. Chocolate mousse with chocolate cake and toasted marshmallow, vanilla gelato with aerated hot chocolate, chocolate dipped cherries, in the final parting gift of a cannoli. Fantastic what a fantastic, incredible, night filled with food dreams and filled pallets. Awesome. Thank u. Great for My hubby Keiths Birthday!! Thanks Alturas. read more

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This used to be one of our favorite restaurants in Seattle but (man!) has it gone downhill. We took some out-of-towners here for dinner tonight and it missed the mark all over. The food was just ok, and the timing of the courses was just so far off. Dinner starts at 5:30 PM, but we weren't served our first bites until around 6:15 PM. Their reservations page indicates the the pace of the courses can be adjusted if there are timing constraints, but that's not true. Dinner lasted almost 4 HOURS, and I needed to leave before our entrees were served because our childcare ran out at 8:30 PM. Not the experience or memorable night out that we paid over $1,000 for, and we were embarrassed for our guests. I also did let them know that I was pregnant at the time of booking (with a note that raw eggs and the like are not ok!) and one of the courses came out with raw aioli. Sigh. Not the attention to detail that we expected at this price point. All in all, it was super lackluster, unimaginative and disappointing. We won't be back. read more

Altura is wonderful for a special occasion. My husband and I went for my birthday and the service and experience were exceptional. Each course was beautifully presented and artfully paired with an Italian wine. As previous reviews have mentioned, it is an expensive evening but absolutely worth the experience. read more

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Exquisite meal that reminds me of Michelin-star worthy cuisine. The opening courses literally started with Osetra caviar and then just got more luxurious from there. Gorgeous wrapped prawns, a beautiful chawanmushi-like dish with salmon roe and mussel, oyster with anchovy crumbles, and a sea urchin cannoli, delightful prawn butter popcorn, angolotti with black truffles, and sourdough bread you see (and smell) coming right out of the oven. The little intermetzzos, broths, and other small bites are well placed, and pace out the entire meal. A cute little song playlist, and friendly, down-to-earth, but very professional service. They took such good care of us. Come with a very empty stomach, as the volume of food is just overwhelming and it comes out in course after course after course. But what an evening. Three hours of nice, friendly people bringing you plate upon plate of delicious food. Plus reservations, gratuity, mostly taken care of on Tock, so you can just focus on food. We had a great time. read more

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This place is a must stop if you are in Seattle. Make your reservation 3 months ahead for the second seating at the chefs table. Yes, second seating doesn't start till 8:30pm and the meal is 2 1/2 hours long, but the plus side is that the chefs are more relaxed and have more time to chit chat. And I always have a million questions for interesting people. They truly indulged me last night. They really spoil you here. The aesthetics of the food was matched by the umami of the dishes. You truly eat with your eyes here. Every dish is beautifully prepared. Not only is it beautiful, it is so tasty. The burst of flavor in your mouth will bring tears to your eyes. The following are notes of excellence: The savory cannoli with spot prawn was the best thing I put in my mouth last night. The umami was unexpected. You taste the saltiness of the ocean which is balanced out with the sweetness of the shrimp. It is so smooth that your brain is like WTF is in here????? The oak meadow farms rooster ravioli is so yummy. Best ravioli EVER! The pickled onions just set off the richness. And what skill to poach a quail egg! The white asparagus sformato was yummy. I'm not an asparagus person but if all asparagus was prepared this way, I would dig it. It is essentially a chowamushi with asparagus and smoked caviar. I watched the chef smoked the caviar twice prior to serving and it definitely adds an additional element to the salty richness that paired so well with the smooth velvety texture of the sformato. The house made mortadella needs to be sold in a store. I can eat this bite size yumminess every day. The picked veggies offset the richness of the mortadella. I said house made mortadella. No other words need to be said. I'm not writing anymore about the food. You have to discover it yourself. However, I'm going to recommend you get the wine pairing. They are very generous with the pours and will refill your glass if you enjoyed all of your wine prior to finishing the courses. The sommelier is super talented. Picked some amazing wines that paired very well with the foods. A shout out is required for the non alcoholic pairing for the desert. It is a take on the espresso martini but non alcoholic. It was beautifully made and very delicious. Something that really stood out was how approachable chef Lockwood is. I mentioned how much I love the desert "baked Alaska". The sister restaurant across the street make a similar deconstructed desert. He left prep and went across the street to get me an additional desert! He went above and beyond my expectations. Overall, I would definitely come back to the freezing and wet Seattle weather just to visit Altura again. read more

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Most likely the most sophisticated Seattle trying to emulate the Michelin model. My problem is, this was closer to Japanese cuisine, portions and pacing than Italian. I left hungry as this simply missed one or two dishes with a real portion. One ravioli, one meat bite, the entire wonderful adventure feels "sample size." The kitchen needs one large cook. read more

Wow. Wow wow wow. This was one of the most exceptional culinary experiences I've ever had. Each bite was so perfectly balanced, and I left this meal of small bites completely satisfied. My favorites of the night were the foie gras rolls, prawns with foam, pasta with truffles (lemme tell ya - these truffles were spectacular and so so fresh), and smoked mussels. I had no idea what I was eating half the time but that was all part of the fun! Definitely save this for a special occasion at $500 for two! read more

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Absolutely blown away by our Altura dining experience- sort of at a loss for words because we were hardly expecting the foodie experience that came before us, course by course. Having moved from NYC Manhattan the year before, my Wife and I would always enjoy the top 2 and 3 star Michelin-rated restaurants within arms' reach there but had always lowered our expectations upon moving to Seattle. All of our assumptions to date about the Seattle dining scene were shattered with our dinner at Altura. Altura's culinary precision and umami impact are off the charts good- this is a foodie's wonderland. Now the restaurant is small to make reservations even harder to come by but if you happen to snag a rezzie, I can assure you that you will not be disappointed at all. Go to Altura and thank me later. read more

Altura - Most of our courses for the evening- dizzying array of culinary dynamism - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My absolute favorite fine dining restaurant in Seattle! Service was great, food was delicious and presentation was stunning. We also had their wine and juice pairing which paired well with every dish. We can't wait to come back again soon! read more

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After making plans to travel to Seattle, the first thing on the list was finding a nice restaurant to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. I ended up being torn between Metropolitan Grill and Altura, but ended up picking Altura despite it having less reviewers and a lower rating. The food at Altura looked more inventive and I was interested in having something different. I know my intro is very long, but I think it provides context. I think it's necessary to highlight the importance of meeting the customers expectations when they seek a dining experience that matches the special event being celebrated. 1. The staff is wonderful. They were professional, courteous and efficient. 2. The food is inventive and the ingredients are high-quality. The duck-best I've had and the wagyu steak was pretty darn perfect. I will say that of all the courses, I only enjoyed the pastas and main entrees, the rest of the apps didn't taste good at all and were only satisfying to the eye. The dessert was good too, but that's expected. You can't really mess up dessert. 3. Presentation was spot on and the timing of the courses was very well executed. The dishes were all specially designed for the courses and it's something I appreciate. Now for the disappointments: 1. Rating: In Seattle, the food quality standards are described using face emojis. Excellent, Good, Okay, Needs to Improve. I was shocked to see that Altura only had a "Good" rating. It was the first thing I saw and it was very off-putting. I read the description for "good" and it's not good. Basically it's possible that Altura has some red-level violations, just not enough times to get an "okay" rating. Anything below the top for this kind of restaurant is again, unacceptable. Clean up your act Altura. 2. Punctuality: My husband and I arrived at 9pm and didn't get seated until 9:42. Just not acceptable for a $$$$ restaurant. Reservation made far in advance with a mandatory $200 deposit have to be prioritized and 100% timely. I can understand 15 min.. but nearly 45 min late.. ridiculous. I will give credit where credit is due, the host offered glasses of Prosecco as a mia culpa. 3. Venue: The restaurant itself is nothing special. The place in general is very unkept and it doesn't seem like much of the money the restaurant makes is invested back into decor or maintenance. There is no waiting area.. something they need if they're not going to be timely. There are a couple of chairs near the host bar and whoever sits in one of them will have coats hanging over their head. The baseboards are dirty and pretty beaten up. You can tell they only clean where they have to. There's no white glove standard here. The mirrors have streaks and there's dirt and dust under the parts that the broom or mop can't reach. The bathroom is also unkept and pretty subpar for such and expensive restaurant. I took pictures, but they seem to have the same menu posted several times by others so I'll spare you with the exception of the food rating chart. If you're looking for your experience to match the high cost, skip Altura. read more

Altura - Food Safety Rating Chart - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Incredible meal and wine pairing. The flavors and attention to detail in preparation were noticeable. So much attention paid to flavors and textures working together, and almost everything had incredible depth and dimension. The individual ingredients were noticeably excellent and the alchemy of bringing it together in each dish was really magical and obvious with every bite. Beautifully plated with a lot of artistry. Wine compliment to each course was spot on, and really teased out the experience on the palate. Intimate setting, unassuming space and felt private, which we appreciated. My one note would be on storytelling related to service: sometimes the food didn't get the credit it deserved. Think there was an opportunity for improvement around the setup for the courses. But all in all, definitely a must-visit spot! read more

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Tldr: Service is too slow. If you choose the 8.30 pm slot, expect to get your main at 11.15 pm and out at midnight. We fell asleep on the table while waiting 20 mins between courses. Expect half of the dishes to be good, and half are subpar. Do not get the truffle, you can't taste the truffle oil in it For details, refer below: Good dishes: 1. Canoli 2. Melon soup 3. Tomatoes 4. Desserts Subpar dishes: 1. Sashimi 2. Tortellini 3. The main course duck is the most disappointing. So many possibilities wasted for a subpar experience. Better to have just gone for real foie gras at least. 4. We ordered the extra truffle and it literally had no truffle taste to it. The server's response was a curt: "I am sorry to hear that". For paying $23 for truffle, I had expect to at least get a bit of truffle flavor, there was none. Overall, for paying $450+ for two, I had expect something better than half of dishes being subpar. This place definitely disappointed. read more

What an incredible experience. The food was fantastic. Every course was spectacular. The quality, flavor, and presentation were all top notch. We sat at the bar, and it was the perfect spot to watch the chefs prepare the delicious works of art we were about to eat. The service was excellent and the staff were friendly and knowledgeable. read more

Unique and tasty foods. We did their tastings menu and classic wines pairings. We enjoyed all of the foods. It's amazing what the talented kitchen line produced. They did all sorts of dietary accommodations which can't be easy. Luckily, we have no allergies and were able to taste their offerings adulteration. Service was friendly. Our only ding would be the wines pairings but this is particular to our wines tastes. I would recommend anyone to give this restaurant a try. What a treat to experience unique and distinctive dishes. read more

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Five stars for the food! Service and ambiance is great too. Unfortunately my fiancé didn't feel well and had to leave before finishing the whole tasting menu (drinking and hiking right before the tasting dinner was probably not a great idea on our part) but I stayed till the end and each course was simply tasty, balanced, and well thought out. Side note: I asked for an extra slice of their amazing sourdough bread hoping to take back to my fiancé but instead of one slice the chef gave me half of the loaf! We took the bread back home after 4 hrs flight the next day. We have tried several Michelin starred restaurants and if Michelin comes to Seattle Altura will for sure get star! read more

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Before anything else is said, I must say this. The tasting menu here was masterful and wonderfully artistic culinary experience. As my profile pictures will show you, we eat a lot! This was truly one of the best two or three meals my better half and I have ever had. If you go nowhere else in Seattle this year, you should go to Altura! We came here for my wife's birthday and had one of the more memorable meals since we've been married. Reservations were made a couple months in advance and we were able to get a seat at the chefs counter where we watch the food being prepared. The chef here runs an incredibly well oiled machine! They serve up to 75 guests per night, with every dish prepared masterfully! We started out with three or four small bites. Each one was a perfect overlap of pretty and delicious. It was like finding that unicorn! The most memorable bite that we had was Beef Crudo topped with arugula and a quail egg, wrapped in toasted Parmesan. If I could eat this to begin every meal for the rest of my life, I would! The interesting thing about this meal was that nothing was significantly better than anything else and everything was absolutely brilliant. We talked about it for a few days afterwards, and honestly we can't remember more than one or two other meals for everything we had was delicious. The variety of textures, tastes, and presentations intermingled with the relaxed, yet slightly refined ambience was absolutely perfect. This was the sort of place where there people in suits in people wearing jeans, yet everybody exhibited a respect for what they were experiencing. We got to mingle with all of the chefs they were uniformly pleasant, but undoubtedly dedicated to what they were doing. It was great to watch the teacher and the students, all working to put together something that was truly great. Aside from the brilliance that was this meal, another thing that set it apart was the desert. It was pretty, delicious and actually a good size. It was nice to finish the meal off with something that incorporated a number of different types of chocolates as well as persimmons prepared three ways. This included some of the persimmons that were hanging over top of the bar area. It created a really cool ambience and a nice conversation piece. The pictures of the food here, while beautiful, don't do it justice. If you try the food here, it will likely be home on some of the best you've ever had. Bravo to Chef Lockwood and his team for creating a place that is absolutely magnificent! read more

Went to Altura yesterday with a friend and absolutely loved the 8 course tasting menu. Firstly, I am a vegetarian so I was skeptical if I will enjoy the meal as the reviews here mostly mention sea food. However, the restaurant agreed to cater to me and I was so pleasantly surprised. Even the vegetarian meal was so good and done to perfection. Each dish was delectable, very flavorful, had fresh ingredients, and the veg substitutes were so carefully thought of. I sat at the counter so I enjoyed seeing how the chef (s) prepared each dish so meticulously. I would recommend opting for a counter table if you enjoy watching how your meal is prepared :) While I liked everything I tried, kale salad and black rice were my favorites. The desserts were also so nice and I wish I could go there again just for the hot chocolate. The butter soaked popcorns were an added delight. We were very full towards the end of the meal. Before you leave, they give you a copy of your meal and a little box with a chocolate and a bite sized cake. Please note that this experience takes over 2.5-3 hours so please budget your time accordingly. Some things that can improve: the wait time between two servings is long, sometimes even 10-15 mins. I think it could be a tad bit faster. The ambiance of the place is very average. I do not think they invest much in improving the decor, which I would expect from a $$$$ restaurant. The servers are good but I think they could take a bit more time in explaining what they are serving. I had a hard time understanding what I ate a couple of times. The overall experience was great and I could recommend my friends and family to visit this place :) read more

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Long story, short, for our anniversary dinner, Jeremy and I decided to give Altura a try. We both love tasting menus and a 15 course new Italian dinner sounds interesting. And since we are not familiar with new Italian cuisine, we had no expectations on how dinner was going to be. What we did know was that we need to come hungry because 15 course is a lot of food and even with those amuse bouche are small bites, it can be a filler. Every dish had its own uniqueness of usage of ingredients. I loved how they paired certain ingredients together that I never thought would ever work. For example, my favorite dish of the night was the abalone with crispy fried kale, fresh apples and butter honey drizzle. I really enjoyed the scraping the drizzle off with the spatula. The dish was the most memorable, tasty and creative. So why give Altura 3 stars and not 4? Even though I loved the abalone dish, it was the only dish I remembered I liking. Everything else was just ok and for the price we paid, I thought it could have been a little bit better. read more

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Went to Altura for a special occasion dinner with my husband in October. While the food was definitely good and on its own worthy of at least 4 if not 5 stars, I don't think it was worthy of the price. I also don't think the service, decor, and ambience match the price tag of this restaurant. I actually found the stuzzichini to be the most exciting and interesting part of the menu. Lots of interesting flavors and combinations. However, as the menu went on, we became less impressed. We also had asked to have a paper copy of the menu since we find it helpful to be able to read about what we're eating and hard to process in a loud restaurant when served each course. Once we had one paper copy, put on the side of the table out of the way, at least 4 employees asked us over and over again if they could take it (one person even asked us twice). I understand that the restaurant might prefer that each course is a surprise but at the end of the day, we are the paying customers and I feel like it's a small ask. I also found the tables to be very close together for the caliber of restaurant and price of the tasting menu. I was not asked if I wanted a second cocktail as I sat with an empty glass for two whole courses until I finally decided to ask myself without being offered. Again, not a big deal in general, but not the attentive service I would hope for and expect at this price point. Unfortunately, would probably not return given the numerous other options in Seattle. read more

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it's a nice, cosy Italian restaurant in Seattle The food is of high quality. You do not have much choice, you have a few selections out of the pre-selected menu which is served to all visitors. The change menu slightly week to week and there are more seasonal variations it's quite special I can not say it's truly Italia Italian from my point of view (I lived in Italy 4 years), but it's not American Italian either The lace is amazing, i am going to visit it again read more

I loved the tasting menu the first time but after this experience for my birthday I'm not sure I would be back. The price is still the same at $137 but you get less for your money now. I compared this menu from Jan 27th, 2017 to the menu from May 21, 2016. Previously, there was a pasta dish included as part of the tasting that was loaded with shaved black truffle. This time the server came around with a giant hunk of black truffle in a glass jar to try and sell it as a supplementary dish for $39 extra per person. We passed on this. For a winter menu we expected it to be rich but their menu overdid the creamy things..Their idea of a vegetable was serving us fried kale in various forms and mashed parsnips/potatoes. I expected more use of seasonal ingredients and truly saw none. The worst dish of the night was the Juniper Roasted Pigeon that I saw the chef raving about to another table. The wing on the pigeon was so charred as to not be edible. The flavors were a mess. The spicy cherries did not complement the creamy parsnips and the bitter radicchio. The slice of foie gras served with this dish made it too rich. Lastly, they skimped out on my birthday greeting. Last time they wrote "Happy Anniversary" on a separate plate with a few truffles for decoration but this time they wrote it on the same plate as my final dessert course so presentation was seriously disappointing. I came here to celebrate a special occasion and I was underwhelmed by their ability to make it special. All in all, I feel that Altura's quality has gone down since last year and I can say with absolute certainty that I will not be back. read more

Altura - Tasting menu Jan 2017 - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington