I don't often get to enjoy an aperitivo, given my work hours, but if you can, get yourself to…read moreCarrrello for their aperitivo hour! They actually do this every day that they're open, so you can enjoy this on a weekend like I did. My friend and I enjoyed their abinamento, which is a six-step pairing of snacks and half-cocktails. The cocktails were impeccable, and paired so well with each dish. Hilariously, they accidentally gave us the Garibaldi with the second course (kampachi crudo) instead of the third course with which it's meant to be paired (lamb ribs). But I actually felt like the Garibaldi paired better with the second course than the third course! There was such wonderful variety with the cocktails, and every single one was great in its own way. My favorites were the Garibaldi, the Greek Melon Punch, and the Mezcal Milk Punch, but we loved them all. The cocktails were also paced well. I'm not a big drinker by any means (I probably have one drink every two weeks) so I am definitely a lightweight. I was a bit worried that I'd be wasted by the end but the pacing was such that I finished with just a pleasant buzz, not stumbling out of there like I was afraid of! The food was lovely as well. While each snack is definitely snack-sized, I still feel like I got a really good taste of each one. I actually got to really savor each course and its unique flavors. My favorites were the smoked kampachi crudo and the squash blossom, as I felt like these had the most punchy yet balanced flavors. The lamb ribs were also incredibly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I feel like I would've preferred the octopus grilled rather than fried, which is just a matter of personal taste. We also had the upside down chili cheese tripe fries, which were delicious. (This is part of the aperitivo hour menu but not part of the tasting flight.) The fries are done in home fries style and are done perfectly, super crispy on the outside and fluffy and cloud-like on the inside. Service is excellent here, both via our main person Daniel, who was warm and hilarious, as well as the other members of the team who helped out with running food and clearing things away. It really seem like they work as a team and everyone was so kind. They helped us have a great time and we loved the laid back environment at Carrello. Overall, I think Carrello is definitely worth visiting. Now that I've been to aperitivo hour, I am plotting a return visit for their "feast for the table" and will definitely be back for happy hour again.

What a great dining experience. The servers know their stuff! Had great recommendations and…read moreexplained the preparation very well. We had: Papparadelle - 4/5. Pasta was perfectly cooked and slightly spicy Burrata - 4/5. Delicious with sweet strawberries in balsamic vinegar Gnocchi - 4/5. I'm not a fan of gnocchi in general, but my friends said it was good Halibut - 5/5. Our fave. Flavorful and tender. Octopus - 3/5. Didn't care for the big ears - didn't add anything to the dish. Would've just preferred more octopus. Tagliatelle - 3/5. Pasta was almost like phad Thai noodles. With a slight kick, could almost pass for Asian. Pickled veggies - 3/5. Kind of ordinary. Food was good, but the experience was better. Would return.

I absolutely loved this establishment! The bar sat our group right away and provided excellent…read moreservice. The pasta was all delicious and filling. The pricing was reasonable considering the portions and high quality of the food. Everything looked well organized and attractive inside the establishment as well. Would reccomend and will be back! The Gnocchi/corn/truffle flavor combo was my favorite. The sourdough was also veryyyyy good!

How to Cook a Wolf is one of those restaurants that seems to inspire near-universal praise, but…read moreafter my second visit, I'm still left wondering what all the excitement is about. There's no denying it's a beautiful space with polished, attentive service, but for a restaurant at this price point, the food simply didn't justify the reputation. The meal opened on a high note with the sourdough and herb butter. It's an exceptional pairing, easily one of the best versions I've had. The polenta fritters with whipped ricotta followed and were equally enjoyable, though they leaned surprisingly sweet, bordering on dessert rather than appetizer. For our entrées, we ordered the pappardelle with pork cheeks and the paccheri with octopus. Both dishes were technically well prepared, but neither had the depth or richness I was hoping for. The sauces felt restrained to the point of being forgettable, and the paccheri was notably sparse on octopus. While the pasta itself had a pleasant texture, the overall dish never came together in a memorable way. The bar, however, deserves every bit of praise. My Tahoma's Awakening was an outstanding mezcal cocktail, balanced and complex without overpowering the spirit. My girlfriend ordered the tiki special, and it was equally impressive. If there's one reason I'd happily return, it's for the drinks. Drinks: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Food: 2/5 In the end, that's what makes this place so puzzling. The hospitality, cocktails, and atmosphere all operate at a very high level, yet the food, the centerpiece of the experience, never quite rises to meet them. Given the cost and the acclaim, I'd point anyone looking for great Italian food toward several other restaurants in Seattle before making a reservation here.

One of my absolute favorite restaurants and bars in Seattle. The ambiance is perfect, and I love…read morethe Edison Bulbs, they remind me of camping out on the Sierra when I was a kid. I'm half Italian and this is Nonna's cooking taken to the next level. All the pasta here is handmade so service can be slower than what you're used to elsewhere but it's well worth it. I love ordering the spaghetti and meatballs with ricotta, so good. Their wines are insane and they do delicious profiteroles. The bartender there (white gentleman about six feet with blondish brown hair who wears button ups) is super friendly and I love talking to him about the neighborhood and the fun things to do. We got into a conversation once about Massive and the changes the club has seen over the past few years. He's been a Seattleite for longer than I have and it's always a pleasure to speak about history. They have a late night happy hour which starts at 9:30, barely any people in the restaurant and you can load up on some of the best Italian food the city has to offer for half off. They charge an auto-gratuity which is distributed to all of the staff including BOH. I love it here.

Focaccia 4/5 Carbonara 4/5…read moreEspresso martini 5/5 Negroni 4/5 Tiramisu 3/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 2/5 (outdoor seating was not great)

Absolutely incredible! The food was easily a 10/10 honestly, one of the best restaurant experiences…read moreI've had in a long time. Everything was amazing, and the food was truly spectacular! I absolutely loved the low-key, intimate vibe paired with such high-end, beautifully executed food. It made for the perfect atmosphere for a date night. Hands down, one of the best date nights we've ever had! I can't recommend this place enough and will definitely be coming back.

My husband and I absolutely loved our experience here. Despite being a fine dining restaurant, it…read morefelt completely low key and comfortable. All the staff were hospitable, charming, and very personal, and involved in every step of the evening. We sat at the counter and got to see the cooking up close and chat with the chefs; it's impressive how skillful and detailed they are! The menu was a creative Italian-Japanese fusion which blended effortlessly together to somehow feel like its own category. My favorite bites of the evening were a handmade shortrib tortellini with fresh peas, and a mango black sesame semifreddo crisp dessert. We came hungry, and left absolutely stuffed. Highly recommend for any special occasion.

Fabulous food and atmosphere! Caeser salad and rigatoni are amazing. Service is fast and…read morefriendly. Love the open kitchen with pizza oven and delicious wine and cocktails.

My sister and I decided to visit Bar Cotto after ready some pleasant Yelp reviews, and they were…read morenot wrong! We arrived just as they were opening at 5 pm., but within thirty minutes or so the place was full. Brandon was waiting tables solo, but he never missed a beat. His fun personality was a bonus. We had the burrata appetizer (so good) and the funghi pizza with added garlic. Happy hour prices had the cocktails (just okay) $5 off and the pizza should have been $20 instead of the $25 we paid, but the food was terrific, and I would happily eat there again.

Loved the experience at Il Nido! The restaurant itself is gorgeous--tucked inside the historic Alki…read moreHomestead with such a warm, rustic, romantic atmosphere. We started with the house-baked focaccia, topped with September grapes, anise and rosemary. The sweet-savory combination was unexpected but worked beautifully. The cavolo kale salad was another standout--super flavorful with black garlic & lime Caesar dressing, parmigiano, crunchy seeds and fried capers. For pasta, we tried the Tagliatelle a Nido with beef and pork Tuscan ragù and the Bucatini all'Amatriciana. Both pastas had a great texture and rich sauces, but the tagliatelle was my favorite--comforting, deeply savory, and perfect with all that parmigiano. Also had the Trouble in Paradise cocktail with bourbon, Campari, lemon, grapefruit and basil--refreshing with a nice bitter edge. Beautiful setting, creative Italian food, and definitely feels like a special little escape in West Seattle. Would happily come back for another pasta night!

A block off of Alki Ave sits this log lodge that belongs at a sleepaway camp your…read moregreat-grandparents went to. The interior now is a very clean, well-decorated restaurant that is very heavily frequented, but makes you feel comfortable, unrushed, and unaware of the conversations around you. We were about a month out from the date we made our reservation - expect similar, though do check in for cancellations, and know that the bar does full menu service as well. Greeters and waitstaff were kind and complete the welcoming vibe through the whole service. Start with some specialty cocktails, or a selection from a decent wine list, and have at the menu. Indicate your interests to the waitstaff and they will help you program your meal service. Family-style works great here and the 4 of us split focaccia, charcuterie and a kale salad, split two pastas for primi, two entrees for secondi, and two deserts. The focaccia was studded with dark cherries and was a nice change. The kale salad was a huge hit, with ceasar-like dressing and almost a granola of seeds and fried capers tossed in. The summer cavatelli special was like a walk through a garden, very fresh and light. The tagliatelle is iconic, for good reason. We did a double-cut bone-in rib-eye that was prepared, paraded thru the dining room, and then carved for sharing. The king salmon was very fresh, but none of us were a fan of the braised bitter greens and leeks that accompanied it - skip this in favor of king elsewhere. As for desert - while the chocolate torte and tiramisu had great flavor, we all agreed the preoccupation with cocoa nibs was distracting to the mouthfeel of both dishes. If I had it to do over, I'd probably do more small plates and wrapping up with pasta and doing desert elsewhere. BUT gorgeous experience, on a gorgeous summer evening and still very glad we went!

Stopped in for a fantastic lunch. Opted in for Tonnarelli with pepper olive oil sauce and meatballs…read morewith a side salad and it did not disappoint. The salad cut the richness of the pasta and the meatballs gave a flavorful protein blast with every bite. The service was great and the space is large with plenty of seating.

Nice minimalist decor, friendly and attentive staff. Great music, when packed the restaurant can…read moreget pretty loud causing bigger tables to have limited conversations including both ends of the table. Came with a large group while at a conference. Service was timely. Wine selection was great, cocktails were mostly tasty. Enjoyed the meatball, salad, burrata, garlic toast, beef ragu, ravioli, scallops and wagu. Don't skimp on Gelato either alone or in the affagato (their version is larger than I am used to).

The atmosphere is amazing and I would highly recommend getting a cheese plate. The service was also…read morewell times, quick without feeling rushed. The pasta dishes were lacking in salt and thus consequently in flavor. But overall it was an amazing experience and we will be back.

Cheese Room Seattle is as cozy and inviting as it appears to be offering a very international menu,…read morepaired with an intentionally memorable dining experience. My husband and I have been eyeing Cheese Room Seattle for a few months, but have been hesitant because I couldn't find how to book reservation. Having three little children whom we want to experience dining out early verses learning later, requires planning and reservations help prepare the establishments prior to our arrival. My wonderful husband contacted the manager and reserved us a table that perfectly accommodated our party. Our servers were excellent, and extremely attentive. I greatly appreciate their kindness, service accommodations, and order suggestions. The mimolette jeune was the absolute best and very filling salad I have ever had in my life (I order one to go.) My husband, and children really enjoyed their pasta dishes and of course the grilled cheese. We will definitely return, and highly recommend!