When I lived in Seattle in the early 2000's, it was hands-down my favorite restaurant. When I moved back to Seattle in 2024, I was ecstatic to discover it's still going strong and dishing out delicious food. Tucked away on 46th street in Wallingford, is an old school Seattle institution, Bizzarro Italian cafe. Although small in size, they bowl up some big tastes! My favorite is still the Puttanesca. It's on the spicy side so fare warning to the sensitive stomach crowd. They always have a great line-up of daily food and drink specials. I also can't forget to mention the funky decor, the chairs hanging from the ceiling, the eclectic art work adorning the walls, all create a vibe that you're in for more than just a meal. It's ambience, baby! The service is always friendly and helpful. Next time you're in Wallingford, stop in for a meal. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back! read more

The ambiance here is great. Lots of quirky art and posters, as well as community events posted. One rule though - no phones! The food was super tasty. I got a butternut squash dish and it was amaaaaazing. Had to make sure to try a seasonal dish in case it wasn't there next time I was in town. Staff was super attentive and helped us with any questions we had about the menu. read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Outside area - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We were seeking for a good Italian spot and the bartender from a few streets down recommended the spot but warned us there may be a wait because it's that good. This place is makes an impression as soon as you open the door. The funky decorations make you and your date want to play eye spy. The waitress and hostess were friendly and welcoming. Helping with recommendations on the menu. My poblano cannellini dish was incredible. The drunken clams is why I'm leaving a 4 star. Sadly it was really acidic. You could tell they had super fresh ingredients but there was something off with the broth. All in all we had a great time. The drinks were great (Bees Knees and Old Fashion) and the tiramisu was a delicious way to finish our meal. read more

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I have been wanting to try Bizzarro for so long and FINALLY we went for an anniversary dinner. It was everything I hoped for and more! The ambiance is adorable with a bunch of random, quirky, fun decor. It feels like walking into a family owned restaurant in Italy! We had about a 45 minute wait, which we expected. We went to the bar at Plant Daddy next door by recommendation of the host, and they called us when our table was ready. They start you off with a huge chunk of focaccia bread with oil and vinegar. It was so good! We ordered the clam linguine and the gnocchi harvest melt. The clam linguini was a bit salty for my taste, but the gnocchi harvest melt was to die for. We tried the tiramisu for dessert, which was delicious! It was very tall, and I probably shouldn't have eaten the whole thing because I was very full when we left, but it was worth every bite and every penny. I will definitely be back to Bizarro! I loved it here. Next time I want to try the Forest Floor Frenzy. read more

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The seating area outside is tight but looks old so maybe the metal fences were actually used to distinguish a smoking area vs the sidewalk in the day? But it's def cute and small, dog friendly outside. I didn't know this but they serve their Ceasars with sardines (I ordered off the happy hour menu $5) and kinda romaine wedge style? The server was really kind when I declined the salad immediately and I finished enjoying my wine before leaving. Will probably return without my dog to look at the full menu inside. read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Outdoor cuteness - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Bizzarro Italian Cafe never fails! The bread is on the table the minute you're sat, and immediately refilled. Service is warm and doting. It's a smaller space, and reminds me of the Billy Joel song, Scenes from an Italian Restaurant! The wine list was superb and the portions are fresh and hot off the grill. We love love Bizzarro!!! Please save room for the tiramisu! read more

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This unique little Italian spot is a hidden gem in Seattle! We dined here and enjoyed such excellent food ave service. When we arrived we put our name on a waitlist, waited outside, then the hostess called when our table was ready. We were seated with fresh water on the table and then immediately bread was delivered. Yum! Our entrees were the jalapeño gnocchi and the golden crunch pesto. We upgraded our salads to a Ceasar and the sun-kissed caprese. I could seriously eat the caprese salad every day. It was so good!! And the chicken pesto dish was amazing! read more

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Extremely artistic and eclectic Italian restaurant. The wait time is crazy long but the food is worth the wait. The seating is a bit close but lends to an intimate environment. I tried the Marguerita Chicken Pasta and for dessert the Chocolate Torte. I tasted the gnocchi dish and it was pretty good as well. read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Margherita chicken pasta - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My partner and I frequent the Wallingford neighborhood, and we wanted to try Bizarro's after passing by it so many times. The food was decent for the price, but at the same time, there are quite a few other good Italian restaurants in the city that we're probably more likely to return to. I'd give Bizarro's a 3 out of 5, or maybe slightly higher. To start, the focaccia bread with oil and vinegar was delicious, complimentary, and infinite, which is unfortunately quite a rarity these days! For our appetizer, my partner and I shared the arancini rice balls. The rice balls had a nice crunchy coating, but the risotto filling and the sauce that came with it weren't particularly flavorful. They tasted fine, but I think perhaps we've been spoiled by better versions of the dish elsewhere. For my main course, I ordered the seasonal gnocchi (with chicken added). The texture of the gnocchi was just okay, maybe not quite as soft and pillowy as I would have liked, but I enjoyed the slightly sweet sauce that came with it. I also appreciated the generous portion size. I ended up with a decent amount of leftovers, which was enough for most of a meal the following day. read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Seasonal gnocchi with chicken - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This spot has been on my list for a while - I was so incredibly excited to try ! We came on a Friday evening and waited about 20-30 minutes to get seated (no reservations). **Pros:** - One-of-a-kind, eclectic interior - The staff is so cheery and sweet :) - Yummy focaccia and oil, and lovely starter salads **Mixed:** - I enjoyed the banana cheesecake ($11), but my boyfriend was hoping for more of a banana cream pie-esque dessert, and this was not that. It was more like cheesecake with a few banana pieces. - The food unfortunately falls flat for the prices. My boyfriend got the spaghetti and meatballs ($26) and commented that the spaghetti was mushy, and the marinara was nothing special. I liked my cannelloni ($26) :) Very cheesy! **Cons:** - Just a personal nitpick, but I love leftovers so much I hate when they are packed haphazardly--and my cannelloni was upside down, and maybe half of it did not get packed :( **Summary:** The restaurant offers a unique atmosphere and friendly staff, but the food quality does not justify the high prices. While some dishes were enjoyable, others fell short of expectations. read more

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Yum! I highly recommend this fun and funky little place with its weird bathrooms and delicious food! Everything we ordered was well prepared, especially the Caesar salad and they have a variety of cocktails. The server helped me decide and even made a small substitution that I appreciated. read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The decoration in this place is so eclectic and unique. You won't be bored during your meal. The food, unfortunately, is just mediocre and maybe it's the entrees we ordered. I love lasagna, but this lasagna was overpowered by the amount of marinara sauce and was not as flavorful as I had hoped. My husband got the forest floor frenzy pasta which had wild mushrooms and walnuts in a cream sauce. This pasta was better but also could have used more flavor and the pasta could have been cooked a minute or two less. Maybe others have had better luck with the other entrees! read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Interior decor - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Epic unique spot with super large portions on the pasta. We went for a few group dinners and the service was excellent! read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Bizzaro lives up to the hype! We've had our eye on this spot for a while now and decided our anniversary was the perfect excuse. Based on other reviews, we expected a long wait, but honestly we lucked out with a very short 10 mins around 7pm on a Thursday. I think the weather and the holidays were keeping folks at bay. Or maybe it was beginners luck. We were presented with focaccia and oil & balsamic while we pondered the menu. Not super large, but it has some really interesting sounding options, including a couple vegetarian ones. I had the pasta margarita (tubes of pasta tossed with fresh basil and our world famous marinara then topped with mozzarella and baked to a golden brown) which was basic but tasty and quite garlicky, and he had one of the specials which must have been good because he consumed all of it (whereas I brought half of mine home). Both came with a house salad that was fresh and lightly dressed. We somehow shared a tiramisu afterwards (not my favorite, but I'm not much of a dessert person). They also have wine and a dessert port menu, as well as a small selection of cocktails. I think that overall the meals were good enough, but what makes Bizarro stellar in my mind is the ambiance and the hospitable staff. Cozy, funky, friendly -- the place and people have personality. Can't wait to return. read more

I've been wanting to try this place for so long and I'm glad I finally did. We tried the eggplant Parmesan, linguini with clams, and gelato. The eggplant parm was definitely a standout. I really liked the marinara so I'd likely go for something with a red sauce next time. Everything was very tasty and the waitstaff were very attentive. read more

I love the ambiance of this restaurant. I came here for a birthday party and it felt very festive and lively. The restaurant is unusually situated behind Archie McFee's and the entrance reminds me of being back in Rome on a street waiting for a table. The food was lovely and service attentive. I wanted to emphasize the ambiance for this review because it really made my friend's birthday celebration memorable. read more

Pasta, cheese, consistency, those are the three things that come to mind when I think of Bizzarro cafe in Wallingford. I've been coming here for years, and this is the kind of place that surprises you with something special every time you come. The eclectic art work on the walls makes it a fun place to bring friends who are new to town. You never know what's going to pop up the next time you're there.. you might catch a skeleton riding a motorcycle during your next bite of meatballs. I've tried almost everything on the menu and have never been disappointed. But their ability to come up with new specials impresses me every time. You want some lighter summer time gnocchi? You got it. You want some cannelloni with enough to cheese to put you to sleep immediately? They got that. Plus, fantastic bread for free? Someone needs to put together a list of all of the great places in Seattle that do such a thing for their customers, there's a special place in my heart for them. read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Obe-Wan Cannelloni - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I have been dining at Bizarro for thirty plus years. Casual dining and predictable entrees. Then, a disaster. I ordered the puttanesca, a spicy pasta dish. Olives, capers, and marinara. The pasta was hiding in an overcooked lump under the sauce. You needed a knife to slice off a piece! I counted one olive. The menu read Lil Mamas peppers. Not spicy at all. Very disappointed. Service was fine but when I mentioned the sad state of my meal, no comment. Just handed me the bill. read more

A solid Seattle classic restaurant, tucked and hidden away just off of 45th. The interior is a quirky hodgepodge of antiques, a very Portland-y vibe. The restaurant filled up fast right after 5 pm so I recommend getting there when it opens or at timing it right for subsequent rounds of seatings. We started off splitting the arancini - a classic that is always delicious. For mains, I had the elk bolognese and my husband had the chili crisp Alfredo. The food was good, but wasn't super unique or something I felt was beyond my own cooking ability. Overall a solid place that I'm glad I tried, but personally I prefer to spend a few more dollars and get something that really wows me. read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - Elk Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Terrible business - lots of drama - food isn't as good. Service isn't as good. Bummer.

Bizarro is funky, dare I even say, bizarre, little neighborhood restaurant in Wallingford serving up classic Italian food. The interior is heavily decorated in knick knacks and lots of interesting paintings and photographs. The Star Wars audio description was playing in the bathroom. Bikes hung from the ceiling. Truly bizarro. We had no reservation for a party of 4 but was able to get seated right away at around 5:30 pm. We found street parking easily across the street. We were greeted with some bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, which was soft and delicious. We ordered the clam linguini and one of the seasonal specials, the butternut squash Alfredo. Both pastas were good and filling, classic but not life changing. We ordered the tiramisu for dessert, and this was not that great. It was very dense and the ladyfingers felt more like cake than cookies. There were almost no air pockets in the mascarpone. It was messing drizzled in the kind of chocolate syrup you find on ice cream sundaes. Overall, 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4. PS There's an unofficial game of "where's Waldo" going on as well -- we found 4! read more

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The food here was amazing. Service was great and the ambiance has a nice Bizzare touch to it. We came in and had a 1-hour wait, though we got a table in about 35 minutes. We ordered Aranchini and Forest Forage (mushroom) pasta which came with a small salad. We loved and finished everything even the complimentary bread service that they gave. There were many other dishes on the menu that we would like to try and definitely go there again. read more

This place is amazing. I came here last night with a few friends and everything about our experience was sublime. They gave us wine as we waited for our table, they were very accommodating when it came to taking our orders, the food was phenomenal (get the clams) and they gave us free bread to take home because they made too much! Cute restaurant, cute decor, everyone in cute Halloween costumes, and cute prices. We shall be back. read more

Cool atmosphere that would be a good date night spot. Most of the pastas were pretty good and flavorful, and most entrees were in $20-30 range. Tiramisu was good (but would prefer without the chocolate drizzle). read more

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We went on a Saturday around 610pm. We placed ourselves on their waitlist and they said it'll be around a 30 min wait, and they'll give us a call. We went over to Archie McPhee while we waited, so that helped the time fly by, and it was most likely less than 30 mins anyway. We were seated, the place lives up to its name. There's so many things to look at inside the restaurant. We got bread on the table quickly when we sat down. We ordered their Forest Floor Frenzy and Clam Linguine. Both were delicious-- seasoned well and handmade pasta is great, and both came with a nice amount of mushrooms and clams respectively. Both came with house salad. The tiramisu was nice and big. Great flavor and big lady fingers. Service was quick and attentive. read more

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After one failed attempt to go, we waited outside before Bizzaro opened at 5:30. There was already a line so defo go early if you want to go. Food wise: we liked the forest floor pasta and the appetizers. The elk bolognese was not flavorful much, the clam linguini would be a lot better with dry pasta and the wine wasn't dry enough so overall not flavorful enough. The tiramisu is weird, tasted like whipped cream only and lady finger tasted like cake. Anyway probably won't go again read more

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The food and staff here and both great! The forest floor pasta is amazingly umami! My husband Dre ally loved the chili crisp Alfredo as well. The bread is quiet good although just a little stale. But can't wait to go back :) read more

Came here for a friends birthday and it had an eclectic vibe to it and was super cozy. They served starter bread that was delicious. In terms of mains we shared an elk bolognese and the cannenoli. Both dishes were good, a personal preference would for the pasta to be a bit less firm and a tiny bit more flavorful. The restaurant seemed very homey and everyone was friendly! read more

Amazing ambiance, wonderful pasta selection. I had the puttanesca and my husband had the clam linguine. Very fresh ingredients and perfectly made pasta. I love that they include a garden salad with the entree and focaccia for the table. The house red wine was also exceptional. read more

This place was SO fun! Random fun stuff to look at while you eat . The staff was super nice and down to earth. The food was amazing AMAZING !! I had their gnocchi, it was cooked perfectly with a tad crunch to it . We all got desserts that were delicious. The best part, their bathroom was so cute with funny pictures on the wall and an old time radio going so if you visit, the bathroom is a must see lol read more

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On a work trip and craving Italian. I'm also a Guy Fieri - Triple D spot follower. The ambience is like no other (one of the best). Once seated & looked over the menu and the special is posted in the back wall, I know what I wanted. Ordered the Cesar Salad (pictured) & Pesto with Chicken. Absolutely the best Italian meal I've had in PNW. Service was excellent and very attentive. read more

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Delicious and fun atmosphere! Great hole in the wall Italian, which is my favorite kind of place.

This is your local family restaurant. The decor is unique and interesting - it definitely makes for a cozy atmosphere! I wasn't particularly amazed by the food, it was OK. I got sugar snap pea carbonara and it was good food but it wasn't authentic carbonara. The eggs didn't come through and it was a milder sauce. I appreciated the homemade linguini, though. It is probably what brings the price up to whooping $26. read more

I have never written a yelp review before but this experience was so uncomfortable that it felt necessary. I went last night for a dinner with my friend and immediately we noticed that the service was slow. This was fine and didn't bother us until we ordered and received our food. We both ordered the sweet pea carbonara and mine was fine but my friends was very obviously in a broken sauce with scrambled egg chunks all throughout. It was very clear that the chef mistakenly overcooked the eggs and the sauce didn't emulsify, leaving it super chunky and greasy. After about 30-40 minutes of trying to get the waitresses attention, she came over and when we expressed our concern and she gave us attitude claiming that that is just how the sauce is. I showed her that mine looked very different than hers, regardless of it being the same dish and she responded saying " So what, do you want something else?" Taken aback, we just requested that it is taken off the bill and to close out. For the rest of the time it was extremely uncomfortable. She sent out another person to return our check and it was clear that they were displeased with us. We were completely polite and tried to be nice but that experience made us adamant that we will NEVER come back. Outside of horrible service the food was alright. Not quite worth the price for what we received. Also I was very surprised that they charged me $8 to get a Caesar instead of a the house salad that comes with the pasta. Given she suggested this to me as an option, I think an up charge that significant should have been communicated. Granted, I am aware that I could have asked. I truly hope that they see this and reevaluate how they prioritize their service. The restaurant itself had awesome decoration and a super cool vibe. The potential for an awesome experience is there. read more

On a cold day, a beacon of warmth emanated from this Italian restaurant, beckoning my boyfriend and I to warm up with their pasta and a glass of wine. The ambiance is kitschy and fun, and I can see this being a great spot to meet up with the girls and catch up. Unfortunately, the food was not great. My carbonara did not taste like a carbonara. Instead of using a thin, round noodle, I received what looked like ramen noodles. The sauce was watery, the pancetta thick and overcooked, and the Parmesan tasted like store bought shredded parm vs being freshly shaved. At this price point, I would expect more. Shoutout to the waitstaff though, they had a great sense of humor and were attentive throughout the meal. read more

Dude, awesome establishment! The moment you walk in, it's super cool. Loves sitting in basically a church bench. So ambiance is rocking. Everyone was welcoming and very attentive. Great service! Now the food... dude the food is f****** delicious! From appetizers (the bruschetta with Gorgonzola and figs) to the pasta to the dessert- it's all flavorful and one of the best Italian meals I've ever had. Locals, you are lucky to have this place. We are visiting and wish we had this place to come to in the regular. read more

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Great vibes! We sat in the cozy corner and found that this is the best table in the house! There are a lot of surprises under the glass table cover if you pay attention! And great bread read more

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I really enjoyed visiting this spot. The focaccia with oil/vinegar and side salad served with entrees are great. We also ordered the fried spaghetti. I really liked the pink vodka dipping sauce. It was fun to try, but I'm not sure I would order it again. Entrees included the clam linguine, putanesca, forest forager, and the chili Alfredo. Everyone enjoyed their dishes, but one person did mention their pasta was overcooked. We skipped dessert, but the lemon bread pudding with blueberry sauce sounded divine. Service was great and the decor inside is fun to take in. read more

Husband and I enjoyed a night out with our 6 month old for dinner. I absolutely loved the eclectic decor. It makes for a light and fun atmosphere. Our daughter enjoyed looking around as well. All of the staff we interacted with were warm and inviting. They were helpful when I had questions and loved talking to our baby girl too. As far as food, we started with the clams. They were so good, and that broth. Yummmm. I actually used some of our complimentary focaccia to dip it and I could t get enough. Side note: I would go here just for that focaccia. It was so flavorful and soft. My husband upgraded to the Caesar with his entree and I had the Salad it comes with. We both enjoyed each of them. Refreshing, crisp, and both dressings were well made. For our entrees, husband went with the lasagna. He said the sauce was a bit too sweet for him. I chose the carbonara, and it was a unique carbonara for sure but I enjoyed it. It's a salty sweet combo with the snap peas. Overall we truly enjoyed the experience. The entrees are a unique spin on classic Italian food, but still not to be missed. I look forward to trying the chili crisp Alfredo next time. read more

Snug spot with lovely food. We got seated promptly and waitress replaced our candle since it was out. Five minutes later it goes out again and our waitress brings a new one, commenting she's unsure why it keeps going out. It's not a big deal but her effort to go above and beyond was definitely noted and appreciated. "Water is never just fine" is a little catch phrase they have on the wall and there are some great wines, but unfortunately just water was alright for this visit. Maybe next time! You get starter bread with oil and vinegar that's actually really good. I had to ask for some more bread. Perfectly crisp yet still soft, not firm and my teeth were in tact. Amazing with the oil but also fantastic with the sauce of your entrees. Entrees come with a house salad that you can upgrade to either a Caesar salad or soup for extra. I opted to upgrade to the Caesar and don't think it was worth. What's interesting is that you get whole lettuce slices rather than having it cut up. It was tasty, but not worth $5 more. On the other hand, the main entrees were fabulous. We got the Forest Floor Frenzy with chicken and Elk Bolognese. Both are excellent choices and the main reason to opt for either is what you're craving. For more of a red sauce dish, the Elk Bolognese is what you're looking for. For a more white sauce dish, you're talking the Forest Floor Frenzy. For the former, you do get a substantial amount of meat with your entree. The latter comes with mushrooms and no main meat protein so I highly recommend adding meat. Ultimately a great experience with fantastic food that I'll revisit soon. read more

Bizzarro Italian Cafe - House salad and caesar salad - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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