I'd driven by this place for years and somehow never made it in until this year. I didn't even realize right away that it was a restaurant - for quite awhile I thought it was a coffee shop or something similar. Little did I know it's a delightful little restaurant. It's very cozy inside: dark but not too dark, small but not too small, and just fancy enough that you feel you're treating yourself. We came on a weekend night and had made a reservation, but there didn't seem to be a wait either way. We started with a bruschetta with olive and goat cheese - those are two of my favorite things, so together? Joy. It was just enough to be a satisfying appetizer without being too filling. I can't get enough of Italian-style pizzas so when I realized they had margherita pizza on the menu, I was golden. And it was GOOD. My boyfriend, who doesn't usually enjoy that type of pizza, even remarked on its tastiness. He had a pasta dish which I think he enjoyed, but which was a lot smaller than we expected. I know America 's portion sizes are often too big, but this seemed much more suited to lunch-sized, not a dinner entree. Service was friendly and fairly efficient until the end. It definitely took awhile to get our check and get out of there, but I can let that slide. It seems like other people haven't had great experiences here, but I for one quite enjoyed it. read more

Since we are in semi lockdown I have been trying a lot of different restaurants and cafés in my neighborhood. I own several houses in Madison Valley so I find myself in the neighborhood a lot. I ordered online I was a little taken aback that their asking for tips for online orders. I went ahead and tipped because times are tight right now and I figured I'll be helping someone out. My online order came to $34 but my credit card was charged $40 I'll be keeping an eye on that to make sure the correct amount is charged. So onto the when I walked in the restaurant there was a short woman there with gray hair around her edges she made eye contact with me but quickly turned away gave me the feeling that she definitely did not want to Help me despite my beautiful smile. Another young man came from around the counter and I gave him my order information while waiting the next person that walked in was a Caucasian woman and the lady that refused to acknowledge me quickly came from behind the counter asked her her order info stunned I proceeded to watch this lady get excellent service at that point I made up my mind that I would not be returning to Café Lago. I do not like getting treated different because my money is just as green as anyone else's. so I get home and again after had made up my mind I was not returning that is until I tasted the pizza their pizza is one of the best I have ever had it was absolutely delicious so I've made up my mind I will definitely be returning I will just not return on the night that lady is working I also ordered a lemon tar which unfortunately I wish I could say good things about it but I can't it was horrible it tasted like egg pudding with a squeeze of lemon on top so I did not finish it but again they have the best pizza it is definitely worth giving them a try I wish their customer service was great as their pizza read more

Cafe Lago - I apologize I should've took a picture before I started eating. - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ok so this will be a little biased because my cousin was head bartender here for a few years. I had an awesome opportunity to go to dinner with her here. The food was phenomenal and our service was outstanding. Our waiters provided thoughtful recommendations to try different items on the menu. The restaurant itself some how pulls off the cool, yet cozy vibe. I haven't been back since I went with my cousin, but it is on the list of places to check out again. read more

Excellent food and service. We went in for an early dinner at the recommendation of friends and a gift certificate. Started out with a glass of the Barberra wine and then the antipasto - good combo, nice variety. We had the lasagne and carmelized beet ravioli - pure heaven. The red sauce on the lasagne was obviously home made and not over powered with spices, complimented the fresh noodles and cheese of the lasagne perfectly. Same for the white sauce for the ravioli. Finished up with the panna cotta custard desert, excellent finish to an outstanding italian dinner. Looking forward to coming back and trying the blue cheese salad and the home made sausage and fetticune. Service was excellent. Thank you! read more

Don't sleep on the Gnocci. Once you get off of the impossible-to-stray-from Lasagne, those little potato pillows are waiting to put you to bed. The food here is fantastico. AND the market across the street used to be a circle-K where I bought my first playboy. And for the folks so intent on not focusing on the food, the bad parking and cold atmosphere is the only way they keep the crowd down. Seattle learned that trick ages ago, when it invented perpetual rain. read more

I wasn't too impressed with this place. I heard a lot of good things but I found the food to be just ok and the prices certainly didn't match the quality. The pizza was good, but not nearly as good as Pagliaci or Pegasus. I like this style of pizza, but I have to eat about 2 1/2 pizzas to feel full. I got the Caesar salad and the dressing was way to strong, completely overpowering the taste. We also got an appetizer that consisted of crostini with vegetables and this was actually really good...but over priced. The service was very friendly and prompt. I really wanted to like Cafe Lago...but then again, I really wanted to like that movie "300", and it really sucked. "SPARTANS! We must fight for better salad dressing! AHHHHHHH!" read more

We've loved this place for years and I really can't believe that I haven't reviewed them yet. All that changed when we went in there for dinner yesterday. First off, this may not be the best option for young kids. While they did have a menu, booster chairs and crayons, the crayons came in a glass container (!). And then I realized that mine was probably the only one there and was providing a lot of free entertainment to other couples and families with older children. :D But the servers were definitely very accommodating to us. We enjoyed our usual favs, veggie lasagna, pasta and the margarita pizza. Everything was delish (the lasagna really rocks!). We also had their tapenade with grilled bread and the goat cheese and roasted red pepper with grilled bread. Those were awesome too! Overall we really like this place but perhaps we'll come back when our little is a little bigger. read more

Delicious food, high prices! Their vegetarian lasagna is legendary.... it's an experience for the soul. Their steak frites is delicious. Cafe Lago is a great neighborhood spot to grab an evening bite with friends or the fam. It's often busy, so call ahead for reservations, to avoid a wait. Their tiramisu is also delicious. Check it out! read more

We had planned on celebrating my B-day dinner at a fancy steak house downtown and wasn't feeling it, so at last minute we switched gears and made online reservations at Cafe Lago instead and so glad we did! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming and the aroma from the wood burning oven made the experience even more authentic. The lasagna was a stand out, so light and delicate (I am salivating as I write this!) and my husband's ravioli with handmade pasta was done to perfection....It's making me wanting to make reservations for next week! Our waiter knew the menu well and made great recommendations for wine pairings. We will definitely be recommending to friends. read more

Thin crust + Wood fired stove + Sunny side up eggs = Yes, yes, yes! I'd stay away from the pastas and the salads, but man, oh, man, the pizza was super freakin' crispy and delicious when we asked for a couple of eggs on top. The waitress didn't even skip a beat. BAM. Good times. Also, they had nommy cocktails to choose from. read more

This place has pretty good food, and pretty expensive prices. Reviews on here have criticized their service, but our server was friendly and accommodating. I had the Caesar salad, the special (beef cheeks with fresh wide noodles) and finished with the panna cotta. My entree was a bit salty and overwhelming; I ate about half of it. The noodles did have a great al dente texture. The Caesar salad was delightfully sauced and cheesy. The panna cotta was thicker than I expected, but I finished the whole thing. This was highly recommended. read more

I heard this was the best lasagna in town, so decided to see for myself. It IS the best lasagna in town. All of their pasta is handmade right there - they actually have a person whose sole job is to make pasta - and their tomato sauce is handmade as well. This combines for a truly outstanding lasagna. The ravioli I stole from my daughter's plate was also divine. My son loved his pizza, and I have heard it's superb pizza here, but I didn't try it, and then again, the kid would just as soon eat Domino's and call it good. The reasons for 3 stars? Crappy street parking. Loud. Just didn't have that welcoming, cozy "feeling" I like. While the food was great, I just don't feel like going back. read more

What a bummer. This place is in a great little out of the way neighborhood and looks like it is going to be amazing. The decor is wonderful and I was extremely optimistic. Alas, my hopes were dashed with the first bite. The pizza is Neapolitan style. Unfortunately -- and I can't believe I'm going to say this -- the crust is actually too thin. Think tortilla thin. And it just doesn't hold up to the very wet and uninspiring sauce. As a result, you have a soggy pie right out of the oven. Still better than most places on this side of the country, but not good. I had a lasagna order to go. Didn't realize it had no meat. It was pretty good, but nothing to get all excited about. The search for the best Pizza in Seattle continues. Alas, this ain't it. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd probably become a regular. I don't, so I won't. read more

Just returned there after a year. Service good and attentive. Food mediocre at best and grossly over priced. Olive tapenade appetizer toast points charred black with very thin spread of okay tapenade. Lasagna just ricotta cheese between flat noodles, with tomato sauce over top for $22.. Very average. Ravioli scant portion, raviolis opened up, $25. Wines overpriced. So sorry, I really want to like this place because it is near our home. Unfortunately...My last visit. read more

This is one of my favorite places to eat in Seattle. The lasagna and antipasta plate are fantastic. Also, an excellent assortment of bourbons - order an old fashioned. I'm going tonight. I'm going to have the antipasta plate for two, steak fritas, and I hope they have lemon bars. I'll also have at least two old fashioneds. read more

Pretty mediocre food. Pasta and pizza are tasteless, expecially the family recipe lasagna. The best thing on the menu is the assorted appetizer plate. Nice staff and a pleasant space can't save it, I'm afraid. read more

Cafe Lago - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We have been fans of Cafe Lago for several years. We had a somewhat disappointing dinner on Friday. The meatballs changed, they now appear to be reheated. The sauce was very heavy handed on our pasta dishes. My puttanesca sauce was overbalanced with olives. My wife's dish was served cold, with the middle of her meatballs very cold. l don't know what is going on. The waitress was attentive, but we were let down by the kitchen. I guess home cooking is the best. read more

The meal, salad and service were just okay. This place doesn't offer the kind of quality I expect from the prices they charge. We met our friends for dinner and always enjoy doing that and experiencing different places. It just seems like another place that scrimps so much that they jeopardize it's very existence. The waiter came off as pretentious, like this was some prestigious establishment or something. It would of been nice if he had asked if I wanted more beverage before I was about to eat my last bite. I like to see real menu's, not just something right off their inkjet printer. Odd because I don't think the menu or prices fluctuate. And I like to feel satisfied with my meal, not leave hungry even though I had a salad, lasagna and as many pieces of their bread and olive oil that I could stomach without looking like I was starving. read more

This was a hard one for me. Granted the blu cheese salad and beet salads were amazing; well dressed and flavorful. But, there were small details missed that quite important. We started off with the bread which was OK. It was moist and gooey. The bread was served with olive oil, and very little olive oil. This was nothing to write home about. The poor olive oil was flavor less and seemed watered down :( We ordered the lasagna which was creamy and quite yummy. We also ordered the special which was pork belly with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. I have to give it to them the pork was really tender and moist. Perfectly cooked! The mashed potatoes needed some saving grace and the brussel sprouts were over cooked. We did end up getting the pana cotta for dessert which was really good! Not to sweet, just perfect. The ambiance of the place was definitely lacking, but our server was well informed of the wine selection and didn't hesitate when we asked for a good selection. I just expected more for the price we were paying. read more

Lasagne. Need I say more? It's redic thin layers create heaven in your mouth. Perfect sauce. Perfect vibe.

Solid restaurant with fresh pasta. Went here for a bday dinner for a party of 4. Easy place to get reservations when a lot of the other Italian restaurants in the city is almost impossible for a Saturday night. Easy parking. Quick and delightful service. I had lasagna and my boyfriend had the gnocchi, which were both good but not the best so more like 4 stars for me. read more

My boyfriend and I went for his bday, and we had a good time. The staff was awesome, friendly and just chatty enough, but our food came Immediately. I'm talking 5 minutes after we ordered. So we definitely had a 'cafe' experience...which kinda sucked cause we wanted to chill for a while and we ended up feeling pretty rushed. Our waiter said something about the kitchen wanting to get out of there?? I mean, we did have a 9 pm reservation, but i'm always surprised at how sleepy Seattle really is. And on a Saturday! The food was standard procedure, pizzas and pasta. Via Tribunali is far sexier. read more

Made an order for two simple pizzas! All we wanted was pepperoni, Black olives and mozzarella! Out of pepperoni, and olive! Order came to 52 dollars and guy on the phone says want to leave a tip? It's a to go order and asking for a tip? Unbelievable! The pizza was greesy and all the toppings ie: sauce cheese fell right off. Flipping mess man! This place is a complete joke. Whoever the owner is needs to check themselves! No way to operate business like this. Oh and the hours here are very odd. Wednesday through Sunday! 4 pm to 7:30? Good God!..... read more

4 pizzas, 6 really hungry peeps. Kind of austere thin crust bread with mozzarella that kept sliding off. Bianca special with Arugula was OK, but not amazing. Terrific wine list and some decent original craft cocktails. Totally relaxed atmosphere. Good for groups. Excellent service. Great for a local neighborhood pizza place... But not a hearty-fill-you-up-cheese-for-days kind of place. read more

Over the past 15 years, I've eaten here possibly at least 50 times. Most every time, I've had a fantastic meal, be it the outrageously fabulous lasagna (hands down the very best of this type -- light), the ricotta ravioli with a fresh, light and flavorful tomato sauce, the fettuccine and meatballs, even steak. Last night, however, was a complete misfire on my entree ... they have a special carbonara pasta that is, admittedly, a bit nontraditional in terms of adding garlic and zucchini, but is traditional in the sense that it's a dry carbonara (meaning there is no cream -- they add egg yolks and probably a hint of pasta water to achieve the creaminess) ... the texture of the pasta was fine and it was sufficiently creamy, but it was sooo out of whack with garlic that I literally couldn't take a second bite ... had to send it back and ordered a lasagna instead. The lemon tart is just amazing, so tart and sweet. The crust is usually flaky and fresh ... last night, it was not quite so, perhaps not made that same day or put in the refrigerator for too long ... I do wish they would offer a better wine list ... it's just very poor, period. Service has always been delightful and was again last year, from the bar to our table server. This is still one of my (and my husband's) very favorite Italian restaurants in Seattle. read more

Cafe Lago is simply, irresistibly the best Italian neighborhood restaurant in Seattle. Known for being the first restaurant in here to serve wood-fired pizza Cafe Lago is more than that. Recently remodeled, I stopped by and was delighted by the new bar, the updated interior and yet the place has the same warm atmosphere as before. Did I mentioned pizza? The smoked sausage is one of my favorites, but the other day I tried the 'white pizza' that has tender zucchini, smoky mozzarella, pancetta and herbs. Yummm! Having spent a year in Rome myself, this pizza at Lago is the REAL DEAL. But wait.... tried some ravioli the other night and it was just perfect. The tomato sauce had a few tiny whole tomatoes perfectly cooked, which added a nice touch to the overall presentation and texture. I've had some great Ravioli before, but this one beats the hell out of the competition. The antipasti also reminded me of the best I had in Rome. In fact it seemed to be exactly the same! You just can't find it like that anywhere else in Seattle, unless you pick up all the ingredients at DeLaurenti and have someone from Lago assemble it for you. The wine selection is a perfect complement. Luxurious reds and whites on the menu await you. The friendly and smart staff are very attentive and knowledgable. The restaurant seems to operate like a family, which is great. I noticed several people stop by for a glass of wine and apps. I plan to do that sometime too. However, the food is so good it's just hard not to want a table. Either way Cafe Lago is that great and somewhat hidden little gem of a restaurant. Clearly there is talent in the kitchen, a friendly and smart staff and a warm atmosphere for special dinners, hanging out at the bar or even that really REALLY good take-out pizza. Highly recommend! read more

Cafe Lago - great wine! - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

To be honest, pasta is usually the last thing I order when I go out for food. I feel slightly ripped-off paying double digits for a bowl of starch when it tastes like the dried pasta I cook at home. However, Cafe Lago changed my mind about restaurant pasta. There really is no comparing pasta that is made daily to pasta that's dried. For your first trip, do try the lasagne. It's like eating soft, happy clouds with a tomato sauce that's a pleasant balance of tartness and sweetness. Plus, I've tried their recipe at home - no shortcuts - and, it is labor-intensive! I'm willing to pay the $20. The appetizers can sometimes be on the small side, so is not really suitable for sharing. It's disappointing sometimes because it tastes so good, but when 4 asparagus stalks and 4 onion slivers arrive as a salad, it's hard to get excited about it. read more

Poor brunch. The Brunch menu has ten items, seven of them are pizzas (some with eggs) or calizones. It is an early lunch place, not a late breakfast place. One star to the brunch, but the dinners are excellent so four stars over all. read more

Cafe Lago is an excellent spot for nice simple classic Italian. Don't let the neighborhood location fool you, the place is comfortable, a bit homey and serves some great pastas, salads and pizzas. The blue cheese salad was excellent, nice and tart with lots of Point Reyes blue cheese. The Salsicca pizza was just spicy enough in a nice thin Napolitana style. The gnocchi completely hit the spot with great flavors. Great wine selection and full bar for those looking for a good Campari and soda to kick things off. The prices aren't cheap but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for. And at Cafe Lago you get good food in a very comfortable atmosphere. read more

I've been here twice now. First time I got the lasagna, which was rich, but good. Second time the linguini and meatballs. Also good. I would like to complain about the expense of their plates compared with their sizes, but I must always remind myself that they make their pastas fresh every day. So when you see the prices, then your plate, remember that. They also have a garden in the back where they grow lettuces, which I think they use in their salads. So this place is pretty darn legit. I like them, but it's a good place to save for special occasions, or go for a light meal and share with someone to cut down on the price. Side note: their tables are covered in white paper. Bring pens/pencils and if you draw something interesting enough, they'll cut it out and put it in their portfolio. It's stashed next to the benches in the front, so check them out while you wait for a seat. Also: call ahead for reservations, they can get busy. read more

Having dined at Cafe Lago for 20 or so years, it remains one of Seattle's truly great restaurants - highest quality food & service - consistently good to great, a restaurant which never disappoints and more often than not exceeds my high expectations - including eggs in purgatory and homemade over the top bread and scone this past weekend. The razor-thin pizza cooked in a wood fired oven, the homemade to-die-for lasagna, ravioli (last outing, stunning English peas and mint squares of perfection ), inventive gnocchi, and cooked to order pasta - all freshly made from scratch daily - are as good as it gets. The wine list is modest in length but covers all bases from first rate table wines to splurges. The prices are honest, fair and reasonable, particularly given the hand made pasta, the service and the overall presentation. If looking for a wondrous Italian meal, cooked and served to perfection, it is hard to improve on Cafe Lago. I urge Tom M. to credit his friends who rave about Lago, and to give it another shot. read more

I LOVE Cafe Lago and have eaten here countless times. Cute table settings, and CUTE wait staff =) I almost always start with the insalata mista w/ goat cheese. It comes with a reduced balsamic that is to die for. All the food is good, but I would recommend one of their thin crust, wood fired pizzas - large enough to share with another. Finish it off with a cappuccino and lemon tart and you won't be disappointed. This is a great mid-casual dining, relaxed atmosphere with starch white table clothes. read more

Love this place. Flavors are so perfect. Ambiance is excellent. Such a delicious treat!!

The food is excellent here, with a large selection of traditional Italian fare. Their wine list is decent and you can always find a bottle or glass in whatever price range you're looking for. The only downside to this place is their consistent lack-luster service and sub-par decor. Every time I eat here, I can't help but feel I'm in a cheesy diner! read more

The pizza is very good by Seattle standards, but the service is lacking. Pizza is neapolitan-esque, and the crust is light and thin. Ask for it well done and it will be crispy to the center. The stand-out is the sauce, which is nice and garlicky, without being too heavy or over-seasoned. It always irks me when I walk into a less than half full restaurant and they make me wait for a table due to pending reservations or they put me right next to the door, both of which have happened here. read more

We noticed tis place while biking up Montlake after work, and decided to stop in to see what it's about. The salads were pretty good, as was the appetizer. I forget what the appetizer was called, but it was carmelized tomatoes with goat cheese and bread. The pizza was alright, but the crust was kind of limp, and to be honest for $20, i was expecting something really, really good. It was just OK, nothing special. For the price, I'd rather head over to Tutta Bella and spend less for better pie. I will go back to try the lasagna, because there are so many good reviews, but to be honest, for the cost i expect something truly special, and that's not what I eperienced on my visit. read more

Cafe Lago has many of the staples of a traditional Italian restaurant, pristine white tablecloths, glasses of red wine that never seem to empty, crusty yet soft bread that is consistently replenished. Except, unlike all old world Italian restaurants, Cafe Lago, with it's huge East facing windows is flooded with light (at least after daylight savings time). We started with a goat cheese/roasted tomato crostini appetizer, the tomatoes were superbly flavorful, my mom had the bleu cheese salad which was also tasty. My mom and I split the margherita pizza and my friend ordered the special - mint/ricotta stuffed ravioli. I've never heard of using mint as a ravioli filling, but surprisingly it worked, and even better, it tasted extremely fresh. We opted against dessert, feeling stuffed as it was, though the menu was tempting. The menu was well rounded, not too many options, not too few. The service was great, but the prices are still a little steep in my opinion. I'd definitely come back here...if someone else is paying! read more

Good, good, good! Went here a few weeks ago, athmosphere was ok but we did get there a little early. 3 of us shared the vegetarian antipasto plate. It was great and it was huge. I'll take gnocchi pretty much anytime I can get it and the gnocchi here is very tasty indeed. I tried a friends pizza which was really thin with sweet onions, garlic and parmesan. It was super tasty also, as usual no room for desert so can't comment. Looking forward to returning already! read more

Came here for a friend's birthday dinner. They accommodated our group of 12 gracefully and split the check how we requested. We brought a cake with us, which they served and provided plates for. Keep in mind this cost a $2/person plating fee. I got to try a couple types of pizza and their mushroom gnocchi, which where both delicious. Their cocktails are also decent but not mind-blowing. My one complaint is that prices are a bit high for the food/drinks, I felt like I paid a lot for location and "feel" of the place. Would recommend it you need somewhere to have a big group easily, but there are better places to go for drinks and Italian food of this caliber in Seattle. read more

Good food but very limited menu. Nearly everything has chili flakes and my wife can't eat anything with chilies or peppers. Would go again for something specific but not for our family. read more