Amazing doesn't describe this place. My wife and I tried here after being in the area before and seeing it. Food heaven. We got the Ravioli di Formaggio. Very light and thin pasta, with the right amount of filling. The morels were amazing (never had them before). We also got the Spicy Bobby B pizza. I loved it - thin crust, good flavor. My wife didn't like the sausage but I loved it. We got the olives mista and bread appetizers. So good. The butter and olive oil was to die for. We opted for the Panna Cotta dessert. Absolutely fabulous and a great finish to our meal. No complaints. The service was great, and while busy it wasn't too loud. It's a little on the pricier side but worth every penny. read more

I drive by this place all the time and was excited to try it! We went on the earlier side and were seated right away, so I'd definitely recommend going before the dinner rush. I started out with the house baked bread and the thyme-orange-fennel compound butter was to die for. I also got the ravioli which was tasty as well. I also got the Salsiccia pizza and the crust was tasty and had the perfect amount of chew while still being crispy on the outside. The restaurant itself is small, but has a homey feel that would make it perfect for any occasion. I'm picky about Italian food, but this is definitely a hidden gem in the Seattle area! read more

Cafe Lago - Salsiccia Pizza and Ravioli di Capra - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is incredible! I had their lasagna and it's my new favorite of all time. The sauce was clean and delicious. The dish is actually on the lighter side as far as lasagna goes, and I loved their take on a usually heavy dish. The seasonal appetizer with butternut squash and burrata on toast was so tasty! I also loved their Caesar salad. The dressing wasn't over powering and the croutons were made of the best unique dark bread. I could have eaten those in their own. HIGLY RECOMMEND!! PS: The team who served us were very attentive. read more

Visited Cafe Lago for dinner on a Saturday night. Definitely recommend getting a reservation. Tried the vegetarian lasagna we absolutely loved it, it was super light and the sauce was fresh. Also had the gnocchi with mushrooms that was good as well. One of the better Italian restaurants in Seattle read more

Cafe Lago - Veggie Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Been going her for 20 years. I hate lasagne but I love theirs. Paper line layers of house made noodles. I always order the antipasto plate for the marinaded eggplant, fresh olives and bites of cheese and meats. And my main course is whatever is the pasta dish in season. I love their pear ravioli. read more

A classy Italian restaurant with a warm atmosphere and delightful staff. The vegetarian options were great. The lasagna was excellent, but the ravioli really stole the show with intense and complex flavors. Everything tasted so fresh! I enjoyed the interior, with its distinctive black-and white theme, softened by natural wood, warm lighting, and a colorful bar area. read more

I love this place with my entire heart. I've been going here for 20 years and the lasagna is still the best I've ever had. Good place to bring kids and color on the paper table cloths. read more

A solid 4.3! This one sits in the tried and true category. Who doesn't love a neighborhood italian restaurant. If i lived here this would be a go and in the rotation. Pizza is neapolitan style and good size @ 10". Nice selection of wines with a deep variety. Entrees are simple fair done well. Again you cannot go wrong with the neighborhood favorite. read more

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Have been going here, for YEARS now, even when we'd just visit WA. They now require reservations, even on a rando Tuesday nite. It was pretty full too. Their food and drinks are always sensational, but their service, isn't the same. Not as warm and inviting, as before. (I will just blame the C-word.) They even ran out of their complimentary house bread and a few other menu items ~ this speaks volumes about the popularity, of this place, along with how supply and demand are going, in the world. I'm just grateful that Cafe Lago is still around and that their food, hasn't changed! Grazie! read more

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Was there for a friend's birthday and was blown away by the quality of the meal. Everything was delicious from the Caesar salad my friend and I shared, to the perfectly layered lasagne I can't stop thinking about. In case you're debating between the two lasagna choices, I highly recommend the lasagne over the lasagna bolognese. The service was quick but not to the point where we felt rushed out of the restaurant. All friends agreed on how delicious the food was. Also, get the bread! The homemade thyme-orange-fennel compound butter was to die for and was devoured in seconds (hence no picture!) I will definitely be back. read more

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What a wonderful restaurant! I called that we were going to be late to our reservation and they still were able to seat us right away. It's wonderfully lit and has just the right amount of noise to make you feel like you've chosen some place special. We got the tempest, mezcal, lago Negroni, and a dessert wine, all of which were lovely. The highlight of the food was of course the pasta dishes. Highly recommend what others say in getting the ravioli and gnocchi. Both were fabulous and we devoured both. The antipasto plate was also really good: grilled eggplant and tomato, three cheeses, and some prosciutto among other little tasty bites. I just wish it came with more bread! Can't wait to come back . read more

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Waiter - M. Zawadi - a 5+ star rating. He was amazing, attentive, patient, great recommendations, kind - he created a great experience. The food - 4+: from the olive and goat cheese 'tapenade' to the ravioli and duck pasta dish - fantastic. The tables tucked into the corners and so close to the other guests that you should be part of their party, because you were definitely part of their dinner conversation and if you moved - you touched each other - a 1. You're such a great restaurant, with wonderful people, and food. Please do something about the seating. I want to give you a 4 or 5, and unfortunately because I can't do a partial rating, have to 'downgrade' my other review to a 3. read more

When the moon hits the sky like a Lago pizza pie that's amore.... I've been going to Cafe Lago since I was a little kid, and the place has been incredible for 20 years. Let me set the scene-- You walk in on a chilly fall evening. The dim lights and beautiful Italian style decorations catch your eye, but not before the smell of the kitchen and big wood fire pizza oven in the back corner of the restaurant. The decor makes you feel like you've walked straight into Florence's finest. You take a seat in the bar area and your server approaches. You ask for a wine recommendation and they give you 3 informed opinions of what may pair well with your meal and preference. The tapenade is incredibly tasty on top of their fresh bread. The gnocchi is fluffy and delicious, and each and every one of their thin crust pizzas is to die for. They are tasty and don't weigh you down like your standard American pie. Whether it be for a date, group of friends, or an evening where you treat yourself to a delicious meal and wine, I could not recommend Cafe Lago more. read more

Man, I never thought I'd leave an Italian restaurant hungry. If you're from Seattle, you'll probably like this place, but for those of us who were not born in a sewer, it could have been much better. Regrettably, I am in Seattle on an extended stay and felt a hankering for Italian food and, finding this place sorta kinda decently ranked, decided to give it a shot. The first thing I noticed is that everyone is so unfriendy here (a trend in Seattle) from the hostess, to the server, to the bussers. My server actually asked me if I wanted "a drink or food" as if I were loitering. I told her I'd have food, and ordered the fettuccine and minuscule meatballs ($25.00). Now, this is the second place I've dined that had different prices on their website; this place was at least not as obnoxious as Johnny Less's. Here, they do not give you bread with your meal (but used to, it seems). Rather, they list bread for $5 online and, if you're lucky enough to come in and eat in-house, it's $6.00. For bread. In an Italian restaurant. I'll pass. My dinner came in short order and at first I was convinced I ordered from the children's menu and was treated to a handful of fettuccine and four (4) meatballs that were barely larger than those you'd find in a can of spaghetti-o's. However, I will report that the meal was tasty (for what was there) and the meatballs, while marble-like, did taste like they were made in-house. Problem was, after three or four forkfuls I was done, with not even a roll in sight to mop up the tomato sauce. Also, no one asked if I needed cheese or anything else - it was a very mechanical, "get in and get out" dining experience. Check came and people just starting pulling things off my table like they were grabbing souvenirs off the titanic. I realize it's probably me, and this is what dining is in Seattle - small, overpriced meals with more nickel and dimes than a tip jar and delivered with an extra side of Seattle freeze. That's okay; as I said in my last review, I have an oven at home and can chop it up like Ramsay, so not only won't I starve, but I'll actually eat well. read more

Its Lasagna is famous and we understood why. The antipasto was great, too. Quite family friendly. Seatings are bit cramped. The desserts were ok-ok. The waiter was attentive and great. We will return. read more

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Delicious authentic Italian food, made with simple ingredients that leave a hearty impression! Valentine's day dinner here was such a delight. I have driven past here countless times and have even walked all the way home from this area before. For some reason I didn't realize there was a gem sitting in plain sight the whole time! Not sure where the less than 5-star ratings are coming from because this restaurant is absolutely lovely. For a completely full house for 3.5 hours straight the service was good and I didn't feel rushed at any point during the meal. When I saw the queue of 10+ people waiting at the door I realized why it seemed that the servers were rushing around - and did the responsible thing (quickly cleared out!) The table bread was very fresh - best table bread in the city! And we loved the pomodoro appetizer. Goat cheese and tomatoes juxtaposed by crunchy toasted crostini was pure perfection. The gnocchi melted in my mouth and was so satisfying that I only needed to eat half of the entree - the other half I finished for lunch the next day! The vegetarian lasagna was simple, delicate, and wholesome. Words cannot describe the best lasagna I have ever had IN MY LIFE. My only complaint was that the aisles in the restaurant were a little cramped in certain areas and on a busy night this was a bit chaotic. Not a deterrent for me however - I can't wait to return! read more

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excellent polished service in a place that has lasted around 30 years. a bit pricey perhaps .... it would be a good touch if they served hot Italian crunchy bread with the meal because the meal essentially is a la carte. The chocolate gelato is quite good. read more

This is one of our favorite local places. Everything they put forth is well done. The blue cheese salad is our favorite salad in Seattle. Please never change this it is special. Wines are good and well priced, Chianti is a highlight. Homemade pasta and pizza are fantastic. The only thing I can say is not great are the tiny frites with the steak. I know they're authenticity French bistro but they are just not very good. An improvement there would make the steak an option. But again this is a serious stretch to find something that they could improve. Well done and thank you for creating a neighborhood gem! read more

Best lasagna ever! Great service and nice ambiance. Highly recommend. Parking can be challenging.

A lovely old school spot with a small menu of Italian favorites. The lasagna is very In this rare instance, I recommend the Lasagna Classico, not the Bolognese. Blue cheese salad and panna cotta were quite good, too. The service was quite attentive-- but the restaurant was uncharacteristically unfilled -- as it was Super Bowl Sunday, so I can't speak to a typical normal day. read more

Great food let down by poor service Arrived on a saturday evening with my wife and daughter for some casual italian food. Immediately felt very comfortable pleasant surroundings.Everyone chatting enjoying their food We were shown to the table.Handed some reasonably price menus After about 15 to 20 minutes, we decided to wave down. A passer by to see if we could be get some service. This carried on all night. Our server had friends at the bar and ignored our area all night Pity because the food and drinks were great but we won't be back read more

Excellent Italian food in Seattle. They use the best ingredients and prepare them really well. The pizza has such a great crust and flavor! The pastas are delicate and super tasty. I especially like the ravioli with the different fillings throughout the seasons. When I go with my husband we usually get a couple of pastas and a steak to share. With a salad to begin with it makes for a really great meal. They are also really nice and split the plate of steak for us so we each get our own small portion. Also love the atmosphere of the place and the kind service. This is sort of an underrated place and I'm so glad they're still around! read more

After a long day of hiking and driving around, my partner and I wanted pasta. We went to Cafe Lago for dinner and had no issues getting a table. We got the insalata mista with goat cheese to start, and it was fresh and tasty. I got the lasagna bolognese while my partner opted for the fettuccine with meatballs. The lasagna was great! My partner enjoyed his meal too. This spot seemed like a lowkey neighborhood joint. read more

Cafe Lago - Insalata Mista with goat cheese - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Have been coming here for 20+ years. Likely the best antipasto plate in the city, love the roasted tomatoes. The beet app was super good and the Caesar salad is always a crowd pleaser. Had the ravioli, gnocchi and sausage pizza for mains and flourless chocolate cake and strawberry sorbet for dessert. Solid food, it was packed so the service was a little slow but still attentive. Had some beautiful flower arrangements too! read more

Lovely Italian eatery in Montlake- I enjoyed our service and the food was amazing! The place has a quaint but charming interior, and not too noisy. Split the antipasto with friends and got the spaghetti and meatballs (I've also had their lasagna before and would recommend it for any first-timer here)! My only complaint is that there wasn't enough food for leftovers. read more

Cafe Lago - Antipasto Plate - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The last time I ate at Cafe Lago , definitely it was during the pre Yelp days and Alex (aka The Homie) was still toddler/preschooler aged, the Crayola crayon set. I was dealing with a very aggressive tail gater on I-5 S, so I ended up taking the 520 exit towards Montlake. So it became an obvious choice to get acquainted with Cafe Lago's legendary lasagna. We lucked out being seated immediately as a two top in the far corner. Menus, water, and delicious bread with evoo was brought to the table shortly thereafter. Despite getting views of fresh pizza dough being tossed and thrown in the air, The Homie selected the fresh, handmade Fettucine with Meatballs ($24). Like him, no starter apps or salads for me. Dive right in to main pasta entrees. I ordered the large legendary Lasagne ($22) , because I still have fond memories of those thin sheets layered with bechamel and ricotta. Both dishes have copious and flavorful house marinara. The kind that a second batch of bread is meant to sop up it all up. I lamented the careless dribble on my sweater. That's what fabric stain remover is for! I ate half of this lasagne to save room for dessert. I'm going to have an amazing lunch tomorrow! Hurray for desserts! The Homie selected the Lemon Tart ($8)...paraphrasing his description of having a limoncello atop a shortbread cookie crust. Luscious lemon custard! The biscotti (and Vin Santo) sounded great, but my inner chocophile ordered the Chocolate Truffle Cake ($8) topped with a espresso creme anglaise. Reminded me of chocolate decadence from my pastry/restaurant industry days. Mmmm without it being over the top. Goldilocks just right! Definitely, I'd lose the powdered sugar showering of each dessert though. Thankfully no token mint leaf in sight either! Patting my 'food baby' belly as we walked back to the car....Alex asks, "Mom, can we visit Cafe Lago again?" Of course, was my reply. Next time, with a much shorter interval. So glad that Cafe Lago has been going strong since 1990! read more

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Service was good and ambience was great. I had ravioli as main course which was light and great. Had enough

Get the large lasagna. Just do it. It is so light and tender - I dream about it. I also had the asparagus (my husband doesn't eat it so it was all mine) which was the best asparagus I've ever had. read more

Cafe Lago - Asparagus - this blurry asparagus was the best I've ever had. Luckily my husband doesn't like asparagus - more for me! - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Had the cauliflower, asparagus, cesear salad and mixed geeen salad to share for the table. All was amazing. We tried the gnocchi with morels. The gnocchi cannot be beat. The lasagne Bolognese was also off the charts. The pasta was so thin which made the entire entree light and fresh. With the closure of El Corvo, this is right next in line for me as a neighborhood choice. Nice place to celebrate a special occasion without the prices being ridiculous. read more

Cafe lago has nice dining setting but horrible service for walk in customers. Our part of 6 arrived first in line before opening at 5pm, and were greeted with a happy face then the hostess with short hair asked us if we were all 21+ to sit at the bar and I said yes. She said okay, and asked us to sit to the side until reservations were seated. She then proceeded to seat 3 other walk in parties of 7 people at the 21+ bar section BEFORE seating us even though the restaurant was completely empty since we got there 15 minutes before opening. Once the reservation parties had all been seated and three other walk in parties were seated before us, we were finally seated and food was good! We got five $10 pizzas and the shoestring fries. The pizzas came out quick and the fries took a really long time. My group was 3/4 done eating their pizza by the time our side order of shoestring fries came out. However, our waiter, Matt, was super nice and friendly. Also sharing the hair that was at the bottom of my fry order. As a seattle foodie this place was more disappointing for me, and in the unlikely case I'm ever back, I hope the service is better! Would not recommend as there is much better pizza joints like Mioposto that have $10 pizzas every day for HH. read more

Cafe Lago - hair in my french fries - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Cafe Lago did not disappoint. The atmosphere is super perfect with the black and white checkered tiles and tall ceilings. Food was delicious. You must try the tomato and goat cheese crostini's to start! They are to die for! The pizzas were great, super thin crust. Lasagna was heavenly, it melts in your mouth. And the flourless chocolate cake was so smooth and delicious! Service was great! The perfect amount of leaving us alone to chat and making sure we had everything we needed. read more

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Great neighborhood restaurant with hand made Italian food and rotating menu. We've tried numerous pastas and pizzas from them and everything is solid. The atmosphere is nice and the Monday night specials are a great deal! read more

Terriffic food, warm service, and a charming ambiance sum up this neighborhood spot. I've been doing my lasagna all wrong, the ricotta/pasta ratio should be 4 to 1 like these guys do, so rich and fluffy. Also enjoyed their small plates, particularly the broccoli with crisped chickpeas. Will need to come back to try their pizza offerings which also looked excellent. read more

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The lasagna is amazing! Cute little place that had been around forever. Still has the great ambiance, service and food quality after all these years. Always a five star experience! read more

The service was very nice and accommodating. We arrived without a reservation but were seated right away and it appears we were just lucky. 6 small groups showed up right after us and were given lengthy wait times so we would definitely recommend calling ahead. Sadly we were not overly impressed with the food given all the hype. It was very obviously fresh and made in-house but was under seasoned and a bit underwhelming. The wine list was great and it was nice to see a few mock-tails to appease the other side of the table. I'd give it another shot but at over $100 for two entrees and two drinks I'm likely to dine elsewhere. read more

Excellent lasagna and pizza. My only complaint on the pizza is they put more olive oil on the base of the pizza than they should. Always good service and food is consistent. read more

Here's what to expect when dining here: For the price you pay, you get your money's worth without feeling over stuffed. Serving size is just the right amount of food, even if you order an appetizer plus a main course. Seasoning is on point and the sauces are flavorful. Simple yet delicious at the same time. The service is prompt and the flow of delivery (beverages and food) is surprisingly steady. Remember to smile and thank your host(ess) and servers. Recommendations: Use Open Table or call ahead to make reservations. Missed out on eating here a couple times because tables were booked up. read more

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Classy neighborhood Italian. This feels like date night, even if we bring the kids with us. White tablecloths, great service. Awesome raviolis, lasagna and Caesar. Fantastic cocktails and wine list too. read more

I loooove Lago! I've been coming here for almost 20 years! (I'm 24) lol so basically as long as I can remember! Yes, it's expensive BUT so worth it. It's an amazing place to celebrate a birthday, and anniversary, or just a special event! Their Caesar salad is hands-down the best salad I've ever had in my entire life, I have literally searched for a better one all over the country and I've never been able to find one. I love their linguine and meatballs, and their Pomodori is absolutely to die for! They also have really good steak and pizza, and fries, and lasagna ... basically I've never had anything here I don't like. If you're in the mood for Italian, or just in the neighborhood, definitely try it! Before Covid it's hard to get a table so you definitely want to make a reservation or get there right when they open, but it's definitely worth waiting for! read more

Yay! We came here for my birthday and had a great time. It was pretty busy even for Tuesday night, but service was relatively good and we had orders taken promptly. The place really has the feel of a little Italian family restaurant, even though it's relatively big and has some open spaces. We got the Pomodori al Forno to start with and it was amazing. The tomatoes were really succulent and juicy, and while there was olive oil on the plate it didn't feel greasy. The crostini had a great crunch to it. I didn't really care for the goat cheese thing on the plate (I'd have preferred bocconcini) but the fiance ate it all. I definitely had to get the lasagne here, since, well, lasagne is my favorite food ever. This one had a great texture on the pasta sheets and the bechamel was creamy. I'd have liked a little more marinara sauce with it, but it was really tasty. I wish there was more! And because it was my birthday, they brought it out with a candle in it!!! Birthday lasagne!! We ordered the chocolate truffle cake for dessert but I ended up eating pretty much all of it since the fiance is lactose intolerant and it turned out to be crazy full of dairy. It was good, but very rich and filling, and I was pretty stuffed by the end. Service was good; the staff were friendly and accommodating (they brought out a SECOND candle on the dessert too!). All in all it was a great dining experience, and now that I've found out they do brunch pizzas I'll definitely have to go again. read more

Cafe Lago - My birthday lasagna! - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington