Good food but unfortunately terrible acoustics--we couldn't hear ourselves or the waiters speak!

Yum! This is such a cute little restaurant. I sat at the bar which was a nice option -- I didn't have a reservation either, but they were very accomodating. I would recommend making a reservation if you don't want to sit at the bar, or if there is more than 1 person in your party. There are plenty of vegetarian options here, and they make delicious cocktails. The staff was very friendly even though it can get very busy! I will definitely be back. read more

See all

We had a very nice dinner at Cantinetta. The place has a very Italian feel, the waiters were friendly and professional. The food was delicious and every dish looked tempting. The portions were just right - I don't like if it's a mountain of food. This is a great neighborhood restaurant and I wish it would be in my neighborhood. Not sure if I would recommend it for families with small kids since the place is a bit smaller and not much room for big tables. The outside seating area is small too but very cute with lights and a fire pit. What a unique find! read more

See all

We dined on Friday, March 21st to celebrate our daughter's birthday. It was awful. Primarily because of the service by Amy R.. From the beginning she behaved as if we were a bother. I told her it was our daughter's birthday. No acknowledgement. I asked to have a carafe of water for our table mainly because us asking for a refill appeared to annoy her. She continually badgered us to place our order. Our daughter was pulled away and we asked to wait for her return. That added to her frustration. The food was okay. Not spectacular. Honestly, I have never wanted to leave a restaurant sooner for how we were treated. It was so sad because our daughter really wanted to go to this restaurant. read more

After a pretty negative experience at their Bellevue location, I ended up coming in for dinner and hoped things would be different this time around. But I left feeling the same: Cantinetta is simply overpriced for the quality and execution. Our server was excellent and welcoming, which was a positive highlight. But the food disappointed yet again. All three of us ordered different dishes, two ordering pastas. The oxtail gnudi was really under-sauced, so you essentially got five pillows of dough and a tiny amount of ragu for $24. I ended up leaving the last two on the plate because there was no sauce to go with them. Wine pour was underwhelming as well. It's a cute, cozy neighborhood location with great staff. But know what you're getting: fancy-LOOKING pastas and mains, but they simply aren't executed well enough to justify the price point. read more

I enjoyed this neighborhood restaurant. They accepted my last minute reservation, which was appreciated for this out of town family looking for a good place to eat. The service was spot on, and the atmosphere was just what we needed. I'll go back again when I'm in the area. read more

Outstanding service. Lovely ambiance. Delicious italian food. My one critique that really left a lasting impression was the hard chairs in the dining room. After sitting for 4 courses my lower back was in so much pain! At bedtime I could not find a comfortable position to alleviate the lower back pain caused by the chairs! I would suggest they offer cushions for their chairs to avoid this problem! I know cushions sometimes are tacky looking but they go a long ways in providing support when you're sitting for a long while! My husband and I came here to celebrate our anniversary and made the reservation online, noting the celebration where it asked on the form. Usually when we make reservations to celebrate birthdays or special events the servers acknowledge that, but they didn't here. As for the food, it was lovely. Uniquely prepared and presented options were available for each course. Highlights were the super fresh and cleverly combined burrata with tomatoes and grilled peaches, the cheesy polenta with shaved truffles, and the house-made pastas and ice cream/sorbet options. Servings were generous and brought out in a timely manner. The team of servers ensured our water glasses were never empty and were visible on the floor without being invasive at the table coming around. I made sure not to overdo each course and we had plenty of leftovers to take home. The pasta and polenta served up nicely even the next day when reheated. That may be the true test of a meal! read more

See all

Beautiful place, little small but once you're seated it's smooth sailing from there! Def will be back! read more

Cantinetta - Nothing short of amazing!!! Parpadelle plate! PORK BELLY was on a wholeeeee nother level!! Must try! - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

Prawn pasta dish was $27, small portion with three very sad and small spot prawns. Pasta was generic and boring with a very basic flavor profile. Tomato and cucumber salad was devoid of cucumbers (some but almost none). Food generally overpriced. Service was sufficient, but somewhat rushed and unfriendly. Beautiful atmosphere. Far better Northern Italian food available elsewhere. read more

I had come here years ago and remembered that it had been a good meal, so decided to try it again for a rather hastily thrown together anniversary dinner. Either my memory was really rose-colored or I caught Cantinetta on a bad day because it was just kinda sorta ok? It's a cute space but quite loud when it is crowded, and very hot as well. Our table had a long lit candle sitting precariously in a holder covered with wax (I think we were the only table with this kind of candle?) and it kept teetering, eventually falling directly onto my boyfriend. Service was kind of perfunctory and brusque. Our beet appetizer was a little bland and could have used some acid. My cacio e pepe looked gorgeous with that egg but was also a little bland. My boyfriend liked his bolognese. We enjoyed the cannoli (we're not monsters, after all). The portions are definitely on the small side but were still satisfying. Ultimately, I think this is a fine place for a casual meal with friends (although the price point doesn't really fit this scenario) but personally I would probably avoid for a special/romantic occasion--it's just not the right vibe. read more

Cantinetta - Tagliatelle cacio e pepe with some bolognese in the background. - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

See all

We frequent Cantinetta quite a lot. If we want to have more of a romantic and slightly more casual setting than Spinasse this is where we come. The homey but intimate interiors make it perfect for date night. The pasta dishes are the star of the menu. Service is good too. read more

A good restaurant must have a decent salad. Not just straight out of the mixed greens bag from market. If not it shows lack of diligence and seriousness in culinary effort. Also should not serve with dead leaves . Some Pastas are bland. Temperature was intolerably hot in summer. No ac. Limited menu which is fine but then every dish has to be good. read more

Went to Cantinetta for my partner's birthday last night and the food and service were great! Wanted to share some information for vegans: a good amount of the appetizers and sides were vegan or could be made vegan, and the chef was kind enough to make me a pasta plate that wasn't on the menu. Birthday was celebrated with a complimentary glass of moscato to go with the sorbet we ordered. We had a lovely time! read more

Literally coming here for a quick last minute dinner was the best decision I've made this week. Food is absolutely authentic, delicious, and savory. The staff is wonderful and energetic and so helpful! Try the Pi Ci absolutely to die for! You literally can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Enjoy! read more

Randy's back! And the best bartender this side of the this side of the sides. Best food and atmosphere ever

One of my absolute favorites! Cantinetta is tucked away in a less crowded area of wallingford. It's intimate and cozy and I will always have a 5/5 meal and drinks here. I have visited so many times and the experience is always perfect. The seasonal burrata is always a winner, and most recently the fried baby artichoke has captivated me! With the pastas - you can never go wrong with the pappardelle bolognese -- it's the best I've ever had. I love sharing this one plus a seasonal pasta on the menu. Any of the other pastas are also amazing -- recently I tried the pork gnocchi which was very fluffy, and the fennel risotto which was unique but delicious! The wine menu here is awesome -- and everyone is knowledgeable to help you find your next favorite wine. If it's more of a cocktail hour -- any of the cocktails are always fun and fresh! If you don't have a reservation / are waiting a long time for a walk in table -- the bar seating is a great option for drinks while you wait -- or you can also have dinner here. The bartenders are awesome so this is a fun treat as well. Love love love Cantinetta!!! read more

See all

Ambiance was nice, service alright-possibly short staffed, but food was not great - runny sauces and our two entrees not brought out at same time. Will not return or recommend unfortunately. read more

This is a really cute date night Italian restaurant with mood lighting and a warm atmosphere. Everything was amazing but there were a few stars: the clams were in a delicious broth that was delectable, the gnudi really surprised me in how fluffy, pillowy, creamy, and decadent they were, and the tiramisu was light and perfection - probably the best tiramisu I've had in Seattle. read more

See all

From the outside, this is a beacon of warmth and golden candle glow. The highlight of this Wallingford neighborhood it's a special and well established place with a cozy and atmospheric charm. We made reservations and they had the table waiting for us on a Saturday. Checked us in and it was lovely henceforth. I will say, the food is pretty good, but some of the servings were not as generous we got several appetizers to share and pasta entrees and with a few vegetarians in tow, there was a lot to please. That pasta was handmade and delicious, but I still look out for the place that shows me the best value, and this didn't quite hit that mark for me. But I'd go anytime for the atmosphere and almost didn't want to leave the golden glow and go back into the chilly rainy Seattle night, it was too pleasant. They also had warmed outdoor seating which would be convenient if the weather was more fair. read more

See all

I had not been to Cantinetta in about a decade so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. But we had the pleasure of dining there last month and it did not disappoint! Our table split the burrata and pork belly appetizers and got an assortment of pastas. The simple dish of burrata and tomatoes was excellent. The pork belly was more complex but very flavorful and perfectly cooked. The pastas, all homemade, were the star. I had never had Pici pasta before but it was tremendous! Their rigatoni and pappardelle were both delicious. We also got the risotto with spot prawns and it was full of seafood flavor without being too heavy. Service was good without being overbearing. The ambiance is a bit loud but it was a busy Saturday night. You will not be disappointed! read more

Super service by the host. Okay food. Full capacity even during 50% capacity. The host allowed us to wait and were attentive to us while we waited for outdoor seating. We were comfortable eating indoors especially with full capacity. The outdoor seating at fireplaces in between tables so it did a decent job of keeping us warm before the sun set. read more

See all

With so much "Italian" in Seattle lately it's sometimes hard to figure out the gems from the rocks. But Cantinetta is differently a gem. Fresh ingredients, ever changing menus, phenomenal service. Fair prices. We chose to sit outside, which got a little chilly- but they have heaters! Only complaint was the chairs on the patio are not very sturdy. The focaccia is different than most others I've had, it's so dense and also very addicting. Both pastas were al dente and creative and decent portions. We shared the special Copper River Salmon, and now I get the hype. Served over a succotash of sorts. We loved this dish. No room for dessert- but hoping to be back soon. Follow @theseafoodies read more

See all

Tried last night as I had it on my list for a while and really wanted a night of good pasta. Not the basic pizza place pasta. OMG the pasta was great. The gnocchi was perfect little pillows even after the drive home and heating some more. The boar peach topping was amazing and I felt like a generous amount for this type of high end restaurant. We shared that plus a bolognese Pappardelle pasta which was also great. Also it is melon season so don't miss out on the melon prosciutto it was melt in your mouth good. I want to eat here again soon! read more

I LOVE Italian food, and hence always expect the best when I decide to splurge my weeks worth of calories on some pasta dishes. Our dinner at Cantinetta was hit/miss, but unfortunately isn't somewhere I'd return to if given an Italian ultimatum. As a local neighbourhood option, I think it's a little more attractive. Overall a 3-3.5 out of 5 for us. Food: We tried a bunch. Manila Clams (second favourite of the night), Focaccia (very dense and cakey, which isn't our favourite), Cavatelli (rich and well flavoured; pasta was decent), Ricotta Ravioli (let down; smaller ravioli so mostly pasta with little filling), Halibut (delicious; clear winner!). read more

Cantinetta - Ricotta Ravioli - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food was good. We were there celebrating a birthday and had a lovely table outside. It was busy so service was slow. We were waiting for dessert and the hostess came up and asked us when we would be done as the next reservation had arrived! I was so taken back by this and also why was this okay for her to ask when we were waiting on them to serve us ?! read more

Great food + amazing service + nice ambiance = 5 stars We tried the burrata, bolognese pappardelle, and the funghi truffle pizza read more

See all

Fabulous wine list and fabulous menu of extraordinary dishes to entertain one's palate. BUT THE NOISE LEVEL IS SERIOUSLY DISTURBING !!! How so few human beings can sound louder than a JUMBO JET taking off is amazing unbelievable SERIOUS EAR DAMAGE!!! PLEASE FIX IT ? Padded walls and or padded ceilings and oh my gawd it's baaaaaaaaad read more

The photo of my meal says it all but Cantinetta was a lovely stop to eat and drink! We stopped in on a whim to celebrate a friend's engagement and absolutely got lucky with the stunning food and atmosphere. We started with the focaccia- an absolute must. I had the kind salmon and it was cooked to perfection, one of the best salmon dishes I've had in a long time! The only thing I would note was that it was a warm Seattle summer day and we were actually quite hot inside so we moved to sit out of the sun. Other than that our visit was perfect. Will definitely be back! read more

Cantinetta - King salmon - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Got in right before closing, party of three, staff couldn't have been better, food and atmosphere superb. We ordered four appetizers, four main courses, two desserts, an amazing bottle of Barberesco, all of which came out perfectly, and attended with such graciousness from the staff. Cantinetta is a warm, inviting neighborhood spot that is worth crossing the city for. read more

Cantinetta - View while waiting for a lift. - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Valid average rating yelpers (4 stars). Had a reservation for 5:30 tonight. Street parking but not hard to find, got seated right away. Menu is straight Italian, I think it varies? Waited awhile to get the server back at the table to order. We got the burrata, baby beets, pane (focaccia) and for mains, rissoto and pappardelle. The server was pretty helpful and advised us not to over order when we inquired about portion sizes. Helpful, if not overly attentive. The burrata was ok, tomato and burrata with olive oil and some salt and pepper and micro green garnish. My friend wished it had some basil or pepper or something to add a bit more to it. The tomato looked a little rough. The baby beets (ricotta, pickled huckleberry, red and yellow beets with olive oil) was great. I loved it, and I normally don't go crazy for ricotta. We waited a bit for the bread. It was pretty good, a little crumbly, definitely fresh. Olive oil for dipping was delicious. After a wait the risotto came and it was a bit of a disappointment (risotto, chanterelles, truffle, chicken stock or something?) It tasted a little like fancy rice a Roni plus chanterelles and truffle at the end. The pappardelle was good - friend really liked it. I'm into a bit more sauce myself, but the flavor was on point. All in all, I would definitely come back but I'm not in a hurry. I thought the hangar steak and the market fish (halibut) sounded amazing. read more

See all

Excellent food and service. I made a reservation so we got to seat down fast. There were a long busy line at the door around 7-8pm sunday. The restaurant is small but cozy. The bread and olive oil, bread was weird, like cornbread but thicker kind of texture. I did not like it. Ravioli was delicious with thin shell and nice bite size. Bolognese was good as well. I was more impressed with the noodle than the meat and sauce. The noodles were thin and fresh. Both of them portions were small, I was not full. We came not on SRW (RW is mon to thurs), but we spent less than the price from SRW just ordering what we really like. read more

See all

Very good Italian food in Wallingford (though there are also locations in Bellevue and I think Madison Park). I ordered the tagliatelle cacio e pepe as my main dish, and I LOVED the noodles. They were chewy, heavy, fresh. I wish there had been a bit more cacio and a bit more pepe on top of them, but the thin sauce allowed the very high quality noodle to shine through. The egg yolk was great to moisten the noodles, too. The other star of the show was the focaccia our waiter brought to the table while we were waiting for our salads (literally just greens and a vinaigrette, I would rather save the $9 next time). It was like eating a cloud made out of bread! Marvelous texture, salty enough, and amazing olive oil to dip in. Extensive wine list featuring wines from both Washington and Italy. This is a good restaurant to come to for a long dinner with friends you haven't seen in a while. We didn't feel rushed by the staff at all, even when the rest of the restaurant filled up with guests. Our waiter was a little odd, but overall the service was good and unobtrusive. I'd recommend ordering one of their delicious pasta dishes as a main course since the second course options were very limited. And flip to the back page of the menu for a chuckle, you'll be glad you did. :) read more

See all

Service here can make or break your whole experience. I would say for the fine dining experience they're trying to cater isn't effective. The food is very mediocre. We ordered manila clams, and I would say the way they created that dish really takes away the flavor of the clams. The tagliatelle's texture and overall flavor is a failed combination for a dish. Waitress and host looks miserable, they were subtly rude to us. I am giving 2 stars because one of the waiter treated us well even though he only gave us water/changed our utensils. read more

One of my absolute faves. The setting sunlight comes in at the dinner hour, the service is personable and knowledgeable, the pasta is amazing! I had a dish similar to carbonara with speck instead of pancetta, and no eggs - it was stellar! I love that they still offer a house wine pour. The stuffed squash blossoms were also delicious! read more

I revisited Cantinetta - Seattle for the third week of Seattle Restaurant Week this evening 10/29/17. I had visited preYelp days twice before - once sat outdoors with the college friend, second visit was with the fam in the main dining area. It had been years though between visits. Seattle has quite a large assortment of Italian restaurants to choose from! I just dropped off a family member up for a Halloween event way up north, but it being a Sunday early evening had no issues on I-5 Southbound and arrived at my Wallingford destination way too early for my 7pm reservation. So I sat in my car going through texts and debated whether to check out Union Saloon at the corner....nah, I decided to see if I could be seated 45 minutes earlier. Not a problem with the hostess and I seated myself on the far right of the bar counter. Holy lord, what an amazingly hot and handsome, personable bartender! Dealt with all the beverages, orders, and checking in with all of us at the wrap around counter with finesse. This was a nice diversion since the rest of the bar counter were a smattering of solo (like myself) and pairs of diners. I even had to smirk when the woman to my left asked if the arancini contained potatoes. The H&H bartender replied it was rice. I only knew this early on due to Mario Batali's early days on the Food Network, a particular episode of Montalbano on cable, and the killer arancini at Bar del Corso on Beacon Hill, I digress. And those six chatty women to my right waiting for their table. Initially, it was like dining on an airplane stuck in the middle seat, but with incredible food. I was the unobtrusive diner, but *wow* this was a dinner that was totally on point with quantity and quality. I was so busy earlier today, that I forgot lunch so this meal was perfect. I had a Bedford's Ginger Beer (local from Port Angeles) with a slice of lime and an iced water, none of that stupid tepid water crap served at other establishments. I was kept hydrated. Starter: Lopez Island Clams with Nduja Sausage, shallots, and white wine - delicious, succulent, and the broth begged for some artisan bread to dunk. Thank goodness for a big spoon! Main: Papparadelle alla Bolognese....tender homemade pasta and meaty sauce with a bit of a kick. I ate only half and boxed the rest, because I needed to save room for dessert. Most likely this will be The Homie's lunch for school tomorrow. Surprise item: The kind hostess gave me a free espresso demi-tasse. This was perfect to cut any potential sweetness from the final dessert course. Dessert: Zeppole - a pair of freshly fried dough and coated with ginger sugar, with dollops of Nutella and mascarpone. Delish with the espresso! Big splurge for a solo dinner, but following orders from my sennin-so practitioner to be indulgent and do more things that makes me happy. And yes, this was a great dining experience from start to finish. Make sure to keep Cantinetta on your culinary radar screen! Excellent SRW selections! read more

See all

We didn't have a reservation, so we opted to sit at the bar. So glad we did. Our bartender was Randy. Co-owner of Cantetta. He was excellent, not only as a host but also a conversationalist. So accommodating, kind and hilarious. The food IS authentic Italian with EVERYTHING made in house from the bread to the noodles. We also had salads, a bottle of wine and appetizers. 3 people dinner less than 200.00. Service was top notch read more

See all

We had a reservation for a Friday night - at around 6:30, it wasn't full yet and the host let us choose to sit outdoors! :) the host was so warm and friendly and our server was attentive, patient, and fun! The food was AMAZING. We ordered the... -Clams: honestly the best clams I've had yet. They were all opened, and flavor was fantastic! They give you a generous amount too! -Focaccia: so soft and they also give you a generous amount. This came around the same time as the clams so dipping it in the sauce/juices was perfection. Really had to work to not get too full before everything else -Bolognese: flavor was bomb! They use homemade flat wide pasta noodles - to me their pasta seemed to be on the eggier and al dente side. I LOVE wide noodles though! -Steak: wow perfect medium rare, flavor was spot on, chew was great! Their fingerling potatoes were so cute, they had 3 halves of potatoes that were each a different shade of potato and it looked like a gradient. Drinks were delicious and sitting outside under the shades was definitely a wonderful experience. Their indoors look so cozy as well! Food was amazing and so was their service. Definitely would come back again to try more foods! read more

See all

Bon-jor-no. Find it in a primarily residential area of Wallingford. It has a intimate and rustic ambience about it- candles and low lighting with some music in the background sets the mood. I'm not well-versed with Italian food, so the menu had a lot of items and words that weren't familiar to me. The prices are fair- for being a more upscale Italian restaurant, they seem to be expected. I had the Osso Buco- veal shank. It's tender and delicious, over a light sauce to give it more herbal taste. Also the polenta complements it well too. And, the Pappardelle alla Bolognese is a nice pasta dish. The texture has a nice bouncey chewy texture. I came away impressed. Service is on point and was thorough in explaining the menu in comprehendible words. Fine Italian cuisine paired with wine is always a winning combination. read more

See all

Ambiance: great neighborhood restaurant Service: out of this world. Food: meh. In reading over other low or medium star reviews here, my experience is on par with the rest. Over priced small dishes. I had the rigatoni, my friends had the tagliatelle. Portions were small but tasted OK. What was disappointing is that the pasta was not quite al dente but more "al denture." If I would serve pasta that under cooked at home, my guests would probably not come back. And so it is with me too. Add to that the fact that their online menu has not been updated in quite some time, and therefore does not seem to match the menu in the restaurant, it all adds up to me not going back again. read more

Walked in here at 9pm on a Monday unsure if they'd even be able to fit us in. Our server, Ryan, was warm, engaging, and sat us almost immediately. Provided great recommendations on the menu based on personal preferences & the bottle of wine we ordered. The food was phenomenal!! Will be coming back here specifically for the heavenly risotto, cannot recommend it enough. Lovely and cozy ambiance. Excellent food. And fantastic, friendly, quick service - we were out of there right around closing at 10pm without feeling rushed. read more

Cantinetta - Tagliatelle & Risotto - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington