Grappa is absolutely amazing!…read more My friend group and I recently ate here for brunch, and I'm so glad we did. The customer service was phenomenal and the vibe was very relaxed, yet hip and upscale. A good blend of both. I really liked the added touch of the melted candle sculptures. It also was not too loud inside either at brunch time, so great for conversation. The food was amazing. I had the cinnamon French toast and the scrambled eggs as well as a Seattle soda Diet Coke. The food was warm and very tasty. The French toast was one of the best French toast that I have ever had. I would highly recommend Grappa for brunch!

What a terrific evening! Our server, Carly, was cheerful and enthusiastic and set the mood for the…read morenight. All of the staff were very attentive and friendly, checking on us often. We opted to dine on the prior, and they even adjusted the heat down when it became too toasty. Delightful to sit sidewalk adjacent and enjoy some rays of sun. Rosemary focaccia was complimentary and came with a pat of whipped butter. The butter was relatively flavorless, and the bread was average.. My friend swears by the spaghetti carbonara and it looked fantastic. Well studded with pancetta and a beautiful presentation. They were out of rigatoni (odd, but I'm flexible) which typically comes with the spicy sausage dish. The pappardelle were cooked perfectly. You could not have done any better. The sauce? Absolutely delicious. Hearty chunks of sausage had a great flavor, with a wide variety of mushrooms. The sauce was creamy with a light kick. Thé sprout garnish provided just the right textural difference and freshness. Fantastic dish. I'd order this every time and not be disappointed. The wine was good. I selected a newly arrived Sauvignon blanc, but it could have been colder or crisper to do it justice. Thé grappa afterwards (bartenders choice - Nardini Riserva) was delicious. Just the right amount of strength to get your attention, but finished with a hint of pear and vanilla flavor. Yes, you could consider this to be oricy for "just noodles" but they're phenomenal. The quality and freshness of the ingredients, combined with the attention to detail and the great team are what makes this five stars. Worth every dime.

Walking into Aluel Cellars on top of Queen Anne feels like stepping into a snug vineyard tasting…read moreroom transplanted into the city. I settled in and chose their Aluel Signature Flight and their Aluel New Release Flight, each a carefully sequenced lineup of their handcrafted Washington estate wines. The Signature Flight had richer, more developed profiles while the New Release offered bright, excited youth. I paired them with the European tinned fish, sardines and pulpo that arrived in polished little tins, and asked about the oysters. The server said they often have them for pairing events, so depending on timing you might catch fresh oysters too. Compared to other wine bars or tasting rooms in town, Aluel strikes a rare balance: serious about wine craft but laid back in vibe, welcoming instead of pretentious, and offering well curated bites that elevate rather than distract.

My favorite Seattle tasting room! I've been a big fan of Aluel since they opened in Capital Hill,…read morethen Ballard, but I'm so happy there's now a location on the top of Queen Anne! They've transformed the former Robert Ramsay tasting room into a more spacious, warm and inviting space. Now let's talk about the wine--they've collected more awards than I can keep track of--some of my favorites include the Coat of Arms, Regalia blends and their seasonal rosé. You should definitely stop in for a glass or a bottle and sign up for the wine club membership while you're there!

I really liked this place -- it had such a welcoming vibe, and the unique décor was amazing. From…read morethe moment we walked in, Luke the bartender immediately greeted us with a warm and sincere demeanor. We initially thought it was a fine dining restaurant and were a little disappointed to see a limited menu. However, it's actually a fantastic spot for drinks and light bites. We decided to stay since we had never been there before, and Luke was so gracious we almost felt bad leaving! We ordered the meat and cheese platter along with a couple of drinks, and everything was Grade A. I'm giving it an A+ though, because of Luke's outstanding service.

Everything was great and the owner Jeff was there tending bar when my friend and I went in for…read morehappy hour. We were the only ones in there for a while and so had a chance to talk with Geoff, who made great recommendations for food and was very pleasant and friendly. Everything we tried was delicious. My friend initially ordered a drink that wasn't on happy hour as she had forgotten to ask about it, and at the end, Jeff had changed the price to a happy hour price since he didn't let her know about that in advance. Very class move and going the extra mile in a way that makes a huge difference and leaves along lasting impression on the customer! Happy hour food menu is small, but that seems to be for a reason, because what they do they do well!

Service was amazing and drinks were delicious. Was sat at the bar and served by Tanner and Nathan,…read moretheir energy was radiant and we felt very well taken care of the entire night!

First time checking out the Cove. Made a reservation on their website and requested for patio…read moreseating and was able to get the table outside! The patio is dog friendly if you are wanting to take your dog with you. There is paid parking right out front. We ordered a bottle of Merlot wine, Proscuttio flatbread, hummus plate and the potato wedges. Everything came out hot and fresh. The inside has more tables but is really loud. Would prefer outdoor as you can have a conversation without screaming across the table, I will definitely be coming back again!

I had wondered who would take over the shuttered, long time Chile Pepper in Seattle's Wallingford…read moreneighborhood. Several months ago, this site became Occhi Belli. It definitely piqued my interest and was duly bookmarked. I had an opportunity to check it out with fellow Yelp Elite/IGer, Carol C (3/18/26). I was able to get a last minute reservation confirmed via email. Both of us were able to get zoned street parking along N 45th. This restaurant is also accessible via Metro. We were seated by Tim, the owner, at a two top by the front entrance. He was very welcoming, personable, and charming. An aside, read the background info about how the restaurant came to be from their website and additional cool details about the owner, restaurateur, and author. The interior transformation was pleasant vibe. There were other tables aligned along one wall. The remaining seating were along a banquette. There's also limited seating at the bar towards the back. Great ambiance, however, it does get rather loud once the restaurant fills up, just saying. Wine, of course, is available by the glass or bottle. There are other beverages like beer and NA choices, but no tea/coffee service. Happy hour specials are also available. Tim provided us the low down on the featured daily specials and gave us enough time to peruse the menu. It's one of those menus that had so many pleasing options. We split the Piatto Misto which was a great way to sample various app offerings including fresh burrata, an Italian meatball, sliced prosciutto & other Italian meats, and two bruschettas - tomato and mushroom. We both agreed that the meatball was the standout. Carol chose the Pasta del Giorno which featured farfalle with mushrooms, broccolini, in a cream sauce with added Italian sausage. I selected the Pasta Salsiccia which had linguine with Italian sausage, mushrooms, red pepper flakes, in a tomato cream sauce. Both pasta mains were rich and generous, that the both of us took home halves of our respective entrees to save room for dessert. For dessert, I went with my fave tiramisu and Carol had the chocolate mousse. Tiramisu was delicious that I cleaned out my serving glass. It was definitely an enjoyable experience and were onsite for nearly 2.5 hours. Well attended to and not rushed. With how costly it can get dining out in Seattle, it's a great to find a place that is easy going, has great variety, and reasonably priced. Recommended for an approachable, quality dining experience. Grazie mille, Tim!

This is a great hole-in-the-wall spot with delicious food and friendly staff! It's a cute, small…read morehouse located in Wallingford that's great for a dinner spot. I ordered the Barbabietole salad (super refreshing and light), Gnocchi alla Gorgonzola (a little bit heavy and very cheesy because of the gorgonzola), Pasta Salsiccia (more of a classic red sauce pasta), and the dish of the day which was a ribeye steal (veryy delish). The dishes are sharable portions and paired well with wine. I'd recommend trying this place out!

**First to tip and first photo posted from Dec 2023 is from fellow Yelp Elite friend, Dawne F…read more visiting from Florida** When I last visited Bar Miriam next door back in Feb 2022, Queen Anne Bottle Shop was still being established. So fast forward two years, I had the opportunity to check out Queen Anne Bottle Shop on 3/2/24. I was greeted upon entry and given the low down on the wines offered. Looks like this is a combination of retail, but also a tasting area that offers accompanying food. It was nice to check out the refrigerated case, as well as, give quick glances at the variety and price points showcased on the shelves. I was on a mission to focus on Washington State reds and if possible from a particular Walla Walla winery. It seems there were other regional domestic and international labels instead. As another group arrived for a tasting, the retailer was now engaged with them. This allowed me to stop pondering a Cotes du Rhone on the shelf and depart.

From the owner: Full dinner menu from Bar Miriam available! Natural Wines…read more Good Times.

The frosted and fizzy pop up is absolutely adorable! My friends and I did the flight with snacks,…read morewhich was a steal ($38 for 3 samples and snacks). We were allowed to choose our own or the hostess would select for us. The space is absolutely adorable and the staff has the attitudes to match - they were very friendly. For the pop up, there's a list of sparkling wine and champagne from other wineries to try but you can also have some of the staples from Aluel. It's such a cute spot I will definitely be back.

Looking to enjoy some fine wines without making a trip to the Eastside? Wish granted! You can come…read moreon into Aluel for some nice tastings and light bites that can serve as decent palate cleansers as well. Right on Market yet tucked away with other storefronts is Aluel. I've walked by it many times only to realize 'wow there is a wine room right here!' After meeting a friend here, I settled on one the flights I tasted the - Aluel Signature Flight - '19 Sparkling, '18 Malbec, '18 Regalia, '17 Coat of Arms. my favorite being the Malbec and Coat of arms, which is a red blend and an award winner, along with many of the others on their menu. For bites we got the - pita and hummus plate which just alright at $9. Perhaps we should've sprang for the cheese plate for a bit more at $15. Aluel is a nice place to sample some wines right in the middle of a neighborhood without need to go far. Check it out!

Outstanding local wine tasting bottle shop. Tucked away in…read morePhinney Ridge. Don't miss this utterly charming and unprentious wine tasting shop complete with blue checkered table cloths covering the outdoor tables. Their charcuterie (two cheeses and one meat) $19 is available alongside almonds $5 and candied pecans $5. We enhanced our board with a delicious can of lemon pepper smoked oysters by Ekone ("from tide to tin") $13. Highly recommend this he has Rustic Bakery flatbread. They have wine by the glass -- we tasted the Clos Du Mont-Olivet 2022 Lirac $15/glass as well as the Henrich Naked Orange (calcareous and natural biodynamic) $15/glass and the Champagne Jacquart "Mosaïque" Rosé $20/glass. We decided on a bottle of the Lirac and a glass of rosé champagne. They also carry local jcoco chocolates chips as well as tinned mackerel, tuna, codfish. The buyer is exceptionally talented. The curated collection of bottles could go up against the better bottle shops in Seattle -- but with a nonchalant aplomb rich with elegant ease shifting gears between bottles of internationally renowned Bollinger $68 and hyper local The Orcas Project 2024 Garnacha $37 or 2025 Nebbiolo $35 or 3 of 6 allocated Chartogne-Talley Saint Anne extra brut for $98. Favorite part? The staff's educational notes about the wines, how they were made, and tasting notes that holds the greatest value of all. So make some time to peruse and enjoy the learning before or while tasting. Exceptional value and deserving of best of neighbor recognition. Mariah serves as a welcoming hostess.

Awesome little wine bar and bottle shop that opened recently I think. I ended up sharing the Orcas…read moreProject flight with my dining partner. The host was super friendly and did a great job explaining each wine. I loved most of the wines we tasted, but especially the white ones. Very crisp and clean. Such a cute shop and its located right next to a restaurant and a bakery.