La Vita E Bella is one of those local Italian restaurants people constantly recommend to friends and family for a reason. Nestled in the historic Belltown neighborhood, it perfectly blends classic Italian flavors with cozy rustic charm. The service throughout the night was attentive, welcoming, and never overbearing. I would definitely put this as your next date night spot. Normally I save an espresso martini for the end of the meal, but their Vanilla Bourbon Espresso Martini completely changed my plans. I'd never had bourbon in an espresso martini before, and honestly, I may never go back to vodka again. It wasn't overly sweet and had just the right amount of bourbon flavor to complement the vanilla notes without overpowering the drink. The complimentary bread was a great touch, but the real standout was the garlic, olive oil, and basil dipping sauce. It was unapologetically garlic-forward, which is exactly how bread service should be in my opinion. Somewhere an Italian grandmother nodded in approval. For mains, we ordered the classic pepperoni pizza and the Gnocchi Pepirosso. The pizza was excellent and absolutely better than any standard takeout chain pizza. Perfectly sauced, beautifully baked, and finished with just enough spice to elevate it. That said, the gnocchi completely stole the show for me. As someone who considers himself a bit of a gnocchi connoisseur, these were perfect little pillows of happiness swimming in an incredible sauce with Italian sausage. Honestly, I got hungry all over again just writing this review. La Vita E Bella feels like the kind of neighborhood restaurant you end up becoming a regular at without even meaning to. read more

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This review is mainly for the service, not the food. I totally forgot to take pictures of the food as it was secondary to the service aspect of this visit. We arrived, my friend chose this restaurant, apparently she comes here often. We came here on the Sunday before the FIFA stuff started with a lot of folks in town! We get seated, they bring bread and the dipping sauce. And we want more but they ran out of bread. Were there around 7:30p, so not particularly late...but how do you run out of bread? Anyhow, we ordered the spinach salad that we shared and my friend ordered Spaghetti al Porro and I ordered the mushroom ravioli...the salad was great. So the spaghetti arrives it looks/tastes amazing....the waitress brings me mushroom crepes...I didn't order that. So she takes the order to the table next to us. While waiting, we overhear that the same waitress brought to the wrong meal to the table on the other side of us. She brings my ravioli finally and it was so watery...I couldn't eat it. So I asked for the same dish my friend had. By this time I am pretty much done... I don't know if the waitress was having an off day or if that is her normal state....which I have a tendency to believe...some people are not meant to be waitresses. By now I am just ready to go....put my food in a box and let me out of here. I don't know if I will go back there...but I hope if I do....that I have it in me to be open to a better experience. The food at the end....was great....it was the process of getting there, that took me for a loop! read more

Found this little gem in Seattle yesterday. The food was amazing. We had the Pollo Parmiggiana and the Carbonara. This place gets it right with authenticity. The flavor, texture, smell, really everything. During our visit I also laid eyes on their pizza and bruschetta. They looked amazing too. Service was perfect. Not too fast, not too slow. When I was leaving the restaurant, stuffed to the max, my first thought was what I was going to order the next time I go there. We opted to sit outside since it was such a perfect. The interior was hopping. A little tight in some areas. Ambiance was as terrific. Wasn't loud, bright, or messy. Fun fact. During the meal I began to have some chest pain, and ended up going to the ER, but not before finishing my meal. I was so excited about the experience at the restaurant that I couldn't stop talking about it to the ER doc, she said I should write this review and that I was making her hungry. Brings new meaning to worth dying for. Ordered: Pollo Parmiggiana Chicken breast breaded and topped with tomato sauce and provolone. Served with your choice of a side of vegetables or spaghetti. $28 Spaghetti Carbonara Homemade spaghetti, pancetta, egg yolk, pecorino cheese & black pepper $24 read more

This restaurant is so close to our place that it is a must to try. We went on a Friday night and the service was quick for us and the staff were very friendly. The food was absolutely delicious - we ordered the chicken parmigiana and the pepperoni and salsiccia pizza and both dishes were perfect! We will definitely be back! read more

Hands down the best lasagna I've ever had! I was so excited to read on the menu that their lasagna didn't have spinach (which I'm allergic to) or ricotta (which is my least favourite cheese). It's so rare to find an authentic elevated lasagna, and this one, was on a whole other level. I'm obsessed with the addition of chopped carrot and maybe celery that gave the lasagna more texture and I adored how perfectly the meat and cheese were layered. My boyfriend described the flavour as almost having a sharp hint of cinnamon over the top like it was cooked in a delectable wine. The rest of the dinner was also delicious! I didn't get photos of the bread basket because my boyfriend was super hungry, but he loved how perfectly toasted the bread was. I'm not an authentic Italian food lover because I'm not a huge fan of eating bread with oil, I wish we'd gotten butter. For dinner, I also really wanted the Pepperoni e Salsiccia so my boyfriend ordered it and let me have a slice! My only qualm is that were onions on the pizza that weren't listed on the menu which both of us had to spend time picking off our pizza. If we had known there were onions on the pizza, we would have asked for no onions. My only recommendation would be to come here when you have plenty of time to spare because the service is really slow. I think there was only one server for our whole half of the restaurant so it definitely took a while to place our order and get our check. My boyfriend and I really enjoyed this cosy romantic spot for a date night dinner and appreciated the ease of making a reservation online. I'm definitely going to make him bring me back to try more of their pasta. read more

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Great authentic italian food! Small restaurant in belltown, with a big atmosphere that screams classic italian. The decor is comfortable, and the food is amazing. Very limited wait for your meal to arrive as well, Great wine list and some specialty cocktails that were very enjoyable. I would recommend this place for a fun meal on a date night before a movie or show. The 4 stars doesn't reflect the food, but more the lack of smiles from any of the wait staff. read more

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This was a fabulous find near the Pike Place area. And we were able to get a reservation for a group of 7 without any difficulty. Lovely staff, plentiful menu with lots of delicious sounding options, and large portions. Everyone enjoyed their pasta dishes. The teens even completely finished their entrees and had desserts. My smoked salmon pasta was absolutely delicious. Would definitely return and eat it again. Overall, a fantastic meal was had here. read more

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We all love pasta, even people who have issues with gluten love pasta, that is why there are so many variations. My wife and daughter need a pasta stop on every vacation, so I do some homework and La Vita E Bella was this pick this trip. We strolled about a mile through streets and block parties and were in an area more for Seattle natives than us interlopers. We sat, after checking in for our reservation and were presented with menus and daily specials. My wife had the carbonara and my daughter the ravioli bolognese. We all shared an incredible caesar salad and I had the cioppino. It took 40 minutes, because it was 28 C out, but I slurped down every last bit of the stew. It was rich, but not heavy, decadent but delicate. A wonderful meal. The staff was attentive and the space was cozy and warm, the same you my stomach felt after dinner. We loved Seattle, and the next time we're there I will be back slurping Cioppino, whatever the weather outside has to say. read more

La Vita E Bella - Cioppino Seafood, so excellent and a good amount of spice. - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We came here for a birthday and got two entrees (lasagna and chicken parm) and a dessert (the chocolate shell gelato, I forget the name). All the dishes were great; I think I especially liked the lasagna sauce. I appreciated the staff being willing to add a birthday candle into the dessert (and without the musical fanfare)! And I love a place that serves free bread :D very tasty and the olive oil + herbs for the bread was great too. I was confused about our server situation-- one person introduced themselves as our server and took our order, and then never came back. A different person brought our food, filled out waters, brought the dessert and the check, etc. The portions were what we wanted and the dessert was delicious to share for the two of us, and it was nice to be quickly seated on a Wednesday afternoon. :) It's a little more out of the way, but we could reasonably be back. We ate outside; the lighting inside felt like dim "mood" lighting, but it was nice outside with cooler weather and longer daylight. (No free dessert for the birthday like some older reviews suggested.) read more

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We got seated pretty quickly since we had a reservation. The food was ridiculously delicious we ordered 3 dishes made them all vegetarian: the penne al pesto, fettuccine tartufo, and the quattro stagioni pizza. The pastas were top notch definitely recommend those. The place is small and a bit crowded but it's a vibe in an of itself. It was tight on our table felt like there wasn't enough space but maybe that's because we had extra plates since we were sharing everything. read more

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We went here of a Tuesday night dinner and the place was not that crowded. They take reservations and generally recommended to do during Friday. The service was great and very quick. They gave complimentary breads and I ordered the fettuccine pasta. The pasta tasted really great and arrived in no time. The place is great for a date night. It's quiet and pretty but parking is tough around here. read more

La Vita E Bella - Fettuccine Tartufo - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

After reading numerous reviews, we decided to give this place a try. We visited on a Tuesday around 6:30 pm for dinner. The ambiance (3/5) is quite casual a laid-back restaurant. I appreciated that they provided chili flakes, salt, and pepper at the table, which added a nice touch. The service (5/5) was exceptional. Our server was adorable, very friendly, and most importantly, patient. He didn't rush us at all; our food arrived fairly quickly, and he made frequent checks to ensure everything was okay. The check was also brought out without any sense of urgency. Regarding the food (3.5/5), we ordered the lasagna after hearing a lot about it. I loved the sauce, and the portion size was quite generous. I couldn't finish it all in one sitting, so I had leftovers for lunch the next day. The tiramisu was enjoyable too not overly sweet, which is exactly how I like it. Overall, a solid experience with some highlights. read more

This is one of those restaurants that makes you want Yelp to do a different scale because it absolutely deserves a 4.5. Ambiance is lovely, charming, cluttered in the best way possible. The owner was at the front and took us to our table. He was awesome and funny and set the tone for the night. Service was very good, efficient. But the star of the show was the pasta. I had the Penne al pesto, bright green and fresh tasting with bits of potato mixed in. Friends had the gnocchi and ravioli and praised both dishes. Portions are hearty and again, that service can't be beat. Such a nice place to enjoy some great Italian. read more

La Vita E Bella - Pesto dream. - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The special of the day - rigatoni with ragu - is absolutely delicious. The bread at the start was warm with a nice firm crust. And I liked the assortment of garnishes: chili, parmesan, and olive oil. The portion sizes were hefty so a pizza and pasta between three people still yeilded ample leftovers. A solid Italian downtown restaurant that set up a lovely farewell party for a coworker. I loved the simple online reservation system to lock in a table for my large party. read more

La Vita E Bella - Pizza and rigatoni pasta - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Absolutely delicious from scratch, with daily specials that will knock your socks off. Staff is kind and super accommodating. Manager is awesome! read more

A favorite of the locals. Quality never deviates because the owner Evan checks every dish, ensuring perfection. read more

La Vita E Bella - Seattle's best seafood dish, service, cocktails and wine. Elizabeth, a long time server is a master of the Negroni cocktail. - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We chose this restaurant for pies convenience from our VRBO. The host was friendly from the moment we stepped through the door. The decor was reminiscent of restaurants we've visited in Italy giving it an authentic feeling. We started with the Gamberoni Pistachio. With the first bite I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. The host walked by, saw what we'd ordered, and stated "oh you've ordered our best appetizer!" I don't know how I'm going to survive without this in my life... For mains my husband ordered the special. I had the lasagna. I'll admit I was a bit worried when we ordered. Often, even in Italy, lasagna is served as a dried block (not sure why I keep ordering it). I could not have been more wrong! This is absolutely the best lasagna of my life. I sat wondering if uber eats would deliver to Alaska! The noodles were moist and soaked in the flavor of the sauce that was drenched over it. We were too full for dessert but I was not going to skip because it was my birthday. I ordered a cannolo (singular for cannoli ). Again La Vita e Bella knocked it out off the park. From start to finish dinner was fabulous! read more

La Vita E Bella - Cannoli - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Such a cute restaurant with great foods and great service! We had the steamed clams, tartufo pizza and spaghetti carbonara. They were all excellent. The clams were super fresh and succulent. The lemon sorbet was so refreshing and perfect to end the meal with. read more

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I was at La Vita E Bella last Friday, June 26th, with friends, and I must say I was very disappointed in the service. I've not been to the restaurant in a while, so it was disappointing for friends and me to feel rushed. That's right, rushed. I've never been to a restaurant where the staff hurries you up to eat so they can close. We seriously had a bottle of red wine still half full that we had to gulp down. This rushing us to eat and consume our wine in order for them to close was something I've never witnessed, let alone experienced. Sad read more

Came here super hungry and left so satisfied! Lots of indoor and outdoor seating, we chose outdoor and it was a great vibe. Service is very kind and attentive. I got the rigatoni bosciola it was amazing! The portions are huge, I took the rest home and had another meal out of my dinner. Will definitely be back. read more

La Vita E Bella - Rigatoni Boscaiola - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was pleasantly surprised with this spot! We snagged a reservation for V-Day and boy I'm happy we did, because it was POPPIN' soon after. You get bread right of the bat, and they keep it coming, so PACE yourself LOL. The dishes were BIG and pipin hot. We got the Rigatoni Boscaiola and the Ravioli Bolognese- really great chunky meat sauces. Overall, value is pretty good! I wasn't blown away but it's a cozy spot for a pasta night. And there's some real kitschy decor which I can appreciate. Really colorful lighting and a huge mural of horses (flying?) and a ghost horse. Oh and they were all super nice here- great service! read more

La Vita E Bella - Ravioli Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We came here for lunch recently and enjoyed our meal. We had the carbonara and the copper river salmon. The salmon was prepared well and was tender with an amazing sauce. The carbonara was excellent as well. Service was quick and personable. This was my second visit but will try to bring the family next time. read more

My wife and I just had the best dining experience at La Vita E Bella. Our daughter recommended them while we are visiting in Seattle. We had 6:15 reservations, and when we called to let them know we'd be a bit late, they couldn't have been nicer. The owner/manager greeted us warmly, and showed us to a cozy table. We started our meal with the Vongole E Cozze appetizer. The mussels were large and plump, and the broth perfectly balanced. I even dipped my bread in the broth, which is something I never do. For my main meal, I had the Fettuccine Tartufo, and my wife had Spaghetti Carbonara. Both were excellent, and we each paired our dinners with a glass of Montepulciano. After dinner we shared a slice of Chocolate Ganache Cheesecake (the owners son's favorite) and a Cappuccino. The cheesecake was lick your plate delightful, and Cappuccino a wonderful finish to a terrific meal. Our server was attentive and personable, and the atmosphere intimate and comfortable. Next time we're in town, we'll be back with our daughter and son-in-law, so we can try the Funghi Salsiccia (crepe filled with mushrooms and sausage in a cream parmigiano sauce), and the Profieroles, one of my personal favorites. read more

This place has amazing Italian-seafood! The flavors are authentic, fresh, and flavorful. I had the bow-tie pasta with sundried tomatoes, mushroom, prawns, and capers with a delicious white wine sauce. So good! The place is popular so make sure to make a reservation. We appreciate the great service we received from Pedro and our host who made sure we were well received. Thank you! The ambiance is casual in the sense that people feel relaxed enjoying each other's conversation and company. Highly recommend this establishment. read more

La Vita E Bella - Spaghetti di Mare and Farfalle Siciliana - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My wife and I had dinner at La Vita E Bella when we were in town for a hockey game this past weekend (01/25/2026). The owner was very warm and welcoming and our waitress couldn't have been sweeter! We both thoroughly enjoyed our dinners and dessert and plan to be back the next time we're in the Emerald City. I grew up in New Jersey, where good Italian restaurants are fairly common - but I haven't found that to be the case in the Pacific Northwest. Based on my meal, I recommend La Vita E Bella if you're in the Belltown section of Seattle and looking for good pasta dishes. read more

La Vita E Bella - Gnocchi Pepirosso - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Fabulous family friendly restaurant with fabulous food, generous portions, great service and friendly staff - feels like you're visiting friends. Come hungry! Glad we found it on our one night in town! read more

We started with the mussels and clams appetizer, which was fresh and flavorful--the perfect start to the meal. For our entrees, we ordered the carbonara, spaghetti with meatballs, and the farfalle with salmon. Every dish was delicious, with perfectly cooked pasta and rich, well-balanced sauces that felt truly homemade. To top it all off, we shared the tiramisu, cannoli, and coconut sorbet for dessert. Each one was a standout in its own way--light, satisfying, and a perfect ending to a great meal. It was a lovely evening from start to finish, and we're so glad we chose La Vita Bella for the occasion. We left full, happy, and already planning our return. Highly recommend! read more

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I've had to cut back my restaurant visits while working through an elimination diet recently, so I was really nervous when a friends birthday party was determined to be dinner at an Italian restaurant. I called ahead after studying the menu to see if they could accommodate all my restrictions, and they were amazing about it! I was the first to arrive in the group and the server came over, after speaking to the hostess who had answered my phone call, and clarified everything. They were able to make the chicken piccata for me. The rest of the group arrived and the server treated us like family. Everyone indulged in delicious drinks, appetizers, pizza and pasta! Despite my meal being super restricted, it was delicious! The chicken was tender and the mushrooms and sauce were incredible. They generously managed the split check for our large group and didn't hurry us out. It's such a beautiful intimate restaurant with wonderful service. I look forward to returning when I have more options I can enjoy, including trying their gluten-free pasta! read more

La Vita E Bella - Inside dining space - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The best Italian food! So delicious, I am impressed every time I go! The service is lovely, I have everything I need whenever I go and my glass is never empty. Great ambiance, perfect mood lighting for a date but also a great place to bring a coworker. Everyone I have brought here is OBSESSED! I have never been disappointed and am always left wanting more. The gnocchi is my favorite, they have great appetizers and bring you fresh bread for the table. read more

La Vita E Bella - Gnocchi al Forno - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've visited this restaurant a few times but never left a review, as it's been a convenient spot for comfort food when I'm in a rush. Unfortunately, the service has consistently fallen short, and this experience was no exception. On my most recent visit, I wasn't greeted upon entering. The server simply dropped off two menus on a table and walked away without a word or gesture, leaving me unsure if that was my table. I waited a long time for water until I had to catch the server's attention as she passed by. I ordered a drink while waiting for my friend, followed by an appetizer because I was hungry. There were still food remnants on my plate from a previous customer, and when I mentioned it, they made no effort to correct the mistake. When my friend arrived, we ordered our main dishes. Within five minutes of serving the appetizers, they tried to bring out our main courses, even though the table was too small to accommodate everything. Despite this, they went ahead and served the dishes. The server asked if we need more time, I said yes. The other server, an older man, responded, "Wait for another year." By the time we finished the appetizers, our pasta was cold. they were the ones they made earlier, and they made no effort to serve it warm. I've seen other nicer servers from other tables, but I've personally never experienced a nice one in this decent / dark environment restaurant. read more

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We live outside of the city and wanted a meal before an event. We reserved here based on the relatively high reviews on Yelp and other sites. When we told the hostess we had a reservation, she didn't look at a book or screen. She asked "How many?" and then seated us. Apparently they don't have enough business to bother tracking reservations, and now we know why. The minestrone was promising: big chunks of vegetables, but with zucchini dominating. No legumes or pasta, but that could be a regional thing. The Caesar salad wasn't terrible, but when we pointed out that it was missing the anchovies we'd ordered, and which cost extra, the hostess (not the waiter--more on that in a minute) brought a dish with a ball of bunched up anchovies. We saw the waiter maybe four times: when he took the drink order, when he delivered the drinks, when he took the food order, and when he picked up my plate but left my husband's plate--though both of us were finished. He seemed overworked, serving half the half-filled dining room, but I think he might also have been embarrassed by the quality of the food. Before ordering, I asked whether the pasta or pizza was better. He said both were good. He was wrong about them being good, but right about neither being better than the other. I had the Margherita pizza. The crust was soggy in the middle, the tomatoes were diced as if for a salad, the mozzarella was gloppy. It was difficult to separate the pieces because of the quality of the cheese, which seemed like a hybrid of the fresh mozzarella typically used on this type of pizza and the more rubbery kind used as a standard base for other pizzas. It pulled away from the wet crust in globs when we attempted to separate pieces from each other. If we wanted cheese on the pizza, we had to pick up the globs and set them on the triangles of soggy crust. My husband ordered the Ravioli Porcini, which was my second choice. The dried porcini was insufficiently rehydrated so that, as he put it, it was like eating tree bark. The "sauce" was filled out with fresh white mushrooms. The place was dingy but not filthy. We were indoors. The outdoor seating area looked decent, but smelled unpleasant, though that could be from outside sources. The other people eating in the restaurant seemed okay with it, which left me wondering whether we were too picky. I watched people come in for takeout orders, which makes me think people in the neighborhood use it. Did we just order the two worst dishes on the menu, thereby embarrassing the waiter into avoiding us? Doubtful. We passed the crowded Bangrak Market Thai restaurant walking to and from La Vita E Bella and told ourselves we'd try that next time. Other restaurants in the neighborhood seemed empty, which wasn't promising. read more

I celebrated my birthday here, and it couldn't have been more perfect. Despite a busy night, the owner (Evan) personally served us--attentive, kind, and even sprinkled in a touch of humor that made the evening feel extra special. We tried three of the specials, and each one was phenomenal--equally delicious and beautifully prepared. The bread alone was cooked to absolute perfection. The ambience is phenomenal, making it ideal for both special occasions and casual nights out. We already have a list of 10 more dishes we can't wait to try on our next visit! And don't skip dessert--the tiramisu and chocolate cheesecake ganache were out of this world. Definitely save room! I honestly can't say enough good things about this place. We'll absolutely be back read more

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Very yummy and affordable italian restaurant! Love the small homey family vibe of the restaurant. I opted for the lasagna which was a very delicious meat sauce pasta dish, but wish I opted for something else. Not because the dish was bad, but because La Vita offers sooo many good seafood pasta dishes that I think I didn't take advantage of. My friends got the rigatoni di pesce and theirs had such a good amount of seafood on with their plate! Had a few small bites and it was very refreshing and light. Would highly recommend if you're looking for a seafood pasta. Overall service was amazing and the servers were constantly checking in on us. Would definitely come back! read more

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Very charming restaurant! The staff and owner were all very friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious and the cranberry spiced mule was amazing! The food portions were extremely generous and very reasonably priced. We went on Sunday night (9/28), our server was a very kind young lady, she made great recommendations. We were visiting from Los Angeles for the weekend, so glad we found this gem on our last night. Thank you. read more

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Stopped by for a quick bite, service was good but the food was mediocre. If we ever find ourselves back in the Seattle are, we probably won't be finding ourselves back here. read more

La Vita E Bella - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This is a totally unassuming spot, but I drove past at night and the cute covered terrace inspired me to stop. The food was phenomenal, probably my favorite Italian restaurant that I've been to in Seattle. I ordered the Rigatoni Mondello from a recommendation of who I assumed to be the manager or owner, and it really surprised me. The pistachio pesto was amazing, and my boyfriend loved the Ravioli Bolognese. The homemade pasta was perfectly al dente, and the tiramisu was super good. I'm mad I didn't know about this place earlier, and if you're in the area, you need to check it out. read more

La Vita E Bella - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The food was amazing. Very fresh pasta and delicious sauce on top. We had the ravioli special and the regular ravioli off the menu. Both were fantastic and we left satisfied. The ambiance was great for date night before a comedy show at Here After. Semi dark, with intimate tables inside, and a great space out front with good people watching. The servers and owner were excellent. We'll for sure be back! read more

Me and my boyfriend were just walking on the street and found this place on vacation!! Our waiter and I think the owner was so nice and recommend some great food!! It was very authentic and a great atmosphere! We will be back next time!!! read more

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We enjoyed dinner here with some friends. Excellent clams and mussels. YUM. Ravioli, caprese and carbonara were also quite good. The wait staff wasn't the best but the owner/manager was a kind gentleman who stopped by our table often. I'll be thinking of the shellfish dish for quite a long time! read more

La Vita E Bella - Clams and mussels, caprese salad - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Not sure why this place has so many bad reviews. Food was great, hot, and service was efficient. It was fairly empty which I was surprised by. We had the lasagna and spaghetti with meatballs. Give it a try and form your own opinion. read more