Delicious food, top notch service, and an amazing wine selection. Plus toasty heaters for outdoor seating! Thursday dinner was prefect. The wait was only about 15 minutes, and we sat outside under the heaters. Two of us ordered the black cod mousse with ikura, gem lettuce salad, and the cavatelli (without guanciale), with two glasses of wine each. Take pics of your place setting! The entree plates are all unique and hand painted. read more

Lioness - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cutest little Italian restaurant hidden in Phinney Ridge! Limited indoor seating/no reservations, so get there early! Great wine deals during happy hour from 4-5. We enjoyed the burrata and especially the salty, nutty cavatelli, but prices were a little high for size of dishes/quality of food. read more

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Loved the ambiance and charm! Incredibly intimate spot, perfect for a date night or 2 person dinner. Some outdoor seating with heaters for larger groups. Our service was great and our server was attentive. We started with the gem lettuce salad which was great and a good portion to split between two. For mains, we shared the pasta fagioli and added a side of white corn polenta and it was delicious and filling. Would come back in the future read more

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We had a party upstairs at the rooftop and it was an amazing experience! Such a pretty venue with the greenhouse. We had a special menu for the party with a few apps, steak, sides and desserts. Almost everything was delicious, especially the lettuce gems (perfectly fresh and crisp with the right amount of shaved ricotta). Everything was flavorful. The steak was somewhat overcooked so that wasn't the best and the chocolate cake was a little dry. Those would be my only small complaints. read more

Lioness - Chocolate cake, panna cotta - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We came for drinks and maybe they're better to go just for the meal! We were sat right away, offered sparkling or flat water, chose sparkling thinking it would be the same difference, and it was $8. Just FYI. The staff was kind, a fun location, but the drinks were all OK at best and wildly expensive. $8 for sparkling water. $6 for earl grey tea. $18-20 for cocktails. Automatic 22% gratuity added (which I always do at least 20!! But a bit jarring to see without notice). $118 for 4 real drinks is just more than we anticipated from a casual looking spot along greenwood. read more

How I heard of this place: A couple of friends at our local gym were talking about going to Lioness to try the newest restaurant in the neighborhood. Soon after, another friend texted to ask if I'd yet tried it. It seemed like the universe was leading me here. Type of cuisine: "Lioness opened in 2023, featuring crispy martinis, refreshing spritzes, Italian wines by the glass, and a full dinner menu--including, cured ham, meatballs, house-made pasta, steamed clams, seasonal oysters and more--in a tiny, lively space. A charming courtyard patio and social standing bar round out the offerings. Walk-ins welcome! " Ambiance: "Inspired by Renee's travels to Italy and her love for cozy, Italian bars and neighborhood ristoranti, Lioness opened in late December 2023 in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood with dreams of becoming a beloved neighborhood hangout. Lioness is designed to be a place where guests can either drop by for a drink at its standing bar or have a seat at a table for a leisurely dinner with friends - and everything in between." The space is dreamy, reminiscent of cozy, neighborhood eateries in the alleys of quaint European cities. From the entry in a shared courtyard, boasting heat lamps and cramped patio seating, to a warm, amber-lit interior with even more limited seating, everything feels pleasant. An extensive standing bar, friendly service, the clinking of glasses and friends laughing, exchanging stories and sharing bites add to the ambient experience. What I ordered: My dining companion started with half-dozen oysters, lemon, nuovo olive oil (mp), then we moved on to 36-month parmigiano-reggiano, leonardi balsamic ($12), and mortadella, preserved fennel, pecorino crackers ($18). From there, our main entrees were served: cavatelli pasta, cavolo nero, pistachios, pecorino ($28), and beef & pork meatball, san marzano tomato sauce, ciabatta ($22). We rounded out our meal with dark chocolate cake, soft espresso mascarpone whipped cream ($14). What I loved: Everything was served with care, attention to detail and robust flavor in each mouthful. The parmigiano was strong and paired beautifully with the balsamic. The mortadella brought me back to being a young child and enjoying it at family gatherings. I loved the cavatelli, it's earthy greens and soft round bites. Saving the best for last was certainly experienced with the dark chocolate cake, soft and decadent, which went down easy paired with the espresso cream. Why I loved it: Soft vibes, neighborhood feel, and cozy aesthetic. We loved the friendly, personal service and the opportunity to linger, without feeling rushed. Cost: High read more

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A charming little place. Lovely ambiance, delicious food, and kind service. Worth the wait (we went to the wine bar next door after putting our names on the list). read more

This place is so cute! Don't give up on seeking it out. On the map it seems like it's on the street front but you have to walk back into a small restaurant and store space to find it, but it's worth it! I had a nice white wine that the waitress recommended and ended up being the one I was eyeing. I also had the burrata with pistachios, apricot and mint on warm toasty bread! There was so much good food on the menu I could have ordered 8 more things but had to go to my next event. I will be back! read more

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Walked in without reservations for a party of 3 at around 5pm and was seated fairly quickly. Beautifully decorated and cozy vibes inside. The staff is very helpful with menu selections and are knowledgeable of the items they have. Food and drinks were good and fresh. My favorite item being the buratta dish. A lot of the dishes, even the entrees, felt more like tapas not actual appetizer/entree dishes. read more

Lioness is such a cute little spot! We went on a Friday night around 6:30pm and got seated right away. The restaurant itself is small but they have a lot of tables outside. Service for us was good. This is a great place for a group to split a bunch of appetizers and shared plates. The highlights of the meal were the scallop crudo, prosciutto l, and oysters. The entrees were just ok. read more

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Have a great time here.Food comes out really nice and unique. Wine selection for this bar is great. read more

Lioness - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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THE BIG: Located in Phinney Ridge inside a building complex next to Holy Mountain Brewing. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Parking is relegated to the street. THE BLACK AND WHITE: I came here with the wife and two of our Seattle friends for a dinner and catchup. The vibe is nice with low lighting and decor that resembles Italy! The wine list is exhaustive and primarily Italian wines. They have a somm in house that can navigate a little bit of the wines. Theres over 350 Italian grape varietals, so the bottles can get overwhelming. For the dishes, we got the cavatelli, burrata, meatball, heirloom tomatoes, and melon prosciutto. The highlight was the cavatelli and everything else came up short. Was expecting some nice flavors and they all ended up being flat. I believe their menu does rotate so maybe it was an off day for the restaurant but I left unfulfilled. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall the damage done for 5 dishes and a bottle of wine was around $180. Alright food, wine was great, but I'd look for another Italian spot if you're looking for better flavors. read more

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Went right at 4pm (opening time) on a Sunday to grab seats as they don't take reservations- we were easily able to get a table and 30 minutes later it was pretty full! The inside is pretty small, I think next time I'd want to try sitting outside if the weather is nice. Food was excellent/ great. Service was great, though we had a 30 minute wait for our second round of drinks, which was a bit odd. They burnt the bread/ toast on both dishes we had it with (I guess this is deliberate?) which I didn't like, but I just avoided the burnt parts ‍ What we ordered: 5/5 - oysters - Hama Hama - great oysters 4.5/5 - burrata - this had a rhubarb sauce and was quite good (aside from the burned toast previously mentioned) 5/5 - scallop crudo - LOVED this one - very unusual flavors with the Meyer lemon and crème fraiche, but balanced 4/5 - clams in butter - this was yummy 4.5/5 - sausage and polenta - huge piece of sausage, pesto-like sauce and the creamiest most delicious polenta (I almost didn't order this dish because I usually don't like polenta) I had the NA espresso martini which was quite good, not $16 worth it to get more than 1 It was a very expensive meal, so we'd come back but not frequently or maybe just for appetizers. read more

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Small, cozy and upscale Italian restaurant. We sat outside under the awning while it rained (we were covered) with space heaters. Ambiance was a bit European. Food and drinks were great. A but on the pricey side, but was worth it. read more

I went to dinner for the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian American tradition. I'm sorry to say it was disappointing. The wait staff and service were spot on by the food that was created for this tradition missed the mark. Even if it was her interpretation of the Feast it was off. The only part that was close was the poached cod served with a potato purée. Those of us who grow up on this generational meal for Christmas Eve know what fishes to serve but unfortunately here in Seattle rarely have I found a chef who understands the culture. Please don't feel I'm being harsh but when you can't understand the tradition, don't call it something it is not. read more

What a special place. Inside outside seating with Italian wine bar flair. We were greeted by James the manager who gave us a warm welcome and recognized my local friends by name and seated us an a perfect table. All servers were knowledgeable and attentive to our needs regarding wine and food! The green cocktail with gin and fresh parsley was so good. Buratta amazing, and the scallop Mellon chili dish. Yum! The bar was decorated with taper candles melted down magnum wine bottles. So cool. Great experience and I left there with a wonderful memory of this restaurant and great time with my friends. Definitely a yes to go back. Was very busy to get a Rez or be patient to get a table. P.s. they do private party's on the roof. read more

Lioness - Corner table - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I live near Lioness so have been excited to try this buzzy new spot brought to us by a neighborhood resident. It's been busy every time we've stopped by, so last night was the first time we were able to just walk right up and grab a table. The location, tucked in a little courtyard with tables that spill out into a shared courtyard space is highly reminiscent of Italy and, I'm sure served as inspiration for Erickson's Italian theme here. We opted to sit inside but even though the temps were in the 50's the heaters outside were keeping things cozy. Inside, with the door open we were a bit chilly. So, you can safely opt in or out. The ambiance is lovely and the service attentive. We never made it out of the cocktail list and into the wine list but the cocktails were absolutely chef's kiss perfection. The menu here is designed to be shared and features lots of snack-sized dishes. There are a few dishes that are vegetarian in each section but the menu still felt fairly limited to us (a vegetarian and a not-a-fish-fan). We ordered the burrata, olives, pasta, meatball, and dessert. We left satisfied but not stuffed. Hoping to see more warm veggie dishes/more substantial veg options on the small plates list in the future. read more

Another score for Chef Renee Erickson and her Sea Creatures restaurant group with the grand opening yesterday for Lioness in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood. This intimate space joins other popular destinations in the same building: Ben's Bread, Doe Bay Wine, and Holy Mountain Brewing & Taproom. It's been a chaotic week, so when there's even a smidge of victory it's great to celebrate. Stopping by the perfect spot on the way home for a beverage, apps/small plates, and/or dessert is a major score! It was fortuitous to survive the usual traffic backups, find street parking, and snag a spot at the bar counter as a party of one without a reservation. After all that sitting at work and the commute, it was actual pleasant to be able to stand and be able to see all the craft cocktails, wine pours, plus culinary action. Welcoming wait staff at the host stand. The din was a bit loud, but bearable. Lots to see from the art work and light fixtures. All the items at the bar shelving and counters. Watching culinary ballet among the wait staff, bar staff, and kitchen staff - well executed! I was offered a choice of sparkling or still water. I really appreciated the gentleman behind the counter who answered my menu questions and provided excellent recommendations. I had a glass of the Lambrusco Quarticello Ferrando Rosato ($17). Delightful beverage! There are wines by the glass, 3 page wine list by the bottle, cocktails, and NA bevs. I then tried the Smoked Black Cod Mousse with olive oil crackers ($18). Loved the flavor, lightness, and pop of the ikura. I'm happy for the serving knife, it allowed me to get every last bit of mousse after I ran out of crackers. Wrapped it up with a slice of the Chocolate Cake with Espresso Mascarpone Cream ($12), I was initially skeptical at first glance of the size of the cake slice, however, with its decadent richness with the espresso mascarpone cream, it was perfect. Not too sweet, not cloying, or dry. Exercised great restraint to create a spot on dessert. Essentially the three items ordered today were Goldilocks-perfect. Considering it was just Day 2, the entire staff was fairly polished. read more

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A friend & I dined at Lioness this evening-- in the darling outdoor courtyard area. The courtyard- which serves Lioness and Ben's Bread- is a brilliant architectural idea in these days of continuing covid cautiousness. I had the burrata; my friend had the clams. The burrata comes with one piece of bread-- the server said to let him know if I'd like more bread. I did-- and received another piece. It was a bit surprising to learn later that I was charged for it. The food was tasty and the experience pleasant. My friend asked for a take out container for the remaining portion of her meal. "Oh, we don't do take away..." Here's a tip: if you try to make a res via their reservation system, don't believe that they are booked up. The server told us that the system maxes out at 6 reservations-- so they may very well have room. Call them and ask if they have a table-- sometimes the old school methods trump the new. read more

Lioness - Outdoor couryard - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Was super excited to check out Lioness with some girl friends on a Saturday. We were unable to get a reservation so we arrived at 4:00 (when they open) for the best chance of getting a table. We were able to get one and were told we had the table until 5:30, which was fine! They have a large wine list but also feature cocktails as well. I wish there were some descriptions on the wine glasses, as I was not familiar with many of the wines... for example: "favorita - tibaldi langhe" or "muller thurgau - kurtatsch". The server was helpful though, when I described what types of wine I typically like. Unfortunately, I didn't end up loving the wine I got (garganega - gini soave), but it was great to try something new. We got the oysters, which were tasty (and I had never had olive oil on oysters before). The other food looked tasty, but we didn't order anything else this time. The one downside, which was a big one for us, was that the music was super loud and the acoustics do not seem to be great (everyone's voices seemed echo-y and amplified). I read another review about the loud atmosphere here and decided to check it out for myself. We were a group of 3 and I had a hard time hearing my friend who was sitting next to me. It also seemed odd to be that loud, given this is not a club or club-y type bar. It's a nicer wine/cocktail bar with elevated food, so not necessarily like a sports bar atmosphere or somewhere you'd expect it to be so loud. We were hoping for a more low-key /chill atmosphere. I'd definitely give them another chance, as they opened recently --seems like there is potential for things to improve (and for me to try more of the food, but would hope that they address the noise/music volume). Just note that if you are hoping for a chill/relaxing environment to catch up with a friend, this may not be your vibe. read more

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Everything amazing - drinks service ambiance. Manager is so nice and martini was perfect. Love the vibes read more

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Food is delish and the environment and staff are a joy to be around. I really enjoy this little book this restaurant provided. Little piece of Italy in Greenwood. read more

Very vibe-y and cute date night spot! We sat in the little courtyard patio area for dinner. We came with recommendations for the squash and cod mousse and both dishes were pretty good. I honestly felt that none of the dishes were absolute standouts, but we enjoyed the small plates and were able to try a lot. From looking around at other tables, it seemed like a few of their dishes were drowning in shredded cheese. I'm definitely not anti-cheese, but on some dishes, such as squash or a salad, I think there is a point where it's a bit too much. We were also recommended to try the signature martini, which was aptly described as a "choose your own adventure" cocktail. The presentation was awesome, and it was basically two drinks for the price of one (albeit one expensive drink). The different garnishes were cool, and surprisingly the anchovy was the favorite. Overall, it was nice to try a new restaurant with solid service and food. read more

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Came here over the summer to celebrate my birthday. Had heard all the buzz about it as a new place and decided to check it out with a party of 4. No reservations so we came relatively early on a Saturday to put our name in. About an hour wait, but we stopped over at the wine bar to have a drink while we waited. Once, seated the interior is small, so we were sat near the door, but it was still a fun buzzing atmosphere for a summer weekend night. The bar was quite beautifully decorated and the menu had lots of interesting tidbits. I got the martini, which at $25 is the most expensive Seattle cocktail I've had, but it did come with at least two drinks worth, so if you'd be getting a second cocktail anyway, this isn't the worst deal. Overall, food was tasty, but not overly memorable, pasta was tender and the pate was flavorful. A decent stop if you're willing to wait. read more

Setting aside the candle-lit old world Italian ambience, paired unexpectedly with a chill hip hop playlist that simply doesn't quit, this was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. I do not say that lightly- I love being overly critical of experiences in search of an elusive perfection that I sometimes doubt even exists. But then places like Lioness come along and show me it has been worth the wait. My partner and I were out for his birthday and shared- 1. cocktails- delicious, inventive, well balanced between a generous pour of the liquor and fresh ingredients 2. The burrata with figs- classic, perfectly creamy, golden toasted crusty bread, and delicious figs 3. grilled radicchio salad- fresh to death, crunchy, bitter arugula offset by an herbaceous and toasty bread crumb topping and a Caesar dressing that was equal parts tart and creamy- delicious 4. Pasta w sungolds, lemon ricotta, carmelized onions- I'm from Jersey/New York- home of some of the greatest Italian food in the country (don't take my work for it though. just watch The Sopranos) and this was one of the most perfect pastas I've ever had. Sweet, savory, creamy, perfectly al dente. Will be returning for more. 5. Braised greens- hearty, garlicky, tender, lemony, great pairing with the creamy pasta 6. The Pana Cotta- light, fruity with a peach jam, every bite was excellent. If I had any note for this whole experience it would be there seemed to be more (very delicious) jam topping than actual pana cotta, but we ate the whole thing. 7. Chocolate cake- deep chocolatey, moist, sweet but not too sweet, a hint of dark chocolate bitterness, a hint of salt, and I came this close to licking the plate for real Our waiter was sweet and attentive. I can't wait to go back. read more

This place is SO GOOD! There's no reservations but my friend and I planned to meet there for dinner at 7 on a Tuesday. We got there, put our name down for about a 30 minute wait which was fine because there are two super cute spots to grab a quick drink right next door while we waited. After about 25 minutes we were seated in the atrium/covered courtyard space --such a vibe! The service was awesome, food was DELICIOUS, they bring out each plate one by one. We did the scallop crudo, burrata, greens, pork sausage with polenta and both desserts because why not. I will absolutely be going back and you should too! read more

I was super excited to try this place out. It was my birthday and I wanted a cute spot that served oysters and an espresso martini with nice ambience. I had a horrible time at a previous place and thought this spot would make up for it. I walked in at 8 hoping to dine before last call since the place closes at 10. But right when I walked in, I was turned away and was told, "we're not taking anymore tables, we're closed for the night." I was confused and responded, "I thought you guys closed at 10? It's 8..." They simply agreed but continued to tell me they're not taking anymore tables. I would say this first impression left such a bad taste in my mouth... but I didn't even get a taste of anything! I was hopeful to try this spot. But, never again. read more

Food was good. Service was good. Prices are pretty high. The low number of stars is due to their tipping policy. The tipping policy wasn't indicated anywhere and you only saw it if you happened to look at the bill. The tip is obligatory, is 22%, is added to the bill, GOES TO LIONESS, and if you do leave an additional tip for your server it is shared. Somehow the restaurant keeping the tip without telling you that ahead of time leaves a really bad taste. Plus, most people don't really look at their bill so many folks are tipping the server on top of tipping the restaurant. read more

Lioness - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Everyone was super friendly from the moment we walked in. Everything we tried was delicious- martini, smoked fish mouse, liver pate, clams, salad, panna cotta. The space truly reminds me of Paris. It doesn't look like anything else in Seattle. I will say, since it's so small inside, the tables are sort of close together and it was a little loud. Will go back anyways! Food is more like heavy snacking. Hard to get a full dinner unless you order almost all items. read more

Lioness - Interior - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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First things first we love the place and everything about it, and all places in the chain. Now that being said, today service drop a major ball, we hired a nanny, drove 45 minutes from Bellevue to check out notorious Lioness Caviar martini. After jumping all the hoops to get here we finally got in and seated, (it's early in a day empty place maybe one more other table taken) once my wife ordered drinks for us (none alcoholic for her) and caviar Martini for me (mainly for the pictures) front manager or whoever he was came to the table and notified that we are drunk and unfortunately he won't be able to serve us. No reason for this was given, no voice was raised no drinks prior to this were consumed. Completely out of blue statement that just shows complete out of line judgement and complete lack of awareness on how to approach a customer. For the record my wife doesn't drink and I drove here, we had no drinks prior and the drink we ordered was mostly for the photo. We came for food however after such poor treatment just couldn't stay. We love the restaurants food and vibe, but this was just an unacceptable situation. We happy to change the feedback as I truly believe this place deserves only the best however not while that person still works there and treats patrons in a way that makes them uncomfortable to the point that they have to leave. Maybe next time will have a chance to actually try this drink, as we had to leave it untouched, just couldn't stay another minute after the misjudged treatment we received. read more

Lioness - Lioness - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Underwhelming and expensive experience. Despite HH pricing it was still $84 pp for not much. The oysters were good, but not served on ice, which meant they were cooking under the space heaters. $32 for a sausage on some polenta served on a small plate seemed crazy. The cavatelli was good, but not great. The chocolate cake was probably the best thing we shared, but I was the only one who liked it. 22% gratuity auto included for a party of 3. Service folks were ever present, but somehow took tons of time getting our orders and refills. Was a strange phenomenon. Overall, I'm not clear on why this place got such great reviews. The prosciutto dish another table ordered looked decent. Perhaps I missed the boat. read more

Renee Erickson heads to North Seattle and her latest addition to the booming Greenwood/Phinney Ridge restaurant scene is an instant hit. The menu has a similar layout to her other places with a nice selection of smaller plates a few larger ones as well. After eating oysters twice in the past week, we skipped them here. Do get the smoked black cod mousse - a great starter topped with a generous amount of salmon roe for extra flavor and umami. The anchovies with cultured butter was simple but reminds you how simple yet quality ingredients can be so satisfying. The clams with fennel and salsa verde was more like a soup with a light and flavorful broth. The cavatelli was probably my least favorite dish - it was a little less flavorful than the other dishes. Cocktails were a hit, and I loved the garibaldi, amaro + OJ. I also tried their martini service - the presentation was beautiful, the cocktail was solid, and at $25, probably one of the pricier martinis in town but still half the price of my last Manhattan at the Fairmont. Service was professional and pleasant, and while the space was small, they do have a nice courtyard as well. Really enjoyed our first visit here and look forward to returning soon. read more

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Great new restaurant. Excellent service. Nice addition to this neighborhood. Get their special martini!

In a word? YUM!!!! Came this past Saturday evening on the 1st of June with four friends to enjoy an early dinner. We had a whole gameplan for this reservation-less/walk-in only popular spot-- to converge at 5p, first person/people get our party on the waitlist, and then go across the street to drink at Oliver's Twist. But we never got that far, I was running about 20 minutes late and my couple friend who live nearby in Greenwood texted about 5:10p to say it was a 45 - 60min wait and they are going across the ... oh wait nvm we are seated at a patio table. My other couple friend, coming from West Seattle, were about 15min behind me. Luckily the weather was mild enough and it wasn't raining yet (let me introduce you to a new term on every Seattleite's lips in the 2 days since: "atmospheric river") and we were lucky because opening up the patio space at least triples the restaurant capacity and they have some pretty heavy-duty overhead heaters that kept us warm enough. I overheard the GM saying that they had only been able to open up the patio a couple of weeks prior- not sure why, as we had unseasonably warm weather earlier in the season, unless given this restaurant has been open only 4 months, it was just a matter of building it out. Company-wise, this is a great group of longtime friends where the conversation flows freely and we never run out of things to talk about! We've dined together at all kinds of places, and there are 2 foodies amongst us lot. So the evening was already set up nicely, especially not having to wait. Food-wise, I was in heaven. We ordered 5 dishes to share. Our server warned that we might want to double-up but we decided try what we had and then sample other things if we were still hungry and ended up with the perfect amount with the first round. We're a pretty international crowd and more comfortable with "European" portion sizes! - Anchovies, Olive Oil, Cultured Butter, Ciabatta - Burrata, Toasted Almond Ramp Pesto, Ciabatta - Smoked Black Cod Mousse, Ikura, Crackers (This was my favorite but I heart heart fish eggs, in this case cured salmon roe- I could have eaten the entire thing solo and luckily since 2 people in our crowd were squeamish about the roe, I got more than my fair share :) - Beef & Pork Meatball, Tomato Sauce, Pecorino, Ciabatta (this was a couple of peoples most favorite) - Cavatelli Pasta, Saffron Butter, Asparagus, Spring Onion (In some ways this was the first dish that caught my eye on the menu and I was super excited to try it but I could not taste even a hint of saffron which was disappointing) We opted to skip dessert and grab gelato across the street at nutty squirrel instead. But both desserts looked quite appealing to me too -- next time! Drink-wise, we consumed 8 adult bevies, I had a Cuba Libra since nothing on the speciality cocktail list caught my eye and they had a full bar. Later, I ordered a sparkling rose (Pinot Nero- Enrico Serafino) I'm a fan but would need to have a good back-up/ waiting plan to consider going again and definitely think it's important to take advantage of the upcoming summertime weather for the extra patio space! read more

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Great new spot for a fun date night. Smaller than I was expecting, so if it's cold or you don't want to sit outside, get there early or prepare to wait. Cocktails were all delicious, food was up to Seat Creatures usual standards, and service was great. Definitely recommend! read more

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We were quite excited to try Lioness, but unfortunately were fairly underwhelmed. We went with a group and ate family style, so got a chance to try most of the dishes that were available that day. Some were good, but nothing was mind blowing and a few were actually just boring. Our least favorite was a dish that was just one lone sausage served on a bed of salty beans. Our server actually recommended this dish as one of her favorites, but no one in our 6 person group found it to be something we enjoyed. Our favorite was perhaps the buratta (though it's not as though that is a particularly inventive dish). There were a few items on the menu that they were sold out of that looked interesting. If we were to go again I would try to go earlier in the evening so everything is available. Service was ok. We felt a little awkward in our interactions, but nothing so bad. We sat outside, but inside did look quite cute for a date spot. Overall, it was a very expensive meal for nothing I'd write home about. More than happy to drop that $$ on a fantastic meal but this just wasn't it. Perhaps we just went on an off night. Too bad. read more

Amazing food, amazing atmosphere and amazing staff. Extremely warm and welcoming a perfect date night spot, getting drinks with friends or even a solo experience. Will definitely be back! read more

It was fine. Food was hit or miss - either somewhat bland or pretty good. Nothing terribly memorable. None of it was filling. Good for a light meal or happy hour. I don't really understand the appeal for this chef. I've been to two of their places now and find myself thinking "why come here instead of...." I feel like if you're going to serve a limited selection of small plates... they need to be memorable. Anchovies on bread with butter? Scallops with some pesto? Pasta with some sauce? Like.... It was fine...but for $25 for a small bowl of pasta without a protein and $24 for some raw scallops you're spending $150+ and... stopping at dicks on the way home... read more

Just returned from a conference in Las Vegas and my wife and I were discussing where to go for dinner on the way home from SeaTac. I had read the article in the Times that compared the Lioness to Tom Douglas' Neb and after checking Yelp decided to try Lioness. It was 9:15 by the time we arrived and I thought we might get turned away so close to closing, but the amazing staff ushered us in with the feeling we were family arriving a touch late for dinner. I have to say, it was an amazing experience from beginning to end. The oysters from Hama Hama were fresh and spectacular and paired with a beautiful Prosecco. We shared the scallop crudo, which was the best I have ever had. The texture was soft and and flavor amazing. We had the cavatelli pasta, which was one of the most unique pastas I have ever had in Seattle and the garlic pork sausage and white corn polenta. Both were incredible! We paired the dinner with a beautiful Rosso. At the end we shared the panna cotta which was a perfect way to end a spectacular meal. The room is small and beautiful. The menu is small and exceptional. The wine list has one of the best Italian selections in Seattle. This is reminiscent of the small mountain restaurants in the mountains of northern Italy and is different than any other Italian restaurant in Seattle. I can't wait to go back with friends! read more

The food was delicious. The wine was nice. The ambiance was quite lovely. The service was not great. The house manager/host was awful. I was first in line at 4:00 p.m. The house manager came out to greet the line. He ignored me and handed menus to the couple behind me to look at while we waited for the restaurant to open. I knew something was up when he then wouldn't make eye contact with me at the 4:00 p.m. opening. I don't know if it was that I was there alone waiting for my friend to join me, that I am a middle aged woman, or a combination of both. As Bruce Springsteen says in the song, Dancing in the Dark, before I left the house, I checked my look in the mirror. I was more than presentable looking in my green cashmere sweater and high end jeans and suede boots. (Why does that even matter?) After smiling continually at the man with my mouth and Irish eyes, he had to acknowledge my existence. He brought me into the empty restaurant and seated me at the far end corner next to the wall. Hidden away from all to see. The next couple were seated near the entrance. My host warned me that I had the table until 6:00 p.m. Two hours seemed plenty. I was quickly greeted with sparkling water and a menu. I was able to order a cocktail while I waited for my tardy friend. Then I was ignored...except of course by the clearly annoyed house manager. As the house filled up, he had to seat a couple next to me. My small purse was placed next to me on the bench. House manager announced that he was seating someone next to me, and indicated with some obvious flicks of his hand that I should move my purse. (It was not in my neighbor's seat.) I obeyed him. As my friend was tardy due to having to drive in not one, not two, but three 20 mph school zones, she was later than anticipated. While I waited for her, It took three tries to get my wait staff's attention to plead for olives. (She was standing with her back to me on her phone announcing to the sous chef that it was International Women's Day.) House manager returned to the scene of the crime (me) and responded to the wait staff's inquiry on how things were going. He replied, "Good, except, we have this one." nodding in my direction. I still am unclear of my crime. My fabulous and charming dinner companion arrived. She entered with a splash of PTSD, not from her commute, but upon being confronted by the house manager as she attempted to enter the restaurant. But for his blue cotton chef's jacket, one might have confused him with a 1970's Manhattan bouncer at the famed dance club, Studio 54. (No matter how amped up on coke you were, you were not getting pass them). Puffing his chest, legs astride, Jack Reacher style, he demanded to know why my friend wanted to enter his den. (Get it? Lioness?) She humbly pleaded permission to meet me, her friend, inside, being held hostage. Relieved to learn that he seemed to just not like me, but perhaps middle aged women in general, we got right down to the business of ordering burrata for appetizer, (delish) the pasta dish and the meatball dish for entree (double delish) and the chocolate cake for dessert (ridiculously delish.) At this time, I thought may be we were on a role. We only had to beg for attention twice more to get our order in and respect our 6:00 p.m. deadline. Alas, that was not to be. The people seated next to us were attended to and served quickly and efficiently and were able to leave in due course. As my wonderful friend and I were held hostage waiting to be served, house manager paid me another visit: he was again seating people next to us; he again needed to flick his hand in an aggressive manner, this time with lips pursed, at the insolence of my purse lying next to me on the bench. We left at 6:45. There were tables open in the restaurant so may be the 6:00 p.m. deadline no longer applied; we were trying hard to be respectful of that deadline. It was just that hard to get service. We got the check. l never check the check. I checked the check this time--may be because of the intricate origami design in which it was presented? Good thing. I was charged for a full bottle of wine, when, in fact, I only had a glass. The wait staff took the check to correct it. No apology offered. With check missing, our credit cards lay on the bronze dish. House manager went in for the kill, whisking away our credit cards, bonus glare included, but without the corrected check. Waitress returns check. We thanked her and told her the house manager had our credit cards. She smiles and says, "We all work together." Huh? The bright spot, not bright enough to mitigate the experience, but bright enough that I do want to mention that a mustachioed man with a mullet-lite hair cut that was curly in the back, was an absolute delight. He came over and asked how my drink was. (I lied and said it was great because at that point I was suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Any attention from my captors was welcome.) read more