I had wondered who would take over the shuttered, long time Chile Pepper in Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood. 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! read more

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This is a great hole-in-the-wall spot with delicious food and friendly staff! It's a cute, small house 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! read more

My wife and I love supporting small businesses. Occhi Belli is definitely a cute and humble restaurant nestled in Wallingford - yet, the food was just ok. Actually, a bit subpar. We ordered the focaccia bread, carbonara, and the chicken pasta with marsala sauce. The focaccia was really dense and crumbly. The dryness paired with the density/heaviness of the bread made it a bit hard to consume without any vinegar or olive oil. My wife and I actually resorted in using the masala sauce in my pasta as it's saving grace. It lacks the bounciness and fluffy, yet crispy, texture of a good focaccia. Speaking of the marsala sauce, it was WAY too sweet. The sauce felt loaded with cream, and it was too overpowering (albeit a nice pairing with the brick of focaccia we had). The chicken was super thin and overcooked, as it was so dry and stringy. Definitely would not recommend this dish. The somewhat positive note was the carbonara which my wife had. Not bad, but my wife thought the sauce was too cheesy. Also - my wife and I came in on an early Friday evening (around 6 PM) and was met with some hesitation. They mentioned that they may not have a seat for us, as we didn't make a reservation. Luckily, and graciously, we were granted a table. But what was kinda odd was that other groups of people started to trickle in - some seemed to not have made a reservation - and they were welcomed and seated immediately without question. Odd. Overall, I wouldn't even say this place would scratch any Italian-food desires or cravings. Hope this place continues to thrive in the heart of Wallingford, but sadly it didn't stay in ours. read more

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Great meal here!! Small little business with great food and a cute ambiance. Very reasonable prices and good service. read more

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Occhi Belli is the definition of a cozy hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It is set inside a converted house, and the name actually comes from a book written by the owner, which adds such a personal touch to the vibe. The food was incredible. We started with the chicken noodle soup of the day, followed by the pasta con salsiccia and the black cod provincial. Every dish was delectable. The service and ambiance were both top-tier. We were too full this time, but we will definitely be back soon to try the tiramisu. Highly recommend! read more

Restaurant is named as the fiction novel written by Tim McDonald who is the owner of/ restaurant host. We enjoyed our meal and fabulous customer service. This place just opened in the main drag of Wallingford-- we will be back! read more

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This. Place. Is. Fantastic. You really couldn't tell that they just opened. The menu is PERFECT as well as the food. The wine selection is also fantastic. We opted for the bottle of Syrah and it did not disappoint. The source of a good review is the food, but the source of a GREAT review is the service. Both of our servers were fantastic. Tim, who is the owner, was working in the house delivering food, wine, and JOYOUS vibes. I'm so excited that my partner found this place as early as she did because I predict this place is about to be the talk of the town! read more

Occhi Belli - Gnocchi, skewers, and bruschetta - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Tim and Matt were awesome hosts - we got there right as they opened and they were ready to offer us top notch hospitality RIGHR away. These two are a hoot! If you haven't had a chance to check out Tim's books, please indulge while you're there. The wine list is perfect and the specials felt special - I was so happy they had a carbonara! My girl friend and I stayed about an hour, never felt rushed, and really enjoyed the comfortable dining area, with the entertainment provided by Tim and Matt. Thanks guys! read more

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A hidden neighborhood gem. Excellent food and impressive wines at reasonable prices. Totally exceeded expectations. Highly recommend.

Delicious fresh light Italian fare, really cute location. Emphasis on fresh caught seafood and bright colors with well-balanced acids and cheeses. Service was attentive and friendly. They're a hot new restaurant perfect for couples with a great happy hour deal on wine. We had the Beet salad, carpaccio, and the Pesto Shrimp which was excellent. read more

Occhi Belli - Pesto Shrimp - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great food, great wine, and great service!! We ordered the lasagna and spaghetti alla puttanesca which were both the pasta del giorno. I hope the lasagna becomes part of the normal menu because it was so delicious!! Other stars were the caponata, meat balls, and tiramisu! All great portion sizing for the price! We will definitely be going back! Recommend calling ahead to make a reservation unless you are ok with sitting at the bar. read more

Occhi Belli - Tiramisu - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My daughter and I just had dinner at Occhi Belli. The reservation experience was amazing, with the owner Tim getting back to us quickly by email. The wine, dinner and service was exceptional. Tim handled the whole restaurant himself and still had time to talk with us about his restaurant journey. Tim's work ethic is unmatched as he strives to give his patrons a unique Italian experience at an affordable price!!! read more

Excellent food at a reasonable price, and absolutely fantastic service! Tim the owner is extremely friendly and personable, and provided great insight on the menu options. Standout dishes were the olive appetizer and the "fish of the day" which was a seared ahi tuna + pesto risotto. Very cozy and intimate vibe - Tim mentioned that he's planning on adding patio seating this summer which will be lovely! Tim also mentioned that he keeps prices low because he wants Occhi Belli to be the type of restaurant where people can regularly visit 2-3 times per month. Very rare to see that in Seattle! Will definitely become a regular. read more

Adorable atmosphere, delicious small plates which made it perfect for sharing. Dont forget the dessert read more

Occhi Belli - Adorable atmosphere and excellent small plates which made it perfect for sharing - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excellent new neighborhood eatery with a great menu and friendly service. It was a treat to meet Tim, the owner, who took time to tell us his journey to make this such a special place. His wine selections paired with the food well, and this was a fun place. I highly recommend for Happy Hour, a lite bite, or a full meal. read more

Occhi Belli - Owner Tim, who is not only an excellent restauranteur he's a published author. Check out his book while you're there too! - Wine Bars Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great new restaurant on our neighborhood that we decided to finally try. Will be going back.​ Food was delicious and had alot of variety. Good and interesting wine by the glass selection . Very attentive staff despite the restaurant being full. Also not that noisy despite it being full. read more

Wonderful vibe, excellent food- 10/10! Located in a cute, small house Lovely for an intimate date night or meeting friends! Support this small, local business! read more

New place in the neighborhood and I'm so happy they're here. Really fantastic italian food and great wine. Friendly and cozy.

I was raised in italy and I am sorry to say that I found the food to be of very poor quality. The owner was there and very friendly.

I want to love this new place, and hope they succeed because the neighborhood could use it, but the food needs a lot of work. We ordered curried mussels expecting a savory curry broth, but got six cold mussels with a huge dollop of a cold, thick, creamy curry sauce on top, that completely overwhelmed the mussels. Caesar salad; unremarkable. Funghi with pesto; OK, not great. The prices are moderate, so you can't expect extraordinary, but a talented kitchen could turn the same ingredients into much better dishes for the same cost. Go for the wine; not the food. I sincerely hope that they improve... read more

Great food. Great atmosphere. Great service. A nice variety of dishes with generous portions. Highly recommend.

Great service good food pleasant atmosphere I had the filet mignon which for $32 was as good as any I have had Will definitely go again SB read more

This is a new place in our neighborhood and it's the best Italian food to come our way! Great wines, a good sized menu (with lots of vegetarian selections) and fine service. They also have a happy hour each day! We'll be back! read more

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Tried this cute spot last night. So glad we did. We had a group of five. Loved the wine selections we tried. The food was interesting and delicious. We all enjoyed everything we ordered. Service was provided by the owner who is friendly, welcoming and professional. We will return. read more

I have had the chance to visit Occhi Belli twice since its opening. My first visit I had the classic Caesar salad, the gnocchi with gorgonzola and a filet with veal demi glaze. All were excellent, with the gnocchi being my favorite plate. On our second visit I tried the soup of the day (a nice potato with pepper) followed by the meatballs and pasta of the day which was a ravioli. It was a perfectly balanced meal and the service was excellent. We sat near the windows up front and watched as folks strolled along 45th. Many poked their heads in to check out the new space :) Great decor, top notch service and a lively atmosphere coupled with exceptional plates. We will be returning soon! read more

Great little neighborhood wine bar and Italian restaurant. I tried four different wines (a full-bodied Italian red, a lovely dry northern Italian white, a late-harvest WA riesling, and a well-balanced tawny port), all of which I felt were great selections (well-balanced, tasty, lovely wines). I also had a couple of antipasti and the creme brûlée (delicious with the Riesling). Each dish was nicely executed. A relatively new restaurant that I hope has some staying power, on the whole a really nice addition to the neighborhood! Happy hour deals were great, $2 off all glasses and $1 off each good item. The proprietor is friendly, welcoming, attentive, and has good taste. Come check it out! read more

Lovely place with a friendly and attentive owner with great wine recommendations and lovely food! Will be back!

This is a brand new place in Wallingford, in a charming little bungalow on 45th. On the night we went the place was packed, so I am glad to see people have discovered it. The food was yummy and service was friendly. I am a sucker for Italian food and wine in an intimate and cozy setting. read more

Fantastic new addition to the neighborhood. Great food, exceptional wines by the glass or bottle, reasonable pricing for Seattle. Friendly and knowledgeable host. Highly recommend! read more

Cute space, good service, good wine and good food. What more could you want? Will definitely go back.

i'm so excited for this addition to the neighborhood. vibrant flavors, sharable and delicious! our host was the most welcoming and gracious. i could taste the passion and integrity looking forward to more tasty dishes! read more