This was the perfect spot for a couple friends to go after a very sad, upsetting and difficult night. We had to attend a funeral, but after that, we still wanted to be together... so we all trekked over here for dinner. I had a salad, and some homemade pasta, and it was amazingly good, comforting... and just what I needed. The staff was great, and we were happy that on a busy Friday evening our table was kind of tucked away. I need to come back here, because I loved it so much, and will probably love it again. read more

Our favorite neighborhood restaurant. We love to go here for a special weeknight dinner. Less expensive than going into the city. Good wine list. LOVE their truffle fries. I had truffle fries at Daniel's and at Canlis, and I like Saltoro's better (also because they are the thinner-cut style fries). We also have been here twice for New Year's dinners. Once with a big group and another time just the two of us. Both were great. I just feel like you get so much bang for your buck here! read more

Honestly? Very mediocre food that is far too overpriced. We got the bolognese (a bit too close to hamburger helper) Broccoli (too much of a weird kick to it, and not in a good way) Truffle fries were decent Shortbread was dry read more

The food was terrible and not at all as described on the menu. They had a specials menu but were missing main ingredients for one of the dishes. Our drinks were delivered almost at the end of the meal, why even bother at that point? One waitress bumped into our table twice, hard enough to spill our waters. The other waitress brought other peoples foods and drinks to our table 3 separate times, what is wrong with their staff? One of the worst dining experiences ever, and to top it off it was expensive. read more

Surprise, this place is dynamite. I have driven by Saltoro many times. I figured it was an ordinary Steak a fried seafood. We decided to check it out. Driving up to it, the restaurant looks average, but inside it is very nice (great for a date). The menu has a creative selection. The portions are generous and reasonably priced. We had the warm brussel sprout salad and the roast cauliflower. Both were prepared perfectly. My wife had the butternut squash ravioli. She said it was very good. I had the braised short rib with farro done 3 ways and beef fat roasted root vegetables. It was tender and the definition of comfort food. They have a well stocked bar with a knowledgeable staff. They even do craft non alcoholic beverages. I had a vanilla pear shrub drink. We walked out knowing we will be back. This is in local rotation. read more

I don't know why everyone orders steak and fries and burgers and then complains that it was too expensive and something they could make at home. Of course you could cook steak at home. And of course it's a burger for $13, you know the prices already, don't order it and expect a lobster to come out or something. Anyways... this place is consistently good and has good specials. The BEST things to get are the sauteed prawn appetizer with tomatoes and goat cheese. It is delicous and a MUST try item. The other dishes that are great are the halibut with cream sauce and the seafood risotto. If you try anything else, and I'm not sure why you would, you might find this place to be like any other. But these dishes are great and unique. Also, if they ever have the cheese plate special again--Get it. It's huge and really tasty. There are very few good restaurants in the northend and this is probably the best one. My main complaint is that they don't have a website. read more

This is a favorite of mine. I almost always get the sea salt roasted chicken. It is a treat both for flavor and texture, and the kitchen is consistent. The steak frites is another favorite, with the truffle fries stealing the show. Their desserts are really satisfying, too. The truth is that this restaurant is informal enough to be a place you go to when you don't feel like cooking, but it serves food of such high quality that it can just as easily be the destination when you are celebrating something special. read more

Best brunch in town! Crab frittata with truffle potatoes, avocado mouse on a bed of prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella with balsamic glaze, and fantastic bloody Mary's....I'm so happy that one of our favorite restaurants have expanded to brunch! The word isn't out yet, so there won't be any wait...not until people realize what they're missing! read more

Saltoro - The lighting might be off, but their cod dish is the best cod I've ever had! - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A solemn occasion marked my first visit to this unassuming restaurant in the middle of the understated Greenwood neighborhood. My uncle's first choice was booked by pre-Father's Day crowds, but that turned out to be a fortunate twist. The parking is adequate if you get there punctually but I could see it getting tough to find a spot once they're in full swing. Although we arrived half an hour before they opened, we could see them clearly rushing to get the doors open to accommodate us as we stood almost literally on the door step. This is a dinner only act, but they perform it wholeheartedly. I don't recall a single person on staff that night whose head didn't turn to greet us as we were shown to our table within its cozy, modern walls. They were able to find something to seat the eight of us quite comfortably in a corner where we could talk at a normal volume. The hostess never made us feel rushed and we enjoyed our dinner at a leisurely pace. The roasted cauliflower and arancine (which was the reason I bookmarked Saltoro) were awesome and two of each appetizer fed 8 perfectly. There are four arancine per plate served with tasty tomato jam and a flounce of arugula for looks. The crust crunches deliciously beneath your teeth followed by the rich rush of cheese and nutty risotto. Roasted cauliflower has a nice kick of red chile flakes. Between the halibut with cauliflower puree, salmon with garganelli, lamb burger with fries or with mashed taters, everyone clearly enjoyed their meal. Ironically, the reviewer's meal was the only weak dish: grilled shrimp & linguine in cream sauce with chives. The pasta was rubbery, lacked enough sauce to coat all of it and the shrimp were somewhat dry. As leftovers, it turned into a solid mass. Yuk. Happily, I enjoyed the company and appetizers enough to overlook it but I also realize most places are going to feature at least one hit or miss dish. Saltoro is clearly a neighborhood favorite which filled with happy diners by the time we took our leave. Including a bounty of wine, appetizers and entrees, a party of eight will command about $50 a head. If you refrain from booze, you could possibly make this a regular dinner spot depending on your budget. read more

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The food here was great! My biggest issue here was the portion sizes; I'm not sure what world the server was from, but most people need more than a few raviolis for dinner. He said that the salads were entree sized, so we all refrained from ordering one, and my mom and Grandma shared one, however when they got it, it was tiny. Other than that, the food was great. I ordered the spaghetini, which was spaghetti noodles with clams and some sort of wine sauce. It had a slight bite which was nice, but it wasn't spicy necessarily. Cam and grandma both had the crab ravioli-type dish in a pistachio sauce, which is the dish that was absolutely TINY; it literally was 3 crab filled noodle pouches in this sauce and according to them both it was absolutely fabulous, but it was not nearly enough food. Mom and dad both ordered the steak with fries; mom had regular fries and dad had the truffle fries. I had a bite of both the steak and the two types of fries and they were all great. The boys both had Mac N Jack for beer, and grandma and I shared a bottle of rose. They have a 23 for $23 wine list with a ton of great choices. For desert, I had the flan with black sea salt; mom, grandma, and Cam all had the chocolate cake desert, and dad had the berry cobbler. All of them were awesome. For five people, our bill was about $170, so beware the prices. They also don't have a happy hour, and the menu is slightly limited in that it is small but does have a little bit of everything. I liked it so I'm sure we'll be back, but probably for another special occasion. read more

Saltoro is our FAVORITE restaurant in the north end. period. Well, it's actually our favorite restaurant in all of Seattle. period. The service is consistently great without being fake, the food is always amazing, the atmosphere is wonderful. We come her at least once a month...at least... read more

Great food, excellent service, beautiful surroundings. A little pricey but worth it. Try the butternut squash ravioli. read more

Love this place. Service is always on point, the portions are perfect and dining etiquette very good. It's our local spot... I wouldn't mind if they raised the prices a bit to ensure that they stay around... highly recommended... read more

I love the food here! The wine list is phenomenal and they have a full (really full) bar. I love their margaritas and mojitos too. You absolutely must try the truffle fries. Their customer service is also excellent. My fiance and I have never been disappointed. read more

My husband and I came here for a dinner sans bebe and had a lovely time. We've eaten here before years ago, and had to agree, that of all the places we've gone long term, Saltoro is one of the only ones where the food keeps getting BETTER. The cruchy chickpeas are AWESOME. I also had a strawberry-lime mojito, and the waitress made a suggestion to get it without the mint, which was the perfect way to have it. The strawberry shortcake, despite our high hopes, wasn't awesome, though. read more

I'll keep this one short...and sweet. I love dining here for: The food, it is delicious(try the Portuguese Seafood Stew), the waitstaff are helpful and cool, the lighting is semi-lit and perfect, the atmosphere is not stuffy, the Truffle Fries and Wagyu burger are worth coming here all on their own. As long as this place is around, it will be my favorite place to go out to dinner and drinks. read more

My husband and I recently shared a lovely date night at Saltoro. It was a Friday, so I was famished after work. The crunchy chickpeas took the edge off while we relaxed and caught up on the day's news. The sumac, salt and lime seasoning sparkled against the satisfying texture of the warm legumes. The true pick of the evening with the sea salt roasted chicken. The skin was perfectly crispy, salty and juicy. The dining room and service are warm, welcoming and casual. Our waitress's wine recommendation was spot on. If I lived closer to Greenwood, I would go here more often. It's the kind of neighborhood favorite I wish we had in our neck of the woods. read more

I have been to a lot of the nicer restaurants in Seattle. in my opinion this is among the best of the best - minus the dress code. It has an intimate ambiance and yet still remains fairly laid back (though don't go in sweats or torn jeans. You will feel out of place.) The staff is comprised of true professionals. It is rare to dine out and to be treated to such classy service. Of course there is the food and the drink. Both are outstanding. Expect expertly mixed cocktails and dee-licous eats. I know that Saltoro is a bit out of the way for some folks, but it is a gem, 'nuff said. read more

Fairly good for Italian good in the area, and appropriate for the price. I really liked the warmed Brussels sprout salad, it has a surprising comfort food quality to it. read more

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Not sure why I hadn't dined at this restaurant for the past 3 yrs living only a mere 5 mins or less in walking distance. Passing by it plenty of times, the exterior definitely was not an eye catcher. However, the interior is very welcoming, clean, cozy, decor is nice and warm, and slightly dimmed for some intimate diners. Honestly service was a bit slow, prob because they were a bit busy. Food was definitely good, however just wish our main dishes were actually hot when we were served it rather than just slightly warm. Had the truffle fries and manila clams for starters, which was good. My boys loved their mac and cheese. My brothers and I had the halibut, lamb leg, and short rib agnolotti. All were delicious. I'm not a fan of lamb but had a piece to try and it did not have a strong gamey taste whatsoever. We ordered the fallen chocolate cake for dessert to share as we were all very full. I'm not a huge chocolate fanatic or dessert person, but I have got to say it was so yummy. I like how it was made to order, freshly made and hot. read more

I don't go often because of the distance, but Saltoro's is a sleeper in the high quality / value dept. All entrees are good, but my heart belongs to their two burger options. There's the Kobe beef burger which is American-produced Kobe ground beef on an excellent bun and makes me salivate just thinking about it. They also have a lamb burger topped with a Moroccan harrisa sauce. We're talking plate-lickin' good here. Love the neighborhood feel and that they have nailed the casual-yet-elegant vibe. No pretension, yet professional and friendly. Go for a date, go to hang out with your friends. It's all gooood! read more

No more truffle fries or calamari for me. They now fry them in the same oil as shrimp and things. It is busy thou.... Kids.. Families .... And couples. Bar is quiet... Steak frites yummy cilantro and pesto sauce. Horseradish sauce with meal was like mayo and blue cheese with a bit of horsie sauce. I LOVE THE TRUFFLE FRIES... But can't have them anymore cuz they fry them with shellfish now and used to not. (Calamari and truffle fries and my fav dished along with saltoro salad) server and bartender were both nice and not prudish like last time. Mashed tatoes and meat::: yum but sauce for steak frites was mayo, blue cheese and a tiny bit of horse radish... Vibe is good ....?date type place read more

Seriously mediocre, and a serious bad value for moneyl. If you're in the mood for a ball-game, you may enjoy the flat-screen TV. (One of which was flickering badly when we were there.) And you may enjoy the coctails and beer. (We try not to drink.) But as for the food? Forget it. The prices are outrageous for the quality that you get. The waitresses have the conspritorial look of people who know that they work for a harsh taskmaster -quality has nothing to do with it. read more

I have lived in the neighborhood for decades, but had never stopped in due to Saltoro not appearing like much from the outside. My friend recommended we go there for a beer about 4 years ago and I was pretty shocked. It is very elegant on the inside, the outside is quite deceiving. The food is fantastic, I've never had a bad drink (I love their assorted house drinks), and very affordable. I have been excited to have this unknown gem close by. My fiance and I are planning to head there for dinner tonight from Wedgewood because it is one of our favorites! read more

Visited Saltoro this past Saturday night, and I could not have been more pleased! From the cocktails (I ordered a brown sugar bourbon lemon concoction that was an unexpected treat), to the appetizers, entree, and the servers, everything was top notch. All praises due to Chef Mark for preparing immaculate dishes! He has a deft hand, as he seasons his dishes beautifully. I ordered the halibut, which I recommend, and the Saltoro salad, with a side of sauteed mushrooms. The truffle fries were crisped to perfection, with just the right amount of truffle flavor! The servers were pleasant, attentive, quick, and accurate. Next time you're in Seattle, definitely include Saltoro on your agenda, and let Chef Mark tantalize your tastebuds! read more

Five stars for value. The food is probably only 4 stars, but unlike a lot of other Italian restaurants in Seattle, it's actually priced pretty reasonably. What really stuck out to me about this place was it has a really good atmosphere, a solid wine and cocktail list (which is very important to me) and attentive service. For starters we had the truffle oil fries and some side salads. The truffle oil fries were good, but they give you a massive amount of them...too much in my opinion unless you have a table of 8 (vs. our table of 4). For dinner I had the spinach ravioli with spiced chicken sausage which was good; no complaints here, but it was by no means exceptional. One of my friends had the halibut, which he complained was under seasoned, but come' on, it's halibut, what do you expect? For dessert I had chocolate pecan tart, which was like the food, good not great. Overall, this was one of my better dinning experiences in Seattle and I'll definitely be back soon! read more

You go far enough up Greenwood heading north and you find gold. At least I did last night. Apparently, this is Bicks (gross) sister restaurant but they could not have been more different. When we first walked through the door, a lovely woman greeted us with total warmth and sincerity and ASKED us where we'd like to sit instead of just seating us and slamming menus in our faces. It was warm and dimly lit and lovely. We started with the antipasto plate and it came with huge chunks of hot fresh bread, a lovely assortment of cheeses (the bleu cheese was to die for on that bread), garlicky kalamata olives, peppers, etc. Yum. For an entree I had the Halibut and it was....AMAZING. Really. A huge, cooked perfectly, walnut encrusted piece of heaven. There was spinach and Kale with lots of garlic and the potatoes were seasoned with lots of sage and rosemary and it was all...wonderful. The service was kick ass, too. Dessert was some type of chocolate cake with caramel and it was....O. MY. You know? My only complaint (and I'm not really complaining) is that they need to get an espresso machine if they're going to be serving such wonderful desserts. I'm really thrilled with this little gem and can't wait to go back. read more

Shoreline has better strip joints than food joints, until I heard about Saltoro's. I was really thinking this place was going to the secret garden of Shoreline, but on my first attempt-- not impressed. We tried the truffle fries-- whatever. Tasty yes, but served with Ketchup? Thats like putting Ketchup on a steak-- its fine at home, but in public? These were such nice fries, make a special loving dippin sauce!! I had the halibut, which has a hazelnut topping and a hazelnut creme sauce-- i dont know if it was the nut overload, but the halibut was blaaaaaaaand. Like costco tilapia bland. Sigh. but the ambiance was nice and it looks like others think its the hidden gem, so I am going to update you, oh yelpers, when we give it a second go. read more

If price were not an issue, this is ok food with a nice environment, wait staff and drink selection. The prawn appetizer is tasty and unique. The smoked salmon garganelli is very blah. You can't mess up capers or smoked salmon if you like those things (Mom ordered the dish) but it doesn't have any sauce or skill involved whatsoever. This was just pasta and salty things for $18. The portion was small and the sauce was watery and not binding nor flavorful. read more

We went here for a more romantic type of dinner over a year ago, but I decided I still needed to write this review. Our meals were very average. I promise I am not exaggerating when I say that my ravioli tasted as good as when I order it from the old spaghetti factory... Although I do like it there. Ha. But for the $18 price tag it was super overpriced. Not to mention the portions are a joke. I had 3 "large" ravioli. About the size of the palm of my hand. I am not embarrassed to admit I was sill pretty hungry when dinner was over. My husband wasn't impressed with his order either (but I can't remember what it was). And to top it off- the ambiance they are going for fails simply because the "mood lighting" is WAY too dark. I couldn't see my husbands face from across the table -_- read more

The only thing keeping us from making Saltoro a regular joint, is that it's so far from where we live (West Seattle). Atmosphere wise, I didn't get to see much, as we were seated at a table right inside the door, which I don't recommend on cold nights, because we caught a draft everytime the door opened! The rest of the restaurant looked much more cozy, though, with booths, tables and a fireplace. If I go again, I'll definitely ask to be seated further into its interior. Our appetizers were both (mostly) delicious... we had the antipasto platter, and the baked feta. The feta won over the antipasto hands down, mostly because the antipasto had one element that was "blah", a completely flavorless, white bean paste. All of the other elements, especially the olives, were fabulous. Our food was a combination of hit or miss. The menu is small, which allows them to focus on putting out their best results, but for me (picky eater, no meat on the bone!), there wasn't a lot to choose from. I went with the Wagyu burger, ordered medium-well, and it came out overdone, which is a risk I always run. The truffled fries were good, but they weren't the best fries I've ever had, and I'm not sure I'd pay $1 to have them truffled again. My boyfriend had the steak and frites, and had nothing but good to say about it (other than agreeing that the truffled fries weren't the "best ever"). He really loved his entire experience, and was especially disappointed that Saltoro is so far from our house that its not easy to visit very often. read more

We never tire of Saltoro--love it. You would never know it was there, and with no web presence at all, you have to hear about it or stumble upon it. Thank heavens for Yelp now, too, so more people can find them! Been enjoying this place for 10+ years and had to come back and give it some love. We have been going for years. The food is consistently delicious, well portioned, and well priced. Mixed drinks are strong enough and specials are creative and worth adventuring into some new flavors to try. Atmosphere is right up our alley--not quite gastropub, not quite a bistro, but someplace in between. Warm woods, dim lighting, bustling but not too noisy. A place you can hang out on a Tuesday, or take a special date to, whatever your fancy. read more

Love, love, love this place. I bring my Mom and sister every time they come to Shoreline. When they bring the steak with the butter salt and the baby broccolini back I'll give it 5 stars again :-) They also make this really yummy drink with crushed oranges I highly recommend. Prices are very fair. read more

My last experience was terrific! I had the Halibut! I could eat this every day for a month! Service was great, the atmosphere worked great for our crowd and it was just a very pleasant evening for everyone! read more

My wife and I had a great date night here recently. I had a burger, and my wife ordered the steak. The burger, was fine, but my wife allowed me to help her with the steak which was out of this world! It was perfectly seasoned and cooked. I will be returning here to order it again. The ambiance was perfect for a romantic dinner. We arrived right at 5 when they opened so we were able to sit by the fire! The service was exceptional, and I thought the menu had a good variety. I am surprised that the restaurant doesn't have a website, but apparently it doesn't need one. We chose it based on Yelp reviews. Thank you fellow reviewers for helping us discover this place! read more

This outstanding neighborhood restaurant is consistently a favorite with our family. Gracious service and excellent food. Don't miss the truffle fries. read more

I see I've checked into Saltoro 8 times, but I've probably visited twice as often. Honestly, I kept going back because it was very close to the house I lived in less than a year, and every now and then the planets aligned and I received both good service and good food. As a self-identified regular, I think it's odd to feel like the servers never recognized us. Recommended: The pappardelle (ribbon shaped pasta) is tossed in a well balanced and slightly spicy veal bolognese (red sauce) and the meal is finished with a dollop of ricotta and sprinkled with fried sage leaves. Steak frites. This is a no-brainer, salty red meat and potatoes meal. The steak was tender and well cooked and the fries were hot and crispy. Charred Broccolini. This was my favorite side, and I considered ordering several sides to turn it into dinner. The broccolini was always perfectly blackened and hit with a bit of lemon, olive oil and salt. Shaved pecorino topped the side. Recommended with reservations: Saltoro Burger. The 'with reservations' is related to consistent kitchen practices more than anything else. Sometimes the burger came out so beautifully I wanted to weep, give the kitchen staff a sweaty hug, or write home to my mother about this beautiful burger....other times, not so much. The fries are always great, even when they're not so hot, always a plus in my book. Brussels Sprouts side. The dish was delicious, but I recall paying somewhere in the $12 range for what was probably 5 brussels sprouts max. I was expecting something more substantial based on portions I've previously experienced at Saltoro. Bread appetizer. Delicious bread and a huge bang for your buck, but why waste good stomach space on bread? Not recommended: Pizzas. We tried them twice, fairly bland and not memorable otherwise. Pea and Carrot Ravioli. Striking presentation, but the sauce was sickeningly sweet. Roasted Half Chicken. We were surprised to find that what was lacking in presentation was not made up for in taste. Even more confusing, I think this is supposed to be a highlight of the menu. read more

Saltoro is AMAZING. I've been there several times and after each time, I think, "If I died right now, I would be completely satisfied." It's not easy to find such an amazing restaurant in North Seattle. The restaurant itself is cozy, intimate, and completed with a great ambiance. The staff is always amazing and friendly. The food..... OMG.... the food... where do I even begin? The truffle fries are worth every dollar. Whatever specials are available at the time are always a good bet. The appetizers are freaking amazing. They made me love brussels sprouts! Try it if you're in the North Seattle area. They get busy and only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. However, it's completely worth the wait. read more

Well I am not sure why this restaurant is classified as Italian. Not much Italian about it except a few pasta items and the name. I ordered a burger. I asked for it Medium Well and it was bloody when it came out. Ummm...gross!! Once they got the burger right it was pretty tasty and the fries were GREAT!! We had the baked Feta cheese appetizer. What we got was flat bread with baked grease. There was nothing that resembled cheese in here. Its not recommended. My friend had a baked chicken with mashed potatoes option....at an Italian place? Weird. She quite enjoyed it. The chicken was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. On the plus side the waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable about wine and the menu. She offered a free desert for the burger mix up but I was so stuffed that was not an option. I probably will not be going back. read more

Yes, we too could cite the lovely meal we had the last time we went to Saltoro. But we won't, because the dining experience was so overshadowed by the astonishingly poor service. We went with a party of 6, several of us live in the neighborhood and formerly dined there often, and went to Saltoro's over Bick's because of the more peaceful atmosphere. We arrived, were given water, allowed to order wine, then that's the last we saw of our waiter for some time. I looked at my watch when the food was finally delivered to our table, exactly one hour after our arrival. In the past, we've enjoyed their fish specials, the kobe burger, and even a dessert or two. A letter written to the owner following our last meal came with only a page of excuses. We're considerate folks; had the waiter said they were understaffed that evening, we'd have been more than understanding. Now all I hink of is that Saltoro is Bick's sullen, unhelpful, and yes, ungrateful sibling. No longer OUR neighborhood restaurant. read more