I heard great things about Serafina and was really looking forward to dining here. I saved it for a special occasion and waited for my family to come to town. We were greeted by the friendliest and upbeat server. Unfortunately, he did not end up being our server and instead was served by a female named Fern. She had a very snobbish and condescending attitude. I tried not to let it bother me, as I understand it just may be her... personality... but she also lacked hospitality. Our food took unusually long to arrive - it was over an hour. The server did not check in on us for 45 minutes after taking our order. It is important to note that it was not a busy night. There were only a handful of tables dining there on a Tuesday night. When the food arrived an hour later, she bitterly relayed a message from the Chef apologizing for the delay and offered us dessert on the house. She came back and stood at our table in silence waiting for us to order dessert. After handing us the check, she sarcastically said she really hopes to serve us again. I was offended with the service but did not want to ruin the special night with my family. I picked up the check and tipped her, hoping that I was just being hypersensitive to her tone. I was also hoping that my guests did not pick up on her bad attitude -- but they did. It was confirmed by all three people after dinner that she was very rude. As a note: I noticed a large private party in the back patio. It was probably the reason for the delay. However, it could have easily been mitigated by an explanation and good service. Unfortunately, we didn't receive either. It is a shame, but I will never come back here. It is a very adorable place but our server, Fern, left a very bad impression with all of us. read more

Traditional Italian with a modern twist, or modern Italian firmly grounded in its culinary roots and inspiration....You decide. Which gives you an excuse to go and, well, eat, drink, and decide. Highlights from the most recent visit include a creamy, savory parsnip soup with pancetta and marscapone, a linguine with ground lamb and just-tender chickpeas laced with greens, a fluffy butternut squash and ricotta cheesecake, and an impossibly rich flourless hazelnut torte, warm and dense, with a tiny swirl of nearby strawberry gelato. And all that just from the 3 for $30 menu! Yet not the most amazing part....Dinner was lovely, as usual, but the service was a little slow (yet all persons involved in service very friendly and helpful). Only a little slow, however....So imagine our mutual surprise when, at the end of the meal, my request for the check was met with the rejoinder that, due to the wait and our patience, dinner (for the three of us!) was on the house. Whoa. A generous gesture, and so it's nice to know that not only is Serafina a lovely spot for a date (candles, tiny lights, orange-red glow) or a fun meal (lively, busy), but also a place where service is taken seriously. A lovely and novel end to a wonderful meal! read more

I was excited for the scheduled live bossa nova performance. So we took advantage of the online reservation system and looked forward to a nice dinner. Soft accent lights adorned the dining room. Tangerine and white string lights lined the windows and were laced along the outdoor seating area. Cozy, intimate, and romantic comes to mind. We were seated at a window nook within view of the bossa nova band. Our cute waitress was friendly and helpful. I had the monk fish in creme fraiche sauce with julienne veggies. Unfortunately I didn't like it. It was overcooked and slightly bitter. (My brother-in-law tells me that the bitter taste must have been the result of a punctured stomach. Interesting.) I wished I had ordered the bass instead. My beau had the Cleopatra Chicken. It was better than my order. It was the most moistly cooked white meat chicken I've ever seen. I'm not exaggerating when I say it was *perfectly* cooked. The only drawback about his order was that there was not really any added flavor. Then there was dessert. I had the recommended poached pear pastry. Oh yes, it was good. Beau had the Cream puffs with caramel ice cream and bittersweet chocolate sauce. While they were both good, I would recommend the pear pastry over the cream puffs. I was a little disappointed about the band. They didn't quite have enough oomph. I didn't get the sexy vibe from their performance. Perhaps they were having an off-night? read more

In town to visit and friends wanted to go to Serafina. Was a favorite from when I lived here but have since gone vegan so was a bit worried. Called before going and the hostess said no real options on the menu but the chef would make me something. Service was amazing. Our waitress was on top of her game and knew her wines. When I asked about a vegan option she didn't blink but let me know because it was packed they could take requests. I told her was happy with whatever they brought. She mad sure I knew the bread was vegan and had a desert option as well!! Bonus points. Food was incredible! Misto salad was fresh and delicious. One friend had the Bolognese and another one of the seafood pasta specials. Pretty sure they licked their bowls. Pretty sure I got the best entree though. I had a cauliflower steak with veggies and a pureed veggie sauce. The flavor was amazing and both friends agreed was delish. Desert was a blueberry lemon sorbet that was refreshing and light. Perfect end to the meal! Every visit to Serafina has been a win, but think this one took the prize! Do yourself a favor and get reservations as soon as possible! read more

Sarah Kaufman would be outraged by the "new customer service". We were waiting outside at 3:45 we are in our 70's and it is cold outside. There were employees inside. If Sarah were here she would have come out and said something like "Sorry, we don't open until 5 today". Instead we walked in at 4 the manager said nastily, "We are not open" We said "Sorry, web said you were open now". But he has to be right and say's "The open hours are on the door" which of course we cannot see because of the curtains". Who are these people and what happened to a neighborly Serafina's? Ive written other 5 star reviews and have sent many people to dine. I apologize to all of you. Dr. Lana read more

I don't believe they've ever served a dish that is less than spectacular. I think the negative reviews are plants from inferior Italian restaurants. My husband and I have been to Serafina twice, and every time we've put a fork in our mouths there, we've said the same thing - "Holycrapyouhavetotrythis." The service is on par with the fanciest-of-pants restaurants in the city. These are the kinds of hosts and serving staff that Gordon Ramsay would lend to a struggling restaurant for a night, only to cruelly yank them back again because he needs them in his own restaurants and he is a prick. My advice: 1. Try at least two of the cocktails or non-alcoholic specialty beverages, because they are stupidly skilled at drinks. 2. Take the waiter's recommendations. 3. Avoid over-indulging on the delicious rustic bread because you'll need your whole digestive system to enjoy the primi and secondi. 4. Make a reservation and arrive at a non-peak time, because you will hate anyone who is eating if you are not. read more

While I still enjoyed my meal and the ambiance here, I think there are some notes to add. First, I had the Cappelletti d'Asparagi: House-made cappelletti pasta filled with asparagus and goat cheese; served with green grapes, micro basil and Parmigiano Reggiano. It was divine but a little overpriced. They also charge for bread. No surprises considering the ambiance. My real problem is with how group unfriendly it is. When I made the reservation, I had to call instead of booking online because its a large party. They also took my credit card and said they would charge me $25 if we cancelled less than 24 hours in advance. They also charge a gratuity of over 20%...something like 24%. Finally, they don't split the bill for you leaving you to do it all on your own. I like this spot in many ways but I wouldn't recommend if for larger than groups of 3 if you are planning on splitting the bill. read more

Overpriced mediocre Italian food. Serafina is located in a neighborhood with only difficult street parking available. Tavolata, Barolo, La Spiga even Via Tribunali will provide a more authentic Italian experience than Serafina with their 20 year old decor and snotty employees. Pass on this one, you won't miss anything. read more

Told ya I'd be back... This time it was for the happy hour calamari and drink specials. Those little octopi go down so smooth when cheaply priced high quality liquor is involved. (And tragic ravioli is not invited along.) Sure, we'll all reek of garlic for the next week, but it certainly didn't stop us from powering though each galicirrific happy hour dish. And I still stand firm that it's one of the most enchanting patios in Seattle. On days like today, a little outdoor ambiance goes a looooong way! read more

Our office went out here for a birthday lunch. Overall, I would have to say that my experience here was pretty average. We were seated in the courtyard, which was very nice. It was probably the best part about the restaurant. It was a bit cramped due to the number of tables, but it was a warm day and the courtyard was very pretty. The food was good but nothing spectacular. My spinach ravioli was good and the pine nuts and cinnamon were a nice touch, but overall it wasn't something I'd go out of my way to order again. I tried the Plin that my boss ordered and the pork was good, although not quite as flavorful as I was expecting. The combination between the pork and the cheese on top was nice, but I probably wouldn't order this dish. I didn't try the other two dishes, but one had a rave review and one was only so-so. Dessert was a bit disappointing. We ordered the vanilla gelato with a shot of espresso poured over it, but when it came it was chocolate gelato. The waitress said that the flavor often changes between chocolate and vanilla, but I feel that if that is the case, it should be listed on the menu. The service was friendly, but the timing was awful and things moved very slow. While we went out for a work lunch celebration, we weren't expecting the lunch to take so much time. We were there slightly over TWO HOURS, which seems outrageous for a lunch to me. Everything just moved very very slowly. It took 20 minutes for the gelato to come after we'd finished our meal, which is pretty unacceptable. Overall Serafina was just average, just okay. I won't likely come back here because I rarely go to Eastlake and I won't go out of my way to come by here again. read more

It has been a couple of years since I gave Serafina my last review, and it still earns a consistent four stars. The service is as outstanding as ever, and the food ranges from good to excellent. The highs and lows from a recent visit: - Highs: pork belly appetizer (fantastic), wonderful server who's name I can't remember, I finally discovered the free parking. - Lows: really just the NY Strip that was on special. I probably wouldn't order it again. P.s. for free parking: if you are heading south on East Lake, go past the restaurant and make the first Left on Newton. Make a quick right into the parking lot of some building. This is free for Serafina customers. There is no validation system, but your car won't be ticketed there. read more

4.5 stars! Serafina is a quaint and welcoming restaurant in the Eastlake area of Seattle. There are no waterfront views directly from the restaurant but it's close enough to the lake for a 10-15 minute walk....which might come in handy after such a hearty meal! The Plin here is made of dreams! Perfectly cooked pillows of pasta stuffed with juicy pork - basting in a flavorful butter and chive sauce...my mouth salivates while I reminisce the deliciousness. There is something so satisfying and heartwarming about perfect pasta! It's magic! Apparently someone named Jeremy was our chef - so thank you to Jeremy! The asparagus ravioli was delicious as well. The sauce was so good we started dipping our bread into it. Slurped it up real good! :P This dish looked beautiful too. Lovely uniform pasta with Parmesan shavings, translucent halved grapes, and vibrant green asparagus spears. It's too bad we forgot to take a photo - we were in the moment and intoxicated by the alluring smell of the food! Must. Eat. Now. I also really enjoyed the bread service here. Rustic, soft yet crispy bread with flavorful and plentiful garlic olive oil. Really great! Service was perfectly fine. Zero complaints. I am truly grateful for such an outstanding dining experience! I would love to come back soon. read more

OMG I love this great little Italian restaurant on Eastlake! Enjoyed a great dining experience that started with an amazing TIKI rum cocktail and a perfect dirty martini! The most amazing appetizer followed--- a braised octopus dish that was a grand slam home run! Seriously one of the most flavorful dishes I can remember! I recommend the rigatoni bolognese for dinner! Perhaps the best part of the experience was the service received.. top notch, friendly staff. Brian Y. was our server. He made sure that dinner, drinks, and desert were timely, never rushed and delivered with great style!! You gotta try this place! Make a reservation in advance.. the secret is out and they are quite popular! read more

Had happy-hour and then dinner on a Tuesday. Our server was excellent. Mom-in-law had to send back her coffee, and Wife had to have her Martini remade (does it run in the family?). The happy-hour poo-poos were good, and I had the Melanzane Alla Serafina and I was very happy. The place was buzzing by 630p. I would go again if in the hood. Oh, street parking is hellish. read more

I came here recently with a girlfriend for lunch. The restaurant is so pretty. I can see why the restaurant has earned it's reputation as one of the most romantic restaurants in Seattle. And, thanks to the Dine Around Seattle promotion, I was able to dine at Serafina for $15! The promotion allows you to eat a three course meal at lunch for $15. What a deal! I started with a green salad lightly dressed with a vinaigrette dressing set with slices of prosciutto. The prosciutto added a bit of saltiness that was lacking in the dressing. For my second course I chose their homemade pasta prepared with a braised beef and served in a little bit of broth. The dish was not exactly a soup but the sauce was not thick either. It was light but filling. And, for dessert I chose the lavender panna cotta. The dessert was the highlight of the meal for me. The panna cotta had a nice balance flavor of lavender. It was not too subtle and not too strong. And, the compote on top was a nice compliment. The staff here was friendly. They answered any questions we had about the menu. I'm not sure why I waited to so long to try Serafina. I will definitely be back! read more

It's been about 10 years since I last visited Serafina, It's a nice little restaurant, full of ambiance and romance, decent enough food, excellent cocktails and even better service, but I could probably wait another 10 before returning. The good - in order Our service - alas, didn't even catch her name - was wonderful, knowledgeable and professional. She tried to sell all the specials, but threw in her own personal favorites and was right on about everything she suggested. This was a Friday night and the place was totally packed, but her demeanor and professionalism sure didn't make us feel like it. The cocktails - the concoctions are classy and creative. Server recommended the Braci (I'm a sucker for Bourbon) which was OK but I liked my friend's special of the day cocktail a lot better (sorry, can't remember the name - vodka and gin I believe - somewhat similar to a Vesper in taste). However, the goblet-like glass was only half full, like someone had sucked half of it dry. For $10/glass, this pisses me off. The meh,,, The food - The food was not terrible. However, the special of the day pasta stuffed with rabbit and parmesan decorated with mushrooms was a little too salty for my taste. The pasta itself is homemade and not bad, but it wasn't outstanding as I expected. A friend had the pork belly appetizer (yes, just pork belly appetizer - she's on some weird diet that only allows her unlimited desserts and fatty appetizer combinations). It was just ok, but nothing spectacular. My other friend's Eggplant Parmesan was probably the standout - light and delicate on the cheese, despite the mound of sauce that was on it. The portion was also huge. She finished it all (she's smaller than the plate, btw). For dessert we had the most bizarre chestnut honey cake with a side of cream and blackberry sauce. (This was the special, and I think the specialty was that it was especially weird.) It was more savory (which our server did explain, but which went right over s our heads when we saw the word DESSERT) than sweet. The cake was dry and overly sweet. The cream was odd and peppered (yes, peppered). The blackberry jam is blackberry jam. Remember that Sesame Street song, "One of these things (is not like the others)" well, none of these things fits in with the other. While I did complain about the dessert and was offered a sub, my Asian girlfriends were too polite to say NO...because, well...they're Asian. The pork belly friend took it home. Not sure what she's going to do with it - maybe use the cake as a paper weight? Time will tell. read more

Exemplary service. Delicious wine. Lamb shank bland, but the staff worked hard to create a sauce to heighten the flavor. All in all a beautiful night. At nearly $500.00 for four it ought to be! read more

Serafina - Nice atmosphere at Serafina. - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Haven't been here in a while, but always enjoy it when I go. Cozy European-inspired atmosphere, tasty food from a rotating menu, and a good wine selection. It doesn't hurt that they have a nice outdoor seating area and often have some live music on weekend evenings. I also think this is a good place to take out-of-town guests, IMHO, because of the slightly off-the-beaten-path location and unique menu. Reminds me that as much as its grown, Seattle's not a homogeneous place when it comes to dining options! read more

I walk up to Serafina about once a week or so and grab a drink and an appetizer. The decor is warm and cozy and the perfect spot for this crappy June-uary weather. The orange basil mojitos are the best - hands down. By the glass or by the pitcher, which something that until my friends and I requested had never been done. Really? Apparently we were the first to realize the beautiful combination of efficiency and alcohol - in mojito form, at Serafina. I ordered the spinach ravioli for dinner...it was just okay, nothing to write home to my 1/2 Sicilian mother about ...however, the calamari I had previously was incredible. I find that the portions tend to be huge, so bonus with the calamari...not so much for the pasta. Overall - if you are in the neighborhood Serafina is a great place to spend a cold rainy spring day. read more

I was so disappointed in this place. After years of people raving about this place, I went with my husband. First, parking is confusing (their lot is about two blocks away, and you can't park in front of the place). Second, they are pricey. Third, their vegetarian selection was horrid! This is where I'll tell you a secret about vegetarians; some of us don't like eggplant. I know, it's shocking. I also don't like mushrooms, so the "Vegetarian Placation" dishes eggplant something and mushroom something are not going to make me happy. Usually I can find something at a Italian restaurant to eat, but nothing here. I actually have better options at El Gaucho (a steak house). In short, we walked out without ordering. read more

Serafina is a really fantastic place to take your date, but make sure that you've got plenty of time! I've *never* been seated on time. The look from the outside is charming. It is on a corner, with outdoor seating. You can see the dim lighting on the inside through large windows along the front and side. The entry area of the restaurant is quite cramped. When you walk in, your in-between the bar & the restaurant, in a tiny, high-traffic area. When people are waiting for tables, this can get a bit overwhelming to people who have personal space issues. The bar is pretty small, but serves as a diversion while you're waiting for a table. The cocktail list is a good size, with some good selections. As I'd mentioned in the beginning, seating timing is horrible, here. Since it does have a romatic atmosphere, people will linger. That said, last time I was seated late, the staff was kind enough to provide an appetizer to us, without us even asking, free of charge. I found that to be a decent thing to do. The food is magnificent here. I've never had anything on the menu that I didn't care for. Their pasta dishes are fantastic! I also have never been steered wrong by their wine pairing suggestions. Late at night, they play live music on a small stage in the restaurant. This can be viewed postitively or negatively, based on the person. It does tend to get loud, so if you don't like noise, I would recommend, making an earlier reservation. I personally love the live music, and I feel that it adds quite a bit to the experience! read more

We live very close to them and they have always been very nice. The patio is amazing, and the drinks are, too. I wish it were less expensive as it prevents us from going there very often. The food is good, but sometimes TOO fancy. I usually have to read the menu 3 times to really understand what I'm ordering. Never had a bad meal there, but there are times when it feels like they are trying too hard. Mathew, the bar tender is great! Fun to talk to, and makes some amazing drinks. Ask for anything with their infused liqours. Trying to impress your <date/partner/parents/boss/parole officer>? Take them here. read more

The food is very well prepared but personally the portions where to small and was very expensive only for the half size other than that it was very good and I would go here again read more

There is something special about Serafina. From the wine list with descriptions on some wines, to seminars (currently Saturday afternoon wine pairings with sommeliers), to the daily specials featuring freshly made pastas and ingredients, to the pleasant decor that suits everything from a nice business lunch to a romantic dinner. Oh, yeah, and the food comes with a good value, and decent portions. I have never had a bad meal here, and always leave satisfied with the experience. I think it says a lot, too, that a lot of people who know restaurants, who work in the industry, really like this place. Today I had a dish with homemade sausage cooked with onion and garlic in an olive oil/white wine sauce, and red peppers, served over a bed of fresh spinach, so that as the pasta lays over it, it wilts just slightly. So good. ($14) And the antipasti del giorno on the daily special list ($8), featured house-smoked salmon on top of a small pile of lettuce and pickled onion, next to two bruschetta with pork. It's a great value, and delicious. Service was experienced, and good, as has always been the case for me. They do take their time at this restaurant, but if fits the Mediterranean culture to not rush food between courses, so I don't mind that at all, and you can always let your server know if you're on a schedule. If there was one "complaint", it would be that they don't have a great selection of lighter Italian beer. Serafina has a terrific wine list, but it would be nice if they offered a selection of light Italian beers to compliment Italian dishes -- but this is a very slight issue. Serafina really is just a lovely place for nearly any occasion. Highly recommended. PROS: Just a great all-around restaurant for nearly every occasion. Great, fresh food, and excellent service in an inviting but classy atmosphere. CONS: A larger selection of light Italian beers would be a big bonus here. read more

If you read this review then the key takeaway is choose your table wisely. Serafina is very crowded and for a place which suggests fine dining I would expect the ambiance to encourage it. It seems to me that Serafina runs over-capacity. It is stuffed with tables and there is not enough space. The high number of people leaves everyone in a rush, from the hostess to the servers and this reduces the scope for truly exceptional service. We had a reservation at 8pm for two and were met with a hostess whose face reflected the worry of having to seat everybody that is waiting at the bar. We were eventually seated at a table right next to the mini-stage where the band was playing, and by right next to, I mean that I could look up to the right and see the trousers of the drummer. This made any conversation impossible. To the owners of Serafina: remove that table, the few hundred dollars a day it makes you cannot in anyway be worth the sad dining experience of the people sitting there. The service itself was quite good. The food was good too. We had the bruschetta and the olive tapenade dip was delicious. The spaghetti with dungeness crab was good as well. All in all, Serafina is overcrowded. If you would like to take someone out on a special occasion look to any of the other fine restaurants in the city. read more

I went to Serafina for lunch today and the staff was very nice. The food and ambiance however has little to be desired in my book. I had the bitter (spelling mistake but I'm a keeping it) leaf lettuce salad which had pickled beets and a champagne vinaigrette.... the quality was really good but the vinaigrette?!? I am not sure there was some on my salad. Then I chose the Bolognese Linguine and the sauce was good but not to die for. I think for this place to live up to its reputation it needs something fantastic and my meal didn't do it. I think i was looking for more a romantic cozy environment or a light fresh Bolognese sauce or something...I dunno but I need then to figure it out for me. Oh good dipping olive oil though. read more

Gnocchi, I've experimented with you before. I've tasted your forbidden fruit - but it was all just a lark, a joke, a girl-on-girl moment of jest, a bit of variety in my normal pasta-heavy routine. The temptation of your luscious softness, your creamy potato pillowy-ness, enticed me away from my relationship with healthy heterosexual spaghetti/linguine/fettucine and the like. But gnocchi, you could never compare. You could never truly satisfy. You clung when you should have teased. You were heavy when you should have tweaked the nipples of my appetite. But last night ... was a revelation. You were silky and smooth ... and I died a little when you came into my mouth. I know why the caged bird sings, I know why. You were that good. Especially with the duck and shiitake. Buy a Subaru with me, gnocchi. Gnocchi, marry me in Connecticut. I've left the pasta behind. read more

I think this is one of the best-kept Brunch secrets in Seattle. My boyfriend and I ate at Serafina every Sunday for nearly a year and enjoyed every visit. They have live jazz (where else do you get live music during brunch?!) which attributes to the lazy Sunday vibe. The brunch menu isn't huge but the dishes are tasty and unique, and our server was always sweet and helpful. The interior is cozy and romantic (even during Brunch) and the patio is wonderful for sunny summer mornings. Oh, and there's never a wait! Love it. read more

Oh my darling Serafina, Tonight you had me at first bite. I visited you years ago, when I was young, and thought you were nice... but today, I realized what you are... perfecto! Your cocktails are divine. How many bartenders make a blow-your-mind caipirinha? My strawberry bellini was bliss. The bruschetta was probably you're weakest link, and even that was amazing. The combination of goat cheese and peppers danced in my mouth. Your heirloom tomato caprese salad was a lesson in simple art. I love how you let the flavors of tomato and basil run rampant in my mouth. It was like summer exploded onto my plate. My Pollo Arrosto was your crowning glory. My mind would never have thought the combination of roasted chicken could meld so wonderfully with rainier cherries, balsamic vinegar and a mild goat cheese in such a powerful way. Tonight I gladly joined the clean plate club... in fact I almost joined the lick-your-plate-clean club. Gina, our fabulous waitress, who you obviously sent to woo us, was like an angel. She directed us towards an outstanding Barolo called Casa Mate. The nose was cherry, tobacco and dirt, with just a whiff of something sweet like chocolate. But my favorite charm of yours, my dear Serafina, is your beautiful, private, cozy patio out back. I felt so comfortable, so at home, so UNhurried. All night your pretty little twinkle lights smiled at me. It was truly beautiful. I will be seeing you again my love. I hope it's soon. Love, Lisa read more

Went here for a friends bday dinner last night and had a mostly really great experience. The good - cute space, knowledgeable and kind server, the arancini (yum!!), the pasta, and bread and garlic oil. The not so amazing...while service was good things just took awhile, the Ravanello - basically $12 lettuce (don't order it), and on the street west of Serafina my friend got a $53 parking ticket because she was in a zoned parking (although signs weren't clear and you wouldn't expect it). read more

OMG :( just had the smallest piece of halibut for $34 that I've ever seen. After covid, they want customers to come back to restaurants for a piece of fish the size of my pinkie? no thanks. Wow, so not worth it tonight... i should have picked up a couple pieces at Met Market and cooked them at home instead. Restaurants need to make it worth it to go out. read more

Lovely little restaurant that had excruciatingly slow service, average food, high prices and poor acoustics. Please note: this is not an appropriate place to bring children. I only wish the people I was dining with agreed. Having a fussy toddler at your dinner table is never fun. One of my dining companions ordered the fixed price meal and was immediately informed that they had run out of the dessert for that meal (which happened to be the main reason he ordered it). It took an incredibly long time to get refills on water and nearly 40 minutes for our food to arrive once our order was taken (we waited about 15 minutes for the waiter to come to our table) which is just unacceptable. Yes, it was a busy Saturday night but nothing we ordered should have taken 40 minutes to prepare. I don't even remember what I ordered, it was that unremarkable. read more

Serafina is a great restaurant. We picked up Mother's Day brunch here and it was delicious! With complex and layered flavors but not overdone or excessive ingredients. I can't wait for restaurants like this one to open back up. read more

This is one rare Italian gem you'll find on Eastlake. WHY GO THERE? Great tasting Italian food with impeccable service and a book for wine list. WHATCHA GOT? Started with Insalata con Limone e Acciughe which was light and dressed right but nothing to jump for, then had Pappardelle con Congilio. Now this is one rabbit dish that I won't hesitate to have again. Sorry Bugs Bunny. I'm on Elmer Fudd side when it comes to this pasta. The meat was not gamey and truly tasted like chicken. The sage-infused pappardelle was al dente. For dessert, Profiteroles con Gelato di Nocciola was perfect to wrap the night. How can you resist? YOU GOT SERVED. Our server is probably the most friendly and attractive waitress in Seattle. Hands down! She's personable, knows the dishes and her wine. My friend and I were mesmerized. And that's something coming from two gay men. read more

You're reaching a road-block as to what to do for your first lady date with someone you think jussst miiiight be worth it (worth what? You can decide). Searching for something fun and exciting may have led you to Deja Vu or Amber, but your conscience tells you that's just not going to end well. So you keep searching... and now you're here, hoping you've finally found the best date spot. I'm hoping the men are bookmarking this place by now, because Serafina is, hands down, the place to take a lady for a date. I'm not much of a romantic, but the atmosphere at Serafina seemed to eclipse the other customers, and makes the date that much more intimate. I would say the romanticism stems from the charming Italian-esque design of the restaurant or the vines that guard the restaurant from the filth of its surroundings, but really... it's the violinist. The live music brings a much more serene vibe to the dinner, and even if it's a Billie Jean instrumental (got a giggle out of that), the sweet sound makes your whole dinner experience unforgettable. The bruschetta was more toasted than I'm used to, but the dips disguised any burnt flavor that may have been. Really did enjoy this. I did get the wrong dish at a restaurant like this (beef over a salad - can't even recall what it was), but I still appreciated it for what it was. I'd definitely try something new. The pollo con zucche, on the other hand, was fantastic. Tender, with such perfect & indescribable potatoes. As for the service - the waitress was sweet, though seemed to be a tad pushy on the wines for some reason. Which, I should add, seem to be pricier than some other restaurants. read more

Came here recently for brunch, and was pleasantly surprised as Serafina is very unassuming from outside. The entrance, well winterized, was a bit confusing - a tarp door, a regular door, and some heavy curtains made me begin to doubt that I had entered the front. But lo and behold, that WAS the front entrance. Once inside, I was impressed at how cute the interior was. Unassuming but somehow still rustic, cozy, and with a mix of bright and rich, darker colors. The food was also like this - not pretentious, but rather delicious and slightly exotic, while still being approachable and homey. The cocktails were excellent, and my salmon and egg dish perfectly prepared - tender and fluffy. Their coffee cake is also excellent in the same fashion, tender and fluffy. I plan on returning for their St. Martin's feast tasting dinner, which looks amazing! read more

Every time i come out here, I get lucky! And I haven't even gone out to the courtyard yet! One my top choice for dates, hand down. Service = great! staff is very attentive and friendly Ambiance = perfect if you like the low key, neighborhood with the upscale feel. Food = A bit over flavor but after a glass of wine, who cares Price = $$$ Crowd = Mostly couples, double dates Personal favorite = live music, ambiance, location, value, unpretentious Worst = nothing, love this place! you should go today! Meal for two = 80 Final Say = Love it! Who doesnt' want to get lucky! read more

And for my 100th review... I've been dying to come here ever since I drove down Eastlake years ago. I love Italian food and wine and romantic atmospheres. Serafina has it all! We made 7:00 reservations, but ended up finishing a round of putt putt early, so we called and they were able to get us in early. The ambience was dark, in an "I'm going to pretend it's only you and me in this restaurant," kind of way. I loved hearing the clink of wine glasses and laughter as we walked in. At Serafina, they start you out with a small basket of bread and a saucer of this amazing olive oil mixed with herbs. It's the most flavorful olive oil I've ever had! Of course, my date finished the basket of bread off (and his saucer of oil) quickly, but the wait staff were fabulous and brought him more. We ordered a half bottle of Chianti and it was the perfect amount for us. Since I had to drive, getting a whole bottle was out of the question so It was nice to have the option of ordering half bottles. This is also good for wine enthusiasts who want to try a variety of wines in one night. For entrees, I ordered the Serafina speciality - thin slices of eggplant wrapped around ooey gooey cheese (yes, definitely a dairy night!), laid over thin pasta and all covered in a delicious tomato sauce. Amazing!! Now, here is why I gave Serafina 4 stars instead of 5: My date ordered the veal meatballs over penne and while this dish was delicious, I would have expected them to serve a bigger portion of such a classic dish. Additionally, the noise level was pretty high, though you could tune it out enough to hold a conversation. On the other hand, our waitress was attentive and gave us great recommendations. She was knowledgeable and friendly. I appreciated her service! Thanks Serafina for a great date night! read more

Went again tonight; I've been here maybe 8 times in all over the years. I have to say this place is really not the same. Service was nice and attentive as usual. But that's where it ended. Our main problem was with the portions--what happened? My husband's lasagna was two-thirds the size it used to be. Even the melanzane was significantly smaller--again about 2/3 the size. Both entrees were tasty but not fantastic. The $7 house salad was just, well, pretty pathetic. A modest (albeit pretty) hunk of lettuce with 2 teensy pickled/too raw red onions on top. Nothing else but some vinaigrette. Meh. How bout a grape tomato? At least? The bread that used to come in a decent quantity in a basket--now reduced to 4 polite, thin slices on a small plate. Lastly, they've even done away with little touches like their individually wrapped chocolate-mint straws and small matchboxes. Not so much as a Brach's starlight mint on the way out, and just a basket holding a pile of (not-wrapped) toothpicks. We spent $100 here tonight for the 2 of us, and it was just nothing special. I guess everything changes. read more

By far one of my favorite restaurants! The ambiance is boho-chic. It's so laid back but classy at the same time. It's great for date nights as well as a getogether with friends. Or just a family outing. They have a great selection of non-alcoholic cocktails. For all you light drinkers & they have an extensive wine list too. I got the Pollo Arrosto & it was delicious. So good! so delicious. For dessert I had Affogato (Olympia Mountain Creamery vanilla gelato "drowned" in a shot of Illy espresso) & it hit the spot! The service & food are both 5 stars, wish I could give them more stars, they deserve it. I always talk about this place but have yet to go back. I think it's about time I do go back. [= read more