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DOWNTOWN. Intimate, romantic, and adorned with Renaissance artwork, Assaggio brings you the best of Italy without your ever having to leave Seattle! Owned and managed by Mauro Golmarvi, the restaurant guarantees diners the best Italian fare. The menu offers a range of pasta, chicken, veal, and seafood entrees, but must-try dishes include pappardella bosciaola (pasta flavored with mushrooms, Marsala, and Barolo wine) and agnello osso buco, the traditional favorite made with lamb instead of veal. Marco's frequent trips to Italy also ensure that a wealth of Italian wines are available to complement any dish.
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Café Juanita
9702 NE 120th Pl, Kirkland, WA 98034 · 425-823-1505
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KIRKLAND. Named for the creek it rests beside, this fantastic restaurant is influenced by Italian cuisine, although it's not the red-sauce-and-cheese variety. Instead, dishes are more refined, featuring first-rate ingredients and careful preparation. Among the offerings you'll find are silky foie gras, sweetbreads in marsala sauce, seared yellowfin tuna, and bacon-wrapped roasted rabbit. Accompanying them are such delicacies as fava beans, polenta, asparagus, artichokes, and a medley of earthy mushrooms. Desserts follow suit and include several Italian classics: tiramisu, panna cotta, and berries laced with balsamic vinegar. The excellent wine list offers a perfect accompaniment, whether it be an Italian or a regional vintage.
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Café Lago
2305 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112 · 206-329-8005
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MONTLAKE. If lines are an indication of the quality of the cuisine here (and they are), then you can expect a wonderfully authentic meal. The relaxed restaurant has been a favorite for many years, thanks in part to the light, homemade lasagna that has diners coming back for more. Their wood-fired pizzas are also legendary and boast crisp crusts and savory toppings. The antipasti, which come in substantial portions, attract diners with their terrific flavors, as do the house-made pastas, including the raviolis and the gnocchi.
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PIONEER SQUARE. The romantic atmosphere, enhanced by classical guitar music, may be the first thing you notice upon entering. The second will surely be the aroma of perfectly-prepared Italian dishes. Excellent service and wonderful selections hint at the restaurant's popularity, which extends to celebrities and local residents alike. The menu features a range of pastas and antipasti, along with such delectable entrees as roasted duck, rack of lamb, beef tenderloin, fresh fish, and even sweetbreads. Go prepared to savor this wonderful dining experience! Complimentary valet parking is available after 5pm. Outdoor seating in season.
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DOWNTOWN. Well-attended by patrons of all sorts, this popular destination is perennially full and has even received a vote for "Best Downtown Lunch" by Seattle Magazine. Capitalizing on its combination of Mediterranean and Northwest fare, the wide-ranging menu features paella, fire-roasted garlic chicken, poached seafood ravioli, wild mushroom risotto, and fresh Pacific salmon. You'll also find a good selection of both traditional and exotic pizzas. Depending on your mood and your time constraints, choose to partake in the dining room, in the large bar area, or in the cafe, which offers the quickest service.
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EASTLAKE. Comfortable and unpretentious, Serafina has been a Seattle favorite for years. Its cuisine draws on rustic traditions of the Italian countryside and is eminently satisfying. Representative dishes include buckwheat pasta, slow-cooked lamb shanks, braised rabbit, homemade veal meatballs, pumpkin-leek ravioli, and a ragu of duck, veal, and pork. You'll also find steamed mussels, rich sausages, and wild-mushroom risotto. Dessert options include a luscious chocolate-hazelnut torte, sweet profiteroles, and a homey rhubarb crisp.
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MADISON PARK. Enjoy views of Lake Washington from the waterside patio, or warm yourself by the dining room's fireplace when the temperature drops; diners come to this neighborhood trattoria year-round for luscious Northern Italian dishes. The house specialty of pappardelle (made in-house) with ground veal, portobello mushrooms, and a light wine sauce is always a safe bet. More adventurous diners can try pan-seared scallops in a red pepper coulis, or bow-tie pasta with salmon and artichoke hearts. Decadent treats like dark chocolate mousse await for dessert.
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The Pink Door
1919 Post Alley, Pike Place Market, Seattle, WA 98101 · 206-443-3241
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DOWNTOWN. Funky and hip, this Italian eatery features rustic food and boasts live entertainment in the adjacent lounge. The interior has a certain bohemian charm, but the best area to dine is on the rooftop deck, which affords a magnificent view of Puget Sound. To start a meal, begin with bruschetta or the antipasto plate of savory morsels. Entrees, then, include Tuscan grilled chicken, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, roasted pork loin, and Muscovy duck. You'll find, in fact, a range of pastas and, also, a daily risotto special that's usually a great bet! Comforting desserts include such fare as bread pudding and apple crisp.
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Tulio Ristorante
1100 5th Ave, Hotel Vintage Park, Seattle, WA 98101 · 206-624-5500
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DOWNTOWN. Polished woods and hand-crafted detailing characterize this lovely restaurant, which features an open kitchen, along with upstairs and downstairs dining rooms. Frequented by professionals at lunch, Tulio is known for its authentic cuisine and attentive service. The menu includes such treats as salmon ravioli, sweet-potato gnocchi with sage butter, pepper-crusted roast pork loin, and marinated Washington lamb sirloin. You'll also find pizzas and calzones on the lunch menu. Tulio makes the perfect start to any special evening occasion. At times, you may even spot a celebrity!
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Volterra
5411 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107 · 206-789-5100
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BALLARD. Named after the Tuscan hill town where the owner/chefs met, Volterra brings an authentic slice of Italy to the Northwest. Although the tiled dining room may get noisy, you'll be too enthralled by the signature Tuscan Limoncello Rosemary Drop cocktail to notice. Careful attention to cooking and presentation of fine ingredients like truffles, homemade pastas, wild boar, and beef tenderloin result in dish after luscious dish. Savory orechiette in lamb ragu, accompanied by steamed asparagus in lemon-cheese sauce, is a favorite. Desserts include a rich tiramisu and chestnut panna cotta. The knowledgeable staff won't let the largely Italian wine list get the better of you.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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