Seattle’s culinary legacy was a combination of new and old, which created the Pacific Northwest cuisine. Immigrants from around the world brought so many flavors that it has completely evolved. It’s also the reason why Italian restaurants in Seattle became popular.
We tried the different Italian restaurants in Seattle and created a short list of the best spots to try.
1. The Pink Door
If you try and do your own research about the best Italian restaurants in Seattle, The Pink Door will always be a part of the list. It goes to show the quality of food and service that they offer to their customers. The interior is elegant and live music can be heard throughout the restaurant.
For first-timers, the best food to try is the Lasagna Pink Door. It’s perfectly creamy and it comes with besciamella, marinara sauce, and pesto.
Another popular dish from the menu is the Lan-Roc Idaho Farm 11 Oz Bone-In Pork Chop. It’s a large cut of meat that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
What to order: Lasagna Pink Door, Lan-Roc Idaho Farm 11 Oz Bone-In Pork Chop
Address: 1919 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
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2. Café Juanita
One of the best spots to try is Café Juanita, especially for people who love Italian cuisine. The best thing about this café is that it offers vegan, pescatarian, and meat options. The relaxing atmosphere inside the restaurant gives a different vibe as it’s the opposite of the elegant food that they serve.
You should try their A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Croccante. It balances the fattiness and creaminess of wagyu with shallots and lime. This is a melt-in-your-mouth experience that you will surely cherish for the rest of your life.
As for dessert, the Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta will give that extra dose of sugar to your body. It’s full and light so you will surely love it.
What to order: A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Croccante, Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta
Address: 9702 NE 120th Pl, Kirkland, WA 98034
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3. Vendemmia
If you’re in Seattle and you’re craving for Italian food, Vendemmia is one of the top spots that you can visit. For locals, this is their go-to restaurant if they want Italian food. The place is intimate and relaxing, which is perfect for dinner and a date.
The best way to start your meal is to get their thick and buttery Burrata with fresh tomatoes. Believe it or not, this dish will surely work your appetite.
For pesto lovers out there, the Strozzapreti is a must-have. It comes with a more neutral taste compared to the other pasta on the menu.
What to order: Buratta, Strozzapretti
Address: 1126 34th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
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4. Il Terrazzo Carmine
Il Terrazzo Carmine is a favorite Italian restaurant of the locals. It’s more than your typical Italian resto because they have a wide range of Italian cuisine on their menu. With a sophisticated ambiance, you can surely impress your date if you bring them here.
If pasta is what you want, then the Pennette Con Salmone and Rigatoni Bolognese would be good options. The Pennette Con Salmone is a pasta dish with vodka and creamy sauce. The Rigatoni Bolognese is pure Italian pasta goodness.
What to order: Pennette Con Salmone, Rigatoni Bolognese
Address: 411 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104
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5. How To Cook A Wolf
The unique name easily captured the hearts of locals and travelers. How To Cook A Wolf was a name from a book during the depression era. They have a range of food items that will surely make your mouth water.
The Sea Wolf Sourdough is one of the dishes that you should never miss. The sourdough along with the garlic balsamic spread brings it to another level.
Pork Chop is also a great menu from How To Cook A Wolf. It is not your typical pork chop because it’s cooked to perfection.
What to order: Sea Wolf Sourdough, Pork Chop
Address: 2208 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109
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6. Altura
Are you looking for authentic Italian fine dining? Altura is the best place to go if you need a superb restaurant that will give you a unique fine dining experience. It might look very simple from the outside, but the interior is definitely luxurious.
The Potato Crushed Pacific Ling Cod is a good pick if you want something light. It’s fermented mashed potato placed on green herb oil and topped with caviar.
Altura’s Roasted Corn Pansotti is one of the most popular meals on the menu. It’s a soft and tender pasta that is filled with sweet corn filling. It is paired with nutty butter and they used the floral scents of lavender to make it fragrant.
What to order: Potato Crusted Pacific Ling Cod, Roasted Corn Pansotti
Address: 617 Broadway E, Seattle, WA 98102
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7. Spinasse
If you need an escape from the city life in Seattle, Spinasse provides an intimate setting where you can enjoy Italian cuisine. You will surely love the rustic and charming look of the interior.
One of the must-haves is the Spinasse’s Tajarin Con Burro e Salvia This is perfect if you are looking for pasta. It’s fine pasta with extra egg yolks and garnished with a sage butter sauce.
The Cavatelli with braised short rib is extremely tender and it’s paired with soft pasta. You will surely crave this particular dish in the future.
What to order: Tajarin Con Burro E Salvia, Cavatelli
Address: 1531 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
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8. Ristorante Machiavelli
Ristorante Machiavelli is a charming restaurant offering amazing Italian food and cuisine. With its timeless menu, a lot of people have been going back to this restaurant. It has a bar and dining room offering a lively and cozy ambiance.
For those who love a light meal, the Eggplant Parmesan is a gooey choice. With the cheesy goodness of this, you will surely bite on it immediately.
Ristorante Machiavelli became popular because of their penne pasta. The Penne with Roasted Pepper Pesto is worth the shot. All the ingredients are perfectly combined into a single dish.
What to order: Eggplant Parmesan, Penne with Roasted Pepper Pesto
Address: 1215 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
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9. Serafina
Go around and ask a local about the best Italian restaurants that they’ve visited in Seattle and you will always have Serafina on their list. This restaurant is simply amazing and the food is to die for. Get your reservation immediately and experience authentic Italian dishes.
Their famous Casarecce should always be a top pick on the menu. It’s made with Parmigiano light cream sauce as well as duck confit. Make sure that you get this dish no matter what since you will experience an explosion of flavors.
Another top pasta dish on their menu is Serafina’s, Rigatoni Bolognese. It’s a combination of rigatoni and Bolognese sauce.
What to order: Casarecce, Rigatoni Bolognese
Address: 2043 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA 98102
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10. Cantinetta
When it comes to Italian cuisine, Cantinetta will always be a part of the conversation. The food is incredible and the restaurant itself exudes medieval vibes. The dim lighting and candles on the table will surely bring an old-school vibe.
Burrata with tomatoes and grilled peaches would be a good pick to start your meal. The taste and quality are superb and you will experience the unique taste of Italian cuisine.
If you want a dish that’s out of this world, the Pappardelle Alla Bolognese is something that you should not miss.
What to order: Burrata, Pappardelle Alla Bolognese
Address: 3650 Wallingford Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
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11. Bar del Corso
Bar del Corso is currently one of the top Italian restaurants in Seattle and there’s a reason for that. This restaurant serves amazing Italian dishes that you will not normally find in other Italian restaurants.
There are two items that you should never skip when you visit Bar del Corso: Fried Risotto Balls and Funghi Mushroom Pizza.
If you love mushrooms, the Funghi Mushroom Pizza is the best pick. The fried risotto balls are extremely crispy and they are always served hot with melting mozzarella cheese.
What to order: Fungi Mushroom Pizza, Fried Risotto Balls
Address: 3057 Beacon Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
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12. Assaggio Ristorante
Assaggio Ristorante is completely different from the other Italian restaurants on this list. This is a world-class Italian restaurant so you can expect that the food and the meals are the best. The interior of the restaurant is very simple and relaxing. You can dine peacefully with the soft music playing in the restaurant.
The Caprese salad with fresh tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella is definitely a great dish to get. The combination of all these ingredients made a unique and tasty dish.
The Rigatoni with Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, and tomato cream sauce is a perfect choice if you want pasta. It is one of the top sellers and a consistent crowd favorite.
What to order: Caprese, Rigatoni
Address: 2010 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
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Although Seattle is not known for their Italian restaurants, you will never be disappointed with all the available options for you. Whether you’re a local or a tourist who wants to experience Italian cuisine, all the restaurants above are the best of the best.
If you are looking for other types of cuisines, you can check out this list of the best restaurants in Seattle.
