Good, good, good! Went here a few weeks ago, athmosphere was ok but we did get there a little early. 3 of us shared the vegetarian antipasto plate. It was great and it was huge. I'll take gnocchi pretty much anytime I can get it and the gnocchi here is very tasty indeed. I tried a friends pizza which was really thin with sweet onions, garlic and parmesan. It was super tasty also, as usual no room for desert so can't comment. Looking forward to returning already! read more

Came here for a friend's birthday dinner. They accommodated our group of 12 gracefully and split the check how we requested. We brought a cake with us, which they served and provided plates for. Keep in mind this cost a $2/person plating fee. I got to try a couple types of pizza and their mushroom gnocchi, which where both delicious. Their cocktails are also decent but not mind-blowing. My one complaint is that prices are a bit high for the food/drinks, I felt like I paid a lot for location and "feel" of the place. Would recommend it you need somewhere to have a big group easily, but there are better places to go for drinks and Italian food of this caliber in Seattle. read more

Reliable, consistent and well executed rustic/elegant comfort food. I love the Roasted Tomatoes and Pizza with the nice Italian Brandy they have. read more

Good food but very limited menu. Nearly everything has chili flakes and my wife can't eat anything with chilies or peppers. Would go again for something specific but not for our family. read more

Great and delicious Italian food! We ordered the gnocchi and lasagna. Both were delicious, flavorful, and filling. The fresh hand made pasta they use is awesome and makes the dish a lot better. We also ordered the eggplant compote appetizer which was also delicious and very flavorful. It is on the pricier end and wish it was a few dollars cheaper per menu item. Will definitely return! read more

Food was excellent cocktails far above average wine list both interesting and solid. Service was lacking with an empty restaurant our server was more interested in gossiping with the kitchen staff and bar staff. Very unprofessional Our salad was under dressed and underwhelming in flavor highly recommend the tomato crostini and meatball pasta. We really liked the quiet low key romantic setting and plan on coming back. read more

My partner and I go at least every other month. Delicious pastas. (She describes the lasagna as "ethereal," and it's true. It's one fluffy cloud of a meal.) Delicious pizzas. Only complaint is that we miss the Martini Sporco - bring it back! But the rest of the cocktail menu is really, really good. Can't go wrong here. We love Lago! read more

If you are looking for authentic Italian food and a cozy neighborhood spot, then cafe lago is the perfect option. This spot is a hidden seattle gem. Whenever someone comes to visit, this is always on the agenda. read more

Great local spot, great food, great wine. Desciption says not a kid friendly place, NOT true. They made a small cheese pizza for my son. We had dinner early and so did other famlies. As we left I realized almost every table had a small child or baby. I was suprised since I didn't hear a peep out of any of them, good food I guess. Seems like it would be a great date place later in the evening. My only complaint was the price. I am sad to say I probably will not return because of this. read more

Cafe Lago has become one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. The food is simple, yet very high quality. Anyone who has tasted fresh pasta knows how superior it is to dried pastas from a box on a shelf. I return to Cafe Lago mainly for this reason. I would recommend trying the roasted tomato appetizer, any of the fresh pastas (I usually get the Gnocchi), and the Panna Cotta for dessert. The steak here is also very good. Usually the wait for a table is not bad. The only time I've had to wait a very long time for a table was on a weekend, and I believe there was a husky event getting out. Also, a word of warning: the street parking can be a little tricky, especially on game days! read more

We have spent five years of regular (at one point, 2x monthly) visits to Cafe Lago, many of which were with our small children. We found it family-friendly and with wonderful food and wine, and we made a point to go there often without children as well. On the night our second child was born, I wanted pizza from Lago more than anything else, and my husband brought takeout to the hospital. This restaurant has been part of our and our children's lives for half a decade. We will never return after tonight. At an early dinner hour on a weeknight, in a half-filled restaurant of mostly families with children, we were asked by the owner to take our toddler outside shortly after her first squawk (experienced restaurant-goers, we were already making tracks to do this). We accommodated, juggled the rest of the meal without much incident. The co-owner (wife) came to us as we ate to reassure us that all was well, we apologized and all agreed that dining out with kids can have its pitfalls on some nights. As we were walking out the door the owner (husband) came to us again, told us flat out that we simply could not come to restaurants if we could not control our children. He was nasty, uncompromising, and clearly on a mission to dissuade young families from dining there. We had eaten, paid (tipping well, as usual), and it seemed like he just couldn't let us out of the place without giving us some childrearing advice. It saddens me to write this. We had gotten to know the servers there well (many seem new - an indication that it isn't a great place to work?) and always felt welcome there, with our without small fry in tow. In a town of many foodies with children, a neighborhood restaurant like Cafe Lago simply cannot alienate its customers in this way. read more

Best Italian food I have had in Seattle to date!!! Very easy to get reservations and Wonderful staff !!!! Fresh food and impeccable pizza ! Highly recommend this amazing restaurant ! read more

The BEST vegetarian (with cheese though so not vegan) lasagne ever! Thin lasagne noodles melt in your mouth...an absolute dream.

Cafe Lago is decent enough, but overpriced for the quality of food that you get. As far as I am concerned, their pizza is a joke. The pies feel more like appetizers than a quality pizza, even by pretentious wood fired thin crust standards. Sparse toppings slide right off and you are often left holding a soggy thin piece of bread. The other Italian fare is decent, but nothing amazing. I am Italian so my standards are high. I've eaten at Cafe Lago 3-4 times over the years, most recently last night. The service is always good, and the food, as mentioned, is decent. But I always walk away feeling underwhelmed for the price I pay. For convenience, it's not a bad restaurant choice. For high quality and value, I'd recommend looking elsewhere in the city. read more

This place has not changed since I first came here 13 years ago. The decor and attitude are, at times, not worth the lofty prices for the overall experience .... until, you order the lasagna, the only item that keeps us coming back. It is amazing. For those complainers about the lack of meat, just order a side of meatballs. What I do want to say is that this place has to stop taking itself so seriously. Yes, you make fresh pasta, and yes the lasagna is good, however, the hostess is never warm nor inviting. The waitstaff needs to stop acting as if this is a 5 star restaurant. The prices are high, the floor and decor worn and you are neighborhood restaurant, so start acting like it (and appreciate those that keep coming). read more

Meh. I've been to this restaurant a few times over the years and I always leave disappointed. This place is over-priced and too loud. Plus the service isn't that good. read more

We loved Café Lago! We had a nice dinner here a couple of weeks ago with my partner's parents. We started Sanmarzano tomato appetizer: what a great way to start! Then, we ordered the sirloin steak, a pizza, the fettuccine with meatballs and...the lasagna. We all agreed that the lasagna here is really special, delicate, with the right amount of cheese and tomato, perfectly cooked. If you go to Café Lago, don't miss their lasagna because it is really the best you can find in Seattle. We shared two desserts...lemon and chocolate was a great way to finish our meal. Our server was friendly and nice! We will be back! read more

Cafe Lago offers excellent pasta and wonderful wood fired pizza, with great service and hospitality. The pasta, which is all freshly made on site, is especially good. But for me, a trip to Lago is incomplete without two things: the pomodori al forno and the Caesar salad. The pomodori is, truly, one of the best appetizers on the planet. Wood roasted tomatoes, with goat cheese in a spiced olive-oil that is incredible! You put this on crustini and the taste is amazing. Honestly, this is just great--I have never known anyone who did not love it. And the Caesar salad has a wonderful tart dressing, not too milky like some places, but great. Then get a plate of ravioli or gnocchi--or a handmade pizza--and you are set. A great neighborhood vibe finishes off the experience. My "go-to" place in Seattle, either when I am on my own or entertaining guests. read more

I like this restaurant but not super pleased with the last dinner there. Out of the lasagna (that they know everybody loves) by 7:30 on a Friday? What time am I expected to come for dinner to get a piece? 5? 6? That's probably never happening, so why bother coming back. The server forgot the goat cheese on the beet salad and didn't check back in time, so we ate it without and it was lackluster. The pasta was pretty good, but not what we came for. Please have your full menu available and be able to accommodate your customers at such an early hour on a Friday. Your fabled lasagna - I'm not playing your artificial shortage game again; it's not cute and it's not making me want the lasagna more, it's making me want to never come back. read more

I really didn't like this restaurant, which is sad because I have been searching for a good Italian restaurant in Seattle for years. It was very expensive, limitied vegetarian options, and was really too greasy for my tastes. Maybe meat eaters would do better here, but I really didn't like it. read more

Disappointed with the food. We were in the mood for lasagne and headed here for their famous non-meat version. I am not sure why people call it light - it was a two-inch thick stack of very thin noodles, super rich ricotta and super rich béchamel with some marinara. Very rich and didn't satisfy our lasagne craving. I wish they had something to offset the creaminess like meat or spinach. Oh well. Not my jam. We also shared the linguine with clams and did not care for it at all. The noodles had a very strange consistency, almost like fresh soba noodles, and the sauce was just a garlic bomb. Ate about 1/4 of it - mostly the clams. We did love the antipasti platter which contained a generous amount of goodies but not enough bread to put it on (they brought more yummy bread when requested). Caponata and tapenade were my favs. Service was fine but nothing to rave about. The hostess is kind of standoffish which is really weird. Not in any hurry to go back. read more

I went to Cafe Lago the other night with my boyfriend who loves Italian food. The atmosphere was nice, service was fast and our waitress was very attentive. I ordered the blue cheese starter salad and was surprised when a plate of romaine lettuce and what looked like blue cheese dressing from a bottle came to my table. I was expecting a salad with mixed greens and crumbled blue cheese for the price. I could make this at home for pennies. However, to echo a previous review despite what the salad looked like, I thought it was the best part of the meal. The blue cheese dressing and balsamic combination was actually very tasty. I am a vegetarian and was pleased to see on the menu several vegetarian options, which isn't always the case in many restaurants. I ordered the vegetarian lasagna. It was good but definitely not $20 good. When I think vegetarian lasagna I think something with vegetables and cheese. This lasagna consisted of cheese, noodles and sauce and the sauce was surprisingly red, like Ragu red sauce. For $20 I would expect something more flavorful and exciting. I'm sure the sauce was homemade, but it really didn't taste that special to me. The homemade noodles were good. My boyfriend ordered the noodle with scallop dish which looked pretty pathetic to me for being one of the most expensive options on the menu. There were three little scallops over a bed of noodles covered their bright red sauce. He said it was good, but was not that excited about his meal. Overall, the dinner was good, but lacked anything special to warrant the price. read more

I have eaten at Cafe Lago twice now. The 1st time I was with a party of 3, had good service and had a great dinner. I was there last night with a party of 11. We all arrived within 15 minutes of each other. Our drink orders were taken right off the bat and served in a timely manner. After that, no one came around to check on us. After 15-20 minutes I had to flag down our server to place our dinner orders. Only after we placed our dinner order did the server bring the complimentary bread and olive oil. Our dinner was served in a timely manner. Overall, I was unimpressed with the service considering the price of the food. If I'm going to spend $22 on a pizza, $10 on a small salad and more than $10 on a cocktail, I expect the service to be amazing and Cafe Lago's wasn't. read more

Excellent food, but really not worth the price. The service is usually very friendly, however the chef is a really big grump.

Tried this restaurant on Friday night and it's so cute and quaint and quite the little neighborhood place. Had reservations at 5:45pm and by 6:15pm, the place was packed. The pizza was terrific. Had better gnocchi (it was good but the sauce was really thick). Husband liked his pasta dish with the meatballs. We had a very nice server; however, he could have been a little more attentive. When he did check on us, he was very professional and helpful. Will return for Pizza and salad -- can't wait! read more

I took my mum hear for our mothers-day-raincheck dinner. I had already scored a few years ago by finding her the best lasagna she'd ever had (at an LA restaurant), but this week, I topped it with Cafe Lago's Lasagna, which now holds the top spot in my mum's world (er, mouth?). My other favorites at Lago include the caponata, a great vegetarian starter, which is sort of like a cross between baba ghanouj and chunky salsa. And I adore the pizzas; I don't usually like thin crust pizza, but Lago's crust is a major exception, it's not too crispy and has a sweetness on the edges. My only problem is that the hot staff aren't all trying to give me their numbers. Seriously, what the hell? Oh, there is good lighting in that place with big open windows; it's nice to go there in the evening before the sun has set. read more

Cafe Lago? How about CAFE LARGO......For those who don't know, the term largo is used in music to describe a tempo that is very slow. I believe Cafe Largo is a more appropriate name. The service was very slow, and all the wait staff seemed to be walking around in circles and not accomplishing much. The waiters and busgirls were very incompetent and didn't know how to do their job. It took forever to order, receive our drinks and ages for us to finally get our food. When the food arrived, we all agreed that it was very salty and the portions were small for $20/dish. The paper tablecloth seemed to give us all paper cuts. Everything about this place was cold and unfriendly, and I suppose the only customers who do enjoy this place are also cold and unfriendly. The term homemade is NOT a term I want to hear when I'm paying $20 for a small bowl of pasta with 4 meatballs that is neither upscale nor tasty. Overall the entire experience was unsatisfying and we thought Ristorante Machiavelli's in Capitol Hill or even the Spaghetti Factory would have been a better choice. read more

Simply the best ravioli and lasagna in Seattle. Both are light and flavorful. Good pizza too. Great casual vibe as well

I really really like Cafe Lago. The food is solid and it has a very good comfortable casually nice atmosphere. It may not be the most creative menu but I've been to places that sacrifice flavor for unique so, I'm ok with that. Their homemade bread is amazing! My husband and I like to go here when we just want a quiet night with good food. read more

Cafe Lago is a special place. It's famous for its unique lasagna, which is light, fluffy, and delicious. The pizza is pretty good too. It's a small restaurant - I can't decide if it's more "cozy" or "cramped". One downside is that it's a little too loud inside - everything seems to echo. But that's no problem - you can finish up your conversation during a nice walk through the arboretum, which is very close by. It's a perfect way to walk off the wine before driving, too. read more

Their baked tomato and goat cheese appetizer is reason enough to go. I thought the sauce for the lasagna was more sweet than savory, but the noodles and cheese were just right. Worth a trip. read more

I'm in love with the fresh, light pasta at this place. Every time I go I try something new, and it always becomes my new favorite thing--most recently fettuccine with (melt-in-your-mouth) meatballs. They have a creative wine menu and knowledgeable (and friendly) servers. Don't leave without trying the Lemon Tart for dessert! read more

Well above average place to eat. Freshly made pasta and great fresh sauces. Meatballs very nice as are all sauces. Good value too, do not real complaints other than the fact it's nit quite at that top top level. Do go along though, one of my favourite places . read more

Everyone knows the Lasagna is something special. After a long day I called ahead to order some to go. "ready ins 20 minutes" 30 minutes later I arrived. The young woman who had answered the phone entered my order into the system after I got there. 20 minutes later I left. They didn't bother to seal the lid on the container or double bag so I had a bit of a cleanup job to do in my car when I got home. Finally, I get to eat the lasagna. Cold, undercooked. Pretty bummed. Consider this review for take out only. No quarrel with the dine in option. I was surprised by this sloppiness. The restaurant later contacted me and made things right. Its good that they are paying attention! read more

I am a regular here, and after living in Italy for years, I can confidently say this is the best quality and most authentic Italian food I have had in Seattle. The antipasto plate, the pizzas, and any of the pastas have never disappointed and their wine selection is tasty too. Sure, it's a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for - especially if what you desire is quality. Quantity is good as well, just keep in mind when reading the hungry reviews below, this isn't Bucca di Beppo. No, no. And it's way better. Their service is impeccable nearly every time - the one time it slipped, a lovely new server by the name of Devon noticed, swept down, and had us smiling and full of complimentary dessert before we could even remember the previous server's name (if you have a chance to get Devon as your server, take it!). Cafe Lago is run by managers who truly care, and you can tell with every bite. read more

Best antipasto plate ever. I have dreams about it sometimes. Also, the meatballs are ridiculously delish. The food is good every time - really consistent. Love Cafe Lago! read more

Great location for brunch after a stroll around the arboretum. Warning: Quality dishes in an upscale venue hurts the pocketbook.

surprised that some of the reviews here - this place is as good as it gets if you're looking for authentic Italian (not American Italian) in a low key but nice neighborhood setting. LOVE the lasagna & pizza, all the antipasti are great & so are other pasta options...red wine list + full bar are also good...don't go if you're on a carb free diet ;) read more

It's just ok. And kind of pricey for just ok. But I did ask for some sauce to take home & they gave that to us for free.

Seattle doesn't have much in the way of *great* Italian food... Lago stands out for their commitment to doing a few things really, really well. The downside of that is that the menu is limited. The upside is that everything on it is AWESOME- including things I don't typically get excited about. I'm not a huge lasagna fan, but theirs is the most amazing pasta I've ever had... I would understand if lasagna purists weren't into it, because it's not traditional- but we love it and love Lago when we're up for a nice Italian meal. read more