good space and atmosphere good service probably the best steak i've ever had, the combination of fingerling potatoes, onion and onion greens, and incredibly tender steak, was absolutely incredible and the tiramisu was incredible read more

Wonderful and delicious!! Honestly the best food we have had in long time!! We started with the beet salad that was spectacular! For dinner we had the Halibut and the Rigatoni. The Halibut was crunch on the outside and moist on the inside. Served with wonderful vegetables and the flavors were outstanding. The Rigatoni was another feast for the senses. Delicious in it's simplicity. It had a scamorza cheese that we delicious and the rigatoni was perfectly al dente. Highly recommend!! read more

Is it possible that I have found another Seattle restaurant to love? Yes, yes. I think it is. I've been watching them for a while and looking for a good time to visit, but I kept wanting to stop by on a Monday. No good when they're not normally open on Mondays! Then, one day, I found myself in the neighborhood and hungry for some fine food in the middle or end of the week, so I rushed over to Cantinetta. I was alone that time, so I sat at the bar. The bartender was fabulous and, while we chatted about my recent San Francisco trip, he created a delicious daiquiri-like cocktail for me. I was very happy because while it seems easy to find a good cocktail in Capitol Hill or Downtown, I haven't found many good cocktails in/near Wallingford. I'm glad Cantinetta offers that to the neighborhood. I was also quite hungry, so I started with the grilled sardines. They were a bit difficult to eat because I had to remove the head and all the little bones, but the meat, olive oil, and herbs were perfect. So flavorful. I will probably never order it again because I tend to get frustrated with food that is hard to eat, but... it was delicious. If you don't mind dealing with little fish bones and things like that, I definitely recommend the sardines (if they're on the menu). Since I was very hungry that day (and had no idea the sardines would actually be quite large), I also ordered the gnocchi with lamb sausage, peaches, and balsamic. Up until that moment, I had never had gnocchi that good. Love the plate and how well everything went together. Definitely recommend it. On the second visit I went with a couple of friends, and we got to try a few more things. We sat at a table and the food was more "really good" than "absolutely amazing" and the service was "good" instead of "fantastic," which made me a little sad. I was really hoping that they'd get to have the same kind of magical experience. Maybe next time... During that second visit, we had the scallops crudo (beautiful!), teres major with chanterelles (great), taglioni (good), huckleberry semifredo (good), and panna cotta (good). We were happy with our meal, but not blown away like I was hoping. I hope a few more visits will give me a reason to bump it up to five stars! read more

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My opinion is pretty on par with others who have given lower reviews of this place. Overall...NOT worth it. The staff was amazing and very attentive, however the food was nothing special and pretty bland. They did use fresh ingredients though. Also, the potions were small and pricey. I think the only memorable dish we had was the Tiramisu. It is definitely one of the best I've had, so if you do decide to venture here at least give that a go. read more

I feel kinda bad about not giving a better rating the food was excellent, although not what I expected.. All of the pasta is made fresh and it's plating is artistic. The odd thing was service.. The busboy made every effort to bring buy and refill drinks every 5 minutes or so.. but we recieved our entress about 30 mintues apart after telling the server just to bring everything at once. They have a loose piece of sharp brass weatherstripping at the bottom of the door that I managed to cut my foot open on.. I guess it was my fault for wearing flip flops. Also they lack an airlock so blasts of cold air gave me shrinkage everytime a party would enter or leave.. read more

Cantinetta - Osso bucco - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Excellent service and cuisine. We were having a pre theater dinner when we realized our show was an hour earlier than planned. The restaurant were able to served the meals within 15 min, they were gracious and extremely efficient. We can't wait to go back to have the full experience! read more

The food/menu is just okay but the restaurant itself is always a favorite. I love the staff, music, comfortable decor and it's always packed. Seattle staple. read more

We went to Cantinetta on recommendation from a coworker and had a great experience! We ordered the burrata, pork belly, focaccia, tagliatelle cacio e pepe, butternut squash agnolotti, and short ribs- all of which we enjoyed. The highlights of the meal were probably the burrata and agnolotti. The focaccia is also a must try. Sadly, we were so excited about the pasta we forgot to take a picture of the agnolotti entirely. Overall, we really enjoyed all of the food and will probably be back! read more

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Such a cute place! Our bartender was the best! He asked if we've been here before, and when we said no, it was our first time, he automated listed off recommendations from the dinner menu! We ordered all of his suggestions, and they all exceeded expectations! The pork belly was one of the best I've ever had. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy, so delicious and flavorful! Definitely recommend if you're in the Wallingford area, and looking for a great Italian restaurant with lots of ambiance and excellent service! read more

Tricky one. As the food was great. Ambience not bad. But the night was a let down due to service. Come on Seattle, get your act together and have some standards. The food was really on point. Perfectly cooked pork belly, so much flavor. Could tell it was all home made pasta. We shared a bunch of dishes and no complaints on any. Really worth it for the food. Our downside was the unfortunate lack luster, moody waitress. Sure on the surface she did her job. She took our orders. Brought the food and drinks. ( drinks came out super fast ) but there was an underlying apathy from her that was obvious. And that was clear when she bought a drink half way through the meal and went to place it, just as someone was moving a plate. They collided and the drink spilt over the table. Not all of it. But enough ! What was her reaction to this. A quick apology? An offer to top up the cocktail? An embarrassed smile? None of the above. She spun around and walked off without looking at anyone. Her face was one of clear annoyance and frustration. Like we were being scolded. She returned with the other server who wiped up the spill. But neither of them said one word about it. As if in some twisted time warp the moment had been erased. I tipped lower than normal and left a note on the receipt. Such a shame. It's not just that drink incident. But the overall demeanor of the waitress that just drains energy. Hopefully they read this. And hopefully she smiles a little and remembers people go out to have a good time. read more

Had another good experience here and i think i like this location better than the one in Bellevue. We came in a group and a few of us had an adult beverage before sitting down for dinner. The bartender was friendly and we did a bit of chatting before moving to the dining room. The pasta that I ordered was really nice and not overly rich. There was some brightness to it and I seem to forget how good it is in here. The staff was friendly and the meals came out a bit staggered, but there were quite a few of us. i need to make another summer run, where we can sit outside. read more

I think this was my third time there, but I never wrote a review before now. We arrived a bit early and sat at the bar and had a cocktail while waiting for our table to be ready. The bartender was very busy, but kept checking on us. Our reservation time came and went, but the hostess kept us informed about what was going on. (The party before us was just taking their time after dinner) No problem, we weren't in a rush. We got to our table and were introduced to our server Katie. She was great! Very fun, and knowledgeable about the menu. I was torn between the cacio e pepe tagliatelle and the truffle risotto, and asked if I could get a half order of each. She said they don't do that, but spoke with the chef and was able to put some truffle on the cacio e cepe. It was actually a really good combination! For dessert, my wife and I split an order of zeppole. 4 balls of warm, gooey, sugary goodness. Two with pistachio sauce, and two with nutella sauce. We joked that the zeppole was the only reason we were there, but everything we had was excellent. Cantinetta is part of our regular restaurant rotation! read more

Make a reservation! They were busy, but graciously suggested sitting at the bar with a full menu. Great vibe, busy but well staffed and all the guests were smiling. Cocktails were well done and the bartender was great with recommendations! The mushroom appetizer with porcini crème was amazing and tagliatelle was about the perfect bite. Cant wait to go again. read more

Cantinetta - Foraged mushrooms. - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What a beautiful little restaurant! We had a great time here. We ordered the fociaccia (the first round was older/cold but they brought us more fresh and it was wonderful), the carrots with whipped ricotta and smoked paprika (amazing, my favorite thing), plus two pasta dishes (the cavatelli with fennel sausage and escarole; and the black pepper tagliatelle wiht favas, creme fraiche, and farm egg, both of which had good flavor). He also ordered a few drinks, which were good. I loved the ambiance and would definitely come back! read more

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Quintisential and inviting local neighborhood hangout. Located in a quaint neighborhood of craftsman and other eclectic styles of homes and cottages. Extremely tender fresh pasta. All dishes we had were subtly seasoned and let the ingrediants come to the forefront. Union Saloon across the street looked good too...next time. read more

Pros: very nice ambience and great service staff, and decently strong cocktails. Cons: small portion sizes with generally bland-tasting pasta options. The tagliatelle honestly had little flavor and didn't taste like much aside from pasta. The ricotta ravioli was not saved by the sparse scattered morels and fava beans, and was also rather bland. read more

A local gem. If you get it, you get it. Love it here . Get a drink. Enjoy the food.

One of the best meals I've ever had. Everything was perfect. The atmosphere was intoxicating. Our waitress was exquisite.

Cantinetta is that perfect neighborhood restaurant that you wish was one block from your house. Tonight, they celebrated New Year's Eve with a gorgeous Prix Fixe menu...and it was amaaaaazing! read more

Cantinetta - Menu - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First of all, they do accept credit cards. The food was excellent. The wait staff were attentive and food was served quickly. We found parking on the street without a problem. The burrata appetizer was so good and they gave us more bread to eat every little bit. read more

About three bites into our two entrees, I turned to my date and said: "This could be the best Italian in Seattle." By the end of the meal, after I ordered another (second) pappardelle to share, I was convinced this is the best Italian in Seattle. We had a bottle of Barbera, which was also divine. The one weakness, if any, was the appetizers. The dates wrapped in pancetta were divine, however. The highlight was the pappardelle, no doubt. Show-stopping. I'll be back to have it again. Probably within the week. Outstanding food, great service (they were busy), and a great atmosphere for groups of 2-4. Overall 4.8/5 with the lack of versatility among appetizers as the only weakness. read more

Location is nice, food ok: - Antipasti: burrata and carpaccio are tasty - Primi: tagliatelle with mushroom really good, ricotta ngudi not really flavored - Secondi: meat and fish OK (nothing special), potatoes RAW, they said potato "al dente" but in Italy we call undercooked potatoes RAW not "al dente" read more

Bottom Line: Not an outstanding meal, but not a horrendous one, either. Would not go out of the way to come back, but would not avoid it if I'm part of a group of friends who decided to come here. I would give this place a 2nd try. My star rating is solely based on the food and not on the quality of service or ambiance. I've definitely experienced better Italian, but am still searching for exceptional Italian in Seattle...). Ambiance/Service: The ambiance of the restaurant is fantastic. Nice, clean and slightly dark. The service (from bar staff, our server and bussers) was great and attentive. Food: (see also my photo uploads) We looked at the restaurant's website and saw the seasonal menu and were excited to try a few of the items; however, when we arrived we noticed the menu was not the same as online. We were very disappointed and thought that the restaurant should at least have an updated menu on their website, especially if it's seasonal. What we ordered: (there were 4 of us) Antipasto (cured meats, bakala, artichokes, olives) - This dish was just okay. Nothing really to review here because it's just assembled food; however, we were confused as to why there was a crabcake as part of this dish. It did not go well with the antipasto at all. Cheese Dinahs (pumpernickel crostini, honeycomb) - I always like cheese and honey. Mussels (coppa, roasted garlic, pickled chilis) - We ordered a 3rd appetizer. This was the most enjoyable part of the meal for me. The mussels were perfectly cooked. Not a second over-cooked. The white wine broth was excellent and overall this dish was well-executed. I would definitely order this again. Ricotta Gnocchi (lamb spezzatino, preserved tomato) - This is the main dish that I ordered for myself. The first few bites were amazing. The gnocchi was perfectly cooked and the texture was just perfect. However, half way through the dish, each bit just became increasingly saltier and saltier until it was almost too salty to eat. I really appreciated the glass of water and hydrated myself. Duck Pansotti (huckleberry, rhubarb, golden raisins) - Two of my meal mates ordered this dish. One of them was craving duck and this satiated his need. They both said that the meal was okay (it was nothing spectacular and they both would not order it again). The quality of the pansotti was not uniform in that some corners were hard (like left to dry), while other corners were fine. We could tell that the pasta was made in-house because of the unevenness of the pasta quality. Farfalle (artichokes, roasted garlic, chili) - Our 4th meal mate ordered this simple dish. His complaint was that the artichokes were not cooked and too tough to actually eat. The artichokes were actually inedible and he ended up only eating the farfalle. This meal mate really did not have a pleasant experience with the quality of the food and would not come back. 2 glasses red wine (cabernet three rivers, barbera fontafredda) - There were very limited red wines by the glass available. One of my meal mates ordered the cabernet three rivers and was disappointed by this glass. He did not finish it and asked the waitress for a recommendation for a different/lighter red wine. She recommended the barbera fontafredda, which wasn't a great wine, either. This meal mate had a bad experience with the both glasses of wine and didn't understand why such a nice restaurant couldn't have better wines by the glass- and also pondered whether anyone had bothered to research or even try the wine before purchasing them for the restaurant. The two other meal mates had one drink each of roger's and knob creek. These were standard drinks and nothing really to comment on. I did not have any beverage other than water. We opted to pass on dessert. Including our drinks, our total (after taxes) came to $130.90 + $22 tip = $152.90. All of the menu items were quite reasonable, though the appetizer items were on the pricier side for what you get. Conclusion: The limited menu should mean that every dish is executed well; however, this was not our experience. The only thing I would order again is the mussels. If there is a next time, it will be the next seasonal menu (which is dependent upon them changing the online menu, of course)! read more

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I should have taken a menu home with me to cover all the great dishes Trevor and Brian kept coming out with. Places like this shine when it takes over a table. Trust your staff/chef/owners to put out its Best Of. We had 12 plates featuring housemade pastas, sturgeon, boar, pork, cheese, desserts, etc. Perfect spices, sublime sauces, beautiful presentations. Forgot to ask about the varietal we were drinking from second bottle, an italian white that kept this dinner humming along with equally delightful price point. Every member of the team goes out of their way to make guests feel like special friends. I could learn a thing or two from them at home! But the real reason we're dining here this week? The Bellevue opening on Main Street is going to be even harder to get in than this location. Eastsiders are just going to have to remain patient and wait their turn (reservations for large parties only). A novel idea, but they'll get used to it after trying this food. I hope the room will be as homey as Wallingford's. read more

I have to say I was very disappointed by this place. There is SO much good pasta in Seattle, but sadly not here. I had the gnocchi and was very disappointed. The clams were delicious. read more

Cantinetta - Gnocchi Pappardelle - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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In town for family medical appointments. Was looking for a cozy relaxing dinner. Very impressed with the homey service and impeccable Italian flavor. Great wine selection, unique cocktails and rotating local craft beer on tap. If you are looking for a candlelight dinner for date night, this would be a great option. Just plan to round the block a few times to park. Or take an uber. All around wonderful experience! read more

Both this location and the one in little downtown Bellevue truly can't be beat. Small, intimate, and amazing dishes...EVERY TIME. Last night we stopped in after shopping in University Village. There wasn't anything there I was in the mood for, and were about to settle into the Chicago Pizza place there, but I saw too many rugrats to my liking. And I wasn't sure how the pizza would be. Rather than have what may be a mediocre meal I suggested we pop by Cantinetta on the way home. Great decision. We started with the Pork Belly and Arugula. Porky goodness right there. Next was the Zucchini Torta. WOW! This was so creamy and full of zucchini, spinach, topped with speck. I would have ordered 2 if I had known the amazingness of it. For entrees I selected the Fagotti with fava beans and proscuitto, and my man had the Sausage Ravioli with peppers. The Fagotti was to.die.for. Cute little purses stuffed with I believe ricotta cheese that just melted in your mouth. Perfect portion too. The ravioli was lovely and had a little kick. These aren't your cheese filled variety with a smidge of sausage. These were just filled with sausage. Different, but still nice. Service at the bar was attentive and fast. Thanks, Cantinetta, for yet another great meal :) read more

One of my favourite. Always focus on tasting their great pasta. Cocktails just fine. Nosier than expected but servers are nice. They had lava cake before, I loved it, hope they will bring it out again read more

Cantinetta - Tuscan Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Had dinner for 2, 7 pm on a Friday. Had primi and a salad. Friendly service, though place was quite busy. Slight delay, no problem. Brief wine list -- not much of a selection of wines by glass; bottles leaned towards the Northwest, not so much Italian. Reasonable markup over retail. Had oxtail gnudi, pappardelle ragu, and salad, 2 glasses of a Washington semillion blend. The house made bread was excellent. The gnudi was large, puffy, but overpowered the amount of oxtail ragu. The flavors were light but good. The pappardelle was better. . The food in general is a reasonable B. But... The noise volume was earsplitting. My ears are literally ringing. We were seated in an unobtrusive place behind a post; but even then, the noise is harsh, acoustically bright, and incessant. People screamed to be heard even across a table for 2 or 4. Yes, it was 7 pm on a Friday, yes it was full. But it was so loud we nearly left when we walked in. There is no noise baffling or modulating anywhere, and a few carpet covers on ceiling and half-wall would have made this far more attractive. I would not return unless the noise problem were fixed. An acoustic consult would be long-term money in their bank. read more

Nice Italian food. Cocktails and wine selection are very good. I have been their twice and my only issue is that more popular items sell out early. I recommend adding bread service to their charcuterie starter. Price is a bit high for service and ambience (they were playing some sort of Mariachi) but quality (for Seattle fine dining) was good. Share a couple pasta dishes and splits some starters for a solid family style experience. read more

Classy, small, quaint, Euro, noisy, crowded, good service, a little snooty-ish, pricey, etc. If that's what you're looking for, then you'll love it. If it's not what you're looking for, then you'll hate it. It'd be a great place to have a 10-person dinner. The back table is like a European farmhouse supper table -- I've never been to Europe but I've seen it on TV and therefore I'm an expert. ;-) read more

My neighborhood italian joint... lucky me! I'm always tempted to order one of everything on the menu. On my most recent visit we ordered two apps and 4 pasta dishes and shared around. Yum! The sweet potato gnocchi here is remarkable-- it manages to hit a very savory note with just a hint of sweetness. So often this dish is too sweet, too buttery, too sagey. At Cantinetta, it hits all the right notes. The goat cheese ravioli with citrus and fennel was sublime. Subtle, beautiful, rich (but not overly so), just lovely. One of those dishes that haunts you for days. ...and so it went. Each dish was perfect prepared and perfectly delicious. Service was great. It was a little chilly as people were opening and closing the door to exit the dining room and lingering with the door ajar. Brrr! read more

We came here a couple weeks ago for my sister's birthday celebration. My sister found it while researching places online and on yelp for a new place for us to try. The first thing we noticed when we got seated was how dark the place was. And they dimmed the lights again halfway through our meal! Otherwise it was a nice and cozy restaurant and was pretty full and busy when we were there on a Thursday night. We had a very nice and cheery server who greeted us quickly after we got seated and took our drink order. After reviewing the menu for a few minutes we ordered an appetizer off their specials which was the pork belly aranchini (sp?), steak and potatoes, summer corn and blueberry risotto, gnocchi, and the pappardelle bolognese. We all really loved the pork belly aranchini appetizer. It came with four pieces which was perfect for us. My sister ordered the steak medium rare but thought it came out more on the rare side and also felt it wasn't as warm as she would like it to be. Our friend's gnocchi also had a weird texture, not as chewy as you would expect gnocchi to be. I really enjoyed the risotto I ordered and so did the other girls. The corn and blueberries came together surprisingly well with a sweet and slightly tangy flavor - easily our favorite dish of the night. For dessert we ordered the Nutella zeppole and the chocolate bodino. Both were very good but I think the zeppole was a little on the heavy side. They put a candle on the chocolate bodino for my sister's birthday celebration which was very nice and cute. Overall it was a nice restaurant with nice ambience but all the food dishes were not consistently made well so I'm not sure if I would come back. read more

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I came to Cantinetta on a week night to celebrate an anniversary with my BF. We arrived just before our 8:30 reservation. I was expecting the restaurant to be relatively empty and would be seated relatively quickly. Quite the contrary, it was packed. Our wait was 15-20 minutes past the time of our reservation, and even then they were only able to seat us at their communal table. Given the high volume of patrons, I had high hopes for the restaurant. It happened to be restaurant week so the BF opted for the restaurant week specials and I ordered off the menu. Things we tried -- Appetizers: Arancini (3) and clams. I really enjoyed the arancini. They were lightly breaded and fried, and a warm, gooey risotto center. Although there were only 3 per order, they were very large and each is shareable. I wish the tomato jam was warm rather than cold, but that is a personal preference. The broth that the clams were cooked in was very tasty. I'm not personally a fan of clams but I really enjoyed dunking my bread into the broth. Pasta: Mafalde and Risotto, and the Pappardelle. There was a bit of mix up with our server and he actually brought out the pappardelle instead of the risotto. My BF said it was fine, and that he would eat the pappardelle. Our server was extremely gracious and brought us out the risotto anyways to try. All three pastas were extremely tasty. The pappardelle was very "comforting" and traditional bolognese. I loved the al dente bite to the pasta. I had never heard of Mafalde and it was SO fun to eat. It's a thicker, tubular noodle that almost tastes like just the ridges of lasagna. The wild mushroom paired with the mafalde was phenomenal. I loved the earthy flavors of these mushrooms. The risotto was also very good, but to me the rice was a bit too crunchy. The BF enjoyed it, but I found the overall dish to be too rich given the cream and black truffle shavings. With the restaurant week special, it came with a chocie of appetizer, pasta, and dessert. Given all the food we had just indulged in, we chose to go with the panna cotta. Our server really must not have been paying attention because he brought out the zeppoli - a bit like an Italian churro. We didn't even bother telling him at this point. The zeppoli was good, but probably a little too much after all that we had eaten. Aside from the minor blip with seating, I would say service here is wonderful. Even though our server messed up our order, I felt that he handled the situation extremely well... and I'm not just saying that because we got 3 entrees for 2 ;) So glad that this is in the neighborhood and within walking distance. If you drive, well.. you're on your own with street parking! read more

Cantinetta is all about really exceptional, rustic, well executed Italian food! As I walked into Cantinetta, I immediately felt comforted by the ambiance, decor, and light music playing in the background. The old-timey chandeliers, mirrors, wood tables, chairs and benches give the space a non-pretentious, warm and earthy vibe. Each table was simply set, and a single small oil candle gently lit each one. The menu is separated into 4 courses: Antipasti (appetizers), Contorni (sides, mostly salads and vegetarian selections), Primi (pasta, risotto, etc.), and Secondi (Meat/Protein selections). The wine list was broken down into Italian wines on one side, and domestic, mostly Washington State wines on the other. The wide variety of wine selections allows a diner to spend as little or as much as one wishes during their meal. I ordered 3 Antipasti and a glass of red wine, and watched the kitchen (which is mostly open/viewable from the dining room) spring into action. The smells and sounds from the kitchen were very pleasant to say the least, and in a matter of a few minutes, my Antipasti had arrived. The Pancetta wrapped dates sat on a bed of dressed greens, and were lightly pan fried. Smokey and crispy on the outside; and warm, rich and full of sweet flavor in the center. Next, I tried the Avocado and grapefruit with olives. The ingredients were extremely fresh, bright and full of flavor. The tart, sweet acidity of the grapefruit segments perfectly balanced the buttery, rich avocado, which was topped off by finely chopped oil-cured olives that offered a subtle saltiness to the whole dish. Then came a huge portion of sliced whole-milk buffalo Mozzarella, Red Bartlett Pears, and vibrant Dandelion leaves dressed in aged balsamic vinegar. Each and every bite was fresh, vivacious, and delicious. Next, our Contorni and Primi arrived. The Insalata Mista (dressed salad greens), and Radicchio with speck and villa manodori were very clean, and full of flavor. The wild mushroom risotto was perfectly prepared, and was creamy, chock full of mushrooms and lightly finished with an exquisite truffle oil. My favorite entree of the night, though, was the Gnocchi with oxtail and butternut squash. The gnocchi were extremely light and fluffy, and not at all dense or overcooked. The oxtail meat was an abundant portion that was shredded and mixed throughout the dish; and with the addition of butternut squash and shaved Parmesan made it a flawless preparation. We finished up the meal with an assortment of outstanding desserts to sample. The apple cake with ice cream was layered with light pastry dough, tart apples and finished with just the right amount of caramel sauce. The blackberry gelato was not too heavy, and was complimented with a crispy, sweet pistachio cracker. The best one of the bunch, however, were the chocolate-sauce filled Zeppolinis. They were generously rolled in sugar and cinnamon, served warm and fluffy, and perfectly accompanied a hot cappuccino to finish out the evening. The service at Cantinetta was very professional, polite, and attentive. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and best of all, the chefs and cooks know what they are doing, and they do it very well. The attention to detail of each dish; and the creative, yet authentic use of really fresh and delicious ingredients make this restaurant an extraordinary pleasure to dine at. read more

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Do not go during busy times. Walked in for a 8:45 pm reservation and the noise was legitimately ear-piercing. Acoustic panels aren't expensive - invest in pleasant customer experiences. read more

It was an amazingly nice night so we wanted to sit outside. Their outdoor area is on slightly slanted ground, and it felt a little odd sipping through our drinks with our bodies tilted to one side. we went there specifically for the dessert listed on their online menu, but they didn't have it! what a bummer... on the plus side, our server was nice. read more

We met some friends at their house in Wallingford and as we were hanging out, started to discuss dinner options. It was chilly and they had to be home early, so they suggested staying local and going to Cantinetta. They said they go there all the time with the kids, but it'd be nice to go there without them for a change. I called at 5:45 and got a reservation at 6:30 for 6 people - on a Saturday night. Very nice! And it's not like they were slow/empty. They were pretty packed! The host/manager(?) opened the front door for us and as we were pulling off our scarves/hats/etc., I pointed out what I thought was our table. He looked at me and said "you got it! Go ahead." Very cute. The high-backed chairs were a BIT uncomfortable for me (I tend to have lower-back pains), but they fit with the overall "monastery" theme they seem to have going (no crosses or anything. That's just the vibe I got). And I've sat in much more uncomfortable chairs. The foccacia bread they brought out was very tasty, with some nice olive oil. The waitress and runner were a BIT inattentive... One member of our party had to ask for his glass of wine 3 times. Overall, though, it was a fantastic experience. I couldn't decide what to get - the Winter squash and roasted carrot soup (with pancetta vinaigrette) sounded spectacular, as did most of the appetizers/shared plates! But seeing that the pasta was homemade and it was a cold, crisp night, I had to go for pasta. (I did try one of our party's appetizer of Braised greens, lemon, pickled chilis. It had a nice, quiet kick to it and the greens were not soggy or overdressed.) Three of our party (me included) went for the Pici - a "thick, hand-rolled pasta, like a fat spaghetti," according to Wikipedia. It came with pancetta, romenesco and cippollini onions. I didn't really notice the pancetta and would not have known the romenesco was cauliflower had the waitress not told us! That could be because the flavors and textures all meshed SO well together. It was such a flavorful dish and the cauliflower added a nice crunch to the super soft pasta. Perfecto! I was full at about the halfway mark, but couldn't stop. I cleaned my plate and STILL had room for dessert (although, I was in pain after!). One of our friends got the Gnocchi, which was perfectly pillow soft, as a good Gnocchi should be. For dessert, we all split the Nutella Zeppole: deep-fried dough balls stuffed with Nutella. Nomnomnom. An order has 4, so we added 2 (for a price, of course) and it was the perfect, sweet ending to a great meal. It is very loud, so I think it would be hard to have a romantic meal here... But for a group of 6? Perfect. read more

One of my favorite pasta places and overall restaurants in the Seattle area. The ambiance is awesome, beautifully decorated, relaxed atmosphere, and great service. We always get pasta there and it never disappoints. Their "zeppole" dessert is amazing, we loved it so much we made a mimic of it at home (not quite as good but still very tasty). Definitely recommend for a nice dinner in North Seattle. read more

5-star service and food, every staff member was a complete class act. Came here with a group of 5 girlfriends for a birthday dinner. Our reservation wasn't ready but the manager (owner?) got us set up at the bar and our table was ready soon after. We had the most fantastic waiter who patiently helped us pick the perfect wine, gave us his opinion on all the dishes (which were perfect) and not only put up with but welcomed our rowdy group. Every appetizer and entree was phenomenal. Our water was always full and dishes were cleared as soon as they were finished (to make room for more dishes as somehow we ordered a giant feast). When a group at the bar knocked an entire beer down my back (hair, cashmere sweater, into my pants, and all over my suede jacket), the staff helped me to clean up quickly and offered to pay my dry cleaning bill. They brought birthday dessert for my friend on the house and it was to die for. A 5-star dining experience and staff that were true professionals. Thank you Cantinetta! read more