Very low lit, red lights district vibe, found right at the center (or left underground lol) of the Pike Market Center Sign. There's seating for reservations up top and then walk ins by the bar. The food was delicious and the drinks were great. Only downside was the wait - we went on a Friday night and you can tell a bunch of us down there were waiting longer than expected for drinks, food, or even checks. However, our waitress did come around often to check on us and apologize for it. Overall, great spot! read more

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I read other reviews and was so excited to try IL Bistro out...I was disappointed. Our food was mediocre at best and the cocktails were terribly watered down robbing them of flavor. Sadly our waiter was cold/uninterested and abrupt, so overall I would not recommend this place to anyone. The ambience was nice, romantic, but I wouldnt take someone I was trying to romance here! read more

This is an inconspicuous spot but such a gem! Adorable street side booths, intimate seating inside, and moody lighting. The host was extremely thoughtful in accommodating our special table request. Our server was super serious & clearly professional. Highly recommend the arancini, focaccia, and burrata. I got the fish of the day (salmon) which was heavily charcoaled & the pasta it came with I didn't care for, as it was far too peppery for my taste, but you could tell the noodles were made fresh. Everyone else enjoyed their entrees so while I would not order the salmon that way again, I would still come back! read more

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I think I have enough water now The bread is pretty cake like, not an ideal type of focaccia for sopping up sauce, but the lasagna is maybe the best I've ever eaten. The portions are huge. Our waiter was busy, but super nice and very efficient. The restaurant is dark and noisy, but fairly romantic. It's tucked away down a little side alley right by the public market. We simply couldn't eat another bite of seafood, and needed a change. This fit the bill. read more

The relationship manager for our primary software / solutions vendor lives in Seattle so he came downtown and took me to dinner at a place I hadn't noticed in Pike Place Market. Hah, I've probably walked past it countless times, unaware of its existence. The entrance is on the ramp leading to the lower part of the market on the south end. Walk inside and you're taken to a classic Italian / steakhouse restaurant. The lighting is very subdued, resulting in many of the food pics I took being useless to post. We each had wine by the glass. I went with Argiano, a Super Tuscan from Montalcino. My host went with another red. We shared an order of Gamberoni, sauteed wild prawns in a vermouth / butter sauce, and Cesare Cavolo. The prawns were tender and flavorful, and the salad was a lightly dressed version of a Caesar salad, sans the anchovies. I ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese, and my host opted for the special of the day, King Salmon. My pasta was rich, and the flavors of the ground veal and lamb shone through the sauce. I was too full to contemplate dessert, so we called it an evening. I enjoyed my time at Il Bistro, but I enjoyed the company more. I'll give the place a good, but not great rating. There are a lot of places nearby that I would rather dine at than Il Bistro. read more

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Met up with some friends and this was one of the few places open for a later dinner at Pike Place Market. We were seated shortly. The ambiance is dark. They did have a jazz band playing at the time. Otherwise, it was quite difficult to see the menu with very dim lightning and a small candle at the table. Ordered a bottle of wine and got the lasagna. It does take 20 minutes for the lasagna, which is fine. While waiting for the lasagna, there was a shift change so we switched waiters as well. She offered foccacia bread while we waited and sipped on wine. The wine was a local one and both waiters said it was good. It was not good. After it aired, all that you look for in a wine just disappeared. Just tasted like floral grapes honestly. The foccacia was good, but we thought this was complementary for the table. It was not. We assumed that the offer was something as we waited. Not the worst, but still. The lasagna was delicious. Worth the wait. Service can be better. After they take your order and food is at the table, they disappear. Had to flag them down for the check. Expensive, but a place to eat that's open late without a reservation. read more

IL Bistro - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Stopped by based on yelp reviews- food was good but restaurant kinda dark. We are not old but do where glasses and there was a bit of a struggle to read the menu. Overall decent food and good service. read more

We almost always go to Pike Market when we're in Seattle- so we've walked past this restaurant countless times and had no idea that this hidden gem existed. Met up with a friend for a birthday dinner here and we were most pleasantly surprised. Two of us ordered the prix fix dinner. Caesar salad, lasagna & salted caramel gelato for me- it was divine. Caprese salad, prosciutto pea pasta and tiramisu for the birthday guy and calamari. Everything was very good. The evening was topped off by live jazz. read more

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The food is delicious. The cocktails are amazing and the services delightful, who could ask for anything more? Oh, for them to have a happy hour after 10 PM? Check. I've had so many delightful late night evenings here. I feel like it's my secret Seattle spot. read more

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Had an amazing time! Made a reservation on their website, went right when they opened at 5pm. The entrance is kind of hidden but down the stairs on your way to the gum wall and the Alibi Room. Our server was super friendly and knowledgeable and made our experience wonderful. They have a bar with seating and a lot of indoor tables. We shared a 50th anniversary pre-fixed menu and then ordered an additional pasta. The pasta portions are quite large and both were very tasty. We also enjoyed their Caesar salad and tiramisu. Planning to come back and sit in the bar and try some more food. read more

IL Bistro - Lasagne - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Il Bistro has officially earned its spot as one of Pike Place Market's greatest hits. It's the kind of authentic Italian spot that doesn't need to brag. Its homemade pastas do all the talking. The moment you walk in, the cozy, dimly lit vibe whispers "date night success". The bistro-style tables add to the charm, and the service is the kind that makes you feel like you've wandered into a friend's stylish European dining room. We kicked things off with the sautéed wild prawns, which were cooked perfectly. A little buttery, a little seasoned, and a lot "please bring more." For mains, we split the Linguine alla Vongole (clams + Andouille sausage = bold move, big payoff) and the Gemmeli con Salsiccia (Gemmeli pasta with peas and Otakian meat). Both dishes were absolute standouts and hit that magical sweet spot of "just the right amount" where you're full but also plotting your next visit. As a pre-dessert (yes, that's a thing and yes, I support it) I had a glass of their Limoncello. Smooth, bright, and dangerously easy to sip. We wrapped things up with the salted caramel gelato, which felt like the Italian version of a mic drop. The perfect ending to a very good meal. read more

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Ambience was nice. I'm a cioppino aficionado, and this was NOT good. It tasted off somehow, bland, I didn't finish half of it.

Ate here twice. Given the worse table since we used open table to reserve. Wouldn't move us and the good table sat empty the whole two hours. My claims were good, two in my party said the bolognese was awful and watery. After spending over $700 won't be back. This is a tourist trap next to Pikes Place. Parking there was $80 for three hours. read more

Came here on a Sunday around 5 PM. After we placed our order, the food came super quick and it was amazing. Both dishes had such great flavor, and tasted super fresh. Pasta was cooked perfectly. read more

IL Bistro - Rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The happy hour at this restaurant is great, allows you to try so many different items in the menu and every single dish we ordered were Fantastic, I would hands down visit this gem over and over and recommend it to all my friends visiting Seattle! The service was a bit slow but the atmosphere was so romantic and beautiful that we had a great time just sitting and chatting while the food is being made. The drinks were okay, but the happy hour deal made it a lot more enticing. The squid dish was my favorite, the shrimp starter dish was also really well made. I highly highly recommend trying this spot for an authentic Italian experience. read more

IL Bistro - Calamari made in some citrus sauce, pasta in a red meat sauce - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Great restaurant at Pikes. I was craving pasta and glad that they have gluten free pasta available. Most of their dishes are actually gluten free, just need to ask. My daughter got lasagna and said it was really good. We ordered a delicious wine for our last night in Seattle. The restaurant has a rustic old look but very romantic. Will go again when in town as it was easy to book. It's also not too expensive. read more

IL Bistro - Linguine alla Vongole sub with gluten free pasta and prawns instead of clams. - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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It was 11pm and my boyfriend and I were hungry so we found this spot on Yelp and decided to check it out. We arrived, waiting nearly 5 minutes to be seated, and were told the kitchen would be closing in 30 mins. The bar was a little busy so I understand the wait time. When we were seated, we waiting nearly 15 minutes to be seen by a server. We were worried we wouldn't be able to make our food order in time. The bar was still a little busy, but other tables were being seen which was kind of frustrating, especially since the kitchen would be closing soon. Thankfully we got seen and able to place a food order. The server was very kind. The food service is probably better during the daytime/dinner time, but we didn't have a great time awaiting to be seen to place a food order before the kitchen closed. Very pretty restaurant though! read more

Excellent Italian restaurant at Pikes Place - we stopped by as it was highly recommended by a local restauranteur. We were warmly welcomed and seated right away. I noted that it was kid friendly as there were other families seated near us. We started with ice waters and appetizers - focaccia bread, arancini, and sautéed calamari. The focaccia bread was warm and sweet, and tasted even better when dipped in the olive oil balsamic vinegar dip it was served it. We polished it off in no time! The arancini suffered the same fate - it was delish! The sautéed calamari was perhaps the least popular by comparison, but it was fresh and well made. For our entrées, we could not decide between the pepperoni and Italian sausage pizzas, so we ordered them both! The pizzas were huge and both extremely good. The pepperoni was more popular among the ladies in our party than the Italian sausage, which had an added kick to it from the Mama Lil's peppers and shaved red onion. We could not finish the pizzas so we took them to go. They'll make for a good breakfast in the morning! read more

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Love love love! The service here was amazing, my friend and I were quickly seated and the waitress was very engaging when taking our orders. The food was also flavorful I appreciate how they were able to accommodate our meals to our dietary restrictions. The pasta tasted fresh and the added sauce was rich with a kick of spice. The ambience of this restaurant is so nice with the low exposure red vibes. Definitely great for date night! Tucked in pike place it's great to be able to grab a bite and take a stroll down the market afterwards. My only issue was the wait time for the main course it took a little longer than expected but nonetheless did not disappoint! read more

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Ill bistro. I will start my review by being blessed with a complimentary dinner here. I worked as a desk clerk at the Camlin Hotel. Often guests would ask me to recommend a good restaurant, other than the Cloud Room at the hotel. A staff person gave me a recommendation to visit I'll Bistro. I was a starving student, attending the vocational rehabilitation program at Seattle University. I had a crush on a shy fellow schoolmate named Doug. I was often tired during class sessions at Seattle University. Doug sought sit behind me and kick my chair to keep me awake, if I nodded off during a class such as anatomy.. I attended class in the mornings and worked from 3-11 pm at the Camlin. Remember doing homework for classes, after the busy check in period. So, I got an incredible gift of a dinner for two at I'll Bistro. I invited Douglas to join me. We had a spectacular time here. As broke college students, we loved the secluded surroundings. Such a nice place to eat. They started us out with a variety of appetizers , including focaccia bread, arancini, and sautéed calamari. Oh these were so good. I love bread and the focaccia bread was served warm. It came with a balsamic vinegar dip. The arancini was cheesy and soft. The calamari was crispy and loved the sauce that came with it. We next ordered a pasta dish,I love seafood, so I ordered the linguini Di Mare, with assorted seafood in a white wine sauce. This dish was full of seafood and spiced nicely. Doug had the Tortellini con . Granchio This.came with Four Cheese Tortellini, Dungeness Crab, Asparagus, Meyer Lemon Butter Sauce. I had a taste of this and it was incredibly delicious . I think Douglas and I were overwhelmed by the delicious dishes being put before us. But wait, there is more . We are getting full, but ordered a Caretto D'Angnello. This was Roasted Rack of Lamb, Parmesan Crusted Polenta, Asparagus, Sangiovese Reduction. The lamb was tender and well matched to the polenta and sauce. Too full to have dessert. Doug and I went back to my place, to my disappointment, he awkwardly saluted me at the door. I went back and must have recommended Il Bistro to about 200 guests seeking restaurant recommendations. Each one came back,saying how good the experience was . Some were so grateful, they brought me back dessert. Brought my childhood friend here recently. Still high standards, excellent food and great service. read more

Went for the first time for my birthday. Every dish we ordered was fantastic and service was wonderful. They went above and comp'd the desert round because of the special occasion. Highly recommend. read more

Unfortunately, I wasn't that impressed with my meal. We got the $50 anniversary three course meal. I got the Caesar salad, which was OK. Followed by the rigatoni which I also was just OK. And the tiramisu, which was the best part of my meal. We we ended up here after not getting a reservation anywhere when visiting and they were able to sit us down pretty quickly. It was pretty busy and service was a little slow, but nothing too bad. read more

We came here on a Tuesday night and it had a line out the door. I think maybe because the hostess didn't know how to utilize other people to help her seat people. It's a nice place located on the lower lever of Pike Place Market. However, waiting outside for your table is quite interesting as the market staff or city workers (it wasn't clear which) washed down the steps and streets/flooring within the center with fire hoses to get rid of the urine. It's almost as bad at Bourbon Street in New Orleans. They sat us and immediately took our drinks. Our group ended up drinking four bottles of wine. I had a Moscow mule and they made it exceptionally well. We ordered a number of appetizers for the table: Arancini - these were fabulous and large in size. Focaccia - this came with a garlic oil, but was not over the top with garlic flavor. Truthfully, they shouldn't charge you for this and just bring it to your table. Charging $4 per order is silly. Sauteed Calamari - my friends said this was pretty good, but I'm allergic, so I did not partake. Next, we ordered our meals. It's a hard menu for those with some dietary restrictions. One member of our group needs gluten free options (there was only one pasta dis (though he could have had the gluten-free pasta with any pasta dish). He didn't want steak or chicken as you could get those anywhere. I really like gnocchi, but it came with a heavy cream sauce. I could have asked for the bolognese, but its made with veal and lamb, neither which I'm a fan of. They had some more seafood dishes, again, I'm not a fish person (just basically eat shrimp). So I ordered the chicken parmigiana (I normally don't order a fried chicken breast that is smothered in marinara and covered in cheese and then baked, because there are generally better pasta options, but not here. It's very frou-frou. The chicken parm was fantastic! It came with two chicken breasts and atop a heaping pile of small shell noodles covered in marinara and parmesan cheese. This is easily shared with two or three people. I would have brought it home had I lived there, but reheated in my hotel room the next day would have been gross. We were so stuffed that no one got dessert. Don't misconstrue my 4 stars for a lacking review. The food, drinks, and service were phenomenal. However, my opinion is that the charging of bread for the table is kind of tacky and it's definitely more of a frou-frou Italian place. If you're looking for more staple Italian dinners, this is not your place. However, it is great for groups, and perfect for a nice dinner or date night. read more

IL Bistro - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went for dinner, it was delicious. I got the Carbonara, yum ! Wife got the Prawns and Beet/Burrata salad, Pawns were delicious, and just a little too much cheese on salad, for us . Our sever Koa was very busy, but very attentive to everyone in area. Great, convenient location at Pikes Place, fe back wall outside , IS the gum wall . Will definitely go back . read more

IL Bistro - Dinner - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Local Seattle idiot here. This just happened... Saturday night around 10pm. Lots of seating and lots of servers. Took our drink and food order. Got our app but not our drinks. Ate our app, but still no drinks. Finished my opening water long ago. The rose vase was missing the rose, so I mistook it for a carafe. Drank it. Realized it and told the guy who brought the pizza. Still no drinks. Felt like an idiot. Manager told me that he has seen bigger idiots. Asked for bill. Got drinks. Didn't drink them. Too embarrassed. I still tipped 10%... because that's what I do. Wife thinks I'm an idiot for tipping anything. I kinda remember wierd service a few years ago. Feel like an idiot writing this. read more

Great service. Verrry dim lighting - not bad necessarily, just an fyi of the vibe! Generous portions. My pizza was too peppery. Loved the arancini appetizer. read more

This review is for the Valentine's Day dinner at Il Bistro. For our reservation at 7pm we were seated at 7.30. Everything looked very disorganized at the reception. They advertised live music in the ad for the Valentine's Day dinner but there was no music playing. Not even recorded one. Live music started after 7.30. Got the drinks after 8pm and main course around 8.45 pm. And desserts at 9.10 and the Cheque at 9.13. By 9.15 they wanted us out because they wanted to sit the next set of customers. And the above is not even the worst part about the experience. The worst was the food. We had confirmed beforehand if they would have vegetarian options in the prefix menu. Which they did have but the main course was Risotto. Nothing special about it. Paid $300 for 2 people to have risotto for mains. Very disappointing! read more

For 50 incredible years, this Italian bistro tucked down a narrow cobblestone alley in the Pike Place Market, has offered Seattle a romantic fine dining, featuring regional Italian fare. The bistro has been a cherished gem and for almost 30 years of those, it has held a special place in our hearts as one of our top three most romantic restaurants. The cozy atmosphere, welcoming staff, and authentic Italian flavors have always made it the perfect destination for family dinners, celebrations, and memorable nights out. IL Bistro is celebrating their 50 years by offering a special prix fix menu for $50.00. Not sure if the menu changes, but on our visit, we were offered a first course of Caprese salad or Caeser salad, main course of Lasagna, Rigatoni Bolognese or Pasta Carbonara ending with a choice of desserts of Tiramisu and two different Gelatos (?). Each course was excellent. Through decades of visits, we've watched this bistro continue to deliver the same exceptional quality and passion that made us fall in love with it from the start. From the savory pasta dishes to the perfectly cooked mains and delightful desserts (Tiramisu!), every meal feels like a celebration of Italian cuisine. It's not just the food that keeps us coming back--it's the consistency, the warmth, and the feeling of being part of something timeless. Cheers to 50 years of success, and here's to many more! Grazie mille for being part of our lives. read more

Tasty food. Cool location and decor. And it's supposed to be haunted! Recommended if you're looking for a nicer sit-down option at Pike's Place. read more

Had a great time here! Made reservations online and came in the early evening. The reservation process was easy and it wasn't too busy inside, which added to the cozy vibe. It was very dim and romantic inside, I really loved the lighting. I had the lasagna. It was great! I'm not a big fan of game-y meats so this was a bit of a risk for me. Thankfully I enjoyed it so much I even took the rest home. It was a massive portion for me so I definitely couldn't finish the entire thing there. For the price, this was good. The drinks were a bit expensive but the presentation and taste was good so I can't complain. I'd come back! read more

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Went here for my anniversary and loved it!! All the staff and servers were so kind and hospitable. I loved the low lighting and the romantic aspect! The food was super yummy and I would recommend! read more

IL Bistro - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Saw this place on an IG post and made reservations for the following weekend. The ambiance was a whole vibe being lit up by red lights and black walls. Staff were very attentive and fast. The food was delicious and decently priced for being connected to Pike Place Market. Would visit again. read more

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Il Bistro is a Seattle institution. Sure, it's in a heavy tourist area but it's got a great vibe, delicious Italian food and top notch cocktails... I mean, the late, great Murray Stenson did have a stint here after all! On our Dec 2024 visit we both got the cocomelon cocktail: Planteray Dark Rum, Midori, Pandan Liqueur, Lychee, Orange Juice, Coconut Cream. We're both on a pandan kick. If you haven't tried it, it has a nutty, vanilla- and coconut-y vibe. We loved it. For dinner we got the rigatoni bolognese and bucatini carbonara. Both delicious but I think the bolognese was the winner. Off season in late fall/winter, you'll probably run into less tourists than the summer months.. Sadly, we didn't get any pics for the review/check in... it is kind of dark after all. read more

Great alternative to The Pink Door if you can't get a rezzy there. Il Bistro has quality dishes and a great menu for apps, main courses, drinks, and desserts. More pricy than usual but it is a tourist area. Focaccia Bread: appetizer 5/5 stars. Hot and fluffy with a side of oil and vinegar to dip. Great inexpensive app to start ($4). Gnocchi: entre 5/5 stars Really dense and filling gnocci, creamy sauce, with chopped pork and mushroom, and peas. Great dish with a lot of flavor. Definitely recommend for dinner. Rigatoni: entre 2/5 stars This classic dish fell so short. Very acidic from the tomatoes that it took away from the rest of the quality of the dish. Order something else. The service was very attentive. Our waters never went past halfway - constantly coming by and filling. The vibe was underground Italian meets red light district mood lighting - kinda strange, kinda dungeonous. LOL but I'd still return. read more

IL Bistro - Rigatoni Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Tucked in a corner of Pike Place Market--hard to find but worth the effort! It's around the corner and down the ramp from DiLaurenti, just before entering Bubble Gum Alley. Cozy atmosphere with fabulous cocktails and food. We loved the prawns appetizer, salads. Gnocchi, Lasagna and Clam Linguine. Service was excellent and kept us on time for our theater date. A hidden gem in Pike Place Market! read more

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Ambience is a 10/10 - we sat at the bar & the lighting is intimate, sexy and you lose track of time in the best way! We had pizza at Alibi room and then had a night cap cocktail here - would recommend to others! read more

IL Bistro - Ambiance - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I went here last night for a romantic date. It did not disappoint. The don't room is intimate, the lighting was perfect! Service was great, not intrusive which is what we wanted. I do like to test the server and give them two choices for wine. And I think I would have preferred the other wine. But they always choose the higher priced one. I had the salmon special with a porchini puree, potatoes, spinach. It was the best salmon I have ever had!!! Thank you for the wonderful evening! read more

IL Bistro - Main dining room - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Excellent drinks. Excellent food. Excellent service. The pris fixe menu was an outstanding deal. The only reason for not giving five stars is the restaurant charges an 8% surcharge which is stupid. Just increase your prices so things are transparent. We will be back when and only when they get rid of the surcharge. read more

Omg food is delicious. We ordered a chianti it was fantastic. The we did their prefixed menu for the 50th outstanding. read more

IL Bistro - Italian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Never again! There's a reason four if us had no problem getting in at prime time on a Thursday night. We did love the round table in the back where we were seated. Menus were limited and none are online. Guessing they make them based on what they can make the most money out of that day. Food was not bad but way overpriced even by tourist Seattle standards. Two of us shared a pesto pasta with sausage and tomatoes. And pasta with clams. Each were around $29. I guess the small pieces of something other than pasta in the pesto was sausage. The pesto was good but very rich. The pasta cooked just right. Clam dish okay but pasta was a bit too al dented. But what really did us all in here was the rip off wine price. Our host made the mistake of ordering two bottles of house chianti without asking the price and they took full advantage of it. $75 per bottle!! For house chianti!! A 2020 bottle that sells for $13. Yes we know of crazy wine markups in restaurants but that is absurd!! They said it was based off $18 per glass which is again absurd!! They sure didn't care that we all left ticked off and upset. None of which settled well in my stomach either. read more

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