How does a restaurant that has been pumping out good food for thirteen years or so in Columbia City end up with a buzz seemingly out of nowhere? It takes a long while for the rest of us to catch on apparently. La Medusa was not even on my radar, but then I read an article about the place and ended up with a craving for homemade pasta --paleo diet, adios! We booked a reservation here for a simple dinner which I recommend --the space is small and many that arrived before and after us without reservations were sent away. While a long way from my home, this spot turned out to be worth the adventure. This is a cozy locals spot with a giant framed chalkboard menu, which, if you can't read this tome due to the angle of your table (we could not) they suggest you take a photo on your smartphone. But what did they do thirteen years ago? On the menu are some great homemade pastas (which they are known for), salads, mains and appetizers. We had a three cheese pizza (not always on offer, but they were making several types of pizza the night we stopped in) a simple salad, a savory but simple pasta dish with anchovies and breadcrumbs, and a really excellent spaghetti and meatballs with a fresh marinara. I realize spaghetti and meatballs sounds incredibly simple, but to make it well takes some skill --every component has to be terrific. My dad who loves to cook, used to make a mean spaghetti and meatballs when I was growing up. His specialty was baking tons of parmesan in the meat and making sure he perfected his homemade marinara sauce. That's a close approximation of what you'll get La Medusa. I haven't encountered a plate of pasta that tasted this close to his pasta, possibly ever. Our server was polished, although service can be slow. Come here with time to linger over your meal, or you may become restless. The one disappointment was dessert: the lemon rind infused canoli, which was simple and tart, and did not have quite enough sweet (my opinion) although it was housed in in a perfectly crisp shell covered in pistachios. Normally, I'm a huge canoli fan. If you don't like a sweet dessert, you may appreciate this one. read more

Buon signore this is good Sicilian food! I first walked past La Medusa while exploring Columbia City and unfortunately could not dine here because it's mostly reservation only. This weekend however, I was able to call a couple hours ahead and get a table. From the moment you step in, you can absorb the cozy setting. We had to wait a few minutes to get our table but were able to order a drink to sip on while we waited. The service here is among the best I've ever experienced. The hostess and waitresses are extremely knowledgable about the wines and about all the ingredients in the food from addressing food allergies to telling us about the kale that arrived just a few hours ago from the farm. The menu changes frequently based on what ingredients are in season and is written in chalk on the wall. We started with a glass of Soave for myself and a martini for my companion. The Soave was alright, not my favorite but martini was just right. When we were seated we started with Grandma's Greens--kale braised in anchovy broth with olives, pinenuts and golden raisins. To.Die.For. I'm a sucker for kale and anchovies and this dish did not disappoint. The kale's texture was just right and the broth was perfect for soaking up with bread. For entrees I had a rigatoni with tuna ragu. It was perfect. The noodles were perfectly cooked al dente the sauce was a bright tasty tomato-tuna-Sicilian masterpiece. Our other entree was a Perciatelli con la sarde, a hearty noodle hollow like a straw the length of spaghetti cooked with fennel, onion and of course sardines. Delish. Truly an outstanding meal, the best Italian I've had in Seattle. read more

It's been a while. The thought I wrote down (and recently came across) from that evening- "That bill was a bit high for my liking, but my entree (Spaghetti con le Sarde) was good." I love that they use local and organic ingredients, and even have a Farmer's Market Menu on the days of the market. I'm not particularly anxious for another visit, but it was definitely an enjoyable experience and I'd be willing to go again.... especially if I wasn't the one paying for it. (I'm a student, after-all!) It's businesses like these that sometimes lead to me having "I miss living in Columbia City" moments... (It's a good thing I now live in Wallingford, because this 'hood is also pretty darn cool.) read more

La Medusa makes both the best and the worst pasta I ever ate. The pappardelle with lardo has a rich taste and delicate texture - it's on my list of unforgettable food. On the flipside, the orecchiette is hard and unbearably salty. I should've speak out and have it sent back into the kitchen. Too bad my parents raised me to be meek, so I quietly ate the whole thing, drank a lot of water, and told them it was good. The servers are nice and care enough to ask what you're allergic to (no one ever asked me that before). They patiently explain the menu, what's safe to eat, and what the chef can special prepare for you. Now how do you beat that? read more

Love this place! The food is delicious and affordable, the wine list is full of great and affordable choices, and the service is friendly, but not annoying. Our server, Alix, made an amazing meal even better. We started off with a bottle of nebbiolo, which was a great complement to our meal. And continued our meal by splitting an arancini, or is it an arancino because we only had one? I digress...YOU MUST HAVE ONE NO MATTER WHAT IT'S CALLED! Seriously, if you're here and you don't get one you're missing out. Onto our entrees...I went with the campanelle with taleggio, asparagus and pine nuts and the bf had rigatoni with lamb sausage, fava beans, tomato and red wine. We both ended up full and happy. I was so full, but we just needed to try dessert. I had two baby cannoli (yum) and the bf had the hazelnut-brown butter cake & sweet cherries (he said yum, but I'm allergic so we'll have to take him at his word). Best part? We can walk here from our apartment! read more

La Medusa - The menu 6/27/14 - Sicilian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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SRW round 4. We made reservations for 4 and due to traffic, 2 ppl showed up quite a bit past the reservation time. However, service was still very curteous and we didn't get any of that feeling that they were looking down at us for not being on time. Plus one for that. Ambiance wise- it's "cute as a button" as one of my friends kept saying. We were seated next to the window which was nice, but it is a small space so I can see how some reviewers may feel a bit too close to other tables. For the food : We all had the tomatoe soup which was seriously DIVINE. It was a thicker chunkier texture with a piece of toast with a FRIED EGG on top! The egg was a perfect sunny side up and went well with the bread and soup. It came in this giant bowl, def a bowl portion, not a cup portion and I was pretty stuffed by the time I finished my bowl. For the entree, we all got the pork loin. They cook it a medium well which keeps the moisture in a bit better, but 2 out of the 4 plates were a bit overcooked and dry. The pork was okay, but not spectacular and the pepper we asked for added a bit more flavor. For dessert, we has the columbia city whiskey cake and the walnut bar thingy. I can't knock this palce for the cake b/c it's made by the bakery next door, but it wasn't anything too special. More like a dense chocolate cake w a thin layer of frosting. The walnut/fig? bar was actually quite tasty. It was kind of like eating gronola, but the flavor was def there. We also has some of their house wine (Chianti at the time) which was very good and a bottle of cab which was also very good. Overall, great service, great wine, and GREAT SOUP. I would come back just for that soup. But the main dish and dessert were a bit lacking. Service 5. Food 3 read more

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Sorry, La Medusa, I wanted to love your restaurant, but when the first 5-10 minutes start out as a battle it sets a bad tone. We had reservations at 5:30 and walked into an empty restaurant. Our hostess wanted to seat us at the "worst" table meaning the one where we would be facing the kitchen and the boxes. She said, "Those aren't boxes, they're wines cartons." Oops. "Ok, well, any other table would be better." "That's not possible because the whole evening is booked out." "Well, how about the table by the window?" "That's too cold." "Well, there are still a lot of tables available. We're the only ones here." "They're all booked. I don't want to argue with you." "But you are arguing with me. How about the one in the far corner?" "It's booked for the night. I can give you the one by the (cold) window, but you have to finish eating by 6:30." (We're already 10 minutes into our reservation now) "I'd like to speak to the manager." "We don't have a manager." Okay, how about I talk with someone else?" Blah, blah, blah. A few more words. She stormed off and a very gracious woman came over and miraculously found a table for us. And served us very well. (Our bad table took awhile to be seated) $300 later, would I go back? Hmmm, my husband and son liked the food better then I did. The Panna Cotta is scrumptious. read more

My food was plated and delivered to me personally by tall and handsome chef...I am wondering... WHAT A PRESENTATION BEFORE even focusing on my food! The rockfish moist tender and flavorful rolled in herbs and spices... OUT SHINNING THE ADONIS that brought me the plate! The risotto with Louisiana Prawns was succulent and plump prepared to perfection! I hope they washed the plate, cause it could have been confused with being clean cause I LICKED THE PLATE! I am a FAN! I want MORE! I will be back! read more

So good! We just moved to the neighborhood and spent some time in Sicily last fall. We went here for a special ocassion and everything we had was amazing and worth every penny. Our service was great and the staff were knowledgeable friendly. They have a little wine bar/goods store connected to the restaurant where we picked up some finishing Olive Oil and salt. Overall, a great experience! read more

It was my first visit having Sicilian style Italian food and it didn't disappoint! Everything was delicious! The service was wonderful and I would recommend the restaurant to others. We were a large group and enjoyed many different dishes family style. We had Arancini, Roasted Cauliflower Gratin, Simple Chicory Salad, Pasta with crab, one other pasta, homemade sausage and some chocolate mousse and of course white and red wines! read more

The food was delicious, and the staff amiable if little slow. My big quibble was with the seven dollar small basket of bread containing approximately 5 to 6 then half slices. Not enough Our table of four and over priced. read more

This is a hidden gem in Rainer! Such yummy food and with fresh anchovies in the appetizer list! My favorite!! It was cozy and felt like a family style restaurant. I really loved that they only had their menus on the wall in chalk - better to save that paper!! Over all I would go again in a heartbeat! read more

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This review was for 10/24/13 - last evening of the Seattle Restaurant Week dining campaign. At La Medusa, the dinner three course was $28 per person and clearly was an amazing bargain for cash strapped folks who wanted to indulge and experience their Sicilian cuisine. All I can say, is 'delicioso' and how did this escape my radar screen for nearly two decades?! Our family had been hooked watching 'Montalbano Il Commisario' and wanted to try Sicilian cuisine. We arrived early in Columbia City from Shoreline, lucked out with on street parking and killed time at nearby Columbia City Bakery (can't resist the super chip baker's dozen!). Had reservations at 5:30PM and surprisingly about a third of the restaurant was full already. By the time we left, it was full - reservations are highly recommended.The front hostess was clearly all business, but our actual server was super friendly and all smiles once we were seated by the window. Noted lots of car, bus, and pedestrian traffic - what a vibrant neighborhood! When our reservation was confirmed earlier by phone, we were informed that the next seating was at 7:30PM. No worries since we tend to eat within a 90 minute time frame. Thankfully, we weren't given the 'eat it and beat it' tempo, there was ample time to chat and eat, but clearly they are swift with clearing of plates and perfect timing between courses. Kitchen line had this down to a perfection. Husband had a Schilling Hard Cider ($7) and son had Rockridge pumpkin apple cider ($3.50), the latter I was able to sample and was very tasty. Like a liquid pumpkin pie slice! Separate starters were the bread basket ($3) with slices of an assortment of Columbia City breads and olive oil - loved the olive bread the best. In addition, an order of spicy Marcona almonds and two olive varieties ($6). As part of the SRW dining campaign, we had the following: First course: Husband had the Corona bean soup with spicy cherry peppers, pork broth, and steel wheel kale. Tasty, but would have preferred the Corona beans to be cooked just a tad longer to get that pleasant creamy, not toothy feel. Son and I each had the steamed mussels, house made pancetta in a white wine/garlic broth and two grilled bread slices. Son absconded with most of the pancetta - it was that good and perfectly cooked mussels. And that broth was heavenly - easily I could have stopped and called it good for the evening. (Regular price would have been a $9 starter). Rivaled the mussels I had earlier midweek at Agrodolce in Fremont, and last year at Ray's Boathouse in Ballard/Shilshoe. Second course: Son had the rigatoni with goat ragu and spicy cherry peppers - pasta perfectly al dente and the ragu was so tender with a bit of heat. (Regular price would have been a $19 entrée) Husband and I each had the pan fried tails and trotters pork loin topped with bread crumbs with a side of braised cabbage and chanterelle mushrooms. Absolutely amazing, but ate only half to save room for dessert. (Regular price would have been a $26 entrée) Third course/dessert: Husband and I each had the chocolate espresso torte with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. I know I was too full as my cinched belt reminded me, but managed to eat it. This would have been perfect alone with a strong cup of coffee. Son had the better choice with the maple pot de crème and lemon sage shortbread cookie. Very subtle and creamy. The cookie was a nice touch, but made me wish for a cup of tea. Maybe served alone or a tuile garnish would have been perfect. I liked how their desserts were not fussy and architectural feats, but let the simple presentation and depth of flavors speak volumes. With the SRW campaign, added starters and beverages with the three sets of courses, tax and tip was a hair over $136 which was a steal for the absolutely amazing quality and service. Thanks to their entire staff for a lovely evening for me and my family. And yes, worth the drive hands down from Shoreline! read more

In honor of our daughter's 20th birthday, we treated ourselves to trying out a new restaurant. La Medusa looked so charming from the Yelp posts, so reservations made, we took the plunge. I am truly happy we celebrated such a special occasion at this lovely spot. The service was terrific - not in-your-face, not distant. The waitstaff are so personable - not a hint of snobbishness (sadly, so prevalent in the Seattle restaurant scene). Their attentiveness was perfect. Beyond the service was the food: absolutely delicious. We started with the baked Cacciocavallo Cheese appetizer and it was even better than expected. Oohs and ahhs all the way around. The warm cheese and the spicy vinegar were a perfect pair - made even better by topping it on Columbia City bread. We also shared the Spring Greens with pistachio butter salad. Who would have "thunk" it? We were all in love with the nutty flavor of the pistachio with the very fresh-flavor of the greens. Each of us had a different main course. I opted to try, with our server's urging, the Squid Ink Spaghetti Puttanesca. I made it very clear that I don't eat seafood of any kind and I did not want even a hint of seafood smell or taste in the pasta. I took a chance...low and behold, not even the tiniest seafood flavor. The pasta was larger than your typical spaghetti, black as night and the sauce was great. I would have liked it more spicy (puttanesca is usually spicy) but the freshness of the flavors was lovely. My husband had the cavatelli with the pork and beef ragu - good but a little heavy for me. My daughter had the capannelle with the pea vines and asparagus. It was a homerun and she had a tough time putting aside room for dessert. Did you say "dessert"? Yes, we did make room and we weren't disappointed. The Chocolate and Espresso torte was rich, decadent and made even more lovely with the fresh whipped cream. The panna cotta with strawberries was light and creamy. Loved both but the next time, I want to try their other cake. A special evening in a terrific spot. We will return! read more

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La Medusa has been a fixture of the Columbia City neighborhood for a looooonng time, so why did I wait so long to try it especially with its great reviews on "yelp" AND word of mouth... I do not have a good answer. But this is what I can tell you.... -homemade pasta! Seriously, this is the best reason I can think to come back again. I haven't had made many opportunities to eat homemade pasta, which is a SHAME! It makes the dish! -waitress was so friendly. I love that she engaged in my banter and offered great choices of meal selection -cozy environment. Small is what makes it cozy which is nice, but also can be too squishy If I could offer any suggestions, it would be this... The "shower curtain" which I jokingly refer to, is more of a barrier than a help. It devours you when you walk through the door and I imagine also devours the nearing table which could bring scowls vs smiles from shielding the cool air. I love mushrooms. I love truffles. Could I bring a bundle with me to toss in my pasta? I wouldn't do this, but I would love to have some mushrooms selections. I am far from being a chef to even suggest this option, but I am humbly wishing for mushroom accessories =D read more

I have loved every meal I've had over the past 10 years I've been aware of La Medusa. This small Italian gem has a tiny dining room that fills quickly so walking in is often not an option, but when you do get to spontaneously enjoy the food - even better! Their homemade pastas and meatballs, in particular, are so unbelievably good...it's hard not to overeat! They serve decent size portions and most guests go home with a to-go container of the world's greatest leftovers. I'm a sucker for a lamb ragu and theirs does not disappoint...it's not too saucy, not too sweet or tomatoey....it's just perfectly cooked meat over remarkable noodles. They serve bread from the Columbia City Bakery located just a few doors down and the olive bread that arrives in the basket I could literally overdose on...so fresh and soft and delicious! This is such a cozy and romantic spot but also perfectly lovely for a small family or friend get together. Call for a reservation and let me know what you think! read more

Second time around and it was still good. The food here is excellent if you order right and we had a great bottle of primitivo. Service was great. This is quickly becoming a local favorite for me and it doesn't hurt that it's only 2 miles from home. This time I came with my husband and we ate: Bread and olive oil - good stuff Arancini - not impressed. They were the size of tennis balls but risotto had no flavor. Cavatelli with beef & pork sausage - sausage was just ok and the pasta shells reminded me of little basketball bugs so I just mentally didn't like it. Pan roasted black cod with mussels and clams - winner this time! Cod was delicious and the vegetable broth and combo of veggies with the seafood was perfect. Grilled asparagus with soft cooked egg - ok, I'd recommend the cauliflower gratin instead. Definitely some good food here but you just have to order right. read more

This is our favorite restaurant in Seattle. Super nice service staff and delicious pasta. Nice cozy feel.

The food at this place is excellent, and anyone who is not particular about waiting way too long for dinner should defiantly check it out. We had a risotto and vegetable appetizers - steak, pasta and tuna entrees for dinner. While the steak was under cooked, the flavors and quality were all great. Panna cotta and chocolate cake for desert were divine. My only complaint is with how long the food took to come out (at least 45 mins from ordering). I actually thought the kitchen staff might have walked out, and there was not good communication or really any sort of acknowledgment of the delay by the staff. I had been to this place a few years ago, and will defiantly check it out again, but won't rush back as I can't take the risk of waiting like this again. Barring service issues, this could definitely be a 4/5 star place. read more

Come for the cocktails, the wine and the incredible deserts! These can't be missed in this cute, rustic, local eatery in the heart of Columbia City. The rest, well, good luck! First- get an early reservations. If you get a reservation after 7pm you will likely have to wait 15-30 minutes for the prior table to finish their meal as guests tend to linger and the service is on island time. The salads are good, the veggies they use are very fresh. The entree's were forgettable, if not offensive. I had the pork entree and it was reminiscent of a Hungry Man Chicken Fried Steak, at $34, you can see how I might be a tad underwhelmed and even offended. My dinner date stated his meat dish tasted like a fancy Hamburger Helper. Another diner in our group had the squid pasta, which must be for an acquired taste as no one in our group was a fan. I would come back for the wine, the cocktails and the can't be missed deserts as long as I had a reservation that began before 6pm to be sure I could be seated in a timely manner. For dinner, I guess it's an acquired taste, but we weren't digging it. read more

They have some of the most expensive pasta dishes which was non impressive in all of Seattle!!

Very good authentic southern Italian restaurant. Some dishes very heavily use sardines, so be sure to ask if you don't like them or the heavy salt taste the add. There are dishes that don't feature them. Reasonably priced. read more

Finally made it to La medusa, after talking about it for quite some time.. sadly it did not live up to its hype for me. The food was good, bordering on average. Every thing on the menu was very rich and nothing to balance the palate with a rich pasta/meat dish. would be nice to have some lighter options to pair with the current menu. Even though the service was very polite , we felt rushed to order and get out of the door. read more

La Medusa came with it! Dinner was amazing for us! The food , ambiance and service was top notch. La Medusa is a quaint staple in the neighborhood. Weekends are hard to get a table but worth getting on the list or make a reservation. The food is simply delicious. We had the aracini and beets to start, so good. We ate them too fast. The bread , I assume is from Columbia City next door, you get a variety of their delicious breads. We had two pastas, the spaghetti and meatballs , wow! Simple fresh marinara sauce and unforgettable large meatballs. The meatballs is tops , tender and full of flavor and not salty, I asked the server what the recipe is for the meatballs and of course she smiled and wouldn't tell me. We had the squid ink spaghetti vongole , so good again subtle flavors , perfect clams. We had our third course of the veal shank and polenta. We did not leave anything , plate empty! We like to compare how veal shank is prepared when we travel so La Medusa is succulent and tender and not salty like some I have had. The dessert course is never to be missed at La Medusa , Pana Cotta is exceptional, we had the chamomile and honey water one, omg we wanted another. We also had the pistachio cannoli , you have to ask why aren't they bigger?! The bottle of Italian Valpolicella was perfect with everything we ate, so order a bottle and relax and eat some good food! read more

Probably the best Italian restaurant in Seattle. A very special neighborhood spot. Amazing freshly made pastas. A bit pricey but worth if for what you get. Plus very good and friendly service. Just wish they had a regular bar so single diners could sit and eat when alone. The window seats are out of the way and lack the enjoyment of the rest of the space. read more

Warm servers and attentive service. Creative ingredients. Suggest to add menus online. Picture of the black board is cute but it is nice to know what you get yourself into. Suggest to expand the wine list to more varieties rather than just Italians. read more

We have been wanting to try this place for a long time and finally got our chance last week. We had a late dinner reservation but decided to stop in earlier for a drink and small bite before catching the movie across the street: I don't give reviews much, but i just had to after such a special, wonderful experience. The staff was so friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The menu was not huge, but had varied choices. We all ordered something different so that we could sample various dishes. They were all so fantastic and tasty! Another plus is that this restaurant has a cute and cozy ambiance. We all agreed that we will definitely be paying another visit soon and encourage you to do so as well! read more

Perseus slew the gorgon Medusa and used her head to turn his enemies to stone. In time Perseus gave Medusa's severed head to Athena who placed it on her shield. Thus the gorgon's head became a symbol for Good triumphing over Evil. Wait for it... wait for it... here comes the ham-fisted transition to the restaurant La Medusa... Good triumphs over, well, every damn thing at La Medusa! No, I'm totally serious. When we first moved into our neighborhood the Columbia City dining options included the following: Taco Del Mar. Yup. That was it. But lo, what is that warm light we see driving with all speed down Rainier Avenue one evening shortly after our darling daughter is born? A beacon of hope and welcome: La Medusa. La Medusa proved that Columbia City was a viable foodie neighborhood. The restaurant was, and is, so wonderful that people will drive across town to eat at La Medusa and subsequently Tutta Bella, Verve, Island Soul.... I can honestly say that in 11 years of frequenting my favorite neighborhood restaurant that I have never been disappointed. Most recently a fellow Yelper and I, along with my 11-year-old darling daughter, had a lovely feast of english peas with a nummy risotto ball, grilled asparagus with a fried egg and three completely different and delightful plates of pasta. I had the perfectly cooked duck shredded over my perfectly cooked pasta. Heaven. See you there next Tuesday. I'll be the one freaking out over the food and wine while telling our friends the story about how La Medusa triumphed over the dingy barren Columbia City. read more

I always have a good experience here. The service is wonderful, the food is incredible, and the atmosphere is relaxed. It's a cozy place where reservations are always a good idea. Get the spaghetti and meatballs: so simply delicious. The squid ink pasta is amazing, we usually get one to share for the table. Don't skip dessert and coffee! They serve locally roasted Herkimer coffee and those in our party who ordered dessert said they loved it. Only good things to say about this place! Again, the service here is really remarkable. They are extremely kind and helpful. read more

Just a temporary (I hope) demerit for the service. Lots of new staff, I know how it is. But when a long term regular customer suggests the wine may be a bit off, YOU OPEN ANOTHER BOTTLE. You don't say "that's how it's supposed to taste". And when that same regular customer's guest requests a pasta substitute - basically requesting the spaghetti con la sarde that La M has been serving for over a decade - YOU SUBSTITUTE THE PASTA. It's pasta with sauce. It's not like they're baked together or that "spaghetti" is some exotic request, fergawdsake. read more

Dining out with 15-month-old twins can be filled with trepidation, but it's important (for everyone) to do it often enough that it becomes routine. I called at 6 for reservations at 7, and let them know we had toddlers and would need high chairs. We arrived to find everything already set up for us, including plastic kid cups and plates. Our server was excellent, explaining each dish on the menu, and even offered to bring the girls' noodles with butter and cheese out right away. I ordered the perciatelli con le sarde, hubby ordered the rigatoni with sausage, and my mom ordered the campanelle with taleggio, fonduta, treviso and pine nuts. Everything. Was. Fantastic. We all had bites of each other's food, and even the kids' food was delicious. It surprises me that they are not listed as kid-friendly, because they did great with our kids and are clearly prepared to handle them. For a nicer restaurant, it was a pleasant surprise, We were too full for dessert, so I guess we'll just have to go back. Again and again. read more

Second time back to this Sicilian themed anchor restaurant for the Columbia City area. Yes, the food is intensely flavorful, in the Sicilian style, rather than subtle, as some low scoring reviewers have complained and servings are large but those are problems I like to have. We sat at the same table so that only one of us had a clear view of the menu boards as others have noted. Not a big problem. The board changes several times a week so it represents the most efficient way to handle that variability rather than printing something new several times a week. This time we reigned in on our small plates which, like many places, are the stars of the menu. We repeated the baked cauliflower au gratin which is twice baked rather that steamed for the first cooking so that caramelized surfaces on the florets are in the center of the dish as well as on the surface. That was unique in my experience and made a significant difference. It was 1.5 cups and we saved 1/2 for a second meal. The baked Caciocavalo was sliced unevenly this time so that the thicker part had a crust and the thinner part melted. We still would repeat both at another visit. We decided to try two pastas, the rigatoni puttanesca and the perciatelli con le sarde. Both were 2 cups cooked pasta, more heavily sauced that northern Italians serve but in line with what we saw on a recent trip we made to Sicily. All pasta is house made which drastically shortens cooking times and both of these are extruded macaroni. That may be the reason some have found their pasta different from the slower cooking, thoroughly dried commercial pastas. Rigatoni was 1.5" long by 3/4" wide with densely flavored, fresh stewed tomatoes, anchovies, garlic and peppers. The perciatelli was 6-8" long by 1/4" wide, hollow pasta that I had not eaten before. This was again a fresh tomato base but much less tomato flavored with fresh fennel, onion and shredded canned sardines baked at the last with seasoned bread crumbs. It was dryer that the puttanesca, as I expected. This sauce is almost always there but served with different pastas. Again, we had to save 1/2 for a later meal. We finished with zabaglione with house brandied fresh cherries. This is usually a dense pudding of egg yolk, sugar and marsala served warm but this was whipped more than usual and served cool which works better in the summer. I don't know if it's served warm and heavy in the winter but would bet on it. If I had a choice of 4 1/2 stars I would pick it although I would have trouble expressing my complaint. I pick 5 stars since its rating is 4 on yelp largely due to those who find the food too heavily seasoned or had a row with their server. That seems too low. We have had the same delightful server twice but she seems like she might be the pick. 2 of the 4 red wines offered by the glass had changed over the 2 weeks between our visits and we were told that it is common to have frequent changes to tweet the offerings. read more

La Medusa - Menu board 28 May 2015 - Sicilian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

La Medusa just exudes local, market fresh ingredients. I love the vibe and atmosphere, complete with glassy babies and a chalkboard menu that always seems to change while I'm there. Rather than be disappointing, it just goes to show the versatility and dynamic nature of this restaurant. Service has always been a plus and I've actually never made reservations. Tend to go on weekdays, so maybe that's how I've lucked out with no reservations. Wednesdays are their market menus, which is always enticing but I can't help but be tempted by the specialty items on the massive chalkboard. Vegetable dishes are always a safe bet here, as they tend to highlight local ingredients. Cauliflower gratin was NOM, not to mention crispy skin chicken with fingerling potatoes. I suggest sharing to get the most out of your meal experience. read more

We had high expectations for this dinning experience. After all that we have heard. We made reservations for 8- It was a disaster from the moment we opened the door. When we arrived the resturant it wasnt packed. We asked for a seat by the windown and were curtly told that they would have to check with the hostess. ?? Even though there was no one sitting there. We were then placed practically on top of two other patrons. Our table was wobbly, water was served warm and with out ice. While trying to decide off the chalk board menu the waitress thought it would be a good time to shim our wobbly table for durability. We then went to order two items off the daily speacial menu as I went to ask a question the waitress crossed off the item. then the other one Since we arrived a little later I had some patience. Items run out- My boyfriend and I thought we would order off of the classic staple menu of 10 years. The staple meal of choice- The spaghetti with hand rolled lamb and meatballs. We thought we were safe until the waitress then told us the spaghetti would not be servered with any meat. At this point we had both had enough dissapointment and bad service. We excused our selves. What a let down. We left without even trying the food! No one bothered to stop us, no one offered a rain check. This was not our idea of class..... read more

Back to La Medusa last night for yet another fabulous dinner. I had a wagyu steak that was out of control. There was a cauliflower appetizer I can't even begin to describe, so delicious I didn't pay attention to ingredients. And an octopus thing with a citrusy sauce reinventing the idea of what calamari should be. Also split out a Columbia River Sturgeon that has renewed my faith in the specie. Beyond the beyond, friends. Try it. read more

I tried La Medusa for the first time tonight with a couple of girlfriends. I had a headache that kept me from being hungry, but rather than be annoyed by me taking up space without ordering food, our friendly server helpfully offered herbal tea, which turned out to be the perfect thing. She also gamely learned how to make French 75s when my friends requested cocktails off-menu - and they were good! Eventually my appetite came back and I had the simple chicory salad (with bread crumbs, pecorino, and mustard seeds) and sampled my friends' dinners, two kinds of handmade pasta, one with squid ink. The one with squid ink was so good that I ordered a box of it to take home for later. I really enjoyed my experience at La Medusa. The atmosphere is that of a cozy little European cafe, and the food and service are both great. Recommended! read more

Delicious! What a wonderful time my husband and I had on our first visit here together for one of our date nights. Service was very friendly. Loved the ambiance = wholesome, comforting, cozy, warm, and lots of love. We had: -- bread with olive oil, was okay. -- cavatelli, was okay -- chicory salad - LOVED IT. -- grandmas peas - LOVED IT -- perciatelli con le sarde - I ordered this... but my husband ended up eating it. Would totally go back. read more

It's ok, not great. We had a reservation and came in about 15 minutes late, and the host complained and said 'I called you I wasn't sure if you were coming or not' in a clearly annoyed tone. *eyeroll* The place also had a really strong 'frying oil' aroma. The table we were seated at was at such an angle that only one person could (barely) read the menu. I had to read aloud the options to the other patrons or they had to stand awkwardly in the middle of the room and rush to pick so they could sit down. I don't get the board thing -it's stupid. Got a watery martini, the cauliflower, and the arancini to start. The cauliflower was good, probably the best dish of the night which is disappointing because this dish exists at about half of all restaurants right now. Not so original. The arancini was not good, the rice was gummy and it just wasn't flavorful. For mains we got the zuppa de pesce, rigatoni with pork sausage, and spaghetti puttanesca. The spaghetti had an odd texture, I've never had homemade spaghetti before, it tasted gummy. Maybe it was overcooked. The sauce was weirdly seasoned. The capers and olives were MEGA salty and it was really unappealing. And of course when you didn't get a piece of olive or caper, the dish tasted bland and undersalted. So they should be rinsing their capers and olives more. The zuppa de pesce was strange, there was no tomato, which surprised all of us. The broth was really bland - it really just tasted like lightly salted hot water. No white wine, lemon, or herb flavor was discernible. You did get big hunks of herbs on occasion but again, a uniform herb flavor would've been better. The seafood was good, but the dish was just so plain. The Rigatoni was excellent! Great flavor all around. read more

I made a reservation for 8, and was still waiting for a table 20 minutes later. But I'm still giving this place 5 stars. They could have poured wine over my head and I still would give them 5 stars...the food was that amazing. This is a cozy little place, very tight and crowded on a Saturday evening, and loud to boot. The service was very attentive -- I don't think my water glass was ever less than half full, and only then because I drank it in one large gulp. We had a long, lazy, unrushed meal, and even though we were there for over an hour and a half (!) it didn't feel like an unbearably long time, but like a luxurious bath. But the real meat (pun intended) of our meal was...the meal. A true experience. We started with the Columbia City Bakery bread basket, but I would skip this in the future. The bread is good, but nothing spectacular, and only steals the space in your stomach for the more amazing stuff. We ordered the Arancini, saffron risotto croquettes with a delightful surprise of fresh mozzarella in the center, served on the most delightful puddle of marinara sauce. I could have eaten the entire dish as my dinner and died happy. The texture was smooth and velvety, the sauce at once simple and complex. The quality of ingredients was obviously quite fine, as if the tomatoes for the sauce had been picked only moments before. The pastas we ordered were so good we could not help but share them. My partner ordered the classic Spaghetti Marinara with meatballs, and again the marinara did not disappoint. The pasta is all made in house, which is clear from the first bite -- each noodle has a substantial bite, a perfect texture and mouthfeel. The meatballs were flavorful and for only an extra $5 you get three large ones, well worth it to add to your dish. I ordered Campanelle with taleggio fonduta, treviso, and pine nuts. It came in a creamy sauce that was not heavy at all. The treviso added just the perfect touch of bitterness, and the toasted pinenuts were the cherry on top. I would have licked my plate but my partner got to it first. i would eat here again, and again, and again, even if it were half so good. read more

I'm largely convinced that Grandma's greens is basically the absolute best thing I will ever eat. I get it every time. I do wish the rest of the menu rotated a bit more but that dish is an absolute classic that should be left alone forever. Never anything less than excellent in my experience. read more