Ristorante Paradiso is a long time Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Kirkland. I have…read morebeen coming here for as long as I can remember (20 to 30 years maybe, so long that I didn't realize I never wrote a review). This restaurant has been well received for both business dinners and personal dinners. They are old school charming Italian (not to be confused with American Italian). The service is often warm and charming. The restaurant is painted with warm tones and artworks of villas. Business partners from foreign countries often find this restaurant adorable. The menu has some hits-and-misses, but we have settled on our favorites by now. My hubby orders their lasagna as his favorite; he often orders it early since it's a longer time to cook. I recently visited with girlfriends, so extra desserts are involved. Lol. The Food: Salmone Piccata, $32 - 4.5 Stars Menu: Fresh salmon filet, capers, lemon, garlic, white wine sauce This is my standing order - a good size piece of salmon rests on veggies with a wonderful wine sauce. It's light, it's a repeatable dish, and I don't feel guilty afterwards. Tartufo Classico - 4.5 Stars Menu: Chocolate Gelato, zabaglione cream center, covered with crushed caramelized hazelnuts and cocoa powder Tiramisu - 4 Stars Menu: Ladyfinger biscuits, espresso coffee, mascarpone cheese, and whipped cream Curse my sweet tooth friend who convinced us to order not one but two desserts to share. The tartufo is more unique, and somewhat reminds me of a much better Ferrero Rocher. I particularly like the cool gelato. The tiramisu is of course the classic. If I am sharing with hubby, the tartufo is the easy win.

My wife and I went for a lunch date for the first time in a while. Our 3rd baby had his first day…read morein daycare, so we decided to plan for lunch during Seattle Restaurant Week. My wife had never been here, and for me it had been over 10 years, so we were looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be disappointing. On the positive side, the bread was good, the burrata appetizer was tasty, and my Marsala chicken wasn't too bad. However, my wife's Linguine Tutta Mare was not good at all. The mussels tasted completely off and had a bad smell. I tried them myself and they were fishy, not how mussels are supposed to taste. We told our waiter, and he kind of brushed it off, saying they get their seafood in daily and that mussels can sometimes be "that way." He gave no apology and no real acknowledgment to the issue, but just cleared our plates and walked away. To top it all off, they were out of the Panna Cotta, which was the dessert I'd been looking forward to. The other options didn't appeal to us as much, but we settled for them anyway. Afterwards, we still felt a little hungry. For our first lunch date in a while, this was a real letdown. Definitely not worth $35 per person.

If you are looking for a place with delicious food, service and atmosphere you should try this…read moreplace. A little piece of Italia near you. The fresh pasta amazing!!!!. You feel special since your arrival. Amazing service from the owners Cindy and Fernando. plus you are part of the entertainment. You will not be disappointed

Great food (I think I've tried half the menu by now and enjoyed all of it). Excellent service…read more Great atmosphere - love the family feel and live music. Great time as always.

Went there the other night with my husband and had my favorite thing on the menu: Chicken Scampi…read more It was yummy as always. We sat by the fireplace and it was so nice. The service was great too. We love Cafe Veloce!

We came here for a Valentine's Day dinner--our first time visiting after hearing good things from…read morefriends and seeing solid ratings. Even with a reservation, we did have to wait a bit, but it was Valentine's Day, so totally understandable given how busy Italian spots get. Parking was pretty convenient with spaces both in front and behind the restaurant, and if those are full, it's close to the Totem Lake area so there are other options nearby. The ambiance was definitely unique--lots of mannequins, motorcycles, and a sort of roadshow vibe. It felt fun, a little quirky, and different from your typical Italian restaurant. Service was good overall, especially considering how busy it was. Our server was attentive enough and kept things moving smoothly. We started with bread and butter--nothing particularly special, but still enjoyable. The garlic herb compound butter oddly felt nostalgic and reminded me of childhood. For appetizers, we got the meatballs, which were hearty and flavorful. For my entrée, I had the seafood pasta in a wine cream sauce and really enjoyed it. There was a good amount of seafood--not super crab-heavy, but enough to get a few nice bites--and the sauce itself was light and well-balanced. My husband ordered the chicken parm, which he said was good but leaned a bit on the bland side. Overall, it feels like a solid neighborhood Italian spot. Definitely a place we'd come back to when we're in the area.

Great dinner, we had the Porcini Risotto, Gnocchi al Telefono, and the Tagliarini with prawns…read more Everything was really good, but the view and ambience were probably the best part of the experience. Such a great setting for dinner. We finished with the tiramisu, which was really great. Unfortunately, it was so good I forgot to take a picture of it. Great food, beautiful views, and an atmosphere that makes the whole experience worth it. Definitely a place I would come back to.

A fall from grace. We have been here a dozen times…read more Sometimes just for summer fun - most of the time for special occasions: birthdays, promotions, anniversaries etc. This last visit gives us major pause and makes us reconsider ever wanting to come back. We made a reservation for a Thursday dinner for our anniversary a few weeks in advance as we have done times before. When the hostess goes to seat us, we were brought to the table that you would only want if it was the last table available (no view, in the middle of the walking area, by the doors back to kitchen, no vibe, all hassle) we politely ask to move up to one of the several two tops available at the front (it was not that busy of a night) We sit. We wait. We wait. We finish the entire carafe of water. We wait. Finally our server comes to ask us for our cocktail order (30 minutes after sitting, we were on the cusp of walking out). Our cocktails take a while, which again is odd since it is not a packed house. Not once does she come to check in. Another 25 minutes passes and our waitress finally comes over and says our drinks should be there soon, and finally asked if we wanted to order an app, we did. 35 minutes after our first drink order, cocktails finally arrive. They were good. Fun James Bond theme to the list. We finished both cocktails and two appetizers. Our entire table was cleared by the busman and so we continued to admire the scenery before our waitress remembered we existed and came around to ask our order for entrees (We sat with no drinks and no apps for a very long time. The table next to us even commented on how long our service and their service was taking having noticed us sitting there with a cleared table). From order time of the main course until our food arrived - maybe another 25-30 minutes. When our food came, we were expectedly hungry and just perplexed from the experience. Food was good. Prices went up due to the economy. That's fine. It is expected these days. Again our table is cleared, our waitress again remembers we exist - drops off a dessert menu unenthusiastically. Walks away. We definitely didn't want to have to wait for dessert at this point. We let her know just the check would be fine when she comes back around and she changes to be especially bubbly, friendly and enthusiastic for the first time all evening - minutes before dropping off the check which had a surprise of 3% service surcharge. Didn't say what the service charge was for. Didn't mention it inside the menu. We later found out by looking online that it is listed in small print on the bottom of the back - it's for the option to use credit card and you are charged this before you put down a card or cash. You are then taxed at the 10%+ sales tax for this added surprise charge. People in our party often pay or split in cash- this is improper. All to conclude with minimum suggested tip at 20%. You wouldn't accept this service at a pub, a dive bar, or a proper fine dining restaurant - you shouldn't accept it at what this place has become. This was our first date night in while and a special celebration for our wedding anniversary and it truly affected the evening and made us feel like we had wasted our time and our money that could have been better spent elsewhere. We wish we had walked out after the first 30 minutes of waiting to place a drink order. Save your money, you'll get better service at most anywhere else (we skipped the affogato and tiramisu we usually order and went for dessert at Burgermaster instead) That efficient and friendly busman was oddly the highlight of the night and the saving grace from this being a one star experience. Cheers.

DUE' CUCINA @ TOTEM LAKE…read more Parking is available on the street, and there are usually a few spots right in front of the restaurant if you're lucky enough to grab one. You can also park in the larger Totem Lake shopping area near Trader Joe's and the surrounding shops, where there is typically plenty of parking available. Unless you're visiting on a busy weekend, finding a spot usually is not much of an issue. I've actually been to their Redmond location before, so I already had a good idea of what to expect. The ordering process is very customizable, allowing you to choose your noodles, sauce, toppings, and other add ons. It's a great option if you're a picky eater or simply want to try something different and create a meal that fits your preferences. I always order the pesto pasta because their pesto sauce is absolutely delicious. The ingredients taste fresh, and the portions are satisfying without feeling too heavy. The staff was very friendly during my visit, and the overall atmosphere is welcoming and relaxed. This is definitely more of a casual grab and go type of restaurant. You clean up after yourself, and the service is quick, making it a great choice for a lunch break or a casual meal with a friend. Overall, it's a simple, convenient spot with good food and plenty of customization options

Good service and food isn't bad! The meatballs were very soft (almost too soft for me but that's…read morepreference) and the pasta is good. Definitely better for dine in than take out. The pasta are still heavy for me but good in moderation. Negroni received positive feedback too! Vibe is casual and good for families.

Great food, good ambiance. We go here several times a year on special occasions. (I am a goood cook…read moreand specialize in Italian myself). Very good wait staff. All on all a great place to eat!

Delish. Large menu. Exceptional service. My husband had chicken parmigiana. Very generous portion…read more I had pasta del mar. A+. The bread was cold and boring. Could be fresh rolls or focaccia. Look forward to returning.

DERU Market is my absolute favorite lunch and dinner destination. The farm to table menu offers…read moresomething for everyone, and each dish delivers what wholesome food should taste like. Dining in is an option, I've only experienced to go as it's most convenient for my family. Ordering is always easy, text messages about the order status allows for ideal arrival time. The customer service yielded by the DERU team is always excellent, even for larger orders they always make sure the orders are accurate and any additional condiments and flatware are included. DERU Market is always busy for a reason, plan ahead if dining in or ordering to go. I will return and highly recommend!

Came on a weekend when it was really crowded. Really excited to try this place as I've heard good…read morethings about it and love that they use fresh farm ingredients. Had a total party size of two. We even added our names, but when we got led to our seats, we were put at the barstools. There were plenty of other parties of two that arrived after us that got tables plus there were some empty tables for two that we saw as well. So we requested a table instead of the bar area, but the server told us the manager didn't want us sitting there. Didn't make much sense when there were empty tables. Maybe they had some reasoning or structure for weekend crowds they they had to follow, not sure, but we had to stay seated at the bar area. We ordered a Margherita pizza to split as well as a slice of carrot cake as I've heard a lot of good things about these items. The pizza had really fresh ingredients and the sauce and tomatoes were tasty, however the dough was incredibly salty and made it difficult to eat. This was my first time at Deru Market, but I assume it isn't always this salty and could have been a one-time thing. The slice of carrot cake was pretty expensive (around $14) but it's huge and good to split amongst 2-3 people. I liked the generous serving of nuts and shredded carrot inside. Cream cheese frosting was still a bit too sweet for me (think I prefer Deep Sea Sugar and Salt's to this) and I had to remove most of it, but the cake was overall pretty good though a little on the dry side. I get why this place is popular, but I don't think I had the best first time experience here. With the high number of positive reviews though, maybe they were just having a bad day since it was a Saturday and pretty crowded, so I'm hoping to come back again in the future, during like a seasonal special if they have any.

A Perfect Waterfront Spot for Wine and Conversation If you…read moreare looking for a laid-back spot with great vibes, The Grape Choice is highly recommended. It's a fantastic wine restaurant that nails the balance between an incredible beverage selection and a relaxing atmosphere. The Menu: They offer a wonderful, curated choice of wines paired with delicious small plates that are perfect for sharing. The Ambiance: The view is absolutely lovely. On a nice day, sitting out on the patio with their live music playing makes for a perfect afternoon or evening. It has a wonderfully welcoming, low-key energy that makes it easy to actually sit back and enjoy a great conversation. The Service & Parking: The staff here is incredibly nice, attentive, and welcoming. For logistics, just note that parking is paid but very convenient--located right across the street.

Incredible wine selection and views near the water!…read more The Grape Choice is a wine store and wine bar located right at in downtown Kirkland. They feature a massive selection of wines, as a go-to neighborhood spot for finding unique bottles. What's great about here is you can order food from restaurants nearby or bring your own while you enjoy some wine The atmosphere is relaxing, especially if the weather is nice and you can sit out on their outdoor patio right near the water. They host a lot of live music events, and catching a performance during a beautiful sunset makes the experience truly amazing. To round it all out, the staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. I definitely recommend this place! Whether you want to grab a great bottle to go or just sit back, relax, and listen to some live music by the water, it's a must-visit in Kirkland.

One of our top go-to sit down restaurants, Feast is always reliable and we bring out of town guests…read morehere frequently. The ambiance is perfect for conversation and the dining room is modern, comfortable and stylish. Perfect for anything from date night to a family dinner. Everything on the menu we've had is delicious. One of our favorites is the Terrine Pate Au Foie Gras. The best clam linguine I've ever had, a seasonal item. Their pommes frites with smoked onion aioli is addictive. The burger is also top notch. Some of the best cocktails in town as well. Service is friendly and attentive. We love Feast!

We had made reservations for 9. Hadn't realized we'd be packed like sardines into their one space…read morefor 8. It's in a corner and is just a dead mood killer nook. You have to squeeze against the walls to get around. Or if you have window seating you have to ask 3 guests to get up before you can. They should have just said we can't seat 9. Food: I had the truffled escargot, smoked salmon salad, prawns provencal, cauliflower morney, baguette with pistachio butter. The salmon salad was good, the rest were just ok. The Squabble cocktail was good! Service: Impersonal, cold. At about $100/person a pretty crappy experience. Will we return: No

Ordered pickup. It was fast! We ordered a salad and pizza. It was all delicious. Can't wait for our…read morenext pizza night.

We stumbled upon this place on a walk through the park! How cool that there's a wood fired pizza…read moreplace in a little green space! The pizza is so good! There were so many good choices but we settled on the lasagna pizza. It was so good! The medium was just enough for two people to share for lunch! We ordered or pizza and sat at a table outside since it was a nice day! It didn't take long for our pizza to come up & the staff was friendly with good recommendations! You can eat the pizza outside on a nice day or inside the coffee shop. We really enjoyed our pizza!