Picture a plate of handmade Piedmont pasta, a glass poured from a Northern Italian wine list and a dining room worth dressing up for. For Italian restaurants in Seattle that linger in memory, start with Cascina Spinasse on Capitol Hill, slip into its sister spot Artusi for a more casual night, ride out to Il Nido in West Seattle or dress up for Il Terrazzo Carmine at Merrill Place. Book ahead at all four, especially on weekends.
Where to Find Great Italian in Seattle
These four rooms come up again and again whenever locals swap dinner advice, and they cover a satisfying range, from pasta-focused trattorias to a classic white-tablecloth setting. Round out the evening with a stroll through one of the city's Seattle neighborhoods before or after you eat.
Cascina Spinasse
Head to Capitol Hill for Spinasse, a small, rustic trattoria that has centered on handmade pasta and the cooking of Piedmont in Northern Italy since it opened in 2008. Chef Stuart Lane, who has led the kitchen since 2015, brings Piedmontese technique to ingredients from Pacific Northwest farmers and artisans. Linger over the Northern Italian wine list and save room for a seasonal dessert. Critical praise and a loyal following make it a natural choice for pasta lovers and special occasions.
