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Bistro Baffi
Rating Details »
Categories: Italian, Ethnic Food [Edit]
15217 21st Ave SW(between 152nd St & 154th St)
Burien, WA 98166
(206) 244-0737
Free award winning Tiramisu
Complimentary Tiramisu per table when you dine at Bistro Baffi.
Announced 1 week ago- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
7 reviews for Bistro Baffi
What they lack in location and ambiance (they are located in a psuedo-strip mall and off the main drag in Burien), they make up for with service, and of course food!
We make a point to stop by every time we're in town visiting my parents. It's a great place for a "special" meal - without having to spend too much or get dressed up - or for a casual meal out.
The pasta are cooked to perfection and never overly saucy. The risottos are sensational - due entirely to their pink sauce (I'm dying to know their secret recipe and no they won't share - I've asked). I always go for the risotto special and a bottle of the house Toscana, which is very drinkable (read tasty) and reasonably priced.
Also, the staff is super friendly and helpful. They seem to really care about your dining experience/satisfaction without being too nosey or pushy. The chef/owner always makes a point to converse with every table, whether it be to tell you about the specials or personally delivering your meal.
I would highly recommend this place to anyone in the south end looking for a good authentic Italian meal whether it be a special occasion or a random weeknight out.
I hate to bring down the rating of this place, but our experience was good, not great, and far from excellent. I think the main problem was our Serbian server, who seemed pretty green, a little antsy, and definitely didn't know his way around the menu yet, besides still mastering the english language. Being a server myself, I always ask for recommendations, but I could tell he was new and still figuring things out himself, so I just made my own decisions.
We started with the prosciutto and melon, along with the plato rustico, a mixture of "grilled" veggies and caprese on some EVOO. Three slices of cantaloupe covered with silky thin prosciutto looked standard enough. But the prosciutto was unusually smoky, and overpowered the usual sweet and salty goodness that is associated with it. It was an "eh" start. The veggies were more roasted than grilled (where are the grill marks?), and the caprese was standard. I thought the melon app. would be $7-8, but turned out to be $12. Kinda rip offish. It was ok, tho.
The owner suggested a different bottle Pinot Grigio than I ordered, which is fine, and turned out to be quite nice. Salads were standard, insalata mista and ceaser. And they serve cold squares of a very dense and chewy focaccia with a nice dipping mixture. A-ok!
Main courses had mixed reactions. Janet loved her "Penne Alla Mike", with big prawns in the shell and portabella mushrooms, in a savory pink sauce. Chris and I had the special risotto, with scallops, mixed wild mushrooms and asparagus in the spicy pink sauce, which got a "its good", but not mmmmm's and aaahhhh's. Needed salt for sure and was better as leftovers. Mom and dad shared a mixed veggie pasta and the Pollo Saltinbocca, a pounded, then grilled chicken breast, COVERED (i.e. slathered) with mozzarella and a little prosciutto, in a white wine sauce. They were not impressed with either, and we agreed that they were very heavy handed with the sauce. Almost every dish had the "pink sauce", which left us wondering where the owner is from. We also got to try the Veal Saltinbocca, as our server thought mom ordered that (I thought we made it clear), instead of the chicken. It got pushed to the side. I thought the roasted peppers were the most delicious part of the meat dishes.
No dessert.....too full. And the restaurant was empty by the time our Serbian server got around to asking. He was a slow one, for sure. Maybe I'm just spoiled. I dunno. It was a three star experience, even with the round of Sambuca on the house. Sorry guys. I really was looking forward to a lovely dining experience. I think having experienced servers would be a very intelligent move for such a place. My suggestion to you, as a long time restauranteur. Good luck guys.
This is what I'm talking about. A little place, with amazing food and service. This is one of those amazing places that are tucked into non-descript strip malls on side streets. You would never guess that this caliber of a restaurant is hiding in a quiet neighborhood in Burien. The owner is in the kitchen, he is suggesting wine, serving guests, and even singing happy birthday. The doorway to the kitchen is open to the restaurant, and the seating area is not very big (there is a small room for larger groups, and patio seating for nice days, too), so you can smell everything. Mmmmm. We had a couple of appetizers, 3 main dishes, and 2 desserts and it was all excellent. I am only sad that I didn't know about it before now.
Oh my goodness this place is AMAZING. Okay, so what do you typically want in a good restaurant? Great service? check! Amazing food? check? Reasonable prices? check Great ambience? check (okay once you get past the strip mall setting and get inside).
What about your chef coming out and explaining the specials, and then checking back with you to see whether or not you enjoyed the meal? Or giving you some additional appetizers on the house just b/c? okay how about non-stop homemade bread, warm from the oven? NON STOP! How about fresh DELICIOUS tiramisu for your husband's birthday when you barely recall telling them it's his birthday on the phone?
I have to say Bistro Baffi is a gem in Burien. It was one of the best food experiences I have had in Seattle!!!!!
We went to Bistro Baffi last night with a large group (18) and had a wonderful time. The food was superb, the appetizers very tasty and the wine and atmosphere were lovely.
I have to give them kuddos to allow such a large group to take over the restaurant but they did it very well and the service and staff were great.
I only have one complaint and everybody in my party was upset over this. The chef/owner insisted that we all order off his set menu, not the regular menu (since we were a large group). When I called to make the reservations I specifically asked the person taking the reservations if they would do something like that (because we had the problem at his old restaurant The Beach House on Alki many years ago) and was assured we would be able to order off the regular menu.
Everybody in my group was very disappointed because we didn't want to order the 'specials'. (that ranged in price from $18-$35) We wanted to order off the menu. The 8 offerings we had were excellent choices, just not what most of us would have ordered.
So, if you're going in a small group you will have a wonderful dinner and excellent time. If you're going in a large group make sure you can have access to the entire menu because you may be disappointed. Even though I checked I obviously should have doubled checked and triple checked.
January 20, 2009 - Likes it - Who would have thought in a hidden little corner of stores in the residential neighborhood of Burien you could find authentic cuisine of Montenegro. It's far from the over sauced plate of noodles found at most places that claim to be authentic. The fresh ingredients show through each plate. I can honestly say I may have had the best cut of pork I have ever tasted. I started off with the deep earthy flavors of the stuffed mushrooms with a pink sauce that was kissed with just enough spice to leave you wanting more. I finished up with a flaming shot of Sambuca and tiramisu and the only was to adequately describe this desert (that I have had a million other times so I know this one) would only be adequately summed up in a sound... Mmmmm. The charismatic chef Michael visits your table, has a welcoming and warm staff all the while in a quaint romantic setting. The list of wines alone is worth the visit.
I live in San Francisco and visit Seattle every couple months and Bistro Baffi is the first place I go when I get off the airplane. The food is nothing short of amazing. The variety of food from seafood to lamb suits any craving one might have. Try the spicy pink sauce or the stuffed mushrooms! There is a variety of wine choices but the house wine is a perfect pairing with the chefs spicy pink sauce! The restaurant's staff and chef are so welcoming. If only they had restaurant like this in San Francisco...
