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My friends and I were in Seattle a weekend. As far as the food scene in Seattle, Spinasse made a great impression on all of us.
For foodies like us, we've been to many restaurants in SF and LA, and both cities have some amazing restaurants, but Seattle's Spinasse is definitely one of the best out of all the restaurants that we've been to.
What makes it so good?
The ambiance of the restaurant was romantic, casual and relaxing. The service was personable, friendly, informative and professional. It had a very welcoming environment.
As far as the menu. Spinasse served classic comfort food with a Seattle twist. The hand made pasta(couldn't remember the name of the dish) was absolutely superb. The quail was cook and seasoned to perfection. The appetizer sampler was the highlight of the meal. The risotto was only "so so" dish. It was a bit over cooked, because it had the consistency almost like a porridge.
Over all, Spinasse is a almost perfect in every way. It's a must visit restaurant in Seattle.
We had a really lovely evening here, and the food was tasty, but I have to take the unpopular stance that Spinasse is highly overpriced and slightly overrated. (Stop it with the evil eyes...I can feel them through the interwebs...)
Here's why.
They are shooting for a relaxed, rustic, family-style meal. Which in itself indicates a certain pricing strategy. But they are also incorporating some really labor-intensive foods (handmade pasta), and some pricey ingredients. I understand why they charge so much for the food, but it doesn't necessarily jibe with the noisy, close-quartered, community-tabled experience.
And about those tables. This is really a "third date" kind of place to go, based on the lighting and aforementioned pricing. But. It's really unromantic when you're getting nasty stares from the party of 6 sharing your table, trying to privately celebrate grandpa's birthday and tame a 2 year-old at the same time. Which is what happened when my husband took me there when they opened.
So flash forward a year, and we decided to give it a try with a group of 7. Infinitely better experience. But remember that rustic décor? It's beautiful, don't get me wrong (I have open-kitchen-reclaimed-shelf-envy), but it's incredibly loud. So when you have a really interesting group of dinner guests, conversation is sadly a bit of a struggle.
The bonus of having a large group is that you can order literally everything on the menu. This was a really memorable part of the experience, because we were able to separate our favorites from the "I never want that to touch my tongue again."
Favorites:
Rabbit (primi): juicy, delicate, not at all gamey. And the walnuts were a delicious touch.
Beets: I couldn't name everything that was in that dish, but it went really well with the earthiness of the beets.
Crostini with homemade butter: Is it wrong to lick the butter off a crostini?
Squash flan with olive pralines: WHAT? I don't know how it's made, but it was an amazing combination of flavors and textures and a really inventive dish.
Porchini ravioli: their handmade pasta is delicate and divine. I really think the pasta is their highlight, although it's hard to justify paying that price for pasta. But it was delicious.
Pasta with pork belly: Can't go wrong with bacon.
Pear dessert with brown butter gelato: the pear was buttery! I don't know if it was actually butter poached, but it was delicious. Demerits for the melon-ball sized scoop of gelato. Try sharing that with 7 people.
Not-so favorites:
Tabacco cream (dessert): reminded me why I don't smoke. It didn't have any flavor, but stung and burned my mouth and throat. It was like swallowing raw nettles. I was a little traumatized.
Meats: in general, I thought they were oversalted. We had rabbit, chicken, and quail, and I enjoyed them, but that left a major impression.
Back to the pricing: we brought our own wines (saved for a special occasion) and paid the $20 corkage fees. And even though we didn't buy their expensive bottles, our tab was $66/person. It may not sound too bad, considering all the dishes we got to our table, but the servings were a bite per person (enough to get full, not necessarily enough for seconds of the favorite). So it was a dinner of essentially appetizers and our own wines for that amount.
Will we go back? Probably not. I'd opt for a special night at Crush instead. But if you are thinking of going, bring 6-7 friends and your paycheck. You'll be treated well and have some really interesting bites.
People thought this was:
WOW! This place was hard to find. You definitely have to be looking. However, once inside, it's cozy, warm, and inviting. The restaurant is TINY! There are probably around 30 seats? It's very romantic though for a nice date or a small dinner party.
The appetizers were awesome: salami, tuna mayo, olives, rabbit salad, and anchovies were great. They were tasty, full of flavor, and executed well. The entrees (5 out of 9) of us ordered the ragu pasta. Their pasta is handmade daily and you can tell. Definitely the most fresh and delicate noodles I have ever had. The ragu sauce was good, but I don't think it was saucy enough.
The dessert was really good. The panna cotta was simple, but delicious. Light, airy, and subtly sweet. The pear bread something was also a winner. The pear was cooked with brown sugar and butter... mMMMm.. it was warm and had this layer of caramelized sugar on top and was served with some vanilla ice cream and a candied bread salad. My mouth is watering remembering it.
I will return, but not without a reservation :)
People thought this was:
I can't believe it's been a couple years since I hit Spinasse - what was I thinking? This is clearly one of the best places in the US to get pasta. Before coming in here on Tuesday, I had eaten some amazing Italian in Boston's North End and this blew that away.
Walking into Spinasse on Tuesday night, I can't help but think this is what small Italian restaurants are like in Italy- huge open air kitchens and a tightly packed in restaurant with communal tables. (I've been to Italy and it's not like that, but nonetheless, it's awesome).
Our server Patrick was excellent and helped guide us through Spinasse's incredibly inspired menu - nothing here is cookie-cutter Italian. Patrick told us about the buttered Gnocchi special with Spigariello (Leaf Broccoli) and Pine Nuts. I hesitated since Gnocchi sounded a little heavy and I wanted to try a few different plates without bursting. We asked for a half order and Patrick obliged after checking with the kitchen. BTW - it was incredible - some of the best gnocchi I've ever had.
Next up was the Maltagliati con salsa di fegato di coniglio, peperoncini farciti nostrani e fagioli borlotti (wide cut pasta with rabbit liver sauce, stuffed cherry bomb chiles and fresh borlotti beans) - Exceptional! Once again, perfect pasta in a memorable sauce.
Lastly, we wrapped up the evening with the black cod which isn't on the online menu (so I can't give you a worthy description). All I can say is that you should get it and if you don't like it, ping me directly.
Some tips:
-if you don't like communal tables, don't come here.
-if you don't like small, packed in restaurants, don't come here
-if you're a douchebag, don't come here.
People thought this was:
We came here in the summer around 8pm. We walked in and it was super crowded, no reservations. They were so nice and accommodating. We sat at a table with another couple (so not for those that don't like communal spaces). We ordered two appetizers, which I honestly don't remember much about now, other than they were with fish and super salty- but really good. Again, ordered two pasta dishes that i don't remember much about other than the pasta was fabulous and the other ingredients were as fresh and yummy as everything else (which was really fresh and delicious). Sorry to give such a vague review but at least take this away- the owners and waitstaff are gracious, the food is really delicious, but it is a little bit pricey for just a pasta dinner.
The food itself gets 3 stars. It wasn't special. Definitely not worth the price. My brother's dish tasted and looked like Hamburger Helper. He was pretty pissed he paid that much for something he could pick up at the grocery store.
They have a good wine selection, but the extra star comes from service and atmosphere. While the food may not tempt me to return, my waiter's smile, the owner's conversation, and the overall positive atmosphere might. Its a charming little spot, tucked away on a side street. Make reservations or get there early.
Perfect for a birthday dinner with your family. Just the right way to kick off a weekend of celebrating.
Crisp lace curtains and a rustic atmosphere made me feel that I was dining on a low-lying hill, overlooking patchwork fields of wheat and sorghum and other Italian crops. We pulled in at five for a last-minute dinner reservation. They were eager to seat us and offered us the bar seats as an alternative. Bar overlooks the kitchen so you get a front-row view of the preparation, which would be lovely when the restaurant is bustling. Its special occasion pricy but I think the ingredients and service were worth it.
Sparkling water soothed the hunger while we pored over their small but creative menu. The anchovies in piemontese green sauce with crumbled egg were salty, yet fresh. Nothing like those oil-soaked, briny monstrosities from supermarket. These tasted good and very unique. The heirloom chicory and roast rabbit salad was too bitter with the anchovies, but would hold up well with a more neutral appetizer pairing.
Though simple, the hand cut noodles with ragu won for entrée. I was so disappointed to read that others had a negative experience with that dish because it was spot on when I ate there!
Its right by the new Cupcake Royale and Molly Moon's, so those would be loevely dessert options after a short stroll. However, they just hired a new dessert chef who is supposed to be brilliant. I'll get back to you on that.
People thought this was:
So, another place that is hard to rate because the food is top notch, but at the price, the evening should be flawless.
First off, I hate the space. Communal tables with patrons packed in like sardines. And this being Seattle, people feel free to bring babies and toddlers to dinner (why? If you can afford Spinasse, you can afford a babysitter). Sitting at the bar is a continuation of the sardine tin, but with even more uncomfortable chairs. While I was sold on the idea that I would be watching the kitchen in action, I really had a view of the servers gossip and drink. The servers themselves were friendly, but forgot to do the little things like bring new silverware with courses or pour the wine.
The food is excellent. Rustic Italian antipasti and salads full of flavors. The pasta was more firm and better textured than neighboring Anchovies and Olives. The servings are generous (3 dishes will feed 2 people).
I wish they took a hint from Olivar and listed some more affordable selections of wine (lowest bottle is $34); based on the informal atmosphere, a cheaper bottle would be appreciated. Also, even in summer the white wine list is very limited.
People thought this was:
We finally made it to this place after hearing so much about their hand made pastas. Upon arrival, we were greeted with rabbit liver crostinis which were very savory. I wish I could have ordered more of them.
We decided to get the appetizer sampler, Antipasto misto della casa, for $28. I really enjoyed the sliced cold poached veal...it literally melted in my mouth. The chicory salad has interesting textures but I didn't like the hen meat in it. I also liked the roasted beets dish.
I also got to try the fine hand cut egg pasta with ragu. It's truly amazing how they are able to cut the pasta into these slivers that does not break apart and still remains a chewy consistency. I really liked the pasta here and can't wait to try the other pasta dishes.
The ambience here is very cozy and inviting. They have several communal tables that you have to share with other diners. However, I did find that they sit you VERY CLOSE to your neighbors. Don't get me wrong. I love communal dining as I have been accustomed to this style of dining from my time in Portland....but elbow to elbow is just too much. The price is also $$$ for the portions that they are serving. Seriously, Seattle food is overpriced. For the same amount of money that I pay at most Seattle restaurant, I could be eating so much more food in Portland and the quality is even better. However, this being Seattle, I would say that this restaurant is ahead of the curve. I would dock 1/2 a star for the price and seatting arrangement, if I could.
People thought this was:
Their food is delicious. " Coniglio al forno con carrote e patate $26
roasted rabbit with carrots and potatoes." amazing! Their pasta is made in house 10 minutes from when you order your food.
I also had stuffed ravioli with pork belly. The ravioli is tender and soft, thin and savory. It is what pasta should be.
The Huckleberry Dessert was light with a creamy whip on top made of Mascarpone. Their Chocolate dessert is dense with a light fluffiness to it, and their Peach dessert is to die for. It comes with gelato on the side. All of these desserts are what Italian desserts are. Don't expect a heavy chocolate cake or a cheesecake.
Ambiance is casual, and I personally love that for such high prices, the place isn't stuffy. I hate the stuffy fine dining feel and wish more places would do more of a "come as you are" environment. I do, however, have to mention that for the price you pay, the service should be a little better. It rates low on the service side. There are communal tables which is a little odd, but it has to be done considering the size of the place is smaller than most people's closets.
You will end up talking to the people next to you because you'll be wondering what they ordered and vice-versa!
As for the wine selection... if you love reds, you won't be disappointed. Food is spectacular!!!!!
Food was good, don't get me wrong...but not great & that was the deal breaker...4 of went there for dinner last night & none of us walked away thinking any thing we ate was so memorable that we'd want to come back asap. we had great service & the place is cute but too loud & we didn't dig the communal dining experience either...so all in all, it was A-OK & nothing yet to beat Cafe Lago & Cafe Juanita in my books...
So I saw this place written up on Tasting Table, and had to give it a try while I was home in the Pacific Northwest. It was delicious. It's tucked in this little building with exposed kitchen so you can see them making the pasta and cooking in the back, which I love!
The wine list is really great (but an expensive, really marked up selection) and the food is definitely in the higher price range, but for a family get together or special occasion, this is a perfect dinner spot!
We were a party of 5 and sat at a communal table--the ladies next to us were totally listening to our girly catch-up gossip session, but we are highly interesting, so I don't blame them :)
We all basically ordered the same thing so they brought them out family style--the Pio Tossinni 14 month prosciutto with grissini was incredible. Crusty bread--perfect combo with said prosciutto. Then, the heirloom chicory salad with marinated guinea hen with parmigiano reggiano, and aged balsamic vinegar was UGH MAZE ING. Loved the walnuts tossed in, and can't wait to make this salad at home. Zabars totally has guinea hen and I've always wondered what I could make with it, besides well, making a guinea hen, but now I know!
Next for our entree we had the ravioli with Jerusalem artichokes and sage butter with toasted pine nuts mixed in. I love Jewish men and now I know that I love Jewish artichokes! It was a delicious dish.
Finally, for dessert we had the this chocolate custard dessert that was ok, but had a bizarre aftertaste. I could have done without.
Overall, love this little place and will definitely recommend it and go back for seconds next time I am back in town!
People thought this was:
If the food wasn't so good, I'd give it one star. The service was poor!! Waited 20 minutes for the waitress to come by-no water, no glass of wine, no ordering. Never got the amuse bouche everyone else got. Why? Tables are shared, so its noisy!!! And why share tables if the food is not family style? Just to save space, so its crowded and noisy! Pasta is fabulous, so was the quail. (Brought my own wine as usual-$20 corkage-never offered to decant my 10 year old Pinot Noir.)
Every time the owner (?) walked by he bumped my chair--now that's messed up. Avoid.
So, I don't really want it to appear like I'm hard to get. I am consistently giving 4 stars....yes the service was good, the food was great; I was completely contented. Nice. " Yay! I'm a fan". And, I am a fan. Do Yelpers really need to him and haw about 4 vs 5 stars and so forth? I don't think so.
Here is a little break down on my experience:
Yes, the seating is communal. So, if you don't like to at least acknowledge people that you don't know sitting next to you, then this probably isn't the place for you. My thought is: get over it.
I had the beet salad to start. Beets are so good for you!! They are a super food and so well prepared here. Yum, yum. Then came the hand cut egg pasta with butter and sage. It was simple and delicious. The asparagus side was a must - prepared in olive oil with salt and lemon tang - the mouth feel will make you forget about any awful asparagus experiences of the past! I promise!
The service was good, definitely a dining experience that isn't rushed with seasoned wait staff that aren't too eager. That can be annoying, right?
Reservations are the way to go though. I have no idea what it is like on a random night, but don't expect to waltz up and get your empty stomach seated on a common go-out kinda night. The bar does seem like a pretty sweet place to dine if you do happen to luck out....
People thought this was:
If you like the Olive Garden or The Old Spaghetti Factory you might not like this place...
The space and menu is small. Mostly communal tables and a little bar. The antipasto is fabulous and the pasta is superb. The sausage was wonderful but the rabbit was overcooked. My complaints about this place is that they have have too many chairs at the communal table so you are bumping elbows a lot and the table is so close to the wall that you disturb everyone as you make your way out of your seat. I have also been there twice and tried everything on the menu so I don't see myself going back again for a couple of months.
You should definitely go and check it out.
People thought this was:
A solid italian restaurant but nothing spectacular. My rabbit dish was well done but not nearly as good as the squab special my dining partner had. The Columbia City bread served with a delightfully peppery olive oil went well with the lemon dressed Romaine. The wine list is one of the best Italian lists in the city. Two of us split a salad, two mains and a bottle of modestly priced wine and our bill, including tax and tip was $136. For these prices i want exceptional food and although the food was good it was not exceptional.
People thought this was:
I was quite literally dreaming of the ricotta and nettle ravioli after eating here. Love. Amazing how such a tiny, easy to miss, hole in the wall sort of place can turn out such amazing, unique food. And Spinasse really can be tricky to find - we mistook the more street-prominant (and signless) Anchovies & Olives as Spinasse before realizing our mistake. Spinasse is sandwiched in between a waxing salon and a home decor store, for future reference. They also have these beautiful lace curtains that make the restaurant super dreamy inside, but obscure the interior from view if you're driving around trying to find it.
Once you do find Spinasse (and parking), you're in for a treat. Do go outside of your regular comfort zone while eating here - I'm not usually an organ meats sort of girl, but the rabbit liver pate with balsamic on the crustini was amazing. We followed that up with an order of roasted cauliflower with Parmesan reggiano and a plate of salami as appetizers (I thought the salami was good, but not amazing), then the best part of the evening, the nettle and ricotta ravioli. So paper thin that you could see the green of the nettles inside, perfectly tender, well seasoned... amazing. Our last dish was sausage, kale and lentils - also fabulous, hearty fare with silken greens and hearty lentils, but it made me wonder if wonder if I couldn't do something similar at home. I know I can't do pasta that well, but kale and lentils? I think I might just be inspired.
I have to note that the serving sizes are not enormous - this is a place where you should order multiple courses and sample a variety of things, and not just rely on one plate to fill you up. More expensive, yes, but totally worth it. This is more a special occasion restaurant than a neighborhood hangout anyway - thus all the candlelight.
As for the communal dining tables, it does seem as if they've worked out a few of the kinks. Yeah, you'll probably sit next to strangers, but on the Sunday night I ate there they did an admirable job of staggering the sittings so that one group was almost done before the seats next to them were filled. That being said, there IS some overlap, and some people won't be okay with that. The space between seats is also a bit cramped. We were halfway through our meal when a larger lady and her companion came in, and well, she just was not going to fit very well. Fortunately, there was space at the bar.
People thought this was:
Delicious pasta ("fine hand cut egg pasta with ragu or butter and sage)! How did he make it so fine, by hand? Eet waz a mazing. Prosciutto with breads and bread sticks (pio tossinni 14 month prosciutto with grissini) was also tasty, along with the salad (which appeared to be basically marinated celery in a vinaigrette). Sausage with (I think) kale was also good, but I would've loved more pasta (strike table with fork and knife handles here).The chocolate terrine (some kind of gelatiny chocolate cake) was also very good, although I made the mistake of getting the chocolate, which was just such a small portion I didn't consider it worth $7 or the title of dessert.
Service was good, and dishes were brought out at an even pace for us to chat leisurely and eat family-style. Call ahead for reservations, because the space is smallish, and fills up fast.
Had dinner with my husband here on a Friday night around 9pm.
Overall: delicious, homemade pasta that doesn't feel too heavy. We walked away extremely satisfied with the food.
Ambience: reminded me somewhat of Le Pichet in downtown Seattle -- you walk in and it's number of communal tables and a large "first come, first served" bar area where you can see the chefs upclose as they prepare the food. We were seated at the very end of a table next to 2 other parties---a bit scrunched and less intimate than we'd like, but we went mentally prepared for that. The lighting was warm, candlelit and inviting.
Service: I made the reservation the same night and was greeted nicely by the gentleman on the phone. The waitstaff seemed very pleasant but thinly stretched as they had multiple patrons to deal with. Our service at the begnning was slow--within 5 minutes of seating, we got our water and a gratis amuse-bouche of 2 types of crostini: with rabbit pate and another of ricotta and anchovies. After that, it took a good 25 minutes for the waitress to return to our table to even take down our order. Once she did take our order, however, our wine and food came pretty quickly.
Food: we shared the appetizer of 14 month prosciutto, which just melts in your mouth. For dinner, my husband ordered the Maltagliati with a sauce of chickpeas and prosciutto, and I ordered the Tajarin, a thin hand cut egg pasta served with a ragu. We absolutely loved both dishes---it was seasoned well and the flavors were delicious. The servings may appear small to some, but it was just perfect for us as it was just the right amount to make us feel full but not heavy and not still hungry.
Food was a bit on the spendy side so be prepared for that---that said, we will return to try the other dishes as we loved our meal here.
This place is not cheap; however, the portion sizes for the primo and secondi piatti are sufficient enough for two people to share and not feel too full if they are having a more traditional multi-course dinner. The excellent quality of the food more than compensates for the reduced quantity. My wife and I were *very* satisfied with both the meal and the price we paid for it.
For starters, we had sliced cold poached veal with mayonnaise of house cured local tuna, capers, and lemon; and a tomato trio with olive oil dipping sauce. We really liked the richness of the tuna mayonnaise when paired with the thinly sliced veal; the tomatoes were only so-so; although the sauce was excellent, the heirloom tomato wasn't at its best, and the others - one halved yellow tomato and one halved cherry, tasted fine.
For the first plate, we shared hand cut egg pasta with ragu - an excellent choice. The pasta was thin and expertly cooked and oiled ( a step many places tend to forget), while the ragu itself was perfectly seasoned, and cut and portioned so as to serve as a perfect balance to the pasta. For our second plate, we had the roast rabbit with braised radishes - another perfect dish. The rabbit was tender and juicy, and the sauce complimented it nicely, while the radishes were braised just enough to bring out their natural flavours without being overpowering.
Our waitress was cheery, friendly, just a (perfect) tad sassy, very attentive, and extremely helpful, making some very sage suggestions throughout our meal, which we were glad we took. This is the place to go to for that special night out!
Last Saturday night, I dined at Spinasse, a fairly new restaurant in Capitol Hill that specializes in Piemonte food and wine. Justin Neidermeyer, founder and chef at Spinasse, makes fresh artisan pasta daily from scratch for the primi courses, while crafting some amazing antipasti and secondi dishes as well.
Besides making great food, Justin has another talent: preparing open wine bottles "to go" in a style that is going to prompt some restaurants to reconsider their brown bag treatment.
At the end of our delicious meal, we had no idea what was in store for us when we asked our server to prepare our half empty bottle of Nebbiolo for departure. I had assumed she went back to the kitchen to retrieve the standard brown bag. However, after a few minutes, I looked into the open kitchen and noticed that Justin was wrapping up and then tying our wine bottle as if it were a tenderloin being prepared for roasting.
It was a nice capstone to an evening that brought back memories of a trip taken to the Piemonte years ago, when my wife and I spent a summer vacation in Castiglione Falletto. Anyone who has visited the Piemonte would probably find something familiar in Spinasse, whether it's the communal tables, the family style, multi-course meals, or the open kitchen filled with cooks and servers scurrying about.
After being seated, we started with two glasses of Piemonte sparkling wine, which we enjoyed with our first antipasti, a thinly slide artisan salami adorned with roasted leeks, which were melt-in-your-mouth goodness. At this point, I was trying to decide between continuing with the variety of wines by the glass/carafe or going with a bottle. Based on the dishes to come, we settled on a bottle of Nebbiolo, which Justin suggested from the kitchen.
Next up was an heirloom chicory salad with marinated guinea hen tossed with parmigiano reggiano and aged balsamic vinegar. My wife and I were both taken with this dish, for it offered such a well integrated, yet distinct, set of flavors and textures. This was followed with our primi dish, the fine hand cut egg pasta with ragu - the artisan pasta was amazing, with just the right amount of meat sauce - it tasted like true Italian pasta.
For our secondi, we chose the braised leg of duck with turnips and greens. The duck was prepared very well and the greens were delicious, but I've got to admit to not being a big fan of turnips. No matter, for these could be pushed aside for more of the delicious braised duck. Dolci consisted of hazelnut meringue cookies and a glass of Moscato, all of which offered a perfect finish to a delightful meal.
In addition to the great food and service we enjoyed, it was the company of strangers to the left and right of us at the communal table that made the meal noteworthy and that much more celebratory. We enjoyed conversation with everyone at our table, and even exchanged glasses of wine and tastes of food along the way. This is how to celebrate a meal, Italian style.
The only downside to all of this goodness was the premium price, which is to be expected considering the type and quality of food and wines served at Spinasse. I don't see us dining here regularly due to the cost, but for those special occasions, we can't wait to return to Spinasse for more great food, delicious wines, and meaningful conversations around our shared table.
People thought this was:
Don't be "safe". When you look at the menu, don't be tempted to order the "simple" dishes - those that consist of just cut meats or a simple salad. Why? Because the actual reciped dishes are wonderful, subtle, flavorful, and worth the "risk". Six dishes later, my dining companion and I are full and happy. The place isn't cheap, but you can also take advantage of the "Menu Principale" that give your table a wonderful selection much cheaper than the à la carte pricing otherwise offered. Dish sizes are just right, both in size and timing, letting you dine and leave feeling satisfied but not stuffed.
Great wine selection; yet another Seattle location practically without beer, so either drink wine or take the single bottled beer they offer as your only alternative.
A great environment. I always thought that restaurants that have rustic / classic dining rooms with completely visible, über-modern, stainless steel kitchens are a bit odd - not the case here. The fully visible kitchen is pleasing on the eye and maintains the rustic, old world charm the establishment presents. It is communal seating, which we didn't mind having spent many meals in other communal dining countries, but small the dining area is, and getting to know your immediate neighbor (well) should be expected.
Perfect service. I could not have been more pleased. Service that is available without being smothering, anything but pushy, knowledgeable about wines and the food, and willing to make honest suggestions. From the time I made the reservation to the time we left, I could not have asked for more. I was even pleased with the fact that the server didn't do that "11th hour" kiss-up many servers do to try to influence your tipping.
I do have a few gripes though, that brings it from 5 to 4 stars. First, a sausage "Secondi" dish we ordered family style (single dish with enough for all in your party) had but: 3 patties. Nothing like cutting something in half for equal division to make you feel cheap on a +$20 dish (the couple next to us ordered the same and got 4!). Desert menu was uninspired and minimal. After a wonderful meal I love exploring interesting deserts - but not here (I suppose I could have ordered the cheese-cubes and honey dish...). I may not expect a "full bar", but I do expect a few standard Italian liqueurs - none of which they had despite offering many other spirits. Good grappa menu if you're into that.
Over-all, a great spot that I will certainly return to. Here's a hint: the larger your group (4 or 6) the more likely you are to get "private" tables and more room.
Certainly one of the best new restaurants in Seattle. We dined out here on a Tuesday night and showed up around 7pm. They were able to seat us right away at the bar - we hadn't made reservations. From the get go our waiter was friendly in a very professional way, but left us to ourselves just the right amount.
We each selected different pastas for our entrees and were amazed at the delightful flavors, as well as the freshness of the pasta and in particular how thin it was. The meals left us feeling full, but not stuffed or bloated, the way that some other restaurants' pastas can.
We each had a glass of wine - the name escapes me, but the memory of it is great. Overall this was a fantastic experience with nothing to criticize. We enjoyed our postition at the bar where they make the pasta during the day, with the view into the goings on in the kitchen. We're already planning our next visit - this time we'll take friends.
We dined as a group of 3 at Spinasse in January. Dining out on a whim and without a reservation, I was pleased that we could sit at the bar. This is such a quaint place that wisks you away to Italy with the ambiance and the decor.
I highly suggest for first time diners to get the anipasti variety plate where you can taste ALL the antipasti. It really shows the quality of the food. Since there were three of us, we ordered each of the three pasta plates. Each pasta type was so exquisite on its own merit - I think we each had our own favorites. We finished off with one of the meat dishes - the goat sausages. Although none of us could say we were goat fans, the waiters recommendation encouraged us to try it - and we were not disappointed.
The great points of this place is the ambiance and the food. The glass of wine I had at dinner complimented the meal perfectly. We loved sitting at the bar because you could peek inside the kitchen, where all the magic takes place! It was so nice to see that the kitchen was always neat and everyone did their job with such precision!
The space overall is quite cramped and it may not be for a romantic evening since you are more than likely going to be sharing a table with 8 others that you do not know. There is also no waiting area, per se, so all the folks waiting were in the one aisle in the whole place. I personally don't like to feel people waiting behind me, ready to grap my seat.
This place is kind of pricey so it isn't a place we could go all the time but it is definitely a great place to spend a special occasion with a group of friends.
People thought this was:
We had to sit at the chef's table, but I like the fact they keep 10 seats unreserved at all times. Note, if you're a bigger person or a bit broad, the chef's table is going to be really cozy. Dinner was fine when there was no one sitting beside me, but it was cramped when full. Other than that, the decor and ambiance are perfect for this type of restaurant. The mostly open kitchen and the various packed shelves makes it feel quite like home. The lighting is subtle and just bright enough and the chairs are decently comfortable.
The portions are generous and the arrangement was just fine, especially considering you're being served on IKEA dishware. We tried the prosciutto and the tajarin with ragu and stuffed ourselves until we were worried about fitting next to dining companions at the chef's table. The prosciutto was thinly sliced and would melt in your mouth, girlfriend loved it, I thought it was not outstanding. The tajarin was a fantastic egg-yolk pasta dish in a light meat sauce. The pasta was unbelievably thin for being hand-cut yet didn't fall apart when pulled with your fork. Had we not made a point to finish the appetizer, we would have finished off the pasta. As it was, we had enough pasta remaining for a single-serving lunch.
We had a glass of wine each and simply didn't save room for dessert. Out the door was a bit over $100, which is a great price point considering the quality and proper quantity of food. We'll definitely be back when we can treat ourselves.
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Ode to Disappointment
Disappointment comes in many forms,
As on this Friday eve was shown.
Like the devil oft without horns,
Such disappointment can be known.
At nine pee-em we ventured in,
And in cramped bathrooom's hallway stood.
Had a drink in interim,
A passable Manhattan to settle the blood.
Auspiciously, gratis tasty toasts appeared
To quell our tummies while the line
disappeared.
Vitello tonnato tradizionale... yum?
Cold veal, caper-lemon-tuna mayo'd;
Though slathered in sauce, dry to the tongue;
Pricey but good, the chicory salad.
Rapini ravioli, pine nuts, sage, butter:
Ruined it was by gross over-salting;
For 20 some dollars I expected much better.
But, that's what one gets for expecting.
The quail perplexingly both greasy and dry,
The turnips underdone though baby in size.
The ravioli I brought to the wait girl's attention,
Kindly pointed out the almost inedible mistake.
But I was only told only thank you for the mention,
I'll tell the chef... but no effort at all to compensate.
And so we left feeling disappointed and bilked;
The restaurant certainly did not live up to the price.
Out of our hard earned money we were milked;
To be sated by faux-rustic trendy will never suffice.
And so another 100 + dollars for two were spent,
Finding average among false aggrandisement.
How To Cook A Wolf is a better choice.
Also: Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer Justin Neidermeyer.
People thought this was:
Wow, this place just dazzled us. It's tiny, and it doesn't call any attention to itself from outside. They promise they're adding lights to the facade, though. It's basically all one room, except the kitchen is walled off. On Saturday night, it was pretty jumpin'. We sat at the bar--quite happily, I might add.
They bring out foie gras and truffles on toast to start, gratis. Beats olive oil, balsamic, and peasant bread, that's for sure, and I _like_ olive oil, balsamic, and peasant bread. We had the chilled veal covered with tuna puree (decadently delicious), the anchovies with herbs in olive oil (surprisingly unsalty and very flavorful), the faro salad (rich in a vegetal way, scrumptious), hand-made ravioli stuffed with jerusalem artichokes (mmmmm), sausage (served as meatballs on top of quinoa and vegetables, delectable), and a great bottle of barabaresco. We had a dazzling flight of artisan chocolates for dessert.
There aren't other places in town serving food quite like this, which is why I take the highly unusual (for me) step of calling out in my review everything we ordered. The prices are high, and you're sunk without a reservation, and parking's a huge drag. And I can't wait to go back...it's pretty much perfect.
A friend and I went here shortly after this restaurant's opening and had a lovely little Sunday dinner; Spinasse is standout in my mind among Seattle's Italian restaurant establishments, and its food is truly spectacular.
Unless you're really hungry, I recommend ordering a few things a la carte and sharing. The fixed price meal is kind of an upsell / good alternative to ordering each item individually yourself but a pasta, entree, salad, appetizer and dessert over two people is plenty.
I'll write to the things we had, though everything around us also looked very good. Beet salad and prosciutto/melon starters (two separate dishes) were perfectly seasoned, apportioned and beautifully presented. The prosciutto in particular took me right back to Italy. Handmade spaghetti with the lamb ragu was possibly some of the best pasta I think I've ever had. Whereas pasta is often a "check, we have that" type dish at most restaurants, it is a standout production at Spinasse as they make it in house and it turns out, you can tell. The rabbit meat we had for entree (perhaps slightly politically incorrect) essentially fell off the bones and was paired with perfectly seasoned carrots and potatoes. And grilled peaches with honey and cheese for dessert? This is one of those things that seems like it might go either way - but if you have the chance, go for it.
The communal tables give dinner a social aspect if you're the outgoing type, but you can easily stay absorbed in your own meal conversation if you prefer.
People thought this was:
It was kind of busy. Kind of really busy. Kind of really goddamn busy, absolutely packed to the screaming gills with an eclectic crowd of all the varieties of 30+ white folks with money, everyone thrilled for the chance to eat at a real Italian Trattoria for $50+ each on a rainy Friday night.
I couldn't really blame them, but it does give a certain feeling of exploitation when you're seated 15 minutes late for your reservation for two, at the communal table, with about half the elbow room of your standard economy aircraft seat. I mean, they cram you together on that table. Luckily for us, another party of two was seated just before and what would have been next to us, and after taking one look at the soul and body-crushing space they'd have to hold down while piling into their expensive meal, they walked right out of the restaurant.
So, we took that opportunity to occupy the same side of the table and carved out a little bubble of space for ourselves, which meant we could actually speak at normal levels and hear each other in the maelstrom of tipsy shouting. A little sound-deadening would go a long way in this restaurant (as in many others).
Why four stars, then? Well, I really liked the food. A la carte is definitely the way to go and I was pleased with all our choices, from the antipasti sampler to the beet green raviolis to the grilled, unidentifiable hunks of goat body. The pasta really is superior to any other I've had in years, and the goat, while a real horror show collection of random bits and bony pieces, had a great flavor and was perfectly cooked for my taste, with a nice carmelization on the outside and an almost braised consistency to the rest of it. The turnips and turnip greens served with it were a great accompaniment, rounding things out.
Would I go back? I would. I'm afraid I'm going to have trouble coaxing my dining companion back into the chaos, though. Maybe it' s a bit more quiet mid-week.
People thought this was:
* The chicory and pheasant salad was perfect.
* The roasted radishes were over-salted. They should know better.
* The ravoli was under-flavored. They should know better.
* I was afraid to ask for ground pepper, but they didn't mind.
* The service was fine.
* Okay, here's why I'm writing. We asked for olive oil and balsamic vinegar, to go with the bread. The bread was good, but kind of plain with nothing to put on it. Here's where they made three mistakes: (1) they said they don't serve vinegar with the olive oil, (2) they charged us $2 for the olive oil, and (3) they didn't tell us they were charging $2 for the olive oil. None of these mistakes are acceptable in a restaurant at this price level.
It's really amazing how greedy people are. I was reasonably happy with the restaurant until the olive oil thing. Doesn't Olive Garden give you free balsamic vinegar? :) I was convinced this restaurant was in business for something other than money (food? people? vibe?), but I guess it's not true. Oh well, they had me fooled for a minute.
People thought this was:
Two minutes after being seated at the communal table we knew we were in trouble. A pair of couples was next to us; they did not notice we sat. One guy was talking. He was talking LOUD. He was talking NONSENSE. So and so's a genius, went to Harvard. Hard to raise their children with SO MUCH money. The NANNY bought the child a book. His father in-law is WEALTHY. I'm stewed, my wife is more. She's closer. The LOUD is coming right at her and bouncing back from the wall. "Maybe they'll leave soon", she says. "They're on the pasta course, they'll be here when WE leave:", I say. She looks sad. The starters were good but can't fix it. We eye two empties at the counter, eye the others at the counter, wonder if they are lesser or greater evil. He keeps talking. He gets louder. He brags up his friends, he talks about money. The pasta comes. Our hearts sink further. We hangdog the waitress. She has PITY. She moves us to the counter. We move quiet. We eat our pasta. The pasta is good. A couple comes in LATE. They sit straightaway at the bar. They talk LOW. We blew it. We should have come LATE. Dinner's good, we walk past them when we leave. They're still there. Didn't see us change seats, didn't see us EVER.
People thought this was:
A friend took me here for my birthday celebration. I can't tell anyone how delicious the food was, you have to taste it for yourself. We came on a busy Saturday night and had reservations. We were sat right away, our server was on top of everything I had a wonderful time.
Im a total food snob and used to work in the industry so usually I would have something to add to a dish such as salt or this dish needs acid and so on. I had nothing to add or take away from any of the dishes that we shared, everything was perfect. I will be back soon and I am sending everyone I know.
People thought this was:
R: So sad for Dinana....
ME: What the fuck are you talking about?
R: A year ago you would be taking your husband to this fancy pants dinner with the rents and now you're reduced to taking your gay. Your gay with a cyclops-like zit between his eyes no less.
ME: Yeah....I think I'll pull through OK if Rynin just STOPS TALKING ABOUT HIS FUCKING ZIT.
We arrive to find the rents sitting in the only non-communal table by the window, already sucking on some nice chilled spumante served to them gratis (bottle of Barbaresco from step-pops cellar breathing happily in the center of the table).
SP: Their wine list is going to be really great in about 8 years.
ME: You don't say....
ME & R: *eyes rolling, smirks repress giggles*
We get the whole damn menu, with a double serving of the goat for the main and no bunny rabbit. Hmmph. I'll eat a fucking bunny rabbit...
Mom: Poor cute little bunny...
R: And they SCREAM when you kill them...no way I'm eating Thumper.
ME: Goats aren't cute? And if I recall correctly - Thumper was an asshole.
M & R: ........
ME: Yeah. NOW WHAT??
We start with the amuse bouche crostini - rabbit pate and a ricotta topping to choose from. MMMMMMM...Thumper's little liver is TASTY.
Next comes the onslaught of apps:
Chicory Salad - Nums.
Melon and Prosciutto - Melon so ripe, prosciutto so perfectly sliced. Oh. God.
Salami and onions: Had to be from Salumi.
Zucchini blossom fritatta: Nice. Not a lot of flavor.
Veal loin with tuna sauce and caper berries: Baby cow prepared SO WELL - melted in me and the step-pops mouths.
Sardines with some unidentified yellow stuff and capers on top - Loved that yellow stuff.
ME: You two should really have some of the baby cow - it's amazing.
R: You go right ahead and eat the fear....
ME: You know - I think chickens get scared too dumb shit.
R: How's that fear going down? Tiny black heart almost a pile of ashes?
Mom: Poor little cow....
Now totally sated. And here comes the pasta course....
Capellini in Veal Ragout - Funny that the PETA twins ate that with no issue...hmmmm. And mmmmm....
Spinach Ravioli with Pine Nuts - My favorite, swimming in a pool of incredibly seasoned olive oil.
Obscure shape with Creminis - Dunno. Don't eat fungus. Was not inhaled by the rest of the table.
Leftover pasta in veal broth - Why for?
Now ready to BURST. Here comes the main course.
Goat with garbanzos: Meh. And I honestly don't employ "meh", but can't come up with anything more descriptive. It really fits here. Bet the bunny was ambrosia....
ME: What's the dessert course?
Server: A special cheese.
ME: THANK GOD. I can't have cheese.
It did come with amazing grilled nectarines and local honey - so I had some of that. Refreshing and delicious. And then I exploded. Messy, messy.
And so went the closing ceremonies of Birthday Month 2008. I'll go back.
People thought this was:
The food was great at Spinasse. Fresh pasta, yummy salami. If it were just the food that I was rating I would give them a 4 or a 5.
However, I think they are still working out the kinks on the operations front. We had reservations for two - and arrived on time and were seated late. I didn't mind this (although it made my dinner companion fussy) but when we were seated we were at the large community table in the middle of two groups. The result was that it was difficult to have a private or intimate conversation. We also heard a lot about the woman next to me's c-section and the guy on the other side of us foibles with trying to sell his house...The service was also a little bit slower...we asked for salt, and had to ask for it again.. If i were to go again, I'd go with a group and plan for it to be noisy. Again the food was delicious.
Update: the owner contacted me and was completely awesome about things - he also explained that they are revamping their reservations and seating process (by extending the time for a dinner to occur and being more specific about where and how they place parties). I'm upgrading my review to 4 stars as a result - the food was really fantastic and their follow-up was great.
People thought this was:
Tonight was the grand opening of Justin Neidermeyer's (of Via Tribunali fame) latest culinary venture..
and I, for one, was not going to miss it!
Right next door to Salon Dewi is where you'll find the itty bitty Cascina Spinasse: A sweet, rustic communal dining space where they encourage you to really 'love thy neighbor' because, well.. you really don't have a choice.
Their menu is priced per person, and all dishes are served family style. Don't come here if you're looking for Buca prices.. You won't find them here.
There are three different ways to eat at Cascina Spinasse. You order the 1.) one main and an appetizer ($33/ person), You get 2.) two mains and two apps ($47) or You're totally RAD and order 3.) the entire menu ($76/ person).
Pricey? Sure. Worth it? Absolutely.
We started with a few delightful complimentary toasts, generously smothered with goat cheese and drizzled with olive oil. After perusing the wine list, we opted for a few glasses of the Anelis, which was fruity and light and a nice companion to our prosciutto melon appetizer. Loads upon loads (they're heavy handed with the stuff) of tasty, thickly cut prosciutto paired with perfectly ripe, juicy melon. It was a great way to start the meal.
For our entree, we went with the gnocchi. It was so smooth and buttery that for a moment, I questioned whether or not it was actually butter. It was paired with Chantrelle mushrooms in a light tomato sauce, which really made it one of the best dishes I've had in quite some time.
In addition to the three menu options, they've also got a few sides to choose from. We went the chickpea salad route. It was flavorful and tangy, with bits of cabbage and was a nice accompaniment to the pile of 'Jesus pillows' (Yes, the gnocchi was THAT good, and YES, they came from heaven) we quickly consumed.
Our neighbors enjoyed the chicory salad-- they HIGHLY recommended it, and the the Veal with the Tuna Tartare-- fine, but not so highly recommended. They also enjoyed a slab of big ol' crusty bread from Columbia City bakery and they said it was fantastic.
The host was extremely pleasant, the waitress- sweet and informative, and our communal dining neighbors were a hoot!
Great place if you're willing to 'fork out some cash' and sit closely amongst others. The service was good.. the meal was impressive, and upon entering, you are immediately transported to the French countryside.
Do NOT come here if you're just looking to order a little something inexpensive from the menu. You cannot do that here.
Oh, and if you're into this sort of thing, Boss Man Justin Neidermeyer was bustin' out fresh pasta and talking to the staff in the gorgeous open kitchen (it was stunning!) the entire time we're there. Dope!
If you want beautiful, rustic food with some fabulous atmosphere, make a reservation for Cascina Spinasse.
I promise, you'll leave here loving life just a little bit more.
People thought this was:
You better like your neighbors, cuz you're sitting elbow-to-elbow with them at Spinasse's communal tables. I guess I'm sort of neutral on this trend... it can be enjoyable if you're sitting next to cool people, but you really can't talk exclusively to your dining companion.
The food is fantastic. Looking at the menu, I thought the prices were kinda high, but the dishes are all quite large. My friend and I split the beet salad, mushroom pasta and the braised rabbit and it was too much for us to finish. We also sampled our neighbors' vitello tonnato (veal with tuna mayo and capers) which was delicious and very rich.
Plenty of wine selections by the glass, but the one I ordered kinda tasted like it had been opened the day before. It wasn't terrible, but that is one of my pet peeves about "by the glass" ordering.
People thought this was:
I'm not just throwing out the 5 stars here arbitrarily -- I think I just might have a new favorite (Seattle) restaurant. Justin's pasta is second to none. It's like the soul of an old Italian woman is trapped in there... Seriously, best I've ever had. I'm very happy that it's now accessible six days a week.
I really dig the communal table thing, but I was feeling a little ornery, so we sat at the bar in order to facilitate my anti-social behaviour. We love to share, so we happily went with the principale option ($47/person), but the menu we were provided had everything available a la carte. Before devouring the chicory salad and the anchovies in verde salsa (so delicious), we were provided with some crostini. The goat cheese was, well, goat cheese, but the chicken liver/porcini was straight outta flavour country. The cavatelli with mushrooms, tomato and basil was phenomenal, but I'm sure you guessed that after reading my first paragraph. We finished with the slow roasted goat with chickpeas, which was tender, moist and delicious. We lingered over an Amaro and marveled at all of the toys in the kitchen.
Fantastic space, fantastic food and fantastic staff. You'll leave grinning from ear to ear.
People thought this was:
Having noted other Yelpers have gone into great detail about Casina Spinasse...I'm just going with a simple: "This is the best meal I have enjoyed in Seattle, in months." Truly beautifully done from top to bottom...sat at the corner of the bar and ate until full. Lovely Adam and Michelle took great care of us as we watched the back of the house joyfully craft delicious morsels of love for us to consume. Great wine list, perfectly drinkable.
Stunning, loved every moment.
If you need to transport yourself out of the US and into Italy, the Italy someone who loves food dreams of, trust me when I say, its here in Seattle on Capitol Hill.
Beer Wine and a few select bourbon and gins to enjoy. GO!
People thought this was:
Ambitiously, Spinasse attempts not just one, but two fairly challenging restaurant conceits: focusing on a particular region, and communal seating. Happily, it largely succeeds on both counts.
First, the food. Cascina Spinasse is devoted to the food and wine of Piedmonte, located in the northwest corner of the Italy, bordering France. It's best known as the source of Italy's (arguably) two best wines, Barolo and Barbaresco. The food is wide-ranging, but typical of northern Italy: lots of meat and dairy, but little in the way of tomatoes and more typical "Italian" dishes.
The menu is a bit confusing: it's broken into a few different categories (antipasti [appetizers], primi [pastas], secondi [meats], and contorni [sides]). You can order dishes a la carte, or select a couple of family-style dining options. I suppose those offer a slight price break, but I can't imagine why you'd otherwise want to restrict your options (since everyone has to get the same dish, they just size it up based on the number of diners).
My companion and I started with the antipasto misto, a sampler of all seven antipasti offered on the menu. All were tasty, though the thinly sliced poached veal with a tuna and caper mayonnaise was standout among the bunch to me. The prosciutto was fantastic, but that didn't come as much of a surprise. On the other hand, the steak tartare was disappointingly mild in flavor.
From there, we shared a serving of the ricotta and nettle ravioli. They came in a sage butter sauce, with a few fried sage leaves scattered on top. This dish was more a case of "what could have been" in my mind. Everything was tasty, but the dish needed to be salted a bit more aggressively to bring out the flavors. A few more fried sage leaves would have offered more of a counterpoint to the texture and flavor of the ravioli as well.
From there, we moved to a braised leg of duck served with savoy cabbage. This was amazing in every way: the duck was intensely flavored and almost shockingly tender, and the cabbage was perfectly cooked.
We finished with a selection of chocolates from a biodynamic (whatever that means) plantation on Sao Tome, which were delicious but perhaps a bit undersized for $14. I did appreciate getting some toasted cocoa beans along with the chocolate.
Beverage-wise, Spinasse has a very limited bar, the only thing that violates the "solely Piedmontese" concept (somehow I don't think Glenlivet scotch originates there). I was able to get my usual pre-dining drink (Campari and soda), and the wine list has an impressive selection of Arneis, Barberas, Dolcettos, and Nebbiolos, along with the requisite Barolos and Barbarescos. We ended up with a nice bottle of Barbera for a reasonable price.
Oddly, Spinasse only offers espresso shots: no drip coffee, no espresso drinks. It's only when contrasted with the bar options that this seems like an odd place to make a stand about what is authentically Piedmontese.
Our service was fantastic throughout the evening: the host was wonderfully accommodating, both to our lateness and my inability to find a parking spot, and our server was knowledgeable, helpful, and just genuinely engaging in a way that I greatly appreciate. We were fairly lucky, getting seated at the end of a large table, which avoided one potential pitfall of communal seating.
The one other thing I wanted to mention is that the restaurant is almost impossible to find from the street. As far as I can tell, nowhere on the front does it actually say "Cascina Spinasse." Thankfully, I had the street address, but it took a bit too much effort to actually locate the restaurant. It's also a tiny space which is usually packed, so noise can be a bit of an issue.
In the end, I'm torn on the score. Spinasse aspires to a very specific image, and for the most part it nails it. However it's hard for me to see it becoming a regular part of my dining routine: the food was good, occasionally great, but never transcendent. On the other hand, all the other aspects of the meal were pitch-perfect. To me, this is a fantastic place for a group of 6-8 people, where you can secure your own table, taste everything, and just absorb the atmosphere. Couples should be a bit warier, especially if the idea of being seated between people you don't know gives you a pause, or you want spaghetti and meatballs.
The only thing that wasn't authentically Italian about this place was the near-instant service. Perfect, hand-made pasta, with sauces that blend with rather than drown the noodles. A small, seasonal menu. Perfect aspargus, grilled and almost crispy on the outside, but soft in the center, seasoned with hard-boiled egg and a musky cheese. I thought the dining room was intimate rather than cramped, as others have complained. Probably the best Italian I've had in Seattle. A little pricey -- for 2 people, 1 glass of wine, a shared side-dish, two small bowls of pasta, $75 -- or it would have been a 5-star experience.
NEW Early Dinner Menu - $10!
Neighborhood: Mt. Baker
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