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Cascina Spinasse
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1531 14th Ave(between Pine St & Pike St)
Seattle, WA 98122
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
(206) 251-7673
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Chris G. said: "Went here for a birthday party dinner in December 2011. I think we had about 14 people. I had no idea about this place before coming. I'll spare you the details on the food that have been set out in other reviews. It's the same thing…" read more »
257 reviews for Cascina Spinasse
Review Highlights
"The rabbit meatballs were off the charts yummy."
(in 24 reviews)
"Still a fan of the tajarin with butter and sage."
(in 6 reviews)
"...was a favorite--a goat cheese mousse with candied blood..."
(in 7 reviews)
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257 reviews in English
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Review from Kathy S.
Seattle, WA
2/3/2012
The food deserved 4.5 stars and the service topped it off to a 5. Their famous dish is theri tajarin with butter and sage, and its fame is well deserved. Such buttery goodness is just sinful. The portion size was small, but then no one should gorge on something like that. I also had the antipasti sampler, which was excellent. Desert was sooo good (sorry don't remember the name, as it's no longer on the menu).
There was a couple of problems in communication between our waitress and the people that bring out the food. We got a smaller amount of wine than originally ordered, so our waitress fixed the situation by giving us more wine. The BF and I ended up way tipsy, which wasn't a bad thing. The kitchen also forgot our tajarin, so she brought out a new order right away and comped it. I totally understand mistakes, and she easily turned it into a positive experience. Spinasse has become my favorite Italian place in Seattle. -
Review from Amy Z.
Seattle, WA
1/31/2012
12 hours later, and I'm still full. I'd echo some of the comments about this spot being some of the best Italian on The Hill.
The obvious star dish is their tajarin w/ butter and sage, but get ready, this one is heavyyyyyy. You might need to either wear sweats or be prepared to unbutton your pants. Their rabbit dishes are well-known; however, my moral conscious pointed me in a more traditional direction with their beef cheeks (which were phenomenal).
Give their poached egg w/ black truffles a try - you'll be delighted. -
Review from Michael U.
Dublin, OH
Full review in the blog - one of the best Italian restaurants in the United States.
Highlight dishes:
The Hand cut Tajarin with butter and sage would prove to be every bit worth the substantial hype, no small feat for something as simple as butter, noodles, salt, and a few leaves of crispy sage. Impossibly light, literally melting in the mouth particularly when saturated in so much butter, and just a touch of seasoning - it reminded me all at once of my childhood love of simple butter and noodles and some of the best angel-hair pasta dishes I have ever had. While I was glad my aunt ordered it so I could try other things there was also a part of me that wanted to steal the plate - yes, steal buttered noodles - or at least order a serving of my own.
"Uovo con fonduta al tartufo nero" paired three things I love into a single warm jar; a poached egg, black truffles, and creamy fontina cheese. Again seemingly focused on simplicity and purity of flavors this dish would prove to be another great success even before I took a bite as a simple flip of the latch permeated the air with the smell of butter and truffles and once this effect was fully appreciated I moved on to taking a bite, the buttery "fonduta" melding seamlessly with the creamy egg while the truffle notes filled the palate. A lovely dish and for all intents and purposes a texture somewhere between a soup and a spread my only regret was that it arrived with another hot item because otherwise I'd have savored it with about a half of a loaf of bread.
Pig Trotters with tangerine, lentils, stewed winter greens, and foie gras butter would prove to be a tasty and well composed dish nearly opposite the egg in every conceivable way. Beginning first with the feet - two were served in total and each was hemisected, breaded, fried, and intensely porky and succulent with notes of sage and rosemary detectable in the light coating. Moving next to the accoutrements, the lentils were presented as a toothsome admixture that although slightly undercooked for my taste proved to be a nutty foil to the pork while the light gravy of melted foie gras presented the liver's trademark sapor while two sections of citrus and a twist of their juice helped to offset an otherwise hearty winter plate a few degrees towards the warmer seasons.
"Baba di meyer limoncello" would prove every bit as lovely as I'd hoped and next to Del Corso's Quince and Polenta cake (enjoyed only earlier that night) it would prove to be the second best dessert of the trip. Beginning first with the baba, in this case a steamed cake with a lot of density but large open pockets not unlike a popover, the limoncello soaked pastry was exemplary in texture while the booze was admirably balanced by the smooth citrus sweet meyer lemon cream. Already impressive but not yet ready for prime as it were, a final addition to this plate was made tableside as a drizzle of warm cardamom flower honey was added providing not only a mild fructose sweetness but also a lovely floral note that lingered on the finish. -
Review from Lisa S.
12/26/2011
Last summer there were a lot of weird meats in this Italian food and almost no vegetarian options. 6 months later, the menu is much better. (Wish the pork loin, beef cheeks and all the roasted veggies were on the menu before.)
The pasta itself is amazing and melt-in-your-mouth....don't leave without trying the angel hair ragout. There was some kind of poached egg dish in a mini mason jar that was out of this world (Poached egg with fontina fonduta and local black truffles). A must-try.
My only real complaint is that I was visiting from Portland with a friend who eats kosher, and I wanted the $95 tasting menu for myself. But that menu is not available for one person. They don't say this on the online menu, though, so I was looking forward to that $95 tasting all weekend, only to be disappointed.
Really? So I can't come back to Seattle, go out to dinner by myself, sit at your bar, and order the tasting menu? That makes me sad.... -
Review from Rrr V.
Seattle, WA
1/15/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Ethereal!
Host: 3.0
Waitress: 4.5
Food-taste, presentation 4.9
Property-style, decor, ambiance: 4.5 -
Review from Yvonne D.
1/22/2012
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT ON CAPITOL HILL :)
Impressed! This Italian restaurant specializes in the cuisine of the Piedmont region of northern Italy. So the wine menu only cary wines from that region which is awesome because you have about 10 different Barolos, Nebbiolos, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Barbarescos to choose from. The food was delicious and we were mmmmmmmmmming the entire meal. You MUST get the Uovo con fonduta al tartufo as a starter it was amazing. The pastas are also another must get. I got the Ragu pasta and my friend got the butter and sage version. The ragu was delicious and tasty with a good balance of meat and light tomato sauce . While the butter/sage was ridicuously indulgent and one of the most buttery dishes I ever had. I like that they have small + large portion prices. The atmosphere is cozy and rustic - a sure fire way to impress whomever kind of place. Here is everything we ordered:
****Uovo con fonduta al tartufo nero $14*
Poached egg with fontina fonduta and local black truffles
*****Tajarin al ragù o burro e salvia $11 / 17
Fine hand cut egg pasta with ragù or butter and sage.
Polpetti di coniglio $20
Rabbit meatballs wrapped in caul fat, with caramelized turnip puree and pickled horseradish condiment.
Cavoletti di Bruxelles $10
Brussel sprouts with pine nuts.
I definitely need to try this on my next trip! For the money its a steal!!!!!
DEGUSTAZIONE TASTING MENU
Explore great dining with this family style tasting of every antipasto, primo and secondo on the menu. $95 per person + tax & gratuity
Cascina Spinasse you just found yourself a repeat customer. -
Review from Michaela D.
Santa Barbara, CA
1/25/2012
4.5 stars. Before visiting Seattle on a whim, the one thing I knew we must do was eat at Spinasse, on a recommendation from a co worker who had been raving about it since September. Often disappointed by Italian restaurant recommendations, I remained skeptical as we entered the small and inviting restaurant.
We started with Negroni cocktails recommended by our waitress--the only negative to the meal. On the bright side, I learned I am not a fan of Campari.
Instead of a bread basket we were served paté--delicious and a nice surprise.
We ordered a taste of all 4 appetizers, which I would strongly recommend. Only the pork loin with tuna sauce fell short of my expectations tasting too tuna salad like. The chicory salad was my favorite, light and full of flavor.
Next, the crown jewel--pasta. We got both the ragu and butter and sage handcut pasta. The ragu was very good, but not especially rave worthy. The butter and sage pasta on the other hand--no words. Rich, creamy, you really just have to try it. I could barely contain myself..food porn is a very fitting description. Next time I would stick with the butter sage pasta and try a ravioli along with it.
We finished with the rabbit meatballs--hearty, great flavor, delicious. All in all a fantastic meal with great service and nice ambiance. I will be back the next time I'm in Seattle. -
Review from Aaron C.
Seattle, WA
1/24/2012
Sure, the food is amazing. What I challenge you to find is a better *feeling* restaurant. This place is just vibrating with good people. Take a moment away from your romanesco appetizer to watch the wait staff interact with the prep cooks, or the manager interact with the patrons. See? They aren't running around angry or harried, they are calmly and happily making great food...together. I suggest you join them.
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Review from Debbie W.
Seattle, WA
12/3/2011
I've wanted to come here for dinner ever since it opened...why oh why did we take so long. Perfect in every way.
First the space - beautiful, open kitchen, warm, smells incredible. Small intimate tables, mismatched silverware is a great touch plus the cacti in odd coffee cups on every table.
Second the service. Jeffrey, our server, was excellent. Steered us right on wine (Barbera, a carafe) asked if we'd ever been, told him no, and he steered us on some food as well.
We started with a special - prawns cooked with fennel, leeks and meyer lemon. Incredible. Then moved onto a half portion of the Tagarin with Sage and another special that was Pork Belly with hand cut pasta. Oh my god, absolutely incredible, authentic northern italian food. Finished with a gelato torrone thing with honey.
This place is heaven for those who like real italian food. -
Review from Jessica H.
Manhattan, NY
1/14/2012
Spent three hours at this restaurant catching up with an old friend we hadn't seen in a while. Very happy with the restaurant's food and service.
What we got:
Roasted pork loin with tuna sauce - This appetizer was okay
Tajarin with butter and sage sauce - DELICIOUS!! noodles were very fresh, light and thin
Roasted cauliflower and anchovy ravioli - This dish was okay. The anchovy was not overpowering
Rabbit meatballs - VERY good but I was so full by the time I got to this dish that I couldn't eat much of it. The meatballs were really moist and tender and not at all gamey.
Roasted cauliflower - This side was way too salty
Apple Crespelle - This was okay. My friends liked this more than me but that's because I have a major sweet tooth and this dessert wasn't that sweet.
Service:
Very friendly and great service. The ambiance of the restaurant was very nice with dim lighting and simple decor. Appreciated the free liver pate they gave us when we sat down for dinner. -
Review from Cameron F.
Tacoma, WA
1/17/2012
My wife and I went for drinks at the attached lounge and were amazed at the quality of the appetizers and the complexity and taste of the coctails. Then we had dinner at the restaurant, with a view of the kitchen. Amazing to watch the pasta artisans do their magic. The staff was helpful and informative. Their recommendations were perfect, just as the food was.
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Review from Kay C.
10/21/2011
I had heard about this place for awhile and finally came to check it out.
Ambiance - was fantastic, and apparently the place has doubled in size which is good.. definitely spacious enough now and liked the feel of the place.
Service - also very good, our waitress was knowledgeable, recommended wine, etc. We had a good time.
Food - this was the part where it's hard to say. I liked the food yes. I didn't have anything I didn't like. But the portions were underwhelming for the price. And if I'm going to compare handmade pasta in Seattle, I still prefer some other places over this one. So while it was tasty ... nothing was special enough for me to justify coming back for the price. That is the reason for me to rate 3 stars. I might give it a 4 even if it was expensive but if I would still come back but with so many great restaurants in Cap Hill, and so many great Italian restaurants in Seattle in general .... it doesn't seem worth it. -
Review from Orlene D.
11/13/2011
3 1/2
This place has a lovely cozy setting. I came here over a year ago after reading the raving reviews about their Tajarin ragu & the butter/sage. I love pasta so was very excited. However, I ended up being disappointed because I did not feel that there was enough flavor in the pastas. I would have liked more sauce mixed with the pasta. -
Review from Alexis L.
Seattle, WA
1/1/2012
Cascina Spinasse is one of my new favorites in Seattle! The ambiance is welcoming and warm, the service is the same, and the food was delicious! The roasted beet salad and romanesco broccoli with fontina cheese sauce were great starters! They also gave us complimentary rabbit pate on a crostini, which was a nice touch. I had a daily special of torn pasta sheets with a pork belly ragu, highly recommended. The milky gelato with pistachios tasted dairy fresh and refreshing. My only complaint is that it's not easy to find parking, but it's well worth the trip!
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Review from Cemarie D.
Redmond, WA
10/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This spot is so very romantic! It's definitely not white table cloth, but whenever we want to celebrate an anniversary, birthday etc. Spinasse is where we come. I would recommend getting reservations. They recently expanded which is great, but still a table is hard to come by.
Very authentic Italian home feel. Service is very friendly, non intrusive or smug. The menu changes but the Pork Shoulder and the Rabbit Meatballs are up there as our favorites of all time. Tagliatelle seems to change but has always had great flavors and fresh ingredients. Bottles of Italian wines range from 35-150 I believe so something for everyone! -
Review from Conrad C.
Seattle, WA
11/11/2011
Stop #3 on my tour of Seattle's better restaurants with Wife, Mom Bey, and Dad Bey. I would say this is the second-best place I've been, after Walrus and the Carpenter.
First I should comment on the decor. It was cool and drizzly outside (I know, knock you over with a feather), but it just felt so warm and homey inside. It wasn't dressy inside either, but felt romantic (even with my parents there) with the dark colors and candlelight.
Wife and Dad Bey both got the tajarin; Wife with ragu, Dad Bey with butter and sage. The tajarin is Spinasse's handmade pasta - it's super thin, thinner than angel hair. Butter and sage pasta sounds boring, but it was amazing. Definitely the best dish any of the four of us got. The tajarin with ragu was still really good, too, though.
Mom Bey and I shared the tajarin with ragu and the rabbit meatballs. The meatballs were quite good; there was a touch of horseradish on top of each that really paired well with the meatball.
The winelist is extensive. We got some really tasty wine that I can't remember the name of. -
Review from Jessica D.
Seattle, WA
11/29/2011
I'd give this place 10 stars if I could.
This is the place we chose for our post wedding celebration. We had never been there and had no idea what to expect except what we read on Yelp - and I trust the people! :)
First off all, the atmosphere is fantastic. The service, never had better.
The food... wow. Wow is the only word that comes to mind when I reflect on what I experienced and it was 3 weeks ago.
The server recommended the four of us do a communal style dinner where we try different things and boy are we thankful we did! Also, it comes out one plate at a time which is kinda awesome... the pace is perfect for a nice evening of socializing and actually having a chance to enjoy each course and flavor. I see some reviews saying the service is slow but I almost think it needs to be to get the full experience. We live in a society where we order a big plate of something and eat it so fast we never took the time to enjoy it... such a shame.
The menu is limited yes, but I learned quickly that there is no reason to have a huge menu if every dish is impeccable. Many of the dishes scared me as I have never had Northern Italian and was hesitant yet pleasantly surprised once each touched my taste buds!
Started with prosciutto which is not to be missed! Seriously. Then we had three different pastas... hand cut angel hair and ragu which blew my socks off... hand cut angel hair with sage & butter which I'm still dreaming of and a potato & fontina ravioli which was outstanding! Next up... bacon wrapped rabbit meatballs... the one dish I refused to try... yet after seeing my table raving about them for 5 minutes I realized I must be missing out. And of course, this dish ended up being my favorite. I'll never look at bunnies the same. Sorry little guys, you are DELICIOUS! Then the incredibly tender pork belly arrived.. mmmmm! Final course, veges! Chardonnay carrots - wowza! And some sort of green cauliflower that was seared on the top and covered in a cheese sauce. We had plans for dessert already but I'm pretty sure we missed out by not continuing the path of greatness that is Spinasse.
Prices - incredibly reasonable for the quality.
I'm dying to go back. I hope to make this our yearly anniversary treat! .
Make this place your next spot for a special meal you will remember. -
Review from Clarissa O.
Seattle, WA
I've tasted other things but nothing is like their butter and sage. I think they cut the butter with cocaine.
I start sweating and vibrating simultaneously if I haven't had my fix in awhile. I would be willing to break into a loving family members home [probably grandma], steal her jewelry, and sell it in order to pay for this habit.
Please don't ever learn how to Yelp, grams. -
Review from David B.
Bellevue, WA
10/16/2011
Best pasta in Seattle! If you're looking for something different than the usual italian with impeccable service and a well thought out wine list, this is the place! The food hails from the Piedmont region of Italy, definitely worth the experience. Both of the tajarins were awesome! We preferred the meat ragu, but the butter & sage was nearly as good. Do be sure to try the rabbit meatballs and the carrots as well (they somehow caramelized it!)
The place is great for a date, everything is meant for sharing and if it wasn't for the chairs sinking in a little, I would've given it 5 stars. -
Review from Scott M.
Mercer Island, WA
9/7/2011
What an amazing experience!
First time to Spinasse, and was so blown away start to finish it is hard to know where to start with saying great things!
Server? Awesome on every level!
Food? 6 dishes, and each more amazing than the last
Ambience? I could have been anywhere in the Italian mother land of great food and wine...perfect
Value? I felt almost guilty with how little we paid for the incredible time we spent being pampered, guided to the next great dish, and made to feel so very welcome by our server.
Wine? Very fairly priced, and great selection: Vietti Arneis and La Spinetta Ca di pian
Standout dishes? Sweet pea panna cota, Tajarin pasta, rabbit meatballs wrapped in decadent caul fat...it just left me so deeply satisfied on so many levels!
Thank you to our great server (short hair, wry wit, and super engaging), and to the folks in the back of the house that knocked out of the park every dish! -
Review from Rachel W.
Chicago, IL
9/16/2011
My family had dinner here on our final night in seattle...I did a ton of research to make sure we had the best of the best and it paid off.
We got all three homemade pastas and each one was more delicious than the next.
We also had this amazing vegetable crepe for an app & the freshest greens imaginable. Everything is local & it makes the world of a difference.
The place had a warmth to it & the service was flawless. Highly recommend. -
Review from Adria S.
Seattle, WA
7/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This is one of, if not the, best and most authentic Italian restaurant in Seattle. It's menu is simple, rustic Italian that relies on superb ingredients. Its homemade pasta is to die for. I highly recommend the ragu, which is one of the only things that doesn't change on the menu. I really appreciate how the chefs don't overwhelm the delicate pasta with sauce, but rather ensures a perfect ratio between the two. Being Italian American and hailing from New Jersey, I know the difference between Italian food, and Italian American food, and this one definitely falls in the authentic Italian category, straying from the typical pizza and pasta-drenched-in-heavy-sauces model that a lot of American Italian restaurants follow. Oh, and if you like rabbit, this is the place for you. Spinasse stays true to its northern Italian inspiration and often has a variety or rabbit dishes on the menu.
Aside from the excellent food, Spinasse has wonderful ambiance, making it the perfect place to celebrate a special occasion or experience a night out on the town. The wait staff often asks the occasion, and they often look at us surprised when we say "no reason, just like it," since it is in the higher price range. Also, I wouldn't say it is the most baby friendly restaurant, but we've brought my niece there twice (10 months) and the wait staff often smiles at her, so it's not all bad.
Overall, if you have an appreciation for rustic food that allows the ingredients to speak for themselves, you will love Spinasse. -
Review from A. B.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 9/3/2011
Spinasse is really as good as it gets with handmade pastas...their Tajarin is worth dying for! i have now tried it with both the ragu & the butter/sage & really enjoyed both equally, they're just different. we had the cavatelli too, it melted in your mouth as well. the romano beans, sauteed in butter & garlic were oh so amazing!
fortunately they have doubled in size so fortunately we were able to walk in (it was before 6 pm on a Fri night).Listed in: Good for Vegetarians, Top 10 Fav Seattle Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/20/2009
Food was good, don't get me wrong...but not great & that was the deal breaker...4 of went there for… Read more »
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Review from Yumiko K.
8/26/2011
I've heard so many good things about this restaurant and been dying to give it a try. I am glad that they did deliver the goods!
I love their dining counter, which, I admit, could get easily crowded with all the glasses/plates/cutlery, but I really enjoyed the view into the kitchen from the counter. I could see a lot of staff working busily preparing a delicious-looking dish after a delicious-looking dish after a delicious-looking dish! It totally makes you want to sample every single item that comes out of the kitchen.
I can't remember the name of the pasta dish I tried. It had eggplant in it, and I kicked myself for not ordering the large size. We also got a salmon dish, which was one of the specials on that day. The salmon was cooked perfectly as its skin was crisp and well-seasoned and its flesh moist yet flaky. A scoop of beans under the salmon tasted like Italian baked beans. Balsamic reduction with beans? Tangy sweet goodness!
Whatever you do, you must order a pasta dish when you go there! (FYI: They don't seem to update the menu on the website.) -
Review from Tanya S.
Edmonds, WA
8/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
A little bit of fantastic...
...that's how our waiter described one of the pasta dishes. He was wrong. It was a whole lot of awesome!
I came here twice last week for my sister's birthday and my best friend's birthday. I would come here every night if I could, absolutely wonderful meal and dining experience both times.
I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to nearly try everything on the menu over the course of my two visits. My favorite? The cavatelli with morel mushrooms (see picture). SO GOOD. I got this not once, not twice, but three times. Once on my sister's birthday, then had to get it a second time... misled myself into thinking we would have enough for leftovers, so when we polished it off at my BFF's dinner, we had to order a to-go for me to take home. If it's on the menu, absolutely worth ordering. The morels offer a meat-like substance and the sauce is one that keeps you coming back for more until you realize you're licking your plate clean. NOM!
In fact, order as many of the primi (pasta) courses as possible, the second dinner we ordered a smaller version of each pasta dish, with the exception of the cavatelli, I ordered both a large and a small to go. It would be impossible to go wrong with any of their pastas at any given time. The tajarin is so delicate and beautiful, it's clear why it was selected as one of the dishes featured in Pasta Porn, America's 101 top pasta dishes from New York's Grub Magazine.
Large wine selection, honestly don't know anything about Italian wines but was pleased both times with great recommendations from our waiters. Both bottles were in the $50 range, one a fruity Vietti Barbera, and another fuller bodied Dolcetta.
Definitely use opentable to make reso's - would recommend it for any special dinner, small group or date. Can't wait to come back someday and just go for the $95 tasting menu (a little bit of everything). If you love italian and are in Seattle, this is a must try! -
Review from Ross Z.
Hartford, CT
9/9/2011
Just rolled off a plane from the East Coast and found this place on yelp. What an amazing experience. Great food, great vibe, the pasta with butter and sage was like eating velvet with butter and sage. The staff was great.
Definitely a 5 star. -
Review from Bill N.
8/18/2011
The place was packed but there was no waiting line to get in on a Wednesday at 9. My wife and I had been bar hopping and weren't super hungry or thirsty by the time we were ready for dinner. That was a mistake, they had a price fix menu for $50 and I really wanted to try the whole shabang. Next time I will show up hungry.
We sat at the counter becaise the entertainment was watching the pasta guy work. All the pasta is homemade and we watched him fill raviolis.
We started with an appetizer of salami. They just gave us a few thinly sliced pieces but it was amazing and almost melted in our mouths.
I had a milk gravy roasted pork that was really tasty. Meg had a ragu thin cut pasta that was amaxing. Service was excellent - we will try to get back for a whole meal soon. -
Review from Megan O.
Seattle, WA
9/19/2011
First time at Spinasse, not for lack of trying. While my manfriend's parents were in town, we tried in vain on three separate occasions to make reserves for the four of us. Indeed, I think they've expanded since we had been bitterly ignoring them back in May, and we got reservations for two on the same day, albeit late on a Sunday.
A smattering of menu fare, we had the chicory salad, crepes, signature pasta thing, and milk pork (no side of jellybeans included). And the host dropped off some crostini topped with a load of butter and anchovy. An unexpected mouthgasm!
The salad was fab, loved the dressing, the chicory was flavorful but not too bitter. Oh and there was tasty, juicy rabbit bits as well as shaved parm. Decently sized for a primo plate, too.
Second course crepes filled with ricotta and spinach and topped with lemon hazelnut stuff. The first bite was incredible. A lovely melding of creamy, sour, crunchy, and savory. Our not-so-leisurely pace left us with slightly soggified crepe near the end. I would happily smear that hazelnut topping onto fish and bake it. Yum.
Pasta, delish! You can tell it's handmade, and not just because we saw the bloke slicing it in the kitchen. (We have a distinct habit of choosing bar seating) The sauce was good, though not a mindfuck by any stretch of the imagination. It's hard to go wrong with butter and cheese.
Milk pork shoulder. The sauce was meh. The pork had no flavor of it's own. And it was decidedly mostly fat. I had to use surgical precision to dissect the lean from fat, which although fun, was labor intensive.
Ambience, cool! Like the vampiric-seeming candelabras, pristine marble, and well apportioned space in the place. An appreciated take on using mismatched antique silver-plate flatware.
A definite must-do, and we'll bring the folks next time. -
Review from Cooking D.
Seattle, WA
7/24/2011
Cascina Spinasse is recommend by my Italian epicures friends. I am glad I finally fond the "truth out there" myself.
Let's picture ourselves walking into a large eat-in kitchen, an old world styling all the sudden became very charming. The guest seating area became the extension of the see-through kitchen offers a very homy feeling. I found myself rapidly infected with my own obsessions of fine dining scene. Not only I felt in love with the style of decor, I was surrounded with good-looking people and cheerful vibes. It's almost like a movie set. I got a sense of why restaurant patrons are also important, as they are a part of your dinning experience if you like people watching.
After sipping my "mocktail" with the cutest cellular shape lemon zests in it. I was already feeling good about the night.
It's so happened that the service was very slow and the waitress was not particularly friendly either. They forgot our antipasto and went directly to pasta dishes.
Appetite aroused, we were eager for any food after waiting for almost twenty minutes, a stylish antipasto came with four different appetizers. The food was beautiful, with tantalizing tastes and sensible textures.
The portion of "full" portion pastas could be a bit bigger. My friends were way more excited about the taglierini than I did, as I am not a big butter lover. I like the texture of cavateli much better for it's chewiness.
As dinner progressed, I was waiting for that light-bulb moment. I would say the rabbit meatball is actually the Midas touch of the night. Tenderly braised with caul fat with caramelized turnip puree and creamy polenta, this is my favorite dish of the night. The Painted Hill steak was slightly over salted, but the fava was an excellent choice to company the steak.
I would take my out-of-town friends here for a night of near Italian experience. As far as I remembered, Italian food in Italy uses very few ingredients in one dish. I am glad to find an Italian restaurant does not taste like American Italian food. Cascina Spinasse serves simple and good quality food. -
Review from Rene C.
4/26/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I hate cabbage. I hate cabbage. I hate cabbage.
I HATE CABBAGE!
You hear me cabbage? I hate you.
Wait? Are you telling me there is a cabbage dish that I might tolerate?
YES! I finally found a cabbage dish that I not only can down without gagging, but actually LOVE!
Dinner here is a truly memorable experience. The pasta dishes are prepared to absolute perfection. The pasta here is house made. I know this to be true because we actually saw them making it.
Now back to the cabbage. I wish I had a chance to corner the Chef and interrogate him on just how in the holy Hell he was able to make the best cabbage dish on the face of the planet. My wife got it as a side to compliment her pork dish (which it did perfectly), but I did my best to bogart as many bites of it as I could. Cabbage goes with pasta right?
Our server was amazing and one of the best we have had. She made sure to check in often and did an amazing job at describing each dish on the menu and was also as knowledgable on the wine list (100 percent Italian). My wife loved her so much that she hugged her on our way out.
Now that I think about it, I wish I had hugged that cabbage dish.
5 phenomenal stars!Listed in: Grunge and Grub in Seattle
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Review from Christen g.
Seattle, WA
10/9/2011 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
Wow is all I have to say. Everything we had was unbelievable: the wine, the pasta, the desserts. The service was friendly and and so knowledgeable. This is a great date spot. I can't wait to return.
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Review from Anton Z.
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
With a name like "Zanotto", I'd better know Italian food :)
We went for my partner's birthday, and were incredibly happy with the food and experience. The space is warm and comfortable, and the kitchen, which you can see from the dining room, is open and reminded me of my Italian grandmother's kitchen (only bigger and with nicer appliances).
Started with the salami (two kinds), which was moist and flavorful. The bread that comes with the salami and meal provided a nice break in the texture, and was both crusty and soft.
I had the pasta with morels and butter, which was brilliant! Deep flavors with a hint of cheese. My partner had the spaghetti with ragu, which was meaty but not overwhelming the taste of the finely made pasta. We both got the larger plates, which was not a huge amount of food but left us both satisfied.
Wine was also good - the server offered recommendations based on what we typically drink, which was really helpful, and brought me a couple to taste.
Overall, a great experience, and one I hope we repeat soon :) -
Review from Minnie K.
Seattle, WA
7/12/2011
Our first Spinasse meal was last night and we loved every course. Each plate offered a pleasant surprise. Our server was great and helped guide us through the best parts of the menus and steered us away from less tasty items.
I recommend all of these:
Trout asaparagus salad
Tajarin angelhair pasta with butter & sage
Cavatelli with mushrooms
Rib eye steak - served with a slight crust and medium rare
Dessert - i think it was a type of gelato over a honey caramel. ate it so fast I couldn't figure it out.
If you don't eat meat or pork be sure to tell your server, many of the dishes are braised in a stock that contains beef, pork, rabbit, whatever.
The menu online doesn't appear to be up to date but it seems like they rotate it often!
Artusi next door isn't officially affiliated with Spinasse, their menu is not available while you're seated in Spinasse. but you can sit in Artusi and have a beautiful cocktail while waiting for your table and the Spinasse hostess will come get you when it's time. -
Review from Sonia C.
7/20/2011
I liked the food here a lot but it seems to be missing something that I just can't put my finger on. The food is very simply prepared but the ingredients just don't shine like they do at some other restaurants at the same price point.
We ordered the tasting menu so we basically got to sample the entire menu. There were some dishes that were truly exceptional, including the oft-mentioned tajarin with butter & sage (you feel your heart protesting but it's worth it), but there were also some dishes like the fatty pork chop that was just a fatty pork chop. My least favorite was probably the lamb ravioli which tasted like wonton with lamb instead of pork.
I do remember enjoying the antipasti because the ingredients, especially the vegetables, were just so fresh. The prosciutto was really good too, extremely thinly sliced with none of that metallic taste that it can get when it's refrigerated for too long.
Dessert were great, especially the vanilla lemon panna cotta. It was smooth and delicate and disappeared from our table in 3 minutes flat.
Considering that I've already gotten the tasting menu here and evidenced the entire repertoire of the kitchen's culinary skills, I don't feel the need to return. I thought the food was good, but it just didn't wow me enough for me to come again. -
Review from Rick S.
I think they had an off night when I last reviewed. Went again tonight and everything was great. Still a fan of the tajarin with butter and sage. I also love the rabbit meatballs.
They've expanded, so seating capacity has almost doubled. It's a bit easier to find reservation spots now than before, and the quality of the food didn't seem to suffer as a result.
Service is still attentive and good.Listed in: Top Restaurants
4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/20/2010
Bottom Line - I haven't been here in many months and have to say that this place is still great;… Read more »
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Review from Kira I.
Seattle, WA
4/14/2011
So the thing about surprises...is that you have no idea where you are going....but you should just trust in the surprise. Because how often do you actually get a break from things you already know about?!
Entering into this place I was already anxious about the night. Could be a bad thing... slash could be a better perspective on things for the simple fact that the juice is worth the squeeze....?
Started with the frio gras with a delicious intermingling of tripe (not just for pho!), and my palette was already pleased. But then again how many ways can you ruin delicious duck fat!?
After came a rabbit with chickpeas dish, which was tasty, but not my favorite. But I might be biased with big meats as opposed to meats that flop around with carrots....?
My favorite dish of the night was most definitely the pork shoulder dish. Savory and juicy, exactly what I wanted and needed for the end of a long day of surprise.
The food was exceptional, and our server was just as ardent as could be. Spinasse is an amazing concept of great spice, exceptional service and distinguished flavors.
I would definitely add it to my bookmarks if you haven't already.... ;)
And don't forget the wine...! -
Review from Jason R.
Natick, MA
8/5/2011
So, the pasta here is *very* good. We had all three primi: Tajarin with sage/butter, Ravioli and Tagliatelle. All three were very flavorful and clearly hand-made. The extra egg in the pastas made a clear difference in flavor.
But, that was the end of the tasty dishes. We also got the antipasta sampler and the crepes. All of these dishes were under-seasoned. Bean salad was okay, but nothing special. Proscuitto was good, but, well, they didn't make it. Zucchini torte tasted like leftovers. Salad had too large lettuce chunks and was lacking flavor. Crepes were good once we added salt.
The wines are strictly Italian (go figure :), but very good. We got a Barbera d'Alba and an Arneis and both were excellent examples of their type.
Bottom line: enjoy pasta and wines and leave everything else to another restaurant! -
Review from Lisa C.
Seattle, WA
5/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
One of the best meals I've ever had, I have to admit all the hype I'd heard about this place is true!!! It's a small, comfy, little space on capitol hill with maybe a dozen or so tables. The space out the reservations so that people just trickle in and there's no big rush.... FYI you MUST have a reservation, this place gets packed.
We ordered the antipasto platter - highly recommended! This will enable you to try a variety of apps. I particularly enjoyed the prosciutto and the roasted cauliflower.
Do not skip the pasta course! Mitchell and I shared the rabbitt sausage dish which had been recommended by fellow yelpers and I was in heaven. The perfect amount of noodle and sausage with just a light sauce... really tasty!
Entrees included the ribeye with fava beans for me (the fava beans were TO DIE for) and Mitchell had a dish whose name I can't remember, but it was basically shredded veal in sauce, cooked in cabbage and Mitchell had an almost transcendent experience with it. I personally thought it was too rich, I couldn't have eaten it all, MItchell claims he could have eaten another serving of it.
The wine list is amazing. I was thrilled that our server did not give me the stink eye for ordering a glass of wine with my meal (I"m pregnant and I don't care if you don't agree with me), and both the wines Mitchell and I ordered by the glass were perfect. My Nebbiolo was smooth with dark fruit tones and the hubs had something else that was more european with hints of tobacco and dirt. YUM!!!
Definitely one of the best meals I've ever had!!Listed in: Locavore Seattle
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Review from Tammy T.
Kent, WA
7/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here for the first time tonight and was thoroughly impressed.
First, the waiter we had was excellent. He gave strong recommendations when we were trying to decide between dishes which I appreciated. I hate it when you get a waiter who says "oh everything is good, whatever you choose will be fine." This waiter gave clear, good advice on what to get and we couldn't have been happier with our choices. He also went above and beyond when we told him my sister has a severe nut allergy. He came back with an exact list of what was safe to eat and what was not. When we ordered a pork dish he came back a few minutes later and said "the sous chef told me there are no nuts in the dish but the pigs we use are fed hazelnuts." Now THAT is attention to detail. My sister was pretty impressed with how seriously they took her concern.
Next, the food. Everything was wonderfully flavorful and fresh. My sister asked for salt and pepper for the table but I doubt any of us used it as everything was seasoned perfectly.
For appetizers we had the rabbit pea salad, salumi, and fois gras with mushrooms. I am not a fan of peas, which makes up the bulk of the rabbit salad, but I quite enjoyed it. I'd never had fois gras so I have no base of comparison but it was delicious and melted in your mouth. The salumi came with some excellent bread.
Next we split two pasta dishes with our table of four. We had the tajarin with butter and sage which was wonderful and the cavatelli with mushrooms. Both were excellent and full of flavor.
Our third course had a side dish of wonderfully buttery sage carrots and a pork dish (I can't remember the name.) Both had so much flavor all four of us were completely smitten.
Finally for dessert we split a couple of dishes. I cannot remember the name of the dessert I had but it was basically frozen whipped cream, some sort of chocolate mousse like cream, and hazlenut chocolate. It was light and the contrast of the salty chocolate with the sweet creams was spot on. The other dessert at our table was a goat cheese cake which was more like a sponge cake than a cheese cake. It was good but not exactly what we expected.
The best part of the night was that the courses and wine were served at a leisurely pace. We ate and talked and enjoyed ourselves for about 4 hours. When we left, all of us noted that we were exactly satisfied. We weren't full nor were we hungry we were "just right." Nothing was overly heavy or greasy.
This is how dinner should be enjoyed! -
Review from Chelsea W.
San Francisco, CA
6/23/2011
Ah, Spinasse! The pastas are delicious, light and delicate - the sauces not too heavy as to distract from the noodles themselves. The not so basic butter and sage pasta highlights each flavor individually. Simplicity and perfection at its finest.
When I went I believe I had rabbit prepared three different ways. My type of place! You cannot go wrong with the food here. Everyone ordered something from each course, along with the antipasti sampler. Not one disappointing dish came out. The main courses tended to be on the rich side.
The restaurant is small, romantic and intimate (aka get to know everything about the diners next to you). The decor is homey and woodsy. This is almost like comparing apples to oranges, but the food at Spinasse blows A16, La Ciccia, Flour + Water, etc... out of the water.
