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The Old Spaghetti Factory
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
25 reviews for The Old Spaghetti Factory
When I was in high school, there was this loud, inconvenient, almost-abusive restaurant on the tracks on the Seattle waterfront. You would wait outside for an hour. Once you had a table, you would squeeze elbow-to-elbow with Mariner's fans, people with tickets to the Fifth Avenue, or someone headed to the Showbox. You couldn't hear yourself think. And you would guiltily eat your dinner while the person waiting for a table looked longingly at your tortellini.
If Walmart had envisioned a place where the soul had been stripped away completely, overweight people could gorge themselves, and we could all slowly forget what it was to once really, really live, Walmart would have built this place.
They'll yell their Birthday tune at you. They'll rattle silverware and dishes incessantly. You'll be seated next to loud groups or crying babies. It won't be the same.
The food is excellent. The portions are generous. The wait staff is friendly. The prices are beyond reasonable. Go eat there!
Then go home and quietly listen as that last cool part of you dies a little on the inside.
I know it's a chain.
I know I'm supposed to hate it.
I know other people think it sucks.
But I can't help it, I'm sorry, I like it.
Burn me at the stake.
Place was better when it first opened it's massive doors...On the other hand, it could never live up to the Seattle location, so it isn't really a fair comparison no matter how objective I try to make this review..
Perhaps it's just me, but the last time I was in, I noticed WAY TOO MANY loud little kids...I didn't really have that experience last time in Seattle, but who knows, that could just be my bias rearing it's head...
I HEART OLD SPAGHETTI!
(well, it always tastes better to me the next day).
Fresh, basic ol' comforting italian-american style pasta and dishes. Brown butter and mithrizia cheese slathered noodle goodness... Im drooling on myself!
You cant beat the price for the whole meal. Of course, its still cheaper to cook pasta at home, but I think that this place beats the olive garden for flavor and price.
I remember this place being better ...
But, here's the deal .... You can get a full meal with drink, salad, entree, and desert for under 10 bucks! If you are judging the price relative to the food, it is an A-OK deal. Sometimes you get a fresh plate of good tasting pasta, and sometimes you get something that tastes like it has been sitting in a vat for the better half of a day. Restaurant and decor are reasonable, and for some reason they have a train theme? You can sit in a train car and eat! It also should be noted we got a free plate of cheesy bread for some fundraiser thing.
All these things combined get 3 stars in my book ... go here thinking Applebees-esque and you will be able to avoid any disappointment
Having gone to one of the older ones in the chain while living in Los Angeles, we were happy to see OSF up here. It was a treat we reserved for when we were feeling flush with cash during a time of our lives that was younger and poorer. We used to savor going there and often endured a horrendous wait time.
But that was then and a long ways away from Lynnwood.
Heather O's review is spot on. I will say that the food was MUCH better when we were regulars. Now, it's very mediocre and quite tasteless. The sauces are bland pablam - as if they've been watered down. And, because we loved it so much, we actually tried it on 3 different occasions thinking the kitchen was off or something was wrong. Well, that's partially right. There is something wrong here and it's the lamentable fact that OSF is consistently mediocre.
The biggest problem was the din of that metal shack! Forget about having a quiet dinner at OSF in Lynnwood. Might I suggest a Metallica concert for a quieter venue?!?
They also hustle you out the door. In the restaurant trade, it's called "Turning the Tables" and they do it like clockwork.
After seeing this continuously for 3 efforts, we just gave up and keep driving past it's red neon sign.
I feel my two stars are a bit generous.
OSF is merely what Olive Garden was before it revamped its image. And if you're worse than OG is now? Not a good sign.
High school/community college kids work here almost exclusively so your service will be lacking (but nice to look at). The food will be barely above Dennys quality. There will be more children than adults in the place and the noise adjusts appropriately to that ratio.
I love OSF! The Spaghetti Mizithra is the yummiest pasta ever! I like the fun, family-friendly atmosphere! There is often a wait, but it's worth it for the price. Plus they have the best blue cheese dressing ever!
There's something about the Old Spaghetti Factory (at least both this Lynnwood and the Seattle locations) that makes it the only "Italian" restaurant where simply walking in the door makes me want to turn around and walk right back out, and it's the sudden change between the fresh air outside and the smell inside. Italian dining is a favorite in my book; this only happens here.
Two-to-three people family groups have had seating waits of around 10-15 minutes even in early afternoon, and once in recent years a group of 15 had a wait of about 45-60 minutes. Service has been friendly and relaxed during the times I've visited, with no obvious rush between salad and entree or push out the door during after-meal conversation. But of course, this helps explain the initial wait. Lately, price was not much of a deal; the latest time, lunch for two (spaghetti with salad, an entree-sized Caesar, and vegetarian lasagna) with no appetizers nor alcohol came to about $38 plus tip.
Sauces on the menu have changed in the past few years, but I can only judge by the marinara and mushroom ones. What used to be two sauces of marinara and a marinara mixed with sliced-and-diced mushrooms has become a simple and bland tomato sauce alone (their current "marinara", though I wouldn't call it that) or the same with sauteed mushroom slices simply placed on top (mushroom sauce). Gone were the usual marinara seasonings of basil, garlic and other spices, as there had been in visits years ago and nearly everywhere else. I used to get the half-and-half with both distinct sauces; now only the mushroom-topped version, which lacks what made it a go-to place.
During the most recent trip, my father mentioned that his entree-sized Caesar salad had no dressing (he later found a small amount in the center), where most others will have the dressing tossed throughout for that dish. My balsamic vinaigrette had enough to dip a couple slices of bread afterward. Strawberry lemonade was less than common as apparently only soda-syrup added to lemonade, no crushed strawberry that seems common, something that both of us noted.
Keep this for social meals when someone specifically wants to go there; there are plenty of others to recommend for Italian-in-general moments, and more options at an average grocer for solo meals.
Wow o wow was this bad. I ordered spaghetti because that is the one thing they should do the best(note the name of the place) I could swear they have a guy in the back opening cans of Chef Boyardee spaghetti and sticking them in the microwave yes it was that bad. Sure it was cheap but I can buy a can of spaghetti for less then a dollar and have a better meal. Yucky poo poo. The picture of the baby smearing this s**t on him seems to be the best thing to do with this spaghetti.
Tastes like everything is poured out of cans and bottles :( Nothing seems prepared with love / talent... Not cheap either (for what you get). Salad is like mcdonald's or worse. Sorry but no. I eat so much better at home...
I had always wondered what the madness was about this chain. I had eaten at the Seattle location back when I was younger, and then I end up living a stone's throw from the one in Lynnwood (not any more, but when I did it was that stone's throw). And then my ex-sister-in-law gets a job managing the joint!
Needless to say we ended up going there a few times. I liked the decor, although it was a little "forced". The addition of the full trolley car as a dining room is a good idea. The price is appropriate for the quality - that is to say, it's relatively cheap in both areas.
Service was snappy at dinner time, even when we had the kids there and were making a big ol' mess. Restrooms are clean, with changing tables in both bathrooms (good for dads AND moms).
This was a restaurant experience that made me think I never want to eat out again. I ordered a chicken sandwich that ended up having bits and pieces of old chicken in it, some pieces were batter fried and some were grilled. The sandwich was so greasy I could not even eat the bread, hence finding out about the different types of chicken in the sandwich. It was awful. Oh yes, the bread they give you while waiting on your meal was disgusting. It was overly salty, very sourdough tasting. I really wish I went to Mc Donald's to eat for $25 cheaper.
Inexpensive italian food? Dessert? Please and thank you!
Of course the food isn't five-star, and the service isn't either (though they try so hard - I love giving a new trainee an encouraging smile) but the pastas are pretty good and you can't beat the price. Also, my boyfriend and I have requested more "private" tables so we can spend a few minutes being googly-eyed, and the hostess is always willing to comply.
I don't always need something that blows me away - sometimes it's nice to relax at a faux-expensive restaurant, pretend you have lots of money, and act silly without worrying about getting kicked out.
My fella and I were just leaving Seattle for our weekend mini-vacation, and I needed to stop and make a phone call for a few minutes, so we found a suburban parking lot where this task could be accomplished. Once I was finished with my phone call, we both realized it was Time to Eat, so we began to inspect the neighborhood. Neither of us had been to an Old Spaghetti Factory in quite some time, and thought maybe it was time to, like, take a savage journey into the heart of the American dream and hit up a family restaurant in a strip mall.
Three stars only because the servers were attentive and I didn't become horribly ill after my visit. Oh, and because it was lunchtime it was cheap. I also was impressed by the decor -- lots of old photos of nearby locals and citizens, rather than the expected "we're sooo Italian" crap, it was all, "we're sooo local." This was, however, one of the worst meals I've had in some time. I've had better marinara sauce out of a jar. And the craptacular salad was all iceberg lettuce, something I pretty much OD'd on after feasting on the school cafeteria's salad bar for six years. Oy!
What can I say, they are a chain, they are cheap, they serve it up fast and the prices are hard to beat for a 3 course meal. Soup or salad, or both if you are hungry, main course, and dessert. We like the garlic bread as a starter. And my kids luv the Italian sodas, with collectors glass.
I like the many chicken dishes and the old tried and true standard browned butter and mizithra!
At this location they've worked on getting a better dinner salad mix, to their credit. I like this Lynnwood, WA location better than the one across Pier 70 in Seattle. This one is cleaner but the trolley isn't much of a trolley and they lack the "bed" tables the downtown location has. They have tried to keep the old-world charm about the place with dark wood tables and overstuffed sofas to sit on while you are waiting....gads the waiting..... But once you get in they serve it up fast and efficient. For what I call "fast food" Italian it ain't bad, I've had worse.
3 stars because they are consistent, plus they serve the only Spumoni ice cream I'll eat.
Once upon a time, I had to get a job. I searched and searched, and the only place that would hire someone with very little real-life work experience was The Spaghetti Factory. I was to be a server! How exciting! And yet, the job was, just like the food, awful. Yet, I endured. Watching with horrified fascination, I saw the Rubbermaid garbage cans full of cooked pasta, ready to be served to a carb-craving public. (Disclaimer: the garbage cans were clean, and used only for massive pasta storage). I learned of the humongous caloric content of each individual entree. I watched as inept servers spilled whole trays full of food on top of unwitting guests' heads. It was a magical experience. The day I quit was the last day I set foot in that establishment, and wild horses could not drag me back. I suggest you do yourself a favor and heat up a can of Chef Boyardee Dora the Explorer Beefaroni instead. You'll get the same flavor, experience and indigestion as you would at Spaghetti Factory at a fraction of the cost!
My hubby and I tried this place for the first time after a friend recommeded it to me. I'd been wanting to go for a few weeks now but my friends kept going to other places so I was pretty excited.
The decor...was interesting. It didn't smell at all like other Italian restaurants - just smelled very tomato-y. A quick ten minute wait for our table, which I thought was pretty good on a Saturday night. Hubby wanted to know about their Mizithra cheese and browned butter so I asked but I just got a blank stare from my waitress telling me, 'It's a different kind of cheese..." Not good. My soda and his water got mixed up, as did my salad with ranch dressing and his salad with Caesar dressing. The bread was very sour but I love sourdough, so that was a plus. Hubby ended up ordering a raspberry iced tea which never came so he ordered a strawberry lemonade instead. It took about 20mins for the bread and salad (which came simultaneously) and then another for our entrees. Hubby ended up ordering a raspberry iced tea which never came so he ordered a strawberry lemonade instead. I ordered the meat sauce - totally bland and absolutely no "Italian spices" at all. I've even made better spaghetti! Hubby got a half and half, which was half a plate of tortellini and half a plate of the meat sauce. The tortellini was excellent, very rich. He never got another drink even though he asked for a refill. We left very disappointed; I really was expecting a bit more. In comparison to other chains...I think I'd rather go to Olive Garden now.
Good, inexpensive food and a fun place to spend a couple of hours. Atmosphere is interesting and the whole place has a feeling of openness.
Our kids love it too. The waiting is long during rush hour, but they give you an electronic device that beeps and lights up when your name is about to be called. The kids love that part. We go outside and walk around or go hang out at Barnes and Noble while waiting for our call.
Servers are always attentive and polite. Can't beat that.
A lot of you low reviewers must be complete food snobs! We tried this place for the first time last night, and it was amazing for the price. The spaghetti, meat sauce, ravioli, and especially the tortellini were INCREDIBLE. Better than Macaroni Grill which is nothing but oil and salt. The salads were decent, could have used cucumbers and tomatoes, but they were free. The cheesy bread appetizer with sauce was fantastic for $5. The free bread IS sourdough. It's different, but certainly not bad. The iced tea is good quality. And the FREE ice cream... WOW, I get Seattle artisan ice cream, and this stuff was just as good! The best part is our total bill was $29, and I ordered an "expensive" entree! So for an app, two entrees, two salads, two teas, and two deserts all for under $30 and having it all taste GOOD is nothing short of a miracle. Did I mention excellent service? Nothing wrong with ambience, wait time, or crowd either. My only complaint is that the raspberry variety of iced tea is that Nestea junk.
i agree with a lot reviewers of this place.
what the hell is all this hype about?
the downtown location is nostalgic- but the food here sucks. like really sucks. like- it's so bad, i snicker every time someone brings up this place. gross!
when i think about it- i don't like the locals who dine here, the youngin's having their 15th birthday parties and loudness... and overall "spirit" of this place is lacking. i dread it here and feel like vomiting whenever i think about their fettuccine alfredo dish. ick
The food isn't anything amazing but it's nice that everything is served as a full meal (you get a drink, salad/soup, entree, dessert). However I have to take off one star cause I went to celebrate a friend's graduation and we got there BEFORE their posted closing hours. We were in 2 cars and the 2nd car hadn't arrived yet. The snotty manager pressured us and told us to tell the other car to hurry basically (they got lost or took a wrong exit). Then she talked rudely to the waitstaff about us and how they were closing etc etc and we could hear the whole thing. Keep in mind this was maybe 15-20minutes before they "close." My parents own a restaurant and hours indicate when you stop letting people in (in the rare cases that this is not true, restaurants will usually say this). Luckily the rest of the staff seemed very apologetic for this rude woman's behavior and they were all really nice to us throughout the meal. However, if i get attitude from this woman again i can promise you shit will hit the fan.
The only reason I am giving this place two stars is the kid factor. A lot of Italian restaurants are "fancy" and not a good place to take children but this restaurant is kid friendly and the pricing is reasonable for children. Other then that the wait is ridiculous the food is flavorless and the staff is less then helpful. I would rank this right above chef boy r dee (sp?) as far as the food goes though. This restaurant is definatley a pass.
I love this place! You know why??? It's so freakin cheap! It was my night to treat Sadler. We were planning on PF Changs, but changed our minds after they told us it would be an hour long wait. No thanks! We went to the OSF and were seated within 10 minutes (and the place was packed). I enjoy the decor and it's open atmosphere. I have not tried a ton of things here, but the eggplant parmesan is really delicious. it's pan fried (not deep fried) and topped with cheese. It comes with a side of pasta marinara but I always ask for browned butter and mizithra cheese instead. Coming from an Italian family, I'm super picky about my sauces. I personally think the OSF's sauce is no comparison to my family's recipe, but whose is? Yes the salads are an iceburg mix, but the creamy pesto dressing is delicious, as is the balsamic vinaigrette. I got a glass of cheapo lambrusco riunite. I enjoyed this nostalgic beverage for only $3.50. I guess not too much less than a whole bottle costs, but who cares? Now let me tell you how happy I was when I got the bill. We ordered the garlic cheese bread for an appetizer. Sadler had Spaghetti and Meatballs. I had the Eggplant and a glass of wine. Also included with our meals were the salad and ice cream. Total bill came to $30, plus a $6 tip. Now thatsa gooda deal!
Okay, I know this place isn't a fancy restaurant but I'm not ashamed to admit that it is one of my most favorite places to eat! I used to live in Sacramento, CA and OSF was one of my favorite places to eat there too! Yes, it is noisy but come on, it's a family restaurant... my husband and I don't have kids so when we dine we go during off hours or if it's busy we ask for a more private table in the corner. No, the service isn't that fabulous but when you can stuff yourselves for under $25 TOTAL who cares? YES, I LOVE the food... it's basic Italian food and I LOVE it. Their minestrone soup is good, their bread that comes with ever y meal is soft and warm (be sure to ask for a side of pesto sauce to dip it in!), and their spaghetti is consistent (ask for a side of mizithera cheese to go on top, it's wayyyyy better than the old dry parmesan they have on the tables) . Avoid the dinner rush because there is always a very long wait but off times and during lunch you should be sat immediately. Again, I know this place isn't fancy nor do they serve gourmet food but they are consistently tasty and at a very good price!!!