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The Pink Door
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1919 Post Alley(between Stewart St & Virginia St)
Seattle, WA 98101
Neighborhood: Downtown
(206) 443-3241
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 am - 11:30 pm
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 1 am
Sun 4 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
644 reviews for The Pink Door
Review Highlights
"Mondays are great because of the trapeze artist."
(in 50 reviews)
"If you go for the burlesque show, get there early and bring..."
(in 33 reviews)
"A Great date spot in Post Alley @ Pike Place market."
(in 17 reviews)
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644 reviews in English
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Review from Molly T.
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I LOVE this place!
Great place to have comfort food. My favorite is the lasagna. It is a spinach pasta with pesto and fresh marinara sauce. It is out of this world!
Other pasta dishes are great too. The rigatoni with homemade meatballs and the risotto with mushrooms and fresh herbs are also noteworthy.
Almost every night there is some sort of entertainment. Last night (Wednesday night) was the Blue 4 Trio who played nice upbeat jazz. These guys are entertaining and funny. I enjoyed their music so much that I bought their CD.
I recommend sitting in the lounge as that is where the bands play. However, if you like being in a quieter setting, sit in the main dining area. However, it's best to have reservations especially for the weekend.
Service is wonderful. Atmosphere is romantic. Great for dates or even out-of-towners, like me.
Tip: there is no sign outside the restaurant. It's just a pink door!Listed in: Seattle fun
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Review from Mark P.
Federal Way, WA
2/2/2012
After reading reviews on here I decided to try the lasagna when we finally went; we didn't have a reservation, and didn't really plan on going there until the last minute and were seated right away.
To put it simply, it was the best lasagna (or rather, the best pasta) I've ever had. I also had a seasonal winter ale, but it was a little unfortunate (although not unexpected) that they didn't take quality beer as seriously as they did with the wine they offered.
The thing holding me back from throwing out five stars is the price. I feel the need, however, to point out that I'm originally from a pretty small town and I'm still getting used to these "city prices."
Altogether it has a really unique atmosphere. It seemed pretty small for the amount of people that were in there (and I hear they do shows on some nights; I don't know how they manage that but it would be interesting) and I actually like that it's so hard to find. It's a little diamond hidden in a hole in the wall right in the middle of a super-touristy area. -
Review from Mona H.
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been to the Pink Door twice and it has been great both times. First time I went here I had a hard time finding the door and some older ladies had to help me out with that one. When I got in, the place was semi busy, but not crowded because it was later in the night. We ended up dining in the main restaurant area. I was so greatful that even though we stayed there pretty late, past their closing time, they were very hospitable and did not rush me and my date at all. Very nice. Our waiter was helpful with choosing our entrees and desert and made our experience that much better.
I ended up coming back here and had just as good of an experience, but this time in the bar area. They were booked in their dining area, but it didn't seem to really make that much of a difference to me. The menu was the same, but the seating was a little less exciting.
I will admit that The Pink Door is a little pricey, but it is certainly worth it. The ambiance is great. There is supposedly some burlesque from time to time there and other entertainment, which I have yet to see. I highly reccomend The Pink Door, for a nice date environment.
For Vegetarians the menu is a little sparse, but doable.
Parking can be a little tricky. You probably will have to find a parking lot or garage and pay at least $10. I do recall some guy pretending to help us with our parking lot meter and then proceeded to ask for a dollar for his time. Pretty sure I didn't understand one word he said except for the part where he wanted a dollar. -
Review from ninja p.
Mercer Island, WA
2/5/2012
Y U M !! love this place. get the lasagne! totally yum and the way it should be. atmosphere is fun ... great overall. although i have had better home made pasta, it is still really great here.
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Review from Steve G.
El Granada, CA
1/27/2012
Didn't have dinner but what a cool place to have a drink and watch the band. They have a lot of unusual stuff here, like a trapeze act... ??? I guess the high ceilings come in handy. Caught the Wednesday night band, Blues4Trio. Great 20's style jazz trio, excellent musicians and great little stage. Loved it.
Beware... there is no sign or address on the alley and the lower entrance is closed at night. I wandered around looking inside for a long time before I figured out how to get in. It's the door across the alley from the Irish pub... it doesn't look like the way in but that's it. Hope that saves someone the trouble I had. -
Review from Sarah P.
Bellevue, WA
1/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Excellent meal all around! Rarely do I find a restaurant where all courses are incredible, but we found that at the Pink Door. We had great, friendly service by a personable and very knowledgeable waiter. Their menu changes with the season, but we enjoyed their two classics for entrees.
Started with a cheese board and enjoyed some exotic cheeses, which were very well balanced and delicious. We then had our main course. I had the Pappardelle al Ragù Bolognese and it was incredibly delicious and well made. It was a traditional Italian light bolognese, which was slightly lighter and creamier than the American counterpart. The pasta was perfectly al dente and very light but rich. The pasta sauce complimented each other perfectly. My friend had the spinach lasagna, which was also very good. I'm not a big spinach fun, but I really enjoyed her dish as well.
We then shared the crème brulee, which was also very delicious. It was rich and sweet, but not overpowering and very satisfying as a final treat after a wonderful meal.
I will definitely be back here and plan to take all of my out of town guests here! -
Review from Kristen S.
San Diego, CA
1/12/2012 Seated via OpenTable
My favorite memory from The Pink Door:
Friend takes her first bite of the lasagna. She chews for a few seconds and then exclaims, "oh, my GOD."
Everyone around the table asks her, "what, is it good?" She simply replies by shushing us and saying plainly, "just...just put it in your mouth."
And with one bite, I was ruined. I was eating the lasagna will trounce all of my life's later lasagnas. And even if there were a lasagna that were to compete with that of The Pink Door, there is still the supplemental memory of eating it in a rosy-hued dining room and mere inches from a bendy, young woman hanging from the ceiling. Because yes, it isn't enough that this endearing little Post Alley spot is pink, has charmingly no signage (thus, making you feel like you're in on a cool secret when you're finally inside), and serves the best lasagna you ever did taste -- they had to add half-hourly trapeze performances too!
Best way to spend dinner on my last night in Seattle!
(Also tried: the calamari and lemon brulee. Both recommended!) -
Review from Erin O.
Seattle, WA
2/5/2012
Food, atmosphere, and service - GREAT! Yeah, a little pricey, but hello, you're dining in Post Alley, what do you expect?
NOT good for groups, we had 5 and had difficulty. Especially if you're trying to see the burlesque show. Between calling for initial info, attempting to make reservations, and showing up and trying to eat, I got a different answer about the best way to get dinner and see the show. Everyone was super friendly, but all had different, and conflicting, answers. So, my advice for any size group? be the first ones in line (get there at 8am at least), and still expect to wait.
I was quite surprised how awkward the whole seating for the show thing was. There HAS to be a better way and I recommend they find it. I would absolutely go back for dinner, but never again for the show, which itself was mediocre. Next time I'm in the mood for burlesque and cabaret, especially with a group, I will definitely be heading down the street to the Can Can. -
Review from Thera M.
Seattle, WA
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
The pappardelle al ragù bolognese is amazing! The bolognese was a little pricey for lunch ($15) but totally worth it. We also ordered the chicken panini and it was very good. The bread was chewy and crunchy deliciousness. I'll will certainly be back for dinner.
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Review from Gurjot G.
Seattle, WA
1/23/2012
This place is fantastic. The food is some of the best Italian I've had in a while and the vibe and aesthetics of the place are fantastic. My wife and I went in and sat in the lounge while an aerialist performed in the dining room.
Our server was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about the menu, we had lots of questions. The service was polite, friendly, relaxed, and observant.
Excellent date place. -
Review from Cameron C.
Seattle, WA
2/1/2012
I've only ordered one thing here, I always want to try something else, but I can't get myself away from the lasagna! an extra bonus, I'm not sure when but they have trapeze artist
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Review from Kimmy C.
12/22/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I have been to pink door several times. There has never been a time I was disappointed with the food, ambience, or service. It is no wonder why this place requires reservations especially on a friday and saturday night!
I have tried several dishes here. All delicious. The one that stands out to me the most is the lasagna. I have never had a lasagna as good as the pink door!
The most recent time I went was last week. I was excited to walk into the smell of a christmas tree in the center of the dining area! I wish I had a christmas tree at my house right now.
Tip #1: Make reservations if you plan to go friday saturday night
Tip #2: If you want to see the burlesque show. Be sure you arrive early to purchase tickets, this tickets sell out fast.
Tip #3: be prepared for rich food. The portions look small but its heavy so you won't be able to finish it all! -
Review from Michael V.
Seattle, WA
1/13/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great food and ambiance.
I loved the mushroom risotto and house red wine. Prices were good for excellent quality food and service. -
Review from Brandon G.
Bremerton, WA
1/21/2012
Very romantic setting as the lights are dim. Candle light at your table. Very enticing for a more mature crowd to experience. Very good with their prices. And willing to work with you on menu changes. The food is amazing and well prepared. Expedited service. Just get there early or make reservations because it will fill up quick and for a food reason. Just wish the plate sizes were a little bigger. Still a fine dining experience. The customer service is great as the waitresses will explain things to you that you don't understand. There is an unlimited amount of bread to eat with a fantastic olive oil they give you to dip it in. This dining is great for an intimate occasion with just your special loved one.
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Review from Marshall M.
Seattle, WA
2/6/2012
Loved the atmosphere! Place was a little hard to find if you haven't been here before. Food is amazing and the place is very romantic. Try to go on a night when a show is going on! and defiantly call to reserve a seat!
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Review from Maryanne C.
Los Angeles, CA
12/15/2011
The Pink Door, you were hard to find. I was looking for a pink door and found a white door!
In terms of Italian food, this place was fantastic! Service was great. Our server really made us feel welcome and at home. The dining room is a little cramped, so be prepared to bump elbows and hear nearby conversations. Also, you need a code to unlock their restroom.
We started with the cheese board. I normally don't like cheese, but their selection was delicious. I had the popular Lasagna Pink Door, which I really enjoyed. My boyfriend had the papparadelle. He licked the bowl clean. Needless to say, we both liked our meals.
We had dinner there on a Thursday night. It was a more of an older crowd. I think the atmosphere is a little livelier on the weekends when they have cabaret and burlesque shows.
Like others have mentioned, The Pink Door is an excellent choice for dates.Listed in: Seattle
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Review from Joshua B.
Shoreline, WA
1/26/2012
Great food with an intimate feel. If you can sit outside during the summer cause you get to overlook Elliot Bay.
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Review from Mikhail H.
Beaverton, OR
11/14/2011
Loved the space and the service!
The Caesar salad was way too lemon for my taste but the rest of the meal was divine and their house made butterscotch pudding with real Scotch was beyond tasty. I wish we went for one of the shows - they offer Trapeze and burlesque! The meal was pretty pricey but several people at our table were very smart and split a salad and an entree which is easy to do. I think the hit was their very unique and amazing lasagna!Listed in: Seattle's Finest
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Review from Margaret S.
Mercer Island, WA
1/21/2012
We went here for lunch on a Saturday.
We ordered
1) Caesar Salad
2) Calamari
3) Bolognese
4) Mushroom Risotto
5) Halibut
6) Profiterole
I would not hesitate to order the calamari and risotto if we ever visit again. They were superb. The halibut was kind of rubbery and didn't seem fresh to me, although I enjoyed the accompanying beans.
Service was attentive and kind, even though we brought our pre-teen son (i.e., they didn't try to stick us next to the kitchen).
Given the ambiance, location and quality, I thought the prices were within reasonable range.
Although we enjoyed it, "the Victorian romantic setting" is not really our cup of tea, so we will probably not make a point of coming back here. -
Review from Marie S.
Puyallup, WA
11/26/2011
Went here tonight to celebrate my birthday. Arrived at 4:15 and they do not serve dinner till 5. We chose to stay and just order an antipasto platter till 5 to order dinner. Our first waiter was great and attentive. We ordered ice teas and an antipasto platter. It was tasty, though my bf and I are not crazy about most of the pickled veggies on the platter though I am sure other people would. We had our first waiter switched out to another and she was..well meh. She seemed annoyed and did not really attend to us much.
We order the flank steak and bologense. The food came out very quickly and we dug in. The flank steak was not too my likening. I think it was the sauce it was braised in the herb spread. My bf thought it was okay. The bologense (sorry for the spelling!) was better, but the sauce was a bit salty and was just okay. Considering the final bill with two ice teas, two entress and the platter ended up being $64, I expected A LOT more. So, we are not coming back and I cannot recommend this restuarant. -
Review from Henry L.
Renton, WA
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome place to go for some great food, great wine/cocktails and have a live act performing!
Nothing like the Choppino on a cold fall/winter evening! -
Review from Aleks V.
Bellevue, WA
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Food- 4
Service- 4
Atmosphere- 4
All in all a very positive experience. Good to excellent in all ways. You definitely want to make reservations as it fills up quick. I had the excellent Bagna Cauda and very good Boar Stew. Flavorful and nicely presented. My friend had the Oysters and the Squids Ink Pasta with Seafood and she loved it! The Apple Cardamon Crisp was an excellent ending. The waitress was great and we loved her Skull Sweater! She and her assistant were right there without being intrusive. It was a busy night but our seats were great and it wasn't too noisy. Overall, a great experience. I'll be back! -
Review from Ninette C.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 10/24/2011
My friend and I came here for Seattle Restaurant Week lunch today. I thought this place was more pink on the inside. Am I going crazy, was there a renovation or have I never seen this place during the day?
Either way, the orange walls with vases of pumpkins and squash and leaves on the ground were beyond cute. I would have preferred they find another way to incorporate the leaves though because I nearly slipped in my heels and I feel bad for the waiters trying to carry food in a maze of leaves.
We ordered:
Appetizer:
-sautéed calamari
-leaning tower of eggplant with Roma tomatoes, pesto, and goat cheese
Entree:
-Pink Door lasagna
-Penn Cove mussels and clams
Dessert:
-butterscotch pudding
-tiramisu
The calamari was surprisingly excellent. I know it said sautéed but I passed on it (my friend ordered it) because I usually am not crazy about calamari. I now see its because it's usually fried. I love this in the tomato broth. The eggplant was kind of eh. The pesto was too much for me but perhaps that is just because I was looking for something light. My friend loved her lasagna and I enjoyed my mussels and clams, though it was not particularly groundbreaking. I do think they make more sense as an appetizer though. The butterscotch pudding was much better than I expected. It was the best dessert I've had of my three restaurant week meals this round.
Since I said the food was mostly good but not excellent, you might be wondering why I upgraded this place to 5 stars: I always have a great time here. Between the very good food to the awesome decor and view on the porch to its cute location in Post Alley to the excellent service I received today and in the past, it never fails. It's romantic, fun and nice comfort food. The food is familiar, but The Pink Door does refer to itself as Italian-American, not the most authentic Italian cuisine in town.
When I'm not here, I often find myself thinking of when I will return. In fact, I'm already ready to plan my next visit.Listed in: Good Date Spots, Downtown on the…, Show Your Out-of-Town friends…, Wining, Dining and Adventuring…, My Mad Quest for the Perfect…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/27/2011
This place is really cute.
The first time I came, a friend took me here. We ordered the spinach… Read more »
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Review from Larena H.
I can't say I really "get" this place.
The checkin deal was nice - a free glass of house wine. Sweet!
But the food was rather unimpressive. We had the Gnocchi alla Romana since it's on "the list." I was really unimpressed with that one. Maybe it's because the older I get, the less I pike gorgonzola and bleu cheese. Or maybe it's because all I could taste in that dish was gorgonzola and the walnuts. It's just one of those flavors I get tired of pretty quickly (gorgonzola). The gnocchi itself was HUGE, and that's not something I'm really used to. The biggest gnocchi I've ever seen was less than 1/4 that size. It's supposed to be bite size. Plus the gnocchi didn't seem to be "struck" on a striking board.
The next thing we tried was the Mama's meatballs. On the outside, they sure looked a lot like my meatballs. But they are definitely not my meatballs. Not to brag, but I make some MEAN meatballs. I appreciate the usage of Don & Joe's Italian sausage and all, but they were rather unimpressive to me.
Service was alright. Then again, I don't think we really fit in with the crowd. I wasn't here with a gaggle of girlfriends, and I'm not a single guy with an eye for the ladies working here.
We were seated inside, but I know the views are great on the patio.
Overall, I wasn't sold on the place. I'm torn between a 2 & a 3, so I'll be nice and go with a 3.
Side note for the managers: you might want to fix the menu PDFs on your website. There is an issue with the fonts not displaying properly.Listed in: Seattle Foodie 100
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Review from Jae K.
12/28/2011 1 photo
Great food, reasonable price, nice ambience, awesome service. Can't say anything bad about the place. If I get picky, not whole lot of choices for beer drinkers. Wine does go much better with this type of food anyway. I didn't get to see the performance, but I will have to check it out next time. It was actually hard to find the place at night. We didn't see any sign outside. It was just a dark alley and my GPS kept pointing at the wrong place. Accidently walked in and it was the place. You just can go wrong at 4 stars over 660 reviews. There is no kids' menu or anything, but you see kids at the place. They will make things like cheese pizza for the little ones if asked.
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Review from J C.
Pittsburgh, PA
1/14/2012
OUTSTANDING!! Don't miss it and be sure to call ahead. Super cozy, intimate setting in a great location right by the market. Free entertainment on some nights. Great wine list and good value (try the super tuscan or Oregon chardonnay). Good scotch selection. Food is great, wonderful fresh fish or Italian inspired items like fabulous Ossobucco. Outstanding desserts. There are probably better Italian places but the ambiance and service here trumps all. Be sure to sit in the front room by the bar, not the back room unless you want isolation. Great location too and a good value, four of us lived it up there for $400 but you can easily get out for $20-30 a head.
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Review from Chelsea J.
Seattle, WA
9/26/2011
I was not very charmed by Pink Door. There are some great aspects but I thought the food was mediocre and overpriced for the product. The view and the cute interior of the restaurant are the big draws.
Let's start with the pros of the night. We came here Friday night to celebrate a friend's birthday. We sat out on the deck and the atmosphere was gorgeous. You can't beat the view in the Market overlooking the Sound. Perfect for a late summer/early fall warm evening. The inside of the restaurant is reminiscent of Tuscany and is rustic and inviting.
We had the antipasto plate, bruschetta, and calamari to start and share for the table. The antipasti plate was good and fair for the price. The plate included prosciutto, Tuscan bean salad, fresh mozzarella, tapanade, grilled veggies, salami and some other delectables. At $14 for a large platter of goodies this was a nice start to the evening.
The bruschetta consisted of about 5-6 pieces of bread with sliced heirloom tomatoes and olive oil and sea salt. This was by far my favorite part of the whole meal along with my glass of Super Tuscan red wine that came in at $11.50 / glass. The wine was a cabernet/sangiovese/merlot blend and was yummy. I loved the wine. The bruschetta was $14 which was a bit expensive for what it is in my opinion.
I did not like the calamari dish which was $11. The calamari was satueed and not deep-fried which I usually prefer but I did not like this appetizer. The pieces of calamari were rubbery and not very tasty.
My entree disappointed as well. I had the paccheri al vodka e gamberi which was a "spicy" vodka tomato sauce, asparagus & prawns for $19. I thought the price was high for the quality and taste. I could have made better at home.
Service was not very attentive. I think we would have spent more and ordered more drinks if we were given a bit more attention. I feel like since the 18% tip was automatically included due to our group size (8 girls) the server felt like she didn't have to work very hard to earn a tip. The host was snooty when we came in. I don't like that kind of thing.
Overall I left feeling like I spent too much and was disappointed in the meal. When I spend $50 for myself on dinner I want to leave satisfied and feel like I had a wonderful meal. Pink Door did not deliver for me.Listed in: Downtown and Belltown
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Review from Julie F.
9/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
My girl friend was dying to come her for her birthday and we called for ressies but was told they do not accept reservations for parties of 6. We just happened to walk by Pink Door in the morning and stopped in where they recommended we come back early afternoon and put our names in....so we did just that. Came back around 6pm on a Friday put our names in and waited to be called. Since it was a nice day out we wanted to sit on the back patio to enjoy the weather and nice view.
After about an hour they called and we rushed over from our drinking positions nearby -- we were famished so we ordered:
-Brushetta w/ heirloom tomatoes
- Caprese
-Cioppino
-lasagna
-Pappardelle
-linguine alle vongle
-rigatoni and meatballs
I think my party agreed that the pappardelle was the favorite dish. I really enjoyed that dish and the lasagna. Skip the rigatoni and meatballs - wasn't very memorable.
Next time I wish we were able to see the burlesque show - next time I'm in town I'll definitely be back! -
Review from Liz K.
Los Angeles, CA
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Where's the restaurant??? There were no signs and just a very light pink door... A bit confusing, but once inside it was packed (which is a good indicator of a good restaurant).
I ordered the cioppino, which traditionally is made from the catch of the day... Obviously this restaurant experienced a bad day of fishing because about 90% of the seafood in my dish were mussels. And I have to mention that these mussels were one of the smallest mussels I've ever eaten at a restaurant. What happened to the crab??? This cioppino lacked the heartiness I expect in my cioppino. I must have gotten lucky because there was one tiny piece of white fish in my dish.. REALLY??? One piece??? That piece of fish was sadly really tasty, & I found myself digging for more. Even though I was disappointed w/ the overall dish because of the lack of protein, the tomato/wine based sauce/stew was very delicious. It was salted perfectly and was a great dipping stew w/ their bread.
My bf ordered the lasagna. I would highly recommend the lasagna. I only had a few bites, but it definitely outshined my cioppino. My bf asked for their meat sauce on top of the lasagna because their lasagna does not come w/ meat. The sauce was very flavorful.
Service was not so friendly. I ordered the house wine and they gave it to me in a glass bottle and a tiny water cup. I was never served wine this way so I kindly asked the waitress if the wine was normally served in a cup. The waitress looked at me like I was stupid and said if you've ever been to Italy thats how its served. Well, sorry that I haven't been to Italy. Obviously this is not Italy, and I have been to other restaurants that were more authentic. They should know that cioppino was actually created in SF and an unknown dish in Italy. -
Review from Bonnie G.
Downtown, Seattle, WA
1/29/2012 1 photo
Absolutely great food. The calamari is bet I have had. We had Caesar with crab and butternut squash ravioli. Both were tops! The best! Staff is great!
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Review from Geralyn Y.
San Francisco, CA
11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Finding The Pink Door was an adventure in itself. I wasn't the only patron who didn't know there was a front entrance. Me and four other strangers bonded by walking in using the back entrance. Top secret experience and it was nice to share some laughs before I found my friends.
After hearing a lot about the food I expected a lot. I ordered the pan seared Salmon, laid upon potatoes, a flavorful dish. The salmon melted in my mouth. We shared the calamari which was cooked tender with a marinara sauce. What can I say about both dishes? Fresh, fresh seafood. I could taste the quality with each bite.
Like many have said before me, the live music and dim lights made it really really romantic.
After seeing all of the 4 and 5 star reviews I'm almost tempted to do the same but I'm not swayed in that direction. Blasphemous to most, but I'm feeling neutral about it. If I were to rate the restaurant overall, it's cool and all but I'd survive ok if I didn't end up eating there. -
Review from Lilly N.
Bothell, WA
10/18/2011
Having never dined here for dinner before, my boyfriend and I decided to take advantage of Seattle Restaurant Week. We showed up a little early for our reservation, more than willing to wait out the time at the bar if our table wasn't ready. Our bar service was excellent. Have you ever had 2 bartenders in a busy restaurant greet you within a minute of taking your seat?
Our table was ready on time, but the hostess gave us the option to wait an additional 5-10 minutes for a better table with a view of the trapeze show. Turns out it was about an additional 20-minute wait. The house was so apologetic about the extra few minutes (we had drinks at the bar - no one was unhappy by the way) that they had the antipasto appetizer set up at the table for us when we were seated. It also just happened to be the appetizer we'd been eying on the menu. Addictive personalities should be warned against trying the olive tapanade.
And oh my - what a table! Probably the best seat in the house for viewing the trapeze show. So good, in fact, that the artist nicked the candle on our table with her toes and knocked it to the floor. We unfortunately only caught the tail end of the show, but what we saw was a beautiful accompaniment to our wine and appetizer.
The Seattle Restaurant Week menu looked fairly unremarkable. My general rule when eating out is that if it's something I could cook at home (i.e. lasagna), then I have no business ordering it in a restaurant.
Moving on to the big kids' menu, I opted for the mafalda with rabbit sauce, which was fabulous. I would have been head-over-heels for it, but I tried the boar stew that my boyfriend had ordered, and it vastly outshone the rabbit dish. At this point, my body is screaming "SCREW THE TAPANADE! INJECT THIS BOAR STEW INTRAVENOUSLY!"
Though many of the desserts were tempting, our stomachs were beyond capacity. I definitely plan on returning to The Pink Door, and many thanks to all of you for your stellar service. -
Review from Marisa R.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friend and her boyfriend took me here for my bday while I was visiting Seattle and me loves it!!!!!
The restaurant is so incognito, it's just a door outta no where but the inside is so cute! It reminded me of a restaurant in SF.
The food was good. I had the spaghetti and meatballs (which was probably not a good idea before a night of drinking) but it was delicious. I also tried my friends bolognese which was also really good!
Next time I'm in Seattle I am definitely coming back here! -
Review from Keriche C.
Seattle, WA
10/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
A friend and I came here for restaurant week on a Monday night.
I hear the arial artist only performs on Monday nights so we were lucky that we were able to enjoy a little acrobatics during our dinner. I didn't see much of it since I was in a spot where she wasn't visible but it's a cool way to provide something a little different during dinner.
We both thoroughly enjoyed our food. All three courses were really good.
Our server was friendly and attentive.
I think this place would be great place for a summertime dinner since they have a large patio with what seemed like good views of the sound. -
Review from Prairie P.
Fullerton, CA
11/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hadn't heard about this restaurant before, but was brought here by some friends that are locals on a vacation to Seattle. Thus, I don't have too much to say about the experience other than this:
lasagna.
There is no doubt that the lasagna sheets are freshly made and the complexity of flavors unfolds with each bite. If only I had written about it then, when the taste was still in my memory! Woe is me! I still crave it to this day and wish there were a Pink Door in California.
Get it. Eat it. Savor it. At least do it for me! -
Review from Jean L.
9/8/2011
Every time I leave this back/playyard of mine known as LA, I make it a point to ask friends of point B where to go and what to see. It's like tracking Yelp by mouth from people with the same taste. My friend mentioned this as a favorite. I didn't think we'd have enough time to either make it or get a reservation. Lo and behold...
Lazy Sunday afternoon, bf and I were lounging with beers and scotch on the patio at Kell's. People watching at its best. This included some individuals peeping through windows and opening a shadowed, unmarked door. Piqued my curiosity. I walk over and ask patrons standing about it. Ah!! The illusive pink door!
A quick step down the stairs inside confirmed tables were available. We were led out to the patio, where vines and pink flowers adorned the amazing view. Tables and dishes popped with color. Not the food, mind - but the cloth and ceramic. Every tablecover was patterned with hues of brightness just to the point before cheesiness, permissible only because the kitchen evoked classic Italian with a sunset. Like how old school Italian can still do the red and white checkered cloths, but Big Boy couldn't.
Spinach lasagna. Have you ever wanted your lasagna not to fall sideways when you cut in? Or threaten to take a bite out of the person's forkful before you because they took your share of cheese? And maybe you just wanted the lasagna to stay hot, really hot, as its lonesome self is presented on the plate.
The lasagna came in its own oblong ramekin. Baked in. Topped with this cheese still bubbling. Meat and tomato sauce oozing out the sides. Spinach pasta finishing the Italian colors of red, white and green. The dish was incredible. All I have to say is weeks later, I still remember it. And I want more. Every bite was better than the last. And no, it's not shareable. :) :)
The pappardelle with bolognese was al dente and bewitching. The long, flat strands of fettucine softly wrapped and tumbled with chunks of beef. There wasn't much sauce though, which left it just that much lacking.
No cannolis on the dessert menu! Our server was chatty and sweet, and tables were close knit, so conversations were heard left and right. The crowd included couples, families and groups of friends, and really amassed by the time we left. Nameless or not, their front door is definitely a healthy pink! -
Review from Steve M.
Seatac, WA
1/2/2012
I looked up the most romantic place to eat in Seattle because it was for an anniversary occasion with my girl. I was surprised to see such a cheaply decorated patio. Plastic furniture and water cups in the outside dining area. I mean it just did not meet my expectations for a romantic outing. They were out of the one think I wanted to try- the whole fish, which got great reviews on yelp. The halibut was delicious but served very plainly with no sides or salad, at almost $30 for a small-medium slice. I forget the name of the salad my girl ordered but it was some kind of plainly served european cheese and tomato pieces. I like it but my girl was none too happy about it. I guess she expected lettuce or some time of filler, which is understandable considering it was labeled a salad.
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Review from George C.
Seattle, WA
10/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came in during Seattle restaurant week. It's a quirky place but the food is very good.
I ordered the roasted beet salad with goat cheese. LOVED IT! The eggplant tower was also very good. The vegetable lasagna is a slam dunk but the Cioppino didn't hit the spot. It was VERY tasty but needed more shrimp, mussels, etc... I would have left hungry if I didn't have fresh bread to dip in the sauce. Maybe they scale down the portion size for restaurant week???
The butterscotch pudding was very good and so was the tiramisu. The little cookie served with the butterscotch pudding was so good. I wanted more!
The service was great. Fun, friendly and professional.
The Pink Door will change the menu every few months to use fresh and local ingredients. Gotta love that!
This is a great place for dinner. It's pretty busy so make a reservation. It can get loud and the layout is quirky but that wouldn't stop me from coming back. -
Review from Alexandra N.
Seattle, WA
12/28/2011
Great place to go for a holiday meal because it feels so festive, welcoming and warm at that time of the year. Service was great and the meal was perfect. We ordered the cheese plate which was fun for everyone to get "creative" with, sampling compotes, chocolate, nuts, etc. The calamari appetizer was tender, and the bread and oil are delish. My pescadora dish was generous and delicious. I can't complain. The only thing is, if it's the holidays, make your reservation way far in advance.
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Review from Elizabeth F.
Milwaukee, WI
11/25/2011
The service was fantastic, the food was delicious, the atmosphere perfect.
Service: The hostess was great. Really, she was checking coats, giant shopping bags, etc. The manager called a cab for us after dinner when it was pretty crowded and declined a tip. Our waitress was attentive without being annoying, and quick with our orders.
Food: I had to try the lasagna that other reviewers wrote about - fantastic! My Italian grandmother makes a mean lasagna so I don't just hand out "fantastic!s" willy-nilly. I also had the crab cake appetizer with apple slaw - yummy. It was wider and flatter than most crab cakes; it looked like a potato pancake. My husband had the Italian sausage with farro, which was also very good. For dessert, he had the butterscotch (I sampled it - tasty) and I had the gelato. I eat a pint of gelato every week so I get pretty blasé about the stuff but the white chocolate with orange was phenomenal.
Atmosphere: it was fun without being too loud, cozy without being too intimate. There were couples, groups of friends, etc. The lighting was kind of low but not in a romantic way.
I really, really like this place. I'd love to bring people here the next time I'm in Seattle.
