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Come to tidbit bistro and enjoy four courses for 48 dollars. Every night for the month of November.
Mon. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Hard to believe it's been since April that we've been back....But it's 3 for $30 season yet again, and in planning out my calendar of foodie visits for the month, a return to Tidbit was a top priority.
And again, a lovely, pleasant evening, kicked off by a bowl of oricchiette with white beans, tomato, and mussels, the perfect combination of simple earthy goodness deepened and intensified with note of the sea. Plump, tender notes of the sea....Followed by a plateful of perfectly citrusy, salty, peppery fish and shrimp glazed with the slightest glistening hints of butter.
Dessert....Profiteroles, filled with a chocolate cream, covered with cream. Deflating ever so slightly with each bite....Mmm. A finale and mouthful worth waiting for, and an incentive not to wait so long for it again.
Five stars for the Papas Dulces. Crispy sweet potato fries, hint of rosemary, amazingly addictive… Read more »
Came here for dinner during the October Urban Eats promo. Reservations were made via OpenTable. They do have a parking lot (YES) but it's small (d'oh). However I was able to Austin Powers my way in to one of the last spots.
The restaurant can be seen from 10th pretty easily and Huiyona shares the lower half of the building.
We were seated right towards the front of the restaurant. It was very LOUD. We were yelling our conversation the whole time, which sucked. While sitting there I realized that the word "tidbit" is a mirror image, you can read it the same inside the restaurant or outside on the street! That amused me greatly.
It took a while to get our orders placed, but the first and second courses came out quickly. I picked the oricchiette, mussels and white bean soup, which was really awesome and I kind of wish that was my main dish, it was so good. I don't pick mussels if there are other shellfish around, but these were large and plump. The beans and tomato sauce was thick and felt very substantial for an appetizer.
The 2nd course was the pork cheek and these noodle...tubes. They were a bit too large and tough to just bite, so I cut them in half. It was just okay, a bit too salty. The pork was tender. And then I realized I had pasta for two courses and felt kind of weighed down.
It took some time to get dessert out. I picked the dessert of the day which was a flourless chocolate cake. It kind of had a brownie thing going, which isn't a bad thing.
Then it took more time to get the check.
We stayed for about 2hrs. Just an okay experience, it was loud and slow. I should have thought about my choices more, two pasta dishes in one night, dang!
I would go back for that oricchiette dish though. Mmmmmmmm!!
My friend recommended this place to me. If you've been to italy, this restaurant will definitely take you back. It is small cozy like authentic italian restaurants. The owner is very sweet and the service is good. I went here on a date and also once with co workers. So there you go, good place for a small intimate birthday dinner or a date.
Wine menu is pretty good!!
Con: My food was just a little salty so just heads up
I want to give 4 or 5 stars to a place which has veggie and vegan menu items -- clearly ID'd. But...the food is so-so. We started with the risotto cakes appetizer which was just blah. We each had the mushroom & pasta which sounded great but it came soaked in too much watery sauce. Like an almost soup... We decided to head elsewhere for dessert.
Where else can you get authentic Napolean/Spanish cuisine in Seattle? The atmosphere, ambience, and attentive service was top-rate and relaxing. Nicola always has an infectious smile. Excellent HH with delicious red wine and appetizers, but tidbit is one tidbit short a star, because I'm not gonna lie, the food doesn't always taste as fresh as could be (for instance, the strawberry tart that I got had a reheated-soggy taste to it). Who knows, could be the vendor's fault, if tidbit doesnt have a pastry chef, that is.
Go to Tidbit! Go now! You can thank me later.
My pal, Gwen, and I wanted to meet for dinner this last Friday and she suggested that we head to Tidbit. She had been there recently, had a phenomenal experience and was even following the restaurant on Twitter. How could I say no? I am so glad I didn't.
The restaurant was full for the evening but we were able to head out to the small deck. We started out with cocktails. I had a Cuba Libre Tidbit which was rum, coke (mine diet) and a floater of Limoncello. Excellent variation on an old standby. Gwen had a Campari drink that was refreshingly tart and tasty. We ordered a couple of salads to start. Gwen had the Caesar and I had a mixed green salad with shaved beef, tomatoes, kalamata and goat cheese. Both were excellent but, if you love Caesar, this may be the best you have ever had.
We decided to keep it a small plate evening and, with the second round, had the albondigas which were meaty balls of goodness in a lovely broth. We also got the gnocchi which is served in a little baked dish. It was tomato-y, creamy, cheesy and we mopped up every bite with our bread. The trio of crostini - especially the one covered in mushrooms and cheese - were all wonderful. This was all accompanied by a Campari and sparkling wine for me while Gwen had a more girly martini drink.
We finished off all of this deliciousness with the cappuccino tartufo which was so amazing I threw etiquette to the wind and swiped the remaining bits with my finger. A lovely sherry and Nocello helped to end things on a perfect note. Nocello may be the best thing I have ever sipped. We were swooning to such an extent that the fabulous owners brought us out another variety that tasted like melted chocolate goodness.
Gwen had been following Tidbit on Twitter so the owners knew her by name. She introduced herself and they were so amazingly nice and friendly. You can read her review here:
http://dreadfullfufu.w...
The place was hopping on a Friday night but they still made such an effort to make sure everything was outstanding and everyone was happy. Excellent customer service. I cannot wait to go back and try all of the tasty items that evaded me on this visit. Yay!
I was expecting real Basque food dishes, not just plain Spanish and Italian food. (UPDATE: The owner contacted me afterwards to explain to me that his establishment doesn't serve Basque food, and that, that was written erroneously, and has been fixed, which I appreciate.)
"Papas Dulces (rosemary-scented sweet potato fries served with a side of whole grain mustard") was not too greasy and flavorful.
"Albondigas con Almendras (lamb and beef Spanish meatballs in a saffron and ground almond sauce") was great. Of all the dishes we ordered the entire evenings, I really enjoy this one the best.
The "Cesar salad (grilled romaine hearts, herbed croutons, and shaved parmesan") was basic. I don't recall anything being grilled.
The "manicaretto (cheese tortellini baked in a fresh pasta sheet with ham, ricotta, mushrooms, and tomato sauce") was too simple. It's like when one of the Top Chef judges said to one of the contestants that what they made really wasn't cooking. I thought about this when this dish came out. It was more than likely store bought tortellini, ham out of a package sliced and dices and placed on the pasta sheet with the tortellini. It just seemed that way.
I will chalk up this not- good experience on maybe the dish we ordered. At the end of the day, I expected better based on the reviews.
The service was good, and support staff attentive.
Okay, this has been a long time coming....
Tidbit is in my hood and I am definitely a regular. I LOVE this place and I am sad when I can't carve out 1 night a week to enjoy. The owners are fabulous and this is just a quaint, perfect neighborhood joint (thank you John and Nic!)
Recommendations:
*Go for the small plates - they are perfectly sized, affordable, and very tasty.
*Sit at the bar. The owners and staff are ultra friendly and there is always engaging conversation, much less making fun of the sometimes cheesy Italian TV. :)
*Limoncello - I think this is the largest selection I have seen in the city. If you enjoy limoncello, watch out.
*PATIO. I don't know about you, but for me it is difficult to find good patios in Seattle. Tidbit has an excellent patio (good sun exposure and privacy) and for some reason it is never an issue finding a seat....
I had been yearning to try Tidbit since it opened, but it just hadn't worked out yet. I just never make it to that part of the Hill, except when I'm driving home from work... and that is just never the right time.
BUT. On one of those crazy-hot days in the past few weeks, the boy and i headed over to Tidbit. We were hoping for a place with outdoor seating, and luckily, Tidbit delivered! Of course, nothing in life is perfect, and the outdoor seating was sort of annoying - there was an umbrella shielding the sun, which was great, but it was taking up chair space on my side of the table, so I couldn't actually sit at the middle. No big deal, but I get slightly obsessive-compulsive about that stuff, and it was killing me that I couldn't MOVE OVER.
Ahem. Anyway.
We decided to go with a bunch of the small plates rather than get entrees, and that was a damn good decision. We started with the arancino, which was a little like I imagined those little rice balls in Italy to have tasted (suppli? I think? I never got around to eating any). Anyway, tasty risotto balls with tomato, saffron, and mozzarella. YUM.
Next came the formaggio di capra, which we had with the grilled bread. Cheese and tomato goodness - you can't really go wrong. We moved on to the gnocchi all sorrentina, and if you know me, you know I have loved gnocchi ever since I watched it being made on the Food Network. This didn't disappoint. Hot, tomato-y, cheesy goodness in a steaming bowl.
Our last warm dish was the caprese calda - yes, hot caprese. I've never had such a thing before, as my capreses are usually cold salads, but it was pretty delish as well. There could've been more tomatos and olives, in my opinion, especially because there was SO MUCH CHEESE, but it was a nice twist on the capreses I usually eat.
We finished up with the pera mista salad. It wasn't the most memorable salad I've had, but it was a nice way to finish up the hot meal we'd been eating.
Our dessert was lemon sorbet served IN A LEMON. That was awesome... and kind of hard to eat without getting your fingers all sticky. But I love me some lemon sorbet so I was pleased as punch. And it was whatever night of the week that offers 50% off wine bottles, so we had tasty wine for, well, half-off. Good deal.
I'm diggin' it.
Good food, especially their sweet potato fries are awesome. Why 2 stars - because the waiter made a rude remark on complimentary bread refill.
Update: I am changing my reviews to 5 stars as that's what the food deserved and as the owner took the time to follow up on my "customer" feedback and promised to resolve the issue. 2 thumbs up!!
We ventured to Tidbit for the first time on a Wednesday night. Too bad we arrived after their happy hour had ended (only 5-6pm on weeknights), but they do offer a 1/2 off special on all of their pasta dishes on Wednesday nights. So along with the arancini, tortilla espanola, and mussels, we ordered the papardelle with mushrooms. The tomato-based sauces for the mussels and the arancini were especially good. The wide papardelle pasta tasted fresh. All of the seasonings were simple and light, and the food tasted homey. I'm a fan of eating tapas style and was happy to see more appetizing tapas options on their menu than I had room for.
Thumbs up for food and service. One negative that crossed my mind was the music. The house or whatever playing over the speakers didn't seem to fit the restaurant. Maybe they were going for a casual euro-cafe atmo, but I thought something more low-key would have been more fitting for the neighbhorhood. And the flat screen over the bar was distracting, removing it or turning it off except for certain occassions (i.e. world cup viewing party?) might class things up a bit. The food also arrived a little slower than we would have liked. Overall, those complaints are minor and weren't critical to the experience. I'll remember about their happy hour and go back again soon to check it out.
I'm still lovin' my neighborhood Tidbit. Went there tonight before seeing Debbie Reynolds with the Seattle Men's Chorus. Enjoyed the Papas Dulces, Albondigas, Caesar with anchovies, & French onion soup, Banderillos Fiocco, & Arancinos accompanied by a nice bottle of Pinot Grigio.
Finished up with Contuccini con Vin Santo and coffee.
P.S. Half-price bottles of wine on Tuesday and HH from 5-6pm.
T idbit Baccala
A rancinos
P apas Dulces
A lbondigas con Almendras
S picy Paella Al Horno
Si! And not…
Read more »
For the last few months, I've been meaning to come back to Tidbit for a few reasons. 1.) I wanted to try out an entree (we stuck with tapas last time) 2.) the gnocchi here is insanely good. I needed my fix and 3.) we felt the need to give those abodingas another go.
Now, we've attempted to come in on random days of the week since then, but the few times we've ventured in, there's nary an open seat in the house... which only fed my excitement about dining here again.
So, last night when we walked in I was happy to see that there was room at the inn. Hallelujah! Rejoice! We were seated immediately and brought all sorts of fun menus: a drink menu, a 50% off Tapas menu (every Wednesday, people!) and a dinner menu.
The service here was great when we were here last and it was just as good last night. I started with a champagne cocktail while my guy went with their house made ginger ale. Both were tasty and and reasonable: cocktails here start at $5, and most fall within the $5-7 range.
To start, we ordered the patatas bravas and the gnocchi from the tapas menu. For my entree, I went with the grilled lamb, served with an herbed potato cake (think mashed potatoes with a little bit of a crispy crunch) and tapanade. The BF had the prix fixe meal off their Carnivale menu. It consisted of Sfogliata Rustica (puff pastry filled with prosciutto and cheese- melt in your mouth delicious), white lasagna with sausage and prosciutto, and Sanguinaccio e Chiacchere, a homemade chocolate pudding paired with a side of pastries, almost resembling bits of funnel cake.
When we were in last, we ordered the Abodingas and had found them bit dry and lacking in flavor. They were the only thing we didn't fall in love with. However, last night was another story. We decided to give them another go, and we were so glad that we did. They were delicious! Juicy and tender in what tasted like it may have been a different sauce, we happily finished the entire plate.
Everything we had here last night was spot on. My lamb was perfectly cooked and the potato/ tapanade accompaniment was delish.
I finished off my meal with the mango and chocolate sorbets and a cello flight: 4 lovely cellos- lemon, orange, hazelnut, and creme in 4 lovely glasses (the presentation of this is really fun) for $15. The sorbets were delicious and not too sweet. A great way to end the meal.
Okay, so the food is great. The service is spot on.
What about price, you ask? Completely reasonable. Tidbit is one of those places where you can go for a special occasion or just a regular 'any old night' and not feel out of place when you're celebrating either one. Sexy enough for date night, yet casual enough for dinner with friends. Love it.
I was really looking forward to dinner here b/c, a.) I LOVE Spanish and Italian cuisine, 2.) Small… Read more »
Bland bland bland.
The arancini tasted like mushy nothing. The salad was greasy and meaty. The shrimp tasted like they came out of an old salad bar.
Definitely not worth the price.
The chocolate tartufo dessert was very tasty though.
Let's hear it for all my homies out there who aren't too proud to flash the entertainment card! W00T!
The hubs and I used our beloved E-card to try out Tidbit. Great deal - BOGO entrees.
This allows us to try out a wide variety of items from the menu. We started out with the Crostini. They were very tasty - but itty bitty! Other joints like Dinette and Smith rock the HUGE suckers, which are easier for sharing.
Our entrees were dy-no-myte. I had the lamb and the hubs had the mac n' cheese. His was rocket hot for quite some time, so we just shared mine until he could return the f(l)avor.
And then....the dessert. Oh good lord, the dessert. It was ::sexy gesture:: wrapped in ::sexy gesture:: covered in ::sexy gesture::. Imported chocolate frozen...blahblahyummy.
Ambiance was clean, simple and unpretentious - everyone was cool with the couple kids at other tables bein' cute and sassy and the music was interesting and not intrusive.
Tidbit, I will be...basque.
Went here on a Sunday night with my wife and two other friends during the "30 for $30" series that comes on in Seattle every year. Was definitely surprised in a good way by how tasty everything was, and even more surprised at how nice the presentation was. We all ordered from the $30 menu, so we each got an appetizer, entree and dessert. All three were great, and I'm glad we each ordered different things so we could sample the various items.
I had the gnocchi encrusted with parmesan for an appetizer, and while it wasn't spectacular, it was a great start. It's hard to get gnocchi right, in my experience. The beef stew was also excellent, with the beef incredibly tender. The dessert I had was a cannelloni (or was it a canoli) filled with chocolate, which was good, but I was so full by that point I only had a couple of bites. Another person who was with us ordered this lemon sorbet served in a hollowed-out lemon, which I thought was a really interested presentation. The wine flight/pairing (2 glasses) was also a good accompaniment.
Honestly, I'm really surprised that Tidbit has survived in a location that killed at least two previous places I'm aware of. But after my experience there, I can see why it's thriving. It was packed (remember, this is Sunday night) so I'm glad we had made a reservation.
Definitely plan to be back again next time I'm looking for an interesting neighborhood night out.
Ummm...I love this place!! I've been many times, the service is always polite and knowledgeable, the food is AWESOME and the wine list pairs really well with a lot of the items on their menu. It's a fun date night so bring someone you love (or at least like that night) and have a great time! The sweet potato fries are particularly yummy!
We came here for a couple of birthdays for the 30 for $30 after trying to make it here earlier in the month. I didn't even realize Tidbit was located here, even though I sometimes drive by it after work.
I had the crostini, which was tasty, and since I had never tasted albondigas before, we ordered a side of that. I didn't care for it at first, but it grew a little bit on me. I think it was a texture thing.
My beef stew was excellent. It was incredibly flavorful and the meat melted in your mouth. My friends' entrees weren't as good, but the lasagne did get a thumbs up. I thought it was a nice idea for the sorbet in the lemon for dessert and it was good, as well.
We'll definitely come again. I rounded the score down a bit, because I thought portions were a tad bit small to me. Either that or I was starving. I think it's really a three and a half.
Very nice place. The bar is cozy. Very diverse wine menu and half-price bottles on Tuesday is a pretty fantastic deal considering how great some of their wines are.
On to the food. I've had the albondigas, gnochi, french onion soup, a few of their crostinos, and one of their prawn dishes. All of them are very flavorful. The gnochi is my favorite. I haven't had any of their entrees yet but plan on it for next time.
Good food at the usual Seattle price point of $45-$60 per person (without drinks). Definitely worth repeat visits.
Service was very good, one of my pet peeves about Seattle restaurants is their horrid service and lack of a team environment. Not an issue here. Other servers ducked over to see if we needed anything and the staff was helpful with questions and recommendations.
I was wavering between 4 and 5 stars but at this price point the dishes should be a little larger than they are. Small peeve but since I can't give 4.5 stars I had to settle on 4.
Oh.
My.
Goddess.
tidbit had the most wonderful, friendly, cheerful, helpful, professional, courteous staff I have experienced in ages, if ever. Wow.
The food was orgasmic. Not only did it make my mouth water, but it was so delicious that I had several moments where I had to close my eyes to experience it fully.
We ordered the Arancino, Crostino con Funghi and Crostino Espanol tapas ($2.50 each), along with the a caesar (ouch $9), Cordero a la lancha (marinated lamb with herbed potato cake and yummy tapanade and allioli) ($20) and Pollo del Dia (chicken of the day - a mushroom, noodle and parmesan creme sauce creation) ($19), and tiramisu ($7) to top it off. A glass of wine ($7), a blueberry cosmo ($8), and a lovely basket of bread accompanied it all. I would absolutey return based on 3 things: Service, Taste, and the Company (I wuv Tim).
The Tiramisu was by far the best I've ever had, even in Europe they could not top it. Mmmmm mmm good. Actually, better put - Daayuuumm.
Bring an appetite, and of course, a bit of cash because its on the mid- to high end on pricey-ness. If you order more than an entree (typical) you will spend at least $30 a person.
Mouthgasmic. Go here. Eat. Love it.
We found this place when I was very hungry, very whiny, and very argumentative about where I wanted to eat. I finally just pointed to this place as we were driving by and said FINE LET'S JUST GO THERE, WHATEVER. Then I spent the next 15 minutes harrumphing at our table until our food arrived. Then I spent the next hour having an orgasm over their tapas, bitchiness forgotten. So what I'm saying is, if you want to shut up your girlfriend, this is the place to take her.
Tapas, tapas, tapas. Yes, their entrees look nice, but we've only gone for the tapas. They're warm, delicious, and just the right price. I also enjoy going to a place where the owners know your name the second time around, much like Norm and Cheers, minus the obesity and alcoholism.
Our favorite tapas, in order of importance:
Banderilla con Fiocco: a bite-sized piece of heaven. This is what we call The Perfect Bite. A marinated olive, a bit of prosciutto, and a small pasta pouch filled with pear and blue cheese, all on a toothpick--you eat the whole thing in one fell swoop, and then order 14 more. To my knowledge, my boyfriend has never cheated on me, but he has come home on more than one occasion, right before dinner, smelling of Banderilla con Fiocco and looking rather sheepish.
Albondigas con Almendras: balls don't sound very tasty (unless you're into that kind of thing), but these ones are sublime. Lamb and beef meatballs served in a saffron and ground almond sauce over delicious pasta... I'm not proud, but I've actually thought about ordering a bunch and then pawning them off as my own at a dinner party, that's how mind-altering they are.
The Arancino, a golden fried risotto cake that they are consistently out of, and the Gnocchi, baked in a tomato cream sauce with basil, mozzarella, and parmesan, are also really wonderful dishes.
The mixed drinks are different, but worth trying--just remember: the cocktail is $8-$10 because it's not watered down in any way, shape, or form. They pour a straight-up Capital Hill drink, and if you don't know what that is, you've never been drinking on the hill; one Capital Hill drink is equal to 2-3 downtown drinks, or one small jug of Louisiana moonshine.
These four dishes and one Capital Hill drink--between two people--usually ends up around $40, which is terribly cheap for what you actually get; I can eat like a champion, but have never made it past 5 shared dishes.
This is a place where I could take a bunch of people with varying tastes and probably find something for everyone. The owners are always very nice, and I've never had bad service; sometimes they need help with the word 'flow', but they're working it out.
I hope they stay busy, because that space has had a hard time retaining businesses. I tell everyone to try it at least once.
Went here tonight for the first time (weird because it is in our 'hood & we always talk about going) to enjoy the Urban Eats - $30 for 3 courses + $10 for 2 glasses of wine (their "tastings" paired with the appetizer & main entree)...service was great, the flavors were above average & the wine was tasty as well.
I had the crostini (3) for an appetizer & the white lasagne for an entree. DH ordered the gnocci for an appetizer & a beef stew for an entree. We shared bites of both, which were all rich without being overwhelming & both had OK desserts of a canneloni & a tiramisu - we didn't finish either - not because they were bad, but we were full & they weren't so overwhelmingly good that we wanted to "lick the plate".
I give the place a few extra points for decent acoustics (even though it was reasonably busy, I could still enjoy my conversation with our table patners) & for a comfy, warm setting. It had a very relaxed vibe without feeling like a corner bar type place.
We would definitely go back, I could see it as some place to sit at the bar, have a nice aperitif & appetizer, then move on to dinner w/ friends or for date night.
I love this place. Totally authentic, fun...good energy.
The food was really good - not the best in the world - but very good. The Grappa flight - thank you very much! Wine: excellent. It was a nice night so we sat outside and felt like we were in Europe. Our server clearly loved his job - he was bouncing around, happy, getting this and that. Professional but fun!
I live in the neighborhood and you hear a lot of people talk about Tidbit with...is reverence the right word? People really like the restaurant, the owners and most people I talk to consider it a place they go back to a few times per month, which is rare I have found.
Anyway, the food was very good - the tapas plates are perfect to start out with. The pasta dishes were the best options for us. The Manicretto - awesome! The baccala was ok - not the best but good. The Funghi Porcinin (sp) was very good as well.
Can't wait to sit inside next time - plenty of opportunity to do that in Seattle.
A good neighborhood restaurant, unlike some of the other reviewers I received good if not attentative service last night.
Had the Gambas Ajillo appetizer which was in a different a more complicated sauce than in the other Spanish restaurants I have been which use just oil and garlic. I wasn't really happy with the result which reminded me of shrimp scampi in texture and taste.
Also had the French onion soup, which was an excellent version with crusty cheese covering a still slightly crunchy crostini.
The main dishes of the beef stew and the lamb were where I think they really have problems at this price point. The lamb at med-rare was a bit chewy and the stew was non descript to the point that I have to say I prefer the Guiness stew at a Tap House.
There is parking behind the restarant that is not clearly marked but I didn't get a ticket or tow while I was there. Otherwise neighborhood street parking seemed available.
I like a really diverse menu... great tapas and great entrees. Tapas are a good size, so you could easily order a couple of them instead of an entree.
Started with the crostino espanol (crustini with chorizo, tomato and garlic) and papas dulces (sweet potato fries)... I'm a sucker for sweet potatoes in anyway shape or form.
Skipped the salad and moved on to Manicaretto for an entree. It was great! - tortellini, tomatoes, ham, ricotta and mushrooms baked into a folded pasta sheet.
I didn't have anyting to drink but water, but they have a great wine list and a full bar.
Besides a great diverse menu, the setting is also really nice. I like places that feel very upscale, but you can easily go in and eat with shorts and sandals. I hate pretense.
Our waiter was the best too!
Give these guys a try. They deserve it.
tidbit was our destination for a friend's celebratory dinner (mostly because I'd been dying to try it, so I convinced everyone else we should go).
Patio seating was only slightly cramped, but welcome in this good weather. Looking at the menu, I was very pleased to find that the 3 courses for $30 special is still going on, so even though my companions only had a few small plates and then dessert, I got the full meal.
The parmigiana bianca (zucchini fries with mozzarella and bechamel) were piping hot and crispy on the outside, the flatiron steak on my bistecca ed insalata was cooked perfectly to order and the lemon vinaigrette was wonderful, and my tiramisu was creamy and flavorful.
I also tried the *cello flight; the nocello was by far my favorite, but the limoncello was just tart enough to win me over. The orangecello was a little medicinal, and the crema di limoncello was a little odd, but decent.
Altogether, I enjoyed the meal and was happy with the prices. tidbit is a lovely little dinner spot. I can't wait to try their brunch!
Two words: Grappa Flight!!
OK, I have more than two words to say. Lovely little neighborhood spot. The dishes aren't rustic, but they aren't high end either. Savory, satisfying, and good value. My faves: The baccala croquette (a tapa special) and the pappardelle.
Also, a news flash, John and Nic are currently offering 3 courses for $30. I don't know if this will continue beyond July '08...but it sure made it easier to sample more of the menu for me.
We checked out Tidbit Bistro last night when in search of a fun new date-night-no-kids spot, after seeing the strong other Yelp reviews.
Tidbit definitely fit this bill well -- cozy, quiet, solid (though not exceptional) food and service, unpretentious but nice enough to feel like it's an evening "out", etc.
Love this Iberian/Italian fusion take on tapas -- the albondigas lamb/pork/beef meatballs in a hearty verdant sauce and the light bread-stuffed mini eggplant rolletinis were the highlights. The little caprese skewers were also a great way to start, and the special soup last night was a pure comfort-food tomato-based lentil soup, with quite a bit of tasty pepper.
Service could have been a little better -- it felt like for a Saturday night they should have had just one more server covering the dining room, and that would have made a big difference. Our server was always reluctant to stand still with us for more than about 15 seconds, not out of attitude but because she genuinely seemed rushed and stretched.
All that said -- definitely another little local gem, worth checking out.
I took my girlfriend here for her birthday, and we loaded up on wine and tapas. Here are some of the things that were delicious: butter (seriously, the butter they gave us with our bread was really, really tasty), spanish crostini (with chorizo), crostini with prosciutto and mozarella and tomatoes, fried risotto balls, gnocchi, eggplant rolls, sweet potato fries, and tiramisu. The pork with tuna wasn't that tasty, but looking back why did I order "pork with tuna"?
The service was excellent, and the final bill seemed quite reasonable for how much we ate.
I think we'll be going back.
I was all excited about trying out another tapas bar. Came here with two friends, with food memories of Spain floating around in my head... and I totally got stick on the Italian menu items and didn't get anything Spanish. Why is it that pasta always sounds so good?
The free parking lot behind the building is an awesome perk, but it's pretty small, so you have to get there early enough if you want to get a spot. A car accident on 520 delayed one member of our dining party, but it didn't matter... the crayons and paper on the table kept us entertained for awhile.
We ordered:
* Parmigiana Bianca (breaded zucchini with mozzarella and bechemel) - really good and a huge portion for being called a "tapa"
* Gnocchi alla Sorrentina (gnocchi in a tomato cream sauce) - I love gnocchi, and the dumplings were good, but I thought the sauce was just ok, without a ton of flavor.
* Mela Mista (salad with apple, blue cheese, and walnuts) - Good salad, big enough for three to share and have some left over.
* Pappardelle con Funghi Porcini (fresh pasta with porcinis) - Probably my favorite dish, and it got better as I ate more of it.
* Tiramisu - yum! (what's not to like?)
I was worried that it wouldn't be enough food for three, but it ended up being more than enough. It's nice to eat at a place like this and not be shocked at how small the plates are each time a dish is brought out. Service wasn't overly friendly but was good.
I'll have to come back and try some of the Spanish items next time!
Since the menu looked so heavenly my dinner partner and I decided to sample 3 different tapas, 2 entrees, and of course the tiramisu. Oh how delicious it was, as we floated on a cloud of ecstasy into the land where every piece of food is carefully prepared and scrumptious.
I would suggest the following:
Tapas -
Bread with Tomato, garlic, and Spanish chorizo
Bite sized skewer with marinated olive, prosciutto, and fiocco pasta filled with pear and blue cheese. Perfecto!
Golden fried risotto cake with tomato, saffron and mozzarella, served with salsa
Entrees -
Chicken stuffed with bread
Leg of lamb and potato cake
Dessert-
Tiramisu
Just went there for dinner, and the staff was friendly and the place was clean, but the food on the other hand..hmmm.. was just OK. There was nothing super delicious yet nothing really bad. We ordered 5 to 6 plates and 3 of them had the same exact tomato sauce.
***Updated***
I complained here about them not having sangria. I guess it wasn't on the menu but you could order it, but I got a message from the owner and he said now they have sangria on their menu. I gotta go back there soon and try it out!
I am happy to know that owner of the restaurant actually read my review and answered my request. That's a great service. I added one more star for that!
I've found a replacement for the Cascadia Alpine Mist Martini, it's the similar drink at Tidbit, and this is probably reason enough to go. The food is what you' expect, very good, but maybe a little too complex. But yeah, great drinks!
Pretty good. Tasty for sure, but outside of 30 for 30, the entrees are probably a little overpriced.
The boy and I dined for 30 for 30.
Started with:
Trio di Crostini - mostly yummy but drenched in olive oil which detracted from the flavor.
Gnocchi - delicious little pillows of wonderful in tomato-cream sauce.
Entres:
Papperdelle with mushrooms - pretty good - though once is was gone the bowl was filled with a greasy sort of mess.
Lasagna Napoletana - extremely rich. Very good, mind you, but it was too rich. I couldn't eat more than half. Claimed to have sausage and proscuitto, though I couldn't find any proscuitto.
Dessert:
Tiramisu - tasty but very standard
Lemon sorbet - served to me in a frozen lemon. VERY yummy. Toss up between the gnocchi or the sorbet as being the best in show.
I'd love to go back for tapas.
If you go and it's warm enough, sit outside. It's cute and completely reminded me of Europe.
Tidbit Bistro is located on the northern edges of Capitol Hill. It's not big and also has outdoor seating. The menu is a mix of Spanish and Italian items and the wine list is not long but has some nice choices.
We went there on a Wednesday night.
The salads were good. The fish (ling cod) was good but swimming in a very thin mixture of mashed potatoes and oil. The risotto (with clams) was salty. The lamb - asked for medium- arrived excessively done.
The service was abysmal. There were only two servers for the rapidly filling up restaurant. Our server was surly and not knowledgeable. She brought the wrong entree and the overdone lamb. The manager brought over the right entree when the wrong one was almost gone.
We waited 36 minutes after the salads and 39 minutes after the entrees to have a server notice us. We skipped the dessert but still had to wait some more for the wrong check to be corrected.
To sum: The food is no better than chain restaurants like Anthon'y and the service is inadequate (to use a polite word). Two more servers may have helped to speed up the service.
The owner has sent me a rebuttal message and then posted a note.
My reply to the note is: There was no "free food'. Was I expected to pay both for the right entree as well as the wrong one? What I wrote on the check was "no, nada, niente" instead of the undeserved tip. I don't see what's "malicious" about it. Nobody offered me any free dessert. If there was such an intention it was not verbalized. To sum it again, the food was OK. The service was consistently terrible.
I LOVE THEIR HAPPY HOUR! So, they only have 4 items on their happy hour menu, but the risotto cakes are one of them. For $5 you can get 4 of them between 5-6pm on weekday. They also have their sweet potato fries and Patatas Bravas half-off as well. Last time I went for happy hour, I spent around $10 for wine and several different small dishes. It felt like a really good deal.
As for eating dinner there, well, I didn't like their entrees as much as I liked their tapas dishes. I would recommend going with several of their tapas dishes unless you really are tempted by one of their entrees.
Also to note, on Wednesdays, they have movie night with half off tapas.
a friend came to visit me from the south, and when i asked her what kind of food she wanted to try, she replied "TAPAS! TAPAS! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD I WANT SMALL PLATES!" ok, maybe it wasn't that dramatic. so, i actually came onto http://yelp.com for tapas suggestions, and we decided to go to tidbit since it's near my place.
the food here is outstanding. we came here TWICE during her short visit for the great food, and they also have half-bottles of willamette valley pinot noir for a great price. one star deduction for playing italian pop music loudly on a large screen. i mean, come on. italian music is like the worst ever. i realized i was looking at the tv half the time.
P.S. when you look out the window, you realize that tidbit is like, a mirror image word or whatever. i thought that was cool.
If you can get past the name, which sounds like something my little niece would name her kitten, this place has some great food.
The two owners, having varied experience in Spain and Italian, marry the two countries' culinary flavors. Let's just hope they can shake the haunted past of their location.
We had warm goat cheese in a tomato sauce with crustini, a delicious prawn dish and a couple of ginorous salads. I'm not putting as much time and care into explaining the dishes as they did making them.
Oh, plus several glasses of good $6 Pinot Noir!
Ahhh, this place makes me happy. Reasonably priced, delicious small dishes with wisely selected glass pours to accompany. And you can't skip dessert.... something is right in the world when you can bite into some cappuccino gelato and have amazing chocolate goo ooze from within. Yum.
It's cozy. It's tasty. The service is attentive, and the servers give off genuine vibes. Definitely a treat - even if you're on a budget. You can put together a creative, truly great meal by nabbing assortments of tapas.
Mmmmm.
Uninspired palate. Mediocre atmosphere. Small portions at least mean you won't have to stay long. Do yourself a favor and make yourself a romantic dinner... it'll better in everyway.
NEW Early Dinner Menu - $10!
Neighborhood: Mt. Baker
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Seattle, WA
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Spanish
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Modern European
Neighborhood: Laurelhurst
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
Category: Greek
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