Asteroid Ristorante

Upon arrival neither acknowledged or seated for several minutes, plenty of staff but all were more interested in sitting at a bar talking and drinking than taking care of customer service. Too many places with as good or better food to go to a place where the customer is made to feel like a pain or intrusion. more

For those of you who aren't in the know, Asteroid Cafe recently moved from Wallingford to Fremont. It's a cute new spot, located off of Fremont Avenue, near to the Red Apple, and some pubs. Much larger than their Wallingford location--which I think is being used for fund raising, and private events--the Fremont location also boasts a bar area. You get the same great service, and high quality food choices. My only complaint was that the pasta was a little undercooked. Otherwise, it was a pleasant dining experience. more

YUM. Double yum. Every since I moved to Wallingford in 1999, I have adored this place. I took first dates here. I took friends here. I took both my brothers here. I used to eat lunch when they served it. I remember when Marlin's sister worked there. I even drink the coffee here. Everything is probably good here, but I just come for the mushroom ravioli in sage butter sauce. So good. more

The Asteroid cafe on 45th is a small cozy Italian restaurant with the best fettuccine in town…if you don’t calorie count; this is the dish for you! more

I've been going to the Asteroid for at least 5 years now and I've never been disappointed. As a vegetarian, you are usually selecting from one or two dishes, even at Italian places, but not so at this place. It always takes me forever to decide and then at least 50% of the time I order the mushroom ravioli. It is made fresh in the kitchen and served with a delicious sage butter and grated cheese. The mushrooms have an intense flavor and the pasta is firm, but delicate. And then, you know, butter and cheese. I also love the little bruscetta they give you at the beginning of the meal and would recommend the white bean and greens side dish. The owner is usually there and will usually stop by your table to see how you're doing and he makes great wine recommendations. I've always been greeted warmly and treated like an old friend by all of the staff there - unless I've come without a reservation, so get one of those. more

Good food very basic furnishings friendly staff more

let's get the claustraphobic part out of the way - this place is tiny with tables jammed in there. at a table for 2 with nobody else in the restaurant, we felt like we were crowded. that said, this place rocks! super-nice servers who are very knowledgeable about the wine, the food and its preparation. service is quick and the wine list is pretty extensive. of course the most important thing here is the food and i give it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up. i LOVE it when i eat a great meal that's got a lot of garlic flavor but i don't taste the garlic all night long. i had the chicken w/penne, sundried tomatoes, asparagus and goat cheese and i couldn't eat it fast enough. i thought the portion was a bit small but i was happy with that - i'm used to being stuffed to the point of explosion. hubby had the baked spicy eggplant dish and he was tres pleased with it. another sign of a good restaurant...even their decaf was great! and i felt very seattle in the asteroid. i'd definitely recommend it and would return in a sec. that's my story and i'm stickin with it. more

Yes, the name is weird. And yes, there IS a huge papier mache asteroid on the roof. But walk inside this tiny storefront restaurant and you'll soon forget about all that. Asteroid Cafe is my favorite kind of restaurant: tiny, one-of-a-kind, and owner-operated. In a dining room no bigger than your own, owner Marlin Hathaway delivers fabulous cocktails, excellent (and fairly-priced) wines and superb, hand-crafted Italian food to an always-packed house of Wallingford residents and in-the-know pilgrims from across Seattle. A few things you should know before you go. Due to the small dining room, only complete parties will be seated; if you're meeting friends not known for their punctuality, be prepared to stand on the sidewalk until they arrive. And once you do sit down, be prepared for your conversation to include diners at the table next to you; the tight spacing and informal atmosphere can lend a dinner-party air to the entire restaurant. But if excellent food, great wine and warm-but-professional service are your goals, Asteroid Cafe delivers like few other neighborhood restaurants. In addition to a thoughtful printed menu of starters, pastas and main courses, the chalkboard typically features a handful of incredible seasonal specials. The wine list is packed with a remarkable breadth of selections, from sturdy table wines (starting in the low $20s), to elegant and complex selections from Italy and the western U.S. A short but well-executed dessert list and a constantly changing artisanal cheese selection help bring things to a close. I'm currently on a hunt for the best neighborhood restaurants in Seattle. If you've got one that you think gives Asteroid a run for its money, I'd like to hear about it. more

Does anyone remember the breakfast place that used to be where the Asteroid Cafe is now? IMHO, best breakfast in Seattle . . . Ever. Anyone know what happen to the chef? more

Here are some things you should know. This place is TINY and very intimate - which is to say, you may get to know your fellow gourmands INTIMATELY because it is hard NOT to know what is going on at every other table in here. It is a great place to meet other couples because of the close quarters. Toddlers? Leave them at home. Babies? You can get away with a baby in a Bjorn, but don't expect high chairs or room to nurse. Can you just pop in for a glass of wine or a coffee? Definitely. But you would miss out on some fabulous food. more

My only criticism of this place is- too much food. We weren't prepared for the portions and the heaviness of the meal and I still feel full a year later when I think about our one dinner there. Extra bonus to this restaurant- you get all your political info and signage right there! The owner is about as active as they come. more

Ok - it's a very small place on 45th and the decor is funky, but forget that. It's about the food. Delicious northern italian and an amazing wine list. They got a GLOWING review in the Weekly and now it's packed and deservedly so. Nice people too. Go. more