Serafina

Serafina can't be matched by any other restaurant in Seattle. It has a wonderful ambience, good service, great live music on certain nights, a nice wine selection, a well stocked bar, and oh yeah, food that is absolutely delicious! Every meal we've had there is cooked and presented to perfection. Some may consider it on the pricey side, but the food is worth it. The pasta with veal-meatballs is the greatest dish. The pork is good as well. I've met no one that didn't enjoy it! It's a great restaurant for an intimate date, or for a big event (we took our wedding party there the night before our wedding--they did a great job with dealing with us!). Check out their outdoor seating in the summer too! more

Serafina,my classy, local taste of rustic Italy did it again! My out of town guests were treated to a sumptuous, tasty meal all in a relaxed, romantic atmosphere. Oh...and did I mention the great service? It is the one place where I never feel rushed while dining with friends. Just like in Italy, they are attentive with hovering, waiting to snatch plates and turn the table...I highly recommend Serafina. more

Really enjoyed meeting a new acquaintance for a bite to eat and a chat at Serafina yesterday evening. The weather was perfect and a great glass of rosé started the evening off perfectly. We opened with crostini and anchovies. Both dishes were delicious. The anchovies in particular were excellent. Orchietti with wild boar had great promise but wasn't quite right. It tasted a little lighter than expected but that may have been what they were going for. We also had fried pork belly (think hunks of bacon) on a watermelon, mint, goat-cheese salad. Terrific. Mini-donuts and coffee-cardomom ice cream wrapped up a great meal. Our waiter was knowledgable and friendly and definitely knew his way around the wine list. more

The outdoor seating area is beautiful and fun! The food is very tasty, especially the Crostini. However, the staff is snobby and the portions are very small! Of course, I ordered a half portion, but I didn't think this meant only 3 ravioli! I would recommend just going for drinks and appetizers, but they won't let you sit outside. Also, they overcharged me by $100 and it took two weeks to reverse!!! I'd go here if you don't have anywhere else to go... more

OK, so it's more "Italian-inspired" than truly Italian, but rustic European definitely applies. Serafina has been an Eastlake institution since long before I moved to the neighborhood several years ago, but it continues to be a consistently good experience overall. The menu is inventive and interesting while including the typical staples, although unless you happen to be fluent in Italian, you might need some explanation from the very attentive staff on some of the more creative dishes, especially the daily/weekly specials. Atmosphere is friendly, very romantic, and yet still somewhat casual, although on Friday/Saturday when the live music gets going, don't plan on hearing anything from your date unless you're a lip reader. In other words, it's cozy in there and the sound fills the space. In good weather though, the outdoor patio is a nice touch if you can wait long enough for the table or manage to get the right reservation. Music is just the right level out there. The bar area is off to one side, and fine to hang out in while waiting, but it can get VERY crowded in there. Be comfortable rubbing elbows. Last, but not least, the wine selection has been somewhat sparse in the past, but they seem to do a decent job in the "staff selection" area and have one in varying price ranges. The list does lean to the more expensive end though. The owner lives just a few blocks away in Eastlake and her garden supplies the restaurant, so she's obsessed with quality and her guests' overall experience. more

Went to dinner here the other night. Had a fabulous steak there. The food, service and atmosphere were super. I recommend this place highly. The only negative things I could say are : the line to get in was a bit long. Not a great place to bring kids. more

Serafina does a trifecta -- great Italian food, fantastic service, and funky charm. Try the salsicce con peperonati e polenta. The wine last has a good selection on Italian and Pacific Northwest wine. On a warm summer evening, ask to be seated in the patio and be transported to Tuscany. Service is professional and knowledgeable. One entree in our group was overdone -- and promptly replaced. A memorable dessert was the rhubarb zabiglione. We emerged beautifully fed and in high spirits. more