647932 Thu Aug 27 09:15:34 -0700 2009 20 4 Pacific Northwest 0 4982671 Why is it that most Italian restaurants in Seattle seem to fit into two camps. Either a) stuffy, pricey and over-rated. Or b) glorified Spaghetti Factory. I am dying to find a lively Italian restaurant, that serves Italian food (not just spaghetti and meatballs and calls itself Italian), like you'd find in Bologna or Roma. Simple pastas, maybe a pizza or two, Italian wine, real tiramisu...is this too much to ask? Am I the only one who thinks there has to be middle ground between our typical Seattle Italian options? Thu Aug 27 09:15:35 -0700 2009 1091568 kgreig 1 4982698 The only place that reminds me of something you might find in Bologna or really Italy (food wise--not really atmosphere wise in the current space) is La Spiga. I like La Medusa an awful lot, though, and it's not stuffy, expensive or Spaghetti Factory-like. Thu Aug 27 09:23:08 -0700 2009 4982671 12186 christy319 2 4982856 I gotta say, i feel like La Spiga fits in to the "pricey and over-rated" part of the A) category... I'd say my fav spot for something like this is Rialto on Fremont Ave. (i've never been to Rome or Bologna, but it reminds me a bit of some of the places I went to in Boston) Good red sauce, reasonable priced wines and a usually a couple of interesting entree options. (Don't get the olive pasta dish there though) Nearby Cantinetta's been getting some nice reviews as well, it's one of my next to visit places. Thu Aug 27 10:10:05 -0700 2009 4982698 66211 GreenYoshi 3 4982911 Second Rialto. Love their pastas. No pizza, though. I also love Machiavelli, but the wait can be a bit much at times. Thu Aug 27 10:26:23 -0700 2009 4982856 156153 akq 4 4982985 See, I think Rialto and Bizzarro are the kind of Americanized Italian that it sounds like the OP is trying to avoid. They sure don't remind me of anything you'd find in Bologna (Boston, sure)! Do you think La Spiga is pricey? I don't. I haven't been in a while, and I do think they were better in their old space, but I've heard very good recent reports. Thu Aug 27 10:47:00 -0700 2009 4982911 12186 christy319 5 4983924 Agree on Bizzarro, but I still like Rialto a lot. Not a big fan of La Spiga, although I would give them another go eventually. Thu Aug 27 15:22:53 -0700 2009 4982985 156153 akq 2 4983006 I second la medusa. They have an awesome wednesday farmers market dinner. http://www.lamedusarestaurant.com/menu.htm Thu Aug 27 10:52:45 -0700 2009 4982698 37834 dagrassroots 1 4982863 bizarro (46th/stone way) is as unstuffy as a sports bar with food in the upper reaches of seattle italian (p.s.- a "real" tiramisu is served as an afternoon snack rather than as a dessert which tends to be fruit and vin santo...) Thu Aug 27 10:12:22 -0700 2009 4982671 14758 howard 1st 2 4984164 This is sort of a tough not to crack. I generally try to distinguish between Italian and Italian-American, and for the former, considering the price point and atmosphere you seek, there aren't many. La Medusa fits the bill though its more sicilian-oriented as opposed to emilia-romagna. There is great piedmontese fare at Spinasse, but it costs you well beyond what a trattoria in the old country does, at least relatively speaking. If red-sauce, checkered-table-cloth fare is acceptable, it is ubiquitous in the cities back east, but actually fairly rare here. Pizzuto's in Seward Park satisfies most of the criteria. Thu Aug 27 17:03:32 -0700 2009 4982863 19098 equinoise 3 4984189 In that vein, too, is Salvatore, which surprised the heck out of us with the best presentation of halibut, ever... Thu Aug 27 17:13:14 -0700 2009 4984164 15855 mrnelso 4 4985752 I second Salvatore in the U-District. Unpretentious, very good service, food is delicious, moderately priced. Also, Tidbit Bistro on Capital Hill. It's kind of a combination of Italian and Spanish tapas, but I rather enjoyed it. Fri Aug 28 09:26:15 -0700 2009 4984189 167652 Square Business 1 4985428 I guess when I think of Bologna or Roma true Italian, I am thinking of that simple rustic preparation that Italians do so well. It doesn't have to have a mound of cheese, or a huge pile of stuffed ravioli...just quality ingredients that shine in the simple preparation. Now, if I could have that, with that incomparable Italian energy buzz that happens in the neighborhood eateries, I would be in heaven. Now, unfortunately if I don't find that here, I might be forced to visit Italy again. And wouldn't that be a shame? :-) Fri Aug 28 07:56:06 -0700 2009 4982671 1091568 kgreig 2 4985930 Cafe Bizarro, Cafe Lago, Salvatore's are the 3 I recommend. Cantinetta fits into the 'pretentious' category from my experiences there. Fri Aug 28 10:07:26 -0700 2009 4985428 77289 staffstuff 1 4987561 Da Pino on (65th in Roosevelt) is pretty neat. It's open for about 20 minutes (they close at 7:30!) and there's zero atmosphere, but the sandwiches and pasta dishes are flavorful and relatively inexpensive. Pino Rogano supplies cured meats to a lot of Seattle's high-end restaurants (disclaimer: he's from Calabria, not Rome or Bologna). Fri Aug 28 19:50:40 -0700 2009 4982671 269870 lavaca 2 4992751 Are they doing pasta dishes there now? It used to just be sandwiches and cold cuts down at the Rainier Valley location. Mon Aug 31 09:49:18 -0700 2009 4987561 66211 GreenYoshi 3 4992851 They have always had a pasta dish or two on the menu. Mon Aug 31 10:18:11 -0700 2009 4992751 37834 dagrassroots 3 4994588 There's a whiteboard with three to five pasta dishes written on it. It's nothing too wild, but occasionally I've seen wild boar on the menu. Mon Aug 31 19:20:53 -0700 2009 4992751 269870 lavaca 2 4995696 Calabria will do just fine. :-) Love the spicy red sauces with those calabrese peppers. Pino Rogano sounds great! Tue Sep 01 08:46:54 -0700 2009 4987561 1091568 kgreig 1 4987734 Here's one more vote for Rilato. Rudy has been at it for a long time and his menu goes beyond simple red sauce, which is also very good in my opinion. Another great choice is Ristorante Picolinos at 65th St and 32nd Ave in Ballard. It's a neighborhood spot with great entrees and desserts made in house. Fri Aug 28 21:27:48 -0700 2009 4982671 23921 Sky 1 4987905 machiavelli! good price and great food. Sat Aug 29 00:56:48 -0700 2009 4982671 144879 rudyhux 1 4990155 mmm, I hear linguini con vongole calling my name! These are all great suggestions, who knew?! Sun Aug 30 08:34:27 -0700 2009 4982671 1091568 kgreig