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A view of Bizzarro Italian Cafe’s bolognese with pappardelle and elk, tossed with cheese.
Bizarro’s elk bolognese
Bizzarro Italian Cafe

Where to Get Fantastic Pasta in Seattle

From elk bolognese to tajarin with butter and sage, these Italian noodles are among the city’s best

by Eater Staff and Mark DeJoy Updated
View as Map
Bizarro’s elk bolognese
| Bizzarro Italian Cafe
by Eater Staff and Mark DeJoy Updated

Is it just us, or has pasta gotten a little… fraught? Sure, there have always been arguments over whether or not any given pasta is how nonna used to make it, but these days it also feels like pasta has been “elevated” into oblivion. Fine-dining pomp has provided a new (and for some people, unwelcome) dimension to a food that originated as something deliciously accessible. So we’re glad to see some newcomers bringing some understatedness to their menus, while we still appreciate the flash of local star chefs. Here’s a map that spans a whole spectrum of pasta possibilities.

Send us a tip by emailing seattle@eater.com. As usual, this list is not ranked; it’s organized geographically.

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San Fermo

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The menu at this popular Ballard restaurant is minimal and lighter than one might see at more traditional Italian joints, featuring star dishes like the strozzapreti with lamb sumo and the saffron spaghetti bolognese with pork and veal.

5341 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 342-1530
(206) 342-1530

Also featured in:

Bizzarro Italian Cafe

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This quirky yet ageless Wallingford establishment embraces weirdness in its decor, which seems like a cross between a messy antique store and the backstage of a carnival. The eye-catching aesthetics shouldn’t distract from classics like the elk bolognese with handmade pappardelle noodles, long a fan favorite.

1307 N 46th St, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 632-7277
(206) 632-7277
A view of Bizzarro Italian Cafe’s bolognese with pappardelle and elk, tossed with cheese.
Elk bolognese with pappardelle
Bizzarro Italian Cafe

Also featured in:

Esters Enoteca

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Esters is an all-too-rare spot that functions just as well for a date-night dinner as it does for grabbing a quick bite after work, thanks to its order-at-the-counter-and-bus-your-table-casualness being balanced with a thoroughly conceived atmosphere. The pasta here follows suit with simplicity plus nice touches: amatriciana features squid ink bucatini along with supple pieces of squid and pork belly for added richness. Ricotta ravioli with butternut squash cream gets an intriguing twist from tahini and a hit of sumac. But maybe the nicest touch of all is Esters Enoteca’s true commitment to gluten-free dining: The entirety of the small plates menu is gluten-free, every pasta dish can be made instead with top-notch gluten-free fettucini, and dedicated surfaces, utensils, and fryers are used for all GF items. 

3416 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 295-1903
(206) 295-1903

Cafe Lago

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Montlake’s Cafe Lago is the perfect neighborhood white-tablecloth Italian restaurant — just upscale enough for celebrating a special occasion, but not so fussy that it won’t accommodate an off-menu order of fettucini alfredo. The pastas, including two excellent lasagna dishes, are well-executed here, and evolve with the seasons.

2305 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 329-8005
(206) 329-8005

Also featured in:

Cornelly

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Most restaurants that serve both pizza and pasta give one of those items center stage, while the other ends up being auxiliary. But Cornelly puts as much craft into their handmade and extruded house pastas as they do their exemplary naturally leavened pizzas. Yeah, everyone does cacio e pepe these days, but few make a version as luscious as the spaghetti cacio e pepe here. Cornelly’s pastas tend to be shareable and not too heavy to pair with pizza as a side — so by all means, order both. 

601 Summit Ave E #103, Seattle, WA 98102

Also featured in:

Donna's

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Donna’s is one of Seattle’s newest bars, but the crew here slings hearty old-school pasta dishes like they’ve been doing it forever. That’s because the kitchen is helmed by Chef Peaches, formerly of venerable Seattle Italian institution Vito’s. The creste di gallo is a standout, sauced in a rich romesco and generously bolstered with plump sausage pieces, but the simple spaghetti marinara might be the only rendition in town that can tide over a Tri-State area transplant til their next visit back east. And with all their pastas coming in at under $15, Donna’s pays homage to pasta’s origin story: an understated but carefully made egalitarian and delicious food for the people.

1355 E Olive Wy, Seattle, WA 98122

Also featured in:

Spinasse

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More than 10 years in, and this romantic trattoria on Capitol Hill continues to entrance diners with food from Italy’s Piedmont region. The nest of delicate tajarin with butter and sage sauce is a Seattle comfort food mainstay, but every pasta dish from chef Stuart Lane — including the agnolotti stuffed with braised rabbit — is memorable. 

1531 14th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 251-7673
(206) 251-7673
A white bowl containing tajarin with butter and sage,
The tajarin with butter and sage at Spinasse, one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
Spinasse [Official Photo]

Also featured in:

Ristorante Machiavelli

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This Capitol Hill locale has been serving soul-comforting plates of noodles to diners for decades. Standbys include the lasagna bolognese, which oozes layer upon layer of stringy melted mozzarella, fontina, and parmesan cheese, and the penne with roasted red pepper, walnuts, and cream.

1215 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 621-7941
(206) 621-7941
The exterior of Ristorante Machiavelli, showing an awning with the restaurant’s name and a neon “cocktails” sign.
Ristorante Machiavelli serves a selection of hearty Italian dishes.
Ristorante Machiavelli [Official Photo]

Also featured in:

Osteria la Spiga

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This excellent Capitol Hill restaurant features dishes from chef Sabrina Tinsley, emphasizing northern Italian cuisine. Must-try pastas include tagliatelle with white alba truffle butter and the gnocchi al pomodoro.

1429 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 323-8881
(206) 323-8881

Also featured in:

The Pink Door

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One of Seattle’s enduring Italian restaurants, this Post Alley destination offers plenty of well-crafted pasta selections, including linguini with baby clams and pancetta in a white wine sauce and a popular spinach lasagna. Diners who plan ahead should try to score a spot on the outdoor deck, which fills up quickly on sunny days.

1919 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 443-3241
(206) 443-3241

Also featured in:

Pasta Casalinga

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This Pike Place star has a rotating menu of simple, yet thoughtful made-to-order pasta plates that all cost less than $20. Dishes typically include a bowl of handmade pasta tossed with a light sauce and locally caught or foraged ingredients, such as ziti with rockfish, olives, and capers or reginette with Calabrian sausage and rapini. You can eat at a small counter in the restaurant or take the food to go.

93 Pike St ste 201, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 445-2987
(206) 445-2987

Also featured in:

Raccolto

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This West Seattle Italian joint from Brian Clevenger — the owner of Vendemmia and a host of other restaurants — features creative pasta dishes like the lamb bolognese served with pecorino and mint and fusilli with arugula pesto. To add flair to more simpler pasta dishes you can order shaved truffle for an additional $15. As a plus, you can watch cooks toss the pasta in sauce from most areas of the compact dining room.

4147 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 397-3775
(206) 397-3775

Also featured in:

La Medusa

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Diners come to this small Columbia City restaurant for its well-crafted pasta dishes with Pacific Northwest ingredients, which shift regularly based on seasonal availability. A recent menu included campanelle with kale pesto, mafaldine with pork coppa, and casarecce with braised rabbit ragu. Head next door to the mini market, Persephone, where you can sip amaro at a bar or buy local vegetables.

4857 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 723-2192
(206) 723-2192

Also featured in:

Mezzanotte

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Chef Jason Stratton (formerly of Spinasse, another entry on this list, as well as Mamnoon) took over this Georgetown kitchen in 2021. Stratton serves several exquisite pasta dishes like bucatini with spicy huckleberry marinara, gigli with roasted king oyster mushrooms, and, like Spinasse, a tajarin dish with sage butter.

1210 S Bailey St, Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 466-6032
(206) 466-6032

Also featured in:

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San Fermo

5341 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107

The menu at this popular Ballard restaurant is minimal and lighter than one might see at more traditional Italian joints, featuring star dishes like the strozzapreti with lamb sumo and the saffron spaghetti bolognese with pork and veal.

5341 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 342-1530
(206) 342-1530

Bizzarro Italian Cafe

1307 N 46th St, Seattle, WA 98103

This quirky yet ageless Wallingford establishment embraces weirdness in its decor, which seems like a cross between a messy antique store and the backstage of a carnival. The eye-catching aesthetics shouldn’t distract from classics like the elk bolognese with handmade pappardelle noodles, long a fan favorite.

1307 N 46th St, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 632-7277
(206) 632-7277
A view of Bizzarro Italian Cafe’s bolognese with pappardelle and elk, tossed with cheese.
Elk bolognese with pappardelle
Bizzarro Italian Cafe

Esters Enoteca

3416 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

Esters is an all-too-rare spot that functions just as well for a date-night dinner as it does for grabbing a quick bite after work, thanks to its order-at-the-counter-and-bus-your-table-casualness being balanced with a thoroughly conceived atmosphere. The pasta here follows suit with simplicity plus nice touches: amatriciana features squid ink bucatini along with supple pieces of squid and pork belly for added richness. Ricotta ravioli with butternut squash cream gets an intriguing twist from tahini and a hit of sumac. But maybe the nicest touch of all is Esters Enoteca’s true commitment to gluten-free dining: The entirety of the small plates menu is gluten-free, every pasta dish can be made instead with top-notch gluten-free fettucini, and dedicated surfaces, utensils, and fryers are used for all GF items. 

3416 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 295-1903
(206) 295-1903

Cafe Lago

2305 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

Montlake’s Cafe Lago is the perfect neighborhood white-tablecloth Italian restaurant — just upscale enough for celebrating a special occasion, but not so fussy that it won’t accommodate an off-menu order of fettucini alfredo. The pastas, including two excellent lasagna dishes, are well-executed here, and evolve with the seasons.

2305 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112
(206) 329-8005
(206) 329-8005

Cornelly

601 Summit Ave E #103, Seattle, WA 98102

Most restaurants that serve both pizza and pasta give one of those items center stage, while the other ends up being auxiliary. But Cornelly puts as much craft into their handmade and extruded house pastas as they do their exemplary naturally leavened pizzas. Yeah, everyone does cacio e pepe these days, but few make a version as luscious as the spaghetti cacio e pepe here. Cornelly’s pastas tend to be shareable and not too heavy to pair with pizza as a side — so by all means, order both. 

601 Summit Ave E #103, Seattle, WA 98102

Donna's

1355 E Olive Wy, Seattle, WA 98122

Donna’s is one of Seattle’s newest bars, but the crew here slings hearty old-school pasta dishes like they’ve been doing it forever. That’s because the kitchen is helmed by Chef Peaches, formerly of venerable Seattle Italian institution Vito’s. The creste di gallo is a standout, sauced in a rich romesco and generously bolstered with plump sausage pieces, but the simple spaghetti marinara might be the only rendition in town that can tide over a Tri-State area transplant til their next visit back east. And with all their pastas coming in at under $15, Donna’s pays homage to pasta’s origin story: an understated but carefully made egalitarian and delicious food for the people.

1355 E Olive Wy, Seattle, WA 98122

Spinasse

1531 14th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122

More than 10 years in, and this romantic trattoria on Capitol Hill continues to entrance diners with food from Italy’s Piedmont region. The nest of delicate tajarin with butter and sage sauce is a Seattle comfort food mainstay, but every pasta dish from chef Stuart Lane — including the agnolotti stuffed with braised rabbit — is memorable. 

1531 14th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 251-7673
(206) 251-7673
A white bowl containing tajarin with butter and sage,
The tajarin with butter and sage at Spinasse, one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
Spinasse [Official Photo]

Ristorante Machiavelli

1215 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

This Capitol Hill locale has been serving soul-comforting plates of noodles to diners for decades. Standbys include the lasagna bolognese, which oozes layer upon layer of stringy melted mozzarella, fontina, and parmesan cheese, and the penne with roasted red pepper, walnuts, and cream.

1215 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 621-7941
(206) 621-7941
The exterior of Ristorante Machiavelli, showing an awning with the restaurant’s name and a neon “cocktails” sign.
Ristorante Machiavelli serves a selection of hearty Italian dishes.
Ristorante Machiavelli [Official Photo]

Osteria la Spiga

1429 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122

This excellent Capitol Hill restaurant features dishes from chef Sabrina Tinsley, emphasizing northern Italian cuisine. Must-try pastas include tagliatelle with white alba truffle butter and the gnocchi al pomodoro.

1429 12th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 323-8881
(206) 323-8881

The Pink Door

1919 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101

One of Seattle’s enduring Italian restaurants, this Post Alley destination offers plenty of well-crafted pasta selections, including linguini with baby clams and pancetta in a white wine sauce and a popular spinach lasagna. Diners who plan ahead should try to score a spot on the outdoor deck, which fills up quickly on sunny days.

1919 Post Alley, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 443-3241
(206) 443-3241

Pasta Casalinga

93 Pike St ste 201, Seattle, WA 98101

This Pike Place star has a rotating menu of simple, yet thoughtful made-to-order pasta plates that all cost less than $20. Dishes typically include a bowl of handmade pasta tossed with a light sauce and locally caught or foraged ingredients, such as ziti with rockfish, olives, and capers or reginette with Calabrian sausage and rapini. You can eat at a small counter in the restaurant or take the food to go.

93 Pike St ste 201, Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 445-2987
(206) 445-2987

Raccolto

4147 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116

This West Seattle Italian joint from Brian Clevenger — the owner of Vendemmia and a host of other restaurants — features creative pasta dishes like the lamb bolognese served with pecorino and mint and fusilli with arugula pesto. To add flair to more simpler pasta dishes you can order shaved truffle for an additional $15. As a plus, you can watch cooks toss the pasta in sauce from most areas of the compact dining room.

4147 California Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 397-3775
(206) 397-3775

La Medusa

4857 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118

Diners come to this small Columbia City restaurant for its well-crafted pasta dishes with Pacific Northwest ingredients, which shift regularly based on seasonal availability. A recent menu included campanelle with kale pesto, mafaldine with pork coppa, and casarecce with braised rabbit ragu. Head next door to the mini market, Persephone, where you can sip amaro at a bar or buy local vegetables.

4857 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
(206) 723-2192
(206) 723-2192

Mezzanotte

1210 S Bailey St, Seattle, WA 98108

Chef Jason Stratton (formerly of Spinasse, another entry on this list, as well as Mamnoon) took over this Georgetown kitchen in 2021. Stratton serves several exquisite pasta dishes like bucatini with spicy huckleberry marinara, gigli with roasted king oyster mushrooms, and, like Spinasse, a tajarin dish with sage butter.

1210 S Bailey St, Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 466-6032
(206) 466-6032

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