Barolo Ristorante
Metropolitan Tower,1940 Westlake Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101
Barolo Ristorante Menu
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Address :
Metropolitan Tower,1940 Westlake Ave
Seattle, WA, 98101 - Phone (206) 770-9000
- Website https://www.baroloseattle.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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George L.
a lot better than I expected!
(4)Resham J.
Love it. The prosecco took me back to Italy with its sweet and tangy notes, the food was great and the service was hospitable. Definitely a gem of an Italian restaurant in Downtown Seattle...
(4)Laura M.
After talking about it for 5 years, my sister and I finally made it out to Dine Around Seattle. $30 was a steal for this meal (of course, it wasn't quite $30 after we had added on a bottle of wine and some appetizers off the standard menu-oh, how i love escargot. i couldn't resist.) I loved my beef tongue and onion salad, and it's hard to go wrong with a wine braised lamb shank, meat practically falling off the bone (not my mothers, but she is 3000 miles away so i must make do with the lamb shanks on hand.) Beautiful atmosphere, friendly service, and delicious food.
(4)Sarah A.
I was really disappointed after all of the amazing reviews on yelp. And honestly, had I been paying for a dinner service this would have been a one star. First the table size is really small and they don't accommodate that with using smaller plates so you're hard pressed to have more than one dish at a time with two people at the table. Service was good and the food came out quickly. The food was less than impressive. And something was very wrong with our prosciutto. It was very gamy and we each had bites with hard bits in it. Overall, the wine price was very good and the fresh bread is very tasty. But the food was not good quality wise and just basic taste. Really wanted to like this place, but I won't be back based on our experience here.
(2)Nick V.
Food is great, happy hour and lunch specials are very modestly priced. Haven't been disappointed yet food-wise. Only problem is the music. Smooth electro garbage cranked way too loud for such an otherwise inviting spot. For a preview, check out the music streaming on their website. annoying. really annoying.
(4)Emily A.
You're pretty much paying for the ambiance here. Happy hour is good but there's nothing special about the taste of food here for the price they charge. Like stated before, it's pretty inside and the food is plated pretty.
(2)Keenan K.
My girlfriend and I went to Barolo to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. Good service: They printed Happy Anniversary on our menus and the staff kept congratulating us which was nice. We ordered two appetizers to split, they gave us own separate plates as if we ordered two of both appetizers but still only charged us for one! GOOD FOOD: Ordered the Mozzarella e Pomodori con Extravergine del Chianti, Cuore di Romana grigliata, Rigatoni al ragu' d'Agnello, and the Fettuccine al Ragú di Coniglio and would recommend them all.
(4)Charisma Y.
Wonderful and very inviting setting, wonderful service, wonderful food. My experiences here keep getting better and better. The most recent time I went, I came with a group of 10 people. We were told that happy hour is only at the bar. We kindly asked our server if we could possibly move, even though we wanted happy hour. She was very polite and led us to a much bigger table. She sat us at the longest table in the restaurant that was decked out with candles, chandeliers, and sheer curtains. Like I said, it gets better every time I come back. I would strongly suggest their organic hanger steak and mussels. The steak is so tender and juicy. Their sauces complement every single one of their dishes. Absolutely heavenly. I'm craving the steak, as I type this.
(5)Chenda N.
while i went here for dinner recently, when i think of barolo, their happy hour menu definitely stands out and is a highlight for me. you get great food and the bill won't make your wallet sweat. pasta anything is delicious and kudos on the hanger steak. dinner recently was served by Chris and she was a great host, suggesting and pairing wine and drinks with dinner. at the table, we had escargot (my first time, eeek....but there was enough butter and garlic to make me think i was eating clams), beet salad, sea bass and scallops. all great! can't really go wrong with anything on the menu.
(4)Joshua J.
So, I'm definitely not quite cool enough to go to Barolo, or List, but I go anyway... I see a lot of people there who look like they might not be quite cool enough, but hey, bottom line, the food is pretty delicious and consistent. Personally, I've found the service at Barolo to reflect how much you are spending. At a crowded place, I guess you can't really expect the waitstaff to spend much time when you're just ordering off the 1/2 off happy hour menu with a single drink, but still, a little more water would be nice. Especially to cut the deliciously salty (and huge, it's still true) organic lamb burger. Why don't we call lamb burgers sheep burgers? I mean really, it's not like they are baby sheep that we're eating, that's twisted. Mmmmm, sheep burger. One of my favorite dishes here is the tuna tartare, pretty much amazing served with some tasty bread upon which to carefully spread the scrumptious raw fish.... mmmm, raw fish. But seriously, out of this world. Last time I had it, about a week ago, I felt the texture was a little off. Oh well, I guess that means at the next visit to Barolo I've gotta try it again. Mezzalune pasta is also pretty amazing. Grilled ceasar is a must try. I don't think this place could be classified Italian, as the food is definitely far from traditional Italian, more closely resembles American food to me, or very Americanized Italian spin-offs. I should probably try the rest of the menu before making a statement like this and I guess owe it to them to try the caprese... Mmmm, caprese.... Plus one star, the manager offered to seat us in the restaurant during happy hour because the place was, as usual, packed in the bar. Nice to have a little extra space and ambiance with the happy hour prices. Pricewise, a starter, 2 entrees, 3 drinks will run about $30-35 bucks with tax and gratuity. Mmmmm, gratuity....
(4)Jennifer H.
Great happy hour spot, love the interior, trendy atmosphere, clean bathrooms, friendly staff. Overall a great experience. I ill definitely be coming back!
(4)Ashley F.
This place has one of the best, most unique happy hours in town. Get there early because the happy hour pricing is only offered in the bar, and they fill up quickly. Why is Barolo my go to place? $14 bottles of wine, $6 grilled calamari, $3.25 lentil soup, $6 lamb burgers - the list goes on and on. Let's just say, this isn't your mama's happy hour. No greasy fries and cheese drenched nachos. This is chic, upscale dining done at half price for those who like to live large but can't afford the luxury. Happy hour at Barolo feels like it should be a pricey affair, but ultimately I am shocked at the low price of the bill and the utter joy of my taste buds. The next time you are downtown at happy hour, make the trip up to 6th and Virginia for a happy hour that makes you feel classy :)
(5)Josh B.
Barollo is a trip to the fine culinary experience of Italy! The grilled calamari is off the charts the pastas are all perfect and the ambience is beautiful the staff is excellent and this is one of our absolute favorite restaurants in Seattle!
(5)Sameer A.
Awesome food(Salmon is too good!) Amazing location Wide variety of wine selection
(5)Johnny W.
Two separate reviews for Barolo, one for a Dine Around Seattle dinner, and the other for a late night happy hour. Food quality was relatively consistent across dishes during my DAS dinner, with the lobster bisque, pheasant and chocolate cake being just okay, the halibut being good, and the bread pudding being really good. Two things that surprised me were the lobster bisque, which had strong cheesy notes (the waitress asked the cook and assured me there was no dairy inside, saying it may have been the cognac/brandy I tasted instead), and the bread pudding (only because I've never liked bread pudding before trying it here). So a DAS dinner here gets a solid three stars from me. Happy hour though? Great great value on some pretty awesome food. I came with a group of five or six others, and ordered about half the HH menu. I can't remember specifics anymore, but I do recall the fried calamari, veal carpaccio, and hangar steak as being particularly good standouts. And the best thing? It came out to be about $10/person for roughly 10 dishes, so late night HH gets a solid four stars. I sympathize with Daren D, since my first time here really threw me for a loop: it came off as far more upscale than I expected, and I definitely felt a bit under-dressed in my t-shirt and khakis, with all the other suits around me. The service was never lacking despite this though, so kudos for that. The space does get a bit cramped when busy, so if you're in a wheelchair and not seated towards the front, you may have some difficulties getting past all the other tables and chairs.
(4)M Y.
Great food. Hip atmosphere and reliable service. I've dined at Barolo a few times and I think I always got a waitress that provides decent service but somewhat pretentious, subdued and inexperienced. Someone mentioned their tight pants and shirts and I'll have to agree that seems to be the pattern there. They definitely don't make you feel at home but provide good enough service. I love their food, though. You can tell they use fresh ingredients and know how good food should taste. I can't wait to go back there again - I hope I get a friendly happy server though.
(4)Stuart M.
Really enjoyed Barolo. Went there for happy hour the other day and got an excellent lamb burger with goat cheese, grilled onions, and a tangy aioli for only 7 bucks. Their on-tap beer selection is a bit limited, but they had a few nice local options, as well as the ubiquitous Manny's IPA. They also have a massive liquor selection, so if you're looking to do some boozing with your high-class Italian food, this is the place for you. The setup is great--it's spaced out really well, and has a nice, modern decor. Service was also attentive and friendly. Will definitely be going back.
(4)Tanya J.
Whoah. Remind me why I have not been here before? Wow. The panevino vegetariano sandwich was fantastic for lunch. Also, I really liked the swanky atmosphere and would love to come back for dinner sometime soon. Barolo is #winning, on all levels!
(4)Matt H.
Great atmosphere, really good food and fire drinks. I had the pheasant gnocci ragu and it was to die for. My mom ordered the lamb which was very good as well. I would come back again, very soon!
(4)David J.
Fantastic happy hour. Great menu selection, very fresh and creative. Price is terrific.
(5)Amne N.
Happy hour is amazing. Daily from 3-6:30 and 10:00-close, Barolo offers half of bar menu items with $14 bottles of wine and glasses for $3.50. I recommend the mixed antipasto plate and eggplant parmigiana. Bar area is usually full by 5 on Thursday-Saturday nights, but their regular menu is also delicious.
(4)Melody T.
Happy hour bliss! Came in for happy hour with some friends, with no space at the bar the staff asked us if we would like a table instead.. SCORE. I love the decor, vintage chic with great music playing. This is by far the best happy hour find in Seattle! $3 pints!!! Manny's is a new all time favorite. $3.50 wine!! Yum. Appetizers are half off. Ordered the grilled calimari and baked escargot. Divine! The fat girl living inside me wants more! Too many amazing dishes to try. The happy hour deals are to die for! You can't beat the price, ambiance or food ANYWHERE. Also the staff is absolutely delightful, I love good recommendations from nice people.
(5)Judy A.
Yet another AMAZING place to eat in Seattle. This is the sister restaurant to List...and they are just as good if not better! Go hungry as you will want to try everything on their menu. Share appetizers so that you can eat your entree and dessert! Another MUST in Seattle.
(5)Michelle K.
Consistently good, f**k the bullshit! Dined here years ago, It is as good as I remember. Excellent grilled calamari and burrata salad appetizers. The waiter was bald and lovely, italian from Venice, very good service. Entrees rigatoni with lamb ragu, my husband had the special. Excellent all around. Cannoli is like my fathers!
(5)Stephanie D.
Went here last night for a pre-Valentine's day dinner with the fiance. PROS: Good food. Attentive waiter. CONS: Small portions: -Pheasant gnocchi, while good, was mostly gnocchi and not much pheasant. Also only covered bowl in one layer--maybe 15 pieces of gnocchi total for $19. -Our 1 pound of mussels/claims was mostly empty shells. Chilly restaurant (not helped by the fact that our table was cold marble without a tablecloth). Overall, an okay experience, but I expected better for the price.
(3)Neil W.
I give this place 4 Stars for the Happy Hour and service. It is a kick ass value with a great selection. The food I had was only so-so. The ravioli was undercooked and a little bland. The grilled Caesar was poorly grilled and dressed. The prosciutto was pretty good and you get a lot, not just a down graded HH version. The service was outstanding. Everyone was extremely nice. I was not impressed with the decor. It felt a little over the top and the mirrors in the bar reminded me of a lobby bar.
(4)Linda M.
Only ever been here for Happy Hour but numerous occasions! It is always busy and jammed packed with HH people and noise is LOUD. We usually buy a bottle of red and share rather than individual drinks. Food is reasonably priced for HH. I would highly recommend but not exactly a romantic night if that's what you're looking for....unless you go later in the evening and sit away from the HH crowd.
(4)Gilad B.
Italian food joint in Seattle i like a lot; and I love Italian. Great atmosphere and vibe. Great when in the mood for a nice place with great food but be ready to pay for it. I recommend anytime. The 3 meat meatball is to die for but really everything is great. Most people dress to impress but I have gone in nice casual clothing with no problems. Enjoy for a hot date.
(4)Joyce J.
I am giving this place five stars considering that I went here for Dine Around Seattle (DAS). For some reason, restaurants don't seem to put their best dishes out on the 30/30 menu. The last four restaurants that I went for DAS have been decent but not great; Barolo had the most enjoyable selection out of the 30/30 menus that I have seen. I had the pear salad, pheasant, and ended with the bread pudding. The dishes were very consistent and there were no misses (unlike at Zoe where everything went downhill after the appetizers). I really enjoyed the pheasant with figs and all the side elements. Whoever was on the vegetable station tonight deserved a pat on the back. The shallot, carrot, and asparagus that came with the pheasant had the natural sweetness that vegetables should have and complemented the taste of the pheasant meat. The dessert selection here was also one of the better that I have seen from the 30/30 menus. I tried my friend's mixed berries panna cotta and it definitely topped Zoe's panna cotta. The bread pudding was very refined and was quite enjoyable. So five stars for now =D I will see if another 30/30 menu can top this one.
(5)Lei L.
Came here with some girl friends for Dine Out Seattle. For $30 you can choose an appetizer, main course and dessert. All the options in each category were really good. I had the lentils for appetizer, the lamb for entree and a creme brulee for dessert. I also ordered a mojito and it was made very well. I hear this place has good happy hour so I'll have to come back to check it out. It was pretty loud at dinner time but the service was fast and the food came out quick and fresh. This place is like fancy Italian restaurant that offers food other than pasta so if you like Italian food but can do without pasta dish, you'll find something here to eat.
(4)Claytonian C.
Loved this place. Came here late at night after a conference. One thing that is very cool is that they are open to 12AM most nights. This is an area where a lot of stuff closes early so it was nice to see something that was open when we were hungry at 10. The beet salad is excellent, as is the chicken and ravioli. It is across from the Westin.
(5)Massimo P.
Great food, professional environment, reasonable prices. Restaurant is well located and looks great inside. Menu offers several choices and wine selections is good. I strongly recommend this place if you want to eat Italian.
(5)Mina M.
This is by far on of the best Italian restaurants in the greater Seattle area. I have been to Barolo many times and only have had the best experience every time. Jason the restaurant manager does a great job managing the place. Wine selection is great and the happy hour is the best ive been too. Great Place!!
(5)Perrin C.
My wife and I went for dinner 6/15/2013. The restaurant was recommended by a friend. Hesaid the food was good and the place on the hip side. Yes to both statements. Actually food was very good though portions were not large. Our waiter was great. Always available but not pushy. When the wine I ordered turned out to be unavailable ( excellent wine list) he suggested one that was a little LESS money and above very good! Food , wine, service, all terrific. A little spendy but not too bad. Will go again? FOR SURE!
(4)Stephen B.
As residents of the building that houses Barolo, we eat here often. While yes, it is convenient, the food is excellent. The wait staff is professional and friendly. From the grilled calamari, the grilled romaine salad, the always al dente pasta dishes to the lamb shank, beef and fish dishes, the food is excellent. The wine list is quite good with price points that are sensible. I see some reviews are less than favorable. Don't know what to think on those, as we get amazing service and food whenever we come to Barolo.
(5)Joseph M.
Came here for happy hour and it was great!! We got the steak bites, calamari, mussels and clam pasta. The steak bites were a bit chewy and the mussels weren't that great. But the pasta was really really good. It was cooked a little al-dente but that really is why I ended up liking it.
(4)Amanda D.
We were lucky enough to land 4 seats in a row at the bar on a Saturday night after walking from restaurant to restaurant and being scoffed at when asking what the wait would be for 4 people... And Barolo saves the night! I was visiting the city for the first time and knew nothing of Barolo, but I sure am glad those bar seats were available! You've gotta try the truffle mushroom tortellini. Also had the tuna tartare appetizer -- a bit spicy, but really hits the spot if you're into ahi. I hear this place has an amazing happy hour, too. The only downside -- they serve rabbit. :(
(4)Aly M.
Starving after wandering around downtown . . . . we were going to go elsewhere but it had closed . . . desperately considering fast food and then I saw it . . . a sign . . . an interesting looking restaurant that was open mid-afternoon on a weekday! Without time to check Yelp, we went in and checked the menu. So far so good. We first discovered we lucked out after checking Yelp while we were waiting. We discovered it again and again throughout our meal. Summary: great food, service, and atmosphere! There was a good amount of variety on the menu, which our waiter was happily and politely helping us explore. The food came out relatively quickly and we devoured every bite. (I got the fish of the day special--rockfish, and my fiance' got the lamb burger.) This is a great place for a nice/slightly fancy lunch, and it would be interesting to return for dinner sometime. Oh, and I recommend a corner booth like we had--really cozy and a nice view of the room, and I also recommend a visit to check out the swanky bathroom.
(4)The Princess a.
This place is gorgeous and romantic. The food was divine, and who can complain about a place who knows exactly where there food is coming from?? Glad they have such high quality ingredients and fresh, handmade pasta is always makes a difference.
(5)Philip S.
Updating my review again. On our last visit we explicitly told the staff that my wife was allergic to pine nuts. The staff took note and assured us the chefs were made aware. We recieved our food and within moments she had a reaction. Upon letting the manager know he still tried to cover his ass and say there weren't any pine nuts in the house. My wife's allergic reaction to pine nuts is very specific and it was clear he was lying. We had to rush out of the restaurant home and they didn't even comp our bill. So disappointing. We'll never return. Sadly I have to update this review- last time we were here my wife and I got sick- not bad sick but, felt somewhat ill the next day. Bummer.
(1)Nita M.
I've been to Barolo's happy hour many many times...after the first few times, I go with my heels dragging. The place is just kind of boring - it's not conducive to doing anything beyond talking while drinking. If you are going on a date, I'm sure it's a fine place (minus the loud music)...but since I go with groups of friends I generally end up wanting to go out elsewhere & do something like dance, play pool, etc. The happy hour wines are nice (red, white, rose), a few beers, and some of the food is half price (portions are small though).
(2)Cameron M.
I have heard about this restaurant for awhile and finally made it there. I have heard good things about the steak you can get on the happy hour menu. And it was pretty good I mus say. I didn't care for the sauce they put on the plate with the steak. But I think the steak is very tasty just by itself. Also they had a 3 course menu for $30 going on, so I actually ordered that for my dinner. I had this really good soup that had a ton of flavor. It was like split pea with potatoes soup. And for the main course I had this spaghetti. It wasn't bad, but I didn't get wowed by this choice. And the dessert was some fancy thing that I can't really explain. Good overall food and service there. Not anywhere really to stand if you have to wait for a spot to eat or drink. Loud as well in the bar area would be the only negative thing I have to say about the place.
(4)Lauren P.
Great place for happy hour and parties. My now fiance booked the large table for about a dozen or so of our close friends to hold my surprise 30th bday party/dinner. The cocktails, wine, and food were great... and the reservation was during happy hour so we were able to enjoy everything at a reasonable price. First time a lot of us had tried escargot! Only downside (why I didn't give Barolo 5 stars) was we felt a bit rushed by the wait staff. We took my parents there about 2 weeks later.
(4)Garret J.
My wife and I went to Barolo for xmas eve dinner. I've been there several times, and always leave satisfied. The service was perfect - we had time to relax and talk (weren't rushed) and were attended to at the same time (weren't left hanging). The food and wine choices were outstanding, as always. Their heirloom tomato appetizers were perfectly ripe and well balanced with the accompanying cheese and fresh basil. Both of our pasta choices were tasty and cooked perfectly. If you want a fun night out in a swanky restaurant, have great food and not have to break the bank, Barolo is consistently a top performer.
(4)Linh V.
I've only gotten a chance to have late night happy hour here, but it was an impressive one at that! The spaghetti with calamari and capers is so satisfyingly decadent with flavor yet light so you don't have the carb monster on your back for days... The texture is truly perfect with just the right bounce. Another favorite was the tartare with awesome balance with the medley.
(4)Maria E.
Been here several times since it first opened; for lunch, dinner and Happy Hour. The decor and patrons of this place are SEXY!!! At first I thought I was in Miami or NYC!! Happy Hour is a must, but get here early!! Selected bottles of wine and the HH menu is half the price! My top HH locale... A must have is the Organic Lamb burger and the Antipasto plate and the Grilled Ceasar salad!! Dinner is a different story. While the HH menu is great, dinner was just okay. Tried the Spaghetti con Polpa di Granchio (Dungeness Crab spaghetti) was okay . Not much to write about. The Tortelloni alla Piemontese was good. It's a bit rich but the Leek and Truffle sauce is yummy! The grilled ceasar salad was delicious. You can't go wrong with anything grilled in my opinion! Will defnitely be back to this sexy place!!
(4)Charlynn Y.
Ever since my sister took me here we have been regulars:) The happy hour menu is awesome! I love their tiramisu. We always get the mussels! Staff here are super friendly!
(5)Fred G.
Let me start of by saying I loved the food here. I was in for happy hour and sat down at the bar. The bartender came over after 10 minuets and took my drink order brought it over right away. The it took another 10 munuets for the bartender to come over and ask for my food order. The only thing was i was alone and the bartender was notsocial at all. he spent all of his time chatting with the 2 lovley girls at the bar and it was like i was getting in the way of his social hour. I felt like i was in his way. When my wine was finished i had to ask 2 time for another glass of wine and still felt like i was in his way. The ladys at the bar were served emedietly and were even bought a round of drinks while i sat with a empty wine and water glass for 10 minuets the he brought the bill instead of bringing me the wine I had ordered. As a concierge at a hotel I feel as though i cant send my male buisness travelers there in fear they will get the same mediocre service I recieved. The good the Eggplant was amazing and was going to order the Tuna Tartare when i was presented my bill for a 2nd time then I decided I was not welcome here. I was a single person At the bar waiting to go to a meeting at the Westin across the street thought i would come in have some great wine and a bite or 2 while killing time. Wish i was not pushed out the door. :(
(3)Tracey K.
Braised artichoke, caesar & dungeness crab spaghetti....AMAZING. I can't wait to come back again!
(5)Christy S.
First time in Seattle and I was craving some Italian. My boyfriend and I both really like this place. First of all, the decors are very hip and chic. Feel like we were at a high end place but the prices of the food are actually very reasonable. We ordered the crab cake which is very different from all the other ones we've had. Different but good, the sauce tasted alot like pizza. Very yummy. Then we have the spelt and lentil with organic spinach soup and that's is also VERY delious! It's a bean based soup, I am not a big fan of beans but this was awesome! We got pasta for the main course. My boyfriend got the pasta with the pork belly and wild mushroom and I got the crab meat with pasta. Both pasta were cooked perfectly! Very chewy and the sauces are amazing!! I have nothing to say about this place. If I am in Seattle next time I think I will go back for more pasta!!!! Highly recommended.
(4)Pete M.
Barolorgasmic! The best happy hour yet. The secret is to go on Sunday and you'll actually find a seat. Delicious food. Great drink specials. Nice ambience. Wish we could have tried more items on the menu! YOU MUST TRY THE OCTOPUS. Wow, the octopus was so tender. Never had anything quite like it. In addition, the mussels were delicious. Veal carpaccio was awesome. And finally, the rigatoni with beef and veal ragu was perfectly al dente with a pleasantly rich ragu. Wash it all down with some excellent choices of house wine and beers on tap. The only thing I'd vote for is better bread -- maybe crustier. But the pesto is pretty solid. It won't disappoint!
(5)Prianka N.
Great service and great happy hour menu. Nice ambience. The food was good but not great - good olive oil, good carpaccio, good simple spaghetti, good salad, *very* good mushroom risotto. Not very good gnocchi - I would definitely skip that here as they were a bit on the stiff and dry side. Everything else we ate here was good - no complaints but no raves either. For happy hour, it's a great deal.
(3)Dagny H.
I've been here for both lunch and dinner, and both meals were to die for! At dinner I had the Osso Buco, and it was phenomenal, at lunch my group and I had the Caprese salad, the grilled Calamari (which was amazing!) the lamb sausage risotto, and the filet, everything was killer, service was a little slow, but the food more than made up for it. We also had the Tiramiso for dessert, and it was incredible.
(5)Melissa K.
Such a disappointing experience! The food and decor earned them the single star received. Had the service been better...more stars. Alas, the service was horrid. HORRID! If I went into details, I'd go on for paragraphs, so instead, a summary: Although we purchased $160.00 in food and drink, we were made to feel unwelcome and as a hinderance in this restaurant to the point where we tipped only 10%. (please understand that there were 3 of us and we've all worked in restaurants before. we NEVER tip that low) I despise when staff insinuates that your patronage is less important than other customers. I will not go back. I will tell others of the crappy staff.
(1)Geoff K.
My one and only gripe with this place is the loud, obnoxious music their Web site plays, but that's easily rectified with the touch of my laptop's mute button. Due to my paranoia about 520 bridge rush hour traffic, we arrived almost 15 minutes early for our 6:00 reservation, yet were seated after just a five minute wait. While waiting, I spent some time staring at the jammed bar area, which looked like it would be a fun place for happy hour (assuming you can find somewhere to stand). After selecting a nice sangiovese from the epic wine list, we started with a few appetizers: A caprese salad, a spinach and dungeness crab cake, and some complimentary appetizer whose name I forget but which was essentially bruschetta topped with generous helpings of mozzarella and prosciutto. The salad consisted of red and yellow tomatoes with huge slabs of mozzarella, drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Both that and the bruschetta were good, but the crab cake was easily the best I've ever had. For an entree, I ordered the Alaska halibut (which came with beets and some yummy sautéed spinach), and a side of the risotto ai funghi. The halibut was cooked perfectly, and the risotto was just amazing. I make risotto often at home and think that I know what I'm doing, but this was way better, and I don't even really like mushrooms! My fiancée ordered the gnocchi with mozzarella, basil and tomato sauce, and it was to die for. I need to come back here and try the pasta sometime. Service was impeccable. Judging from other reviews, it may be highly dependent on who your server is, but they took excellent care of us here. Our waiter has highly attentive, and the maître d' himself even stopped by a couple of times to check on us and refill our wine glasses. They also gave us birthday champagne and dessert on the house. I'll be heading back soon.
(5)Phil S.
Went here for the 3 for $30 deal they have in March with a group of 9. They were accommodating for our large party, and the overall service was pretty good. As for the food, we started with a bunch of good wine which always helps. For my meal I started with a pear salad, and had butternut squash gnocchi with boar for my main course. It was really damn good I'd have to say. At the table many people said it wasn't the best they've ever had, but thought mine was really good. For dessert I had the bread pudding which was pretty awesome. I think normally this place is pretty pricey... but 3 for $30 is awesome and its totally worth it.
(4)Juju B.
Calamari spaghetti. Creamy. Like me. I like the texture. I'm not crazy about the noise level in the bar. It gets in the way of my creaminess. Otherwise, this place is good and gooder when it's happy hour.
(4)John S.
Boy, I love this place, and I can walk there from my place. The food is delicious, especially the truffle gnocci. Wow! There's a private area if you have a party of eight or ten. There also is a communal table you can share with other parties. It's a littler older crowd, and the service outstanding. I go there for happy hour a lot (4pm-6pm or after 10pm). My favorite is the organic lamb burger for $6. Amazing! Also, a bottle of house wines are $14. Should I have let everyone in on this? After all, the only complaint is how hard it is to get a seat in the small bar area during happy hour. See you there, and if you get there early, save me a seat!
(5)Claire J.
This place has been on my list of places to try for quite some time. I ordered from the "Dine Around Seattle" menu (only $15 for a 3 course lunch!) and was not dissapointed. I started with the prosciutto/mozz/ollvie oil app. It was simple, but full of flavor. The spaghetti carbanara was also delicious (the best I've had) and was more than I could finish. The dessert (I forgot the name, but it was a dense chocolate cake) was underwelming. All in all, the food was pretty good, the service was fantastic, and the restaurant itself if beautiful! seriously romantic and i was only there for lunch. I'm not sure if I understand why french music was being played at an italian restaurant, but since our server was so cute....I'll get over it!
(4)Lor B.
Glad I came back for a full dinner - as I've always categorized this as my HH (happy hour) option. Was here for a birthday dinner and enjoyed the grilled calamari (delish) and foie gras (awesome) for starters then the Spaghetti with dungenous crab and tomatoes (2 die for). The NZ Sauvignon Blanc by the glass was perfect with my meal. I usually do a "secondi" but was stuffed eating the apps and bread with olive tapanade. The scene was popping for a Monday night! Definitely a top fave for downtown dining...
(5)Tarah M.
This place is simply awesome and I just had to write a review update for the excellent food that I consumed while visiting with friends for a spontaneous HH. Ice queens from last experience were not present this time and we received excellent and attentive service from all staff. This paired with delicious food and fantastic company made me delirious with happiness. Happy hour indeed. Grilled Caesar salad was on point and I thoroughly enjoyed their eggplant parmesan. My only disappointment was that they don't serve octopus w/garbanzos anymore for HH. My frown turned upside down, however, when I had some ahi carpaccio. Love love love this place.
(5)Agnes K.
A hip pleasant vibe, happy hour bliss abounds, food is delightful! What a happy hour find!!! Seriously, if you find yourself looking for a great happy hour that has a great vibe, good energy, excellent food, and a sweet deal, this is the place to go! Drinks are $3.50 and happy hour food (not your average sub-par happy hour food either!) is 50% off. We had the tuna tartar (sooo, delish....loved the flavors), mussels (sauce was light and not too buttery or oily), and the juicy, oh so tasty organic lamb burger. It's been a while since I've sunk my teeth into such a juicy and flavorful piece of meat! I don't know what their dinner is like but upon perusing their menu, it looks significantly more expensive than their happy hour menu though a lot of the food looks similar, which makes happy hour even more savory.
(5)Danielle M.
So the food here is really good, and the dining room service is great. It is kind of a scene and you do need to get ready to be surrounded by the pretty people to go here; maybe it's just me but I feel like it's trying supa hard to be New York. I don't know if there's anything wrong with this, it's just kind of unusual in Seattle. It's one of the few places here where I would say you might feel underdressed in your fleece. So my suggestion might be to suck it up and put on your fancy pants because it's worth it once in awhile for the sake of some great food.
(4)Derek S.
This is one of our favorite places to go, but make sure you call ahead for a table as it fills up quickly! The food is clearly inspired and the cocktails (of which I am normally skeptical) are very good. We have tried almost everything on the menu, and I have to say, we have never ordered a mediocre thing here. The meats and seafood are divine, as is the pasta. Everything is seasoned, sauced and cooked perfectly. Atmosphere is very chic and dark (not classically "Pacific Northwest" decor), making it a great place for date night. Fun and sexy decor, serious eats!!
(5)Shu T.
We tried to eat at this place 3 times and finally the third time the bar area wasn't full for happy hour. When I first looked at their menu, I saw that they had baby octopus and I felt that to be a little bit wrong. Anyways, I love calamari so I decided to order the grilled calamari. It was the worst calamari I've ever had. It was super hard to chew and I did not enjoy it. The second time I went there, I got the ravioli. It was delish. Probably one of the best ravioli i've ever had. I tried some of the tuna tartare and it was really good also. So I'm sure a lot of other things on their menu are good. One bad thing on their menu pretty much prevented me from giving them a 4 or 5. The other restaurant owned by the same owner, List, is much better.
(3)Jason R.
Went to hh the other day and had: veal carpaccio - veal was great, but salad dressing was a little overpowering hanger steak - great sauce and cooked to perfection lamb burger - very tasty and a big portion mussels - tasted OK, but nothing too special Chianti red - wine tasted great and the prices wasn't bad either ($14) Overall it was a good happy hour, with plenty of seating both inside and outside, but make sure you come a bit early because the bar gets busy and stays that way well past hh ending time. 1/2 off bar menu for happy hour makes it pretty attractive place to eat. Other than the wine, nothing really jumped out to me to send me craving back to this place.
(3)stacy c.
After hours of research and preparation for my trip to Seattle, Barolo just sorta fell on to my list. I disregarded it, and then revived the idea of visiting their happy hour while I was searching for restaurants in Seattle to try. Needless to say, I was SO glad I went. I convinced my dinner date and I to go, and we decided to drop in for their happy hour (best part of Seattle, in my opinion, besides the trees and the pups). It was da bomb diggity. No joke, my favorite restaurant visited in Seattle, no contest whatsoever. We ordered 4 dishes: veal carpaccio, lentil soup, hanger steak, and the tuna tartare. Rarely do I ever go to a place that I fully like; there is always a dish that is off or two, but each dish had a perfect blend of all the right flavors. The veal carpaccio: amazing. I've never had veal before, but now that I've tried it, I love it! This dish was topped with parmesan, some arugula, a light dressing, and the (surprisingly) best part: capers! Normally, I'm not a huge fan of arugula; it's a bit too bitter for my liking, but the veal complemented the arugula extremely well. Cheese: always good, and the capers left a nice burst of acidity at the end of each bite. Secondly, lentil soup. We figured it didn't hurt to try, since soups at most delis cost ~$4-$5. This one was about $3, and surprisingly enough, it was served in a fairly large bowl. I really digged this bowl of lentil soup; it was a good consistency, plus it was topped off with bread and cheese. Hello, what soup ISN't good with bread and cheese? It was like a perfect blend of french onion soup and lentils! yum. Can anyone tell me what a hanger steak actually is? But hey, it was pretty delicious. The steak wasn't really cooked all evenly, but I like my steak red and blooody. And $5 for a good cut of tender, juicy steak is, I guess, a good deal. Lastly, the tuna tartare. I had ordered a seared ahi tuna at List, Barolo's sister restaurant, and the two dishes shared the same flavors: honey and ginger. The tuna tartare was served with a some toasted bread; the flavor was not as bold as the seared ahi tuna I had had nights before, but it was the perfect light, sweet trip to top the rest of the meal. All this, a couple glasses of red wine, ~$38-$39. Not a bad deal at allll. Definitely come here! It's also beautiful to sit outside when the sun sets (we were lucky).
(5)Paul K.
Food tasted fresh...from the freezer. I ordered one of the house specialty drinks but then the server came back to say they were out of a key ingredient. There's better food in Seattle, don't let the 'cool' website fool you.
(1)Becky R.
Fancy, stylish place with martini prices to prove it! The drinks here are strong, the ambiance is totally lounge chill but fun, the bartender (Blaire) is hot and smart and cool, and Happy Hour food is amazingly good and cheap (50% off with drink purchase). Last night my man and I had martinis (Plum Blossom, X-Rated Tini - $10 ea.) and pints (Pike's Pale Ale - $3 ex.) to drink, and Eggplant Parmasiana ($4.50), Mixed Antipasto Plate ($7.50), and Tuna Tartar with Ginger and organic honey melange ($6.50). YUM. It was perfect and they serve complimentary bread with an olive oil and olive tapenade. We left with full, happy bellies and wet whistles for about $50. Did I mention the music was totally wonderful and not too loud? This place is a sister place to List. Both are great, and will see me again!
(4)Peter L.
Seattle really needs more good Italian restaurants. Barolo helps by providing solid food in a urban and contemporary setting. Started off with a fennel and greens salad with white truffle oil dressing, which was light in feeling but rich on flavors. The star of the menu must be the pasta. Our waiter proclaimed the porcini tortelloni with truffle leek sauce to be the "Best on the West Coast" and he may well be right. Add a glass of barolo or barberra from an excellent primarily Italian wine list for the complement for the rich truffle aroma and flavor. The rack of lamb, however, was oddly lacking in flavor, although it was very tender. For dessert, the poach pear was a dud, but the accompanying hazelnut gelato was awesome. The happy hour in the bar area is also a deal with half-off appetizers, including a delicious $7 hanger steak, and a surprising decent $14 bottle of wine. Overall, very impressive and very much needed in Seattle - a cool space with good service (excellent waiter) with good food and a wide selection of Italian wines.
(4)Linda M.
This place is classy and elegant without feeling too stuffy. I went here recently with some girlfriends and we had a nice time. We ordered the antipasti platter, which had salami, prosciutto, roasted garlic, assorted cheeses, grilled eggplant and mushrooms, olives. It was delish! We ordered the ravioli del giorno, spaghetti con polpa di granchio and gnocchi (with salmon). All three dishes were outstanding -- fresh and flavorful. The reason this place is not getting 5 stars is because after our entrees arrived, our waitress disappeared and a substantial amount of time had passed before she came back to see how we were doing. In fact, we were done with our entrees. The place was quite busy so I'm not sure if she forgot about us or she was too busy to check on us. Nonetheless, this is the perfect restaurant if you want to impress your date or just hang out with some friends.
(4)Jenny B.
My husband and I went to Barolo for dinner before the opera on Saturday night and it was AWESOME. Everything we ate was delicious, the service impeccable, and the timing perfect! We ended up sharing the eggplant Parmesan and veal carpaccio to start - HEAVEN! Mike had the porcini stuffed tortellini with leek truffle sauce - I am a die hard mushroom hater, and I would order this dish! Mike was even nice enough to let me have one of the bits of shaved truffle to mix with my dinner! I had the gnocchi with braised pheasant. I've never eaten pheasant before, it was DELICIOUS! The meat was dark and soft and lean. I was expecting it to be more like duck, but it was just as nice! To round out our dinner we had the braised pear with chocolate and hazelnut gelato. I would have died a happy woman if this was the last meal I ever ate, which is why everyone should get off their butts and eat at Barolo!
(5)Sasha R.
THE BEST HAPPY HOUR IN TOWN. I'm even hesitant to write a review here, because I want this place all to myself! Where else in Seattle can you get bottles of wine for $15 and late night eats like escargot, grilled caesar salad, cheese platter and homemade ravioli by candle light and massive french chandeliers?!
(5)Jody N.
HELLO HAPPY HOUR!!! Barolo rocked my world this past weekend when my boyfriend and I stopped by on our way to the movies. We had arrived at 9:45, and after quickly glancing over the menu I decided to create a few diversions to make sure we didn't place our order in until 10pm on the dot. 9:45 read over the menu 9:47 go to the bathroom 9:49 ask for water and say "I'm still trying to decide? 9:50 check my phone for the time 9:51 checking out all the old men and their young hot dates 9:53 still looking at all the old men and their young hot dates (REALLY?) 9:55 say I need a few more minutes to decide, ask what the server likes 9:56 check my phone 9:58 dying in anticipation for my antipasto plate and glass of wine 10:00 SUCCESS! Happy Hour here we come!!! For just $30 we enjoyed a HUGE bowl of muscles, an antipasto plate piled high with meats, pickled veggies, and olives, two glasses of wine and a gin and tonic...out of this world! I can't wait to plan my arrival for 10pm on the dot next time, and sample some of the other 50% off menu items! This really is one of the best happy hours I have ever been too...and on top of it all, amazing space with candles, chandeliers, and beautiful decor. Now if only the wait staff would smile and acknowledge you more...
(5)Matt M.
This review is specific to happy hour. We're always on a quest for a happy hour that surpasses Daniel's and we may have found it, although no Mac and Jack's on tap is a negative. The appetizer menu is extensive, and at half price during happy hour, affordable. We'd planned for a beer and some pre-sup, but the quantity was large and the quality high, we filled up. The bar is small and the tables tightly spaced, so you may have to wait and your conversation may not be private. But that's okay, the dim lights and flickering candle make it a regal and romantic setting.
(5)Heather W.
Some of their menu is really good, some of it leaves a bit to be desired. The $24 spaghetti is a joke (see photos) but the $8 heirloom tomato salad is amazing. More money doesn't equate to tastier food. The drinks are stiff, the decor is beautiful, and the ladies bathroom is rad. Bottom line: it's okay and worth trying. A place to take some friends you are trying to impress. Make sure you have a reservation.
(3)House H.
I just went there for the restaurant week lunch special with colleagues. It was fantastic! $15 USD for calamari, gnocchi and chocolate mousse! Very good food. Great ingredients, taste and presentation! I plan to go there again and pay full price - for a special occasion of course.
(5)Paull S.
The place to be. As well as great food, great prices. Go to this place to feel like a star. The lamb burger for lunch was to die for. I can't wait to go back to this trendy place.
(5)Y T.
Came here for the first time today for Happy Hour. First impression, beautiful interior--it looks like a great place to have both large group dinners or intimate get togethers. Second impression, great service--our server consistently came back to check on us without being imposing. Lastly, great cocktails and food. Their tuna tar tar was amazing, I will definitely order it again and I will definitely be coming back for dinner.
(5)Chris B.
Forget about Fremont. The true center of the universe is the McDonald's near Westlake Center. Everything that moves passes by this McDonald's, with the diagonal Westlake Ave and 6th and Stewart, with Olive nearby. Now THAT is the nexus. And let's not forget the porn store nearby. I mean, c'mon. Lenin's got nothin' on THAT unless he can sell me a cock ring. So I passed through this nexus during lunchtime, and just the site of McDonald's somehow makes me hungry. Problem is, I don't really want to eat there. So I look across the street, and there's Barolo. I had heard that Barolo participated in the Dine Around Seattle $15 lunch deal. So let's think about this... should I have a $7 hamburger combo with super huge fries and an even super huger gallon of pop I'll have two sips of. Or should I spend a little more, and go to Barolo. It was a tough decision, but it had to be made, because I was getting hungrier by the minute. Barolo it is. The restaurant was busy, and apparently understaffed, as it took an hour and 15 minutes on my lunch "hour" to eat here. But they were genuinely apologetic, nice about it, even with 15 minute waits between courses. But the way the staff were running round with empty plates and full plates and glasses of wine and tiny cappuccinos, they really were working the best they could, and efficiently, and I really did appreciate that. The atmosphere is somewhat romantic, yet also gets a lot of sun through the windows, so you and your loved one can relish the view of the porn store and the McDonald's across the street. The decor is cool in a way, with things like empty frames, and interesting tiny rhinestoned lamps over the bar. The bathroom had granite all over, and even supplied thick napkins that could be used 10 times over and probably still keep going. They even had the Barolo logo on them, so that you don't forget where you are. I really enjoyed the bread with spicy tapenade. Nice touch. I ordered the eggplant parmiagiano, a pasta with veal ragu, and the creme brulee. The eggplant was really beautiful, with a swig of basil, quality melted cheese, and a very pretty slice of eggplant with red sauce, and a pesto accent. This dish was truly wonderful -- not huge, but in my opinion, well worth the $15 by itself. It's so pretty it makes me wish they could put it inside one of those empty frames hanging up on the wall. The second dish was a rounded, large pasta I can't remember the name of, with a generous portion of veal sauce. It was filling, but the sauce felt too heavy for my taste, even if it is a ragu. I also didn't think the sauce complement the pasta well, because I ended up with pasta on one side, and a collection of veal sauce on the other. The dish just seemed to work itself out that way. But the dish overall was ok. The creme brulee was sweet, with a strong filling, and a dainty crusted sugar on top -- a bit small, but really a perfect few bites for a lunch desert. I do prefer creme brulee to be warmish, and this was cool all the way through. But that's just my preference. I also had a glass of Italian Mangalo wine that was ok. The wine prices by the bottle seemed very reasonable, (about a double mark-up), but there is a wide selection of bottles between $30-$50, which is very cool. The food was also reasonably priced for an upper-scale Italian place. So with the $15 deal for lunch? Well, hard to beat that. Yeah that's right. Take THAT Mickie Dees.
(3)Ray D.
Bring a flashlight (they don't have any). Check the time. Bartender told us happy hour until 7. Waitress said 6:30. Food ok but nothing memorable.
(3)J G.
I eat here all the time and always have a great meal. I came here recently with a date and had such a great time, but if you're a single gal, this is a really good place hang out with girlfriends. The staff was wonderful, the meal was delicious and the dessert was tasty too.
(5)Josh B.
You know, pretty good. Has a nice vibe to it. I really liked the grilled calamari appetizer. Very tasty. Rack of lamb was good - not best ever - but quite good. Others seem to enjoy their food. I would definitely go back.
(4)E A.
A guy suggested this place for a first date, and I was pleasantly surprised. The atmosphere was charmingly flirtatious without bordering on sappy romantic. We went for happy hour and sipped cold beer alongside some elegant snacks like Ahi Tuna carpaccio and tuna tartare, which came with ginger and organic honey mélange. (I think I like anything with the word mélange.) Barolo was casual and elegant, which is great if your date is comfortable in that kind of setting. Not everyone is. The service was very professional. The bar was full so the hostess gave us a table but said we had to vacate by 6 p.m. because it was reserved. We promised we'd be done by then, but we were having such a good time we forgot all about it. No one seemed to mind, or if they did, they were good enough not to bother us. My water glass was refilled every ten seconds, which is great because I get dehydrated when I'm nervous.
(4)Jeff W.
I recently had the dine around seattle menu here and wasn't blown away as I thought. First the hostess was no where to be found on arriving and then had a odd attitude when told we had reservations. The overall ambiance of the restaurant was trying to be upscale by seemed superficial and didn't fit in with the building they were in. It just didn't feel right. One saving grace was our waiter was great. The food was something to be desired. The deconstructed eggplant parm in theory seemed to be a good idea, and should stay just that. The Wild Boar was tasty yet just didn't have a good finish and felt like it was just missing one item. The deserts tasted as if they were from a freezer at Costco always set at the wrong temperature and defrosted on the way back to the restaurant by the feet setting in a car. Overall I wouldn't go back.
(2)Desiree V.
So, we went here last night for happy hour. We wanted to sit outside on the beautiful day, so we checked with hostess and she told us to go ahead and sit where we wanted outside. The waitress came out and helped the other guests outside, but we waited 10 minutes before she even acknowledged we were there. The service was really bad. She wasn't friendly at all and to get a drink took FOREVER and we would have to flag her down to order anything. Also, what's up with the dresses that her butt-cheeks practically fell out of??? Another negative thing is that there are no specials on mixed drinks, just wine & beer. The plus side: This is probably one of the BEST food HH's in Seattle. We had the steak (amazing), pasta, tuna tartar, and a salad. The food is large portions and top notch, delicious. They don't change their food menu like a lot of the other places do during HH. They also give you bread and tapenade, which most places don't give you bread during HH. The girls got wine and it was a really good deal ($14 bottle or $3.50 glass). I felt like a drink, so I bucked up the $9 for a "1940," which is one of the tastiest cocktails I've had. I will definitely be heading back to Barolo for HH, hopefully the service is better next time.
(4)James and Carla F.
We would like to thank Barolo, their staff and Barolo's Chef for making our Valentine's celebration a wonderful night. My wife and I just moved to Seattle from Chicago and know true Italian food. These guys have it down! All the food was perfect, ambiance was dreamy and fun and the service was so nice. WE LOVED THE SET MENU that the Chef prepared. The four stars are well deserved and we will be back :)
(5)Ryan B.
I have wanted to try this place for many years. My office is very close to this location and I walk by it from time to time. Unfortunately, the restaurant that used to be here was a dingy Chinese or Japanese place with a Johnny Rockets feel, does that make sense? So anyway, for my birthday, my wife decided to bring me here. I was pleasantly surprised from the moment I walked in the door. Great presentation of the bar, hostess was immediately ready to seat us and even took our coats. The decor is very cool, the old candles, I believe they are candelabras, are a great touch. Ok, on to the food. The calamari with lemon was perfect. This is the way calamari is supposed to be made. My wife had the scallops were which made to perfection. Sometimes scallops can be a little salty but these were perfectly flavored. I had a steak, I don't remember which kind, I believe it was hangar? Anyway, the steak was cooked perfect, just as I asked. Desert was amazing and they even threw a candle in it :) I had something like a Creme Brulee but that wasn't what it was called. Although, creme brulee is listed on their dessert menu online..hmm, maybe I had a few too many of those Old Fashions that were so greatly prepared. Anyway, take a trip to Barolo. Its well worth it. Also, try out their other restaurant: Mama Melina ( yelp.com/biz/ristorante-… ).
(5)Robin N.
Ok, so I have to admit I'm not sure how often I could ever eat here for dinner, simply b/c it is on the pricey side.... definitely $$$, but I must say that they have an AWESOME happy hour deal. Myself and 5 other friends were shown to a table that was in it's own little corner behind a huge bookshelf of wine, separated by thin sheer curtains and lit beautifully by a large crystal chandelier and candles in the center. (see pictures, they definitely give you a good idea) Happy Hour Details: Happy hour Monday-Friday 3-6:30 and every day 10:00-close 50% off bar food menu $3.5 white or red $3 pints $14 bottle of red $14 bottle of white My group ordered 2 bottles of the house red for $14 each. I split a "cheese accompaniments plate" w/ my coworker for $5 (normally $10). Very tasty, but would have like a few more options for cheeses, since it only came w/ 3 cheeses, and 2 of the 3 tasted very similar. The jelly on the plate was a jalepeno jelly though, and very tasty indeed when paired w/ the cheese! The olives on the plate were also the most delicious olives I've ever tasted, too! One of my friends then proceeded to order the scallops off the happy hour food menu. (note that their bar menu on their website isn't up to date, the scallops aren't mentioned on there and it says they offer risotto which wasn't on the menu when we went to the actual restaurant). The scallops ended up being only 2 small scallops and the sauce was just ok... she wasn't too crazy about it and feels like she should have ordered something different. I order the fried calamari for $4 (normally $8), and OMG what a great deal! I get a heaping pile of friend calamari w/ 2 kinds of dipping sauce - a shrimp cocktail type sauce and a creamy aioli type sauce... simply delicious and TOTALLY worth the money!!!! The best plate of the evening though, by far, was the Mixed antipasto plate for $6.50 (normally $13). There was such a variety and a lot of food on this plate for the price! All 6 of us enjoyed this plate... From my memory, it included: Prosciutto, Salami, roasted garlic, olives, grilled red peppers, grilled eggplant, tomato and fresh mozzarella, etc. DEELISH! Our service was excellent, the waiters were very attentive, and I would highly recommend this place to anyone for a special occasion dinner in an elegant and beautiful setting!
(4)Angela T.
You can't beat Barolo's happy hour - just be sure to get there early so you can snag a seat in the bar. Great happy hour prices for apps and drinks (where else in Seattle can you get a $14 bottle of wine?!). My only negative comment was the service - the wait staff and bartender when I was there were less than helpful. I sat at the bar for at least 5 to 10 minutes before anyone offered to take my order or ask if I needed anything. The bartender was behind the bar chatting up the other servers and had clearly seen me come in and sit there waiting for some help. BUT...the bad service I had probably wont keep me from coming back for happy hour again.
(3)Brianna C.
Very Disappointing . I'm just like everyone else I really wanted to like this place the ambiance is great the customer service was good but the food for god sakes was just horrible. If you don't like rare meat this is not the place for you! Everything that came to our table was dripping blood! The salad bar was mediocre. Groupon saved the day because I would not have paid full price (100) for that mess
(2)Zori Z.
Amazing happy hour and the staff working there is so friendly and polite! Always a pleasure visiting this place!
(5)Eugenio F.
Back last night after a long time, and again this place confirmed to be consistently great. The food was really good, both my usual rigatoni al ragu' and the new lobster tagliolini that my fiancée got. Great service, and good ambience for a Tuesday night at 9pm...
(4)Tony A.
This is where Jennifer Lopez would eat if she were to visit to Seattle. Now, I haven't researched her eating habits, her likes/dislikes, or even if her latest training regimen requires more or less carbs. However we've all see La Lopez strut her stuff on the red carpet and this is exactly the first thing I thought of while people watching at Barolo Ristorante. The place is uber sexy and cool. Here's the skinny on the food: I love small quality portions and that's exactly what you'll find here. I ordered the fillet which was excellent and I never found myself looking for the server. Perfecto! The prices were comparable to other upscale trendy restaurants in big cities. I was in Seattle with my mom for the debut of their new light rail, and this was the perfect Saturday night to round out our great trip to the Pacific Northwest. P.S. Ladies: Take your little black dress. Guys: Don't even worry about it. No one is really watching you.
(5)Amy M.
I have been here for multiple happy hours and a few dinners. I recently went with a large group from my firm; we easily had 8-10 bottles of wine and numerous appetizers, and the damage was surprisingly minimal. They gave us the large table in the center--an excellent table for large parties. I also had dinner here last week. We started with the octopus appetizer, polipetti e ceci. So excellent. The pieces are wonderfully seared, and the sauce is indescribably good--rich, earty, salty goodness. As a main course, I had the spaghetti with red royal prawns and arugola. I never eat pasta, because I generally find it to be overly filling and generally, poorly executed. This, on the other hand, was excellent. I remarked to my boyfriend that there was a faint whiff of peanut butter in this dish--can't say I was disappointed by that. The pasta and prawns were perfectly cooked, and set before me at their zenith of perfection. No warmer lights here. Definitely a little trendy, which manifests itself in various, interesting ways--not a place I'd bring my parents, but an excellent spot for dinner with friends and happy hour with co-workers.
(4)Justin P.
Probably one of the best happy hours in downtown. Get there early, because the rather "cozy" bar area fills up quick! I came here the other day with some coworkers around 4pm. We were pretty lucky to get seating right away, but 20 min later there was a line waiting out the door for bar area seats. The atmosphere at Barolo is tastefully modern, not over the top. The crowd sways towards the young professionals. Lets just say "dress to impress". On to the food! Awesome selection during HH. I shared the hanger steak, prosciutto board and calamari. All were delicious, plated beautifully and on the cheap. Drinks were really good. They have a pretty extensive bar and the bartender(s) are not only easy on the eyes, but pour great drinks. Does it get any better than that?
(4)Melissa S.
Food is great and price is great. I went during happy hour with my man and we took my parents out to dinner. The bill after tip was only $80. Food is all full of flavor, decent portions, and happy hour prices are amazing! You can't beat a $7 skirt steak! Glasses of wine are only $3. We had calamari to start, mom and I shared a grilled cesar salad, each ordered an entree, and even had creme brule for dessert. With a total of 6 drinks ordered, Barolo deserves best happy hour from me! Besides the great food and prices, the place is beautiful! You have to see if for yourself!
(5)Jennifer K.
Loved it!! Some of my new co-workers invited me out to lunch here, and we took advantage of the Dine Around Seattle special (available in March and November): $15 for a three-course lunch. I had a lobster bisque to start, followed by pheasant on polenta with a super-rich and tasty red wine reduction sauce, and a chocolatey dessert to finish. Yummmm! All of it was amazing, rich, flavorful, wonderful. I couldn't finish my dessert because I was too full. Yes, I had LOBSTER in my soup, plus two other amazing courses, all for $15. This was the best-tasting lunch I'd had in a long, long time. And a great value with the special. We had great service, too --none of the service problems some others on Yelp have mentioned. My co-worker had called ahead to tell them we were on a limited time lunch, and would it be possible to accommodate us in about an hour? They didn't have a problem with that, the server came to us immediately and we were served rapidly and pleasantly.
(4)Nicole F.
I was very impressed with the setting. We came for a very late dinner on Friday night and I was extremely impressed w/ the look and feel of this spot. I love the huge drippy candles, black chandeliers with the warm romantic lighting. And the bathrooms, wow. I love this place. About the food. We had french fries, veal carpaccio, grilled Caesar, calamari and papa Norman had the veal rigatoni. I wish i got a bite of this, yet I missed the boat. Carpaccio was amazing, so delicate and the salad that accompanied was a perfect match. French fries, child pls I live for these. Calamari was delicious, great sauces to accompany. I was not having the grilled salad, but so goes life. I would come back in a heart beat, love it.
(4)sarah p.
My boyfriend and I went here for the 30 for 30. We chose this restaurant over the others because their tasting menu had so many offerings. We were not disappointed! Everything we had was delicious. My gnocchi stole the show though. I wanted to crawl under the table and eat it in total peace. It was amazing and I haven't stopped thinking about it! The restaurant had a lot of energy and was a fun place to go. It quieted down a little after 7pm, so if going on a date, I'd recommend going after 7! Before then the music was loud and the very full happy hour crowd was spilling into the restaurant. The food was amazing though and the wine was great too. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Scot N.
Happy hour at Barolo has one of the better restaurant experiences I've had in Seattle. The first, and perhaps best, thing about it is that it starts at 3, a kindness in a city where it is often dark (and raining) by this hour. The service was great, especially between 3 and 4:30 or so when the bar was pretty empty. Once we got closer to 5 o'clock, things got busy and the wait staff, though cheerful, seemed a bit overwhelmed. The prices are great. Everything on the bar menu during happy hour is half off, and nothing is that expensive to begin with. They also offer $14 happy hour bottles of wine. Our rose was well worth the price, and the Orvieto and Sangiovese options were wines that I recognized and appreciate. Portions are generous for bar snacks and the quality of ingredients is first rate. The cooking expertise was a little inconsistent, but overall it was a-okay. I'd go back again for more. We ordered the fried calamari, which was just slightly overcooked, but well seasoned and covered with a very crispy crust. The accompanying sauces were uninspiring but totally okay, especially since the portion was large enough to feed a family of four and it all cost $5.50. Undaunted by our giant pile of calamari, we nonetheless ordered three more dishes. The first was the mixed antipasto plate ($7.50). It contained a few real highlights, including buttery soft and tasty prosciutto and delicious salumi. The cheeses on the plate were kind of a buzz kill, and the roasted garlic was a bit hard to extract from the shell. Based on the little caprese salad that came on the plate, I wouldn't order it on it's own. The tomatoes were mealy and flavorless. Altogether, though, still a pretty satisfying snack and, well, what do you expect for $7.50? The low point of the evening was the seared scallops with wild mushroom sauce. If there were mushrooms that gave their lives for that sauce, they died in vain. I couldn't taste them through the muddy mix of ingredients and the sauce added nothing to the plate. The scallops themselves would have benefited greatly from a harder sear in a hotter pan. There was no tender bit on the inside, and sticky sweet, crusty outside. Worse, the scallops weren't properly cleaned. They had just a little bit of grit on them. It was not enough that you (or I in this case) would spit them out, but enough to get you to consider it. The scallops were served with a little salad of way undercooked asparagus and baby carrots. It was disappointing, but I didn't order salad and the whole thing only cost $6.50. At that price, it's hard to complain. The best thing we ordered was the veal carpaccio. It was delicious. It came with a yummy truffle melange (think truffle flavored mayo) and a little arugola salad that was really tasty. The meat was like buttah, and the combination of all of the ingredients made me want to order 5 more. They claim the veal was hormone free and "humanely" raised. I have no idea what that means exactly. I had a picture in my mind of our veal coming from a cute little calf raised in a petting zoo. He's patted and loved until one day they cut his head off, butcher the little guy, and send him off to market. At least one can hope that the veal they serve isn't force-fed through tubes while being kept in pens that don't allow them to move. Isn't that the usual deal? I bought their explanation since I wanted veal real bad and hadn't had it in years. That little calf gave his life for a good cause. I'd give that dish 5 stars. If you like raw meat, this is really good, really raw meat. We had a couple of martinis just because we felt forced to do so. After all, how do you critique a happy hour without having a real live cocktail? It was super cold and dry, and indication of a good bartender, I think. On the down side, the bar did eventually become very crowded and the feel of the place was a little meat-market-y. The music was loud, really, really loud, and the track they were playing was a little mind numbing. The same thing over and over again. The tables are too small for the plates. I consider it a really big design boo boo to serve little bar snacks on really big plates when your bar customers are seated at really small tables. We used the ledge by the window to hold our drinks. The big plate-tiny table conundrum was a wee bit annoying, but the check at the end of the evening was a salve upon our souls. We ate a lot of food and got pretty drunk, and all for less than $90 (did I mention we had two bottles of wine...I mean, just to make sure their cellar isn't corked?). Go there, go early, enjoy.
(4)jeniffer a.
Barolo is everything you would want in a restaurant: great service, excellent food and good ambience. They also have hands down the best happy hour in town. Very good portions, spaguetti calamary, the shoulder steak and the tuna tartare among the favorites. I love this place!!!
(5)Marcus G.
Got the prix fixe lunch on Friday 8/14. Delicious. Service was top-notch on a stormy day.
(5)Jonathan J.
This place is awesome I ordered the lobster Gnocchi which was freaking awesome! I couldn't believe how much lobster was on it must have been at least a 12oz tail. The cannoli was great as well!
(5)Alice H.
Came here for Dine Around Seattle! Your typical upscale restaurant. We ordered Calamari con Farro which is not FRIED calamari, but sauteed calamari! Ugh it was so good. Then my bf got the Raviolo Del Giorno and I got the Gnocchi con Mozzerella Fresca. The cheese on the Gnocchi hardened a bit so when I was picking at it, it was in one giant clump... but other than that, the food was delicious. I also got the Bellini which was a cute little drink!
(5)Pu B.
The lighting here is whack lol i couldnt see anything and the server we had was rude. They took our appetizer order and we didnt see him for 20 minutes to take our entree order. My girlfriend makes better gnocchi. And the bread they serve was cold but it did come with a very good olive dipping sauce. Only went here because it was of walkin distance of our hotel and we couldnt get a reservation at ruth chris lol
(3)Dan K.
we don't have real happy hour in boston so i was pretty excited to come here. we sat out on the patio, service was decent and the ambiance was chill considering it was 430p. we got a bottle of pinot grigio and for the price, it was a delicious wine. we also shared the cheese plate and prosciutto plate, both which were a good combination with the wine. the waitress wasn't sure about what cheeses were were eating so that was a little disappointing but it was still good. their happy hour food and drink deals are a steal!
(3)Eat R.
When I ask the waiter (italian accent) about gluten free pasta he says yes they have GF penne but then proceeds to talk about how "some people" say wheat gluten issues are just in people's heads but that he's indifferent. Great opener dipshit. Food: The calamari app (pan fried) is particularly good. Our pasta dishes were a 6 or 7 out of 10. Decent wine list. Back to our less than awesome waiter. He pushes one of most expensive bottles on the menu (which I did not choose), leaves our water glasses empty, and is less than personable. We had a healthy bill at the end but both of us came away feeling as if we were an inconvenience to our waiter. The restaurant business is one of the most difficult because even if the ambiance and food is adequate you can have staff that kill the experience for the customer. When you are spending hundreds for dinner for two you have choices. Hopefully Barolo will recognize that for future customers.
(2)Cassie B.
Amazing food with really great happy hour. It is a very chic/hip somewhat romantic spot. Dim lighting but you can see. It's kind of noisy at times because of the vaulted ceilings, but all the more reason to get close to whomever you come with ;) The food was delicious. 5 star food but the service was kind of slow when we got here and it wasn't that busy. Once we ordered the food came out pretty quick.
(4)L. Edward J.
I've been to Barolo a few times and it's quickly become a favorite spot. The Lobster Risotto is one of my favorite dishes in Seattle! They also have a delicious, if not traditional, tiramisu. Highly recommended for a nice evening out. Only thing that kept it from a 5 star is the service is not great.
(4)Tina Y.
Came for lunch during restaurant week with a friend for my birthday! (shout outs to susan! thanks girly) It was my first time at Barolo, though I've heard good things and I've always wanted to check it out. We went around 2pm, and surprisingly pretty empty. There was only 2 other table besides us in the whole restaurant. Nonetheless, the restaurant has a really clean modern vibe to it. There's a wall of stacked wine which I loved!! I had the calamari, gnocchi, and the cannoli. Overall, the food really was delicious! Calamari was a little bit too salty for my liking, but definitely flavorful as well as the gnocchi. Cannoli was DELICIOUS! Filled with cream and topped with chocolate shavings. Yum. At first I thought the portions were a little small, but towards the end of the meal I was absolutely stuffed! The staff here is also super friendly and excellent service. I'm gonna come back to try their HH menu!
(4)Laurie V.
Finally made it to Barolo for happy hour a few weeks ago. Oh my, I fell in love with their menu. It's a foodie find if ever there was one. The Happy Hour Menu featured some of my decadent favorites, escargot, grilled calamari, veal carpaccio and tiramisu. The portions are spot on. Shareable or make a meal out of one or two of them without being too much food. When we first arrived it wasn't too busy. However it started to pick up after 6pm. The entire time we were there the service was great! I look forward to my next visit!
(4)Sin-Yaw W.
New York Times said this is one of the place to go if you have only 36 hours in Seattle. travel.nytimes.com/2011/… Since I have been here for over a year now, there is no excuse. Particularly it is within walking distance. The decor is pleasant and staff friendly and professional. The wine list reasonable too. Since it is our first time, we order the Antipasta Misto, the sampler, they were marvelous. My Rigatoni Ragu (Lamb) was so nicely flavorful that it was good that the portion was not too large. Otherwise, I would have stuff myself silly. Companions order Gnocchi and veal, both excellent. Three desserts: canoli, tiramisu, and poach pear. The best one was actually the ice cream side next to the pear! Both canoli and tiramisu were in top form, but the ice cream was magical. Take some time to admire the candle arts. They are mesmerizing.
(5)Lisa L.
This is my favorite happy hour place in Seattle. Their HH is everyday 4-6pm and 10-close and everything on the bar menu is 50% off. Everything I've had here was great, but hands-down my favorite dish is their organic lamb burger. It's always cooked perfectly, piled high with delicious goat cheese and mozzarella and built on a delicious toasted ciabatta bun. It also comes with a fantastic side salad or fries for $6. You also get a free appetizer of focaccia bread and tapenade that's pretty tasty. It gets pretty crowded during happy hour so expect to bump elbows with other patrons and busy servers. If you can handle that, the restaurant is beautiful and worth a stop for happy hour!
(5)Jennifer B.
My other favorite happy hour place (and the same owners of List). The food and service are excellent. Amazing they have 300 different wines. My favorite for happy hour is the organic hangar steak with Barolo sauce and I get that every time. I also enjoy the mussels, scallops, ahi tuna, organic lamb burger, tuna tartare, ravioli, and rigatoni. Only limit is that the bar area is small so get there early if you want a seat.
(4)Julia Y.
Went there during restaurant week. The hostess was very friendly, but server was extremely rude. It was me and my boyfriend's first time there and I asked about recommendations. The server seemed annoyed and the only description she had for each dish was that "it's good." We were not very familiar with the dishes there, and she made us feel stupid for asking questions. Her attitude never improved throughout the meal and it made us want to leave ASAP. The pork belly appetizer was tasty and everything else was pretty good, but not amazing.
(2)Trina A.
We stopped in here during Seattle restaurant week. Love the ambiance in here...very intimate lighting and modern designs. For my first course, I had the golden beet salad which was really yummy and refreshing. I had the spinach and ricotta lasagna for my main course and man that was really goood. I loved the sauce and the broiled cherry tomatoes were a really nice touch. For dessert I had the creme brulee which wasnt anything special. Drinks are ok, nothing out of the ordinary. All in all nice spot...restaurant week is not as cheap as i'd thought it would be, but i'd like to come back for happy hour sometime...I'm really interested in trying the grilled ceasar salad which my seattle-ite friend recommends.
(4)Hells Bells P.
Sorry this will be a short review. i'll hit the highlights. two(he and she) for dinner. we went for restaurant week. 1) they have valet parking for $7 but at 9:00 pm, I found it quite easy to find street parking. ended up parking next to farestart for free, since it was after 8pm. 2) service was GREAT. the hostess and server were very friendly, professional and still very approachable :) i mentioned that i was really hungry and she made it a point to get our appetizers out asap. 3) cocktail and wine: i'm not a wine drinker, but their wine menu was quite extensive. also their cocktail menu had something for most people. although, i didn't see much selection for bourbon/whiskey. 4) pre meal - bread with tapenade was good. 5) appetizer: he had the carpaccio, she had the calamri with HUGE beans. carpaccio was pretty good, better than expected. good choice of cheese, and he said that there was a flavored oil or some type of sauce that gave it an extra yumminess. calamari with HUGE beans: the presentation was good, the overall flavor was great, kinda tangy but still quite savory. only notice that the calamari was a tad bit overdone. 6) main meal: he had braised veal. she had the halibut: veal: flavor was like GERMAN Saurbraten. and like sauerbraten, the meat was so tender that I could pull the meat off his plate without trouble. halibut with risotto: fish was really quite good. like the pick of flavor from the olives in the sauce, the risotto was only so so. i was expecting something a bit more creamy. it tasted kinda like rice mixed in a light creamy sauce. 7) dessert: he had hazelnut gelato. she had olive oil cake. hazelnut gelato: gooood flavor and texture and coldness. also had toasted hazelnuts. olive oil cake: not too sweet, very moist. drizzled with a light custard cream sauce. accompanied by basil gelato. basil gelato was only medium flavor. but again, the creaminess and coldness was perfect. 8) atmosphere - hip, dim lighting, chandeliers, chainmail see through curtains, was a bit noisy, could be the hard walls and high ceilings makes the sound carry. music was energetic, sometimes make me shake me head like the dudes at the roxbury. when we left the second more hipster crowd was arriving. we looked at the regular menu and we would like to come and have dinner.
(4)Nique F.
Barolo checks off on many of the fine dining criteria - professional staff, sultry ambiance, and dainty plates of decadent food. But it didn't possess that certain magic that makes me want to go back every time I'm in Seattle. Yes, our waitress was wonderful, the food was nice (perhaps a little salty) and the setting is romantic. It just has a tinge of stuffiness that didn't make it all that welcoming. But if you're aiming to impress for a business or in-law dinner, Barolo would be perfect. We went during restaurant week, so the menu was slightly different than their usual, but we definitely got the Barolo vibe. We had some arugula salad with candied walnuts, swordfish, stewed lamb, and mini chocolate tortes for dessert. The wine list is good, but on the pricey side. If you're in the mood for poshing it up, spending some extra bucks and being treating well for it, Barolo is your spot!
(3)Laura Z.
Oh my god delicious! the drinks, appetizers, wine, entrees, dessert... everything was delicious.
(5)Sonya G.
I have dreams about Barolo's pheasant gnocchi. Dreams. Really, I should just leave it there, but I'll elaborate a bit more ;-) For the classy dining experience that this is, Barolo's prices are extremely reasonable, and of course the food authentic and delicious. Time-weathered candles dripping wax over wax over wax accent the interior with deep curtains and large mirrors. Happy hour deals are worth leaving work early for. My only complaint is how busy they always are! I've attempted to make last minute reservations a couple times, only to be met with "our next table is free at 10:15 PM" on a Wednesday. Can't fault them for being amazing, though!
(5)Daren D.
Me and madame Vanessa H came here to meet during HH; she's also coming here on the job, so we figured it'd be great to check out. "Holy crap. This is not my type of place to hang out." was what I was telling myself as we entered and sat down in the bar. =P It was full upon arrival, but fortunately one table opened up shortly. Brief wipe down and took our seats. Really foo-foo, fancypants vibe. Do note the bar can get rather tight and loud (more-so with the music beat overhead). I s'pose people will like that if it's their thing; it ain't mine, but I wanted to come here for VH, so that is a moot point. :P I believe she got the veal and I got the eggplant (which was nice, soft, melty... but left me unsatisfied, of course) + iced tea. Service was good. A heads up for ya'll sitting in the bar facing west towards the windows during late afternoon: the sun glare can be quite irritating so may want to flag down a waiter to pull a blind. No idea why I didn't get it done earlier, as it somewhat made me uncomfy. pffft. Anywho, cool joint, decent food to my taste, and fancy vibe if that's your thing. Would I return? Depends, but we still managed to have a good time.
(3)Nick V.
My favorite. Food is consistently good. Read my previous reviews. The end. Bonus: My favorite bartender in all of Seattle was working.
(5)Darrell J.
I have never written a review of any place before, but after speaking with the host of this restaurant and then the manager, I felt compelled to write about my experience. The first the good... the waitress in the bar was phenomenal. She was the only highlight of the whole entire place. The other positive, is that the manager did take 30 minutes to chat with me about the below situation (though most of it was him talking over me). I do appreciate that he was busy and took time out of the day. The situation: I arrive for happy hour. It's 4:40 PM. The bar is full, and so I am asked to put my name down on the wait list for the bar. I do. I am told that I am the first name on the list. Other people come after me. They add their name on the list. A place opens up at the bar, I was told it was mine. I go over and the lady at the bar says that the seat is hers; she's waiting on a friend. I go back to the host. I them tell them. They say, "oh." So I wait some more. More people come in. I go back to the host stand and I ask if I'm still first. I am told I am. I stand and wait. By 5:30 two groups of people that arrived after me, are seated at the bar. I decide to leave. I pay my bill (they do serve you while you wait which I appreciate as well), and then I go up to the host stand. I walk up, and tell the host that I am leaving and that he can mark my name off of list. I explain to him to two groups of people were seated before me, and I'll just leave. I say to him, "It's cool," and leave. The host starts to yell after me while I am walking out the door. I then go to the Minstrel Kitchen... much better place. Here's what I find really awful. I call the place back around 9 to complain that their process doesn't work for seating people. I get the same host, and I ask to speak to the manager. He tells me that the manager is gone. I say that I have a complaint. He says that he'll check to see if he is still there. I'm placed on hold. He comes back and says that he's gone. I ask if he was working during happy hour. He says yes, and seems to know who I am. I start talking about my experience, and the host is constantly cutting me off, and speaking over me. When I finally say, "No, I'm speaking..." he hangs up on me. I never once raised my voice or cussed. I call right back. A new person answers. I ask to speak to the host. They don't put me on hold, so I hear them say, "It's the jerk." Then the manager gets on the phone. I guess he miraculously came back from where ever he was? He then says to me that he heard me "yell" at the host. I didn't. We start talking about the situation. He tells me "I'm making a federal case out of it," "no business is perfect," "we have a lot of rude people that come in and don't follow the rules." I tell him I get that, and I offer my suggestion for fixing it. He speaks over me a lot (like the host). I tell him the host hung up on me. He doesn't apologize. I tell him that I was called "a jerk." He doesn't apologize. I tell him what happened. He doesn't apologize. 30 minutes later (again, which I appreciate him taking the time to speak, but it could have been less if he listened to me and didn't speak over me), he finally apologizes. He tells me that he came back and that's when the host told me about me. This doesn't make sense to me because earlier he said that he heard me "yell" at the host. Also, it doesn't make sense because the host had maybe a minute to hang up on me and then run to tell him what happened because I called back immediately. So I ask, "So, when I spoke to your host and he hung up on me. He then went and told you what happened?" The manager said, "Yes." I said, "that's funny because earlier you said that you 'heard me yell' at the host. Which is it?" His response, "Are you an attorney? Are we in a court of law? I don't have time for this. I have to go. If you call a Tom Douglas restaurant you won't get someone like me to speak to you. You'll get someone else. They have people. We're a family run business." In full disclosure, he did offer for me to come back and he'll "make it right." I told him however, "after your inability to seat me, your host hanging up on me, and then you lying to me about you hearing me "yell at your host," I won't be back." He then becomes mad, and says that "he doesn't have time for this, and that he's trying to get off the phone with me and that I won't let him, and that I'll probably call tomorrow and say that he hung up on me." I simply end with, "I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me; I know we've been on the phone a while. I wish your business the best." The wait staff... awesome! The management is GOD AWFUL and I will never be back. Based on their customer service, I encourage you not to go there as well.
(1)Dana R.
This is a blended review of 3 stars. The first time we ate here the food and service were not good (2 stars), the second time the food was good and the service bad (3 stars), and the last time (last night) most of the food and service were both very good (3.5 stars). Last night we started with the tuna tartare which comes with crostini that weren't very good (too chewy). The tuna was very fresh and tasty and tossed in a ginger soy sauce with just enough honey to sweeten it up and french sea salt. I had the spaghetti carbonara with finely sliced strips of zucchini and pork belly. The sauce is made with just a touch of cream so it's not too soupy or rich -- lovely egg coating on the pasta and smokey pork belly. The pork belly could have been crispier to give some texture to the dish. My husband had the rabbit ragu fettuccine and really enjoyed it. Fresh pasta and flavorful ragu. We ordered the cannoli dessert which I didn't care for -- strangely enough it wasn't very flavorful and the cannoli tube itself didn't taste very fresh.
(3)Faith Y.
I've been on a streak of 4 star reviews and I'm gonna stop. This place is redonkulously packed during Happy Hour (also just restricted to the bar area) but the food was absolutely worth it. My friend and I squeezed in and basically swooped down like vultures as these ladies slipped out after just grabbing drinks. Um, lame. EAT! Their entire bar menu is half price and the food came out quickly and in courses so our teeny little table wouldn't groan under all the weight. Warm, seed-flecked bread started us off with this unidentifiable balsamic tasting paste. Then caprese, fried calamari, 1 lb of mussels and mixed antipasto plate pretty much knocked us dead. Word of advice though, don't shell out for the caprese since the antipasto plate has it as well. Along with delish stinky cheese, prosciutto, salami, olives, mushrooms and peppers. And now for the company. You'll be rubbing elbows with the movers and shakers of Seattle. Everyone seems to be there to see and be seen and my friend and I were definitely the youngest, not a bad thing. When I walked back out, I saw 3 different over-the-top flashy sports cars parked in valet so ladies ... if you want to dig for gold, I guess this is the place. Me? I'll just stuff my face!
(5)Denise C.
Little bit of Italian Happy Hour heaven at great prices! HH Hours: Seven days from 3:00pm - 630pm and 10:00pm to midnight What's the deal? 50% off the bar menu. baroloseattle.com/pdf/me… Price without the discount run from $6.50 to $15.00. Drink specials include $3.5 select white, red, or rose $3 pints and you can get a bottle of red, white, or rose for $14 bottle. What's on the menu? The bar menu includes: Grilled calamari, House-made ravioli, Ahi tuna carpaccio, Eggplant parmigiana, Lentil and spelt soup, Lumache-baked escargot, Warm baby octopus with garbanzo beans, Rigatoni pasta with beef and veal ragú, Organic hanger steak with barolo sauce, Cheese and mixed antipasto plate, Hormone and antibiotic free/humanely raised veal carpaccio salad, Grilled Caesar salad, Organic lamb burger, Tuna tartare, Fried calamari, Sautéed mussels, Tomato and mozzarella caprese, Scallops with a wild mushroom sauce. What does it look like? Perfect balance of modern and romantic, beautiful Chandeliers and candles create a wonderful atmosphere. Happy hour specials are only in the bar. Check out the large family style table that is great for large groups. They also have a semi-private table with a sheer white drape that is perfect for a romantic dinner. Service? HH can get really busy so be prepared and know what you want! Not on the HH menu but worth trying? There are so many dishes on the HH menu, we didn't stray to the dinner menu. What are we still thinking about? The grilled Caesar is beyond awesome, Eggplant parmigiana and calamari also got rave reviews.
(3)Dori C.
This place is fabulous! I've only been there at night for happy hour and it's awesome! I love their happy hour wines, not to strong, just right. some restaurants serve just mediocre wines for happy hour, but this place seems to be different. And their food ! very Italian and tasty for less than $10! Mostly around $ 7. They served you bread and olive tapenade, which is heavenly. I've tried and loved their : caesar salad - fresh and unique, with tasty cheeeeese ! spaghetti with calamari mussels oh my. so lovely.
(5)Laural B.
Happy hour is the best reason to come here. Also, the largest grappa selection in Seattle. I think. That probably contributed to about $50 more than I thought I'd spend. It was incredibly busy by the end of happy hour, but that's not why I'm taking off a star. No, the real reason is the cheese plate. 3 soft cheeses? And some nuts and bread. And jalepeno marionberry jam. That was it. Delicious, sure, but I felt pretty cheated. Or I would have, if it hadn't been deeply discounted for happy hour.
(3)bao l.
I came here yesterday with my girlfriend. There were a good amount of seats and the atmosphere was nice. We got the steak, muscles, calamari, tuna, and 2 beers. The total was $34. The food did taste good and it did come fast but the portions were so small. I thought about going to McDonald's across the street to get a burger to fill myself up after wards. The food items were already half off during happy hour. To imagine that you come during non happy hour and ordered these items would roughly cost 34x2 = $68 is outrageous. Items were around $14 each so $7 for happy hour. I'm guessing they reduce the amount of food they give you at happy hour price as there is no way anyone would pay $14 for a small finger food plate. Good environment, decent food, fast service but expect to pay more than other happy hour places. Don't even think about ordering the same items if its not happy hour.
(2)CK Dexter H.
I've been once. I think. Business dinner. I remember wine. Lots and lots of wine. There was a black car to drive me home. Hot wax stuck in my hair. A guy named Yusef at the next table with a parrot under his coat and cheese on his face. The chef shook my hand, his apron was dirty. There was the best Italian food in Seattle. I must return.
(4)tarah p.
Went here for my dinner club and it is by far one of our favorite places. The food was so good and the atmosphere feels so chic and upscale! I haven't tried their happy hour but from the reviews it seems like it's the thing to do!
(4)Andrea A.
The decor is about the only redeeming factor, which earned them a second star from us. We had the steak, which was VERY salty... way way too much. And we also had the scallops, which were dreadfully overcooked and surprisingly tasteless. The appetizers were better, but average at best. (we had the foie gras and the escargot). The restaurant is beautifully designed, however- very romantic.
(2)Bea D.
Barolo has one of the best Happy Hours in Seattle, period. All the bites are half price so we tried almost all of them on our way to catch Anthony Bourdin at the Moore. Food: veal carpaccio (our table's favorite by far!), tuna carpaccio (close second), hangar steak, mussels (a tad fishy), escargot, grilled octopus, capresse salad (our least favorite). I'll definitely come back for the veal carpaccio which was outstanding! Drink: French rose from Nimes, at $14 a bottle happy hour special; you can't beat that! Service: Friendly and very professional Now after reviewing the rest of the wine menu we found the mark up a bit high. Seriously you can't charge $26 for Chateau Ste Michelle Gewurtz that runs for $6 at the market. Still, the happy hour deal is a steal if you are lucky to get a seat.
(4)Mika Y.
Ok, I rarely write bad restaurant reviews...but they really need to beef up their service! My friend and I went in on a busy Friday night for late night happy hour, sat at the bar for good 15 minutes before anyone acknowledged us. Didn't get anyone's attention to order the food & drinks for another 15 minutes. The waitstaff was rude and not so friendly when we asked questions about the menu. So we went back again this past Saturday, giving them another chance...got similar service from a different waitstaff! I just don't understand why they hire such inexperience and unfriendly people when the restaurant is rocking busy? Will probably not giving them the 3rd chance...
(2)Leyl B.
This was our first time dining at Barolo, and it was a great experience from start to finish. The decor is lovely and hip - tall candles on every table, warm lighting with a modern feel. The ambiance is festive and elegant, and the food is absolutely delicious. We appreciated how precisely everything had been cooked, as well as the light hand on the salt and the lack of heavy sauces (at least on the food that we ordered). The portions were healthy without being overwhelming. Our server was attentive and we enjoyed chatting with the owner, who came to discuss the wines with us and recommended something great that we all really liked. There were also a few little touches that took the experience to the next level. The bread was crusty and warm and served with an olive tapenade. There was a carafe of water on every table, with a few thinly sliced lemons floating in there for flavor. We were seated in the middle of the room, with people passing by on either side, but I never once felt crowded or had to move my chair. Valet parking was also much appreciated. All in all, a fine addition to the food scene in Seattle. We will definitely be back!
(5)Peter M.
OMFG. Just go. It's amazing. Make sure you try the Tuna Carpaccio and a few of the girls that come in. Love the place.
(5)Masanori T.
I went here this past week having read the othe reviews on Yelp. Definitely a great late nite happy hour (apparnetly also on Fri & Sat nights, which is rare - do these people not want to make money?) Anyway. I had the rigatoni & a glass of red (only $3.5!), and was very satisfied. The rigatoni was perfectly done to al dente, and the sauce was very meaty & flavorfull. The glass was wine wasn't the most generous pour, but definitely nothing out of the ordinary. I also peeked into the main dining section which seemed nice, but I think I'd just stick with the 10pm-close happy hour, especially on Fri/Sat.
(4)Brian S.
Since I was born in a town near Venice I like to pretend that I'm either Italian or some kind of authority on Italian food. Oh if only it were true. Unfortunately for me my parents are American as they come and just happened to be living/working in Italy. They moved back to the US (Spokane of all places, now you can feel sorry for me) before my first birthday, and the great Italian food my mom made when I was growing up... she learned to make all while living in the US, not from some great Italian connoisseur. Fortunately for you, my expertise is not necessary, you do not need to be an authority on Italian anything to appreciate and fall in love with Barolo. Gnocchi: not tough, not too soft, just perfect home made gnocchi. Good luck finding this rarity done so well anywhere else. Fettuccine al coniglio: you're not eating a cute little bunny, nooooo, it's "coniglio"... just keep that in mind and savor the best tasting rabbit in the city (I was a big fan of the conejo at Tango & Tapas, but in retrospect it's gamier than what Barolo is serving up). Spelt & Lentil soup: Spelt never tasted so good. The top 3 dessert items are all awesome... cheesecake with balsamic and the espresso panna cotta especially. Happy hour is late. How Late? "Late," they said when we called... they made good on that, great late night eats when most other bars & restaurants are no longer serving food. They don't have mom's authentic cannelloni or carbonara, but I'll let them slide this time...
(5)Courtney C.
Wow...this place is good! I have to say, ever since my first time here this past summer for a birthday I've had dreams about the veal scallopine and get it every time we go back. It's to die for if you like veal and black truffles. I wanted to lick my plate when I was done. The pastas are delicious as well. Everything tastes so fresh and homemade. The wine list is great as well as the staff. Very personable people who are knowledgeable of the food and wine. The managers and owners do a great job of checking in on tables to make sure your night is going well. The decor is very unique and chic. Urban in the low lighting and high ceilings...retro by the use of white accents - candelabras, chandeliers, statues, etc. This would be a great place to take a group and/or celebrate a birthday followed by a night out on the town. They have a perfect long table with chandeliers and mirrors all around it. When groups don't take it over it's communal. I've heard great things about the happy hour but have yet to try it myself. If you're tight on money (like most these days) give that a whirl first.
(5)J W.
Celebrated a 50th birthday there and the service was magnificent! The food to die for. By far, they have the best gnocchi in town. Just like what you get in Italy!
(5)Trevor B.
I have ventured out to Barolo a few times now and I can't help but enjoy myself every time. They have an amazing happy hour and go early because it gets packed. I love the Gnocchi with mozzerella, basil, and tomato sauce. Another favorite is the rigatoni with leg of lamb ragu. You also must try their desserts; I find the Cheesecake to be off-the-wall amazing. I recommend Barolo for a nice evening out and also a great place for a date.
(4)Andie C.
This place is so poorly managed and the staff so insolent, it's hard to imagine it can stay in business. Don't believe the voicemail that says you can leave a message about a reservation and someone will call you back to confirm - that doesn't happen - but the staff will lie and tell the "manager" that she did (my phone records all calls that come in, whether a message is left or not, so I know no one called from this joint) and he will be confrontational with you about it. Couple that little slice of heaven with the fact that they don't actually take reservations for large groups for cocktails in their dining room or lounge for that matter. Thank goodness the "manager" told me it was my fault for emailing my friends that this was the place we should meet. That was the first reasonable and correct thing he said! I am very thankful that I didn't subject my group of friends to this "incredible" service. And you shouldn't either.
(1)Adam B.
I asked what was best and was given the boar special entree. It was tasty but it seemed overcooked to me. I was told that boar is supposed to be on the well side, and I don't remember that to be true although it's been years since I've had it. The risotto on the side was the highlight of the meal as well as the $8.50 glass of wine that tasted as if it was twice the price. The service was a bit slow but they were very knowledgeable and friendly.
(4)William E.
I had come up to Seattle from San Francisco over the weekend on a work trip with 10 others. We had an excellent dinner on Friday night along with great service. there were a wide variety of menu items to choose from, some highlights were the foie gras, chilean seabass, and the best spaghetti carbonara I have ever tasted, our whole group agreed .I will go back just for that, wine prices seemed reasonable with good selections from other Italian regions if you don't want to spend the money on a Barolo.
(5)Angus N.
I am a huge fan if this place. It is about as close to "real" Italian food as i have come to since i moved here. Barolo is decidedly upscale and i read somewhere that their aim is to import the smart style of Italys top-end restaurants and pair it with the distinctive regional cuisine of Piedmont. I found Baroloïs heart and soul in their tortelloni alla Piedmontese, and their excellent Lamb Rigatoni! Other pastas also are savory-good-tender, and the moist gnocchi will astound you if you. It's also nice to know that Barolo also takes its meat dishes seriously. The steaks feature top-quality Angus beef, and the veal chops are excellent, too. The wine list if longer than my arm and the service and ambiance was great. Oh, and the Tirimisu was to DIE for! :-)
(4)Tember f.
Yum. We ordered a bunch of courses and shared. Every bite was delish.
(4)Mel C.
So great! $14 red wine, $6 dollar lamb burger (So delicious with goat and mozza cheese on it), and spicy handmade ravioli! To top it off, great service that was genuine and helpful. amazeballs.
(5)Rose S.
This is now one of my favorite Seattle restaurants. I've only eaten here a few times, but the service has always been friendly, and more importantly, the food is amazing! The have a nice selection of glass pours at descent prices, and I love to have a nice place to go for a delicious romantic dinner without spending an arm and a leg. In my opinion, everything I've tried here has been seasoned to perfection... I'll be back again and again... and again. Pretty much any chance I get!
(5)Ellen C.
I've only been to Barolo for Happy Hour, which was pretty good. Food was much more gormet than most happy hours, and they had very inexpensive but good bottles of wine on HH. nice dark atmosphere, but was a bit crowded for our group in the bar. Service was ok but not great.
(3)Marlyn C.
One of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. Everything I've ever had on the menu is delicious. I try to get things that i traditionally don't like or sound like I wouldn't like just to see what they can do make me like it. My husband's not a big fan so it's always pulling teeth to get him to take me, but when he does, I am always happy.
(4)Mikiko T.
I love this place! Specially, HH has a great wine and food menu. The only bad thing about this place is that you cannot get any seats or tables. Their bar area is very small and they don't seem to be too keen on serving HH food in the dining room area no matter how empty the restaurant is. Wish they were a bit more flexible, but oh well. Otherwise, they definitely deserve 5 stars!
(4)Raquel F.
Quite possibly one of the best happy hours in Seattle. I cant say enough good things about this place. The mouthwatering food and desserts are to die for. Barolo does NOT dissapoint! For $39 I ordered a bottle of wine, 2 dishes of calamari, caprese, and penne pasta which was more than enough food for my party thanks to the generous portions.
(5)Maureen H.
Some friends and I went for HH and found seats at the counter in the back. It's a little bit fancy for my tastes and not worth the cramped quarters to eat mediocre food. We started with the caprese which is hard to mess up, nothing to write home about. Then some sliced proscuitto, also not difficult. I ordered some gnocchi that was not outstanding, friends got the burger, ok, and the veal, overcooked. Service was not great. I don't think I'll be going back.
(2)Matt W.
Delicious! One of those places where everything on the menu sounds good. I had the lobster risotto, which was quite tasty, though it could have used a vegetable on the side. Service was spot on, with special attention given to the wine service (though I must lament the rather steep prices in this area). The rigatoni with lamb ragu was particularly well-balanced and flavorful. Good food, with an upbeat atmosphere that doesn't drown out conversation.
(4)sara l.
I love this place! Great food, great service, and great decor. The happy hour is also GREAT!
(5)Nina N.
where to go on a date by yourself and not feel weird about it? well this is not that type of place, however one dark, cold, shitty work night I thought fuck... let's go splurge and indulge all by my lonesome self . It felt weird at first but I had a really nice server that made me feel ok about being by myself, and eating like I am pregnant. he did mention that if I wanted to do a pity party, I should lie and say I am pregnant and my husband left me hahha.. what a comedian.I loved him so much that if I had it my way I would have asked him to join me, and bitch about the pretentious people coming in here trying to use their passport card hahahhaa.... anyhow, this is what I splurged on.... appetizer : an abundant amount of seafood drizzled with olive oil and a side of greens... tasty Entree : Poached lobster on top of sweet buttery risotto cooked perfect (not a big fan of al dente but it was perfect) my night is going much better AND I AM NOT DONE YET..... seared scallops with mushroom sauce ....................it was perfect... not too buttery, and not too pungent, perfect just perfect... how I love scallops!!!!!!! oh no still not done...... I am telling you guys, when nina has a bad day.. she has a bad day so I like to splurge on food :) dessert : creme brulee with a nice cup of espresso............................ thank you barolo for changing my mood.... since then I've come for their amazing happy hour, and dinner to go :) DAY HAPPY HOUR: Monday-Friday 3-6:30 EVERY NIGHT : 10:00-close 50% off the bar menu -14 DOLLAR BOTTLES OR RED/WHITE HOUSE WINE- You can actually get drunk off of 14 dollars hahahahahha fyi : their happy hour food isn't normal happy hour food.. it is actually delicious.. do try their tuna tartar :)
(5)Mal H.
omfg..I am madly in love with this place! I must say I don't even really care for italian, probably because I grew up thinking italian food was the olive garden not knowing that its great when done right but I digress...It is beautiful inside VERY classy and I have heard that it is a celebrity hot spot. The food is AMAZING but expensive unless you order off of the bar menu during happy hour which is from M-F 3-6:30 and every night 10pm to close. Your service may not be the best (meaning your drinks may take 10 minutes to come to table or your waitress wont visit you as often as you'd like) if you go during happy hour but I feel that its definitely worth it for the food/price ambiance. Great place to take a date whether you are trying to impress her in the restaurant or want the fun, loud more casual feeling in the bar.
(5)Ben E.
Was wandering about the streets of Seattle and found this little place. It was late, and after confirming that the kitchen was still open, went in and took a seat at the bar. Found out that it was happy hour and all bar bites and house wines were on special. Had a couple glasses of Sangiovese for $3.5ea, a Grilled Caesar Salad for $4 and a spicy tomato and ricotta ravioli for $7. Waitstaff was nothing but friendly, even to a not-so-hip middle-aged stranger, and beautiful (Blair at the bar). Lighting is dim, but then again I was seated in the bar. Highly recommend. May even go again tonight.
(4)Jamie S.
Coming from San Francisco, the land where happy hours are few and far between, I found Barolo to be quite a delightful surprise...both for my wallet and my palate. We found out about the late night HH from the bartenders at our hotel (Pan Pacific), and scored seats at the bar right before 10:00pm when it gets packed. The wine and food were to die for! We were pleasantly suprised by the $3.00 chianti and were equally wowed by the rigatoni and ragu, tuna tartare and flank steak. Our entire meal, including 4 glasses of wine was.....$36.00! Seriously, that's 2 glasses of wine and cab fare in San Francisco. I would definitely come back here and recommend this place to anyone. The only negative is that it's in a strange location and can be hard to get cabs.
(5)steve k.
Second time to Barolo a few days ago with my wife and a friend for dinner after work. It's a nice looking restaurant, the waitstaff is courteous and attentive, and the food is very, very good. But, please, TURN DOWN THE VOLUME ON THE MUSIC! It's no fun to have to shout across the table at your dining companions. Especially when everyone else in the place is having to do the same. The volume level really detracted from two otherwise quite memorable meals.
(3)Laura K.
My favorite place for happy hour. I almost feel bad paying these prices for this food. The pasta is great, the burger is big, the escargot is soooooo tender. The antipasto is amazing. I love the way they serve the wine in baby carafes to pour into you Riedle glass. You are getting such a great deal on the food and drink at happy hour you should have some extra cash to tip your server more.
(5)John T.
Bad service is the reason for the lack of stars. My girlfriend and I had lunch here about a week ago and it was good, but not worth the time. We arrived around noon. Our server came with bread and took my wine glass...even though I wanted a glass. He came back, took our order, and that was the last we saw of him till the end. He never checked on us, even though we both wanted more wine and dessert. Additionally we were the first ones seated in our section. By the time we left every other table had been turned and the second arrivals were eating their entrees. I was very disappointed and they missed out on more revenue.
(2)fran m.
Food excellent. the calamari was a bit on the rubbery side, but good. pasta excellent. Service was below par and rushed. I couldn't put down my fork without someone wanting to clear my plate. we weren't finished with one course, and I felt pressured to order the next. Yet despite this, my dessert order arrived 20 minutes after my dinner companion. It was frustrating sitting next to a group that was allowed to order off the much-cheaper happy hour menu while we were only allowed to order of the dinner menu. (server unable to explain this) I don't know if I will return. We are lucky to have a lot of great restaurants in Seattle.
(3)Jeff L.
My "go to" restaurant when in Seattle. Have eaten here 6-10 times and always like the food and wine. Sometimes busy, and better to have a reservation, but they are fairly easy to get. Multiple vegetarian options or they can make something.
(5)Bob L.
My wife and I decided to try 3 for $15 @ Barolo since we were in the area around lunch time. Great idea! The ambiance is nice with interesting various candlesticks (see my photos) and the service was good. (Not great because the waitress was TOO attentive, but it could have been just me... :-) Now, the food. First of all, the bread was sad. The accompanied tapenade was good, though. Again, the bread was bad and there should be no excuse for a restaurant like Barolo to NOT serve better bread. Appetizer: Both the artichoke with beefsteak tomato and eggplant parmigiana were lovely with just the right amount of seasoning. Eggplant was good, but the artichoke with tomato was delicious! Entree: This is probably the first time I can actually identify with the term "al dente." The spaghetti and rigatoni were perfectly cooked and the sauces were awesome. The spaghetti with mahi mahi (in little chunks) and wine sauce was light yet flavorful while rigatoni alla bolognese (with veal ragu) was bold and satisfying. Dessert: . Mascarpone cheesecake - very interesting, almost like a souffle on a plate. Fluffy and warm. . Creme brulee - wow! this could be the best creme brulee I've ever had! The custard(?) was a bit more runny than I'm used to, but it created this mouth-feel that was simply divine. The food was good. For the price, it was unbelievable!
(4)Henry S.
Kick ass happy hour. Everything is delicious...minus a decent lamb burger (I'm a lamb burger snob). Highly recommend
(4)Lori M.
Came here for Dine Around Seattle. They had a great little menu selection for the $30 special dinner. I had the Buffalo carpaccio, the pheasant, and the mixed berry panna cotta. Everything was tasty, but nothing made my draw drop. But it was a delightful meal. Presentation of the food was nice, and the service was very quick! The place is pretty fancy/trendy looking on the inside, but the humongous windows on the outside of the restaurant bring the ambiance down a notch. The nice interior feels less fancy when you're facing the window (i.e., with a view of a parking lot and the McDonald's). This could be fixed by frosting the windows (or maybe just frost the bottom half). They offer valet service for $7 if you don't feel like finding parking :)
(4)How S.
Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum #1: Food Nice take on a classic ceasar, charred (in a good way) to perfection. Outstanding and perfectly cooked al dente rigatoni with a well seasoned veal/beef ragu. Make sure you leave some of their bread from earlier so you can scarpetta the sauce and send the dishwasher home early for the night. The lamb burger is again, nicely seasoned. Huge burger with a decent amount of tasty fries unless the others are trying to steal some (....not you Sarah, I love you) that's how good the are. One problem here is the burger is sooooo juicy that the bottom bun gets soggy quick. (Tip: Turn it over and move to where the toppings were). Steak is perfectly cooked and complimented with a incredible sauce with tre mini veggies. You can get 3 of these for an equal comparable steak from the higher end steak house. Iced tea is tropical and tasty....oh how I miss thee, my lady Hawaii. Yum #2: People watching Place is usually hoppin during happy hour with some sexy looking (and some who think their sexy) people. Tables so close its hard not to hear interesting sound bites. Yum #3: Ambiance Great open space without feeling to cold. All those sexy waxed over candles and low lighting helps. Cush chairs. Chill music. Ahhhhhh.... So why did I give it only 4 stars? Two reasons: I feel bad using one of their uber thick paper towels in the bathroom...poor trees. And it's too well known and crowded and I don't want more people knowing how good it gets here.
(4)Tera T.
Great Happy Hour!!! The Hangar Steak, lentil soup, and lamb burgers are favorites between me and my friends! Note: Once I had an over charge on my credit card bill by $10 from what I signed off on...probably a one time mistake, but if it happened once, it could happen again. ;)
(4)Mark J.
Amazing food, great wine and perfect service. Will definitely go back.
(5)Bill C.
Every coarse was excellent. We ate with an party of 4 and everyone had a cleaned plate. Reasonably priced. The cheese stuffed ravioli was well prepared, along with superb apps. The cheese plate app was on point. Bread pudding for desert a no lose situation we are talking here.
(5)Rochelle S.
Barolo has one of the best happy hours I have found downtown. Not only is it phenomenally priced, but the food is fantastic. Did I mention the ambiance and the staff? The main dining room is decadent and classy -- the kind of place you go to impress a date or entertain a large group for a special occasion. If you're meeting friends and don't mind the casualness of the bar -- it's a frenetic, but wise choice. Carly, my server was a gem. As someone who knows what it's like to work the service industry, I admired her personable disposition, calm, and attention to detail. Despite the cubicle-dwellers that descended in droves at the end of the workday, she never skipped a beat. A+ service that would bring me back, even if the food was terrible. Which it most definitely is not. Check out the grilled caesar salad. You can thank me later...
(4)Nathan B.
We have been meaning to try Barolo after hearing so many great things about it. Unfortunately, it's outside of our normal stomping grounds and we never remembered it when trying new happy hours. Lucky for us, we went last night for happy hour and got blown away. While it is fairly small, they make do with a fair amount of seating. We took the white couch/chairs facing each other and settled in. The happy hour is great - half off food items, $3.50 wine, $3.00 drafts - totally reminded me of List in Belltown. Then I found out it's the same owners as List.... When you have a perfect formula, why change it? The food menus have some similar ties, but Barolo definitely takes on the Italian Ristorante style. As we sipped our drinks (draft Peroni for me, house white for her!) and enjoyed the bread with olive spread, we selected the cheese platter and ahi tuna carpaccio to get started. Both were very good and the tuna was expertly prepared. But we weren't done yet - on to the main courses. She ordered spaghetti with calamari and I got the organic hangar steak with Barolo sauce. I didn't try the spaghetti, but it looked good. The steak though, was phenomenal. It was cooked to medium-rare perfection and covered in a delicious sauce with hints of spice. The staff was fantastic as well, especially the hostess. She was so friendly and even share the secret to their beautiful dripping candles (don't worry, I'll never tell!!) Definitely a place that we will be returning to in the future! The Varchetta family nailed it again!
(5)James F.
4.5. I've come after work twice, and late night once - all of which were during their happy hour. Happy hour food is delicious (I've tried about half the menu), and for half off, which is very reasonably priced - you can see the prices online. Also, $3 beer on tap during happy our. Nice atmosphere/scene too, full of downtown types that come here after work. I haven't eaten here for dinner, so I can't comment on that food or the value when full price.
(5)Bonny S.
All about the happy hour for this place. Can't beat the prices. We ordered, listed from best dishes first: 1. Tuna Tartare 2. Lamb burger 3. Pound of mussels 4. Grilled octopus with garbanzo beans ***And an entire bottle of wine, Chianti*** All for $42 BUCKS! (not including the tip) Food is just so-so but for those prices, I'd go again in a heartbeat. Ambiance: Dark, romantic, loud...at least at the bar area.
(3)Dae Y.
really, really good wine we ordered. and i'm not a wine guy by any means. and the dungeness crab spaghetti i ordered was excellent too. and the lamb chops i got a taste of were excellent too. the place is beautiful inside. really nice decor. we sat at the big communal table. service was very good. and i originally started with 4 stars, but now i'm leaning more towards 5 stars. everything about the evening was fun, and the food and wine were excellent too...
(4)Rrr V.
Host/ess: 3.0 Wait person: 3.5 Food-taste, presentation: 4.0 Property-ambiance, style, decor: 4.0 Two happy hours; 3 and 9 pm. The lamb burger is so savory and flavorful and absolutely delightful that tables around you who didn't order it or haven't tried it would kill for it.
(4)Sally W.
Ohhh MY GOSHHHH!!!!! This spot is so good, I can't even begin to explain. Just thinking about their food makes my mouth water! Their grilled Caesar salad is PERFECTION and don't even get my started on their rigatoni. I literally wax my plate off with the complimentary bread they offer. I've tried their lamb burger.. and let me tell you, I used to HATE LAMB, but they slowly have begun to change my mind about it. That burger is so so good! I've only been here for happy hour and their prices are PHENOMENAL. The only complaint I have is sometimes the music can be a little too loud.. But other than that, AMAZING! One time me and my boyfriend came for happy hour and the bar was full, so the manager allowed us to sit in the regular dining area and personally seated us himself! That is superb customer service. Check out their happy hour, it is soooooo good!!!!! Cheers! :)
(5)Sean M.
I love this place. I used to come here constantly when I worked within a couple of blocks (~2 years ago). Went in today for happy hour and have since wondered why I stopped frequenting! I should mention I've only ever been here for happy hour as the regular dining prices are pretty much out of my grasp (20s-30s of $ per entree, I believe). I was happy to see that the hh menu has changed very minimally, aside from the disappearance of the super-delicious warm baby octopus :( I think I've experienced everything on the hh menu, and it is all terrific! Today I went with an old standard order of mine: lamb burger and fried calamari. Lamb burger was the most tender and delicious compared to lamb burgers I've had at other places (I don't typically enjoy lamb in most forms, but this thing is SO good). Calamari is super-fresh and (again) better than I've had anywhere else! Clientele is generally the pretentious yuppie type, and the service can at times be less than ideal. As long as I can get the consistent superb quality of food at great hh prices (drinks too), I couldn't give a rat's ass about the extraneous details! I love it. I'll keep going back.
(5)Sonya L.
I went here with my coworkers for our annual Christmas staff lunch. I was very much looking forward to it because I'd never been here before. It was quite good and it generally met my expectations. I had the Duetto, where I chose the grilled Caesar salad and the lentil, spelt, and spinach soup. The Caesar was to DIE for. It was likely the best salad I have ever eaten. The lettuce was crisp and delicious and the dressing was amazing. I'm not sure what exactly was in it that made it taste so well, but it was fantastic. The soup was also quite delicious and surprisingly filling. Our waitress was friendly and prompt. It did take a bit of time for our food to arrive, but it wasn't too noticeably long. The restaurant also seemed to have no problem with us spending a long time opening presents after our lunch - even though there were clearly people waiting for a table. It was nice that they accommodated that. There were a few downsides to our otherwise good lunch: 1) The noise level inside the restaurant is quite high. It was really difficult to hear everyone speaking, especially since the booth we sat in faced outward into the room. 2) Also, for me...the prices are a bit horrifying. I did not pay for this meal, but I'm not sure I could easily afford going back here for anything but lunch. The lunch prices aren't terrible, but the evening prices are very very high. 3) Parking is also a pain in the ass. You'll have to pay to park in a garage because there's no way you'll find available street parking.
(4)Jerome B.
I went to Barolo with some college friends during the first night of Seattle's Restaurant Week. Driving up to the restaurant, I see that parking was only street parking--but what do you expect, it's downtown Seattle. However, Barolo did offer a valet service. I wasn't really wanting to pay for valet, so I decided to look around for parking. I guess I was super lucky, because there was ONE parallel parking spot right across the restaurant. I win! I go in, and I am in love with the restaurant decoration. Very chic and romantic. Candle lit with flowy curtains, which actually made the restaurant look bigger than it actually was. For restaurant week, the special was 3 courses (appetizer, entree, and dessert) for $25, not bad! For my appetizer, I had a smoked Salmon with Vegetable Soup with cream. This soup was DELICIOUS. It wasn't too creamy or too seafoody (you know that strong seafood taste that's kind of unbearable). I found myself really sad once I finished the bowl, hahahah! For my entree I got the white wine spaghetti with sauteed calamari and capers. This was soo good as well. I really enjoyed the flavor, as it wasn't too rich. I usually don't like calamari unless it's deep fried, but this sauteed calamari tasted lovely! For my dessert I got a chocolate tortino. OH MY GOD, this dessert was so scrumptious. It's basically this warm chocolate cake with this chocolate liquid substance inside. It was soo chocolately but not too rich (if that makes sense). It tasted just right, and I was more than impressed. The service was pretty good, but I was thirsty throughout the dinner. The waiter seemed to be the one that was supposed to bring out a glass bottle full of water (as many other tables seemed to have), but I guess our waiter forgot. Anyhow, I was soo thirsty during my entree. However, the food DEFINITELY made up for it. I could have easily asked the waiter for a more water, but I guess I was just excited to have great food with great company! Go here, It's worth it!!
(5)Eric M.
Barolo is like a little bit of South Beach/Miami right here in Seattle. The fancy cars outside, the beautiful people at the bar, the night club soundtrack pulsating in the background, the bit of an attitude by the patrons and the staff. I get the feeling I'm being "sized up" when I check in for my reservation, as if being a regular customer and showing up on time for my reservation may not cut it in the world of Barolo and the calculus of who gets seated where, and when. So far I have made the cut and gotten pretty good results, meaning a window booth, but who knows how long that will last. It helps if you know one of the owners who are usually floating around and keep a good eye on things. The food is very well prepared and served in good sized portions. The prices are not cheap as a result. Some of my favorites are the grilled romaine salad, sea bass, crab pasta and mushroom/truffle ravioli. The sea bass is a generous portion and never disappoints. The truffle ravioli is usually best ordered as a appetizer and it should be savored slowly. The wine list is chock-full of mysterious Italian wines I have never heard of, or tasted. Overall the servers are well versed in the wine list and do a good job of steering you where you need to be in your price range. I frequent Barolo's sister restaurant "Mama Melina" more than I do Barolo, but it's a great place to come to see and be seen.
(4)Alexandra P.
Loved this place! I went here with my cousin for the happy hour and it was amazing. Very classy, small bar area for an initimate setting...you really get to talk and connect to the person you are with here. Lots to choose from on the happy hour menu, reasonable prices for great food! I was honestly shocked when I got the bill, for a good night out, especially if you're looking for a romantic one, this is the place to be! Everything about this place is great, I'm looking forward to going here with my hunny!
(4)Amber W.
Happiest Hour Ever! 7 days a week, the whole menu's 1/2 price, twice a day. It's brilliant! Why? Because it's happy hour price w/o happy hour portions. The organic lamb burger was a giant and $6 and the best burger I have ever had? ... pretty much. It comes with a salad as well. They have one of the loveliest antipasto plates and the carpaccio delish! Spicy ravioli was spicy (imagine!) and a winner. They have nice wines on special too and the staff has always been friendly. Did I mention 7 days a week? Best way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I don't know how you could walk away from here and be disappointed. We had a burger, ravioli, antipasto and 4 glasses of wine for 37 dollars. I think that's all that need be said.
(5)Stephan J.
Looking for a killer happy hour with half off appetizers and drinks? Well this is your place! The atmosphere and service is great. They have a ton of small plate/appetizers, which are very shareable for a group. They feature three wines (white, red, and rose) at half off and they aren't the typical inexpensive 14 Hands type wines. I am told that dinner is great there too, but we did the happy hour only this visit.
(5)tristen l.
best happy hour in town! great food, atmosphere, and a personable crowd. you expect something different in each place you attend to and this establishment serves it purpose as it should. good looking people, good looking plates, and a non crunchy refreshing feel that is uncommon in seattle. job well done. below is a chart of how the yelp rating system works. i think everyone should know how tough it is to be a five star company. 95% and up = 5 stars 85% - 94.9% = 4 and a half stars 75% - 84.9% = 4 stars 65% - 74.9% = 3 and a half stars anything less, useless example: 20-5 stars 5-4 stars 3-2 stars 4-1 stars 124 `/, 150 = .826 (4 star)
(5)Jesse O.
Never eaten here for a full couse, only happy hour. Wicked happy hour. And I'm all about happy hours. Beers $3, an excellent Buffalo burger (con fries) for $5 served by a super cute girl. Add tax and tip (double the tip remember on happy hour) and you're out the door for $13-$14. My only complaint is that the tables in the bar area are right next to each other. Oh, and I nearly forgot. They have the BEST paper towels in the bathroom. They're not your garden variety metal bin type, but rather very thick and soft. Seriously, they are awesome.
(5)Jina H.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND DINNER AT BAROLO. To start, the hostess was rude and uninviting. She should be fired. Our waiter got the drink order wrong, Instead of dirty martinis, we received dry martinis. For dinner, I ordered the $35 lobster risotto. My waiter presented me with a plate of pleasant, yet oily looking risotto garnished with empty lobster tail shell on the sides and about four bites of lobster meat on top. I could see TINY bits of lobster throughout the risotto but I believe the lobster flavor was lent mostly through the use of lobster bullion, which is not unheard of, but the dish was very salty, this being relayed by a salt LOVER. I was quite angry to pay $35 for four bites of lobster and salty risotto. My friend ordered a $19 pasta dish which included spaghetti, shrimp, arugula and in a mildly spicy sauce. Her dish was mediocre; nothing either of us would order again as we could have easily made it better at home for $7. I will not return to Barolo for dinner service. I hear their happy hour is great and our waiter, though a little too talkative and amiss on the drinks, was OUTSTANDING in the way of attentiveness and personality. The décor is very nice. Also, they take discover, which I love as few small restaurants takes discover!
(2)Joan C.
I came here for drinks only (twice) so I couldn't tell you about the food. Oh wait! I had dessert!! But it was clearly not terribly memorable. Oops. I hear the lamb carpaccio is amazing? The first time I had drinks here, some Asian girl at the table next to ours passed out face first into her friend's lap. I was like, wtf?? Who gets trashed at a wine bar?? The second time I had drinks here, some Heidi Montag wannabe was shooting me dirty looks the entire time bc I happened to be standing next to "her boy" at the bar, trying to order a drink from the bartender. Man. Is this the norm for Seattle??
(3)Tyler J.
Time for an update! I planned a large party for a birthday at Barolo last night. I came with high expectations and all were met except for one, important detail that you should all be aware of when making a large group reservation here. Please make sure the reservation agent (in my case, the manager) gives enough time between your reservation and the table before yours. We were given a reservation time of 9:15. Not my suggested time, theirs. We did not get sat until 10:00pm. If you have been to Barolo you know that there is NO standing room just to wait and our group of 14 had to leave the restaurant to have a drink across the street. Other than that, the service was fabulous. The food was excellent with our prefix menu that helped expedite an already late evening. It would have been a 5 star evening but eating your entree at 10:45pm can leave a bitter after taste, no matter how wonderful the experience is.
(4)Tiffany S.
I had read the mixed reviews and was hesitant when someone suggested it for Happy Hour, but gave it a shot wondering if it would be more 5 star than two. Really, all was going well, until the server took away a co-worker's glass of wine that still had a couple of sips in it. She turned around, and it was gone. When she asked where it had gone, the server insisted it had been empty when my co-worker swears it was not. Even if it had been, and my co-worker was deranged (which she is not) wouldn't you just give her a new glass and a refill for the sake of service? Uh...no. On top of that, we were asked to move or make room for other people at least three times, even though we were paying for food and drinks! What is their problem??? We were 5 relatively attractive girls spending money, and they have the nerve to tell us to move? Never have I been treated like that. Well, you can be assured we won't be back.
(2)Rachael L.
It's Dine Around Seattle time!! That means a 3 course meal for $30 and we couldn't get to Barolo fast enough! We typically order one of everything so that we can get a good idea of what they're offering. Last night included: butternut squash soup (a little too thin for my taste) octopus salad (amazing, thinly sliced octopus with olives and peppers, plenty of acidity and bite) buffalo carpaccio (my favorite of the apps - smooth, smoked buffalo with parmesan and tomatoes). We couldn't bring ourselves to order anything but lamb and wild boar for the entrees. Everyone was licking their plates!! The lamb is off the bone and is so tender we didn't need a knife! The sauce with the boar was tangy and a real treat. Desserts were less amazing, but we were still raving about the lamb and boar, so we didn't really care. Most notably, the desserts are tiny, and the cannoli shell was overdone. The decor is awesome. Drippy candle holders and sheer gauzy curtains. I dislike the plastic chairs (for those not important enough for a booth). The large "family-style" table is interesting, and it would be fun to get a large party together. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and recommend a great (and affordable) wine. Always appreciate the budget-friendly wine! Mmmmmm. Put this place on your list!!
(5)Ian B.
My Family celebrates every major event (and some not so major) at Barolo's. Friendly service, fun & vibrant atmosphere coupled with stunning food. (Pheasant Gnocci is a Fav!) They are not cheap (outside of their reasonable happy hour) but you get what you pay for. Truly an stunning dinning experience outside of Millan or Rome.
(5)Dena P.
I have been to Barolo a few times now and have decided that I will give it four stars. I've tried a few things off of their happy hour menu, but my favorite is the red wine and the steak. They definitely go very well together! The bar area gets very packed during happy hour, so I would suggest going early. If you ask politely, you may be able to sit in the restaurant area during happy hour (this worked for my girlfriends and me)! Great price for happy hour and a nice variety. This is a great place to meet after work, or have a nice romantic dinner with your honey!
(4)Justin B.
So, the next time I feel like drowning in glorious calamari and red wine for a surprisingly affordable price, I'm going to fly back to Seattle and sit my ass at Barolo's happy hour. (Better get there early to get a seat) I would love to get the chance to try some of their more pricey wines as well. They have a nice selection of Italian reds and probably others but the batteries ran out of my night vision goggles so I couldn't read the rest of the wine list...
(4)Tina P.
This place is fantastic for happy hour! It's the place I always think about for a late night stop. Can't beat $14 bottles of wine and half off a huge menu including a lamb burger, hanger steak, salads, seafood, cheese plate, and much more. All of these items under $7 during HH times (3-6:30 pm and 10-close). I may have lucked out with service here since it sounds like a few have had sub par experiences. But every server I have encountered has been polite, attentive, and quick. One thing that is kind of funny though, is that they don't seem to communicate well with the busser. Last time I was there, he kept taking our silverware. So when each dish came out... our server was confused and had to bring us more. The best part is when the bar is full, they sit you in the dining area and still let you order off the happy hour menu!
(4)Eric A.
Managed to snag a table on a fairly busy Thursday night. Beautiful decor, love the candles! Got a very good recommendation for an Italian red (meritage) which really made the dinner - just wish I could remember the name. We both had raviolis that were delicious.. All in all, a very solid meal/experience.. I'll definitely go back.
(4)Tell It Like It Is K.
I went to Barolo last year and it was the best italian food I have had since I was in Rome. Everything we tried was delicious! We tried the Gnocchi al Fagiano, the Fettuccine al Ragú di Coniglio, and a wild boar dish that were amazing. The cocktails are also very tasty and well made and the service is great. I will be going to this restaurant every time I visit Seattle!
(5)Brady K.
I think it's always good business to be friendly, even when it's sending business to competitors. When we arrived at 12:45am the bar was in full swing but the kitchen was closed at Barolo Ristorante. While we didn't try anything on the delicious looking menu, the host gets stars for sending us to Palace Kitchen for a rocking burger. 3.5 * stars
(4)Vee V.
Can't beat the happy hour deals!! well if you go to List..then it ties it!! Come and get it!!!!
(5)Lissa M.
The food was fantastic. I had tuna tartare, gnocchi, and a teensy chocolate cake for my "Dine Around Seattle" $15 lunch. The wine came in a little carafe, so we could split it and not feel too decadent drinking at noon on a weekday. What's more important these days, they didn't bat an eye when I showed up with 4-month-old twins. They even brought water for the formula.
(5)M K.
I LOVE their happy hour. Great menu, great prices, and great food quality, AND $14 bottles of wine! I've never been disappointed with food or drink. Service, though, leaves something to be desired. It is often crowded (as great happy-hour joints are, understandably), and the cocktailers are decent though a over-extended (inattentive). The bar is where the biggest downfalls are. To sit at a bar should equate to somewhat attentive service, but above all, a welcoming personality. I've sat at the bar and in the lounge countless times and I've never felt very welcome, appreciated, or tolerated. In the lounge I feel rushed or looked over, even though when we go out to happy hour we GO OUT, we order more food and drink than we would generally, and we tip exceptionally well due to the reduced prices (we've all worked in the industry, so I understand the impact of discounted food and drink). I've never felt inclined to tip any more than the usual 18%, and at the bar I've actually tipped (gasp!) 15%... and that is bad news! I've never felt more invisible, more inconvenient, or more intolerable than sitting at Barolo's bar. I'm a girl, so I understand lady bartenders are less inclined to focus on me than their male clientele, but listen, I've been there... and I tip! Just because you can't pretend you want to sleep with me doesn't mean that I won't give you an easy 22-25% on my bill. I've never felt more unwelcome or wanted to finish my bottle of wine so fast that I've left half glasses in a rush to leave and go to a place my business was appreciated. They're all attractive people, but they could use a personality lift.
(3)Carlie B.
Barolo is a downtown restaraunt. I feel like i could stop this review there, but I'll give them a little more credit. The staff is always on top of it and super friendly, and the food is always good. The scene is great for happy hour if you like to people watch and pretend you're in LA. The prices are unbeatable! Today I had a lamb burger with delicious steak fries and a glass of drinkable rose for $10. The burger I ordered rare and there wasn't a bit of pink inside, but REALLY, that's what I expected.
(3)Chris E.
Fabulous! As first-time patrons we had a great experience. Wonderful food, great wine and cocktail menu, lovely metro environment. The service was very good although our server was a bit too flashy and "fake." A reservation is probably a good idea. We would definitely eat here again.
(4)Jessica K.
Came to Barolo for the first time on Friday with my boyfriend. He didn't think we'd have any luck sitting in the bar, but we did. :) I started with a Goose Dirty 'Tini, made by Adam, and it was fantastic. :) For dinner, I ordered the spaghetti with some spicy, garlicly tomato sauce, topped with big sections of yummy crab. Delish! My beau had the Top Sirloin (I believe), and he commented on how perfectly it was cooked for him (medium-rare), and how tasty it was. So, GREAT MEALS. :) Adam is a super bartender, so try to snag him to make you a drink, if you can. Oh, and the decor is pretty snaz. :) I'll be back!
(4)Mandy R.
Ah, man. i really REALLY wanted to love this place. After all, EVERYBODY I've spoken with has had only great things to say about it. The staff was super nice and attentive... and the ambiance INSIDE the restaurant is so cool -- love the old chandeliers, and the candelabras everywhere... almost spooky-romantic-phantomoftheopera-style... UNFORTUNATELY, it is located in the ugliest block in the city. you stare out the huge picture windows at either a) the McDonald's (and bums surrounding it) on Westlake, or b) the Westin Parking Garage... it's such a shame, because the place is so cute. it's just in a terrible spot. the food was decent, but again, WAY TOO MUCH oil. my noodles were coated in butter. i actually had to stop eating half way through because it was just too much. and i had an upset stomach the rest of the night. The following day, i took out my 'to go' box i had brought home (hoping that perhaps the next day my stomach would be able to handle the rich foods--silly me), and the butter had gelled into a paste and i couldn't believe how much was actually in the dish--i threw it out immediately! everyone else in my party finished their plates (and could have eaten more, they said) with rave reviews, which is why i can't write it off after one go. But next time, i will request a seat that is not illuminated with the neon yellow lights of the Mickey-Dees.
(3)Shannon L.
I LOVE this restaurant! I had heard so many good things about this place so my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. Well I'm glad we did because our food was amazing as well as our server Max!!!! We started with the veal carpaccio and the grilled calamari. The carpaccio was so delicate and when paired with the arugala salad it was a party in my mouth. The calamari was cooked perfectly so there was no rubbery texture to it (which happens a lot when the chef's cook it too long)! Our main courses were just as amazing, I had the scallop dish and he had the Truffle, mushroom tortalloni. We ate almost ALL of our food because it was sooooo good. I should also mention their grilled romaine is to die for as well! I loved it so much I took my mom and some girlfriends back the following week! The food yet again was AWESOME! The only downside I can think of is that it a bit noisy (but I don't mind because so am I :) ). I have now recommend this restaurant to all my friends and family! It's my new it sport if I'm craving Italian!
(4)Amy B.
Its 30 for $30 or "Dine Around Seattle" time and I was able to check Barolo out for lunch. All in all - we loved it. They were kind and accommodating even though we came to lunch with five people - two of which are four months old. They put us at a huge table and totally sweet when we needed some warm water for formula. The food in a word was ... fantastic. I started with tuna tartar which was exquisite, had rigatoni with smoked salmon, and finished with a flourless chocolate cake which can only be described as a gift form heaven. We loved the chill yet sophisticated atmosphere and the fabulous happy hour menu which I can't wait to go back and try.
(4)Rebecca H.
Had a great dinner here. Conveniently located across the street from the Westin. I would definitely return. Really loved the atmosphere. Had Veal something was good. Hubby had steak and his was fabulous! I think i will have their steak next time. Drinks were really great- Martinis Blueberry Pomegranate?? Anyway made for a fun date night!!
(4)Vivian N.
Sexy, modern, happenin'. Pretty much the three main words I'd use to describe Barolo. My friend and I dined here on a Tuesday evening for the 30 for $30, and it's a good thing we made reservations because Barolo was as packed as Belltown establishments are on a Friday night! I started off with the insalata -- ripe tomatoes with Gorgonzola. I can't resist fresh, stinky cheese. The Dungeness crab risotto followed as a main, and while it was exquisite, I've had more flavorful risotto elsewhere around town. I thought the chocolate tortino was wonderful, but I wish it had been bigger than the size of my thumb. Although our waitress was decent, I have to knock off a few stars because several servers kept bumping into my chair. We were sitting by an area for employees, so I understand that there's a high volume of traffic in the area. I even scooted super close to the table -- with my ass firmly planted in the seat -- in order to avoid collisions. But c'mon. After four, what, five bumps? And no apologies? What kind of courteous professionalism is that? In short, it's kind of hard to be ladylike and drink wine when servers keep bumping into your chair. Thankfully I wasn't drinking a red.
(3)Minh V.
This use to be my second home when I lived in Seattle. The food and staff are amazing and you can't beat the happy hour here hands down. 1/2 off the menu and $14 for a bottle of wine - for get about it...
(4)Katie A.
Easily one of the BEST Happy Hours in Seattle! Super duper 1/2 priced food menu, featuring a tasty Grilled Caesar Salad, a boat load of Calamari (with two dipping sauces!) and cheese plate, an Octopus Salad, and a few other delicious items that escape me a the moment. House wine is $3.50 a glass, beers at $3. Lovely sophisticated atmosphere with great lighting makes you feel like you're a high rolle, even if you're not. NOTE: HH is ONLY available in the bar. It gets pretty crowded in there pretty quickly. It's from 3- 6:30pm, and 10- close.
(5)E M.
came in for dinner after the show, and our waiter was hilarious. i had the halibut special. i think saturday night is cougar date night.
(4)Kelly D.
Reasons why you absolutely have to go to Barolo at least once in your life if not once a week: - Homemade pasta and locally raised meat - Sexy ambiance - Unpretentious people and a VERY nice owner - The food is to die for!!!! When to go: Lunch time is when you'll spot the Nordstrom execs dining and its also a great place to impress a date or meet a coworker for happy hour. The best time to go is during Dine Around Seattle (March and November) when you can get a three course prix fixe dinner($30) or lunch ($15.)
(5)Michael E.
Standard I'd say. You have to go cause it's there I just think there is so many more exiting spots to hit. Seems like Italian is quite the rage jest now and I think I'd prefer the venture up to the hill for some of that. But, if you're downtown, and it's lunch, or a 3-30 deal... Ok, Barolo, I get you.
(3)Anne B.
I love HH at Barolo, if you can get a spot in the bar. However, I am not that impressed when I have eaten in the dining room.
(4)Crystal P.
I went to Barolo last night to experience the Restaurant Week menu. I was super excited after reading all the great reviews on Yelp and seeing the chic/hip decor on their website. After entering the front door, I was surprised at how small the restaurant actually is...however, this is definitely not a negative. I think the size gives it an intimate/romantic feel. Like the website, the decor and setup is very trendy, reminds me a lot of LA. Being from LA, I've noticed Seattle folks don't put a huge focus on fashion/outter appearances so it was nice to see other patrons nicely dressed. The service was awesome, the hostess, waitress and water/bus boy were all extremely accommodating and provided excellent service. I never wanted for anything, my water glass was always full, and our waitress came in a timely manner to ask if I wanted another beverage. The downside was the meal. The frittata was decent but the way it was presented made me feel like they made a gigantic batch and when the time came they would cut a square, place it on your plate and warm it up before serving it to you. The main course, homemade pasta with lobster in a cream sauce was such a letdown. The lobster was extremely OVER salted. Since that was the main component it affected the entire dish. I hadn't eaten anything since 1pm so out of starvation I ate my meal. I sure did pay the price...within an hour after dinner my stomach was in extreme pain. I didn't feel well until nearly 2pm the next day. I would have to say the best part of my meal was my cocktail but I've definitely had more innovative drinks. I want to give Barolo another chance but after the stomach pain and underwhelming meal I'm not sure I can do it. Having a large amount of 4 and 5 stars, maybe I need to attribute my sad meal to Restaurant Week...but is that a legit excuse? Who knows?
(3)Chrissy F.
Excellence and elegance in food, service, and atmosphere, all within a comfortable reach... that's what you'll find at Barolo. Whether lunch or for dinner, you will be in for a treat here. On each table, a drippy white candle or two illuminating your surroundings, which include a chandelier, a floor to ceiling wine rack (full of impressive and TASTY house wines). A knowledgeable staff can explain ingredients or how flavors are intended to be combined to work well together, very helpful. I've had a variety of appetizers, the home made ravioli (which I think changes daily), hangar steak, veal, salads, and each consciously consumed bite, it's as if time stands still. I've also enjoyed deserts shared, and there's one with a baked pear with honey and lavender ice cream I think... it's fantastic. They have inexpensive lunch and dinner options so even the most frugal diner can enjoy an experience. Each time I've been, I've been served complimentary sparkling water which is a welcomed, elegant touch. Once in a while, when you're feeling like splurging, this is one place to go all out and enjoy a fine glass of wine, an appetizer, main course, and dessert, and look forward to coming back and trying more of their fabulously fresh menu. The best part? You can dress up in your snazziest duds or walk in in jeans and a sweater and feel perfectly welcomed, comfortable, and ready to feast.
(4)Laura P.
Damn Barolo. I wanted to hate them. The thought of eating there made me feel like that commercial with the "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" tag line. Pretty people. Fancy decor. Trendy music. Bah. With every bite I loved them a little bit more. Lightly sauteed calamari with a lemony sauce thickened with pureed white beans. Creamy burrata with grape tomatoes and arugula. Slightly sweet fennel and bitter green with a white truffle dressing. Pillow soft gnocchi and a homemade tortelloni with porcini and a leek sauce so good that I was cursing them at the end. Of course, their tiramisu was quite nice. They serve it in a cocktail glass, which is good because the lady fingers were a bit liquid but oh so divine. Note: if you ask nicely, they'll even do half portions of the pasta. It would be a grave mistake to do a half portion on the porcini tortelloni. It is wicked good.
(4)Ri B.
Had lunch here as a part of the Dine around Seattle. Good soup, Nice pasta & salmon, Great dessert. Like their wine collection. House wines were good too. The decor is nice, services was great. So why the three stars? Expected more given the price, though as a par of the dine around Seattle package the price was fine.
(3)Milton L.
There is something about dining on a marble table - it probably makes the food tastier and everyone around the table more attractive. What a beautiful and cosy restaurant! I would think it's probably a good place to bring a date. The food is very good too. I enjoy many of their pasta dishes. The dessert is their weakness perhaps. They are not terrible actually, just not very inspiring that's all. All in all a very nice place to be nonetheless! And really, the $15 Dine around Seattle lunch deal is hard to beat in terms on value.
(4)Owlburt L.
Only been here for Happy Hour but it is excellent. Love their mussels and their $14 bottle of wine. Also great are the lamb burgers. Not sure if I'll come here for dinner but their Happy Hour is one of the best around. The happy hour crowd seems young but the dinner crowd seems a little older and more conservative. Nice decor and good service. A must try for Happy Hour.
(4)Chris O.
stumbled upon this gem, and became obsessed. great food but even better service.
(4)anthony c.
Great experience once again, we just love Barolo! We had octopus salad, rack of lamb and bred pudding, all excellent. Wonderful atmosphere as usual. A little too busy for a weeknight but that comes with success I guess
(5)Neil S.
Great happy hour, solid wine list. Don't miss the lamb burger. Whether for a quick nosh or a sit-down dinner, multiple trips here have proven it to be a staple for starting a night on the town.
(4)Veronica C.
I went there for my 2 year anniversary dinner. I like how they print our names on top of the menu. The grilled cesar salad is a must try! Their pasta is good, nice atmosphere and friendly staff!
(4)Jimmy W.
went here for happy hour the other day with friends. For happy hour (3-6:30pm) the bar food menu is half off. The Grilled calamari is really good...we ordered several of these. The hangar steak was pretty good too...got a few of these as well. Mussels and tuna tartare were alright too. The atmosphere is really nice as are the bartenders and servers. Also it's not too noisy, so you can have a nice conversation. I'd go back just for the calamari which was the biggest hit for our group.
(4)vi a.
Romance is the word best use when asked to describe the atmosphere of this restaurant. Some of you may wonder, why? Well, once you walk in, you will sense a different feeling. It is a good feel like you step into a wonderland. Whoever designed the interior, did a great job. Each table is candle lit, several gorgeous chandeliers give the dining area and bathrooms the elegant and romantic feel. Also, the noise level is fairly low. Besides its beauty, they have a well priced menu. Their food are phenominal and are well plated. Every time we dine in, their customer service has been excellent. Since we like this place so much, we chose this place for my dad's birthday dinner. We had a good meal and it was definitely worth spending $200 (not including tip) for the four of us. Anyway, want to know what else I think about this place? I believe this place is proposal ready. Gentlemen, if you are ready to settle down, take your love one to this place for dinner and pop the question. Both of you will have a fantastic and memorable time. Lastly, Barolo is great for dinner rehearsals, birthdays and family gathering. (FYI: follow the dress code)
(5)G P.
Decent food, and great atmosphere - good for a date night perhaps!
(4)Farah F.
Okay, so I came here for Happy Hour with some friends after 10pm on a Friday. I wasn't too much in the mood to drink, but I was in the mood for some good food, small portions of course with it being 10pm and all. I ordered the escargot, my friend got the eggplant lasagna and another friend got the cheese plate. I thought the food was good, but not great. I love escargot, and this dish was okay, the eggplant thing was also just okay, but the cheese plate was definitely my favorite. They also have us bread with olive tapenade, and although I liked the tapenade, the bread was a little tough. So halfway through the meal, I thought, why not get a cocktail? Aaaaaand here's why: everything is about 10 bucks per pop. For cocktails. During happy hour. Eh? What's up with that? the wine prices were reasonable for happy hour, but seriously, 10 dollar cocktails? I might come back and give this place another shot, since the food was actually not bad at all, and maybe I'll like it better than, but for now I'll give it a 3.
(3)Kiki S.
Very pretty, despite the bijou size. The food was delicious, fresh, and expertly prepared, though the portion sizes flashed me back to nouvelle cuisine -- luckily we were not too hungry. :-) Professional and personable wait staff. We will be back! Happy hour sounds good.
(4)Amanda C.
I just moved back Downtown, and I almost forgot how awesome Barolo's happy hour is. It's the best in Seattle by far. Half off of the bar menu, and amazing house wine-it doesn't get much better than that. Try the hanger steak and the fried calamari. Then check them out for dinner. It's super trendy and may border on the pretentious side, but it's no big deal, this place is great.
(4)Sarah C.
*Happy Hour* review only Went to Barolo last night with a few girl friends- The bar area (HH only section) was jam packed. We know the drill, first come, first serve. We were able to snag a few stools in the back. Tight quarters but for 50% off bar menu, we made it work. Aside from the limiting seating- the food was SUPERB, esp. for the price! -Tuna tartare (lovedddd) -Bay scallops -Hanger steak -baby octopus -$3.50 wine glass/ $14 bottle (awesome) -The presentation of the plates were all there too. Love that extra effort! notes: parking in downtown is always a b-word, looks like its super busy all the time- so expect that you might not get comfortable seating. Other reviews said the service sucked, but although it was crazy busy we received attentive service from our waitress. And the manager even stopped by a couple times.
(5)Adela J.
Really had a wonderful dinner here. Great server, great food.
(4)Christy H.
Great food. Overly priced. Warm atmosphere. Great for dates :o)
(5)Adin C.
Fantastic service, delicious food, particularly the hanger steak and rigatoni, super cheesy late 90s Euro crowd and lounge music, beautiful room, crazy busy, and amazing late night happy hour on food and bottles of wine, if you can find a seat.
(4)Mindy S.
Great Happy Hour! I went here after searching on Yelp for a good happy hour and you Yelpers did not lie. I got there a little after 5pm and the bar and outside bar seating was full so I did have to wait about 10 minutes for a table to clear which did not bother me a bit. We then ordered food and I had the Veal carpaccio with arugola salad and truffle mélange... Yummm let me just tell you. My Friend had the Ahi Tuna carpaccio and she was having a good time also. We each took advantage of the House wine for $3.50 a glass and got out of there for under $25 each for our night. I would definitely go back again.
(4)Hal B.
Lots of goodness here. The Grilled Romaine Caeser salad was very good, with a light dressing rather than the heavy commercial Caesers that have become endemic. My Fettucine with Rabbit Meat was excellent. However my mother's Copper River Salmon was unevenly cooked. Other dishes were good to very good. The restaurant is unbelievably noisy. So noisy that we gave up trying to talk across the table and only talked to the person sitting to either side. That was decidedly not the intent of our visit which was somewhat of a family reunion. So, for example, I can't report on how my cousin liked her dish because I couldn't hear what she was saying across the table. The noise and poor handling of Salmon loses them a star.
(4)Grant P.
This restaurant is just ok. I was pretty underwhelmed by what I ended up ordering. Granted I did go on Valentines Day, which was probably my first mistake, but for the price I ended up paying the food should have been much better. The other thing that was a bit annoying was the music playing throughout the restaurant. It was this super annoying club-trance music. It really didn't fit. I don't think I would go back. It didn't leave a good taste in my mouth.
(3)Tracy L.
The food is wonderful but they need adult supervision at the hostess/host level. It's hard to get a seat for happy hour so you have to promise your first born to get a table that you promise to vacate by 6PM when the dinner crowd comes in. They need to accommodate the happy hour crowd they want to attract without having to talk your way into a seat beyond the bar.
(3)Paul M.
How to start... this place is incredible! The food is so good. I could come here anytime with anyone. Their Happy Hour is superb as they discount both alcohol and drinks. You can get a glass of wine for $3.50 or a draft beer for $3. Such a steal. A bottle of wine is only $14!! All apps are half off. They have SO many good options. The portions are on the slightly smaller side, but only compared to other restaurants. These portions I think are the perfect size. Loved their grilled caesar salad and the grilled calamari blew my mind last time I was there! The atmosphere in this place is also really unique as every time I'm in there I almost feel as if I was in a swanky New York City lounge and not Seattle. The staff is almost always helpful although usually it's pretty busy. It can be difficult to get into their regular happy hour during the afternoon but late night on a sporadic weeknight usually isn't a problem. They have a great decor with a black/white theme and candles that drip all over the place. Always a good place to people watch too as some of Seattle's elite business owners hang out here. Highly recommend it!
(5)Ryan M.
The food was amazing....amazing. We started off with the tuna tartare.....it was out of this world. I had the duck special with a fig risotto...quite possibly the most delicious meal ever. My partner had the salmon pasta, which was also delicious. The service was crazy attentive and made us feel like a VIP. Thank you for a great dinner!!!
(5)Daria T.
Went here for a B-Day celebration last weekend. It has a pretty cool atmosphere. We had a reservation and had this little separated table to ourselves which was really nice. We didn't have as many people as we thought we would and this was a big no-no. Seemed to tick off our waitress a bit and service was a little sketchy after that. Food was pretty good. I really enjoyed the bread and tapenade that they brought out before the meal. I had the scallops which were ok... Good but a couple were a little on the gritty side for me. I had bites of the grilled calamari (yummy!) and the gnocchi. Both were tasty. All in all, it is worth stopping in to check out if you want to try something new. Not sure I would go for a special occasion though as the service was spotty.
(3)Tim S.
Went during restraunt week. Blake Lively looking waitress was awesome! Loved the decor and liked how the mirrors made the place look bigger. Nice small poritions. Good clean taste, casual, well priced. Nice wine list good menu choices.
(4)Kandice K.
Yummy! Four people, five dishes, everyone was impressed. One fellow diner declared her fried calamari the "best in Seattle". Why not 5 stars? I'm not sure I'm sold on the decor, and the hostess, though very nice, looked like a hooker and wasn't quite smart enough to keep up with our simple request. But it didn't affect the rest of our experience.
(4)Lisa N.
Hands down one of my favourite happy hours in Seattle. It's super convenient for me to get to from work (thanks, SLUT!) and happy hour lasts until 6:30 so I have plenty of time to mosey on down should I hit traffic-- the only downside of the streetcar sharing, well, the street. $3.50 for a strongly poured glass of wine (rosé, please) or $14 for a whole bottle should be enough to convince you that this place is amazing, but let me just also rave about the $6 happy hour pound of sauteed mussels and the $7 happy hour hanger steak. Does it get any better? I submit that it CAN NOT! The steak is cooked to perfection-- tender and juicy so that you feel like it's kind of a sin to not savour each bite. The pound of mussels can be a bit much, but I highly recommend that you start off sharing that with a couple of other people (or if you're really feeling up for it you can attempt it on your own, but don't blame me for feeling gross later) and move on to other things as well. I wasn't super impressed with the ravioli and the caprese was just so-so, but for the happy hour prices I'd say they're both pretty worth it. I haven't been here for actual dinner, but I imagine it'd be pretty amazing-- the restaurant itself is lovely, dark, and intimate and attracts quite the variety of people (primarily because of the great happy hour) who continue to return because of the great food and awesome service.
(5)Greta D.
My favorite place for HH - despite the crowds. Everything on the HH menu is divine. Inexpensive bottles of house red too. Must must!
(5)liv f.
We got there at 5:30 on Friday...so packed that there was no way we were getting into happy-hour. So we sat for dinner. Decent foofy martini. Not sure what all the fuss about is over the calamari...sort of fishy and odd. I had the sea bass which was good but they over-did with too many things...olives and raisins and pine nuts and greens and garlic... would have been better more simple. But our server was the most memorable. My date thinks he was high. I just thought he was annoying. Tried WAY too hard. Reminded me of Robert Downey Jr in Less Than Zero. I'd go back but only for the happy hour if I could get in.
(3)Tomoko Y.
This is great place to have excellent meal. Especially good lunch place!!! Whenever I go, I am very impress with their quality of food and service. I lived in Italy for 3 years and this is one of the true Italian restaurant in Seattle.
(5)Anita R.
Our favorite Seattle restaurant (used to be SeaStar, but they've gotten way too buttery). The best food we've had here is the bar food, which is a huge bargain at Happy Hour, if you're lucky enough to get a seat. The lamb burger is to die for, with great fries. All the calamari dishes are delicious. The grilled Caesar --- wow! Eggplant parmigiano, mezzaluna, antipasto plate are all lovely. Fast, accurate service. Drawbacks: very crowded and very very noisy. The main restaurant is much more comfortable, with more personal service, but honestly the food takes longer to get and -- while good -- hasn't been as consistently outstanding as the bar food!
(5)Austria G.
Ohh Ba-ro-lo! How much I love thee.. I started my love affair with Barolo Ristorante on my birthday 03/20/2011. I wanted a intimate dinner with my close, true friends. I went to check it out prior and was instantly impressed. The ambiance and over-all vibe undeniably tre tre chic'. There was a long dining table with sheer drapes cascading from the ceiling. I instantly pictured the "Sex and the City" movie scene of when Carrie and Mr. Big had their rehearsal dinner. Very chic', stylish and modern. Recently, I had my New Yorker uber model friend come visit Seattle and I was like, "Where the hell would I take my model gf who is a true New Yorker?" Barolo did not disappoint, and my gf was thinking about the Lobster Risotto I ordered even until the next day. I am glad it knocked her "high-heels" off! (Usually, you would say "knock her SOCKS off" but naturally I substituted heels. In case you didn't get it ;) Many specials thanks to owner, Salvio and General Manager Jason for always taking care of me on my numerous visits since day 1. And Special Thanks to Shannon Glidden for exceptional service.
(5)Jonny H.
My partner and I went to Barolo based off of a recommendation from a colleague. It had a very hip atmosphere and was very modern style. The music in the bar area was loud. We both got the "Dine around Seattle" menu, three course meal for $30.00 (5 out of 5). I had the octopus salad, lamb shank, and chocolate torte. Everything was great (5 out of 5), however, the portions were all very small (3 out of 5). If we had to pay full price I might have been a little upset, but since it was "Dine around Seattle" I felt I got a good deal in a very nice restaurant. My partner had the butternut soup, which was different and unsatisfying (2 out of 5), the spaghetti with scallops, which was great but there was only one scallop sliced (4 out of 5), and the mixed berry pannacotta, which was good (4 out of 5). The service was excellent (5 out of 5). Overall we'll give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
(4)Megan R.
I want to give Barolo more than two stars, I REALLY do - but I just can't. I came once for happy hour a month or two ago. Don't get me wrong, the food on happy hour is amazing. They have a great selection at even better prices. The one thing that made me hesitant to return was the lack of service. It was like we didn't exist. It took the server almost 15 minutes to even initially bring us water and ask us if we wanted anything. I was willing to forgive this, because if you have been to Barolo you know that the bar area during happy hour gets crazy busy and crowded. I thought I would give it another shot - mostly because I wanted to try a full dinner. What better time than during the 30 for 30 promotion - so I grabbed a few girlfriends and went. The service started off...Ok. Our waitress was not very friendly and never even cracked a smile (maybe she was having a bad day?) She hastily took our orders. The one thing I will say about the service is that it was quite prompt - we were never left waiting for our food. With that being said however, there was never a "how was it?" or "are you don't with this?". They took my friends lobster bisque before she could even finish half of it... do people not linger over their food anymore? Onto the food - I ordered the carpaccio (really tasty, great toppings to go along- fennel and onions), the pheasant (incredible salty) and the canoli (not very much chocolate... isn't canoli supposed to have chocolate?). All three of our meals were quite salty to the taste. It never made it in - edible, just made us pucker. After we received our deserts, we patiently waited to get a hold of our waitress to get a wine list - we finally caught her attention some 5 minutes later, and she looked incredibly put out that we ordered another bottle of wine. I wish I could say my experience was better - I'm glad other yelpers have had better! Like I said, I really wanted to like Barolo, the service just left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)David Z.
We went to Barolo as part of the 30 for 30 month. Definitely, I can't complain too much about the service, it's what you would expect from a high end restaurant such as this, but at the same time the service felt a bit sluggish throughout the night. However, the sommelier there seemed very friendly and was able to pick out of very good Syrah for our dinner. The food overall was good. I started with the Parmigiana di Melenzane (Eggplant Parmigiana), which was excellent. For the entree, I went with the Coscia D'agnello (Roasted Duck Leg). It was definitely a little bit salty and dry for my tastes and, frankly, was a little bit disappointing. Finally, I got the Hazelnut Gelato as the dessert and is something that I would recommend getting if you're there. The only downside was that when it arrived, it had started to melt and was a little bit soggy (but forgivable since the restaurant was pretty busy at the time). Overall, I'd recommend this restaurant. It wasn't an experience that blows you away, but it's a good place to relax with a bunch of friends and enjoy some pretty great food offerings.
(4)Rob N.
This is one of my favorite places for Happy Hour. With a great selection of half off bar menu items to chose from it is a challenge each time for me to decided what to eat. The lamb burger, hanger steak, and house ravioli are a few of my favs. The decor is very modern and is dimly lit to provide a great atomosphere. I highly recommend you give this place a try.
(4)Andrew N.
When I go to Seattle, I go to Barolo. Valet takes care of you. The staff is rock solid. The menu is top notch...A perfect place to relax in the evening or for a business lunch...See you there...
(5)Jessica S.
The corporate world can bring on some epic headaches. I've been to Barolo several times since my initial review and love it when I want to unwind during lunch or on a Friday for happy hour. The Eggplant Parmigiana is delicious. I've recreated it at home several times, but as we all know, nothing beats having someone serve you. Pair it with my favorite glass of wine and excellent service and you are set.
(5)Urban L.
Went with 2 friends for lunch (dine around Seattle deal). The atmosphere is upscale, which felt like a nice weekday treat. I had the mushroom soup, asparagus risotto, and chocolate tortino. The soup was bland, the risotto was ok, the dessert was great! Nothing like warm chocolate, and ending a so-so meal on a positive note. Why 2 stars instead of 3? The service was terrible. The waitress kept disappearing. We couldn't flag her down, because we never saw her. We ran out of water, and there was no one to ask for more. The only way to get the check was to ask quickly when she (finally) brought the desserts. When she didn't came back for payment, we gave it to another waiter. Usually waitstaff understand that if diners ask for a check with the final course, they're in a hurry. But not her! If they want to continue serving lunch on weekdays, they need to understand that people are on schedules. We had expected to be there over an hour, but with all the waiting between courses and trying to pay, we were almost late for 2pm appointments (were seated at 12:15pm). Normally, I'd recommend this type of restaurant for leisurely dinners only. But since the food wasn't great, why make allowances for them? Well, maybe go just for dessert! :-)
(2)S Y.
Dinner was great but a bit pricey however, I'd come back for happy hour. Tuna Tartare is a must. It is a refreshing appetizer with ginger and honey and the olive bread toast to eat with it gives it a crunchy texture. Lentil and spinach soup is tastier than the pasta fagioli. The lentil soup tasted like beef and barley soup (beef broth, onions, carrots, potatoes) but add lentils and spinach. It has a hearty flavor. Veal Ossobucco was really tender and seasoned with rosemary. The fried greens (Kale?) on the side were good. Rigatoni with lamb was very tasty. I like that they keep their pasta really firm. Gelato Salato was interesting and worth a shot but once is enough. It is Vanilla Gelato topped with olive oil and sea salt. If you like salted caramels then maybe you should give it a try. The waitress made a mistake and brought out the pasta fagioli instead of lentil soup but she was cool and at least we got to try the pasta fagioli which was light and the pasta was firm. The waitress also offered to split all our meals onto separate plates so we could share. Nice touch of extra effort. I'm going back for happy hour because the meal was $100 for two.
(4)Diana L.
Remember that Mitsubishi commercial with the woman wearing a Kangol dancing in her seat to Dirty Vegas? Apparently she is the lunch hoe-stess at Barolo. She needs to understand that she is no longer clubbing in a car - she is the low man on the totem pole in a hyped-up closet of a restaurant. She needs to seat people - that's all. And she needs to take that stupid fucking hat off. After I bullied the little twit into seating me rather than making me stand in their lack of waiting area, that old Mudhoney song "Overblown" started playing in my head. The interior lacks the symmetry that I would expect given the ultra modern, spa-esque decor. I was a little dizzy honestly. And can I have some bread while I wait? Maybe I was dizzy from the low blood sugar. We will never know. Once my rather late dining companion arrived (she will remain nameless, but let's just say she left her heart in SF) I finally got some dry excuse for bread - more like an uncooked crostini - with some very watery tapanade. Our waiter was completely apathetic and clearly peeved by our ordering from the $15 prix fix menu. SO FUCKING SORRY. Was thinking of coming back for the Vitello con Limone e Tartufo, but YOU CAN SUCK MY DICK after that performance. The food was just OK and I could have made everything I had at home BETTER. The Caprese? Please. I had to tear up one basil leaf and make it last through three slices of tomato and mozerella. The pork tenderloin with Chardonnay and cherry bomb peppers was uninspired and why was my creme brulee so fucking eggy? NOPE. Next time I wander up a couple blocks and go see my old friend Mauro at Assaggio. Barolo can SUCK IT.
(2)John G.
Service was great...home made ravioli was amazing!
(4)Samantha G.
Luckily, my bf and I were able to squeeze in a restaurant for Dine Around Seattle. We have been curious of Barolo for quite some time since a fellow Yelper (and good friend of ours) has claimed this is one of his favorite restaurants in the city. As a tradition of ours during Dine Around and Seattle Restaurant Week, we always start off with an appetizer off the regular menu before we dig into the Dine Around/Restaurant Week menu. We split the Pacific octopus with fingerling potatoes, olives, capers and fresh herbs. When we were served the appetizer, we didn't expect it to be as "saucy" but oh well, might as well dig in. This was a great way to start our meal! The octopus was tender and meaty, potatoes cooked well and definitely squirt in some lemon since it gave the appetizer a nice tangy taste. I was having some high expectations after that appetizer. Now onto the Dine Around 3 meal course. I started off with the scallop, guanciale and butternut squash puree appetizer. The scallop was cooked perfectly and I enjoyed dipping this in the puree. The guanciale added the right amount of salt and fat to the guanciale. Personally this was my favorite item off the Dine Around menu. My bf started off with the cured 'valtellina' beef carpaccio with sprung crudités. He didn't realize the beef was going to be cured (since he didn't read the description) and was pretty disappointed. I thought this appetizer was fine but it definitely was not as impressive as my scallop appetizer. For the main course, I had the homemade gnocchi while he went with the mushroom risotto with foie gras. My dish came out very hot and the gnocchi was really soft. Once I let the dish cool down, I enjoyed the texture of the gnocchi a lot better, which had more of a chew to it. The lobster was cooked fine and I enjoyed the flavors of the dish. The risotto had generous amounts of food gras in it, which was a surprise to us. Eating the risotto without the foie gras had a acidic taste to it (thanks to the tomato like sauce) but the foie definitely gives the dish the balance and richness needed. We both enjoyed both main dishes. Now onto dessert! He had the chocolate tortino (no pic available since I knew he wanted to dig right in) and I had the cannoli. The tortino was pretty much a small warm chocolate cake, which was not too rich and on the cakey side. It was good but the winner was easily the cannoli. We loved the filling (mascarpone I believe) which had chocolate chips mixed in and garnished with a blackberry and crushed pistachios. I definitely will come back for that cannoli! The service was great Our server was polite and I enjoyed the pace our food was served. Barolo is a great place for an intimate relaxing dinner and I look forward to dining here again soon.
(4)Wendy W.
Last night in Seattle (Jun '14). Decided to visit another popular joint. So crowded. Was passed on for seating when a couple just strolled in after us and shook hands with the manager (I think). I even caught a glimpse of the hostess rolling her eyes. The hostess was really nice and opened another table for us, but that initial attitude left a really bad taste in my mouth. Now, the food. We had the following: Bread and olive dip - pretty good. Pork belly and grilled calamari - Pork belly was ok, but the grilled calamari was really good. Risotto All'Aragosta - was ok. Ossobuco di vitello - hubby liked it, but it was too heavy for me. Unfortunately, it was really stuffy in this hippidy joint and because of the seating experience, which shows that the restaurant is on a "preferred, or who you know gets to be seated first", I probably won't go back again.
(3)p s.
Excellent food, wine and waiter John.
(5)Talia E.
No complaints here. This swanky Italian restaurant is located just off the Stewart Street exit. With a daily happy hour from 3-6:30pm and 10pm-close, you can eat to your heart's content without breaking the bank (or settling for quesadillas and hot wings). The menu is offered at half off during happy hour. I'd recommend trying the hangar steak with Barolo sauce ($7HH), fried calamari ($5.50HH) and/or the sautéed mussels ($6HH). Everything was delicious, and I consider myself a foodie so that means a lot! The $3 pints and $3.50 select wines are just an added perk. The service is exceptional and the ambience is warm. Regular prices are competitive for Italian fine dining in Seattle. I recommend making a reservation when you plan to go. I went right after work on a Friday and every table was filled. This would also be a great place for a larger group celebration because of a long dining table (seats at least 20) in the middle of the restaurant -- which they often seat multiple small groups at when it gets full. Also a great place for a date. 5 stars.
(5)Ken N.
It's a good restaurant for what it is but when visiting other cities, I like to try places that offer something I can't get at home. Barolo is definitely something I can find at home for cheaper. With that said, I still had an overall enjoyable dining experience and the service couldn't be any better. Our server, John B (yeah sorry ladies.. not the R&B singer) was awesome. FOOD: *Veal Carpaccio - Recommended by our server and it was actually a dish I didn't care for. Ended up being pretty good. *Foie Gras - Two small pieces of seared foie gras (tasted like seared foie anywhere else). Didn't care too much for the beans and sauce. Black cherries were definitely a nice touch. *Rack of Lamb - A little bland on the seasoning but drenching it in the sauce helped. Cooked nicely. 3.5 stars for this dish? *Sea Bass - Not bad but a little bland as well. Could've used more seasoning. Cooked perfectly though. DESSERT: *Tiramisu - Layered with more cream than any other tiramisu I've ever had. Not worth it. WINE: *Il Bruciato - Recommended by our server. A+ on that recommendation. Super Tuscan red blend.
(4)Boo-Boo S.
Happy hour is where it's at folks. They get four stars because of the deal you get for happy hour. So from 3:30-6:30 is happy hour and they do have cheap drinks, and half of their bar menu. This makes for an affordable good dinner. With that being said, I would not give the service or food the same rating. I was given bread and olive spread, which is a freebie right away. They actually give you more when you run out too! Then before I realized it was happy hour I ordered a $15 glass of wine. The waitress did not mention the happy hour specials...which is fine...it was on the front of the menu...just missed it at first. Ok. It took 10 minutes before I saw the waitress again :/. I actually had questions...but at that point I decided not to take too much of her time. I don't really like that feeling at a restaurant...however I realized she was busy...(there were quite a few people inside standing around though :/) I ordered the antipasti platter originally $15 and the shoulder steak $20. Shoulder steak was very juicy and tender, lacked salt, big time, and the vegetables that were garnish were completely mushy. I didn't see anyone for the duration of my meal so I couldn't ask for salt. I dumped the roasted garlic from the antipasti platter and the olive spread from the bread on top of the steak, gave me perfect salty. (Btw...I'm not an over salter. This plate really rated as though there was no salt on it) the antipasti platter was good. Basic. Wish it had pickles. There was a big chunk of Gorgonzola on the plate which I'm not the biggest fan of. (I asked what was on the platter before I got it, no mention of cheese :/) All in all, I still give 4 stars, because at the end of the meal I was full. And, The steak was cooked to the right temperature. I ate a whole steak, which was a very decent size, an appetizer for 2, and a glass of wine for under $40. I'd go back for sure.
(4)Aziz S.
Went here for lunch today. The place was empty but for some reason it still took 10 minutes for me to get recognized sitting at the bar. When I was finally acknowledged I ordered a beer and was given a menu, 20 minutes go by and I see the waitresses chit chatting away with someone who doesn't even seem to be a customer on the other side of the bar and not once checking to see if I was ready to order. I finally had to sort of shout over at them " excuse me ". I ordered the rigatoni which was not bad. Overall this place needs new waitresses IMO. If the waitresses can't do their job then they should just be working at little darlings down the block.
(2)Jay L.
Modern Italian! Beautiful atmosphere beautiful food. Great for dining out with groups. Beautiful private dining areas. Amazing happy hour. Try the lobster or crab spaghetti.
(5)Jason C.
My review is based only on Happy Hour Experience. The problem with happy hour in Seattle is that everything ends at 5, but Barolo is from 4:30-6:30. Second thing about happy hour in Seattle now is everything isn't so happy prices anymore or they cut your portions in half, but everything is like 5-9 bucks. 3.95 glass of wine (red, white, rose), 3.25 pint, or a bottle of wine for 14. Basically alcohol is cheap and good like in Italy, the way it should be. :) I cant say there anything bad i've had here on the happy hour menu. Veal Carpaccio, Clam, Prosciutto, Rigatoni Ragu, Burger, escargot, tuna tar tar.... I remember my first reaction was, how can they afford to give me this plate of prosciutto, I cant even get this at the grocery store without the cheese for this price! 3 menu items shared between two people usually is satisfying. Then i recommend sharing a desserts (not on the happy hour) as a great way to end a meal and is always delicious. Cheap good wine and great food is a great way to end the day or weekend. Do order your food with your drink if you can, the service in the bar is a little slower than normal, or i should say very Italian time, but it allows you to decompress and converse with your friends!
(5)Kim N.
We came here for after-dinner dessert. The hazelnut ice cream with expresso shot was delicious! Great atmosphere.
(4)Linh L.
I have to preface this review with my perspective. I dont consider decor unless its unsanitary, i dont put a lot of weight on service unless theirs vulgarities involved. This restaurant is nice with the friendliest wait staff ever. I review mainly on food and i Italian is one my favorites. Especially plain old carbonara. If I'm in the mood for authentic Italian, its my go to dish but needs to be made the old country way. Meaning no "cream sauce" no "bacon" and the pasta must be right... Their carbonara was good, not great. There was a watery pool of buttered pasta water on the bottom and thats where it went wrong. The baby organic zucs were a nice touch for texture contrast. All in all, i still finished it so it wasn't bad at all. Those who know what I'm yelping about would understand, a well made carbonara will make your eyes roll back and pause between each bite. My server's name is Bethany! She is as sweet as sweet can get.
(3)Serious E.
Overall service and food are worthy of 3 stars but no more. Service was average and food was average. I don't know maybe for the Northern West coast of the U.S. they do not know any better and this is very good Italian food to them. Prices were also high from the apps to the main meal and the wines.
(3)Tori J.
This place has it all!! What isn't there to like about Barolo? I have been coming here for over three years and have honestly never been disappointed. First, the ambiance is so welcoming and the music is not blaring, the lights are dimmed just right and the chandeliers really add a certain "sexiness" to the restaurant. You can tell the brothers that own Barolo, List and Mamma Melina are professional restaurant owners, they do not mess around with ambiance and food selections! My favorite thing about this place is that they have happy hour twice a day, from 3-630PM and 10PM-close. The bar menu is half priced, along with 3.95 glass of red or white wine. The food that you receive is not a tiny portion, it is the full sized item but half the price, how great is that?!! Some of my personal favorites from happy hour menu: Grilled Calamari-perfectly grilled and marinated in lemon and olive oil and oh so chewy. It reminds of the grilled calamari I had at a taverna in Santorini last summer! I now go to other Italian restaurants and measure how good they are if they have grilled calamari like this one :) Spaghetti with Calamari and parmigianno-Ok, I am a huge calamari fan and this is so incredible. The flavor of pasta, calamari, olive oil and parmigianno is perfect together. So simple yet so delicious. Generous portion! Hanger steak with Barolo sauce-Cooked just right with a lovely Barolo sauce-it melts in your mouth! Good for sharing since it is a large portion with 6 pieces or so. Grilled Caesar salad- This is no traditional Caesar with chopped romaine, parmesan cheese and generic dressing. This is the real deal! They take full Romaine hearts and grill them just slightly, drizzle with homemade Caesar dressing that is just awesome and served with nice flakes of shaved reggiano cheese. On the side, they give you lemons wrapped in cute yellow satin to prevent the juice from going everywhere when you squeeze them-nice touch! Whatever the occasion, they can welcome you! I have been here on dates in the bar, out with girlfriends, and sat at the large community table for a baby shower and it was all so great. The servers are awesome and do a good job of taking care of each of their guest's needs. This is my go to place and will continue to recommend it to anyone who is asking for a good Italian restaurant!
(5)Jen M.
This place has a pretty awesome Happy hour, though the level of saltiness in the food seems to be hit or miss. This past meal, we had the tuna tartare (yum!), escargo (was ok), spaghetti with calamari (on the salty side), rigatoni (love this!) and cannelloni (perfect sweetness). However, the only downfall I've experienced the 2 times I've been here is how slow the service can be. While friendly, this last time I went, my water was rarely filled and then it took over 40 minutes to get and pay for our meal (2 servers even declined picking up our bill, saying our server would be with us "shortly"), which resulted in my getting a parking ticket. Lame. :(.
(3)Ati B.
How relieved am I?? I went to Barolo for their late night HH which is half off of their bar menu. We are talking about an incredible antipasto plate with the most delicious array of olives, cured meats, a roasted garlic head, cheese, and cool grilled veggies for $7.50. SEVEN FIFTY. Pasta's and steak for under $9. So remember when you had to watch the annoying video of the old guy who said: "Hot food, hot plates; cold food, cold plates"? It has actually been a very long time since I have ordered a meal that arrives hot and on a hot plate. It was such a treat. This is by far the best late night happy hour in the city. They lose a star because the bar area is so small and we had to sit outside at a dirty table before I went back inside to ask for a menu. Our sever was friendly, laid back and fast. There are so many other dishes I want to try and you can't beat the $15 bottle of wine. I can't wait to go back.
(4)Kaimipono W.
I came here for lunch and drinks with a friend, and it was delicious. The risotto was fantastic. Rigatoni with lamb was also delicious. One dish that didn't work as well was a calamari soup, which neither of us liked very much. But the main dishes were both excellent, and the drinks were great as well. I would definitely recommend.
(4)Marian W.
Honestly, I don't understand the hype about this place. I live close to Barolo and decided to finally give them a try during Restaurant Week last year. The service was mediocre, I felt like the waitress was judging us just because we came in during Restaurant Week (excuse me, can we not use Restaurant Week to try a restaurant??). She did her job, but never seemed that enthused about it. The food was both okay and bad at the same time depending on the dish. We ordered a pork belly on the Restaurant Week menu and it arrived burnt. Burnt, can you believe that? It made the dish have a bitter taste and was not tasty at all. For a highly rated Italian restaurant, you should have better quality control. The rest of the dishes tasted okay, but the pork belly and the service seriously put the place off for me. Maybe I'll give it another try in the future, but ever since that Restaurant Week experience I haven't wanted to go back.
(2)Derek L.
Came here for dinner tonight with a friend and we had a rather mixed experience. I really enjoyed my food, my friend didn't at all, and we both agreed that the service needed much improvement. We shared the pork belly appetizer, which was super fatty and tasty but kind of pricey at a price tag of $12 for two medium sized pieces of pork belly. Oh and we both didn't care for the garbanzo beans they were served on. For my main course, I had the tortellini stuffed with portobello mushrooms and topped with black truffles. I may be a bit biased since I am a sucker for anything with truffles in it, but my friend agreed that these were legitimately good. He had the veal, which neither of us really cared for. While the meat was cooked well, it had a rather off putting sour aftertaste. The alcohol that they used to flavor the meat was not completely burned off either, as it was pretty prominent on our taste buds. Now, regarding the service...our server Joseph S was friendly at first, but my friend and I both felt that after he saw that we did not order a lot/any of the expensive items, he started ignoring us. However, we noticed him chatting away with the tables around us that he was also serving. At one point, he was so preoccupied with the other tables that he didn't even realize that our food was ready and another waitress had to bring it to us! Then, after all the other tables left, he had time for us again and even chatted with us briefly. So in short, he was pleasant enough throughout our meal, but we just couldn't help but feel that we were his last priority. 2.5 stars for the service + 3.5 for the food = 3 stars overall, and this is being generous.
(3)James B.
I came here for Happy Hour to eat a light snack before my late dinner. Yes, I'm a fatty. Some would consider that two dinners in one night. Before you judge me, I'm just visiting town and I just wanted to try as many places as possible, so everything was shared. Happy Hour: 1) Prosciutto and cheese appetizer plate was delicious! 2) Tuna Tartare was just okay. I've tasted better. However, I didn't mind much because it was so cheap for happy hour. Service: Great service. I didn't have to wait long for anything. The staff checked on us regularly. Can't complain about the service.
(4)Chris V.
We went here for the first time as part of Dine Around Seattle and I was impressed. It was one of the best meals I've ever had in Seattle during Dine Around Seattle. The meal was nearly perfect, at least for everyone in the party other than me. We had a party of eight and most of us ordered the Maine lobster. The lobster was spectacular but ,unfortunately, mine was over cooked. It was still good but I tried a bite of my wife's and hers was perfect. The gnocchi was phenomenal too and the red sauce had just the right amount of garlic. I've never been a fan of octopus but the octopus here was tender and perfectly seasoned. I will definitely order it the next time I visit. I was even impressed with the simple Ricotta salad which had some of the best slices/slivers of cheese on it I've ever had. Our waiter Bryan was very friendly, attentive and had great suggestions for us too. And to finish it off our meal we ordered the cannoli and some bread pudding. I've also never been a big fan of bread pudding but I will eat their bread pudding every time I visit in the future. Our experience was so great, we were already planning our return visit before we even left. When I think of Barola now the words that come to mind are "near perfection" and I'm not easy to please so I don't say that lightly.
(5)Ninette C.
Barolo and I have truly had a love-hate relationship over the years. I haven't had any bad service since my last review and I've been back many times since so it seemed like it was time to update it. I've been here for Seattle Restaurant Week, happy hour, business lunches and group dinners and the food is always consistently delicious. I really like the lobster risotto, crab squid ink pasta and escargot on the dinner menu. The lobster ravioli came with a big lobster tail and the risotto truly had a lobster broth taste to it! I'd say the smoked salmon penne is a little too salty though. For happy hour, I also still love the ravioli with smoked ricotta and they offer a fantastic calamari spaghetti which is a great, more filling size! In the dining room, they have curtained off room with a sheer curtain and wine wall that separates it from the restaurant. It's a great group area and they were happy to honor my request for that room when I came with my out-of-town relatives. Food-wise, Barolo has consistently served awesome food and happy hour is a great deal! I'm happy to see the service has improved as well. This is now one of my favorite Italian spots in town!
(5)Lisa E.
Excellent food. Tortellini and rack of lamb was dee-lish. I'd do it again and again and again
(4)Shirley H.
My original plan was going to Walrus but the fact that they don't take reservation made me changed my mind. After a long day, I'd prefer going to a restaurant without needing to wait for an unknown time. Barolo has a great menu with foie gras, beef carpaccio, tuna tartare, escargot, risotto, lamb, steak, etc... The lobster risotto was outstanding. Great taste, fresh lobster tail and good portion of risotto. The top sirloin was good size but wasn't the best cut. Understandably, for about $28, this would be the kind of quality one would get. Next time I'd order the more expensive angus steak. All other foie gras, carpaccio, escargot, and the panettone bread pudding were all excellent. Great service and great food. Highly recommended.
(5)Marco V.
Let me start saying I'm Italian, born, raised, lived in Italy for 35 years and I've been in Seattle for about 10 years. I love food and I'm going to Italy once a year. Having said that I was very disappointed by Barolo. These my comments: Appetizer - I ordered Antipasto misto - it was ok, very small amount of food and just a light taste of Speck and salame. Score (1 to 10, where 10 is amazing): 6 Main course - I had Gnocchi al sugo di Fagiano - Gnocchi were not cooked. I love "pasta al dente" but there is difference between al dente and uncooked. The Fagiano sauce had no taste. Score (1 to 10): 4 Dessert - I had Tiramisu - one of the worst I have ever had. They use low quality Mascarpone and probably mix it with cream. I had few spoons and left the rest - Score: 2 The only authentic Italian experience was the check: $87 (1 appetizer, 2 main courses, 2 desserts, 1 coke, 1 beer Moretti). Second time I've been there and second time I've been disappointed. People who rate Barolo 5 stars, have no clue what good Italian food looks like (or are friends of the owner)! Advise to all of you: go somewhere else.
(2)Michael N.
We found Barolo after wandering around downtown Seattle one night. Although it looked a bit too swanky / fancy for my liking, we read a bunch of reviews that were positive so we decided to give it a shot. Luckily we made reservations as the place was pretty packed on the Friday night that we went. Once seated, we were promptly greeted by our server who was very attentive the entire night. He had a laundry list of specials that he rattled off the top of this head which sounded pretty appetizing. For food we went with the Carpaccio di Vitello con Melange di Tartufo Bianco for the appetizer. This was really fantastic. We also went with Mozzarella e Pomodori con Extra vergine del Chianti which was excellent as well. For dinner we went with the Gnocchi al Fagiano and the Penne con Salmone e asparagi. Both were excellent. I really enjoyed the Penne with Salmon. Nice big chunks of salmon in the creamy but not too heavy sauce. Price wise everything was on the pricier side, but I must say the food was top notch. Drinks were expensive as well, but it was a nice place so I guess it was to be expected. With a few Ferrari's parked out front, I'm guessing this place caters to the higher end clientele.
(4)Chen O.
Always taking the order wrong. Never answers the phone when it's close to closing time. The food is AMAZING but the service is not close to what it should be
(3)Mike Z.
i love. This place since 2007 always the same awesome food and atmosphere
(5)Harsha G.
Very well decorated with fantastic ambiance especially in the night. Great happy hour with interesting tasty cocktails but food is a hit or miss especially if you are ordering vegetarian food. Not too fond of Italian, so mayb there is a it of bias involved. Come check it out as it is located in a central spot.
(3)Victoria W.
One of the best late night happy hours ever! My boyfriend and I tend to have a weird eating schedule because we're both big time night owls. We decided to come here for their late night happy hour and I must say I was very impressed. This place is very nice inside and a lot of couples were in the middle of enjoying nice dinner dates. We found two seats at the bar and I was excited to see a very full bar menu. I ordered the Rigatoni with beef and veal ragu and it was perfect. Great flavor without being overly salty and the pasta was cooked to perfection. Service was very friendly and attentive and the ambience was very elegant. Overall very pleasantly surprised how exceptionally they cater to the late crowd. Would definitely recommend and I wish there were more places with late night happy hours as elegant as this one!
(5)Gustavo M.
The service is super quick, and the food is yummy! I usually end up having one (or both) of the following: - Foglioni di Romana Grigliati: excellent for those of us watching our belt size after spending too much time looking for dining options on Yelp :) I love the grilled detail on the romaine, and the freshly shaved cheese is a triumph! - Penne con Salmone e asparagi: wow! This one is such a fantastic dish! I wish they had a pesto version. Everything is better with pesto. I think I'm going to write to Theo's Chocolate, and beg them to create a Dark Chocolate Pesto bar.
(4)Cynthia X.
Barolo is fantastic! I tried their caesar salad and spaghetti carbonara - both very classic dishes. For the caesar, they served the romaine whole and roasted, and dressed beautifully with caesar dressing and parmesan shavings. The presentation was wonderful, and the taste crisp and fresh. So much better than the standard pre-cut / pre-mixed caesar salads. The spaghetti carbonara was al dente, creamy and with just the right amount of panchetta. Delicious! (not counting the calories!) I did also notice on the menu that they have a 3 course lunch special. I remember it being a great deal, but with a very limited selection that didn't look particularly appealing to me.
(4)Stephanie S.
Went with a group of five for a birthday. A "Happy Birthday NAME" was neatly printed at the top of our menus; nice lil' touch! Ordered: - Calamari: DELICIOUS. Probably the best part of the meal. - Insalatina: Not enough balsamic, but the baby romaine was delicious. - Penne con Salmone e asparagi: I didn't read the "smoked" part of the smoked salmon. It wasn't as good as I had hoped, granted it's my fault for not paying attention. Pasta was al dente. Service itself was fine. A couple drinks and one salad was forgotten, but not a huge deal. Our server didn't seem interested in conversing with our table nor did she really come off as super friendly, but she made sure our waters were filled and that we got our meals. Walking away with half of my meal for lunch leftovers and paying $45 + tip was fine by me! Three stars makes it look like I didn't enjoy myself. It's not that, it's just that I think there are still more dishes that I can try to hopefully change my mind.
(3)Yang X.
Really nice environment. Excellent service. Love their waiters.
(5)Darlene R.
I didn't get to dine in because this seems to be the spot for Happy Hour and after work drinks. I was just by myself and saw how busy it was so I decided to just have take out. If you are dining and driving, its valet. Otherwise, if you are in the neighborhood, like me, I would just walk over. All the reviews kept pointing me to the lamb. So I got the Lame Rigatoni. I'm not really a lamb enthusiast, but the way they prepare this dish is just simply amazing, melt in your mouth. When I opened up my bag they gave me plenty of bread and olive spread to accompany my meal. The prices aren't that bad. I think the next time I will have to try to dine in and try more dishes. Its hard to look at this type of menu and take it back to your hotel because the dining seems to be apart of the experience. Until next time Seattle!
(4)Melissa H.
Great food, staff, and atmosphere! The candle light setting makes for a great date night. One of my favorite happy hours in the city.
(4)Latifa S.
Rose Rose~! That is all. This is where you will find me a few times a week. I'm usually here every other evening for their awesome happy hour! Ok so Mamma Melina used to be my fav italian in Seattle pre Ethan Stowell's time. Food is always good. And then came Barolo. They change their menu often but their staples like 6th ave drink, escargot in butter, grilled calamari, crab or calamari pasta, rigatoni bolognese, lamb burger and tartare! They are all pretty good. And it doesn't hurt the fact that the place is very pretty. I've done anything from birthday dinners (huge group: they can make it semi private with the curtains), bachelorette parties, baby showers and a whole bunch of meetings. Staff is wonderful. Food is good. And they also have the best happy hour in town! Just make sure you get there early enough: finding a seat or four is near impossible during rush hour. You can always wait with a bottle of wine!
(4)Sonia C.
My husband and I came here with another couple for their Dine Around Seattle dinner menu. While we had a good time (more a result of the company than the food), I didn't think it was worth a return visit at regular prices. I started off with their scallop appetizer. This was an average-sized, single scallop, in a shallow pool of butternut squash puree. It was cooked perfectly (rare on the inside like I prefer), but if it wasn't for the large dish, I would have thought that it was an amuse bouche. My husband had the beef carpaccio, which was a safe and uninspired choice. For our entrees, I had the mahi mahi (they were out of the artic char) and my husband had the lobster gnocchi. The mahi was fine but ordinary. It was served in a tart citrusy sauce which was pretty good. My husband's gnocchi sounded better in concept than in execution. It smelled very lobstery, but the gnocchi was a bit too soft and overall, the dish was bland. They did have a good portion of lobster on top though - more than I expected for Restaurant Week. I don't know if portions were adjusted because of Dine Around prices, but desserts were pretty tiny, especially the chocolate tortino. It was the size of a mini muffin. It was however, warm and chocolately, so at least it tasted good (despite there not being much of it). My cannoli was more generously sized. It was actually the best part of my meal. The shell was crisp (indicating that it hadn't been filled that long ago) and the filling was cheesy and not overly sweet. Overall, an average restaurant.
(3)Amy K.
One of the best Italian restaurants I've been to in years. The pasta is cooked to perfection. The flavor profiles are rich and bold yet balanced. The atmosphere here is cozy and personal. Front of house, wait staff, and busers and easy going with just the right amount of attention. As I write this review, I feel hungry and want to run right over there for some attention and food love... I digress... Anywho... you'll pay a little more here but that's what happens at a five star restaurant. It's well worth it. The drinks, food, and experience is downright amaze balls.
(5)Roger B.
Loved the rack of lamb but the bed of crunchy kale didn't work for me. Escargot was buttery, garlicky yumminess. Lobster with with cheesy risotto was perfect. A Super Tuscan might not sound like the best fit for the above but I loved it. Finished with an Americano and the bread pudding. Tummy is happy.
(4)N S.
3.8 if I could.... Ambience: Fun ambience at night. Darker chill cool vibe. Decor is best at night. Often very busy and reservations needed Lunch just okay especially as ambiance is best at night. Wait staff: fun Italian waiter with a sense of humor. Usually good waiters Food: pretty good, some hit or miss. Breads tasty. Pastas usually good especially the side risotto. Food more of a 3.8 sometimes 3.5 and occasionally a 4 Wine and cocktail. Quite good list and delivers Good pre jazz alley for dinner
(4)Andrea L.
The service was outstanding, the prices wallet friendly, and the food and beverages spot on. Alessandro knows his food and wine and is very polite and charming. My complaint is the owner and his drunk friends. When I went in for late night happy hour, my friends and I were seated next to a table of the owner's friends. They were loud, drunk, and no one cut them off. One of the ladies left the table, came to our table, and proceeded to sit almost in my lap and put her arm around me, saying she was looking for her purse. Later, one of the guys from their table walked into the ladies restroom looking for one of his friends. Totally unacceptable guest behavior, totally unprofessional behavior from the owner.
(4)Dana B.
I had the filet and it was really good, cooked to perfection. This is coming from the most PICKEY meat eater. I really am not a fan of any meat so when I do eat it I want it to be cooked right and taste like something other than a dead animal. This particular filet was a larger portion than I imagined and I got it medium well and it was perfect! It melted in my mouth and was the star on my plate. The veggies were just kind of there almost as a garnish. I mean when the filet was that good there was no way the veggies could have come close to being as good as that cut of meat. The atmosphere was BUSY!!! and loud so we ate on the patio in the front which was great. The drinks were good. The service was good. Our server was super sweet and it was her third night on the job and she did her very best.
(4)Pauline T.
This is one of my favorite places for happy hour. I think it's one, if not the best, place to get your money's worth for what you are paying. $15 a bottle for house red or white and a big list of items ranging from a cheese or prosciutto plate to clams and lamb burger! The atmosphere itself is very chic and the staff are very friendly. There's even a little section for some outdoor seating. My favorites off the menu are the prosciutto board (complete with cheese slices), the grilled romaine caesar salad, and the lamb burger. Can't wait to come back to try everything else on the menu. I have also come here for a birthday dinner. There is a long table off to the side of the restaurant that accommodated us all and from what I remember they were able to do separate checks.
(5)sara g.
Euro-trash central. Never been disappointed by food. Also never been disappointed by the people watching. Always a douchey car or two in the valet lot. Happy hour is a steal. $15 house wine (bottle) is pretty ok. All "bar" food is 50% off. Eggplant parm is my fav.
(4)Yen D.
I came here for Seattle Restaurant Week with a few of my friends and I was surprised by how good their menu was. I have to admit the best dish that they offered was the Dungeness crab gnocchi. It beats out the black truffle gnocchi at List. Each piece was super soft and pillowy unlike any other gnocchi I've had in the Seattle area.
(5)Thalita A.
I took my partner and parents to dinner there last night hoping to have a great Italian meal. My mother and I both ordered the Penn with Salmon and asparagus. The meal was too salty, the pasta a bit too much "al dente" and the salmon overcooked. We were both terribly disappointed and sent the dish back. My partner had a hard time finding anything vegan, but ended up getting the Gnocchi with cheese, which ended up being the better out of the 4 dishes we ordered. Overall, would not recommend this restaurant to friends. Service was not bad, but our waiter had to read the specials to us which was slightly lame. I generally expect them to know it by heart and really sell it!
(2)Myra F.
My gnocchi was delicious. My husbands chicken had a bitter taste and odd texture. The waiter happily exchanged the meal for a ravioli. Our waiter wad great, attentive, funny, and excellent. The meal ok and not cheap. Fun lively place.
(3)Brian C.
Seattle is 91 degrees and its 100 in the restaurant. We ate outside on the and the food was good although I returned my rack of lamb since it was well done and I wanted medium rare. Twenty five minutes later they returned my rack of lamb medium well done. I ate it anyway and it was tasty despite its dryness. My wife enjoyed her Foie Gras.
(3)Lauren L.
Omg I love this place!!! We flew into Seattle for our anniversary for the weekend and chose this place for our anniversary dinner and boy are we happy we did!!! We walked in and were greeted by a super friendly and sweet hostess and I think the manager of the store. We then were guides to a perfectly lovely booth in the center of the restaurant overlooking the wonderful ambiance of chandeliers, candles and just plain romance! Then we received our menus...they had taken the time to print up new menus that said happy anniversary at the top!! What? We have never received that in Orange County! Then I got this amazing drink called an X Tini...it has grapefruit,mango and blood orange liquor...a must try!!! They even top it off with special marinated cherries that you can only get in Italy which they flew out here for this restaurant...they were SOO good!!! Then, as if that wasn't enough the kitchen brought out two crostini with cheese and prosciutto just to say thank you for celebrating our anniversary with them...oh my gosh their service rocks!! Dinner was delicious and we were ready to close out and then they brought ANOTHER great surprise at the end...a warm chocolate cake with raspberry, powdered sugar and this wonderful vanilla sauce...it was divine!!! Again, just to say thank you for dining with them during our special night...WOW!!! If I could give them 10 stars I would in a heartbeat!!! This is a must try restaurant!! They impressed the heck out of us!!!
(5)Smaly K.
My favorite place for happy hour! They have some full entrees on their happy hour menu also, along with the appetizers, which are half off. Their Organic Lamb Burger is the best burger I've had anywhere so far, and I love their Spaghetti Calamari.
(5)Daniel K.
I have had everything on their menu because I go to this place very often. We usually know all the servers and Jason (manager) too, however, the server we got on Saturday was different. Her name was Mckenzie and to say the least she's the best server we have come across. She's perfect and seems like she knew everything and was on top of everything and couldn't be any better.
(5)Gabrielle M.
I've been here once and I loved it. The ambiance is amazing, very romantic setting. A great wine selection and our waitress was very knowledgeable and helpful when it came to picking wine and dishes from the menu. I remember I had a fish dish, however, I don't remember what it was. I'll be sure to come here again and feast and drink. :) Highly recommend for a fancy date.
(5)Jeanette R.
How did I miss writing a review for Barolo? I've been a fan for about 5 years, and I come here often. I love the atmosphere...this place barks SWANK all the way down to the nice towels in the ladies room. It's a dark sexy restaurant that feels comfy and inviting. Despite being in Seattle, you can usually see a little less fleece being worn, which is a huge bonus in my book. We started with grilled calamari and veal carpaccio, both were excellent. If carpaccio is on the menu I always order it, I love to compare carpaccios...next up, we shared a generous portion of spaghetti carbonara - wow, fresh pasta cooked perfectly al dente and delicious egg and bacon, but not too much to be overpowering. For my main, I had the sea bass special with scallops and cannelini beans featured that evening and hubster had oso bucco. No complaints, on anything! Service was great, I love this restaurant because they take their time allowing you to order when you're ready. Eating here is a total experience and they do not rush you out the door. It isn't quite Europe, but it feels like it comes a little closer than most places. The scene is fun to check out without being so noisy that you cannot have an intimate conversation. Go for the authentic food and atmosphere, you won't find it everywhere.
(4)Naeem M.
All I can say is go during their Happy Hour which I believe is from 3pm-6pm, their bar menu is 50%off. What a cool place to dine at and the food is great.
(5)Katie S.
The best Italian food in Seattle. Beautiful dining area and unforgettable food!! All of their pastas are amazing!!
(5)joe m.
Our menus listed one set of prices, our bill listed another set of prices. Manager told us it wasn't his fault that the menu had the old prices. The food was good but the cruddy service and treatment makes me never want to come again.
(1)Taylor R.
Barolo is one of my favorite spots in the inner downtown area of the city. Their tapanade is seriously delicious! The gals working are always super up beat and friendly also. It makes for an enjoyable time.
(5)Stevi V.
I was in a party of four. No long wait we were seated immediately. I ordered the crab fettucine. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I wouldn't order again or recommend. I tried bites of my friends orders the rigatoni was delicious and so was the lasagna. They make wonderful martinis. I'll def go back but probably for happy hour. Our server was knowledgeable but not very attentive. We had to ask for two things three times before they showed up at our table.
(3)Eco Car C.
Favorite Restaurant in Seattle....nuff said.
(5)Mary D.
Happy hour food is delish! Unfortunately, I'm not the only one who thinks so- seating can be a bit limited if you arrive too late. Also, the last time I arrived literally a minute before happy hour ended (6:29 p.m.) and they wouldnt let me order off the happy hour menu. I felt they should have at least let my first beverage be discounted.
(4)Honest-a-bliss R.
Absolutely delicious! and a great happy hour. what a cool vibe. you can't go wrong here (except maybe the limited seating and it not being centrally located, but those are minor complaints). happy eating
(5)Melissa C.
One of my favorite happy hour spot in town! The food is always amazing; it is such good value during HH! My boyfriend and I usually share the Caesar salad, rigatoni and hanger steak, and with a glass of wine for each of us, the bill will be like $30, which is super good considering how yummy the food is :)
(4)Kevin A.
One of the best steaks I ever had. Price is higher but very good service and ambiance. Will definitely return for our next special occasion.
(5)Melissa R.
I truly love the atmosphere at Barolo. The chandeliers, candelabras and mixture of loungy tables and booths make this a unique Italian spot in South Lake Union. For the menu - the lobster risotto is absolutely amazing, best risotto I've ever had in my life. Not a huge fan of their rack of lamb, but their lamb burger @ happy hour is delicious! They also have a great veal carpaccio and some other tasty and different bites on the menu. The service has always been great when I've been there. I've been here at least 5 times and I definitely recommend it, especially for a date night.
(4)Lawrence l.
Took my family for my birthday. Food and service outstanding. We had the fettuccine rabbit, lamb ragu, gnocchi and veal scallopine. We just spent 3 weeks in Roma and Firenze, and Barolo is as good as 95% of the neighborhood ristorante that we ate at there. The veal was spiced just right, and the other dishes were comparable. The grilled romaine-caeser was just right. Classy atmosphere.
(5)David N.
** ALERT - Go here to be treated bad. My waitressed ruined my meal/night!!*** My original update review was removed (probably at Barolo's request), so I updated this one in accordance of the Yelp guidelines. The waitress I got on my last visit provided the most horrific customer service experience ever. She was a combo of generic, spacey, slow, and rude. She took 25 minutes to grab my beer, was not capable of carrying out any of the food (yes she just took the orders) out the food, and half the time would not respond if you ask for her. She also broke a class on a patron, sucks to be that guy and me. For the worst part, she gave me my bill to sign off with a pen in hand, but didnt give me the pen. She came back around and as i asked for the pen she slammed it on the table and spoke some condescending language. The other server had a look of disgust, apologized, and said she doesn't work Fridays. Had a talk with the manager, but he didn't appear to care or take any action. I guess that's how it is when you have Maserati's parked in the front. Anyhow I been going here for since 07, with the customer service tanking I probably won't be going here anymore. Also I don't want to pay people to be rude to me. Tom Douglas and company have invaded South Lake Union so I am not short on places to spend my money.
(1)Regina C.
Visited Borolo last Saturday night for my girlfriends 40th birthday. We had a party of 7 and no one had been there before but me. Four of us ordered of course the Lobster Risotto. As usual it was outstanding. Absolutely perfect and all my chica's agreed. Service was good and the drinks were deish too. What can I say LOVE it.
(5)A. B. C.
o-ver-ra-ted! clap! clap! clapclapclap! i must say, i try not to review too many of the places that aren't three stars or better...but i was just totally underwhelmed. this place was high on the recommended list from every single person i asked about seattle!! maybe it's good for some people, maybe i'm spoiled from living in portland (the ultimate city for happy hour)... i just don't know. pros: nicely appointed, tall ceilings, close in downtown, nice food presentation, strong cocktails (well, they'd better be! $10 happy hour cocktail are you kidding me?!) cons: we were the youngest in the crowd by at least 10 years...so hey if you're in your mid-30s, this is the place to be with your peers! the food was less than impressive. we started with a caprese salad, and it came as 4 small slices of tomatos, 5 little mozzarella balls, and only 2 basil leaves! pitiful! they did a little squigly line of pesto...like that makes up for the lack of fresh basil...? no. he had the half moon ravioli, which was mostly spicy cheese and tasteless spinch. "can something be spicy and bland at the same time?!" he wondered. i had the pound of mussles which were...bland bland bland. i was so dissapointed! the broth was tasteless and the mussles themselves just did not taste right. i mean i finished them and didn't get sick, but meh... it could have been so much better.
(2)Tanya Z.
We live very close to Barolo but never tried it until last night. It was the only place that had a table available on a short notice, so we decided to give it a try. Overall, a pretty good dining experience. I didn't really care much for tuna tartare we had as an appetizer, but main course was great. i had the gnocchi, which was pretty tasty, but my boyfriend's crab spaghetti was DELICIOUS! I think next time I'm definitely ordering that. Tiramisu for desert was yummmmm. The waiter was very attentive and made several suggestions, and I loved the whole ambiance of the restaurant. We'll definitely come back.
(4)Kate W.
First, a disclaimer: the 5 stars are only for the happy hour - I haven't been there for anything else. Barolo has TWO happy hours per night (Mon-Fri) - 3-6:30 and 10-close. I think this is one of the best happy hour deals in Seattle - the only thing that would make it better would be if the earlier happy hour ended a bit later. The $14 bottles of wine are delicious, and the half-price food is amazing. A fantastic buffalo burger with fries for $5?!? The mixed antipasto plate was also great ($6.50!) and included salumi, roasted veggies, cheese, and olives. Yum! Also, see how the late happy hour is 10-close? Well, one memorable night we went to the early HH at Barolo, then to Black Bottle for dinner, and then BACK to Barolo for the late HH. We were the last ones in the restaurant and they didn't make us feel unwelcome at all. (My hangover the next day, however - THAT was unwelcome.)
(5)Sarah S.
Oh Barolo, your happy hours are the happiest hours of my work week. It's impossible to resist, considering it lasts from 3-6:30pm and then starts over again at 10pm. $14 bottles of red or white wine, and 1/2 off their bar menu. The 1lb of mussels could use a little more... garlic? salt? don't know, but the hanger steak ($7) is the bomb-dot-com. As is the antipasto or cheese plates, and the buffalo burger. UPDATE: I am completely addicted to the buffalo burger. Also sampled the escargot (thought it would benefit from salt) and the octopus (probably wouldn't order again). Also a fan of the rigatoni when I'm in the mood for pasta- but do not recommend the spaghetti. There is always something off about the service. I haven't been able to figure it out- but something always kind of goes wrong. I'm still willing to chalk it up to the fact that they're always totally swamped and that people are constantly coming and going and hard to keep track of. My friends and I have rarely left this place without drinking at least 3 bottles of wine- which means we're there for hours. Which is another good tip- get there early, 'cause the bar fills up super quick.
(4)Antonio G.
The food was great as was the service. Definitely one of the best Italian places in Seattle. Loved the fact that they serve espresso corretto.
(4)Jennifer C.
In my humble (heh!) opinion...one of the best restaurants in Seattle. I could detail all the dishes I've had, but suffice to say I've been here many times, eaten many things, and I've never been disappointed by the food. Service is excellent...you don't have to dress to the nines to be treated with the utmost respect. Prices are reasonable for the food and experience, not to mention the elegant yet not fussy atmosphere.
(5)Yiling W.
Went for Dine Around Seattle deal, the place was hoppin' and the energy was good. The pasta was tasty, the rest was quite good. I'd probably go back for a happy hour for the classy atmosphere, and maybe back for a full dinner if I felt like splurging. Service was good. Chandeliers are fun, check out the faux one next to the (nice clean) bathroom too.
(3)John Z.
Like everyone says...get there EARLY for happy hour! Happy hour prices are half off the menu which is a great deal for the area. We started out by ordered the Cuore di Romana grigliata [Grilled Romaine Heart with Caesar Dressing and shaved Reggiano]. Wow what a unique flavor! The romaine with the char-broiled flavor of the grill married to the house Caesar salad dressing; fantastic! I'll have to admit I was a bit hesitant in trying this, but thanks to my friend [which has dinned here before], I pleasantly surprised. If you decide to visit Barolo's this dish it is definite must try. Next we also ordered the Saltata di Frutti di Mare [Mussels Sautéed in Chardonnay, Olive and Garlic], and the Calamaretti alla Griglia [Marinated and Grilled Calamari]. Both were very delicious and nice portions [a pound of mussels]. I'll have to admit that the grilled Calamari hasn't topped Lola's Squid Kabobs [see my review on Lola's], which is my personal benchmark for grilled squid; but they were good none the less. We arrived at the restaurant about 4:30pm and by the time we left the place was jammed. There were so many people hovering about [waiting for a table to open-up] I probably could have sold our table for $20. Anyway...we had 4 dishes and 3 drinks for just under $40! Hard to beat that price and caliber of food. Definitely going on my best happy hour list!
(4)AmBrigity W.
Num num num num num. My goodness. I have been here on many a Happy Hour.... it's an amazing menu and an almost unbelievable price. THE GOOD: Their ever chancing meat & cheese platter is almost as amazing as the organic hanger steak with barolo sauce... which at $7 for happy hour is WELL worth the price. The entire Bar Menu on the website is 50% off from 3-6:30 and 10-close. I've loved (HH = Happy Hour): Mixed antipasto plate (HH) One pound of sautéed mussels (HH) Organic hanger steak with barolo sauce (HH) Pork Tenderloin (Dinner) Mushroom Rissotto (Dinner) Organic lamb burger (HH) Seared cape cod scallops. Wild mushroom sauce (HH) THE AMAZING: $14 bottle of wine during Happy Hour... I have never met one I hated! THE BAD: It's a nice restaurant... which means it is small portions and rather expensive for a non-foodie. Grilled caesar salad - giant grilled romaine (not cut) with cheese and dressing. Not impressed. House Made Sausage of some sort I order ed as a dinner... it wasn't as good as other items and was dry when I got it. THE UGLY: Don't expect it. The staff here runs around in black bra & panties! (Kidding) But seriously, don't show up in your sweats or be a sweaty loser trying to pick up one of the models that work here. That's just annoying.
(5)Junzha L.
Funny thing about the hate I read about this restaurant, I too was expecting pretention, but got nothing that resembled it! The main dish is to die for, service here is the best I've seen in the city, you do indeed get what you pay for. My only PERSONAL peeve (why 4 instead of 5 stars) with this place is the portion sizes, but everything else is just top notch.
(4)C Y.
Great Italian food from a real Italian family. Expect downtown prices for dinner but they do have a great HH at their small bar.
(5)Vivian S.
I love this place! Best lamb burger in town!!!
(5)Henry L.
Sounds like this is the spot for happy hour, but I missed that by a couple of hours last night. We were walk-ins and they gave us the what is typically considered the worst table in the house -- closest to the door in the middle of the dining room. That wasn't going to stop us from trying a new restaurant so we ventured forth and perused their menu. We chose two appetizers and two entrees: antipasto, grilled calamari, fettucini with rabbit, and ossobuco. The antipasto plate was pretty meh. The grilled garlic was burnt. The first piece of garlic I had was pretty good, but by the second and third piece it tasted of smoke. The cold meats were ok, not terrific. I was expecting higher quality meat from some place like Salumi. The cheese was the stand out on the plate, but overall poorly executed. The grilled calamari was also another mess. When calamari is grilled and marinated correctly it's full of flavor. At best I would call their grilled calamari bland. Given the lackluster appetizers, I was surprised that the entrees were all much better executed. The fettucini was al dente. The sauce and the meat intertwined very well. The ossobuco was mostly tender and mostly juicy -- though I had a few bites that were tough and dry. Strange that the entire thing wasn't consistent. The marrow was also easily scooped out for some extra flavor. Overall, I thought Barolo was just an ok experience. It feels like a L.A. restaurant in Seattle. It's a little overpriced and the consistency is well, not really there.
(3)Hannah L.
Went to the 3 for $15 lunch, and have also been to Barolo for dinner before. They have a great menu and wine list (I'm a rosé fan, and the one they have is stellar!), and a funky, modern space that's about as inviting a one as you can find on Westlake. The huge mirrored wall at back helps create the illusion of spaciousness while still keeping the environs intimate. My dishes were good: prosciutto e formaggio appetizer, risotto with Gorgonzola and Barbera, and a chocolate tortini for dessert. But prosciutto is merely presented, not created in the restaurant. The risotto was tasty, but lacked enough Gorgonzola richness for me, and wasn't anything I couldn't have made in my own kitchen just as well. The chocolate tortini was really a tiny molten chocolate cake. Again, good, but nothing exciting. Although my dinner visit was months ago, I remember being much more impressed the first time, especially by their tomato sauces (which are my test of any Italian restaurant). Maybe I'll head back again for dinner or the excellent happy hour. It's good enough to be worth another try: service is good, candles are impressive, and parking is usually straightforward in the area as long as you're willing to walk a few blocks. Plus, a little outdoor space...for summer!
(3)Richard D.
My wife and I, as many of our neighbors do in The Olivian, visit This restaurant on a Sunday evening when it 's not as crowded and you can get a seat at the bar. Great happy hour. Last night we ate in the dining room. We had forgotten what a great dining experience it is. We shared an artichoke as a starter. I had a pasta carbonara and my wife had gnocchi with mozzarella. Everything was great and our server was knowledgeable and personable. If you want a really good Italian meal, this is the place. It's not cheap but it's worth it.
(5)Erin F.
Everything was amazing. Especially the spaghetti with crab and gelato Salato (I thinks that's what it was called .... Vanilla gelato with olive oil and sea salt). Service was also exceptional.
(5)Yat G.
5/5 Service 5/5 Food 5/5 Ambience Remarkable Service, well appointed interiors and modern italian food. Definitely try out the Beef carpaccio & always keep room for the Canoli ! Jason is one of the managers and takes great care of the guests.
(5)Cathy N.
Went here for my birthday with my best friend awhile back. The atmosphere is so nice, classy, and relaxing. The food was delicious and service was excellent. I had the Saltata di Frutti di Mare (Clams and mussels sautéed in chardonnay, olive oil and garlic) and the Penne con Salmone e carpaccino di Capesante (Penne pasta, yukon river smoked salmon, grilled wild scallop carpaccio, light cream). So delicious. I would definitely come back.
(5)Carly L.
$11 plus tip got me: A glass of rose splitting an anitpasto plate of cheese, meat, tomatoes, veggies... as well as a delicious bowl of pasta with homemade ragu sauce. Both were the BOMB. Love this place. I will be back.
(5)Tristan S.
Came here for the first time a couple days ago and was very impressed. We had escargot and baby octopus bruschetta for starters and we split one order of lobster tail risotto for the main course. We also had a bottle of one of their Nebbiolo wines (a variety of wine we hadn't had before). The food and wine was all excellent, and the service was good too. They even brought us the risotto on two plates, with equal parts of lobster tail on each and with the shells on the side for presentation. I really liked the risotto--it was exactly al dente and had a good flavour, without having too much salt like a lot of restaurant risotto does. I was also happy to find that we were able to hear each other well despite the fact that the restaurant was totally full. Decor was nice too, except that I could see the McDonald's across the street from my table. :P We will definitely be back.
(5)Jonathan R.
I've been here a million times for Happy Hour and always had a great time. I love the Scallops. Recently I went there for the first time as a dinner patron. Our reservation was for 9, we were late but called first to tell them we'd be late and we arrived at 9:10 and were seated by 9:25. Not bad. However, the life and personality-less hostess and eurotrash milling about was enough for my favorite HH place to drop to a one star. Dr. Jekyll type stuff. No standard hostess to customer small talk; no enjoy your meal, not even so much as a smile. Dead behind the eyes, too. Alright so we're seated and the cutest person we'd all ever seen came over and was our waitress. A gorgeous girl who I'd seen before at the HH and was always especially nice only now she was about 7 months preggers and as polite and as sweet as it can get. Maybe the best waitress I've ever had. After she came into our lives we forgot about the wait and the horrible hostess. Food was good as expected and the tiramisu was great. I had cheesecake but it arrived hot which was pretty gross. Once I let it cool down it was alright, but I'd skip it and go for the tiramisu.
(4)Elizabeth J.
I just have to reiterate how much I LOVE Barolo. Met up with another couple yesterday after work during their happy hour, just hoping to get a glass of wine. Of course, being such a popular place, there weren't any seats immediately available at the bar. We waited no more than 4 minutes for a spot to open up. Of course, we were starving and wanted to order off the HH menu. Our party of four ordered the mussels, the veal carpaggio, one order of hanger steak, two orders of the lamb burger and the rigatonni. Oh, and we shared a bottle of their new Pinot Noir. The bill came to be just over $58 (not including tip). Amazing deal, considering how much we were able to stuff ourselves with great food and alcohol.
(5)Matt R.
Their happy hour is so money. Their Hostess dresses like a tramp. Fish nets and knee high boots. But that's ok............. Don't waste your money going for dinner (wayyyyyyy over priced)- check out happy hour- 3-6:30. $14 dollar bottles of wine (red, white and rose), half off apps, $ glasses of wine and $4 pints of beer.. The Antipasto is unreal- and only $7.50 during HH! The Hanger Steak is only $7 during HH, and the Tuna Tartare is awesome- as is the Veal Carpaccio. I can't wait to go back for HH. It is super cheap and super good.
(5)Zachary Sam Z.
In the quest for Happy Hour prices, my party of 7 managed to cram in the back corner of the bar. According to the waitress, it was the largest group that had ever squeezed into that back corner! What can I say, she knew the way to my heart. I love to win. I also love Happy Hour prices, and Barolo had some really great deals. 50% off everything on their bar menu, and tons of great choices to choose from! I was amazed by the variety of calamari (grilled, fried, etc) on their menu; but the fried was the best option. Other winners were the prosciutto plate and the escargot. Definitely make sure you have plenty of their bread - you'll need it for the prosciutto, and for the remains of the escargot butter! I also opted for a non-HH item, the Risotto ai Funghi / Mushroom Risotto. It was only $5, so it felt like a Happy Hour treat! It was a tasty way to end the meal. It's a great happy hour destination!
(4)Alice R.
I had the pleasure of dining here with a group of 4 great friends which was perfect since we shared and got a taste off of everyone's plates. My favorite was the veal scallopine. So divine! We also ordered the rack of lamb, house ravioli and gnocchi with pheasant. We also had the calamari and escargot to start. The escargot was dissappointingly bland and needed salt. Otherwise, both the lamb and gnocchi were almost as good as the veal. I wasn't a fan of the ravioli which was stuffed with mahi-mahi. I just didn't agree with fish/pasta thing. For dessert, we shared the creme brulee and poached pear which was ok. The creme brulee was standard fare. No big whoop. The only thing I liked about the poached pear was the hazelnut gelato. But there were other dessert options that may have knocked my socks off, I'll have to go back and see. Service here was excellent. Our waiter was very sweet and made wonderful recommendations. He knew when to check on us, but didn't hover and when we needed anything, it seemed he appeared just in time. I do have the mention the decor. The lit marble bar, mirrors, chandeliers and dripped wax candles make of a cozy and seductive ambiance. All in all, it was a good time. I wouldn't mind coming back here for their happy hour specials. The parking in this block of town REALLY sucks.
(4)Jocelyn A.
Went for Happy Hour and shared five small plates and a bottle of wine. I think if I had never been to the sister restaurant "List" I would have given Barolo five stars. It is a great deal for good food...BUT...not as good as List. List is slightly cheaper and slightly better. The Hanger steak was the best plate I tried. Eggplant and ravioli are also very good. I would pass on the antipasto and the tuna carpaccio.
(4)Angela C.
I have been here a number a times now and each time I come here, I always enjoy the food and atmosphere. This place has one of the best happy hours in Seattle. Be forewarned however - HH starts early and the bar area gets crowded REALLY FAST so make sure you send someone here early to scout out a table. By far my favorite thing to eat here is the rigatoni pasta, which is AMAZING. I highly recommend it. I also love their grilled caesar salad, but I would recommend that you tell the server to really grill the leaves. It adds a smokiness to the flavor that is just really yummy. The caprese is always fresh and delicious. I also enjoy their house made ravioli. This place is definitely on my list of favorite HH places to go in Seattle.
(5)Ivan M.
whoa! happy hour here is pretty sweet. small-ish bar so get there early. my sister has been coming here for some time and suggested we hit this up for a quick bite before hoofing it up to elliot bay books (!) for a book signing. i'm not a wine drinker but my sister said it's a sweet deal for HH. i'm a big time food eater tho! from the HH menu we ordered (and by "we" i mean my sister): the hanger steak (nice and rare), calamari pasta (fave by FAR), tuna tartare (it was aight), grilled caesar (first time, it's ok), and tuna carpaccio. at 50% off during happy hour, i gotta say one of the best deals in town. we skipped a couple things that i wanted to try but i'll be back.
(4)Allison H.
The weather last week in Seattle was to effing die for! perfect night last week to have some delicious food with some of the most beautiful people in Seattle. Dinner reservations at 7:45 with my beloveds...so I am already excited. I have never had the food here only been here for wine. The space is beautiful. Kinda small when you actually walk around in there but its got beautiful decor and lighting...and a great looking staff. Two of my party guests have been here before and love it. They are two of my favorite people in the world and they have never steared me wrong :-). They put our party at the long back table...with the drapes... *romantic and drool worthy* Even with the front door open to the outside you couldn't hear the traffic. We ordered the Carpaccio, Calamaretti and Mozzarella e Pomodori for appertizers. Carpaccio is not for everyone....it's a disk of very thin raw meat....beef or in this case veal. The presentation was delicate but sexy. Very nice...perfect for two. The capers and arugola help cut the fat from the veal and the truffle. Don't puss out cause it's raw......your mouth will be so happy. Calamaretti alla Griglia....Fawk Yeah...grilled squid...sooo good. Not cut into little round and breaded...granted I like that when I am drunk but that is not squid. This is marinated whole bodies and grilled..perfect. I don't know what it's the marinade but I about pissed with joy. Mozzarella e Pomodori is beautiful and refreshing. They had golden and red tomatos. They are stacked with basil...almost like a Napolean. Drizzled with olive oil...I could litterally eat this all day with crusty bread and red wine...If I wouldn't get obese. We all ordered different items and kind really didn't share.....guess that means the food was good :-) I had the Branzino Con Verdue e patete.....seared sea bass with braised greens and fingerling potatoes....sounds effing outstanding doesn't it?!?!? The sea bass was delish...perfect portion of fish. Great flavor and not dry. Thank Goddess cause it's a beautiful piece of seafood. I could have done with more greens and potatos. They were great. Tender but not mush. They definatly cooked those suckers with good quality olive oil and butter. I think I was feeling a little hungry that night cause it was by no means a small portion...it was perfect but I was a hungery little brat. It's a beautiful spot with beautiful food. Not rustic Italian....very classy. Not expensive for the quality that you get.
(4)Luca T.
I have been here 3 times. The food is very good although not everything I tried deserved the same score. Some dishes were very delicious, some others simply banal even if the price remains high. Great atmosphere. The service is very friendly.
(4)Al M.
I loved the food, the place great wine list and outstanding service. Ordered the dine in Seattle menu - got the gnocchi - which was amazing. Creme brûlée for desert was lipsmacking good.
(5)Janice S.
One of my favorite places to go for great happy hour! This place is always packed during HH so expect to wait for a table or try coming early. I'm taking one star off for the majority of their snobby staff especially the people at the hostess desk. They will never look up at you to greet you. And when you do talk to them, they act like they are too busy to assist you. At least the food makes up for this. My favorite dish is the veal carpaccio with arugula salad and truffle melange. I could eat this salad all day. Light but flavorful salad with thinly sliced veal that melts in your mouth. The lamb burger with fries is amazing as well. Tender lamb meat with cheese makes this burger to die for. My first time eating escargot was at Barolo and it was a great first experience. They managed to cook this perfectly and is well flavored. A bottle of wine during HH is only $14 and always hits the spot. They actually give you the good stuff for an amazing price.
(4)Jess J.
Really great place for beautiful people in a lush atmosphere eating tasty food and gossiping about the sports cars sitting out front. Great happy hour as well to come grab a drink with a friend until a seat opens up at the bar. The lamb burger with both mozzarella and goat cheese is amazing and highly recommended.
(5)Joanie D.
I met a couple of girlfriends here last night and our experience made me realize how shitty customer service is in Seattle restaurants. NOT AT BAROLO THOUGH--it was SPOT ON! I was blown away by how attentive every single person was from the moment I walked in until we left and the very nice gentleman/possible mngr put my coat on for me! From the moment I sat down (half hour late mind you because my friends weren't there on time to check in for our reservations and I thought they would be). They didn't bat an eye. The waitress and other help were so polite, and clearly were going out of their way to provide impeccable service. Food was great--my cocktail not so much. Had an Italian lemondrop. It just didn't quite taste like the LD's I'm used to getting, not so lemony. Had a great glass of Sangiovese to follow though and that made it all better. My friends truffled ravioli with porcini mushrooms (i believe) was good but the pasta was a bit undercooked for their liking. I didn't try it but they said the flavor was delicious. I ordered a smoked salmon penne with smoked carpacchio scallops. It was pretty darn good. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Fornia U.
I have only been here for happy hour and I have never been let down. I am from CA and every time I have come to Seattle I havet come in for a nice bite to eat. To start off, if you come at the right time, there is never really a wait and the waitress is always so friendly and nice. The atmosphere is nice for groups or for that special someone, or just to catch up with someone. I have seen people come in with causal clothes or dressed up for a good time and everything looks just fine. The restaurant is very clean although the tables are slightly close together, but I don't mind this too much. As far as the food goes, I like so many things off the menu. Probably one of my favorite things off this menu is the grilled Cesar salad, it is so tasty and I haven't had a a kind of Cesar salad like this elsewhere. Whenever I get the salad I like to get the pasta as well. It just mixes so well with the salad. The lamb burger is always a treat if you are looking for a nice portion to fill you up and it has very nice lamb flavors to it. I I had escargot for the first time here and I enjoyed myself thoroughly since it was very buttery and didn't have a crazy price. People apparently like their escargot more salty, but I liked the way it was prepared with less salt and more buttery flavor. Lastly the house red wine is pretty good and I always end up drinking more than just one glass. A bottle is actually what I usually end up getting and I never regret it. Overall, I love this place and it has so many good memories so I would recommend it!
(5)Chloe H.
I love Barolo ;) I usually go there for dinner. I ordered some salad and pasta last time. Salad was very unique looking and taste was awsome! I recommend to go there weekdays because they get very busy on weekends.
(4)Soo L.
My friend and I stumbled into this place on a Friday night with no reservation, but the maitre d' found us a table anyways. I tried the tortelloni piemontese and spaghetti con polpa di granchio, and both were great. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauce on both were rich and delicious. I'll try HH next time, but the food and service is a must here!
(5)Natalie W.
Classy and gorgeous place to have starters, drinks, or entrees with friends- family- or for celebrations* We started my Bachelorette night with drinks and food at Barolo- perfect candlelight, tasty food, great atmosphere, and wonderful kind service- plus free drinks from distinguished gentlemen and congratulations from ladies who lunch!
(4)Rob C.
white table cloth place. lunch special $18 with prosciutto (aged 2 yr), spaghetti puttanesca, and cannoli. good ingredients and execution.
(4)Nana L.
Love the feel and the decor. Classy but casual. Awesome happy hour deal. Great selection of yummy small dishes and wine. In particular, $14 for a bottle of wine. Hell yeah. But the place fills up pretty quickly for it. We had to sit in the outdoor seating area because their bar was pack full. Fortunately, there were heaters to keep us warm. Tasty food. Amazing desserts. Pretty and delicious. What's not to like?
(4)Iris M.
Happy Hour was pretty tasty. Went here last night with a group of friends and everything was delicious. Happy Hour is from 3-6:30 p.m. and it is half off the bar menu, $3.5 for select glasses of wine, $14 for a bottle, $3 for pints only at the bar. Also, they do not split checks at the bar, but do run multiple cards. We had: Eggplant Parmesan- It was tasty, but a little salty for me, but I'm not too crazy about salt. My girlfriends thought the salt-level was good. Veal Carpaccio with arugula salad- This was my favorite dish of the night. The thinly sliced pieces of veal were divine and melted in your mouth. It was paired well with the peppery arugula and was accompanied with capers and good quality crumbly cheese. Lumache Baked Escargot- We saw the table next to us have this and when they brought it out the bar smelt awesome so we had to get an order for ourselves. $6 for 6 buttery, earthy escargot is a really good deal. The server gave us extra bread to soak up the buttery goodness. Rigatoni Pasta with Beef and Veal Ragu- Pasta was cooked al dente. Pretty standard rigatoni. The wine was good and the service was good considering how busy it got later. I'll be back for dinner sometime.
(4)Justin H.
Service was ok but then again it was a Sunday night they should not have a problem having good service. Went for a birthday party so we had to get a 4 course meal. the appetizer plate pretty much consisted of a lunchables style meat and 2 olives... the "salad" was just a lettuce stick with some kind of sauce that was not good and big cheese flakes. Try to avoid the salad if possible. For the main course I got the spaghetti with rabbit meat. Rabbit meat was not that great but the spaghetti was good. For desert i had creme brulee it was a decent portion but its texture was not up to par. Over all the service and food did not reflect the price as I could have gotten much better quality else where. In the future I think I will stick to Cheesecake Factory. A return visit in the future seems very unlikely. Live happily and eat well fellow yelpers.
(1)Theresa V.
The food and the service was amazing !!!
(5)Susan C.
Discovered this funky cool place last Restaurant Week for their prix fixe lunch. Love the vibe in the place, with lovely sheer curtains and crazy candle-wax melted candelabras. Service was superb (they all seem to be good-looking, too). Food was a delight. Brought a friend recently visiting from LA and he was also impressed. We groaned over first bites before really digging in. Presentation is lovely without being pretentious, and every dish I've tried has been a feast in my mouth. Don't freely hand out the 5-star rating, but this place has earned it. Looks like their happy hour is good, too, and that may be my next visit.
(5)Matt M.
One of my favorite restaurant stops when I'm in Seattle. Very creative, fresh, and tasty food!
(5)Patrick L.
I can't speak for their regular menu, but happy hour here is such a good deal! There's a wide variety of food offerings on the 50% off happy hour menu, as well as some pretty good house wines, which we ended up consuming two bottles of. Everything was great from the ahi tartar to the veal carpaccio and ahi carpaccio. Even the free bread is tasty. Can't wait to return for some more HH!!
(4)Mini P.
Came here last week for my boyfriends birthday and I still give it five stars. I was able to call mid week and make reservations for 8 pm, pretty busy time for Belltown. We get there at 7:55 pm, were seated within a couple minutes. I looked around and saw that the bar was completely packed. Lots of older men with younger women, no assumptions made! We were seated on the other side of the restaurant, where it was much quieter. We ordered our wine and appetizer within a few minutes of being seated. There is a great variety of wine to chose from fyi. Our appetizer came within five to ten minutes of ordering. Perfect, because we were really hungry! We ended up getting the Caprese Salad this time and they even split it into separate plates for us, which was very generous. I ended up ordering the Totelloni alla Piemontese, which is basically a hand made ravioli stuffed with mushrooms and a truffle sauce. Sooooo good! My fiance (he proposed that night) ended up with the Rigatoni al ragu' d'Agnello which is a lamb ragu, also super good. That was plenty of food. We are surprised that they even have the main courses after this! Maybe they are meant for sharing. For dessert, we ordered Cuore di Cioccolato, perfect amount for our already stuffed appetites! We were done with everything within an hour. Service was excellent and when they picked up our silverware from our dishes, they actually brought us replacements! Will come back here and I definitely want to try Happy Hour from all the great reviews! Another thing I want to mention is how awesome their valet service is. We walked outside the restaurant and the valet gal asked if we needed a car. We mentioned taxi and the girl sprinted around four blocks to go grab a towncar. What service! We tipped her extra, just for that.
(5)Lisa F.
Just tried this last night for a special occasion dinner. It was a bit disappointing. The food was good, but not outstanding and my fellow diners said their veal was overcooked and tough and they had better tuna tartare and risotto elsewhere. I had the grilled calamari and the rigatoni with lamb ragu. The entree was fine but light on sauce and meat. The calamari was very garlicky but cooked properly. Parking is really challenging so we all valeted for an additional $7. Service was a bit slow, but we were a party of 6. Still it took half an hour for them to bring out coffee and 3 desserts. And if there specials, no one ever mentioned them to us. It was also very loud inside both music and acoustics, hard to carry on a conversation without yelling across the table. I think Il Terrazzo is a much better Italian restaurant in this price point both in food and service. I guess maybe we should try again for happy hour, at half price I'd be a bit more impressed.
(2)colin m.
food was very good, the service was extremely slow.. A little pricy
(3)JP M.
Very nice. They found us a table without a res and then asked about our evening plans so they could pace dinner. The bread and tampanade were top notch and lots of it. Both pasta dishes were excellant. Overall food was good+ and service was super! App + dinner + wine for 2 was $75. Pretty good value for the Westlake area.
(4)Anne F.
I love barolo! Italian friends invited me there the first time. Since then I organized 2 business lunches there. I brought new friends in. And I usually go alone when i want to have a nice spinach lentil soup or enjoy their rigatoni bolognese. Also their tiramisu is very good. But I have been trying to have a sugar-free diet, so I have been avoiding ordering it. Today I ordered also the plate cheese, which is tasteful. The waitresses and waiters are always nice and offer good service. I already went to spinasse and I must say that I prefer barolo, because it has a better price/quality relationship and the service is better. The waiters and waitresses are nicer than at spinasse. I would recommend barolo to anyone: friends and business contacts.
(5)Rick I.
I have eaten at Barolo on over 10 occasions and all have been excellent except for the last one. Their pastas are great and the grilled caesar is the best in town but stay away from the vegetarian panini. It was advertised as "grilled eggplant, roasted peppers, goat cheese and basil pesto". What I received was not that and it was not good. The grilled eggplant was there, roasted peppers as well although not really roasted and no pesto and no goat cheese! Instead of goat cheese and pesto the sandwich had mayo and fresh tomatoes - not at all what the menu said. I mentioned to the waitress that this sandwich had no pesto on it and she seemed completely surprised and did not appear to know that it was supposed to have it. She offered to bring me some on the side which she did - 10 minutes later. The restaurant was practically empty but apparently she had more interesting things to do like spend time talking to people in the bar! Overall the service was slow and inattentive which was surprising considering their were only 6 tables filled in the dining room. When I mentioned my displeasure to the hostess she politely offered to take it off my bill which I refused as I did eat it. I would have returned it but since our waitress was no where to be found and I was hungry and needed to catch a flight I ate it after scraping off all the mayonnaise and non roasted vegetables! I am going to assume that was not their normal chef because this sandwich had no business being served. Will I go back to Barolo - yes it has never disappointed me before but this trip did leave a bad taste in my mouth - no pun intended!!
(3)Jason C.
I get the vibe that Barolo is trying to hard to be "rustic Italian". The place feels like it's on the verge of flipping into a night time lounge with jacked up dubstep as a soundtrack. Confusing ambiance aside, the food here is decent but not stellar. For rustic Italian, Cascina Spinasseis not that far away.
(2)Chris A.
It's been awhile since I've been to Barolo but had the chance to go back there recently. I'm sure this review will be a little biased as I was with some excellent company that surely helped the overall experience. :) First of all, for lunch, I absolutely love this place. It's not crowded and the service is pretty spot on. Also it's only a couple blocks from the shopping and retail district which provides an excellent option to say for example, Nordstrom Café or Il Fornaio ....but makes you feel like you are away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. I love the layout....singular long hallway lined with tables with a few indents of more tables with the bar on one end and the bathroom on the other. My friend, being vegetarian ordered the lentil soup and Barolo salad (see pics). The food actually looked really good and her feedback was that both were. I ordered the fish of the day (swordfish) and it was just the perfect portion. I topped it off with a couple glasses of vino - Chateau Saint Michelle cab (just ok) and an Italian Montepulciano d'Abruzzo which seemed to end the meal well. As mentioned I was with some very enjoyable company so I liked the experience all that much better. I'd say this place would work great for a fairly intimate business meeting, date spot, or with a small group of friends.
(4)Adriana K.
Excellent happy hour. My friend had recommended it and we were not disappointed. I was thoroughly confused with the directions my phone gave me to the place - it was actually around the corner from the address it is listed as. The modern chic interior with amicable waitstaff paired nicely with 1/2 price bar food during happy hour. We shared a platter, and I tried the ravioli (my friends a wedge salad with soup, and eggplant parmesan). It was a bustling scene, but nice that we weren't rushed once the 6:30 happy hour was over.
(4)Oliver S.
I came to Barolo for Restaurant week and I had a very pleasant experience. I ordered the: Zuppa alla cream di salmone con mais (salmon corn chowder) Costolette di maiale con risotto (short ribs with risotto) Sorbetto (sorbet) The names of the dishes seem overly snazzy (I noticed this as I was typing them out), but the atmosphere and service are less stuffy. The hostess and server were warm and catering. The place seems very conducive for an intimate outing (between friends, significant others, etc.)... The salmon chowder was good but not outstanding. I would have tried one of the other options if given the chance. My friend tried the beet salad as an appetizer which was apparently delicious. It looked pretty enough. The short ribs were delicious. The meat from the ribs slipped right off the bone and the taste was well complemented by the Risotto. The presentation was pretty. I would get this dish 3 more times before even thinking of trying another dish. It was that gooooood! The Sorbetto was flavorful(!) and I could definitely taste the fruit. Those who like sugar will enjoy the Sorbetto dessert offered at Barolo. Overall, a good dining experience. I'm a fan and would definitely want to go here again.
(4)Diego S.
Oh my... The happy hour menu was delicious! We started w/bottle of red wine & grilled calamari... amazing! Than we had the veal carpaccio with arugola salad and truffle mélange, and organic hanger steak with barolo sauce. Can I just say I wanted to keep the flavor of the grilled calamari in my mouth it was soo great and flavorful! I personally have never had grilled calamari and I was blown away by the grilled flavor, plus the sprinkling of the lemon over it. I'm a big BBQ person and it reminded me of summer time BBQ'ing. The music on the website is great also... check them out! Oh yeah per my girlfriend get there early because they fill up fast at the bar for happy hour and the tables go quick as well!
(5)Felicia C.
Very nice decor, intimate setting, good drinks and the food is tasty! I had a very nice time and recommend for small groups and dates.
(4)allan a.
This place has the best happy hour in Seattle and they have two of them (happy hour). Food is delicious. Prices can't be beat. Service is excellent.
(4)Paul S.
Barolo is a great restaurant and especially has a phenomenal happy hour that goes to 6:30 and a late night that I think starts at 9. Food is half price and they have decent house wine by the glass or bottle that is $14 (bottle). The lamb burger is the best I've had anywhere. I also highly recommend the steak, rigatoni, and prosciutto. The ambiance is ok but not great but the biggest complaint is that it is small and often you cannot find a place to sit. It is definitely a challenge if you plan to go with a larger group unless you get there really early
(4)Constance B.
One of the best happy hours in town. Half off food menu... I tried the escargot (first time!) and they were good (what?!) and my friend had the lamb burger (SO GOOD) and we each had a few beers and the total was only $30 including tip. UM, hello. I was full and happy. Tip- the word is out! The bar fills up fast. Ask (nicely) to sit at a table in the restaurant and tip well.
(4)Ray P.
Great happy hour menu. Nice place to hang out with friends...dark, casual atmosphere. Very limited seating so get there early or expect a long wait and possibly miss the happy hour time.
(4)Tom P.
Excellent antipasti appetizer. both pasta dishes were light and packed with flavor. The olive tapenade was terrific with bread. Great wine selection.
(5)H C.
Happy hour. Good. Had the fried calamari and hanger steak with a beer for less than $20.
(4)Laura P.
Last night, Valentine's Day, was my first time to Barolo, and i was very impressed! We had a reservation and were seated right away in a cozy corner booth table. Very romantic, even if i was just with my best guy friend. :) Unfortunately the waitress took a really long time to come back and take our wine order after we asked for a few minutes on deciding but it was V-day so, we let it slide. Fortunately the bottle of wine was superb, a Cab/Merlot blend. The set menu had a wide variety of options but we both opted for the Steak Tenderloin which was absolutely phenomenal!! It was definitely one of the best steaks i've had in a long time. The bite size sides of tomato, green beans, onion & polenta were great additions to the steak.We literally cleaned out plates! We ended up getting our desserts to go - i have to say the cheesecake was not impressive but dinner was so delish i didn't even care! Service was great and we didn't even wait more than a minute for our car to be retrieved by the valet. I definitely recommend this place for a fun, romantic date night and will most definitely return myself.
(4)Ken G.
Good food and service. Corkage of $25 during lunch just too high to stomach though.
(3)chris m.
The bar is one of the places to be seen in Seattle, which can be a lot of fun. The Ossobuco is extremely good, one of the best meals in the city. The guy who runs the place, whom I have never met, just radiants competence, which always makes me happy. The place is a little bit too trendy for me on some levels, but its definitely one of my favs. Other recommendations: The pasta with rabbit, and the poached pear dessert. Shy away from the cannoli, it sounds good but is their weakest dessert.
(5)Mark M.
Went there last nite with my partner. Was pleased we could get a table without a reservation and with no attitude, especially since I tried to call for a while before we went and the phone was continually busy--off the hook perhaps? Server was a little slow to acknowledge us but then became much more attentive and service was great for the rest of the evening. Enjoyed our first courses (different salads) but my partner's lacked a little. Both had pasta for our second courses. Mine was AL DENTE (caps intentional). I appreciate the importance of serving pasta, especially fresh pasta, al dente, but I really should have sent mine back. Michael had a lamb ragu but the seasoning was a little too sweet and the flavor of the lamb just didn't come through like I expected. Not sure I'd run back even though it's just a few blocks from our house.
(3)Stefanie F.
AMAZING happy hour. Their gnocchi is delicious and they have a huge wine selection. It's almost scary how low prices are for their happy hour menu in comparison to their dinner menu. Portions are close in size and you can order a bottle of wine for $14!!! Seriously! Definitely try the organic hanger steak too, it's sooo delicious. I've been there for both happy hour and dinner and was equally impressed with both experiences.
(4)Jacky A.
Cheers, $14 for a bottle of red/white during happy hour? Wine Drinkers, this is a place you will want to bring all your friends and have as many wines as you want! Strolling downtown seattle and looking for happy hour, I will never walk in this place if it is not happy hour! I will need to re mortgage my house (I dont even have one) if I come in and have dinner regularly. Happy hour food is in great portion, the atmosphere is very romantic, dark and mystery, with candle and wax set up on the bar table and beautiful blonde servers pouring wine for you. We tried Spaghetti with Squid, escargots, grilled cesar salad, grilled squid. They are all very oily but we understand. I will love to try their mussels next time when I visit, we had 4 dishes with dessert (gelato), only cost us $31 after tax. Reasonable? NO! Totally under price for what we are eating. We should have added couple wines while we were there too, but we decided not to, haha! The only reason why this restaurant is 4 stars only is because of their restaurant support stuff, we had couple plates on the tables with little left over from each plates, the busser keep asking us are we done with this and that, with the noisy music and the dark atmosphere, he can't hear us and keep taking our plate without letting us finish it, it was busy but I don't think that means he can take away our time from enjoying our food. Other than that, food and server are awesome, great location, just opposite of westin/ and mcdonald, great for tourist that stay in those hotels around it, OH hotel max just in the corner as well. I will love to go to this place again, but it is REALLY really REALLY dark place, I think i will try their outdoor seating next time when I visit, maybe it will be a better experience, well, that just mean that I will go soon since Seattle won't have warm weather after couple weeks! Wa La and Cheers!
(4)Fatima G.
Let me start with the important things....our server looked like Emmanuelle Chriqui (Sloan from Entourage) and really, who doesn't want that?? Okay now on to the food, this place just knows good happy hour. It's unfortunate that they only have happy hour at the bar though because we waited for 20 minutes before anything opened up...which would be fine, but staring at everyone's food made the wait pretty unbearable! The lamb burger and veal ragu were especially delicious. Why is it so hard to find a place that actually cooks their pasta al dente? I know that sounds so simple but we each commented on it like it was a rarity.
(5)T J.
Yeah its pretentious, but its supposed to be. Very modern almost French decor on the inside. Perfect for a romantic date; we went here for my wife's birthday and they had a little note for her when we arrived. Nice touch. The food is also incredible. The wife had the lobster risotto which I kept stealing from her plate because the flavor was so amazing. At $32 I was thinking "this better be a big dish" before it arrived. It wasn't huge, but the portion of lobster was quite large comparatively. They placed the fully excavated tail on top for you to see! haha Phenomenal dish. I got the veal shank. I usually try to avoid veal just because of the conditions they have to endure for their short lives, but I went all caveman and used the supplied mini-fork to dig out the marrow and all. Mmmmm. They even gave us a free dessert for her birthday. A full size one too. Great service and experience. Thank you Barolo. I will be sending Seattle visitors your way whenever they ask where to get good italian.
(5)Danielle L.
Wowee! We discovered this jewel a few months ago even though we literally live 5 minutes away. The review is only for the HH, as we have never been during their full service menu time (although we want to now!) The food during HH is amazing. They definitely don't skimp on the quality and portions even though it's HH. We've tried the Tuna Carpaccio which was very flavorful, the Rigatoni with Beef and Veal Ragu which was cooked to a perfect al dente, the Proscuitto plate which was pretty huge, and their Organic Lamb Burger which was oh so juicy. The best part? It is dirt cheap. If you go after 10pm, it's 50% off the HH menu price i.e. the Rigatoni is $6! And, the wine is $3.5 for GOOD wine, not the usually HH crap a lot of other restaurants serve. Also, service is always top notch. Great food, great price, great service, pretty small area for HH so get there right at 10pm (or for their early HH) if you can.
(5)Y N.
love Barolo Ristorante! this place is great for lunch, happy hour or dinner. the bar area could stand to be expanded, but it's not a deal breaker... sophisticated and authentic italian menu, huge wine list and great environment keeps me going back to Barolo for life!
(5)Jim M.
Terrific menu, reasonable prices too.
(5)Manesh P.
Interesting restaurant. Dark and candlelit with an interior that is a rather whimsical mix of modern design and beauty and the beast (read: chandeliers, drapes, and candelabras). The only negative part of the ambiance was the rather loud funk/easy listening instrumentals playing over the sound system. The food is italian through and through that is simple but well executed. The burrata with shaved fennel is one of the best dishes I've had in a while. The dungeness crab spaghetti is total comfort food. I wasn't expecting a red sauce and admittedly it might have overpowered the subtleties of the crab but it totally hit the spot as a meal. Wine list is huge, but rather affordable with a bunch of bottles in the $25 - $35 range, mostly from Italy.
(4)Tom B.
One of the better happy hours in Seattle, frankly. Sit in the bar if you can. Smart Italian menu, with a few surprises and preparations. Highly recommend the caesar salad, lamb burger, hanger steak (+1), and the bottle of happy hour red. Good wine selection all around, and did I mention half off bar menu during happy hour? Don't be put off if there's a Lamborghini parked outside the door, either. Definitely a pretty well-to-do crowd, but not one that I found off-putting in the slightest. Semi dressy, but you can definitely head in with your Sounders jersey on post-game, should you choose to do so. A regular hit with friends and business associates alike.
(4)Mike O.
Worst restaurant of our vegas seattle trip. Had the $30 special menu. Had mushroom ravioli which was bad. service was ok.
(2)Aaron E.
Barolo serves half a lemon wrapped in cheesecloth with their Calamari. It's a pet peeve of mine to get lemon seeds all over my calamari (or anything else I'm spritzing with lemon juice). Any establishment that takes the care and thought into doing this automatically gets 5 stars! Beyond the attention to detail in regards to their lemon, everything about Barolo is darn near perfect. Their ambiance is stylish, comfortable, and elegant, and the music choice is impeccable. It's not the kind of music I would normally listen to, but it's very conducive to a mellow, laid back wine bar. Similar to their sister restaurant List, their Happy Hour is divine! Their menu is half off and they have $14 bottles of house red and white. I continue to be amazed at the high quality of house wine they serve, and the price really can't be beat. Their regular wine list is also divine. The price points hit all income brackets and it's close to impossible to order a bad glass (or bottle). My personal favorite is the Soave. Their glass price is reasonable ($9 I think) and their pour is nice. They're not super generous, but they're far from stingy). The food is also divine (and at HH prices, can't be beat)! Their calamari (besides having the best lemon ever) is crispy, seasoned well, and is a very, very generous portion. Their lamb burgers have always been cooked to perfection and are served on slightly toasted, impeccable ciabatta bread. Their ravioli is hearty and comforting and is served with a slightly zesty marinara. The rigatoni with veal ragu is probably my favorite menu item. The ragu is so tender and melts in your mouth. Amazing atmosphere, fabulous food, and a winning wine list. Throw in some great prices and I'm Barolo's No. 1 FAN!! Can I move in?
(5)Tom F.
Three consecutive reservations and we've had issues getting seated at suitable table. This last we were very specific requesting a quiet table for an early dinner. Result was a booth in a noisy section. It took a few minutes to correct but we finally were seated where we requested. The food was OK but we won't be returning due to consistent seating problems.
(1)Suzanne N.
My husband and I went to Barolo for our 10th anniversary. The wine, appetizer (cheese plate) and salads (burrata, not sure what he had) were divine! However, my husband had the chicken saltimbocca and I had the dungeness crab spaghetti, and neither of us were blown away. We're pretty good cooks, and thought we could probably come up with something nicer...anyway, pretty place, formal dining without being snooty. We may go back..although with all the nice restaurants in Seattle, maybe not.
(3)John E.
Went to Barolo last night for a client dinner. I live about 3 blocks from the place, so this is about the 5th time I've been here, but this is the first time we weren't in the bar. Beet salad was a little small, but very very good. If you mixed the beets, salad and goat cheese together it brings the whole dish together. Nicely done! I had the spaghetti with crab. I thought it was weird sounding, but had just been to Gaucho the night before and was still having meat sweats from the 8oz filet.... It was great. In addition, they have a great wine list some really good Italian wines. It would have been a total 5 star experience, but our host tried to push dessert drink on us pretty aggressively. I'm saving my 5 star reviews for practically perfect restaurants.
(4)Nick C.
Happy Hour at Barolo is at a level unmatched in Seattle! Many items and have not had a dissapointment yet. Rigatoni, Hanger Steak, Lamb burger & prochuitto (sp) are all awesome. Service is friendly, fast and professional. Their HH wine is always excellent for the price. When I came for dinner recently the Osso Buco was devine! I'm going to try the antipasta plate next time as I've eyed it a couple times on other tables and it looks absolutely scrumptous. Thank you Barolo for staying on top of your game!!
(5)Matt M.
Barolo is hands down one of the best places to eat in Seattle. The staff is always attentive, the food comes out in a timely manner and is beyond delicious! Their happy hour pairs gourmet dishes with broke college kid prices and its a brilliant combination. The atmosphere is amazing and when you can get multiple entrees and a bottle of wine for under 50$ theres no reason to go anywhere else. I keep going back and I'll continue to do so. Rigatoni, steak, and even their grilled caesar is perfect.
(5)Jenny S.
So my boyfriend and I went there for our anniversary. I did made reservations which are a must on a Saturday night. Anyway our waiter was there quickly and was very helpful! We ordered the calamari for an appetizer which was very yummy! Then I ordered spaghetti with crab meat which was so good and my boyfriend had the veal both meals were around the 25 dollar range which I thought was a good deal but when we finished eating we were both still hunger! So maybe do happy hour instead of a full meal.
(3)Me H.
Been here twice and both times a total disappointment. Why I went back the second time I'm not sure oh yeah it was because I wasn't paying. First time I decided to start my evening with a dirty martini while enjoying my drink I finally decided on what to order for dinner and I'm shunned by the waiter because I'm going to drink a dirty martini and not have a glass of wine. He must have asked me three times what kind of wine I wanted and every time I said I'm fine with my martini and from that point on the evening went downhill. I order the mushroom risotto which was served with sea scallops. I know the menu stated the risotto is cooked 'al dente' but I'm sorry I shouldn't chip a tooth eating risotto that's how 'al dente' the stuff was. Plus it was awful, terrible and the combination of the mushrooms and scallops did not mix well in my mouth. So I ate the scallops and left most of the pebble like risotto on my plate. For dessert I went with the Crme Brulee which was actually pretty good but than again I think anything after the pebble risotto would have been good. During this visit the waiter decided to ignore me, never once asking me how my meal was, if I needed another martini, if there was anything else I wanted/needed but others at the table were all asked. I found this very odd and annoying. I guess I should have had wine with my dinner instead of a dirty martini. The second time I went I ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and than decided I'd have their spaghetti with fresh Dungeness crab again the waiter, a different one, asked me what wine I'd like to go with my dinner, I look at my over half filled glass of Pinot and explain that I'm happy with my wine I'm currently drinking. He too turned his nose up to me. Apparently I'm a bit trashy for this. The spaghetti was blah and the crab did not taste fresh from the market like I was hoping but there was plenty of it in the dish. I wasn't impressed either time with the food or the service, I doubt I'll be back for a third time even if someone else is picking up the tab.
(2)Steven W.
calamari is fantastic!! that's all i gotta say.
(4)Jacques L.
Definitely the best food, service and ambience in downtown Seattle. We went based on a recommendation from our hotel concierge and really enjoyed our dinner from the start. The room, music and crowd were quite elegant but not at all stuffy. Our waitress, Carly, was incredible and very attentive. The drinks were perfectly poured and came out almost immediately. As far as the menu, everything was excellent and beautifully presented, but the crab cakes and rabbit pasta especially stood out. Our dessert was also excellent, especially accompanied by a grappa from their extensive list.
(5)Nicole P.
okay... menu seems a little... um... off.ex: walla walla onions in march? won't say impossible, but a time machine might be needed to attain them at this point in the year. anyway, three of us sit down. boy oders escargot, hanger med rare. buddy and i get veal carpaccio to share and lamb burger. our carpacciao comes out... and is gone by the time his escargot arrives. our lamb burgers come out... and we try not to eat (waiting for his steak). and wait... then his steak arrives med well. we asked for it to be redone. and we wait. and it comes out past medium again. we were starving, so we ate it at this point. but really... it's a med rare steak. isn't that how they are usually cooked? and not once but twice. bummer. service was wonderful, price awesome... i'm not swearing the place off, but it's sorta a let down...
(3)Robyn R.
Great happy hour- the food we had makes me want to go back for dinner- and more happy hours. The clientele were typical people I want to bump against at the bar but only so they spill their drink. The service was great and the tall gentleman who floats around making everyone happy (host?owner?manager?I don't know?) made it seem like everything was working and on purpose.
(4)Jon W.
I went to Barolo for 30/30 and the first thing I noticed walking into the place, is that the bar was packed. This was around 6:15 on a Wednesday. Barolo was one of the few places on the 30/30 that had a number of things on their menu that sounded good. I ended up ordering the baby artichoke, wild boar and hazelnut gelato. The baby artichoke was good, but I felt could've used a little extra seasoning (salt). It was just a little on the bland side. I've never had wild boar before, and I was expecting wild boar to be a little more gamey than regular pork but it wasn't. Personally, I was a little disappointed by that since I wanted something a little adventurous. It was wonderfully cooked though and probably the most tender and juicy piece of pork (boar) I've ever eaten. The hazelnut gelato was nothing special, but was tasty and had just a hint of caramel flavor. My only complaint about Barolo's food was that the portions were a bit on the small side. If it wasn't for the bread and olive tapenade they kept bringing (which was very good), I would've walked away from the meal hungry. Other than that, we were seated at the very last table near the restrooms and the tables were a bit close and the waiter had to shimmy around my seat several times in order to get by. With the restrooms so close there was also a constant stream of traffic which didn't help any either.
(4)judy n.
upscale italian from the sons of Mamma Melina. unlike the homey atmosphere of Mamma Melina, Barolo is trying REALLY hard to be urban cool but the decor comes across as mere half-assery (oy, those chandeliers!). the food was good but also very expensive for what it was. "fegato grasso e fagioli": foie gras over crostini with cannelloni beans & thyme "risotta all'aragosta": main lobster tail risotto sure, it sounds like fancy food but the presentation & execution were conscientious but fairly mundane. the former was overly fussed with & the latter was a bit bland & overcooked. the upside is that our server was excellent.
(3)Karin J.
My lovely friends took me here for a birthday dinner recently. The gnocchi -- my benchmark for all restaurants that serve it -- was good, but did not make me swoon. The food was all fine but nothing I ordered was superb. One dining companion raved about the pork; I suspect there are few gems on the menu, especially the items with truffles. The waiter was great but the place is fancy enough that it seemed odd that no one offered to take my coat instead of leaving me to shove it on the shelf behind my head. I'll try it again for happy hour but probably would consider other options for a nice dinner out.
(3)Meghan M.
My boyfriend and I ate dinner here last Sunday and we disappointed with the food from beginning to end. Our server was charming the whole night and we had no complaints about her. She recommended a great wine, which we enjoyed, and it seemed the night was going well. We ordered the Foie Gras appetizer and were very excited for it, only to be shock beyond belief when it was delivered to our table burnt to a crisp. It looked like beef jerky that had been deep fried. We didn't eat the course and spoke to our server about our dissatisfaction, and she made sure it came off our bill. We asked if the foie gras was always prepared this way, or if was just a kitchen error. At first she said that yes, the foie gras is always prepared this way. Then as we were leaving she told us we should definitely return to try the foie gras again, that the chef usually prepares it "beautifully". I'm not sure if this was just an "off night" for the kitchen, or if they really think foie gras needs to be charbroiled, but we won't be returning to try it. I enjoyed my next course of pheasant polenta, it was delicious. I had the ribs next, and they pretty good. They were tender and not swimming in sauce. Unfortunately my boyfriend was as lucky. He did not enjoy the calamari or the gnocchi. We couldn't complain at all about service, but the food was below average. The reputation and atmosphere suggested we might be blown away.
(2)Calyn M.
Barolo only gets 2 stars because they have fabulous food. I went to Barolo yesterday for lunch with 4 co-workers. We had a reservation. This was my fourth time to Barolo, and will definitely be my last. Our waiter was terrible. I'm not sure what the problem was, but he would disappear and simply not return. Although we were seated at 12:40 pm, we did not leave until 2:20 pm. The food at Barolo is wonderful, but unfortunately I've experienced absolutely awful service every time I've been there. The waiters and waitresses seem to be very inexperienced, and our waiter yesterday expressed surprise ("oh, are you on a schedule?") when we asked him to please bring the check as soon as possible. A group of professionally dressed people out to lunch downtown at 1 pm? On a schedule? Go on! Save your time and money. The pasta, wine list, and pork are all wonderful, but you can do better elsewhere.
(2)John H.
Fine Italian food with a modern somewhat Americanized twist. Nice ambiance, not stuffy, with chandeliers and wax coated candlesticks, which help to create a unique atmosphere. Service is very good, even on a busy night (we went Valentine's eve) with extra tables added. The dishes came spaced just long enough apart. Portion sizes are good, but lack much of side dish components. Either way, the food is elegantly prepared and flavorful. The wine list is extensive, focused primarily on Italian wines. The only disappointing thing was the $25 corkage fee, higher than you see in even the most expensive restaurants. I hear the Happy Hour is one of the best around, so maybe a return trip a little earlier in the day.
(5)Kel S.
Plain and simple - The food is NOT good and the service was SLOW. We waited 30-35 mins between each course. We sat in the bar and the waiters excuse was the chefs cook the orders from the bar last. UNbelievable. When the food finally did show up it was not worth the wait. We ordered from the $30 pre-fix menu, we got the seared tuna and pork tenderloin - one word: BLAH. The pork had this strange gamy flavor and was not marinated. The tuna was edible but far from spectacular. And the portions - I thought I was in a Jenny Craig cafe or something. What a disappoint this place was and waste of money and TIME. Bad food, and poor service. One and done - will never go back.
(1)Savory S.
this is a review of happy hour only. i've been twice, and tried 5 menu items and a dessert. the prices are very good; half off bar apps and 3.50 house wine. i'm a big fan of elegant plates and quality ingredients at a discount price, and for the most part barolo delivers. i haven't been stunned by anything in particular, taste-wise, but the calamari was a fine version, light and crispy; the veal ragout just flavorful enough; the cheese plate skimpy but passable; the scallops a tad underdone (better than the contrary...); the hangar steak decent but unremarkable. i will go back to sample a couple last items on the menu before i give up, as i do like the ambiance, wine, service and most of all attractive and economical hh food. 1/13/10: went again this past summer and had the lamb burger for happy hour, including a side of truffle fries. really good, and a bargain.
(3)Chira V.
good price on wines for happy hour $14. i think it may have been half price bottles.... i remember ordering the clams. it lacked a little flavor but the scallops were good.
(3)Lauren F.
I think Barolo is fantastic. The antipasto platter is generous and delicious, the service is charming, the vibe is interesting, and the pastas are always perfect - the gnocchi especially. If that weren't enough, they have the best burger you'll find for $5.00 during happy hour. Seriously, it's unbelievable.
(5)Katherine B.
I hate to be predictable, but this was a huge let down. Pluses include- the ambiance (a huge plus), the lighting (dim enough), and the service (extremely helpful and quick to comp dessert when mistakes were made). Minuses include - the food. I requested my filet mignon be prepared medium and it came back charred with zero pink to be found. My chocolate souffle was barely warm. Because the service was so excellent I'm going to give this place one more shot, and I'll be sure to try their gnocchi, which everyone else seems to rave about.
(3)tracey s.
We have been to Mamma Melinas more times than you can count and were very excited to try out Barolo. Could not have been more impressed. The decor and ambiance were to die for. The menu was amazing; especially the wine list. We were there with a party of 6 and 5/6 of us were overwhelmed by our meals. The gnocchi was by far the best. The only complaint was over cooked shrimp which is always difficult to do well. We can't wait to go back! Congratulations to the three brothers who have done an excellent job doing upscale Italian!!!
(5)WineCOW B.
Upscale metropolitan dining meets old-world hospitality in Seattle's Barolo's Ristorante. From the family that brought you famed Italian restaurant Mamma Melina in Seattle's University District, the Varchetta brothers now bring another iconic eatery to downtown. This location, noticeably more upscale than family friendly Mamma Melina's, still provides a flavor of Italy's northern region but in a much more contemporary setting. The interior is a thing of beauty, with style and design comparable to any modern art museum, but the friendly staff and lively conversation definitely make it much more inviting. The white candles, candelabras, curtains and chandeliers contrast marvelously with the dark wood accents and interior. With numerous tables packed into such a narrow dining area things may initially appear a little too close for comfort, turning your quiet dinner into quite the public event, but once you sit down the setting actually becomes quite intimate. However, if you are looking to share a more public experience with family or friends then grab one of their elongated tables and enjoy your meal family style. The interior alone should be enough to bring you in for a cocktail and appetizer but the food is going to keep you coming back over and over again. Everything from the Italian wines and cheeses to the sumptuous pastas are a melt in your mouth taste sensation. Enjoy as many dishes as you can, sharing appetizers and entrees alike, because this food is to good to keep to yourself. Pour the wine, pass the food and enjoy a true downtown dining event with a touch of class and old world flavor!
(4)Francine N.
We were treated to dinner here and it was a great night out! The ambiance is fun & elegant and the service was the best I have experienced in a long time!! We were a party of 6 with 6 different bottles of wine and spending hours chatting at the table; each bottle change brought a new wine glass, each course of the meal dinnerware was removed and replaced smoothly and almost without notice. I really appreciate professional service like this-very enjoyable! To complete the package the food was very good also. We began with tapenade and antipasto- a nice selection of items. We were able to try each of the salads-all nice proportions, beautiful presentations and interesting, delicious flavors. The entrees were equally beautiful and delicious-gnocchi some of the best I have had; the scallops perfectly cooked married with perfect flavors; the crab spagetti could have used a little something but was still pretty good; the tenderloin was divine; the ravioli perfect! And dessert, well of course it was fantastic. Their gelato is to die for! Go and enjoy it!!
(4)Joy C.
You know, had I read these reviews first I might not have ever walked into this place, but it was Friday night and I was starving for Italian food and my friend had had a great time previously, so off we went. I first called ahead to see if we could get a table (it WAS 7 on a Friday night) and, not surprisingly, the hostess said that while she didn't have any tables available until 9:30, happy hour had just ended and the bar was clearing out and this would be a good time to have dinner there. I know her job is to sell the empty spots, but she actually sounded like she was trying to be helpful. We did manage to find an empty small table at the crowded bar. And yes, it's a very trendy place, dance beat overhead, urban crowd of beautiful tall people milling about (maybe it was just that night) but I've never felt more like I was truly from the 'burbs than while sitting there. It didn't matter though - our waitress was sweet and attentive and timed everything right. And the food was FABULOUS. We started with the all-evil fois gras and cannelloni beans. Simply heaven - just don't think of the duck/goose it came from. Then the grilled caesar salad - which if you've never had you simply must try. I may make it my goal to review all places that serve grilled caesars. Something happens to the romaine when it's grilled, and I can't really articulate it, but it was good. The dressing was tangy and salty and garlicky and there was just the right amount. My friend had the veal and I had the mushroom tortellini. We traded bites early on, and maybe because the tortellini was soooooo flavorful I found the veal less than impressive, but my friend really liked it. She offered me another bite later on that I declined, at which point I simply told her that I was NOT offering up any more of my tortellini. Greedy little me. I tried asking for seconds, but apparently it doesn't work that way. If I could have somehow gotten away with licking the plate I would have. We could have gone without dessert, but it was girls night out and we weren't ready to leave yet (in spite of the rude patrons hawking over our table), so we ordered the chocolate torte. Ahhhh, what a nice ending. It wasn't too sweet or too big - it was just right. I would have loved to have larger portions of everything but I left satisfied and not stuffed which is a nice change. The drinks were interesting - I tried this martini with some name I can't recall; it was grapefruit flavored with ruby Absolute and was, well, bitter. Drinkable, but bitter. I then ordered my staple, a perfect Maker's Manhattan, and it was just okay. Not at all as good as Fred makes it at Uptown China, but I'm particularly fond of his, so maybe I'm just being too picky. Not every bartender can be like Fred. We spent more money than we would have liked to, but we also left our waitress a large tip because she was so perfect and was working the whole bar. All in all, I'd probably go back if invited to go. It was great food, but not what I really look for in an Italian meal especially if I was craving a large plate of saucy pasta.
(4)Kalindi T.
Salvio and Leo, the proprietors of this super posh and wonderfully delicious new Italian hot spot have spared no expense. They brought in the glam New York design elements that are sure to make even the too sexy for their own goods comfortable, and yet, the ambiance is so chill that even your mom and dad will feel warm and welcomed. Salvio (Bon Gusto) and Leo (Leo Melina's) and Mama Melina's give these brothers a rich history and understanding of both the restaurant business and great food! And the vegetarians out there will be very well fed!
(4)Nicole F.
It's hard enough to find a place that has happy hour on Saturday and Sunday, let alone a place that's decent and not a dive bar in an armpit area in the city. That's why I was so pleasantly delighted to find Barolo. We went on a Saturday for happy hour--and thank heaven we got there early, because there wasn't a seat left in the bar by 4:30. The decor here is very chic and somewhat electic--we liked the vibe a lot. My husband says his co-workers at the Four Seasons rave about this place--which is why we went to check it out. We had great service and I loved the chill music that was playing in the background--not too loud, not too quiet--just perfect for conversation with those at your table. But the food? The food was amazing. I mean, incredible. We were so thrilled to have found a place that has really, really good happy hour food--not just fried crap. Thank you Barolo for making happy hour good again!
(4)Robert Stephen B.
Dropped in here for lunch on the frigid day before Thanksgiving. The place was moderately crowded, but I was seated immediately...table for one please! Not a great one for those tables that inch up next to the one next to it, I had to listen to a the couple's conversation a foot away which didn't add to my experience. Food was good if not spectacular. I had prosciutto which arrived without anything, i.e. cheese, compote. When I mentioned it, however, I was brough a perfect small place of two cheeses that set the whole thing off perfectly. I followed with scallops since they had no fish of the day, although that was not mentioned when I was presented the menu. The scallops were nicely prepared if a lttle skimpy. Lovely fresh bread was served with a bland tapenade. No ice tea available (?) so ordered hot tea. Overall, a nice but not outstanding experience. Would I go back? Yes, I'd like to try it for dinner sometime.
(4)Lisa W.
I'm a big fan of happy hour (social aspect, prices, etc) and this is one of my favorite happy hour spots in Seattle. It's not your usual chicken wings and fries type of place. Of course I think it's a somewhat upscale Italian restaurant, so that probably has an impact on the happy hour food and ambience somewhat. My favorite happy hour plate is the tuna tartare. And they have a grilled Caesar salad where the romaine lettuce leaves actually have the grill marking on them..it sounds odd but it tastes delicious. The wine is a decent price, and the chianti by the glass is a delight. For vegetarians, there is a grilled portabello and cannellini beans appetizer that is also very good. When the happy hour choice is up to me, I will pick Barolo 75% of the time!
(4)A B.
Really enjoyed this place. GREAT happy hour menu, great wait staff and really great bartenders. They're quick and make some delicious drinks.
(4)Dawn A.
I've also been to Barolo for HH... with Lisa W., per her suggestion. I had mussels and a grilled caesar salad (which Lisa mentioned is actually grilled) for half-price and was completely satisfied! I didn't see many mixed drinks on special and wasn't in the mood for wine so this didn't end up being the cheapest of all happy hours but I enjoyed the quality of the food! I also thought the space was neat. The bar has a different feel from the restaurant, though.
(4)Jean K.
*Addition: HOLY CRAP, the best late night HH menu in Seattle! Caesar salad for $3?! A full plate of gnocchi, calamari, steak and potatos for $5?! Insanity! You'll cream your pants...its that good! Finally, two southern brothers who decided that the whole marinara sauce and cheese thing has been overdone have switched gears and opened up this Northern Italian restaurant. The decor is just like how I want my house...long walnut communal table complete with what I think are alabaster candelabras, a really cool looking but make you feel like a midget black Louis IX knockoff at the end of the table and marble lit with lights on the inside. But the food! So far I've done a lot of eating off other people's plates and tried the tuna appetizer (yum) and some kind of string bean salad (good but huge), as well as the crab pasta (there's a mystery ingredient in there) and the lasagne (hope you like cheese and bechamel). I went there just last week and as I was eating the melt in your mouth gnocchi with a barolo meat sauce (order this), I heard what sounded like heavy slapping of a pile of dough coming from the kitchen. I have only seen this in one other place where they stretch and cut the noodles out by hand (by throwing them around and banging them on the counter)...I'll ask Leo (one of the brothers) next time I'm there. They have a full wine list, and I'm pleased to say with a list that is full of my favorite...Northern Italian wines. If you try any of those you'll be happy enough to go hunting for them in the store later. I did try the barbera which was a good buy for $6/glass. But who cares what I say, go there for yourself and bring a change of underwear.
(5)Natalie D.
Last night a coworker and I went to Barolo for dinner. I called and made a 8:15pm reservation and we didn't get seated until 9pm!!!!! Another couple we knew happen to be there as well and waited almost as long too. It was really unacceptable. The hostess is terrible, no guest service skills at all. At one point I went up to check an she said "Oh...yeah, your table...right, it will be just a few more minutes" like she had forgotten we were still waiting. The poor manager...you could tell he was embarrassed by the entire situation, he kept apologizing. When we finally got seated he sent over anti-pesto which was good. (They have a Gorgonzola cheese there that is to die for) My friend ordered the boar and I had the gnocchi. The gnocchi was like raw pizza dough...it was awful. I then ordered the risotto instead and that was great....Long and short of it, I would never dine there paying full price. We went for the dine around and felt like we paid to much for the mediocre service and hit or miss food.
(2)J H.
Couldn't have been better! Rachel was a terrific server, food was awesome - foie gras, fennel salad and tortelloni were all wonderful - fresh, handmade pasta and hot. Great wine selection. Place to be seen! Love the bread with olive and oil spread! Great menu choices too!
(5)dawn h.
Wonderful meal, service started rocky. Arrived at 8pm for my 8pm reservation. The hostess was a little flustered and said that the table was still occupied but the group was finishing their dessert and it should be just a few minutes. Waited in the bar and watched the crowed around the hostess desk grow larger and larger. Finally, 30 minutes later, was shown to a lovely corner booth. From there the service was excellent. Starters: veal carpaccio (v. nice), grilled calamari (a little crunchy, chewy). Wouldn't order either again. Salad: grilled romaine. Nice, lightly grilled, crunchy, not drowning in dressing. Pasta: gnocchi w/ pheasant, fettuccine w/ rabbit. This is were the meal really took off, the gnocchi was lovely, soft pillowy, the pheasant was very good. However, the fettuccine with the rabbit was amazing. I would definitely order this dish again. pasta was cooked perfectly al dente & the flavor was incredible. Meat: veal scaloppine, lobster tail risotto. The veal was good the but the risotto, again perfectly al dente and the flavor was swoon-inducing. Would be a hard decision to not order it again.
(4)Joe S.
Great Happy Hour. I love my happy hours in this town but I don't like mediocre food. I hate it when a restaurant will create a happy hour menu filled with crappy food just so they can charge dirt cheap prices. That is not the case here. I had a yummy baby octopus dish, a decent charcuterie plate, and good drinks. I need to come in and try the rest of the menu because I felt I already had a good preview.
(4)Michael B.
OK, first off, I'm not a fan of "hipper than you", trendy eateries. I'm more of a hole in the wall, mom and pop establishment guy. That said, Barolo is a very cool place. The decor is a mix of new world and old world. Like some gothic renaissance decorator decided to go modern all of a sudden. Service is friendly and not stuck up at all. Just be ready for some late nite crowds on weekends. Went there for drinks and bites with some good friends and was pretty impressed with the happy hour food, which was all 50% off. The Antipasta platter ($15/ $7.50hh) was excellent, with marinated and roasted veggies, a caprese tower, two types of salami and tender, sweet prosciutto, a slice of soft, heavenly gorgonzola, and a bulb of roasted garlic in the middle. The bread is good too, with the olive tapenade. The seared sea scallops($13/ 6.50hh) were delicious, and I wish there were more than 2 of them. Tuna tartare ($13/6.50hh) was melt in your mouth goodness. $14 bottles of wine were a steal, and $3 beers equally as good. We even had some dessert, which propelled ooohhhs and aaaahhhs from the table. The creme brulee was a symphony of delicate creamyness, and the poached pears with chocolate sauce and hazelnut gelato were ridiculoulsly good!!! If you want a good bottle of wine, talk to Jason and let him know what you are looking for.......the man knows wine! We had Lagone, a cab franc-sangiovese-merlot blend for $40, and it was quite delish. But, their wines are on the pricey side, mostly. Good place to go if money is no object. For you blue collar peeps, do the happy hour with friends in the bar, and enjoy the good life, for a reasonable price. 4.2 stars!
(4)jonas n.
Good food and service with authentic dishes that are hard to find in the US.
(4)Kelly W.
such a nice place to dine at. my friends & I found this place on yelp when we looked up restaurants & really did enjoy it! the place is really nicely decorated. the staff was really nice! I was nervous that they'd be snooty but our server wasn't at all! she was really helpful & genuine, I'm sad that I didn't catch her name! the complimentary bread is really good! I got the Penne con Salmone affumicato e asparagi which was $16+tax. it was REALLY good! I was nervous that the asparagus would take away from the taste but it didn't at all! if anything, the asparagus was the best part! this place is a hidden gem since it's located in a housing complex area (I believe.. I'm not sure my memory is working very well) but it is delicious! I highly recommend anyone get what I got (I really don't want to type it out again) or anything else b/c I'm sure that everything tastes just as amazing as my food did!
(5)Arie L.
Been here for srw, and it was a really good price for the lunch fare. My favorite couple took me out for happy hour. I had no idea this restaurant had the same owner as List (is this true? Someone please verify). We Ordered the veal with truffle arugula salad, lamb burger, lamb ragu rigatoni, ravioli, fried calamari... Happy hour is packed, and it goes from 4-630. Fried calamari and their aioli were my favorite, breaded just right. Calamari isn't rubbery or tough, fried perfectly. Lamb ragu was done marvelously, pasta al dente and sauce with meat overload. Just a comforting dish done well. The other items were good, but just not rave worthy in my opinion. I would order them again with friends but not by myself. The restaurant will be packed, especially this bar area for happy hour. So be sure to have the patience to wait and eat sitting elbow to elbow to one another!
(4)Bryan K.
Came here for Happy Hour on a Sunday afternoon and left full and happy. 50% off their extensive bar menu during Happy Hour. We had children in our party and they were nice enough to let us sit in the dining room. Of all the dishes we ordered, these were the stand outs. Ravioli w/ spicy ricotta and spinach, Eggplant Parm, Shoulder Beef Steak (so tender), Antipasto Plate, Calamari (2 orders). Couldn't get enough of the focaccia and tapenade. The restaurant is beautiful inside and service attentive. I love it when restaurants leave water on the table so you can refill yourself. Oh yeah... $14 bottles of wine during Happy Hour.
(4)Forrest R.
I come to Barolo quite frequently to enjoy there bar menu and happy hour. If you get the chance try there tuna tartare or there rigatoni pasta, both are excellent.
(4)Dembe N.
Tastefully managed place, food is not bad but could have been better. Hanger steak and various pastas are good. My wife likes the Happy Hour - good value but I have never been.
(3)Peter N.
Overall - a 2.5 star, but here's why: Ambiance - swaaaanky! This place is definitely for the cocktail dress and suit crowd. Dark, trendy music, and it seems like a good place for a special high-end occasion (birthday, impressing a date, stock jump, promotion). This of course, attracts a certain kind of people - pretty faces, perfect bone structure, nice physique, form fitting clothes, confidence. Intimidating, no. But I was admiring. Food - my favorite dish was the grilled calamari which I had as an app. Good flavor, great consistency - it was perfect. The other dishes were nothing to write home about - I had the lamb rigatoni, which wasn't bad, not didn't stand out to me. Pasta was fresh, but meh, didn't really fare it any better from any other Italian place. Wife had the fettuccine with dungeoness crab, which she enjoy, but it was a bit salty. Portions weren't huge, which brings me to price... Price - this is my biggest gripe. Portions were just right, but for the money, it wasn't worth it. $20 for rigatoni and some lamb cubes? $29 for pasta in EVOO and some crab legs? I've definitely had better Italian for cheaper. And that's the bottom line - who wants to pay more money for less quality? I certainly wouldn't, and for that, I wouldn't return here for dinner. Drink menu seems decent, and combined with the ambiance, it's a place I would drop by for a drink if I'm trying to impress. But alas, I'm married, my sweatpants are comfy, and I'm trying to be fiscally responsible - I don't have many occasions where I need to impress :)
(3)Kathleen C.
Came here for happy hour. Pretty busy even on a rando weekday. Waited probably 20 minutes for a table for 3. Bar area only. Happy hour = 50% off a lot of items. We ordered quite a bit of food and a couple drinks. Was around $25pp. Nothing we ordered was good enough for a repeat, besides the grilled calamari! That was really good, like 5 star status. Besides that, everything was just kinda ok.
(3)Anh S.
We have been here many times and the service and food have been excellent. We come for happy hour because the prices are amazing. If you do come for happy hour, expect to wait for a seat. The bar area is pretty small and fills up pretty quickly. There isn't a whole lot of room to stand while waiting for your table so I find myself doing a little cha cha cha with the waiters. The good thing is that you can order a drink from the bar while you wait. The food here is pretty amazing and you can't beat a $16 bottle of wine. I love their focaccia bread and the dipping sauce to go along with that is to die for. I also recommend the eggplant parmesan. Sadly, I am a little disappointed with the service today. As I am writing this review right now, I have finished my bread, calamari, and each our eggplant Parmesan and our escargot still has not arrived. It's been over an hour. Is it supposed to be desert!? An after dinner cocktail?! Is it being choppered in fresh from the ocean?! I like my escargot at the beginning of my meal, not as a nightcap. Anyways, the waitress was kind enough to give us our after dinner drinks on the house, which was much appreciated.
(3)Liz O.
How has this place never been on my radar until this past week? In a crunch to find a spot that will please a group of five, I researched and called around frantically to find a spot that is vegan-friendly and also has food that the carnivores could appreciate. Barolo showed up on the list, I called, they had vegan options, I reserved. Not knowing what to expect, the group arrived to a chic, modern, albeit huntingly so, space where the sun doesn't shine much and the guests keep their noses up. Except for the humble. Really, it had a slight romantic feel. The staff is attentive, being sure to keep our water glasses half full (maybe they were worried about the CA drought reaching the PNW?) and refilling the wine glasses as well. Montepulciano... mighty fine. Our table picked on the complimentary bread + olive tapenade before we ordered vegan rigatoni, the ravioli of the day, and other things that I didn't quite catch. Ravioli was my choice, and it didn't disappoint. Portobello mushroom + ricotta cheese filled pastas in a butter + sage sauce, with eggplant (though the eggplant was a bit hard for my liking). Desserts here were worth a bite - most especially the tiramisu!
(4)Kristina V.
Ahhhhh mazing drinks! Jason is an absolute genius with his crazy one of a kind concoctions.
(5)May L.
Came here for their late night happy hour and LOVED IT! The atmosphere was lively. Music was playing just at the right volume to feel trendy but still can carry an audible conversation. The happy hour menu was HUGE! We ordered: A bottle of $15 Sangiovese Grilled Calamari - tender and lightly seasoned, perfect with the lemony butter on the plate! Rigatoni with Beef & Veal - yum! The entire dish was amazing! Garlic Steamed Clams - garlicky dipping sauce for bread too! Beef Flank Steak - we asked for rare and it was perfectly cooked! If you ever order your steak rare you would know how RARE it is that it's cooked correctly. All of the food was outstanding! Service at the bar was great and food came out timely!! Absolutely loved this place!!
(5)DeAnne E.
Dine Around Seattle restaurant participants are very smart with publicity. It allows customers to try out a place they normally wouldn't go to however, if they receive excellent service and fantastic food they'll probably want to return even when there isn't a promotion. I came here with a group of colleagues. Since many of us have never been to the restaurant before, we didn't have high expectations. The chef did a great job with all of our dishes. Our server was very friendly and cracked a few jokes with us. We all had a really good time at Barolo. It's a causal restaurant. Nobody was dressed to the nines and nobody wore jeans. It's more of a place to go for a business meeting or an after work get together like Purple Café or Palomino.
(4)Chau D.
This is my go to place. Happy Hour is pretty solid here. So solid that my girlfriends and I can attend their first happy hour and still be at Barolo to hit up their second happy hour. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Off their Happy Hour menu I've had the: Eggplant Parmiggiana - Very good. Whatever sauce that is is so good. Note to all you lactose Asians TAKE YOUR LACTAID! Lactaid is my saving grace. Lumache baked escargot - I'm not a snail fan but my gf told us we had to get it. The butter and garlic probably helped me eat the snails but I couldn't. I think the thought eating something that looks like a slug grosses me out. Hanger Steak - Cooked to our liking and very soft. We wanted to order a second Tuna tartare - Get it! House made ravioli - Had the same kind of sauce as the eggplant parm so I devoured it up. Again, TAKE YOUR LACTAID! We ended up buying 2 bottles of wine which was $14 each HH price. Wasn't gross wine either. I only advise that if you do HH here you come early. Place gets crowded since the bar area isn't that big. I recently did Dine Around Seattle here. I got the Rughetta E Treviso salad as my starter, King Salmon as my entree and the Cannoli for dessert. I ate up everything but the Cannoli. I don't have a big sweet tooth but the portion that I ate was really good. My dinner date had the Polipo Grigliato as his starter, the Gnocchi with lobster and the bread pudding. I took a few bites of his starter and main entree which were delicious. I passed on the bread pudding. Service was awesome. Our server Shannon was so sweet and full of energy. Loved her. I had 2 more friends join me to catch up after not seeing each other for years and Shannon wasn't annoyed or anything with us. Very playful and shooting the shit with us. Can't get mad at that. I mean she did let us shut down Barolo on a Sunday night. Definitely recommend Barolo for HH or dinner if you're in the area.
(4)Crystal B.
Very friendly staff. And GORGEOUS restaurant -- nice dim lights with big mirrors and chandeliers. They went out of their way for my friend's birthday. Oh. And the bread was AMAZING. It's also open late. More stars if the portions were bigger.
(4)Linh N.
Happy hour review: We ordered the: Lamb burger Grilled calamari Grill caeser salad Rigatoni pasta with beef and veal sauce Clams Veal carpaccio Poached pears with hazelnut ice cream for dessert Everything was really good! I thought we had ordered a lot of food but we cleared everything. My favorite was probably the clams, grilled calamari, and poached pears. Super yummy and this place can get pretty crowded for hh. Service was okay. There seem to be only one waitress handling the whole bar area so it was slow at time.
(4)Alston S.
Great spot for dinner or drinks and bites. Unfortunately their bar when it gets busy is by list....? Kind of makes no sense when typically bars are first come first serve. Also seems ineffective for seating people as seats just end up being left open. Disappointing.
(3)Trung L.
I love this place for Daily HappyHour, which is from 3-630pm in the Bar only. The Bar area is a small room, so if you dont mind the small space and table, then definitely check it out. They have tons of items on the Happy Hour menu and everything is 50% off that's on the Bar menu. I've been to this place countless time, so I've tried alot of stuff on their menu. One of my favorite and is always a must get is the Calamari Speghetti, big size of the squid chopped up in pieces. First time having the Lamb burger here, and I must say it was really tasty. I will try to get the meat a medium next time, it was a little too cooked for me, but still good. It had lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, mozzarella, some kind of mayo sauce, and i think Goat cheese, all on a Ciabatta bun. Also got the Lumache-baked escargot, which is pretty much Baked snail in butter. I also recommend getting the hangar steak, Fried Calamari, the clams, or the prosciutto platter. All are very good, which I wasnt able to get this time.
(4)Alanna M.
One of the better Happy Hours in Seattle. 1/2 price food and $15 for a bottle of wine? Pretty decent deal. The wine rotates so you'll be sipping on something different every time. For food... I'm a huge fan of the grilled calamari. One of the few places that still have escargot on their happy hour menu. Their rigatoni and ravioli are pretty decent for the price too. The only thing I'm not keen on is the fact the bar is so tiny... If you don't go early enough you can be waiting awhile for a table or probably better off finding some thing else near by.
(4)Charlee S.
Guess who's not coming back??? This girl! Service wasn't even there! I ordered my tuna capacio, it seriously never made to my table, as I end up eating my boyfriend's meal portion. Poor guy was hungry, and I ate most of his salad and tiny bite of his burger. Good god, get your service together! How do you impress guests, especially if I'm the one who suggested the venue! #FAILEDSERVICE #failure #foodporn #suckservice #foodporn #foodie #food
(1)Leojik K.
Let's just say I like the ambience and the wine selection they have. Came here for our anniversary and I am sorry to say that it was rather disappointing experience. Not really sure why their ratings are so high, but I for one and my wife really didn't get it. We ordered lamb pasta and the Penne with salmon. Both dishes were rather bland and the pasta felt a bit undercooked. It tasted just ok. I guess it hits the right note with many people here ( the place was indeed full), but I don't think I'd be back to find out any time soon. A plus was their wine. Loved the Pinot we got.
(2)Richard U.
This review is only for happy hour (late night)! have never been here aside form the 10pm til closing! Normally would be a little too upscale for my regular patronage, but the happy hour here is hard to beat! items on happy hour are half off normal prices making things down right affordable. My buddy and I hit this place after work and we are not shall we say light eaters! our bill after getting 4 dishes is usually about $25 per person. Considering the quality of what you are getting (the quality is impeccable) it is a bargain. stuff tried grilled octopus: yes! get this! not rubbery at all! rigatoni with veal sauce: pasta taste very homemade! beef shoulder sliced: cooked to medium/medium rare. perfect lamb burger: yummy menu changes often so you don't always know what you are going to get. The place to go after 10pm!
(4)Kaire S.
Decided to get happy hour with friends but the bar was too full. The hostess (who was kind of condescending) offered us a table in the dining room for happy hour, which was nice of her but when she was explaining what was happening we didn't catch what she was saying, so she repeated herself really slowly and it made us feel like we were talked down upon so that kind of killed the mood. We got to the table, ordered their happy hour red wine (which is actually pretty good) then got happy hour food. HH calamari: it's kinda hard to ruin Calamari, so it was worth ordering HH calamari pasta: this was a little too salty and tasted mostly like olive oil and salt (which is probably What they mostly used lol) HH ravioli: this one was really good, definitely worth ordering. HH grilled Caesar salad: this is a hit or miss, I think Barolo and List are owned by the same person. I tried the grilled Caesar at list and it's amazing. The one at Barolo didn't taste grilled enough but oh well. Would rate this place a 3.5 star
(3)Nina H.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Seattle in a great location! Perfect for a nice lunch if you work downtown too. Their house made pastas are amazing and the texture is chewy and great. They always have an amazing selection of pastas that makes it difficult to choose from because I want to try everything! Most recently, I brought a new coworker here for lunch and I ordered the fettucine rabbit ragu which was delectable! Rabbit tastes like a beefier chicken, if that makes sense. My coworker ordered the fettucine with Dungeness crab and he really enjoyed it. He also had generous portions of the protein which was great! The servers seem very knowledgeable of Italian cuisine which is always great to see. The atmosphere is lovely, and they have an area for private dining as well if you prefer that for a large group.
(5)Danny N.
I had my birthday dinner here recently. It was busy so be sure to make reservations. The place was trendy, the food was good and the service was exceptional. We started with grilled calamari and two glasses of wine (St Michele) based on our server's recommendation. Yum. Good job server! For the entree, I ordered the black angus filet and was able to substitute my veggies for an eggplant parmesan (not on the menu) and my gf ordered the penne salmon pasta. Both plates were good but too bad my steak came out medium well when I ordered medium rare. I didn't complain because my steak was still very tender and our server was really attentive. Not sure if I'd come here again when I return to Seattle but it was an overall good experience. Off topic: Some douche scratched his Ferrari on the curb when he sped off from the valet parking lot. He and his date tried to play it off by dancing to loud music. Too bad they got stuck at a red light right in front of the restaurant. Everyone in front had a nice laugh. LOL.
(4)Brenda O.
Horrible, horrible service. The servers have the most horrible attitude. Our server was even high on drugs. He was shaking his hand with paper, had to talk to the manager and gave us another server who didn't even smile. Never in my life have I been given such horrible service. It must be because it was past 10pm and everyone else around us were too drunk to care for the service. I manage a restaurant myself and am never again spending a dime for hateful trashy service, what kind of restaurant treats their patrons this way? Just because you're a high scale restaurant does by mean you can get away with no customer satisfaction. Forget it!!!!
(1)Patricia E.
First, if it's above 85 degrees in Seattle -- you may want to re-think your restaurant choices. Barolo is so lovely in the cooler months, but in the summer -- you will melt in their dining room. They either don't have AC or the owner won't allow the AC to be turned on. We've been several times and this was not just a one time occurrence. Anyway...just a word of warning. Food is always delicious - if maybe slightly under seasoned. We've tried just about everything and there haven't been any Fails. The salmon penne is a particular favorite as well as the Chilean sea bass. Always start with the antipasto misto...nice selection and the smoked prosciutto is one of the tastiest I've had. Nice wine selection. We'll return - just maybe not during the summer months and the weather starts to cool down.
(3)Jonelle T.
Popped into Barolo for lunch for the first time last week and it was ok. The decor is pretty chic, with mirrored walls, white furniture, chandeliers, and large candlestick holders covered in melted wax. While I've walked by numerous times, Barolo's never really spoken to me. Service was pretty stellar and I appreciated the option of still vs. sparkling water at no charge. The food hovered around 'ok,' but that may be related to what we ordered (the carbonara and the duetto, which consisted of a grilled caesar along with a hockey puck side of beef tenderloin). Our server neglected to ask how we liked our tenderloin prepared, and what arrived was sadly on the overcooked side. Given the stellar reviews for this place, it sounds like I need to try happy hour. $14 bottles of wine? Sold.
(3)K D.
I'm actually hesitant to write this review, but I'm quite disappointed, which is why I'm writing this review. Barolo was our first stop in Seattle after our drive from Portland and based on reviews, we were looking forward to a nice meal. The first thing I'll say is that this restaurant definitely needs more than two $$. And although the service and ambiance were great, the food was nothing to write home about. I got the Lobster Risotto, which LOOKED great; upon my first bite, I was surprised at the lack of flavor and immediate need for salt. I loved that the lobster tail was delicately placed on top, but once I took a bite, it followed the flavorless theme of the meal. I can only speak from this one experience, but if you like Risotto and know good Risotto, don't get the Risotto.
(2)Charlie L.
Liana picked this place for her birthday extravaganza, and I must commend her for her excellent taste. Great food, great ambiance, great service even for our large party of close to 20. I started with the tuna tartar, which I preferred over the octopus that Dennis had. For the main, I chose the Chilean Seabass, delish. And also had Liana's Salmon Penne. YUM! I'm not much of a desert girl, but the chocolate cake is... wow. It's really really good. Definitely recommended for any special occasion.
(4)Theresa G.
Unique flavorful food! I had the salmon & asparagus pasta and it was DELICIOUS but the pheasant gnocchi was a little string for my boyfriend. Great service and reasonable prices but it is definitely a restaurant for people who enjoy authentic flavorful italian!
(4)Annie W.
Went for a friends birthday. It's an elegant and bougey atmosphere with lovely decor, definitely a place to go with an occasion -- (unfortunately it was a particularly hot day when I went and the AC either wasn't on or wasn't working). The food itself is very rich, heavy, and the flavors are kind of over-powering. I got a taste of the octopus appetizer and salmon penne, both of which were just drenched in oils. Not sure if that is how traditional Italian is supposed to be, but I found myself full very quickly and feeling very heavy after. Pricing is on the steeper side. Our server was nice but nothing special. Pace of service was also about 20 minutes, kind of on the longer side. One nice thing was that they custom print their menus so if you have a special occasion, they'll highlight it at the top of the menu.
(3)Hannah D.
Absolutely amazing. Our server was very attentive and knowledgable about the menu and wines. The food was incredible. We ordered the foie gras and calamari apps. Both were beyond perfectly cooked and delicious. The flavors in the foie gras were beautifully accented by the sauce and white beans. I got the filet mignon as my entree and it was the steak that dreams are made of. I ordered it rare and it was obviously quickly seared and allowed to rest which really showcased the kitchen staffs care and attention to detail. My husband ordered the veal ossobucco and it was phenomenal. Our bill came to $165 and I would have paid double that for the impeccable food and service. The best restaurant in Seattle!
(5)Kimberly S.
I love Barolo and everyone I introduce to Barolo ends up loving it too. Their happy hour is my favorite happy hour in Seattle. I've been so many times that I can picture each menu item in my head. The house red, white, and rose are $4/glass or $15 for the bottle and the house red is always fantastic. The focaccia is hit or miss depending on how fresh it is, but the olive (tapenade?) it comes with is delicious. For me, the best thing on the menu is the grilled calamari. It is always perfectly cooked with the most amazing sear on it. It comes in this light garlic-butter sauce that makes every bite a little piece of heaven. The fried calamari is good too, but doesn't come close to the grilled calamari in terms of perfection and deliciousness. The rigatoni is also one of my go-to's. The rigatoni is very large and served al dente with a very flavorful and meaty sauce. Best rigatoni I've ever had. If i'm ordering for myself, I get the rigatoni and calamari. If i'm ordering with others, I branch out with the lamb burger (two kinds of cheese, non-gamey organic lamb, delicious bread), the clams (nice portion and great sauce), or the grilled caesar (surprisingly delicious). Maybe it's the wine or how happy the calamari makes me, but I feel like conversation always flows here and I always have a good time. It's quite crowded for happy hour after work, but late night is always a great experience. Love you Barolo, see you soon.
(5)Alex T.
After being very loyal to List, I've finally made an effort to try Barolo. We dined during late night happy hour before a show. Happy hour is only offered in the lounge area at the bar and surrounding tables. We waited approximately 15 minutes for seats to open up. The servers are uber attentive. We had at least 5 interactions with our server throughout the evening. My favorites were: Rigatoni with beef and veal ragu - amazing sauce that complements the al dente rigatoni pasta. My mouth is exploding with flavor. Lamb Burger with fries - tender lamb meat with two different cheese. oh yeah, and it's organic! Sauteed clams in white wine sauce - comes with crostini and is a considerable amount of clams for the price! $15 red or white bottles of wine! Oh and the free foccacia bread w/tapenade. And...this is all that we ordered. I did not dislike one single thing. All in all...THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. I will be back as long as this place is operating and open. Barolo you have won my heart and stomach.
(5)Adel D.
Came for a late night happy hour and the prices where great and food was soooooo delicious !!! We ordered the fried calamari which had a little spice to eat but just for taste nothing drenched . We also ordered eggplant , calamari and tiramisu and eat plate just got better and better !!!! We are from LA so don't know very many places to eat at other than local places open late and this spot has a nice ambiance as soon as you walk in the staff is friendly the music is chill and the food was on point
(5)Johnny L.
Made a reservation 30 days prior to dinner date. Requested booth seating, upon arrival was given stories as to why there was not a booth table available. Customer service and quality of food has deteriorated within the last year. Table service is mediocre, I will not be recommending or returning to what use to be one of our favorite dinner spots. Cheers Barolo, Ciao Bella.....
(1)Mel G.
Seated and waited 15 mins for a server while tables around us were greeted. Finally had to go to hostess to make aware of the situation. Were comped with a couple of free drinks. Both of us ordered pasta dishes. Wait for the food was long which could have been overlooked had it been good. However both dishes arrived undercooked. Pasta was chewy, insides of ravioli were lukewarm at best. Overall experience was underwhelming and a disappointment. Will not return.
(1)Julia C.
The food is fantastic - I had mushroom ravioli and Caesar salad and both of these were fantastic. My husband got the steak and it was one of the better steaks either one of us has tried. Overall a very nice belated birthday dinner even though he wouldn't let me get him one of the sparklers.
(4)Kate J.
I've started to make this my go-to for classic, good Italian. It's near my work and home so I've popped in for their penne (which is my personal favorite), gnocci, and carbonnara. They also have good specials -- the steelhead salmon was amazing. Table service can be underwhelming, but the food makes it worthwhile. Also, I once left a favorite cardigan and it took about 10 days for me to figure out where it was -- Barolo still had it, and they were really helpful so they get credit for that.
(4)Michelle S.
Oh yes... excellent Italian food:) Makes me very happy! We ordered spaghetti carbonara with zucchini and the chicken saltimbocca. This food was masterful and delicious, and I was very pleased. The food wasn't overrun with garlic. This food had lots of balance, flavor, and was perfectly portioned. The focaccia bread and olive tapenade that came with just sitting at the table was the most amazing tapenade I ever put in my mouth! I also recommend the vanilla gelato with olive oil and Hawaiian sea salt for dessert. The hostess, manager, waiter, and bus staff were all delightful and attentive. I want to give my dining dollars to people like that. This is definitely a restaurant I need to go to again, & I am fully prepared to give them 5 stars after the next great experience:)
(4)Debbie P.
YUMMY! The food at Barolo is delish! We have always heard of the excellent reviews from friends about this place and we were not disappointed. We weren't that hungry so we had a couple of appetizers and shared an entrée. We ordered the grilled calamari and the mussels and clams for our appetizers and both were scrumptious!!! 5 stars for the grilled calamari alone! And I can swim in the broth for the mussels and clams! It was that good! For our shared entrée we had the veal shank! It was ginormous! I'm glad we shared the dish... The veal shank was tender and buttery soft, you didn't need a knife at all. My only complaint is that the risotto was a little too rich for my palate. We ended our meal with the poached pear with chocolate and hazelnut gelato...HEAVENLY GOODNESS! Nomnomnom!
(4)Betsy T.
Went for late night HH. Great prices. Bar menu is 50% off. The lentil soup is phenomenal. The atmosphere is nice. It was dark and romantic. I would like to go back for dinner. I can't speak for the other food since I'm vegan, but it looked good :)
(4)Shawna S.
I can't count how many times I've come to Barolo. It always slips my mind of a great location for a drink, a nibble or a celebratory dinner. Their happy hour (every day 3-6:30) is a not to miss in Seattle. Grab friends and get cozy in their bar over the $14 white, red or rose. Order the mixed antipasto plate($7.50). It's all the salty Italian nibbles you could ever want on one plate and then some. If you're feeling romantic or with a larger group, grab a table in their modernly gothic dining room. Portions are generous, the price is right and the wine list is killer! I have yet to try a dish that didn't make my taste buds happy.
(4)Kathleen A.
Service: impeccable Atmosphere: relaxing, elegant Food: YESSS - The veal carpaccio was divine - The carbonara was complete perfection
(5)Charly S.
Note - We have only been here for happy hour, but we've been a few times! :) Barolo offers happy hour daily from 3-6:30 pm in their lounge. Occassionally, if the lounge is full and they don't have a reservation for a table they may allow you to have happy hour in the restaurant area if you ask nicely and promise to leave before the reservations arrive. Your best bet is to get here early though, or be prepared to wait. The lounge has a much more vibrant feel to it than the restaurant (at least during happy hour), but it is easy to talk and be heard in the restaurant. The food is delicious and fresh, the prosciutto plate and steak bites very memorable. The wine by the glass was 1/2 price during happy hour when we were there, but they also have a full cocktail list. There was a special on beer as well. If you're looking for a happy hour spot in downtown Seattle with great food, look no further - this place is a winner.
(4)Mike W.
Pretty cool atomosphere, good service, and I did enjoy the food quite a bit. Normally I'm not a big fan of italian because it is so easy for a restaurant to do it on the cheap. Barolo was quality food that made me feel like I was getting my monies worth. I feel tempted to give it five stars, but I like to reserve 5 stars for the places I really love and would recommend to anyone. Barolo did everything right, but I may have to go back and experience something more to fall into that coveted "5 Start" category.
(4)Chelsea J.
Barolo has a wonderful happy hour. I've been wanting to go to their happy hour for quite some time and finally made it last night. Accompanied by some charming Yelpers the meal was very enjoyable and delicious. Sitting in the bar was crowded. Happy hour goes till 6:30 which makes getting to the restaurant in time much more doable if you are coming from somewhere other than downtown. All the bar food is 50% off during happy hour. We shared a bottle of red wine for $14 and the fried calamari for $5.50. I had the Caprese salad ($4.50) and the lamb burger with salad ($7). All the food was very good. My only complaint was how salty the lamb burger and calamari were. I know restaurant food is typically salty and calamari being a fried item is also salty but it was noticeably very salty. However, the calamari was some of the best, if not the best, I've ever had. The breading was buttery and crisp and the calamari tasted wonderful. Service was great, too. I had a bite of the ravioli and the hangar steak and both were delicious. All the food was excellent in my opinion and I would order any of these dishes again in a heartbeat. It's such a steal during happy hour! You can come dressed casually but I think you would feel more comfortable dressed up a bit. This would be a great date spot!
(4)Larry K.
This was our first time and we were so impressed with the exquisite food and the personalized service we received from our waiter, Alessandro. We went on his suggestion for appetizers and we couldn't have been more delighted. The prosciutto was light, tender ms not too salty and the Mozzarella e Pomodori con Extra vergine del Chianti was colorful, refreshing and full of flavor. I ordered the Saltimbocca di Pollo and liked it so much I will probably order it again next time. This was one of the finest dining experiences I have had in a long time. We will call ahead to ask for Alessandro next time!
(5)Chris P.
I'm going to be honest, I was drawn to this place because of the cool, upscale facade Barolo flaunts, and because of some pretty sick cars that I have seen parked outside. My first experience at Barolo came during the most recent Restaurant Week, and Barolo made it past the first date by not being the pretty face that lacks depth. The staff was knowledgeable, attentive, but not intrusive and the food was well-executed and portioned very well. I started off with the braised octopus with chorizo; the spice of the chorizo complimented the delicate flavor of the octopus well. I then moved on to the lobster risotto. The risotto was cooked to perfection and the lobster paired nicely. The wine list is outstanding at Barolo. I also try to make it here at least once a week for their happy hour (4-6pm and 10pm-close). It's tough to get in for the former, unless you get off of work right at four, but the late night happy hour usually has a few opens seats that you can fill. Eating during happy hour should almost be considered theft because the prices are very low for what you get. (e.g. $7 for a hanger steak or lamb burger) Need I say more? The house wine is decent, but nothing to write home about. I do suggest sticking with drinks of the utmost simplicity. My bartender said their old fashioned was very good, but that claim was quickly proven incorrect when I saw soda water going into it. I mentioned that the soda water was an unnecessary addition with no intent of replacing the drink, but the bartender felt obligated to give it another go. The second attempt was a glass of bourbon and ice. Regardless, Barolo keeps me coming back for more because the food is great and is at an even better price, the crowd usually consists of individuals or small groups that are eager to converse, and lastly, I want to meet the owners of some of the cars I've seen parked there! Come prepared to spend $20 at happy hour or $70 for dinner.
(4)Joseph T.
I've been three times. The grilled Caesar is insane good. Crowded, especially for happy hour, but seats materialize eventually. My go-to spot when visiting downtown Seattle.
(4)Phoenix A.
Perfect place for today's work, white elephant lunch! A couple of us had eaten here before and the rest of us, including myself, had not. I was excited to see grilled romaine caesar on the menu and for some reason boar, not that I'd ever had boar before. It's just that everything on the menu seemed atypical for an Italian restaurant. And that was a good thing. On top of that, the specials sounded pretty creative, but I had whittled my choice down to the grilled caesar salad and ravioli combo aka the Duetto. For a work lunch, the portions were perfect, especially for pasta. The ravioli was cooked nice and al dente and not overly sauced. Same with the half head of romaine. With some nice big shavings of parmesan, it was excellent. The decor of the restaurant is elegantly simple, white walls, chandeliers, candelabra. Our waiter was nice. Efficient. Quirky. All in all, the experience was great. There are plenty of things that I want to try on future visits and I'm not even a fan of Italian food. I saw a picture of their tiramisu and just want to come here for coffee and dessert to try it out. I was told that the bar was pretty banging, so I think I'll give that a shot, too, soon.
(4)Celeste T.
In short: Excellent service (occasionally in Italian! hot!), classy and elegant atmosphere/decor, and solid food and bevvies. More details: I came here with a bunch of work friends on a weeknight, and it was packed! I was surprised to see it's so popular, having never been on my radar before that. We had water service almost immediately, and they were very flexible with us coming and going as most of us were staying for dinner, but some people arrived late and one person had to go early for the game. In spite of the confusion, they kept excellent track of us and even joked with the guy who left early before he had to leave, reminding him that he shouldn't miss the game! Our server was a native Italian speaker, and when I ordered the branzino, he was very impressed. I, however, was mildly embarrassed because I'd never even heard the English name before, so I was just set up to win on this occasion. I also ordered a glass of prosecco with a little bit of St. Germain in it, and the bar happily accommodated my request. All in all, I recommend this as a date night dinner, due to the nice decor and excellent service. It was just a bit loud for a large table, and so chatting across the table as you hold hands seems more likely to succeed, conversation-wise. And by the way, the branzino was perfectly prepared and absolutely delish! The veggies it came on top of were tender and flavorful and artfully presented. Yum!
(4)My-Hanh N.
Great Atmosphere, dark and cool candles. Food is Great, love the escargot, my husband loves the risotto. Always look forward to coming back.
(4)Long P.
Hostess was rude...seated another party that came after us. manager came to talk with us was extremely rude. Food was very salty and the pasta was hard and under cooked... Only good part was the waiter was extremely nice... Never will go back again.. Only reason we stayed was because everyone of the party was there already.... Horrible service for a restaurant !!!!!
(1)Niusha S.
We came here for Dine Around Seattle- $18 for a three course lunch is a steal! The ambiance is pretty and posh, although the techno-house playing as a backdrop is unfitting. The wait staff, hostess especially come off a bit snobbish. But the food is delicious. I just got back from a month spent in Italy and the pasta with prosciutto is just the way you would expect it to be. Simple, not too many ingredients, done well.
(4)Lori W.
This was the last night of our vacation in Seattle and it will be a memorable one. We came here hoping we would have a great last dinner and I can tell you we were not disappointed! Our waiter was Joseph and he was excellent! We pretty much just went with all of his suggestions and everything we had was exquisite. I highly recommend this restaurant and having Joseph as your server!!
(5)Kari G.
A refreshing palate-cleanser of non-Pacific Northwesternness in a sea of plaid. That is, the ambiance is chic and sexy (not the usual sleepy, folksy vibe that haunts Seattle). The whole restaurant has got a slightly naughty vibe to it: wax dripping everywhere, people actually dressed up (gasp!), and edgy music. We love it: it's a grown up place for a playful date -- but don't come here without a reservation.
(5)Mary N.
The best thing about this place is the happy hour. There often is not room at the bar, but they will seat you at a table if you promise to leave by the time of their first reservation. It is a great deal. A bottle of wine at a great price, and the food is a good deal too.
(4)Lily L.
Fun night time hang out with close friends or a significant other. Great side dishes, dessert, and wine. Pasta is actually pretty amazing here, but not enough quantity wise. If you're looking for a quite bite and aren't too hungry, this is one of the places to visit. Otherwise, pick a wine and wind down.
(3)Jessica R.
Love their Happy Hour! The happy hour menu is pretty good at good prices and the portions are a good size. We usually order wine as the bottle is only $15 and happy hour is until 6:30pm every night. The food is great, the staff is friendly, helpful and quick and the wine selection is amazing. I took away a star because the bar section is small so if you're not there by 4:30pm, it's hard to find a table for happy hour. Also, the happy hour menu changed and took away my favorite "Hanger Steak" But I will keep returning to this place as it's close to my work (lunch and happy hour), I love the atmosphere and the wine is at a good price. I normally do dinner when it's Dine Around Seattle or Restaurant Week (dinner prices are a bit high for me)
(4)Jason V.
Went to Barolo for lunch today. Atmosphere is great, very European. Had the Octopus as a first course. Amazing. Had the gnocchi with pheasant for lunch. Very, very good!
(5)Tammie C.
Came in for restaurant week. What a steal for $15/person and a pretty decent 3 course meal. Street parking or $8 for an hr, $9 for 2. Not too bad for downtown. Otherwise there's valet after 5pm for $8. Really classy, beautiful restaurant. A mix of traditional and modern. Lovely decor. It's a waiters and bussers are dressed up kind of place. Now for the food...(and btw, lunch portions are just as big as dinner portions). Starters: Calamari (not fried)- marinated and grilled. Beef carpaccio thing. Both really good. Main: Risotto ( a little too much red wine flavor which killed the beautifully presented dish) and some kind of braised beef. Also beautiful in presentation but mediocre in taste. Dessert: Canoli and Olive cake. The canoli was pretty tough and the cream was not that good. The olive cake was a very thin slice (thank goodness because it was a lot of food). The olive cake is much better than the canoli. Starters and atmosphere were great. Main dishes and dessert lacked. Overall, 3.5 stars. Apparently they have a killer happy hour with menu items at 50% off. I can see this as a great place for wine and appetizers.
(4)Tom D.
When ever my friend comes into town from San Francisco, we try to get in to Barolo for happy hour appetizers. I say "Try" because the bar is small, but the service and food are amazing! This place is a must go.
(4)Angie L.
Never, EVER again... what happened here was something I've read about happening to others, but never thought it'd happen to me. My bf and I came to Barolo for happy hour and this was my first time here. The bar area is pretty small. The happy hour menu was appealing. We ordered a ton of food... Steamed mussels, eggplant parmigiana, grilled calamari, fried calamari, escargot, prosciutto... Etc. All the food was tasty. Especially the grilled calamari... It was one of the best, really. You only get a few pieces, but it was well worth it. I loved the food... perfectly flavored, great texture. Our server had a crappy attitude from the start. She brought over white wine when we requested a bottle of red wine. Fine, people make mistakes but once we let her know... She was quick to turn exceptionally nasty. She slammed our glasses down and splashed wine all over our bread. We still left her a tip in cash (as I always try to do). On the "tip" line of the receipt, I put "CASH" and put the total beneath it and placed it on top of the cash I left her. Okay, so still I was going to give a way higher rating... Because I thoroughly enjoyed my food and figured the waitress was having a very, very bad day. But.... I go to check my credit card account online and saw that the amount charged from this restaurant was rather higher than what I had remembered. I knew the total was less than what was charged.. Luckily, I kept my copy of the receipt and sure enough... There was an added $12. What?! So I immediately called the restaurant to find out what this was about... I asked the gal who answered the phone if the manager was available. She informed me that she was the day manager... and the general manager, Jason, was out. I told her what happened and she was quick to offer me a refund of $12, took my credit card info and told me the $12 part of it would be reversed. Now, $12 is no biggie, but it's the principle of the matter. To me, that's just stealing. I was stolen from... at a restaurant I spent my money at. This did not sit well with me as I'm sure it wouldn't with anyone else. I again tried to get a hold of the general manager on several occasions and the person answering the phone all five times told me he was unavailable. One gal told me they weren't hiring. I wasn't even calling about a job?!? I guess they all assumed I was calling about a job which prevented me from speaking to their manager. I called back after multiple attempts and finally got a hold of the general manager, Jason. I politely told him what happened and I guess he already knew since he had to authorize the $12 reversal. His attitude sucked... To add insult to injury, Jason acted VERY nonchalant about the whole situation. Perhaps I was wasting his time?... his tone was rather condescending and he kept repeating that this was not done "maliciously"... really?? How does one not 'maliciously' steal from someone? I understand you want to stand by your employees, but look... I was stolen from. I know it wasn;t his nor the restaurant's fault that their employee stole from me, but to act like you could care less as the manager is shocking. I'm appalled that this was allowed to happen and that the waitress had the audacity to add her own additional tip... AND that the manager simply did not care. Yelpers - your reviews on the food is accurate and it's a bummer that I can't go back to enjoy some more. I mean, I guess I could if I want to risk being stolen from and having to go through all this hassle again. An employee as a thief and a manager who obviously could care less about his customers. Two thumbs down.
(1)Seattle R.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THE FOOD!! The only reason I am giving it two stars is the service. I am HUGE on service as the most crucial element of dining out. In my experience, the waitresses have an ego about them that just comes off as fake friendly with little to no effort- which boils down to pouring your own wine and waiting for a long time to get your plate taken. I mostly go for the Happy Hour basing it off of that experience in comparison to the full dining experience which is mainly waiters - they seem to be more humble and professional about their service - would take humility over ego any given day.
(2)Christy G.
Excellent service! The bartender's food recommendations were great. Love the tuna tartare! Enjoyed the music and the ambiance. Last night was my first time there. I will definitely be going back more often.
(5)Mike B.
Great (and diverse) happy hour menu, solid grub. Our trio (my wife, baby daughter, and I) headed here for a Tuesday night happy hour. The customized menu -- half price on bar menu, $3.25 beer, $4 wine -- was big, with calamari, pasta, clams, and burgers. We chose local clams, rigatoni with beef, and the lamb burger. The rigatoni, surprisingly, was the best. The clams and lamb were tender and juicy, respectively, but I've had better in my life. The waiter was absolutely fantastic, helping us -- especially our little one -- feel right at home. I'd go back for the experience and the prices, but I'd like to see them take the food up a notch.
(4)Dotsie B.
This restaurant has a wonderful atmosphere and a very inviting and friendly staff. We viewed the menu before walking in and saw many menu items labeled as "humanely raised chicken" and lots of "natural" and "organic" mentions throughout. Descriptions like this make the customer believe this restaurant has a focus/passion for humanely treated animals. Unfortunately, its a FRONT and a LIE. What I found when I sat down to read the menu in full is that the word usage on the menu is a front to attract people who care about how animals are raised and treated before going to slaughter, as I found foie gras on their menu! If you are not knowledgeable about foie gras or how its produced, here is a quick explanation: The production of foie gras is unusually cruel because the birds are force-fed a corn mash through a metal tube thats is forced/shoved down the birds throat several times a day, so that they gain weight and their livers become 10 times their natural size. Force-feeding tears the esophagus of the bird, which may lead to death. Additionally, the fattened ducks and geese have difficulty walking, vomit undigested food, and/or suffer in extreme confinement. With all of the wonderful plant based foods on the menu, why would this restaurant need to serve foie gras? The practice is considered so unethical and horrific that California BANNED foie gras in 2012. I approached the manager to simply ask why they advertise all of this "humanely" treated meat when they serve foie gras, and he got all sweaty and fidgety, could not answer my question and then blamed it on the chef and the owner. CLASSY dude. We walked straight out the door. THINK before you eat. Dotsie Bausch
(1)Brittany G.
We popped in on a rainy Seattle afternoon for wine and sustenance. The menu featured homemade pastas and steaks, and all that sounded lovely, but the waitress was darling and sold us on the fish of the day (tuna) with broccoli rabe and polenta. This is one of those places that look really fancy and eccentric and you assume the portions are going to be super tiny and ironic, and you have to pretend to like it because you're not a classless hobo. Surprisingly, the portions were not small. They are lunch appropriate and the tuna was seared perfectly. I could have gone for some more veggies, but I left satisfied regardless.
(4)Rona L.
After having had enjoyed my experience here during Dine Around Seattle, a friend suggested that I try it again for happy hour. First off....$14 bottle of wine?? Seriously? Where can you get that? My friend and I ordered the white and found that is was very refreshing, and not too sweet like a lot of whites I've tried in the past. Since the bar menu is half off during happy hour, she and I decided to be adventurous and try their Veal Carpaccio (I've always been iffy about raw red meat). Along side, we ordered their cheese plate and their mussels. Everything was delicious. (Don't shoot me) But I've never understood the hype around truffle, or truffle oil, but after trying Barolo's veal carpaccio, it all made sense. The meat was so tender and almost sweet, and I loved that they added arugula and capers for pops of flavor throughout the experience. The cheese plate was also perfect (who can say no to cheese??) and I loved the nuts and jam that the plate came with. The mussels were good...nothing great, but satisfying. My friends and I had a great dining experience. Service was awesome and the decor always makes me feel like I'm out celebrating something special...even if I'm not.
(4)Victor B.
The best gourmet italian food I've ever had. And with a family from New York with strong Italian heritage, I love me some good italian food. All of their dishes of expertly prepared and packed with flavor. And the prices really aren't that bad. But like others have said, the atmosphere is a bit too pretentious. I would probably rate it 5 stars if it werent for that.
(4)Ricardo L.
We were in a rush one night and had to be in and out. The waiter accommodated us extremely well and food was out within minutes. Extremely delicious and satisfied
(4)MaryJanesGirl ..
Food wise the Gnocchi was delicious! The Pera al Vino Bianco e Cioccolato (Poached pear with chocolate and hazelnut gelato) for dessert was pleasing. My wine well paired. The atmosphere is casually romantic, which to me means intimate but not sexy. A good place for close friends and casual dates, but noisy and with the mirrors you can see when other people are stealing a glance at you....flattering but not the most appealing if you are on a romantic date. The staff was fine, not rude, not overly friendly, fairly attentive.
(4)World T.
Great happy hour. The girls on the bar are very attentive especially Carly. I have sent several people here and everyone has said how amazing it it. The grilled Caesar is one of my favorites and add some ahi tuna to it. Excellent selection of wine as well. The atmosphere is good and it is always pretty busy so make a reservation if you want to eat in the dining room but you can get the full menu in the bar. It is a little dark in the bar if you are sitting at one of the tables.
(5)Alexander L.
This is the "go to" place on my list of restaurant. Great food and the wine list is very appealing. My younger daughter is especially fond of the ravioli here.
(5)Heather L.
We really like the atmosphere of fine dining before going to a play in Seattle. The wine list is expansive and their service is always great. The Valet parking is expensive.
(4)Phil S.
Great pasta! (though not much variety for a vegetarian) Great service! But, points off for the incessant thumping of techno music in the background. Do they want me to eat or to dance? Not sure.
(2)Kim N.
I was in Seattle for a wedding and we made reservations for one night out on the town in Seattle to see what Seattle had to offer. We ended up going here for dinner and drinks and had NO complaints. The food was awesome and the drinks were great as well! I love the ambience of this restaurant with all the chandeliers and the candles creating a very relaxing and cool atmosphere! We had a crab pasta that was so good! It had huge chunks of crab meat in it, which you don't find often. I would return the next time I'm in Seattle!
(4)Mia T.
Came here with my boyfriend and our friend who knows the staff and owner of this place, and we loved it here! It was apparent that the "Who's who" of Seattle frequent this place, there were multiple Ferrari, Mazerati and the like parked out front. We shared a few starters and had drinks: Pasta e Fagioli - Simple, delicate and not too heavy. Very good. Calamaretti alla Griglia - Delicious. I usually prefer my calamari fried, but this was so good! Foglioni di Romana Grigliati - Really great caesar salad big enough that we could all try a good amount of it. Overall really great service and ambiance. I'll be back!
(5)William d.
Held a client dinner here tonight for a larger party. I had done some research for local Seattle restaurants that were on the nicer side, but still approachable for a varied group of people. Barolo was such an excellent choice for the group. From the opening bottle(s) of wine to the delicious apps, main courses and desserts, nobody was left hungry or in need of any alcohol. The service was quick and polite and the atmosphere was quite comfortable. Not a full five star rating because it didn't blow my mind, but it was really really good.
(4)phil s.
Coming from the east coast to Seattle for the first time I didn't know know what to expect when it came to Italian food. Barolo surprised us. My wife had cheese ravioli, which were superb. I had rigatoni in leg of lamb ragu. The flavor was very good but the pasta was undercooked. My wife had gelato with olive oil and sea salt for dessert. Olive oil has it's place on the dinner table; on gelato it doesn't belong. Overall good experience.
(4)Mike B.
Great place with a fantastic Happy Hour
(5)Katy H.
Finally! I have been meaning to check out Barolo for ages and what better time to come than during Restaurant Week? The decor here is chic, parking was relatively easy to find (Pacific Place!) and the food, as expected, was delicious. I'm definitely interested in eating here again after getting a lovely 3 course lunch a few days back. Jam-packed at 12:30 in the afternoon, I was worried I'd be there an hour before grabbing a seat. The bar however was totally empty. The hostess who was busy answering the phone and speaking to other folks waiting popped over to me and made mention that if I opted to sit at the bar I could be seated ASAP. Why not?! It was perfect and the bar was big and spacious and not cramped at all. I pull up a big comfy stool and message my lunch buddy that we had landed some seats at the bar. Right away we were served water and the owner himself came to take our orders. Everything on the menu sounded delicious so the only difficulty here was figuring out what to order. The food turned out fabulous (I loved the gnocchi) and the service was impeccable. Even for lunch, as opposed to a fancier setting like dinner, the service was spot-on. Everyone that approached us was incredibly polite and greeted us with big smiles on their faces. It sounds silly to say but I almost felt like I was getting special treatment, that's how good it was. And believe you me, having never been there before, I'm sure they just treat everyone like they're special. After telling my boyfriend I popped in here for lunch he felt a little jealous to have missed out and promised to take me for a dinner experience here soon.
(5)Lisa B.
Oh man I dream about this place. Great atmosphere, wine and beer list and great food. We came in just for a quick dinner and didnt want to leave. We shared a few small plates. The bread that comes with your dinner is not good for you but man oh man is it good! I will certainly be coming back again
(5)Kyle H.
What better way to shake off the stagnant feeling of a five hour flight than with an immediate stop for food and booze? To kick off a quick weekend getaway in Seattle, my host drove me straight into downtown for one of the most awesome happy hours I've had in a while. We had three huge and delicious appetizers and a bottle of wine for $30 - what a steal! Our choices were: -Calamari (fried just crisp and perfectly tender, well-seasoned and accompanied by two dipping sauces - one marinara and the other an aioli) -Escargot (I didn't eat them but heard mmms and ahhhs from those that did, I did, however, dip my bread in the buttery sauce and that was heavenly) -Tuna tartar (came with crisp garlic toast points, this was my favorite, so fresh and delicious!) -Bottle of house red These along with the house foccaccia stuffed three to the brim, we couldn't finish the calamari but sure tried! I loved the decor, It would be the perfect setting for dinner with a big group of friends as they have areas with long dining tables, beautiful chandeliers above ensconced by drapey sheer white curtains for a little privacy... the setting was just so classy and dramatic. I love that even thought it's one in the morning you can dine here like it's a decent dinner hour ...on the cheap! Don't get me wrong, I love my greasy spoons too (shout out to Dick's!) but sometimes you just want a little class!
(4)Michael K.
On occasion, I'm not sure whether to be happy or devastated when I have a dining experience that leaves me longing to pour every penny I earn/find/steal on countless return trips. During the long years I spent in Tacoma, I found many happy hours that I considered good and worth the money, but Seattle has redefined both the term and my expectations. The bar is lovely, well-spaced, and modern - complete with bar stool chair seating as well as little half booth tables. Everything is elegant and neat without feeling unwelcoming or sterile, and despite the fact that we were (in my mind) under-dressed, we were still made to feel instantly welcome by the bartender. Although I have no proof since I had a beer on this visit, I'm confident that had I ordered a scotch with a splash of plain water, I would not have been handed a glass filled with ice. Without even breaching the menu, let me shower praise for the olive bread and tapenade that you are given prior to your meal. Warm, soft, flavorful and delicious. It also serves as the perfect compliment to the lentil and spelt soup which we shared. The soup was filled with lentils, spinach and delicious formaggio and I intend on doing everything in my power to duplicate it, although I have a sneaking suspicion I will fall short. I've never had tuna tartare before but I assure you, after last night, I will have it again. As someone who fiends sushi with a relentless fervor, I'm not sure what has prevented me from trying it previously, but unless it is a simple dish to prepare (which I doubt), I'm glad I waited for Barolo to show me exactly how it should be done. Every bite of fresh tuna and whatever magic went into the accompanying sauce was bliss. If I try a new restaurant and fried calamari is an option, there is no avoiding it for me. As I ate the perfectly breaded, amazingly tender pieces, I remember saying to my companion that there was a distinct possibility that it was the best calamari I had ever had. The sauces were unique and a good compliment to the dish, but honestly, the calamari itself needed no help in stealing the show. I devoured the plate and I feel no shame for doing so. After all of the food was gone and drinks consumed, I have to admit I was blown away when the bill arrived and I realized that three full size plates and two drinks came to less than 25 dollars. Barolo, you have my heart and my meager earnings.
(5)Lili P.
really great happy hour - early AND late ! favorites are grilled caesar and the steak. the pasta on the regular menu is amazing, particularly the house made tortellini w truffle cream and lobster risotto are the standouts! i would come early for HH bc this place gets packed! its also a great date spot. lovely interior. almost has a vegas/ LA fab life feel. :)
(5)L B.
Pros: great deal for happy hour, yummy food, good wine, great location Cons: a bit busy
(5)Chris D.
We love this place and it has become our "Go To" for consistent great service and fantastic, well presented food. We have celebrated special occasions, and recommended this place to out of towers who have always had positive experiences. In this town of foodies, its sometimes tough to last, these guys have it figured out. Just go try!
(5)Jinyoung P.
Oh Barolo. I am so glad that I went to check out your HH before leaving Seattle today. I wasn't even all that hungry due to the stomach issues I have been having with this terrible jet lag, but I really wanted to sample the menu. This is how it went down: In I go in my jeans and sweatshirt and I tell the hostess that I'm there alone and wanted to try the HH. i sit at the bar and do not order a drink (I'm dry for another two weeks), for which I am not judged, and if I were, they were discreet about it. I ask the bartender what I should order from the menu, he lists a bunch of things, and I--in my less-than-hungry-and-dealing-with-indigestion state of mind, or shall I say body--just order one of those things, Tuna Tartare. It turns out to be delicious but I really do not have all that much room in my unhappy tummy. I ask the bartender what else on the menu is small portion. He recommends the Veal Carpaccio, I order it, and again, it is amazing. My bill, with tax? $14.24. Because the bar menu is half off during HH! I cannot wait to go back when my stomach is happier so I can try the items that my normally carnivorous self would have loved in any state but this! Someone else ordered the steak and it looked good but there was no way I could ingest it today. And the Lamb Burger is famous. Aaaand I want to try the Rigatoni with beef and veal ragu. Oh and the couple next to me ordered the Grilled Calamari and that looked awesome as well! Oh yes, Barolo. I will be back. I don't know when, but I will!
(4)Kaelynn A.
Visited for the first time for the Dine Around Seattle deal. Excellent service! The staff were attentive and friendly! The food was just as good. A very creamy polenta and sausage appetizer that was full of flavor and just right. A well cooked and seasoned lamb shank that satisfied. A sweet and sinful chocolate mousse to top it off. A great place for a nice dinner!
(4)Chris Y.
I kinda got lost going to this place. Turns out the GPS brings you to the other side of the building.. oops. We had a party waiting there already so we just walked right in. We got there around 6pm on a weeknight and there were still plenty of tables available, but the place filled up quickly after getting seated. The decor was modern. Looked like a place where a lot of young professionals would dine. They had a nice variety of entrees, some on and off the menu. The waitress was very attentive and helpful. I ended up ordering the lobster risotto. The entree was delectable and the lobster was very fresh. The presentation of our meals was great as well. Everything looked well crafted. The down side I have to say is that you have to fill up on pre-meal bread since the entree portions are a little on the small side. Someone in our party ordered the salmon and although it looked and was told it tasted great, it was basically just a piece of salmon with nothing else (no sides) to fill you up.
(3)Wes B.
Happy Hour daily 3-6:30 and 10pm-Close 50% off bar menu baroloseattle.com/pdf/Ba…
(4)Melinda Y.
Okay, I'm being a little harsh with this place...but with just cause. It's an elegantly-decorated high-class place to eat downtown--although they took us at the last minute without a reservation...JK. We had a good view of the beautiful Westin towers. The ambiance is very fancy, complete with beautiful crystal chandeliers, candles, mirrors, white chairs. We were seated almost immediately. With the warm bread was a flavorful olive tapenade--made of green and kalamata olives, olive oil, and capers. We couldn't get enough of it. Next came the baked escargot with butter, garlic, and barolo. Let me tell you...it was divine. The escargot was deliciously meaty, reminiscent of an oyster almost and paired perfectly with a slice of garlic. There hasn't been a dish that makes me swoon like this one. Our main dishes of pan-seared wild cape cod scallops ($25) with red pepper purée, risotto, and broiled pork belly and Alaskan halibut and braised greens came much much later. We waited and waited. Finally an hour plus of a wait and the waitress apologetically coming over twice to let us know that it wouldn't be much longer before our dinner will arrive. There seemed to be some sort of mix-up in the kitchen. And she offered to make it up to us by giving us dessert. The main entrees did not wow us since we had built up our anticipation as we waited. The scallops had a nice crust but not exactly outstanding, but the pork belly added a nice (crispy) contrast in texture to it. I heard the halibut was okay but did not compare to the escargot. The free dessert we chose was vanilla gelato with a chocolate tarte. It was nice and light, just as gelato should be. All in all...it took 2 hours from when we arrived and when we left. It's a lot longer than I wanted to stay, so I took another star off.
(3)Michael B.
This was my second time eating at Barolo. It was my wife's first. All she has heard from me, my sister, and my mom, is how good it is. So we wen't sunday night. The whole experience was average. We started with the tuna tartar. This was the best thing we ate. Then I had the beef tongue. I have eaten a lot fo beef tongue. This was bland, cold, and tasted like grease. Nothing else. The gnocchi was ok. the sauce wasn't my favorite. Then I ordered the tony lemon cheesecake for dessert. No taste of lemon. not even in the yellow part on top. Also the cheesecake tasted more like a chilled round of ricotta. not like a cheese cake. Our server was friendly but kind of pretentious. Can't say we will ever go back.
(2)Danielle B.
This is a wonderful restaurant. The atmosphere is amazing and the food delicious. Service was very good too. I think it's impossible to go wrong no matter what you order. I had the Tortelloni Piemontese, which was to die for. Highly recommended.
(5)Manuela A.
Every tuesday night I go out to dinner with my mom and sister to catch up and drink wine. My mother is the PICKIEST woman alive when it comes to restaurants and their food. We came in tonight and we ordered a bottle of rose and the insalata di pomodori organici, tortelloni piemontese (YOU NEED TO TRY THIS) and for dessert we got the cannoli with the belgium chocolate and the hazelnut gelato affogato. Everything was pretty delicious to be honest and our server Brian was pretty cool. If you wanna wine and dine someone I suggest this place. It's fancy ish and cozy. Music is catchy too.
(5)Rick S.
I have been to this place several times. The food and drinks are good. Decided to go here on my birthday with about a dozen friends. Everything was ok until we received our check. Our waitress Bethany had over charged us on drinks and the manager who on the phone said would be able to waive the cake fee decided to charge us saying she called the owners and they said they cannot waive the $20 fee for a $750 bill. The waitress (Bethany) was saying that the only way to validate the excess drinks on the tab was to call security and then the cops, I asked her to go ahead and do what was necessary to confirm the same. At the end my wife just wanted to pay the tab since she did not want the evening to end with a bitter taste. Overall the experience was horrible and the management did not deal with this appropriately. In principle no one should pay for anything more than what they should.
(1)Sisi Z.
Frankly speaking I was expecting more. We tried the Filetto Al Barolo, which is costs but no that good. Wine sauce is soso. I was curious about the truffle leak sauce so I tried their pasta. It was good. It's just I' m not that into anything like Gnocchi. Foie is not attractive too. I think I made some bad choices that night and I believe they have something better....
(3)Ashley B.
I came here for my birthday and it was perfectly delicious and romantic. I loved how the menu had a personalized birthday wish printed on it, such a cute touch. I also loved the sparklers that came with the bottles of champaign or wine, it's a really cool presentation. This is a great place for a date or an event, you can take your time savoring every bite while enjoying the beautiful ambiance.
(5)Srta L.
We went over for Dine Out Seattle. The food was OK... nothing great. Ambiance: it is very nice. Nice for a date :) Very loud. Price: $$$ Service: Very good.
(3)Sara M.
My brother and his wife treated my husband and me to an extremely good dinner here last night. Our first time to this beautiful place and we weren't disappointed. I am a VERY picky eater and realize I need to give more things a try and really branch out. I tried (almost) everything and was pleasantly surprised all around. I enjoyed the Caesar salad, complete with grilled lettuce; a nice crusty piece of 'crouton' and the dressing wasn't over powering either. Pleased to know/see there were anchovies IN the dressing but not laying across my salad. I am really not a fan of that with any of my meals. The service was impeccable and the waiter was very helpful with suggestion dishes and wine parings and boy was he lively! He made us feel right at home and was VERY excited about the food he was serving. My husband enjoyed the lamb Ragu (his first time enjoying lamb) and I practically licked my plate after ordering the spaghetti with crab. Very rich, but not overdone and soooooooooo tasty. The prices are typical of downtown Seattle and even though the portions were a bit less than what we're used to, the quality of food was amazing and well worth the wait and dining experience. It's a MUST go!
(5)Haeson L.
Best happy hour place! Live the grill caesar salad, eggplant parmigiana and the pastas :-)
(4)Kristin C.
What is up with all these Italian places having fantastic Happy Hours? I met a couple friends here for HH on a Thursday night. I showed up at 545, and HH ends at 630 and the place was PACKED. The hostess took down my name and even offered to let us sit in the regular dining room before a reservation came in, but we didn't want to be rushed. But the fact that they offered that was fantastic. 3 of us ended up squeezing into a table for 2, it's ok though, Chelsea J and I like to cuddle. We started off with a bottle of red wine, which at $14 during HH is a fantastic deal. I had the spinach and lentil soup, which was ok, mostly I just think I don't like lentils as much as everyone else. I keep trying! I also had the rigatoni with beer/veal ragu, which was pretty tasty. I tried a bite of the hangar steak and the house made ravioli, and all of it was tasty. The food here was good, but nothing really 'wowed' me, but I will definitely be back for HH sometime. The service though, was fantastic! Our server waited until we were able to grab the table next to us before serving our main courses, so we would have room on the table for all of our food. The hostess taking down our name and offering us a table in the dining room was fantastic too. I was just really impressed with how nice and accommodating they all were.
(4)Dany P.
I don't know what rock I was living under because I had no idea this place even existed! Boy was I glad when my friends surprised me with a fantastic dinner before my bachlorette party. We were running late for our reservation so we called, and the staff was very understanding and told us they'd hold our table. It was a small group of us since everyone was meeting us out so we got a table right in the center of the restaurant, even thought we were late. I loved the decor, it was very classical yet modern. The use of space was also very tastefully done. The best part though? The bathroom! It had a very gothic feeling. It went well with our black themed dresses. I have to admit though I wasn't so fond of the bread and oil. It was very messy and the taste just wasn't appealing. I honestly had no idea what to order. I always get stuck when huge menus are presented to me. I decided to go with something meaty since I'll be doing alot of drinking later on in the night. I don't remember what it was called but it was basically a steak with turnips. It was cooked perfectly, and the sauce that was on top and infused with the steak was delicious! I was so full after wards I thought I might need a nap! Our waiter was fantastic! Can you imagine serving to a group of indecisive, demanding women with a smile? Ha! He was very attentive and answered all our questions, he also checked on us often. Excellent food, excellent service, and the ambiance is just the icing on the cake!
(5)Opal D.
Chic decor. Not terribly hard to park at even though it is downtown. Good service. Good food. Great happy hour prices. I'm looking forward to coming back for dinner soon.
(5)Matthew K.
I had a perfect experience at Barolo last week on a visit to Seattle. We came in for a light dinner after having eaten a big lunch earlier. Beautiful restaurant and great service. The food- we had the tuna tartare, the fettuccine with rabbit meat in red sauce (one of the best dishes I've ever eaten), a few glasses of the house chianti, and 2 cappuccinos, all amazing. And that Asian hostess...even my wife commented to me how she really did justice to that pair of leather pants.
(5)Heather H.
Eat, Drink Fancy Happy Hour!! Barolo is probably the most stylish spot for Happy Hour in Seattle! If the contemporary rows of plush booths and seats don't grab you first, then your distractions are lead to nearby posh diners. The bar itself is intimately small enough - our waitress was a bit frosty with us briefly but nonetheless I would still come back here! Lovely selection of wines, ideally get a bottle for happy hour! The Tuna Tartare served in a balsamic ginger and honey glaze was so tasty in flavor and texture that I was ready to order another dish of it. While Ahi tuna carpaccio came thinly sliced and topped with a light spread of horseradish creme, and lots of onions! In all the bill came to $20.00 total for two people. Not bad for such a swanky little place. Get lucky and come in on a Sunday as there is less a chance of a crowd.
(5)Vishnu N.
I can't believe we didn't try this place sooner. This place had impeccable service and was the perfect date/romantic ambience. We started with the tuna tartare (one of the best takes on the dish ever), the lamb ragu pasta (our favorite dish), the ravioli and the veal. The lamb pasta and veal are an amazing primi and second if you have the appetite. Loved the entire meal and can't wait to come back. This place just might have supplanted spinasse as our favorite Italian restaurant in Seattle.
(5)Priscilla L.
One of my FAVORITE places to have hh at, quality of the food is so good for a really good price. I recommend not showing later than 4:40 if you want to get a table in the bar for hh. It's tiny and fills up really fast right when the clock struck 4:55. Organic lamb burger is really good but my absolute fave is the beef/veal rigatoni. To die for! Oh and their tapenade! Delish!!!
(4)Jenn T.
I came here on a recommendation from a friend who went to college in the area. It was within walking distance from my hotel so it was a perfect choice! As I walked in, it was extremely crowded, probably due to the awesome happy hour that everyone is raving about on yelp. We were seated quickly with our reservation. The restaurant is fairly dark, nicely decorated and with a laidback type of fancy smancy ambiance. Once I looked at the menu, everything sounded so good that I couldn't decide what to order so we decided to do everything family style. The beet salad: super yummy with octopus and nice light dressing! Octopus bruschetta: this was ordered because everyone on yelp said it was a must. It was not the greatest for me, kinda reminded me of a pizza taste. The octopus was different than what I'm used to (the Tako poke style from where I'm from) Clams & muscles: SUPER DUPER YUMMY! The sauce is amazing with this! Escargot: also super yummy. Cooked perfectly and was hot, juicy and flavorful! Salmon tartare: great mix of fresh salmon, tomatoes and avocado on toasted bread. Nice and light. Lobster risotto: this is seriously THE BEST dish of the night and literally the best risotto I've ever had! It was packed full of flavor with 2 lobster tails and some lobster meat mixed inside. The sauce it was cooked it was seriously to die for and I couldn't get enought!! For dessert we got the pumpkin creme brule, which was mmmmmm! I love seasonal pumpkin dishes! The americano coffee was great as well! Our waitress was super awesome and very helpful with wine selection. She knows her wine! She was polite and extremely attentive to us, which made the experience that much better. Overall a must go!! I wish I lived in Seattle cus I'd be here a lot!
(5)Tyler M.
I went to Barolo for my first time ever on the last day of Seattle Restaurant Week with a big appetite. Upon entering the Ristorante, a waiter quickly noticed that my gf and I were trying to check in our reception and made sure that our table was ready. The restaurant seemed like a nice restaurant to take a date with and had a had the look of a classic Italian restaurant with a casual ambiance. Our waitress brought us some complimentary bread with a tasty olive oil tapenade that had a light herbal flavor. We really liked bread and asked for another serving to munch on when our appetizers came out. I was indecisive of what I wanted to try off the Restaurant Week menu, but ended up ordering, the raw natural beef carpaccio as my appetizer, the wild board ragu rigatoni entree, and the Hazelnut gelato dessert. The raw beef carpaccio was a thin slice of raw beef with basil leaves and horse radish. I didn't really think I could enjoy the taste of the raw beef due to the conflicting flavors of the horseradish and basil. They overpowered the raw beef (which was a small portion) and I I felt like there was too much going on for what should have been a simple dish. My gf ordered the Calamari diavola which was a healthier serving size and a tastier appetizer. The wild boar ragu rigatoni was the highlight of the night. The wild boar was had a slightly gamey taste which was as I expected, but it was surprisingly tender and had a lot a flavor. My gf ordered the Gnocchi ai legume e verdure which was delicious, but was served in a very small fine dining styled portion. The hazelnut gelato was light, and creamy. It was a good complimentary dessert after a pasta entree, and was a sweet way to end the night. The service was decent for how busy the restaurant was. Since it was the last night of restaurant week, I think the servers were busier than normal. I 'd give the service for the night 4 stars, and the food 4 stars as well. I had a good time at Barolo's but in my opinion it was a step below being a "great" restaurant experience.
(4)Wayne R.
Came in for happy hour since I pass it everyday on my way up to my apartment. Assesed the reviews and knew I wanted to get a bottle of wine and the lamb burger. Boy was I pleased! The burger was fantastic. Id never had a lamb burger before and its exactly what I thought. The lamb flavor was so overwhelming in the best way possible. The wine left something to be desired but if youre ordering wine by color and its only $14, you cant be too uppity about it.
(4)Alex B.
My favorite Italian restaurant in Seattle!! Consistent quality of food and service. Never had a bad meal there! Chic ambiance, great drinks and food.. love, love, love this place!!
(5)Mia S.
So I know this place is the cool, hip upper-echelon place for dining, but after two disappointing experiences, I feel compelled to write a review. My boyfriend has taken me there twice, the service seems to treat him well and thats great - I was just kind of in the background considering the way I was treated, but whatever, this review is about their terrible food. When I first went there a few months ago, I had some chicken dish that I can barely remember because it was so simple and bland. My second experience was the veal with the truffle buttercream - the veal was so incredibly overcooked that I could barely cut through it and it was sloppily smothered with this truffle buttercream - it could've passed for dog food. And I love truffles, I cook with truffle oils all the time, but there was something so terribly wrong with this, that I've refrained from eating truffle infused food since that meal (~8 days or so). I'd say 1 star just for traumatizing my affinity for truffles, but because they're always so nice to my boyfriend, 2 stars.
(2)Angela D.
Came here during Seattle Restaurant Week and partook in their 3 course dinner for $28. Started with the octopus salad. Octopus grilled perfectly and was very refreshing. Lisa Z. opted for the salmon tartare- that was her least favorite dish of the meal. I thought it was ok but not memorable. Entree for me was the Maine Lobster pasta. MMM! Pasta was homemade, lobster was great and sauce was rich and creamy. Lisa got the sablefish wrapped in prosciutto. MmM as well! The sablefish was cooked perfectly! Dessert was pumpkin creme brulee and chocolate rum cake. Lisa loved her rum cake. The pumpkin creme brulee was good- wish there was a heavier caramelization on top but the flavors were on point. Overall, a lovely meal.
(4)Jennifer C.
Loved it!! Great restaurant. The food was excellent - started with octopus and caprese salad, both great. Then weird on to pasta which was delicious. The whole meal was good - the service was great, and I thought the interior was very pretty. Definitely recommend!
(4)Theo A.
This restaurant is very original and authentic for an Italian restaurant, and looking more modern than expected. There is an ultimate collection of real Italian food, and decent amount of restaurant meals. However, it feels very pretentious for a restaurant, almost as if only nice looking people dressed very formal, and very well with luxury cars parked near the restaurant is allowed to get inside based on recent visits in Barolo.
(4)K K.
This place really knows how to make their food awesome. I've only been to their happy hour every time, would like to try their regular lunch and dinner when possible.
(5)Diana C.
I really love the happy hour here! They have really good portions and delicious food for soooo cheap. They also have $14 bottles of wine that are actually drinkable! They are pretty busy unless you get in early, but it's really worth the wait. We had the ravioli, rigattoni, tuna tartare, mussels, and the cheese plate for food. A bottle of red and an extra glass for right around $50. Talk about a steal! It gets pretty loud, but everyone is engrossed in their own conversations so I don't think it's a big deal. In the warmer month(s) of Seattle, they also offer outdoor seating. If you're coming for dinner they also have valet parking for those of you who hate parking in downtown. Enjoy!
(5)Tony E.
Fantastic Italian food with a killer decor! Calimari Tuna Tartare *perfect* Veal shank Tiramisu Chianti Not friendly to the pocketbook but the meal was delicious. Wait staff was helpful, attentive, but not in your face. Great service, great night. I would say this is 2nd in my local faves only to Lecosho.
(4)Tracy A.
If you like pretentious people that cater to pretentious people, then this place is for you! Been here about 6 times for HH because I will say, the HH food is good, but not worth the poor customer service. About 3 months ago I met a friend there for HH on a Fri night which was packed of course so put my name on the list for a table in the bar. Waited about a half hour & finally got seated at a table. I sat down, ordered a drink and this blonde waitress comes over & says "I'm so sorry, but there was someone in front of you that has been waiting for this table, but I promise you can have the next table, so sorry". I'm like "I just saw that guy come in and he has not been waiting" She was like, actually he was,but how about we take the drink you just ordered off your tab?" I was like ok, whatever and gave up my table for this DB, but I never forget a face. This other girl who saw the whole thing said "he just works at the Ferrari dealership & comes here all time, that's why they gave him your table". I'm like what? whatever... So I decide to give Barolo another try last night because my friend really wanted to meet there and the food is good. We get there and same thing, packed, which is fine, it's Fri night, so we put our name on the list again for a seat in the bar. After 20 mins, we check in and the hostess who says were next on the list. Finally we see a table open up & when we go to sit down she says, "i'm sorry this guy was waiting before you, but we will give you the next table", I look up it's the same f'ing Ferrari sales guy that just walked in. I'm like "no... you guys did this to me last time, I know this guy" she insisted he was waiting and I didn't want to make a big scene so I just gave this DB the table. Not only was the hostess so shallow to give our table to this guy, but I couldn't believe the arrogance of the guy, how he just smirked and sat down, knowing he was taking a table from someone that had been waiting a long time and even though his sales buddies weren't even there yet and didn't even show up for another half hour when we were leaving. If you want to give friends and these types of DB's a table in front of other people, you should keep one table reserved at all times. This place is a joke.
(1)Ann G.
The decor is very nice. The food is OK but overpriced. The music that day was electronica/house, which I listened to a lot of a decade ago when I was going through a divorce, but now find boring to the point of annoyance. Back to the food. The crab risotto was OK, real crab shells were used to make the broth but the only dungeness crab meat to be found was that which was adhering to broken crab shells mixed with the risotto. An ounce of crab meat total, maybe. For dessert, there was a "basil gelato" which had no basil in it. Just vanilla ice cream (yawn). I went there for a restaurant week event, so was thinking they might put their best foot forward. An OK meal for two, $30 of wine and a cappuccino put the tab at 100 incl tip.
(3)Ashley H.
Met someone for drinks and shared the rigatoni and hanger steak. Both were tasty. The service was fine, but we came at an off time so there were only a few others dining there. It's a cute place. I would definitely go back.
(4)Christine Y.
By far the best Happy Hour in Seattle (and eastside, and north end, but that's easy to beat). They give full portions of fresh, well-crafted food at happy hour price. There is still no drink minimum. It's every day from 3-630pm. And, and.. I feel fabulous when I eat there. Recent fave = the grilled caesar salad. You're welcome.
(5)Carrie T.
This review is only for the happy hour. The bar area is small and it will get packed fast. Great thing was the server gave us some wine while we waited for a table. As soon as there was one available, they cleaned it up in minutes and we were seated. We got the prosciutto and mussels. was very tasty. the bread was really good. I think it had some sun-dried tomatoe baked into it. Everything was good and service was good considering how busy it was. Great place for happy hour. The only con is because it is small and packed, it is very noisy. The tables are really close to each other and it was hard to hear my gf talk.
(3)Devin H.
First time here was amazing... service was perfect and food was about as good as it gets... Unfortunately I came here on a slow night and asked to be sat outside. The seat was perect, but our waitress basically thought we couldn't afford to be there. Ordered a bottle of wine (she tried to sell us a $140 bottle but we setttled on a $60 one)... aparently that meant we weren't good enough to be there? She took our order and didn't come back for 45 minutes. The food was great as always but we felt like they didn't want us there. All I can say is that the food is phenominal, but unless you throw on some terrible looking expensive clothes and act like you have money they'll treat you like you don't belong... ( Coming from a senior VP of Amazon )
(3)Lynn V.
This restaurant is impeccable all around. The decor is upscale and classy. I love the chandeliers! The lighting is warm and romantic. Our server was amazing. He was funny, but not overbearing and gave excellent suggestions. We started off with the escargot. One of the best I've ever had. We also had the tuna tartare which was prepared with a ginger glaze sauce and french sea salt. For our entree, I had the Maine lobster tail risotto. TO DIE FOR!!! I was literally smiling with every bite I had because it was so incredibly good. The sweet lobster meat paired with the rich creamy, perfectly cooked risotto was the best. My bf had the rigatoni with organic leg of lamb which was very savory and flavorful. The lamb was so tender! I loved sharing these two dishes. They were completely different flavors and the entire dinner itself was a success. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a delicious dining experience and a romantic night out on the town.
(5)Brian H.
Lots of promise, but no follow through. I just arrived in Seattle and my hotel sent me over to this restaurant. The staff was very nice. The food had serious potential. The flavor a were good, but the execution was seriously flawed. On the positive end, the grilled Caesar was great -- would have been better with anchovies though. The organic lamb burger had great flavor but it was seriously greasy. Wait -- lamb isn't a fatty meat so they must have added the fat. The bun was soggy with grease. And despite the plate being piping hot the center of the burger was ice cold. I think it was frozen. And now I'm wondering if I will get ill from eating raw lamb burger.
(1)Benjamin T.
Barolo is fantastic. Great ambiance, amazing dessert menu and appetizer selection. The lighting and decor give it more of a high-end nightclub VIP section feel, which works just fine for a place to take a date. We ordered every dessert and appetizer on the menu, and 4 main courses - all were impeccable. I will definitely be returning, and this is one of my Seattle go-to's from now on.
(4)Brad Y.
I love this place for happy hour. Fourteen dollar bottles of wine. Half priced appetizers and entrees. However, if you are going for happy hour, go early or be prepared to wait. The happy hour prices and menu are only available at the bar--space is limited. I recommend the veal carpaccio, the tuna tartare and the rigatoni.
(4)Bernd W.
Expensive, definitely a cool vibe - but super friendly to us two walk-ins. Very attentive and nice from the get-go. Aside from the reception - WONDERFUL food, every item completely did it for us. Thanks!
(5)Al Y.
I find it amusing that some of the negative reviews are for Happy Hour, as if that will even compare to the full intimate dining experience that we had. I love this place! The service was exceptional and I got to talk with the owner who commented that the idea at Barolo is to present some nice touches here and there to make it unique and intimate. I think he was right. We began with amuse bouche of light cheese and capers which went really well with our light opening red. The thing that gets me is the paced service - thoughtful and timed, unrushed. It's hard to do this anywhere, but especially at highly busy place like Barolo. We moved on to a cheese plate with marcona almonds and house-made chutney; and endive, radicchio caramelized walnut salad. Very simple starter. Next, we continued to our Primi which was fresh house-made ravioli-of-the-day for my partner and a super tasty organic rabbit and cherry fettuccine in some kind of rosé sauce. The flavor of the rabbit was so tender and every bite was like a little burst of flavor with the darker rabbit flavor contrasting with the bright sweet cherry (but very subtle) - I loved it and still think about it when considering pasta dishes. The fettuccine tasted so fresh and light. The ravioli was presented as a "star" of little ravioli squares and it was exquisite. Finally, we finished with the tiramisu, which was the only miss of the evening. The lady fingers should have been soaked more - they were dry, not moist. I would suggest not getting any desert there and moving on to a place that does this better. No point docked for this failure however. My final thoughts on this evening are that you should do the whole experience if you are to fully comment on this fine establishment. They are way more than Happy Hour. Yes, your bill might be just short of a flight to Spokane, but it's worth it when taking your sweetie out for a Valentine's dinner. You will love it!
(5)Loralee V.
Upscale, glitzy, glamorous, and posh; yet Barolo imparts a warm, dreamy and a most inviting setting. Both traditional and modern, this high-end restaurant seems to be a direct Italian import. High impact with sparkling Italian glass chandeliers, mirrors, a 20-seat communal table, solid Italian marble bar dramatically lit from beneath, smaller comfortable booths and all surrounded by 'larger than life' wax-dripping candelabras. Cocktails and food were made to perfection and served with grace! I feasted on the following (from an extraordinary New Year's Eve menu): * Foccocia bread with a delicious olive tapenade * Organic Golden Beet Salad with rucola walnuts & goat cheese.-Pure delight! * A flavorful Lentil soup with New Zealand lamb sausage and organic spinach * Melt-in-your-mouth Halibut w roasted endive, mashed potatoes, cerignola olives & capers, tomatoes My new favorite place!!!
(5)Michelle D.
THis place have AMAZING HAPPY HOUR!! Great ATMOSPHERE, FRIENDLY STAFF, AWESOME FOOD! MY gf's & I came here right after our hair appt @ Marco Salon and we order maybe 4 appetizer and a bottle of wine and the bill was under $50!!! Every appetizer was just so delicious..... highly recommend this place if your in the area.
(4)Ruth L.
Wonderful bar, amazing drinks love the cherries,,,,best I have ever tasted! I have gone back just to get more!! I want more! Husbands manhattan was the best he had ever had! Our favorite cocktail spot now! Had dinner before great vibe in restaurant I had the rabbit and the pasta Very very good! Just felt weird eating a bunny, steaks were good
(4)Jim F.
This was VERY close to being a five star review, but I think we just caught Barolo on a bad night. Pluses: 1) Our server, Shannon. Friendly, knowledgeable, and honest about preferences on the menu. 2) The atmosphere. This place has two distinct personalities: The lively, fun, hip bar scene in the front; and the nice, more laid-back, romantic restaurant environment in the back. 3) Location. Just off the street car stop across from the Westin. 4) The menu. Lots of truffles, fois gras, tremendous options. Fresh ingredients, local flair. 5) The lobster bisque. It was a special, but one of the best I've had. 6) The tiramisu. Really creamy and good Seattle coffee flavor. Minuses: 1) Execution. The fois gras was supposed to be charred for flavor but was just simply burned and overcooked. An $18.00 appetizer should be perfect. Also, my wife's truffle tortelloni was too al dente'. They make their pasta in house, but I think they just made the batch too thick and firm that night. You can tell they know how to make great pasta, but that particular tortelloni was just off that night. I'll go back when I visit Seattle again. I truly believe this is a great spot that just had a bit of an off night when were there. We still overall enjoyed our meal and whole experience.
(3)Alison V.
So after wondering around downtown after shopping on a Sunday afternoon (one of the first nice ones this spring), a friend and I decided we wanted a glass of wine. Now we figured this would be pretty easy. Turns out not. Place after place either wasn't open (since it was between lunch and dinner) or didn't serve alcohol. After searching high and low I used my handy dandy phone and found out that Barolo was having happy hour at that time, so off we went. When we approached it really looked like the place was closed, but thankfully, they were open. They offered to let us sit at the bar but when we asked nicely they let us sit in the two couches with a small table in-between that was off to the side. It seemed the bar area was the area mostly open, and the place was nearly empty. After sitting down and doing some math, we decided since it was a fabulous day an entire bottle of wine was in order since it was only $14 during happy hour. That's right, $14 for a bottle of red in a decent place. We were giddy with excitement. We weren't particularly hungry but with the though of the two of us finishing off a bottle together, we decided some nibbles were probably a good idea. We decided on the tomato and mozzarella caprese. It was quite yummy and for $4.50 it was a great deal. Our waitress was adorable and the sweetest girl ever. She came over and giggled with us as we watched a quite drunk woman falling off her barstool (in the afternoon of a Sunday) and her male accompaniment trying not to be too creepy toward her (though he didn't succeed). She was more accommodating as my friend and I sat there for quite some time chatting, catching up, and sipping on our bottle of wine. The manager, or I presume he was the manager, even came over to see how things were doing and chatted with us for a few minutes. Overall, it was a really great day due in part to the company and due in part to the atmosphere. I'm not sure how it would be when it was super crowded, but I think a lazy Sunday afternoon happy hour will be had many more times here!
(5)Nina T.
This place feels really un-Seattle. I walked in on a weekday evening, and I guess it's the downtown after-work crowd lingering after happy hour, but it seemed like there was an abnormally large number of men in suits standing around in the bar. It's a busy place, and we had to wait a few minutes for our table, and there's nowhere you can stand without having people bumping into you every few seconds trying to get by. I'm not as crazy about the ambiance because it's extremely loud inside. I thought the food was really good, at a reasonable price point for a fancier Italian restaurant. I had the tortellini in truffle-leek sauce and it was full of truffle flavor, with nice slivers of truffle on the dish. I would definitely recommend this dish. Others in my group seemed to enjoy their dishes. One person expected the scallop and pork belly dish to have scallops and a piece of pork belly, but it was closer to pieces of bacon. Wine by the glass was reasonably priced and was very good.
(4)Nadine S.
I've traveled around Italy many times and have always had an amazing experience when it came to food. It's been a while since I've had that experience when dining in an Italian restaurant in the States, so my mind was blown after eating here. Everything is delicious. From the grilled Calamari to the Lobster risotto; beautifully made and a beautifully decorated restaurant. My companions that dined with me are Italian and THEY were impressed. They couldn't stop ordering more plates! Bon appetito.
(5)Betsy W.
I had wanted to try Barolo for quite some time and was extremely disappointed. The service was slow. It took a good half hour to get our first drink...twenty minutes seated before we even saw our waiter. The food was nothing special my halibut was over cooked and dry and my beet salad had way too much oil on it. My friend had the Chilean sea bass and to be fair the waiter did try to steer her away from ordering it but it was not good either . I was disappointed as when I walked in I really liked the vibe of the restaurant and hoped to bring my husband back there. But with the many tried and true great restaurants in Seattle, I will not be giving this restaurant another chance.
(2)Orlene C.
A great chic restaurant that is perfect for celebrating a special event. Came with a group of 6 and shared 6 dishes. Crab pasta - simple but tasty Lamb pasta & Rabbit pasta -both very good. Half the table preferred one over the other. Lobster risotto - AMAZING. If you like Lobster, you have to order this. Rack of lamb - okay but not memorable Veal scaloppine - Most disappointing. It was boring. Only disappointment - When it is someone's birthday, I always think the server should give a dessert for free or something else. I called ahead to let the restaurant know we were celebrating 2 birthdays,and they did nothing.
(4)Tiffany L.
I'm Canadian, so I won't get another chance to come here for at least a while (so I'll just give my first impression in this review). The atmosphere is comfortable (and pretty), although it got a little loud at times. You may have to speak loudly to be heard by your dinner companion(s). The staff was very friendly and competent. The food was yummy, but the portion sizes are small. (The prices won't seem expensive, until you see the portion sizes--not that that's necessarily a bad thing.) I wasn't very hungry, so I ordered only an appetizer--but strangely my companion's main dishes were about the same size! So you could definitely just get an appetizer if one of those sounds more appealing than the mains. And it could be a lot cheaper. The portion sizes are small enough that if you were hungry, it would definitely be possible to eat some of the complimentary bread, a salad (you'll only get a few leaves), an appetizer, a main, AND a dessert. I think that even I could manage that if I were hungry enough, and I'm usually a light eater. But yeah... the food is tasty. :)
(4)Javier C.
Their Happy hour is AMAZING, I really enjoy their Lamb Burger ans the atmosphere is great
(4)Sonoma Cty Fan N.
Good atmosphere and very good service. We ordered: Mozzarella Salad & Tomatoes - 1 star since tomatoes weren't good Grilled Calamari - 2 stars. Was cooked well but lacked flavoring/seasoning Cheese plate - 4 stars. 2 of the 3 cheeses were very good. Beet salad - 5 stars, excellent Steak - 4 stars, very good, cooked well
(4)Courtney C.
I came here for late night HH for the first time last night and LOVED it! Perfect date place for adventurous eaters and super reasonable, like $15 bottle of wines reasonable...my kind of HH! We had the escargot (first time having it and I'm definitely a fan, buttery goodness!) and the veal, also tasty...a bit on the garlicky side though but nonetheless great! Can't wait to come back w my gfs!
(5)Jenn W.
I'm most impressed by restaurants that take something that could be simple, and add a little bit of a twist to make each bite something surprising and awesome. Barolo did that with their appetizers, and it was a nice introduction to the meal. We ordered the chef's "whim" plate (antipasto misto), and also something with beets and walnuts and goat cheese. Both were good; I liked the chef's whim thing. For an entree, I got artichoke and ricotta raviolis (it was the special) with a side of mushroom risotto (only $5!). The ravioli was tasty but I couldn't taste the artichoke at all. The mushroom risotto was the bomb. Delicious. I regretted not just ordering that as my main dish. We skipped dessert, so nothing to say about that.
(4)s z.
It's good, I'm just not used to fancy small portion sizes. Gnocchi was amazing. Then there was the olive oil cake. The slice could have been bigger, but still delicious.
(4)Sheila L.
Came here for to take advantage of the Dine Around Seattle deal. 3 for $15 for lunchtime! Went with two teams from work so we were seated at the long dining table with pretty chandliers right above us and nice big mirrors so I can check myself out. hehe.. j/k. ;) The interior was really pretty and the candles with the melted wax all over was very interesting.. nice touch to the decor. I had decided ahead on what I was going to order for each course after studying their lunch menu special on-line: 1. Starter - Prosciutto di Parma Mozzarella Fresca, Parma Prosciutto with Fresh Mozzarella, Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2. Entree - Cosciotto di Agniello, Braised Leg of Lamb in its Own Juice, with Polenta and Parmigiano 3. Dessert - Crème Brulee Our server was really nice and kept the food coming on a good timely matter. My starter of prosciutto was devine with the fresh mozzarella. The entree of lamb was delicious! Lamb was braised perfectly and tender laid on top of a pile of polenta (mmmm) and dessert was one of my favs, creme brulee which was delicious but towards the end I just got way too full. :) I would recommend coming here for lunch or dinner. Special or no special this place is good!
(5)Rachel C.
We sat at the bar for dinner but were put off by the tasteless tapenade and the cobwebs on the lights above our heads. Two stars for good service, but I wouldn't eat there.
(2)Allison F.
Upon our maiden voyage to Barolo, my gal pal and I were incredibly impressed. While the bar was packed to the brim for HH - complete with standing table stalkers - we checked in with the hostess after of course we glided in through the bell-boy propped open door from a blustery Seattle evening. The hostess mentioned her reservations were rolling in about an hour later, but that she'd seat us at one of their tables anyway so that we could get right to eating, drinking and being merry. First off, that "seat people at the open table" thing seems to be a novel idea! My experience has shown that for the most part, hostess' are more or less "Op, bars full? guess you're SOL, sorry!" while guarding a vast collection of empty tables. So they get 5 stars on that move alone. BONUS POINTS: How absolutely delicious the food and wine is. The HH is phenomenal. You will not walk away hungry. You will shockingly hardly be able to move because you will be unable to refrain from stuffing your face on the prosciutto de parma plates, antipasta plates, flatbreads, etc. Seriously, GO now! If you've not ever been. You will not be disappointed by this posh establishment.
(5)Cliff H.
Big disappointment. Had dinner with several business associates. The specials were advertised as a roasted beet salad with cheese and candied walnuts, and pancetta ravioli - the descriptions sold me. Bait and switch routine followed. The salad was simply mixed greens with CANNED beets and ONE walnut half; the ravioli was the standard house cheese version. Perhaps the chef thought about pancetta while he prepared them. Best I can say about the food is "good bread;" but at those prices, it had better be good. No, I didn't complain to the waiter because of the company I was with, would not have been politic. But, with so much good food in Seattle, there's no reason to give this place a second chance.
(2)Audrey W.
Indulgence! Enjoying the most extravagant tiramisu around town, carousingly with fine vintage port, and in the company of a charming dining companion... Eat, drink and be merry? Gladly.
(4)Connie C.
If I was reviewing Barolo based on the food/drinks alone...I would have given it more stars... alas I am not and I had to take away some stars.. Let's start with the hostess... we checked in with the hostess upon arrival and she writes something down and doesn't say a word. Once our table was ready, she picked up the menus, walked over to the table and set the menus down. When she turned and realized we were still at the door - she looked at us (still no words) and signaled that this was our table. Er... I'm sorry... I know 3 languages and 'snotty hostess" is not one of them. Awesome first impression of the restaurant. (btw - we know she can speak because she wouldn't shut up with another table... *shrug* who knows) Then came our server. What a nice hard working guy. I have to give him 4 stars for effort. He seemed overwhelmed but was doing every thing he could to be attentive, checking in often (but would forget what we asked for :-) bless his heart) Drinks - one word "YUMMY" Now the food. CRAB SPAGHETTI...some swear by it...others...not so much. Mine that night was scrumptious. The pasta was al dente but I like it that way. The crab wasn't fishy . The flavors were light and not overwhelming. All in all a well balanced dish. SO.... final verdict...I doubt I will ever proactively want to come back to Barolo. The crab spaghetti was good but not good enough for me to overlook the demographic this place is catering to.
(3)Moshe D.
Barolo serves delicious Italian dishes. It has a great menu and a cool ambiance. My favorite entry is the Maine lobster tail risotto, which is outstanding with wonderful flavors. I also liked the fettuccini with organic rabbit mean and the rigatoni with lamb ragu. The service is professional and attentive. Barolo is very popular and busy. It also has a great Happy Hour menu.
(5)Andy Z.
seattle restaurant week food: 3 friends went and ordered one of the everything on the special menu. so theres the veal with tuna sauce, grilled calamari and escargot for the 1st course. 2nd course is the pasta with squid ink, duck breast, and oxtails. dessert we had the cannoli, gelato and the olive oil cake. none of use got the perfect order. if given the choice again, i would the veal with tuna sauce, oxtail and the cannoli. the veal is cooked lightly with lots of greens. eats almost like a salad. the oxtail is full of flavor and fall of the bones tender. so beefy. for desserts the cannoli is best of the 3, but its still not that great. the duck breast is good too, but its portions are small and it was kind of tough to chew. the pasta was nothing special in my opinion ***3/5 service: we had to sit in the bar so we had a bartender/server serving us. it didnt make a difference in terms of service i think. she was around all the time and was filling our waters often even though it was a full bar. ***5/5 ambiance: it can be kind of loud. but it should be given since we were on the bar side. cant comment on the other side of the restaurant though. its in downtown, so it can be hard to find parking. however, if youre willing to pay for it, there are plenty of parking lots around though. ***3/5 price: special pricing for seattle restaurant week. for my specific order, i wouldnt do it again for the price. even though i left the place satisfied, it didnt feel my food was worth the money. i ordered the duck breast and it only came in a few pieces. i think it was the vegetables on the plate that filled me up. ***3/5
(3)Cindy D.
Had dinner here last night for my birthday and had a nice time. It's a pretty small place so the table placement maybe not the best but service was spot on. We started off with prosecco and antipasto. The antipasto plate was well balanced with a good chefs selection of cured meats and grilled and roasted vegetables only thing I would of added were more cheese selections. Each of us at the table tried different menu items, and in my opinion the gnocchi was the best and the lobster risotto maybe the least successful. The lobster was cooked perfect but the risotto tasted a little gummy and lacked seasoning. The smoked salmon penne was also very good as was the saltimbocca. Desserts were pretty good any very small. But the best part of the meal was our service. I will return :)
(4)Rob G.
I took my girl out for our anniversary dinner here. I'm Celiac so it is very difficult to find good Italian options. We ordered 4 things: pancetta, ahi tuna, spaghetti carbonara, Chilean sea bass. The Pancetta starter and it was ok, bland and the sauce it came with was on the sweeter side but that could just my personal taste. The spaghetti carbonara was very good but its also just spaghetti carbonara. The Sea bass was good, but the bottom of the fish was so burned that I could taste charcoal. The tuna never came out so I can't say any thing about that. The service was not good. The Server was in a rush to take our ordered, assumed we just wanted to split a plate of carbonara and DID NOT check back to see if the food was good. All I can say after this, for the money one could do better elsewhere if this is an accurate dinner service at this restaurant.
(2)Dayna C.
REVIEW JUST FOR DINNER: Um. Good pros but some cons make this place a little iffy. 1. Food (0.5/1): They missed their marks on a lot of the entrees. -Penne pasta with salmon: too salty. -Their black cod entree was really disappointing. It was rather dry and others at my table agreed it was not good quality fish. -Their tuna tartare was not seasoned well Pros: -Good beet salad with goat cheese. -their menu caters to those who are conscientious about sustainable dining. I applaud them for that. -I heard their gnocci was good/ravioli too 2. Portion sizes (1/1): great. No complaints. 3. Service (1/1) excellent. It took a long time but our party was large so whatever. They brought out champagne with sparklers so that was really fun for my grandpa's 90th birthday. The ambiance is very fancy pants feeling and trendy but the music threw me off because it sounded like a club a little bit. 4. Price (0.5/1): A tad high since it is a nice restaurant but I'm a bit curious about their happy hour. 5. Willingness to go back: (0.25/1) Eh. Did not interest me. Happy hour maybe or maybe we ordered the wrong dishes. Not sure. Willing to give it a try someday.
(3)Diane S.
I just went here for lunch for resturant week, and it was a great spot to go too! I got the mushroom soup, the gnocci, and canoli. By far my favorite part was the canoli for desert, which is always hard for me to say no too. the gnocci was good, but I wished it had a little more artichoke (but that me being picky here). Love to go back when its a little less crazy
(4)Moo S.
Let's start with the positives: Lovely space- the decor was definitely upscale-modern and the chill lounge music was on point. Friendly staff- all the staff I interacted with were very courteous, from the busboy who served me bread and water, to my waiter, to the (I presume) manager who checked in on me during my meal. Now to the negatives (which, I'm sad to report, are not outweighed by the positives): The food was OK. Perhaps that's what happens when you judge a book by its (beautiful) cover. Walking in, my visual and auditory senses were assaulted (in a nice way). Once the gustatory portion commenced, it became such a letdown. I'll admit, I had high expectations, but some of the offenses were unforgivable. Cheese plate -- selection of three cheeses were virtually indistinguishable from one another, 3 out of 4 toasts were more like "burnts" (see pic). I don't know how that was allowed out of the kitchen. Accompaniments (Marcona almonds and fruit jam) were unremarkable, but I expected that since the server said it was a "basic cheese plate." Octopus salad was a bit too firm for my liking (nice way of saying rubbery), but I had a few pieces that were "al dente" and the basic flavors coupled with lemon were pretty refreshing. The server-recommended veal carpaccio was definitely the best dish I had at the restaurant. At the same time, I was a little dismayed that it was a bit too sinewy (a no-no for carpaccio), to the point that I had to discard some overly chewy pieces. Also, if I hadn't been told that truffle oil was part of the the dish, I would have been happier- I could barely taste it. It has to be a sad state of affairs when the restaurant's bread is counted among the "stars of the meal," but it was good, and the tapenade was delicious. Wine was fine and they have a nice wine list and cocktails. Perhaps happy hour or a drink at the bar would be enough to take in the atmosphere of this place.
(3)Molly B.
Happy Hour in the bar is great! If you're waiting for someone to join you, let the bartender know, they'll help you make it work. Had the clams and loved them!
(4)Maddie S.
Holy crap. The Gnocchi! Visited Barolo last night for the very first time and was blown away from the very beginning. The restaurant itself is in a great location on Westlake Ave with easy, friendly valet parking (they even washed our car!), and the decor inside is gorgeous! Very understated, but modern, warm and interesting. We were greeted warmly by their hostess and shown immediately to our seats, where we promptly ordered cocktails. I tried a Gin Rummy and a French 75, which were both delicious even though I don't normally love gin. Our server, Tim (? please tell me his name was Tim!) was fabulous, can't say enough great things about the man. We were a large-ish party of 9 and he took care of all of us flawlessly. Their menu was simple but varied, with tons of choices ranging from simple salads to fresh-made pasta to 25 oz. steaks and lobster tail. We ordered a bunch of apps for the table, and I ended up getting the caesar salad, which was rather unusual but very delicious--they grill the romaine lettuce before adding the dressing and reggiano cheese and the result is amazing! I also ordered the tomato/basil/mozz gnocchi and ermagerd, it was out of this world amazeballs good. Dessert was a vanilla bean sorbet and a mixed berry gelato, which were both of course divine. Because gelato. Will definitely return! I can't wait to try everything else on their menu :)
(5)Vincent V.
I was drawn to this place because of it's luxury cars parked out front, the flamboyantly dressed people, the posted wine list, and those little valet people - silly little coats. I was more impressed by the Tesla and Maserati parked outside then my actual food. Maybe i'm just not a fan of italian food. it's always carbs carbs carbs and cheese. Oh well. I got a bottle of Gaja Costa Russi and was at least happy with that.
(3)Stefano S.
Great place, beautiful elegant yet informal atmosphere, nice staff, very very good real Italian food. Definitely a must-do when in Seattle
(5)Ken L.
"Just can't get enough" sums up Barolo for me, but not necessarily as a positive remark. Dine around Seattle, OpenTable's March event included Barolo. An early reservation at 5 PM gave us the dining room to ourselves. Here is what we had: Appetizers: a golden beet salad and beef carpaccio. Entrees: sirloin steak and boneless short ribs. Dessert: cannoli and an expresso drink. The beef carpaccio easily the best item here. The steak and gnocchi did not excite. The boneless short ribs and sliced potatoes resembled a glorified pot roast. Dessert didn't quite do it either. Is that it, where is the rest of the food? Every item seemed to be a tapas small plate portion. We noticed the bar area started to crowd up so here we go for happy hour immediately following dinner. At 50% off, got an escargot (good) and a lb of mussels (so-so). Finally, we felt satiated hunger wise but failed to see anything really outstanding that satisfied the palette. In fact, hunger struck us again an hour later. This never happens to us, unless all we ate was a salad or soup. I now understand all the excitement over the happy hour in the yelp reviews. :/ So, in the end, for about $90 out the door ..... we just can't get enough - food to make us full.
(3)Jeff C.
This review is for Happy Hour as of August 2013. I ate here a couple years ago for dinner and it was solid: good food, good service, good atmosphere, a bit pricey but what you would expect for an establishment like this. Nothing "through the roof spectacular." First time to Happy Hour. I was very surprised how small the bar area was - fits 16-20 at most plus 6-8 outside? Got there at 4:30 and got the last two seats inside. Grilled Calamari was superb, slightly too salty but delicious otherwise. Meat & Cheese plate was decent. Lots of free delicious bread with tapenade to go with it. And you can't beat $14 bottles of wine that is a big step up from 3-buck chuck at Trader Joes. Service from the blond gal was attentive and very friendly and pleasant. Solid 4 stars. When they don't have seating outside, make sure you get there early. This is a very good strategy they are doing as I'm sure they eventually convert a lot of the people introduced to their food via HH to full dining customers when with larger groups and/or business lunches/dinners. By keeping the bar small it make it hard to come here with a large group.
(4)Vicki L.
Fun outdoor table, great food and a fabulous server. Across from the Westin, so easy access.
(4)corey b.
This is a response to Greg's very inaccurate review of Barolo dated 12/25/2013 There always two sides to a story . I was one of the two bald (shaved head)guys seated down the bar from him. He fails to state that he was intoxicated, rude, and that he and his wife were fighting loudly at the bar. The bartender did misunderstand his gesture about the change. It happens. Ive bartended in Seattle for 26 years. She apologized. I watched and heard it. He proceeded to call her a bitch. The manager stood up for her, as he should. When they continued to be rude he asked them to leave. As Greg left he called the two gals working hookers. He was drunk, rude and totally out of line. If you allow his post to remain, then you are not serving you readership wisely The food is wonderful and the service is great. Corey Brown Seattle, Wa
(5)Flora C.
I had high hope with the home made pasta here. It was better than most self claimed authentic Italian restaurant. The fresh made pasta was not the best I had as far as flavor and texture. I still think I would love to come back for the cuteness of this place and good services. Ordered: Crab pasta
(3)Michael G.
Ambiance was great, service was excellent, and the food was very good, but the portion sizes are too small. I enjoyed the place, but unfortunately left feeling hungry after a three course meal.
(3)Robb K.
Fantastic food, fantastic staff, and a very cool vibe.
(5)Dialy G.
I dont like to repeat restaurants while on vacation, but I couldn't help coming back. Their happy hour is definitely a most. The best thing was their veil carpaccio and the steak, also good the spaghetti calamari.
(5)Candace D.
This is also in response to the man sitting at the end of the bar and Corey B's response. I was also in the restaurant dining this particular night and watched as this man berated the bartender for absolutely no reason at all. I had to listen to him fight with his girlfriend for a good hour and then turn his anger on to the staff. His behavior was completely inappropriate and unjustified. I am a woman and was shocked at how disrespectful he was. Barolo is a wonderful restaurant and the staff has always been kind and on top of everything. The ambiance makes it such a pleasant environment and this man ruined it for everyone on Christmas Eve out of all nights. This woman deserved none of the horrible things he said and quite frankly should be embarrassed and ashamed of himself.
(5)Natasha W.
Barolo is and will always be my favorite restaurant. Delightful combination of elegance, atmosphere, impeccable service, and above all, amazing food makes my experience thoroughly enjoyable each and every single time!
(5)Chelsea S.
Barolo has a great happy hour, just like their sister restaurant List. However, it is known and hard to get a table at. Their bar seating is limited and that is the only place where they offer their happy hour menu. But, once you get that table you are in for an inexpensive treat. Their entire bar menu is 50% during happy hour, along with $14 bottles of good wine, I am one happy girl. I've had their hanger steak which is very good and their rigatoni. Off their normal menu their rabbit ragu is delicious and their service and decor is exceptional. Definitely a great hip place to meet a friend, a date, or just enjoy a drink by yourself. Casual but chic.
(4)John S.
I went back last night and was disappointed to see they raised the HH prices across the board 30%+. The HH food is no longer a good deal. They're also using cheaper cuts of lesser quality meat. The drink specials are still decent.
(3)Sonja M.
Ravioli was undercooked and salty. Service was great, but the food was way too expensive for its quality.
(3)Chris D.
Count each of the following that appeals to you. -swanky digs that make you feel far cooler than you really are -quality music played loud enough that you don't have to hear the table next to you -a bottle of wine for $15... or maybe two -"okay" half price food that's overpriced at normal menu prices -waitresses in undersized stretch pants and tank top that find any reason to touch you -service that's just a half tick too slow -empty plates whisked away before you can put your fork down If you got four or higher, Barolo is probably a place you'll want to check out. Care to guess which were my four? :-D
(3)Adam A.
Great ambience, great food, attractive staff. This is one of the only 'scenes to be seen' in Seattle...a city that is really lacking on this front. Make sure to get a reservation! This place is really great for big parties and they're very friendly and accommodating. The food is spectacular, especially the Ahi appetizer. Wine list is extreme. Bring your bonus check and make sure you peek at the owners car collection of his custom painted Lambo, new Ferrari, and 4-door Aston Martin (brand new)
(4)Jacquelyn O.
We came here for my birthday dinner while visiting on seattle. We all only heard good things about this place . We got seated right away . The food was really really good. None of us had any problems w our food , so good we all are it very quickly. The only thing I was we think it was an off night. The service was extremely slow. After sitting we didn't order any food until about 40 min later , out food came out one by one and not all together . The drinks were good but that again came out really slow . We also had to ask 3 different waiters for more house bread (which is super tasty) before getting it . Overall we would come back when visiting seattle, just hoping the service is a little more on it!
(3)Dave M.
Excellent food, fantastic service. We were in town for a conference and walked here from our hotel with some clients. We didn't know anything about it, other than reviews on Yelp, but it was a great experience. Highly recommended.
(5)Liza P.
Italian food was made from scratch and eaten at least twice a week at home... I can say that this place is amazing! Gnocchi is a dish that is hard to pull off and theirs was absolutely delicious!! Their cocktails are expensive, but you only really need one. They will knock you on your ass and you won't even know it. Everything from the bread they bring to your table to desserts and coffee are totally tasty and worth every penny.
(5)Jonathan M.
I walked in with my girlfriend to get a table for two and said we'd have to be out within an hour. I looked around at all the empty tables and laughed at her. Not because she was wearing so much makeup that it looked like she had an actual whale stuck to her face, but because they wanted to rush a customer out of what is nothing more than a little italian place. Nothing special here. I took my business on over to Dhalia Lounge and spent some good money over there. Their duck and crab cakes I'm sure are much better than anything this little hole could offer. There's always other good italian places in Seattle (like The Pink Door). It's very easy to write one off. If their management has any brains they'll realize that.
(1)Srinath A.
Stay away from this place. The bar tender does not know how to treat customers with respect. She looks as though she is doing a favor serving you a drink.
(1)Jason F.
My previous visits to Barolo had all been about Happy Hour. And, honestly standing around waiting for a table while sipping wine was still five star experience! But, when you get to actually sit down and have a meal at Barolo, you will not be disappointed. The service and quality of the food is as good as it gets. So, I'll put this place down as Five Stars and let the Yelp automatic cheesey comment generator put a "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" right next to it. Party on, tip well and get what you want.
(5)Gorman E.
Barolo never disappoints when we dine here for happy hour, dinner date, dinner with friends or Seattle Restaurant Week. I like that the Barolo provides valet, sometime it is very difficult to find parking in the heart of downtown so I appreciate that I have a choice. The decor is stylish, sophisticate, elegant and very sexy. The lightning is gear more dark to be romantic. My last visit was during SRW and hosting a birthday dinner for a special friend from out of town. I use open table for our reservation of the long table by the chic mirror. I was thrilled that they made a special menu with the birthday girl name on the menu. The service was super friendly and very accomdating to all of us. Our water glasses was never empty. Most our table ordered from the SRW menu. The birthday girl had this amazing tasting crab spaghetti entree that brought a smile to her face. We all had different wine and white wines with our meal. I ordered the pork belly, braised buffalo over polenta, and espresso coffee gelato. The pork belly was melt in your mouth goodness...so delicious, my favorite dish. The braised buffalo was little tough & dry but the ends were tender. The polenta was just aight. The espresso coffee gelato was good with rich with coffee flavor and if you ate the espresso bean, it gave you an explosion of bitter coffee in your mouth. They have one of the best Happy Hour at the bar: Time - 3-6:30pm and 10-close. 50% off the large happy hour menu. $3.50 select white, red, or rose. $3 pint. $14 bottle of red, white, or rose. They can not separate checks at the bar but can run multiple credit cards. Dishes I recommend for HH: Lumache baked escargot, Organic Hanger Steak, Pound of sauteed mussels, Cheese plate, Housemade ravioli with spicy ricotta & spinach, and the organic lamb burger. I will one day try all the rest but those are my favorites. Barolo is the place to be if you are looking for another happy hour spot with good company, a dinner option for your date or just a special occasion for that special day! Highly Recommended!
(5)Daniel B.
NOT worth coming here. Bad service, poorly executed food. My girlfriend and I came here for Dine Around Seattle. First thing happened was the menu was slightly different than what they advertised online, instead of having fish they had short ribs. Before we ordered we had to wait almost 10 minutes for our waitress to even show up! When it was time to order I was told that they were out of the lamb, after I had asked for it and it was the reason I chose Barolo. We were dining at 6:30PM! There is no way they were out of lamb for the night at 6:30, I suspect it was never on the menu that day. So my gf and I both got the short ribs, started with calamari and a kale artichoke Caesar salad. The calamari was incredibly overcooked and just pure rubber. The salad was nice but nothing to write home about. Now it's time for the short ribs. The short ribs came with a polenta cake that was just ok. The short ribs themselves were overcooked and very dry. I was tired and decided to just eat it, my gf complained about hers being dry but I didn't think that much into it because mine was too. Towards the end of the plate I decided to try hers and it was bone dry. I honestly have never had such an overcooked/dry piece of meat my entire life. I said something to the waitress and she took it back and apparently the manager agreed and they gave us $20 off our bill. Lastly desert was a cannoli and ice cream with espresso poured over. Both were good but not great. Overall I was very unhappy with my meal. I usually have had great dining experiences with Dine Around Seattle but this was the only one that missed the mark by miles. I really wanted to like this place from what I heard but between the food quality and the service it was a huge letdown. Lastly the prices were ludicrous (as mentioned in other reviews) for alcohol. Never seen such high prices for local wine in my life, and it was just saint michele. It hurts having a bad meal and bad service, it hurts worse when you do it once in a blue moon at a more expensive place and decide to splurge on overpriced alcohol. I gave them 2 stars instead of 1 because they credited part of our bill back for the bad food quality. For the price and what we got this really is 1 star.
(2)Inness P.
I visited Barolo for lunch for the first time the other month. The restaurant is very pretty and chic; the atmosphere is a little cold. My boyfriend and I ordered off the Dine Around Seattle menu. I don't remember if there was a vegetarian option; if there was, it didn't look interesting enough because I ordered the swordfish or the sea bass or something, and THAT was AMAZING. The portions were small but impeccably arranged. Every bite was full of exquisite flavor.
(4)Leanna C.
Really stoked on this place! Had the Tar Tar, Clams & Mussels, and the fabulous Fettucine w Crabs... Excellent service even though my raucous party of girls cruised in at 11pm for dinner! Deserts looked delectable and I enjoyed my usual finish of Espresso w Sambuca... Would definitely frequent this joint w my Man for date night if we were local...
(4)Nelson Y.
For happy hour, this is the place to be! I'm never dissatisfied with their service or their food. Their lamb burger is a must-try, as well as their lamb ragu pasta (both on the happy hour menus). We normally top that off with a bottle of wine (for $13) and with that gratis bread and tapenade... I'm in happy hour heaven. It's a classy joint too (for Seattle), and I'm a big fan of their ambiance.
(5)Stephanie R.
This is my favorite place to eat in Seattle. I have been here 10-15 times in the past 2-3 years and I am never dissapointed with the food. Their happy hour is the best in town and has a large list with plenty of things to choose from. I always get the Veal Capaccio and the rigattoni. My husband and I have also eaten here for dinner and it is very nice. It's a fun, corky, classy, fun atmosphere with great music. Great for a date night and then a walk over to Pacific Place for a movie. They have fun cocktails and great assortment of wines, ports and beers. It is a def must try if you are in the area. The only bad thing I would have to say is with the front staff, if you come in early for happy hour (usually starts at 3:30 and goes until 6:30, even on Sat!) it's great. If you come in and the bar is full, you'll have to wait, which is fine but the front staff is a bit nose in the air about it. They don't even offer you a drink from the bar while you wait. I have been seated in the normal dining area for happy hour (at 3:45) but was told I'd need to be gone by 5:30 because of dinner reservations. The way they said it was very rude and made me feel not welcome at all. Must try!
(4)T S.
We went there during happy hour. Food, wine everything was great and the best thing was it was priced half! We ordered 3 dishes, every one of them was delicious! We will go again.
(4)Kristin K.
So authentically Italian ... One of my fave late night lounges with really well made food. It's gorgeous in here .. If you aren't you will fell it and so will your date.
(5)Kathy E.
Barolo was a pleasant surprise! We had a truly outstanding Italian meal, the service was very good, the ambience nice, the prices were not out of line and we left there telling ourselves that we need to come back often. It doesn't get much better than when dining out!
(5)Antonio C.
We are from Portland and came to Barolo for lunch. Food was amazing and the prices were awesome. We sat in the bar for Sunday happy hour. Entire bar menu is half off and bottles of wine are $15. Our waitress was super chill and made us feel right at home. Forgot her real name, but we nicknamed her Woosa. This will be a regular stop every time we are in Seattle.
(5)Sterling H.
Not impressed. Four of us ate here last night. I have eaten here before and the same thing happened. The food is really good but wait staff, well hmm...., the whole time she was taking our order she kept looking at the table behind us in the corner. Not sure why but I tracked her eyes each time as she took our order and she would keep glancing over us. Then it came to me and she had to ask twice about my order because she was too busy looking behind us. That should have been my first clue. I received the entrée first and my appetizer came out for the main meal. Plus service was unbelievably slow and I mean slow.
(3)Lily S.
One of the best late night happy hours in town. Everything on the bar menu is half price. If you're hungry, then you can get things like $6 lamb burgers or pasta. If you're adventurous, the carpaccios (veal or tuna) are so delicious. Then dip your bread in the most buttery escargot sauce, but wait, you won't have any bread left, the tapenade is too delicious. I need to come up with an alternate adjective. Let's talk about the prosciutto with shaved Parmesan, it's a more lean prosciutto, so not my favorite, but they pile it on, I can't get half as much prosciutto for the same price at QFC. Then drown it all down with a lovely $14 bottle of wine. Get there on time, because if you're late, you won't get a seat. The regular menu is excellent as well; but all my favorite dishes are on the bar menu, HOORAY! I can afford my expensive tastes.
(5)Megan M.
AMAZING!!! :) Came here on my last night in Seattle and I am so glad I did. The service was impeccable. From hostess to server to manager, they all did their part to make our party feel welcomed. Ambiance: Gorgeous. Chic and elegant with the chandeliers galore! Highlights: Foie gras, gnocchi, and cannoli for dessert! This place is perfect for a date night and was the best and only way to end a perfect trip to Seattle!
(5)Melanie S.
I visited Barolo for the first time with a friend for happy hour because of the good ratings on Yelp, but unfortunately wasn't very impressed. While the happy hour selection of food and drinks was good, our service was really lacking. Our server was condescending and curt. She slammed drinks down on the table and talked to us like we were children. Also, for a more upscale restaurant I was surprised that our server was wearing her workout top. The music was incredibly loud which made it difficult to talk to my friend. I would be willing to give it another try assuming that our server was the anomaly, but I'm not rushing back.
(3)Gian-Luca M.
I've only been there for dinner. I love their Escargot! It's so delicious and I believe that it's covered in Gruyère cheese but don't quote me on that. The wine's good, and the waitress was super nice. It's a small place, but not in a negative way - in more of a cozy way. The size fits in well with the darker ambiance.
(4)Jingwen Y.
Intimiate dining. We came here for restaurant week and we left very happy. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The inside was narrow but the decor is very intimate. I like how they separated the bar on one side and the dining in another so the noise never reached us. Definitely a great place to have a business meeting or just catch up with friends over a nice fancy meal.
(4)Mitch N.
I was pretty happy with my meal over all. Service was pretty good, and the place was just hopping with patrons. Go them! We had to make a reservation for lunch on a Tuesday! But then again it was restaurant week.. Overall, liked the place. The food wasn't bad at all. Would I come back? Yes. Soon, not too sure. Nothing stood out for me to want to. It was just solidly done Italian food, and that's it. I hear they have a great happy hour, but I'll have to find a way to come back to experience that.
(3)Rossana Y.
I've only been to Barolo twice. The first time was for HH and the second was for Seattle Restaurant Week. I can say in a nutshell that this place is one of my top favorites for HH. I remembered trying the clams/mussels that were swimming in a buttery sauce that was really tasty. The lamb burger is also amazing, and at half price you can't beat that! And now on to my Seattle Restaurant Week experience.... When I first walked in, I noticed that the place is dimly lit with candlelight and chandeliers for a romantic ambiance. It is a little fancier than your average Italian restaurant but still has a casual feel. Our waitress checked us in and seated us to our table with no problems. Personally, I am a huge fan of bread and their bread was really delicious! It was soft, and almost felt like eating a modified version of cornbread that was slightly sweet and salty. It came with a olive oil/herby sauce for dipping. We definitely asked for more bread while waiting for our food :) I had the Insalata di calamari con fagioli which was like a calamari bean salad, and my bf had the Carpaccino di manzo crudo (thin slices of raw beef with basil and horse radish). I really liked my calamari and I thought it was tasty and refreshing with the beans mixed in. My bf wasn't a big fan of the carpaccino since he felt that the horse radish and other condiments overpowered the natural flavors of the beef. For the entrees, I had the gnocchi and he had the wild boar rigatoni. I was a little surprised at the small portion when my gnocchi came out, but once I started eating it was actually pretty rich. I enjoyed the rich, flavor of the gnocchi and I can definitely taste the potato flavor. My bf's wild boar rigatoni came out in a much bigger portion and he really enjoyed it. The wild boar had a slight gamey flavor but it wasn't too overpowering. It was actually very delicious and flavorful. We were both feeling pretty satisfied towards the end of our meal. To end the night, I had the cannoli for dessert and he had the hazelnut gelato. I thought the cannoli was just ok...I prefered the gelato since it was more sweet and refreshing to end the meal. We had a good experience overall but it didn't have that "Wow" factor to give it 5 stars. Service was decent with no problems and I liked how we didn't feel rushed while we were eating. I would stick to coming here for HH though!
(4)Mark Y.
Been here twice and loved it both times.. The food is exceptional the times i've been here, the pasta cooked perfectly, and the accompaniment is well prepared. Not too salty or greasy which are common complaints of mine. Servers were always friendly, attentive. Laid back attitude but efficient at the same time. Both the wife and I love this place.
(5)Alissa Z.
Definitely one of the best happy hours in Seattle. Went on Saturday, early evening, and the bar was only about half full. We ordered a bottle of red wine (pretty good for the price) then the lamb burger and tuna tartare. The tuna was fantastic and the lamb burger very good. Only real downside was the service. The bartender definitely made us feel like we were an imposition the whole time.
(4)Eric C.
Went with the girlfriend for their Happy Hour, which saw the bar side absolutely packed. We waited for about 10 minutes but were given an amazing table at the very end of the long row of seats/tables that was essentially a corner table. It gave us quite a bit of privacy, which is always nice. As we're from Canada, $15 for a bottle of wine is absolutely ridiculous. We enjoyed a bottle of red (cab sauv) and a white (can't remember the type) and I also had a $3.25 pint of Moretti beer (which would easily cost $7+ at home). For food, we ordered the prosciutto plate, cheese platter (save your money), and the hanger steak. We'd definitely come again for a good pre-drink. You cannot go wrong with $15 bottles of wine and a $9 hanger steak.
(4)Kyle J.
Another great dining experience. Great wait staff. Lobster risotto was incredible. Rigatoni amazing.
(5)John F.
Barolo is our favorite happy hour place. We live a couple of blocks away, and always stop by after we've been out and about in the afternoon. The atmosphere is modern and great. The happy hour prices are great. Service is friendly and quite good for the most part. The food is awesome. No TV behind the bar either which is a big selling point for us. Our favorites are the grilled calamari and the tuna tartare. Both are delicious with their house wine or beer on tap. Plus, they serve a complimentary bread plate with a tapenade which is so full of flavor and delicious. You really can't go wrong here, and lots of people know it. Happy hour starts at 3:00 and if you come by after 4:00 chances are you'll have to wait for a spot in the bar. But most people there are well dressed and hip, so you won't mind people watching while you wait. Compliments to their kitchen and wait staff.
(5)Noyonima H.
Great food, fantastic environment. I would go back. Why not a 5 star? We were seated in the center room tables and the draft coming in from above us was chilly and uncomfortable. I wanted to get out of there right after we finished eating, was freezing by the end of dinner. If you have a choice, pick the booths. Also, some creepy Italian guy in chains was walking around the restaurant just staring at people from table to table, including ours. I couldn't tell if he was the owner, or if he wanted to ask us something but he didn't do any of that, but kept standing around close to the tables. =/ Other than the cold draft and creepy Italian dude, great place for a great Italian meal!
(4)Joop V.
Went there with a group of 6 people for lunch. The decor was modern/contemporary and on the upscale side (so it really looks more like a place for dinner than lunch). They seemed to have good value for white-clothed table service with main courses priced at just $15-25. Our table ordered some wine, beer along with Spaghetti with Dungeness crab, fish, seared tuna, sausage/mushroom risotto, etc. All the dish was pretty looking/well plated and everyone loved their meal! Service was also attentive. The lady who waited our table was nice to recommend some dishes for some of us to try, brought out the food all timely and all at once so that everyone enjoyed the dish at the same time (this is not the case with some of the restaurants that are not well-trained). Wouldn't mind going back there again!
(4)Elizabeth L.
4.5-stars. Hosted a work dinner here and again Barolo did not disappoint. Italian done well, excellent service. Extensive wine list. (5-star): Burrata Arugola e Pomodorini: Indescribably fresh, melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella. Presented on a bed of arugula, grape tomatoes, simply dressed with e.v.o.o. A favorite dish in Seattle. (4-star) Tagliere Di Prosciutto: Meant for sharing among 4 - a very generous portion of quality prosciutto. Prefer preparation with melon/fruit, but if you're craving prosciutto, this won't disappoint. (4 star) Foie Gras with cannellini beans, candied wild black cherries, thyme. The black cherries are a nice complement to the foie gras, but prefer the foie gras at Brooklyn Oyster House. (4-star) Tortelloni with porcini mushrooms, truffle-leek sauce. Delicious, satisfying flavor - sauce complements the earthiness of the porcini beautifully. (4.5-star) Mahi mahi with spicy organic cherry tomatoes: Handsomely presented. Client enjoyed his dish immensely. (3.5-star) Pan-seared wild cape cod scallops with porcini mushroom purée: Wasn't particularly impressed with the scallops, which were smaller than might be expected. (4.5-star) Olive oil gelato with sea salt caramel. An ingenious take on salted caramel - a must-try. (Still) Strongly recommend.
(4)Midgi M.
When an Italian recommends an Italian restaurant you know it's a winner! My husband and I were referred to this amazing bistro and had the most delicious meal ever. From the escargot appetizer to the Ossobuco to the delicious wines, the meal and service were exceptional. I write a food blog and column in Juneau, Alaska and I'd say this is a must every time I get to travel to Seattle.
(5)Yumiko K.
I have yet to visit this restaurant myself, but my super bf brought me home Spaghetti Con Polpa Di Granchio, which basically contained perfectly cooked spaghetti with chunks and chunks of dungeness crab meat, burst-in-your-mouth cherry tomatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, white wine, and tons of garlic. It was in-your-face delicious. I sat down and inhaled it. I was flabbergasted by the sheer number of crab meat chunks. Focaccia bread with olive tapenade was also tasty. I hear their tortellini or ravioli and octopus were pretty fabulous. I think I must go there and verify this delicious allegation myself.
(4)Dorene S.
For the non-squeamish, try the Foie Gras with cannellini beans. The beans were really something special - infused in the sauce of candied black cherries and thyme. Lamb was cooked well, though not out-of-this-world good. A very busy and expensive downtown place - make reservations before showing up. The ambience was a little darker that I'd prefer. Overall, a good experience and I would come back to try other stuff. KPI (Key Performance Indicator) ratings (1-5, 5 - best): Quality: 4 Delivery/Service: 3 Cost: 3
(3)Raelene P.
My husband and I decided to eat here because of Yelp reviews. We had an amazing dinner! The wine selection fabulous! The service also wonderful. We will defiantly return.
(5)Bryan R.
I'm a fan. Not usually one to dress up and go out, I'll still readily go out for lunch as a break from the office, and I found Barolo to be pleasant, upscale atmosphere with reasonable portions of very nice food. The wine list was robust for a lunch hour and the staff was versed in pairings. I had the clamari to start, followed by penne, and finishing with the olive oil cake, all of which were quite good and distinct in their own restaurant-specific style. I truly was impressed with the olive oil cake; that was a fun treat. Overall the establishment was well kept, the waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable, and the food was both well made and interesting. I'd try it again for sure.
(4)Koriann B.
My boyfriend has been trying to get me to go to Barolo for MONTHS. And each time I look at their menu, I always shrug and tell him that there are other places I would rather go. This time however, I looked at their menu and said, "Hey honey, let's go to Barolo!" He was convinced. Barolo is participating in the 30 for 30 deal ( dinearoundseattle.org ). They also offer a lunch for $15. Not a bad deal at all. We went for lunch. Everything I ate was absolutely delicious. Everything my boyfriend ate was absolutely delicious. And the service was awesome. So next time my boyfriend says, "Let's go to Barolo!" I won't be putting up any arguments; the only thing I'll ask is "When?"
(5)Taylor P.
Half off the entire bar menu - what the February, this is a steal! I came for the 3 for $30 dine around Seattle deal (like I see a lot of reviewers did) but while sitting in the bar waiting for a table I noticed that they have happy hour 7 days a week and it's a great deal. Why have I not been here before?! Oh wait, I did try once and it was too crowded - their bar area is not the biggest so keep that in mind...get their early. We ended up ordering off of the regular menu and everything was yum. Our service was good and like the lighting and vibe in this place. I would definitely go back
(5)King C.
I'd give it 3.5 stars. But I'm feeling a generous today, so I'll give it 4. It's got a trendy ambiance and decor. The wait staff was friendly, relaxed, and attentive on a busy Sunday night. Great service and fun atmosphere is always a big plus! The food was above average. We ordered off the $30 for 30 Dine Around Seattle menu. I started off with the tuna tar tare. It was solid, not phenomenal. For the entree, I'm glad I got the veal. It was large, sizable portion. Once again, not amazing, but I was hungry so I was happy. The chocolate tortino was best part of the meal -- it was so delicate and rich (without being overwhelming). It's unlikely that I'll come back for dinner, but after reading through the other Yelp reviews, I'm tempted to try the value-packed HH menu.
(4)Serendipity S.
One of the best happy hour deals around. The food is absolutely fantastic and the atmosphere is perfect for me as I'm in my 40's and many of the other places have a younger crowd.
(5)Dr. B.
This is THE place for Italian food in Seattle. I highly recommend the Osso Bucco. . . really exceptional stuff. The wine list is fantastic as is the service. If you want a swank place with great ambiance, this place has it. There is really nothing negative that I can say about my many visits to Barolo. While the menu isn't cheap, it isn't overpriced, either. Definitely one of my favorite spots in the city.
(5)Shera M.
I didn't get a chance to check out this "wicked" happy hour, but my disappointment is at a sheer minimum about that. I went to Barolo with 3 others for dinner and enjoyed leaving without the usual feeling of "I ate WAY too much pasta" for once. I started with a seasonal, simple greens salad. This salad couldn't get any more simple but it was still quite delicious and well portioned. Then I did something I have never done before. I went and got all gnocchi with it. (Hands up if you're a gnocchi first timer!) I figured that since I was trying a new place, I might as well try a new dish, and so did my husband. And, kiddies, I'm happy to report that my curious little self (and my man in the yellow hat) was entirely satisfied with the gnocchi. It was light (which was surprising to me), as was the marinara that came with it, and had just the right amount of mozzarella on it. I decided to top it all off with the flour-less chocolate cake (which I think is actually a "tortino" on the menu") and a gold star for success! I failed to check our ticket and see if the price points paired with the tasty points, so you'll have to just go in and find out for yourself.
(4)Sunny S.
Since the Canadian dollar is at par with the States, what better time then now to cross the border and make your way to Seattle to take in some fine dining. Barolo Ristorante in Seattle encompasses this tradition as well provides a more earthy Italian cuisine which is indicative of the Northern City. What you will find in Barolo Ristaronte is Italian ancestry and family spirit in modern comforts. You'll be mesmerized with the warmth and whimsiness of the dripping candelabras, glass chandeliers, a 20-seat communal table or a cozy table for two to catch a private moment. Barolo Ristorante 1940 Westlake Avenue (located in the Metropolitan Tower) Seattle, WA 98101 206.770.9000
(4)Tim G.
Bar server was terrible. Retarded bar server cost them a star. Drinks were good though. Dinner was incredible. A bit pricey but the food was great and inside was very elegant. Valet is a nice touch. Give it a shot....
(4)Jamie P.
Love the truffle leak tortolini....
(5)Patrick W.
We had dinner at Barolo on a Friday night a few weeks ago. It is small, but not too crowded. The wait staff and management were very attentive and friendly. The bread was incredible (I am always a sucker on free and filling carbs before a meal). The grilled Calamari was definitely a winner. I'll warn you now, if you are afraid of fresh cracked pepper - you should go someplace else! The Ginger and Tuna Tartar was perfect. I will admit that we did have a low point with the Rabbit Fettuccine. The rabbit was overcooked and kind of tasted like mealy dog food. The wait staff and management were very apologetic and took care of it for us. Everybody has an off dish occasionally. I have faith that next tme will be better, and since 2 out 3 dishes were great (plus the salads and bread) it gets 4 stars. Will we go back, a definite yes.
(4)Ane P.
I have now been to this fine establishment several times since it's opened. I have even hosted a bridal shower at the communal table. The first time, was after reading great reviews, and deciding to take a chance. I was not let down. The interior is beautiful, with a sort of New York "cool" feel to it, without being overly modern or anything of the kind. It still has it's Italian flare, with the most scrumptious food from beginning to end. From the appetizer breads (all of which burst with flavor--tomato, garlic, butter!), to the Spaghetti Vongola, to the sorbetto (mango was delicious), you are in for a treat if you decide to dine here.
(4)Matt C.
This place has the best ambiance in the city. The food is always spectacular. Some recent guests from out of town asked where they should eat and this was on the top of the list. The operation is run flawlessly with a family feel. Very romantic or very social this place can handle all your emotions. I would recommend Barolo to anyone. Make sure to say hi to the friendly owner Leo and the personable bartender Blair. You'll be glad you made their acquaintance.
(5)betsy b.
Thank you to Timothy D for rec this spot for happy hour. What a great find and very close to our hotel.....good wine for $14 a bottle and cheapo apps. We did the grilled calamari and cheese plate. Both were good and perfect before dinner apps. The bread and oil was also good but the blob of whatever that brown stuff is was a tad unappealing. I wish we had another day in Seattle to try this place for dinner. The dining room was always packed and the menu looked awesome...maybe next time.
(4)Tonya N.
Good HH spot for sure, only if you are lucky enough to find an open spot. The Bar area is a little small and was very busy on a Sunday at 6pm, we wanted to stop by for a quick bite and check this place out since its the same owner of List which is great. There is a larger happy hour menu here... but i'd say List might be cozier. The dining room area is very nice if you get the large table for a party, very elegant. What stands out i'd say here is the service, super nice staff. Had the hanger steak, ahi carpaccio and lamb burger... All good, i wouldnt say amazng but definitely worth the HH prices ave $6-8... its about a buck more or so a plate over List. Overall... good place but would be better if there were more tables in the bar. At List the whole restaurant is a bar....
(4)Sarah G.
I was introduced to this delightful place about a year ago and have been hooked ever since. Great wait staff, sexy ambiance, fabulous menu. They have the best happy hour in Seattle. Problem is, everyone knows it so you either have to either get there early or wait up to an hour or more for a spot in the bar. Dining in the restaurant is also fantastic, huge wine menu and delicious assortment of Italian dishes (the pheasant gnocchi is pretty ridiculous). Service is quick and attentive, and super friendly. Barolo, I love you!
(5)Sarah B.
This place is great...if you are eating on somone elses dime. Otherwise I would say it is just "ok/good". The ambience is super posh with its mirrors, crystal chandeliers over the top melted candles and dim lighting. What do you expect on the edge of Belltown and Downtown right? I came here a week ago with a group of co-workers as part of a celebration dinner. The tab was picked up by a business associate so we really were able to go to town. We started off with the tuna tartar, fois gras and a cheese plate. All were good although the fois gras had a very interesting texture, unlike any fois gras I have had before. It was kind of slimy and had the texture of an oyster. Maybe I just got a bad bite? Not sure. The tuna tartare was delicious. And the cheese plate was good. There were 5 of us and we each were able to get a serving from each appetizer - making sure to save room for the rest of the meal. I shared the ceasar salad with another diner and it was a perfect size to share. Delicious dressing too! For dinner the gnocchi with pheasant. The pheasant ragu was delicious and the pulled pieces of pheasant were so good. The gnocchi - eehh not so good. Very tough and chewy like it had been over worked. I tried the veal shank osso buco with saffron risotto and it was ok. The veal was good but the risotto was quite chewy and not the silky texture that risotto usually is. For dessert we all ordered different things and took bites. As I have said before I am kind of a dessert person. The panna cotta just ok. It wasn't as creamy and silky as I like. The cannoli - good but it was pretty small for a $7 dessert and nothing special added to the plate just the cannoli. The tiramisu was very good and a perfect size. The chocolate cake was kind of a joke. When it came out we all kind of smiled like "really that is is?". It was pretty much the size of a brownie bite which is fine but for the price not worth it. I will say the service was great and we were well taken care of. The bar was packed and with the reviews I have read about HH I can understand why. I think for the $ that is the way to go with this place. I know that on my budget the dinner prices are a bit too steep and for the food and value I would rather take my $ elsewhere.
(3)Sarah C.
Amazing food, great ambience and unbelievably attentive service - ask to be served by Peter. A true professional! And seriously phenomenal food!
(5)Melissa R.
Fantastic happy hour here... $14 bottles of wine (great for sharing, of course!) and usually have a white, red and rose. Their happy hour food is 1/2 off and comes in normal portions. The calamari is great, but I must say that the lamb burger ($6 on happy hour) is really, really fantastic. Great downtown crowd after work, but it can get busy fast, so get your seats early!
(5)Yvonne D.
I went during happy hour 3-6 that everning. The food was pretty good, the appitizers were pretty cheap with very good portion size. I had the anti pasto, ahi, steaks and a couple more dishes with a mamosa, my friends got house white and house red, all drinks were Very dilicious. The food was not excellent but good. The bill was only around $60 it was a very good night.
(4)Marnie S.
One of the best happy hours in town, Barolo consistently delivers. The house wines change depending on the day but are always are inexpensive and versatile. As far as the food goes, there is something for everyone on the bar menu. The rigatoni with beef and veal ragu is hearty and rich while the ahi tuna carpaccio is always fresh and perfect for a lighter appetite. Plan on arriving early because the bar can get crowded. Barolo would have earned five stars if not for the occasional host or hostess with attitude.
(4)Bryan J.
Great place and fantastic atmosphere! I had the Osobucco which was amazing. I highly recommend that you go.
(4)David M.
I'm usually not a big fan of italian food because so many places just slap a halfway decent marinara sauce on pasta or meat without paying attention to the complete product. I applaud Barolo for not taking this route. I was impressed with their flavor profiles and enjoyed the meal thoroughly. So as far as the food/wine goes, this place is five stars all the way. However, the wait staff was lacking in experience and the "je ne sais pas" that you expect to get from high end restaurants. The location is a bit off the beaten track downtown but still manages to draw a crowd. It also helps that they're on opentable.com .
(4)Henrik B.
Barolo is a very good Italian restaurant where they take pride in their food. And as if that wasn't enough their decor is very nice, I would describe it as contemporary romantic, and the staff is attentive and funny. All of them. I can recommend the pasta. The pasta is great, and the sauces are fantastic. I had a fantastic fettuccine with rabbit, and I thought it couldn't get better. That was until I tasted my fiance's spaghetti with crab. It's a place I will definitively come back to
(4)John J.
I tried Barolo for the Dine Around Seattle special and was very happy with the experience. The atmosphere was hip without being gawdy. The young waitress was fun and relaxed. When we asked for wine advice she offered that she knew less about wine than us, but brought over the sommelier. He talked to great length about wines -- while we prodded with basic questions. Finally, he brought two wines for us to sample that were within our price range. We asked him what his most memorable wine was. New York City, 1996. SoHo, a blizzard. A dinner alone with a glass of wine and finished with a cigar. Cigars and wine were his life in NYC. Another memorable wine was a 1964 port -- aged the same amount of time as he had been alive. "Sixty-four was a great year for port." We asked him why he was interested in wine. He was a drunk -- with a purpose. To begin with I ordered a basic, greeny salad with caramelized walnuts. The nuts were great, but I wished there were more. For the main course I had the pork tenderloin which was cooked perfectly. The thick sauce was amazing, and was quickly sopped up with my bread after consuming the meat and veggies. Finally, the cheesecake for dessert was warm and absolutely delicious. My friends ordered the chocolate tortino which I would recommend over the cheesecake (even though I loved it). We asked for extra strawberries which accompanied the fudgey insides -- which by this point were being shared -- very well. Probably my only complaint is that our waitress brought out the bill too early -- without us asking and before we were finished with dessert. Honestly, the experience was so great that I won't hold this against them in rating. I didn't have nearly the same experience as a lot of these negative reviews. In fact, I thought it the food was approaching the quality of Restaurant Zoe and is one of my best "25 for $25"/"Dine Around Seattle" experiences both in terms of wait staff and food quality.
(5)Marc C.
I love this place. Whether it's lunch, happy hour or dinner, Barolo consistently delivers great food, service & atmosphere. I love the decor here. It's tres chic. I'm looking at hosting a dinner party there and excited to dine at their private long dining table. We're participating in "Dine around Seattle" this month and this gave us another chance to come in with friends. Not only did we order every itme off of the special $30. menu we also sampled a few of their newest dishes. Their bartenders make killer drinks and they have a great wine selection too. Presentation of their food is fantastic too! Did I mention that I love this place!
(5)Shannon W.
Great happy hour!! We took some out of town guests based on Yelp recommendations and we were not disappointed. $14 bottle of wine and lots of great dishes to choose from. We got there at 3pm and by the time we left the place was packed!! I imagine it's cooler looking in the evening when the candles are all lit, etc. but overall we thought the ambiance was nice and the service was fine.
(4)marisa p.
Carbonara is the best we've ever had. We also had the halibut special. Perfect portions, kind, attentive staff and great ambiance.
(5)Jeff W.
Great food, decor and service...accommodating to a diabetic companion (poor guy, couldn't the feather light gnocci). Great wine pairing by the server. Prices in line with lesser restaurants, which enhances the sense of value.
(5)Lilia G.
I've been to quite a few late night happy hours and this is by far my favorite one. $15 bottles of wine and 50% off some very delicious appetizers. The bar area gets very busy and is a little tight but the great prices and food makes up for it.
(5)Kim V.
Barolo came highly recommended, and I have to say I was a little underwhelmed. We sat early(6pm) and had 6 people, but the restaurant was empty. Our server was very nice, but nothing was quick. Drinks and food came in waves; neither drinks or food came for the table at the same time, so if you wanted to be polite and wait for the rest of the table, your drink was warm and food was cold. The food itself was okay. A couple people in the group did the tasting menu, which I liked better than what I had. But none if them were plates that you would die for. The overall experience wasn't bad, but it also wasn't a wow, and with all the other options in town I'm going somewhere else next time.
(3)Aimee Z.
I have an issue with how 1 thing was handled. First, the pros. The food was good, the pastas looked amazing, and the special was marvelous. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food immensely and the servers were obviously very attentive. The hostess who handled my cake was adorable and accommodating and I wish I had cash to tip her. I hope the servers did. The issue: I brought a cake. I know there's a cake fee. It's not like I dine at McDonalds and think it's El Gaucho, so no, please do not tell me that "many restaurants charge a cake fee." I know this already. The issue I had was how the cake fee was handled. At the end of the night, everyone received their bill and saw a $4 cake fee. That was embarrassing for me. What was worse, another guest at the table said they had encountered this problem before, so it was amazing to me that they didn't seem to learn their lesson. My issue is not the cake fee. My issue is that the cake fee was snuck into everyone's bill without letting us know beforehand. NO ONE is going to raise hell about $4 and they know it. No one is going to say, "I don't want to pay this", and they know it. The problem with this kind of thinking is that it's sneaky and handled without finesse or grace. If they truly wanted to be a high end restaurant, why do something lowly like secretly charging a $4 cake fee to everyone's tab? Wouldn't it have been easy for the server to simply whisper in a guest's ear and ask who brought the cake? Because I did, and I would have loved to cover it on my own. The truth is, the cake was part of our gift to my friend, and I didn't need everyone to pay for this gift without knowledge of it beforehand. It's simply not classy. It was a reflection on me, and a bad one. Did anyone care about the $4 cake fee? Honestly, not at all, but that's not the point. The worst thing is I had hoped to redeem myself to the party by calling the restaurant to see if they could offer a resolution, but I was scolded very passively, saying that they "didn't know I was even bringing a cake so they had to work with what information they were given." How about asking quietly who brought the cake and simply explain the fee? Then I would have whipped out my debit card and said, "here! go for it." Someone else paid for my dinner that night but I still had the server run my card for $0.01 so I could write an additional tip for them. Thank you, Barolo, for punishing me for WANTING to reward you. I highly regret even trying to be fair.
(3)Kristian K.
Is there a better place for Happy Hour in Seattle? No. No, there isn't. Barolo is not only excellent for Happy Hour, but it is excellent for dinner, as well. The food is always deliscious. ALWAYS. And the service is always impeccable. I'm there fairly often -- for Happy Hour, dinners with friends, dinner with a date (it's a great date place - very romantic), drinks with colleagues, meetings with clients -- and I always have a great experience. The owner and his family (they also own List and Mamma Malina) are welcoming and kind, which sets the tone for their restuarants. Tip: if visiting for Happy Hour, get there early -- it's good, which means it's popular. Snag a patio seat if you can when the weather is nice. Mangiare, bere ed essere felice!
(5)Kayan H.
Came here for lunch and had the half steak, half scallop lunch combo. Steak was good, scallops were VERY good. It came with some risotto-like little scoop of starch that I really didn't like. Don't remember if there were some potatoes or veggies that accompanied the entree, but whatever it was I didn't like it. Just the steak and scallops were good.
(3)Kim M.
Food was amazing! I had the gnocchi with mozzarella and basil . Mouthwatering! Must have reservations or find a spot at the bar. Service (even at bar) was outstanding. Very attentive !
(5)Samantha E.
I was visiting Seattle and a met a friend here for happy hour. Lots of food options and the happy hour wine deal ($15/bottle) is fantastic. Plus, the wine was decent and very drinkable (doesn't always seem to be the case with happy hour wine). Out server, Carly, was friendly and attentive. You could tell she knew the regulars and greeted everyone with cheerful hellos. She was a lot of fun and I would be back often if I lived in the area. Overall a great downtown spot for happy hour.
(5)Remy-Anne V.
3.5 Stars is actually what I would give them! My trip out to Seattle was perfecting timing, coinciding with Seattle's restaurant week! So many choices and so little time! My friends and I decided to come to Barolo based on it having items for my vegetarian friend and also Bc it was cold outside and not that far from out hotel. Restaurant week consisted of a 3 course pre fixe meal for $28. Not that bad. For my appetizer I had salmon corn soup, entre cheese and spinach lasagna and for dessert I had sorbet. I definitely left feeling full! My lasagna was pretty good! I finished the whole darn thing. A nice consistency, juicy not to dry and super cheesy... Yumo! The staff were all very friendly. The interior of the place, pretty dim! I mean it was overcast outside, but still we were so close to sensory eating! They did have Lil candles, I'm assuming to set the mood.. But it just strained my eyes! That's pretty much my only complaint. Other than that, had a good meal with good people. But I didn't leave with the WOW factor. =/ perhaps better luck next time. And hopefully the next time I'll be rejoicing The words "Let there be light!"
(3)Candi K.
This has to be in my top 5 favorite places for happy hour. Seating can be hard to find but when you do, OH EM GEE, you just get one of everything. My girlfriends and I love coming here for the cheap bottles of wine and the atmosphere is so chic. The food is also pretty good for the price that you pay and we like to different things and share it.
(5)Jeff L.
If you're staying at the Westin, this is the restaurant to go to. It's right across the street and the food is quite good. Around this part of Seattle downtown, there are many chain restaurants or taste like one. We ordered a Gnocchi & braised pheasant (very good), and an Alaskan Halibut served with kale, plus two small side dishes (octopus, sautéed spinach). The entrees were around $20-26 each. The cooked octopus with lemon juice was a good choice and the spinach was a good complement to the Gnocchi dish. The red wine tomato sauce base of the Gnocchi & braised pheasant dish gave it just the right amount of acidity and slight sweetness to the dish. For dessert we ordered bread pudding and it was delicious! An excellent meal overall.
(4)Kathy A.
We tried this place out for Dine Around Seattle, getting 3 courses for $30. They also offered a special discount of a select bottle of wine. Overall we were quite pleased with our experience. The decor of this restaurant is very distinctive. They have massive candles throughout with dripping wax. They are definitely going for a "hip" ambiance to suit the downtown crowd. They brought us bread immediately and our server was very friendly. We tried a few of the different appetizers which were all quite good. As far as entrees they have superb pasta dishes and the seafood entrees are very good as well. The cheesecake was very good as was the gelato. I've heard they have a great happy hour at the bar as well, but I have not been myself.
(4)Susan C.
Aww... what the heck, I'll give them 4 stars (was going to give 3 cuz I think the food could be a little cheaper, but during HH it's a good deal). Barolo just GROWS on me. I've been there more times in the last 6 months than I've had bikini waxes in the same amount of time. The first few times I thought the host/welcome staff was a bit... off putting (??), but I realize now it's just my own neuroses in the face of the great ambiance and decor. You have to get there early for HH, which starts at 3pm; otherwise, you won't get a spot and will be doomed to a center table in the restaurant side, which you'll have to vacate by a certain time. The HH menu is awesome - 50% regular bar menu prices: try the lamb burger (Ponti's lamb burger is pretty good too -- what a toss up!). The house wines are a good deal and the cocktails, though not on special (I think they *might* have a special cocktail for HH) -- are professionally done. Had dinner here too and the pastas are quite superb as well (thought pricey). And the ambiance is nice for an intimate dinner (or a big group get together, as they do have a large room for that purpose). IF the parking was easier to get, I'd be here more often. Definitely one of my favorite HH places.
(4)Ric M.
Lunch borders on "meh" but dinner is spectacular. Not the most amazing food ever, though their veal is scrumptious. Amazing late night atmosphere, great looking wait staff, high ceilings, romantic candles. It's great. Perfect spot for dinner and a movie at Pacific Place. Not too pricey, but really great.
(5)Andrew L.
Happy Hour... it means the bar food menu is completely 50% off. It also means you are going to be happy, because the portions are nicely sized, and there is no short supply of great drinks to be had also. What makes this place a great place to eat at, is that if you want to have a romantic night out, you can do that, have a great dinner, it's really absolutely exquisite in terms of quality and taste. Great stuff, tucked in the corner of a building, in the shadow of the Westin. The place gets packed; reservations are I think a must. The bar side is equally packed, because there are people who want great food, but don't have the party of 2-20... so you can sit here, and enjoy yourself. Tonight, it was late, 10ish... we needed food, happy hour seemed best for the timeframe; she suggested we head to downtown. The place was still packed, but the server brought some stools over and made space for us (kick ass) and we sat down, menus quickly plopped in front of us. Key items to eat here... Lamb Burger... yup, not the cow, but that other little animal covered in hair. They put a little of what I think was chipotle yogurt sauce, and a soft cheese, on a nicely sized bun. She had that, and it was a very savory meal, very creamy cheese and just filling. I order a Pound of Mussels, and the Hanger Steak (Medium Rare). The mussels were nicely cooked, with a great flavor of the ocean, which is expected and tasty in the juices which it was covered in. The Hanger Steak was presented in a nice precut manner, and cooked perfectly. The vegetables included carrot, asparagus and a fingerling potato. Look, you want a great happy hour, with a great hip, trendy, happening place to be, that isn't drenched by the overflow of Beltown denizens... you want to come here. Seriously, you won't regret it, weather it's dinner or happy hour, making your way over is always a great idea.
(4)Maria G.
I like this restaurant! I particularly liked its atmosphere here! you would not expect it if you just happen to walk pass by. the interior design is beautiful and romantic! Once we were seated, they immediately served us with bread and special super tasty sauce and even offered us extras in the end. My friend and I ordered the daily specials, which were not on its menu. The food portion was not too big but they are indeed absolutely delicious. Our waitress was friendly! From other yelp reviews, it looks like it has good deals during happy hour. i would for sure come back to try its happy hour soon!
(4)Robert C.
Nice space, it was pretty busy when the 4 of us went for dinner service. It was a bit loud, as they were near capacity and there was music playing at what I considered a bit too high a level. Service was spot on, we all enjoyed our dinners. Asked our server about wines and were provided with a couple glasses that went well with our food.
(4)Raven K.
Where do I begin! We landed from LA on a Wednesday, checked into the Grand Hyatt and were provided a few options for lunch. We chose to go to Barolo during Happy Hour. The food was incredible! We ordered a few salads, the steak, calamari and wine. We did not want to leave! I could not get enough of the olive tapenade which they serve with bread! Just an awesome experience. We liked it so much that we went back on Friday! This time we had the tuna tartare and mussels! If you live in Seattle or visiting, you absolutely must stop at Barolo. Cheers!
(4)Bob T.
Barolo: It's Belltownish, so we expected a little pretension. But the food is supposed to be excellent and everyone said go there. My girlfriend has been there before and said it was an excellent place. We got there and were told that it would be a bit of a wait. Ok, not a problem. 30-40 minutes we were told. Ok. Well, we each ordered a glass of house red from the bar (tasty and well priced at happy hour), and then... well.. nothing. For 90 minutes. Not a damn thing. Waiters asked us to move repeatedly. We did. No one ever said to us "are you doing ok?" "can we get you something" or even "hello." If I was still waiting tables and I had asked someone to move (all they have for standing in Barolo is in the way, we weren't unique in that regard) a couple of times, I would certainly have asked if they needed anything. After 90 minutes we had to leave. Well we didn't have to, but we were terribly hungry and were only an hour from the concert. So we left. On the way out the door I expressed my displeasure to the host. He said "oh! Well you were next!" Fair enough except that you just sat a group of six who had just come in, AND you had several names crossed out under ours. I understand that you thought we aren't Barolo kind of people. Now we both own our own companies, but we tend to dress casually and we were going to a concert, people at Barolo tend to dress to impress. But we weren't the only ones there in Seattle casual clothes. *and it should not matter in Seattle, you never know who you are seating* I guess we aren't. We would have enjoyed it though for that night. Ah.. and the Sushi at Red Fin. It's pretty ok. Finally... they say that the problem with reviews is that people only review when they really like it, or really don't. I will say that I'm probably going to tell a few people about my experience.
(1)Cara C.
I must say that I just love this place. The ambiance is classy and dark with great food and wine. The staff is amazing and attentive and really offer great service. The owner is frequently walking around and seems very involved. The food. Amazing. It is a little pricy but definitely a good choice if you are looking to celebrate a special occasion.
(5)M J.
Was not impressed. Waiter was a hot mess. No attention to us at all. No water. Didn't tell us the specials. And never checked to see if we liked out meals as I would've happily sent mine back. The lamb ragu was very tough to swallow. My hubby's veal was good but definitely not great. For 100+ dollars definitely better Italian can be found. La rustica is still my top choice. Or Pink Door.
(2)J K.
Great burger at lunch! The service was almost too good. I felt bad for her. I wanted to say, "Hey, we're not that special. Go ahead and take a break." The food is great. The setting is classic fancy. Big windows looking into the city. I'm guessing parking is a problem but I'm in the neighborhood so I just walk there. This area of Seattle needed a restaurant like this. I'll definitely be back for lunch.
(4)Pnw C.
I've enjoyed every lunch and dinner meal at Barolo. Today I discovered happy hour. I tried the Tuna Carpaccio to accompany my wine and both were delicious. A good eating place got even better for me.
(5)