30-September, Monday
I flew in the same morning from San Francisco, and was only staying for a night. So our party of three chose this place for the location as well as for Nosh as we wanted to try a little bit of everything. And from what I've heard this place can become unpredictably packed at times so we were luckily able to be seated without neither a reservation nor actual wait.
Roasted Baby Beets With Salsa Tonnada:
This dish offered a wide breadth of fresh flavors for me, as I am not an avid fan of beets but the salsa tonnata compliments the earthiness of the roasted beets to a tantalizing-aphrodisiac splendor. It was served to us around room temperature, and while I detected the taste of anchovies in the paste it did not overwhelm my taste buds as I was expecting it to, but rather all ingredients (garlic cloves, Cetriolini Sott'aceti, Parsley, Tonno/Tuna, Dry White Wine, Capers, Lemon Juice, Mayonnaise, Turkey Breast) were deliciously melded together to create a new flavor profile that I have not tasted before. Â I've seen this offered as a sauce for pasta dishes at other restaurants I've been to but have always steered clear of it out of intimidation, now I realize what I've been missing out on all this time. I want to attempt to make this so I can dip my Ambrosia petals for an unworldly snack.
Roasted and Raw Carrot Salade:
I was definitely appreciative of the textural variety of this dish: the roasted half were slightly sweet and nutty with a flavor complexity that is really enhanced by the roasting, while the raw carrots had a nice crunch/ bite to them and tasted fresh out of the garden. The carrots were then tossed in Crushed Pistachio that was adjacent in earthy flavor, while complemented by the tartness of the Currant, and drizzled with Colaturra di Alici (Anchovy sauce).
Chicory Salade:
I am a huge fan of the bitterness/ spiciness of Chicory, as I eat a blend of Red Endive, Radicchio along with other herbal greens on nearly a daily basis for a light home-packed work lunch for Spring, or as an appetizer course with dinner. Served with Corn, Marinated Tuna and Anchovy Vinaigrette
Salumi Della Sera:
Sliced ultra-thin, slick mouth-feel, this was smoky and aromatic in flavor..
Tagliatelle Alla Grecia:
Is one of my favorite intrinsically Italian dishes, it is a perfect delivery of freshly hand-cut ribbon Tagliatelle which is the only vehicle to evenly disperse enough of the luscious cured pork and cheese with each fork-full. The Guanciale is essential as to inject its unique, intensely piggy flavor profile into the dish, which is paired with the tanginess of the grated Percorino Romano, and topped with freshly ground spicy black pepper. There are only a handful of ingredients in the execution dish, but the simplicity really allows each distinct flavor profile to brilliantly resonate individually in your mouth upon entry, only to be richly enhanced as your jaw begins to chew.
Tonnarelli:
Again- freshly hand-cut mid-weight square pasta, in which the denier is a bit loftier in size due to the heavier ingredients. The eggplant Ragu is roasted /cooked down enough to remove any of the bitter taste, complemented with the tartness of fresh cherry tomatoes, and topped with fresh peppery basil.
Punctured Bicycle
I enjoyed 3x of these throughout the meal, then later switched to a full-bodied red when the anti-pastas came out. Â I love Campari-forward drinks, but this is an inventive mix when paired with the lightly herbal/ bittersweet notes of the Cynar, and the sweet/ effervescence of the dry fruitiness Prosecco.
Our meal lasted the duration of a slow yet savory 3 or-so-hours (but I wasn't counting), I absolutely savored each dish albeit the repetition of a few basic ingredients.
I would fly in again for the day just to return to Artusi/ or Spinasse directly next-door.
This is a great bar for craft cocktails late at night. Â The bartender, Shattuck, was super chill and the four of us enjoyed great conversation with him. Â He made me "Rosemary's Baby" and my friend a "Back to the Fuscia," both thirst quenching, non alcoholic drinks.
I'm from San Jose, California and you don't get the friendly, easy going service that I got on Sunday night 9/15/13.
This is a tiny menu. Â they had a few appetizers and three entrees. Â We ordered 2 of the entrees and the server came back to tell us that they were out of that. Â So that left two entrees to choose from. Â What made it worse is that this happened at 7PM. Â We should have left, but really liked the ambiance so we stayed. Â The rest of the food was marginal. Â The endive salad was a total joke for the money, it was basically some leaves arranged very strangely on a plate. Â We ended up spending almost $100 and left unsatisfied and hungry so we went to another restaurant in the neighborhood that we know and trust. Â
Artusi was not busy on a Friday night at all, that should have been one indicator that other people knew better than us. Â
I would not recommend anything about this restaurant and will never go there again.
Another hipster bar & lounge on the hill that's all the hype and I'm not sure why... Totally fine if you're just there for the cool ambiance, simple nibbles and wine. Â
Bites included thinly sliced salumi, some marinated hazelnuts, Columbia City Bakery bread with olive oil, simple summer salad w/shavings of parm and lamb braised house made pasta. Â All good nibbles, but nothing to get excited about. Â
Happy Hour wine was $7 and although it doesn't seem very inexpensive, it also tasted better than your average 2 buck chuck.
Positive: Staff were friendly and attentive to me. Â Apparently not so much to my friend prior to my arrival but I wasn't there to witness it.
This review is based on the food as we didn't order drinks.
Came here for dinner on a weekend and was very disappointed.
The Positive:
Staff was friendly and with reservations we were seated immediately.
Atmosphere was exactly what I expected for a restaurant in Capitol Hill (take from that what you will).
We started with the prosciutto. Although on the salty side it was serviceable.
The Negative (sadly, far more negatives than positives):
THE SALT!
The chefs need to be less heavy-handed with the seasoning. I ordered a half-chicken. Unless sea-based, this unfortunate fowl was likely 1) brined into oblivion and 2) dusted with a healthy layer of additional salt. If this wasn't enough, the meat itself was dry and lacked flavor: ocean on the outside, desert on the inside. The poorness of this dish was surprising as really...what gets more standard than chicken?
My husband ordered the lamb, which only appeared acceptable compared to the Chicken Catastrophe. However, it was similarly over-seasoned and the meat lacked tenderness.
Of course we might have chosen their 2 weakest dishes on that particular day. But during our visit Artusi only had 5 entrees on the entire menu. Given the limited options and high prices, it's expected that every dish be prepared well every time. When 2/5 dishes are poor, the lack of quality is glaring.
Artusi is just ok. Food was good, though I prefer Spinasse. I liked the cavatelli with rhubarb marinara but thought the tonnarelli with prosciutto was too salty, and it was also a bit pricy - half portions of pasta were about $15. Artusi has a big cocktail menu and the drink I had (Pink Hook) was great. I would come back for drinks as it wasn't too crowded Friday night, but maybe not for dinner.
Review Source:We ate here for the first time Friday evening. Â The food was delicious! My boyfriend ate the lamb shoulder and I had the rabbit, and it was AMAZING! The service was fast, friendly, and attentive. The space was also really nice. Â The decor was simple but cool, and I really enjoyed the music. It was fantastic!
Review Source:Not bad, but not calling me to come back either. We sat at the bar on an early Saturday night. They had a totally cool cocktail menu. We had s slightly odd anchovi app. The ambiance is what was lacking the most. I used their sister-restaurant's bathroom so I walked through Spinasse (which I've heard great things about). It made me wish we were sitting over there. It was warmer, more crowded and just looked more 'put together.' Â Artusi feels like its lacking a style.
Review Source:Came in here for dinner and happy hour. One of our guest has a gluten allergy and the server didn't even blink when accommodating her.
The service was good, the food was good, the place was spotless!
I shall return. When you travel as much as I do, it's so reassuring to know you can eat some place, get great food and not have to worry about what is going on in the kitchen!
I came here on a Wednesday evening with  my BF and my BFF. We were visiting from San Francisco.  We saw the 4-star review and decided to try it out.  It was a very mixed experience to say the least.
The Bad: Â
There are so many things that are bad about our experience I don't know where to begin. The desserts were so awful that they almost made the dinners come back out. Additional olive oil cost extra. Our dinner for 3 turned out to cost a total of $170 which was not supported by the food and wine.
The Good: Â
I will say that the tripe stew, the beef cheek ragu, the chicory salad, and the Caramelized onion soup were quite good. The decor and service were good too. Â We received a $20 coupon after our waitress learned that we didn't like the desserts. Â So the rating actually went from 1.5 to 2.5 given the good service.
This place was just okay...
Service was excellent! That alone would make me come back, but everything else was just...okay...
Had a party of 4 on a late Saturday evening for dinner. Started off with 2 cocktails and a wine. The wine was very interesting and the cocktails were great. A little too sweet for my taste but nevertheless they were still great drinks!
The food were all very flavourful and not too rich. We started with the pâté and my sister got their special salad to share. I was disappointed in the portion of the salad as it came on a small round plate but only half of it was filled. The pâté was really good and came with 4 pieces of bread BUT (and here is one of my pet peeves) they charge you for bread refills ($1.50). I do not like restaurants that charge me for bread!
After the appetizers, the long wait began...it was a good hour before they finally arrived. The food was fresh, but the tripe stew entree was lacking something, and my sister pointed out it need carbs (ie. bread, pasta, rice).
I recommend skipping dessert as they were not good and super forgetful.
It wasn't that the food wasn't good nor was the service bad, but in the sea of restaurants in Capitol Hill, this place just didn't leave the best impression. It would be awhile before I return...
My oh my. Â I can't decide what was yummiest - the food, the drinks, the decor, or the waiter.
I'd heard rave reviews of Artusi (and its big brother next door Spinasse - which is going on my 'must-try' list) and finally got the chance to come here for a happy hour girlfriend date. Â Their happy hour runs to 7 but the menu is teeny-tiny and really not that helpful unless you are a fan of beer or wine. Â We both ended up ordering cocktails off of the regular menu, as well as splitting one dish from the regular menu and several from the happy hour menu. Â Cheap this place is not.
Both of the cheese plates were to die for. Â I especially loved the gorgonzola with honey, and the bread was thick and rustic and perfect for topping. Â The salami slices were thin and fresh and provided a nice counterbalance. Â The star, though, was the pasta-dish which reminded me of beef stroganaff. Â However, to call this 'beef stroganoff' would be like saying Arnold Schwarzenegger is a bit muscular. Â (Amusing side note: spellcheck wants to convert stroganoff to strongman). Â The pasta was fresh, the sauce - made with beef cheeks - was flavorful, and if we hadn't been in such a nice place, I might have dropped all dignity and licked the bowl.
Service was top-notch. Â Friendly, engaging, and our water glasses stayed full, but not overbearing or creepy. Â The tables against the window are a bit tight since the bar is right there and people are walking back and forth but it's not bad and I loved the striped wood decor and the awesome glass chandelier in the back.
I'd really give this place 4.5 but the price tag is going to stop me from coming here as often as I might otherwise, and so I can't quite justify giving it that last star.
I didn't plan on going here, but I had heard good things about it. Arrived a bit early for my Cascina Spinasse reservation, so my table wasn't ready. The hostess walked us over to Artusi to get a drink while we waited. Bartender Jonathan is amazing. We received menus right when we sat down at the bar and then he came to help us figure out pre-dinner drinks. The cocktail list was a bit intimidating with lots of terms I was unfamiliar with, so I just described my usual drink preferences. He described 2 cocktails that could fit my tastes, and I went with the Pegu Club. I didn't know that it was a martini (not a martini fan) - my bad. It tasted exactly as it should have tasted, I'm sure. It was just too much for me to handle on an empty stomach. You could taste all of the elements in the drink, and it was chilled to perfection - strong gin taste, citrus, finished off with bitters. I'm just too much of a lightweight in my older age, so I couldn't handle it. He offered to put it over ice for me which I tried. Still couldn't handle it. lol. He then made me a French 75 and though it was with vodka (per my FI's suggestion, not his) instead of gin, it was just what I needed.
The others in my party wanted wines, so he made fantastic suggestions and offered a few different tastes to compare. Everyone was happy and well-liquored up just in time for dinner to start. Fantastic experience and all within 25m time. That's a sign of good bar - great drinks and an excellent bartender. I could have stayed there all night if I hadn't been so eagerly waiting for the food next door.
They also have food at Artusi for those who want a slightly more casual dinner than at Spinasse.
Artusi joins my long list of restaurants in which I much prefer eating at the bar. Â Table service is good too, but the crowd at the bar is adult, the bartender is great, and the counter is just the right height. Â
Drinks are gorgeous, perfectly sized, and come from a laid back somewhat charming bartender who's happy to give you information on your cocktail, but isn't going to try and give you the genetic background of the juniper berry who valiantly gave up his/her life for your martini. Â
Ditto that for the waitstaff. Â we had a very nice waitress, who knew exactly what to recommend, but didn't try a hard sell for anything. Â we started with 8 or so appetizers for a large party, and were not disappointed. Â we started with cured salmon salad, gorgonzola, warm olives and pissaladiera and some other assorted goods I'm not remembering now. Â all good, though somewhat on the petite side. Â entries included some gorgeous meat pasta (I don't eat meat, but it smelled AWESOME), salmon salad, and some others who I cannot currently recall...
thoughtful wine list by the glass. Â perfect for a family of 6 who cannot agree on a single wine EVER. Â If I lived in this neighborhood, I would live at this restaurant. Â as it is--I've already cruised by three times in as many weeks.
I've stopped into Artusi a handful of times now, and it's a lovely place that always leaves me wondering why I don't visit more often. From catching up with friends to a nice bedtime glass of wine to always-friendly bartenders (like Mark this evening), Artusi is a casually elegant destination for simplicity, with excellent small plates, a carefully designed and interesting wine list, and well-crafted cocktails.
Of course it's the perfect spot to wait for tables at Spinasse (which also makes the food selections here about as fantastic as you can get), but it's also a perfect neighborhood bar in its own right. Not loud, not trendy, (usually) not crowded most evenings, and always welcoming....That, and the gorgeous amber and deep brown zebra-striped wood that I find so gorgeously mesmerizing, will keep drawing me back.
This is a great spot to pop into for cocktails, snacks, or dessert. I have actually never eaten a meal here but I think it serves its purpose best as a drop by kind of place. The majority of the space is taken up by a massive L-shaped bar and two-tops line a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. It's bright, spare, and eclectically decorated with paper tube lamps suspended from the ceiling and hexagonal tiles everywhere.
The cocktails are very unique and challenging to the palate. If you're an adventurous drinker, you will love Artusi. They also serve up a flight of grappa if you're into that kind of thing. The desserts are memorable and have wonderful, fresh components and the little savory plates are made with extremely high quality ingredients.
The happy hour here is probably one of the most refined in the city. You can have $6 shots of fernet branca, $4 mini carafes of delicious red or white wine, $5 off any bottle of wine, and $6 small plates. It's an amazing deal because it's all done so well. Highly recommended.
Well-crafted. Â A description that applies to each component of Artusi. Â Warm, inviting decor, with, with seating at the bar, at the chef's table or by the window (with prime people watching). Â Not too many patrons on a Wednesday night, and we were the only people with reservations. Â The menu is a well curated list of cocktails, which references the names of the bartenders who created the cocktails - adding a personal touch. Â I drank in "Cindy Crawford." Â The bartender himself stopped to deliver the drinks. Â The menu lists about a half-dozen starters and another half-dozen small plates. Â Only four entrees (plus a special). Â I respect a restaurant with a small menu of items it does well, rather than a diner type menu of 50 items, that you know come from a off-premises supplier. Â Three of us tried most of the entrees - a perfectly cooked salmon with olives, a short rib and squid ink pasta with mussels. Â The only downside was the pasta with mussels had only one mussel. Â It was a half-portion, and the fessed up that the half-portion usually had only two mussels. Â But she was so charming and the chef herself seemed so remorseful, that we were charmed. Â A tab came to about $45 each.
From the atmosphere to the craft cocktails to the curated menu, to the charmingly professional wait-staff, each element of Artusi is so well constructed that you can't ask for a better experience on Capitol Hill.
Artusi is amazing. Â I had walked by this place many, many times on my way to other things, and it always smelled and looked heavenly from the outside (the decor is fantastic, and I think they mix their Olive Oil with Ambrosia). Â On this past friday, a friend was having an afternoon happy hour there, and had a chance to experience their amazing bread and delicious negronis (a classic cocktail; they make three varieties - I recommend the classic), and loved my first taste. Â
On Saturday (the very next day!), I had a date arranged with a very lovely person, and ventured returning with her for the food - I'm so very glad we did. Â I made reservations online, and as soon as we showed up the proprietress greeted me with a smile, telling me that I was the first one to make a reservation with their online system (they had just turned it on). Â They seated us at the window at what felt like the best table in the place, and a few moments after we ordered some delicious bread and negronis, she came out with two flutes of champagne - "you're our first online reservation, so we wanted to celebrate!" Â Completely unexpected and completely delightful.
With all of this goodness, I think we would have had a great night no matter what, but then the food started arriving, and wow, wow, wow, it just kept getting better. Â We had the duck leg (a special for the evening) and the pork ribs. Â Both were deliciously spiced with perfectly complementary sauces, wonderfully accented with vegetables, the meat melting off the bone. Â My date and I kept remarking on how amazing the food was; we couldn't help ourselves. I believe it may have been the propietress herself who served us, and was there whenever we wanted her but never intrusive.
In summary, the food, the atmosphere, the drinks, the friendliness, were all just amazing - If you live or play on the Hill, you owe it to yourself to try Artusi.
When you finally become bored with sullen hipster bartenders who are too good for their clientele, I suggest you try Artusi.
Artusi changes the game on Capitol Hill. The bartenders, servers, and kitchen staff have warm personalities, engage in friendly banter with customers, and are extremely knowledgeable of food and drink.
It is hard to express how much I have enjoyed every small plate ("pissaladiera," tripe and pork meatballs, squid ink pasta) and cocktail (Marinetti's Automobile) I have indulged in. Â But, I enjoy the atmosphere and the smiling, friendly, articulate staff just as much. Â
Many restaurants in Seattle offer incredible food and total d-bag service. Perhaps you can relate.
Artusi wins on all accounts -- a bright ray of sun on the most monocrome day.
I am often asked by people visiting Seattle where they should go for drinks and food and I never fail to send them to Artusi. This spot exudes excellence in all aspects of bar/restaurant. The food is delicious and you never get tired of it because they change their menu every couple of months. The drinks menu is creative and done well, although I find the best way to order here is to give the bartender a base spirit and let them improvise. The service is friendly and accommodating. This place is great for dinner with your friends as well as for sitting solo at the bar and enjoying a glass of wine from their carefully curated selection.
Yes, it is not like Spinasse as a lot of reviews point out and I applaud the owners for taking the risk and creating such a unique place instead of replicating the same idea on the smaller scale. But there is one thing that the two neighboring spots have in common and it is always being the highest of quality.
I have been here twice now. I am much happier with the food the second time. The rabbit pate was great, and so was the squid ink cavatelli. The first time I had squid ink pasta, elsewhere, I got sick from too much brine and the pasta was swamped in ink. Â Gross. This dish was balanced and you could still taste other features. I also had the semolina wafer with roasted cauliflower puree was delicious. I loved the wafer the most!
The drinks were pretty good and the staff was aware of ingredients. But, I have to say I am shocked how small the bar selection is for a bar. Â I also love the burnt wood decor.
For the record, I love Spinasse. Â LOVE.
Artusi... Â it's okay. Â
Maybe I was expecting more because of what I know about Spinasse... or something... Â but it just wasn't that wow for me. Â It's good - I'd go back if I were with people that really wanted to go there, but I don't think I'd put my vote to eat there myself.
Service = good
Food = good
Drinks = good
This place rocks my socks!
It's pretty simple. GREAT food + open "mini-kitchen" + cool/simple/reclaimed decor = a place I want to visit again & again.
Their small bites menu is great for a quick happy hour stop-in or you can string a few together for a full dinner & linger over the fresh, amazing flavors. They have an extensive drink menu, as well as a smaller, well-rounded wine selection.
I still haven't been to Spinasse (next door) which is I think the main reason people pop into Artusi. I'll have to get over there one of these days, but probably not if I stop in Artusi first - you'd have to drag me out of there kicking & screaming!
I have eaten a lot of food in my life, odd vegetables, starches and every last part of every last animal. Â
I've remained open to all menu items and have made a point of trying things again and again; regardless if they were terrible elsewhere. Â In that vein, I've vowed to always order the thing I disliked most at a restaurant I respect. Â My thought has always been, "If anyone can do it well, they can" Â
On that note: I ordered the tripe at Artusi....
5 stars is not enough to quantify the magic that was performed on this Tripe....I could write all night long about how perfect this dish is/was and go on and on, but ultimately it doesn't really matter. Â I'm writing about how amazing tripe is. Â I hate tripe. Â Or, I hated tripe. Â I've always argued that a great cook can make anything taste amazing. Â That's what cooking is about for me and why I keep trying things over and over again in the face of disappointment. Â I order things I've grown to hate on the hopes that a great chef will show me what I've been missing.
Until Thursday, Tripe was the only thing I couldn't really "stomach." (yes, a bad pun on Yelp, it's a prerequisite right?) and now that's gone....
I can no longer say, "I don't like tripe." Â
I can now say, "I love tripe." a heartfelt "I love tripe."
For that, Jason, I sincerely thank you.
Jeff
Hmm...Artusi. Â
The first time I came here w/ a group of people, our server was less than thrilled to be waiting on us. Â Also, it was 1am and some of us were already 3 sheets in. Â So I get it.
This time I showed up for happy hour. Â This server was lovely, very sweet. Â Not super attentive, but there were a bunch of us sitting at the bar so I totally understand! Â
Happy hour wine - $3! Â That is cheap! Â A tiny carafe shows up in front of me that I pretty much drink in 2 gulps. Â Now I know why it's $3. Â This will not stop me from coming back b/c everyone knows how I'm a sucker for little carafes. Â I can't help myself...they're just so cute.
Brussels sprouts salad - was expecting it to be served warm, but it was cold. Â I can get behind that. Â But I didn't really like the dressing it came with - nor the dried fruit that was in the dressing. Â The overall salad taste was a wee bitter for me. Â
Fried capers - now, I loves me some capers. Â So I was even more excited to try a FRIED caper. Â Did not really like. Â They were bitter. Â I was sad. Â I put them in my brussels sprouts salad thinking that would help. Â It did not. Â
You could say I struck out a bit on this night. Â
That being said, I will probably come back. Â Maybe not for any of the above items, but most likely for a few of those cute little carafes of wine.
From the same owners of and next door to Cascina Spinasse, Artusi is a small bar with some solid drinks and tasty bites. Â On a recent friday night, the bar was packed but we managed to get a table to the side. Â Started off with a Pink Hook - Unaged Rye, Punt e Mes, Maraschino, and grapefruit. Delicious. Â Also tried a Love Bizarre - Â Wry Moon Unaged Whiskey, Clear Creek Blue Plum Brandy, Cocchi Vermut di Torino, Lime, Maraschino, and Peychaud's Bitters. Â Was a little to tart for my taste so followed up with a Manhattan (solid) and a shot of fernet branca (awesome - esp at hh prices of $3/shot!). Â
There is also a limited menu focusing mainly on small plates, although there are also a few entrees. Â we tried the semolina wafer with roasted cauliflower puree, toasted cumin & sesame, which reminded me of a light hummus.
Artusi is a nice twist on an Italian bar. Â Many of the cocktails have Italian Amaro or bitters in them, mixed with new world ingredients and booze. while I did not have a chance to sample much of the food, what I did have was good. Â They also have a two happy hours, including $3 shots of fernet branca. Â The room has a nice vibe but may be a little on the bright side. Â Overall, definitely a good place for some drinks and food!
We went here just hours ago and I already feel compelled to write a review. We went early (5:30pm) and had no problem getting a seat at the bar. But not the regular bar, the bar that surrounds the small, but clearly well managed open kitchen.
We were pleasantly surprised to find out that it was happy hour and there were glasses of red/white wine for only $3 each (and not swill either, good stuff). My wife and I shared two different antipasti to start - a creamy quadrella di bufala (buffalo milk cheese) with olives drizzled in oil and an out-of-this-world "bruschetta".
More on the bruschetta - Fresh-made bread that's perfectly crusty on the outside and doughy in the middle, smothered with a duck liver pate and topped off with a thick balsamic. It's so good I wanted it fed to me gavage-style (google it).
For dinner we also shared a braised pork shoulder over creamy polenta, which was fall-apart-delicious without being in your face with flavor.
The service was excellent - with everyone from our waitress, to a roving bartender, to the chefs themselves offering useful information and keeping our glasses filled and the food coming.
A special note about the decor, with the zebra-striped wood and hexagonal tiles dotting the bar and the walls. I found it to be elegant and understated. The bar seats were even nicely padded and comfortable - so it's not an afterthought that they want you to sit at the bar.
Great addition to the pike/pine corridor on Capitol Hill. Go now!
Ho hum... more small plates and craft cocktails served up by a warm and professional service, kitchen, and bar staff. Is that getting boring yet? No it isn't.
Artusi's small space provides a few four-tops but it is mostly setup for parties of two with its intimate tables and two counters: one wrapping the large bar well and another wrapping around the micro sized two person kitchen. The space is cozy and merges with it's big sister Spinasse right at the pantry where she hangs her pasta to dry.
But there is none of Spinasse's famous pasta on the menu here, in fact there is nothing on the fair sized menu that requires boiling water or anything more than a single pan to prepare. Items on the menu are largely pre roasted or prepped and then heated, dressed and finished before being sent to the table. The result is a tasty set of small plates that are unfussy, simple and full of flavor: sliced white mushrooms with shaved boiled egg in a light herbed dressing, roasted beets on pureed tuna, bruschetta with nduja, roasted carrots, fried capers, kale soup. Entrees are available too: big portions of braised oxtail, roasted chicken and tripe stew are finished on one of four induction burners.
It feels not too different from visiting your Nonna's and having her pull left overs from the fridge and finding them even better reheated than they were the night before.
Of course you probably don't have a nonna. And even if you do she probably never made great cocktails for you: drinks with with gin, Amaro and cassis (that's the only slightly sweet but so well balanced Miller's Crossing) or juniper oil floating on top of sparkling wine with gin (the Joyous Young Pine). Cocktails are Italian food inspired masterpieces finished with vinegars, bitter wines, stregas and vermouths that are fantastically food friendly. There are no suggested cocktail and food pairings but the service staff here is top notch and should be able to steer you - our server provided us with forceful recommendations through the evening on food and drinks completely removing the need to make decisions.
In all, a  great experience in a warm atmosphere with high repeatability.
I am going to blame the lateness of this review on my pre-Italy vacation excitement in late June. Â JP and I decided to check out Artusi prior to departing on a trip to Italy and I am so glad we did. Â We grabbed 2 seats at the bar and were well taken care of by the bartender Adam. Â JP ordered up a couple of different drinks while I stuck with some wine. Â Adam was great at providing small pours of a couple of different options for me to try and make my decision.
We ordered a bunch of plates to share, everything was good but I did not care for the clams, the preparation had an odd texture in my opinion but were fine by JP. Â Personal preference. Â
Prices for cocktails and food were a bit steep but we enjoyed ourselves. Â We actually ventured back last weekend with some friends and the bartender totally remembered us. Â Talk about great customer service! Â JP was excited to order an Aperol Spritz since he had been drinking a few during our trip. Â Service again was great as well as the food. Â We shared a couple of small plates and each ordered an entree. Â I ordered the lamb which was okay, but JP's duck was excellent. Â
Overall Artusi is a solid addition to the neighborhood. Â You can't beat great cocktails, friendly service and good food. Â I would say the cocktails and service definitely get most of the stars.
This place is wonderful. The cocktail menu is fab. Â I've sampled the Punctured Bicycle which was a wonderful Campari cocktail and also Some Young Pine, the juniper oil really makes this sparkling wine cocktail absolutely amazing.
I would recommend so many things on the menu. Â Highlights in my previous two dining experiences include the ricotta & wafer, the radishes, the beets and the zucchini Parmesan. Â And I highly recommend the sesame confection for dessert.
If you end up in the cold at Spinasse due to a packed house, head next door to it's sister Artusi; you will not be disappointed.
We really enjoyed this place! Sunlight was streaming through huge windows in this corner space. The additional bar near the kitchen offered a different dining atmosphere.
The cocktails and food was delicous. The portions and the quality of the good  are great value for the price.
Service was friendly and courteous, but a little slow. To be fair, they were completely packed and people kept dropping in all evening.
This is definitely a new favorite!
yelpers unite!
I saw johnny there and it was pretty funny how we yelpers think alike.
1. great cocktails
2. great customer service
3. good food ( kind of small for my tummy, but good nonetheless )
This is a 21 and over restaurant and their food portion is VERY VERY SMALL!!!! their stewed mushroom thingy is amazingly delicious, and their puree mushroom sauce is so damn good. They just need to pair cascina's pasta noodles and make this a pasta dish! so damn good!!!!
loves it!!!
If you've ever wanted to try Spinasse, but found it too rich for your blood, come try Artusi, their new sister restaurant/bar. They get a solid 4.5 stars for excellent and affordable food and cocktails (relative to their next-door neighbor, anyway).
With that out of the way, detalis! Vicki L noticed that Artusi had opened last week and suggested that we drop in for some drinks. Located next door to Spinasse (ignore Yelp's directions, it's actually between Pike and Pine), the two are actually interconnected, so one could drop in to Artusi for snacks and drinks, and then tunnel over to Spinasse for a proper dinner.
If they so choose, anyway, because Artusi serves up food as well - while Spinasse will continue to focus on their signature pasta dishes, Artusi offers no pasta whatsoever, focusing, instead, on a handful of Italian cocktails and small plates.
I started with a Miller's Crossing and Pink Hook for drinks, and finished with an order of the local truffles and guianciale (aka, tasty, tasty bacon) served over soft polenta, for $9, $9, and $19 per. Both cocktails were excellent drinks, and I'd highly recommend the Pink Hook for anyone that likes bourbon or rye. And the polenta? So, so delicious, and again, highly recommended - the truffles were not mere truffle flakes or powder, no, but actually slices topping the dish!
My only complaint is that they're only easily wheelchair accessible towards the front of the bar. Once full, maneuvering towards the back, where the bathroom and open kitchen are, is fairly difficult. And their bathroom is designed in such a way that it's almost impossible to close the door with a wheelchair inside.
Off-topic: I'm pretty sure I saw Brian Canlis (yes, of THAT Canlis) eating three tables away from us. First ever celebrity chef sighting in Seattle!
As a long time fan of the Spinasse food, but not the Spinasse crush you experience when trying to dine with 32 people in a shoe box (an extremely quaint shoe box, to be sure) I am absolutely delighted to have a large new bar serving up the same quality food at a more casual price point.
Yes, casual price point is a way to say it's cheaper. But, you can't just down a few of their cocktails, come home, and call them cheap. I learned that lesson the hard way.
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