Seattle’s Assaggio Ristorante

There are few restaurants worthy of such a positive review, but Seattle, Assaggio Ristorante is one of them. Not because the food, service, or ambiance were all perfect, but because all of these elements and more are blending together to create a truly well rounded dining experience. This restaurant is also home to an amazing wine and cheese selection as well, enough to make any veteran of the cozy restaurants lining the small streets of most Italian cities and villages mouth water and stomach growl.

Assaggio is located fairly centrally in Seattle and is surrounded by many of the city’s upscale hotels. The restaurant itself is an easy walk from downtown and is tucked away in a quaint little building sandwiched between two unassuming brick structures. Anyone enjoying a day in the city is not more than a short walk or taxi ride from the restaurant. Even if you only have one night to spend in Seattle, I highly recommend dining at Assaggio Ristorante. You will not be disappointed.

Upon entering, Assaggio greets its guests with a very unique and very rich Italian flavor. I felt very relaxed and at home when I walked in, and service to the table was prompt and courteous. The menu is filled with traditional Italian comfort foods as well as new takes on Mediterranean-Italian infusions and Italian-American dishes alike. I chose the sausage fusilli dish with an apple and pine nut salad to start. All of the food was prepared in the traditional Italian way, with lots of love and attention to detail. Large portions of food were heaped upon the table only 15 minutes after the waiter took our orders.

Assaggio’s wine list is something to talk about in and of itself. Almost all of their wines are imported directly from their source vineyards in Italy and Europe, and come with their customs labels displayed proudly on the bottle. I have not seen such labels on import wines in quite a while, and it is a rare breed of restaurant that has such a vast selection of quality wines from so many different regions. I partook in a bottle of Sangiovese Rosso, which was the best money I spent there all night. Other Italian imbibes and treats are available on the dessert menu, but why wait for dessert to enjoy such rich cultural gems?

Dessert was served promptly after dinner, and Assaggio pulled out all the stops here as well. I settled for a nice cup of cappuccino, but delicacies like glazed pears, tartufo, and a wide selection of gelatos were made available. All in all, for the quality and quantity of the food I got at Assaggio, the prices are very reasonable. A dinner for two with a bottle of wine and a dessert would likely run about $100, which is amazing considering I’ve had far worse of a complete Italian dining experience for twice that price. Like I said, there is no one thing that Assaggio is good at, rather the restaurant itself breathes new life into what it’s like to travel to Italy for an amazing meal in an amazing restaurant.