Tavolata
Seattle, WA 98121-1709
Phone: (206) 838-8008
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Battery Street
- Hours:
- Daily 5pm-2am
Editorial Review for Tavolata – by Jill Lightner
The Scene
There's a very urban mix of sleek modernity and scuffed edges in this narrow space. Small skylights and a stretch of windows catch some light even on dismal days, while bare concrete walls and a mix of wood varieties finish off the room with a touch of naturalness. The cooks and waitstaff are consummate professionals, but smart enough to not take this hipness too seriously. Everyone's dipping into soup and pasta bowls for tastes of approval in between creating and serving customers this excellent food.
The Food
All of the pasta varieties are housemade, from firmly tender orechiette in the herb-laden minestrone to the crisp, fluffy pan-fried ricotta gnocchi served with olives and cauliflower. Althugh this pasta is seemingly perfect in every form it takes, there are plenty of other worthy dishes: the fork-tender veal cheeks were accompanied with a heap of miner's lettuce and grilled bread topped with chickpea puree. Cap dinner off with great espresso or a refreshing fruit sorbetto.
Photo by Chris Daniel
High Marks
"I love the simple decor and unique layout, it was "perfectly full," and the prices were inline with what I had come to expect from 4 years in Chicago and 12 years in DC." (psuseattle, Citysearch user)
"It's located in the heart of Belltown and makes for an ideal dinner locale before a night out" (beaner1978, Citysearch user)
"You must try the octopus salad, share the lamb strozzapretti and gorge on the pork chop over fiddle head ferns. When it comes down to it, Tavolata is a great restaurant for those with great attitude and a willingness to try something new." (buttergone, Citysearch user)
Low Marks
"...we ordered family style. No one was satifsfied at the end of the meal & the bill was ridicuous." (saranazz12, Citysearch user)
"Our waitress questioned our choices and was slower than the winter thaw... and the wine list is a complete embarrassment for an Italian establishment." (seaqueendiner, Citysearch user)
"Tavolata is the perfect example of the "buzz" and "hype" overshadowing the truth." (fuzzy77, Citysearch user)
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
When to GoEat before 6:30 for a minimal wait. The later it is, the more of a Belltown scene there is; earlier diners are there simply to eat.
Where to SitA few small booths and tables surround a single long 30-seater. When it's busy, parties will have a much shorter wait if they're willing to share.
What to DrinkThere's no list of specialty cocktails on the tables, but there is a fine full bar, as well as a wide selection of wines by the glass. Even the bottles top out around $75, so it's easy to find one for any budget.
User Reviews for Tavolata
10/26/2008 Posted by mfuntanilla
Once again, I have heartburn from eating here because it was so good that I cleaned my entire plate. The food is always ON, the drinks are great and I have always had good service! Love Tavolata!
09/24/2008 Posted by gochuck
Let me say, as someone who lives in Belltown, I used to adore Tavolata for it's casually sophisticated decor, prompt service and reasonable prices. It used to be the hidden gem in belltown where locals can eat authentic homemade pasta in a chic, modern atmosphere. But I fear, as this place has become a faint shadow of it's former self... About a week ago, I took a friend to Tavolata on a Thursday night around 8pm. Despite the restaurant only being half empty, we were told it would take 45 minutes to get seated, so we decided to have drinks at the bar. After 15 minutes, we decided to order some olives to snack on while we sat on the bar. The olives didn't arrive until 30 minutes later. Olives. How hard it is to scoop olives from a jar?? Once we finally got seated, we had to instruct our waiter to bring us basic dining essentials like silverware, water, bread and napkins. On each of these requests, he forgot so we had to flag him down again, where he would apologize and forget again. Finally when we got all the before mentioned items, we had to wait an additional hour for our food to finally show up. And when the food did show up, it was mediocre if that, not at all what I remember the food to be. I suppose what irked me about the dining experience was the lack of empathy by the staff. They really didn't seem to care whether we waited 2 hours for our dinner or we had to ask two times for water and silverware. At the end, the bill came out to be around $100. You could probably go out for Thai food 4 times for the same money and probably get much better service. Or spend a tad more and go to a high end steak house. I'm sure many people will have mixed experiences about Tavalota, but a place is only as good as it's last experience and mine was awful. Mediocre food seasoned with terrible service. Everyone, think twice about bringing a date here because you'll be at the mercy at some very arrogant, incompetent and indifferent servers.
Pros: Trendy atmosphere
Cons: Not enough servers, noisy, slow service, can't make reservations
Users Who Viewed Tavolata Also Viewed
Cafe Presse
1117 12th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
Poco Wine Room
1408 E Pine St
Seattle, WA 98122
