Beato Food and Wine
Seattle, WA 98116
Phone: (206) 923-1333
- Price:
- $$$
- Cross Street:
- Hanford Street
- Specialties:
- Wine Bar
- Hours:
- Tue-Sun 5pm-11pm
Editorial Review for Beato Food and Wine – by Anna Roth
The Scene
This cozy spot is pure Italian in its focus, from the pronunciation of the name ("bay-ah-to") to the simple emphasis on food and ingredients. Tuscan-inspired colors (terra cotta, bright yellows, dark woods) and a dramatically back-lit wine cabinet set the classy-yet-casual scene for its crowd of neighborhood locals and traveling foodies. Servers are well-versed on the menu and poised to answer any questions.
The Food
The menu changes frequently at the whim of the chef and the rhythm of the season. A spring visit included starters like luscious pork belly confit on a bed of nutty quinoa, brightened with white grapefruit and flower honey, or grilled asparagus garnished with Salumi lamb prosciutto. Pasta and meat courses are easily shareable and reasonably portioned, like a scoop of creamy artichoke risotto with pecorino and lemon zest. Inventive desserts have a light touch, like a recent strawberry-rhubarb "shortcake" with house-made crème fraiche gelato and sorrel.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkThe mainly Italian wine list is a great way to familiarize yourself with unknown wines. Weekly rotating Italian wine flights are also available.
Know Before You GoThe restaurant is set up to accomodate any sort of diner, from friends getting together over wine and appetizers to couples looking for a full multi-course meal.
User Reviews for Beato Food and Wine
09/05/2008 Posted by intothewild
I have just visited Beato for the 12th time in two years, and I have to say, each time has been better than the last! I always refer my friends and visitors from out of town to this restaurant, and once again I am proven right in doing so. The wine list, for those who love boutique northwest wines as well as amazing Italian wines, is out of this world. All you have to do is consult Ryan and and the general manager Lola for an amazing sipping experience. Our server Natalie was incredibly professional, friendly and fun. When asked for a recommendation on dinner, she led us down the most amazing culinary path: Duck egg w/guanciale and asparagus for an appetizer, fettucine with oxtail ragu and crab agnoletti for pasta (OH MY GOD!!), salmon with fava beans for an entree, and we splurged for the dessert of ricotta fritti. Wow! As always, an amazing gastronomical experience! On a side note, I was reading some of the earlier reviews from a couple of months ago, and I have a comment regarding one in particular...I visited Beato mid-summer with family, and was treated to a horrifying display of customer petulance...I am pretty sure it was the same group of eight that turned into seven, and was charged a no show fee. I overheard this whole exchange and need to debunk the myth that Beato treated this group unfairly and unprofesionaly. First, anyone who knows the restaurant industry knows the difficulty of setting up a small space, therefore no show fees exist. These seven early twenty somethings were so rude, obviously felt entitled to the Paris Hilton star treatment, didnt get their way, and actually yelled at the staff using the "F" word across the restaurant in front of all the customers. CLASSY! They insulted the GM, and promised not to tip the waitress (who they admitted was great) as a revenge to the GM, who they thought had mistreated them. CLASSY! I saw this go down and all I have to say is...are you kidding me twenty somethings? Get a life!
08/06/2008 Posted by seafoodie77
My girlfriend and I recently dined at Beato and i must say it was exceptional. From the servers, to the wine list, to the presentation, preperations, and execution of the menu, not a beat was missed. I have read on this site and a few other "foodie" blogs that Beato can be pricy, pretentious, or both. On our visit this was certainly not the case! Our server, I believe his name was Ryan, was engaging but not overbearing. Attentive but not annoying. And he paced our selections flawlessly as well as suggested thoughtful pairings for the dishes we selected. As for the food, i must say everything we had was beautifully presented and seasoned. However the crab agnolotti stood out in both execution and presentation! The best I have ever had, and I have had the agnolotti at Cafe' Juanita and How to Cook a Wolf, both good just not as good as Beato's. We also had a beautiful Salmon dish with longbeans, favas, and cherry tomato. Once again beautiful and wonderfully cooked and seasoned. As someone who has cooked and served in fine dinning I can really appreciate the passion that the kitchen and servers put into making a restaurant like this work. We will be back soon and can't believe that a place like this exists in West Seattle. Spring Hill may be the "Best new restaurant" in Seattle but the place up the street deserves a second look! Thank you Beato for a great evening!
