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!

08/06/2008 Posted by Meghan999

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful meal at Beato last week. The service was friendly and knowledgable. The wine flight was terrific. And every morsel of food was fresh, delicious, and thoughtfully executed. They have a beautiful patio for summer al fresco dining, but the dining room is also very pleasant year round. I couldn't recommend this restaurant more highly!

08/05/2008 Posted by papapatamus

I have been to Beato a handful of times now. I have never been one to review a place (good or bad) but after seeing some of the comments on here, I thought I should put in my two cents. Beato is in it's second year of business, and has stayed consistently amazing. The menu changes every few weeks, keeping up on what is fresh and season. The servers really seem to know what they are talking about, and don't make you feel lame if you aren't sure about a menu item or a wine. It's great service without the snobbery. I truly believe that Seattle in general is lacking in this type of restaurant, and it's great that I am lucky enough to be able to frequent this place. Do yourself a favor and check this place out, it is worth every penny you spend!

08/04/2008 Posted by beato

We had a terrible experience, there are too many good restaurants in Seattle to waste your time here!

08/02/2008 Posted by NoobieFoodie

The space that Beato occupies has been special to my wife and I since we bought a house nearby about 5 years ago. When it was Ovio, we went there after signing the papers on the house, for anniversaries, and other special occasion dinners. Then, it became O2 and we had our wedding rehearsal dinner there. So, it was a disappointment when both Ovio and O2 closed in that location UNTIL Beato opened and we realized what a gem we have right in our own neighborhood. ||||||||||| The food is always amazing and the wine list has great Italian wines at all price levels. We eat there about once a week, usually at the bar, and last week I was dazzled by a salmon dish that renewed my faith in an ingredient that had become boring and commonplace to me (every place in seattle has a salmon dish). This week I had an artichoke risotto that tasted so sinful that it felt like I was cheating on my wife while she sat across the table from me. ||||||||||| I see some less than favorable reviews here regarding price, portion size, service, and large group policies. Yes, the price might seem high to some but if you know anything about food that is executed at the level that Beato delivers, you know it's worth it. Portions are small but the food is always rich and flavorful and never leaves you feeling cheated or unsatisfied. I think for the first 6 months the service did seem a little forced but the staff has grown into a group of great servers that are incredibly knowledgeable about the food and wine they're serving you. If you go there with a large group, remember that there's a charge for no shows. It's a small place so I understand why they need this policy but it can bite you. My group was charged this once when I took some people from my office and some one cancelled last minute. On Monday, I made Mr. No Show pay me back:) ||||||||||| I've never had a bad meal or bad experience at Beato. If you haven't tried it yet, it's well worth a trip across the bridge.

08/02/2008 Posted by Foodz2

It was our monthly dinner with friends and the evening was going well until the bill came with a NO SHOW charge on it. 7 of our 8 were dining that night and although we had previously asked if this was a problem and were told no, they still charged us a $25 fee for 1 person that was not able to make it. The table we used would have been the same regardless if our 8th person showed or not so it was absolutely ridiculous to charge us this fee. After talking with a VERY UNFRIENDLY and RUDE general manager that has no customer service skills, we left and decided we will never go back. It is unfortunate, our friends live in West Seattle and planned on dining their frequently, telling their friends etc... that will not happen now because of one little charge for $25.00, I hope it was worth it Beato!

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07/06/2008 Posted by trufflemonger

I had dinner at Beato over the 4th of July weekend, and it was a great experience all around. My companion and I started with the calamari as well as a fava bean salad, both of which were presented beautifully and nothing short of delicious. We then shared the fettuccine with oxtail ragu and yes- truffle oil. I love truffles and truffle oil so as you can guess, I loved the dish. I finished off with the quail and my friend had the pork. Both dishes were cooked perfectly and again, beautifully presented. Our server was great as well- knowledgeable yet friendly. All in all, it was a great dining experience and I will definitely be back.

Pros: Great food and great service.

Cons: None.

03/31/2008 Posted by admiralgal

I live in W. Seattle and am a Beato regular. The service is excellent and I frequently end up there solo or with my beau, often dining at the bar on a "school night." Yes, the food is expensive -- but totally worth it. For readers who are on the hungry side and concerned about price, an affordable way to counteract the "appropriate" entree portions is to order a cheese or charcuterie course (for $4) or the shared antipasto plate ($13) to start. Another benefit of dining here is that if you plan to share several plates among the table, the servers are very adept at "course-ing" out your meal. And, of course, pairing it with wine. This is not an "every night" dining experience, although I often stop by for a glass of wine and a nibble of charcuterie while coming or going at the end of the day. However, if you are interested in very high-quality food from unpretentious kitchen and wait staff, and an amazing wine selection, you will be pleased. I just mention the above about charcuterie/antipasto as a strategy for people who want a great meal but are somewhat price-conscious.... Some of the staff have amazing credentials -- connections to Mario Battali, staff time at French Laundry, etc. If you care to discuss fine food with them, you'll get the sense that this neighborhood bistro has world-class food and wine talent... in a non-pretentious restaurant setting.

03/17/2008 Posted by jazzdbo

The place was nearly empty on early Sunday evening. Plates were big, but servings were preciously small. Prices were a bit high, and service a bit slow, but in the end, worth it. Server was self-conscious, but honest. Pork belly appetizer was tasty as hell. When asked for a wine recommendation to accompany the black cod, she declined, and got the sommelier's ideas and recommendations. The Soave was perfect. If you have a big appetite, expect to order and pay a lot.

Pros: Flavors

Cons: Up tight servers, high prices