Carrello — Restaurant in Seattle

Enjoyed a date night with my partner here for dinner and drinks. There were a lot of ups to this place, but they were balanced out by some pretty rough lows:

Gum under the table. Found this out just by positioning my hands under the table. At the very least, the reservation tables could be checked for cleanliness more regularly.

Ordering food. According to our server, we weren't supposed to order any food items (not even bread) until we had figured out our entire order. This struck me as really strange given how extensive the menu is. Also, it conflicted with the server trying to upsell us an entree after we had finished bread, two apps, two pasta dishes. Very strange approach.

Drinks prices. Pretty expensive even considering gratuity is included in the bill. Granted, the cocktails have 4+ ingredients in them, but $18 is the starting price and that's for the simpler of the cocktails. There should be a house wine, a light "cheap" beer, etc. Not on the menu.

The cavatelli was overly salty. Because of how long the food took to come out, we weren't interested in sending the dish back. Clearly care had been put into the dish, but damn! The salt is the first thing you taste and it dominates the entire dish. Would have been great with no salt and the same amount of spice.

The bread and olives could have used 25% more olive oil for dipping the bread. And four pieces of bread and half a dozen olives for $9 is humorously overpriced.

The soundtrack. Playing 80s, 90s, and 00s rock music in an Italian restaurant is just . . . weird? Especially given the menu, which is trying to be fancy/foody. The tones clash.

Highs:

General ambience of the place is nice. Good lighting, good acoustics, good seating.

We loved the beets and the gnocchi, loved the semifreddo.

The servers were clearly working as a team. We were probably served (water refills, dish delivery, etc) by 4 or 5 people total.

We got seated quickly and overall the timing of the delivery of our order had a good flow.

Complimentary sparkling water. Can't go wrong with that.

Probably won't return given the lows above, but the night wasn't a...

A truly unforgettable dining experience unfolded at this establishment, leaving us with lasting impressions. From our initial encounter with the host to the moment we bid farewell, we were showered with remarkable attention and care.

Our server, Andrew, emerged as a standout highlight. He exuded kindness, attentiveness, profound culinary knowledge, and remarkable flexibility in accommodating our dietary preferences. His service elevated our evening to an extraordinary level.

The trifecta of quality, taste, and price of the dishes was exceptional, ranking among the best we've encountered in recent years. Every bite was a testament to culinary excellence.

The roster of dishes we savored, including the fresh fruit salad, tomato salad, vegan/GF potato creation, Fritto Misto fried smelt, Cavatelli, and various eggplant preparations, was a medley of delights for the palate.

The al fresco ambiance, amplified by the warmth of heat lamps and enchanting lighting, created an idyllic setting that enhanced our overall experience.

Notably, Andrew demonstrated remarkable attentiveness to my wife's dietary needs, ensuring she received a delectable vegan dessert when my dessert arrived. The fact that there was no additional charge for this thoughtful gesture speaks volumes about the level of service.

To top off our extraordinary evening, the chef graced our table with a selection of dishes to sample, adding an unexpected and delightful twist to our dining adventure.

In sum, we wholeheartedly endorse this establishment, primarily for its exceptional service, outstanding cuisine, and genuine care for its patrons. It's an experience that sets a high bar for culinary excellence and...

If I could give zero stars for this place I would. Let me start by saying I never got a chance to try the food. However my interaction with the host was nothing short of stiff and curt despite lasting only a few seconds. My boyfriend and I are visiting from Portland for New Years so we are not locals. We saw a great menu and decided to check out the restaurant. We did not realize that we needed reservations so when we came to the restaurant we asked if there was seating for 2 people. The person who interacted with us didn't even bother to look at us for long before curtly saying "No. We don't." then looked down as if we didn't belong there (perhaps because we were dressing casual??). We stared at him confused and he looked back up to say "We're fully booked" before looking away again. I get that it's New Years Eve but seriously? Although their website says they have a portion of the dining room for Walk Ins and will happily accommodate if available, he certainly acted as if he couldn't bother taking the time of day to talk to us. If I had a name I would call it out in an instant but I left immediately. An interaction that lasted less than a few minutes left a very bitter taste in my mouth. Even if the prices are great and the food is good, this treatment was uncalled for and I feel compelled to not come back. The least he could have done was politely inform us that they were fullly booked and not in a dismissive way. I'm sure as a business they're not going to suffer from one person not dining there but I certainly don't want to eat somewhere that I'm not welcome for simply not having...