Cortina — Restaurant in Seattle

Oh, where do I even begin with this delightful gem of a restaurant near the Seattle Veterans Museum? Cortina, my friends, is a place that will tickle your taste buds, make you chuckle, and leave you with a belly full of laughter and delicious Italian cuisine.

Let's talk about the food, shall we? Picture this: you're sitting at a cozy table, and a plate of perfectly cooked spaghetti carbonara is placed in front of you. The creamy sauce, the crispy bacon, the al dente pasta—it's a symphony of flavors dancing on your palate. And if that's not enough, the beet salads will make your taste buds do a happy little jig. They're so fresh and vibrant that you'll start believing in the magical powers of beets.

But wait, there's more! Cortina knows how to spoil you with their filet américain. Tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor, this dish will have you questioning your existence. Is this heaven? Nope, it's just Cortina doing what they do best—turning ordinary ingredients into extraordinary culinary masterpieces.

Now, let's move on to the desserts because life is too short to skip dessert. The bagels at Cortina are a force to be reckoned with. They're so deliciously chewy and satisfying that you might find yourself questioning why you ever settled for mediocre bagels in the first place. And if bagels aren't your thing, fear not, my friends, because their ice cream and panna cotta will transport you to a realm of pure bliss. Each spoonful is like a little vacation for your taste buds.

Oh, and did I mention the wine? Cortina knows how to deliver the good stuff. Sip on a glass of their delicious wine, and you'll feel like you're floating on cloud nine. It pairs perfectly with their Italian dishes and adds an extra touch of sophistication to your dining experience.

Now, let's talk about the atmosphere. Cortina has managed to create an intimate ambiance that feels like a warm hug after a long, hard day. The moment you step through those doors, you'll feel the stress melt away as you sink into the cozy surroundings. It's the kind of place where you can let your hair down, laugh with friends, and enjoy a meal that will make your taste buds sing.

And let's not forget about the staff. They're like the human embodiments of sunshine and rainbows. They greet you with a smile, cater to your every need, and make you feel like you're the most important person in the room. Their cheerful demeanor adds an extra layer of joy to your dining experience and leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room—the prices. Cortina is a place where you can indulge in exquisite Italian cuisine without breaking the bank. It's like a magical portal to a world where delicious food and reasonable prices coexist in perfect harmony. So, my friends, you can dine like royalty without having to pawn your crown.

Last but certainly not least, let's talk about the decor. It's lovely, my friends, just lovely. The attention to detail, the cozy ambiance, the charming little touches—it's like dining in a fairy tale. Each corner of the restaurant is a feast for the eyes, and it adds to the overall magical experience of dining at Cortina.

So, my dear food enthusiasts, if you...

This is specifically for the Cortina Cafe, which is their coffee bar/quick grab-and-go location upstairs, near the elevators.

Today I ordered myself some breakfast and a hot latte. I ordered it with non dairy milk, as I'm lactose intolerant. I'm lucky that I had already taken a dairy pill because the food i ordered had dairy in it, because if I had only ordered the drink i would have had to go home VERY ill and in a lot of pain. Drinking milk will normally destroy my stomach and ruin my whole day; my stomach can't seem to handle drinking milk but will tolerate cheese/yogurt with the help of a dairy pill (milk contains more actual lactose than cheese or yogurt, in case anyone is wondering why I'd be worried about a milk latte and not worried about cheese - the pill allows me to tolerate the cheese, but I often still get painfully sick from drinking actual milk).

I didn't realize my cup didn't say oat milk until 1.5 hours after I'd gotten my latte and returned to my desk. I went downstairs to double check and the barista that made my drink this morning confirmed that if it wasn't on the label on the cup, it wasn't made with non dairy milk; and proceeded to tell me to double check next time and/or make sure I actually order it that way. I just kind of stood there for a second, because I was taken aback by the little blame game that I felt was going on... and then said that I certainly ordered it with oat milk, and that it was the second day in a row that they'd messed up my drink.

They just... shrugged?!

Yesterday I accepted my drink being incorrect, even though I specifically answered "hot, please" when they asked if I'd like my latte hot or iced (a coworker was there and confirmed when I double checked with her that I did say "hot"). Everything else about it was right, so no big deal, I'll drink a cold latte rather than waste it. Today I ordered another oat milk latte , and it was not input that way. I can excuse mistakes - they do happen, I get it - but not caring when I point out that it's the 2nd day something has been wrong? Casually insinuating that I didn't order my drink properly (when I know I did)? Not even offering to correct it or give a refund when I say it's the second messed up drink?! They quite literally didn't care. And they charge automatic gratuity, which I always tip ON TOP OF - it's a habit I've been in because I was in the industry for years. It just makes it even worse that they didn't offer to remake my drink or refund it or anything.

It sucks because they're RIGHT at the bottom of the elevators in the building that I work in, and I'd be fine continuing to give them my money if they'd given a hoot that they'd messed up. Oh well, I guess - there are 3+ other coffee shop options within a single block. I'll be spending my...

This was our first experience at an upscale dining establishment. The restaurant itself is very neat and clean, and we were seated promptly upon entering. Miguel, our waiter, was very nice- a small but appreciated bit was when he asked us how we were doing, and after I said I was doing well, he made sure to ask my girlfriend as well instead of taking my answer for the both of us- a small gesture that very rarely happens when we go out anywhere that made it feel like he wasn’t just running through a script without regard for our responses.

As for the food, we ordered a plate of Strozzapretti for 28$ and a plate of Ravioli for 26$, both of which cost more than online advertised prices from the last 4 months. A waitress that we had not been introduced to(not a problem) brought out 2 tables of food, stopped by the table next to ours and began chatting while serving plates out to them. She then continued laughing and joking with the table next to us while she sat down our food without acknowledging or looking at us, and then turned and walked away as I tried to greet her and thank her for the food.

To start, the disparity between the portion sizes was striking, and I wish we had been given any sort of warning. The ravioli consisted of six raviolis that barely covered the bottom of the bowl, while the Strozzapreti was a near double portion. The flavor on both dishes was underwhelming for the price, which we could have lived with- however, both pasta dishes were undercooked and left us with tough, chewy food.

We were also flat out overcharged for the ravioli, making an already steep dish unjustifiably expensive given the quality- we ended up being charged 2$ more than the menu price we were given(supposed to be 26$), which I only realized after checking my receipt for this review- which meant we ended up paying nearly 5$ each for every individual undercooked ravioli.

I understand high prices in fine dining establishments, but one would expect that with a nearly 60$ price tag for 2(not counting the underwhelming 4$ espresso shot and latte) that the food would at least be thoroughly cooked.

We only received our food about a half hour before closing time, so reordering wasn’t going to be an option. It’s unlikely that I’ll ever be returning to an Ethan Stowell restaurant in the future after...