Enza Cucina Siciliana

I got a Groupon to this place — actually I got two. We used the first one last night. I will not be using the second one.
The service here is absolutely awful. We were waited on by a man in his 50s and «Mama Enza» herself. And both of them were downright rude. When we asked for explanations of certain menu items, Mama Enza was curt and did not seem to like having to explain anything. When we asked for a certain Antipasti, they actually refused to serve it and steered us to their «special of the day». And when my date asked for grated cheese for her entrée, the server said «Let me explain why the Italians don’t serve grated cheese.» My date is Italian — she didn’t need any culture lessons and had to tell him that because he wouldn’t stop talking and just bring the cheese. Then, when they came with the dessert menus, we just wanted to leave, but the server forced them on us with a horribly misplaced attempt at humor — «It’s a state law in Washington» — instead of immediately getting us the check.
The final straw was when we presented the Groupon upon receiving our check, the server actually made a stink saying we were supposed to present this at the start of the meal. Really? Because it says that nowhere on the sheet — I checked before and after he said that.
The food… well, it doesn’t really matter. The service was awful, and if one of the women who waited on us is the owner, then shame on her.

We went to Enza with a TravelZoo voucher. We were having an early dinner before heading to the opera, so when we arrived, we weren’t too surprised to see the restaurant almost completely empty. However, we were greeted immediately and offered our choice of window tables, which was especially nice since the sun was shining and the weather was glorious. There were a few older Italian women sitting at the bar chatting in Italian, lovely Italian music playing, and the ambiance was perfect. The tables are set fairly far apart, which is unusual, but much appreciated. Our waiter came over and explained what the Travelzoo voucher covered and provided us menus. He asked if we’d like to start with a glass of wine, but I opted for a Bellini (I love peaches!). Off he went and we relaxed. Our drinks came out and we ordered bruschetta for an appetizer. While the service was slow, it felt very authentic to me, and the waiter was charming. When I visited Italy, the service was always slow, and you could expect to spend your entire evening relaxing and savouring your meal and company. I really got that vibe at Enza also. I never once felt ignored, and I appreciated being given space rather than being rushed through my meal like at most places. The bruschetta was great, and we ordered the Saltimobocca and Pasta al Forno for dinner. We really enjoyed both. The Saltimobocca was served with fresh green beans, perfectly cooked, still crisp and fresh, and baby new potatoes on a bed of spinach. Delicious! The Pasta al Forno my husband ordered was also excellent, with great seasoning. Definitely an order again item. For dessert, we had the tiramisu, which was divine. One of our favorite Italian desserts anyway, it was well executed and delicious. My husband also got a shot of espresso (in one of those tiny espresso cups — I love those!). I felt like our dinner was leisurely, but we were still finished in plenty of time to get to the opera early (back down the hill).
I would definitely go back.

Came here for a seven course Sicilian dinner. Two of the courses were a little lack luster but the rest were great. The staff was friendly and engaging. I can see how this place scores all over the board. Maybe the atmosphere is different from what people are expecting. I haven’t been to any restaurants in Sicily but maybe this is what I should expect. Anyone know any good places in Sicily?

Top Reasons to Avoid Enza
1. World’s creepiest wait staff
2. Overpriced
3. Lackluster entrees
4. Dead atmosphere (dark and cavernous but not in a sexy way)
Even if you’re not picky about Italian, this place will disappoint you. I guarantee it.

I didn’t dislike this place all that much, however, the thing is I’ve had much better around Seattle. Mondello of Magnolia & La Vita E Bella of Belltown, to name a couple. So there’s nothing short of not appreciating an Italian/​Sicilian experience here.
First off, like so many have mentioned, it took a while to get someone over to pour water and take drink orders. In fact, it was so long that the 3 of us had time to figure out our meal. The waiter only wanted to take our drink orders but we insisted on giving him our food orders. We could just tell this would be smart.
I tried to order a bottled Moretti and he pushed for me to get the ‘local’ Fremont draft. I wasn’t interested but he insisted to where he almost walked off thinking I wanted it. A friend in the group had to inform him that I really wanted the Moretti. That was just awkward.
Here’s where I take full responsibility for my choice. I ordered lasagna and that’s never smart because most people have had excellent lasagna made by family or friends at some point in life. This is most definitely the case with me (thanks Mom & Roo) so I should have known. It wasn’t bad but just bland and not much of a serving. Still, for lasagna, I’ve had far worse.
Other things worthy of mentioning are the music which was ‘skipping’ for most of the evening and the fact that we presented our
certificate too late, obviously, which was made clear by the waiter.
The ‘highs’ of the experience were the atmosphere which is lovely and my company which would have made any place we found ourselves great :)

I don’t know, I guess we’re an Olive Garden society. We want some died-​blonde dude smiling and saying, «Hi, I’m Kevin — I’ll be your waiter today!» We’ve been Californianized. Then we want everything smothered in lousy cream sauce and cellulose-​ladened cheese. Well, that’s not what you get at Enza’s.
Enza prepares food the way you would get it in Sicily, or southern Italy. She makes everything from scratch, uses only the best ingredients, and you dine as if you were at your Italian grandmother’s house, sitting at the kitchen table while the food is prepared, and the family argues.
Last time in, we had a plate of bucatini with cauliflower. A simple dish with bits of cauliflower, oil, probably some white wine, pine nuts and raisins — it was amazing. Over the years I’ve had one of the best rabbit dishes ever, and I grew up in Nebraska eating a lot of rabbit. We’ve had Branzino — sea bass — that would knock your socks off. Pasta with sardines, risotto like you’ve never tasted, and couscous that is the best in town. If she’s making arancini — little rice balls stuffed with cheese — don’t pass them up.
Yes, service might be a little bumpy at times. Mama Enza doesn’t have, and can’t afford a big staff so you might have to wait a few minutes. And yes, you will hear arguing at times — that’s Italian. I can attest to that because I’m married to an Italian. Arguing is their version of having a discussion — don’t take it personally.
If you want zippy service, an overload of bread sticks and bad cheese, then go to Olive Garden. But if you want a true Italian experience, then go to Enza’s, relax with a glass of wine, chat with your family or friends, and quit expecting the service to be like Jack-​In-​The-​Box; you’re in Italy — enjoy!

It’s hard to find good Italian food in Seattle and I can’t say this was it. It wasn’t even busy and the service was inattentive. The food was meh. Definitely not worth the price. The end.

Heading out for a night on the town after having sat in on a film at the SIFF Noir City, we had tried hitting up a couple of places we tend to frequent in Lower Queen Anne. Not having been particularly wise, we didn’t have a table reserved at any of our usual hot spots, so after a few failed attempts at bouncing around from all the usuals, we decided to drive up into Queen Anne proper to find a bite to eat.
Alas, once you get away from the busy hubub of the closer to downtown locales, the Seattle night scene dies off fairly quickly. As a last gasp effort, wandering back to our car, we happened to stumble upon Enza’s. It was probably 10’ish on a Saturday evening.
At first I figured it was closed, but with a tug on the door I discovered it was in fact open. There were one or two tables dining as we entered. Realizing that they were likely trying to shut things down for the night, we pleaded for them to fit us in. «We had shut out the lights, but only because we didn’t know you were coming.» was the response!
As the exceptionally amiable host led us to the table, I couldn’t help but overhear the chef bantering with an older lady at the counter in Italian. «Good sign.» I noted to the others in my party.
The older lady turned out to be Enza herself. She came to our table, and proceeded to (needlessly) apologize for her lack of English, as she and her exceptional host, Ronald, commenced with the best Italian meal I’ve had in years.
For all of you poor souls rating this restaurant one or two stars… either you dined at a completely different place, or they laced the lobster couscous with hallucinogenic opiates, because seldom two hours after a meal do I feel compelled, while still wistfully buzzing with that post-​great-​experience high, to run straight home and commit my experience to Unilocal.
When you can take a dish as simple as bruschetta and make it memorable. When you can tell from the flavor and consistency of the caponata that she’d been up 12 hours earlier preparing it… you misguided reviewers are either complete incompetent fuck-​tards, or Enza has a diabolical evil twin with a vendetta out for you, because frankly this is one of the better meals I’ve had in this city in some time.
This was the first time I’ve eaten here, but it most certainly will not be the last! I have rated it four stars because I am a harsh reviewer and seldom will I ever rate anything 5 stars on the first shot (Arzak in San Sebastian being the exception).
I’m just so happy!

This place has me so confused. They greeted us with italian words and italian accents. The menu offered up some interesting and authentic sicilian dishes, like fettucine with tomatoes, garlic, and crushed almonds. The server was engaging and the plates looked good. But everything was only half a success.
To be fair, I was starving walking in. So I ordered the piatti di antipasti, which was billed as a selection of cured meats, vegetables and cheeses. There was plenty of meat, though it was drizzled with balsamic reduction. The vegetables were the thick layer of raw spinach underneath the meat. And the cheese was four small mozzarella balls. Weird, right?
After that, I decided to play it safer with entrée options. We got a bowl of the vegetable soup (not minestrone, our host explains, because there aren’t beans), grilled zucchini and asparagus, and the bolognese lasagna.
Again, just half successful. Everything was homemade but nothing was perfect.
Vegetable soup was hot on the bottom and cool on top. Tasty but not delectable.
The zucchini and asparagus plate only offered six thin slices of actual zucchini/​asparagus. They were draped over a hill of mixed greens. And doused in the awful balsamic reduction. I didn’t even finish. When one orders grilled vegetables, one expects grilled vegetables. Not a salad with dressing.
The bolognese lasagna was all noodle and red sauce, with very little actual meat. They promised eight layers of pasta, which is true. But that was the extent of the dish. Where’s my bolognese sauce?
Sadly, won’t be going back.

We go to Enza often and like it a lot. It is the real thing: Sicilian, good food, great wine, family type place. And Enza really knows her food.
Excellent fish stock (made with lobster and fish) is the basis for the light lemony tomatoe sauce accompanying the black ink pasta and seafood dish. I dream about it before and after.
Tonight had melon and procutto appetizer… I think there was ½ a melon on the plate and so much meat I could wrap all the melon picecs twice.
Grilled asparagus with a reduced balsamic drizzle were devine. Is the servcice smooth? Not always. Is the service perfect? Not always. But what counts is always good. The food. I am a good cook and I cannot do what Enza does. Which is why we visit. And a meal at her place seems like visiting an old friend. A special place we return to often.
(Tonight we got a bottle of a spectacular white wine and drank only half. We have it here at home now and will bring it back when we need another dose of homemade delicious food!)

This is one of those strange places where you might have an Italian grandmother come over to to strangely berate you and your guest while her mother cooks in the back.
I was like «Holy nardballs! Is there some ancient old lady in the back? THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING!»
No. It wasn’t. It was throughly meh.
They did have some expensive gelato to go with the expensive plates and was average.
With the amount of awesome places in the area, really there should be no reason to come here and sample their three star in a small town food where you would eat only if surrounded by chain restaurants with a Sysco van unloading boxes stenciled «GRADE D GENERIC ITALIAN FOODSTUFFS» in front of them.
I can think of one reason you should go here. If you’re on a date with someone who would get off by a spectacle being made of it. This is fun sometimes, but very rarely.

Oh. My. Gosh.
Where do I start? I guess it would be the regret my husband and I have for paying $ 55 (including tax and tip) for bad service and food I had to send back.
Don’t get me wrong. I did finish the food I had on my plate but let me tell you how it all began.
My husband and I were walking around Queen Anne, on a Friday night, looking for a place to eat for our date night. We ended up standing right outside Enza. I looked inside and saw that there were only 2 (out of 15 maybe) tables filled. I knew right away that that was a sign of trouble. But my husband was like, «Ah come on, let’s try it.»
We went in and was welcomed by Enza. She had a big smile… and well I will have to agree with another review that that’s as far as she got with how nice she was. We found this out a couple of minutes later.
We sat down got our menu’s and I got excited, ’cause I was eyeing the squid ink pasta with seafood in tomato sauce. We were 15 minutes away from happy hour so my husband suggested if we just have some appetizers first and order happy hour food later. I didn’t care really. So when Enza came over to our table, my husband asked what was in the Happy Hour menu. She says, «Happy hour is at 9.» My husband says, «Oh I know, I just wanted to see what’s in it.» She comes back with the happy hour menu and with a not so happy look on her face.
We decided to just order from the regular menu. So when she came back to our table (which is 15 minutes after we’ve clearly decided on what we wanted). She says to my husband «What do you want boy?»
Boy? Boy? I was in such a shock with what she said my mouth hung open for a few seconds. My husband was taken aback as well and he just blurted out what he wanted and so did I. So she’s not happy with us asking for the happy hour menu so she starts calling my husband boy.
We have a good view of the kitchen so I knew when my dish was ready. Enza went to the back and was cooking her own dinner during this time. The chef, was done with our appetizer and put it on the counter. Meanwhile, Enza was running around like mad woman cooking her food, doing this doing that… and our appetizer was sitting there for 10 more minutes. Note that there were only 2 other couples in the place. So the place was not packed. I couldn’t understand what she was running around for.
Finally, the son or whoever that other guy is that’s helping Enza, saw me looking at them trying to get their attention, he saw that I was looking at the dish on the counter, he sees it and then talks to Enza and makes her get it. One thing, if he works there, why the heck couldn’t he just pick that plate up and serve it to us?
So we get our appetizer, and while we’re eating it, our orders came. I put my fork in the pasta and what do I find? Whole clump of pasta stuck together. Seriously!!! seriously!!! Fancy squid ink pasta that seemed like it was cooked by a 10 year old. Seriously! I knew how to cook pasta when was that age and I made it even better! I can’t believe anyone can screw this up.
So I get Enza’s attention and I showed her what I discovered. I said, «I mean this is really good… «She waves her hand up in the air to mean «shush» and then she says, «I know it’s good… «Then walks away to return my dish to the kitchen so the chef can make better pasta.
My husband was almost done with his food when my food came back. So he waited for me to finish it so we could leave and get the heck outta there.
Oh my gosh! I will talk about the other couple that was annoyed at the other table but just writing about this gets my blood boiling. I could also talk about the musician guy that was in there that was pretty full of himself and walked over to our table and started chatting us up. He asked us what we did and he was telling us how cool it was that we came in and ate. He was talking about his music showing off about how he’s played here and there, So to make it sound like we’re in the same level, I told him about how I have lots of musician and producer friends (this is true… btw) then he starts saying «Hey, maybe you could send them over here so they can hear me play.» Right.
What we ate and our experience was definitely NOT worth it. I’m serious guys. What horrible service. It’s like, Enza traps you with her big smile when you come in. Welcomes you like she was your grandmother. But once you’ve ordered, she turns into something else. And that pasta? Oh. My. Gosh.

My boyfriend and I needed some food. We were on Queen Anne avenue poking around and spotted this place. He specifically said to me «I do not want to go in there if the place is empty.» Those were his famous last words let me tell you. As we were trying to look at the posted menu a little man popped out and immediately started chatting us up — we couldn’t say no could we? We were hungry and this guy was awfully nice.
Upon entering, the room was, in fact, empty, and for good reason: Flies buzzed around the appetizer buffet. We took a pass. The waiter was overbearing which is the main reason for the one star. We could feel his eyes boring into the backs of our heads as we reviewed the menu. We ordered some salads and pasta, marinara for me and carbonara for my man. Even after we ordered the waiter hovered. When our food came, my boyfriend could barely eat his carbonara since it seemed to be covered in completely raw egg. Not cool when there are flies.
Its not even worth going on about the food because the waiter/​owner hovered so much that we could not enjoy our meal at all. He was pushy to get us into the place and although he stood behind us most of our meal, he might as well have been sitting at the table with us youking it up.
Also — We heard him speaking french. I thought this place was Italian. Hmm…

Lured in by the earlier late-​night happy hour, despite all of the negative and mediocre Unilocal reviews, here we were, with our bright eyes and big appettites. The charming Italian hostess seated us and neglected to bring us a happy hour menu, which we had to fetch ourselves. The rest of the experience went downhill from there.
Don’t you hate it when you spend $ 50 on dinner and you are still hungry? I do too. Tiny, miniscule, unbelievably small, happy hour plates showed up at $ 4 each. We ordered a lot — the prociutto and melon, cioppino, spaghetti and meatballs, bread and olive oil ($ 2.50), beef stew that tasted like it came out of a cambells soup can, and a plate of caprese. Plus two of the smallest glasses of wine I have ever had. Seriously. To make it even worse, the food was not really that good.
Overpriced food that is just okay. Hmpf.
Have you ever travelled in Italy, gone to a restaurant, where you are charmed into ordering all kinds of things, overcharged, but it is kinda okay because it is in Italy and the whole experience is part of the experience? Not as charming when it happens down the street.
Don’t you be charmed into going into Enza — stay out.

Quaint little Italian restaurant in the heart of Queen Anne. Nice décor, and mellow ambiance. Love the Italian mama that greets you at the door. 15 or so Italian wines. 15 Italian dishes. Beer selection is a bit weak but it’s an Italian restaurant. They have moretti. Hope you aren’t in a hurry because service is super slow.
Food was extremely bland and overly salty. Then the ultimate, we found a toe nail in our pasta. Awesome! Definite winner.

I’d posted a review a while ago, including some ideas/​suggestions for Enza. I just received an email letting me know that they took every one of my suggestions!
They now have a kids menu that allows parents to order for little or big kids (different portion sizes) and includes a note saying that unless otherwise specified, kids meals will come out before adult meals.
Very nice work, and thank you! I appreciate a restaurant that cares enough to read comments, make changes AND let people know about those changes. Truly a family-​oriented restaurant and they clearly are working hard to make it successful.

OMG!!! In hindsight, our night at Enza is hilarious… and we have regaled all of our friends with our crazy tale… but at the time the meal itself was mortifying.
The omen of our evening happened minutes after we sat down, which was another patron (a man seemingly on a date with his wife) yelled at the waitress and walked out saying it was the worst service of his life… we should have followed suit right then.
I’m pretty sure to begin with that our waitress was drunk drunk drunk… by the way she was paying more attention to the live band than us, had to take our order 3 full times (no, not kidding), forgot our appetizer completely, and didnt seem to notice that it took over an hour to even get our food.
The food was God awful… arrived cold, the meat in their specialy dish (Lasagna) looked and tasted like canned dog meat… and we we’re afraid to say anything with «Mama Enza» looking down at us over her glasses, givng us a steely look from behind the counter.
Never, EVER again. We laugh every time we pass it now… and keep on walking to ANYWERE else in Queen Anne.

I really wish I could give this place more stars but I can’t. So I guess I’ll just break it down to the highs and lows.
Highs
– Nicely cooked pasta, cooked just a little past al dente
– The tagliatelle house special is a good deal. At $ 15 you get a good amount of pasta, mussels, clams and prawns.
– Cute play space in the eastern corner of the restaurant. Skilled waiters know how to dodge wayward toddlers who prefer to be more speed bumps than diners.
– Very friendly service. Italian nonnas welcomed our child (really no different than being in a restaurant in Italy proper).
Lows — which unfortunately bumped down the rating.
– Stale dinner bread. We had more than 1 slice in the basket that had a soft side and the sandpaper-​rough side that betrayed how old the loaf (or the basket) was.
– $ 15 got me a good size pasta dish, but the menu said «squid ink». I really wanted the dark pasta but I only received the standard light. I mentioned it to the waiter after we paid our bill. He apologized and offered a glass of wine «…at your next visit».
– Small, $ 7 tiramisu. It was tasty, but only a 2×4″ slice.
Squid ink pasta… I was really looking forward to that. My bad for not bringing it up until after we got the check. But why do I have to be the one to pick up on the error?

Enza lured us inside with her Italian accent and fresh cooked smells. The restaurant is oozing with Italian authenticity from the large serving platters to the chattering Italian servers. I believe I have a high standard of Italian food and I was extremely satisfied.
For $ 10/​person you can partake in their onetime appetizer table filled with Italian dishes such as roasted peppers, caprese salad, sliced meats, and much more.
Their pasta entrees looked delightful and I wish I had tried their gnocchi. I went with the eggplant parm instead and it was backed perfectly and layered with cheese on top. The seafood specials were enticing (even for a vegetarian) and the bread was great.
I am not sure what is with the mixed reviews of Enza but their food is great, their service is very attentive, and their prices are reasonable.

I only knew this as a place «that looks nice inside.» The atmosphere drew me in, the food will keep me coming back.
Perfect portions (although the steak was surprisingly huge!) — all cooked authentically and full of flavor.
In another review I said that La Vita e Bella in Belltown has «cornered the market» for my Italian dinners. After a little research I discovered that they are owned by the same family. They know what they’re doing.
One of the things I love about living in Seattle is that it’s actually –harder– for me to go to a chain restaurant than it is for me to eat in a locally owned restaurant. After eating here I’m going to slap the next person that says they like the Olive Garden.