Vendemmia

I loved the food at this restaurant, and was happy it didn’t feel like the overpriced, under-​flavored food that is becoming commonplace in Seattle. The salmon had a nice crispy, salty skin and was cooked just right in the middle. The beet salad was lovely, one of the better ones I have eaten, with a wonderfully creamy goat cheese. The Spring ravioli was just like it sounded, a bright flavor that was great for a hot day. The service was well executed. The only reasons I give 4-​stars is that we were at the worst table in the house on a very hot day and it was uncomfortable with no breeze behind the support wall. It would have been great to have a window seat (or sit anywhere else) since we had a reservation in advance and the tables weren’t completely full. Also, the dessert was good, not great. A few tweaks could improve the dessert menu. For example, the strawberry rhubarb tart had a great filling and yummy gelato, but the tart portion seemed like an afterthought, and was hard to eat in the small container it came in (like I said, a small tweak could make it great).

I went here with my bf for restaurant week and it was fantastic. The aesthetic of the space is open, clean, and modern — you can watch the chef work! We received a taste of all the starters plus an entrée and dessert each for $ 30 per person — worth it! I had a glass of rosé and J had a beer, we both enjoyed it immensely. The perfect amount of food and the flavors were all well presented and delectable. We’ll definitely be back!

I really enjoy this place. Décor is nice and simple. Very comfortable place. Food was delicious. Will try few more dishes on next visit. I recommend the beef tartare and the spaghetti with tomato, basil and olive, both simple dishes but wonderfully prepared. Drinks were very nice as well.

It has been over a year since I had my first dinner at Vendemmia. After the first meal of snap pea crab salad, spaghetti and steak, Brian has become my cook at least twice a month ever since. He keeps the menu fresh and seasonal. Sometimes I bring friends, most of the time I bring the family (yes it is kid friendly). Two weeks ago I had a big group and was one of the first to be able to use the new private room in the back. If you have a big group I highly recommend it.
As you can tell I love this place. It is the only new place to get into my regular rotation in the last three years. If you live in the neighborhood I recommend the same. If you don’t live close, make the trip. You will love Vendemmia and Madrona overall.

Great flavors, creative dishes, and lovely neighborhood ambiance. This place is one of my favorites. Try toe spaghetti, which is so very simple, yet perfectly executed, and the beef, which is cooked to perfection. Brian is one of Seattle’s great chefs, and I look forward to coming back!

Food is hands down 5 stars … wine selection is 3 stars … service is 4.5 stars (with one hiccup on our first visit and slow service between apps and entrees last night).
I think the best refined casual Italian in Seattle … when I say refined casual, I think of Spiaggia in Chicago as fine dining Italian …
We arrived a bit early and were able to sit and stand at the bar — very friendly service while we waited. Once seated, prompt and friendly service — although I learned the pasta I wanted (ravioli) was sold out :(
We started with ½ dozen Kusshi oysters, beef tartare, Mozzarella, pesto, walnuts and grilled bread, and roasted carrots. They were all outstanding. The oysters were so fresh (not overly briny) and came with freshly shaved horseradish root and a sweet (ish) brunoise red pepper/​chili mignonette type sauce. Beef tartare was skillfully chopped and well balanced so you could taste the quality of the beef — comes with grilled bread … OMG, the bread … it’s Columbia City, which I think makes the best bread in Seattle. The Mozzarella, pesto and walnuts also came with grilled bread — fresh, somewhat firm but creamy cheese, whole roasted nuts and a vibrant pesto … lovely. THE CARROTS … sooooo yummy … and I don’t get all that excited about vegetables … baby heirloom carrots (I suspect) halved, then roasted with olive oil, chopped pistachios, crème fraîche, and lemon zest topping … out of this world good.
All pastas were outstanding — perfectly made and cooked pasta — slightly toothsome. Sauces were all spot on … my friend had the pork shoulder pasta, my husband had the spaghetti with a beautifully well balanced spicy tomato and basil sauce, and I had the sausage, escarole, and pecorino tagiatelle … they add a little crème fraîche to the sauce (sauce is a little pork fat from cooking the outstanding home-​made sausage, white wine to deglaze the pan, butter and pasta water (a modified beurre fondue)) at the end which give it a rich (but not overly rich) texture … ate the rest of it for breakfast this morning … yum.
Another friend had the Black Cod and it was bright, fresh and moist … perfectly cooked. He loved it.
Of last night’s visit only the very limited and seemingly intentionally eclectic wine selections and a longer than expected or desired wait between the apps and entrees were mildly disappointing. On our first visit, about a year ago, I had a couple of very unpleasant exchanges with our server who was hell-​bent on showing me that I knew far less than him about the Italian wines we were considering, and who refused to give me the cork from the bottle until «he was ready» — he put it in his apron pocket and didn’t present it to me until after he had poured a taste and I prefer to see the cork before I taste (small point, but the interaction and vibe from him was deep condescension). I don’t believe we saw this fellow on our return visit last night, and the wine service was just fine.
Definitely need to come back, with an early reservation time so as not miss out on the ravioli! And, looking forward to trying Chef Clevenger’s West Seattle Raccolto …

We came here for restaurant week and were very happy with our experience. The service was prompt and friendly, our waters were refilled throughout the night, but most important of all: these guys know how to season food the right way.
You could tell the ingredients were fresh. They let us have a bite of each appetizer, and every dish had a great balance of flavors. My only reservation would be on the bread thickness, which some people in our party had a tougher time with. The beef tartare was smooth, the halibut was crisped up on one side and had this lovely pea and mint sauce with pea vines, and the salted caramel gelato with the chocolate terrine was not too sweet, but just sweet enough to be a dessert that was accompanied by a touch of salty and smoky flavors.
This restaurant is definitely one to return to.

Whatever is lacking in the size of this restaurant, it makes up for in the flavor & quality of the food! Bring your friends and family, but consider leaving your kids at home. This place gets a bit noisy as it fills up and is on the pricier end but all of it is worth every penny. The salmon couldn’t have been fresher (explained by the manager, Suli: caught that morning and purchased next door at the fish market). The fresh, handmade pasta is also a must-​try. Go for the tagliatelle or pappardelle. Don’t forget to try to the beets and goat cheese and OF COURSE save room for dessert! I will definitely be back.

Wow — I was really surprised and impressed by Vendemmia. I thought it would be just a neighborhood Italian restaurant, but it’s really more than that. Very fresh, innovative food and excellent seafood as well!
The restaurant is fairly sparsely decorated, open kitchen, a small bar. But the food is really the star here.
We started off with Hamachi, oysters, and a snap pea/​crab salad. Everything was fresh and delicious. The foie gras was decadent and rich. For pasta, we tried the Tagliatelle with English pea and mint which was also excellent. There’s a solid Italian wine list and good cocktail menu as well.
I will definitely be back!

Went here for husband’s birthday dinner on a nice, rainy Sunday evening. I made reservations about a week before and when we arrive we got seated right away, the place was clean and had open kitchen concept which we really like.
We decided to share everything. So ideas popping up and we decide to get a few things for starters: the Tombo which was Albacore tuna for the moment, and snap peas crab salad which I forgot to take pictures of since we were so excited to try everything.
Tombo was really good, fish was raw in the middle. Salad was awesome too, it was fresh, sweet, and delicious. Nice way to start the evening!
And then we’re ready for the real deal so we got: spaghetti with tomato sauce, paccheri with wild prawns, foie Gras on a crostini, and baguette with balsamic and olive oil.
Let me tell you, all dish was a winner. We had and finish everything and the only thing we regret is we don’t get to try everything on the menu. Our waiter was attentive and super informative, we appreciate his work on our table.
Why the 4 stars then? Well, there are a few things that we noticed that aren’t consistent with the menu:
Tombo: this was ordered from the Raw or Cured section. And like I mentioned, it was raw in the middle, but obviously cooked on the outside and it was grey-​ish. We kind of (or maybe shouldn’t?) a chirashi grade tuna, kind of dark red and fresh. They were good still.
Foie gras: we expected a pâté on a crostini, we got a mousse instead. It was really delicious, don’t get me wrong. But I wish it was mentioned that we’ll get a mousse instead of a pâté.
Maybe they can be more accurate on the menu description so we don’t get surprised by the actual food.
It was a good place nonetheless, we are thinking of coming back some time in spring!

One of the best meals I’ve had in a very long time. Treat yourself to the tasting menu if you get a chance. Fun experience sitting right at the kitchen tasting all these amazing plates. Highly recommend!!!

Best meal I’ve EVER had. I suggest to go with 4+ guests so you are able to try more items. I was amazed at the delicious meal we had with the tiny, exposed kitchen you see when you walk in.
We ordered a variety of appetizers which included the beet salad, hamachi, beef tartare and kusshi oysters. All were incredible with the beef tartare being outstanding of all. Our group ordered the steak, swordfish, and prawns but decided that the lamb bolognase was the best dish. For dessert we ordered the chocolate tartine and affogato and were not disappointed. We cannot wait to come back. Still thinking about this meal the next day. Service was excellent and friendly too which was just another added bonus to the delicious food.

This is the best meal I’ve ever had. Not a foodie by any means, had the beet salad, kusshi oysters, Tartare and Hamachi. So many amazing flavors. Entrees were lamb bolognese, prime NY steak, and swordfish. Service and ambiance were top notch.

This place has a great potential. You can feel the energy and willingness to try to do things right. Kudos for that.
*Grilled Carrots– Excellent
*Beef Tartare — Good. Toast is too thick and the butter used too grill it, overpowers the delicate tartare.
*Lamb Ragu. Excellent
*Affogatto. Excellent
Will be back.

Went there on a date night on a Friday night at 6pm. The place was not full but was getting there towards end of our meal. I had high expectations coming in because I read up about the chef and saw that the menu was pretty pricey for Madrona neighborhood. It was good but it didn’t knock my socks off for the price I paid.
Food:
–Well cooked but nothing that was memorable or food that I will go back for.
–Very simple straight to the point menu. I like that! Everything is seasonal and fresh.
— I ordered the spicy spaghetti for (around) $ 14. I was underwhelmed. It wasn’t spicy enough for my taste and the spaghetti was not al dente as I liked it. I read from Unilocalers that some thought it was the best spaghetti they’d ever had. I guess it’s hard to make something simple so GOOD!
–Beet salad: was nice and clean. Very light and delicious.
–Beef Taretare: ok I might go back for that. But that’s about it.
–Scallops: $ 24 for 3 scallops and some veggies. But the scallops were fresh. That’s about it.
–Pork dish: Taste good but nothing I haven’t had anywhere else.
Ambiance:
–Dark, quiet, and nothing special. Usually those places you let the food do the talking. but that didn’t happen either!
Service:
–Very attentive. Maybe too attentive. We had the host come back to us maybe 8x during our meal to refill our half full water glasses. It was nice, but it was a little bit excessive because it interrupts our conversation. Maybe she wanted to look busy.
We paid $ 120 (includes a glass of wine + cocktail) + tips.

I read about Vendemmia in an article in the Times. I am a sucker for expensive and delicious Italian food, and cheap delicious Italian food. Vendemmia falls into the first category, but a visit will NOT disappoint!
The item I was most attracted to on their menu before visiting was the Dungeness crab salad. This dish did NOT disappoint! I felt jealous eyes on my dish from around the table, but I never offered to share (that good).
For my main course, I had no choice but to go for the Bolognese and use the dish as a true benchmark for their authenticity. Authenticity grade? A+ Of course I’ve had less expensive bolognese that I enjoyed very much, but the ingredients of this dish were top notch. I could taste the freshness… and it was clearly not something that had been sitting in the pot all day.
The atmosphere is fantastic. It is a smallish place, but given the location, I think this is way okay. The ambiance feeds your need for intimacy, without being so dark that you forget what your date looks like (try El Gaucho for that experience). Madrona is slightly out of the way for me, but I wouldn’t hesitate to make the drive again!
Go eat some pasta, and put crabs on your salad!

This was one of the 10 best meals we have ever had and can’t wait to come back. We had 6 different dishes and even though it was a lot of food for just the two of us we licked every plate clean.
The pork chop and white truffle cavatelli pasta in particular were on par with dishes at Michelin starred restaurants. The aforementioned pasta came with extremely generous amounts of white truffle shavings and was well worth the $ 39 price tag.
It was ridiculous how good the spaghetti was.
I hope the chef/​owner continues to cook even after this restaurant becomes impossible to get a table at!

I went for restaurant week and I was somewhat disappointed. I know the executive chef used to work at Staple and Fancy but I don’t think his menu design is as good as Ethan Stowell. Ethan Stowell’s dishes are simple but they always manages to bring out the harmony between the ingredients and then you are amazed by how good the dishes tasted. This particular chef seems to stick with standard combinations that don’t particularly aim to impress.
I had the tuna for appetizer. The olives were too potent so I didn’t think it was particularly balanced. The salad that came with the ahi tuna seemed refrigerated. I also ordered the beef short ribs which was tender and I liked the glazed. But the root vegetable and the grits combination made the dish a bit one dimensional. My friend who had the black cod found the skin overly salty.
For dessert, I had the chocolate terrain. It just tasted a block of dense chocolate mousses. It was somewhat unimpressive. My friend who had the sorbet of the day didn’t even want to finish her second scoop.
Anyhow, I don’t know why Seattle Times listed this as a Top Ten value during restaurant week. I have definitely been to better. The service was decent nevertheless. Either way, I doubt I would come again given that I could just go to an Ethan Stowell rather than this like-​Ethan Stowell restaurant that doesn’t really stand out.

We were excited to try this new restaurant in our neighborhood and were happy to be able to do so during Seattle Restaurant Week. We came in on a Monday night to a pretty busy restaurant but were seated right away. I didn’t mind the minimalist décor but it is that, minimal. Fortunately, the restaurant wasn’t too loud to have a conversation and you could still hear some music playing too.
Our server was very friendly and helpful. He kept our waters filled throughout the night and even let us sample one of the wines to aide our selection, which was good because the first one we were going to get tasted off. We made our three course selections and told them that we would be sharing everything.
Everything we had was good just not mindblowing! I don’t know if it was an off night or a different chef. We started with the albacore and the flavors in that were light, balanced and well done. The butternut squash soup though was pure butter, and that is really the only thing either of us could taste, no sweetness in the soup, no savory fall flavors, just butter. It’s rare that we don’t finish a dish but this we did not. The short ribs were good but I’ve had many better and the black cod was cooked nicely but again very rich in flavors and not that much complexity of flavors. Dessert was good; we tried the espresso with housemade vanilla gelato and the chocolate terrine with a salted caramel gelato.
I’m glad we got to try this restaurant at Restaurant Week prices and we had a good meal but the question is out on whether or not we will be back!

I am not a huge fan of Italian food normally, but I definitely have changed my mind after my experience here. This minimalistic restaurant is located in the cute and upcoming neighborhood of Madrona. Once you walk in, you can tell it is very simple. There is nothing too special about the decorations, but it is spacious. We came in on a Thursday around 7pm. It was pretty crowded and were told wait time would be about an hour. The hostess offered to seat us at the bar and so there we went. Having look at the menu prior, we had a few ideas of what we wanted to try. We decided to order two appetizers and two entrees to share.
Hamachi, cucumber, and fresno chili: so smooth and delicious! it was obvious that the fish was very fresh. Although it was slightly plain and could have used a bit more oomph.
Beef tartare, shallot and grilled bread: HANDS DOWN, MY FAVORITE ENTREE. This was so full of flavor and the bread was perfectly grilled. They even offered us more bread free of charge. :)
Cavatelli, pork cheek, rapini, mint: This was a delicious pasta, but also could have used some more flavoring. I had slightly higher expectations for the dish.
Prime New York steak, mushrooms, bacon, fingerling potato: Definitely the star of the night. All of the ingredients worked perfectly with one another. My biggest pet peave is when steak entrees are given an excessive amount of sides because it takes away from the steak itself. But this was flawlessly executed and that cream sauce was on point.
All in all, I am definitely coming back to try the other dishes. I love that this places focuses on other other things besides pasta. I have high hopes for this restaurant. If you are contemplating on trying this place, please do yourself a favor and just go!