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Il Terrazzo Carmine
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
411 1st Ave S(between Jackson St & King St)
Seattle, WA 98104
Neighbourhood: Pioneer Square
(206) 467-7797
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Sat 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
About This Business:
Whether it is the dark hours of the morning on the way to work for espresso and a pastry, lunch or dinner followed by a house made Limoncello Mioposto… read more »
122 reviews for Il Terrazzo Carmine
Review Highlights
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"...I had the field greens with goat cheese and candied walnuts." In 3 reviews -
"I had Ravioli di Capriolo with venison, spinach and wild..." In 3 reviews -
"And we wanted something old-school, calm and classy." In 8 reviews
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122 reviews in English
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Review from Rain And Rob H.
Renton, WA
1/5/2012
Amazing food. Great chef. Four and a half stars because some of the foods were just a little bit off, but so many five star experiances there have forced me to round up this visit to five stars too.
Venison ravioli not too gamey. Caniloni with great meat and cheese.
Scallops perfectly cooked and seasoned well. Duck sweet and savory. (I don't like my duck rare and I didnt specify how I wanted it cooked. I just figured if the chef cooked it rare that I would eat it that way beause that is the way it came, but I was surprised when it came to the table, cooked through yet moist.)
As I said, at this visit the food was just a little bit off. For instance the buffalo mozzarella and the basil that came with the caprisse did not taste as fresh as it should. Not the season for fresh basil. Little things made us leave thinking "That was a good meal" rather than "that was an amazing meal".
Service was great. This was my 18 year old daughter's first experiance at anything remotely like fine dining. The waiter made us feel at home and it was a fun experiance. -
Review from Eugene O.
5/1/2012
I've come here for many a work lunches, and it is a spectacular place to eat. The dishes are all classic Italian, and done very well: bolognese, chicken provolone salads, eggplant parmesan and an assortment of fish dishes. They use great ingredients, make all of their sauces and dressings from scratch and offer the standard fresh pepper and cheese. This place is the perfect lunch spot, but I could imagine spending a nice dinner here as well.
More than anything, the ambience is something to behold. You'll see bustling waiters, packed tables, great views of a courtyard and a display of desserts and dishes in the front of the house. It's all a little deceiving since this restaurant is packed in an unassuming building.
A hidden gem, is what I would call this place, and one that will eat at your wallet (prices aren't cheap). -
Review from Justin C.
4/25/2012 5 photos
I got the feeling that this was a very nice Italian restaurant that must have had a particularly bad evening on the night I visited. While my overall experience was decent enough it definitely didn't echo the general sentiment shared by others of over the top impressiveness. From the service, to the prices, to the food itself, everything just fell a bit short of my expectations, and I left somewhat disappointed.
The first thing I noticed (aside from how rather hidden the restaurant itself is) was that the prices on the menu were a bit higher for basically every dish than advertised on their website, and in some cases much higher. Hopefully this has been remedied by now, but it was kind of annoying at the time. I didn't have reservations as it was a somewhat last minute dinner decision, and that left me with a less than pleasing location in the dining room, and service which seemed to want me out of there more than being concerned with my actual meal. Rarely have I felt so rushed throughout an entire dinner. Unlike many people I actually don't mind a wait in between courses, even if I'm alone, because it allows you to properly digest and anticipate the next item. Here I was rarely ever finished with one course before the next was arriving.
Generally I can even overlook service errors if the food delivers at a high caliber, but that just wasn't the case with the dishes I ordered. The Prosciutto con Melone supposedly used prosciutto imported from Parma and seasonal melons (cantaloupe in my case), but the quality of the meat just didn't seem right. It was surprisingly lacking in flavor, although the combination of the two ingredients went well, and the portion was definitely generous (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). My next appetizer course, the Zuppa Di Pesce, was even more disappointing, primarily because the shellfish was in no way cleaned properly, leaving lots of grainy bits in the broth. It's a shame because the garlic, basil, and tomato base was quite nice, and the fish in the stew was cooked well, but the sandy texture of virtually all the clams and mussels ruined this dish.
The risotto course was an improvement over the first two, but still lacked proper execution. The roasted chicken was too hard and dry and tasted like they had just used leftovers from some other dish. The mushrooms added much more flavor than anything else, a benefit for me, but it was a bit one note. Even the texture of the risotto seemed off, I've made far better in my own home just playing it by ear. It was a nice attempt, but I expected far better from a place that apparently features risotto quite prominently. Raviolo di Capriolo was the final course, a ravioli (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) filled with venison and spinach in a mushroom and veal sauce. This was definitely my favorite of the items I tried at Il Terrazo Carmine, but it left me wondering where the venison was in the dish. The flavors were rich and earthy for sure, but it lacked any real hint of meat, especially one so notoriously strong.
I decided to pass on the abundant looking dessert tray, seeing as I was already $100 invested in an experience that I wasn't wholly enjoying. Hopefully the quality is consistently better than what I experienced, because I found it quite hard to believe this was the best Italian that Seattle had to offer.Listed in: Fancy Pants, Seattle Standouts
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Review from Tad D.
Seattle, WA
3/11/2012
This is a very classy place that I never knew about, even though i have lived here for 23 yrs. Perhaps that is because you can't see it from street.
My wife and I received a gift certificate for Christmas so we were happy to head out to a nice meal after a day of skiing. We decided to split everything, appetizer, salad, pasta, entree, and dessert, and they were happy to oblige with separate plates, making this a true 5-course meal.
The food was very good and simply prepared. I tend to go for somewhat bolder flavors, which this was not, but you can't argue with traditional food done well. -
Review from Rich B.
Seattle, WA
5/19/2012
Great food and great service! All the food is made fresh and no complaints at all. I will be back.
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Review from Yuri Y.
Kirkland, WA
5/4/2012
first the good:
wine selection is great. Obviously, there is several pages worth of Italian wines, but you can also find NW, Californian wines as well as wines from around the world.
Ambiance/decor is also great - more of the "classic" or "old world" style.
Now the other news:
service was VERY slow. I understand this is not a fast food place...it took about 5 seconds after we sit down to get the bread and the water and then we waited for 10-15 mins just to order drinks. After drinks arrived, we had to just grab the waitress and ask her to take our order.
food arrived almost cold. Barely warm. I expect pasta to be warm enough so I do not have to actually touch it to see if it's warm or cold.
At the end of the dinner, waitress did apologize for slow service and comp'd the desert. This was nice.
I have visited this place several times over years. To me it feels like it has been slowly sliding from "gem" and "awesome" to "just another eatery"... -
Review from Felicia C.
Seattle, WA
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Tucked away in Pioneer Square, I had no idea this place existed until I went there with friends. Food is really good and service is impeccable. Decor is traditional and the atmosphere is very ladies who lunch, literally.
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Review from Gene D.
2/8/2012 7 photos
Power Lunch is taken very, very seriously here. Half the room is the Who's Who of Seattle business, sports, politics, etc.
I can vouch for the Ravioli Di Capriolo - a wonderful demi, beautiful mushrooms and generous portion size. In fact, most dishes are quite plentiful.
Of all the salads, my favorite is Insalata Portofino. Albacore tuna and heaping amount of anchovy, tossed with perfectly seasoned Tuscan beans.
A classic dessert tray. Remember these? Presented by highly serious, buttoned down yet engaged and personable staff.
Mrs. Smeraldo has taken helm of this wonderful room, and fully intends to maintain all things Il Terrazzo Carmine.
This goes into the Must Return column.
The rubiroso-grinders need black pepper kernels for truly cracked finish. We'll live. -
Review from Luca T.
West New York, NJ
1/27/2012
Great place:
Food 8/10
Service 9/10
Decor 7/10
Atmosphere 7/10 -
Review from Noelle H.
Seattle, WA
2/23/2012
Sadly, Carmine passed away recently, but his amazing family and staff will keep Carmine's spirit and zest for perfection alive.
This is a wonderful spot for everything from business lunches/dinners to special occasions, family celebrations, drinks with a classy touch, and most especially just to taste delicious food with a competent and classy staff.
The wine selection was made for us, after we gave some tasting preferences, and I found the menu to be overwhelming with its massive selection, and the vast differences in Italian wines confuses me to no end. The sangiovese was a good choice, and the price point was not the top level, they were not trying to push the expensive bottles on us, just the right one. I am always grateful to servers/sommeliers who take this approach. It was about $45-50 bottle I think. I forgot to snap a shot of the label, darnit!
The Antipasto plate is outrageously yummy and simple way to start and had slices of tomato, beets, fresh mozzarella, grilled eggplant, and seasoned white beans - and some fresh crusty bread. 9.00 for one 16.00 for two.
Our neighbors had a delicious looking salmon thing I would love to try next time for an opener.
Next up Bisque Di Gamberi Bisque of prawns with roasted peppers
$8.00. Happy belly already.
But we had to keep going!
For me: Ravioloni Di Pesce
Large ravioli filled with crab, shrimp and spinach, sauce primavera 19.00 Sm 13.00 was very filling, and indulgently good.
There are two Ossobuco options and I would happily try both, but my dinner partner zeroed in on the Ossobuco Milanese - a center cut veal shank, braised in wine and vegetables, over saffron risotto 38.00.
I expected it to be "heavier"... and pack a little more punch, but less intense than I had thought it would be., and nicely done, too.
The two of us were each taking turns on this one, but we were pretty full, we still had food left over.
I want to try the other version as well on my next visit.
We did not have room for dessert, but our efficient waiter had us both sipping on a closer of espresso which capped the evening off nicely. $3.00
This was not a budget night out, but we feel like we got a good amount of food for a fair price, the servers were very attentive, although there was a sizable lag between a couple spots in the dining, we were willing to wait for the food, and the classy folks in our vicinity made for wonderful people watching.
I am glad Seattle has Carmine's, even if Carmine himself is no longer there to rule over that place with his famous stern and noble demeanor, and his unpretentious and larger than life hospitality. He was a wonderful addition to the restaurant community, and Seattle in general. His legacy will live on!
GO! MANGIA! -
Review from Sam S.
Indianapolis, IN
4/7/2012
Intimate setting, very good food. Great service consistently. The veal chop is my favorite.
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Review from Orlene D.
3/19/2012
In the last year, I have been in search for the best Italian restaurant in Seattle. I decided to try out an old family favorite (my dad's favorite) which I had not been to in a while. The setting and service is very classy, old-school. All the dishes are very well made. Loved the smoked salmon pasta and the gnocci was simple yet perfect. I liked that it was not too rich. I am excited to come back and explore more items from the menu because this is what a top notch Italian restaurant should be!
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Review from Joey m.
Seattle, WA
1/13/2012
1 word: Ossobuco
"nuff said. -
Review from Maria J.
Seattle, WA
5/4/2012
Complete hidden gem. My boyfriend loves italian food so I found this on Yelp and both of us were so pleased at how great everything was. The decor made us feel like we were in Italy and our server was very attentive and suggested the perfect bottle of wine to go with our meal. I had the halibut and my bf had the duck. Both were so delicious and neither of us left anything on the plate. Yes we were part of the clean plate club. It was just soo good, writing this makes me want to go back!
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Review from Andy F.
9/25/2011
Terrazzo is a hidden treasure trove. Hidden behind an office building lobby, this place can be very hard for newbies to locate. So if you are trying it cold or are meeting friends be sure to tell them about the free parking up the block and alley entrance. Once you get in, it's romantic and comfortable. If you're reading this review on a computer, the average diner's age is older than yours. That's cool with me.
The service - always excellent. The food - always excellent. I think they have a private Italian butcher hiding in the back because these guys get the best cuts of meat (giant veal chops, beautiful pieces of fish, etc.)
We like to start our dinners here with oysters and martinis. They're always happy to put together some scratch cocktail sauce for us. Mignonette just doesn't have the same punch.
The outdoor patio is comfortable and I suspect that its view is about to change dramatically with the upcoming viaduct construction. Hopefully that doesn't impact this business, which has been serving hungry diners long before my time.
Thank you for all of the great times. Cheers to many more. Five stars from me.Listed in: Eats
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Review from Cliff M.
11/13/2011
I really enjoyed this place a lot. Great food and excellent service. I would definitely go back.
I showed up here with a colleague after work. The interior of the place was *very* nice and I felt a little out of place in my semi-casual work attire and a messenger bag slung over my shoulder. The host was extremely professional and treated us respectfully, taking us right to the table and making me feel at ease. Very cool.
The waiter was also great. Friendly, professional, and made some good recommendations. After my friend ordered his meal and then decided he wanted soup, the waiter was listing them off and pointed out that one of them would be too much like his entire: astute.
The food was delicious. My caesar salad was well dressed and had nice big parmesan shavings on it. I had a rosemary-infused porkchop on the bone which was cooked perfectly and incredibly juicy. The accompanying pasta was well-cooked and tasted good although maybe a touch undersauced.
Very hard to find much to complain about here. The prices were a little on high side but the quality of the food and service justify it. -
Review from Audrey M.
New York, NY
7/3/2011
I love Carmine's. I'm here from New York for the summer, and the place reminds me of a quiet echo of Babbo or the Cipriani's uptown--pure, uncompromising, old-fashioned Italian, from the menu to the service to the carefully attended wine list. It's more Italian than most restaurants who call themselves such; if you've been to Italy, you'll recognize it immediately.
Enough has been written about the food, I'll assume; in short, you can't really go wrong, and besides, the list of nightly specials runs as long as the (already extensive) menu; I'm embarrassingly more familiar with dishes that aren't listed than I am those that are. (That said, I've had to forcibly prevent myself from ordering the osso bucco every single time. I would not be surprised if they raise the fatted calves themselves.)
So I'll just say that Carmine's is the place to take your grandparents. Carmine's is the anti-hipster. Carmine's is the place to celebrate your retirement, or to take yourself on the evening after a breakup, dressed in black and looking mournful and mysterious and expensive, to order a few martinis and pretend you've been whisked to another era. It's not for everyone, but for those who appreciate white tablecloths and cuisine uncontaminated by current trends, it's perfect.
[ A tip: the menu offers half-plates, something I wish more restaurants would do! Granted, most of the clientele there don't seem to be the experimental sort, but for those who do like to try different dishes, it's a gift. Try two half-portions of pasta, instead of ordering one whole. The rabbit and the seafood are both extraordinary. ] -
Review from Jeff S.
Lynnwood, WA
1/8/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
We had a work dinner here on the spur of the minute with 14 people. They were quick to get the tables together, and every piece of food that came out looked fantastic. Lot's of flavor and ambiance. Definitely the kind of place I will bring the wife back to for a romantic date.
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Review from Niko P.
Maple Valley, WA
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic service, excellent food, and great wine. What else do you need?? Oh- how about awesome dessert to top it off!
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Review from Concerned C.
Seattle, WA
1/24/2012 Seated via OpenTable
We have been here twice and although the food is consistantly excellent, we have had bad experiances with the waiter both times. They had a few daily specials and this last time when we asked how much they were the server said he didn't know and made no effort to find out.
We brought a couple of bottles of $100+ bottles of wine and had them cork one. After selecting our meals and deciding that the other wine we brought wouldn't go with dinner, we purchased another $100+ bottle of wine. We asked for recommendations based on what we ordered and he didn't offer a single solid recommendation . We asked if we purchased a bottle if they would waiver the cork fee on the first bottle and our waiter said "of course".
Guess what showed up on our bill? When we reminded the server that the corkage fee was still on there he gave us attitude and said that he checked and that they never waive the cork fee.
In the scheme of things an extra $20 is no big deal but the lack of knowledge about the menu , wines and attitude was embarassing after I recommended this place and the amount of money we spent here. Dont think I will be taking anyone else here. -
Review from Bruce F.
Milton, WA
6/10/2011
Il Terrazzo has been one of my favorites for years - I love the "Bing Duck" - the best I found in Seattle. Renee had the Halibut tonight and it was tasty, juicy and great. Almost all the food we have had there over the years has been great and worth the slightly pricy cost.
I noticed a few reviewers comment on "Grandma's" décor but that is what is great about it. If I had to guess, I would say they were all 20's and 30's - age. I would not call it "Grandma's" but East Coast upscale. It is designed like the East Coast restaurants and looking around tonight, most of the cliental are over 40 and wearing business dress (many with ties and sports coats) the group that appreciates this kind of a restaurant. I am sure if I went into one of the younger adults restaurants I would not feel comfortable either - so let's not criticize (wow am I really saying that) a style that is not in many younger folks taste - and somewhat foreign to the laid back basic plain Seattle style.
Overall the services were efficient and prompt, the dinner and salad excellent and it is one of the older gems of Seattle. If you don't appreciate an upscale restaurant there are many other choices in the area including Cow Girls next door. -
Review from Jack S.
Bainbridge Island, WA
1/14/2012
Two couples had a relaxed 2-hour lunch in nice surroundings. Although we were leisurely diners we were never rushed. I had the Penni in white vodka sauce with salmon and it was fantastic. My wife had the eggplant parmigiana but she thought she had had better.
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Review from Jacqueline N.
Seattle, WA
2/14/2012
My absolutely favorite restaurant of all time. Nothing surpasses the food, service and ambiance of Il Terrazzo Carmine. I have been here 3 times and tried out at least 10 menu items and each and every item was cooked to perfection. The antipasto plate is something that you would find straight from Italy. The tuna tar-tare had the perfect amount of seasoning and I believe that it's the freshest around. I enjoyed the Cioppino for lunch recently and it is hands down one of the best. The veal tenderloin is like no other, flavorful and didn't have that gamy taste to it. I could go on and on about the dishes and it would really make your mouth water, but you must try for yourself. I came there on a whim one Friday night and usually you have to make reservations in advance but the host found us a table and was so accommodating. The restaurant was packed that night and Joe our waiter, gave us amazing service. All around our table all I could hear was "wow, this is so delicious". The Executive Chef even greeted the guests at the table. This restaurant is a true Seattle Gem.
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Review from Liz J.
Seattle, WA
12/28/2010
I went for dinner this month for the third time in the last few years and was really disappointed.
-The salmon was nothing special and the dessert was downright boring.
-The water had no table presence, he didn't even introduce himself or look anyone in the eye.
-The most disappointing part of the night came at the beginning, we were helped to our table by who I believe was the floor manager (as he was in a suit). This man was extremely condescending and not welcoming, he also didn't address anyone in our party directly, and was buzzing around has if he were rushed and we were an inconvenience.
With so much fantastic fine dining around Seattle, why would I want to come back? -
Review from John R.
Burien, WA
2/5/2012
We have had the pleasure of dining here after the sad passing of the owner, Carmine, to greener pastures in Italy. The management and staff are obviously dedicated to continuing the tradition of fine dining. Thank you, everyone at the restaurant, for keeping his vision alive and well!
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Review from Bill G.
12/20/2010
This is a great Seattle dinning experience. The food is absolutely fantastic and done just right. The staff is friendly and helpful however, our server was not fantastic. Why would such a great place make you wait so long to order drinks and then wait even longer for them to arrive?
This poor mark could have been so easily avoided. You know what I mean you get that server that seems to be in a big hurry and does not take the time needed with their guest - note that is why they get a 15% tip and good servers get 20%+ just saying!
Despite this avoidable issue the place is diamonds!
Other note: the front door is not actually not on first street - turn west on King Street and park in their safe - free - valet garage. BTW- this is an adult dinning place leave those darling kids of yours at home with a sitter! -
Review from Sarah M.
2/21/2011
I work right down the street and came here for lunch with some coworkers as a "thank you" gift...and what a spectacular lunch this was.
This place is hidden away from the main stretch of Pioneer Square restaurants. We ended up valet parking which was not too badly priced...I think it was around $5 or so + tip?
The inside of the restaurant was adorable! Surprisingly large inside, yet seemingly quaint at the same time. We got there early...around 11:30 and it was empty but by the time we left around an hour later, it was packed.
It is one of those restaurants where everyone seems to know everyone - I'm assuming because of the nearby businesses.
I started with the cream of asparagus soup which was a special of the day. The portion was just enough and I loved how it had chunks of asparagus in it along with the pureed part. For my main course, I also had a special of the day which consisted of risotto with proscuitto, peas, parmesan, and white wine sauce. OMG. SO good.
My co-workers seemed equally happy with their choices - one had a seafood ravioli and the other a steak sandwich.
I have no idea how much the bill came to as I didn't pay for it but the prices seemed reasonable considering the quality.
Definitely a nice place to bring a date, parents, coworkers, etc. Better for an intimate dinner, in my opinion rather than a large group but it can probably accommodate both. -
Review from Rose B.
Auburn, WA
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a spectacular night out with my boyfriend here. Service was excellent and the food was phenomenal.
We had: calamari, asparagus soup, prawn bisque, a veal entree, and a duck entree.
The calamari serviced with a marinara sauce and some olives. It was really yummy. I wasn't thrilled by the asparagus soup; it was a little bland. I sampled the prawn bisque and it was a lot better. Both entrees were wonderful.
It's a very romantic and intimate restaurant. It's great for a special evening out.
Though, if you're trying to find it, it's next to Cowgirls (or something). You can't see the front entrance from 1st. -
Review from Julie T.
12/28/2010
Absolutely delectable with a splash of elegance!
I cannot get over how great the food is here. I tried the seared sea bass which I still dream of to this day (it melts in your mouth with a buttery texture and aroma that is out of this world), and they have an excellent roasted chicken entree with potatoes and asparagus. I'm not sure the menu is the same as when I was there, but my food experience was amazing!
I only wish this place was closer to me. The service was superb, and the staff was very helpful.
I will definitely be back when I'm in town again. -
Review from Hawker C.
Mercer Island, WA
1/1/2011
Was looking for a place to take an extended family for a special occasion over the holidays. I needed to please (a) some older relatives with very un-adventurous tastes (b) some younger relatives with very adventurous tastes and (c) one committed vegetarian. And we wanted something old-school, calm and classy.
This fit the bill perfectly. Maybe a little tame for the adventurous diners in the group, but still very nice, nicely prepared foods, great service.
Will definitely return for the right occasion. -
Review from Melanie K.
Sammamish, WA
2/14/2012 Seated via OpenTable
My husband and I can honestly say we haven't had such great service or food in the 3 years since we moved to Seattle! Lovely atmosphere and delicious choices. We will be back again and again!
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Review from MissMaryAnn D.
Seattle, WA
5/20/2007
NOTE: skip to *** for the useful part.
Mariaaaaaa.
I just met a girl named Maria,
and suddenly I find,
her nose is in my wine...
This is what happens when you invite a bunch o' yelpers out to dinner, and that's okay, cuz I don't mind nosey broads.
I do mind the whining and complaining about how I organized the event, and I know you can't please everyone, but I thought that was tacky.
There's a whole raft (or should I say ferry boat) of new Yelpers now, and I'm sure they would never be so rude or tacky as to try to negotiate the terms of an invitation.
They might show up with margaritas strapped to their back or spend inordinate amounts of time cooing to a warm toilet seat, but hey - that just means they're "interesting" and "eccentric", right?
Yay!
That was eons ago in Yelp time, and now they pay someone to organize these things.
Alleluia to the Hell Yeah, cuz once was enough for me.
And to her I say:
Better you than me - good luck and Lordisa be with you.
***
I have since returned to this old school Italian restaurant, and I enjoy it every time.
The menu is situated so that you can have a traditional three or four course meal, or set yourself up nicely with pasta and a salad.
I always order the soup because they serve it very hot, which I find is rarely the case in restaurants.
Pasta dishes are on the large size for a second course, but work as an entree. A small and a large size would be nice.
I highly recommended the osso bucco, the fish dishes were a bit dry (overcooked) on two occasions.
The salads are cool, crisp and nicely dressed. I have had both the Mista and the Cesar.
The service is professional and attentive without being intrusive, and all the gentlemen are handsome and wearing white jackets; so I guess you could say that the wait staff is also cool, crisp and nicely dressed.
Valet parking is free and there is full bar.
The dining room looks like some I have either visited or seen pictures of in Umbria and Tuscany - with floral draperies and huge rustic chandeliers. The china has a very European looking floral pattern.
(I say either visited or seen pictures of because I hate those posuers who reference their world travels as if that makes their opinions more valid than others. I feel no need to do this because it is common knowledge that I have very good taste as well as naturally straight teeth.)
The clientele is definitely old school as well, and I find the warm atmosphere and service at il Terrazzo to be a welcome relief from the chilly/stainless/granite trendy-sceney vibe of more than a few Seattle restaurants - don't try so hard, m'kay guys?
Please.
The noise level is a bit high when the dining room is full, but in a convivial and festive sort of way instead of a I-think-my-head-is-gonna-explode manner you find in some establishments (As I said - granite and stainless steel - WTF?).
This is a good place to duck into if you are on the down low - Seattle Style: meaning that you are afraid of losing your hipster stripes (or should I say polka dots) if you are seen outside of Belltown or Capitol Hill on a non-game night.
It's also a great choice for taking your mother to dinner - or maybe your date who is old enough to be your mother: and by old enough to be your mother I mean much older than me. -
Review from Todd B.
4/30/2009
Definitely not my type of place, but ate there last night with my co-workers as the big boss was in town. Very hoity-toity, the sort of place my gramma would love. I was a tad out of place in jeans, t-shirt and tennis shoes.
The menu, however, was beautiful. Just looking at it gave me visions of plates filled with yummy Italian food.
My co-workers dug right in, ordering $40 entrees from the menu. I have rarely been faced with such expensive food and I tell you, I can't help feeling it's a little obscene to spend that much on a meal. I understand it logically, but instinct kicked in and I ordered the small seafood ravioli. The caesar salad that came first was gorgeous - ripped bread croutons and fat slivers of cheese, without too much dressing which seems to mar most caesar experiences. The scrumptious ravioli followed and it was just enough to make me full - perfect.
Of course there was wine (um, lots) and a variety of desserts that were passed around to the moaning sounds of my fellow diners. Super yummy.
One star off because, you know, for a place this fancy, the pictures were crooked, one glass broken and they were just trash in the first place. Get someone in there to clean it up a bit visually.
Unless someone buys my tissue dispenser shaped like an ass novelty idea, I will probably never go back, but I will wish I could. -
Review from Stacy R.
Seattle, WA
2/12/2012
This is the best place in town! The most consistent of all restaurants in Seattle, not just Italian establishments. Love the wine list and the daily specials. Had fantastic oysters and sea scallops last night paired with a fantastic pinot grigio served by the glass. Very impressed by the service and friendly, knowledgeable bar tender. Since the valet parking is so easy and free at dinner, I will be back later this week!!!
Comment from Il Terrazzo C. of Il Terrazzo Carmine 2/14/2012
Thank you for your kind remarks, Stacy. Looking forward to… More » -
Review from Valentina V.
Seattle, WA
10/30/2008
I'll start by saying that our visit to Il Terrazo had two nonfood highlights:
1. The great company. It's always a pleasure to share a good meal with good friends.
2. The Phillies won the World Series just a few hours before we went to dinner. Needless to say, the Dude was in an unparalleled state of bliss. And I bought him a belated, fancy-shmansy with a "New Jersey-Philadelphia Italian twist" birthday dinner.
This is definitely an old school--yet sophisticated--restaurant. The maitre greeted people by their name (I heard "good night, Dr. XX...good evening Mr. YY " in less that 5 minutes). The atmosphere is welcoming and has a genuine Italian feel. Huge wooden chandeliers provide the place with a soft amber light. The crowd consisted mostly of well-dressed, respectable senior citizens and a couple of large groups (I heard some polite clapping at some point). I have to confess I felt a little under dressed. We where coming from my studio, where I spent the afternoon with a dozen of mini-clients, so jeans and a fun t-shirt made me want to keep on my coat. I even waved "goodbye" and pouted when I checked it...
The food is solid and the menu is varied and appealing. They have a couple of veal dishes--I love the word in Italian, Vitello...Vi-i-i-te-e-e-llo...ahh it sounds like a love word. They also have Ossobuco, Cioppino, Lamb and, of course, Pollo. The salad menu was tempting but I was craving carbs to the point of feeling I was going to pass out if I didn't have a bowl of pasta PRESTO! So I skipped the greens and ordered the Spaghettini Ortolano (with arugula, goat cheese, tomatoes and pinenuts) which was delicious. Everyone else ordered an appetizer. The salads "winked" at me so the BF gave me a bite of his. It was very good. But the starter dish that intrigued me was the Tuscan bean and escarole zuppe. It looked very appetizing.
The BF had the Rigatoni Bolognese. I didn't try it but the sauce looked thick and savory. Everybody was happy with their meal. I also had a glass of Prosecco, which was nice, nice, nice.
The tiramisu was a little of a let down. I had it better here in Seattle. After that delicious meal, I was expecting something extraordinary. It was just fine.
Service was very professional, even though it looked that everyone there were in a rush. Our server was attentive and polite and checked on us often, but it seemed that he was on a different speed than us. We were definitely in the mood for a nice after-dinner juicy conversation. He was more into "ok guys, here's your check even though you're still working on that soup."
Overall, it was a delightful dinning experience. Ci sara di nuovo (we'll be back).
I love tutto Italian.
Ciao! -
Review from Chrissie E.
Atlanta, GA
10/30/2011
Just got back from dinner. I had clam linguine and my hubby the rigatoni bolognese. However the star of the show was the dessert! man oh man the Napoleon is so delicious, and I am going back for the tiramisu. Great wine, wonderful service. This place is a winner.
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Review from Gary H.
Fullerton, CA
12/21/2009
My wife helped me pick out Il Terrazzo for a company party. It is a decent place but I won't recommend it for the Holidays. Why you ask? It's not because the wait staff does not give good service because they do. It's not because the food is not delicious, because it is. It's not because parking was hard to find, because it wasn't.
The number one reason why I give it and "eh", take it or leave it is because from the moment we entered, it seemed that the Maitre D' or manager (the guy in the suit and tie) was outright rude and almost acted as if he wanted us to leave when we arrived. He was rude, barging through us including some women and stood and stared at us because he didn't want us in the bar. I don't understand it; you don't want us in the bar, the most profitable place in the restaurant?! He simply had no manners or class.
We decided to stay and the wait staff more than made up for what was missing from the "suit" and the food was great. But when you spend $1300 at a place, you expect to be treated well. His actions spoiled my evening and I will never return.
Personally, if it were my restaurant and he treated my customers this way, I would have fired him. -
Review from James E.
12/18/2009
Okay, I give up. Why is this restaurant classified as Japanese as well as Italian?
My partner's company held its holiday dinner at Il Terrazzo, and while I loved the spinach antipasti and cannoli dessert, I was underwhelmed with the service. Not that I was keeping count of the minutes I held a menu in my lap, but any amount of time beyond five minutes is too long in my book.
If you arrive at the restaurant and work in concert with the staff, ordering plates on their schedule, then you will enjoy yourself immensely and somehow convince yourself that all restaurants in Italy operate in a similar fashion. But I've eaten in Italy. Numerous times. And even if I hadn't, the patron of our holiday dinner ordered plates and drinks out of sequence to which the restaurant staff didn't know how to respond.
The restaurant is heavy with its meat entrees which I found almost cliché. For all the pomp and circumstance of the restaurant, its menu bordered on "We're like Olive Garden but FANCY!" And I'm all, guido please!
If a restaurant wants to be a five-star experience, then ensure the staff act in accordance. Don't make me hold my menu and don't make me wait for *anything*. I don't want to think about what I need next, I want my wine glass full at all times and how about getting that goddamned menu out of my lap already?
I'm sure eating lunch at this restaurant is fun or whatever, but a three-and-a-half-hour meal is a better investment of your money spent.
And for the record? This ain't Italy. -
Review from Sara H.
Seattle, WA
9/12/2006
Sam's atmospheric reference to Grandma's house was dead on. And everyone has already made note of the noise level (however, I did take note at one point in the evening that you could not hear nearby highway 99 at all).
That said, I was fairly impressed. I had the pesto with shrimp and while the pesto was surprisingly (almost too) rich, the prawns were heaven. Sam's friend who came along, picked a red wine that was superb -- and I don't really care for red wine.
The waiters were very attentive, but as Maria noted, quiet...not at all obtrusive.
For me dessert consisted of coffee, which for "just coffee" was very good. I thoroughly enjoyed the company of the evening and am really looking forward to the next gathering! -
Review from Michelle U.
Seattle, WA
10/17/2008
Finally, Italian food that transports me back to the piazzas of Italy! My parents had always raved about Il Terrazzo Carmine, but I'd never had the privilege, and oh yes, it is quite a privilege to eat here!
The food is quintessential Italy - caponata antipasti, fresh and flavorful buffalo mozzerella caprese, prosciutto and melon, ah my mouth is watering at the retell alone... The entrees were just as delicious, my spaghettini with goat cheese, arugula, sun-dried tomatoes was finished with an olive oil that was damn near perfection, wonderfully authentic of Italy.
Combine our delicious food with the familiar yet tasteful decor (reminiscent of a high-class Florentine restaurant), a lovely Chianti, and the fact that all of our dishes were served on plates heated to the perfect temperature, and I was one happy camper.
Thank you Il Terrazzo, I've missed Italy, it was nice to escape (if only for an evening visit)!
