Sostanza Trattoria
(206) 324-9701
1927 43rd Ave E
Seattle,
WA
98112
47.6366
-122.2774
Neighborhoods: Madison Park, Capitol Hill
Reviews & Ratings for Sostanza Trattoria
22 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 22 reviews
Great place for intimate dining!
by franktz
February 03, 2009
I have gone to Sostanza many times with friends or on dates! I love Italian food, and this is one of the best in the city. I urge anyone who wants a cozy place with great food to go here. And it's even better in the summer, when you can sit on the outdoor deck overlooking Madison Beach and Lake Washington. Kudos to the management and staff!!!
Excellent Italian Dishes with a romantic atmosphere by Seagul S. at InsiderPages
Contributor
November 25, 2008
Once you walk in you feel like you have been transported back to Italy. I love spending time here. Their specials change daily with fresh ingredients. In the summer time a spot out on the deck or patio are the best around with a gorgeous view of the lake. In the winter a spot by their fireplace makes for a nice and cozy dinner.
Beyond the specials I love the Risotto ai Funghi and the Penne alla Grappa. They also have excellent Veal dishes and their caprese and spinaci appetizers are to die for.
Pros: Great service, great food
Cons: Very drafty if you sit by the door
Excellent Italian, very romantic, fabulous service
by kristylsummers
October 29, 2008
Go hungry - that way you can enjoy all of the courses. Or, go with someone who likes to share. ;-) Start with the Insalata Barba - beets, arugala and tomato. The Zuppa Toscana is delicious - their version of ribolita (bean soup with pancetta). We tried the two specials that night - the lamb was excellent as was the salmon ravioli. Next time - I am definitely trying the scallops. They looked wonderful.
- Pros: The closest look, feel and taste of an Italian Trattoria
loved it
by taikom
January 19, 2008
great italian food, both pasta dishes were delicious, good luscious sauces, fresh tasty tomatoes in our salad. really extensive and fun wine list. the service was excellent and the downstairs seating area is cozy and intimate. the fireplace is a really nice touch. the upstairs area seemed less intimate, brighter lighting, less appealing to me. i'd definitely come back to this little neighborhood place again!
Friendly and Warm
by cheriwan13
November 17, 2006
It was a rainy night, I wasn't sure what we were doing, and my dream boat drives me here for a romantic dinner. Well, it worked. It was warm, there was a low din in the dining room, we were seated by the fire, and there I was, transported back to first date moments~ what a great feeling. We had generous glass pours, and the wine was delicious, a great Caesar and Carpaccio, and the pasta was good. I had ordered the veal, but unfortunetly the veal was off that night, so it found its way back to the kitchen. Regardless, the pasta that replaced it was creamy and satisfying, and my feelings of being treated like a princess on a cold bleak night stayed with me all evening. It seems as if there were other couples there on true first dates, with a lot of sparkle and candle light, leaving with smiles. I left warm and smiling with them.
- Pros: Warm, friendly, great wine and pasta
- Cons: parking, no visible full bar?
More perfect than perfect...
by rustacarirulestheworld
October 20, 2006
If you know Italian food and wine order from their extensive list of both. If you don't know Italian food tell your expertly professional waiting staff to put it together for you...either way you'll be very richly rewarded. Beyond the food the quiet romantic setting is perfect, and, lastly, the Madison Park location is also perfect. The ONLY thing I'd like to see is more window seating, but even if this place were in a flooded basement I'd crawl through a mile of broken glass to eat there!
- Pros: everything
- Cons: nothing
Cute and cozy place with a romantic atmosphere
by jchris00
December 26, 2005
The Sostanza is a great little restaurant for those wanting a cozy little place to eat where the waitstaff will treat you just right. I have gone here on many occassions and love the place. It has a great atmosphere and is perfect for stopping by for lunch or if you would like a romantic dinner. On more than one occassion the waitstaff has gone above the call of duty to provide outstanding service. The food is exactly what I would expect for a restaurant of this caliber, it is definitely above some restaurant chain like the Olive Garden. The portions are not too big and not too small. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a cozy place for small group.
- Pros: Food, Ambience, Service
- Cons: Parking
Loved it!
by taxidog
June 23, 2005
Every course was wonderful, including the cocktails (a great "Mandarin Drop"- and I don't usually care for mixed drinks). The polenta appetizer was richly flavored with demi-glace and mushrooms. The saltimbocca was tender and perfectly cooked. My lemon angel food cake with berries was a nice light dessert, but the creme brulee was the best; smooth as silk and not too sweet. I definately recommend Sostanza.
Snooty! And rancid olive oil! by Andrea D. at InsiderPages
Contributor
June 20, 2005
A very odd dining experience - I had often walked past this little restaurant, as I live very close by. I often found myself longing to spend an evening dining with friends and family in its very European-like setting - you know, the warm evenings, outdoor dining, the delicious aromas...
Well, I should have just let the fantasy be. I took my mother over for a quiet meal, and we were so disappointed! First, the olive oil was stale/rancid, and was poured over EVERYTHING, and so ruined essentially every dish. Secondly, the wine was overly oxidized - had probably been open for several days without vacuum corks. The waiter was incredlibly snooty. The mussels were so fishy that we couldn't eat them - it's saying something that the anchovies were less fishy than the mussels. I even found a tiny deformed crab inside one of the mussels. Sort of like the little kind of crab you might find on a beach, but this one had an additional abdomen! Nuclear shellfish, anyone?
I would not only NOT recommend this eatery, I would highly discourage anyone from going there. The food was mediocre, even without the drenching of rancid olive oil - and pricey! Close to $60 for four appetizers. Clearly the location has kept them in business for a long time - but they don't deserve to take up such a fantastic space.
PROS: view of lake
CONS: pretty much everything else
This Italian hideaway in Madison Park seduces night after night.
by Contributor
June 28, 2004
The Scene
The lakeside patio offers a lovely view of boats floating past in the warm months. In winter, a fireplace warms the intimate bi-level space that is illuminated by the moon's glow at night. Minimal trappings and terra-cotta walls fade pleasantly into the background, keeping the focus on sharply dressed customers and of course, the food.
The Food
Start with the impeccable beef carpaccio, served with mustard dressing. Salads are crisp and refreshing, while the house pasta--pappardelle, tossed with ground veal, mushrooms and barolo wine--is a silky delight. The vegetarian pasta, crafted tableside with goat cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil, is elegant nirvana that might leave carnivores envious if it wasn't for the tender veal topped with prosciutto and sage. There aren't many misses, though the T-bone steak is a bit tough.
- Pros: romanticwater view
