08/24/08

Definitely a must!

by downeyl

Good food, service, authentic dishes, and great atmosphere. I truly recommend this place for Italian. Plus, there's parking, which is always great in Seattle.

• Pros: parking, service, food, selection
• Cons: price- but worth it

05/22/08

Great hole in the wall Italian place

by Glytterrie

By the looks of the outside, Marcello's is nothing special. But step inside and you are transported into another world. The open fireplace in the middle makes the whole place warm and cozy. The ambiance is fantastic.

Then there's the food. I can honestly tell you I have only had one item on the menu even though I have been here ten times or more. It's the Gnocchi con Gorgonzola. It is the best Gnocchi I have ever had, and I have worked in several Italian restaurants. My husband has tried many other dishes as he is not a fan of gorgonzola. He says they are great as well.

This is my favorite "special occasion" dining place. However, we went on new years eve once and it was packed. So packed, our service was slow and we didn't get a very nice table. I would recommend Marcello's very highly, just not on new years eve.

• Pros: Gnocchi, ambience, location, desserts
• Cons: service on holidays

10/25/07

Great food!

by aryuw

My absolute favorite restaurant! They have amazing seafood! I think the gamberi is my favorite. The chicken cacciatora is also quite yummy. The chicken is always nice and moist.

Sometimes the service is a bit slow, but they are always very kind. So, I don't go when I'm in a hurry, but when I have time to relax and really savor my meal. It's also a bit expensive, but I think pretty much all Italian is expensive. The seafood seems like a good value though. (Good seafood is usually so much more expensive.)

The atmosphere is lovely. Quite romantic. They also know how to treat their regulars (which would include me.) I always feel good during and after my meal when I go to Marcello's. Isn't that what it's all about?

• Pros: Excellent food! Nice setting. Friendly staff.
• Cons: Rather expensive. Service sometimes a bit slow.

08/29/07

Slow service, great food

by keith_sink

My wife and I went there last friday night. This was the same day they got their review in the Seattle Times. We were seated outside. It was our second time at this restaurant and we enjoyed the food very much the last time.

They did a great job of decorating this place. It's very romantic and clean. The food is very good. My wife had a mushroom ravioli dish that was excellent as well as a bread salad that we both liked. I had the 3 cheese pizza. I don't recommend it. It was one of the worst crusts I've ever had.

Dinner took over two hours. This was mainly because they seemed to only have two waitresses handling over 30 tables. Everyone was getting irritated at the extremely slow service. There seemed to be family members available to help clear tables, get drinks,etc. however they were rarely to be seen and dishes kept piling up and drink glasses were almost always empty.

I thought some of this was because the place had just been featured in the paper, however I heard from the staff that they had known about the favorable review for over a week, so I don't see a good reason for the slow service.

Go for the food, but be prepared to wait.

• Pros: Ambience, music, food(except the pizza)
• Cons: Very slow service

08/21/07

Marcello's

by obetsebi

Finally an authentic Italian restaurant in Seattle! Great service, great wine, great food. I don?t know what else to add that could entice you more?

07/22/07

Eccellente!

by zhihong

Marcellos is an absolute gem! As a chef and restaurateur myself, I rarely eat out and seldom get wowed when I do. It?s nice to have found a place with good food, good atmosphere, and good service. What?s more is that the cuisine is all authentically inspired while keeping taste and presentation new and inventive. So if you aren?t looking to drop a fortune at Cafe Juanita or drive all the way up to Vancouver?s Caffe de Medici for exceptional Italian, head here. It?s a truly great find.

• Pros: Superb dining experience
• Cons: don't know

04/27/07

Authentic and romatic Italian restarant

by spinnaker23

If you want to feel like you?re dining in Italy, try Marcello?s on Roosevelt. It could be the Italian owners, or more likely their commitment to creating meals of perfection. The atmosphere is very romantic. Soft lightening and a central fireplace help set the scene.

I ate there last week with my daughter and had a fabulous meal of veal, stuffed with fresh asparagus and portabella mushrooms, accompanied by roasted potatoes and vegetables served with a delicate, white wine sauce lightly seasoned with fresh thyme. It was wonderful. For dessert we had an upside-down lemon cake. Do not miss this delectable treat! A tart, fresh lemon sauce poured over a delicate creamy filling simply melts in your mouth.

• Pros:  Food, service
• Cons: Busy on weekends

03/11/07

good entres, poor salads/appetizers and prices much too high

by peterziel

Great entres, but the salads are very poor quality and everything is vastly over-priced. The place is usually always very empty or very full, depending on holidays, etc. Their existence must depend on quite wealthy clientele.

• Pros: entres
• Cons: salads, appetizers, PRICE

02/01/07

A Hidden Italian Gem!

by lisab26

Marcello's is our favorite authentic Italian restaurant in Seattle. It is owned by a small family and they have sumptuous dinners and excellent wine, all reasonably priced for the quality of food. My husband and I go there when we want to treat ourselves and we always enjoy it. Getting a table can be tricky on a weekend night and the reservations aren't always the most consistent - but considering it's a small family business and the value, it's worth the wait or small inconvenience if they do mess up your reservation. The most we've waited is 15 minutes for a table -- and the reason why there is a wait is because the food is good and the restaurant is full! I would highly recommend this place for an enjoyable evening with friends, a first date, or just a night out with your sweetheart.

• Pros: Authentic Italian food, ambience, romantic
• Cons: Parking

08/25/06

A Family-owned Italian Restaurant - great presentation, wonderful food, large wine list, affordable

by coleyklein

RAVE!!

Marcello's Restaurant was started by two brothers nearly 5 years ago. Marcello's family is from southern Italy (Taranto) and he often makes southern Italian dishes such as Spaghetti di Mare (tiger prawns, mussells, clams and scallops in a marinara sauce), baked sole, or risotto dishes specials on their ultra-fresh menu. His menu also contains many northern Italian favorites that are for those that enjoy the richer and creamier fare, must tries are the gnocchi gorgonzola with roma tomatoes, spinach and mushrooms - also the Vitello a Porto, veal seared in a port wine sauce with figs and topped with a sprig of fresh rosemary.

Above all, Marcello's is a caring and community-loyal family owned restaurant, where you often see both of his parents, his good friends, neighbors bringing in fresh herbs to share from their gardens, and couples getting engaged, or celebrating their wedding rehearsal dinners. In the winter, the fireside tables are cozy and romantic, and in the summer Marcello has been dilligently working on improving his outdoor patio area which includes a fountain, flowing freesia, and plenty of outdoor heaters to keep everyone warm.

It is best to make reservations with parties of 5 or more, and always good to call ahead for Valentine's Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year's Day where Marcello's special menus are beyond superb! He welcomes large parties, and does provide carry-out if you would like a pizza to go ~

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle - and should be on everyone's favorite list too!

The love and the passion for family and good food makes all the difference ~

• Pros: Ambience, pricing, service
• Cons: parking