09/29/09

New Location in Burien

by Razzle

Driving westbound on 152nd in Burien last weekend, something caught my eye, and when I looked, I thought I saw a Filiberto's sign. After finishing my business in Olde Burien, I just had to drive by again to check, and, sure enough, the old brick Key Bank building, just east of Ambaum, has a Filiberto's sign on it, with signs indicating an upcoming opening! The downside is that there are quite a few Italian restaurants in the Burien area already; they will have quite a bit of competition. I hope they make it.

• Pros: Great food
• Cons: Lengthy wait (for from-scratch meals)

03/04/09

Filiberto's; A lost opportunity for Des Moines, Washington!

by PatNardo

Filiberto's represents the best of Italian this side of Little Italy in Boston, where I grew up. I just heard the sad news that, Filiberto's will not be moving into a new restaurant in Des Moines, which really does not have anything nearly approximating the wonderful fare that leaves the Filiberto kitchen and arrives at your eager table. The old "China Sea" restaurant was going to be the new home for an additional Filiberto's as we understood it and now...well we will just have to travel farther. A journey of a hundred miles would be worth a Filiberto's Pasta and meatballs! There was a commercial on TV which applies here, "Mama Mia atsa Italian!"

Pat Nardo

• Pros: Great food and service
• Cons: Too far away from Des MOnes

11/13/06

Good home style cooking

by cstewy

I agree with the other user's comment that Filiberto's is not about a quick meal. My husband and I come here (we make the 20 minute drive from Bellevue) because of the relaxed setting: we enjoy picking out a wine from their "wine cellar" and talking to the wait staff (which is probably why they are not extremely efficient b/c they take the time to talk to the customers). Not all of the dishes are "excellent," but the relaxed atmosphere and Charlie's pizza is what always brings us back.

• Pros: good pizza; family-run and friendly

05/29/06

The best Italian I have ever had.

by j9fordgirl

This is not a "fast food" Italian restaurant. Your food is made from scratch when you order it. If they are busy there can be a wait for your food. Take this time to enjoy and catch up with your family and friends that you are with. The authentic food is well worth the wait. There is a wonderful family feel to the restaurant, you will often times find yourself chatting with guests at other tables. The staff is helpful with dinner choices and knowledgable about the wine list and help to give the restaurant that special family feel. This is a place to go and relax and enjoy your food and not to rush.

• Pros: Great food

02/21/06

Beware! Rude Wait Staff

by food_4_life

On our first trip, we were met at the door by the host saying "sorry, we're closed, it's real slow, no use paying the staff when it's slow." At 7:15 on a Wednesday! Great for the staff, not so great for the customer! We tried again on a weekend, attempting to make a reservation, no one would answer the phone. We just went anyways. It took 15 minutes to be acknowledged by the staff, who were later so rude and offensive that we descided to leave. I've eaten in dozens of the best restaurant's in Seattle, and I've never been treated with such disdain just for walking through the front door. AVOID this restaurant and if you are in the mood for Italian, you'd be better off staying home with a frozen pizza and keeping your dignity that to be mistreated at this restaurant.

• Pros: none
• Cons: rudest wait staff

10/11/05

great food, miserably slow service

by trael

The food here is truly wonderful, but the kitchen and servers are painfully slow. It is a family-run business, and Mina (the chef/owner) turns out great meals, but they need to hire another chef to help her out and at least another server or two for weekends. As it is now, they cannot keep up and the service is more than slow. The ambience is also very lacking, so it's not the kind of place where you enjoy sitting for hours for a slow and luxurious meal. Due to the "leisurely pace" of the service, it is not a great place for kids -- even older kids -- because no matter how well-behaved they are, the long, long wait is going to make them restless (at best.) Try it on a weeknight, keep your fingers crossed that it's not too busy.

• Pros: great food
• Cons: poor ambience, poor service, slow kitchen

07/06/05

The best Italian food on the west coast

by eggafoos

Filibertos is not about a quick meal. If you want to sit, relax, visit with friends and have a nice relaxing dinner this is the place. The servers have all been there for years. Mina is the best Italian Chef on the west coast. She's been cooking since childhood and considers herself a good beginner. Her love of food is obvious when your plate arrives. Fresh pastas, beautiful sauces. Try the Puttanesca, just the right spicy kick. Eggplant is fantastic, Pizzas are the best in Seattle. Just be prepared to slow down, relax and enjoy. Hint, servers can be a little abrupt, but if you be nice they'll take damn good care of you.

• Pros: Relaxed atmosphere, always freshly made, Full bar,

06/03/04

Authentic

by alan_l_w_gunsul__md

I grew up with the Italians in the Green River Valley. My buddy and best man at my wedding was Italian. I served in Italy after VE Day. I love Italian cooking. Filiberto's is very much like the food I ate as a kid and as a S/Sgt. Mina is a great cook and if things are not to busy will cook to request, i.e. early on week days. Sauces and pastas are very good but I really like Pesce Marinara (fish in red sauce) I go there about six times a year for the past 20 yrs

• Pros: Food, Ambience, Family run
• Cons: , when busy slo service

06/21/03

Italian Food in Burien

by southpolarman

The food is definitely the focal point of this resturant. Wonderful pastas, appetizers, entrees, desserts and a very good italian wine selection. It's a family run place with good service that could stand improvement. The staff is very nice, they just don't have a enough people to keep up with the weekend crowds. Don't let this discourage you from going. It's worth some mediocre service for some first rate food that makes you feel at home!

• Pros: Food, Wine list, atmosphere
• Cons: parking, service, weekend wait