Altura Restaurant Reviews

We loved Altura. We recommended Altura to friends. They loved it. We will return. Altura features multi-course fine dining in a more relaxed atmosphere. The food is the star. Each course was interesting and flavorful.. I believe the menu changes with the season or as different food is available. We enjoyed every course and I cannot say that about all the Michelin starred places we’ve tried. Go for the food, stay for the show. The service is refined and professional but not stuffy. It might not be perfect enough for the Michelin people, but you should expect to be well cared for. Finally there is the room and ambiance. Again, it’s not fancy or stuffy. The place is cozy and a little noisy. We sat at a row of ten seats or so that face the kitchen like a bar. You essentially get to watch your whole meal prepared in a manner akin to a Chef’s Table and it was awesome. The care and attention to detail was wonderful and helped us get past the high-end cost of the meal. Which is well worth it. A member of our party is a retired chef and restauranteur...he was impressed. Anecdotally, it was interesting to watch the chef at work. Clearly the place is his passion. The kitchen works like carefully choreographed chaos as each meal works through the preparation cycle. A must see for light-weight foodies (me) or heavy weights. At one point, the chef lightly berated a line chef for I believe some wilted leaves in a garnish. It was cool to see the working dynamic. And better still to see the care that went into the preparation. Do not miss Altura

Wow! Excellent, creative, interesting, and delicious cuisine. Wine pairings were wonderful and service was attentive. Overall, an excellent experience and a memorable evening.

Delicious food, great wine list. We had an amazing dinner with great service. Love the open kitchen. Only complaint would be European style seating (just not my preference).

This restaurant has a lot to offer, we opted for the 3 course option with matched wines. Everything was extremely tasty, especially the pasta course. The only slight quibble was the elk was a little dry. It was particularly nice to have the chefs deliver the food to the table and explain each dish.

Set menu, changes weekly. Multiple courses prepared right next to you in open kitchen - great fun to watch! We did the beverage pairing, wine pairing also available. Wonderful variety, everything was fresh and fabulous!

I am in Seattle for a business trip (not fun right) and the group I am with wanted to go to this place. There were 9 of us and we sat right by the window and open prep kitchen. You all know if you read my other reviews that I am a huge foodie. These people have an artistic talent! Watching them prepare our food and other guests food was part of the experience with the tasting! We chose to do the tasting menu with wine pairing and WOW...what a meal!! I would try the sauces each by themselves and then try the plate as a whole together...you wouldn't believe how the flavor can change and blend so well. The savory cannoli with sea urchin was my favorite dish followed by the Wagyu Beef dish. One dish I was a bit leery of at first when I tried the ingredients separately was the dessert with the Concord Grape Sorbet & Tarragon Ice...but when I took a bite with the 2 ingredients together, it completely blended. The serving staff was always looking to please you as the customer and explained each dish & wine pairing. Service = Exceptional; Presentation = Outstanding; Taste = Well Satisfied. Thank you Altura Team!!

Definitely the best meal we had during our 6 days in Seattle. My husband and I couldn't afford the calories of a full tasting menu, but by swapping tastes managed to sample almost as many dishes and all were wonderful. By all means, sit at the kitchen counter and enjoy the foodie show!! Wine pairings were also very well chosen and enhanced the experience.

Ok, so we all have different tastes. I have dined at some fantastic restaurants - French Laundry, Inn at Little Washington, Number One at the Balmoral, Three Chimneys, etc. I only list these to give a perspective. Altura was one of the best meals I have eaten. From the four appetizers each with complex tastes and textures, to six more dishes, it was a taste sensation. Even the dishwares were all unique. The service simply outstanding. John was very knowledgeable on wine, Trip our waiter attentive, and each app was brought over by the person who created it. It may not always appeal to everyone, but it was over the top wonderful for my wife and myself.

My reviews are usually short. This meal cannot be covered in a few words. The appetizers 'stuzzichini' were just the beginning of a once in a lifetime meal. Each bite was inventive and delicious. My favorite was the grass fed beef crudo. The quail egg and the beef in the Parmesan shell was crunchy, creamy, and I can find no other word than beefy. The house cured salmon roe in the smoked sturgeon zabaglione burst to release another layer of flavor. Alice's tomatoes and Darrell's bread were simple ingredients elevated to rock star status. Short rib tortellini were tiny packets fill with deep rich beef flavor. The duck egg raviolo with Tazmanian black truffle came with a delicate olive roll that you could use to soak up the yolk. The palate cleanser of sorrel and tarragon granita was beautiful as well as refreshing-like nothing I have had before. The Wagyu beef was exceptional as were the desserts. The attention to detail was impeccable. I live in the Midwest and will likely not be able to return so listen up Pacific Northwesterners---don't miss this restaurant!! Nathan Lockwood is an exceptional chef and his team makes Altura an evening you won't forget.

Wow! Read about this place in preparation for a trip to Seattle. Very hard to get a reservation but oh is it worth it! Went for the three course tasting menu rather that the 10 course. Everything was exquisite. Can't rave about this place enough. One of the best restaurants I ever been to

Amazing. Had a counter seat, great to watch the skilled and talented chefs working their magic. Multi-course tasting menu along with a drink pairing. Service was impeccable. May be our best dinner ever. Thanks Chef Nathan!

My wife and I are members of various FOODIE clubs & generally not easily impressed. These folks IMPRESSED us with a sensational 3.5 hour dining experience. Very special. Be fair warned... it is costly!

service was amazing. food had some interesting preparations and unusual ingredients. wine/beverage pairings (we got a classic and modern to share) went perfectly with each course. we opted for an additional course with shaved truffles (extra $85 per serving) so the night was an expensive splurge...probably close to a month's rent for people just starting out.

Fine dining with inventive cuisine in a casual atmosphere. Excellent personal service. Bear in mind that it's a fixed-price, chef directed dinner. You will only make one choice on the menu and that's for the entree (in our case between duck or beef). The many courses may present some challenges like a beef crudo. They do a nice wine pairing but the wine list has many interesting fairly reasonable options. This is a special night out that you won't have to dress up for. Open kitchen and bar seating allows you to watch the geniuses at work.

This place Altura is all about the Tasting Menu experience. We went aqll out and had what called the "Omaskase" which is around 15 dishes, I lost count. Loved the Gnocchi. Relaxing setting.

My wife and I had a marvelous wedding anniversary dinner at Altura. If Michelin had a Seattle guide this would be in it. We found the atmosphere and service relaxed and enjoyable. All of the dishes were delicious and nicely presented. Although a little pricey, the wine pairings were excellent if you are going for the peak experience at Altura.

We did this as a foodie bucket list. We had a great time. The place is small we sat at the counter and you can watch everything be prepared. We were there a long time and you will definitely come out your pocket. It was great and something we always wanted to do. The staff is wonderful and they all work together. My friend did not like seafood but they had great options so she did not miss a thing.

I made a reservation based on the reviews and ended up having one of the best meals of my life! We opted for the chef tasting menu. Wise decision! I lost track of the number of dishes presented, but they were all outstanding. The potato puree with caviar and veggies.. Can't stop raving about it! Wagyu tartare, Short rib tortellini, Abalone, Pork lardo turnovers, Homemade focaccia, in all, I can continue going.. and cant forget the desserts.. The panna cota and the chocolate affogato! Just wow.. I have to book a return trip to Seattle just to go back to Altura!

The food was wonderful: similar in some ways to the small plate experience at Willows Inn, but I found the food more memorable. Everything was delicious and almost everything surprising and inspired (except the dessert, which was yummy but not particularly inspired). This is a fixed price dinner, so expect to spend $200 without a wine pairing per person, if you plan on having a glass of wine with the meal. The only thing that made this is a four- star experience rather than five was the hostess. We made our reservations months before and were seated in a very high- traffic, exposed area. My husband has tinnitis and, being his birthday, I wanted hi to have a nice experience. When someone who was in the waiting area bumped the back of my seat, I realized the seating was going to effect our experience. I asked a server (incredibly nicely) if it were possible to move seats to another table I saw open nearby that had a little less traffic. If not, I said, it's not a problem. The hostess came back brusquely and was incredibly cold; we walked the few feet to the next table feeling like admonished children. For the rest of the evening, it was painful to have her come to our table with a tense smile. This was undeserved. When customers are having a special experience like this, at a very high cost, it's reasonable that they would want to sit somewhere pleasant. Hosts must understand that some people even save up for experiences like this and are able to have them very rarely. I understand that the space itself at Altura is a bit of a problem: it's unusually cramped for such a high- end restaurant. However, that's not our fault, and the fact that we inquired politely and were met with passive- aggressiveness for the rest of the evening was unacceptable. One of the jobs of a hostess (and I've been one before) is to handles these moments with grace. You are both the introduction and the ending to the experience. We had a wonderful evening despite this silliness but it was enough of an issue to want to mention it in this review.

The fixed price menu offers 3 courses - appetizers, pasta and entree - at a reasonable price ($80; without wine pairing). The pasta (gnochi) is worth a try and the Elk steak is not easy not find outside of the Northwest region. The dessert terra cotta is splendid with a splash of 25-year old vinegar (for an additional $15). Nice atmosphere, adequate wine list, and attentive to details by the Chefs and staff.

The atmosphere is relaxed but refined. The food is artistic, thoughtful, and beautiful. Not only that, but it is delicious! Really amazing flavor combinations with an inspired presentation. I've had many pre-fixe, multi course meals and, for the price, it's an excellent value. The wine pairing is pricey, but you get generous pours of beautiful wines that you likely have never tried before. For wine enthusiasts like us, this is truly and adventure experience. They will accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences. I mentioned that I wasn't crazy about tomatoes - the waitstaff advised that there was a tomato dish but they could swap it for something else. The chef said it's the best tomatoes you'll ever taste so, being adventurous, I went for it. My husband agreed with the chef, so I let him finish mine. We didn't say a word, but within a moment I was presented with an alternate dish, AND and alternate wine pairing. These guys are a class act. It is a "splurge", but a worthwhile one.

Altura was the first restaurant we dined at during our recent visit to Seattle. That's how you start it off with a bang. Upon entering the restaurant, I was pretty surprised at how small it was but once we were seated, it felt so private and the setting and everything was lovely. Our waiter was great, very informative and clearly passionate about food! The tasting menu was spectacular... just so good and they didn't miss a beat. Every course had us raving about how delicious it was. When you look at the tasting menu online it seems like there isn't much going on but what you get presented is very fine dining. I will be back here next time in Seattle.

This is rather small restaurant having only a set menu. Wine pairing is available. On the evening I was there all guest sat on the counter seeing chefs doing their work. There were few tables also. First 2 x 3 snacks were practically amuse bouche while it was listed on a menu. Those were nothing very special. Cod and smoked caviar was VERY good. Mushroom risotto was very tasty and excellent wine pairing (pinot noir). You could order white truffle as an extra for meatballs and gnocchi for 97 USD. I didn't. Sorbet was very good. Duck breast was cooked for a long time with various methods, and it was good but nothing special. Mashed potates was also rather basic, which was dissapointing considering how long it was cooked by multiple ways and steps. Two desserts which were too sweet and greasy for my taste. Two and a half (sorbet) courses were very good, other rather basic. None were bad, but I was expecting better.

First, remember that this is Seattle. "Casual" fine dining is just that, casual. Do not expect white table clothes, quiet music, and a hushed atmosphere. This is a small venue with about 10 tables and an open kitchen and with counter seating. It can get a bit noisy and you are welcome to dress up...or come as you are. There are lots of activity and bustle, but that is part of the appeal to me. Service - Again, this is Seattle casual. There are lots of friendly wait staff though at times I get confused with who specifically is my waitperson. In the end, it really doesn't matter. I can always stop anyone walking by for help. Chef Nathan is always open to engaging in customers and I have picked up more than one tip from him. Overall, I love the comfortable, friendly service. Food - It is the food that brings me back over the years. Altura offers a 10-course tasting menu for $157 with a few different wine pairing options as well as a non-alcoholic pairing. Stuzzichini or "finger food" in Italian make up the first 'course' with up to 10 different little bites. This is followed by one incredible course after another ending in the yummiest affogato ever, all under the watchful eye of Chef Nathan Lockwood. As this is a tasting menu, the portions leading up to the main course are smaller. Personally, I have always struggled to eat the entire meal and am thankful for the smaller portions. It is 10 courses after all! Make sure you leave plenty of time to enjoy the meal as this is a dining experience to be enjoyed at a lecture pace. Plan for 2-3 hours. If this restaurant were in any other city, Chef Nathan would already have his first star and would be working on his second...or third by now.

Outstanding innovative food. Sat at the bar we were able to interact with the chefs snd enjoy a masterclass in how to cook rack if lamb to perfection. Every dish had something surprising. It took a little time to chill our reasonably priced white burgundy, so we enjoyed complimentary prosecco while waiting. A memorable dining experience.

We have been wanting to come here for quite some time. You need reservations and you will want to book weeks/months ahead of time. The wait though is worth it. The food is very different, yet very, very, very good! Can you tell I liked it yet? :) They have two menu plans and we chose the lesser one. I am sure the other would have been awesome as well. She got the wine parings and I didn't as I was the driver. When we asked for the names of the wines they gave them to us in a very fancy way. On invitation cards written in a cool handwriting. We shared a dessert at the end and had happy tummies. This place is very expensive, and on par with others like The Herb Farm or The Inn at Langley, both chef tasting menu plan restaurants. The service was very top notch although twice we had to ask twice for things as they seemed very busy. Would we go back? Da! In two seconds. :)

One of the best meals I have ever had. We had the good fortune of sitting on the bar and watching the chef and his team work, and it was an absolute joy to watch. The food had tons of flavor, fresh ingredients, and every dish was prepared as if it was being judged on Master Chef or Chopped. A few words to describe the place: it's a tasting menu only place, the cost fluctuates, but in general around $140 per person. If u are a foodie, do not sweat the cost, it's well worth it. Plan to be there for a couple of hours as it takes time to prepare the food. We came from Toronto to the restaurant based on a recommendation, and boy were we lucky. An absolute joy! Go and Enjoy

me and my wife waited two weeks to get a reservation and we got two seats at the bar instead at a table,actually we wanted to leave right away when we saw what's going on but because we didn't wanna loose the deposit we paid when we made the reservation we decided to stay.Bad decision and should have listen when we read the reviews of previous guests and I mean the real ones so I'm myself just a regular restaurant type of guy but my wife knows such places from Europe.So Altura is what she called a wannabe gourmet restaurant and I must add myself that the only thing right about this place is the price,I mean if you're paying $500 dinner for two at least I consider you should be able to get a table that has a tablecloth on it and a waiter to serve you and not seat at a bar in a noisy pub.Paid the bill,no tip left and never come back...what a shame.

Very average food - probably came with expectations which were too high. The meal service was shockingly slow - absolute lack of momentum. Wagyu supplement not worth it. The most shocking thing, however, was a the tipping situation. The restaurant had a mandatory 20% service charge - which is fine, but obviously means waiters have no incentive to put any effort. The shocking part of it however is that the restaurant distributes 90% of the tips to the staff and RETAINS THE REMAINING 10% (see photo). In other words, not only is the restaurant incapable of paying a living wage to its employees and has to charge a mandatory service fee so that diners have to find them, but also it pockets 10% of it? This is mind boggling and left a really bad taste in my mouth.

Embark on this culinary journey of innovative food and experiences ...we were super impressed with the pescatarian taste menu. The rootbeet sponge cake with truffle snow topped it for us. Great for a date night.

Great, great food. However, you feel as if you are dining at the greyhound bus station. Service was top notch. Be sure to ask for James as your server. He is one of the best in Seattle.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had. We had the wine pairing and my only, odd criticism is that it was so much wine! The ravioli was my favorite of the tastes. Also loved the salmon, which I rarely do. Unbelievable experience.

We tried the tasting menu at Altura, and it was over-the-top delicious! Highlights of the 13 presentations were the Grassfed Beef Crudo with Quail's Egg Yolk, Pickled Ramps, Parmesan; the smoked Kona Kampachi; the Prawn with Sweet Garlic, Sea Beans, Burnt Honey and Corn; The Columbia City Filone with Perigord Black Truffle, Duck Liver, and Golden Chanterelle; the Tortellini with Short Ribs, Dill Flower, Bone Marrow and Roasted Beets. A palette-cleansing Sorrel Granita with Huckleberry, Tarragon, and Finger Lime was followed by Semifreddo and Affogato, local variations on the traditional recipes using fresh, locally available ingredients. Service was superb, and the dining ambiance was friendly and fun. Great experience!!

this was a great gem of a find. we did the tasting menu and virtually every course was new, creative and tasty. the service as great. they were great at accommodating food preferences and modifying their courses as needed.

Dinning at Altura was one of the highlights on our anniversary trip to Seattle. It was a whimsical experience from beginning to end. Sweet and savory precision and illusion all role into one. I highly recommend the chefs’ counter and wine pairing. All the chefs and staff at Altura embody technique, dedication and meticulous attention to detail.

A tasting menu that changes depending on the fresh produce available and the inspiration of the chef(s) is a formula that has been around for several years. The key to appreciating such a formula is a clear & understandable explanation to the guests on each of the dishes. Without this, it ends up being a hotchpotch of mixed tastes that remain unidentifiable with the menu that is presented after the meal. It calls for a proper briefing of the waiting staff and patience on their part to explain it to the guests. This is even more important in a restaurant like the Altura that has a very high noise level. Having said that, the dishes were innovative, the presentations creative, portions just right and the tastes fine. The dinner was to celebrate a wedding anniversary and the restaurant had noted the request and offered a sparkling wine to celebrate it. Some of the dishes were adapted or changed to accommodate special dietary requirement of people in the party (vegetarian, no meat, allergies etc). The Stuzzichini was very original; the Rhubarb water with olive oil and tarragon provided a refreshing start, the baked river Sockeye with Tonnato sauce and mustard greens sponge cake was unique, the savoury cannoli, hood canal spot prawn, mugolio was very good. The others did not leave an impression that we could recall. The other dishes that made a mark on us were the Buccino Nero (Little neck clams with spring garlic and spicy crab brood), Darell’s Bread and the Short Rib Tortellini (Bone marrow roasted beets, currants and herb flowers). Without the currants we would have rated the Tortellini the best dish we tasted. The Blackberry Sorbetto was the perfect palate cleanser. The four of us had different choices for the main course. The Spring Tea (wild chamomile, foraged greens and garden flowers) was truly innovative and the presentation remarkably creative. The Amaretto Semifreddo (mascarpone cheesecake and Nepitella mint) was the most appropriate dessert to top off a fine meal and was very good. The Affogato was “les cerises sur le gateau” as the French would say. The Mascarpone gelato was a good follow-on to the Mascarpone cheesecake. The aerated hot chocolate was a new idea. The classical Baba au Rhum and the Grappa soaked Luxardo Cherries provided the digestifs to end the meal. A good meal could have been a memorable meal if a little more attention was paid to explaining the dishes and efforts made to reduce the noise so that guests can discuss the dishes. That very often is the best part of such an experience and what leaves a lasting impression. Going through the menu and its details days after is a poor substitute.

This restaurant checks all my boxes. Great staff, great atmosphere, and even better food! When friends are visiting from out of town I would recommend bringing them here. They don’t disappoint.

We opted for the Prix Fixe dinner with wine accompanied for each course. It was very expensive, but worth it, as it was one of the most exceptional dinners we have ever had! Many exotic and interesting courses throughout the evening. I literally gave the chef a standing ovation. I highly recommend, though I would probably skip the wine accompaniment and order your own. But overall, tremendous job!

This restaurant is a treasure. It is well located, although the parking can be challenging. The space is small but comfortable. The food is well prepared, the presentation is excellent and the service is attentive but not overbearing. Reservations are necessary and should be made well in advance. I have never been able to make a spur of the moment reservation there. Excellent place.

We took three days to collective agree on what is considered the best restaurant in Seattle. My colleagues heard about Altura and Family in Seattle highly recommended it. Trip Advisor reviews and recommendations. Reservations made for 8. Our table waiting, we walked in and straight to our table. Our server was one of the best ever! We decided to order the Chef's tasting menu which consisted of different dishes paired with beverage including dessert. Suffice it to say every dish was a pure work of art. We tried the tasting menu at Altura, and it was over-the-top delicious! I requested a menu for my collection, it was that good! Superb highlights of the 12 presentations included the Beef Crudo with Quail's Egg Yolk, pickled ramps, parmesan; the smoked Kona Kampachi; the Prawn with Sweet Garlic, Sea Beans, Burnt Honey Corn; The Columbia City Filone with Perigord Black Truffle, Duck Liver (OMG), and Golden Chanterelle; the Tortellini with Short Ribs, Dill Flower, Bone Marrow (my favorite) and Roasted Beets. A palette-cleansing Sorrel Granita with Huckleberry, Tarragon, and Finger Lime was followed by Semifreddo and Affogato, all local variations incorporating fresh, local organically available ingredients. Everything from the bread to the dessert had amazing flavor. Several of us group ordered the beverage pairing and each commented that it was fantastic. Service was superb, our table agreed to tip $600 (75pp) and 200 for the chef; it was that spectacular with stellar ambiance. Great experience!! I would highly recommend Altura for a business dinner or a special night out.

Fantastic fine dining for the person who appreciates exploring different flavors and textures. Could be a 2-star Michelin.

Ate here with my husband and son. I made online reservations a few weeks ahead and notified them of my sons nut allergies. We were seated at a table beside the long kitchen counter. This was a perfect spot to see how they assembled the meals with precision. I do mean precision because every now and the the chef would whip out his very fine pointed kitchen tweezers to arrange the foood on the plate. We opted not do the tasting menu. Instead we ordered 4 courses from the dinner menu. To start we were offered not one but two amuse bouche before our first course. First was a shot glass of Rhubarb, legurian olive oil and tarragon. Strange combo but delicious. The second was a tiny dish of many things but topped off with cavier and edible flowers. We all had different dishes and each one was delicious and a visual feast for the eyes. I will post photos of all the dishes. Our server Brendan, was attentive, friendly and professional. A great asset to have on staff and part of the memorable dining experience.

Our favorite restaurant in Seattle, possibly the U.S., quite possibly the world. Seriously, we have dined in Michelin 1, 2, and 3 star restaurants and Altura is the gold standard. The Tasting Menu is a must-get, along with the wine pairing as the new Somm makes perfection even better. The dishes were excellent, creative, with wonderful flavors and textures. We were a family of four and had fun sitting at the counter watching the chefs. Chef Lockwood is definitely a genius. All the staff are terrific. We have been to Altura numerous times, and are always amazed. Parking is convenient in the parking garage off the side street.

This was our New Year's Eve dinner. They had a set menu which I always enjoy and we went with the wine pairings. The place is a little too loud and cramped for my taste, but I do realize this is the way fine dining is going so can't fault the restaurant for that. I did like the fact it was an open kitchen so we had the opportunity to watch the chef run his brigade and send out food. The more memorable was the dish we added white truffles too, the pastas and the little bites in between courses. The wine was topnotch, but at the end of the night between our dinner, the addition of truffles, the wine and our tip, it went down as the most expensive meal we've ever had. I never shy away from cost, but in this case I think I've had better, more complete meals with pairings at other restaurants. Another negative is you don't really have a go to server. Lots of staff bring and explain your plates which I know is a trend, but not a huge fan. One last positive though is the chef, himself, explained two dishes which I will never complain about. Very cool. Don't take my word for it. Try the restaurant. It is worth a visit.

I say once, as it costs $137/person for the tasting menu, plus much more if you do the wine pairing or order drinks. The only option now is the tasting menu. It takes about 2.5-3 hours to fully enjoy the entire experience. All the wine and drinks were on the pricey side - our bottle of sparkling wine was on the lower end at $60. We opted for a bottle of sparkling wine as we were celebrating our anniversary. The sommelier recommended a different bottle than what we wanted, which he said was the same price. When we got our bill we noticed it was $8 more than the one we wanted but decided not to make a fuss about it. My only complaint about the service is that they did not leave our bottle of sparkling wine next to us. So we had to wait on the sommelier to come and fill our glasses, which at times we would be waiting a while. Now on to the experience... I believe we had about 14 courses that night. Unfortunately, I wish I could remember all the ingredients in each course, but here are a few types of dishes we had that we really enjoyed: watermelon soup, smoked oyster wrapped in prosciutto, beet salad, Dungeness crab pasta, and elk tenderloin. The first few courses come out fairly fast. Then they slow down as you get to the entrée courses. The courses are small, some only one bite. But the flavors and different ingredients used are incredible. I did not think I would be full. But after dessert, I was full. Overall, it was an incredible culinary experience and I don't regret spending over $300 for it..

We came on a very hot evening and the A/C was only so-so. On a cooler evening it might have been a more enjoyable experience. We ordered a French hoppy beer and it was not good -- the waitress said she would not charge us for and offered to get something else, and in the end we were not charged, but in the meantime another person came over with a replacement bottle (as we were eating dessert) which demonstrated how bad the one we had was == it had some head as the original did not and then said he would take half off. It was a bit odd and in fact, we were not charged. My companion asked for a spicy sauce to be put on the side and it was not and she found the dish excessively spicy -- ruining what was otherwise lovely Ling cod. The amuse bouche of fermented potato was wonderful. Our waitress was very accommodating -- even checked on the location for the city bus we needed to take to return to our hotel!

We had the tasting menu, plus extras. It was pricy, so this is a special occasion place -- even if that occasion is having great food with friends. Everything was wonderful. Great experience.

Superb italian dining, reminiscent of the hidden manhattan trattorias of the 90's. However, we shan't be returning - the 300 percent markup on the champagnes is shocking, even for a new yorker. The selection is excellent particularly the grower estate bottles, but probably, with that large selection, they are likely not buying by the multiple cases unless they have a huge cellar, which I doubt. Should have called and asked if we could bring a few bottles for a corking fee?

Small place, very few tables and personal space in general. Do not expect to be seated on time, or a fine dining experience as it will be a let down. Instead go with an adventurous spirit. Except mashed potatoes to have a fancier description.. And a premium price. The host staff is not very helpful, but pleasant. The sommelier was fantastic. The food wasn't very impressive but I can admire the attempt. I think the lack of intimate dining killed the experience for me when every few minutes we had the waiter butt to our table. ( this is how close together the tables are, forget private conversations) For a claustrophobic, this was uneasy and uncomfortable experience. Try it out, but perhaps avoid special intimate occasions on this venue.

Words cannot describe the quality of this restaurant. I was skeptical as I travel over 200 nights a year and eat at some of the best restaurants in the U.S. I thought, no way Seattle can compete with LA. Boy was I wrong. Every course (which others have detailed) was better than the next. Service was impeccable as well. I was pleased to see the chefs tasting EVERYTHING that was presented. The kitchen (which the. At overlooks) was spotless. Chef Nathan is cool, calm, and collected. What a great experience.

I have been to many top restaurants, including two-Michelin-starred ones, and my meal at Altura may be the best meal I have ever had. We had the chef's tasting menu, and it did not disappoint. The service, the preparation, the details, all exquisite. We did not opt for the wine pairing, and chose our own wines, so I cannot comment on the wine pairing option. The wine list was fine, with lots of good Italian choices. While I left over-stuffed (there were 13 courses in all that night), it was the best meal I could ever remember having. I highly recommend this place. It is small, so reservations are a must!

We both had the tasting menu with a wine pairing. Every single course was tasty, creative, and meticulously prepared. The black abalone was my personal favorite but it was like choosing between amazing and amazing. Service was spectacular, wine pairings spectacular and seating at the kitchen counter was oh so fun. Can't wait to visit again!! We chose to leave an "above and beyond" tip as every aspect of the meal was "above and beyond,". This is a not to be missed place.

If you’re prepared to spend $500 for dinner for 2 with wine, and feel like you’re dining at restaurant with the ambiance and character of your local Starbucks, then this restaurant is for you! The food is great, but the prices are not, and the ambiance is not fitting for a meal with the prices for a prince but with the ambiance and service for a pauper. Well, why in the world did we even go? The cost was known in advance — but it was a milestone birthday, and so the splurge seemed to be a fitting indulgence. Also, we knew that the chef had a connection to the wonderful restaurant in San Francisco - Aquarello, a marvelous Italian restaurant with service and food to die for that we love dearly and go to annually to celebrate a special occasion. We thought Altura would come close — in some way — but that was not the case. Altura might be the perfect match for some — but it wasn’t for me. An evening out — especially at those prices — needs to deliver excellence at all levels, not just food. It’s the experience that you remember most, and my experience was disappointing. I’m sorry that I asked to be taken to Altura to celebrate this milestone.

Certainly, this place is not an every-day type of restaurant - but it's great for any kind of special occasion. I recommend sitting at the bar, as this give an awesome view of the magic happening in the totally exposed kitchen. I had a PhD graduation there, and was not disappointed. Great care was taken when composing a menu for my party of 8 (I would not recommend this place for larger groups). One dish I had there (a sungold tomato soup) may have been the tastiest treatment of tomatoes I've ever had. Other dining experiences I've had there (I've been maybe 5 or 6 times outside of the celebratory dinner) have also been extraordinary, especially when I've gotten the wine pairing, a spurge I would recommend. Overall, this is an exemplar of what fine dining should be like.

Seattle has sorely lacked a restaurant that sets a high creative and execution standard on par with other comparable cities in the US and worldwide. Our visit to Altura pleasantly surprised us - it achieved that goal and more. Though the environment is low key, the food caliber and staff professionalism are there in spades. We were delighted with every dish we tasted and in fact, I would rank Altura on par with many Michelin two-star restaurants we have visited in the US and abroad. We brought an old bottle of Gaja Barbaresco so I did not peruse the wine list, but from a food standpoint, Altura is a must-visit. My only wish is that Capitol Hill had more parking options.

I would highly recommend this restaurant for a special treat. The menu is a tasting menu and has plenty of small bites and dishes. We were extremely full and all the dishes tasted very good. I opted for the Wagyu instead of the duck breast, additional $12 per ounce. It was very tender and the taste was wonderful. Service was excellent, nothing more could be expected!

We read the ratings and decided to try this place. We had went with tasting menu and pairing. Some of the dishes were really good and some not so much. The couple sitting next to us felt the same way. It could have been an off night, but when you spend that kind of money you cant really afford an off night. The staff was very nice, and polite. I don't think we will be going back though.

This is a tasting menu with mini tastes. Sometimes the offering does not seem large enough to get a feel for the flavors. However by the end of the meal you are stuffed and satisfied. The food was excellent and it was clear that the chef and cooks had fun creating their variable menu. If you sit at the counter you can watch them cook. Most of the cooks make a point of stopping by to speak with the diners. We have a lot of mini appetizers-all yummy, plus bone marrow, heirloom tomatoes with goat ricotta, risotto, duck liver, sweetbread ravioli, a granita, duck breast, pecorino in a squash blossom and dessert (they give you a menu on the way out. We shared a wine and ale tasting.

Altura was an incredible experience. It is a tasting menu except that you don't know see the menu ahead of time. Not knowing what was coming next added to the experience. The only choice, besides beverages or pairings is the main entree. The dishes were a series of gastronomical perfection. There were a few things that I would not have normally eaten (like Sea Urchin or tripe). However, its preparation was so elegant and delicious that I may be adventurous enough to try it again. For those who do not like wine pairings, Altura offers juice pairings that are perfect compliment to the meal so no one is left out of the experience. They do provide a take home copy of the menu at the conclusion of the meal, including pairings, to help you remember the evening. We sat at the chef's / kitchen counter which was a great vantage point to see the mastery unfold. Yes, there's a cozy seating area for more intimate conversation but I'd recommend the counter. There's an energy that comes from watching everyone at work that adds to the evening. The staff is extremely friendly and you can see that they love what they do. Altura definitely is on the top of my list for places to visit again when in Seattle.

Forget the cost, just embrace this extraordinary dining experience. Happy. Hip. Friendly. Fabulous. If you do want to rein in the final bill, consider ordering just a bottle of wine instead of the wine pairings.

Altura was highly recommended to us so we had been looking forward to an evening of enjoying great wine and a delicious tasting menu. We decided to have the most variety so I chose the "modern winetasting" and my partner chose the "classic winetasting" so we could try both of them. Also, one of us got the lamb and the other chose the Waygu beef .The best courses by far were the pasta course, meat course and dessert. We were not impressed by most of the wines, champagne, sparkling wine or beer that were served. The red wine that came with the meat course was very nice the rest were average. The staff does a lot of talking to build the wine up but they really do not live up to the hype. We found most of the dishes lacking in complex flavors. While we would not expect to have vegetables as a main course there were really none that accompanied any of the dishes. The presentation was usually inventive. Overall, it was a disappointment with a few highlights.

It was a great experience.The Petrale Sole was outstanding. I loved the Smoked Stugeon Zabaglioni,was perfect. I am not sure wich I liked best but the Agnoloty with Truffels and the Rissotto Mantecaro were delicious.The small apetizers called Stuzzichini, were very imaginative and tasty. My wife loved the Panna Cotta and I and most of the other dinners loved the Glacier Blue. Pairing of wines was a good selection of Italians, mostly from the north.

This restaurant is wonderful. I save it for special occasions. The menu is limited, and the food is excellent quality. I highly recommend.

This was our second visit to Altura and it didn't disappoint. The food here is always wonderful, and while it's expensive, you won't go home hungry. Wine pairings are offered and we've always found them to be work very well with the courses. We've had the opportunity do dine in several 2- and 3-star Michelin restaurants around the world and agree the food here was actually better than at least one 3-star we've visited! We like to sit at the counter as there is an open kitchen and it's fun to watch the food being prepared. Both times the chef Nathan was in the kitchen. At the end of night you're given a menu to take home. Also, there is a great cocktail bar just across the street to visit if you arrive early before your reservation. For us, it's the best restaurant in the PNW without question... and we've been to several other top picks in the area. Expensive but worth the money and we'll probably return as often as we can while visiting Seattle.

I don't typically review restaurants, however with Altura I will make the exception because that is what it is, exceptional fine dining. I decided to see what the hype was all about so I made reservations for our wedding anniversary. Altura did not disappoint. Sixteen courses of perfectly balanced pieces of art with flavors that tantalized your taste buds like an finely tuned orchestra. Going through the entire prefix menu took over 2 hours, but what an experience. If you consider yourself a Foodie, then this would be Foodie Heaven. It is not cheap, and if you were to add wine pairing, then expect the dinner expense to be double. We decided to get a bottle of wine instead and took the advice of their experienced wine sommelier. Leave your formal suit and tie at home. This is not stuffy like Canlis, but more trendy, so a nice shirt and jeans would do. We capped the evening with a perfectly made cafe macchiato. Looking for a new place to celebrate that special occasion with that special someone? Then look no further. Definitely worth experiencing at least once if not more.

My husband and I went out and a date night here and it was incredible! the food by Chef Nathan was beyond anything I can describe, and the wine pairings were right on and delicious as well. We loved sitting at the bar and watching the chefs work in the open kitchen. For a small place they certainly are busy! But we were never bumped into and most of the time our silverware and drinks were changed without us even noticing- the staff was that smooth and skilled. One of the best dining experiences I have ever had!

This chef is very special... We did the Prix Fixe Dinner, and it was really incredible. Course after course was presented immaculately and impressively, paired with wines chosen by the sommelier. Truly an extraordinary experience for us. Staff was attentive and professional. I very highly recommend! I even gave the chef a standing ovation at its conclusion!

This place is all about food. It is small, it is a little cramped, the ambiance could be better, and the service is not on the level of other five star restaurants I have experienced. That being said, there is a reason this place is #1 in Seattle. Their set menus are exceptional. Our nine course on New Year's Eve was one of the most memorable dinners I've ever had. I wish I had framed the menu. Standout was squid ink tagliatelle, but everything was delicious. If Michelin came to Seattle, this place would get at least one star. Don't waste your time ordering ala carte. Forget prices, go straight for the seven course with (very generous) wine pairings. On that note, make sure you Uber if you're going to do the wine pairings! Of note, I have heard (perhaps incorrectly) that they Google patrons. While this can lead to a more "personal" dining experience - if true, it feels a little invasive.

I've been twice and loved the food both times. A foodie's dream, wonderful wine pairings. Despite small plates was full by the end. It's expensive but if you're a foodie it worth it! Small place with only 24 tables so reservation is mandatory for more than a single person. In the Capitol hill section!

We knew chef Nathan Lockwood from the time he was chef at The Ruins. His creativity and the execution of the staff across the board makes this a restaurant that we know will always predictable deliver not just a great culinary experience, but a great time out. While expensive, you get what you pay for here, which can not be said of all restaurants that operate at this price point. If a couple, request the two-top next to the front window - it's great to be able to view the street scene as well as the kitchen and dining room from this vantage point.

Congratulations to the chef and to the team. Trust them and have the best dinner night. I don’t drink alcohol, and I was surprised with 11 original cocktails, a small detail that any big restaurant ever made to me. Again, come to this restaurant and have the best dinner night.

I have to wait 1 hour at the entrance even though I had a reservation. They said a prior party will be over soon and I have to wait a few minutes. But borh of them are lies. And even though my reservation is prior to others, other people had sitted first. Because I'm not a white people, I think. And I haven't heard any apologies from them while waiting. After sitting, there is something like a bug in the appetizer. During the meal, they try to curry favor with me giving a few glasses of complimentary champagne. Instead of say sorry from their hearts to me.

The staff and food here combine to make this an absolutely fabulous experience, our favorite place in Seattle. First of all, if you enjoy the art of cooking, sit at the bar and you can watch/engage with the small kitchen crew as they make magic before your eyes. For a slightly more focused experience, a table around the outside works too. The place is tiny, so book ahead and still you might wait a bit. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fabulous staff. They are all knowledgeable and impeccably focused on your experience, needs, and quality of everything. They know their wine, and that itself has led to some great conversations. Best service staff in Seattle, and one of the best teams any place I've ever been (and that's saying a lot). Just so much greatness here, so glad to have a true high end experience in Seattle.

Go to Canlis. We spent $600 and one hour figuring out why this felt meh. View, service, value, and um taste? That’s the difference. The surcharge on the alcohol at Altura is outrageous. Tip not included? Give me a break. I’m hungry after spending $600. No.

The food is a wonderful selection of Italian styled Appetizers, Pastas and entrees. We had the tasty and delicious Tasting menu which was a delight, there are over 15 small dishes in that menu and we enjoyed them all (Check the website). The staff were friendly and efficient and the sommelier was helpful and gave excellent advice. What more could you wish - good food, good service and good atmosphere.Look forward to going back.

First of all, I live in Seattle and walked by this restaurant on my way home from work for nearly three years. I always wanted to try it, but we waited for a special occasion to finally make a reservation. We visited with close friends from out of town to celebrate a birthday and one year wedding anniversary together. We arrived a little before 9 p.m. for our 9:00 reservation and were greeted rather coldly, then offered the option to order drinks while we waited but with 6 of us we could barely comfortably move in the small entry way, let alone sip drinks. We weren't seated until 9:15. At that time a waitress came over to explain the tasting menu and drinks. Unfortunately, the waitress was so soft spoken (and the restaurant was loud) so we couldn't understand her, and when we asked for her to repeat the drink options, she seemed annoyed and treated us like we were stupid for having to ask twice. Several of us chose the pairings while others opted to order a bottle of wine. We asked the sommelier to stop by our table and make a recommendation. He didn't appear until we were well into the second or third course. When we asked for a wine recommendation- a Pinot Noir, he said "let me grab a menu". I have been to a fair number of restaurants with a sommelier and have never had one who needed the menu to remember what 5 options of Pinots were available. My husband ended up picking one and the sommelier basically just said- yes- that one's good. Those of us doing the wine pairings were equally disappointed. At a restaurant of this quality, I would expect the sommelier to stop by and provide some tasting notes for each glass that was poured (or at least stop by a few times to see if we had questions). We didn't see him at all until I specifically asked for him to stop by and give us his thoughts on the Syrah- which he seemed very annoyed about. Overall, the wine choices were underwhelming- I think the pairings were fine but the quality of wine somewhat lacking in the $95 pairing option. The food itself was mostly very tasty and innovative- the poached oyster was one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. Several of the stuzzichihi were very salty and I felt the salt overpowered the other flavors. The desserts were over sweet and way too bold compared to the flavors earlier in the meal- especially the bourbon caramel semifreddo. The dishes were presented very beautifully, unfortunately, the wait staff did a poor job of telling us about them and only at end of the meal when I was presented a printed menu, did I really understand what we were served. Overall, it was one of the more interesting meals I've ever eaten, but the poor service really detracted from what could have been an amazing experience. I think there are better options for fine dining in Seattle.

Everything was wonderful. The food was extraordinary...the wine list was great, and the service was fantastic. They were great with my gluten intolerance. This is the best meal that I have had in a long time.

the food is very tasty and the place is good . I think the preparation of food here is very professional and provokes your appetite to eat . Their service is really good .

We had the full tasting with wine pairing and thoroughly enjoyed everything. Highlights included abalone, risotto, wagyu beef, and duck breast. The wine pairing was spot on and included interesting selections. Splurge and do it all! We sat at the counter and watched the amazing work of the staff. Truly a treat!

Ok had to do it... This is an amazing Italian restaurant right on Broadway at the end of Capitol Hill. Decor: Small, but well decorated and is definitely one of the nicer restaurants in Cap Hill in my opinion. Food: So this is where it gets good. Each day the menu is put together and you are subject to a pre fixed menu with amazing tasteful small plates. Seattle has a lack of high end restaurants so it is good to see this, and yes it is expensive, but worth every dime. Service: Was Great... No complaints.

Special occasion dinner and staff went out of their way to acknowledge that. Kudos and thanks. First, the very good stuff. The Chef and staff are swinging for the fences with their vision of chefs only menu, artistry, and service. Who does that night after night? From serving ware to dish compositions, they are demonstrating technical skill, vision, and service and bringing you on board for the experience. Several bites over this extended culinary journey were sublime. As a host, I appreciated their ability to accommodate a guest who dies not eat meat, and they were wonderful. The paired wine pouring, in my opinion, leaned too heavily on white wines, wines that did not provide the most flattering complements to the food. Again, the staff adapted when my table requested something different. The music volume needs to be turned down, and the vibe of that music more laid back in my opinion. I could not hear my guests conversation. This makes for a remarkable dining experience.

While the wine pairings are expensive, you're getting really excellent wine, and that was the highest-value part of the meal. Along those lines, don't be afraid to guide the sommelier. If they turn up with a category of wine that isn't working for you, you can always gently suggest another direction. Pours were a little more scant than last time. The food (we did the veg tasting menu) was fine but not quite as strong as last time, and it's moving in the direction of overwrought and undernourishing. Yes, a tasting menu is not a standard entree-and-sides. Yes, Altura is selling quality rather than quantity. Yes, the kitchen is under pressure to produce super-impressive food to justify the price. It's not an easy mark to hit! But the ideal tasting menu is a succession of really delightful dishes that add up to a good and satisfying meal (that's what Altura did a couple years ago). This time they seemed to be straining to impress rather than delight, and portions have shrunk to the point that they feel ... grudging. Oh, and don't fall for the truffle special. It was fine and all, but hardly worth the surcharge. Any time a restaurant waits until they've put a couple drinks in you before wheeling out an extra option, just say no.

We had been looking forward to Altura for a while. We were particularly excited to try the guinea hen which was advertised on the website. Only problem was, they didn't have it. Enough said...

I own a winery and a restaurant and found this place to be very inspirational. If you can get a seat by the prep kitchen and watch the magic.

One of Seattle’s best restaurants! This amazing 10 course menu take you about 2 1/2 hours to eat. The menu is given to you at the end of the meal so it’s a surprise experience. You paired it with either wine, bear, or non alcoholic beverages made all in house. When you make a reservation you put $100 down per person. Our total we paid was $600 for my husband and I. It was worth it. The restaurant ambiance is cozy with great service. I love that it’s a small location. They make you feel very special! All the courses were so good I don’t have a favorite!

The atmosphere is wonderful, if you're not aiming for a very posh place. It's intimate and quiet, and everything feels carefully curated for comfort. We came on a weekday, so it wasn't particularly crowded or noisy. The food was fantastic. To be honest, I've never had anything so fancy. The other reviews go into the price/cost breakdown, so I'll skip that here. Let me just reiterate that it's incredible, and will be a meal you'll never forget. I came here 6 months ago, and only got around to making the review now.

Absolutely wonderful food and service. The server offered helpful suggestions for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic pairings. Good pacing. Thoroughly enjoyed our evening, and if we're ever in Seattle again, will definitely make a point of dining here.

Three of my friends offered to take me to Canlis for my birthday and I told them if they wanted to spend that kind of money I wanted to go to Altura. That was 6 months ago and we’re still talking about the food and the experience. The presentation is above and beyond anything I’ve seen before and I go out a lot: for instance, there was a beautiful wood serving dish with 4 servings artfully arranged sloping down from a ledge on a piece that must have been designed by the restaurant itself. The servings are small but, there are so many of them, you do not walk out wanting more. And the quality of the food is amazing. The best truffles ever! The best everything ever! To say I highly recommend this restaurant is an understatement. Daniel in NYC has nothing on Altura. Read about the other high end restaurants in Seattle and the surrounding burbs - but go to Altura!

Perhaps to many this place might be overpriced but I do have to say that it is worth it. Been to different Michelin starred restaurants and such, this place offers great tasting menu for a fraction of what it would really cost somewhere else. My husband and I really enjoyed the chefs' interactions and being able to witness everything going on in the kitchen. Therefore, I highly recommend you to sit at the counter so you can see all the hard work that the chefs really put in each dish. Do be aware that a tasting menu is going to take time which means this is a 3 hr or so kind of dinner not a get in and get out kind of place. My husband loved the wagyu beef, he said it was melting in his mouth. He compared this dinner to our Aronia de Takazawa experience and said each had its merits and both are great.

Truly enjoyed our meal at Altura. This restaurant is perfect for a special occasion or date night. All the courses were memorable and tasty. We appreciated how willingly Altura was to work with our dietary restrictions and preferences. It really made the entire experience so much more enjoyable! Another thing to note is the beverage pairing options. I loved that they offered three options - wine pairings, a combo of wine and mocktails and then a complete mocktail menu! This really elevates the experience! Thank you Altura - we will be back!

We went here for an anniversary dinner and enjoyed it very much. I tried to make reservations about 10 days prior, but none were available and they put me on a waitlist. They called back a few days later, said they'd had a cancellation and had a spot. It's a fairly small restaurant and you could be close to other people, but we had a nice table for two right by the front window. It's a fixed price menu and not inexpensive, but the service was excellent and the presentation was beautiful. The menu is fairly small and is heavy on meat, but the food was wonderful. I had mentioned it was a special occasion and they had a special anniversary desert for us. I would recommend this restaurant for a special occasion.

13 COINS Restaurant...went there again on a Saturday evening a few days ago...busy as usual, and the food was excellent as was the service. Don't know how they keep doing it!!!

Small restaurant, educated staff, love guests and treat with respect. This was a bday celebration and we were given a quiet table with no one next to us. Our server was spot-on with recommendations and service throughout the night. Don't miss Gnocchi w/Lamb - rich, light and done to perfection Don't miss Foie Gras it is truly the best I've ever had - sweet and savory deliciousness Wish I had room to try the tasting menu. Won't lie, was disappointed with dessert mostly because some ingredients weren't mentioned in the description; yucky candied fruit in the cannoli - too old fashioned and poorly made (because candied fruit can be good if homemade) - it was very Old World Italian.

We visited the restaurant to celebrate my husband’s birthday. We saw the menu on Trip Advisor and were excited to taste everything! Unfortunately they change menus about every 6 weeks so what we were expecting was not what we got. However almost everything was excellent. There were a few items we weren’t fond of and although we ordered an extra of truffles on a dish the dish was not hot & the truffles were tasteless. We gave this feedback & to their credit they removed it from the bill. Overall a good experience with good pairings.

Opentable has this place listed in the top 10 so we decided to try it out. We opted for the valentines special dinner. We were seated in a timeline manner. We shared a table with another couple. It was a bit off a turn off because we thought we would have our own table. However, the other couple were very nice and chatted with us. The ambience is not as great as the canlis, not sure why it is ranked above canlis. We are vegetarians and they catered accordingly. The presentation of the food, and the wine pairings that went with them were very good. The food tasted very good. The food was a bit too much that my wife couldn't eat some of the courses, she was stuffed! Overall, the experience was very good. We didn't feel like it was worth that much ($700+) for the courses with the wine pairings. I didn't pay that much when I visited canlis. I don't want to compare but I am only trying to make a point about the price. The service, food, limited noise level, wine, etc. were very good.

My wife and I choose Altura for our 20th anniversary dinner. Each course on the tasting menu was amazing. We opted for the generous wine pairings. Non-alcoholic pairings are also available. We also added a optional course that included a ravioli with fresh shaved black truffle that was our favorite of the night. We would also suggest sitting at the bar instead of a table to observe all the happenings in the kitchen. Four plus hours of gastronomic heaven!

A recent Seattle magazine described Chef Nathan Lockwood's cooking as brilliant. They go on to say that the best dinner in Seattle is found at his restaurant, Altura. My dinner there confirmed much of this laudatory praise. The great counter seating in front of the chef's plating station serves as the perfect perch for watching an exquisite culinary show. The tasting menu is ridiculously expensive but allows you to fully appreciate the creativity of the chef. Pastas are great, vegys are great, steak is great, seafood is great. Greatness abounds. The meal was made even better by the focused and thoughtful wine pairings and the very engaging presentations of the personable sommelier. It is a memorable meal, that is why you go to a restuarant like Altura.

The restaurant has a fixed price menu, three courses or tasting menu. In addition, you can add the wine flight. The food is wonderfully creative and the presentation comes with an explanation of the dish and its preparation. This is an outstanding restaurant and the service matches the food. If you are looking for a special spot to impress someone, this is it.

located inn a literal hole in the wall, something that reminds you of a local bar. ambience would rate a generous *** service is excellent, and the food is creative and farm to table. As for value, way too expensive for the total experience

Overrated, over priced, slow inattentive service and didn't have good vegetarian options (they just didn't have the meat that the meat eaters had and they charge the same price). The hype isn't worth it. Spend your money elsewhere.

Altura Restaurant is wonderful and worth every penny. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The chef was able to accommodate our food allergies without impacting the experience. My table ordered the wine tasting menus (2 classic and 1modern) to go with the tasting menu. Every course was spectacular and there was plenty of time to visit.

My first son reserved a table at this restaurant for my wife’s birthday. There is only a single course offered, so no menu other than drink menus are provided. First few dishes are for you to eat with your two fingers. We had a two-hour sequence of amazing 14 dishes, including Wagyu from Hokkaido or Lamb for the main. Each dish had a very delicate taste and was presented perfectly.

Probably one of the best meals I have ever had. It was interesting not knowing what you were going to eat and trying foods you would normally not think of eating. It was a very interesting experience. Would love to go back.

As a solo diner, I can recommend a seat at the bar to watch the chefs in action. The no-choice menu is Italian themed and includes many, many amuse bouches. These were simply amazing, both in flavour and the luxury/quality of the ingredients. As good as I've tasted anywhere. The meal continued with small course after small course of brilliance. You're almost giddy with how good everything is. In the pursuit of balance not everything was great - the last main dish was the weakest of the night and the choice of the wine by the glass was inconsistent and not all choices were that good to be frank (I tried nearly all of them). However, this is a special restaurant run by a talented group of people. It would make the ideal place for a celebration. The food is stunning.

Very fun tasting menu with a wide variety of food and flavor. Many standouts of the evening! Among them a beef canapé, a clam, a stunning ravioli, a duck dish, a steak dish, and a dessert. We will definitely go back. The Italian wine pairings were also excellent with two that were truly remarkable.

we had a Full course for dinner in 9 dishes.. very good.. a michelin star food. only bad note the the restaurant decoration isn't aligned with the type of food, its more a bric a brac Otherwise it would be perfect.

Great dining here! We had the tasting menu and the wine pairings. Food was extremely good. Several memorable dishes. Pacing was impeccable. Presentation was bang on. This is a pricey place to eat but you get what you pay for! Only minor complaint was the wine pairings could have been better. I am a wine guy so maybe the average joe would not notice.

I have a great night with the really wonderful culinary journey, with each dish beautifully rendered, tasty and memorable. The most amazing is however the wines paired. I went for the Classic pairing and it is well worth it, and the sommelier is very knowledgeable on the Italian wine regions and the wines. He is also very friendly and giving me many other wines to try during the course. No wonder many rate this restaurant as one of the best in town...

We had been unable to go Altura last time we were in Seattle so we made sure to have dinner there this time. An outstanding experience! We did two three-course dinners (we like to share) rather than the tasting menu and every dish was excellent. An amazing *salad*? Absolutely. And tortellini, and gnocchi, and steak, all superbly flavourful and inventive. And then mini-cannoli for dessert. Presentation is meticulous. The service was first-rate! Definitely a place to come back to.

Nice ambience. Good music. Not too noisy. Excellent wine pairings. The sommelier was very good. The salsify soup was one of the best soups I've ever had. The pasta, the risotto, the pork shank, and the steak were very salty, which unfortunately ruined our experience.

The food here is incredible, the best Italian I have had outside of Italy. Service is very attentive, on my most recent visit the waiter was very friendly, efficient and went out of his way to make our visit a memorable experience.

We just finished a 14 course chef's tasting menu while sitting at the counter and what a delight the night brought. Nathan Lockwood has assembled an amazing team of sous chefs and wait staff that rivals any we have ever seen. The organization behind the counter was orchestrated as well as a Coach Carrol defense, flowing smoothly through the intricate preparation of an amazing array of dishes. Nathan stands front and center manning the grille while overseeing each dish. Remarkable to watch, with Austin doing his magic at his side. Each dish is prepared with an artist's touch as layers of ingredients are strategically placed as a pleasure to both the eye and palate. For instance, the Ezo black abalone dish started with carmalizing honey onto the plate with a garlic puree. Then the abalone was placed with an sweet apple sauce and covered with flash fried kale dusted with spice and sliced apples. Oh yeah. We decided to do the wine pairing and were pleased with the matchings which leaned towards Italian wines plus sake and cider. The cider was a bit mundane but the sake was spectacular. One doesn't have to be such a glutton and there were options for 3 course and 5 course meals. On this night there was an option for authentic Wagyu beef ribeye served with matsutake, coastal porcini and red celery. Yum. Tasted like buttered beef. There were also numerous orders for both gluten free and vegetarian and these were skillfully handled by the staff. If you like fine dining and have a food sensitivity or allergy, this is your place. This is fine dining at its best. If you like innovative cooking, impeccable service in a small venue (25 seats?), this is as good as it gets. We live 300 miles away but will make this a regular stop when in town.

We last dined at Altura 4 years ago, and it was a solid all-round 5 star experience. Four years ago the value received justified the high price; this time the experience was very good, but is over-priced. At a more reasonable price I'd rate the experience at 4 stars. SERVICE: 3.5. Last time we had a single outstanding server; this time we had multiple servers. Each server was fine, but we would have much preferred a single server we could build rapport with - especially since we didn't have the menu. Minor nit, but the restaurant did initially mix up the "special" occasion note provided with the reservation. They recognized this and recovered after serving a couple of dishes. AMBIANCE: 4.5. Very nice. The interior is pleasant, and the bathrooms outstanding. We had a window seat. Outside the window in the sidewalk, there were metal "footprints" to guide a man and woman in dance steps. It was fun to watch as every child (and one adult) who walked by stopped and played on the footprints. WINE: we split one order of paired wine; a full order each would have been too much for driving. The wines and most food pairings were excellent. FOOD: 3.5 Very good, but not up to the price. Fixed menu, which is fine; last time it was a la carte. Last time the first dish was outstanding, and it just got better with each subsequent dish; this time it was mostly very good, but nothing "wow", and many dishes felt salty or peppery - though the black truffles that were available at additional cost were EXCELLENT! Presentation of each dish was artsy and consistently attractive. It would have been nice to have had the menu BEFORE dinner so we could have followed it as we dined. Instead, the staff provide a rolled-up and tied scroll of the menu as we walked out AFTER dining. Stuzzichini: 4 items. The mussel dish was excellent; the other 3 (caviar, prawn, sea urchin) were unremarkable. Steelhead Roe: ok. Abalone: excellent. Quail's egg: very good. Bread and duck mousse liver: ok. Pappardelle - ragu of tripe and oxtaile: excellent. Grapefruit sorbetto: good. duck breast: good. Brodo (a broth): excellent Crispy Pear with honey and sage: outstanding! The paired moscato was perfect. Bourbon Caramel Semifreddo (desert): ok.

trendy atmosphere, presentations suitable for photographing though not always edible by everyone. I didn't know what I was getting into when I suggested going here with 2 out of town friends, one who only wants organic food. We knew they had that so what else could be an issue? We did not research so didn't know that you really have no choice but only get what is being served. We had 7-10 micro courses, which looked great, but one of my friends has some dietary restrictions and could not eat over half what was served. I could not eat over 1/3 of what was served for various reasons. Luckily the other friend in a foodie and big eater so he got all our "can't eats" and full value for the very very expensive meal.

Pricey, but a terrific small restaurant at the north end of the broadway storefronts. Unique menu items every night, excellent preparation, ask for a quiet table, can be noisey at times.

Let your pallet tell you! The cuisine is Michelin worthy, Chef Nathan Lockwood and team are exceptional

We've eaten at Altura before and it was a must for our return to Seattle. Arrive hungry and adventurous as the chef will guide you through the meal. We sat at the counter and it's the best show in town. I'm still trying to count how many courses we had...it was more than 14, some being tastings or amuse bouche. As others have stated, the wine pairings, though not inexpensive, can be tailored to your taste. Go for the adventure and the best food in Seattle, perhaps the west coast. Great food. Great wine. Great company at the counter. Make friends.

Excellent food, great service, comfortable environment. Novel preparations which still felt approachable for the not so novel eater (took Mother for her birthday). Deserts were unique and wonderful.

Fresh made pasta with seasonal ingredients and wonderful wine pairings. Friendly, knowledgable staff. A favorite for date night.

At the end of a long day of meetings we came here and really enjoyed the tasting menu. Like Alter in Miami this is a deceiving storefront type restaurant pulling off pretty sophisticated fine dining. Each course was imaginative and well prepared and a few surprises thrown in for fun. It's a great new way to dine in a more casual atmosphere.

My wife and I dined at Altura last night after a gap of several months due to a fractured ankle. We live in the neighborhood and have been eating there fairly consistently since it opened. From the very beginning, the food has always been terrific.The ingredients are the freshest and finest and the dishes imaginative and beautifully composed. Wonderful wine list as well, along with professional and friendly service. No "my name is Kent and I will be your waiter tonight." And no "are you still working on it". Just quiet and confident. The food last night was even better than we remembered but this is a characteristic of the restaurant - a constant quest in the pursuit of perfection. (One ding. I think the pasta courses are a little over salted). If Michelin inspectors ever make it to Seattle, Altura would have a star and be pushing two, if there is any justice in the world.

This restaurant is one of the best. I can't say enough good things about it. It is definitely worth a visit. The food is fabulous. Every single dish is excellent.

There are simply not enough positive adjectives to adequately describe the experience we had at Altura this past week. I would recommend calling well in advance for reservations as the restaurant is always packed to capacity by locals due to the quality of food and service. The menu is fixed, no off the menu ordering, but this is perfect as there were items I would have never considered ordering but am very glad to have been able to enjoy. There are 12 - 14 different servings but do not be scared it is too much to eat as the first 5 or 6 are single bite servings. There is an option to have wines paired with the selections by the staff, but we choose to enjoy a bottle from their extensive selection. This is a definite revisit the next time we are in Seattle. i

Wow. Amazing Food. Amazing Presentation. Amazing Space. Amazing Drink Pairings. The 3 of us did the Chef's tasting menu with drink pairing, and it was superb. The only reason I bumped it down to 4 stars instead of 5, is the price. For what we paid per person, we could have gone to the French Laundry.....and it wasn't nearly that matured ($260/pp).

There are lots of excellent comments about this restaurant, only chef's menu (including 11 dishes) is available there. They don't show you the detailed menu till the end. Everytime you will get unexpected taste and feelings after each course.

We are used to tasting menu. Food was high quality one. Staff was professionnal. Wine was good. But this menu had too many finger bites, and the main entrée was ridiculously small. I had ordered the duck. In the plate there was only one slice of duck breast... We have mentioned this to the waitress. She came back with another single slice...evething tasted good but it is not worth the money we have spent.

We made reservations at Altura after reading the reviews on Trip Advisor and talking with friends from Seattle. We were not disappointed. We were in Seattle to celebrate our 12th anniversary for a weekend in early August. We started with a drink at Poppy across the street and then showed up for our reservation at 6:30. They did not have counter seats available as we had requested so we sat at a table for 20 minutes to start our meal. We moved when counter seats became available and we are so glad we did. Watching and talking with the chefs as they prepared each dish was so much fun. To see how each meal was prepared added so much to our dining experience. We ordered the Chef's tasting menu which consisted of 12 different dishes including dessert (13 with the anniversary dessert they added in). Each dish was unique and every dish was amazing. There were several dishes served which my wife was hesitant to eat because they included ingredients such as quail egg, raw beef and raw fish. That said, she tried every dish put in front of her and loved every one of them. The food was absolutely amazing. I also ordered the beverage pairing for one and it was fantastic. Each food dish had a beverage pairing which included unique wines, beer and other drinks. I would highly recommend Altura for a special occasion out. It is an expensive meal so it's not an every day affair. But if you have an occasion to celebrate and want a great meal you will not be disappointed! Altura was arguably our best meal ever.

After many missed excuses to go to Altura, I finally made it there a week ago. Our group chose the tasting menu, and we were not disappointed. The food was impressive for the most part: intense flavors, beautiful presentation, multidimensional textures. We decided against the pairing, since it's probably a bit too much alcohol (about a bottle per person), but the sommelier provided two excellent, solid choices, so we had a fantastic self-made pairing (crémant, and wine from Southern Italy). The service was pretty good from the entire staff (I found cute that each plate is brought by the sous-chef that prepared it), and I loved the fact that most of the night you would see the Chef doing a lot of the protein grilling; the highlight of the night still goes to our sommelier, who was incredibly knowledgeable about both all our food and the wine. Which reminds me... try to get a seat in the kitchen. It's worth it if you enjoy the intricacies of building sophisticated plates. We were able to seat at the bar with a 2-week notice on a weekday. In terms of value, I think this place suffers from Capitol Hill overhype syndrome, so it is probably a bit over the top in price, and I personally thought the pairing is way too expensive (in absolute terms this was more expensive per person than a Menu Découverte + wine at L'Atélier de Joël Robuchon in Saint Germain, Paris... a 2-Michelin Star restaurant). But until the day we get 3-hour trips to Western Europe, this is without a doubt, one of the best meals you can get in the city.

I don't attend fancy dinners, but decided to splurge once with another couple. Simply amazing! The food had layers of flavor that literally became the topic of conversation until the next dish. Drinks were endless and the atmosphere melted away as the focus was on food and company. Definitely considering making progressive dinners like this a regular thing.

My husband and I went here for our anniversary dinner. The food, the wine (all suggested & paired by our server for the night), the atmosphere, the service, they were all spectacular! I lost count of the number of courses we had to be honest, they just kept coming! It's a lovely celebration restaurant or if you're in the mood for a fancy meal! You really can't go wrong with this place! I highly recommend!!

Altura offers a unique dining experience where they combine an informal atmosphere with a great range of plates that delight your palate. A rather small place that allows you to enjoy the great work and enthusiasm the crew put into the dishes.. I highly recommend to sit at the bar ... best seats to enjoy the kitchen ..

I had really expected to love this place. While the food was good, it was not outstanding. We chose four courses rather than the tasting menu because we did not want to spend 3 hours for dinner. Our dinner lasted two hours for the four courses. The plates were beautiful with many ingredients but surprisingly only one or two flavors stood out on each dish. The Kampachi crudo was quite salty. The menu did not provide an accurate representation of what you would be getting which made for some disappoint. The shortrib tortellini, which sounded amazing, was overpowered with dill. Had the dill been included in the description, I may not have ordered it. The vanilla panna cotta turned out to be a vanilla rum panna cotta and again the unexpected rum flavor was overpowering. The upcharge of $15 for the panna cotta to cover the cost of a few drizzles of 25 year balsamic was ridiculous. By adding the dessert as a fourth course, the panna cotta ended up costing $30 per person. It was not worth it.

My business associates from New York had heard about Altura and friends in Seattle also highly recommended it. We were not disappointed. We were in Seattle on business in late June with a group of eight. The staff had our table waiting when we arrived at 7:00 and there was no wait for us. We ordered the Chef's tasting menu which consisted of different dishes including dessert and each dish was a work of art. Everything from the bread to the dessert had amazing flavor. Several of my group also ordered the beverage pairing and they commented that it was fantastic. Each food dish had a beverage pairing which included unique wines, beer and other drinks. I would highly recommend Altura for a business dinner or a special night out. It is an expensive meal but if you have an occasion to celebrate and want a great meal you will not be disappointed. Altura was arguably one of my best meals ever.

We splurged for the tasting menu, complete with wine pairings, and were sorely disappointed. First, the dinner from start to finish took over 3 hours. We enjoy long dining, but there were many times we just felt the wait was too long. Second, the food was nothing but mediocre, and incredibly overpriced. We enjoyed a few of the dishes, but several (too many) were beyond salty, lukewarm instead of hot, and just plain not that enjoyable. Not what you'd expect for a $500 meal rated the best in the city! The wine pairings were ok, but it didn't knock out socks off, and a few didn't seem to pair at all (the sommelier admitted he had difficulty). The staff was wonderful--that was the highlight of our night. We won't ever go back, and don't recommend this place. If you want a dinner that owe your mind come on over to Bainbridge Island and enjoy the tasting menu at Hitchcock for 1/3 of the price. Perhaps we are spoiled by unbeatable food on the island? Either way, don't waste your time or money here.

Despite the reviews, we decided to spend our anniversary at Altura to check out what the hype is all about. This was a disappointing experiment and we will not return. By setting a prix fixe menu at $157, with additional wine pairing available for another $165 per person, Altura sets high expectation of entry-level Michelin star food and experience. Unfortunately, it falls shorts and does not even get close in many aspects. The venue itself has zero atmosphere. Think of a busy and loud bar with neutral tables crammed against each other, some with a bench (also used as storage apparently with piles of cans of soda partially hidden underneath). Bar seating is available as well if you are into spending 3.5 hours eating over-price finger food on a bar stool. The tables are so close to each other that we spent the night hearing all about the dude behind us bragging about how much of a hot shot he is at work, and getting the wait staff’s butts in our faces when they tried to bring food to the adjacent tables. Staff was friendly. The pretentious kind, repeating pre-canned pompous made-up descriptions of whatever they brought. Since there is only one preset and prix-fixe tasting menu, no printed menus are available, which makes sense. However, Altura pushes the pretentiousness all the way to not even telling what is actually on the menu. While we do not have any food dietary restrictions and allergies, that was not a big deal but created awkwardness when we were asked if there is anything we do not like eating, and we were told that substitutions are not available. That was a pointless exercise turned embarrassing when my wife told the waiter she does not like duck or raw meat. Bummer: the only options for the “main course” were duck or wagyu, served medium-rare (which by the way, comes at a $25/ounce supplement, minimum 2 ounces). We were told that the beef would not get cooked more than that. After some back and forth, my wife was offered some unidentified vegetarian option before some manager finally realized it was not going well and said they found some other cut of beef that they would be willing to cook to her liking. Throughout the night, I think 6 people brought the dishes to our table and we failed to detect any one of them being vaguely more customer obsessed that our main waiter. We started with a $21 cocktail, which took a bit to come and ultimately came after the first course was on the table. I am not a big fan of drinking cocktail with my dinner, especially considering the fact we were planning on ordering wine. The wine list is decently populated, with a focus on Italian wines, not surprising considering the Italian inspiration at Altura. Other reviewers already called it out, but it is worth noting the crazy markup on the drinks. We decided to order wine by the glass ($23). Being offered to taste the wine was a nice touch, which is not always an option when you order by the glass. Overall, we ended up drinking the equivalent of a bottle (quantity and price wise) but it was nice to be able to build our own paring as the surprise dishes appeared in front of us. Now the food… Like I said, no menu is available but our waiter had given us a heads up that the first 4-5 courses would come rapidly and after that the pace would slow down significantly, which turned out the be correct. Let’s be real though. The first series of dishes are not appetizers. They are small bite size hors d’oeuvre fingerfood. No utensils are available until the 5th course as far as I remember. I picked duck as my “main” course, which came with one small seed roaster carrot which ended-up being larger than the piece of duck. Long story short, I have two issues with the food at Altura. First off, the overall quantity of food in the tasting menu is ridiculously small. I would argue that calling this a 9-course menu is a fraud. At best, it’s truly a 3-course menu with a bunch a tiny finger food appetizers to get started and kill time. The other issue is the lack of theme or progression in the menu itself. It just feels like a hybrid mess. Granted, a well-executed mess with quality ingredients but overall falling short of expectations set by the price tag. Ironically, the 3.5-hour experience concludes with a menu being brought to you with the check. I guess I will never understand why not giving the menu ahead of time. If you like to spend $600 for eating hybrid tapas in a loud Starbucks with wait staff from Claim Jumper, then Altura will hit the spot for you. Our anniversary was great regardless – we ended up stopping by Canlis on our way home after our disappointing experience at Altura. That will teach us trusting that some people exaggerate their comments and feedback. All the concerns people report about Altura are true. Just don’t bother.

We were not sure what to expect but this was an experience like no other. The amount of courses/bites was more than could be expected. The wine pairings were also generous.

When my wife and I travel, it is to meet people and eat. We read the reviews on Altura in Trip Advisor and they were spot on. We chose the tasting menu with pairings. It was remarkable. The freshness of the food and creativity of the chef is truly magical. Three hours of dining with service from the entire staff was personal and attentive. Excellent pairings by the sommelier. We don't get to Seattle often but we will return soon just to dine here again. Thank you to the entire staff for an unforgettable evening.

This restaurant is hard to get into, so plan ahead. It is small and intimate so if you don't like eating close to your neighbors this isn't the place for you. That being said, we had such a wonderful meal here. The courses come out slowly so you never feel rushed, and the food is so delicious you want to savor each course so it all works out well. This was one of the most interesting meals I have ever had. It was expensive but I thought it was worth every penny.

This was much more than just a dinner, this was an experience, an incredible experience. This culinary jewel sits comfortably at odds with it's colorful neighbors on Capital Hill. The service was perfect, the multi-course fixed-price dinner was beautifully plated and so delicious!! I have been to many restaurants where they tell you about this subtle spice and that delicate spice added to the dish and when all is said and done the dish is rather tasteless. That, however, is not an issue at Altura. Each course was like having a ballet performed in my mouth. Okay, I admit I was a bit artsy in my terminology, but really the flavors were wonderful. Several of the courses were one bite dishes but each was unique and well I don't know what to say other than so flavorful. It was amazing! As is often the case the only downside was the price which proved almost overwhelming as was the meal. It pains me to admit this but it was worth it. I would love to go back again soon but it's a little cost-prohibitive for that. However I will go back again and again, just spread out over time. This place is an absolute must try and you will be so glad you did. Dinner is served at a leisurely pace so prepare for a couple of hours in cusine Utopia.

This is an small eclectically and unpretentiously appointed restaurant. Our waiter was also unpretentious and extremely knowledgeable. The tasting menu was excellent some standouts were the steak tartare with quail egg, squab, tortellini. Of special note is that the wine pairing comes with very generous pours. Overall we were very impressed.

Not for the faint hearted nor those on a budget, Altura is an experience. No menu,just a request for any allergies, then you are off on an experience of fresh flavours with provenance of the ingredients and an explanation of each course. Multiple small platters with a little showmanship thrown in, we were glad we were sitting at the counter watching the ingredients being brought together to make the dish. Drawbacks, it was as pricey as you would expect and more if you are visiting from the UK at the moment. Someliers were a bit pushy on the wine front, but were understanding when we explained we had only arrived the day before and feeling the jet lag. it was also noisy, but it kept us awake and we were glad we made the decision to try it.

Altura, amazing tasting experience, amazing wine pairing selection. It is pre-selected tasting menu only, 18 unique tastes and 9 unique wines. It was very expensive, not for those who look at the cost. The white truffles were a mild disappointment as they did not have the deep intense taste of black truffles. One is pampered throughout the meal. If one has comments, requests or suggestions they are welcome and if it is a request they try to accommodate. A special place at a special price. All servers were engaged and delightful, a truly memorable night.

Just went again for my birthday, and left with the kind of satisfaction you can only get when all of your senses have been massaged. 1) I am gluten free and they offered the same experience as my non-gluten free friend, I did not feel as though I was missing out on any of the courses. Every single morsel was handcrafted bliss! 2) the staff could not have been more gracious (pro tip: sit at the counter, it’s the best seat in the house) they are patient in answering questions, and Russell the sommelier, made a fantastic suggestion! 3) be advised: they changed the format, and now only offer the tasting menu at $137++. It’s mind boggling to me that people complain that it is too expensive. Pop-up dining “experiences”, winemaker dinners, and themed parties are regularly $100-250. Dinner at Altura is equitable to the Herb Farm, for 1/2 the price! 4) Chef Nathan is incredibly talented and wildly creative. I can’t wait to go back when the menu changes and taste what new culinary symphony he has composed!

We went to Altura for dinner last night. We were unaware that the menu was fixed, as is the price ($135/pp). Any allergies are dealt with without missing a step. The meal is about 18 plates of art that emerge from the kitchen onto the table. Every dish was a creative expression of its ingredients, and each flavor bouquet worked well together. The staff is attentive, the dinner's pace is well managed, and, most importantly, the tables are well spaced so you're not listening to anyone else's conversations. If I lived in Seattle, Altura would be a place I'd go to for a special meal..at about $225/pp, I couldn't do it regularly, but would love to if I could. Altura is a restaurant where the food is the star, and your experience with it is the main concern of everyone on staff.

Alturo was not the experience we were expecting for such a highly acclaimed restaurant. The atmosphere was lacking lustre, the interior was a little shabby and the service was not on par with a 5 star establishment. Thankfully, the food was really good. Unfortunately, the wine pairings came a bit too slowly to match the courses. I'm glad we tried it once but I won't be rushing back.

Yes, Altura is expensive: $137 a person for a 10-course, three-hour dinner, excluding drinks, and not counting the 9.6% sales tax. So my partner and I had three glasses of wine between us, and left, after a 15% tip, $400 poorer. But the food—a fusion of Northwest and Italian—was memorably good. Now, I'm no fan of mushrooms, cured meat, beef, mussels, pigs feet, and abalone, but I ate everything, and it was great. (In fact, they served more than a dozen different seafoods and meats.) My favorite was the very first appetizer, a parfait of caviar, fermented mashed potatos, arugula, and smoked tuna. Every course after that was a pleasant surprise. Yes, you can leave the nearby and overrated Spigasse with more money in your pocket, or go to the similar-in-spirit and far-more-famous Herb Farm and spend even more, but Altura seems to strike the right balance for a special-occasion meal. Don't expect to enter the restaurant knowing what that day's menu is. They keep each course secret until it's presented and explained to you by the relevant sous-chef. When you leave, they give you a souvenir menu of what you ate. But the surprise and anticipation between each course is part of the fun. A couple of tips: About 10 of the 36 chairs in the restaurant are at the counter. If you want to actually look at your partner without craning your neck to the side, ask for a table when you make your reservation. We did, and they accommodated us without any problem. That being said, the counter seats looked comfortable and had backs. Also, if what you're looking for is less adventuresome, more traditional Italian, then you'll probably want to go to the great Café Lago in the Montlake neighborhood, or the lesser, but fine, La Spiga, a short walk away from Altura. An observation: We had a 6:30 reservation, and was wondering how the restaurant was going to survive catering to all the old farts like us. By the time we left, the restaurant was filled with young, wealthy Microsofties, Amazonians, and Google-ites, so the restaurant really does have a wide, if rich, demographic. (Ironically, the popular Than Brothers pho restaurant is on the same block; you can have a filling dinner there for $8, minus the adventure.) Another observation: Unlike Spigasse, the service in Altura is impeccable. Literally, it feels like a 1:1 ratio of staff to customers. And none of the staff ignore you; you don't have to wait for your waiter if you have a question or concern. (We had questions, but no concerns. For one question, the chef/owner came out to personally answer it.) We're looking forward to our next special occasion to return to Altura.

We went to Altura recently for my birthday after hearing about it from a friend. I love tasting menus and even more when I have no idea what is coming next, so this place fit the bill exactly. We were lucky enough to sit at the bar and watch the magic happen - definitely request this if you visit. After being seated and ordering our drink pairings (the wine pairing is pricey but well worth it) they brought out the first of probably 14 items to taste. The entire night was a tour of flavors, textures and delights. We enjoyed all of them very much and liked that the servings were truly bite sized so you didn't leave feeling stuffed. I would have given them 5 stars if the service had been just a touch better. It is a small restaurant and got loud rather quickly so it was difficult to hear what each server (various people bring your servings out) were saying when they brought your dish, which lead you to guess what you were eating. Service is very important to us and so prefer having 1 or 2 people that get to know you and prefer when you can share a conversation with them, that is definitely not the case at Altura. Having multiple servers didn't detract from the quality of the meal but did not enhance it either. You are eating for 2-3 hours easily so forming even a small connection with the staff can make all the difference. The only other negatives were that they promised a printed menu of what you ate but when I asked for it was told the printer broke. Don't promise what you cannot deliver. Additionally, I know some enjoy the casual atmosphere that Altura offers versus the dressy attire required elsewhere (although, I personally prefer dressing up) and have no issue with nice jeans being worn but seeing t-shirts was a bit too casual for the level of food being served.

The food is good and well presented, but you are not going to spend $165 for the whole menu' as indicated; it will cost you $250 each!! Never again. Not even at Canlis I ever spent that much, with an amazing view and in a very elegant place.

A FINE-DINING MUST TRY IN SEATTLE. My family has been celebrating at Altura Restaurant for the past several years. The tasting menu is absolutely divine. Words simply cannot express the artistic presentation and unexpected flavor combinations that are in every dish. All of the ingredients are local and of the highest quality. The tasting menu is further perfected with the wine pairings. Over the years, we continue to be impressed, inspired, and in awe of each dish Chef Lockwood presents. I have some pictures attached of the tasting menu. It is tradition for my sister to take a photo of every plate, that is why there are numbers on them. At the end of the meal, Altura gives you a copy of the tasting menu. It is so fun to look back at the photos months later, and to remember not only the food on the tasting menu, but also the most perfect dining experience. That is what lead me to write this review! I absolutely cannot speak enough praise for Altura--you truly get to see and eat art. This is such a special restaurant in my family's heart. I cannot recommend Altura highly enough--it is my absolute favorite restaurant in the world.

Undoubtedly the best meal we’ve ever had. Every dish was carefully thought out and prepared. We appreciated all the local and seasonal ingredients. The wine pairings complemented the dishes beautifully.

The food here is good and creative but so overpriced. The portions are also very small.I like the ambiance and the location is very central . The service was good . I would not rush back here but would go if someone wanted to try it that had not been before.

Nathan Lockwood presents amazing food, atmosphere and service. Not the kind of place you would frequent weekly, but for a special evening out, I would highly recommend Altura. The meal is to be savored at a leisure pace; wine pairings recommended!

Simply one of the best meals we've had anywhere, especially Seattle. Service is efficient, friendly and knowledgeable. Food is terrific...multi-course is the way to go. We sdpent a fair amount but felt it was worth it.

I loved this restaurant. We didn't do the tasting menu because of time constraints, but the a la carte was delicious and I didn't feel like we missed anything. The pasta was amazing, and the sommelier was simply a master. Loved the space as well. A truly wonderful gem in Seattle!

This is the first time I have ever posted on Trip. We are from the UK and on a three week tour mainly in Canada but beginning in Seattle for 3 nights. The 4 people in our party including myself have eaten in fine dining restaurants all over the world. As on this occasion we prebook some restaurants before we travel. Upon our arrival at Altura we received a warm welcome and a glass of proseco while we waited for our table for a short while. To be clear we were completely aware of the fixed price tasting menu and our issues with this experience revolves not around the actual price we paid but the exceptionally poor value for money which we have ever experienced eating in fine dining restaurants all over the world. We believe that the restaurant genuinely feels that it is offering an exclusive experience to its clientele but we left the restaurant feeling really disappointed and upset - almost conned - at the really poor value given. Our conclusions are based on the following: 1. The overall explanation of what our culinary experience was going to be was wrapped up in a pre rehearsed monologue that left us initially unclear about what to expect. This was the same when each food offering was being presented to us 2. The finger portions at the beginning were to many - around 10 - a number of which we found tasteless 3. The follow on courses including the entree were - even for a tasting menu - very small and again somehow lacking in flavour. 4. We arrived back at our hotel still feeling hungry!!!! Against this the extensive wine list was excellent and the sommelier gave us really good direction following our describing what we were wanting with our food. All in all having paid the bill of over 800 US dollars we would not recommend this restaurant to anyone - it just offered extremely poor value for money - and we have paid more than this on plenty of occasions in the past

I have eaten at many wonderful restaurants around the world, and I would put this in my top five favorites. We were lucky enough to sit at the counter so we could watch the chefs do their magic. We could also talk to them when appropriate. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. I would highly recommend the tasting menu, which allows the chefs to create different things everyday. If you are getting the tasting menu you should be aware that it will probably take you three hours to dine. This is true dinner theater!

Rather than go on and on about our time at Altura I will quickly sum it up into 2 categories: The Food: 5 star! Great food, which is why we were there in the first place! The food is why you are reading this! I was expecting a lot and the chefs delivered! To die for dishes that make you want to live in order to get to eat the dish coming up next! The chefs are very visible here and they amazed me. In fact the chefs were the most attentive of the entire staff to our needs and kept an eye our for our table...which brings me to category #2.... Wait staff: 2 star. (ugh!!) We got there and we were forgotten until the chefs saw us just sitting there, with empty water glasses and disappointed faces. Our waitress was called for us and she quickly came over and asked if we had any questions on the menu....Umm, how about "hello""..."Welcome to the dinner you're about drop a chunk of $$ on"... "Let me tell you a little about what we have going on tonight"... "Here are some of the items on our tasting menu this evening"....etc. This was the highlight of our week, not just another meal, but from that first empty glass of water the service missed us. As promised, I will not want to go on and on about something that I think was just a bad night for the one person who was helping us. We were there and you are reading this for the food and that was great. But the simple fact is that fine dining is an investment into an experience. Your wait staff is the middle man, the deliverer of the experience that the chefs and all those magical ingredients perfectly blended together want you to have. When the deliverer of that experience has an off night, it throws your experience, your investment, off and ours was. While our disappointment was something that does matter to us, I do not believe that you will have the same experience, only the same great food! So, just go!

The good was amazing, so many courses and so beautifully presented. We were told that the chef actually designed some of the plates/containers. It is so unique and reminded me of a lovely Japanese dinner in Tokyo. Every dish was delicious. This was truly fine dining.

good service, food and atmosphere. visited for dinner and lunch during a week. It is definitely a place worth visiting while in the area

This restaurant is one of the best fine dining places I've been to in the world! I'd recommend sitting at the chef's table/bar section if you're only with one other person, because you get to watch the entire preparation process unfold right in front of you. The quality of ingredients, creativity of dishes, as well as the presentation of food is amazing! The one thing that might need fine-tuning is service (it's an intimate place, which doesn't allow for that many servers) - I noticed the flow of food wasn't perfect, and there was one appetizer that they forgot (I reminded the sous chef who immediately prepared that for myself and my guest). I still won't rate this restaurant down for that, because it's worthy of trying! At $150/person for the tasting menu, this is one of those restaurants you will end up remembering.

After having multiple friends suggest I try this spot, we made a reservation for a special occasion, and were certainly not disappointed. We sat at the bar, and were in prime view of chef and the kitchen staff, which was a great way to learn a lot about what we were about to feast on. We went with a coursed-out option, which was just the right amount of food, and let us great a true sense of what the menu was about. The wine list was absolutely tremendous, and we were assisted extremely well from a couple of choices we'd made on our own, in order to mesh with our dinner. The service was on point 100% of the time, our access to the chef was unfettered (and I believe you'd have access to chef at any table in the house), and we were genuinely impressed from the moment we walked in until we departed after dinner. There's a lot of fantastic food in Seattle, especially nowadays, but Altura definitely set itself apart from many a meal.

Amazing food, amazing service. Loved it! Will go back over and over. Just a word of caution, make sure when ordering extras (in our case truffles for the ravioli) the extra charge was doubled.... Too long to explain but the food and service at this place is amazing!

We made reservations and my wife and I both called to let them know it was a special night and our 30th anniversary and requested a romantic table for two. When we showed up for our reservation they said they they had given our table away because they had a party of 10 call in, so we would only be able to sit at the food bar. We offered to wait for a table and they would not guarantee us a table even if we waited, So we left and will never go back.

Great and interesting food, good service, top notch. If you want a special experience that the locals would understand, this is the place.

During our 7 day stay in Seattle, we made it a point to eat as much as possible from as many different places as possible. Without a shadow of a doubt, the meal that we had at Altura was the absolute best meal of the trip. In fact, it was one of the best meals I have ever had in my life. I am no stranger when it comes to Italian food. I taught myself how to make handmade pasta, gnocchi, risotto and all kinds of sauces. Back in Hawaii, I eat a lot of Italian food. I've eaten Italian in many places including New York, San Fran, Austin, Anaheim, Juneau, Portland, Washington DC.. you get the idea. I don't know what I've been eating all my life, but it wasn't as good as the stuff from Altura. For $67, you can choose your own 3 course meal. The only stipulation is that only one entree can be chosen. If you want an entree and two desserts, so be it. I love this flexible menu and wish more restaurants would adopt it. We each tried three different courses and closed the night with THE most amazing dessert I have ever eaten. Details are below: AMUSE BOUCHE: This was complimentary: fennel panna cotta with beets and a parsley foam. Oh my god.. so delicious GRASSFED BEEF CRUDO: I was expecting a carpaccio of sorts, but it came out looking like a beef tartare. Once it hit my mouth, I didn't care what it looked like because it was absolutely delicious RISOTTO: There were wild mushrooms and foraged greens. Also a foam and some peas. The rice was perfect and it tasted lighter than most risottos I've made and eaten elsewhere. Delicious. This was the best risotto I have ever eaten. GNOCCHI: Wagyu and lamb ragu? Done. Healthy shavings of cheese? Done. The gnocchi was perfect. So light and pillowy. Clouds of heaven to be sure. Delicious. This was the best gnocchi I have ever eaten. PAPARDELLE: There was also a ragu in this dish. This one was made of tripe and oxtail and some spice. It was amazing. The pasta was perfect and helped gather up all the amazing goodness. This was the best papardelle I have ever eaten. ZABUTON STEAK: Its hard to describe this one. Yes, it was delicious, but it also tasted so clean. Lots of flavor and very filling RABBIT FIVE WAYS: The most I've ever eaten rabbit before was one way. This dish had various parts laid out in a beautiful presentation. Wrapped in cabbage, chicken fried, rack of rabbit, kidney, wrapped in bacon.. they were all amazing. In a night of standout dishes, this one stood out slightly more and it was also the best rabbit I have ever eaten. MEYER LEMON IN VELO: Any additional dishes would be $11 more. I'm glad we decided that we could handle dessert. Words cannot describe how amazing this dish is. The flavors were so intense and the dessert itself I found to be very velvety. This was the perfect end to an amazing meal and to no ones surprise, this was the best dessert I've ever had. I would suggest anyone who is even remotely into food to come here. Sit at the bar like we did so you can witness the action of Chef Nathan Lockwood and his team first hand. You will not regret this decision. Altura is now on my list of permanent fixtures every time I come to Seattle and it should be on yours as well.