Carrello Reviews

Had an amazing meal at Carrello. We were lucky to be seated in the herb garden out back on one of the last warm summer nights in Seattle. We were met promptly by our waiter who provided attentive service the entire evening. They have paused the carts of small plates due to the pandemic, and now have a more traditional menu. My party opted for the $75/person five-course dinner, and the food kept coming and coming! Everything was so flavorful, from the salads to the pastas to the main course. Drinks were excellent, too. Highly recommended.

After four months of a lonely and isolating Covid-19 quarantine, we decided to venture out to dinner for our first time. Moving to Seattle two weeks before the shut down, gave us little time to explore and understand the city. Thus, we chose to return to one of our first dining experiences, when we were still deciding whether Seattle would be a good fit. Who knew a pandemic would hit, and maybe the only good choice would be New Zealand or Iceland. Finding parking right on Broadway was a good sign, and as we cautiously strolled down the street, we could see people out, enjoying themselves, throwing viral concerns out the window. Refreshing to see maybe, but maybe also stupid, as viral numbers are spiking. Social distancing was not evident at the outside bars and restaurants along Broadway. However, Carrello’s was remarkably different, a haven of protection in a sea of infection. We were led to a make shift outdoor dining tent of sorts, located in Carrello’s parking lot. It was kind of charming I guess, kind of like going to a party in someone’s garage which happens in Wisconsin. Tables were spaced well apart, and I heard an audible sigh of relief from my more paranoid wife. Service was sophisticated and professional, as we perused the abbreviated menu. Choices were minimal, but the offerings would meet most people’s needs. Our rabbit meatballs were huge, spicy, and delicious. I souped up the sauce with Carrello’s fantastic bread. My pappardelle pasta was cooked well, but strange. The ragu was more of a goulash almost, with small chunks of meat and vegetables. I picked out the pasta and ate that. I craved a classic Italian ragu. Branzino, a ubiquitous fish seemingly on every Italian menu in the US, was done beautifully in both presentation and taste. Our potato side dish was just as good as we remembered. Sixty minutes after stepping into Carrello, our check arrived, a 20% gratuity added to our $155 dollar bill. I added an extra $10.00 for pandemic relief. We left somewhat subdued. Our last meal at Carrello’s, in January of 2020, was a raucous affair. We sat at the bar, hamming it up with the people around us, as laughter and exclamations of fun reverberated around the room. We had a blast. This “new normal,” as it is obnoxiously coined, is not to my liking. Social distance be damned! I know it’s necessary, but I miss humanity. I miss laughter, conversation, goofiness, the exchange of ideas, sharing moments of joy together. Restaurants have always been a place that brings people, often strangers, together to share in the abundance of living. Differences are put aside, as we toast the binds that bring us together, deemphasizing what keeps us apart. I had a nice meal at the new pandemically correct Carrello’s, but I didn’t necessarily have a good time. Perhaps it would be different if we were with friends, but we know not a soul in Seattle. I want to have that good time of lore, before we all masked our face and soul. Please, please, virus go away. Your infection has spread from our bodies into the veins of our culture. We all need to laugh and enjoy life again. Let’s be safe and give those federal troops a hug from me.

Carrello's provided the best experience: from making a party reservation to celebrate a college graduation (& my continuing to change the numbers) to providing the most amazing food for this group of almost 20. The tasting menu (our only option for the big group) was spectacular, from the presentation to the mouth-watering tastes. I really cannot express how fabulous the food/service (& drinks) were. Please go if you have a chance!

We had a broad range of dishes family-style. Every dish was a hit. The octopus was appetizer and the pork shank mains were really stand-out dishes. Great wine list and they recommended a perfect match for the food. Service was friendly and well done.

Fantastic and interesting pastas in a restaurant owned by Nathan Lockwood of Altura. The best part is the plethora of little carts roving around with tapas-type servings of yummy foods. Order a pasta to share but save lots of room for visits from those little carts! Everything is delicious.

Our family of 7 did the 5-course feast, and it was fabulous & fun. Every dish was wonderful, especially the pumpkin mezzaluna, salad, fried potatoes, chicken & Lamb. Service was excellent as well. Wine & cocktails were tasty as well. There is parking on the street, a lot near the side of the restaurant or a parking lot behind the restaurant.

We were so impressed with this restaurant. It's softly understated, yet the food courses are incredible with flavor and technique and design. We recommend ordering the feast menu where they design the courses for you. Each dish had so many layers of flavor the brought surprise each time. They may say it's five courses, but each course has 2 to 3 different plates! It never disappoints all the way through the amazing dessert presentations. Bravo! One of our most memorable meals on the planet.

I was invited to my boss wedding which took place at Carrello. It was a 5 course fine dinner. The service and the place decor are amazing. The food was exquisite. We had a lovely time!!!

Recently stopped by for our monthly dinner out. I let my husband order the main course and he loves the lamb (can take an hour to prepare) so that's what we had! I ordered my normal small plates including roasted carrots, burrata, and squash. Everyone serves burrata but Carello's, which is different each time we've ordered, had a fig mint pepper jam, roasted herbs, and roasted apples. The burrata and carrots were so good that I ordered a takeout dinner a few nights later with roast chicken, carrots, and burrata ($100). We generally spend $200-220 dining in which includes 3-4 drinks and dessert. The entrees are large enough to share.

We went here for my wife’s birthday with a group of four. We all shared the family style dinner. Not only was the food excellent, but the way the food rolls out of her kitchen, the meal was fun and interesting to see what was coming next.

After a few necessary drinks at the Bait Shop, we strolled through the cold rain to Carrello, surprisingly quiet on a Friday night. At the bar, we ordered, wine, a cocktail, and a few pastas. Wow! Wowee! The pastas were fabulous. Much better than we remembered from past visits. Who's responsible? I did tip the kitchen staff after my meal, but never got the name of the pasta maestro. The Agnolotti was so good, I ordered another portion for dessert! My cooing after tasting the Pappardelle must have sounded very perverse. I didn't care. Even the crispy duck leg forced obscure sounds of pleasure. Cameron was the gentleman behind the bar tolerating my noises. He was very gracious. Only one other person sat at the comfortable bar at Carrello's. Why isn't Carrello's packed every night? I don't get it. Fabulous pasta, warm service, and fun cocktails should attract the crowds. Is it too sophisticated for the Seattle flannel and phone obsessed? Maybe a colorful mural on the blank space above the open kitchen would help. The decor may be too bland, but if you want a great restaurant experience, hit up Carrello's.

We visited with another couple on a Saturday night and had a great time. We are huge fans of Altura, which is the owned by the same people and in my opinion, the best restaurant in Seattle. Carrello is a much more economical and casual option. It took over the spot Poppy's occupied, and they did a nice job with warming up the interior, but still leaving a modern aesthetic. It feels like a great place for a nice date night, but not overly formal or pretentious. They have a nice bar and the cocktails were good. They have a type of Italian "dim-sum", where they bring around a small cart of rotating bites and you can pick and choose what you like. It was fun and gives you a chance to try more things. They also have an a la carte menu. The pastas were fabulous, especially the gnocchi. We also had the meatball, which I highly recommend. The beet salad was also very nice. We had one vegetarian with us and they gave her several options that she could have vegetarian. They had a nice wine list with reasonably priced bottles and wines by the glass. The staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. We really enjoyed it.

In the former Poppy space, thoughtfully remodeled. This restaurant has a very special feature: there is a menu and there are also carts that go through the restaurant with small plates dim-sum style. It is a blend of dim-sum which has a long tradition in the Asian community of Seattle, together with fine Italian food. We elected to order pastas off the menu and then graze on the carts for small plates and dessert. It is a pleasure to write the first TA review and we will certainly go back. There is a pay parking lot around back.

I was very disappointed in Carrello. The food quality is very good, but the portions are small and the prices are high for what you get. I will not return.

They have an excellent tasting menu. Our server made every effort to make it a special evening and he did. The music is a bit loud for us so we sat outside on a warm night and very much enjoyed it. The dishes are interesting and well prepared on the tasting menu. We will go back for a simpler meal.

Clearly, the kitchen staff where overwhelmed with the 6PM dinner rush. We ordered some of the items on the menu that take 1h to cook (well worth it!), but in the end it was 1.5h or more... Food was delicious. Every bite tried was amazing. Definitely worth a repeat. The space is open and well ventilated. If the wait would bot have been that long, it would be a definite 5/5.

Avoid their terrible entitled service. Such high expectations based on the reviews but the service and ambience was disappointing. Would not recommend it! Mr. Manager get good service and improve your ambience. Food is ok! I can get the same at other places on the same street