Grappa Reviews

The worst dining experience in 3 countries and 4 states so far in 2017! I've lived in Queen Anne for 20 years and have always supported our local businesses. This space has been many different restaurants in the last 10-15 years, and the menu looked so good (Greek with Italian influences), and I had such high hopes when walking in. What a horrific experience it became! The noise level was deafening (including booming house music), as in the server could not be heard when she came to the table. She seemed annoyed when asked to speak louder or come closer and repeat whatever she was saying. Her interest level was perfunctory at best. Drinks (Milano mule, Bombay martini) were ok, not large but pricey. Caprese salad and "spanakopita" apps were interesting; the latter more like a croissant of phyllo with a single layer of spinach and drowned in sour cream. The gnocchi were thickly gummy and chewy, and the bright yellow-green "pesto" had no basil or pinenut flavors - the dish was inedible. Chicken piccata disappointed my dining companion with stringy chicken, an ok sauce surprisingly made with tomatoes (piccata with tomatoes?), and undercooked spaghetti ("not quite al dente yet"). The pickled beets were tasty. Our server's indifference continued in her absence when we were served. When she later realized that the gnocchi had not been eaten, she took the plate away. Then the demented manager showed up. His approach to dissatisfied customers was to berate them rather than apologizing or listening to feedback! Including following us out the door and down the street after we said "thank you and good night." He was ticked that we didn't leave a bigger tip, after such a bad experience at their hands! Grappa is not about hospitality or good dining. The manager should seek another line of business, where he doesn't deal with customers.

Excellent service, reasonably priced (for Seattle!) and nice atmosphere with very helpful staff. The Octopus was particularly good.

The dining experience at Grappa is typically exceptional, with their meticulous attention to detail, flavorful pasta, and quality ingredients leaving a wonderful lasting impression. It's a great spot for out-of-town guests to enjoy everything Seattle's culinary scene has to offer. However, our recent visit left us disappointed, not because of the food or service, but due to a new policy they've implemented. On the bill, a 3.5% optional surcharge is now added, purportedly to help “provide health benefits and competitive wages to their culinary staff.” This approach feels passive-aggressive and obnoxious. While it's understood that running a business involves paying staff and providing benefits, making it a separate line item on the bill seems unnecessary. If additional funds are needed to cover these expenses, you should just adjust the menu prices. The surcharge amounted to less than three dollars, a negligible amount that could have easily been absorbed into the overall pricing structure without notice. The fact that this charge is added separately and so passive aggressively comes across as mean-spirited, petty, and disrespectful to the hardworking staff. I’m sure the owners of the restaurant are doing just fine financially, and so to throw their workers under the bus is insulting and inexcusable. We find Grappa's policy unacceptable and will not be returning.

We went here during restaurant week for the three course dinner. The waitress recommended the risotto even though I was leaning towards another option. I'm glad I went with her suggestion. It was really delicious. Cooked perfectly. The shiitake mushroom soup was great too .. perfect for a rainy night. Not a fan of dessert options but hard to beat the dinner. Nice wines good service. Great ambience and not noisy! Great for conversation.

The food was fantastic except for the pasta. I would recommend the octopus as a starter. The rack of lamb was perfectly cooked as well as the osso bucco. The service was outstanding and parking in the area was easy. Our only complaint was the spinach pasta which was too salty and tasteless. The Saganaki(fried sheep cheese) was fantastic.

This was one of the better dinner experiences I’ve had in a while. The ambiance puts you at ease. The service was excellent. And the food was delicious. We would definitely eat here again. And I would recommend to friends and family.

We actually stopped here on Easter Sunday and went early enough that we were able to get a seat. We all ordered grilled cheese with soup. Luckily for two of us, we were able to switch out the regular soup they offered for the Lobster Bisque, and it was fantastic with plenty of lobster pieces in it. The grilled cheese was delicious, too!

Just had a wonderful meal at Grappas. We were treated like VIP’s from the moment we walked in the door. We loved the atmosphere and ambience. Welcoming, romantic, interesting. Our server Dani was outstanding. Very attentive and friendly. We had the Seafood Risotto. It was creamy with lots of seafood. Recommended. Also had the Paella. Came to the table steaming hot. It was delicious. The entire meal was great. A perfect evening. Overall highly recommended.

We went on Valentine Day so it was a limited menu. As with any new restaurant, it has yet to work out some kinks. For one thing, our waiter seemed overwhelmed and a bit inexperienced. Also our main dishes were not served at the same time and we observed this happening to the table next to us as well. Moving on to the food, we shared meatballs for appetizer and they were very tasty. We also tried the Seafood Risotto and the Halibut. I think the portion size is deceiving in that at first glance, they seemed to be on the smaller side. However, the food was quite rich that by the end, we felt satisfied. Overall it was a good dining experience. It is also great that it is next to How to cook a wolf, which is always hard to get in so now there is an alternative.

We bungled up a reservation at Cook the wolf and walked in here. Sat at the bar for a few. Ok cocktails. Chatty server. They seated us at a corner table-- that looked like a 70s bench misplaced from back in time with 2+1+1 seating. The server took a while to appear and was chatty and casual. The food was good, but slow service. Perhaps hire some servers? Glad to get a spot for food on busy queen anne on saturday night.

I've lived in this neighborhood for 25 years and am constantly crossing restaurant off my list to go to due to everything from service to poor food. My wife and I just got back from lunch at this restaurant and I can safely say I was more than a little surprised. We ordered bruschetta and spaghetti bolognese and both were terrific. While I'm no great food critic both of these times were nicely balanced i.e. just the right amount of sauce to noodle ratio and the balance of items making up the bruschetta was perfect. Food was excellent and service very good.

We had dinner on the patio. We started with the mozzarella and tomato appetizer followed by splitting the spaghetti carbonara and roasted corn. Everything was very fresh and delicious. Although most of the diners were seated on the patio - the tables were very close together and social distancing was not enforced. There are some dividers between the tables, but the majority of the tables were not separated or distanced from other diners. If you are at all squeamish about dining out during the pandemic, this is not the place for you. Service was friendly but a bit uneven. We had to wave down our server to get our bill.

The server was great and the decor was comfy but the food has a lot to be desired. ‎Caesar Cardini would be highly disappointed in what they did to his salad. The gonci pesto was very bland. However its not to say you should not try this place as I am sure the other dishes are fine. Give this place a shot you may have a different experience.

Risotto and Spicy Sausage with Vodka sauce pasta were amazing! Seriously good and perfect. Friendly service. They're a bit overloaded like everyone else post-pandemic. And the airflow could have been a bit better (it was a bit hot temperature-wise). But overall this is a strong recommendation

We come in the restaurant very late after a long trip through Seattle. Even if the were closing soon, they provided a perfect service, without an stress. The dinner was great, very delicious food - the starters, the main dishes and the dessert. The interior of the restaurant is extremely nice. Always again ! S. & C. From Frankfurt/ Germany

Queen Anne needs another restaurant/bar. Not much of the interior has changed since it first became a restaurant in 2007. We had not heard good reviews about this restaurant but decided to try it any way. Unfortunately, it wasn't very good. Avoid the 'grappa' inspired cocktails unless you love grappa. The meatballs were very dry, but the flavor was ok. The gnocchi was soggy and bland. Hopefully, this is a learning curve as they haven't been open long and the food will improve.

I have to admit that we actually went to Ristorante Picolinos the night before because somebody mentioned that in a review of Grappas. That is another excellent restaurant but I am glad we came back here the following day. It was an outstanding experience with great food and superb service. The waiter made many great recommendations (e.g. wine pairing) and was very attentive. The Watermelon Gazpacho was very refreshing. The Beef Cheeks were super tender and the Wild Mushroom Sausage Risotto was outstanding. The Spaghetti Carbonara was a bit unconventional with onions and zucchini and had maybe a bit too much bacon (instead of Pancetta). The three different flavors of the Trio Panna Cotta were delicious. The only drawback was the price. I know that Seattle is more expensive than the typical Midwest but it was also quite a bit more than Ristorante Picolinos.

Italian unique and rich. The special Bechamel lobster sauce over crispy trout on fettuccine was creamy, cheesy with a suprises of sweet currents for a kick. Served in a cast iron dish it stayed hot throughout the meal. My husband's lobster risotto was flavorful though he thought a bit salty. The staff was young and engaging. Several families dined near us yet it was a cozy atmosphere with real candles and an adults only bar section. On top of Queen Anne Hill it was conveniently located on the main road. Loved it.

The butternut squash risotto and Dungeness crab ravioli were both amazing! Great attentive service too!

Met some friends for drinks and noshes at Grappa’s hh. The menu looked inviting but the service wasn’t. The first waitperson stopped by to take our drink order. We asked for a few minutes as the last person in the group had not arrived yet. After she did, it took quite awhile before we were waited on again, this time by another individual. Our first waitperson never showed up again. We placed our order: 3 mixed drinks and 1 glass of wine. The pour on the wine was the smallest any of us had seen. There was nothing on the menu stating it would be smaller than a standard pour, so expecting a 4-6 oz pour would not have been unusual. What we received was something closer to a 2 oz taste. We joked about it being a “happy hour sized pour,” knowing full well that it wasn’t. We ordered the prawns and octopus. Both were tiny portions and just ok. When the waitperson stopped by to clear our plates, I indicated my glass had a crack in it and he might want to throw it out so as to prevent any injuries. He didn’t even acknowledge the comment and most certainly did not apologize. He seemed resentful of waiting on tables. Probably not returning as there are many other places that would actually extend hospitality to their guests!

My husband and I enjoyed Happy hour and continued on through dinner. The food and wine were very good, traditional Italian fare. Excellent customer service as well.

The seafood pasta was deliciously flavored. Unfortunately, the chocolate cake was too sweet. Service is friendly and attentive. Will come back to try more of the savory dishes.

I recently tried this relatively new restaurant on the Upper Queen Anne scene for lunch. It focuses on Mediterranean cuisine with offerings such as hummus, fried calamari and souvlaki. I chose a chicken gyros ($12), which comes with salad or fries and I ordered fries. The gyros had chopped tomatoes instead of the slices that I am accustomed to and seemed more like salsa. I found a few cubes of feta cheese in the mixture and they detracted from the flavor, so I dumped them out and the gyros then tasted fine. The thin fries could have been a bit more crispy. When I arrived at 12:30 p.m., customers sat at two tables inside and at one table on the long, narrow outside patio. The interior seemed somewhat dark so I chose to dine outside on the beautiful, sunny day and eat at one of the small, wooden tables. The restaurant sits at the corner of Boston Street and Queen Anne Avenue North, so there was much activity to take in during the short wait for my lunch. Recorded easy-listening music played at a reasonable level and was quite enjoyable. My server was pleasant, prompt and attentive. As the sole waitress, she became busier and busier as a few more customers arrived, but this did not detract from her excellent service at my table. Grappa seems like more of a neighborhood eatery than a destination restaurant. But for those who find themselves in the vicinity with a car and would like to eat here, street parking is available.I have always been able to fine a space within two to three blocks of the intersection, where this restaurant is located.

We went there because of their great reviews. We found the food to be good, but not great and over-priced. We would not go back again.

We had a pleasant dinner outside tonight. My wife had lasagna ($24) and I had risotto ($22) with an IPA. Service was timely and informative. But ... at the end, I noticed an unexpected 3% added to our already expensive bill. And to boot, there was a tip line at the bottom! I have made it a habit of avoiding all restaurants that add these involuntary surcharges supposedly for the sake of the servers. It is not only greedy but it sends a message that the customer will not add a reasonable, voluntary tip of his/her own. I will return if they take away with foolishly greedy surcharge.

I really wanted to love this restaurant. The location is fantastic, and inside is very well decorated. The menu is small, and the food is just OK. I wanted fantastic. Of no help whatsoever was a gum smacking server who did not seem to know much about the menu, (nor care.) My dinner partner and I nevertheless made light of it, and enjoyed the feel of the place. I would, however, recommend choosing somewhere else if you are looking for knowledgeable staff and really good food.

Waitstaff was prompt and courteous. Food was okay, not my particular type of foods on the menu. The spaghetti had lots if meat. I like mine with more tomato flavor. I found out after I left that I was charged $3 for a lemonade I never ordered. 4 meals and appetizers were $110 and no drinks.

An adorable little restaurant with a cool bar and seriously great gyros. We got them to go and they were TREMENDOUS

I think in over 500 reviews I have never given a "5"--but I am tonight. We were meeting friends last night and Piccolino's said they couldn't handle more than 4, so I took a chance and made a reservation at Grappa. We had never eaten there before. This was an "outperform" meal on so many levels. First of all, our server-and I wish I could remember his name, but I can't--was helpful and enthusiastic. One friend and I each had a glass of a red from Montepulciano, Abruzzo--a town I have in fact visited. This wine was consistent, full-bodied, and without aftertaste. It complemented the items that followed easily. One person had only a salad but we ordered the grilled octopus (more like a Greek dish, but excellent) with a splash of olive oil over it and a dish of the saganaki, which was set on-fire (again, Greek, but very good)--our guests were wowed and the cheese was good. For entrees, we had the seafood risotto, which I found particularly praiseworthy. It was light, flavorful, and not overwhelmed by the cheese. It was delicate, with a foundation of lobster bisque. A friend two seats down had the spicy sausage rigatoni. I thought this was different and, for me, pleasing. The chicken marsala was competent, but for me not stirring (I didn't order that one). The least impressive dish for me--but even that was quite good--was the paella. Perhaps it needed a little "diablo"--spicy content. But even here, Grappa was not finished with us. I had a spicy pumpkin/cheesecake ice cream that was very fun. It was more pumpkin than cheesecake, but still, this was bold. Last came a small espresso cup wearing a cap, so cute. And the espresso was good too. All in all, this was a very impressive dining experience. Competent, experimental, knowledgeable of the Mediterranean traditions, and willing to add new twists. Bravo! Cinque Terre and some of the other competitors could learn a few things here. There were some dissenting votes, however. One friend said he still preferred Piccolino's. My wife said she wasn't happy with the salad (I didn't try it--). For the six of us, with tip, the bill came out to 285$. As I said, one person didn't have an entree. We'll add some photos later.

This quaint corner restaurant in Queen Anne is a fantastic date spot and the service was great. The spanakopita is a must get! And, per the name get a cocktail made with grappa or pick from their amazing selection.

We went to Grappa expecting it to be amazing. There were 10 of us and we ordered appetizers. The focaccia bread came out thinly sliced and burned. And surprisingly so did the squid appetizer. While most of the meals (pasta dishes mostly) were good, there were a few that were not as good. The seafood pasta was flavorless. The service was good. For the price, we were disappointed. I had the house soup. While it was interesting, the spicing was slightly off.

My daughter and I visited Seattle, one of our goals was “good local food”. Grappa did not disappoint! We loved the atmosphere, the menu was delightful, and Visiting Queen Anne was wonderful. What set Grappa apart was the service, it was top notch! Well done Grappa!

This is an attractive restaurant with a comfortable interior (perhaps noisy when crowded?) and some lovely outside seating for those sunny days. Staff were friendly and attentive, but we found the food and wine offerings passable at best. Part of that was perhaps preference -- we didn't enjoy the smoky taste added to the Seafood Risotto, nor did we like the nutmeg (?) that flavored the Beets With Gorgonzola and left a bitter aftertaste. Our Spaniard Octopus was tasty as a starter, and the Pappardelle Bolognese were rich and flavorful as well. The seafood risotto was perhaps a bit past 'al dente' but had a couple of shrimp and a nice layering of salmon as well as a surprising ring of tomato sauce that worked quite well. Wines by the glass were a soave (light, innocuous -- but that's soave) and a barbera that was light-bodied and astringent. There is much better barbera available out there. All in all it wasn't bad, and it might work as a neighborhood drop-in spot, but it wasn't something we'd go out of our way to try again.

I misspelled gem, right? No I did not. Jem the general manager is fantastic. On our first night we ordered via DoorDash. Grappa staff forgot to add potatoes to our Lemon Chicken, a sin, right? My wife called in the complaint and Jem took action. Though many miles distant he was willing to bring the potatoes in his own car!! We said, please no. He then wrote up a gift card. The food was sublime. So much so we ordered again the next evening. Yes, we also wanted to use the gift card (smartypants). This time I drove to the convenient Queen Anne Hill location to pick up. Jem heard I was outside waiting and came out to apologize yet again. Did he think I was Jan Wade the famous Australian author? No, he had never heard of her either. He was simply concerned enough and properly proud enough of his establishments' reputation! He made a friend. We will return as a destination point. Note: We will find a B&B or boutique hotel on Queen Anne Hill and explore the many very quaint shops and eateries. However, we will dine at Grappa a very worthy destination restaurant.

Three of us had the pappardelle alla bologgnese which was pretty good. I had the clams and mussels in wine broth and was fresh and hot. Our favorite thing was the hummus appetizer. We would return to try something different.

We really pigged put while we were here and it was all delicious! We each got 2 appetizers, an entree and our own dessert. The service was amazing! But the food...it was the best meal we have both had out, in a very long time... highly suggest!!!

Nothing outstanding here. Food and service are fine, but there are so many great spots in Seattle to eat, this place does nothing to set it apart. This Mediterranean inspired restaurant excels at neither Greek or Italian food. Worth a try but not a trip.

Good food. Service was fine, but just TOOOOO noisy w/ the music trying to overpower conversations. I never understand why restaurants think we want loud music blasting when we're dining out with friends. I'm not sure why I'd go to back. The menu wasn't particularly outstanding, and there are certainly more relaxing venues.

Wasn't that great. Sorry, 4 bucks for plain white bread toasted does not equate focaccia. Try making real focaccia. Service was good, but food was just not good enough to ever return.

When to Grappa for the first time during restaurant week in Seattle. The ambiance is very nice (except the music was a bit to loud when we arrived). I had the sea scallops and pasta and it was very good. The gelato for dessert was very good.

Our group of 20 came at 5pm for happy hour drinks and snacks. To avoid the delay and confusion of a large group placing separate orders, we spoke with the front of house manager, Gem, ahead of time and pre-ordered a selection of appetizers, 8 bottles of wine, and plenty of bubbly for the table. Because the size of our party would have clogged the bar area, Gem set us up in the dining room. From start to finish (we left after about an hour, happy and satiated), he provided flawless service. A member of our party commented that we were being treated like royalty. The food was also excellent and amply portioned (steamed clams with Italian sausage, meatballs marinara, bruschetta, caprese, roasted cauliflower gratin, watermelon salad with mint & feta); the wines (cab, rose, pino grigio, & prosecco) were of unusually high quality for happy hour selections. From start to finish, everything was handled smoothly and professionally, with a real touch of class. Our thanks to Gem and the chef for a genuine treat at Grappa.

This place is a great new neighborhood restaurant in a location that has seen many an entity come and go. Happy hour is a good way to acquaint yourself with Grappa, but note that the happy hour menu and pricing are only available in the bar area. If not happy hour then lunch as dinner can be quite expensive. Visit the new Grappa @ Boston Street and Queen Anne Ave., you will not be disappointed!

We went here as a very tired family and we were so glad we went there!!! We would recommend their hummus, ravioli and their lasagna! It was a lovely, family friendly environment with an amazing ambiance! This is a must in the area!

Had a Greek Salad and Greek (Turkish) coffee. Food was merely adequate, and small portions for the price. Enjoyed the fully priced and very tiny Turkish coffee. It comes on a cheap imitation tea tray. The attempt at fancy presentation and small size smacks of pretense. I'd have been happier with a simple china espresso cup on the usual size you get in Greece. The ambiance was decent for lunch, with an excellent soundtrack at a reasonable volume. The waiter was a little aloof. When I asked where he was from, and he said France, it all made sense. :-)

We went here on the advice of our Air BnB host, and we loved it. The seafood risotto was the best my husband had ever had, and my mushroom and sausage risotto was perfect. We also loved the dolmas and hummus as starters. Portions are not too big to be wasteful. The servers am we're all very friendly and we plan to go back during our week here.

Grappa is a new addition to the top of Queen Anne and a welcome one. It's a cozy restaurant with a small menu, but if you like Mediterranean food you should check it out. We've been there twice and both times we've truly enjoyed the dishes. The seafood risotto seems like a small portion, but it's so rich that the amount was plenty. We shared an appetizer and had two entrees. We planned on another entree, but that ended up being plenty of food. We'll definitely be back!

We live nearby on Queen Anne and visited Grappa during Restaurant Week. We were delighted to find a high quality Mediterranean restaurant in our neighborhood. We had the Tuscan Style Asparagus, Halibut Picatta and Bakalava. The food was terrific, our waiter was attentive and helpful, the seating was comfortable and the restaurant had a very pleasant atmosphere. It's a perfect place to relax and enjoy an excellent dinner. I expect we'll do so again soon.

Took our son out for a meal and enjoyed the food we had at Grappa. Nice atmosphere, waitress was attentive, food had lots of flavour. Nice location.

We were there on a Friday night. It was very warm and being Seattle, there is no air conditioning. We were lucky to get a table next to the window as there was nothing available outside. I guess it's Mediterranean but it's a bit unusual, to me, to see both Greek and Italian items on a menu but it works together! We had Saganaki for an appetizer. I'm used to seeing this flamed at the table, but it was not; it came to the table as a pile of melted cheese. But it was good. I didn't have a salad, but my companions did, and they looked good. I had the Spaghetti Puttanesca and it was the best I've ever had. It was rich and just a bit spicy. I highly recommend it. They also have a great wine list.

We arrived on a busy Monday evening without a reservation. The wait for a table was 45 minutes. However, the hostess found us a cabaret table for two in the bar, and we were seated right away. The wait staff promptly took our drink orders and the rest of the evening was just as efficient, but not rushed. I had the spaghetti pesto with prawns and my husband had the seafood gnocchi, both well prepared with generous portions. Highly recommended.

The food was good! The place seemed nice but our service was terrible.. the waiter came by the table periodically and it oops us over two hours to eventually get asked if we wanted a desert. Order appetizers and we did not get busted again for an hour …. It was disappointing Me and my 3 guests just gave up waiting for deserts ..

This place is great for breakfast, lunch, brunch, and dinner with family and friends! The food and drinks are delicious, the customer service is simply outstanding! Always a great experience when I come here. Highly recommend!

Delicious food. Try the succulent Saganaki cheese plate. Very few outside seating. Nice staff Restaurant is located in a nice and enjoyable neighbourhood. Not always easy to park

Accommodating waitstaff, excellent food. We liked dinner so much we returned for brunch. Very pleasant heated outdoor seating.

Very friendly and attentive staff, wonderful service, delicious meals. Our waiter Shayan was very efficient, kind and friendly. He was so welcoming and thoughtful that it felt like we came to a close friend. The entire experience was really great! I have already reserved a couple of visits in July to introduce my friends to this restaurant. Many thanks to everyone who made our visit very special.

We've brought friends and they all love this place too! Happy Hour is fun and the dinner menu is great. Family recipes are used and the staff is consistent, which says a lot as well. Fun wine list, had my first Greek wine last week and it was very good. Try their Paella or Seafood Risotto, which is out of this world. They make their own flat bread daily. Fun place and atmosphere is great at night. Don't forget to order the Turkish coffee!

Visited Grappa for lunch in August 2021. Made a reservation at OpenTable. Opened for lunch at noon. We sat outside terrace on a beautiful sunny day. Seafood salad was amazing. Good service and good atmosphere also. Very enjoyable and highly recommend.

We like Grappa for a few reasons. . . delicious fresh Italian food, friendly servers and easy going casual ambiance. Their pastas are so delicious. The pesto gnocchi is wonderful with the gnocchi being seared just prior to serving. This is not really a special occasion place but rather a reliable neighborhood favorite. It is never too noisy, something we like. At night the candlelight is warm and inviting.

We enjoyed drinks and soup at this nice restaurant in Queen Anne Hill neighborhood. The warm decor was nice.

We had a delicious restaurant week menu, but unfortunately 4 of a party of 6 had GI issues that night. The starter we all had was the Brussels sprouts with bacon.

Late lunch for two on a Sunday. SERVICE: 4.0. Great advice on wine and food. FOOD: 4.0 - House gnocchi with sausage: 4.0 - Zucchini linguine: 4.0. She really liked it. AMBIANCE: 4.0. TV over bar, but thankfully on mute. Comfortable interior, with outdoor seating available. Two unisex bathrooms, very clean with pleasant fragrance and subdued lighting.