Raccolto Reviews

The food is delicious. Everything we ordered was wonderful! The restaurant is very nice albeit a little noisy. We sat in a booth which was probably a better location for the 4 of us. The manager, Zach Saffle, was superb. I think he is the hardest working person in the restaurant. My only complaint was that the featured cocktail was very small for $14.

Raccolto is the second of a triad of similarly themed small trattoria/bars opened by Chef Bryan Clevenger in West Seattle. It features his take on classic Italian cooking merged with the American desire for more heavily sauced pastas than most Italians favor. It is aimed at serving local families lovingly prepared meals. Craft cocktails are also featured. They don't seem to brag about it but the name, from the verb for gathering the crop, suggests they are locally sourced. It is a family eatery, not a white linen tablecloth restaurant. Decor is functional elegant with butcher block table tops and chair bottoms and furniture grade plywood benches for the booths. Art on the walls is spare but your eyes will be on your food, with a glance or two at your neighbor's. With flat, hard, surfaces, from the concrete floor to tables and benches, noise levels topped out at 87 decibels while we were there. That is comparable to a pizza parlor with 1-2 sports teams celebrating. I hope they will soften some of the surfaces to reduce that noise level. Although we could still converse, it was not comfortable. Prices for main dishes in the mid to high $20s may limit the number of times some can attend but pastas are handmade on site, perfectly cooked, hearty, and run in the low-mid teens. We will return most often for a salad and pasta and splurge on a glass of excellent wine. The dining room measures about 35' x 40' with 35' ceiling. On the north wall are 3 booths for 4 and the rest of the room has 9-10 small tables grouped either as singles, doubles or triples for 2, 4, or 6 diners. It didn't feel crowded to me. The bar, in the southwest corner, opposite the open kitchen, seats 8 and filled the night we were there before the tables. There are also 4 bar type seats at the counter overlooking the open kitchen that I am eager to try. The night we were there, a Thursday, the tables were full by 5:45. The bar is where they serve happy hour from 5-6 pm. The Happy Hour menu has smaller servings of a selection of offerings from the dinner menu. I didn't see Happy Hour discounts on liquor. Staff is numerous and as knowledgeable and comfortable as I would expect in a well established 5 star restaurant of greater size. Wines by the glass were mainly Italian with a single selection from 7-8 regions for reds and fewer for whites. They were out of my first choice, a Montepulciano. I had a pleasing Sicilian Nero d'avalo for $14 that was about 4-5 oz. I would order it again. We started with mixed greens salad which was 2 full cups of very tender, fresh, mixed greens, caressed, not hugged by a champagne vinaigrette and topped with a sharp pecorino. It had 1 teaspoon of a denser mustard champagne sauce lining 1/3 of the side wall of the serving bowl, a very pleasing surprise. My pasta, a strozzapretti, was 1 cup of a dense spiral 3-4" long noodles, with a rich, smooth, reduced pork sauce and 4 pieces of slow cooked pork each 1-2 oz. or about 5-6 oz. total of meat. I am not a light eater but would be satisfied with a baguette, a salad and a pasta. My wife had a tagliatelle, a 3/4" wide flat noodle 6-8" long with a more subtle chanterelle mushroom cream sauce with fresh cracked black pepper that had a noticeable citrus component. Both were $14. We split the black cod at $25. It was a 4 oz. fillet, pan seared, skin side down, to crisp with soft succulent flakes balanced just past what would have been undercooked. That was plated with 1/2 cup of cauliflower florets with a cream sauce and artichoke heart accents. For a secondi, and after the salad and pasta, it seemed a little bland in color and taste. I am more excited about returning sooner than she is but we both enjoyed the meal and want to go back.

A few weeks ago, we chose Raccolto for our anniversary dinner. It was a wise choice. The staff was knowledgeable, but not condescending; friendly and welcoming, but not effusive; and helpful, but not intrusive. If you like loud noisy restaurants with lots of visual clutter and no elbow room, this place is NOT for you. However, if you enjoy delicious Italian-West Coast cuisine in airy surroundings, yet quiet enough for intimate conversation, you couldn’t make a better choice. From the Dungeness Crab Salad, to the gelato of the day, everything was fresh, tasty, and beautifully presented. This was the second special occasion that we've celebrated at Raccolto, but it won’t be the last.

We tried Raccolto when it first opened last November. We returned for the second time this weekend and had a wonderful experience. The service was great! Knowledgeable server who was helpful in choosing wines to compliment our dinners. Their portions are on the small side but still adequate. Everything was fresh and flavorful. All four of us had salads and pasta and everything was excellent. The weather was sunny so their front windows were open for a lovely outdoor dining feel. Great local spot!

This is a great addition to West Seattle. We had dinner at Raccolto with another couple and shared our dishes as recommended by the waitress. We shared two starters, three pasta dishes and a desert, perhaps too many pasta dishes. Each selection was served on a small plate, so the focus is on quality rather than quantity. The starters were magnificent and the pasta dishes quite good. I am looking forward to our next visit there.

We close 2 pasta choices to share: both different and delicious Salad was copious and tasty Cocktail was innovative and good and house white wine was very good.

We very much enjoyed our dinner. We had wonderful pasta--we had rigatoni with a pork sauce---similar to pasta dishes we have had in Northern Italy. Our other dish was spaghetti with an anchovy parsley sauce that was also wonderful. The salad was good. We did not have dessert after all the pasta! The only downside is that the restaurant is quite noisy.

My husband and I ate an early dinner at this wonderful West Seattle restaurant on a busy Friday evening. Raccolto has an Intriguing though limited menu. We began with two appetizers of Dungeness crab salad with fresh crunchy peas, apple and fennel and a plate of beets rinsed with a champagne vinaigrette and orange slices, pistachios and micro-greens atop a spread of fresh ricotta. The beet dish was truly delicious, light, and fresh! For our second course we had cavatelli pasta with Irish butter and poached egg and strozzapreti with lamb bolognese. Both pasta dishes were excellent! Also on menu was steak, pork and fish. In addition, our waitress was knowledgeable about ingredients and wine! Kitchen is open so you can see food being prepared. We will definitely be back!

I agree that it was a bit noisy, and you can see the cloth they put on the walls to absorb some noise, but the food would be worth eating in a wind tunnel at Boeing. eally one of the finest meals I have had in Seattle. All of us at the table were shocked by the quality. We had the green beans, smoked fish, and albacore crudo which were all fantastic, but the prosciutto was still talked about on the drive home. For entrees, we had the strozzapretti which was so good my friend almost didn't give out tastes. The tagliatelle with crab was also perfect. The scallops were amazing as well. The waitress was the correct amount of help and invisiblity. Its a small kitchen so it can take a while but soooo worth the wait.

Food was succulent, worth the price! service was a little slow but not bad considering we went on Friday night and was packed. Staff was friendly! The interior design was very modern and nice.

My wife had been here before me and I really hadn't heard anything about Raccolto. What a total treat! I made reservations because it was my wife's birthday and pre-retirement party and they could not have been more accomodating. We were also very fortunate to have Cameron as our guide for the evening. He did a great job explaining the menu and the overall concept of the restaurant. After the initial cocktails we also let him do the wine pairing for the balance of the evening: Excellent! We started with the beef tartare and a salad. We didn't even have to ask for more crostini for the tartare, it just appeared at absolutely the right time. For our main course we had the tagliatelle with fresh Dungeness crab. PERFECT! Needless to say, we loved our evening and definitely will be back. A big thank you to Cameron for being such a great guide and spending the time to explain things as well as asking what we liked instead of telling us what he liked. Clearly An old school professional. Love this place!

I dine all over the country and the pasta dishes we had tonight for dinner were some of the best! Delicious tagliatelle with morel mushrooms, the most creamy, peppery cavatelli and an amazing strozzapreti with ragu sauce. And the carrot soup is a MUST. Great service and ambiance! So wonderful to see this high quality, modern eatery in West Seattle.

We have been coming to Raccolto since they opened and have developed a sincere appreciation for their consistency and quality. Andreas was our waiter on Sunday night and had a great supporting cast. Jay was exceptionally fun and informative in delivering dishes and checking in on how we were enjoying the chef's menu, plus wine pairing. The food was prepared to perfection and well-seasoned, and the wine pairings were expertly chosen to complement each dish. From start to finish, this was another meal to remember, and we look forward our next opportunity to make memories at Raccolto. Thank you!

They food was fine. The wine was ok but expensive. The noise level made conversation impossible. Our waiter made us feel like idiots. For $80 ++ each for a small meal, I can think of a lot of places I would rather eat.

We did a chefs tasting menu for 6 adults, a 7 year old and a 17 month old baby in August. We were seated in the loft area, a private area just for us, above the main level. The only downside to the whole dinner was being up there. Even with 2 fans, we were sweltering. We had to take the kids outside a couple times to cool off. However, it was such a great experience that we overall give it an excellent rating. The food was not only delicious, but unusual pairings and flavors. Every course, and we had 4, I think, was exceptional. Our waiter was wonderful, the food was wonderful, the care they take to make you feel special was wonderful! We were there for 2 1/2 hours and loved every minute, except for the heat, which in Seattle, even in August, was intense. We will go back.

I enjoy the occasional outing to LaRustica, but am thrilled to finally have a really good Italian restaurant in the junction that doesn't specialize in pizza. The pastas (main courses) were good but the appetizers were amazing! And each is definitely a size meant for sharing. We - 3 of us - each ordered one and they were served family style. The service was also well worth noting as exceptionally good. Reservations are a good idea, especially on weekends. We went on at 5:00 on a Thurs. and while it was empty at first, it was busy by the time we finished. We are definitely going back!

My daughter and I had dinner at this restaurant the last week of June. The food was delicious...we split a seafood entree and a pasta dish. Both were excellently prepared. The waiter was very attentive and the wine he recommended was perfect. It's a small restaurant and we loved the location and seating accommodations. What a great add to the West Seattle food scene. I only get out to Seattle a couple of times a year... and this place definitely warrants a return visit.

Wonderful service, terrific food -- really very nicely done. Home-made smoked salmon -- absolutely spectacular; scallops with blood orange and some absolutely fantastic light sauce. Great.

Really cool Italian place with innovative dishes to share. Service was awesome as well. The whole ambient of the restaurant creates a cozy atmosphere. I really loved the Castelvetrano olives. I would recommend to reserve a table!

Don't try to come here for the first time on a dark rainy night. No electric sign to help you find them. 1st hint. We had asked for a quiet table ahead of time and were given a table in the middle of the noise. 2nd hint. The restaurant design blasts you with the outside weather when the door opens for about 5 tables. 3rd hint. The tables are closer to each other than you are from your table mate. 4th hint. They charge you $4.00 for bread and don't tell you. 5th hint. 2 of our 4 dishes were average at best. 6th hint. 4 small dishes, two glasses of wine and please pay $100.00. Final hint. 2 dishes were great. We'll let you draw your own conclusions.

Raccolto is a great addition to the West Seattle scene. They seem to emphasize paste though they have a few other meat dishes. The host was especially nice and our waitperson was real good too. We went during restaurant week and had a great meal. The appetizer starter was very generous and great. Lets do it again!

So glad to find this gem! I ate here for the first time last night and LOVE this place. The restaurant is cozy with a nice bar. Service was excellent and the food and drinks were outstanding! The strozzapretti was VERY delicious as well as the gem salad and the oysters. This is one of my new favorite restaurants in Seattle. I can't wait for my next visit.

A group of 8 from our book club went here for our holiday dinner. We had reserved and they seated us in the loft and served the chef's tasting menu somewhat family style. Our waiter was excellent - just the right mix, of friendly, funny, and efficient. Everyone agreed the food was really outstanding as well as the service. Being the loft afforded us a bit of privacy (there was one other small table there being served) and the ability to have some loud discussion at a large table. We will definitely go there again.

We had heard about Raccolto and decided to give it a try. At first, things went quite well. The service was good, the noise levels were not too high and the food was very good. Unfortunately, as the evening wore on, the noise levels got to the point where we couldn't hear ourselves think. The food continued to be very good BUT, once we asked for the check, we were forgotten. The table was half cleared and stayed that way. I finally had to take our check and the credit card to the bar to pay the bill. If I hadn't, we'd have spent the rest of the night sitting there in the noise. Though the food was truly good, I doubt we will return.

Met some friends for dinner at this nice, West Seattle location. Open view of the kitchen and chefs with a small, but nice bar that seats about six people. Very clean and professionally operated by competent staff - very friendly! Began with a Dungeness crab salad and fresh tomato salad - both very tasty! The starters were followed by crispy skin salmon (the favorite by far at the table); NY steak, well seasoned and prepared perfectly; Cavatelli and Strozzapreti (lamb bolognese). The pasta was perfectly prepared. Wine list is adequate and fairly priced. All in all, strongly recommended!

Outstanding meal. We sought this place out based on research into the best Seattle restaurants offering Pacific Northwest food using fresh local ingredients. We were in Seattle for two days staying downtown, so this Southwest Seattle location was a bit of a schlep, and totally worth it. When we arrived I wondered if this really was the place; there were a dozen tables plus the bar, seating ~50 people, everyone was dressed informally, the windows to the street were open. It seemed so casual and comfortable. Our reservation was good and we were shown to a table by the window, perfect. We perused the wine list, four choices of red Italian wines by the glass so we tried them all. Each was a gem. I love it when a restaurant goes to the trouble of curating a wine list so you can throw a dart and have a great glass of wine. The idea is plates to share, so we ordered several items to split. This makes the meal fun, ok so you are focusing on food in addition to whatever else you would discuss. We started with cauliflower soup and albacore tuna crudo. Wonderful. The soup had dried chickpeas and golden raisins, which looked identical, so you got a crunch or a sweet, so delicious. Both were delicate and simple, so you are truly tasting the fresh flavor of the food. We then had a pasta dish with a mushroom sauce (tagliatelle with porcini raging and creme fraiche). Delicious. Again, simple, fresh. Finally an Alaskan rockfish, pan-seared, served over purple and white mini potatoes. Again wonderful. Service was excellent. The combination of excellent wine, food and service in a breezy informal atmosphere made the meal/experience a delight. It really makes you rethink fancy restaurants and Elana food preparation. This was so good, so simple, total pleasure. Five stars all around.

Mediocre food, meat charred beyond recognition and dry. Lackluster service, slow and inattentive. Astronomical prices with 22% service charge added. Cannot recommend at all.

Raccolto opened a while ago just around the corner from our townhouse. We tried it this past week and we loved the food--we will be back soon. Lots of appetizers (could be shared as small plates) and 8 or so pasta dishes. There were three "main" courses--two meat and one fish. I think keeping the menu simple is a strong positive. Our group of 3 had an appetizer and a pasta dish each--they were all great. They followed the rule of having good ingredients and serving them as simple but well prepared dishes. Next time I will try the steak or one of their meat dishes. The profiteroles were outstanding as my dessert. Only negatives were the front of house was a bit unfriendly and snooty and it was noisy. Didn't spoil our dinner and we plan to come back.

Very impressed, and mildly surprised, by this little place in West Seattle! Warm and inviting atmosphere, we were quickly greeted and taken to our table. Service was excellent throughout; even as the crowd built during the evening our server Jenn was always attentive, with excellent recommendations. Many servers struggle to find the balance between “suggestive” and “pushy”, but Jenn’s service was perfect. We decided to throw caution to the wind and had the chef’s choice testing menu, basically leaving the rest of the decisions in his hands. Chef Andrew did not let us down. Each course was paired perfectly with a wonderful wine selection that complimented the food. And the food! Ahi crudo, a light bruschetta with shrimp, along with two other shareable starters was just the 1st course! Sacre bleu! We knew this was going to be a special meal. Pasta course, protein course, followed by a light cheese with basil and marmalade dessert with a paired apperitif. Heaven! Jenn provided that old school service we rarely see anymore- crumbing the table in between courses, fresh silver and plates, just the right balance between being there but not hovering. While it did get a touch loud as the Saturday night business filled up, it was never overwhelming or bothersome. Never knew West Seattle as a gastronomical destination, it’s on our radar now. Creative and delish entrees, outstanding service, this place earned 5 stars, which we rarely grant. They earned it.

Our meals were delicious, and the service was extremely friendly and professional. We sat at the table closest to the kitchen and watched as the food was prepared. The staff in the kitchen were like artists with preparation of the food. We would recommend this restaurant in a heartbeat!

My husband and I had dinner at Raccolto a few weeks ago with another couple. We sat in the upper level of the restaurant. Both the decor and the temperature in the restaurant were cold. We started with appetizers and bread. I don't like paying for bread at restaurants but at least this was good bread. The wine was excellent and paired well with our food. Our entrees were good, all pasta dishes. Very fresh and flavorful. We will definitely return to the restaurant again. It's a nice addition to West Seattle. You'll have to look hard to find the building. Their sign is not illuminated and it's tough to see after dark.

We went here for a birthday dinner and we were blown away by the food and the service! Our group of three shared a couple appetizers, two pasta dishes (to die for!), and the halibut. Everything was delicious and we can't wait to return!

Have been waiting for a good restaurant in West Seattle for 10+ years. Seattle's urban density plans created the tipping point for restaurateur's to venture across the bridge and place a stake in the previous dining wasteland just across from the City center. Raccolto is the first of many previous restaurants to deliver on the promise of good food in an elegant space with exquisite service. It's promoted as a sharing menu. For two, we typically have 3 starters, a shared pasta dish and a shared main with an optional desert. You can riff on that play anyway you desire. They will fully accommodate. It is a small space, so make a reservation. You could be bold and try for some of the 6 "open" seats at the small bar, but these are competitive, so don't count on one or two. The menu is ever changing, so hard to say what is good. The mains have been straightforward - fish or pork or beef, Pasta is typically a selection of 5 house made varieties with varied, complex sauces. The starters are the most playful and plentiful. Fill up on these fellas. Recent highlights are ono crudo, smoked salmon on toast, crispy kale with anchovy, roasted radicchio, roasted rapini, dungeness crab salad - but these offerings change every week. So just dive in and have fun with whatever is offered. Was seated upstairs one time, and the group was a bit warm on a cooler, April evening, Not sure what that will feel like in July. Staff and service have been awesome each time - the epitome of professional.

Benvenuto Raccolto! A brand new West Seattle location of its older sister Vendemmia in Madrona has arrived. While serving a similar menu of pasta (the main hit), vegetables and seafood, the focus remains sharing. The chef, Brian Clevenger, has quite the briefcase of experience with Delfina (in San Fran), Tavolata and Staple & Fancy. Although he has perfected pasta, he keeps all his pastas reasonably priced at under $15. They serve 8 pastas made in house daily; All of which I would spin up in a fork and chow down on for days. The decor is very modern, minimalist and spacious with light wood and concrete. The upstairs appears that it's floating for a perfect small party or gathering. I'd love the space to be my house. For an excellent cocktail to start off the evening, order the Three Hour Tour, particularly if you're an old fashioned lover. We shared multiple plates--nothing had was not enjoyed. -Dungeness Crab: Perfectly balanced fresh crab meat with snap peas and apple. Could have used less salt and more pepper. -Delicata Squash: Autumn go-to with crunchy hazelnut and bitter greens. -Bucatini with lamb bolognese was perfectly seasoned and in no way gamey. A pleaser for sure! -Tagliatelle with chanterelle mushrooms and crème fraiche was the game stopper that was perfectly al dente with a hint of butteriness. -Chocolate mousse with strawberries was a nice ending to our meal and not overly rich. This place is a hit since opening its doors, so be sure to make a reservation on OpenTable. A few downfalls was that it is very open and can be noisy. In addition, with different types of pastas we would have preferred clean plates and the table wiped clean more frequently. Sharing can get messy! Otherwise, I will be back for sure--that says a lot given I often am not a regular anywhere.

Everything was delicious - go here. This is a small place in west Seattle. Reservations seem to be a must. They turned away a lot of people (it was a Saturday night). It's an open kitchen with most of the tables on the lower level. There is a very small bar tucked under the stairs and a loft with a few tables above. We had 4 people and the appetizers come with 3 items. Out server let us know this and said they can adjust them for 4 by adding an item. You can't go wrong with any of the appetizers. The recommendation for 4 was 3 appetizers, 3 pastas and 2 proteins. We ordered 3 appetizers, but they were out of smoked fish. We told them we'd just forgo another one and the chief gave us an order of the brussels sprouts on the house. The pastas were all great as were the scallops. Really, you can't go wrong with anything you order. They have a great wine list by the bottle. A little pricey but good quality. This was a great place to have conversation and good food. The lighting is low (i needed my camera flashlight to read the menu) but it feels calm and inviting. The server was very knowledgeable about the food and the wine. She timed everything well and was around without being intrusive. Wonderful place for a lovely meal out.

Went with my family for a beautiful dinner. Was seated right away and served drinks. Prices are well decided for a more upscale restaurant with high quality food. The service was great, however I did find that they were a little slow to come over to us at some points, likely due to the rush of people 1 hour after opening. Very friendly and helpful though. Very little noise, good atmosphere. Couldn't as for anything more.

Very good pasta dishes, beautifully fresh oysters, and Foie Gras to die for. We always enjoy our "date night" here. Very good scratch cocktails and a nice wine list too. The only complaint I have is that it gets noisy when crowded. All hard surfaces, but a wonderful neighborhood gem that is worth the drive too.

We have been to Raccolto twice in the last few months and have really enjoyed it both times. The atmosphere is relaxing, and the service friendly (although the server we had the last time had a bit of an affected manner about them). Drinks are imaginative and there is a good selection of wines. Could use a couple of NA beers on the drinks list though. Pastas are a standout for sure, as are the roasted carrots and charred sunchokes. Steak was cooked perfectly. Overall a great experience. I am sure we will return many times.

Advertised as Italian inspired. [I experienced recently real Italian food two weeks in Venice, including a one star Michelin restaurant. ] An attractive, modern, two story space. Tables close together. Despite some isolated acoustical panels, hard reflective surfaces and animated diners made for a noisy environment. Open kitchen, busy chefs. Our party: two couples. A waiter and an assistant took orders and served. We waited ten minutes for bread [$4?]. Small dishes to be shared. Notable was asparagus, tender and smoked halibut salad on toast. Both full flavored, excellent. Crab salad reminded of cole slaw with crab fragments, the taste too delicate to notice. Fresh pasta unremarkable, one Bolognese the other something to do with anchovies either left out or undetectable. Compared unfavorably to a Venetian seafood pasta, a full meal, for a similar cost to the tiny dish. Desert tasty limoncello sorbet. Three glasses of wine. The Italian connection escaped me. Bill $70.46 plus tip per couple.