San Fermo Reviews

San Fermo is located in a very cute old clapboard house in Old Ballard. What's not to like about that?! Not only are the exteriors/interiors absolutely adorable, so are the collection of mix-and-match faux antique toile plates they use. So why only 3 stars? The food! Food is always paramount on my scale, no matter how good the service, or how enchanting the surroundings. Unfortunately, San Fermo's food needs some work. While the beef carpacio is fresh and nicely spiced with salt & pepper, it was inundated with olive oil. The lamp chop, priced at $28, came with only 4 teeny tiny chops, and the sides -- roasted potatoes and tomatoes -- were insufficient to rounding out the entree. The lamb chops themselves are vastly undercooked, to the point where I gave up the knife and had to pick up the chops and gnaw it with my teeth... the result of which were huge stringy bits in my teeth requiring an immediate flossing!! (sorry for the image!) My dining partner had a Carbonara pasta, which on that day was guanicale, i.e. thick bacon-like bits of pork. The pasta was cooked past al dente, and although the carbonara sauce was passable, the whole was not better than the sum of its parts. San Fermo offers a handful of cocktails. My partner tried the marche real, which was light and refreshing. We also glasses of San Giovese and Montepulciano, which were fine. We skipped the desserts, which looked terribly ordinary -- a vanilla panna cotta and plain scoops of gelato. One other strange note: they played music from the 1920's, which seemed incongruous with italian food. In short, we paid $125 for a meal that was just okay. No cute clapboard house can make up for that.

My wife and I took some friends to San Fermo in Ballard last October. We;d popped in for a cocktail briefly before but had yet to dine there. San Fermo is located in one of the oldest buildings in Ballard. It feels like an old home with some modern upgrades. The design is welcoming and interesting. The open kitchen on your left features a spiral staircase where the house-made pasta is crafted. In the back you'll find a charming small four seat bar staffed by brilliant bartenders. We were seated after a brief wait (make reservations, this place is popular). We ordered the antipasti and olives as starters both were delicious. I would recommend ordering the bread as well, made by Tall Grass Bakery it goes perfectly with the antipasti. For dinner I had the black cod and my wife had the delicata squash risotto. The food was cooked to perfection. Our server was attentive, knowledgable and magically appeared whenever we needed him. Don't miss this true Seattle culinary experience!

We werent originally planning on coming to San Fermo, but we had a problem with our planned location and needed to find an alternative in Ballard. Someone in our group had heard good things about it, so we walked down Ballard Ave to the cute little house. We were given a table on the outside, heated patio. Comfortable seating. A relatively simple menu with numerous interesting options in every category. The chef changes the menu on his own whims or based on what he is finding available in the local markets. For example, there were no chicken options on this particular night. Not an issue for us, but not something you would typically find, and we liked that. The food is excellent. Everything is made fresh including the pasta and you can really taste the love and care that went into each dish and plate. We had salads, bruschetta, asparagus, bolognese, risotto, taritelle, salmon. They all came in "Italian sze" portions which means you were satisfied and there were no leftovers. They have a nice wine selection to pair your dishes. Service was attentive but not overbearing. Overall, a really great dining experience out of no where!!

I am from the east coast originally so experienced great Italian food for a big part of my life. Over the years I have tried many Italian restaurants here and have been mostly disappointed. I cannot say that for this restaurant. I was with a friend who is Italian and an excellent cook, and we both agreed that every course was excellent. We started with the roasted beet salad followed by saffron spaghetti Bolognese and a house made dessert. The price was reasonable. The server was attentive and friendly. At no time did we feel rushed. Our table was on the top floor so it was quiet and intimate. As other reviewers have stated, the restaurant is in a restored historic house which makes the setting unique. I look forward to another visit. They recently started to take reservations which is helpful since the restaurant is quite popular.

Mix of traditional and creative Italian dishes, all were delicious! Smaller entre portions, but with filling food it was plenty. The customer service was very helpful and attentive when needed. Occupies a cool old house that was moved onto the property.

Went here with my husband & friends for my birthday and it was the worst decision (food wise) we've ever made. We had been wanting to go there for MONTHS! We walked in one night asking for a table for two. The host asked if we had a reservation (which, no, that' why we asked for a table...) and when we said no he literally laughed in faces! Honestly that should have been the red flag to keep us away, but the place looked so charming we thought, must be an off night (and wow so in demand), let's give it another try later. I'm Italian, so for my birthday this year we excitedly remembered San Fermo and booked a reservation - Almost a month out and even that far out a table for 5 on a Saturday left us with a 5:30 pm reservation - worth it for our potentially new favorite Italian spot right?? We gave ourselves plenty of time to get there, but of course it being a Saturday night in Ballard we circled for parking for a while (well, my husband did, he dropped me off). When my husband arrived, my friends and I were enjoying a glass of prosecco. Our server was friendly and even gave my wife a complimentary glass of amaro since they didn't have her favorite. The night carried on like any other, ordered drinks with dinner, got salads and then entrées. The server got one of our entrées wrong, but let us keep it while they made the correct dish (which did take a while to get). The salad was great, but all the other dishes were terrible (except one (very small portioned) pasta dish - something with red sauce). The portions were small and OMG SO GROSS!!!!! The gnocchi was chewy (like REALLY chewy, like 5 chews per piece), not pillowy. The risotto (can you call it risotto???) was also nasty. I think the best way to describe it is uncooked oatmeal?? Disgusting, and so strange. To end the night the server brought my wife a birthday dessert (that was NOT complimentary $17). I can't even remember what it was (so obviously it wasn't memorable). It took us a while to wave down our server to get our checks. Once we got the bill we noticed several things were incorrect. Our server apologized and (after a little while) gave us our correct bill. We asked if we could split up our $400+ check (for 5 people) into 3 bills (not evenly bc it was two couples and one new mom with only enough money for her portion). They seemed frazzled, but agreed to let us write who got what w/ our card number next to each item (seemingly more complicated than them just splitting it on their end...) As our server worked on cashing us out out of NOWHERE - and I mean JUMP SCARE out of nowhere, what I can only assume was the owner YELLS "YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE! There are people who have been waiting outside in the FREEZING cold for 45 minutes!!!!!!" To say we were stunned would be an under statement (we NEVER were told about any time limit). I replied "How would we know that??" (Again, I'm Italian, so I could take on this jerk). Blood boiling I LOUDLY said "Our server got our check wrong so maybe THAT'S why it's taking so long!" The owner(?) turned red and yelled "GET OUT!!!!!" I said "Gladly. And we'll never come back. It's my birthday dinner I can't believe this!" The owner(?) said "Happy birthday. Please leave." Honestly that last quote (later) cracked us up. They handed us our cards back and again, told us to get out. FREE $400 (gross) (Italian?) dinner - Ha! The silver lining of this absolutely unacceptable experience was that w/ the money we saved from San Fermo, we could get a LIFE CHANGING dinner at familyfriend in Beacon Hill. WOW!!! If you're looking for truly incredible food (actually worth the hype and price), you HAVE to check them out. It was the perfect date night (and re-do birthday dinner). As an added treat we sat at the bar and were served by the owner! He took time to chat with us throughout the night and explained the history of each of his (remarkable) dishes and drinks. Damn, those cocktails are other worldly! We made a friend in the chef (who we discovered we have a mutual friend w/) and now have a new go-to favorite spot!

We were two couples looking forward to a good Italian dinner. The food was delicious, but the portions were very small. Our French friends have been amazed by the typical portions in American restaurants. The portions at San Fermo were minimal even for a French restaurant. As my friend said, three more rigatoni instead of a mere five would have helped. In addition our waiter was inattentive to the point of rudeness. He seemed to resent that we were speaking French with each other. If you are on a strict diet and are struggling with portion control this is the restaurant for you.

San Fermo is a fine dining Italian restaurant in Ballard on the strip of restaurants on Ballard Avenue NW. It has both outside and inside dining. The food is very good. The menu is limited, but complete. However, the service is lackluster at best. One of the worst servers I have had in years. Polite, but incompetent. Strongly encourage San Fermo management to train its staff better. When to clean plates from the table, how to recognize the primary diner, and how to act with customers are examples.

Unreal FRESH and HOMEMADE pastas! This place was amazing and I will definitely be back and recommend to friends! We had the following and they were amazing! Saffron Spaghetti Bolognese - pork, veal, rosemary, fennel, parmigiano reggiano Unreal flavor from the first bite to the last! Agnolotti del Plin - prosciutto cotto and goat cheese filling, nutmeg, culatta These flavor-packed pillows were my favorite! Amazing flavor and texture Short Ribs - saffron polenta, cinnamon, cloves, fried leeks, Demi glacé The meat fell off of the bone and the polenta was a perfect match! Bruschetta - smoked rockfish, squid ink aioli, pickled peppers, lemon oil The smoked rockfish was SO FRESH and had wonderful flavors! House Caesar - anchovy, parmigiano reggiano, red wine croutons Smothered with fresh cheese and the anchovies had a nice salty taste!

Funny but we have been here twice and both related to medical trips to Seattle! But I his place is healing in all sorts of ways: staff is friendly and welcoming; food is delicious and filling and drinks are fabulous! Had great dinner walking in early and getting a place upstairs in a sweet dining area. Great staff who helped us pick out an amazing Negroni, beautiful bursts and fabulous pasta - as well as delicious wine Love this spot!!

The co-owners of this restaurant are certainly making their mark on Ballard! Catering to the more upscale diner, the cozy series of rooms and a delightful outside porch continue to make Ballard a go-to neighborhood for eating out. The renovation completely transformed the old buildings creating a perfect place to share a quiet meal with friends or a date. Once inside your are transported into a quiet and intimate realm where the service is great and the food delicious. Straight up quality Italian menu, and according to my wife the squash gnocchi are to die for! large selection of spirits and wines start off the meal. The Caesar salads are plated nicely with a sardine. I tried the Carbonara and found it to be a bit too creamy compare to others I have had, but it still had incredible flavors. Two people, cocktails, salads, bread, olives and entrees came to $79 + tip.

I knew nothing about this place when we walked in - it feels like a mod farmhouse, well appointed and really nice looking. The food overall was really good, but a number of our party were not super happy with their "hug in a bowl", the bolognaise. I had the halibut and it was amazing. The appetizers were good - mushroom and mozzerella, and the anitpasti plate. The desserts were uneven - the cheesecake was to die for, and the chocolate cake was dry and not super flavorful. The service felt a bit uneven too, there were a few mistakes in orders and it felt like the waiter blamed it on "the place is noisy" but she didn't recite back our orders either.

Wonderful & delicious dinner with friends. We all got the Caesar salad & lamb ragu- great portions. Service was great. Sat outside. Didn’t make a reservation in advance, Had a cocktail close by until our table was ready. Only word of caution- wine list is a bit pricey if ordered by the bottle. But this Seattle.

Incredible cocktails, meats, and salad. Mediocre pasta. Service staff was wonderful (truly 10/10) and the atmosphere is quite magical. I love that all of their ingredients are locally sourced, some even from their own farm! I would go again but I would not order the pasta.

Finally got to have dinner here! So charming and intimate. Farinata was excellent, even without the tasty accompaniments. Beet salad really good, cut into small cubes in a delicious vinaigrette. Loved the celery leaves in it! We both ordered homemade pasta - I had agnolotti with watercress pesto - absolutely delicious! Wanted to lick the bowl. Husband ended up with the same dish when his pasta amatriciana was too salty. Our excellent waiter took care of it right away. We had some unintentional entertainment when the waiter's shirt caught on fire from the votive on the (very close) next table! My husband swatted him out, and when he turned around there was a large hole in the bottom of his shirt! He was a good sport about it, and I hope they do something to avoid that in the future!

I was in a group of five who went to San Fermo in Ballard for a Restaurant Week dinner. The restaurant is located in a home that was moved to Ballard and is believed to be Seattle’s oldest house. It is a unique restaurant, because it is made up of many smaller rooms with lace curtains, white walls, and fresh flowers. We ate in the attic. For restaurant week they had $32 3-course meals. We shared a Tall Grass Bakery baguette w/butter & salt, delicious leeks, and two bottles of outstanding red wine. The food was simply scrumptious. For my first course I had a house Caesar salad with hazelnut Caesar dressing instead of anchovy dressing (still dreaming about the salad). My entrée was Mafaldine all’Amatriciana made with guanciale (an Italian cured meat), marinara sauce, red onion, and pecorino romano cheese. For dessert I chose an Affogato: hazelnut gelato topped with a shot of hot espresso and 2 golden raisin & lemon biscotti. Everything arrived at the table at the correct temperature. At no time were we rushed so the table could be used for another party. Service was outstanding, and I give this restaurant my highest recommendation. Everyone had different entrees, and they were all delicious.

Very price, table was covered in polen, atmosphere wasn’t very welcoming and the food was not great! Nothing impressive. I’ll never go back.

Fabulous food with fresh, local ingredients prepared with care and attention to detail. Appetizer recomendations- chick pea break with homemade chosse and tomato jam; entrees- green risotto. desserts- any. Excellent wine list. Many staff have been there for a long time and clearlhy know guests who return- makes atmosphere friendly, relaxed and enjoyable.

Located in a charming old house in historic Ballard, this place has a wonderful patio that is great for dates or a night out with the girls! The pasta we had was great, the bread the perfect version of crusty and soft, but the service and food were very slow. From ordering our food to delivery at the table was almost an hour. We were not told until over 40 minutes into waiting that they had a huge group that was being served first. If we knew that it was going to take that long, we would have just had appetizers and drinks. Instead when it finally arrived we had to eat really fast in order to make it something else we had planned. So plan accordingly if this isn't your only stop for the night!

This restaurant is in one of the oldest houses in Seattle, from the 1850's. They have done a great job renovating it. The food is good, in my first visit I had the pasta carbonara and it was ok, but the second time I had spaghetti bolognese and was excellent. At lunch time the menu is limited but they have more options for dinner.

Quaint, historic houses (relocated from Seattle's international district to Ballard) were combined to create a simple, tiny 3-room restaurant at the edge of a popular Ballard neighborhood. (Note: Perhaps there's another room upstairs.) It was a dark and stormy Sunday afternoon in February. The street outdoors was filled with local vendors' stalls. We took refuge in the cosy-looking restaurant for brunch. The service was like many PacNW restaurants: friendly without warmth, perfunctory without hospitality. The server advised us she needed to buy flowers at the farmers market before it closed, but a colleague would get our order to us. House-made pastas seemed a good bet. I ordered the spaghetti bolognese ($19). Also at the table: baked eggs ($12) and pasta carbonara ($18). A "baguette" was 2 pieces of good bread cut into 4-or-so 1/4" attached slices ($4), and presented to us as if it the bread was special. Oddly, the server wanted to remove the bread and butter plates before serving the pastas. My bolognese was unremarkable. It arrived barely warm. The meat was a bland, gritty affair with a kitchen-applied sprinkle of grated cheese (not offered at the table) and wilted festoon of parsley atop overcooked spaghetti. Three bites was plenty. Perhaps on a sunny day the place and food could have more energy and pizzazz.

Located among various restaurants in Ballard, San Fermo can be hard to miss initially as it looks like a small house and the San Fermo sign is tiny. But once you step inside the place is deceptively large. There are various different rooms of tables ranging from booths to a 2 tops. During the summer (and probably set up during covid), there is also a big covered area of tables outside. Not an extensive menu, but the place boasts several pasta dishes that are all fantastic. There's 1-2 meat dishes but pasta is what you want to try here. There's also some starters ranging from bread, to gem salad and my personal fave - the roasted carrots. The pasta dishes are somewhat smaller compared to other places but with appetizers, the amounts is plenty. If you have a huge growing teen, then one pasta bowl probably is not going to be enough, but for the average person it was perfect. There's a good selection of wines and unique cocktails. There is a mandatory 20% service charge that is included.

First of all, we love Ballard! We celebrated our anniversary with a road trip thru washington & oregon, & picked San Fermo as our date night in Seattle....LOVED IT. What a romantic courtyard.....great wine list, knowledgeable staff, & really authentic Italian food. If we are ever back in Seattle we'd love to go back here❤

Thought I would celebrate my wife and my anniversary at a local place this time and chose San Fermo in Ballard as that place. Nice location as it is close to my home. Yes, that is all the good I can say about this place. We had a Ciopino Seafood dish and their Spaghetti. (If you are here for the food this is where your should stop). Both dishes were way over spiced with a strong Chipolte like back flavor and hot (about 3-4). Kale Caesar was vinegary and without character. (could have used some of the over spiced character of the main dish) Food needs work is an understatement. I can see why the 20% tip is added to your bill automatically. They would never get that large a tip from most folks with this food. An unpleasant OVER priced dinner experience at best.

A charming spot on Ballard Ave., like a cozy little house. The music (soft) tended to French and Italian chansonnier types. I sat at the bar for dinner, which I don't usually enjoy, but in this case it was great. Elliot, the bartender, was smart and interesting, and it was fun to see/hear the interaction between all the staff members as they came to the bar with their drink orders. I had a Clown Car cocktail - I've forgotten the details, but it had mezcal and it was delicious. Had a Caesar salad, and it was a PROPER Caesar salad, including anchovies and parm. For entree, I had the agnolotti, which was fantastic. The pasta was filled with Dungeness crab, which was good, but the sauce was to die for - lemon zest, pistachios. Had a glass of Sancerre. Meanwhile, Elliot was chatting with a couple at the bar about Lillet, and decided to invent a cocktail. He shared his experiment with them and with me. It was great - I hope they add it to the regular rotation. I'm impressed that they own a farm out in the countryside that supplies many of the ingredients for the restaurant. But mostly I'm impressed with the excellent food and good experience.

Had been eagerly anticipating the opening of this restaurant for over a year. First- no reservations, which is fine, but you have to call and put your name on the "waiting list." Why? Either take reservations or just seat first come, first served. Second- Italian restaurant with loud playlist of mostly salsa music. I love salsa music, but it didn't contribute anything to the atmosphere. And finally, the food. The gnocchi were mushy (not light and airy, just mushy- I fed my leftovers to the local raccoon) with way too much red pepper and parmesan, and way too little prosciutto; and the "carbonara" was made with what appeared to be long egg noodles with curly edges like the dried ones (only longer) Mom used to put in chicken noodle soup. It was held together by a flaccid and watery sauce that in no way evoked the luscious comfort food that carbonara was intended to be. Go to Piccolino's on 34th for real Italian food (and no, I neither work for or own Piccolino's). So disappointing.

Everything was great except the food. The service, atmosphere, everything was great, aside from the food. Don't let appearances fool you! I had the daily special, lobster ravioli. The individual ravioli were small, the ravioli filling was tiny. If there was lobster inside, it was difficult to tell, as the filling seemed to be a mix of all kinds of spices. The pasta portion was undercooked (hard) and the creamy sauce was just bad. If there was ever a hint of lobster flavor, it was obliterated by the sauce. My husband had the "risotto", and they must have used the wrong variety of rice. It was more like a... wet rice dish, made with regular long grain rice. It wasn't risotto. We started with the olives and were disappointed with that as well... they were promised to be marinated with chili flakes and star anise, but were just one variety of green olives, supermarket style, in light olive oil. The baguette was great, but that was the only thing not made at the restaurant!! Even the wine was disappointing - the chianti fell really flat. Not recommended at all. We won't be back.

Excellent bar as well as bartenders. They know the craft inside and out and it shows. We were in awe off the wealth of knowledge from the mixologist and were very happy with our experience. We will definitely be returning to dine as soon as possible

Great food and service at this very nice part of town. A lot happening in a 2-3 block area. Our appetizers and both our dishes (1 pasta and 1 fish) were outstanding. Waitress was very nice, not pushy, and helped us choose the dishes we picked. The food was very fresh, seasoning and sauces were perfect.

Met wife and 2 friends after a day on the water ( they were doing art walk). Had outside table, with the space heaters, which is always fun. I had the oxtail rigatoni, others had the bolognese. Overall the service was attentive and fun, the pricing market representative and the food was sophisticated but rather heavy on the salt. Likely the result of a lot of romano cheese which tends to salt things up. Overall great fun, but ease up on the salt!

The hostess at The Walrus and the Carpenter recommended San Fermo when the wait was four hours long there, and we ended up being really excited to get to eat at San Fermo! The Prosecco I ordered was excellent, and my boyfriend loved his cocktails—the food was wonderful as well. We had a really lovely waitress. Thanks for a great time!

This place is fabulous. It offers a quiet, warm, and welcoming ambiance giving you the feeling you're dining in a picturesque Tuscan farmhouse. The food was creative, delicious, farm fresh, and served in a variety of pretty dishes which enhanced our dining experience. We shared a beet salad followed by butternut risotto, stinging nettle pesto, and a meaty stew dish entree--all memorable and so scrumptious and all paired with a glass of wine of our choice. The menu changes daily based on what fresh ingredients are avaialble to the chef. The waitstaff and service are helpful and friendly but not intrusive either. We had a wonderful and memorable experience. I'll look forward to another!

Very charming little house in which the restaurant is located. Very busy for a Monday night. We did make a reservation beforehand. The front part of the restaurant houses the open kitchen and some tables for diners. It’s definitely much noisier in the front half of the restaurant. We were fortunate enough to be seated in the back end of the restaurant which was quieter and cozy. The have a great bar and a lot to offer in the way of cocktails. I had the beet salad and crab risotto. The salad was fresh and delicious. The crab on top was delicious but the risotto was sort of bland. My husband had the burrata appetizer and then the Bolognese pasta for his main. Said the pasta was good, but the sauce lacked flavor. Despite being a little with food, it was overall an enjoyable experience. Service was fantastic.

San Fermo is located in a small clapboard house right on the best part of Ballard Ave. I usually don’t use the word cute except in reference to small dogs and children. Believe me, this place is cute. The pasta and salads are first rate as is the service. They do add a 20% service charge which I find totally abrogates the purpose of tipping. This was the only objectionable feature to an otherwise lovely dinner.

Delightful dinner - pasta dishes are creatively crafted. We managed to get a table as walk ins on a Saturday night! In future I would try for a reservation at one of the cute porch tables out front. My only issue with this restaurant is they don’t serve bread with the pasta, very disappointing.

I had such high expectations for this place as there has been lots of buzz about it in our neighborhood and it's located in such a cute old original Ballard home with great ambiance BUT none of that makes up for how terrible the good was. My mom and I went for lunch and we were really excited for their beet salad as we both love a good beet salad but theirs was practically inedible. It was the worst salad either of us had ever had. It was almost as though their chef has no understanding of what constitutes a salad dressing. There was pretty much just oil over the lettuce. My salad was missing the blue cheese entirely and my moms was missing another ingredient. They also threw the stem of the lettuce in mine which was taking up 1/3 of the plate and wasn't edible. On top of the food being bad, their business model is to have as little service as possible, with patrons retrieving their own silverware, napkins, and self-serve glasses of water and carrying them to their table. That's fine for a low-end type of restaurant, but this isn't that. The "server" didn't even check on us to see how things were or to see if we wanted another glass of wine, which we both would have... We were so annoyed by the end we decided to go get more wine somewhere else down the street. The worst part is that they still expect you to tip despite the fact that you're pretty much serving yourself. Honestly I can't wait for them to go out of business so a better restaurant can take over this adorable location. It's too cute to be wasted on terrible food with a s****y business model.

What an awesome place! This has quickly become our neighborhood favorite. You really cannot go wrong with a bottle of wine, a cheese and charcuterie platter, and pasta. Their amaretto is incredible, and if they have the chocolate olive oil cake on the menu, get it!

Made a reservation on Open Table for what I thought was the dome table almost a month ahead of time. On my way there, I called to confirm and was rudely told I couldn’t reserve the dome. I said it would have been more helpful if that was clear when making the reservation and wouldn’t be coming to the reservation. After I hung up, the person working 12/27 evening (Meredith I think) called back to gripe at me that I should have read their website. I couldn’t believe how curt and rude she was on the initial call, but then to call back just to continue being rude!? Pretty incredible. Definitely won’t be dining here.

Set in an old house, with an amazing courtyard, this restaurant delivers a lovely selection of appetizers and meals, complete with perfect service. Some traditional dishes are toyed with to present fresh versions but some sauces could use a tad more spice. Still a good take on some familiar favorites always warrants a taste! Our group found the risotto a bit flat on the night we ate there, but the Bolognese surpassed everyone's hopes. Burata was excellent and presented in a refreshing setting, the flatbread disks had us wondering until we cut into it, and then we fought over the last bit. If the weather's nice, eat outside. Air conditioned inside! Staff excellent.

We went there for dinner the other Eve and we were completely shocked with how unprofessional the staff were. The person that was in charge of the seating us was so rude we could not understand why. Like he did not want to work that night. Well to add to that experience, the food was absolutely disgusting,. We had the signature dish and it was horrid and we also tried the Rotolo dish…oh man, it was so dry with absolutely no flavor. The place is so small and you feel that you are sitting on the top of each other. we will never go back. we have been to so many restaurants on that street and have never experienced anything like this.

Super charming decor, trendy, fine wine list and home made pasta and good service. Seating outside and inside and at the bar. Small plates or dinner. Terrific fresh and creative menu.

How lovely it is to dine in a restaurant with historic ambiance, cozy tables and booths where you can actually have a conversation! San Fermo offers this sort of intimacy, a European/Italian vibe, with great food to match. Located right in the center of Ballard, I'd think this restaurant would make the real estate go up. Ballard is lucky to have such a gem. For those residing in other parts of the city, San Fermo is definitely worth the trip. And I'd encourage tourists to get away from downtown and experience some wonderful cuisine in this local spot. Although the menu is small, the dishes are all extremely well prepared. Salads and pastas are wonderful, main dishes - also very satisfying. Many of their signature dishes are meat based. For me, that was a bit unfortunate because I am not a red meat eater. But I had no problem selecting a main dish from the pasta and fish entrees. Bread needs to be ordered, for which there is an extra charge. The evening we ate there, we shared two orders of home-baked focaccia. It was magnificent. Good wine and delicious bread makes for a great start to a dinner. And there are many tempting desserts to top off a meal. I chose the chocolate sorbet. It was amazing, and I still can't believe it was a sorbetto -- so rich and delicious. Dining at San Fermo makes for a lovely night out -- a night when you can even imagine that you've gone to Italy for the evening.

I love walking down a street and seeing an appealing restaurant and looking at the menu and just knowing it’s a good place and then walking in and getting last table in the early slot. We hadn’t been in Ballard in a couple of years or more but knew the street that had a number of good places to eat but none had been of this quality. A small menu but well designed and a good wine list. Prices were moderate I thought for the various choices and we devoured everything. Started by sharing a burrata served with a light bread salad and hen-of-the-woods mushrooms that was delicious! Then we split a Caesar salad with anchovies and lots of flaky cheese. Then I had a perfectly cooked piece of halibut served with crisp top and amazing sauce and lots of morel mushrooms- I had to ask for a spoon to get every bit of this dish with flavors that excelled on the palate- I am huge morel fan and this was the most generous portion of morels in any dish I have ever had while dining out. Needless to say we did not have room for dessert. Get a reservation if you can and they have outside dining too and the dessert list looked wonderful. We will be back.

I've been here two or three times, and have always come away disappointed. It's fine, but doesn't really match some of the good reviews. San Fermo bill themselves as an Italian restaurant, and while they do serve mostly pasta-based dishes, none of it tastes very Italian. My "carbonara" had mushrooms in it. My wife's "bolognese" was pretty heavy with chili flakes. Those are legitimate flavors, but don't belong in dishes with those names. And I understand they make their own pasta, but the noodles in mine were mushy and overcooked. And even judging the dishes on their own apart from their classic Italian names, the flavors were fine, but not really amazing. The service is OK, but never outstanding. Our meal was only pasta, but arrived 45 minutes after ordering. I thought the first time I went here that maybe they had an off night, or I had the wrong expectations. But this has happened more than once, so I think it's just how it is. On the plus side, the bill was lower than comparable places in Seattle. Tip is already factored in.

All of the pasta were delicious (shout out to pork belly, carbonara, seafood risotto) and the Caesar salad was of the best I’ve had. Great service and super cute environment. Must visit.

I fell in love with this restaurant before it ever opened (I cannot tell you how perfect the interiors AND exteriors are, from the quaint little front porch to the beautiful old brick walls covered in ivy surrounding the outdoor patio). The menu is "Italian", but follows more northern influences (fresh seafood, veal chops, pheasant, fresh grilled greens, etc.) Of course fresh (handmade) pasta dishes include ingredients such as wild boar, fresh egg, pecorino, fennel, fried rosemary...sigh. Pros: Everything!!! Food, Drinks...all top-notch - and warm, friendly, and gracious staff elevate the entire experience Cons: I have no complaints…just be forewarned this restaurant is VERY small, so reservations are a MUST for dinner. I do want to mention my very first experience at the restaurant was me popping in on a busy Friday night and asking if they could accommodate our party of 6 adults for dinner. I knew it was a ridiculous/near-impossible request without a reservation, but I remember the woman who greeted us gave me a warm smile (the faintest flicker of a well-deserved smirk at our outlandish last-minute request) but kindly said they were all booked for the evening, and wait time was over an hour. I said I completely understood, but she also offered some tips/suggestions on the best time to secure dinner reservations - all of this was offered with ZERO attitude/arrogance that unfortunately has become all too common at new trendy spots. Good food is definitely the biggest draw, but quality service makes a good meal something wonderful. I can't wait to go back with friends and family, and I especially look forward to warm summer nights spent out on the patio.

The staff is very friendly, the outdoor seating was very pleasant, and the quality of the food was excellent. The shrimp pasta drew rave reviews from sister and brother-in-law. My wife had Cesar salad and she was most impressed by the anchovies which were large and not overly salty. I was most impressed with the smoked halibut salad. I am on a low carb diet and they were very accommodating to substitute pickled rhubarb for lentils which took the flavor combinations in the salad to another level. We took a peek at the dinner menu and we look forward to returning.

I took my husband to this little Italian restaurant, located in a small house, for his birthday, and we both liked it quite a bit. Food was great. Don't miss the giant plate of rapini posing as an appetizer. My husband liked his kale Caesar too. My pasta dishes with nettles was wonderful and I appreciated the kitchen's willingness to switch out clams for shrimp for me. My husband enjoyed his cioppino though be aware it is a smaller dish. The maple cheesecake with rhubarb was superb. Service was quick and friendly. Make a reservation for this little place as it's jammed. There's a Gelato place with very good salted caramel next door.

Had an excellent dinner here with some family members ~ we dined outside since the weather was fabulous. We ordered 4 entrees and all shared everything ~ starting with a antipasto platter then risotto, a beautiful take on caprese salad and a gnocchi dish. Plenty of food for the 3 of us ~ !!! The only disappointment was the gnocchi was over cooked and quite mushy but the rest of the food was great.

Restaurant is in an old house that has been re-purposed. Kitchen is at front and open. Got the impression by their actions they thought they were a five star diner, not a just working kitchen. That is not say they were not doing a good job. Pasta is served in many presentations, however, plates are small and as one who likes a spicy tomato sauce dish, none was offered. Service was fine, friendly but not really engaging the customer and making them feel that they were appreciated, but a 20% charge was added on the bill to pay for wages and gratuity and not given a choice, wrong!

its a small white cottage on the hippest street in Ballard...... a lot of delicious food... a bit pricey but what isn't in Seattle .... don't order Oso Bucco...it was disappointing but service was good ..the wine list is well done... no reservations .... go during the week if you don't want to wait for a table.

Took the waitress 15 mins to come to our table, 5 mins to discuss specials, and 10 more mins for us to get our cocktails. She immediately started pressuring us to order so they could turn over the table. They wanted us gone in one hour 45 mins. They have mandatory 23% tip so they don't care if they're annoying. We did not cave under the pressure. We left at about the 2 hour mark. There was no line and a number of empty tables.

My wife and I have been trying to schedule a dinner at San Fermo with our adult children for the last few months and finally did so this past Saturday evening. The wait was definitely worth it and we were not disappointed. As we entered the restaurant we were very impressed by the warm reception and our server, Tyler, continued that feeling as he suggested some wines and let us know of the menu specials. Even though he had a large group next to us he always checked in with us to make sure all was ok. We ordered the Antipasti and Farinata for starters and both were great. The Chicory salad followed which again was outstanding. The entrees followed which were Pheasant, Bolognese and Risotto, all of which seasoned perfectly and prepared perfectly. The only complaint I had was that I was charged for two glasses of wine that were not mine and I failed to see it until I got home. Other than that a perfect evening with great food!

When we sat down the server told us that the kitchen takes their time and "makes things when they feel like it so it could be a while" I had no idea what that meant except it sounded like I was gonna wait a while for my food. I wanted to hate this place but my meal (pork belly) was delicious. My one friend ordered the risotto and was turned off because it was black (from some type of fish ink). My other friend ordered lobster something and said the pasta was really good but she couldn't taste\find any lobster.

San Fermo is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle for a weekend boozy brunch/lunch/afternoon experience. I have dined there 4 times and had a great experience each time. We wanted to go for late lunch on Saturday and drove over from downtown. The hours of the restaurant on weekends are posted as from 10-3 and then from 5-10. We walked in the door at 2:40 knowing that the restaurant was about to close, but would still have had time to quickly place an order. The hostess refused to seat us and said they had already closed their kitchen. If you close your kitchen before 3, seems like you should update your business hours to the actual time the kitchen closes so people don't waste their time coming to your restaurant only to be turned away.

We stopped by this adorable little restaurant upon seeing it at the Ballard farmers market and making a rez. We didn’t realize the reservations we made were for outside- which was chilly even with heat lamps and itchy blankets. We were told several times to get our full order in so they could time it right. Our Caesar arrived and it was way too salty and the chickpea bread was weird and greasy and the dips it came with were flavorless. The Bolognese pasta was good but the risotto bland and the rigatoni was nothing to right home about - too heavy handed. The timing was also off- so much for ordering ahead. The waiter never once checked on us, so it was fun to then get a 20% gratuity tacked on. I had high hopes but meh.

The salad was one of the top 20 salads I have ever eaten. The fish was salt crusted and tasty. The vegetarian fettuccine was over the top garlic and spice so I did not enjoy it at all.

Three of us had dinner here, seated in the outdoors section. Food was lovely, service was pleasant and informed.

We booked San Fermo for dinner prior to a show down the street, after seeing a number of positive reviews. We waited a bit to be seated, and to be noticed by our server, who earned a star for being honest about the timing of entree delivery on a busy night. The kitchen puts out dishes in waves (which we observed upon entering), so that there is a lull after appetizers, then it seems the whole room is served at once. Anyway, the food was laudable, especially the meat ragu and seasonal risotto. Recommended.

Having had both dinner and brunch here, I can say it’s a keeper for dinner but maybe not for brunch. I had the eggs Benedict which came with potatoes that tasted of old butter. The added 20% tip is a total turnoff and defeats the message that tips are supposed to send.

The food was exquisite. The warm atmosphere is everything we’ve sorely missed in all the loud, trendy & hip spots around town. The drinks delightful. Why just a 4? For the $$$, the service was rather relaxed but at least friendly & genuine. We will be back! Tip: make a reservation & ask to be seated up stairs.

Warm your soul food in a restored wooden house in Old Town Ballard. Choose from the chalkboard menu at the counter for lunch. Thoughtfully crafted Italian food will arrive at your table perfectly prepared. We shared the Rabbit Rigatoni, an innovative salad, fresh baguette and olives. Yum! The black and white interior provides simple cozy intimacy with excellent service.

We had a 5 pm reservation, ordered our food at 5:20 and got our food at 6:40. All we ordered was pasta. There is a reason they front load a 20% tip. Otherwise the waitresses would go broke. When we complained to the manager about the service, he told us we should have ordered another appetizer. Such arrogance. We eat out often, never been treated like this.

I have no idea why I didn't snap a picture of the adorable house this Italian Trattoria is in. It's very quaint and if it was a little warmer I would have sat on the patio which is drenched in charm. We started with the charcuterie board and some lovely Italian wine choices. I had the risotto and my mother had the spaghetti bolognese. Both were incredible and not too heavy or rich tasting. It has a small bar, which is nice considering it's a smaller restaurant. The service was on point with the waitress and hosts being friendly and attentive. San Fermo is my new favorite Italian restaurant and is appropriate for either date night or a good meal with friends.