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Cafe Lago
- Desserts
- Seattle, WA
About this business
Specialties Daily Housemade Pasta and Pizza dough History Established in 1990. Cafe Lago is an Italian restaurant in Seattle's Montlake neighborhood. Founded in October of 1990 by Carla Leonardi and Jordi Viladas, it has been a Northwest institution for rustic Italian cuisine for more than 20 years. Each morning, the cooks at Lago roast vegetables for antipasti, mix and roll fresh pasta, proof pizza dough and bake lasagna and desserts for the evening's meal. At night, the wood-fired oven and josper charcoal broiler are in a... read more
Location details
2305 24th Ave E, Seattle, WA, 98112, United States
Get directions| Weekday | Schedule | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | |
| Tue | 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | |
| Wed | 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | |
| Thu | 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. | |
| Fri | 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. | |
| Sat | 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. | |
| Sun | 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. |
Great gnocchi – Started with the Pomodori al Forno, which was amazing! Had the Gnocchi (add sausage) and the whole meal practically melted in my mouth! It was delicious! Friends had the pizza special, which was a white sauce and they said red would've been better. Also tried the white/oily sauce pasta item (there was only one) and it was ok. I think I scored with my picks.
A SERIOUS RIP OFF – I have never figured out how this place got its supposedly stellar reputation. I have lived in this neighborhood for a quarter century, and frequented Lago probably five times. Each time I hope to have a better experience, but each time I come away shaking my head. The food is really quite ordinary, just as the prices are extraordinary. Service is perfunctory unless you buy a lot of their overpriced table wine. I have had far better pizza in several locations in Seattle. Far better.
Every dish is excellent – The pizzas are simple but elegant, never over done or "decorated". They make their pasta everyday and you can tell. The staff is a blast. All the sauces are delicate and satisfying.Signature drinks invented in house. I recommend it without reservation.
The Way Pizza Should Be – Not many people outside of the neighborhood know about this place and it definitely has a neighborhood restaurant feel. But, my wife and I will drive from West Seattle to eat here. The pizza is how pizza should be. Fired on stone, minimal toppings, thin, crispy and with a crust that's like eating the perfect breadstick at the end of every slice. The fresh made pastas are also really good. The meatballs, that I hear come from an old family recipe, are some of the best I've ever had. Plenty of flavor ... read more
Great Spot! – Cafe Lago has great Italian cuisine nailed! Plus, the service is impeccable. The pizza reminds me of Italy. All carmelized and crispy from the wood fired oven. Delish! The ingredients and menu selections are fresh plus the pasta is so delicate and delicious! This is not a cheap Americanized Italian joint. It may cost a bit more but you always get what you pay for. Great wine selection, great food and wonderful homemade tiramisu for dessert. Don't forget to have the Blue Cheese Salad too! Great spot for family g... read more
Not what we expected – Despite the good over all critics and a suggestion from a friend, our friday night out at the cafe lago left us non totally satisfied. We made reservations so I have to say that we were prompty seated and got the table close to the window as requested. The service was quite good and polite, checking on us every now and then without becoming annoying. We got the bruschette with the goat cheese that were preety good, but not I-would-order-them-again good. The pizza actually was the big disapointment of t... read more
disappointing – I heard of Cafe Lago as a great authentic italian restaurant. I finally tried it and was not that impressed. First they were out of two main dishes out of six they offer. The bad about it is that they wait for you to spend 15 min choosing your dish to say, sorry we are out of.... That makes a lousy service, I think. The food was good but probably not worth the price. Dessert wise, same things they wait until you choose to say we are out of such or such, and barely apologize for it. Overall I was quite disappo... read more
Still a favorite, but price is getting steep – We "found" Cafe Lago several years ago and it fresh pasta and excellent preparations have brought us back over and over throughout the years. However, during the last year or so we've realized that the prices of their items have gotten rather high. We once viewed Cafe Lago as a great value and just a quick ride over the 520 bridge, but now, it's a pretty pricey choice and is leaving us searching for an option on the East Side that is a little less expensive. Setting aside the pr... read more
Amazing and authentic – You don?t find restaurants that make homemade noodles that are as light and fluffy as Cafe Lago. I have eaten at many restaurants claiming to be Italian, and what I really get is pasta that I could have cooked at home. Cafe Lago is far more than your average Italian restaurant. For this I am confused by the complaints that have been made at the cost of Cafe Lago?s entrees. I have eaten at cafe Lago for years and have never had anything but the best food for my value, and service to boot. Last night wh... read more
Frequently asked questions about Cafe Lago
How is Cafe Lago rated?
Cafe Lago has a 4.5 star rating with 617 reviews.
When is Cafe Lago open?
Cafe Lago is closed now. It will open at 5:00 p.m.
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