Visited this restaurant last night and we were pleasantly surprised by just how good it was. Though set to the side of the Pike Place Market, the waiting staff, food (especially the amazing vanilla ice cream) and wine were all excellent. I have to admit...it looks nothing from outside, and I was a bit sceptical about going in, but can definitely recommend it as being as good as some of the better located ones nearby….and the kitchen doesn’t close at 8.30pm!!!!More
My husband and I visited Il Bistro for our anniversary dinner yesterday. We ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and it was absolutely delicious! We both joked that we wanted to drink the sauce. The Alaskan salmon special was good, and the clam linguini was...also fantastic. We ordered a bottle of wine, but it was not available; however, the host offered another comparable one. At the beginning of the meal, the waitress dropped and broke a wine glass by accident. As a result, our calamari was comped, which was very nice. Overall, we had a lovely dinner. We would definitely recommend sitting on the outside patio for people watching as they head to the gum wall, which is right around the corner. Lots of gum being popped in mouths on the way.More
Julian rocks! Came in a few times recently for dinner & drinks and have blown away each and every single time with the level of expertise from the mixologists (Adam, Jonathan and Julian) and service from manager Angel at il Bistro compared to many of...their competitors in this great area of bars including Bath Tub Gin, Zig Zag Cafe, etc. Each drink is handcrafted frankly to the level you'd expect from Murray Stenson in his heyday at Zig Zag, Canon, etc. and that's the utmost compliment in the Seattle Bartending Community. As for the food - just ate the Lasagna tonight, which must have had 10+ layers with the ultimate crunch on each bite that was simply to die for. Frankly, I'd go back daily just for that dish - let alone the mouthwatering cocktails that are perfectly balanced so your getting each flavor & note exactly as Julian prepared it. Can't wait to come back in the future for another drink & dinner.More
NYE Dinner res for my girlfriend and I. We're on our 6th NYE together and Il Bistro is our favorite place. We made the res for the bar area; they had overbooked it and initially told us we could not have a table there. When...I showed them the proof that in fact I had a bar table res, the manager came over in short order and made everything right (points, guys, good job). The 4-course meal was outstanding. From the lobster to the duck, pasta, eggnog gelato with cognac, it was a perfect meal. The service was outstanding. It should go without saying that we will continue to come back. Thank you to the whole staff for making our NYE dinner a truly memorable experience. Can't wait to return! SWMore
We sat outside and it was nice for people watching. The prices were reasonable for the food. I would have liked to see a little more seafood on the menu but the calamari appetizer was nice (and a large portion, almost main meal to be...honest!) I also enjoyed the clam linguine, although it's quite heavy on the white wine. My partner enjoyed his lamb burger. Even with us being European and used to long dinners, there was a very long wait between courses, I imagine like many places they're suffering a staffing shortage. Overall it was very reasonable, but not mind blowing.More
Inviting, cozy and delicious setting! Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Pike's Market while still in the center of it all! Service, food and drinks were spot on! Will visit every time we are in Seattle!
Wife and I had dinner at IL Bistro for our Anniversary. Wonderful spot for a romantic dinner. The food was excellent. Staff was wonderful and attentive.
We went here for dinner. It had been about 25 years since I was last here. Unfortunately it was not what I had remembered but still a good experience. The service was fantastic, the meal was average and high priced. I had the rigatoni which...was ok, others had the gnocchi which they said was really good as well as the linguine and clams, mussels and fish. The Caesar salad was good and was large enough to share. I would not be opposed to returning but I have had better and would prefer to go elsewhere, away from the tourist area.More
Truthfully, chose this restaurant because Pink Door was fully booked. Planned on an hour here for dinner on a weeknight before attending an event nearby; should have allowed more time. Service was excellent. Food was very good, however not anything to write home about. Took...longer than we would have thought to get our food considering the restaurant was not full. There was a large party nearby (presumably an office Christmas dinner) that got louder as time went on making it difficult to carry on a conversation across our small table. Noise does carry here so if there is a large party, don’t expect a quiet, intimate experience.More
We spend a week end in Seattle at Christmas. A highlight is a dinner at a nice restaraunt that has some character to it. Our favorite place recently closed leaving us in need for a new Saturday night dinner place. Great find, but..... This is...a wonderful setting, at the foot of Post Alley and the Gum Wall and in a classic basement bistro setting. The ambiance was super and just what we like. The wait staff was friendly and prompt. However the kitchen and bar seemed "behind" and so our drinks and meal took a long time (more than casual, elegant dining speed). I had the gnocchi, my daughter the ciappino. Both very good. In fact, my daughter tried a bite of the gnocchi and said it was the best she ever had! My wife on the other hand, had the chicken dish and was very unhappey with the chicken itself. The sauce and fagioli were very good but the chicken tastless and "an odd texture". It was not on the level of the rest of the dish or our dishes. We will likely give il Bistro another try as we like the restaraunt, but not for the chicken dish.More
Il Bistro is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle and definitely my favorite in the Pike Place Market. It's located in a secluded section of Pike Street below the main level of the Market. It is great for a romantic evening or a pre-theater...or pre-concert dinner. The Italian food is well prepared and served and the staff are very personable.They have a cozy bar that is perfect for a wet Seattle evening.More
Good Itialian with good service. Maybe one of the best restaurants near the market. Decent wine list.
My wife and I had a fantastic dinner at Il Bistro! The ambiance was very romantic with candles providing light to each table. We had the king salmon (special of the day), gamberoni, caprese salad, and calamari accompanied, of course, by some white wine. The...calamari was different from the usual fried fare and was quite tasty. Overall, we were impressed by the quality of the food, and the prices were very reasonable. We definitely plan to come back the next time we visit Seattle!More
Great bar for happy hour! The bartenders are super friendly and attentive. During happy hour, glasses of wine are $7, draft beer is $1.00 off. Special cocktails are $9.00 and small plates are $8.00. We loved the atmosphere here, and the wine and the food...were very good.More
It had been decades since our last visit, so we looked forward to visiting Il Bistro for our 43rd anniversary dinner. A romantic evening was on our minds. The scallops, linguine de mare, caesar salad, and bruschetta were superb and our server was welcoming and...helpful. Soon after we arrived, however, a party of 16 people was seated near to us. The noise level increased dramatically, so much so that we saw other nearby patrons turning to look at them. The maitre d asked that they keep it down. That worked for a very few minutes. Having any kind of a conversation was difficult. Thankfully, that group eventually left. We were pleased when our server offered to comp desserts for us. I've given this restaurant an "average" rating primarily because it was a poor decision of management, knowing the noise level would likely be high, to seat a party of that size.More
