Messina Modern Italian Kitchen - Seattle (WA)

5 /5 V Andrew (he/him): This place is just right, as in, pretty incredible. The ambiance is refined while laid back (cozy date-night feel still with a few understated screens and bit of edge from the large neon “MOVE THAT DOUGH” sign tucked in a back corner. The Italian wedge is a great concept they totally nail with the right tang from Italian flavors with a touch of sweet, and the mocktail game is among the best I’ve stumbled across. They’re not just throwing fruity stuff with seltzer; they’re actually experimenting with the plethora of NA offerings out there for balanced, elegant cocktails worthy of the name. If you sit at the bar, strike up a combo with the bartender about the latest in NA drinks—she’s on top of her game. Definitely a place to check out if you’re in the area, or need a bite before a game or show.

5 /5 Jordan Esparza: Amy, our server, was excellent! Super helpful, and the food was amazing. We ordered the petite flight which included 3 pastas of your choice. We got the spicy vodka, pesto, & caccio e pepe. Amazing! Best pasta flight in Seattle. Will be back next date night.

3 /5 Matt Morio: We were excited to try after some Instagram posts about the pasta flights, which are a great concept. Be hungry its a lot of food! Overall, ok. Atmosphere is an odd mix of a dining area and sports bar, food was OK, and service could be improved quite a bit We got the petite flight of 3 pastas and roasted beets salad. Maybe the "modern" part of the name was the twists on the dishes? As the food itself didnt quite hit the mark of what we were expecting for several things. The pastas are pretty good, but not worth the prices in my opinion. Cacio e pepe was more like a Mac and cheese with very little black pepper in the dish, I thought the Bolognese was nice with the beef and pork but my partner wasnt a fan, and pesto was interesting with the peppers but there was a lot going on and I dont think ours had any brocolini. The roasted beets salad has a nice dressing but if the beets were roasted Im not sure how or when. It was basically just cut beets tossed in a vinaigrette, with a very dry and firm burrata (fresh mozzarella maybe? It was not creamy), with some micro greens on top. Service was the biggest disappointment. When we walked in we werent greeted with a hello or welcome. Only asking if we had a reservation (yes) and then were sat at our table. We were brought a flask of water and cups, menus placed on the table and no other words maybe she was having a bad day but not a great start. Our server had very little energy also, took about 10 min for her to first greet us (dining room was maybe 1/4 full at best), we ordered some sparkling water to start and when she brought it she just placed on the table for us to open and pour ourselves. We asked for recommendations or thoughts on dishes which she wasnt excited about anything on the menu really so my wife had to pull out her phone to look for online dish reviews before we ordered. Out salad came first but our plates werent replaced once the mains came, odd. Then the pasta flight came on a board with a sparkerr and we were left to eat After the food came, we were checked on once and then brought the check through our entire meal. Maybe its just me but for an over $100/ person meal and all the other great restaurants in town I expected a bit more from service. We really wanted to like Messina Modern however the overall experience was a bit lacking from the initial greeting onwards and while it was fun to try, not worth returning with so many great spots in town.

5 /5 christopher copeland: The atmosphere is perfect for a quick dinner in the bar or a romantic dinner in the restaurant. Full bar with a large wine selection. The waiters, waitresses and bartenders are always attentive and checking in to see how your meal is tasting or if you may need anything for the table. Food is the perfect portion size for one or you can get a flight for the table with up to 5 different pastas. I like my dessert with Espresso which you can get by request. Make sure to book a table before stopping in, bar is open seating and is as comfortable as a table just better to plan ahead.