"Rimini is a Kirkland spot from the same family behind Montalcino, and much like its older sibling, it has what most Italian restaurants in the Greater Seattle area don’t. Like a sunday gravy-soaked meatball that contains the holy trinity of pork, beef, and veal—or a chicken parmigiana to brag about. There’s even a Sicilian fellow named Tony who occasionally serenades the dining room with Dean Martin standards and asks each table, “Va bene?” around six times per course. What’s happening here makes the otherwise goofy “Old Italy” theme feel validated, down to every last chocolate baton-harpooned slice of Nutella cheesecake." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley