"One of the newest group spaces in town is Spinasse's private dining room, a.k.a. SPDR. And seeing as this is the best Italian restaurant in the city, it's a great idea for a group of 32 or fewer. Minimums vary based on whether you book on a weekday or weekend, but you can expect a $300 room fee, family-style dinners, and wine pairings. This is the best Italian restaurant in Seattle, and such superlatives come with a tricky reservation process. They do have a patio now, which has made things better than they used to be, but good luck getting a table that isn’t at 9:30pm unless you book several weeks in advance. You can secure a table up to 60 days ahead of time, and thankfully, there’s usually nobody hovering at midnight ready to pounce on that 60th day. (Except for you, of course.)" - aimee rizzo