Cafe Lago
Italian restaurant · Montlake ·
Handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, light lasagna, cozy vibe
Handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, light lasagna, cozy vibe
"As soon as I sat down at this Montlake Italian restaurant the server warned there was only one piece of lasagna left—did I want it? You bet. This is one of Seattle’s two famous lasagnas (the other is at the Pink Door) and justifiably so—the trick is the many, many layers of delicate pasta that fall apart in your mouth. There’s no meat, no flashy flavor, just a mellow, tomato-y break from the everyday; just be warned, they will run out of it on some nights." - Harry Cheadle
"You’ve heard of bread and butter. You’ve also heard of bread and olive oil. At Cafe Lago, meet bread and butter and olive oil, which is a trio as pleasant as the cast ofThree’s Company. In a world of choice, it’s nice not to have to make one—and salted dairy mingling with EVOO’s grassy-peppery calling card just works on a slice of crusty bread." - Aimee Rizzo
"When Cafe Lago brought in longtime Cafe Juanita chef de cuisine Lauren Thompson to head up the kitchen in early 2024, the potentially splashy hire was made with little fanfare. Since her arrival, Thompson’s approach with the menu has been similarly low-key, with gentle but effective tweaks to the Tuscan and Calabrian-inspired fare that’s been drawing diners to Montlake since 1990. She’s improved the sourcing, featuring more local and seasonal produce, along with sustainable producers such as Samish Bay Cheese. Meatballs now include the traditional veal component — which actually restores them to the way they were made in the restaurant’s earlier years. No, Cafe Lago isn’t going the fine-dining tasting menu route à la Cafe Juanita; it’s still a charming neighborhood spot you can bring the kids. It’s more that those satisfying favorites — like linguine con pecorino and lamb osso bucco — are now dialed in with more emphasis on ingredients and technique." - Mark DeJoy
"Montlake’s Cafe Lago is the perfect neighborhood white-tablecloth Italian restaurant — just upscale enough for celebrating a special occasion, but not so fussy that it won’t accommodate an off-menu order of fettucini alfredo. The pastas, including two excellent lasagna dishes, are well-executed here, and evolve with the seasons." - Eater Staff, Mark DeJoy
"Carla Leonardi’s Italian bistro has been serving Tuscan-inspired food on white tablecloths in an old brick building in Montlake since 1990. The wood-fired oven at the back of the restaurant churns out delicate, crispy pizzas that are only $10 on Mondays for customers dining in, making this one of the rare restaurants that really courts the Monday crowd. The only downside is that it can get pretty busy, so expect a wait; reservations are encouraged." - Jade Yamazaki Stewart
