Darkalino's

This place was recommended to me by a friend and I am so glad we went. There were 9 of us and the server was very attentive, asking everyone as they arrived if they wanted a drink. I had a delicious frozen martini. Food was outstanding. I had the plum panzanella and the special of the day- a corzetti pasta with butternut squash, sage, and hazelnuts. Outstanding! Dessert I chose was tiramisu, not something I normally order but it was excellent. Only thing was when the check was dropped off I asked if we could split it up a bit according to different couples and it seemed like an inconvenience. I realize we should have stated that at the beginning but still, it wasn’t very busy and we brought a lot of business in. Highly recommend this place.

I couldn’t wait until after I left to write this review. Executive chef Sean Russo’s creativity and passion for what he does translated to an unforgettable experience. We started this culinary journey with the prosciutto e melone. It was summer on a plate. The perfect blend of fresh perfectly ripened melons, crisp frisée and sublime prosciutto. The dressing was out of this world. We then moved onto the meatball sandwich made with Chef Russo’s grandmas meatballs. This was one of those sandwiches you didn’t want to put down once you pick it up, so I didn’t and devoured it with vigor. The blend of pork, veal, beef resulted in the most tender and flavorful meatballs you’ve ever had, all sandwiched between fresh locally made focaccia bread. Finally we ended with the pasta carbonara, one of the ultimate comfort foods. The sauce was perfectly silky and not too heavy, the guanciale was thick and bursting with juicy goodness. With a healthy dusting of pecorino and parmigiano reggiano to finish. Thank you to Nick for the refreshing strawberry bourbon smash and warm service. If brunch was this good I can’t wait to come back for dinner. Do yourself a favor and come to this new and bustling establishment the next time you are craving some damn good Italian cuisine.

Came here when my brother was visiting with some friends and had such a lovely experience on the patio! We shared a bunch of appetizers and absolutely loved all of the bold fresh flavors. The steamed clams stood out the most; I could have drank the garlicky broth they were in. The tuna crudo and Burrata were wonderful additions as well. The staff was friendly and checked in often. The puttanesca was INCREDIBLE. The pasta was spicy and had a nice bite to it. Overall, would come here again! Take advantage of the patio while their is still warm weather.

A great extension of their first location in Pioneer Square, Darkalino's in Greenlake might just be my new favorite after work spot. Killer cocktails crafted with simplicity, a thoughtfully curated wine list, and too many next level food dishes to name. The staff was very knowledgeable about the food & wine while providing caring, attentive service. We have already been twice and both brunch and dinner had some heavy hitters. Carbonara, Tonno Salad, and burrata just made our day! Not pictured must trys are the Tiramisu and French toast. Looking forward to bringing more people with me next time to try the rest of the menu family style.

Come to Darkalinos! delicious pasta & sandwiches & salads, extremely good service, and an intimate but fun atmosphere. The eggplant parmesan and breaded chicken and shrimp salad are all insanely good. I came here with my girlfriends and caught up for hours over delicious cocktails, pasta, and salad. The vibe was cozy and fun. I loved it so much I came back the next night with my husband for round two! The service and food were fantastic and we’ll definitely be coming back. that food is way too good!!!

Hidden Gem just above Green Lake in a sleepy part of town. Been hearing quiet positive mumblings about this place for a few months so we decided to check it out. Fun atmosphere that blends 'that neighborhood spot' with 'hip, wine bar' vibes. Service was welcoming and food came out hot and fast. Speaking of food, dishes greatly exceeded expectations. Dishes were throughly thought out, well executed, playful and delicious. The menu had a really fun twist of hat tipping nods to a Sicilian Nonna's greatest kitchen hits, and bright, creative takes on Italian American classics. The takeaways: Produce quality was top tier and seasonal. Arancinis were by far the best I've had in the city. Felt like I was in Catonia while eating them. Apple compote and proscuitto Burrata set was delicious. Top tier Mozz. Stonefruit and polenta panzanella was fan favorite and meatballs were everything I wished Mom would've made growing up. Chicken Piccata and Eggplant parm were perfectly executed and portions were of plenty. Would definitely recommend this restaurant, when looking for a meal that gives you those nostalgic feels. Was a quiet night, but with the quality the kitchen is putting out, I wouldn't expect that to be the case for too long. Will definitely be back!

The best Italian food in Seattle. The service was fantastic, drinks were delish (great bartender), and food unbelievable. We basically ordered everything on the menu! Our favorites: the salad, arancini, focaccia, all the fresh pastas (especially the meatballs with pasta and funghi pasta)! The dessert was amazing too. Best tiramisu and cannoli! The portions were larger than we expected. So leftovers for breakfast. Sean the chef came out and chatted with us. So nice! Thank you for a wonderful evening out and we will be back!

Finally stopped here for dinner tonight and I'm afraid to say we were disappointed. Service was perfectly lovely, not too busy in the restaurant. Style wasn't our taste but that doesn't matter all that much. Started with the focaccia and disco sauce to dip. Loved the sauce but the focaccia had such a tight crumb. Just too dense for what you expect. We split the porchetta sandwich and the ragu. The porchetta sandwich was good but again, served on that dense focaccia and it was just a bit messy/hard to eat. The ragu was the biggest letdown. Not much flavor and for $23 I guess I expect homemade noodles or what could pass for homemade. These were very...Barilla. Skipped dessert because it WAS a filling meal so we did definitely get our money's worth! Overall, just not what we'd hoped for or expected. A lot of people seem to like this spot so maybe we just came on a less-than-stellar night in the kitchen.

The best Italian food in Seattle. The service was fantastic, drinks were delish (great bartender), and food unbelievable. We basically ordered everything on the menu! Our favorites: the salad, arancini, focaccia, all the pastas (especially the meatballs with pasta and funghi pasta)! The dessert was amazing too. Best tiramisu and cannoli! All the portion sizes were bigger than we expected with plenty to take home! Leftovers for breakfast. Sean the chef came out and chatted with us. So nice! Thank you for a wonderful evening out and we will be back!

Both lil' woody's burgers and Darkalino's cocktails were great, so my stunted review comes from the ambiguity in arrangements between Darkalino's and Lil' Woody's. Let me explain... I read the eater article from the restaurant owner highlighting, "Darkalino's and Lil Woody's will each have "their own branded identity and entrance," Lalario said in a statement, but "guests will be able to bring their purchased burger over to Darkalino's to join their friends who want a focaccia sandwich alongside an Italian-inspired cocktail or glass of wine." My partner arrived and ordered burgers to take over over to Darkalino's. We were told "order to go", so we did. We arrive at Darkalino's, clarify we're bringing our burgers over to eat. No problem from the host staff.. "sit at the bar!" Awesome! We have a seat at the bar, order drinks to have with burgers.. and it's not until my partner arrives with our to-go burgers we're told "so you can't actually eat your burgers over here" by the bartender. I have no issue with different restaurants having to meet regulatory standards, but what bums me out is the misconception from the eater article where the owner highlights a co-op setup, and us not being told we couldn't have Lil' woody's burgers in Darkalino's only by the third staff member along our path. Restaurant is new, things happen, and besides this snag, our experience was great.. just don't expect to slam a burger with your cocktail.

Nearly a year ago, I dined at the Darkalino's in Pioneer Square. Terrific that Darkalino's decided to open a second location adjacent to L'il Woody's in Seattle's Tangletown neighborhood (smack dab from Wallingford, Latona, and Green Lake). This location at N56th & Kirkwood had been different iterations like Pourhouse, Bandolero, Publican, Luau Polynesian, and Burgundian. Me and another fellow Shoreliner/IGer/Yelp Elite decided to meetup after work (7/17/24). Both of us were stuck in traffic, but managed to find street parking close to Darkalino's. We were there seated at a two top for nearly three hours, typical span to enjoy our food and lively convo. Bright interior due to the artwork, lots of indoor seating in the dining room and bar area. There's also bright, festive outdoor seating. Full bar, menu with shareable apps, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and desserts. Really friendly service. We shared the arancini (2 for $17), nicely prepped and plated with accompanying spinach and sweet snap peas. CC ordered the Aglio e Olio pasta bowl and I had the Italian Combo sandwich ($22). The latter came with pickled vegies too. The sandwich had a burst of flavor from the meats, cheeses, veg and dressing all encased in their delicious focaccia. Half did me in while onsite, but the other half made for a tasty, late night meal. We both passed on dessert, $12 choices were panna cotta and tiramisu. I would have loved to have tried a cocktail, but had to pass. The dining room and bar started to fill up coming up on 7pm. The acoustics were also getting a bit loud. Same thing I noticed having dined at L'il Woody's from an earlier visit. It must be inherent to the building they share. We were glad to have dined right as they opened at 4pm - that dunch/linner timeframe. Nice addition to the Tangletown neighborhood.

I'm excited that Darkalino's (and Lil Woody's) opened up in Tangletown! It's awesome to get more dining options close to Greenlake, and open after 9 PM on Fri & Sat. I went in for a nice solo date at yesterday's opening day. I was lucky to snag a table for myself, right before a couple of groups came in. I think the menu is just right: while I want to try EVERYTHING, it was not overwhelming to make a decision. First thing I ordered was the Darkalinos Spritz: Aperol, Prosecco, Blood Orange Syrup, Soda Water. I found this refreshing, and enjoyed the citrus and bitter notes of this spritz. After picking at my server's brain, I went for the Aglio e Olio: Garlic, Calabrian Chili, Olive Oil, Breadcrumb, Pecorino, Spaghetti. What pushed me to order this was that this is a light pasta with a kick from the chili, and they're right on the money. The spaghetti was al dente and I thought the portion was just right as a entrée for a solo diner. For dessert, I tried the Spumoni Panna Cotta: Pistachio Cream, Cherry Glaze, Shaved Chocolate. I went for this dessert as pistachio cream caught my eye. What wow'ed me was the pastry: I love how it crumbled when I took a bite. The cherry glaze gave the dessert tartness, which I thought went well with the pistachio cream. I'm definitely ordering this dessert again! Overall, I felt satisfied enough that I can still get a milkshake next door at Lil Woody's and walk over to the lake. Welcome to Tangletown Darkalino's! I look forward to dining again very soon.

A great extension of their first location in Pioneer Square, Darkalino's in Greenlake might just be my new favorite after work spot. Killer cocktails crafted with simplicity, a thoughtfully curated wine list, and too many next level food dishes to name. The staff was very knowledgeable about the food & wine while providing caring, attentive service. We have already been twice and both brunch and dinner had some heavy hitters. Carbonara, Tonno Salad, and burrata just made our day! Not pictured must trys are the tiramisu and French toast. Looking forward to bringing more people with me next time to try the rest of the menu family style.

I've been looking for some good Italian food after traveling there a few months ago. This place was the answer. The burrata with crispy prosciutto divine. The autumn squash ravioli special was one of my favorites. The arancini was large and very flavored. Finally we get to dessert with the tiramisu and the cannoli. Wowwwww. The cannoli was even better the ones I had in Italy. Drinks were balance. Lovely neighborhood ambiance. Great evening. Definitely coming back soon!

The food was delicious, very fresh, cooked to order, distinctive, just picked garden herbs. It brought me back to a year l spent outside of Lucca living on an old vineyard with a group of printmakers. We had our own cook Rosa. The stuffed artichoke was reminiscent of Risa's country Italian cooking. Sandwiches were made with homemade focaccia. Meatballs on the antipasti menu also superb. Pasta & salads amazing. Lovely ambiance, attentive staff, stocked bar & knowledgeable bartender. I hesitate writing this because l don't want them to be too crowded next time we go which will be very very soon. They do have outdoor seating & this neighborhood still feels like old Seattle. Just up from Green Lake too.

Really wanted to love this place as it's right in the neighborhood, but it just didn't meet the mark for us. The vibe is a little dark cafeteria-esque, but prices are in range of a nice restaurant. Portions of pasta are very small, our artichoke didn't seem fully cooked, and I am fairly certain our cocktails came from a tap (which should be clear on the menu, IMO). We also sat for awhile after finishing appetizer, before being able to order entrees, while the server was just hanging behind the bar (it wasn't busy at all when we were there).

Great spot for real elevated home style Italian, interior is super fun and new and the service is awesome. The food is some of the best I've had in the city, the fact that they are in a small greenlake neighborhood is so cool and quite frankly I'm jealous. Lots of variety on the menu and they are very accommodating. Stoked to see what they continue to create!!

Food was incredibly flavorful and rustic. Head chef knows his stuff. Highly recommend the pesto and the sandwiches. Don't skip the dessert it's made from scratch. I really enjoyed the art on the walls.

Excellent food, atmosphere and service. The wine list was wonderful and the server knowledgeable l. I'll be back!

Really excited to try this spot as it has been empty for some time in the Wallingford area. Space seems ok dividing into equal parts bar and restaurant. We went for an early dinner as we saw some good reviews regarding the food. Sadly this will be a one and done experience as it was disappointing as they are very far off from being ready for prime time. Food was extremely oversalted. Wine menu has a lot of price variation - we bought a $65 bottle served in little glasses. I can't imagine ordering a $200 bottle and it being served that way. Cherry on top was when we asked for new plates after antipasti given the mix of flavors - one would have thought it was a crime against humanity. She picked up the plates and slammed them together in such rude fashion and stormed off - no serving utensils - apparently she is the manager. Super uncomfortable after that point. Sadly, this is a tell that we will likely visiting this location in about 12 months time under new ownership with new cuisine.

Cocktails were good, food was good, it's shocking tho the tiny portions! I mean I eat out a lot. I often enjoy fine dining at nearby Italian places that give you a solid plate of pasta. I hate when you get crazy huge portions but for $22 for a plate of rigatoni I expect more than a cup of pasta. It's not seafood it's stewed meat and rigatoni, the portion was ridiculous. Barely an appetizer size. The focaccia was very good but again, $6 for two pieces, why? And then $4 more for a tiny bit of olive oil and balsamic? Two drinks, two pieces of focaccia and a tiny pasta for $80 at a neighborhood joint before tip? I'll stay home and cook. Burgers are great tho I will say that.

Amazing food from exec chef Sean Russo- it's clear he pulls from his Italian heritage to make these classics authentic and unique.We can't wait to be back- great service as well and don't forget to get the Tiramisu. The flavor profile and depth of the tuna crudo was impressive as well. We loved everything !!