How to Cook a Wolf

Italian restaurant · Madison Park

How to Cook a Wolf

Italian restaurant · Madison Park

3

4200 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112

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Highlights

Rustic Italian small plates & pasta in an upscale venue  

Featured in Eater
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4200 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112 Get directions

howtocookawolf.com
@htcawolf

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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4200 E Madison St, Seattle, WA 98112 Get directions

+1 206 309 8700
howtocookawolf.com
@htcawolf

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 10, 2025

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@eater

Ethan Stowell to Open New How to Cook a Wolf and Tavolata Locations in September - Eater Seattle

"In mid-September, the second location of his popular Mediterranean spot How to Cook a Wolf will open in Madison Park, and a third outpost to the Italian mainstay Tavolata aims to follow shortly thereafter. [...] At 3,000 square feet, the new How to Cook a Wolf outpost will be a bit roomier than its Queen Anne sibling (roughly (50 percent larger) and feature an outdoor patio for additional seating. The food should be familiar to those who visited the original, with a menu focused on seafood and pasta, such as scallops with Walla Walla onion purée, hamachi crudo, spaghetti with anchovy and garlic, and campanelle with pork cheek." - Gabe Guarente

https://seattle.eater.com/2020/9/8/21427453/ethan-stowell-new-locations-how-to-cook-a-wolf-tavolata-september-restaurant-openings
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@eater

Notable Seattle Restaurants That Opened (or Reopened) Recently - Eater Seattle

"Restaurateur Ethan Stowell’s popular Mediterranean restaurant How to Cook a Wolf has now added its second Seattle location. The new Madison Park outpost is roomier than its Queen Anne sibling by roughly 50 percent and features an outdoor patio." - Gabe Guarente

https://seattle.eater.com/2020/5/26/21270953/seattle-restaurants-reopened-for-takeout-and-delivery
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@eater

Ethan Stowell Plans Another How to Cook a Wolf Location - Eater Seattle

"One star Seattle chef is about to complete a trilogy. According to Seattle Met, restaurateur Ethan Stowell will open another outpost of his celebrated Mediterranean-leaning spot How to Cook a Wolf in Madison Park sometime next year at 4200 East Madison Street. This comes on the heels of an East Coast offshoot, Wolf, which recently opened in Nordstrom’s New York City flagship store. Though details on the new restaurant are still in its early stages, diners familiar with the How to Cook a Wolf original should expect seasonal seafood dishes, pasta, and plenty of Pacific Northwest ingredients. Rising chef Nicole Matson will oversee both Seattle locations." - Gabe Guarente

https://seattle.eater.com/2019/11/15/20967081/ethan-stowell-how-to-cook-a-wolf-madison-park-location
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Rachel DiPaola

Google
My husband and I went to How to Cook a Wolf for our anniversary dinner last night. I had reserved an indoor table, but the weather was so nice we asked to sit outside when we arrived. Absolutely no problem! Troy, our server (who we met last time we were there and remembered us), was attentive and delightful. The food was AMAZING! We started with the baby gem salad, burrata with beet/rhubarb sauce, and the ahi tuna crudo. All were prepared beautifully, came to the table in a timely manner and lit our palettes! For dinner, my husband had the pork chops and I enjoyed one of the best steaks I've very had. They brought us little glasses of champagne and everyone on the staff wished us a Happy Anniversary. I love this place and we will return for family celebrations as well as when we just want to experience fine dining at its best.

Alan Wong

Google
Somethings are top notch, like the carpaccio, and polenta are creative and excellent executions. But the beans with the pork chop were unevenly cooked. Some mushy and tendor and some aldente. The canoli was a miss, tasting of underseasoned under sweetened pistachio paste with no accompanying sauce to adjust it's lack of sweetness. It's good, I think if you picked some specific dishes and reasonably priced pastas you will have a good time. But some dishes are too expensive for it to not execute better.

Jeremy Yowell

Google
How to Cook a Wolf in Madison was a phenomenal spot to grab dinner with friends on a Thursday evening. Every dish we received was delicious and presented well, with a great drink menu supporting the food. Service was solid and the atmosphere inside was warm and upscale. 100% would come back!

Jessica G.

Google
Most unnecessarily pretentious restaurant I've ever been to. I went for my birthday dinner with a group of friends.The appetizers were good, but the food itself was inconsistent, disappointing and bland. Two of my friends ordered the agnolatti, and two ordered the chicken valdostana. One of the agnolatti's sauce was extremely watery, and the pasta was lukewarm and bland. One of the chicken's was dry, and she was shaking the whole table trying to cut it (reminiscing of that one SNL skit). The other chicken and agnolatti were normal, so I'm wondering if there's an inconsistency issue in the kitchen? Another friend had ordered the conchiglie and the pasta undercooked, and the sauce was watery and somehow over-peppered. I'm glad she sent it back because it was literally inedible, but that also took a long time because our waiter was rarely checking on us. I ordered the pappardelle, which was definitely not worth the $31, nothing about it was outstanding. The food took quite a while to come out after our appetizers, which barely held us over because the burrata does not come with bread (who just eats a ball of cheese on its own?), and the 4 slices of bread we did order was $14. On top of everything, the service charge was 22%, which is insane for watery, bland food and disappointing service. Save your money, go somewhere worth your time and tastebuds. I should've gone to Bizzaro or Brunello's, at least they know pasta!

Christine Reid

Google
This restaurant has been on my list for a while and we finally found a chance to go. However the experience fell flat. Perhaps a decline since it was recommended to me when I moved to Seattle a few years ago. I felt it was not worth the $200+ dining cost. The cocktails were okay but certainly not well crafted. So much pith on the lemon twist it made the entire cocktail bitter. The basil that came in my partner’s drink was past its prime. The appetizers were simple but okay. The squash was simple and uncreative. Two dollars of squash that was not elevated enough to justify their $17 price tag. The chicken liver was fine. We ordered the King Salmon and a pasta recommended by the server. The King Salmon was overcooked and nothing to write home about. Too simplistic and lack of artistry for a $50+ dish. The pasta brought back memories of hamburger helper. I found myself upset that I had chosen to go here. It fell so short of its reputation. A beautiful atmosphere that only highlighted how mediocre the dishes and drinks were in comparison. I have no faith that this restaurant knows “how to cook a wolf” anymore. Pass on this one for now.

Denise Tanaka

Google
The ambiance is beautiful, minimalist scadinavian, and the service was very kind and prompt, but the food felt somewhat underwhelming. Lots of street parking on a Saturday night. Wagyu carpaccio was good, but felt a sauce or something acid would help to lift the flavor. Polenta Fritters was very disappointing, I'm from Brazil and italians immigrants there usually make fry polenta more to the savory side. This one was really sweet, almost like a dessert, a beignet. I probably ignored that the description had honey on it, so it was probably expected to be sweet. We shared the anchovies spaguetthi, which was delicious but very delicate. We almost couldn't taste the anchovies. Maybe I'm more used with strong flavors. Cocktails were delicious and well executed, I liked they had 2 or 3 alcohol free Cocktails and they were tasty and beautiful. The Downside was also that the place was very busy and because of that very loud, I almost couldn't hear my partner from the other side of the table. Overall, it was good but would not return.

Devika

Google
Very expensive for the quality and quantity of food. Spent $200 for four, 50 per person, even though we split two entrees among four, and did not order dessert. 22% mandatory service charge. Small plates are great, sourdough bread and burrata. Agnoloti pasta is good. Lamache, the white bolognese with pesto was bad.

Denise Kester

Google
We ate outside on a perfect summer day. We were there shortly after opening, and our server didn't rush us at all, which was appreciated. He brought out a bowl of water for the dog of the people at the next table. The server was an all-around nice guy, and that added to the meal being a positive experience for us. Each of the dishes was delicious and gave up more of their flavors as the food melted in your mouth.
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April S.

Yelp
Minus a short hiccup in service to start our evening, we had a perfect Valentine's date night here. I love that they provide so many apps to try for starters, esp the tuna crudo that was served like an art piece instead of bathed in some salty brine. The chicories were absolutely winter in my mouth. The burrata was so creamy and beautifully complimented by the apple butter and hazelnuts. We have to get the sourdough ever since they changed my life at the QA location and taught me the joys of fennel pollen. The polenta fritters were a whipped and gentle delight, you hardly notice they're fried. I will say they are still saying tonnarelli on the menu but the pasta is still bucatini, which at least we didn't realize until afterwards. Honestly, the pasta course was like a bonus we saved for later after having two extra apps. My fish was my favorite--finally a black cod that isn't sweet miso! And the squash, excellent job! The waiter talked us into the chocolate torte when we originally were going to double up on cannolis, and I'm so glad he did! It was the perfect valentine dessert--strong chocolate flavor, with a sugary hazelnut crust you can add or omit in your bite, along side the raspberry smeared adjacent--choose your own combo. It was a lovely introduction to the neighborhood and we will definitely return.
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Scott M.

Yelp
I had pretty high hopes for this restaurant. I've been wanting to go here for over a year and decided the 4 course Valentine's menu would be perfect. The inside is very nice; especially the wood work on the ceiling. We did not opt for the wine pairing but did add the Sea Wolf Sourdough. The menu sounded delicious with 4 parts to the first course: Ahi Tuna Crudo, Steak Tartare, Chicories, and Burrata. I guess the chicories were the best because the other 3 were bland and/or uninspired. For the second course, we split both the Tonarelli and the Gnocchi. Again, these were average at best and I could have made better at home. The third course was the main/protein and we split the Zabuton Steak and the Black Cod. The cod was ok but the steak was tough; borderline inedible. For desert, we split the Canoli and the Flourless Chocolate Torte. They were both rather good and I especially liked the canola for not being overly sweet. The best part of the meal was, by far, the Sea Wolf Sourdough. I think that the kitchen had a very long day by the time of our 9 pm reservation on one of the busiest days of the year. I am honestly being generous with my rating. It was a very disappointing way to spend over $300 for 2 people. I am giving it an extra star for the ambiance, the attentive wait staff, and the hope that it will be better should I ever give them another chance.
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Jess S.

Yelp
Came here for brunch on a Saturday. Not sure it's widely known they serve brunch on weekends! There was no wait which is always great when you have two kiddos. The ambiance and decor inside is comforting, clean and modern. We got a high chair without any problem and they have a kids menu as well. We were also offered crayons for coloring for our toddler. The service was excellent, our waiter was personable and friendly. Definitely added to our experience. We got a pitcher of grapefruit mimosa which was $20 special. Fresh squeezed juice! Delicious accompaniment to brunch. For our meal we got the eggs benedict and smoked salmon tartine. Got the French toast for our toddler. The portion was definitely more than we expected and we all got to have some. Everything tasted delicious and we finished it all! Will definitely be adding this to our brunch rotation!
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Cianna B.

Yelp
Had a really delightful visit here over the weekend. We looked at the Queen Anne location originally, but weren't able to get a reservation a few days in advance, luckily the Madison location still had some availability. We were seated right in the middle section, which gave both of us a fun view of the who restaurant. The interior was super cool with curved wood and good mood lighting. Prices were quiet high, even for Seattle, with cocktails creeping in to the $20s and bread service at $14 so this is definitely a special occasion place. Service was excellent and food quality matched. The cranberry whiskey sour was a standout, with a wonderful anise essence. We enjoyed the beef carpaccio which was so incredibly thin and the polenta fritters had a nice taste. The pasta was the real star of the show both the papardelle and angolotti were super tender and fresh with really flavorful sauces. Though we came at 5:30 the kitchen got quite backed up and it took exceptionally long to get our pasta course, so we finished a little after 8pm. Looking forward to coming back here again for another special night in the future.
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Dustin U.

Yelp
This was the best meal I've ever had! Camas (our server) saved the last Agnolotti pasta with butternut squash stuffing for us, and I'm so glad he did! It was so good I was pounding my hand on the bar in shock and awe! We sat at the bar, had amazing service, and a wonderful experience! We also had a chicken dish, venison ragu gnocchi, and a white rabbit ragu pappardelle. I wish I wasn't from out of town or I'd eat here everyday!
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Nikki M.

Yelp
This place is gorgeous. The town is beautiful and the restaurant is really well designed. The service and ambience is fun chic and romantic at the same time. We had a bottle of Cabernet and burrata to start with. The wine was excellent and they partner with some wineries in Columbia valley to create some unique brands. The burratta was delicious with a beautiful olive oil drizzle. You have to get their burrata. It's the best I have ever had and presentation is gorgeous. I got the basil gnocchi as my main dish and the gnocchi was pillow soft. We also got the parpadelle ragu pasta and it was really fresh and tasty. I love the portion sizes too, it's large and plenty to share. Overall I say the Madison park location was really nice and I love the food here. I will come back to try more. I loved that they had some vegetarian options too
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Clint W.

Yelp
First time sitting inside at the Madison Park wolf. It's less claustrophobic than the Queen Anne place and seems a little more relaxed. Outside seating is more protected and less noisy, as well. Still the small menu, but rotating pastas to enjoy, depending on the season.
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Shannon K.

Yelp
Came here for the fix menu valentine's dinner The value you get for the food is great, I also thought that the way it was served plus the timing were also spot on. For the appetizers they brought them out in a good order. It felt like each dish was slowly getting heavier, starting with the beet salad and ending with the tartare. Of what we got we would recommend the burrata that's also on their regular menu. But of the offered the favorite was the beet salad. Calamarata had great flavor, but the tagliatelle was a little too salty for me, but good overall. The elk loin was smaller than I thought it would be, if sharing and you're having some of another plate then it's fine, but as a standalone it wouldn't be enough. Overall great atmosphere, food, and service. They had some tables you can put together for groups of about 6, but gives off more of a nice date place space
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Alexa D.

Yelp
I took my mom here for her birthday and absolutely loved it! The aesthetic is really cozy but still really modern and cool. I'm glad we took the whole family because it's a lot more fun to get a bunch of things to share rather than order separately- I think that's what the menu was designed for and our waiter recommended we order a bunch of things as well. Each plate is rather small and comes out with a serving utensil, so we loved getting to share a bunch of things. The broccoli was amazing- perfectly cooked and flavorful. They also had some gluten free pasta options which were lovely. The whole table LOVED the friend polenta cakes, sitting in their perfect creamy little sauce. The gnocchi was a big hit too! Our server, Oz, was awesome. Brought out the plates all at the perfect time, was super attentive, and had great answers to all of our questions about allergens. Bring a group and order a ton of stuff- that's really the best way to do it.
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Rich T.

Yelp
We are so glad that Ethan Stowell took over the old burger joint spot in Madison park and played a new How to Cool a Wolf there. The ambiance is wonderful. It has a nice private feel to it with a busy bar as you enter and a small collection of table. The menu is as advertised which is simple ingredients from the local region with a nice uplevel. We loved the hamachi for instance. And the pasta is awesome. If you get a chance try the pasta with anchovies which has terrific umami (and no it doesn't taste super fishy). The confit is great and of course the fancy drinks are marvelous. Like all Ethan stowell properties the staff is terrific and friendly. We once went by and had to be out in an hour for another reservation. They were kind and let us have a Quick supper and were gone in time. This is a great date night spot. Be sure to sign up for the ESR rewards program too! Become a frequent diner :-)
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Alex P.

Yelp
I was invited here by my friends. It's a beautiful location and I love the interior decor. Feels modern and clean. I can always appreciate a small menu, it makes me feel that chef is focused on making dishes fresh. I definitely think food was well made but nothing really stood out for me or made me want to come back. I would say the salad stood out and the burrata. Everything else tasted good too but nothing I wanted to keep eating. Servers were attentive.
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Meghan T.

Yelp
We recently dined at How to Cook a Wolf for a special occasion, and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The restaurant is located in a very cute neighborhood with shops and other restaurants which makes for a lovely walk before/after the meal. The interior of the restaurant is absolutely stunning--it's modern, intimate, and earthy all at the same time. We went on a weekday night so I suspect that it was a bit quieter than usual. James seated us and was phenomenal. Our actual server was also incredibly kind and attentive (apologies that I did not catch his name). Overall, I loved the collaborative environment at How to Cook a Wolf as multiple servers brought out our food. The food itself was phenomenal. We started off with the yeasted polenta fritters which came out fresh, hot, crispy on the outside, and with a beautiful fermented flavor on the inside. The ricotta, sage, and chestnut honey base was phenomenal. I've never tasted flavor combos like those at How to Cook a Wolf. The burrata was a great second appetizer since it was lighter and had a wonderfully fresh flavor with the rhubarb-beet mostarda and basil. I was also completely blown away by the risotto; if you don't like lemon zest, this is not the dish for you. But if you do, it has the most refreshing, unique flavors I've ever had in a risotto. The lumache was also spot on with a hearty beef flavor and plenty of pecorino (there's actually no pork in their bolognese sauce which is pretty unique). We ended with a slice of carrot cake which was actually complimentary as we were celebrating a special event; once again, our server was simply the kindest and offered words of encouragement with the cake! Amazing food and experience, well worth the price, especially for a special occasion!
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Sophia L.

Yelp
I wish I could speak on the food but the horrible service just outweighs the quality of the food. Service at this place needs major improvement. So basically things haven't changed since Cami's visit...- shared below by another Yelp reviewer. Our food took over an hour to come out and our server just took off, no where to be found with no apology of the long wait times... coward. He was running around serving other tables though. Good food and good service do not go hand in hand at this establishment. Get it together and train your waiters better.

Ash 4.

Yelp
One of my favorite restaurants I have ever been to. They go above and beyond. And speaking from a previous Eathan Stowel employee this place is top notch. The food was amazing, drinks were great and service was wonderful to my gf and I. Can't wait to come back to celebrate our anniversary together .
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Nicholas V.

Yelp
Surprised that locals really don't like this place?! Partially they don't like Ethan Stowell + the 22% auto tip on checks. I had booked a thank you dinner for friends in Madison Park while visiting town, seemed like the only nice option. Food was good. The wild boar ragu was a big hit. The gnocchi was a miss...sadly the waitress knew it and still let us order this bland dish. They were very nice but wish the staff was more knowledgeable of their wines. Wolf offers an interesting list but I couldn't get answers/guidance. I rated for the food, which of the three dishes averaged 3-4 stars.
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Eva L.

Yelp
Came here for Seattle restaurant week with friends- dishes are meant to be shared family style. But my friends and I only shared apps but got our own mains. Food was just alright for the price. my friends and I thought a few items were overly salty including the carpaccio and the steak. Presentation of the food was nice though. They ran out of a hazelnut dessert my friends wanted. But overall, the dessert wasn't impressive - probably worth skipping. Restaurant has a nice cute ambiance though.
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Claire Y.

Yelp
Plenty of street parking around the area, offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Restaurant charges a 22% service fee automatically on the bill. Service is excellent. Food plating and presentation all look amazing! Taste is somewhat above average.
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Judi W.

Yelp
Came here for SRW! I definitely think their menu for SRW was one of the best on the list. FOOD: Between two people we did a family style of the dishes. For appetizers we had the Halibut Crudo and the Wagyu Beef Short Rib Carpaccio. Both were delicious although I will say the halibut crudo was my favorite over the other. The carpaccio was good too but it was a bit saltier than preferred. For mains we got the hanger steak and the duck breast. These were the stars of the meal. I'm not much of a meat person but my bf is and I was curious about the duck breast. These two dishes were done phenomenally. They were cooked just to our liking medium rare. The steak marinade was perfect and showed through. And the duck breast was SO GOOD. The sauce pairing used for both were perfect. I would come back for their meat dishes. Although it doesn't look like much, it was a good amount of food throughout the 3 courses that we had. For dessert we got the chocolate hazelnut cake and the pumpkin Panna cotta. Both were delicious and as expected :) SERVICE: Service was good and attentive! The staff were all so nice and sweet Overall, I'd come back to this location again. I believe the menu differs a bit from the Queen Anne location. I've had both locations before and they're both very good.
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Kimmy L.

Yelp
How to Cook a Wolf is an exceptional experience. For those wondering, the restaurant name is based off a book by M F.K. Fisher, which according to Google, is a metaphor for hunger during tough times. The menus have a quote from the book on the side. My family and I made reservations for a Sunday evening to celebrate my parents' anniversary and my dad's birthday. The place was packed and so I doubt they accept many if any walk-ins. As far as I saw, it is also the only fine dining place on the street. The interior architecture was very intriguing. The inside walls are curved, resembling the inside of a wooden barrel. I've never seen anything quite like it. The tables are also made of cork which was cool. The menu is pretty limited, but that's probably how they keep prices at a $$$ instead of a $$$$. We ordered the yeasted polenta fries, the gnocchi, the ravioli, the green beans, the halibut, the pork Milanese, and the Sea Wolf Sourdough. The YEASTED POLENTA FRIES were crunchy on the outside and shaped like doughnut holes. They were sweet with strong notes of lemon peel. They were served with a creamy ricotta honey sauce. As my dad said, "these could almost be dessert!". The GREEN BEANS were lightly sautéed in butter and perfectly blistered. They were firm and not overly cooked. The Parmesan was a great complement and not something I had ever had with beans before. The GNOCCHI was our favorite of the dishes. Each piece of gnocchi was fork tender and melt in your mouth, unlike the chewy gnocchi you get at the store. Thus, you can definitely tell that the pasta is made in house. The sauce was creamy with some smoky and mildly spicy flavors. The RAVIOLI was also decent and had very different notes than the Gnocchi. While the menu lists squash blossom as an ingredient, I can't say I really tasted it. Presentation-wise though, the naturally green pasta really stood out on the plate. The ravioli was earthy, cheesy, rich, and creamy. The HALIBUT was meaty and savory. I think this was my least favorite of the entrees, but I'm not much of a halibut fan to begin with. It came with some interesting berries and compote- perhaps blueberries? I'm not entire sure, but I know that they weren't tomatoes. The PORK MILANESE was absolutely fantastic. It was a huge slab of pork that took up the entire diameter of the plate. It was topped with an arugula salad with a lemony vinaigrette which was surprisingly not bitter at all. It was lighht and nutty. The pork was crispy, tender, and not oily which we enjoyed. The SEA WOLF SOURDOUGH was a great to side to round off our dinner. The bread was soft and had nice char marks and flavor. It was served with honey fennel better which looked almost like whipped cream on the plate. It was light and mildly sweet. It also came with roasted garlic in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The roasted garlic was a great essence for the oil vinegar mixture, but also great on its own on bread. Service was fantastic. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. She also gave us complimentary champagne in celebration of my parent's anniversary and a candle to blow out for my dad's birthday. Overall, 5/5 for food, 5/5 for service, & 5/5 for atmosphere
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Brett J.

Yelp
Fantastic food! We have a variety of dishes from chefs recommendations and we were not disappointed. Wine pairing was excellent as well. Justin was our server and did an awesome job. If you are in the area I would put this restaurant on your list. We ate outside as it was a nice day but they still brought out a heat lamp for us. We will come back for sure.
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Jessica W.

Yelp
Very cool atmosphere with delicious pricy food Food- foie gras mousse was the best dish! Super yummy and truly a stand out dish. The texture and flavors were perfect. The remaining food was decent but pricy. Super fresh pasta. The burrata was great. The pork cutlet was good but nothing special. Our desserts were very decadent. Standard service Overall definitely recommend coming here for the fois gras mousse!

E. W.

Yelp
My wife, our kids, and I dined here in celebration of a birthday during Seattle Restaurant Week. Cocktail: Monkey Business (5 stars) Starters: Sea Wolf Sourdough (ungenerous, 2 stars), Brussels Sprouts (4 stars), Wagyu Beef Carpaccio (4 stars), Yeasted Polenta Fritter (5 stars), Ahi Tuna Crudo (4 stars) Entrees: Tagliatelle w/ Boar Ragu (4 stars), Gnocchi w/ Mushrooms (2 stars), New York Steak (4 stars), Strozzapreti Cacio e Pepe (4 stars) Dessert: Cannoli (4 stars), Lemon Sorbetto (5 stars) Chocolate Gelato (4 stars) The service and ambiance were both on point. Despite the stingy bread & disappointing gnocchi, we're landing on four stars.
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Gail F.

Yelp
The food here is ok, but I expected the service to be better given the price point. Food: 4/5. The burrata starter dish was good, although I would have appreciated more crostinis in the dish. I appreciated the large amount cheese on the anchovy spaghetti (see the picture). The gnocchi was good as well, but both main dishes were not spectacular - I'd try something else next time. Service and atmosphere: 3/5. For the pricing, I expect much more attentive and thoughtful service. We went on a weekday evening with a reservation, and we waited 30+ mins to be helped by a server after arriving and being seated on time. This isn't necessarily the server's fault, but perhaps the restaurant was understaffed. The rest of the restaurant and surrounding neighborhood is cute!
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Derek N.

Yelp
This restaurant has been on my list of must trys for a while and on Valentine's Day, we finally had a chance! We went to the Madison Park location (which is a beautiful area). The restaurant is located in a street with other small shops and restaurants, but was easy to find. Parking was not an issue when we went so no need to scramble to find a spot. Since it was our first time, we opted to get the Valentine's course meal. We were pleasantly surprised that the first course came with everything on the list while the second, third, and dessert courses you were able to choose from some options. We started off with the Hamachi Crudo, Beef Tartare, Burrata, and Beet Salad. All tasted amazing and were portioned nicely that you could sample each without getting too full. I would say the Hamachi Crudo was my favorite. The second course consisted of a choice of pastas. We got the Tagliatelle and Calamarata. Both came out piping hot and the noodles were a nice al dente. Out of the two, we preferred the Calamarata since it had a nice balance with the tomato sauce and seafood. For the third course, we decided to get the scallops and elk loin. The scallops were cooked very well being soft and tender. It was served on a bed of white beans which had an almost Spanish flare to it. The elk loin was good as well, but from someone who doesn't eat elk too often, the texture and gaminess reminded us a lot of duck. By the time dessert came around, we were already pretty full but still ordered for dine in! We got the raspberry sorbetto and the Almond Frangipane Torte. We got a heaping scoop of the sorbet, which was a little sour but delightfully light after the rest of the meal. The Almond Frangipane reminded us a lot of the Chinese Almond cookies, which was a nice surprise and something different from our normal dessert ventures. Aside from the food, the service was great with the wait staff being very attentive and friendly! The ambience of the restaurant is what you would expect from a finer dining establishment. Although the food was quite pricey, I would come here again to try their other dishes for future occasions!
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Ren N.

Yelp
Pretty exclusive feel, starting from the reservations page online. You need to put a credit card down and can't cancel 12 hrs in advance or else they'll charge $25 a person. I'm pretty much scared to not go and try this place out. Small and low light, modern interior, wood panel wall and ceiling. Sprinkle of small plants scattered about. The menu is mainly tapas; small dishes and a couple of pasta, meat selection. You can definitely share a few and split an entree, with some room left for dessert which is on a separate menu. Tastes amazing!! Most of the pics here may not represent what they're actually serving. The chef here likes to rotate stuff, which means you gotta come back and try everything :) Very friendly service and large, clean bathroom.
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Emily J.

Yelp
Delicious. This is a great date night spot or night out with good company. The inside is pretty small but there are also a few tables with heaters outside. It is always a good idea to make a reservation before just showing up here. The wait can be quite long if you decide to wing it. The menu has a lot of variety and you cannot go wrong with anything you order. We tried around 7 dishes and each were just as good or better than the last. I loved the fresh pasta dishes, the salad and the bone marrow best. Everything is so amazingly fresh, plated beautifully, and great for a family style meal to share. Definitely add this place to your bookmarks.
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Tom E.

Yelp
Every dish held a nice surprise with an extra unexpected and delightful flavor. Sourdough with fennel butter, olives with coriander drenched in oil. The polenta fritters with roasted sage were divine with a hint of sweetness from the chestnut honey and a toasty crust. Mushroom ravioli had balanced, robust flavors. The lamb gnocchi with orange, mint, and pecorino was utterly satisfying and flavorful. Tira misu was rich and creamy, and the panna cotta with strawberry was unusually firm and rich. The curved wooden ceiling and an indented lit recess running the length of the restaurant impart a spaciousness and pleasant atmosphere.
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Sally T.

Yelp
*THANK YOU TROY (host), KATIE (server), AND STAFF* My partner and I originally booked our NYE dinner plans at another Ethan Stowell restaurant and unfortunately they ran out of their only steak option for their main course (at 10pm, for a steak house?!). Disappointed, hungry, stressed, we were scrambling to find a new reservation elsewhere. We called How to Cook a Wolf. At this location and Troy was fantastic getting us a table quickly and explained what happened to our last reservation at the other place to our server and the staff. Everyone that night truly surprised and delighted us with complimentary drinks, caviar and truffle add-ons free of charge. We were blown away by the service and care. Thank you for going above and beyond. Happy New Year!
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Parth S.

Yelp
The food and service was phenomenal. We made a reservation through capital one dining and booked an "exclusive" table, which doesn't cost any extra and they gave each of us a glass of champagne on the house. All of the food is so good, and definitely try some of their cocktails which are so unique. I will definitely be back here again soon!
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Pranav K.

Yelp
Came here for restaurant week and the food was pretty average for the price. The carpaccio was quite melt in your mouth but too salty with the parmesan sprinkled on it. The taste of beef was lost completely. We ordered the add on bread which was by far the best item we ate. For the entree the duck breast skin was not crisp or rendered completely and it was cooked medium rare without any input from us. It was meh and lacked flavor. The halibut was good with all the veggies on the plate and I'd recommend that. The chocolate hazelnut cake was delicious but the panna cotta was too much pumpkin flavor. Not our thing I guess. I'd find another dinner spot for this restaurant week dinner price point.
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Colleen M.

Yelp
We had the chance to come for Mother's Day brunch (a service they are planning on rolling out in the next month), and overall had a pleasant but prolonged experience. We loved the food and felt like it was an extremely fair price for a holiday meal (3 courses for $65). The baked eggs and spring peas were amazing, as was the pistachio gelato. The cocktails were refreshing, and my kiddo absolutely loved the pasta (which was a huge portion!). The patio was lovely, but could definitely use a few more umbrellas for shade. They are still working out the kinks of brunch service - it took over an hour from receiving our appetizer to our main course. Our server was really kind and apologized for the slow service, and we knew it wasn't their fault. Luckily, there was a playground nearby that my husband could take my son over to. They forgot to bring one side (also not a big deal in the grand scheme of things). I think they will have an excellent brunch service once they are able to figure out their flow! Be prepared for a leisurely meal if coming for brunch.
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Stacey P.

Yelp
Utterly fantastic! My friend and I walked here before Christmas when the weather was unreasonably cold. I felt chilled to the bone but the warm greeting was welcomed! Our waiter sat us in the far corner promising it was the warmest spot and then, since they do not have herbal tea, provided a glass of hot water with lemon. It warmed me up! It was a very relaxed atmosphere. I genuinely felt no rush, no push. I was here and it was comfortable. Our waiter was friendly, came by frequently but never overbearing, and provided great recommendations. The space was neat as well - the wood canopy roof, the distressed metal border, and the brightness was interesting to the eye! The food was delicious. We started with the fritters which were nice and crunchy on the outside and super soft and warm on the inside. I opted for the black cod and it was so good! The fish was perfectly cooked - tender and flavorful. I was surprised how much I enjoyed corona beans. They had a toothiness to them that I very much liked! The tomato sauce was the unifying touch as it was wonderful - light, savory, more like a broth than a sauce it just added an extra pizzazz to an excellent meal! The drinks were also fabulous. The Bee Hive reminded me of a less floral Bee's Knees and the Window Seat was utterly incredible - but I'm very fond of pear. All in all it was a glorious experience where I walked away with leftovers and a fully belly!
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Hanna S.

Yelp
1. Exterior patio is lovely. Interior also Inviting and hip but not overly trying 2. Lovely staff 3. Craft cocktails 4. Unfortunately there's very little to enjoy as a vegan. They'll take cheese off but then but there's things that are done with butter and Itjust makes you feel like it's not a place for lactose intolerant vegetarians or vegans. It's such a shame because I really love it. How many times do I go out to dinner with a group of people but we avoid certain restaurants because there's not an understanding of plant based protein It would be so easy to add some wonderful fully plant-based dishes with protein and flavor.
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Ran N.

Yelp
Me and my husband went on a date night and we tried out How to cook a wolf. The restaurant wasn't big, but we loved the ambiance and the interior. It was very stylish with curved wooden panels on the ceiling, and a warm and cozy vibe. We had Ghostface Killah cocktail and pilsner. And for dinner, we had burrata, lumache, calamarata, and scallops to share. Burrata was good with anchovies on top, which was unique and add a lot of flavor. I loved scallop dish, the sauce was delicious and scallop was very well cooked- soft and tender. But it only came 3 scallops! For the price, the dish was $48, portion seems little too small. We both loved Calamarata pasta, it was delicious, and fried basil on top of it added texture. Lucmache was good, too. Pasta dishes have pretty good amount to share. We share Cannoli with ricotta cheese for the dessert, and it was little too dry and nutty. And very hard. Compared to the quality of the main dish, the dessert was disappointing. The service was overall ok. When we arrived for our reservation, it was a fairly early time (5:30) so there were many empty tables. We got window table but requested to change our sits to be in the middle, and the guy gave us a look and said it all depends on the reservation, so he needs to ask. He wasn't our server, and we got to change our table. But we didn't appreciate the attitude we got. On top of that, this restaurant charges 22% service charge for every bills. And says they don't ask for tip. I personally think 22%service charge is pretty high rate, and if we pay that amount, we deserve outstanding service. Unfortunately, the service through out the night didn't give us the impression that it was worth the money. Also, after you pay the bill, they give you the slip where you can sign and it still had the tip section which we think it's misleading. Overall, experience was good and food was great.
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Devon J.

Yelp
I ate here with a party of four for their NYE price fixed menu. The options looked good, but the execution was not awesome. The scallops didn't taste horribly fresh, the wagyu cut was tough as all hell, and the burrata with anchovy appetizer was a little bizarre. Very salty. The cranberry/ginger holiday drink was yummy and the service was amazing. The restaurant itself was beautiful as well, with rounded wood ceilings and tasteful decorations. Perhaps the food is better on a regular night that isn't a holiday. That being said, Ethan's other restaurants are a little better in my opinion. I enjoyed Staple and Fancy a bit more.
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Halle S.

Yelp
Very pretty restaurant with a unique and tasty menu! Casual yet upscale vibes. Service was excellent as well and great cocktails. Would return if in the Seattle area.
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Bryan P.

Yelp
What an amazing meal. The space is so amazing! It gives beach village, but I guess that's what it is. The service was AMAZING Tegan (hopefully I spelled that correctly) was absolutely amazing. The food was spot on. She guided us throughout the menu and it was so great. Wine was GREAT. Tegan and the whole staff did a great job. Also Hao really stood out as a great team player and awesome server. Will totally be back!
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Mary L.

Yelp
this is an italian tapas style restaurant so i highly recommend dining here w a group so that you can try various dishes! the cocktails and every dish we ordered were so good. their menu rotates so this is one of the few restaurants i love returning to as each time is different. this is my first time at the madison location and its much bigger than the queen anne one so i think this spot is much easier at accommodating larger groups. the staff are always so friendly as well! 10/10 would come back again! :)
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Sean D.

Yelp
Took a friend who was visiting, was better than either of us was expecting. From the service, and drinks (thank you Justin) , to the food. Not even going to say what we had as it was all exquisite, so just go and enjoy. Thank you How to Cook a Wolf!
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Julia A.

Yelp
The Queen Anne How to Cook a Wolf location is one of my husband and I's favorite restaurants so we wanted to check out the Madison Park location - still one of our favorite restaurants in the Seattle area! If you are even thinking about eating here, make a reservation asap!! The restaurant isn't huge but they also have a good number of outside tables as well. This location (like the Queen Anne one) also has street parking throughout so allot plenty of time to find parking before your reservation time. On to the food...: 1) Sea Wolf Sourdough - Bread is bread...but something about the fennel-honey butter they give you to spread on the bread just makes it extremely tasty. 2) Foie Gras Mousse - By far my most favorite dish at either How to Cook a Wolf locations. I practically licked the plate clean! The mousse was so rich and the pomegranate fruit flavor adds an extra zing to the flavor. 3) Burrata - This was a very refreshing vegetable dish! 4) Wagyu Beef Carpaccio - I wasn't able to eat this since I was pregnant so my husband had to eat the entire dish himself, but he thoroughly enjoyed this meat dish. He took some of the Sourdough and actually ate it with the beef. 5) Pasta (forget what this one was officially called) - We ordered an asparagus and mushrooms pasta and oh my goodness. Even though I was so full from the other dishes, I still mustered up enough stomach space to have some lovely bites of this pasta. Even though it was pasta, it still felt light! How To Cook a Wolf is a MUST EAT! I still highly recommend going to either location with a bigger group so you can try even more dishes (their style is family style).
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Missy L.

Yelp
"Food was very similar to Tavolata. Which was kind of disappointing. Expected different dishes. Just kind of disappointed with the menu flavor combinations etc. mostly fancy drinks but I'm at places like this for the good food. I guess if I was a drinker and appreciated fancy cocktails this would be better." Service was excellent and th atmosphere was great. Very small location though so I can see why their reservations fill up fast.
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Cami H.

Yelp
No wolf :/ But actually, Mediocre food at best. I specifically had slow service, but I believe others around me got better service. I asked for medium rare steak but got rare, but I couldn't flag someone down to get it cooked more. My partner got the duck gnocchi and it was pretty flat - only flavor was the duck and some chili flakes. Really expensive and just not worth it.
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Ryan M.

Yelp
I went here for a weekend brunch and did not have a good experience. Below were the issues: 1. I ordered the omelette and there was a large sharp shard of plastic in the potatoes. I notified the server and they said they would remove the item from the bill. When the bill came they had not removed the item. 2. Another person in our party ordered the eggs benedict which contained multiple human hairs. 3. There was 15 minutes or more between the first person receiving their main and the 5th (last) person in our party receiving their main. At the point the last person received their main everyone else's was cold. 4. We ordered a bottle of Prosecco and asked for sides of grapefruit and orange juice to mix in to make a mimosa. We received the Prosecco and waited 30 mins before needing to remind the waiter about the juice. 5. They automatically include a 22% gratuity onto the bill so you are unable to adjust gratuity downwards when you have a bad experience like we did. The server was nice but overwhelmed due to what seemed like a lack of staff.
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Katie S.

Yelp
Our host, Amber, was warm and welcoming. We arrived for dinner not realizing our theater tickets needed to be on paper and Amber gracious and accommodating to help us. Andrea welcomes us with enthusiasm and just the right amount of attention. We had a large party of 7 and ordered family style. The black cod was done to perfection! The anchovy spaghetti, it's a must. Look past the anchovy and dive in.

Lucy L.

Yelp
I love the food at the Madison location. The service is always top notch as well. What I struggle with is how oppressively LOUD it is. People are yelling so that the people at the same table can hear. Then add in music and the shape of the interior and it's horrible ambiance. Yes it's very pretty inside but they need to add sound dampening in some artistic way to the ceiling. I would eat there more often but I hate wearing my noise dampening earbuds while I eat.
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Natacha M.

Yelp
Food was incredible. The carpaccio was probably the best I've ever had. The hamachi was also really good. I also had the duck pâté and it was to die for. I would definitely recommend these appetizers, especially if you are in a group
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Sherry R.

Yelp
Went with a large group of industry colleagues hosted by three of our industry's local service partners. What a wonderful experience. The instructors were informative, helpful and fun! The food was amazing as well.
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Liz M.

Yelp
I went here with my sister for dinner last night and we had a great time! We did the Valentine's prix fixe which was a really good value and more than enough food. I was thrilled they had solid gluten free options for every course. Some of the highlights were the burrata, scallops, and crudo. Everything was really fresh and flavorful. The staff were great and gave solid recommendations, but I will say the restaurant definitely seemed a little understaffed. Everyone was working hard to keep things moving and were really running around managing a large number of tables. I'm so glad my sister suggested this spot and would definitely return!

Tara H.

Yelp
We went for brunch/lunch, 1:45, not the latest reservation available on their website. When we got there we were told that the kitchen closed in 10 minutes but the bar would remain open for drinks. Why would they close the kitchen when they had confirmed reservation??if they needed to close the kitchen early they could have called me. It was very clear that we were an inconvenience. We ordered our food as fast as we could read them menu. We were never offered the opportunity to order any drinks. I had to flag someone down and ask for a drink menu. When the food was ready it was dropped at the table and we were abandoned. I had to flag someone down to ask for pepper and more water with each course. They also left the music at the same level they have for a full dining room even though there were only 5 people. It was way too loud. By far the worst experience I have had at this restaurant. At over $100 for 2 people to have lunch I shouldn't have to chase servers for every little thing. The only redeeming quality (and only reason I didn't walk out) is that the food is superb.