La Medusa

My apologies for only snapping pics of dessert, everything was phenomenal! Perfect place to eat family style so you can try a bite of everything. The food is so fresh and thoughtfully prepared with exquisite flavor combinations. You won’t find better service anywhere else in the city. It truly has that family feel like having dinner at your favorite Nonna‘s house if you have one of those.

A wonderful neighborhood dining spot that really captures the Sicilian essence when it comes to gathering over delicious and uncomplicated cuisine. Service was knowledgeable and friendly, food was served at the appropriate temperature and pacing with the meal - we never felt rushed and enjoyed the comfortable atmosphere. Only snagged a pic of the Arancini since we could wait for a photo to dig in to the next dish! Definitely making this a go-to spot for date night and taking friends out.

Went here for dinner during the weekend. We were seated right away, which was nice. As we walked in you can hear EVERY SINGLE CONVERSATION. Everyone was talking all at once. I was uncomfortable close to the tables next to me. Waiter comes to take our order and we get our food relatively fast. For $30/plate we got about 3 mouths full of food. It was very well executed. The pasta is of perfect consistency, got a nice chew and nice structure. They the sauce was tomato sauce with some olives and capers with a hint of anchovies. Slightly too salty and acidic but again, a well executed plate. It’s about three mouth fulls with of food. Luckily we weren’t too hungry but man was it expensive. It was absolutely not worth the money IMO. Add that to the poor loud environment, I just did not have that great of a time there. Would not come back given the price. Keep in mind they also charge 18% service by default. Don’t feel pressured to tip more.

I’ve had many return trips to La Medusa and there will be many more. The rotating menu has seasonal flavors for all tastes including vegetarian and pescatarian options. The service is always exceptional and the atmosphere is warm and homey. A fantastic choice for Italian food in Columbia City!

When my partner and I have a rare date night and want to stay close to home, we head to La Medusa. The menu often rotates with seasonal items, and we always find a new dish or two to try. It's a snug and intimate interior that's great for people watching if you get a window seat, and we've even brought the kids here a few times, but I'd say it's more ideal for date night. And because it's close to home, we often sneak in a sweet treat at Molly Moon's, and/or adult beverages at Lottie's or Flying Lion after dinner.

Walked here from our place to give this local place a try since it won some awards and looked promising, however we left disappointed. They have a rotating menu, so we ordered the cavatappi with goat ragu and ink spaghetti. The cavatappi was very good as well as the spaghetti noodles. Even the spaghetti sauce was delicious. However, the dishes are quite small and simple. Didn't get a whole lot of meat and they ran out of protein for the spaghetti so it was just tomatoes and olives. It feels like something was missing from the dish to bring the ingredients together. I don't rate based on the price but for a full entree we expected more. It is also very loud and cramped inside. We could barely hear each other and could hear everyone else at the same time. Overall I wouldn't recommend it unless you really want fresh made pasta.

EDITED REVIEW: initial post is below. I went for the second time after many months, and did not have the same experience that I did over the summer. The people themselves were incredibly nice as always, but the quality of food just felt different. The appetizers of arancino, grandma’s greens, and the olives were all pretty good. However, they brought them out individually one by one and each at least 10 to 15 minutes apart. Given that our reservation was on the later side and app portions are small , we were pretty hungry for the first hour due to the pace of the meal. After the appetizers, it took quite a bit for the main course to come out. We ordered three pastas, the malfadine, the spaghetti, and the Campanelle. They were pretty good, but not nearly the quality that they were when I came here over the summer. They also did not come out until almost 9 PM (our reservation was 730 )The sauces did not feel like they had as much depth as before, although still yummy. I hope that this is a one off experience, because I really liked it the first time. But for the price and distance to get there from the city, I will put more thought into my decision next time. ORIGINAL REVIEW: This is one of new favorite restaurants in seattle! I have tried several Italian spots in the city and this is certainly one of my top five! (Other notable spots I love are Il Nido, Spinasse, Machiavelli, tavolata ) First off, the service was incredible. Our waitress was so sweet and knowledgeable of the menu. We got grandmas greens, the croquette, bread, and mafaldine pasta with braised beef shank. Everything was stellar!! Particularly the croquette. They have a rotating menu and all the other dishes I saw also looked good. I need to come back and try everything! The ambience is quaint and definitely has a local feel. I loved it. I felt like I was in Italy. There are no bells and whistles, just good food, good service, and warm energy. A true neighborhood gem.

We are visiting Montreal from California ( SF bay area) and were looking for some Italian food and we are walking down the street and spotted this gem of the place, we have some dietary restrictions so we were looking at the menu posted on the window and we liked what we saw so decided to go inside and got seated right away, Nino who is the owner helped make us feel comfortable, had conversation about the weather and how hot it was in Montreal vs where we live, brought us cold water, started out with dietary needs for one of us so he suggest great meal, Wonderful pasta for my wife and risotto for me and salad and all three times were wonderful, being vegetarian and gluten free free makes hard selection for food at most places, he was very gracious and wonderful host catted, Joked and shared some stories, Other two gentleman David and Paulo who help us during the meal were wonderful as fun to interact with as the Nino, This was by the best experience with food and service we had in Montreal! loved it! Thank you, Nino and Team

Overall 4.5 Neighborhood restaurant worth driving from the Eastside to dine at. Consistently excellent during all three of our visits. SERVICE: 5.0. From the moment we walked in the door every person who took care of us was efficient and friendly, and they cooperated well among themselves. The kind woman who took our order gave a clear explanation of the blackboard menu, and at the end of the meal brought us an excellent off-menu apertivo. She also reminded us there was already a 20% service fee included in the invoice. AMBIANCE: 4.5. Comfortable, warm atmosphere. Customers order food from the menu posted on a blackboard, and order drinks from a paper table menu. This time we were seated in a front corner bordered by windows on 2 sides, and it sometimes was a bit noisy, but acceptable. FOOD and COFFEE: 4.5. Pasta is house-made. - 5.0: Grilled Sardines appetizer. Three large sardines. - 4.5: Grilled Asparagus appetizer. excellent. - 5.0: Lumache with asparagus. My partner loved it. - 5.0: Mafaldine with Lamb Ragu. Even better than the very good Rigatoni with Lamb Ragu I had during a previous visit. - 5.0: Dessert of Chocolate Espresso Torte, with cream: moist chocolaty texture and perfectly not-to-sweet. DRINKS: 4.0. wine and an apertivo. We had wine by the glass.

Celebrated an anniversary here and it was very enjoyable. Cozy spot right in the heart of Columbia City. Very live room acoustically so if there are some loud patrons - you'll hear them for sure. :) We started with the grilled Spanish sardines and scallop crudo. Yum. Well... actually that's not quite correct. We started with some Prosecco and a well poured Dickel Manhattan. Yum. My better half had the Manila clam perciatelli pasta - really good stuff. I went for the spaghetti with pork and beef meatballs. Both very nice. Topped off the meal with the Bay Leaf Panacotta with rhubarb. Creamy good. We left happy. Not inexpensive but delicious. Attentive service and an overall happy vibe.

Such an intimate restaurant that focuses on amazing Italian cuisine reminiscent of the chef's grandmother's recipes. So happy he's sharing the love of fresh made pasta with seasonal ingredients. The service was great too which made for a lovely night shared amongst friends. Highly recommend if you want really good pasta and tasty appetizers.

We had a really nice dinner here on a cold night in January 2024. La Medusa is a quaint little restaurant in the heart of Columbia City. The restaurant was dark inside at night time. While the feel was cozy, it was for sure cold inside so bring your jacket! We were given menus at the table and realized all three menus were for drinks. The only food menu is on the chalkboard that's hanging on the main wall. This concept is cool, but honestly it was hard to read the board (the handwriting and small from far away) so it would have been nice to have another viewing option. Our server was very kind and knowledgeable. She was able to explain some of the chalkboard stuff to us. Essentially what was offered were a handful of starters and 4 pasta entrees. They had a meat entree, but that sold out when we arrived at 6pm. Both our pastas were great. The ingredients were fresh and went together nicely. The portion is fair sized, but not huge, so I'd recommend an app for sure.

I absolutely love La Medusa in Columbia city. It is my go to place to take out of towners. Before the pandemic you had to make reservations, way in advance or so I had been told. But sometimes I've called the day of or a couple of days before and had no problem. But that's probably more luck than anything. I usually get there a few minutes early and wait at Persephone next-door and have a wonderful drink made by Marc the bartender. He's friendly and has good conversation and he makes great drinks. Two dishes that are go to for me are their grandmas greens and malafine. The greens have a definite umami flavor, which is delicious. For pasta, I have had their mafaldine 3 times and love it!! The only reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars is because I would like to see more protein dishes. I'm a low-carb person and would like a little more than mostly pasta. That being said, I've had the Bronzino fish, and it was very good. But that's generally about the only non-pasta dish. If you have the chance to dine there, I highly recommend that you do. It's a small room and an intimate dining experience and terrific staff.

This is one of my go to places when I have company. They make their pasta in house. Because of that, they do not have a gluten-free option. All their food is fresh made inside this little place. This place is intimate and friendly. the staff are wonderful and very accommodating. I've even been able to get some last minute reservations but typically earlier in the evening. I have to watch my carbohydrate intake so I wish they would have just a couple more protein dishes. Once in a while they include hanger steak, which is delicious. They usually have Bronzino, which is very good too. Specific dishes to enjoy our grandma's greens and for me their malfadine pasta is very good. Every once in a while, I try something that sounds weird because that's how you discover some great dishes. So when this pasta was on the board with a chicken liver sauce, I ordered it. I loved it!! no kidding. I've had it at least four times now. This is always a great dining experience and has made many nice memories for me .

What a delicious authentic Italian food! Highly recommend! Would be our go to place if we lived in Seattle. We had pulpo salad as a starter. It was surprising with oranges and olives, a few leafy greens and chili flakes. Marvelous! Mains were pan seared branzino with fennel and homemade pasta with morel and snap peas. The fish was juicy on the inside and crisp on the outside- haven't had such a wonderful fish in a long time. However there were no side dishes apart from a little fennel. Not satisfying enough. The pasta was delicious, fresh and light. Food was really delicious however portion sizes quite small. Efficient service

Great local spot on the rustic and charming Rainier Ave South strip. Was made aware that this location has been here for over 10 years, with a previous employee taking over and renovating the restaurant around 2020. Newer to living in the area but have been down here many times and missed this place. They make the pasta from scratch and the owner among other great staff are there regularly. I started with their next door amaro bar (they have other hard to find Italian goods/produce also) while waiting for my reservation at the restaurant. What they serve here is tasty comfort food with a reasonable price point coupled with approachable staff that are passionate about what they do. It's a good idea to make a reservation as they are a rather intimate space of about 10 tables.

Amazingly fresh pasta and feels like your at a family home in Italy. Such friendly staff and everything was delicious.

I really liked the staff. The restaurant is quaint small, but an early table will keep it moving along and keep the noise down. You can bookend your visit with a wine bar stop next store. The food was straight forward and really Italian. Meaning this is not just a chopped garlic shop. The thought that goes into the dishes shows the dedicated genius of the chef. You will feel like you are in Italy bite by bite. Side note - the staff's visible compassion for those less fortunate was a natural extension of the vibe, neighborhood and humanity that La Medusa specializes in.

I'm so excited that this neighborhood staple has reopened for dining! We had the aranchino (risotto ball), rigatoni, and paccheri. The risotto ball was delicious and a great starter. The rigatoni was def our fav, the goat was so tender! We liked the paccheri too, I just wished you could taste the anchovy more--it's broken down in the sauce versus big pieces of it. We'll definitely be back here often now that we live in the area. I appreciate that they make all their pasta in house and change their menu often depending on what's in seaso

Small and unassuming, La Medusa delivered an overall top notch dining experience on a recent Saturday night. The burratta was a very good starter, paired with one of their several speciality cocktails. The Venetian Cup getting high marks on a late-summer evening. Their pasta entrees are far beyond the run-of-the-mill. Creative, well -sourced, and flavorful. The espresso torte for dessert was terrific. All breads are sourced from their own bakery (next door) and are top notch. A small and intimate setting, it was full when we departed...so reservations are recommended.

Oh do I love a satisfying authentic pasta indulging experience and definitely got that at La Medusa! Pasta is prepared al dente, just how I prefer, some may feel it's undercooked but it was perfect in my book. My favorite pasta was the black squid ink pasta. Sauce was full of flavor, a bit spicy, but not super rich. I prefer some protein with my pasta so got a side of meatballs which wasn't my favorite, just tasted a bit blah. Steelhead fish was also very nicely prepared. Other winner was the soup of the day prepared with vegetables and small lamb meatballs, soaked in a light delicious broth! Bread from Columbia city bakery is a great way to start off the meal. Also highly recommend the saffron risotto ball, so tasty! We obviously ate quite a bit! Gotta do that with all the great things in the menu. Our waiter was great! Really pleased with the service and the small intimate feel of the place.

We had a great meal tonight at la Medusa, we each tried a pasta (lamb ragu and rigatoni with broccolini) split a salad and an app, everything was so good. Service was excellent as well. I'll be back!!

just finished a thursday eve dinner and the food was fantastic- Branzino melts in your mouth and the lamb ragù was light and flavorful. But really want to commend the staff for creating an enjoyable dining experience. Everyone was friendly but our waiter in particular went out of his way to make sure everything was perfect. a great place, glad we went back and won't be gone long!

So good! We just moved to the neighborhood and spent some time in Sicily last fall. We went here for a special ocassion and everything we had was amazing and worth every penny. Our service was great and the staff were knowledgeable friendly. They have a little wine bar/goods store connected to the restaurant where we picked up some finishing Olive Oil and salt. Overall, a great experience!

Incredibly delicious. We came in for our 5 year anniversary Mark took really good care of us. Loved the menu. Drinks at Persephone beforehand were refreshing. I appreciate the Apertif's!

It was my first visit having Sicilian style Italian food and it didn't disappoint! Everything was delicious! The service was wonderful and I would recommend the restaurant to others. We were a large group and enjoyed many different dishes family style. We had Arancini, Roasted Cauliflower Gratin, Simple Chicory Salad, Pasta with crab, one other pasta, homemade sausage and some chocolate mousse and of course white and red wines!

Great little hole in the wall spot. Food was super tasty and authentic. Staff were lovely and helpful. Drinks were good too. The whole shop reminded me of when I lived in Europe.

The food was delicious, and the staff amiable if little slow. My big quibble was with the seven dollar small basket of bread containing approximately 5 to 6 then half slices. Not enough Our table of four and over priced.

Three of us had a wonderful meal at La Medusa tonight, after enjoying some of the Bitters menu at next door Persephone! La Medusa's menu and dessert items were delicious, with contrasting flavors joined together in each dish. Also, the staff were friendly and great, with knowledge of their changing menu.

Sorry, La Medusa, I wanted to love your restaurant, but when the first 5-10 minutes start out as a battle it sets a bad tone. We had reservations at 5:30 and walked into an empty restaurant. Our hostess wanted to seat us at the "worst" table meaning the one where we would be facing the kitchen and the boxes. She said, "Those aren't boxes, they're wines cartons." Oops. "Ok, well, any other table would be better." "That's not possible because the whole evening is booked out." "Well, how about the table by the window?" "That's too cold." "Well, there are still a lot of tables available. We're the only ones here." "They're all booked. I don't want to argue with you." "But you are arguing with me. How about the one in the far corner?" "It's booked for the night. I can give you the one by the (cold) window, but you have to finish eating by 6:30." (We're already 10 minutes into our reservation now) "I'd like to speak to the manager." "We don't have a manager." Okay, how about I talk with someone else?" Blah, blah, blah. A few more words. She stormed off and a very gracious woman came over and miraculously found a table for us. And served us very well. (Our bad table took awhile to be seated) $300 later, would I go back? Hmmm, my husband and son liked the food better then I did. The Panna Cotta is scrumptious.

This cute little place has stolen my heart and my stomach. Came here for dinner on Friday with one of my best friends and here I was telling her I didn't want to eat and I ended up eating everything she ordered. The restaurant was fully booked when I arrived but my friend somehow manage to get us these cute little window seating off to the side. It was weird at first but I ended up loving our seating because we pretty much sat in the corner people watching out these gigantic windows. We started off with some bread and olive oil then ordered the burrata with a caprese salad, saffron risotto croquette, and we finished with the squid ink spaghetti. Everything was delicious! I was thinking I'd have just a nibble ended up eating everything haha. The burrata that we ordered with the caprese salad was really light and when you had it with the tomatoes, ugh so much yes! I honestly hate tomatoes but I have never said no to a good caprese salad haha. The risotto that my friend ordered was also fricken delicious. I remember is have that somewhere else and it didn't taste as good as the one at Le medusa. The way they served it was super cute also. I don't know what I was expecting from the squid ink spaghetti. I kept thinking it was going to be served with tomato based sauce and was surprise when it came out without it. I thoroughly enjoyed that dish, a tad bit salty but if I wasn't so full better believe I would have finished it. We never have left overs when I dine out with my friend so imagine our surprised when we were trying to get the other person to take the last bit of spaghetti home. Either way, I'm really glad we decided to have dinner here. I most definitely want to come back and try other yummy dishes.

La Medusa is a total gem. We are lucky to live near it in Columbia City, but I think it gets overlooked by other Seattle Italian spots - and it definitely shouldn't. The setting is intimate, the service is very personal and lovely, and the food was phenomenal. The menu changes and is all house made which elevates the flavors. The drinks were absolutely to die for. It's small so hard to get into, but we cannot wait to return!

Had a reservation here the other night with my boyfriend. Came in and waited 30 minutes, which was expected since they were a full house and every seat was packed. I loved the liveliness and atmosphere of the restaurant. Beautiful theme and lighting! Friendly waitress who accommodated us throughout the night and had wonderful conversations that seemed genuine! We started off with bakery bread which tasted delicious and light but not as fresh as I'd wish it would've been but should've been expected. Would've been nice touch to have some warmed bread. We also ordered the arancino which was really delicious especially the mozzarella in the middle of it. Wonderful touch! For entrees, we ordered spaghetti with meatball and the popular Squid Ink spaghetti. Both entrees were spectacular and left me full. I personally enjoyed the meatballs on the spaghetti, definitely a unique taste to a classic staple. Squid Ink was delicious has well but nothing too out of the ordinary, just the idea that it was black noodles. The flavor profile is wonderful however. Will come back again!

This is our favorite restaurant in Seattle. Super nice service staff and delicious pasta. Nice cozy feel.

Maybe it was an off night for the kitchen, but we were really disappointed with our food here. 5 stars for the service - our server was great! Recommended a perfect wine that we really enjoyed. But she also had to make the cocktails, odd for a Saturday night. But both our handmade pastas were under cooked to the point of being not enjoyable. My Taleggio cheesy pasta was tasty, but not much in the way of the advertised mushrooms. My husband's ragu was pretty bland and thin. The famous Grandma's Greens were so undercooked we couldn't eat them, so took them home, and once cooked more they were delicious! Dessert was the best - Buttermilk pannacotta with huckleberries. Yum! Everyone working there was very friendly and helpful, but it was so noisy on a Saturday night that we couldn't hear each other talk. Not romantic.

The food at this place is excellent, and anyone who is not particular about waiting way too long for dinner should defiantly check it out. We had a risotto and vegetable appetizers - steak, pasta and tuna entrees for dinner. While the steak was under cooked, the flavors and quality were all great. Panna cotta and chocolate cake for desert were divine. My only complaint is with how long the food took to come out (at least 45 mins from ordering). I actually thought the kitchen staff might have walked out, and there was not good communication or really any sort of acknowledgment of the delay by the staff. I had been to this place a few years ago, and will defiantly check it out again, but won't rush back as I can't take the risk of waiting like this again. Barring service issues, this could definitely be a 4/5 star place.

Very good, well-established Italian restaurant in the hip and getting hipper Columbia City neighborhood... THE ROSES: Food is quite good, with what appears to be a rapidly-rotating menu (no printed menus; current offerings are in a blackboard on the wall. Dishes are well executed, and service is quite good. Fun location with good view of the local scene. Upscale but friendly and unpretentious clientele makes for great people-watching. THE THORNS: Even on a weeknight, parking is quite difficult in this neighborhood. Not as bad as Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, or Fremont, but no picnic. While having no printed menu and just relying on a chalkboard saves money, it's kind of a pain for those seated at far tables or with their backs to the board. Some dishes (fish soup) could be a little more aggressively seasoned. A little on the spendy side for what you're getting, especially the wines (nothing under $10/glass - they really need to offer a simple 'vin ordinaire' to compliment the rustic ambiance and menu). THE VERDICT: This neighborhood institution's culinary offerings make it a real Seattle 'destination restaurant' as well. While a little spendy, it is a definite standout in Seattle's crowded Italian restaurant market. Recommend.

I think this is hands-down the best Italian food place in Seattle. Luckily it's underrated so you can get a table but I'm sure it will be rediscovered soon and we'll - buckle up. Small place with a familiar feel - heavy on sicilian food, if you want pizza and marinara sauce on your noodles, this is not for you. Bold flavors and interesting combinations is what you will find here, from squid ink pasta to flourless cakes accompanied by full-bodied Tuscan wines. The servers are amazing, now their trade and will go out of their way to make your dinner perfect.

5 stars for the fantastic service! Our waiter was so accommodating and patient as I did my usual Meg Ryan and "Is there eggs or dairy in that" routine. He checked with the kitchen on a couple of dishes and even came back after finding out what I ordered wouldn't fit my dietary restrictions. I wish I could remember his name! Ill just have to go back. :) The place is small and homey. The red wine we ordered paired well with most of the dishes - thanks again to the waiter for the recommendation. The columbia city bakery bread is some of my favorite, so five stars for that as well. I only wish they served balsamic with it to complement the olive oil. My eating partner order the tomato soup with an egg relaxing on the grilled bread like a flotation device. The soup had a fantastic garlic flavor and light kick. I order the grandma's greens as an appetizer. They were good but the anchovy broth was overpowering the over flavors too much. The pasta though! Freshly made semolina pasta in a variety of types. I ordered the squid ink spaghetti in puttanesca. The flavor and texture of the noodles was so good I wanted to order a second dish (though they are not stingy with the first). The puttanesca was good was well, but also on the salty side of things. So that paired with the grandma's greens - it was too much salty for one meal. My eating partner got one of the specials which was a cream-based sauce with chanterelle mushrooms and sweet corn. He loved it! We will definitely he going back and enjoying this wonderful southern Italian cuisine.

Warm servers and attentive service. Creative ingredients. Suggest to add menus online. Picture of the black board is cute but it is nice to know what you get yourself into. Suggest to expand the wine list to more varieties rather than just Italians.

Awesome sicilian food. It is a super small space so you really need to get reservation or you won't find a spot. The space is really cozy and the food is excellent along with the service.

Pros: I really enjoy the rustic, aged bathroom interior; mainly the sink. Really neat stuff and rare against all the ceramic, porcelain, glass, etc. ones out there. The art, design and warm atmosphere is nice. Tasty food (arancini balls and salt cod fritters) and appreciate their sustainable efforts. Staff was pleasant and seemed knowledgable. Drinks were good: Emma's Cup #2 was pleasant and light while the Negroni was damn bitter/strong(?), but worth trying. Cons: If you're on a food budget, know what to expect before you go. Simple as that. My food was good, but not great, left hungry and it's pricey for the portions. Obviously, I credit part of that to their food craft and whatnot. There's your measuring stick. =P

Very good authentic southern Italian restaurant. Some dishes very heavily use sardines, so be sure to ask if you don't like them or the heavy salt taste the add. There are dishes that don't feature them. Reasonably priced.

This is a hidden gem in Rainer! Such yummy food and with fresh anchovies in the appetizer list! My favorite!! It was cozy and felt like a family style restaurant. I really loved that they only had their menus on the wall in chalk - better to save that paper!! Over all I would go again in a heartbeat!

I have loved every meal I've had over the past 10 years I've been aware of La Medusa. This small Italian gem has a tiny dining room that fills quickly so walking in is often not an option, but when you do get to spontaneously enjoy the food - even better! Their homemade pastas and meatballs, in particular, are so unbelievably good...it's hard not to overeat! They serve decent size portions and most guests go home with a to-go container of the world's greatest leftovers. I'm a sucker for a lamb ragu and theirs does not disappoint...it's not too saucy, not too sweet or tomatoey....it's just perfectly cooked meat over remarkable noodles. They serve bread from the Columbia City Bakery located just a few doors down and the olive bread that arrives in the basket I could literally overdose on...so fresh and soft and delicious! This is such a cozy and romantic spot but also perfectly lovely for a small family or friend get together. Call for a reservation and let me know what you think!

In honor of our daughter's 20th birthday, we treated ourselves to trying out a new restaurant. La Medusa looked so charming from the Yelp posts, so reservations made, we took the plunge. I am truly happy we celebrated such a special occasion at this lovely spot. The service was terrific - not in-your-face, not distant. The waitstaff are so personable - not a hint of snobbishness (sadly, so prevalent in the Seattle restaurant scene). Their attentiveness was perfect. Beyond the service was the food: absolutely delicious. We started with the baked Cacciocavallo Cheese appetizer and it was even better than expected. Oohs and ahhs all the way around. The warm cheese and the spicy vinegar were a perfect pair - made even better by topping it on Columbia City bread. We also shared the Spring Greens with pistachio butter salad. Who would have "thunk" it? We were all in love with the nutty flavor of the pistachio with the very fresh-flavor of the greens. Each of us had a different main course. I opted to try, with our server's urging, the Squid Ink Spaghetti Puttanesca. I made it very clear that I don't eat seafood of any kind and I did not want even a hint of seafood smell or taste in the pasta. I took a chance...low and behold, not even the tiniest seafood flavor. The pasta was larger than your typical spaghetti, black as night and the sauce was great. I would have liked it more spicy (puttanesca is usually spicy) but the freshness of the flavors was lovely. My husband had the cavatelli with the pork and beef ragu - good but a little heavy for me. My daughter had the capannelle with the pea vines and asparagus. It was a homerun and she had a tough time putting aside room for dessert. Did you say "dessert"? Yes, we did make room and we weren't disappointed. The Chocolate and Espresso torte was rich, decadent and made even more lovely with the fresh whipped cream. The panna cotta with strawberries was light and creamy. Loved both but the next time, I want to try their other cake. A special evening in a terrific spot. We will return!

Come for the cocktails, the wine and the incredible deserts! These can't be missed in this cute, rustic, local eatery in the heart of Columbia City. The rest, well, good luck! First- get an early reservations. If you get a reservation after 7pm you will likely have to wait 15-30 minutes for the prior table to finish their meal as guests tend to linger and the service is on island time. The salads are good, the veggies they use are very fresh. The entree's were forgettable, if not offensive. I had the pork entree and it was reminiscent of a Hungry Man Chicken Fried Steak, at $34, you can see how I might be a tad underwhelmed and even offended. My dinner date stated his meat dish tasted like a fancy Hamburger Helper. Another diner in our group had the squid pasta, which must be for an acquired taste as no one in our group was a fan. I would come back for the wine, the cocktails and the can't be missed deserts as long as I had a reservation that began before 6pm to be sure I could be seated in a timely manner. For dinner, I guess it's an acquired taste, but we weren't digging it.

They have some of the most expensive pasta dishes which was non impressive in all of Seattle!!

Finally made it to La medusa, after talking about it for quite some time.. sadly it did not live up to its hype for me. The food was good, bordering on average. Every thing on the menu was very rich and nothing to balance the palate with a rich pasta/meat dish. would be nice to have some lighter options to pair with the current menu. Even though the service was very polite , we felt rushed to order and get out of the door.

La Medusa came with it! Dinner was amazing for us! The food , ambiance and service was top notch. La Medusa is a quaint staple in the neighborhood. Weekends are hard to get a table but worth getting on the list or make a reservation. The food is simply delicious. We had the aracini and beets to start, so good. We ate them too fast. The bread , I assume is from Columbia City next door, you get a variety of their delicious breads. We had two pastas, the spaghetti and meatballs , wow! Simple fresh marinara sauce and unforgettable large meatballs. The meatballs is tops , tender and full of flavor and not salty, I asked the server what the recipe is for the meatballs and of course she smiled and wouldn't tell me. We had the squid ink spaghetti vongole , so good again subtle flavors , perfect clams. We had our third course of the veal shank and polenta. We did not leave anything , plate empty! We like to compare how veal shank is prepared when we travel so La Medusa is succulent and tender and not salty like some I have had. The dessert course is never to be missed at La Medusa , Pana Cotta is exceptional, we had the chamomile and honey water one, omg we wanted another. We also had the pistachio cannoli , you have to ask why aren't they bigger?! The bottle of Italian Valpolicella was perfect with everything we ate, so order a bottle and relax and eat some good food!

How does a restaurant that has been pumping out good food for thirteen years or so in Columbia City end up with a buzz seemingly out of nowhere? It takes a long while for the rest of us to catch on apparently. La Medusa was not even on my radar, but then I read an article about the place and ended up with a craving for homemade pasta --paleo diet, adios! We booked a reservation here for a simple dinner which I recommend --the space is small and many that arrived before and after us without reservations were sent away. While a long way from my home, this spot turned out to be worth the adventure. This is a cozy locals spot with a giant framed chalkboard menu, which, if you can't read this tome due to the angle of your table (we could not) they suggest you take a photo on your smartphone. But what did they do thirteen years ago? On the menu are some great homemade pastas (which they are known for), salads, mains and appetizers. We had a three cheese pizza (not always on offer, but they were making several types of pizza the night we stopped in) a simple salad, a savory but simple pasta dish with anchovies and breadcrumbs, and a really excellent spaghetti and meatballs with a fresh marinara. I realize spaghetti and meatballs sounds incredibly simple, but to make it well takes some skill --every component has to be terrific. My dad who loves to cook, used to make a mean spaghetti and meatballs when I was growing up. His specialty was baking tons of parmesan in the meat and making sure he perfected his homemade marinara sauce. That's a close approximation of what you'll get La Medusa. I haven't encountered a plate of pasta that tasted this close to his pasta, possibly ever. Our server was polished, although service can be slow. Come here with time to linger over your meal, or you may become restless. The one disappointment was dessert: the lemon rind infused canoli, which was simple and tart, and did not have quite enough sweet (my opinion) although it was housed in in a perfectly crisp shell covered in pistachios. Normally, I'm a huge canoli fan. If you don't like a sweet dessert, you may appreciate this one.

Probably the best Italian restaurant in Seattle. A very special neighborhood spot. Amazing freshly made pastas. A bit pricey but worth if for what you get. Plus very good and friendly service. Just wish they had a regular bar so single diners could sit and eat when alone. The window seats are out of the way and lack the enjoyment of the rest of the space.

Buon signore this is good Sicilian food! I first walked past La Medusa while exploring Columbia City and unfortunately could not dine here because it's mostly reservation only. This weekend however, I was able to call a couple hours ahead and get a table. From the moment you step in, you can absorb the cozy setting. We had to wait a few minutes to get our table but were able to order a drink to sip on while we waited. The service here is among the best I've ever experienced. The hostess and waitresses are extremely knowledgable about the wines and about all the ingredients in the food from addressing food allergies to telling us about the kale that arrived just a few hours ago from the farm. The menu changes frequently based on what ingredients are in season and is written in chalk on the wall. We started with a glass of Soave for myself and a martini for my companion. The Soave was alright, not my favorite but martini was just right. When we were seated we started with Grandma's Greens--kale braised in anchovy broth with olives, pinenuts and golden raisins. To.Die.For. I'm a sucker for kale and anchovies and this dish did not disappoint. The kale's texture was just right and the broth was perfect for soaking up with bread. For entrees I had a rigatoni with tuna ragu. It was perfect. The noodles were perfectly cooked al dente the sauce was a bright tasty tomato-tuna-Sicilian masterpiece. Our other entree was a Perciatelli con la sarde, a hearty noodle hollow like a straw the length of spaghetti cooked with fennel, onion and of course sardines. Delish. Truly an outstanding meal, the best Italian I've had in Seattle.

It's been a while. The thought I wrote down (and recently came across) from that evening- "That bill was a bit high for my liking, but my entree (Spaghetti con le Sarde) was good." I love that they use local and organic ingredients, and even have a Farmer's Market Menu on the days of the market. I'm not particularly anxious for another visit, but it was definitely an enjoyable experience and I'd be willing to go again.... especially if I wasn't the one paying for it. (I'm a student, after-all!) It's businesses like these that sometimes lead to me having "I miss living in Columbia City" moments... (It's a good thing I now live in Wallingford, because this 'hood is also pretty darn cool.)

La Medusa makes both the best and the worst pasta I ever ate. The pappardelle with lardo has a rich taste and delicate texture - it's on my list of unforgettable food. On the flipside, the orecchiette is hard and unbearably salty. I should've speak out and have it sent back into the kitchen. Too bad my parents raised me to be meek, so I quietly ate the whole thing, drank a lot of water, and told them it was good. The servers are nice and care enough to ask what you're allergic to (no one ever asked me that before). They patiently explain the menu, what's safe to eat, and what the chef can special prepare for you. Now how do you beat that?

We have been wanting to try this place for a long time and finally got our chance last week. We had a late dinner reservation but decided to stop in earlier for a drink and small bite before catching the movie across the street: I don't give reviews much, but i just had to after such a special, wonderful experience. The staff was so friendly and attentive without being overbearing. The menu was not huge, but had varied choices. We all ordered something different so that we could sample various dishes. They were all so fantastic and tasty! Another plus is that this restaurant has a cute and cozy ambiance. We all agreed that we will definitely be paying another visit soon and encourage you to do so as well!

Love this place! The food is delicious and affordable, the wine list is full of great and affordable choices, and the service is friendly, but not annoying. Our server, Alix, made an amazing meal even better. We started off with a bottle of nebbiolo, which was a great complement to our meal. And continued our meal by splitting an arancini, or is it an arancino because we only had one? I digress...YOU MUST HAVE ONE NO MATTER WHAT IT'S CALLED! Seriously, if you're here and you don't get one you're missing out. Onto our entrees...I went with the campanelle with taleggio, asparagus and pine nuts and the bf had rigatoni with lamb sausage, fava beans, tomato and red wine. We both ended up full and happy. I was so full, but we just needed to try dessert. I had two baby cannoli (yum) and the bf had the hazelnut-brown butter cake & sweet cherries (he said yum, but I'm allergic so we'll have to take him at his word). Best part? We can walk here from our apartment!