Messina Modern Italian Kitchen

My expectations were a little low based on reviews but the food was really good, however, some elements aren’t necessary (like sparklers…this isn’t Chucky Cheese). We ordered a variety of items including salad, pasta, drinks and everything was very well done. The kicker for me is this place lacks soul and feels a bit sterile. It need a vibe, something to make it stand out from the rest. The pricing was a bit high considering they also tack on a 22% service charge. I am happy we were able to go and give it a try.

We popped in on a Friday, early evening with no reservation. They were able to seat our party of 5 with 90 minutes for dinner! We had 5 appetizers, 2 pizzas, a mini pasta flight and a spaghetti! All the food was absolutely delightful! Definitely stop in when you're in Seattle!

Great place with good atmosphere, and service was super. Michelle was our server. They were all great. We ordered the pasta platter. Flying sampler or something like that. I would say just decent pasta really. Probably over priced for what it is, but it’s a restaurant experience in Seattle. Bread, platter, one salad and one broccoli plate came to 271 after tax and tip:)

We made the trip into the city from Tacoma and Everett to eat here, having enjoyed dining at this spot back when it was Racha Thai (which was fantastic). When we arrived, we gave the reservation name and were seated quickly. However, the rest of our party didn’t see us—and we didn’t see them—so when they arrived and mentioned the reservation, the host ended up seating them at a separate table, saying there wasn’t one. It was a little confusing, but we eventually all ended up at the same table. Our server was friendly but seemed a bit scattered. We were seated without water and had to wait a while before getting any attention. The food, though, was great. We ordered the pasta flight with Cacio e Pepe, Bolognese, and pesto—all three were delicious. Unfortunately, the offbeat service left a sour note on what could’ve been a great experience. As much as we enjoyed the food, we’re probably not coming back.

If anyone asked if I'd go back, I'd say "messiNAH" Here's why: Drinks: my slightly dirty martini was dark brown? What kind of dirty was this? Pasta: came out in 5 minutes which means it's batched in the kitchen. The sauce were heavy and reminded us of olive garden. Garlic bread: one word... chewy. Service: On the contrary to what other reviews said, the wait staff was really nice and helpful. Ambiance: you really don't need sparklers to sell pasta if the pasta is any good... Overall: 2 of 5

We absolutely loved dining at Messina’s. A bit pricey for our normal date nights ($200) but it was completely worth it! The drinks were amazing, we shared the pasta flight ($80) and the servers and bartender were nothing but accommodating and sweet. I will recommend to all my friends and will most definitely be dining here again.

The food is good, it's just really expensive. For 2 people having dinner we spent $200 which was a little higher than expected. That was 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 cocktails, and 2 beers. They do have a 22% service charge retained by the restaurant to support their staffs livable wage, so this is probably where the surprising price came from. We are fairly local so im glad we went this time but probably not a viable repeat option.

I love Messina! Many places in the Uptown area have declined, so this is a refreshing change of pace. The service is excellent, and the Italian options are super fresh and delicious. It's a great spot for date night, gatherings with friends, or family outings, etc. Personally, I enjoy sitting at the bar and having dinner there with friends. Live music is excellent as well.

Amazing dinner! The manager is a dream...pleasant and attentive. the wrong salad came and they comped the right salad leaving the first one. The bartenders are fun and make an excellent espresso martini!

What a meal!! Amazing bread and SERVICE !! Will be bringing my niece when she comes into town.

I originally booked our dinner at Messina with a pasta flight in mind but since we wanted to try other things we decided to skip it. We had the Messina Caesar, garlic bread, charred broccolini, and spicy vodka pasta. The Caesar was good, the dressing had a nice added anchovy flavor, it was a tiny bit more dressed than I'd usually prefer but not soggy. The garlic bread had great flavor but could've used a bit more crispiness. The spicy vodka pasta was good with the ricotta on top but could've gone with a tiny bit less of it. Broccolini was kind of spicy and perfect! Overall my notes are minor and I'd order it all again!! Service was pretty good, they do have a service charge and I don't love when restaurants do that as I feel like I never know how much my server is actually getting "livable pay". It was pretty dim in there and a nice atmosphere, a little loud but could've just been the party behind us. The bar was super cute and well set up!

We had the rosemary bread which was underwhelming for $12. I was expecting an infused butter but the rosemary spread was white (more like margarine?) and did not have any richness or salt to balance the rosemary flavor. We also had the Cacio e Pepe and Spicy Vodka pasta. Both of the pastas were one-note; butter and tomato respectively. The spicy vodka sauce was missing any depth and the spice came from crushed red pepper flakes that were sprinkled on top, I did not taste spice in the sauce which was disappointing. We had the Cesar and a glass of wine and those were both great. Service was friendly, it was a very quick turnaround time to receive what we ordered and the ambiance is comfortable.

We made reservations for four for dinner before The Empire Strips Back. Our service was prompt and friendly. The bar had a significant selection of NA spirits which was great for our party member who likes mocktails. We also grabbed a Wheelipop IPA, a Coke, and an aperol spritz while ordering garlic bread as a starter. The garlic bread was interesting, sort of a cheesy bread with a hint of garlic. I think the herb aioli may have had more garlic. It was tasty, but could really use a heavier hand with the garlic. Our pasta dishes arrived very fast (2 bolognese, 1 pesto, and 1 pomodoro). The pastas were all great! Service remained excellent throughout the meal.

We haven't had Italian pasta in a very long time and it being Thursday, we were already up at the Queen Anne's Farmers Market. While I'm not a fan of their bland boring dining room, the food is always excellent and it's not our dime tonight! Four people from the Seattle squad met us here and started the stupidest debate ever. This is listed as Lower Queen Anne's neighborhood, but the guys are saying it's Uptown. We ended up involving half the staff and the table next us. Can I just get a menu? Once we all agreed to just call it Seattle, the drinks began flowing and other debates ensued. The first two appetizers were Sicilian Meatballs and Fried Brussels Sprouts in red wine vinaigrette with capers. Both fantastic. We split a beef and pork Ragu, Bolognese (we call it Pappardelle Bolognese) and a serious roasted beet salad that couldn't be beat (see what I did there?) In the past, my main course was this killer Short Rib Lasagna. I've never had anything like it. This time around it was the Sole Piccata which, great as it was, wasn't nearly as good. Know that you can request gluten-free casarecce pasta for an additional fee With no room for dessert, our host, Larry decided to order Tiramisu and Gelato for the table, anyway. With the Funghi pizza, salad, bread service and the drinks, it was a tough walk to the car. Most of these dinners are paid for by the corporation so we don't know the numbers. It's Italian and in Seattle so it can't be cheap. This 6 course must have run around $100 per person, but you could definitely have a terrific experience for half that! 07/25

A little over price for pasta but it was good. Make sure you look at your tab!! They charge a 22% service charge to eat there and want you to tip as well. Our service charge was $31 . If we would've left a tip it would've been another $28. That's a $60 tip. (We did not tip extra) It's a place you only try once and not again.

The restaurant has a great ambiance and it's clean. Staff were all friendly and welcoming. Food is good, nothing that blew my mind but it was solid. We got the flight and each pasta noodle was perfectly al dente. Sauces were good. Their take on pesto was unique, spicy broccolini. I liked it, others at the table didn't care for it too much. The garlic bread was amazing. Drinks were great.

We came on a weekday after work and made a reservation in advance though it wasn't as busy as I thought it would be (it's just a short walk from Seattle Center) The restaurant itself is a nice, clean, modern Italian kitchen; stylish but still warm and welcoming. We were seated right away, and our server was super attentive and friendly the whole time We ordered the mini pasta flight, which lets you choose three kinds of pasta. We went with the cacio e pepe, bolognese, and pesto - absolutely delicious! The cacio e pepe was our favorite though! (It mentioned that it's perfect for two but easily fed the three of us with leftovers to bring home) We lingered for a while after dinner, ordered a few drinks from the bar, and didn't feel rushed at all - really appreciated this Just a quick heads up: rather kind of disappointed that later I read about an automatic gratuity of 22%. We weren't told about it, and I didn't notice it on the bill.. wish I'd kept the receipt to double-check Something to be aware of!

1 - Videos/photos of the pasta flights do not do it justice. These are huge full sized portions. We were only able to get through about half of each. 2 - We were told the spicy vodka is normally a hit or miss for the table. (Miss for me, Hit for my boyfriend) 3 - The crispy potatoes are GOOOOD but may be too filling before starting on a flight of carbs 4 - Archie Marry Me tasted like water at first then the rose vodka flavor really hit strong. it's a pretty drink and the ring pop is a great touch but sat untouched for me. 5 - The carbonara was a miss for the both of us. Lacking in flavor for me and too much fishy flavor for him (we asked, something about they use shellfish during the cooking process)

This is the place for the pasta flight. We saw a lot of orders of it on an early Saturday night from the other guests too. It comes out with a small firework and the servers were kind enough to offer to take our picture. My friends and I saw videos on social media, so when it was time for us to get together we made a reservation here. Parking was easy, there's a paid lot across the street. Between the three of us, we finished about 80% of the pasta flight, two breads, and olives we ordered. The rest were nicely packed up by the restaurant for us to have to-go. My favorite pasta was the bolognese. I'd come here again to try the pizza.

Don't expect any service at this place.. Just stay away. We had a reservation at this place. Walked in and nobody at the front. So we stood there and read all the signs about their automatic 22% service charge. It was a lovely and amazing way to get greeted. We (myself, my wife and our 4 years old son) finally sat at our table and the waiting game began. After about 20 min the hostess who I guess is now our server came and brought us water. While we had him there we also gave him our order. He left and after 5 minutes he came back and said they were out of one of the dishes we wanted. "I'll give you a minute to pick something else". That "minute" turned into 30. Yes, we just sat there waiting for him or any other staff to come back. We finally got ahold of the bus boy to see if he could find our server. He said he'll go and check. But again no sign of anyone. We saw another server but she wouldn't take our order; God forbid. We ended up leaving without any food or even an apology or explanation. I guess when there's an automatic 22% surcharge, accountability and service go out of the window. Save your time and money, go somewhere else.

Found this place on instagram and drove 3 hours to try it. Good service, nice presentation/atmosphere , but however, MID pasta either $114 for a big flight or $74 for a smaller flight automatic 22% is added to your bill

My sister wanted to come here after seeing about the pasta flights on TikTok as a birthday treat and I was happy to oblige. Since it was for her birthday, I made a reservation for our party of four and we scored a great table in the corner by the window. Of course we selected the five pastas of our choice (though I lowkey wish we could've gotten the sixth option as well!) as well as bread and Brussels sprouts. Everything came out and yes it looked aesthetically pleasing but it was also delicious! My favorite pasta was the spicy vodka but I even liked the pesto which is never a favorite of mine. We were absolutely stuffed by the end of dinner!

The food is great but the ambience gets worse and worse. I can get way better overpriced pizza and pasta at many other places around town. I tried visiting again recently and was met with a hastiness to get us in and get us out even though it fronts as such a lovely place and also WHY IS IT SO LOUD IN THERE. You can hardly hear anything even when it's not full because the tvs are so loud in turn making everyone speak loud. Also a bartender told me at a neighboring restaurant that they recently added the mandatory gratuity but were not giving it to the servers and also were not telling people they needed to tip on top of that if it were to go to your server. I have not been back since but as someone who worked in service for a long time I cannot support that (and believe the other servers around town talking about it) Will not be going back

Had a lovely date night here! It has a really cool vibe with a modern, yet cozy feel. Loved all the plants and the soft lighting. We ordered an incredible espresso martini and a beautiful bellini. The drinks were SO good! Later in the meal, I got the super tuscan and it was LOVELY! They have a great wine list. I am gluten free and was able to eat well here! We started with the broccolini which was flavorful and lovely. The crunchy quinoa gave it so much intrigue. I was happy to see that they now have a pasta board with 3 pastas, instead of 5. Much more reasonable for 2 people! They were able to do 2 gluten free pastas and one gluten one, which was nice. And the sparkler they put on the board is so fun! The gluten free pasta was lovely. The pesto and spicy vodka were the faves! Their gf pizza is also awesome. The mushroom pizza was delightful. My boyfriend got the short rib lasagna and loved the flavor and texture. The service was so kind and attentive and VERY good with our allergy stuff. I loved my date night here and will return soon!

We got the pasta flight and it was very good! Their sauce was tasty and the texture of the pasta was perfect. The restaurant had a very cool vibe to it but the service was okay, our waiter was at the bar socializing while we waited 20 minutes for him to take our order. Other than that I would come back for the pasta flight.

we chose this place last minute without a reservation but seemed to get lucky enough to be seated immediately. we were shown to a small, two-person table that was pressed up tightly against the wall. the hostess was very nice. our server however... could use some training. he never seemed to make eye contact with us and was always in a hurry to go do something else. he barely checked in with us -- in fact, there were times when the hostess would be passing by & see us trying to get their attention, before the server did. when we asked for the check, it wasn't even from our server but rather a different one who we just happened to catch. food, however, was better than their service but nothing terribly outstanding. - garlic bread (4/5): it was tasty and great way to start off our meal. i loved the aioli they added on the side as well. but i wish there was more crunch to the bread/toast. it was almost as if the bread hadn't even been toasted except for a few pieces. not sure if this was a single mishap though, because the toast in our eggplant appetizer was much better and crunchier. - eggplant (3/5): it's definitely an interesting take on how to present an eggplant dish and i was excited to try it! but it fell pretty flat in that you don't really see or taste the eggplant at all. we had to literally dig through the sauce to find small pieces of eggplant. loved the burrata cheese though! and these pieces of toast/bread seemed to be much more toasted than our garlic breads were...? - pasta flight (4.5/5): creative concept and definitely filling! the bolognese was my favorite as it seemed to encompass more than just one flavor profile. the spicy vodka was not spicy, and in fact the pesto seemed to have more chili flakes in it or something because the pesto had more of a kick than the spicy vodka. overall, this is a nice place to come to and enjoy some good quality food. but i wouldn't come here expecting the best or most fancy date night.

Food is very average Pasta flight is why I came. Wasn't great. Not worth the cost. Service was fair to average and tipping is MANDATORY. I came from the Midwest. Likely will not stop here again.

If you're looking for an unforgettable Italian dining experience, look no further than Messina. Nestled in the heart of downtown Seattle, this restaurant truly has it all. The dishes here are unique and absolutely amazing! Highly recommend all the appetizers we literally ordered every single one. The bread, meatballs, Brussels sprouts - incredible. The pasta platter is definitely a showcase with 5 different pastas for you to try that are all delicious. The one down side was that the pasta wasn't that warm when it came out on the platter. But definitely something to try with friends, family or out of town guests. The service at Messina was on point and ensured we had a fantastic dining experience by being attentive The Atmosphere is warm, inviting ambiance that's perfect for any occasion. It's a little loud in a big open room with tables close to each other and when the pasta platter comes out everyone notices. I'm pretty sure every table ordered the platter. Overall, Messina is a must-visit if you're in Seattle. Amazing food, great service, and cool vibe. Will be back!

Ended our trip in Seattle by having a birthday dinner at Messina. We made reservations prior which we originally thought wasn't going to be needed but 15 minutes after we were seated, the place was full! We of course got the pasta flight (Festa de Messina - $90) + The Triangolo Cacio de Pepe ($27) (which ended up being the favorite). We also got most of the desserts: salted caramel gelato ($7), raspberry sorbet ($7), tiramisu ($13), and the flaming affogato ($17). Everything tasted amazing. Our server was AMAZING. The whole experience was amazing. Definitely recommend coming here with friends!

My husband and I came back to Messina for a date night before the ballet at McCaw Hall, and it was just as memorable--if not more--than our first visit on their opening night back in December 2023. This place has truly found its rhythm. We ordered the trio pasta dinner, which was perfect for sharing. It felt like a sampler, but the portions were generous--we had plenty left over to take home. We also shared the Caesar salad and the garlic bread, both of which were excellent. For dessert, we split the tiramisu and the pistachio gelato, and honestly, both were incredible. A sweet and satisfying way to wrap up the meal. As someone from the South, I noticed they don't offer sweet tea (understandable), but their house-brewed iced tea was really refreshing--not the typical soda-machine stuff, which was a pleasant surprise. Service was warm and attentive, and the atmosphere felt lively and upscale without being stuffy. It does get a little loud inside--likely due to the tall ceilings and acoustics--but we were still able to enjoy our conversation. Messina is a gem near Seattle Center and makes for a perfect pre-show dinner. We'll definitely be back!

You know you come here for that pasta flight board! That's what we did! We were not disappointed! The servers were very nice the drinks were really good! I had the Marry me Archie (it comes with a ring pop! ) and that pasta board was freakin heaven! The charred broccoli was so good, I wanted more and the butter for the garlic bread was I swear, delectable! If I ever have friends visit from out of state this is a go-to spot! Yes make reservations! The place is packed! Very nice ambiance inside and loved seeing so many people ordering the board it was like fireworks everywhere!

We came here after seeing a video about the pasta flights and it was a bucket list for us to come and try it! The flight feeds 4 and we shared between three people! I think it is easily doable with 3 and if you had 4, you would want to add an appetizer! Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. He was prompt and knew a great deal about the menu. The old fashions were really good. The inside has a nice low light ambiance and it is quiet. It is quite big and we ended up with a table near the back by where the food comes out. With a reservation ahead of time, this was a disappointing placement. The pasta flight was really phenomenal! 3/5 pastas were delicious and the other 2 were still good but not as good as the three. My top three were the pesto, carbonara, and the spicy one of the far left! The bolognese was very delicious as well. There was one to the left of the bolognese that none of us at the table really liked. It was gross, is just did not stand up to the others at all. My only critique is the high expense. The pasta flight is $100 and the presentation is BEAUTIFUL with a firecracker candle. However, there lacks a lot of protein and meat. Only two of the pastas had a protein source and it wasn't a lot just some bacon and a little beef in the bolognese. Overall it was a cool experience and would come just for the experience of the pasta and presentation! We also had dessert. The tiramisu was really good. The cake was fluffy and it seemed locally made. The pistachio gelato was okay but too hard to be gelato and not authentic enough for me.

Food was boring and not as good as we thought it'd be. The flight was sadly just a gimmick and felt lackluster. Wings were tough and way too salty. Pizza was charred and tasted of burnt. Also, I was over hearing staff talking about how the owners unfairly fired a hispanic employee after said employee complained about discrimination in the workplace. If this is true then this is completely disgusting behavior. Even more disgusting than the food.

my family and I came specifically for the pasta flight. We were 5 people and the pasta flight came with 5 full size portions of each of their pastas. This was definitely enough for all 5 of us we even had leftovers to take home. We were all super surprised by how big the portions were because we weren't expected it to fill us all up. We also ordered the truffle bread which was ok - nothing special and would probably never order it again, it was pretty bland and definitely not worth $12. The pasta flight was $114 which was a little pricey and they automatically add a 22% fee to all parties. The service was pretty good, the host was really really sweet. Overall it was a great experience and we all really enjoyed the pasta flight. We would definitely come again just for that alone, don't recommend the bread tho

Truly enjoyed the dinner i had here. The Festa di Messina has a grand presentation and is the star of the show. Every other table ordered it. The portions were larger than expected. Everything tasted fresh and homemade. The atmosphere was uplifting with good music playing. Our waiter, Ben, provided great service. A few other items that I would get again are the Cab Franc wine, parmesan garlic bread, marinated olives, and beets. Also try adding their chilli oil to the pasta for some spice and it will intensify the other flavors.

2.5/5 Stars Came here after seeing so many TikTok videos about their pasta flights--it looked amazing online, so we had high hopes. The restaurant itself is nice and modern. and the service was okay, but nothing special. One thing to note: they automatically add a 20% gratuity to the bill and still prompt for an extra tip. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. The bread was rock hard, to the point where it hurt my gums trying to bite into it. It was also heavily salted, which overpowered everything. The butter was forgettable. As for the pasta flights, they looked cool but lacked flavor, and the pasta was on the firmer side--so if you prefer it softer, definitely ask. The only standout dish was the short rib lasagna, which was delicious and the best thing we had all night. For the price, I expected much better. Overall, it was just an okay experience, nothing memorable, and I wouldn't go out of my way to return. Definitely feels like more of a social media spot than a true foodie destination.

Everything about our experience was excellent. The ambience was nice and chill and our service was prompt and perfect. We had the pasta flight and all the must haves on the menu (the items highlighted in red)- everything was delicious! We couldn't pick a favorite item, however don't skip the Cesar salad or broccolini. If we ever have to opportunity to go again, we will be back. P

This is not a review I enjoy writing, but after two disappointing experiences, I feel it's necessary. First time: We made a reservation through OpenTable and arrived, only to be told the restaurant was hosting an event and could not honor our reservation. The staff apologized and said they would send a gift card to make it right -- but we never received anything. Worse, even though we showed up, the restaurant marked us as a no-show in OpenTable, causing my wife's account to be suspended. We called and asked them to correct it multiple times, but they never did. My wife's account is still not reinstated. Second time: We decided to give it another chance and made another reservation (our cousin made). We were seated, waited about 15 minutes, and then someone finally came over our table to tell us the "kitchen system" wasn't working, and they couldn't serve any food. We were a group of six, arriving at dinnertime after a long drive from the Eastside. Finding another place last-minute was not easy. Once again, they took my information promising to send a gift card -- but based on our first experience, we are not holding our breath. This isn't about getting gift cards. It's about basic respect for your customers and making things right. We invested time and effort to dine here twice, and both times left frustrated, hungry and disappointed. As a small business owner myself, I understand things can go wrong -- but how you handle those moments is what truly defines good service. I don't usually leave reviews like this, but after yesterday, I felt compelled to share. I hope no other guests have to experience the same treatment.

Now this is how you put together a classy, hip, yet approachable restaurant. Minimalistic design, pop music playing just loud enough to create a vibe, and a thoughtful Italian menu. I can see myself here a lot for cocktails and bites. I tried the Guilty Pleasure, and it was a very unique spin on a Dirty Martini. It's not as "dirty" as you might think and the Gin Mare Mediterranean gin had just the right herbal notes to make the drink delightful! Can't wait to try everything on the menu.

All in all my experience at Messina was quite mediocre. I made a reservation for two about two weeks in advance and mentioned that my friend and I wanted to order the pasta flight in the notes. This was because I had seen that there was the possibility of them running out and I didn't want to take the risk. We also went on a Tuesday night, so I didn't expect much of a crowd and I was right. We were seated at a table for 4 and ordered the pasta flight on arrival. It makes quite a grand entrance and honestly is a really cool experience! You're served 5 types of pasta dishes of which maybe 2 taste decent. I would not recommend paying $95 for this meal, even if you were going to split it amongst 4 people. It is definitely suited for a bigger group, but the flavors of the food don't justify it. From reading other reviews, there are probably better options. The overall ambiance of the restaurant is great! It is so beautifully built and so appealing to look around. We also had wonderful service from our waiter! He was very attentive and polite. As many have mentioned there is a required 22% service charge. They state that it's to help with wages of workers, but from what our waiter described those funds did not go towards the service staff. So there was an expectation for us to tip on top of paying a 22% service charge. That is absolutely ridiculous... All in all I would not recommend coming here. There are many other places that serve delicious food and do not have unreasonable hidden service charges.

This place was amazing! The staff is very friendly, the food is delicious and the people overall have such a great vibe! They were very accommodating and thoughtful with us, which we truly appreciate! Heads up! Their famous pasta flight is a HUGE board with five full-size portions, this meal is meant to feed 4-6 people, so please be mindful if you are a couple going in for the flight. This board requires a 4-top table so if you're going during a busy time it might be hard to get this. I recommend either making a reservation with a note, or just call and give them a heads up!:)

Stopped by after a show at Climate Pledge. Place looked nice so we stopped in for a drink to let traffic die down. Service was fine to start, but the gentlemen behind the bar were being really rude. We closed our tab to head home and were given our tab with multiple drinks included that we did not order. Gentleman and owner said it was fixed and that I wouldn't be charged for the amount that was not ours. Checked statement this morning and sure enough, I wasn't charged the correct amount. Not sure if it was an honest mistake or not but that hasn't happened to me prior from any establishment. It's going to be tough for me to head back there and give them another chance.

Save your money & go to Olive Garden the food tastes about the same maybe better. "You can't do the pasta flight because we're overbooked for the night and your table is tiny" - the waitress tells us as 10 different flights go out to the other "tiny tables " - what is the point of having something on the menu if not everyone can order it? At least try to make an effort to make some sort of accommodation for the customers. Not once were my friend and I check up on by our waitress Alina after getting our food yet we saw her walk around asking other tables if they were enjoying their food. It was very much giving racism with a side of discrimination considering everyone around us were white. Not to mention how rushed we felt while being provided slow service. Don't even do it for the gram or TikTok

I'm not a fan. We've eaten a lot of Italian in Seattle for over 40 years, and this is eh. Some fancy pasta shapes and limited sauce options. The prices are near the top of the scale, but not the food or ambiance.

Best margherita pizza I've had in my life! Got there right when it opened and started to get busy around 6pm. Service was phenomenal and the food was all so delicious! Not to mention the bar area is super cute and they have plants and art hanging on the walls to add to the cute vibe. Will definitely come back next time I'm in Seattle! I like to collect business cards from places I eat at for when I'm journaling and they sadly don't have any but the hostess was so sweet to give me a sticker when I asked! Lovely staff all around!

Came here to try the famous pasta board. I'm not a pasta expert but I would give it a 4 out of 5. But I was more impressed with their other food items! Casual setting with great service.

Delicious. Pasta flight was so worth it! Service was great too! Would absolutely eat here again!

We liked everything we had! The garlic bread was excellent and nicely portioned for sharing. The drinks were really tasty too! The pasta flight was totally worth it - we took leftovers home splitting it between two people. All the pastas were tasty and 3/5 were vegetarian which was a nice split for my partner and me. The server was really on it and friendly, checking in frequently and refilling waters. The ambiance was nice - very classy and modern decor.

Visited this spot after seeing all the hype on social media and I can now say the hype is officially deserved. Came by on a Friday night with reservations and was seated promptly. The inside is super cozy and had very nice dim ambient lighting. Our server was super sweet and made sure we were happy during our dinner. We ordered the ricotta and honey bread along with marinated olives as our starter and we were in love. The bread alone has an amazing flavor but paired with the honey ricotta and olives, it just took it to the next level. I ordered the spicy vodka pasta and it might have been the best spicy vodka pasta I've ever had, no exaggeration. It had the perfect spice level and the perfect pasta to sauce ratio. My friends all agreed it was the best pasta dish ordered among us. If you've seen this place on social media for their famous pasta flight and are unsure if the hype is worth it, I can assure you it's worth it. Would love to come back if I'm ever in the area.

Go for the 'gram, not the palate. Service is lackluster, we waited over 25 mins for a glass of wine. I had the Ossobuco, which was great but incredibly salty. The Pasta platter/sampler was our last item to arrive, many of the pastas were undercooked and al dente. Likely a one and done experience.

TLDR: pasta was good (~27-30$), appetizers weren't as worth it. The viral pasta tray is $96 for 5 pastas so it's worth it to get it if you're planning to get the pasta. I ordered just a plate and two appetizers. The Brussels sprouts were very charred, a little too salty and burnt for me but my friend enjoyed them. The truffle butter bread spread was quite small for $12 . The butter was quite difficult to spread and the truffle wasn't as strong as I thought it'd be. I liked my pasta - flavorful, cheesy and great texture. Some pieces were quite clumped together. At the end our bill was over $100 - if I come back, I'd just get the pasta tray and call it a night.

So happy this space finally has a working restaurant - definitely will help improve the area. Overall, Messina was a great experience. They had only been open maybe a week when we dined there, so I acknowledge the staff continues to streamline the process and work out the kinks. I made an advanced reservation for seven noting it was my mother's 60th birthday. We arrived on time and were seated almost immediately. I brought "6" "0" balloons with us (and we sat in the back, so they were off to the side in a wall corner & not in the way of decor or people.) Initially when I checked in with the host, they wished me a happy birthday. I clarified that it wasn't my birthday, referring to the reservation notes that the occasion was in fact for my mother's 60th. I made a joke, saying something like, "I hope I don't look 60!" (I'm in my 30s) In all seriousness, they said along the lines of, "Well I guess you could look 60." OUCH. Even if they did intend it as a funny response, I would NEVER say that to a guest. Moving on... Not that it impacted our dining experience, but the decor is all over the place. The back half of the restaurant doesn't match the front half - and if the walls could talk, they cannot seem to decide on a personal style. Black skull patterned wall paper with canvases of famous Seattle pro athletes and rustic wooden backrests in shades of blue and white. Our server was very kind and helpful. There were multiple staff members bringing out appetizers and food. A wine sommelier (maybe?) assisted us with the wine selections. I ordered two different cocktails and sampled others from my family. I wouldn't recommend any of them. Aperol Spritz, Bellini, Italian Paloma, Spettacolo Di Fumo. I disliked the Italian wine (not a fan in general) and preferred the local PNW selections. They gave us all a glass of champagne/sparkling wine as a way to celebrate for my mom's birthday - I thought that was a wonderful show of service! They also checked in frequently. The Charred Broccolini was not broccolini, but regular broccoli. However, still delicious! All the apps we ordered were fantastic. The caponata served in a glass cup was quite silly though. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the tiramisu at the end was the perfect end to our dinner. See photos for exact items. It is on the more expensive side for Seattle eateries, so I would only recommend this restaurant for a special occasion or business dinner. Eating at Messina was a lovely way to spend the evening. I hope to return here again for another flavorful filling meal!

1. pasta flight feeds like 3-4ppl 2. their happy hr is only at the bar which is NOT stated on their website at all. see photos- super misleading and felt like a gimmick to get people in the door and then not uphold their offers ------ we got the pasta flight: Festa di Messina. i'd recommend this for like.. 3 people. it's 100$ for supposedly 5 full servings of pasta. either that's a lie or their full servings (which are usually 27$ a plate) are tiny because any small one person could definitely finish 1 pile of this on their own. we were told with our 5 people (and flight of 5 pastas) we'd definitely have enough- we did not and had to order more apps and could've still eaten more after all that. also the ear pasta we felt was possibly not cooked all the way through(?) I love al dente but this was a bit more than that, felt like we could bite the dough of the pasta's inside also their site has HH times listed as 3-6pm on certain days, which we did hit. we asked about HH menu and the guy who sat us just brushed us off with a curt "that's bar only." very dismissive but also completely misleading to their website which only states time and dates of HH. I felt this was a big way to lose customer trust and misleading way to get people in the door. i'll say service from Wheeler who had our table was super kind and nice!! but Front desk people were almost pretentious (?) I never understand why people act this way lol like we're all just here for food. top it off with the service charge of 22%, that's pretty egregious.

Service was good, food was good Vibe was good , 100% recommended , close to downtown

This restaurant is close to climate pledge arena. The ambiance is cold and lacking warmth. We had a terrible experience. One of us ordered a gluten-free vegetarian pasta, and it was delayed by 30 minutes after they made a pork carbonara.once it came out, it was inedible, crunchy, and hard. My friend ordered sole lemon picatta, which was breaded with bland crumbs minimal sauce and overwhelmed the delicate fish. That, too, was inedible. The restaurant is nicely appointed near Seattle Center, which is why we selected this place. We went to our concert hungry. Fortunately, we brought our own wine, and that was delicious. The waitress was sweet and apologetic. The restaurant was too busy for the staffing, which is why mistakes were made. We will not return to this restaurant. I was very excited to find a new place that took reservations near the arena. Keep looking elsewhere, this place is not worth the overpriced, extremely mediocre at best food. I gave two stars for location.

The 3 of us really wanted to try pasta flight--- I mean they looked so good on Instagram! I gave 3 stars as an overall experience and due to the fact that we started our night a little rough. My friends and I were just turned off by our encounter with the host. Just not very welcoming at all. We were determined for that pasta flight and we waited for 1.5 hours for a late reservation -- despite the host told us we wouldn't be dining there at all because they are all booked up. So no stars for that host. Pasta flight: 4/5. I was worried with some of the reviews, but they were good (maybe we got lucky?). The pasta dishes were cooked perfect and the flavors of each dish were distinct. I was also way too hungry, so sometimes I don't trust my palette when I'm starving-- everything will tend to taste good lol. Service: our server was amazing and was nice. She basically redeemed the host's distasteful encounter.

Drove up for the day from Portland to try the pasta flight. I saw it on IG and decided to take a random day trip. I was NOT disappointed!! The restaurant was beautiful. The food was fresh and amazing. The service was also 10/10. Everyone was so sweet and our server took her time explaining the menu. The flight was worth every penny and can feed 4-5 people. We ordered too much food and had plenty to take back home. I would absolutely make the drive back again!