The food was just okay, but the service truly stood out thanks to Alejandro. He was incredibly attentive and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. His attention to detail and friendly demeanor elevated the service from good to great. Thanks to him, we left with a smile!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Jialu Zhou
Love the dining experience and server. Our server is Kendra (if I'm spelling right). She is the best! So energetic and welcoming. Her introduction made me feel her passion about food and wine that she was serving. Will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Croccante
Kelly J
Recently brought two friends here to celebrate their wedding and had a great time. Matthew and the team delivered an excellent experience and the food was great, especially the truffle amouse bouche. I will definitely consider Cafe Juanita for future celebrations.
Parking: Valet service for $10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lynnea Miller
An amazing experience. Fabulous serive and outstanding food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brian King
Excellent restaurant. If Seattle was Michelin-rated, they’d surely have a star.
We were in town for an event on Bainbridge Island and decided to try this restaurant out the evening prior. They offer various iterations of a tasting menu - including omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan - with an optional wine pairing. We had the omnivore option with the standard wine pairing, which was wonderful. We also were pleased to see they allowed replacement courses to the standard menu - we substituted in the burrata for the second course and 2.5 oz of the A-5 Wagyu for the fourth course, both of which were excellent.
Service was very attentive, personable, and well informed. Atmosphere was also very minimalist chic - reminded me of Napa or Sonoma. We had a perfect corner booth, which was ideal for conversation and an overall pleasant experience.
For what it’s worth, I did get a chuckle out of some of the reviews critiquing the restaurant for portion sizes - especially with photos of the amuse bouche and palate cleanser as evidence of said portions. It’s an elevated tasting menu, folks, not the Golden Corral. As frequent flyers of myriad Michelin starred restaurants, we thought the portions were actually quite generous here - between the focaccia, amuse bouche, bread service, and palate cleanser, I was starting to fill up by the time the third/pasta course rolled around - with the entree and dessert still left to go!
Overall, it was an stellar experience all around and we’ll definitely go back. A hefty tag - about 1K for two people - but totally worth the splurge. As a visitor, just wish it was closer to the downtown area to spare us the 30 minute Uber ride!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mariana
Food is really good and the portions were as expected. Our server did a great job and the team responded to our doubts in a proper manner, always ensuring we were enjoying our dinner. They were able to accommodate our dietary restrictions throughout the course, which made it better for us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tif Taylor
Yes - Please eat here at least once. I will definitely come back again this year; worth the splurge imo out of all the time dining I've done in the area over the last decade.
House Focaccia: O.M.G. They have the bottom soaked in a high quality olive oil, and the best part is it's topped with a touch of rosemary and smoked sea salt. Holy cow the smoked version of salt adds a fantastic depth of flavor.
Amuse bouche of the night: !! One of the best flavor journeys I've ever been on. 3 items on a wood board = mini pastry with caviar and lemon yogurt - light and amazing, hint of tangy and sweet. A hunk of super legit high quality parmesan D.O.P. - started out classic flavors and blooms into a pear flavor. Last, a heirloom gazpacho - OMG the flavor was so balanced and on point, the garlic was best friends with the basil and the tomato, they all got a long as one balanced happy family with the depth of ones eternal soul haha
Next: WOW. Ok full disclosure, I'm a medium cooked steak girl and tonight was my first raw beef experience -- raw A5 Wagyu on a toasted crostini with light chive butter, hint of jalapeno and was topped with cooked shallots and petals. In layman terms, it tasted like amazing pizza.
Burrata with stone fruit puree and charred endive and pistachios: It was alright. The burrata quality was very good. The stone fruit puree was not too sweet and complimented the sweetness of the burrata well. The texture of the pistachios were a little too taffy textured for my preference.
Ooh ok ... 2nd round of house breads... Holy cow. The potato bread melted in my mouth, the rye bread was incredibly earthy and (see pic) the world's fanciest cheeze-it with that aged 1000 days D.O.P parmesan they featured throughout the menu. All really well done.
Tagliatelle w/chanterelles: The flavor was earthy and a little brighter/ tangier than I was expecting. The fresh noodle texture was on point. Tho, I only found this flavor profile ok.
Fancy Beets with a bunch of words I don't remember: Mmmmm yes! Very much like. Perfect texture. The Vermont goats cheese adds the foundation base flavor to the bright, slightly sweet and tangy beets and aged sherry balsamic
Venison Loin with charred cabbage and huckleberry sauce (I added the Black Truffle to mine ($20 4 grams) -- HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Hands down the best venison both me and my friend have ever had in life. And the truffle on top compliments the depth of flavor perfectly. The whole combo melts in your mouth in a warm comfy arm chair by the fire type of way.
Dessert: I don't remember all the words but chocolate with hazelnut and apricot puree with porcini ice cream - it's ok. Not my fave dish, kind of sour and tart (I'm more of a sweet girl). Great combo of crunches and caramels tho and still very well made and high quality flavors. My friend really enjoyed this dessert.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bryan
Café Juanita offers an intimate dining experience with a warm, elegant atmosphere that feels both luxurious and welcoming. The service here is impeccable, with staff who are knowledgeable and attentive without being overbearing, enhancing the overall dining experience. The setting, combined with the attentive care from the team, makes every visit feel like a special occasion, regardless of what you choose to eat or drink.
Will
This was our second time dining at Cafe Juanita and it turned out even better than the first. My wagyu croccante and wagyu New York steak were both standouts for me. My partner loved his halibut and chanterelle tagliatelle. My tajarin with sage butter and the vegan chocolate mousse were also fantastic.
frank
This used to be the best Italian restaurant in Seattle. It is no longer that; frankly, it's no longer even an Italian restaurant. It's some kind of Asian/Italian fusion monstrosity that costs more than either Canlis or the Herb Farm. It was $800 for two (with a set menu and three glasses of wine). If we'd added the caviar app and the wine pairing, it would have been $1,300. It is obscene.
Amazing special occasion place - expect to pay a grip. Just came back from Italy and my observation was the food was very much in synch with what's happening in the food scene there. Will be back for sure.
Jeff
Cafe Juanita is at the top of their game, and certainly at the top of fine dining in the Seattle area. The service impresses at every level, from the reservation reminder call, to the host's greetings, the sommelier, the servers, all so very warm and professional. And what comes out of the kitchen is simply one delight after another, the amuse bouche, the wagyu carpaccio, the venison, and my all-time favorite, the risotto. And so many others. Great cocktails, and a wine list to die for. Just the best place in the PNW. Thank you, Chef Holly and all your wonderful crew, for another memorable evening.
Laurent Mazuel
Subtle, many courses with small portions nicely calculated that you eat enough. Nice service and personal. Fairly quiet. Really a place to recommend. Air conditioning was a bit high for me, I should have brought my jacket, but that's pretty much the only bad thing.
I had booked a special evening for my husband's birthday. We were seated against the serving wall in the back room (other tables were available in that room as well as the main room). Everything was lovely until another couple was seated next to us midway through the appetizers. After announcing that he was “celebrating his divorce”, the “gentleman” announced he was hot and asked if he should take off his shirt. Whereupon Linda, our lovely server, came up between our table and the wall and started struggling to connect a large floor fan - her backside was nearly on our table. Finally getting it fixed, she turned it on and left if beside our table, blowing directly on my husband and making a very disconcerting noise - completely ruining our otherwise lovely experience. When we finally asked to either remove the fan or be moved to another table, she shut off the fan. Whereupon the other couple demanded to be moved, which resulted in moving chairs, setting up a new table for them on the patio, etc. Yikes - this seemed more like a second class diner experience than what we expected for a widely acclaimed (and very expensive!) dining experience. I know they can't be blamed for an obnoxious diner, but jeez. Couldn't they have at least put the fan on HIS table instead of ruining ours? The hostess did come by to apologize, and they did comp our wine, but the whole evening ambience was a disaster and seemed very amateur. We'll find another place for our next special occasion.
Aiswarya Rani S
It was my second time going to cafe Juanita and let me say first time it was amazing that's why I decided to bring my parents in for their anniversary but it was def not what I expected to see. The quantity was very less I get it it's a very fine dining experience but I don't understand why the main course also had to be bite size!? There was too much salt on everything we couldn't even eat it! Anyways my parents hated it and I had to pay almost $800 for three of us! I should have checked the reviews before blinding booking it. People please do not fall for the ambience and the location the food sucks! And the ambience was a joke we literally had to yell at each other and I couldn’t hear half of the things the server said!
The food was just okay, but the service truly stood out thanks to Alejandro. He was incredibly attentive and went above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. His attention to detail and friendly demeanor elevated the service from good to great. Thanks to him, we left with a smile!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Love the dining experience and server. Our server is Kendra (if I'm spelling right). She is the best! So energetic and welcoming. Her introduction made me feel her passion about food and wine that she was serving. Will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Croccante
Recently brought two friends here to celebrate their wedding and had a great time. Matthew and the team delivered an excellent experience and the food was great, especially the truffle amouse bouche. I will definitely consider Cafe Juanita for future celebrations.
Parking: Valet service for $10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
An amazing experience. Fabulous serive and outstanding food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Excellent restaurant. If Seattle was Michelin-rated, they’d surely have a star.
We were in town for an event on Bainbridge Island and decided to try this restaurant out the evening prior. They offer various iterations of a tasting menu - including omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan - with an optional wine pairing. We had the omnivore option with the standard wine pairing, which was wonderful. We also were pleased to see they allowed replacement courses to the standard menu - we substituted in the burrata for the second course and 2.5 oz of the A-5 Wagyu for the fourth course, both of which were excellent.
Service was very attentive, personable, and well informed. Atmosphere was also very minimalist chic - reminded me of Napa or Sonoma. We had a perfect corner booth, which was ideal for conversation and an overall pleasant experience.
For what it’s worth, I did get a chuckle out of some of the reviews critiquing the restaurant for portion sizes - especially with photos of the amuse bouche and palate cleanser as evidence of said portions. It’s an elevated tasting menu, folks, not the Golden Corral. As frequent flyers of myriad Michelin starred restaurants, we thought the portions were actually quite generous here - between the focaccia, amuse bouche, bread service, and palate cleanser, I was starting to fill up by the time the third/pasta course rolled around - with the entree and dessert still left to go!
Overall, it was an stellar experience all around and we’ll definitely go back. A hefty tag - about 1K for two people - but totally worth the splurge. As a visitor, just wish it was closer to the downtown area to spare us the 30 minute Uber ride!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is really good and the portions were as expected. Our server did a great job and the team responded to our doubts in a proper manner, always ensuring we were enjoying our dinner.
They were able to accommodate our dietary restrictions throughout the course, which made it better for us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yes - Please eat here at least once. I will definitely come back again this year; worth the splurge imo out of all the time dining I've done in the area over the last decade.
House Focaccia: O.M.G. They have the bottom soaked in a high quality olive oil, and the best part is it's topped with a touch of rosemary and smoked sea salt. Holy cow the smoked version of salt adds a fantastic depth of flavor.
Amuse bouche of the night: !! One of the best flavor journeys I've ever been on. 3 items on a wood board = mini pastry with caviar and lemon yogurt - light and amazing, hint of tangy and sweet. A hunk of super legit high quality parmesan D.O.P. - started out classic flavors and blooms into a pear flavor. Last, a heirloom gazpacho - OMG the flavor was so balanced and on point, the garlic was best friends with the basil and the tomato, they all got a long as one balanced happy family with the depth of ones eternal soul haha
Next: WOW. Ok full disclosure, I'm a medium cooked steak girl and tonight was my first raw beef experience -- raw A5 Wagyu on a toasted crostini with light chive butter, hint of jalapeno and was topped with cooked shallots and petals. In layman terms, it tasted like amazing pizza.
Burrata with stone fruit puree and charred endive and pistachios: It was alright. The burrata quality was very good. The stone fruit puree was not too sweet and complimented the sweetness of the burrata well. The texture of the pistachios were a little too taffy textured for my preference.
Ooh ok ... 2nd round of house breads... Holy cow. The potato bread melted in my mouth, the rye bread was incredibly earthy and (see pic) the world's fanciest cheeze-it with that aged 1000 days D.O.P parmesan they featured throughout the menu. All really well done.
Tagliatelle w/chanterelles: The flavor was earthy and a little brighter/ tangier than I was expecting. The fresh noodle texture was on point. Tho, I only found this flavor profile ok.
Fancy Beets with a bunch of words I don't remember: Mmmmm yes! Very much like. Perfect texture. The Vermont goats cheese adds the foundation base flavor to the bright, slightly sweet and tangy beets and aged sherry balsamic
Venison Loin with charred cabbage and huckleberry sauce (I added the Black Truffle to mine ($20 4 grams) -- HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Hands down the best venison both me and my friend have ever had in life. And the truffle on top compliments the depth of flavor perfectly. The whole combo melts in your mouth in a warm comfy arm chair by the fire type of way.
Dessert: I don't remember all the words but chocolate with hazelnut and apricot puree with porcini ice cream - it's ok. Not my fave dish, kind of sour and tart (I'm more of a sweet girl). Great combo of crunches and caramels tho and still very well made and high quality flavors. My friend really enjoyed this dessert.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Café Juanita offers an intimate dining experience with a warm, elegant atmosphere that feels both luxurious and welcoming. The service here is impeccable, with staff who are knowledgeable and attentive without being overbearing, enhancing the overall dining experience. The setting, combined with the attentive care from the team, makes every visit feel like a special occasion, regardless of what you choose to eat or drink.
This was our second time dining at Cafe Juanita and it turned out even better than the first. My wagyu croccante and wagyu New York steak were both standouts for me. My partner loved his halibut and chanterelle tagliatelle. My tajarin with sage butter and the vegan chocolate mousse were also fantastic.
This used to be the best Italian restaurant in Seattle. It is no longer that; frankly, it's no longer even an Italian restaurant. It's some kind of Asian/Italian fusion monstrosity that costs more than either Canlis or the Herb Farm. It was $800 for two (with a set menu and three glasses of wine). If we'd added the caviar app and the wine pairing, it would have been $1,300. It is obscene.
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing special occasion place - expect to pay a grip. Just came back from Italy and my observation was the food was very much in synch with what's happening in the food scene there. Will be back for sure.
Cafe Juanita is at the top of their game, and certainly at the top of fine dining in the Seattle area. The service impresses at every level, from the reservation reminder call, to the host's greetings, the sommelier, the servers, all so very warm and professional. And what comes out of the kitchen is simply one delight after another, the amuse bouche, the wagyu carpaccio, the venison, and my all-time favorite, the risotto. And so many others. Great cocktails, and a wine list to die for. Just the best place in the PNW. Thank you, Chef Holly and all your wonderful crew, for another memorable evening.
Subtle, many courses with small portions nicely calculated that you eat enough. Nice service and personal. Fairly quiet. Really a place to recommend. Air conditioning was a bit high for me, I should have brought my jacket, but that's pretty much the only bad thing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Foie Gras Fall Flavors Cacao Nibs, A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Croccante
I had booked a special evening for my husband's birthday. We were seated against the serving wall in the back room (other tables were available in that room as well as the main room). Everything was lovely until another couple was seated next to us midway through the appetizers. After announcing that he was “celebrating his divorce”, the “gentleman” announced he was hot and asked if he should take off his shirt. Whereupon Linda, our lovely server, came up between our table and the wall and started struggling to connect a large floor fan - her backside was nearly on our table. Finally getting it fixed, she turned it on and left if beside our table, blowing directly on my husband and making a very disconcerting noise - completely ruining our otherwise lovely experience. When we finally asked to either remove the fan or be moved to another table, she shut off the fan. Whereupon the other couple demanded to be moved, which resulted in moving chairs, setting up a new table for them on the patio, etc. Yikes - this seemed more like a second class diner experience than what we expected for a widely acclaimed (and very expensive!) dining experience. I know they can't be blamed for an obnoxious diner, but jeez. Couldn't they have at least put the fan on HIS table instead of ruining ours? The hostess did come by to apologize, and they did comp our wine, but the whole evening ambience was a disaster and seemed very amateur. We'll find another place for our next special occasion.
It was my second time going to cafe Juanita and let me say first time it was amazing that's why I decided to bring my parents in for their anniversary but it was def not what I expected to see. The quantity was very less I get it it's a very fine dining experience but I don't understand why the main course also had to be bite size!? There was too much salt on everything we couldn't even eat it! Anyways my parents hated it and I had to pay almost $800 for three of us! I should have checked the reviews before blinding booking it. People please do not fall for the ambience and the location the food sucks! And the ambience was a joke we literally had to yell at each other and I couldn’t hear half of the things the server said!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 5
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