14 Best Italian Restaurants in Kirkland

“Wow! I’m very impressed with Rimini. We made a reservation with a note that we were celebrating our anniversary, and the staff made it feel like such a special night.

We enjoyed the view from the table, the decor, the accordion music, the delicious drinks and food - all of it. I’ll be back for another special occasion or if I’m in the mood for some Italian food in Kirkland :)“

“I don’t usually eat Italian out because I feel I do a good job at home. This place is way better than I can do. The menu/ordering process is a little challenging to figure out but worth the challenge. We’ve been twice and both times excellent. The salads are great, house made mozzarella with these sweet tomatoes and a balsamic reduction - so good! Tonight I had the gluten free pasta with mushrooms and white truffle oil, fried tofu, homemade sausage and ghost pepper oil. It was so freaking good! The atmosphere is fun as well, open, vibrant colors and Italian pop music. Welcome addition to Totem Lake.“

“My girls took me to Cafe Veloce for my birthday and it was amazing! Service was great and the food was superb. I had the Dungeons pasta, yummy!!! It was my first time dinning at Cafe Veloce and will not be my last. Highly recommended.“

“Amazing food and staff!!!!“

“Café Juanita delivers one of those rare dining experiences that feels both elevated and deeply comforting at the same time. The atmosphere is amazing—cozy and intimate, yet still refined and a little fancy without ever tipping into pretentiousness. It’s exactly the kind of warm, modern elegance that fits the Pacific Northwest so well.

From the moment you walk in, the staff sets the tone. They’re incredibly welcoming and genuinely enthusiastic about the food, taking the time to explain each dish with care and clarity. It makes the entire meal feel like a guided culinary journey rather than just dinner.

We chose the set menu, and it was exceptional from the very first bite all the way through dessert. Standouts for me included the caviar small bite—yogurt tucked inside a delicate curled crisp that somehow managed to be both subtle and explosive in flavor. The beef carpaccio on a crispy cracker was another highlight, perfectly balanced and beautifully textured. And the seafood medley? Absolutely unforgettable. Every bite felt intentional, layered, and crafted to surprise you.

If I had to call out a downside, it’s the parking. Ugh. It’s definitely not the easiest. Plan to find street parking or use one of the nearby retail lots where you’ll likely need to pay.

Overall, Café Juanita is worth every moment and every bite. A truly special dining experience that lingers long after you leave.“

“Wonderful Italian restaurant. a Kirkland neighborhood treasure.“

“Been to many Italian restaurants being Italian living in Australia and to being at Ristorante Paradiso in Kirkland Washington Seattle was the best Italian restaurant I have ever been to. Service was outstanding and had the best white wine I have ever had in my life a memorable experience“

“Luz is a wonderful server! She is warm, welcoming and genuine. Throughout my meal she was highly attentive and made great recommendations (I really enjoyed the passion fruit tea she recommended). Her service was top notch and prompt. She anticipated my needs, I never had to ask for anything.
I don’t remember the last time I had such positive service; my afternoon is better for having stopped by.“

“This was our first time here and I would say we were at about 80% satisfied with the experience, compared to other high-end restaurants in the area, the decoration and ambience were very underwhelming, but the staff was very professional, and it was very lively. Both salads were got were excellent and our entree was really good the lamb Ragu. Unfortunately the two starters were meh for the cauliflower was decent. The meatballs were a big flop, not sure if it was overcooked or the meat was too lean, they were really dry and took away from the nice sauce. It took about 30 minutes to order food, think someone forgot about us as the people that came same time as us we’re already eating before we could even order.“

“Hands down one of the best pizzas I've ever had in my life and it all begins with the dough. #lightsout“

“The table was across the kitchen entrance. The restaurant was dim so every time the door opened it was bright lights in my face. My wife was facing the window and the kitchen light would reflect off the window and was bothering her as well. Everything else was fantastic.“

“grate pizza and the baklava with ice cream was awesome“

“Tutta Bella is by far the best pizza place on wallingfor area. The quality of the ingredients are just superior. If you are looking for place to eat a really good pizza, please do a favor to yourself and eat here. My favorite kind is the “Leonardo” with additional of prosciutto. Love it.“

“Amante pizza and pasta was pretty great! Walked in on a Saturday evening, and got my order fairly quickly. Service was quick, the staff was super friendly and attentive to customers. They sell pizza by the slice too which was a great option! Got some halloween deals going on right now. Will be coming back for more ☺️“