On New Year’s Eve 2025, I picked up my best friend at the airport and we went straight to The Lioness to begin the celebration before heading to the Space Needle. It was exactly the kind of place you want on a winter night — warm and intimate, and a cozy, quaint atmosphere for sharing. The cavatelli was exquisite, earthy, and so delicious. The marinated olives and burrata were fresh and beautifully made, the braised greens a perfect complement, and the dark chocolate cake with espresso mascarpone cream was a lovely, delectable finish. We felt genuinely taken care of and appreciated. Thank you to Maddy Van Elzen at Sea Creatures and her team for the thoughtful and generous hospitality and personal touches. We highly recommend The Lioness for the best food, service, and atmosphere. 5 stars!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
robert frosting
Meh. Food is no better than an average home cook could do themselves . Every dish Everything was completely average. Prices however reflect a much better quality. Service was so fast that the table next to us were as surprised as we were about the rush. Tables so close together that despite two tops pushed together into a four top still not enough room to be seated without bumping the table. I won’t be back. Big Sea Creatures fan, but this one is a huge miss.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
David J
Service and food are exquisite! True Italian tastes with a personal twist that puts it over the top. Really want to go back and try everything on the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christina Baker
We squeezed in a table of six for birthday drinks on a busy Saturday night, major kudos to the Lioness team because everyone was impressed. From the espresso martini to the Cosmina and the Aperol spritz with its gorgeous floral rose twist plus classic sparkling wine, every cocktail hit the mark.
Our server was incredibly prompt with both water and drinks, which is no small feat on a packed weekend evening. Even better, we sat outside in January and were completely comfortable thanks to the heaters, it honestly felt like a tucked away European nook. The covered outdoor seating kept us dry from the rain and cozy all night.
This was my third visit and Lioness continues to impress every time. Can’t wait to come back again 🥂
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Tanatach Foy
Food is unique and great. Wine selection is great as well
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Sherry Uyematsu
Great service and the lasagna special was wonderful
Stephany Simonelli
All of the food seemed to have an over abundance of large pieces of fresh herbs, especially mint, which was overpowering. The menu is very limited. The clams had several pieces of sand and or shell to bite into. Having five people we weren’t allowed to make a reservation… And the place is tiny so we had to sit outside in 40° weather which was unbearable even with heaters (no blankets?). In essence, we were sitting in the drafty hallway of an apartment building. The service was friendly, but very slow. Even though we were clear that we were all ordering our own main dishes… Everything was served family style… So three people at the table did not have their food for over five minutes. In the end, all of the leftovers were boxed and piled up on a side table with no concern as to who’s dishes was whose when three people ordered the same pasta.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Kaylee Palachuk
We had an impromptu date night here on a Monday evening. The ambiance was bustling, lively, and dimly lit. It was so loud we had to yell just to hear each other.
The server was warm in her greeting, but overall the service was slow. Perhaps this is intentional and a part of their attempt to recreate a piece of Europe in the PNW.
As for the food, we heard the table next to us absolutely raving about all of food, but we found it all average at best (especially for the price).
For a couple who has eaten at dozens of Italian restaurants in Europe and the states, this one felt like a B-. The gem lettuces salad was simple but tasty. Next we had the cavatelli all’amatriciana pasta. The pasta itself had a fantastic texture and the guanciale was crispy. Despite those positives, the overall dish was as-expected but not phenomenal. Then we had the pork sausage with polenta. Again, the totality of the dish was as expected - sausage and polenta - nothing exceptional. We hoped for more thoughtful taste profiles, something to truly delight the tastebuds.
We took home one chocolate cake for us and one for our sitter; we took two bites and threw away the rest in disappointment (very dry and lacking flavor).
Our wine was recommended by our server and was probably the best part of the meal. In Italy, this meal would have been a fraction of the cost and likely much more tasty. For almost $300, it was a disappointment. We will not be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Erika Hase
Devastated. We were initially so excited walking up to the restaurant, with their cozy vibes and quirky decor, but the food and price point were beyond disappointing. For 160$ for 3 items and 2 drinks with an auto-added 22% tip, I have never been so disappointed. The pasta was overly salted to a point it was almost inedible; and the gem salad was so under-dressed it tasted like plain lettuce. and at $18 for drinks, I expected much better. Truly a let down. I still love Renee’s other restaurants though. But honestly, skip this one and go to Mioposto instead; which is WAY more worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
__
The food was good but arrive clear-eyed that you'll pay a premium for it. Small font at the base of their menu announces a 22% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill. For example, that $16 glass of house wine will ultimately cost closer to $22 after gratuity and tax. In addition, if you ask for a cup of coffee with your $19 piece of chocolate cake for dessert (oops, $25!), you'll be told they don't serve coffee because they have no room to make it. Or perhaps they'd rather churn more people through and don't want anyone to linger. Ultimately your final bill arrives with extra space to add a tip on top of their automatic gratuity, 100% of which it states goes to LIONESS not staff, for those who didn't read the fine print. Seems like a sleazy way to treat both customers and staff.
Truly 5 stars all around. We went for dinner on a Thursday night and sat on their heated patio. It was surprisingly cozy and comfortable, even at the end of October. Both of our drinks were great- I got the NA Negroni and my husband got the Black Manhattan. For food we ordered the oysters, black cod mouse, radicchio salad, fagiole pasta, chocolate cake, and pane cotta. We didn’t have a bad bite! We loved everything but the standouts were the black cod mouse and pane cotta. Great neighborhood gem. Can’t wait to come back in the summer months.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mihaela Constantinescu
They have a service fee burried in the receipt and then also give you the option to tip. It is misleading and not really ok.
Justin Marzean
Great vibes and solid food! Great for a casual dinner or as a date spot. Enjoyed the dishes and cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
K Van Petten
We have been regulars here and usually enjoy it, but this visit was such a letdown.
We came on a Friday night because we wanted to spend time on the patio for the last of summer. When we checked in we were told we were next on the list, but we watched several groups who didn’t opt for drinks get seated first, which was confusing.
Inside, the tables were jammed so close together we could hear every word from the people next to us. It was loud, uncomfortable, and not set up well for a relaxed dinner. After our 40 minute wait, we were not given any option to stay outside, even though that’s why we had come.
We were ready to order just an appetizer and an entrée, but the server encouraged us to add two more dishes to make it a full meal. After two somewhat bigger “small” plates than we expected, nothing else had been entered into the kitchen. The food itself was okay, though mostly overseasoned basics, and we had high hopes for the mains. By then we had already ordered a second round of drinks, including their martini service, expecting more food to come. When the third dish finally arrived, it had been almost 45 minutes since the last one, and we found out the pasta — the dish we were most excited for — had never even been started. At that point, nearly two hours in, we canceled it, boxed the third plate to go, finished the drinks we had ordered, and left to get a bite elsewhere just to fill up.
They did comp a round of wine, but the bill still came to $160.20 with an automatic service charge. We left feeling hungry, uncomfortable, and disappointed.
I am not sure how well the seemingly overwhelmed staff are looked after given that automatic service charge and how poorly things were explained. There have been reports from Sea Creatures restaurants about confusion over these charges and how much of them actually benefit workers rather than the house (see Why Is Bateau (Temporarily) Closed, Though? in The Stranger).
The food here can be good, but this night showed how fragile the experience is. If you are hungry, celebrating, or expect comfort and clarity, be aware you may spend a lot and leave very disappointed.
To top off this experience, we know that we left a pair of expensive glasses here, which they could not find.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Madison Wade
The best Italian food in Seattle! Obsessed with the staff here too. They really take care of you and make your dining feel special.
On New Year’s Eve 2025, I picked up my best friend at the airport and we went straight to The Lioness to begin the celebration before heading to the Space Needle. It was exactly the kind of place you want on a winter night — warm and intimate, and a cozy, quaint atmosphere for sharing. The cavatelli was exquisite, earthy, and so delicious. The marinated olives and burrata were fresh and beautifully made, the braised greens a perfect complement, and the dark chocolate cake with espresso mascarpone cream was a lovely, delectable finish. We felt genuinely taken care of and appreciated. Thank you to Maddy Van Elzen at Sea Creatures and her team for the thoughtful and generous hospitality and personal touches. We highly recommend The Lioness for the best food, service, and atmosphere. 5 stars!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Meh. Food is no better than an average home cook could do themselves . Every dish Everything was completely average. Prices however reflect a much better quality. Service was so fast that the table next to us were as surprised as we were about the rush. Tables so close together that despite two tops pushed together into a four top still not enough room to be seated without bumping the table. I won’t be back. Big Sea Creatures fan, but this one is a huge miss.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Service and food are exquisite! True Italian tastes with a personal twist that puts it over the top. Really want to go back and try everything on the menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We squeezed in a table of six for birthday drinks on a busy Saturday night, major kudos to the Lioness team because everyone was impressed. From the espresso martini to the Cosmina and the Aperol spritz with its gorgeous floral rose twist plus classic sparkling wine, every cocktail hit the mark.
Our server was incredibly prompt with both water and drinks, which is no small feat on a packed weekend evening. Even better, we sat outside in January and were completely comfortable thanks to the heaters, it honestly felt like a tucked away European nook. The covered outdoor seating kept us dry from the rain and cozy all night.
This was my third visit and Lioness continues to impress every time. Can’t wait to come back again 🥂
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Food is unique and great. Wine selection is great as well
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Great service and the lasagna special was wonderful
All of the food seemed to have an over abundance of large pieces of fresh herbs, especially mint, which was overpowering. The menu is very limited. The clams had several pieces of sand and or shell to bite into. Having five people we weren’t allowed to make a reservation… And the place is tiny so we had to sit outside in 40° weather which was unbearable even with heaters (no blankets?). In essence, we were sitting in the drafty hallway of an apartment building. The service was friendly, but very slow. Even though we were clear that we were all ordering our own main dishes… Everything was served family style… So three people at the table did not have their food for over five minutes. In the end, all of the leftovers were boxed and piled up on a side table with no concern as to who’s dishes was whose when three people ordered the same pasta.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
We had an impromptu date night here on a Monday evening. The ambiance was bustling, lively, and dimly lit. It was so loud we had to yell just to hear each other.
The server was warm in her greeting, but overall the service was slow. Perhaps this is intentional and a part of their attempt to recreate a piece of Europe in the PNW.
As for the food, we heard the table next to us absolutely raving about all of food, but we found it all average at best (especially for the price).
For a couple who has eaten at dozens of Italian restaurants in Europe and the states, this one felt like a B-. The gem lettuces salad was simple but tasty. Next we had the cavatelli all’amatriciana pasta. The pasta itself had a fantastic texture and the guanciale was crispy. Despite those positives, the overall dish was as-expected but not phenomenal. Then we had the pork sausage with polenta. Again, the totality of the dish was as expected - sausage and polenta - nothing exceptional. We hoped for more thoughtful taste profiles, something to truly delight the tastebuds.
We took home one chocolate cake for us and one for our sitter; we took two bites and threw away the rest in disappointment (very dry and lacking flavor).
Our wine was recommended by our server and was probably the best part of the meal. In Italy, this meal would have been a fraction of the cost and likely much more tasty. For almost $300, it was a disappointment. We will not be returning.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Devastated. We were initially so excited walking up to the restaurant, with their cozy vibes and quirky decor, but the food and price point were beyond disappointing. For 160$ for 3 items and 2 drinks with an auto-added 22% tip, I have never been so disappointed. The pasta was overly salted to a point it was almost inedible; and the gem salad was so under-dressed it tasted like plain lettuce. and at $18 for drinks, I expected much better. Truly a let down. I still love Renee’s other restaurants though. But honestly, skip this one and go to Mioposto instead; which is WAY more worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
The food was good but arrive clear-eyed that you'll pay a premium for it. Small font at the base of their menu announces a 22% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill. For example, that $16 glass of house wine will ultimately cost closer to $22 after gratuity and tax. In addition, if you ask for a cup of coffee with your $19 piece of chocolate cake for dessert (oops, $25!), you'll be told they don't serve coffee because they have no room to make it. Or perhaps they'd rather churn more people through and don't want anyone to linger. Ultimately your final bill arrives with extra space to add a tip on top of their automatic gratuity, 100% of which it states goes to LIONESS not staff, for those who didn't read the fine print. Seems like a sleazy way to treat both customers and staff.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
Truly 5 stars all around. We went for dinner on a Thursday night and sat on their heated patio. It was surprisingly cozy and comfortable, even at the end of October. Both of our drinks were great- I got the NA Negroni and my husband got the Black Manhattan. For food we ordered the oysters, black cod mouse, radicchio salad, fagiole pasta, chocolate cake, and pane cotta. We didn’t have a bad bite! We loved everything but the standouts were the black cod mouse and pane cotta. Great neighborhood gem. Can’t wait to come back in the summer months.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They have a service fee burried in the receipt and then also give you the option to tip. It is misleading and not really ok.
Great vibes and solid food!
Great for a casual dinner or as a date spot.
Enjoyed the dishes and cocktails.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
We have been regulars here and usually enjoy it, but this visit was such a letdown.
We came on a Friday night because we wanted to spend time on the patio for the last of summer. When we checked in we were told we were next on the list, but we watched several groups who didn’t opt for drinks get seated first, which was confusing.
Inside, the tables were jammed so close together we could hear every word from the people next to us. It was loud, uncomfortable, and not set up well for a relaxed dinner. After our 40 minute wait, we were not given any option to stay outside, even though that’s why we had come.
We were ready to order just an appetizer and an entrée, but the server encouraged us to add two more dishes to make it a full meal. After two somewhat bigger “small” plates than we expected, nothing else had been entered into the kitchen. The food itself was okay, though mostly overseasoned basics, and we had high hopes for the mains. By then we had already ordered a second round of drinks, including their martini service, expecting more food to come. When the third dish finally arrived, it had been almost 45 minutes since the last one, and we found out the pasta — the dish we were most excited for — had never even been started. At that point, nearly two hours in, we canceled it, boxed the third plate to go, finished the drinks we had ordered, and left to get a bite elsewhere just to fill up.
They did comp a round of wine, but the bill still came to $160.20 with an automatic service charge. We left feeling hungry, uncomfortable, and disappointed.
I am not sure how well the seemingly overwhelmed staff are looked after given that automatic service charge and how poorly things were explained. There have been reports from Sea Creatures restaurants about confusion over these charges and how much of them actually benefit workers rather than the house (see Why Is Bateau (Temporarily) Closed, Though? in The Stranger).
The food here can be good, but this night showed how fragile the experience is. If you are hungry, celebrating, or expect comfort and clarity, be aware you may spend a lot and leave very disappointed.
To top off this experience, we know that we left a pair of expensive glasses here, which they could not find.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The best Italian food in Seattle! Obsessed with the staff here too. They really take care of you and make your dining feel special.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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