Best Italian in Seattle...?

[NorthwestUteFan]

After being utterly spoiled by blow-your-mind quality of the restaurants in Boston's North End* and again in Connecticut, I find myself desiring authentic Italiano. Does anybody have a few suggestions for me? I want the REAL stuff, and an authentic experience is an added bonus.

Furthermore, I don't trust a skinny chef, if you know what I mean.

Spaghetti House, Olive Garden, and Il Buco di Beppo need not apply.

*if possible, an old Sicilian woman at the counter or a bunch of WiseGuys yelling at each other in mixed Italian and English at the tables would be even more appreciated. Hardwood-lined walls will earn extra points.

For comparison, here is one of my all-time favorites: http://www.stregaristorante.com/

[MarkGrace]

For Old World style places, and one that would come closest to fitting your description, you're probably lookng at Il Terazzo Carmine.
http://ilterrazzocarmine.com/

Can't think of many others that would fit the bill, but there are other great Italian restaurants in the area if you don't mind the fact that there aren't many overweight wiseguys around here.

Holly Smith is a more avant garde Italian type, and she's already been crowned a Best Chef NW by the James Beard foundation. Her Restaurant, Cafe Juanita, is actually in Kirkland, but a worthwile reason to cross the bridge. She's opening a more casual location on Capitol Hill sometime soon.
http://www.cafejuanita.com/

The past maker at Cafe Juanita was kid (Justin Niedermeyer) schooled in the Piedmont region of Italy, and he opened a spot in Seattle but has since high-tailed it back to Italy to spend his life drinking wine and eating pasta. Fortunately his restraurant Cascina Spinasse was taken over by a highly competent chef who is a rising star on the scene after his '10 Best New Chefs award from Food and Wine.
http://www.spinasse.com/

Ethan Stowell also dabble a lot in Italian food, and has places ranging from classic (Tavolata) to more coastal speciality stuff featuring a lot of seafood and crudos and what not (Anchovies and Olives).
http://www.ethanstowellrestaurants.com/

And then you have places like Volterra (which I mentioned in the other thread if one of Rachel Ray's favorite new Italian places in the country), though I've only been there for brunch and not dinner.
http://www.volterrarestaurant.com/

Cantinetta is a new hot-spot in Wallingford that has the Italian food types buzzing, but I haven't been there yet.
http://www.cantinettaseattle.com/

And, while not a proper restaurant, the Batali family's cured meats shop in Pioneer Squre is always a must visit.
http://www.salumicuredmeats.com/

[il Padrino Ute]

Holly Smith is a more avant garde Italian type, and she's already been crowned a Best Chef NW by the James Beard foundation. Her Restaurant, Cafe Juanita, is actually in Kirkland, but a worthwile reason to cross the bridge. She's opening a more casual location on Capitol Hill sometime soon.
http://www.cafejuanita.com/

An Italian restaurant named Cafe Juanita? Really?

[MarkGrace]

An Italian restaurant named Cafe Juanita? Really?

It's in Juanita. IDK

I can't explain the name, but I can tell you the chef and food are about as legit as they come. James Beard award, invited to compete to become the Next Iron Chef, awards from Food & Wine, Gourmet, etc. She's a well-known name in Italian food.

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[SeattleUte]

http://www.assaggioseattle.com/

This is my favorite. I think Il Tiratzo is overrated.

[MarkGrace]

http://www.assaggioseattle.com/

This is my favorite. I think Il Tiratzo is overrated.

It's not my kind of place either, but it's the only thing I could think of that came close to matching his description.

[NorthwestUteFan]

It's not my kind of place either, but it's the only thing I could think of that came close to matching his description.

Thank you very much. I just have a thing for the black leather booth seating and pressed white linen tablecloths, and food to blow my mind.

I shall report back after sampling some of these establishments.

[Guest]

This place doesn't have the buzz of the black turtleneck crowd, but it's one of our favorites:

http://www.tulio.com/

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

This place doesn't have the buzz of the black turtleneck crowd, but it's one of our favorites:

http://www.tulio.com/

Destroy SU and MG in a single blow.

[Colly Wolly]

We ate at this place when we visited Seattle in Sept. I had never had tappas or piaieia (sp?) before, but this place was pretty yummy. Anyone else been here before and feel it is recommendation worthy?

I know it's not Italian, but it was my most recent Seattle dining experience

http://tangorestaurant.com/

[MarkGrace]

Destroy SU and MG in a single blow.

Black turtleneck crowd? lol. How can you know me so well an have such an erroneous image?! Or how can 8BR live around here and have such an erroneous image of Seattle dining?! By the time a restaurant hits the black turtleneck crowd it's already over.

[MarkGrace]

We ate at this place when we visited Seattle in Sept. I had never had tappas or piaieia (sp?) before, but this place was pretty yummy. Anyone else been here before and feel it is recommendation worthy?

I know it's not Italian, but it was my most recent Seattle dining experience

http://tangorestaurant.com/

Been there several times. In fact, I took DDD and Mrs. DDD there for dessert because the "el diablo" is one of my favorite desserts around. Turns out DDD doesn't like chocolate!

[Colly Wolly]

Been there several times. In fact, I took DDD and Mrs. DDD there for dessert because the "el diablo" is one of my favorite desserts around. Turns out DDD doesn't like chocolate!

Another area where DDD just seems a bit "off".

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Black turtleneck crowd? lol. How can you know me so well an have such an erroneous image?! Or how can 8BR live around here and have such an erroneous image of Seattle dining?! By the time a restaurant hits the black turtleneck crowd it's already over.

Come on, give 8BR some credit that was a direct hit. I'll need to get an Oregon turtleneck to wear to our next meal.

8BR knows a really good deli that has great corned beef, it is off I90 but I can't remember the name.

[MarkGrace]

Come on, give 8BR some credit that was a direct hit. I'll need to get an Oregon turtleneck to wear to our next meal.

8BR knows a really good deli that has great corned beef, it is off I90 but I can't remember the name.

A direct hit on who is the question. Two days ago I knew this about 8BR: lives in Seattle, Giants fan, like great music. Between yesterday and today I learn this: Ute fan and serious lack of Seattle cultural awareness. Needless to say, despite wins from the Cougs and Jazz and a crushing defeat of the Utes, this has been the fly in the ointment.