Volterra

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5411 Ballard Ave NW (at 22nd Avenue NW)
Seattle, WA 98107

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(206) 789-5100
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Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
Volterra - Seattle, WA
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Reviews
( 151 )
( 26 )
( 18 )
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( 25 )

Best

I recently attended a big birthday bash for a close friend of mine at Volterra and I was very impressed with the restaurant, food, and service. I started with the Oil soup which ...

Worst

I found this place in the top ten places for brunch in Seattle and was excited to take my friends. The location was great and the place has a wonderful environment. The menu was...

Delicious: and the polenta is swoon-worthy! 7/15/2006

Love love love this restaurant. To start: the service was more than great. the waiter and even the busser were so frikkin' funny -- we were friends by the end of the meal! The sommolier lacked any sort of snobbery and made an excellent budget recommendation. The food: !!! The best of all was the incredible custardy polenta with fontina and mushrooms. We savored this for as long as possible. The panna cotta was equally amazing. The only bad thing: we were persuaded into ordering a bowtie pasta with chicken and artichoke hearts -- and it was extremely bad. Really dry and the chicken was tough -- and my dining partner ate two bites and quit. the exact opposite of everything else we tried. The paparadelle with lamb ragu is also delicious. As was the citrusy octopus salad. Pros: Polenta, Panna Cotta, Service Cons: bow Tie Pasta -- Applebee-esque !! more
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The Best Italian 6/24/2006

Hands down the best italian around. Now I understand why everyone raves about Volterra. We were lucky to be seated at a table in the corner which was perfect for people watching. Thankfully we had the forsight to make reservations well in advance because this is one popular spot. I haven't had pasta so good since the summer I spent travelling in Italy. The ribbons of papardelle were cooked perfectly al dente with just the right amount of lamb ragu. To me, acheiving the right pasta to sauce ratio is an art. My friends tagliolini with fresh fava beans, english peas and truffle butter felt like summer exploding in our mouths. The service and atmosphere were welcoming and attentive even on such a very busy night. They are doing all the right things here. If you want to eat like they eat in Italy, go to Volterra. Pros: Authenticity, High Quality Ingredients, Atmosphere Cons: None found more
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Love the Soup!! Great place to on Fri Night Or Sunday Brunch 6/22/2006

It's a Perfect ""10"" Volterra is a must do!!! more
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Unforgettable 6/14/2006

My boyfriend and I dined at Volterra and our experience was unsurpassable. I recommend sitting on the patio if the weather cooperates. We happened to be there on a warm evening and between the candle light and the white lights in the overhanging tree the ambiance was sublime. The sommelier recommended a perfect bottle of wine to go with our lamb skewers and beef tenderloin and educated us on Italian wines. The service was attentive and the food delicious. more
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Tuscan goodness in Ballard 5/29/2006

The food, space and staff are amazing. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made it a fun evening. It's hard to get a reservation since they have received so much press but it's definitely worth all the buzz that it's received. Don't believe the nay sayers. Definitely try the Wild Boar Tenderloin and the Lobster Raviolli. If you're really hungry, the Delmonico steak or Veal Chop. They are enormous! Volterra is going to be at the top of the scene for a long time. Do try the famous Fennel Salt with your Olive Oil! I loved it so much I bought a jar at Metropolitan Market and really enjoy using it. Pros: food, service, atmosphere Cons: parking more
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Volterra has raised the bar for Seattle dining! 5/27/2006

We wanted to go here for our anniversary but I was worried about the negative reviews posted. No problems with reservations. We arrived and were promptly seated. The wine steward helped me find a red, and my wife with a white. Brought her a sample to try because she was unsure, nice touch. Started with the Polenta/Wild Mushrooms and a Beet Salad. Both were excellent. I had the Wild Boar and it was unlike any meat dish I've ever experienced. Tender, flavorful and wondeful! My wife, a vegetarian, had the Egplant Pouches. She thought it was some of the best pasta she has ever had. Tiramisu and coffee for dessert...even the coffee was extraordinary. Prices were reasonable, service was great. It was a little loud, but I listened in on the surrounding conversations. Everyone was raving about their food and having a wonderful time. Thats noise I can live with! Pros: Amazing food, Great staff, Wine list Cons: I wish I lived closer, Parking more
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Fabulous! 5/8/2006

Three of us dined at Volterra on Saturday evening and it was wonderful! The entire staff (host, sommelier, waiter and bus staff) was very friendly, professional and unobtrusive. Our food was fabulous. Two of us shared a beet salad, which was fresh and flavorful. The eggplant-stuffed pasta had a wonderful, spicy red sauce and the pasta was cooked to perfection. The linguini with porcinis was amazing and the sautéed jumbo prawns were delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and will be returning to Volterra often!returning to Volterra often! Pros: Employees, Food, Wine Selection more
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Home Run 4/27/2006

It was my birthday last weekend and my husband made reservations several weeks ago to get a few of my closest friends together. I'm pleased to report that our dining experience exceeded our expectations. The restaurant is beautiful with rich wine colored walls, dark wood and a gorgeous stainless steel bartop. Our server, Anthony, provided impeccable service and the wine steward helped us pick a reasonably priced Brunello from the wine list. He was very knowledgable and professional. We started with the Bruschetta, Wild Mushroom Tart, and Mussels with Sausage. All of the appetizers were delicious but the tart was my favorite and simply sinful. For entrees, we had a variety of dishes. Everyone devoured their meals. I think the favorites at the table were the Wild Boar Tenderloin, Kobe Beef Sirloin, Tagliolini with Wild Mushrooms and the Veal Chop. I will definitely recommend Volterra to all my friends. Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere Cons: Tight Parking more
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Very disappointing experience 4/22/2006

My husband & I chose to try Volterra to celebrate a special occasion and was highly disappointed. My entree was the evening's special of juniper rubbed pork tenderloin with huckleberry chutney. The pork was dried out, overdone and overwhelmingly salted. Both of our meat preference were ignored. The tables are so close together that our neighbors conversation was as present as our own. And the service was unattentive. In the end for the price, we were very underwhelmed with the quality of our dining experience. more
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Great Place for an Anniversary! 4/20/2006

Just got home from having an exceptional dinner at Volterra. The food was spectacular with wonderful subtle flavors. We had the wild mushroom and polenta for an appetizer, the wild boar (highly recommended) and eggplant stuffed pasta for dinner, and the best tiramisu we're ever had for desert. Overall it was a great choice to spend our anniversary. Pros: wine list, service, menu Cons: small space more
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Decent place 4/20/2006

My fiance and I decided to check this highly hyped spot out, and were pleased to be able to make a reservation with short notice on a Friday night. The ambience is great, we got a perfect corner table. The service was exceptional, and the wine list impressive. I made the mistake of ordering the halibut. I envisioned something nw in nature (ie fresh), but instead was served an over-salted apparently fried filet of halibut. It could have been a Denny's or your local Elk's lodge halibut night. My fiance's smoked chicken pasta was quite good, but that halibut truly disappointed me. more
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Great Homemade Pasta!!! 4/19/2006

Best pasta ever! the tagolini dish is incredible! Waiter said they buy only organic eggs from Rickman Gulch Farms. That's quality! Service friendly and very helpful with a long wine list. Glass pours excellent and affordable. Portions great, prices great too! The touch of an owner on premises really goes a long way. CHEERS! Pros: Pasta, Service, Wine List Cons: Parking more
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Spectacular...best Italian in Seattle 4/16/2006

I have been to Volterra on several occasions. I have to say, it just keeps getting better. The addition of the Wine Steward (David?) was a nice touch because he is always able to recommend a great wine in my price range. Even after my first visit they recognized me when I returned and now greet me by name and I've been there less than 6 times. I love the diverse crowd at Volterra: young, old, people dressed in jeans to business suits to those dressed for a night on the town. My company had our holiday party at Volterra in Dec and everyone said it was the best party we've had. The food is spectacular (Wild Boar, Pasta with Truffles, Kobe Beef Sirloin, Wild Mushroom Polenta are favorites) and service friendly, skilled and efficient. They deserve all of the kudos they've received. Pros: Food, Service, Atmosphere more
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Delectable 3/23/2006

What a great place! Really delicious food, great wine list, beautiful decor at a good value. The pappardelle with duck sauce and the chestnut panna cotta were to die for. Super experience. Pros: food, wine more
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Voltera is terrific 3/21/2006

Volterra transported us right back to Tuscany. The dining room is so warm it feels like your in someones home. Our server was fantastic and explained the background of the dishes in addtion to the ingredients. I can't believe they have Trampetti olive oil on the tables. I only use it at home for special occassions because it costs a fortune. I'm in love with the Wild Boar. Perfectly prepared and the sauce- oh the sauce. The venison ragu and chestut fettucine that my wife had was perfect for a rainy seattle night. I hope they open another location in West Seattle! more
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This place has the Wow Factor!!! 3/19/2006

There aren't alot of restaurants that make me say ""WOW"" but Volterra is one of those places. I can't believe it took me a year to find them but I'm so glad that I did. We had a superb server who made good recommendations and friendly personalit really enhanced our dining experience. I highly recommend the Baby Octapus and Calamari Salad, Lamb Shank, WIld Boar, and Meat filled Raviolis. Aside from the great food and service, another highlight of the night was that we were seated right next to Dale Chihuly. I'm a big fan of his and I said hello and shook his hand on my way out. Pros: Food, Ambiance, Service more
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Great place 3/17/2006

From the time we were greeted to the time we left the service was excellent. We loved our meal and even our 5 yr old ate every bite of her pasta. The owners came over and talked to us which made it really fun. The prices are great and there is a large selection wine by the glass. Panforte was delicious. I raved about the panforte so much, they suprised me and put an extra piece in my to go bag. We'll be back. Pros: food, service Cons: parking more
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Horrible Service from Waiter 3/13/2006

I've never been treated so RUDELY! They don't care about you as a customer, they just want your money. I made reservations to meet friends there this past Friday night for dinner at 6:30pm and we were all stunned when our waiter told us that we had to leave the table at 8:00pm b/c they had people waiting for our table. He tells us this at 7:45pm and we hadn't even finished our meal nor seen a dessert menu yet. I've never been to a restaurant that tells you when you have to leave! On top of that the waiter was just plain rude from the minute we sat down. I would be ordering and he would walk away as I was talking. Then, the bus boy was wiping the table, he cleared everything including our water glasses. That was our cue to leave and never return! Cons: service, parking more
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Disappointed 1/24/2006

Our server was great - very charming. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The menu offered a ton of great-sounding stuff. But...the food was not good! Very bland. My friend's duck was so tough, he could barely cut through it, let alone chew it. The ""oil soup"" was tasteless. And the pasta was nothing special. I was expecting something more. And while we waited for our table, we had to crunch in a corner behind the hostess stand. There's no place else to go (besides the sidewalk) if the bar is full. Pros: Ambience, Friendly owners, Selection Cons: Bland, Crowded seating, No place to wait more
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It's worth a try, don't go out of your way. 1/15/2006

I was really let down after a dinner at this highly (by other citysearch reviewers) rated restaurant. Volterra served decent food. The service was perfectly fine, not exceptional. I'm sure I will eat here again as Ballard is my 'stomping ground'. I just wanted to even out the reviews that are gushing about this place. Give it a try, but be ready for just another restaurant. Pros: organic menu items, attentive staff Cons: hype more
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Menu for Volterra


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Top Italian restaurant on Historic Ballard Avenue

Owner Message

  • Inspired by the warm, traditional Tuscan hilltop town by the same name, Volterra features the bold-flavored, Tuscan-inspired menu of award-winning Chef Don Curtiss.\nChef Curtiss has a long history and following in the Northwest. He received acclaim as "One of America's Most Innovative Chefs", from Wine Spectator while serving as the opening chef of Andaluca. He was also named "One of America's Top 26 Chefs" by Italian Cooking and Living.\n\nVolterra's dining room is inviting with rich red walls; chocolate-brown leather and textiles; and dark woods offset by alabaster light fixtures hand-carved in Volterra, Italy. \n\n"Don Curtiss' lush, imaganitive eats bring a breath of fresh air to the local Italian restaurant scene." Zagat America's Top Restaurants 2006\n\n"That fine tuned quality is part of the welcome suprise that is Volterra." Nancy Leson, Seattle Times

Editorial

  • The Scene
    Named after the Tuscan hill town where the owners were married in 2004, this upscale trattoria re-creates the town's atmosphere through framed photos, Italianate wall sconces...

  • 9/22/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 5pm-12am Fri 5pm-1am Sat 9am-2pm, 5pm-1am Sun 9am-2pm, 5pm-9pm
  • Payments: Visa, American Express, Discover, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Ballard, Adams
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