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 )
( 9 )
( 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...

Awesome 1/9/2006

We highly recommend a trip to Volterra. Not only is the food fantastic, but also the service! Our waiter was very attentive even though it was a busy night and he was very knowledgeable of each dish. The ingredients are high quality and fresh - starting with the olive oil they place at each table. One of the best restaurants I have been to in quite some time. The food tasted awesome and I cant wait to go back to Volterra. more
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It's all in the details... 1/9/2006

This was truly the best dining experience we've had in a long time. The service was outstanding, the food was impeccable and the atmosphere was warm and very personal. Our server was friendly, made excellent menu suggestions and told us the story of the restaurant. From the black and white wedding photos of the chef and his wife to the alabaster to the beautiful coffee presentation, the details are what makes this place special. In addition, the chef himself came to our table to see how everything was. The menu offered a great variety and there were also numerous specials. The roasted eggplant pouches with spicy tomato sauce was delicious and the chestnut panacotta with strawberries was a light, creamy dessert that topped off our perfect meal. We plan to visit this restaurant regularly as we love everything about it. It's just like being in Italy. Pros: food, service, attention to detail more
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One of the Best Meals of My Life 1/9/2006

My husband and I have dined in fine restaurants all over the world and our dinner at Volterra was hands down one of the best meals of my life. You can tell that alot of thought and passion went into creating the menu. The dishes are authentic, interesting and unique. I am still thinking about the Chestnut Pasta with the Venison Ragu. I typically do not order game but I am so happy that I did. The service was friendly, polished and educated. I give Volterra the highest of recommendations. Pros: Food, Menu, Service Cons: Parking more
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Amazing 1/8/2006

People don't often take the time to say ""Thank You"" when they've had a memorable dining experience. I want to express my gratitude to the staff of Volterra for providing my family with an amazing experience on Christmas Eve. We felt like we were guests invited into the owners home for dinner. It is a meal that won't be forgotten and was the beginning of a new tradition. The raviolis were as light as pillows and the rack of lamb with mint pesto was unbelivable. more
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Great Service 1/5/2006

I've visited Volterra twice and was satisfied both times. I'm surprised to read that others have experienced poor service, as both visits I experienced exceptional service. I appreciate that the variety of menu options, and I adore the coffee service I've had with desert both times. Pros: Service, Menu, Beverages Cons: Bar is Loud more
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Enjoy terrible service? 1/4/2006

Our experience at Volterra was atrocious. 25 minutes after being seated and we didn't even know who our server was because no one but the busboy had even stopped by our table. The table behind us had consumed an entire bottle of wine by the time we decided to eat elsewhere. On the way out the hostess had the nerve to thank us for coming by which struck me as odd since we were seated right next the her podium and she clearly should have known that we neither ordered anything nor paid a dime. In hindsight we should have tipped the busboy since he was the only one at the restaurant who seemed to have any idea how to treat a customer. Our water glasses remained full the whole time. Find someplace else to go, volterra is a waste of your time. more
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Delightful Holiday Celebration 12/14/2005

We had our company holiday party at Volterra and it was the best we've ever had! Kudos to the staff for putting together such a memorable event. Our 5 course meal was executed perfectly. We could not believe how delicious every item was. I am in love with the Wild Boar. The staff was great. Since there were about 50 of us, it was not an easy task but they exceeded our expectations and I hope this will be an annual event. Pros: Outstanding Food, Service more
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My favorite in Seattle 12/2/2005

I seldom drive to Ballard, but Volterra makes the drive worthwhile. Since first eating there several months ago, it has become my favorite place not only for an excellent menu and unequivocally wonderful food, but knock-down impeccable service. Pros: Menu, Food, Service Cons: none, none, none more
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Nice place and fun Time 11/24/2005

Although we didn't enjoy our dinner we still managed to have a fun time at Volterra. Good company pays off! The wild boar was very flavorless, even the creamy sauce on it was blend. Italian food is usually much more flavorfull that that. I hope that the owners don't find this offensive; we are just giving our humble opinion. Pros: Crowded, Dark Cons: Expansive, Slow service, Parking more
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what a joke 11/23/2005

I was excited about eating at Volterra, but was sadly dissappointed. The food was okay, some even good, but I have had better. The service. Atrocious. If you want people to return to your restaurant, then make them want to return. Don't treat your customers like numbers and faceless cash spending machines. more
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Average Food - Slow Service - NO PARKING 11/18/2005

I've been to the restaurant five times now. The experience starts with the horrid parking situation--there is absolutely NO parking within a five block radius. That's fine in the summer, but in winter, in the rain, the absence of valet parking will keep me away. The food and the service aren't worth slogging blocks in the rain for. While there are some standouts on the menu, the service is extremely slow, almost remarkably slow. The restaurant feels cramped with tables too close together and it's loud--definitely not a romantic restaurant. None of that matters if you can't get to the place. I recently had reservations for six and we had to give up and go elsewhere because we gave up on the parking situation. Pros: Some good food Cons: Slow service, lack of parking, crowded atmosphere more
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No checkered tablecloths or meatballs here... 11/18/2005

My husband and I are excited to have found a ""real"" Italian restaurant close to our home. The parking was a challenge but as soon as we bit into the delightful antipasti ""palatte"" we forgot all about it. The lobster ravioli was sensational and the rabbit special was the best rabbit i've had. The chocolate cake was gooey and topped with a rich chocolate mousse. Never knew it could be this good. Pros: Delicious Food, Authenticity, Service Cons: Parking more
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Not recommended 11/17/2005

Food was just not good! $18 for an antipasto for two that had a bunch af french little things on it at a restaurant that claims to be 'authentic' Italian but there are no Italians there to be found?? Super salty pasta....I could keep going. The bussers kept trying to take our food when we weren't done eating, I finally told them to stay away from our table. more
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Awesome 11/14/2005

we stopped by on sat night during art walk and the restaurant was fully booked for the evening but the tables in the bar area were left for people who walked in. the hostess was friendly and quoted us an hour wait but took our cell phone number and to our suprise called us in 30 minutes to let us know our table was ready. our waiter was from spain and made the night fun. the food was delicious, great wine list and really good energy. Pros: food, drinks more
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Nice Experience 11/12/2005

Stopped in for dinner before a movie and had a great time. Got us in and out with a four course meal with plenty of time to spare. Surprising since they were packed. The entire experience was perfect from the food to the service. I especially liked the coffee service on a little silver tray with a cookie. We will be back very soon. Try the boar it rocks! Pros: Service, Food, Location Cons: parking more
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Made my night 11/9/2005

We missed a movie and wanted to grab a bite ...since it was a weeknight we thought we'd try to stop into volterra since its so busy on the weekends. We were happy to find a great new drink (White Pear Cosmo), friendly, attentive service and great food. The roasted chicken was like no other. The warm lentil salad with bacon was perfect for a cold night. For dessert, we tried the apple pie and tiramisu and were very impressed. We will definitely be returning to this place. I generally don't write reviews, but once in a while a place makes such a positive impression that I feel compelled to say something. Pros: food, service, drinks Cons: parking more
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a must try... 11/8/2005

no suprise that volterra has already acheived a national buzz. i read about them in the new york times and when i saw the write up in gourmet magazine, i knew that it was a place to check out. the lamb ragu was superb and the veal chop was enormous (fred flintstone sized) and cooked to perfection. the wine list is focused on italian but also includes a lengthy selection from wa/or/ca. prices are very reasonable. kudos! Pros: food, wine, service more
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Best Italian in Seattle!! 11/8/2005

After a long wait to actually try this new place, I was quite impressed! The service was very attentive and knowledgable, especially on the extensive wine list. We had the burrata with prosciutto and found it delicious. They use incredible olive oil!! The beet salad was perfectly dressed and balanced in flavors. The eggplant rolls were piping hot and a perfect match to our supertuscan wine, Tignanello $99. The boar dish was exquisite and the grilled delmonico with arugula and parmesan melted in my mouth. The little square potatoes were crisp and perfect. Best tiramisu I've ever had and the panna cotta was intriguingly incredible. It truly is the best Italian meal in Seattle Pros: Food, Prices, Service Cons: parking more
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Zagat was on the mark 11/8/2005

I found Volterra in the new Zagat Best Restaurants in the US guide. I am in Seattle a few times a year and it was one of the new additions for 2005 so I wanted to check it out. The thing about true italian food is that although it's very simple, if it's prepared correctly using really good ingredients, there is nothing better. The wild mushroom polenta made me swoon and the pappardelle with duck sauce was a delight. Great service and loved the decor. I will definitely be back next trip. more
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fine food, awful service 11/7/2005

The service was so bad at Volterra that I have a hard time imagining going back. Soon after we ordered, at 7:30 or so, our waiter informed us that we needed to clear out by 8:45 since our table was reserved for another party. We hadn't even finished eating the starters when the entrees were plopped down. The waiter skipped bringing the dessert menu, and once we paid, the hostess scurried over to our table to inform us we were now being asked to leave to make room for the next party. I've never been asked to leave a restaurant before! I expect a little more from a restaurant billing itself (and us!) as a fine dining experience - the hustle out the door maneuver was an amateur one, and I hope Volterra learns better reservation etiquette in the near future. Pros: food Cons: service 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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