+1 206-467-7797
Il Terrazzo Carmine in Seattle is an exquisite destination for lovers of Italian cuisine, offering a memorable dining experience that artfully balances classic authenticity with a touch of modern comfort. Nestled on 1st Avenue South, this Italian restaurant invites you to indulge in a thoughtfully curated menu that highlights the richness and diversity of Italy's culinary heritage.
From the moment you enter Il Terrazzo Carmine, the warm and inviting atmosphere envelops you. The elegant interior, beautifully designed yet cozy, sets the perfect stage for both intimate dinners and celebratory gatherings. Many diners note how the ambiance enhances the overall experience, making it ideal for special occasions as well as a relaxed night out.
The menu is a treasure trove for Italian food enthusiasts. Signature dishes such as the Rigatoni Bolognese offer a hearty, slow-simmered meat sauce that clings lovingly to each ridged pasta tube, bursting with rich, savory aromas and flavors. The Gnocchi Sorrentina shines with pillowy potato dumplings bathed in a luscious tomato sauce, crowned with melted mozzarella, evoking a true taste of Southern Italy.
Seafood lovers will find the Cioppino Northwest especially compelling—a generous medley of Gulf prawns, squid, mussels, clams, and fish simmered in a richly spiced tomato broth that delivers both depth and freshness. The Grilled King Salmon Battuto, enhanced with fresh herbs and served alongside asparagus risotto, is another standout, showcasing the bounty of the Pacific Northwest infused with Italian elegance.
Start your meal with a selection from the enticing antipasti menu, such as the Antipasto Assortito platter or Burrata, which features fresh mozzarella enveloping a creamier center accompanied by seasonal vegetables—a perfect balance of textures and flavors. The Carpaccio Di Manzo, delicate slices of raw New York strip beef paired with peppery arugula and Parmesan shavings, is a refined and refreshing way to awaken the palate.
The lunch menu delights with options like Fettuccine Al Pesto Con Gamberi, tossing al dente pasta with vibrant basil pesto and sweet Gulf prawns, or the Linguine Alle Vongole, showcasing fresh Manila clams with a gentle kick from chilies and garlic, all elevated by quality olive oil and herbs. These dishes feel both satisfying and light, ideal for midday dining.
For dessert, the house specialties such as Tiramisu Cake and Crème Brûlée provide a luscious, sweet finish to your meal. The Key Lime Pie and classic Cheesecake cater to different cravings, guaranteeing a perfect finale to complement the rich flavors of your entrée.
Customer experiences consistently praise the restaurant’s inviting ambiance and exceptional service. Birthdays and milestones come alive here, with many diners feeling genuinely welcomed and cared for. The food receives high marks for freshness and flavor, although some have noted occasional inconsistencies, especially with bread service. Nonetheless, the majority appreciate the vibrant menu variety, particularly the seafood and meat-centric offerings, and recommend Il Terrazzo Carmine as a standout spot for authentic yet approachable Italian dining.
Whether you’re seeking a taste of Italy’s rustic traditions or a refined and heartfelt meal in a beautiful setting, Il Terrazzo Carmine delivers a culinary journey worth savoring. Its blend of carefully crafted dishes, rich textures, and welcoming atmosphere ensures a dining experience that excites the senses and lingers in memory.
Contact: 411 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104 | Phone: +1 206-467-7797
We graced this establishment with our presence for my dad's birthday, and he's generally fairly morose and melodramatic on his birthday so the fact that he had a great time says a lot. We arrived to a nice warm welcome, the interior is very beautiful which you can't tell at all from my extremely high quality photographs but just take my word for it. We started off with some classics, caesar salad and beets, and as someone who's had dare I say too many beet salads in their life I can attest to the fact that in the muddled sea of beet salads this one stands out as one of notably good quality. Then the mushroom with Polenta arrived and knocked everything out of the park. This is why we have restaurants people, this is why we love them, because they can do this. It was just a perfect thing. Just thinking of it now brings a tear to my eye, and when I remember the blue crab risotto I'm brought to my knees. It was a nightly special I shared with my sister and now she and I have been forever blessed by the wonder that was this risotto, probably we're fluent in all languages now and have the power to fly because this dish was some kind of magic, real top of the reef quality in sharktale terms. My dad had some seafood pasta and he was all warm and happy about it, which for a man who's obsessed with clam quality and 'al dente' the way he is, is basically a michelin level rave. We had cake at home so we passed on dessert (which was not easy. Let me tell you. They have them all on this display tray and they all were like comical levels of beautiful) but! We were gifted a birthday tiramisu which is a top ten dessert in my fathers books and you can see he's all lit up about it. I like tiramisu when it packs a real punch and this one didn't let me down. A delightful experience, we had all had a wonderful time. Head on over people, get the Polenta, get the specials, have a ball.
Great place to celebrate a birthday or any big milestone! Such a great atmosphere and absolutely wonderful food. We gorged ourself on bread first and then ordered plenty of appetizers to get a great sampling. I cannot recommend the insalata mista or French onion soup enough (the broth was so insanely good and there are nice chunks of beef inside!). I ordered the bolognese and honestly, probably wished I had ordered something a bit more exciting like the cannelloni or duck; which my friends ordered and WOW were they good. The dessert menu is always the best - the tiramisu and red velvet cake are to die for. If you like denser cakes, then this is a great place for dessert. They come out with a tray so you can see all the desserts which is so lovely. The atmosphere and service make you feel incredibly fancy and special. Love coming here and it will not be my last time.
I didn’t hate this place, but I didn’t love it. I was in town on a work trip from NYC and my colleague was in from LA. We got reservations the same day on a Thursday, but it was at 5:30 PM. Once we arrived we asked if we could change the reservation to sit outside since there were only 2-3 occupied tables. They accommodated us and just said the next table would be in at 7…so we were mindful of our time. We didn’t get drinks, but we did order the eggplant Parmesan to share, and I ordered a risotto which I asked them if they could make vegetarian. They were super accommodating and they made one with asparagus, peas, spinach, mushrooms. My colleague ordered the lamb. Food arrived in a timely fashion and looked delicious. The eggplant parmesean was nice and rich. The mozzarella was excellent. Flavor was on point. For my risotto, I found the flavor was underwhelming. I really appreciated the vegetarian risotto though. My colleague said the sauce on the lamb was intense and too much and threw off the balance of the dish. He said a light glaze would have been better. Then there was a long pause between taking our plates and asking if we wanted desserts. I feel bad for our server because the entire outside got packed and he was doing his best. We wanted to really be out by 7 and by the time he came around, it was close to 7. We got our check and left. The ambiance is nice both inside and outside. I don’t know if it’s because I lived with someone from northern Italy for 5 years that also owned an Italian restaurant, and made an amazing risotto, but I found the flavor overall bland. I don’t think I personally would return because the menu only had a few options for vegetarians. The other dishes did look exquisite though!
Some of the best Italian food I’ve ever had! Everything was super fresh and delicious, with the perfect mix of authentic Italian and Italian-American comfort. The restaurant itself was super cute, we may have been a little underdressed, but it still felt totally fine. (Next time I’d probably dress up just a bit more!) We had the pasta fagioli, grilled peach salad (the special) and the spaghetti. It was all amazing. Usually I feel like spaghetti with pesto is too pestoy for me but it was probably the best I had. All the food was fresh and clean ingredients. Patricia and Gerardo were amazing—so friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend!
The atmosphere is wonderful and so is the service. The food is very underwhelming. The complimentary bread they provide at the beginning of the meal was very dry and hard both times my group visited the restaurant. The menu had a lot of seafood and meat options and I wouldn’t recommend this place if you are vegetarian/vegan.
Il Terrazzo Carmine exceeded all expectations — a truly perfect night. I had dinner with my dad and brother, and we went family style to try as much as we could. The calamari was unreal — incredibly tender and flavorful. The eggplant parmesan was rich and comforting, and the Caesar salad was bright with just the right acidity. The bolognese was hands-down the best I’ve ever had, and the lobster pappardelle had a deep, luxurious flavor with huge, sweet pieces of lobster. To top it all off, the service was absolutely wonderful — warm, attentive, and made the experience even better. Couldn’t have asked for more. We’ll be back!
Great food. Great service. Great atmosphere. Folks that work here are so nice. I had the best beef carpaccio anywhere here. It was fresh as fresh can be. I'd go back just for the carpaccio. I had the bolognese that was lovely as well. The service was impeccable. This is a stellar italian restaurant that focuses on high quality ingredients. Keep it up.
Fantastic experience! Il Terrazzo Carmine serves classic Italian dishes with great consistency and warm, attentive service. The pastas and seafood are outstanding, and the atmosphere feels elegant yet welcoming. Perfect spot for a special night out in Seattle.