REVIEW: Ristorante Machiavelli

The other night I went to dinner at Ristorante Machiavelli. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Seattle. I have been here a dozen or so times. One of the many things I love about Machiavelli is the bar. The bar is tiny, and is usually filled to capacity with patrons waiting for their table. Machiavelli does not take reservations, so there is usually a wait for a table. I don't mind the wait. My friends and I will grab a glass of wine and wait in the bar. The bartender is always friendly and very attentive to everyone's needs. After waiting for about 20 minutes or so, our table was ready. To enter the dining area, you must walk up a set of stairs. The dining area is a pretty small room with about 15 or so tables.

Every time I have been at Machiavelli the service has been great. Right after we are seated, we are greeted by one of the servers with water and a basket of bread. Another server quickly arrives to go over the nightly special and asks if we would like some more wine. After briefly looking over the menu, we place our orders. I ordered one of my favorites, Chicken Picatta with a side of spaghetti with marinara sauce. I also ordered a mixed green salad to start.I love their salad. I get mine with Gorgonzola. The mixed green also comes with a beet slice, which I also love. Right after we are done with our salads, our entrees arrive. The Chicken Picatta is cooked perfectly. The lightly browned chicken cutlet is perfectly drenched in a sweet butter sauce with fresh lemon and capers. The chicken is tender and has perfect flavor. The spaghetti is a perfect side to this entree and hits the spot. We request an extra basket of bread to dip in our various entree sauces.

If you like good Italian food, I highly recommend Machiavelli. Be prepared to wait a while for your table. Just grab a glass of wine at the bar, and hang out with your friends. The wait is worth it!