Pasta Freska

Loved stumbling across this spot! Expecting to be seated and handed menus, we were a bit caught off guard when the owner came by asking if there is anything we do not eat, quickly followed by strayer salads. Once we realized we had essentially just placed our order, the rest was an exciting experience that did not disappoint. Eggplant parmigiano, chicken marsala, seafood cioppino, steak tips, and a glorious desert spread including flan, chocolate cake, spumoni with iced kahlua. He selects the wine bottle if you choose to partake.
The interior is a cozy spot, and the staff are most delightful. This was one of the most memorable, and relaxing dining experiences I’ve had in a very long time.

We came here with a group with a business class! I wasn’t expecting to have the best Italian food I’ve EVER had in Seattle! Hole in the wall «Mom & Pop shop». No menu. He just asks you for what you don’t like and you get surprise after surprise coming. I was in heaven. Wine poured. And it didn’t stop. There wasn’t one thing I didn’t like! If you are picky this place isn’t for you. If you like good food and a variety you will
Love this place!!! I want to come back next time we are here!

Walked in, and clearly it wasn’t a normal place. But we were ready for an experience. We are vegetarians, and they were cool with that. The problem was that everything, from 1^st course to 2^nd to 3^rd, tasted the same, the same rather odd marinara sauce (was Thyme the secret spice?). On one dish it would have been fine. But on every one? It was too much. And then, we are asked if we are ready for dessert, and say yes, and then see it added on the bill? Come on– be up front. If you are prix fixe then be so. Wine is extra; of course. But dessert? Nope, this place was a once is enough venue. There’s much better Italian in this town.

ALL OF THE NEGATIVE VIEWS IN MY OPINION ARE NULL AND VOID. Don’t come bitching about a bill over $ 100 when you come to downtown. If your a tourist your gonna search for something different and this will be it. To the local you have your expectations set way to high. I’m a local and will be back and enjoyed every minute.

Pasta freska is a different kind of restaurant there were no menus then chef came to the table and asked us of any dislikes or allergy information then prepared us a 7 course meal. The meal started out with salad and garlic bread next was clams and muscles followed by eggplant. The main courses were salmon, catfish and a beef pasta dish. The food was excellent and fun not knowing what we were going to have next.
The highlight of our dinner was our waitress she came over to our table and sung us some Italian opera and I dreamed a dream from les miserables it was perfect and beautiful. Then to end the night the chef brought us out a glass of complimentary champagne.
The only thing I didn’t like was the chef asked us if we wanted wine and picked a bottle out for us with out telling us the price or showing us an the wine list.
Overall we definitely will be back.

Please read before going!
Concept is really cool but it isn’t as it seems. The owner, Mike, doesn’t cook the food. 1“quality is ok but it’s more about the surprise of the meal

Really loved it! In Seattle there are so many interesting restaurants you don’t really want to repeat a restaurant. However, this is one I would definitely go to again… and again. Such a memorable dining experience… Thank you, Micheal!

It was a wonderful experience where the chef serves dishes customized to your taste buds and preferences. It is very exciting to relish the food and yet be unaware of what you’re eating :-)
You can let the chef know if you are a vegetarian or if you don’t eat beef or allergic to fish or don’t like loads of cheese, if you like it spicy or sweet, etc.,
Loved it. Perfect for any occasion. One of the best Italian restaurants ever!
I don’t think it was overpriced at all for 7 – 8 dishes that he served. I will definitely go there again.

This place has a ton of character. The owner is an absolute riot, loves his clients and clearly is having a ton of fun. The food, while not the fanciest, is down home Italian cooking. It’s great. Reasonably priced. Easy to get to. And just plain unique.

First time for me and three of my friends. We all had a good time and enjoyed the unique experience. The ubiquitous Chef Mike was very welcoming and friendly. He chose two very nice bottles of red wine for us thirsty folks. The garlic bread was delicious, especially for soaking up the various sauces. Starter salad was OK, not great. Loved the eggplant appetizer. We had delicious fish: sea bass, salmon, and tuna. I didn’t think the spicy pasta had much heat but it was tasty nonetheless. The dessert tray at the end was a hit: gelato, crème brûlée, chocolate cake, tiramisu! Food was about $ 30 per person and the wine obviously boosted the total, but definitely worth trusting their judgment and enjoying the evening.

Absolutely love this place. There’s something so wonderful about the entire experience. The owner is probably my favorite restaurateur in Seattle and always does a great job making the whole experience enjoyable.
It feels a bit weird not ordering food, but I’ve not yet had a meal that wasn’t probably better than what I would have ordered on my own. If you’re on the fence about this style or restaurant, I can only say it has always been a fantastic experience.
We took a group of friends last night and every single one of them thought it was one of their favorite restaurant experiences in Seattle.

Before you eat here you should know that it is not your traditional restaurant. There’s no menu. The chef comes your table and asks what kind of food you like and dislike.
I told the chef I didn’t like eggplant. The third dish we got was eggplant…
The food is decent. Not the best Italian food. Very Americanized.
Service wise, it was okay. Getting sites and situated felt awkward and sometimes I felt like we were ignored. However, they were very fast about bring food and more food to your table and convincing you to eat another plate.
When the check came, it was a bit of a surprise. since there’s no menu with prices, we didn’t know how much everything cost. Even with this coupon I had, my friend and I each pairs about $ 30 for 4 dishes. I was stuffed but I didn’t really mean to get stuffed.
Interesting place. Not sure I would go back but it’s an experience. Could be fun with a bigger group and people are prepared to spend/​not have a sense of how much they are spending.
Kind of push stuff on you
Nothing super delicious was decent
No menu or prices so kind of a surprise

Really good place if you can let go of control and let the chef take over. Be away there is no menu. The chef makes the menu for the night and will ask if you have any objections to specific meat, sauce, etc. The only reason why it’s not 5 stars is because the communication is poor regarding the menu.

Very interesting dinner. No menu. The owner/​chef comes to your table, asks what you like and don’t like. They then bring plate after plate of delicious Italian food. Finished off with a great dessert plate. Small plates give option of trying many things.

I reiterate the reviews of the higher ranked Unilocalers that this place should be on your foodie list. Food is always tasty to amazing and those $$$ make it seem like it should be $$$$.
The space is tight, so speak from your diaphram because you want to be heard when you go.
Eat well and be merry!

Alright so this is my third time and it deserves a review. First off Chef Mike is magic! He is as much a performance running around his restaurant as he is a fantastic guide through the flavor of dinner. Definitely come here with time to spare as dinner takes 2 hours if your fast.
Now for dinner it starts off with wine red or white. And let’s put it easy the wine never stops. It just comes and comes and comes. The dishes vary from visit to visit so I’ll just list off what we were served last time. Salad, shellfish, garlic bread, eggplant, sausage, chicken, cheese, tuna cod, salmon, veal, and steak. We were a group of three and we all tasted each other’s dish as it’s worth tasting because it’s fantastic and also because the serving sizes are literally perfect. You leave full but not the American full more like a healthy hearty dinner full.
So the rules, make a reservation as the whole place has like ten tables and they always have a couple large groups. Bring her if you love her as it’s an experience so it’s a little more expensive. Somewhere are 60 $ a seat. And lastly enjoy it to the fullest as there is no where quite like Chef Mikes Pasta Freska.

The food taste as beautiful as it looks! Thank you Mike! we were greeted and seated by a very nice waitress and the pasta was absolutely delicious!

Don’t be put off by the venue — it’s a weird little place set on a busy corner near Lake Union, and the décor is a bit 1990’s but they make some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life.
Prix fixe — you pay about $ 30 per meal, wine not included. Your dishes are all a surprise: You tell Chef Mike what foods you don’t like, and he works around your preferences to create a tailor-​made experience. I’m Type-​A but adventurous so this really worked for me.
Had eggplant parmesan, steak tips, cioppino, bass, ahi, cannelloni, chicken breast, shrimp, and maybe the best spaghetti Bolognese I’ve ever had. (I love Carmine’s in Manhattan and this was better than Carmine’s Bolognese.) Every dish was to perfection and the surprise factor itself just improves on the flavor … makes you feel like you’re getting gifts. You ARE.
My son is a foodie and I am already planning a trip back to the area to take him to Pasta Freska. Totally worth a 3-​state trek. YUM.

Got a recommendation for Pasta Freska during a flight to Seattle. Checked it out on Unilocal and the consensus was you either loved it (5-​star) or your hated it (1-​star). The dining concept looked intriguing so we gave it a go.
This is not a fast food dining experience so if you are looking for a quick meal this is not the place for you. Plan on making an evening of your dining experience. The no menu concept was a bit of a surprise and if you are a control freak you are not going to be happy, but if you can roll with the tide and be receptive to new experiences you will not be disappointed with Pasta Freska.
Chef Mike is the real deal and is respectfully mindful of food allergies. Once any allergies are established the wine is selected and the food starts coming. Portions are modest, but its like a tasting menu. The timing between servings was just right to enjoy a glass of wine some conversation and bang here is your next sampling. The food was good not particularly great but good and the sampling included food items i would not normally order left to my own devices.
I haven’t seen anyone else mention this, but one of the wait staff (Miranda I think was her name) was a 5-​star vocalist who had a range of songs from Le Mis to Phantom and everything in between. We ate outside on the patio deck and the weather, the music and the service created a one of a kind dining experience.
When we left Chef Mike called a cab for us and gave us a complimentary glass of champagne for my wife and a glass of sherry for me. We had a great dining experience and i would definitely go back next time i get to Seattle.

What a unique & entertaining experience! Definitely read the reviews, because the no menus will throw you off! Mike the chef is really accommodating, I asked for NO onions, mushrooms or olives & he did just that!
Even though I was desiring an entreè with white sauce, it was nice to break away from that & get dishes with red. We enjoyed all of our dishes! He was also funny & recommended great wines & limoncello, with dessert!
I’m giving them a 5, because the food + drink combo was tasty & he treated us like we were friends, visiting his house. Pasta Freska reminded me of living in Italy again & how friends & neighbors treated guests in their homes, with love and great food!
¡¡¡Buon Appetito!!!