Review: Artusi

First impression?
Long, tube-shaped ceiling lamps descend upon a zebrawood bar—Artusi’s bold styling screams Italy all the way.

Cool. So who’s there?
Amari lovers come back to Artusi on the regular, knowing they will always get perfect drinks and fantastic food to go with them.

How are the drinks?
From the jump, Artusi has served the best amari-focused cocktails in Seattle. It makes the most of those bitter Italian concoctions with original drinks like Who Loves Ya Baby? With rye whiskey and intense and tannic Amaro dell'Erborista, and Sasquatch Punch, featuring herbaceous Braulio.

Worth ordering something to eat, too?
It’s easy to make a full meal out of dishes like raviolini with braised veal and potato gnocchi with a nduja ragu. Also, the meatballs here—massive, tender, drowned in a bright tomato sauce—are pretty spectacular.

Wrap it up: what are we coming here for?
A casual drop-in Italian spot where you can sample revelatory cocktails while feasting on epic pasta and meatballs? This one should be an easy sell.