Ristorante Machiavelli – Seattle, WA

Ristorante Machiavelli might be Seattle’s most perfect restaurant for these lean times, its old-fashioned fare satisfying to the soul, the stomach and the strapped budget. These aren’t just tossed-off, ham-handed red-sauce standards, but simple dishes done with a fair amount of finesse. Start with the excellent ahi tuna carpaccio or the generous antipasto, both under $9, before exploring the terrific pastas (carbonara, spinach lasagna and gnocchi were among the faves). Desserts are made in-house and are spot-on renditions of classics such as New York-style cheesecake or tiramisu. Dinner; closed Sunday.

P-I review (LESLIE KELLY, 2/27/2009)
· Ristorante Machiavelli: A toast to the menu and bill

Cuisine
· Italian

Best bets
Veal picatta ($14.95), spinach lasagna ($9.95), gnocchi ($9.25), eggplant Parmesan ($10.25), tuna carpaccio ($8.95), sausage and Mama Lil’s peppers pizza ($7.95), antipasto ($8.50)

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