This article appears in print as the cover story of the September 2018 issue. Read more from the Best of the Best Restaurants feature story here. Click here to subscribe.

Best of the Best: Pasta Casalinga

“Pasta, for me,” says co-owner Michela Tartaglia, “is a religion.” At her Pike Place Market stall looking out over the atrium, the cooking school owner turned restaurateur creates worship-worthy fresh pasta dishes ($11–$12) every day.

Despite Seattle’s lackluster reputation for Italian food, Tartaglia joined a burgeoning group of people committed to making fresh pasta each day when she opened her place in March. The native of Piemonte took a sabbatical after getting her degree in classics, but instead of returning to earn her Ph.D., she was inspired to become an Italian food ambassador—but in a quintessentially Seattle space.

“When I moved to Seattle 11 years ago, the Pike Place Market made me feel less lonely, like I was back in Europe.” Now, she mines the Market for ingredients to build her menu—which changes every two weeks—and pairs each sauce with a specific shape of pasta. “Trust me,” she says, you can’t substitute a different sauce. Consider us true believers.

Pike Place Market, 93 Pike St., Suite 201; 206.445.2987; pastacasalingaseattle.com

OTHER FAVORITES

Il Corvo Pasta
Pioneer Square, 217 James St.; 206.538.0999; ilcorvopasta.com

Le Messe
Eastlake, 1903 Yale Place E; 206.402.6106; lemesseseattle.com

Spinasse
Capitol Hill, 1531 14th Ave.; 206.251.7673; spinasse.com
TIP: This month, Spinasse celebrates its 10th anniversary of churning out some of the lightest, most delicate noodles in Seattle. Check its website for special menus and events.