Restaurant Roundup: Soy Sauce Tastings and Roman Pizza
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
By Ben McBee November 14, 2025
“There’s never been more to SEA.” That’s the slogan for Visit Seattle’s new campaign designed to encourage people to get reacquainted with all downtown has to offer. With the Perks Pass (free to download straight to your phone), you can enjoy 40+ special offers not only at bars and restaurants but also at hotels, arts organizations, and other businesses. Foodies can dig into deals like 15% off at WeRise Wines (a showcase of underrepresented wineries) and Otium Grill & Greens (inside Astra Hotel), a free appetizer with your entrée at Daniel’s Broiler, discounted tickets for Savor Seattle Tours, and more.
Once you’ve got your fill, here are some other stories to keep on your radar.
Pizza worthy of the Eternal City
All roads lead to… Capitol Hill? Roma Roma, the new Roman-style pizza joint from the Brunton brothers—Forrest and Colin, not Mario and Luigi in case you were wondering—is aiming for a January opening in the former Rachel’s Ginger Beer space. There, you can expect a good variation each day, mostly pizza al taglio (pizza by the cut), along with ancient grain alla pala and round tonda-style pies. Ingredients will feature classic toppings inspired by the streets of the Italian capital, as well as some more inventive recipes: The Brooklyn (pepperoni cups, Italian sausage, mozzarella, red sauce, ricotta, and pickled chilis), Heirloom Pumpkin, and Carnitas Nacho.
Expand your soy sauce horizons
And gain a new appreciation for how food can bring us together at Mixed Pantry, the Belltown shop offering $15 tastings of the five types of Japanese soy sauce, plus varieties from other countries and chili crisp flights. The small business also sells imported goods from Asia and the Pacific Islands, but perhaps most importantly for owner Takeshi Kunimune, the store is also a gathering place that hosts pop-ups like kimchi-making workshops, matcha parties, and games of mahjong.
We gonna walk down to Greenwood Avenue
Where can you enjoy handmade pastries, authentic Italian sandwiches, and the delicious Khmer cuisine of Cambodia, all on one street? Head to Phinney Ridge’s North Greenwood Avenue, which The Seattle Times writer Jackie Varriano calls “one of the best food streets in Seattle.” From Ben’s Bread Co. to Fortuna Bottega to Sophon, the flavors have breadth and quality—and there’s more to come next year when Stevie’s Famous brings its third location to the neighborhood.
122 years and counting
The future of Virginia Inn is coming into focus after four former employees banded together to purchase the historic restaurant and bar next to Pike Place Market, which it actually predates. It’s seemingly the final chapter in a yearlong quarrel between the previous owner Craig Perez and the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority over lease terms. Now, with new direction, the establishment will stay the course, keeping the same decor and Pacific Northwest-inspired dishes. Fans will be pleased to know the iconic neon sign has already been reinstalled.
Gotta be quicker than that
Especially if you want to snag a reservation at Archipelago, The Infatuation’s toughest seat to secure in the city. Not only do you have to give yourself a two-month head start, you also pay up front (meals run in the $245-$265 range) for its “progressive Filipino-American flavors.” Thankfully, tips and tricks to get in—and find a spot at the other most-exclusive eateries—are
a little bit easier to come by.
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