Artusi Modern Aperitivo Bar

Words by Camper English on 28-Feb-2012

Address: 1535 14th Avenue, (btwn E Pine & E Pike Sts), Seattle, WA, 98122, United States
Tel: +1 206 678 2516
Email: info@artusibar.com
Website: view Artusi Modern Aperitivo Bar’s website
Door: Open door/walk-ins
Style: Restaurant bar
Food: Tapas/plates & dishes

Review

Attached to restaurant Spinasse but connected only through a door in the back, Artusi operates as a separate small plates restaurant and bar in Capitol Hill. The square room is bright, modern, and stylish with tile-topped bars, hanging light tubes, and tiger-striped wood. The vibe in the restaurant is hip-yet-casual, with many young professional couples on dates dining at tables, a mid-tempo electronica soundtrack to soothe them, and a friendly staff who might come out from behind the bar to take orders at tables between making drinks.

While Spinasse offers simple aperitif drinks (Campari & Soda, etc.) Artusi's list includes full cocktails. The focus of the room seems shared between the drink and food programs so that one is always tempted to order some of each. Nearly all cocktails contain Italian ingredients including fortified wines and vermouths or amaros. One section of the menu offers up four variations on a Negroni, while modified classics and house bartender originals make up the rest of the list. Some drinks seem a bit unrestrained but overall are fun culinary creations made with unique ingredients like walnut oil, pickled sunchoke, and chestnut honey vinegar.