San Fermo

San Fermo was fairly busy on a Tuesday night as evident by my struggle to find reservation options on OpenTable. I would definitely recommend making a reservation in advance because the restaurant is quite small. Upon arrival, we were led to our table at the back of the restaurant by the host, who promptly handed our menus. Our waiter was nice and friendly but I thought the service was on the slower end. They brought out the entree only when our entire table was finished with appetizers which took about an hour. I'd have preferred to have things come out as they are ready.I ordered the duck cavitelli, pork and veal bolognese, and the ravioli. I was quite disappointed in the duck and thought that the meat was pretty tough. The pork and veal bolognese was my favorite of the three dishes I tried. I thought the meat was cooked well and the sauce was quite flavorful since it was powered by the fennel. The ravioli wasn't memorable and I'd probably skip it if I were to come back. There was no defining flavor in the filling or the sauce.Portions, across the board, left much to be desired and I unfortunately left hungry. Despite the small portions, our meal was quite pricey with each entree being on the expensive side for Seattle not including the 23% service charge that was added onto the bill. If you're not that hungry and looking for a small intimate Italian restaurant to drink wine I'd recommend San Fermo otherwise, you're probably better off picking from the wide variety of restaurants in the area.

Serious miss after having high expectations.Ordered the farsita, beet salad and burrata as appetizers. For mains got the risotto with broccoli and on primavera pasta in white wine sauce with seasonal vegetables (which wasn't on the menu).The appetizers were fresh and made in-house especially the chickpea flour bread of the farsita. My only complaint is that it was overly salted. It wasn't required. The dishes were good on its own.Coming to the mains, for the price you pay, the portion is very small. Like really small. Also the menu lacks imagination for vegetarians. There's so much that can be done but alas let down. The primavera, which was advised by the server to have seasonal vegetables just had broccoli florets. It was identical to the risotto minus the arborio rice. Risotto was meh! I've had better.Ambiance was cozy and nice. Server was very attentive and cheerful.Will I be back again - nope! Not unless they cater at least a bit more in the mains section for the vegetarians.Do note a 23% service fee is automatically added to your bill. I actually quite like appreciate it and wish more businesses would adopt it.

I want to love this spot and there is so much to love however, it's super gimicky. I've always wanted to try those spot every time we go to Ballard farmers market and finally got rezzies for dinner recently. Service started strong, try welcoming, however that was about it. Food took FOREVER. I mean literally forever. While it was tasty, the fact it took an hour and half on a Monday evening just seems a bit long for pasta. When our order was placed, our salads immediately came out but everything else took over an hour to come out. Not sure the juice was worth the squeeze - even with a cute house as the setup.

If you're looking to impress a date, then this is the spot for you. Intimate restaurant with a very romantic and charming vibe. Eating here truly feels like a treat.I took some family here to celebrate a birthday and we felt so spoiled by the wonderful service and amazing food. Every pasta was rich and decadent in its own right and I'm very glad I went with a big group so we could sample more dishes. We also tried the bread pudding and tiramisu for dessert and we loved both but the tiramisu was the real winner with delightful sea salt flakes sprinkled on top to help cut the richness.Parking in this area can be a real struggle since it's primarily street parking. Your best bet is to look for a spot along Shilshole.

Been here a couple of times and we love this place! The appetizers, the drinks, the food! Everything is delicious. The ambiance is very cozy, and the fact that you can see someone make the pastas fresh adds a cherry on top! Service has always been great as well. We were checked up on often to see if we needed refills on our drinks!

Ok so I'm a Philly/nyc girl. Grew up in an Italian philly family. So my expectations for Italian are very high. There is one place in philly we are obsessed with (Fiorellas) and nothing can compare.... Until we had San Fermo. WOW. I was BLOWN away. This is right up there with Fiorella. The pasta here is decadent, fresh, and absolutely delicious. The chewiness and consistency of the pasta was 10/10. And don't get me started about that 72 hour bolognese..... I never knew a simple dish could taste that good. Seriously. I love pasta but bolognese bores me , not San fermos. Best bolognese ever and maybe the only one I will ever eat. This restaurant is the best in Seattle hands down. Come here asap for a fun cozy experience with incredible food.

Where do I begin? San Fermo is an Italian gem within Ballard. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with warm hospitality and the enticing aroma of authentic Italian cuisine. Might I add, what I attracted me was the music they were playing; all of which were right up my alley. The ambiance is cozy yet sophisticated and intimate, perfect for a romantic dinner or a gathering with friends.I had the pleasure of trying their Saffron Spaghetti Bolognese, and they did not disappoint. The flavors were rich and perfectly balanced, and each bite felt like a culinary journey through Italy. The attention to detail in every dish was evident, from the locally sourced fresh ingredients from PNW farms to the impeccable presentation.The food selection was great and the wine selection was excellent. The wine complemented the meal beautifully, offering a variety of Italian wines to suit every palate. The nice staff was knowledgeable and helpful in making recommendations, ensuring that each pairing enhanced the dining experience.San Fermo exceeded my expectations in every way. Whether you're craving classic Italian comfort food or looking to explore new flavors, this restaurant is a must-visit in Ballard. I can't wait to return and try more of their delectable offerings.

My cousin was in town and initially we were planning to go to Walrus and the Carpenter, but the wait there was 45-1 hour. We were walking back to my apartment while waiting and we found San Fermo on the way, and it looked pretty good, so we decided to dine there instead of waiting (especially since I was starting to feel hangry). The price level felt tad bit lower for San Fermo than Walrus. We got the citrus salad and shared two pasta dishes (Saffron Spaghetti Bolognese and Bucatini with shrimp) and they were all great! It was just the perfect portion for the two of us and they brought out big spoons so that we can each put it on our individual dishes. The pasta tasted very fresh and I liked the al dente texture. I also appreciated beautiful plates the food was presented in. I'm not into alcohol that much but my cousin who likes to drink welcomed the variety of drinks offered here. It's still pricey for me but I'd love to come have the pasta here every once in a while.

Made a reservation to catch up with a friend on a Monday night, which are highly recommended and a bit competitive. We were seated right at the time of our rest and were presented with the menus upon sitting. The rooms in the house are cozy, worn, and well appointed. (This is a great date spot!) They did not pressure us to order but did walk us through some of the standout items after we requested a bit of an overview or tour of the menu. We decided to split a lovely bottle of barbera and a bright, balanced wintery citrus salad. It was messed and seasoned delicately and expertly. They gave us time to finish the salad before brining our mains. I ordered the duck cavatelli which was sublime. The duck was tender, moist and flavorful and the pasta al dente in a thin, but fulling enrobing cream sauce. It was not a heavy, rich, stodgy cream sauce and complimented the rest of the dishes elements very well. My friend very much enjoyed her scallop dish and said they were cooked well. Overall service was professional, polite and impeccable. The meal was delicious and the ambiance set the entire experience at the next level. Overall I think our bill came out to $200 - there is a 20% service fee already included in the check, for all party sizes. Can not wait to dine here again!

Came for a dinner date here with my husband who made reservations for this spot a few weeks in advance. We came on a Sunday evening for a 7:30pm reservation. Street parking in Ballard can be a little difficult but we got lucky and found a spot pretty close by. Upon entering it's a cute little house ambiance which is cozy and on the dimmer side. We were seated in the upstairs area. Our server was friendly. My husband and I shared everything: + bread and butter - the butter was really good! Pretty was standard. + burrata cheese - this was refreshing. I kind of wish the burrata was warm or melty but this burrata was served cold with sliced apple vinaigrette slaw. It was tasty. + Saffron bolognese pasta - our favorite pasta for sure! + duck cavatelli pasta - this was just ok. Flavors seemed kind of weird but maybe it was all the cumin, not too much duck. + bread pudding - pass on this. It was really hard and dry. The ginger flavor didn't work for us. We should have opted for the creme brulee....Overall, San Fermo was recommended by quite a handful of our friends who raved about it! We enjoyed the intimate and cozy atmosphere and the pasta was good the dessert is what fell short for us.