Since 1993, chef Mauro Golmarvi has brought authentic Italian cuisine to downtown Seattle, as each dish show the passion and love he has for his culinary art.

This past Thursday night, I had the pleasure of experiencing this slice of Italy first hand. As soon as I walked through the door, the ambiance caught my eye as I felt I had just walked into a Tuscan bistro. The dining rooms, similar to the Italian style of small and tight knit, were still a comfortable distance from other diners to where i could have a conversation and not feel as if I had to talk over other tables. Beautiful Italian artwork was on display on the ceiling, being lit only by the elegant chandeliers dangling above the diners’ heads. The chandeliers, being the only source of light in my area of the dining room, gave a quiet and laid back ambiance to my meal.

My waitress was attentive and always catered to my need without hovering over me the entire meal. Water was always re-filled, plates were never left in front of me for copious amounts of time, and every question about the menu was answered thoroughly. The best servers are the ones who genuinely enjoy their job and are passionate about their customers experience, and from the opening hello when I sat down I could tell she was in this spirit.

My 3 course meal began with a large yet delicious plate of authentic Italian bruschetta. The bread was toasted with a light drizzle of olive oil, topped with large diced tomatoes, basil, and an array of spices. The light topping on the bread gave the dish good contrast ; it was the perfect way to start my meal.

My main dish was the classic yet always fantastic Spaghetti Bolognese. An old Italian chef trick of boiling the noodles in salt water was apparent here, and added another great twist to this course. The array of spices was a nice compliment to the fresh vegetables in the sauce, and the minced beef finished it off and gave the dish a hearty aspect. While Assaggio roughly translates to “small dish” in English, the portion size was perfect.

Finally, for my third and final course, I went with the always popular Tiramisu to satisfy my sweet tooth. While I had not had this dish in 4 years, I was quickly reminded of its excellence when it was first delivered to my table. The presentation was fantastic, as the chef drizzled chocolate over the entire plate giving it an artistic touch. The espresso and cocoa gave the dish a contrasting sweet and bitter taste and the mascarpone cream topping brought it all together. It was a fantastic way to end my meal.

On my way out, the staff continued their cheerful and respectful manner with sincere “thank you’s” and “come back soons”. My dining experience at Assaggio was one of the best as I’ve experienced in downtown Seattle. Whether it’s a date night or a group of friends meeting up for an excellent meal, Assaggio, located near 4th and Virginia in downtown, is sure to deliver on all aspects.