“ How I heard of this place: A couple of friends at our local gym were talking about going to Lioness to try the newest restaurant in the neighborhood. Soon after, another friend texted to ask if I'd yet tried it. It seemed like the universe was leading me here. Type of cuisine: "Lioness opened in 2023, featuring crispy martinis, refreshing spritzes, Italian wines by the glass, and a full dinner menu--including, cured ham, meatballs, house-made pasta, steamed clams, seasonal oysters and more--in a tiny, lively space. A charming courtyard patio and social standing bar round out the offerings. Walk-ins welcome! " Ambiance: "Inspired by Renee's travels to Italy and her love for cozy, Italian bars and neighborhood ristoranti, Lioness opened in late December 2023 in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood with dreams of becoming a beloved neighborhood hangout. Lioness is designed to be a place where guests can either drop by for a drink at its standing bar or have a seat at a table for a leisurely dinner with friends - and everything in between." The space is dreamy, reminiscent of cozy, neighborhood eateries in the alleys of quaint European cities. From the entry in a shared courtyard, boasting heat lamps and cramped patio seating, to a warm, amber-lit interior with even more limited seating, everything feels pleasant. An extensive standing bar, friendly service, the clinking of glasses and friends laughing, exchanging stories and sharing bites add to the ambient experience. What I ordered: My dining companion started with half-dozen oysters, lemon, nuovo olive oil (mp), then we moved on to 36-month parmigiano-reggiano, leonardi balsamic ($12), and mortadella, preserved fennel, pecorino crackers ($18). From there, our main entrees were served: cavatelli pasta, cavolo nero, pistachios, pecorino ($28), and beef & pork meatball, san marzano tomato sauce, ciabatta ($22). We rounded out our meal with dark chocolate cake, soft espresso mascarpone whipped cream ($14). What I loved: Everything was served with care, attention to detail and robust flavor in each mouthful. The parmigiano was strong and paired beautifully with the balsamic. The mortadella brought me back to being a young child and enjoying it at family gatherings. I loved the cavatelli, it's earthy greens and soft round bites. Saving the best for last was certainly experienced with the dark chocolate cake, soft and decadent, which went down easy paired with the espresso cream. Why I loved it: Soft vibes, neighborhood feel, and cozy aesthetic. We loved the friendly, personal service and the opportunity to linger, without feeling rushed. Cost: High ”

“ Came here over the summer to celebrate my birthday. Had heard all the buzz about it as a new place and decided to check it out with a party of 4. No reservations so we came relatively early on a Saturday to put our name in. About an hour wait, but we stopped over at the wine bar to have a drink while we waited. Once, seated the interior is small, so we were sat near the door, but it was still a fun buzzing atmosphere for a summer weekend night. The bar was quite beautifully decorated and the menu had lots of interesting tidbits. I got the martini, which at $25 is the most expensive Seattle cocktail I've had, but it did come with at least two drinks worth, so if you'd be getting a second cocktail anyway, this isn't the worst deal. Overall, food was tasty, but not overly memorable, pasta was tender and the pate was flavorful. A decent stop if you're willing to wait. ”

“ Small, cozy and upscale Italian restaurant. We sat outside under the awning while it rained (we were covered) with space heaters. Ambiance was a bit European. Food and drinks were great. A but on the pricey side, but was worth it. ”

“ I live near Lioness so have been excited to try this buzzy new spot brought to us by a neighborhood resident. It's been busy every time we've stopped by, so last night was the first time we were able to just walk right up and grab a table. The location, tucked in a little courtyard with tables that spill out into a shared courtyard space is highly reminiscent of Italy and, I'm sure served as inspiration for Erickson's Italian theme here. We opted to sit inside but even though the temps were in the 50's the heaters outside were keeping things cozy. Inside, with the door open we were a bit chilly. So, you can safely opt in or out. The ambiance is lovely and the service attentive. We never made it out of the cocktail list and into the wine list but the cocktails were absolutely chef's kiss perfection. The menu here is designed to be shared and features lots of snack-sized dishes. There are a few dishes that are vegetarian in each section but the menu still felt fairly limited to us (a vegetarian and a not-a-fish-fan). We ordered the burrata, olives, pasta, meatball, and dessert. We left satisfied but not stuffed. Hoping to see more warm veggie dishes/more substantial veg options on the small plates list in the future. ”

“ Very vibe-y and cute date night spot! We sat in the little courtyard patio area for dinner. We came with recommendations for the squash and cod mousse and both dishes were pretty good. I honestly felt that none of the dishes were absolute standouts, but we enjoyed the small plates and were able to try a lot. From looking around at other tables, it seemed like a few of their dishes were drowning in shredded cheese. I'm definitely not anti-cheese, but on some dishes, such as squash or a salad, I think there is a point where it's a bit too much. We were also recommended to try the signature martini, which was aptly described as a "choose your own adventure" cocktail. The presentation was awesome, and it was basically two drinks for the price of one (albeit one expensive drink). The different garnishes were cool, and surprisingly the anchovy was the favorite. Overall, it was nice to try a new restaurant with solid service and food. ”

“ Another score for Chef Renee Erickson and her Sea Creatures restaurant group with the grand opening yesterday for Lioness in Seattle's Phinney Ridge neighborhood. This intimate space joins other popular destinations in the same building: Ben's Bread, Doe Bay Wine, and Holy Mountain Brewing & Taproom. It's been a chaotic week, so when there's even a smidge of victory it's great to celebrate. Stopping by the perfect spot on the way home for a beverage, apps/small plates, and/or dessert is a major score! It was fortuitous to survive the usual traffic backups, find street parking, and snag a spot at the bar counter as a party of one without a reservation. After all that sitting at work and the commute, it was actual pleasant to be able to stand and be able to see all the craft cocktails, wine pours, plus culinary action. Welcoming wait staff at the host stand. The din was a bit loud, but bearable. Lots to see from the art work and light fixtures. All the items at the bar shelving and counters. Watching culinary ballet among the wait staff, bar staff, and kitchen staff - well executed! I was offered a choice of sparkling or still water. I really appreciated the gentleman behind the counter who answered my menu questions and provided excellent recommendations. I had a glass of the Lambrusco Quarticello Ferrando Rosato ($17). Delightful beverage! There are wines by the glass, 3 page wine list by the bottle, cocktails, and NA bevs. I then tried the Smoked Black Cod Mousse with olive oil crackers ($18). Loved the flavor, lightness, and pop of the ikura. I'm happy for the serving knife, it allowed me to get every last bit of mousse after I ran out of crackers. Wrapped it up with a slice of the Chocolate Cake with Espresso Mascarpone Cream ($12), I was initially skeptical at first glance of the size of the cake slice, however, with its decadent richness with the espresso mascarpone cream, it was perfect. Not too sweet, not cloying, or dry. Exercised great restraint to create a spot on dessert. Essentially the three items ordered today were Goldilocks-perfect. Considering it was just Day 2, the entire staff was fairly polished. ”