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Where To Get Some Pasta And A Glass Of Wine By Yourself

Eating carbohydrates by yourself is a beautiful thing. Here’s where to do it.
Where To Get Some Pasta And A Glass Of Wine By Yourself image

photo credit: Nate Watters

Apart from serious gluten and grape allergies, there’s really no reason not to eat pasta and drink wine by yourself every now and then. It’s one of life’s great combinations, one that you don’t need to come up with an excuse to do. But you also can’t have this kind of legendary solo meal just anywhere. There are a couple of things your pasta place should have: a relaxed atmosphere, hopefully a bar (or at least a cozy corner) to sit in, plus excellent pasta and wine by the glass. When you’re looking for a place for the best kind of me-time, stick to the spots on this guide.

THE SPOTS

photo credit: Nate Watters

Pizza

Fremont

$$$$Perfect For:BirthdaysDate NightDining SoloEating At The BarFirst/Early in the Game Dates
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Lupo is a pizzeria full of leopard-spotted sourdough pies, but it's not a mistake that this spot is first on the list. You cannot ignore their pasta di fernada, a mountain of rigatoni cooked to a precise chew, tossed in a creamy tomato situation with crumbles of sausage and pops of fresh basil. It's one of the greatest bowls of pasta in town, and you can enjoy it at the bar with a glass of natural rosé from Maryland or Austrian Blaufrankish. End things with a scoop of homemade ice cream because you're an adult.

photo credit: Nate Watters

If you don't drink alcohol but still would like to have pasta and some wine by yourself, it's in the cards at Kamp. Sure, they only have one N/A wine by the glass, but it's sparkling de-alcoholized Chardonnay, which means that it should taste dry and complex instead of like carbonated popsicle backwash. As for pasta, they serve springy homemade cavatelli tossed in an artichoke cream—or you could always grab a bowl of mac and cheese. Thankfully, both pair well with a bubbly white.

Finding a bar seat at Spinasse can be tough, but that’s the price you pay for trying to walk-in to the best pasta restaurant in the city. Just next door, however, is Artusi, Spinasse’s sister bar. There you’ll find different pastas, like cavatelli with bacon or maltagliati with braised rabbit, and they’re just as delicious. If you get a spot at the counter, you can also get a nice contact-high from the boiling pasta water steam, which is cheaper than a trip to the spa (even if you get two glasses of prosecco).

The sizzled house gnocchi at this Champagne tavern is technically pasta, but we also consider these airy Parisian-style dumplings to be fluffy pillows that are perfectly safe to consume. With a mellow romesco sauce underneath and grassy drizzle of olive oil on top, these are simple, effective, and taste even better alongside a glass of bubbles at the bar.


If you don’t want to deal with a full-service restaurant, go to Esters. It’s a counter-service wine bar in Fremont that serves reasonably-priced bowls of carbonara and bolognese that feel luxurious. It’s never too busy in this casual little spot, so you could bring a book and stay as long as you want.


We love sitting at How To Cook A Wolf's Bar. Mainly, that's because it's a nice way to distract ourselves from the fact that the entire restaurant looks like an upside-down halfpipe. But it's also because it's a solid spot to take yourself out on a date powered by spaghetti with breadcrumbs and melty anchovies, or some chewy potato gnocchi. We also wouldn't count out the possibility to strike up a conversation with a mysterious stranger about poetry or composting. But more importantly, you’ll meet some pasta—hopefully with a side of sourdough and fennel-honey butter.


Even though it’s hard to leave the couch and endless loop of MSNBC behind, San Fermo is just as warm and comforting as your own living room. It’s an Italian spot inside of a rickety old house with a tiny little bar and pasta worth traveling for, especially the saffron spaghetti with bolognese. Don’t be shy on the wine—Rachel Maddow will still be there asking hypothetical questions and tapping her pen on the news desk when you get back home.


If today’s the day you discovered that your ex is doing just fine, have dinner at Vendemmia. It’s a quiet Madrona getaway where you won’t run into your ex who’s doing just fine. Order something from the wine list and then decide between the classic spaghetti with tomato and hot pepper or the agnolotti stuffed with taleggio. If you’re really still thinking about that ex (who, by the way, is doing just fine), don’t rule out ordering both. They’re that good.


Staple & Fancy is probably the closest you’ll ever come to eating pasta in a classy brick shipping warehouse, even if that’s not on your bucket list. Have a nice seat at the bar next to your own personal lamp and order a glass of red and the pappardelle bolognese topped with ricotta and orange zest.


Eating at List is kind of like eating in a closet with your phone screen as the only light source—it’s nearly impossible to see your hand in front of you, and you won’t have a ton of elbow room, but the result is somehow a very cozy restaurant. While this Belltown spot is practically date night headquarters, the bar has the best seats in the house if you want some wine and ricotta gnocchi. The only two sauces are spicy tomato cream and truffle cream, but we’ll give you a subtle hint. Get the truffle cream. OK, that wasn’t very subtle, but neither is the truffle cream.


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