Opening weekend for Cafe Revo (dinner only, this Sat.-Sun.)

After a week or so of practicing, tonight an invitation-only benefit gala (proceeds to the West Seattle Food Bank) opened the doors at the long-awaited Luna Park ristorante Cafe Revo. We will have photos back shortly; meantime, we have word from Sofia Zadra Goff – “Signora della Casa” (co-owner with chef husband Sean “Chano” Goff) – that they have decided to be open for dinner only this weekend, and will start lunch service on Monday. (Photos added 8:41 pm – below, in the kitchen, that’s Sofia at right, looking proudly over at Sean and his team cooking, while her dad, known as “Nonno,” smiles for the WSB camera.)

Out in the dining area – abuzz with the voices of a full house – we asked “Nonno” exactly what it is he’ll be doing:

Dinner service this Saturday and Sunday will start at 4 pm. More info at the Cafe Revo website.

49 Replies to "Opening weekend for Cafe Revo (dinner only, this Sat.-Sun.)"

  • JanS February 20, 2009 (10:50 pm)

    I can’t wait..it looks beautiful…

    reports, anyone?

  • traci February 20, 2009 (10:55 pm)

    YAY FINALLY!!!!

  • Joan Barker February 20, 2009 (11:53 pm)

    The ambience and food are wonderful. I’ve tasted four of the entrees and all were excellent. The hand made pasta is yummy and the tiramisu and biscotti are outstanding. They have a great selection of vino as well.

  • MJ February 20, 2009 (11:54 pm)

    Delicious Italian Cuisine in West Seattle. My new favorite restaurant!!!

  • wutwut99 February 21, 2009 (12:49 am)

    So how’s the food? Hopefully better than their website!

  • wutwut99 February 21, 2009 (12:59 am)

    Also, what are the prices like? I’d like to try this place if it isn’t as crazy expensive as the Bohemian.

  • Mary B February 21, 2009 (1:15 am)

    A fantastic experience all the way around. Warm, friendly and great food. I tried everything from the menu, all was excellent. Not a drop of food was left on my plate. They definitely got all of it right! I’m already planning my next visit.

  • Lynn February 21, 2009 (5:11 am)

    I know how determined Sofia, Sean and family were to create a place that echoed the perfect ambiance sprinkled with family, friends, and guests who felt comfortable while dining on the most incredible cuisine with an old world style.

    How proud we all are of their accomplishments in Scottsdale, AZ.

    Sofia, your cousin awaits the day she can say I love you again…and perhaps nibble on a appetizer or two.

    Just so thrilled for you all. Congratulations and much success for many years to come.

  • Wendy Green February 21, 2009 (7:20 am)

    Sofia, Sean, congratulations! Can’t wait to dine at your new place on our next trip to Seattle. Wendy & Jan

  • Karen February 21, 2009 (7:58 am)

    I am looking forward to trying Cafe Revo! I grew up eating delicious Northern Italian foods at home! We will definitely give you a try.

    How/ Where is parking?

    Good Luck! I wish you well.

  • Sofia Goff February 21, 2009 (8:26 am)

    Dear wutwut99 – We are having some issues with our website. For some reason it works fine in Explorer but in Safari or Firefox the links don’t work well. You can go from the home page, click on one of the links at the bottom of the list (Revo etc) and then from that page you can get to all the other links. Thank you for your patience while we work that out. For pricing, I hope to have our website updated later today with the prices of our current menu. We want to keep our prices down and be a place all people can afford.

    Dear Karen – We share the parking lot to the South of us with Ola Salon and there is also lots of street parking.

  • MoFER February 21, 2009 (10:39 am)

    What a relief! I was wondering how it would all come out after such a build up of expectations.
    The ambience was so warm and inviting, the food, comforting and satisfying. I sampled many of the wines and there wasn’t one miss.
    I think these guys are going to be around for a long time. Lucky West Seattlelites!

  • April Bolding February 21, 2009 (2:39 pm)

    Cafe Revo is SO WONDERFUL! I cannot rave enough about what a complete experience dining here is. The ambiance is warm and welcoming with an buzz of excitement that this restaurant is finally open! It is a dream realized for Sofia and Sean and they and their family share it with all of us.
    We took our young daughters the first night and they colored on placemats with Italian words customized by Maya Goff while munching on breadsticks. The kids loved their food and the waitstaff welcomed them. My husband and I loved the Pasta Sofia Bella and the scampi. The Italian-style red wine made in Argentina is fantastic! The tiramisu was to die for and our daughters loved the Husky swiss orange chocolate and spumoni ice cream.
    On the grand opening night, just my husband and I attended and we got to experience Cafe Revo as a more romantic dining experience. The bar area is gorgeous (solid wood) and beckons you to just “be there.” Of course the unique drink menu helps… The chocolate-lemoncello martini was delicious and the Tittarelli red wine was fantastic. The antipasti, salads and main courses were delicious. Sofia’s sister sang in Italian operatic style for the whole restaurant and brought us to tears. The whole night was pleasurable and magical – full of delicious food and drink. When you are there, you can feel the love of the Zadra-Goff/Cafe Revo family and their love of our community (has anyone mentioned that they shared the opening night’s proceeds to the WS Food Bank?). Spread the word – we’ve got a new gathering place in West Seattle!

  • WSB February 21, 2009 (2:43 pm)

    Thanks for the reminder – I wrote “benefit” above but meant to elaborate that it was a benefit for WSFB, adding now – TR

  • AD February 21, 2009 (10:36 pm)

    Can’t wait to dine there! Drove by tonight and saw the foggy windows, place was packed. :)

  • MM February 22, 2009 (10:04 am)

    Just ate on Saturday night: The antipasti plate was wonderful and fresh. The salamone (salmon) was cooked to perfection and was absolutely delicious. The risotto was also cooked perfectly and had a delicious rich flavor. The filet mignon melted in our mouths – also perfectly cooked. Try the Montepulciano red wine by the glass – at $5 and it was excellent! Be sure to end your evening with the Tiramisu… the flavors and texture is heavenly, especially accompanied by a rich cup of espresso pulled the traditional Italian way in the beautiful bar.

    We totally enjoyed our evening and the restaurant was bussling with business and activity. The owners and managers are so hospital and helpful. Everyone greets you with a big smile. They make you feel like you’re part of the family and your every need is attended too. “Nonno” even greeted us at the door when we arrived!

  • AJ February 22, 2009 (10:57 am)

    Cafe Revo is what West Seattle needs! An authentic Northern Italian family restaurant. This place is so family focused that everyone who walks through the doors feels like they’re family! Food is awesome! Prices are great. You don’t walk away hungry!
    If you haven’t tried it yet, don’t wait make your reservation as soon as you can!!!! Can’t wait to go again.

  • DC February 22, 2009 (2:06 pm)

    I was a little disappointed at cafe revo last night. I saw the menu online a few days ago and it looked fantastic. I was really excited. Unfortunately the menu last night was a lot smaller. The items I was looking forward to trying were not on last night’s menu. Honestly if we would have known that we would have gone elsewhere. The risotto was a bit gummy and had shrimp shells in it. Service was good, although slow because apparently there was a 17 top there.
    Hopefully they’ll work the links out and we’ll try them again in a few months.

  • DC February 22, 2009 (2:10 pm)

    Oops, I meant kinks not links

  • Sofia Goff February 22, 2009 (10:31 pm)

    Thank you everyone for your comments! The menu on line will be the menu we will have soon, we are building up to it. Chef Chano is training his new staff and adding new items every day. DC the risotto was a big hit last night, I am so sorry yours was not good. I hope that you told your server. It is very important to let us know your thoughts about your meal so we can make changes to make our guests happy. Many times guests leave a resteraunt unsatisfied but don’t say anything to the resteraunt. Please alwyas let us know your thoughts. We would want to fix it for you. I apologize also that you had a bit slower service. It was our first night open and we are working hard to work out all the kinks and get our menu built up to what you see on the website. Thank you for giving us a try and hope you do come back in. Ciao Sofia

  • Junctionite February 23, 2009 (7:42 am)

    Went to Cafe Revo for my birthday dinner last night, we like supporting local businesses when we can, particularly in the current economy. My husband and I both thought it was good, but were also somewhat disappointed by differences between the online menu and the smaller menu we were provided, although we understand the first weekend aspect. Our service was a bit inattentive, our server seemed young and not experienced as a waiter.

    We’ll be back again, looking forward to trying the classic spaghetti marinara & lasagna when the menu is expanded.

  • BobBrown February 23, 2009 (9:11 am)

    The Mrs & I were there Sunday evening. For a restaurant that’s only been serving the public for 24 hours, they’re already doing great! The calamari is perfect; lightly breaded and fresh. The dumpling soup is a real surprise. It’s hearty yet not heavy, and the dumplings have perfect texture. The special was a veal marsala that was simply perfect. And finally if you think you know tiramisu, wait ’till you try theirs! It’s so light and flavorful, other restaurants’ tiramisu seem like coffee-flavored bricks by comparison. If you want reasonably-priced quality Northern Italian cuisine in an authentic atmosphere, this is the place! Check it out!!!

  • sb26 February 23, 2009 (9:48 am)

    You really feel like family at Cafe Revo, the service was great! Genuinely friendly people. The food was authentic and cooked to perfection. The Spumoni Ice Cream from Husky’s YUM! I love the ambiance, and unique atmosphere of the restaurant and will be back many more times to have a fine dining experience that doesn’t dent my wallet! :)

  • Koelle February 23, 2009 (10:51 am)

    Sofia,

    We can’t wait until our next trip back to Seattle to experience Cafe Revo! I can’t wait to try the risotto. Best Wishes on your newest journey!

  • DC February 23, 2009 (6:47 pm)

    Sofia,
    I appreciate the response.
    We’ll be back soon. I look forward to the lasagna as well.
    The wine (Malbec) and bruschetta were fantastic.

  • Free Lunch February 23, 2009 (7:20 pm)

    I ate there Saturday. It really is lovely in there.

  • David B February 24, 2009 (11:40 am)

    Ate there twice. so excellent, not expensive & i love this place, the lighting is great & the bar is cozy in the corner. AND THEY ARE OPEN FOR LUNCH!!! (see you tomorrow afternoon!)

    thanks Revo, very excited for you (and us).

  • josh February 24, 2009 (4:59 pm)

    I’m not friend, family or investor,so i have to be honest. I ate there yesterday. It’s OK. Not bad but nothing to rave about either. Food is kind of blend, but i guess that’s how they like it in Northern Italy. A lot of seafood dishes. That’s odd. I liked the bar idea. Location of restaurant is definitely questionable. Seems like ” just another place to eat” in West Seattle. I’ll give them 2 + Stars and hope they have deep pockets to survive. Will i try it again? MAY BE in a month or so…
    thank you.

  • Melinda February 24, 2009 (5:54 pm)

    I’d like to reply to the observation re: blandness. They do have more cattle up in the Alps, thus more cream/butter based cuisine in the North. And, Italy is a peninsula, surrounded by water. Those of us down here in the valley look forward to walking off those calories. Ciao!

  • josh February 24, 2009 (7:56 pm)

    Dear Melinda.I have been to Italy many times. There is great difference in cuisine from Southern Italy to Northern Italy. FYI ( and others ) – everything that has to do with tomatoes is a BIG – NO – in Northern Italy. Seafood is nonexistent there either. I’m sorry that you brought it up, but I have to say that it seems like this restaurant is having some IDENTITY CRISIS !!!
    thank you

  • Ferdinando Innocenti February 24, 2009 (9:40 pm)

    Hey Josh, I’ve been there a couple of times as well, and the food isn’t bland at all. A well-travelled palate doesn’t need a crapload of Ragu and salt. This family is from Revo; I think they know what they’re doing. Just go back to Olive Garden and be happy; capici amico mio?

    PS: I’ve been to Italy a few times too: these guys are the real deal, so please dispense with the ‘Identity Crisis’ merda. Maybe you’re the one with the crisis, Signore Chef Boy-ar-dee!

  • Sofia Goff February 24, 2009 (10:37 pm)

    We are a Northern Italian Resteraunt in the Pacific Northwest so we cook foods that represent both Itay and Seattle, this is one of the reasons you see seafood as part of our menu. Our menu grows daily, including Veal Marsala and Veal Picatta today, along with our Luna di mare salad with seafood. Our specialty recipes are authentic to our region in Italy, the Italian Alps. We also will have food from other parts of Norhtern Italy, inlcuding Venice which is on the water. I hope that clears up some of the misunderstandings about our menu. Thank you so much to everyone for coming in we really appreciate you! Sofia

  • feline_fan February 25, 2009 (12:27 am)

    As part of a pair that rarely gets to eat out together, and neither of us enjoys eating alone in a restaurant I wanted to ask if there is take-out service? And if there is, then do the portions in take-out end up being smaller then when dining in? We’ve noticed at some places the amount of food in take-out is less then when dining in. Look forward to trying the food there.

  • Sofia Goff February 25, 2009 (10:06 am)

    Ciao Feline Fan! We are happy to do to go orders. Our portions are exactly the same for to go as dining in. Just give us a call. Thanks so much! Sofia

  • Bob Loblaw February 25, 2009 (10:14 am)

    All the Loblaws ate their last evening and really enjoyed our experience. For being just out of the gate the service was OK, the food was simple yet tasty (as advertised — a lot like what you would get from your grandmother’s kitchen), and the atmosphere was more than we expected from the former Murphy’s location.
    .
    The Tiramisu was the best we’ve had in Seattle, btw.

  • josh February 25, 2009 (11:34 am)

    Auch!!! And they got some aggressive italian relatives too… It’s good for me that they don’t know where i live….LOL

    Sorry for posting my opinion, I thought that this is what the blog is for.

  • Gigi February 25, 2009 (8:54 pm)

    Yum! I enjoyed Revo’s lunch special today – your choice of salad/soup and a pasta entree for $9.95. I had the Revo salad (amazing seasoning on the tomatoes) and the spagetti bolognese (ample portions). I would have this meal again! Very friendly wait staff made us feel very welcome.

  • Melinda March 1, 2009 (8:18 pm)

    My friend and I tried to go to Cafe Revo for dinner tonight and it was a less-than-stellar experience. We showed up at 5:30 and the place was PACKED, which is great, but it meant there was a 40 minute wait for a table. I’m really glad there’s been such a wonderful turnout for this new business. We instead sat in the bar and waited a good 15 minutes to even get a waitperson to bring us some water and a menu… no one ever showed up. It was also unbearably loud in the restaurant — we couldn’t hear anything but the revelry of the people in the bar. Some people like that atmosphere, it just wasn’t right for what we wanted, which was a good meal, a nice glass of wine, and some good conversation. After looking around several times for someone to bring us a menu, we finally got up and left. I’m willing to give the folks at Cafe Revo some slack since they just opened and I’m sure they’re still working out the kinks — we’ll definitely be back with an open mind. But in the meantime, here’s our feedback: do something about the acoustics since the sound level was borderline unbearable, figure out the appropriate staffing for when you’re busy, and train your staff to at least acknowledge people soon after they are seated and ready to spend some money at your restaurant.

  • Susan March 2, 2009 (4:32 pm)

    Can anyone report on what the noise level is at the restaurant? So many restaurants these days have spare furniture and no fabric,there’s nothing to absorb sound, so it gets noisy. I’d love to bring some older family members, but am reluctant to do so if I think I have to shout to be heard!

  • Susan March 2, 2009 (4:34 pm)

    Oops, just saw the comment by Melinda, who said the sound level was ‘borderline unbearable’ so that leaves this place out for us for now.

  • April March 2, 2009 (7:33 pm)

    What is this talk about the sound?? The sound we experienced was fine. Even on opening night with every seat in the house filled, it was NOT too loud. Also, they have dimmers on all the lights and it makes for a lovely ambiance.

  • Melinda March 2, 2009 (9:22 pm)

    Just a point of information — there are two different Melindas on this comment list and we unknowingly sat next to one another on Sunday night!

  • Brenda March 3, 2009 (9:38 am)

    Cafe Revo keeps getting better and better. For us the ambiance is cozy and welcoming, and every dish we’ve tried is delicious. This is our new place for a weeknight dinner or lunch. We can tell that Sean, Sofia, Milo and Kevin are working every problem that comes up! Good job!

  • Doug March 4, 2009 (10:32 pm)

    Sofia has opened an incredible place. Great atmosphere and even better food. She is a true West Seattle resident and loves our community. Count us in as a regular!

  • Sylvia March 11, 2009 (12:02 pm)

    Wonderful! Have tried most entrees. Luna seafood salad a must. Scampi to die for, Salmon great and perfectly done.

    Best of luck!

  • Steve March 16, 2009 (4:42 pm)

    I’ve been to Cafe Revo twice, and I have my favorites on the menu. To me, the Puttanesca gets top marks, the two Veal dishes are both great, and I love the Shrimp Scampi that are so soft and tasty. For dessert, the Tiramisu is really memorable, that’s not just my own feeling but everyone in the groups I’ve been there with. (Disclaimer: I’m a far-flung cousin of the owners, they’re great people but I wouldn’t make this stuff up.)

  • Kathy March 18, 2009 (10:45 pm)

    Just went there tonight and really enjoyed the food. I had the pasta bolognese and it was delicious. We were a large party and the server also split our bill without our having to ask which was a nice touch. There was a good range of prices on the menu and the pasta dishes seemed very reasonable to me. I’ll definitely be back for more. I don’t get the comments about the views either. There are plenty of pricey restaurants up on California with a view of nothing but street and cars.

  • kate March 25, 2009 (2:28 pm)

    Have had dinner there twice – so noisy! Fine if that is what you want as far as not being alone or lonely, but don’t try to have a conversation. Also, I had to ask for oil for the bread which I had to pay for anyway – seems like oil could be on the table. Ordered a caprese salad which came with also no oil and I had to ask for balsamic! Wow – this is Italian. Sorry, but they need to go to some more local Italian restaurants in other small communitities – this isn’t downtown Seattle nor should it be!

  • grr March 30, 2009 (11:11 pm)

    Yup…Went tonight, and followed my server’s recommendations. The lasagna was insanely delicious..NOT smothered in tomato sauce. She picked a perfect wine with it (not Chianti!!!)… It was wonderful to see it pretty full on a monday eve.

    yeah..the place could use a little more sound dampening on the walls.

    didn’t have bread ;) But the Tirimisu is as good as any I had in Italy.

    my _ONLY_ complaint…the soup was WAYY too salty. It buried the other delicate flavors of the dumpling/ham..

    I’ll be back for sure.

Sorry, comment time is over.