Step inside Bizzarro Italian Café and you’ll quickly realize this isn’t your average pasta joint. There’s something about the place that feels like you’ve wandered into a friend’s wildly creative living room, only with better food and a lot more wine. The walls are covered in ever-changing art, the atmosphere hums with personality, and the pasta? Always handmade.
Bizzarro’s story starts back in 1986, when founder and visual artist David Nast transformed a 1920s auto garage in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood into a one-of-a-kind restaurant on a shoestring budget. With help from a crew of artist friends, he turned the space into a living canvas full of quirky décor, laughter, and the kind of community spirit you can’t fake.
And then there was Kathleen, the now-legendary “singing waitress,” who would deliver your meal with an improvised operatic performance about your pasta. “Anyone who dined while she was here still asks about her,” says current co-owner Jaedra James. “She made it a truly Bizzarro experience.”
When James and Jodi-Paul Wooster took over in 2008, they knew exactly what they were inheriting: a neighborhood institution with a whole lot of heart. Their mission was simple: keep the magic, elevate the menu.
Almost everything here is made in-house, from silky strands of pasta to crusty bread and decadent desserts. Ask Wooster why and you’ll get an answer as straightforward as it is passionate: “This question doesn’t even make sense. There is no other way.” The daily specials are scribbled on chalkboards, Sundays are reserved for their beloved meatballs, and the wine list is thoughtfully stocked to match the mood.
And the food? It’s the kind that keeps people coming back for decades. Favorites include the Linguine alla Vongole, brimming with Manila clams, garlic, and white wine; the Fettuccine alla Bizzarro, tossed with fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, cream, and a touch of chili flake; and the Lamb Ragù Pappardelle, a hearty, comforting dish that feels like it belongs at an Italian family table. For vegetarians, the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage Sauce is a longtime classic, while dessert lovers never regret finishing with a slice of house-made tiramisu.
And while the dishes are undeniably high quality, Bizzarro still delivers them in a way that feels relaxed and unpretentious. “Surreal, eclectic, and delicious,” James sums it up. “We’re fine dining without the fuss.”
Part of Bizzarro’s magic comes from its people. Many of the staff are artists—painters, musicians, writers—who bring that same creative energy into the dining room. “People are the heart of Bizzarro. Community is the key,” James says. “We hire real people who bring energy, curiosity, and kindness to the table. We applaud individuality and support all the creative endeavors our staff delves into.”
That energy spills over into the experience. The décor is playful, the music is carefully curated, and the service feels personal in a way that makes you want to come back again and again.
“Food trends come and go, but heart, soul, and good times are timeless,” Wooster says. “Bizzarro is unapologetically ‘Old School Seattle.’”
Next year marks a milestone few restaurants ever see: Bizzarro’s 40th anniversary. “That’s huge in restaurant life,” says James. “When we turned 30, we closed the block and celebrated with friends, family, and our phenomenal regulars. We’d love to do it again.”
Wooster adds, “There aren’t many restaurants in the ‘over 30s’ club, not even in the over 20s. We want to celebrate!”
Looking ahead, James shares that the team has exciting ventures on the horizon. “We are looking towards opening our Catering department. We have been asked for many, many years if we do catering and we haven’t yet, but our Chef who has been with us for 30+ years ran the catering department for his other business and is excited to bring it to us. He is very well-versed in all things catering.”
She continues, “Another exciting venture is we are looking to team up with a Nashville-based group called Placemat. They do private chef in-home parties that we are looking into joining. Once it is in place, we will be able to offer private dinners, wine dinners, and offshoots of our Wine Club. We feel that Seattle loves to throw a party, and we are here to help those parties be successful, fun, oh, and delicious!”
In a city that’s changed a lot over the past few decades, Bizzarro holds onto the kind of charm you can’t replicate. It’s a place where creativity comes first, rules are optional, and a plate of pasta can feel like both dinner and art.
Forty years in, it’s still as full of heart, flavor, and personality as the day it opened. And that’s worth celebrating.
Kate Neidigh is a writer for Seattle Refined, covering lifestyle, fashion, beauty, travel, real estate, gift guides and feature stories. See more of her work on Instagram here.
Dining and Cooking