Six Downtown Edmonds Italian Restaurants to Fill Your Heart and Belly
Edmonds foodies have been rejoicing over the explosion of new restaurants in town, especially of the mangia variety. There’s something so comforting about Italian food done well that makes you want to hug your server and possibly take a nap, but please don’t do those things unless you know the server and are napping at home. Otherwise, as you were.
In this article, we’re digging into six Downtown Edmonds Italian stops that will leave you satiated and contented. There’s no time to waste since you’re probably hungry right now. Let’s go!
(And, of course, Italian includes pizza. And espresso!)
Fire & the Feast
Where To Eat Italian Food in Downtown Edmonds
Fire & The Feast, the brainbaby of local restaurateurs Shubert Ho and Andrew Leckie of Feedme Hospitality, is the company’s first Italian restaurant in the area. They serve what they call “Pacific Northwest Italian” from their beautiful restaurant on Main Street. The seasonal menu uses the freshest local ingredients to make mouth-watering items like Octopus & Romesco, Tomato Bruschetta, Chicken Pesto Tortellini, Pepperoni & Calabrian Honey Pizza, and Pork Osso Buco. A few other things you’ll want to note: Kids eat for half price on Mondays and Tuesdays; their brunch should not be overlooked, especially when it’s sunny enough to enjoy the outdoor patio; and their drink specials—particularly during the holidays—are always molto bene.
Girardi’s Osteria
You’ll find yourself drawn to Girardi’s Osteria’s terrazza (indoor-outdoor patio) almost immediately, even if you’re just passing by. And if you are just passing by, you’ll make a mental note to come back and enjoy it on a sunny day when the fountain trickles behind you and the trees leave dappled shadows all around. Offering daily specials, half-price bottles of wine select days of the week, and an ever-alluring “afternoon delight” (their “better than happy hour” menu with appetizers, wine by the glass, beer, non-alcoholic beer, and a large selection of cocktails), Girardi’s may become your date-night go-to. Plus, they’re celebrating their 25th anniversary this year! Start with the Goat Cheese Bruschetta, try some Cioppino or Porchetta Roast, Fred’s Salmon (the owner’s signature dish), or Paella, and end with some Tiramisu and an espresso. Any time is a good time to eat at Girardi’s, but make sure you don’t miss a meal when grapevines cover the overhead trellises with hanging Merlot grapes from late July through September!
Il Viale Espresso
Walking into Il Viale Espresso, which opened last year right by Ace Hardware, feels like visiting your favorite Italian cafe. No detail is overlooked—your drink comes with a delicious square of chocolate and the patio beckons group dates, dog owners, and solo sippers alike. Consider an Espresso Con Panna and a Bacon Omelet Melt for breakfast or a steaming cup of tea with a Hangry Vegan Wrap (marinated tofu, shredded cabbage & carrots, red bell peppers, cilantro, mint, and a peanut dressing in a flour tortilla) for lunch.
Johnny Mo’s Pizzeria
Johnny Mo’s Pizzeria, which opened just a few months ago, is already popular with groups and singles alike. Kids love that they can build their own pizzas and sports fans high-five in front of the TVs above the restaurant’s bar that looks out over Main Street. You can choose between two pie styles: Chicago-style and New York-style. Read more about how the Chicago/New York combination came to be in our article from earlier this year about new Downtown Edmonds businesses. And if you want some ordering tips, a few of our favorites are the Skillet Meatballs Al Forno, Pesto Caprese Sandwich, Arugula and Prosciutto Salad, New York-Style “The U Cut” pizza (mozzarella, dollops of homemade sauce with imported tomatoes, pepperoni, sliced meatballs, portobello mushrooms and fresh garlic), and Chicago-style “Bethany’s Special” pizza (mozzarella, homemade sauce with imported tomatoes, topped with roasted garlic, pineapple, and pepperoni). Don’t forget lunchtime single slices either!
Ristorante Machiavelli
If you’ve been looking for a new lunch spot, you’re in luck because Ristorante Machiavelli just started offering mid-day Italian eats in the former Chanterelle location on Main Street. Keep it simple with a soup and salad (we recommend the Minestrone with a Mixed Green) or get all your protein in with an Italian Piadina (coppa, salami, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and red pepper pesto). Pasta more your speed? Consider the Linguini Alle Vongole (clams in marinara with lots of garlic) or their Spinach Ravioli. Just remember: The camera eats first. Tag us in your social media posts. We’re @edmondsdowntown Instagram and Facebook.
MOTO Pizza
Speaking of Instagrammable foods, MOTO Pizza entered the chat in 2023 and hasn’t left it since. What started as a pandemic pivot in West Seattle has grown into a mini pizza empire, and we love having MOTO in our neighborhood. It’s also impressive that owners Lee and Nancy follow European food recycling practices that allow 1% of their dough to be repurposed, and 80% of our produce is either self-grown, foraged, or from hydroponic farms. Start conservatively with Cheese or go All In (spicy sausage, pepperoni, MOTO cheese blend, parmesan, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, olives, and tomato sauce) on one of their oddly-shaped pizzas. There’s been a lot of chatter in town about MOTO’s Dungeness Crab pizza, too (MOTO cheese blend, parmesan, butter, dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and thyme). If you happen to be walking by when they’re open, you can dip your toe in the super-fun MOTO pool with a single slice!
Bonus: Dreaming of an Italian getaway? Rick Steves’ Europe can help you with that! Make a day of it and eat your way through all the spots we listed here and then head over to Rick Steves’ for a new guidebook with a side of vacation planning. Why not?
If you got this far without pausing to try some of these five Downtown Edmonds Italian places, we’ll leave you to it. Please do report back. We can’t wait to see where you end up.
Buon appetito!
By Whitney Popa, photos by Matt Hulbert
