La Medusa

  4.5 – 345 reviews   • Southern Italian restaurant

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Snug, casual Italian trattoria with an open kitchen, chalkboard menu & Sicilian-inspired food.

✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in La Medusa 98118

Address and Contact Information

Address: 4857 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118

Phone: (206) 723-2192

Website: http://lamedusaseattle.com/

Menu Photos

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La Medusa Restaurant Columbia City

La Medusa Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 5pm – 9pm. Persephone Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 11am – 9pm. Please Note** We seat … Seattle, WA 98118 206.723.2192.

La Medusa – Updated 2026, Italian Restaurant in Seattle, WA

We create succulent Sicilian-inspired dishes using local organic ingredients and the finest quality imports from Sicily.

La Medusa | Seattle WA – Facebook

We create succulent Sicilian-inspired dishes, using local organic ingredients and the finest quality.

Reviews

Elizabeth Benavidez
My apologies for only snapping pics of dessert, everything was phenomenal! Perfect place to eat family style so you can try a bite of everything. The food is so fresh and thoughtfully prepared with exquisite flavor combinations. You won’t find better service anywhere else in the city. It truly has that family feel like having dinner at your favorite Nonna‘s house if you have one of those.
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asushiii
A wonderful neighborhood dining spot that really captures the Sicilian essence when it comes to gathering over delicious and uncomplicated cuisine. Service was knowledgeable and friendly, food was served at the appropriate temperature and pacing with the meal – we never felt rushed and enjoyed the comfortable atmosphere. Only snagged a pic of the Arancini since we could wait for a photo to dig in to the next dish! Definitely making this a go-to spot for date night and taking friends out.
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Alyssa Jarman
I’ve had many return trips to La Medusa and there will be many more. The rotating menu has seasonal flavors for all tastes including vegetarian and pescatarian options. The service is always exceptional and the atmosphere is warm and homey. A fantastic choice for Italian food in Columbia City!
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Jamie Li
EDITED REVIEW: initial post is below.

I went for the second time after many months, and did not have the same experience that I did over the summer. The people themselves were incredibly nice as always, but the quality of food just felt different. The appetizers of arancino, grandma’s greens, and the olives were all pretty good. However, they brought them out individually one by one and each at least 10 to 15 minutes apart. Given that our reservation was on the later side and app portions are small , we were pretty hungry for the first hour due to the pace of the meal. After the appetizers, it took quite a bit for the main course to come out. We ordered three pastas, the malfadine, the spaghetti, and the Campanelle. They were pretty good, but not nearly the quality that they were when I came here over the summer. They also did not come out until almost 9 PM (our reservation was 730 )The sauces did not feel like they had as much depth as before, although still yummy.

I hope that this is a one off experience, because I really liked it the first time. But for the price and distance to get there from the city, I will put more thought into my decision next time.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: This is one of new favorite restaurants in seattle! I have tried several Italian spots in the city and this is certainly one of my top five! (Other notable spots I love are Il Nido, Spinasse, Machiavelli, tavolata )

First off, the service was incredible. Our waitress was so sweet and knowledgeable of the menu. We got grandmas greens, the croquette, bread, and mafaldine pasta with braised beef shank. Everything was stellar!! Particularly the croquette. They have a rotating menu and all the other dishes I saw also looked good. I need to come back and try everything!

The ambience is quaint and definitely has a local feel. I loved it. I felt like I was in Italy. There are no bells and whistles, just good food, good service, and warm energy. A true neighborhood gem.
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Man H
Went here for dinner during the weekend. We were seated right away, which was nice. As we walked in you can hear EVERY SINGLE CONVERSATION. Everyone was talking all at once. I was uncomfortable close to the tables next to me. Waiter comes to take our order and we get our food relatively fast.

For $30/plate we got about 3 mouths full of food. It was very well executed. The pasta is of perfect consistency, got a nice chew and nice structure. They the sauce was tomato sauce with some olives and capers with a hint of anchovies. Slightly too salty and acidic but again, a well executed plate. It’s about three mouth fulls with of food. Luckily we weren’t too hungry but man was it expensive. It was absolutely not worth the money IMO. Add that to the poor loud environment, I just did not have that great of a time there. Would not come back given the price. Keep in mind they also charge 18% service by default. Don’t feel pressured to tip more.
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Nicola Kalderash
This is a cute place where all the pasta is handmade. It’s menu is always changing and the atmosphere is very warm. Rustic style interior. The service is adequate and they charge an auto 18.5% tip. The food is about a 5/10. Sauce is okay for the Spaghetti I ordered and average taste meatballs. The chicken liver my friend ordered in her pasta was a bit strong tasting. My paste tasted good, as it should.

If you happen to be in Columbia City and are hungry it would be fine to stop here, but don’t expect amazing Italian fare!
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Pat Smith
Always a hit and never a miss. I didn’t add any pictures of the food because they are already all out there to see. The quality and taste of this food remains the same each time I have it. Outstanding! Equal to the food is the customer service. Here it is New Year’s Eve and our servers are not making us feel rushed to eat and get out so another group could be served. Pulled up and parked right outside the front door. The atmosphere is quaint and cozy. You can pick anything off the menu and it’s going to be great. Will continue come back again and again. The food is fresh and simple and most of all…delish!
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Katy Ionis
Very homey and warm place with delicious food and very attentive knowledgeable waiters. Arancini, chocolate torte, and roasted carrot salad were the standouts for me, sadly they were out of the whole fish by the time we ate. Will be back to try that.

They were able to accommodate GF – though not sure that it would be celiac safe – a lot of the starters are GF and two of the desserts were.

Call to make a reservation and/or have a drink next door at Persephone while you wait, you can bring it with you when your table is ready as they’re owned by the same people.
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Nikolai Orlov
One of the best places for the real made in house Italian style pasta restaurants in Seattle.
Service is usually extremely friendly and great.
Food is great.
It’s a small place. Make sure you call them first for the reservation
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Wellness and Food Guide
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

La Medusa is pure Sicilian soul in Columbia City—and I’ve gone back more than five times because it never misses.

The squid ink pasta is a masterpiece: briny, silky black strands layered with fresh herbs and ocean depth. The grilled sardines appetizer is delicate, citrus-kissed, and simply unforgettable. Add the salt cod fritters—crispy, golden, and rich—and you’ve got a lineup that’s world-class.

Yes, the tables are close—but that’s part of the charm. Look around and you’ll see nothing but good vibes, smiles, and laughter echoing through the room. The wine list is stunning, and the staff serve with pride, warmth, and guidance that makes you feel like family.

Columbia City is full of energy, but this spot is its heart. Take the 7 on Rainier, step into La Medusa, and you’ll see why locals and visitors call it the best Sicilian food in Washington.

This isn’t just dinner—it’s a memory worth repeating.
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