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Surrounded by trees, this sleek eatery prepares Northern Italian fare with Northwestern ingredients.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 9702 NE 120th Pl, Kirkland, WA 98034
Phone: (425) 823-1505
Website: http://www.cafejuanita.com/
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Cafe Juanita
Cafe Juanita offers a curated dining experience featuring prix-fixe seasonal tasting menus. We proudly present two distinct tasting menus: one for omnivore …
Cafe Juanita Kirkland, WA (@cafejuanitawa) – Instagram
Pira Chiara Boschis wines. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please reach out to our Reservationist Team: (425) 823-1505 or [email protected].
Cafe Juanita in Kirkland, WA : r/finedining – Reddit
36 votes, 30 comments. My fiance and I recently had the opportunity to dine at Cafe Juanita on February 2nd(I know, this review is FAR …
Reviews
Bihe Chen
First impression: they have a parking lot attached, but they blocked out half of the spaces and charges $10 for valet parking. It’s simply confusing at this point because they could have just charged for parking… oh wait I forgot, then they won’t be able to charge you if you parked on the street for free and walked 4 minutes here.
Combined with the fact that they also charge extra 5% kitchen stuff fee… I thought one key aspect of a good fine dining experience is not to make your customers believe you only want their money? Also. If you are struggling with budget, raise the price of your food and see if we agree it’s worth it. Don’t just ask customers to help pay for your employees.
Atmosphere is… Hard to enjoy. They have 10 tables in one corner and if other guests are talking even in a normal volume, it gets extremely loud. Also, the window in front of me is near the street and I got flashlights in my eyes a couple times during the meal. It is very ambitious for them to serve that many guests in limited space…
Menu feels like a Chinese gacha game, with all these special upgrades you can get with just a tiny bit more money. If you are already making a tasting menu I’d expect a whole experience, not “add $30 for foie gras”
Foods taste ok but leaves a miserable impression. Some combinations are confusing for me and does not work well in my opinion, but since it’s a tasting menu I’ll give credit to that. Some bites do feel too salty or oily while others are fine, so it seems like there’s a quality control issue in the kitchen.
One thing to add is foods look very basic, without design.
Non-alcoholic pairing, aside from being overpriced, it does not pair with the food well. Snow crab meat on ice are paired with a drink super sweet, which ruins the overall taste of food. The drink later turned to be bitter, so I guess had it been mixed better, it probably will work much better. Also, there’s a very strong theme of bitterness throughout the meal, not sure if this is intended, but I consistently had to clear that with just water – another thing you won’t expect from pairing drinks.
Overall, I don’t see this place as a fine dining restaurant. Treat it as a normal restaurant that happens to be expensive and it may start making sense…
… moreCombined with the fact that they also charge extra 5% kitchen stuff fee… I thought one key aspect of a good fine dining experience is not to make your customers believe you only want their money? Also. If you are struggling with budget, raise the price of your food and see if we agree it’s worth it. Don’t just ask customers to help pay for your employees.
Atmosphere is… Hard to enjoy. They have 10 tables in one corner and if other guests are talking even in a normal volume, it gets extremely loud. Also, the window in front of me is near the street and I got flashlights in my eyes a couple times during the meal. It is very ambitious for them to serve that many guests in limited space…
Menu feels like a Chinese gacha game, with all these special upgrades you can get with just a tiny bit more money. If you are already making a tasting menu I’d expect a whole experience, not “add $30 for foie gras”
Foods taste ok but leaves a miserable impression. Some combinations are confusing for me and does not work well in my opinion, but since it’s a tasting menu I’ll give credit to that. Some bites do feel too salty or oily while others are fine, so it seems like there’s a quality control issue in the kitchen.
One thing to add is foods look very basic, without design.
Non-alcoholic pairing, aside from being overpriced, it does not pair with the food well. Snow crab meat on ice are paired with a drink super sweet, which ruins the overall taste of food. The drink later turned to be bitter, so I guess had it been mixed better, it probably will work much better. Also, there’s a very strong theme of bitterness throughout the meal, not sure if this is intended, but I consistently had to clear that with just water – another thing you won’t expect from pairing drinks.
Overall, I don’t see this place as a fine dining restaurant. Treat it as a normal restaurant that happens to be expensive and it may start making sense…
Meryl McQueen
A special dining experience–surprising flavor combinations, fantastic non-alcoholic pairings, elevated ambience and superb staff. This is fine dining at its finest–the service was informative and friendly without being overbearing, and the chef and pastaiolo/panaiolo’s creativity were spot on without being mysterious. Standouts included the wagyu carpaccio, the truffle croccante, the sablefish, the apple and beet sorbets, the focaccia/ryebread/parmesan cracker from the bread service and the endive, not to mention gianduia and panna cotta desserts to die for. Shout-out to our main server Kevin, who provided attentive, perfectly-paced service. Highly recommend!
… moreJessica Tjhin Southworth
Café Juanita delivers one of those rare dining experiences that feels both elevated and deeply comforting at the same time. The atmosphere is amazing—cozy and intimate, yet still refined and a little fancy without ever tipping into pretentiousness. It’s exactly the kind of warm, modern elegance that fits the Pacific Northwest so well.
From the moment you walk in, the staff sets the tone. They’re incredibly welcoming and genuinely enthusiastic about the food, taking the time to explain each dish with care and clarity. It makes the entire meal feel like a guided culinary journey rather than just dinner.
We chose the set menu, and it was exceptional from the very first bite all the way through dessert. Standouts for me included the caviar small bite—yogurt tucked inside a delicate curled crisp that somehow managed to be both subtle and explosive in flavor. The beef carpaccio on a crispy cracker was another highlight, perfectly balanced and beautifully textured. And the seafood medley? Absolutely unforgettable. Every bite felt intentional, layered, and crafted to surprise you.
If I had to call out a downside, it’s the parking. Ugh. It’s definitely not the easiest. Plan to find street parking or use one of the nearby retail lots where you’ll likely need to pay.
Overall, Café Juanita is worth every moment and every bite. A truly special dining experience that lingers long after you leave.
… moreFrom the moment you walk in, the staff sets the tone. They’re incredibly welcoming and genuinely enthusiastic about the food, taking the time to explain each dish with care and clarity. It makes the entire meal feel like a guided culinary journey rather than just dinner.
We chose the set menu, and it was exceptional from the very first bite all the way through dessert. Standouts for me included the caviar small bite—yogurt tucked inside a delicate curled crisp that somehow managed to be both subtle and explosive in flavor. The beef carpaccio on a crispy cracker was another highlight, perfectly balanced and beautifully textured. And the seafood medley? Absolutely unforgettable. Every bite felt intentional, layered, and crafted to surprise you.
If I had to call out a downside, it’s the parking. Ugh. It’s definitely not the easiest. Plan to find street parking or use one of the nearby retail lots where you’ll likely need to pay.
Overall, Café Juanita is worth every moment and every bite. A truly special dining experience that lingers long after you leave.
Shan L
To me it seems like Seattle is starved of fine dining and I think Cafe Juanita unfortunately shows that. For the price Cafe Juanita, it really lacked the quality of attention and details for them to be charging their prices.
I’ll start off by saying that the atmosphere and service was quaint and friendly, but there wasn’t really anything special about it. It’s just a clean restaurant that has an older rustic look inside. We came in right on time for our reservation but we waited a pretty long time (15-20 minutes) for our server to even greet to take our order and give us water. It’s probably because they were busy but that’s no excuse given how much they were charging as a restaurant. Service was very friendly otherwise.
As for the food, I thought it was good but none of it really stood out to me where I felt like I wanted to come back to try it again. It was a very generic fine dining experience that served classic fine dining food. The food didn’t really have a distinct identity in terms of cuisine and it was all a random variety of different types of ingredients that happened to be available at the time. In the end Cafe Juanita seems like it tries to mimic something of a michelin star restaurant but falls short. We also ordered two non alcoholic ciders which were very good.
I ended up paying about $660 for two people which included two drinks and an add on. Given that their price tag rivals a 3 Michelin star restaurants in Los Angeles I would say the dining experience and food were way overpriced for what we received.
Also, the day before our reservation they called to make sure we were still coming and they had to emphasize that they were going to charge us a 3% service fee that isn’t part of the tip. It’s already such a turn off when you’re looking forward to going to a restaurant and they start off the bat that they’re going to charge you a service fee. If they really need to tell us that they’re going to charge a service fee while also pricing their menu as high as they are then they need to figure out their finances better rather than pushing it onto their customers dining experience.
They have valet parking for a fee, street parking may be difficult.
… moreI’ll start off by saying that the atmosphere and service was quaint and friendly, but there wasn’t really anything special about it. It’s just a clean restaurant that has an older rustic look inside. We came in right on time for our reservation but we waited a pretty long time (15-20 minutes) for our server to even greet to take our order and give us water. It’s probably because they were busy but that’s no excuse given how much they were charging as a restaurant. Service was very friendly otherwise.
As for the food, I thought it was good but none of it really stood out to me where I felt like I wanted to come back to try it again. It was a very generic fine dining experience that served classic fine dining food. The food didn’t really have a distinct identity in terms of cuisine and it was all a random variety of different types of ingredients that happened to be available at the time. In the end Cafe Juanita seems like it tries to mimic something of a michelin star restaurant but falls short. We also ordered two non alcoholic ciders which were very good.
I ended up paying about $660 for two people which included two drinks and an add on. Given that their price tag rivals a 3 Michelin star restaurants in Los Angeles I would say the dining experience and food were way overpriced for what we received.
Also, the day before our reservation they called to make sure we were still coming and they had to emphasize that they were going to charge us a 3% service fee that isn’t part of the tip. It’s already such a turn off when you’re looking forward to going to a restaurant and they start off the bat that they’re going to charge you a service fee. If they really need to tell us that they’re going to charge a service fee while also pricing their menu as high as they are then they need to figure out their finances better rather than pushing it onto their customers dining experience.
They have valet parking for a fee, street parking may be difficult.
Evan Langley
My wife and I love exploring the fine dining scene in Seattle, LA, and Portland. Cafè Juanita has been on our list for a while, and this year we finally managed to get a reservation around my birthday.
My expectations were high given the word of mouth around the spot, and somehow they were still exceeded. Nearly every tasting menu I’ve experienced has a mix of exceptional standouts and less special dishes, but I truly struggle to think of a single course that wasn’t absolutely phenomenal. Things ranged from really good to some of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted anywhere. I think Providence in LA was the last meal I can think of that was the same level of all hits/zero misses on their tasting menu.
I genuinely struggle to think of much to critique. The tasting menu is on the more expensive side even for this level of dining. They don’t really have much of a cocktail menu, so I suppose if you’re hoping to experience exceptional mixed drinks you may be disappointed – though their wine selection easily makes up for this.
Final thoughts – this was a truly exceptional meal. We will absolutely be back for another special occasion and bring our foodie friends if we can find a reservation when they visit Seattle.
… moreMy expectations were high given the word of mouth around the spot, and somehow they were still exceeded. Nearly every tasting menu I’ve experienced has a mix of exceptional standouts and less special dishes, but I truly struggle to think of a single course that wasn’t absolutely phenomenal. Things ranged from really good to some of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted anywhere. I think Providence in LA was the last meal I can think of that was the same level of all hits/zero misses on their tasting menu.
I genuinely struggle to think of much to critique. The tasting menu is on the more expensive side even for this level of dining. They don’t really have much of a cocktail menu, so I suppose if you’re hoping to experience exceptional mixed drinks you may be disappointed – though their wine selection easily makes up for this.
Final thoughts – this was a truly exceptional meal. We will absolutely be back for another special occasion and bring our foodie friends if we can find a reservation when they visit Seattle.
Joshua McKellar
Food was really great! Service was meh, and the entire experience wasn’t worth the price. So if you’re local maybe try it once. But way overpriced for what you get.
… moreMayank Bansal
Food was overall okay, but portion sizes felt inconsistent. There was too much bread and very little pasta. The salad was probably our least favorite, it was noticeably bitter. The other courses were decent, though the plating could have been more refined. We have been to single Michelin star restaurants that were more affordable and delivered more thoughtful, polished courses overall. That said, the sorbet and dessert courses were genuinely good and stood out. We tried both the vegan and vegetarian tasting menus. Definitely not worth $185+ pp.
… moreYiwen Zhu
Good service, okay atmosphere, mediocre food. Appetizers were forgettable. Pasta was too salty (Just go to Bottle & Bull and order their lamb ragu to have a better taste). Mains (sable fish & pork) were okay but you can get it in any $50-per-person-restaurant. Dessert (vanilla panna cotta) was the best thing from the night. In one word, definitely not worth the money. I was recommended to come by a coworker and I need to have a word with her.
I thought Canlis was mediocre enough, but I guess you never stop being disappointed by Seattle’s food scene.
… moreI thought Canlis was mediocre enough, but I guess you never stop being disappointed by Seattle’s food scene.
The Beer Finder
Pre fixe menu was $226 when we went. Food was great as was the service.
Highlight was the housemade “cheez it” included in the bread options. A5 waygu tartar also a highlight. Server provided personalized service and read that we weren’t the normal fine dining types and that this was a special occasion. His service was more relatable as we went on.
Lowlights only valet options for parking. Nearby street parking extremely limited.
Would go again if I was rich or celebrwtia major life event.
We dropped $660 for two people with the pre fixe menu and 4 drinks.
… moreHighlight was the housemade “cheez it” included in the bread options. A5 waygu tartar also a highlight. Server provided personalized service and read that we weren’t the normal fine dining types and that this was a special occasion. His service was more relatable as we went on.
Lowlights only valet options for parking. Nearby street parking extremely limited.
Would go again if I was rich or celebrwtia major life event.
We dropped $660 for two people with the pre fixe menu and 4 drinks.
Alex Quintana
Cafe Juanita comes highly recommended on many lists for fine dining in Kirkland, so I chose it to celebrate my wife’s birthday with high expectations. After our visit however, the roughly $700 bill left us more puzzled than impressed. Its been two weeks since we visited and I’m still asking myself why?
To be clear, this is not a steakhouse. You’re paying for the artistry and intention that professional chefs bring to each dish, and there is real creativity behind the menu. The staff were warm, and genuinely welcoming, which we appreciated.
That said, I struggled to reconcile the overall experience with the price. Having also dined at places like Canlis, Bis on main and a few others, this unfortunately ranked at the bottom for us. The location felt less like a fine dining destination and more casual than expected, which contributed to the disconnect.
I respect what Cafe Juanita represents, and I especially value supporting a woman owned business. Ultimately, though, the experience didn’t align with what we anticipated for the cost, and we left wishing it had.
… moreTo be clear, this is not a steakhouse. You’re paying for the artistry and intention that professional chefs bring to each dish, and there is real creativity behind the menu. The staff were warm, and genuinely welcoming, which we appreciated.
That said, I struggled to reconcile the overall experience with the price. Having also dined at places like Canlis, Bis on main and a few others, this unfortunately ranked at the bottom for us. The location felt less like a fine dining destination and more casual than expected, which contributed to the disconnect.
I respect what Cafe Juanita represents, and I especially value supporting a woman owned business. Ultimately, though, the experience didn’t align with what we anticipated for the cost, and we left wishing it had.