October 12: Il Terrazzo Carmine

Apologies in advance, but this is going to be light on details. I shared lunch with 10 others, and the conversation had my full attention. No food photos, 'cause it would have been awkward. Price estimated, as someone else picked up the tab.

A short walk from the office, Il Terrazzo Carmine is an upscale Italian joint with a high level of service: white-coated waitstaff, serve-from-the-left/clear-from-the-right, crumb scraping, the whole thing. It's far from the swankiest place I've eaten, but it's better than any of Federal Way's offerings.

I almost ordered the gnocchi, which a coworker described as "surprisingly fluffy", but instead settled on the fagioli e scarola soup and cannelloni napoletani. The soup was good, with firm but not chewy beans, pasta that wasn't mushy, and endive chunks small enough that they thankfully almost became transparent. The cannelloni was great; the ground veal was flecked with tiny bits of spinach, the ricotta was added with a light touch to not overpower the dish, and the tomato sauce was generous yet subtle.

This is an excellent choice for a business celebration -- a work anniversary, a congratulatory project completion meal, perhaps a birthday. As a routine lunch stop, it's a bit excessive.

Il Terrazzo Carmine
411 1st Ave. S.
Cup of soup, two cannelloni, iced tea, about $28