Seattle - January 12, 2007

Wine Down

Beato Food & Wine

Outdated (adj.)
1. No longer fashionable; antiquated. (See: shoulder pads, tube tops, Cosby sweaters.)
2. The state of exhaustion caused by your off-the-hook social life.

You’ve been playing the dating game with such finesse that old Chuck Woolery would be impressed. Is it any wonder you’re tuckered out?

Stop the madness. Sink into a seat at Beàto, a restaurant-slash-wine bar that’s softly opening in West Seattle.

After learning a thing or two at Italian Wine Merchants (the NYC oenophilic fave co-owned by that other Batali), owner Brandon Gillespie has come home to strike out on his own. The result: a stellar Italian wine list (hard-to-find vintages, plenty of Barolos) and pitch-perfect food (winter squash gnocchi, braised veal short ribs — made with fresh, artisanal ingredients).

Upscale but unpretentious, it’s as darling for a solo visit as it would be for a date.

Either way, it’s sure to be your flavor of the week.

Beàto Food & Wine, 3247 California Avenue Southwest (206-923-1333 or beatoseattle.com).