Usually when you pay over $150 for a dinner for two, quality service and being treated with respect is a given. Not at San Fermo. My husband and I originally had reservations for Valentine's weekend, which were understandably canceled due to the snow. At the time of that booking, we had requested to be seated in a dome knowing full well that they are first come first serve. However, the information about the domes listed on the website indicated that you could arrive and wait for a dome even with a reservation. We rebooked for the end of March and made the same request. Shortly thereafter, we received a text that the domes were being removed (specifically because we had requested one). So, we scrambled to rebook an earlier reservation on a Sunday night in order to try to sit in a dome. We booked the reservation for 5 thinking that we could arrive and wait for a dome if necessary and still eat at a reasonable hour. When we arrived and were the first ones there upon opening, we were told by the hostess that we were being seated on the side patio because the domes were taken. I calmly asked about the policy that I had previously read which indicated that we could elect to wait for one. I was then chastised in a tone as though I were a child that just wet the bed that people showed up to claim the domes at 3 pm (as though I should have known to do that) and without explanation was told that they were unavailable for the entirety of the rest of the evening. I get that the domes must be annoying and having people requesting them must be annoying and working during COVID is stressful, but that's no excuse to treat paying customers (or, frankly, any human) like garbage. What's worse is that others have written similar negative reviews about this hostess and clearly management has done nothing about it. Having someone manage the front in an efficient/orderly manner is very important, but this can be done with class, manners and patience. For this reason, we won't be back.

They've really done a nice job with the outdoor areas for Covid. We sat on the charming outdoor patio on the side of the building and were kept warm by the heaters while enjoying the reassurance of fresh air circulation that keeps the virus germs away. The food and ambiance was excellent - the bolognese sauce is amazing. We'll be back.

If you can get the igloo, do it! What’s fun experience. Food was great. Small portions, good for sharing. Servers were attentive and accommodating.

Amazing spot. 100% will return. Their pasta dishes are incredible. As is everything else.

Amazing, as always. They are doing great with creating a safe and beautiful Covid dining experience.

Always superb

Food was just ok and staff were not the friendliest. No dessert menu.

The food was soooo good! Staff is amazing, we had a super late reservation and were the last ones there and we did not feel rushed at all.

Our first time here and loved it - we will definitely be back!

All the staff was absolutely amazing!!

It was so great eating in one of their bubbles outside!

Ate in the sidewalk dome and it was every bit as awesome as we had imagined! A little cold at first but warmed up after awhile. Delicious food! Waiter doesn’t come in at all. Will definitely go back!

The food was amazing! The service was amazing. Everyone there was so nice. Do yourself a favor and dine there!

The food here is always amazing but what makes the experience even better is that the staff is always friendly down to earth and super cool. Cannot recommend this place more than any other restaurant in the Seattle area.

Fantastic!

Service and ambience was great, but the food was terrible. All we could taste in our food was a ton of salt. It's really hard to go wrong with something like pesto based tagliatelle, and it should be rich in flavors of basil and garlic and olive oil, but literally all I could taste was salt, salt and salt.

The food was amazing, the service even better, I didn’t like that they include the tip already in the check but maybe that it’s how it works, i fully recommend the experience

Amazing food and service! Sat outside but was very comfortable the whole time. Best spot for a date night in Ballard!

Socially distanced from other diners; we were able to finally "eat-out". It was a terrific experience. A bit pricey but so worth it. The food and wine were outstanding. The staff are very knowledgeable. HIGHLY recommended.

Love this little Ballard gem. Intimate patio dining is the perfect setting to enjoy their amazing pasta dishes and wonderful selection of wines. The service has always been attentive and extremely friendly.

Amazing food as always. The service was great too!

I'm Italian and I was pleasantly surprised to taste very good homemade pasta.
This will be my pasta fix place!
The tagliatelle with short rib ragu were my favorite, but bolognese also really good.

San Fermo is doing a great job of providing an excellent experience and excellent food during the pandemic. Cheers to San Fermo for doing it right!

The meal was fabulous and the ambiance perfect for this New Years Celebration!!

Our New Years dinner at San Fermo was absolutely top-notch - undoubtedly one of the best dining experiences that we have ever had. It was our second time eating at San Fermo and on both occasions everything was top-notch. A+ cocktails, food, and service. It truly doesn't get any better than that!

Perfect in every way especially in these crazy times.

Food was excellent however they were completely out of desert and our favorite appetizer. Am sure just result of holidays but was very disappointing to our group not to have desert for our one covid meal outing this holiday season. Would still go back as food we did have was great.

The host of the evening was incredibly rude and unprofessional. Upon arriving she immediately told us we had to leave the restaurant by a certain time. We would have been gone by then anyway, but she continued to repeat it, and then after 30mims of no one coming to take our order, we decided to stick to drinks and appetizers to make sure we’d be able to finish by the stated time she asked us to leave. She then chided us for not ordering a full dinner service. It was confusing and disappointing to say the least. It’s also a real bummer as we love this restaurant.

Nanananananannanananananannanananannananananaanana

Our experience was one-of-a-kind. We had communication with the host throughout the day to try and coordinate our dinner in one of the two domes. She was kind, communicative, and pulled through for us! We felt safe in our dome, which was sanitized and heated between seatings. Our waiter never once entered while we were in there, and the food was spectacular! We highly recommend if you’re looking for a special occasion or date night. We will definitely be back again soon.

San Fermo is my favorite restaurant. We flew in from Dallas for my birthday just to come here. As always, the food was the best, great hospitality and great atmosphere. 10/10 cannot recommend enough.

One of our favorite places in Seattle. Always delicious, always interesting, and changing dishes, but the quality never falters despite them trying new and interesting things.

Great service as always, and a wonderful setting. They are friendly, and you can tell the people who work there care.

Great food at reasonable prices, and good management for COVID concerns. In particular, the individual outdoor domes for up to two people from the same household is great. Very limited reservations (at least on OpenTable) given limited outdoor capacity so book early!

Outdoor seating on the front porch is the best I’ve found in Covid times and the food was delicious. It was warm enough to keep food warm while you eat. They were gracious about me being a single diner.

Incredible service! It was a perfect romantic dinner spot. We sat on the front porch where they had plexiglass up to block and chill and a heater over the table so it was comfortable yet you could still enjoy the environment on the street! Our service was so attentive, the food was perfect and all came out in perfect timing! Their covid protocols made us feel taken care of and it was obvious they took keeping everyone safe very seriously! Would absolutely recommend eating here!

Everything was wonderful! Perfect ambiance, amazing food and drink, great service. Highly recommend!

The food was amazing! The serving was a little small but the flavors more than made up for it. We ordered a bunch of things and they were all amazing! The bread and butter were fantastic!

San Fermo has been a favorite for years, I simply always have a fantastic experience when I go! Pandemic dining has changed the ambiance and experience many places (understandably so!) San Fermo has found a way to only improve the experience. Their patio is warm, cozy, comfortable, and just lovely. Their service is always exceptional, and the food, delicious. Thank you San Fermo!

This place is always special. Great food and service! The outdoor bubble had an air filter and a heater. Such great ambience and we felt very safe. Highly recommend the chicory salad and their cocktails! Wonderful staff!

I had dreamed of going to San Fermo for a few years actually, and it absolutely lived up to to the dream! Let's keep supporting them to keep this amazing restaurant alive!