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  5. Columbia City

La Medusa

4.5
4.5
762 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian
We create succulent Sicilian-inspired dishes using local organic ingredients and the finest quality imports from Sicily. Our menus change often to reflect seasonality in the Northwest and the Sicilian tradition.

Diners enjoy the freshest meats, seafood, organic produce, local artwork and outstanding service in the comfort of our warmly lit restaurant.

Our mission is to combine these specialties to impart our guests with pleasure, satisfaction and well-being.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.


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Claim this listing

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Cuisines

    Italian

  • Hours of operation

    Dinner Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–7:00 pm

  • Phone number

    (206) 723-2192

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Executive chef

    Meredith Molli

  • Private party facilities

    Restaurant can be reserved on Sundays or Mondays for a $1500.00 rental fee. This covers staff. All food, wine, and gratuity extra.Full buyouts on days we are open for business are also available, please contact Meredith at (206) 723-2192 for inquiries.

  • Private party contact

    Meredith Molli: (206) 723-2192

  • Neighborhood

    Columbia City

  • Cross street

    Edmunds

  • Parking details

    There is ample parking in front of La Medusa, as well as on the side streets of 37th, Edmunds, and Ferdinand. Its rarely more than a 3 minute walk away.

  • Public transit

    Metro Bus line #7 and #9 stop 1/2 block north of La Medusa and run every 30 minutes daily.

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 762 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.5
4.5 based on all time ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.3Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Sort by

  1. MollyH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 15, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always fabulous service, food and ambience! They never disappoint. Columbia City is so lucky to have LaMedusa
  2. Alice

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 12, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Beautiful, flavorful and well seasoned. I could taste the love that went into making our meals. It was just the right amount of food and my friend and I shared everything. We did not have dessert but our server did such a wonderful job telling us about them...I am still thinking about that pistachio cake. Thank you la Medusa
  3. ABeck

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 12, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Delicious food and wine, friendly, knowledgeable server. Would absolutely go back.
  4. xxxx

    Seattle

    33 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    33 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Top notch in every respect: environment, service staff, food quality and value. If you haven't been there, don't miss a local gem.
  5. SusanfromSeattle

    Seattle

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Seafood specials are a La Medusa highlight and the salmon poached in olive oil was an excellent example: perfectly cooked to a moist medium rare, surrounded by spring vegetables. Sunchoke salad was crunchy and deliciously dressed.
  6. StaceyM

    Seattle

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 29, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    La Medusa is now a staple for my weekly dinner date with Dad!! Superb service from Jackson whose recommdentions are spot on! I am addicted to the homemade squid ink pasta which is TDF!! La Medusa is a must when you come to Columbia City!!
  7. BrookeS

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 28, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Excellent - looking forward to my next meal here!
  8. EmilyP

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 22, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Server was incredible knowledgeable and helped inform decisions on what to order. Food was excellent.
  9. PaulM

    Seattle

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 20, 2020

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Food feels like the mind of one determined chef. Small choice but not run of the mill. Staff always v helpful. Nice cosy vibe, can be loud during busy times, but perfect for after movie meal (open late on wednesday, same day as ark lodge $6 movie night)
  10. WhitneyBee

    Minneapolis

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 15, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Went with my husband to La Medusa for a late Valentines dinner and our server was very friendly and had great wine recommendations based on our taste. Very delicious food and great ambiance.
  11. RobT

    Seattle

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    Very good food and service. The menu is limited, but there was plenty of variety for us. We found the portions to be just right - shared an appetizer, each had a main course, and shared dessert. The food was really good, with unique touches that make you glad you went out. The Nero d'avila wine was authentic and great. It got a bit noisy when the place filled up as there's not much extra space. And the service was excellent. We'll be back!
  12. KathyW

    Seattle

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 9, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Our second time and we enjoyed it just as much as the first. Everything we and our friends have had here has been wonderful. The reoccurring favorite is the Marinara and meatballs.
  13. YolandaH

    Seattle

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on February 8, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We split everything between the two of us and it was delicious! I thought the steelhead salmon portion was a little small for the price. Everything else was reasonable.
  14. ileneH

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 8, 2020

    overall2food2service2ambience1
    hardly any selection the food was just okay but more Fufu type of stuff just wasn't our thing. if you're looking for real Italian definitely go somewhere else.
  15. WilnDen

    Seattle

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Wonderful food and excellent service in a cozy atmosphere
  16. AllisonD

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 2, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing all around! Would highly recommend to anyone.
  17. FoodLover

    Seattle

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on February 2, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a great dinner and will definitely be back!
  18. KristinS

    Seattle

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on January 26, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We decided to try La Medusa for the first time after reading about the restaurant online. We really hit the jackpot! Tucked into a cozy old building in the center of historic Columbia City, we were treated like we were visiting friends for dinner. The staff were very friendly and engaging, gave us tips on what to order (the entire menu is written on a chalkboard and updated in real time) and they offered me samples of the wine before I ordered. The food was exceptional, well-proportioned and very tasty. We don't get to Columbia City very often, but this is a place we would go out of our way for.
  19. StuartS

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 25, 2020

    overall4food4service5ambience3
    great food but many food items were already sold out and not available.
  20. Phil

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 22, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was excellent, service as well and the folks working there recognized us from an earlier meal which we really appreciated.
  21. Isaac

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 19, 2020

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    The food was phenomenal! I can’t wait to go again!
  22. KendraM

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 18, 2020

    overall2food2service4ambience3
    Great cocktails and desert. Their vegetables and salads are high quality, very tasty. Our entrees were lackluster and honest pretty inedible. The squid pasta was not particularly appetizing. My pork entree was reminiscent of a Hungry Man chicken fried steak dinner, at a price tag of $34, to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I would back for cocktails and desert.
  23. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 18, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a pleasure!
  24. Dammitmother

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on January 4, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I dined alone this time. Wanted a peaceful, lovely, delicious experience. It was all that. Just perfect. Server Jackson was intuitive and terrific. Will go again - alone and with friends.
  25. Frankieblitz

    Denver

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 1, 2020

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We went to La Medusa for NYE dinner. The waitstaff were friendly and calm, despite being very dinner. Some menu items change seasonally, which is great! Food was very tasty, this is the second time I’ve celebrated a special occasion here. Highly recommended!
  26. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 29, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Always a great meal.
  27. StaceyM

    Seattle

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful experience! Was there to celebrate my birthday. Service by Jackson was excellent! He provided us with on point recommendations! The squash salad was the perfect starter and the squid ink puttanesca was divine! I would definitely recommend and plan to make a return visit to La Medusa! Brava
  28. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    As always, a fantastic dinner in a small and convivial setting
  29. RobertD

    Orange County

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2019

    overall3food4service2ambience3
    We had 8PM reservations and were not seated till 8:40.
  30. Charming

    Seattle

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on December 8, 2019

    overall2food2service2ambience3
    My dinner with friends started great: The staff was friendly and the appetizers we got (arancini, squash salad, and brussels sprouts) were all great. We were very excited to try the restaurant's focus, the pastas, next. The squid ink spaghetti didn't have much flavor at all and was disappointing. The waitress had talked up the special squash pasta for our other dish, so we decided to try it. We started eating it and similarly felt it lacked flavor. Then we all realized that none of us could tell if there was any squash in our dishes. We asked the waitress if we were missing something and she said it looked like they had forgotten to put the squash (the main ingredient other than the pasta) into the dish! She apologized and said she would check with the kitchen. We had already eaten a good amount of the pasta by this point. After a while, she brought a small separate dish of squash with cheese (another ingredient they had apparently forgotten) to our table. So, we added it to the little amount of pasta that was left and were again unimpressed and surprised by the lack of flavor. By that point, we were also dissatisfied that they had forgotten to put it in the dish in the first place, had taken a long time to bring the squash to us, and then acted like bringing the small dish of squash separate from the pasta made everything ok. We thought it would have been appropriate to bring out a whole new dish the way it was intended to be served. After that, we were amazed that they still charged us full price for the dish that they messed up. Should have been comped, in our opinion. Their pastas are priced much higher than most other restaurants, so we were surprised how bland they were. We also got a pork chop dish after that, and it was very good, more like the appetizers, but by that point we were already very unhappy with our experience overall. Mistakes happen, but they didn't properly respond when we brought it to their attention. Very disappointing experience overall.
  31. MicheleS

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 5, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful food and care. Lovely spot. One of our favorites.
  32. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 1, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Reserving table Easy. Seated promptly. Lots of attentive help and counsel. Let us taste a few wines before we ordered a superb bottle. Cheerful help and animated patrons all around. Dinner really tasty and interesting. 100% thrilled!
  33. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 24, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Wonderful, welcoming and warm—as always!
  34. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 21, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    I’ve been coming to la Medusa for many years.
  35. discerninginseattle

    Seattle

    32 reviews

    4.0

    32 reviews

    Dined on November 17, 2019

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    A lovely mix of 'date night', families, and friends all eating delicious food with warm and pleasant service.
  36. LauraD

    Las Vegas

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food and service! Upscale rustic might be a good way to describe their menu. Quality ingredients put together in a slight unexpected way that satisfies. And I am not a big dessert person, but if they have ricotta cake, GET IT! And the carrot and cheese appetizer, random when you read it, SO GOOD!
  37. BrendaE

    Seattle

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on November 10, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    La Medusa never disappoints! Fresh, local ingredients with expert preparation—yum! The only reason I gave 4 stars for ambiance was because the door opening and closing brought in a sweep of cold air every time and my feet got cold. What was particularly special on this evening was a hungry, down-on-his luck looking young guy came in and quietly spoke with the hostess. He was shown to a seat and treated, very graciously, to a warm meal. When we inquired about paying for his dinner, the hostess told us that wasn’t necessary as the restaurant staff was covering it. In most restaurants I suspect this poor fellow would have been shown the door. Heartwarming!
  38. Noone

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on November 1, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had front row window seats for the Halloween neighborhood parade! So fun! Food was delicious!
  39. jeffs

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2019

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    excellent service and food! We would highly recommend.
  40. reginaj

    Seattle

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2019

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    Lovely restaurant, great menu, wonderful food. One suggestion - the white board menu is both attractive ... and annoying. The menu board really can only be seen from one table. Consider printing out menus or placing additional menu boards strategically throughout the restaurant. It is uncomfortable to hang over other diners’ table in order to read the menu!

FAQs

La Medusa offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (206) 723-2192.

La Medusa is rated 4.5 stars by 762 OpenTable diners.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable reservation network.

If you like, we'll notify you by email if this restaurant joins.


Is this your restaurant?
Claim this listing
Google Map for La Medusa

4857 Rainier Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98118

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Edmunds

  • Neighborhood

    Columbia City

  • Hours of operation

    Dinner Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–7:00 pm

  • Cuisines

    Italian

  • Dining style

    Casual Elegant

  • Dress code

    Casual Dress

  • Parking details

    There is ample parking in front of La Medusa, as well as on the side streets of 37th, Edmunds, and Ferdinand. Its rarely more than a 3 minute walk away.

  • Public transit

    Metro Bus line #7 and #9 stop 1/2 block north of La Medusa and run every 30 minutes daily.

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Meredith Molli

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

  • Phone number

    (206) 723-2192

  • Private party facilities

    Restaurant can be reserved on Sundays or Mondays for a $1500.00 rental fee. This covers staff. All food, wine, and gratuity extra.Full buyouts on days we are open for business are also available, please contact Meredith at (206) 723-2192 for inquiries.

  • Private party contact

    Meredith Molli: (206) 723-2192

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