Editor Pick
Fremont Classic Pizzeria & Trattoria
- July 24, 2007
- Rated 3 of 5 by
sararevell from London, United Kingdom
If you have the time, I’d urge you to check out the neighbourhoods of Capital Hill, Ballard, and Fremont. These small enclaves all have something different to offer and all three are great for boutique shopping and neighbourhood dining.
A friend who lives in Fremont took us to the Fremont Classic Pizzeria on a Monday night. We all had a hankering for pasta and he recommended it not only for good value Italian food but also for the courtyard, which was just what we needed on a warm July evening.
From the outside the pizzeria looks like it could be somebody’s home. The interior is also fairly sparse but you can’t help thinking that the lack of costly decoration means customers can continue enjoying inexpensive Italian food.
We arrived late, around 8.45am and luckily the place was pretty quiet, with one vacant table outside with our name on it. I later found out that they offer a family happy hour between 5.30pm-6.30pm when children under the age of five eat free so I’m guessing that any stampede probably happens then.
We ordered a pitcher of beer, which came out with some bread and butter although there was also olive oil and balsamic vinegar on each table. We skipped the appetizers and salads and went straight for the main course. Had I not had pizza for lunch I would have definitely tried one of theirs. They have six main pizza options in addition to a basic pizza, to which you can add your own toppings. Our friend made up his own with sopressetta and oregano and we opted for the Penne Rapini and Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce. The list of pasta dishes was fairly impressive overall with a wide selection of chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes. My Bolognese sauce tasted of fresh tomatoes and herbs and contained thick chunks of tender beef as opposed to minced beef, which is what I’ve been used to in traditional Bolognese sauces.
As the sun disappeared, we noticed that all the other customers had also cleared out and inside the restaurant chairs had been stacked on top of tables. We hadn’t realized that the pizzeria closes at 9.30pm, which seemed unseasonably early. They stay open for an extra half hour at the weekends but it was still an odd feeling, especially when we saw a few couples trying unsuccessfully to open the front door.
Even though the place was now deserted, we didn’t feel rushed out and finished off our pasta and beer before getting the bill. Most of the entrées are priced around the $15 mark and the portions are perfectly measured, so you feel like you’ve enjoyed a decent Italian meal and not piled on too many pounds in the process. It definitely seems like they could afford to be open later though, especially during the summer months when heat-deprived Seattleites clamour for any corner with outdoor seating.
From journal Living in Seattle