The year’s restaurant, cafe, and bar news around Capitol Hill cannot be complete without telling more about the story of Bar Cantinetta, one of the few completely new dining spaces created in Seattle’s core this year.
In uncertain times, it has helped that the ideas behind Cantinetta were time tested and familiar to the area. Bar Cantinetta was a much loved part of a nearby neighborhood for a decade.
“The Madison valley neighborhood served us very well, and we were there for 10 years,” owner Trevor Greenwood explained.
Bar Cantinetta is now reborn on Capitol Hill’s growing 15th Ave E, bringing Tuscan culinary traditions and a commitment to neighborhood dining to the changing street in one of the new buildings that has risen there.
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The restaurant represents the latest venture from majority owner Greenwood, who has built a local restaurant empire centered on Italian cuisine and community values.
Greenwood’s restaurant group includes Cantinetta locations in Wallingford (opened 2008) and Bellevue (2010), plus Como and El Encanto in Kirkland.
Bar Cantinetta’s journey to Capitol Hill began with its decade-long run in Madison Valley starting in 2011. As that lease came to an end, Greenwood says he sought space that would allow the restaurant to grow while maintaining its neighborhood character.
The 15th Ave E location, just a short walk from where Greenwood used to live, proved ideal.
The restaurant debuted in September in a beautiful buildout of the showpiece corner restaurant spot in the new Capitol Hilltop mixed-use development. The corner used to be the site of the neighborhood’s Hilltop Service Station.
“I’m from Seattle. I love that neighborhood. I love Capitol Hill as well,” he said. The new space offers more square footage while remaining accessible to longtime patrons.
The 90-seat dining room with bar offers flexible seating for everything from couples to larger gatherings. Large windows open completely, allowing the space to transform for private events and different party sizes. Summer will bring an amazing addition as Cantinetta debuts’ its rooftop space with 360-degree views that will debut as a dining area and private event venue in summer 2026.
From the Hilltop rooftop, diners can see the Olympics, Cascades, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, and downtown Seattle.
Below, the restaurant’s foundation rests on Greenwood’s personal connection to Italy. Having lived in Florence, he and his team draw inspiration from Tuscan culinary traditions and lifestyle.
“It’s a wonderful, balanced lifestyle where you can wake up, you work hard, you eat with friends, family, embracing eating with the family late into the evening hours around the table,” Greenwood said.
Chef Donny Merrill, a part-owner, brings this vision to life through seasonal menus that change every four to six weeks. His approach prioritizes simplicity and comfort: “There’s not a lot of frills to it, but it’s comforting,” he said. “I try to go as close to the seasons as possible, shopping locally as much as possible.”
The menu showcases handmade pastas alongside signature dishes like Pappardelle (a staple that doesn’t change) and seasonal offerings that highlight fresh, local ingredients.
“We don’t cut any corners,” Greenwood said. “We order our products fresh daily. Everything you consume in the restaurant would be prepped and made today. We don’t serve things that are frozen. We don’t serve fish that’s not in season.”
Bar Cantinetta is doing what it can to keep its prices down. Greenwood is passionate about maintaining reasonable pricing, particularly on wine, an area where he feels many restaurants have overstepped.
“It’s extremely important to stay within what is innately acceptable for a price for a particular item,” he said. Rather than gouging on by-the-glass pours, the wine list emphasizes quality options available at multiple price points.
Greenwood says Bar Cantinetta operates on a philosophy of ownership and accountability. The general manager Hugo Mendoza, is also a part owner. The roughly dozen-person team reflects a commitment to long-term relationships, Greenwood went to high school with a few employees and has worked alongside Mendoza for 11 years.
“Most of us have been working together for a very long time,” Greenwood noted.
Bar Cantinetta serves dinner Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 5 to 10 PM, with extended hours until 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant is closed Mondays. Greenwood emphasized the importance of late service: “Let’s say you got off an airplane and it’s 9:45 on a Friday night and you’re wondering where to go have dinner. We’ll serve until 10.”
Early signs suggest Capitol Hill has embraced the new arrival. “I think people are happy to have us here,” Greenwood said. “It really translates to what we’re trying to do, which is just be a wonderful neighborhood restaurant for people that live here.”
Bar Cantinetta is now open at 555 15th Ave E. Learn more at cantinettausa.com.
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