Cantinetta, located in the trendy Wallingford area of Seattle, feels more like a european country restaurant than your typical Italian joint. For a Thursday night, the place was hopping, and we had to wait a few minutes for a table to open up. The dining area is small and cozy, but proximity to the neighboring tables can give the place a crowded feel. Still, for Tuscan Italian cuisine, that’s what you should look for. Dinner is meant to be shared.

The menu is small and simple, and follows a traditional Italian arrangement of courses where the meal should proceed from antipasti (appetizers), to primi (starches), to secondi (the meat dishes). Of course, feel free to order as you like.

The chefs at Cantinetta hit the mark with their choices of delicate complementary flavors. The pancetta wrapped dates—a dish that is featured, but not on the menu for some strange reason—are a magnificent starter. The portions may appear a bit small, but the point is to eat three or four courses, and, sharing is encouraged. With so many different flavor experiences, it behooves the good dinner party to share the multitudinous sensations throughout.