The pizza oven is cranking, the shelves behind the bar are stocked, and the wine glasses are buffed. Brendan McGill’s pizza bar and restaurant reopened on Wednesday, September 15 at the corner of First Avenue and Marion in Seattle. Welcome back Bar Taglio!
“It feels great to get the doors back open,” said Brendan McGill. “Our hope is to breathe some life into the area, serve the community who are working downtown with very few restaurant options, and welcome visitors back to the center of our beautiful city with delicious pizza and warm hospitality.”
McGill has tapped James Lorimer of Kilroy’s Pizza pop-up fame, as chef and pizzaiolo, so in addition to the Roman-style pizza Bar Taglio is revered for, New York-style pies are also on the menu.
A daily selection of Roman-style pizza is offered by the slice—perfect for a quick bite after work or before hopping on the ferry—think La Rossa with pomodoro, garlic, oregano, olive oil, and salt; Salame with San Gennaro salame, garlic oil, and Calabrian chilies; and Potato Rosemary with scalloped gold potatoes, fried rosemary, and pecorino.
Whole Roman-Style and New York pizzas are available for dine-in and take out. Roman-style options include Misto Salumi with Italian sausage, spicy coppa, and soppressata; Fungi with Piopini mushrooms, taleggio, rosemary, grana padano, and truffle oil; and Carbonara with guanciale, onion, black pepper, duck egg yolk, and pecorino.
New York options include Marinara with red sauce, sliced garlic, basil, and oregano; Veggie with ricotta cream, roasted garlic, cherry tomatoes, and pesto; Burrata with red sauce, mozzarella, burrata, extra virgin olive oil, and basil; and Sausage with ricotta cream, house-made pork sausage, and caramelized onions.
Antipasti options include favorites like Polpettine a dish of pork and beef meatballs with tomato sugo, pecorino, and oregano; Affetatti Misti an assortment of salami with house pickled vegetables; Cauliflower with bagna cauda, pangrattato, and herbs; and Insalata Tonno with chicories, preserved tuna, poached potato, fried almonds, Castelvetrano olives, lemon, olive oil, and oregano.
Desserts include a Limoncello Tart with lemon curd, crème Chantilly, and pâte sucrée; Tartufo Affogato; Budino of chilled custard with dark salted caramel and cocoa noir cookie crumble; and Gelato.
General Manager, Chynna Spencer, has created a bar program that includes a thoughtful wine list and a creative cocktail menu that showcases a section of spritz, draft cocktails, and of course, mini-martinis.
Cocktail options include Manhattan Nero with bourbon, Amaro dell’Etna, sweet vermouth, Braulio, and bitters; Basil Smash with gin, Cappelletti Aperitivo, grapefruit, simple, basil, and soda; Negroni in Paradise with Mediterranean style gin, blend of r(h)ums, Campari, sweet vermouth, and banana liqueur; and Lagotto with blanco tequila, grapefruit liqueur, sfumato amaro, lemon, Angostura, and truffle salt.
The Spritz options include C x C with Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Cardamaro, Capertif, Champagne vinegar, and soda; Camp Gold with Campari and Belgian Ale; and Wallflower with Brovo Pink, sparkling wine, and soda. A Negroni and Corsican Reviver are both offered on draft – yes, please!
The Mini-Martini menu offers three 2-ounce martini options:
Old Tom gin, Contratto Bianco, Manzanilla sherry with prosciutto garnish
Highside gin and Le Verger orchard liqueur with edible flower garnish
Big Gin, Brovo Witty, and Brovo Jammy
Pro tip: Give all three a try!
Opened in September of 2019, Bar Taglio is chef Brendan McGill’s Roman inspired bar and pizzeria featuring traditional Italian products alongside the best local produce, meats, and fish. Located in The Exchange, one of downtown Seattle’s historic buildings, the restaurant has a stylish art deco vibe with an elegant thirty-foot bar featuring a stellar selection wines and cocktails. Bar Taglio is open Tuesday through Saturday from 3pm to 9pm. For more information and full menu visit, https://www.bartaglio.com or call 206.682.7460.
Bar Taglio is located at 822 First Avenue in Seattle, Washington.
