I'm glad to hear that a local place is getting some buzz. I'm sure a good word from, her royal perkiness will get a lot of traffic from the eastside floating bridge crowd, great we can use as much of their money as we can get in Ballard. It is better for them to spend it at Volterra than at the Cheesecake Factory or Red Robin. I have never been all that blown away with Volterra, and now that Rach (I can call her that, we are like so close!) has endorsed them I hope they will reap the rewards that fame can bring. Yum-o!

A restaurant recommendation from Rachel Ray is the equivalent of a music recommendation from Britney Spears. Still, it is publicity that can drive traffic so good for them.

Volterra is good though I wasn't totally blown away by the food, at least not when price was considered. Service was mixed the two times we went. I'd give them another try.

I am not a big fan. I really tried. 4x in fact. We had a hefty gift cert., that we wanted to use up. It wasn't bad, but there was something off, every time. The service was always good though. We have been back for desert and a coffee after dining elsewhere, and that is def. worth it.

Also Rachel is like nails down a chalk board for me.

Love Volterra, food is amazing, no comparison to Pasta Bella, but everyone should go where they like it best, and this place does it for us!

It so does not rock. It is maybe better than average, but Pasta Bella is way better. I think if you want to be hip than maybe this is the place for you,

Their oil soup is divine. Really. It is so simple and just so damn good. Mmmmmmmm...

Volterra Rocks. The food and service are top notch. It's definitely a place to go for a really good value. Some of the pasta dishes are $15 and $16 which is very reasonable for such great quality. Sometimes I sit at the bar and have pasta and glass of wine & my bill less than $25. I feel like I've had a great night out and haven't broke the bank.

Anthony-
pretty simple, then don't go there...they certainly don't treat their patrons in a prententious manner.

Pretentious to the max

Volterrais one of the best dining spots in Ballard, although high end, you can still sit at the bar have a great appetizers and a glass of wine and feel like you had a great night out instead of buying an entire dinner. Even when we split a dinner, they are always so gracious when other places look at you like you are beneath them, Volterra doesn't blink an eye. We love the food, and the staff is always so warm and friendly.

I don't like Rachel Ray but did tivo and watch the episode yesterday. Although she is annoying I have to assume she has tasted some pretty damn good food and has a good palate. We have definitley moved Volterra to the top of our "to eat" list.

I liked how she called ballard an "idyllic neighborhood"

Lindsey- the link you posted was to Volterra's feature on the Rachael Ray CBS talk show. The episode that aired yesterday was on her new show "Rachael's Vacation" on the Food Network.

Rachel Ray looks like white trash.

The dude's face in that picture is priceless.

Here's a link to Rachael Ray's episode on Volterra:
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/show/segments/vie...

Has she got the most obnoxious voice on earth or what?

I appreciate Scott's coment. As much as national publicity is nice, Rachel Ray is not an indorsement I would want.

My favorite restaurant in Seattle for sure. I can't get enough of their pastas or the Wild Boar. The staff are great too.

While good, I've had better meals in Seattle.

Best on Ballard Avenue.

Agree with Scott on brunch. The 'milano milano' is most delicious and the prices are pretty affordable, as brunches go. Nice to sit outside on a sunny summer Sunday morning...

Did she double down on an order of perkiness?

Yes... don't let the fact that Rachael Ray loves Volterra stop you from going there yourself. It really is a great restaurant, and I consider myself lucky to have it a short walk from my home. It's also definitely got the best brunch in Ballard.

The best in Ballard also!!!!

no, it's the best in the world! I love Volterra, have you not had the mussels and sausage and tasted the amazing lamb shank? Rachel may be annoying but the food as Voltera is fabulous!

the world? really? has she not been tasting any of the food in other places? it's good, but no where near "best in the world"