La Spiga Celebrates 26 Years in Business

Seattle’s beloved Osteria La Spiga recently celebrated its 26th anniversary. Founded in 1998 by owners Pietro Borghesi and Sabrina Tinsley, La Spiga has gained a loyal following over the years and become a top destination for authentic Italian food in the city. 

To celebrate the milestone, the team shared cherished memories via their social media platforms and unveiled a special throwback menu featuring customer favorites from over the years. The bartenders also marked the occasion with signature cocktails including the “Watson” featuring Hendrick’s gin and Aperol, the “Amarcord” featuring Talisker 10 Year and Amaretto, and the “Z” Babbo made with Tanqueray gin, muddled lemon peel, and tonic.

Before opening La Spiga in October of 1998 at 1401 Broadway Ave. in Seattle, owners Pietro and Sabrina owned two food shops in Italy. One was a frozen yogurt shop and the second was a traditional piadina specializing in ancient Italian flatbread. 

In 1998, Pietro and Sabrina sold everything and moved to Seattle. The plan was to expand on the idea of the existing piadina shop and model it after a traditional Osteria of Romagna, specializing in the cuisine of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. 

Through the creative eye of Francesco Borghesi, the corner retail space of the Harvard Market complex at 1401 Broadway Avenue was transformed into a warm, rustic and very traditional Romagnolan “Osteria” (traditional Italian restaurant). The 50 seat Osteria opened on October 5, 1998 and was designed to evoke the feeling of an authentic Italian dining experience. 

The original menu included deli favorites such as piadina sandwiches, salads, cheese trays, and cured meat platters. As demand for hot meals such as homemade pastas, soups and meat entrees grew, so did the menu offerings at La Spiga, and in return, so did its loyal customer base. 

In December of 2006, Osteria La Spiga opened the doors of its current Chophouse Row location within the historic "Piston and Ring" building owned and developed by Liz Dunn. Designed to have an old-world-meets-industrial feel, the space was transformed by Francesco Borghesi and Graham Baba Architects using repurposed wood, custom ironwork, hand-blown glass, and designer lighting to create a space cool enough for a date, yet warm enough to gather the entire family. Highlights include a loft-like mezzanine for private events, a New York-style industrial patio, a large bar, and multiple dining room experiences. 

Today Osteria La Spiga is renowned for its handmade pastas and authentic cuisine of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region and still serves as a community hub with an approachable vibe and delectable menu. 

Gather your friends and join the festivities by booking dinner at La Spiga or celebrate by enjoying La Spiga at home via La Dispensa. The menu includes handmade pastas, lasagna trays, cured Italian meats, house-made breads, Italian wines, and more. Easy online ordering is available. 

You can also check out head chef and co-owner Sabrina Tinsley’s recent interview about the restaurant’s 26th anniversary on KOMO 4 with Tyrah Majors below.

La Spiga

1429 12th Ave.

Seattle, WA 98122

Upcoming Events

Join La Spiga for the Capitol Hill Art Walk on Thursday, October 10th featuring artist Carlos Martinez. He was born in Los Angeles, California in 1995 and raised in Redmond, Washington. 

Carlos' work is deeply influenced by surreal imagery, drawing inspiration from dreams, the natural world, and his Afro-Indigenous heritage rooted in Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico. He is fascinated by and often obsessed with the profound and lasting emotional impact of dreams, evoking feelings of wonder and curiosity. In his paintings, Carlos often explores subjects from nature that include celestial bodies, botanicals, and exotic birds, as well as everyday objects, creating a blend of the dreamlike, fantastical, the tangible and the familiar.

Notably, Carlos' work has been showcased in the Tacoma Art Museum's group exhibition, ‘El Noroeste’, celebrating Chicano/Latine artists in Washington State. His art was also featured on the cover of PublicDisplay.Art's 2023 fall/winter issue. Additionally, his painting, ‘Saturn's Bouquet’, was recently bought by the Seattle Convention Center for their permanent collection and is currently on display in the new Summit Building. In August 2023, Carlos had his first solo exhibition, ‘Hidden Worlds’ at Centro Cultural Mexicano.

Carlos will be La Spiga’s next Artist in Residence starting next month. Learn more about his work here.

Seattle Restaurant Week

La Spiga will be participating in Seattle Restaurant Week Oct. 27 - Nov. 9.