T
avolàta s centerpiece namesake a long communal table has yet to grace its airy, bright dining room. In the meantime, staff at the eatery opened during hopefully the tail end of the coronavirus pandemic are eager to welcome diners to enjoy its Italian-inspired food and drink, for now at tables spaced six feet apart. Tavolàta, a Seattle-based eatery owned and operated by the sizable Ethan Stowell Restaurants group, quietly opened in early May in a prime spot directly across from Riverfront Park, one that last housed an Olive Garden. While breadsticks aren t free and unlimited at Tavolàta, the quality of ingredients and attention to detail all pasta is made fresh in house daily are leagues above chain quality when it comes to Italian-inspired eats with a Northwest flair.