dinner AND entertainment (and birthday cake)

Saturday was my friend Maddy’s birthday. She and her hubby Ryan invited Paul and I out to an awesome Italian place for birthday/date night. After some severe arm twisting we agreed to go and eat amazing food by amazing scenery with amazing company. Rough life.

We headed out to West Seattle and hit up La Rustica. I have been wanting to go here pretty much ever since I moved here and another friend told me all about how wonderful it was. So since I like to put off until tomorrow what I could do today, four and half years later, here I was.

It really doesn’t look like much from the outside and it pretty small on the inside. Maybe 10 tables max? Tight quarters. But we had all showered and used deodorant so we were good to go!

This is the view across the street. Not to shabbs huh?

The birthday girl Maddy and her non-hipster, plaid wearing husband Ryan. I told them they would be famous and “make the blog” if they smiled pretty.

These pics of Paul and I were NOT EASY to get. See all that sun? I tell ya, all this sun around here and picture taking ability just flies right out the window.

The bread (like at most Italian restaurants) was perfect. Soft, warm and melty in your mouthy.

Salad was great too. Three of my favorite things on a salad, olives, g-banzo beans and red onion. Delicioso!

I had the goat cheese stuffed ravioli with gorgonzola sauce and mushrooms. More of my favorite things.

And Paul had a blurry shrimp pasta dish. I tried it, it was GOOD. There were so many other things I wanted to try on the menu that we would for sure need to go back before we move.

Not only was the food amazing, but we had some free entertainment pop up in front of us that we hadn’t even planned on!

In the above picture of Ryan and Maddy you can barely see the top of the head of someone sitting behind them. There was a guy sitting there eating dinner by himself. Paul and I had a birds eye view of him. Well, pretty quickly we began to notice that our waitress was spending an inordinate amount of time over at his table. Since the place was small, we could hear bits and pieces of their conversation, and there was definitely some flirty flirty goin on. Some compliments, awkward laughter, a hand brush on the shoulder….we could feel the chemistry in the air!

At one point, she came over to our table and said, “how is everything over here?” to which Paul responded, “Great! How’s everything going over there?” wink wink nudge nudge.

Just kidding.

He didn’t say that.

But he DID say it after she left and of course we had a good bout of hearty laughter about it.

After we were finished with dinner and stalking our table neighbors, we walked across the street by the water and got busy being our photogenic selves.

And Paul “hand” photobombed my picture (of course, he can’t resist)

I think she was trying to push him in?

Paul was apparently having a LOT of fun taking their picture? He makes himself LOL sometimes.

Then it was time for birthday cake!!! Ryan’s mom made her famous ice cream birthday cake for Maddy. The hat was meant to shield her from all that fire!  :)

Somehow there is vanilla and chocolate ice cream, toffee, vanilla wafers and who knows what else in there. All I know is that it was delicious and my one sizable piece was gone way to quickly!!

What place have you wanted to go forever but just haven’t made it there yet?

Ever witnessed interesting conversations/situations while at a restaurant?

What is your favorite type of cake?

Tagged as: alki beach, birthday cake, gorgonzola pasta, ice cream, italian food, La Rustica, photobomb, West Seattle