Seattle's beloved Il Corvo pasta to close permanently after 9 years

The line at Il Corvo Pasta winds out the door and down the block as people wait to order the pasta of the day. The weekday lunchtime line took about 35 minutes of wait time. (Genna Martin, Seattlepi.com)
Genna Martin/seattlepi.com

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In wake of the novel coronavirus, it seems not everything may eventually return to normal.

Beloved Pioneer Square Italian hub for all manner of housemade pasta impressive enough to boast long lines on the daily, Il Corvo, has closed for good after nine years of mouth watering sauces and spaghetti.

The news came late on Wednesday via Instagram, as chef and owner Mike Easton took to center stage to bid farewell.

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“Seriously, it’s been fantastic, and exceeded our wildest expectations, but sometimes good things must come to an end,” he wrote.

The renowned nook for lunchtime linguine has been shuttered since mid-March as a result of Washington's stay-at-home orders. Per Easton's recent announcement, he explained Il Corvo would not reopen even after dine-in service resumes in Seattle.

The highly-acclaimed Italian haven quickly became one of the most popular spots for a rotating menu of dishes such as pappardelle bolognese, calamaretti, and fiore since opening in 2011. It even earned Easton two James Beard Award nominations over the past few years.

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Last spring, Easton opened Il Corvo’s larger sibling in West Seattle, Il Nido, to similar praise.

As a result of the stay-at-home orders, the new restaurant has transformed its Alki dining room into a pasta market and pantry, but the chef promises that it will return to its regular service “once it is safe to do so.”

As for the fate of Il Corvo, Easton told Eater Seattle, “Maybe in a few years, when things are back to normal, we will revive it.”

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