Voltera, Great food, Bad service

Voltera is one of the nicer eateries on Ballard's restaurant row. The menu is large enough to please a broad audience, but not so big that it would overwhelm the non-foodie contingent. Seasonal specials keep the menu interesting, like their Wild Boar Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Sauce, which is a hearty meal for the ever-colder Seattle autumn nights, and their wine list offers a nice selection of affordable to somewhat-pricey glasses and bottles to wash it all down. The simple, yet rich décor takes the edge off of the dining room's cafateria-esque layout with tables scattered center-room, surrounded by bench seating. All of these things add up to what one would hope to be a great restaurant. Unfortunately, their service gets in the way of truly enjoying what they could have to offer.

On my last visit, the service was so lacking for what I would have expected for a finer-dining restaurant, that I doubt I'll be back in the very near future. The host was passive but polite enough. Our server's inexperience, on the other hand, glared on our evening from start to finish. Never having introduced himself to us or shared with us the evening's specials, I thought that he was the server assistant (busser). We actually had to ask him to place wine order and later our dinner order. Through the course of our meal, we had to ask for him three times, whether for more water or another glass of wine.

This brings me to another point on which Voltera's management should take note. Because of the server’s lack of attention, he lost the restaurant at least $50 or more in wine sales and certainly hurt his personal bottom line for his night's work. If that's happening with a simple two-top, how many potential dollars could be lost over an evening or God forbid in a year.

If quality of service isn't on the top of your list for your dining experience, then I would recommend Voltera. If it is, however, I would still recommend it, with a grain of their fennel salt sprinkled in there.