GH Pasta and Pizza–taking up the Haymaker space in Eastlake for an extended pop-up through March–is the newest addition to General Harvest Restaurant Group. Specializing in house-made pasta and pizza and Italian-inspired small plates from Chef Brian Clevenger, GH Pasta and Pizza is definitely a restaurant that you need to put on your radar.
Seattle has so many fabulous places to dine, some more on the fancy side, and some leaning more casual. GH Pasta and Pizza is the perfect balance of both. The restaurant atmosphere is open, airy and relaxed. There are several tables and booths in the front, and a sports bar in the back. The open-kitchen concept definitely elevates the space and provides an interactive “dinner and a show” experience for guests.
Nothing about GH Pasta and Pizza is pretentious, but don’t let that fool you – the food will absolutely blow you away. Every dish is so full of flavor and well thought out, we truly had trouble deciding on a favorite. The small plates include Italian favorites like lamb arancini, fried calamari, beef and pork meatballs and garlic butter focaccia. If you’re coming hungry, we highly recommend ordering a few to share.
The fresh, house-made pastas are delicious, and you are going to want to try them all. You can’t go wrong with classics like spaghetti Bolognese with mascarpone; rigatoni with tomato, basil and burrata; and linguine with clams and garlic. GH Pasta and Pizza also offers more unique pastas featuring ingredients like truffle butter (so good!), spicy pork sausage and zucchini, and butternut squash with taleggio balsamic.
For those who can’t choose between pasta and pizza (guilty!), trying both is an excellent idea. The pizzas at GH Pasta and Pizza are cooked in a wood-fired oven, producing a crust that is just the right amount of crispy but still soft. The cheese and pepperoni pies are always winners, and we personally loved the Fun Guy with wild mushrooms, thyme and fontina. There is always a rotating pizza option, of which currently features fried eggplant. There are several pizza add-ons that are sure to take your pie to the next level, like chili crunch oil and house-made ranch.
To end the night on a sweet note, GH Pasta and Pizza offers indulgences like a root beer float, a banana split sundae and the classic tiramisu. (Note that the menu is subject to change.)
In addition to all of the amazing food, GH Pasta and Pizza has a fantastic bar program. There is an extensive list of local beer and wine, along with fun, creative cocktails like a Moscow mule made with basil; a daiquiri with winter spices and plum bitters; and a Sicilian margarita made with amaretto and blood orange. There are plenty of non-alcoholic options as well.
The GH Pasta and Pizza pop-up is located in the Eastlake neighborhood of Seattle, open daily from noon to 8 p.m. Coming soon, Chef Clevenger has announced that GH Pizza and Pasta open a West Seattle location in late spring. For more information, visit www.haymakerseattle.com.