The ribbon has been cut, the doors opened and the kitchen fired up at Kirkland’s newest restaurant Volterra, the second location of highly regarded husband and wife restaurateurs Don Curtiss and Michelle Quisenberry.
A host of local dignitaries and foodies showed up for a ribbon-cutting at the 121 Kirkland Avenue location downtown Monday morning.
Chef Curtiss and managing partner Quisenberry opened Volterra in Ballard seven years ago, and it has gone on to earn widespread acclaim and many awards. Celebrity chef and television personality Rachael Ray has called Volterra’s signature Wild Boar Tenderloin with Gorgonzola Mustard Sauce one of her favorite dishes on the planet.
Curtiss, a former Kirkland restaurant, said loyal Eastside customers at the Ballard Volterra have long been urging him to open a location on this side of Lake Washington.
Volterra features primarily Tuscan cuisine focusing on local ingredients, but also a few Sicilian dishes from Curtiss’ mother’s traditional family recipes. Other signature dishes include Dungeness crab ravioli and zuppa de pesce (a Sicilian fish stew). For Volterra's full dinner menu, see the attached PDF file.
The new 2,500-square foot restaurant seats 55 and is currently open nightly 5-11 in a sort of soft opening. Happy hour, Sunday brunch and expanded hours will begin in October: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11:30-11 Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m Sunday.
It was opened first to the public last Thursday. “Its going great,” Curtiss said Monday. “We had some electrical issues last week. But other than that we’ve been doing well. The reception has been real good.”
The restaurants phone number is 425-202-7201 and web site is volterrakirkland.com.
For two previous stories on Volterra Kirkland, click here.
