Wonderful aromas seep through the dense shrubbery along East Boston Street around the corner from Serafina’s Eastlake entrance. Follow the smell of sautéed pancetta up a short flight of steps, and you’ll discover that the restaurant’s vintage brick abode boasts a garden patio.

In this leafy enclave, at a table draped in sunny yellow, explore Chef John Neumark’s flair for things Italian: umbricelli, perhaps, a curvy Umbrian pasta tossed with rapini and guancialle; or grilled fennel sausages with peppers and polenta.

La Fontana Siciliana is an anomaly in Belltown’s hip restaurant corridor. This romantic slice of the Old World maintains a low profile. When the weather is warm, forsake the alluring antique-filled interior in favor of antipasti under the stars in the serene fountain courtyard. Proprietor Mario Fuenzalida presents a menu of Sicilian specialties including chicken marsala, pasta with sardines, and spaghetti a la Norma with eggplant, tomato and ricotta salata.

Elsewhere in the condominium canyons of Belltown is the plant-filled patio behind Marco’s Supperclub, which is now open for lunch. Go and you’ll discover that sunshine and fried sage leaves have a natural affinity for one another.

After 25 years in Madrona, the Hi-Spot’s pleasant patio is no secret, but you might not know that dinner is once again being served here. Pasta, steak, carne asada and salmon are among the evening entrees, along with soups, salads and sandwiches.

https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20040721&slug=outdoorfood21