[1][2] Susan Kaufman opened the restaurant in 1991; chefs have included Dylan Giordan and Christian Chandler.

The menu has included seafood such as fish soup, pastas,[4] eggplant rolls,[5] gnocchi with wild mushroom sauce, sandwiches, tiramisu,[6] and olive oil cake with cherry mascarpone.

[4] In 2019, Megan Hill included Serafina in Eater Seattle's 2019 list of "classic restaurants every Seattleite must try".

[26] Alyssa Therrien included the business in the Daily Hive's 2022 list of "7 restaurants serving up the best table bread in Seattle".

[27] Emma Banks and Bradley Foster included Serafina in Thrillist's 2022 list of the city's 14 best Italian establishments.