This place is not only super cute and quaint, but the food was sooo good. I got the eggs benedict and it was really yummy. The potatos they serve with brunch items were some of the best potatoes I've ever had. And we got tiramisu (it was more like a tiramisu pudding but still delicious) We went for brunch with some friends we haven't seen in a while and they didn't mind us sitting and talking for a couple hours (they weren't that busy or we wouldn't have stayed so long) The only thing I will say that could be a negative is that the serving sizes weren't super big. (At least the items we got) and I think they pour light on the liquor. My friend got a Bloody Mary and honestly couldn't tell if it had vodka in it. They are good for the average person's appetite but if you've got a dad or brother (or anyone, lol) that has a big appetite this might not be the place for them! Or just order a bit extra ;) read more

A true gem in southern Iowa. They are a big city restaurant in a very small town. The Spinach ravioli were amazing, also tried the bruschetta and filet that also were awesome. . I really like everything about this place, the service, atmosphere, menu, food. This is one of the best places in Iowa, please drive and try for some real Italian. read more

We are visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday and our son and family raved about the food and service at Dodici (Italian for "12"). We were not disappointed. It was not crowded (night before Thanksgiving) but still very comfortable. Excellent choices across the menu, a good bar with top brands as choices. Excellent service and ambiance. We come to Iowa from California each year and will make Dodici a regular stop. Noticed on our bill at the end - all the prices of each item end in 12 cents. Clever touch. read more

We reserved through Open Table which may have been an error. I specified it was a birthday party and that I wanted the whole check for the group. At the end of the meal checks by couple were presented and as we were walking out a server ran after us to give a Perugina truffle for "whoever had the birthday." The Parmesan artichoke appetizer was so cold the cheese had hardened. The Caesar salads were actually warmer! Which was not a plus. Entrees and desserts were grand but it was just not the usual Dodici experience. read more

Café Dodici - Special birthday treat at Cafe Dodici - Italian Near Me - Washington, Iowa

Looking for great take out in Washington? Look no further!! Great food! Wonderful service! Support this local business!

Amazing food! I ordered the gnocchi, it looked different but was truly amazing! The pasta was to die for, bathrooms where amazing, my drink, (half ice tea half lemonade) was the best I have had in a long time! The restaurant is beautiful inside, music is very relaxing, all employees are wearing masks, and they are proud to say they support LGBTQIA+! (On the door it says ) I am very impressed! read more

Café Dodici - Interior design - Italian Near Me - Washington, Iowa

Such a great dining experience. Went on Halloween with my friends and the wait staff was dressed up. Very accommodating waitress, the service was amazing. Ordered: Chianti - delicious and served from an aerating dispenser. They recork the bottle if you need also Eggplant Parmesan - mind blowing with the gnocchi, fried crisp. Calorie-wise it'd be better grilled and cheeseless but tastewise it was worth the calories. Birthday dessert - Flourless chocolate torte if you go with friends or are yourself gluten intolerant is a great option. Not overly sweet with homemade whip ontop. They also gave me a chocolate covered hazelnut wrapped in a box. And the owners seemed like they'd jump through hoops for you. Fantastic restaurant and worth the drive from IC. read more

Café Dodici - Chocolate Almond Flourless Torte. Amazing. - Italian Near Me - Washington, Iowa

Wow! What a great restaurant! On a recent motorbike trip, my wife and I stopped here in hopes of getting some good food and a real coffee... we were not disappointed! First off, the staff was very friendly and accommodating. Even though we were laden with at least 20 pounds of riding gear, they went to the effort of finding a place for us to store it while we enjoyed our meal. The food was freshly prepared and delicious. The best part is when I asked for a coffee, I did not need to specify... I was served an espresso. I will definitely stop back if I am ever passing through this out of the way area. read more

A hidden gem worth seeking out. Food was terrific. Owner was an absolute pleasure to talk with. Ask about the monkeys.

Visiting Washington IA for the 1/2 marathon. Found this restaurant in the little downtown area. The food was delicious. The atmosphere was quiet - easily able to converse. read more

I passing through Washington Avenue and this place came to my attention, thanks to other fine Yelpers. I stepped inside and immediately felt as I was in one of the Italian restaurants in any of the fine affluent suburbs of Chicago. The decor, service and food were all first class! This place is certainly a gem. read more

Food was great very nice setting. Price very reasonable. Quiet area with staff that are very friendly. read more

Café Dodici - Tortellini - Italian Near Me - Washington, Iowa

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Authentic Italian cuisine and great ambiance. I love it. I used to work over an hour from Washington, and I had people telling me all the time that they drive over a hour to eat here. read more

Heard that this is the place to go for good Italian food in the cultured town of IC. Went there with the wife as the spring was thawing its grip on the long snowed in winter. We showed up to try the sunday brunch and was so dissapointed at the service and the quality of food. Maybe because we were not ordering the right food, but we noticed that the manager went to greet everybody except for our table. Having dined at multiple Michelin rated restaurants from coast to coast, I don't think that my partner and I are poor diners. Either way, my guest and I had better breakfast at the Amanas. It's not as long of a drive and they have friendlier service. Also, another perk is that there are things to do in the Amanas, where as there is nothing to do in Washington, IA! read more

This was my first time here and won't be the last! Excellent food and atmosphere. A true gem in southeast Iowa. I had Alex's Mac and Cheese. One of the best I have had in any restaurant. read more

A nice place in small town Iowa. We had brunch here on Easter morning, but I think the lion's share of the brunch menu was unchanged from other weekends. All of the entrees came with whipped potatoes and asparagus, which sounds good, except that croissant French toast is on the entree menu. That aside, our food experience was quite good. All four of us in our group really liked our food. We got the strata, tortellini, the aforementioned croissant French toast and I had the chicken Parmesan. For what you get, the price is very reasonable and despite being so busy, the staff were all friendly and helpful. read more

Had a Caesar salad, asparagus and chicken soup with Swiss and ham grilled sandwich. Very good and great service. Owner stopped to talk with me too. Nice atmosphere. read more

This little restaurant is a diamond in the rough. It has a nice relaxing atmosphere where the guests are welcome to savor both the food and the beautiful decor. The attention to detail is evident in every dish. This is NOT the type of place where the server is eager to get you out of the door, but rather, the waitstaff are a part of the experience. They are courteous and knowledgeable and take their profession seriously. During our visit, we had the opportunity to meet the owners, who came out to every table to visit with their guests. Lastly, yet most importantly, I would like to touch on the food. Our party ordered the mussels on tagliatelle and the spaghetti with meatballs. Each dinner comes with a fresh mixed greens salad, and a dessert. Both the menu selection was wonderful, and the cuisine was so good that I could not believe I was eating in Washington, IA and not in an Italian restaurant in New York or Chicago!! I will definitely go again. read more

Excellent food and service. We really enjoy the blue plate specials. Good wine options, delicious french fries, amazing tomato soup, great lamb and pork loin. Definitely recommend! read more

Salmon was good. Gnocchi was awesome. Chocolate almond torte is spectacular. Pastas are fresh.....great polenta lasagna. read more

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This place has a cozy feel and some charm. We were pleased to be able to grab drinks on the night RAGBRAI came through. The mango smoothie was tasty and creamy. My girlfriend's kolache was a little dry... I haven't had many kolaches, so I can't compare, but I wouldn't buy another one. The next day, I had to drive ahead to see my teammates. I grabbed a drip coffee for the road and was underwhelmed with the flavor. A for great, happy-seeming staff. C for mostly bland coffee and pastries, saved from an F by good smoothies. I might eat there again if I come back. read more

We decided to go on a date night to Dodici. The food was incredible, I had the raspberry salmon with the gnocchi and my date had the lobster ravioli. The waiter suggested the tiramisu, which was the best one I've had in a long time. I wish I could remember the waiter's name, he was superb. I was curious about the wine I was drinking, he was knowledgeable then even went above and beyond to find the answer to a random question I had about the origins of the wine. The whole experience was delightful, we look forward to returning. read more

The food here is terrific; the service even better. The drawbacks for me are the heavy-handed prices and the wait. We have never had to wait for a table, yet the order will take upwards of 45 minutes to be brought out. There is a friendly feel here, too. The owner (?) will come and sit with you for a chat--very sincere. This restaurant is a nice place to go if you want a diversion from typical small-town Iowa. read more

It girls night out!! Cafe Dodici is a touch of Italy right here in Washington Iowa! and above. A delightful experience which included a wonderful visit with the owner! Ambience, menu, and service were exceptional. The owner enhances the experience. She's worth the drive to meet her. read more

42 minutes from Iowa City, but very well worth the trip! The beautifully appointed dining room features a few banquettes and a dozen tables spaced so that one does not feel cramped or dining in the lap of another patron. Quiet enough for conversation and NO Jumbotron on the wall! Menu is not all tomato based Italian. My favorite: lobster ravioli usually served with roasted red pepper and Gouda sauce but I have also special requested it with the asiago cream sauce. Exquisite!!!! The Bruscetta appetizer is also marvelous. The chef's mother's recipe for Tiramisu is the best I've ever had. The owner, Lorraine, is ever present and watchful. Quality, quality, quality!!!! read more

At most places, if you want a vegan entree you have to order something without the meat and cheese. You wind up with flavorless steamed vegetables and a salad without dressing. Not at Cafe Dodici, they have a couple of fabulous house made vinaigrettes for your salad and the chef can whip up a vegan entree that has great flavor, color and texture, as if they were vegans themselves. The waiter was very helpful and I wound up with a mind blowingly creamy avocado pesto pasta that is making my mouth water just remembering it. Six Stars! read more

Because we wished to go to the Mediterranean and indulge in decadent food, we had dinner on Saturday evening. I learned, as first-time visitor, that it is wise to allow a leisurely approach to a meal here. I found myself wanting to say a prayer of gratitude between every scrumptious morsel! In the pursuit of happiness and hedonistic adventures, Café Dodici should be on the list of "must experience" destinations. Irene M & Friends from Mn We each ordered a different dessert and none of us were disappointed - Kaluha Cake, Chocolate Almond Torte, and Lemon Pannacotta. All nummy! read more

Another in the growing number of good restaurants in the small towns surrounding the CR-IC Corridor. Go for the Italianate decor, stay for the pasta, then stay for the night! (they have a nice upstairs to stay for the night if you want) read more

Cafe Dodici is a very quaint oasis in downtown Washington, IA. We were seated for lunch in the front window at a very comfortable table. We ordered soup and paninis off the lunch menu, which all came hot and delicious. The soup was a pork with rice combination, which was rich and tasty with quite a lot of roasted pork in the broth. The service was friendly and efficient, although a bit formal for small town Iowa. Overall, a very pleasant dining experience, with everyone from the host to the waiters making us feel welcome. A definite recommendation. We will be back. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in eastern iowa. This place has an eclectic charm and is spotless clean. What a treat. This is a destination restaurant worth the drive. You will not be disappointed. read more

Outstanding service. Impressive atmosphere. And truly inspired food. What more can you ask for? Check out the pics of our recent brunch below. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and well presented. And it took less than 15 minutes for all our dishes to come! Incredible place. read more

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I moved to small town Iowa from Las Vegas a couple years ago and was afraid I would have to drive all the way to Iowa City for a nice dinner out. Thankfully, Cafe Dodici is close and one of the best restaurants you will find. Simply walking in the door is an experience. The decor is worldly and beautiful combined with interesting but enjoyable music that plays in the background .From my understanding this is a family restaurant. You are greeted by a lovely hostess who is always smiling and friendly. The servers are also excellent. Now on to the food, I almost always get the caprese. I am not sure how or where they get their ingredients (my guess would be heaven). It is remarkable. I try to not order the filet every time but they always have such awesome preparations (bacon, cheeses, spices, strawberries) basically whatever you want! It is always cooked perfectly. Additionally, I would recommend the chicken roulades. I usually shy away from ordering chicken from restaurants but this is the exception. If you are ever in this establishment. Do yourself a favor and get this dish! The gnocchi is always impeccable. Basically, you could close your eyes and point at the menu and you'll end up with something delicious. I am not going to go in to detail about their special concoctions or I'll be here all night ...just make sure you check those out too! They are usually pretty good at telling you about the specials but sometimes there is a new employee and they forget (just ask). The owner of this place is also extremely friendly. Every time I have seen her she is making someone feel welcome and making sure everything was perfectly executed. She makes you want to come back. This really is a gem in a small town. read more

I have never eaten in their restaurant because I don't have transportation for my power chair at night. My nephew was in town said he would go and see if they did carry out. He ordered Asiago Shrimp, Duck, Tortellini, an artichoke dip and bread. All of it was hot and delicious. Lorraine visited with my nephew while he waited. He lives in New York and said it was as good as what he gets there a lot cheaper. I loved that Asiago Shrimp, fantastic. Wish they delivered. read more

by far THE BEST food & cocktails i've had in/around these towns/cities of IA (i hope i've not seen it all yet!) . Super cozy, inviting atmosphere. Professional, friendly & prompt customer service. The food has been fresh & tasty every time i eat here! read more

I visit Dodici frequently and do enjoy the coffee, however, coming from the coffee capital of the states and home of espresso shops on every corner I find them to be okay. They are very expensive, especially their chocolates and the espresso is not consistent. Each cup of coffee I buy is dependent on the person making it. Still a neat little store, but slightly overrated. read more

Our family spent last evening at the best kept secret in Iowa! Cafe Dodici exceeding every expectation in the beautiful little town. The service was top notch. The food was AMAZING!!! And the atmosphere superb. We enjoyed being pampered by this great team and even though we were full, absolutely enjoyed the dessert. Every course was a delight. Thank you to the great team at Cafe Dodici for making our family evening even more special. You will want to take some time and treat yourself to this very special experience. read more

Wonderful little treasure in southern Iowa. Atmosphere intimate and upscale. Menu varied yet accessible. Soups incredible. Pasta del mare was delicious, although the calamari was a little tough. We need to come back again when we have more time, and can try the desserts. Worth the side trip if you are on the road. read more

Without question, one of the best Italian restaurants I've ever eaten. My wife and thought so much of this restaurant that we hosted our wedding reception at there. The owner and wait staff are absolutely wonderful. The meal was near perfection! As a resident of the Washington DC area we have lots of opportunities for great restaurants, but this restaurant in Washington, Iowa stands its own. We will be return again and I would strongly suggest that if you are in the area to make this a meal destination! read more

This is the best restaurant, within 50 miles of my rural Iowa home. The atmosphere and decor are soft and refined. Prices are reasonable and the food and presentation is a cut above anything for many miles around. Last night the waitress buzzed in and out like a hurricane but on the bright side she was fast and efficient and the food arrived quickly. We did have one problem with our spinach dip appetizer ie the oiled bread was so hard it couldn't be eaten. When we gave this feedback to the owner(?) at the end the meal she gave us a $10 gift certificate as compensation. So don't be dissuaded nothing is ever perfect. These were minor flaws in a overall wonderful dining experience and we are definitely going back! read more

I wish this was closer than it is to my Coralville home. Although if it were, it probably wouldn't be good for either my waistline or my wallet. My husband and I were talking about going back on another birthday on the way home from this place. The food is an excellent value: good quality food at a reasonable price. That's especially if you go for "Cena Presto," between 5-6pm Wed-Sat. There was a special on that day, too. The atmosphere is fabulous, the service is good. Also, let your server know if it is a special occasion: there will be a little extra for you. read more