Excellent food and dessert. They were able to accommodate a last minute party of seven which I…read moreappreciated so much.

I loved Pacci's. We got a reservation and sat downstairs, which had a really interesting dark…read morefeeling. One thing I really appreciate is a waiter who can walk you through the menu. Our waiter did that. I asked for recommendations and he explained everything on the menu to us. Then I asked a specific question about a dish and he knew the answer immediately. He also gave us specials. I got the Orecchiette e Salsiccia -- Rapini shells with sausage. I loved it. Someone else my table got the special -- pasta with steak. The steak was cooked PERFECTLY and was wonderful. Overall, I loved Pacci's. It has a laid back family vibe yet the food is fantastic. One more thing: the neighborhood Pacci's is in is beautiful. Pacci's itself is in a very rustic nice building, right across from many beautifully painted rowhomes and brownstones.

I found this restaurant at the last minute and boy am I glad we did!…read more We arrived at around 7:45 and the place was packed. The hostess told us we likely wouldn't sit until 9:45 so I inquired about the bar and the manager quickly stepped in to put us on a waitlist. Since the restaurant is connected to a food hall of sorts, she recommended we grab a drink there while we wait. Shortly after we got our drink, we received notification of an opening and were seated by 8:15. We had the burrata appetizer, Ragú x 2, and the seafood fra diavolo. The burrata was one of the best I've had since they serve it with pesto, pine nuts, and garlic bread. It was truly divine! The Ragú was not far behind. Incredible flavor and a generous portion. The seafood dish had a nice kick and had plenty of seafood, which is not common as of late. All dishes were also priced reasonably for the quality you received. As we sat at the bar, we had pleasant conversation with the bartender and finished our meal with a small cannoli that really sealed the deal. If you're looking for excellent Italian food in DC without breaking the bank, look no further than Caruso's grocery! However, I'd recommend reserving ahead of time because it's certainly not a secret. LOL

I picked this place as my birthday dinner with some girlfriends. I was unsure of the vibe, food etc…read morebefore arriving. The place gives cozy speakeasy vibes. We we sat down the waitress was very friendly and welcoming. She knew alot about the menu items and such. As soon as she handed me the wine menu and saw Chianti as one of the wines, I didnt hesitate to get a bottle for the table (I love Chianti with a story behind it). We ordered the Creamy Burrata, with Grilled Bread and four cheese sauce and the calamari for the appitizers. All of the appetizers were amazing and Im a sucker for grilled crushy bread. For the main course i ordered the Trout Piccata. The fish was cooked to perfection and the veggies were well seasoned. My friends ordered the chicken piccata, Caruso Alfredo and baked Cavatelli. Everything was good. Next up we ordered the butterfinger sundae, Nutella cannoli and tiramisu. The sundae base is chocolate ice cream. If you are fan of chocolate ice cream you will love the sundae. Overall great experience and I will definitely return!

There are some nights you know you'll remember long after they're over. This was one of them…read more My wife and I chose L'Ardente to celebrate two of the most important days in our life together: her birthday and our wedding anniversary. From the moment we arrived, we felt like our celebration mattered to the people taking care of us. The food was incredible. We started with the Duck Hunt and Cesare salad, followed by the 40-Layer Lasagna, which absolutely deserves every bit of its reputation. Our cocktails, the Arancia Rossa Margarita and Negroni Fumo, were beautiful and delicious. We finished with the Gianduja S'Mores and Pesca Arrostita, and somehow each course just kept getting better. But as good as the food was, the people are what we'll remember most. Talya was incredible. She was attentive, warm, and genuinely kind, making us feel completely at ease from the moment we sat down until the very end of the night. She made wonderful recommendations, checked on us at all the right moments, and genuinely cared that we were enjoying our night. And then there was Robin, the Guest Relations Manager. She made us feel less like guests at a restaurant and more like people being welcomed into someone's home. She checked on us throughout the evening, celebrated with us, and made sure our night felt special from beginning to end. At the end of dinner, we were surprised with two complimentary chocolate cakes, one for our anniversary and one for my wife's birthday, along with cards celebrating each occasion. Those personal touches meant so much to us and were the perfect ending to an already beautiful night. When you're celebrating the person you love most, you hope the place you choose somehow rises to the occasion. L'Ardente did that and more. The food was exceptional, the atmosphere was beautiful, but the hospitality is what will bring us back. Thank you, Talya, Robin, and the entire L'Ardente team. You helped make a day that already means the world to us feel even more special. We won't forget it.

Celebrated my birthday at L'Ardente and they did NOT disappoint! The lobster pasta and that famous…read more40-layer short rib lasagna were absolutely delicious. My drink was the Pornstar Martini with caviar, cute presentation, but they can keep the caviar next time . The ambiance was EVERYTHING, the customer service was amazing, and they even surprised me with cake and a candle. I LOVE L'ARDENTE!

i wish we had this in california, BIG PORTIONS AND ABSOLUTELY IMPACTFUL!!…read more- a lot of sauce for the portion of noodles -flavorful -cheesy

Nostra is a nice and cozy neighborhood gem. Our family made same day reservations and they were…read morenice enough to accommodate us for dinner. We were off to a good start with the tangy and fresh Greek salad. My husband and shared the chicken marsala. It worked for us but wouldn't say it's a sharing portion. The Marsala sauce was smooth, little peppery and slightly sweet the way you would want. Slathering it all over made up for the chicken that could've been better. The Marsala was better than my daughter's piccata that had the same issue with little tough chicken and a too-sour sauce. The subtle sweet and citrusy flavor of the Lemonchello cake was so good. Had a little envy noticing other people's red sauce items like bolognese and chicken parm. These looked great and would be back to try. Service was friendly and the place is cute but no frills.

Cucina Morini is a delightful dining experience that truly lives up to its reputation, especially…read moreduring martini hour. With $7 martinis available from Monday to Sunday in their cozy lounge, it's an ideal spot to unwind with friends. I sampled several cocktails and found each one to be exceptional, but the standout for me was the Cala Rossa a sweet yet refreshing delight. After enjoying our share of martinis, our appetites kicked in, prompting us to check for a table. The staff was incredibly accommodating, allowing us to sit at the bar. We indulged in their pasta offerings, opting for the Capelletti and Rigatoni, both of which were delicious and perfectly cooked. Cucina Morini combines great service, delicious food, and a vibrant atmosphere, making it a fun visit for anyone looking to enjoy a fantastic night out.

Cucina Morini is an excellent place for solo dining. I secured a last minute reservation for a…read morespecial Memorial Day Morini Monday for myself. Not saying that dining companions are distracting, but I felt like I could fully experience the flavor of both the Taglioni Neri and Gnocchi, both half portions at $10 each, better on my own. When the dishes came, I saw that the sauces were both red and feared they would taste too similar. After one fork full of each, they are quite clearly distinct. The standout in the Neri were the shellfish for me. Even though they were small bits, the pieces tasted fresh. In the Gnocchi, the saltiness of the prosciutto, though not overwhelming, paired well with the basil sauce. I finished a little more than half of each plate before boxing it up for a small lunch the next day. The service was great and the tall ceiling and windowed dining room provided a nice atmosphere. It was a cloudy and rainy Memorial Day, but I wondered what the sunlight looked like shining through those high windows. How lovely a space they have created to enjoy fine Italian dining in.

Came here for lunch. I think it was way early for the likes of Washington DC crowd, so for a while…read morewe had the whole place to ourselves. The decor is more of a mix of Italian Rustic and Heavy American classic giving the vibe of Italy with feel of Power typical for quite a few DC higher end restaurants. Food is top notch. Tagliere (Not quite Pizza but very close), Spaghetti alle Vongole, Hamachi Crudo, Octopus all delicious.... Lunch crowd started arriving around 12:30 which about what I was expecting and why not service is great although early lunch is a little lite on the crew but no misses, which is an excellent sign. Full bar with great cocktails and wine. I'd say visit if you get a chance.

Transforms you to a cute cafe in Europe!…read more Food- bright, fresh, and flavorful. Drinks- nice variety of cocktails and mocktails. Space- simple and classy decor. Service-Muhammad was friendly professional and attentive. Gave great suggestions.

Excellent service. Superb food. Elegant decor. The portions are huge. Treated myself to a sit down…read morelunch while on a work call. Except for a few regulars, I nearly had the place to myself. Definitely coming back. Perfect spot to impress a date. The multi-level, multi-room layout creates cozy little pocket-size dining rooms. It's nice.

This is a great little place - probably the oldest of old school barracks row establishments…read more It's been 20 years since I've eaten here. After a bunch of times saying "we should go back to trattoria Alberto" we stopped by today we arrived about 1230 on a Monday and the streets were empty. We were seated immediately. Bread and water were complimentary, and the bread came with whipped butter, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. My wife had the chicken piccata and I had the chicken Parmesan. Both meals were tasty and super fresh. The service was the star of the show today. If you're looking for something different on 8th street check it out!

10/10 everything was absolutely delicious! The Caesar salad was top 5 not number 5 best I've ever…read morehad! The vodka pizza WHEWWWWWWWWW. The first time I visited it was perfectly sauced and cooked. My most recent visit it was burnt and chewy unfortunately. That won't stop me from getting it again though, I'll charge it to an off day. The calamari is literally some of the best I've ever had, beautifully seasoned, the sauces complement it very well and it was perfectly crispy. I HAVE TO HAVE IT EVERY VISIT. The pastas are tasty, I've tried the spaghetti and meatballs, shrimp Alfredo and the vodka pasta. I just wish they had a little spice ! The Hugo spritz are a must order! To top off the experience the live vinyl music mixes was a great touch, on the Grazie Millie side. I really really like this restaurant. I will continue to come back and enjoy .

We had a great first experience at Grazie Nonna. First of all - the space is so cute. We loved the…read moregothic-granny's house vibes inside. And they have a super cute patio outside that's far enough off the main street to be quiet and shaded. We started with cocktails. I especially enjoyed the Elderflower Spritz. You gotta have a spritz at an Italian place, right?? Then, we had our appetizers - the tuna tartare and buratta. Both were fresh, pretty and tasty! We loved the panzanella salad with the creamy burrata. And the tuna tartare was chopped nicely and seasoned well. The standout for us was their pizza though. Mamma mia!! The Drunken love with pepperoni and vodka sauce was to die for. Their pizza is like a mix between NY style and Neapolitan. The crust is crispy and puffy. It took a lot of will power to not eat the whole thing. The pastas fell a little short for us. The alfredo was just ok- not the best flavor. And the pesto was really soupy and a huge portion. Definitely, more Italian American than traditional Italian. We wrapped up the dinner with a cannoli brownie. A fun take on the classic Italian dessert. Overall, a delicious meal! We will be back for pizza FOR SURE.

Cute, slightly fancy Italian spot with vegan options. The vegan options are not the most exciting…read morebut they are delicious and you can tell they prepare everything with care. Not only is it a good spot for dinner, but it's also nice for a matcha or espresso in the morning (I heard they even have vegan pastries typically but I didn't get to try those). Service was good, if over the top,

This review is for the coffee and café experience. The coffee here is fresh, additive-free, and…read morereasonably priced. My go-to drinks are the Americano and the iced cortado. They offer several dairy and non-dairy milk options, and I was delighted to see walnut milk on the menu. The syrups and milk alternatives are made fresh in-house. The honey is wild-harvested, which is a nice touch. There is seating available inside, as well as the option to order outside through the bay window--a very cute and convenient setup. The staff is friendly and attentive. However, service can be slower than expected at times, as there is only one espresso machine. Pros * Additive-free coffee * House-made syrups * Wild-harvested honey * Reasonable pricing * Outdoor ordering window for to-go orders * Friendly staff * Fresh pastries * Italian espresso machine * Filtered water **There's a Happy Hour M-Friday from 3pm-6pm. Hugo Spritiz is an option."

Why You Need to Go: 10/10 Approachable Authenticity: The…read moremenu feels like a genius, can't-miss collaboration. It does a brilliant job of bringing true cultural authenticity to the table in a way that is incredibly welcoming and accessible. Flawless Recommendations: Trust the staff! Every single server recommendation we tried was an absolute HIT. Immaculate Vibes: We chose to sit at the bar high tops and highly recommend it. The energy was buzzing, the service was seamless, and even the music playlist was amazing. KAYU didn't just meet the high expectations we had from social media--it completely exceeded them. We already can't wait to go back just to soak in the atmosphere again. Do yourself a favor and move this to the very top of your list! *sorry... best photos are on my wife's phone. : /

Kayu is a creative and tasty place to eat.  We love how they added a splash…read moreof color to both the cocktail menu with their ube drink and the hot chicken bao bun appetizer.    The purple bun was very appealing and the chicken was nice and juicy.  The sauce was good and we would have enjoyed even more of it and a little more heat.  The second playful dish was the kinilaw which was a mix of ceviche tuna and watermelon.  It was a trompe l'oiel as you tried to tell which cube was which.  The tuna was tasty and the watermelon nice and crisp.  In this dish, the sauce had a bit more zing and spice.  We also enjoyed the curry angnolotti but our favorite dish was the cashew kare kare   The meat was well cooked and the eggplant and the peas added to the tasty sauce.  We only wished for some rice to soak up more of the sauce. For dessert we ordered the  tsokolate which was a wonderful dark chocolate with a great smooth texture.  The space itself is playfully decorated as well and showcases some important mementos of the chefs' careers.  We look forward to finding out what other creative culinary treats await us on our next visit.