Giovanni's is a great little find just south of Dupont with a cozy ambiance and family-run restaurant feel. The service is completely charming and friendly, and the space is tight but accommodating. For the level of food you're getting, it is quite pricey, but that's what you live with if you're eating in Dupont. Highlights of the meal were the excellent service, kobe beef carpaccio, the tasty Montepulciano offered by the glass, and the Tiramisu that perfectly capped off our meal with a heavenly cloud of sweet fluffy goodness. Don't go expecting an elevated culinary experience-- go knowing that you'll be getting a heartwarming, romantic, satisfying meal and stepping out of the name-dropping hustle and bustle world of DC for a few sweet moments. read more

While 2 reviews for a place this good ain't great, I can see why it might be overlooked - Giovannis Trattu needs to do some more advertising to-you, because given it's basement location on a widely untravelled street in Dupont, it is very easy to overlook this place - hell, for the last 6 months I have worked 50 yards away from Giovannis Trattu and passed it on my way to MaiThai or Nooshi almost two or 3 times/week, but I first ate there yesterday at lunch! Wish I had trekked in there sooner!!!! As my slogan indicates, I'm Italian (or partially so) and nothing beats Mama's pasta for me, but Giovannis Trattu came close, and at the very least, the names of its dishes made me think of my Northern Italian mother because there is a distinctly Northern Italian twist to this restaurant - their dishes are simple yet delicious, and very heavily focused on pasta vs. meat. I sat with a co-worker and viewed the menu with a frown on my face because I just couldn't figure out what to eat - Veal Tortellini, Farfale (bowties) with Salmon and Peas, homemade Gnocchi, Canneloni...the list goes on!!!! Our waitress, a genuine Italian middle-aged woman came to us and asked us what we'd like, and I ordered the veal tortellini with tomato sauce, which were absolutely delicious, clearly homemade, and served in a generous portion along with tasty fresh italian bread (a clear sign of a good italian restaurant). I agree that this would be a great date place, and all in all a diamond in the ruff, a hidden gem if you will. If you live in the Dupont/Adams Morgan/Midtown area, and you enjoy a good Italian meal, give Giovanni's a try. It's a bit more expensive than Luigi's down the street, but it's got better service, a less cheesy ambiance, and from what I can tell, more authentic food....at the very least, the head of the place is speaking Italian at Giovanni's, vs. Spanish at Luigi's....but then again, my 87 year old grandfather speaks Spanish fluently, along with 5 other languages....so who am I to judge a book by it's highly educated cover? Bottom line: it's hard to find but worth the search. Give Giovanni's Trattu a shot and you'll be in for a Great Treat. read more

Order the osso bucco. Do it. Both my friend and I had it, and the meat was very tender, with the juices soaked up in the polenta (mine) or risotto (his). We will definitely visit again. And the wine (Cabernet, Belmondo) was very decent, given the price. Other unusual touches: coat service; colorful hand-painted plates covering a wall; photos of notables in the hallway to the kitchen and bathroom. Not exactly cheap, but on par with the better Italian I have had in the district. read more

This is not a top-flight, super dressy place. It's a homely little Italian joint with deep baked dishes/pastas and all sorts of melted cheese over the lasagnas and zitis. Expect a robust, overpowering tomato based flavor to the more traditional pastas and salads that have a bit too much dressing. But very comfy, very affordable and a great place to go without having to worry about dress or reservations. read more

If you're searching for great gnocchi with pesto sauce, get thee to Giovanni's Trattu NOW. I've ordered gnocchi dishes in "fine Italian" restaurants all over the city, but this place outshines them all! The pesto sauce was super fresh and subtly flavored with garlic. The potato pasta had a clean, spongy bite and was not at all grainy or mushy. I couldn't stop eating until the plate was clean. Admittedly, not very ladylike, but who cares! Other awesome menu items include the Kobe beef carpaccio, cannoli and tiramisu. Really amazingly light and flavorful mascarpone. If you're lucky, Giovanni will play the guitar and sing an Italian (not Spanish) love song! I look forward to a return visit and a shot at the risotto!! read more

5 stars for sure!! I love this little hidden gem! I just went here last night for my birthday, and I love the whole experience this place offered. It was very authentic with delicious food and they accommodated my party of 10 so well. Everyone who worked here was extremely friendly, offered great advice for my friend who is gluten-free, taught me some Italian for my upcoming trip, and then did a surprise really fun birthday treat at the end. Places like this are hard to find in DC and I totally recommend it. I came here on a lark and I'm so glad I did. The food was delicious and had a wonderful northern Italian variety, great service and totally affordable for everyone. I will be back here for sure-- thanks for an amazing evening!! read more

Giovanni's Trattu - Delicious tiramisu birthday treat! - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

"I'll meet you anytime you want... in Our Italian Restaurant..." I'm from a little Italian-American are in Central NY, and because of this everytime I move i'm looking to establish my own little Italian Restaurant... Giovanni's Trattu would be that place if I wasn't a poor law student. Until then, I'm please to go here when someone else is paying! Cute little place off a side street in Dupont Circle with VERY pleasant service. When I'm there I feel as though I'm at a hole in the wall in NY. I think what gets this place 4*s instead of 3*s is the CARPACCIO. it is OUT OF THIS WORLD good. Pricey yes, amazing, YES. Their espresso is wonderful. I have had some great entrees and some so-so entrees (BUT, I'm picky with my red sauce. I NEVER order it at a restaurant because I always prefer my own. And, lo and behold, this remained true at Giovanni's Trattu). I've only been here on weekends, and it has always been surprisingly dead. I have a feeling, based on the plaques of regulars (DC's version of "famous" people-- generals, Ted Koppel, etc.), this is place is a popular weeknight spot. This place would make for a great date. read more

Was in town for business and thought I'd look for a place that wasn't a tourist hot spot. This placed fit that bill, as it was hidden on Jefferson with a nice little table outside. Will this place make it? nope. Food: I had the pocket folded ravioli with spinach. I've had better, it wasn't bad, but nothing to yelp 3 stars about. Cost: Pricey!! My entree, tax, and tip added up to $25. read more

A one star rating is generous. It was by far the most mediocre meal during our visit to DC. I would compare it to cafeteria food I had in college. I was also astounded by the prices. $20.95 for a bowl of Bowtie pasta with butter for a six year old child? We made a comment to the waiter. His glib response was, " Yes Madame!" Madame? Wouldn't it be Signora if it were Italian? If the SNL character, Guido Sarducci, owned a restaurant, this would be it!!! His accountant would be Nathan Thurm!! Skip this at all costs!!! read more

This place is exactly what you'd expect it to be, and in my book, that's a good thing. You won't find anything unique on this menu, just good, standard, high quality Italian food. We went here after reading about it on Yelp, and I was pleasantly surprised because it's hard for me to find Italian food I like outside of St. Louis, Mo., my hometown where EVERYONE loves Italian food and there's about a million restaurants to choose from. But this place delivered. Was it the best I ever had? No. But it was good food, intimate setting and service was pretty decent, too. The only thing I would have liked was if they were a bit faster bringing the check and picking it up at the end of the night. Also, the desserts, while good, are pricey at $8.50 a piece. read more

*** 3 1/2 stars*** Had dinner here this past weekend because I've only heard good things about this place. It's a little mom/pop Italian institution in the city that has been around for several decades. It's location makes it that much cozier, too (on a side street in Dupont with a below-street-level entrance). The entrees were traditional, heavy, and delicious (gnocchi with marinara, penne in a cream sauce with smoked salmon, peas, and capers), but the mixed bruschetta needed some updating (they used canned mushrooms and put jalapeno bits in their tomato bruschetta, then topped them with hardened shredded, and cold, mozzarella). We also had fried mozzarella (the breading was nice and light, and the dish more like a saganaki) and kobe carpaccio (very traditionally plated). The house wines (both reds and whites) were drinkable. My small party probably got there too late for dinner at a mom/pop establishment that's not busy enough to stay open (8:40-ish p.m.), so other dishes we had asked for (mussels and squid) they had already run out of. I think this would be a great date spot for dinner around 7 p.m. read more

After the inauguration concert on January 18, 2009, my sister, her friend and I exited the area b/t the Lincoln Memorial & the Washington Monument with 1 million other people. Like many of those in the crowd, we didn't eat since the morning & were pretty famished. Result? Every restaurant we went into as we walked up 17th & then Connecticut towards Dupont Circle was packed. Restaurants that never usually have waits had long lines....at this point, my sister & her friend who flew in from California were vocally complaining about their hunger......what to do? what to do? Giovanni's Trattu!! As we were walking up 19th Street, my mind was running through a list of Dupont restaurants in my head....all crowded.....at the last minute, I recalled a basement restaurant on Jefferson b/t 19th & 20th. Comfy & hidden & wait-free that evening! Victory!! When we entered, the waitress asked if we had a reservation.....no I answered, thinking maybe we claimed victory too soon....the restaurant is pretty small fitting an estimated maximum of 40 to 50 people. Alas, they returned to lead us to a small table in the corner. The restaurant has a pleasant vibe - not too dressy, relaxed. They served us bread and there was olive oil on the table so we were able to have some quick relief to our hunger pangs as we waited for our food. For an appetizer, we ordered the calamari and a salad and split it. Both appetizers were very good. For dinner, I had the gnocchi & it was delicious. Truly good Italian food. At the end of our meals, we had cappucino & split Tiramisu. Again, awesome - creamy with a taste of liqueur. Giovanni's served Italian food that reminded me of my grandmother's - traditional, well-cooked pasta with flavorful sauces. I will definitely be back when I'm in the mood for Italian. read more

Wonderful food, warm and quaint atmosphere. A hidden gem. We stumbled upon this restaurant and couldn't have been a better find. From the mushroom bruschetta to the veal snd tiramisu it was fabulous . read more

i really loved this place. The decor leaves a little to be desired, but it is a small little Italian restaurant in a great area. You walk down some steps to a kind of sub-basement that makes you feel like you could be eating at your grandma's house. They have an OK wine list, and the prices were pretty good. Ok so onto the food, which is the main reason to come here. I had a Rabbit Stew over Rissotto that was so awesome I almost ordered another one to take back to my hotel room with me to eat after I came home from a night of drinking. The rabbit was cooked perfect, and the rissotto was equally good. The person I was with had a pasta dish, i forgot exactly which one, but it was also excellent. We both split a desert that was good and had some coffee. The price here was actually a little less then I expected. I would say it is a good value for the type of food you get. read more

My family had our last meal here while on a trip to Washington DC and it lived up to the yelp hype. Let me note that I love Italian food, but don't claim to know what's authentic Italiano. Some of my favorite Italian meals have been scoffed at by high brow New Englanders, but they would know. The atmosphere is small and cozy. Probably 15 tables or so. We went around 630 pm on a Sunday and there were lots of tables available, but it did get full around 8 pm. So I would recommend making reservations if you plan on eating later on the weekends. Our server was knowledgeable and considerate. We ordered the calamari first an an appetizer. I think it's hard to get calamari wrong, and it was pretty standard. The table ordered spaghetti with bacon in a cream sauce, a pasta combination and spaghetti and meatballs with a spicy diablo tomato sauce. The spaghetti with cream sauce and bacon was delectable. How can you go wrong with bacon? The dish could have been really heavy, but they included just the right amount of sauce. I didn't taste the pasta combination but it looked like a great way to try three pastas at the same time. Lastly, they custom made my spicy diablo sauce even though it wasn't on the menu, and it was awesome. Not the kind of spicy that grabs your tongue, but a lingering spice that builds over time. Although we were already full, we ordered one of best desserts I've ever had. White chocolate ice cream filled with 3 types of tropical fruit sorbet served with strawberries an chocolate sauce. They called it the Tartuffe. I didn't want dessert at first, but this changed my mine and I stuffed myself even further. Great experience. read more

Excellent. I have had several things on the menu. The Osso Bucco is one of the best that I have had. Similarly, the veal tortellini is great, and made in house! My favorite thing about the menu: on the first page, it says "This are only the chef's suggestions. Feel free to order at your requests and we will make it." Okay, that isn't the direct quote, but it's an accurate paraphrasing. The house wine is great, the service is better. Giovanni enjoyed a glass of wine at my table, at our request, but brought along his guitar and sang Italian, French, English, and Spanish songs! I felt like I was being invited into somebody's home, with the urging "My mother wants to cook for you." A must do. read more

Our first meal at Giovanni's (which is also our _only_ meal there, so far, but we will return!) was perfection from beginning to end. It rates as one of my top three dining experiences of all times. As others before me have said, the ambiance is intimate but not overly romantic. The waitress was always there when you needed her, and never there when you didn't want her around. A walk to the bathroom is like going down the Hall of Fame. There was just one photo after another of Giovanni in the dining room with celebrities. And yet the place had no air of pretension whatsoever. To start, we had the kobe beef carpaccio. I had the pounded veal chop for my entree. It was fabulous. I don't remember what my companions ate, but they loved their dishes too. With wine and dessert, the bill was hefty. But I have rarely ever felt so willing to part with my hard-earned money. The entire evening was so satisfying that it was worth every penny. Although I'm just getting around to writing this review, our visit was in August 2005. We can't wait for our next opportunity to return to D.C., and it may very well be on the strength of our memories of Giovanni's. read more

I keep coming back again and again-- basically every time I get to DC I try to have dinner here. I have never had anything but a fantastic meal, great service, and all in an adorable setting. This little place is a real gem. Good for a date or a business meal. Not good for kids. [That's a hint...please don't bring your rambunctious kids here and spoil the atmosphere for the rest of us who are tired and cranky after a long day at work and come here to have a relaxing and delicious dinner.] When you tire of the rat race or the pretense that is DC, do yourself a favor and check out Giovanni's. read more

The décor at this place is seriously retro--it looks like an Italian restaurant from the late 1960s. This is a little bizarre because the place only opened up in the mid-2000s. But hey, throwback is cool. More importantly though, this place is overpriced and the food is mediocre. $20 or more for pasta? That's at least 30 percent more expensive than Red Hen, where the food is amazing, and Giovanni's Trattu is far from amazing. I will say the portions are very large, so if that's your thing then maybe this is where you want to go. But if you're looking for a quality Italian meal, skip this place. This can be a good option if you're in the 18th and M vicinity with a big group, but like I said, it's not cheap. Specifics: The mozzarella and tomoato in the caprese salad looked and tasted like they were from the Townhouse Safeway up the street. The mushroom risotto was fine, but definitely nothing to write home about. A number of the reviews say this is a good date place. You have got to be kidding me. If someone takes you on a date here, you need to ask some questions about his/her judgment. Unless he or she is like 20 years old and has the excuse of not really knowing what a nice restaurant is like. . . read more

Perfect Italian experience. Service: Absolutely perfect! Knowledgeable on wine and food. Confident. Didn't hover too much but was there when you wanted something. Water was always full. Excellent knowledge of how to serve, how to clear, what silverware to bring and when, how to serve wine, etc. It was just that perfect, simple service that makes a great meal an incredible meal. Flexibility: impeccable. We were difficult: we asked to order in courses, but to split them onto two plates so that we ordered one app, one salad, one pasta, one carni, one dessert but asked that they come in succession. And they accommodated us with a "of course, ma'am" and a genuine smile on their face. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! And they pulled it off PERFECTLY and timed it PERFECTLY. Wine: Amazing. We ordered a barbera off the wine by the glass list and it was killer good. Way better than expected and reasonably priced. Food: Amazing. The frutti di marri was the best I've ever had. My husband thought so too and he lived in Italy for a while and thought this was actually BETTER than he'd ever had in Italy. The seafood was succulent, perfectly cooked, the sauce had an exquisite, complex layered flavor that unfolded in your mouth as you ate it. Ambiance: So cute. The waiters spoke with an Italian accent. There was candlelight, exposed brick, Venetian masks, wine everywhere and the perfect violin date night italian music softly drifting in from the background. I can't WAIT to go back! read more

The meal was rather boring and Americanized. I didn't love the mushroom risotto, it lacked richness and was a bit gluey. The wine list seemed uninspired and the cocktails were lackluster. The service, however, was very attentive and accomodating. read more

Looking for a low-key, intimate setting and good Italian food, my fiancé and I headed here for Valentine's Day. As many have mentioned, it's easy to miss, as it's in an English basement and doesn't have any particularly noticeable signage. When we headed in, it was small and cozy, and perfect for the vibe we were going for. We were quickly given bread and butter as we looked over their menu, which offered many many options. Choosing an appetizer was pretty difficult since everything seemed appetizing (pun intended), but we went with the garlic bread with Gorgonzola cheese, as well as the mussels, which were prepared in white wine, herbs, onions and garlic. Both appetizers blew us away. They were flavorful and satisfying, but not overly filling, and a perfect setup for what we really came for...great entrées. Unfortunately, the great entrées never came. My fiancé ordered the tortellini with cream sauce, while I ordered the gnocchi with pesto sauce. My dish had zero flavor. None. I thought maybe I just made a poor choice, but my fiancé felt similarly about his selection. Needless to say, this was pretty disappointing considering that the appetizers were so good. We would probably return and just order more of those to share along with wine, but nothing beyond that. As far as pricing, our dinner for two (two appetizers, two entrees and a bottle of wine) was less than $120, which would have been a great deal had we liked all of our food. Additionally, service was quick and the staff was friendly. read more

Pasta is top notch - my kids have been on a search for DC's best gnocchi and last night they found it. They have a number of other homemade pastas that are just incredible. My wife had the ravioli filled with porcini mushrooms while I had the cannelloni. This place is just about the food. The interior is a little dated but if you're looking for that kind of place you'll be around the corner at I Ricchi spending much more $. Attentive service that is happy to accommodate you or make some changes to a dish if you'd like. Don't forget to save room for the cannolis! They're Sicilian style so they're smaller but you get two of them. Incredibly light and the ricotta cream filling is wonderful! PS - order the gnocchi in white sauce. You won't regret it! read more

Excellent hidden gem you may miss on the way to The Palm, if not for the sign. Down the steps and you step into a quaint little place where authentic delicious Italian food is served. We had the garlic bread, Kobe beef carpaccio, carbonara, Veal saltimbocca (not many locations even offer this anymore) and spicy shrimp in red sauce over pasta. All were fabulous and they even brought me a free tiramisu for my birthday with some amaretto liqueur to sip as well. read more

This is some of my favorite Italian food in DC! The pasta is cooked to perfection, and the restaurant uses the finest ingredients. Their marinara sauce, calamari, seafood pasta, and eggplant appetizer are my favorite! As for desserts, the chocolate cake is by far my favorite!! So rich and dark!! Everything is beautifully presented, and authentic in a romantic, cozy environment with exceptional service. I love Giovanni's Trattu and it is one of my favorite restaurants in DC! read more

This was place was delicious. This hidden gem in DuPont is a great place for authentic Italian. We ordered take out due to corona, and the process was fast, easy, and safe. The food travelled extremely well and the pasta didn't over cook as we took it home. The lasagne was the perfect portion and very satisfying. For Italian pasta dishes, we didn't feel heavy afterwards. They even included bread as if we were eating in-house! What a great find. read more

Incredible selection, authentic, great quality food and service. It's a little pricier considering it's run by authentic Italians, but it's worth it. Quiet, cozy restaurant that you wouldn't expect to find walking in DuPont. We recommend the Pollo al Parmagiana, Lasanga, and salad garlic bread. read more

Tucked away in a basement .Keep your eyes open. The inside is really quaint, small and intimate. Old fashioned old style with pictures of famous people. Its quite and clean. The staff is wonderful friendly and efficient. The food on the other hand is not impressive. Bland,bland,bland nothing wow to it. Ordered the mussels nothing but tomato sauce the mussels were plentiful, huge and plum but tasteless. Then next we ordered the seafood salad. Great presentation however it was bland you could taste the celery. Perfect place for first date. Not so clean bathrooms! read more

Giovanni's Trattu - Seafood Salad - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

First time here - selected based on Yelp reviews and the fact that we were at the National Zoo for ZooLights. Food was very good. I had the red snapper special with capers and mushrooms, and a side of pasta. Jim had the pounded veal chop - his favorite Italian dish. The most memorable dish was our appetizer, the beef capaccio. It wasn't large but had a really nice dressing that had a hint of mustard seed. Also, the cheese which I assume was parmesan was much softer than most parmesans and added an nice flavor. Service was good but not great. They were not very busy and accomodated our request to sit at a 4 topper in the corner however, service was a bit slow and "absent-minded" at times. read more

Came here a whiiile ago with a party of 4. Their rabbit stew on polenta was outstanding but most other things were just ok and a tad expensive. One of the coolest parts of this restaurant is the name plates on the wall, of famous people who have eaten there - Placido Domingo, Wolf Blitzer, etc. Also, the place had a very homely, intimate atmosphere! I would say 3.5 stars... again, Yelp: please give us half stars? read more

This is a lovely, intimate Italian restaurant on a side street near DuPont Circle. We enjoyed dinner so much that we came back a second time during a five-day visit to Washington. The pasta dishes were delicious -- homemade tortellini and lasagna. We also enjoyed the scallopini alma Trattu. Prices were reasonable given the quality of food and service. This is an excellent place for a romantic dinner but it also is simple and warm and the service is personal and excellent. It's definitely a place we will revisit when again in Washington. read more

I had an enjoyable meal, although this place did definitely not live up to the glowing reviews here on Yelp. The food was good but not great, the service was prompt but not overly helpful and the price was decent but not inexpensive. There was a guitar player who was practically screaming into my right ear throughout the entire meal. There were probably 25 people in the whole place- it's very small, in a basement of a small office building- but this guy was yelling like the building was on fire. There is a very likely chance that this affected my enjoyment of my meal. My friend and I split the cured meat and cheese plate as an appetizer. It was pretty much an Italian sub sandwich deconstructed on a plate. It was ok, but how good can this stuff really be? I tried to ask our waiter for recommendations, but he didn't speak English, so I just went with the spinach and cheese anglioletti. It was good, but not as good as Vace's, which is 1/2 the price ($10 vs $20). My friend had a pasta dish with various types of seafood. He was unhappy that the clams had not been scrubbed and still had junk clumped to the back of the shell. Overall, I liked trying out a new place, and this had potential, but it just wasn't that good. I'd rather go to Listrani's, Pines of Rome or even Maggiano's. read more

Giovanni's Trattu serves Italian food as it should be! Fresh, delicious and in an intimate setting. The eggplant parm was yum-delicious!!! Everyone was super happy with their meal. This is a hidden gem worth exploring! read more

Very friendly staff and delicious food. Drinks were nice and price was very good. I would totally go back again.

Very accommodating place for a last-minute reservation for 8 on a weekend evening. The service was friendly, the menu had great options and the food was very good. This is a cozy little place that would be great for date night. read more

Very mediocre food. My combo pasta platter was really small. Two of the three parts tasted like Chef Boyardee. My salmon ravioli had a strange taste, and I felt rather nauseous a few hours later, so who knows. No kids menu, and the $7 pasta side dish was just a few fork fulls of pasta....not nearly enough for a child over the age of 4-5. There's better places in the same area, especially when your dinner is going to be $100+. read more

Wonderful place. You feel like a member of the family here. Small and intimate we sat in the downstairs dinning room. Everything we ate was fresh and wonderful. Will definitely be back when we are in the area again. read more

Martinis half full and they brought canned olives upon request. Entrees were marginal/OK but the real disappointment were the cannoli - they were literally micro sized, like 1" x 2" long for $7.50. Salad tasted OK but was soggy. Dry bread. I realize you're paying for location, etc but really? You can do much better at Otello or even Dupont Italian Kitchen. read more

3.5 stars, but I'll round up to 4 stars. We made reservations since we had 7 of us eating. We arrived and it's a little hole in the wall/ located in a basement off DuPont Circle. Got seated right away and drink orders were taken and water glasses filled. The waitresses were like buzzards, filling up waters even if they were still half full- uh, still trying to eat!!! Ordered the apple salad to start. Walnuts were meh and hardly any dressing on, definitely not enough cheese on top. Main course: the mussels/calamari/shrimp with pasta and tomato sauce. Bigger portion (or so it seemed), compared to what the rest of the table got. The spaghetti and meatballs and the lasagna seemed to be well liked Tiramisu and cannoli for dessert which were all enjoyed In terms of prices, drinks are so overpriced for what they have- $10 for a Bailey's!!! Still a decent little place, but a walk from any metro station read more

Loved this place! Classic little homey Italian place with great service and hand crafted food that only comes from pride of ownership. The owner selected a great red to go with the "Veal McCoy"- sounds corny but it was fabulous! Great meal followed by the tiramisu, which was a tough decision as all desserts are made in house. Great food, attentive service, pleasant atmosphere, without the pretentiousness so common in this town. What more can you ask for? read more