I am not one to leave reviews, especially if its a negative so here goes. This was our 2nd time here. 1st experience made us return for the 2nd time to celebrate our 32nd Wedding Anniversary. It was a huge disappointment. We were seated at a nice table for 2. Then there was a patron that came in with a Service Dog and I Love animals and I completely understand the need for service animals but this dog smelled sooooo bad!!! We kindly asked to be moved to another table, which they accommodated. The food: Calamari was cooked well and very tender. The garlic cheese bread was great. The entrees were thee huge disappointment. Eggplant Parmesan which is my ultimate favorite and my go to, was not fresh - tasted as if it was frozen, thawed and cheese placed on top, which was burnt/chewy and it came out just warm as if it had been sitting. The pasta that came with was hot and tasty so l was very confused. Hubby ordered the Veal and it was covered in a brown sauce that tasted like bland flour and was not hot. The pasta that came with was hot and tasty as with the eggplant dish. The staff was very apologetic and asked if i wanted something else in place of the eggplant dish, but i declined as we were leisurely dining and had spent quite a bit of time as it were. They tried to make up for the terrible meal experience by giving us 2 glasses of bubbly and a dessert with a candle, which was thoughtful. I thought this was going to be our special Italian Gem after our 1st time, but we will probably not be returning. The whole vibe and experience was very off putting and disheartening. read more

Wouldn't recommend. We went on a Monday night and we're the only ones there for the entire dinner. The bread was cold and served with a bottle of oil with no spices. We ordered the Cesar salad which was about 3 bites and tasted like lemon for some reason. Pasta and eggplant was delicious. Decor was strange. If you combined thrift store finds with 3rd grade art projects and casino carpet. read more

I was quite pleased with Giovanni's Trattu, a small local Italian spot on a side street in downtown DC, those are always the best. I walked down the steps to a quaint and inviting restaurant. I was seated and welcomed right away. My waitress was super nice. When I could not decide between two of my favorites in authentic Italian locations, veal Milanese and spaghetti carbonara she said, "how about I bring you some of both?" Problem solved! And they were really good! Small and intimate place, but with a great selection of authentic Italian fare! read more

Everything about Giovanni's is perfect, from the food, to the service and to the value. You won't be disappointed.

Food is absolutely amazing and fairly priced. The service is friendly and very attentive. By far one of my favorite spots in D.C.

Probably a 2.5. The place had old down home ambiance because it's been around for 40 years and hasn't been renovated. The highlight was our waiter who was friendly and attentive. Food should probably get a 1.5. Stale bread and low grade olive oil (it was yellow!!!) started the meal. Got the mussel app with white wine garlic. It was just OK. My veal saltimbocca was overly salted and dominated by sage. It was tough little slices and it appeared they used low grade prosciutto, shredded mozz, and then fried it all into a crusty salty mess. I'm from NYC so maybe I've just had too many good veal dishes. Rest of family's meals were also mediocre. I can't believe this has over 4 stars. Maybe the reviews go back 40 years :) read more

Had dinner here with a party of seven (three adults, four teens) on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, our first night in DC for a three-day stay. The food was great and there were choices for both the adults and the teens. I had the fettuccine con porcini which was super. I can't remember what the others in the party had, but everyone raved about their meal. Atmosphere was great. It was pretty low-key on a Tuesday night -- but the spacing of the tables pointed to a restaurant that doesn't pack you in cheek and jowl. Service was attentive without being pushy. After a day hiking around DC I was appreciative of the unobtrusive refills of my water (I was pretty parched). Easy to see why this has been a neighborhood favorite for 20 years. Giovanni's exudes an easy confidence in what it does and does it well. Some foodies in your party may find it a little old fashioned, but that's only because it doesn't wear it's bonafides on it's sleeve like a lot of modern restaurants. read more

Our server took great care of us including our 7 and 10 yo. They don't have a kids menu but offered to create a side dish portion any way requested. The Carbonara, veal, and fettuccini con porcini were great. Portions and prices were reasonable. read more

We are visiting DC for a couple of days and were looking for an Italian place. We just had dinner at this restaurant. It's cute and the food was nice and tasty. Servers also super nice and friendly. We recommend for anyone looking for Italian food. The place is very small so depending on time I would recommend reservation as well. read more

We went to dinner at Giovanni's Trattu tonight and it was a good experience overall. We got in right at 5:30 and were the first ones in the restaurant. The service was friendly and attentive and the food was made quickly. We ordered the garlic bread, the Agnolotti di casa Mia with cream sauce, and the farfalle al salmone e piselli. The agnolotti was fresh, filled with spinach and ricotta, and a great cream sauce. The farfalle was good but the quality of the salmon seemed less than of a normal filet. The portions were a bit smaller, but we weren't very hungry so it was okay with us. Agnolotti di casa Mia with cream sauce (5/5) Farfalle al salmone e piselli (4/5) Garlic Bread (5/5) read more

Giovanni's Trattu - Agnolotti di casa Mia with cream sauce (closest) Farfalle al salmone e piselli with cream sauce (further) Garlic bread (middle) - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a must! Cute, quaint, and service is FANTASTIC! Brought in a large group of loud Texans and they did fantastic! Food was delicious, wine list covered it all. We will be back!!! read more

I owe my fellow Yelpers a big THANK YOU for finding this place. I was staying at The Mayflower and searched for a decent restaurant within walking distance. I decided that I was in the mood for Italian, so Giovanni's it was. The restaurant is down a side street, and then down a short flight of stairs. Don't let that bother you, though, because if you make it in, you're in for a great meal! I was immediately greeted by a friendly hostess who showed me to a comfortable table in the middle of the restaurant. Water, bread, and olive oil were provided while I scanned the menu and made a wine selection. I opted for the Spaghetti Carbonara, which was out of this world. The bacon was of great quality and perfectly cooked, as was the pasta. The sauce was outstanding... you're really indulging if you go for this dish, so it's very much appreciated to have it done perfectly. So, awesome food, cute restaurant, and great service - and very affordable. My meal, including a glass of Chianti, was around $25. I'm already looking forward to going back! read more

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Amazing service! The entire staff was fantastic, very attentive and went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our meals. The food was excellent. The garlic bread was both soft and crispy and they customized a penna a la vodka dish for us! It's located in an adorable quaint area. read more

Giovanni's Trattu - Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Located in a strip street in Dupont. That was not the issue though. The issue with this place was the pricing for the meal. I order a classic fettuccine alfredo, close to $19 dollars. When i saw that price i was shocked. I was thinking does it include chicken or shrimp. The worst part was how small the portion was. The food was delicious, but it tasted like any other fettuccine alfredo pasta i tried at olive garden or maggianos. But in those place i get a buy one get one free plate for half the price. I hate to complain, but after that meal i was still starving. I appreciate this place because the staff was friendly. The only recommendation i would say is to put more pasta on people's plates. read more

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

Having come from traveling all Italy a few months ago, we felt right back to our fabulous trip. Grazie for the great service, the amazing food & the homie atmosphere! read more

What a beautiful gem! My son and I are in DC to celebrate his 14th birthday and I came across this restaurant on Yelp. The customer service, decor and food are molto bene! We had a light but very fulfilling meal including the garlic bread, involtini di melanzane, caprese salad, pasta with butter sauce, chocolate mousse and the tiramisu!!! Every single dish was filled with authentic and fresh flavors! Did I mention the personable and attentive customer service? I cannot wait to return to this lovely restaurant! I also learned that the restaurant and my son were both born on Valentine's day so buon compleanno/feliz compleanos a mi hijo! P.S. check out the golden name plates with the list of notable patrons! read more

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It's a very pleasant small setting below ground, in a very central and accessible area. The menu is limited in scope, vegetarian-friendly enough but heavy on wheat and dairy as any Italian tends to be if those things are problematic to you. Given that, the garlic bread with gorgonzola was quite fantastic, and I enjoyed the baked pasta that I ordered. It gets a little downtown-y as far as price and clientele are concerned. Certainly, I enjoyed it and it served a mixed group well, but I'm more like to search of the beaten path for my Italian meals (and pay less). read more

Giovanni's Trattu - Al forno - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I really loved Giovanni's and I am so glad I found this hidden gem! We actually ate next door at St. Arnold's (also amazing) the night before and that's how we found it. The outside looking in looked cute and intimate, and also authentic and that's what I really liked about it! They also had a menu posted outside and the prices were very affordable so we decided we had to give it a try! The inside is a little dated and very small and gave that home style/ family run feeling. I had the cannelloni and loved it! I love Italian restaurants but I hate getting just a plain side of pasta, so I was in love with the fact that it was served with a side of vegetables I stead of spaghetti! My sister got the rigatoni con salcicca, which had chunks of Italian sausage and it was also delicious. My mom had the veal McCoy. It was very good, but very sweet. The tiramisu was definitely the best part of the evening. The three of us shared one piece and it was plenty. Probably one of the best tiramisu cakes I've ever had! If you are in DuPont Circle looking for a great and affordable dinner, I highly suggest Giovanni's! read more

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This restaurant is the definition of an Italian family-style restaurant. Everything was perfect and reasonably priced. The portions were just right. The staff was attentive but not invasive. The Bruschetta was the best I have ever had. I had a pasta dish with white wine and garlic sauce. It had an abundance of mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari. It was delicious. Topped it off with coffee and Tiramisu for dessert. Everything was fabulous. Thank you! read more

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

Lovely place, friendly staff, personalized service. Food was delish, wine list superb, ambiance just perfect. Casual but elegant.

Walked in on Tuesday night at 7pm not an issue with fitting us in. The service at this restaurant is absolutely outstanding. Two waitresses couldn't have been more attentive, pleasant and there were many tables they were waiting on. We had different pasta dishes and they were scrumptious! Food was hot and maybe took 15 minutes to hit our table. Wines were very good with good selection. Very reasonably priced. We will definitely make it back over next time in DC. read more

I made a reservation, they sat me at the time it was for. The food was perfect in every way, and our waiter was so charming. Quick service too, we were very surprised about the time it took for everything to come out. I got the Pesto Gnocchi, and each bite was divine. We also got some Gelato, Mousse, and tiramisu. Me and my family would love to come back again. Their wine selection is small, but that's only because they don't carry anything not worth your time like most restaurants try to do. read more

I have been going to Trattu every time I come to DC since 1983 when I attended college at American and was a regular (when I could on a college budget). It NEVER disappoints! I love, love, love this place and can't resist taking everyone I know for the delicious food and amazing atmosphere. I'm in town for one night and, although there are amazing restaurants everywhere in DC, including in the Kimpton George Hotel where I'm staying, I'll be Ubering to Trattu. My mouth is watering as I write this . read more

Every time I visit DC I make it my business to eat here at least once. Food is excellent. Service is excellent. Staff very friendly. I recommend making a reservation as it is a small restaurant. Chicken Marsala is my favorite. The Parmesan garlic bread is amazing. read more

Quirky little authentic Italian restaurant. The food was fantastic with generous portions and good value. The service was good. Seemed like a place for locals, which is a compliment to the restaurant. The bar is minimal and the atmosphere is not modern, but our family enjoyed the unique experience. read more

We went to Giovanni's for lunch on a weekday. The decor was nice and there were Venetian masks hinting to the Venetian specials on the menu. It wasn't busy so the service was quite attentive. I started with their version of Caesar's salad. The romaine was crispy and the salad was nicely seasoned. I then tried their veal tortellini with cream sauce. Their pasta is homemade and it makes the difference. The portion size was good and the tortellini didn't drown in the sauce. I didn't have dessert but I would have liked to try their tiramisu. Despite the negative reviews, I am tempted to go back and try more. This place has a nice ambiance, homemade pasta and is not as crowded as other lunch spots near Dupont Circle. read more

Giovanni's Trattu - Nice, cozy ambiance - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The fetuccini Bolognese tasted like it came out of a chef boyardee can. Don't misunderstand me: I LOVE chef boyardee, my point is just that it was heavily salted and nothing too special. We also ordered mussels and a veal scaloppine. The mussela had an excellent sauce with toast, but the meat themselves didn't retain the flavor of the sauce. On the other hand the veal may have retained too much of the red wine redux. It felt like a thin sponge of wine, acidic and soggy, while the meat wasn't as tender as I hoped. My favorite part of the meal was the spinach, which was lightly sauteed and flavorful. Ultimately, a fine spot to grab dinner at, but nothing fascinating. If I was trying to find a dinner in which I searched first on Yelp, this wouldn't be my first choice. read more

Twice now I have tried to give the porcini mushroom pasta a chance. It does not taste good. I enjoy pasta. I really really wanted to enjoy this. I added some black pepper and it just doesn't taste good. I had hope. I wanted it to be good. It has some flavor, but it just doesn't sit well. read more

This place is absolutely amazing. I have a handful of Italian restaurants I love in DC, so I was hesitant to branch out of my norm rather than go to one of my other favorites. To start, the service was top notch - our waiter was attentive, but not overbearing - always popping in at the right moment. My husband slightly spilled his drink. The waiter came over to assist and get him a new menu then he (the waiter) spilled the drink further and was so apologetic and the bartender immediately brought a new one out. We really didn't care at all but the staff was so quick to refresh our table cloth and get us back set up. Apps were fantastic, entrees - all four of us got pasta - were delicious, authentic and flavorful. I was going to order one of the mushroom pasta but our waiter suggested a different one that he likes better and it did not disappoint. We let him pick out our desserts and they were so good as well. The restaurant was quiet, quaint and had that old school character that is often the sign the food is going to be great before you have even ordered. The whole experience was so satisfactory that I made a reservation for my family for Christmas Eve here and I am going back in two weekends. read more

Probably more like 4.5 stars. Very good food, solid prices. Service was attentive and professional. The cute decor was a big hit with the women in our group. Could see this place being good for a date if that is what you are looking for. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals with highlights seeming to be the veal saltimbocca and pasta carbonara. As others have mentioned this place is pretty small so you might want to play it safe with a reservation. Highly recommended. read more

As soon as you walk in, you notice the amazing atmosphere and friendly staff! The place is very cozy and beautifully decorated. They all work so hard to make sure you feel welcome and have the best service possible! The bread was incredible, but nothing compares to the food!! I have never had more authentic Italian food in The US. They even gave us complimentary gelato because our food took a bit longer to come out, and it was the best dessert I've ever had. Five Stars! read more

Second time back to this local neighborhood place. Great service, food, and ambiance. Owners are brother and sister who wait tables and cook. Intimate setting and authentic dishes make this place a must try! read more

Food was good. Lots of bugs flying around biting us really detracted from the enjoyment.

A friend and I had a perfectly nice lunch here today. Fine selections from the seafood menu: both the Spiedino di Gamberi and the Filetto di Salmone were tasty and the portions ample but not overwhelming. I came with rather higher expectation about gluten-free possibilities (important for my dining companion), based on both the web site and these reviews -- there is ONE gluten -free pasta and there were only two gluten-free seafood dishes on the menu. But the atmosphere was pleasant and we would be glad to come back. I did not notice the odd odor that many reviewers mention, but my companion did - not problematic in any event We were able to get a noontime lunch reservation at the last minute but the dining room was full when we left after 1 read more

This restaurant is a hidden gem. The service and food was amazing. The waitress was so friendly and the food was delicious! Definitely will be returning... read more

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Yay, I got to meet up with my very favorite Bailey-mama and her adorable new short 'do for lunch, finally! She had a work appointment in the neighborhood, and I'd been meaning to check out this joint, so we made a date for a quick bite. Just a few easy blocks away from the Dupont Metro station, it's surprising to me that more people haven't discovered how wonderful Giovanni's Trattu is. Well, not that much of a mystery considering it's off a minor side street that's easily overlooked, and it's down a set of stairs below an obscure sign. But I promise, hunting for this hidden gem is more than worth the effort for the delicious offerings to be found within. The space isn't terribly large - there's probably seating for about thirty or so. It's definitely cozy in this subterranean den. To a certain extent, it reminds me a little bit of La Viola in Philly - no nonsense service and delicious fare. I don't usually "ooh and ahh" over pasta. I typically avoid Italian fare - it tends to be heavy, starchy, and either boringly bland or unduly salted. Not here. My penne a la siciliana was worth moaning in pleasure over. Perfectly al dente pasta (I hate mushy pasta) served with a light tomato-based sauce, sun-dried tomatoes (my favorite!), very mild kalamatas, and flavorful capers. I was easily full about halfway through my dish, but somehow managed to find room to cram it all down. Clean plate club for me! Ideal for a leisurely business lunch (we were in and out in just under an hour and a half), or an intimate date. Seriously, check out this joint; it's like a local secret! read more

This was a really great experience. The service was attentive and family like. We felt welcome. The food was delicious across the board, from start to finish. Prices were reasonable with an excellent selection. We are glad we went and would do it again in a heartbeat. Try it out, you'll be glad you did. read more

Ah, Dupont. I have a love/hate relationship with Dupont Circle but I adore a little street called Jefferson that harbors two of my favorite restaurants in the area (the other fave being St. Arnolds). If you've ever visited the Amalfi coast, you will be familiar with the brightly colored dishware (lemons!) that adorn the walls in this tucked away restaurant. Despite being partially subterranean, the restaurant still manages to be bright and as welcoming as your grandmother's house on formal-ish Sunday dinner. I wouldn't show up here in sweatpants, but if you aren't inclined to dress up, you can also come in normal clothes. Would be a great date place, but you could also go with friends or for a nice lunch. I've done all three of those options and never felt out of place. If you don't know what to order, Giovanni's excels at classic Italian dishes. The menu isn't creative or exciting, but there's something to be said for perfectly executed carbonara or clams linguine. I loved the veal tortellini and the tiramisu as well. One drawback is that the dishes have gotten more expensive in the couple years I've been coming (around $20 a dish!), which is partially why they get knocked down a star. Overall, go to Giovanni's if you're looking for a nice casual atmosphere and good food in the craziness that is Dupont. read more

One of the best restaurants we visited during our trip to DC. The food was amazing and the service was attentive and kind. Don't miss this dinning experience! read more

This restaurant transports you to Italy in every way. I was smitten with the cozy and old school ambiance. We had a fantastic meal with friends and everyone raved about the food. Our server was friendly and attentive too. We'll be back with friends and family and next time will save room for the tiramisu! read more