Came because of all the raving reviews and seeing that il Canale made yelps top 40 list of restaurants to try. I got the famous lobster ravioli. It was good but I don't see the hype and also find other Italian restaurants in Georgetown to be better. It was still a good experience. We also tried their cannoli for dessert which was good. Overall nothing was bad but I also wasn't blown away. read more

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As a Georgetown native, il Canale has won my heart. I've always enjoyed it for casual, quality Italian food, but today they really shined. We were sitting outside under the awning with our dog (which they kindly brought a water bowl out for) and it started POURING. They offered to bring us inside but I felt too bad bringing the dog inside, so I said no. Then it was pouring extremely hard with wind and they offered again and said of course bring the dog inside! They sat us in the back so that it wasn't awkward with our quiet frenchie and the service was absolutely impeccable. Victor was so so so kind and such a sweetheart helping us move inside with the dog! The ENTIRE staff was SO beyond amazing even bringing a little water bowl for her inside and they have won patrons for life!!!!! read more

il Canale - Margherita Pizza, Campania Pizza, Caesar, Gnocchi alla Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The steak was really good, pasta was good, drinks were fine, service was good, apps- ehh (arancini and calamari- soggy). Overall, 3/3.5

Yes we got bread with our pizza. It's all worth it. One of the best wood fired pizzas I've had. All ingredients are fresh and flavorful. Waitstaff was all very friendly and polite. We sat outside, the street is relatively busy but not too bad. read more

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Dined at Il Canale on 10/11/2023. Vittoria provided outstanding service. Place is lively as most good restaurants are in Georgetown. While I have been here multiple times, this is my first review of this restaurant: 1. Penne al Salmone - ok. Fell a little flat, and absent that creamy 'comfort pasta' element. 2. Spaghetti alla Carbonara - Surprisingly, absent personality. Not a lot of flavors and the fresh cracked pepper when requested was dispensed as a DIY effort in a small, unenthusiastic pepper mill. I miss the nicety of a server arriving with a commanding peppermill and stopping only when I say 'when'. On a $130 bill for two, I may lean toward a crispy pizza and salad next visit. Again, service was solid, management was 'on the scene and paying attention'...maybe the kitchen had an off night on our plates, but nonetheless I will return for another dining experience in the future. read more

il Canale - Miss the server arriving with a commanding pepper mill - appears this Italian nicety is now DIY. - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I encountered this restaurant while in town for the weekend, and I'm glad I decided to stop. I ordered take out, but they had a nice dining area with most of the tables full and some outdoor seating on the sidewalk, all of which was full. I ordered two pizzas, my wife had the margherita and I had the la Regina and gnocchi with some cannolis for dessert. The food was fresh and tasty, though I don't think I would order the Regina pizza again. It had a big glob of some creamy cheese in the center, almost like ricotta, which I was not expecting. However, the margherita was exactly what my wife wanted. The cannolis were a tasty dessert treat that surpassed my expectations based upon cannolis at other places. If you're looking for some tasty Italian food in the Georgetown area of Washington, this is a great place to stop. read more

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Service was great and the ambiance was fine when I dined here for dinner recently. The food was just mediocre, at best. The calamari were fried appropriately but had no seasoning., the salad was served without being tossed, and pizza was just fine. If those are things that appeal to you, then go for it. I think I will pass and look for a place with more flavor. read more

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The hostess and managers have this place running like a well oiled machine. It was packed inside and outside. Plus there was a line out the door. I was beyond shocked that they sat us at our reservation time of 7:30 PM on a Saturday. Nobody that worked there behaved stressed or annoyed, given the crowds. the best gluten-free pasta and pizza that you can find in north west! You feel like you're eating the real deal! Have loved it from the moment they opened. read more

il Canale - Gluten Free Margarita Pizza & house salad - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

il Canale was by all means mid. Although the walls boasted of their top 40 ranking, the Italian food was decent at best and not memorable. While I was satisfied by the appetizers, the pasta was unimpressive in flavor and the pizza was overly charred. There was plenty of seating indoors, having two floors worth of seating. Although I had a reservation, there were plenty of large tables available during dinner rush. The food came out very fast and our server was great, covering the entire second floor by herself. =ORDERED= *Bread: came with a side of herb infused olive oil. While the olive oil was fragrant and garlicky, I was incredibly disappointed by the bread. The gummy interior and tough crust made it inedible. *Bruschetta: thankfully the bread was fresher which paired well with the juicy tomatoes. The olive oil, garlic and basil were very prominent so there was a more savory component to this antipasti as opposed to the sweeter and simpler versions I've had. *Prosciutto e Melone: simplicity done well. Everyone gushed about the juicy, sweet cantaloupe that mellowed out the salty, dry cured prosciutto. Arugula was the perfect topping as it gave an earthy, bitter profile. *Polpette al Sugo: one of my least favorite meatballs of all time. Firstly the meatball was very lukewarm with the interior being barely room temperature. The texture had no integrity, where it had the mouthfeel of mushy meatloaf. The meatballs tasted bland and had a gamey aftertaste. *Calamari e Zucchine Fritti: light batter with perfect crisp. Loved the spicy marinara which could have been it's own independent sauce for the meatballs and pasta. *Scialatielli allo Scoglio: the pasta was a tad undercooked but the sauce was stellar. The white wine was concentrated at the bottom but the cherry tomatoes had intense seafood flavor. There was a generous portion of mussels, shrimp and clams on top and overall a good dish for shellfish lover. *Spaghetti Pomodoro: very simple and portioned well. Could have been easily shared between two people. While I preferred the pasta from this dish, I was unimpressed by the brightness and personally would have added some salt and garlic to balance the acidity. *Margherita Pizza: while I love a good char, this pizza was too burnt for my preference. The entire bottom of the pizza was dark instead of spotty and the taste of ash overwhelmed the toppings. The pizza was cut poorly so pulling out a slice resulted in a goopy, cheesy mess. Upon request, we got a less burnt pizza but the slices were barely cut nor even the second time around. Sadly I didn't share the overwhelmingly positive experience as other patrons have had. I was unimpressed by the lack of thoughtful flavors and presentation which especially showed in the entrees. Yes I loved their melon but for a top 40 restaurant, I would hope for something more than just a good antipasti. read more

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great service from Wendy! she was super helpful and kind. would come back soon. the food was amazing and so was the dessert and ambiance.

We stumble upon this cute restaurant by accident and only after being seated we learned that Il Canale ranked 40th restaurant in USA by Yelp! And that is a favorite spot for celebrities. Despite the famous status service was very attentive and humble. Inside the restaurant has unique lighting fixtures and original art. Most of the wall space cover by pictures of famous people that once visited. There are outdoor seating, but due to the chilly weather we decided to spend time inside. We ordered pizza, soup of the day, lasagna and focaccia bread. All dishes were tasty! However, my son not used to original taste of pizza margarita (nothing like American). Lasagna was the best choice m-extremely flavorful and hearty. Wine was delicious and surprisingly inexpensive. Like all great Italian restaurants they also served amazingly strong espresso. For dessert we ordered chocolate cake with gelato. read more

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My experience at il canale was great!! I stopped by with my mom after shopping in Georgetown. We had a reservation, but it wasn't too busy around 5pm on a Saturday. It was a relatively warm day and it was a tad warm in the restaurant. The food was lovely. I got the Scialatielli Allo Scoglio. I love seafood pasta, it comes with mussels, shrimp, and clams with a cherry tomato, white wine, and garlic sauce. The pasta was so fresh and the sauce combined with the seafood very well. My only wish was that they removed the tails from the shrimp before putting them in the sauce. However, would recommend this dish as it was delicious. read more

il Canale - SCIALATIELLI ALLO SCOGLIO - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

After a day in DC seeing the sights, we found our way to this cute little gem. Our server, Natalia, provided amazing service. Her timing was perfect and always had our beverages filled. She provided great guidance on our menu selections as well. Excellent Neapolitan style pizzas with an incredible crust, excellent flavored tomato sauce, and amazing toppings. We also loved the lasagna and the gnocchi a la bolognese. Will definitely be back here for a pizza next time I'm in DC read more

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A great start to a week in dc. We were able to be sat without reservations, although it was early. Great food & service, a good place to get some pizza. read more

The gnocchi was really good, and service was super nice. I got a free cannoli for my birthday, and it was overall a really solid Italian spot. read more

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FYI - Check in on Yelp for a free mini cannoli! We expected a bit more custard, but overall, it was a small sweet treat to the end of our more savory meal. My friend moved here two months ago and she's already been to il Canale twice. Yesterday dinner was her third time and I'm glad I went with her for my first time! We came here with two others so we were able to share and sample different entrees. Definitely make a reservation in advance, otherwise, you'll be waiting for a while. MARGHERITA PIZZA - 15 We shared this among the four of us, and it made a great appetizer! Presentation wise, it was not great. The pizza was sloppily made. There were four pieces of sad looking basil that were lazily slapped on (off-centered) and the slices were sliced in drastically different sizes. However, the taste of the pizza was delicious. The sauce was flavorful and so was the pizza dough. Even the crust tasted great! Overall, if you ignored how it looked, you'll like it. LOBSTER RAVIOLI (FOR 1) - 26 This comes with five large pieces of ravioli and a generous amount of shallot tomato cream sauce. I'd highly recommend this if you want a lighter pasta entree! They definitely stuff the ravioli with a good amount of lobster meat and it's so delicious! I didn't feel too stuffed after eating this. The tomato cream sauce was sweet and not too thick, which paired well with the ravioli. I'd recommend it! GNOCCHI ALLA BOLOGNESE - 23 The meat sauce was amazing. The first few bites of the gnocchi were the best. If you are able to endure a heavy meal, I'd recommend this. Otherwise, the gnocchi can become a bit too much as it is very doughy and thick. My friend says she usually eats half of it and then enjoy the other half the day after. Overall, the food is quite good for the price (given that this is in Georgetown, too). I'd highly recommend checking il Canale if you want decent Italian food for a fair price. read more

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I'm here for the free cannoli! But actually the food here is pretty great! Appetizers: Bruschetta - delicious and the tomatoes were sweet BRUSCHETTA CON CAPONATA SICILIANA - contrast to the tomato, the egg plant was good and savory. CILIEGINA - delicious and refreshing salad. Pizza: MARGHERITA - my personal favorite. Simple and delicious. The cheese was amazing with the first bite. I added chili flakes. CAPRICCIOSA - lots of veggies but has prosciutto. IL CANALE - has lots of ingredients. The ricotta cheese was strong but it was balanced well with everything else SICILIANA - goat cheese and lots of tomatoes. It had a mixture of il CANALE and margherita. Desserts: Cannolis, they were delicious and the custard was creamy (as free when checked in) Torta 3 Latte - my favorite of the 3. It was a very milky cake. Vanilla gelato - yummy ice cream. Would come again! read more

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This is a great spot in Georgetown if you're looking for an intimate dinner/night out with friends. I definitely recommend getting a reservation, especially if you would like to sit indoors. My two friends and I shared the bruschetta and 2 pastas, and I felt like that was the perfect amount. The bruschetta was definitely my favorite! The staff was also kind enough to bring dessert for our birthday celebration. read more

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When you go to an Italian restaurant that specializes in pizza, always get the pizza. I thought I would be healthy and get their arugula salad. The salad was fine, the flavor of the dressing was great. All of the components were good. The only issue was that there was far too much arugula and far too little of olive, cheese, and tomatoes. After only about 5 bites I was left with nothing but a large mound of greens. I kept looking over at the pizza my mother and brother were splitting enviously. This is a lovely restaurant. We enjoyed our time sitting in their front outdoor area. Just, get the pizza if you come here. read more

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Food was good. Some people in my party enjoyed more than others. The bread to start was so hard so it didn't start in a great note but the rest of the food was good! To be honest, we were expecting some more options than the ones listed on the menu. Service was ok. read more

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Every time I'm in Georgetown I find myself at il Canale because I know I won't be disappointed. The food is very good, especially the pizza! The crust is one of the best I've had. The inside is very cute with fun artwork. They also have outdoor seating which is a nice place to have your meal. The restaurant is located down one of the side streets in Georgetown so you don't get the loud noise of traffic and pedestrians. I've never had bad service here. All these things keep me coming back and I recommend it to my friends whenever in Georgetown. read more

Great service the food was very authentic. We had the bruschetta to start, lasagna and lobster ravioli. Everything was fantastic. Several tables ordered pizza, so the pizza must be excellent also. Next visit for sure. read more

il Canale - Place mat - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place was very very packed so definitely make a reservation. I would say the service was pretty quick and attentive. The ambiance was a bit loud, so it was hard to hear each other. I definitely noticed differences from authentic Italian food, but it was still very good compared to a lot of other places. There weren't many options for vegetarians, but my friend enjoyed the RAVIOLI AI PORCINI E TARTUFO. I didn't attach a photo of the cannolis, but it didn't taste correct. The filling was very granular and not smooth. Other than that, everything was good. read more

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My family and I came here after reading reviews about how they were able to accommodate parties with dogs as we were visiting DC with our dog on a family trip. We had to sit outside in December however, since our dog is not a service dog. It was cold, but the food was good. Our waiter (Toto) was really friendly and provided good service. I knocked off one star because of the hostess at the front when we checked in. She was not friendly or inviting at all and gave mean looks when we were seated outside. She really didn't look like she wanted to be there, which is a shame since the restaurant and other employees were great! Having a hostess like that representing the restaurant isn't good for the business in my opinion. read more

il Canale - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of the Best Italian place I've been to in the states!! My favorite aesthetic is where this is located on the strip of the beautiful Georgetown. They also have the outdoor seating like how it looks in Italy. The staff speak Italian and French!! Also a lot of the customers are Italian!!! Food: One day we got complimentary bread and olive oil The next day I came we ordered bruschetta but didn't get complimentary bread Calamari fresh crispy and yummy plus the spicy marinara was amazinggggg Gnocchi with meat was okay Lasagna best thing pasta related hands down!!! Calzone DELICIOUS! Very filling Dessert the Tiramisu was soooo gooood and moist!! Seating: Tons of indoor seating. In fact they have two floors and can host private events! Outdoor seating with some heaters Service: Really sweet people!!! Highly recommend this spot! read more

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Excellent pizza and lobster ravioli. Service was great. Nice ambiance with framed photos of celebrities everywhere. read more

il Canale - Appetizers, salads, pastas - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Great place for a date, and the ambiance was relaxing once you got a seat, especially if you are able to grab a table on the rooftop! My boyfriend and I shared two pizzas - one with red sauce (margarita) and one of their le Blanche pizza, and both were delicious. I would say that the service was a bit disorganized, especially on a Saturday evening. Even though we had reservations, we asked for a rooftop seat and we're asked to wait another 25 minutes, and they would call us. About 40 minutes later, no one called our name, and it wasn't until we asked that they said they did, even though we were standing in line. When we were on the rooftop, it wasn't crowded and had opened tables, so it was frustrating that we had to wait almost an 40-45 mins past our reservation time. Overall would come here again but definitely make a reservation! read more

il Canale - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Delicious food! The pizza was fantastic and we practically ate all of it. The prosciutto was surprisingly very good. I did think it looked too simple for an appetizer dish, but hey it works. Don't forget to check in and get your free cannoli. I was pretty happy here. The customer service can use improvement but I guess the food makes up for it . read more

il Canale - Diavola pizza - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The ambiance was wonderful. Food was great. You can be so comfortable in this huge restaurant and service is excellent also. No wonder it's world renowned. read more

I've been here multiple times and this place is one of the closest restaurants to having authentic Italian food in the DC/NOVA area! I've tried their parmigiana and arancini which tasted almost like ones in Sicily. The pizzas and pastas here are also very fresh and flavorful. All food tastes great and doesn't feel heavy at all after the meal. The inside is very cozy and service is usually decently fast. This is the perfect place for a "fancier" dinner with a group of friends, family, or a date night for a very justifiable price. Definitely recommend! read more

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Great food in a very loud environment. Will report on both! Had reservations. First, Georgetown is nuts. Went on a Wednesday night (but wasn't any better on Thursday morning when we returned for some shopping). Very hard to find a parking space. So allot time for that. Had reservations....we were 10 minutes late or so due to the parking challenge...so was sat inside about 10 minutes after that. It's very loud inside. Had to compete to talk at our table due to the other tables conversations. Ordered wine for the wife and I. Now this is a nice, not inexpensive place, and the wine was a bit warm. Didn't understand this....should be in a wine fridge. Had the meatball appetizer. Very good. Had Caesar salad, also very good. Had Il Canale Pizza. Everyone was ordering pizzas, so we had to. :) very much enjoyed. Had Spahetti Bolognese. Pasta cooked just right, sauce delicious. Had Rollo di Pollo (with mushroom sauce). Overall we had a very good experience. read more

This restaurant is family owned and such a beautiful treat. The atmosphere is authentic and all the artwork is super unique. Look at the wall!!! My favorite part...Gnocchi and oh the wine was fabulous! I think I'm going back soon just for some gnocchi. I might just go tonight while my kiddos are at the movies smh. I'm not...but this place makes me feel like such a foodie. Lol The customer service was wonderful as well. read more

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I see why this place is the top ranked Italian restaurant in DC! The food was spectacular, I would recommend getting a pizza to share and ordering a pasta for a main dish. Their pizzas are made with organic "OO" flour and I swore I could taste a slight difference in their crust, it didn't sit as heavy as most pizzas do. Both raviolis were also amazing, we took our servers recommendation. read more

il Canale - RAVIOLI AI PORCINI E TARTUFO - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Stumbled in here in a Sunday afternoon for a solo lunch while shopping and had a delicious meal! I had struck out on jeans that fit me, and decided to soothe those feelings with a big bowl of pasta.... Sat at the bar and received prompt and friendly service. Decided on classics, Caesar salad and spaghetti pomodoro. Caesar was great, with a well balanced dressing. The spaghetti was so tasty, when they get the tomatoes right, it's right and this was perfect. Was being teased by the pizzas passing by and decided to order a margherita to go. Heated it up in the oven the next day and it was so good! Would definitely return to Il Canale! read more

il Canale - Margherita - great traditional pizza! Got it to go and heated it ip the next day. - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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First of all, the calamari was amazing. Probably some of the best I've ever had. It came out pretty quickly and the server was very attentive. For being Georgetown, this place has great prices. But based on the reviews, I was expecting this place to blow my mind. Don't get me wrong, the food was great and I would come back, but I just expected differently. I got the gnocchi bolognese as my main dish. They were very very soft and flavorful, but Id think there'd be more in the serving. The pasta sauce was also very good, but no unique flavoring that blew my mind. It was pretty crowded inside, as if they're stuffing as many people as possible. So that's something to be aware of. Lastly, their water is regular tap water, not filtered. read more

il Canale - GNOCCHI ALLA BOLOGNESE - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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In town for our son's graduation and this was his choice of restaurant. A very busy Saturday night, so the place was packed. Service was excellent, however the food was your typical American/Italian attempt at replicating true Italian food. The best thing on their menu is their pizza although the lasagna is pretty close to a typical Pasticcio that you will find in the Venito region of Italy. The waitstaff is mostly college students and the kitchen staff is predominantly Latino/Latina, so yeah, it's authentic Italian. Che Cazzo!!! PS: Please replace the children's ice cream Sunday cherries that you put in your $14 Manhattan with the true Luxardo Maraschino cherry. It's the least you can do. read more

il Canale - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Cozy place, server was new but very attentive. We ordered the bruschetta which was good. Sometimes the bread served with it is not good. Also, the diavola pizza. I'm a fan of pizza and wood fire is on top of the list. This one was done well. I would come back for the pizza in DC. I love a spicy salami. You certainly taste the quality. read more

Mine and my fiancés favorite Italian spot in the Georgetown area. There are a ton of little Italian restaurants in the area, but il Canale has been our go-to. The pizza is crispy and flavorful. The gnocchi is also soft and not too chewy and the sauce tastes fresh and homemade. Service is always great and the restaurant has a nice ambiance. It can get very busy and crowded , so I highly recommend a reservation. read more

Stopped by for a dinner and drinks outside on a warm summer evening. The service was very quick and friendly. The vegetarian pizza was light and tasty. The bruschetta was flavorful. A great date spot. Be ready to wait if you don't have reservations! Spent a combined $95 for the pizza, bruschetta, a tiramisu, and two drinks. read more

il Canale - Vegetarian Pizza - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is one of the best Italian restaurants In Georgetown with decent foods, great wine selections, attentive services and comfortable atmosphere. Convenient garage parking right across from restaurant. We've been here many time at various times and they are always busy and the bar can be super packed. We loved everything we have order so far from wine to dessert to entrees, except one time, the bruschetta we ordered bread was a bit too hard rather than crunchy. Do recommend! read more

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