We were a group of 5 who had just completed a walking tour of DuPont Circle's Embassy Row and were ready to find some food and warmth from the cool fall weather. One of our ladies was familiar with this restaurant and suggested we stop over. We are very glad she did! Entrance into the restaurant was warm and inviting. Music was piped in but not overly loud to interrupt conversations. The staff had us wait only a moment as they quickly rearranged some tables so we could all sit together. Our server also provided separate checks to make it easier for us. It was a Saturday so we were presented with their brunch menu or could order items a la carte. We placed our orders and were then presented with freshly baked warm slices of bread drizzled with olive oil, that was delicious. The pastas used in the Ravioli and Ragu' Bolonese dishes looked freshly made and the sauces were delicious. Another person had the Benedetto ( their version of Eggs Benedict) and I saw no remnants of their meals left on their plates. I enjoyed the Frittata con Fungie e Patate, the mushrooms were well incorporated within the frittata and the creamy fresh ricotta on top helped me enjoy each bite. Unfortunately time did not allow us a chance to try any of their desserts but what we did have was enjoyed and the friendliness of the staff made for a very pleasant ending to a busy day. They also have a covered outdoor patio and we just enjoyed watching the outdoor scenery of fall leaves on the trees, people walking by and no major noise despite the traffic going by. If you wish to enjoy delicious Italian food in a warm bistro setting this is a place to relax and enjoy. read more

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I ate here last night on the spur of the moment, for the first time in several years. I enjoyed the meal as much as ever. The prawns wrapped in fried vermicelli were a tad pretentious but tasted really good. My wife had the polenta and found it a bit spicy, while I had the ragu calabrese which was not quite as spicy as I might have preferred. The dessert list looked nice but we were both full The arrival experience was a tad off-putting. There were plenty of empty tables, but the hostess, after asking if we had a reservation and hearing that we did not, had a bit of a frown and said she would have to look to see if they had room. She found that we had and led us to a table. And there were several empty tables throughout our meal. Given the situation she must have known that there was plenty of room I felt that she putting on airs read more

La Tomate - Grilled shrimp (gamberi) - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This is a great Italian restaurant. I liked the pasta I had here. I don't usually get cacio e pepe but the one here is really good. I also liked the red wine and tiramisu dessert. The service was great and the restaurant had a cute atmosphere. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available. read more

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A friend & I had a wonderful lunch at La Tomate yesterday. We sat outside, which was lovely. I had the bolognese sauce (pork) on fettuccine & it was excellent. Very flavorful but no too rich. The portion was ample & I took home enough for a second meal. read more

La Tomate - Fettuccine Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Roger was a great server. There was a communication issue between the server and the drink guy. The drink guy went off on Roger and speaking to him in Spanish. The lobster pasta was good, but my dessert was spoiled. I have had Tiramisu many times. But this one was sticky and sour tasting. read more

La Tomate - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Squid ink pastaelegant cosmopolitan location. Family owned and operated. Good variety of Italian dishes close to Metro.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in DC. The staff is always very accommodating. Service is very prompt. The atmosphere is pleasant. The decor is nice. The food is awesome. Every thing I have ate at La Tomate has been amazing. read more

An Italian style restaurant does not automatically mean pizza... there is way more interesting food at this place than pizza. The service was meeting expectations: you won't find students waiting tables to make some extra money as the staff I saw consisted of seasoned staff. The atmosphere was a bit more relaxing as nobody came to the table every two minutes asking for something: if you needed time you got time, once you were ready it was easy to flag someone down... nice. The one thing which was a bit surprising are the prices: coming from Canada I didn't expect paying over CAD 75 for my meal but other places in this area were similar if not even more expensive. After all I had a nice evening and would recommend this place. read more

The calamari in a puttanesca sauce was quite nice (albeit a little rubbery), and raised my hopes for my prosciutto flatbread (my two friends there with me got the salmon flatbread). What we got was what I'm convinced is a store-bought tortilla topped with scant portions of what was on the menu (mine said prosciutto, arugula, parmesan, and cherry tomatoes, and the tomatoes were absent). It wasn't even heated up, and I think it was $24. I'm not one to leave a harsh yelp review but we were all significantly disappointed. Had to get ice cream across the street to cheer up. Will probably get the ravioli if there's a next time, which after having a bite of a friend's was at least palatable. read more

Absolutely amazing service. I made a reservation ahead of time and we were able to seat outside. I especially enjoyed the salmon carpaccio and cocktail, and the rest were good but not as good as the aforementioned two. This is a great place to wind down and have a date or brunch with the girls. The servers were very attentive and I felt very well taken care of. read more

La Tomate - Ragu' Calabrese or Bolognese and Filetto Steccato - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Giving this a 2.5. Pretty disappointed with my recent visit here on a Saturday. The decor is adorable and the name itself is very novel, so I had to step inside (points for the cute atmosphere! Maybe you could just come here for drinks and appetizer and that's it). The best dish I had was the appetizer and it seemed to go downhill from there. We ordered the beet salad - gold and red beets, which were gorgeously plated with dollops of vinaigrette and cream sauce. Fresh and light. Then I ordered a pasta with mushroom and truffle sauce. It was way too heavy on the truffle flavoring (not really truffles). But I couldn't finish my dish because it was really dense. The pasta itself was more than al dente, so I don't think it could've been freshly made pasta -- too bad for a classic Italian spot. My partner ordered the cacio e pepe. It had a heavy hand of cheese to mask, perhaps again, a pasta that wasn't fresh. We then got dessert in attempt to top off of the meal on a higher note. We got the panna cotta, which was kind of jello-y (instead of creamy) on a bed of citrus and crumble. I wasn't a fan of the citrus with the panna cotta - perhaps because the citrus they used wasn't as bright, as I liked it to be (again, not fresh? ... sensing a theme here). We also got a scoop of gelato, but how could you go wrong with gelato. So, all in all, a meh meal. Unfortunately, our super high bill didn't match with the quality of the meal. If I was paying that much for a nice dinner in the city, I would have expected a lot more! read more

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This was my first time at this restaurant, it had really good reviews and the pictures looked really amazing so I decided to try it. I had the lamb chops and calamari. The calamari came out really fast it was good but the lamb chops took almost an hour to come out and the server never came to check n me . He constantly walked by me not acknowledging me . The couple sitting next to me came in after me and their appetizers and entrées came out before my food and they came in at least 15 minutes after I did. As soon as their food was done he apologized to them for the wait . The food was good but the service sucked even the guy who brought the food out didn't apologize to me about the wait. read more

La Tomate - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a very nice Italian restaurant in the dupont circle area. There is another one across the street-sette. I would say that for pizza go to sette but if you want something a little higher end la tomate is the better choice in the area. The have a nice wine selection and their fish and risotto dishes are usually great dishes to order. The charcuterie board is great as well. Their gluten free pasta is great (slightly more Al dente which I like). For the area this is a strong option for dining. Maybe the best. read more

La Tomate - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

First, when you "check in," it might show a 15% discount. They said they DONT like it and were hesitant to recognize it. The manager said they tried to cancel it. If you go for the discount, maybe go someplace else. HOWEVER, don't let that impact your overall decision to dine here. Great atmosphere, nice outdoor options when it is warm, and the inside is very nice. Had the Ragu Calabrese with spicy pork. It was very good. Lots of sauce and pork in every bite. Also tried the eggs avocado. It was creamy and tasty. Worth noting the bread and olive oil were so good. The bread appears to be made in house. The olive oil was a delight. read more

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I love nothing more than authentic Italian with a no-BS wait staff. That is not La Tomate. They're straight up mean to customers and the food sucks! Way over salted and poorly cooked chicken, limited wine menu, and boxed pasta. If you're going to serve borderline inevitable food, the least you could do is have manners. read more

When you're tired of trendy restaurants, come here and sit outside and enjoy the food, wine, and people watching. I always skip the Caesar salad that the restaurant pushes on diners, and instead get the lightly dressed mixed salad. You can't go wrong with the pasta, but last week I had the monkfish prepared in saltimbocca style, somehow light, with sage and prosciutto. It's just a great neighborhood restaurant that's been here for probably 20 years for a reason and it's always crowded. A great place to sit back, relax, watch the scene on Conn Ave., and just enjoy the food. It reminds me of so many restaurants that I visited in Rome - not trying to be anything but a neighborhood trattoria with great food. A great Sunday night place! read more

I would love to comment on the food however the rude hostess wouldn't seat us immediately because we walked in with a to-go cup of coffee. She made us stand up front and finish the coffee because we "couldn't have it at the table." Our bill wohld have easily been over $200 so this type of "rule" is ridiculous. We stood and drank the coffee and then left for a more welcoming establishment! Instead of eating here, walk up the street to DuPont Italian Kitchen and then to Dolcezza for a delicious coffee or affogatto! read more

La Tomate - Filtered Coffee - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been wanting to try La Tomate for several years now and I'm happy to report that they didn't disappoint. La Tomate is located in the heart of Dupont Circle and very difficult to miss because the restaurant is located on a corner.  I actually think the resturant is beautiful outside and inside. As I mentioned from the top, I really don't have anything but good things to say about La Tomate. It's very clear from the elegance of the restaurant that they aim to deliver exceptional food, ambiance and service. I ordered a pasta with bolognese and it truly was to die for. I had tiramisu for dessert and it was equally as scrumptious. I'm convinced that La Tomate is a community staple and I'm also confident they will remain as such. La Tomate is certainly the place to enjoy a solo meal or with family or lobes ones. Don't pass through Dupont Circle and forget to enjoy a meal at the incredible La Tomate. read more

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Wonderful neighborhood experience every time. This venue is iconic in the Dupont area, and a great place for someone to relax with friends or have a low key special occasion. Menu is well curated, if a little higher than most spots. It's well worth it for the atmosphere. read more

Service is great! Location is cool, food is average. We ordered the beef bolognese with gluten free pasta and casarecce homemade pasta. We both thought the bolognese was average. A regular iced tea was over $5 & my husband did not care for it. Odd flavoring. (Maybe pumpkin spice?) Pricey dinner for 2 pastas, tea & one glass of wine. It was one of the only places open after 7 on a Sunday. Our server, young guy was on it! read more

La Tomate - Beef bolognese with casarecce pasta. - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We called in to order the Groupon four-course for four people for pickup. The whole bag was ready in about 30 minutes. It was average busy for lunch the day before the Thanksgiving long weekend. The dishes were still warm after another 30 minutes of driving to work. We expected four with some olive oil and vinegar but not just two bread rolls. Caesar salads were good for four people. Rigatoni with red meat sauce were barely met four people. The roasted boneless lamb were tender and juicy. The tiramisu were well made and delicious, which became the best of this package. read more

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I used to live a few blocks from La Tomate. I have always considered it a wonderful neighborhood restaurant. Some time ago, for old times sake, I bought a Groupon for the restaurant. The Groupon expired, but it states clearly in the terms of the purchase that if you don't get the "deal", before it expires you still will get the value of the Groupon purchased. I stopped by today to see what if anything could be done with the remaining value, and was told, dismissively by a young manager on duty, "we haven't dealt with Groupon for over a year, your coupon has zero value!" When I noted I didn't want a deal, just the value I'd paid for the coupon I was told, again dismissively, "it has no value!" (in direct contradiction of the statement on the online coupon.) I've never written a negative review on Yelp! Not once. But the dismissive tone was offensive. I told the young manager I might spent another $100 on top of the value but I should not have to eat the full cost of what I'd paid for the Groupon, especially since La Tomate got paid for my purchase. He didn't budge. I also have to wonder if my being a Black male in a hoodie and sweat pants played a role. I was walking home from the DuPont Circle Market on a weekend afternoon. The young manager had a relatively empty restaurant but was eager to have me leave and was incredibly condescending. I don't raise racial issues lightly, but in this case I have to ask the question. I haven't been to the restaurant for years as I've moved out of the neighborhood. It held many fond memories. The attitude of the manager today erased all those memories immediately. His attitude angered me, but, worse, it saddened me... read more

Short version: La Tomate has that "je ne sais quoi" factor - something about the ambiance, the windows, the pleasant seating areas - and the food is quite decent. It may not be top-of-the-line but it's very good, and the prices are reasonable when you consider that wait staff also need to pay rent and eat. We used to eat here quite a lot when we were dating, but once we did the typical thing - got married, had kid, moved to the burbs - we didn't get back till recently, when we decided we needed to visit our old favorite date spot. So we did lunch. We always appreciate places that are open in mid-afternoon as it's extremely pleasant to show up when it's not busy - keeps the decibel level low. A nice plate of ravioli at 3:30 pm really hits the spot! Tiramisu was also excellent and I enjoyed the caesar salad. Service by and large was excellent - only complaint is the absence of salt and pepper on the table. We did ask, but it never materialized. I get that many places have stopped providing mills or shakers as I guess they get stolen... so I've started carrying those little paper envelopes of salt and pepper in my purse!! But my husband asked for a lemon wedge for his entree - it never came either. So service could be notched up a bit without hurting anything. Dinged them a star for that. We'll definitely be back. We prefer places like this - unpretentious, no yuzu foam, no deconstructed anything, just good food, nicely prepared, in a pleasing atmosphere that doesn't require shouting to have a conversation. read more

The homemade pasta is excellent. I had a fix price menu with salad, fettuccine Bolognese and a glass of Pino Grigio. This is real Italian food made the old fashioned way. It is wonderful. The restaurant's atmosphere is beautiful and classically unique. My cappuccino was as good as any I've ever had and I've been to Italy a number of times (having always avoided the touristy areas). My Italian friends would have agreed. read more

Delicious fresh pasta & professional friendly staff that are helpful with menu recommendations. The restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere & is conveniently located close to Metro. read more

La Tomate - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Delightful and delicious dinner with soon to be new family members. Thoroughly enjoyed service and vibe! read more

La Tomate is an upper-scale Italian restaurant in DC. I would only say it's "upper-scale" because of their prices. The quality of food was good, but a little over priced. Their cocktails are $16, which was also a little more than I felt comfortable paying. Beyond their prices, our waiter was very aggressive and rude to my friends and I. read more

I've been by this place many of times whenever in DC. Might as well give it a shot. Haven't read any reviews or even checked it out, it was a first timer for everything. The restaurant is quaint, on a busy street with a lot of passerby. There's also out patio seating available. But December in DC, inside was the case. Plus it happened to rained all day. The wine menu and cocktail were great. There's a full bar, perfect for cocktails or a meal. Didn't have any starters as bread and oil was brought out. Went straight to the main course, pasta. A side salad came with our dish. Just the basic ceaser salad, but it was quite tasty. The pasta was perfectly cooked. Full of flavors. It was pretty your traditional mom and pops Italian restaurant. Everything was amazing. Service, food and drinks all were great. read more

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I cherish older restaurants like this that aren't like the fancy contemporary restaurants popping up all over dc. Due to the nice weather, I was able to sit outside, and I thought it was a nice touch that they provide blankets for outdoor diners. I tried the bottomless brunch for $33. Thé dishes you can choose from are delicious and so beautifully presented, it felt like I was at a much more expensive restaurant. I also liked how they didn't use a bunch of cheap (but filling) carbs for most of the dishes. Great meats, cheese, olive oil, vegetables. That said, the rigatoni was delicious and very meaty. Service is a bit slow, but Im sure there are reasons for that. Anyway, the food is so delicious it doesn't bother me that much! read more

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Absolutely loved this really cute, cozy, authentic Italian spot in dupont circle. I stopped in with my parents for a drink and apps after a long day of sightseeing. The staff were super kind and accommodated our request for a table just to have quick apps and a drink despite the upcoming busy dinner hour. They made me a really yummy grapefruit mocktail (bc dry January) & my parents enjoyed an aperol spritz and a glass of wine. We had the Arancini appetizer, which are the fried risotto balls, they were good but not great. We also enjoyed the smoked salmon appetizer. Would love to come back and enjoy a full dinner here sometime!! read more

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This was my second time coming to La Tomate and had a wonderful time! The food, service, and atmosphere were great! Love the location which is very close to DuPont circle. Made a same day reservation 30 minutes before we wanted to come and they were able to accommodate us (even on a Saturday evening)! Sat on the patio and enjoyed the warm summer evening. Started the meal with their bread which was okay. Nothing to ride home about. Didn't seem like fresh bread but everything else about the meal was great. Everyone enjoyed their meal very much and finished everything! Didn't have any leftovers! The surprise dish for me was the Funghi e Verdure! Wow, this dish was amazing and such a great low carb option! Definitely will order that again next time! Overall, a great family friendly place and one of our go to Italian places in DC. read more

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Do not overlook this DuPont neighborhood fixture. Due to poor planning I had dinner there today and it was excellent. They make their own pasta, so you can't go wrong with any of it. The fish courses are also always good. The service is fine, the ambiance casual. The best part ? Unlike some other more buzzy and popular restaurants they are genuinely happy for your business. read more

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I would give the location, manager, and physical location five stars. The outdoor patio is such a nice option in the summer! Everything else was pretty disappointing, especially for the price. Every item at this restaurant is $5-10 overpriced for the quality you get. We started with arancini, which came out undercooked. The presentation was nice, and the outside of the breaded balls were nice and crispy, as they should be. However, when we cut into the balls, the color was unappealingly orange, the taste was pretty meh, and the cheese wasn't melted and gooey--it was nearly frozen!! Literally cold cubes of cheese. I suspect they make large batches of these and freeze them. Anyway, pointed out the cold hard cheese to our waiter who said he'd "ask the chef" if that's normal. No, sir. It's not. Props to the restaurant for taking the dish off the bill, but the fact that the waiter had to CHECK if arancini should be melted and hot inside or not was concerning. We had a Caesar salad that seemed designed for children and the vegetable-averse. It was *smothered* in Parmesan. Too much of a good thing ain't good for you, baby. My boyfriend gave up on sipping his lackluster mojito around this point. To be fair, why did he order a mojito at an Italian restaurant? That one is on him. I got the fish, a sea bass with a "zucchini crust." A "crust" is, by definition, a hard outer layer. I envisioned a squash-infused breading, like a crumbled zucchini stick. What arrived was a piece of fish, covered in a layer of soggy zucchini slices. So presentation was weird and that was disappointing, but then the fish itself wasn't even enjoyable! And this is a $26 dish. I'd pay $14 for what I got and live with it, not that I'd ever make the mistake of ordering it again. But for nearly twice that? Nope. I sent it back, which I NEVER do. Our waiter seemed annoyed with me by this point. Fair, and it's not his fault our experience kinda sucked, but the attitude was noticed and not appreciated. I switched to the fusiloni pomodori, which was nothing exciting, but did the trick. Sauce was okay. The pasta, however, was perfectly al dente. Points for that. Still, pretty expensive. $22 for basically a dish of plain pasta! Everyone else got the bolognese, which they said was pretty mediocre. I'm sure kids will be happy here, and it'll do in a pinch. But, man...Come for the location, but don't expect anything special from your meal. We went elsewhere for our after-dinner gelato. It was great. read more

La Tomate - BRANZINO IN CROSTA TAGLIATELLE ALLA BOLOGNESE - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

La Tomate it is. In 1987 the doors opened to the public. A year later the owners switched the menu to Italian, Natalina's heritage. The food has never gone back. If you are in search of long term employment and truly love Italian Cuisine, La Tomate could be your forever home away from home. Celebrating 35 years officially since August 1987, this magnificent bistro has been a staple in the DuPont Circle community of Washington, DC. They offer lunch, happy hour and brunch on the weekends too. They also have a stellar catering menu and have private and semi private dining options upon advanced request. Book your reservation on OpenTable.com to review points toward free meals in the future. Chef Candra says that this Italian Bistro is sure to please your pallet. Bon Appetit, Chef Candra @everyplateisgreat https://youtube.com/channel/UCzKgx5RFVlFnkAcK0TEn3Ew #LaTomate #DupontCircle #WashingtonDC Netflix #FoodCritic #RestaurantCritic #Critic #Foodie #Italian #Italy #ItalianCuisine #ProductOfItaly #BonAppetito Bon Appétit Magazine #washingtoninformer The Washington Informer Washington Post #Bistro #ItalianBistro #Vlogger #restaurantblogger #Blogger read more

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Despite hosting enjoyable authentic Italian food, the service at this restaurant made all 4 in my party very uncomfortable. From being seated in a location with no fan or AC (in this sweltering DC heat) to being forced to repeat the name of a dish until we got the proper Italian pronunciation correct, we were on edge whenever our waiter approached us. Not only did the service make us uncomfortable, but there were multiple instances where we asked for items (water, more bread, more utensils) and they were never brought to us. I enjoyed my meal, but given the portion size (see attached image), I believe that the steep price tag was unwarranted. Similarly, the drinks were noticeably more pricey than other restaurants in the area, without a significant difference in quality. I would consider this restaurant a nice location for a special night out if only the service and atmosphere didn't make us feel so unwelcome. read more

La Tomate - Caccio E Pepe Con Uovo (Cheese with pepper, and egg) - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you're looking for delicious, traditional Italian dishes, pleasant surroundings, and good service, La Tomate is the right choice! Their Caesar salad is the best I've ever had. The tables are arranged such that the noise from other patrons does not drown out conversation. In winter, the elegant, pendant lights over the bar lend a cozy atmosphere inside, and in summer there is patio dining outside. My husband and I hosted a dinner for 12, and the proprietress worked closely with us to be sure we were getting what we wanted. The guests had three appetizers and three entrees to choose from. I requested the Caesar salad and the same dessert for everyone. We chose a white and red wine to be served with dinner. We thought the tab was quite reasonable. read more

Delicious, classic Italian food with great wines and cocktails too. It took me 10 years of walking by to finally go in, and I'm so glad I finally did! read more

Where to begin? The entire dining experience was without peer! The dining environment was reminiscent of corner cafes in Paris or off the beaten track Trattorias of Rome. The decor is established modern and pleasing. The various art works in the place are eclectic, eccentric, and interesting. The musical selection was subtle and understated and complimented the environment without distracting in any way from the experience. The service was also peerless. Observant, attentive, and, most important to me, nearly transparent! No hovering! Just supremely competent! Finally and most importantly, the food.. stunning! The three of us covered most of the terrestrial options and all were outstanding. My son's chicken dish was, as he put it, at that perfect moisture level- neither overcooked and dry nor undercooked and runny! The flavor was also top drawer. The filet exceeded the expectations I reserve for dedicated steakhouses. A subtle seasoning and cooked to perfection. Rare for us. The lamb chops were among the best I've eaten in decades! All dishes were served attractively plated and complimented with sides that were truly complimentary to the main. Finally, the dessert selections were both outstanding. The Mousse was dark and dense- I know some prefer fluffy mousse but I'm not one of those. The tiramisu was amazing and this is coming from a guy who has NEVER had a tiramisu he liked! Again, the subtlety was the key! A perfect combination of complimentary flavors. Oh! And the espresso reminded us also of Italian Espresso from the streets of Rome. We have absolutely nothing to complain about! In short, the best possible meal I could have imagined for a mid spring evening. read more

La Tomate - My photo of a charming art deco statuette from the La Tomate dining room. - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My friend and I get celebrate a "double" birthday every year (our birthdays are a few days apart) and chose to go to La Tomate to celebrate last night. Given the weather cooling down and COVID-19, we were apprehensive about what an experience dining indoors would be like. I'm happy to say that they did a great job! Everyone had masks on, people were socially distanced and they gave us a very secluded table by the window next to literally no one. We were greeted with a complimentary drink and our waiter was so informed about the menu and awesome as well! Thank you all so, SO much. We will be back. read more

La Tomate - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This place was very nice, with a delicious cacio e Pepe pasta with truffle and cheese and very nice salads.