To be honest I don't really know how this place stays in business. Not that it's terrible, it just isn't really anything special. Just sort of average Italian food at above average prices. Nice setting and location, but other than that I struggle to say anything too positive. Sette Osteria across the street is cheaper and better. read more

Inattentive and rude service. Mediocre food. Lovely location. Bread came eventually. Apparently disgruntled waiter stuck his fingers in my bread plate to turn it over before slamming it back down on the table and pouring some olive oil. I asked to have a small salad with my crab omelette, and the waiter told me that would not be possible, and besides, the omelette comes with asparagus and potatoes, which would be plenty of food for me. Omelette was dry-- it could use some cheese and definitely more tomatoes. Asparagus were over cooked and dedicated. Come for the location, if you will. But lower your expectations about everything else. read more

Their patio on a warm summer night makes an excellent place to catch up with good friends.

Great location New menu, new chef but still the same excellent service it is known for. Patio dining is like you are in Italy. Definitely try it read more

I have always passed by La Tomate whenever I was in DC and finally decided to stop there for dinner a few weeks ago. It was delectable! Not only was the staff inviting and courteous, but the food was fantastic. It makes for a lovely night in Dupont! I ordered the Tortelli di Peperoni e Porri al Mascarpone...ravioli stuffed with peppers, parmigiana, and ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese sauce, and oven roast tomato. Our waiter also suggested a great glass of wine. read more

I always pass by this restaurant on my way to some other place in Dupont. Even when I lived in Dupont, I would always pass La Tomate, and think "I should check this place out... another day" So finally when my girlfriends wanted to meet for dinner in the city, I suggested La Tomate since none of us had ever been. The restaurant is nice and open with big windows that lets in a lot of nie natural light. We met at 6:30pm, and the place wasn't packed and our party of three was seated right away. Since it wasn't packed, we could have a nice conversation without shouting or leaning over the table. Everyone passed on drinks since the guest of honor' news prevented imbibing, and we abstained too as a show of solidarity. Thus, I can not comment on the wine or cocktail list, however it did look impressive. I ordered a salad which was nice and fresh. it wasn't overly dressed like some salad tend to be, and it left me surprisingly satisfied. I saw a charcuterie platter go by and it looked amazing, and kind of regretted not getting one. My friends seemed to enjoy their meals as well. The pasta dishes looked deliciously fresh as well. Overall, it was a successful ladies night out, and I would come here again. read more

I really like this place, kind of. The decor is nice. The food is delicious. (Though at this point, I've 'checked in' but twice, I've actually been several times.) The wine is good, and it's relatively affordable given the sit down atmosphere - shouldn't break the bank to happy hour here every now and again, and the servers do a great job at selecting a wine for you. (We asked for a particular kind they did not have and they made a great suggestion. Strange that they didn't have it b/c it was pinot grigio or some such thing, but the replacement was perfect.) In fact, the service is fantastic. I've never had a problem here and I've been with groups from 2 to 20. The restaurant is also neat and the only thing RIGHT there if you are looking for a sit-down place nearby that isn't French (or Sette which suffers from the same problem La Tomate does but more). So, convenience is great too. My only problem with this place is that it seems boring. I don't know if it is the decor or what, but it seems to be lacking personality. I'll go back because seriously, the food is the best, but the lack of personality bums me out. read more

We spent the weekend in DC and walked by many restaurants. We even ate at some! Saturday night we were going to wallk around Georgetown but ended up walking straight through to Dupont Circle. By that time we decided to drop into La Tomate before we dropped over from hunger and exhaustion. We were seated outside on a very nice night and had attentive servers. We could have used more bread but that aside, our pasta dishes were nice portions (I did finish mine and gave nothing to my husband) but not overly generous. Very tasty, I might add. Our friends ordered an appetizer and that was kind of skimpy but overall, our experience was a good one. read more

It was ok. I ordered a meal that was recommended to me the waiter after having a delicious soup. The entree was pretty bad however the head waiter was gracious, prompt and responsive. read more

I have been a regular here since I could first have a glass of wine. Friendly staff, delicious food, great atmosphere, especially outside. Come on the weekends to hear the live piano player, let the waiter help you pick a good bottle of wine, order some pasta (my favorite is the arrabbiata), and just people watch. Restaurant sits right on a busy street in dupont circle--all kinds of people walking by!!! read more

Better pseudo Italian food is probably available at the Olive Garden or some other generic restaurant. Don't bother trying it.

We go out to eat on rare occassions. Didn't really have a plan and ended up walking around Dupon Circle. Walked past La Tomate several times and said "What the heck!" In the 13 we've done the same thing and always avoided it. Thought a nice bowl of pasta would be satisfying at the late hour. The hostess greeted us (not very friendly), "Inside or Outside?" We said, "inside" and asked if we could sit to the left instead of the right where it was extremely noisy. She stalled in her tracks and looked perplexed, muttered something, talked to someone, then came back tous and reluctantly said "ok". We asked if there was a problem. She was very sheepish and said no and once out of earshot from others she explained that the server for that secton was going home. And???? couldn't someone else serve us? I was appauled by how the situation was being handled. Once seated, the sever introduced himself and took our drink order. Once he left, another young lady approached us to take our drink order. She seemed confused. The situation was confusing. Once the server returned, he took our meal order...we opted for 2 pasta dishes...a bolognese and the salmon ravioli. When they were delivered, I was in disbelief. I truly wish I would have thought of taking a photo. The ravioli was pink in a pinkish brown sauce and literally 3 tiny, tiny ( Imean tiny) pieces of parsely in the center. The bolognese had no garnish at all. I really could not believe that these semi pricey, potentially delicious plates were so carelessly served! I have to say, to be fair, the meal was good, Not great, but good....acceptable. The bolognese was better than the ravioli...maybe an 8 on a scale of 10 and the ravioli a 7. When we were ready for the check, I told the waiter that we were ready to get out of his hair. He seemed pleased with this. No we will not be back and wouldn't recommend this place to anyone! It's too bad, because it could be a great place with a littel TLC. read more

Not sure why there are so many underwhelming reviews! I've been a regular customer since 2011 and I enjoy La Tomate for its food and ambiance as my local, Italian spot in Dupont Circle. Moderately priced spot is great for a date, brunch, a business lunch, dinner with friends, or just grabbing a happy hour drink at the bar (I've been for them all). Plus, in a city of chic and expensive restaurants and quick pizza places, it's nice to find something more trattoria-style / middle of the road. The service is warm, the cocktail specials for brunch are a steal, and the patio is an unbeatable dining experience when the weather is warm. read more

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree; Stop searching, La Tomate is what you're looking for. The patio, the piano, the ambience, the consummate professionalism of the staff. Oh, and they have food, too. My wife and I eat there all the time, we bring friends and family, and everyone always raves. Our out of town friends insist we go to La Tomate whenever they're in town. The menu has great variey and includes plenty of dishes that you can't find or are done better than any place else in town. I tend to get stuck on favorites because they're so good (and the staff teases me endlessly for it). I won't tell you mine, you will surely find your own. The wine list offers excellent wines at reasonable prices. The wines by the glass are carefully chosen, offering the opportunity to enjoy different wines with different courses, all of top quality. Add to this a friendly, knowledgeable, professional staff and you see why we go back so often. La Tomate just becomes a favorite. read more

Ate with some great friends! Bread was burnt...had to ask for another basket. Food was good....spent over $200 and was hanging out at table....was told my waiter we had to leave because they needed our table....very poor as we all are in Hospitality!!!! We complained to manger and he offered us a free drink....we declined and left! read more

My friend and I came here for dinner and drinks after a long day out and about. This place is super cute, and the wait-staff is pretty darn friendly. But food-wise, the place is totally average. They do have some more "fanciful" stuff on the menu, but entree-wise the choices are slim. I decided to stick with 2 appetizers as a meal because Iw wasn't particularly hungry, ordering the bruschette miste (bruschetta with mixed tomatoes, olives etc.) and the Polpa di Granchio e Avocado (avocado with crab, chives, and a mustard vinagrette). Both were pretty decent, but not something I would come back for. Their drinks are pretty good though - I enjoyed my pomegrante royal martini, and my friend said her limoncello blush cocktail was delicious. read more

I really enjoyed this restaurant. I was there with a group of about 50+, so there was a prepared menu,and I didn't see the price list. The salad to start was a light spinach mix and a decent portion to start the meal. I ordered Fusilli pasta with eggplant from the short entrée list and was pleasantly surprised. The portion size was not huge, but filling. The pasta didn't overwhelm my senses, but the eggplant tasted great. Dessert was a pretty good tiramisu. read more

We went here for lunch one day this week and ordered an appetizer and a couple of salads. The brushetta appetizer was very tasty and the salad was okay, nothing terribly exciting even though it sounded as though it should be. The service was friendly enough and the location great. I might return to give it a dinner try ... but there is a lot in the area so we'll see. read more

La Tomate is a place that you can come for some solid Italian food. I wouldn't say that there is anything necessarily outstanding or mind-blowing here, but the food is usually consistently good. Unfortunately it's a little expensive for what it is. There are definitely other places around town where you can get a stellar Italian meal that isn't priced this high. I'd recommend their squid-ink pasta if you dine here, and definitely pull some items from the prosciutto bar menu. read more

How does La Tomate stay open? It just is not good and in this high rent 'hood, I'd much rather see something new in its place. I feel a bit guilty for saying that because the elderly man who plays the piano is adorable, but you shouldn't waste your hard-earned cash on food that really sucks. I wish I could say I'd had anything I recommended in two visits, but...nope. read more

I am not sure why I went to this restaurant for a second time, but there is something slightly appealing about it. The salads are tasty and the fish dishes are simple but delectable, and espresso here is nearly as good as that found in New York. Unfortunately, the service here boggles my mind. From the hostess to the wait staff, there is not a single present, pleasant person. In essence, do not go here for the service as you will be given the menu, your food, and the check (and not much else). Really, do not go here for Italian food either because the pasta dishes are too salty and oily and nothing special. There are a few redeeming choices, as described above, but there are many many choices in this area chock-full of great restaurants with service and better prices. read more

Didn't have a full meal, we went there for some appetizers and tea. The Prosciutto and mozzarella portions were generous and the garbanzo bean soup was okay. The bread (with tomato toppings) and olive spread were pretty good. Overall, it wasn't enough to make me crave the place for a return visit (not enough bang for the buck, the total bill was over $20). read more

I was pleasantly surprised at my lunch experience here. I have certainly walked by this restaurant many times and after reading some less than stellar yelp reviews decided to pass. We were in a crunch to find an appropriate business lunch location with outdoor seating to enjoy the lovely weather and settled on la tomate. We made a reservation earlier for a party of 3 and actually ended up showing up with extra people and later than our reservation time which was due to last minute mishaps. Although the restaurant was actually rather busy they were able to accommodate us. We ordered a variety of salad and sandwiches for lunch, and a few of the diners had very particular dietary restrictions which the restaurant handled with grace. The service was also really attentive. I had the mixed green, endive, and pear salad with grilled shrimp. It was delicious and perfect for a business lunch. The rest of my party also enjoyed their salads and sandwiches. I am unsure about the rest of the food that the reviewers have discussed. The ambiance of being outdoors was also a lovely addition to our meal. I would certainly come here again for lunch. read more

Had a reservation, it still took forever to sit down. The staff messed up a few times, and our table was wobbly so someone split water at one point, I honestly don't remember if it was my aunt or the waitor. The drinks were good, we kept those going as the food took FOREVER!!!! Thank goodness for bread cause we ate that and split a bunch of salads real quick. I was the only one who had a really good dish. Many things were bland. Maybe it was just an all-around off night for the restaurant but I wasn't impressed. My cousin said he had heard really good reviews from all of his friends though... read more

Food was good, nothing spectacular. Not dying to go back considering all the great spots in that general area.

My tortellini was absolutely delicious. The wine was good too. Wanted to sit outside but it had just rained. Inside seating was nice though. The bathrooms were a mess- toilets not flushing, broken paper holders. They could do with spending a little time there, but the food and drink were wonderful. read more

That's all fine and good that people compliment the atmosphere and the staff. But the point of dining out is the actual dining - if the food sucks, it doesn't matter how great the accompanying elements are. And the food sucks. I've had the spinach gnocchi special, the saltimbocca, several stuffed appetizer-y specials, and a pasta dish that was so bland I can't even recall what it was. Watery sauces, some ridiculously small portions and no flavor to speak of. And their wine by the glass is overpriced for what it is. It's a shame, because the space is cute and the service is good. read more

I came here because the restaurant was featured on Groupon, I'd walked by a number of times, and it seemed like a place worth checking out. The food was incredibly mediocre and overpriced. In particular, I was disappointed by the mixed meat appetizer- something they apparently pride themselves on, but definitely nothing special and not worth the $15 we paid for ten or so slices of meat with a couple of breadsticks. The entree portion sizes were equally disappointing - it's pretty rare for me to go to Italian and not have leftovers to take home. The atmosphere was pretty uninteresting and unappealing. Definitely not worth coming back to. The one redeeming quality was the delicious spicy tomato sauce that accompanied the house bread. read more

Fantastic! I have gone here a number of times for happy hour because of the nice bar and outside seating but never went here as a nice dinner before. But I have to say that this place was fabulous. The service was friendly and prompt. We had the house Chianti which was just right...not too heavy. And the bread was out of this world. It is served with a tomato and olive oil paste which I presume is the restaurant's namesake. It came with two kinds of bread. One was a white Italian typical bread, crusty on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The other was more of a foccocia. For appetizer we shared of of the many options for a prosciutto board. We had the had the smokes speck prosciutto -- amazing. And for the entre I had the osso bucco and my wife had the swiss chard ravioli. Not surprisingly both were these were great. I don't usually get desert but we broke down and shared a ricotta cheese cake which was not a disappointment. All-in-all the best Italian meal I have had in DC. read more

Veal dish smothered with mushrooms that tasted canned was terrible. Could hardly tell the meat was veal.

Excellent food, great service, food came out fast. One small, very small complaint. Should serve butter with bread. Would come again for sure! read more

Great location in DuPont. Decent food and service but it didn't feel particularly special for any reason. It has too much competition in the immediate area to stand out. read more

The "la tomate" black squid pasta dish is to die for! That alone gets 4 stars! This is a great place for a first or ninth date. It works on all occasions. The prices are well within range, 15-20 a dish. The crowd is classy and the ambience is very italian. I personally have not tried the other dishes but I don't think I ever will as long as the black squid pasta is on the menu! read more

Delicious wild mushroom risotto .. Pretty god service. Nice atmosphere.

Came here for brunch, and it was the definition of "so-so." The bottomless mimosa service was infrequent, and the orange juice was not great. The pastry we got was the star of brunch, but the benedict was disappointing. My salmon Benedict was peculiarly vinegary (I couldn't finish it), and my friends eggs were on the raw side. There are definitely better brunches out there for this price. read more

I had a great dinner here. We started with a selection off the prosciutto bar, which was fantastic. Simple and tasty. The bread basket didn't stand out, but the accompanying tomato spread was great. For an entree I had fusilli in a fresh, flavorful sauce of tomatoes, basil, eggplant, and fresh mozzarella. I'm not an eggplant fan, but this dish may have converted me! We didn't have any of the service issues mentioned by others, but that may have been because we were there for an early dinner mid-week. I'll definitely return. read more

Had dinner there last night it was great. The price was good and the service was timely. Good place for a conversation and a quite meal for business or a date. read more

Beautiful/gorgeous view, good food, moderately expensive, convenient location

I was with some friends getting drinks in the area and we decided to stop by here for dinner. Not particularly impressive-- we were seated quickly but it took a while for the bread to come out, and it was cold. The food was fine, not spectacular, and the service was slow even on an empty Monday night. It wasn't that they weren't staffed; the staff just walked by without paying attention to the patrons. I had the ravioli and a beer. The beer was served in a really strange glass that I've never been served beer in before. The ravioli was fine. Overall, totally fine to go here if you're in the area, but not worth traveling to DuPont for this. read more

Perfect ambiance, and awesome service! This was a lucky find for us while visiting Washington DV