I found pappardelle at Dal Grano's once and that says all you need to know. Papardelle are wide,…read moresoft, flat pasta noodles that I first had in Rome decades ago. Growing up Italian stateside, I never knew about this light, wavy pasta dish. So pappardelle pasta is like some rare delicacy and I love it. This pasta dish is not easy to find unless it has been popularized in the Italian dining scene, recently. How can I explain this pasta? Papardelle are not thick like butter noodles, but instead they are thin yet wide. And at Dal Grano's, they must be experienced to be savoured. Do call ahead, because they might just have them made. Dal Grano's is a neighborhood place. We love how when you are dining, they actually talk to you and are friendly. There are a few other places around Mclean proper which I wish were more overtly warm and hospitable, in this way. All of Dal Grano's pasta is homemade and delicious. It's definitely great for carryout pasta or a diner-style environment with a homemade pasta lunch or dinner. I don't think they deliver or work with any of the delivery services. You just call and pickup. The butternut squash ravioli is tender and flavorful. We have probably have gotten different versions of their ravioli every time. Outside of the papardelle, I'm all in for their rich squid ink pasta when it's made. I don't go there enough to know if it's always available. They have over 50 homemade pasta combinations to choose from and a big freezer case of food to take home. My biggest issue with Dal Grano's is when I see all of the pastas in the serving bowls presented to order and cook, I want to buy them all at once. I know it sounds tacky, but they make me yearn for a pasta buffet there just so that I can taste all of the variations. Alas, if we were in town more we'd just need to go more often to taste all of their selection. There's only one other restaurant that does Italian this well and it's around 15 minutes away in Falls Church. But even that fabulous Italian restaurant does not compare with the amount and selection of homemade pastas at Dal Grano's.

Some of the best pasta I have had in a long time. This is a small almost hole in the wall in a…read morestrip mall in McLean hiding truly excellent Italian meals. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful. They offer most of the traditional Italian dishes but the main highlight is their build your own pasta dish with a variety of pasta shapes to choose from followed by protein and sauce options. I went with the All'amatriciana with sausage mixed in, and wow is all I can say. My plate was completely empty in short time it was that good. I would definitely come back here multiple times to try the different options.

Food was amazing authentic cocktails was next level waiter was also helpful we will be definitely…read morereturning for dinner!!

I've visited this North Italia before and had another great experience. I've also been to their…read moreReston location as well. I will say, I think I like this location a little more. This time, my fiancé and I decided to try multiple appetizers and everything was excellent. We ordered the White Truffle Garlic Bread which is what we get every time. The bread is crispy on the outside while still staying soft and not too hard throughout. The flavor is always amazing and we love the ricotta that comes on top. We also tried the Italian Meatballs. They were very good, flavorful, and comforting. Lastly, we had the Little Gem Caesar with added chicken. It was fresh, well balanced, and a great addition to the meal.

Carbonara was put on my radar by a close New York friend who said we should check out this Italian…read morerestaurant for its viral vodka sauce chicken parm. We had the pleasure of being served by Cody who really knew the menu in and out and was really helpful in making our dining experience outstanding. We started with mussels in white wine which were terrific, they were clean tasting with a rich and delicious sauce. We had the "viral vodka chicken parm" for our entree. They serve a plate table-side with a naked crispy chicken cutlet and your pasta and then they pour à la vodka sauce with melted cheese over the chicken. It's really a terrific presentation and the dish is nicely presented. The chicken cutlet was thick and juicy, the crust was crispy and the sauce was thick and delicious. If you want to be part of the hype then give it a try for yourself.

It was a very nice place to have meals. The parking could be a small issue but we were lucky to…read morefind one spot. Dishes were great. We were very excited when we saw our pasta burning inside the huge round cheese! But I wish it had more flavor, salt and black pepper. It really was plain and the pasta was a bit over cooked. Other dishes like salad, calamari and fish were good. We especially liked the calamari. It was with some paprika and was tasty! Inside decoration was very nice, comfortable seats. Our server was friendly too.

This is my second time here and every time I leave, I always dream of how good this food is. The…read moreservice is always top-notch and they make you feel like family. I love the mouth feel of the linguine. Perfectly cooked and the sauce is perfection! The bread is also so fresh and the balsamic and olive oil are right on the table so you can mix it to dip your bread in. I suggest this place to all of my friends for an amazing gem in the Arlington area.

Came here as a large party of 20 for my birthday celebration. Italian cuisine holds a special place…read morein my heart, and I loved the cozy interior (arched windows, beautiful lighting fixtures) when I walked in for the first time. The night of our dinner reservation, we asked if there was any way we could shift our reservation up (most of us were super hungry after just doing a yoga class), and they were able to accommodate us! Once we arrived, our server attended to our group with grace and warmth. My friends enjoyed their food, from the pizza to the chicken parmesan to the pasta. I usually eat chicken Alfredo, but tried the shrimp Alfredo and it was delicious! Toward the end of the meal, I was able to choose a complimentary dessert, and went for my server's recommendation, the pistachio cake. As the meal wrapped up, we were stunned when the lights went out (a few of us thought the power went out). However, it was a dramatic transition into me being surprised with cake and song! The cake was layered beautifully, fragrant and fluffy, and not too sweet. I passed it down the table for each of my friends to try, and they all offered words of praise. I'm looking forward to returning when I'm craving traditional Italian food again! Thank you for helping to create a special memory.

Always delicious whether take out or dine in! Service is consistently good and the atmosphere is…read morefriendly

Nestled along Old Dominion Drive, The Italian Oven is the kind of neighborhood trattoria that…read moretrades culinary theatrics for something far more enduring--warmth, familiarity, and a deeply satisfying sense of Italian home cooking. The restaurant describes itself as a place "where guests feel like family," and that ethos permeates the entire experience, from the convivial dining room to the hearty, classic dishes that arrive at the table. This is unapologetically a family-style local Italian restaurant, the sort where dishes are generous, conversations linger, and regulars greet the staff like old friends. The menu leans toward comforting Italian standards--pasta, seafood, and classic parmigiana dishes--prepared with an emphasis on simplicity and satisfying flavor rather than modern reinterpretation. The Oyster Chowder makes for a particularly inviting beginning. Velvety and indulgently creamy, the soup carries a gentle brininess from the oysters that balances the richness of the broth. It is the kind of starter that quietly sets the tone for the meal--comforting, generous, and thoughtfully seasoned. Among the entrées, the Eggplant Parmigiana stands out as one of the finest renditions in town. The eggplant is delicately breaded and cooked to a tender, almost silky consistency before being layered with marinara and melted Italian cheeses. The result is deeply satisfying without feeling heavy, a classic executed with admirable restraint. Equally impressive is the Calamari Marinara. The calamari itself is remarkably tender--no small feat in a dish where rubbery textures are all too common. Here, the seafood is perfectly cooked, lightly crisp where it should be, and paired with a bright marinara that adds just the right acidity. To conclude, the pistachio gelato offers a gentle, elegant finish. It leans toward the creamy side with a subtle pistachio fragrance and only a restrained sweetness--refreshing rather than cloying, and an ideal palate cleanser after a hearty Italian meal. In an era when many restaurants chase novelty, The Italian Oven succeeds by doing something far more meaningful: delivering dependable, soulful Italian comfort food in a welcoming neighborhood setting. It may not strive for haute cuisine, but its warmth, consistency, and well-executed classics make it a quietly cherished staple of McLean's dining scene. If anything, the experience feels less like dining out and more like being invited to a generous Italian family table--exactly the kind of restaurant every neighborhood hopes to have.

A Modo Mio offers many food specials. For example, on Tuesdays, that's when we stopped there for…read moredinner, all their pasta dishes are 1/2 price. However, given that they ranked 32nd among this country's top 50 Pizza restaurants, I had to order a pizza. And I'll get to my pizza after I discuss some other things, because it all plays together. Also, during my visit, I kept drawing comparisons between this place and Pupatella, a local Neapolitan pizza juggernaut. The Big Question to answer is why A Modo Mio got a spot on the Top 50 while Pupatella didn't even make the cut. Access is easy, and parking is good. There are lots of spaces that wrap around the restaurant. That's in contrast to Pupatell, which has limited parking and where I always wind up using the Safeway lot across the street. The restaurant is clean and spacious, with plenty of comfortable seating. It also has a long, well-stocked bar where you can sit to enjoy a beverage or a meal. Pupatella doesn't have any of that. When you arrive, you're greeted by a host who shows you to your seat. A very short while later, a waiter shows up and does all the things waiters do. At Pupatella, you wait in line to place your order, then find an open table. TLDR: Your dining experience, outside of the food, is much more civilized and relaxing at A Modo Mio. The pie that earned their 32 out of 50 ranking was the Sicilia. But I ordered a 12" Casertana because I'm not crazy about eggplant and like sausage. The pie arrived a short while later, piping hot and loaded with sausage. The taste was sublime and delicious. My only complaint was that the basil was added before baking, and I prefer that herb when it's not reduced to ash. So back to The Big Question, is the A Modo Mio pizza *that* much better than Pupatella that it earned a spot amongst the Top 50 while the other one didn't even make the cut? Frankly, it's not. It is good pizza... possibly great pizza. But that's also true of the other place. What sets A Modo Mio apart from that other place, and the answer to the Big Question, is that the criteria for generating the Top 50 list included more than the pizza. It also took into account: - Hospitality and Service - Ambiance - Beverage Program. Beyond the pizza, A Modo Mio has those things in abundance, while the other place pretty much has none. TLDR: Comparing pizzas side by side, the two places are on par. However, if you take into account the entire dining experience, you will be much happier with your pizza here, as opposed to that other place or most other pizza restaurants in the DMV area.

A good place. Plenty of parking and an unlikely award of one the best pizzas in the world!…read more Pizzas are ok with soft runny top on thin base. Fair chicken and ok porketta sandwich 7/10. Consistent serving. Plenty of inside and outside seating.

Great food, ambiance and hosts! The appetizers are really all delicious! We've been coming here for…read morea while now and we haven't had a bad meal. The pasta is always fresh, cooked perfectly and very flavorful. The servers know what's good so take their recommendations! They're super friendly and accommodating, even for my young daughter. The restaurant is great for 2-4 people groups.

Pretty good bolognese and spaghetti (asked to swap out the I think penne that normally is served…read morewith it), but just wish there was more sauce and less pasta. Garlic bread is super crunchy and was a definite thumbs up.i meant to order a salad, so was bummed I didn't have one. When I asked about getting an affogato to go, she instead recommended the olive oil cake, which is what they are known for or lemon cheesecake as more friendly insert options. Went with their famous olive oil cake, and it was a definite winner. Person who took my order was super helpful. I would totally recommend everything I had. Definite positive vibes with folks enjoying themselves eating their meals. Parking and lack of plasticware were the 2 challenges I faced when ordering to go from here, but maybe that means I just need to eat there next time.

I came here with my bf to celebrate his promotion and had a great time. Food was good, staff was…read moresuper friendly. Our server (Katie? Karly?) recommended we get the baci di sofia Loren to celebrate. DELICIOUS. Will becoming back.

Service was great. We were easily accommodated when we requested to move to a different table…read moreaway from the door ( it was cold and damp and every time the door opened cold wind blasted inside, even with the double doors). It was much appreciated. As for the food it was hit and miss. Our husbands had the short rib raviolis and-although it was flavorful, there was not enough meat inside the raviolis nor were there enough raviolis to justify the price tag. Since the sauce was extremely flavorful I forced my husband to share some of the skimpy sauce to dip my pizza crust on it. Luckily the guys had enough of the wonderful fried mozzarella and bread to not be grumpy. One tip that our whole party agreed on was that the sauce was better suited if it was paired with chunks of lobsters instead of of the stuffed short rib raviolis. I was happy with size of my thin crust pizza and it was way more than I could eat. However, I am not sure if I was actually ok with how the ingredients were divided jn the quarter a fourth of the pizza contained olives ,another fourth was the mushrooms, ,another fourth was the prosciutto and for the life of me I could not remember the fourth ingredient. I'm still ponedering whether I am a fan of this. My friend had the Marguerite pizza and she was extremely satisfied with it. As to the place itself, it's nothing fancy, it's just your typical pizza place in a strip mall. It's just ok. One thing I noticed about it is the dim lighting, but to be fair it's a normal complaint for most eating establishments. We all had to break out our IPhone flashlights to read the menu. I wish most eateries would have a dimmer switch by your table so that when you are ordering, there is sufficient lighting as you read the menu and when done can be adjusted to mood lighting. I noticed most of the upper forties and up patrons did the same thing as us when ordering.

The food was delicious (and fun -- spaghetti cacio e pepe prepared table side). I often find…read morerestaurant portions too large, thereby encouraging waste, but portions here were manageable leaving open the option of appetizer or dessert. Our server, Ramon, was knowledgeable about the menu, courteous, and prompt -- getting us out the door in plenty of time for the show we were headed to without making us feel rushed. Oh, and both of our cocktails were tasty. The bar was filled with happy customers, but we were seated around the corner, so the noise level was low enough to allow a conversation. We'd eat here again if we happened to be in the neighborhood.

I was well received as a solo diner. Everyone was very nice to me. I especially liked the Cesar…read moreSalad which was made in the classic style and was delicious. Lyss did a wonderful job as my server--she was unfailingly kind and attentive! A great experience all around.

Every thing was excellent. Service was great…read more We will definitely go back to OSTERIA MOZZA

I don't like judging food due to cultural reasons and how I was brought up. I was taught to…read moreappreciate food even if it is not upto my standards. That said, being on this app and criticizing food is something of an oxymoron of me. I bring some of the most strict criticism to the fine dining experiences I part take in. Osteria Mozza has been on my list for sometime but getting a reservation was challenging till last year. I finally got to visit last night and honestly, I am impressed. This might be one of my top 20 dining experiences of all time. First of all I want to thank the staff for everything they did fr adjusting my reservation because I was running late, being kind when my guest accidentally dropped a glass and helping us clean. I really appreciate the kindness of the staff. Thank you so much. The place is beautiful. The aesthetic is a mix of old industrial ceilings with retro Italian architecture. Coming to the food. Nothing disappointed me even a tad bit. Everything was just amazing. Starting with the Mozzarella bar. The bread, the dips and the cheese. I was delighted tasting everything. I would just come here again alone for the Mozz Bar. Then the blue prawns were marinated and grilled to perfection. The presentation was 10/10 but the taste was 11/10. The oxtail pasta was delicious! I usually do not go for pasta but this honestly made me fall in love with pasta again. The whole branzino was seared to perfection. It was salty, the skin was crispy, the meat was flaky and cooked simply. There was a bed of herbs under the branzino that tasted out of this world. Last but not the least, the rosemary cake. I now know that one should only eat vanilla ice cream over olive oil. Out of this world! This is an experience worth every penny! 5/5 must go for special occasions!