matchbox

Brunch at Unconventional Diner is a DC must!…read more The service is impeccable and friendly, and the menu has a nice variety of culinary options, though, I don't feel like there's much of hearty vegetarian options or substitutions. Outdoor seating is nice and quaint, and covered. And plenty of street parking is available. Overall, I highly recommend!

High quality elevated diner food at a reasonable price in DC. Brunch is an option every day before…read more3:45PM. Recommend the corned beef hash. Big chunks of meat, potato with roasted onions and celery, all with a black pepper gravy. Comes with two sunny-side eggs. You will be stuffed. Biscuits are great too. Coffee is solid. Reservations by Resy. Online ordering here https://order.online/store/unconventional-diner-washington-295238

Space is large, bright, and contemporary. Reservations recommended.

Tip-Top Chop

See all

Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

St. Anselm

4.4(1.2k reviews)

1.5 mi

•$$$

First. Get a reservation. This place was packed and rightfully so! It was delicious!…read more We had the Buttermilk Biscuits, Butcher Steak, and Steelhead Trout. All the food was seasoned correctly and served hot. They brought complimentary wine for our anniversary! So awesome! When in the area, I would highly recommend.

Visiting DC and swung by this establishment for dinner with a group of friends…read more Overall enjoyable, but there are definitely some items which are hits and other misses. Before getting to the food, I'll first rate the interior excellent. It's big and open, and has a modern yet rustic design, which makes it an excellent atmosphere. They had an impressive list of wines and cocktails, but the draft beer selection was limited. Could use a bit more variety on tap, but I enjoyed the Imperial IPA nonetheless. As for the food; all of it was on the pricey sized given the quality and quantity served, but the salmon collar was by far my favorite -- followed by the chicken, although the chicken was a bit less meaty than I expected. The gem salad, the carrots and the steak fries were all very "meh," and the bisques seemed like small ciabatta buns rather than actual biscuits. All that aside, the biggest disappointment was unfortunately the ax ribeye - it wasn't cooked properly (despite asking for med-rate, depending on the bite, it ranged from medium to very rare), and it was really stringy and fatty - a major disappointment for a steakhouse. Deserts were delicious, I really enjoyed the ice cream cake and thought the peanut butter pie was good. Service was great, prompt and friendly. So I definitely wouldn't recommend this place as a statehouse based on my experience, but would consider coming for the salmon.

Bar area

Grilled Oysters

See all

Carrot Cake

Ted's Bulletin Noma

Yummy, good service, would return if we lived in the area or visited again! We had breakfast on…read morethe day we were returning home and it was perfect.

I've met a few Teds in my day, but this one topped them all. I traveled to DC for business and…read moreleisure purposes, and one night, my party of five decided to ring up Ted for a date in a booth. Ted's Bulletin Noma is a short walk from the hotel I rested my sad little head at, so two minutes after walking in, we were seated in the dark-lit environment that almost put me back to sleep. Despite the nearby ceiling vent dripping condensation on the right shoulder of the highest-paid individual in our group, we enjoyed the deviled eggs app and refreshing tap water. I ordered the chicken and biscuits, and I must say, I'd sell my soul for those dead bird sandwiches. The server was young and energetic, but the service was slower than that of Suddenlink internet. I'll be back once I finally get a raise to afford the $3 sausage gravy add-on next time.

See all

Yellow

4.4(214 reviews)

1.5 mi

I get it. I get the hype. I get the inclusion in the Michelin guide. The line, the close the door…read morepolicy, the area where parties packed like little sausages waiting for a table, or their order to be called, it was all worth it. If I'm honest, they had me at French techniques and middle eastern flavors but it helped that a friend's friend recommended Yellow, and the Union area in general. To be honest, I almost skipped it entirely after seeing the line, but I'm glad I stuck it out. Although I couldn't make out the menu until my time to order I was proud of what I ended up with- the halawa honey, a smooth balanced coffee for the coffee lover seeking a sweet treat, and the smoked amba chicken pita. I now feel inclined to go back and try everything on the menu. From this brief introduction alone, I feel Confident that anyone who bear the line will be rewarded.

Saw this restaurant pop up on "Somebody Feed Phil" so I had to check them out since we were close…read moreto a location. Since it was later in the day, they were out of some of their baked goods items. So we grabbed the bbq lamb shoulder wood-fired pita sandwich and shatta batata tots to share. The sandwich was big in size, so you can easily share it. My daughter and I shared it and we both liked how filling it was and the ingredients were fresh. The lamb was super tender and the combination of flavors were amazing. The tots were also seasoned well. It also came with a tasty creamy dipping sauce. I did wished they were cut in layers like a hasselback potato like I saw on the show. I thing texturally it would have been more interesting than the current tots which had chunky pieces of potato in squares. For the drinks my sister got the coconut cardamom and I got the peanut dalgona. The peanut dalgona drink is the drink to get. I loved the flavor profile and the creamy topping. The place was busy. At the end of the day reservations aren't required. It's sit where ever available. Overall we had a great time. We would come back again.

Dining area

Hummus & a pita chip

See all

Breakfast Egg Pita (~$10) + Kefta (+$3) & Breakfast Batata (~$7)

Le Diplomate

4.3(5.8k reviews)

1.2 mi•Logan Circle

•$$$

This was easily one of the strongest dining experiences I've had in Washington. The server knew the…read moremenu inside and out, gave solid recommendations, and stayed on top of everything without hovering. We went with the steak frites, onion soup, and steak tartare, and every dish delivered. Great food backed by service that actually stands out. This place is on my list whenever I'm back in Washington.

Everything in this space is the greatest representation of hospitality I've ever experienced. It's…read moreall so carefully thought through. From the bread to the decorum to the cocktails to the warmth you feel as soon as you walk in. It's unmatched. The Mushroom Tart is perfection. The Foie Gra brings an actual tear to my eye. Pick an item on the menu and I would gladly order it as my last meal. As someone in the industry it's places like this that make me proud to be apart of it and the ENTIRE staff of Le Diplomate deserves a damn Nobel Peace Prize.

Dining area

Escargot

See all

Bar and breads

Bistro Du Jour

4.3(119 reviews)

0.6 mi

Terrific sit down dinner with friends and colleagues at the 2026 international cleaning advocacy…read moremeeting. A fine variety of foods to choose from so kicked things off with a nice healthy green salad, including mixed greens, asparagus, snap peas, chives, with green goddess dressing. Tonight's entrée was the beef bourguignon. short rib that melted in your mouth. Add in mushrooms laden with pommes purée. served from a super friendly waiter who paid just the right amount of attention to us. They had a house favorite dessert, which was flourless chocolate cake. It doesn't go with my eating healthy, but based on the healthy dinner tonight, I indulged. The dessert... decadent

The atmosphere is lovely, but unfortunately the food fell completely flat. We started with the…read moreToutes Les Bouches. The deviled eggs were good, although there was barely any caviar. The cheese puffs and artichokes were mediocre, and the macarons were fine but nothing memorable. The tarte flambée was slightly below average. It tasted mostly like cheese and fat, with none of the depth or balance I expected. The biggest disappointment was the steak au poivre. We ordered it medium rare, which our server specifically said was also the chef's recommendation, but it arrived somewhere between medium and medium well. More surprisingly, it was one of the toughest steaks I have ever eaten. At $49, that is unacceptable. The mashed potatoes were equally disappointing: bland, not buttery, and nothing like the rich French pommes purée I expected. We also ordered the carrots, but they never arrived. At least we were not charged for them. The crème brûlée was good, but a good crème brûlée could not redeem the meal. The service was attentive and polished. The restaurant was also nearly empty at 5 p.m. on a Friday, with only one other table occupied inside and a few people outside, which in hindsight may have been a warning sign. Beautiful room, decent service, deeply disappointing food. I would not return.

1.5 mi•H Street Corridor/Atlas District/Near Northeast

Dining area

Paris- Brest Au Saumon Fume

See all

Bellini and mimosa

Tiffany's Bar and Bistro

4.6(51 reviews)

This restaurant is a hidden gem on H street. Family owned, attentive service and you can taste the…read morelove they put into all of their dishes. Make sure to ask for extra pita for the sampler hummus! My favorite hummus was the beet one. I also had the Royale Wagyu Burger and it was juicy and filling. Their outdoor patio would be the perfect space to host a private event!

I feel so conflicted leaving this review, as I like to support local businesses and the service was…read moreabsolutely excellent, and the place was cute. The food, however, was unfortunately very mediocre. We came for brunch on a Sunday around 11 and the place seemed dead. Both my French toast & bacon were overcooked to almost burnt and didn't taste very good as a result; the French toast was also served without syrup, and when I asked for some, it caused some sort of commotion in the kitchen that we could hear. It sounded like the regular chef wasn't in yet or something & whoever was cooking kept telling the server there was no syrup until the server got fed up & got it himself. Just bizarre. I'm rounding up to 3 stars because I loved our server, a mature gentleman who was funny & did an excellent job, but the food missed the mark.

Mural wall

See all

Founding Farmers DC

4.0(18.6k reviews)

1.2 mi•Foggy Bottom

Founding Farmers DC is a must visit. wonderful atmosphere , excellent food and great service…read more We had dinner and breakfast with them. Enrique was our server at breakfast and he is magnificent. Very attentive and almost anticipated our wants. wonderful service.

Food was amazing! Thank you Emerson for the service!!! Would def come back when I'm in the dc arearead more

Cute bar area

Steak frites with lemon garlic roasted broccoli

See all

Iced coffee with the cutest side of cream!

Old Ebbitt Grill

4.2(11.8k reviews)

0.6 mi

When you travel 700 miles away and that's where your favorite restaurant is and they get you in at…read more7:30 at night. You know you scored and they have the best crab cakes ever brings me right back to Baltimore when I was a kid. The salmon is absolutely incredible. The shrimp pasta you can't go wrong at this place. The waiters and waitresses are incredible. The ambiance is great. It's just brings you back to something that you just don't see anymore. Definitely would recommend this place to anyone and can't wait to get back to DC to go here again

A shop recommended by a friend. Passed by here while traveling. Didn't have high expectations at…read morefirst. Later, after trying some of the foods my friend recommended, my opinion changed. A really unique shop.

Inside part of restaurant

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake

See all

Fried Oyster Deviled Eggs

Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen

3.9(511 reviews)

1.2 mi

Wonderful atmosphere, great service, our server Carlos was Wonderful made us feel welcome. Very…read morereasonable. Very cozy and the food was amazing.

Stopped by the H Street location for lunch after not being there for a while, and it was just as…read moresolid as I remembered. I was greeted as soon as I walked in, and the server was helpful without overdoing it. I went with the fish and grits, and it was the right call. The fish came out hot, well-seasoned, and cooked exactly the way it should be. Good portion, strong flavor, and no complaints. If you're around H Street and want a lunch that actually delivers, Milk & Honey is worth the stop. 10/10.

See more unrecommended reviews

Interior/ Entrance

Chocolate cake

See all

Cheesecake Pancakes

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

179 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ashley B.

Elite 26

275

612

2 years ago

After a busy day exploring DC, Matchbox in Penn Quarter was exactly what we were looking for! It has a lively, sports-bar vibe but with a unique twist, offering specialty pizzas and a big menu that felt both fun and welcoming. It's also close to the National Mall, making it a convenient stop. I ordered the pepperoni and hot honey pizza, which was fantastic - just the right balance of spicy and sweet. My partner went with a salad, and we were pleasantly surprised by the large portion size, perfect for a hearty meal. Initially, my Moscow Mule order came out as one of their signature beers instead, but our waitress quickly noticed and brought me the correct drink while letting me keep the beer. Both were delicious, and the service was so accommodating, which made for a nice experience! With reasonable prices and such a diverse menu, from pizzas with unique flavors to classic bar options, Matchbox is a spot I'd definitely recommend for anyone wanting a relaxed but exciting dining experience in DC. read more

Brenda R.

Elite 26

102

1 year ago

The food was delicious! As pizza lovers, we had to try "The Pig" -- a thin-crust pizza that was perfectly cooked with a crispy edge and great flavor. We also ordered the crab and shrimp fettuccine, which our server recommended. It did not disappoint! The sauce was rich and flavorful, and the seafood was cooked just right. I also tried the strawberry rose margarita, and it was made to perfection -- refreshing and well-balanced. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere in the restaurant was lively and welcoming. We'll definitely be back! read more

Lilly W.

4 years ago

This is a mixed review because I come to this place to see one of the best servers and bartenders named T. He is absolutely fantastic and the reason I continue to come even after the manager that's on duty, Richard I believe is a total creep and the first time I went he came to my table asking me some weird personal questions and then today when I went back to see the bartender that I adore he made me feel SO UNCOMFORTABLE. This absolutely should be addressed by Matchbox. Please no more creepy managers on duty. read more

Amelia H.

4 years ago

We loved our experience at the Matchbox. We had a large group (25), and we were coming in at the end of the day after a search for a peanut-free establishment. Maurice took great care of us, even though it must have been the end of a long day. Double-checking our orders with a smile on his face, and very conversational, giving us a fun dinner experience. The food was great; not a bite was left on a plate at our table. We had a second group return this week, due to the great service we received. read more

Stephen F.

4 years ago

Tee is the man. I came to this fine establishment with high hopes and Tee's hospitality and attention to detail was second to none. He treated myself and my friends with dignity and respect. He was super helpful, I had questions about the soup de jour and he answered them all and really helped me make an informed decision. Tee was really great his wit and sense of humor provided light banter and an atmosphere fitting of a king. Gawd speed Tee read more

Colton S.

4 years ago

I was in town visiting my sister and we stumbled upon this restaurant for a nice brunch spot! As soon as we sat down at the bar, Tee took us under his wing and made sure we were taken care of from start to finish! He recommended drinks, food, and made it a super personable experience. This was exactly what we were looking for as they offer all day brunch and bottomless mimosa specials!! Highly recommend--ask for Tee at the bar! read more

Torre H.

7 years ago

Wow, what an experience! From the food, to the cleanliness of the table tops. everything was top notch. My family and I all enjoyed our meals (highly recommend the meatball pizza). We were greeted by Nicholas who introduced himself as the manager. It was refreshing to see the time, effort and care the GM and employees put into their work. 10/10 would recommend to a friend. I will certainly be back again, keep it up! read more

Nia J.

4 years ago

My experience at Matchbox started off amazing the first 30 seconds because our waiter Maurice remembered our faces from a year ago on my birthday! He's such a vibe he makes the experience worth it. Besides our amazing customer service, the food was incredible! You know you've made the right choice when you come a year later and the food is the exact way that made you fall in love the first time! Best Location! read more

Rolf Å.

7 years ago

Exceptional service at this place and the food was GREAT!! Maurice and Shavon waited on us and I can't say enough about these two! Had a reservation and we were seated immediately. We had two pizzas. A chicken pesto and a meat pizza. Both we're excellent and would highly recommend this place. My son (12) recently discovered Shirley Temples and they made sure his was refilled. He gives the drink a thumbs up! read more

Osob S.

7 years ago

What can I say other than this is one of my favorite locations for lunch or dinner or anything else in between. The staff is the best, great customer service, very accommodating, and friendly (look for Javi). It's hard to find that combination in downtown/Penn Quarters area, but Matchbox will not disappoint! Stay and enjoy the convos, don't just grab your food to go, I promise, you will keep coming back! read more

Lito H.

7 years ago

Today was my first time at the new location for lunch and I must say the service was exceptional. The host (lighskinned Black woman) greeted my guest and I immediately and escorted us to our table. Our waiter Maurice, along with trainee Charday, provided great service and pleasant conversation. They provided recommendations and and suggested we try the new items on the menu. I will be back soon! read more

Alexandra U.

7 years ago

We came to matchbox for the first time for Sunday brunch. The brunchbox concept is amazing - all small dishes easily shareable and discounted mimosas! It was perfect to get a little bite of everything. The staff, and especially our waiter Dante, was great - super friendly and helpful. We can't wait to go back again. I would highly recommend checking it out, especially at such a great location! read more

Jennifer B.

7 years ago

I have been to Matchbox Penn Quarter twice in the past month. It is quickly becoming our favorite. The food (Risotto meatballs yum!), the drinks, and the service are excellent from the hostess, the server (Maurice is excellent and attentive), and manager who brought us a sample plate of risotto meatballs. I also really like the industrial type decor. I will definitely be coming back for more! read more

Charles N.

292

7 years ago

Matchbox is an amazing, personal experience with incredible food. You can come here and get something new and it will always be delicious. Catie was an extremely attentive manager and made the experience all the more wholesome. This is one of many times I've eaten at Matchbox, and I have never enjoyed it so much. If you are in the area, you must check out this restaurant for a quality time. read more

Candace G.

7 years ago

My friends and I had a great lunch here yesterday. We all enjoyed our food so much. Even my friend who is posh and picky said her burger was delicious, and she got that face. You know that face. The O face. Anyway, our server Maurice was so awesome, we never had to ask for anything. He was on top of refills and checking on us just the right amount. All around great lunch and great service! read more

Morris A.

7 years ago

My first time at the Penn Quarter location. I was a little apprehensive but once we were seated and our waitress introduced herself the experience was hands down our best of any Matchbox we have experienced to the day! Our savior Cigi was on point from the beginning of the meal until we departed. She was engaging and attentive. We will definitely make another appearance to Penn Quarter!!!! read more

Hannah M.

7 years ago

We have always loved Matchbox! We used to go to the Chinatown location. This was our first time at the new Penn Quarter location. We had an excellent experience--delicious pizza as always, and our server Maurice provided wonderful service and was very attentive and nice! Thank you to Matchbox for always delivering a great casual dining experience (and being our favorite pre-movie spot!). read more

Savannah C.

4 years ago

I came from out of town and im so glad I came to this restaurant. They have so many food options and everything tasted amazing! I had the dynamite shrimp to start 10/10, the mambo chicken sandwich 10/10. I highly recommend this place. Also our server, Tee was so great. we had a huge party and he was so attentive, helpful and kind. its also black owned which is the icing on the cake! read more

Julie J.

7 years ago

Excellent pizza! Each person in our group got a different kind and they were all delicious. Our server Maurice was fantastic. We were from out of town on a work trip and all needed separate checks on top of needing our alcohol placed on a separate check thnt our food for reimbursement purposes and he was so accommodating and efficient! Would definitely go back if we visit again. read more

Rich S.

4 years ago

Great lunch with my wife and son. Started with a fun mocktail for my son and sparkling water for my wife and me. Maurice, our server, was fantastic. The food at Matchbox never disappoints. We split the mini burgers three ways. They were delicious. My wife enjoyed rhe poke bowl and my son and I shared a large pizza. What a welcoming team and wonderful meal. Thank you! read more

matchbox - newamerican - Updated September 2026

People who viewed matchbox also viewed

Ted's Bulletin Noma

(245 reviews)

Yummy, good service, would return if we lived in the area or visited again! We had breakfast on…read morethe day we were returning home and it was perfect.

Scarlet Oak

3.6

(445 reviews)

The bottomless brunch is a $25 fee for mix and match mimosas, Bellinis, espresso martinis, white…read moresangria, Miller Lites, and Bloody Mary! The waitress regularly came over every 10-15 minutes :) If you're anything like me, it's hard to choose just one drink so I love that you can pick any of those. The Brussels sprouts were a bit over crisped but edible. The ricotta spread- amazing! I ordered carne asada burrito for my main and it was pretty good- lots of meat and eggs.

Scarlet Oak is a top-5 must try in the Navy Yard-Ballpark-Barracks Row- Cap South area…read more We had lunch there Saturday to celebrate a birthday. My daughter had the grilled cheese and tomato soup. She loved it. Unique cheese blend and thick chewy bread. Wife and I had pizza - half mambo and half pepperoni. Both were delicious. For apps we had the fried cheese - a unique long single stick-!; the risotto balls - a house tribute to arancini balls that is perfect because it stands on its own and isn't a disappointing attempt to be Sicilian - lots of cheese. Dessert was "nuggets" - biscoff cookies and cream ice cream with a lotus cookie crumb coating dipped in biscoff caramel butter - the best dessert I've had in DC. 3 people with apps, 2 mocktails, food and desserts came out to $81 plus tip. Service was great. Highly recommended!

Art and Soul

3.4

(1.1k reviews)

The vibe is chic and comfortable, very nice for a date or family brunch…read more I'd rate the food a 9/10 (due to lacking flavor and ingredients when it came to our table however, the server explained there was a new chef in the kitchen and promptly corrected the issue). The lemon ricotta on the toast was my absolute favorite part of the meal! Quite pricey for a family brunch, but a great atmosphere and delicious option located right downtown and walking distance from local hotels.

I finally made my way to Art and Soul inside the YOTEL Washington DC for brunch, and I have to say…read moreit was a pretty average experience. We arrived around 12:30 on a Saturday without a reservation. After reading several reviews beforehand, I saw multiple people mention that reservations really were not necessary because brunch is usually not very busy. They were absolutely right. There was only one other party in the restaurant when we walked in, and they were leaving as we were being seated. If you are looking for a last minute brunch spot, this is definitely one where you can probably walk right in. The restaurant itself has a clean, modern atmosphere with plenty of natural light. It is quiet and relaxed, making it a nice place if you want a slower paced brunch without the usual DC crowds. The dining room is comfortable, although it could have used a little more energy. Evelyn was our server, and she was very pleasant throughout our meal. She was kind and professional, but it felt like her attention was somewhere else. Considering we were the only table in the restaurant, I expected a bit more attentiveness. I am not sure what she was juggling behind the scenes, but service felt slower than it should have been with such a light crowd. We started with the cinnamon roll, and unfortunately, it was the biggest disappointment of the meal. It was hard, dry, and honestly tasted like it came straight from the grocery store. I have absolutely no issue with a store bought pastry, but at the very least, warm it up. Serving it cold and stale was a strange choice and made a poor first impression. For our entrees, Willie ordered the egg and cheese sandwich, which was simple and satisfying. I went with the Greek yogurt bowl and added a side of crispy turkey bacon. Let me tell you, that turkey bacon was AMAZING. It was perfectly crisp without being overcooked and ended up being my favorite thing on the table. We also customized the lemon blueberry pancakes so they would be something both of us could enjoy, and that turned out to be a good decision. They were light, fluffy, and had a pleasant lemon flavor without being overly sweet. I paired everything with a pineapple juice, which was refreshing and complemented brunch nicely. Overall, the food was a mixed bag. There were a few bright spots, especially the turkey bacon and pancakes, but nothing that really made me eager to rush back. The cinnamon roll was a complete miss, and the service, while friendly, lacked the attentiveness I expected given how empty the restaurant was. Art and Soul feels like one of those places that works if you are staying at the YOTEL or simply need a convenient brunch without a wait. It is comfortable, easy to get into, and has a few menu items worth ordering. However, in a city like Washington, DC that has so many outstanding brunch options, I do not see this becoming a regular stop for me. Overall rating: 6.9/10. I would come back if I did not have anywhere else in mind, but it would not be my first brunch recommendation.

Tortino Restaurant

(884 reviews)

Our meals tasted as good as they looked-- our starters and entrees were beautifully plated. We had…read morethe caprese salad and portobello mushrooms and then the lamb chops and lamb shank. Service was attentive and efficient. We'll be back. .

Had dinner here after a long day at a convention. It was just what we needed. Pedro was an…read moreexcellent server. He was attentive and informative. It was a small sized restaurant but was just right. Had the crab ravioli for dinner and the crème brûlée for dessert. Both were delicious!

Sette Osteria

3.4

(816 reviews)

Fantastic Italian restaurant. Great food, service and prices! Elegant dining that is also inviting…read morefor casually dressed customers such as ourselves on this occasion. We ordered the SAFFRON MUSHROOM RISSOTO. It is super delicious and a great representation of Italian risotto. It had a nice buttery texture with flavorful mushrooms. I also ordered a SIDE OF BREAD, which I is baked fresh in the wood fired oven. It is actually their pizza dough. We had a late lunch, and they allowed my daughter and I to share an entree without any extra charge. They have a good wine selection, mostly Italian, of course.

I recently went to Sette Osteria with my wife and a friend for a weekend dinner and the composite…read more3.5 stars that Sette Osteria has sums up my experience well. Great service, good ambiance, average at best food. The dishes ranged from not good to decent. We shared the following dishes: Focaccia: The focaccia was Roman-style pinsa crust. While not was I was expecting, it was fresh, warm, tasty, and great with the olive oil and pepper on the table. Tuna tartare: Not a great dish. The toasted bread was fine; however, the tuna did not taste fresh, it was extremely oily, the avocado puree added way too much fat, and there needed to be more acid. The tuna tartare is probably out of place on Setta Osteria's menu more broadly. Gnocchi: The gnocchi were very creamy, although a bit salty and gummy. Margherita: A solid pizza, with a good crust, tasty sauce, decent cheese, and good ratios Funghi: The crust was good, but the spinach was overcooked and wilted, and the mushrooms had minimal flavor. We shared the tiramisu for dessert, which was average at best. Sette Osteria is a solid option for a business lunch or if you are with picky eaters; there are other dining options in the area I would recommend instead.

Immigrant Food at The White House

(286 reviews)

I've been to Immigrant Food's White House location before for drinks and apps with a friend and had…read moresuch a lovely time, and I've also visited the Planet Word location when guests come into town. Every experience I've had with Immigrant Food has been fantastic. Great food, creative drinks, and consistently warm service. This visit was with a larger group after a private tour at the Renwick, and the team at Immigrant Food was incredibly accommodating with all of the last minute group size updates and timing changes leading up to our arrival. They handled everything smoothly and made the experience stress free. This time I had the french fries and samosas, which were both delicious. I've also had the Heritage before and absolutely loved it. Everyone at the table enjoyed their dishes and drinks, which says a lot for a larger group outing. I really love the concept behind Immigrant Food and the way they creatively blend and celebrate flavors from different cultures. It's one of those places that feels thoughtful, welcoming, and genuinely unique while still being approachable and fun. Definitely one of my favorite spots in DC.

Pros: reasonably priced, good happy hour until 6:30, food is pretty good, convenient to metro,…read morepeaceful atmosphere inside Cons: no hand crafted cocktails. The planet word location has an awesome cocktail menu, but way less food choices. This one has a good food menu but the drink menu isn't as good. I wish it was just one combined awesome restaurant!

Cafe Fiorello DC

(63 reviews)

We have been dining at Cafe Fiorello since they opened in Washington, D.C., and we keep returning…read morebecause the food is always excellent. The Spaghetti & Meatballs--and frankly, all of their pastas--are outstanding, and their thin-crust pizzas are a regular, delicious favorite of ours. This past Saturday, we introduced two of our long term friends to the restaurant for their first visit, and they absolutely loved both the food and the service. The entire staff is professional and incredibly welcoming. A special thank you to Esther, Chris, and Kia for their wonderful hospitality, and to the management team for doing an incredible job ensuring we had a fantastic time. From the shareable appetizers to the entrees, desserts, wine list, and cocktail selection, everything was terrific. Hands down the best Italian restaurant in D.C.!

Initially thought this was a coffee shop. It's an Italian restaurant! It's spacious with a cute…read morebar. We came in for happy hour. They have great specials on drinks and food! Happy hour is from 3 -6 and only in the bar and on the patio. It was a warmer day so we did the bar. Service was great. I did a bourbon cocktail ("all chips are down"). It was really good. A few in our group got the espresso martini and seemed to like it. Can't wait to visit again and try one of their entrees. Yes, I'll be back!

Nostra Cucina

4.4

(169 reviews)

i wish we had this in california, BIG PORTIONS AND ABSOLUTELY IMPACTFUL!!…read more- a lot of sauce for the portion of noodles -flavorful -cheesy

Nostra is a nice and cozy neighborhood gem. Our family made same day reservations and they were…read morenice enough to accommodate us for dinner. We were off to a good start with the tangy and fresh Greek salad. My husband and shared the chicken marsala. It worked for us but wouldn't say it's a sharing portion. The Marsala sauce was smooth, little peppery and slightly sweet the way you would want. Slathering it all over made up for the chicken that could've been better. The Marsala was better than my daughter's piccata that had the same issue with little tough chicken and a too-sour sauce. The subtle sweet and citrusy flavor of the Lemonchello cake was so good. Had a little envy noticing other people's red sauce items like bolognese and chicken parm. These looked great and would be back to try. Service was friendly and the place is cute but no frills.

Ella's Wood Fired Pizza

3.7

(884 reviews)

We got a Margherita and a BBQ Chicken pizza along with a Pollo Linguine and we killed it. My kids…read moreabsolutely loved being able to see the wood fire oven and getting to see the process of their food! If the empty plates don't say it the food is great. We were served by all the staff, even the manager and not because anyone was slacking, but just because the staff worked as a team. The atmosphere is laid back and great for people to meet to talk business or for families like ours!

I was really debating between 2 and 3 but at the end of the day I asked myself if I would ever want…read moreto come here again and the answer was a very clear no. We had a lot of issues with our meal but some of them may have been one-offs. The real, number one issue that makes it impossible to come here again is that the pizza was basically awful. I ordered the 4 cheese pizza or whatever pizza it is that is all cheese and no red sauce. When the guy set it down in front of me the cheese giggled like jello. My friend turned to me and said "Did you see how all the herbs on top literally moved when he sat it down?" It was that visible. Then when I picked up a slice to insert in mouth, the cheese literally slid off the slice and onto the plate in a big pile of glop. I had to fork and knife it and ended up leaving most of it glow. I wasn't the only one. Somehow my friend's pizza was equally "soupy" (his word) but also the crust was burned. Soups all around at our table of four. The next issue is drinks. Cocktails were decent and priced fair for the area, but my diet coke was $5 and they literally brought me a can, so no refills. Seriously? It is cool that they have Dr. Brown's as an option but no diet and also, $5 for a can I can buy at the Italian Store in Arlington or at the Italian Deli in Dupont. The soupy pizza and $5 cans of soda together make this place a no go for me on their own. But that isn't all that went wrong for us when we went. Our waitress was just not having a good night. This could have been a one off so can't judge the whole restaurant by it, however I will say it's pretty clear she was not well trained so maybe she was just new but if so she needed more help and that is on management. First, she spilled my water all over me when she set the tray of waters down. Just water, fine. And she was profusely apologetic. But then I literally had to tell her that someone needed to mop up the floor. Nobody offered to do anything about it - no manager apology, no comped beverage or free app...someone could at the very least have given me my can of diet coke for less than $5. Then she went to take our orders and I ordered first and had to make kind of a big thing because I am allergic to basil and it's a pizza restaurant so...yeah. The allergy thing they actually handled pretty well, but you would also think my order would have been memorable right? So then she takes the other three orders and then comes back to me to ask for my order again as though we hadn't just had a 5 minute conversation about basil. Unsettling. When it was time to order cocktails we ordered directly off the cocktail menu but she literally could not understand what cocktail I was ordering, a sazerac, and acted like she had never heard of one before. Bro it is literally on your cocktail menu. Then when it came to pay we asked to split the meal 50/50 across two credit cards. She couldn't figure it out and came to my friend and said his card was rejected. Which like...if you know my friend you'd know that was an impossibility. He literally got up and walked over to her station to figure out what the deal was. Apparently she kept trying to run the same card twice and so the system kept returning "duplicate charge" and from that she somehow got that his card didn't work so he had to explain to her that she needed to run the second card. Ambiance was adequate I guess? Pizzas came out fast (possibly causally connected to them being soup?). I dunno. I just don't know why I would ever come here again.

Via Sophia

3.8

(283 reviews)