I found this restaurant at the last minute and boy am I glad we did!…read more We arrived at around 7:45 and the place was packed. The hostess told us we likely wouldn't sit until 9:45 so I inquired about the bar and the manager quickly stepped in to put us on a waitlist. Since the restaurant is connected to a food hall of sorts, she recommended we grab a drink there while we wait. Shortly after we got our drink, we received notification of an opening and were seated by 8:15. We had the burrata appetizer, Ragú x 2, and the seafood fra diavolo. The burrata was one of the best I've had since they serve it with pesto, pine nuts, and garlic bread. It was truly divine! The Ragú was not far behind. Incredible flavor and a generous portion. The seafood dish had a nice kick and had plenty of seafood, which is not common as of late. All dishes were also priced reasonably for the quality you received. As we sat at the bar, we had pleasant conversation with the bartender and finished our meal with a small cannoli that really sealed the deal. If you're looking for excellent Italian food in DC without breaking the bank, look no further than Caruso's grocery! However, I'd recommend reserving ahead of time because it's certainly not a secret. LOL

I picked this place as my birthday dinner with some girlfriends. I was unsure of the vibe, food etc…read morebefore arriving. The place gives cozy speakeasy vibes. We we sat down the waitress was very friendly and welcoming. She knew alot about the menu items and such. As soon as she handed me the wine menu and saw Chianti as one of the wines, I didnt hesitate to get a bottle for the table (I love Chianti with a story behind it). We ordered the Creamy Burrata, with Grilled Bread and four cheese sauce and the calamari for the appitizers. All of the appetizers were amazing and Im a sucker for grilled crushy bread. For the main course i ordered the Trout Piccata. The fish was cooked to perfection and the veggies were well seasoned. My friends ordered the chicken piccata, Caruso Alfredo and baked Cavatelli. Everything was good. Next up we ordered the butterfinger sundae, Nutella cannoli and tiramisu. The sundae base is chocolate ice cream. If you are fan of chocolate ice cream you will love the sundae. Overall great experience and I will definitely return!

Great food Great service…read moreNice atmosphere My wife and I had dinner here at this cozy restaurant shortly after we moved here and loved this restaurant.

I loved Pacci's. We got a reservation and sat downstairs, which had a really interesting dark…read morefeeling. One thing I really appreciate is a waiter who can walk you through the menu. Our waiter did that. I asked for recommendations and he explained everything on the menu to us. Then I asked a specific question about a dish and he knew the answer immediately. He also gave us specials. I got the Orecchiette e Salsiccia -- Rapini shells with sausage. I loved it. Someone else my table got the special -- pasta with steak. The steak was cooked PERFECTLY and was wonderful. Overall, I loved Pacci's. It has a laid back family vibe yet the food is fantastic. One more thing: the neighborhood Pacci's is in is beautiful. Pacci's itself is in a very rustic nice building, right across from many beautifully painted rowhomes and brownstones.

What a gem!! My mom and I came here for lunch one Sunday and we were lucky to get a table without a…read morereservation. The space is small but popular, for good reason. We ordered the fried artichokes as an appetizer and they were delicious! But even better was the pizza - we got the La Bufalina, which was basically baked pizza dough topped with prosciutto, bufala mozzarella, and pesto. It was SO GOOD. The Italian couple who own the place were doing all the cooking themselves the entire time we were there, so you know it's authentic. My only note is that you do need to expect a bit of a wait - they're a busy place and the pizza oven is small. But just order a glass of wine while you're waiting!

This place is off of Eastern Market in a narrow, brick-lined space that feels almost New York-y…read more The style of pizza they do is based on a flour with wheat but also rice and soy. It is distinctive; the texture is lighter than wheat flour, and the flavor will seem off if you're not expecting it. There are supposed to be nutritional benefits to this, but it is an interesting gustatory experience, albeit not one that makes me want to replace all the regular pizzas out there. I also got some arancini, fried rice balls with cheese and a notable kick of black pepper. This turned out to be a lot of food for a reasonable price, so I took leftovers, and while the freshness waned they were still good reheated.

This is a great little place - probably the oldest of old school barracks row establishments…read more It's been 20 years since I've eaten here. After a bunch of times saying "we should go back to trattoria Alberto" we stopped by today we arrived about 1230 on a Monday and the streets were empty. We were seated immediately. Bread and water were complimentary, and the bread came with whipped butter, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. My wife had the chicken piccata and I had the chicken Parmesan. Both meals were tasty and super fresh. The service was the star of the show today. If you're looking for something different on 8th street check it out!

I've been going to Albertos for years and it's easily in my top 3 Italian restaurants in DC. The…read moreservice is always fantastic, delicious food, and generous portions. My favorite dish is the chicken piccata with pistachio cake for dessert. The dining room is nice and reservations aren't required to get a seat. These dishes also travel well if ordered for pickup/delivery.

We came here as a suggestion from our Lyft driver and we ordered everything he talked about with…read morethe exception of the prosciutto and melon appy. We had a fabulous dinner and our server, Ryan, was fantastic. He was so attentive and walked us through each course and even hung in there when we ordered the soufflé for dessert which took about 20 mins to prepare. (I'm sure he wanted to go home but hey, I've never had a soufflé!) Great food and service!

When researching places to eat while in the area for a conference, L'Ardente consistently came up…read moreacross multiple sources as a great place to dine in DC. After polling my colleagues, we came to the agreement to check this place out. That being said, I booked a table our first night in the area and off we went. L'Ardente specializes in Italian fare - specifically marketing themselves as "glam Italian". Walking in, I didn't really get glam vibes, but perhaps because it was still daylight. The restaurant is pretty spacious - the main dining room has high ceilings and big windows, with a bar along the back wall and some alcoves along the far side of the restaurant. The decor is mostly modern, with mostly dark finishes with clean lines. We started with drinks - they have a good selection of cocktails and were also flexible to make something that we specifically requested. For apps, we decided to share the pulpo, verde salad, artichokes, and melon with prosciutto. All of these were good, but the pulpo and artichokes were my two favorite. Both were creatively prepared and had great flavor. For my main, their signature 40-layer lasagna was tempting, but I opted for the linguine ai frutti di mare. This was an interesting preparation - the expected seafood was there, but the red sauce was thicker than traditionally used in the dish, and had more heat. The dish was good, and apparently this is a running theme where they put their own twists on what are usually traditional Italian dishes. We opted for dessert, and shared the vanilla soufflé, crème brûlée, and the blueberry panna cotta. All of these were really good and creatively prepared. The soufflé was my favorite - great vanilla flavor and pared with tasty pistachio ice cream. Service was great, everyone was super friendly and made sure we were taken care of. Overall, I had a good experience at L'Ardente. Glam? The jury is out for me - but, the food is solid and service was great. I would return, but not before checking other Italian restaurants out in the area first.

Amazing experience, I actually visited twice within one day. My initial visit included a nice iced…read morecoffee and later returned for lunch. The staff were extremely nice and welcoming. I sat outside to enjoy the view and nice weather. The house made chips and BLT was unforgettable! The bacon was excellent quality!

If you're looking for a lunch spot serving up fresh and delicious salads and focaccia sandwiches…read more.. Look no further. You should come here. I truly enjoyed the food and drinks here. The staff were so nice and the ambiance was so beautiful.

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.

This Michelin star restaurant more than lived up to the hype! To celebrate my friend's graduation,…read morewe opted for a luxury tasting menu and could not have been more impressed. From the intro milk bread to the caviar sorbet to the fried bread pudding, each bite was perfectly crafted and absolutely delicious. The pork and lychee salad, as everyone says, is a huge standout! The pasta in papillote was hearty and rich, while the udon with clams was light and fantastic. The cod, while a little less flaky than I prefer, was served on a delicious sauce with perfect wasabi on the side. And the fried chicken was EXTRAORDINARY! Probably the best fried chicken I've ever had. Our server Jacob was fantastic: extremely patient, thoughtful, and funny as well. He made the night a huge success for us and took care of us extraordinarily well. Every staff member was extremely kind and constantly enhancing the experience without being overwhelming. The interior is beautiful, and I love the open kitchen. I hope I can come back one day and sit at the kitchen counter! I highly encourage you to go visit Rose's Luxury... but you better bring me with you!!

The stand out dish was the Pork and Lychee salad. It was tasty but I wish there was more pork. Be…read moreprepared to spend some money. The experience is what you're paying for "choose your adventure." Chris our server was super helpful and attentive, and even treated us to a special dessert. Resys only

Cucina Morini is a delightful dining experience that truly lives up to its reputation, especially…read moreduring martini hour. With $7 martinis available from Monday to Sunday in their cozy lounge, it's an ideal spot to unwind with friends. I sampled several cocktails and found each one to be exceptional, but the standout for me was the Cala Rossa a sweet yet refreshing delight. After enjoying our share of martinis, our appetites kicked in, prompting us to check for a table. The staff was incredibly accommodating, allowing us to sit at the bar. We indulged in their pasta offerings, opting for the Capelletti and Rigatoni, both of which were delicious and perfectly cooked. Cucina Morini combines great service, delicious food, and a vibrant atmosphere, making it a fun visit for anyone looking to enjoy a fantastic night out.

Cucina Morini is an excellent place for solo dining. I secured a last minute reservation for a…read morespecial Memorial Day Morini Monday for myself. Not saying that dining companions are distracting, but I felt like I could fully experience the flavor of both the Taglioni Neri and Gnocchi, both half portions at $10 each, better on my own. When the dishes came, I saw that the sauces were both red and feared they would taste too similar. After one fork full of each, they are quite clearly distinct. The standout in the Neri were the shellfish for me. Even though they were small bits, the pieces tasted fresh. In the Gnocchi, the saltiness of the prosciutto, though not overwhelming, paired well with the basil sauce. I finished a little more than half of each plate before boxing it up for a small lunch the next day. The service was great and the tall ceiling and windowed dining room provided a nice atmosphere. It was a cloudy and rainy Memorial Day, but I wondered what the sunlight looked like shining through those high windows. How lovely a space they have created to enjoy fine Italian dining in.

Brand new restaurant in DC and this is hands down the best food on H Street. This is my first time…read morehaving Filipino-Italian fusion and Chef Mang Eton does not miss! I absolutely love the idea of ordering lumpia with my aperol spritz in one place. We started with some focaccia and lumpia. The lumpia was made to perfection with a nice crunch and a delicious sweet chili sauce to dip in. My brother and shared a pasta and an entree: Chicken Cannelloni With Cream Sauce and Lechon Porchetta With Peppercorn Sauce. The Cannelloni was rich in flavor and I can taste the Filipino influence in the sweet and savory combo of the chicken along with the cheese and cream sauce. The lechon was my absolute favorite. The meat melted in my mouth with a nice crunch from the fried skin. The rice had some flavoring on it that complimented with the lechon. Chef shared how he had 100+ people in line at his Annendale restaurant that morning waiting for his lechon so I was so ecstatic to experience it right here in DC. I mentioned it was my brother's birthday and Chef came out with a candle on our tiramisu. This was a traditional tiramisu and was soaked and delicious. Cannot wait to be back to try their happy hour and more items on their menu!

Filitali I recently opened at Hiraya's old location on H St as a Filipino-Italian restaurant. With…read morea wide range of options, you can order lumpia and lechon as well as pasta and cannolis. The service is great and the owner is friendly and personable, and each dish I've tried has done a great job of blending Italian and Filipino cuisine. The lechon porchetta and the chicken cannelloni were a couple of my favorites.