Ciao Osteria goes beyond a neighborhood Italian place to be a solid establishment that I would…read moredrive a bit to. We ordered three types of pasta and they were all solid. The vongole was distinctly different from the other two pastas with the brininess going perfectly with the pasta. The pasta themselves were cooked perfectly al dente and I'm sure if we had more people, we would've ordered non-pasta dishes to see how they manage their protein. A couple tips -- Try to get a reservation if it's at a popular time. Also, take a look at the specials and go out on a limb with something that you haven't tried! I'll definitely be back.

Stay away if you have celiac or want Gluten Free options. Go to Villagios in Clifton…read more Gluten Free pizza - Raw Gluten free fettuccini, I don't know how you do this, raw in some places, overcooked and mush in the others. (I make better GF pasta at home!) Escalated my concerns to the server; management, ownership, no acknowledgement, didn't come to check on us... Oysters were delicious, but tiny. Oysters were half the size of any oysters I've ever seen. The couple we dined with loved their food that wasn't GF. In Summary, if you have celiac or need Gluten Free food, stay away from Ciao.

The food was delicious and the severs were very attentive! I would definitely love to go again and…read morewould high recommend eating here for a family outing or just wanting a nice meal out.

Service was fast and great considering it was a Saturday. Parking was very minimal but there is a…read moreperson that can help park your car. The environment was nice but we had a baby and did not see many children or a children's menu. The food did not take long to arrive and had great flavor but felt it was missing something. Overall, it was great and we look forward to going back!

After living in the area for more than 20 years, last night was actually our first visit to…read moreTrattoria Villagio in Clifton--and we can't believe we waited this long! Our son brought us to one of his favorite restaurants, and now we completely understand why. We had a wonderful table on the patio, which made for a perfect evening. We started with the Shrimp Bad Bing and the baked meatballs, and both were absolutely delicious. For our entrée, my wife and I shared the Short Rib Ragu, and it was outstanding. We'd order it again in a heartbeat. Our grandkids loved their spaghetti and meatballs, which made everyone at the table happy. The service was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived. As we looked around and saw other dishes being served, we realized there are so many more menu items we want to try. We're already looking forward to coming back--and we'll probably be there next Friday for happy hour! If you've never been, don't wait 20 years like we did. Highly recommended!

First Time and It won't be my last!! I know this…read moreestablishment is a Clifton staple, and we've been talking about going to it for a while; oh how we've missed out! From the staff who took our reservation, she was so polite, and concerned if we had any issues that they should be aware of; which we did, we had two with mobility issues, so she made sure we were seated on the first level. We sat on the patio which was a great idea, beautiful outdoor dining area. Our waitress was great, she had full knowledge of the menu and made great recommendations, from appetizers to entrees. We started our experience with orders of the arancini filled with bolognese with peas and mozzarella , Zeppoles with prosciutto and hot honey drizzle, fried artichokes with a garlic aioli, and the house meatballs topped with mozzarella and baked. They were awesome! Deliciousness in every bite! On to our entrees, I ordered the spicy seafood pasta, mussels, shrimp and scallops over homemade tagliatelle with a spicy marinara sauce. The stuffed gnocchi, light fluffy pillows of pasta stuffed with Asiago cheese with a sun dried tomato cream sauce. Chicken Milanese topped with a lemon butter sauce and a tomato conserva and arugula salad. Rigatoni ala Vodka. And our final dish sausage ragu bianco, homemade radiatorre pasta in a spicy sausage ragu sauce. All of the entrees were phenomenal, we each tried some of each!!! We ended our meal with the best Tiramisu we've had in a long time, Basque cheesecake, and a cannoli. From start to finish we were blown away! If you haven't eaten there or it's been a while, GO GO GO!

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.

Terrible service and an incredibly small portion--just five ravioli, and not even jumbo-sized…read more Meanwhile, everyone else at the table received generous, overflowing portions of dishes like cavatelli, capellini, and chicken parmesan. With about 30 seconds of chewing per bite, my entire meal was gone in about two and a half minutes. The waiter seemed to be doing his best, but he was clearly stretched too thin with too many tables. The service felt disorganized--we were first asked for drinks (which is standard), then only appetizers. After finishing those, we had to flag him down just to place our dinner order. The most disappointing part was the ravioli di carne. The portion was not only inadequate but honestly felt insulting--both to me as a customer and to the restaurant itself.

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.

Voted best pizza in Arlington…read more Boy did they have huge shoes to fill with that accolade. I came in expecting to be Wowed by their pizza and it was just alright for me. I made a mistake and didn't realize this was a fork and knife establishment. I picked up my pizza and all the toppings fell off. But to be honest... even with "fork and knife pizza" the toppings should not be goopy and slippery. Does the best pie and Arlington hold like that on the regular? Nothing special about the toppings either. The crust and dough were the best part of this experience, but an amazing pie, should have all component's complimenting each other. Is it decent pizza? Yes. Best pizza in Arlington? I don't think so.

I was looking for a restaurant in Fairfax to eat dinner with my wife and found Bellissimo on Yelp…read morewith good reviews. It's situated on the corner of an intersection and there is available parking in nearby lots. We walked in without a reservation on a Saturday night and there were a few other couples dining but the restaurant had a lot of availability. We were promptly greeted and given our choice of seats. We admired the pictures of Italy on the wall given our visit to Italy last year and they have a nice selection of wine that we overheard other customers enjoying. I ordered the Filetto di Manzo cooked medium but it had no pink upon receipt which I was fine with but it wasn't what I asked for. It was a small piece of beef atop a bed of mashed potatoes that was relatively unflavored although tender despite being overcooked. Complimentary fresh bread came with the meal which my wife didn't think was freshly made. Service was good. The staff were pleasant and kept our glasses filled and needs taken care of. Overall an ok visit. Nothing stood out as a must return to try again given other options in the area.

The food was flavorful and service was prompt. It's a small place so I can imagine it could get…read morebusy so make a reservation. The parking is a bit of a pain but we parked around the corner and walked so that wasn't too bad. It was a great ambiance for our anniversary dinner. Cute little place and seems to have a good collection of wines too. We would recommend. Not 5 stars only bc my fish was a little over cooked (it still tasted nice) n my husband wasn't 100 about his food either. if yelp allowed for 1/2 starts I would give them 4.5

I can't believe it took me this long to finally try Ristorante Bonaroti--what a gem! From the…read moremoment you walk in, you're greeted with warm smiles and that unmistakable old-school Italian charm. The dim lighting, cozy tables, and classic décor make you feel like you've stepped into a timeless Roman trattoria. For dinner, I went with the veal osso buco, which was unbelievably tender and rich, and my partner had the veal marsala, equally flavorful. We started with the beef carpaccio and octopus appetizer, both of which were perfectly executed and set the tone for the evening. The seafood pasta specials were calling my name too--fresh, beautifully plated, and bursting with flavor. And the bread basket? Legendary. Soft, airy, with just the right crunch on the outside, served with olive oil, butter, and balsamic--it's basically a meal on its own! What really makes this place stand out is the service. The owner, Sergio, checks in personally at every table, making you feel like family, and the staff are attentive without being overbearing. They clearly care about the dining experience, which makes the evening feel special. For travelers or anyone in a rush, a huge plus is that you can also order from Pressure Deliveries to enjoy Bonaroti's classic Italian dishes at home or in your hotel. It's the perfect way to experience authentic Italian cuisine even if you can't sit down in the restaurant. All in all, Ristorante Bonaroti is a must-visit for anyone craving traditional Italian cuisine with impeccable service and an old-school, welcoming vibe. Every dish we tried was outstanding, and I can't wait to come back and explore more of their menu. This is exactly the kind of restaurant that reminds you why Italian food is so beloved!

3.7 stars! Tried this after a friend recommended it. This place has such an old school vibe but…read morestill felt like fine dining. The owner greeted us and even checked up on us a few times. He seemed to know a lot of the customers which makes it feel homey. They gave complimentary bread which came with butter, olive oil, balsamic, and other fixings. The bread was super soft on the inside and had a nice crunch from the exterior. My boyfriend and I ordered the calamari, scaloppini mare terra, fettuccini con funghi, and fettuccini al frutti di mare. In simple terms: calamari, a seafood vodka pasta, fettuccini alfredo w mushroom, and veal with lobster bits served with green beans and scalloped potatoes. Surprisingly, I didn't love the calamari. It had a good size but lacked flavor. It also could have been cooked a tad bit more for better color and texture. The fettuccini alfredo was super creamy and had such a strong mushroom taste! The veal was nice but a bit chewy for my liking. The scalloped potatoes were good but nothing special. However the star of the show was the seafood vodka pasta! It had such an amazing vodka flavor with loads of seafood! I have to admit, they put way too many calamari pieces and not enough of the other items mentioned in the dish. Another thing was that I found a strand of hair on my plate. When I notified the server, he said it was just from the green beans but would exchange it for me. Later, he explained that the "hair" was green bean skin.. which was odd to me considering the hair was turning black to white. I didn't appreciate him trying to make an excuse. I decided to look past it even though the server didn't apologize. Good first experience (other than the piece of hair). The seafood vodka pasta is def a must-have. The vibes are great and the owner makes you feel like family.

I was looking for a birthday dinner restaurant that was not in a parking hostage area. I remembered…read moreRoberto's from some positive reviews. I had several meals at Galileo restaurant in the 1980's. I followed Roberto Donna's career ups and downs over the years but never doubted that he is a master of the Italian kitchen. Even when he got punished on Iron Chef, I thought only that Italian cuisine is not about throwing protein into oil with some spice. The dinner exceeded my high expectations. The bread basket had warm herbed bread, crispy bread sticks, and popover type muffins that were crisp and airy. The lobster and crab salad and mushroom tart were delicious. They had a bottle of Barbaresco that was under $100 and quite good, no wine punishment. The entrees were served hot (one of my Italian mother's requirements) and they were all excellent, especially the Branzino that is filleted on request and done masterfully. We had an early seating next to another birthday party so it was fun to listen in to an alternate dining experience. The sommelier let them try multiple wines and patiently recommended wines that they enjoyed. I told my server I had a great Barbaresco that I bought in a gas station in Italy, I'm not a wine snob. The service and food are impeccable. I read the reviews, positive and negative, I don't think the staff at this restaurant would let you leave with a bad experience. An anecdote, a banker friend of mine asked me in the 1980's for a restaurant recommendation. I recommended the Galileo Ill Laboratorio. He took an international group of bankers to dinner. He was on the train back to NYC and overheard his guests discussing the meal. They said it was the best Italian food they had ever had out of Italy. This is what you should expect!

My wife and I wanted some quality Italian and realized we'd never tried Roberto's, even though it's…read moreclearly passed the test of time--so we decided to give it a go for a date night. We started with the Insalata al Parmigiano and Polipo Piccante, then had the Pappardelle Bolognese di Cinghiale, Carre Vitello Arrosto, and finished with Tiramisu. Overall, we were happy with our dishes, though we avoided the trend of having pasta tossed in the parm wheel and went for a twist on the pappardelle instead. The roasted veal loin chop was solid, but some dishes felt unnecessarily deconstructed--like the tiramisu, which caught us off guard since the staff didn't explain the twist. All in all, it was a fun experience that makes us want to come back--some dishes we'd get again, others we'd skip. Is it the best Italian in the area? Far from it--but the food in Vienna is good, and it's better than most nearby options.