We buy two pizzas from the Italian Place it was great. I recommend this place. The people are…read morefriendly and helpful. Their menu selection is great.

Little corner spot, parking is tight, and seating limited inside, outside seating available in…read morebetter weather. Friendly Staff with easy to read menu, stand-up coolers with salads, Gelato and other deserts, drinks. We went with subs, a chicken parm for me and not a 100% sure which one the wife went with. I was disappointed, I was excited as I loved how it was wrapped up (felt old-school), but both of the subs came up short of expectations. They both seemed to lack real flavor, wife added some stuff at home to beef it up. Lunch was expensive & disappointing. In today's economy, eating out is limited so it has to be worth it.

I thought this was an actual physical pasta restaurant and drove all the way to the address that…read morewas on apple maps. Why would you put an address for a place that doesn't exist?

This is such scrumptious, actually authentic Italian food. It's simple and bright and rich. The…read morepasta is homemade and is meat-y! (Meaning it's so thick and obviously scratch). Luca (the creator) is Italian, sassy, clever and kind. Oooof. It makes my heart ache for Italy - it really tastes just the same as the pasta I had when I was there.

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.

Italian Al dente with the perfect handmade noodle, cooked fresh, piping hot, to order?! We love the…read moreshrimp scampi. Friends with the pickiest pallets, who have eaten pasta IN ITALY cannot get enough of this spot! The pasta is cooked perfectly. The menu is simple and straightforward. Pick a pasta, sauce, and maybe a meat... you get your order in a little to go box, and it should be eaten fresh! There also have chef's favorites, which have to be ordered per chef's recommendations. They always HIT! Shrimp scampi and rustica are the best! Lots of open seating in the food court of the Tyson's galleria. Shared seating tables and also individual seating. They even offered us cups of water.

Really tasty and super convenient pasta spot! The flavors are on point and the fresh pasta texture…read moreis excellent--definitely one of the highlights. The only downside is the presentation. The container doesn't really do the food justice--it kind of gives off a takeout lo mein vibe, which takes away from the overall experience a bit. That said, the taste is absolutely there. If you're just looking for delicious pasta without worrying too much about presentation, this place is definitely worth it!

Stumbled across this cute shop while walking through little Italy with my husband. There was an…read moreamazing variety of pastas & marina sauce. The store was clean & owners were very friendly! We are excited to make our pasta!

This is a family owned and operated store in the heart of a little Italy. Famous for its pasta,…read morelasagna, ravioli and meatballs along with a wide variety of sauces. I am a regular customer I always get a package of meatballs either 1 or 2 ounce And marinara sauce. I often take these meatballs to family gatherings and everyone raves about them. I highly recommend this store!

Was looking for a healthier option at Union Market and I found it! I ordered the Caesar buratta…read moresalad with roasted chicken and it hit the spot! The portion size was large and I was able to save half of it for breakfast the next day. The staff is a small but mighty team but they move fast and efficiently. Union Market is always crowded, but the two kiosks that they use for ordering makes everything move faster. The food is flavorful and I look forward to returning soon!

This was AMAZING! and so quick! I got the fettucine bolognese, they cooked in in like 5 mins and it…read moretasted like it was from a 5 start restaurant. The menu is slightly confusing but is fine once you understand the jist. Also I couldn't order online for some reason so I hope they fix that soon. Otherwise everything was 10/10.

We didn't have a reservation - walked in at 7 and were able to get a table at 9 for a party of 4…read more Super friendly staff gave us recommendations on where to go while we waited. The garlic knot was a fried croissant that cannot be beat. We also ordered sourdough, pasta, chicken (which was massive). The wine selection was fun and the staff were super knowledgeable and helpful in selection. High top tables surround the bar and the back room has tables. Bar is fun with milk glass lights. It is very dim with candles on every table and wasn't too loud.

We celebrated our 15th anniversary here and left completely floored, by the food, yes, but even…read moremore by how genuinely cared for we felt the entire night. Our server Yannik was exceptional. Warm, attentive, knowledgeable, the kind of server who makes a special occasion actually feel special. The moment you walk in, the space wraps around you. Warm wood, soft lighting, an atmosphere that feels intimate without being cramped, the kind of place that makes you want to slow down and stay a while. The team went above and beyond when they learned I don't drink: they gifted us a non-alcoholic wine, a complimentary appetizer, and dessert. That kind of hospitality isn't scripted... it's felt. Now, the food. The housemade sourdough with eucalyptus honey butter is dangerous, I could have stopped there and been happy. The roasted carrot salad with hazelnut dukkah and garlic toum was one of those dishes that makes you rethink a vegetable entirely. The garlic knots had no business being that good... crispy, layered, almost croissant-like, deeply garlicky in the best way. For pasta we had the pappardelle with spicy roasted pork ragù and fennel breadcrumbs, and the canastra cheese ravioli with wild garlic pesto and brazil nut pangrattato, that stunning deep green dish topped with chive blossoms looked like art and tasted even better. Both pastas were perfect. Then the Brazilian budino with coconut caramel and toasted coconut came out with a little candle tucked in. I nearly cried. This is a restaurant that treats every table like it matters. We will absolutely be back.

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.

I first heard of The Italian Oven around the time that the owner of Esposito's restaurant in…read moreFairfax was being forced to close her restaurant. This was due to the landlord telling her she had two weeks to close her place, as he intended to put a car wash in its spot. I kept an eye on this story. That's how I discovered that Maria Esposito ended up working at her cousin's restaurant, The Italian Oven. Thus, the place had been on my radar, and finally, we got there. We were here on a Saturday for an early dinner. The place was almost empty at the time, so we were told to pick whichever table we wanted. We chose a booth that was by a window. The place does have an Italian restaurant ambiance, complete with checkered green and white tablecloths. Our server was prompt in getting to us. We gave him our drink orders. I had water while my husband had a Heineken Zero. At that time, we placed our appetizer order, which was fried zucchini. Their menu is overwhelming. It was tough trying to figure out what to try. Finally, I decided to try their spaghetti aglio e olio, and my husband had spaghetti with Italian sausage. We both chose to have side salads. The salads had a nice creamy, garlicky dressing. However, they also had an overabundance of button mushrooms, as well as pickled beets. I'm no fan of either of these items, so my husband gladly took them from my salad. As for the zucchini, we got spoiled after all those years of having it at Esposito's. The Italian Oven's version was a close second to Esposito's. My spaghetti aglio e olio was well seasoned. It contained plenty of sautéed garlic, just enough olive oil, and a sprinkle of black pepper. The spaghetti was cooked al dente. My husband liked his dish.