I came into the DC area two weeks ago and will be here for the next 11 months. This restaurant…read morewas recommended to me by a colleague so I decided to make the walk from where I am currently staying. Let me start by saying that the atmosphere in this restaurant is one that is so welcoming the minute you arrive. I approached the hostess stand to inquire if there was bar seating available to which the polite hostesses provided a gentle hand gesture and oral direction to the bar. While walking to the bar area, I encountered what I presume to have been a server who was likely standing watch from a distance over his service area, who apologized as our paths met. (There was no reason to apologize, very polite nonetheless) I found a seat at the bar and was greeted by Paul. Paul was an exceptionally pleasant and answered all my immediate questions while preparing my initial cocktail during happy hour. We discussed the menu and he provided great insight which helped finalize my decision for the evening . In the meantime, bar manager Laura stopped by to ensure that I was taken care of to which I informed her that Paul and I spoke and he is making a beverage for me. For the food...the Caesar Salad is #1. I am a food snob and this salad HITS!! While enjoying my salad I inquired about their cast bourbon selection. The staff was very knowledgeable and provided a price list to coincide with their higher end selections. My 40 layer lasagna arrived some time in the midst of the conversation where Paul extended a courtesy sampling of a wine that he recommended that pairs nicely with my meal. It was perfect. I closed out my meal with an espresso type martini, at which time Paul and Laura further extended and offered me a sampling of one of the bourbons I was looking at. I cannot say enough about this establishment. I can't wait to go back and have already recommended via phone conversations to three people and I just left. The evening and encounter was more than just pleasantries with a customer, rather I felt as if I was the only one. If the owner or manager is reading this, Paul and Laura are 10+ and I will be back. Thank you so much for the best meal I have had in DC over the last 2 weeks. Can't wait to do it again!!!

L'Ardente was incredible! The 40-layer lasagna was unforgettable, and every dish we tried was…read morebeautifully prepared. A must-visit in DC.

Filomena's delivers an authentic Italian experience from the moment you walk in. The atmosphere is…read morewarm and inviting, with beautiful Italian-inspired decorations, soft comfortable lighting, and cozy tables, chairs, and booths that make you feel right at home. Our server, Nico, was outstanding! He offered excellent recommendations on both food and wine, and delivered service that was professional, prompt, and genuinely delightful. We arrived as strangers but left feeling like family -- that's the magic of Filomena's. I highly recommend Filomena's for truly authentic Italian cuisine. Be sure to stop by their store afterward to bring home fresh pasta and other wonderful Italian specialties. You won't regret it!

This was our final meal in DC, and it was a last minute decision, so we were lucky only to have a…read more15 minute or so wait with no reservation on a Saturday night. The place is very moodily charming because you're on a basement level with no natural light, so everything is dark and the vibe is Italian grandma kitsch. The whole thing manages to work. They were busy, and our waitress, who was highly professional (honestly she seemed like she could be a government employee) was being pulled to some VIP table in their back room (which we were seated adjacent to), so she was not as available as we would have liked. We got a couple cocktails and started with the Caesar salad and the meatballs. For a place that boasts about its portion sizes, there were only two meatballs, and they were fine. The free bread wasn't impressive, especially considering the extraordinary bread situation that we had at The Dip the previous evening. The salad was undersalted and kinda bland. So, overall, not the most promising beginning. We all shared the one main dish of Linguini Cardinale after our waitress sold us on it. It's sort of like a vodka sauce that mated with lobster, and it was delicious, but it was quite rich and heavy. We did like it though. Dessert was where we went all out with the strawberry cheesecake, the pistachio strawberry mousse cake, and the dark chocolate mousse cake. The one that had pistachio was terrible--everything tasted artificial and the texture wasn't right. The chocolate one was OK. Luckily the cheesecake was where it was at. It's not Junior's-level or anything, but compared to the other two, it stood out. We're glad we came here to have tried it once and we had a good time as a family, so it'll be a fond memory. We don't feel a pressing need to return, but we would recommend it for folks to try once.

Had a great experience! Food, drinks, and dessert were amazing. Sarolta was a great server.read more

Sarkonta was an amazing server, extremely attentive, and kind! Could not recommend more.read more

Fabulous food! Fabulous wine!…read moreFabulous background music! Campbell was our amazing server!!! I will be back here again!

Isa crushed it, incredibly professional and knowledgeable 10/10. Definitely ask for Nick, the…read moreSommelier, he recommended the perfect wine based off what I asked for, had a great energy about him and brightened up the experience. the whole experience and ambiance of this place was amazing. I have traveled all over the world and ate at some amazing places and this place was truly wonderful. 12/10.

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!

I've been coming to this lovely Italian gem for so many years. It is consistent and delicious and…read morefriendly and cozy. Their pastas are perfection. Their menu is simple and it works. We've taken out of town guests, we've taken our son, we've done takeout. One of my favorites is the bucatini with short rib ragu. I always ask for an extra side of buratta, which pair is so nicely with the hearty sauce.

A cute little neighborhood spot. Was in the mood for pasta and decided to go on a whim on a…read moreSaturday night. It was crowded but there were still a few seats available. Found it to be a bit louder than I would've liked but I think it was because of the spacing between tables. Came toward the end of the night and got seated and welcomed right away. I ordered the polpette, meatballs to start. They were quite tasty, but the sauce was a bit watery. Think that's just because the meatballs themselves were pretty juicy. Heard the focaccia was a hit, so asked for some of that. I was told they didn't have any left. Which was weird, because then another server came and asked if I wanted bread. I'm glad I said yes because the focaccia is very fresh and was a great addition to the meal. For my main, I ordered the vodka pasta, which was very flavorful and very saucy. I love a good, thick vodka sauce and that's what you'll get here. The one part of the pasta I didn't really enjoy was the chicken inside the pasta. I think I would've preferred a grilled chicken option instead of the chicken that comes in the pasta. That being said, this place is a gem. The prices are great and the portions are hearty. The pasta is thick, you're really coming here for fresh noodles and ingredients. If you want to top your meal off just right, you'll get the chocolate lava cake. Very delicious! Service was good and staff was very attentive!

I've eaten here 3 times and I keep meaning to leave a review. Third time is the charm!…read moreThe place gets busy. And loud. Lots going on. That's part of the charm. Don't walk away if you find a crowd waiting at the door. They'll get you seated. Just give them a second. Or grab a seat at the bar like I did. Or sit on their great outdoor covered patio. The service is great no matter where you're seated. My first try at the famous Drunken Love pizza. I thought the color was a little odd for a pizza, but that's the vodka sauce. And it's delish. The whole thing had a "so that's why it's popular" taste to it. Kind of not like eating pizza, but it is. Overall super solid. Shout out to the bar guys who never stopped moving. Between them and the guys making the pizzas, dinner and a show!

We celebrated a friend's birthday at Grazie Nonna, and it couldn't have been a better choice! From…read morethe moment we sat down, we had such a wonderful experience. Our server (I believe his name was Anthony) was fantastic. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, answered all of our questions, and even suggested cocktails based on what we liked. His recommendations for both drinks and food were spot on. He was patient while our group made decisions, attentive throughout the meal, and made the entire experience feel effortless. The food was outstanding. The Caesar salad was honestly one of the best I've had in a long time; fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. We had to try the famous Drunken Love pizza, and it absolutely lived up to the hype! We also shared several pasta dishes, with the Cacio e Pepe being the clear favorite at our table. Of course, we couldn't skip dessert. We ordered the cannoli brownie, tiramisu, and cheesecake, and every single one was delicious. The tiramisu was the unanimous winner, but the cannoli brownie deserves a mention! It is incredibly rich and packed with flavor in every bite. Between the amazing food, excellent service, and fun atmosphere, Grazie Nonna made our birthday celebration one to remember. I'll definitely be back and can't wait to try more of the menu!

This is one of our go to places whenever we are in Georgetown, it never disappoints! The inside of…read morethe restaurant is absolutely stunning. We have ordered everything from prosciutto + melon appetizer to steaks and pasta, everything is always prepared perfectly and the service is excellent. Will be back often!

Osteria Mozza nails the atmosphere. The place looks great, service was excellent from start to…read morefinish, and the prices are actually more reasonable than I expected for a nice restaurant in DC. That said, the food was a letdown. The mozzarella appetizer was fine but nothing special.. it's cheese and tomato. Everything after that was further disappointing. I wanted to like it because everything else about the experience was solid, but the food is ultimately what matters most. Unless they're having an off night, I don't see myself coming back.

This is hands down one of the best Italian restaurants in DC. I either visit or get delivery quite…read morefrequently. The ambiance is 10/10- perfect for a celebration, date, or chic dinner. The service has always been remarkable. For starters, the meatballs are exceptional - they taste like my Italian grandmothers! My family from out of town even has me freeze some and take them when I visit! The whipped ricotta and honey has also been a go-to. For dinner- I will forever be in love with their lobster ravioli. Fresh pasta, huge chunk lobster meat, and a lobster claw piece in the sauce. Totally worth it for the price! My other favorites are the squid ink pasta, and mama de pandi's pomodoro! I am super picky about sauce, and hers is one of the best! Again, pasta is home made and perfectly al-dente! My family members love the papperdelle ragu! Last week, I tried the pasta with scallops and wild mushrooms! Again, exceptional! The one miss for me was the vodka sauce, but that's because I think I like everything else so much! The mini donuts for dessert are a must-get!

After a long few days at a conference, I set up a reservation and headed to RPM Italian, which was…read morejust around the corner from our hotel. We wanted to start out with the bread with the honey whipped ricotta, but some large party was rude and hogged it all for themselves (insert sad face here) However! We ended up getting the Truffled Garlic Bread instead, and, y'all..... I've thought about this bread several times since. It was perfection. It wasn't too crunchy, but crunchy enough, perfectly chewy, and the butter on it was perfectly toasted. My mouth is watering as I relive the experience. Now, keep in mind I had been on the whole 30 and hadn't had bread in over 30 days, but am so glad this is how I broke my break and carbs fast. Two folks got the Mafaldine Cacio e Pepe and really enjoyed it. After some hemming and hawing, I settled on the Rigatoni alla Vodka. It was alright... I mean, it was good enough that I finished the WHOLE plate (again... no pasta for 30 days), but I found the sauce to be missing flavor and depth as it just tasted like a simple creamy tomato sauce that had little seasoning. Would I go back? Yep... even if only for the bread, but I would definitely try a different main course.

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.