We enjoyed Fiorella's Italian Kitchen so much during our Washington, DC vacation that we ended up…read moreeating there a second time! It was just a short walk from where we were staying at Club Wyndham around the corner, and it quickly became one of our favorite restaurants of the trip. We started with the fried calamari, garlic bread, and fried mozzarella, and every appetizer was hot, fresh, and full of flavor. Our family each ordered our own individual pizzas, which was the perfect size and absolutely delicious. The crust was cooked just right, the toppings were fresh, and everyone loved their choice. The service was friendly and efficient both times we visited, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. It's easy to see why this place is so popular. If you're visiting National Harbor and craving great Italian food, Fiorella's is a fantastic choice.

I had high expectations for this restaurant. I have to say that the ambiance is really nice…read more But... The waitress didn't take our drink order, we never received bread with our meal, and the pizza we ordered as an appetizer came after we were halfway through our meal. Two of my party had the chicken parm with vodka sauce and found the chicken to be tough and the sauce to be runny. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs and found the sauce to be average. My husband had the chicken Alfredo. He found the sauce to be very thin and had pooled on the bottom of the plate. The chicken was tough and the noodles were too al dente. Again, I had high expectations for this restaurant but unfortunately found it lacking. So....it was kind of hit and miss.

OH WHAT AN END OF AN ERAAAAA! I cannot believe that Bond 45 actually had its last night last night…read more My friends and I really enjoyed this place - and on our last visit, the food was out of this world (pictured are the wings and seafood gumbo). Was it the last ride...? Not sure, but Bond 45 will indeeeeeed be missed by many.

I came here for a work dinner after a conference and was pleasantly surprised! This was one of the…read morefew restaurants that didn't have a ridiculous wait when we were trying to get dinner, so we decided to check it out. Service is really quick and polite. We ordered meatballs to share and I got their crab cake and shrimp for my entree. The meatballs were delicious, saucy, and flavorful. I absolutely loved their crab cakes as it was stuffed with crab meat and not bready at all. It also came with a sweet potato (?) puree and corn, that I thought paired really well with the crab. Would definitely recommend this Italian spot.

Went during the last week of may, I came from New Jersey on the sunday and enjoyed the restaurant…read moreand the server. I forgot his name but it did start with an A. Really gave the resturant a great reputation! Will be back soon!

If you wanna come here, ask for Claire, Claire is probably the funniest server I've ever had, and…read moreshe has the energy to match me and my sisters chaos! The vibe of the restaurant is also incredibly welcoming and calm, and the food, oh don't get me started on the food, one word, incredible and filling! If you wanna visit Virginia, come here first!!!

It was better than I expected…read more The most important thing was; one of the cocktails which in first in the menu was out of order!! (lemon Della Costa‍) The food was pretty tasty! Service was ok. The stuff who work around the stone oven was nice! Ambience, decorations, colors, was pretty good, nice and beautiful. You feel the Italian vibes!

I don't know why this just wasn't in for me, but my entrée just didn't scream Italian and let the…read moreseasoning and flavor and spices that you would normally get from an Italian restaurant. My braised rib was very bland in the sauce didn't do anything however my espresso martini was everything. The service was OK kind of came a little late so I felt like the waiter was just ready to go however he was attentive.

I came here with my team and able to get a day of reservation for a large group. Once we arrive the…read moregroup size grew, and they were still very accommodating! I'd return based off that alone, but our sever also did a tremendous job and handled our large group very well! Kudos to him (I forgot his name). Now for the food and drinks. Neither disappointed and the whole group enjoyed their meal (which is hard to come by often). I had the Pasta alla Veneziana, which came with lobster, shrimp, and salmon), and it was very good! It was a tad pricy, but I'd order it again. Extra shout out for removing the tails from the shrimp (my coworker also noticed). I love a Smoked Old Fashioned, so ordered one as well, and it did not disappoint. I'll be back to drink and dine on the patio when the weather cools a bit.

I want to begin by acknowledging that I chose to dine out on Mother's Day, fully aware that it is…read moreone of the busiest days of the year for restaurants. I expected longer wait times for seating and food, and I was prepared to be patient. However, what I did not anticipate was a complete breakdown in both front-of-house and back-of-house operations. Having worked in the restaurant industry, it was clear that the issues extended beyond the kitchen. A back-of-house "crash" of this magnitude is typically the result of broader operational failures, including front-of-house management. It appeared that reservations were significantly overbooked without adequate planning for the volume. On a day like Mother's Day, full capacity should be expected, and systems should be in place to manage that demand effectively. At a minimum, there should have been proactive communication with guests regarding delays, allowing them the option to adjust their plans. Additionally, basic service standards--such as keeping water glasses filled and bread baskets stocked--were not maintained. The serving staff seemed overwhelmed and unsupported, which ultimately reflects a lack of clear direction from management. During our visit, we even observed a large party leave due to the experience. I genuinely felt for our server, who appeared to be doing their best under difficult circumstances. Without directly requesting specific items and even ordering from the bar myself, the experience would have been significantly worse. Unfortunately, the food did not meet expectations either. The seafood pasta, in particular, was underwhelming in both quality and presentation--featuring minimal seafood and inconsistent preparation. At the price point, I would expect a much higher standard. The chicken Parmesan felt like cardboard and was just as thin. The cod with peas tasted exactly like the frozen cod I get from Costco. Calamari never came, which we had no idea about. No option to get anything else. If the restaurant does not have the infrastructure to handle high-volume days at a consistent level of quality, it may be worth reconsidering reservation limits or adjusting service expectations accordingly. While I understand the desire to maximize business on a busy holiday, the long-term impact of disappointed guests may outweigh the short-term gains. I hope this feedback is taken constructively, as no guest should have the experience we did. And no we did not accept any free dessert, which I felt was a completely tone def to the experience we had.

Landini Brothers is a good option on a very busy street for Italian which also includes Mia's, Il…read morePorto, and even The Wharf (seafood restaurant). I love the outdoor dining space. Even in the rain there are 5 tables under the awning. An interesting hack, especially when Mia's is slammed--and they always are slammed, walk across the pedestrian street and check out Landini. Even on a busy Friday or Saturday night, I've had great luck on the patio: They dont take reservations for the patio. The food is always excellent. I love the Tortellini alla Panna. It is filled with veal. The sauce is so good. Another one of my hacks, which I used tonight, is asking if they have any porkchop which is on the lunch menu. Tonight, I was in luck. It comes with a side of mashed potatoes and broccolini. Superb. Lots of other great choices on the menu too. Definitely give them a try. How do you think they compare to Mia's? Both are faves.

4/4/26 The menu…read moreleans classic, with mixed execution. The Tortellini in Brodo, filled with veal and Parmesan, arrives in a traditional homemade chicken broth that feels comforting yet ultimately lands at an average note, lacking depth. In contrast, the Calamari Fritti is a standout--perfectly fried, delicately crisp, and notably tender. The Suprema di Pollo con Mozzarella offers pleasant flavors of butter, lemon, and chardonnay, though the chicken veers slightly overcooked. More successful is the Piccatine al Limone, where milk-fed veal is bright and balanced with citrus and wine. A special of linguine with scallops on the shell rounds things out nicely, delivering a satisfying, well-executed finish.

Bottom line- expensive for small portions, but everything is delicious. We really enjoyed our meal…read more The atmosphere is cozy and small, so reservations fill up fast. Bar seating is first come, first serve. The complementary focaccia & the meatball appetizers were good, but the roasted heirloom carrots stole the show for appetizers. We got the two menu specials for dinner, and they were really good. I love homemade pasta, and you can taste that everything is made with fresh ingredients. Like I said, the portions aren't very large for the price you're paying. There are other really good Italian restaurants in the area where you can get more homemade pasta for less money, but we left satisfied. The quality of food plus the ambiance makes Thompson a great place for a date night. Overall, it was a lovely dinner, and we'll definitely be back.

It's a cute spot in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. I came here on a Wednesday evening to celebrate…read moremy brother's birthday, and the place was definitely busy--the bar was full and most of the tables were occupied. They offer a solid menu with weekday specials and discounts, which is a plus. We started with appetizers: the Caesar salad was good, but the meatballs were a miss. They came in a white sauce instead of the traditional red, were very small, and lacked flavor. For my entrée, I ordered the rigatoni. It looked great and arrived hot, but the flavor just wasn't there. The pasta was slightly chewy and not quite al dente. I added cracked pepper and ate some, but ended up taking most of it home hoping it might improve with a little extra seasoning the next day. My brother had the chicken parmigiana, and my sister ordered the branzino--both said their meals were just okay. None of us were particularly impressed. That said, the restaurant has strong reviews, so this may have just been an off night. One last note: please turn up the lights. The dim, moody lighting might be trendy, but at 7 PM on a weekday--especially with a crowd that's largely over 40--it just felt too dark. When guests are using their phone flashlights to read the menu, it's a bit much. Overall, a decent experience, but not one that wowed us.

I love Hanks oyster bar so when I heard that they were opening a pasta bar, I was super excited…read more This is a hidden gem upstairs above their Alexandria Hanks oyster bar location. It's a casual concept where you order on the QR code and then they bring food out to you but you still get to enjoy a server and real silverware. Their menu is pretty large with pasta options and appetizers and lots of different drink options and they also have a make your own pasta deal starting at $16 which is pretty affordable. The standouts for me were their mac & cheese, which has four different cheeses and was not too heavy, but still absolutely delicious and their Caesar salad was really well done, the lettuce was really good quality.

Had a wonderful birthday late lunch today! It is so cute! Great pasta, gluten free options, amazing…read moreservice! My tiramisu was frozen solid, but I do assume that was because we went right at 4, so we ordered it at 5, and maybe hadn't defrosted.

Visited my daughter in DC and found this place on YELP…read more We were looking for a good pizza spot and this recommendation came up. (I was a little confused with the name and how it linked to Pizza, but read the reviews and everyone raved about the pizza.) So glad I made a reservation! Beautiful spot- loved the ambience, great vibe - very lively. Here's what we ordered : Spinach artichoke dip - 9 out of 10 Wings - 10 out of 10 Caesar salad- 8 out of 10 Margherita Pizza - 10 out of 10 Meatball Pizza - 9 out of 10 Chicken parmesan and spaghetti - 8 out of 10 Penne vodka pasta- 9 out of 10 Definitely will be back, HIGHLY RECOMMEND - 10 out of 10 for me. Enjoy!

Walking in and it's instantly an immersion of all your senses. Mere steps into the main dining…read moreroom, my son and I glanced at one another with our mouths wide open in amazement. Lighting? Immaculate. Energy and vibes? Outstanding. Attention to details? Superb. We were there as a family celebrating my daughter's birthday. We felt like we were in DC, enjoying a night on the town. Logistics. Parking seems like it can be a bit tight. There is valet and self parking with a smaller garage underground. You walk a few steps to the restaurant and take the elevator up to the loft. Ample seating/ table options throughout. It seems like no decorative detail was left out in planning and creating our own Havana in Del Ray. Drinks. Our party had a glass of rose, pineapple mojito, and the honey badger. All were refreshing and delicious. Food. There is an Italian menu and the Cuban menu. We all opted for the Cuban options. We ordered the ropa vieja( stewed beef with rice and plantains) Presentation was great but was a bit salt heavy. The rice helped counter it, which was good. Birria tacos. 10 out of 10. Portion, delivery and taste were excellent. They are served with a side of guac and pico. I would go back there all the time for those alone. Cuban sandwich. This was a bit on the salty side too but the fries that they served with it were incredible. Thick cut, fried to perfection with sprinkling of salt. They saved the dish for me. Lastly we had the mojo roasted chicken. Excellent portion, chicken was succulent and delicious. Served with rice and beans which complemented perfectly. We ended the night with a surprise of complementary cannolis for the birthday girl. All and all a wonderful evening. We will be back for sure.