The last time I went to Rafagino I gave it 5 stars, sadly I had to take off one star. Mostly because I didn't have the same feelings as I've had with my previous visits. The bread that was served was spicy and orange ( not traditional) - we had just returned 2 days earlier from a European trip and at no time received bread like this at our table. I wish I had been warned about the bread by the server because I can't tolerate spicy foods. It's ok that the menu had changed- my favorite lobster dish was gone. And the wine that we ordered was not available ( it was as explained that a new wine list was being printed- so to taste the wine from DOURA valley again was not going to be possible ). Our meals were good mine was the fried shrimp and my husband's was pasta and sausage - he commented that he would have like a little less sauce and more pasta ( being Italian he likes pasta and I noticed that there was only a bit on the plate) I had told the server that we were celebrating our anniversary- after dinner she came out with a tray of desserts and said we would like you to have a dessert to celebrate your anniversary. So we picked on to share and asked for a cup of coffee. We mentioned that was a nice gesture for the restaurant. We discovered later that it was not a gesture at all. The dessert was added to our bill. All and all it was a nice evening out. We will go again in about a year or two to look at their new menu and wine list. I am hoping for an improvement. If not. I will need to find another favorite restaurant. read more

Intimate | portions | community Intimate Rafagino offers a warm, intimate dining atmosphere that feels more like a neighborhood gathering place than a chain-style restaurant. The smaller setting and attentive service create a relaxed, personal experience that works especially well for date nights or quiet meals with friends. Portions Portions are generous and satisfying. Pasta dishes and entrees arrive hearty and filling, often with enough for leftovers. It's comfort-style Italian that doesn't hold back on quantity. Community There's a strong community feel here -- from the welcoming tone of the staff to the loyal local customer base. The restaurant reflects a family-first ethos that shows up in both service style and operating approach. Pro tip: Check the hours before you go. They keep limited days and times -- mostly late lunch and dinner service -- which reflects their family values and operating philosophy. read more

Rafagino Italian Restaurant - Specials - Italian Near Me - Burke, Virginia

We had a reservation here for our anniversary - and boy am I glad we had one because the restaurant was packed and busy! But we were seated promptly outside and while the view isn't great, it was a beautiful evening to sit outside. Our drink orders were swiftly taken and delivered, as was our appetizer - the bruschetta. Our server Almenda was sweet, attentive, and efficient. The owner also rounded on us regularly, welcoming is to his business and taking additional drink orders at his recommendation. They have a nice wine and beer selection, with options for domestic drinks or options from Italy, Spain and Portugal. The food was tasty and flavorful- I got the eggplant parmigiana and my husband got a a seafood pasta dish (frutto di mar). We treated ourselves to the cream brûlée cheese cake which was positively decadent! All in all a wonderful dining experience. We will be back! read more

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Such amazing food and service! Definitely the place to be in the dmv! Couldn't ask for a better restaurant or atmosphere! read more

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Sorry but I cannot recommend this place for so many reasons We first walked in and waited to be seated it was a few minutes before we saw any staff. At that point I already had a bad feeling. We tried the chicken parm and chicken piccata. Unfortunately both were extremely bland. The chicken had no flavor the sauces had no seasoning. After we were done the staff asked if everything tasted ok. My wife had barely touched her food and told her it wasn't any good. She offered to replace it but we declined because we didn't expect any different from the replacement. But it was still left on the bill even though it wasn't eaten. So the food was all around bland and they are under staffed. Won't be returning. read more

My wife and I have twice ordered takeout chicken Parmesan and eggplant Parmesan and have been thrilled by how good the food was. We'll definitely be regulars and our only regret is that we're just now finding this gem after living in Burke a decade... read more

We have driven by many times. my partner lived in Italy for 2 years and is very picky about her Italian food. Today we decided to go in. The dining room is beautifully, tastefully decorated, with crepe colored walls and drapes. There was soft jazz playing, and white tablecloths. What a great start. Make no bones about it, this is quality Italian dining. One of the new owners greeted us, and the waitress was charming as well. She brought out an amazing house made warm bread, with a dipping sauce. it was Sicilian and baked in house. After our Arugala salads, we ordered the main course. I had Ciopppino di Ligura, a seafood stew with rice that features white fish, calamari, and shrimp surrounded by a ring of mussels. There is a light tomato sauce base. First of all, the balance of flavors was extraordinary. Each seafood item was perfectly cooked, which is no small feat. I'll probably dream about eating it tonight. It was that good. Barbara had Ravioli di Manzo, which is cheese ravioli with braised beef. It was also excellent. Instead of asking us if we wanted dessert, the waitress brought over the dessert tray for our inspection. That's a pretty clever way to make sure we eat something, and it worked. I had a first rate canolli, and she had an excellent Tiramisu. It was a delightful experience. Jody (one of the owners) told us the menu would slowly evolve to what the chef chose to prepare. They didn't want to risk losing the customer base while they made the restaurant more of their own. We called nearby family as soon as we left and told them they have to come back with us, preferably soon. This is a small neighborhood gem tucked away in the corner of a strip mall, but is everything you could hope for in a great dining experience. THE ANTIDOTE to mediocre chain restaurants! The hours are very limited- dinner service only right now, but it's really worth the effort! read more

I never expected to find a fine dining Italian restaurant in a local neighborhood strip mall, but Ragafino exceeds all expectations. They serve excellent Italian cuisine with outstanding service. The owner seems to remember every customer, creating a welcoming and familiar atmosphere every time we visit, and we've been coming here for years. While we haven't tried everything on the menu, we've thoroughly enjoyed most of the dishes we've had. Recently, we tried their paella, and it was among the best I've ever had--packed with fresh, flavorful seafood. We always make it a point to sample their appetizer specials, which change from time to time, and we save room for dessert because their selection is fantastic. Ragafino has become a staple in our regular rotation for amazing Italian food. read more

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Absolutely wrong bread to be served with mussels . Service people were rude . We will not return.

This was a lovely little Italian restaurant tucked away in an unassuming location. I was pleasantly surprised upon entering the restaurant, it had a small cozy vibe that felt very welcoming. The staff were friendly and attentive, and the food was delicious. The only notable downside was the long wait time for our meals. It was a bit disappointing to see the table beside us, who had ordered after us, receive their meals before we did. Overall it was a nice place, with great food and service, just be prepared for a possible wait. read more

Rafagino Italian Restaurant - Tortellini Bolognese & Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Burke, Virginia

First, this place is kind of tucked away in the corner of the shopping plaza. A hidden gem. Service was like any fine dining establishment: waiter, busboy, and manager constantly making the rounds. The food was amazing. My wife got steak medallions and I got the Chicken Parmesan. Everything was excellent. If we were not full from dinner, we would have partaken of the delicious looking desserts. read more

Nice people, delicious food. Their baked calamari was even better than if it were fried, you actually taste the goodness. The Paella was worth the 45 minute drive from Manassas. We WILL be back. read more

We just got back from dinner. Certainly not up to to par the Linguini De Mare had no flavor what so ever, everyone at table was adding salt to their dinner, not a good sign. The bread was terrible definitely not Italian style bread. Used to love to go here not sure we we will go back sadly disappointed in the new owners. Our server was great very attentive read more

The food and service were AMAZING!! Bruschetta appetizer was fantastic as was the tortellini! read more

Rafagino Italian Restaurant - Cannoli - Italian Near Me - Burke, Virginia

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Nice atmosphere and was seated quickly! Food was decent but had to ask several times for a water refill and once they brought us our food they never came back to check on us. I would have expected better service for that style of fancy restaurant. Probably won't be back unfortunately read more

Outstanding food and hospitality. The new owners have continued the great tradition of the former owners.

We are long time (~1994) patrons of Rafagino. Can't believe I haven't reviewed them before this. The owners have become friends over the years and we love pretty much everything on the menu. Among our favorites -- bocconcini, mussels, carpaccio (beef, tuna or swordfish if available), tuna tartare, arugula salad, veal picatta al limone, veal chop, ossobuco, salmon al forno, linguini al frutti di mare and carbonara. No dinner is complete without a bottle of wine from their great offerings and finish with the best tiramisu we have ever found. Service is always excellent. Great place for a romantic dinner for two or a nice dinner with friends. read more

Well maybe just an off night but I doubt it. Made a reservation, you must, all the tables were reserved on a Saturday evening. We had a nice bottle of wine, bruschetta and calamari for appetizers. I was embarrassed at the serving size of the calamari, not enough for one person; perhaps 20 very small circles. They were tasty but the volume for the price was outrageous. I had eggplant parmigiana, I got two small medallions with less than a teaspoon of sauce on each, one was 4 inches in diameter while the other one was 2.5 inches wide. The plate included about half a cup of spaghetti with a tablespoon of sauce on it. I should have taken a photo as the contrast of the plate size and food coverage was quite striking. My wife had chicken Marsala, again a very small portion of chicken, it was thigh not breast. At least her pasta portion was about double of mine and had plenty of Marsala sauce. The Marsala was passable but not special. I recognize that they are designed to make a one setting night, but the service was mixed, one young woman who was not our waitress was very helpful but our waiter was not. His ability to avoid eye contact was amazing. We waited over thirty minutes to get our check. I also have to note that the layout is not very accessible for people in wheelchairs or on a walker. We and everyone else in half the restaurant had to move chairs and table to allow a person in a wheelchair to pass. I would like to give it a better review but can't. If you are ok with very small portions for higher prices this could be ok for you. read more

Pretty solid little date night spot. Nicer atmosphere than most of your NOVA strip mall Italian places. Service was fantastic and the food was solid. Would recommend and will dine there again. read more

Good food and excellent service. We ate outside since the night was so nice. I got ravioli it was very good.

This is some of the best service I've had at any restaurant ever. Just delicious and fantastic!

My favorite things about authentic italian dining are the food and how special the restaurant makes you feel for choosing to dine there. Rafagino's absolutely nails both. It is a lovely little spot tucked away in Burke and your experience starts the moment you step through the door. The owner makes sure to greet and interact with every table and he's a wonderfully kind person. He even personally helped me retrieve a retainer I left behind after hours! Make sure you call and leave a message for a reservation and try their Ravioli di Manzo! read more

My mother requested we check out this local family owned restaurant for her birthday. It's great to know that there are high quality, service-driven restaurants in the area and that we don't always have to travel to DC or Alexandria to experience high-end dining! Our dinner began around 6:20 and while initially I was somewhat confused with the "slow " service, I realize that it may be intentional so as to allow patrons to really enjoy and digest their meals. My mother requested sangria, and while that is not on the menu, the host gladly made that happen for her. it was delicious. The rest of us enjoyed red wine by the glass. We started off with the baked calamari, which was delicious, but certainly not enough for four people, and that is at no fault of the restaurant. My sister and I ordered the exact same thing, the seafood pasta with white sauce, and a side Caesar salad. The salad comes before the food and is delicious and same with the pasta. They did not skimp on the seafood and the taste was delicious. Actually, I may go with the red sauce next time to add a bit more flavor. My father ordered the branzino and my mother ordered a different fish but both were pleased with their dishes. They ordered theirs with the house salad and were so delighted by them that they ordered additional salads and even bought a bottle of their vinaigrette. We ordered tiramisu and carrot cake and coffee and cappuccino to top it all off. Everything was amazing and three hours and $300 later we left, happy and full. read more

Rafagino Italian Restaurant - A happy mama and homemade carrot cake! - Italian Near Me - Burke, Virginia

Hubbant said there's this great little Italian restaurant in Burke he wanted to take me to for date night. When we got there, he realized he had never been to this place before. "The restaurant I was thinking of starts with G," he said. Didn't he realize at the time he made the reservation this place did not begin with a G?! Well, thank goodness for Hubbant's mistake because this place was fantastic! Amazing food and attentive service. We will be back, Grafagino! read more

Rafagino Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Burke, Virginia

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Went here tonight for my 55th Birthday. Reminded me so much of the great northern NJ Italian restaurants. Had the chicken piccata. It was so rich and filling with amazing lemon capers flavor. Service was fantastic. The owner greeted us and checked on us. The waiter and service staff were all very attentive to all of their guests. It was such a pleasant dining experience. The first restaurant I have been to in Burke that felt like a true, classy, night out. 100% recommended. read more

The service was excellent and the meal was delicious. The venue itself is very cozy and quaint.

I had the osso bucco (lamb shank) special and enjoyed it immensely. It was fork tender and dressed in a delightful sauce. The salad was fresh and one could taste the slight hint of anchovies in the Caesar dressing. Service was excellent and the atmosphere cozy. A hidden gem in a nondescript strip mall. Quality food at high, but reasonable prices. read more

I started coming here when they first opened, almost 30 years ago. I moved away and made a special trip 24 years later for an anniversary dinner. Wow! Just wow. Food was delicious, varied, creative and sensational. The mix of great Italian classics, new takes on old themes and Portuguese influence is unique. Service was excellent. Rosa, owner and chef is from Bari Italy. Paolo, owner and greeter, is from Lisbon, Portugal. A perfect blend to create hospitality, food and ambience unmatched in this area. It is no wonder they are still in business after all these years. People recommend Rafagino's and seek them out. The restaurant is small and cozy, tucked away in a corner of a Burke shopping plaza. People seek it out for that occasion when only the finest food and wine are sought. I grew up in a NY Italian neighborhood. We did not have food this good. My guests were very well traveled foodies. They were amazed. We were greeted as if we had never left the area. You will be too. My highest recommendation. Enjoy. read more

Absolutely one of the best restaurants in Northern Virginia! It is the closest you will get to an authentic European dining experience without actually going to Europe. Even though we have lived in the area cumulatively for over 11 years we only discovered them a few months ago. Their location is very nondescript in the corner of an L shaped shopping center which we have driven by at least 50 times. However, the location is NOT indicative of the amazing experience once inside! When you enter the restaurant you are warmly greeted and instantly feel like part of the family. It is a small intimate setting with old world decorations. We have been there twice and each time the food and service is over the top impeccable! If you can only pick one place to go this place should be at the top of your list! We will definitely return now that we realize what we have been missing all of these years. read more

Hands down the best Italian food I have ever had! Authentic and delicious Italian food is hard to come by in Northern Virginia, but this is the family owned hidden gem I GUARANTEE you will be overjoyed to experience. I've been a fan of Rafagino's for as long as I can remember. Tonight we got the special appetizer which had artichoke and mozzarella wrapped with prosciutto with a jammy balsamic. Heaven. I got an eggplant parm and my fiancé got the filet with cheese sauce and pasta. (Excuse me not using the proper names, it's all in Italian.) To finish this amazing meal, we ended up ordering 4 desserts because we couldn't decide (we may or may not have ended up finishing all of them). My favorite Italian spot and I will tell anyone who will listen. I LOVE THIS PLACE! read more

This place is truly unique! A hidden gem parading inside of a small shopping center, its rustic atmosphere transports diners to an authentic Italian restaurant. The cuisine changes constantly, but they also have the favorite staples highlighting the homemade Italian style. I have not had a bad meal here! Additionally the service is top tier - everyone is so friendly and attentive. My favorite part is that they bring out the dessert tray with all of their selections. Overall, a great dining experience! read more

Such a hidden gem. Great food and ambiance. Outside seating, amazing wine selection. Paulo and Rosa make you feel at home. Perfect service every time. read more

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Best Italian restaurant in Fairfax Been a patron for over 28 years Rosa and Paulo are phenomenal My family has done every significant event here including weddings birthdays and everything in between Unique in every respect Julian and Gail read more

Made a last minute reservation for a large group for our first visit. They treated us like family, even though we are from out of state. Other guests were welcomed by their names. They must have a lot of repeat customers. Food and wine were outstanding. If I return to this area, I'll definitely return. Ken read more

It was an okay experience. The service and ambiance were good but when I saw my chicken parmesan was made using chicken thighs instead of a breast, I decided to never go back. read more

If you want an authentic classy experience with Italian cuisine this is the place. Hidden gem in the neighborhood

A fine dining experience at reasonable prices. The service was attentive. They went "better than expected" by splitting the dishes after we mentioned that we share our food. Great tastes plus you'll be unable to say no when they bring out the dessert tray at the end. read more

If you're looking for a full-service, intimate dinner then Rafagino should be on your list. The food was wonderful and not too heavy. I felt like a member of the family. There's a reason it's been in business for 30 years. read more

Love everything about this restaurant. Friendly staff, attentive, intimate and not loud. Food is always great and wine is very well priced,

Great ambience. Staff is attentive and friendly. Food is great. Our family and extended family love this place. Great variety of food options, and they never disappoint. Definitely has an Italian/European feel because the food isn't rushed and you can socialize. Expect to spend an hour and a half + for a meal. The restaurant is cozy and clean and if you need help with the drink or food menu, the staff is very knowledgeable. We always go here for special occasions. read more