Last night we found ourselves wandering through town at 8:30 on a Thursday, the kind of hour when you are either settling in or taking a small, delicious risk. We chose the risk and slipped into San Lorenzo Restaurant for the second time. It felt less like dining out and more like returning to a place that already knows how to treat you well. The service was impeccable. Not stiff. Not hovering. Just that rare choreography where every plate arrives at the right moment and every glass is refilled before you realize you are looking for it. It is the kind of hospitality that makes a weeknight feel like an occasion. The food? Absolutely delicious. We started with squash blossoms. Then, the ravioli-- tasted like it had been crafted with quiet confidence. Then came the pasta with rabbit, which I will admit made me hesitate. Completely unnecessary. It was buttery, tender, and rich in the most balanced way, the kind of dish that makes you pause mid bite and rethink your previous fears. I also love their non alcoholic wine options. So often that category feels like an afterthought. Folks have N/A wine that tastes like juice. But, theirs felt intentional, curated, and worthy of the meal. Second visit, same delight. We will definitely be back. read more

San Lorenzo - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I'll be honest I didn't get the hype. Was in the mood for some seafood pasta and saw their reviews for lobster risotto were much better than their other pastas so I went with that option. While I felt that there was a good amount of lobster, my risotto was undercooked. And that's the main dish. I ordered ahead for pick up. It was ready when I arrived so service was fine. The ambience seemed nice and cozy from just the walk-in, but would have to dine in to give a proper review. I don't know if I would dine in because undercooked starch is a peeve of mine, but it had good flavor. read more

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I made a reservation for the chefs tasting menu and it was delicious! Each of the dishes were fresh, flavorful!, and served hot. I really enjoyed the scallop appetizer and the pasta dishes- both outstanding. The beef was cooked perfectly and the meal ended with two desserts to try. The staff were polite and attentive in bringing drinks and new silverware. It was a wonderful dinner and I'm looking forward to coming back. read more

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The food is clearly made on site. The service is spectacular, several servers will stop by your table to check on your satisfaction and to refill drinks. If trying the 6-course meal, the portions may seems small but if you take the time to actually enjoy every little flavor that stands out, you will understand why this is a Michelin Star restaurant. Again, take your time to enjoy every little flavor, your stomach and taste buds will sing for you. The only "problem" I encountered was the Italian cheesecake. Not that it didn't taste good but it didn't compare to NY Cheesecake. It tasted delicious, as did the rest of the 6-course dinner. But considering my family is responsible for NY Cheesecake as we know it, I am heavily biased. The staff were always on point and Christina was a complete sweetheart, making sure we were enjoying ourselves. Definitely a place for special occasions. read more

San Lorenzo - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I got the ravioli, which was fine. I do wish the portion sizes were larger, as I finished my meal in a matter of a couple of minutes. read more

San Lorenzo - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food was spectacular from the appetizers to the deserts. Everything was seasoned well and the food was flavorful. We had a larger group for dinner and the service was wonderful the entire time. read more

San Lorenzo - The pork was sooo good and it was a solid portion - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Amazing food, great ambiance and staff. They always strive to accommodate our business groups too which makes for a great visit. Love the fresh prosciutto!! All portions are right-sized, just a great dining experience! read more

I feel like this is such a hidden gem in DC. The food here is delicious! The grilled calamari was packed with flavor and was very tender. The buratta caprese salad was very light and refreshing. I wound up getting the seafood linguine and it was very yummy and loaded with seafood. My friend like the parpadelle but also said there were very minimal noodle sheets. The bar service was excellent and the team was super attentive. Although it's a small restaurant, it felt authentic and welcoming. read more

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Ok but not good. We sat down and were asked if we wanted water, then weren't seen for about 10-15minutes. They never gave us drink menus so when they came back, that took another 5minutes to bring the menu. When we were finally addressed another 10 minutes later (tables after us had ready been served their drinks), we finally were able to order a bottle of wine. The waiter was gone another 10 minutes before she returned with a different bottle, apologizing that they were out of what we order but that the chef recommended this bottle Instead? I thought it was weird the chef made the recommendation but sure, we said okay and placed our order since we didn't know when we were going to see her again. The wine was hard to finish, tasted like rubbing alcohol. She then came by with 2 "complementary oysters, since it took so long to serve us and that the wine we originally ordered was out". But then I come to find all of the other tables also got this "perk" so it was nothing special. They brought complementary bread and olive oil: tasted like paper, lacked any flavor. My husband ordered the steak: if needed salt. I ordered the papardelle: was actually pretty good, maybe a bit too much salt but I did enjoy it. & my husband and I shared the duck ravioli which was actually my favorite. We both had a single shot espresso, he had the tiramisu while I had the cheesecake, both were below average. Tasted like something you could buy at the grocery store or deli. Solid 3.5 at the very high end. Not worth $480+ . The waitress was nice enough! I don't blame her for how the night went. She was doing the best with all of her tables and the situation of the night. With that said, I would not recommend and we will not be returning. read more

I dined here for the first time with a group of six friends and left disappointed. The interior of the restaurant is nice enough - sleek but also homey, albeit a bit crowded - and the service was just fine. My main gripe is the price-to-value ratio. My negroni was overly bitter and not well balanced. All six of us ordered the famed rabbit ragu, and though the pasta was indeed delicious, it came with like eight noodle strands - a bit jarring, given the $26 price point. I also ordered the chocolate cake for dessert, which I found dry. I left the restaurant still quite hungry -- a bit of a travesty, since the bill came out to almost $400 for six people (no appetizers, six entrees, three drinks, two desserts). And though this is a smaller nit, I did flag on the reservation that we were here to celebrate an 11-year college reunion, but at no point was there any acknowledgment that this was a special occasion dinner. A bummer, particularly given the high price point. I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. read more

San Lorenzo - rabbit ragu - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Met up with two friends for dinner. This spot used to be Thally (for those of us who have been in DC for over 10 years). It's still a cute spot. It had a good crowd for 7;30 on Wednesday night. The hostess was friendly and so were they wait staff. The food and wine/cocktails were delicious as well. We ordered a little bit of everything. The risotto, branzino, halibut and pappardelle are enough reason for us to return. They are fairly new and looking for more business. . read more

San Lorenzo - Pappardelle (the rabbit is good!) - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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First, I will state that the food was absolutely delicious. I had the grilled calamari, pappardelle, and tiramisu. However, the service was not good. The server walked up to my table and asked what I wanted. I honestly didn't think anything of it until two separate couples sat on both sides of me towards the end of my meal. The exact same server introduced himself, explained to the couples the specials and asked them their all allergies. He never explained the specials to me and didn't ask me if I had any allergies. Meanwhile, I have a pine nut allergy which can be found in some Italian foods. Luckily, I know how to navigate that on my own. He definitely seemed nicer to them. He wasn't necessarily rude to me but I could tell the difference in service. The only difference between myself and the couples is that they were white and I am Black. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with the way I was treated. I have to wonder though because I was one of two Black diners in the restaurant and I was alone. Another thing I noticed was that the prices were about $10 per plate more in person than the what was listed on the website. I didn't really appreciate that either. This was my second time there and the food is very good but I won't be back. read more

Had multiple courses here and it was all quite yummy! Bit overpriced for the food though. nothing was "wow amazing!!" but the pasta. I would definitely return for the ravioli. The soup was nice. My server was kind and was descriptive of each dish. We took our friend here and it was very small, intimate and thankfully not crowded. We did not wait. So that was a bonus. I'm unsure if I'd take a guest here again though but I'd definitely take someone I see on a weekly/monthly basis here again. read more

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Attended a semi-private event and was so impressed with the attentiveness of the staff behind the bar and waiting the room! The drinks were perfect, and every single tasting was delicious. Notable favorites for me were: Tonno, Bruschetta, Bistecca, Linguini, Pappardelle, Ravioli. Most definitely need to come back. read more

San Lorenzo - Bistecca - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We had a fantastic dining experience from start to finish! Christina was absolutely awesome--attentive, friendly, and made our meal even more enjoyable. Gunner was a huge fan of the ravioli and chocolate ice cream, and we all loved everything from the appetizers to dessert. We'll definitely be back! read more

San Lorenzo - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

They are running a scam. The prices on their in person menu are 15-30% higher than the prices listed on their menu online. The $34 fish of the day is $48, the $66 Bistecca is $78. All of the pastas were 25% more on the in person menu as well. In addition, stale bread and they are charging $22 for arugula and onions. read more

On 2.15.26, I had the pleasure of having a private event for my 50th Birthday at San Lorenzo. To say that I was impressed would be an understatement! From start to finish, the service was impeccable. Drinks were flowing and the four course prix fixe was Outstanding! From the ravioli to the risotto to the branzino and the bistecca, everything was delicious. My guests were overjoyed and remarked about the way they felt special throughout the entire evening. I would highly recommend San Lorenzo for both a private party experience as well as dinner or happy hour. Extra special shout out to Christina who made all things work together for an overall amazing time. Thank you! read more

Found this jewel by accident. Invited us in like we were family and treated us like royalty! We were seated in a quiet corner and in an instant it felt like we were back in Italy. Frizzante water, Italian wine, zuppa and il panino delizioso! We finished with the panna cotta, tiramisu, cappuccino and espresso. Everything was wonderful and our server was exceptional!! Wish we lived closer to this little slice of Italia! Thank you for a lovely lunch and hope we can return soon. read more

Update after a recent visit, a solid 3.5 stars which I'll round up. It's a fine meal, but more like a weekday don't have plans type of place for me. Cocktails we had this time were bad, I'd stick to wine. Bread service is fine (they'll bring you more if you finish which is nice). Prosciutto appetizer was ok, the star was the cheese though. We had four pastas ranked from tortelli - pappardelle - risotto - linguine. Tortelli had a nice flavorful truffle and cream filling, but the pasta wasn't cooked perfectly with some of the bites underdone. Pappardelle has a pretty tasty sauce but would've loved a bit more texture on the pappardelle. Risotto was nice with a few good chunks of lobster claw. Linguine was fine but not worth ordering out, nothing special about the flavors or ingredients. Overall it's how I remember, not a bad meal but with so many options around we won't regularly visit. read more

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Get the Rabbit Ragù and the squash blossoms if they have it. Our waiter was delightful and handled a kitchen mixup beautifully. Overall it's a great place for a dinner date. read more

One of the better meals I've had in a while - I'll def go back. Service was great too.

I dined there recently with a group of 6. Inside it's decorated in creamy shades of beige and off white. At the bar is a covered leg of prosciutto that they slice to order. They offer a small menu with Tuscan inspired dishes. However, I had the grilled branzino with sautéed spinach. The fish was lightly grilled but still tender and moist. The cocktails are surprisingly priced lower by a few dollars than a glass of wine. The server was efficient with separating checks. read more

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We went here for our anniversary lunch. The staff were very friendly. They told us about future event and even shared their contact information to book future reservations. We made a reservation for our lunch but it was fairly open. It think lunch time has less of a crowd. It was such a calm location. We really enjoyed the pasta. It was so fresh. Our only gripe is that the portions are on the small side. The bread was very good. We were given extra because we commented on how good it was. At the end of the date we were give a free dessert for our anniversary. The location is smaller than expected. This made it a bit intimate for us. The back of the restaurant has nice space for bigger parties. We will be back. read more

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Incredible food and incredible service, underrated small restaurant with great ambiance. Had a really great cocktail, tried a few different pastas which were all wonderful, and the dessert was great as well. Really impressed by the attentive service -- management (Kristina?) took great care of us! Highly recommend for a date night or celebration, this is a new favorite of mine in NW DC. read more

San Lorenzo creates an atmosphere so warm and inviting that is perfect for an intimate dinner. Our waiter did a great job of recommending a bottle of wine that would go well with the tasting menu. We decided to do the 4 course tasting menu. Each dish was beautifully plated. The scallop was cooked perfectly and not overdone. The ravioli had sardines in the filling (an item I have never tried before) and it actually tasted wonderful. The desserts were also perfect, a slice of chocolate cake and a pistachio tiramisu. Overall, I loved dining at this restaurant. One caveat: my partner is vegetarian and also ordered the tasting menu. He didn't feel as satisfied in terms of feeling full, so you may want to opt for the 6 courses instead if you decide to try this. We will definitely be back to try more of their pastas! read more

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I came here on a Sunday. My last night in town after a week long conference. Fadi, the bartender took care of me and gave me the perfect level of conversation. The ambience was perfect to decompress after a long week. The food and wine was DELICIOUS!!! I had the linguini and even though it is tomato based or was the perfect mix of subtle flavors that was not acidity. read more

San Lorenzo - Linguini - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Finally made it to San Lorenzo! Before I get to the delicious meal (and I know this is on the cusp of being moot given the ever-changing COVID guidelines) but they were very strict about enforcing the vaccine mandate and the chef even came out to ask a patron to leave who could not show his proof. I appreciated that they were taking it seriously and thinking about what's best for their staff and their patrons. So, it's been long on the list and a colleague two jobs ago (yes, two) had raved about the rabbit ragu and it just stayed lingered in my brain every time I was catching up with friends and we were discussing where to go. I went to San Lorezno with two friends on a Tuesday night and there were maybe 8 other people inside with us. We started with a bottle of red wine that was recommended by our waiter and their warm, fresh bread with olive oil. It was nice that we each got our own little olive oil dish to dip our bread in. We tried to order the squash blossoms that everyone raves about but they were out of them so we opted for the prosciutto. The prosciutto was a generous spread and a perfect way to start the meal. And it had fresh figs which is a win in my book. We ordered dishes to share and had the rabbit ragu pappardelle, the mushroom tortelli and the short rib ravioli. We also had a side of broccolini. And honestly, I could have eaten every single dish on my own because it was all just so fresh, light and....yet rich, full of flavor and the perfect portion. I'm not even sure I can pick a favorite dish and I can't wait to go back to try some others. We had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert and it was the perfect few bites of sweet to finish off the meal. I highly recommend San Lorenzo and can't wait to go back! read more

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Fantastic authentic Italian restaurant. Beautiful decor, best wait staff and bartender and most of all very talented chef. We both enjoyed Homemade pasta and rustic bread and huge wine list. Can't wait to go back. A must while in DC. Right down the street from the convention center. The squash blossom Was the perfect appetizer. read more

San Lorenzo - The special pasta with beef checks. - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Anything less than 5 stars here would be a travesty! We live locally and have come here 3-4 times. Each time we come the food we try outdoes the last time. The tenderness of the seafood, the quality of the pasta, and the flavors on every dish are just exquisite. COCKTAILS and wine don't disappoint! Any time we have family or colleagues in town, this is where we will go. Oh!!!! And the service??? Amazing! read more

San Lorenzo had a lot of promise when we walked in. The restaurant is small but very classy with a beautiful bar. We were seated immediately for our 6 pm reservation and the restaurant was pretty empty. Our waiter was very quick to tend to us and we got our drinks and bread basket with olive oil right away. The focaccia bread that comes in the basket is DELICIOUS. We then ordered the bruschetta (very average and sprinkled with cheese which I thought was weird) and the squash blossoms (tasty but too much breading and only came with three...). For our mains we ordered the short rib pasta and the tortellini. Both were yummy but portion sizes are definitely small, so don't come here if you're starving or you'll leave hungry, unless you're ready to pay over $100pp. My biggest complaint was the service. Normally I would complain about slow service, but this place was the complete opposite. We would put the last bite of food in our mouths and they'd basically run over to take the plate away. We had to tell the waiters THREE TIMES we weren't done with our pasta because they continuously tried to take our plates away. We had about 3 bites of the dessert and left half of it on the plate while we talked and drank our espresso martinis (these were way too strong) and the waiter asked if we were done several times; it all felt really rushed and started to get super annoying and they weren't even busy. They even took our bread basket away and clearly didn't take the hint that we wanted a relaxing dinner to chat, they would literally interrupt our conversation to clean the table which is a huge pet peeve. Come for the food, but beware you'll be rushed out while you're eating. read more

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This place was my birthday dinner and it was delicious! Had the Italian margarita and it was crisp and strong. Calamari was charred to perfection with light spices complementing the grilled flavor. The lobster risotto was delicious and creamy and the linguine with seafood Ragu was tasty as well. read more

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The ambience was nice, service was good. Now let's get to the food. Having had an Italian mother, and a mother who learned how to cook from her Italian father, I know good Italian food. Sadly, the dishes we got did not meet this definition. The linguine was, well, not linguine and this particular dish was over-salted. The food was over-priced and not of the standard and quality described in reviews. read more

Celebrating a special occasion, a birthday, in a special space. Old New York Italian feel, this quaint, sort of rustic place is a treat. they have nice streets idea seating but if you're comfortable indoors, you'll enjoy the ambiance of old school...quite nice! a full bar but their Italian signature cocktails should not be missed. Riccardino with Gin & Blood Orange and the SL Negroni were absolutely on par with the best Italian drinks we've had. our guests had the Spritzer and the Dolce. All sported the exact right blend of spirits and mix. While the drinks were a great way to start the experience, the star of the show without doubt was the scrumptious food. For starters the Calamari didn't disappoint, but when compared with the entrees it was almost an after thought! For me, one of the daily specials was absolutely delicious-the Ravioli with Lobster. Described as having some snippets of lobster it was unbelievable how much there actually was. In balance with the stuffed raviolis, in a not overwhelming butter sauce, it was exquisite. All of the pastas that our party devoured, from the Pappardelle to the Fettucine were perfect. Of special note was the Cacciucco, a fisherman's stew, was a plentiful mix of scallops, lobster, shrimp and mussels in a lobster sauce. This was a dish that the entire table got to enjoy, at least through the mopping up of that incredible sauce with the fresh warm bread served to accompany our meal. I can't say enough positive things about the restaurant; the servers were equally fantastic and as noted, the ambiance made it a night to remember, and to plan our next visit back! And not to forget, letting the host know of the special occasion warranted a surprise chocolate cake with fresh strawberries and a drizzle that was the perfect (and filling) topper! read more

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A meal to remember! I came with my family for my birthday and we LOVED dining here. The highlights of our meal were our entrees: the halibut with corn and grilled apples, lobster risotto, and the linguini special. The halibut tasted like a refreshing Italian summer day. The fish was flaky, the corn was sweet, and the grilled apple was warm and tart. Together they complimented each other so well. This linguini set the standard for what Al dente means. Each bite had the perfect chew of noodle. The clams were small but meaty. The lobster risotto married the beautiful flavor of tomato with the seafoodness of lobster. Our family may or may not have fought over who got the last bite! The only drawbacks I can think of are that there was a $3/plate cutting fee for the birthday cake we brought and that the music they played felt a little too much like Italian karaoke night. Besides these small details, this is a great place to have a special dinner. If anyone in your life has something important to celebrate, you can't go wrong by taking them here! read more

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I have been to San Lorenzo twice now. I have been disappointed both times. For starters, you are charged a 4% fee if you pay with a credit card - fine. But the service is just not up to par. You are slow to be served, it's rushed when you DO order and the server forgets what you ordered and has to come back to ask again. This was during a time when the restaurant was not full. The restaurant offers a soup of the day and daily specials but I had to ASK what they were. The quality of the food was fine but it didn't outshine the other things you look for when dining out. read more

This was my first time at this location. I've walked past it a few times on my lunch break from work. I went to celebrate my anniversary with my wife. The staff were very friendly. Thanking us for joining and wishing us a happy anniversary. The service was quick. We went 45 minutes before the kitchen closed for dinner. The food was good, the bread was so crispy and flavourful. The pasta was delicious; however, the portion size was very small. I expected a little more and probably would have ordered additional plates if I had known the portion size. I was able to fill up on bread. My wife really liked the decor so that is a plus. The staff was kind enough to give us an anniversary dessert of Gelato. It was very tasty and the sweetness was subtle which I really liked. read more

San Lorenzo - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Omg! The food and the service were Michelin quality. The pasta was freshly made, the grilled calamari was tender and the lamb chops were out of this world. Everything was seasoned to perfection. I shall return... read more

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Pretty solid Italian spot but definitely not a standout place to me. It is very cute and intimate inside so I like that it is not overly crowded on a weeknight. The food comes out pretty quickly! I loved the zucchini fritter appetizer and these were light and flaky. I had the tortelli and it was not what I expected. Very well made pasta but the sauce was a blend of interesting flavors and just not exactly my favorite. I tried a bite of the rabbit ragu which had a light white wine sauce for a meat dish. Good food but not sure I'd be back. read more

This was our first time at San Lorenzo and we really wanted to try the sandwiches. We ordered two to try: prosciutto and chicken parm. The prosciutto sandwich was hands down the best sandwich I have ever had! The bread was perfectly made, nice and crusty. It was a great pairing with the prosciutto. The second sandwich was the chicken parm and it was different compared to the first, because of the sauce and it was a warm sandwich. The sauce was delicious and worked really well with the bread, it did not make it too soft. I would come back for the prosciutto sandwich again. It was my favorite of the two and I highly recommend it. read more

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Made a same day reservation on Resy for Friday night, there were a lot of open reservations. Atmosphere is quaint and intimate. They start you off with a pretty large bread basket and olive oil - yum. DOLCE VITA AMARA $14 westland bourbon, apertivo, montenegro, lemon thyme syrup *strong, sweet and herbaceous; served up in a cocktail/martini glass CALAMARI $16 grilled rhode island calamari, shaved brussel sprouts, red pepper puree *great grilled flavor on the calamari and surprisingly the shredded brussels sprouts were the perfect addition to the dish CHITARRA $19 square spaghetti with clams & lobster ragu, garlic, crushed pepper, light lobster sauce *nice chew to the spaghetti and a rich flavorful tomato ragu, seafood was perfectly cooked Overall, dinner was delicious and definitely will be back! read more

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