Went here for a lunch. Loved absolutely everything. We had…read moreCavolfiori, Whole Grilled Branzino, Americana pizza. As a desert we had Tiramisu Flambé and Crostata di Celiegie. Every single dish was perfect. Also great service and ambiance.

When researching places to eat while in the area for a conference, L'Ardente consistently came up…read moreacross multiple sources as a great place to dine in DC. After polling my colleagues, we came to the agreement to check this place out. That being said, I booked a table our first night in the area and off we went. L'Ardente specializes in Italian fare - specifically marketing themselves as "glam Italian". Walking in, I didn't really get glam vibes, but perhaps because it was still daylight. The restaurant is pretty spacious - the main dining room has high ceilings and big windows, with a bar along the back wall and some alcoves along the far side of the restaurant. The decor is mostly modern, with mostly dark finishes with clean lines. We started with drinks - they have a good selection of cocktails and were also flexible to make something that we specifically requested. For apps, we decided to share the pulpo, verde salad, artichokes, and melon with prosciutto. All of these were good, but the pulpo and artichokes were my two favorite. Both were creatively prepared and had great flavor. For my main, their signature 40-layer lasagna was tempting, but I opted for the linguine ai frutti di mare. This was an interesting preparation - the expected seafood was there, but the red sauce was thicker than traditionally used in the dish, and had more heat. The dish was good, and apparently this is a running theme where they put their own twists on what are usually traditional Italian dishes. We opted for dessert, and shared the vanilla soufflé, crème brûlée, and the blueberry panna cotta. All of these were really good and creatively prepared. The soufflé was my favorite - great vanilla flavor and pared with tasty pistachio ice cream. Service was great, everyone was super friendly and made sure we were taken care of. Overall, I had a good experience at L'Ardente. Glam? The jury is out for me - but, the food is solid and service was great. I would return, but not before checking other Italian restaurants out in the area first.

Came here for lunch. I think it was way early for the likes of Washington DC crowd, so for a while…read morewe had the whole place to ourselves. The decor is more of a mix of Italian Rustic and Heavy American classic giving the vibe of Italy with feel of Power typical for quite a few DC higher end restaurants. Food is top notch. Tagliere (Not quite Pizza but very close), Spaghetti alle Vongole, Hamachi Crudo, Octopus all delicious.... Lunch crowd started arriving around 12:30 which about what I was expecting and why not service is great although early lunch is a little lite on the crew but no misses, which is an excellent sign. Full bar with great cocktails and wine. I'd say visit if you get a chance.

Transforms you to a cute cafe in Europe!…read more Food- bright, fresh, and flavorful. Drinks- nice variety of cocktails and mocktails. Space- simple and classy decor. Service-Muhammad was friendly professional and attentive. Gave great suggestions.

Everything about this restaurant was amazing! As soon as you arrive, you're greeted by the sight of…read morea woman making fresh pasta by hand through a window--such a unique and memorable experience. Once you step inside, you're led downstairs into the dining area. The restaurant may appear small from the outside, but it's surprisingly spacious with a beautiful atmosphere inside. The menu has so many options that deciding what to order can be a challenge, especially since the dishes are on the pricier side. However, the quality and experience make it completely worth it. I would happily spend all my adult money here! The pasta was absolutely incredible, and the arancini balls were some of the best I've had. Even the bread and butter stood out--the bread was soft and warm with the perfect crunchy crust. From the handmade pasta to the welcoming atmosphere, this restaurant truly delivers an unforgettable Italian dining experience.

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.

Came here with a friend before going to see Alanis Morissette live - best experience ever!…read more Who knew the perfect pregame to live music with Grazie Nonna. Perfect ambience! perfect food! perfect location! The food was pretty good - I love an artisan pizza (brick oven in the back)! Calamari was good - nothing crazy! Overall cute place to grab a little Italian bite!

I visited this restaurant on a Saturday evening with friends. The ambience was decent. However, it…read morewas so loud that I couldn't hear the people next to me, including the waitress. Which made for a very interesting experience. It felt like she would just come by and smile at us in the middle of our conversation conversations, and I don't know if she actually asked anything each time she came. The service in general could've been wayy better. We ordered pizza and then pasta and when we asked for a box, we were made to box up our own food and we were just given a huge pizza box that took up 80% of our table and the waitress walked away. I don't know if I was expected to just hold the pizza box while sitting at a small table and trying to eat my pasta, but there was absolutely zero consideration given to where I was supposed to put this large pizza box on this small table when we still had half of our meal coming to the table. The waiter also didn't pay attention to any dietary restrictions or allergies, and offered zero guidance on that. Also, we were told that there was a time limit for where we were sitting despite they're being several tables open the whole time we were there. For the food, I really enjoyed the food- Italian salad, pizza with the hot honey, and Alfredo pasta. But everything else really dampened the experience. If I were to go back, I would either order takeout, eat outside, or come another day when it wasn't so loud, and have a different waiter.

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!

Everything went well, great service, great appetizer, delicious pizza, and stunning raviolis. The…read moredesert was the cherry on top !

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

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!

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.

Had dinner here after a long day at a convention. It was just what we needed. Pedro was an…read moreexcellent server. He was attentive and informative. It was a small sized restaurant but was just right. Had the crab ravioli for dinner and the crème brûlée for dessert. Both were delicious!

We enjoyed dinner at Tortino with friends last night! Our server, Pedro, provided us with excellent…read moreservice and was very attentive. The ambiance was nice but it was very quiet at 7pm on a Thursday so we had to watch our volume. Dinner was delicious overall! We enjoyed the: Beef carpaccio: 4/5, good flavor and loved the dish as a whole. Could've used a little more sauce/dressing and micro greens, but I'd still recommend! Crab ravioli: 4/5, the sauce was delicious, though the raviolis were a little chewy 11th Street Spritz: 5/5, loved the addition of the gin to a classic aperol spritz. My friends loved their cocktails as well, including the Negroni. Italian ricotta cheesecake: 2/5, this was very dry/crumbly for a cheesecake, I'd try a different dessert next time

I had the tortellini mignon- absolutely loved it. Great service and ambiance. Great for a date…read morelunch/dinner.

Cute place. Get reservations. Food was ok. Lasagna was good…read morebut the serving was enough for 3 people. Same with the steak. Pretty crowded with tables and loud. Difficult to have a conversation.