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    Thompson Italian

    4.2 (149 reviews)
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    THOMPSON ITALIAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

    Recommended Reviews - Thompson Italian

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    Reviews With Photos

    BEEF & PORK MEATBALLS
    Lavender T.

    After having an extremely deserving 1 star experience at another Italian restaurant I decided to come back and update my review because this other restaurant was freezing cold as well so maybe it's a thing cause with Italian restaurants. But the food at this restaurant was horrible so, I could not stand to leave this review as is. There was no comparison in the food.

    Cyndi A.

    We had an exceptional evening dining here with friends. This was our first experience and won't be our last. The service is top notch, the food is fresh and delicious topped with the perfect ambiance! The Brussel sprouts and Branzino was EXCELLENT!!! We tried every dessert and all phenomenal!

    FOCACCIA
    Ryan G.

    TL;DR: Thompson's Italian is a chill cozy privately owned restaurant that is serving up fresh Italian and pasta dishes in the heart of old town. I would certainly take a date or family and friend out of town here. My wife and I were celebrating our anniversary and decided to try out Thompn's Italian and glad that we did. Don't let the slender outside and narrow bar area fool you, it opens to a modern beautiful space. Granted I have two dishes posted I only had mine which was the Ricotta Cavatelli and it was DELICIOUS! A dish comprised of pork sausage, peporonata, chiles, basil, and pecorino. If like a bit of heat this is the perfect hearty dish. I could've had 2-3 servings of it which unfortunately takes me to my very slight disappointment. This is where unfortunately a restaurant that doesn't skimp on freshness and integrity in this economy must take a hit, and that is the overall portion to price point. The dishes you see before you were $26. It was that good to where I wish I had just a bit more especially for that price. But please do not let that deter you from trying the restaurant out, just know the portion to price point may make you raise an eyebrow. The homemade focaccia was sooooooo good, I just wish it was served warm. It came to use room temp, and somewhat cold but it was still delicious, but they certainly need to warm the bread for customers that would take it to another level. The service was great, and they were very attentive not only to our needs but also understand the special occasion and even presented us with a complimentary dessert. It's these small things that makes me want to come back, and next time with enough budget for maybe two servings LOL.

    TAGLIATELLE
    Ailun H.

    Thompson Italian is located in the heart of Old Town Alexandria on King St with a lot of other restaurants, cafes, and storefronts around. I got dinner here last Tuesday with a few people, and it wasn't too bad of a walk (~15 minutes) from the King St metro station. The service was good and attentive, and our food didn't take too long to arrive after ordering. Pacing was also pretty good, and we spent a little less than two hours there. Between the four of us, we shared a couple appetizers, four pastas, and two desserts: ROASTED GARLIC BREAD - 13 + 6.50 for two extra pieces of garlic bread At first, I was skeptical about paying nearly 20 for 6 pieces of focaccia bread. However, it was phenomenal. It was very garlicky without being too acidic, and the seasoning provided the perfect amount of savoriness. The bread was nicely crispy. There was also some marinara? sauce on the side, but it was good with or without it. Still, it's pricy, but at least it was memorably good. BURRATA PUGLIESE - 18 The burrata sat on a bowl with olive oil and lightly seasoned with black pepper. It also came with 3 pieces of focaccia bread (plain, no garlic). While the burrata was creamy, I thought it lacked flavor and was overall pretty boring. I did enjoy some of it with the garlic bread we ordered which made it better, but would have been sad otherwise. TAGLIATELLE - 27 This ended up being my favorite pasta of four because I'm a sucker for anything mushroom and fresh tagliatelle is my top pasta choice. It was chewy and stringy, soaking up the very rich porcini crema, and each bite had a slice of mushroom that was so umami filled. This pasta has a strong mushroom flavor that really wowed me. If you love mushrooms, this one is for you. SQUID INK BUCATINI - 28 Squid ink pasta? Sign me up. This was an incredible seafood-forward pasta that doesn't skimp on quantity. There was shrimp, calamari rings, and more. This was a heavier pasta, and the texture of the bucatini definitely added to it. This was my second favorite, but was two of my friends' favorite due to the strong seafood flavors. GNOCCHI - 27 The gnocchi has a braised chicken ragu sauce and topped with pancetta, mushrooms, and maybe some vegetables. It was thick, reminiscent of a stew. Unfortunately, I thought this was incredibly heavy, more than I was prepared for this meal. I'm not the biggest fan of gnocchi either, and sadly, this one did not wow me. However, if you are looking for a dense pasta option with hearty, stew-like flavors, this is a good option. RIGATONI - 26 This is a beef bolognese rigatoni that I'd describe more as a staple -- there's no crazy twist or eccentricity, but the flavors are familiar and homey, a rich and deep meat sauce pasta that brings comfort. The rigatoni's texture was the perfect al dente, and the beef bolognese sauce was perfectly seasoned. This isn't going to blow anyone's mind, but it's a reliable option. CHOCOLATE AMARETTI TORTA - 15 This is my friend's favorite dessert and she claimed she could finish one on her own because it was that good. The chocolate ganache was rich, but not as heavy as I expected. However, it's still too heavy for my liking, but I understand why my friend enjoys it so much. BERRY TIRAMISU - 15 The berry tiramisu was more my kind of dessert -- it's much lighter and berry driven, with a light berry mousse and sponge cake layer. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it for those who are looking for a lighter dessert option after a heavy meal. Overall, very hearty but incredibly dense meal, a bit more than I would prefer. Flavors were good and every dish was different from the other and stood out. I'd recommend giving Thompson Italian a try.

    Anh N.

    Thompson Italian has a great aperitivo hour! $10 cocktails till 6pm! Can't beat that for Old Town Alexandria. They also have a great Monday night pasta & glass of wine special for $30. I usually find a bar seat if you come early enough but do recommend reservations just in case. Must-tries are their olive oil cake and their rigatoni. Highly recommend if you're in the Old Town Alexandria area and in the mood for Italian!

    Alex P.

    5/5 for food, dropped a star because the prices here are unreasonable for the portion sizes. $4 for a mini coke can. $27 for 6 cappelletti. $15 for a mason jar tiramisu. The service was great. The decor is beautiful, we came for a birthday but would also be great for a date. I personally didn't have a drink but they looked amazing. Unfortunately drinks were $16-$18 a piece. We really enjoyed the appetizers: lamb meatballs, arancini, and garlic bread. Their focaccia was delicious as well. Overall, I loved everything that I had, very flavorful and would highly recommend for food quality. I couldn't give it a full 5 star rating though because of the food quantity and prices. Especially considering there are other great Italian places in Downtown.

    Panna cotta
    Marivic L.

    Celebrated my friend's birthday here tonight. Note: we had 13 people and the restaurant made it clear that they could only take 6 cards when the reservation was made. Thankfully, many of us brought cash or venmo'd others. I'd been to the other location and this one is cute, cozy, but with lighting that tested my old eyes. Everyone was friendly, from the hostess to the server - all the way to the time we were leaving out the door. I started with the Caesar salad which was more than just romaine - little gems, I think it was called. Lettuce was fresh and the dressing was flavorful. Instead of croutons, I liked the little crunchy bits on top. It's a large salad and could probably be split if you want a side. The burrata was good and soft but not the most flavorful I've had. Another bit of a ding for the accompanying bread which was a tad bit too oily but had a great crunch. My main meal was rigatoni with bolognese which was delicious and a perfect portion. Pasta was nice and al dente. For dessert, I got the panna cotta though I usually never order it for dessert because it's normally just one note - and I need more flavor and texture. You get exactly that with Thompson's version. It was a great dinner with friends and I'd definitely come back.

    Esther P.

    very high quality, handmade pasta. the food menu is small, but it makes for easy decision making and great food. the interior is also great - i love seeing historic downtown transform their buildings into something modern. it is simple, dark, and cozy inside. the wait time for the server to get to us, for our orders to be taken, and for the food to come out was pretty long. though, the service we got was high in quality. you can really tell that all the employees carry themselves in a professional manner. there was never a dirty dish or utensil on the table. they cleared it almost immediately and brought us more - for the next course. i am unable to give high praises on the dishes as they personally did not match my palette. though, the quality is very good. we started with the roasted garlic bread, that was soft and deliciously seasoned. definitely worth the $13 price point. shown in the photos are the tagliatelle and the ricotta cavatelli. tagliantelle came with an overwhelming portion of mushrooms but was delicious. if you "just tolerate" mushrooms, this dish is not for you. all the spices in the ricotta cavatelli were well present and worked well in every bite. the cavatelli itself was cooked to perfection. overall, would return. will have to try some other dishes though.

    The outstanding lasagna
    Jennifer S.

    A quaint restaurant in Old Town Alexandria welcomes diners for the enjoyment of an upscale Italian menu. Thankfully we had no wait, as the DC summer is hot! We were quickly greeted by our server. I made a mistake in thinking the wine I ordered was a red, but it was a white. A change was made, but I was still embarrassed to my poor choice. The replacement wine was delicious! We then selected the peaches and plum salad, and I chose the Wednesday special of chicken parmigiana (lucky night for dining!). By bestie chose the gnocchi, but gluten-free (an easy substitution for a gluten-free pasta without issue. The salad was fresh and beautiful, and it was easily shared. Our main courses were delicious! The chicken was crispy without being oily. The fresh pasta was a perfect al dente. We ordered desserts, as well. I had the tapioca pudding minus the blueberry compote. My bestie ordered the chocolate torte (one of the two gluten-free options). Both desserts left us happy! I highly recommend Thompson Italian to anyone in Old Town Alexandria!!!

    Interior dining room
    Cassandra T.

    We made reservations and it filled up quickly after 6. Cozy and moody. Attentive staff. Food was amazing. We did family style and ordered a ton of things and they were all delicious. I missed pics of the first round of apps because they disappeared so fast! Interesting cocktails. The crispy eggplant was a favorite. And the fresh bread was soft, fluffy, and had a hint of salt. Dipped in olive oil was yummy. Will go again. Made a great dinner/drinks girls night

    Trene (new vegan special!)
    Tawnie G.

    Very good Italian restaurant offering vegan options as well. I've gotten the Trene (also seen them spelling Trenne) twice now. However, it's only on a specialty menu and I wish it would be a permanent item, as I'd come to eat here far more often. The brussel sprouts were delicious and savory, with pomegranates and tahini sauce. I'm obsessed with their table bread. The non alcoholic aperol spritz wasn't very good though, and I won't get it again. The Nero D'avola is definitely our favorite wine on the menu. Service has been average each time. Our server seemed like he had a bit of an attitude the whole meal actually, which kind of dampened the night, but overall, we keep coming back for the excellent food. We also love the atmosphere and darkened lighting of this restaurant-- perfect date night spot! Don't forget your reservation though!

    Chocolate budino
    Samantha H.

    I was so glad to finally visit the Alexandria location after frequenting the Falls Church one. The $50 restaurant week deal was excellent, I forget how generous the pasta portions are, and the summer 2025 menu had such a great selection that had me trying new items I'd never considered before. The bean salad was gorgeous and fresh and almost addictive, the acidity plus the pesto and nuts came together in the perfect bites. The capellini with rock shrimp and lemon was inspired; I am wary of a seafood pasta sometimes feeling too fishy or the texture is off because it is a thin sauce relying on showcasing chunky seafood but THIS was expertly done. I went again recently and was enchanted by a beet and burrata salad. My only only gripe with this location is that the restaurant layout makes it a little cramped and awkward when you arrive and wait to get seated with your party. Also the lighting is dim and I've seen people use their cell phone lights to read the menus lol.

    Coffee Gelato
    Juhi T.

    Solid Italian place in Old Town! The ambience is very nice - ample seating both at tables and the bar. Awesome and attentive service. No loud music. Romantic date night vibes or even great for a group of friends to catch up. The food was great. I LOVED the Caesar salad. The rigatoni was delicious as well - very saucy if you're into that (personally for me the ratio was off but that is just a preference). The gelato was small and single serving so probably not large enough to split between two people. I can't wait to come back here for one of their special pasta or lasagna nights.

    LAMB MEATBALLS

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    Didn't expect this place to go so hard. Had arancini, spaghetti and the spicy rigatoni and it was amazing. Can't recommend it enough.

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    2 months ago

    Very solid italian food with no frills. Drinks were unique, but not for me. Service was fine, not the fastest.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Thompson Italian

    King’s Ransom

    King’s Ransom

    4.3
    (130 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    The service was great as usual and the drinks were great. I had two of them which were the Modena…read moreSpritz and the Toki Highball. Both were excellent! The atmosphere was bar appropriate with minimal noise, so I didn't need to raise my voice at all since I was in the tabled area in the back. Would I go back? Yes, absolutely.

    My friend and I were looking for a quick bar to slip into around 10-11 PM and stumbled across this…read morespot. It's not too far from the waterfront, so it made for a nice walk after gelato. At first, you'll see what looks like just a pizza shop -- but if you head in and either use the side door or walk through and climb a set of stairs, you'll find the speakeasy upstairs. Very cool vibe: dark, cozy, and date-night ready. Drinks: 4/5 I ordered their take on an Old Fashioned, and it was definitely the highlight of the night but sweeter than I would have liked. They served it over a stamped solid block of ice (a small detail I ). My friend was abstaining from alcohol that night and asked for a non-alcoholic cocktail. To our surprise, they didn't just hand her a lemonade like most places -- they actually made her a crafted virgin drink, which she loved. Food: 3/5 We ordered fries and a slice of pepperoni pizza. The fries turned out to be waffle fries (not mentioned on the menu) and were overly crispy, so not really our favorite. The pizza was fine -- clearly sourced from the shop downstairs -- but it leaned oily and didn't really wow us. Service: 5/5 Pretty standard -- nothing over the top, but not neglectful either. Drinks came out reasonably fast, food followed, and we were checked on enough without it feeling pushy. Vibes: 4/5 The speakeasy itself is definitely the selling point. Dark, intimate, and stylish -- you feel like you've found a little hidden spot. All in all, the cocktails are the reason to come, especially if you're into whiskey. The food was forgettable, but it's convenient that you can order pizza upstairs. We spent about $30-40 for drinks and snacks, which isn't shocking for Old Town. Would I go back? Maybe if I was already in the area, but for a dedicated whiskey night, I'd probably head somewhere else.

    Photos
    Plenty to choose from
    Plenty to choose from
    Great selections
    Great selections
    Old Fashion

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    Old Fashion
    Joy on the Avenue

    Joy on the Avenue

    4.9
    (7 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Ambiance: love the decorations. It wasn't too over the top. We sat by the 'fireplace' on the sofa…read morewhich was near the bar. It was comfortable and the patrons were all so kind and told us when our drinks were up. Love Del Rey neighborhood for the welcoming vibe as always!! Service: it was very busy but appreciated the bouncer outside that made sure it wasn't over capacity. We had a short wait outside then a longer line emerged. Inside, the bartenders were busy but it wasn't like a 20 mins wait or anything. Note that the kitchen closes at 10pm and they won't let anything slide in at 10pm... Food: no food but the drinks were on point! I would laminate the menus because it was pretty beaten up. I know it's a pop-up but with drinks and food - those paper menus get gross. Definitely a fun vibe and people had the best holiday cheer. Would recommend!

    Transformed from the Nightmare on Mt. Vernon for Halloween, the pop-up space next to Pork Barrel…read moreBBQ is celebrating the season as Joy on the Avenue. Amazing decorations make the environment for imbibing or having some nibbles a wonderful holiday experience. Among the holiday named drinks the best are the Partridge in a Pear Tree, We Forgot Kevin!, and Baby It's Cold Outside. But for the best tasting holiday classic, the Cousin Eddie's Eggnog sports a reindeer cookie and a twist on seasonal nogg, and Jimmy Stewart's Sazerac is a delightful twist on an Old Fashioned. As sorry as I'll be to see January arrive and the Joy on the avenue disappear, I can't wait to see what holiday themed pop-up will arrive next!

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    Joy on the Avenue
    Scrooged Deviled Eggs!
    Scrooged Deviled Eggs!
    Rudolph 75!

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    Rudolph 75!
    The People's Drug

    The People's Drug

    3.9
    (394 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    It was a beautiful day, and we decided to check out a new spot for drinks and bites while soaking…read moreup some sun. We headed over to the People's Drug, where we found a cozy cafe table outside. We kicked off happy hour with some refreshing cocktails, the Bubble Buck and Gindependence Collin's, both were fantastic and refreshing. To snack on, we ordered again from the Happy Hour Specials and tried the HH Wings and Truffle Fries. No complaints, good service, drinks, tasty bites and a sunny spot made for a perfect afternoon.

    AMAZING impromptu date night find!…read more Happy Hour until 7pm with $10 cocktails and small bites ranging from $6-$8. Great indoor and outdoor seating Service was a bit slow but the staff were really friendly. I would recommend knowing what you want to eat upfront so that you can put in that order with your drinks. Happy Hour Drinks: Bubble Buck-Excellent balance of liquor, sweetness, and bitterness. Excellent drink Gindependence Collins- Perfect summer drink, recommended for anyone who doesn't want to drink heavy liquor and those monitoring their sugar intake. Excellent drink Rosie's Negroni- Perfect twist on a Negroni. Excellent drink Needless to say, all of the drinks were perfect. Happy Hour Bites Truffle Fries- this was SO good! Crispy, fresh, and bursting with truffle oil flavor. Crispy chicken wings- I'm not a wet wings lover but this sauce was undeniably delicious and the wings were beautifully prepared. Overall we loved this place and look forward to returning.

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    The People's Drug
    Chicken skins--spicy!!
    Chicken skins--spicy!!
    Oaxaca to Tokyo and a Shrute Farm Margarita

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    Oaxaca to Tokyo and a Shrute Farm Margarita

    Thompson Italian - italian - Updated June 2026

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