After hearing so many great things from friends, we took my wife and toddler to Thompson Italian for a midweek dinner and it did not disappoint. We had a great table overlooking King Street, which made for a wonderful setting. We ordered the focaccia, rigatoni, roasted carrots, and more. Everything was delicious and reminded us of classic New York Italian cooking. The chef even came out to greet us, which was a thoughtful touch. We also loved that they offer both dine-in and takeout. We'll definitely be back. Be sure to pay for parking if in the back, there is a parking attendant ready to issue a ticket. read more

Where do I begin? I had the most wonderful experience at Thompson Italian, the service was phenomenal, my party never had to wait for waters to be refilled or search for cutlery as it was replaced almost immediately after each dish. All of the food was fantastic, for appetizers the meatballs and garlic bread stood out for me. The coco joy desert was also absolutely phenomenal it was also vegan which made my lactose intolerant self very happy. The absolute star of the show for me though was the roasted chicken. This entree was one of the best things I have eaten this year, the sauce was a perfectly balanced tangy and herby addition to the crispy chicken. My meals were accompanied by their Sangria and Espresso Martini (which has a decaf option!). The drinks were delicious and they also have an extensive wine list which the rest of my party thoroughly enjoyed. The restaurant is stunning and has a mix of tables and booth seating with lots of natural light streaming in. This is definitely the place to come for a date, girls night or just to treat yourself! read more

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Great food, ambiance and hosts! The appetizers are really all delicious! We've been coming here for a while now and we haven't had a bad meal. The pasta is always fresh, cooked perfectly and very flavorful. The servers know what's good so take their recommendations! They're super friendly and accommodating, even for my young daughter. The restaurant is great for 2-4 people groups. read more

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It's been a couple of years since we've been here, and we were excited to come back for a casual dinner and drinks at the bar. Unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from the moment we arrived. The hostess barely acknowledged us when we asked to sit at the bar, and once seated, the bartender simply handed me a menu without a smile or even a welcome. I asked about a specific cocktail and was told they "don't make certain drinks," which was fine, but the interaction felt very dismissive. I then asked if they could make a simple spaghetti aglio e olio -- literally spaghetti with garlic and olive oil -- and was immediately told "No, we only serve what's on the menu" in a very rude tone. At that point, my husband and I decided not to stay for dinner and left. Hospitality and kindness go a long way, and sadly neither was part of our experience tonight. Very disappointed, and unfortunately we won't be returning. read more

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My favorite Italian spot in Falls Church! The menu changes often, so I'd recommend taking a peak before you go! Large selection of cocktails and wines available. The bartender was kind enough to make me an off the menu Spritz! The gluten free pasta was incredible. The sauce on the Saffron Pappardelle had so much flavor! Although I couldn't try them, my friends raved about the arancini. I went for a girls night, and they accommodated our large party incredibly well. We were at a large table up front with plenty of room for 8 of us. Our waitress was FANTASTIC! She automatically split the checks and brought out a special treat for a birthday girl and my friend who got a new job offer! read more

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Delicious!!!! I will start there. From the moment we sat down everything placed at our tables was absolutely delicious and the definition of fresh. The restaurant itself was very quaint and cute, well decorated and very clean. The service was extremely fast (almost too fast sometimes, trying to take our plates when I was still finishing my last drops!) but overall very good. We started with the garlic bread and meatballs. The garlic bread was perhaps the best I have ever had. It was super soft and coated with cheese and garlic on the top and came with a side of sauce to dip. We didn't need that though because the sauce the meatballs came in was even MORE delicious. The meatballs were perfectly cooked and packed with flavor. I am not sure what kind of cheese it was but I absolutely loved the cheese sprinkled on top, it was a perfect touch. For dinner, we shared the caesar salad then individually ordered the squid ink linguini and the pappardelle. Both were exquisite! You could tell the pasta was homemade by how fresh it was and both dishes were seasoned to perfection. Overall, would highly recommend for special occasions! Was a bit pricey but worth it. We will definitely be back! read more

Thompson Italian - Gael - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Pretty good bolognese and spaghetti (asked to swap out the I think penne that normally is served with it), but just wish there was more sauce and less pasta. Garlic bread is super crunchy and was a definite thumbs up.i meant to order a salad, so was bummed I didn't have one. When I asked about getting an affogato to go, she instead recommended the olive oil cake, which is what they are known for or lemon cheesecake as more friendly insert options. Went with their famous olive oil cake, and it was a definite winner. Person who took my order was super helpful. I would totally recommend everything I had. Definite positive vibes with folks enjoying themselves eating their meals. Parking and lack of plasticware were the 2 challenges I faced when ordering to go from here, but maybe that means I just need to eat there next time. read more

Three of us came to Thompson Italian to celebrate our birthdays. We had a nice seat in restaurant and we were greeted by our very friendly server. We ordered drinks as we looked over the menu. We ordered the arancini to start and it was delicious! Probably our favorite thing we ate. The dopio ravioli was good as was the Malfaldine. However the chicken parm, while our server raved about it, was just ok for me. Not as tender or as seasoned as expected. The side pasta was just meh. A little overcooked and the sauce was bland. The biggest reason for the 3 was the service. Our overly friendly and a little bit pushy (we thought she was going to push us to try every app!) was attentive at the beginning and while it didn't get more crowded, she kind of disappeared. She gave us the check and we never saw her again. There was a mistake on the check bc my friend never got her tea but no one ever came so we could ask for it again and then it took forever to find some one to change the check and let us pay. Not sure we will be back. Food was decent, but service left a lot to be desired. read more

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We had a fabulous dinner for 4 on Saturday night in Falls Church. It was the first time each of the two couples. The booths are spacious and we had no problem hearing each other although the entire restaurant looked quite busy. Our food was fantastic. Really roughed the artichokes, burrata, gnocchi with peas, rigatoni bolognese, mushrooms pasta and shell pasta. Amir was our friendly server. Would definitely recommend to go back. read more

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Food is good - well presented and what you'd expect at this kind of restaurant. Pastas are well executed. The waiters are nice, but they are not very well dressed. I think a little more effort in that dept. would go a long ways to improving the ambience. The look is pretty unprofessional. Tables are extremely close together - so much so that we could hear every single word our neighboring table occupants said, and they were not speaking that loudly. They definitely need to invest in some sound abatement. Pleasant meal, but I don't think we'll be back. read more

We tried out Thompsons on a Saturday night. i had to get reservations pretty far in advance as they were already booked for even a time I wanted. We did restaurant week which was about $55 a person. I wasn't super impressed with the cocktails but the sangria was good. The croquettes were good but needed a sauce in my opinion. We loved the citrus salad. The mushroom tortelloni are my absolute favorite. We tried a red sauce pasta on the r restaurant week menu that was just okay. I also just felt the chocolate hazelnut cake and olive oil cakes were mediocre and would likely not get again. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Falls Church, I have been many times and it never disappoints! I love the casual, humble feel of this restaurant-and the welcoming atmosphere. Had a great dinner during my last visit, love that they are constantly changing the menu according to what is in season. Service was excellent and attentive. We split 2 pastas and the kale salad, and of course couldn't skip dessert (they always have a special tiramisu on tap). Their cocktail program is also not to miss-I went the mocktail route and was very happy with the NA spritz! read more

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Good food at a friendly restaurant. Get your Italian favorites and a decent selection of wines. In addition to their dine in restaurant they have a dinner club option that lets you pick up Friday dinners. Selections are provided with good instructions on how to finish at home. Generally comes with and appetizer entree side and dessert. read more

A solid spot in the Little City for a comforting Italian meal in a buzzy and fun atmosphere. Perfect for date night or a fun celebratory dinner. You must get: + A bottle of wine (if you partake) + Arancini + Garlic Bread + Pasta (of course!) I love the malfadine and the gnocci + Olive oil cake They also have a solid kids menu (buttered pasta WITH fries, my children are in heaven) and catering! Love how they have grown to expand with the needs of the community. Truly a local gem. read more

Italian restaurant with a small menu, but where everything is made in house I came here with my GF on a Friday night and it was packed! I can't blame them for this, but it was also very loud (and hard for us to hear each other) and the service was very slow. The space is divided between a bar area and a restaurant area My GF and I each got a different pasta dish, which we each really enjoyed. Delicious complimentary bread + olive oil as well read more

Thompson Italian - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Another place that has been on my list for a while. We started off with apps I must get when I see them - grilled octopus and the potato croquettes. Both very good, but the marinara sauce that came with the croquettes was so good I wanted to drink it. They make their pasta in house and tried two of their popular dishes. Both pastas were great and cooked perfectly. For our dessert we tried the olive oil cake and that was just alright. You could definitely taste and feel the olive oil which kind of threw me off. Nothing wrong with the cake, I just don't think I'm a fan of olive oil cakes. Service was good. Always topping out water off and clearing plates. Very on top of things. Overall, great food and service and would love to come back! Apps: Grilled Octopus and Potato Croquettes Entrees: Squid Ink Tagliolini and Beef Rigatoni Dessert: Olive Oil Cake read more

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I keep forgetting to leave a review when I visit so am posting from the latest visit for my sister's birthday. The food is always good here & great service. How can you turn down pasta made in-house? The kale salad is good - I recommend the brittle on the side. The first time I had the kale salad it just made me feel like it wasn't additive and I was eating sand. Much better without it. The pork chop was a special - not on the regular menu - highly recommend. Parking is easier now that there are garages on the same block and across the street. Great neighborhood gem. read more

Thompson Italian - Burrata Pugliese & Tuscan Kale - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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We're return customers and love this restaurant. The menu is simple but very classy. Delicious food!!!!! Try everything and your tummy will thank you. read more

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Food is inconsistent, not as advertised, and at best mid-level. Had a nice dining experience last Saturday. Tried a lot of things and a bottle of wine. The burrata had way too much zataar. It overwhelmed the dish. The angel hair spaghetti was good. The peaches and plums In theory sounded good, unripe fruit and flavors not as good as expected since the nduja was missing. Had a flatbread app and menu stated it would have pistachios, which there was a minimal amount but mostly sunflower seeds. Went back again. Sat at the bar. Service was iffy. They cater to regulars. Food is not consistently seasoned. Some dishes are good others aren't. Took over an hour to get chicken. Maybe bone in takes longer, but this was boneless. Broccoli rabe not cooked well, gravy not good. And side dish not sure if it's mashed potatoes, celery root purée or polenta, but not well executed. They have regular Virginia people that like their food. I thought this place had promise, unfortunately this will be my last visit. read more

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Delicious Italian restaurant in Falls Church. The server was very kind and attended to our very need. I drink a lot of water during dinner and it was always filled by how attentive the waiters are. Will definitely be coming back to try the other dishes! read more

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What a lovely experience! I spent my birthday having dinner at Thompson Italian, and it was hands down the best meal I've had since living in the DC area. My boyfriend made reservations several weeks in advance, so plan accordingly. We ordered the Brussels sprouts as an appetizer and they were perfectly flavored with a spicy aoli. The complimentary bread and oil was also really good. We ordered the parpadelle pasta and they were perfectly roasted half chicken and split them. It was the perfect amount of food, we actually had leftovers! (We NEVER have leftovers) so the portions were generous. The restaurant itself is fairly small, very chic, with a great ambiance for date night or a special occasion. Not a great place for kids. Bathrooms were clean. Service was excellent! Everyone was friendly and attentive. Parking is available in the surrounding area fairly easily. We will absolutely be back! read more

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I took my best friend to Thompson for her birthday dinner this past Saturday and we did the Restaurant Week menu. I also order takeout/delivery from Thompson as well, probably every couple of months, and it is typically extremely reliable with elevated recipes. Our go-to's are the crispy artichokes, chicory salad, cacio e pepe, and bolognese. For the RW service, we loved the potato croquettes - velvety and presented more like arancini. I went full potato and tried the gnocchi, which was light and tender. We selected the olive oil cake and chocolate budino for desserts, though perhaps because we were at the end of service, the server not only brought out a birthday treat for my friend, but the creamsicle panna cotta as well, which ended up being a standout for me with its brightness and no cloying sweetness at all. While brisk, I did think service was a touch brusque (that was before we overstayed our welcome as staff was closing the dining room). Regardless, Thompson is a staple for us. read more

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First of all it's really 4 1/2 stars but yelp doesn't let you do that. We get takeaway from this place all the time. The food is excellent and doesn't ever dissapoint. The 1/2 star is for the young ladies seated behind us that were screaming out with laughter and talking very loud - probably alone because they struck out on a lot of dates - maybe because they're speaking so LOUD - ya think? Back in the Italian restaurants in Philly I used to go to they'd be ask to tone it down or be evacuated from the establishment. Neither happened so I take away a 1/2 star from Thompson's due to their inaction. Otherwise our Spaghetti alla Chitarra was excellent along with the garlic bread and topped off by a very good tiramisu and cappuccino. Highly recommend just watch where you're seated. read more

Thompson Italian - Tiramisu. Cappuccino. Buon!!!! - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

Dined because of raving reviews. Was disappointed because of the reviews. I thought the entrees were better than average but the value is not (relatively small portions). read more

Good food, good mood Every bite was full of flavor and made with care. Fresh ingredients, comforting tastes, and just the right balance of everything. This is the kind of food that makes you slow down and truly enjoy the moment read more

Thompson Italian - Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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This place is delicious every time. Service is always great. There monday night deal is the best! $30 for an entree and glass of wine. Their gluten free pasta is amazing and you can't even tell it's GF! read more

A group of us came for dinner for my birthday celebration, and we were seated immediately. We got several apps: burrata, artichokes, and garlic bread. Both the burrata and artichoke were good, and I would get them again. Garlic bread was standard but I would skip it as the focaccia was better (and you can get unlimited focaccia). I got the squid ink linguine was good, however it didn't amaze me. We also got the olive oil cake was good, but didn't blow my mind (and I enjoy olive oil things like olive oil ice cream!). The birthday cake was a chocolate small cake, but I wasn't a fan as I don't like dark/double chocolate. They have a pasta and wine night on Mondays where pasta and a glass of wine was $30 (excluding any specials). The KP garage is free after 5pm on weekdays. Corkage fee is $25. Overall, I would come back and try a different pasta next time and get the apps again. read more

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Convenient nearby free parking garage; limited menu, above average food quality, average wait staff and, most importantly, too loud to be enjoyable. Doubt we will return. read more

Thompson Italian is a gem of Falls Church. We've been for dinner twice and love the classic dining experience done right with no fuss or frills. We've had great cocktails, excellent apps and amazing pastas each time, along with good service. Nearby parking can be tricky and the prices are kind of high (but what isn't these days). If we are going to spring for a dinner out, this is quickly becoming our go to place. We'd like to try the outdoor space in the back sometime. Overall, great. read more

Very rich tasting. Kind of Expensive for what it is - a good neighborhood upscale restaurant Convenient location parking across Ambiance good . read more

If I owned a restaurant or any other business I would want Katherine to be the face of that business. Walking in without a reservation we wanted to sit at a now full bar for dinner. She accommodated us like we were the most important people to enter the restaurant. She assured us we could be seated shortly as there were people heading to a table. She then got us a drink while we stood to the side. Bar seats opened up as she said. Apps, entree wine were all great. Bartenders personable and fun to watch. First time, but will return often. But it all started with Katherine! read more

Thompson Italians was an excellent experience. When you walk in you see a bar filled with people and then as you walk towards your left, you see a very tranquil and beautiful dining area. This dining area is filled with dim aesthetic lights. Overall, you can expect a high-end high-quality and delicious Italian dining experience as you're offered salads, appetizers, and dishes that will make your taste buds melt. I personally had the spaghetti and it was so rich: the thick al dente noodles captured my heart and the red sauce was so flavorful, I ate my plate clean. It is safe to say, my taste buds, belly and my brain were all happy with the experience as I shared this beautiful meal with my family. Shoutout to our kind and helpful waiter, Sandro! read more

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I've always been curious about this place and while it was decent, it's not the best Italian in the area. Mid week this place was busy so I recommend making a reservation. I was able to park for free in the new retail garage right behind the restaurant. We were sat quickly and the front of house staff was nice. We started off with the winter sangria and the purple rain martini. Both cocktails were fantastic, I liked the fun purple take on the martini. The house bread was probably one of my favorite things I ate there. Our server was nice but at times rushed and at times gone for 20 plus minutes. We ordered the saffron arincini which I found decent but they didn't stand out to me- the saffron flavor was muted and the dipping sauce was bland. For our meals I went with the spaghetti alla Chitara and my friend got the squid ink pasta. I found my pasta to be super al dente, it almost felt undercooked and for $20 there was no chilis flavor. I guess I assumed the pasta would have a kick to it but it was an epic let down, very flavorless and way too al dente to enjoy. My friends squid ink pasta was tasty though! For dessert we got the tiramisu which was the second best thing I ate. Overall the meal was alright but the drinks and bread were the highlight. read more

From my 9yo son: Well we loved the food we especially liked the dessert we also enjoyed the pasta the sauce was very yummy we also liked the bread it was very tasty the ambience was very good the service was very pleasant to read more

A little disappointed honestly. Was very excited to try this restaurant for Valentine's Day with my boyfriend after reading great reviews. We love to try new restaurants for "special occasions" The ambiance of the restaurant was nice and trendy. However, the service.. started out great then throughout the meal became worse. Almost seemed as if we were an annoyance to our waiter. It was a shame because he was polite enough at first. I said "thank you" after every single thing I ordered or asked for and he literally wouldn't even respond or acknowledge that he heard me. I find it rude when you're a guest and you ask for salt/pepper, some more water, bread etc... and you kindly say thank you and there is complete silence from the waiter. Now onto drinks- DELICIOUS! Their bartenders definitely know what they're doing. My boyfriend got the "Purple Rain" Martini and absolutely loved every last sip, he had to order another. I got my go-to their Espresso Martini and it was 10/10. Perfect amount of froth to top it off. Food- underwhelming overall. They give you complementary bread- which is always appreciated just didn't care for the bread being cold. (Not lukewarm, straight cold) We started with the Arancini. They were just average in my opinion. Lacked some kind of flavor (I know it's not a very intense flavorful dish in general) but got bored of the taste after just one. We then shared the Pappardelle (wild boar ragu with Parmesan) again, just not very flavorful. We also shared the Rigatoni Bolognese and that was actually pretty tasty from the clearly home cooked noodles & meat sauce. Overall just didn't really wow us & wouldn't go out of my way to go back. read more

Thompson Italian - Purple Rain Martini. Arancini appetizer. Espresso Martini. Bread and olive oil. - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

My life partner and I were coming back from DC. Heavy traffic. Realized we were a block from Thompson Italian. We had been to their Alexandria location. Stopped and "popped in" at 4:45 just before they opened at 5:00. After this meal we've decided to stay together for the rest of the journey. Known for their pasta, we had one pasta dish and the half chicken dish. We shared and it was a perfect way to end the day/begin the evening. We had one scoop of gelato ($4) at the end. PERFECT! Our server, Sophia, was excellent. We were the first to be served, but by 7:00 the place was packed and lively. WE've tried to get reservations here before and have been foiled. This way for an early dinner was perfect as was the food. read more

I had a great time at Thompson Italian. Thursdays are my favorite night to get the weekend started and enjoy a dining experience so I did just that. Parking was easy as there's street parking along with the Kaiser parking garage a street over (make sure to park on the top two levels). Arrived at 6:30pm and was seated right away. The menu is very small so with that comes high expectations. To start out I got the focaccia bread with ricotta. The bread was light and spongy, pairing perfectly to dip with the ricotta. An extra piece would have been just enough to clear out the ricotta so there was some left over. My main was the squid ink linguine which was delicious and had a generous portion of lobster. I will say overall, the portions were smaller than I expected but the food quality was top-notch. Finally, I went with the olive oil cake for dessert. A well-balanced touch of sweetness topped with golden raisins and whipped cream. This is another gem in Falls Church. I think it's great there's a modern but formal Italian restaurant in the city. The interior was very cute and welcoming. Service was also excellent. The only thing I'd critique was portion sizes. You pretty much have to get an appetizer and pasta to fill up if you're hungry but overall, food was great. read more

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All around food was pretty good. Some of the items I think are way overpriced for just being Italian food. Our table got quite a few appetizers to share including meatballs, Brussels, beets, and burrata. They were all pretty good and seasoned well. Some of the beets I ate were a little too salty for my liking. My main entree was the squid ink bucatini. Perfectly cooked noodles! Was really good but the lobster I think was a little squishy and not as firm as I'd typically like. Our waitress was helpful but just didn't really seem overly enthusiastic. She gave good suggestions and I did appreciate it. read more

Thompson Italian - Squid ink - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

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You CAN find incredible house-made pasta in Falls Church! Thompson Italian does pasta, and they do it right. All of their pastas are house made, cooked perfectly al-dente, and the sauces are incredible. You can't go wrong with anything here, and the prices are very reasonable! A great spot for a date night, special occasion, or if you're just in the mood for some pasta! read more

Thompson Italian - Italian Near Me - Falls Church, Virginia

I had a decent time at Thompson Italian with a group of friends. Parking was a little difficult and we were all running a little late, but they still managed to hold our table which was very accommodating. Our servers were very prompt and brought over bread a couple times when we requested. Our table is in a great location and I ordered a cocktail that I really enjoyed. I can't remember the name of it. The menu is short and sweet and full of the classics, nothing too out there. We ordered the roasted garlic bread, the Octopus a la Plancha, the spicy pork meatballs, burrata salad, and a little gem salad to start with. For our mains we tried the squid ink bucatini, the mafaldine (did not taste a lot of duck with this?), and the rigatoni bolognese and maybe another pasta, I forget. The standout dish of the night to me was the octopus for the appetizer. It was very tender and delicious. Everything else was good but not super memorable. The ambience was great for a group dinner, but if I am seeking out an upscale Italian dinner, I would venture into DC and revisit some of my favorite Italian spots instead. read more

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