TLDR - came here almost 2 years ago and it's just as delicious as I remember! So glad I came back. I'm looking forward to the next time! Stopped by for lunch around 1 and the place was empty! My waitress was so kind and attentive without hovering. She even offered to turn the music down some which was a lovely suggestion. I ordered the mussels piccata to start and the braised lamb ravioli. Both were excellent! Delicious flavor and nice portion size especially for the price. About midway through both dishes started to taste a bit rich - I think they would be perfect enjoyed together or alongside a lighter dish. read more

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We have been Tortino fans for years. We understand Chef Noe has sold this location as of this spring I hope the fine cooking continues. We ate there today and the branzino was definitely "off". Tough and thin. read more

Espresso martinis were delish and so was the ice cream- pistachio, chocolate, and vanilla. I only had dessert and didn't try anything on the dinner menu. The ice cream flavors were creamy and the chocolate was rich, one of the best I've ever had. read more

Tortino Restaurant - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

In Wash, DC visiting my brother who was in for a conference. Found via Yelp, food was awesome, fair price for a major city, service and staff were fantastic, nice and cozy ambiance. I'll definitley be back next time in DC. read more

The coziest hole in the wall Italian restaurant with the best service (thanks Norvin )! Having just moved to DC, I was craving a cozy meal and this restaurant had exactly what I was looking for. Definitely also helped that it was a 5 minute walk away from my apartment. All that I tried below (I'm a dessert blogger, @sowmthingsweet, so sweets always come first for me) Sowmthing Sweet Tiramisu: it's been SO long since I've had a solid tiramisu with my ideal ratio of cake to mascarpone, and level of soaked-ness Chocolate salami: this one caught me by surprise because I didn't know what to expect with the name. Ladyfingers rolled in chocolate ganache and served with mocha ice cream may be my new fave thing Blood Orange & raspberry sorbet: I cante believe I'm ranking this above the other gelatos, but these were delicious refreshing and great DF options Vanilla & chocolate gelato: felt transported to Italy Dark& milk chocolate cake: this was not too sweet making the equal ratio of cake to mousse perfect. Ricotta cheesecake: a unique twist on the classic NY cheesecake. A little more on the gritty side because of the ricotta, but overall still yummy! Mains Crab Ravioli: So delicious & I really enjoyed learning how to eat it (hold it upside down to preserve the juicy filling). I also loved that the filling had dill in it bc i think it's an underrated herb. Risotto (daily special): A delicious surprise! The Arborio was cooked beautifully with a slight chew, and the dish was heavy on the parm (but I like that). I'm not a huge seafood gal (esp if it's still in form...) so I devoured the rice & left the rest to my +1 hehe. The base was similar to the crab ravioli so maybe would try smthn different next time! Drinks Red wine: Red wine Overall, 10/10 vibes & lovely desserts. Such a busy spot with constant traffic & very cozy ambience. Definitely will be back! read more

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Enjoyed a dinner with coworkers. I'd been here several years ago and found it good, but apparently not Yelp worthy. We enjoyed some drinks and appetizers. I ordered the tri color salad which includes goat cheese, almonds, and lemon vinaigrette on a bed of mixed greens. It was quite good. I and one coworker were disappointed that the duck breast was unavailable. She reported to a steak and I had the salmon with baby carrots, asparagu, scallions and white sambuca sauce.. Our other two friends had the special lobster ravioli. The meals came quick and mine was delicious. A very good meal that, iirc, exceeded the previous visit. Likely a 4.5 rounds to 5. read more

Tortino Restaurant - Salmon with carrots, asparagus, scallions and white sambuca sauce. Yummy. - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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a great vibe for a southern italian restaurant with efficient and kind service. thank you to our server, she was so sweet and cute!! they had a list of special items like pomodoro soup and this spinach infused seafood pasta (which i got). the pasta wasnt too heavy and actually couldve had more flavor but i enjoyed it a lot! the texture was great. read more

Tortino Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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In the city for a conference and we were looking for a good meal in a quiet atmosphere. Reservations were easy and Margarita was ready for us. Her service was friendly and engaging. Her description of the swordfish special helped me make my decision for the entree. The food was excellent. Margarita checked with us as we were eating our salads to make sure that the timing of the entrees. Overall, a wonderful experience and we have added this restaurant to our DC list. read more

I came here with a friend when I was in SC for work. It's a cute little place and we were able to get in without reservations during the week. The food was delicious! Pasta was great, everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked. I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area! read more

Was not sure what to expect when we picked this place for dinner on our trip to DC. Was a little nervous about the choice as we approached the restaurant but that faded quickly when we walked into a very nice little place with white table clothes and Sinatra playing. The food was excellent. Everything was homemade and absolutely delicious. Homemade pasta was a hit with my son and I. The crab ravs were to die for. My husband had the branzino and it was excellent. Portion sizes were perfect. We left full but not stuffed and did not have any leftovers. It wasn't too crowded so the service was very personalized. Highly recommend. read more

A very cute and unassuming spot tucked away on N street. Some of the small plates are hit or miss but the stand outs are the scallops and Burrata. You can pass on everything else (grilled mushrooms and octopus were mediocre) Stars of the show for me were the penne alla norcina which was creamy tomato packed and meaty and the lamb Osso buco which I was initially hesitant about (I'm a purist here) but won me over almost instantly. Finally some honorable mentions include the braised lamb ravioli and the seafood linguini. Overall, if you're looking for a sweet and friendly Italian night out, you won't go wrong with Tortino! read more

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The food was very good but the service very poor. I was served the wrong meal first, I didn't get any bread as other tables got theirs and dipping sauce. When I asked about all I got was sorry. After ordering I never saw my waiter again and was never asked about a refill for my soda. After finishing my meal, I went to the restroom and got back to my table as they were clearing my drinks yet I wasn't finished with them. When I got my bill and asked my waiter about the service he said he was busy and coudln't come by. REALLY read more

I found this gem last weekend when searching for an intimate Italian restaurant in DC. I enjoyed the food and service so much I came back a second time within the same week. The first time was for a quiet early dinner when they opened at 5pm. I was the only guest for the first 45 minutes and then 2 other parties arrived. I was taken care of by Pedro, who was so friendly and attentive. He made great recommendations. I had originally come for the crab ravioli, but he sold me on the seafood linguini instead. The apps and entree were amazing and so was the fresh bread basket. I enjoyed my meal with some wine. It was a quiet and peaceful solo dinner. The second time, I came back for the crab ravioli and opted for the grilled octopus appetizer. It was after 8pm on a Saturday and the place was packed. They had multiple large parties. I opted to sit at the bar instead of the sole table left by the door. Pedro engaged in chit chat with me throughout the night while still managing the tables. Food and service once again didn't disappoint. I think I've found my new Italian restaurant home! read more

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I would probably not go back due to salty entrees We got the calamari for an app and then the seafood pasta and another penne pasta with sausage (forgot the name sorry!) The calamari was pretty good - calamari was soft and there were bits of crunch which added nice texture. Think the flavor was overall solid. Both pastas were too salty. It was hard to eat, which is a shame because the pasta textures all were great! Tasted fresh and had a nice chew to them. read more

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Food was delicious and plentiful. Dining room was nice, it was a quiet night and wait staff was in the phones on view of customers when that had nothing to do. Pasta was made fresh and flavors were good. read more

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Start to finish everything we ate was fresh and fantastic. The food comes out fast so if you want to spend more time, stagger your orders. Highly recommend the New York strip - great cut and wine reduction is fantastic. Teresa was a wonderful server and our entire party agreed best caprese salad with freshest heirloom salad read more

Tortino Restaurant - New York strip - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This was OUTSTANDING! The ambiance, the food, the service...this was not a fluke. They were phenomenal from beginning to end, I question any poor reviews. Not pictured - the grilled scallops, we ate it before I grabbed a photo. My wife was planning our return trip while we were eating, lol. EVERYTHING is superb, proteins were cooked to perfection. The lamb came with a blueberry reduction. WHAT?!?! AH-MAZING! read more

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I told myself to stop eating, but couldn't. We were looking for Italian in the area on a work trip and my wife found Tortino. It was the best meal we had while we were in DC. It's sort of hidden and you wouldn't think to look for it, but if you're looking for it, it's easy to find. The atmosphere is quaint, quiet, and relaxing. We were seated immediately and the service was absolutely incredible. We had drinks within literally seconds of sitting and the service staff was quick to give us recommendations. The service here should be called out to management because it made the experience that much better. We ordered the bruschetta and Caesar salad to start. Both of these were excellent and should've been more than an indication of what was to come. For mains we had the Fettucine alla bolognese and Penne alla norcina. You could tell that these sauces were cooking for a while and cooked with TLC. We kept swapping plates back and forth and wanted to stop eating, but couldn't. If we could've been rolled out, we would've. The portion sizings were more than generous and enough to help you leave full. The only thing I'm most disappointed about is the fact I didn't have any room for desert. read more

Tortino Restaurant - Fettucine alla Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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It's so rare you get to sit down and enjoy food made from the heart. It's all delectable! The lamb ravioli is handmade and I have never had pasta so good in my life. As soon as the food was delivered we were silent until the end of the meal!! Couldn't stop eating if we wanted to. Not only the food, but the customer service is fantastic and friendly. Visited this restaurant twice because it feels like stepping into a family dinner. I will definitely be back if I come visit DC again! read more

Tortino Restaurant - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I have now visited this restaurant twice and received impeccable service and food on both occasions. It is rare that I find myself so carefully savoring every bite of a meal. On my first visit I enjoyed the braised lamb ravioli in a red wine reduction that highlights the delicate sweetness of the lamb. On this second visit, I had the penne allá norcina--a rich and filling dish that I took home leftovers from to enjoy tomorrow. I finished off this visit with the fruit panna cotta, which was light, fresh, and just sweet enough. The restaurant staff are all incredibly attentive, but not overbearing. Each time I raised my head, ready for a new menu, or with a question, someone was there almost immediately. The remainder of the time I was left to peacefully enjoy my food and book uninterrupted. I will continue to frequent this delightful neighborhood gem. read more

Tortino Restaurant - Penne alla Norcina - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Ive been eyeing this place for a while mow and it's very unassuming but such a great neighborhood spot. I made a last minute reservation for a Saturday and they took us no problem at all. The servers were very attentive especially given the large amount of tables they each had for a busy Saturday night. The complimentary bread was excellent and the penne with the pork sausage was excellent. I could eat a bowl of that every single day to my heart's content. Food was great, service was fast, and it was a great lowkey Italian restaurant. Im confident I could just walk in if I didn't have a reservation. Go to this place for a great homey dinner! read more

Cute little gem. The bread is fresh and tasty. I tried the crab ravioli, braised lamb ravioli and the seafood alfredo. They were all pretty good but the flavor of the lamb ravioli made it the more enjoyable if the ravioli options. The seafood pasta was good, note they were flexible and allowed me to swap in baby scallops. The menu has a nice variety of options. On popular nights, make a reservation as it's a very intimate venue with limited seating. read more

Tortino Restaurant - raviolis - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This quaint restaurant was tucked away, but had wonderful charm and the staff was welcoming and attentive. My wife and I sought out an Italian restaurant here in DC that was off the beaten path. My and I were pleasantly surprised how well the dishes were prepared and how flavorful they were. I had the pappardelle with grilled chicken and my wife had the linguini with shrimp, mussels and lobster tail. She had them add a spicy seasoning to perfect the flavor. Prior to the main entrees we had the grilled calamari with chicken peas, which was different from how we have experienced calamari (fried). Despite the different preparation of the calamari, it was surprisingly good. The service was excellent. Overall, my wife and I enjoyed our dinner and atmosphere of the restaurant. read more

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Highly recommend for their pasta and service. Came with a large group and they were so attentive and took good care of us. The restaurant itself is very quaint and not too loud. We will definitely be back and I will be dreaming about their penne alla norcina in the meantime!! read more

One of the better meals I've had in DC in a while. In particular, the cauliflower soup with crab was outstanding. Service was attentive, informative and gracious. On point. The place itself is old school in a good way. It was packed on a Tuesday night, but not loud. Really worth returning. read more

The food is quite good, the service is quite bad. We had a party of 8, so there was a compulsory 20% tip that was not deserved. The server got the specials wrong, and 2 of us received scallops when they ordered short rib. He spilled wine on the table and us when he poured. Our food arrived late, and one of the entrees arrived in an unexplained to-go box, not on a plate. We were visited infrequently, going long periods without water. And at the end, they refused to split the bill onto multiple cards. I expected far more from this restaurant and will not be returning. I recommend you don't either until they change their staff. UPDATE: to top it off, they overcharged me $51 on my bill. Would not return. read more

Had dinner here while in DC. What a lovely place to eat. It is an easy walk from the Penn Quarter area. The place is smallish and very cozy. They have a lovely music playlist that makes you feel like you're in an Italian cafe. The service was great- seems like a team that works well together. We had the special octopus app and a few things on the regular menu. I had the Linguini loaded with sea food- it had the best flavor and perfect broth sauce- it was delicious!! My son had the chicken and mushroom pasta which was also great! The best pasta I've had in awhile. We will definitely come back! read more

Tortino Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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There weren't many vegetarian options on the menu but the waiter said they could do a vegetarian penne alfredo ala primavera that was pretty good. read more

Tortino Restaurant - Pasta - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A quiet night there with very attentive service. The fresh mozzarella was fantastic. so was the homemade pappardelle with mushrooms in cream sauce. read more

While on business in Washington, I will looking for a really nice italian place with great food and atmosphere...and I found it. On 11th street NW you find the very unpretentious brick building, you step down and enter a space that is warm and inviting. The food choices were not extensive but the quality was excellent. I have spinach salad, crab meat ravioli and a bread pudding desert and all were just great. In many ways this is a "neighborhood place", and it gets busy with businessmen and couples and a wide range of folks for dinner. Service was very much "old school" and spot on through the meal. While not inexpensive, the food quality is worth the extra cost so treat yourself. read more

After looking for places to eat and being ignored or just flat out lied by other places, we decided let's try here. The hostess greeted us as we walked in and checked to see if she had availability. It was at 9:45 pm when we arrived on a Saturday and thankfully there was a table for us with no wait. Our waiter was courteous and offered us water to start along with some bread and told us the specials of the day. We decided to try the menu items and I ordered the beef carpaccio along with the bolognese and they did not disappoint. The service was great and fast, I would like to add that it would have been better if we all had been served some olive oil in our small plates for our bread. We just got a small plate that we shared between the three of us and it wasn't enough. The restaurant is small but cozy and parking can be tricky during the day but plenty of it at night. Overall, I'm looking forward to visiting again! read more

I am happy to have a meal at Tortino whenever I'm in DC. Everything is delicious: drinks and wine; salads (love the tricolor); pasta (crab ravioli); fish; desserts. Cozy restaurant. Great staff. read more

I was really looking forward to trying Tortino Restaurant after my first glance at their pics and them having a 4 star rating. The overall experience from service to ambiance was great; however, the food fell a little short for me. I went in with pretty high expectations and was hoping for a meal that would blow me away. That unfortunately was not the case. In my opinion it was just average. The biggest miss was that the majority of the dishes lacked flavor. We were having to add salt to each dish we ordered. On a positive note, everything was cooked well. We ordered the scallops appetizer. Came with 2 nicely cooked scallops that were atop of a vegetable medley. We also started with the spinach salad, which was nothing special. Would have liked to have seen a bit more flare to this one. For our entrees I went with the lamb shank and my friend ordered their risotto special, that came with shrimp and a half lobster. Both entrees were just ok. Although the food was not a win for me, the service was great. We loved our waiter. He was very friendly, attentive, and was able to answer all of our questions about the menu. Another thing to note is it got busy Saturday evening after 7pm. When we arrived at 6pm for our reservation there weren't many people there. However right around 7pm folks started pouring in. Overall not a horrible experience, but definitely wasn't the amazing Italian food experience I was hoping for. read more

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4.5 stars, but I'm giving it 5 because this place has the BEST seafood linguini ever!!! The pasta was soooo flavorful, and the texture was perfectly al dente and bouncy. The portion was generous, and there was a lot of seafood too. Crab ravioli was actually a bit disappointing. 3.5 stars for that dish... Good crab meat, but the ravioli pasta itself didn't impress me. The pasta didn't taste fresh, and the sauce tasted watery and thin--not very flavorful. Definitely pales in comparison to the linguini. Assorted gelato (coffee & chocolate. No vanilla as it was out) was good--nothing special though. Good service. Classy ambience inside, but we ate outside, as the weather was nice. read more

Great relaxing wonderful meal with quick and friendly service. Food is exceptional. 6 in our party and 6 wonderful entrees. The chocolate cake is a heavenly light easy way to finish the meal. If going to pick, wood seats can be a bit hard after a period of time to sit in. Our 2nd time and already looking forward to more visits in the future! read more

Tortino's is one of the few Italian restaurants that I like within the DC city limits ;) This has been a quest of mine for over 5 years now. Meal Quality: For an appetizer I ordered a spinach, goat cheese, and tangerine salad which was light and refreshing on s hot day. For my entree, I ordered their Pan Seared Duck breast which was a bit crispy and accented in Barolo wine sauce and delicious figs! I paired it with a fine Sangiovese wine. The accompanying vegetables were a bit crunchy and could have used a bit of seasoning for more flavor but they were good nonetheless. Now, their desserts were even more outstanding! I cant recall the name but I ordered this hazelnut dessert that blew my mind and paired it with a 10year port wine! Oh hot damn goodness! Aesthetic Appeal & Atmosphere: The restaurant is located on the ground level of an quaint DC home where they play nice music and the sounds of the city are drowned out inside so you can pleasantly enjoy the experience. The interior decor is warm and formal. Service: Pedro was my waiter and he was exceptional. Originally from Mexico, he displayed Old World Charm even though being from the New World. RATINGS: Meal Quality: 5 Aesthetic Appeal & Atmosphere: 5 Service: 5 read more

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Cute little authentic Italian hole in the wall restaurant. The food was great, the lamb shank was delicious. Service was good, our waiter was attentive and did a great job of suggesting a wine when they were out of the one we wanted. read more

Tortino Restaurant - Grilled Calamari - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Quaint little neighborhood spot with a definite East Coast vibe. I loved the atmosphere, and the company of my dining companion, a fellow foodie who calls me her "big sister". It was great to catch up with her and break bread together. Tortino's bread is some of the best bread I've had. My only complaint is I wish they would have served the olive oil with some Italian herbs as well as a sprinkling of Italian herbs. Their food was good, just not great. We shared the seafood salad to start, and then I had the pasta dish with scallops and calamari, with a cream sauce, spinach and grape tomatoes. The quality of the fresh pasta was very good. The seasoning of the sauce was incredibly bland, and there was no salt or pepper on the table for me to doctor the flavor of the dish to my liking. The prices were fairly reasonable, and they had a nice wine list and full bar. The service was adequate, neither outstandingly good nor memorably bad. I'm still in search of the perfect Italian meal in this area of DC. read more

Small Italian restaurant in downtown DC. It was close and within walking distance to the Marriott hotel I stayed. Nice atmosphere and good service with really good Italian food. I had the night's special which was penne pasta with a spicy red sauce. Great meal!! read more

Tortino Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great authentic paste, and good service. Had a special BD decoration Tiramisu (Its Americanlised flavor, sweeter and less espresso flavor, but its still good.) highly recommended Italian restaurant. read more

Tortino Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia