This place is quaint, old school with white table cloths and excellent wait staff. We think the dry martinis “up” and soft shell crabs were a perfect way to end the day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ted Powers
Feels faded. Nice location and has potential but only ok and a largely retiree crowd. Stuffed mushrooms were very good, mussels were plump and good. Pan seared pork chop was breaded and overcooked but broccoli and polenta were good. Pasta carbonara was too creamy. Leek and potato soup was good. Gelato and flan were fine. Service was slow. Bathrooms didn’t have soap and we saw cockroaches in women’s bathroom. Wine list is pricey.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
BossHogg
Feels faded. Nice location and has potential but only ok and a largely retiree crowd. Stuffed mushrooms were very good, mussels were plump and good. Pan seared pork chop was breaded and overcooked but broccoli and polenta were good. Pasta carbonara was too creamy. Leek and potato soup was good. Gelato and flan were fine. Service was slow. Bathrooms didn't have soap and we saw cockroaches in women's bathroom. Wine list is pricey.
GLArlington
DeCarlo's was for us a splendid place to eat on the second day of Easter. It is a quiet restaurant with very friendly and helpful -- but not at all intrusive -- staff, with lovely food and good wine, and with white table cloths. The Carciofi a la Romana was delicious. So were the trout and the chicken picatta. We recommend it highly.
Mark Kuiper
My 3rd time with my 90-yr old mother who frequents the restaurant since she lives so close. I ordered the calamari, which was over fried and dry. It was simply bad, not at all how calamari should be. I told the manager and asked for it to be taken off the bill ($14.95). He initially refused and we argued about it for 5 minutes until he relented saying "next time I won't take it off."Never any apologies for how bad it was. Never once asked if I'd like something else. Just wanted the measly $14.95.Needless to say, my mother likes going there, and she had placed a catering order in December north of $350 ... and you can't take a $14.95 item off the bill? Are you kidding me?! Not to mention that the bill was well over $150. Just wrong on many levels.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Marie G
I recently dined at this establishment and wanted to share my experience, hoping it might be a useful perspective. Upon my arrival, I was informed by the waiter that it was a quiet evening, and I was free to choose my seat, a welcoming start.However, I encountered a few issues during my visit. Firstly, when inquiring about the wine selection, I was told abruptly that only five types were available, without clarification on whether these were house wines or available by the glass. This lack of detail was surprising.Additionally, I had to request olive oil twice for our table, an oversight that could be easily remedied with more attentive service. Despite these service hiccups, my primary focus was enjoying the evening with my daughter, so I chose not to dwell on these aspects.Regrettably, the food did not meet our expectations either. The artichoke dish appeared to be of canned quality, and the pasta in the fruit de mare was overcooked, with the sauce lacking depth and flavor. These culinary missteps significantly detracted from our dining experience.Most concerning was the presence of rats during our meal, with three making an appearance in the dining area. This incident suggests a serious pest control issue that needs immediate attention. Upon raising these issues with the management, I felt my concerns were not fully acknowledged, particularly regarding the food quality and rodent sightings, and was left without an apology or explanation.After returning home, I discovered online reviews indicating this might not be an isolated incident, suggesting an ongoing rodent problem. While I understand that pest management is a challenge for many establishments, witnessing such occurrences firsthand is unsettling and not something I've encountered elsewhere in my travels.I share this feedback not out of malice but in the hope that it will prompt a reevaluation of both their service and pest control measures. A commitment to improvement in these areas could significantly enhance the dining experience for future guests.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Marie Woodward Graves
I recently dined at this establishment and wanted to share my experience, hoping it might be a useful perspective. Upon my arrival, I was informed by the waiter that it was a quiet evening, and I was free to choose my seat, a welcoming start.However, I encountered a few issues during my visit. Firstly, when inquiring about the wine selection, I was told abruptly that only five types were available, without clarification on whether these were house wines or available by the glass. This lack of detail was surprising.Additionally, I had to request olive oil twice for our table, an oversight that could be easily remedied with more attentive service. Despite these service hiccups, my primary focus was enjoying the evening with my daughter, so I chose not to dwell on these aspects.Regrettably, the food did not meet our expectations either. The artichoke dish appeared to be of canned quality, and the pasta in the fruit de mare was overcooked, with the sauce lacking depth and flavor. These culinary missteps significantly detracted from our dining experience.Most concerning was the presence of rats during our meal, with three making an appearance in the dining area. This incident suggests a serious pest control issue that needs immediate attention. Upon raising these issues with the management, I felt my concerns were not fully acknowledged, particularly regarding the food quality and rodent sightings, and was left without an apology or explanation.After returning home, I discovered online reviews indicating this might not be an isolated incident, suggesting an ongoing rodent problem. While I understand that pest management is a challenge for many establishments, witnessing such occurrences firsthand is unsettling and not something I've encountered elsewhere in my travels.I share this feedback not out of malice but in the hope that it will prompt a reevaluation of both their service and pest control measures. A commitment to improvement in these areas could significantly enhance the dining experience for future guests.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Ricardo R.
Good selection of Italian dishes at a reasonable price! Great tasting food. Drinks and wine selections are also well processed and desserts are a delicious Italian fare. Professional service and prompt seating, the setting is quite nice, it's located inside a Washington DC landmark residential building. For those who enjoy a pleasant, casual elegance and tranquil atmosphere with delicious food, this is your place!
DoubleJn2o
Very lackluster, small portions. Went here for valentines day dinner because it was one of the only places I could get a last minute reservation which makes sense after eating there. Worst old fashioned I've experienced. I got a canoli for dessert and it was disappointing as well. Would not recommend. Service was very slow.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
ti2m
Very pleasant formal ambiance. The menu is pretty standard Italian American fare, and good, but the service was, as usual, excellent—exceptional really. It's a pleasant surprise to find this kind of professionalism today.
The food is wonderful and the menu is diverse. The space is beautiful. Most importantly it is quiet and you can carry on a conversation without raising your voice. I highly recommend it.
Irina R.
As always the place and ambiance is beautiful. But the whole wheat pasta I had as entree on 2/4/2024, was total disappointment. Bland mixture : the micro crumbs of prosciutto tasteless not adding any touch, cream sauce and green peas tasteless too.. A sloppy preparation.
acmorris
DeCarlo's is a convenient little spot perfectly suited for the neighborhood. The waitstaff is friendly but needs a bit more training. The food is fine. I had the risotto which was a smidge undercooked. My dining companion had the veal with crabmeat. The veal was a bit overdone. The seafood in both dishes was perfection, however and the wine selection is great! For dessert we had rich, warm cocktail/coffee drinks and they were spot on. The ambiance is lovely and the noise level is quite low making it a nice quiet getaway.
JosephS
We love DeCarlo's. We love good food and do get to many of DC's high end restaurants and current hotspots. But we're tired of tolerating, at those places, arrogant reception, failure to honor reservations, indifferent/slow service and sound bouncing off the fashionable hard polished surfaces so you can't hear your tablemates. At DeCarlo's your reservation is honored on time, you're greeted warmly and seated immediately, the drinks come out right away (not after the appetizers as at so many places now), service is attentive and efficient, the food is delicious and reliable and you can actually hear your table mate(s). Just a great experience all around.
Jeffrey Durbin
Fabulous gem of a restaurant! It reminds me of what fine dining used to be about when I was younger. BEST fish I've had in years!
This place is quaint, old school with white table cloths and excellent wait staff. We think the dry martinis “up” and soft shell crabs were a perfect way to end the day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Feels faded. Nice location and has potential but only ok and a largely retiree crowd. Stuffed mushrooms were very good, mussels were plump and good. Pan seared pork chop was breaded and overcooked but broccoli and polenta were good. Pasta carbonara was too creamy. Leek and potato soup was good. Gelato and flan were fine. Service was slow. Bathrooms didn’t have soap and we saw cockroaches in women’s bathroom. Wine list is pricey.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Feels faded. Nice location and has potential but only ok and a largely retiree crowd. Stuffed mushrooms were very good, mussels were plump and good. Pan seared pork chop was breaded and overcooked but broccoli and polenta were good. Pasta carbonara was too creamy. Leek and potato soup was good. Gelato and flan were fine. Service was slow. Bathrooms didn't have soap and we saw cockroaches in women's bathroom. Wine list is pricey.
DeCarlo's was for us a splendid place to eat on the second day of Easter. It is a quiet restaurant with very friendly and helpful -- but not at all intrusive -- staff, with lovely food and good wine, and with white table cloths. The Carciofi a la Romana was delicious. So were the trout and the chicken picatta. We recommend it highly.
My 3rd time with my 90-yr old mother who frequents the restaurant since she lives so close. I ordered the calamari, which was over fried and dry. It was simply bad, not at all how calamari should be. I told the manager and asked for it to be taken off the bill ($14.95). He initially refused and we argued about it for 5 minutes until he relented saying "next time I won't take it off."Never any apologies for how bad it was. Never once asked if I'd like something else. Just wanted the measly $14.95.Needless to say, my mother likes going there, and she had placed a catering order in December north of $350 ... and you can't take a $14.95 item off the bill? Are you kidding me?! Not to mention that the bill was well over $150. Just wrong on many levels.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
I recently dined at this establishment and wanted to share my experience, hoping it might be a useful perspective. Upon my arrival, I was informed by the waiter that it was a quiet evening, and I was free to choose my seat, a welcoming start.However, I encountered a few issues during my visit. Firstly, when inquiring about the wine selection, I was told abruptly that only five types were available, without clarification on whether these were house wines or available by the glass. This lack of detail was surprising.Additionally, I had to request olive oil twice for our table, an oversight that could be easily remedied with more attentive service. Despite these service hiccups, my primary focus was enjoying the evening with my daughter, so I chose not to dwell on these aspects.Regrettably, the food did not meet our expectations either. The artichoke dish appeared to be of canned quality, and the pasta in the fruit de mare was overcooked, with the sauce lacking depth and flavor. These culinary missteps significantly detracted from our dining experience.Most concerning was the presence of rats during our meal, with three making an appearance in the dining area. This incident suggests a serious pest control issue that needs immediate attention. Upon raising these issues with the management, I felt my concerns were not fully acknowledged, particularly regarding the food quality and rodent sightings, and was left without an apology or explanation.After returning home, I discovered online reviews indicating this might not be an isolated incident, suggesting an ongoing rodent problem. While I understand that pest management is a challenge for many establishments, witnessing such occurrences firsthand is unsettling and not something I've encountered elsewhere in my travels.I share this feedback not out of malice but in the hope that it will prompt a reevaluation of both their service and pest control measures. A commitment to improvement in these areas could significantly enhance the dining experience for future guests.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I recently dined at this establishment and wanted to share my experience, hoping it might be a useful perspective. Upon my arrival, I was informed by the waiter that it was a quiet evening, and I was free to choose my seat, a welcoming start.However, I encountered a few issues during my visit. Firstly, when inquiring about the wine selection, I was told abruptly that only five types were available, without clarification on whether these were house wines or available by the glass. This lack of detail was surprising.Additionally, I had to request olive oil twice for our table, an oversight that could be easily remedied with more attentive service. Despite these service hiccups, my primary focus was enjoying the evening with my daughter, so I chose not to dwell on these aspects.Regrettably, the food did not meet our expectations either. The artichoke dish appeared to be of canned quality, and the pasta in the fruit de mare was overcooked, with the sauce lacking depth and flavor. These culinary missteps significantly detracted from our dining experience.Most concerning was the presence of rats during our meal, with three making an appearance in the dining area. This incident suggests a serious pest control issue that needs immediate attention. Upon raising these issues with the management, I felt my concerns were not fully acknowledged, particularly regarding the food quality and rodent sightings, and was left without an apology or explanation.After returning home, I discovered online reviews indicating this might not be an isolated incident, suggesting an ongoing rodent problem. While I understand that pest management is a challenge for many establishments, witnessing such occurrences firsthand is unsettling and not something I've encountered elsewhere in my travels.I share this feedback not out of malice but in the hope that it will prompt a reevaluation of both their service and pest control measures. A commitment to improvement in these areas could significantly enhance the dining experience for future guests.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Good selection of Italian dishes at a reasonable price! Great tasting food. Drinks and wine selections are also well processed and desserts are a delicious Italian fare. Professional service and prompt seating, the setting is quite nice, it's located inside a Washington DC landmark residential building. For those who enjoy a pleasant, casual elegance and tranquil atmosphere with delicious food, this is your place!
Very lackluster, small portions. Went here for valentines day dinner because it was one of the only places I could get a last minute reservation which makes sense after eating there. Worst old fashioned I've experienced. I got a canoli for dessert and it was disappointing as well. Would not recommend. Service was very slow.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Very pleasant formal ambiance. The menu is pretty standard Italian American fare, and good, but the service was, as usual, excellent—exceptional really. It's a pleasant surprise to find this kind of professionalism today.
Restaurantji Recommends
The food is wonderful and the menu is diverse. The space is beautiful. Most importantly it is quiet and you can carry on a conversation without raising your voice. I highly recommend it.
As always the place and ambiance is beautiful. But the whole wheat pasta I had as entree on 2/4/2024, was total disappointment. Bland mixture : the micro crumbs of prosciutto tasteless not adding any touch, cream sauce and green peas tasteless too.. A sloppy preparation.
DeCarlo's is a convenient little spot perfectly suited for the neighborhood. The waitstaff is friendly but needs a bit more training. The food is fine. I had the risotto which was a smidge undercooked. My dining companion had the veal with crabmeat. The veal was a bit overdone. The seafood in both dishes was perfection, however and the wine selection is great! For dessert we had rich, warm cocktail/coffee drinks and they were spot on. The ambiance is lovely and the noise level is quite low making it a nice quiet getaway.
We love DeCarlo's. We love good food and do get to many of DC's high end restaurants and current hotspots. But we're tired of tolerating, at those places, arrogant reception, failure to honor reservations, indifferent/slow service and sound bouncing off the fashionable hard polished surfaces so you can't hear your tablemates. At DeCarlo's your reservation is honored on time, you're greeted warmly and seated immediately, the drinks come out right away (not after the appetizers as at so many places now), service is attentive and efficient, the food is delicious and reliable and you can actually hear your table mate(s). Just a great experience all around.
Fabulous gem of a restaurant! It reminds me of what fine dining used to be about when I was younger. BEST fish I've had in years!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5