50 Best Italian Restaurants in Washington

“All of my experiences at L’Ardente have been phenomenal. The food, the atmosphere, and the service are all top notch!!!“

“Amazing meal. The food and service were top notch. Service friendly and professional. Beautiful restaurant. Excellent wine list. Host John insured that all went well. All 8 of us greatly enjoyed the experience!“

“Great food, wines and service.“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“Thank you so much for having my friends Kristina, Alex and I for dinner today. I just want to say that everything we had was great, my favorite being the la calabrese! Meiling took such good care of us, she is a wonderful host and we had some great conversations with her. We’ll def be back in the future to try some of the other pizzas. Your decor and ambience is fantastic as well, I really felt like I was at restaurant in Italy! Keep up the good work and thanks again for a wonderful evening!“

“Friendly, quaint and delicious food. Great service. What more do you need“

“on point!! don't shy away from the menu, everything we had was delicious.“

“We have been going to La Tomate for years. Retired several years ago and moved away from DC. Every time we are in DC we always go to one of our favorite restaurant, La Tomate. I love the selection on the menu, always something new to try with the daily specials. La Tomate has great staff and an excellent location. Many thanks to Natalina for having a beautiful Restaurant and delicious food. Happy Anniversary!“

“what a perfect vibey spot for some incredibly delicious italian food! definitely get the treviso salad and the fried blossoms to start. i could eat so many plates of their mushroom cream ravioli! i’ll be returning for more of that next time for sure. the lamb chops were also so flavorful. the service was also fantastic and they were so nice! adding this spot to the dinner night rotation“

“The best Italian meal I’ve ever had in a restaurant! The Sunday Sauce reminded me of my mom’s!“

“If I lived here, I would be a regular customer for the customer service alone! The front register person took the time to tell me what the public enjoys as well as his personal favorite; then I watched as the whole team seemed to really communicate and smile with each other while making some of the best pizza I've eaten. Don't hesitate, just go enjoy this restaurant!“

“This was some of the best food I’ve ever had. I would never normally choose Italian as a n “”out to eat” option but I’m so glad I did! I would eat here night after night if I could.“

“I worked with Nero to host my company’s holiday party and it was so great working with them! The food was delicious and they have a fully stocked bar with great drinks. The owner and manager were very accommodating and made the night so easy and stress free. I would definitely host an event here again or come back for a happy hour.“

“My wife and I had an absolutely amazing evening dining out here on a long weekend trip to DC for our Birthdays. The food was incredible I have not found one dish at this or the Chicago location that wasn’t great. Abagail was simply the best waitress we have EVER had. She was attentive, personable and really went out of the way to give us the best dining experience my wife and I have ever had from top to bottom. We had a great experience in Chicago but I have to say I think the food was a touch better here. I am comparing caviar to caviar here as both were great, but DC has the win here and certainly did with our waitress as well.“

“Att Fabio! I’m here now and Maria is my server. She is the best! I started with the grilled calamari and asked about the vongole. She brought me a sample to try! She is well versed with your menu, it was a pleasure to dine here.“

“This tiny place was full of charm. The food was excellent and the service was friendly. The fish was fresh and tasty. The truffle pasta was really good. Finally we had to try its namesake dessert-tiramisu, which was tasty without a strong coffee taste.“

“My wife & I had a wonderful and delicious dinner while catching-up with our son & his girlfriend last evening. Fantastic meal & our server Michael was outstanding.“

“Still a great place after all these years. Lovely atmosphere, great food, attentive service. A wonderful night out.“

“I had the Arancini, gnocchi sardi, and olive oil cake and they were all fantastic. And while I came for food, I will say the two things I'll remember the most were 1. The fact you gave postcard with the receipt as a souvenir and one less thing I'd have to buy on my trip and 2. The service was amazing. I forget what her name is now, but my waitress came over and cleaned off the table of the two or three crumbs of truffle I had and got me new silverware for the second course. I can't think of any other restaurant I've been to where I've had service that attentive before.“

“Fun night for two out of towners! Food was amazing and the staff were incredibly friendly, even though we’re two or three times their ages and not cool at all! ;)“

“Great venue with two moods: the front elegant, cozy, warm. The back a large space, bright, packed, and energetic (hard to have a conversation) like a true Italian restaurant.

It's a good Italian option in DC.

Don't miss the parmigiana di melanzane, a deconstructed unconventional execution that works. Fritto misto lightly fried, delicious!

Good carbonara, with a generous serving of very good guanciale
The agnolotti e limone : tasty but needs some tuning: dough it too tick - too much past! also difficult to cut, and, when you do, all the filling come out.

Tiramisù : not a huge fan, missed some coffee.

Enjoyed the lambrusco!“

“Giovanni’s Trattoria is such a cozy and welcoming spot. The food feels homemade and full of flavor, especially the pasta and sauces. The staff was friendly and attentive, making the meal even more enjoyable. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable, perfect for a casual Italian dinner. I’d happily return.“

“Every bite, Always right! I appreciate your drivers and will tip them.“

“Great menu of food and drinks, well executed, and in a neighborhood locale… well-spaced outdoor seating.“

“On vacation from RI, my husband and I and very good friends had lunch at Lily’s just this past week and we fully enjoyed experience! It was a beautiful sunny day, and we were greeted with sunny faces and a friendly, highly professional staff. We sat in the outdoor area and everything from being there to fill our water glasses and explaining the menu was covered. I highly recommend Lily’s if not just for the fact that we felt like we were at home but to top it off, the food was delicious. Try the Tropical salad and the meatball appetizer!!“

“Capa Tosta is such a cozy and inviting spot. The food is fresh, flavorful, and feels thoughtfully prepared. I especially enjoyed the pasta—it was perfectly cooked and full of taste. The staff was friendly and attentive, making the meal even more enjoyable. It’s a lovely place for a relaxed, delicious dinner, and I’d definitely return.“

“The food was phenomenal - we had the beet & burrata salad, a Margherita pizza, and the wild boar tagliatelle. They have a nice wine list as well. Can’t wait to come back and try other dishes!!!“

“Highly recommend. Five stars honestly isn't enough. The food was incredible, and one of the best meals we have had in a long time... but what really stood out was the service. The GM, John, was so kind and attentive. He went out of his way to make sure our large party was fully taken care of. There isn't a kids menu (which we understood and were totally fine with), but he thoughtfully suggested a few options the kitchen could prepare for the kids, which we really appreciated. The AGM or Maitre D, I didn't catch his name, was also fantastic. He was right there alongside the GM and waitstaff on a very busy Friday night, making sure everything ran smoothly. At one point there was a slight wait between courses, and the staff came around with homemade cookies for guests to sample, which was a thoughtful touch. We truly have nothing but great things to say. My husband and I will absolutely be back the next time we're in town.“

“I Love Italian - and when I say this place has THE BEST MEATBALLS I've ever tasted - it's saying a lot! The mushroom gnocchi was light and delish! Not to mention the roasted cauliflower, burrata and garlic bread!! It was a feast and worth every bite! The staff was friendly, polite and aimed to please! The decor and vibe super cool. It was recommended to me by a local and when I visit DC again - this gem will be a first stop!“

“Ottimo , ci siamo sentiti a casa“

“Wonderful food & charming outdoor patio space . Cocktails yummy too!“

“I was in DC for an education seminar, and our group of six ate dinner here. I ordered the Pappardelle Alfredo and for dessert, I chose the cheesecake, which was the best that I've ever had at a restaurant. It has a hint of lemon, and it was delicious. The staff was very attentive, friendly, and cheerful, which is important to me. I will definitely stop by again the next time I'm in DC.“

“An amazing experience through and through. We visited during Valentine's Day and they had a specially curated menu that led us through about 5 courses. All were amazing. Our server, Phil, was amazing and extremely knowledgeable about the entire menu from food to cocktails. We will definitely be returning to enjoy the full menu.“

“Osteria Mozza delivers Italian food with some flair. I had the fish skewer and it was good. The appetizers were yummy and the wine selection was honestly good. I did not try the pasta, which looked a little bit rich to me visually but my friends said they liked it - a grand space in the heart of Georgetown-recommended“

“Checks all the boxes as they say, Beliseima! Mangiamo! Salute!“

“Great Food and Service! The food at Pines of florence was delicious and of high quality. The atmosphere was peaceful, and the service was excellent. I had a wonderful experience and highly recommend �“

“We have visited this trattoria many times. Over this time the food quality has remained at very high level. Service is excellent. The restaurant is inside a small house-like setting with three floors. Recently they raised the prices. The prices are quite high. The food was excellent. We had seafood chicken as well as other wonderful pasta dishes. I particularly liked the chicken cacciatore which was just enough spicy for my taste. All in all it is a great experience if you can pay the high prices“

“We visited Café Milano again this Christmas Eve — our second year in a row — and once again had a wonderful experience. The service here is consistently excellent. Every server we’ve had has been attentive, professional, and warm. You can tell the staff really care about making sure guests are taken care of, and that level of attentiveness makes a big difference, especially on a busy holiday night.

The food was good both times we visited. Although the portions are on the smaller side. Still, we enjoyed it.

The only downside for us is the spacing and acoustics of the restaurant. The tables are quite close together, and with how busy it gets, you often have to raise your voice just to hear the person sitting next to you. The space feels a bit tight, and the noise level can take away from the dining atmosphere.

Overall, though, Café Milano continues to be a great holiday tradition for us. The excellent service, quality food, and festive energy keep us coming back.“

“One of our favorite neighborhood spots. Even if we didn’t live in the neighborhood, we would make our way over here.“

“The pizza and Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine 🤌🏾🤌🏾“

“Delicious food-very relaxing atmosphere-friendly staff“

“The atmosphere and the people who work there were wonderful! The food was amazing as well! I would thoroughly recommend for anyone to try it out you won't be disappointed“

“Fiola is refined Italian fine dining at its most luxurious. Service is polished, and the menu is built around seasonality and classical technique.

Its uniqueness is its elegance—each dish showcases restraint paired with deep flavor.

Dish I liked: Lobster Ravioli — silky pasta, rich shellfish reduction, and a beautiful expression of Italian craftsmanship.“

“excellent food & service & wonderful pasta & wine.“

“Great, friendly service! Great food at a great price for the area!
I think they could use a few 2 person tables if they could make room to keep 1 person from sitting at their limited 4-6 person tables. This was the case when we first walked in and kept us from having a table, we almost left because it was too windy/cold outside... but fortunately a larger group left. Part of the intentional and friendly customer service was that one of the employees came outside to catch us and let us know the table was available.“

“Amazing food and service.“

“Prix fixe menu that is always different, so each visit is a new dining experience. With an intimate atmosphere and always exceptionally attentive service, we look forward to coming back!“

“An all-time favorite. The pizza is spectacular, and everything else is delicious too! So grateful y’all were open just 3 days after the snowstorm. We needed your food as a treat for clearing the walks. Thanks!“

“Had dinner with family while visiting the DC area. The restaurant was perfect from the decor, the seats, the food, the servers. Patricia was amazing and I loved her little soft humming as she went along her way making guests feel welcome. The food was 10+. Highly recommend.“

“The service is warm and pleasantly engaging and the food and beverages are outstanding. What’s not to love about Lupo?“