50 Best Italian Restaurants in Washington

“Incredible restaurant that puts elevated care, attention to detail, and quality ingredients front and center.

Unpretentious in austere but refined in the approach to your hospitality experience, this gem nestled in the heart of AdMo is a must-see for all hungry foodies in the area.

My experience with Imani and Amina will be the reason I return and tell my friends to go. Their storytelling, command of the menu, and easy approach to creating an elevated dining experience did not go unnoticed.

Meatball and porkchop were a hit in tenderness and flavor, while the cabbage and pudding were a hit in dynamics and design. Major shout out to Amina for bringing over the perfect wine pairing to complement our porkchop—on the house.

These moments create the fine dining experience and make the price point worthwhile.“

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

“Great food, wines and service.“

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

“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.“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“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! ;)“

“Shoulda had some dessert after the meal I ate.“

“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!“

“One of the best places in Dc and right on the water!“

“It was the perfect meal, from appetizers to main course, and dessert! Our server, Ricardo, was very attentive and informative about the menu and gave us personal recommendations, as well. I had been wanting to dine at Cucina Morini for a while now, and I am so glad I chose it for our friends visiting from overseas.“

“San Matteo is such a neighborhood gem, with consistently stellar food and service. I always order one of the house-made pastas and end with the tiramisu and chocolate lava cake. The servers are warm and attentive-- shout out to Carolina who was so friendly and extremely accommodating of our picky eater's needs!“

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

“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“

“This place is just a winner! Delicious food, excellent service, great vibe! Wish I took some photos but the salads were light, airy & delicious, main courses were excellent & satisfying.

I had the duck off the regular menu- it was perfectly cooked, the veggies were also perfect. Nothing was over seasoned.

My friend had one of the seafood/pasta specials & loved it.

Very attentive, true Italian.“

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

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

“Vengo spesso da voi per il pranzo con i colleghi e uso i buoni pasto Coverflex, sapete se li accettate? Non vi trovo sull’app e sarebbe comodo poterli usare qui.“

“All around great experience. Went with the 8 course chefs menu and was pleasantly surprised. Only had a small part of one dish that was just a little too salty, which i mentioned to Chef, and he appreciated the feedback. They have multiple pairing options, as well. I had caviar added to my fish dish, and added 5 cheeses with my dessert. All were delicious. Highly recommend giving this spot a try.“

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

“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!“

“We are tourist & was searching for a place too eat since our first choice for dinner totally ignored us after we sat there 30 minutes we left. This pizza joint is absolutely delicious. The thin crust was delicious especially on the cheese pizza. The only negative thing I have too say is y’all charging too much for a house salad. I mean if you gonna charge $14 @ least give me something other than basic lettuce.“

“One of the finest Italian restaurants in America!“

“Great service @ DC the seafood appetizer was delicious!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Incredible food, but what really sets this place apart is their cooking classes. The classes are in high demand so you have to get your tickets in advance, but it is well worth it. We had a bunch of regulars attending with us, so we knew it was going to be a great time.The owner, who instructs the class, is very kind, patient, and generous. He took his time teaching and answering questions, provided more than enough supplies, and did everything he could to ensure we had a wonderful experience.We started with a cocktail and fresh focaccia bread. The marinara sauce with the bread and some other dishes was the tastiest sauce I’ve ever had. There was a self serve station for water and wine throughout the class. We made a fried risotto appetizer, pizza, spinach and cheese ravioli, and gnocchi. The owner and his staff gave one-on-one instruction when needed, and were very nice and helpful.We gave the staff everything we had prepared to be cooked in the kitchen. Our dishes were returned hot and ready for a delicious meal. There was so much food we were provided with to go containers and had it for several meals afterwards. We were also treated to limoncello gelato and limoncello shots at the very end of the class.This class was so fun and informative, and the atmosphere was relaxed. The quality ingredients, experience, drinks, and food were well worth the price. Highly recommend!“

“OH MY GOSH! Not only was the service the best but the food was AMAZING! Our whole group loved every bite and left satisfied! We WILL be back and recommending this place to everyone!“

“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.“

“Amazing pizza that is only outdone by incredible staff! As tourist we sat back and watched how the staff interacted with regulars & newcomers & it was heartwarming. If we lived here we’d eat here every week! Happy hour prices are so good you have no excuse not to visit!“

“Their pizza is worth trying. I highly recommend ordering a pizza with a side order of boneless chicken wings. We thought the chicken wings were divine! They were so tender and worth ordering again. The pizza was full of texture and taste. We ordered the Italian Mamma.“

“Made a reservation for my wife's birthday as she's been craving chicken parm and it did not disappoint. Everything about the experience was wonderful from our server, Elise, to the delicious food, to the hospitable management. Had such a great birthday dinner and loved the experience. The pinot grigio we had, Loop (i think was the name), recommended by Elise was just a perfect pairing with the chicken parm and chicken marsala we had. Just a really fun experience.“

“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.“

“Osteria Mozza was everything I hoped it would be—elegant but still cozy, with absolutely incredible food from start to finish. The fresh mozzarella bar is a must (I could’ve made a whole meal out of it!), and the pasta was perfectly al dente with rich, layered flavors. I had the orecchiette with sausage and the burrata to start—both unforgettable. The wine list is extensive and the staff were so knowledgeable and kind, helping us pick the perfect pairing. It’s the kind of place that feels special without being stuffy, and I already can’t wait to come back for another amazing meal.“

“This charming trattoria came onto my radar, driven by a craving for Veal Saltimbocca and I was not disappointed! I called ahead to make a reservation and I was seated at my reservation time. The Veal Saltimbocca tasted like it came straight from a traditional Italian kitchen. It was tender, fresh and flavorful, served in a generous portion.

I'm not much of a drinker, but the Margarita Italiano with Limoncello was the best Margarita I've ever tasted and was served in a large glass! Service was excellent from my initial phone call to make the reservation through the end of my visit. I am looking forward to eating my leftovers tomorrow. I would come here again for the same meal, without hesitation.“

“The staff were friendly & professional. The food was perfect & in huge proportions!“

“My friend and I were attending a convention , and got out super late every night. We decided to check this place put because they are open super late.

The restaurant was pretty packed, as the building isnt huge, but we had absolutely no wait. The gentleman who took our order was even quick in giving me my change back.

The pizza was fantastic, and for 8 dollars me and my friend were both able to eat and were full after. We will definitely be back whenever we are in the area.“

“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!!“

“Amazing food and service.“

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

“Piccolina da Centrolina is a charming spot that feels like a slice of Europe tucked away in the city. The outdoor seating creates a cozy, relaxed atmosphere that’s perfect for brunch or lunch.

We tried the salmon skewers and a panini, both of which were fresh and flavorful. The salad that came with the panini was crisp and colorful, adding to the meal’s appeal. A highlight here is the cannoli bar—where they freshly fill the shells upon ordering—making for the perfect sweet ending.

Everything tasted fresh and well-prepared, and the casual yet sophisticated vibe made it a lovely place to spend a slow afternoon. Definitely a spot I’d come back to!“

“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!“

“I ate breakfast every day at this hotel restaurant during a week long day. It’s convenient, the food is delicious, although sometimes when they are very busy, service can be just a bit slow. Overall, I was happy with the consistency and flavor of the food, and Bony was always quick to seat me and serve me.“

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

“Tried Il Piatto during restaurant week for lunch and I was pleasantly surprised! DC has tons of Italian restaurants so sometimes good ones are hard to find but I enjoyed this place.

I ordered the arugula salad and the rigatoni! Both were delicious.“

“This place is what a “grab n go” pizza slice spot should be. Excellent pizza (Detroit style slice with pepperoni and hot honey was delicious), very fast, and a cozy atmosphere to listen to Katy Perry on the speakers for five minutes before getting on with your day. 10/10.“

“This review is dedicated to those reviewers who say Ama’s food is either ‘bland’ or they were ‘still hungry’ after eating there-

this is because you are used to eating at restaurants that use fake ingredients and artificial flavor enhancers, as do most in the country, so sorry but you have no idea what real food tastes like. Ama makes real food, intentionally and wholeheartedly. They partner with local farmers, cook with real ingredients, and create a menu that will leave you feeling satiated and wonderful, as my friends and i did even after we ate through the menu AND ordered 4 desserts at the end.

so yeah, their food isn’t ‘bland’ , you probably have just never tasted food that wasn’t grown in a lab and loaded with artificial flavoring and addictive chemicals. try harder!“