50 Best Italian Restaurants in Washington

“Such a superb dining experience. I was solo so sat at bar and my waiter went above and beyond with exceptional wine and food knowledge and service. The food was subtle, creative and beautifully balanced. Everything just worked. I find US restaurants rarely have ambiance but Tail Up had great lighting even if dining room was fine but unremarkable. It was a brilliant experience of a brilliant kitchen, sommelier and serving team. Thanks for a DC highlight“

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

“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!“

“Solid Italian restaurant in DC.

Easy to get reservations, I went on a Friday night with a friend. We got the three course set menu. A lot of food for the price. Great quality and great options. Recommend coming hungry or ordering off the a la cart menu. Garlic knots are a must.

Lots of servers that were very attentive. Be careful, they’ll scoop up your plate if you’re not paying attention.

Wine and beer list was extensive.

Fair pricing for quality of food and atmosphere.

Would definitely recommend to a friend. Would definitely visit again.

Parking: No parking lot, not a lot of street parking. Had to park a few blocks away.

Kid-friendliness: I probably wouldn’t bring kids here, didn’t have kid friendly food.“

“Great food, wines and service.“

“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! ;)“

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

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

“This is probably the best pasta I’ve had in DC. I’ve been here twice for dinner now, and the pastas were all great. We got a few smaller portions - the alla norma, taglioni, rigatoni, and agnolotti - all were good. We also tried the sfincione [we are both Sicilian], which was OK but not really a sfincione. Good wine selection and great espresso martinis too. Will return.“

“I came here right when the restaurant opened and sat at the bar for the happy hour. Food came out quickly, love the bread a lot. We got the meatball, the grilled octopus with finger potatoes (please try this dish it’s so good). They also accommodated my request regarding the pasta, which was very nice of them. Tiramisu is good too. Would come back.“

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

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

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

“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!“

“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“

“Drinks and food were great. My only complaint is the starter salads. My $18 salad was a head of lettuce, 4 walnuts, and a single piece of blue cheese. The Cesar salad looked ok. My friend ordered the only other salad on the menu for $16 and got a head of lettuce with a singular piece of parmesean on top of it. It was honestly a bit funny. Other then that the salmon, steak, calamari and wine were great.“

“Food was tasty and service was good. The tip was factored into the bill so there was no trying to figure out what the tip was supposed to be. A HUGE issue for us however was the noise level. We couldn’t hear our waitress, we couldn’t hear each other and ended up with a miscommunication that resulted in one of our party not getting what they believed they had ordered.“

“This place was amazing! I went here tonight for my anniversary the food quality blew me away! It is an expensive restaurant but it is worth it because of the experience. I would definitely recommend anybody to come here and I will come here again myself! Thank you for a lovely dinner“

“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.“

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

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

“Absolutely the best Italian food I have ever tasted! Exceptional service! Old world Italian charm! Very romantic Valentine's day themed decor and ambiance.“

“I recently dined at Modena DC and had an overall positive experience. The food was generally good, though some dishes stood out more than others. The crispy artichokes were absolutely delicious—crispy and flavorful, definitely a highlight of the meal. The butternut squash pasta was just okay, lacking a bit of depth in flavor, but the pesto gnocchi was quite good, with a nice balance of creamy texture and vibrant pesto.

For dessert, the crème brûlée was fantastic—rich, creamy, and perfectly caramelized on top. It was definitely a great way to end the meal.

While the food was decent, I did find the prices to be a bit on the higher side for what you get. Still, it wasn’t a bad experience overall.“

“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!“

“I don't leave many reviews, but Bozzelli's (specifically the Vermont Ave location) is worth it. I travel to DC semi-regularly, and I've been to Bozzelli's for a chicken parm sandwich and lemon cake three times...should tell you something, considering the many other food options in the area. Food's great, and service is about as friendly as I've experienced. If you're looking for something quick, affordable, and delicious around Dupont Circle, this is the place.“

“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!“

“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!“

“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!“

“The food was excellent and we had a great time . Super sweet waiters .“

“So delicious and a wonderful atmosphere.“

“The pizza was so good, the slice was bigger than my head. Perfect place to go when your having fun in Adam's morgan or need late night eats! There is no. seating inside but a little outside. They give you a pizza box for your one slice which is so nice so you dont get oil everywhere on you. Slice will run you about $8“

“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.“

“Consistently great food! Friendly, welcoming atmosphere.“

“The environment was enjoyable- the upstairs seating was private, but the downstairs was quite busy. The service was great- the servers were attentive and helpful. The food was delicious- it did take a while though to get our meal. The wait was worth it though. I ordered the fettuccine alfredo and it was fantastic.“

“Amazing addition to the neighborhood. We went around happy hour and everything was great. Good vibes, great prices, really nice staff. A small menu, really well curated. We got the valpolicella, real Rickey, Roman sunset, Toto, and a meat and cheese board.

Can’t recommend this place enough. It’s going to be our go to after-work chill spot from now on.“

“Certo Restaurant is a delightful dining experience that I can't recommend enough! I recently visited for breakfast, and I was thoroughly impressed by the quality of the food and the warm ambiance.

I ordered the omelette, and it was absolutely perfect—fluffy, flavorful, and packed with fresh ingredients. Each bite was a wonderful combination of textures and tastes. The fruit bowl was equally impressive, featuring a vibrant assortment of seasonal fruits that were both refreshing and beautifully presented.

The service was exceptional, with attentive staff who genuinely care about providing a great experience. The atmosphere is inviting and comfortable, making it a fantastic spot to enjoy a leisurely meal.

Overall, Certo Restaurant has quickly become one of my favorite places to dine. Whether you're looking for a hearty breakfast or a relaxing brunch, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit!“

“Great place! We went after a Fall White House Garden Tour for brunch on a Sunday. Great service, great food. I had the smoked salmon benedict, and we shared a prosciutto burrata salad that was really good too. We want to go back for dinner.“

“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!“

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

“My friends and I were visiting DC and wanted to try something new. When we got there we saw it was closed for a private event but Sherman quickly came out and apologized. My friend mentioned wanting to find a cannoli so he told us to wait outside. He came out with three cannolis and told us it was free. He was the sweetest and the cannolis were amazing!!“

“The place was really cute though my photo doesn’t do it justice. They had bright lighting and a high ceiling. We went during the Wharf boat parade so it was great hideout from the cold and the crowd.

I ordered on the kiosk when I walked in. The service was fast and the sandwich was fresh. I ordered the Retzo sandwich with chicken cutlet and it had this sweet and spicy sauce that was perfect for the weather.“

“Great food! Love their meatballs!“

“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!“

“Totally awesome place, good,and great staff. Totally recommend 😘😘😘😘😘👋👋👋👋👋“

“Buy the slice and pizzeria and it's really good. It was recently rated by an Italian website to be the number two by the slice pizzeria in the USA. It's not listed on top 50 of by the pie though. Also, very minimal seating, so it's more like a takeout place. I'm not sure how representative the Detroit square slice is because I've never had that before but the plain slice is really good and I tried their barbecue collaboration with a local barbecue restaurant, Federalist pig...Which is also good.“

“This has to be the coolest place to eat. We recommend eating here if you ever get the chance to come to Washington DC. This is a great place for anyone. Their prices are very reasonable, sandwiches are the bomb. They are very friendly. The crunchy Boi was delicious. So was the cannoli.“