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!!!“

“Great ambiance, food and vibe“

“got a reservation last second in december so i could check out the holiday decorations after hearing of the restaurants history from a TikTok!! worth visiting for the vibes, and the free shots of amaretto!“

“Ottimo , ci siamo sentiti a casa“

“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!“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“Great meal recently at Cucina Morini !!! The food, service and drinks were all on point !! See the photos for our recommendations !!! You can order half orders of pasta !! Perfect if you want to try different things.“

“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 food, wines and service.“

“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“

“So I had the steak sandwich and my wife had the little mini 5-in Mama's spicy pizza. Both were excellent, very good. Very tasty. Cooked perfectly and the service was really good. Would highly recommend stopping in here. It's kind of like a little known place.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!!“

“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.“

“Had such a lovely dinner- Michael, our server, was an absolute gem. So kind, warm, fun, and knowledgeable. He gave us the perfect recommendations- we especially enjoyed the garlic knots and rigatoni. Our night was made so special at Reveler’s Hour!“

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

“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.“

“My party sat at a high top in the bar. We didn’t do the typical tasting menu. However it was still a wonderful experience. All of the staff was very accommodating and welcoming. Seth was very knowledgeable and personable. Every cocktail was incredibly complex and delicious. The whole dining experience was well paced and each dish was delicious. I understand why they have earned a Michelin rating.“

“One of those rare spots that genuinely captures the feeling of being in Italy. The pasta is outstanding, with that fresh, simple approach where the ingredients are clearly the focus and every bite feels balanced rather than overworked. The arugula salad is just as memorable, crisp and peppery in a way that feels clean and intentional, not heavy or overly dressed.

What really stands out is how consistent everything is. The flavors are bright, fresh, and well balanced, and you can tell the kitchen cares about doing the basics really well instead of overcomplicating things. And the tiramisu lives up to the name, rich but not too heavy, with that classic finish that makes it feel like the perfect end to the meal. It is the kind of place that stays dependable every time you go, never disappointing and always leaving you thinking about when you can come back.

Grazie mille! Complimenti allo chef, era squisito.“

“The bread was divine. The manicotti was pretty good. It has cold crab on top. The server told me beforehand, which wasn't a problem, but I just don't get it. Seems like the dish would have been better and more composed with warm crab. The salad on top didn't taste like much and didn't add anything other than texture to the dish. The pasta and seafood were both cooked to perfection. Service was great.“

“Really good. Went for a girls night. Got like all the mezze and a bunch of cocktails and the lamb for the table. Everything was Amazing. Standouts were chicken skewers and beef carpaccio. O m g. The carpaccio. Omg. Tiffany our server was so awesome and nice and prompt and really really sweet we liked her a LOT. Tableside Martini was unlike any i had before. Cantelope to spain cocktail was a hit. Would def go back. Super cute on the inside with super comfortable chairs and not too loud or too quiet. I was really really happy“

“Came here for a friend’s birthday.
Good food, nice service, and a beautiful space. It feels a little pretentious, though. I’ve been to Michelin-starred restaurants that took themselves less seriously. Still, overall good vibes and an enjoyable evening.“

“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 �“

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

“Thank you for such an amazing experience.

The owner, Tim, was incredibly kind. He came over to our table a few times, sat with us, and even shared the story behind the pasta. Learning that everything was made from scratch made the experience even more special.

Everyone was so warm and welcoming. I didn’t catch the name of our server, but she was an absolute sweetheart.

The atmosphere felt like home…like a neighborhood spot where you’re just eating with friends. Truly reminiscent of Italy.

Chef Nick even came out and brought a special dessert for my nephew, which meant so much, especially since we were celebrating his birthday. Out of all the places I could have chosen, I’m so happy I chose Ulivo. It genuinely felt meant to be. This will definitely be a place I come back to!“

“Amazing food and service.“

“First impression, fancy place yet accepting of my Washington Capitals hoodie. I thought for sure I was gonna get calamari but the waitress sweet talked me into getting chicken parmigiana. And wow am I glad she did. It’s like a pizza but with a chicken tender crust. Great work! And right when I didn’t think they could do any better, I got a free cookie!!! That is service.“

“Last weekend, I went to a new restaurant near Boqueria Dupont. I felt happy right away. The room was warm. Soft music played. A waiter smiled at me. He took me to my table fast.

First, I had soup. It cost $8. It was hot and tasty. Next, I had chicken and rice. It cost $22. The chicken was very good. For dessert, I had baklava. It cost $6. It was sweet.
The staff were kind. They checked on me two times. They answered all my questions.

When I left, the waiter said thank you. He asked me to come back.
I walked home with a big smile. This was a great meal. I want to go back soon.“

“I came here during my lunch break on a weekday. All the pizza options were available and I got the buffalo chicken slice. I don't make that much $, but the pricing was totally worth it. ($6 I believe) The pictures don't do it justice, but if you like NY style thin crust with that grease drip, you'll love this. The crust had that dough bubble that I love, and you could hear the crunch echo throughout the cafeteria. I would love to see some gluten-light offerings in the future but for now? A quick bite for good quality? You won't be disappointed.“

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

“Acqua Bistecca was a 10/10 from beginning to end! Everything about this restaurant exceeded my expectations. The atmosphere, aesthetics, service, and food were all outstanding.

Every dish we ordered was delicious. The calamari was perfectly cooked, the pasta was flavorful, the pork chops were excellent, and the Caesar salad was easily one of the best I’ve had an absolute 10/10.

The service made the experience even better. The manager was incredibly kind and welcoming, and our waiter was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had a great time.

If you’re looking for a place to celebrate a birthday, date night, or any special occasion, I highly recommend Acqua Bistecca. I have absolutely no complaints and will definitely be back!“

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

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

“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!!!“

“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“

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

“Delicious food-very relaxing atmosphere-friendly staff“

“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!“

“Trattoria Alberto was fantastic. We met the owners, Alberto and Ernie, and they were very personable and took the time to meet the guests. The food and staff were amazing. Jamie was our waitress and she was awesome, especially considering it was only her 3rd day. By day 10 she may be running the place. Great food, great people, and definitely worth a visit!“

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

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

“I had their lobster linguini. And then a cappuccino afterwards. Which were great. Of course, it’s about more than just the food at Cafe Milano. It’s more of a social gathering type of place. The food is secondary to the social aspect of it. But my focus was more on the food. And the food is great. The service was even better. Top notch service.“

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

“Had pizza delivered to our Hotel, & it tasted great plus the cookies are chewy & delicious! We were hesitant on where to order from and DC Pizza did not disappoint. Thank you for the delicious food!“

“We went to hear the band and try the cuisine. The band (Ambience) and the food were excellent!“

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

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

“Excellent cuisine. Conveniently loacted. Great service.“