50 Best Italian Restaurants in Washington

“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!“

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

“Ottimo , ci siamo sentiti a casa“

“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! ;)“

“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 ambiance, food and vibe“

“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.“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“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!!“

“Stumbled upon this pizza place with my family. I was greatly as soon as I walked through the door. The gentleman who took my order had such a beautiful soul. He made me feel very welcomed and appreciated. Good people and good service is so hard to come by. They didn’t ask me to do a review but I felt it in my heart to leave one. I wish this place continued success. Please visit this place!! Thank you for the amazing service and the bomb pizza!!!! We will be back.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

“Amazing food and service.“

“My husband and I came here to celebrate our anniversary. And we couldn’t have been happier with our decision. We had an absolutely fantastic experience. The staff were so sweet and made the evening special. The food was outstanding as was the wine. Cannot recommend this place enough.“

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

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

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

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

“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.“

“First time to this area and figured we would try Andy’s. The three of us each had the 2 slices and a drink combo. The pizza was pretty good and had a lot of flavor. Enjoyed the ambiance of the establishment and the Western Market in general. However, they have a gnat problem as we continually had to wave them away from our table and food. Other than that was a good experience.“

“When my Wife & I arrived we truly were not expecting a 1st Class treatment. From the Hostess to almost every waiter & waitress all greeting us & telling us to enjoy was amazing. Everyone one was warm, polite, & kind.

The environment was very welcoming & our waitress made both my wife & I feel at home. She explained the menu for both food & drink very well to us & we got some very nice mocktails (a plus since not many restaurants offer non-alcoholic beverages).

The food was amazing, fresh seafood pasta & great risotto. We will definitely be back not just for the food but the great hospitality.

Parking was also very nice where it was not crowded on the street but they also are next to a Parking Garage.

We will be back again soon, thank to everyone there that made my wife & I feel so special on our Anniversary.“

“We went this past weekend for our anniversary and it was truly exceptional. The service is, without question, the best Michelin-level service we have experienced in Washington, D.C. and the only thing better than the service is the food.

I’m currently pregnant, and the team went above and beyond to accommodate multiple dietary restrictions throughout the tasting menu. Not once did an accommodation feel like a compromise; every course was thoughtful, beautifully executed, and absolutely incredible.

From the moment you arrive until the moment you leave, the staff anticipates every need and makes the entire experience feel both incredibly special and effortless.

If you’re looking for an upscale Michelin dining experience in D.C., Masseria is an absolute must. Exceptional food, phenomenal service, and not a single detail missed. We cannot recommend it enough.“

“Food: The tuna appetizer is fantastic. Others had the watermelon salad and enjoyed it. I had the lobster ravioli which had a lot of lobster, but the sauce was tasteless (frankly, I prefer little sauce with fresh seafood but if you are going to do a creamy sauce, it should have flavor). The pasta is all fresh which is a plus.
Service: Our waiter was good but a bit too pushy for me and too aggressive it was off putting (especially given that we were there for lunch and everyone ordered an appetizer and entree NOT from the lunch special or pre-fixe so we were clearly spending $).
Decor: Frankly, all DC restaurants in this area look the same to me.
Overall: I'd return next time I'm back in DC.“

“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.“

“One of the best meals of my life. We got five different dishes, and each was different, unique, and delicious. The half chicken in particular had the whole table talking.
The service was funny, polite, and amazing. They didnt seem to be around, but the second we needed some thing they were there.
We will be back!“

“Came here with a friend after an event nearby and AI generated recommendations.

This was a most wonderful experience. I live in NYC area and I’d come back alone for the service my friend and I received. The hostess was a gem and I love the greetings/salutations uttered in Italian. As soon as we were seated, our server came over served us water and proceeded to go down their evening specials. He even presented us with fresh fish, however I’m vegetarian and my friend does not eat fish. I LOVE when the servers know the menu and have personally tasted the food and can provide real insight and helpful recommendations.

They brought out some focaccia bread and regular bread along with a spinach topping/paste which was very yummy. When I asked if we can have more bread they didn’t bring any focaccia the second time around. So that was a little disappointing, however I’m sure if I would have asked specifically for focaccia they would have provided some (maybe at a slight up-charge) but I didn’t make a fuss or a mention of that.

We each ordered a salad, shared 2 different pasta dishes (our server made sure the kitchen served our pasta dishes separately instead of sharing one plate; a small touch, that was very thoughtful and much appreciated as in they split our pasta so we each had both of the pastas on our separate plates instead of having to “serve our own portions from one plate”. Of course, we came here primarily for the tiramisu which before I even ordered anything I confirmed they had plenty of tiramisu to go around! Now, I have been to Italy, this was not the best tiramisu I’ve ever had, it was still enjoyable. Unfortunately, the espresso machine had broken down the night before so no affogato which was disappointing. My friend and I shared the ricotta cheesecake. It felt more like we were at home dining than at a restaurant. Honestly, my friend and I felt like family. I think I eat at restaurants quite a bit and this experience definitely is a standout in terms of the customer service we received. Probably in the top 5 and maybe even top 3. If I am ever in the DC area I will come back here. Service like this is so few and far between, at least in my experience and that can really make or break a dining experience or any experience for that matter. Special and sincere thanks to Adilio and Yoni for making this such a wonderful and memorable experience.“

“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“

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

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

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

“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.“

“My husband and I absolutely loved our evening at Osteria Mozza DC. The transformation of the original building is stunning, creating a space that feels both elegant and welcoming. The service was genuinely warm and attentive, and every dish was outstanding. The flavors and attention to detail brought back wonderful memories of meals we enjoyed in Italy. From the beautiful setting to the incredible food, this was one of the best dining experiences we've had in DC. We can't wait to come back!“

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

“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.“

“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!“

“Delicious food-very relaxing atmosphere-friendly staff“

“Excellent restaurant from all angles, a new DC/ Georgetown favorite.

The decor brightened an otherwise gloomy and stormy day. The service was efficient and friendly. Menu labeled for dietary restrictions and can ask server for help. The food (brunch prix fixe with burrata (no bread) and steak eggs) had the right flavors to waken the palate and satisfy the soul and the stomach. Kudos to the right amount of salt on each dish to highlight all the deliciousness. Cantaloupe to Spain was a balanced cocktail with unique flavors and smooth to drink.

Overall a memorable brunch experience and I'll be recommending to friends in and out of DC. Look forward to coming back.“

“My husband and I were visiting DC for the weekend and decided we wanted a nice meal on our last night. Google brought us to Trattoria Alberto which I chose because it was only about a 10 minute uber from our hotel. I was nervous bc we didn’t have a reservation on a Saturday night but we walked in and were seated immediately. Then I was nervous bc it was 6:30 on a Saturday and the place was mostly empty. Our waiter, Luis, was so kind and friendly. He went through the specials which all sounded amazing. My husband got the beef carpaccio special bc Luis raved over it. He ordered it as an appetizer bc… YOLO. He said it was even better than Luis described. He then had the veal saltimbocca which he devoured. I played it simple and got a caesar salad and fettuccine alfredo w/chicken. The salad was fine but the alfredo sauce was the best I’ve had. The drinks were flowing, world cup soccer was on and everyone was having a good time with each other including the staff, ourselves and the table next to us. We ordered dessert to take back to the hotel. The chocolate mousse cake and cheesecake were fabulous as we sat in bed. I have no idea why this place was so empty on a Saturday night. Maybe it was a fluke or maybe locals don’t realize what a special gem they have right there in Capitol Hill. Regardless, we will be talking about this place for a while and returning if we ever happen to be in DC again!“

“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 �“

“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.“

“I came to Ama the way most people come to a great love: by accident, unprepared, and completely unaware of the adorable bliss ahead. Most notable, always, will be the staff. Nowhere else in DC will you find such lovely people. They are polite, chatty, welcoming even on the busiest days, and so well prepared to present their knowledge of the restaurant and the owner's vision for it with obvious respect and interest. They will gladly tell you how thoughtfully the food is prepared, and man does it come through on all of those promises. Each dish I have tastes like it was made with intention, like each ingredient was taken into consideration, and as a result, each bite is not only delicious and well-balanced, but tastes real (something too rare these days!). The Ama staff cultivates an environment welcoming of loud laughs, cheers with friends, special moments for flirty dates, shelter and a cozy drink when you're stuck in the rain, and big, open-window neighborhood hospitality. I look forward to spending too much time here over and over again.“

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

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

“Excellent cuisine. Conveniently loacted. Great service.“

“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!!!“

“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!“