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 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!!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Excellent food as always, delivery when ordered direct from their website offers a nice little discount (still delivered through DoorDash, & also as always timely and great communication). Very nice menu mix of classic favorites & unique originals, as well as veg & vegan options which is important for us. But most important: Everything is delicious!“

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

“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!“

“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!“

“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! ;)“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Have dined at Reveler's Hour a few times over the years and it is excellent every time! The menu is always fresh and seasonal and they have the best wine list! Highlights are definitely the pastas and garlic knots. A good selection of NA beverages as well. Can't forget to highlight the outstanding staff and thoughtful service. We love taking out of town guests here!“

“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.“

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

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

“We dined for PIZZA NIGHT and while the food was exceptional, the service was above and beyond! We cannot say enough about how well cared for we felt thanks to Seth. He made us feel as if we were the only two people in the restaurant. Thanks as well to Josiah for his enthusiasm and helpful advice! Well done, all!“

“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.“

“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 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.“

“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 �“

“Cannot say enough about how good they do EVERYTHING. Always fresh and made with care, love, perfection, out of the best ingredients. Whenever we are in town, we go to breakfast, and sometimes lunch or dinner. Fantastic place to grab a delicious bite.“

“Best Italian spot. Gorgeous decor, great amari + wine selection, and truly the best pasta you’ll get in Georgetown. Try the Carbonara and the Tagliatelle. Portions are small, but that’s great for sharing and trying different dishes. We’ve tried most pasta dishes there at this point and you can’t go wrong.“

“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“

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

“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.“

“Amazing food and service.“

“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!“

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

“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!!!“

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

“Highly recommend Cafe Milano! First, the service was exceptional! We came with a large party for a birthday lunch and the staff was very friendly and attentive: had a birthday note, took care to meet dietary needs (vegetarian), and never left us waiting for anything (serving time was impeccable).
Second, the food was amazing! I know some reviewers said the food was meh, but I disagree. I think the subtle flavors of the food stood out without being overwhelming.
Third, we had a nice seat by the window. Good lighting and loved the airy feel of the restaurant. While I didn’t see a dress code for the restaurant (besides avoiding flip flops and crocs) I would say most patrons were dressed pretty well for lunchtime (dresses, polo and button-down shirts). Just mentioning as it’s hard getting kids out of their athletic wear these days. :).
Parking - street parking is hard to find, but you can try. There is a parking garage conveniently located right next to the restaurant. It is small and the height is 6’3” max.“

“Delicious food-very relaxing atmosphere-friendly staff“

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

“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!“

“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!“

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

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

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

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

“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!“

“Excellent cuisine. Conveniently loacted. Great service.“

“The food here is incredible. They make their own dough for both the pizza and the crispy focaccia sandwiches and it’s exquisite. And their gelato is super flavorful. Service is amazing and so friendly. Also, books and coloring books for kids while you wait for food.

I want everyone to know about this place!“