50 Best Italian Restaurants near National Harbor

“We were visiting from out of town and what a great choice to go to Primo Hogies!! The whole staff was incredible!! Food was great! If anyone is on the fence about what they want to eat, this is the place to go! Thank you guys!! Looking forward to coming back!!“

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

“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!“

“Great visit for a first timer! Beautiful restaurant, fantastic food and amazing service!“

“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“

“Great food, wines and service.“

“Amazing dinner!! Every course was delicious!“

“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!“

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

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

“Our dinner was just amazing tonight! Everything was so fresh and delicious, and you were all so friendly, thank you so much.“

“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!“

“Friendly staff -great food !“

“If I lived here, I would be a regular customer for the customer service alone! The front register person took the time to tell me what the public enjoys as well as his personal favorite; then I watched as the whole team seemed to really communicate and smile with each other while making some of the best pizza I've eaten. Don't hesitate, just go enjoy this restaurant!“

“Ottimo , ci siamo sentiti a casa“

“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.“

“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.“

“Went here on a trip with my sister and mom and we had the best service ever. Friendly servers and an amazing atmosphere. The rigatoni alla vodka was the best I’ve ever had and I highly recommend the smoked scallops and roasted chicken as well. Just great service and atmosphere. The music was a huge plus as well. Makes me wanna visit DC again 100%“

“When we come up from Atlanta to visit family in Alexandria, Aldo’s is a must visit. The service and food are excellent. It is a must visit and multiple occasions for our family. Consistent excellence.“

“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.“

“Cozy and Delicious :)
I am from out of town and meeting a friend for a late dinner. I am so happy he picked Al Tiramisu. This is an unassuming storefront tucked tightly between 2 other establishments, but don’t let it dissuade you. The specials are hand crafted each night and are the way to go. I had linguine and meatballs which were a better version of those I make at home and my friend enjoyed the pea risotto which was a soft green color (mint green like a vintage vespa). Both dishes eased our thoughts of Monday morning as we dug in. We left with full stomachs ready for bed.“

“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.“

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

“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! ;)“

“Delicious food and the wait staff is fabulous!“

“This was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was perfect and the service was great. I am definitely coming back with my family. And don’t get me started with the food absolutely everything I would ask for. Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“That’s legit Italian food 😋🍕“

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

“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!“

“Our dinner at Fiola was exceptional. The food was fresh, well prepared and very tasty, and the entire staff just elevated the entire experience. The wine pairing were spot-on. Our waitress, while relatively new to the restaurant, was first class and her knowledge, attitude and attention just made an amazing evening that much better. Can’t recommend highly enough.“

“Said, I wanted to circle back and let you know that without a doubt, the food, and the entire dining experience at La Bettola Italiano was far and away the best we had on our trip to DC. I cannot thank you enough for setting it all up and for working so closely with them to sculpt the menu, arrange for the upstairs and deliver the hot and delicious food so swiftly upon our arrival – our pre-order menu worked perfectly, and you and your wait staff went above and beyond to be so accommodating. My teachers were stunned at the quality of the food and the ambiance and said it was their top ranked choice of all the places we ate. I am uncertain what the school’s plans are for next year, but if I or the school returns to the DC/VA area, I will certainly call upon you and return to La Bettola. Thank you, Said, for a wonderful dining experience for our students. It was the perfect way to begin our trip! Best regards, Danny“

“We could not believe our luck finding this gem of a place, whilst on holiday from Scotland! The food? What can I say to make folk reach out to you? Just go and you’ll experience the most wonderful home cooked food and the greatest ambience! .. staff and management couldn’t make you feel more welcome! Keep the good work up and hopefully see you next visit! You’ll be our “ go to restaurant” Thank you PS - our town Dundee in Scotland is “twinned” ( sister) with yourselves .. who would have known eh??“

“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!!!“

“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.“

“If in Washington, D.C. or Arlington County, Virginia, the Italian Store is a cannot miss choice for great subs, sandwiches and pizza“

“Came here recently Saturday night to celebrate my birthday with my girlfriends. The restaurant is nice, and has an energetic vibe! The bar was packed too. Service was great—our server Mili was friendly and attentive.

We started off with the Nancy’s Caesar and Shaved Brussel Sprouts—the Caesar was disappointing, just a few pieces of lettuce and oddly presented. Pastas were delicious and flavorful but were relatively small portions—we enjoyed the Mafaldine, Rigatoni, and Linguine & Clams. The 24oz. Grilled Porcini-Rubbed Ribeye was huge—well flavored, tender and cooked perfect! Whole Branzino Alla Piastra was just okay—fish was soft but it lacked flavored, would have been better more seasoned or accompanied by a sauce. For sides, highly recommend the Sweet Potatoes! Roasted Cauliflower was good but it looked like broccoli since it was green, but tasted like a cauliflower.

For dessert, Mili brought out a birthday dessert (ice cream with cookie) and a lit candle for the celebration! We also tried the Tiramisu and Apple Crisp. Cocktails were on point and prices started off at $16-17 a drink. We had an awesome experience, would definitely come back!“

“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!“

“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 �“

“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!!“

“A go-to Italian spot in NoVA! Although their menu is small, I've enjoyed a lot of what they have to offer!

Bread - Complimentary and comes with EVOO. Bread was soft and spongey with a salty exterior.

Caesar Salad - Love that they use big lettuce leaves and not the basid shredded stuff! Dressing is light with a vibrant lemon flavor. Would order again.

Rigatoni - Comforting meaty sauce with huge pieces of pasta. A little heavy handed on the parsley, but would order again.

Lasagna (special) - Vibrant tomato-y meat sauce. Simple, but good.

Ziti - Their vodka sauce is a bit too spicy for a mild person like myself. For better depths of flavor, consider the other pastas on the menu.

Olive Oil Cake - Good choice for those with a sweet and savory palette. The golden raisin marmellata adds a sweet note, that coupled with the creme fraiche, balanced out the strong olive oil flavor. Interesting, but I liked it and would order it again.

Eggnog Tapioca Pudding - Unique take on tapioca pudding. Liked the crispy bits but was expecting something thicker in consistency.

Warm Gingerbread Cake - Rich, decadent and delicious! Reminded me of a slightly cake-ier version of sticky toffee pudding--tried to savor every bite, but it did not last long! Sad it's a seasonal item.

Black Forest Tiramisu - Exactly how it's described in the name.. a tiramisu version of Black Forest cake. Good, but the ginger bread cake is better.“

“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.“

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

“As part of the US Army, I was sustained in Italy many years ago. I have struggled until now to find quality, amazing tasting Italian food. Mamma's Kitchen in Alexandria surpassed all expectations. Every course of the meal was just what you would expect when dining in Italy. Thanks for the great experience and for the memories it brought back.“

“Vegan pizza and garlic knots“

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

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

“Delicious food-very relaxing atmosphere-friendly staff“

“I like this place I would like any of the men there. I'll be good..“