50 Best Italian Restaurants near Franconia

“Delicious food and the wait staff is fabulous!“

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

“Our son recently moved to Arlington and he said this was the best Italian food that he ever had! Last night we went there for dinner and couldn't agree with him more. We had some initial issues with our service and seating , but the General Manager, Stefano and our waitress Shandra took care of us and the service that they gave us was outstanding; probably the best that I ever had at a restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious! We will be back every time that we visit our son. There are so many dishes that I cannot wait to try and the pasta is all homemade. Thanks for making our dinner so special. We love it here!“

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

“It was the perfect meal, from appetizers to main course, and dessert! Our server, Ricardo, was very attentive and informative about the menu and gave us personal recommendations, as well. I had been wanting to dine at Cucina Morini for a while now, and I am so glad I chose it for our friends visiting from overseas.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“Friendly staff, very creative menu, no too big just the way I like it. Highly recommended“

“Friendly staff -great food !“

“We were tired from touring all day and the clerk at Springhill Suites recommended an Italian place “just around the corner”. As we got closer, we could detect delicious smells in the air. As we entered, a cheery staff greeted us, and the cozy space was decorated with lots of photographs and traditional green and white checked tablecloths. We were offered fresh garlic bread while we looked over the menu. We both decided on the “individual” pizza, but let me tell you, us 2 ladies could’ve easily just split one! The veggie pizza was soooo fresh and yummy. If we’re ever in the area again, would definitely go back!“

“Perfect food. Excellent staff. Great ambiance!“

“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!“

“Their pizza is worth trying. I highly recommend ordering a pizza with a side order of boneless chicken wings. We thought the chicken wings were divine! They were so tender and worth ordering again. The pizza was full of texture and taste. We ordered the Italian Mamma.“

“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.“

“So delicious and a wonderful atmosphere.“

“I can't tell you enough about this restaurant! Highly recommend you go! The food was amazing! Every course was perfect. The service was on point. Everyone was so friendly and always kept our glasses full. All the dishes were Flavorful and we couldn't have asked for a better meal! Highly recommend the chefs tasting menu! And the drinks were great! Try the homemade Negroni and Chocolatecello! So good!“

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

“EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! This review is super late, but I figured better late than never. I ordered delivery from Thompson's Alexandria location on April 29th and there was an issue with one of the items. I called the restaurant and Cindy answered the phone and provided amazing service. She was receptive, efficient, came up with a creative and personalized solution and did it with the utmost professionalism and kindness. I also asked her who the chef was because the food was superb. She informed me that it was Chef Lucy and she was also an integral part of this success story. Thank you to Thompson for the impressive service and memorable meal. Please keep this up, its hard to find.“

“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??“

“Doesn't disappoint from walking in to finished meal. Classic Italian, top notch service, worth every dollar spent.“

“This establishment is outstanding and the service is exemplary. Jenn our bartender was attentive and on point. Highly recommend!“

“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“

“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.“

“Best Italian food I've ever had!“

“Fantastic food cooked by award winning chef Roberto Donna. Welcoming owner and friendly atmosphere. Our seafood calamarata and shrimp rice risotto were outstanding.“

“While enjoying lunch yesterday my friend and I were fortunate to be served by Richard. He was very accommodating and pleasant. I can’t say enough about what a nice person he was. Maggianos is lucky to have him as part of their staff.“

“Came here for a farewell dinner with my housemate. Everything we ordered (the Capa Tosta salad, cavatelli pesto shrimp, and the fettuccine alfredo with chicken) was delicious! The setting was also intimate enough to have a nice, meaningful conversation.“

“Vegan pizza and garlic knots“

“Good food. Doesn’t matter what you get it’s all delicious.“

“MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO THE ENTIRE STAFF AT MAGGIANO’s, SPRINGFIELD, VA! There are not enough word in the dictionary to describe my experience in Maggiano’s! From the time I make reservations through walking through the front door of the restaurant, the service, the managers, the chef, the food, to serving the BEST ITALIAN CUISINE SINCE ITALY, and cleanliness in the restrooms. Look, I live in Old Town Alexandria, VA, where there are some of the best Italian restaurants on the East Coast but those restaurants do not compare to my Maggiano’s. I seriously have to drive out of my way, Springfield, to get the Best Italian on the East Coast. It’s worth every second. The cuisine inside this Maggiano’s tastes exactly like my Italian grandparent’s cooked it. I frequent this restaurant at least once or twice a week. Thank you Mo, (manager), Jessie (server), and the rest of the staff at my Maggiano’s! Dana Neese, 12-23-2023.“

“A Truly Memorable Anniversary Dinner at DinVino

We celebrated our anniversary at DinVino, and I can confidently say this was one of the most beautiful dining experiences we’ve ever had.

First off, the dining room is stunning—warm, intimate, and tastefully elegant. We had a 5:00 PM reservation and arrived about 15 minutes early. Although dinner service doesn’t officially begin until 5, the staff kindly seated us in the dining room and offered drinks instead of asking us to wait at the bar. That small act of hospitality set the tone for the entire evening.

We originally hoped to take advantage of happy hour, which is available only at the bar or outside patio, but our incredibly gracious waiter made an exception and allowed us to order from the happy hour menu from our table. We were so appreciative of this gesture. We ended up ordering four appetizers (two from happy hour menu and two from regular menu), two drinks, two entrees, a tiramisu, and another glass of wine. Everything was delicious; the flavors were balanced.

When I mentioned toward the end of our meal that it was our anniversary and how much we loved the food, our waiter surprised us by offering us a taste of limoncello, a traditional Italian after-dinner digestive. It was such a sweet and unexpected touch that made our evening even more special.

We were never rushed and ended up staying until around 7 or 7:30. The staff gave us space while still being attentive shoutout to the people who brought out our food, cleared our plates, and the gentleman who checked on us after the meal. Everyone made us feel welcome and cared for. We were even lucky enough to have the dining room basically to ourselves, which made the evening feel like a private, romantic dinner.

A huge thank you to our waiter, who was incredibly kind and professional throughout and didn’t even know until the very end that it was a special occasion. You made our night.

My only (very small) critique: I wish bread had been included and that the steak came with at least one side. But those are minor things in what was otherwise a truly wonderful night.

We’re so grateful to DinVino for this memorable evening. I’ll absolutely be recommending this place to others and will definitely be back. 💛“

“Well deserving of the recognition by Michelin's star award. Arguably, the best restaurant in DC metro area with a commitment to excellence in food, service, and atmosphere. The wine list is among best with older, approachable vintages.

Great experience.“

“One of the most delicious Italian dinners I have ever had. Everything was a Authentic and a Quality ingredient and well prepared.“

“Had a great evening catching up at this amazing Italian spot. Reservations are recommended, but we sat at the bar and had a fantastic time. Will definitely be back to try more of the delicious food. Amazing staff, always smiles, never made us feel rushed and gave us lots of laughs.“

“Delicious food-very relaxing atmosphere-friendly staff“

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

“Delicious Food, Divine Wine, Lovely Evening! We shared appetizers, desserts & wine while we visited this wonderful restaurant!“

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

“great sausage and pepper pizza!“

“This beat some of the NY style slices I had even in New York. Just the perfect ratio of crust to sauce to toppings. Perfectly sized pepperoni cups. A gorgeous toasty feeling to the freshly heated slice. Started with 3 slices between 2 people and essentially ended up eating a whole pie. Staff are amazing, so warm and friendly. Great brews on tap and a few salads and sides on the menu to go with the pies. Can’t wait to come back“

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

“Thank you so much to Martha, Tom, Jason, Sarah, and the entire team who made my gathering at Alta today so special!! Martha really went above and beyond by arranging to have the surprise decor, balloon bouquet, and party favors for my guests and me! I was so overwhelmed by her thoughtfulness.“

“I had the most incredible dinner at Giovanni's Trattu! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm, welcoming, and authentically Italian. The service was impeccable, with our server being both attentive and knowledgeable.

The real star of the show, however, was the food. I ordered the Osso Buco, and it was simply divine. The veal was so tender it fell off the bone and melted in my mouth, and the rich, flavorful sauce was a perfect complement to the creamy risotto it was served on. Every single bite was a taste of heaven. I cannot recommend this place enough!“

“Wonderful experience. Great neighborhod restaurant.Good service, great food, handicap accessable, lots of parking, fair prices.“

“Enjoyed the food immensely!“